First Quarter 2016

First Quarter 2016

NewsletterA word from your Chapter Coordinators!

We have been blessed with incredible weather in North Texas this winter. I have been able to ride everything from motorcycles to MGs. We have had wonderful top-down weather. Colleen and I have been planning one of our featured driving events for our local club, the Texas MG Register. The event is called the Silly Chilly Willy rallye. There is plenty of silly in the rallye and usually the chilly is due to the weather. With the weather so pleasant, we may have to change the name. For those interested, it is scheduled for March 12th in Granbury Texas.

We hope everyone has made plans to attend MG2016/GT41 in Louisville. This is the every five year all MG event. It is a great chance to see the “other” MGs on the show field in record numbers. NAMGAR has no official host hotel this year, but all of the hotels are “right next to each other”. The main hotel is the Crowne Plaza, which is by far the largest of the hotels. We have made our plans and reservations, so we hope to see everyone there!!

The Board decided for 2016 to continue the membership program of a one-time 1/2 year extension of the expiration date of an existing current member for referring a NEW member. The new member is the person that notifies Ben Nolan, the NAMGAR Registrar that they were referred by the NAMGAR member. Please announce this at future chapter meetings. It is a great way to get more new NAMGAR members as well as getting an extra ½ year on your membership!!

NAMGAR GT Chapter Recognition Award

The NAMGAR Board of Directors has created an award to recognize the NAMGAR Chapter that is best represented at an annual GT. For 2015 the award was based on chapter attendance as a percentage of chapter membership rather than the total number of members attending the GT.

Last years Chapter Recognition Award went to the Ohio State BuckAyes and they were recognized at our national meeting in Frankenmuth, MI.

Beginning in 2016 the award criteria will be changed. I have been promising to give you some details so here they are. The award will be calculated on points based on the following criteria:

  • 10 points for hosting a GT (for the past 5 years)
  • 5 points for hosting a NAMGAR Regional event (for the past 5 years)
  • 3 points for having a complete chapter profile on file at www.namgar.com
  • 3 points for providing annual report to Chapter Coordinators including the number NAMGAR members and total number of members of Chapter by December 31st each year.
  • 2 points for having submitted their chapter newsletter to NAMGAR
  • 1 point for article submission of an event or activity to either MGA! or website (article must be published and does not include National and Regional reports on events).
  • 1 point for each new NAMGAR member (as confirmed by the Registrar)

Colleen and I are excited about this new format. This will give smaller active chapters a chance at receiving the award. Remember, this year the award is still two free memberships. Starting next year the award will be $100.00 to the winning chapter, plus photo on website and in MGA!

Dates for Submission of Materials for MGA!

I would like to remind everyone that the cutoff for submission on materials to be published in MGA! is the 5th of every even month (February, April, June, August, October and December)

Drive Your MGA Day – May 7, 2016 – Photos wanted!

DYMGA LogoPlease send photo images of your club’s Drive Your MGA Day activity with a brief description of the event or location to either Peter and Anne Tilbury for inclusion on the NAMGAR web site or Michael Tooke to be included in a future issue of MGA!

Upcoming NAMGAR Events

April 25 – 29, 2016 Key West, Florida – British Cars in Key West
Come join other British Car enthusiasts and celebrate the 34th anniversary of the founding of the Conch Republic. Events are planned for each day, culminating in participating in the Conch Republic Independence Parade. Host Hotel is the Blue Marlin (305) 294-2585. For more information the visit Club’s website.

May 7, 2016 Anywhere in North America or beyond!! – NAMGAR’s Drive Your MGA Day!
Save the Date!! The annual Drive Your MGA Day is Saturday, May 7, 2016. It is time to start planning to get together with other MGA owners/drivers and enjoy the day. Don’t forget to send your photos to NAMGAR for sharing!!

June 4 – 6, 2016 Winthrop, WA -Sun Mountain Tour
The Seattle MG Club has announced plans to have a Sun Mountain/Winthrop tour. For more information, visit the Club’s website. (Editor’s Note: You west coasters can start this tour and continue eastward to the big party the next week!!!)

June 13-16, 2016 MG2016/GT 41 – Louisville, KY – Annual Chapter & Interest Group Contacts Meeting
Date: Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Location: TBA

Chapter and Interest Group Contacts please make arrangements to attend this meeting. Notice that this will be an evening affair. Do to all of the wonderful activities planned; we thought that this would be the best time. It’s your chance to meet and interact with NAMGAR Board and Staff members and also to share common issues and successes with other Chapter and Interest group contacts. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. This was a tremendous meeting last year!!! If you are unable to attend please appoint an attending Chapter or Interest group member to attend in your place. Please forward any items that you would like added to the meeting agenda to us at chapters@namgar.com.

July 29 – 31, 2016 Clarkston, MI – MG Vintage Racers’ Focus Event
The MG will be the featured marque at this spectator friendly course. The course has 12 turns and is only 1.42 miles in length making track viewing very easy for everyone. I hear the food is also not to be missed at this track!

September 15 – 18, 2016 Dillard, GA – Southeastern British Car Festival
The Peachtree MG Registry is hosting a long fall weekend in the Northeast Georgia mountains. There will be great roads to drive, lots of activities for everyone, and a fabulous venue at The Dillard House!!

