On Saturday mornings, residents can often spot a pack of British classic cars winding along the quiet backroads of Oglethorpe County or pulling into the Rowdy Rooster.
A 1949 MG TC driven by Terry Allen, the founder of the Bulldog British Classics Car Club, is among this club’s caravan of cars.
Allen, who lives in Lexington, founded the club two years ago to provide European car enthusiasts a space to engage in their hobby with others who share this passion.
“Most of us are retired, and so this is one of the things we do to stay occupied,” said Ted Stewart, a member of the club.
Now 200 members strong, the Bulldog British Classics Car Club coordinates two events per month, including coffee meetups and scenic drives, often collaborating with other clubs across the country.
Many of the drives are held in and around Oglethorpe County due to its light traffic, scenic backroads and manageable speed limits, perfect for taking a spin in older vehicles.
The drives often raise money for charity and end in small towns in surrounding counties, giving drivers the opportunity to stop at local cafes and support small businesses.
When they’re not on drives or exploring new cafes, club members are restoring old cars to their former glory.
“A lot of us get a lot of satisfaction from getting these old relics that don’t run and are very ugly, and fixing them up and making them roadworthy again,” Stewart said.
And when their MGs, Jaguars and Triumphs break down, members take pleasure in helping each other with repairs.
“If you’ve got an issue with a car, somebody’s had to have addressed that problem before,” club member Jeff Killip said.