2023 November Meeting Notes

St Johns Austin-Healey Club
Jacksonville, Florida

a chapter of the

Austin-Healey Club of America

St. Johns Austin Healey Club Member Meeting Minutes
for Nov. 6, 2023

The November meeting was called to order by club President Bill Young about 7:30 p.m. at the Casa Amigos Mexican Bar and Grille in Mandarin. Those present included Mike and Joan Foster, Paul and Judy Sandefer, Erling and Sandy Onsager, Bill and Char Maroney, Rick and Marilynn Stevenson, Alan Winer and Janis Croft, Ben Procter, Tony Martini and Ron Keysor.

The minutes for the Oct. 2 member meeting were approved. Treasurer Paul Sandefer reported the club’s bank balance at $$$$$, which included a $68 expense for a recent club event. Membership Chair Bill Maroney spoke briefly about the club’s newest member, Michael Cassette, who owns a BT7 Healey and is doing a restoration on a DeLorean.

Rick Stevenson , SJAHC’s long-time delegate to our parent Austin Healey Club of America (AHCA), reports a board will be meeting Nov. 11, with a dues increase a possible topic. Erling Onsager, club webmaster, said the club’s web site (SJAHC.com) is up and running. Members are encouraged to visit the site and to offer Erling fresh material, text or photos. Contact him at his email address if you have a contribution.

The passing of Phil Rae, a founding members of the now 49-year old SJAHC, was noted. Phil lived on the Gulf Coast and had left the club possibly 40 years ago, a recollection that likely only Bill Young, also a founding club member, shared.

In old business, the Oct. 11 shop meet at Paul Sandefer’s garage to discuss and address the legendary shortcomings of Healey fuel gauges in providing useful information came up. Bill Maroney said he had a nonfunctioning instrument and installed new sending unit, adjusting it by bending the in-tank float rod so that it reflects the tank’s fill level. He had installed a similar bit a year ago, but the joint in the plastic float had failed. A more durable brass one is on order. Bill said he isn’t getting rid of the trusty graduated dowel he and many Healey owners use to get a reliable reading on the fuel (spell check wouldn’t allow use here of the Brit term for gas). Bill Young, who has explored the measurement of fuel levels in Healey tanks at some length and with some difficulty, is considering making a quantity of the useful if primitive fuel measuring sticks.

He is also planning to host at an undetermined date a complete rebuild of a Healey steering column for a car owned Rick Stevenson. This will include both the electrical and mechanical aspects, to include the trafficator. Working on this device, for those who follow the online British Car Forum, is a challenge for many Healey owners.

The XXXIV (34th) British Car Classic at The Pub on U.S. 1, hosted in good weather this year by the Triumph Club of North Florida on Oct. 1, saw Bob and Dolores Barton’s unrestored and very original 1967 BJ8 take the award for top Healey, with Dave Morton’s well-traveled and recently repaired (by Dave) BJ8 taking second, Bill Young’s Bugeye Sprite at third. Some 180 cars were on hand for the show, including approximately 30 MGs.

Events co-chair Tony Martini said eight Healeys and their owners showed up for last week’s luncheon cruise to Fion MacCool’s Irish Pub ad Restaurant in Ponte Vedra Beach. Tony
pronounced the restaurant’s fare and the accommodations as wonderful, leading to the suggestion that the club hold more of its luncheon cruises at that dining spot.

In new business, members were reminded that two area car shows are on tap on Saturday, Nov. 11. One will be held at Moose Haven on Rt. 17 (Park St.) in Orange Park, the second on the grounds of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine hosted by the Ancient City Car Club.

Upcoming is the annual club Christmas party being hosted by Ben and Lisa Procter at their Palencia home on Dec. 16. The likely starting time will be around 5:30 p.m., details to be
firmed up closer to the event and provided members via a email. As previously noted, the problematic gift exchange held in the past, but not last year, will again be dispensed with.

The monthly member meeting will be incorporated into the holiday gathering. The November member meeting adjourned at about 8:30 p.m., with many attendees hanging
about for the usual chatter the precedes and follows these meetings.

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