The Lucas Calendar
About as reliable as its namesake. Check the web site or call numbers below for more accurate or detailed information. Club events have
red dates. Others are events you may find interesting. All events subject to last minute changes or cancellation. As space is limited, the web site may have additional information.
Feb 2003 - Potluck Dinner & Annual Business Meeting. Feb 1 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. 269 S 900E, SLC. 7 PM. Call Bill Robinson 801-947-9480 or Bruce Schilling 801-486-0425 for more information.
It's Postcard Time Again
Yes, folks, it's time for you to reaffirm your faith in the Sacred Oil Slick, St. Whitworth - Patron Saint of Crossthreads, Church of the Overheated and, of course, your beloved British Motor Club Of Utah.
According to postal regulations and the laws of the Commonwealth of Sense, each year we "cleanse" our mailing and membership list by asking you to return the enclosed postcard with your updated information. This ensures you won't miss our monthly newsletter and e-mail based communications throughout the year. It also saves us the expense of sending out stuff to people who may have moved on and will never receive it.
Just fill out the information on the card, put a stamp on it and drop it in the mail. Our mailing list and web site membership directory will be updated on the web site once we have received all the cards. Remember, if you fail to send back the card, you will be dropped from the roster. Please take a moment to send it back today, before you forget.
This is also an excellent time to get out the checkbook and send along a generous donation to the BMCU to support your club. While most clubs have membership dues that can be hefty, your BMCU has no official dues or subscription fees. We depend solely on your benevolence to exist. Your donation of any size is most gratefully appreciated.
Q: Which of the following indicates a truly great British car mechanic?
A. A vast vocabulary of 4 letter words.
B. Lots of bits left over when the job is "finished".
C. Determines flat rate times in terms of 6 packs.
D. The family washing machine always smells of oily rags.
A: Yes.
British Motor Club Of Utah
The BMCU Newsletter is published monthly, except December, by the British Motor Club of Utah, Ltd., a non-profit corporation comprised of British automobile owners. The BMCU holds monthly events such as drives, picnics, car shows, technical sessions and more. We welcome owners, potential owners and fans of British cars, in any condition, to our group. Membership is free and the club depends on donations at events to support this newsletter and other activities. If you are a second-hand reader of this copy of our newsletter and would like to join the BMCU, please send your name, address, phone number and e-mail address with a list of British cars owned to
Bruce Schilling
917 East Millcreek Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
You can also join the BMCU on our web site at
www.britishmotorclub.org
Submissions are welcome for publication in the newsletter and on our web site. Please send your newsletter materials to Bill Robinson at his e-mail address below. Send web site materials to Mark Noeltner at his e-mail address below. Include photos or diagrams where appropriate.
Remember - it's our club. It is what we make it. Support your club financially when you can and follow these three "strict" rules.
1. Join in!
2. Show up!
3. Have fun!
_______________________________
Board Of Governors
Bill Robinson, Governor General, 801-947-9480, brobinson@redwoodmusic.com
Marty Van Nood, Chancellor of the Exchequer, 801-467-0525, vannood@softcom.net
Bruce Schilling, Membership Director, 801-486-0425, partsmaster4@sisna.com
Mark Noeltner, Master of the Web, 801-352-2743, mark@buffalochips.org
Gary Lindstrom, Board Member, 801-532-1259, gary@cs.utah.edu
Jim "Pugs" Pivirotto, Board Member, 801-486-0547, jimp@CORP.firstindustrial.com
2003 Promising For BMCU
2003 is guaranteed to be another busy year for all of us. You'll not want to miss any of the drives, parties, dinners, picnics and overnight trips throughout the year. The mild weather has allowed many to work on their cars right through the winter and many of us are raring to go.
February is when one of our most important yearly events takes place: the Potluck Dinner & Annual Business Meeting. This is where we see many of our friends for the first time in the new year. But most important, this is when we determine the schedule of events for the rest of the entire year. Your input is both wanted and needed. Check the Lucas calendar for the date, time and location. Please make your plans to attend now, so that we all benefit from a well-planned BMCU season.
The Annual Business Meeting is a requirement for us to maintain our corporate status with the State of Utah. It is also the time when we can review our roster of officers and give others a chance to participate in an administrative capacity. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Board Of Governors, we can always use the help. Just let one of our existing board members know. They are listed on the back of this and every issue of our newsletter.
Nathan Massie Steps Down As Editor
After 10 years of contributing to and subsequently editing our BMCU newsletter, Nathan announced his retirement as editor last year effective with the publication of the November issue.
All of us on the Board of Governors wish to say a heartfelt thanks to Nathan for a fine job. We are sorry that he cannot continue as editor, but understand his need to relinquish the duties to someone else. Nathan's busy life made it difficult for him to attend many events, but the newsletter was there every month full of news, tips and valuable information.
Thanks, Nathan, for your tireless support of the BMCU and the newsletter. Your talent and hard work will be missed. A replacement editor is being sought and will be the topic of one of our important discussions at February business meeting.
Wine Tasting Event A Real Corker
The annual wine tasting event hosted by Bill & Julie Robinson was the final event of the year. This event takes place in December right when everyone is busy with holiday preparations. It offers a break from the holiday rat race and a final chance to see good friends until the next year. A number of new faces were present along with many of our "regulars". The attendance of all who made the effort was greatly appreciated.
Wine and food were the main focus of the event. Wines from several countries and regions were available. Those who are normally hesitant to try an unknown wine were able to sample a wide variety while sharing their own important "find". The same held true for all the different foods. Each person was asked to bring a beverage to share as well as some type of finger food. We had meats and cheeses from all over, fondue, salami and all sorts of goodies. Everyone drank responsibly - not so sure about the eating - and we all had a good time. We only know of one British car showing up; everyone else opted for the family "foreign" car.
Thanks to all who took the time to join in. Good grub and grog was had by all.
Safer Winter Braking
Bottom Line Personal monthly newsletter offers these braking tips for safer winter driving.
"Winter rain, snow and ice can cause even good drivers to make dumb mistakes. Even the most cautious drivers panic when their vehicles slide out of control. Use heel-to-toe pivot. It's the most efficient way to move your foot between the brake and gas. Keep your right heel on the floor... swivel it as you switch the top half of your foot between pedals. You can move your foot twice as fast this way as you can by lifting your leg and foot each time you change pedals. Learn your car's brake threshold. This is the point at which you can apply brakes hardest before they lock up. When brakes lock up, wheels lose traction and the car skids.
Avoid jamming down the brake and releasing it completely when you feel the wheels lock up -- commonly known as pump braking. You'll only be using half of your car's braking potential. Pump braking pulls the car's weight away from front tires -- causing loss of traction for steering.
Apply more constant pressure to the brakes. Press the brakes until the car starts to skid. Then ease up slightly. This will keep the front tires in contact with the road.
If you have antilock brakes: Push the pedal down firmly with your foot until it stops, and hold it there. The antilock mechanism applies constant pressure-and-release automatically and in a fast, efficient way.
Antilock brakes do need a longer braking distance to stop. They are designed to keep the front wheels rolling so that you can continue to steer.
Decelerate and brake before a turn. Braking hard while your wheels are on a curve greatly increases your chance of a spinout. Let the momentum of the car carry you through the turn. Lightly squeeze the brake pedal. Take the widest possible turn in the road if there aren't any other cars next to you."