Chairman's Transmission
From MGA!, MAY/JUNE 2011, VOLUME 36 / No. 5
Five-O
In the last issue of MGA! our Editor challenged us to recognize the car on the back cover. While there is definitely a resemblance to the MGA, I’m pretty certain it is an early Triumph Spitfire. There’s not much to go on, but it can be identified by the dual front parking lights and bumper overrider position. Okay, I know, I’m a car geek, but it is fun to try to identify cars in old photographs and especially in old movies, just as Ken Nelson did in his last article.
In fact, I love watching old TV shows, just to catch a passing MGA, or a parked E-type, or maybe a split window Corvette. Can’t say as I’ve picked up on many Magnettes, though. One of the favorite shows in my house is the original Hawaii Five-O. There was so much outdoor footage, you were bound to see bad guys driving around in something interesting while trying to outrun McGarrett’s mammoth Mercury.
If you’re in attendance at GT-36 (MG2011), you will hear stories of this and much more from our very own Mr. Hollywood, Gene DeRuelle. Gene was involved in Hawaii Five-O and many other TV and big screen productions and will be our featured speaker during NAMGAR’s Register Night. It should be fun to hear his take on Tinseltown stars and their cars, and of how Gene’s Twin Cam MGA stacked up to Steve McQueen’s Jaguar XKSS! Lots of other great activities are in store for us in Reno, too, as Carol mentions in her article.
For many, Five-O is also the choice of the Rallye to Reno participants. Route 50 will carry hundreds of MG enthusiasts from Ocean City, MD all the way to Reno….and beyond. It may not be too late to join us as we pass through your state. Between all the fun, we’ll try to remember and get some photos posted as we go. So, even if you can’t make the trip, tune in to www.namgar.com to see what‘s going on leading up to and at MG2011.
And don’t forget to check out our website for all the latest news and events. Thanks to you and the Tilburys, the site is continually changing. If you’ve got a comment, question or story to share, simply post it. Our gallery is looking awesome as well, thanks to everyone who has already uploaded photos of their MGAs and/or Magnettes to the gallery. It’s great to see so many cars (restored or awaiting restoration). I invite you to share yours, if you haven’t already.
Hopefully, your Chapter got together for a special outing on Drive Your MGA Day. Please send in a photo or two to our Editor, along with a short write-up. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Just a sentence or two describing what your group was doing to have so much fun! Also, for anyone attending other events this summer, please send in a short story of your adventures. Your input is what keeps our magazine vibrant!
A special thank you to our new Advertising Manager, Rob Camblin, for bringing in new ideas and advertisers to support our ever-growing magazine and website. Please support Rob by suggesting any businesses that you think should get their messages out to NAMGAR members.
I’d also like to recognize another unsung hero on the NAMGAR workforce. Mr. Matthew Wigent is NAMGAR’s longtime legal advisor. While he’s not the guy you call if your painter or restorer “took the money and ran,” he does give the Board advice on any NAMGAR related legal issues. Thanks, Matthew, it’s nice to know you’re there for us!
Speaking of painting and restoration… we’ll soon be looking towards GT-37. So here’s a call to action for all Mk II and Deluxe owners. You’ve got twelve months to get your car on the road, if it isn’t already. As two thousand-twelve marks the fiftieth anniversary of the last MGA to be produced, I’m hoping to see a record number of…you guessed it. Five-O!
It looks like we’ve got a blockbuster year ahead of us. I sincerely hope you can take some time to enjoy your MG. It can be as simple as a drive to a nearby bed and breakfast with your loved one, or as crazy as a cross-country adventure with 300 of your closest MG friends. Either way, the reruns of the memories made will last for decades. All you gotta do is make plans, and, as McGarrett would say, “Book em!”
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Bruce Woodson
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