Hope Lodge and British Cars, August 7

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The British Car Show and Concours d'Elegance are returning this year on Saturday, Aug 7th, at Hope Lodge. This post-pandemic date is a combination of three events:  Ales & Petals, hosted by Hope Lodge, a “celebration of the history and beauty of the property”; Cars and Motorcycles of England, hosted by the Delaware Valley Triumph club (dvtr.org), a celebration of the British motoring industry and the wide range of manufacturers that influenced, if not shaped, the sports car culture in this country; and the Concours d'Elegance hosted by the Delaware Valley Jaguar Club (delvaljaguarclub.com/). 

It's an opportunity to spend the day looking at a wide assortment of over 200 classic cars in an historic setting while sampling food and beverages, including local craft beer.

The Concours d'Elegance is sanctioned by Jaguar Clubs of North America and features some of the finest Jaguars in the area as well as a sampling of the cars offered by Jaguar over the last 60+ years.

Most spectators pay the $10 per person admission fee at the gate the day of the event. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Friends of Hope Lodge, a non-profit that is involved with the day-to-day operations and preservation of the property.

Bill Beible, president of the DVJC, explained the judging: “Entrants are challenged to research, prepare and present their cars in their original, authentic, factory/delivered configuration and condition.  Automobiles are judged for authenticity, condition and cleanliness  against well-defined standards by trained and certified judges.”

Steve Gendler, board member of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy,  is entering his 1969 Jaguar E-Type for the first time.

In  2019 the Best of Show was won by  Chestnut Hill resident Pascal Maeter for his 1973 Bentley Corniche. (It was one of 23 of this particular model ordered by Peter Walker, the Baron Walker of Worchester, a prominent banker who later served as a cabinet member under Margaret Thatcher.)

There are two separate car events: the Jaguar Club's Concours is for Jaguars only, typically by owners that are members of a club affiliated with one of 60 affiliated Jaguar Clubs of North America.    The Cars & Motorcycles of England (CMoE) show is open to all British marques (brands) and they conduct their own judging for a variety of categories.  

Jim Sjoreen, treasurer of the DVJC, wanted to emphasize that one of the main goals for the day was to raise money for Hope Lodge. “We’re not in it to make money,” he said.

More details at historichopelodge.org