Nov/Dec 2017
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VOLUME 22, NUMBER 5 Nov-Dec 2017 INSIDE THIS ISSUE UPCOMING EVENTS stop on Burnaby Moun- tain of about 15 minutes. Chairman’s Welcome 2 Hearts and Tarts / Valen- London Brighton Run 3 tine's Day Run - Sunday, Cars of Branch members 5 February 11, 2018 Ending at the Rose and Editor’s Message 7 Crown pub, 1203 56th Langley Hospice Donation 8 Street, Delta BC Start: Welcome to the OECC / Arrival at pub 12:30. Gardenworks at Mande- Rear View Mirror / At The ville Gardens, 4746 Ma- Wheel 9 rine Drive, Burnaby. Please let Steve Blake 10:00 am arrival for know if you will be at- 10:30 departure. tending by February 5, Drive is about 1 hour 30 2018 [email protected] minutes additional rest Photo: Lorna Participants in this year’s London Brighton Commemorative Run gather in front of the Town and Country Inn just prior to starting off. This year’s run was a great success with sunny skies prevailing on what was forecast to be a not so nice day. 54 British cars representing 18 different marques took part “Iwith wonder 81 peopleif they’ll sitting take the for Thames lunch asat a the trade Fog in?” and Fiddle Pub in Langley. VCB visits the Vancouver Tesla Dealership (story page 2) Many thanks to Malcolm and Tony for organizing and Alan, Maureen and Bernie for volunteering at the 2017 Run. Story, page 3. Chairman’s Welcome By Walter Reynolds Hello Everyone. Well, in case you’ve not heard, I volunteered to do a sec- ond term as Chairman of the VCB. My offer was not refused! With that, we now ‘only’ have 2 vacancies on the Executive Committee, one for Vice- Chair and the other for Regalia Coordinator. I believe that it is important that you know, especially the members who have not spent time on the Executive Committee, that I have put my personal 2018 goals on hold to make sure that the Branch has a Chair. I won’t be available for 2019 be- cause there is a two-consecutive year limit for incumbents of both the Chair position and the Vice-Chair and as I noted earlier, 2018 will be my second term as Chair. And so, it’s time for me to get on with business! The 2018 Executive Committee consists of: Chairman: Walter Reynolds Vice-Chairman: Vacant Immediate Past-Chairman: John McDonald Treasurer: Bernie Miles Secretary / Roundabout Editor: Steve Hutchens Membership Coordinator: John Chapman Events Coordinator: Lorna Hoare Webmaster / Communications: Alan Miles Good & Welfare: Audrey & Bart Shaw Regalia Coordinator: Vacant On December 5 th we had the Branch Christmas Dinner; 32 in attendance. We all had a very enjoya- ble dinner and evening. Lorna give out many door prizes but no doors, as someone quipped. At the first Executive Committee meeting of the New Year (exact date TBA) I will be asking the Committee (amongst other items of business) to consider: ~ Reducing the number of Executive meetings to 3 per year from the current 4 per year; ~ Picking a different venue for the August Picnic (Stewart Historical Farm) based on feedback provided at the AGM; ~ Establishing the Langley Hospice Society as the society that the VCB supports, till further no- tice, for the annual London to Brighton Commemorative Run’s registration fees donation. We have no event scheduled for January but members are welcome to organize a run or shop visit for us to attend. In fact, although we have published the 2018 Events Calendar, any member who wants to organize a run or shop visit, or combination of both on a day/date not shown on the Cal- endar should feel free to do so. Please contact Lorna Hoare, Events Coordinator with the plan and she will ensure that it is published to the members. As I write this we are less than three weeks away from Christmas. Linda and I wish you all a Mer- ry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Perhaps you’ll find something under the tree for your classic British car, truck or motorbike! Remember to drive just fast enough to stay ahead of the rust. See you in the New Year. Walter Reynolds, Chairman, OECC-VCB VOLUME 22,NUMBER 4 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 2 2017 London to Brighton Commemorative Run. By Malcolm Tait Photos by Alan and Mary Lou Miles and Dan Wells The 2017 “London to Brighton Commemorative Run” was held on the Sunday, November 5 h. The same day as the UK London to Brighton Run – the 121st anniversary of the first such event in 1896. The Tait's motor along in their Rover P6 Weather is always a factor at this time of year which influences the number of