The weather was perfect, but the cars were better.  There were dozens of them, ranging from an extremely rare 1913 National to Porsche 911s fresh off the showroom floor.  Where were these spectacular cars?  At the Oxford Community Center awaiting the checkered flag marking the start of the annual Oxford Road Rally.

This Spy was sent to observe the start of the rally.  A 1970s Trabant, an East German car built by communists, had been spotted at the OCC earlier in the month, at the Cars N’ Coffee event. 

 

Cars lined up early for the race, providing spectators with an opportunity to see some of the finest automobiles on the Eastern Shore. I was thrilled to see a 1940 Packard 110.

 

 

And a 1954 Buick Eight Super woody station wagon, restored to perfection.  

 

 

This spy admires the courage of the owners entering these museum-quality cars in a road race.

Among the more remarkable entries was a 1953 Jaguar XK 120 race car.  Look at that windshield.

 

Have you ever seen the 1913 National?  The Smithsonian Institution doesn’t have one, but, last Saturday one was parked in front of the OCC and participated proudly in the rally.

 

 

More modern cars at the rally included an early Dodge Viper. The car boasts a 10-cyclindar engine that is sometimes described as sounding like a milk truck.

 

 

And I always love seeing Ford GTs.  A red one looked ready for this year’s Le Mans.

 

 

At 9:00 a.m. Oxford police led the cars out of the OCC.  The race was on!

 

 

The race was a fantastic success.  This Spy recommends that anyone with a sports or classic car participate in next year’s rally.  Fun is guaranteed.

The Spy received two reports this weekend about restaurant happenings in Easton. The first is the emergence of the Washington Street Pub after a few years of downtime and renovation under BluePoint Hospitality’s ownership. In this case, a sharing of the inaugural menu indicates that the return of a favorite venue for downtown redevelopment is in good hands, as the group that brought you Sunflowers & Greens and the James Beard Award-winning Bas Rouge has found the sweet spot of keeping traditions alive with its first-tier oyster offerings, while offering prices that won’t break the bank.

The second was another Spy agent sending along a rather formal FQA circulating at Piazza in Talbottown that owner Emily Chander has made some decisions about her new restaurant now being built out next to her popular Itatoan deli. There had been speculation that one of the Shore’s premier foodies would surprise everyone by opening Easton’s first high-end fondue restaurant. Still, Spy intelligence reveals that Chandler is sticking to her core focus and passion: Italian cuisine.

Future reports are expected on both enterprises as they develop.

On the advice of a good friend, this spy travelled to St. Michaels early on Sunday morning to board the Patriot at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. My mission was to observe and photograph the log canoe race held on the Miles River. 

Because the agency is committed to monitoring everything that goes on in St. Michaels, I considered my trip to be an agency mission. The mission was a success.

Pictures often provide more intelligence than written reports, even when written by the best spies working for the agency. That is the case here. My photographs give an accurate record of what transpired at Miles on the morning of June 29th. 

If asked, and to date I haven’t been asked, to provide a one-word assessment of what I witnessed, my response would be “beauty.” (Yes, I know, that word does not often appear in this spy’s reports.)

Without further description, here is a sampling of the photos I captured last Sunday morning:

Note that the log canoes are not all the same size. The difference in boat size is factored into determining the winner of the race. The larger log canoes, because they travel faster than the smaller ones, are awarded “time” based on their size. Thus, even though a large log canoe may cross the finish line first, it may not win the race.

Yes, I know it’s a bit complicated, but accuracy in our assessment of the outcome requires us to understand, at least superficially, the rules of the race.

This small log canoe necessitated careful coordination of the crew to avoid an unscheduled swim in the Miles.

This spy wishes he were a sailor, but he’s not—difficulty in determining which boat was doing what was experienced. 

Observing the log canoe race was most enjoyable. I am available for future races.

One last photograph. I took over 200 . . . 

Additional log canoe races are scheduled for July 27 and 28, and Sept. 7, 8, 14, and 15. Information on the races, the Patriot, and the opportunity to purchase tickets can be found at: https://cbmm.org/resources_tags/log-canoe-races/.

 

Agent 8 filed their report on the 14th Annual Easton Airport Day event held on October 12:

Hundreds of spectators were on hand for the annual Easton Airport Day, held in perfect weather, on Saturday, October 12. The event was spectacular.

Attendees browsed dozens of historic military and civilian airplanes, including a C-47 that saw service on D-Day, Stearman biplanes, crop-dusters, helicopters, an A-10 Warthog, and even Engine 25 of the Oxford Fire Department.

The airport’s F-104 Starfighter was available for photo opportunities. Dozens of attendees, most born well after the F-104 left active service with the Air Force, had an opportunity to sit in the plane. 

There were many highlights of the event, including an impressive flyover by 20 aircraft, led by the C-47 “Placid Lassie.”  

