The Octagon 

NEWSLETTER OF THE CLASSIC CLUB

Vol. 46                       No.8                    Issue 551                                  August 2009 

MAINTAINING THE BREED FOR OVER FORTY YEARS

PRESIDENT:   Jim McSweeney.  3516 Seaford Ln., Casselberry, FL 32707. Phone 407 695 2981.  E-mail jimspeedmaster@aol.com.

EDITOR:   Al Cook, 8554 Amber Oak Dr. Orlando, FL 32817.  Phone 407-678- 6814. E–mail editor@classicmgclub.com 

WEBSITE:  www.classicmgclub.com    Contact webmaster, E-mail: CMGCO@cfl.rr.com 

MEETING:  As usual, it is the third Thursday, August 20th at 7:00 PM in the Maitland Senior Center, 145 S Maitland Ave. in (can it be?) Maitland.    Directions: from Horatio and Orlando Ave. (AKA 17-92), Go West on Horatio to Maitland Ave. Then left (South) on Maitland Ave. to Packwood. Go right (West) on Packwood about ½ a block to the parking lot. Pull into the 1st driveway on the left.  We promise not to engage any technology more sophisticated than our members are used to, which means that we are back to kicking tires and then talking before adjourning to eat dinner! 

AUGUST EVENTS:  Another of our weather-challenged summer events will take place on Saturday, August 22, 2009 at Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café located in lovely downtown Sanford at 205 East 1^st Street, Sanford 32771 (407-321-2204).  The theme is definitely German and they feature great entertainment, some of which is on stage.  Seriously, this is a very popular venue where the beer list is extensive, the food is authentic and the entertainment is very good.  We have reservations for 7:30 which is late for some of our group, but there was no alternative.   I did ask about alternatives that would let us eat earlier, but the entertainment is so popular that, if we ate earlier, they would expect us to clear out before the 7:30 seating (and we wouldn’t get to see any of the show).  Because of the hour, we will just gather at the restaurant and enjoy conversation, fellowship and consumption, without any preliminary program.  If you drive your MG, make sure your lights are up to the task of returning home after dark!  We will take a show of hands of folks coming to the Saturday dinner at our meeting on Thursday, the 20^th.  If you are coming on Saturday, but not attending the meeting on Thursday, call Al Cook at 407-678-6814 to let us know you will be coming.   This is important because we have to re-confirm our reservations before Saturday.  We can’t reserve for 20 and have only a handful show up and, likewise, we can’t reserve for 20 and expect them to seat 10 extra folks!  If 7:30 seems too late for you, just come to stay and bring your jammies.  We’ll tell everyone that you’re French – they won’t know. Consistent with the German flavor of the August event, we will have a German themed MG trivia contest at the Monthly Meeting on Thursday the 20^th.  Prizes will be awarded!  We have a few song sheets with typical German Gasthaus music and, if we drink enough beer to speak German, we can practice at dinner after the meeting in order to be ready for Saturday!  We will explain that wishing a fellow MG driver a “Gute Fahrt” is a not an insult (or a social problem), but a friendly gesture! 

WRAP – UP OF JULY EVENT:  Our July event was a cook-out at the Cook’s.  Al had to eat Crow, as a result of his negative attitude towards the “fancy” hamburgers Kathy had prepared.  Everyone else proclaimed them “Great.”  We had a good turn-out and finally got to watch the DVD of the Bicentennial Run that had been promised at the Club Meeting on Thursday.  I am sure that Al Moss was referring to Tony Roth’s excellent newsletter writing skills when he referred to Tony as “The Mouth of the South” in his commentary.  I am glad that we have a record of this wonderful time, and surprisingly enough, Tony’s recollections and stories we have heard check out very well with the photos and commentary on the DVD. We also had the opportunity to replay the hit of our recent GOF, “Inside the Octagon 2,”  the story of the MG Car Company between 1945 and 1980.  Many who hadn’t seen it at our GOF got to see this excellent and entertaining history and their comments were just as favorable as those who saw it first in Crystal River. 

THANK YOUS (YOU’ALLS?)   You may recall that, in June, The Classic MG Club voted to donate a tidy sum each to the Duval Home and to the Russell Home for Atypical Children to share our good fortune from the proceeds of both our participation in the Winter Park Car Show and our own GOF.  We have now received a number of “Thank Yous” from those organizations.  Smiles all around!

 CLASSIFIED ADS:   Tom Jevcak is offering his 1958 MGA Roadster for sale.  It is an all authentic “1500” series with wire wheels, sliding side curtains and car cover.  An older restoration, it will need brake work to be able to drive.  He says you can have fun with it now or restore it for show, Asking $10,500.  Call Tom Jevcak, Tampa (813) 837-3111. Errol Willis, of Lady Lake, FL was cleaning out his garage the other day and realized that there was a 1972 MG Midget under all that stuff that he had forgotten about many years ago.  He knows that the little car wants to get out and run again, but he needs either encouragement to do the work himself or someone to take the project out of his hands.   Compassionate (or interested members are encouraged to help him with his problem by contacting Errol at Pedalhead84@comcast.net  

Good friend and founding member Blair Engle reports that his Classic MG Shop in Tallahassee (850) 385-2821, bengle001@comcast.net , is offering a 20% discount on Moss parts between now and September 23^rd.  Give him an e-mail to place your order 

 PATSY NAUMAN had a good report in our last report on her health.  Last week she was walking her dog and tripped breaking her hip.  To send her a note that to wish a speedy recovery, her address is:: 4420 Patrick Ave., Merritt Island, Fl 32953. 

OVERNIGHTERS:  Paul Plasschaert is making arrangements to return to Palatka for one of our overnighters.  We need to decide which one (October or January) and also pick a place for the other one.  Some suggestions are Riverside Villas in Homosassa, the Tuckaway in Melbourne Beach, a B & B in the Ocala Area  or perhaps a completely new destination.  I hope this can be finalized at the meeting.