the wind machine · 2019. 11. 30. · the wind machine / december 2019 the wind machine 3 / page...

T H E W I N D M A C H I N E / December 2019

The Wind Machine / Page1

THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS!

Wow what a wonderful meeting we had at The Englander on Tuesday. The Club elected a new President, Jim Brady and a new Vice President, Kirk Prentiss. I feel our Club is very fortunate to have such great people to move us forward in the coming years.

I want to say how much I appreciated all the kind words from our members. It has been a real pleasure to lead this wonderful group of Little British Car enthusiasts. As the new year begins, Roberta and I look forward to just being members. I am excited for our Holiday party at the Shukait’s on December 14th where I turn the gavel over to Jim.

I want to thank Jeanne Haslam for the delicious cake served at the meeting. And thank you Kirk and Amy for all the kind words and the First Lady’s roses. And as I have said for the last 4 years, “Remember it’s not how far or fast we go, it’s how much fun we have getting there.” And for me, it’s been a blast!

P.S. I want to thank my wonderful wife for all her effort in seeing that I always remember that this is all about the fun.

The Prez

NEXT EVENT

BRITISH SLEIGH RIDE TOUR

DECEMBER 8TH

Sorry Safari Touring Society - A Gathering of MG Enthusiasts



OfficersPresident Lynn Bryant [email protected]

lan ........................................7H 510-651-8539

Vice President Ben Lenci [email protected] H 510-651-0808Treasurer Tim Arnold [email protected] H 925-443-8449Secretary Carl Brown [email protected] H 510-278-7987Informed Source Jim Brady [email protected] H 925-256-3685Appointees Sunshine & Membership Judy Guidry [email protected] H 925-455-8539Editor / Photographer Kirk Prentiss [email protected] H 510-436-3574Regalia Maris Cowgill [email protected] H 925-449-4013Webmaster Kirk Prentiss [email protected] H 510-436-3574Advertising Eric Baker [email protected] H 510-517-2165

Meeting Minutes The following represents the Minutes, and my recollections, of the Club’s November 19th meeting at the Englander in San Leandro.

PRESIDENT – WoW! Look at all the nifty stuff on the raffle prize table tonight. Lynn and Roberta have really outdone themselves with this. I sure do like that pith helmet said new member Kristy. That’s what I’m going for if I have a winning ticket but I never win anything. Then from out of nowhere came the KnOck KnOck KnOcks of the gavel in the hands of the P Lynn thus ending the wishful eyeballing of the raffle table. Bah Humbug. Then, the Veep Ben felt a need to verbally echo the abrupt KnOck KnOck KnOcks from Lynn with his own Bam Bam Bams. This led to plentiful hissing and boos from the peanut gallery thus setting off laughs and yahoos and the jovial tone was set for what would be our last meeting of the year at the Englander. “I’ve been told it’s time for order folks,” said Lynn. “I’ll have steak and eggs,” called out someone in the gallery. Atta boys and yahoos again rang out. This of course was ignored by The P who noted that Herb and J-Girl are not here tonight but that Tom Johns has agreed to serve as our in house jokester. You go Tom. Very comfortable in the spotlight Tom, in the true spirit of Rod Serling, said, “Picture if you will…” and then picturesquely delivered the punchline, “I don’t know, but his face sure rings a bell.” Badda Ding, Badda Dong, Tom, A big ole Bucket-a. Wait, there is more to the story Tom said. He then delivered a second punchline that went, “He’s a dead ringer for his brother.” Ding Ding Dong Dong ole Boy. A big ole Bucket-a-Ding-a-lings for you. Lynn called for approval of the October minutes to no objection and gave start to the go ‘round for Officer Reports.

VICE PRESIDENT-VP Ben stood before the assembled and said, “I actually have something to say.” Since Ben and Lynn will be stepping down from P&VP Ben proudly encapsulated what occurred during the 4 years that he and Lynn have been at the head of the SSTS. Too much to list here, but it includes The Club’s 55th Birthday Celebration, online newsletter, Club tri fold and cards, multiple GoFs, Rendezvous, NAMGBR events, M.G.s By the Bay, Fall Classics and Sierra Tours. And donations made to Tri City Food Bank, Toys for Tots, Red Cross, and donations to help multiple county fire victims. Oh, and the resurrected Knackered Knockoff Award. He needed a little help enunciating that one. Yeas, yahoos, high fives and atta-boys reverberated around the room. Thanks Ben and Lynn.

The 3rd Tuesday of every month, 7:00 PM, at The Englander Pub, San Leandro

Club webpage: www.sorrysafariMGclub.com

CLUB MEETINGS



TREASURER- Tim’s not in Lynn said but no checks have been written lately and our wealth is close to last month’s statement. SECRETARY- CB came in with a “No comment.” Things are going just swimmingly.

