Brits on the Bluff Show

Posted on April 21, 2024April 30, 2024 by Rick Huber

Another great weekend in Pensacola! Great weather, great driving, great party, great show. What’s not to like?

Several of us headed over there on Thursday, Keith and Karen (75 MGB + pub trailer), Allen and Sue (70 MGB), Cathy and Mark (01 XK8), Lee and Danny (Stag) from the South Shore. I was a single (67 E) from Baton Rouge to my son’s house, but then I got to bring my 7 year old grandson, Jackson to the show in the Jag.

On Friday, Lee and Danny headed out to look for the Naval Air museum and Keith & Karen, Allen & Sue and Cathy & Mark headed to the beach.

The Panhandle Club’s Cam Leonard had planned a lunch at a Bar-B-Q place, Jimmy’s Grill on Hwy 29 north of town where the lunch specialty was the Triple Pig – bacon, ham, and pulled pork sandwich that was enjoyed by many of the dozen or so of us there for lunch. Two couples had driven up from Sarasota, Jim in his 1973 TR6 that he’s had for 45 years and put 265,000 miles on it (280k total). I was some kind of impressed.

Cam had invited his VW club to join us for lunch and the Velocity Restorations tour. You may have heard of it – primarily Mustangs, Broncos and F-150s – full restomods that start at about $250,000. Quite a facility, 150 people doing about 160 restorations per year. They had a pile of old cars in the “boneyard”, enough to keep them busy through the end of 2025. Imagine a shop like that for our little British cars….but I digress.

Some more BMCNO folks headed over on Friday in time for the welcome reception at the Museum of Commerce in historic downtown Pensacola at 5 to 7 pm. A meet and greet in a very nice environment, with lots of home made dishes served by the hospitable locals, with entertainment by the Santa Rosa Pipe and Drums band. A good chance to get together with friends from the Mississippi, South Alabama, Panhandle, Peachtree, and other clubs. The Wycoff’s were back from Wisconsin, the two couples from Sarasota, several folks from the Atlanta area, quite a mix of people.

Show day was gorgeous – partly cloudy and a high of about 80, but doesn’t get that hot under the oak trees there in Seville Square where all the cars were parked. Cathy said the count was 102 cars and motorcycles, with 10 more registered but didn’t show up. Makes you wonder if the forecast for heavy rain all day Sunday kept some people away. It didn’t help that the Euro show in Natchez was the same day either.

A great mix of cars from Bill and Melissa Silhan’s Best of Show 1936 AC Doctor’s Coupe to the modern Jags and Minis, lots of MGs and Triumphs as usual.

Allen took 3rd place in the valve cover racing and we had our share of prizes from the 8 BMCNO cars entered. Rick, Mark, Terry, Allen, and Keith got Firsts, Cathy a Second and Lee won a Third. Additional BMCNO members attending were Harry Barkerding (73 Midget) with his son, Mark Huber (66 MGB), Terry Lopez (66 AH3000), Lee Matthews (?? Stag) Dan Alleger, Paul and Kim Jaquilard, Cort and Mary Ann Musgrave, Cort Jr, and Allen’s Nephew Bill and wife Ellen Bradley from Portland, Oregon, and my son Andrew and grandson Jackson from Pensacola. Jackson used my ballot to judge all the classes, and he did surprisingly well for his first LBC judging. Overall he had a great day at the show, but for now he still wants a Lamborghini when he grows up – gotta keep working on him.

Music was good, coffee and donuts, local restaurants provided a tasty lunch, door prizes, 50/50, and it’s just really fun walking around looking at cars and talking to owners on a beautiful spring day. Thank you Panhandle British Car Association for another well done show, we really enjoyed it.

