British Car Festival 2009 - It's a Wrap

British Car Festival 2009 was one of the most successful car shows to be produced by SABCC in many years.

The morning dawned bright and breezy and it was so cool that a light jacket was in order for the day. The fall sun was low enough that the bluff above Fairhope Beach Park kept a lot of the show field in the shade until late in the morning.

The folks from MINI of Pensacola arrived early and set up their display of new MINI models - A convertible and Clubman wagon were on hand. The wind was so strong that they MINI of Pensacola team had a hard time keeping their table upright. They didn't even try to tie up the banner they brought along.

Many SABCC'ers were at the show site by 7:00AM to get the windbreaks tied up on the pavilion and to get the all-important coffee brewing. The class signs were out in the show field ready for the traditional potted mums to finish the look.

The use of the portable 'porch' for registration kept the wind off the paperwork and gave the registration team a comfortable place to work. The entrants photos were also taken there with Mobile Bay making a nice backdrop for the photos. Once the photos were taken, the participants were directed to their class parking on the field.

There was a steady stream of classic British cars entering the show all morning. In fact, word reached the registration team that a minor traffic delay in Fairhope might make some of the entrants late to the show. A decision was made to keep the registration open an extra thirty minutes.

Once the field was set, the popular choice ballots and souvenir dash plaques were handed out and the balloting began. It was a tough call in most of the classes, especially in the Britannia Sports class. With the encouragement of the show announcers (over the clubs new PA system), the ballots were returned in record time and the vote counting began while the valve cover racing and the excellent bar-b-que dinners kept the show participants busy.

Raffles were drawn, tee shirts were sold out and television interviews were performed.

The awards ceremony began a little before 3:30 thanks to the hard work of the vote counting committee. All the trophies were in the hands of the winners before 4:30 and the work to take down the show commenced. In less than an hour, everything was loaded and ready to go - another British Car Festival in the history books.

Everyone associated with the show went far beyond the call and brought home once the best organized and executed BCFs in recent memory. The show committee deserves the highest commendation for their efforts - no job went undone.

Thanks to all who made BCF 2009 a success and a special thanks also to MINI of Pensacola and the Mini community for their support.

SABCC on TV

Thanks to the efforts (and contacts) of Richard Cunningham, British Car Festival is getting some television exposure this Thursday, October 22.

Our tireless (not tyreless) club president Noel Eagleson is appearing on the WPMI TV15 noon news show's chat segment to promote BCF 2009. Yours truly has been drafted to act, in Noel's words, "as my translator". We will be talking about the event, the charity we're supporting this year and try to get a plug or two in for MINI of Pensacola.

I had the experience of being on television back in the days of steam powered TVs - I was on the High School Bowl team for B. C. Rain high school. Two appearances - two defeats. Here's hoping this one has a happier ending.

We're on the Air

A tip of the hat and a big thank you to Elisabeth Ogletree who worked her PR magic to get SABCC a series of public service announcements on some the local radio stations (WKSJ, WRKH, WMXC and WNTM). The slick PSAs really add a lot to our efforts to get the word out about British Car Festival 2009!

Is That a Land Rover Discovery I See Before Me?

No, it is actually a Honda Crossroad from the 1990s.

During the period of cooperation between Honda and Rover, a number of Honda designs were built in the UK, beginning with the Triumph Acclaim. Later, Hondas were built by Rover and badged as Rovers and MGs. A series of Honda/Rover vehicles were also sold in the US as Sterlings. Fine cars, but like many former BL efforts, poorly planned.

The Honda Crossroad was built in Japan off Land Rover tooling. Almost 200,000 of the Japanese-British hybrids were sold between 1993 to 1998 when BMW bought Rover, effectively ending the venture.

Image via hondaoldies.de

The 'Watch Fob Rolls Royce'

Ask most British car enthusiasts about Triumphs and they will almost certainly mention the two seat TR series or Spitfire sports cars. It is rare that you'll hear of the Triumph Mayflower - even rarer seeing one on US roads.

