The MCC 3^rd Annual Road Trip, March 26, 2011, was Fantastic!

About 40 classic cars and 60 MCC members met at Tyer's Professional Auto Service in Clinton on Saturday morning, March 26, to begin the start of a fantastic trip down the Natchez Trace to the Port Gibson Festival. After getting our fill of coffee and donuts at Tyer's shop MCC member and event coordinator Mike Martin gave us our last minute instructions.  At that point Mike announced to the group "START YOUR ENGINES" and that is what we did.  Some people like the sound of birds singing early in the morning but for this group the sound of a high lift cam and the smell of unburned fuel was a great start to the day.

Mike and wife Olivia lead the caravan in their beautiful red Corvette followed by a red '63 Chevy Impala and a red '67 Pontiac GTO followed by every color imaginable.  Oh what a beautiful sight it was as we traveled down the Trace.  Traveling at 50 miles an hour the caravan seemed to stretch out for ever as we got stares everywhere we went.  How can anyone not stare at 40 stunning classic cars!  We even passed several Model A's and T's along the Trace as they pulled over to take a breather.  We all arrived in Port Gibson without a single breakdown and the Festival organizers delivered on their promise to give us prime parking space right in the middle of the event.  The main street was blocked off awaiting our arrival and as soon as they saw the caravan the barricades were quickly moved.  Maybe I am a little bias but I would say that the classic cars were the highlight of the festival.  They certainly drew a big crowd and lots of cameras were aimed in their direction.

After a quick lunch from the many food vendors we stared the Walking Church Tour.  The tour guide was very knowledgeable and was the pastor from the local Methodist Church.  During the tour he told us that our group was the largest group he had ever taken on the tour.  For that he was very pleased.  We visited several old churches along Church Street all of which were built during the 1800's.  Each of them had a unique design and all had an interesting history.  Most of the churches had a connection with the American Civil War and/or the Civil Rights era.  Any history buff would have been in their element as they were actually sitting in the very spot where history was made.

As a special treat we also toured the beautiful old home of MCC members David & Jo Ann Bailey.  Their home was also along the Church Tour route and it, too, was a sight to behold.  The home was built in 1896 and the Bailey's restored the 7500 square foot home in 1985.  David and Jo Ann spend time in their Port Gibson and Brandon homes.  We appreciate the personal tour that David gave our group.

After the Walking Tour we cranked up the old cars and took the ten minute drive to the Windsor Ruins.  Not really knowing what to expect after a drive into the middle of nowhere, I was amazed at what I saw as we rounded the corner of a narrow winding road.  There they were unbelievably huge brick columns that once provided the support for the largest antebellum Greek Revival mansion ever built in the state of Mississippi.  Built in 1859 to 1861 it's hard to imagine how the craftsmen without the use of cranes undertook such a feat.  The Ruins were truly a sight to behold.

A big thank you goes out to MCC sponsor Pete Tyer for opening up his shop on Saturday morning, to MCC members David Bailey and Jo Ann for opening up their old home for us to tour and to MCC member Mike Martin for organizing the tour event.  Can't wait to see what Mike plans for next year!

Shown below are additional pictures taken during the 3rd Annual MCC Road Trip!

To see more than 100 photos of the MCC Road Trip click here.