Off-Side Undo - July 2009

Summer Fun

Jake’s Gathering
June 20, 2009 was the day and a great group of EMC’ers meet at Jake Weaver’s for an afternoon at this Tire Kick’n and Picnic event. In total the count came to 19 -20 folks all looking for good food and fellowship and weren’t disappointed. Chef Pat Cashman was on hand to guide me thru my apprenticeship of hamburger and hot dog grilling and under his guidance I think they came out very well for my first try. Pat is well on the mend and improving daily. Following the meal a meeting was held to begin organizing the 2009 Brits By The River car show.

President Barbara Cashman brought it to the groups attention that the Brits By The Rivers associated Jim Bowie Festival in Vidalia LA had moved their date one weekend to September 18-19, 2009 and we needed to determine if we would move our date. Although there was some concern with the late notice everyone agreed unanimously that we would move our date as the Festival does provide exposure to our hobby and provides some alternate entertainment for those in need as well as fair food for the noon time meal. It was also decided that since the Deep South Alfa Romeo Club has been so hospitable in associating The EMC with their Spring Fun Rally that we extended an offer to establish a corral area for their members and friends to gather.

Other details were addressed and assigned to ensure that our 2009 gathering will be a fun time for all that can attend. We’re still open to your suggestions and ideas so please contact one of the Club Officers on the web site www.msemc.org with your thoughts and offers. And by all means make plans to attend.

Hot Springs There and Back
Three o’clock came very early on Wednesday July 15. Clay and I had loaded up the night before and when the clock struck we took off for Hot Springs. The start was cool but the day warmed up quite nicely and more as did most of the other days in our trip and travels around Hot Springs and the surrounding area. Blake Sonnier was the organizer of our little band of MGB troopers meeting us on the show grounds of the MGA Register’s GT-34 at the Hot Springs National Park.

Approximately 100 MGA made the trip and some from some very far off locations, much further than ours. The show lasted from about 9:00am until 1:00pm. As I’ve done every time I inspect MGAs I still look for my first MG, yep the one I joined the “Upside Down Club” in 1968. Still no luck. The cars, folks and location were great!

Day two took us to the Museum of Automobile near Petit Jean State Park Arkansas. Although our intentions were to get up early and beat the heat the late nights, and lack of air conditioning in our hotel slowed us down a bit so the couple of hours spent at this every nice (air conditioned) museum was a treat. If you ever near you should stop in and visit. Although only one MG was on hand it was a very nice one and the building, exhibits and host were great.

Day three out of Hot Springs took us to Mt. Magazine State Park. At 2,753’ the air cooled to a very nice 72 degrees. The lodge there is only two years old and has one of several thousand beautiful views overlooking the Ozark National Forest. The food at the lodge was great as it was at the Petit Jean State Park. As we descended back into the valley the temp moved back up with one bank thermometer showing a warm 100 degrees.

We were all most impressed with the quality of the state park System in Arkansas and I’ve got them on my list of must repeats. The roads traveled were exciting and provided us with a great driving experience.

Early Saturday the party had to end and Clay and I struck out early in an effort to beat the heat stopping briefly in Greenville to pick up some of the best hot tamales in the world at Doe’s Eat Place to take back to Mike and Alice Glore’s EMC / Lotus Day gathering.

Mike’s Lotus Weekend
Just back from our Hot Springs trip Clay and I made way down to the meeting at Mike and Alice’s barn in Braxton. What we found was a bunch of car nuts poking and prodding around the cars stored at Mike’s including his collections of Lotus, his TR-6, MGB, Jag and other assorted goodies. Many of the folks from the Breakfast Car Club made the event, as did some folks from Louisiana in for the afternoon. Clay and I were pretty beat after being on the road for seven hours returning from Hot Springs. I was sorry that I couldn’t stick around longer to enjoy the rest of the afternoon but I could tell I wasn’t long for the world of the sane and bid my farewells. Thanks Mike and Alice for opening your home/garage up to the EMC and other autophiles.

