Forthcoming Activities

Club members who participated in the Rendezvous and have been attending meetings have already heard about and experienced a high level and quality of activities due to the efforts of our Activities Directors, John Carter and George Koeber.  The next couple of months are not to be missed.  Check out the following:

All British Field Meet

Sept. 3-7

The Meet is held on Labor Day Weekend. That will be Friday through Monday of Labor Day Weekend. Starting Friday evening and continuing for the next three days there will be plenty of fun activities: Meet and Greet Parties, Vintage Races, Land Rover Adventure rides, and photo competition, vendors, plus over 800 vehicles!  We have enough volunteers to count popular car show votes but we can always use more.

NW Meet, Lake Chelan, WA

Sept. 16-18

Meet at the site of the Parker House (now closed) in Washougal, WA, Exit 7 @8:30 a.m.  The tour  will depart at 9:00.  Please have your tank full.  We will tour east on Hwy 14 to Hwy. 97 – then North to Yakima where we willl spend the night.  Make your own reservations @ Oxford Suites (509)457-9000 $105.00 Includes a big breakfast, evening hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine. River views. Mention the Austin Healey Club of Oregon. The rooms will be held until Sept. 6. Thursday morning we will meet with members of the Cascade Club in Cle Elum and tour the rest of the way to Lake Chelan with them.  If you have not made your reservations for the NWMeet the phone number for the Hotel is Best Western Lakeside Lodge, (509) 682-4396.  If you have any questions regarding the Meet contact Lois Buhman neilandlois@comcast.net .  Sunday, Sept. 18^th we will return to Portland.

October Meeting October 9^th

A tour  to Fern Ridge Reservoir is planned.  We will meet at the Shari’s Restaurant at the corner of Hwy 213 and Beavercreek Road in Oregon City @9:00 and depart at 9:30.  We will tour back roads to Eugene where Bob and Carla Bollinger will host us for a BBQ at their Yacht Club.  The general meeting will be held at approximately 2:30.  We will return to Portland Saturday evening.  Please let us know if you are planning to attend so there will be enough food for all.  Please call John Carter (503) 579-6599 or George Koeber (503)244-3731.

November Meeting, November 13^th

Tech Session and Meeting at John Wilson’s in Marcola, OR

John Wilson will have a tech session at his shop at 37141 Parsons Creek Road, Marcola, Oregon (if you are using a GPS you will need to put in Springfield instead of Marcola)

The tech session will start @10 a.m. and will involve tearing down and reassembling a transmission.  The general meeting is scheduled for 3:30.  No tour will be scheduled due to the chance of inclement weather.  John has informed us that he will have a pot of  chili on for us.  Please let us know if you are planning to attend so there will be enough food for all.  Call John Carter 503-579-6599 or George Koeber 503-244-3731.

December 4^th Christmas Party

The  party will be held at the Mountain Park  Recreation Center, 2 Mount Jefferson Terrace, Lake Oswego, OR, 97035.

The fun will start at 5:30.  There will be a social time between 5:30 and 7:00 at which time there will be a silent auction  to benefit charities.   After dinner  activities are planned including a gift exchange for those wanting to participate.  We are also asking for donations for the auction.  Please contact us if you have something you wish to donate (it doesn’t have to be  Healey related).  The club has approved that each member will pay $10 per person with the balance of the  cost to be paid for by the  AHCO.  Feel free to bring your own libation for the social time and during dinner.  If you are planning  to attend send your check to John Carter(16173 SW Dekalb St.,Portland,OR 97224).  You can also pay at any club activity.  The cut off date for notification is November 24^th (so we can give the caterer the count). Live music and other entertainment is being planned.

Other Unofficial Goings-On:

August 31st  A TV Shoot for the ABFM.  Your chance to have your Healey on television.

Bill Hawkins, owner of the British Auto Works has asked the AHCO to participate in an early morning television shoot which will be used to promote the ABFM.  The filming crew will be at BAW about 05:30 AM and will be filming for a couple of hours.  There will be coffee and doughnuts as fortifications.

September 11.

Open House at Hanger 26 at the Aurora Airport.

