DVCMG

Nov 20, 2011

The DVC Annual Planning Meeting was held Sunday, November, 20th at the Silverdale Borough Park Building. The weather was unusual for an MG gathering as it was a beautiful, sunny and crisp day which invited many to drive their vintage automobiles of the club’s marque. Gracing the parking lot were a ’47 TC (Dave Sarley and son), a ’52 TD (Dick and Sandy Suffredini), a  ’64 B (Lee and Liz Niner),  a 73 B (Dave Schwab), a ’73 BGT (Paul and Evonna Phillips),  a ’74 B (Bill Boorse), a ‘77 B (Warren Doerner), a ’78 B ( Jerry Russell), a ’79 B (Jeff Rose), and a ’80 B (Pat and Carmita Alzamora).  In addition to those arriving in their MG, in attendance were Pat and Patty Cawthorne, Wolfgang  and Gudie Fischer, Chuck and Judy Goelz, John and Pat Hunt, Adam and Eva Ilnicki, Ben and Cindi Nolan, Tom and Jaimee Rippert, Jim and Diane Sanders (hosts), Earl Wanklin, and Lee Wesner. Good food and beverages were enjoyed by all.

The meeting began with an introduction of our new member, Jerry Russell. Patty Cawthorne gave the treasury report. The club’s finances are in good shape and even showing a surplus. This led to a discussion on how the club should use these funds. Suggestions included car badges, purchasing a tent for the car show, applying the funds to the 2012 Holiday Banquet, funding a trip or an event, dues reduction, providing a publication (e.g. The British Marque) with membership and several more.  Club members are asked to give this some thought and forward their ideas to Patty Cawthorne, Tom Rippert, or Dick Suffredini.

The inaugural  Founders  Cup, won this year by our club at Triathlon  IX,  was displayed. This year’s triathlon was the first presentation of this trophy awarded to the club with the highest average score based on the number of cars competing. This coveted award is testimony to the high quality of participation by our members at Triathlon IX.  As a side note, Cape Cod won the Wiggins Teapot.

The use of the club’s web site was discussed; any suggestions or comments should be made to Lew Phillips.  Also, to be added to our website will be a menu to order Regalia. This site will offer a wide range of apparel which can be ordered with the club’s insignia/logo.

The main portion of the meeting was determining the 2012 calendar of events.  Check out the tentative schedule and watch it develop on the website’s DVC Events Page.

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Nov 5, 2011

Once again, members of the DVC and their friends gathered to burn the dastardly Guy Fawkes. More than 50 people got together at the home of Bill and Linda Boorse on the evening of November 5^th and enjoyed food, drink and companionship to celebrate the Halloween season, and to commemorate Guy Fawkes Day. As the effigy of Fawkes turned to ash and smoke, guests welcomed the warmth of the bonfire on the chilly Fall night. At times the fire rose nearly to the tree tops and was large enough to prompt a call from local law enforcement. But since all the permits were in order no problems occurred.

DVC was represented by Bill and Linda Boorse, Donna Bristol, Pat and Patty Cawthorne, Warren and Nancy Doerner, Walt King, Paul and Evonna Phillips, Tom and Jaimee Rippert, Dave and Gloria Schwab, Louise Story, Dick and Sandy Suffredini, and Earl Wanklin. By the way, Earl drove all the way from his home in Sullivan County and back that evening. Many club members arrived in an MG, and the Boorses received several comments from neighbors about the “nice cars” in their front yard.

In the house, all kinds of delicious foods were served, thanks to the generosity and skills of the guests, while at the fire, an eclectic variety of conversation took place with topics as far ranging as MG repairs, whiskey making and the raising of sheep. As the evening progressed most people drifted back and forth from the house to the fire, with few lingering in the cold in between. Eventually, the fire was allowed to die down but a few hearty souls remained until late in the night, to soak up the warmth of the embers and engage in an enthusiastic conversation about DVC politics. And finally all that remained of a wonderful evening was the smell of wood smoke.

