Champagne British Car Festival Set for June 3 at David Davis Mansion State Historic Site
 

[May 19, 2018]  BLOOMINGTON - The 27th Champagne British Car Festival will feature the much heralded Mini (both old and new) on Sunday, June 3 on the grounds of the David Davis Mansion State Historic Site in Bloomington. The grounds will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. for the event. Approximately 150 cars are expected, including models from MG, Triumph, Jaguar, Lotus, Bentley, and others. Red Bird Catering will be on site with both English and American offerings for breakfast and lunch.

The original Mini was marketed under the names of the Austin Seven and the Morris Mini-Minor. Although small and slow (the top speed was only 72 mph), they could convey four adults in reasonable and very economical comfort. Production began in August 1959 and ended in October 2000, after nearly 5.4 million had been sold.

In 2000, BMW bought the Mini name and produced the first of the modern Minis in 2002. Both larger and quicker than the original, like the original, it was an immediate sales success, propelling BMW to a series of record-breaking years.

Multiple examples of both the old and the new will be on display at the festival.

The beneficiary of this year’s event will be the Community Cancer Center (407 E. Vernon, Normal). The Center will have an informational tent on the grounds and will receive a cash donation from CBCF after the event.

The David Davis Mansion State Historic Site (1000 Monroe Drive in Bloomington) was built in 1872 by David Davis, a political ally of Abraham Lincoln and a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. All entrance donations will benefit the David Davis Mansion Foundation.

The site is operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. IDNR protects the state’s historic resources, which contribute to education, culture and the economy. IDNR sites include ancient burial grounds, forts and buildings erected by settlers, and homes connect to famous Illinoisans.

The David Davis Mansion Foundation is a not-for-profit organization supporting education, preservation and acquisition programs for the David Davis Mansion.

Further information may be found at www.cbcf-bloomington.com.

[Jeff Saulsbery]