Side Roads Jul/Aug 2024

We’re now at roughly the half way point in the year. My club has completed a few events and it looks like the year is off to a good start. One of those events was Drive Your MGA Day on May 4th. We met up with our A’s at a local restaurant in southeastern Michigan. It was a good time and I’m not aware of any problems with anyone’s car. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that we had a good weather day, but that’s becoming more normal this time of year. Everyone should be experiencing good weather by now so I hope you’re all enjoying taking as many drives as you can. I hope the warmer areas of the country are not too hot by now, either.

I plan to go to the GOF Central in Newark, OH, soon which is also a NAMGAR Regional this year. I’ll have gone and returned by the time this issue is in your hands. I forgot to mention in my last column that we made a change in Regionals at our annual NAMGAR board meeting. Previously, we had a policy of requiring that a Regional could only be held in the same location every three years. We decided to drop that policy. One immediate result is another upcoming Regional in Dillard, Georgia, that would not be happening with our “3 year rule”. That additional Regional, known as the Southeast British Car Festival, will be held from Sept 12 to. 15. It’s being hosted by the Peachtree MG Registry and you may recognize it as their every other year event. It’s always popular and well attended.

I hope everyone was able to attend GT-49 in Welches, Oregon . We sure had a great time, didn’t we? Of course I’m writing this ahead of the GT but I’m also sure it turned out great. The car show winners will be formally announced in the Sept-Oct edition of MGA!.

Speaking of GT’s, the location of GT-50 was, of course, announced. It will be held the first full week of June, 2025, in Traverse City, Michigan. The host club will be the Michigan Rowdies. This will be the 5th GT hosted by the Rowdies as they continue their tradition of hosting every 10 years. There’s lots to see in Michigan and this location will prove to be an opportunity to visit more interesting areas.

I’ve finally managed to install my rebuilt carbs back into the ‘A’. And it is running better. I also replaced the flexible brake hoses. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to help with the right front wheel locking up so now I’m thinking about the brake cylinder(s). Welding has also restarted on the Magnette. A good friend from the Rowdies is helping me again. So far, we’re working on some minor repair needs, but the left side rocker area will be the main work before too much longer.

In the meantime, I continue to urge all our clubs to consider hosting a GT. It looks scary from the outside, but give it a chance and find out how much fun it can be showing off your area. Finally, all Magnette owners should be thinking about Drive Your Magnette Day planned for Oct 5th.

Happy Motoring to all!