Tampa Bay Austin-Healey Club Hosts 39th Annual British Car Meet in Safety Harbor
Organizers reported 160 registered vehicles and a crowd of walk-up attendees at the Oct. 24 event in downtown Safety Harbor.
By Thomas Reynolds ·
Bill Borja, president of the Tampa Bay Austin-Healey Club, said the 39th annual All British Field Meet and Autojumble was one of the best editions in the show's history. The club hosted the free event in downtown Safety Harbor on Oct. 24 under cloudless skies and mild temperatures. Borja reported that 160 vehicles registered for the show. He also estimated that between 10 and 20 additional vehicles arrived as walk-ups.
The event has been held in Safety Harbor for approximately 20 years. Borja noted that the show was previously staged behind the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa. He said the pairing of a walkable downtown area with a county full of car enthusiasts made the location ideal. The show breaks from typical car shows by featuring British vehicles rather than American muscle cars or Italian supercars. This year's event specifically celebrated the Land Rover Defender.
Visitors walked past rows of maintained vehicles ranging in size from tiny Mini Coopers and Nash Metropolitans to larger Rolls-Royces, Land Rovers, and Jaguars. Volunteer Pat Brown said the city has always welcomed the club because the event brings a large crowd to town. Borja stated that the attendees and merchants in Safety Harbor enjoy the presence of the show.
The club uses some of the event proceeds to benefit The Arc. All profits from a 50-50 raffle also go to the organization. Club officials prepared to announce award winners at the end of the day.
The day included one minor issue regarding vehicle eligibility. Brown said someone tried to enter a Corvette in the morning. The organizers politely turned the vehicle away because it did not fit the British theme of the meet.
Source: Tampa Bay Newspapers
