The Resonator - October 2010

THE RESONATOR /

OCTOBER 2010

"Prez Sez"THE FALLING LEAVES....

I am not sure that the leaves going past my window the other evening werereally falling. They were being driven by 70kph winds and driving rain! Stillour roof stayed on this year.Fall windup is in the books for another year and for those that missed it, theymissed a great time. All in all a very pleasant weekend, skillfully put together byMark & Heather Doust, David Underhill & Marilyn Halbot under somewhattrying circumstances. Many thanks are due to them for a job well done.Our next event coming up as I write this, is the Run for the Leaves on Oct2nd (or 3rd), details of which were sent to everyone by e-mail. Every year the Quebec Club provides cars and drivers for the drivers'parade at the Canadian Grand Prix. This is a huge event and some of ourclub members (including yours truly) have taken part in this event in thepast. Our club has been offered a place in the 2011 event in June and weare auctioning off this weekend to members. Winning will give you a goodseat for qualifying, participation in the parade around the track and thesame seat for the race. If you are interested in submitting a bid, please contactmyself or any member of the executive. The final bids will be taken at theChristmas meeting on Dec 08. The opening bid is $500.00.No need to remind you that the November meeting brings our elections,so, if you have never held an office, or have and would like to do it again,please make this year the time to step up, put your name forward and havea say in the way your club is run. All candidates should make their interestknown to V.P.Mark Doust as soon as possible.Driving isn't quite done for this year, so….

GET INTO YOUR HEALEY AND SEE WHAT YOU GET OUT OF IT!!

Bob Yule

Official Newsletter of the Austin-Healey Club of Southern Ontario

View From the Navigator's SeatWe started off our 2010 AH year with a cold and blustery day in April atAncaster Flea Market - but from there on this driving season has been justwonderful. We finally had the summer we totally missed last year and that'sprobably why our events were so well attended this year. Our Wine Tourwas a great success with a lovely sunny day for our drive through thespectacular Niagara area. The 'Maritime Tour' which took us almost 4000miles through Eastern Canada 'lucked out' with great weather also. Now ifwe can just get one more wonderful weather day for the "Run For TheLeaves" on Oct. 2nd. we will be truly thankful. All in all a fantastic Healey Summer! Happy Healeying!

InsidePrez Sez . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 1

View From The

Navigator's Seat . . . . . . .Pg 1

Salmon BBQ . . . . . . . . . . . Pg 2-3

Fall Wind Up . . . . . . . . . . Pg 4-5

Advertisers . . . . . . . . .Pg 6-7

Bronte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 8-9

Lewis MacKenzie . . . Pg 9-10

Advertisers . . . . . . . . .Pg 11

Guest Notice . . . . . . . . Pg 12

2010 Events Calendar . Pg 12

Visit our web sitewww.ahcso.com

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Saturday August 28 and a group of hungry Healey people are gathered inMilton, ready to take a directed drive to Laurie and Diane Wilford's homesome 76 miles down the road. For the ninth year in a row, they are anxiousto see if Laurie has again been successful on his latest fishing trip, or if theyare going to have to eat hamburger.

Seventeen cars left the designated start point, all Big Healeys and Bug-Eyes andmade their way through some beautiful countryside, passing farms and smalltowns and only occasionally having to cross a busy road of any significance. Itwas hard to believe that these quiet, mostly rural areas existed so close to somemajor metropolitan centers.

The car drivers and passengers made their own way to the end of the tour,with a few rest (ice cream) stops and by the time they had all cluttered theWilford's driveway and most of the street, the crowd had swelled to about fifty-five people. There was much anticipation and it all proved worthwhile, asLaurie had once again outdone himself and provided a feast of Pacific Salmonthat left no-one wanting.

The afternoon and evening passed far too quickly, as old and new friendsvisited and generally enjoyed themselves and all too soon it was time foreveryone to say their goodbyes.

Once again we thank Laurie and Diane for hosting this event, we thank DMHfor building the cars that bring us all together for these good times and wethank the Salmon for showing up.

Bob Yule

SOMETHING FISHYGOING ON !

