Last Thursday, March 18th, we had 19 folks (including 3 potential members) at the chapter meeting at the Abita Brew Pub, the first since the pandemic shutdown last June and an all-time record attendance for our group. We enjoyed the excellent company and catching up with everyone as well as Colin and Cliff’s report on the 2020 Amelia Island Concours.

Several members reported on recent work on their cars. Colin has been working on his Alpine; had the radiator serviced and replaced the water pump, negative battery cable, gas tank vent and filler pipes. Benny installed 2 SUs on his Spitfire to replace the US spec 2-barrel carb. David is replacing the thermostat on his MGB-GT and talked about a visit to A-to-Z Salvage yard in Albany. Cort worked on the head seals of his Morgan and got some period correct tires as well.

Saturday March 20th, 18 folks (another record) attended Cars & Coffee at Reiger’s on the Trace in Mandeville. In lieu of a drive afterward, Benny, Wiley, Cliff, Hugh, and Colin put their cars up on Jimmie and Debbie’s lift and wrenched, oiled, and greased our underbellies. Robert, Mike, Terry, Debbie, Richard, and everyone else provided extra hands, advice, commentary, and camaraderie. Jimmie worked the lift and provided whatever tools we needed.

A splendid time was had by all. The Northshore chapter is back full-time and rolling.


Colin McCormick
Mandeville, LA

The Renegade  Breakfast Group of Baton Rouge had a small group of 4 at the Dec 12 limited breakfast meeting, which was an equal split between LBC’s and two GCC vehicles.

Good food, fast service, a low ambient background noise and interesting back-story tales made for an enjoyable event.

There was Impromptu Tech Session immediately after with a windshield valet demonstration necessitated by a major condensation issue on both sides of the glass due to the inclement weather conditions, which then led to an extended discussions on MGB wipers i.e. “are all three identical or should the RH one be different?”  (Meanwhile, Randy pointed out that the German engineers had solved this issue on his vehicle by using just a single wiper arm and blade)

Meanwhile, the TR was undergoing carburetion adjustments so it could safely leave the parking lot.  “How to use the TR hand-crank mechanism with a minimum loss of coolant” was postponed due to the late hour.

Please remember that the last 2020 BR Group meeting is this Wednesday (Dec 9, 2020) – if you haven’t done so yet, please let myself or Bobby know if you plan to attend or not.  As it stands right now, it is forecast to be a cool but rainless evening and so absolutely perfect for us all to enjoy the dark and put our Lucas electrical systems to the test, plus a great opportunity to be an entrant to be the final “Loo Seat” winner of 2020. 

Cheers!

Robb C

subbing for the Roving Reporter!

BR Breakfast Dec 12, 2020

BR Breakfast Dec 12, 2020 mini tech session

Hey, nice BMCNO club meeting this week!  We had 10 members attend at Cafe’ American in the back room and we weren’t crowded at all.  I tried to run the meeting for Rick, but we missed his organization skills!  John and Mary brought 3 door prizes that were pretty cool.  Well, 2 cool door prizes and a Booby Prize – Bill Avery’s old air compressor.  He plugged it in and the waitress came running to see what we had blown up!  I guess with some fittings you might be able to air up a bicycle tire with it…

Cathy Greenfelder sent us 4 more masks she made for the BR group and we passed them out.  She is so talented!

This morning 4 of the usual suspects gathered at The Warehouse Restaurant for some British bench racing and good food.   If the weather doesn’t get better we may morph into the German Motoring Club!  (see picture)  We talked about the James Bond movie franchise, members who weren’t present (excluding Danny Bergeron who at least had the decency to call us on the phone) and how Jerry’s brother in law is doing.  I told the group I may have a line on 4 MGB parts cars for $1,800.  Waiting for contact info now.

John Paul at the Cushman table was telling me Robert Parent’s family may be clearing out his garage soon.  So I checked with Robert’s daughter and they are NOT selling anything just yet.  When I hear otherwise, I’ll let you know.  There is a treasure trove of old hot rods and parts, early Corvettes and more tools that all of us have put together, including maybe a lathe and milling machine.  

Randy is 99% done with the harmonic balancer bolt repair on his Mini, so I expect to see more British cars as the weather dries out.  

Cruise Safe,

Roving Reporter 

BR Cruise Dec 12, 2020

Hello Everybody,

Well, we sure had a great time this morning at breakfast and on our drive.  The weather was fabulous – high 50s to start, about 70 when we finished, and we had 8 vehicles/11 people on the drive.  Danny (and his friend Danny Bergeron), Bobby, Jerry, Randy, Milton, and I met at the Warehouse at 7, had a nice breakfast, talked about the upcoming Baton Rouge Cruise at the end of January, and made some plans for it.  