INFORMED SOURCE- Jim offered his recognition for the job that Veep and P have done over the last 4 years. “Great job, guys.” To which Lynn responded, “You guys, membership, make this thing happen.” Give yourselves a pat on the back. pat pat pat pat pat pat. MEMBERSHIP– Judy is with Herb tonight and Herb’s not here. That makes both of them present at an undisclosed off-site location. WIND MACHINE/WEBSITE– “NTR, that means nothing to report,” said Kirk. Kirk offered BiG thanks to Ben for the wealth of ideas he’s offered for Wind Machine items. REGALIA- Maris brought a “bunch of stuff tonight.” She said that denim shirts have been ordered and that lady’s style polos are no longer available. It was announced that Maris will be transitioning away from her regalia post. “You’ve done a great job Maris,” offered Jan. Another round of yahoos, hi-5s and atta-girls went up for Maris. Maris took on Regalia 10 years ago – and boy does Don have a nice Club wear wardrobe – “Cause every girl crazy ‘bout a sharp dressed man.” dunta dunta duntah dunt dunt duh. A haw haw haw haw. Got a little side tracked, where were we? Oh yes. Maris has headed Regalia for 10 years and she and her sharp dressed man have toted many a box of Safari dry goods. Lynn said the Club will be conferring with Steve Kellogg and transition our logo wear for purchase on line. It’ll take a little time to make that happen and until then you can still see Maris for all your cool-weather touring fashion needs. Consultations are free. Maris offers complimentary gift wrapping if you want to pay for it. Service charges do apply.

OLD BUSINESS – Jimbo and Jeanne Haslam led a fabulous Fall Foray Tour recently. It included a stop at a historic estate that once belonged to friends of Jeanne’s parents and as a girl she often visited and played in the house with the owner’s daughter. Jeanne talked about some of the good times she and her friend had back in those days. Ahhh, the good ole days. We saw so many pistachio trees, offered Roberta. Did you know red pistachios come from Iran. White ones are US produced. Know what the difference is? Well, Roberta went on, in the old days, pistachios were a huge import from Iran but the nuts would be bruised during shipping. To hide the scarring Iranian growers dyed the nuts red. Pistachios are naturally white. Over time pistachios became a huge domestic product and so non-dyed naturally white pistachios are plentiful. How nutty is that? The election of new Officers took place. Jim Brady moves to P, his second time in that post. Kirk Prentis takes on VP and will continue as Wind Machine editor and our website dude. Don C. becomes our Informed Source. A haw haw haw haw. NEW BUSINESS – The SSTS Holiday Party is coming up. We again have the pleasure of visiting the home of Keith and Pam Shukait. Lynn will conduct a short Club meeting at the get-together before presenting the gavel to Jim Brady. Lynn mentioned that our thoughts are with Verna Jahn and her husband Jerry. Jerry is suffering health issues. Jeanne announced that Helen Hill’s daughter is pregnant with twins. “There goes the TD,” said Ben. Kirk said a few words to honor the efforts that Roberta and Jan have given in support of our Veep and P. Yeas and atta-girls rang out. Then, Amy Prentiss brought out this beautiful cake to celebrate our outgoing officers. It was good and things continued to go swimmingly. It’s time for the raffle Roberta. Winners are, Ray Davis and he made a bee line for the pith helmet to present to Kristy. Yea! Maris, Bob Freitas and…. Dat dah dah daaa, “I never win anything” Kristy. Yeas, Hi-5s, atta-girls galore and we were gone. After a motion to adjourn of course. Hey, that’s a great looking pith helmet. Don’t just read the Minutes, be part of the fun. Join us for the next meeting at the SSTS Holiday Party December 14. …. And that’s the way I think it was. Respectfully, submitted by Carl Brown.



DECEMBER

The British Sleigh Ride TourDian & Carl Brown tour masters. Sunday December 8th, pg 5.

Holiday PartyKeith & Pam Shukait hosting.Saturday December 14th pg 6.

JANUARY

2020 Planning MeetingLynn & Roberta Bryant’s January 11th.

UPCOMING EVENTS



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Saturday December 14th

WHERE: Keith & Pam Shukait’s home

1023 Bird Avenue, San Jose

TIME: 1:00 - 5:00 PM

WHAT TO BRING: A - M appetizers

N - Z desserts

The Shukait’s will provide the rest! RSVP [email protected]



Saturday January 11th, 2020

WHERE: Lynn & Roberta Bryant’s home

543 Starlite Way, Fremont

TIME: 1:00 - 5:00 PM

WHAT TO BRING: A - L Appetizers

M - Z Desserts

Please RSVP by January 4th: [email protected] OR 510-651-8539

mailto:[email protected]




