Like south Florida, the early 1980's was a period of change for the club. Many of the original members, while still in the area, had gone into semi-retirement, but continued to ride with the many new members that appeared during that time. In fact, the groundwork that was established during the 1970's was used as a basis for all the new ideas and events that the club embarked on in the years to come.
For example, the Mount Dora event of the 1970's lead to the Sebring Spring Brake Weekend of the 1980's - more on that later.
Club President's Rene' and Jim of the late 1970's became President's Len and Byron of the early- and mid-1980's, and both had the same enthusiasm for the club as the people that came before them - we were always blessed with people who had not only the talent, but the time and willingness to make the club grow, as the club still has today!
This picture was taken at a surprise baby shower/birthday party get-together at Shelly's house in Coral Gables (now the site of a office building), in December, 1980.
The baby shower was for Bill's wife, Kathy, and the birthday half of the party was for the guy taking the picture (me). We had a great turnout that night, and a party of some kind was not an unusual event for the club in those early years - we usually had 5 or 6 a year - really!
Among the many at the party were Ray, one of my good friends, who I believe, sadly, is now deceased. Also there were Phil and his wife Renee, who still live in North Miami; Mike, who now lives in the town of Crystal River in north central Florida; Len and Karen, who live in Pinecrest (near Bill and Kathy); and Shelly, who has lived in Phoenix for a number of years.
Not everyone was chased out of Miami by Hurricane Andrew (like me - harumph)!
Check back soon to find out!