Well, we came, we saw, we conquered! 320 micro/mini cars rolled into Crystal Lake this weekend, and approximately eight per cent of those vehicles belonged to just one man. So many vehicles did this one man bring, that he had his own entire section allocated to him, whilst all around had to share their sections with the rest. Who was this man? Was it a certain resident of Georgia? No it was not. Nashville? No again....
Stand up IAN HELLINGS and his worldwide collection of invalid carriages (plus a Reliant Robin & an Arola) Some folk were content to bring one car. Some brought two. No doubt some others brought three, but not Ian. Oh no. Ian decided the optimum figure for him was no less than TWENTY vehicles. Is this a record figure of cars from one single person's collection ever taken to a micro event not held at that person's own premises, anywhere in the world? It sounds like it damn well ought to be to me!
Certainly two records were smashed by Ian this weekend: The highest number of "Ministry"-era powered UK invalid three-wheelers seen together in the preservation era (1976-date). The record prior to this weekend was six, set at Blackwood, Wales in April 2008. Now, in August 2010, the record has been pushed to TEN such machines. Add to this, the setting of a new recould category, that of ANY & ALL types of disabled vehicles shown together, & the count is NINETEEN, being eighteen from Ian, & one machine from new ICR members Ken & Vicki Siefker of Ohio with a Chair-E-Yacht.
I now herein confirm that the invalid carriages have indeed achevied their goal of World Domination this past weekend in Crystal Lake....