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Wings
and Wheels '99
Sanat Monica, California, USA.
Our
USA correspondent, Randolph Williams, reports on the recent
Wings and Wheels meet in Santa Monica, California.
The
second annual British Wings and Wheels meet at the Museum
of Flying in Santa Monica came off better than predicted by
former producer Rick Feibusch.
Overwhelmed
by the regulations imposed on Rick from the City of Santa Monica,
he felt that he could not deliver a show of the quality that
we all expect. Despite that, everything went well, as planned
with 4 1/2 Morris Minors in attendance. I brought my limo
and I count that as 1 1/2. All paid entrees were $10 (half price
of last year). Received a souvenir dash plaque, 10% discount
shopping voucher at Moss, raffle tickets and a ballot.
The cars
were lined up as they entered regardless of marque except for
the Rolls Royce's which were parked inside the museum.
Gary Wales' 1947 Franay Bodied Bentley was the centerpiece of
the Rolls Royce display one of two Rolls Royce's brought by
Gary which took first place and his other Rolls took second
place. Plus People's Choice and whatever other awards they were
giving (four in total) went to Gary. The Morgans took "other
open British car" category, first and second and believe it
or not, a Morris woody which I was unable to take a picture
of took "other closed British car" category.
Moss Motors
promised to give Morgan its own category next year. Maybe
in a few years they will give Morris a category. The Morris
woody that did win had a beautiful metallic cherry red paint
job with knock off Kraeger/Vega wheels and tires. The
wood was all hand made although they replaced the side windows
with one solid piece of glass. (No one noticed). Mostly the
cars were of high bred quality because they were all Moss motors
customers moreorless.
The most
exciting part of the meet was the 15 minute flight in a bi-wing
camel that my 7 year old son Austin got to take for $50 even
though I was cursed out by a woman for being an irresponsible
parent letting a 7 year old go up in an airplane. The
pilot promised me that Austin would not fly the plane and I
was satisfied.
There was
exactly 150 cars in attendance. The cheeseburgers and hot-dogs
were good and the day was warm and sunny. What more could
you want as everyone sat around the banquet tables on the tarmac
wondering how much their neighbor had spent restoring the car
next to yours. Great fun for all in a snooty kind of way. I
guess I just love Morris Minors more.
Randolph
Williams.
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