As you may already know, the British Marque is published eleven times a year in a 40-page, tabloid newspaper format, in both Print and On-line Editions. They have subscribers and correspondents from Ontario to Texas and from Maine to California, plus a number in the United Kingdom.
As a Participating Club, the Illinois Flat Land British Car Club has been contributing articles to be published in the Marque for the past year. Along with our articles, notifications of our events are added to the Marque’s monthly calendar in the paper and on their website. This gives our club national and international publicity, helping build the events and our club at the same time. In December alone, the Marque website boasted over 26,500 unique visitors!
When we send them articles to print, our club is given a section in the paper highlighted by our club logo and masthead. The person contributing articles is credited in the Marque as a “Contributing Editor”.
Contributed article are also published in the What’s New section of the IFLBCC website. Click HERE to see some of last year’s articles.
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The Champagne British Car Festival (CBCF) is just around the corner, June 2-4, 2023 in Bloomington, Illinois. This is the 32nd anniversary of the Festival and you can expect an amazing weekend of British car activities. This all-British car show features over 125 brilliant British cars and motorcycles.
In 1923 Cecil Kimber, the Founder of MG Cars, designed, built, advertised and sold his first MG sports cars. To celebrate this 100th Anniversary, CBCF announced that MG will be the featured marque at this year’s car show on June 4, 2023.
Friday June 2, 2023: Registered entrants “Start Your Engines” and your Festival weekend by joining us Friday evening, June 2nd for a Welcome Reception, sponsored by the Illinois Flat Land British Car Club (IFLBCC). This informal Meet & Greet with fellow British car enthusiasts will be held from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. If you’re already registered for Sunday’s show, you may pick up your Welcome Packets at the reception.
Saturday June 3, 2023: The fun continues Saturday morning, June 3, with a self-guided rally to Historic Pontiac, IL where the city parking lot will be reserved for our use. City representatives will welcome us with information packets and souvenir Route 66 pin. Arrangements have been made with Pontiac’s Tourism Department to provide us with special access to the Route 66 Hall of Fame exhibits & Museum and Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum.
Join the self-guided rally to historic Pontiac, IL
The automobile museum offers rotating exhibits to ensure a new and exciting experience each time you stop in. As the only Pontiac-Oakland Museum in the world, they display hundreds of pieces of memorabilia alongside the selection of cars. CBCF has made special arrangements for multiple private “behind the scenes” staff-guided tours of the Pontiac-Oakland Museum.
I’m sure that many of you have seen pictures of Pontiac’s Route 66 mural at the rear of the Route 66 museum, but are you aware two dozen other Wall Dog murals are scattered throughout Pontiac? Enjoy Pontiac’s walking tour of the murals as you shop and enjoy lunch in several downtown Pontiac restaurants. You’ll also want to be sure to save time for a selfie with your LBC in front of the iconic Route 66 mural!
Here’s your chance to take a LBC selfie at the iconic Route 66 mural.
Saturday Evening, June 3, 2023: Saturday evening’s banquet will feature this year’s Honorary Chairman and Guest Speaker, John Twist. John Twist is the MG guru behind Michigan’s University Motors who has helped countless people maintain, restore, and understand their MGs. He has run a successful shop, has an informative video series, and now is an international speaker. Twist was inducted into the British Sports Car Hall of Fame in 2017.
Sunday June 4, 2022: Early Riser? Join other Dawn Patrollers onSunday June 4 at the David Davis Mansion for some Pre-Show camaraderie. Our food vendor, Redbird Catering, will be on the grounds by 8:30am with a menu of biscuits & gravy, a breakfast sandwich, pastries, coffee and water.
The weekend culminates on Sunday June 4th, 2023 with the Champagne British Car Show on beautiful Clover Lawn of David Davis Mansion, Bloomington, IL. The David Davis Mansion provides a wonderful backdrop to display over 125 British cars. The festival includes music, vendors, food and beverage options, and tables and chairs to enjoy your meal and drinks.
John Twist’s famous Rolling Tech Sessions will be available during Sunday’s car show.
In keeping with the show’s recognition of 100 Years of MG, CBCF is hosting John Twist, nationally renowned MG mechanic and expert for a “Rolling Tech Session”. In addition to owning and operating University Motors LTD since 1975, John has been performing his famous rolling Tech Sessions at MG-related events throughout the country for decades. While John is an MG expert, this event is open to and appropriate for the owner of any British car as the mechanical systems are generally identical.
This year, Redbird Catering will be adding a British favorite, Fish & Chips, to their typical menu. Gramma Nanna’s will also be on hand with delicious cookies, ice cream, shakes and floats.
You can register electronically on our website using PayPal. There is a discount for early registrations so get your form submitted by May 28. We look forward to seeing you and your car at CBCF!
Please visit the CBCF website and Facebook pages for more about the Festival and weekend activities.
As with most car shows, the enthusiasts who volunteer their time and efforts have made the CBCF what it is today. The Champagne British Car Festival has become an annual event fo
