A Stirling afternoon was had by all!

Larry and Sandi H entertained in their huge garage Saturday (Oct 26) nearly 20 FABACians with demonstrations of the unusual Stirling engine and a lunch of homemade chili with all the fixings.

Stirling engines come in all sizes from demonstration models, of which Larry has 25 or more, to full size ones such as those used in diesel-electric submarines to recharge their batteries. Known for their super quietness in operation, a Stirling engine is a heat engine vastly different from the internal combustion in our LBCs. It operates by cyclic compression and expansion of air at different temperature levels to create a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work (See Wikipedia for more info) Larry’s demonstrations included a a Stirling engine powering a model train, an early Benz automobile and a lighting display.

Following the demonstrations and lunch, another social hour was passed chatting and exploring Larry’s collection of LBC posters, car models and his re Triumph TR3A before returning home. A huge “thank you” to Sandi and Larry for a great time and wonderful hospitality.

John B.

Thanks to Jim and Ellie for this nice collection of photos from the event.
Click on Larry to see lots more photos.

Old Service Stations

Some interesting photos.  Note the photo advertising “corn alcohol gasoline”.  Seems like nothing is new.
 - Phil O.
http://hipspics.freewebspace.com/gas/gas.html

Prince Charles School Car Show

 I noticed this on the Foreign Auto Club site.  Think anyone might be interested in a drive if it isn’t snowing?  :~)
- Phil O.

When Fri, November 1, 12:40pm – 2:30pm
Where Prince Charles School in Saint John, November 1 (map)
Description Dan Foote, from Prince Charles School in Saint John Area, invites all our Members to the Third annual Prince Charles School Car Show. They had a great time last year, sharing their love of cars with each of the students and parents. The car show was again a huge success. They will be having the car show on November 1st, 2013 from 12:40 - 2:30, at Prince Charles School, at 317-319 Union Street in Saint John. More information on gathering at different locations (Fredericton, Moncton or Other) to rally there will be posted soon.
For more info contact Dan Foote Prince Charles School 1 506 658 5355.

An invitation to view Larry's Stiring engine collection

Hello Folks,
     At our meeting last Wednesday, several people expressed interest in seeing my Stirling engine collection.  Better sooner rather later, so you are invited to our place, specifically the shop building, at around 11:00 on Saturday, October 26.  I will plan on having about 6 Stirling engines (well maybe one steam turbine) that we can fire up.  Following that we will serve a light lunch and beverages (no need to bring anything).
     For those who haven’t been here, we are at 135 Red Rock Road, Stanley.  If you find yourself on the dirt/gravel end of Red Rock, stop and turn around, you’re at the wrong end of the road.  Stay on English Settlement for a few more km and you’ll hit the other end of the Red Rock Road.  It’s a nice 35-40 minute drive up the Nashwaak River (Route 8) or Royal Road.  For planning purposes, please let me know if you can come, either by responding to this post, emailing me-  Heinlein@unb.ca, or calling- 367-2443.  Thanks.
- Larry

Carolyn and David's 3200+km trip

     This past week, Carolyn and I visited friends in London, Ontario to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Although we didn't take the Morgan, those of you who went to Stowe a couple of years back will recall much of the route on our return trip.
Click on the map for a larger view.
     The amazing thing about the trip is that we traveled in three provinces and four states with BEAUTIFUL weather throughout the trip. All that countryside through the mountains is beautiful at any time, but there was still enough colour to make for some impressive views. Carolyn took several wonderful shots. Click on the one below for a few samples. (I have included a few food shots to balance things out appropriately.  :-)

 

Some trivia questions for you: (updates in red)
#1 What is the speed limit on the I-95 between Houlton and Bangor? (correctly answered in comments)
#2 How did "Smuggler's Notch" get its name? (correctly answered in comments)
#3 How many steps did we have to climb from the lower town in Quebec City up to the plains?  (Still waiting for correct answer!)
#4 Where were we coming from and where were we going in this next graphic? (correctly answered in comments)
#5 What did my GPS say to me thirty metres from shore? (Still waiting for correct answer!)

