Category Archives: Special Events

Awards, Car Shows, Cars and Coffee, CBCF - Champagne British Car Festival, Drives, Special Events

2025 Champagne British Car Festival Celebrates its 34th year in Central Illinois!

The Champagne British Car Festival (CBCF) is the Illinois Flat Land British Car Club’s annual celebration of all things British motoring, held in Bloomington, Illinois. This fantastic event has been running for over 33 years, attracting British car enthusiasts from all over the Midwest. Besides Sunday’s All-British Car Show, the Festival includes a British Pub Reception, Cars & Coffee, Guided Drive, Boot Sale, Sit-Down Banquet and Silent Auction. The CBCF Weekend will run from Friday May 30 to Sunday June 1, 2025.  Online registration is OPEN NOW!

Click HERE to pre-register

What’s happening at the Champagne British Car Festival THIS YEAR?

Car Show: The weekend will culminate 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 at this popular annual event, organized by members of the Illinois Flat Land British Car Club.  

ALL Jaguar cars get the Featured Marque spotlight at this year’s Champagne British Car Festival 

All registered vehicles will be entered into one of +/- 30 marque specific classes.  Voting will be a “Popular Vote” by registered participants.

All registered vehicles will be entered into one of +/- 30 marque specific classes.  Voting will be a “Popular Vote” by registered participants.

Welcome Reception: Pre-Registered entrants will have the opportunity to pick up their weekend information packet early and stay for our British Pub Mixer welcome reception Friday evening at the Chateau Hotel’s Conference Center.  Along with the cash bar, the IFLBCC will be providing a variety of sandwiches and snacks to enjoy as you renew old friendships and make new ones.  We’ll have lots of group parking outside the Conference Center where an impromptu car show is sure to develop.

Scavenger Hunt & Boot Sale: Saturday begins with a brief Cars & Coffee followed by a self-guided Scavenger Hunt and other Special Activities which take advantage of the area’s iconic roads, small town sights and area restaurants. The Boot Sale/Swap Meet IS BACK!  The Chateau’s parking lot will be an excellent venue for that, once the Scavenger Hunters are back from their drive. The Chateau Hotel will be the hub for all of Saturday’s activities until the sit-down banquet at the Chateau Conference Center. Watch the What’s New? section of the IFLBCC.club website for more details

Banquet & Charity Silent Auction:  Saturday’s activities will be capped off with our traditional CBCF Banquet & Silent Auction.  The sit-down banquet will again be held in the renovated Chateau Hotel and Conference Center’s ballroom.  We’ll have designated parking to display our cars and provide lots of opportunities for mixing with fellow enthusiasts before dinner.  The CBCF Planning Committee is currently working on arrangements for a very special presenter that we’re sure that ALL British Car owners will enjoy.  Our Charity Silent Auction will be BACK for 2025!

Whether you’re a die-hard British car enthusiast or just looking for a fun day out, the CBCF’s Sunday All-British Car Show on June 1, 2025 is an event not to be missed!  Online registration is OPEN NOW! Click HERE to pre-register

NEED TO REACH US?

Jim Broach Co-Chair:           [email protected]

Brian Davis Co-Chair:           [email protected]

Alan Kleinschmidt Co-Chair         [email protected]

Event Registrar    [email protected]

CBCF - Champagne British Car Festival, Special Events

It’s Dinner AND a Show!

You won’t want to miss the CBCF Saturday Night Banquet THIS year! Last year, The Chateau’s sit-down dinner received rave reviews from many. How could we top THAT? How about a fantastic dinner AND a comedy act by professional comedian, Jeremy Nunes!

Often referred to as “Comedy’s next great storyteller,” Jeremy’s unique show has been in demand for over 22 years. He’s drawn rave reviews for his clever observations, unique storytelling style, and ability to improvise with his audience.

After winning $200 in a local comedy competition, the 6’6” comedian left the rural, Southern Illinois life behind to explore the comedy scene in Chicago. Once in Chicago, it was at The Second City Comedy Theater that he first developed the “front porch” comedy that is now a staple of his act. Jeremy’s Dry Bar Comedy Special, Neighborhood Sasq-Watch, is one of the highest rated episodes on the platform. Nunes also released an Amazon Prime special titled Who’s With Me?!  

