The 69th Regiment Armory is located on Lexington Avenue at 26th St., New York City, N.Y. It is the same building that hosted the 1913 "Armory Show," the first major showing in the United States of modern European art.
British Car Day At Chateau ElanOnce a year in rural upstate Georgia, a certified "Friend of the American Car Racin' Community," Mr. Don Panoz, throws open the gates to his modest little Flowery Branch winery for a gathering of the truly afflicted: the British Car People. Thus, in the late spring a conflux of ancient marque clubs, Triumph, Land Rover, Austin-Healey and Jaguar alike, gather on the lawn at Chateau Elan. Once there, members admire each other's rides, picnic and enjoy the Georgia sunshine as their trusty steeds saturate the finely trimmed grass with alarming quantities of freshly leaked Castrol.
But there was nearly a rend in the fabric of the universe this year as I looked out my window on the Friday night before the event and discovered to my horror that the weather gods were angry. It had, as we say in the south, "come up a gen-u-wine toad strangler." Imagine 400-plus British car owners, "semi-weather resistant" tops firmly in place, driving through a 4-in.-per-hour rainstorm. It conjures visions too horrible for words; images of emergency teams in full dive gear jumping fearlessly into the murky depths of an Austin-Healey footwell in a heroic attempt to rescue the thoroughly drowned occupants.
However, just to prove that Colin Chapman has some pull with the Big Guy, Saturday morning dawned dry and clearing. The "hoods" were stowed, the cars were arrayed, the "bonnets" were opened, and British Car Day at Chateau Elan was under way for the 17th year.
It was obvious from the first year I attended that this gathering is slightly less formal than a white-glove concours, and event-organizer Ken Yokelson confirmed the impression. "We've made it more-and-more family oriented as the event has grown. A few years ago we stopped judging the cars and now no trophies are awarded. Now the day is just a great chance to get together with 500 other enthusiasts and have a picnic."
In addition to the nearly 500 cars on display, British Car Day features something for everyone. A large vendor area is filled with new and used items for sale, including parts and publications for even the most esoteric marque. A coterie of marching bagpipers fills the air with their Humber-Super-Snipe-with-a-slipping-generator-belt sound. The smell of grilling burgers mingles with the exotic scent of well-worn leather and, yes, eau de freshly leaked oil. The overall effect is quite intoxicating, and besotted by the ambience, I wandered down to to the "cars for sale" section. Don't ever do this. I immediately spotted a 2+2 E-Type Jag with 50,000 original miles and flawless coachwork, available this weekend only for a pittance. It would be perfect for next year's event, as I could fold my young son into the back seat, throw the picnic pannier in the boot and, with wife riding shotgun, attend this do with something approaching "ultimate style." I was dragged away before succumbing to "the urge," but I still have the phone number. If you've ever lusted after an E-Type, or a Griffith, or even a big Healey, this is the event for you. They're all here, driven to the event and on display, as well as for sale.
As the deal-clincher, Ken pointed out that all proceeds from British Car Day go to charity, the Marietta Lion's Club and The Shrine Children's Hospital. The event is organized by the British Motorcar Club in Atlanta, a consortium of 13 marque-specific clubs in the region and will be held again on May 17, 2003. We've scheduled fine sunny weather for next year's event, so scuba gear will be strictly optional.