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2008: The Year in Review |
December 6 -- Tech SessionThe ATA end-of-the-year Tech Session was held on Saturday, December 5, at Coveland Motorsports in Schuylerville, NY. The topic of the Tech Session was Carburetors: S/U Carbs to be specific. Resident Coveland mechanic Jim O’Hare presided over the Tech Session with 14 ATA members on hand for this session. The tech session carbs were HS4 carbs which were on MGBs between 1962-71. Since the MGB to be in the session was a little shy around crowds, some improvisation was done by Jim. The two carbs to be worked on needed a little prep that was completed the night before. The carbs, all cleaned up and apart along with the new carb kits, were on the demonstration table ready to go. The session started off with a little theory behind the inner workings of the components of the carbs. Also thrown in was a brief discussion that our beloved “LBCs,” back in the day when they were a “daily driver,” were technically inventive, and the carbs needed to be adjusted every 30,000 to 40,000 miles because they were designed to be. Moving on, Jim, while putting together the components on the carbs, pointed out the where the wear points happened to be on this set of carbs. Also, Jim dropped little hints and tricks learned through many years of experience when putting the carbs back together. One that stands out is “better adjustment is done by eye and feel” than by using the recommended tools in the new carb kits that were sitting on the table. With the carbs back to together, it was time for a lunch break of pizza and beverages. After lunch, attention was turned to the two carbs already mounted and set in the bench vise ready for adjustment. Jim again started off explaining what he was going to demonstrate, the importance of each step in the process and that each step needs to be in a set order for the carbs to be adjusted correctly. Jim answered any and all questions while demonstrating each step and encouraged everyone to step in close to see exactly what he was doing to adjust each carb. The carbs adjustment set as best as they could be, it was time to call it a day on the year-end tech session. Everyone thanked Jim Chamberlain for holding the Tech Session at his business and Jim O’Hare for another tech session well done. – Dave Faulkner November 15 -- Member Appreciation NightThe annual ATA Member Appreciation Night was held on Saturday, November 15, in Duanesburg, NY, with 17 club members in attendance to enjoy pizza, beverages and plenty of laughs. This year’s trivia game, devised by John and Elizabeth Iseman, was Famous Movie and Television Cars. There were 19 vehicles to match with a movie, television program or both. Here is a sampling of the vehicles: Mini Cooper, Mustang Mach 1 and 1974 Gran Torino.* Steve Busch was the trivia contest winner with 16 correct matches, followed by Dave Faulkner with 11 correct matches. A variety of car-related items was available to chose from for having the most correct answers. Following the trivia contest John Iseman with the help of future club member Spencer Trupiano drew raffles tickets for the remaining door prizes…which included a number of Snap-On Tool Hats because a certain club member on hand just happens to be a representative for the company. With the door prizes given out, it was time to find out what vehicle projects people will be working on over the winter. Before the project tales started, Joe Bena started off by reading a humorous tale of a construction worker, a 50-gallon barrel, a pile of bricks, a rope and pulley having an interesting relationship with a six-story building and an insurance claim. Needless to say, this tale was the beginning of a 45-minute period of off-the-wall humor. In between laughs we did find out that Doug Shaver is changing the head gasket on his ‘79 MGB and dropped a bolt in to a place where it didn’t belong and had to use a magnetic device to retrieve it. Then, from out of nowhere, the conversation went downhill very fast when I was asked about the noise in my ‘75 Spitfire. Let’s just say the airplane noise and vibration will be taken car of in the spring. Also mentioned was the tentative ATA 2009 activity schedule, which will be finalized in the coming months. The night was whining down and everyone had their fill of pizza, beverages and humor, which is never a bad thing. But it was time to end the evening. Saying our goodbyes, we headed home until the next ATA event. * Answers to the Famous Movie & TV Show Cars mentioned above:
-- Dave Faulkner Wednesday, October 15 -- Sichel Collection TourOn Wednesday evening October 15, the ATA visited the Sichel Collection in Schenectady, a private collection of early automobiles owned by Gerald Sichel. There are 52 automobiles in the collection, and 75% are between the years 1900-1920. The automobiles and models represented in the collection are Ford -- both Model “A” (1930) and Model “T” (1913, 1914, 1915, 1917); Chevrolet (1915, 1928); Cadillac (1903, 1905, 1906, 1907); and Buick (1906, 1909). Other notable automobile names and models were a 1906 Franklin Convertible, 1903 Rambler 1-Cylinder 6 Horse Runabout, 1907 REO Model “G” (Ransom Eli Olds), 1915 Trumbull Model 15-B, 1912 Metz Model “22” Roadster, 1905 Maxwell Model “L” (Fleetfoot or Dr. Maxwell) and 1910 Maxwell, and a Stanley Steamer, which we were told, when up to full steam pressure, could do 0- 60 mph in 12 seconds. 1918 Detroit Electric - Anderson Electric, could have been the future back in 1918.
Above: (l)1903 Cadillac 2-seat Runabout; (r) 1932 Packard Model 900 4-Door Sedan There were a few exceptions to the years mentioned, notably a 1932 Packard Model 900 4-door Sedan (above) and a 1926 Chrysler Convertible. There were also single automobile makes such as Saxton, EMF and Chalmers, to name a few. All of these vehicles in the Sichel Collection are registered, inspected, insured and roadworthy. Starting in November, 17 vehicles will be on display in the Saratoga Auto Museum.
