30th Chicagoland British Car Festival

August 4, 2016 Staff Comments Off

More than 20 British car clubs, 500 automobiles and over 2,000 people are expected to join in the 30th annual Chicagoland British Car Festival, which is much more than just a car show. The Festival features, authentic British food, Irish dancers, music, technical learning sessions, car merchandise giveaways, classic car parts vendors and new car dealers showcasing the latest imports from Great Britain, including Jaguars and Bentleys. And for the first time, this year’s festival will include valve cover racing, a gravity-propelled competition using modified automobile engine valve covers on wheels. Admission for the general public is free, with donations encouraged for Shelter, Inc., which is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing community-based, emergency and longer-term housing for abused and neglected children. www.shelter-inc.org. The early registration fee is $20.00 before August 23, 2016, and $25.00 after the deadline and at […]

Fast Car Festival Attendees Wowed By Aston Martin Vulcan

August 3, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Stunning selections of cars were on display at the UK’s newest car event, Fast Car Festival, this weekend with the new spectacular Aston Martin Vulcan wowing the 6,000-strong crowd. The Vulcan, an 800bhp purpose-built race car is estimated to be worth £2million and is one of only 24 in the world, making it one of the planet’s most exclusive cars. Former F1 driver, and current Fifth Gear presenter, Tiff Needell, made a guest appearance and showed off his considerable skills behind the wheel, giving a few lucky visitors passenger laps in his Lotus Evora 400. Further highlights of the weekend included the Caterham Drift Passenger rides with professionals teaching passengers how to drift around the Melbourne Loop track in a Caterham Seven. On Sunday visitors took advantage of the Supercar Paddock, which showcased more than 50 cars from members of […]

William Medcalf featured in stunning Petrolicious film Living Life as a Bentley Boy

VotW – William Medcalf – Living Life as a Bentley Boy

August 3, 2016 Staff Comments Off

World-renowned vintage Bentley specialist William Medcalf is proud to be the subject of one of the latest films to be released by celebrated film-maker and car magazine Petrolicious. The evocative film perfectly captures the spirit of William Medcalf and gives an insight into what drives his passion for vintage Bentleys while entertaining the viewer with fantastic cinematography that shows exactly how these cars are best used. The 10-minute piece was filmed in the beautiful Sussex countryside, in the areas surrounding William Medcalf’s workshop and headquarters in Liss. This area not only provides the perfect driving roads but also shows England at its very best. William tells the story behind his life-long passion for vintage Bentleys, and how he feels the cars should be driven today. “Anything with wheels should be raced. Everything with wheels should be driven to the limit,” […]

McLaren 650S GT3 fights hard in the Total 24 Hours of Spa

McLaren 650S GT3 in Action on Two Continents

August 1, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Seven examples of the McLaren 650S GT3 were in action over the weekend, taking part in the Total 24 Hours of Spa and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course round of the Pirelli World Challenge. As a result of the challenging weekend, McLaren GT associated drivers and customer teams now lead the points tallies in seven of the standings associated with the two championships, including McLaren leading the Pirelli World Challenge Manufacturer Championship.

Triumph Motorcycle confirms new World Land Speed Record attempt

Triumph Motorcycles to Attempt Land Speed Record

August 1, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Triumph Motorcycles, the iconic British motorcycle brand, has confirmed that it will return to the legendary salt flats of Bonneville, USA, in August 2016 to break the motorcycle world land speed record. Triumph’s aim is to exceed the current record that stands at 376.363 mph, using its purpose built 1,000 bhp Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner. Riding the purpose-built Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner over the measured mile will be Isle of Man TT racer and multiple speed record holder Guy Martin. Title partner for Triumph’s 2016 record attempt will be global cloud applications provider Infor with further support from iconic clothing brand Belstaff.

Bristol BULLET Unveiling and Debut at Salon Privé

July 29, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Hot on the heels of its public unveiling, is the news that reborn British marque, Bristol, will make its first full public debut with the BULLET at the upcoming Salon Privé event on 1st to 3rd September. As the UK’s most exclusive automotive event, Salon Privé attracts the world’s leading manufacturers, press and collectors. With the event now at the internationally renowned World Heritage site of spectacular Blenheim Palace, its central location and easy access via road, rail and air will ensure visitor numbers continue to increase as guests travel to the event not only from throughout the UK but also overseas. With a bold and confident design and manufactured from bespoke carbon fibre composites in the UK, the Bristol BULLET is launched on the anniversary of the founding of Bristol Cars Limited, celebrating 70 years of sophisticated motoring. With […]

E-Type Club’s Round Britain Coastal Drive

July 28, 2016 Staff 2

The E-type Club’s ROUND BRITAIN COASTAL DRIVE, supporting Prostate Cancer UK is really gathering momentum. Over 100 Jaguar E-types have already booked for one or more of the 18 daily stages around the coastal roads of Great Britain. One of those is Formula 1 legend Ross Brawn who masterminded Michael Schumacher’s seven World Championships. Brawn has a fantastic collection of cars, reflecting his time with Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar, including a pair of stunning E-types.