The Mayflower was Triumph's attempt to take a small car upscale, not unlike the BMC Mini and 1100/1300 saloon luxury variants that came along later. Sporting 'razor edge' styling, the little Triumph did its best to imitate the coachbuilt Bentleys and Rolls of the day and it was thought that the styling would appeal to the American market.

Behind the impossibly large radiator grill sat a 1.2 liter four cylinder flathead engine cranking out 38 BHP. It had enough grunt to propel the limousine wannabe to a nearly 63 MPH top speed and boasting zero to 50 times of 26.6 seconds. A three speed, all-synchro gearbox with a column mounted shifter took care of getting all that power to the rear wheels. The rear was suspended on leaf springs while the independent front rode on coil springs. The front suspension was later used on the TR2 sports car.

Like the similarly sized Morris Minor, the Mayflower was a unitary, all steel body design. Unlike the contemporary Minor, the Mayflower was priced fairly high (£505) for the market at the time.

Over 35,000 Mayflowers were built from 1949 until the end of production in 1953. Around 150 'ute' (that's pickup truck to you, cowboy) versions were built in Australia.

Not surprisingly, the 'watch fob Rolls-Royce' did not meet sales expectations in the US, although it found a little warmer reception in Canada.

Photo courtesy Mark Mitchell Brown

Autocrossing in Alabama

Several SABCC'ers have asked about autocrossing in our area. It used to be that you had to go to Pensacola to attend an SCCA-sanctioned event. No more. There is a monthly meet in beautiful downtown Grand Bay, Alabama at the Sunny South Speedway (I know, me neither).

The nice folks in the Panhandle MINIs organization have invited all to come who want to give it a shot. Details are here.

Photo via TVRCCNA

The Perfect Gift for Your Sweetie

Those crazy Neiman Marcus elves are at it again. A very special Jaguar is being created for the 2009 Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog that should cause a flutter in the hearts of Jaguar lovers everywhere.

This limited edition of 50 Jaguar XJLs will only be available through Neiman Marcus and will carry a price tag of $105,000.00 - but you get a set of luggage, too! Check out this tidbit from the press release:

... the all-new 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition, comes in an exclusive Celestial Black metallic paint exterior and a custom butter-soft navy and ivory leather interior...

Yeah, I want to ooze my butt into some butter soft leather. The full release follows.

JAGUAR UNVEILS 2010 XJL SUPERCHARGED NEIMAN MARCUS EDITION IN RETAILER'S CHRISTMAS BOOK

Jaguar launches its flagship luxury sedan,in Neiman Marcus' eagerly anticipated Christmas Book

MAHWAH, N.J., October 6, 2009 – Jaguar today announced that it will kick off the holiday car shopping season with a unique all new high-end entry to the market: The 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition, exclusively through the celebrated Christmas Book. Jaguar will produce only 50 of the 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition - making it a stylish and unique way to celebrate this holiday season. This is the third time a Jaguar has been selected as the featured vehicle in the Book. In 1968, the XKE Grand Touring Coupe was featured, and most recently, the 1997 Jaguar XK8 Convertible.

The all-new 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition, complete with a five-piece set of matching Jaguar luggage in navy blue leather, will be available for purchase in this year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Book for $105,000. Reservations for the XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition open on Friday October 16 at noon EDT by calling

1-866-524-6963. There will be only 50 Neiman Marcus Editions made, and Jaguar and Neiman Marcus expect them to sell out fast. For those not lucky enough to reserve one of these 50 Neiman Marcus Editions, the XJ arrives in showrooms nationwide in early 2010.

"Being a part of The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book is a spectacular way to launch theJaguar XJ one of the most anticipated new luxury cars in the market this year," says Richard Beattie, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Jaguar. "Designed to attract the clientele of Neiman Marcus as well as automotive enthusiasts, the Neiman Marcus XJL Supercharged is unique and intelligent. It demonstrates our commitment to producing fast, beautiful cars that offer luxury, performance and first-rate quality."

