For the 16th year, antique British and European automobile enthusiasts in the British Motor Club of the Cape Fear will gather for the club’s annual Brits at the Beach car show Saturday, Oct. 11. The club’s annual car show was moved to Wrightsville Beach Park from Poplar Grove for the 2013 event and saw a record number of cars and attendees.
Event chairman Eric Robinson said the club expected 200-300 patrons last year but drew closer to 500.
Bringing together all types of antique British autos like Jaguar, MG, Triumph, Austin Healey, Mini Cooper and Rolls Royce, Robinson said the show has something for everyone. Robinson is particularly excited to see an early 1950s Bentley Corniche. A similar model sold in a 2012 London auction for £537,000.
The 2013 show drew a large number of Sunbeam Alpine roadsters and for 2014, Robinson said a collection of the more rare and expensive Sunbeam Tigers would also make an appearance from South Carolina.
In addition to the British autos, other international car manufacturers will be represented, like Italian icon Ferrari.
Robinson, who is from England, owns a 1971 Triumph Stag and found the British Motor Club of the Cape Fear shortly after relocating to the area.
“I am actually from Britain and my hometown was where most of the Triumphs were built,” Robinson said. “I have an old car and was looking for a club to join when I got here.”
Along with local British car owners, Robinson said the show brings in antique autos from surrounding states like South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Often, those that travel from longer distances have to be trailered.
“Particularly if they are older cars, they don’t like to travel that long of distance because they are long in the tooth now and need to be taken care of,” Robinson said.
There will be awards for best in show and for the top three cars from each class. This year’s trophies will sit atop a marble base with a gas pump for first place, a piston for second and a spark plug for third. Best attendance within the club and furthest distance traveled will also be awarded.
For patrons, there will be an onsite food vendor and 50/50 raffles with proceeds benefitting charities selected by club members. Charities that have benefitted from the event in the past include Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, Doctors Without Borders and Lower Cape Fear Hospice and LifeCareCenter.
For more information, visit www.bmccf.org
email [email protected]