Reader Profile

Reader Profile – The Burroughs, a Triumph Family

July 28, 2016 Michael Carnell Comments Off

We love reading the stories of people and their cars, so we have decided to start running some reader profiles. This is kind of like our sticker gallery but goes a step further to really focus on the people and cars behind the picture. Our first profile comes to us from Bill and Joanne Burroughs of Vista, California. Bill and Joanne have a 1968 TR250 and a 1970 TR6.

1961 Jaguar Mk X owned by Sir William Lyons

William Lyons’ Own Jaguar Up For Auction

July 27, 2016 Staff Comments Off

An incredibly special 1961 Jaguar Mk X owned by Sir William Lyons, founder of Jaguar, will be sold at auction later this year at Silverstone Auctions’ Salon Privé Sale, held at Blenheim Palace on 2nd and 3rd September. Manufactured in December 1961 at the Coventry factory, the car was delivered to Sir William in January 1962 and registered to his Wappenbury Hall address in Warwickshire. Not just any ordinary Jaguar, this Mk X was one of the very first “Zenith” cars produced and made specifically for Lyons to use as his daily driver and finished to his very personal and exact specification. Synonymous with his reputation, Lyons clearly demanded only the very best and the top of the range car houses a 3.8 litre, 6-cylinder engine, which could have whisked him along Warwickshire’s roads at speeds of up to 120 […]

VotW – Unipower GT

July 27, 2016 Michael Carnell 2

Our video this week is of a rarely heard of, and even less seen, Mini-based beast, the Unipower GT. Not a kit, but a true production sports car in the vein of TVR and Marcos. To quote Wikipedia, because I honestly didn’t know much about the cars… The Unipower GT was a British specialist sports car first shown at the January 1966 Racing Car Show, and produced by truck maker Universal Power Drives Ltd in Perivale, Middlesex and later by U.W.F. Automotive in London until production ceased in early 1970, by which time around 71 cars are believed to have been made, including about 15 built by U.W.F. Originally the brainchild of Ernie Unger and Attila sports racing car designer Val Dare Bryan in the early 1960s the design of Unipower GT was actually said to have been penned by […]

Left Beyond the Horizon; or, eight years around the world 1

Left Beyond the Horizon – A Land Rover Odyssey

July 26, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Charting the amazing story of Christopher Many’s 125,000-mile, eight-and-a-half-year adventure, Left Beyond the Horizon chronicles his inspirational journey around the world in his trusty 1975 Series III Land Rover, Matilda. Between 2002 and 2010, Christopher’s unforgettable exploration off the beaten track took him from the Scottish Highlands, through Scandinavia and the frozen wastelands of Siberia, and then across Asia. That was before traversing the Pacific Ocean to North and South America, then over the Atlantic, allowing him to drive through Africa and back up to Europe – all to find out what makes the Earth ‘tick’. In the year that saw the wheels stop turning on the iconic Land Rover Defender’s production line, the unshakable robustness and durability of Matilda is a fitting tribute to the much-loved British vehicle. No stranger to tough expeditions herself, Matilda started life being thrown […]

British Invasion, Stowe, VT

July 25, 2016 Staff Comments Off

The British Invasion is a British lifestyle event that started “over a pint of ale” in Stowe, Vermont, in 1990. A four-day event that starts on the weekend of the third Saturday in September each year, to include “all things British”, with a primary focus on classic British motorcars. Beautiful Stowe, Vermont, plays host to a dazzling collection of classic British Motorcars on the third weekend in September every year. MG’s, Triumph’s, Austin-Healey, Jaguar, Singer, Morgan, Land Rover, Rover, Rolls-Royce and Bentley, Riley, Sunbeam-Alpine, and British Motorcycle comprise over 65 separate classes in the British Classic Motorcar Show. From high brow to low slung, the gamut of British auto history is well represented. They come in by the hundreds to compete in two major car shows – People’s Choice and the Concours d’Elegance. Truly a British Invasion of fabulous proportions in […]

Aston Martin Racing tastes victory at FIA WEC 6 Hours of Nürburgring

Aston Martin Reach Podium at 6 Hours of Nürburgring

July 25, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Aston Martin Racing has achieved double podium success at the 6 Hours of Nürburgring, taking victory in the GTE Am class and 3rd in GTE Pro. With conditions remaining dry throughout the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the trio of Paul Dalla Lana (C), Pedro Lamy (P) and Mathias Lauda (A) drove a faultless race to bring their V8 Vantage GTE home in 1st.

