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A LITTLE ITALIAN
SPAGHETTATA
A LITTLE FRENCH POUTINE
by Bob
Forest (your roving reporter)
July 22nd, La Tavola Ristorante was
the meeting place, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Over 25
cars showed up, and many new members of the Italian group.
This was a pleasure and a change for us Old Time VEA members
to see many different Italian cars. Now the VEA has a good
mix of English, French, German and Italian automobiles, and
all of them of exceptional quality.
Many of the members brought their children to this wonderful
restaurant. The owners had a complete outside deck reserved
for us, overlooking the water, and also most important, our
cars, which were just below us. Many of the locals came by,
to have a look.
Considering that we all arrived at the same time, the service
and food was excellent. The staff very friendly and courteous.
All of the new members that were present were asked to give
a description of the car or cars that they owned, plus a little
background of how long they have been in the hobby.
Then our President, spoke for 46 seconds, then a raffle of
two beautiful books on the Alfa Romeo's were raffled off.
This raffle was a new system devised by no other Mr. Richard
Boudrias. How it went, was very simple, Richard, is one, not
to loose time, so rather than, cut little pieces of papers
and have each name of attendees on these little pieces, then
have someone pick a name out of a hat. His new system, which
I think, is a great time saver, and honest and simple is that
he took the list of members from our president. This is the
list that was done up, based on reservations. Picked a child
of a new member, and this youngster, closed his eyes, and
pointed his little finger to a name on the list, voila, a
winner. It was a little difficult for the child, once the
name was picked, as Richard, would have to keep the child's
finger on the name and bring the child to another member to
confirm the name. Also making sure that the finger would not
slip off the name. On the second book, the finger did slip,
as Richard, did not check the spaghetti sauce that was on
the child's finger. What a system.
After the meal was finished, many of the members gathered
around their cars answered questions from the locals. Also
many of us spent time looking at some of the cars that we
had not seen. Some beautiful Fiat X 1.9, a just restored Citroen
Cabriolet, two Ferrari, and many others.
The members of the VEA, again, want to thank Jean-Jacques
and Isabelle, for this fine outing. Anytime you see something
organized by these two, don't miss it, as it is always a winner.
Thank you again Jean-Jacques and Isabelle.
Now you are all asking yourself what is the Poutine all about.
Well on July 29th, I decided to go to the Granby Car show.
This is a three-day event, but I only went on Sunday. I had
never been to this show, and was very curious to see it. So
I left at 7:30am, and when I arrived, already the place was
full of activity. It is very well organized, on entering,
they place a colored card on your windshield, and then you
are guided to where to go. In my case the registration. There
I was given a packet, which included a very nice plaque of
the event.
From there, I was again guided to where to go, for my parking
of European cars. I was parked between a beautiful Sunbeam
Tiger, and a 190 SL roadster, same as our past presidents
car, but in white, with a red interior.
Without question, what impressed me most, was the hot dog
and poutine counter. The line up was a mile long, but within
a few minutes, there I was, in front of 4 people, taking hot
dogs out of a steam bin, and putting them in to a nice steamed
roll. Moving still, to the Poutine, and at that point ask
me if I wanted some salt, looking at them sweating over the
stoves, I said, "no thank you, I think there is enough salt
already." Within 3 or 4 minutes, hot dog, poutine, and drink
in hand, and paid for. That is very impressive.
Was I impressed with the show, yes the size, over 1800 cars,
and from what I heard over 10,000 visitors, a park that is
right on the water. Rock and Roll dancing. Live Bands, Hot
Rods, American Cars, everything you can think of if it has
an engine. Tractors, Vespas, Motorcycles, etc., etc. Would
I personally go back, no, but I am glad I did go. So for anyone
that has not been, you must go once, and I am sure some of
you will go back. For me, it is just too big a show, but can't
say anything against the organization.
So there you have it, members of the VEA. This Friday, August
3rd, Helen and I are leaving for Bathurst N.B. with the MGA,
to meet a group of 10 British cars from Halifax. We are looking
forward to that, and will report on it in a later AUTOSIASTE.
(see it right now!)
©VEA
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