Story by: Jeffrey Aronson / Photos by: John Robison and Jeffrey Aronson

In the 19 years of the British Invasion, Vermont’s premier British car event, Land Rovers have generally played the role of the “country cousin” in the family. The 500 vehicles and thousands of people who attend the September event celebrate British marques and models no longer in production – MG, Triumph, Austin Healey, Sunbeam - or rarely seen - Lotus, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce. Look in the back rows, that’s where you find the green oval.

Land Rovers get relegated to the status of clowns (the Rover Polo games in the early ‘90s), barbaric brutes (carrying a cheating Mini-Moke into the woods during a tug-of-war), pack horses (Rovers North’s hilly trail rides), or mud wrestling entertainment (Rovers North trials course). Regardless, a cheery group of Land Rover enthusiasts drive up every year to entertain the Jaguar XK-E and MG T-series owners. (…)

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By Jeffrey B. Aronson
There are two famous sites in Kennebunkport, ME. One is the summer waterfront home of the Bush family; the second is the home of Leyland British Auto Repair. Recently I made the 3 hour drive to Kennebunkport and passed by the former to visit the latter. Erik Van Sickle has been restoring, repairing and maintaining British cars in his barn for decades. The shop always has an air of autojumble about it, but Erik knows where everything is located. He’s quite knowledgeable, highly skilled and reasonably priced. At least I thought so, until I saw the Range Rover Classic in his drive.
The decal across the rear window proudly announced his shop’s name. I walked around the gold colored four-door Range Rover. How could he afford a Range Rover? What would happen to the “reasonable prices?” Apparently nothing, for he bought the 100,000 mile Range Rover for $500 from a customer. (…)

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Story by: Mike Koch Photos by: Matt Martin
It seemed all too familiar. At 5:45am, my alarm clock interrupted a great dream. Fumbling around my nightstand for my eyeglasses, I reluctantly rested them on my nose only to focus on the steady rain outside my bedroom windowing. Brilliant. Being the morning of British Invasion, it crossed my mind that this was some sort of payback for an episode of deferred maintenance on my 109” that the gods of vintage British cars were inflicting upon me.
They do have an odd sense of humour. My 109” and I had an enjoyable trip out to Westford, from Burlington (about a 15-mile drive, a commute for me five days/week), seeing as there was no commuter traffic to contend with and the fact that we were driving through “some fine English weather.” As I made my way through the rainy morning, I was thankful that had I applied a veritable coat of Rain X the day before, as my wipers were “on the blink” yet again. (…)

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Story by Jeffrey B. Aronson / Photos by Matt Martin
For the past 16 years, British car enthusiasts and enterprising innkeepers have conspired to entice over 500 sporting machines to travel to Stowe, Vermont in mid-September. That’s just after the summer tourists have packed their bags and before the leaf peeper migration begins later that month.
The end result is a riot of colors – Old English white, British racing green, Royal Navy blue, British Leyland “England Swings” mod tones – that competes effectively with the nascent foliage changes Mother Nature mixes together every fall. The event also celebrates the fascinating, enchanting vehicles created and constructed by the British auto industry. Happily, that still includes Land Rover. Lastly, the weekend also immerses you in the qualities of people who identify themselves as British car enthusiasts. (…)

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