The Octagon 

NEWSLETTER OF THE CLASSIC  CLUB

                  Vol. 49                       No.1                    Issue 580                                    January, 2012 

             MAINTAINING THE BREED FOR OVER FORTY EIGHT YEARS

PRESIDENT: Pete Rogers, 31104 Fairvista Dr., Tavares, FL 32778.  Phone 352 343-1855  E-mail pfrslot@gmail.com.

EDITOR:   Al Cook, 8554 Amber Oak Dr. Orlando, FL 32817.  Phone 407 6678 6814- E–mail arcpa@mpinet.net.

WEBSITE:  www.classicmgclub.com  WEBMASTER:  Paul Plasschaert, E-mail: webmaster@classicmgclub.com

MEETING:  As usual, it is the third Thursday, January19th at 7:00 PM at the new location, “the Cottage at Lake Lilly” in Maitland.    Directions: from Horatio and Orlando Ave. (AKA 17-92), Go West on Horatio to Maitland Ave. Then left (South) on Maitland Ave. to the curve in the road (where you have to turn to keep from driving into Lake Lilly). Turn right (West) onto Lake Lilly Drive, a restricted usage road that curves around the lake.  The destination is a small white house on the left, about .2 mile.  Park and come in.  The address is 701 Lake Lilly Dr., Maitland FL 32751.  Topics of discussion include travel plans for our January Over-Nighter to Cedar Key and a re-hash of our Holiday party.  NOVEMBER/DECEMBER EVENTS FOLLOW UP :  November’s event was the Annual Flankey Picnic, Chili Cook-Off and Mini-Car Show which was held at Speer Park in Oakland, courtesy of Oakland residents Tony and Marsha Geraci and Will Bowden.  This year’s edition was held on November 20, on the weekend before Thanksgiving, and as before, we sent out the invite to our friends who drive other British cars.  We had a good mix of cars and their owners and we got to experience some good ‘ole-fashioned vegetable-rolling-fun, courtesy of Jim and Marline Files.  Luckily the SPCR (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Rutabagas) did not hear about our activities! On December 10^th, we gathered at the home of Pete and Sherry Rogers, in Tavares, for our traditional Christmas party and Chinese Gift Exchange.  We don’t know how many folks got lost as a result of our most complex directions (in 3 versions, yet) but a lot of folks made it, anyway.  Next year we will have to try a different ploy!  No permanent damage was inflicted on the Roger’s lovely home and the food was plentiful and delicious.  No appearance by The Naked Lady Vase or The Baby Food Jar Christmas Tree, but otherwise, the gift exchange went well and no fights were reported to this Editor.  We capped the evening off by neglecting to elect a new President, and so Pete is sentenced/elected to serve again for next year.  I guess everyone thought he should get another chance!  (No one asked Sherry!)  

GOF 46 UPDATE:   Our own GOF South, version #46 (Mark XLVI) will be right here at the Altamonte Hilton on March 23-25, 2012.  The organizing Committee is working hard on all the details of this large enterprise.  We are planning a New Orleans, Marti Gras Celebration in Grand MG Fashion.  As in past years, the registration will be in two parts.  If you want to take advantage of the SUPER DEAL we negotiated with the Altamonte Springs Hilton (only $99.00 per night for their best rooms), you can start your plans to attend by calling the Hotel directly at 407-830-1985 or 1-800-678-4380 and mentioning that you are attending the MG Gathering on March 23-25, 2012 and tell them the group code “MGCLUB”. Our Club will be taking direct reservations for the Event and all Banqueting (Friday night’s Marti Gras Celebration and Saturday’s Awards Banquet).  We have a wonderful buffet dinner set up for Friday evening, the 23^rd which will have a distinctive Marti Gras flavor and taste (only $25/person) and a lovely plated dinner arranged for Saturday’s Award Banquet with 2 choices of entrée and with Bananas Foster for dessert!  Those of you who have eaten out in the last 5 years will recognize that, at $40/person, this is a GREAT deal for a served dinner!

Information, Bulletins and Registration forms are available at our Club Website (www.classicmgclub.com) or at the separate website, www.gofsouth.com.  Please don’t be a procrastinator and chance missing out on the fun, companionship, and MG enjoyment of this great event.  We are getting inquiries from all over and expect to see some quite rare versions of our Favorite Car!

Remember that the cost of your registration never fully funds the costs of the event (insurance, snacks, trophies, etc.), so plan to bring items to donate to our Raffle and Silent Auction to help our Club defray the miscellaneous costs of this type of event.  Thank you, in advance, for your generosity.

JANUARY DRIVING EVENT:   On January 28, 2012, our club will stretch our legs a little when we travel to Cedar Key, Florida for our January over-nighter.  We sent out a Special Edition of the Octagon on November 18, 2011, but for you who didn’t act on that Notice, let me recap:  We will be staying the night of Saturday, January 28 at the historic Island Hotel in Cedar Key.  It was built in the 1850s and has picked up its share of ghosts over the years.  There are only 10 rooms to rent, and they might be all gone by now, but you can call (1-800-432-4640) to see or visit their website (www.islandhotel-cedarkey.com) to get more information.  I provided the names and phone #s of other accommodations in the vicinity: the Cedar Inn at 352-543-5455 and the Golfside Motel at 352-543-5308.  Other listings can be obtained at the Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce website.

The plan is for us in the Orlando Area to meet Saturday morning, January 28, at the Publix shopping center on US 17-92 in Maitland, close to the intersection with Horatio Avenue at 9:00 and to depart no later than 9:30.  We haven’t decided on a route yet, but we may have to consult a Magician in order to come up with an interesting way to get there.  I am told that portions of the route are somewhat boring.  We can discuss the route and a luncheon stop at our regular business meeting on the 19^th.  Let someone know if a group of you are leaving from another starting point, and maybe we can link up, along the way or at lunch.

While in Cedar Key, we plan, depending on our arrival time, to take in the local scenery/town, to walk along the waterfront, and to check out the sunset while looking for that perfect place to dine.  Fish, perhaps? We will have breakfast at the Island Hotel on Sunday and plan the days, activity(s) and the route home.