The British Are Coming...Again car show arrives in Lewes May 4
The Lewes British Motorcar Show The British are coming...Again will welcome a wide array of classic British vehicles to Lewes Saturday, May 4 (no rain date). The Lewes Chamber of Commerce sponsors the show with assistance from the British Car Club of Delaware. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lewes Historical Society Complex, Third and Shipcarpenter streets in Lewes.
The car show is scheduled the same weekend as the Merchants’ Spring Sidewalk Sale in the historic Lewes commercial district around Second Street. The three-day sale begins Friday and ends Sunday; hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year’s Fun Friday event in May is scheduled to coincide with the sidewalk sale and the British Motorcar Show. It is called the Fun Friday Fiesta and is themed to incorporate May Day and Cinco de Mayo celebrations. The event begins at 5 p.m. on Market Street between Front and Second streets.
Eighteen years ago, car show Chairman Mike Tyler 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. Each year the show features a different marque. The 2013 Featured Marque is the Lotus Seven. The Lotus Group of Companies was formed in 1959 and focuses on road cars and customer competition car production.
Betsy Reamer, executive director of the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, said, “The popularity of this show has continued to grow over the years and the change of venue to the Lewes Historical Society several years ago significantly increased attendance to the show. Car show attendees not only are able to view the cars, but their entrance fee allows them 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 for the past 10 years. “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.
One of the most popular features at the show is the society’s concession stand, Hiram’s Pub, serving traditional British pub entrees, English soft drinks, British tea and British ales. This year, The Rose & Crown Restaurant will be operating Hiram’s Pub during the hours of the show.
The show begins at 11 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m. with the Winners’ Circle Parade down Second Street. Admission is $3 for adults, and children under 12 attend free. For more information and to register a car in advance, call the Lewes Chamber of Commerce at 302-645-8073. The fee to register the car in advance is $15; it is $25 on May 4. Car entrants can download the entry form at www.leweschamber.com; click on Calendar of Events and scroll down to British Motorcar Show entry form.
