Hi Mopar lovers,

It seems of late that every time I have to do my report I am always running late and have to do it in a hurry. Time! There never seems to be enough of it either at work at the workshop, or at home. One always seems to be running out of time. That is one of the reasons that I am not going to stand for another year as your President. Sometimes you run out of time and need to do other things that are, at the time, more important.

As most members are aware I am now at our workshop/parts outlet on a full time basis. The decision had to be made that, if we were to succeed, more hands on deck were required. I am really enjoying not having to “bundy-on” and do not miss for one minute the regimental environment of working in a factory. The hands-on restoration work is very much more enjoyable and to know that you are doing fellow enthusiasts a service is much more rewarding. Then there is the Saturday arvo BBQ’s with quite a lot of club members actually turning up for a feed and general jawbone about all things Mopar. So the offer is there: - feel free to drop in any Saturday arvo about 1pm and stay for a chat.

The things I remember about being your President for ten years are the members and their input to the club. Many have now moved on and those that I will always count as friends include Frank Steadman (deceased), Brad Coleman (deceased), Luke Eaton, Gary Bannick, Michael Mohr, and of course each and every current member of CAVOA. However I would especially like to mention Michael Casasanta who has been beside me in this job for well over ten years. No President of any club can succeed without a great Committee and we certainly now have what I consider to be the best. Without John, Graham, Michael and all the other committee members this job would have been very much harder.

What I can say is that your new President, whoever it may be, will have all of my support and help wherever needed and I am sure the support of the serving Committee. The job itself is more as a leader, and Mopar knowledge is not the most important requirement. Just a sensible attitude to the future of CAVOA.

On another note entries are now open for the next Summernats. There has been a lot of talk about hitting the Nats in force. That is all well and good but, if we are to do so, then you MUST enter your car NOW. There is no way we can arrange camping for a group unless we have actual entrant numbers. I have posted my entry away and urge anyone who wants to attend to do so NOW.

Well that’s all for now. Take care and cya soon.

Yours in Mopar,

Ray