Monthly Meeting Minutes
Third Monday, April 15, 2013

Attendance: 35 members

The meeting began at 8:03PM with our President, George Phariss, banging the gavel to bring the rowdy bunch to order. George welcomed new member, and the evening’s presenter, Martin “Marty” Fay, and his wife Anita Fay.

David Novak (that’s me) revealed that he finally got a new adjustable sway bar installed, and initial tests show a positive improvement in controlling body roll. But he’s anxious to try it out at the Miata Autocross.

Dave Bralich reminded us that it’s much cheaper and easier to keep our MG’s on the road, when he recanted the tale of how the fuel pump in his truck recently died. He’s on the road again, but after a $600+ investment in parts and service!

Next we had a Marty Fay give us a presentation about his shop, but first we had 10 seconds of silence in memory, and support of, the victims of the Boston Bombing, which happened only hours earlier. I also announced that club member Steve Skegg had finished the Boston Marathon about an hour before the bombs went off, and was already miles away on his way home, with daughter Rose.

Marty Fay gave us an excellent presentation about his shop, Motor Works of DeKalb Illinois.  He’s been in business there since 1984, building a successful auto repair business, while carving out a niche around the repair and maintenance of classic cars. He showed us a couple of MG-B’s he’s worked on (and now owns!), as well as some other makes, including Rolls Royce, Triumph, Jaguar, DeLorean, as well as many others. Marty enjoys the work so much, he’s written several eBooks, including one on the Repairs and Restorations of MG’s! They are available on his (very nice) website: www.motorw.com

Staff Reports:
Membership is at 308, but only 256 have paid. So we’re missing about 52 members.  The staff have been calling to follow up with the “missing” members, with mixed results.

Regalia: No update on car badges. There are 2 left, which we might want to hold onto, since the molds for them are currently Missing In Action.

Library: Wilber Mennell noted that the donated copy of Repairs and Restorations of MG’s by Marty Fay will be in the library next month.

Upcoming events:
Highland games and car show is June 15th, and worth going to. If you put your MG in the car show, you’ll have great parking options. There’s also a Scotch tasting school, as well as traditional Scottish games. I hope they have fresh Haggis.

Mmmm...Haggis. It is being held at Hamilton Lakes in Itasca, Illinois.

Spring Tune up, April 27th, from 4-8PM. Details on the club website.

May has 5 events! Including the Spring Chicken tour. See info elsewhere in the Driveline.

It was suggested that participants in MG-Club events, let the organizers know you’re coming. This helps out for making Dash Plaques, and having enough copies of route maps, and other things, so there’s no last-minute trip to Kinko’s.

Lisle Senior Car Clinic is Saturday May 11th. Contact Jim Vondran (vondrangroup@aol.com) if you are interested in volunteering to help inspect Senior’s cars, at the Lisle Public Works Garage. Jim can be contacted at 630-234-7102.

June will be busy as well, with the Miata Autocross, Lands End Trials, Austin Healey Autocross, Drive In Night, and Secrets of Jo Davies tour! Mark your calendars!

After which we had a short break.

Maynard Hirsch won the $17 in the 50/50 raffle (Thanks for shouting me the name Vic!)

Dan Herman spoke about the Jo Davies tour, and was worried that a mid-week tour might have low turnout, but said that he had 28 cars signed up!

George thanked Mary and Anita for coming to the meeting and the presentation. And mentioned that Philip Aleo, author of the book about the Meadowdale Raceway, will be giving us a presentation in a future club meeting.

At 9:17 George banged the gavel again, signifying the end of another successful meeting!

Respectfully submitted,

David Novak
CMGC Secretary