BATTLE OF THE BRITS Golf Tournament

On May 1 the annual Battle of the Brits charity golf tournament took place at Jersey Meadow Golf Course between the Houston MG Car Club and the Texas Triumph Register. The weather was perfect and a good time was had by all.

The event started with a “putting contest” using a unique putter constructed from car parts including a piston from aTR3 as the head.  The shaft was actually a gear shift rod from a Morris. This contest was won by Sallie Rouse of TTR.

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The “closest to the pin” contest was won by Andrew Fox of TTR.

Michael Cox, also of TTR, won the “longest drive.”

Three TTR teams competed against a single MG team led by team captain Vernon Jones.  He also organized the event.

At the end of the day, the MG team completed play with a minus one score. The TTR Team #1 also finished with a minus one score… a look at the score cards quickly suggested that MG was winning. The TTR team #2 then came in with a par score still leaving the MG team in a winning position. Finally the #3 TTR team finished with a minus 2 score…to secure the win of the team event.  

So, it was a clean sweep for TTR for the first time in the history of the event.  (Fortunately, MG still offers the superior sports car.)

Some will be inspired; some won't... Club member Mark Hammerbacher was intrigued enough that he sent this information to be posted thinking some of our members might be interested.

I (Rob Ficalora) know a lot about the car and I agree with Mark that it is worth sharing; in fact, a local friend of mine made the grille emblem for Jim (see if you notice it in the video). And, I'm not sure what's more impressive, the work Jim did on this car (I'll not be a spoiler; you have to watch the video to see) -- or the fact that this was, I believe, his 3rd or 4th iteration of the car -- with the 1st being featured in the 1985 Hot Rod Magazine Engine Swapping Guide!

Even if you're not into engine swaps, the engineering & problem solving involved has to be admired!

~ ROB FICALORA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RMv8SzcHO4

This Link will provide a very useful article, by Simon Austin, on the removal and replacement of the front springs on the MGB.  

MGB Front Coil Springs Removal and Replacement (PDF).pdf

It was a beautiful Saturday for a drive -- a bit overcast which kept the heat at bay, but no real threat of rain.  That made for a phenomenal drive through some great roads in the area.  We had 14 participants with nine club members (some with spouses) in eight cars including 5 MG's, a '68 Volvo, and a 2015 Bentley GT3-R.  We gathered in Conroe at about 10am for the roughly 120 mile drive.  We started out heading west across Lake Conroe - with a beautiful view of the lake.  We then turned North on FM-149 through the Sam Houston National Forest.  This route is characterized by tree lined roads, sparse development, elevation changes, and plenty of sweeping curves.  We eventually reached Highway 30 where we turned west toward our lunch stop - the Yankee Tavern & Grill -- which is near Gibbons Creek Reservoir and a little past Roans Prairie (population 63 so you may not be familiar with it ).  After a leisurely lunch at Yankee Tavern & Grill, we started south on what is probably the most fun road around - FM-3090.  This stretch of road has fast sweeping turns, sharp turns requiring downshifts, and plenty of elevation changes.  It's one where, if you're talking too much and not paying attention, you can find yourself headed straight when the road makes a hard turn like Gordon Bard & I almost did (luckily I have good brakes and no MG's were negligently injured on the drive).  After FM-3090, we arrived at Highway 6 near Navasota where one car, Neil Humphries' 1971 MGB lost his clutch.  It wouldn't be an outing if we didn't have at least one car needing assistance & this drive proved to be especially true of that as a second car, Bill Bowers' 1974 MGB GT (V6 powered) had some odd noises from the hydraulic throwout bearing so he decided to take this opportunity to take a more direct route home for fear it might fail as well.  He made it home without incident we're happy to report!  The rest of us continued on our route but I alluded earlier to my tendency to chat with my co-pilot.  Gordon & I were busy catching up again talking and I missed a turn that, by the time we realized, had added about 10 miles to our total route.  We recovered & re-joined our planned route with only a slight detour.  The average round trip for the participants - excluding Scott & Trish Hardy who came from the Dripping Springs area -- was about 150 miles.  Scott & Trish clocked 530 miles!  The best way to ensure your car is prepared to make long drives is, well, to drive it.  You may have an issue along the way, but other members will come to your rescue & once you get through any gremlins, you'll be the one helping others out!  So, next time there's an opportunity, don't hesitate to join in!

~ Rob Ficalora

                         A short video clip:  race bit.mov

A picture-perfect Sunday set the stage for an unforgettable driving event at the Angleton MSR Track 1 racetrack, where eleven MG enthusiasts gathered for a day of camaraderie, curves, and classic car excitement. Members came from near and far—some logging just 20 miles round trip, others nearly 140—but it was the two miles of racetrack that really got the engines (and heart rates) revving.

Though billed as “parade laps,” these sessions were anything but a casual cruise. The sharp corners and quick pace delivered plenty of adrenaline, proving once again that MGs were built for more than leisurely Sunday drives.

