ArcaMax

BEDFORD, Pennsylvania -- For a brief moment, it was like stepping back in time when a series of 1920s Bentley Roadsters chugged up along the ridge of the winding Lincoln Highway in the mountains of Somerset County. The drivers and passengers alike were wearing goggles, their scarves billowing in the wind.

The smiles on their faces, so carefree and joyful, were something you wished you could bottle and save for yourself.

It was only when an 18-wheeler with bright Dollar General signs on both sides came barreling up behind them that the whimsical spell was broken.

What is it about seeing something from the past that makes us want to capture a long-gone part of time that either we've experienced in our childhoods, or with which our parents or grandparents have captivated us through storytelling?

Paul Tupis, a member of the North American Vintage Bentley Meet, said the nostalgic draw of collecting the old cars, restoring them and then joining up with people who share your passion gives him and the other members a real sense of well-being.

"It is inspiring to be part of something that once was and give it new life; you feel more optimistic in life when you have purpose and also take some risks," he said.

Tupis was standing among a sea of vintage Bentleys, all owned by men and women from around the world who, he said, meet regularly.

"It started in 1981 and with the exception of two years has continued every year," he said. "We get together somewhere in the middle of the country, drive around on the back roads around 150 to 200 miles a day, and just share a passion for reliving an era that has passed."

The grand old Bedford Springs, which has its roots in 18th-century America, looked even grander as nearly three dozen green and black 1920s and '30s Bentley automobiles lined outside the hotel's driveway.

"The cars are just part of why we do this; the sense of community may be the big reason we all get together," Tupis said.

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