Kitchen Mechanic

CHILI RELLENOS CASSEROLE CHEF TERRI JOHNSON

2 cans Whole green chilies (7 oz)1 lb Jack cheese (grated)1 lb Cheddar cheese (grated)3 ea Eggs (beaten)3 tbsp Flour1 can Evaporated milk (small)1 can Tomato sauce (5 oz)

Wash chilies, remove seeds and pat dry. In a lightly greased 9 X 13 baking pan, layer half the chilies and cheeses. Repeat the layers but same some of the cheeses for topping. Add milk slowly to flour and blend, then add beaten eggs. Pour the egg mixture over the chilies and cheese. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

Spread the tomato sauce over the top, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for 15 minutes more. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

If you have a favorite recipe you would like to share with the club, please send it to me to be published in The Wind Machine. Thanks, Jan



Caps $17.00 Men’s Polo Shirts $35.00

Pith Helmets $25.00 Ladies Polo Shirts $30.00

Hooded Jackets $65.00 Denim Shirts (Long Sleeve)

$35.00

Fleece Vests $40.00 Men’s T-Shirts $25.00

Ladies V-Neck T-Shirts

$25.00 Ladies V-Neck Placket $30.00

Hoodie Sweatshirt zipper front

$40.00 Club Embroidered Patch $7.00

Club License Plate Frame

$15.00 Club Grille Badge $25.00

Club Door Magnet Club Cloisonne Pins $5.00

Club Pen Lights $3.00 Club Cork Screws $6.00

MGB 50th Anniversary Patch or Pin

$6.00 MG Blanket $30.00

List your desired items, total purchase and make checks payable to SSTS.

Send your order to:

Maris Cowgill 2714 Farnsworth Drive Livermore, CA 94551

Regalia!


The Wind Machine / Page1 0

Advertisers: Please let me know if your ads are still current. If I do not hear from you, I will remove them from the next newsletter. [email protected].

CLASSIFIEDSFOR SALE

Bone-Boen-Ster BH4031 Red Bonester Mechanics Creeper - $50.00

One ton chain hoist - $25.00

Brooklands style racing windscreens - $200.00

(similar to Moss 224-100 $118.99) Never installed!

Contact Terry Sanders: [email protected] or 510-465-2771.

FOR SALE

5 Rostyle wheels, 4 trim rings and caps (1972 B/GT)

1 Aluminum bonnet (1970 B/GT)

2 Rear quarter windows (1970 B/GT)

FREE! Contact Michael Black at [email protected].

FOR SALE

1971 MGB 4 speed trans. Works perfectly, $200.00.

1976 MG Midget differential. Good shape, $75.00.

Contact Lynn Bryant at [email protected]







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Our Sponsors!

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Vintage Sheet Metal

226-500-6554

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Our Sponsors!

Contact Eric Baker to advertise!

[email protected]





The Pumpkin My 73 GT is pretty much my daily driver and I do upwards of 6,000 miles a year in it. It sports an Autumn Gold or Burnt Orange color (or baby diarrhea) depending on what you read. The car fits right in at Halloween (see Photo 1). This article is not about the car’s color but it’s rear-end (Photo 2). The rear end is one of several names that comes to mind. Some others are hypoid, differential, diff and pumpkin. I guess if the rear end was orange and not its native black (a combination of paint and grease) it might look like a pumpkin. I’m not a mechanic but think that mechanics see things differently…

A few years ago, I decided to change the rear end oil. I had a little oil or hydraulic oil showing up on the inside of one of the rear wheels, but it didn’t seem significant at the time. Everyone knows that it's normal for British cars to leak fluids. Those fluids mystically come from nowhere – not! Upon draining the rear end a little tar consistency oil dribbled out – far less than I expected. At the time I said to myself “*#@%&$$$$”!!!. I proceeded to fill up the rear end with the very best gear oil I could find. At the same time, I did some general tightening of the axle hub nuts and anything else there with a nutted end.

I’ve been living with some bearing noise. It’s not bad but it’s there – never better or worse – just there. At low speeds its just a little background noise. At freeway speed it joins in with the exhaust note to the point that I really need to turn the radio up! Of course, when I eventually slow down my radio is blaring (and I have this ringing in my ears).

Lately I’ve been noticing the MGB clunk. This could be from several sources including the U-joints, but my bet is that the thrust washers in the rear end are worn. Years ago, Rod changed the thrust washers on my 74.5 B Roadster. They were shot… I never did this on the GT.

As the frigid maw of winter reaches in… It doesn’t really get that cold here. I plan to go through the rear end. I’ll

probably pull the whole rear end assembly off the car so that I can work on the bench. Hopefully the wear isn’t too severe – TBD. I plan to change all the bearings, thrust washers and seals (man makes plans and God laughs…). What could go wrong?

Happy Holidays and keep checking your oil levels!

