CKFH was a Toronto radio station owned by Foster Hewitt, hockey's original and greatest play-by-play announcer. For a little over a year I was one of the station's staff announcers, working daytime and early evening shows. Already a sports car and racing enthusiast, I took every opportunity to sell my favorite hobby. So I shouldn't have been surprised when a local publicist arranged an on-air interview with Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, who was promoting his new book. It took me a few minutes to get over meeting a genuine English Lord but I soon realised he was just another car guy like you and me.

He autographed the book, which I eventually managed to lose, not realising its historic relevance. When Lord Montagu opened his English home, Palace House, to visitors, he placed five cars in the front hall as a tribute to his father, John Montagu, one of the early motoring pioneers.

I'm indebted to Nigel Matthews for the following: "The collection soon started to grow and within a few years, prompted by complaints from the family about the all-pervading smell of motor oil in the house, the vehicles were moved to a couple of wooden sheds. The collection had grown even further, requiring more prestigious and spacious accommodation. A new building was constructed to house the vehicles and a grand opening ceremony was held for what was, by that time, known as the Montagu Motor Museum. The naming ceremony was performed by Lord Brabazon of Tara with many luminaries from the world of motorsport present, including Stirling Moss, Tony Brooks, Raymond Mays, George Eyston and Graham Walker."

This year sees the 50th anniversary of that opening, to be held on Monday, May 4th. In addition to the presence of club cars, there will be a Cavalcade of Motoring from the current National Motor Museum collection, featuring several of the vehicles that were on display in the Montagu Motor Museum. During the day there will be an opportunity to visit the Motor Museum, Palace House and all the Beaulieu attractions. I wish I could be there, reminding Lord Montagu of that moment in Toronto when he was humbly promoting his book and I was too foolish to be aware that I was participating in a moment in automotive history. That's a young Sir Stirling Moss, third from left.