Phil reminds me that maybe some of you are not aware of this excellent online site:
http://www.sportscardigest.com/

Christmas in the Village this Sunday

For your motoring pleasure, the following diversion is offered....
http://www.villageofgagetown.ca/residents/events/christmas-in-the-village

Sunday, the 30th....
It's proposed that folks who wish to travel ensemble, assemble at the Timmies on the corner of Regent and King (large parking lot behind it) for a 1:00 PM launch.  We'll take the Princess Margaret Bridge over the river then return to the south side on the Burton Bridge (I just like bridges)
A short drive down the 102 will get us to Gagetown in the early afternoon for browsing and perhaps a light late lunch or early supper. 

Weather will probably suck.  Top-up driving will be allowed.
Bob E.

Report on November FABAC Meeting

     The under-new-management Blue Door restaurant was the scene of November's dinner meeting and I'm disappointed to report that the floor still slants.  In a building that's over a hundred years old it's called ambiance.
    We had a pretty good crowd and John, hanging onto the chair back to remain upright on the tilted floor,  started the evening by offering a stack of car magazines to the gathering. Gary, having markedly better balance, followed this with a quick recap of the last two runs of the season.  He also announced that the signature event of the season is again scheduled for next July in Windsor, NS.  Yes!...the BFM is on!  July 10th to the 12th.  Book your ferry trip now.
    The club's Christmas (or 'Xmas' for us non-believers) party will be on Friday the 12th of December at Anne and John Crumley's place.  Further details will follow as we get closer.  Many folks experienced shoulder sagging disappointment at the news that there will not be a Yankee swap this year.
    In two weeks on the 29th or 30th of November there will be a run to Gagetown for their Christmas in the village celebration.  This will be for BDDs only...no LBCs.  The next meeting will be at Luna pizza on the 21st of January.
   Of course....(wait for it......................)
   ...the evening ended with one of John's quizzes. 
   ...aaand of course that darned Kelvin won it...again.
    Bob E.

Next FABAC Meeting November 19th

The November meeting will be held at the Blue Door Restaurant (corner Regent and King) starting at 5:30pm. We have an upstairs section reserved.
Here is the menu:    http://www.thebluedoor.ca/menu.html
Hope to see you there,
     Gary

 What happens when old car guys get sent to the Nursing Home.

(Thanks to Jim B. for passing this one along.)

Suggestions, anyone?

I was trying to build a case  by way of graph to present to the owner of a pair of very rare old British cars I am wanting to purchase here in Saint John.  Despite months of pleading with the owner and showing him reams of data of actual sales in the recent past he was way out touch with reality on his asking price at 5X the reasonable market value.  He was convinced because he had 2 of the 20 made they would be worth their weight in gold.  The case I was trying to display for him was that scarcity of a model or marque does drive the price of a car up to a point BUT that at a certain point (i.e. when the car becomes an orphan) the interest and therefore the desirability can in many cases drop the value dramatically.  Of course this does not apply many models like a DB4 or classic Rolls Royce but does apply to the value of his car as it is so obscure as to be unknown by the collector/enthusiast community.  No celebrity drove one, James bond did not drive one in a movie. It was not a styling masterpiece like an EType or game changer like an AC Cobra. It was just an ordinary car that did not sell so well in the day. And now after 16 years in his basement it is rather worn out.

This has not been as easy as I thought it should have been.  I should have paid better attention in statistics class.  So if anybody out there know how to plot a three way graph of price verses availability verses desirability. HELP

But in my hunt I did haul this link off the old interweb Hagerty British car index. And I thought it would be of interest to the club members as many of the cars used in this are within our members tight little grasps.  I see now that what I suspected is really true and I do really need to increase the stated value amount insurance on the MGA.

 Ralph H.

???

I'm sure you'll know what the following numbers mean.  I was going to rebuild the head this winter anyway and am pulling it off.  I did a compression check before pulling stuff off and can see why I had a bit of a 'miss' coming back from the restaurant a few weeks back.

Winter means spending some time with wrenches. 
Here's Bob's first in a series of technical quizzes.
What do these numbers mean?
...and more importantly, what do they mean?

  6     5      4      3     2     1
115  140  135  150  150   25(!)

Answer on Wednesday at the November dinner.
- Bob E.

I have just learned of a fellow here in Saint John looking for a good Austin Healey 3000.  If you have or know of such a beast please drop me a note.
Ralph

Important Christmas Party info request

It's time to ready ourselves for the annual FABAC Christmas Party. As most of you know, the Crumleys have offered to host it this year. Anne asked me to request that you let her know what potluck dish/item you plan to bring to the party. Why not do it now: email Anne here.

Email from Margot and David

The photos of Rob/Nettie’s Jag prompted me to bring up these photos.  They were taken on Aug. 8, 2009 when we went to the Rexton show, then on to the Buctouche boardwalk and a lovely dinner at a nearby inn - the name of which escapes me.  The car photos were taken on the way home as the sun was setting.  All in all a lovely day. 
David R.

(Click on any photo for a larger version.)

Rob—fit and happy on that beautiful day.

Carolyn and I remember that fabulous meal.

Robbie and Nettie's Pre-Jag vehicle

Bye for now!

Nice Email from Nettie and Rob

Hi David from the Hoggs. 
Took the Jag out probably for the last run of the year today.  Although it was -19c and it warmed up to -13c, she performed nearly flawlessly.  No heat to speak of and stumbling because of the cold while her occupants were clad in long johns, mitts and furry hats.  We went to one of our usual haunts for brunch at the Sawridge Hotel where Mr. Hogg had several helpings to ward off the cold.  We decided not to push our luck by going too far away, so after a short run we returned home and safely deposited her back in her nice warm  garage.  It looks like the club had a great summer and we sorely miss the wonderful fellowship that we had with the members.  Hoping we find you all in good health and (spirits).
Regards,
Rob and Nettie

XJ13 engine replica project

A gentleman on the Jag-Lovers forum has been building an XJ13 replica accurate in every detail.
Here's a short video of the engine being fired up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYQVBQX6iKU&feature=youtu.be
Bob E.

Tom Magliozzi has passed away. RIP

I have been a BIG fan of Tom and Ray Magliozzi—Click & Clack the Tappet brothers—ever since I stumbled upon them decades ago. We were driving home from somewhere in the USA listening to National Public Radio and tuned into "Car Talk". The infectious laughter and wit of the host brothers hooked me for ever. I believe all of their program episodes are available free online. They started back in 1977 and retired in 2012.
I hadn't seen this Nova Special before, but I am sure you'll enjoy it. Tom had owned a 1952 MG-TD for many years.
http://gizmodo.com/go-car-shopping-with-click-and-clack-in-this-2008-doc-1654276637
- David N.