He has appeared in The Layover, The Break-Up, Last Comic Standing, Final Witness, two PBS mini-series, Comcast on Demand, a National Geographic Special, and heard on ESPN Radio. Nunes is also one of the most requested comedians by Sirius/XM Satellite Radio listeners.

He has since returned to his rural hometown where his parents manage a trailer park. Though he really wants to cash in on that gold mine, he continues to tour instead. Well, he tours when he can, because he accidentally got elected mayor of his hometown! He even wrote a best-selling book about his experiences called You Can’t Write City Hall.

This one-of-a-kind act is a must see… Who’s with me?!

CBCF - Champagne British Car Festival, Drives, Special Events

Fall IFLBCC Update!

This Fall was a busy couple of months for the Illinois Flat Landers. Below are a few of the IFLBCC Events and Activities. Be sure to check this website and our Facebook page for updates on future events!

4th Annual IFLBCC Harvest Days Cruise-in & Picnic – October 14, 2023

Todd and Linda Reid hosted the IFLBCCs Fall Gathering at their home this year on Saturday, October 14.   They’ve got a wonderful setup on the Lake with firepits and plenty of outdoor and indoor space when the weather didn’t fully cooperate.

We started arriving around 3:30 which gave us the opportunity to do a little early leaf peeping around the lake before watching the rain roll-in from their back patio. We had been hoping for a spectacular sunset, but Hey! . . .this is Illinois.

They provided us with gourmet appetizers, sides and light bites as well as beer and wine. Folks also brought their favorite dogs/brats for the grill or fire pits. ‘Smores fixings were all set up for dessert!

The ladies collected in the Reid’s beautiful Great Room as the men retired to Todd’s  Man Cave to discuss his wonderful selection of automobiles. 

Many thanks to Todd & Linda Reid for opening up their beautiful home to host this year’s 4th Annual Harvest Days Cruise-in & Picnic. The day was a little dreary but the fantastic food and camaraderie more than made up for it

9th Annual IFLBCC Halloween Cruise – October 28, 2023

Thanks to Alan Kleinschmidt for arranging the 9th Annual Halloween Cruise to enjoy some fall scenery, a unique snowmobile collection, lunch and then our final stop at Mackinaw Valley Vineyard for a glass of wine with good friends.

The cruise began forming-up at the Bloomington Casey’s General Store on Saturday, October 28th around 9:45 am and departed at 10:15 am for the 30-minute drive to Hopedale.  Hopedale’s Willis Snowmobile Museum has 265 antique sleds and memorabilia to view on three-floors of the building. Fellow Flatlander Dick Hanson has a couple of family heirlooms displayed there also. The museum curators were on hand and were a wealth of information on the evolution of snowmobiles and many of the backstories on how the items on display were acquired. 

The museum tour was followed by lunch at Micki’s Farm to Table in Hopedale, IL around noon. Good food, with a down home feel.  After lunch we will head over to Mackinaw Valley Vineyards for a little taste of the grape, and excellent views from the veranda, before heading home.

IFLBCC “Garage Squad”

IFLBCC members formed a “Garage Squad” to inspect a “Barn Find” that had not been on the road in 35-years!

Our chapter was contacted, through the Austin Healey Club of America website, by a family that recently inherited a 1966 Austin Healey 3000 Mk3.

According to the family: “ . . . the owner lived in Springfield IL and had owned the car since the late 60’s. Legend has it his best friend from Flora IL bought the car on his behalf while stationed in England with the Air Force, so technically you can say he was the single owner. The car hasn’t been driven since the early 90’s but has lived indoors in a metal shed on his property….so it does need a lot of work but all things considered it looks pretty good.”

They reached out to us because they are trying to decide if they want to take on the restoration project or if they should sell it, and were hoping to connect with our club chapter to give them some advice on what it would take to restore it or where/who potential buyers might be.

