George Cole

Thanks Walt. it's a pain in the neck hauling all that stuff onto the show field, and some shows don't allow ancillary or supporting displays, claiming it could fall over and damage someone else's car. And I've had a couple of show organizers specifically tell me not to bring the rifle...like the Delray Beach Concours this coming Sunday. No, it was all European, pre- and post-war. There was one other pre-war car...the 1933 MG...and my Jag, which is CCCA classified as pre-war as they started making that particular model in 1936. The company changed their name from SS to Jaguar in 1945, and then picked back up with the same model for 3 years post-war as part of Britain's 'Export of Die' directive, to bring rebuild and restoration money into the country. Several guys I spoke with yesterday have pre-war cars, like the owner of the Rolls, but didn't bring them for whatever reason. Perhaps they didn't want to screw around with a trailer for a local show. Many people thanked me throughout the day for giving them (and sometimes their kids or grandkids,) a history lesson. I make a big deal about it with kids, telling them that they learned something which I'm sure their teachers don't even know. Very few people know motor bicycles and carrier pigeons played an important part in WWI. Likewise, that B.S.A. is/was a gun company, formed in 1861. They made weapons for our Civil War. I'd like to find a source for inexpensive toy pigeons which I can give to the kids at shows, but so far haven't.

This next car was pretty neat...a 1949 Triumph rumble seat roadster. Part of the rumble seat deck folded up and forward as a windshield for the 2 rear passengers. There was mid-80s Lamborghini with no placard, so I couldn't tell the exact year. It was parked next to a 2022 Ferrari. There were a couple of VW Beetles which were day-of-show registrations, so not eligible for judging. Then a Karman Ghia and a VW camper. I was going to take several interior shots of the camper, but the owner was sitting in it and didn't appear interested in getting out. There were several Land Rovers, and a bunch of late-model Porsches and Mercedes which I didn't photograph. Also a few late-arrivals including a mid-80s Mercedes SSK kit car, which again I didn't shoot.

The obligatory string of MG-B cars, a Metropolitan, and something I'd never seen before, a 1949 Standard. Then a nice looking Jensen Interceptor. There were 3 Triumph roadsters...I believe a TR-250, a TR-3, and a TR-4.

There were a string of five Morgans, although the oldest was only a 2005 model. The only Rolls Royce was a 17,000-mile 1984 model. Then a pair of 1960-vintage Volvos. Two Triumph Spitfires...a 1966 race car, and a stock 1972.

There were several MG-T-series.

Jaguar XK-140 coupe and 1933 MG J3

Jaguar XK-140 and XK-120.

I rode the B.S.A. onto the show field...several hundred yards from the trailer parking area. It was somewhat of a 'still-nipples' morning, with the temp starting out in the mid-50s. Warmed to the lower 80s by mid-afternoon.

Over 100 vehicles on the show field. Entrant judging of about 20 classes. My 1947 Jag took Best in Class over several XK-120/140s. Then to my surprise, was awarded Best of Show. My 1915 B.S.A. was the only motorcycle, so was not assigned to a class, and wound up display only. My motorcycle display tells a story. B.S.A. (Birmingham Small Arms,) was a gun company founded in 1861, building mostly military weapons. They started building motor bicycles in 1910, alongside the guns. The gun I have displayed with the bike is a 1915 B.S.A. British Enfield .303 caliber rifle, with bayonet...a WWI survivor...as is the bike. During WWI, young men who owned motorcycles were encouraged to join the British (and other Allied,) Army, with their motorcycle. Thousands did. They were assigned to the Engineering Division Despatch Riders, and immediately promoted to Corporal, as any lower rank were not allowed to speak to an officer. One other task of the despatch riders was to transport carrier pigeons from the command and control echelons in the rear, to the front line trenches, on the western front. At the time, this was still their primary means of expedient communication. The despatch riders would carry 24 pigeons in a large basket strapped to their backs. Experienced riders tied an additional 8 pigeons in individual baskets to the top of the main one. They sometimes had to ride through and around German checkpoints, while getting shot at in the process. I have the baskets on display with the bike, along with pictures.

I thought the green Bentley roadster was a shoe-in for Best of Show, but it left early...most likely due to the pending rain which for the most part, never materialized.

There's a couple of Stag's floating around here. I know the owner of one of them. It's registered for Wheels Across the Pond, which is the next upcoming European show, less than 3-weeks from now in Jupiter. Several years ago there were over 500 cars registered. So far this year, only about 200, but registration's still open.

I really like that 1937 Alvis. I've shown alongside him several times. Nice guy. He also has a 1925. Both unrestored family-heirlooms. Most of them time he drives one or the other to shows. He said it took about 35 minutes to drive ~20 miles to the show yesterday.

Quite a few no-shows. Entry numbers went close to 100, but there was considerably less on the field. 40% Chance of rain forecast for the afternoon so maybe that scared some away. It sprinkled very briefly...not even enough to get the ground wet. Off-and-on cloudy. Hot. Touched 90-degrees for a while mid-day.

The Black Jaguar XK-120 won Best of Show.