There’s one show that, undoubtedly, initiated the birth of several modified car shows in the UK… the one and only Players at North Weald Airfield. Founded by Jamie McToldridge and Carl Taylor, their vision came into fruition by hosting a new type of show that catered for all petrolheads within the clustered automotive world, but most importantly, oozing anything cool. Naturally, Players is known to have a strong presence of cars sporting Air Lift suspension and Rotiform wheels, but that’s to be expected when they are the main sponsors of the event. BUT, it’s balanced out with plenty of diversity. For example, walking into the main show, the first thing that would’ve met your eyes was a jacked up Chevy Impala lowrider. Followed by the UK’s first RWB Porsche. Then a classic Mercedes-Benz to a brand new BMW M4 on air. From a selection of Mk1 Golfs, to a Bagged Austin Healey! And people say that there’s no variation left these days? Well, I’m sorry, but that’s just plain B.S. – Jamie and Carl are two guys with quite the opposite taste in cars – put them together and you’ve got a team of incredible curators, showing us what is cool, and what’s going to ‘wow’ you as soon as you step foot into their show. Players 10.0 proved that they’ve still got it, ten years later.
Pav Gill’s Chevrolet Impala SS lowrider on hydraulics
PROFUSION Customs’ Porsche 964 RWB on Work Meister S1’s
James Brown’s bagged Mercedes-Benz 190E on Rotiform MBZ’s
Raj Sangha’s Audi RS2 on Rotiform STR’s
Sumil Pancholi’s BMW E39 on Air Lift suspension & Hartge splits
Kim Cowden’s Mk1 Golf
Julian Göttschkes’ Audi 100LS on HP Drivetech/AccuAir suspension
Steven Doe’s BMW E21 on Air Lift / AccuAir suspension & CCW D110′s
(click here to check out our feature on Steven’s E21)
Jamie McToldridge’s Volkswagen Mk1 Golf G60 on H&R suspension & Rotiform YVR’s
Liam Elmore’s Audi TT on Air Lift suspension & Rotiform OZT’s
Marcel Bäumer’s Mercedes-Benz W108 280SE on Air Lift suspension
Car Audio & Security’s BMW E30 M3 on Air Lift suspension & Rotiform OZT’s
Will Drayson’s BMW E92 on Air Lift suspension & Rotiform BLQ’s
Raj Sangha’s BMW M4 on Air Lift Suspension & Rotiform RSE’s
JAG’S Bodyshop’s Audi B5 S4 Avant
Max Marshall’s Austin Healey on Air Lift suspension
Paul’s Audi B5 S4 Avant on Air Lift suspension & Rotiform DIA’s
Dan Tuttle’s 1960 Chevrolet Impala on Air Lift suspension
Jamie McToldridge’s Mercedes-Benz W123 230CE on Air Lift suspension & Rotiform LHR’s
Ryan Stewart’s track-spec Porsche Cayman on Rotiform LSR’s
Ash Squires’ 1987 Mk2 Toyota Soarer on Tein coilovers & SSR Mk1′s
Jon Naish’s Nissan President on hydraulic suspension
Jamie McToldridge’s RX8 Rotary-swapped 1966 Datsun 520 on Air Lift suspension
Andy Maguire’s Audi B5 RS4 Avant on Air Lift suspension
Jamie Wootton’s 1966 Volkswagen Beetle on Empi wheels
Steven Foxall’s static BMW M50-turbo’d E30 on Schmidt TH-Line’s
Still Static’s Audi B8 on H&R suspension & Vossen LC105-T’s
Ben Anson’s BMW E21 on Air Lift suspension & BBS RS’s
Andy Ware’s Mk6 Golf on Air Lift suspension & stepped-up BBS RS’s
Patric James’ Volkswagen Corrado on Air Lift suspension & Eta Beta’s
Sukhi Kang’s Porsche 964 on stepped-up BBS RS’s
Alex Begley’s BMW E92 M3 on Air Lift suspension & Fifteen52 Tarmacs
HR Autoworks’ 1957 Oval & Ben Rye’s 1957 Oval Ragtop
James Ellerker’s static Mk1 Ford Fiesta
Dub-It’s Volkswagen Type2
Matt Bampton’s Mk3 Golf GTI ABT 16v on Air Lift suspension
Lala Miah’s BMW 635CSi on Air Lift suspension & custom-built M-system Throwing Star splits
JAG’S Bodyshop’s Liberty Walk BMW E92 M3
Steve Fraser’s Audi S3 saloon on Air Lift suspension & Rotiform KPS’s
Beth Halsey’s Audi A1 on Air Lift suspension & Rotiform BLQ-2’s
Edward Johnston’s wide-body BMW E36 Touring w/S50 M3 conversion, Air Lift suspension & custom BMW splits
Joe P’e’s Volkswagen T25 pickup on hydraulic suspension
Chris Wallis’ Mk5 Golf GTI on Air Lift suspension & OZ Futura’s
Hunain K’s Mk6 Golf R on Air Lift suspension & OZ Futura’s
Rich Tapp’s Nissan Skyline R32 on OZ Futura’s
Kat Giles’ Audi Q3 on Air Lift suspension & Rotiform KPS’s
Mikel Roe’s Mk6 Jetta on AccuAir suspension & OZ Futura’s
Chris Phillips’ static Lexus IS200 on WORK Equip’s
Alex Hurd’s BMW E46 330ci on Air Lift suspension & WORK Meister S1’s
Billy Hilton’s Audi S8 on KW suspension & Rotiform CCV’s
Sean Crompton’s static BMW E36 ‘vert on Carline CM6′s
Bekir Iskender’s BMW E39 540i on Air Lift suspension & custom 19″ 3pc Alpina Softline’s
So, Players remains on top with variation and unbeatable quality of cars – but, and it’s a big but, is it enough in this fast-moving automotive community? With so many new shows on the horizon, it’s clearly becoming more and more of a chore to keep up with the youngsters and new breed of car enthusiasts. With content from shows popping up on Instagram before you even have a chance to look around in person, there’s an unfortunate sense of impatience in the car scene these days. I get the feeling that the North Weald show is gradually becoming second to its younger sister, Players Classic, which is the event that seems to get bigger and better each year – plus there’s the history and motorsport heritage that comes with the location of Goodwood Motor Circuit. North Weald will always remain a special place to ourselves and others that have been part of the scene for years – but could it be time for a change of format? We’ll be supporting it nonetheless.