Jim and Lorraine's Welcome to BATANS

Once again Jim and Lorraine hosted yet another huge welcoming event. This one to welcome the BATANS group who were here visiting southern New Brunswick under the stewardship of Curry Alders.

As we all know by now, Jim and Lorraine always host a grand signature event, which always seems to surpass any of their previous events. This one, a "Pig Roast" was no exception.  So the question of the day, taking from the theme of the event, could have been, "How many people will a large roasted pig feed?" The answer of course is a lot, and although I do not know the exact number of people attending I can tell you it was a lot. In fact we had to bring out extra tables and chairs just to get everyone seated. I believe the BATANS group had 7 or 8 cars, representatives from The Foreign Car Club from Moncton came up, FABAC was out in full force as well as many invited friends attended.

 There was entertainment in a big big way! The fiddling and spoon duo of David and Lorraine, brought many smiles, much applause and a lot of toe tapping participation from everyone. They really knew how to warm up a crowd. John Boles, our British automobile archivist/historian, tantalized the group with his knowledgeable questions. Both Paul Brooks and Bob LaRoche tied for answering the most questions correctly. Barb Graham tested peoples observation abilities with questions related to attending cars and surroundings. The winner of that quiz was Joe Hines. The final contest was a British song/artist quiz with none other then Kelvin singing the tunes. He did a wonderful job so much so that he received several encores! The winner on this quiz was all of us as we all so thoroughly enjoyed his singing. 

  Oh yes, the "Pig Roast" banquet and all the fixings that came with it including many contributed salads, rolls and desserts was more than just delicious, it was a meal to remember as was the whole event. The occasion gave us all the opportunity to meet and reacquaint with old friends and to make new friends.

 We all had such a good time. Thank-you to Jim and Lorraine again for hosting such a wonderful and memorable event.

 Our best to you both and much appreciation from all,

   Gary and all attendees

Johanna on different wheels — "Ride to Conquer Cancer"

With my usual enthusiasm, I have signed up to ride the 2014 Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer. It is a 200 km bike ride from Toronto to Niagara falls, conducted over two days of hopefully pleasant weather on June 7 and 8, 2014. The first day we bike to Hamilton, camp out that night, and then proceed on to Niagara Falls the next day. Last year, they had 5,020 participants.

As with all of these ventures there is a requirement that we raise a certain amount of money for the charity - in this instance, the Princess Margaret Hospital. “Funds will support Princess Margaret's vision of Personalized Cancer Medicine - a multi-faceted, integrated approach to cancer care that focuses on the unique nature of each patient: "Finding the right treatment for the right patient, at the right time." I did not receive treatment from the Princess Margaret Hospital, but have no doubt benefitted from their research programme and would like to support the fundraiser. And I am asking for your help.

If you would like to support this, please go to www.conquercancer.ca and click on “Ontario 2014”. Then click onto “Donate”, and enter my participant name. It will take you to my personal page and tell you my story. Or you can click onto the “click here to visit my personal page” at the bottom of my letter. I have just started fundraising and thought I would approach friendly faces first.  (I do hate fundraising.)

Any assistance you can offer would be much appreciated. They are providing tax donation receipts for all donations over $10.

Thank you,
Johanna
Click here to visit my personal page.

Memories of a SPECTACULAR party at the Woodfords

Click on photo for larger view of this panorama by David N..

Keep an eye on this posting and I shall update it as people send in their photos/videos.

Click on the beautiful Austin Healy for LOTS of great photos from Stephen W.

 

A bit of humour

(Sent along by Herb W.)

BATANS in New Brunswick

Curry has been involved with the NB part of BATANS latest tour. Check out Stephen W's photos here.
Don't miss the Woodford's party on Thursday Aug 29th (That's TODAY for most of you.) and meet these fine folks and their fine assortment of automobiles.

British Car Days - PEI

   Just back from the British Car Day show at the Cymbria Lions Club near Rustico PEI. A good time was had by all those attending. FABAC had 6 cars participating and 3 members drove over in support and attended the days events. Those FABAC attending cars and members were:

     Jim W. ( Jag XKE)
     Ralph H. (MGA with many new parts!)
     Alex and John H. (Triumph TR6)
     Karen and Terry J.  (Triumph TR7)
     Shirley Anne and John B. (MGB)
     Barb B and Gary A (Triumph TR6)
     Kelvin P.
     Barb and Dwight B.

So as you can see we had a pretty good turn out.

The Friday evening event again was held at the recently renovated Lions Club. PEI mussels, cold cuts and an open bar were the order of the day. It was well attended and gave everyone attending an opportunity to meet old friends.

