Jensen Interceptor
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IN THIS ISSUE VISIT US ON THE WEB AT • Auto Curiosity ..................... 7 www.oecc.ca/vcb • Auto Report: China ............. 7 Download the Roundabout • At the Wheel ...................... 2 from our website: www.oecc.ca/vcb/rabt05.pdf • Autojumble ......................... 8 Upcoming Meetings: • Brits ‘round BC ................... 4 November 1: 7:00 - Dy- nasty Electric Car Corp., • Christmas Dinner ................ 2 591 Chester Road, Delta • ECAIP Report .................... 3 December 6: Christmas Pot Luck Dinner at Roma • Jensen Interceptor .............. 1 Hall - see page 2 for more • Ladner-Bellingham Run ..... 8 information! Be there! DUES ARE DUE! • Les Hetherington Update ... 2 $20 ON OR BEFORE 12/31 • OECC Picnic ...................... 7 $25 AFTER 12/31 OLD ENGLISH CAR CLUB OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, VANCOUVER COAST BRANCH SEP-OCT 2005 - VOL 10, NUM 5 I Fell in Love the Moment I Saw the But then I saw it, somewhat refined from its 1966 forbear, but still as distinctive, a 1974 Jensen Interceptor. I was transported Jensen Interceptor back to the Bayshore Hotel, almost 30 years earlier. I swear I David Ballantine could even smell the leather. (as appeared in the Vancouver Sun, August 26, 2005) The car was wheeled on to the stage. “Do I have an opening bid for $15,000?” Do you remember the first time you saw your British car, and No bids. knew you just had to have one? “Do I have a bid for $10,000?” I do. No bids. It was 1966, at a display of British cars hosted by the Bayshore Hotel. It was at that show that I saw my very first “Do I have a bid for $2,000?” Jensen Interceptor, and it was at that moment that I fell in love. And so the bidding began. And up it went. Through $3,000, The elegant stance, suggesting power and muscle, the long past $5,000, and all the way to $10,000. But at $15,000, the hood, the sumptuous cockpit with Connelly leather and Wilton bidders balked. Not really thinking about what I was doing, and wool, the distinctive glass trunk wondering how anyone could lid, and that glorious engine and pass up such a fine car, I made the twin exhausts. It was a took, what I thought was a quiet and a sound that beckoned gesture urging the bidders to people — even those who cared meet the auctioneer half way at little about cars — to come his $5,000 increment. closer, and imagine themselves The next part was kind of a behind the wheel, pushing the blur. vehicle to its limits, on a winding Apparently that bid paddle road in the distant countryside. thing is not so tightly enforced, . because the next thing I knew, Well, imagination would play a the auctioneer accepted my role in my relationship with the bid. I told myself not to panic, Interceptor for longer than I as the bidders would likely would have liked, as family and renew their bidding, and the career meant such indulgences worst that would happen is that would have to wait. I would have owned a Jensen Flash forward to September, for about 30 seconds. 1993. A classic car auction was being held in North Vancouver, I remember the deafening silence, hearing the word “Sold!” at the North Shore Theatre. Being secure in career, with my and lots of people turning to look at me and applauding. I had family firmly rooted in self sufficiency, I went down to look at the now bought myself a Jensen Interceptor. Paddle be damned. cars up for auction. You had to buy a paddle to participate in the auction, but as I had no intention of bidding, I declined the offer. Continued on page 3 Branch Christmas Dinner When:Tuesday, Dec. 6 Where: Roma Hall Chris Walker 940 Ewen Ave The annual Christmas Dinner and Awards Program was discussed at much length at the September meeting. Coming Queensborough out of the discussion was a fresh new approach that met with a New Westminster great deal of enthusiasm: a pot luck dinner with greatly simpli- fied awards program. As we have not been getting the big numbers attending in the past few years, we will be using the smaller upstairs room to create a more friendly and casual atmosphere. The Christmas Pot Luck Dinner will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 6, our normal meeting date, at Roma Hall. The celebration will begin at 6:30 with a “happy hour” and cash bar. Each member is encouraged to bring their favourite pot luck dish. Options include: hors’dourves (for the happy hour) salad main dish vegetable Time: desert Happy