We left there just after 8 for the 15 minute drive up to Zoar Baptist Church where Annette Franklin, Robb Cowzer, Jerold and Molly Lebold, Butch Ammons, and Mike Jastram joined us for the drive. Bobby left us to head back home – he’s taking care of Connie after her neck surgery 2 weeks ago. So that’s why I’m the Roving Reporter today.

Jerold and Molly arrived in their bright red, looks like new, 1965 Sunbeam Tiger that has been in the family since 1970.  20,000 miles, painted once but never restored, I’m telling you it looked like new – perfect chrome, paint, interior, convertible top (replaced once).  What a treat for us all to see that car this morning.  You just never know what’s going to show up for a drive.  So we had an E-Type Coupe, two TR6s, a Tiger, an E-Type Convertible, an MGB, an MGB GT, and a bright yellow modern Honda 3 wheeler.  We sure got lots of honks from people we passed along the way.   

The winding roads in northeastern EBR  and southeastern East Feliciana parish were just lovely – lots of trees, shade, some pretty and falling leaves.  We left Zoar, went up Joor then N. Joor Rd.  Took a right on Peairs Rd, made a left on Hwy 409, Liberty Rd and took it all the way up into East Feliciana Parish where we turned right onto Hwy 969, Bob Jones Rd.  Then it was right on Hwy 63 back down to Hwy 37, Greenwell Springs Rd.  After a long drive along the west side of the Amite River, we turned right again to head west onto Stony Point Burch Rd until we got back to Hwy 409, Liberty Rd, where we turned left and followed it back the other way to the South.  We turned right on Hwy 64 to head further west, crossed over Joor Rd and then turned left on Hwy 410, Blackwater Rd which took us back to Hooper Rd where we turned left and headed back to Zoar.  Wow, that was fun – about an hour and 20 minutes of fun on the back roads.  Thanks to Milton and Annette for leading, we really had a good time.  We ended up back at Zoar Baptist Church, and parked our cars out in front for a photo shoot (those are the pictures I posted above).  

That was so much fun I think we’ll organize another one for next Saturday, if the weather is nice.

Cheers,

Rick

It was a great evening in Fontainebleau State Park, even though the size of the crowd at the park gave us some concern when we drove in at 4:35 and had to wait in line at the entrance. I have never seen so many people enjoying the park before. I thought the crowd was for some kind of special event, but the ranger said that size crowd was normal for a Saturday.

We found a pavilion that is never available by reservation with 17 tables right on the lake, and it was EMPTY!! We settled in with our picnic suppers and enjoyed the sunset as much as the company: Colin & Celia, Hans & Sue, Benny & Lilly, Carol & Wayne, Cliff & Linda, Hugh C., Allan M., and our intrepid members who joined us from the Southshore: Ed Vail & guest and Ronnie P. and Karen M.

Thank you to everybody who made this a success.

Colin McCormick
Mandeville, LA
Keep Healthy, Keep Calm and Drive On

Cars & Coffee 10-10-2020

The Northshore Cars & Coffee on Oct 10 at Daisy Dukes-Mandeville was well attended by hardy, hurricane-proof members Dean D., Hans H., Cliff H., Robert H., David J., Allan M., Colin Mc., Robert R., and Benny S. who did their duty to support the local food service economy.

Robert M and his son Christian joined us for the drive.

After breakfast five of us did a 66 mile loop around northern St Tammany parish ending at the Covington trailhead of the Tammany Trace bicycle path. 

A splendid time was had by all.

Keep Healthy Keep Calm and Drive On
Colin McCormick

Mandeville, LA

Saturday Oct 3rd at Cars & Coffee we picked up a new member Kathleen Young and Arthur Swanson who drive a white 2004 Jaguar XK8.

Other attendees were: Hugh Coleman, Dean Duplantier, Wally Gettys, Hans Hassinger with a guest, Bob Hurst, BIll Jackson, Allan Maxwell, Colin McCormick, Robert Rougelot, Benny Stiegler, and Debbie and Jimmie Watts. 

Brian, the manager at Daisy Dukes, invited us to participate in Trick or Trunk in the parking lot on Friday October 30th. He will be showing “The Munsters” movie outside as a drive in movie. 

After breakfast seven of us drove to Debbie & Jimmie’s who graciously offered the use of their lift for our tech session. Colin, Benny, Hugh and Robert put their cars on the lift for small adjustments and corrections. 

A splendid time was had by all!

Colin McCormick

Mandeville, LA

The Northshore group had Cars & Coffee at our usual spot, Daisy Dukes on West Causeway Approach. 

In attendance were: High Coleman, Dean Duplantier, Wally Gettys, Paul Guichard, Hans Hassinger, Cliff Hughes, Bob Hurst, David Jones, Allan Maxwell, Colin McCormick, Bob and Christian Muller, Benny Stiegler.