Illini Chapter Members Gary Brown, Doug Crew, Brian Davis, Richard McDonald and Nigel Keen answered the call! A group of us met for lunch at Motorheads in Springfield before gathering to view this barn find BJ8 Austin Healey that had not been on the road in 35-years!

As expected, it had flat tires, a dead battery and areas of the body had rusted and become “mouse-condos”. That said, the Healey look remarkably solid and complete. We were able to locate all of the ID plates, point out the many pros and cons of the vehicle and provide them with many photographs to send on to potential buyers or restorers.

Hopefully the current owner came away with some answers or at least additional things to consider. 

The Illinois Flat Land British Car Club announces their 2024 Champagne British Car Festival!

ALL Aston-Martin and Austin-Healey cars get the Featured Marque spotlight at the 2024 Champagne British Car Festival on May 31 – June 2, 2024

Registered entrants “Start Your Engines” and your Festival weekend by joining us Friday evening, May 31st  for a Welcome Reception, sponsored by the Illinois Flat Land British Car Club 

The fun continues Saturday morning, June 1, 2024 at our first time ever venue – Davis Lodge at Lake Bloomington. This beautiful lodge will be the hub for all of Saturday’s activities until the sit-down banquet at the Chateau Conference Center.

The weekend culminates with the Champagne British Car Show on beautiful Clover Lawn of David Davis Mansion, Bloomington, IL. 

For more information https://iflbcc.club/2024-cbcf-overview/

CBCF - Champagne British Car Festival, Drives, Special Events

Celebrate British Car Week with the IFLBCC!

“Drive ‘Em, Don’t Hide ‘Em” is the mantra of the British Car Week organization (https://www.britishcarweek.org/) British Car Week is an annual awareness week intended for owners of Classic British Cars to get their cars out of the garage and drive them.

Want to drive your car and need some ideas for places to go?  Plan on joining the IFLBCC for our CBCF Pontiac, IL Rally/Cruise-in on June 3rd. Drives, pop-up car show, car collections and more!   It doesn’t matter whether your car is in better than new condition, or perhaps it’s a less than perfect unrestored gem, we love them all! As long as it can be safely driven down the road, this is a great opportunity to show off your favorite car and take advantage of what British car motoring is all about. We’re calling all owners of classic British cars to get together with other car owners in the central Illinois area and [gently] kick tires, share stories, answer questions, and have a good time.

Did you know the British Car Week culminates with the IFLBCC sponsored Champagne British Car Festival’s car show on June 4, 2023? (CBCF-Bloomington.com)   We’ll be hosting John Twist’s Rolling Tech Sessions during the Sunday car show and best of all, you’ll have the chance to show your car off to the general public who rarely, or in many cases never, have the opportunity to get a real-life, close-up glimpse of these exquisite, entertaining British automobiles of days gone by. 

For Sale - Cars & Parts, Special Events

Flatlander’s Attend the Chicagoland’s 26th Annual All Sports Car Swap Meet and Autojumble

Nigel Keen and John Twist at the 2023 Chicagoland Autojumble in Wheaton, IL

The Chicagoland MG Club again sponsored their popular swap meet and autojumble at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL.   The Illinois Flat Land British Car Club (IFLBCC) members have made the pilgrimage north for many years, searching for those rare and parts and accessories to complete their project cars and to promote the club.  This year, members departed the central Illinois area around 6:00 am insuring that we would arrive when the doors opened to the public around 8:00.   Many notable celebrities in the British car community, like John Twist, author Burt Levy and MGA Guru, Barney Gaylord were present.  As a club, our goal was to promote the June 4th, Champagne British Car Festival’s Car Show and weekend activities to all of the Chicagoland car clubs and attract possible vendors.  We were able to reconnect with several members of the Austin Healey Club and subsequently agreed to create a co-promotion of their British Car Union car show and our CBCF weekend.  

Nigel Keen and David Fitch loaded down with Autojumble bargains!

