EuroBrit Auto & Bike Expo 2009 in North Alabama

[wlkelley3]

North Alabama British Motoring Society (NABMS) is holding its annual EuroBrit Auto & Bike Expo in Madison, AL on 6 June 2009. This event is open to all European cars and motorcycles. See NABMS for details.

Last year my GT just missed this because of a starter. It'll be ready this year. Harold brought down a GT. Would like to see more Opels in the show. NABMS is also open to sponsoring a sub-event or get-together for those that are interested in helping get some Opelers together at a show.

[newman27]

I may be able to make this. It's on a weekend that I have free at the moment and it looks like a reasonable 4 1/2 hour drive from my house. Please keep us posted as the date gets closer.

Thanks,

Matt

[hrcollinsjr]

This is a small show but.... It is a great show for those who may be intimidated by the bigger shows or worried their car isn't up to the standards of a larger show. Don't get me wrong their will be some nice cars there but very few trailer queens, these people enjoy having cars they can drive. The atmosphere is relaxed, it's in a park with a great playground for younger kids and it's in the SHADE or has been since I've been going. Wendell is one of the folks that helps to make it run smoothly. It'll be interesting to see him help with the show AND show his NEW car! I'm looking forward to seeing his car as he did most of the interior work himself with some nice custom touches.

Hopefully Opels can make a showing this year.

Harold

[wlkelley3]

Yep, it's being held in the same place, a city park. We get an area under the trees to set up the show. We try to spead the cars out by country/make/model the best we can to make it interesting. I'm on the show commitee and on the board of the host club. I'm the only Opeler in the club. It isn't what could be called a big show, last year was our biggest attendance at just over 70 cars. And very few of the cars are trailer queens, most are driven to the show and some are work-in-progress. The primary type of cars that appear on a trailer are usually early 50's British iron that doesn't do highway speed comfortably, like MG-TD's. The pics on the club's homepage shows the area the show is held under. Home For those that come the day before, we hold a scenic drive ending at a club members house for a BBQ. All show attendees are invited to the BBQ courtesy of NABMS, in other words - free dinner. Just let me know if you would like to attend. I'll post directions when the show gets closer. Looking forward to seeing some Opels at this years show.

[wlkelley3]

Well, this show is quickly approaching and I thought I would bump this up to remind other Opelers about tha show. This years BBQ will be held at Klassic Autos, a local classic European car repair shop run by a fellow club member. The car show will be held at Dublin Park again under the trees. Lets not let my Opel be the only Opel in the show this year. Any questions, contact me and/or see NABMS

Wendell

[newman27]

My wife and I are thinking of making the drive to this show for a weekend out of town. Are there any interesting Bed and Breakfasts in the area to stay at so that I can convince her to come along?

Thanks,

Matt

[hrcollinsjr]

Surely there are some AL guys around who can turn out for this event.

StevesGT says he has a nice yellow GT. By his own admission, he's confessed to having sent me doctored pictures of a car he says is his. Bring it to the show!

Harold

[wlkelley3]

Matt,
There was a B&B in an old historic house in the historic district of Madison, when I went over to get the address/phone number I found out they closed. So no B&B here locally although lots of nice hotels, one is within walking distnce of the space and rocket center museum. Sorry, Hope you can convince her to come anyway. Or just leave her at home like I do mine. She doesn't want to have anything to do with my sportcars, she just doesn't understand them. She refuses to learn stick shift to learn to enjoy them.
Just kidding about leaving her at home.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by wlkelley3 Matt, There was a B&B in an old historic house in the historic district of Madison, when I went over to get the address/phone number I found out they closed. So no B&B here locally although lots of nice hotels, one is within walking distnce of the space and rocket center museum. Sorry, Hope you can convince her to come anyway. Or just leave her at home like I do mine. She doesn't want to have anything to do with my sportcars, she just doesn't understand them. She refuses to learn stick shift to learn to enjoy them. Just kidding about leaving her at home.

