January FABAC Meeting Notes

The January FABAC eating/meeting was held at Swiss Chalet restaurant and attended by 34 members. Everyone was in fine fettle and happy to have escaped the confines of their bunkers if only for a few hours. The warm, interesting conversations were interrupted for only a brief period while the eating took place.

On the business end of things, David N (acting for prez Gary who was away on business) welcomed those assembled and gave a colourful description of his sports car addiction and current employment in retirement – that of being a highly effective but unpaid domestic.

David suggested that members who wished might like to do a “show and tell” about an interesting trip they have taken. Perhaps we should set aside an evening especially for this.

Next, Curry gave a report on the PEI British Car Days event. It seems that the event will undergo a re-branding this year and will be expanded to include all types of “classic” cars. The event will be held July 25-26 this year - again in Charlottetown. The site will be partitioned into theme areas with the British cars being housed in the Coronation Street section. The new organization expects to have a web site set up within the next few weeks. Watch our pages for further details and links.

Other 2009 Tour suggestions included one from Dennis W who in an email described a trip he and Brenda had taken to the McAdam Train Station. Based upon their experience, they believe that the club would enjoy a visit there in future possibly setting up a display of our cars, having lunch at the restaurant in the station and getting a guided history lesson/tour. Members agreed that we would put that on our schedule for some time in June.

Curry next spoke of plans he and Sherry have to travel to the Austin Healey Ontario show in June in Kingston. David R then suggested an overnight run to Deer Island might be of interest. It is time to come up with a schedule of runs for the upcoming tour season and members are encouraged to make suggestions.

Bob E had a couple of interesting items for the Show and Tell portion of the meeting. First was an item he found on eBay which consisted of a homemade air vortex gizmo that allegedly provides improved performance for around $40 odd dollars!!! Next, Bob displayed a nifty tool caddy he had fashioned out of a piece of foam packing. No more lost tools for Bob. Is there a patent pending on that creation?

David N was next on the Show and Tell stage as he described the mystery around a non-functioning TR6 heater valve and solicited member suggestions to solve the riddle. How does hot water get to the heater if the hose is plugged and clamped?!

Third on stage was Kelvin who showed off recent gifts: A T-shirt proclaiming "I am The Stig" and a poster version of cover of the February edition of Top Gear "announcing" Kelvin Perry as "The Stig". Fans of the popular tv show from Britain called "Top Gear" will be more than familiar with the famous and mysterious, and to-this-date un-named test driver featured on the show. (Can you send us a photo, Kelvin?)

The February meeting will take place at McGinnis Landing on the 18th.

Bob S