Perhaps you have already seen this video

If you have a high speed connection, you might want to check out video capabilities with this video my daughter Kristi and I made in 2001. Click below.
Kristi Meets the Morgan

Who will be the first on the road in 2007?

To continue what might become an annual tradition, let's see who will be first to have their little British car on the road in 2007. Here's last year's winner, Paul Allen. --->
We will use the honour system re the exact time of the event, but a photograph is essential, as is a witness, a signature by a justice of the peace or clergy person. No! No! Just a photograph showing that the car is on the road and running(exhaust fumes would be nice). Consideration will be given to who submits the photo first. I would be unimpressed to receive a photo on January 12th!
Use proper care if undertaking this mission. A breath analysis prior to the attempt might be a good idea. ;-) If you do it without insurance, I am sure the attending law enforcement officer will be happy to administer one.
Good luck! Gentlemen/Ladies–start your engines!

To enter, first place a comment to this entry by clicking on "comments". Then send your photographic evidence to me at: WebMaster David

A new Format to try

Hi FABACians,
I am always on the lookout for any way to provide a better "connection" for our members. We tried the Forum with limited success. I would like to give this blog type of web page a try to see how it works out. It has the advantage of allowing almost limitless archiving of entries, and allows instant opportunities to comment on entries, or on other people's comments even. :-) I shall be interested in reading your comments on this idea.
- Your ever-faithful WebMaster
PS: Happy New Year to you!

A big Thanks to Jim and Lorraine... again! (photos)

I know I'm a bit late on this but I wanted to send Jim, Lorraine, Jenny and Joey a huge thank-you from us all for welcoming us to their home for our Christmas get together. They presented all of us with warm surroundings, stellar food, a most welcoming feeling and the opportunity to meet and experience the the warmth of good friends–all made this just a wonderful event for all those who attended.

The traditional Yankee swap was no less welcoming on the entertainment side and was another highlight of the evening. Jim Bleakney stewarded the event in a way that only Jim could which made for the entertainment of the evening. I'm not sure how well we maintained the offical rules, and I'm not sure if Jim knew either but do know we all had a hell-uv-of-a time with the event. I'm not sure either if everyone left with the gift they wanted, sorry Sherry, but I do know for sure that everyone left with a smile and a chuckle and everyone had great fun. Thanks for this Jim!

I also know I'm joined by all those attending in saying to our hosts, "Many thanks, this was truly a highlight of our Christmas Season. We all appreciated it!"

Oh yes, Jim Woodford once again sent out the challenge that he would provide a bottle of bubbly to the first FABAC member to drive their British Car in the new year! This of course has to be substantiated by photos or other verifiable proof.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year,

See you all in the New Year.

Gary

(Photos by Earl Sharpe)

Seen on the Woodford's lawn...

Brace yourselves!!! This little bit of video was purportedly taken when just about everyone had left the Christmas party at Jim and Lorraine's house. Click here to see what was on the lawn Dec 2006

HO! HO! HO!

Santa Claus Jim Bleakney and daughter Jill out for a Christmas day drive. "Wishing you all a Happy New Year and Happy Motoring in '07."

Bob Earl's version of "Twas the Night..."

