Here is the story of how the NBCC was formed:
It was a warm October evening in 1990 when the first official meeting of the Nashville British Car Club took place. At the restaurant “Safari’s” just off I-24 and Murfreesboro Road (now a Mexican restaurant).
The events leading up to this meeting were interesting in their own right. The Club’s founding President, JD Damon, had purchased a 1966 Jaguar Mark II from a customer at his repair shop In 1986. He then joined the Nashville Jaguar Society and became activities chairman. One of his personal favorite activities was an informal car gathering at various city parks. One such gathering was held each spring at Elmington Park at the corner of West End Ave. and Bowling Ave.
This high traffic spot generated a lot of interest for the NJS from people with all makes of cars, a large number of them British. After much input from those British Car owners it was decided that there was sufficient interest to start an all inclusive British Car Club. Post cards were mailed, phone calls were made, and the 1st meeting took place. With Bob (Mop) Maupin as VP, Stan Fischer as treasurer, Priscilla Venable as secretary, the stage was set.
Due to JD’s distaste for business meetings the Club focus was driving events for the first few years with one annual business meeting which he was tricked into going to with the promise of free beer (he still falls for that!). All member info was kept on 3x5 index cards and all contact was done by hand. In winter ‘92-’93 JD had enough computer experience to begin publishing a newsletter which he did 3-4 times per year.
With this high level of business acumen in place it was decided the Club should begin holding annual shows. The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend was open so on that day in 1994 the first annual NBCC Auto Jumble took place at One International Plaza. Fyi that’s the big gold office building on Briley Parkway at the old airport entrance.
The show was a huge success with over 100 cars and motorcycles in attendance. After 2 more shows at that location we moved to the Union Station train shed downtown where the show was held for the next 3 years. The 1998 show became the kickoff for another major Nashville car event called Eurofest Nashville. This show encompassed all European car and motorcycle Clubs in the Nashville area, 17 total at that time. In 1999 that show, piloted by Mike Gillespie as president and JD as VP moved to the Factory in Franklin as was attended by well over 200 vehicles.
Finally after 10 years JD called it quits in 2000 stepping aside to let some new blood influence the Club’s next decade. Jack Coffey stepped in as president and decided the Club should re-instate it’s show separate from Eurofest. So in October 2001 the Club had it’s annual car and motorcycle show at Carton Plantation in Franklin. After three years there the show moved to Pinkerton Park in Franklin. The show has always been well attended never dipping below 100 after surpassing that mark in 1994.
And the club continues in the spirit of the original founders - very informal, no rules, just British car enthusiasts who like their tempermental cars. We have informal monthly dinner gatherings - usually the third Sunday of the month - at a randomly selected local restaurant. This year, 2009, the annual car show will move once again - to The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, TN But the dates remain the same - second weekend in October. Come out and enjoy our cars with us.