Our dinner included:
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- Strawberry, Feta, and Candied Pecan Spring Mix
- Rosemary Beef Roast and Gravy
- Cream Chicken
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole
- Bacon Simmered Green Beans
- Honey Buttered Dinner Rolls
- Banana Pudding or Chocolate Lasagna
Following our meal, BMC president, Hank Sims and secretary, Pam Bransford, made our annual award presentations. It seemed to be a toss-up between two stalwart members for most improved car and club participation award. So, the big question is who receives which award?
Tom Miro’s TR6 has been freshly sprayed (having done the prep work prior to painting himself) with restorations to the interior and electrics. David Price, who has gone unrecognized since 2006, has replaced the engine and clutch in the MGA with MGB components — overcoming severe setbacks with each and still puts more miles on it that most other members’ cars combined, while coordinating and planning our annual Tired Butts trips and being the BMC factotum whenever anything needs to be done. Tom assumed the car show leadership. He arranged most if not all of our national vendor donations and coordinated the local sponsor donations. He attended the Brits in the Valley and Brits on the Shoals car shows (up there and back in one day) to distribute flyers for our show; was our sole BMC representative at the Fairhope show as well as the Birmingham show. He coordinated all of the First Friday on Lower Dexter events. He also got Rodney Martin’s Austin-Healey back on the road as well as most of Dr. Peden’s cars while tying up the loose ends on Bill’s TR3A and hosted club planning meetings at his home. In the end, it was decided that David Price would receive the 2019 Needham Club Participation Award and Tom Miro gets the nod for the 2019 Canavan Most Improved Car Award. It really could have gone either way. Congratulations to both of these two pillars of the club!
We began this year with a storm — literally. Our planned January lunch-run to Niffer’s was scrubbed because of the tornado forecasts. Sure enough, Wetumpka was hit that afternoon, taking out two churches and the police station while, ironically, sparing a nearby trailer park. We tried again in February with vastly improved results. March events included the Pike Road Art Market and British Car Display at Pike Road’s Town Hall. Thanks to Amanda for coordinating this for us. David was in charge of our drive to the Wellborn Muscle Car Museum in Alex City and Blitz hosted us at his shop for our annual Tinker Day. Tom led the way as we motored to the Eufaula Pilgrimage in April and although the heavens opened during our tour, our spirits remained undamped. April was also the month we lost long-time BMC member and friend, Mac Walker.
With summer temperatures soaring, we shortened our outing distances to feet—not miles. In July we met at D’Road Restaurant for a brisk breakfast, uh, walk. In September, Tom Miro was our sole representative at the Brits on the Shoals Car Show, at Joe Wheeler State Park, a spectator as his TR6 was not quite road-worthy following its make-over. Later in the month, with the British car show season beginning in earnest, several of us drove over to the Brits in the Valley and The Peachtree MG Registry of Georgia for the 2019 British Car Festival at Woodruff Park in Columbus GA
November’s major event was our annual Tired Butts Trip to Chattanooga, Rock City, TN Aquarium, River Walk, and Point Park. The first few hours were wet but from lunchtime Friday through our return trip home the weather was perfect, if a bit cold.
Christmas came early for David Price, as Santa sent him a new part – not for the MGA, but for his “clutch knee”. It’s a resto-mod, and seems to be working better than the original equipment!
Which brings us – the long way around – to our year and decade ending December Christmas Party at Bon Appetit.
[More Christmas Dinner PHOTOS]