STERLING BRITISH MOTORING SOCIETY -- March 19, 2003

Although those who have been battered for months with snow, ice, freezing rain, cold temperatures, and unremitting cloudiness are prone to fits of fancy and hallucinations, it is the considered judgment of the undersigned that Spring has arrived in Kentucky. Admittedly, the calendar will not agree with this assessment until next week but, as of this moment in time, the signs are unmistakable. The grass is greening, those trees which survived the ice storm are budding, temperatures are warming, days are lengthening, a few hardy flowers are poking their heads out of the ground, and the sun has spent more time with us than in the past. To be sure, we will batter a few more winter onslaughts, but the tide has turned and there is, at last, hope for the future.

Speaking of Spring, the group journeyed to Moyers Winery on Saturday, March 15, for its first outing of the year. The weather cooperated, and many made the trip with bonnets down. Although it was a mite cold in the morning, the return during the afternoon presented sunshine and temperatures which were almost giddily warm. A half dozen or so British cars made the trip, accompanied by a few of more recent origin and manufacture. The Moyers people had set aside a portion of the restaurant for us, and we made great use of the facility, quaffing wine, stuffing ourselves, and singing "Happy Birthday" to Mike Razor on the occasion of his as-yet unrevealed ascension into another year. By all reports, everyone made it to and from without breakdown, although your editor's car narrowly escaped a deranged American car which lunged from a side street bent upon destruction. Although it would be nice to claim that lightning-fast reflexes and a heroic maneuver saved the day, the fact is that the foot hit the brakes, the brakes worked, and a collision was thus avoided. Still, that is the closest that the MG has come to such an event, and car, driver, and passenger all appreciated the fact that the narrow miss was, nonetheless, a miss.

Although it may well have come and gone by the time this newsletter is published, don't forget The Bash, to be held on the first weekend in May at the historic Springs Inn in Lexington, Kentucky. This is Derby Weekend, and everything will be dudded up in Kentucky for your visit. We promise great companionship, wonderful food, beautiful scenery, an outstanding driving tour of the Bluegrass, and a weekend which will assuredly bring you back to this part of the country every year. To register, just access our website (www.sterlingbritishmotoringsociety.org), call or email Mike Razor (859-498-8615 or mrazor@mis.net), and definitely telephone The Springs Inn (859-277-5751) for room reservations. The festivities will begin Friday evening with check-in and visiting, and conclude on Sunday morning. The time in between will be filled with fun and adventure, and your year will simply not be complete unless you make plans to attend this event. Those who have come in the past are lavish in their praise, and we humbly believe that it is justified for a unique weekend which is not otherwise duplicated in the British car calendar. Plan to be in Lexington on the first weekend in May.

Catesby Woodford, Editor

(This article is also published in The British Marque Car Club News)