DVCMG

     June 28, 2015

On Sunday, June 28^th, a group of DVCers met at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown to enjoy an afternoon of baseball, fun and fellowship watching a Phillies Triple A Iron Pigs game.

We enjoyed an extra treat with the singing by DVCer Lew Phillips and the Valley Choral Society doing a very nice rendition of the National Anthem. Kudos to this singing group, very nicely done!!  [Come see our regular concerts! – www.valchor.com – <shameless plug mode off>   -{Lew}-]

The weather was cool and cloudy with a few peeks of sunshine during the afternoon. Actually, the clouds were welcomed as the day could have been a really warm and humid one in all sunshine.  The deluge of rain the day before forced a doubleheader on the 28^th, with each game being shortened to only 7 innings. At times, it looked as if a heavy rain was coming, but then changed to bright sunshine at times. The seats were good, the team was fun to watch, and the group had a good time.  No one caught a hot dog or a T-shirt tossed into the stands, but we enjoyed the antics of Mascots FeFe and Ferrous! After the game, the group drove down to Sellersville, with no one getting lost, to enjoy a picnic at the Webbs with food and drink being shared by all. Thanks to members bringing food, there was a good variety of treats. The weather held out and we were able to sit outside on the patio and enjoy the rest of the day.

Included in the group were Patty and Pat Cawthorne, Chuck Denlinger and his friend, Glenn, Susan and Garth Gill, Cindy and Ben Nolan, Paul & Evonna Phillips, Tom and Jaimee Rippert, Diane and Jim Sanders, Dick and Sandy Suffredini, Bill and Evelyn Webb, and their son, Rob, and grandson, Soccorso!

– Bill & Evelyn Webb
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     June 6, 2015

On June 6 we had another successful Memorial Day DVC Party with a great turn out.  MG’s filled the front lawn on what turned out to be a perfect day for a picnic. The food was delicious and the drinks were ice cold. Rob and Megan showed everyone how skilled they are as grill operators. The grilled polish kielbasa ware perfect. There was plenty of conversations about cars and every day topics. We toasted to Dave Schwab who we knew was here with us in spirit. A camp fire finished out the night as the flames danced into the night sky.

We would like to thank everyone that came and hope everyone enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, great conversations and a good time surrounded by friends.

In attendant were:
Jerry & Lee Keller in a MG powered Honda Pilot; Donna Bristol: MG powered Jeep; David & Carol Johnston: MG powered Saturn Ion; Bill & Evelyn Webb: MGB; Bill & Linda Boorse: MGB; Chuck Delinger: MG powered Pickup; Bobbie & Lyn Hughes: MG unknown; Lew Phillips, MG powered Subaru; Dick & Sandy Suffredini: MGTD; Jaimee Rippert: MGA; Tom Rippert & Earl Wank: MGB; Pat & Carmita Alzamora: MGB; Steve Albright: MG powered Triumph; Paul & Evonna Philips: MGB; Louise Story: MGB; Garth & Susan Gill: MG powered Toyota Highlander; Curtis & Sally Yocum: MG powered BMW; Peter & Nancy Yaskowski: MGTF; Mark & Janet Singer: MG powered Jetta TDI; Rob & Megan Ilnicki: MG powered Firebird; Adam & Eva Ilnicki: MGB. We hope we did not miss anybody, if we did we apologize.

Safety Fast… Eva & Adam Ilnicki

Yesterday afternoon, Saturday June 6th, we attended “A Night under the Stars” at the increasingly lovely home of Adam and Eva Ilnicki in Harleysville. The Ilnickis have obviously been hard at work and the results show beautifully! Although the morning had been somewhat cloudy with a slight threat of showers, by the 3:00 pm party start the skies were bright and sunny, with both the breeze and the hosts warm and welcoming. We were too lazy to count them, but our guess is that nearly a dozen MGs found their way to the Ilnicki front lawn, while about 35 DVCers easily located the ample food and drink in the back yard. The refreshments were excellent and we had a marvelous time schmoozing with our fellow DVCers, many of whom we hadn’t seen since either the Christmas or Anniversary parties. We even got to watch American Pharoah’s historic run to easily take the final leg of the Triple Crown at Belmont. Many thanks to Adam and Eva for their hospitality which is rapidly approaching legendary, and for their friendship which is already there.

