COASTAL CRUISER MEETING OCTOBER 12, 2006
OVER A DOZEN MEMBERS met for dinner at 6:00 pm at the historic Golden Spike Pub on St. John’s Street in Port Moody. The original pub site dates back to the 1880’s when the first terminal for the new CPR railway was Port Moody. There are large booths to accommodate lots of members and the food was as satisfactory as pub food can be. The location is only a half a block walking distance from Steve’s new shop.
The meeting got underway about 7:30 with 21 members present:
Greg H, Jim & Lindsay C, Steve T, Martin S, Dan M, Jeff S, Mike McT, Drew E, Paul K, Rod McD, Barry P, Gary T, Kim R, Phil S, Marcin C, Mat R, Rob M, Rob C, Garr C, Wayne I, & Bill W.
-THE NEW SHOP at 81 Moray St, Port Moody, is spacious (so far) and in a good location close to Open Road Toyota just a block away. Steve gets spin-off business from Open Road because they don’t like working on old rusty Cruisers. A lot of Steve’s racks and parts will take up a good portion of the shop/warehouse, and when two or three cruisers are in there, it will be full. Down the road, Steve may outgrow this location if business expands like he expects it to. He is getting some lines of steel replacement parts, as well as suspension items, etc., and eventually he may need more storage space. He claims that he won’t work out of his house any more, but that remains to be seen.
-THE MOUNT CHEAM TRIP of October 1 was a great success and everyone agreed it was one of the best turnouts in years. Nineteen vehicles in all, and enough challenge from Widowmaker Hill and the gravel pits to satisfy even the hard core wheelers. Lots of pictures from Mud and hopefully something to be published from the FJ Cruiser Toyota Demonstration Team.
-FUTURE upcoming runs will be:
Camp X, Oct 20-22 in sechelt on the Sunshine Coast hosted by Hamburger.
Surf n Turf, Pismo Beach, Cal, Nov 3-5
Possible Eagle Ridge run over the next couple of months.
Clear Creek day run, hopefully in January.
Moab in April
Rubithon in June
Usual runs on long weekends in May, July, August & September.
We are looking for an exciting new destination in SW B.C. this year. If you have any suggestions, let Steve T know.
-CHRISTMAS PARTY, Saturday, December 9, at Elephant & Castle Pub, 3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond. We will put a Google Map on Mud as to how to get there both from Vancouver and from the Hwy 99 from Surrey. Details to be arranged but so far we decided it will be $15. each for paid up members and partners. We are spending $1500.00 on raffle prizes and we expect it will be similar to last year with the mezzanine games room upstairs and a choice of Roast Turkey, Yorkshire Beef, or B.C. Salmon, meal served at 7:00 pm. . Free parking and a bartender like Heidi last year. WE NEED A HEAD COUNT AS TO WHO IS COMING AND THE DEADLINE WILL BE BY THE NOVEMBER 9 MEETING. Members at this meeting so far have committed about 21, however we expect at least 40-50 and we need to know for sure. There’s a good chance Santa may drop by to hand out raffle prizes and get a few women to sit on his perverted lap!
-TREASURER’S REPORT – Rob M reported that our treasury is in good shape this year with around $4000. and this allows us to both have a cushion against unexpected expenses and also to buy lots of raffle prizes and spend money on advertizing in local papers for Cruiser Days 2007.
-2007 CALENDARS will be finalized at the November 9 meeting and that will be the cut off day for numbers needed.
-TEE SHIRTS are available from Jim & Lindsay C.
-RAFFLE. Marcin C donated two steel towing slings; thanks Marcin!
Jim C won the portable grinder
Phil S won the steel slings
Rod McD won the air mattress
Rob M won the vise grip set
-TOYOTA TRAILS will print Bill’s article on VHF radio in the Nov/Dec edition.
Also, a great picture of Dan’s flaming baton trick at Churn Creek will grace the Table of Contents page on a future TT issue; not sure which one yet.
-THE MEETING ended around 9:45 and a stinky armada of rust bucket Cruisers staggered away into the blackness, while alongside, noisy CPR trains shook the foundations of Port Moody, grinding their steel wheels and heading East with their valuable cargos of sulphur, coal, lumber and B.C. Bud.
~Bill