Jim BradyInformed Source



The last car tour of the year, the FALL FORAY, was FABULOUS! On Friday, November 15th, tour leaders Jim Brady and Jeanne Haslam met us in Castro Valley to begin the tour. There were five cars: Jim and Jeanne each drove their TDs, we drove our Magnette, the Bryants drove their MGB, and MGOC member, Bryan, drove his MGB. It was a picture perfect fall day with red and yellow leaves on trees and vineyards all along the way. We drove on Crow Canyon Road, then paralleled Hwy. 680 on side streets to reach our first destination, the historic GLASS (Family) HOUSE in San Ramon. Jeanne spent most of her weekends playing there as a child! She knew the house wouldn’t be open, but wanted to show it to us, at least from the outside. To our delight and surprise, elementary school kids were there on a field trip, so a docent was present and GAVE US an on the spot tour, which was fascinating! The Glass House is located a few miles away from its original location. It’s now permanently located in the Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, 19953 San Ramon Valley Boulevard. The house is in the Victorian Italianate architecture style. Jeanne’s family was friends with the second house owners, Basque immigrants, the Elissondos. They moved into the house in 1932.

The docent was a terrific historian, but Jeanne really made the house come alive with her memories, such as, riding the Saturday bed sheets down the staircase to the first floor to be washed!! She also occasionally went hunting on the 800 acre property with her dad. Jeanne knew and played with daughter, Elaine. Elaine’s older brother, Clem, was away at war in Europe. Inside the house, we were told that many of the furnishings are historically accurate to the time, but most were donated to recreate the authenticity of the house. School kids on field trips are encouraged to dress up in vintage hats and other accessories found in the costume room while they are there. Outside, the kids are given traditional toys to play with, barrel hoops with sticks and other wooden puzzles and toys. The biggest attraction for visiting school children are the “creepy looking” bisque faced European dolls in the nursery, (thanks to the horror movie “Chucky”)! Upstairs in the bedrooms, the docent pointed out the shallow coal fireplace, a framed, decorative, floral sculpture woven from human hair and authentic family photos.

Due to the unplanned house tour, our leaders drove us straight to the Crooked Vine Winery in Livermore. Most of us participated in a wine tasting, sitting outside on the deck. We were just about to buy a bottle each, when Jim remembered and asked for a tasting from a bottle he’d bought there before. His wish was granted, and we all came away with a bottle of a “his” 2016 TRIFECTA, instead! Great fun!

Fabulous Fall Foray Amy Prentiss



From there, we were whisked away to our lunch destination, again with outdoor seating, since we had our dog with us, to the Garre Vineyard Cafe on Tesla Road in Livermore. Over lunch, Jim read us a nice, long, recent, email from Bob Engelhart, now living in Florida. It sounds like Bob and Susan are enjoying themselves and settling in. We had a sun filled, fun filled, leisurely lunch together and were reluctant to go home. It was a perfect fall foray. Thank you Jim and Jeanne for a WONDERFUL day!




Dear Safarians, It is difficult to believe that this edition of The Wind Machine marks the end of another year. What a year it has been! December is always a busy month with holiday celebrations, family gatherings and taking time to visit with friends before we say so long to 2019, and welcome 2020. I had to laugh when a friend asked, “How do you manage to do all the things you do with only a few weekends left in the year?” Not wanting to make too big a thing of it, I said, “It’s easy when you are retired. Everyday IS Saturday!” What a giggly feeling it is to say THAT.

Looking back on the past four years, I think that it is important to recognize that they have been terrific years in the club. Also important is to recognize those terrific years haven’t “just happened,” but rather they have been terrific due to member participation. A great club is comprised of great members. It is as simple as that. However, it is also having great leadership. Lynn Bryant and Ben Lenci have been excellent leaders. As President, Lynn has ensured that our meetings have met objectives, but are always entertaining. His example is the embodiment of the “Safarian Spirit” to have fun doing whatever we do. Ben’s sense of discovery is consistently evident by bringing forward new ideas for activities and his pride of belonging is in everything he has done for the club. These gentlemen are truly remarkable and whoever steps forward to take the mantle of leadership has a tall order to fill. Fortunately, Jim Brady has gleefully stepped forward to assume the responsibilities as President! He has passed the role of Informed Source to Don Cowgill who will I am sure will share his wealth of experience for the club. And I, have without equivocation, accepted the responsibilities as Vice President. Thankfully as all my days are Saturdays, I hope that I can do half as well as Ben did as Vice President. So, if you were not at the meeting

for the transfer of leadership, I encourage you to take a moment and send an email to Lynn and Ben, thanking them for their contributions leading the club the past four fantastic years!

And as is customary for this time of year, I wish you all wonderful times with family and friends! CHEERS!

the wind machine · 2019. 11. 30. · the wind machine / december 2019 the wind machine 3 / page...

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