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Glorious weather shone upon the 80+ attendees of this
year’s QVR, as they started to trickle into the Esplanade as early as Monday
to enjoy a beautiful, relaxing week at the beach. The QVR started off
Thursday night with our drive to the Lobster House in Cape May for dinner,
then socializing at the Esplanade until bedtime.
Friday night after dinner, our DJ’s Marc Berman and Mike Pine showed up to
entertain us for the evening. To the tune of “Tiny Bubbles,” three very sexy
Hula Girls (Wolfgang, Dick and Tom) appeared from the second floor to pass
out leis and grass skirts to everyone, (even the children had tiny grass
skirts to wear). What a sight…… Our Polynesian bartenders were very busy
serving Bahama Mama’s and Pina Colada’s, as everyone danced and partied the
night away. After the music stopped, we graduated to “froth blowing”
contests in the garage. When Saturday morning arrived, it looked like a
hurricane went through the Esplanade – grass from our hula skirts was
everywhere.
Rich and Margaret outdid themselves again this year with the QVR Rallye. The
results of the rallye are as follows: 1st place to Justin & Christy Nolan,
2nd place to Ben & Cyndi Nolan, 3rd place to Rick Ruth & Stacy Dougherty and
honorable mention to Sandy & Jaimee. Longest piece of driftwood prize went
to Dick and Tom (they showed up with an 8-foot long railroad tie on Dick’s
TD! And last but not least, the “great effort” award went to Liz and Lee
Niner. Thanks Rich & Margaret, it was very creative and loads of fun for all
who participated.
(Written by Cyndi Nolan) - Competition was fierce at this year’s Valve Cover
Race. Twelve contenders had their eyes on first place, but the real battle
was between four worthy racers. Reigning champion, Marianne McGarrity, was
challenged by former winners Barre Williams’ ‘Champagne Lady,’ Carl Finne’s
‘Viking,’ and, on the domestic front, by Jim Finne. When the last heat was
run, it was Diva Marianne’s ‘Eliminator’ that took home the top prize,
followed by Williams and Finne (Jim). On the Junior Competition, Danny Kain,
Victoria Tiley and Brian Williams drove their racers to victory!
After valve cover racing we headed into the garden for our funkana.
Unfortunately, I threw away the results (sorry). Hope everyone who
participated enjoyed themselves and keep those pictures, never know when
you’ll need them!
At 6:30, J. B. Barbecue showed up with our pig roast. Everyone looks forward
to this food every year – it’s so delicious. After filling our bellies, some
DVC’ers congregated to the sidewalk to watch (or was that “YEH” and “BOO”)
all the cars (dogs, pedestrians, etc.) that were diverted past the Esplanade
Motel.
At the awards ceremony Saturday night, Barre & Eleanor Williams presented
beautiful engraved clocks to Niners, Suffredini’s and Rippert’s for
meritorious support of the DVC and to Wolfgang & Gudie Fischer for hosting
the QVR for the past 9 years. They also presented an engraved pewter mug to
Earl Wanklin as a long-standing member of the DVC. Then Wolfgang & Gudie
announced that this was the “last QVR”, they plan to retire this year and
hopefully sell the Esplanade. The DVC presented a very “heavy” chiminea to
Wolfgang & Gudie in appreciation for hosting the QVR at their motel. The
“Queen Victoria Cups” were then retired to Liz and Lee Niner for planning
and organizing the QVR weekend from 1983 to 2000. Thank you Liz and Lee, the
QVR evolved into the biggest and best DVC event because of you. You were a
tough act to follow.
The QVR had a wonderful run of 21-years, and now we feel it’s time to move
on to something else – maybe 3-4 day fall tours – there’s a lot to see and
do within a few hours driving distance of our homes. I just received an
e-mail this morning and I’m going to quote from it: “Don’t cry because it’s
over, smile because it happened.”
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