July 2007 THE PREZ SEZ VOL. 28 Issue 7 Last month I mentioned that my family made up a fair part PREZ SEZ 1 of the Brit Breakfast run contingent, what with my son and OFFICERS 2 daughter each bringing their own Spitfire and MGB-GT, MINUTES 3 respectively. Debbie and I came in the MINI, as I reported, LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 6 because of a minor problem with the TR3. Even then, we MEMBERSHIP FORM 15 had a choice as to which alternative British car to bring, CALENDAR 8 either the MINI or the Jaguar. When I thought of this, you CLASSIC-FIED 8 know, I was compelled to face the ugly truth… I am in fact, HIGHWAY HUMOR 5 an Anglo-Autophiliac. And you just might be one too. TECH ARTICLE 10 SPLISH SPLASH 13 It all began rather innocently. I grew up liking all types of MEMBERS SPEAK 14 cars in a family not really interested in cars at all. I remember liking the charm of the archaic-looking MG T- CLUB MEETING: types, the rasping sounds emanating from the old JULY 10TH Triumphs, and the sexy curves of the E-type Jags. I recall SPAGHETTI FACTORY not caring for the Teutonic blandness of old Porsches or the CORNER McDOWELL AND feminine daintiness of Alfas and Fiats. I suppose I was CENTRAL already sensing the beginnings of the full-blown condition DINNER AT 6:00 the symptoms of which I now cannot hide. It all started with MEETING AT 7:00 an MGB-GT spied in a park-and-ride lot in San Diego. TFEST COMMITTEE British Racing Green with wire wheels. An interior smelling MEETING AT 8:45 richly of leather and motor-oil that can only be described as intoxicating! I even convinced Debbie that it was so very SUPPORT OUR (Continued on page 4) BENEFACTORS! Membership Marty Clark 480-962-7848 [email protected] Newsletter Speros “Jim” Andres 480-830-1874 / 480-628-7635 [email protected] Tech Advisors Armand LaCasse 2007 Officers 602-904-1037 President [email protected] Stu Lasswell & Roy Stoney 480-786-0116 602-231-0706 [email protected] [email protected] Triumphest 2007 Vice President & Events Wayne ‘Kiwi’ Treloar Mike Long 480-986-1268 480-544-8355 [email protected] [email protected] Webmaster Secretary Dave Riddle Deta Hampsch 480-610-8234 623-434-1999 [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer John Reynolds 480-968-6078 Membership [email protected] 2007 Appointees Contact Marty Clark at AAHC Rep 480-962-7848 for John Horton 602-843-1399 membership information. [email protected] Dues are $18.00 per year Distribution Gene Glenn 602-264-2534 [email protected] Historians Armand LaCasse 602-904-1037 [email protected] Minutes of the June Meeting The meeting opened with 34 present at The Imperial Gardens. New members included Dan Villa & his wife with a ’71 TR6, Simon & his wife with a ’70 TR6. The treasurer says he is sure he could double our money if given the chance. (HA-HA!!)Secretary ‘s minutes were approved as written in the newsletter. Up-coming events include a Pool Party at Mike & Rebecca Long’s home on 6-23 at 5 PM with a Triumphest board meeting at 3PM before the party starts. Sunday, July 15 we will meet at Railroad Park for a concert. The club will supply hamburgers & brats. Meet about 5PM in order to get good seats for the concert & have time to eat. There will be NO breakfast run this WELCOME NEW MEMBERS month since no club has come forward to host it. Kewi gave Robert and Karla Smith - TR3B highlights of the plans for Triumphest. He reminded everyone that the whole Patrick Collins - Spitfire club needs to help out in order for this to succeed. The event is right around Paul Jordan- TR6 the corner, being held Oct. 11-14. It Dennis Kullola - TR250 was voted to have the next meeting at the Spaghetti Factory. Map & Dan Villa, Jr. - TR6 directions will be on the web. John Horton distributed various items from Michael Jaye - TR3 The Isle of Wright along with various Simon Kotsailidis - TR6 TR6 items that were given to him. Dave Reynolds is putting VHS tapes of past events on the web for safekeeping. Meeting adjourned 7:50 PM DETA (PREZ SAYS - Continued from page 1) practical, what with that back seat and economical 4-cylinder engine. Thus started that fall into the pit that is addiction. Like most addicts, I fell in with the wrong bunch of people… those with the same problem. You don’t feel like such an outcast with others to commiserate with, and the MG club in San Diego seemed normal enough. It simple fact of it’s being British is enough for turned out that they exposed me to a whole me to crave possession! new world of such bizarre vehicles through local shows and shared venues such as I am of the sort that craves variety in my British Car Day and gimmick