The date: September 12th, 1999
The location: Freedom Hill County Park, Sterling Heights, Michigan
The event: 17th Annual Battle of the Brits
The day dawned slightly foggy. Yesterday's forecast was for a cool
night and comfortable weather. Upper 40s low and mid 70s high.
So I had put the top up on the Spit.
Left about 7:00 am for the drive to the other side of the world
^h^h^h^h^h Metro Detroit area. Not quite warm enough for the top
down, but too warm for the heater.
Got to Freedom Hill Park at about 8:30, there are already 30 or
so cars on the field. But it doesn't start until 9:00 am!
I am the fifth Spitfire there, and there are already 7 TR6s, 3
TR4/5/250s and a couple of TR2/3s. As well as 2 MGs and a Jag.
Even a Metropolitan and a couple of Sunbeams.
I volunteered to help position cars on the field. Each to their
own marque. Rubber bumper MGs there, Chrome bumper MGs here. The
Armstrong Siddley Typhoon is parked in the open class coupes row.
The TVRs are down at the end of the row over there, and the Jaguar
sports cars are on the right in row 6. My goodness, the TR6s are
still coming in the drive. So are the MGBs. Hey why is that yellow
MGB bouncing so rough over the grass? I didn't think it was that
rough when I pulled in. Hey, here's another Open class car, a
Rolls Royce. What do you mean he wants to park with his friends
in the Jag and the newer Rolls? OK, let him park there. We aren't
judging these cars anyway. At least not like a Concours.
Hey, there's Chick Racer, Margaret Watson from Kalamazoo. I gotta
go put the top down on my car and change into my shorts. It is
getting warm already. Whatta ya mean the forecast is now for
mid 80s? More MGBs and TR6s? I think we need a second row. Look at
all the Jaguar sports cars. And a couple of sedans as well!
More Metros? Hey, here comes an Austin A30/35. Isn't that Don Ensley
from English Motors in it? Here comes some Landies, and a Range
Rover. Uh oh, here is a Canadian contingent. Look at all these
guys. What is that whirring noise? It's that yellow MGB that was
riding so rough, he has it equipped with hydraulics. Oh, look
it's dancing. Maybe that would be the answer to the spring sag
problem on Spitfires.
You guys get the idea.
The 17th annual Battle of the Brits had over 300 cars, with
about 40 each TR6s and MGBs. Some 25 Spitfires, about 20
Midgets, and a like number of TR4/5/250s. Perhaps 15 TR2/3s,
and a total of 4 Metropolitans. About 15 Sunbeams, both Tigers
and Alpines. A Stag and 5 or 6 TR7/8s. Oh yes, and a 4X4 Spit.
There were about 7 Land and Range Rovers, and I think there
were a total of 4 Minis. The aforementioned Austin A30/35, and
a TR/Standard 10. I know that there several TVRs in attendance,
but I don't remember how many.
Judging at BOTB is by People's Choice, as well as by Club
Presidents. People's choice is for color, Diamond in the
Rough/Restoration in Progress, and Best in Show. There
are 12 classes for color. There are also 25 classes for
Concours by selected judges. Not sure about the criteria.
--
Doug Mitchell
dmitchel@ford.com
Ford Motor Company
Voice - (313)594-4360
Fax - (313)248-5174
|