Off-Side Undo - November 2009

Back to Back

President Barbara Cashman mentioned when we were together this weekend how great it was to see the Off-Side Undo cover a full page in last month’s British Marque and I had to agree. It’s an indication of the level of participation from our club that keeps a lot of folks interested and involved and it is great to be a part of that.

I appreciate everyone’s submissions to the OSU more than you’ll ever know. As many folks are aware, now this will get a chuckle, writing is not a natural for me and anything that requires discipline well, it can be difficult to sit down and bore everyone with ramblings once a month. It was great last month to have the great stories and even more to hear them from someone else. Thanks everyone.

Barbara has also made some suggestions on improvements that we can make to the presentation of the Off-Side Undo and I hope that we can get those online during the next couple of months. At the end of last month’s OSU I looked at the calendar and promised another full month of activities and here’s the back in back to back.

South Alabama British Car Festival

Again, the EMC split ranks and took on two events over the weekend of October 23-24. Jim Enzman and I met in Hattiesburg and after losing each other in the same restaurant for 30 or so minutes we finally got together and ate at great lunch before setting out for Fairhope AL. It had been cool when I left Jackson and the top was still in the upright position since attending the show in Nashville the weekend before. By our departure from Hattiesburg it had warmed sufficiently that it was top down the last 3 hours or so.

Arriving at Baron’s By the Bay we were met by EMC’er Mike Glore and Birmingham British Motoring Club’er Tom Warren. The group from the British Car Club of New Orleans was the area, making the scene in downtown Fairhope and arrived shortly.

After getting the party started in the hotel parking lot we all moved to the warm and welcoming confines of Dalghrin Hall for the Friday night Welcome Aboard party. I don’t believe I’ve seen the hall quite as full as it was this year and the food, fellowship and fun was great. After the meal it was time to shut down for the evening and after a few goodnights in the parking lot it was off for rest.

There was an early roll call on Saturday so we headed off for a big breakfast downtown and back to the hotel for car cleaning and then down to the show site along the banks of Mobile Bay. The turnout for this year’s show was fantastic including a nice show of Sunbeams and Minis, the Minis being the featured marquee this year.

More food was provided at the show site and under the shade along the Bay it was difficult to resist a nap but the crowd was huge with lots of opportunity to preach the good word of LBC ownership. Napping had to wait.

At the end of the day EMC members Clay Johnston, Mike Glore and Jim Enzman had all garnered awards. A great time was had by all and congratulations and thanks to the South Alabama British Car Club for another great event.

On Saturday night members of all three visiting clubs drove down to Magnolia Springs for dinner at Jesse’s Restaurant. A meal that won’t soon be forgotten was had as well as a great time with close friends.

Renaissance Euro Fest

The first annual Renaissance Euro Fest was held on Saturday October 24, 2009 in Ridgeland MS. This is where the other rank went on the third weekend in October. Several members of the EMC made the show and all indicated they had a great time. Here is Barbara’s report:

Those who missed the First Annual Renaissance Euro Fest Classic European Auto and Motorcycle Show really missed a first class treat. Mike Marsh was the director and mastermind behind this fantastic weekend sponsored by BankPlus, Paul Moak Volvo, Ruth’s Chris Steak House , Ferrarri South and Cellular South. 68 cars and 4 motorcycles were selected from the entrants to show at the new Renaissance Mall in Ridgeland, with only 2 no shows. The mix and quality of the field was outstanding with something for everyone. Ed Wettich brought over his new fully decked out trailor filled with Ferrarri goodies like a Dino, an Enzo, a Dino racer, and an F-40. These were cranked up from time to time to the pleasure of the crowds. The festivities kicked off Friday night with an elegant and tasty reception catered by Ruth’s Chris held in the Harold’s location from 5-7 pm. Saturday dawned clear and crisp after the threat of rain on Friday. Cars were placed strategically on the sidewalks of the mall which calls to mind a European village.

