DINNER MEETING JAN 21 1998
 The NEW KIM TAR RESTAURANT

The Volvo-linos gathered for another trip on the Shanghai express, and the stop on Jan 21 was the "New Kim Tar" restaurant. There, with our modest VSA banner announcing VSA San Diego Chapter for all to see, we had dinner at the great table in a room especially assembled for our dinner get-together. The New Kim Tar is located on University and 46th and has a Thai/Chinese/French flair to it, the service was great and the food equally as good. We ordered in such a way that the food would be served continuously and placed on the large turnstiles to be rotated for all to help themselves. Two types of baked whole fish were served which were passed around and nibbled at for most of the dinner. Along with various seafood, chicken and meat entrees, rice and Thai noodles thrown in, we were off to the races to see who could spin those "lazy susans" the fastest. The majority of the menu appeared to be Thai and was light and spicy, but it contained a number of Chinese dishes also and gives the restaurant a versatile appeal and probably a larger draw of clientele. The strip of University where it is located is mostly oriental businesses and the areas around there are not the most desirable places to be at night, but parking was patrolled and well lit, even gated, and no one seemed worried in the least bit. My wife Desiree and I brought our five month old son Colin who was not at all settled well enough to enjoy eating out. But I think he wanted to play on the "lazy susan".

Will the following people please stand up and give yourselves a pat on the back for showing up, and for those who picked up some of the club goodies, Congratulations! It's always fun to win a little something, isn't it.! Goran Freske, who also brought a friend, Vince Noto, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Jankowski, Ed and Betty Huston who drove from Vista to join us, our take charge kinda guy and leader of the pack Russ Orrell, Randy Slum, Richard Pat tee and his friend Darcy. I hope I didn't leave anyone out. The New Kim Tar had all the right ingredients for a great place to meet and have a club dinner night out together. Maybe we can try for it again in the future and fill that room to capacity. In the meantime and keeping with the oriental theme, if there is a member who would like to step up and let the club know about one of their favorite restaurants, bring your ideas to the meeting. Until the next time, we look forward to getting those Volvos rolling again on the Shanghai express to new and exotic places.

For those of you who may be counting on club T shirts, the last one was given away at the dinner meeting. These shirts were made up especially for the last time the VSA West Coast meet was held here in San Diego in 1994. Now we anxiously look forward to what the club is preparing for the next round of brandie new T shirts, club ID cards and windshield cards.