On Saturday 2nd May, the Chequered Skipper country pub and restaurant in the village of Ashton, Northamptonshire played host to a gathering of American Hot Rod enthusiasts and owners. Car lovers from all over Northamptonshire flocked to the picturesque village for an afternoon of good food and drink, and to admire the amazing collection of automobiles lined up outside the pub.

Over thirty vehicles from the American Hot Rod Car Rally were gathered outside the Chequered Skipper over lunch, many of them pre-1950 models, although a few more recent cars were present, including a modern Dodge Viper and a 2008 Ford Mustang. Strangely, there were also a few non-American cars, including a Lamborghini Murcielago and a classic Porsche; however, they were no less welcomed than any of the other cars, which were lined up around the front of the stone and thatch building. One of the rarest cars present was the 1959 Ford Mercury, a behemoth of a car, and of which there are only three left in the world!

The gathering was organised by Colin Ayres, one of the very few local Hot Rod owners and enthusiasts from Ashton, in conjunction with the Chef Patron of the Chequered Skipper, Ian Campbell. Mr. Ayres, a car enthusiast of over thirty years, said that he’d met many of the other Hot Rod owners in fairs throughout the country and in Europe, many of which are held between May and September.

Although a relatively spur of the moment affair, the day was a great success, with Hot Rod owners happy to drive from all over the country to Ashton for an impromptu gathering. People of all ages flocked to the Chequered Skipper from the village and its surrounding areas to see the collection of cars,and have a wonderful afternoon.