Lunch at Jimmy’s Grill

Jim’s 73 TR6

Velocity Restorations

Santa Rosa Pipe & Drums

Reception at Museum of Commerce Receptions

Show at Seville Square

Valve Cover Races

Allen B, 3rd place Valve Cover Races

Keith V, 1st Place, 1976 MGB & Portable Pub

Mark H, 1st Place, 1966 MGB

Rick H, 1st Place, E-Type

Terry L, 1st Place, AH 3000

Cathy G, 2nd Place, 2001 Jaguar XK8

Lee M, 3rd Place, Triumph Stag

Fairhope and Back at 62 mph

Posted on October 22, 2023November 13, 2023 by Bobby Spann

Fairhope Alabama was one of the best shows yet, even though they didn’t have the Bellingrath Girls this year… 🙁

All-you-can eat Friday supper, door prizes + $500 cash giveaways, a beautiful day Saturday… Arh, Arh, Arh!

A record 154 cars on the field, close to 50 MGB’s and the 250,000th MGB-GT ever made! A few of our club members won awards and Danny was runner up for the valve cover races on their new track. My vote for coolest couple goes to Jack and Audrey Kennedy who drove their 1957 MG to the show from New Orleans!

Me, Randy, and the Huber brothers cruised to the MS welcome center Friday and met up with North and South Shore members, but they all decided to cruise the coast. Wally & Lulu and Darrell and Margaret pulled in just as the 4 of us were leaving for Mobile, where we joined Danny & Dana, their neighbors Jimmy & Louann and my brother Benny and his wife Pat for lunch at Wintzell’s Oyster House. Fantastic!!!

Saturday night the Hubers joined the Bradley’s at a French restaurant while D&D, Randy and me went to Agave’s Mexican restaurant on Hwy 98. It was GREAT and we had a blast! Couple of mechanical glitches over the weekend in a couple of BR cars but we got them sorted in short order. Damn we’re good!

Sunday morning Randy & I hooked up with the Bradley’s, Hughes and Steigler’s for a nice smooth trip home. At 62 miles an hour! then Randy and I stopped at Don’s in Hammond and pigged out once again. See a theme here?

We missed the rest of you guys!!!

Roving Reporter

Bobby Spann

Fairhope October 2023

Brits on the Bluff, again

Posted on September 20, 2023September 20, 2023 by Bobby Spann

Wow, what a nice weekend! Rick & Mary Lynne, Milton & Annette, Darrell & Tom, Wally & Lu Lu and I drove up Friday and joined the Mississippi club for lunch at Roux 61. Danny & Randy met the North & South Shore group and caravanned up with them. (see Benny’s post)

Later Milton & Annette, Darrell & Tom and Wally & Lu Lu and I toured the Longwood Antebellum house – the largest octagonal house in America! It was impressive. Then we had a very nice reception that night at the Grand Hotel.

Saturday the BR group put together our Valve Cover Racetrack while cars filed in. Of 48 cars, 27 were BMCNO! Very laid back show – but too quiet. They never plugged in their sound system, no announcements or music…

Our Valve Cover races went over really well and had 9 valve cover racers. Danny won by a photo finish. Literally! Benny won Valve Cover “Best of Show” with his Rat Rod. Many BMCNO class winners – Cathy added them below.

Saturday lunch at the Pig Out Inn and that night a lot of us went to Fat Mamas for Mexican and a bunch of the South Shore folks went to Monmouth Plantation.

Cruised home with 14 cars in the caravan to Gloster!!!

GREAT BRITISH CAR SHOW

Roving Reporter

Member	Car	Award
Hugh Coleman	1978 MGB	1st in Class
Randy Flemming	1981 Mini Van-1000	2nd in Class
Tom Halbert	1959 MGA 1600	3rd in Class
Hans Hassinger	1972 MGB	1st in Class Hard Luck
Rick Huber	1964 Austin Healey 3000	1st in Class
Cliff Hughes	1960 MGA	2nd in Class
Bill Lacher	1959 Triumph TR3-A	1st in Class
Dan McGovern	1977 MG Midget	3rd in Class
Bill McQuade	1974 Triumph TR6	2nd in Class
Tobey Pitman	2009 Jaguar XK Super V8 Portfolio	1st in Class
Blake Sonnier	1972 MGB	3rd in Class
Benny Stiegler	1967 Austin Healey Sprite	1st in Class
Keith Vezina	1978 MGB-V8	2nd in Class
Wally Waguespack	2004 Jaguar XK8	1st in Class

