Adventures in Sprites

Mad Dogs & Englishmen Show, - July 12th & 13th, 1997

After moving to St. Joseph Michigan in June of this year, I put out a feeler on the PDLJMPR site asking about Austin Healey events in Michigan. Thanks to Donald Fahlquist and Bruce Gearns, I learned about the Mad Dogs & Englishmen Show that was held at the Gilmore Classic Car Club Museum in Hickory Corners, MI on July 12th and 13th. After making a call to the museum, I recieved a nice brochure on the show that described the event (Featured marque this year was Healey) and gave directions. Finally, Healeys in Michigan - and only 50 miles from my house!!

The show this year was only a one-day event, but the brochure described a "Poker Run" for early-arrivers on Saturday afternoon. Shortly after Puddles and I arrived at the meet hotel, I had the pleasure of meeting Frank and Tony Ianucilli, who drove their fabulous Bugeye from Columbia City, Indiana for the show.

After a quick lunch at Dennys with a few fellow British car owners, we started the poker run. Somehow, I ended up being the first car to leave on the route, which took us through 30 miles of beautiful Michigan countryside and ended at a remote country club restaurant. When I arrived, I found that a few Healey owners had circumvented the intended route and were already there! I had just ordered up a beer and set down at the bar when I was invited to join Malcom and Lottie Terry of the Northern Indiana Healey Club (White BJ8 shown in photo). We conversed about the Terry's long-time involvement with Healeys, the long trips they had made in their Healey, and their trip to England when they actually had dinner with Geof Healey. - very nice people!

Since I was driving home and returning the next day, I left early - but as I went to my car I was stopped by a country club employee (just getting off work) who was bewildered by all the British cars everywhere. I told him of the show and poker run and that seemed to put his mind at ease!

I arrived at the Gilmore Museum grounds mid-morning and found a spot with the Healeys, which were all grouped in one big class (for a change). Sprites judged with big Healeys - now there's a switch! I would estimate there were 50 Healeys there and about 300 total British cars - certainly one of the premier British car events in Michigan!

The most amusing thing of the day occurred shortly after I found my spot. I never identified whose car it was, but a full-race Triumph (I believe) drove off his trailer and into his space - the engine sounding so wild that it drew a full round of applause from the crowd when he shut it down!

Randy Blalock, Frank Ianucilli, Tim Mahnensmith, and I all chose to enter our Sprites in the slalom competition which was held on a small circular track adjoining the museum grounds. Here is a photo of Randy Blalock starting one of his runs. We had a lot of fun, but ultimately the event was won by a hot Mini Cooper - you have to admit, they sure do run hard - and they are a lot of fun to watch!

The rest of the show was pleasureable. After a beautiful big Healey won the class, most of us Sprite enthusiasts banded together and moved our cars to an exclusive location for a group photo - drawing a significant number of shutterbugs! - that in itself was quite satisfying. I know I will be back next year!

Les Myer

Here are some close up photos of the Sprites in the lineup, none of which were "trailer queens". All were driven to the show!

Frank Ianucilli
Columbia City, IN
Red '60 Bugeye
Feature article

Randy Blalock
Mattawan, MI
Red '60 Bugeye w/roll bar
Front view
Front view w/Randy & wife
Rear view
Side view
Engine compartment

Tim Mahnensmith
Ossian, IN
Maroon '60 Bugeye with Trailer
(5-speed tranny / self-engineered conversion)
Front view
Rear view
w/Trailer

Don Ensley
Rochester Hills, MI
Black '59 Bugeye
Note supercharger!
Front view
Rear view
Engine compartment

Les Myer (me!)
Coloma, MI
Red '67 MKIV
"Puddles"
Front view