America’s soft power is felt even in Oxleas Woods

America’s purchase on the imagination of the world is such that you can’t even take the dog for a Sunday run in the woods without colliding with some manifestation of US soft power.

On March 27, it was old American cars.

And the Detonators’ monthly breakfast at Oxleas Woods on the southeast edge of the British capital.

They are a group of old car enthusiasts with a fine range of Oldsmobiles, 1940s’ Fords and Jeeps and passion enough to dedicate one morning a month to chewing the fat (literally and metaphorically) with fellow collectors.

The group describes itself as follows: “Detonators CC is a pre 50s traditional Hot Rod n Custom Car Club originally in Riverside USA late 1940s.Detonators CC was est’ in London UK in 1999”.

Here’s a thin sample of what was on offer:

– A Ford 1940

– A vehicle that bore on its back a  sticker that read ‘built not bought’

– A hot rod truck

– And two Oldsmobiles