Classic British cars invade New England for weekend show
Classic literature tells us Helen of Troy had a face that launched a thousand ships. That event was otherwise known as the Trojan War.
Mike Gaetano of Hopkinton, in comparison, has the car that launched “The British Invasion,’’—an event that will celebrate its 26th anniversary this Sept. 16-18 in Stowe, Vt.
The British Invasion not only has attracted thousands of classic British cars over the years, but also has spawned a spinoff, —the 2nd British Motorcar Festival this coming Thursday-Sunday in Bristol, R.I.
Stowe is the biggest all-British motorcar gathering in the country, and the two events are the only two all-British concours in the nation.
One small incident sparked the process that has led to both events. Gaetano came to the area in the 1960s with a Corvette and a 1955 Thunderbird speedboat. When the boat was stolen (“they cut through a Beverly marina’s fence and hauled it away’’), he used the insurance settlement to buy a “needy’’ 1947 Bentley.
“The body was a one-of-a-kind HJ Mulliner Saloon originally built for the owner of the London Trading Company,’’ says Gaetano. “He specified enough changes that made it a one-off car with suicide rear doors and spats (what Americans call fender skirts).’’ It took time, but Gaetano eventually restored the car.
The engine is an aluminum 4.25-liter straight 6 with a 4-speed manual transmission and right-hand drive.
“If I’m driving it, say, for a wedding, the folks in back might never realize it’s a four-speed manual with the shift next to the right-side door,’’ says Gaetano.
“Originally it was painted postwar military green with blackwall tires,’’ he says. Now it’s a striking two-tone in a pair of Rolls-Royce colors, Seychelles Blue over Shell Gray.
“It makes a striking appearance in a show,’’ says Gaetano. Or on the road. The Gaetanos have driven it along the Pacific Coast Highway, through the Carolinas, and to Nova Scotia.
In 1969, after winning a first-place trophy at Sugarbush Mountain in Waitsfield, Vt., Gaetano and his wife, Paula, stopped for lunch in Stowe at Ye Olde England Inne. Proprietors Chris and Lyn Francis, eager to promote business, suggested that the Gaetanos bring back members of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club for a special weekend the next fall.
Thus was born British Invasion One, now a staple on the third weekend of each September.
Story continues after gallery
Check out scenes from previous British Invasion car shows:
[bdc-gallery id=”1428973″]
To advertise that first invasion, the Gaetanos passed out flyers to every British car they could find at shows all spring and summer and drew 290 cars to the first event. Now it’s grown to almost 700 cars with prizes in 65 classes.
It’s also outlasted Ye Olde English Inne, which changed hands two years ago and now is the Field Guide boutique hotel.
This week’s event in Rhode Island, which benefits “Explore Bristol,’’ features a similar full array of events. On Thursday, there’s a 100-mile “Hidden Highway’’ rally that’s limited to the first 100 cars to enter.
Friday brings a fun rally around Bristol and an evening parade of cars from Colt State Park to Independence Park for a street party.
Saturday is both the judged Concours d’ Elegance and British Classic Motorcar Show (people’s choice awards). There will be a paddock for classic racing cars, a new-car dealers’ display (for British cars), a marketplace for accessories, parts, and clothing, plus a paddock with classic cars for sale.
On Sunday, vehicles will be parked by color with a driving parade of category winners.
A spectacular venue and local commitment are vital to any concours. Bristol has both—and a bright future—figures Gaetano. The British Motorcar Festival seems to have inherited, and filled, the void left when the neighboring Newport Concours closed shop several years ago.
“I think that Bristol has the potential to eventually become even bigger than Stowe,’’ he says. “The city is behind us, so is the new Audrain Auto Museum in nearby Newport. The venue is wonderful. We have a large, flat grass field right by the ocean. In addition, the quantity of great British cars within several hours’ driving distance is much greater than in Vermont.’’
Sounds like a jolly good time.
Etc.
This is a great day for auto shows. Marlboro has a downtown show from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Danvers Ford has its 23Nd show from 8-1. There’s a Norwood Arena Reunion at Bezema Motors on Rte. 1 in Norwood from 10-3, and an all-comers antique auto show (25 years old minimum) at Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline (10-2) … Next Saturday, the Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich has its annual show from 9-2 with a parade of show cars at 2 p.m. … Herb Chambers resumes his Cars ’n Coffee series next Sunday (June 11) at Lexus of Sharon from 7-10 a.m. Note that he’s changed the rest of this season’s events to Sundays.
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