My First Year… In the Rearview Mirror

Jon Brothers, President

Valley British Auto Club

July 21, 2024

A little more than a year ago, I stepped into a huge pair of shoes to serve as President of the Valley British Auto Club.  It’s been a lotta fun thus far… so, without too much detail, let’s reflect a bit on what’s been happening at VBAC.

Club gatherings have been plentiful with members participating in some very well planned Saturday runs, as well as attending several well known larger events, both in and outside our local area.

Our monthly dinner meetings have taken us to several new restaurants, and, as always, a few of our old favorites.  It’s been great to see a steady increase in the number of new faces joining the monthly gatherings.  Membership now sits at around eighty, with the addition of a dozen new members over just the past twelve to eighteen months.

A Club history project was begun just before the close of 2023.  We’re fortunate enough to have a few of our long standing, original members who have willingly drained their brains of their best VBAC recollections, to compile what will certainly be a fantastic accounting of our nearly 35 year history.  A HUGE thank you to former President Kurt Lanse and our Website Keeper Marty Hardison, for their awesome compilation of timeline information and old photos.  Once completed, this will become a permanent fixture on our website and Facebook page.  Stay tuned!

Marty has done an outstanding job with the recent facelift to valleybritish.organd we continually receive compliments on the changes.  A couple of newly developed features I’m really excited about are the Club Magazine and Members pages.  Everybody is welcome to join the others in posting their info and photos on either of the pages.  Our updated Activities page contains information for upcoming dinner and event dates and locations. Don’t forget, you can also catch up with VBAC on Facebook and Instagram.

March 24th, 2024 provided us with the “Wettest Roundup On Record.”  Everyone braved the blustery cold and rainy weather, the likes of which one might expect to find only in the UK…  It was great to see so many people in attendance from outside the local area.  We had great participation from the Bay Area JAG group, as well as a strong contingent of Mini owners from MOASF, in the Bay Area.  Others traveled from as far away as San Diego and the LA area, our southern and central coast, and Reno, to enjoy what is secretly becoming “Central California’s Premiere ALL British Car Show.”  While we experienced lower than usual numbers of attendees (just over sixty this year)… everyone agrees, this show was one for the record books and one certainly not to be forgotten anytime soon.

Our annual Roundup Charity Raffle turned out to be the biggest and most profitable raffle ever.  As has been our practice the past few years, 100% of our raffle proceeds was donated to our selected non-profit  organization.  Our 2024 selection, Central Valley Veterans, received $1600 as a result of the everyone’s generosity.  Thank you to everyone who helped make that happen.

Lastly, a big thank you goes out to the members of our Steering Committee.  The committee consists of:  Vice President Martin Connolly, Treasurer Jay Newsome, Secretary Larry Zerwig, and our Trustees, Steve Phillips, Russ and Tammy Weber, Peter Patriquin and our Website Keeper, Marty Hardison.  Without the input and ideas these great folks bring to the table, the roads traveled would be so much bumpier.  Additionally, I want to say a huge thank you to my wife, Joanie.  I so appreciate ALL of her hard work behind the scenes and at the car show, coordinating our charity raffle.  Most of all, I appreciate her never ending support of me all along the way.

There’s lots that’s been going on and there’s lots more to come… Remember, this is ourClub and everyone’s participation is what makes it great.  Opportunities will always be there for everyone to make suggestions and be involved.  Please feel free to do so.

As one of our very well respected, original members has stated, quite eloquently, “The fact that the Club has flourished for 30+ years, is a testament of its quality.”

Thanks very much for everyone’s continued support.

Take Care and Motor On…   Jon.