Hour 6:30 PM We can either coordinate dishes or leave it up to chance! Paper plates and plastic knives, forks, and spoons will be Dinner at 7:00 PM provided to keep the cleanup to a minimum. Bring: Your Favourite Pot Luck We may have a 50/50 draw with door prizes and a karaoke Dish sing along, or maybe play games? The focus is on making this a Cash Bar fun event this year that all will enjoy. Any ideas will be appreci- ated. I can be reached at 604-943-4367 or e-mail [email protected]. DRIVE YOUR OLD ENGLISH CAR TO OUR CHRISTMAS DINNER! AT THE WHEEL Les Hetherington Update Chairperson: Bart Shaw 604-946-4700 As many of you know, Les Hetherington had a heart attack Vice-Chairperson: Ken Miles on May 3, his birthday. Carol has provided email updates from [email protected] - 604-576-8036 time to time. Here is the most recent update. Treasurer: Elaine Lafontaine October 3: Les had an appointment with his heart specialist [email protected] - 604-591-3332 Membership renewals: at UBC last Friday. The doctor was really pleased at the #73-8190 King George Highway, Surrey, BC V3W 5B7 progress Les has made and said he was surprised at how Secretary: Dennis Nelson well Les is after such a big incident. [email protected] - 604-599-9032 Les is now on the list for a defibrillator. The doctor says he New memberships and correspondence: definitely qualifies. That’s the good news. The length of the 1932 Scarborough Drive, Delta, BC V4C 7X1 list is the unknown, so it could be a wait. Monthly General Meeting Coordinator: Steve Diggins 604-294-6031 Les is progressing slowly and there’s not much to show day Events Coordinator: Bence McIntyre by day. It’s only when I look back that I can see the differ- [email protected] - 604-536-2207 ence. His balance is much improved and we have taken the Phone Committee Chief: Walter Reynolds gates off the top of the stairs. [email protected] - 604-465-6350 / Fax 604-465-6359 We would appreciate anyone who was planning to visit him Roundabout Editor: Steve Hutchens in the hospital to continue visiting, only at the house. Just give [email protected] - 360-733-3568 / Call for Fax me a ring to make sure we’re there. He really enjoys his Articles and photos for the Roundabout: visitors and we don’t want him isolated. 2090 N Shore Road, Bellingham, WA 98226-7864 Roundabout Printing & Distribution: Richard Taylor Les and Carol can be contacted at: [email protected] - 604-298-9346 ICBC AirCare Liaison: Fred Bennett Email: [email protected] 604-939-1773 / Fax 604-939-1753 Residence: 2614 Cactus Court Good & Welfare: David Ballantine North Vancouver, BC V7H 1R5 [email protected] - 604-980-4120 Phone: 604-929-4105 Honourary Librarian: Ivan Fisher 604-270-1096 2 “Jensen” Continued from page 1 minute of it, I might add) how I ended up buying a car by My first thought was that my wife would kill me. Then some- mistake. how bring me back to life so I could return to the auction to get It is a testament to the power of love, and the fundamental what would have by then been her money back. I went home decency of my wife, that I was not required to return the car, and with a sinking feeling in my stomach, that I have, in fact, been allowed to go to preparing to face the music. Fortunately, car auctions since that day when I no one was at home, so I was able to bought our Interceptor by mistake. practice my defense. It is a testament to It is also a reminder of her role as Eventually, my daughter Fiona came the power of love ... family finance minister that whenever I home. She inquired about the auction, have gone off to any kind of an auction and jokingly asked if I had bought a car. I since then, the last thing I hear walking tried out my lines, and was greeted by out the door — after “I love you, too” — silence. After a very long five seconds, she fixed me with that is “And keep your mouth shut tight, and sit on your hands.” look she still has, and quietly advised that, “Mum’s going to kill In the 12 years we’ve owned the Interceptor, it’s no surprise you! I don’t want to be home when you tell her.” that my wife and I have had tremendous fun. We’ve met some Just then, demonstrating the remarkable sense of timing that lovely people, with whom we share many similar interests and has marked almost 40 years of marriage, my wife Margaret hobbies. I still get a thrill every time I see Margaret drive the car, came home. She must have seen our faces, and as usual, knew and I love the enthusiasm she shows for my work with the car something was up.