Events : BMC/BL Rally 2003

1 August 2003 Keith Adams 0

The National BL Day, which is held on an annual basis at Nene Park in Peterborough has become something of a Mecca for all those afflicted with “Leyland-itis”.

Many of the country’s owners’ clubs attend this meeting – and as a result, there is a fascinating mixture of BMC>Rover machinery from the Oxford/Cambridge brigade, through the Maxi, Marina, Allegro triumvirate to more modern cars such as the Rover 800, 200 and 400. All in all, if there is a BMC>Rover car you would like to see in the flesh, you will see it at Peterborough.

Our own stand played host to a wide range of BMC data-recalc-dims=1>Rovers, from the Morris 1100 through to the Rover-BRM.” width=”600″ height=”227″/><figcaption class=wp-caption-text>Our own stand played host to a wide range of BMC>Rovers, from the Morris 1100 through to the Rover-BRM.</figcaption></figure><figure style=Our own stand played host to a wide range of BMC data-recalc-dims=1>Rovers, from the Morris 1100 through to the Rover-BRM.” width=”600″ height=”260″/><figcaption class=wp-caption-text>Our own stand played host to a wide range of BMC>Rovers, from the Morris 1100 through to the Rover-BRM.</figcaption></figure><p>This year, a new club joined the fray: amusingly called, “German Group” according to the signs which marked the plot. Actually, the “German club” turned out to be the club set up by a number of keen individuals (John Capon, Dale Turley and Declan Berridge, among many others), who felt that this website represented a good starting point for a cross-model club – not so much an owners’ club, but a marque admirers’ club. Several members of the Austin-Rover mailing list clubbed together, and purchased some club regalia and decided to make our presence felt in the real world, as well as the inter-web thingy.</p><p>So why the “German Group”? The stand was organized by Alexander Boucke – a site contributor and owner of two Car of the Month winners, who happens to live in Aachen, Germany. An interesting, and ironic name for our plot!</p><p>Arrangements were made, dates were planned and a list of cars (and their owners, of course) was drawn up; a plucky bunch of volunteers, who decided to brave the August heatwave and the myriad of event visitors in order to show off their prize possessions. Not only that, but the stand also featured the famous “Austin-Rover hospitality suite” (i.e., Dale Turley’s folding camper), which proved to be a haven from the sun….</p><p>The cars which appeared on our stand:</p><table width=600><tbody><tr><th width=100> Year</th><th width=300> Type of car</th><th width=200> Owner</th></tr><tr><td>1963</td><td>Morris 1100</td><td>Declan Berridge</td></tr><tr><td>1969</td><td>Austin 3-Litre</td><td>Alexander Boucke</td></tr><tr><td>1974</td><td>MG Midget</td><td>David Jacobs</td></tr><tr><td>1974</td><td>Rover 3500S</td><td>Nick Doolan</td></tr><tr><td>1980</td><td>Princess 2 2200HLS</td><td>Kevin Davis</td></tr><tr><td>1986</td><td>Austin Montego Mayfair</td><td>Andy Thomas</td></tr><tr><td>1986</td><td>Rover 820Si</td><td>Keith Adams</td></tr><tr><td>1989</td><td>MG Maestro Turbo</td><td>Gareth Kidman</td></tr><tr><td>1990</td><td>Mini Cooper (RSP)</td><td>Ian Nicholls</td></tr><tr><td>1993</td><td>Rover 220GTi Turbo</td><td>Peter Wood</td></tr><tr><td>1995</td><td>Rover 416Si</td><td>Chris Mills</td></tr><tr><td>1997</td><td>Rover Vitesse Coupe</td><td>John Capon</td></tr><tr><td>1999</td><td>Rover 200BRM</td><td>Kevin Davis</td></tr></tbody></table><figure style=John Capon's stunning Rover Vitesse Coupe was one car that generated huge amounts of interest on the stand - surely the best example of a sure-fire future classic (photo by Kevin Davis).
John Capon's stunning Rover Vitesse Coupe was one car that generated huge amounts of interest on the stand - surely the best example of a sure-fire future classic (photo by Kevin Davis).

Needless to say, thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, the show was a great success for Austin-Rover.co.uk and hopefully. it will be the first of many, many more. Obviously, my own thanks go to those who brought their cars along, and those who visited the show stand. Let’s hope that it generated even more interest in the website, and the community that is building up around it.

Next year, we hope to see even more people join in… all are welcome

Other Show highlights

The racing Maestro of the Full Throttle Racing team, as driven by Chris Yates. These guys need sponsorship, so if you have some cash, why not drop them a line.... tell 'em Keith sent you! (picture taken by Daniel Pike, courtesy of the Maestro forum)
The racing Maestro of the Full Throttle Racing team, as driven by Chris Yates. These guys need sponsorship, so if you have some cash, why not drop them a line.... tell 'em Keith sent you! (picture taken by Daniel Pike, courtesy of the Maestro forum)
This gorgeous Toledo bodied Sprint is the car that Triumph should have always built. There were investigations into such a car (as indeed there was a 1.5TC Toledo TS), but sadly, they amounted to nought.
This gorgeous Toledo bodied Sprint is the car that Triumph should have always built. There were investigations into such a car (as indeed there was a 1.5TC Toledo TS), but sadly, they amounted to nought.
Ken Green's ex-Works Landcrab... a unique car.
Ken Green's ex-Works Landcrab... a unique car.
This Mark one MG Metro has been the subject of what appears to be a loving restoration. The car is owned by Steve Johnson from Hull, and as a result of all his hard work, the MG Metro picked up the show's concours award. Steve is a member of the MG 'M' Group.
This Mark one MG Metro has been the subject of what appears to be a loving restoration. The car is owned by Steve Johnson from Hull, and as a result of all his hard work, the MG Metro picked up the show's concours award. Steve is a member of the MG 'M' Group.

Thanks to Dale Turley for the photographs (unless otherwise stated)

Keith Adams
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