April 2017 The Midget Chassis David Edgar, Editor 1454 Chase Terrace El Cajon, CA 92020 First Class Mail Joe saying Goodbye to our meeting room and Richard drives off from our February meeting. If you want to say goodbye to our meeting room, last meeting there will be March 28, 2017 after 59 years at the same location. What s Inside President s Remembrances.............................. 3 March TCMG Meeting................................. 5 TCMG Birthdays (Build Dates).......................... 6 Wild Flower Tour..................................... 7 Leonis Adobe Tour.................................. 8-9 TCMG Big Bear Weekend...........................10-11 February Meeting Minutes.......................... 12-13
Presidential Remembrances is in the process of being sold to a non bank entity, and that all use of the Community Room will cease at the end of March. It took a few seconds to process what I had just heard. My first feeling was one of sadness, sadness at the loss of our traditional meeting place where so much of our history has played out. That Community Room has served us well over all these years. My next feeling was one of urgency, urgency to start the search for a new place for us to meet. As I am writing this, it has been about two weeks since the phone call from the bank. We have investigated many possible meeting locations. It turns out finding a location which meets all, or at least most, of our needs is not easy. Some places are too expensive, some have poor parking, some have limited evening hours, some are too big, and some are too small. So far we have found two or three locations which are possibilities. The March 28th meeting will be the last one in the Community Room. I encourage you to come to this last meeting in Montrose before we move to our new location, wherever that turns out to be. So I ve learned that even when it comes to TCMG meeting locations, the only constant is change. It just takes a long time for the change to happen. Richard Loe TCMG President 2017 A lthough I generally agree with the old adage, The only constant is change, I have always taken comfort in noticing there are some exceptions, that in fact some things never change. For example, the sun always comes up in the morning, gravity always works, rust never sleeps, and the TC Motoring Guild always has its monthly meetings in the Community Room behind the bank at 2350 Honolulu Blvd. in Montrose, California. The Club first started meeting in the Community Room in April, 1958. Think about that. That is one month short of 59 years! I have a grandson who is now about the same age I was when I attended my first TCMG meeting in that room. And when I attended that meeting the Club had already been using the Community Room for a decade! Several different banks have operated out of the building during the nearly six decades we have been there. The TCMG is by far the longest user of the building. The banks have come and gone, but we have been a constant. We have outlasted them all. As new banks would take over the building, they would continue renting the Community Room to us for our monthly meetings. Just as I take it for granted the sun will rise every morning, I took it for granted the TCMG would be meeting in the Community Room forever, or at least as much of forever as we need to be concerned about. So you can imagine my confusion when Citibank, the current owner of the building, phoned to inform me that the Montrose Branch of Citibank is being closed, the building The MIDGET CHASSIS April 2017 Published in Southern California by the TC Motoring Guild PO Box Number 263 Montrose, CA 91021 The Midget Chassis is published eleven times a year, bowing out to the full size Classic Chassis occasionally All contributions: articles, letters, advertisements, and captioned photos for the next issue should be sent to: The Classic Chassis c/o David Edgar, 1454 Chase Terrace El Cajon, CA 92020 email: djedgar@pacbell.net TCMG Officers and Chairs for 2017 President Richard Loe....... 818-790-2332 fordydelux@yahoo.com Vice Pres. Ron Simon........ 