Well. we're coming anyway! (BTW, thanks for checking for us!) Actually she did some research and we have a lead on a B&B in Huntsville (Dogwood Manor). So, our plan is to spend Friday night in Chattanooga and get up early Saturday morning to make the rest of the trip for the show. Then, spend Saturday night in Huntsville, heading back to Atlanta on Sunday. So, we'll see you there!

Matt

[wlkelley3]

Great!!! I'll probably be working the registration desk so I'll definitely see you. I didn't know about that place. Probably more around here but living here I have no need for a B&B. Our friday night drive will go close to where that B&B is. And since I'm VP of the host club and the club prez is out of town for work, I'll probably be filling that spot also.

Well that makes two Opels.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by wlkelley3 Great!!! I'll probably be working the registration desk so I'll definitely see you. I didn't know about that place. Probably more around here but living here I have no need for a B&B. Our friday night drive will go close to where that B&B is. And since I'm VP of the host club and the club prez is out of town for work, I'll probably be filling that spot also. Well that makes two Opels.

Excellent! I made our reservations at the B&B today and changed the oil and fuel filter on the GT to get ready for the drive so we are committed. I think we need to get Harold and Keith to come down from TN... See you there!

Matt

[hrcollinsjr]

There were only 2 GT's at the show so they lumped them in with some Audi's. If I'd brought an Audi to the show, I think I would have complained! Congrats to Matt and Wendell for their 1st and 2nd place showings!
Hopefully now that Wendell has his car closer to completion we're see it more often. Nice job on the custom interior.

Harold

[wlkelley3]

Yep, my car made it to the show and back home under its own power. Even took it on a scenic drive last night. Yeah it still needs a some work but the sense of accomplishment is back now that it runs and drives so working on it will be more enjoyable. Matt's GT is very nice, he took first. I took second. Not bad for its first outing. Maybe after I finish the small things on my car I can give Matt's car a run for his money.

The show was a great success!!! Far exceeded expectations. Don't know how much longer we can call this a small local show. We had 93 total entrants and a couple that wasn't registered. Last year was just over 70 and the year before we struggled to get 30-ish. A real good variety of European cars. From brit to german and swede to italian. Next year we're shooting for over 100 so Tennessee and Georgia Opelers, start getting your cars ready to bring down here to Northern Alabama. Lots to see here, NASA Space and Rocket Museum for one. And our scenic drive ending with a bbq dinner brought to you by the club.

It was great meeting Matt and his better half. And having Harold down, he brought someone with a nice Fiat 128 sedan. Haven't seen one in years let alone one as nice as this one. Looks like it did when new in 1976 when I almost bought one new. Was too young to get financed and bought a used Pinto instead.

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by wlkelley3 And having Harold down, he brought someone with a nice Fiat 128 sedan.

And they had to leave early so I got to accept the nice plaque. I think it is only fitting that I keep the award since I talked him into going to the show and I was driving a DODGE which may soon be owned by FIAT. I did call him after the show and told him I would let him hold it, maybe take his picture with it.

Wendell, I want to see a custom interior from you after you've done a few more. The first one turned out really nice, not perfect, but nice. I saw several things that I would like if I couldn't go back with stock or near stock. I didn't know what to expect when I first saw your car at a distance but I wasn't disappointed. Keep after it!

I don't recall seeing you take any pictures maybe Matt will post some soon. How about posting the link for the photographers who were there. There were some pretty nice cars there in addition to the two stars of the show.

