The All British of Car Shows
Vancouver, Canada has a natural attraction to all things British. Although we share an originating British heritage Canada remains part of the Commonwealth, with closer ties to the motherland than its more independently-inclined southern neighbor. British cars are everywhere in British Columbia, and there’s an open pride for the ‘Best of British’ not typically found outside the United Kingdom. Don’t believe me? Well then, let’s start with the Vancouver All British Field Meet, a Victoria Day weekend car show held annually in the beautiful VanDusen Botanical Gardens. The setting consists of gently rolling lawns surrounded by tall evergreens, blooming spring flowers, fully blossoming rhododendrons and azaleas, all interspersed with meandering paths and glistening ponds. Over 500 British-built cars of all brands, years and sizes invade this pristine environment for a Saturday, showing their wares to thousands of paying holiday spectators.
Think you know all there is about the history of the British car industry? Show up here and you’ll be sure to find a car you don’t know or have never seen. The oldest car this year was a 1916 Rolls Royce. There were over 100 MGs celebrating the marque’s 100th anniversary and more than 34 Aston Martins celebrating its 110th anniversary. There were minis, Lotus, Triumph, Alvin, Lagonda, Bentley, Morgan, Jaguar, Land Rover, Sunbeam, TVR, Jensen and more segregated into 62 classes.
Mini pickup trucks to Mini rally cars, across the aisle to the gorgeous Aston Martin Vantages and finally down the row to someone who thinks they have life figured out (They’re driving an Aston, so maybe they do.). There is so much to see here, it’s hard not to get bogged down in sensory overload. There was one Mini aficionado (or maybe he’s just crazy) who reportedly had 16 Mini’s entered in this year’s show. The two pickup trucks above were two of his examples. Sixteen! I couldn’t believe it. What does this guy do?! Seems like a borderline unhealthy obsession. Oh – come to think of it, though, if I could afford sixteen of the marque I most like I think I might call that fantasy come true. Maybe he’s not so crazy…
For some reason, the Pacific Northwest seems to be a mecca of all British cars shows. Maybe it’s the similarity to the foggy, rainy, gray climate of England that brings it out. The Portland show is the oldest and largest, celebrating its 46th addition this year and typically attracting somewhere north of 700 cars each year. The Seattle and Vancouver shows are in their 36th years and are always north of 500 cars even though they’re a bit constrained by size of the venues. The Vancouver setting is by far the most beautiful of the venues, but the others offer unique spots as well; Seattle is out front of the wonderful hotel/converted seminary in St. Edwards State Park in Kenmore and Portland is at Portland International Raceway. If you get a chance, you should take a Saturday or a weekend and visit an All British Field Meet. Vancouver’s is the third weekend in May. The Seattle ABFM follows in mid-July and the Portland ABFM brings up the rear in early September. Fun people, great venues and a good place to see a lot of automotive history.
