SpringThing 2010

Bourbon Trail...Round two.

 

By Ben Moore (originally published in the Healey Hi-Lites Newsletter)

SpringThing 2010 started off with a bang, quite literally, for a pack of intrepid travelers from Louisville. Just as ominous gray clouds swept into Jefferson-town five Healeys and their support crew headed out for the trip to Lebanon. After about 10 minutes of driving rain, and my discovering the BN6 only leaks in the “usual” spots, the skies cleared and we had a lei-surely journey, led by the always capable and creative, John Rice.
Upon arriving in Lebanon our group jumped into action and began unloading mountains of food and drink provided by Hospitality Chairwoman, Bonnie Chreste. With a great team effort the suite was setup and ready to go in record time. Some of our guests had already arrived and we be-gan our hosting duties. It was then we learned of the terrible car accident involving our friends from the Ohio Valley Club, Tom and Nancy Hall. We learned that Nancy’s condition was not good and started checking on her status regularly. As the crowds shuffled in safely through the evening we became acutely aware of how lucky many of us have been through the many years and many more miles we travel.

That first evening, as Mike Schneider greeted registrants at the door, we officially opened the event with hot dogs and bratwurst on the roller and a few special presentations from yours truly. We awarded a special bottle of Maker’s Mark to the Southeast Michigan Club for the largest number of first-time participants. The Ohio Valley Club won select Kentucky wine for having the largest num-ber of members total. A new award, the Good Time Lei was awarded to Charlie Moshell, more on that later. We then took a moment to remember our friend from Texas, Don Lenschow. The long distance award was renamed in his memory and was fitting awarded to first-time attendees John and Tony Correa of Edge-comb, Maine. These gentlemen ventured to the Blue-grass in their beautiful 100M and the special plaque and a limited edition bottle of Maker’s Mark was their prize.
We then adjourned to the parking lot to take part in another one of Bob Thurman’s colorful creations. This year’s Funkhana was brief but challenging. Relying on the navigator, drivers had to complete simple driving tasks. The crowd of onlookers was entertained by the impending divorces and awkward screaming matches taking place. The Good Time Lei made a few rounds during this event!
The next morning we ventured to a working cooper-age in the heart of downtown Lebanon. Then it was off to tour on your own and explore Bluegrass country. We convened at Maker’s Mark that evening for an un-forgettable tour and tasting. Our Healeys encircled the main drive on the Maker’s campus as the smell of yeast wafted through the air. As a storm threatened and a bit of rolling thunder approached hoods were erected and sidecurtains placed to protect the cars and we all enjoyed a perfectly Kentucky evening. That evening Reid Trummel provided an amazing presentation on the Endurance and Streamliner cars and their recent record-breaking attempts. The inside audience was captivated. As the weather cleared the outside audience spilled into the parking lot until the wee-hours of the morning. Enjoying company and cars it was an old-fashioned laid back Bluegrass night.
On Saturday we packed our bags and said goodbye to Lebanon. On a twisty, curvy route laid out by John Rice, our guests ventured across the state to Berea. The route was old-school Bluegrass with plenty of ex-citing roads and, as one guest described it, “the most beautiful sports car roads in the world!” That about says it.
Thanks to the efforts of Bill and Joyce Wilding the historic Boone Tavern played host to our clan on Saturday night. After a beautiful meal in the dining room we ramped our festivities and presented some trophies. Once again, humor, laughter and friendship envel-oped the crowd and our record-breaking attendance seemed as intimate a gathering as I’ve seen. New friendships and old pals enjoyed a laugh or two and some wine and dessert. We then enjoyed some more laughs thanks to Bev Frazier’s effort to peddle tickets to everyone in the room! The beautiful popularity, rally and Funkhana trophies, designed by Cal and Ginny Carter were a huge it and handed out to the many winners.
As our festivities drew to a close a brief pitch was made for SpringThing 2011 and our audience was captivated; many asked if they could register that night! I think we’re onto something here. But, the evening held one more surprise for me. Jack Summers, Jim Werner and Bob Haskell wrestled me away from my hosting du-ties to have a down and dirty tech session on my BN6. After a few adjustments by the expert hands and ears under the bonnet the 6 ran better than ever.
It was a soggy ride home on Sunday for many of us but after the weekend we experienced it was a fitting end. With sadness from loss and the absence of friends, to side-splitting laughter the weekend ran the gamut of emotions but always with a running theme: family and fun.