 Saturday's weather was perfect for a car show. It was cooler in the morning and warmed up to almost perfect weather conditions in the afternoon with bright blue skies.The event was held at the Cymbria Lions Club situated overlooking beautiful PEI farmlands and a small bay. An almost perfect setting if there was one. I understand from organizers that there were close to 80 cars participating (to be confirmed) in which we seen many of the regulars as well as some new entries. It was nice to see old and meet new friends from BATANS, the Moncton Club, the PEI Club and of course the Cape Breton Club as well as many others.

  The event did not have all the competitive awards for each marque as it did when it was organized by the PEI British car club with its partners but it did have several other types of choice awards including participants and peoples choice awards, most senior and youngest attending, oldest car, furthest distance etc. More on those later. This type of show, I thought, gave it a more relaxed and less competitive feel in which you could mix and mingle more with the attendees or just speak with people about your car or sit back enjoy the weather and read a book. While I did miss the opportunity to compete in class, personally speaking, I must say I found this level of show quite enjoyable and very relaxed. 
         
  The awards banquet was also held at the Lions Club with your choice of Roast Beef or Turkey with hot beverage and dessert. Again, the bar was open and from my view quite busy! After everyone finished their meals the awards were presented and in true FABAC fashion we did well...really well! Jim Woodford took the "Peoples Choice Award" and Alex Hoffman took the "Most Senior Participant Award".  A large congratulations to both. I'm sure there are pictures circulating so maybe they will appear here?

  After the banquet, Jim W in usual festive form wanted to celebrate his and Alex's win with us and some bubbly, but there were no open lounges or bars in the near area so several of us made due in our small but comfortable room at the St. Nicholas Motel. I will always remember this show and this small but very enjoyable celebration as a "good time" and very much a cherished memory.

  I will also be sending comments onto the Lions Club as to our experiences there and would like your comments as to what worked and what would make it an even more enjoyable event.

 While not part of the car show event, if interested, ask me about our near disaster with a failed oil filter late Friday afternoon in the small town of Rustico when the one and only service station there was near closing time! 

 I'm sure too there are other memorable stories that other attending members will discuss as well and please too ask them what they thought of the show. It should be one you consider for next year.
 
  Best,
  Gary

Pig Roast at Jim and Lorraine's THIS THURSDAY

     At our last regular meeting Jim Woodford mentioned the Nova Scotia British car club, BATANS, was touring southern NB the latter part of August. As part of their welcome to NB, Jim and Lorraine are inviting them and all of us to their home on Thursday August 29 for a real "pig roast". He made very clear he would like us to attend but had also requested we please confirm your attendance.
159 Mactaquac Heights Keswick Ridge

Click on map for a larger view.

Please RSVP – ASAP – 363-4697 or e-mail jim@twpe.ca if you plan to attend and bring your chair and a dessert.

     We too have been invited to participate in any or all of BATANS NB tour. I have copied their itinerary here (Click on "Read more" below) so you can review it in detail. As you will see they have organized a wonderful tour that we are welcome to participate in.

FABAC Meeting 21st, August (Belated Report)

     Our meeting was well attended at Lougheed Pub in Harvey station and a beautiful evening for driving to and from.
     Three guests joined us for dinner — David and Gail Emmerson and Jeff Fulton. Welcome to our club.
     There was a lot of discussion and interchange that kept everyone entertained whilst eating.
     John Bowles held a lively trivia Q & A and Bob LaRoche won the prize by guessing the most answers.
     Bruce Pendrel gave a history chat on the village of Harvey Station and its accomplished people- Don Messer, Catherine Pendrel, to name a few.
     Johanna Bertin and Sue Brooks mentioned their fund raisers.
     Our next event is at Jim and Lorraine’s home for a pig roast on Thurs. Aug 29th, 159 Mactaquac Heights for 5:00 PM. This is to host FABAC and BATANS Car Club from Nova Scotia.
     Please RSVP – ASAP – 363-4697 or e-mail jim@twpe.ca if you plan to attend and bring your chair and a dessert.
     The BATANS club will be in St. Andrews on Monday 26-28th of Aug. If anyone would like to join them call Curry Alders 476-2676. He has their itinerary. (Also available here.)
     Our next meeting – Sept. 18th will be at Sam Sneads Grill & Tavern – 31 Kingswood Way, Hanwell Rd. 444-9509 for 6:00 PM in the room with a view.

 Jim B.

An MG that really GOES!

A couple of videos of a track day dual at Silverstone – an MGB GT Sebring and a 500 PLUS HP Mitsubishi Evo.  The MG did quite well.

Amazing video of a very, very fast MGB GT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnDjFI_m5i8

A walk around of the Sebring MGB GT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VREATjDytXw#t=23

A Rover V8:

Interesting bit of British automobile trivia

Whilst researching our British cars, I came across an interesting fact.
I was looking at the track dimension (Track being the dimension from the centre of the tyre on one side to the centre of the tyre on the other side). It appears that when designers in the UK were going to design a new model, they all started out with the same track dimension despite the size of the car. Here are the figures :--

MGB            50"  late  49" early
TR6              50"
Healy 3000   50"
MG TD         50" rear    48"front
E TYPE        50"

The cars length varies from 12'1" to  14' 7"
In those days if it works, don't change it !!!

