POA report on British National Car Meet

More than 1,000 people from Hot Springs Village and across the United States attended the British National Car Meet, which was held June 2 at the Ponce de Leon Center. The meet was a Co-op event, sponsored by the Hot Springs Village Chamber of Commerce (spearheaded by Donna Aylward) and the Property Owners’ Association, (spearheaded by Facilities and Marketing, with special thanks to Stephanie Stone and Stacy Hoover).

The meet, which was open to the public, featured more than 230 cars from classic British car makers such as Sunbeam (Get Smart and Agent 99), Aston Martin (of James Bond fame), Austin Healey, MG, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Lotus, Jaguar (Austin Powers), Triumph, Singer, Alvis, McLaren, Morgan, and more.

An Arkansas native, won Best of Show, 1960 Jaguar, in the Concours competition.

A 1958 MGA from Tennessee, won the People’s Choice award.

Other Concours winners included: 1933 MG M, TN, Best in Class Pre-War Class-Concours; 1957 MGA Coupe, TX; Coupe Class- Concours; 1967 Austin Healey 3000, AR, Big Sports Class-Concours; 1960 Austin Healey Sprite, TX, Small Sports Class-Concours; 1957 MG Magnette, LA,Saloon Class-Concours; 1954 TR2, MI,Triumph Class-Concours; Austin Healey BJ8, TX, Race Class-Concours; and 1916 BSA Model K, AR, Motorcycle Class-Concours.

Popular vote winners included: MO, Austin Healey Sprite; TX, Classic Mini; AR,  Triumph Mayflower, Best of Show-Popular Vote; AR, Modern Mini; KS, Lotus; TX, Cobra; TX, MGTC; TX, MGA; AR, Jaguar; TX, Morgan; LA, MGB; KS, MGBGT; AR, TR3; OH, TR4; OK, Jaguar XKE; AR, and AR, Triumph TVR.

Car meet attendees had great praise for the event. A car owner from Nashville said that the event was the “best show we have ever been to. We want to come back and hope you have the entire event in the Village.” Another car owner from Ohio said, “Have the entire event at Hot Springs Village, what a nice location."

Allen Tillery served as the presenting sponsor for the car meet.

Other sponsors included Larry Wilson, Beckwith Vision Florists, Century 21, Company’s Comin’, Diamante, Exit Marketing, Garver, Hot Springs Village Realty, Ike Eisenhauer State Farm, Keystone Realty, Jenson Tire, Lions Club, Malt Village Homes, Mountain Valley Spring Water, POA Facilities Department, POA Marketing Department, Re/Max, Renee Steinpreis, Sams Club, Seaport Airlines, Summit Bank, Three Lakes, Triple D Realty, Vacation Rentals, Village Villas and many fabulous Village volunteers.

The car meet is part of British Week, which has been held the week of June 1-8.