Mark your calendars and plan to leave the office early next Friday, as the British Motorcar Festival, now in its 4th year, returns to Bristol on Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9. Thousands of people …
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Mark your calendars and plan to leave the office early next Friday, as the British Motorcar Festival, now in its 4th year, returns to Bristol on Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9.
Thousands of people are expected to flock to the Town Beach and sports complex to see hundreds of vintage British rides from Jaguars to Aston Martins, Range Rovers to Minis.
Organizers are even expecting a Jaguar D-Type, a 1950's vintage reportedly worth some $3 million, as well as a center-drive Range Rover prototype — the only one in the world.
Though the complete schedule includes a Friday afternoon rally and some other events exclusively for the owners of the entered vehicles, there's lots for the public to see and do, beginning around 5:45 on Friday, when roughy 80 of the cars will leave the venue at the Town Beach and Sports Complex and head out Asylum Road, south on Hope Street to Constitution Street, then north on Thames Street to Independence Park.
A street party, open to the public and featuring British Invasion music, and food, wine and beer from local restaurants, will we held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
But the main event, dubbed “a rather exceptional British lifestyle event,” is the next day at the Town Beach venue. Attendees are encouraged to dress the part, and wear their most elaborate hats. The gates open to the public at 9 a.m., and the Concours d’Elegance, where the judges declare their winners among the 20 or so best of show — the exceptionally rare, valuable entries — is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Additional highlights include competitions for best dressed, best ladies' hat, and the highly anticipated arrival of "The Queen."
From around 3:30 to 4 p.m., there is a parade of winners, followed by the winners' talk. "Some of their stories, about the histories of their cars, are really interesting," said Mike Byrnes, who has spearheaded the effort to bring this event to Bristol these past four years.
"We get such great support from the Department of Public Works, the Bristol Police, and Parks and Recreation Department," said Byrnes. "It's been a real community effort."
Admission to Saturday's event is only $10, and it's free for children under 12. Food and beverages will be available for purchase; dogs and bicycles are not allowed within the venue.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.britishmotorcarfestival.com.