Players Please – An Afternoon In Essex

I’ve just been reading Sean’s latest article from JCCS in Long Beach and couldn’t help but a) be amazed at the variety of coverage on the site at the minute and b) draw some comparisons between the Japanese and European car scenes. We live on a small planet, one which has been made smaller by the advent of modern transport and technology. Never before have we had it so easy when it comes to drawing inspiration from around the earth.

Years ago, we depended on a monthly cycle of print magazines – if we were lucky – to bring us the latest trends. Today, we can access the same information plus a whole world more with just a few clicks. Do we have it too easy?

Although predominantly a Volkswagen Audi group show, Players holds no prejudice against any scene or culture. They open their doors, and arms, to a motley crew of car enthusiasts. They bring a world of automotive variety into one place.

Despite what most think, the VW scene isn’t just about swapping wheels from different manufacturers onto your car and leaving it at that.

It’s all about the details. In fact some of the details are so subtle that they can easily be overlooked. Take this Caddy 2K van for example – a van which came from factory with two rear doors and either one or two sliding doors. This van has neither sliding door so I presume the owner / builder gone and drilled out and removed the original sliding door quarter panel and replaced it with a quarter panel from a left hand drive version. Incredible.

Vogue Auto Design had their 993 Revenger on display with their own custom wide-body and wheel design.

Of course you will have lots of clean stock bodied cars with the world’s most common recipe on display – Drop + BBS RS – but there is a reason why it’s common. It looks great.

This was my first Euro / stance show of 2012 and there definitely has been an increase in the numbers of cars which have shunned deep dish wheels for a flusher finish this year.

Every time I post a Honda, I can feel Sean lurking somewhere. I wonder what he thinks of this one on JEEP wheels?

It’s interesting how one style works for so many cars the world over.

This Fiesta is a case in point of keeping it in the family – Escort Cosworth sourced wheels and a drop.

I must be getting old when this was probably one of my favourite cars of the show.

Smooth DC2 in the car park should probably have been in the show. Actually, the show had expanded so much this year that the show actually bled into the car park so maybe this was in the show.

There seems to be an increase in popularity of dumped retro US cars on UK shores.

But it’ll always be the VW brigade that will reign supreme on this side of the pond.

It’s not just the quality of builds here, the quantity is present too.

There’s also an increase in the amount of dropped performance cars – this S4 being a prime example.

Inside one of the two hangers lay some hidden treasures. Hidden mostly by the crowd.

This Ferrari inspired Corrado was executed superbly.

The latest generation Scirocco is looking like it will become a cult favourite within the scene …

… but will it become as iconic as the Golf? I doubt it some what but am open to being proven wrong.

This Audi coupe was on another level, the term sublime doesn’t do it justice.

The Barn Seats Jetta was another personal favourite with every detail considered.

I’ll be honest that I was never fond of the the Volvo C30 but this one might have changed my mind.

Like I said, it’s common for a reason.

It’s only with Stephen Brooks’ latest film that I’ve grown fond of the original Beetle. A car from before my time is one I now want to appreciate more and more.

From a manufacturer closer to my heart comes this 6 series with huge history and proved popular.

I originally made the mistake of thinking was the old orange Avant which used to run Rotiform SNAs but as has been pointed out, it’s a completely different car (B5 Vs. B7). Regardless, I still like it quite a lot.

There was lots of love for the MX5 / Miata / Eunos Roadster (delete where applicable).

Although the weather just about held out for some top down driving, there was no shortage of S2000s about.

However, it always comes back to the Veedub.

And there will be plenty of them in our upcoming spotlight-o-rama from Players.

Before I finish up though, there’s a couple of more cars that I thought deserved some love – this UK spec AE86 was one.

This BBS wearing RS4 Avant deserves a mention.

Air-cooled VWs scare the bejesus out of me but I thought you might appreciate this Type 3.

Rotarys are still relatively rare here but this FD3S represented the Wankel with pride.

A Schmidt clad 205 GTi was another rarity.

This has to be one of the cleanest and best presented MKIII Golfs on the circuit.

This E91 Touring with an M3 front conversion travelled from Barcelona just for this show and was rightly rewarded with a proud centre of show display area.

