Are you a fan of fish and chips or a British car aficionado? If so, you won’t want to miss this once-a-year showcase. The 39th annual British Car Day, courtesy of the British Car Club of Charleston (BCC), is ready to rev up its engines once again on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Palmetto Islands County Park off Long Point Road in Mount Pleasant.
After 40-plus years of existence, the BCC continues to roll out its impressive collection for all the Lowcountry to see. Car enthusiasts of all makes and models are encouraged to venture out and witness a fine array of classic “Brit Beauties” on display.
Attendees can expect to see well-known marques like MG, Triumph, Austin-Healey and Jaguar, with rare examples of Alvis, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Lotus, Morgan and more. The featured marque for this year’s show is Sunbeam, plus an added 60th anniversary celebration for the Sunbeam Tiger, also known as a Cobra killer. This family-friendly event will also feature a beautiful little “Baby” Jaguar for children to check out while the adults talk shop. In total, 180 vintage and classic British cars are expected to fill the show field.
The BCC began in 1983 when Michael Carnell, a College of Charleston graduate, and his motorhead buddies began tinkering with British cars in his garage. One conversation led to another, and Carnell asked his mother, who was an artist, to help him design a logo. The rest is history.
Through the years the BCC has steadily grown to about 225 members, including many women. Some members are technical experts, some are aficionados, some are fanatics and others just plain enjoy driving these little sports cars, attending great events with friends and welcoming new members.
The event opens to the public at 10 a.m. and officially goes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cars will be staged on the show field early in the morning along with food trucks and vendor tents. An awards ceremony will conclude the event.
Spectator admission is free with paid park admission of $2 per person. Proceeds are donated to help support the Garrett Academy auto body class.
For more information, car registration and vendor and sponsorship opportunities, visit britishcarclubcharleston.com.
By Zach Giroux
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