50th Anniversary Party – 2020

Posted on 03/14/2020 by Webmaster

Web_202003_Anniversary_20200307-040127  March 7, 2020
The DVC was celebrating its 50th year as an MG club.  We gathered at the Red Horse Motoring Club in Pottstown, PA to mark this milestone of the club’s inception.

As usual, the club rallied to the event in true MG style. We had a great representation of our membership. 68 members attended the party to renew friendships, reminisce about good times, and plan for new memories to be made.

The event was held in a beautiful old stone building that was previously the Ludwick Motors car dealership. The building has since been converted into a museum filled with nostalgic auto memorabilia and antique American iron owned by the venue.  We did manage to display our British Iron as well. Inside was Hank Rippert’s 1951 MGTD, Suffredini’s 1962 MGA, Rose’s 1974 MGBGT V8, Ripperts’ 1953 MGTD, and Mike Bartell’s spectacular 1939 MGTB.

Our caterer, Vinnie from Montesano’s, offered a delicious buffet of Italian cuisine and the private bar had all we needed to indulge in the pleasures of our choice. Our dessert included a custom MG 50th logo cake (scrumptious!) and raspberry cheesecake. Hank Rippert also treated the club to Moon pies, a tradition from his state of Tennessee.

As the day moved along, the appearance of a beloved friend of the club, Captain DVC made an entrance and joined the festivities. What a joy to see the Captain, after he returned from his world tour to join us in our celebration.

Next came the presentation of “the Book” by the Lakes. After years of circulation, it was presented back to Hank Rippert, the original recipient. The book is now retired into the club’s history.

Dick and Tommy then presented the traditional “Owards”. One award went to Jim Sanders, another award went to Mr. Suffredini himself, Graham Gill was a lucky recipient, and the last ‘Oward” went to Peter Yaskowski.

For the finale, Tom presented three beautiful plaques to the founding members, Hank Rippert, Le Barre Williams, and (not present) Ed Flax. We all thank these founders for their insight in starting this special club.

As we said our goodbyes, the heart of this club shined brightly. Many thanks to all who attended and to all who helped to make this a very special time. Now the club is off to continue on to the next half-century.

Safety Fast!

— Events Chair – Jeff Rose

 

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Mike’s Garage – 2020

Posted on 02/27/2020 by Webmaster

Web_202002_Mike_Garage_20200222-023602  February 22, 2020
Hang in there… The story is coming.  Meanwhile, enjoy the pictures!

—

 

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Caller… You Are On The Air – 2020

Posted on 02/12/2020 by Webmaster

wvlt_logo-2  February 11, 2020

At 7pm on Tuesday, February 11th, it was time to turn off the TV and turn on that trusty old radio.  (Or, for the nerds among us… grab a streaming app and listen on the computer or smart phone.)  But no matter how you did it, the goal was the same… tune into “The Racing Line” on WVLT 92.1FM out of Vineland, NJ!

After six weeks of working with the station, our very active member Graham Gill’s fantastic idea was finally reality.  The entire hour long show that night featured the DVC!  Yep!  An entire hour of air time featuring our club, its history, and all things MG.

The first half of the show featured Hank and Tommy Rippert.  They discussed the club, how it started, their cars, and many side stories.  In the second half, Dick Suffredini and Jim Sanders took over.  They discussed more about the racing history of MGs (Jim races his MG with Tommy and Dick frequently helping in the pit).  They also talked more about the history, side stories, and they pushed the upcoming club events.

What a fantastic and unique way for us to kick off the golden anniversary of our club!  Thank you, Graham, for putting this together!  And thanks to Hank, Tom, Dick, and Jim for representing us so well!  And, of course, thanks to WVLT and the show’s hosts, Bill Vansuskil, Geofrrey Hall, and David Back for having us on!

What?  You missed the show?  No worries!  You can check it out below!

— Lew Phillips

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Annual Planning Meeting – 2019

Posted on 11/10/2019 by Webmaster

November 10, 2019

Thirty DVCers made their way to the Cawthorne Estate to make plans for 2020 – our 50th year as a club.  After the usual preliminary chit chat and hugs, we settled down for our annual business discussion and planning of fun for the new year.  

