The pick-up gathering started off with cordial pleasantries, but as the only two LBCs became out numbered by four Z3 Deutsch mobiles a coup was attempted by their owners to change the club name. Alex and I put up a noble fight and the ladies rewarded us with their support because of our blighty tenacity and loyalty.
Then off we went with all tops down and looking forward to the tour. But soon we ran into a downpour of heavy rain. The two old Bangers showed their true grit by speeding up and slicing through the rain like a magic lazar. We soon passed through the storm to a clear blue sky. Alex and I then pulled off the road and waited and waited for the Z3 folks. We later were told that German cars with open cockpits will not operate in wet weather.
We finally arrived at our destination and enjoyed Chris Painter's hospitality and returned home safely.
Jim B.
Click here for photos from Jim and Ellie.
A Fine Turnout
A wonderful group of 22 Fellow Fabacians gathered at the Ramada Wednesday evening. Most arrived by tin tops and canvas roofed LBCs because of a tiny bit of mist in the air - Oh Well!
Jim B.
Jim B.
Meeting notes from Jim B.
We decided to pass on a July meeting, because of PEI trip and members on holiday, etc.
Gary and Barb Arsenault are planning on holding a pot luck party at their home in August. The date to be announced.
Gary is going to the Moncton Air Show July 8-9th. Contact him if you want to go along.
Barb Arsenault has some great idea for tour plans, so stay tuned. These include:
- August - an overnight trip to the Miramichi, with a cruise on the mighty Miramichi River.
- Some Saturday morning - breakfast and a fast jaunt to Ripples to visit the internment Museum.
- Sept - an overnight to Grand Manaan.
Please send comments on your interest in any of these events.
Terry Johnston gave us a talk on a car ralley he and Karen attended in Manchester, Vermont. Terry is going to put info on the site.
Club members who would like to drive as a group to Ernie McLeans Fly-In at Granite Hill Saturday, June 30th, gather at the Esso Service Station across from the Mactaquac Park Marina on Route 105 for 8:30 AM. We will leave at 8:45 AM and drive North on Route 105 ( Approx 20 miles ) to Ernie's air field. ( arrive at 9:10 ) Ernie has requested that we park our FABAC cars up by his plane hangar to be part of the event. David Davis will meet and greet or place a sign to show us where the reserve parking area is.
The Club runs on fun!
Jim B.
Gary and Barb Arsenault are planning on holding a pot luck party at their home in August. The date to be announced.
Gary is going to the Moncton Air Show July 8-9th. Contact him if you want to go along.
Barb Arsenault has some great idea for tour plans, so stay tuned. These include:
- August - an overnight trip to the Miramichi, with a cruise on the mighty Miramichi River.
- Some Saturday morning - breakfast and a fast jaunt to Ripples to visit the internment Museum.
- Sept - an overnight to Grand Manaan.
Please send comments on your interest in any of these events.
Terry Johnston gave us a talk on a car ralley he and Karen attended in Manchester, Vermont. Terry is going to put info on the site.
Club members who would like to drive as a group to Ernie McLeans Fly-In at Granite Hill Saturday, June 30th, gather at the Esso Service Station across from the Mactaquac Park Marina on Route 105 for 8:30 AM. We will leave at 8:45 AM and drive North on Route 105 ( Approx 20 miles ) to Ernie's air field. ( arrive at 9:10 ) Ernie has requested that we park our FABAC cars up by his plane hangar to be part of the event. David Davis will meet and greet or place a sign to show us where the reserve parking area is.
The Club runs on fun!
Jim B.
Next FABAC Meeting
Next FABAC meeting will be held June 20th at 6:00 pm at the Ramada Fredericton on Riverside Drive.
The Exciting Lives of the Sharpe Family
Earl and Faith passed on some very interesting information recently. First, I am sure, all FABAC members will rejoice to hear that their son Joel is returning from Afghanistan this week after being injured when a wall collapsed on him during a military operation. Another soldier was killed that same day.
In Spain, Teri Sharpe was returning to university on a bus which caught fire and all had to jump out the driver side windows because the driver ignored the red warning light on the dash!
In Spain, Teri Sharpe was returning to university on a bus which caught fire and all had to jump out the driver side windows because the driver ignored the red warning light on the dash!
Freddie Beach
The weekly gathering of specialty cars (informally called "Freddie Beach") is starting again on Thursday evenings. It takes place at the Legion parking lot just off Queen street. Folks normally show up around six or seven. It's a fun little low-key weekly event and a good excuse to go for a little drive afterwards for ice cream.
from a Forum note by Bob E.
from a Forum note by Bob E.
A Beautiful Day for Mothers and Others
Here's a fine report on the tour by our talented resident author Johanna Bertin:Thanks to James Bleakney, he of the problematic PCV valve, we have identified an essential item to be added to our trusty “remedial kit” to be carried on all FABAC tours.
A little bit of background is required. We started the day in fine form, heading off from Tim Horton’s only a few minutes behind schedule. This was due in part to Johanna Bertin “absolutely having to finish the novel” she was reading. (When she was younger she could read in a moving car, but alas that ability has gone by the wayside.) So, novel finished and handed on to Margot Russell, we headed out.
