Morgans in Italy

David: 
We were walking through the small town of Baveno in northern Italy when what should appear but a thundering herd of Morgans.  The things are everywhere - there is no escaping them.  You and Woodford would look good in those leather helmets. 
David R.

Click here to see more of the Morgans the Russels witnessed in Italy.

Breakfast at Frank's Finer Diner

Come on guys!!! This was just a breakfast!!! However, hundreds of FABACians turned up on the summer-like day to enjoy, yet again, feast and fellowship.
Here are photos by Stephen.
Here are photos by the Bleakneys.

Report on September's FABAC Meeting by Bob E.

 Thirty three FABACians crammed into the back room of the Lougheed Pub in Harvey on Wednesday evening.  Highlights from the meeting (aside from the food) are as follows:

• Jim B mentioned the tentative date of Oct 16th for a return to the German restaurant we visited last year.
• There will be a breakfast run this Sunday (25th) on the north side at Frank's Finer Diner around 10:30 AM.  This will be followed by a visit to Joe H's to see his car.  I expect he'd like some help sanding the paint job.
• There were a LOT of tales from the British Invasion in Stowe.  We all again thanked Currie and Kelvin for their jobs well performed during the weekend.
• The MacNallys volunteered to host an event/meeting in the spring.
• Henning Theorin presented his new/old TR4 which has recently become drivable after a l-o-n-g vacation.
• The next meeting will be in Oromocto at the Diamond House restaurant.

42 seconds

Worth your while for a little laugh:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6004305485490728080

FABAC Breakfast Run: Sunday, September 25th

Gather at Frank's Finer Diner at 80 Two Nations Crossing at 10:50 AM for breakfast. After we have eaten, Joe Hines has invited us to his garage (13 James St.). We will view his in progress - groundup - total XKE Jaguar restoration. Joe is known for his credible perfection so this will be interesting.
- Jim B.

Safety on the road

I was more than impressed with Kelvin on our trip to Stowe, who had offered his services as our rear-gunner for our convoy of nine Little British Cars. At one point in the rain when one of our cars faltered and had to pull off to the side of the road, Kelvin donned his safety vest and then went about offering his assistance. This was more than I had expected from his role but indicates his level of professionalism when it comes to safety.
Over the early years at FABAC meetings, from time to time we discussed guidelines for our tours and traveling together for safety and to help make them pleasurable for all involved. Here are some that I remember and I encourage you to make suggestions for changes or additions.

• It is the responsibility of the lead car or organizer of the tour to explain the route before departing.
• The lead car should observe speed limits, or agreed upon limits if slower vehicles are involved.
• The lead car should signal and pull off on a safe shoulder after each turn where there is the possibility of someone not making the turn because they got left behind at a red light or traffic. Do not pass the lead car.
• There should always be a 'rear guard', usually some 'dependable' make, with a cell phone or walkie-talkie, who can make sure that no one has problems without someone to help them.  Remember, that it is illegal for the driver to operate one, so make sure your passenger is the operator. Walkie-talkies are useful for all participants in a convoy, so consider picking one up for yourself.
• Cell phone numbers are shared. (This doesn't always help as some of us can't hear or feel a cell phone ringing in our cars, and, in New Brunswick, there is not always adequate reception.)
• If anyone is planning to leave the group, that should be made known to the leader before departing so that the lead and following cars will know.
• Take every opportunity to have a full tank and an empty bladder. ;-)
• We need to make every effort to avoid being a nuisance to other drivers not involved with our group, who wish to pass and move on. Communications between the lead and tail cars should lead to a safe spot to pull over when cars start 'piling up' behind us.
• Avoid tailgating.
• Addendum from Terry (Excellent): Everyone should remember to make sure they can see the member behind them in their mirror. If one does not see their follower for more than a few kms they should slow up to allow the car to catch up.
   

Contacts at Stowe

I received this email from Terry:

Sunday evening the question was posed to each of us, what was the hi-light of the show for you?
Gary said for him, by far, it was the contacts he made so can you please put the attached on the site for all to help explain the type of contacts he was referencing?

