CAPRI CLUB OLDENBURG INTERNATIONAL CAPRI MEETING
IN STREEKERMOOR GERMANY 1 st – 3 rd August 2003
Thursday morning cars all packed and polished, me and my wife Julie left Kenilworth in my RS3100, whilst Phil and Debbie left Milton Keynes in Deb's Mk2 1300, meeting up at Stansted services on the M11 for our onward journey to Harwich for the crossing to Cuxhaven in Germany.
We booked a four-berth cabin on the ferry for the 17-hour journey, which meant that we would sleep through most of the journey at night. After a special meal in the restaurant as it was Phil and Debbie's anniversary, (where else would you take your wife on your anniversary but to a Capri Show), a few drinks while watching the evenings entertainment it was time for bed.
Friday morning we berthed at Cuxhaven and drove down to Oldenburg for the show, arriving in the afternoon, there weren't many cars on site but there were two very special cars already there. The first of which was ‘Ghost Train' an absolutely fabulous articulated Capri, which we had previously seen in one of my German Ford magazines. Phil immediately stated that if this were the only Capri to turn up at the show, then the trip would have been worth it. The second car which always travels to shows with Ghost Train was a stretched four door Capri with a Capri trailer for sleeping in.
Through the day and into the early evening more Capri's turned up along with some of our Capri friends, Dorrie from Germany and her husband who is in the Army stationed in Germany, Hans and others from Holland.
A few drinks, something to eat, (after trying to translate the menu), disco and bed.
Waking up on Saturday saw a lot more Capri's had turned up and the field had around 100 Capri's, almost all of which were all fantastic cars. Some concours, but the majority modified from various Mark 1 RS2600's to highly modified, kitted and painted Mark 3's.
Breakfast was in the Hotel whose grounds the show was in. Again returning to the field a steady stream of cars was arriving, only Capri's were allowed in the show field, other makes had to park in Hotel's car park. Every car arriving was worthy of a photo being taken and was a case of ‘Smurf have you seen this it's amazing, Shaggy how has he done that?'.
By lunchtime some 200 Capri's had turned up and judging had started. Judging being done by everyone voting for Best Mark 1, 2 and 3, Best Customised and Car of the Show.
Phil spent about an hour talking to the owner of Ghost Train, who was only too pleased to show how the car and trailer had been built and the entire vehicle inside and out. Hopefully he will bring Ghost Train to the Milton Keynes Show at Billing Aquadrome next year along with some other German Capri's.
Through the day there was a lot of complements on our cars and a lot of photos taken, which cumulated in being interviewed by ‘Ford Scene International' magazine. On with the ‘Ribena Berries', Yellow and Purple shirts (what else would you expect from Phil?), Milton Keynes CC shirts for a photo session.
At some stage a guy turned up with a van full of model Capri's. It was like Christmas all over, Phil bought several cars including a large metal model Capri in a presentation case for under £10, the level of detail on the model is amazing, I bought a 1:12 scale Zakspeed Radio Controlled car shell for around £10 so I was well happy.
Early evening saw the award presentations, first off was the Mark 1 trophies. I was at the bar getting a drink, (as usual), when Phil shouted over, ‘Smurf you've won second place'. More photos were taken of me picking up the trophy and a Papa Smurf was duly put into the top of the cup for the photos, the guy from Drive magazine thought this highly amusing although just the norm for me and took some more photos for the article.
Mark 2 was announced and Debbie was pipped into fourth for her car. Best car in show went almost unanimously to Ghost Train and the owner was given rapturous well-deserved applause. More beer, more conversations about Capri's, a disco and finally games before retiring for the night.
Around lunchtime we departed the show for a leisurely drive back cross-country to Cuxhaven to catch the ferry. A doddle to get to Cuxhaven, but could we find the Port for the ferry back to Harwich? Up and down the sea front and town until more by chance than deliberately we found the entrance and checked in for the ferry back.
The whole weekend the weather had been very hot, so we were glad to get onto the ferry and up to the cabin for a refreshing shower, followed by a drink, something to eat and settle in for the evenings entertainment before going to bed.
Docked at Harwich the following morning and duly headed back to Milton Keynes. All in all a fabulous and very friendly weekend.
Next year Milton Keynes CC and a few other Branches intend to go to Beekse Bergen for the Holland show and a few of us will be going to the International German show in Wittmund hosted by Capri club Friesland.
Special thanks to Phil for doing such a good restoration on the RS and regular work and advice on my other Crapis. I have always found Phil's work to be of a top quality and reasonably priced and would recommend Phil for any work on Capri's or for any spares. Phil can be contacted at Capri Care M.K. 01908 365560.