Event Organizer's Report
Perfect Weather Once Again!

It’s been 19 years for the British Invasion and over this period the event has grown to be the premier All-British Motorcar Show in the Eastern United States attracting over 600 British cars and motorcycles each year over a wide range of marques and models.  Each year “Invaders” come from further away to share in the camaraderie of fellow British Car Enthusiasts and to enjoy the majestic scenery and back roads that comprise rural Vermont at the approach of fall.  A look at the class winners as posted on the Invasion website (www.britishinvasion.com) will provide some insight as to the wide geographic appeal of the British Invasion.

 Attendees from the USA and Canada came in larger numbers in 2009.  We fielded 660 cars on Saturday of the Invasion Weekend.  The Invasion weekend started on Thursday with many returning cars assembling at 10:00 AM at Ye Olde England Inne to embark on a back roads tour of the Lake Champlain Islands with a stop for lunch along the way.

 When the Invasion opened for Registration on Friday at noon the Stowe Special Events Field began to fill with British cars as their owners looked to claim their pre-registration packages, meet gift (if they were among the first 300 to register), and goodies.

Registrants were quick to obtain a first viewing of the various offerings within the British Marketplace and perhaps have a look for yet another British Classic in the Car Corral. 

 For those with last minutes changes in plans or who waited for the weather forecast there was still an opportunity to Register their car for the British Classic (People’s Choice) Show or for the Car Corral as long as they made it to Stowe before 6:00PM.  Friday also found many “invaders” touring the back roads on a self-guided tour and then making it back to the Stowe Special Events Field in time for the traditional Registrants Reception with the opportunity to renew old acquaintances, and share an English brew courtesy of Fuller Brewery.

 Once again in 2009 we enjoyed the active participation by the Village of Stowe as the local merchants served as hosts to a Friday night street party with a live Beatles cover band. The main street of downtown was blocked off and only British cars were allowed to line the streets of town.  The “Invaders” partied till 9:30 PM and the local merchants did a brisk business.  This year Invaders enjoyed the addition of food and beverage services along Main Street.

 It is amazing what perfect weather can do. Saturday arrived as a perfect day, although a bit chilly first thing in the morning.   The sun shined brightly, the skies were clear as the registrants found their way to one of the 60 individual Classes that made up the British Classic Motorcar Show 2009.  In addition there were over 30 motorcars registered in the Concours d’Elegance Judged Competition. 

 This year we were privileged to have Dennis Gage of “My Classic Car” and his film crew on hand to interview British Invasion Registrants with their cars for an upcoming airing of his show on the Speed Network which should run in early summer 2010.

 As it is with perfect weather, there was not a single salamander or spotted toad seen in the designated wetlands areas of the Stowe Special Events Field that have been known to collect the run off from heavy rains in years past. 

 The Car Corral attracted 30+ cars that were available for purchase and ranged in quality from Vermont Barn finds to restored Concours Classics.  Ye Olde England Inne was on hand with an assortment of food and beverages to include the very popular Bangers and Mash.  The awards program produced over 150 winners as Saturday drew to a close and we prepared for Sunday’s activities. 

 Sunday started early for those Invaders who gathered at the Stowe High School parking lot to embark on a 70 minute tour of the back roads that featured a run over the top of Smugglers Notch with a certain 1947 Bentley, Mark VI, Saloon that is known as the car that started the Invasion, serving as lead car.  Over 30 cars, many with their tops down, assembled and headed out on the drive.  We are pleased to report that everyone who started also completed this scenic drive.  Sunday was a fun day that bore witness to the Competition of Colors where invaders parked by the colors of the British Flag and some others to include Red, White, Blue, British Racing Green, Two-Tone, Black, and Rainbow (for all others that did not fit into a category).  The Tailgate Picnic Competition was most interesting, as families and friends competed for honors in one of 8 separate categories.  Chris Francis dodged entrants in the Back Seat Drivers Competition as they competed for the best time and least number of contacts with the traffic cones that had been set-up.  This year’s competition included Derek Chace and his driver from Underhill, VT with his 1975 Land Rover Series III Military Airportable complete with machine gun and full armor plating.  The Airportable Land Rover did not set a speed record for the course, but it certainly did provide a lot of entertainment for the onlookers.

 Sunday also featured the driving review of 1^st Place British Classic Winners from Saturday’s People’s Choice Competition.  Each owner was presented with an opportunity to tell those in attendance about the car that had won a 1^st in class, often against stiff competition.  This year’s featured marques were MG and Lotus and the field saw an impressive collection of both.   The Best of Concours Award went to Malcolm & Barbara Appleton from nearby Waitsfield, VT with their 1932 MG, J1 Sports Tourer.  The Best of the British Classic / the Maguire’s Choice Award went to John Jennings from Blairstown, NJ with his 1956 Jaguar XK-140 MC.

As you might well imagine the success of the British Invasion is due in part to the many volunteers both from surrounding Stowe, VT and from thoughout New England who help us with the many acitivities of organizing and administering a show of this size.  Our Thanks to the Volunteers and to the Invaders who travel, from the North, South, East, and West in their British Motorcars each year and to our various Sponsors and Supporters who make this show a reality.

 The Invasion is always held on the weekend of the 3^rd Saturday in the month of September each year in Stowe, Vermont.  If you are marking your calendar that would be the 16^th to the 19^th of September in 2010.  2010 we will mark our 20^th year of the British Invasion and we anticipate a record turnout, so make your plans early.

Happy motoring to all and to all a Good Day!

Michael F. Gaetano

Event Coordinator