British Invasion – Page 2

British Invasion 2006

Posted on September 16, 2006February 19, 2017 by Ian C.

This years British Invasion was blessed with a dry field (thanks to relocating) and good weather! And I was “blessed” with a second first place win, this year for GPMINI instead of GBMINI:

Competition this year was generally un-modified MINIs in class 11; many other British cars on the field too – apparently their best attendance ever at over 600! Loads of different marques, ages, etc:

British Invasion always spills over into Sunday with the Competition Of Colors, and more “fun” – again this year a “backseat driver” competition where the driver is blindfolded and the passenger calls out directions …

New for this year was the “Rats Cage” competition – an octagon cage where the car has to be driven in forward, turned around without touching the cage, and driven out; small cars had an advantage but Jason couldn’t quite succeed in his MINI:

This classic Mini managed the course in about 1-1/2 minutes and showed everyone that it could be done – and more importantly how it could be done). After that times got better and better, eventually down to 20s, though the longer sports car couldn’t do it, running out of time at 5 minutes:

For more, see the British Invasion website, and previous years GBMINI trips:
British Invasion 2002
British Invasion 2003
British Invasion 2004
British Invasion 2005

UPDATE:
Jason has posted pics over on Flickr

Jasons Drive 2005

Posted on September 18, 2005February 19, 2017 by Ian C.

A “tradition” at the end of British Invasion (see also 2003 and 2004) is to follow Jason around as he leads a groups of MINIs around the back roads of Vermont – he lives locally and knows the roads well!
This year only three MINIs joined in, perhaps due to the damp weather – but we still had fun and got in a couple of photo ops; the weather made the winding downhill section particularly challenging – I was very glad to follow Jason, knowing that he knew the road well …

Minolta DSC

British Invasion 2005

Posted on September 18, 2005February 19, 2017 by Ian C.

Another year, another trip to Stowe for British Invasion (see also 2003 and 2004)

Once again, a serious amount of rain made the show field very muddy, and I think many cars were put off – the attendance looked down from previous years, and modern MINIs counted more than classics this year, for the first time (14 moderns, 11 classics):

Minolta DSC

Many other British cars too, old & new, including a handful of $$$$$ Astons – all owned by the same guy (that’s just showing off)!

Minolta DSC

I was thrilled this year to get first prize in the peoples choice – what’s more, the prize plaque was the correct color for GBMINI#3; a really nice Mini pickup, owned by Shannon, got first in the classic Mini section:

GBMINI#3 gets first prize

Minolta DSC

On the Sunday, more overnight rain caused the “backseat driver” event to be cancelled. There were a few “tailgate picnic” entrants and a reasonable turnout for the “parade of colors” displays, but many people had headed home. But one Mini / MINI pair had accidentally posed for me:

Minolta DSC