Thanks to Jeff Perry, there was no disruption in delivery of 1800 NEWS in April. Our “temporary” editor was called away on a business trip at the last moment, and handed the newsletter over to the very capable hands of Jeff. In the process of transferring computer files, we found out a few things that we think will benefit the club financially! However, to realize this cost saving, all materials to be published have to be submitted to the editor on the Friday before the meeting date (second Wednesday of the month), at the latest.

   You may recall from February’s newsletter, that the Auto Museum put out a call to the local car clubs to select some of their cars for display at the museum. Well, the SDVSA has reserved the month of October 2001, to display some of our Volvos on the main floor of the museum. Bud Hartwell has volunteered his pristine ’72 1800ES, and Alan Miller’s ’64 544 is another candidate. Anyone else?  Contact any of the characters in the box on page 3 if you can spare your car for a couple of weeks in October.     

   Mike Ruksenas would have walked off with the $36 jackpot in Bob Skoog’s 50/50 raffle, had he been at the meeting. We are starting to talk about some serious mola for some lucky member whose name is picked as a winner at one of the general meetings!

   We had 14 members attend the General Meeting on April 11. Rick Brulė volunteered to take over from Lara Mia Phillips regarding the duties of the SDVSA representative to the Auto Museum Car Club Council.   

  Another classic Volvo on TV! Sheri Lowe happened to tune in to CBS, Saturday evening at 9:00, and a new show, “Kate Brasher” was on. Lo and behold! The main character is driving a PV544 on a regular basis! Since the show deals with difficult social problems, don’t expect it to be on the air too long!

   A grand total of one 245, two 1800s, and two Toyotas turned up for our (North) East County Tour on Saturday, April 24^th. The weather was a little drizzly at our rendezvous in the morning, but with a promise of clearing in the afternoon. Our intrepid leader, Mark Jankowski, set out into the mist at a good clip from the Chevron station, with our other four cars in hot pursuit. As we approached the foothills of Mount Palomar, we could see the previous night’s powdery snow clinging to the mountainside. Stopping to stretch our legs at a post card spot with a view of Lake Henshaw, we had to scurry back to our cars when the drizzle turned into rain.   

By the time we were on the very scenic Mesa Grande Road, on our way to 79 and Santa Ysabel, it actually started snowing. It made the little hearts of our Volvos (and maybe the Toyotas) feel a twinge of homesickness for the Old Country. We had a superb lunch for very little money at the Apple Country Restaurant, located just east of Dudley’s bakery in Santa Ysabel. Although the rain had stopped by the time we finished our Mountain Berry and Rhubarb pies, the weather did not show any signs of improving, so we decided to call it a very successful tour, and everyone set out, finding their own way home, some via Dudley’s bakery. Thank you Mark and Diane for another revealing tour of the hidden scenic treasures of the still wild and untouched parts of north-east San Diego County.

The Car Club Council Auto Show on Cinco de Mayo (May 5^th, bad choice) in the Auto Museum parking lot was not as successful as last year.  With about 45 cars in attendance, it played second fiddle to last year’s event, which had a gathering of over 70 autos! Nevertheless, there was a nice selection of cars, representing about 20 of the 60 clubs, which make up the San Diego Auto Museum Car Club Council. Again this year, only one 1800S represented the SDVSA.  The 353,700 mile white Volvo raised a lot of interest and comments from passers by, even though it was parked between a freshly restored Triumph TR-3 and an MG with 18 miles since its ground up restoration. 

   Don’t forget the 11^th Annual Westside Volvo Classic Car Show in Culver City taking place on Saturday, May 12. This is one of the major Volvo events in Southern California. More information and an entry form were provided on page 4 of last month’s issue of 1800 NEWS.

   Our SDVSA event for May is the Fallbrook Autoshow on May 27. This is a first time for the SDVSA to attend an auto show en masse. In order to get to park together, we will meet before we enter the show grounds. For more information on times and the meeting place, see the next page. See you there.

  On June 23^rd, it’s time to return to Mike and Toni Menghini’s apple orchard in Julian for our 9^th Annual Menghini Wine Fest and Horseshoe Tournament. You certainly don’t want to miss this exciting SDVSA yearly event, so make you plans now!