Morgan 1909 Edition EV3 to make Salon Privé Debut

July 23, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Leading British luxury event, Salon Privé, is delighted to announce that the Morgan 1909 Edition EV3 will make its global public debut at the event, which takes place once again at Blenheim Palace from 1st to 3rd September. Launched in conjunction with Selfridges, alongside nine other iconic British brands, just 19 bespoke, handmade Morgan UK 1909 Edition EV3s will be available for sale. The car, which comes with a bespoke driving kit from British design talents such as Alexander McQueen, Dents and Belstaff, is priced at £52,500.

RAC Woodcote Trophy Competitors Celebrate 10th Anniversary

RAC Woodcote Trophy 10th Anniversary

July 22, 2016 Staff Comments Off

A host of competitors past and present, race organisers and sponsors gathered on Wednesday night in the company of Sir Stirling and Lady Moss at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall to celebrate the 10thanniversary of the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy race series. Launched in 2006, the Royal Automobile Club and Motor Racing Legends conceived a race series for genuine, pre-1956 sports-racers, to be called the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy. 10 years on – this highly respected race series is still going strong.

Classics in UK Disappearing at Alarming Rate

July 21, 2016 Staff 1

Recent research by leading UK classic car insurer, ClassicLine has revealed that a number once-popular British classic cars are facing an extinction crisis. The list of top ten most endangered cars in Britain has been published by the insurance specialists as part of its new ‘Save our Classics’ campaign.

McLaren Celebrates Record Breaking 5th Anniversary

July 21, 2016 Staff Comments Off

McLaren Automotive, the British manufacturer of luxury handcrafted sports and supercars, has celebrated the fifth anniversary of the first car rolling off the production line with another record-breaking year. Operating profits increased to £23.5M – the company’s third successive year of profitability – from revenues of £450.6M, with revenue projected to increase by 50% over the next two years and double by the end of 2022 – an unprecedented performance in the early years of a car company. 2015 also marked the fifth successive year of increasing global car sales to 1,654 cars, supported by the launch of no less than five new models.

MG Motor’s UK Design Team Expands

July 21, 2016 Staff 2

A growing company with a growing product line-up calls for more designers to play their part in developing new models. MG Motor UK’s design centre, based at Longbridge, Birmingham, has expanded and is continuing to expand its design team who play a key role in the MG models on the road of today and the future. Director of Design, Anthony Williams-Kenny, is now back in the UK after being based in Shanghai for three years. Anthony will be focusing on MG Motor in the UK, as well as on a global level.

MG Metro Turbos Return to Silverstone

July 20, 2016 Staff Comments Off

For the first time in more than 30 years, three giant-killing MG Metro Turbos will take to the track at the Silverstone Classic later this month (29-31 July). Adding to the sense of history, the evocative, three-pronged attack is being masterminded by touring car hero Patrick Watts, who himself will race one of the trio of pocket rockets in the Historic Touring Car Challenge at the Classic on Tin Top Sunday. The ever-effervescent Watts, now 59, has a special relationship with these cars having been an integral part of the ARG (Austin Rover Group) factory team back in the early eighties. Such is his indefatigable passion that he has spent the past few years tracking down and restoring three of the five esteemed racers originally built in period.

MG Car Day at Larz Anderson

July 20, 2016 Site Admin Comments Off

The BSMGAC (Bay State MGA Club) is once again sponsoring MG Car Day at Larz Anderson Auto Museum, 15 Newton St, Brookline MA from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, rain or shine. The event is on Saturday, August 20th. There will be a food vendor for morning snacks as well as lunch items. There are 10 classes: MG Pre-war, MG T Post-war, MGA 1500, MGA 1600, MGB 1963-1967, MGB 1968-1974, MGB 1975-1980, MG Midget, MG Other, and MG Custom/Modified.Spread the word to all your MG friends to bring their cars out to this annual event. There will be three Spread the word to all your MG friends to bring their cars out to this annual event. There will be three awards in each class as well as a 50/50 raffle and general raffle. The voting ends by 12:30 and awards […]