Once again, the George R. Brown Convention Center opened its doors to hundreds of motor vehicles for the annual Houston AutoRama. The GRB remains a perfect venue: spacious, well‑lit, and comfortably indoors during our Houston “winter.” Over four relaxed days, visitors enjoyed casual conversations, admired the variety of cars, and lingered at our shared display with the Texas Triumph Register.

This year’s lineup featured six Triumphs and five Houston MG Car Club entries. Our members and their cars included:

• Jon Crocker – 1955 Morris Minor, 2nd Place, Restored 1947–57 Class
• Dwight Dawson – 1973 MGB, Participation Award
• Ray Holtzapple – 1975 MGB GT, 1st Place, Foreign Sports Cars, Late
• Derek Shelton – 1966 MGB, 1st Place, Foreign Sports Cars, Early
• Jonathan Zier – 1958 MGA, Participation Award  
• Jason Curtis made a determined effort to join with his 1966 MGB, but ignition troubles left him stranded on the freeway and ultimately towed home after a long wait. As every MG driver knows: if you drive them, they will test you. Well done Jason, for the spirit of participation!

Thanks to the Club’s free $30 tickets, many members visited the show, signed in at our display, and enjoyed the sights.

Special recognition goes to Mike Woodward, who coordinated the event with his usual dedication. Mike arranged the cars, transported sign stands, banners, posts, chains, and managed the registration table. With Autorama requiring cars to remain from Wednesday through Sunday—right across the busy Thanksgiving weekend—the logistics are demanding. Thanks to Mike’s leadership and the contributions of many members, everything came together seamlessly.

By showing up year after year, we not only celebrate our MG sports cars but also strengthen the presence of the Houston MG Car Club in the wider community. Let’s carry that momentum forward—please consider joining us for the 2026 AutoRama.

Shiner, Texas was the destination recently for the HMGCC.  Jim and Doty Goldmeyer were the event coordinators and provided a very fun day for us, just a few hours from home.  For those who have not traveled to Shiner for some time, recent improvements on the brewery site are impressive, and include a fancy new restaurant.   Not only is the beer still flowing, they also serve up very worthy barbecue beef entrees and all the trimmings at the separate walkup counter.   These servings can be comfortably consumed, as many of us did, in the expansive courtyard with picnic tables and umbrellas; in the covered dining area, a live folk singer entertained.  And, surprisingly, a new Distillery is now in place for various liquors and has its own private bar.  

 We had 10 cars from Houston and met 13 more from clubs that are west of us. The weather was grand and we were all topless except, of course, Bill Bower in his GT.  Greg Fleischer brought newly- retired Skip Robbins as Navigator.  He really enjoyed the outing and said this was the first time in a decade that he traveled the country in the marque (MG!) that he had been working on all his life. 

The road trip was uneventful except for one unexpected 360 degree turn. (What else would you

expect from the leader, Goldmeyer.) Thanks go to Scott and Trish Hardy for their efforts in coordinating participants from Austin, San Antonio and Dripping Springs.  One of them asked if we will  do Shiner again next year...and Jim said “we will go every year as long as I am able to drive!!”

   

On Saturday October 18 we enjoyed the Fall Autocross versus our friends in the Texas Triumph Register.  This time, it was not a favorable competition for the MG's. Perhaps it was the fact that the TTR turned out twice as many competitors.  Or, just check the average completion time, on the attached file, of TTR's Dusty Nicholson in his 1971 Spitfire.  He was smokin'.

Fortunately, having a blast on the track  is not a problem for anyone.  Next time we will want to improve our number of racers; maybe that will work for us.  

Autocross October, 2025, Police Academy Time Sheet - Final (1).pdf

  

Here are the final 2025 reports on the MG Driver Award and the MG Safety Fast Driver Award.   The first award is to encourage the driving of our MGs by recognizing the member who drove their MG the MOST MILES to attend club-sanctioned events.  The second award is also to encourage the driving of our MG's by recognizing the member who drove their MG to the MOST CLUB-SANCTIONED EVENTS.  

We can all tip our hats to Member Greg Fleischer for his efforts over the years in tallying the data from the event sign-in sheets and creating these reports.  Greg has concluded his time in doing this and the officers of the Club will certainly appreciate another member stepping forward to take over this task in support of these annual Awards.  

Detailed description of the award eligibility can be seen on our website under the ABOUT tab.  

MG Safety Fast Driver Award 2025.pdf

MG Driver Award 2025.pdf

35th All British Car Day: A Celebration of Heritage and Heart

On October 4th, under warm Texas skies, at Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q, the Houston MG Car Club welcomed enthusiasts and admirers alike to the 35th All British Car Day — a spirited gathering of chrome, craftsmanship, and community.

75 cars registered, with about 70 making it to the show field. A few faced last-minute mechanical woes, but two determined participants had their cars towed in AND out, embodying the true spirit of MG grit and British motoring devotion.  This event was again so ably directed by Member Lee Drum.

Among the highlights:

•  A fully restored pedal car drew smiles from all generations.