There were a few new faces that have not seen this collection before and who were very, very surprised as to where it is located in the City of Schenectady because the building is so discreet. The only way to know there is a collection in the building is when the front garage door is open. Even then, one has to be looking for it since the building is quite a distance off the street. There was auto-related memorabilia throughout the warehouse just as impressive as the automobiles. There was an entire wall devoted to model toy cars and Pullman rail cars. Another wall had vintage license plates from different states as well as New York State from different years. There was also period of time pictures, newspaper clippings, posters and collectables and other auto industry-related items; it was two collections within one. There was even candy that was over 50 years old still in the original packaging on display in one of the cars. The club provided pizza and soft drinks, and Bruce supplied donuts and coffee for those in attendance. Everyone that was on hand to view the Sichel Collection had an enjoyable couple of hours taking in the early automobile history that is a well-hidden treasure in Schenectady, NY. The unofficial consensus of which vehicle, if given the chance to drive, was the 1932 Packard. Huge thanks go out to Gerald Sichel and Bruce Armer for opening up the collection to be viewed by members and guests of the ATA. -- Dave Faulkner Saturday, October 11 -- Old Slugger Brewery TourSaturday October 11th the ATA for the second week in a row did a road tour, this one happened to be the rescheduled Cooperstown Brewery Tour in Milford, NY. The morning started off with breakfast at Gibby’s diner in Duanesburg, NY which is the usual starting point for at least a couple of club events. There were eight club members with their LBCs along with any passengers to start off the tour. On hand were Jim Beil and his daughter Kristen who was in from Boston in Jim’s TR 7 (‘79), Bill and Teri Cook in a MGA (‘57), John Iseman with his Spitfire (‘80), Doug and Ann Shaver in a MGB (‘79), Elizabeth Seme in her TR 6 (‘74), Scott MacFarland and navigator in a MGB (‘76). Tagging along without their British cars were Larry and Linda Laurence in their Audi and yours truly in my Honda Civic because my Spitfire (‘75) developed a rattle and vibration along with a helicopter noise that the radio could not drown out. Leaving Gibby’s with John Iseman leading the way we headed to US Rte. 20 through the Village of Delanson, NY. Turning on US Rte. 20 west we were on our way, Along the way Herm and Nancy Marotta in their MGB (‘72) joined up and found a place in line. Turning onto NY Rte. 80 in East Springfield in Otsego County we head south along west side of Otsego Lake passing along the way the Otsego Country Club, The Glimmerglass Opera House and Leatherstocking Golf Club into Cooperstown. Other attractions in Cooperstown besides the National Baseball Hall of Fame are the Cooperstown Farmers Museum and the Fenimore Art Museum. The day was a wonderful sunny and warm fall day in upstate New York to drive to the eastern end of the Southern Tier. The fall colors were spectacular and those who had their tops down were rewarded with many great views. Traveling through Cooperstown, which was quite busy this day we head south on NYS Rte. 28. The Cooperstown Brewery is located on county route 166 which is off Rte. 28 in Milford, NY. After a stop to get the brewery location correct we pulled into the brewery driveway. At the brewery we were joined by a couple (sorry for not getting your names) of TR6’s who live in the area. Before being the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown and Otsego County, NY and the surrounding region were know as the “Hops Capital of America” until a devastating blight and prohibition killed the hop growing industry. The brewery tour lasted about 45 minutes, while it was very informative and we learned a few things about brewing beer as well as few other aspects about the brewing industry in general, the beer tasting is what we were looking forward too. We sampled six of the Cooperstown Brewery’s beers. Since we were in Cooperstown (just in case you didn’t know) each beer brewed has a baseball theme name. The six brews tasted were; Nine Man Ale - A Golden Ale, Old Slugger Pale Ale - the signature beer of the Cooperstown Brewery, Backyard Indian Pale Ale, Pride of Milford Special Ale, Benchwarmer Porter and Strike Out Stout which is a Bronze award winner. With the golf clubs out of the “boot” there was plenty of room for a couple of cases to take home. Following the brewery tour we headed into Cooperwtown for lunch and conversation. Joining us for lunch and the ride back home was Lynn Arnold in her TR 3 (‘57) who just happened to pick the right restaurant we were at when she arrived into town. After lunch we were homeward bound along the eastern shore of Otsego Lake to US Rte. 20 and our own final destinations. -- Dave Faulkner Saturday October 4 -- Adirondack Tour with Bill & Teri CookSaturday October 4th started out to be a chilly but not a frosty morning in upstate New York for the ATA’s fall tour of the Southern Adirondack Mountains. The word surely must have gotten out about Bill & Teri Cook’s well planned and scenic driving tours. There were 24 cars lined up in the parking area of the Saratoga Auto Museum. I believe this is one of the largest if not the largest turnout for an ATA driving tour. The LBCs on hand to partake included a variety of Triumphs, MGs, a couple of Austin Healy’s with a Morgan and Daimler added for good measure. Also, thrown in the mix were an Audi, BMW and a Corvette that wasn’t being used as a car-barque. As mentioned the morning was on the nippy side and we were all hoping the sun would stay out to warm the day up. The warm clothes and head gear were abundant among the drivers and passengers. Out of the 24 cars present at least half of them had the tops down, it is leaf peeping season here in the Northeast and a top would just obscure the view. Leaving the Auto Museum driveway and heading onto Corinth and Northville, NY along some familiar country roads along the Hudson River and Great Sacandaga Lake in Saratoga and Warren Counties. Our first stop was in the Village of Northville in Fulton County to stretch the legs and grab a hot drink along with a quick snack. After rounding everyone up we where on our way again with Bill and Teri Cook leading the band of LBCs through Northville onto Rt. 30 north into Hamliton County to the Village of Speculator for lunch at the Melody Lodge. Today’s tour included a short hike to Auger Falls not too far from Speculator. The short hike through the woods was the perfect appetite stimulation for lunch at the Melody Lodge. Reaching the lodge, we parked the LBCs in the lower parking area with a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains in their fall colors as a back drop for the many pictures that were taken.
