Straight Talk September/October 2026
Straight Talk from the “Mann” Cave
Bruce Mann
Well, it is July 19 as I write this, and I am sitting here watching The Open Championship, or what many of us still think of as the British Open, one of golf’s four major championships. The reason I am watching golf instead of working in the garage or enjoying a drive in one of my MGs is that I had back surgery on July 2. Recovery is going well but today would have been a perfect day for a top-down drive in an MGA roadster. Even while recovering, there is no shortage of NAMGAR work to keep me busy.
Our Board and staff have spent countless hours preparing for MG International 2026 in Sandusky, Ohio. By the time you read this, the event will be over, and I hope everyone who attended enjoyed a memorable week celebrating our shared passion for MGs.
Sadly, during this time we also lost a dear friend, Charles “Chaz” de Bourbon, who passed away unexpectedly. Chaz managed the layout and production of your magazine. We will mis his talent, commitment, and willingness to help whenever needed, all of which played a significant role in ensuring that MGA! Continued to arrive in your mailbox. He will be missed by all who knew him. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Kim, and family.
So, what is new with NAMGAR? One of our biggest challenges remains finding a new editor and a new registrar for 2027. We have now gone a full year without a permanent editor, and that has only been possible because of the dedication of an outstanding team of volunteers.
On behalf of the NAMGAR Board, Staff, and myself, we would like to extend sincere thanks to Bill Marshall for his service over the past four issues of MGA! Bill volunteered to help organize and prepare the magazine’s content during this transitional period and fulfilled his commitment. Bill continues in his role with NAMGAR as the archivist.
So, where do we go from here? Kim de Bourbon, Chaz’s wife and partner, graciously expressed a willingness to continue Chaz’s work with NAMGAR and provide us with a quality magazine.
I am also please to report that Rob Kuhn, our membership chairman, has stepped forward to help keep the publication moving forward while we pursue a permanent editor. His willingness to volunteer is another example of the dedication that makes NAMGAR such a strong organization. As always, if you have an interest in helping with MGA! or know someone else who would, we would love to hear from you. It takes committed volunteers to keep our organization thriving, and every contribution is effective.
On a happier note, we have successfully launched our first membership outreach effort with a couple of well-known restoration shops in the Midwest. We contacted the owners of Rusty Moose Garage and Quality Coaches, and they graciously accepted our invitation to take part in a market test. Each shop has been provided with 25 copies of MGA!, along with introductory letters and membership applications to distribute to customers who bring their cars in for restoration, maintenance, or repair.
Our hope is that this initiative will introduce NAMGAR to MGA and Magnette owners who may not yet be familiar with our organization and, in turn, help us to attract new members. We are hoping to expand this market test, as we are expecting positive results.
Remember: the road to success is always under construction.