Thanks,
Terry

Here is a letter that Terry received from a contact at Stowe:

Terry,
It was nice chatting with you on the field at Stowe Sunday morning.  My family is all over me now to get to work on our TR3 (TS183xxL)!  So I have started some planning to do just that.  In the meantime, I said that I would send you a picture of our car when it was in its youth.  The race picture was taken at Limerock Park in CT, during the 1969 race season.  The second picture is when the car was displayed at a car show held at the coliseum in Hartford CT in 1970.  As mentioned, this car was bought new in 1957 by 2 Pratt & Whitney engineers for weekend racing and the car was never driven on public roads.  They sold the car in 1968 to a local gentleman who continued to campaign the car for a few more years, then it went into storage until we bought it in 1989.  I guess it is about time to get to work on her.

I hope your trip back was without incident.  I certainly admire your car club for gathering together a large group and putting a thousand miles on the cars.

All the best,
Chris Wilson

Lots of great photos coming in.

These from Stephen W. Click here for the slideshow.
How about sending me yours?

British Invasion Stowe 2011 - A Report from Gary

Morgan Three-Wheelers setting up in early morning mist

Terry and Karen over a hill

What a spectacular event the British Invasion 2011 in Stowe was. There was just so many attractions and thrills it would be hard to describe them in the detail that would do the event true justice. If I had to use a phrase that would capture my sentiment, it would be this event would be the one that I would measure all the others against! That's how good it was.

So here are but a few of the details but before I go there I'd personally like to thank Curry, John and Kelvin for making all the arrangements for getting us there, for organizing us while we were there and then getting us back! No small accomplishment when you realize it was a 1000 mile return journey and we had a spectacular time while there!

While the weather was not the greatest for the day and a half travel there, it certainly made up for it on the Saturday and Sunday show days as well as our return trip. The good news too is that we left we 9 British show cars and returned home with the same number and no real issues to speak of.

Free Seminar on Vehicle Importation

Importing a New or Used Vehicle into Canada?
Come to our free Seminar!

Tuesday, October 04 - Fredericton

Topics

• Requirements
• Documentation
• Prohibitions
• Costs
• Regulations of the Canada Border Services Agency, Transport Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the provincial government.

Registration

As seating is limited, please register by telephone at (902) 426-7982

Date	Time	Location	Language
October 04, 2011	7:00 - 8:30 p.m.	Best Western Fredericton 333 Bishop Drive	English

Contacts:  For more information or register/cancel by telephone, please call (902) 426-7982 or visit our website at www.cbsa.gc.ca and select Seminars in the A-Z Index.

Jim brings home a plaque

Click on the photo and you can read the engraving.

Meeting Update

Hi all,

For the Sept 21 meeting, the orders are in - 25 in all. If you have not ordered yet, or need to cancel, please e-mail Randy at rdl@nb.sympatico.ca

See you at Tim's.

Dennis.

FABACian British Invasion

We all arrived at Stowe, safe and sound, well guided by Curry and well backed up by Kelvin.


I've had my money's worth already and the show doesn't even begin until tomorrow! This Morgan three-wheeler is a 1934 SS.

McAdam - St. Stephen train run

Is anybody else going on this run or will Bruce and I be our lonesome selves?

Johanna

Important FABAC Meeting Info

There are now 17 FABACians signed up for the September meeting in Harvey.

If you plan to attend, please send Brenda/Dennis an e-mail advising on your meal choice, ASAP. We had advised the restaurant that we would let them know on Saturday, as we are taking the convertible to PEI on Sunday (back Wednesday evening for the meeting) to see "The Buddy Holly Story" and a visit to The Fisherman's Wharf in North Rustico!!

So, your RSVP, ASAP, please.

Thanks.
Dennis.

The travellers are coming through our area Thursday

From Gary/Phil:
These are the 2 LBC's (MGA and a MGB) driving up the east coast from the US and now on their return trip. Please post for those who might be interested in meeting up with these folks when they arrive here this Thursday.
ADDENDUM:  Anticipated arrival time Thursday afternoon.  If anyone else would like to meet them, they can call Phil (474-0102) or email at  britcars@hotmail.com.