THE RESONATOR /

SALMON BBQ 2010

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FALL WIND UP 2010The select few who attended the Fall Wind Up recently, were treated to anexceptional weekend of wonderful roads to drive, the company of greatfriends and terrific entertainment.After meeting at the obligatory Tim Horton's in Milton the group set off for adrive over some great winding roads around Halton Hills, took in a paradethrough Acton and wound up for lunch, (quite appropriately I thought) at theMad Hatter in Orangeville. After filling up with food and drink, we set forthagain on some even twistier, up and down roads around the Forks of theCredit and Caledon Hills, stopping for ice cream etc in Belfountain. These Healey roads eventually brought us to the Stage West Hotel inMississauga where we were able to relax a little before heading for dinnerand entertainment in the hotel theatre. We then managed to maintain theHealey Club tradition and demolish the buffet before settling back for theperformance on stage. This was a little different but quite entertaining andconsisted of a murder mystery that was solved by the audience, not necessarilywith the same outcome every night.Heading back to our suites, we spent the remainder of the evening with goodcompany doing what Healey people do best. Having fun!Sunday morning arrived mostly uninvited and after a good breakfast, weheaded for Bronte Creek Park and the largest one day all British car show inNorth America. The field was already filling up when we arrived so we tookour places along with all the other Healey's in a long impressive line. By11am there were over 1000 British cars displayed and by all accounts, thetotal approached 1200. The weather cooperated with a beautiful warmsunny day and many old friendships were maintained and new ones made.The judging was, as usual, by popular choice and many of our Club memberstook home plaques to remind them of their visit.This was a wonderful and quite different Fall Wind Up that was organizedby Mark & Heather Doust, David & Marilyn Holbot and it all went off withouta hitch. We owe them a very warm thank you for all their hard work andinnovation.

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FALL WIND UP 2010

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RATES*

Full Page $400

1/2 Page $210

1/4 Page $105

Business Card $45

*per year(6 issues)

To advertise please call Anna Orr at

905-930-8899 or E-mail: [email protected]

THE RESONATOR /

wwwwww..aahhccssoo..ccoommVisit ourWeb Site at:

/ THE RESONATOR

BRONTE 2010

THE RESONATOR /

BRONTE WINNERSAustin Healey 100, MK1 D 57 1 Graham Secord (AHC)

D 411 2 Phil & Anna AtrillD 426 3 Martin Jansen (AHC)

Austin Healey 3000 C 383 1 Norboert LefebvreC 26 2 Bill RichardsC 74 3 Carl Jadeski (AHC)

Austin Healey Sprite F 216 1 Brian YoungF 244 2 Ed Kesik (AHC)F 404 3 Martyn Ridley (AHC)

MAJOR-GENERAL LEWIS MACKENZIE’S FIRST CAR - A HEALEY!Retired Major-General Lewis MacKenzie says there’s only one word to describe his single-minded desire for his firstset of wheels: “Freedom.”

“All through high school, all through university, either walking everywhere or building up enough courage to ask mymother to approach my father — if I could have the car on the weekend — it was strictly [about] freedom.”

“It was constantly on my mind — wherever I walked and a car would go by — that’s what I thought of.”

When he was 20, he was instantly smitten with sports cars when he and a buddy attended a motor race atHarewood Acres near Jarvis, Ont., in 1960.

“I saw this race and, quite frankly, my life changed forever. I quit university and joined the army — to get a sportscar.”

Although MacKenzie had been an officer cadet, quitting university to become commissioned as a second lieutenantin the Queen’s Own Rifles meant he lost his accumulated seniority. But he did gain a military paycheque. Soon after,as a young officer stationed in Germany, he was able to buy his dream car — a new “British White” 1962 Austin-Healey MK II — for $2,625.

“Healeys were always my first choice; I wanted a Healey for some reason — I liked the sound of the straight six andthe exhaust system it had.”

“It was sort of a macho thing — it was a guy’s car. You know, MGA — a bit girlie; Alfa Romeo — a bit girlie; Porschewas really an enhanced Volkswagen in those days, whereas a Healey — it was probably the sound and the look.”

The sound was one thing; the drive quite another.

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“It slid all over the road. You thought you were going so-o-o fast when, in fact, you weren’t. It was just that thehandling wasn’t particularly good.”

The car’s handling wasn’t its only downside. British sports cars were notoriously troublesome and the Healey was nodifferent. MacKenzie’s particular model had carburetors that overflowed and leaked fuel, running down onto theexhaust system. Driving through the Alps with the dramatic changes in elevation, MacKenzie realized just how big aproblem he had on his hands.

“I looked in my rear-view mirror and I had this sheet of flame following me and I immediately knew what it was as Ismelled the fuel.”

MacKenzie managed to quell the flames and get to a garage in Monaco. Alive.

In another incident, his fuel pump broke and he drove 500 miles manually working the pump with his finger —difficult in any situation but miraculous on the Autobahn. MacKenzie says mechanics at the British Motor Co. shopin London were flabbergasted.

“They said, ‘We don’t believe you.’ (But) they gave me a new fuel pump.”

