NAMGAR Articles, News and Event Information

NAMGAR at Solomons Island

2012-02-18T04:07+00:00

The Mid Atlantic Chapter was pleased to host the east coast Fall Regional GT, NAMGAR at Solomons Island, from September 28 to October 2, 2011 in Solomons Island, Maryland.

As Chapter Chairman, I was happy to welcome incoming MGA! editor Mike Tooke to his first NAMGAR outing. Mike expressed an interest in personally experiencing MGAs and NAMGAR members in action – with the promise of what happens in Solomons, stays in Solomons … or earns a mention in MGA! if embarrassing enough. We were joined by NAMGAR members from nine states and most of the 25 MGs arrived Wednesday afternoon with little fanfare.

Not so lucky were our guests Mark and Cindy Michalak, who arrived with their MGA on the back of a flatbed truck. It seems the ring & pinion gearing had given up while touring Washington, DC – much to the decided LACK of amusement to the Secret Service officers assigned to protect the White House, in front of which the gears chose to make their final rotation. The combination of a vintage vehicle with Michigan license plates pulling a small trailer simply did not sit well with the Secret Service. Mark was in the early lead for the Regional’s Hard Luck Award … but wait! … Mark’s week was not over yet.

With registration completed and Mark and Cindy in a loaner MGB GT, we were off to Vera’s White Sands Beach Club for our opening Meet & Greet reception set in a tranquil inlet overlooking the Patuxent River. After welcoming remarks by committee members Kathy Kallapos and Liz Ten Eyck, old acquaintances were renewed and new friendships made as these smaller Regional events promote opportunities to meet everyone attending. With a full day of travel for many behind us, it was an early evening return to the Hilton Garden Inn after dinner.

Thursday morning dawned with the promise of a warm autumn day in Solomons. Perfect for our plans to visit the Calvert Marine Museum to view the maritime heritage of Solomons Island and the Chesapeake Bay region through artifacts and exhibits depicting the life of the watermen and supporting businesses – or to pull the differential unit from an MGA and replace it with one shipped over-night from home. Those not engaged in mechanical work boarded the William B. Tennison - a circa 1900 Chesapeake Bay ‘Bugeye’ sail vessel later converted to a powered oyster buy-boat – for a sightseeing cruise through the Solomons harbor to the Patuxent River where it flows into the Chesapeake Bay. Upon returning to shore, we continued to explore the history of Solomons Island with a tour of the Drum Point Lighthouse, now located on the museum’s grounds, and of course taking time to visit the shops and enjoy lunch in this quaint marine town.

In keeping with our Chesapeake Bay theme, dinner plans for Thursday evening included a scheduled cross-peninsula drive to Popes Creek for dinner at regional favorite Captain Billy’s Crab House overlooking the Potomac River. As a committee, we had concerns as to how best keep a caravan of 25 MGs in tow while navigating the series of traffic lights and turns leaving Solomons as the Patuxent Naval Air Station personnel left work. Our problem was solved when Liz arranged for a Maryland State Trooper to escort our convoy until we cleared the heavier traffic and reached the more rural area of the county. Captain Billy’s fulfilled its reputation as a purveyor of fine seafood, cold beverages and excellent service and it was well into the night when the burbling sound of MGAs filled the air as we found our way back to Solomons.

With four wheels back on the ground Mark and Cindy were able to join us Friday morning as we staged in the hotel parking lot for our British Car Rallye. The goal of our Rallye Masters Bill and Kathy Wemhoff was to make the questions challenging enough to demand attention while incorporating many of the scenic landmarks and vistas of the Solomons area. Our two hour tour took us from Solomons Island to the southern tip of St. Mary’s County enjoying the towns of St. Mary’s – Maryland’s first colony and first capital - St. George Island – site of the first battle on Maryland soil during the Revolutionary War – and Piney Point – home of the oldest lighthouse on the Potomac River. Those able to follow directions were rewarded by arriving in the historic town of Leonardtown in time for lunch. After lunch, options included sightseeing in Leonardtown on-your-own or joining our group for a planned kayak excursion.

Novice and experienced kayakers alike entered the McIntosh Run at the Port of Leonardtown Winery for a lazy paddle to our landing area at the entrance to Breton Bay. We were able to convince a number of hesitant folks that kayaks were safe and near impossible to tip over. Our course, which took us through a blend of forested areas and open marshes of a wildlife sanctuary, promised neither strong currents nor whitewater rapids to upset our vessels – ensuring we would arrive to be ferried back to our MGAs in a dry condition. What we did not suspect was that returning the kayaks to shore would put our boaters in jeopardy.

