Jaguars And Corvettes at Plaza Del Mar
It was a Dark and Stormy day, by Cindy Voller
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Hope that everyone had a very Healthy and Happy holiday season!   The Holiday dust has settled, we are into a New Year and the 2004 Shows have just begun …. GENTLEMEN AND WOMEN-START YOUR ENGINES AND LET THE FUN BEGIN…

The day started early at the Voller household with the temperature being 60 degrees which was higher than what was reported the night before – hummmmm weather forecasters in South Florida being wrong, go figure.  We dressed in jeans and got Janey ready to go.  The ride up to Manalapan and the Plaza Del Mar was uneventful but a bit wet.  Jack decided to get gas before we got to the show, so we stopped at a station at the corner of Dixie Highway and Ocean Avenue, got gas and went to start Janey back up … silence, nothing, nada … no beautiful hum of a vintage Jaguar starting up, just a lone, solitary “click”.  Heart in stomach.   So close and yet so far.  NOT AGAIN JANEY!!!!!  Yes, there was a tow truck in sight but not of the caliber that she had become accustomed to.  We pushed her out of the way of the gas pumps hoping that she would start but continued to get that same, disheartening silence.  Suddenly there is a roar from behind and Pascal Gademer appears in his beautiful stealth XKR.  The guys toss around some ideas but to no avail and then from the other direction appears Rick Hartwell in his mammoth MK X.  Now all three brains are turning and yet Janey still won’t start.   We borrow the Booster Pack from the gas station attendant who is none to pleased that we are taking up space in his lot – now his station did advertise FOREIGN REPAIRS but it’s not the FOREIGN we’re used to, I’m really not to sure what they meant because we all agreed we wouldn’t want to leave a member of the family there!  The Booster doesn’t work; they determine that it is something with the starter.  

We tell Pascal and Rick to go to the show and we will try to be there soon.  After a quick call to Marco Piehl, he recommends letting the car cool down.  I’m just about to whip out the Jaguar standard equipment package (cell phone and AAA card) when Jack asks the attendant if he can give us a jump with the battery cart, the attendant grudgingly obliges muttering under his breath that the Booster Pack should have worked, Jack hooks Janey up, turns the key and VOILA – she starts!  We say thank you to the attendant, pay his bill and quickly pull out and head for the show.     That was much too close of a “Close Encounters of the Third Tow Truck Kind” for me.

We drive the short distance to the show and are quickly directed to our spot by the wonderful Thomas Lanahan, who should receive a huge round of applause from us all and many pats on the back for putting together such a spectacular show.  I certainly look forward to future events that Thomas is working on and I just know that each one will surprise us and surpass the previous one.

The Jaguars were all on one side of gorgeous Plaza Del Mar, nestled within different nooks and crannies and the Corvettes were on the other side.  Thomas and I both agreed that we had the much better side!  We begin a very fast and furious clean up because we had lost almost 1 hours’ time when suddenly it begins to get VERY dark and VERY windy.  Now right before we had left the house, I made Jack stop and I ran back to get two windbreakers, just in case.  Windbreakers are pulled out, zipped up, buttoned down and it’s still damp and cool!  We were parked next to Jack and Kaye Kaeslin with 2 of their magnificent cars (Kaye’s 1953 SS was an award winner that day, CONGRATS KAYE!) and we became VERY CLOSE during the course of the show, and not just because we’re friends but because we were all huddling together for warmth.  The weather continued in this pattern for most of the day but that didn’t put a damper on us or the show.  The cars never looked better and our spirits were never higher – but I wonder if that is because of the spirits we were drinking?!?!?  We all loved the freebie $20 coupons for lunch and I was informed by Chris Canning, who was trying to recover from a miserable bout with the flu, that the Sea Food place had a very nice Sauvignon Blanc; in fact they had several nice ones!  Way to drown those germs, Chris!!

Bob Scibelli drove his lovely Silver Beemer. He told us a great story at lunch about taking the Sleek 745 in for service and having it take the BMW folks 6 hours to reboot the 65 computers in the car. The next time El Presidente brings a Deutsche car to an event…a few of us plan to bolt a silver leaper onto his bonnet when he is not looking. And..thanks Bob for recruiting that Supermodel as the newest member of SFJC..always a tough job but someone has to do it.   

One of our members overheard a number of funny conversations during the day – someone actually asked if Rick Hartwell’s car was used by the British Army as an early Hum Vee and Roger Seitz commented on the white carpet underneath the ’59 Vette “You would NEVER see an owner put a white carpet under a vintage Jaguar!!!”  Thank you Syd Silverman for spotting the midnight blue 68 E type series 1 ½ -- the owner was rapidly recruited by Howard and others.   

Speaking of leapers, we all do agree though that watching Howard leap at anyone who even possible smelled or looked as if they were a Jaguar owner to become a member was an absolute hoot!!  Definitely the right man for the job!! Way to go Howard!!!!!!!

Rain or shine, there is nothing more fun than being with good friends, laughing at British car stories and just being around such magnificent automobiles.  The plaza’s marketing director had passed out large bags for us to put under our cars, now why would she do that, do you think she knows something that we don’t!!!  Good idea though, she must have owned a British car at one time because when we left, now I can’t speak for the rest of the gang, but Janey had definitely marked her spot.  It was also great seeing Richard and Hilary Irving there, thanks for coming out and shivering with us.  It’s always good to see Richard, even if you did not bring your Shaguar!

People watching was at a premium too, from the sublime to the jaw dropping “you’ve got to be kidding”.  The cars that were pulling in and out of the parking lot created a car show in itself, Ferrari’s, Porsches, Rolls, Bentleys, just sitting and watching what went by was well worth it!  We were also approached by a “representative” of the Barrett/Jackson auction who wants to try and get as many as he can possibly contact South Florida Car Clubs together for a big show in March during their auction.  Who knows, might make for an interesting venue.  We’ll have to see if they contact us again.

Ray Dranoff’s was beautifully prepared..as always… To all you Vette folks…want to see a real gentleman’s touring car….take a look at Ray’s sexy red E Type open two seater.   

Of course, who can forget that when you get so many Jag owners together, it’s the best tech session in the world?  Janey’s malady was discussed and resolved and we were able to drive home under our own power (much to the Lady’s chagrin I believe!)  Some of us think Janey really like those cute mechanics especially when they are standing idle, let’s stop!!”

Until yet another adventure, Purrs – Cyndi V.

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