First, let me add my congratulations to all the others that Tom Patton and Barry Schonberger are receiving for their superb performances at the run-offs at Mid-Ohio. Tom's first place finish and Barry's fifth place finish really let the world know that "Sunbeams Rule!!" (as the younger generation would say).

As you may notice from the list of Officers and Regional Representatives on the inside cover of this newsletter, TE/AE now has two new Regional Representatives: Eric Gibeaut for the Carolinas and Bob Wegner for New Jersey. This brings us back to eleven Reps as we have had for a while. Eric has been in Sunbeams and the Club for quite a while, has worked very actively in its support and is currently Regalia Chairperson. Bob has not been into the cars that long but has made up for it with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and time spent promoting the Marque. I thank them for their commitment to the Regional leadership of TE/AE and look forward to working together.

Let me slide in here with another plea for someone stepping up to be our next Editor. While they are big shoes to fill, we do have some training time to bring the next volunteer up to speed. So if you know of someone or are that someone that can take on this critical club responsibility, please contact John Webber or me.

Elections are coming up soon. Elsewhere in this issue you will find the slate of Officers as put forth by the Board. You will be asked so submit any other nominations so that we may prepare the ballots for the next edition of the Rootes Review.

Kicking off next month, I have introduced a new (what I hope will become a regular) column in the Rootes Review. It is entitled " I Thought It Was Only Me." As I have worked on my cars over the past 17 years, I have done a number of dumb things. Some by inexperience, some by bad judgment and some by forgetfulness. This new column is dedicated to these screw-ups. A place for us to air our automotive faux pas so that others may avoid them, realizing that if we could do them, then others probably will too! I will start out this month airing my dirty laundry but I don't want to be alone in this. Stand up and be counted!

Pat and I just got back from out longest trip ever in the Tiger. We went down to Pasadena, Maryland for the Chesapeake Region's Clam Feast on Sunday, September 12. From there, we headed down to Raleigh, North Carolina for a few days (where we sat out Hurricane Floyd) and then on to Dillard, Georgia for the 1999 S. O. S. event on the 17th - 19th of September. Both events were great and a credit to the hard work put into each one. A good time was had by all. 

2500 miles of driving with 2000 of it with the top down! Glorious! From interstate driving, to twisty mountain roads to 105 miles of 35 mph speeds on Skyline Drive in Virginia (extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway).

Chased down a few minor electrical gremlins and water leaks so the car is better than ever. But, my voluminous oil leak through the rear main seal reared its ugly head again. This is the forth seal and second oil soaked clutch in it so I have decided the engine is cursed (or maybe something is really wrong down there) so I am going to put in a built-up 347 stroker motor (while retaining my dual four barrel setup) and while I am at it, a T-5 five-speed. I have located the super rare tail shaft from an '82-83 AMC Concord or Spirit that makes the five-speed kit go together so I will be on my way! I have looked into stroker motors but no decision on which one yet. I hear that they are awesome ... like 370-380 hp with over 400 ft lbs. of torque. Some say you don't even need first or second gear any more ... hmmm, we will see.