The weather sure helped to bring out the spectators and shoppers after so many days of rain lately. It was an added pleasure to stroll or sit and visit with old friends and make new acquaintances. Club members showing included Dennis Loftin, John Turbervillle, Jim Trunsler and Baby, Barry Schmidt, Joe and Cynthia Speetjens, Pat and Barbara Cashman, Andy and Bonnie Menapace, her dad, Mike Hemsley, Charles and Sherrilyn Durning, Keith Anderson, Royce Boyer and his newly painted Sunbeam Tiger, David Crawford, Trey Decell, Richard Stowe, John Lange, and Howard Laramy, who once again was offering alcohol free margaritas prepared in his weedeater powered blender. The hospitality suite at Harold’s remained open all day from 7am to 5 pm with complimentary coffee, juice, and doughnuts for the participants for breakfast and sandwiches, chips, cookies, soft drinks and adult beverages for lunch. Parker Hall, well known to our club, and Pat Cashman were among the judges for the show. The English Motoring Club did extremely well in the awards presentation at 4 Saturday afternoon. Charles Durning won Most Elegant Open Italian in his Alfa Romeo Spider and Keith Anderson, Open British in his 67 E type Jaguar. Howard Laramy received the same award Closed British in his Aston Martin DB 6 and Barbara Cashman Closed Italian in her 1970 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2. Joe Speetjens won a Sponsor’s Choice in the 1953 Morgan as did Pat Cashman in his 1964 Gordon Keeble, and John Lange for his 1949 MG TC. Parker Hall received Mayor’s Choice for his 1961 Ferrari 250 Cabriolet. Best of Marque trophies went to Bonnie Menapace and her 1975 Alfa Romeo Spyder for Open Italian and Joe Speetjens for his 1995 Morgan Plus 8 in Open British.

Vince Vance and the Valiants provided entertainment after the awards and there was also a wine tasting from 5-7 between Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and The Mint Restaurant. And did I mention that there was no charge for any of the functions! The host hotel was The Hyatt Place located within walking distance of the Renaissance. Overnight parking was provided both nights at the cellular south building just across the street from the Hyatt in their covered lot with security. Provided there also were a hose for washing and buckets. Mike Marsh and his group really put on a first class show. One would be wise to include this one on his schedule next year. Thanks Barbara on the update. Sounds like a great time was had by all. Also of note, the next weekend Pat and Barbara traveled to Starkville Mississippi for the First Annual Mississippi State University Car Show.

MSU’s First Annual Car Show

Here are Barbara’s notes from their trip up to Starkville for the car show in DOG country.

When one is in the newspaper business, interesting things do cross one’s desk. In early October, Pat received a news release from Mississippi State University that they were holding their first car show on Halloween. Since my sister Ruth lives in Starkville and I am a graduate of MSU, we decided to attend.

Participants were encouraged to decorate their cars for the holiday and dress in costumes. A Trunk or Treat for the kids was also on the program. The whole idea presented to us as a great time in store for all. Son John even took a rare day off work that Friday to accompany us.

Loaded with goodies, we set off mid Friday morning just ahead of forecast bad weather In the 67 420 G Jag since it would hold three people and their Halloween paraphernalia somewhat comfortably. We arrived late noonish, having encountered just mild sprinkles. while lingering over a delectable lunch Ruth had prepared, we ladies heard sirens going off. Pat and John had just left in the Jag looking for the nearest liquor store. We repaired to the middle of the street to determine if it was the tornado sirens or not. A rather loud “A tornado has been spotted in the area” over the speakers soon confirmed this suspicion.

About this time, my cell phone rang and it was a friend from West Point asking what we were doing. When I told him the sirens had enticed us into the street to see what was going on as it was not raining or anything. He yelled at me, “Barbara, that’s not what you do when you hear warning sirens! First, you mix a stiff drink, THEN you go out into the street to look for the tornado!”

As the wind began to pick up,I began fretting whether I should call Pat and John to return. Opinions were mixed. Yes, we should all blow away together vs. what if we call them to return and they get blown away on the trip back. While we were still pondering the dilemma, they drove up shouting “What are you crazy women doing in the middle of the street with a tornado on the way?”

We all repaired inside to watch the weather channel and videos of the damages on the outskirts of Starkville.

Saturday morning dawned overcast and rather chilly with a forecast of clearing by noon. We drove out to the site on the West Campus parking lot at the intersection of Bully Drive and Stone Boulevard. The organizers of the show, the Campus Activities Board, had coffee, doughnuts, and some vendors cooking up wonderful smelling foods.

