The Octagon

 NEWSLETTER OF THE CLASSIC     CLUB  

          Vol. 46                       No. 1                    Issue 532                                       January 2008

MAINTAINING THE BREED FOR OVER FORTY YEARS

PRESIDENT:   Dan Stewart. 3901 Wimbledon Dr. Lake Mary, FL 32746, Phone 407 804 9205 

E-mail - Dan@MaitlandImports.Com.

EDITOR:  Send Articles to Tony Roth, 551 Gilbert Rd., Winter Park, FL 32792.  Phone 407 671 6888 - E–mail – ClassicMGClub@cfl.rr.com.

MEETING:  As usual it is the third Thursday, January 17^th at 7:00 PM in the Maitland Senior Center, 145 S Maitland Ave. in (you guessed it!) 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.  The location of the post meeting will be the first topic of discussion.  Others will include our role in the upcoming British Car Day.  Hope we see you there.

NEW PRESIDENT:  At the Christmas party, people were exchanging personal gifts to each other.  Dan Stewart opened a couple – one contained the gavel.  Dan Said: I was warned to be careful, but didn’t heed the advise in the newsletter.  It is our hope that during Dan’s administration he will work with everyone to get more members active at meetings and events.  We should start with those such as the Delaney, Lagana, Busbee and MG Jim who have been active, but we haven’t seen in a while. 

JANUARY OVERNIGHTER:  Our annual January overnighter that will be on January 26-27 to the Quality Inn in Palatka is shaping up to be a great event.  Last I heard, we are expecting ten couples from here, ten from Jacksonville and a couple from the West coast.  If you have not made your room reservation by now, I suggest you call 386 326 3481 ASAP

Our tour will departure is from the Burger King in Longwood on State Road 434 just west of the I-4 at about 9:15 AM January 26, not in beautiful downtown Maitland.  Arrangements will be made to meet Lester and Anne and maybe the Thomas’s somewhere along the route. Lunch will be in Crescent City. The plan is to meet Jacksonville at the Inn mid afternoon.  There will be a BYOB cocktail party before dinner.  Prior to departure Sunday morning we are planning a side trip to the Ravine Gardens State Park about 1 Mile from Palatka.  Any questions contact Paul Plasschaert at pplasschaert@cfl.rr.com  or 407 331-7531.  Sounds like a great weekend of MG driving and fellowship.  I do hope you will make it.

FEBRUARY EVENT:  Got an idea for the February event.  Bring it to the meeting or e-mail it to President Dan if you will not be able to make the meeting.  Thanks.

 EVENTS PAST:  Kathy and Al Cook really put on the dog for us at the Christmas party, which they hosted.  The house was festive, the food was super, and the fellowship was at a peak. There was a large turnout of members dressed in their finest.  It was good to have Tony and Marcia Geraci there attending their first Club event.  We enjoyed having them; I hope they enjoyed being with us.The gift exchange went off in the usual manor.  There were some gifts. Such as the naked lady vase, that has appeared over and over for many years.   I guess that makes it fun. The highlight at the Christmas party was Will Bowden’s announcement that he and Voyce Fuller were engaged.  We wish them all the best. All in all, it was a good evening with good people having a good time.  Our thanks to the Cooks for all the work they did to make or evening a big success. JUST IN:  Tony Gircie has attended the last four or five meetings while looking for an MG to purchase. I understand that he just bought Warren Wotton’s Red TF.  Presently he is working with Will Bowden to make it road worthy again. TOUR OF LIGHT:  In lieu of the meeting, we held a tour of Christmas decorated houses.  There was about a dozen cars in the line that somehow was able to remain together.   Most of the houses in the area we where toured (Red Bug Rd. & Tuscawilla Rd.) were well done.  None were in poor taste like a yard full of blow-ups of every kind and nature or the likes of Santa holding the Baby Jesus.  We ended for dinner at Tuscany’s Restaurant in Winter Springs. (On time I might add.)   We had our own area that made for good conversation while eating good food.  It was a place we will have to return to in the future. Our thanks go to Dodie and Jim for setting up a very enjoyable tour and dinner. GOF, MK XLII, SOUTH:  The Sun Coat Classic MG Club says plans are progressing nicely for GOF, South that will be held on April 11-13 at Silver Springs.   The Inn and Spa at the Springs (Actually across the street) is the host Motel. Complete details have not been released yet. “As we will be hitting the newsletters all over from January to the event to encourage all to come out for what will be a fantastic event for all”. You can rest assured that it will be a fantastic event as stated above.  In the meantime, go to their website www.britishcarclub.net for a registration form and the number to reserve your room.           Please be considerate and register early so they may plan for everyone. JOSE IGNACIO sends Holiday Greetings to everyone and wishes for a healthy 2008.  He will turn 95 in April and is still doing great.  He spends most afternoons dancing at the local senior tea dances.We also wish him a good year and will miss him at the GOF where he was a fixture for so long in the past.