Fans, owners have jolly-good time at Palatine car fest

Ron Geibel of Schaumburg has a simple explanation for why he never puts a cover on his 1987 Morgan Plus 8 when it's parked in his garage.

"I consider it to be a work of art," Geibel said. "It's too nice to look at to keep covered up."

That was the prevailing sentiment among those who attended the 28th annual British Car Festival, which was held Sunday at Harper College in Palatine. Dozens of cars and motorcycles from across the pond were on display, including Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, TVRs and the aforementioned Morgans.

The vehicles had different features, different styles, different strengths. But to the owners and the spectators at Sunday's show, all were works of art.

"I don't know if there's a unifying trait that British cars have," said Steve Partman of Elk Grove Village, a member of the British Car Union, the group that organizes the show. "Some might be attracted to the speed cars, others might lean toward the luxury of the Rolls or Bentley. What they do share is that people love them."

Partman's love for British cars - the Rolls-Royce in particular - began when he watched the 1960s detective show "Burke's Law" as a child.

"In the opening, there was a shot of Burke's mansion and his Rolls-Royce," Partman said. "To a kid like me growing up in the slums of Chicago, having a Rolls meant that you'd really made it. I've been fascinated by the car since."

Ernie Knight of Plainfield displayed his 1970 Triumph Spitfire, one of the sportier cars at the show. He saw the car one day in 1986 sitting on the side of the road with a "For Sale" sign on it, and he's spent years refining and refurbishing it.

"It's still a work in progress," he said. "I love tinkering with it."

Knight said he inherited a love for British sports cars from his father.

"He raced them in the 1950s," Knight said. "I got the bug early. There's just something about the look of them that's very appealing."

Some fans at Sunday's show said British cars have a reputation for being less-than-reliable. Geibel, however, said his Morgan has never let him down.

"I've driven it out to the East Coast twice with no problems," he said. "It's treated me well all along."