VBAC Monthly Meeting Minutes
April 1, 2025
Yosemite Falls Café, 1455 Shaw Ave., Clovis, CA
Attendance: 22
Treasurer’s Report: 80 members at present, 2 new members joined this weekend. Club balance of $9676.84. A total of 88 vehicles registered for the Roundup. The club took in a total of $5687.00. Jay has details of sales, expenditures.
Pres. Jon reviewed the Roundup activities and thanked all who attended and participated. Jon received 7 responses back from the requested survey with mostly positive results. There was a 50-50 balance between locals and visitors. Jon and Martin reported they received a lot of good comments concerning the Roundup tour. A personal thanks to Jon Frame for the highlighted map/direction sheet he produced. The ‘Crank Off’ Demonstration created a lot of interest this year. Jon suggested a better introduction next year.
Jon covered the awards:
Best Vintage: Simon West, 1959 Jaguar Mk IX
Best Modern: Darrell Vincent, 2020 McLaren 720S
Best Unrestored: Ray Davis, 1923 Morris Cowley Bullnose (Jon presented a 100 yr. commemoration badge to Ray @ Blackhawk this past year)
Best Restored: Scott & Cathy Johnston, 1958 MGA Twin Cam
Best Jaguar: Ken Fritz, 1959 Jaguar XK 150 S
Participant’s Choice: Robert Ramsey (new member), 1961 Morris Minor Pick Up
President’s Award: David Langley, 1956 Jaguar XK 140 MC
Jon stated that the raffle prize that had the most interest this year (300 tickets for drawing!) was the portable grill, 2nd was Dr. Jay’s custom glasses. The least interest was the window tinting prize.
The last item of business was a heart-felt announcement by Jon on the passing of Peter Patriquin. Peter touched many of us in the short amount of time he was in the club. Rest in Peace, Peter.
Next meeting will be May 6 @ Eureka Burger, 950 Herndon, Clovis, @ 6:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned 8:10 p.m.
L. Zerwig/Secretary
March 4, 2025
DiCiccos Restaurant, 1530 E. Nees, Fresno, CA
Attendance: 21
Treasurer’s Report: Club balance of $9638.34, 77 members, 51 entrees for Roundup (2 added tonight), 33 for Roundup Tour, 48 for Tour lunch, 30 shirts sold.
Pres. Jon recognized 2 visitors: Robert Ramsey, guest of Dr. Bill Wilson & Brian from Visalia European Auto. Brian Groves is the owner of European Auto and a long time supporter of VBAC. Jon reported that the coffee roaster event scheduled this past weekend had to be cancelled due to an emergency involving the coffee roaster’s son. Jon would like to reschedule this event sometime in April or May. Check your email for further details.
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Progress continues on Roundup events. Assembly for the Saturday tour starts @ 9:00 a.m. in the Clovis Cole parking lot. Tour will leave parking lot at 10:00 a.m. sharp. There will be 2 separate groups: a ‘spirited’ (fast) group lead by Steve Phillips & swept by Martin and a ‘scenic’ (slow) group lead by Larry & swept by Pres Jon. A liability release form will be needed to be signed by participants before the event. For the Sunday car show event; the gates will open at 8:00 a.m., entry from the west side of Bullard. Everything to be set by 9:00 a.m. Volunteers are encouraged to help set up and put away. Members of the Steering Committee will be on hand at 6:00 a.m. Remember the event lasts until 3:00 p.m. and help is needed to close the show.
Russ stated the Porsche Club will be holding an autocross at Madera Airport this coming Saturday. An approved helmet is required. If interested, check w/ Russ for additional details.
Bill V.D. reminded everyone of the Cars & Coffee event, also Saturday.
Meeting adjourned ~8:45 p.m.
L. Zerwig/Secretary
February 4, 2025
Seven Bar & Grill, 25 Shaw Ave., Clovis, CA
Attendance: 16
Guest Keith Euranius, RPM Insurance Group (Hagerty Representative), gave a presentation on advantages of Hagerty. Keith will be back for the British Roundup if any members are interested.
Pres. Jon reminded everyone of the upcoming Roundup, March 29 & 30. If you have not entered your vehicle yet, please do so. Those interested in the foothill tour on Saturday, March 29, need to be present in the Clovis Cole parking lot @ 9:30 a.m. for instructions for the prompt ‘clutches out’ departure @ 10:00 a.m. sharp. A head count will be needed so Jon can inform Bobby Salazar’s for lunch reservations.
A critical item that needs to be brought up is the number of people that were under our pop-up shelter at last year’s Roundup. There were a lot of people, because of the rainy weather, that sought shelter with the working members of the VBAC. Many of these folks were not known by club members. We have been blessed with a large number of our ladies helping and there is a major concern of lost and/or stolen handbags. We are all concerned about security and for that reason, we really need to police the area better this year. Jon reported that a CASE of Bro Jim Parnagian’s citrus was ‘lifted’ by someone. Volunteers that help out are very welcome, but people that we feel unsure about should be talked to and dissuaded from ‘hanging out’ under the shelter.
Gates for the Roundup on March 30 will open @ 8:00 a.m. Vehicles will not be put into place prior to 8:00. The show will run from 9:00a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
There will be 7 categories for judging: Best Vintage Brit Vehicle (pre 1980), Best Modern Brit Vehicle, Best Unrestored Brit Vehicle, Best Restored Brit Vehicle, Best Jaguar, Participant’s Choice Award, and President’s Award. Jon will have the list of people that have been assigned as judges for the categories. Jay’s son, Nick, has been developing a QR code for the Participant’s Choice Award that will be used this year. Thanks to Nick for developing this!
Jon mentioned we have some really big sponsors this year including Hagerty Insurance, Moss Motors, and Fresno County Fire.
The Elk’s Club will be open for our use and they will have breakfast burritos for sale.
Next meeting will be at DiCicco’s on March 4.
Meeting adjourned 8:15 p.m.
L. Zerwig/Secretary
January 7, 2025
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.
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.
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