Club member Jim Early’s 1962 MGA graced the back cover of the latest issue of MGA Magazine.  His is in the top photo.  Congratulation’s Jim on your car once again being recognized as a premier example of the MGA.  

While most people throughout the U.S. were in malls and shopping centers, standing in lines, wrestling for that last sales item and generally frustrating themselves, a few of us were out and about in our Little British Cars enjoying the day. We had a great turnout with 17 people driving 9 MGs and one modern Mini Cooper. Not sure how the Cooper snuck in, but hey, we are the Marque of Friendship, so we will let anyone join us. Before leaving, we even had a great conversation with the proud owner of a classic Pontiac.

Meeting up at Buc-ee's in Katy

We gathered at the Katy Buc-ee’s, filling ourselves with coffee & kolaches and our cars with pure-gas. Then we headed out onto a series of twisting, meandering country roads.

Kicking the tires before departure

Out of town visitors joining us for the drive

(Can't believe Bob let his son-in-law drive his baby)

Our 58-mile route took us through Brookshire, out past San Felipe de Austin State Park, turning south towards Simonton, into Fulshear and finally into Richmond where we ended the Trip at Bob’s Taco Station. This area is still wonderfully rural with lots of great driving, allowing for mostly unfettered 50 to 60 mile per hour driving on well-maintained roads. There are only a few small towns, requiring minimal stop and go traffic.

The gang's all here

The sights along the way were very much Texas – Longhorn cattle, horses, beautiful ranches and one very large roadkill (a wild boar) that made for an extra chicane in the roadway. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget the house that was being moved and looked like something out of the Wizard of Oz.

Auntie Em, Auntie Em...

A very special shout out to the world famous Bob, of Bob’s Taco Station. He arranged for special parking in the front of his restaurant and reserved seating inside. We had great food, fun and laughter sharing stories and discussing potential future drives.

No better place to end a drive than Bob's Taco Station in Richmond, TX

I am happy to report that the weather held with moderate temperatures, clouds, and only a couple very light sprinkles in the morning. As we came out of Bob’s Taco, the clouds cleared, the sun came out and we had excellent top down driving weather. I am also happy to report that no one qualified for next year’s Broken Crankshaft Award. The cars ran flawlessly.

Drivers and navigators were: Roger & Kaye Sykes, Ron Redding, Dwight & Candy Dawson, Mike & Stephanie Woodward, Jim Early, Bob & Stephen Chalker (Bob’s son), David & Taylor Smit, Kim Chalker & Bob Loomis (Kim’s dad) Dave & Linda Renner and Gordon Bard.

Wishing one and all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

HMGCC at the Lone Star Flight Museum at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base

By Bob Crow

More than a dozen of our members arrived for breakfast at the Whiskey Cake Kitchen and Bar, Baybrook Mall on Saturday, November 10th. Several people took advantage of the chilly weather and arrived with tops down, heaters on, in the proper spirit of British motoring. Whiskey Cake offers a different breakfast /brunch sort of menu and folks at one end of the table - names withheld - enjoyed Mimosas while waiting for their eggs Benedict.   

As events coordinator, I'd foolishly assumed that breakfast would be over and we'd all be on the road for the short drive to Ellington and the Lone Star Flight Museum by 10am. Instead, perhaps lubricated by decent drink and tasty food, we were still sitting at the table talking and laughing when someone realized it was after 11!

After settling our bills, few instructions were needed for most to find their way to Ellington and the museum. I couldn't resist the offer to ride in Terry Charlton's modified V8 MGB and enjoyed the 'getting up to freeway speed' acceleration and beautiful V8 music.    

There was plenty of parking at the museum and in we all went. Lone Star Flight Museum really is one of the nicer aircraft exhibition spaces anywhere. We saw lots of very beautiful and interesting planes and enjoyed informative displays. Many of us saw the restored B-25 bomber that is based at the museum take off while we were there. What a magnificent noise those big old radial engines make when they lift the big bird into the air! 

I want to add a special thanks to my friend Ron, a veteran hero helicopter pilot, for coming along and explaining how the heck helicopters can fly. I spent over two hours in the museum and barely saw half of it. Maybe we can come here again.

