Take a 'Spare' minute to read this…

I would like to share my 'near' expensive experience with all and to thank someone who saved the day in the true spirit of V-dubs.

Let me set the scene, I was driving my slammed 55' Oval running a classic fat 'n' skinny tyre combo from Weymouth in Dorset to Beachbugggin' in Southsea when my curb feelers on the nearside began to rub on the ground constantly.

Having not noticed the fact that the steering wheel was about 45 degrees off to the right I became aware of a worsening wobble followed by a sudden bang and with which my nearside front tyre had gone down and then burst it's inner tube! I stopped safely on the hard shoulder of the M27 along with a couple of cars from the 14 strong club convoy that I was travelling with. Without even a second passing I realised my stupidity…I don't have a spare, a jack or even a wheel brace in the car! I suffer from the ' it won't ever happen to me' mentality and as I gave the tyre a good old kick the cops arrived. 'Do you have roadside assistance' the cop said to which I replied confidently 'Yep officer' and with that he took down my details and told me to get off the Motorway ASAP!

Now, I thought someone in our club or a passing dubber would have a spare but unfortunately for me either they also were not carrying one or it was too big for the slammed 'n' narrowed front of my car . A good friend left me his wheel brace and jack which barely fitted under the car with about a rizla's clearance but even his spare wouldn't go on. So that was it and out came the yellow leading name roadside assistance membership card. For some strange reason they were very busy that day but I got through only to be told that they would only come out to change a spare if I had one and that basically I was on my own or if I wanted they would arrange a third party at HUGE expense to sort me out at an extra charge…I hung up.

It was at this point it dawned on me that I really was stranded on the side of the road and that no one was coming to help me! There I waited trying to flag down bugs with a wide 5 stud pattern which is bloody hard to see when they are approaching at speed…well most of them! By this point most people were already at the show and I really did have a feeling of immense impending doom as I sat with a cold arse on the barrier. Eventually my saviour arrived driving her beautiful white '62/63 bug complete with spare and a halo above or did I imagine that bit?
Anyway, to end this tale of stupidity I would urge all to check your spare if you have one and if not make sure you get one that will fit all four corners of your car, practise changing a wheel and check that your jack will, in fact fit under your car with a flat tyre.

I have learnt my lesson at nearly HUGE expense and would like to thank Anna for stopping and saving the day in the true spirit of the scene and to those who stopped for me thanks a million guys. I enjoyed the show, met up with most of the people who stopped for me and got home without any problems.

Neal Burton (AKA Fraggle on Restowagenuk.com)

1955 Oval

Neal.