Harold

[newman27]

Wow - what a weekend! I could write and write and post some of the 100+ photos I took, but maybe a quick update and a few photos will do until I get some rest. Denise and I split the trip in two parts spending Friday night at the Chattanooga, TN "Choo Choo" hotel and then getting up bright and early Saturday morning to make the rest of the trip to Madison, AL (taking full advantage of the one hour we gain by entering the central time zone to get a good breakfast in ). We arrived and were greeted by Wendell who was a fantastic host. Denise and I both enjoyed Wendell's company and were impressed by his GT. I really liked some custom touches Wendell did on the interior like using the red stitching on the black vinyl and the filled in dash area looked good too! Then, some guy named Harold showed up.... Just kidding - it was a really nice surprise seeing Harold at the show too and it was fun getting caught up with what he's been up to. I hear tell there is a super secret project underway but Harold would have to kill me if I spilled the beans so we'll leave it at that. We spent the whole day at the show and it took us over two hours just to fill out our judging sheet. There were large showings from the VW , Porsche, MG, and Jaguar groups. After the show ended, we took a scenic drive up to the top of a nearby mountain (a large hill for our west coast members used to the Rockies and those used to the Alps in Europe - but a mountain for us here on the East coast). We then stayed in a B&B in Huntsville, AL before hitting the road this afternoon for the trip back to Atlanta which we did in one shot. It took us about 5 1/2 hours with a couple brief stops. It was a great weekend and even my wife enjoyed the show and the trip. She had never traveled so far in the GT and was amazed at how comfortable it was. We cruised along at 75 - 80 MPH the whole way back listening to the Braves game (thanks to XM radio) and it was like a dream. We got many "thumbs up" on the trip while on the open road and made new friends at every single stop. Anyway, see below for just a few photos. I'll add more to my album over the next few days. Thanks again Wendell for being a terrific host!

Matt

[newman27]

Just a few photos that show the variety and layout of the show without focusing on any particular car... The chartreuse colored MG beat me out by about 10 miles for the "farthest traveled" award being from just a little further out in the Atlanta 'burbs than I am. BTW, the Mayor of Madison also gave honorable mention to the Opel contingent in his speech before awarding the "Mayor's Choice" award to a Volvo P1800.

Matt

[newman27]

After Opels, I am partial to Porsches and this was the most "extreme" car at the show IMHO...

Matt

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by newman27 After Opels, I am partial to Porsches and this was the most "extreme" car at the show IMHO... Matt

Wendell, what was the story on the Cooper Clubman with the engine transplant at the show last year? I can't remember specifics, I just remember that the HP in a car that size was wild.

Harold

[newman27]

Here is the link to page 10 of the professional photos taken at the show which is where the Opel section resides...

Matt

[wlkelley3]

Originally Posted by hrcollinsjr Wendell, what was the story on the Cooper Clubman with the engine transplant at the show last year? I can't remember specifics, I just remember that the HP in a car that size was wild. Harold

The owner is a club member. This year he only brought his wifes white rubber bumper MGB GT. He brought the clubman out on our friday evening drive. The Mini Cooper Clubman has a VTEC upgrade, a Honda VTEC engine and transmission squeezed into the Mini. Plus the engine has been slightly upgraded also, don't remember what all was done to the engine though. It flat out moves!!! If I remember right, there is something like a little over 200+ HP under that hood (or bonnet as the english say ) that moves a little car weighing in at about <1700 lbs. The owner says if you mash the go fast pedal too hard it gets scary. There's a company in Charleston, SC that specializes in this mod and that car is one of their works. He sold a grey market Mini that was very nice to get that Clubman.

[wlkelley3]

Originally Posted by hrcollinsjr I don't recall seeing you take any pictures maybe Matt will post some soon. How about posting the link for the photographers who were there. There were some pretty nice cars there in addition to the two stars of the show. Harold

Yeah, pictures was something I had a hard time fitting in, with working registration, judging and talking with the some of the owners it was difficult to do everything. We had a clubmember that other hobby is photography there taking pics and Matt already posted a link to his site.

I guess I just didn't want to deal with having to download pics when I knew I had an early flight the next morning. I had a 630 AM flight Sunday morning to Richmond, VA for yet another work trip. This year (or since x-mas) I've been home a month, the rest I've been on the road for work. Just got back last night.

[newman27]

I ended up buying a couple photos from the gallery I linked earlier - great, high quality images! BTW, the show made the news. Type "eurobrit" into the site's search box and the video will be in the search results.

Matt