MONROE - About 30 Jensen automobiles will cruise the back roads of Green County and surrounding areas this weekend.
It's the annual gathering of the Jensen East Nationals.
It's a club, but it's more like a family reunion, as owners gathered, hugging each other Wednesday in the lobby and parking lot of the Super 8 Motel.
"But it's better than a family reunion," said Iowa resident Janet Mau, who is co-hosting the event with her husband Ron.
Their cars are just an excuse to get together.
"The cars brought us together; the people keep us together," Ron said.
They also bond together, because every one of them has some mechanical ability and spare parts in their trunk.
"I would say every one of these cars has a fuel pump in the trunk," Ron said.
Dave and Grace Altena pulled into the motel lot, and Dave popped open the hood. His Jensen Interceptor is leaking, somewhere, and a little puff of smoke drifted out. They had come from Michigan.
Minutes later, another Jensen owner stuck his head under the hood, too.
Once the Rolls Royce of its day, the British-made Jensens are not high-priced cars today, Grace said. But they can become a little pricey - "one part by one part," she said.
"But it's a hobby," she added. "Like golfing."
The cars were made until about 1976, without all the modern, computerized technology in them, which is why the guys like to work on them.
"They can work on them themselves," she added.
Though each car holds only two passengers, the next generation is along for this reunion, too.
"We travel in packs," laughed Andy Polen, Michigan.
"... we have to," Bernie, his father, chimed in.
"... because we break down so often," Andy finished.
Ryan, one of the Mau's four sons, arrived in his own Jensen and was looking forward to driving, he said. Though he had been driving his dad's Jensens for about 10 years, he had just gotten his own four days ago.
Ron and Janet had a Jensen in the 1970s, when they were first married, Ron said. But because of family life and babies, they didn't get another until 10 years ago.
At the reunion this year, the group will have with them the rare Jensen Interceptors, Jensen 541s and the most recognizable Jensen Healeys, trunk parts included.
The group will travel to Dubuque and Balltown, Iowa, on Thursday, and then tour Green County Barn Quilts on a poker run, with lunch in New Glarus on Friday.
If you don't get a chance to see them on the road, they'll all be on display from noon until 3 p.m. Saturday on the Square in downtown Monroe.
It's the annual gathering of the Jensen East Nationals.
It's a club, but it's more like a family reunion, as owners gathered, hugging each other Wednesday in the lobby and parking lot of the Super 8 Motel.
"But it's better than a family reunion," said Iowa resident Janet Mau, who is co-hosting the event with her husband Ron.
Their cars are just an excuse to get together.
"The cars brought us together; the people keep us together," Ron said.
They also bond together, because every one of them has some mechanical ability and spare parts in their trunk.
"I would say every one of these cars has a fuel pump in the trunk," Ron said.
Dave and Grace Altena pulled into the motel lot, and Dave popped open the hood. His Jensen Interceptor is leaking, somewhere, and a little puff of smoke drifted out. They had come from Michigan.
Minutes later, another Jensen owner stuck his head under the hood, too.
Once the Rolls Royce of its day, the British-made Jensens are not high-priced cars today, Grace said. But they can become a little pricey - "one part by one part," she said.
"But it's a hobby," she added. "Like golfing."
The cars were made until about 1976, without all the modern, computerized technology in them, which is why the guys like to work on them.
"They can work on them themselves," she added.
Though each car holds only two passengers, the next generation is along for this reunion, too.
"We travel in packs," laughed Andy Polen, Michigan.
"... we have to," Bernie, his father, chimed in.
"... because we break down so often," Andy finished.
Ryan, one of the Mau's four sons, arrived in his own Jensen and was looking forward to driving, he said. Though he had been driving his dad's Jensens for about 10 years, he had just gotten his own four days ago.
Ron and Janet had a Jensen in the 1970s, when they were first married, Ron said. But because of family life and babies, they didn't get another until 10 years ago.
At the reunion this year, the group will have with them the rare Jensen Interceptors, Jensen 541s and the most recognizable Jensen Healeys, trunk parts included.
The group will travel to Dubuque and Balltown, Iowa, on Thursday, and then tour Green County Barn Quilts on a poker run, with lunch in New Glarus on Friday.
If you don't get a chance to see them on the road, they'll all be on display from noon until 3 p.m. Saturday on the Square in downtown Monroe.