Anyone strolling through the still empty streets of the small town on Lake Geneva early in the morning could hardly have imagined how quickly they would soon fill up with everything imaginable in the way of motor vehicles from the United Kingdom. What's more, the way these medieval alleyways filled up without much maneuvering, without any lengthy back-and-forth, while the first lucky ones who had already found a parking space made their way between the cars on foot, was a delight. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Reto Defrancesco, the man behind the organization of the British Classic Car Meeting, owns a road signage company. They know a thing or two about traffic management in Saint-Prex.
The density of parked cars therefore increased rapidly, with some crews very cleverly managing to harmonize cars and scenery - here an MG in front of blooming roses or there a Rolls-Royce in the glistening morning light.
This was further enhanced by the reflection of the sun in the water of Lake Geneva - or rather the Léman, people in Vaud are a little sensitive about this Swiss-German ignorance.
Classics with exceptions
You can be a little picky when well over a thousand cars are expected. The reception committee, for example, was less than impressed by our original Geneva premiere Jaguar F-Type R, which had launched this model at the 2014 show. Too young, too mundane? It had to be left outside. The Mini-Marcos - the first car we came across in the main lane - made up for it. If the plastic wasn't enough, a Lotus Elan with its typical twin-cam sound was right behind it. Those who didn't want to be thrown from one storm of enthusiasm to the next could take a stroll through the snack mile along the lake to relax - or eat.
Otherwise, there was a little gem of British motoring behind every corner during the meeting. In Staint-Prex, warning signs should actually be put up in the style of Goodwood regarding the dangers of motorsport: "Attention! One great car might follow another!" And it's not just the automotive heavyweights, the blue chips of English carmaking, that are enchanting. You don't see a Vauxhall Velox from the E-series that often anymore.
The VX 4-90 - strictly speaking a Bieler instead of a Brit from Montage Suisse - just as rarely. A 1959 Cresta (also with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and the GM abbreviation on the radiator grille) had also found its way to Saint-Prex, as had many other former everyday cars. Well, we didn't manage to get a Morris Marina in front of the lens, but it's quite possible that one was there, as was an Austin Allegro.
With a mixture of nonchalance and strict order in the placement of the individual brands and types by the helpers, occasional "hot spots" for different brands could be identified in various corners. The large parking lot behind the Saint-Prex cultural center was particularly impressive. Perhaps a Lotus Elite Type 14 was missing, but otherwise pretty much everything that once left Hornsey, Cheshunt or Hethel (Lotus), but also Caterham and Dartford (Caterham) as lightweight sports cars was represented here. A conspicuous number of "Elisen" - which next year celebrates its 30th anniversary since its debut at the IAA in 1995 - underlined the fact that the term "classic" is not strictly equated with veteran age in Saint-Prex. So it is hardly surprising that an impressive number of Morgan cars (even those of the latest generation with aluminum chassis and LED headlights) were present.
International Englishmen
With cars arriving from France, Germany and the United Kingdom, it was also clear that the event's appeal extends far beyond Switzerland, even in its new location. A Frenchman paid homage to his favorite brand in a slightly different way than is customary in this country by having his visibly greying Jaguar XJ 6 Coupé - actually powered by a 4.2-litre XK engine - nail along the quay to his parking space with a diesel engine that was clearly audible and olfactory.
The equally French-registered Rolls-Royce Phantom V, which was once given a rather baroque dress by none other than France's last "coachbuilder" Henry Chapron, made a more powerful appearance.
By midday, Saint-Prex was full to bursting. The local associations, each of which ran a stand with a catering offer, were delighted. Less joyful was the fact that the first establishment on the square, the Auberge de l'Union, went bankrupt on September 30th and thus narrowly missed the opportunity to take a big slice of the gastronomic pie - a real shame. However, it was easy to meet new people and old friends. The town is not very big, and despite the frosty temperatures, it was too tempting to spend time in the draughty alleyways full of cars rather than in the slipstream.
However, those who chose to sit down somewhere to rest could see that Saint-Prex was really pleased that this meeting had found its way here again this year - after it had once been rather carelessly and lovelessly driven away from the neighboring town of Morges.
There, on the other hand, you should be tearing your hair out. But it wouldn't do any good, because there really isn't a single reason why the British Classic Car Meeting should ever leave Saint-Prex again. The location is simply perfect, beautiful and the atmosphere here this year was simply unique!
