Tag: All British Car Day

Rob’s Blog: Meet Ockham’s Razor

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I suspect you already figured out there will be no monthly meeting again this month. Plus, the annual All British Car Day is postponed.

The monthly meetings will not resume until the stay at home order is lifted and social distancing is relaxed a little. Like most of you, I have no idea when either of these two things will happen, but in the meantime, I’m fine playing by the rules and not tempting fate with a case of the virus.

As for All British Car Day… Best guess is it could be on Labor Day weekend, Sunday, September 6th. Don’t start making plans just yet, but that is the next three day weekend, and far enough in the future when things could be much different as far as social behavior goes. Right now we couldn’t even get a permit to use the park.

The enormity of this pandemic is hard to comprehend. Imagine car clubs around the world in the same boat as us. The shows, rallies, cross-country drives and tech sessions being canceled. On the other hand, the shutdown of business activity is license to work late into the night on car projects that have been put off for years. In other words… no excuse for not having a huge showing whenever the next All British Car Day is held.

On another note… Since I seem to be the self appointed clearing house for all the car stories, 25 to date, I’m also the one receiving feedback from members who have enjoyed reading about the trials and tribulations of fellow owners. I have learned from several reliable sources, there are still some memories being developed for our amusement, but for now, on behalf of everyone, let me thank all of you who have taken the time to write about your adventures.

For me, it has been an opportunity to re-live some of my own, and appreciate the depth of loyalty we have to old British sports cars. It would be so much easier for all of us to drive Toyotas and Hondas, but to go to the extremes some of us have gone over the years, recovering, restoring, and putting up with the endlessly, agonizing issues that haunt us while keeping these things running is truly amazing.

Having been left stranded along side the road more than once, I have come to two conclusions. First, there are car people all over the place willing to go out of their way to help a classic car owner in distress, and second; When the problem is fixed, it is usually something a lot less complicated than originally suspected. For example… Knowing your gas gauge is unreliable, you run out of gas anyway. Then, after blaming the fuel pump, the filters, the timing, the points, the coil, the condenser and the distributor, you decide to put some gas in the tank before driving home with a perfectly running engine. To be humble is a valuable lesson because there are those who have, and there are those who will. Ask me how I know.

We have another month to fill before possibly meeting again, so don’t be shy about sharing more memories. It doesn’t have to be about speed. Just write a story about you and your car. How could that not be entertaining.

Aloha,
Rob

Rob’s Blog: Last Call

One week from today is this year’s All British Car Day.

On Sunday, the 26th, anyone with any British car who wants to enter the event is invited to sign up and join with others to share stories, and revel in the company of like-minded British car owners. You don’t have to be a club member to participate.

Register to participate in the show: https://britishcarclubhawaii.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/British-Car-Day-Registration-form.pdf

It isn’t a show, but rather a gathering of people who just like British cars and want to get together at least once a year. Entry is free to the public. There is always the Peoples Choice Award presented to the car everyone likes the best, for whatever reason, plus this year’s recipient of the Anastasia Cup. This annual award goes to a club member who has supported the club, its members, and has displayed unconditional encouragement to all of us. Believe me when I say this year’s recipient is way over due for recognition. 

If you want to participate in the caravan through Waikiki from Ala Moana Shopping Center to Kapiolani Park, meet outside of Macy’s on the second level from the top, no later than 8:45 a.m. If no one is there, that means we already left, or you are on the wrong level. 

After the show, about noon, we will proceed to Gordon Biersch for awards, a gift raffle, and lunch.  This is when you can use your $5 lunch credit coupon. Don’t forget to pick up your T-shirt at the park with the other coupon included in the entry envelope if you sign up for the deluxe entry. 

One last note: It isn’t too early to program your DVR to record the Indy 500. I suggest tacking on an extra half hour in case it runs over-time. 

See you all this Sunday.

Aloha,
Rob

Rob’s Blog: More than 70 years of British Technology

By every measure, this year’s All British Car Day was the biggest, the best, and most organized of any previous year. Brett, Dave, and Dr. Rob culled through email lists from previous shows and made sure everyone who had even thought of a British car, got word of the event. The effort paid off with the largest attendance ever. On display was British technology spanning over seven decades of automotive design and styling.

Running parking lot defense for the club were a couple of early risers who kept our reserved parking area clear of the equally early morning runners who mistakenly think the “NO PARKING” signs are for their event, rather than ours. Their effort paid off big time.

When the Kapiolani Park show ended, the event moved to the Morgan Estate for the presentation of awards, a catered lunch by Fat Boy’s, and raffle. And speaking of the raffle, the club picked up a new sponsor this year. Anna Pang of Mont Blanc, in the Ala Moana Shopping Center, donated a couple of really nice items to the raffle pot.

