Greetings everyone!
I walked out to the garage today to get into FLOBEAR and join up with the Elkhart Lake tour only to discover I had a DEAD battery. I charged it for a few minutes to get it started. My fifteen month old alternator has bitten the dust. The ignition light is brighter than the headlights. My daily drives in FLOBEAR will have to take a brief pause. I am glad it went out now rather than on the road during our Tennessee trip. Other than the alternator, the car just needs an oil change before we leave on June 19.
Spring is here and the driving has been fun if a bit cool and damp. By the time you read this, the warm weather will be here and we can really take advantage of our LBCs. I have only had the top up twice since last month. May 27, through June 4 was British Car Week. I hope you drove your MG whenever and wherever possible. I will have the new alternator this week, so I will drive FLOBEAR daily. Last year, the car was cut apart waiting for new panels to be welded in. This is going to be wonderful.
Ann and I really enjoyed Russ and Amy's Spring Chicken Regatta. I found a new leak in my new windshield in the driving rain. (Pun intended). We enjoyed the watery drive through Dupage and Kane counties, before stopping for a delicious lunch at the Blackstone Grill on RT 34 just east of Yorkville. We drove a few miles up the road to the Fox Valley Winery, took a tour and tasted some wine. Fortunately the rain had stopped by then so we said our goodbyes and headed home.
The Spring Tune Up was on May 7th. Twenty-five members and their cars spent some time on the lifts. Everyone who wanted to work on their cars got the necessary lift time. We had no nasty surprises again and retired to the Kerry Piper Pub for lunch and beverages. The weather was absolutely fantastic so we had lunch outdoors on their patio. Many thanks to Mark at Quality Tire.
As I am writing this Wade and company are enjoying the vintage car races at Elkhart lake. I hope they all had a good time. I really wish I could have joined the tour.
The Lands End Rally is scheduled. It will end at Curt Bork's for the third annual multi club summer party. Check the web site for information.
We have started the restoration work on the project car. May 21, was spent evaluating and planning the process. If anyone is planning to purchase an MG, this is a great opportunity to find what to look for.
I have finalized hotel plans for the September Wine, Cheese, and Beer tour. I have hotel information posted elsewhere in this issue. I haven't had a chance to get anymore done on the tour, but it will come soon. I still need to resupply my Fat Squirrel stash at New Glarus.
We are just a few short weeks from MG2006. We have over twenty cars from our club going down at various times. There are nine cars departing in our Monday caravan. Others are leaving earlier or later depending on their schedules. Fifty-six people registered for the train trip. I think we will have a rail car to ourselves. In addition to the CMGC members we are being joined by people from Rockford's British Boots and Bonnets, the Chicago Vintage MG Club, Minnesota, and Ohio. We are going to have some stories to tell at the next few meetings. I have emailed my planned route down to everyone in the group. We will be using two way radios and cell phones to stay in touch as I have learned the limitations of cell phones over the last few years. If you have radios, let me know as we will need quite a few of them.
There are many driving opportunities coming up! Check the Driveline or the web site for up to date information. I hope you take every opportunity to enjoy your cars as I do!