Iowa British Car Club

06/14/2026

EVENT DETAILS from organizer Tom O'Donnell:

I am organizing the IBCC State Fair Invasion on Saturday, August 22, 2026. We will be displaying our cars from 9-4 at the same location as we have for the last several years by Pioneer Hall. I spoke to Regina Pirtle yesterday, and we can have about 20-25 cars displayed.

Cars are supposed to be 1975 or older models. I will start my list of attendees now. Let me know if you are interested. Regina needs your name, phone number, and mailing address. I will collect all that info and pass it on to Regina. She mails out the car passes and one state fair ticket to attendees.

Regina is calling all those who attended last year. So, even if you spoke to Regina, please contact me as soon as possible if you plan to attend so I can lock in our spots.

Most of us meet at the Walgreens on University Ave and E30th by the fairgrounds. Then, we leave at 8 AM and drive into the fairgrounds thru the campgrounds off of Dean Ave.

Tom O'Donnell

04/23/2026

Dear IBCC Members,

Here is the schedule of events for our drive to Grinnell, car show, and lunch on Saturday, May 9, a joint effort coordinated with the Iowa City British Car Club. There are a lot of moving parts here, so we really need your help in coordinating. Please RSVP if you plan to join us. Include how many in your party (remember, your response in Wild Apricot requires that you add just 1 guest if you are a couple).

Registration, Lunch Order & Event Details

When you register for the event, please let us know what you would like to order for lunch. Pagliai's Pizza needs an accurate headcount and advance orders so they can serve our group efficiently.

View the Pagliai's menu here: https://www.pagliaisgrinnellia.com/menu

Deadline: Registrations and lunch selections must be submitted on the registration form no later than May 1.

Drive & Parking Plan

We will meet for the drive to Grinnell at 9:15 at the Maverik Store - 5970 Morning Star Ct., Pleasant Hill. Just off East University/Hwy 163. Driving directions to the Grinnell High School have yet to be finalized, additional directions will be forthcoming, and handouts will be available prior to departing.

At the Grinnell High School, we will stage in the east parking lot where parking will be coordinated by Rich Clarke and Randy Cumpton. A student service group will monitor the parking lot while we are away, and the Grinnell Police Department have offered periodic patrols.

Lunch Transportation

We will be bussed downtown to Pagliai's Pizza for lunch and then returned to the high school afterward.

Additional Reminders

Please wear your club's name badge and feel free to display your car show placard, if you have one

Return Trip

Depart around 2:00-2:30 to head for home on your own.
Regards,

Russ & Robin

03/23/2026

APRIL DRIVING EVENT
When: Saturday, April 18, 2026 12:00 PM, CDT
Where: Tank Display on Beaver Drive, North Side of Camp Dodge

Will you be attending?

EVENT DETAILS:

Master Planner Chuck McGuire has created a driving event exploring NE Polk County. We will meet at the tank display at Camp Dodge and end up at The Over-the-Top Ice Cream Shop in Pleasant Hill. We will provide them with a head count. The drive part will take about 2 hours.

Best regards,
Iowa British Car Club

02/27/2026

Has anyone seen this interview with Denise McGuire? Chuck McGuire has worldwide influence, even on the opposite side of the planet in Australia...

Check out the vid here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m9VlfZo4C6Q&fbclid=IwVERDUAQOzblleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR5ixX5p7rFvqi7rxuzkqw98bIEFDwwM6Qw8b-9fmvKKmua4tZzxOF2pdmRkwA_aem_-3dJM28k64SxwomRkg6nww

In this episode of Love Where You Live, we meet Denise McGuire. Denise has a wonderful yellow 1959 Triumph TR3a built be her father in Iowa, USA. It is still...

02/25/2026

Dear Members,

Another fine turnout—68—at our 2/15 natter. Here are items covered:

- Welcome to new members. Thanks for joining our quirky little club!
- Collection of dues (please pay your 2026 dues of $30 at the next natter, if not already submitted, or send a check to Connie Smallridge).
- We honored longtime member Marj Bees who passed away on Feb. 13. The IBCC ha made a donation in Marj’s memory.
- Don Jennings presented some additional training for our new website/email system: WildApricot. We can’t thank Don and Kathy enough for updating our tech needs. Hope you’re becoming more comfortable with the new format.
- Driving events for 2026

APRIL—OPEN

MAY 9—Joint venture with the Iowa City British Car Club to Grinnell for a car show and lunch at Pagliai’s (pizza & pasta). Iowa City member Hank Wood will coordinate details with the Iowa City group; Robin and I will coordinate details on this end. Stay tuned for further details.

JUNE 13—Rich Clarke is organizing a Poker Run driving event in Warren County. More details to come.

JULY—OPEN

AUGUST—British car display at the Iowa State Fair 8/22, organized by Tom O’Donnell. Also, Chris Gourley is contemplating an Aug. event at Howell’s Tree Farm near Cu***ng.

SEPTEMBER—IBCC presence at the Des Moines Concours d’Elegance on 9/13. Larry and Betty Martindale have proposed a car show event at their church in Johnston for Sept. More details to follow.

OCTOBER 3—Annual drive, potluck, and bonfire at the home of Sue and Ken Wiley.

This is a great start! Let’s see if we can fill those other vacancies. The old timers are always available to help our new members get their feet wet and plan an event. We all benefit from the energy and enthusiasm of the event planners, so let’s keep the ball rolling.

-CHUCK’S GARAGE—Member Chuck McGuire checked in to solicit information regarding our wintertime repair/restoration projects as we ready ourselves for the soon-to-be-here driving season.

