First Quarter 2015

I wish we had some good driving tales to share, but even Texas has been plagued with a pretty tough winter this year. Only a week or so until spring arrives and we hope to have some top down weather.

I was really moved by the article in the January/February 2015 issue of MGA! by Royal Connell. The article was entitled “On the Outside…Looking In”. If you haven’t read, or don’t recall the article I encourage you to read this piece. In short it is about a new member who has a very difficult time being accepted by his local club. I really did identify with this. I have been a NAMGAR member for 25 years, and a member of our local chapter for almost as long. When I go to a meeting I know everyone. But last year I joined the North Texas Norton Owners Association. I did not know a soul. I would go to meetings, but I thought I might be invisible. It has taken a year of being very persistent, but I am finally being accepted. Sometimes, if we are the “old timers” in the group, we kind of forget about the new ones. I am going to make a concerted effort to meet and have a real conversation with each of our new members in our Chapter. I challenge you to do the same. One of our big initiatives is to recruit new members. We need to do a good job when someone new darkens our doors. We want them to return and see what a good group we really have. Please read the article.

Hagerty Youth Judging

Introduced as the first official youth service in 2007, the Hagerty Youth Judging Program is hosted at more than 70 classic car and boat events throughout the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Designed primarily for youth ages 8-14, the Youth Judging Program brings the world of classics to a kid friendly level. The Young Judges are guided through the show field as a group to pre-selected show cars and interact with owners, allowing the judges to learn details, history and fun facts about each. A simplified score card that highlights five basic categories and is rated on a scale of 1-to-5 is used. For more information or to request a Youth Judging kit for your show, contact the Youth Judging Team at Hagerty or call them at 231.929.6147.

We are trying to get someone from Hagerty to talk about this initiative at the Chapter Contacts meeting in Frankenmuth.

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 – Photos Wanted!

Please send photo images (with captions) of your club’s Drive Your MGA Day activity with a brief description of the event or location to Peter and Anne Tilbury for inclusion on the NAMGAR website. Please also send the photos (with captions) to Mike Tooke, Editor of MGA!, for inclusion in a future edition of MGA! magazine.

Upcoming NAMGAR EventsJune 15-19 – 2015 GT 40 – Frankenmuth, Michigan. Registration for the event is now open. Don’t forget to make your hotel reservations. Full details on the event website.

Annual Chapter & Interest Group Contacts Meeting

The Annual Chapter Contacts meeting will be held during GT40 in Frankenmuth on Thursday, June 18 from 1.00pm to 3.00pm. The location of the meeting will be announced at a later date.

Chapter and Interest Group Contacts please make arrangements to attend this meeting. 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. If you are unable to attend please appoint an attending Chapter or Interest group member to attend in your place. Please email us with any items that you would like added to the meeting agenda.

Interest Group News- MG Vintage Racers

MG Vintage Racers tell us that these four racing events will have a special focus on MGs this year. Go see a race near you:

April 10-12 Vintage Drivers Club of America’s. 13th Annual “Wild Hare Run” at Virginia International Raceway. This is also the MG Vintage Racers designated “Focus Event” for 2015, with MGVR’s special awards and socials.

June 19-21 Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada’s “Canadian Historic Grand Prix” at Mosport, Ontario. It will include the MG-Triumph Challenge and the “Simms Cup” for vintage racing MGs. Canadian hospitality is wonderful!

July 23-26 Sportscar Vintage Racing Association’s “Glenora Wine Cellars Grand Prix” at Watkins, NY. Always a favorite for MG racers and MG enthusiasts. It will include the historic 31st running of the all MG “Collier Cup” race.

August 31 -September 2 The “Put-In-Bay Road Races Reunion”. This year featuring MG. Put-In-Bay is a vacation island on Lake Erie, Ohio, where they raced sports cars many years ago. Now they are re-creating those races and the “party atmosphere” of them on this historic island. This is as much a vacation as vintage racing for both racers and spectators, plus they have a car show!

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 and NAMGAR Editor, Michael Tooke.

Chapter Events – post yours on the namgar.com Events Page

NAMGAR Web Coordinators, Peter and Anne Tilbury, provide a service on the NAMGAR website 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.

NAMGAR Advertisement

Member AdThis is the current NAMGAR ad that should be running in Chapter 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.

Email the Chapter Coordinators if you would like to receive an electronic version of the image.

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. To review the guidelines visit namgar.com

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 – 2015 Recipients

• San Diego MG Club – Wayne and Dee Johnson (2015)

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 State BuckAyes – Jeff Fields (2013)
• MGCC Northwest Centre – Lee Orphan (2013)

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!