Members Helping Members

We have been members of the Fox Cities British Car Club (www.foxbrits.com) ever since we bought our first British car in 2002. We had always wanted an MG TD and always felt that owning one was out of reach. But after the events of 9/11/2001, we decided life was short and we were going to get an MG TD. We wound up with a lower end car that needed work.

Amazingly, the first week we had the car we heard about a group that was touring Waupaca, Wis. (15 miles from Iola) in British cars. It turned out to be the members of the Fox Cities British Car Club and we tracked them down and joined the club.

A few years later, the FCBCC latched onto its own clubhouse in an ex-motorcycle dealership on Sandpit Road in Oshkosh, Wis. Unfortunately, we have to drive an hour or so to the clubhouse, so we have not taken advantage of some of the club’s major benefits. One is a car storage option through which members store their cars in a museum-like setting at the clubhouse.

The other nice option involves use of the two fully equipped and tricked out garages inside the clubhouse. You see, the club’s motto is “Members Helping Members” and that is what goes on in Oshkosh. It’s no wonder that about 90 percent of the cars kept in the building look like show winners.

Each year the FCBCC has a Spring Party in April. That event took place this past weekend. There was a great lunch served and then they had two tech sessions, one about powder coating and one about soda blasting.

While some members listened to the informative speakers, about a dozen hands-on British car fans rolled up their sleeves and got to work on a couple of cars. One project involved an MGB getting a new manifold and carburetors. Another involved checking out an MGB that was for sale. A newbie member got some help tracking down a few little problems with his Austin Mini. Another group was working on an engine rebuild.

The clubhouse has two vehicle lifts, multiple workstations, tools, heavy-duty equipment and troubleshooting aids. Just about everything a car needs, other than serious bodywork, can be accomplished by club members helping each other in the shop. After a few hours at FCBCC, we wanted to go home and work on our own cars.