STERLING BRITISH MOTORING SOCIETY -- March 15, 2004

A careful review of Kentucky weather suggests that Spring is in the offing. Sure, it’s still cold here, with sub-freezing temperatures, howling winds from the north, nasty roads, and continued gloom. Still, we know that the end is in sight ­ if we can just endure the next month or so. We are enjoying longer hours of daylight, occasional mild temps, and jonquils bravely popping up from the ground. Finally, the best guarantee of a nascent springtime is the fact that the Sterling British Motoring Society will shortly begin its annual monthly excursions.

By the time you read this, the trek to Moyer’s Winery and Restaurant will have come and gone. This is traditionally a fine trip, coupling a drive to historic Maysville, crossing the river, and dining at an excellent restaurant. Of course, Kentucky weather in March is always a risk, but hopefully we once again manage a decent day for the trip. Of course, the big news for those reading this article is The Bash. Again to be held on the first weekend in May, this all-British event is growing by leaps and bounds. If you live within a day’s drive of Lexington and have at least a passing interest in British vehicles, there is absolutely no excuse for your missing this wonderful all-weekend gathering. Most folks who come for the first time treat this as an annual affair; no surprises there, as this particular event offers activities like no other.

Plan to arrive late in the afternoon on Friday, April 30, at the historic Springs Inn in Lexington (call them for reservations at 859-277-5751 and advise that you are with the British group); check in to the hotel and stop by the hospitality suite for complimentary food and drink. Dinner is "on your own" at your choice of the many nearby restaurants; feel free to ask one of the natives in attendance for recommendations. The hotel has set aside the back quadrangle for our group, and you can survey the excellent array of British cars when you come back later in the evening.

Our Club will offer complimentary donuts, coffee, and juice on Saturday morning which should fill you with enough sugar and carbohydrates to last a week or two. Suitably sated and full of energy, you may then want to spend a minute or two sprucing up your car in anticipation of our first annual car show. Unlike those which involve a myriad of classes, you will find the judging at The Bash to be simple, fun, and without stress.

The Bash would not be complete without the "tour" carefully contrived by Ollie McCormick, Jimmy Browning, and Howard Gregory. Although the actual route will be announced and itineraries distributed on Saturday morning, planning on the part of this trio begins far in advance. These gentlemen collaborate frequently, discuss various alternative, pore over maps, and "test drive" a number of routes before finally settling on just the right one. This little drive is not a rally, but rather a scenic drive around what we Kentuckians modestly regard as the prettiest locale on earth. Past trips have taken us across rivers on historic ferries, to battlefields from the War of Northern Aggression, to prominent inns, to sizeable antique stores and flea markets, and to quaint little towns. The directions are easy to follow and generally permit a good deal of free-lancing for those with greater or less time to spend. Your editor has been permitted some limited information as to this year’s Trek, and can promise without prevarication that it will be the best ever taken, with a wide variety of roads, scenery, attractions, and restaurants.

Perhaps the best thing about the Trek is that you can return whenever you wish. Fatigue or a sputtering engine will place you back in Lexington in very short order; conversely, those with an adventurous spirit may take the entire trip. In any event, be sure to return to the hotel in the late afternoon in time for our annual Derby party, featuring a cash bar and a little friendly wagering. Finally, dinner is available for those who so desire in the restaurant dining room ­ famous for its prime ribs.

Sunday morning will bring more donuts, final oil checks, and a return home, filled with good memories and a firm resolve to visit us again next year.

Sterling British is busy in the meantime, of course. We continue to meet on the first Tuesday of each month, generally at Old Silo Golf Course in Mt. Sterling, at 6:00 PM for cocktails and 6:30 for dinner. The business meeting is always lively, full of brilliant ideas, and the best entertainment to be found in three states. The March edition was no exception. Free dinners were won by Ron Catchen and Jimmy Browning, partly because they were lucky, and largely because they had the good sense to remember their name badges!

The illuminating conversation at the March meeting included substantial interchange about improvements to our club website, which may conveniently be found at: www.sterlingbritishmotoringsociety.org The many features making up this site are vastly entertaining, but rest assured that our intelligentsia subgroup is hard at work making it even better.

Finally, don’t forget the our dues are due! Still only $20, and a bargain at twice the price ­ mail them in NOW to our ace club membership guru, Danny Morton, at 225 Richmond Avenue, Mt. Sterling, KY 40353. Absent payment by the end of April, the Club will have no alternative but to inform the British Marque to cease distribution; you will also be utterly banned from the better segments of society.

Otherwise, we continue to meet each month on the First Tuesday at 6:00 for cocktails, followed by a lavish dinner at 6:30 and then our meeting. Typically, our gathering place is Graham’s Grill at Old Silo Golf Course in Mt. Sterling, but from time to time we do pop around to other places. Matters of huge moment are discussed, and many fascinating innovations are in evidence. One such has been the fabrication and issuance of name tags, which permits the old people among us to remember who we are. Another is the elimination of the "door prizes" in favor of a free dinner ­ but only for those aforementioned members who display their name tag.

Tune in next month for more news. In the meantime, feel free to contact our officers with your ideas as to how to improve our club.