SUMMER IS FAST APPROACHING, with its vacation times and other diversions, but the SDVSA still seems to hold its own as far as General Meeting attendance is concerned. We had 14 attendees (22% of our membership) at the Wednesday, May 11 meeting. That includes three new members—Craig & Calvin Wessman and Bill Leake—bringing our total membership to 65. Bob Skoog’s 50/50 Raffle was won by Cal Terry, whom we haven’t seen in far too long. Needless to say, Cal was not present at the meeting, so his $27 winnings go back in the pot.

     In addition to his newsletter layout duties, this month Doug Gagliardi officially assumes the mantle of 1800 NEWS Editor, taking the reigns from “Editor Emeritus” Goran Freske. Goran extends his thanks to everyone in the club for their support, and to those who contributed items to the newsletter, making the job of editor much easier. “Special appreciation goes to Jeff Perry, who, for the majority of my nine years as Editor, has been invaluable in providing original articles, photographs, vintage ads, and other ‘fillers.’ My departing wish is that everyone keeps giving Doug the same, or even more, support—so we can keep 1800 NEWS one of the best small club newsletters I’ve ever seen!”

     The Annual SDVSA Menghini Picnic had a unique twist this year. Usually we have the winery grounds all to ourselves, but combining the picnic with the Second Annual Julian Classic Motoring Show meant we quite happily shared the clearing between the old apple trees with about a hundred show cars! The show featured a great selection: from Mike Menghini’s Model T, which his father bought brand new, to a 1992 Viper. The majority of cars were sports and racecars, so our two 1800Ss, one ES, and venerable P1900 fit right in. We had another four Ss and a 544 on the sidelines. Bud and Christine Hartwell were also there with their gorgeous 300SL Gullwing. It was a beautiful day with strains of soft live folk music wafting through the shade trees and themany canopies with picnic tables that Mike Menghini provided. Even though some of the cars were worth a small fortune, there was no “snootiness” from the owners, and the atmosphere was very congenial, as we have

come to expect at Mike and Toni's winery. The exotic catered food disappeared fast at $5 per plate. Proceeds from food sales, as well as those from entry fees, went to benefit the Julian fire fighters who did such a great job saving the historic town of Julian. Toni Menghini and her aid were busy pouring the three featured wines inside the quaint tasting room; very dry Chardonnay and Zinfandel, and their famous Julian Gold, which is a well balanced Muscat Cannelli. Whether combining our Annual Menghini Picnic with the Julian Classic Motoring Show was a successful experiment, and whether we should make it a permanent part of our events schedule, is up to the membership of the SDVSA. In term of attendance, we saw little change from the previous couple of years. We would love to hear more comments from those who attended, as well as from members who didn’t find the idea appealing.

     The next event on the SDVSA’s busy agenda is our annual participation in the “Back to the ’50s Car Show” in La Mesa. This show takes place every Thursday during the summer moths, right on La Mesa Blvd., the main drag through the business district of the City of La Mesa. Our club’s appearance will be on Thursday, July 14, the day after our regularly scheduled Wednesday General Meeting. For that reason, the Thursday get-together will be in lieu of the meeting. Bud Hartwell has again arranged for our accommodations in the parking lot of “All Things Bright and British,” at 8401 La Mesa Blvd. This is a place of business, so out of courtesy to the owner, we won’t occupy the parking lot before she closes her doors at 5:00 p.m. If you can, get there as early as possible (after 5:00), so we can show our cars in the daylight. There are plenty of eating establishments and food street vendors—and a bar just around the corner for a nice cold brew on a usually hot afternoon! The show features mostly restored and customized American iron, but we see more and more “funny little furrin’ cars” every year. Don’t miss it!

     And don’t forget, this year’s 14th Annual National City Automobile Heritage Day, being held on August 7, will feature Volvo as its premier mark! South County Volvo, owned by Wes Hinkle, is the featured dealer this year. Let’s have a good showing!