Kelvin

Request of TR6 owners

I am missing 193/194 page from my Haynes shop manual. It covers front suspension information. Let me know if I can get a photocopy or scan of it from you. 

- David

Another month has rolled around!

FABAC Wednesday Evening Meeting

August 21st

At Loughheed Pub and Eatery

for 6:00 PM – Harvey Station

366-9197

Members who would like to drive from Fredericton as a group meet at the old Greer Mini Mall parking lot across the street from Ritchie’s Carpet Warehouse, Hanwell Rd. around 5:15. We will leave at 5:30 Pm for Harvey or go your own choice.
Jim B.

Original British Automobile Brochures

Interesting web site. Many of the brochures are in Dutch, but a few are in English. Your car may be here. (Camera brochures too.)
www.brochuremuseum.nl

PEI Plans from our Saint John Chapter

So the plan for the FABAC south chapter (well that is Karen and I)  is to lead our visiting American cousins thru to PEI on Friday morning with a stop at Tidal bore park in central Moncton at noon.  From there it will be either out to Shediac or down the Petitcodiac river  past Dorchester across the marshes and south of the NB main road to catch a good little NS back road out to the coast from Amherst and on up to the bridge.

The tidal bore should be a good show. It has been getting larger every month since the river was opened 2 years ago.  Official time is 12:13 but you should plan 20 minutes either side so I plan to be there from 12 to after the show is over.  Hope there might be some others to join us for the final run to the island.

Ralph
Cell text to (NB area code) 647 7436

From Bob E.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1KTNnAEc28

PEI British Car Day Show - Rustico

Barb and I heading to PEI this Wednesday to visit family and then to attend the British Car Show in Rustico this coming weekend Aug 23-25.

Whereas we will not be at this Wednesdays regular FABAC meeting, I was wondering how many from our club are planning to attend the PEI event? If I knew the numbers I could request sufficient parking spaces so that we could all park together at the event.

Here is the link to this event and it's details including a registration form:
http://www.cymbrialions.ca/2013/03/cymbria-lions-brirtish-car-day/

 Please advise soonest via our web site so I can forward the parking request.

Hope to see many of you there.
  Gary

More Photos of the Rita & Bob Event

Click on anything good to eat to see many more fine photos courtesy of Stephen W.

OK. What to do?!

(By the way, if you had difficulty getting to the ever-more-revealing picture of Jim B. in his birthday suit, try again — the link is fixed.)

I recently came into possession of a photograph. Not just ANY photograph—but a photograph of Jim B. in his not-well-earned but much-deserved prize of a portable fly screen room. Now, I don't want to can't properly describe this photo to you. And, this being an Internationally visited website with some children viewing, I am having a very difficult time to know what to do with said photograph. OK, I'll TRY to describe it. It's Jim wearing nary a stitch his birthday suit, proudly displaying this prize that he erected put up. Here are just some of the thoughts that immediately went through my head as to what I should do with the photo:

• Immediately rip my eyes out.
• Sell it to some porn site. (Surely someone in FABAC could suggest one.)
• Send it to any FABACian who requests it.
• Send it to only the female FABACians who request it.
• Send it to the Federal agency that designs postage stamps. They might want to do a series!
• Incorporate it into a revised version of our logo.
• Get an 11 x 18 8 x 10 5 x 7 enlargement framed and ready for display. Sell raffle tickets.
• Others not appropriate to mention.

After the gut-wrenching agony of trying to decide, I had a brainwave! I shall reveal tho photograph here on our website—no Photoshopping—as is. However, I shall only display it in sections—perhaps five or six. This is going to be done in conjunction with YOU, the potential viewer. If you want a part displayed, you must correctly give the answer to one of the questions in Rita's "observation" quiz. It was a wonderful quiz and this way we get to stretch it out. Nothing else is being stretched in the making of this photograph. I ask that BBQ Bob validate the answers as they are posted in the comments. Once validated, a section of the photo will be added. So that you will not have to avert your eyes if you are sensitive to such photographic content, I will reveal it on a separate page named "For Sale—Equipment".

Check out the first snippet of the photo by clicking HERE or on "For Sale — Equipment" in the top right column, and start posting your quiz answers—or not.

Wonderful time at Bob and Rita's

Click on BBQ Bob for lots of photos by Jim & Ellie.

