Thanks to Greg as always for keeping up with the standings.

Safety fast!

Mike.

Effective today the new payment system is live.  Payment’s will now be taken through AffiniPay.  The first time you make a payment through the website you will need to enter a credit card, at that time you will have the option to store the card for your convenience.  Please know that affiniPay is 100% PCI compliant and that neither the Houston MG Car Club nor the host of our website Wild Apricot store or have access to your credit card information.  AffiniPay offers all of the same protection as PayPal.  If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to send an email to HoustonMGCarClub@gmail.com.

Effective February 1st the club will be moving to a new online payment system for the website.  We currently use PayPal but the cost to support this system have continued to increase.  Our website host, Wild Apricot, has their own payment system, provided through AffiniPay, which offers many, if not all of the features and conveniences of PayPal and will save the club administration fees.  AffiniPay is fully PCI compliant and has a Better Business Bureau A+ rating. 

During the January Houston MG Car Club meeting Scott Hardy shared an informative and entertaining presentation of his and Trish’s adventurous trek in their 1972 MGB from Calgary, Canada to their new home in Houston. If you missed it, you missed a good one. Not to worry, though, as you can see his presentation slides here. Plus, this was only part one of a two-part presentation. Scott will continue his tale at the April monthly meeting.

Year's ago Dwight Dawson had a blog about life with their MGB.  Following is an excerpt from that blog.

Welcome to my blog about our longstanding and unshakable love affair with a car.  Well, its not just any car, but a 1973 MGB Tourer.  It is pictured here with a hardtop that I hauled around for 25 years before selling it to an MG colleague in Austin, TX.  As a resident of Houston, I found that the heat and humidity rendered the hardtop rarely used.  Plus, I needed the space.  When I bought the top we lived in Billings, Montana.  There, it got some use as I drove the car year round.

Do you have a story about life with your MG?  If so, we would love to have you share it with us.  Simply send it to houstonMGCarClub@gmail.com.  

As always, many thanks to Greg for preparing the below report. 

By Mike Woodward, photos by Scott Hardy

This year’s Christmas party was once again held on December 14^th at Falcon Point Country Club in Katy. Mike Woodward presided over the event and handed out the annual awards.

The 2019 Driver Award went to Gordon and Angie Bard, for the most round-trip miles driven in an MG to club sponsored events. Additionally, plaques were given to previous years’ winners of the Driver Award who did not receive them at the time, including:

2011 John and Nancy Youens

2012 Ray & Mary Dee Holtzapple

2014 Gordon & Angie Bard

2015 Bob & Kim Chalker

2016 Roger & Kaye Sykes

2017 Mike & Stephanie Woodward

The twelve members who received the 500 Mile Club Award for their extensive driving of 500 miles or more this year were Bob Chalker, Nick Roccaforte, John Blum, Alex Laverock, Scott Hardy, Walter Bernard, Ron Redding, Bob Schroeder, Ken Evesson, Mike Woodward, Dwight Dawson and Gordon Bard. Well done, drivers!

The Alan Rayne Memorial Award, AKA the “Broken Crankshaft Award,” was presented by Dwight Dawson to Gordon Bard. After receiving both this year’s Driver Award and 500 Mile Club Award, Gordon appropriately pointed that “You gotta drive it to break it!”

The Ralph Diebert Award went to Jim Early for the All-British Car Show’s most popular MG marque vehicle, his 1962 MGA MK II.

 

In recognition of their respective outstanding leadership and service to the club, Ron Redding was awarded the Board of Director’s Award by Mike Gentry; and Dwight Dawson received the President’s Award.

Finally, the first ever Back Seat Driver’s Award was presented to much-deserving Candy Dawson for her extraordinary behind-the-scenes work throughout the year.

In addition to the awards celebration and wonderful buffet lunch, the customary silent auction and food donation took place, along with a unique and fun gift exchange. Most important of all, our members enjoyed both the spirit of Christmas and the lasting MG friendships within the club.

The Houston MG Car Club wishes all of our members and friends a very Merry Christmas and a joyous and prosperous New Year.  Thank you for making 2019 one of the club's most successful years.

The following article was published in the 25th Anniversary edition of The ROARS.  Joe Lopez, was the 4th member of the Houston MG Car Club and continues to be a member to this day.

By Mike Woodward

On November 29, 2019 Gordon and Angie Bard, Roger Sykes, Ken Evesson, Mike and Stephanie Woodward and their granddaughter Avi met at Willowbrook Mall to start this year’s Black Friday drive. Amongst them were three MGs (LBC) and one Jaguar (BBC!!). Unfortunately, Fred Whitla and his MGB were stricken by the “Prince of Darkness” on the way to the mall, providing us with our first qualifier for next year’s Broken Crankshaft award!

A picturesque one-hour drive through the countryside led us to the Cozy Grape restaurant in Montgomery. Joined there by Ed Rosenquist and Avi’s mom Fionna Phillips, we all enjoyed a wonderful lunch and, of course, great MG friendship. Towards the end of lunch Fred and Lisa appeared, courtesy of a local tow truck, and so at last the group was together, reminiscing about the wonderful “Prince of Darkness.”