participants which has varied from less than 30 to over 60. Two days before the event this year it snowed, this was the earliest that there has been snow in the Van- couver area in the past 30 years. Snow and freezing temperatures were forecast for the day of the run. Luckily the forecasters were wrong. It turned out to be a clear, crisp Fall day – ideal for the drive with spectacular views of the local mountains covered in the first snow of winter. The forecast did not deter the owners of the 54 cars who went on the drive. The two oldest cars were a 1933 Alvis and a 1935 Aston Martin Ulster. The start point was the Town and Country Inn, Delta, which we have used on several occasions in the past. At the outset, and for the second year, Derek Carr, a member of the Tri- umph Club, appeared in Victorian attire. Derek played the role of Lord Winchilsea who was instrumental in having the red flag requirement abolished in 1878 and the speed limit increased to 14 mph in 1896. “ Lord Winchilsea” reminded the group of these historic events and that the first London to Brighton run in the UK in 1896 was to celebrate the in- creased speed limit. Derek also reported that this year 604 pre-1905 vehicles were registered of which about 400 were expected to make the journey from London to Brighton. Be- cause of the time difference the last of the cars are puttering into Brighton at the time our run commences in BC. To start the run “Lord Winchilsea” then invited VCB Chairman, Wal- Lorna, John and Mary Lou at the ter Reynolds to assist him with the tradition of tearing up the Town and Country Red Flag. The route took us south with a stop at Blackies Spit Park which has magnificent views of the ocean and mountains. From there along “0” Ave which is the Canada/ US border and then winding our way through back roads way to our destina- tion, the Fox and Fiddle Pub in Langley. There we enjoyed a good lunch and camaraderie. This was the fifth year that the Run has ended here, a testament to the Pub’s popularity. Derek Carr (aka “Lord Winchilsea”) addresses the crowd Tom Popovich’s Jensen GT Continued next page… VOLUME 22,NUMBER 4 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 3 Statistics: - 54 British cars - 18 British makes represented - most numerous were MG (13) and Jaguar (6). - 11 British Car Clubs represented - 20 cars were from VCB members - 81had lunch at the Fox and Fiddle. - $600 was donated to the Langley Hospice Society, ($ 535 from registrations plus $65 from (OECC - VCB). Tony Cox and Malcolm Tait served as the organizing committee. Once again Alan Inglis and Maureen Kirkbride manned the registration desk. This year a second desk was added manned by Bernie Miles which handled the purchase of L to B plates, club regalia and memberships. Keeping registrations separate from other revenues simplified the ac- counting Over the years Walter Reynolds had developed Guidelines for the Organizing Committee with a detailed time-line of what needs doing and when. This is very valuable to the Organizing Committee and it will be passed on to organizers of next year's event. Statistics: 2016 2017 - British cars 53 54 - British makes represented - 19 18 - Most numerous were: - MG 11 13 - Jaguar 9 6 - British Car Clubs represented 11 11 - Cars from VCB members 27 20 - Lunch at the Fox and Fiddle. 57 81 - Donated to Charity $ 600 $600 (550 +50) (535 +65) VOLUME 22,NUMBER 4 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 4 Cars of Branch Members and Their Stories til I acquired another car and thought to give the B a rest. The other car was a 1957 Studebaker President By Walter Reynolds which I inherited from my grandfather. I parked the GT with the plan of restoring it someday. The Cars of Mike McChesney as told by Mike. Then in 1987 I convinced Karlie, my wife, to marry me, accepting that the deal included two classic cars, one In this Roundabout issue we hear about the cars of re- working and one not really there yet. We used the Stu- cent member, Mike McChesney. The story, as written by debaker for our wedding car then I parked it to use a Mike, covers his inherited North American car and his more reliable car as a daily driver (and one with power British cars. Photos are from Mike. steering and brakes for Karlie). Now I had two project cars and I couldn’t resist working on both at the same My first four wheels. time. That might have made sense if I didn’t have a I am not sure when it started. It might have been full time job and a growing family with four kids.