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Oct 15-16, 2011

It was a dark and stormy night…. um..…actually, it was pretty nice night, that Friday night before the Fall Tour to the Poconos that Adam and Eva had planned for us, but unfortunately I wasn’t ready. No time to prep the TD … gas up, check oil level and tire pressure, mechanical checks… the usual things.  So at 8 Saturday morning Lee and I were on our way to the meeting place in Ottsville, hoping for the best. Luckily we had enough gas to arrive on time, 9 am, so we could fill up and be on our way with the group of 12 couples, all of us happy to be on the road again. The group included: Pat & Patty Cawthorne (MGB), Paul & Evonna Phillips MGB-GT), Dave & Gloria Schwab (MGTD), Dick & Sandy Suffredini (MGTD), Tom & Jaimee Rippert (MGTD), Chuck & Judy Goelz (MGA) Lew Phillips & Rita Mandik (Subaru), Bill & Linda Boorse (MGB), Jim & Diane Sanders (MGTD), Mike & Karen Kerns (MGTC) our hosts Adam & Eva Ilnecki (MGB), and yours truly, Jerry & Lee Keller (MGTD…Top Down).

After an exciting morning’s top-down drive that included a Keystone Kops follow-the-leader routine through beautiful downtown Easton and a nice lunch at the I-Forget-the-Name-of-the-Diner in Lake Ariel, PA, we finally arrived mid-afternoon at the King’s Barn in Thomson, PA where we were booked for the night with bedrooms assigned by the luck of the draw.  Yep, it was a real barn, but all restored and reconditioned and outfitted inside with 12 bedrooms plus a HUGE dining and lounge area with a complete kitchen off to one side. No chickens or cows or horses, but the working fireplace had plenty of wood available for convenient misappropriation, and the pool table was nicely furbished with Russian-made felt and invisible chalk.  Oh, well, the atmosphere was typically DVC, warm and friendly and fun, and who needs to play pool when you have a bunch of friendly DVC folks and plenty of food and drink? Relaxation was universal and complete, as usual, and I quickly learned about the wonderful Polish cherry liqueur brought by Adam & Eva. For this, I was definitely ready. It was a great way to bide the time until the arrival of our excellent catered dinner, and it was a wonderful addition to the dessert menu as well. Even if I can’t remember what it was called.

Sunday morning was a bit chilly but quickly warmed up sufficiently to warrant leaving the TD’s top down again and we were soon packed up and under way to our breakfast spot, the Flying J in New Milford.  I quickly discovered that the TD’s top wasn’t the only thing “down”…. the brakes were down also, nearly to the floor.  Fluid reservoir full, no apparent leaks, so we’ll keep on keepin’ on.  Brake by downshifting as much as possible, and use sparingly what little stopping power we have until we can get the chance to re-adjust the brakes at the wheels.  After breakfast, Adam led us onto a dirt track strewn with rocks and other obstacles that were no doubt put there as a test of car conditioning and character, as well as driver/passenger intrepidity and intestinal fortitude.  I’m happy to report that all concerned passed these Rugged Tests with Flying Colors. In fact, the few whispered comments of “Are we really going down THERE?” and “Where the hell ARE we, anyhow?” were easily drowned out by the many loud shouts of “Good show!”, “We MADE it!”, and “Jolly fine MG road!”.

Reaching our destination at the Lackawanna Coal Mine in Scranton without further incident, most of us chose to take the two-hour tour deep underground, but Lee and I were not among them. Good thing too, as it started to rain and we decided to hit the turnpike for a quick return home to a dry garage.  The brakes held out nicely, and of course we found out later that Murphy stopped the rain soon after we left.

I’m sure everyone on the tour joins me in thanking Adam & Eva for arranging a fine tour, and leading us on a truly excellent and memorable drive on real MG roads through some beautiful Pennsylvania Fall scenery.

Jerry Keller

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 September 25, 2011

With the endless rain we’ve had since August, it was questionable if we’d have to postpone the Hornsby Rallye.  That’s right, the forecast was for heavy rain, again.  But the “good weather fairy” came through for the DVC and it was a beautiful day for a rallye.  A sunny, mild, top-down day.

Fourteen cars showed up at the Brickside Grille in Exton for the start of the rallye.  After registration and the driver’s meeting, the first car was sent on its way by Jim O’Brien.  The rallye was approximately 50 miles through beautiful countryside.  It was hard to stay focused on the clues with all those beautiful stone farmhouses to look at!  By the way, how many were there??  Too many to count, that’s for sure.

