The British are coming

Waynesboro’s local British Car Club will be holding it’s 28th annual British Car Show on Saturday at Ridgeview Park.

The show officially starts at 9 a.m. and ends at approximately 2 p.m. Participants display British cars and are judged based on the quality of their vehicles. While participants aren’t required to be members of the club, they must all pay a $25 fee to register their car. Cars that are registered on the spot will cost an extra $5 to be displayed. The public may enter the event for free.

“We normally have anywhere from 120-160 registered cars,” said president of the British Car Club, Mark Harris.

Harris will also be participating in the event by displaying one of the few British cars he has collected, a 1959 MGA. Each car belongs to one of 22 classes, Harris explains. Winners are chosen from each class and are decided by those who are participating in the event. Participants also vote for the ‘neat car’ award, given to the all around best British car presented at the show.

“We don’t have official judges,” said Doug Harmon, a member that has been participating in the event since 1995. Harmon insists that the friendly environment and the lack of harsh competitiveness is what makes the local car show stand out from others of it’s kind that take place across the country.
“This is the biggest activity our club has,” said Harris. It is also the only activity open to the general public.
According to club member Bob Shifflet, The British Car Club engages in many activities throughout the year. At least two events per month are organized. Members are required to pay $20 membership dues yearly, but are not required to own a British car.
This year, The British Car Show is sponsoring the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.
“We are asking spectators as well as participants to bring cans of food,” said Shifflet. He also mentioned that monetary donations will be accepted.

While some of the proceeds will go to the food bank, the rest will be used to pay for the weekend long event that coincides with the car show. A reception will be held 6 p.m. on Friday at Staunton’s Holiday Inn and an awards banquet will be held 7 p.m. on Saturday.

“We are a car club but we are also a car club that wants to support this particular charity,” said Harris.