The Lewes British Motorcar Show “The British are coming...Again!” will welcome a wide array of classic British vehicles to Lewes on Saturday, May 1. The show is sponsored by the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and the British Car Club of Delaware. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at a new location, the Lewes Historical Society Complex, Third and Shipcarpenter Streets in Lewes.

Nine years ago, Car Show chairman Mike Tyler, a member of the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, the Lewes Historical Society and the British Car Club of Delaware originated the concept of staging a British Motorcar Show in the spring to attract visitors to Lewes before the summer season got into full swing.

According to Betsy Reamer, Executive Director of the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, “The show has grown the past eight years and this year’s change of venue to the Lewes Historical Society will allow car show attendees to not only view the cars but they will be able to tour the Society’s historic buildings, one of Lewes’ premier attractions.”

Mike DiPaolo, Executive Director of the Lewes Historical Society, has been working with the other members of the Car Show committee on this year’s show. “Our historic buildings will be open free of charge as part of the show because folks coming to the show as well as car collectors have interest in things historic,” he said.

In addition to the new location, this year’s show boasts two other firsts. One of the noticeable “firsts” will be the Society’s concession stand which will be renamed for the day as “Hiram’s Pub.” DiPaolo said the “Pub” will have “proper English fare, meaning that our volunteers will be serving three traditional British pub entrees: Bangers and Beans (fried sausages and British baked beans), Plowman’s Lunch (a platter of cheddar cheese, Branston’s relish, bread and pickled onions, and something we are calling a Beefeater’s Sandwhich consisting of roast beef on a bread roll and a side of British crisps.” The “Pub” will also sell traditional English soft drinks, British tea and British ales to complement the pub menu.

According to car show chairman Tyler, “Another key first for the show is the addition of a sixth motorcar entry category. Because the last popular sports car imported to America-the MGB-ended in 1980, we’ve created a contemporary car class that allows British marques from 1981 to the present to be in a class of their own.” He explained that this will bring more balance to the popular vote competition while adding another category. “More prizes for more participants,” he added.

The show begins at 11 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m. with the Winners’ Circle Parade down Second Street. Admission is $2 for adults and children 12 and under are free. For more information and to register a car in advance, call the Lewes Chamber of Commerce at 302-645-8073. “Day of” car entries will be accepted.

©2002-2005 The Lewes Historical Society