Articles by Michael Carnell

David Townsend of Sports Car Art has announced a new collection of prints featuring the evolution of different models of classic British sports cars. These works are available either as prints for framing or as backlit or unlit box displays. Currently available titles include:    • Triumph TR3 • Triumph TR4-TR6 • Jaguar XK • Jaguar E-Type • MGA • MGB • Austin-Healey 100 • MG T-Type 

British Car Day 2017 in Charleston, SC, was held at Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park. Nearly 100 cars were in attendance, and a great time was had by all. The club was founded in 1983 and this was the 33rd annual British Car Day, and it won’t be the last. Thanks to Dave Rosato of the British Car Club for this aerial footage.

Loving this one. Our video this week is from our friend John Clancy who brings you TriumphDVDs. But, this week’s video is not about Triumphs. No, this week we are looking at the history of Rover. Rover is one of those brands that was never very popular here in the US but was a standard in England. Additionally, the Rover brand was had heavy influences on almost all other British car brands and contributed one of the most famous engines of the classic period – the Rover 3500 V8. This video is a preview of the documentary DVD charting the full story of Rover from the introduction of the safety bicycle in 1895 to the last cars in 2005.

We just got in a brief event report from Scott Monfort of the British Car Club of Western North Carolina (BCCWNC). Their annual “Autumn in the Mountains” show was held on September 30th of this year in Hendersonville, North Carolina. This is a wonderful Fall event with proceeds going to charity. Scott said: We had 90 cars show for the event.  This was less than last year but we still increased our collections by 10% over last year.  I was hoping to top last years entries of 100 cars but I am grateful for the increase in spectators. It was a beautiful day with clear skies and moderate temperature. The $4,400 received during the one-day event will be donated to the local Meals on Wheels charity. The pictures sent show members with their cars, group car shots, an award being given, […]

Our Video of the Week for this second week of October comes all the way from the 2017 All MG Collier Cup race at Watkins Glen, NY, put on by the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA). So buckle up and take a ride with Mike Barstow in his MGTD. The “Collier Cup” took place during the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix which was held from September 6 through 10. More than 400 vintage and historic race cars competeD in 11 vintage race groups. The race groups showcaseD many well-known marques, including Lotus, Porsche, Shelby, Alfa, Ferrari, Corvette, MG and Jaguar. Running as a part of this event this year ASs the Trans-Am Series presented by Pirelli.

Our video this week comes from the popular British television show Wheeler Dealers. Even though one of the main guys on the show has recently been replaced, the episode we are looking at is before that. Back when Edd China was still on. But he is not the focus of the video, a 1980 Triumph Spitfire is. In case you don’t know, Wheel Dealers features two presenters (in this case Edd China and Mike Brewer) on a mission to save old and repairable enthusiast vehicles, by repairing or otherwise improving an example of a particular make and model to a budget, then selling it to a new owner. Basically, we are talking flipping cars instead of houses. Along the way, you learn the finer and not so fine points of these cars and have fun watching other folk muck about in […]

There have long been images of witches riding brooms, but could there be a time in the near future when the modern witch makes the switch from broom to vacuum cleaner? Dyson may be banking on it. Dyson, the British engineering company best known for its vacuum cleaners and fans, plans to spend £2.5bn developing a “radical” electric car. The battery-powered vehicle is due to be launched in 2020.

You can never have too much of a good thing, and Aston Martins are certainly a good thing. Our friends at Take to the Road recently produced an excellent video review of a 1959 Aston Martin DB4, and we are featuring that review here as our Video of the Week. Make sure to check out their site for additional pictures and other great articles. We are going to quote from the Take to the Road review: Off all the British automotive brands that have come and gone, there is one that is guaranteed to stir the emotions. And that is Aston Martin. It is a name that evokes style, luxury and speed. And of course a certain fictional spy. The Aston Martin DB4 was never a Bond car but its design laid the foundations for the legendary DB5. It is […]

It is with a heavy heart that I must let you know of another passing in our ranks. Dick Knudson, MG evangelist and recent inductee into the British Sports Car Hall of Fame, has passed away last Friday, September 1st. Services will be held Friday, September 8th, in Schenevus, New York. The Reverend Dr. Richard L. Knudson was a co-founded the New England MG ‘T’ Register in 1964 and has been the register’s backbone ever since, guiding the register and its many events over the years. He was editor of the Register’s “Sacred Octagon” magazine for many years. He became an “MG Expert”, even traveling to England to do MG research. He authored a number of books on MGs, including “MG – The Sports Car America Loved First”. Although I had been a fan of the man and his work for […]

Hagerty, the insurance provider for classic and special interest cars, announced that it has purchased the Massachusetts-based online rental system formerly known as Classics&Exotics. The latter had been in operation since 2014. Rebranded and online as DriveShare, will enable enthusiasts and perhaps those who are just curious or nostalgic to rent the classic car of their dreams.

