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Ed Messikian and his original 1965 Jaguar XKE S1
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Hundreds of vintage car fans who gathered at Wickham Park on Sunday, September 8, were doubly lucky.
Not only the 27th Annual British Motorcar Gathering and Picnic brought to town some of the most beautiful automobiles ever created, Connecticut skies also added to something that must be definitely a record of sorts: "We are doing this the first weekend after labor day, for 27 years," noted David Semple of the Connecticut Triumph Register that organized the meeting. "And it's been 27 years without any rain."
That's a spot of jolly good luck, without doubt, for a picnic that regularly brings together tens of the iconic British convertibles, and even a few of the countries venerable motorcycles - or maybe a sign that the New England weather gods really mean well for the cousins over the pond.
Semple, who managed the regalia stand at the event - "regalia" means t-shirts, caps, and memorabilia, in Britain, he quickly explained - said that the club has more than a hundred members around Connecticut, who own, restore, drive, or simply enjoy Triumph cars. The gathering however was open to anybody, he pointed out, and even if most cars participating at the event present were British, no one was excluded.
"We have a competition and there is a class that includes all other cars," Semple said, pointing to a Mustang in the distance. "I think this year this may win it."
Still, it was British automobiles that brought car enthusiasts to East Hartford last Sunday, and the dozens of Jaguars, Morgans, MGs, Triumphs, and the odd Lotus and Mini sprawling around the Wickham Park lawns reminded everyone that for many decades Britain produced some of the most exciting automotive products ever, and that British car lovers have a true passion for their driving machines.
"My father bought this new," said Bob Howard of Southbury for the 1953 MG convertible with a canvas top he brought to the show. Howard said that British cars have often and unjustly been lampooned for their need of frequent servicing. But one has to understand how and when these cars were produced the aficionados explain.
"This car went into production in 1949," he pointed out. "More than half the roads in UK were not paved in 1950. Dust was an issue, and that's why one cleaned the air cleaners regularly, and did grease them regularly. We've always kept this car well maintained, so it doesn't require unusual services. It requires services far more than a modern vehicle, of course. The manual does say to grease the front suspension every 500 miles, and to lubricate many of the other parts every 1,000 miles. But we have driven it all over this state's roads, and it still drives great. It is in the original color. It's just been repainted and reupholstered, but all the mechanical bits and the suspension are all original. Even the canvas top is reasonably airtight."
If Howard reveled in how well his car kept up, Ed Messikian, a retired aerospace engineer from Pratt and Whitney, pointed out how much he enjoyed working on his.
"I am the original owner of this car," he said for his 1965 Jaguar XKE S1, also known as an E-type, arguably one of the most gorgeous cars ever designed. Messikian bought the car directly from England, paying $5,000 at the time, shipping included. He is still driving it.
"It's a driver's car," he said. "I have it longer than my kids, and sometimes it's better (than them) - the car doesn't talk back to you," he joked.
Messikian said that he has been working on sports cars for more than 50 years, and he still enjoys working on his Jaguar.
"I am a hands-on kind of a guy," he said. "I think when you are working on your car you see your accomplishments at the end of the day. Ten years ago the car was all apart, and all in pieces, and I worked on it putting it back together, and now we can go back and see it and enjoy it. It's like creating a nice picture."
And the idea that car restoration costs enormous amounts of money is a misconception, Messikian said.
"It actually costs money, but it's not as bad as you think it may be," he said. "But it's an awful lot of work. It's very labor intensive."
Bob Topjian, who owns a repair shop at Hamden and restores Jaguars, Triumphs and MGs professionally, cautioned that costs can be considerable. "To restore a car like this from scratch would be $100,000 - $150,000," he said. "If the car was a total wreck to bring it to this condition,it would probably be $100,000 in today's dollars."
On the other hand, he said, there are much less expensive projects one could start that would give the owner the same satisfaction and the same connection to the family of car enthusiasts who enjoy the hobby.
And that is exactly what the Connecticut Triumph Register that organizes the Annual British Car Meeting would like visitors to take with them, Semple said.
"It's a family event," he said. "We always have a lot of kids, and a lot of parents and grandparents who come here to enjoy the old cars and share the memories for years to come. Enjoying old cars is for all the family."