On a sad note, longtime IBCC member and mechanic extraordinaire Davey Walker passed from this world. We all benefited from Dave’s charming British accent, gregarious nature, and mechanical acumen. The IBCC will, of course, contribute to a memorial of Dave’s family’s choosing. The family is planning services for warmer weather. Thanks, Shawn Frank, for keeping the club updated on news of our friend Dave.

Our final Natter before the 2026 driving season is Sunday, March 8 at 5:00 at The Machine Shed. Please join us, if you can, brimming with ideas for possible driving events. I will call the restaurant with a head count on Thursday, March 5 at 2:00, so please RSVP prior to that time if you plan to attend.

Regards,
Russ Vanderhoef

02/20/2026

https://www.thecremationsocietyofiowa.com/post/david-stott-walker?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQF1HxjbGNrBAXUcmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHp3yT-zHFDfdgHCON_nO5-ruuZLNHFNWMOo2MQYunsMIFmJIknfaLRYRdILX_aem_9mgJ_F03vm8gyesBJtELRw

David Stott Walker, 84, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Home in Indianola.David was born on February 24, 1941, in Manchester, England, to David and Alice Walker. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, LaDonna, and his daughter, Lynette.He leaves behind a lov...

01/28/2026

Please plan to attend our upcoming gathering: Sunday, February 15th, at 5:00 PM at The Machine Shed. We’ll go over a few announcements, share news, and discuss plans for the upcoming season. Garage updates from members will also be on the agenda. Please RSVP by noon on Thursday, February 12th, so we can call the restaurant with a head count that afternoon. Bring your ideas for driving activities or events for the year—whether simple or elaborate, they’ll be warmly welcomed by our fun group.

Best regards,
Iowa British Car Club

01/15/2026

Free to good home.

Rolling chassis
1950 Jaguar MkV
2.8 L
Dash with gauges etc., and seats included

I attempted BaT but they weren't interested
Didn't know there was an Iowa group of British auto enthusiasts.
Thought I would see what you suggested and go from there. If there is someone local that wants it they can come pick it up. If not I will try hemmings before a salvage yard.

Oh, I did replace the steering wheel and shaft since these photos.

Thanks, Brad

Please message this IBCC FB page for contact info.

01/03/2026

A note from the Prez:
Upcoming Natters & Noggins

Dear Members,

Hope 2026 is starting off on the right foot, the one we use to accelerate our LBCs. The 2026 Natter season is upon us, with our first gathering of the new year on Sunday, January 11, 5:00 at The Machine Shed in Urbandale. Here are some of the topics of interest we will be discussing:

-Collecting of dues ($30) for 2026. Just telling ya, Connie will look favorably on you if you bring exact change or a check for $30 made out to the Iowa British Car Club.

-Sharing of ideas for possible driving events for the coming year—one already in the works!

-An exciting announcement about a major change in our club (no, I’m not resigning—sorry)

Let me know if I’ve left anything out or if you have something to present. Please RSVP to this email if you can join us. As always, I look forward to seeing you if you are able to join us.

Regards,
Russ Vanderhoef

11/18/2025

A note from the Prez:

Dear Members,

What a great turnout for our final natter of 2025 (51). Here are items that were presented/discussed:

Welcome
Recognition of military veterans in our group, prior to Veterans Day
Mention of the passing of Hank Wood’s wife, Pat. The IBCC sent a memorial contribution to Hank in Pat’s honor.
Treasurer’s Report: Connie Smallridge
Recognition of members who planned driving events for the 2025 driving season:
April/May—Russ and Robin Vanderhoef: Ewing Park lilacs, poetry, and a country drive to Pleasantville for dinner at The Checkerboard
June—Dennis Costello: driving tour of northeast Polk County CANCELLED due to heat and humidity
July—Adam Jerdee: Outlaw Drive—sites of several bank robberies, Jesse James train robbery, Bonnie and Clyde shootout, and Templeton, home of bootlegged rye whiskey during Prohibition
July—Randy and Deb Anderson, hosted by Albert Marasco at his manufacturing facility—a Mission Impossible-themed Funkhana designed by Andersons and ice cream bar courtesy of Albert
August—Dennis Costello: 2nd attempt at driving tour of northeast Polk County CANCELLED! due to severe storm warnings that never materialized
August—Tom O'Donnell: organized the annual British Car Show at The Iowa State Fair - 17 cars
September—IBCC display at The Concours d’Elegance
September—Lee and Cathy Webb, Chris and Kathy Gourley: Run to the (Missouri) River—our planners will provide more details during a presentation at the Jan. natter.
September—Dennis Costello: driving tour of northeast Polk County ACCOMPLISHED! 👏
October—Ken and Sue Wiley: annual drive (planned by Don Jennings), potluck dinner, and bonfire
Chuck’s Garage—Several shared current or winter LBC projects.

A hearty thank you to all of you who planned/hosted events in 2025 and helped out at our booth at the Concours. Our club remains active and vibrant, and I think we all have a good time while engaging. I know IBCC membership has enhanced Robin’s and my life, making new friends, engaging in club activities, breaking bread together, and learning more about the odd little cars we “love” to work on. Keep up the good work.

We next meet at The Machine Shed on Sunday, January 11 at 5:00 as we begin our 2026 season. Connie will start collecting dues at that time (still $30 for a family membership), take orders for IBCC name tags, and have club paraphernalia for sale. We will also share some exciting news at the Jan. or Feb. gathering. I will send out reminders after the first of the year. Please join us if you can.

Have a joyous and safe Holiday Season.

Warm regards,
Russ Vanderhoef

Photo: Chuck McGuire sawing at the wheel during the VTR Nationals auto cross course in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.