Fifteen hardy souls attended, five of whom drive MGs. They are: Gordon Bard (1972 MGB), Paul Brown, Terry Charlton (1963 modified MGB), Rick Coblents, Bob and Elke Crow, Dwight and Candy Dawson, Greg Fleischer (1971 MGB), Ray Holtzapple, Marilyn Proctor (1977 MGB), Bob and Kathy Schroder, and Fred and Lisa Whitla (1977 MGB).

From the club:  THANK YOU to Bob Crow for coordinating this event.  The Houston MG Car Club is an all volunteer organization and is only as good as we the members make it.  If anyone is interested in coordinating a future event you can volunteer by sending an email to the Mike Woodward, Events Coordinator,through the club's email HoustonMGCarClub@gmail.com or speaking to him at a future event.

Yesterday we received the following email from Sharon Rushing.  Please keep Sharon and her entire family in your thoughts and prayers.  As you will note in her message, Sharon would very much appreciate it if a couple of us were able to attend the services, driving your car.

Dear MG Car Club Members,

My father, John Rushing, and I were able to join your club for many events and he truly loved every minute of it.  He just officially joined last month.  Unfortunately I have to share the sad news that my father passed away last week.  I wanted to let everyone know and to make a request for anyone who is willing and able to attend the services this Saturday for my father.  He would be so pleased to have MG’s there.  He was especially fond of the yellow MG TC owned by John, I believe.  There is also a couple that lived near us in NW Houston, but I can’t find the paper where I wrote their number.  Honestly it all still feels like a horrible dream.  

Feel free to pass along this information to everyone. 

Here is the service info:
John Bryan Rushing Jr., of Jersey Village, TX, b. Jan 29, 1932 Hemphill, TX, passed away at 86 on Nov 7, 2018 in Houston. All are welcome to attend the service, on Saturday, November 17 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at McWilliams Funeral Home, 706 Bremond St, Hempstead, (979) 826-2421.

Thank you for accepting him into your group.  It was truly one of the highlights.

The Houston MG Car Club was proud to make a donation to the Russ Seto Scholarship Fund from the proceeds of this year’s Houston All British Car Day.  The Russ Seto Scholarship was established by the Texas Triumph Register to provide financial support to people who are pursuing an education in automotive technology.  To learn more about the scholarship click HERE.

Mike Gentry, Chairman of the Houston MG Car Club, presenting a check to Fred Wagner of the Texas Triumph Register for the Russ Seto Memorial Fund.

Wire wheels provide great performance and a great look for our British classics, but they don't come without their own set of challenges.  The attached article from Classic Motorsports Magazine provides excellent "what to do" and "how to do it" advice for those of you who cherish wire wheels (and for those of us who are in a love - hate relationship with them.)

https://classicmotorsports.com/articles/wire-wheels-classic-cars/

Did you know that Flat Bernard loves to travel, especially if he can check out great cars.  I also hear he doesn't mind traveling on airplanes, visiting sites with great views and despite his slim build, he loves a good dinner on occasion.  His problem is, that he doesn't have any transportation of his own and relies on Houston MG Car Club members to take him along with us when we travel.  Bringing Flat Bernard on your trips is a great way to share your adventures with the club.  If you will simply take a few photos of Flat Bernard in interesting places, and provide a brief story, we will post your adventures here in the ROARS.  If you would like to take Flat Bernard along with you contact Dwight Dawson, our membership chair, and he will send Bernard over to your house with his bags packed. 

Photos by Dale Schiller

Most recently Flat Bernard was at the Houston All British Car Days.  He seems to have taken a fancy to the MGA's.

By Dave Renner

The 29^th Houston All British Car Day, sponsored by the Houston MG Car Club, was held October 20, 2018 in Katy, Texas. The undaunted participants gathered under cool grey skies but no rain fell at the show to dampen spirits. Fifty classic British cars representing thirteen marques were on display for the approving crowds at Katy Market Day to enjoy.

The entries read like a Who’s Who of British auto legends. The more familiar badges of MG and Triumph, Aston Martin and Austin Healey, Jaguar and Range Rover, Morris Minor, Morris Mini and Mini Cooper shared the tarmac with less often seen TVR, Berkeley, Sunbeam and Shelby Cobra. They were dazzling, charming, beautiful and unique-- history lessons on wheels, with the expected oil drips, leather upholstery smells and engine roars to add ambiance to the experience.

