2011 ABS Annual Trophy Meet was Picture-Perfect!

Mark Richey Photo

Well, the votes are in, and the 2011 Trophy Meet of the Austin Bantam Society, held October 13-15 in Pacific Grove, CA was among the best ever. From the breathtaking scenery to the pleasant weather to the gracious hospitality of our hosts, the event was one for the ages. Enjoy a slideshow of the event's Friday Fun Run by guest photographer Cath Tendler-Valencia by clicking here.

See Lynn James' comprehensive coverage on this web page.

Watch a video of the entire weekend by clicking here.

See more comments and photos on our Facebook page.

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Read a Rooster Tails article about a recently discovered former Austin Dealership in Denton, Texas!

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Ventura Trophy Meet a Great Success!

Mark Richey Photo. See more photos on our Facebook group page!

The 2010 Trophy Meet, held September 23-26 in Ventura, CA, exceeded all expectations. Here's a word from our incoming president, Colin Hughes:

"I would like to start by saying thank you to all the ABS members that came to the 2010 Annual trophy meet in Ventura this year. We know that a lot of members spend a couple of hundred or even thousands of dollars, not to mention the miles that they drive or fly to attend these meets. I can only hope that we made it worth their money and time to spend it here with us in Ventura.

I would like to thank the members who helped with all the details and making things so much easier on us. Everyone who worked at the club store, the information table, helping load and unload cars and driving the trailers to and from the show. I have to say that I was talking to some of the guys that drove the trailers after the show and we where all were quite happy to see all the cars lined up ready and waiting for a trailer. It really was a LARGE help.

I would also like to thank the judges, Scotty Pickle, Jeramy Ostrander and John Larson who stepped up to the plate to judge at the last minute. (Sorry guys. That was my fault. I must be getting old timers.)

Finally, a special thank you to Jim & Katie Johnston and Neil Fraser for all the wonderful help. Wow ... was that a cool welcoming party or what? Not to mention all the hustle and bustle to meet the time frames. Talk about hat tricks... you all know how hard it is some times to get just one car ready to go, try 14 of them! Thank you Jim and Neil.

It was a pleasure to see old friends and meet new ones and enjoy what Ventura is known for... great weather. We had an average of 74 degrees, sunny days with clear skies and a full moon at night.

Again, my thanks to everyone.

Colin Hughes"

By the next issue of Rooster Tails, we’ll have a full report on the ABS 42nd Annual Trophy Meet in Ventura, CA!

To receive Rooster Tails, the Journal of the Austin Bantam Society, join today!

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Bantam Reconnaissance Car Trio Wows MVPA

Photo by James Alexander, courtesy of MVPA

TOPEKA, KS– JULY 8, 2010. For the first time in history, all three versions of the Bantam Reconnaissance Car were displayed together at the annual Military Vehicle Preservation Association Convention in Topeka, KS, July 8-10, 2010. The display was made possible by assembling Duncan Rolls’ re-creations of the BRC Pilot and BRC-60, and Jim Markell’s beautifully restored BRC-40. Since the original Bantam Pilot Car was destroyed shortly after its testing in 1940, and the sole surviving BRC-60 is on permanent display at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, such a display has never before been possible.
The historic exhibit was the centerpiece of the MVPA’s Convention, and was a real hit with both the MVPA membership and the general public in attendance. “We were amazed at the number of people who knew at least some of the Bantam jeep history,” says Duncan Rolls. “Even some of the younger generation had seen History Channel specials, and knew at least part of the story.” The Topeka Capital-Journal ran a feature article on Rolls’ BRC re-creation work the day before the convention opened, which created a lot of local traffic to the event. “Many of the people who came to the Convention told us they saw the article in the paper and came out to see what the Bantam Reconnaissance Car was all about, “ adds Kim Rolls.