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Monthly Column of Driving Events

GOBBLE GOBBLE!!!!!!

I always associate November as the month to acknowledge that there’s always something to be grateful for, for example, being involved and active in the BEST CAR CLUB EVER with AMAZING members whom Tim and I consider to be GREAT friend’s with!!!

There are the NFL Games, Thanksgiving Parades, and of course the big day itself - THANKSGIVING DAY, a time to gather with close friends and family and go into "OVERDRIVE" feasting on MAJOR carbs, Turkey and of course PUMPKIN and PEACON PIE!!!! Then it’s NAPPY TIME, curling up to a nice fire on the sofa or recliner chair and popping a ton of TUMS to settle our tummies!! Maybe some Advil as well to sooth our heads from all the Drama at the dinner table, which is usually inevitable - well, at least at our dinner! LOL!!
November is also a very solemn month for me. Knowing we will wrap up our driving season and that there is only 1 Scheduled Driving event left on the calendar Recapping on last month’s events,
The Car care Safety Clinic for seniors took place on Saturday the 16th, hosted by Jim Vondran. I heard there was a very nice turn out! You can read more about this in this month’s issue.

On Sunday, October 10th, Amy and Russ Mehaffey hosted the "MODIFIED" WBC (wine beer and cheese) tour (day trip only). There was an extraordinary turnout of 22 cars and 44 members both from the vintage club and Chicago MG club!! Right out of the gate in the parking lot of our drivers meeting, POOR Russ and Amy Mehaffey’s battery pooped out! Never fear, Bill Kalafut, Ray Hanson and Tim Schafer all helped Jump their Stunning MGA with Doug Clark’s Beautiful TC and we were all on our way on a lovely drive consisting of beautiful Scenic back roads up to Northern Wisconsin! What fun is a ride if there are not any mishaps???? For one: a spitfire broke down on Rt. 120 in Volo - a flat tire no less...Leave it to ALL our handy "mechanics", many MG members pulled over to help assist changing the tire and getting back on the road! It was like a TRUE "PIT STOP" moment!! Second, the organizer and host of this GRAND event, Russ Mehaffey, missed his own turn..it was quite the sightseeing all these MG’s turning around to follow our "leader"!! I was a bit disappointed that I was not able to stop and pick up some" FRESH EGGS", where we all turned around from. Last, the threat of rain finally came our way as we pulled into Kenosha at our final Destination - Mars Cheese Castle. Most of us got SOAKED, but that made the event all the more adventurous!!!! It was a FANTASTIC day all and all! Thank you Russ and Amy for a GREAT RIDE and a FABO Driving event!!! Enjoy more details on the write up on this event in this month’s issue!

Our last Driving event, the Halloween Rally took place on Sunday, October 24th hosted by (sadly, for their last time) Sandy & Phil Wydra. There were 14 cars, both MG’s and Vintage,
28 member’s total! Many of our members dressed up in their BEST Halloween costumes.

Tim and I went as the Phantom of the Opera and Christina! I was told "Christina" was a TERRIBLE navigator and "Jamie" was much better!!! Guess you can figure out; I missed a few roads to tell Tim where to turn and we did more than our share of turning around....good thing this Rally was NOT timed!!!
I blame it on the PHANTOM -- he can be quite the intimidating, "Controlling" Driver....LOL!!
The roads were AMAZING and the Halloween games at the forest preserve we all stopped at were clever and challenging!! Although there was a "Chill to the bone" with the outside temps, the rain held out until after our lunch!!!! Congratulations to all the Costume winners and the Rally Games!!
Rally Game Contest: 1st Place: Bill Kalafut & Jean Heasley, 2nd place Bob Lee & Kathryn Mraz and 3rd place: James Brennon & Jane Kasper
Costume Contest: Best Male: Bill Kalafut, Best Female: Kerry Hickenlooper and Best Couple:
Tim and Jamie Schafer!!!
A HUGE THANK YOU TO Phil and Sandy Wydra and all their helpers for another AMAZING HALLOWEEN SPOOKY RALLY!!!! IT WAS A BLAST!!!! Sandy was under the weather and did not make it to the event. We all missed seeing your sweet smiling face and hope you are feeling better and get well soon!!! Make sure to read the write up on this event in this month’s issue.
This month the Fall Tune Down, Hosted and organized by Dave Bralich, will take place on Sunday, November 7th. Come out and get your MG’s ready for a little hiatus and winter hibernation! Dave will help winterize and make necessary adjustments to your beloved MG’s! BEST REASON TO REALLY ATTEND.....BEST EVER CHILI and gathering about to just shoot the breeze and hang out!!!! Hope to see many of you there!!!!

I have heard that the NOTORIOUS Drive to the Rock, Hosted and organized again by Ann and Jake Snyder on Thanksgiving Morning, November 25th will not take place due to current construction and roadblocks currently going on. They may come up with an alternative meeting spot -- but I am not aware of that at this time. Should there be an impromptu meeting place, I am sure Ann will let us know via EMAIL Blast (Dave Novak) or at our Monthly club meeting on the 3rd Monday of this month, November 15th (More of a GREAT reason to show up to our club meeting, Mr. Beef & Pizza in Mt. Prospect at 7pm)

I am very SAD that I do not have any more events coming up next month in December......but I know we will all stay in touch and see one n other at the club meeting!!!!!

"May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!"

~~Jamie Schafer