©East Hartford Gazette 2007
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©East Hartford Gazette 2007
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09/12/2007
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Jolly good time for lovers of British motorcars
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By: John Karas
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Ed Messikian and his original 1965 Jaguar XKE S1
|
|
Hundreds of vintage car fans who gathered at Wickham Park on Sunday, September 8, were doubly lucky.
Not only the 27th Annual British Motorcar Gathering and Picnic brought to town some of the most beautiful automobiles ever created, Connecticut skies also added to something that must be definitely a record of sorts: "We are doing this the first weekend after labor day, for 27 years," noted David Semple of the Connecticut Triumph Register that organized the meeting. "And it's been 27 years without any rain."
That's a spot of jolly good luck, without doubt, for a picnic that regularly brings together tens of the iconic British convertibles, and even a few of the countries venerable motorcycles - or maybe a sign that the New England weather gods really mean well for the cousins over the pond.
Semple, who managed the regalia stand at the event - "regalia" means t-shirts, caps, and memorabilia, in Britain, he quickly explained - said that the club has more than a hundred members around Connecticut, who own, restore, drive, or simply enjoy Triumph cars. The gathering however was open to anybody, he pointed out, and even if most cars participating at the event present were British, no one was excluded.
"We have a competition and there is a class that includes all other cars," Semple said, pointing to a Mustang in the distance. "I think this year this may win it."
Still, it was British automobiles that brought car enthusiasts to East Hartford last Sunday, and the dozens of Jaguars, Morgans, MGs, Triumphs, and the odd Lotus and Mini sprawling around the Wickham Park lawns reminded everyone that for many decades Britain produced some of the most exciting automotive products ever, and that British car lovers have a true passion for their driving machines.
"My father bought this new," said Bob Howard of Southbury for the 1953 MG convertible with a canvas top he brought to the show. Howard said that British cars have often and unjustly been lampooned for their need of frequent servicing. But one has to understand how and when these cars were produced the aficionados explain.
"This car went into production in 1949," he pointed out. "More than half the roads in UK were not paved in 1950. Dust was an issue, and that's why one cleaned the air cleaners regularly, and did grease them regularly. We've always kept this car well maintained, so it doesn't require unusual services. It requires services far more than a modern vehicle, of course. The manual does say to grease the front suspension every 500 miles, and to lubricate many of the other parts every 1,000 miles. But we have driven it all over this state's roads, and it still drives great. It is in the original color. It's just been repainted and reupholstered, but all the mechanical bits and the suspension are all original. Even the canvas top is reasonably airtight."
If Howard reveled in how well his car kept up, Ed Messikian, a retired aerospace engineer from Pratt and Whitney, pointed out how much he enjoyed working on his.
"I am the original owner of this car," he said for his 1965 Jaguar XKE S1, also known as an E-type, arguably one of the most gorgeous cars ever designed. Messikian bought the car directly from England, paying $5,000 at the time, shipping included. He is still driving it.
"It's a driver's car," he said. "I have it longer than my kids, and sometimes it's better (than them) - the car doesn't talk back to you," he joked.
Messikian said that he has been working on sports cars for more than 50 years, and he still enjoys working on his Jaguar.
"I am a hands-on kind of a guy," he said. "I think when you are working on your car you see your accomplishments at the end of the day. Ten years ago the car was all apart, and all in pieces, and I worked on it putting it back together, and now we can go back and see it and enjoy it. It's like creating a nice picture."
And the idea that car restoration costs enormous amounts of money is a misconception, Messikian said.
"It actually costs money, but it's not as bad as you think it may be," he said. "But it's an awful lot of work. It's very labor intensive."
Bob Topjian, who owns a repair shop at Hamden and restores Jaguars, Triumphs and MGs professionally, cautioned that costs can be considerable. "To restore a car like this from scratch would be $100,000 - $150,000," he said. "If the car was a total wreck to bring it to this condition,it would probably be $100,000 in today's dollars."
On the other hand, he said, there are much less expensive projects one could start that would give the owner the same satisfaction and the same connection to the family of car enthusiasts who enjoy the hobby.
And that is exactly what the Connecticut Triumph Register that organizes the Annual British Car Meeting would like visitors to take with them, Semple said.
"It's a family event," he said. "We always have a lot of kids, and a lot of parents and grandparents who come here to enjoy the old cars and share the memories for years to come. Enjoying old cars is for all the family."
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©East Hartford Gazette 2007
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