Cheers!   Jerry & Lee Keller
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     May 15-17, 2015

The weather at the beach is always iffy in May, as the Fischers say, and had our entourage of thirteen British beauties rolled in the day before, it would have been difficult to see their canvas tops a block away. But Friday, May 15th was clear, with a bit of a breeze, and the As, Bs and Ts and GTs rolled into Mar-Lane’s with the sun reflecting from their bonnets. It was a virtual rainbow of colorful classics with their equally colorful occupants honking and waving.

Our gracious proprietors, Chris and Lisa provided a complimentary case of Bass Ale on ice for the arrival of DVC’s brave and weary. Hostess, Gudie Fischer, wearing her usual beaming smile, directed traffic while Wolfgang headed for the Miller Highlife store. Chuck Denlinger had started snapping photos before the wheels had stopped rolling and Mike Kerns had already parked and changed his sparkplugs.

The twins, Sandy Suffredini and Jaimee Rippert, greeted all while Tom and Dick compared part boxes (which, used together, could reconstruct a graveyard TD.) Betty adjusted her idle speed as guest, Wayne, looked on. “What’s a timing screw?” He asked.  “I never heard of that kind.”

Knees needed flexing, so everyone strolled up Atlantic Avenue to dinner at the famous Skellinger’s seafood restaurant (which has the entire story of Cape May County maritime history displayed on its roof…you can’t miss it!) As always, the food was great and owner Tony surprised with a complimentary, after dinner lemonchello shot for each…he’s Greek you know.)

Adam and Eva Ilnicki, Pat and Patty Cawthorne and Jim and Diane Sanders provided most of the jokes and stories as we sat and drank on the hidden patio – complete with kitchen two refrigerators, of course, and three barbeques just in case we got hungry again.

Nearly everyone managed to make it to Uncle Bill’s Pancake House for breakfast on a beautiful Saturday morning before heading south to Lighthouse Point and bird sanctuary by the sea in old Cape May. Our group split into two groups with Wolfgang leading one and Paul the other. It was a perfect run, without a breakdown or a lost MG, and our glorious row of beauties, parked side-by-side drew attention by young and old alike (a Japanese tourist took about a thousand photos and seemed flabbergasted to learn that the cars had been made in England).

A terrific walk through the sanctuary, with the Corderos and the Gills taking the lead, ended with all thirteen classics rendezvousing at the famous Lobster House for lunch. An afternoon around the pool back in Wildwood, with some at the beach a block away, provided color and worked up an appetite for dinner Saturday night at the Oyster House back in Cape May – great food served among pristine, nautical décor – after dinner drinks in the Captain’s bar – then back to Wildwood for the fire works. What a blast! Don’t miss this one next year!

– Paul Holl
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  March 15, 2015

On Sunday, March 15, 2015 the Delaware Valley Classic MG Chapter (DVC) celebrated its 45th year at the Annual Anniversary Party at Revivals Restaurant in Perkasie, PA. The event was organized by Diane Sanders and Patty Cawthorne who selected a fine venue with good food and beverages to be enjoyed by all. Attending were Donna Bristol, Pat and Patty Cawthorne, Chuck Denlinger, Warren and Nancy Doerner, Wolfgang and Gudie Fischer, Garth and Susan Gill, Bryan Gumpert and Maryanne, Paul and Fran Holl, Adam and Eva Ilnicki, Dave Johnston, Jerry and Lee Keller, Greg and Janice Lake, Paul and Evonna Phillips, Tom and Jamie Rippert, Jim and Diane Sanders, Dick and Sandy Sufferdini, Jim and Janet Taylor, Earl Wanklin, Bill and Evelyn Webb, Barry Williams, and Pete and Nancy Yaskowksi.

