WABASH VALLEY —
Armed with cameras and food, a British invasion of sorts made its way to Vincennes on Saturday.
Members of the Wabash Valley British Sports Car Club launched their “Summer Solstice Celebration” tour, taking off from the Terminal’s parking lot amid a full Downtown Terre Haute Farmers Market. About two dozen British sports cars and their owners readied for a day trip, which would include tours of The George Rogers Clark Memorial, Vincennes University and Red Skelton Performing Arts Center.
Club President Bob Blubaugh sported a yellow MGB shirt to match his “British racing green” 1970 MGB parked nearby.
“This is the 50th anniversary of the MGB,” he said proudly, happy to point out the different brands of vehicles brought out for the trip.
Established in the 1990s, the Wabash Valley British Sports Car Club takes “themed” trips around the state, he explained, adding members stay updated on opportunities at the group’s website, www.wvbscc.org. Earlier in April, members traveled to Lafayette for a “Tippecanoe and Brit Cars Too” jaunt through history, and they expect to travel the roads between Danville, Ill., and Crawfordsville around Labor Day.
“You don’t have to have a British car to be in,” the retired high school teacher said. “Just an interest in British vehicles.”
Makes and models have ranged from Jaguars to Rolls Royces over the years, and Blubaugh said they’d welcome a British motorcyclist if one wanted to join.
For Bob Arnett, it’s all about speed.
“Mine’s the fast one,” the past president and current vice president said of his 1974 Triumph parked by the Terminal.
While in high school, most of his friends were interested in what he described as the big, gas-guzzling muscle cars made in Detroit.
“Any booger-eater can drive fast in a straight line in those,” he snickered, pointing out his modified Triumph can reach speeds of 130 miles per hour.
But Saturday’s pace was planned to be one of leisure, and the group had a stop in Fowler Park scheduled for a visit to the Irishman Bridge, which dates back to 1846. Other stops included the historical marker at Merom Bluffs before the group would descend upon Indiana’s original capital, Vincennes, later in the day.
For Cathy Patrick, comfort is key to cause.
“Why do I like them? Because my husband likes them,” she laughed of the family’s British automobiles.
But instead of his 1972 Spitfire, the couple opted for their 2007 Mini that morning. Getting about 34 miles to the gallon in town, its air-conditioning and sun-roof were tailor-made for sight-seeing throughout the state.
“And we just moved to Lafayette,” she said, pointing out the car’s paint job. “It’s the perfect colors, black and gold.”
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
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