4x4 Mag - Billing Land Rover Show

Billing Land Rover Show

written by John Deaville

Well what can I say, Billing 1999 ...what a disappointment! There I was already to go and see the "best and biggest" Billing ever according to July's issue of LRO. More than 130 commercial sites, 70 of which had not been there before. Well off we went Friday 8.30 am start, Graham and I in the Transit so we had plenty of room for all the bits and bargains that we would be buying. We did try to book a camping pitch two weeks before hand only to be told by a lady on the phone that no spaces were left and Billing were fully booked themselves. We arrived at 10.30 am and asked about camping, no problem was the reply, loads of space. Two nights were paid for, and a pitch was found and after a quick coffee the tent was setup, and we then had a quick walk round.

Well not that many trade stands, where we lost or looking in the wrong place ? Better get a programme from the LRO shop in case they were spread around the site in different areas. No, we weren't lost and we weren't wrong, just the usual places all around the main arena, with quite a few gaps in between the stands. Perhaps they would arrive later as there were one or two places along the river side where the posts saying who's pitches they were had as of yet not been occupied.

We wandered around for a bit longer and then back to the van for lunch and another walk around later on. No John Craddock marquee, just the tyre side of his operation and they were very busy. Graham bought two BFG All Terrain's for his 90 at a very cheap price, they must have been to get him to part with his money. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's tight, but the moths die from lack of oxygen in his wallet ! Friday evening came with a visit to the beer marquee ... then off to the tent for some shuteye.

Saturday 5.30 am up and off to the showers for 6.00am then breakfast and a copious amount of coffee. Every one was moving around and getting into the buying mood, so off for another walk. No Ian Ashcroft, so we had a look in the programme and sure enough he was missing. Bang goes the chance of a deal in buying another Detroit for my next project. However, I did actually see Ian later on in the day only to find that he was not standing there this year, as the price had been put up due to it being the "Millennium", thought that was next year Mr LRO Billing or did you just try to cash in on it a year early ?

The Saturday afternoon auction was interesting and I managed to purchase two EFI manifolds and they were very cheap. Another walk around in case any more stands had been set up. But no they had not so don't know what happened to the 130 stands of which more than 70 had not been there before. Can anyone let me know what happened to them ?

Sunday yet another early rise to have a shower to beat the queue that there would be once everyone had surfaced. Lots of bleary-eyed people about, must have been a good night last night by the looks of it. Turns out that Mr Craddock was not having a stand there this year as he had that much stuff stolen last year. But so as not to upset everyone he would give anyone 10% off parts from the shop at Cannock for one week only after the show. What a nice man he is. Amazed to hear that so much stock was stolen. Most of the people at the show are Landy lovers like myself, yet there must be one or two people out there who are not very nice people. If the amount I was told had been stolen was true it must have been a gang of well-organised criminals as most of it was only small parts.

So all in all Billing 1999 was a very big disappointment, I have been attending this event for the past six years and there was less there this year then any other year despite what LRO had promised ... let's hope next year is worth going to... I'm having my doubts.