The meeting allowed members to reflect over the past year’s activities and dream of warmer weather. Paul and Evonna Phillips proved the utility of the MGB GT as they were the only members to drive a marque on this brisk March day. Dick Sufferdini provided a slide show as a continuous backdrop which entertained the members and reminded all of good times. Tom Rippert, the Chapter’s chair and Dick Sufferdini, the Activities Chairman, presided over the awards ceremony.

The past year’s Owards (for “Oh No”) were presented to:

• Paul and Fran Holl – for having disintegrating rear brakes which would lock the rear wheels as chunks of brake pad would wedge against the drum immediately stopping wheel rotation while driving.
• Adam and Eva Ilnicki – received the ultimate “party” hard hat designed to allow drinking 2 beers at once while being protected from falling debris. This was earned as Adam and Eva hosted a DVC picnic while their home was under major renovation.
• Chuck Denlinger – received a DVC fire extinguisher to replace the fire extinguisher which accidentally discharged while Chuck was driving his MG TD.
• Garth and Susan Gill –received a plaque with oil additive stickers and a band aid over oil pressure gauge to commemorate the inaugural long trip in their newly acquired MGA. Garth and Susan drove through several states with the oil pressure gauge not registering greater than 20 psi.
• Dave and Gloria Schwab – received a picture, adorned with a AAA sticker, of his car not starting, to remind him of last Year’s Anniversary Party and the difficulties experienced getting his car to fire.

The Passing of “The Book”
The annual passing of “the book” went, as always, with much anticipation. Bill and Linda Boorse, in abstention, passed “the book” to the next lucky couple, Warren and Nancy Dorner. Due to other commitments, Bill and Linda could not physically be present for the event but, in a letter read aloud, were still able to impart advice as to how best enjoy “the book.” Fortunately no children were in attendance as Bill and Linda’s advice left allusions of Fifty Shades of Grey. Those who have received “the book” can understand; those to be awarded will have to imagine.

The party ended on a high note as all realized that it is only 5 years until the SEMI-CENTENARY!!!

– Jim Sanders
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  February 7, 2015

What was I thinking to volunteer to organize an event at my first planning meeting? Garth made it quite clear that I was on my own (a promise that he did not keep. He was a big help). What I was thinking is that nothing could be better in February than a taste of Spring and where better to get that than in the Conservatory at Longwood Gardens. So, the recruitment began. Patty was indispensable. She collected the reservations and the checks and made sure that Longwood got its money. At first, we were afraid that we wouldn’t get the required number of attendees, fifteen. In the end, we ended up with 24, a much better turnout than we expected. The party consisted of the Louise Story, the Dorners, Cawthornes, Ripperts, Suffredinis, Yaskowskis, Schwabs, Sanders, Ilnickis, Kellers, Gumperts, Gills, and Paul Holl (Fran was unable to make it).

Most of the time was spent in the Conservatory, a magnificent edifice that only a DuPont, or, perhaps Louis XVI, could build. Surrounded by hanging baskets of flowers, tropical rain forests, desert plantings and numerous water features, it really was a bit of Spring in February. Oh, and don’t forget the mile-long Green Wall with individual restrooms – what a luxury, and the Steinway player piano. Suff was the resident photographer and captured DVCMG members at leisure.

It was hard to envision going back outside once we were there. However, a small contingent ventured out to see the Peirce-duPont house. The house was originally built in 1730 by Joshua Peirce and expanded by Pierre S. du Pont in 1914. It is there that Pierre built his first conservatory.

All-in-all, Longwood Gardens rejuvenated us. The sight of beautiful flowers, the sound flowing water and the perfume of moist air may not hold us over until April, but it sure helps!

After our sojourn, the group (less Luise and Paul) regrouped at McKenzie’s Brew House on Rt. 202, where great food, drink and discussion were had by all!

– Susan Gill
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