Saint Johns Austin Healey Club Minutes for November 4, 2025

Former SJAHC President Bill Young called the monthly member meeting to order at 7:07
p.m. at the conclusion of dinner at Bela Vista Restaurant in Fruit Cove. Bill was filling in for club President Mike Foster and VP Dave Morton, both of whom are on travel. Others attending included Bill’s wife, Judy, Paul and Judy Sandefer, Bill and Char Maroney, Bob and Norma Pippin, Ben Procter, Tony Martini and Ron Keysor.

The minutes of the Sept. 27 member meeting were approved. Treasurer Paul Sandefer said the club bank balance is $$$$$$. The month’s receipts were $45 in dues, with a charge of $71.42 for lunch for the tech session he hosted at his shop on Oct. 14.

Membership Chair Bill Maroney said membership stands at 35, with one member pending. That would be Rick Tallon, a Savanah resident and the owner of a ’66 BJ8. Cindy Purcell, a former member with a long association with the club and also a longtime Healey owner, has rejoined the club. This triggered quite a bit of comment from members about Cindy and her family Healey associations, as well as her family yacht business.

Bill Young currently serves as the club delegate to our parent organization, the Austin Healey Club of America (AHCA). The association’s board meets this weekend in Indianapolis, and Bill has retained a proxy, Steve Bell, to represent our club in his stead. Bell has be been instructed on how to vote on the issues on the association agenda. Bill said he had rather closely examined the club’ s current financial statement, which anticipates spending $187,000 in calendar year 2026, the largest share of this to cover expense for the production of Healey Marque, the monthly AHCA magazine. His sense is that the club management is doing a good job, albeit having lost about 1,000 members in the past five years.

(Bill posted a lengthy email report to our membership on the AHCA business agenda with the issues up for a vote and our club’s recommendations today, Nov. 5).

Old club business included mention of the tech session at the Sandefer garage. A leaking rear wheel cylinder was scheduled for replacement, but upon installation the new one leaked. Parts of the old and new cylinder were combined to get a working brake, but Paul said he has ordered a pair of Italian-made brake cylinders that he was told are superior to those sold by another supplier. The secretary attended that session briefly because of a social engagement but failed to record all of the names of others who attended.

The British Car Classic hosted this year by the Triumph Club of North Florida was held Oct. 18 at Fionn MacCools Irish Pub on Rt. 1. There were a disappointing number of cars, though SJAHC was well represented by Bill Young, Bill Maroney, Tony Martini and Dave Morton. Only about 40 cars were on hand for the show and visitors weren’t numerous, they report. Next year the event returns to the site that had hosted it for many years, though the place is now Wobbly Whale, not the British Pub probably best remembered for the London bus displayed there.

Members were reminded to respond to President Foster if they plan on attending the club Christmas Party at the Fleet Landing Atlantic Room 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 2. A reminder that a jacket is required for men at that dining facility. The Christmas Party will serve as the December member meeting.

Finally, a slate of club officers for 2026 was approved. Continuing in their posts will be President Mike Foster, VP Dave Morton, Treasurer Paul Sandefer, Membership Chair Bill Maroney, Web site manager Erling Onsager and activities co-chairs Tony Martini and Bob Pippin. Ron Keysor, secretary since December 2016, chose not to serve again and a successor is yet to be named. Adjournment came at 7:40 p.m

J. R.Keysor, Sec.
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