It’s been a long day here in the Speedhunters temporary UK office and there is plenty more to come from Players, along with some Goodwood Revival and an in-depth look at an Escort track racer from me later in this week. For now though, see you on the other side …

Paddy McGrath
paddy@dev.speedhunters.com

Players Show on Speedhunters

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1

That black Vogue Porsche.....awfully resembles what Mr. Nakai would create.
People these days can't really think with their own head, sad.

2

That is a MK3 Golf not an MK4 Golf!

3

Like the million VWs dropped on BBS? Although Nakai-san does do it best he is not the only person in the world who is allowed to widen a porsche. 

4

"Every time I post a Honda, I can feel Sean lurking somewhere. I wonder what he thinks of this one on JEEP wheels?"
 
LMAO! It's not my personal taste, but I can dig it. I definitely like the two-tone paint!
 
Loving the long exposure shots Paddy! I've been discussing doing something like this with Rod for a while... keep your eyes peeled next month ;)

5

 @JDMized Technically the over fenders, both Nakai's and the ones on this car, are almost a direct rip-off of the factory Porsche 993 GT2 RSR. That said I too prefer Nakai's work, although his (including the bumpers) is an even more direct replica, albeit wider than factory.

6

That last Beetle looks a lot like what Nakai-san would make. ; /
 
 
But really, that was the C30 that changed your mind? 

7

Any pictures of the black and pink e30 m3? Great post btw

8

love that silver S2000 & the red beatle.. clean and nice..

9

Tell me you're going to feature that Audi coupe!

10

That RS4 is downright sexy

11

@Reeder You're absolutely right! Mr. Nakai doesn't hold a copyright for wide Porsches, but he crafts the the bodykit awfully good....whereas Vogue...meh.....

12

@sean klingelhoefer You're right.....maybe the fact that Nakai's work is very popular lately.....others' work look like are not as meticulous as Nakai's......but I could be wrong.

13

 @sean klingelhoefer
 love the shots too. looking foward to trying this myself.
makes it far cleaner.
awesome job dude

14

That yellow Mk.1 Golf is a dream come true!

15

I love the blue Mk. I 4-door, I had a mint one in the same Floridablau. Thanks for the new desktop, Paddy!

16

I love the blue Mk. I 4-door, I had a mint one in the same Floridablau. Thanks for the new desktop, Paddy!

17

Yeah Darren's 205 is finally getting some attention! The thing is it's no GTI! Even though It has some GTI parts it left the factory as a 1.1! It's his first car and this summer we swapped it for a 1.4. Shame, you didn't get one when my mini was next to it :(

18

Yeah Darren's 205 is finally getting some attention! The thing is it's no GTI! Even though It has some GTI parts it left the factory as a 1.1! It's his first car and this summer we swapped it for a 1.4. Shame, you didn't get one when my mini was next to it :(

19

"I think this Avant has had more colour changes that I’ve had underwear. The orange / Rotiform SNA combination was probably my favourite but this is certainly a close second."
 
they are different rs4's! the orange one is now green and is a b5, the blue one is a b7 and used to be grey.

20

Vogue Auto Design looks quite bad compare with RWB

Author21

 @JDMized  @sean If you read VAD's blog it will give you an insight into why they built this and their reasoning behind it. It is their first attempt at something like this - not counting RWB Number One -  so it was never going to be a RWB beater straight off the bat, but these guys are pretty dedicated and are quite meticulous with their work. For sure it'll be interesting to keep an eye on what they come up with in the future. Here's that blog link, although I think you'll have to go back a page or two -  http://www.vadwheels.com/NEWSBLOG.aspx

Author22

 @JoseRivera It surely is!

Author23

 @Golightly It's the first C30 I've ever seen in the metal that was tastefully modified. I guess change my mind is too song a phrase, perhaps opening my mind would be better. 

Author24

 @GulfPetrolHead It was on its own when I made my way through that area of the show, but kudos to him on it being his first car - perfect example of how simple ideas executed well can be just as popular as mega-bucks builds.

Author25

 @MTW I can't keep up with these kids any more! Thanks for pointing it out!

26

 @PaddyMcGrathSH no problem! does get confusing! for the record that B7 used to be porsche GT3rs grey, with matte black rotiforms and tennis ball green trim, one of the best colour combos ive ever seen put together, its been changed far to quickly in my opinion!