After another pit stop at a Stewarts (see they are everywhere) in Johnstown, NY it was time for the home stretch back to the Saratoga Auto Museum. Arriving back at the Museum there may have not been 24 LBCs. But there was enough to turn a few heads of the visitors going into the museum. Parking the cars we all said are good-byes to one and other and THANKED Bill and Teri for anther OUTSTANDING ! ! ! tour, WELL DONE ! ! -- Dave Faulkner September 19-21-- British Invasion, Stowe, VT.Once again the Adirondack Triumph Association was well represented at the British Invasion in Stowe, Vt. during the weekend of September 19 to 21. By our count there were about 18 cars represented. Attending from the ATA were Bill and Teri Cook, Ab and Betty Crevoiserat, Mike and Karen Warzek, Lynn Arnold, Scott and Sheila Zirlin, Doug and Patricia Colwell, Joe Trupiano, Craig Dorion, Rod Smith, Al Dufault, Steve Busch, Jill Kirk, John Moore, Todd and Donna Rulison, Jim and Karen Rulison, Mark Rulison, Steve Kramer, Mark Kellett, Herb Broestler and Doug and Ann Shaver. We apologize if we missed anyone. With 600 cars in attendance it is easy to miss someone. The weekend began on Friday with Ann and I traveling to Lake George to meet Bill and Teri Cook and Lynn Arnold at 10 AM and going on to Rutland, where we met up with Rod Smith. From Rutland we were to travel straight on to Stowe except for one minor interruption. Lynn’s TR 3 began to sputter and stall and all the king’s men and all the king’s horses couldn’t get it going again. But as luck had it a tow truck with a cute young driver (Lynn’s description) pulled up behind us. The car was loaded on and finished the last 75 miles to Stowe like royalty. It made quite an impression as it was placed onto the field exactly where her class was to line up the following day. With a spare coil from Craig Dorion, points and condenser from Mike Warzek and a new distributor cap provided by Bill Cook we had all the parts necessary to make the repair. (On Saturday morning Bob Ensign dove under the hood, made all the connections and in short fashion the car was running as good as ever.) Lynn says a big thank you to all who helped her get through this. Way to go guys!!
Later on Friday evening the Merchants from the village sponsored a British Invasion Block Party. The Main Street was closed to all but British vehicles which were parked at the curb and on display while hundreds of people walked by admiring them. At the same time a Beatles band “British-Mania” performed many of the Beatles’ songs to the delight of the crowd. Some people were actually dancing in the street. It was a very enjoyable event. On Saturday morning everyone headed to the events field to get our cars lined up in the appropriate classes, cleaned and shined for the popular vote that would begin shortly. We are proud to announce the following ATA members who won awards in their class:
Congratulations to everyone. Again, we apologize if we missed anyone. After Saturday’s events at the field the ATA members, staying at the Stowe Inn, once again had cocktails on the porch and dinner at the Inn. The picture above shows left to right: Ann Shaver, Ab and Betty Crevoiserat, Lynn Arnold, Karen Warzek, Sheila Zirlin, Teri and Bill Cook, Scott Zirlin, Doug Shaver and Mike Warzek. Sunday morning after breakfast most of the group returned to the field to check out the vendors and events of the day. Ann and I left immediately after breakfast and the rest of the group left later in the morning or early afternoon. It was a great weekend --- NO RAIN! -- Doug and Ann Shaver Saturday, August 16 -- Tour of Hemmings Motor NewsTour of Hemmings Motor News, Bennington, VT Sunday, August 10 -- Hemmings Motor News Sports & Exotic Car Show at Saratoga Auto MuseumShow... Monday, August 4 -- Summer Freebie PicnicMonday, August 4, was the annual Freebie Picnic for the ATA; 60 club members and their families attended the picnic held at River Road Park in Niskayuna. A delightful summer day helped bring out a record number of club members as well as 20 British cars. The assortment of automobiles was spectacular, and club members as well as community members out for an evening stroll, enjoyed viewing these beautiful machines. Food was outstanding. Dave Faulkner showed off his grilling skills by preparing the hot dogs, hamburgers, and cheeseburgers, while Joe Bena prepared the corn on the cob. Club members provided an awesome array of pot luck food to add to the main meal. A raffle added to the fun of the evening and many great prizes were given away. After dinner, while the children played on the playground, the adults voted for their top three automobile choices. After the votes were counted, trophies were awarded and the winners were: BEST IN SHOW --John Moore’s beautifully restored 1970 MGB; LONGEST DISTANCE TRAVELED AWARD -- Jim Ralston, driving his 1973 Jensen Healey drophead coupe, traveled 53 miles from Edinburg to attend the picnic. After awards were handed out, club members packed up and drove out into the cool evening air. What a great ATA event we had! -- Joe Bena; photo by Lois Bena
July 30 -- Cruise to Udderly DeliciousThe early evening was warm and sunny. and the urge for a soft ice cream was there -- perfect requirements for an evening drive in a Little British Car. Seven ATA members satisfied their ice cream craving by cruising into Udderly Delicious in Johnstown, NY, on Wednesday July 30. Partaking in the ice cream offerings at Udderly’s were Doug and Ann Shaver, 1979 MGB; Jim and Karen Beil,1979 TR7; James & Ruth Ralston, Jensen Healey;, and Dave Faulkner, 1975 Spitfire. Sitting at the end of a picnic table enjoying our cones, sundaes or banana splits, a variety of topics were discussed besides British Cars. Udderly’s does a good amount of business, and there was a very good crowd during the time we were there. A few patrons were looking towards the four Little British Cars parked off to the side of the entrance. Our dessert finished and the twilight fading away into the evening, it was time to leave Udderly’s and head on our way. – Dave Faulkner Saturday, July 19 -- British MotorfestThe Saratoga Auto Museum. located in the Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, NY. was the site of the 2008 British Motorfest on Saturday. July 19, 2008. This car show was co-sponsored by the Adirondack Triumph Association and the Saratoga Auto Museum. Even though the day was hot and humid, some 70 British vehicles of various makes and models were registered and parked around the museum grounds. The class with the most vehicles was the Spitfire & GT6 class, with 11 cars; followed by the MGB/Rubber Bumper and Jaguar Sports thru ‘81 classes with 7 cars each in the class. While there were fewer cars registered this year the quality of the show certainly didn’t diminish. A few notable marques were the Jaguars -- XK-120, C-type and D-type; the famous crowd pleaser 1981 Delorean DMC-12 from the Alplaus July 4th parade; a 1962 Daimler SP250; a 1984 Aston Martin Lagonda; a 1952 Singer Roadster; and a 2005 Lotus Elise. Honor for the longest distance traveled went to Lewis & Colleen Golub from Vero Beach , FL, with the 1952 Jaguar XK-120. Trailing behind were Joe & Kerri Merone from So. Burlington, VT, with a 1974 TR6 and Jon Canfield from the city that never sleeps --New York, New York -- with a 1947 Triumph 1800 Roadster. There is, of course, a lighter side to any car show; this year was no