818-708-2033 simon90248@yahoo.com Secretary Sandra Loe........ 818-790-2332 fordydelux@yahoo.com Treas/Memb Joyce Edgar....... 619-593-8255 djedgar@pacbell.net Director/Web/Events Steve Simmons..... (see directory) mail@mgnuts.com Director Gorden Bundy..... 760-806-3849 gdbundy@gmail.com Ex Officio/Programs Curt Sorensen..... 818-991-6152 curtwlv@aol.com Editor David Edgar....... 619-593-8255 djedgar@pacbell.net Historian Don McLish....... 818-352-3741 dmclish1@hotmail.com Regalia Linda Simmons.... (see directory) linda@mgnuts.com Sunshine Chair Bobbie Simon...... 818-708-2033 simonbobbie@yahoo.com Hospitality Jan Sorensen & Bobbie Simon { janwlv@aol.com
Our March Meeting The end of an era of the TC Motoring Guild gathering at the same location in Montrose is coming to an end. We will focus on all the fun times we have had in the bank community room. Bring your stories, photos and memories to share to fill in as we have a photo show over the years in our room. Does any one remember the names of the six banks that we have gone through? We had a former member that had not been to one of our meetings in over 30 years and was amazed we still met there when he showed up a few years ago. But as one door closes, another one will open. We will go over optione have come up with. Please come and help us decide. Tuesday, March 28th 8:00 PM End of an Era Come say Goodbye TCMG Meeting held at: Citibank Community Room 2350 Honolulu Ave, Montrose Meeting room entrance is at the rear of the bank downstairs. BRITISH SLANG LESSONS by Curt British English Nosh = Food Shambles = A mess
Welcome Welcoming Moose again here, but with photos this time. Moose Stovall 100 N Avenue G, Suite B Clifton, TX 76634 moose@moosestovallcpa.com 1949 TC 7773 XPAG 8484 BRG / Biscuit New TCMG Member Date: Saturday, April 1st (no joke) The TCMG Wildflower Tour is On!!! After many dry flowerless years, our recent rains have flowered us with blossoms once again. Enjoy a tour out to see them with your TCMG buddies. And be sure to grab some photos because it may be awhile before this happens again. Lots and lots of f lowers Meet at: 9:00 AM Leave at: 9:30 AM TC Birthdays (Build Dates) Visit fromtheframeup.com as Doug has posted 15 YouTube videos (as of this writing) on various TC subjects. All of you should enjoy the on Kids Involved. Check out Doug involving his grandson Brady. We are listing our TC birthdays or build dates each month. These are the ones to the middle of April March 17, 1949 TC 8194 Tim & Irene Arnold March 21, 1949 TC 8230 Richard & Judy Storms March 24, 1948 TC 5108 David & Joyce Edgar March 24, 1948 TC 5112 Bob & Nancy Koons April 7, 1948 TC 5179 Willie Williams April 8, 1948 TC 5221 Bill Traill April 12, 1948 TC 8441EXU Ernie & Elizabeth Page April 14, 1947 TC 2556 John & Phyllis Williams April 14, 1948 TC 5230 Ed & Dee Koskie April 14, 1948 TC 5238 Jim & Kim Ellis Meet at: Starbucks parking lot, 11850 Balboa Blvd, Granada Hills. Exit the 118 Freeway at Balboa Avenue and head north for 1/2 mile It is getting closer... What is your favorite kind of MG? Silly question, probably TC is the answer and so far we have 19 TC s registered to come to Santa Maria. We might even be blessed with Allan Chalmers bringing his newly (almost) assembled TA for an outing. An MG of the same vintage as Allan s TC is a VA Tickford which is sure to be a crowd pleaser. The club s donation to help GoF West is going to help keep the cost of the GoF West 2017 - July 10-14 Santa Maria, CA For more information or to register on line - gofwest.org or contact David or Joyce, 619-593-8255 or gofwest2017@gmail.com first night s dinner. A Santa Maria BBQ for only $15 and a really nice Fun Tote to carry your goodies including a mesh side pocket for a water bottle will tell everyone that it was compliments of the TC Motoring Guild. We so appreciate Terry Schuller for her Internet shopping skills to get these purchased at a great price. It won t be as great a Gathering without you, so please come!
