The sighting occurred at about 5:00 PM in central Vermont, where old US Route 2 joins Interstate 89 at Montpelier. The metallic craft came from the east, paused momentarily as if suspended in space, then streaked out of sight into the west.
At the time Sheila and I were two days out of Dartmouth, en route to the GTA for the 14th Annual British Car Day and some quality time with fellow Toronto Triumph Club members. We had left early Thursday immediately after Sheilia's 7:00 AM breakfast meeting of Business Network International. Setting the tone for the next week and a half, we stopped at Masstown to have a better look at the ‘53 Standard Vanguard (sister car to the TR2) that we had glimpsed on the Parrsboro trip. Tempting! Since the TR2 was cobbled together with much out of the same parts bin, it wasn't surprising to see many familiar things inside. Nevertheless, we continued on, stopping in Saint John, NB to see the 1948 Hillman Drophead Coupe, also for sale. Very pretty! A sweet little car (aren't they all? according to Sheilia) but doesn't fit into the Sperry scheme of things.
While overnighting in Bangor, we thought of Bob Hamilton, who had been there the night before and was now a day ahead of us, heading for the British Invasion at Stowe, where Gerry Hull and others from Montreal were also converging.
Anyway, as we watched the object flash out of sight, I boosted the Mazda's turbo (no TR3 on this trip) to try to regain visual contact. Just before the next exit, positive identification was made, a gleaming black DB5, en route to Stowe. Hamilton is in for a treat. But then again, I suspect we are too, judging from the reputation which precedes Bronte Creek. To bad organizers of both events can't agree on alternate weekends. More people could enjoy both.
After Friday night at Lake Placid and a rainy Saturday morning, we ventured north of Waterton to the Cape Vincent Ferry across to Wolfe Island and thence to Kingston. The "direct" route, although it involved a unique 6 to 8 car ferry, lengthened the trip by 11/2 hours due to just missing the hourly ferry to the mainland. A late afternoon cruise along the 401 and we arrived at the Nesbitt's farm north of Whitby.
Fred and Trish Nesbitt were the sole out-of-province participants in BATANS' 1st August Tour in PEI in 1994. They were joined for the 1997 visit to Saint Andrew's, NB by fellow TR6 couples, Jim and Sylvia Nesbitt (Fred's brother) and Ken and June Langford (Ken is the Treasurer of the TTC).
Having been guests of the Nesbitt's once before we knew the hospitality would be great and we weren't disappointed. The whole group arrived for supper. The nibblies contributed by all meant we were stuffed even before the huge bowl of chicken fetticini appeared on the overladen table. We hardly made a dent in the main course but tackled the chocolate mousse cake dessert anyway. After an evening of eating and catching up, Sheilia and I (accompanied to our door by Brody, the Basset Hound) retired to the "Hilton Hut" our private suite over the TR6 abode.
Sunday dawned with a tour around the barns where the livestock share space with the two TR4 project cars, an Edsel and a Morris 10 street rod, as well as a beautiful TR250 which is boarding there. The workshop is complete with air compressor and hydraulic lift. ENVY!
Ken was going to Bronte Creek on his own as he, as part of officialdom, had to be there very early. The four Nesbitts, and two Sperrys went as a gang in a borrowed Suburban, tailed by friends James and Edith in their new Riviera. They have been infected and are in the market for a British Car.
British Car Day lived up to expectations. Organizers ran out of registration forms someplace after 800. What a sight it was: British cars of every description.
Twenty or so vendors at the autojumble were the recipients of some of my green stuff and then our attention turned to the vehicles. Rows and rows of Healeys, MGs, TRs and other relatively common stock, some pristine, some strictly racers but most daily runners. The Bond 3 Wheeler drew a lot of attention and the Morgans were magnificent. Sheilia spent some time gazing longingly at the latter and when she thought she recognized one of the owners as an old boyfriend I got a little nervous.
The Bugatti was a replica but special nonetheless. Two Austin Atlantic convertibles were standouts, even compared with the Aston Martins. British Fords, Austin Cambridges, Rolls of all vintages and Jaguars that would have made Roger Phinney and Peter Osborne really content. Sheilia really liked the E-type with a silver grey opal paint finish - it was glorious!
Big Rileys, small Rileys, Lotus galore but not a HRG to be seen. Morris Minor convertibles to make the mouth water flanked by TVRs and the featured marque - the Land Rover, kept coming and going all day. What a show just to sit and watch them go by. In fact a Land Rover got to show off a bit when a large delivery truck got hung up on an embankment by its tailgate - the Rover pulled it out slick as a knife through butter.
After a short trip to Acton (Slogan - It's Worth the Trip) to the Hide House and some drooling over leather coats, etc. we returned to the Nesbitt homestead and another feast. It was supposed to be leftovers but if so Brooklin, Ontario must have the secret of the loaves and fishes.
Ken presented Sheilia and I with a framed TR2 print and Trish and Fred received BATANS sweatshirts for their intrepid exploits in venturing to the Maritimes not once but twice in their TR6.
Monday Fred and Trish took us on a tour of the surrounding area with a visit to Port Perry for some shopping and sightseeing. We visited a Century Home which has been very nicely restored by a couple of their friends. Evening found us again at the table this time to devoured some steaks from the homegrown cornfed baby beef that Fred raises.
Tuesday morning as we prepared rather reluctantly for our departure and Trish got ready for her flight to Vancouver, we took time to watch as Fred brought a gigantic Limousine bull to the herd. This guy has six weeks to make sure all the "girls" in the herd were "in the family way". Stepping out of the trailer the poor guy was literally attacked by a dozen or so females that hadn't had a male around in a very long time. It was funny to watch the young males try to head butt this 2500 pound giant who seemed, contrary to popular belief, to be very patient with them - kind of a Ferdinand the Bull image.
However, mid-morning Tuesday and we are "on the road again". At the suggestion of Trish we point ourselves in the direction of Woolrich, Pennsylvania. A night in the area and then a morning spent Christmas shopping (as well as some personal stuff) on great Woolrich clothing at bargain prices.
Wednesday we arrive in Morristown, New Jersey to spend a night with Sheilia's brother and his family. The Roadster Factory order had arrived. Some other items were picked up down the road some twenty minutes at the Moss East Coast outlet. Convenient, hey? Another stop at Sports and Classics in Darien, Connecticut produced a couple of small bits.
Friday a brief stop in Portland, Maine on business gave a little shot toward paying for the trip.
After visiting with son and daughter-in-law-to-be in Saint John, the last leg home brought two more British car surprises. Along the Saint John River Valley one unexpected glorious old Bentley after another appeared going in the opposite direction. What a sight! To cap it all, at Moncton we visited with Rick Wood and had a drive in his newly acquired Morris Minor Traveler. He purchased this beautiful little car (grey with burgundy) from Ontario. It sure makes Sheilia and I want to get ours on the road. A final diversion at Truro showed the Standard Vanguard still parked roadside. Oh, well! Could the British car hobby yield a better ten days of good friends and interesting cars?
Drew Sperry