By Dwight Dawson

Our monthly membership meetings are held in various parts of the Houston Metroplex. It means that active members sometimes have to drive a considerable distance. The November meeting, at Lyndon’s BBQ off 290, had 26 attendees. Among them were:

Jim Chase, 50 miles 

Bob Chalker, 52 miles in his MGA 

Ron Redding, 65 miles

Jim Early, 66 miles

Ken Evessen, 75 miles in his MGA 

10 Members drove their MG or other LBC 

 Well done Driver Members! 

By Bob Chalker

During the last week in October, Kim and I had the pleasure of spending several nights at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. I was there for business and Kim came along to enjoy the changing color of the leaves, great shopping, and the company of several of my colleagues and their spouses. We also enjoyed a couple pints at a few of the over 100 breweries in the area. The Grove Park Inn, built in 1913 in the arts and craft style, is an incredible lodge located on pristine grounds with breathtaking mountain vistas. 

The Grove Park Inn, Asheville, N.C.

A highlight of the trip was visiting the automobile museum at historic Grovewood Village, located on the hotel grounds. Grovewood Village is a small collection of buildings that have been preserved to celebrate the history of the area. Along with the automobile museum there is an art gallery, gift shop from local artisans, and the Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum of weaving and woodworking factories established in 1901.

Grovewood Village Car Museum

The antique car museum was established in 1966 by Harry Blomberg, Asheville’s Cadillac-Pontiac dealer for more than 50 years, and houses his personal prized collection of antique and vintage automobiles. As you might suspect, this museum is a tribute to the American automobile that includes a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, a 1916 Willys Overland Touring car, a 1927 REO Flying Cloud, and a 1940 Packard Coupe along with many more rare and unique American made cars.

1959 Edsel Corsair

But there was one exception. The only non-American car in the collection is a 1950 MG TD roadster proudly on display in the very front of the museum. Like all the cars in the museum, the TD is unrestored but in excellent condition. In fact, the attendant at the museum told us that all of the cars are kept in running condition and are periodically driven. 

MG TD leading the pack

1950 MG TD

 

1950 MG TD Interior

As I stood there admiring this beautiful car, I imagined myself driving it up the Grove Park Inn’s long driveway on a crisp fall day with the smell of freshly fallen leaves mixing with the aroma from the inn’s kitchen in the air. The Grove Park Inn is a historic gem built from massive granite stones quarried from the local mountainsides. As we explored the hallways we came across a collection of paintings depicting the cars in the museum. I couldn’t resist snapping a photo of the MG TD painting. We couldn’t afford to buy it, so we will settle with a photo on my phone.

If you are ever in the Asheville area, the Grove Park Inn and the Grovewood museums are a worthy destination. 

1926 Cadillac Sedan

1922 American laFrance Fire Truck

By Tom Dooley

It was strictly top down weather for the Great Pumpkin Rallye on October 26th. After sign-in and drivers meeting at Bleyl Middle school parking lot, one Morris, one Allard and seven MGs were sent off at 2-1/2 minute intervals for the 2+ hours of sports car adventure. Their mission took them through the pristine neighborhoods of Norchester, Cypress Forest, Lakewood Crossing and Lakewood Forest.

A Very Focused Driver's Meeting

Drivers & Navigators Heading To Their Trusty MG's

These gallant MG enthusiasts spent the duration going forwards and occasionally backwards, looking for the answers to the great pumpkin questions. Along the way they learned of such fascinating oddities as a one legged horse, a tree growing out of a chimney, a house with crosshairs on it, the location of Peanut Island, what a clerestory is and what kind of windows it has, as well as a street named after a type of Toyota (or perhaps that’s the other way around).

The Big Send Off

Their journey brought this group of navigational and observational experts to Mo’s Irish Pub at Vintage Park for relaxation, camaraderie and a little low impact elbow exercise. All in all, the consensus seemed to be that it was a very good way to spend a Saturday afternoon with your best girl and your best car.

The Houston MG Car Club Has The Best Girls In Town

In the fine tradition of British motoring, there can’t be a challenge without a reward and therefore our best of the best were: 1^st place Bob and Kim Chalker, 2^nd place Scott and Trish Hardy, and 3^rd place Paul and Karen Brownell. 

I wish to sincerely thank everyone who attended for making this event as much fun to put on as it was to participate in. 

Enjoying A Pint and Celebrating The Victors at Mo's Irish Pub in Vintage Park

** The Club thanks Tom & Jeanette Dooley for planning this outstanding event.  We are always looking for members who are willing to help plan an event.  If you are interested send a quick email to HoustonMGCarClub@gmail.com letting us know.  Remember the HMGCC is completely led and operated by volunteers, the more help we have the better the experience for everyone.

The Texas MG Register has posted an online album of photos from the GoF on their website.  Thank you to Gary Sandusky for his great work as photographer.

https://www.tmgr.org/fall-2019-gof-photos/

Story by Dwight Dawson, Photos by Dale Schiller, Gary Sandusky, Mike Gentry & Bob Chalker

It was a special weekend in October for the HMGCC, being our privilege to host the 2019 Fall Gathering of the Faithful. The Texas-sized event that MG aficionados enjoy once or twice a year was held at old Downtown Katy and several other nearby locations on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 17-19, 2019.