There was one checkpoint  – in St. Peters Village – for a 30 minute break.  This is where the starter went on Earl Wanklin’s Porsche.  What to do??  Jerry Keller came to the rescue and towed Wank’s Porsche with his TD!  Fortunately not too far, but “uphill,” till Earl could drift backwards and get his car started.  I sure hope someone has a picture….

The rallye ended back at the Brickside Grille, where we all had a bite to eat and maybe a beer or two, while Jim and Marie tallied the rallye sheets.  The results are as follows:

1st place – Jim and Janet Taylor in a 2010 Honda Fit
2nd place – Paul & Evonna Phillips in a 1976 MG Midget
3rd place -  Dick & Janice Comly in a 1970 MGB
4th place -  Pat & Patty Cawthorne in a 1977 MGB
5th place and winning the Hornsby Cup – Jim Sanders and his daughter Lisa Burke in a 1953 MGTD
6th place – Dick and Sandy Suffredini in a 1952 MGTD
7th place – Tom & Jaimee Rippert in a 1953 MGTD
8th place – Steve Albright & Jen Sauermelch in a 1976 MGB
9th place – Adam & Eva Ilnicki in a 1973 MGB
10th place – Wade Albright & Jill Roesch in a 1959 MGA
11th place – Dave & Gloria Schwab in a 1950 MGTD
12th place -  Earl Wanklin & Anthony DiCroce in a 1970 911T Porsche
13th place -  Jerry & Lee Keller in a 1953 MGTD
14th place -  Donna Bristol (solo – Walt had the flu) in a Jeep

A big thank you to Jim O’Brien for a fantastic rallye.  Also, thank you to Mark Bilinski and Bruce and Dottie Allen for their help.  Thanks to the Brickside Grille and the Hankin Group (Eagleview Corp. Center) for the use of their facility and the fine service by their staff.

Everyone had a great time – no fights, no divorces.

Hope to see you soon,

Jaimee & Tom

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Sept 10, 2011

On September 10, 15 DVC members, 7 MG’s, 1 Volvo, and one dog, gathered at the Heritage Winery in Mullica Hill, NJ for a leisurely tour of a few SJ wineries.  Despite the weatherman’s threats of rain, the day was perfect top down weather.  Participating were Jaimee and Tom Rippert, Louise Story, Sandy and Dick Suffredini, Patti and Pat Cawthorne, Gudren, Wolfgang and Buddy Fisher, Jan and Mark Scherbekow,  Eva and Adam Llnicki, and Cyndi and Ben Nolan.

After an hour or so at the Heritage, a pattern seemed to be emerging – women spending more time at the wine bar and men spending more time near their cars.  Then it was off to the Bellview Winery  for its fall Harvest Party. A $5 fee gave us a glass and the ability to taste wine for as long as we were able. Oddly the men seemed to prefer a mystery beverage they kept in their cars.  We found a spot in the shade and listened to a classic rock band while we ate hot dogs, burgers, or sausage and pepper sandwiches.  Some of the more adventurous ( or crazy)  women participated in a wine stomping activity.  The barrels were much smaller than the one used by Lucy and Ethyl but big enough to accommodate 2 stompers.  Sandy and Jaime shared one barrel and Cyndi and Jan another.  Gudi had a barrel all to herself!  Needless to say one wine stomper’s enthusiasm out shined all the rest.  Guess who!  Jan not only stomped with wild abandon but tasted the grapes as well.

Being avid wine tasters, the women decided to add a 4^th winery to the tour. We then followed Ben and Cyndi (who gave directions via a broken CB).  This was particularly difficult for Patty, whose map and directions flew out of the car before the 2^nd winery. The route took us over some pleasant South Jersey back roads , thru the small Boro of Elmer, and to the charming Wagonhouse Winery. This was a perfect winery for the men because it had a hammock and patio chairs where they could relax and drink their mystery brew.  How much did they bring???  Inside the women were given tastes of at least 10 different wines!  Needless to say many of us had more than exceeded our limit and still had one winery to go.

The Auburn Road Winery was our last stop and by this time, we were exhausted and sampled only a very few wines. We found the men sitting on the patio under the pergola staring out at the vineyards, mystery drink in hand.  We joined them for a time of reminiscing about past MG trips and adventures. What a  perfect way to  end to a beautiful MG day.  How lucky we all are to have such wonderful  friends!  Safety fast!

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