exception. The food vendor selected by the Museum used a “carbeque” as a grill to cook hamburgers and hot dogs. His choice of vehicle was a Corvette, which the British vehicle owners thought was an excellent choice, unless, of course, you are a Corvette owner. Eighteen classes may not appear too difficult to handle for parking, but when those 18 classes are spread around a building, on the lawn and in a stand of pine trees, anything can happen. ATA club member Fred Thompson got a real kick out of helping the Motorfest participants and a couple of ATA car parkers locate the evasive and elusive Class #18 Sign. Even Sherlock Holmes might have had trouble finding that elusive sign throughout the day! As with any event, a great deal of planning, effort and volunteerism goes into pulling it off on ‘E-day” (event day). Since there were numerous people that helped with this year’s show, a BIG THANKS and a PAT ON THE BACK goes out to each one of them for an outstanding job well done. Another special THANKS goes out to all of the businesses who donated the numerous door prizes and the free refreshments for the ATA volunteers. Our Club anticipates that next year’s British Motorfest will once again be held in the month of July. Stay tuned for the day. Results Class #1: Triumph TR2-3B
Class #2: Triumph TR4, 4A, 250
Class #3: Triumph TR6
Class #4: Triumph TR7 & TR8
Class #5: Triumph Spitfire & GT6
Class #6: MG T-Series
Class #7: MGA
Class #8: MGB/C Chrome Bumper
Class #9: MGB Rubber Bumper
Class #10: Austin-Healey Spirte/MG Midget
Class #11: Austin-Healey 100/3000
Class #12: Jaguar Sports thru ‘81
Class #13: Other British Sports thru ‘81
Class #14: Other Birtish Sedans and Tourers thru’81
Class #15: British Trucks
Class #16: Kit Car/Replicar
Class #17: British Motorcycles
Class #18: Modern British Cars ‘82 on
Best in Show
President’s Award
Saratoga Auto Museum Award
Friday, July 4 -- 4th of July Parade in AlplausAlplaus, NY - Every 4th of July, the Village of Alplaus puts forth
an outstanding parade and celebration to honor America on its independence day. Unlike the 2007 July 4th parade,
this year's parade was different. First, Joe Bena was able to drive one of cars in the parade. He missed last year
for the first time ever as an Alplaus resident, I think. Second, the weather forecast was on the money with sunny
skies and warm temperatures the entire day.
Above left: Dave Faulkner -- 1975 Spitfire. Above right: Doug and Ann Shaver -- 1979 MGB. Wednesday, June 25 -- Go Kart at the KnobWednesday, June 25, was Go Kart racing for the Adirondack Triumph Association. The weather was perfect for the 17 members and guests that came to the Gobblers Knob racing course just outside Cobleskill, NY. Dave Faulkner drove his 75 Spitfire, Mike and Karen Warzek drove their 59 MGA, Rod and Linda arrived in their 64 Triumph TR4, Doug and son Steve Shaver in their 79 MGB and Ron and son Tom Holbrook in their 79 MGB. Larry and Linda Laurence showed up in a very nice 2004 Audi roadster he had just purchased. Very nice!!! We did have one relatively minor mechanical problem with Rod and Linda Smith's Triumph. A nut came off the top of the float bowl for one of their carburetors and gas was sloshing around the engine compartment. Since the nut was nowhere to be found and no one had a replacement that would fit we ended up taping over the open hole and wiring the top onto the bowl. Linda reported that this worked just fine for the 124 mile trip home to Poultney, Vt. It seems there is always a temporary fix that can be made in an emergency.
After several races we took a break and enjoyed free pizza and soda
purchased by the club and delivered by Ann Shaver and John Iseman. After Dave Faulkner took all of the pictures
for the club he visited the golf driving range where he worked on his swing. Saturday-Sunday, June 21-22 -- Overnight TourWhen Bill Cook first announced that he was planning a DOUBLE TOUR WEEKEND, the snow was still 3 feet deep but I began to think about the possibility of wife Lois and I being part of that tour. It sounded like a great idea, a two day tour with participants being able to take part in either of the two days or both days. We were also offered the option of staying overnight at the historic Cambridge Hotel in Cambridge, NY. Day One of the tour was scheduled for a drive on some of the nicest roads in Washington County in upstate New York north east of the Albany area. Bill told us that the roads he had selected for the drive were country roads where we would have fun driving our British cars and enjoy fantastic scenery and vistas. Stops would include a Game Farm near Greenwich, a Slate Museum in Granville, a Farm Store in Salem, and lunch in Whitehall (Whitehall is known as the "BIRTHPLACE OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY). Day One would end with dinner at the Cambridge Hotel and a stay over at the hotel for those who planned to do so. The Cambridge Hotel is one of the country's remaining "train hotels". It is a very large empire style building with first and second floor wrap around porches lined with rocking chairs, and it faces a park and an historic train station. It was built in 1885 and in 1904 gained national fame as the original home of "APPLE PIE A LA MODE." Day Two was scheduled to be a tour of southern Vermont with stops in Manchester, and a farm museum in Woodstock. Since I lost all of last summers driving due to a back operation, this double tour sounded like a winner. Lois and I decided to participate in both days of the tour as well as the overnight stay at the hotel. I spent the week before the tour getting my TR3 ready for the two day drive. The getting ready process involved checking all of the fluids, changing the engine oil and filter, pumping grease into all of the grease fittings from the rear axle bearings in the back to the steering linkage in the front. The British sure knew how to put lots of grease fittings under their cars. Lubing the underside of the TR3 without a car lift is quite a lengthy process. Packing for two people for an overnight trip also takes some planning since the side curtains, top, tools, and spare parts take up a great deal of the space in the luggage compartment. A beautiful sunny Saturday morning, June 21 found us packed and on the road by 7:45 and heading for the tour starting location at a McDonalds parking lot in Mechanicville. The parking lot became a British car show as the following cars arrived for our tour: Bill and Teri Cook and their MGA, Doug and Ann Shaver in their MGB, Pete and Dianne Fullam in their TR4, Scott and Sheila Zirlin in their MGB, Jim and Linda Shea in their TR4, Mike and Karen Warzek in their MGB, Steve and Nancy Knoll In their MGA, Curtis Weyll in his MGB, and Lois and I in our TR3. What a parade we made driving out of town in those beautiful little sports cars. About 20 minutes into our tour, we came upon Phil Stoddard waiting for us in his TR6. Phil who lives in part of the area where we were touring had helped Bill with planning the tour route. Bill was correct when he told us that we would be enjoying fantastic scenery and vistas. Our little multi colored caravan of automobiles drove through very pastoral farm land. As we drove past farms and through small towns, people would stop what they were doing and wave to us as we passed. The nice weather also brought out many motorcyclists and many of them gave us a thumbs up as we passed them going in the opposite direction.