The Best of Show award went to Arnel Brown for his lovely 1953 MGTD, which sports a very rare and stylish, period correct hard top. It was a standout in a sterling crowd. The cars owned by Albert Amato (1966 Austin Healey Sprite Mk III), Peter Ferrer (2010 Jaguar XKR) and Nancy Money (1976 TR6) were placed into the Premier Class.

Arnel Brown’s 1953 MGTD also won first in the MGTD category, with Ron Redding taking second with his 1952 MGTD. Barry Jones took first place in the MGTC class with his 1947 MGTC. In the MGTF category, Alex Chaykoski (1954 MGTF) was awarded first place and Glenn and Fran Carpenter (1954 MGTF) garnered second place. Jim Early (1962 MGA MK ll) and Mike Gentry (1960 MGA 1600) shared first place in the MGA class while Roald Lokken (MGA 1600) and Don Lantz (MGA 1600) shared third place.

In the MGB Chrome Bumper class, Terry Myers (1971 MGB) took first place, Dale Schiller (1972 MGB) took second place and Dwight Dawson (1973 MGB) took third place. In the MGB GT class, Nick Roccaforte (1973 MGB GT) took first place, with Roger Sykes (1974 MGB GT) awarded second place. In the MGB Rubber Bumper category Ray Matocha (1979 MGB) took first place, Robert Gilbert (1975 MGB) took second, and Kim Michael Wittenberg (1977 MGB) took third place. Susan and Keith Cannon (1971 MG Midget) took first place in the MG Midget class.

Clark McKinley was awarded first place in the Triumph TR2 & 3 class with his 1959 TR3A. David Smith (1967 TR4A) took first place and Mike Hado (1965 TR4A) took second in the Triumph TR4 & 250 class. In the Triumph TR6 category, Gary Myers (1976 TR6) won first place, Timothy Maxwell (1974 TR6) placed second and Mike Rouse (1971 TR6) was awarded third place.

Greg Chronowski took first place in the Austin Healey 100 class with his 1954 AH 100 roadster. Marc Dickson took first in the Austin Healey 3000 category with his 1967 AH 3000 BJ8. Jorn Schrenus took first place in the Land Rover class with his 1983 Range Rover Vogue. Michael Thingstad took first place in the British Luxury class with his 2008 Aston Martin Vantage.

Keith Ryder (2018 Jaguar F-Type) was awarded first place in the Jaguar 1969 and newer class. John Ramsey (2003 Jaguar XK8) placed second and Matt Cox (2014 XJ-R) took third in that class. Michael Carter took first place in British Modified class with his 1958 Berkeley SE492. The 1967 Sunbeam Alpine owned by Shannon Hodell was awarded first place in the Sunbeam category.

Hal McGinnis (2006 Mini Cooper S JCW) took first in the New Mini class and James and Tebbi Mayes (1966 Morris Mini Traveller) took first place in the Mini category. Michael and Stephanie Woodward (1961 Morris Minor 1000) took first place in the British Special Interest class. Peter Ferrer (1965 Shelby Cobra) took second place with Steve Russell (1974 TVR 2500M) taking third place in the British Special Interest class.

Proceeds from the show support the Russ Seto Memorial Scholarship, which is given to support the education of future automotive technicians.

2018 HABCD Award Winner Photos

Views of the Show

By Dave Renner

I was reading an article today about driving seldom used classic cars with out-of-date tires. The writer was bemoaning the expense of fitting new tires when the ones on the car still looked good. It reminded me of a frightening experience I had some years ago that made me a believer in up-to-date rolling stock.

One summer, I drove a church van loaded with summer camp kids on the way home from a fun week. The van had "good looking" tires, according to the person charged with maintaining it. When a tire blew at highway speed I was just lucky to bring it to a safe halt with no injuries to the 14 people on board. Another old tire shredded a few miles down the road as we limped home at considerably reduced speed. Again no injuries occurred, but I have been a zealot about tires ever since.

It is one thing to endanger yourself, but quite another to endanger others. We replaced decent looking tires on our MGA when we purchased it last year because the codes said the ones on the front were from 1987 and the ones on the back from 1982. Not taking any chances, thank you. Sometimes you don’t get a second chance to be safe.

Dave & Linda Renner’s MGA with new tires