This year the entire show was packed into a single building which made navigating the stacks, tables and boxes a little challenging but always worth the effort!  So many of the vendors are experts in their marque so even if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you’ll certainly learn a few things along the way.  Each of the Flatlander’s were looking for a few specific items so as a team we were able to spread out and “bird-dog” for each other.  Need a TR3 gauge, a shop manual, some British wiring?   If it’s there . . . we’ll find it!  After a half-dozen trips up and down the aisles and loaded down with bargains, we packed up the car to head home but not before a stop for some natter and noggin at The Seven Dwarfs.

Newsletter - The British Marque, Special Events

8th Annual Halloween “Mystery” Cruise – British Marque

8th Annual Halloween “Mystery” Cruise

By Brian Davis

The final IFLBCC driving event of 2022 featured a Fall drive down some of Central Illinois’ scenic back roads to Haynes on Main, Mackinaw Valley winery PLUS a “Surprise” stop at a private collection of cars, neon, trains, toys and MUCH more!

The 8th Annual Halloween “Mystery” cruise began just west of Bloomington, on October 29, where owners of approximately fifteen British vehicles gathered for the day’s Drivers Meeting. Alan Kleinschmidt was the event organizer and led the Drivers Meeting and the drives throughout the day.

Cruise organizer, Alan Kleinschmidt, holds the Cruise Drivers Meeting

Our first destination was a “Mystery” location until that morning.  Alan had arranged for our group to drive to an unidentified location where members were treated to a vast collection of vehicles, man cave memorabilia and a train layout with 1,050 feet of track.=

The owner of the collection had his friend act as the Conductor for the various scaled trains that traveled through many villages and Disney themed vignettes.  The layout included 92 buildings, 232 characters, 6 monorails and 2400 miniature lights. This beautiful facility was spacious and allowed out group to leisurely browse the collection or sit and visit.

Leonard Lee and Rudy checking the Web as the Elimons, Judy Bess, Mike Shuck and Carol Brown take a break from touring the beautiful private collection.
A small corner of Dr. Kruger’s vast collection of cars, memorabilia and collectables

The next stop on our adventure was Haynes on Main, 108 S. Main St., Mackinaw, IL for lunch.  It was a beautiful Fall Day, so to add to our experience we traveled along Old Peoria Road and a variety of twisty scenic roads.

Haynes is a wonderful smalltown tavern that set aside a private dining area just for our group.  Several members that could not make the start of the drive joined us for lunch.

Mike Shuck, Todd Reid, Rudy Mortimer, Gary Brown and Alan Kleinschmidt making the tough decisions on what to have for lunch.

After lunch, the group continued on to Mackinaw Valley Vineyards for a little taste of the grape. The winery features a large variety of wines for tasting as well as an extensive gift shop and beautiful grounds.  After selecting our beverages, the group retired to the large deck that overlooks the expanse of grape arbors.

Alan Kleinschmidt and Gary Brown wine tasting at the Mackinaw Valley Winery

Late that afternoon we bid goodbye to our friends and IFLBCC group cruises for 2022.  We still had our November and December Natter ‘n Noggin to look forward to and to take a moment to look back on all of the terrific Club activities that 2022 had to offer.

By the time you’re reading this the Illinois Flat Land British Car Club will have begun planning our premier event of 2023, the 3-day Champagne British Car Festival.  The featured marque for 2023 will be All MGs.  We’re delighted to announce that John Twist will be speaking at the Saturday banquet and hosting his popular “Rolling Tech Session” during the Sunday car show at David Davis Mansion.

Drives, Special Events

8th Annual Halloween “Mystery” Cruise – October 29, 2022

WHAT: A Fall drive down some of Central Illinois’ scenic back roads to Haynes on Main, Mackinaw Valley winery PLUS a “Surprise” stop at a private collection of cars, neon, trains, toys and MUCH more!

FOOD AND DRINK: We’ll be visiting Haynes on Main, 108 S. Main St., Mackinaw, IL for lunch. The group will also caravan to the Mackinaw Valley Vineyard for a glass of wine and excellent views from the veranda. Along the way . . . . that MYSTERIOUS private collection that you do NOT want to miss!

