Britannia Rules the Waves

She did on Sunday last, when hundreds of British cars descended on Waterford's Harkness Park for the Connecticut MG Club's 21st annual British Cars by the Sea meet. Not surprisingly, MGs ruled, mostly MGBs, in chrome and rubber trim. A good range of MGs attended, however, from TC to TD to TF, and MGAs in both roadster form and the svelte little fixed head coupe. There were modern Midgets, again in chrome and rubber, and several of the rare six-cylinder MGCs. Also represented were MG saloons, by the attractive ZA Magnette.

Star of the show was a barn-fresh Austin A30, the drive train of which gave rise to Donald Healey's brilliant little Austin-Healey Sprite. There were "big Healeys" on hand, too, both the original Healey Hundred and the later 3000 models.

It was an all-British show, so the MG Club welcomed the competition: Triumphs, including TR3, TR4 and TR6 (no TR250s), four-cylinder TR7 and Rover-engined TR8 coupe. As the A30 was to the Sprite, so was Triumph's Herald to the Spitfire, which in turn had a six-cylinder derivative in the GT6. A single Triumph saloon car attended, a 2000TC. For good measure there was a class for British bikes, whose sole occupant was a Triumph Trident.

There were Mini Coopers old and new, and Loti from Seven to Exige. A solitary Jensen-Healey showed up, as well as a Nash Metropolitan, another manifestation of the A30 drive train.

Early Jags were limited to an XK120, while several E-Types were seen kissing the sod. Saloon Jags ranged from XJ6 to the current S-Type. The only Morgan left by the time we arrived was a 4/4 4-seater.

Rovers made a good showing, with P4, P5, P6, P6B and SD1 saloons, and Land Rovers galore, including military versions and a 101 model all set for safari. Modern Landies were not forgotten, with a Discovery and a Range Rover holding court near the entrance.

The ambitious could buy an MG project, or a full race Ford Fiesta. I was pleased to see my friend Karl Hansen showing off his Carter invalid car, and to meet André Shay, who adopted some of my Roveriana some ten years ago. It was a grand day, even if there were no Humbers or Vauxhalls. Check it out next year, on the first Sunday of June.