Re-enactors at OW.

Or more importantly what is the point of a car display at an Airshow (sorry Snaps :D)

Or even what’s the point of the airshow in the first place?

Or more importantly what is the point of a car display at an Airshow (sorry Snaps :D)

As for that Morgan on the trailer……it was a special edition, only one of a few made etc so the owners felt it safest for it to travel there on the trailer.

Hi Snaps 🙂

That raises two questions

1) What is the point of a car if you can’t drive it?

2) Did it enjoy the airshow?

Moggy

I enjoyed seeing the vintage cars, as did my stepdad that attended Shuttleworth College from 1962-1964. He saw the car that he did the London to Breighton run in…

Wow, that’s cool. Having turned out to watch the London to Brighton at Thornton Heath Pond on several bl@@dy freezing November mornings over the years it was always great to try and spot the OW entry. That run always gave me a boost – what a great, pointless, fun and cool (or cold) thing to do!

I think Moggy’s post about the reenactor at Arnheim in a bar where someone nearly spilt a drink on him – “Ooo! Mind my uniform!” – not really carrying off the tough airborne persona, sums it up for me.

Morgan on a trailer. Hmmm. It takes all sorts, it’s just nice they want to give cash to OW, I guess. 😉

I can only speak for the two WW2 veterans that I know but they’re bewildered by enactors.
Once when my Dad got into conversation with some of them at Duxford they seemed quite dismissive of him.
I know I’m biased here but I thought that they might have learned more from him than than he could have from them.

I can’t say here what he said about them!
Hence my thoughts on motives.
Cheers
Andy

But somebody brought a Morgan – on a trailer :confused:

What’s that about?

Moggy

I enjoyed seeing the vintage cars, as did my stepdad that attended Shuttleworth College from 1962-1964. He saw the car that he did the London to Breighton run in whilst there and spoke to one of the mechanics in charge of it. It was really interesting, not only for him and me, but also the mechanic. As for that Morgan on the trailer……it was a special edition, only one of a few made etc so the owners felt it safest for it to travel there on the trailer. I didn’t get a response to why didn’t they remove it from the trailer once they had arrived. 🙂 I guess it comes down to owners choice at the end of the day, but it really stopped any ideas of me taking any photos of it.

It’s just that I wonder what the real motive is behind what they do.

I think Moggy’s post about the reenactor at Arnheim in a bar where someone nearly spilt a drink on him – “Ooo! Mind my uniform!” – not really carrying off the tough airborne persona, sums it up for me.

Morgan on a trailer. Hmmm. It takes all sorts, it’s just nice they want to give cash to OW, I guess. 😉

As ever there was a scattering of ‘classic’ cars, and one can see that OW is a pleasant venue for a bimble out on a fine summer’s day with a cosseted machine. Indeed I brought the Ducati, which only added to my enjoyment of the day.

But somebody brought a Morgan – on a trailer :confused:

What’s that about?

Moggy

There are many things I don’t wish to see. For instance I have yet to see Schindler’s List – I know the story, I don’t want to see it as it’d bee too much. However, other people telling me what I can and can’t see is a red rag to a bull.

It’s always drink o’clock somewhere in the world. 😉

So… Cheers!

Mrs Aib and myself have never seen that film for similar reasons.
As I think I tried to say earlier, I don’t say that re-enactors shouldn’t be allowed to re-enact. It’s just that I wonder what the real motive is behind what they do.
Just a thought.
Andy

There are many things I don’t wish to see. For instance I have yet to see Schindler’s List – I know the story, I don’t want to see it as it’d bee too much. However, other people telling me what I can and can’t see is a red rag to a bull.

It’s always drink o’clock somewhere in the world. 😉

So… Cheers!

You are refering to the life of a pilot in W.W.I or a Czech Spitfire pilot in W.W.II of course, as represented by the Shuttleworth Collection?

As usual James you have that knack of firing a bullet that travels close to my heart.
I have over the years considered the morality (if that’s the word) of flying old war planes or owning old military vehicles and displaying them.

Usually after a while of iconclusive pondering my brain starts to ache and I go onto to more cheerful subjects like what’s for lunch or will the pub still be serving Adnams tonight.

I find the same happens when I consider third World debt or why we don’t cure Aids.

Later.
Andy

I have mixed views about the re-enactment thing. I do try to make good use of the guys in RAF/USAAF garb, and I think they do bring a little life to some of my pictures. The thing that annoys me is the guys of the 101st Airbourne standing in front of the aircraft at Duxford.

Please don’t do it, it’s not big and it’s not clever! 😀

Often the periods in history they’re trying to represent were for many people nasty, brutish and life was short.

You are refering to the life of a pilot in W.W.I or a Czech Spitfire pilot in W.W.II of course, as represented by the Shuttleworth Collection?

We had a very similar discussion about this area recently. It’s interesting how big or small some of our comfort zones are. As I said then, many of my friends find my interest in things like Spitfires and Lancasters, Messerschmitts and Heinkels deeply dubious; they are pure killing machines. I can see their point.

I can’t see a lot of different between flying a W.W.II aircraft and a reenactor’s activities. War is a complex and multifactited disgrace in the history of civilisation. Choosing ‘acceptable’ and ‘unaceptable’ bits for portrayal seems hypocritical.

My Grandfather (ex-Royal Australian Navy) was anti-Japanese to his death. My father and I make our own views. I appreciate your reactions Kev, but I’m keen to see more, not less representation of the Japanese in W.W.II – they were there, and it’s important that’s shown. They were also allies of Britain in W.W.I – though that’s forgotten as well.

I’ve just realised that you can object to the plays of Shakespere on the same basis as the points made above!

Humanity, including all of us has shown a brilliant inability to learn to resove our differences without slaughter; and in the 20th Century managed to accelerate our genocide by the greatest factor since the dawn of time. If we weren’t in this mess, it’s be funny.

Just a few thouights for discussion.

I don’t see what re-enactors are trying to achieve.
Often the periods in history they’re trying to represent were for many people nasty, brutish and life was short.
I remain unconvinced that dressing up as a Japanese soldier in a Bedfordshire field in Aug 2005 sheds much new light on what happened in times past.

I’d be happy to hear a re-enactors views on this.
Cheers
Andy

If that’s how these guys want to spend their weekends I don’t personally have a problem with them. On the other hand they added nothing to the day.

I did think that the lone ‘Japanese’ looked distinctly Billy-No-Mates (And disturbingly European). Almost like he was one of these lone survivors who hasn’t found out the war is over.

Moggy

Personally, putting the ‘Japanese encampment’ which was basically a groundsheet with regalia, a tent and a couple of people looking very non-Japanese, right in front of the busiest area by the restaurant wasn’t one of The Shuttleworth Trusts best decisions.

There were certainly better and more appropriate displays that could have been placed there – simply on merit, let alone taste!

The Luftwaffe chaps were in fact the pilot/owner and ground crew of the Storch replica. They were dressed the same at the PFA Rally this year, I think it shows their enthusiasm for it!

Thanks for that information.

With this knowledge I wholeheartedly approve of their efforts.

Moggy

As squit, haw kin ya sey yrrra naaarfuk bouy when ya tak lika furrana? Uve bin away too lon bouy 😉

Oh God what have I done now!!

What do you mean?
I’m just a simple country boy from Norfolk–I’ve no idea about those cunning games you city people play.

Inserts piece of straw back in mouth and shuffles off to the milking shed. 🙂 😉 🙂

Oh God what have I done now!!

Oh I dunno, you do a good Naaafolk farm boy 😀

It works too, you’d be amazed what you can learn about people while they think they’re looking down their nose at you. 🙂 😉 🙂