     Bob met us at the designated spot at the Ramada Inn where we left on time for a nice little road trip to Grand Lake via McGowans Corner. The 40 minute or so journey, especially the part near the lake was fantastic and filled with wonderful lake and forest scenery. Arriving at Bob and Rita's cottage, you are instantly drawn to the beautiful open view of the lake in front of their cottage.  What a spectacular spot they have. The cottage is nestled in a private lot but has this beautiful and inspiring open view of Grand Lake. You don't realize how big the lake is until you're right there. Bob was saying it's 3 kms across at their cottage and the whole thing is over 50 kms long. That's a big body of water! In fact it's the largest lake in NB and we were lucky enough to be invited to this magnificent NB treasure by Bob and Rita.

     While we could have spent the day just taking in the views, Bob and Rita treated us to participate in various games, boating on the lake,  quizzes, eating—lots and lots of eating, a wonderful camp fire, more eating and yes lots and lots of refreshments. There were even prizes for being the "most observant" in which Rita asked questions related to observations in and around the cottage i.e. how many bird houses, how many Bob pictures etc. There was a first and second prize and even a consolation prize. While not contested by the judges, the consolation award was certainly questioned by some participants which finally saw Jim Bleakney win a foldable mosquito shelter. The real test came though when it came time to refold this compact unit back into its sleeve. Bob also had a quiz, more related to cars and more particular to Citroen with all its technical innovations and its peculiarities of which there are many. 

     While all the wonderful prizes were all very much appreciated, after all the wonderful and delicious food was gone and after a great day was had by all, the very best part that everyone received was the warm and genuine hospitality that Bob and Rita shared with all of us.

     A huge thank-you to Bob and Rita for hosting us at their cottage on Grand Lake.  We truly had a great day and one that will be remembered for a long long time.  
  Gary

Invitation to Bob and Rita's Cottage – Thursday, August 15, 2013.

We are inviting all FABAC members to our cottage at Grand Lake, from 2:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m, on August 15. This way we hope to get the retirees and the working men and women.

Bob will meet you at 1:45 p.m. at the Ramada Inn and leave at 2:00 p.m. We will take the old TCH up to McGowan's Corner, and then follow route 690 East to Nichols Beach Road. This road is 2.5 km past the Rotary Camp. We are located at 111 Nichols Beach Road.

This is a potluck, we will be supplying the meat and fish entrees, and some beverages. Please advise if you will be attending. You can reach Rita at 472-4640 or e-mail at mlmrita2012@gmail.com. Bring your water shoes if you wish to go swimming. We will have darts, horseshoes, washer toss and boat rides depending on the wind.

Some prizes will be based on various observations.

Hope to see you all.

Rita and Bob

Hitchcock Movie Automobiles

Check out the great clips from Alfred Hitchcock movies showing some classic English and other cars.

http://www.historicvehicle.org/News/Articles/All-Articles/2013/08/13/The-Cars-Of-Hitchcock?utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=HVA%20Newsletter

Dan Nicholes

A great idea from Phil

I’ve been thinking for a while that it might be nice to hear from some of our members who have done short tours or day trips outside of “formal” FABAC organized events.  It might encourage more of us to get on the road and give short reports and photos of their travels.  What do you think?  If you agree, perhaps a call can go out.

I’m sending along pics of our really great “ferry” day (Sunday).  Pam and I left mid-morning for Jemseg along the north side of the river and crossed on the ferry to Gagetown, then on to the ferry at Evandale after a quick hello to a couple in an MG TD, then driving to Hatfield Point, Long Point, Kingston, Gondola Point, Quispamsis and a tour of parts of Saint John.  An early seafood dinner, then a stop in Lancaster to look up a friend, through Martinon to Grand bay-Westfield, on to Welsford, Fredericton Junction, Tracy and back home about 7:00PM.  Perfect weather, good roads, good food and altogether a great day out in the MGB.

Anyone else do a tour this past weekend?

- Phil

A 1962 Vauxhall Velox 6 cylinder has been added to the "Automobile Ads" section. (UPDATE: and REMOVED) ------>

Garage Visit tomorrow, Sunday Aug. 11

  We'd talked about doing garage visits on Sundays and I'd like to open mine up tomorrow to inaugurate the first run (hopefully) of my fully electronic distributorless ignition system. Watch as Bob tunes the Jag on a laptop! Revel over the fact that it won't be raining! Fight with Joe over the three large fluorescent fixtures. Open all day.  I get up early and folks are welcome for breakfast. Tomorrow will be smoked meat sandwiches on rye with Swiss cheese.
9 Hemlock Dr.
357-1183
     Head towards Ian's place and start counting K's as you pass the bridge.  Around 7 you'll pass an Ultramar on the right followed closely by the Burton School on the right. Closely thereafter is Cameron Dr (you guessed it...on the right) where you'll turn right. It makes a sharp right then a sharp left.  Head up the hill half a K or so and turn left on Hemlock.  I'm the second house on the right.
  Bob

1975 TR-6 for sale in NS.

Click on FABAC Automobile ads in the right hand column.