The event will feature hot airplanes and hot rods.  And if any Healeys want to show up there might be a cool British Car or two. We have been personally invited by Lonnie Gilbertson of Gilbertson’s Machine Shop in SE Portland.  There will be free hot dogs until they run out and a live band, the Jim Mesi Band.  BYOB.  Starts at 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM.  Address is 23055 Airport Road NE. Hanger 26. Aurora, OR 972002.  Directions: From i-5South Bound, Take Exit 282A to first stop light, left, tonext stop light, right , 1/4 mile . Right into “orange gate” follow guides to parking @ north end ot airport.   Turn left.

I received the following attached announcement about a cruise-in at the end of the month, July 31, 2010.  Now that summer has finally arrived (Right !!!), it might be fun to check it out.  The event is limited to strictly British cars. If anybody is interested in participating please contact John Carter, Geroge Koeber or Mark Schneider. My BC Cruise In – 7_31_10

The attached picture was recently made available to the AHCO.  A little known new driver is apparently being trained for Pike’s streamliner.  Note the driver instruction manual located on the bonnet.

Please Note The telephone number for Michael andWanda Hartfield was in error.  The correct number to RSVP attending the June 12 meeting at the Hartfields is 503-476-3202.  See you there.

Activities
Portland Historic Races, July 9-12
The 2010 Baxter Auto Part Portland Historic Races, July 9 – 12, 2010 held at Portland International Raceway, features an annual entry list of more than 250 prestigious historic race cars, representing a wide variety of manufacturers. The restored cars are divided into groups according to make, age and horsepower, where they are raced at high speeds close to or at their full potential.  This year the featured marque is Alfa Romeo.  Boasting an open paddock, the Portland Historic Races allow enthusiasts the opportunity to see race cars up close and interact with the drivers and crew. The event also features a display of more than 700 collector cars and hot rods, a food and wine pavilion, a kid zone, an autocross, and a vendor midway. 

In past years the Austin-Healey Club of Oregon has had 15 or more member cars in the car club static display corrals.  These numbers have dwindled in recent years to less than a half dozen last year.  I believe this is partially due to the cost of $45.00 for registration.  Certainly that is a sizeable amount of money to spend just to park your car on the grass and be part of the show.  On the other hand it provides you with two tickets for each of the event days, total access to the pits, concessions, food vendors, and grandstands.

A final reason to attend the Historics is the car club parade laps.  The picture is the Schneider Healey coming out of the corner and onto the front straight.  Another factor seems to be concerns for locating the car club corrals inside the race course. Many participants complained the first year the corrals were moved to this location. We all felt trapped until the race day ended and the race course could again be crossed.  The PIR officials heard many complaints about this and now allow passage between race  heats.  About every 20 minutes throughout the day the race course is closed, the gates are opened and collector cars can freely pass in or out of the corral area.   I encourage the AHCO membership to join me at the Historic Races this summer.  I don’t think I have missed the event in over twenty years and have grown to love vintage racing.  Additionally, we have several AHCO members that will be racing their Healeys and will appreciate our cheering them on.  If I have convinced you to join me please send a check for $45.00 to the AHCO Activities Director John Carter in the next week to ten days.  John needs to file the registrations and fees with the PIR event by June 1, 2010.  The mailing address to use is 16173 – SW Dekalb Street, Portland, OR  97224.
June12, – The tour and AHCO members meeting will be hosted by Wanda and Michael Hartfield. We will meet at the former Sherwood  GI Joes parking lot  on Hwy 99 (sort of behind the McDonalds).  Meeting time is 10:00 AM.  The tour will depart at 10:30.  The tour will be approximately 60 miles in length and pass through the Dundee, Amity, Dayton vicinity with a stop at the Amity Vineyard Winery where we will enjoy a sampling of the wines.  There is a $5.00 charge for the wine tasting.  We will continue the tour on to the Hartfields home for lunch and the meeting  There will be a short Executive Board meeting prior to the general membership meeting.  the later meeting will start at 3:15 PM.   Please notify the Hartfields if you plan to attend so they can plan the food.  Michael and Wanda Hartfield may be reached by phone at 503-476-3202 or by email at hartfiel@alumni.princeton.edu.
June 28-July 2, Rendezvous  – The registrations for the Austin-Healey Club USA Rendezvous hosted by the AHCO have now reached a total of 87.  If you are planning to attend and have not yet registered please do so very soon.

