November 2024 Minutes

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. 4, 2024

In a reversal from the October gathering, last night’s event at the home of Bob and Norma Pippin close by the St. Johns River in Mandarin was well attended and took on a party-like atmosphere that began before the formal meeting and continued. The session was called to order by President Bill Young at 7:40 p.m. In addition to Bill and wife Judy, attending were the Pippins, Bill and Char Maroney, Rick and Marilynn Stevenson, Paul and Judy Sandefer, Tony Martini, Dave Morton, Mike Foster, Ben Proctor, Ron Keysor and Vince Recano.

Vince Recano, the club’s newest member and a recently retired Medtronics executive, joined the club’s ranks though he doesn’t own a Healey. He plans on filling that void when the opportunity arises. Members were very pleased to have a new member attend and participate in the evening's activities.

Bill Young first called for consideration of the Oct. 7 member meeting minutes, which were approved, and then the treasurer’s report. Treasurer Sandefer said the club bank balance began and ended the month at $$$$$$. Club membership stands at 36, reported membership chair Bill Maroney, with 34 of those also belonging to our parent national organization, the Austin Healey Club of America (AHCA).

AHCA will hold a delegate meeting later this month, and Rick Stevenson, our delegate, said he will attend via Zoom, sparing the club travel expenses, etc. Rick will report on any significant events at our club’s December meeting.

In an unusual year, just one SJAHC member, actually a couple, Bob Barton and wife Dolores, brought a Healey to the Oct. 19 British Car Classic hosted by the MG Classics of Jacksonville at the King’s Head Pub on U.S. Rt. 1. The Bartons took home a prize with their perfectly preserved BJ8. Alan Winer won a prize with his Jaguar XK40 roadster, as did Bill Young with his recently acquired Jag XK150 coupe. As far as the club secretary knows, he and Tom Carollo were the only other club members able to attend. Former member Bill Blackard also also came by. Though the Pub is now closed, the owners say they are anticipating the restaurant’s sale and expect the new owners to continue the British theme.

The Leenhouts, John and Nancy, won first in class class and best in show honors at the Southeastern Class XXXVII held in Dobson, NC, in late October. Not only did they win honors with their Series 1 Healey 3000, the hardy Leenhouts drove their side-curtain early 3000 to the show. The Southeastern is the major regional annual Austin-Healey show. SJAHC hosted the event in 2013 in Fernandina Beach, an effort those who played a role remember as extremely challenging, requiring frequent trips back and forth to the show site.

Readers are reminded of the availability of a stored BJ8 owned by long-time member Leonard Trinca. This car had major body work accomplished by a top-rate Healey restoration specialist before going into storage in 1984. That storage site was near the mentioned British car show and was seen by a couple of members, but soon must be moved. The owner has said that all the parts for the car, which is not fully reassembled, are present. The car’s value is estimated in the vicinity of $15,000. Anyone interested will find Len’s information in our club membership list.

Approaching car shows were discussed under new business. The big Ponta Vedra show is Sunday at the water park in Nokia, with a couple of members registered to show either Healeys or Jaguars. Also, and the secretary has only sketchy information here, Moosehaven will host a Clay County Cruisers car show Saturday at that institution on Park Avenue in Orange Park. Still another will come off at Cecil Field on Normandy Blvd. Saturday. Additionally, the famed Brumos Porsche entity (the dealership is now owned by Fields) is holding a ticketed event for Porsche fanciers on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Though there has been a bit of conversation about a Christmas Party, the consensus last night is that the club may schedule a mid-week dinner at an area restaurant. It was the conclusion that it is too late to find a weekend restaurant venue at this late date. Members will receive an email update on that topic and whether and where the December meeting will take place.

One matter was settled with finality. The most-recognized Austin-Healey museum is located in a quaint little town in the Netherlands. Member Dave Morton, who pilots air freighters around the world, said he has visited the museum and mentioned some of the cars. The most interesting, in his review, was a four-cylinder Healey into which a later BJ6 or 3000 engine was stuffed by the “factory.” That meant moving the firewall, etc. The enterprise was a failure but exists.

The operator of the museum has asked AHCA member clubs to each donate $100 a year for five years toward preserving the Dutch museum, which, in addition to a dozen or so Healeys, houses a major collection of Healey factory, etc., information. The matter of our club making the annual donation was opposed in a show of hands.

Finally, the annual election of officer was held, with Mike Foster, now living at Fleet Landing, stepping up to take the club reins as president. Mike served successfully in the club leadership role for two years beginning in 2018 (we think) and again accepted the (unpaid) job. Perhaps now having completed the major restoration of his Healey—it came to him with an American V-6 (?) engine and drive train that has since even replaced with a rebuilt proper Healey system, repainted, etc., etc., provides him with the time to serve SJAHC once more.

So, beginning in 2025 Bill Young, a founding member of the 50-year-old SJAHC, will end his two-year tenure as president But he’s not going away. Bill will continue to author his monthly column in the Healey Marque, AHCA’s almost monthly magazine, as he has done for many years, and will take over as the club’s AHCA delegate, succeeding Rick Stevenson. Just a coincidence that Bill succeeded Rick as club president two years ago. Dave Morton was voted club vice president, a hint that he may be willing to succeed Mike two years from now after retirement from commercial aviation. Two other existing officers and membership chair Maroney were retained in office, those being treasurer Paul Sandefer and secretary Ron Keysor. Erling Onsager continues as club web site manager. Tony Martini will be joined as activities chair by Bob Pippin, cohost of last night’s very special evening. Bob has been a very welcome relatively new face among the club’s active participants. Adjournment came at 8:25 p.m. and the festivities resumed.

R.Keysor, sec.
-30-