rallies. There I driving experience… I want one of everything! found myself exposed to ever more exotic and Realizing that this is impossibility, I’ve tried to interesting machinery, from the exquisite get a sampling of all the general categories. Astons to the inexplicable Berkeley. I guess The TR3 fills the open sports car niche quite the MG was my gateway drug into the world of nicely, and the MINI provides the reliability and more serious and perverse Anglo-Autophilia. frugality I need in a daily driver. The Jag XJ6 has that sedate, stately quality perfect for an The condition can actually come in varying evening out. I have all that I could want in the stages of severity and scope. I’ve known world of British motoring! Right? Rationally, individuals who seem able to stop with just yes. one British vehicle, lavishing attention on it, and seemingly express no desire or need to Unfortunately, the consummate Anglo- expand their obsession. Others love their Autophile is never satisfied. It seems that I chosen marque or model, but desire many can’t read enough about British stuff, and the examples of it. I knew a guy with eight MGCs. more I read about, the more I want! And not Another with an example of each variant of the just automobiles… When I need a new pair of MGB, totaling half a dozen of virtually the shoes, the union jack on Reeboks is enough same car. I know a guy now (whose identity I to make them my choice. Products made in shall not reveal) who cannot let a reasonably the U.K. are always more desirable, for no priced TR3 get by him. Not to mention any good reason. I know that I desperately need other affordable example of a car that to find myself a British motorcycle…BSA, interests him. My obsession falls into the Triumph, Norton, Royal Enfield, I don’t really broad spectrum British Car realm, as the care… and I don’t even ride motorcycles! Obsession, indeed. My short list of must-own automobiles keeps getting longer and more varied. Right now it includes a Lotus… real or replica, model 7 or XI. I don’t know how I’ve gotten along thus far without a Daimler SP 250. I think a TVR 2500M would really be neat… Triumph powered, too. So is the Peerless/ Warwick GT, also on the list. And those tiny little Berkeley roadsters, with their two-stroke cycle motors! And how about a REAL Mini, preferably a Cooper S. Speaking of Minis, Post Your TR Story the Unipower GT is Mini-based and pretty cool. Or the Mini-Marcos. Or the big Marcos All members that Register with the website Mantula. How about a Welsh car, the MG- (http://www.dctra.org) can post a profile and based Gilbern G18? Or a Ginetta? Or Elva? history of themselves and their car(s) along Alvis? Even Vauxhall! My obsession with a photo. Visit the site and on th obviously knows no bounds. emembership page you can find a detailed step-by-step process (including pictures!) of Perhaps we need to establish a support how to do it. group and call it Anglo-Autophiliacs Anonymous? AA for short… no, that’s taken. AAA? No, taken too. I really think that the government should recognize this very real Update Your Triumph problem, and that if it could be declared a Membership disease, like alcoholism, funding could be made available to help us. As long as the Marty has posted the updated membership funds could be used to buy more British cars! list on our DCTRA.org website (see files section). It ‘s updated through the January Brunch meeting. He is still accepting digital JIM MEDLAND, President pictures of your car (s) to include on this list. ROSS VAUGHAN, Parts Mgr. Club members voted to remove unpaid listings, so these will no longer receive club DELTA emails. If you would like your membership to be renewed, bring your payment to an event, MOTORSPORTS meetingmail a check (made out to DCTRA) to our Treasurer, John Reynolds, 806 E. INC. 9211 N. 9TH Ave., Phoenix. AZ 85021 Campus, Tempe, AZ 85282. JOIN US FOR FREE COFFEE & DONUTS EVERY SATURDAY MORNING FROM 9AM ENJOY A RELAXING GET-TOGETHER WITH YOUR FRIENDS. HIGHWAY HUMOR OUR ENTRANCE IS ON HATCHER WHERE 8th AVENUE WOULD BE ( IF THERE WAS ONE ) - C'MON DOWN! e-mail: [email protected] Parts and Accessories for Fine British Automobiles Fax (602) 971- 8609 Phone (602) 265-8026 ChooseChoose MossMoss OnlineOnline www.mossmotors.com - Interactive Illustrations - Tech Tips - Original Specifications - Online British Motoring Magazine or Call now for your free Catalog TRIUMPH 800-667-7872 Overseas 805-681-3400 As for my TR restoration project, a couple of Letter from the Editor friends, my youngest grandson and I spent 15 Greetings fellow Desert Dwellers hours working on my car on Saturday.