Arriving at the Holiday Inn - Katy

The Holiday Inn at Katy Mills Mall was our home base and registration center. Most participants from Dallas, Austin, and other cities north of us stayed there and enjoyed meals and adult beverages in nearby restaurants. The festivities began Thursday with a Nacho & Rita party at Los Cucos, a short walk from the hotel. 

Thursday Night Dinner at Los Cucos

Then Friday morning’s tour on swooping country roads west and south of Katy challenged driving skills in many of the MGs present. In the afternoon, participants enjoyed visiting Hemi Hideout in Brookshire, where owner John Hovas houses an amazing collection of American muscle cars, neon signs and memorabilia in the largest timber structure in Texas. 

The GoF crowd touring Hemi Hideout

Back in Katy, the No Label Brewery was an evening gathering place for thirsty drivers and navigators.

Before the sun was up Saturday morning, heavy dew was being wiped from pristine MG paint of every color. Organized chaos ensued as nearly 70 LBCs were lined up for the caravan to the show site in old Downtown Katy. 

Sunrise over MG's

Every MG stopped en route for a photo with the caboose at the MKT Railroad Museum.

MKT meets MGTD

Photos attest to the wide display of the various classes of MGs parked on the streets near Katy’s historic City Hall. Street vendors of all description filled the Katy Market Day stalls, ensuring sauntering foot traffic from hundreds of admirers of our now little-seen British sports cars.

A couple great views of the show field

MG Expert and Technical Guru John Twist from Michigan spent hours at the show in his “rolling tech session.” A number of lucky GOF participants shared time under the tent with John as he made minor mechanical adjustments. His endless recitation of MG facts and recommendations were informative and entertaining for all who gathered around. 

John Twist sharing his expertise

The traditional awards banquet followed at Midway Barbecue as the sun retired for the day. A silent auction provided distraction during the cocktail hour and a generous buffet dinner followed. The evening closed with awarding of trophies to the winners in the show competition, along with more live auction fun and camaraderie.

A sold out banquet at Midway BBQ

Back at the hotel, participants extended their evening of socializing and storytelling on the patio and other gathering spots. Sunday morning provided yet another great breakfast as MGs rolled out at leisure for the road home.

Back at the hotel, participants extended their evening of socializing and storytelling on the patio and other gathering spots. Sunday morning provided yet another great breakfast as MGs rolled out at leisure for the road home.

The expansive efforts required to plan and produce a GOF were fully realized by Ron Redding, Bob and Kim Chalker, and the dozens of volunteers from the Houston MG Car Club. We have enjoyed the organization and hospitality of other clubs for many years and were pleased to take the lead this year as hosts of the 2019 Fall Gathering of the Faithful. GOFs occur twice a year, and we encourage all HMGCC members to attend and enjoy these great events filled with delicious food, friendly folks and twisting roads. It is truly a time-honored tradition. 

 . 

Departing the Hemi Hideout

Just because you missed the Gof doesn't mean you won't be able to drive your MG in October.  On October 26th the club is hosting the Great Pumpkin Rally from 2:00 to 5:00pm.  Get your car out, put on your best Halloween costume and come on out for a bit of fun with the cars. Great Pumpkin Rally

Photos by Mike Gentry & Dale Schiller

The 2019 Fall TMGR was this past weekend in Katy and by all accounts it was a huge success.  We had great weather, over 65 cars, hundreds of people and a great weekend full of driving, eating and enjoying a bit of merriment with friends, from across the great state of Texas, who love their MG's.  There will be more to share in the near future but for now here are a few photos from the event.  Enjoy!  

HMGCC's Mike Gentry and Jim Early with the legend, John Twist

Gracie - Wayne Kube 1937 MG VA Saloon

We aren't sure what this is but it does have an MG logo

Ron Redding's 1958 Magnette

We have learned that during tropical storm Imelda the post office in Houston had damage and there is the potential that mail has been lost or delayed.  If you mailed in your registration and have not received a confirmation email please contact Bob Chalker at houstonmgcarclub@gmail.com and let him know.  Bob and Kim will make arrangements for taking your registration.

We are pleased to share the award winners from this year's Houston All British Car Day.  We had an outstanding field of cars with over 70 entries.  I am sure that they crowd found the voting to be difficult with so many great cars.  

Arnel Brown won Best of show with his 1953 MG TD

We also gave away two prizes in a random drawing.  Kenny Daves won a $100 gift certificate from Moss Motors and Richard Langer won a $25 certificate from Rock Auto.  We thank both companies for the support of our event.

CONGRATULATIONS to all of our winners. (click here to be taken to the award winners.

Once again this year a significant portion of the proceeds went to support the Russ Seto Scholarship.

Thanks as always to Greg for preparing the below report :