Brits 'Round BC 2008
 This page was updated on Friday, May 30, 2008

MAY 24 UPDATE

  • $5/person is the suggested contribution to help Frank DeCarlo and the Comox Valley Branch defer the cost of the pig roast on Friday evening, June 27. See the itinerary for June 27 for details.

  • At least nine cars are spending Sunday night, July 6, in Hope. See the July 6 itinerary for details and reservation information if you are interested in this new option.

  • The Sunday, July 6, brunch with the Vancouver Coast Branch in Chilliwack is rescheduled to lunch on Sunday, June 29. See the itinerary for June 29 for the latest information.

  • The Athabasca Hotel in Jasper has one regular room available. PLEASE call Steve (360-733-3568) if you want this room. There may also be some $99 rooms sharing a large bathroom (male and female, key-protected, and very nice - we saw them last August). The Swiss Chalet Motel in Revelstoke is completely sold out but if you call them they may be able to help you find a room nearby. See the "Accommodations" page for more information.

  • BRBC motels in other communities are nearing capacity. If you need any reservations make them as soon as possible. See the "Accommodations" page for current information.

  • Note the updates on Days 2 and 3 below that were necessitated by changes in the AGM.

  • BC Ferries is taking reservations. Reservations are $15 if made 7 or more days prior to sailing, $17.50 if made less than that. Brits taking the ferries we are using may want reservations:

    • 9:00 AM sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay on Friday, June 27

    • 10:40 AM sailing from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay on June 29

    • Reservations are strongly recommended. June 27 is the start of a Long Weekend and June 29 is prime time of day during prime season as the Long Weekend draws to a close.

BRBC 2008'S MAIN GOAL: FUN!
 In a word, we are out to put together a week full of fun! We want BRBC 2008 to be a tour that is so outstanding that you will remember it for years to come. Our key objectives:

  • Modest driving distances (156 mi/251 km average) to allow ample opportunity for activities, sightseeing and socialization.

  • Comfortable, pleasant lodging and enjoyable evening dining with interesting choices, all at modest prices. Both motel and camping options will be available.

  • Some of the most scenic roads in North America! Celia and I spent a week in late August and early September driving the 2008 route through Williams Lake to Prince George, Jasper, and Lake Louise and it is great.

START PLANNING NOW: Start planning now for the one of the greatest adventures in British motoring in North America!

  • Schedule your summer holiday

  • Get your car ready. Do the long-ignored maintenance. Repair anything necessary to have your car ready to tour on BRBC 2008!

  • Make accommodation reservations (information available about Nov. 23).

  • PRINTABLE MAP (.PDF)

DAYS FULL OF ADVENTURE
Participate in as much of the tour as you choose. You can do the whole tour or any of several interesting loops. Our schedule is firming up at the date approaches. Here's a peek of at BRBC 2008:

  • Day 1, Friday, June 27: Tsawwassen to Courtenay - Lunch in Victoria with the South Island Branch. Tour on to Comox for the evening and a pig roast with Frank DeCarlo and the Comox Valley Branch. See the itinerary for June 27 for details. (161 mi/259 km)

  • Day 2, Saturday, June 28: Courtenay to Nanaimo - We'll start the day with the short drive to Nanaimo to participate in the OECC AGM, hosted by the Central Island Branch. The day will include he Mini Monte Rally, the AGM meeting, and a great evening banquet. See the itinerary for June 28 for details. (67 mi/108 km to Nanaimo plus the Mini Monte)

  • Day 3, Sunday, June 29: Nanaimo to Lillooet - We'll drive to the Departure Bay ferry for the 10:40 sailing (reservations strongly recommended), arrive in Horseshoe Bay about 12:15, then head north. This is an excellent opportunity for Vancouver Coast Branch members who don't do the AGM to join us, as well as any who would just like to enjoy lunch with the BRBC group. See the itinerary for June 29 for details. (151 mi/243 km)

