A Proper Car Club, Small SUV's You'd Recommend To The Parents, and Events Around Town

Good morning, Pensacola.

This week we're covering a local club that a reader made me aware of, the Panhandle British Car Association. They just wrapped their annual show right here in Seville Square and has been quietly doing its thing in this region since before most websites existed. We've also got new events for May, a Car Talk section covering the small SUV market, and a solid stretch of things to do across the area.

In today's line:

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- The Bay Line Crew

The Club That Drives British Cars Through the Florida Panhandle

A reader emailed recently to mention a car show happening in Seville Square. By the time I saw the email, the show had passed. Digging into the organization behind it turned up something worth sharing regardless of whether you caught the show.

The Panhandle British Car Association has been around since the late 1990s, based in Pensacola with members spread across the Florida Panhandle and into South Alabama. The club exists for a specific purpose: encouraging the restoration, preservation, and enjoyment of British automobiles. That covers a long list of makes; MG, Triumph, Jaguar, Austin-Healey, Land Rover, Lotus, Jensen-Healey, and more. The common thread isn't a specific badge so much as a shared appreciation for cars that were built with a certain mechanical personality, the kind that requires more attention than a modern vehicle but rewards that attention in ways that are genuinely hard to explain to anyone who hasn't driven one.

Their annual show is called Brits on the Bay, and it ran April 17–18 this year in Seville Square. The format is two days, a Friday evening dinner at the Museum of Commerce, then the show itself Saturday morning in the square. This year 80 cars were registered heading into show weekend, up from 56 at the same point last year, with entries across 26 classes. The featured marque for 2026 was the Austin-Healey Sprite.

The club runs year-round, not just around show time. Monthly meetings happen at Ace's Hangar in Milton, typically the third Monday of each month - dinner at 6, meeting at 7. They hold regular tech sessions at a member's garage in Milton where people bring their cars in for work, diagnostics, and the kind of group troubleshooting that happens when a room full of people who know these cars well put their heads together.

Their newsletter is called Smoke in the Wires, it's a nod to the electrical reputation of vintage British cars, specifically Lucas electrics, which have been the subject of jokes in this hobby for decades. The newsletter itself is genuinely good reading even if you don't own a British car: the April issue includes a piece on Peel Engineering, the Isle of Man company that built the P50 which was officially the smallest production car ever made. They also have a running series on obscure British marques most people have never heard of.

Membership is $20 a year. That's it. The website is pbca1.com and the newsletter archive goes back to 1999. Coming up on their calendar: a club picnic at Big Lagoon State Park on May 9 and a car show in Silverhill, Alabama on May 23. If you own a British car and didn't know this club existed, now you do. If you don't own one but find yourself curious about what it would take to get into one, the monthly meetings at Ace's Hangar are open and these are exactly the kind of people who would enjoy explaining it. A quality car is not as expensive as you may think and is a great way to get into a local club, meeting new people, and starting a great new hobby.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They’re just the things you need to know. I’ll always let you know when something’s sponsored.

One Night of Queen with Gary Mullen & The Works - Tonight, Tuesday April 28, 7:30 PM - Last call if you're reading this in time. 1,700 people interested locally. Saenger Theatre, 118 Palafox Pl. Tickets at the door if available.

Crestview Night at Blue Wahoos Stadium - Thursday April 30, 6:05 PM - Community night at the ballpark. Baseball along the bay. 351 W. Cedar St. Tickets via fevo-enterprise.com.

Plein Air Drawing for Beginners - Saturday May 2, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM - The Pensacola Art Group runs this outdoor drawing class at their studio space at 1716 E Lloyd St — a cool old property that's worth seeing on its own. Beginner-friendly. Tickets via pensacolaartgroup.com.

Friends of the Milton Library Book Sale - Saturday May 2, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM - Smaller and more local than the West Pensacola sale a couple weeks back, which means better odds of actually finding something good before it gets picked over. Milton Library, 5541 Alabama St, Milton.

PBCA Club Picnic at Big Lagoon State Park - Saturday May 9, 11:00 AM - Open to anyone interested in British cars. Big Lagoon State Park, Pensacola. Check pbca1.com for details.

Muddy Dash Pensacola - Saturday May 9, 8:00 AM - Obstacle course race at Adventures Unlimited in Milton. If you've been to Adventures Unlimited before, you know the property is well-suited for this kind of event. 8974 Tomahawk Landing Rd, Milton. Tickets via eventvesta.com.