July and August Events
Mark your social calendar for a Healey Club event on Saturday, July 17  for a tour and picnic. Details will follow.
On Saturday, August  7th we are planning a joint event with the Cascade Club for a BBQ and tour in Morton,WA. Staying overnight will be optional. Details will follow.

http://www.youtube.com/v/jQvjCUHA7ek&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0

ABFM 2010 Silver Anniversary
May 22, 2010,
VanDusen Garden,Vancouver, BC

The Greatest Show on British Wheels began in 1985 as a Show ‘n Shine event held in the parking lot of MCL Motor Cars in Vancouver.  That first show hosted some 35 cars, after which it was decided that a new venue would attract a larger crowd. The event was moved to its current outstanding location at VanDusen Botanical Garden at 37th and Oak Street. Since those early days the event has grown to become the largest of its kind in Canada and the Pacific Northwest, displaying some 637 vehicles, and with more than 5,000 enthusiasts in attendance.
The 2010 Silver Anniversary event will prove to be a very special celebration, with many staging improvements and some additional attractions. Here is what is included so far:

• Anniversary Class: A special display of winning cars from previous years’ Debuting Restoration entrants.
• Restoration Row: Work-in-progress car displays to provide knowledge and information on classic car preservation.
• 2010 Featured Marques will celebrate 50 years of Britain’s sexiest sports car, the E-Type Jaguar (1960-1974)*, and pay tribute to all English Ford models.
• In 2-wheel class: 100 years of BSA motor bikes will be honoured.
• A swanky 25th Anniversary Reception Dinner and Silent Auction will be held Friday May 21st at Shaughnessy’s Restaurant, VanDusen Garden. Entrants can reserve a table for the dinner or have the option of  attending the Reception only. Dinner attendees will be able to park their cars overnight (security in attendance overnight). Transportation will be provided to Richmond hotels.
• The annual presentation of the Canaccord Lewie Award to recognize an individual’s outstanding contribution to the classic car industry.  Best Picnic and Period Dress Award, with emphasis on the Swinging Sixties.
• A special Race Car display sponsored by the Vintage Race Club of B.C. with prize draws for hot laps at the July Historic Motor Races event Mission Raceway.
• Manufacturers’ displays showing the latest 2010 British-built models.
• Garden Tours and a VanDusen $12-million Capital Plan display showing future construction and facilities’ plans.
• What’s Your Classic Worth? Informative presentation on classic car values over the past 25 years. Owners’ cars will be reviewed.
• Win a Trip for 2, Grand prize draw; Weekend Getaway to Haida Gwaii; plus many other prizes draws to be announced.

The annual walk down memory lane promises beautiful machinery, colourful and exotic flora, stirring brass band and jazz music, plus vendors’ stands packed with classic car parts and all things British.
Mark your calendars for the Victoria Day Weekend, Saturday May 22, 2010, and check the event website www.westerndriver.com/abfm for more announcements and registration details. The event is produced by the Olde British & Classic Car Society, which encourages the appreciation, understanding and preservation of classic cars, vehicles and motorcycles for the enjoyment of their owners and the general public. For sponsorship details or to register your British car or motorbike, please visit www.westerndriver.com/abfm, call 604.736.6754, or email jstewart@westerndriver.com.
* E2A Prototype first debuted LeMans June 1960.

Feb. 13, 2010 -  The City of Albany, OR is restoring a turn-of-the-century carousel.  The restorers are extending a great deal of effort in this process.  Individual carousel figures, eg, horses, etc. are being carved from scratch for the project.  The work site is located at  503 First Ave. in Albany, OR.  The Healey Club members are to meet at this address at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 13,  2010.  There will be a nominal entrance fee.  After our tour of the carousel project we will go to  the Yaquina Bay Restaurant, located at 325 Airport Road, Albany, for lunch at 12:30. The Club business meeting will follow at approximately 1:30

Rendezvous Committee Meeting, Feb. 13, 2010 -  Meet at 09:30 AM in the main dining room of the Yaquina Bay Restaurant, 325 Airport Road, Albany, OR.

