Events

At the London Design Festival 2016, MINI is collaborating with Asif Khan, whose installation MINI LIVING “Forests” explores three interpretations of these “spaces between spaces”. Munich/London. In cities like London and New York, affordable places to live are in short supply. House/flat shares or one-bedroom apartments that fall within a reasonable budget offer barely enough room for our everyday needs. At the same time, the world of work is also undergoing a period of change as workplaces go mobile and self-employment blooms. These developments have led to “third places” – those that lie between work and home – growing in importance. At the London Design Festival 2016, MINI is collaborating with Asif Khan, whose installation MINI LIVING “Forests” explores three interpretations of these “spaces between spaces”. They are each designed to encourage specific uses: relaxation, getting together or productivity. The […]

What are your car club meetings like? Could they be better? You BET! But just HOW? British car enthusiast Greg Prehodka was challenged with this situation when he “volunteered” to run the monthly meetings of the MG Car Club – Central Jersey Centre (in NJ) a number of years ago. After he joined the club, he found their monthly meetings boring and lacking substance. They would hold a simple business meeting and then everyone went home. So he stepped up to the plate and “volunteered” to run the monthly meetings to improve them. Greg has been involved with British cars since the 60’s and had many years of experience in helping to run other MG and British car club activities, including vintage racing, and would draw from his experiences. He also applied his planning engineering background to lay out a […]

I regret that it has not been mentioned here before, but the College of Charleston has entered into a partnership with the HVA (Historic Vehicle Association) to develop a program “with the goal of developing an academic partner to teach and publish scholarly research on this dimension of historic preservation.” The College’s Historic Preservation & Community Planning Program began it’s partnership with HVA last year and will be hosting the President of HVA, Mark Gessler, on campus on September 26, 2016, for a lecture entitled “Why We Need a National Register for Automobiles Now.” This lecture is free and open to the public. The program is also hosting a conference at the Historic Vehicle Association Research Laboratory in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in October. That conference “Driving History – Putting Preservation on the Road” is the first international academic event of its kind known […]

Reader Andy Ackerman sent in this brief report on the Aberdeen Heights Car Show. This takes place at the Aberdeen Heights senior home in Kirkwood, Missouri . Honestly, I feel holding shows like this at places such as this is a great way to add value to the hobby. Andy reports that  the cars “really stirred up some good memories for these elder car lovers!” Those memories are valuable to everyone and can often prompt some valuable insights and great stories. Again, keep those show reports coming! We love to see what everyone is up to.

Reader Gary Swift and his son went to the Aveton Gifford Classic Car Show, Devon, England, last weekend. Gary’s son entered his blue Austin Mini, which they say was parked next to a lovely Ford Corsair. The event was a short drive from where Gary lives, and he sent in a great series of pictures as a report from the event. According to the event organizers, despite some overnight rain and a mad dash in the morning to lay straw over the entrance they had a great show with over 1,000 people attending and 100+ classic cars and tractors on display together with a show of classic motorbikes next to the village hall. Sounds and looks like a fun event! Thanks to Gary for sending in the report, and we hope to have a report from him, and his son, on […]

The shortlist for The Classic & Sports Car Show’s ‘A Century of Supercars’ global poll has been confirmed, with 33 of the world’s fastest and most pioneering speed machines whittled down to 11 thanks to over 17,000 votes by members of the public. Supercar enthusiasts have been flocking online since June to vote for their favourite cars from 11 different eras, ranging from pre-1914 models all the way to modern machines built after 2010. And now the public must decide which of the 11 cars will be crowned the greatest supercar ever at The Classic & Sports Car Show, held at Alexandra Palace from 28th-30th October. Some truly iconic names make up the shortlist, including the Ferrari F40, McLaren F1 and Alfa Romeo 8C. Here are the contenders looking to be crowned at Alexandra Palace: Up to 1914 Mercedes 1908 […]

Rolls-Royce will celebrate the 2016 Goodwood Revival with a significant presence at the legendary motor circuit. The centrepiece will be The March Motor Works, which this year is transformed into a period Rolls-Royce showroom, recapturing the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the marque’s glamorous Berkeley Square and Park Lane premises in London’s West End during the 1950s.

More than 36,000 visitors turned out for Beaulieu’s 50th International Autojumble with 2,378 stands crammed with motoring treasures and elusive spare parts for classic car enthusiasts. Exhibitors dressed their stands in gold for the celebratory year and a special anniversary exhibition and commemorative booklet recorded five decades of the largest Autojumble this side of the Atlantic.

Visitors to this year’s Classic & Sports Car Show will be treated to an amazing sight this autumn: the live restoration of a one-of-a-kind ‘lost’ Jaguar by a team of specialists from Classic Motor Cars (CMC). In its first public appearance for 40 years, the 1954 XK120, which features bodywork by Pininfarina, will be restored at the event from 28th – 30th October, giving show goers unprecedented access to the techniques and skill that goes into bringing a classic car back to its full glory. And what a car. The unique Jaguar is believed to have been created for US importer, Max Hoffman, and was displayed at the 1955 Geneva Motor Show. It will be the key focal point in a special restoration hall at the Alexandra Palace show.

