A Chapter of the North American MGB Register A Zone of the Vintage Triumph Register

www.BMCUTAH.org

January 2014 Volume 25 Number 1

Larry Farrington has provided a tentative schedule for planning and discussion purposes. Bring your ideas and suggestions along with a volunteering spirit (for yourself or others).

Tentative Schedule 2014 2013 Lucas Calendar for reference

February 7th Planning Dinner Saturday February 16, 2013: Planning Dinner.

March 15th St. Patrick’s Saturday March 17, 2013: Lunch and then drive, MacCool’s, Paul Jaroch

th April 13, 2013: Once Around the Lake, Paul Jaroch April 12 Once Around the Lake. Saturday

May 18, 2013: Antelope Island Run, Kimberly Owens.

th May 10 Antelope Island. Saturday May 25-27, 2013: Memorial Day Run, Steamboat Springs, CO, Jim Stover

th th May 24 – 26 Bryce Canyon Drive Saturday June 15, 2013: British Field Day, Liberty Park, SLC, Jon Hermance

st June 21 British Field Day Saturday July 2, 2013: Eaglewood Show North Salt Lake, Bruce Oblad

nd July 2 Eaglewood Show Wednesday July 14, 2013: Trappers’ Loop Run, John Progess

August 17, 2013: Alpine Loop Run, Larry Farrington July 13th Trappers Loop Sunday September 2, 2013: Miner’s Day Parade, Park City, Floyd Inman August 16th Alpine Loop Saturday October 5, 2013: Mt. Nebo Loop Fall Color Run, Kevin Cowan September 1st Miners Day Parade Monday November 9, 2013: End of Season Dinner

October 5th Fall Colour Run Sunday Several impromptu drives in the beautiful weather.

November 8th End of season dinner Saturday Are there any new drives to try?

Page 2 New RHD Bugeye in town (Heber).

I Was Not Looking rangements to borrow a trailer from and the spare parts loaded easily a fellow club member and a truck enough. Car was exactly what I By Drew Frink from my father-in-law. My wife expected, a little rough but sound. kindly agreed to come along and Seller was pleasant, papers were I want to start out by saying that I keep me company, and at 5 am on signed, and off we went headed was not looking. Even though I had a Saturday we started out on the back toward Barstow, dinner, and a put out some feelers over the win- long drive from Midway to Fall- nice bed. Or so we thought... ter, I had decided that another one brook, California. The last time I was not for me. Not even if I found did this drive to rescue a car it was my Holy Grail; even if that right snowing in all the passes, so I was hand drive 1959 Austin Healey excited for the decent weather. To "Bugeye" Sprite crossed my path, I quote of Top wasn't looking. I was going to keep Gear fame, "how hard could it be?"

my lovely MGB and enjoy the Get to the mouth of Cajon pass and The plan was to drive to Fallbrook, driving. we stop. Small brush fire in the pick up the car, and drive back as canyon, no good way around it. far as Barstow on the first day. Then in August I got a message Slowly merging many lanes down Through the power of Google maps from a friend -- had I seen the car to just two. With a borrowed truck we were able to see satellite views for sale out in California? The right and trailer we ate dinner sitting in of all the hotel parking lots along hand drive 1959 Austin Healey the driver's seat. Two and a half the way, and the hotel in Barstow "Bugeye" Sprite? No, as a matter hours of slow crawling misery later had parking for semis -- plenty of of fact, I had not. I looked at the we were finally free of the conges- room for us and our little Bugeye ad, considered it for a day or two, tion. Deliriously exhausted we fi- contingent. All that was left was and chucked the information. nally dragged ourselves into the the driving. Didn't need another car. Just not hotel at about 11:30pm, about 4 the right thing to do. Couldn't beat hours late and more tired than ei- what I already had. ther of us had been in a long time.

This resolve lasted almost a week. I And the traffic. Lordy love us, the The next day was a beautifully un- dug up the info and made a call to traffic. eventful drive back to Midway. As the seller. Found someone local to we crossed the border into Nevada the car to do an inspection. My we each gave an unscripted one- friend called me from the inspec- finger salute to the roads of Cali- tion and said he hadn't found any- fornia, a place we hope to never thing that would keep him from drive in again. We arrived back in buying the car. After thanking/ Midway at a reasonable time and cursing him for the inspection I About an hour and a half of slow- safely stored the little car away. called the seller back and bought Too much driving over just two the car. downs in California on the way down. Not too bad, but we were days, but even with the traffic nas- tiness I was glad that we made the Some things you just can't resist. tired after the long day's slogging. Met with the car's owner and got it effort. No money was saved, but Call it a slightly late 40th birthday we did ensure that the arrived safe present to myself. Call it a moment and sound. of insanity. Ultimately I decided that I'd been presented with the opportunity to buy my dream car and would never have forgiven myself for letting it slip away.

Over the next week I made ar- Drew Page 3 New RHD Bugeye in town (Heber) cont’d.

After some thinking and planning I She's headed out for paint and even though I won't be driving it

decided that I needed to focus my some body repair, and then the for a while. resources on just one car, so the long process of rebuilding every- MGB found a new home with club thing else will begin. Best guess is I'll be out at club events on my member Paul. two to three years, finances and bike; hopefully y'all won't mind time depending. Mostly finances. the Italian Moto Guzzi addition to With a firm plan in mind for how I the club. want this Bugeye to be, I dove in So I'm back to being a Bugeye guy Drew and stripped the car all the way again and I down -- not that hard with a couldn't be Bugeye as there's not that much to happier -- take off!

BMCU Exchequer Report 4th Quarter 2013

Beginning balance (from last report) $5469.93

Interest .17

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary of Kanab - 100.00

Ending balance $5370.10

A full set of financial statements for 2013 will be presented at our annual members meeting in February as part of my Exchequer report.

Thanks to you all for a terrific year. Looking forward to seeing what we can do for 2014.

Martin Van Nood Exchequer Page 4 BUCA di Beppo Italian Restuarant

You can check out the BUCA website for a look at the menu, prices, art work, etc: www.bucadibeppo.com

Buca has 5 locations in England!

Something else you will want to check out is in the recent edition of Moss Motoring magazine for an article by longtime BMCU personality, Gary Lindstrom. http://www.mossmotoring.com/still-crazy-years/

Still Crazy After All These Years

Page 5 2014 Planning Dinner—February 7, 2014

Lucas Calendar The British Motor Club of February 7, 2014: Planning Dinner. Utah welcomes anyone who owns or is a fan of classic March 2014: British cars and trucks. April 2014: Membership is free. If you

May 2014: are not a member and would like to join, go to our Con- June 2014: tact page and let us know!

July 2014: http://BMCUTAH.org July 2014: If you would like to attend August 2014: any of our events, you must September 2014: adhere to the following rules: October 2014:

November 2014: 1. Show Up! 2. Have fun!

Please send ideas, suggestions, comments, articles, and/or photos for the BMCU Newsletter to the editor: [email protected] British Motor Club of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah

As a Jaguar XJS person myself, I think Jeremy Clarkson’s modifications to his XJS in the BBC episode on India may not be appreciated by everyone. -ed.