Brits on the Bluff, Natchez

Posted on September 19, 2023October 27, 2023 by Benny Stiegler

Much thanks to English Motoring Club of Mississippi for hosting Brits on the Bluff this weekend in Natchez. Almost forty BMCNO members and spouses made the trip entering 26 British cars in the show. Everyone had a wonderful weekend A leaky radiator on the way and a faulty coil connection on the way back added to the fun! And kudos to our Baton Rouge buds for bringing valve cover racing to Mississippi! The trial runs were a blast, and we hope many more participate at our club’s show on March 23rd in Covington!

Video of Drive to Nachez

Posted on October 1, 2020November 25, 2020 by Cathy Greensfelder

Journey with the British Motoring Club New Orleans to Natchez, Mississippi for “Brits on the Bluff” 2020, presented by the English Motoring Club of Mississippi. Music by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, “Natchez Trace” on the album Drive.

Click here to go to YouTube

Benny Stiegler

British Motoring Club New Orleans

Brits on the Bluff – Natchez Show 2020

Posted on September 20, 2020September 21, 2020 by Cathy Greensfelder

Fri Sept 18 – Sat Sept 19, 2020 Natchez, MS

The North and South Shore met on Friday, September 18 in Ponchatoula and drove the back roads to Gloster, MS to meet the Baton Rouge convoy. It was mostly overcast so the temperature was just perfect with the top down, but the sun peaked through enough to not be gloomy.

The route Colin McCormick mapped out was tree-shaded with gently rolling hills and a few turns that actually deserved their reduced speed signs. Colin led in his 67 Sunbeam Alpine, followed by Cliff Hughes’ MGA, Benny Stielger’s 76 Spitfire (with his video camera riding shotgun), Allen & Susan Bradley in their MG Magnette, and then the “designated Japanese chase cars”. Linda H, Claudia M and Lilly S were in Lilly’s Kia Soul and Mark and Cathy Greensfelder in his Ford Escape

Cathy had planned to drive her ‘01 Jaguar XK8 but it had developed a “case of the vapors” the day before (“Reduced Performance” warning on the dash and codes for Air Temp sensor and Knock sensor). They ended up driving Mark’s Ford Escape. The route got far enough off the beaten path that Mark lost cell service and had to give up streaming his news show. But they had the SUV’s sunroof and windows open to keep in the spirit of the event!

In Gloster, MS the group joined up with the Baton Rouge convoy led by Danny Varnado (aka Colonel Mustard) in his 70 TR6. Jerry Willson drove his 73 TR6 and Randy Flemming was in his 81 Mini Cooper. From Gloster, Danny led the way to Natchez through the Homochitto National Forest via more 2 lane, tree-lined roads.

More BMCNO members arrived independently. Hugh Coleman brought his MGB, Rick and Mary Lynne Huber entered his Austin Healey. Hank and Betsy Harper were there with his MGC and Wally and Linda Wagguespack came in their Jaguar XK8.

Danny and Carol Meyer, their daughter, son-in-law Daren Forte and grandchild; Jim and Honie Smith and Rob Crowzer all came in their non-British cars just to enjoy the show. (Hey, if the MG won’t run, drive the GM!!) The club ended up with 27 people attending.

Saturday was great with temperatures in the upper 70s, a slight overcast (no sunburns!) and breezy. Almost perfect for a British Car Show!. The site on the top of the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River was big enough that everyone could spread out. The participants were good about social distancing and wearing masks when they had to be up close. Cathy Greensfelder passed out cloth masks she made – she’s been sewing while staying home!

It was a small show – only 39 cars, 11 of them from BMCNO – so there was a high percentage of small classes. Wally Waguespack’s Jaguar was the only car that didn’t place but there were 6 cars in the Jaguar class. (It would have been 7, if Cathy’s Jag had made it!)

