Abingdon Rough Rider Review President - Vice President - Activities Director January 2014 Vol. LVI no. 1 Brian Sonner Secty/Treas/Newsletter Editor- Eminence Gris Web Master Barry Swackhamer Linda Chalmers/Eliz.Taylor Allan Chalmers Bill Traill Rick Storms Annual Meeting We will be meeting January 19 at the Warehome of TA Terry and Cindy in Oakland where we will plan the next year, elect a group of executives, kick tires and enjoy ourselves - hopefully. A not-to-be-missed event! The usual time : 1:30 Bring a wee snack & libation and think about what 2014 will look like. *****Let us know if you are coming***** It s time for dues! You might bring a check or cash to the meeting or send $25, made out to Allan Chalmers (not ARR ) at 1231 12 th ave, SF 94122. There is also the option of paying by Paypal, to abingdonroughriders@yahoo.com
An advisory from our webmaster For those receiving the web version, remember, you can contact your esteemed officers by clicking the About Us link and clicking on the name of the officer. This protects us from malefactors! On the Events page, each month's event includes three icons. One is to email the host, one is a link to a Google map that shows the starting point of the run, and finally, one to show weather conditions. Rick If you d like to drop the printed version and read this on the web site let me know Coming Events January 19 will of course see the annual meeting with elections and event planning. Stay tuned. Missive from the desk of your president. Let me thank the Taylors for the fantastic holiday party. The Taylors holiday decorations were beautiful and really certainly put us all in the mood to party. (The Storms eggnog didn t hurt either!) There was a really good crowd and plenty of food for all. Mark and Denielle Medynski (new members) were able to attend and bring their daughter, Honoria. Cruz was especially glad to have a peer there to share the event. The 19 degree weather has left Placerville so Nelson is back on the road. I must admit when the temperature gets below 32 some of the romance of driving a TC seems to be missing. The temperatures are great but we sure could use some rain. Our annual meeting is coming up 19 January. This is our ONE meeting per year and is where we elect the officers and more importantly plan out the events for 2014. Please attend if you can and bring ideas. We have had a fantastic events year and our thanks go out to all of you who have planned them and made them so enjoyable. Brian Sonner Another great holiday party at the Taylor s The fabulous home of the Taylor s in Healdsburg was again totally tricked out for Christmas and was well laden with Rough Riders and friends. Partying down were: El Presidente Sonner with presidential spouse Jane & future Rough Rider Cruz, Terry Sanders & Cindy Weiss, Rick & Judy Storms (with killer eggnog!), Norman & Brenda Tuck with pal Bud, Jeff & Colleen Stobbe, Joe & Pat Marcotte, Bill Young, Bill Traill, future members Mark & Dennielle Medynski with daughter Honoria (who was an instant hit with Cruz) plus your correspondent & Linda Chalmers and of course, our hosts Elizabeth & John.
While the boys played cars (Model AA dump truck The gals relaxed (Brenda, Colleen, Linda, Pat, 2 Deux Chevaux Citroens and a Traction Avant), Betz, Cindy) The following morning was dedicated to food and a short walk around town. Dick & Carolyn Duncan showed up for brekkies. Bill Traill brought along a curious antique device designed to measure piston rings. A Suitable Award for Your Humbleness at the TC Motoring Guild Party Linda and I trekked down to the Southland to attend the Holiday Party for the umpteenth time, preceded by a TC event the previous day (coming up next). Several awards are given, including a hard luck trophy. Several members were submitted for this prestigious award, but the Chalmers Axle break and flat tire on the Conclave run won out. The Storms brake and water pump problems should have won, but they weren t there! We and they are member down there. The award was given by Steve Simmons, with president Gorden Bundy lurking. Come see it and other awards at the meeting.
