It was a nice cool night as I drove down to Long Beach for another early dinner with Dawn Lakowski. I had planned to meet Bob Bolling in front of his house, but I guess us girls got to yakking and I was late. As I started my Healey, Bob rolled up and we were off.
Bob and I arrived at Belmont Shores to find a good number of British Cars parked. Some of the Healey’s belonged to club members but an equal amount had drivers belonging to no club. The circle of men I approached to make sure I hadn’t missed any “current” members were quick to point out that they “don’t need a car club!” They had a “beer club!” And on that note, they headed to the Brewery.
We quickly found Jim Benneth, Phil Caliva, Paul Van Wig, Dan O’Neill with his lovely wife, Laurie. Dan and Laurie’s son Jake brought his girlfriend, Kyara for a visit. Last month I mentioned how expensive the ice cream truck was and someone must have told them because they didn’t even show up this month. Typical, you only miss something when its gone, right?! Because once that truck was gone, I really wanted ice cream! After a good while of admiring each other’s cars and yakking, the non-beer drinkers headed back on the highway. Hope to see more members next month! AHASC Attendees: Monica Lago-Kaytis (Big Healey), Phil Caliva (Jensen- Healey), Bob Bolling (Big Healey), Paul Van Wig (Sprite), Jim Benneth (Big Healey), Dan O’Neill (Big Healey) & Harry Kumpis (Big Healey) Comments on Belmont Pier.
7/01 I want to add, admitting that I'm a newbie to the Austin-Healey world, that this was the largest single gathering of Austin-Healeys that I have seen in person outside of the Queen's English. I met lots of nice people and even scored a couple of decent leads on obscure parts for my BT7. And then there was the ride home, south on PCH--the sun at my back, the glorious sound of the "stock" exhaust system resonating off the K-rails between Seal Beach and Sunset Beach, finishing with the sprint across Bolsa Chica and the smell of the beach fire rings that lit up memories of past indiscretions and beach keggers! What an evening!
With kind regards, Jim Bennett