2009 ABFM

'THE GREATEST SHOW ON BRITISH WHEELS'
2009 FEATURED MARQUES

The 24th Showing of the All British Field Meet (ABFM ’09), to be held May 16, 2009, VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver B.C. Canada, will celebrate 100 years of the Morgan Motor Company and pay tribute to 50th anniversaries of Mini and Sunbeam Alpine classic British marques.

“There are not many automotive manufacturers that can claim 100 years of production, so we are especially honoured to welcome all Morgan owners to the 2009 ABFM, which will take place six weeks prior to the official Morgan Centenary Festival in Malvern Link Worcestershire, England,” said Patrick Stewart event co chair. “We hope to see a record 100 Morgans on the Great Lawn of the Garden next May.”

Famous for their three-wheel, twin-cylinder, 8-horsepower cars Morgan became one of the largest British car producers in 1915. The company expanded its model range in 1936 to include four-wheel cars and by 1947 was building and exporting the very successful Plus-4 model. Today, expect to wait two years for delivery for any one of the six models available of this truly classic modern sports car.

The Mini and Sunbeam Alpine cars began life much later, in 1959, during the heyday of British car production. The legendary Mini was the first car to incorporate a transverse-mounted engine and front-wheel drive. Later cars featured hydrolastic suspension invented by Englishman Sir Issac Issigonis. Successful in rallying and on the race track, the little car sold more than 5-million models before production ceased in 2000 and the launch of the new Mini Cooper in 2001 carried on the tradition.

Alpines, on the other hand, had a much shorter run with 69,251 produced by the Rootes Group from 1959 to 1968. Five models were produced including a limited production of GT and Coupe models from 1961-‘63. Expect to see a record turnout as the majority of these sports cars were exported to Canada and the USA.

As in previous years, record numbers of Featured Marque cars are anticipated at the show, as owners and clubs make a special effort to attend and put on a good show to honour the marque.

Awards will be presented in 61 entrants choice classes and seven judged classes. More than 570 cars and bikes together with commercial vehicles will be on display in the colourful Botanical Garden. Vendors’ booths will feature all things British, including car parts, automobilia and for the first time entrants driving their car to the event can feel eco friendly as the entire event will be carbon neutral with carbon credits purchased to offset the event’s carbon footprint.

The Olde British Car Society in cooperation with local car clubs organizes the event for the enjoyment of British classic cars and motorbikes. The one-day event goes Saturday May 16,2009 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with brass band and jazz entertainment, a food concession, sponsors’ and vendors’ booths, and achance to win two return tickets to Britain.