Almost as if planned, the rain stopped as we exited the restaurant and headed for our cars. Our next destination was the slate museum in Granville. The first slate was discovered in Granville in 1839 and soon became the major commodity around which the town grew. Granville is still well known for its slate companies. The tour of the Slate Valley Museum was very interesting and we learned a great deal about the history of Granville, slate mining, and uses of slate in our world. After visiting the museum we got into our cars and headed toward Salem where we would visit the Gardenworks at the MacClan Farm - a third generation run business with a goal of keeping the farm productive. We enjoyed looking through the store that is housed in the original dairy barn. The store offers a variety of souvenirs, foods, plants, and flowers both fresh and dried. We also visited the plant drying room that is set up in the second story where the dairy farm hayloft was located. The Gardenworks is mentioned in Dog Days, a book written by Jon Katz. Jon lives a short distance from this farm and has written several books about dogs and sheep herding. Lois and I just finished reading "The Dogs of Bedlam Farm" and so for us the drive through the rural New York farm land often referred to in Jon's books had special meaning. We even saw a man and his border collie on a hillside herding a flock of sheep. What a picture that was with the sheep, the dog, the hilly farm land, and the British cars. It seemed like we were driving In England or Scotland as we waved at the man and he waved back.
We made a dinner reservation for 5:30 and while waiting for dinner, some of us went for a walk while others stayed in the air conditioned lounge and enjoyed the beauty of the old Victorian building. Dinner time arrived and the twelve staying for dinner were escorted to our table in a large dining room where we enjoyed a great meal together. YES - some of us did order the famed APPLE PIE A LA MODE for dessert and were not disappointed. After dinner, those who were not spending the night said goodbye and headed for home. Six of us were spending the night and we had a great time going for another walk to work off the wonderful dinner and then relaxed in the rocking chairs on the porch that faced the old train station. What a peaceful setting and great ending for a wonderful day. Day two of our Double Tour Weekend arrived and as Lois and I looked out our hotel window, we saw rain and soon heard thunder. We were hoping for a passing shower but the weather man was correct when he announced that it would be a rainy day. The six of us who stayed over went to breakfast in the rain. After breakfast we packed our cars and were in the process of talking about the rain and the rest of the tour when we saw Dave Faulkner arrive in his Triumph Spitfire and Abby and Betty Crevoiserat arrive in their TR6. They were joining us for day two of the tour in the hope that the rain would stop. After much discussion and watching the rain storm get more violent, we decided to cancel day two of the tour and do it at a later date. We all said our goodbyes and headed for home. It was a very rainy return trip with rain mixed with thunder and lightening. Yes, my side curtains did keep out most of the rain but Lois did complain about water dripping on her leg and foot. It brought back memories of when we were dating in college and my car at the time was a 1956 TR3. Funny but I don't remember her complaining about water dripping on her leg or foot then. Although we did not complete day two of the Double Tour Weekend, we had a great time and lots of memories. After I missed all of last year with back problems, it was good to be back on the road again in my Triumph. It was also wonderful to enjoy the time with other British car lovers. We are now looking forward to our next driving event. Thank you Bill and Teri Cook for setting up the tour, and thank you Phil Stoddard for helping Bill find some of the nicest touring roads in Washington County. -- Joe Bena Thursday, June 19 Johnstown, NY, car showreport to follow Saturday, June 7 -- Hilltown Tourreport to follow Sunday, June 1 -- Woodstock British Car Get-TogetherOn June 1, Woodstock resident and ATA club member Len Sapiro organized a benefit British car show for the Woodstock Community Playhouse. It was a lovely day to hold a very informal car show on the lawn of the Community Playhouse. Sixty British cars and their drivers and passengers along with supporters of the playhouse enjoyed the day viewing and talking about their British automobiles. The ATA and the Brits of the Hudson were on the field (front lawn) with almost dozen members from each club present. There was a variety of marques on hand to hold one's interest. The familiar marques were present that one would see at a British show: MG, Triumph, Jaguar, Lotus, Morgan, Range Rover -- even a couple of Triumph motorcycles showed up. Then there was the rarely seen: an Aston Martin Lagonda from the early 1980s, a Daimler, three Bentleys and a Rolls Royce from the 1930s. Not to be outdone, a couple of Rileys and a Wolseley were on the field. A big round of applause and thanks goes out to Len for organizing the benefit car show for the Playhouse. -- Dave Faulkner Saturday, May 24 -- Wiggly Road TourAccording to the Webster's Dictionary, the definition of Road and Wiggly are as follows:
Putting these two words together -- Wiggly or Wiggliest, and Road -- then adding the word Tour, you have "Wiggly Road Tour." That is exactly what Bill & Teri Cook planned as a kickoff for the ATA spring and summer tours. On Saturday, May 24th, roughly 38 ATA club members in 19 LBCs started at the Saratoga Auto Museum to drive the "Wiggliest Roads" in Saratoga and Warren counties in upstate New York. Besides having a well-planned tour, Bill & Teri also devised a clever game for the tour…if negotiating and downshifting through "S" turns while driving up mountain roads were not enough! To set the rules straight as to what a "wiggly road" sign is, four were placed on our tour route layout sheet: A double "S" with a direction arrow at the top on a yellow diamond-shaped sign along with a rectangle recommended speed sign posted at the bottom of the diamond.
