OXFORD, Md.- The small town of Oxford in Talbot County was home to 21 world travelers Thursday morning, but they didn't get there by plane. They got there in classic cars as part of the Pan American Friendship Rally.
Twenty one cars were topped up with oil and water Thursday morning in Oxford. These cars and their drivers are on the journey of a lifetime.
"It's a group of people who get on terribly well together who are having a 50 day dinner party, and it's absolutely exhausting because one of the criteria for this event is that you have to bring a car," said David Gault, the owner of a Ferrari 330 GT Series 1 2+2.
None of the cars are newer than 1970. The tour itself is more than 10,000 miles long, and is driven over the course of seven weeks.
"It is completely crazy because most of these cars should be framed, polished, looked at, and adored. But to thrash the living daylights out of them by driving them across America is ludicrous but great fun," said Gault.
"If you went in an everyday car, you'd start a day and end up at B and nothing would happen along the way. With these, you start a day and you have to work on it to get to B, and that's what it's really about is bringing these cars back to life," said Roger Carey, owner of an Aston Martin DB Mark III.
The drivers spent the morning preparing their cars for the next leg, talking to curious locals. Jim Nichols of Cambridge drove to Oxford to see the cars this morning.
"I enjoy automobiles. I have something I enjoy driving but these are very unusual. It's nice to see a gathering like this, and to think that they can keep these in the condition to drive over 10,000 miles. It's nice to have them in our part of the country," said Nichols.
At 9am, the old European sports cars set course for their next stop in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.
The drivers left from Los Angeles at the end of August. They will finally reach the finish line in Boston next week. Previous drives have included trips from London to Australia, and Panama to Alaska.