•  Six Premier Class entries showcased the finest restorations and rarest models.

•  A genuine London double-decker bus — a 1964 AEC Routemaster — stood tall among the crowd, reminding us that sometimes you have to travel to Tomball, Texas to see a piece of London history.

First Place Winners by Class

•  MGTC: Raymond Barth, 1948

•  MGTD: Chuck Quinn, 1952

•  MGA: David Lawrence, 1959 Twin Cam

•  MGB Chrome Bumper: Ron Redding, 1964

•  MGB Rubber Bumper: Bob Schroeder, 1976

•  Austin Healey Sprite: Pete Sandy, 1959 Bugeye

•  Austin Healey 3000: Richard Hockert, 1966

•  British Luxury: John Mottershaw, 1959 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud

•  British Modified: Rob Ficalora, 1976 MGB V8

•  British Special Interest: Sandy Griffith, 1965 Griffith — daughter of the marque’s founder

•  British Vintage: Paul Brownell, 1951 Allard J2

•  Jaguar E-Type: James McWhinnie, 1967 XKE

•  Jaguar 1970 & Later: Mike Woodward, 1996 Vanden Plas

•  Land Rover: Robert Wright, 1959 Series II

•  Mini (Pre-2020): Jim Goldmeyer, 2007

•  Mini (2020 & Later): Jim Goldmeyer, 2024

•  Morgan: Greg Chronowski, 1965 Morgan +4

•  Sunbeam: Hunter Larson, 1967 Tiger

•  Triumph TR2 & TR3: Melisa Farrell, 1962 TR3

•  Triumph TR4 & TR250: Steve Voss, 1965 TR4

•  Triumph TR6: Neville Skead, 1976

•  Triumph Spitfire & GT6: Jon Barrett, 1963 Triumph Sport 6

Special Honors

•  People’s Choice Award: Arnel Brown, 1953 MGTD

•  Best in Show: Arnel Brown, 1953 MGTD

The ABCD event raised roughly $3,000, with half of the silent auction proceeds of $550, being donated to a chosen charity — a testament to the generosity woven into our community’s fabric. 

Thank you to all who participated, volunteered, and attended. The spirit of British motoring is alive and well — and it roared with pride in October.

The Woodlands Art League had 11 artists scattered about the show grounds.  A few of the awarded paintings are in photos below.  

 Tech Session: Grease, Gaskets & Good Times

September 27

It was a classic Saturday morning for the Houston MG Car Club—sunshine, snacks, and a stubborn British car. Members gathered at Rich Colwell’s house to tinker with a 1980 MGB and maybe learn a thing or two about its electrical system. Rich, fresh off a flight from India and battling jet lag, a head cold, and a gut parasite, was mostly useful for knowing where the tools were. Fortunately, the club runs on teamwork—and snacks.

Fuel Fiasco: The MGB That Wouldn’t

The car, which had run fine before Rich’s trip, refused to start. Enter Dave Griffith, who diagnosed a fuel delivery issue. The culprit: loss of prime.  Previous to Rich's trip a small leak between the gas tank and sending unit was . After installing a new gasket, the system had gone airbound. Dave’s solution? Old-school ingenuity: he pressurized the tank by blowing into the filler neck. Yes, with his mouth. It worked. Don’t try this at home.  The tank started leaking again, despite the new gasket.

Grease Is the Word

Next up: front-end lubrication. The kingpins and steering rack got a fresh dose of grease, transforming the handling from “tractor” to “almost power steering.” Plans to torch the kingpins were shelved when a grease gun did the trick. Sometimes, simple wins.

Wiring Woes and Electrical Enlightenment

With the car running, attention turned to the wiring. Rob Ficalora led a deep dive into BMC’s color-coded chaos. Continuity tests, connector replacements, and oxide removal brought the brake lights, indicators, and reverse lamps back to life. The tachometer, long dormant, sprang into action after a faulty relay was swapped out. Victory!

Tank Trouble: The Sequel

Just when things were looking up, the gas tank struck again. Bill Sysman spotted the real leak—not the gasket, but both the tank itself and the sending unit.  The spot-welded collar that accepts the sending unit twist fastener was seeping from underneath, and the PTFE joint for the sending unit wire was also compromised. Rich plans to solder the collar and vacuum-seal the joint this weekend. Fingers crossed.

Snacks, Sips, and Solidarity

Kathy Colwell kept morale high with fresh-baked savory treats, soft drinks, and beer. As always, the real joy was in the camaraderie—turning wrenches, swapping stories, and embracing the eternal truth of British motoring: if it’s not leaking, it’s empty.

~ Rich Colwell

Joe Schrodi alerted us to this noteworthy news:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19j5fusMmH/

The Silent Auction at our Oct. 4 Car Show will include a good number of quality items.  Long-time members Wayne and Isabelle Hardy donated the list you see below.  So bring your checkbook and bid early and often.  

Our member, Clay Ownby, attended the 111th GOF event of the NEW ENGLAND MG T REGISTER in Danbury, Connecticut.    Click this link to see his report on it all.  

NEMGTR GOF 111.pdf