TC Motoring Guild s Joe Douglas and TC are going to be on BBC The day before the TCMG party, a photo crew from England was there to do a segment on Joe Douglas, original owner of a TC, for a show being prepared for BBC on iconic British cars. Joe bought his new in 1949 and it has not been modified, including sporting original blue paint (somewhat worn thin). Steve Simmons, Pete Thelander and Fran and Joe and friend drove up to the Hollywood sign for photos. They were preceded by a photo truck (Slowly!). They then came back down to Bob s Big Boy restaurant in Burbank, where a bunch of TCMGers were waiting. There were nine TCs and many more in other cars. It rained that morning, but hardy MG types drove any way. Ron Simon blasted over in his TC a cold drive. The show will be about six iconic British cars. They will send a couple copies, so perhaps we can borrow one for a showing. The line-up Thelander s then Joe s Linda greeting Joe Joe chatting with the host of the show, British actor Phillip Glenister The featured car never changed
Kay Einhorn s appropriate license plate Note what s on top of Surfin Dude Don McLish s car Checking out Steve & Linda Simmons Digs and new garage Sunday morning we went out to Thousand Oaks to drop off a couple of fenders for Steve and some wheels for Gene Olson. Oh yes, and to have a fabulous breakfast put together by Linda S. Steve has built a terrific garage at their recently purchased home and filled it with cars, of course.!939 very original Ford pickup plus a Model T under MGC engine bay 200 BHP Steve drives this supercharged BGT as a daily driver How about a spare Model T wheel for the price of a hotdog?
A Sad Tale (Norman tries his hand at tragidrama, maybe too close to real concerns) The MG Gee Dad, really, thanks a lot. Ann and I just don t have room in the garage. It s probably really valuable now. I d be glad to sell it for you on ebay. It s OK, don t worry about it. I just thought that, that because you used to like to drive it, that you might want to have it. A lot of people have been asking about it. I can get rid of it. I just thought that I d offer it to you before I sold it. I love you Dan. Norman Tuck, 2013 A real basket case Have a look at this item from Ebay. This guy has taken a plastic TC model and did a fabulous job of making it look like an actual derelict. If the basket wasn t there you d think it was the real thing. He listed it for $99 and sold it off Ebay. This is a 1/16 scale model MG TC 1948 sports car basket case with many pieces and parts including a cat. This model came from a cotton farm in the dry climate of west Texas and is truly a complete and authentic basket case. This car should not be rebuilt as it appears, The top is all worn away, the body has bondo all over it, on the fenders and the doors, the windshield is cracked, the wiring harness is sticking out of the dash, the starter is on the seat, the generator is on the floor along with the engine block. the transmission has not been rebuilt and is in the back compartment. The muffler and tail pipe are laying on the ground. The tires are flat and bald and the wire wheels need balancing. the 5 knock off hubs are there along with the 2 carburetors.the steering wheel is broken, the radiator is rusted and leaks. There are two extra rear fenders and even an extra right front fender. This car comes with a basket for that genuine basket case MG. It also comes with the original box and instructions. This car commands more hard cash than a dealer would for a showroom MG TC. It is a project for the aficionado who has everything.you will not find a better basket case 1/16 scale model MG TC anywhere. It will make a wonderful Christmas gift.
We can t guarantee a fabulous hat if you are chosen to lead this august group But a certain degreeof fame can be yours! Historical presidency passing Terry Sanders to our late good pal Phil Frank. El Presidente Phil and first lady Susan in the presidential vehicle But seriously folks, please consider helping direct the club in the new year After 12 years of restoration on the MG SA, this cartoon came easily to Phil
Guess who s driving Cadillacs around Sears Pt.? I received an invite to spend an afternoon driving Caddies around a race track. Who could refuse? These puppies had 560 Hp and about 550 ft-lbs torque. They really wanted me to buy one. We drove ATS V6s and CTS-V hotrods. As our friend Bill Clarke commented, We just pointed them and the car s electronics did the rest. 89 mph is still fast! A couple more appropriate cartoon fooleries from Brian Member Businesses Support your TC vendors! Sure Fit Seat Covers Jim Silva (510) 357-4355 13922 E 14th St, San Leandro, CA 94578 Cross Streets: Between 139th Ave and 138th Ave