September 30 – October 2, 2016 Sonoma, CA – Classic Sports Racing Group Charity Challenge
We older folks remember this as Sears Point or Infineon Raceway. The west coaster will also have a great three day weekend which combines great cars with great wine. Remember this is Sonoma!

June 19 – 23, 2017 GT-42 Solvang, CA
After a six year hiatus the GT will once again by on the West Coast!! This is a great area of California to explore. Make your plans now!!

Interest Group News

Z Magnette Group
Allen Bachelder from the Magnette group is trying to round up at least 20 Magnettes for the show field in Louisville. Last count the number stands around 14. Encourage the Magnette owners in your Chapter to bring their cars to this centrally located venue for all to enjoy!!

NAMGAR Regional GT’s – Something your Chapter might want to consider!

Is there any event on your club’s calendar such as a weekend trip or a car show that could be expanded to become a NAMGAR Regional? It is something that you might want to consider. What the heck, the more the merrier. If you’ve already done the planning for an event then you’re more than half way there. Having a regional just might fill up that motel or enhance your car show field. Contact NAMGAR Vice Chairman Jeff Becker for details and advice on hosting a NAMGAR Regional.

Chapter Newsletters

We enjoy reading your club newsletters. We have had a very good response since our last request, but there still a few Chapters who are not sending in their newsletters. Please check with your club member who is charge of sending out the newsletters. Electronic newsletters should be submitted to the Chapter Coordinators, NAMGAR Editor and the Internet Coordinators (for posting on the website.

Chapter Events

Post yours on the namgar.com Calendar of Events

NAMGAR Web Coordinators Peter and Anne Tilbury provide a service on the NAMGAR web site to post your upcoming club sponsored events which might interest other NAMGAR members convenient to your area. Please use this FREE service to promote your MG or British car hobbyist event.

You may add your club events to the Calendar of Events by visiting the Calendar of Events page.

Don’t forget to check out the Calendar of Events OFTEN.

NAMGAR Advertisement

The current NAMGAR ad that should be running in your newsletters and on your websites. This ad reflects the current dues schedule and is the only one that should be used. Several newsletters are still utilizing the old ad that has outdated information. Please check your Chapter/Interest group’s newsletter and/or website and make sure that your publication and website reflect this current ad.

Renkenberger Spirit Award

This award is presented by the NAMGAR Board of Directors to a member of a Chapter or Interest group upon request of the local Chapter. The member does not have to be a member of NAMGAR. Each NAMGAR Chapter or NAMGAR Interest Group is eligible to nominate one of their members every three (3) years. As most Chapters have their annual planning meetings coming up this would be an appropriate time to suggest that your Chapter’s Board consider nominating a member for this award. Also our Interest groups can think about nominating one of their members. All Chapters and Interest groups have individuals that spend vast amounts of time and energy making the organization successful and this award is a very appropriate way of recognizing them. Visit namgar.com for the guidelines.

The award is prepared and sent to the Chapter Contact by NAMGAR upon receipt of the Chapter’s 300-400 word nomination submission to the Chapter Coordinators, along with a photograph of the awardee. These will be published in MGA! and also posted on the NAMGAR website. It should be noted there is no cost to the Chapter for the award, which is provided by NAMGAR, and we do encourage each Chapter to use this award to recognize an outstanding member.

For more information on how to submit a nomination please contact the Chapter Coordinators.

Renkenberger Spirit Award – 2016 Recipients

  • Mid-Atlantic Chapter – Butch & Judy Smith

Renkenberger Spirit Award – Past Recipients

  • Mid-Atlantic Chapter – Bill & Martha Ludtke (2008)
  • Houston MG Car Club – Ron Redding (2009)
  • SW Ontario Hoser Eh’s – John & Diane Burgess (2009)
  • Michigan Rowdies – Brian Beery (2010)
  • Milwaukee & Great Lakes MG Motor Car Group – Ed Kaufman (2010)
  • Columbia Gorge MGA Club – Bill Barnes (2010)
  • MG Car Club Northwest Center – Jim & Roberta Lumley (2010)
  • Ottawa MG Club – Len Fortin (2011)
  • Reno British Car Club – Jim Phelps (2011)
  • Key West British Car Club – Fred & Cindy Skomp (2012)
  • Mid-Atlantic Chapter – Bill Marshall (2012)
  • Central Virginia British Car Club – Carol Woodson (2012)
  • South Western Ontario Hoser Ehs – Mike Hosier and Nancy Payne (2013)
  • Victoria MG Club – Neil Fawdry (2013)
  • Ohio BuckAyes – Jeff Fields (2013)
  • MGCC Northwest Centre – Lee Orphan (2013)
  • San Diego MG Club – Wayne and Dee Johnson (2015)
  • Ottawa MG Club – Trish Adams (2015)

Please share this newsletter with your Chapter and Interest Group members. We look forward to an active driving season coming up and hope you are able to attend the national GT or a Regional GT local to you. We also encourage each Chapter Contact to reach out to a neighboring Chapter to see if there are club activities that would be enhanced by including a larger pool of British vehicles.

Happy Motoring!

Ed Sass & Colleen Quin, NAMGAR Chapter Coordinators