Here's their blogspot with their daily progress reports.
http://www.drivingthedream2011.blogspot.com/

Looking good for Stowe

(and no, I don't believe in jinxes—obviously)

September 21 FABAC meeting (RSVP)

Good afternoon, FABACians and guests;

Now that everyone is back, we can plan for the Wednesday, September 21 meeting at The Lougheed in Harvey Station. I suggest we leave Tim Horton's at Hanwell and Bishop Drive at 5:10, to be in Harvey for close to 6:00 PM.

The folks from the restaurant understand our desire to drive in the daylight, if possible, so have proposed that we pre-order from the following entrees. Our willingness to do so would be rewarded with the entree and dessert (pies and cheesecake) coming in at $9.95!!

You can place your order as a comment to the blog or by e-mailing Dennis/Brenda at dbwilliams@rogers.com .

This will be one of the last chances to enjoy our cars this year, so let's have a great turnout.

Thanks.
Dennis.

   All of the following would include one of our homemade desserts- a great selection of pies and cheesecake-for$9.95

• Philly Steak- thinly sliced roast beef with mushrooms, onions and green peppers covered in mozzarella cheese On a toasted bun and served with fries or salad
•  Chicken Stirfry- chunks of chicken breast with fresh veggies served on basmati rice and our secret sauce
•  Quesadilla-chunks of chicken with onions, green peppers, tomatoes, mozzarella and cheddar grilled between 2 tortilla wraps
•  2 pieces of haddock with fries
•  Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap,

 Looking forward to hearing from you
Randy/The Lougheed

Saint John Run 9/11/11

A magnificent day. Ellie captured a few moments of it here.

LBCs — Why do we love them?

Well, folks, I have figured it out. We love our little British cars because there is nothing that matches the joy experienced when you finally get the damned thing working the way it should!

Sunday Tour September 11th

Club tour to Saint John and visit with our United Empire Loyalist FABACIAN cousins.

• Gather at Costco parking lot next to Wayne Squibb Blvd. on Sunday PM.
• Leave at 1:00 PM via route 101 to Welsford and a rest stop at the Irving service station.
• Next Route 7 and 100 to Manawagonish Road into the city, cross old Reversing Falls bridge and take the first left onto Fallsview Ave. to Jet Boat and Zip line Park.
• We will rendezvous with our Saint John members in parking lot and plan our next move.

Jim B.

What a Man's Garage Should Look Like

Tony S. sent this along. Check it out here.

Preliminary details for Travellers to Stowe

It is time to start thinking about our Stowe trip and coordination with regards to registration and lodging have or should be completed by now for those that are making the journey (although it is never too late for others to join in on the fun). As in the past, we will complete the drive in a day and a half, taking pity on our older cars and classic bodies and make an over night stop in Gorham, NH. This is a good distance to travel in a day and makes the completion of our trip to Stowe easy the next day arriving around 12:30 pm or so. For those of us traveling together I would like to meet at our home for an 8:00 am departure on Thursday 15th.

Catharine wins Mountain Bike World Championships!

Catharine has done it! Today she won the World Championships. I think that is pretty awesome, and that was before I realized she is the first Canadian to win an Olympic discipline mountain bike world title since 2002. Now if I can only get the press to recognize that she is a native NB'er rather than a Kamloops'ier!
- Johanna

(A nice article here.)

A great offer for FABACians heading to Stowe

It does not look as if I am going to have the car ready for Stowe so have a lift arranged with Gary. However a friend suggested that if I was still prepared to drive down then why don't I take my Nissan Sentra down as a support vehicle. I could carry a full tool kit, with some spares such as electrical repair kit, wire, hoses, spare gas and water, trolley jack and any other spares that members would like to take down but can't fit in their own cars.  I could also take down any excess luggage that members have so that they don't have to squash every thing in their brit car or overload it.
A couple of members have already expressed an interest, and I could run as "tail end Charlie" with radio contact to the lead car.
I am quite happy to drive down and carry spares / luggage for people, it may add a little security for such a long journey.
Perhaps those going down would like post a reply as to whether they think it a good idea.
- Kelvin