  • Day 4, Monday, June 30: Lillooet to Williams Lake - This is a spectacular route and you're sure to enjoy the scenic roads. We'll have a two-hour Show 'n Shine of our old English cars at the impressive new Williams Lake Visitor Centre, possibly joined by OECC members from the Thompson Valley Branch in Kamloops. See the itinerary for June 30 for details. (166 mi/268 km)

  • Day 5, Tuesday, July 1: Williams Lake to Prince George -  On the way to Prince George we'll be joined by several members of the Northern Interior Branch (Prince George) at the Quesnel Museum in Quesnel. We'll have lunch in Quesnel, then tour on to Prince George. There will be time to tour Prince George, then we will join the Northern Interior Branch for dinner and a fantastic evening at the Railway Museum, another outstanding event like we enjoyed in 2005. See the itinerary for July 1 for details. (151 mi/243 km)

  • Day 6, Wednesday, July 2: Prince George to Jasper - This is our longest day, but it's scenic and there's a convenient stop for lunch or a mid-day picnic. A heritage hotel is our destination and there will be several dinner options.  See the itinerary for July 2 for details.(233 mi/374 km)

  • Day 7, Thursday, July 3: Jasper to Lake Louise - We'll tour the fantastic Icefields Parkway with time to stop for scenic vistas, tours and hikes (we hiked several, some as short as 20 minutes, all with awesome views).  See the itinerary for July 3 for details.(146 mi/234 km)

  • Day 8, Friday, July 4: Lake Louise to Revelstoke - Another scenic day with scenic and historic stops of interest.  See the itinerary for July 4 for details.(141 mi/226 km)

  • Day 9, Saturday, July 5: Revelstoke to Kamloops - Yet another scenic day. We'll stay at the Riverland Motel and enjoy dinner with the Thompson Valley Branch.  See the itinerary for July 5 for details.(133 mi/214 km)

  • Day 10, Sunday July 6: Kamloops to Tsawwassen (224 mi/360 km) Enjoy the morning in Kamloops then head for home. About a third of our Brits are adding another day to the tour and spending Sunday night in Hope at the Skagit Motor Inn. See the itinerary for July 6 for details.

This year's route is a bit longer than 2005 when we last visited all six OECC branches, but with an average day of only 160 miles it allows ample opportunities to stop and enjoy the beauty of the areas we pass through. Attractions range from scenic to historic and cultural with something for everyone. Mark your calendar and plan now to join us on BRBC 2008!

We hope Brits 'Round BC 2008 will provide participants with up to ten days of fantastic driving, unbeatable sightseeing, and, most important, socialization with friends and other English car enthusiasts. We hope everyone will take home memories of a great week and look forward to BRBC 2010!

FLEXIBILITY: As with Brits ‘Round BC 2005, you can do all or any part of the tour. You do not have to be a member of the Old English Car Club of British Columbia to participate. British car enthusiasts throughout the Pacific Northwest, both north and south of the border, are invited. Partial loops will be developed to meet the needs of members in Vancouver, Kamloops, and Prince George.

REGISTRATION: The BRBC 2008 Registration form is now available and registration is still only $20 per car. It includes a Brits 'Round BC 2008 license plate and a folder containing the route, itinerary, accommodations, and other useful information. Any funds not used will be returned to participants in the form of prizes as in 2006.

If you are unable to participate in the entire event but would like to do one day of BRBC, we invite you to come along to enjoy the fun. There is no cost for one day participants, but we ask that you complete the One Day Only Registration form. The registration form has an option to purchase a BRBC license plate.

ACCOMMODATIONS:  The Accommodations page is now available! Please email or call the Wagonmasters if you have any trouble accessing the page. PLEASE NOTE that BRBC 2008 is during the prime tourist season and passes through prime tourist destinations, so early reservations will be important as space may be limited. For your convenience and protection, cancellation policies for each motel are on the page should your plans change.

Planning for BRBC 2008 is still in process.
Check back from time to time.
Please email the Wagonmasters,
Steve Hutchens (sphutchens@yahoo.com) and
Celia Obrecht (ceamili2@yahoo.com),
with any questions you might have!

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