Minutes of the October 16th Meeting by Gary

  We had a pretty good turnout at McGinnis Landing with 25 FABACians attending. The main focus of our discussions were:
  • Jim and Lorraine's plans for next years "Pig Roast"
  • FABAC's Christmas party at Jim and Lorraine's
  • Last months runs
  • Upcoming Runs
  • Next Meeting
  Here are the details:

  Jim and Lorraine's plans for next years "Pig Roast"

  Jim's vision is to continue the successful "Pig Roast" event that he sponsored this past year. Next year, he wants it to grow, to be fun and to be inclusive of other clubs and other foreign automobile marques. To that end at our last meeting he invited anyone to attend a planning session at his place. We did that a few weeks back to plan the broad elements of that event. That group met and with Jim came up with following key elements:

  - John and Anne would sponsor a Friday evening pot luck appetizer event at their home. This would bring everyone together as a meet and greet and to just unwind from either a days drive or just as a way to "chin wag" with new and old friends.

  - On Saturday morning, Jim and Ellie would lead a tour (probably up river) for Breakfast and a tour of some of New Brunswick's beautiful river scenery. Jim would have the group back early enough for a break before the main event at Jim and Lorraine's.

  - Saturday afternoon would see the "Big Event" start at Jim and Lorraine's at 2pm. The event would be focused on fun with games, entertainment, delicious food, beautiful cars, prized and great people and that's just the start of the action. The afternoon would start with games. These have yet to be finalized but we discussed such things as "driving blind folded with only verbal instruction from an assistant through an obstacle course, a vehicular golf game, and a few others. Bob Laroche took the lead on this. At our FABAC meeting we asked for game ideas and that these be sent to Bob. We will also be looking for a few others to help Bob in coordinating and initiating these games at Jim's.

  The event would be Aug 8-10 with an alternate of Aug 15-17.

  There would also be live entertainment with tried and true local talent, some from within our own group. More on that later, but the invite too goes out to anyone who would like to perform their talents. I'm sure we could find a venue for you.

  Of course the big deal will be the "Pig Roast" that was so much of a success this summer.

  There was discussion of a "People's Choice" car award. There could be a "significant" door prize and so so many other reasons to come.

  While the 3 main parts of the event have been established there is still much planning to do on the detail and we still need ideas and input in how to go about a lot of this so your input and participation is important and needed. Our next planning session will be held at John and Anne's on Wed Nov 13 at 7pm. Please join us and please stay tuned as this will be the event to attend next summer.

  2013 FABAC Christmas Party

  Once again Jim and Lorraine have invited us to their home for our Christmas party. Please reserve Saturday evening Dec 7/13 for this event. More details to follow but you can be sure we will do the annual Yankee Swap that has been so much fun in the past.


  Last months events/tours/runs:


  Jim and Ellie put a wonderful, entertaining and scenic tour to St George last month. A good time was had by all. See previous report for details. Thank you Jim and Ellie for a great fun run.

  Both David and Carolyn and later David and Margo had a delightful and memorable visit to Bristol N.B. See their previous postings on our site.Perhaps this is a tour opportunity for the group or individuals next year?

  Upcoming events/tours/runs:

  Dwight organized a Train Pie Tour to the McAdam train station. Unfortunately not enough people signed up in order to make the minimum reservation. That's really too bad as it would have been a nice tour and event. Thanks Dwight for looking into this.

  Larry, who has a collection of small gas compression engines (Sterling Engines) has invited us to view these operating . He will offer this opportunity sometime in the fall. Significant interest was shown at the meeting.

  There are no other runs planned for the rest of the year which is a shame as there is still opportunity for same.


  Next FABAC Meeting and Place:

  The next meeting will be at Brubakers, Wednesday Nov 20. Al Thomas has agreed to make the reservations.


  Thanks everyone.
   Gary

FABAC October meeting Wednesday

A reminder that our October meeting,Wednesday Oct 16, will be held at McGinnis Landing.
 
I was able to secure a 25% discount on regular priced fare. Specials are excluded from this discount.
 
The reservations are for 5:30 PM.
 
Gary  

This looks and sounds familiar. :-)

David:  We did a reprise of your last weeks trip.  We drove up 102-105-103 yesterday to Giberson's B & B.  We then had dinner at Fresh (3 hours plus).  It was, as advertised, excellent and the time flew by.   Had a wonderful breakfast this morning and checked out after having a great conversation with our hosts who loaned us hiking sticks.  We did the Shikethawk Trail - both ways- and headed home in glorious top down conditions.  Highway 103 from Hartland to Woodstock is my FAVOURITE road.  We then had lunch at O'Toole's Gallery-Celtic Fox Coffee House, where the owner, after inspecting our car and pronouncing it "nice" - said it wasn't as nice as the Morgan that was there last week.
I will be sure to boycott that establishment.   Then down on 105 -102 (from Nackawic).  All in all a wonderful 24+ hours.  Thanks for forcing us into doing it.  David R.