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Lew Phillips who started things off by displaying a beautiful custom, hand crafted, mahogany box with walnut trim to house our unique gavel and block.  The box was made to honor our 50th anniversary.

All meeting minutes (general and board) will be presented in the ‘members’ section of the website.  (So, members should head over there to get the details and ‘member’ stuff.)  In the meantime… here are some highlights from the meeting itself…

  • While many clubs and organizations are hurting badly for money, we are fortunate enough to be able to hold our annual dues at $20/yr.
  • Membership dues are currently due and need to be paid before 1/1/2020 to stay current.
  • We have a new regalia store set up!  Members can now get tons of different items with our logo screen printed or embroidered.  Links are on the website.
  • Speaking of the website… In honor of the 50th, the site will be heading into the garage over the winter for an upgrade.  (Suggestions are encouraged.)
  • A new set of Guidelines and Job Descriptions was unveiled and are available on the website in the ‘Members’ area.

With the heavier business stuff out of the way, we headed on to the more fun part of the meeting… planning for the 50th.  Here are some of the highlights…

  • A 50th anniversary version of the logo is in the works.  (It is now done and at the top of this article.)
  • The theme this coming year will be ‘Driving’… “Driving into the next 50 years!”  We plan to have a lot of driving events and several overnighters.
  • Three key events are already planned…
    • Anniversary Party – March 7, 2020 at the Red Horse Motor Club in Pottstown, PA
    • Our Car Show – August 1, 2020 at Pennypacker Mills in Schwenksville, PA
    • Holiday Party – December 5, 2020 at the Bay Pony Inn in Lederach, PA
  • We are planning on kicking all of our events up a notch.  We would greatly appreciate RSVPs to the events (and let us know if you aren’t coming, too) so that our hosts can properly plan.  With a lot of driving events, we need RSVPs so that we don’t leave you behind!  We will be putting up sign-up sheets on the website for everyone’s convenience.
  • We then brainstormed and came up with a lot of great events for 2020!  They will soon be posted on the website.  It looks like it will be a terrific year with a lot to do.

Finally done with the annual ‘business and planning stuff’, the gang feasted on a variety of hoagies and other goodies.  And of course… more chit chat before people started to head back home.

The DVC thanks Pat and Patty for their hospitality and thanks the members who came out to share ideas and volunteer to run events.  Participation and creativity is what keeps the club strong and growing… into the next 50 years!

Meeting adjourned… Let the fun resume!

— Lew Phillips

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The Great Pumpkin Tour – 2019

Posted on 10/26/2019 by Webmaster

Web_201910_Pumpkin_20191026-200715 October 26, 2019

Cool, crisp eather and fall foliage made for perfect MG top-down driving.  About a dozen MGs and their occupants, along with a few daily drivers met at the Suffredini home for the DVC Pumpkin Tour.

Three small groups of four to five cars each started out on a planned, back-roads tour of middle Bucks County.  With a few stops along the way, it seems that the Pumpkin Tour turned out to be an Ice Cream Tour.

Thank goodness for GPS when we happened onto an unexpected detour.  (Dick swears it was open earlier.)  Only one MG mishap, but you’ll have to wait for the Anniversary Party “O-wards” to get the details.

With the cars returning back at Suffredini’s, the usual DVC party began.  The food that DVCers bring to a party is always outstanding… and this time was no exception.  Sandy, with her recent foot surgery, had plenty of help in the kitchen from the DVC ladies.  For some odd reason, the guys seemed to gravitate to Dick’s MG garage and mancave. 

As darkness fell, leave had to be blown off of a few MGs before departing for home.  Here’s to seeing everyone during the DVC’s 50th Anniversary Year celebrations!

Those attending were… Adam & Eva Ilnicki (MGTD), Warren & Nancy Dorner (MGB), Tom & Jaimee Rippert (MGA), Pat & Patty Cawthorne (MGA), Graham & Susan Gill (MGTD), Jim & Diane Sanders (MGA), Louise Story (MGB), Peter & Nancy Yaskowski (MGA), Jeff & Robin Rose (MGBGT V8), Brian Gumpert (MGB), Dave Sarley (MGTC), Dick & Sandy Suffredini (MGA), Greg & Janice Lake, Lew & Cora Phillips.

— Dick Suffredini

 

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