Second Quarter 2016

Important Information from your Chapter Coordinators! We have some important announcements that we would like to share.

First, GT-41, or MG 2016 as it is known to some, is in Louisville, KY and is just around the corner. We would like a headcount if you’re are attending the meeting and planning on attending the Chapter Coordinator meeting on Wednesday, June 15 at 7:00 PM in the Perry Room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. We will be providing chips, pretzels, tortilla chips, onion dip, salsa, iced tea, cookies, and beer and wine by consumption. Because of all the activities involved in these All MG events, we had to schedule the meeting in the evening. Please make every effort to have one of your club members attend.

Colleen and I have been compiling the information to award the Chapter Recognition Award in Louisville. But we still need some information from YOU! But before that, let’s review the Chapter Recognition Award. For many years this award was given to the Chapter who had the most members at our annual GT (host chapters were excluded). Last year we changed it up a bit and the award was given to the Chapter who had largest percentage of members based on their Chapter census. Starting this year, the award will be given on a ‘point system’ and the Chapter with the most points accrued in 2015 with receive the award. Here is the breakdown of the points:

• 10 points for hosting a GT (this goes back for 5 years)
• 5 points for hosting a Regional event (this also goes back for 5 years)
• 3 points for having a complete chapter profile at www.namgar.com as of 12/31/15
• 3 points for providing your annual report to Colleen and I by the cutoff date in 2015 (we only heard from 21 of our 57 Chapters)
• 2 points for submitting your Chapter newsletter to NAMGAR (We are only getting 37 or 57 Chapter Newsletters)
• 1 point for submitting an article of an event or activity to MGA! or our website (does not include report on National or Regional events)
• 1 point for each new NAMGAR member

Our focus is on the last point. We need each Chapter Contact to check with their appropriate individual to find out how many new NAMGAR members you had for 2015. Submit their names to Colleen and me and will have them verified by Ben Nolan, our Registrar.

Now for a little soul searching! We feel that the Chapter Contact is an integral part of the NAMGAR family. We would like this person to be very involved with their local chapter and support NAMGAR throughout the year. If you are one of those Chapters who are not providing your newsletter, not providing the yearly update, or not having a completed chapter profile on file, maybe there is someone in your club that would be better suited. Think about it. Do you make your local club meetings? Do you bring up NAMGAR issues and share information on a regular basis? How could you do more? Is there a member that might be better suited?

We will be contacting all Chapters this year on an individual basis if you are missing some of these items. Become involved!!

Finally, Colleen and I will be driving the ’57 Roadster to the GT this year. So we will see you in a couple of months!!

Upcoming NAMGAR Events

April 21-24, 2016 Ocala, FL – GOF South (50th Anniversary)
This wonderful event is organized by MG Classics of Jacksonville. There will many exciting happenings this year including a seminar and two rolling tech sessions by John Twist. There are also tours to horse farms and a carriage museum. Bring your favorite MG photo for the photo contest! See details on the event website.

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, visit the 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!!

May 14, 2016 Raleigh, North Carolina Triangle British Classic Car Show
This is the twentieth anniversary of the North Carolina MG Car Club’s Triangle British Classic Car Show. This one day Saturday event is being held again at North Hills, where there is something for everyone. Early registration will close on April 14. For more information, visit the Club’s website.

June 3-5, 2016 Glenwood Springs, CO 64th Annual Rallye Glenwood Springs
This is the oldest continually-held time-speed-distance rally in the United States. This year’s event is a week earlier to allow participants to also attend the MG2016 event in Louisville, KY June 13-17, 2016. Organized by MG Car Club Rocky Mountain Centre. Additional information and registration forms are available on the MG Car Club, Rocky Mountain Centre website.

June 4-6, 2016 Silverstone, England MG Live 2016
Never been to Silverstone? Neither have I. Here is our chance. MGLive! is the MG Car Club’s annual celebration at Silverstone – a family friendly day out with attractions for everyone. For more information, visit the event website.

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 12, 2016 Hellertown, PA British Motorcar Gathering
More than 200 vintage British sports cars will gather at Alfred J. Fritchman Reservoir Park, just south of Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley), for this popular-vote show hosted by the Keystone Region MG Club. After the show, head west on the interstates (650 miles) and you can still make our GT. For more information, visit the event website.

June 13-16, 2016 MG2016/GT 41 – Louisville, KY Annual Chapter & Interest Group Contacts Meeting
This meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in the Perry Room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Louisville.

Chapter and Interest Group Contacts please make arrangements to attend this meeting. Notice that this will be an evening affair. Due 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. Beer and wine can be purchased. A great way to start the evening Get Together!! 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 the Chapter Coordinators.

June 27, 2016 – July 1, 2016 Redmond, OR GoF West 2016
If you didn’t get your fill of older MGs, give this one a try!! Open to all Classic MGs!! The Forty-Fourth Annual GoF West will be held at the Eagle Crest Resort, on the Deschutes River in a high desert setting, just 18 miles north of Bend, Oregon. For more information, visit the event website.

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!

August 6, 2016 Dayton, Ohio 32nd Annual Dayton British Car Day
Midwest’s Best British Car & Motorcycle Show Featuring & Celebrating 50 years of GT6 & Lotus Europa. If you like bikes and cars, this is for you!! We had a great time in Dayton a few years ago with the GT. This event will bring back memories!! Organized by MG Car Club, SW Ohio Centre. For more information, visit the event website.

September 24, 2016 Rocks State Park, Hartford County north of Baltimore 37th Annual “MGs On the Rocks” British Car Show
What was once just a gathering of a few local members for a picnic is now one of the premier annual events for all British car owners in the Mid Atlantic Region. Be one of over 200 cars with MGs of all Models and 8 classes of other British Marques. A real classy location. For more information, visit the Club’s website.

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!!

Please note that I only listed some of the motoring events that are taking place this summer. See the Calendar of Events section at namgar.com for full details. Have a wonderful driving summer!

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)

Interest Group News

MG Vintage Racers – see the calendar of events above!

NAMFAR Regional GTs – 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 Events – Post Yours on the NAMGAR.com Events Page

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 events page.

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

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. Don’t forget, 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 Award submission process, guidelines and past winners.

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 that 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.

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!