VBAC Monthly Meeting Minutes
January 7, 2025
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Cool Hand Luke’s, Clovis, CA
23 Members
Martin welcomed everyone the meeting.
Jon Brothers (President) and Larry Zerwig (Secretary) were absent due to illness- we wish them a speedy recovery.
Key Points:
Told everyone to enter their cars in 2025 Roundup. Jay passed out entry forms. Please make checks to “Valley British Auto Club” do not abbreviate. There are 10 entries. Visit the website.
Jay reported: $8,029.99 in club account. 75 members. British Marque renewal will be paid in February. Since BM is closing subscriptions end in May.
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Welcomed new members: Bernie Rapaport, wife Victoria who drove down from Mariposa in a first gen Miata; Karl Beutner who recently moved from the Bay Area at the insistence of his children.
Bill Van Deelen: Cars and Coffee Saturday January 11, 8 AM, Friant & Ft Washington, Let him know if you’ll attend, he’ll reserve space.
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No runs are currently planned for February, March. Martin encouraged everyone to present ideas for runs.
Jon Frame reported he rescued 2 Midgets (MG, not circus) and has plans to build a track car.
Martin encouraged everyone to use our website and Facebook for information. Dawn Frame is the Facebook manager. Marty Hardison has done a great job maintaining our website. He also encouraged members to submit a short bio to the website.
Leadership 2025 Valley British Auto Club
President: Jon Brothers
Vice President: Martin Connolly
Secretary: Larry Zerwig
Treasurer: Jay Newsome
Trustees: Steve Phillips
Russ & Tammy Weber
Peter Patriquin
Member at Large: Jon Frame
Newsletter Editor: Larry Zerwig
2025 Roundup Chairman: Jon Brothers
Website Keeper: Marty Hardison
Next meeting: Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Seven Restaurant, Clovis, CA
Respectfully submitted,
Jay Newsome, Treasurer
December 3, 2024
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​Old Spaghetti Factory, Fresno, CA
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Attendance: 29
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Treasurer’s Report: No report given, $7200 in account from last month
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Past events:
Correction from last month’s meeting: So Cal VBAC members Doug & Zelda Wochna did attend GoF in Folsom. Zelda did a nice write up of their adventures. Check out the Dec. issue of British Marque.
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Future events:
Pres. Jon thanked all that were present and encouraged everyone to pass the word on for the British Auto Roundup. Motorsport will be up and running for entries. Marty will also have more information on our website. Also, everyone should check E-mail for any other information.
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Jay reported that the $20.00 collected from dinner participants worked out really well for both Treasurer records and Old Spaghetti.
If you didn’t pay Jay $20.00 for the Christmas dinner, please send it in as soon as possible to:
Valley British Auto Club, P.O. Box 26954, Fresno, CA 93729-6594
Everyone had a most enjoyable dining experience and the gift exchange was lively and memorable.
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Check your E-mails for some British iron for sale. Classic Jaguar Sedan for $35,000, 2 ea. MG Midgets, and a ’66 Austin Mini Moke.
Next meeting: Jan. 7, 2025, Cool Hand Lukes, 955 Shaw Ave., Clovis, CA at 6:30 p.m.
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Make sure to make a note of February’s General Meeting. Pres. Jon has arranged for a guest speaker from Hagerty Insurance to address the club. This should be an extremely informative meeting. The site will be Seven Bar & Grill, 25 Shaw Ave., Clovis. Check future E-mails for further information.
Meeting adjourned 8:30 p.m.
L. Zerwig/Secretary
November 5, 2024
DiCiccos, Cedar & Nees, Fresno, CA
Attendance: 15
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Treasurer’s Report: Club balance is $7710.71. All bills paid.
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Pes. Jon welcomed new member Richard Colby, ’70 MGB
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Past events:
No VBAC attendees at Gathering of the Faithful (GoF) MG event in Folsom, CA
Jon reported on the All British Show in Danville, CA. Check out his write up in the Brit Marque and the VBAC website. Jon had purchased some great looking medallions for the club and presented one to the owner of a 1923 Morris Cowley Bull Nose that won Best in Show and 3 other awards at this show.
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Upcoming events:
Nov 9-10: Fresno Wine & Chocolate tour, western Fresno County. Meet at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, at the Starbucks on Marks & Herndon.
After Jan. 1st, Jon is looking at some options for a social coffee gathering at Rare Earth Coffee. Stay tuned for time, date, and other details.
Vehicles for sale: Jon sent out some info on an MGA coupe in the Visalia area. Peter is looking into this car. Tom mentioned that his neighbor has an MG Midget for sale. Jon E-mailed some info on Nov. 6 pertaining to this car.
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Next meeting: Dec. 3, 2024 at The Old Spaghetti Factory. This is our annual Christmas Party Dinner. For this occasion, Jon & Jay have discussed having the Club pick up part of the bill for the meal (will not include alcoholic beverages). Jon will send out an E-mail as the event gets closer with all details.
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Michael Black mentioned a social event that VBAC members may be interested in: There will be a Valentines Day Dinner in February at the Manhattan. Michael will inform Jon of further details so club members will have further information in the near future.
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L. Zerwig/ Secretary
Oct. 1, 2024
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Piazza del Pane, Fresno, CA
Attendance: 14
Treasurer’s Report: Club balance is $7345.71. 10 exiting members not paid for this year.
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Pres Jon reported on the Scottish Games. Organizers have come to accept the VBAC as part of the festivities.
Jay, Dan, Peter, & Larry reported on the Ironstone Concours de Elegance. One minor FTP on the trip up. Between 300 & 350 vehicles present.
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Pres Jon mentioned the Lotus that he had sent out info earlier on. There is also a Jensen Healey for sale in the Madera area.
The last meeting of the Steering Committee was mentioned. A consideration is being made for additional organizations desiring financial assistance be considered by the VBAC. Martin is presently looking into a form for these organizations to have a means to apply. Jon Frame attended the Steering Committee meeting and mentioned that Idea Works in downtown Fresno would like to show their facility to the VBAC, probably sometime this spring. Jon is a member of the charitable donation committee. It is anticipated that this position will rotate on a yearly basis.
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Pres Jon has been working on the design of the Roundup shirt and a theme. The topic Jon mentioned is “The End of Jaguar after 91 years” in recognition that Jaguar will end its internal combustion engine manufacturing. Jon is striving to complete the design by November.
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Pres Jon has ordered the medallions discussed previously.
Upcoming events:
Oct. 20: All British Motor Show, Blackhawk Museum, Danville
Oct. 14-18: GoF West (Gathering of the Faithful), MG gathering, Folsom
Nov. 9-10: Fresno Wine & Chocolate Tour, western Fresno County
Next meeting: Nov. 5, DiCiccios at Cedar & Nees, 6:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned ~ 8:45 p.m.