And the cars began to arrive. 55 in all. A great turnout for a first show. Mostly they were production and modified American Cars. Rather along the lines of the Scarecrow show held in Madison earlier in the month. We were in the classics class. There we met our fellow club member Tom Whitfield in his beautiful blue TR6. It was good to get to chat with him and his son Paul, who has attended Scarecrow, I think, where he met some of our EMC members.

Around noon, the sun came out in full force, our friends from West Point who had introduced Pat and me some 30+ years ago showed up, and Ruth arrived with a picnic basket choc full of goodies. All in all, we had a most enjoyable time visiting with old friends and meeting new ones. This was a judged show and Barbara indicates the turnout was great and they had a wonderful time in DOG country.

Jenkin’s Garage

Visit Back to Back fun during October and November and our last outing was a ringer. Thirty seven members and friends of the EMC traveled to the Jenkin’s garage on Saturday November 14 for a follow up visit with Bob and Betsy.

We departed from The Renaissance Center shortly after 9:00am on a rather cool morning but not too cool for Joe Speetjens and his Morgan who we found tooling along north bound in route. We made a brief stop in Vaden to rendezvous with a few additional members and then set off on the last 50 or so miles to the Jenkin’s place.

Everyone that didn’t make the trip last year was wowed and those that came back this year were double wowed. The collection of MGs was as bright and shiny as ever. Some cars had gone and some new arrivals had taken up the empty spaces including one of my all time favorites a 246 Dino. I know, not British but a more beautiful car IMHO is hard to find. After a couple of hours of looking under, over and from all angles the dinner bell rang and in a very proper manner. Betsy laid out a full meal British style with bangers and mash and peas (the proper English peas) and onion gravy, oh my! That meal was fit for a king no doubt about it.

After lunch we said our thank you’s to our very gracious host and departed for home. Many thanks Bob and Betsy for your warm welcome and hospitality.

Other Exhaust Tones

These are dribs and drabs of information that I’ve collected and wanted to pass along to club members as points of interest.

Welcome new members Jose’ and Rebecca Garcia from Sterlington LA. My understanding is that they are TR-6 owners. We hope you can make it over to one of our gatherings before the years out.

In last month’s covering of the Scarecrow Car Show in Ridgeland I left out some EMC’ers that were present. Michael Hemsley was present with his camera which is not unusual. Mike gets some beautiful shots as that were noted during the spring Deep South Alfa Club’s rally. Mike is specially looking for cars that take their styling cue from the Deco Age so if you have an offering let me know and I’ll put you in contact. Also present were Walter and Kathy Mashburn. Walter indicates that he’s making strides toward getting their TR-3 restoration completed and they are looking forward to getting back on the road. We look forward to seeing the results at a future gathering.

While in Fairhope I got an update on travels from EMC member Bill Silhan. Bill was unable to make Brits by the River this year after our date change. He had made arrangements to take his Avanti to the Avanti International Show in Chicago IL. This is a beautiful car that I got to see this past year when we were in Pensacola and is also one of my all time favorites. For his efforts Bill was awarded first place. We missed you and Melissa at this year’s BBTR but way to go Bill!

We’ve still got a couple of gatherings on the events calendar for 2009 so check us out at www.msemc.org and make plans to attend.

Happy Motoring

Gene

Upcoming Events

NOVEMBER 21, 2009 - EMC Tech Session IV / Ridgeland MS

The Chili Gathering is back for 2009. We’ll put together a project or to or perhaps take one apart. We hope everyone can make it to our place as we wind down the 2009 LBC season. Wrenching begins at 11:00am with lunch about 12:00pm. Details: Gene and Martha Johnston (601) 607-7021

DECEMBER 5, 2009 - EMC Christmas Party / Raymond MS

The 2009 Christmas gathering will be the return of the multi make gatherings of old. Andy and Bonnie Menapace have invited the EMC to join them for Christmas. It’ll be a great opportunity to meet some new folks and to renew some old acquaintances so please make plans to join us. Details: Andy and Bonnie Menapace (601) 857-2829