PM.March 13, 2010 -  British Auto Works has invited us to an open house and technical session at 10580 NW 289th Place, North Plains. (corner of 289th and West Union Rd).  For those unfamiliar with the British Auto Works location the easiest route is to travel west on Sunset Highway 26 to Exit 59, Jackson School road.  It is approximately 9.5 miles west of the Highways 217/Sunset interchange.  Proceed north on Jackson School Road to the first left, NW West Union Road.  Turn left and drive about a quarter mile to British Auto Works.  Phone 503-647-0435. The technical session subject will cover rebuilding of S.U. HD8 Carburetors and will begin at Time: 11:00 AM.   Lunch will be at Cornelius Pass Road House and Imbrie Hall located at 4045 NW Cornelius Pass Road (just south of Hwy. 26).  Lunch will be at 1:00 p.m. with club meeting to follow at about 1:30.

April 10, 2010 -  We are planning this as an overnighter to Astoria/Warrenton.  We will be staying at the Shilo Inn in Warrenton, OR (503-861-2181).  The special rate for a king or queen room is $76.86.  Be sure to mention that you are with the Austin Healey club of Oregon when making your reservation.  We have a block of 15 rooms available that must be reserved by March 10, 2010 in order to get this price.  We will have a special tour of the beautiful Victorian  “Warren House”.  It is a private house owned by a friend of John and Judy Carter.  We ill also tour nearby Ft. Stevens also in Warrenton.  www.astoria-usa.com/fort-stevens-state-park.shtml.  The meeting time and place has not been decided.  Stay tuned for that information.

Other News and Thoughts -  I want to thank all of the members who responded to my first memo and provided me with guidance.  The Executive Board has asked me to increase the memo frequency.  I will be sending Mark’s Memo monthly.  Hopefully,  I have corrected the formatting difficulties we had with the first issue and all of the members will receive this one and be able to read it straightaway.

If you haven’t already done so, you will want to register for the 2010 Rendezvous,  June 28 – July 2,  2010 in Eugene, OR.  Charlie Frazer and the committee are working very hard to put together an outstanding event.  It would also be a good idea to book your rooms at the Valley River Inn, 541-341-3472.

Another activity to be aware of is found on the Club website, http://healey-oregon.org.  Activities Director, John Carter is seeking a show of interest in participating in a great tour.  Destinations on a super tour include: Port Angeles, WA; Victoria, B.C.; Roche Harbor, San Juan Is.; La Conner WA; and Tacoma, WA during the week of August 21-29, 2010.  Check it out and let John know. 503-579-6599.

I just read something in the newest issue of the AH Club USA magazine that struck me as a really good idea.  Most of us have a Road Trip Kit of spare parts and tools stowed in the boot.  If you haven’t already done so, add a copy of one of the national Healey clubs’ Directories or Resource Books to the kit.  No matter where you may travel and a breakdown occurs, there is probably another Healey owner nearby who might lend assistance.

In Boulder, CO there is a collection of some of the most significant sports racing machines produced in the United States.  The Shelby American Collection is a unique and extensive gathering of Shelby Cobras, Ford GT40s, 350 and 500 GT Mustangs, historical records and memorabilia.  Many of the original vehicles designed, built, and raced by Carroll Shelby and other famous sports car racers of the 60′s and 70′s are on exhibit.  It is a “gearhead’s” Valhalla and not to be missed.  I recently visited the collection during a visit with my Dad in Denver.  I have posted a small gallery of photographs to the website.  You can view those images here. You can also see information on the collection at: www.ShelbyAmericanCollection.com.

ORP held their first public opening on Saturday 9/28. Having neglected my ’65 BJ8 street car during the vintage racing season it was a nice opportunity to stretch it’s legs on the 2 1/2 hour drive to the Grass Valley track. I was impressed with the group that is behind this very ambitious endeavor, they appear to have a good long range plan for this wonderful new NW road race course. Though it’s a little out of the way, any die hard racer will have no problem camping on site for any event planned for this venue.  I enjoyed the 2 parade laps even if I couldn’t open her up too much.  http://www.oregonraceway.com/track_sched_news.php