As many know, we lost Ron Phillips yesterday.
His last column was about the Conclave.
Here it is:
>"The Nut Behind The Wheel" by Ron Phillips
>>
>>Conclave 2008, San Diego
>>
>>Wow! What a great meet! Everything seemed to work. Let's look at
>>some of the really good things about it!
>>
>>First, we really owe the San Diego Club a terrific round of
>>applause. Their organization and application of lessons learned from
>>previous Conclaves really stood out. The presentation of the events
>>in notebook form was simply the very best way I've ever seen to
>>present all the meet information for helping the participants
>>understand each event and participate in it. Each day was documented
>>with a discussion of the day's events, the time frames, and both maps
>>and satellite views of each venue. All of these events ran on time,
>>did not overrun the allotted time, and the venues chosen for each
>>event just couldn't have been better. Let's look at the venues a bit
>>more closely.
>>
>>The car show at Embarcadero Marina Park North, adjacent to Seaport
>>village, was just about as perfect a place for this event that I've
>>ever experienced. Possibly only Pebble Beach could top it! And the
>>weather just couldn't have been better, temps in the low 70's with
>>clear blue skies just added to the beauty of this unique site
>>bordered by San Diego Bay. There were scenic backdrops of City
>>skyline and boaters on the bay that just added to the drama of our
>>cars no matter which way you took that prized picture of your pride
>>and joy. Bob Segui's posing of everyone for a picture of them in
>>their car as they entered the park for the car show featured a
>>backdrop of the City skyline with the bay, boats, and marina framing
>>each of our prized Healeys. Simply tremendous! Having the awards
>>for the popular judging right at the venue worked superbly allowing
>>for a drive by to receive their awards for all the first place
>>winners in class. This also removed this "burden" from the closing
>>banquet, a great idea that was also used in Vermont, last year. This
>>concept should become a tradition in the coming years.
>>
>>The Funkanna and the Gymkanna held at Qualcomm park was just perfect
>>for this event. Having experienced people set up the Gymkanna course
>>and run the equipment, made this event run as smoothly as any of this
>>type I've ever seen. The course was in an enclosed area West of the
>>Stadium and we had it all to ourselves without the possibility of
>>non-participants wandering through it! Where in the last few years
>>there seemed to always be "issues" with this event, here we had an
>>entire over one mile long course that ran slightly uphill and then
>>back down to the finish. And there was covered shade for all the
>>participants and spectators to view the action, courtesy of the
>>overhead light rail transportation system that serves the
>>Stadium. From that shade offered by the overhead tracks, you never
>>lost sight of the cars on the course due to the up-hill nature of it,
>>which was simply terrific! And what drama to watch the mix of cars,
>>both our Healeys and the local Gymkanna group's much "hotter" cars
>>navigate the course. This professional course and management of it
>>allowed each participant up to three or more practice sessions with
>>three or more speed runs, depending on whether you wanted to just
>>keep looping the course, or not. There was no hurry as the
>>organizers could run multiple cars on the course at one time and not
>>have to wait for each car to finish before the next one could start,
>>a real time saver for this event. As Gymkanna's go, it just doesn't
>>get any better than this! Take a look at the times and you will see
>>that a lot of people had a great time running this course.
>>
>>The Funkanna, conveniently located on the other side of the shaded
>>area, gave an opportunity for anyone to participate as driver or
>>navigator during the day. The path of travel was clearly marked on
>>the pavement. No confusion, nothing dangerous, just fun!
>>
>>About the food. The closing banquet held at the Sheraton was the
>>absolute best mass served meal I've ever had. Everyone else seemed
>>to feel the same way. The combination dinner of Salmon and Chicken
>>was cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. How did they pull this
>>off? The food was hot, served with great presentation, and
>>considering that all meal service came from the other Sheraton tower,
>>this was a great accomplishment on the part of the Hotel.
>>
>>About 40 members of our club, the Austin-Healey Association, on one
>>of the "off-nights" went the Shakespeare Pub, a well known English
>>style pub downtown San Diego, and sampled the wares. The food and
>>brew was great. Even the "English" members of our club gave it a
>>hearty thumbs up! Again, because of the mild climate, we were able
>>to sit outside until dark and enjoy the weather, the grub, and the
>>grog with all our club friends. Our club president, George McHarris
>>organized this event for us, including Van transportation to and from
>>the hotel so we could really kick back and enjoy the evening without
>>concern for driving after a brew or two.
>>
>>And I really have to mention the marina deli just at the end of the
>>parking lot. I'd bet that every attendee of Conclave had at least
>>one meal there! Breakfast, Lunch, even Pizza for dinner, their food
>>was delicious, reasonably priced, and with outside seating
>>overlooking the marina, and the terrific San Diego climate, made any
>>of these meals a pleasure to partake. And anytime you went there,
>>you would find Healey friends to sit with and chat with while
>>enjoying your meal. They even had a beer and wine license! Having
>>this kind of facility this close to the hotel was so unique in our
>>experience of attending these kind of events that it's possible the
>>Deli will be a subject of discussion for years to come when we think
>>back to this event. Strange, but true!
>>
>>We really need to thank Udo Putzke, not only for his and Gisela's
>>help and financial support with the event, but for putting on an
>>"honest" rally! But you had to pay attention in the driver's
>>meeting, and then to the route instructions, and the generals, to do
>>well. If you didn't, then you, too, may have gotten lost looking for
>>"China" as referenced in the directions. But the rally did take us,
>>once out of town, through some of San Diego County's open space parks
>>and then through beautiful Rancho Santa Fe and back down the coast to
>>return to San Diego. Again, with temps in the low 70's, it made for
>>fine motoring!
>>
>>The tech sessions again featured some of our major parts and service
>>providers. I enjoyed them all, particularly David Noch's
>>presentation on roadside failures and how to overcome them. Having a
>>boot full of spares helps! David brought a collection of
>>show-and-tell items and handled all the questions thrown at him. We
>>have all had these same emergency breakdown and repair experiences,
>>especially those of us who have been around these cars for many
>>years. The presentations by Martin Mac Gregor on interior trim and
>>upholstery, and Martin Jansen of Jule Enterprises on their frame
>>replacement process were received well by a new West Coast audience
>>who may not have seen or heard from these two professionals in Healey
>>restorations.
>>Then there was the Gerry Coker and John Sprinzel chat. What terrific
>>guys to put up with us novices! Whether rumor squashing or their
>>personal experiences, we all enjoyed their sharing with us their
>>years of experience and insights into those funny little British cars
>>called Austin-Healeys! Having this scheduled as a tech session
>>instead of during the closing banquet is the right way to go. This
>>way, those interested can attended. Those not interested need not
>>apply or be held captive!
>>
>>And then there were our friends, from all over the world and the
>>USA. It's wonderful to see them again, catch up on what's happening,
>>and simply pass the time with them. We see each other so little that
>>these times together help us to reconnect, to share, and to look
>>forward to next time we meet to pick up where we left off in our
>>conversations and our lives. As my good buddy from the San Francisco
>>Bay area, Len Hartnet said, he and his wife were still "vertical",
>>and seemed to know their doctors much more intimately. But there was
>>Len with his well traveled BJ8 and his 'arf-a-healey' trailer,
>>enjoying things so much he even placed first in the TSD rally with
>>his last minute Australian co-driver! Way to go Len!
>>
>>Again, LeRae and I would like to thank the San Diego club members
>>and, particularly, Mike Williams for putting on a really good
>>show! They may have set, possibly, an impossibly high standard for
>>our Conclaves of the future. 'Till next time, Ron Phillips.
>>