News Items from Jim B.

     At our last club gathering (19th March) at Jim and Lorraine W's cordial home for the St. Patrick's Day event, I conducted a brief meeting and discussed the following items:
  1. There will be no regular club meeting on the 3rd Wednesday of April.
  2. Instead FABACians are invited to Kelvin P's home to celebrate St. George's day with a pot luck and BYOB on April 23rd at 6:00 PM.
  3. John Bowes has offered to organize the trip to Stowe, Vermont to attend The British Invasion event to be held in September for those interested.
- Jim B.

Thank you, Dianne E.

Several of us received a beautiful potted shamrock at the St. Paddy's FABAC celebration. Carolyn and I have been enjoying ours daily and just want to say how much we appreciated Dianne's generosity, yet again!

David E. Davis Jr.

I believe David E. Davis Jr. was the original editor of Car and Driver back in the mid '60s.  He had a run-in, I think with Brock Yates who was a writer or editor at Car and Driver and later Davis left to start Automobile magazine.  He later started Winding Road, a web publication.  He was quite an interesting character and one of the better automotive writers.  In any event he died Sunday in New York at age 80 as a result of complications following bladder surgery. 
(from David R)

Want to ride along in a Porsche up Pikes Peak?

     This video is of a record setting run.  Jeff Zwart and his 911 GT3 Cup Car rocketed to victory in the Time Attack 2WD class at Pike's Peak, in Colorado Springs on June 23, 2010, shattering the record by 38 seconds. Jeff finished sixth overall, ahead of every production-based car entered.
     This video provides an in-the-cockpit view of his record setting run. This annual race is normally held at the end of June every year. It is 19 miles from the toll booth up to the top of Pikes Peak. The elevation at the summit is 14,110 ft.  The road is narrow and starts out being paved, but then turns into dirt.
     To watch the video, click on the link below.  And be aware that you can go to the full screen option by clicking on the 4 tiny arrows just to the left of the word "vimeo" below the lower right portion of the screen.  Although you can't get a feel for the angle of the road, believe me, it is very steep !  Speeds in these types of vehicles can be upwards of 100+mph.  Enjoy the full steering, lock to lock turns, and listen for the tires bitin' for traction.  Up near the top, the drop-offs (if you went off the road) are measured in thousands of feet.
Get in, Shut up, and Hold on ! ! ! Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/4kpjghr
(Thanks to Curry for passing this along.)

A bit of humour

(Click on the image to make it large enough for your old eyes to read.)
Thanks to Ralph H. for passing this one on.

Ralph H. sent a great "Name that car", with a difference.

Here's Ralph's email:

Hello David
     So winter rears it ugly cold head again and drops a dusting of snow on us and I am unable to start the new siding on the B&B .  So what is a guy to do but visit the FABAC site and see what's new.  And of course this brings up a new challenge.
     I have enclosed photos of three cars—on the surface all quite different but in reality all have one common heritage.  Can you name the cars and name the common thread that ties them all together?  The common factor is closer to the hearts of true FABAC drivers than you might think.  I will give two hints: one is a Delorean and one is not a Lotus Seven.  Other than that there are a few clues in the photos.  Good luck!



Like it or Not—there probably is ethanol in your gasoline!

That's right, folks. The province of New Brunswick, as of March 1, 2011, mandated the use of ethanol in gasoline. Your little British car engine probably isn't going to be happy.
A couple of sites to start your information gathering:
E10 Ethanol Fuel Disadvantages: Cost, Engine Problems and Damage
E10 Engine Damage & Performance Issues

Thanks to John B. for bringing this issue to our attention. 

St. Paddy's Celebration at the Woodfords

A report will come along later. Until then, click here for some photos by Ellie and Jim.

Why not buy an E-Type this year?

The E-Type was first presented at a press lunch on March 15, 1961, in a restaurant in Geneva. On its release Enzo Ferrari called it ''The most beautiful car ever made''.
HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY!!!

NOTE: Next Meeting on SATURDAY, March 19th

     FABACians will be ecstatic to hear that Jim and Lorraine have yet again invited us to join them at their home for our next meeting, Saturday March 19th, TWO days AFTER St. Pat's Day. Those of you who have attended one of these parties in previous years know what a great time is had by all. We make it a pot luck event, knowing everyone has a favourite Irish dish, and we throw in a little challenge to see who can wear the most green!
     So, we'll see you around 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 19th at 159 Mactaquac Heights, Keswick Ridge. Thanks so much to Jim and Lorraine for their generous hospitality.

Kelvin's New Old Car

After a Woody disappointment, Kelvin P. has found a great little 1976 Mini. Looking forward to spring I am sure.  :-)  Congratulations, Kelvin!
(Click on any picture for a larger view.)

Why don't I like this concept car?

http://www.windingroad.com/photos/galleries/mini-rocketman-concept/#1

How To Roll a Mercedes

This will make every man's heart (and many women's) beat a little faster.
The proper way to roll a car. What an awesome ad for the new Mercedes! If any of you were ever to roll a car, this is the proper way to do it. The stretch of highway that this ad was filmed on is in the Fraser Canyon, British Columbia. The tunnel they did this in is the China Bar Tunnel on Highway 1 just North of Spuzzum. The car... a new Mercedes AMG Gullwing. Make sure that your sound is on ... enjoy ! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-45p_rKMKsw
(Thanks to Vic D. for the 'heads up' on this one.)

The best online Auction Catalog I have ever seen

Even if you don't have the $1,000,000 to buy some of these beautiful cars, this catalog is worth looking at for its slick design and, of course, the beautiful cars displayed in it. Check it out at: RM Auctions
(I recommend full-screen viewing mode.) Tell me which automobile you most would like to own, and maybe I will surprise you with it as a gift some day—or not.  ;-)