News from the Palace – August 2025
Good evening everyone,
As a reminder, Norma Karle’s Celebration of Life will be held August 9th at 5:30pm.
Puritan Backroom Conference Center
245 Hooksett Road
Manchester, NH
All BCNH members are welcome.
It’s been one hot summer. The cooling systems in British cars are known for overheating, and some of that may be valid. The TR3B, the car I would have expected to be “most likely to overheat” in the motley crew here at Crackerbox Palace maintains just a tick over 185 degrees – even waiting at a long stop light – on a day that registers almost 100 on the thermometer. This doesn’t happen just because of fine British engineering; it has a fully cleaned block and head, new hoses, and radiator. The freedom you gain knowing that you can turn the key and go without fear in an old car is priceless. The TR6 is another bulletproof car, and the Spitfire does its job well, though only about 300 miles in three years isn’t much of a workout.
The key? Keep those major systems up to snuff and find yourself a good mechanic you trust if you can’t or don’t want to turn a wrench yourself. After 10+ years without an old Brit car, dirty fingernails, a spotted barn floor, and perusing parts catalogs is something I enjoy again but know my limitations, both physically and in ambition. Enjoy the hobby in the way that suits you.
Looking forward to August events, there will be another Cars and Coffee sponsored by British Car Repairs at 58 Church Street in Deerfield, NH, and the 6th Annual BCNH Northern Council Cookout hosted by Dave and Sally Swartz in New London. There are some new ones too, so check them out below. I can personally speak for the Telephone Museum; it was really interesting, and Deb and I spent over an hour there. It’s worth a visit.
As always, thanks for being part of British Cars of New Hampshire!
Mike
Crackerbox Palace
No Weare-In-Particular
BCNH Name Tags
If you’re a new member, or even an older one, be sure to get the fashion accessory that shows your incredibly good taste.
These are NO CHARGE for BCNH club members. Get yours now!
Contact John Giese at johgie@tds.net
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE THE NAME(S) TO BE PRINTED ON THE NAME TAG AND THE ADDRESS YOU WANT THEM MAILED TO.
AUGUST BCNH Events
Please check the online calendar at BCNH.org often for updates and other events that may be added. More information on the events listed here can be found at BCNH.org.
Newsletter
Consider submitting a story, photos, or things of interest to our newsletter, The Boot, Hood, and Bonnet. Please send your submissions to Dave Swartz at newsletterbcnh@gmail.com
Calendar
If you wish to add an event or see something that needs to be corrected, contact Calendar Coordinator Sue MacDuff at lucymac603@gmail.com
Council Meetings
Meetings start at 7pm unless otherwise noted; you are urged to arrive by 6pm to enjoy dinner and social time beforehand. Non-members are always welcome.
Please note any changes to your Council meetings below
AUGUST MEETINGS
SOUTHERN COUNCIL AUGUST 4
Southern Council Meeting @ 7pm. Dave Rogers drogers102@gmail.com
2175 Candia Road
Manchester, NH
NORTHERN COUNCIL AUGUST 21 – BCNH 6th Northern Council Annual Cookout
Where: Dave and Sally Swartz’s home at 13 Meadow Brook Rd in New London.
Date: Thursday, August 21st, rain date Friday, August 22nd.
When: Start time is 4:00pm – until they boot us out!
Dave and Sally will be grilling up hamburgers and hot dogs and we are asking for a few side dishes or a dessert item which would be greatly appreciated.
Please RSVP to Kellie at kabraconier5@gmail.com so we can get a headcount for food items. Also please let me know if you could bring a cold side dish or dessert item to share when you RSVP.
SEACOAST COUNCIL AUGUST 14
Seacoast Council Meeting @ 6pm Norm Michaels NHMichaels@aol.com
580 Portsmouth Traffic Circle
Portsmouth, NH
Arrive at 6pm for food and greetings, meeting starts at 7pm
MONADNOCK COUNCIL AUGUST 19
Monadnock Council Meeting @ 6pm. David Scott Scottdj1979@gmail.com
Meet upstairs at 6pm if you want to eat and socialize. The meeting will be downstairs at 7pm.
Non-members are welcome.
Dublin Road Taproom and Eatery
Shattuck Golf Course
53 Dublin Rd
Jaffrey NH.
SHOW OF DREAMS MEETING TBA
AUGUST EVENTS
AUGUST 8 (FRIDAY)
Drive to Gibson Pewter and Telephone Museum
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Depart Brady’s Plaza in Peterborough at 10 AM.
Approximately 35 minute drive to Gibson Pewter in Washington, NH. Up route 202 and onto NH 9 for 2 miles and then up NH 31 to his shop. He will give us a demo of how he turns pewter. He has many wonderful items for sale in his shop and utilizes so very old tools for making his products.
After Gibson Pewter we will continue North on 31 to NH 10. Drive Half a mile on NH 10 and turn onto Brook Rd that will take us to NH 103. Drive about a mile on 103 and just after the roundabout entrance to the Sunapee Ski Area the Salt Hill Pub Shanty will be on our left. We will stop for lunch. Note I will need a head count for a reservation so if you are thinking of attending, I will send a reminder asking on August 5th.
After lunch will proceed East on NH 103 to the Town of Warner where the Museum is located at the intersection of 103 and Depot St. The museum does have an admission of $7 for 65+ and $9 for Adults. You can either tour the museum or depart for home.
Note that the New Hampshire Crafts festival is going on at Sunapee this week, so if after lunch you don’t want to go to the telephone museum you can head up the mountain to the craft show.
I hope folks will find this an interesting drive and consider coming.
If you have any questions, please shoot me an email.
Safety Fast !
Dave
AUGUST 9 (SATURDAY)
Cars and Coffee, Deerfield NH
9:00 am – 11:00 am
A cars and coffee event at the home of Elliot More sponsored by British Car Repairs … come hang out and see Elliot’s car collection and chat about all things LBC..
Free coffee and donuts.. 9 till 11
Rain or shine event
58 Church Street
Deerfield, NH
For more information call: Steve Banner, British Car Repairs 858.231.0833
Norma Karle’s Celebration of Life
5:30 pm
Norma’s Celebration of Life will be held at the Puritan Backroom Conference Center, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, NH.
It will be informal and all BCNH members are invited to honor Norma. Bring your British car, we will try to have parking space for us.
AUGUST 17 (SUNDAY)
Monadnock Rotary Cruz-In
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Park your cars downtown Peterborough in Depot Square and go for breakfast. This event is popular with the Monadnock Council.
Scenic Monadnock Area Tour
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Leave Depot Square downtown Peterborough after the Cruz-In for a leisurely tour of Five Monadnock villages ending at Twin Elm Farm (Group Antique/Gift Shop) in Peterborough. For more information contact Sue MacDuff, Lucymac603@gmail.com
AUGUST 17 (THURSDAY)
BCNH 6TH Northern Council Annual Cookout
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Dave and Sally Swartz’s home at 13 Meadow Brook Rd in New London
Date: Thursday, August 21st, rain date Friday, August 22nd
When: Start time is 4:00pm – until they boot us out!
Dave and Sally will be grilling up hamburgers and hot dogs and we are asking for a few side dishes or a dessert item which would be greatly appreciated.
Please RSVP to Kellie at kabraconier5@gmail.com so we can get a headcount for food items. Also please let me know if you could bring a cold side dish or dessert item to share when you RSVP.