Leaving the Saratoga Auto Museum with Bill & Teri leading the way in their Red 1957 MGA, we were off to conquer the first series of what proved to be many "wiggly roads" as well as the first question of the game, which was, Where can you buy fresh eggs? Answer: Elmer's Farm. Traveling through the Towns of Milton, Greenfield and Wilton in Saratoga County, NY, and 45 minutes later it was time for a pit stop at a Stewart's near exit 16 of I-87 in Wilton. It is a little-known fact to those of us that live in the Capital District Region of NYS that there is a Stewart's Ice Cream shop on every corner or close by an interstate exit. Continuing on our way through Wilton and into the Town of Corinth through the next series of "wiggly roads," a couple of landmarks were passed. One was the West Mountain Ski area and the other Mount McGregor. That leads into the next game question: What Famous person lived here? Answer: President and Commanding General of the Union Army Ulysses S. Grant, who lived his final years of life at Mount McGregor and completed his personal memoirs there before his death in 1885.
After lunch and driving through a little bit of Lake Luzerne and crossing the bridge over where the upper Hudson River flows into the lower Hudson River at the narrowest point on the river, we headed to the Towns of Hadley and Day in Saratoga County. Driving along Hadley Hill Road and encountering more of those "wiggly roads," if one was lucky enough to catch a view of a number of boats, one had a good chance of getting the answer to the next game question, which was: How many boats do you see? Answer: 17. Our return route back to Saratoga Springs took us along the south shore of the upper portion of the Great Sacandaga Lake through the Saratoga County towns of Day and Edinburg. The lake shore roads weren't consider "wiggly"; they were more like smooth flowing curves. Once again, crossing the Hudson River, the final game question: What is the name of the bridge? Answer: Batchellerville Bridge. Our touring group was heading back to the Auto Museum. Upon arriving to the place of beginning and stretching the legs, a number of comments were made on what a wonderful tour this was and what a great day it was to be out driving our LBCs. Another comment was what do you think the people we passed along the route were thinking when they saw 19 LBCs pass them? I happened to hear about 3 or 4 kids yell out what nice cars we were driving. An ATA tour would not be complete without a little breakdown. One of the Morgans had a little bit trouble on a hairpin turn leading up to a small rise, but the problem was fixed in a few minutes. The Morgan and passengers made it safely back to the museum. Bill gathered everyone up to go over the game questions and answers. The three overall game questions there were not given in the article were: How many wiggly roads signs are in the tour? Answer: 30 or 31, depending on how well one could drive and count at the same time. Which road had the most wiggly road signs? Answer: Corinth Mtn Rd. Finally, on which wiggly road do Bill & Teri live? Answer: Luzerne Mtn. Rd. Various auto care-related items were given out by Bill for those who had the most game points. As a fitting end to the tour, Bill invited everyone into the Saratoga Auto Museum to view his 1962 Daimler SP250 is on display. A BIG Thanks goes out to both Bill and Teri for a well-planned and very enjoyable tour. -- Dave Faulkner Saturday, May 17 -- Rotterdam Community DaySix ATA members were on hand for the annual Rotterdam Community Day. The very informal car show not only included our "LBCs" but also a few American Autos. The British flavor included a 1981 Delorean DMC-12 (IRE), a 1974 Red TR6 and a 1974 Blue TR6, a 1960 TR3, a 1979 TR7 and a 1975 Spitfire. The American Auto flavors were; a Silver Anniversary Corvette, 1979 Camaro, a couple of Pontiacs -- one being a brand-spanking-new 2008 GT8, a recent model Dodge Charger and a Dakota pickup. So what does one do at a Community Day at a very informal car show with an even number of British and American car owners present? Have a pickup "Footie Ball" match? Since the "pitch" was going to be used by a local skydiving team for a landing zone a little later, the match was out of the question. Instead, we talked about our cars with each other and with the community day people that stopped by to look and admire. There were even a few lucky kids that were able to sit in the LBCs; they were thrilled! Besides the very informal and modest car show, other activities at the community day included an academic learning fair, a rock climbing wall, musical entertainment, a craft show, food venders and one of the local fire departments howing off the fire trucks. Concluding the day was a fireworks display. During the afternoon, the weather to the west was bringing in thick clouds along with showers. Since we LBC people were "topless," we were keeping an eye to the sky. After a couple of hours of car talk, and with the clouds continuing to roll in, it was time to pick up and call it a day. -- Dave Faulkner Sunday, May 4 -- Tour of the Taylor Collection, JohnstownReport coming soon! Saturday, May 3 -- Celebration of Celts at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham, NY"It is a lovely spring day in the Land of Celts" was the comment overheard on Saturday May 3rd when the ATA visited the Celebration of Celts at the Columbia County Fair Grounds in Chatham, NY. In all reality it was a damp, overcast, light rainy day in upstate New York. So it was prefect weather for the Celtic re-enactor from the 8th or 9th century. Starting from a local shopping center on Rte 20 in Guilderland, NY a band of four ATA members headed to Chatham. Two of us were brave enough to have our "LBC's" out in the light rain for the drive. Jim Beil with his yellow '79 TR 7 and the author with my yellow '75 Spitfire and mixed in was John & Elizabeth Iseman in their green (should be yellow) VW Thing and Pete & Dianne Fullam in their everyday driver. Along the way out little troupe was joined up by Rich Hall in his '73 TVR 2500M. The Fulton County (NY) group of the ATA arrived after we did and had to park outside the gate. What a travesty. The Celebration of Celts is the largest Pan-Celtic festival in the northeast, saluting all eight Celtic Nations: Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Isle of Man, Cornwall, Brittany in France, and Asturias and Galicia in Spain. The Celebration of Celts is a living and breathing testament to the invaluable contributions of the Celtic peoples in the creation and building of the United States (Daily Freeman, Advertising Supplement, May 1, 2008). The celebration is a two-day festival held this year on May 3rd and 4th and this year is the 5th anniversary of the festival. There were plenty of events to occupy oneself. The European Car Show was a small part of it. Both days were full of activities for those in attendance. Upon arrival, the band Coyote Run was heating it up on the Guinness Music Stage, playing a 90-minute set, and they would be performing again at 4:00 p.m. Taking the stage at 1:00 p.m. in the Celtic Lounge were a couple of Capital Region residents, Kevin McKrell and his daughter Kate. Other Celtic-themed bands performing were Enter the Haggis, Sunday Headliners - Black 47, the Barra MacNeils, the 77th Regiment Balladeers as well as Celtic dance troupes. Of course there were at least three Bag Pipe companies. At 12:00 noon, the parade of Celtics started down through the middle of the festival with the Bag Pipe companies playing and clans parading with their Tartans aloft for all to see. There were plenty of events to keep one's interest, including the Celtic heavy sporting tradition of the Caber Toss, Stone Put and Hammer Throw. Not to be outdone, there was a Jousting Tourney and Amour and Sword Tourney throughout the afternoon on both days and a horse show on the race track. Along with the music and sporting events there were living Celtic re-enactors dressed in period clothing and performing daily activities of Celtic culture. Of course no festivals would be complete without vendors, and there was a good amount of them with Celtic-themed merchandise for sale. Also, one could discover their Celtic ancestry with a visit to the Celtic Village and meeting one of the Clans or Associations present. Heading back to where we were parked, a Jaguar and a Morgan (Charlie Flanagan) joined our little group along with a few admirers. A total of 16 ATA members were on hand at various times of the afternoon to enjoy the celebration. Before leaving the show, some time was spent with a couple of guys talking about British Cars. To those two gentlemen I overheard earlier in the day. Yes, it was a lovely spring day in the Land of Celts.
