DVCMG

    July 29, 2012

The day started out cloudy but with some breaks in the clouds and finally turned partly sunny.  Shortly after noon the first MGs began to arrive at the designated start, the East Greenville Walmart parking lot, and by 12:45 we had a total of 12 cars signed up, 11 MGs, plus Earl Wanklin’s Soobaroo.  The DVC’s Founding Chairman Emeritus, Hank Rippert, was in town with his outstanding black TD which he piloted with brother Tommy serving  as Navigator.  Two other TD’s were entered to make the run at the Hornsby Cup this year.  (With the diminishing MG T-Series entries, there has been some talk of expanding eligibility for the Hornsby Cup to ALL MG’s…. maybe next year?)

The field of 12 cars were as follows:

Car # – Make – Driver / Navigator – Finish Position
1 – MG TD – Hank Rippert / Tom Rippert – DLBF(MG)* (Lost)
2 – MG TD – Donna Bristol / Walt King – DNF – FCH** – REAL Lost
3 – MGB – Jim Sanders / Lisa Burke (daughter) – 7^th Place
4 – MGB – Lew Phillips – 3^rd Place – Award Presented
5 – Soobaroo – Earl Wanklin / (solo) – DNF – FTTB***
6 – MGA Coupe – Bill Boorse / Linda Boorse – 4^th Place
7 – MGB – Dave Schwab / Gloria Schwab – 6^th Place
8 – MGB – Adam Ilnicki / Eva Ilnicki – 9^th Place
9 – MG TD – Dick Suffredini / Sandy Suffredini – 5^th Place + Hornsby Cup
10 – MG Midget – Paul Phillips / Evonna Phillips – 2^nd Place – Award Presented
11 – MGA – Jim Taylor / Janet Taylor – 1^st Place – Award Presented
12 – MGA – Chuck Goelz / Judy Goelz – 8^th Place

Key:
*DLBF(MG) = Dead Last But Finished – in an MG
**DNF – FCH = Did Not Finish, but First Car Home
***DNF – FTTB = Did Not Finish, but First To The BAR !!

As the last entry departed the start, Lee and I made our way to Vince’s for a cold one, as this starting business is truly thirst-provoking.  We took up positions on the covered deck where there was a nice breeze, but we hadn’t been there an hour when lo and behold, there’s Wank at the bar, also enjoying a cold one!  “What’s up?”, we asked…. And it turned out Wank gave up at Chickadee Lane!  Now we all know Wank’s a seasoned rallyist, but the lure of the beer is strong, especially on these hot days, and besides….. what’s a Soo-bar-oo doing on an MG rallye anyway?

For the second year in a row, the team of Jim & Janet Taylor – also very experienced rallyists – came in FIRST, with very close to a perfect score.  Close behind were Paul & Evonna Phillips in SECOND, followed by Lew Phillips in THIRD.  Scoring FIFTH in the rallye, Dick & Sandy Suffredini drove the top-scoring T-Series MG, which earned them the TOM HORNSBY MEMORIAL CUP for the umpteenth time.

The food at Vince & Friends Restaurant was very good, and “especially good” comments were heard about the cheesesteaks, always a good sign in the Philly area.  Our hostess Rose was cheerful and prompt, the beer was cold, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  I think that means the Rallye was a success again this year.

Cheers!!     Jerry & Lee Keller

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    June 24, 2012

After several very hot days and rain the night before, 25 brave golfers enjoyed a most beautiful day complete with comfortable temperatures and periodic gentle breezes.  After checking in with co-host Lew Phillips at Waltz’s Golf Farm’s Club House, they made their way to the field of battle.  OK, a bit dramatic for miniature golf, but we do have some serious players in the club.  Along with the golfing, each participant enjoyed a nice lunch – some before golfing, others afterwards.  But all seemed to wait until the reconnoiter to enjoy a nice dish of ice cream.

This year’s event did have a couple of unexpected challenges.  Lew stopped by during the week to make sure all was in order when he and Waltz’s quickly learned that there was a slight mix-up in dates caused by July 4^th landing on Wednesday.  Waltz’s had us down for the following week and had already booked two birthday parties.  In addition, the storm of the night before substantially softened the ground in front where we normally park.  To paraphrase the old acting motto (sorry, Lisa, had to throw that in), “the game must go on!”.  We merely moved our parking to the far end of the lot, and Waltz’s found a way to time us between the parties so that they could still provide their excellent service, and even managed to find a way for us to gather on the deck!

To protect the innocent, we won’t publish the scores, but we will let you know who made it to the golfing phase… Lew Phillips (1980 MGB); Lee & Sandy Wesner (1956 MGA); Tom & Jaimee Rippert (1959 MGA); Jim & Diane Sanders (1953 MGTD); Dave & Gloria Schwab (1961 MGA); Earl Wanklin (1970 Porche 911T); Paul & Evonna Phillips (1973 MG Midget); Dick & Sandy Suffredini (1952 MGTD); Warren & Nancy Doerner (1977 MGB); Lyn & Liam Hughes; Pat & Carmita Alzamora (1980 MGB); Rob & Maryellen Heoflein (1952 MGTD); and Pat & Patty Cawthorne (1958 MGA).

After our games, lunch, and ice cream, co-host Paul Phillips returned to provide directions for the “Non-rallye Rallye” and send us off on our way to Phase II – the picnic.  Paul picks things up from here…

At the end point a wide assortment of cold beverages and snack awaited for the Non-Rallye entrants to trickle in after their extensive work-out of their cars’ odometers.  The Non-Rallye master collected the mileage guesses and the winners were soon declared.  After seven years of frustration Dick and Sandy Suffredini finally added their names to the champions list by finishing 4/10 of a mile off the official course distance.  A lovely prize package was presented to them which included a P&P driving cap (Dick models it in the picture),

a Union Jack soccer ball, a Union Jack action figure, a pair of Union Jack mugs and a tin of English tea.  An additional prize of a flashlight to help him find his way went to Earl Wanklin for bringing up the rear.

Another highlight of the picnic was the unveiling of the new DVC 10’ X 20’ fly to be used at the car show and any other club event.

After all the excitement it was time for what DVCers do well and tucked into eating, drinking and conversing.  One could not have asked for a much better day for the event.
People who could not make the golfing part but welcomed at the picnic were John and Pat Hunt, Dave Sarley (TC), Louise Storey (TD), Jim and Janet Taylor ( MGA Mk II), and a Phillips friend, Eva Emmell.