WHERE: The cruise will begin forming at the Circle K station, 2302 W Market St, Bloomington, IL 61705, Saturday, October 29th at 10:00 am. We will depart Circle K promptly at 10:15 am. If you can’t make the cruise, please feel free to join us at Haynes on Main for lunch!

After lunch, a group will drive to Mackinaw Valley Vineyards for a little taste of the grape. When leaving the Vineyard, those who want to head back can take Rt 9 to Bloomington. Those who want more adventure, you can follow us back along Old Peoria Road and more scenic roads.

WHEN: October 29th, 2022. Lunch at Haynes on Main, Mackinaw, IL will begin approximately 12:00 PM.

WHY: To enjoy some fall scenery, our “Surprise” private collection stop, lunch and then our final stop at Mackinaw Valley Vineyard, 33633 State Rt. 9, Mackinaw, IL with a glass of wine and good friends.

RSVP: RSVP is important so that Haynes on Main can get set up for us. If you have any questions or comments about the event please email Alan Kleinschmidt at [email protected] or call Alan at 309.824.6490

Haynes on Main Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/HaynesOnMain/

Mackinaw Valley Winery: https://www.mackinawvalleyvineyard.com/

Special Events

3rd Annual IFLBCC Harvest Days Cruise-in & Picnic – Sugar Grove Nature Center (Funk’s Grove) – Sat. October 15th

WHAT: Join us for the IFLBCC Cruise-in and Picnic at the Sugar Grove Nature Center in Historic Funks Grove! The Sugar Grove Nature Center (SGNC) pavilion and firepit provide the perfect Fall setting for a safe and “socially distanced” gathering.  

  • The pavilion has lots of picnic tables and can be partially sheltered if necessary.
  • SCNC provided privies are available nearby. 
  • Please bring whatever you would like to eat & drink, along with table service for yourselves.
  • Weiner roasting sticks will be available for use at the FIRE PIT!  
  • Limited seating on the fire pit ring. (Tip: Bring camping chairs?)

From the SGNC website:

The Grounds, Trails, and Imagination Grove are open daily from dawn until dusk, as are the Picnic Shelter, Corn Crib, and Privies. Imagination Grove will not have nets, containers, or toys available for public use. You may bring your own, but please take them with you, along with any trash or other items that you have brought. We suggest you bring your own hand sanitizer and please practice social distancing.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15th, 2022 from 4:00PM to 7:00PMWHY: To enjoy some fall scenery, an afternoon lunch and some Natter ‘n Noggin around the fire with good friends.

BONUS:BRING THOSE BRITISH CARS!

RSVP: If you think you’re coming, please click GOING on the IFLBCC Halloween Weiner Roast event:

https://fb.me/e/1PDffBae7
Sugar Grove Nature Center:https://www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/

Harvest Days.jpg

CBCF-IFLBCC Logos.png
Illinois Flat Land British Car Club

Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IFLBCC/

Special Events

Celebrate British Car Week at the Champagne British Car Festival June 5th

British Car Week is an annual awareness week intended for owners of Classic British Cars to get their cars out of the garage and drive them. While doing so, all who are involved will help create awareness of the classic British car hobby in local communities wherever there is participation.

Did you know the British Car Week culminates with the Champagne British Car Festival on June 5, 2022? CBCF-Bloomington.com

It doesn’t matter whether your car is in better than new condition, or perhaps it’s a less than perfect unrestored gem, we love them all! As long as it can be safely driven down the road, this is a great opportunity to show off your favorite car and take advantage of what British car motoring is all about.

Meanwhile, if you want to drive your car and need some ideas for places to go . . . Plan on joining us for the Atlanta, IL Cruise-in and Poker Chip Run on June 4th! Drives, pop-up street show, car collections and more! https://facebook.com/events/s/cbcf-atlanta-il-cruise-in-car-/1318354025270623/

British car events are always a lot of fun, and a great place to meet others who share the same enthusiasm for our beloved old British transportation of the past.

https://www.britishcarweek.org/

https://www.britishcarweek.org/events.html

https://www.britishcarweek.org/bcw_002.html