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BILLING 2004 REVIEW

	2004 was another special year because... Somebody from the VBOA forgot to book the usual Billing July weekend. By the time this was realised, it was too late and the new date for the event was at the end of September. So it was good luck that the weather held out. Turnout was down by about 30% with many people put off by the idea of camping in the autumn. However that wasn't to say that what was there, wasn't any good. There were some fine cars on display. Even the autojumble wasn't that bad.
	Enough of my spiel and into the rally itself. The weather was fine, as is the case almost every time. Billing really was packed this year. It was the most full I'd ever seen it. The show area was bigger than the previous year and the turnout had no trouble filling it. I've never seen so many Vivas in one place at any one time! Some had taken the trouble to travel from other countries. I spotted a couple of E type "Ute"s, from Australia as well as a healthy showing from the Swedish Vauxhall club. Apologies if I have not mentioned any other foreign clubs! The autojumble had certainly picked up on last year. There were many good bargains to be had. I spent a lot of money as I had time to have a good trawl through the boxes of parts in search of the odd gem. Can't wait to get my car on the road! (Give me another year or so...!) Weather was scorching hot again on Sunday when the cars just kept rolling in well into the afternoon. Boy it was hot!! I finally left at 3pm to avoid the traffic and I had work again the next day. A pity really as there are some bargains to be had at the end of the day, just to clear stock. If you have never taken your Vauxhall to this event, book the time off in January and get the car ready - It's the best event outside of a race meeting. Roll on 2004!