Writing about the history of All British Field Meets (ABFMs) in the U.S. quickly generates a problem: Where was the first ABFM held? The answer depends on how you define the term "All British Field Meet".
In 1974, a San Francisco resident named Rick Feibusch organized a Morris Minor Registry meet at a small park called Stern Grove. Several other British car marques were invited, and turned out. Was this the first ABFM?
In 1976, Jim Singmaster of Oregon organized a meet held in Blue Lake Park. This was to be a social gathering held in conjunction with a Jaguar Concours d'Elegance. This time, six British marque clubs officially participated: Club "T" MG, Northwest Austin Healey Club, Lotus Club, Morgan Owner Club, Portland Triumph Owners Club and Mini Club. Was this the first ABFM?
There's a rumor here on the wet western edge of the country that there was an early ABFM held on the equally wet eastern edge during the mid-'70s.
Palo Alto, California
The first meet in northern California was held in fall 1978 and still takes place today in the same location--a city park on the El Camino Real directly across from the Stanford Shopping Centre. This 1978 event was sponsored by the Morris Minor Registry; of the 250 cars that showed up, 82 were Morrises. Other marques included MG, Triumph and Jaguar, as well as a few more obscure titles.
High-end cars, including Rolls Royce and Bentley, shied away from this ABFM in the early years. In an attempt to lure these more prestigious and expensive marques, the so-called British Motorcar Society was developed and became the meet's sponsor. But the stigma of lower-priced cars endured for a few more years, until eventually the Rolls Royce Club threw in its support and the event truly became a panorama of British marques.
The highest attendance was a fence-busting 1,200 cars one year in the late '80s. After the collector car boom had gone bust in the early '90s, fewer than 600 cars showed up. The event has now stabilized around 750 cars, which fits comfortably into the park's two fields.
Los Angeles
You might logically think that the largest ABFM would be in the Los Angeles area. Not so! For one thing, there are several such meets around southern California each year.
In LA, the first ABFM saw 250 cars attend in 1984. It was held that year at a junior high school in Brentwood (yes, the Brentwood of O.J. fame). Like the Palo Alto Meet, this was sponsored by the Morris Minor Registry. Later the event was moved to Woodley Park in Van Nuys (conveniently near the intersection of the 405 and 101 freeways), where the highest attendance was 700 cars. From 1993 through 1995, the event was titled "Wheels & Wings" and held at the Santa Monica Museum of Flying at the Santa Monica Airport. For 1996, it has returned to Woodley Park.
San Diego
A couple of hours south of Los Angeles, the San Diego ABFM started in the mid-'80s. It tends to attract around 400 cars. So, for pure numbers, California (as a whole) has the largest attendance at ABFMs. The Palo Alto meet is the largest in the nation, period. As with most ABFMs, it's a one-day event.
Portland, Oregon
The Jaguar Owners Club of Oregon could well argue that their ABFM is not only the first, but the best as well. It's a full three-day event that often draws as many as 500 cars.
After the Friday Welcome Party comes a BBQ, a banquet, the slalom competition, a Funkhana, a Rallye, a swap meet, a photo-concours, Valve Cover Races and even a jungle tour sponsored by the Pacific Coast Rover Club.
People's Choice ballots are cast for more than 80 classes of British cars. These are driven by club members from more than 30 British car clubs across the U.S. and Canada--a truly international event! Attendees can leave with not only good memories, but mementos and memorabilia as well after a stop in the Regalia Tent.
Other Large ABFMs
British On The Green, held in Granby, Connecticut, draws up to 400 cars each year.
The British Car Festival in Downer Grove, Illinois, is presented by the British Car Union. In 1995, it registered almost 700 cars, with more than 3,000 spectators.
Held in September, the Annual British Car Day in Richmond, Virginia, has had 350 cars in past years.
An average of 440 people register for the show at the annual British Car Days South. Held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the show had 61 cars compete in a time-speed-distance rally in 1994.
Overall, there were about 70 ABFMs in 1995, and the number for 1996 may push toward 100. This growth may seem strange, since so many British cars have been sent overseas from the U.S. in the last 15 years. But you can say that all British car owners are strange . . . because we're so devoted to our cars!
By the way, the following states have never hosted an ABFM (as far as we know): Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming. Anyone tempted?
This article was adapted from one written by Daniel Canada, an employee at British Wire Wheel in Santa Cruz, California. Dan has been a British car owner for 37 years, has owned his MG TD for 34 and has always been active in our hobby.