PS.  Ian Giberson told us a person driving on 103 in front of the B&B, while your car was parked, drove up their driveway to take pictures of the Morgan.  I can't understand it!!!

Today's chuckle

     True story (??) reported by an English guy who was stopped and asked to give a breathalyzer test.
     The English guy lives near Le Bugue in the Dordogne and at the time he was stopped he was quite drunk.
     The gendarme signals to him to wind down the window then asks him if he has been drinking, and with a slurring speech the English guy replies; 'Yes, this morning I was at my (hic)..daughter's wedding, and as I don't like church much I went to the cafe opposite and had several beers.'
     'Then during the wedding banquet I seem to remember downing three great bottles of wine; (hic)... a corbieres, a Minervois and (hic)...a Faugeres.'
     'Then to finish off during the celebrations.... and (hic) during the evening ...me and my mate downed two bottles of Johnny Walker's black label.'
     Getting impatient the gendarme warns him; 'Do you understand I'm a policeman and have stopped you for an alcohol test'?
     The Englishman with a grin on his face replies; 'Do you understand that I'm English, like my car, and that my wife is sitting in the other seat, at the wheel?'
(Passed along by Phil O.)

Carolyn and David's Overnighter to Bristol, NB

     Carolyn and I took advantage of the beautiful weather on Wednesday and Thursday to take the Morgan up through Nackawic then onto Route 105 to Woodstock . We hiked a nice trail along the Meduxnekeag River near Woodstock then drove on to Florenceville-Bristol. Reservations had been made for fine dining on the railcar restaurant at Bristol — "Fresh". Wonderful wonderful food!
     We spent the night at a beautiful B&B at Connell. Ate a fine breakfast and headed off to the Shikethawk Trail. New Brunswick has so many beautiful trails.
     We used Route 103 all the way back to Woodstock and ate at the Celtic Fox (O'Toole Gallery). The 105 and the 103 connecting Woodstock and Florenceville were both pretty good Morgan roads. Our only mistake was remaining on the 105 from Nackawic to home—disgraceful road conditions.
      Regardless of the multitude of bumps, the Morgan never complained, and Carolyn and I agreed that the weather, the picturesque countryside, the food, and the accommodations, all were tops.
Click for a larger view of our route.
Click on the pileated woodpecker for trip photos.

Absolutely fascinating vintage video

A 1920 Dodge being put through some punishing conditions.
As Phil said, "Try this in your (insert name of chosen LCB here) or your 4 x 4 truck."

A Great Fall Poker Run Rally for a Great Cause

The Foreign Auto Club in Moncton has invited us to attend their Poker Run this weekend.
- Gary
(Click to enlarge)
 It’s going to be beautiful this Sunday, October 6th, for a Great Rally for a Great Cause.
Rhys’ Run is an annual event where ALL are welcome participate. Your involvement gives strength to our mission to raise funds for the Moncton Hospital Neonatal Intensive Cae Unit. Ride with us in this inspirational 4 hour event as we come together to remember and support each other.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU) provides the highest level of care for sick or premature infants. The unit also provides help to families during this stressful time, and prepares them for taking their infants home.
PLEASE JOIN US and support Rhys’ Run, an Annual Memorial Poker Run!
The Annual Memorial Poker Run begins at the Moncton Coliseum where all participants gather in their classic or everyday cars to begin a 4 hour poker run in memory of Rhys and all premature infants taken away too soon. Here all the participants register and are dealt their first card.
From the Moncton Coliseum we head to Hopewell Rocks and stop at Parking Lot “C”. This is a brief stop where the second card is dealt.
The group then travels on to our second stop at Wolf Lake (Fundy National Park) where there is access to public restrooms and where the third card is dealt.
The forth stop is at Mrs. Dunsters Donut Shop in Sussex. Here our forth card is dealt and we break for coffee and snacks  before heading to our final destination.
We leave Sussex for our final destination, the Atlantic Motorsports Museum, in Pedicodiac. Here the final card is dealt and everyone’s hand is revealed. The participant with the winning Poker hand wins half the admission money. The more participants the bigger the win!

Welcome to all new members.
Foreign Auto Club

Important date change

If you werre planning to attend the meeting at Jim Woodford's to discuss next year's party plans, please note the following:
Jim will not be available to meet this week as originally planned.
So, he would like to meet next Tuesday, October 8th — same time, same place.