NAMGAR Tech Editor, Mike Ash, and wife, Jennifer

In combinations of single- and double-seat kayaks, 28 guests leisurely paddled through the serene sanctuary - on the lookout for the Bald Eagles, Baltimore Orioles and nesting ospreys that make their homes there. Experienced kayakers helped the novices gain their paddle motions, acted as tour guides and swapped cameras to document the experience. Even the most timid of beginners felt like experienced professionals as we approached the Leonardtown Wharf to put-in on shore. With a retaining wall separating the water from the shore, landing was a simple procedure of aligning with the floating platform, gaining a moderate amount of speed and hitting the sloped ramp to ground the kayak. First arrivals Mark and Bill helped secure the kayaks as we dismounted and cleared the ramp as others passed the kayaks to shore. Those still in the water paddled in a holding pattern waiting their turn – many eager to extend the outing just a little longer.

What happened next occurred in a blink of an eye so details remain a bit sketchy, but the outcome remained Mark was knocked off the platform, landed on the bow of the circling kayak of Kathy Kallapos and both ended up in the shoulder-high waters of Breton Bay. Our promise of a dry return was dampened, as were the cell phones and cameras of our now-drenched pair. While others showed necessary concern as to the well-being of Mark, Kathy and their electronic gear, I knew this was a Kodak moment not to be missed. If Editor Tooke wanted pictures of NAMGAR members in action, in action pictures of NAMGAR members he would get. In time all was sorted out, and we returned to the hotel to freshen up for dinner – some damp but no worse for the wear.

Our dinner plans for Friday evening were not as complicated as the night before. The Ruddy Duck Brewery & Grill was located in the parking lot of the Hilton Garden Inn and a quick stroll had us finding our seats. Our hopes for a quiet evening spending time swapping stories were quickly dashed when the live band began to set up just outside our dining area. Visions of loud rock n roll music played to a full dance floor were, well, true. What we did not expect was that the dance floor would be full of NAMGAR members! We took over the joint and many of us outlasted the band as the spirited nature of MGA owners came through.

Saturday was a much cooler day, down-right nippy in fact. Hoods went up on many cars as we continued our sightseeing with a visit to the Patuxent River Naval Air Station Museum. Established in 1942 as a base for experimental and advanced aircraft and weapon systems, the Naval Air Station continues in that role today. The Museum preserves and interprets the history and heritage of advancing aviation technology throughout the course of many generations of aircraft and weapon systems. After touring the museum, we gathered to caravan to our lunch destination of the Island Bar & Grill on St. George Island. We used this opportunity as another sightseeing tour of the area and headed for the Piney Point Lighthouse at the tip of the island where we posed for a group photo to commemorate the event.

Our Farewell Banquet Saturday evening provided an opportunity to thank all our guests for attending and to thank the Chapter members who helped make this Regional a great success. In addition to the aforementioned Kathy, Liz and Bill and Kathy, we recognized Alana, Karen and Betty Ann for their assistance in making me look knowledgeable while I waited to be told what to do and when.

Mark & Cindy Michalak - Long Distance Award

It would not be a farewell banquet without the presentation of the usual awards. The Long Distance Award was presented to Mark and Cindy for their drive of over 800 miles to attend from their home in Michigan – the final 60 miles on the flatbed notwithstanding. As expected, Mark and Cindy also qualified for our Hard Luck Award for their mechanical issues capped by Mark’s unexpected dive into the murky waters of Breton Bay. Rallye Master Bill walked us through the Rallye questions with groans heard as many realized they made some questions far more difficult than they were. In the end, a tie resulted between Karen and I and the team of Mike and Jennifer Ash – with both scoring 18 of the 21 questions correctly. The “fix” was not in as Bill had earlier determined the tie-breaker was total time to complete the Rallye, and Team Marshall arrived at the final checkpoint minutes ahead of Team Ash. One final award was our Spirit of the Mid Atlantic award presented to Ken and Melon Doris of New York for their leading the charge on the dance floor at the Ruddy Duck and longest distance traveled by Chapter members to attend.

Sunday morning was time to pack our cars and to say goodbye to our fellow participants. The few moments we allowed to exchange good wishes always seem to extend longer than planned when standing with a group of friends, lingering just a bit to relive the memories, not wanting it to come to an end. One by one, the sound of MGAs rumbling to life signaled the end of another chapter of our MGA memories.

NAMGAR promotes Regional GT events as “anything you want them to be” as they are really about enjoying the MGA with fellow MGA enthusiasts in a manner that brings the cars and people together. As with any GT, the goal is to have fun while driving an MGA and making new or rekindling old friendships formed over the years. A Regional GT supports the NAMGAR adage that “it’s the cars that get you there, but it’s the people that bring you back”. We will leave it to Editor Tooke to determine if the people will bring him back and whether what happened in Solomons actually stayed in Solomons or if indeed as suggested; there were enough memorable moments to warrant a mention in MGA!