An aggressive take on the highly anticipated all-new 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition, comes in an exclusive Celestial Black metallic paint exterior and a custom butter-soft navy and ivory leather interior with Zebrano matte wood accents. The Neiman Marcus Edition XJL also has 20" double-10 spoke polished alloy wheels, illuminated tread plates and trunk finisher as well as the nameplate on the custom interior Intaglio that reads: "Neiman Marcus 1 of 50." The Neiman Marcus XJL Supercharged is powered by a new third-generation 5-liter V-8 engine with an Eaton supercharger that delivers 470 horsepower and also features the Jaguar Sequential Shift™ six-speed ZF automatic transmission that adapts to its driver, with wheel-mounted shift paddles for sport, standard, and winter mode driving.

The all-new 2010 Jaguar XJ was revealed to critical acclaim this past July, and features a new frame that is pressure cast from aluminum and magnesium to give the XJL a strong, light architecture that improves fuel efficiency, structural rigidity and performance. A panoramic glass roof enables the car to have a lower, more streamlined roofline, while dramatically enhancing the feeling of light and space inside. The vehicle's LED light clusters wrap stylishly over the rear wings, and feature three dramatic red vertical stripes while the elongated teardrop shape of the side windows establishes the car's silhouette. The sleek design and refined luxury is continued inside the all-new XJ by mixing newly advanced technologies and contemporary design to create an environment more akin to a state-of-the-art living space than a car cabin. Chrome and piano black detailing provide an eye-catching contrast to the beautifully crafted leather and veneer surfaces. At the center of the instrument panel is an analog clock with individual chrome chaplets, a spun metal face and iridescent blue background; a look inspired by luxury watches.

There are stunning, three-dimensional, interactive 12.3" high-definition Virtual InstrumentsTM that complement an innovative 8-inch Touch-screen that displays vehicle functions ranging from audio and video to navigation and climate control – all in the driver's line of vision. There's also a media hub with docks for MP3 players and USB devices, a Bowers &Wilkins 1,200-watt premium sound system with Dolby® ProLogic® IIx Surround Sound and 20 speakers throughout the cabin.

The all-new 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition is featured in the 2009 Neiman Marcus Christmas Book and is undeniably one of the finest cars in the world and will sell out quickly. Interested buyers, automotive connoisseurs and luxury enthusiasts are encouraged to call 1-866-524-6963 for purchasing details.

Image from Neiman-Marcus

If You Feed Them, They Will Come

The annual SABCC ice cream social was - as expected - well attended and fun. The umpteenth annual (I've lost count) event was again held at the Garagemahal Ice Cream Parlor and Oil Change Emporium at the home of Richard and Donna Cunningham in Daphne.

The ice cream social has become a regional event with members of the Panhandle British Car Association and the Mardi Gras MGs participating along with a strong turnout of SABCC members. A quick count determined that 56 British car enthusiasts/ice cream lovers were in attendance. The 'British-Only' parking area was completely filled with all manner of British cars - it was almost a British Car Festival itself.

Many gallons of real honest-to-goodness homemade ice cream was on ice, courtesy of Donna Cunningham. Toppings and other sweet goodies were brought by several members who volunteered to help. Donna even had a bowl of fine chicken salad along with fresh croissants for something a little more substantial.

Richard had the Sony PlayStation set up with GranTurismo 4 ready for head to head driving competition with two steering wheel/pedal controllers. The game stayed busy with budding Fangios trying their hand at high speed laps at famous racecourses around the world.

Club president Noel Eagleson made a few announcements regarding British Car Festival and then turned the floor over to past SABCC president Dick Bishop for news about funeral arrangements for MGMG's Moody Stedham who passed away unexpectedly.

Alan and Debbie McDonald, long time SABCC'ers were at the ice cream social and collected their recently awakened MGB from the Garagemahal and took it home with them under its own power for the first time in about seven years.

The club owes the Cunninghams a special thank you for again hosting this fun event.

Photos courtesy of Richard Cunningham