As we crossed the Westmorland Street Bridge, we were momentarily taken aback. It seems that they were electing a pope in Nashwaaksis, or so it appeared by the plume of black smoke arising from the west. Uncertain as to whether black smoke meant that a pope had been chosen, or that the vote was defunct, we carried on. The stream of police cars coming our way with sirens on indicated that there was probably more amiss. Later we learned that vandals, hearing of our passage over the bridge had sought to provide entertainment for us.
We headed east to Gagetown and the Old Boot Pub where Bruce Pendrel was greeted with a great hug by a bountiful young woman. While other men looked on in awe and some jealousy, the women managed to order tea and seafood chowder. Replenished and warmed, for it was a chilly day, we carried on to another eating establishment in Queenstown. (Did I mention that we had eaten already at the Old Boot Pub?)
But the eating establishment whose name I know not, was full of people celebrating Mother’s Day. Surprisingly, seeing our lot, they didn’t ask everybody else to vacate the premises, but they didn’t and a sorry and hungry bunch we were. All except for Bob Earle that is. He was too busy using rolls of toilet paper to soak up the gasoline that was flooding his carburetor. The more he sopped up, the more there was, until there was this huge pile of rather disgusting yellow reeking toilet paper beside his car. Initially we stood guard, lest a Mother’s Day reveler chose to fling a cigarette butt, but as the pile of paper grew, we found ourselves standing further and further back until Bob and his car were a mere speck in the distance. We love our fellow FABACians, but are not prepared to be blown up for them.
So then it was onto the Evandale ferry. The Evandale Inn is for sale, and though I suggested that it would make a most nifty clubhouse for our lot, there were no takers. All of us fit onto the one ferry and we trundled across the water, clearly with one purpose in mind – to reach the Big Canoe for food. Did I mention that we had already eaten at the Old Boot Pub? Bruce Pendrel’s Sunbeam Alpine was making rude noises as he had put bigger tires on than would fit.
But then came the moment that this story is leading up to, in a long and roundabout way. We are at the Big Canoe. Well, that is, most of us are there – the Bertin Pendrels, the McKeown’s, Stephen Wheatly, and the Russels. But where were Jim and Ellie? We thought maybe they had snuck off for a romantic interlude, but no. It seems that Jim was having trouble. Not with Ellie. But with his car. He pulls into the parking lot, turns off the engine and announces “I’m dead.”
Well, he looked very much alive to us. But no, he declared again,”I am dead.”
There was something amiss with his PCV valve. It seems that the cap had taken an opportunity to do a bunk. Jim searched through his tool kit, all the time muttering on about his demise. But Jim hadn’t counted on the one sure fire thing in this group of aging boomers. It is not the frequent pit stops to which I refer, not is it the insatiable appetites. It is “intensive rehydrating cream”, known to some as “anti-wrinkle” cream. It seems that the cap off a Vichy’s Thermal Fix 2 is the perfect cap size for a PCV valve.
Mechanical challenges fixed, we carried on to the dining room and ate. You would think we had run a marathon rather than simply sat in cars considering the turkey and fish and chips that we managed to put away. It was noted that “even Stephen Wheatley” had pie. Fully satiated, we headed back to the cars for the trip home. Only two specks of rain had fallen on this happy group and it was a truly wonderful way to spend Mother’s Day.
Click on the BMW for pictures. Thanks to Ellie Bleakney and Margot Russell for the photographs.
The Annual Chowder Run - a great success - for some!!
Beautiful skies, nice temperatures, fabulous hosts, great food and wonderful friends–what could be better? Details on just how some members fared will appear here at a later date. For now, click on the photo of Ralph to see lots more. 
FABAC Meeting/Eating Report
We had 29 FABACians gather at Ringo's last evening for our dinner meeting. The food and service was fine so it looks like a possible repeat sometime.
We discussed the upcoming Homeport Chowder Run at Ralph and Karen Holyokes. Here is the plan for a group run from Fredericton.
Leave the new Tim Hortons - top of Hanwell Rd. - Sunday at 9:45 AM ( sharp ) - to Oromocto and down Route 7 to Welsford - rest stop at Irving S/S - then to 80 Douglas Ave. in old Saint John.
Our next meeting on the 16th of May will be held at Seasons Restaurant, 369 Lincoln Rd.
Bon Voyage to David and Carolyn, we will look forward to a complete trip account on your safe return from Japan.
Jim B.
We discussed the upcoming Homeport Chowder Run at Ralph and Karen Holyokes. Here is the plan for a group run from Fredericton.
Leave the new Tim Hortons - top of Hanwell Rd. - Sunday at 9:45 AM ( sharp ) - to Oromocto and down Route 7 to Welsford - rest stop at Irving S/S - then to 80 Douglas Ave. in old Saint John.
Our next meeting on the 16th of May will be held at Seasons Restaurant, 369 Lincoln Rd.
Bon Voyage to David and Carolyn, we will look forward to a complete trip account on your safe return from Japan.
Jim B.
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