Alan Murphy, the Show Organiser, with the COCGB Chairman's winning '60's Cadillac and a rare 1956 Woody Wagon at the 2002 annual Rally of the Giants. The Cadillac Owners Club received a special invitation from the Pre-50s Club to join them at Knebworth in July at the annual Rally of the Giants to celebrate the Cadillac Centennial in the UK. 
   A large contingent of Cadillacs also came over from mainland Europe, headed up by Dirk van Dorst of the Cadillac LaSalle Club of Belgium. The weather held well for the event, which was visited by both the BBC and the Daily Telegraph. BBC Radio-4 subsequently put out a half-hour program on Saturday 21st September entitled 'Cadillac, a celebration of 100 years - very good it was too, with a number of our members prominently involved. 

Other Past Events

   Despite the weather, the Club's annual show at Coombe Park in September 2001 saw almost 200 cars attending. As always, it turned out a great day and was yet another of Tim Buller’s and Jeff Mitchell's excellent 'Spectaculars'. Several of the cars had either never been seen at the show or at least not for some time. Of particular interest was the chairman's beautifully restored 1937 sedan, which sat alongside John Willett's award-winning '41 Fastback. (Click pictures above for enlargements)
   Whereas the 1950s line-up of cars was more prolific than usual, and there were a greater number of 1980s & '90s, the 1960s & '70s had dropped off somewhat since last year. Still, it was good to see so many regular attendees as well as a good number of first-timers too. Once again, at the end of the day, none of the elderly machines suffered any malaise whatsoever.
   Jeff gave his normal brilliant commentary, ending up with the presentation to Julian Bennett of his first sponsorship cheque from the International Affiliation of Cadillac Clubs. As Jeff explained, Julian will be following in his grandfather's footsteps by attempting a centenary re-run of the 1903 RAC 1000-mile Endurance Trial in the family's original 1903 Cadillac. 
   This feat was last carried out by his grandfather, Frederic Bennett, in 1953, on which occasion he ended up on television on both sides of the Atlantic. Let's hope for a repeat of such widespread interest, especially as Julian is fundraising for the charity 'BEN'. 

    The Club Chairman quizzes the occupant of a beautifully restored 1912 Cadillac at the Trentham Gardens Festival in 2000. This car is one of the nicest early examples of these now rare models that anyone had seen anywhere. 
    It is interesting to note, prior to the First World War, that Cadillacs were one of the biggest foreign car imports into England - be they European or American. There were no Japanese cars back then!