Other Exhaust Tones
A special thanks to everyone who made it to Jake’s during June and Mike’s during July. These were some of the larger gatherings that we’ve had in the last couple of years and it was great to see everyone. We hope that we’ll see more of you during the remainder of 2009.

I want to apologize to some members of the EMC and others that receive The Off-Side Undo and/or other notices via e-mail. Evidently there is some filter system on AOL side that will not allow my e-mails to get to you. We’ve studied the problem and attempted several alternatives but can’t seem to break the code. If you have some means to allow EMC e-mails thru, please give me a call and I’ll see if we can develop a solution.

If you’re not receiving your British Marque please let us know. It’s a great read, full of car loving fun and we don’t want you to miss an issue. That’s it for this issue of the OS UD.

Happy Motoring
Gene

Events Calendar

AUGUST 15, 2009 - EMC Tech Session II / Brandon MS
When we last visited the David and Jo Ann they were still in the garage assembly phase. Come on out for the 2009 update. There’s enough room here for everyone. Tire kicking begins at 11:00am and a meal at 12:00pm. We’ll also be making finishing arrangements for Brits By The River and we need your input. Details: David and Jo Ann Bailey (601) 992-8566

SEPTEMBER 18 - 19, 2009 - EMC Brits By The River / Vidalia LA
2008 was a memorable year for the EMC’s Brits By The River. Everyone indicated they had a great time in the new location with lots of shade to spare so we’ll repeat the location in 2009. Mark your calendar to be in Vidalia in the fall. Additional details and registration information can be found on the website at www.msemc.org. Details: John Turbeville (601) 940-5288, Gene Johnston (601) 607-7021

Mike Glore’s Notes From LOG 29
Mike and Alice Glore made the trip over to Birmingham AL for The Lotus Owners Gathering 29. Here’s Mike’s report on LOG 29:
Alice and I departed beautiful Braxton for this years Lotus owners gathering in Birmingham, AL (5/28-6/1/2009). We started the trek in one of my newer Loti, a 2004 Esprit. At the beginning of a trip, there is always a lot of trepidation as to how, when and in what car we will arrive in. But we did make it to the host hotel (The Wynfrey) after some delicious barbeque at Dreamland in Tuscaloosa. Upon arrival at the hotel, I noticed a lot of older men in shorts, I guess over time it becomes common knowledge that shorts are the preferred dress when pushing or working on a lotus. Anyway, I made a mental note not to wear shorts thus making a statement to Lotus owners in the know.
The gathering is made up of two groups. 1st are the Elise / Exige and there derivates; which are newer more reliable cars with younger, smarter types and 2nd is everyone else basically the older, longer suffering types. The Elise / Exige group is at a definite disadvantage not having any breakdown stories to brandish about. The rest of us talked about recent side of the interstate events and how many other L.O.G. participants stopped to help. The following day, I was one of 4 Loti that stopped to help a fellow Lotus - I think that is a record. The bar was always crowded (all those old men in shorts) with drivers trying to rehydrate. You could always spot the owners who trailered their cars to the event - they were mostly absent from the bar - but when spotted they seemed to have a sense of calm that we didn't.

We had a day at the races (Barber Motor Sports Park) and car show, which I had previously raced. However, the high point for Alice and I were the 4 semi-fast laps at Talladega (behind a diesel pit truck barely breaking 110). Anyway, the 33-degree banking was really something I didn't expect. While on those you simply cannot climb up. Your position is dictated by your entry speed. Needless to say, we were stuck very close to the bottom. The event ended with the introduction of the new Lotus Evora. Quite a good-looking car. I hope it is met with enthusiastic sales numbers. Next years event is scheduled in Gettysburg, PA. Now that may be a reason to start looking for a trailer!!

Thanks Mike. Glad you and Alice had a fun time over in Alabama!

Happy Motoring

Gene Johnston

EMC