Our video this week is a features the sights and sounds of MG2016, the all-MG national meet held in June, 2016. The Ohio River in Louisville made a great backdrop for the 700 plus MGs on the show field. Get a short taste of the happenings. From the official “closing document” from Rick Ingram, Executive Director – North American Council of MG Registers: There were 829 registrations for this gathering. “On The Field” were 715 vehicles comprised of 2.66% ”pre-war” cars, 13.15% T-series cars, 22.52% MGAs or variants, and 56.78% MGBs/Cs/Midgets/1100s-1300s/or “Post-Abingdon” MGs. Additionally, 4.9% registered as “Other British” or enthusiasts participating without their MG. About 700 folks enjoyed our “Churchill Downs Experience” on Monday evening, and another 325 folks had the same experience on Wednesday evening. … Two hundred twenty enthusiasts visited the Corvette factory and museum over Tuesday and Wednesday on event-sponsored tours. About the same […]

In a display of automotive excellence, more than 150 Bentleys will grace the grounds of Windsor Castle at this year’s Concours of Elegance (2-4 September). Now in its fifth year, the Concours of Elegance has established itself as one of the world’s most prestigious motoring gatherings, convening the finest cars at Britain’s stunning Royal palaces. As a key partner of the Concours, Bentley will be presenting a range of models from its past and present – from the famous 1930 Six-Speed Van den Plas Tourer ‘Old Number 2’ (which won the Brooklands Double 12), to the new Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase and Bentayga. On Friday 2 September, Bentley will showcase three cars that bring to life the story of the marque’s pinnacle luxury flagship, the Mulsanne. Chassis No. 2 is a perfect example of the first Mulsanne produced, while the two […]

Lister Motor Company is proud to announce that its Knobbly Stirling Moss edition will be appearing at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance this Saturday, 20th August. The limited run car will be appearing at the Inn at Spanish Bay™ in Pebble Beach at 09.30am PDT, in the Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum pavilion. Sir Stirling Moss will be the guest of honour. To attend the event, interested guests are asked to register at their earliest convenience at https://www.pbclassiccarforum.com Just 10 special edition cars will be produced, each featuring a magnesium body and special lightweight specification – just like the original ‘works’ racing Knobblys of the 1950s. These cars follow on from an initial run of 10 aluminium-bodied continuations – now all sold out – production of which began in 2014 at George Lister Engineering. Each is built using the same techniques […]

“The E-type Club ROUND BRITAIN COASTAL DRIVE, supporting Prostate Cancer UK” has set up an online auction platform for members of the public to bid for a half-day ride in the Jaguar E-type from the iconic film, The Italian Job. Split into 18 daily stages, this unique event takes place between September 12 and 29, driving for the first time the entire coastal route of Great Britain with an average mileage of 180 per day. Details of the clockwise route can be found at The E-Type Club where one can enter bids or donate on the JustGiving page.

McLaren Automotive is returning to the historic Monterey Car Week, starting August 15, 2016, with the U.S. debuts of the McLaren 570GT road car, the 570S GT4 race car and new activations which will showcase McLaren’s strong heritage and current model line-up. This is the seventh year McLaren Automotive will have a significant presence at The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, bringing enthusiasts and owner’s together year-after-year since 2010, when McLaren used the venue to show the concept form of its first modern-era road car. Over the course of Monterey week, McLaren will introduce the US to the 2017 570GT with several examples of the car to be found around the peninsula. The car will make an appearance at McCall’s Motorworks Revival on Wednesday evening. It will then be on display and doing drives at the McLaren Driver Experience Thursday – […]

The Concours of Elegance 2016 – held at Windsor Castle between 2-4 September – will be showcasing more than 200 years of coachbuilt luxury. From Her Majesty The Queen’s 1800s Ascot Landau by Hooper and 1842 ‘Ivory Mounted’ Phaeton by Barker to the 2016 Touring Superleggera Disco Volante Spider, visitors can admire the hand-crafted luxury of some of history’s most legendary coachbuilders. The Royal Carriages of Hooper and Barker are just two of five cars lent by the Royal Household to contend the Concours of Elegance this year, with the coachbuilt 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI ‘High Top’ State Limousine and 2002 Bentley State Saloon by Mulliner also on display.

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 […]

Beaulieu’s most famous event, the International Autojumble, will celebrate its 50th year on September 3rd and 4th with a special display to mark its half century. A 50-page commemorative booklet sharing event-goers’ stories, pictures and memorabilia from five decades of Beaulieu International Autojumbles will be given to this year’s exhibitors and put on sale for visitors. A special exhibition of those memories will also be displayed in the Corporate Marquee at the event along with a special collection of cars, from barn-finds to completed Autojumble projects.

Our Video of the Week this week is of the TR Drivers Club Bullet Run, which we featured yesterday. The video itself comes by way of our friend John Clancy at TriumphDVD. June 2016 saw the inaugural Bullet Run hosted by the TR Drivers Club. The event commemorated the life of Tony Lee (Standard-Triumph’s Chief Development Engineer) who sadly died in September 2015. The Bullet Run re-traced the old Standard-Triumph test route which saw all the new and forthcoming models taken down to Bwlch y Groes in Wales. Gordon Birtwistle worked for Tony for over 20 years at Triumph as High-Speed Development Engineer and did an extensive interview with me in front of an audience of about 60 after the Saturday dinner. This video is the opening ten minutes.