Leonis Adobe Tour Report It was lovely on Saturday, and daylight savings time did not slow this intrepid bunch of MGTC enthusiasts from touring along Topanga Canyon Road in the Santa Monica Mountains. We all safely reached Calabasas and our ultimate destination to visit the Leonis Adobe 1870 s ranch. The initial meeting place was The Topanga Table restaurant for brunch. There were 3 MGTCs in attendance, driven by: Steve and Linda Simmons; Richard and Sandra Loe; and Garret Hanes with his children, Anthony and Brianna. The normal cars, more likely support vehicles were driven by Ron and Bobbie Simon; Malcolm and Joy Buckeridge; and David and Lucy McCanne. Photos by Lucy McCanne and Steve Simmons Garret, Brianna and Anthony Hanes Over an hour was spent enjoying brunch and getting reacquainted. Part of the fun was wishing Joy Buckeridge a wonderful Happy Birthday it was so nice of her to spend her special day with all of us. Soon we were ready and Steve Simmons distributed directions for the drive to everyone. The cars lined up and the driving tour started. Topanga Canyon Road was scenic, lined with trees, rocky cliffs and bluffs. The winding road was shared with bicyclists, other cars, motorcycles, and even some people on foot. The road was busy, but we still enjoyed the scenery we passed; the mountain vegetation was sparse. As we drove uphill toward the summit, we saw a few new HUGE homes were built with incredible views. At the summit of Santa Monica Mountains, we stopped at a scenic lookout. We got out of our cars to admire the gorgeous view of the valley below and the ocean at a distance. Then it was time to drive down to Calabasas. Driving down the hill was easy until we got to the flats. The traffic got heavy, as expected. I was happy to finally arrive at Leonis Adobe ranch. The Calabasis ranch was built in 1870 and is now a museum. Our group perused the museum store until our tour was ready. The tour began with a docent who explained the history of the ranch. The historic Leonis home was the highlight of the tour. Antique original furniture, old kitchen, food storage, was a depiction of everyday life of the 1800 s era. Another point of interest was the old barn, which housed horses and sheep. We saw a bunch of wagons, tools and other barn animals. The Brianna and Anthony Hanes enjoyed feeding the sheep. A beautiful big oak tree provided shade as the day s temperature got warmer. The docent took a group picture at the end of the tour. We thanked Steve and Linda Simmons for again doing the planning and hosting of a wonderful outing. David and I had to leave the group to attend to a water heater. They managed without water heaters in the 1870 s, but we only wanted to visit that era, not live it. The rest of the group Joy Buckeridge blows out birthday candle did what TCMG rs do They went to lunch. Jim and Norma Crandall joined in at that stop as well as Joy s son Richard Buckeridge. So more reveler s to celebrate Joy s birthday. Lucy McCanne
TCMG at Big Bear in 1959 This report on the 1959 Big Bear Tour was taken from a 1959 newsletter reprinted here. TCMG Big Bear Weekend 58 Years ago the TCMG went to Big Bear and we are returning to this beautiful lake for a fun-filled 3-day adventure (May 26-28)! For the adventurous, a tour is being planned through the San Gabriel Mountains to reach Big Bear, with a lunch stop in Wrightwood. Friday night is an on your own dinner as you explore Big Bear Village s shops and restaurants. Saturday includes a driving tour of the area followed by a group dinner. After a lineup photo on Sunday morning we depart for home. Don t miss this event! May 26-28, 2017 The Lodge at Big Bear Lake To reserve your room at our host hotel, The Lodge at Big Bear Lake, you can To register by phone, call go through their web site or you may call (909) 866-3121. Tell them you are directly. Rooms are available at a special with TC Motoring Guild to receive discounted rate of only $129 per night the discounted rate. for one King or two Queen beds with fireplace or balcony. Once you register, To reserve online, find the link on our please notify our events coordinator Steve TCMG website and select your dates Simmons by phone or email so we can put Check in May 26 / Check out May 28 you on the list for caravan details, as well More info on TCMG website as plan our group dinners. nd next newsletter. Photos from the Guild s visit 58 years ago.
February 28 th Meeting Minutes Richard settles into his role as President The meeting was called to order by President Richard Loe at 8:00 PM. The attendance sheet was circulated. Richard thanked Gene Olson for presiding over the January game night meeting, Wheel of Misfortune. He also thanked Ron and Diane Spindler for hosting our January event that included a tour of their shop in Van Nuys and lunch at their home. Richard thanked Steve Simmons for putting together the Lame Duk tour between the two sites that included questions to be answered by hints found along the route. There was a discussion about the history of the Lame Duk event held every January. Richard listed the cars owned by TCMG members that were built in February. No one at the meeting had a February birthday. Richard also announced that we will be losing our meeting location and that we will have a complete discussion of possible meeting sites during our new business portion later in the meeting. The minutes of the January 2017 general meeting were submitted as printed in the newsletter. It was moved, seconded, and passed that the minutes be accepted as written. Joyce Edgar posted and presented the Treasurer s Report. 