After one of the driest springs in memory with cool mornings and evenings and lot’s of driving time available we’re now beset in central Mississippi with the summer monsoons.

One of my usual traffic patterns is to leave for work early, go the long way around to the factory and park the car with the shades on to protect the tender interior.

Not so the last few weeks. And for a reason.

Back in the spring, if you’ll recall I drove for the car show in Birmingham AL to Tupelo for a few days of work there. As I noted in an earlier post the drive was great however I’m going to let you in on the page two now. On arriving at the hotel in Tupelo, I parked far away from all the local’s, next to a nice, well groomed flower bed. Snapped down the tonneau cover except for the one snap near the right vent window on Ole Red that had yet to be repaired from a prior break.

Well there was a reason that the flower bed area was so nice looking. In the wee hours of the morning they must pump a hundred gallons of water on that flower bed and well, you may have guessed it. With a missing snap on the old tonneau and being positioned in the parking spot to avoid door dings and close to that nice flower bed with it’s sprinklers Ole Red got about 10 gallons of water funneled into the right side passenger compartment..

Everyone in the office there in Tupelo got a real kick, seeing me strip out all of the carpet and place it strategically around the parking lot, heading out periodically to flip and refocus the suns drying rays on each section of carpet.

No, I haven’t been taking Ole Red to work too much over the last couple of weeks. One soaking last me a fairly long time.

Well you ask, why not take the GT? A couple of years ago dad wanted to travel down to the fall show in Fairhope Al put on by the South Alabama British Car Club. Dad mentioned that he thought it might rain and questioned if we shouldn’t take the GT. Looking at him with a very straight and truthful face I simply said "it really doesn’t matter which one you take, they all leak from somewhere". At that point I think he wondered if we’d make it at all. Ole Red did make it down and back and we had a great time with no rain....or leaks.

Jake’s Picnic and Tire Kick’n

Under very warm and a clear sky sixteen regulars of the EMC gathered at Jake’s place for the annual club picnic. Three guest attended the picnic so welcomes were made all around. Several trips were made down the hill to check on the regular steeds in Jake’s collection as well as the progress made on the TR-6 project. Everyone came back from the shop with wide grins much in appearance. By 12:00pm the grille had been fired and burgers and dogs were under the care and control of Pat Cashman.

Lot’s of great foods and hardy discussions were consumed during the afternoon everyone departing about 4:00.

Following the gathering at Jake’s we added new members Greg and Charmaine Henriques to the EMC. Greg’s working on adding an MGB to his rolling stock. Welcome Greg and Charmaine, hope your able to join us at the upcoming activities of the EMC.

EMC’s Central Alabama Tour

Eight members of the EMC traveled over to Leeds Alabama on Saturday to rendevous with the Birmingham British Motoring Club at the Barber Motorsports Museum on July 14, 2007. We were met by several members of the BBMC including Tom Warren, Bill Weathers and Holly Whitmire. After a few minutes dallying about in the lobby BBMC Pres. Ruben Greenwood arrived and we initiated our tour of the vast collection of motorcycles and cars primarily of the Lotus variety.

After an hour or so of rambling around three vast floors of more motorcycles then I’ve probably seen in my entire life our personal guide appeared to take us to the off limits to the general public shop areas and the "bone yard" where an additional fifty to one hundred future two wheel projects were housed.

The tour was the highlight of our visit to Barber’s getting up close with more unusual and rare cars. This is reported to be one of the largest collections of Lotus cars in the world and the collection is impeccably presented.

Following the visit to the museum over fifteen members of the BBMC were kind enough to join us for a great dinner at a restaurant not far from our hotel. A great time was had by everyone in attendance.

Thanks to Ruben Greenwood and the entire BBMC for making our trip to Birmingham a high point of the 2007 EMC calendar.

The EMC calendar is almost half way over now but there’s still lot’s of opportunity to join in the fun. Following here are the next couple of upcoming events. Please join us for all if you can, we’re really having a ball in 2007.

August 18, 2007 - Tech Session II / Brandon MS

We had such a good time in 2006 that Barry and Patti Schmidt invited us back. This is our last club gathering prior to Brit’s By The River. We’re looking for all hands to assist with the planning for the 2007 show. Make plans to be there with your suggestions and assistance.

Gathering begins at 11:00am and there’ll be a meal about 12:00pm.

Details: Barry or Patti Schmidt (601) 992-9196

September 28-29, 2007 - EMC Brits By The River / Vidalia LA

We’ll have a go at it again in ‘07. This will be the big 10 for us. 2006 was a banner year with a strong turnout. Mark your calendar to be in Vidalia in the fall.

Details: John Turbeville (601) 940-5288. Gene Johnston (601) 607-7021

That does it for this edition of the Off-Side Undo. Everyone that’s doing that rain dance....give us a break, at least a short one.

Happy Motoring!

Gene