Wednesday, April 23 -- ATA Tax Night Potluck SupperOur 15th annual Tax Night Pot Luck Supper was once again one of our
most popular events of the year. Thirty-four club members and their families got together at the Alplaus Fire House
on April 23rd to share an evening of food and conversation. The weather was dry and warm, and a few club members
drove their British Automobiles to shake off some of the winter storage dust. The food was again plentiful and
delicious and everyone found foods that were enjoyable to them. April 5 Tour, Northeast Classic Car Museum, NorwichThe ATA on Saturday April 5 toured the Northeast Classic Car Museum in Norwich, in the beautiful leatherstocking region of New York State. Our tour started off with breakfast at Gibby's diner in Duanesburg, the club's usual starting point for any westbound tour. Three members braved the morning light rain and damp conditions in their "LBC": Doug & Ann Shaver in their 1979 MGB and Maynard Daigle in his 1980 Red TR7. Maynard was even braver because he drove home with the top down. A total of 14 club members were on hand for this ATA event. The driving route taken was NYS route 7 to Central Bridge, NY, where we would pick up I-88 west. We exited I-88 at exit 13 the Morris, NY, NYS route 205 exit. Once off the exit we were on NYS route 205 until the junction of NYS route 23 to Morris, NY and finally Norwich, NY. Arriving at the museum, we were warmly greeted by the staff. After paying theadmission fee, tour guide for the day Duane Horton led the way through the museum. First, the Northeast Classic Car Museum is the home of the Staley Collection, which is about 98% of all of the cars on exhibit. The museum all has the world's largest collection of Franklin Luxury cars, built in Syracuse between 1902-1934. The museum also has a collection of historic antique bomber and fighter aircraft engines. The tour started off by viewing the early model cars from when the auto industry was still in its infancy. Duane pointed out to us that the books above the exhibit plague are a photographic essay of the restoration process of the car. Along the way, Duane pointed out a couple of cars of significance. First was a 1929 Chevrolet with a Landau Canvass top; only 300 were produced, and the museum has one of 14 known to exist. The other, even rarer, car is the 1930 Model 147 Franklin Suburban, the only known Franklin "Woodie" to exist. Al the side panels and doors are wooden, thus known as a woodie. Walking through the collection, we entered the section where the Duesenberg family of autos is displayed, including Auburn and Cord. Also making an appearance were Packards, a "commoner Rolls Royce" and a Cunningham. While viewing a 1930 Duesenberg Model J tourster, the exhibit plaque had an interesting fact that pointed out that of all the Duesenbergs produced 75 % are still in existence and that 55% are operational. I wonder if my 1975 Spitfire or the my every-day drive 1995 Dodge Stratus will be around for almost 100 years and still operational. My money is on the Spitfire. Another interesting car in this section of the museum is a 1928 Cunningham that is still in original condition. The Cunningham was perceived as the "American Rolls Royce." This one was a custom-built limousine for Ester R. Wilber of the Wilber Banking family in Oneonta, NY. The car's odometer shows its original 5,000 miles. Cunningham also built custom automobiles for a couple of famous people you may have heard of: William Randolph Hearst and Mary Pickford. Adjoining the Duesenberg section is an exhibition that houses cars for the year 1957. Included are a Buick, Cadillac, Lincoln, Ford Thunderbird, and a Nash -- a Rambler in which the front seats fold down to make a bed. There is even a Jaguar. Passing back through the Duesenberg section and stopping to admire four Packards from 1931-1933, we headed back in to the main building. In this area were a series of early Franklins with the "Horse Collar" grill design. A little further along was a 1925 Stutz Model 693 Roadster, which is recognized by the Stutz Owners Club as the only Model 693 Roadster existing today. But not to be outdone, across the way from the 1925 Stutz is a 1910 Pullman Model K Touring Car that has been owned by the same family for all of the car's life. Our tour of the Northeast Classic Car Museum ended where it began. Our tour guide Duane was very friendly and knowledgeable with all of the cars and even mentioned the advanced features they had such as Front Wheel Drive, Swivel Head Lamps, and -- my personal favorite -- a separate storage compartment for golf clubs! The Northeast Classic Car Museum is truly a gem to see: the museum staff is very friendly and accommodating as well as knowledgeable. Everyone had a wonderful experience and an enjoyable time. Below are some of the cars in the collection; click on any picture to enlarge it.
