WOLFEBORO — British sports car enthusiasts convened in droves at The Nick recreation park for the British Cars of New Hampshire club's 16th annual Show of Dreams on Saturday.

Impeccably restored motorcars, many of them antiques, such as MG's, Jaguar, Triumphs and Rileys, lined the field, trunks open for viewing, competing for prizes in a variety of categories and classes.

There were so many showplace vehicles, that one would have expected the British spy spoof character Austin Powers to pull up in his Austin-Healey. This year's show featured 101 cars from throughout New England, said Norma Karle, of Londonderry, who serves as secretary of the British Cars of New Hampshire club.

“We take any British car,” she said, adding the show includes newer models, as well as restored antiques. The venue — The Nick recreation field off Trotting Track Road — provided a spacious open field for viewing areas and space for vendor tents and booths.

“This is a great place to have a show. We have people come through just to see the cars,” she said. British cars are appealing for several reasons, she said, noting that many of her generation drove the cars as teenagers.

“A lot of us had to sell them when we had families. I've always loved British cars. They are different from most cars you see today. Doesn't matter if it's German or French or U.S., they (non-British cars) look the same.”

“And you don't see a lot of sports cars today,” she said, noting that larger SUV's have entered the marketplace.

Karle, of Londonderry, owns two British sports cars: a 1969 Jaguar XKE, and a 1974 Triumph TR6. And these beauties are built to drive and enjoy.

“If the weather's good, I drive them,” she said.

Club president Bob Mitchell of Stratham brought his own five British cars to the show. He drives them all.

“It's not a collection. It's an affliction, an illness,” he said, chuckling. He acquired his first British sports car, a 1952 MG-TD, from a fellow Rotarian a number of years ago, and one car led to another. His collection includes a 1971 Jaguar, a 1952 Riley, a 1958 Triumph Sedan and a 1967 MG-GT.

“We've added the gallery of collections for the show. We're trying to encourage owners of collections to bring their cars out. It gives them a chance to show off their cars without actually competing in the show,” said Mitchell.

“We're really a driver's club,” he said, adding that only a handful of cars were transported by trailer. The rest were driven in. “We love the cars and we like showing them off, too,” he said.

A worthy cause

The High Hopes Foundation, based in Merrimack, is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to granting the wishes of New Hampshire's chronically ill children, said the foundation's executive director, Nicole Martini.

Martini said Saturday's event was expected to raise $8,000 to help grant children's wishes.

Fulfilled dreams for children include computers, trips to theme parks and national parks, therapeutic hot tubs, swing sets, wheelchairs and meeting with celebrity or sports stars.

For more information about the foundation, go to highhopesnh.org or call 429-1010.

For more information about the car club, go to bcnh.org.

lmulkern@newstote.com