NFDF May-Hem Drift Day - Saturday May 9, 12:00 PM - The North Florida Drift Federation brings competitive drifting to 5 Flags Speedway. 106 people interested on Facebook. If you've never seen proper drifting up close, this is the format for it. 7451 Pine Forest Rd, Pensacola.

Disney On Ice: Jump In! - Saturday May 9, 11:00 AM, multiple shows - Moana, Frozen, Stitch, Mickey. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Ticketed via Ticketmaster.

Pensacola Beach Art & Wine Festival - Saturday May 9, 11:00 AM–4:00 PM - Local artists along the boardwalk, wine, and the beach in the background. Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. Free to attend.

TEDxPensacola 2026: Hidden in Plain Sight - Saturday May 23, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM - 294 people interested on Facebook. TEDxPensacola is the local independently organized version of the TED format — local speakers, local ideas, full day event. Pensacola Little Theatre, 108 E Main St. Ticketed.

Monster Jam - Saturday July 25, 1:00 PM - Grave Digger, Pensacola Bay Center, 3,100 people already interested. That number alone justifies the early mention. Ticketed via Ticketmaster. 201 E. Gregory St.

15th Annual Running of the Bulls - Saturday July 25, 8:00 AM - Same day as Monster Jam, completely different energy. Seville Quarter area. Register early.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They’re just the things you need to know. I’ll always let you know when something’s sponsored.

This week on Car Talk I asked David about cars in the last 10 years that he would recommend to his parents. We decided this was a lot of information so this month we discussed just the small SUV segment of the market.

“The small SUVs segment is one of the strongest categories out there right now. There’s just a lot of quality to choose from.

At the top of the list, it’s hard to beat Honda and Toyota. Models like the CR-V and RAV4 have built their reputation over time for a reason. In most cases, when something does go wrong, it’s not a design issue, it’s just a lack of regular maintenance. Stay on top of oil changes and basic service, and these vehicles tend to run for a long time without major headaches.

A lot of people overlook Mazda, but they shouldn’t. The CX-5, CX-7, and CX-9 are what you might call “sleeper” SUVs. They don’t get talked about as much, but they’re consistently solid and worth a look if you’re trying to find value.

Subaru has a loyal following, especially with older buyers, and for good reason. They can be very dependable vehicles, but they do require attention to maintenance, particularly when it comes to the transmission. Take care of them, and they can last.

On the domestic side, the Ford Explorer stands out. It competes well with Honda and Toyota in terms of overall reliability, and it brings something extra with the available third row. Ford has put a lot into building that model over the years, and it shows.I actually own a 2011 Explorer that’s over 200,000 miles. With consistent, routine maintenance, you can expect a lot if it’s been cared for.

With Dodge models like the Journey and Durango, it really comes down to how well the vehicle was maintained by the previous owner. That’s generally true for Mopar vehicles across the board. The upside is that their common issues are well documented and usually straightforward to diagnose and repair.

If you’re looking at higher-end options, the Mercedes GLE is a solid choice, and brands like Lexus and Acura are always strong, though you’ll pay a bit more for that reputation. BMW’s X series has also been fairly reliable in recent years, with newer models getting especially strong ratings.

As for what to avoid, it’s less about specific years and more about patterns. Jaguars can be unpredictable, especially with electrical issues, and Ford Escapes can become a headache if maintenance has been neglected.

Overall, if you stick with Honda, Toyota, or the Ford Explorer, especially in the 2011 and newer range, you’re looking at a group of vehicles with a long track record of reliability. Mazda and Subaru round out that list nicely, giving you a few more solid options depending on what you find available.”

April 28 - One Night of Queen with Gary Mullen & The Works @ Saenger Theatre - Listen here

May 13 - George Thorogood and the Destroyers @ Saenger Theatre — 7:30 PM. Still touring, still mean. - Listen here

May 18 - Jim Breuer: Find The Funny @ Saenger Theatre - Breuer's been doing stand-up since the SNL days and still tours regularly. 7:30 PM. Tickets via Ticketmaster. - Listen here

May 29 - 38 Special @ Saenger Theatre — Southern rock, Saenger stage. Ticketed. - Listen here

August 22 - Vince Gill: 50 Years From Home @ Saenger Theatre - Listen here

Thanks for being here. We appreciate you taking the time to read the Pensacola Bay Line today.