Jerry Bacon, 2107 Anastasia Cup Honoree

Jerry Bacon went home with the Anastasia Cup for 2017. Talk about slipping through the cracks, Jerry has been a club member for decades, and has run down more electrical issues than anyone can count, and yet, he was never publicly recognized for his service, and support. We all knew he was there, but not until now did he finally get his official “thanks” from all of us. Way to go Jerry!

Eberhard Kintscher, People’s Choice Winner 1960 Triumph TR3A.

To say voting for the People’s Choice Award was close would be an understatement. Good thing there was one winner, because there was a four way tie for second. Eberhard Kintscher, aka Chef Hardy, came out in front by one vote. His Beautiful 1960 TR3A is worth every vote and a deserved winner of this coveted award.

A huge cyber applause should also be sent out to everyone who helped pull this event together, and especially the guys who got up early and started it off so smoothly this year. Also, a big thanks to the Morgan family for hosting the lunch at their beautiful, historic home. It was the final touch to making this year’s event the best ever.

See more photos of the All British Car Day.

Rob’s Blog: Celebrating 25 Years of British Cars

At the All British Car Day in 2016
Cars and Coffee Kapahulu May 24, 2015

If you have attended an All British Car Day in the past, either as an owner or a spectator, you know it is the biggest British car event in Hawaii. This year will be no exception. On Sunday, May 28th, Memorial Day weekend, British cars of all kinds will gather at Kapiolani Park and invite the public to have a look.

If you plan on entering your car in this great event, here is how the day will play out.

First, you are encouraged to send in the registration form (see below) and sign up for either the basic $10, or deluxe $25, entry.

On the morning of the event, arrive at the middle parking level of the Ala Moana Shopping Center, the Diamond Head end, near Macy’s, no later than 8:30 a.m. The easiest way to get there is to take the parking ramp off of Atkinson Drive (next to the Ala Moana Hotel) and go to the second level. At 8:45 we will leave the parking lot and caravan our way through Waikiki to the venue at Kapiolani Park.

Upon arriving at the park, you will be directed to the area designated for your make of car. After parking, proceed to the registration desk to pick up your packet.

The show is free to the public and will continue until noon. At that time everyone with a deluxe registration is invited to caravan to the Morgan Estate in Manoa for a catered lunch, the gift raffle, presentation of awards and more car talk. One of the “perks” of the deluxe registration is a $5 voucher redeemable towards your lunch. The actual cost of the catered lunch is still to be determined, but you can bet it will be delicious, and well worth the cost. Especially when the club is paying you back five dollars.

It’s always fun to see a few “new” cars that have been hidden away suddenly appear out of nowhere that day. Remember, your car doesn’t have to be a show car, or even running. It just has to be British.

This would be the perfect place to sell your classic, or maybe buy another one. If you have any question about this event, don’t hesitate calling me.

The suggested deadline for registering is two weeks from today, Wednesday, May 24th, so don’t put it off.

Aloha, Rob

2017 All British Car Day registration form

Celebrating British Cars at Kapiolani Park

1963 Austin Healey 3000 MkII - Sergio Cocchia photo
Sergio Cocchia photographing his children with the Austin Healey

British car owners carefully prepare their vehicles each year for the Annual All British Car Day. It’s a day to celebrate the heritage of automobiles from the United Kingdom. This year’s event, held Sunday, May 29, marked the 24th annual gathering hosted by the British Car Club of Hawaii.

The day began with a parade that started from the Ala Moana Center along Ala Moana Boulevard—proudly motoring through Kalakaua Avenue, up Monsarrat Avenue, and ending at Kapiolani Park.

Some of the finest cars in the world assembled in the park beneath Diamond Head in the background, including vehicles manufactured by Aston Martin, Triumph, MG, Rolls Royce, Austin Healey, Jaguar, Lotus, Ford, Morgan, Land Rover, McClaren and Mini Cooper.

As the event is held in Waikiki the car show has its fair share of visitors from around the world. It’s merely a block or two from many hotels and makes for a nice Sunday morning stroll. Some visitors make it a point to include the show in their annual visits to Hawaii.

David Alexander and Brett Pruitt photo
David Alexander and Brett Pruitt

This year, David Alexander, a past president of the MG Car Club of Florida, visited and spent time chatting with many of the Hawaii MG owners.

Ballots are cast throughout the morning for visitors to vote for their favorite cars. This year, the People’s Choice Winner was awarded to Bob DeWitz for this 1933 MG J2.

1933 MG J2 - Bob Dewitz photo
Brett Pruitt presents the People’s Choice Award to Bob Dewitz.

The show closed at noon and members and guests met again at the Gordon Biersch Restaurant at the Aloha Tower Marketplace. This time, for refreshments, lunch, camaraderie, door prizes and the Anastasia Cup Award presentation.

The Anastasia Cup, this year, was presented to Ron McPherson.

Link to view photos of the 2016 All British Car Day here.