A Little About Our Members

We welcome all members to submit a photo and brief bio for our membeship page. Please send your information to Deb Katz at dlkatz_99@hotmail.com.

Peter Sturtevant – AHCA NE President

I have only been a Healey owner since 1999, when I purchased a RHD 100-6, BN4 while living in the UK. Through the Austin Healey Club, New Forest Centre we have met some great friends associated with the marque, during our 2 ½ years abroad. We became hooked on Healey’s and now my wife Cindy and I, own four Healey’s, including a 100 BN1 named the “Coalition” and two Frogeye Sprites. “Project Lucas” is being restored as a replica of the ’60 Sebring Sprite race cars, for our grandson Lucas. Cindy and I have been active members of the AHCA New England since joining in 2001, after returning from the UK. I have just become New England, President and look forward to representing all Healey owners in our region.

Cindy Sturtevant – Secretary

As Pete mentioned, when we moved to England, we joined the Austin Healey Club, New Forest Centre. I didn’t even know what an Austin Healey looked like. As soon as I saw one for the first time, I fell in love. How can you not fall in love with such a beautiful car? I might add, the even better than the beautiful cars, are the incredible owners. We have met many great Healey friends in the last 12 years. In 2002, I became the proud owner of a 1959 Leaf Green Sprite that I call Frogi, including the license plate. Pete and I went on our first night drive and hit a bump, shorted out the wiring and lost all our lights and melted the wire harness. We re-wired the car (my first experience actually working on a Healey) and it’s been great ever since. We went on our first long journey with Frogi, last year when we drove from Colorado to Arizona with 7 Big Healey's. I’m proud to say Frogi kept up to the big boys! I look forward to more Healey adventures in the future and meeting more friends to travel with.

Katz - Webmaster

I joined the Healey Club in 1997 with the purchase of a 1958 Bugeye Sprite. I asked one of the members, Charlie Krut, if he would help me find a car. For those who knew Charlie - you already know the answer to that question. Charlie found the sprite in Southern CT. It was a wedding gift the groom gave his bride-to-be. Lucky for me - she didn't want it. Charlie and I went down with his truck and trailer and picked up the car and brought it to Deb and Charlie's house in Suffield.

Three months later and after way too many hours to count - nights, weekends - we brought the car to my house in Bristol, CT. My first meet with the car was the Rhinebeck car show in Rhinebeck, NY. I only broke down once on the way up there and had a great time with everyone who went that year.

That was just the beginning of my Healey fever. Over the years I have traveled to Montreal, Quebec, NY, NH, VT, ME, RI - and the list goes on. I even spent my 30th birthday with the club in Newport RI - where the crew broke out in song at one of the mansions to wish me a happy birthday. What could be better??

Dennis & Pam Broughel
In June of 1968 I came home from Viet Nam and discharged from the Army. My brother Dave, 8 years my senior had a Bn 2 (BN2L-230881)not yet registered, and a family. He told me I had no car and he had a family that couldn't fit in the car, so he gave the car to me (how great a big brother was he) not to feel bad, he did have a new rally sport Camaro and a VW bug.While Dave and I were getting the car ready to be licensed and registered, we stuffed a 327 Chev engine in the now bigger Healey.

That was the thing to do back then.

Pam and were dating and loved the car. To make a long story short, I kept the car until I could no longer drive the car any due to heavy snow, and sold the it for college tuition. Both Pam and I immediately realized my mistake. I dearly wanted another Healey, but I was only able to Alford one car. Muscle car it may have been but it had room for more than two. Pam and I thought about getting another Healey, but now married and a mortgage and kids on the way we were stretched every month.

Fast forword thirty years to Lime Rock Park. While working the starting grid as a SCCA volunteer, Pam met Jim Smith of the famed Blue Chip Racing, who introduced us to Jon & Janet Kastberg. Jon had a Longbridge Bn 4 for sale. Pam & I bought the car and joined the club, i think in the same week. We restored the car in 22 months and have been enjoying it since. While restoring the car I would make telephone calls to club members, I had never met for technical support, and not  once did anyone  say they didn't have time for my questions. We both feel it is our second chance to be twenty again. We have had wonderful trips to Canada, the New England States and many club events.

Bob Britton

I’ve been a British car fan since my early teens when my older brother first purchased a TR4 and then a Morgan +4. When it came time to buy my first car as a freshman in college I bought a Morgan +4.

Subsequent sports cars I have owned and enjoyed have included several other Morgan’s, a couple of Porsche 911’s,  a very rare ASA 1000 GT and several BMW 2002s.

I had always admired the sleek look of the big Healey back in the 1960’s and when it came time to find a “family” sports car that would seat my wife and two daughters I bought my first Healey in 1991,  a 1962 BJ7, which I restored over the next few years. I joined the AHCA-NE Region soon after acquiring the car and slowly but surely started attending New England Region events and meeting many of the great new Healey friends.  Some of the long time members will no doubt remember me attending club events with one or both of my daughters, Becky and Mandy, as we were regular participants in the early Summit events, the Montebello Conclave, many local Austin Healey events and every British Invasion since 1992. In recent years I was the Rally Master for the 2007 Burlington Conclave and a committee member for the 2010 Summit at Jiminy Peak.

I look forward to working with many of the friends and members I have come to know in the New England Region in the new role of Vice President to continue the tradition of this great club.

Robert Finucane

I purchased this Phase one BJ-8 in 1982 and joined the club shortly thereafter. It was originally OEW with a red interior. I restored it (first time) after a deer strike took most of the car to the windscreen in 86.

I then did another total restoration in 2001 and as it was a rotisserie changed it to BRG with a tan interior, top, etc. It has the original engine 29K/RU/H573 and running gear.

Jud Perkins on Lombard Street - San Francisco, CA

Adam Nolde

Buttercup - 1956 bn2, M conversion for racing. Previous owner dubbed it Buttercup. I've owned it for one year now having rebuilt the engine with a DW aluminum cyl head. It wears the Brooklands AH windscreen that was on Jackie Coopers 100S.

Below are Adam's 59 bn6 and 65 bj8 parked outside just after hurricane Irene.

N. Kent Covington

I am a member of the AHCA New England chapter and read that you seek pictures of new member's cars.  Well I have been a member for a few years while I was waiting for my restoration to be completed by Tom & Kaye Kovacs at Fourintune in Wisconsin. So the car has never been seen before like this by by anyone including the chapter members.

Before:

This is a two-owner 1966 BJ8 that was stored in a garage in NJ and not driven from 1970-2008. 38 years!!  I purchased it from the original owner who had ordered it for "Personal Export Delivery" in England while traveling there as a young man in late 1965.  It is remarkably original with significant engine performance upgrades.

After:

Jon Einhorn, CT

I'm a trial lawyer in New Haven, racing a big Healey under Former Glory Racing since 1999. Its a 1964 3000 MK III which we've modified for SCCA racing, but not enough to disqualify it from some vintage groups. I race primarily at Lime Rock, New Hampshire, Watkins Glen, Poconos, and occassionally Sebring. The car has virtually everything in the Denis Welsch catalog and was dynoed at about 250 hp. Most of the body is fiberglass and any non-essential metalwork has been stripped. It 's got a custom, highly modified suspension and Jim Smith used to refer to it as the "Nascar Healey".

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