The Steering Column Left Hand Drive from our President

I knew that autumn was approaching a few weeks ago when the urge hit me again. Perhaps it was triggered by some reptilian nerve node in my brain, left over all these millennia, noting that the sun was a little lower in the sky but still warming throughout the day. Perhaps it was triggered by detecting the cherished aroma of the illicit burning of a few leaves by some modern day Patrick Henry standing up for his heritage in defiance of the EPA. Perhaps it was subliminally incited by something as innocuous as seeing a football schedule.
I don’t know exactly what triggers it, but it is there every autumn: it is the strong, inexplicable urge to buy a tweed sport coat. You know, one with suede elbow patches sewn on.
This may hearken back to an earlier time in my life, when autumn was associated with things like “semesters” and “dormitories”. When people were actually seen on a daily basis wearing tweed sport coats, with suede elbow patches, against a background of ivy covered walls and castle-like buildings. Some even smoked pipes. Ballpoint pens were a novelty then and seldom seen amongst that group, although mechanical pencils were rampant. Horn-rimmed glasses were common.
Many of the cars we drive today were new, or almost new, at that time. Their paint was shiny, their interiors were fresh, and their warranties were still in effect. They offered an intriguing alternative to the sedans and station wagons of the day and they seemed to go well with tweed sport coats. They established an enduring impression on all who knew them. Maybe that’s part of the tweed sport coat connection, maybe that’s why it keeps coming back to me.
Time marches on, and we must march with it – or at least with part of it, if we can get away with an incomplete acquiescence. So while we are right to worry about MPG, IRA, ROI, NYSE, NASDAQ, Fannie, Freddy, descending prime rates and disappearing primates we are, indeed, lucky to have a diversion to our energies in our garages.
This year, the club has sponsored a variety of events to help you enjoy your car as much now as you did back then: rallies, autocrosses, long distance trips, tech sessions and more. As autumn turns to winter, with our cars put into storage, we will be focusing on indoor activities such as tech sessions, the

swap meet, and social gatherings. Hope you enjoyed the warm weather events and will be joining us over the winter.
And, of course, tweed sport coats with suede elbow patches are always welcome.

Safety Fast, -- Jim Evans

The Steering Column Right Hand Drive from our Vice - President Well guys, it’s almost time to put our cars to sleep for the next 4 or 5 months maybe not completely, but certainly for the most part. It does provide us with an opportunity to fix some of those little problems that have cropped up during the driving season. Of course, there are always questions that come up as how to exactly remove the "whatsis" to get at the "goober"??? Well, sometime it pays just to ask someone and probably the best place to find an answer to those little questions is to go to Dave's "fall tune-down and chili party"! There, you can ask your questions and 9 out of 10 times somebody can answer and come up with a solution to your problem. Plus, its just great to get together and "shoot the breeze." And, don't forget the Annual Christmas Party! Special this year because the Vintage Club joins us in the fun and frivolity of the season. What with the opportunity to greet old friends and meet new ones, this is one party you won't want to miss..... Something I thought worth noting and a lot of fun to read was an article done back in 1994 by Peter Egan, about restoration and first drive of his 73' MGB. Peter Egan as you may or may not know, is the contributing editor of Road & Track magazine and always writes very entertaining essays every month in that august journal. Well, if you're interested, you can find it on the internet at www.mgexperience.net. Click on MGB & MGB GT Forum and find "selling my 73B" by jcasparre. You might have to go back a few pages to find it; I saw it today (Sat. 10/25/08) on page 4, so just keep going back. After you find the message, you go to flicker.com and see the article. It is always a very entertaining well-written piece. Well, that's about it for this month and as I always say, "keep the shiney side up, and the rubber side down!" - Dean