Category Archives: CBCF – Champagne British Car Festival

Celebrate 100 Years of MG with John Twist

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.

The CBCF receives significant support from the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the David Davis Mansion State Historic Site.

For more information, visit www.cbcf-bloomington.com  or the IFLBCC Facebook Event – Click Here

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

Congratulations to ALL of our Award of Excellence winners

Congratulations to ALL of our Award of Excellence winners at the 2022 Champagne British Car Festival Car Show on Sunday June 5, 2022. Your personalized award plate is being prepared and will be mailed to you as soon as we receive them.

THANKS to ALL of the participants in our show at the David Davis Mansion.

We had a fantastic day and hope you enjoyed it as much as the members of the Illinois Flat Land British Car Club (IFLBCC) members enjoyed hosting it.

At the Champagne British Car Festival’s Car Show Ken Shure with his 1959 TR3 was second overall in the Triumph Featured Marque, Dan and Connie Goodrum with their 1980 TR7 made the top 25 Award of Excellence awards.

SIX Austin Healey “Award of Excellence” Winners (one not pictured) at the 2022 Champagne British Car Festival’s Car Show. www.CBCF-Bloomington.com

The CBCF is only One Week AWAY! Pre-Registration Ends Midnight May 31st

Pre-registration for the Champagne British Car Festival (CBCF) 2022 ENDS on midnight, May 31st! It’s time to register and get the dates added to your car show bucket list! CBCF-Bloomington.com

This year the CBCF begins Friday June 3rd and concludes with the main attraction car show on the grounds of the David Davis Mansion, Bloomington, IL Sunday June 5th.

We expect another great showing of all marques and years, highlighted by Triumph, our 2022 featured marque. CBCF-Bloomington.com.

#cbcf2022

Pub Night in the Courtyard – June 4th

The Courtyard Critters are getting excited to see the British 🇬🇧 car owners at Pub Night in The Courtyard 🎶🍻.

Saturday’s English Pub Night will be in the DoubleTree’s open-air courtyard on June 4th. Catered hors d’oeuvres will be served throughout the evening as we present the CBCF Poker Run Awards and enjoy live music by Jim & Tommy (of The Bygones).

Cash bar available. Reserved British-Car Parking will be adjacent to the hotel’s Conference Center. #CBCFPubNight

Pre-Registration REQUIRED! – https://iflbcc.club/cbcf-saturday/

In The NEWS! The Illinois Flat Land British Car Club (IFLBCC) is in British Marque

Watch your mailbox or inbox for the June edition of the British Marque Car Club News.

The Illinois Flat Land British Car Club ( www.IFLBCC.club ) is now a Participating Member.

We’ll be doing a follow-up story on the CBCF in the July edition as well as some new stories on our event at the Highland Games and other event successes by our members.

Do YOU have a story to tell? Drop me a line at [email protected] and you may see your name in print!