We discussed last weekend’s Brits on the Bluff car show.

Last week Colin put out a call for possible tech sessions suggested at our last meeting; a detailer to do one of our cars and explain what products they use and why and/or a person with access to a lift so we can get under our cars to tighten where the drips are and to inspect for other things that need attention. 

We now have a volunteer with a lift, and we are working out the details for the session.

After breakfast a few of us drove to Ponchatoula for a small car show we learned of at the last minute. 

Colin McCormick

Mandeville, LA

Fri Sept 18 – Sat Sept 19, 2020 Natchez, MS

The North and South Shore met on Friday, September 18 in Ponchatoula and drove the back roads to Gloster, MS to meet the Baton Rouge convoy. It was mostly overcast so the temperature was just perfect with the top down, but the sun peaked through enough to not be gloomy.

The route Colin McCormick mapped out was tree-shaded with gently rolling hills and a few turns that actually deserved their reduced speed signs. Colin led in his 67 Sunbeam Alpine, followed by Cliff Hughes’ MGA, Benny Stielger’s 76 Spitfire (with his video camera riding shotgun), Allen & Susan Bradley in their MG Magnette, and then the “designated Japanese chase cars”. Linda H, Claudia M and Lilly S were in Lilly’s Kia Soul and Mark and Cathy Greensfelder in his Ford Escape

Cathy had planned to drive her ‘01 Jaguar XK8 but it had developed a “case of the vapors” the day before (“Reduced Performance” warning on the dash and codes for Air Temp sensor and Knock sensor). They ended up driving Mark’s Ford Escape. The route got far enough off the beaten path that Mark lost cell service and had to give up streaming his news show. But they had the SUV’s sunroof and windows open to keep in the spirit of the event!

In Gloster, MS the group joined up with the Baton Rouge convoy led by Danny Varnado (aka Colonel Mustard) in his 70 TR6. Jerry Willson drove his 73 TR6 and Randy Flemming was in his 81 Mini Cooper. From Gloster, Danny led the way to Natchez through the Homochitto National Forest via more 2 lane, tree-lined roads.

More BMCNO members arrived independently. Hugh Coleman brought his MGB, Rick and Mary Lynne Huber entered his Austin Healey. Hank and Betsy Harper were there with his MGC and Wally and Linda Wagguespack came in their Jaguar XK8.

Danny and Carol Meyer, their daughter, son-in-law Daren Forte and grandchild; Jim and Honie Smith and Rob Crowzer all came in their non-British cars just to enjoy the show. (Hey, if the MG won’t run, drive the GM!!) The club ended up with 27 people attending.

Saturday was great with temperatures in the upper 70s, a slight overcast (no sunburns!) and breezy.  Almost perfect for a British Car Show!. The site on the top of the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River was big enough that everyone could spread out. The participants were good about social distancing and wearing masks when they had to be up close. Cathy Greensfelder passed out cloth masks she made – she’s been sewing while staying home!  

It was a small show – only 39 cars, 11 of them from BMCNO – so there was a high percentage of small classes. Wally Waguespack’s Jaguar was the only car that didn’t place but there were 6 cars in the Jaguar class. (It would have been 7, if Cathy’s Jag had made it!)

BMCNO member Danny Varnado won the Best in Show trophy with his glossy black 1970 Triumph TR6. Danny has put a lot of work into the car. He replaced the (dim and unreadable) stock gauges on the dash with gorgeous backlit gauges that glow red at night. After the Friday reception he had turned the car on to show the gauges in the dark. They were bright enough you could read them from the back bumper but in a nice red that would preserve your night vision!! He had a lot of fun during the show putting the gauges in demonstration mode so they cycled up and down!

 

  • Allen & Susan Bradley ⇒ 1957 MG Magnette, 1st Place
  • Hugh Coleman Jr ⇒ 1978 MGB, 1st Place
  • Randy Flemming ⇒ 1981 Mini Cooper Estate Van, 1st Place
  • Hank & Betsy Harper ⇒ 1969 MGC, 1st Place
  • Rick & Mary Lynn Huber ⇒ 1964 Austin Healey 3000, 1st Place
  • Cliff & Linda Hughes ⇒ 1960 MGA, 1st Place
  • Colin & Celia McCormick ⇒ 1967 Sunbeam Alpine, 1st Place
  • Benny & Lilly Stiegler ⇒ 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500, 1st Place
  • Danny Varnado ⇒ 1970 Triumph TR6, 1st Place, Best in Show!!
  • Wally Waguespack ⇒ 2004 Jaguar XK8
  • Jerry Willson  ⇒1973 Triumph TR6, 2nd Place