Date:  July 30, 2005

Location:  West Chester, PA

Host:  O'Brien

Dick & Sandy Suffredini Take Home Cup!!

The day was filled with great expectations as rolled into the Gateway Shopping center under a beautiful sunny sky accompanied with very pleasant temperatures in the low eighties. Each year it’s always a question of weather, routes, driver/navigator communication and of course good old lady luck that dictates how the rallye will turn out. Our annual Hornsby Rallye has evolved over the years to become one of the première driving events in our area under the ever so skillful tutelage of Jim O’Brien, our Rallyemaster extordinaire”.

The route through Chester County was both a driving challenge and wonderfully scenic. There were the usual tricky questions (Liz & I, AKA “The Bickerson’s”, always seem to miss these!) and quirky directions (we only got lost once!). The covered bridges were really worth stopping for and taking a picture of your MG beside them but since the rallye was a TSD (time, speed & distance) event, no time could be wasted taking pictures. There were also several late nineteenth century steel spans that were noteworthy in there design and beauty. Our rallye route took us through pasture land, past small villages, by several cattle & horse farms, through Valley Forge Park and past the ever encroaching new Mac-mansions in Chester County. Lots of waves and “thumbs up” from passing motorists and bikers as rallye participants read and executed directions and tried to answer questions all the while obeying speed limits and traffic signs.

We arrived at the O’Brien’s house about two hours latter, convinced that we had a shot at winning some pewter. Lots of Bass ale and munchies helped to relieve us of our post rallye “nerves” as we changed into our swimming suits. After a wonderful dinner, the winners were announced. Dick & Sandy Suffredini (TD) won the coveted Hornsby Cup which is awarded to the highest placing T Series car. First place went to Mike & Joellyn Williams and son Brian (in a Subaru?). Second place went to our Hornsby Cup winners (Dick & Sandy). Third place went to Bob & Joanne Tiley Jr. and their 3 daughters (in a minivan?). The unofficial distance award went to Steve & Betsy Novelli (Super Performance SI) who somehow wound up in Bucks County, only about twenty-five miles off course. Thank goodness for cell phones. Jim even mentioned that this was the closest rallye in terms of competitors’ times since the inception of the Hornsby Rallye. Are we getting better or is it a case of “practice, practice, practice”. Wonderful scenery and wonderful roads made this year’s rallye a real challenge to both driver and navigator.

Other DVC’ers attending were Donna Bristol & Walt King (TD), Wolfgang & Gudi Fischer (TD), Chuck & Judy Goelz (MGA), Lyn & Bobbi Hughes (MGB – just recently acquired!), Joe & Sharon Lamando (MGB), Liz & Lee Niner (TD), Lew Phillips and daughter, Kris, Karen Price and son Andrew, Louise Story, Tom & Jaimee Rippert, Bob & Joanne Tiley Jr and their three daughters.

The pool water was as always refreshing and the second and third generation DVC’ers really seemed to enjoy it. Our ride home was a leisurely adventure under a twilight sky. The thought that this was our twenty-fourth Hornsby Rallye gave us reason to talk of past rallyes and all the great times that we’ve had throughout the years. Thanks to Marie O’Brien for opening up her wonderful home, pool and yard to us and thanks to Jim O’Brien for planning and running a great rallye. Knowing Jim, next year’s Hornsby Rallye will take us to some other picturesque places and be just as challenging.