27

please more pics of that 6 series

28

that sticker is jokes!! i want one!
can see more heat with the VAD porsche again....

29

That beetle in the desktops, is that a MK2 Jetta behind it with the cage and Chrome/Gold rims.
Great coverage BTW, is there any more?

Author30
Author31
32

I'd like to see a picture of that MKIV R32 in Porsche paint scheme from the cover picture!

33

I'd like to see a picture of that MKIV R32 in Porsche paint scheme from the cover picture!

34

 @PaddyMcGrathSH  @JDMized  @sean loolks like they are just made a selfish copy of RWB(((( It isn't fair I guess...

35

 @PaddyMcGrathSH  @JDMized  @sean loolks like they are just made a selfish copy of RWB(((( It isn't fair I guess...

36

wow that red beetle looks like it's wet. great color for a car like that. =)

37

Nice pics. It's been a while since I've been to a show such as this... I now know I've been missing out.
My fun was turning up in something a tad unexpected ;) (shame I can't see a pic of 61' Healey...)

38

Nice pics. It's been a while since I've been to a show such as this... I now know I've been missing out.
My fun was turning up in something a tad unexpected ;) (shame I can't see a pic of 61' Healey...)

39

The black golf you said was one of your favorties is my friend Simon's

40

The vad car is the tits full stop just because its a widebody....whoppe doooo
Rwb is a gt2 evo rip off are u posting crap to them about there cars yes gt2 evo copy
Its the same all nakai has done is put a few more inches into the fenders
And of course filled them with silly diffetent sized spacers on every wheel
I see this car at players no spacers and the build is amazing so pls stop hating
On a company doing things right if you dont know your porsche history shut up
And stick to putting porsche wheels on vws

Look on google at gt2 evo then figure who copied who Its not rocket science

Oh yeah 355 back tyre game ova thats doing things right

41

I would love to see a full spread on a older vw bug, theres a big show in Az thats coming up;) just a heads up and hit. But the  VW/audi shows are some of the best with the cars showing every thing given the best attention to detail out there

42

 @PaddyMcGrathSH  @Golightly  is that Hawaii plates on that car? 

43

@PaddyMcGrathSH

C30 is far more tasteful from the factory with no rack and no gaudy rims. To each their own, but c'mon, you're just saying things to say things.

44

Why do aircooled VW's scare you Paddy?

45

Why do aircooled VW's scare you Paddy?

46

Why do aircooled VW's scare you Paddy?

47

Is there any more pics or info on the miata in the first pic?

48

Is there any more pics or info on the miata in the first pic?

49

Is there any more pics or info on the miata in the first pic?

50

 @twistedsandwich  @PaddyMcGrathSH  @JDMized  @sean aren't RWD and VAD had an some issues? last, I heard both were partners then some arguement between Nakai-san and people at VAD cause the split... least what I read on the web anyways. Funnily enough, few months later or so, VAD started relesing their own Porsche widely, which coincidencely, near or close the shape and style of Nakai's own RWB collection.

51

 @twistedsandwich  @PaddyMcGrathSH  @JDMized  @sean  Yes! That's what I'm talking about! It is shi**y unfair to do things like VAD do... I hope, they will suffer for such disrespect!

Author52

 @twistedsandwich   You would wish suffering on someone over a car? I think that's a bit much to be honest. Like Sean and others have said, neither RWB or VAD were the first to do a wide-body conversion on a Porsche and they've both drawn inspiration from the factory car. I'm not saying either is right or wrong BTW! I think people just need to relax a little bit ...

53

Thank you for showing some love to the aircooled crowd.

56

@J8ker Heyyy..Chill out Dude..First of all VAD was official RWB dealer for UK and Europe but Nakai San stop collaboration with VAD.
But to become a dealer for RWB you have to make your own RWB Porche and off course Nakai san builds for you.
After the car was finished VAD try to sell the car at last year's Autosport 2012 for 80000GBP.
Nobody bought it, and then VAD kept the same fenders and change the colour and front bumpers and wheels and show it like their own project..
And how I do know all of these?
First of all I live in UK .
and secondly I have speak to Nakai san about the fact to become the dealer for UK.
Think before you speak.
Call VAD tomorrow and you will see that the guy is so unorganised and totaly unprofessional...

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