Our video of the week this time is from the 2016 Portland All British Field Meet. This year’s edition of the show will be held the first weekend in September. I attended this show back in 2005 (wow, that seems like a long time ago now!) and can attest to it being a great show. It not only has a large number of cars, somewhere in the 800 area, but is well managed and in a great location. In addition to the show itself, SOVREN’s Columbia River Classic is held on the same weekend at the adjacent race track. Two days of racing follow a limited test ‘n tune day on Friday.New this year is our stop on the CrossFlow Cup, a five-event West Coast series for Formula Fords.  

Update: The contest is now closed! We would like to congratulate Ray Whitley on his win which was determined at random from all entries received. We would also like to thank all of those who entered the contest. Entertaining stuff! I bet you didn’t know that July is my birthday month – well it is. But, I am going to give you the present. Aren’t I generous? We Leo’s are like that!  Since this book is proving to be so popular, I thought you might like another contest chance to win a copy of Robert Morey’s Philosophy and Psychology of British Car Restoration. This is a great little book, and a fun read for any fan of old British cars. So, you might be asking yourself how you enter the contest. I gave a lot of thought to that and decided that […]

Our video of this week this time comes by way of Ohio. Well, it comes from the MG Cars Channel actually. The video is a wrap-up of the recent MG Gathering of the Faithful (GOF) that took place last week in Akron. Although the weather turned rainy, it sounds like a good time was had none-the-less. You can see more details of the event at the GOF Central website. Make sure to check out all of the cars winning awards on the awards page. The 2018 GoF Central will be held at Lake Delavan, Wisconsin, beginning on June 27th. More info is available at the official site.

This week, our video features the performance of the Panasonic Jaguar Racing team at the Formula E races in New York. First of all, it is fun watching these cars tear around, but secondly, it is such a different auditory experience with the sound of electric motors instead of the internal combustion beasts. In front of the iconic Manhattan skyline, Panasonic Jaguar Racing claimed a vital championship point in the first of the NYCePrix Formula E races. Adam Carroll advanced three positions to finish 10th, whilst Mitch Evans sustained damage early in the race. For those who don’t know, Formula E, officially the FIA Formula E Championship, is a class of auto racing that uses only electric-powered cars. The series was conceived in 2012, and the inaugural championship started in Beijing on 13 September 2014. The series is sanctioned by the FIA. […]

Congratulations to our winner! We would like to congratulate Bruce Cunha on his win of the book. Bruce, and you can read his comment below, drives an MG BGT as his everyday ride, which is great! Says his wife drives an SUV, and he has an MG TD under restoration. Sounds like a pretty good way to go. Look for our next contest coming soon. We haven’t had a competition for a while, and it is time to change that. What’s more, we would like to give some lucky ready out there a chance to own a copy of Robert Morey’s Philosophy and Psychology of British Car Restoration. You have heard us talk about the book, and you may have even read Bob Seidler’s excellent review, so now it is time for us to part with a copy and send it […]

Our Video of the Week this go round is a fun one.  It comes from the folks at MINI, but focusses more on the love of the classic Mini. Plant Oxford employee Mike Darley’s passion for MINI started as a child. Learn about his Classic Mini restoration project and how working at MINI is a lifestyle.

Our Video of the Week the go round comes by way of John Clancy of TriumphDVDs. This is a good look at the recent 2017 edition of the TR Drivers Club Bullet Run. This was the second edition of the run. TR Drivers Club Bullet Run 2017 re-tracing the old Triumph test route through the Peak District. Run in memory of David Keepax, Triumph Stylist, who sadly died in October 2016. Special guests this year are TRDC Honorary President, Harris Mann, Triumph Stylist and colleague of Dave Keepax, John Ashford and Triumph Development Engineer, David Jeanes.

The British Motor Museum has just redesigned their online shop to make it easier to buy Heritage Certificates.  These certificates are available for many of the leading British motor manufacturers including Austin, Morris, MG, Riley, Wolseley, Aston Martin, Rover, Land Rover, Standard, Triumph, BMC and British Leyland. The certificates are basically birth certificates for you car and pull from the original manufacturer’s records and will include details like the build and despatch dates, engine and body numbers, color scheme, and details of factory fitted equipment. Not all particulars are available for every car – much of this depends on the records kept by the original facility and the maintenance of those records over time by different companies. To celebrate the redesign of the museum’s e-shop, they are offering classic car owners a special deal this summer. From now until July 17, 2017 you […]