Frank Ochal Blog

I had a nice time with family on Christmas. I even went to midnight mass! Here are some photos.

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Photos from dinner at Michael Jordan’s Steak House on Michigan Avenue in Chicago and of the Marilyn Monroe statue located about a block away.

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I had a great time at the Bears game today watching the Bears beat the Carolina Panthers.

Bears V Carolina Video

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I visited Detroit & Canada over the Labor Day weekend.  I went to a White Sox game in Detroit and visited the Motown Museum.  I had a great time despite the outcome of the games.

I have been going to Detroit for nearly 30 years and the downtown area looks better than ever do in no small part to the Tigers at Comerica Park and the Lions at Ford Field, both in downtown Detroit.

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The 34th Annual AMGBA Meet 2011 was held in Dayton, Ohio on August 6, 2011. It was in conjunction with the Dayton British Car Day 2011. More than 300 cars were on display.  Thanks to Skip Peterson, the show’s coordinator for a great event!

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Just got back from Florida where I had a great time in the warm weather.  Went to the beach several times and the Miami zoo.  I also had a chance to visit with long time friend John Hennigan who now lives in Dania Beach and is a realtor.   I made appointments to look at several single family homes in the area including Dania Beach, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale.  Many of the homes looked great but I am not quite ready to have a second home in Florida but would like to someday soon.

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I had a good time at the 2011 Chicago auto show with Bruce Magers of the American MGB Association.  The show seemed bigger and better than ever.  See the photos that just a small part of the cars featured.

This has become an annual event in which we also celebrate his birthday.  His birthday dinner was at The Girl and Goat. Very unusual menu but the food was great!

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Great win by the Chicago Bears today to run their record to 8 wins and 3 losses. They are in first place as the Packers lost. Also remember they were the underdogs in this game.

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Spent the 4th of July holiday at Horner Park.   There was plenty of food and I took my dog Chuck and he enjoyed it.  I had to leave before the fireworks started as he gets scared.

A great time was had by all and happy birthday to the USA!

Frank

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The American MGB Association held it’s 32nd annual meet on June 20th at Sussex, a northwest suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The show was at Sussex Village Park. The cars were stage in a bowl-like setting which made it easier to view all of the entries. The event was held in conjunction with the annual British Car Field Day which has been in existence for many years. The gathering is also a benefit for the Children’s Hospital of Milwaukee and the Boy Scouts of America.

The AMGBA Officers met in Milwaukee the day before the event.  Bruce Magers and I drove up on Saturday afternoon to meet Margie Springer and her daughter, Joanna Garvey.  We had a great time seeing some to the sites of Milwaukee including the Art Museum, the rivers walk where there was a statue of Fonzie from the Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley TV shows that were set in Milwaukee and a great dinner near at Smyths near the Harley Davidson Museum.

The one day show on Fathers Day drew approximately 250 cars representing numerous British marques. MG’s dominated the field with a strong showing of Triumphs and Austin Healys as well as smaller groups of Jaguars,Land Rovers and Sunbeams.

The show featured a low-key popular vote which worked well and everyone seemed to enjoy. The best of show went to a pre-war 1932 J2 MG Midget owned by John Morris which was restored to its original beauty. All of the winners drove up to the reviewing stand to receive their awards from the shows sponsors. Margie Springer handed out the AMGBA awards.

The local boy Scouts provided food and drinks for the hungry crowd estimated at 400+.

The AMGBA officers were kept busy signing up new members and handling regalia sales at the official “tent ” headquarters.

The AMGBA wishes to thank John Stockinger and his staff for hosting this fine event. For information on next year’s event or on the American MGB Association, please contact the AMGBA, P. O. Box 11401, Chicago, IL 60611; phone: (773) 878-5055; email:  meet@mgclub.org ; website: www.mgclub.org .

Bruce Magers with Joanna Garvey	The 3 Officers with the statue of Fonzie along the Milwaukee River
Milwaukee Art Institute	Margie taking a photo at the Art Institute
1st place chrome bumper – ’67 of Wayne Everhard	3rd place rubber bumper B – ’75 of Ed & Julie Polonus being given award by AMGBA secretary, Margie Springer with AMGBA officers Frank Ochal and Bruce Magers on far left
Joanna Gafrvey, Bruce Magers, Margie Springer and Frank Ochal at Milwaukee Art Institute	AMGBA Tent at Meet 2010
1st place GT – ’68 of David Nordby	AMGBA Officers Frank Ochal, Margie Springer & Bruce Magers in Milwaukee (with Fonzie)

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