If necessity is the mother of invention, the Healey served MacKenzie well. He became an adept mechanic, masteringskills that have enriched a lifetime passion for sports cars and motor racing. At the time, though, the Healey aidedmore immediate passions (as well as a quick getaway).

“My friend and I went into a camping ground in Nice and we met a couple of girls and we’re in their tent, makingout, when they advise us that their boyfriends are coming back.”

Quickly packing their gear, MacKenzie and his buddy jumped into a white Healey and roared away.

“My friend is sitting in the passenger seat and all of our stuff is packed in the kit in the back and I realize — it’s notmy Healey! It’s another one!”

Luckily, they found their Healey nearby and made it back to the base in one piece.

Fit and focused, MacKenzie is still very much the dashing and forthright commander he was when he wore the blueberet of the UN peacekeeper almost two decades ago. He laughs recalling many of his youthful exploits travellingthough Europe and says that, ultimately, his love for the Healey came down to “sex appeal and performance.”

MacKenzie says that in his day it was “sports cars, sports cars, sports cars.”

“If you went through any officer’s mess in the Canadian infantry in those days, the parking lot was full of sports cars.If you go there today they’re all trucks.”

And what became of the Healey?

After a couple of years stationed in Germany, MacKenzie was transferred to a peacekeeping mission in the MiddleEast. He sold the car to a fellow officer but had to borrow it back during his final week.

“Every second day I would drive down to pick up the mail for the soldiers and on the third day of that last week inGermany, a trailer jackknifed in front of me coming up to the base. I was either going to go under and decapitatemyself [so] I went off, hit a tree and virtually wrote the car off uninsured.”

His posting to Egypt became a godsend. With the extra $150 a month he earned for being on a UN mission, it onlytook him two years to pay off the bill for the smashed Healey.

Lewis MacKenzie currently races for Mortimer Racing in the Formula Ford series; his car number is 70.

He says of his sport: “Where else can a 70-year-old compete with teenagers?”

Toronto Star - Courtesy of Yvonne Marton

THE RESONATOR /

Hey Gang! Great news. You asked for it… you got it. Your club and marquee logos are available in store!

After more than 30 years of seeing you at theautomotive events and shows, I'm happy to

announce that we've opened our retail store.

Visit us and take a look at the fashionsand products we have to offer.

Feel free to browse, buy off the rack or haveyour logo put on the garment of your choice.

We carry, shirts, jackets, fleece, shorts, trousers,caps, visors, bags, pins, fobs, signs, flags,mugs, watches… to mention a few things.

Visit us at:KDC

33 King Street WestDundas, Ontario 905-627-9066

Tuesday - Saturday 10:30 a.m - 5:30 p.m.We are closed Sundays, Mondays,

Statutory and Civic holidays.You can still order on line at:[email protected]

or call us at 1.888.250.4917 (toll free).

See ya there!Kim Chevalier(aka Kimbo)

NOVEMBER PUB NIGHT IS ELECTION NIGHT

If you would like to stand for a positionor would like to nominate someone -

please contact: Mark Doust, VPat phone # (416) 779-0967

or by email: [email protected]

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2010RUN FOR THE LEAVES - Call Mark @ 416-779-0967

PUB NIGHT - MILTON

PUB NIGHT - MILTON

CHRISTMAS PUB NIGHT- MILTON

OCTOBER 2

OCTOBER 13

NOVEMBER 10

DECEMBER 8

We are planning a fall run for the leaves on Saturday, October 2nd (Rain date Sunday, October 3rd).

We will be meeting in Orangeville and going north from there to Flesherton, through the Beaver Valley,to Thornbury, and Meaford. We will stop for lunch somewhere, plus other short stops at look outs.

If you are interested, please get back to me. If I don’t hear from you, I will take you off my list forfurther emails about the run.

Hope to see lots of cars out!

Cheers, Mark

“RUN FOR THE LEAVES” - HEALEY EVENT

Many of us were very fortunate, that when we were working we got "benefits" through a groupplan that our employer had at a low rate. When we retired or left their employment thesebenefits were lost. There could be cases where some of our members never had these benefitsfrom day one. Some people believe that once you get to 65 the social plans of the governmenthealth plan looks after you.......sorry to burst your balloon. Dental is one area, YOU is on yourown, fillings cleaning, xray etc can put a hefty bite into your wallet. The list goes on!

So what if we were offered a "group benefit plan" for the members of AHCSO. At this pub nightOctober 13 a representative has agreed to come and hopefully answer your questions abouthaving a plan for our members. So please come with your thoughts.

Ian Allison

OCTOBER PUB NIGHT GUEST

The Resonator - October 2010

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