JULY/AUGUST 2014, VOL 39/NO 6

Summer is finally here and in full swing! Have you been driving your MGA on a regular basis; perhaps a weekly Sunday drive through the country on winding back roads, or a drive with your local club to your favorite eating establishment?

Seems like we always end up somewhere fun to eat and drink. Our local club does an annual event with our neighboring club; a day at the movies plus lunch. Always a fun event and I got to meet some fellow NAMGAR members which made it even more special.

Speaking of special events, I received a phone call recently from Barney Gaylord, the MGA Guru, and we had an interesting chat. Seems that Barney has literally taken to living on the road; he’s driving across the USA not in his Chevrolet, but his MGA! Click here to check out his adventures, and click on “MGA Guru is going mobile.” Who knows, he may be headed to your neighborhood and you’ll get a chance to meet.

Of course, the most special event of this summer will be happening just about the time you’ll be receiving this issue of MGA! and that is GT-39 in Ottawa, ON from July 14-18, 2014. The Cruise to the Capital group will most definitely have started on their way from Victoria, BC on July 4th and will arrivein Ottawa to join us. So I’m going to hope that you also made plans to be a part of the excitement in the NAMGAR world in July 2014. If you’re not coming, then you’ll have to wait for pictures and stories to follow in a later issue of MGA! or for a posting to appear on the NAMGAR website, www.namgar.com, to find out all the details. So sorry you missed a fantastic time; guess that means you’ll have to make an extra effort to join us at GT-40!

But I’m getting ahead of myself, as there are opportunities to mingle with fellow members sooner than 2015. This coming September there are two Regionals that may entice you, NAMGAR at the Glen 2014 in Watkins Glen, NY from September 3rd – 8th and be a part of the Glenora Wine Cellars U.S. Vintage Grand Prix, or The Southeast British Car Festival in Dillard, GA from September 18th – 21st . Both are sure to provide fun activities, interesting events, and time for fellowship with kindred spirits.

Of course, the summer is more than likely filled with many car events on the local level. Wherever you find yourself and whatever you’re doing, be sure to have a great time and enjoy the fun of being behind the wheel of your MGA or favorite NAMGAR class sportscar. Also, when folks come up to admire your vehicle, as you know they will, be sure to tell them about NAMGAR and what NAMGAR means to you. Each member is important in spreading the word and helping to increase membership and awareness of the organization.

I’m always taken aback somewhat by the number of people who have never heard of NAMGAR; somehow we have to change that and it starts at the grassroots level. George Kress has his own awareness campaign going in that whenever he sells an MGA he gives the new owner a year’s membership to NAMGAR and if you know George, you know he has a LOT of MGAs to sell. Even if you have only one to sell, be sure to convince the new owner that being a member of NAMGAR definitely has its benefits: a super magazine, a vibrant website, a vast resource of knowledge, and the fellowship of the greatest family of British car enthusiasts known to mankind!

Seriously, I’ve enjoyed meeting so many of you and look forward to making even more friends each time we meet. I would love to see NAMGAR events throughout North America enabling members in all parts of the country the chance to come together. So if your chapter has a desire to host a NAMGAR Regional or GT, get in touch with me and I’ll help you get it started. Call me at 570-954-8580 or email me. I’ll be waiting to hear from you!