78 members have paid their 2017 dues and 22 have not. We have one new member, Moose Stovall, who lives in Texas. Richard LA County map with pins where each member live to focus our new meeting spot focus. announced that the Executive Council voted to donate $1,000 to the 2017 GoF. The donation is to be used at the discretion of Joyce and David Edgar, GoF Co-chairs. Joyce thanked our club for the donation and support. She hopes to use the funds for a specific event or purpose with recognition being given to the Motoring Guild. Steve Simmons gave a report on upcoming events. March 12th we are going to have a tour of the Leonis Adobe. The day will start with brunch at The Topanga Table and finish with a late lunch in Calabasas. In April we hope to have a Wildflower Tour. Joe Douglass reported that due to all the rain the desert is green although windmill generators have taken much of the land that previously were fields of flowers. The May event will be a Memorial Day weekend at Big Bear Lake. We will leave LA Friday morning May 26th and complete the trip with a group picture the morning of Sunday May 28th. Malcolm Buckeridge Loe s TC made it again has arranged for rooms at the Lodge at Big Bear Lake for $129 per night. We may have a cherry picking tour this spring however Steve noted that there are not many cherry orchards anymore and they are very crowded on the weekends. The June event will be a Somis Safari with stops at the Nut House, the old hardware store in Somis, a berry farm where we can pick berries, and a stop for lunch. David Edgar made a correction to the last newsletter: March 12th is Sunday not Saturday. We will be touring Leonis Adobe on Sunday the 12th. Jim Crandall will be editing the June newsletter while David is on vacation. The Regalia report was presented by Steve and Linda Simmons. They will soon be making a new order that will include long sleeved T shirts with the modern design on the front. Steve also commented that he continues to update the website twice a month and that there is always something new, especially under the history tab. Sunshine Chair Bobbie Simon sent get well cards to Mimi Glass, Philip and Cindy May, and Jim Crandall. A birthday card was mailed to Phyllis Mathison commemorating her 99th birthday. Refreshment Co-Chair Jan Sorensen asked for members to sign up to bring refreshments to the July, August, or November meeting. Richard reported that the By-Law Committee has a meeting scheduled for later in the week. The new business portion of the meeting started with Joyce offering the opportunity to buy Girl Scout cookies which are being sold by her granddaughters. She especially commented on the option to buy a box of cookies to be sent to someone serving in the military overseas. Several members found this to be a great way to remember our service people with a slice of a US tradition. Richard announced that the Citibank building has been sold and our use of the community room will end after our March General Meeting. Richard and Steve have researched many possible meeting locations. They found that it is very difficult to find a site the right size, with good parking, available on the 4th Tuesday evening, allowing us to bring in refreshments, and is affordable. It was decided to try to find a space in Burbank hoping it would be a more central location. The Elk s Club in Burbank near the airport may work. It is $150 per meeting. The site needs to be visited and the details verified. It has been determined that most places ask for a Certificate of Insurance. The Linda and Steve Simmons and Jan and Curt Sorensen have offered their homes for our meetings. Richard volunteered to check with the Elk s Club and Rusnak auto dealership in Pasadena. Curt Sorensen introduced the program for the evening: four short films produced by the M. G. Car Company. The meeting was adjourned at 9:06 for refreshments provided by Linda Simmons (thank you Linda) before we viewed the movies. Respectfully submitted, Sandra Loe Secretary One of Linda Simmons famous refreshment delights
Club Regalia TCMG Car Badge.................. $25 ($30 if mailed) members only TCMG Cloth Patch.................. $5 ($6.50 if mailed) members only TCMG Lapel Pin.................................... $3 ($5 if mailed) TCMG Lapel Vintage Pin.......................... $3 ($5 if mailed) MG TC Pin & MG Car Club Pin........................... (inquire) MG TC Color Specs........... $2 members, $3 non-members, Postage $2 TCMG Photo Puzzles.... $15 plus postage (contact Linda for postage cost, design and availability) Vintage TCMG T-shirts...... $15 for short sleeve, $18 for long + postage Modern TCMG T-shirts...... $15 for short sleeve, $18 for long + postage TCMG Hoodies....................................... $30 + postage REGALIA CHAIR Linda Simmons linda@mgnuts.com Prices beyond our control subject to change International postage is extra TCMG Modern Design See our website for more details on sizes, materials, colors, etc tcmotoringguild.org Vintage TCMG Design Wanted facebook.com/jctaylorinsurance Good TC steering wheel hub to fit Bluemels spoke steering wheel. John Wright Solvang, Ca. 610-248-8295 cell or Mogfrog1@gmail.com J.C. Taylor Antique Automobile Insurance 320 South 69th Street Upper Darby, Pennsylvania