Featured Marque Chrome Bumper MGB
Hot on the heels of a successful British Motoring Festival weekend in Windsor, planning is already well underway for next year’s bash.
The ninth annual British Motoring Festival highlighted the everpopular MGB from July 13-15.
Ron Macnab, the chairman of the organizing committee, was pleased with the turnout for the three-day festival.
“From all reports, it was quite successful. Certainly, there were a good number of cars, a good turnout of participants,” said Macnab in a phone interview following the event.
“The one thing that we’re a bit hazy about is the number of visitors from the public. I’d say we were in excess of 800.”
Last year’s festival saw 130 participating vehicles from New England, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. Macnab said a total of 150 vehicles were on display at the King’s-Edgehill School campus this year. Jim Davidson drove 1,898 kilometres in his 1994 Jaguar XJS to participate in the festival and was recognized for driving the furthest to attend.
Macnab said the appeal of owning such vehicles and attending this type of car show is the nostalgia factor.
“For the most part, these are cars that people wanted really badly when they were in their 20s or 30s. 1st Bill Johnson — 1964 MGB 2nd Terry Williams — 1969 MGB 3rd Dave Munroe — 1965 MGB It allows them to relive their youthful days,” said Macnab.
“For me, I courted my wife in one of those cars over 50 years ago, and every time I see that particular model, I’m reminded of those days.”
Macnab may have courted his wife in a sporty red MGA convertible, but he continues to woo her with a metallic grey Austin Healey convertible.
Macnab said while some people aim to win awards at car shows, his goal is to show off his ride and swap stories with fellow car enthusiasts.
“I take pleasure in putting my car out so it presents itself in a decent fashion and people come and look at it. That’s all I need.”
Participants showcase their vehicles
For Derek Wood, of Centreville, it was his first time participating in the festival. He credits his friend, Bill Rupka, of Scott’s Bay, for convincing him to attend the Windsor event.
The pair drove to the festival together, with Wood driving his 1951 Austin A40 pickup and Rupka driving his 1952 MG TD.
Wood’s pickup was the only one of its kind at the festival.
“It was fixed up 15 years ago and nobody else could keep it going. I’ve towed it more than any other vehicle I’ve ever owned but I think I’ve got the bugs out of it now and it’s working good,” Wood said with a smile.
Unlike many of the collectors at the event, this is the first British vehicle he’s owned. Children were easily entertained as they raced toy cars during the 2018 British Motoring Festival.
“A guy came and wanted to trade trucks with me. He was too big to drive this one — he was too tall so it was too crowded for him — and I had a Mercury truck, so him and I traded even,” said Wood. “This is my first British one. All the cars I’ve got are American.”
The vehicle Mark Elliott brought with him to the festival turned heads all day.
“My father bought this in Windsor in 1970. In 1974, he turned it into a race car and it’s been a race car ever since,” said Elliott, showing off his heavily modified 1970 Ford Cortina GT.
Elliott’s father, Gerald, who lives in Enfield, raced the vehicle first before handing the reins over to his son, who continues to compete at the Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie.
“This is basically a family heirloom. My daughter is going to be racing it, hopefully, in the next few James Devine performed with Emerald Tide during the 2018 British Motoring Festival.
years,” said Elliott.
The vehicle reaches a top speed of about 220 kilometres an hour. Elliott has several wins and second place finishes under his belt with the British vehicle. He’ll be in action again the last weekend of July at the Shubenacadie site.
When asked what makes the vehicle unique, he replied, smiling, “It’s just the fact that it’s a 48-yearold car in that kind of shape and it goes faster than most Hondas.”
Pleased with event
The three-day festival kicked off with a street party July 13 in downtown Windsor.
“It was very well attended. There were lots of people around looking at cars. It gives the public the chance to talk to the owners and find out about these cars,” said Macnab, praising the downtown eating establishments.
“It was a good, congenial place for people showing their cars to nip in and have a snack or a beer or something. It’s a great location.”
The show and shine on July 14, which also featured live entertainment, valve cover races and British cuisine, was well-attended and the awards banquet that evening was a highlight. The festival wrapped up the next morning with breakfast and a road tour of the local area.
“All in all, I’d like to think it was a roaring success,” said Macnab.
Planning is already underway for the 2019 festival, which will not only mark their 10th annual event but the 60th anniversary of the Mini — which will, in turn, be the featured vehicle.