BMCNO member Danny Varnado won the Best in Show trophy with his glossy black 1970 Triumph TR6. Danny has put a lot of work into the car. He replaced the (dim and unreadable) stock gauges on the dash with gorgeous backlit gauges that glow red at night. After the Friday reception he had turned the car on to show the gauges in the dark. They were bright enough you could read them from the back bumper but in a nice red that would preserve your night vision!! He had a lot of fun during the show putting the gauges in demonstration mode so they cycled up and down!

Allen & Susan Bradley ⇒ 1957 MG Magnette, 1st Place
Hugh Coleman Jr ⇒ 1978 MGB, 1st Place
Randy Flemming ⇒ 1981 Mini Cooper Estate Van, 1st Place
Hank & Betsy Harper ⇒ 1969 MGC, 1st Place
Rick & Mary Lynn Huber ⇒ 1964 Austin Healey 3000, 1st Place
Cliff & Linda Hughes ⇒ 1960 MGA, 1st Place
Colin & Celia McCormick ⇒ 1967 Sunbeam Alpine, 1st Place
Benny & Lilly Stiegler ⇒ 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500, 1st Place
Danny Varnado ⇒ 1970 Triumph TR6, 1st Place, Best in Show!!
Wally Waguespack ⇒ 2004 Jaguar XK8
Jerry Willson ⇒1973 Triumph TR6, 2nd Place

Convoy to Natchez stops in Glover, MS

Benny Stiegler checking his Old School dash cam

Cliff Hughes, 1st Place, 1960 MGA

Colin McCormick, 1st Place 1967 Sunbeam Alpine

Randy Flemming, 1st Place, 1981 Mini Cooper Estate Van

Benny Steigler, 1st Place, 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500

Natchez Show MGB Class

Allen Bradley, 1st Place, 1957 MG Magnette

Natchez TR6 Class

BMCNO guys hanging out at the Natchez Show

Danny Varnado, Best in Show, 1970 Triumph TR6, also 1st in Class

Colin McCormick, 1st Place 1967 Sunbeam Alpine

Allen Bradley, 1st Place, 1957 MG Magnette

Jerry Willson, 2nd Place, 1973 Triumph TR6

Benny Steigler, 1st Place, 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500

Danny Varnado, 1st Place, 1970 Triumph TR6, also Best in Show

Jerry Willson, 2nd Place, 1973 Triumph TR6

Rick Huber, 1st in Place, 1964 Austin Healey 3000

Natchez Show 2020 Is Coming

Posted on August 9, 2020August 19, 2020 by Cathy Greensfelder

Call to Arms! Brits on the Bluff is Sept 18-19, 2020

Hey guys and gals – hope everyone is safe and virus free. We don’t know what the future holds, just that it will be much different from what any of us have ever known. That being said, I’d like to do a tentative “Call to Arms” over the remaining British car shows in 2020, Fairhope AL in October, and Natchez, Mississippi on September 18th & 19th.

A group of us from BR have been going to Natchez for years, meeting the N.O. guys in Gloster, LA on the way up then lunching at a restaurant in Natchez. Folks, I can tell you from experience this is a GREAT weekend! The Grand hotel is right on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi river and man what a view! Friday night you just walk across the street from the Grand to the Bowie Tavern for a nice reception. Other hotels are a short drive away…

Saturday the car show is next to Rosalie Plantation, again on the bluffs – walking distance from the Grand and downtown. Shade trees, a breeze and plenty of little British cars. It is one of the best locations for a car show I have ever seen! They usually have food on the grounds, but some women go downtown to “Cotton’s” for the “Queens Lunch,” and a few of us guys head over to the “Pig Out In” for a “Kings” Lunch. LOL

We really need to support this club as their show has fallen off in numbers in recent years – and we can’t understand why! Here is a website link to the Mississippi English Motoring Club. If you have any questions or need more details on past trips just let me know. Hope to see you there!

For more info click here

Roving Reporter, Bobby Spann