Adding a dash of drama to the day’s stories was the revelation that event organizer Pete Sandy had rolled his racer just two days earlier during a track session. Thanks to a solid roll-bar, Pete walked away unscathed—but the same couldn't be said for his car, which took a beating. Pete was tight-lipped about how long he hung upside-down, but we’re glad to report he was in good spirits on Sunday.

Leading the pack in style was David Griffith, serving as our enthusiastic pace car driver in his beautifully supercharged 1948 MG TC—a true crowd-pleaser both on and off the track.    

Events like this capture the spirit of MG ownership: the thrill of driving, the joy of community, and the simple pleasure of putting these cars to the test. As we know, our cars are meant to go “Safety Fast”—and this day proved just that.

Participants:
Lee Drum, Mike Woodward, Clay Ownby, Rick Colwell, Ken Evesson, Pete Sandy, Derek Shelton (and grandson), Bill Sysman, Bob Crow, David Griffith, and Dwight Dawson.

  Pete Sandy with Lee Drum

Seven trusty souls attended the recent Safety inspection tech session at the Woodward garage.  All seven MGs failed!! The most common failure was non- functioning lights.   Two cars had no brake lights and some had  other lights not working. Oil leaks and suspension problems were also observed.  

Perhaps the most distressing was a Past President's car that arrived with a barely-functioning brake system. Event coordinator Mike Woodward was available to adjust the rear brakes so that Member was able to make it home safely.

This event had a welcome outcome in making participants fully aware of their mechanical issues before they caused a bigger problem.  And, as at this inspection, it was great to actually correct the problem on the spot.  

For those not attending this event, perhaps some self-inspection of your MG is advised.  

~ Mike Woodward

    Click these links to view the latest standings: 

MG Driver Award 2025.pdf

MG Safety Fast Driver Award 2025.pdf

If you bought your MG because you love driving, you will not want to miss the Texas Twisted Sisters Tour (TTST), which we guarantee will be the best Texas sports car drive you will do this year! This memorable event will take place Thursday, May 8, 2025, to kick off the 50^th Anniversary GoF in Kerrville. If you are planning to go to the GoF this year, do not miss this outing! The drive is a repeat of the Twisted Sisters event the HMGCC co-sponsored three years ago.

What are the Twisted Sisters?

The Texas Twisted Sisters are a trio of rural roads traversing some of the best scenery in Hill Country. Legendary in the motorcycle community, the confluence of Ranch Roads 335, 336 and 337 follows canyons and jagged hills and features twisted curves with a conspicuous lack of guardrails. The route crosses and follows several dry washes, creeks and rivers, including the Nueces River and Hackberry Creek. Altogether, the Sisters total over 113 miles of the best driving roads in Texas. And the roads getting to them are fabulous, too!

How Can I Join in the Fun?

The west Hill Country location of the Twisted Sisters makes the TTST best enjoyed as a day trip from the GoF location in Kerrville. To take part in the TTST, you will first need to register for the Spring GoF on the TMGR website and include your intention to drive in this event. You will need to arrive on Wednesday night, May 7, 2025, so either make or change your hotel reservations to include Wednesday night at the Y. O. Ranch Hotel. A driver’s meeting will be held at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the hotel to discuss logistics and safety on the drive. We recommend retiring early to be ready to hit the road at 8:00 a.m. in the morning. Please fill your tank on Wednesday night because the Thursday drive will cover 230 miles.

Tour Notes

• The TTST is a long and physical drive. Please make sure your car is in top condition and all the usual checks are performed before doing this drive.
• We will make regular stops along the route. Lunch will be held at the famous Bent Rim Grill. We should be back in Kerrville before 4:00 pm.
• Bring extra tools and consumables such as fan belts and fuel pumps if you have them. These roads are sparsely populated and far from any services.
• While all roads on this tour are paved, do not expect perfectly smooth asphalt and road conditions. Your car may get wet crossing a stream.
• We will observe the speed limits, but if you have trouble keeping up with the pace, please bring your concerns to the attention of the tour organizers. It is likely that we will have two groups of drivers, and you are welcome to drive with the “sightseeing” group.
• Please bring FRS radios if you have them to aid communication among the participants.
• Please email, text or phone all questions to the organizer, Scott Hardy, scott.b.hardy@gmail.com, 832-613-3664.

This note was posted today regarding an original founding member of the Houston MG Car Club.

"It is with a heavy heart I inform you that Dean Kring peacefully passed away Friday evening (March 28th). He had been dealing with various health challenges for the last 2 years.

There are no funeral or memorial arrangements, only an intimate service with family.

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all who supported his business endeavors and who offered friendship. He was truly one of a kind! I will miss him....Yvonne.

Dean was a character.  The last MG we saw him in was a purple chrome bumper MGB.  He often introduced himself as "Member No. 2." Only Club Founder Nick Nickles came before Dean.

Thanks for helping to get things started Dean!

As you can see, cars other than Triumphs and MGs also completed runs at the recent Autocross.  It must be FUN if drivers cannot resist taking out the old Cadillac, early Mustang, or Volvo!

lesser.pdf