Chelsea Cruise
The Chelsea Cruise is back, despite the actions of London Mayor Mr Khan with more attendee sthan ever...
Following the success of the 45th Anniversary Chelsea Cruise in May, the Graffiti spirit returned to Chelsea Bridge a few weeks later for June's cruise. Turnout was even better than it had been in May, and there was a feeling of camaraderie as members of different motoring sects, from the more traditional cruisers in hot rods and American cars to fast Ford freaks, Volks folk and scooterists, convened beneath the balmy skies.
Having said that, there wasn't quite the same carefree, easy-going atmosphere as in May. While this may be attributable in part to the general increase in traffic, May's roads having been virtually empty, a larger part of it is probably due to the unwelcome boy-racer element, popping and banging in their hatchbacks and going to great lengths to demonstrate what their cars aren't capable of. It's not fair to lump the blame solely on them, since a few of the Ford Escort lot, who are generally old enough to know better, have precisely the same attention-seeking complex and will only damage the reputation of more sensible enthusiasts.
In spite of the irritating minority, a sense of satisfaction was still pervasive among cruisers and general public alike. A lady cyclist struck up a conversation with me, reminiscing about those halcyon Seventies days when she'd cruise the King's Road in a '52 Buick. "I was sitting in a pub when a man came up to me and said, 'Here, you need a car. I've got a spare one - you can have it if you like.' He just gave it to me." Never mind what jobsworth officials or billionaires living in deluxe rabbit hutches might have to say, stories like that just go to show that real cruising is a wonderful thing for community spirit.
At the other side of the bridge, some parkaclad scooterists on Vespas advertised their presence with a rallying cry of: "We are the Mods, we are the Mods, we are, we are, we are the Mods!" "You'll end up in the Thames if you're not careful!" retorted the Ted in the pillar-box drape. And Chelsea cruised on ...