Vintage and other aircraft participated in the famous Rubber Chicken Drop Contest, sponsored this year by Bluepoint Hospitality. None of the competitors managed to drop a chicken into a white pickup truck parked in the airfield. One competitor, however, came close, depositing the bird four feet in front of the truck.

Attendees enjoyed two parachute jumps by the Naval Academy Parachute Team. The midshipmen-parachutists demonstrated incredible skill, landing safely in the middle of the airport. Spectators greeted the team with smiles and applause.

Youth had the opportunity to learn about careers in aviation in the Aviation Career Education Tent, sponsored by AECOM.

Gourmands were offered bacon and other delicacies from food trucks. This spy, wary about his cholesterol levels, did not sample the bacon, but reports it looked delicious.

As has been the case in previous years, the much-loved event enjoyed broad community support, including from Qlarant, The Oaks Waterfront Hotel, and Bluepoint Hospitality.

This video is approximately two minutes in length.

Spy Agent 8 filed their report of the annual Small Craft Festival below:

The weather cooperated for the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s annual Small Craft Festival last week.  Dozens of kayaks, canoes, sailboats, powerboats, and even a few cardboard boats were on display on museum grounds or in the water. This Spy particularly loved the wood kayaks. Are they too nice to put in the water? Some would be at home in an art museum.

The sky was cloudy on Saturday morning, but as a large and enthusiastic crowd gathered to share their passion for small boats, the sun came out.

Many of the boats  are hand built and as sea-worthy as a Boston Whaler.

Participants were universally friendly and ready to share how they got into the hobby and how they built their boat.

A good time was had by all.  This Spy has requested assignment to cover the Festival again next year.

This video is approximately one minute in length.

 

Spy Agent 8 Reconnaissance Report: Annual St. Michaels Classic

Auto enthusiasts from across the Eastern Shore and beyond came to St. Michael’s on Saturday for the second annual St. Michael’s Classic. The Classic Motor Museum of St. Michaels event featured six categories of cars:  English Grand Tourers, European Sports Cars, Performance; American Muscle, American Luxury, and Trucks and Wagons. The show also featured a People’s Choice Award—attendees voted on their favorite car.

The weather cooperated nicely, and the cars wowed attendees. Spy 7 was on a mission and directed to be objective, but was excited to see a 1949 Bentley MKVI Drop Head Coupe, a 1951 Kaiser Henry J, a 1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire, several 1950s Jaguars, and a lovely 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air.

The proceeds of the event will benefit the museum’s Automotive Technician Apprenticeship Program and the planned and much-anticipated expansion of the museum. The museum is buying a former service station at 906 South Talbot Street and plans to convert it into a 1950s gas station. The museum also plans to acquire a large steel building that will provide additional work and storage space.

To learn more about this exciting museum and to donate towards the project, visit classicmotormuseum.org.

 

Editor Note: Agent 8 prefers to fill out his intelligence reports in the “old school” tradition 

Summary

The car rally event in Oxford, Maryland, saw significant participation from car enthusiasts, with over 70 vehicles in attendance. The range of vehicles was broad, featuring everything from Volkswagen Beetles to Ferrari, showcasing a diverse spectrum of automotive interests.

Key Observations

Vehicle Participation

Total Number of Cars: Over 70

Range of Models: A mix of iconic classic cars and high-end luxury vehicles, including several Volkswagen Beetles and a notable Ferrari

Notable Brand Representation: Porsche had a particularly strong presence among participants, suggesting a concentration of enthusiasts or owners in the area.

Event Atmosphere

Weather Conditions: The event took place under clear skies and perfect weather conditions, enhancing the outdoor experience.

Community Center Activities: Participants were treated to a delicious breakfast, which was served outside the community center, contributing to a friendly and relaxed atmosphere before the rally commenced.

Rally Route

Oxford Parade: The rally featured a scenic parade through the streets of Oxford, drawing attention from the local community and offering a public display of the wide variety of cars.

Rally Departure: Following the parade, participants embarked on the official rally route, leaving Oxford and continuing to an undisclosed destination outside of town.

Conclusion

The car rally in Oxford, Maryland, successfully brought together a wide range of car enthusiasts in a relaxed, community-centered event. The strong presence of luxury vehicles, especially Porsche, highlighted the high level of participation from car collectors. The event was smoothly organized, with pleasant weather contributing to a highly enjoyable experience for all attendees.

 

According to a recent Spy report, the word is out, and Easton’s the place to be if you’re a skateboarder.

That’s right, with the new skatepark and pumptrack opening at A. James Clark Sports Complex, it didn’t take a New York minute for news to travel to the Mid-Atlantic skateboard community, with Delmarva skaters being the most stoked. Before Easton, board enthusiasts typically had to drive to Annapolis or use the less-than-ideal Salisbury park if they wanted a decent facility. 

Last week, the Spy sent one of our agents to provide some surveillance video.

This video is approximately one minute in length.

No doubt the entire Mid-Shore was a witness to one of the most remarkable lightning storms in recent history last night, but it took an article this morning in the New York Times that indicated that it had achieved national attention.