Surprise Mission in Flat Rock
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On a beautiful Saturday morning, The British Car Club of Western North Carolina convened in the parking lot at the Flat Rock Playhouse. A fleet of MGB’s, Austin Healy’s, Triumph convertibles, Jaguars, and one spectacular Silver Shadow Rolls Royce were preparing to disembark on a mission to surprise, and honor, a group of unsuspecting Air Force veterans.
Nearby, a group of about two dozen Air Force veterans from the 91st TFS and 81st TFW were celebrating their 18th reunion at the Mill House Lodge in Flat Rock. The 91st and 81st were stationed in England at Royal Air Force Bentwaters — a former Royal Air Force station about 80 miles northeast of London.
Their local hosts and fellow veterans, Chris and John Hoover, arranged to surprise their Air Force buddies with a “drive-in” visit by the BCCWNC. The array of vintage cars that arrived at the lodge were many of the same cars that the Air Force veterans had come to know and appreciate during their tour of duty in England.
Mitch Andrus, President of BCCWNC, explained that many of the cars driven by club members would have been very popular during the time the veterans served in Britain. “A lot of these guys would have driven these cars as young servicemen, or worked on them with friends, or even had them shipped home to the States.”
The convoy of vintage cars did not disappoint. Car enthusiasts and veterans enjoyed a morning of admiring and reminiscing about classic modes of transportation from “the good old days.” The veterans were even able to share with BCCWNC members photos from their time in England showing them standing with, working on, and even piled on top of classic British autos.
Andrus and his fellow BCCWNC members were happy to honor the veterans and even happier that all of their - shall we say finickier? - cars successfully made the trip to Flat Rock. “Part of the excitement of driving a classic British car is the suspense about whether or not your car will actually start today.”
Thanks to the Veterans for their service and to the kind people of BCCWNC for visiting Flat Rock. Come back soon!
Learn more at BCCWNC here and read about the history of RAF Bentwaters here. You can also see the cars in person at the 2019 Autumn in the Mountains Car Show on September 28th.