March 15 Tech Session
To start off the session we all gathered around the Midget on the lift and watched and listen to Jim explain what he was doing while taking off the caliper. While the caliper was off, Jim gave a brief explanation of the mechanics of the caliper on the Midget. Then it was over to the work bench to disassemble it.
After lunch if was time to reassemble the caliper; the reassembly was underway with a smaller group. Again, Jim provided a very well-explained procedure for the caliper reassembly. There was even side conversations on the three types of "Locktite" and their colors as well as when and when not to use the certain types. Also, what the "hatch marks" on the top of a blot mean in relation to the how it is used in a car engine. Once the caliper was back together, it was time to place it back on the Midget. Back over at the Midget and the caliper on and the brake fluid reservoir topped off, the brake line was ready to be bled. Another tip by Jim when bleeding the brakes: "keep it simple" and slow and easy when pushing and releasing the brake pedal. The caliper back on and the brake bleeding completed, the tech session came to an end. A big thanks goes out to Jim Chamberlain, owner of Coveland Motor Sports, and mechanic Jim O'Hare for providing a very interesting and informative tech session. A job well done! February 27 Tech Sessionreport needed! January 26: ATA Annual Banquet, celebrating 30 years as a clubATA's first event of the year, the annual banquet, was held on Saturday, January 26, at the River Stone Manor in Scotia, NY. 2008 marks the 30th anniversary year of the ATA. The night started off with a cocktail and hors d'oeurves hour with music provided by club member Barney Brower.
The dinner menu was highlighted by the main entries of Stuffed Chicken Breast and Roast Loin of Pork. This being the club's 30th year a special 30th birthday cake was served for dessert. Club member Pat Jackan added a great touch to the cake by placing several toy LBCs around the cake. After dinner and dessert were served, the night' activities started off with a guest speaker, Richard Lentinello, an Editor-in-Chief from Hemmings Motor News, Sports & Exotic magazine. Richard is also an ATA member. As a club member, Richard had to mention the first British Car he owned was a Triumph Spitfire, followed by a TR3 that some how ended up in 400 boxes. Then there is the wish list that his wife doesn't know about. Recently back from a major car auction in Scottsdale, AZ, Richard emphasized that collectors are looking for original cars that have never been restored or repainted. These original cars are becoming more valuable because they are becoming increasing rare. A main point also concerning any original car is to "leave it, clean it and drive and enjoy it." While in Scottsdale, Richard mentioned that British Cars were selling between $15,000 - $35,000 depending on the engine. A project restoration car that Hemmings Sport & Exotic magazine is sponsoring is a 1980 MGB, which will be auctioned off when the project is completed. Albany, NY, area bodywork craftsman Bob Ensign was a feature in the Sports & Exotic magazine for his body work done on the MGB. A little tidbit by Richard is that Hemmings Motor News will be at Limerock, CT, on May 25th and Triumph will be the featured marque. After Richard's talk, it was ATA club President John Iseman's turn to continue on with the rest of the night's activities, starting with the pulling of door prize-winning tickets. The door prize winners were Kim Graff, Pat Beck and Deneen Dale. The 50/50 winner was Scott Zirlin who, unlike last year's 50/50 winner, doesn't own a Herald to spend his winnings on. Last year's car-related quiz game devised by the team of Iseman and Iseman was the cars of James Bond movies. This year's game was a "clue, word search puzzle" of car parts. Winner of the game was Sheila Zirlin. Sheila really worked hard at figuring out the puzzle. The answer must be top secret because the solution to the puzzle was not revealed. The "famous ATA Wacky Auction" followed next, John Iseman was the "MC" for the auction. There was quite a variety of car-related items in this year's auction. A couple of racing movies on DVD, along with a bottle of wine, made the rounds among the participants. One DVD title, The Italian Job, starred Michael Cain and even had Benny Hill in a supporting role. Hill Angels were not mentioned in the list of credits. Missing from this year's auction was the skimpy article of evening attire, which might have been a well-received compliment to the DVDs and wine. With the wacky auction ending, it was time for DJ Barney Brower to spin some dance music for those who needed to dance off dinner and dessert. A big round of "Thanks" goes out to Jim Beil and Joe Bena for another outstanding job in planning the annual ATA banquet. |
There were between 20-25 club members and guests to view the collection. We were free to move about and admire all of the automobiles and memorabilia throughout the warehouse. Bruce Armer, the Supervisor of the Automobiles for the collection, was on hand to answer any and all questions about the collection as well as give any insight to the quirks of each automobile or model of a given year. Bruce took a moment to fire up the Calliope on the 1915 Ford Model T Circus Wagon (right) for a brief tune to the amusement of those in attendance.
While having lunch a local patron walked through the bar area and was questioning where all the people came from? Our reply was “from those Little British Cars parked outside”. The patron was not too thrilled with the answer and gave grumbly statement that they will go someplace else for lunch. Their loss because lunch was very good. Following lunch, the tour was back on the road again (without Willie Nelson) turning onto NY Rte. 8 heading back into Speculator then turning onto NY Rte. 10 heading to Caroga Lake in Fulton County. Along the way to Caroga Lake and Johnstown, NY we passed several parking area where people were admiring the fall colors. After the completion of any one of the tours the club does. We often wonder what people are thinking when a line of LBCs goes by especially if it is a double digit number. Judging by the reactions of the people in a couple of these parking areas waving their arms and hands as we drove by. That reaction could only mean they enjoyed the sights and sounds of a LBC on the country road.
That evening some of the ATA folks who were staying at the Stowe Inn had our customary cocktail party on the porch as we watched British Vehicles going up and down Mountain Road. 
Our
next stop was a scenic overlook on Saratoga County Route 4 in the Town of Corinth. This was an ideal break to get
out and stretch the legs as well as enjoy the fabulous view of the upper portion of the Great Sacandaga Lake between
Saratoga and Warren counties. This was also a fantastic photographic stop. Leaving the scenic overlook, we headed
to the Village of Lake Luzerne in Warren County for lunch at Papa's restaurant. This is also the next game question: What is Papas noted for? Answer: Ice Cream. Also on the front porch of Papa's is a very extensive collection
of Glass Milk Bottles of a bygone era.
