The Mk1 Golf Owners Club History 2021
The year of 2021 didn't start out as normal due to the nation still being in Lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
DubFreeze and Ultimate Dubs were cancelled leaving owners without much to look forward to.
Everyone had the 17th May 2021 circled on their calendars and that signalled the lifting of restrictions outdoors.
Early Edition
Edition 38 Early Edition was first to hold an event on 23rd May 2021 at Sywell Aerodrome. Understandably we had a good turn out for the club stand!
Most of the other shows were cancelled due to the uncertainty of the restrictions. It was only by 19th July 21 that all restrictions were lifts and life began to return to normal.
AG 2021
Luckily the Committee had a cunning plan to move the Annual Gathering from its usual last weekend in July slot to August a couple of weeks later.
The Club returned to Stratford Upon Avon racecourse over the weekend of 13th to 15th August 2021. This is where it gets a bit tricky with the number of years! Having missed a year was it the 16th or 17th annual event? You decide!
Thursday night saw the Committee set up ready for early arrivals on Friday morning.
During the day the camping field slowly filled with everybody but the North West members who we stuck in horrendous traffic jams due to the M6 being closed. Travelling times were double for some and once at the site drivers had a strange look in their eyes from concentrating so long - a beer (or 3) was needed!
With a stiff breeze blowing right to left across the field, BBQ smoke was soon drifting around and later on fire pits could be seen glowing.
In the evening "The Club House" hosted a band called LeRoy and The Europhonics playing some top tunes.
The Committee remained unchanged for another year providing stability and a well practiced routine for club stands, merchandise and next years Annual Gathering.
Chairman - Simon Berry - 36th Crazyfist
Treasurer - Richard Stringer - Beany
Secretary - Neil Butler - unityneil
Events Manager - Anna Bebbington - Cabrioanna
Membership - Rick Dale - Wmk1rickdale
Website Manager - Adrian Daniels - Lhasadreams
Social Media Manager - Ansar Mahmood - Ans4r
Design Manager - Lucy Crowe - Mark One
Marketing Manager - Matt O'Leary - ratty23
Merchandise Manager - Anthony Musskett - Anton_cabrio
Club Historian - Dan Perkins - Dano
The Club had 1846 paid members whose subscriptions provide the ability to attend shows, arrange the AGM and maintain the forum as a world leading source for information on the various variants of the Mk1 Golf.
38,136 have been registered members since the club evolved from the Campaign Register on 28th October 2004.
The Drivers Briefing was held on Saturday morning before the cars left for Broadway in the Worcestershire countryside.
81 Mk1 Golfs (38 hatchbacks & 43 cabriolets) plus 4 Mk2 Golfs & 1 Scirocco.
2 cars didn't make the complete route and plenty of drivers found their own way home.
The fancy dress disco was held as usual and dancing continued until 1am with the fire pits in certain camps burning until about 4am (cough, Midlands!).
Sunday morning had drivers washing their cars off and polishing up before judging commenced at 11am.
Tents were taken down and campervans (which are growing every year in preference to a li-lo) were packed.
Once the judging had been completed the raffle and trophies were handed out.
Below are the winners of the various categories.
Winners of the fancy dress competition
Children's
Baby Yoda & Family
Superheros - Milo & Clae Baggot
Adults
Racecourse group - Steve Lilly and friends
Winner of the children's colouring competition
Chloe Ell, age 6
Member of the Year
Richard Masters - aka Crazyquiff
Top 3 Standard
James Henderson - NLT556P
Graham Welch - LBD295V
Dave Selway - AHW527V
Top 3 Modified
Mick Mathers - OPO311S
Joe Stanford - A358GNR
Dan Combes - NYU324Y
Top 3 OEM+
Ben Grahamslaw - EYL16V
Barry Parnell
Joe Speight - YPA895Y
Pre 1993
Liam Ainsworth
Best Daily Driver
Leanne Glennie - KRH977N (oldest cat at the show)
Best Commercial
Steve Sherliker - D15SNS
Best Paint
John Williams - A461WUS
Best Interior
Anna Bebbington - H901BVH
Best Wheels
Adam Baggot - GDE139X
Best Engine, The Walter Ainsworth Award
Felix Malahoo - A814HPR
Best GTI, The Jeremy Hillock Award
Ben Grahamslaw - EYL16V
Best Regional Display
Midlands
Best In Show
James Henderson - NLT556P
Keith Keenan Award - Best Standard Hatchback
Dale Smith - UUU84S
Peoples Choice Award - Sponsored by Crazyquiffs
Joe Stanford - A358GNR
You can see all the AG 2021 photos here.
NEC Classic Car Show
The Show Season Finale was held at the Birmingham's NEC Classic Car Show 12th to 14th November.
The colour for the stand was red and we had a really juicy pick of red cars on show!
Ben Grahamslaw's Series 1 16v BRM Motorsport Engine
Anthony Muskett's Cabriolet powered by a G60 with air suspension
Lee Walmsley's Berg Cup Mk1 Golf
John Hillon's Series 1 GTI, first registered on 2nd January 1978
The Mk1 Golf Owners Club NEC Team
