The event, based at Shakespeare & Co., gets its motor running with a fun rally on Friday afternoon. This self-guided back roads driving tour takes motorists through the scenic Berkshire Hills.

Street party time! Many of these polished and buffed British autos, old and new, will travel in a procession to downtown Lenox around 6:15 pm and line the village’s main streets so that we can all ogle and drool, but not on the cars, please. A live British tribute band and street vendors will add to the festival ambiance.

The main event takes place on Saturday with the Concours d’Elegance, a judged competition that attracts exceptional show cards 15 years old and older. Come on out and see if you can pick out the winners.

The Berkshire British Motorcar Festival concludes on Sunday with a 60-minute morning scenic driving tour at 8:30 a.m., with a 1947 Bentley in the lead. And don’t miss the

John Parker, who honeymooned at Birchwood Inn in 1952, visits with the 1921 Roll Royce he restored himself.

Tailgate Picnic Competition, with awards for “most elegant,” “most creative,” “most British,” “best tasting,” “most humorous,” and “most Shakespearean.”

The Friday evening street party is free while the cost for general public admission is $15.00 for a two-day pass, inclusive for both Saturday and Sunday.

This weekend head for the Berkshire hills and Birchwood Inn for lots of fun!

Our Inn in Lenox, MA offers 12 accommodations enjoy Berkshires, Bed & Breakfast,Inn in Lenox MA featuring private baths, cozy fireplaces and more. You can read the original blog post here The British Are Coming! The British Are Coming! Again!.

“Gee, that looks like the car I had in college,” was heard over and over again, especially when spying a Triumph or MG. The festival evoked many old memories and created new ones.

Saturday’s competition yielded many “best in class” winners as well as the coveted “Best in Show,” awarded to Birchwood Inn guest Dave Hutchinson and his red 1961 Triumph Italia 2000 Coupe.

The Italia 2000, also called the TR3, was manufactured between 1959 and 1962, combining Italian artistry and British craftsmanship. Due to the car’s expensive price tag of $5,000!!!, only 329 were produced and a handful of 30 or so were sold in the US. Dave has babied his TR3 for more than 30 years. It’s a real beauty!

Congratulations to the festival’s organizers, the participants, the many car fans, and of course, the grand prize winner Dave Hutchinson!

"Best in Show" winner Dave Hutchinson, his wife Charlene, and his 1961 Italian 2000 Coupe.

Our Inn in Lenox, MA offers 12 accommodations enjoy Berkshires, Bed & Breakfast,Inn in Lenox MA featuring private baths, cozy fireplaces and more. You can read the original blog post here We’ve Got THE Winner!.

Last year's British Motorcar Festival winner and his 1959 Lotus.

Last year’s British Motorcar Festival near our Lenox, MA inn was such an enormously successful event that it calls for an encore! This year’s Berkshire British Motorcar Festival hits the road June 15-17, 2012, in downtown historic Lenox and at Shakespeare & Co. just a couple of blocks from the center of town.

And you don’t have to have a British Motorcar to participate in the weekend events!

Friday:

• Fun Rally, a 30-minute self-guided rally, back (but paved!) roads driving tour of the scenic Berkshire hills.
• Registrants’ Reception, 4-6 pm, for registrants, car owners and vendors on Shakespeare & Co.’s grounds.
• At 6:15 pm, the British Motorcar owners with festival credentials form a procession to downtown Lenox. This is my favorite event of the weekend with the cars all lined up on the village streets. No drooling on the cars permitted! Also you can enjoy the live British Tribute Band, and savor food and drink along the way.

Saturday:

• The Concours d’Elegance, the judged competition.

Sunday:

• And it’s not over yet! Sunday features a 60-minute scenic driving tour, led by a 1947 Bentley, starting at 8:30 am. Be still my heart!
• British-themed Tailgate Picnic Competition.
• British Car Corral so get your checkbooks out as this is an opportunity to buy or sell a British motorcar or motorcycle.

Throughout the weekend British companies and vendors will be selling all things British at the British Market Place & Auto Jumble.

Come and have a great weekend during your stay at our Lenox, MA Inn!

Our Inn in Lenox, MA offers 12 accommodations enjoy Berkshires, Bed & Breakfast,Inn in Lenox MA featuring private baths, cozy fireplaces and more. You can read the original blog post here The British Are Coming… Again!.

The first annual (we hope!) British Motor Car Festival at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA, has been a smashing success this week. The very London-like drizzle stopped just in time for the block party on Friday night. Residents and guests strolled the village streets, enjoying the classic cars from Minis to Rolls lined up at the curbs while a band played Rolling Stones hits to set the English tone for the weekend.

Happily, more than 2,000 people were in awe of the 310 cars participating. And everyone was in a festive mood. Very civilized.

Sunny Saturday, the cars showed off at Tanglewood and competed in their categories. A number of our guests brought and showed their cars in the competition, and we are very proud to have hosted a very grand winner, Pat and Joe Marchione, from NJ. Their 1959 Lotus Elite 1096 Series took first place in their division, Concours Post WW II sports car. We were honored to have this beauty in the parking lot at Birchwood Inn!

 

1959 Lotus Elite

Sunny Sunday the Rolls and Bentleys competed for the best picnics.

Among the numerous classics was this awesome Austin Healy. This gem belonged to owner Nancy’s father. After he died, the car was garaged for 30 years until Nancy had the car restored in all of its glory.

Beautifully restored Austin Healy.

What a wonderful Berkshires weekend!

Our Inn in Lenox, MA offers 12 accommodations enjoy Berkshires, Bed & Breakfast,Inn in Lenox MA featuring private baths, cozy fireplaces and more. You can read the original blog post here Jolly Good Time.