Twas the night before Christmas, and in the garage
The cars were all silent, lined up for triage;
The spanners were flung in the toolbox at random,
With hope that someone would soon hand them;
...to Ian, to nurture their once mighty steed,
Now sitting broken, repairs in much need;
And I on my bike on a Christmas eve peddle
Was just passing by, testing my mettle;
When out of the shop there arose such commotion
That I braked to a halt with tires a'smokin;
I pulled off my goggles, the bike stuck in the snow
And looked through the window, Brig growling below;
The phantoms of Lucas where surely a'working
As rows of headlights their duty were'nt shirking
And what did I spy through my frosted up cap?
but a bearded old elf and a pile of scrap;
Old Webers and u-joints, great mounds of bent frames,
lay scattered about in a mass without name;
He surveyed the pile and with teeth a'missing,
started picking about, his welding torch hissing;
As if overwhelmed by the task he had started,
He cleared his throat and soundly farted;
"Now, Stromberg! now, Lucas! now, Morris and Mini!
On, Westfield! on, Cooper! now, chorus and whiny!
As old rust that before the sandblaster whirls,
round in ones face mask loosening one's curls;
The parts shivered and danced and made great vibration,
with paint cans a'joining, to my consternation;
He stood in the middle with arms raised askew'
pointing and waving to parts as the flew;
sparks shot from his fingers, smoke curled from his pipe,
he jiggled and danced making a horrendous sight;
Great sheets of tinplate grew bulges and curves,
then slammed together with vigour and verve;
The welding torch sputtered as something took form,
the English wheel spinning, what had it born?
Pistons (a dozen)and valves (twenty four),
assembled themselves in a block on the floor;
I gasped in amazement at what I was see'in,
Santa was making a car for ole Ian!
Now almost finished he stood back and gleamed,
At the BRG paintwork on an XJ13;
Standing beside the paint booth exhaust,
Santa saw me and yelled through the frost;
"Now make sure he drives it or I'll be some cross,
I made it for driving not gathering moss!"
The chimney was missing, the exhaust fan was broken,
So Santa, now stumped, used the door in a token,
...gesture of humility to leave Ian's shop,
and gather his sleigh, his tools and his crop;
Which he snapped on the haunch of the first of his steeds,
who took to the air for further misdeeds;
And I heard him exclaim, ere he flew without fear,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good year!"

An e-mail from Mark Jones in Ontario

t has been really nice recently to receive updates from members who now live out of province. I received this e-mail from Mark Jones with photos of his MGBGT and Spitfire. Check out his web site.
"This past summer saw my 73 MGBGT hit the road again for the first time in four years (it sat in a barn outside of Burtts Corner for just over a year before I trailered it up to its new home in Corunna, Ontario. This past winter I rebuilt the engine, carburettors and installed an overdrive transmission. I got the car back on the road by June and had a great time putting 500 break-in miles on the engine. I had almost forgotten how much fun the BGT is to drive. But during the GT's absence I haven't been without LBC transportation. My 80 Spitfire has kept me company on many explorations of Lambton County and Southwestern Ontario. We even attended this years Battle of the Brits show in Detroit, which is about an hour away. The problem though with living in Southwestern Ontario is that the vast majority of the roads are straight and there are no hills. But the length of the driving season here certainly helps make up for the flat, straight roads.
"In September we took the GT to the Toronto Triumph-sponsored Bronte Park show. That was a great show. There were over 1,200 cars there of all makes and sizes. We travelled with friends and arrived a bit late. We ended up parking between a row of Midgets and MGBs. The GT kind of stuck out amongst the roadsters but got a lot of attention, probably because it didn't fit in. The drive home along the QEW actually was okay. With the overdrive engaged we effortlessly cruised at 75 mph with traffic. Surprisingly, as far as I could tell my GT was the only one proudly sporting a FABAC grill badge.
"The local club here is the Bluewater British Car Club, www.xcelco.on.ca/~bluewaterbritishcc and, believe it or not, I'm the Club's Vice President, well at least until January and have been creating the Club's website."

An e-mail from Paul Brooks in Saskatoon

received this e-mail from Paul Brooks who many of you will remember:

Hi David,
Sorry I can't make this tour ( again ) but as you probably know I've been out here in Saskatoon for the last year and a half ( time flies eh? ). Just thought I'd drop you a quick line to let you see my latest aquisition. I picked this up in Edmonton in August and have been meaning to send a pic or two of it since then but have just not got round to it, so here it is. I'd appreciate if you could include this in my profile on the FABAC site along with my MG's. It's a 1990 Jaguar XJ-S V12. Also, I'll be driving it back to NB next summer so will have to make some room in the garage for it. Consequently my project car - 1969 green MGB, which is about 75% complete body and frame wise but needs a fair bit of work to finish it off, is now up for sale to anyone interested in picking up good example of the breed for a restoration project - no reasonable offer refused.
Pics attached, against a prairie background just outside Saskatoon.