Categories: NAMGAR News

Registration Opens for GT-37 and Key West Regional Event

2012-02-18T01:45+00:00

Registration is now open for two of NAMGAR's premier events.

GT-37 will be held in Dayton, Ohio from July 9 - 13 and promises to be an event-filled five days. The host chapter is the Southwestern Ohio Centre of the MG Car Club. The host hotel is the Dayton Marriott. Full details and the registration form are now posted on the NAMGAR website

The Key West Regional GT will be held April 23 - 27 in Key West, Florida. Join in the fun of the Conch Republic Independence Celebrations. The host chapter for this event is the Key West British Car Club. Full details and the registration form are now posted on the NAMGAR website.

Categories: NAMGAR News

Calling all MGA 1600 MkII and MkII Deluxe Owners

2012-02-10T20:43+00:00

These models are to be featured at GT-37 in Dayton, Ohio (July 9-13) as it is 50 years since the last MGA rolled off the production line.

NAMGAR has designated the MGA 1600 Mk II and Mk II Deluxe models as the featured car at GT-37, and is extending a challenge to owners of these cars to attend the GT. Two years ago at GT-35, NAMGAR set a potential world record when 34 Magnettes came together in Delevan, Wisconsin.

Unlike the 1500 and 1600 models, the 1600 Mk II has distinct features that make it easily recognizable. The Mk II (and Mk II Deluxe) has a recessed front grill, as well as horizontal rear taillights mounted below the boot opening. (It also has a 1622cc engine, and a 4:1 rear axle, fitted originally). The Mk II Deluxe car is distinguishable in that it has knock-off steel wheels.

These models were made in 1961 and 1962, with the last car built in May 1962, and dispatched in June. It was an Iris Blue roadster (believed to now be green), and had chassis number 109070. The last car made for North America was a red roadster, with chassis number 109069. The total production numbers for these models are:

1600 Mk II

8,198 roadsters, and 521 coupes

1600 Mk II Deluxe

290 roadsters, and 23 coupes

Of these, 6,286 roadsters, 182 coupes, 242 deluxe roadsters, and just 2 deluxe coupes were LHD North American export cars.

The NAMGAR Registrar has a number of 1600 Mk II and Mk II Deluxe cars listed in the Register. The highest chassis number being GHNL 109061, i.e. just 8 cars from the last NA car made, and it applies to a Chariot Red roadster. It is hoped that this car, along with many other cars, will make it to the show field at GT37.

The GT organizers expect to recognize these cars and their owners in a special way during the event. The GT37 registration form and event information can be found on the GT37 website .

Categories: NAMGAR News

Sebring Reunion (March 14-17, 2012)

2012-02-08T21:19+00:00

The Australians are coming and they will be touring the US from March 25th through April 11th.

This year’s Sebring revival event promises to be very special. The complete 1961 MGA factory Sebring team will be together again for the first time after more than 50 years.

Ian and Pam Prior have shipped their 1961 MGA Deluxe Coupe (#44) from Australia. This car will join Frank Graham’s similar car (#43) from New Jersey for this event. NAMGAR MGA Historian, Michael Eaton, gives more information on the Prior’s car in his article below from the January/February issue of MGA! magazine.

Also coming from Australia is the 1960 MGA 1600 roadster of Ray and Sharon Mullins, Richard and Barbara Prior with a 1949 Y Tourer, and Dave and Laurel Godwin. The Godwins have not shipped a car to the US, but that’s because their MGA roadster is being prepared for the drive from Cape Town to Cairo later this year. They are members of NAMGAR.

Ian Prior (left) and Ray Mullins checked the loading of their MGA’s into the seafreight container prior to shipping from Australia to Savannah, Georgia.

In addition to the Sebring event, the Australians and their cars will also attend the Amelia Island Concours, and the GOF South event in Orlando. They will then drive north up the east coast of the US through Georgia, South and North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey to New York. Their schedule for this drive runs from around Sunday, March 25th through Wednesday, April 11th, and they invite MG clubs along their route to contact them. They would really like to meet MG owners along the way, and would welcome cars to join them for parts of the tour. Ian Prior will be happy to provide more details of the cities they plan to visit along their drive.

Historically Speaking - Profile No. 44 by michael eaton

In my last article, I chronicled the various MGA teams that ran at Sebring as a primer for the upcoming Sebring MGA reunion March 14- 17, 2012. For this article, I thought I’d profile one of the cars I mentioned that is making an extra special effort to attend this event. This car is Ian Prior’s 1961 1600 Deluxe Sebring Coupe. Ian hails from Australia and is bringing the car over for the event. This will most likely be one of the only times our North American members will be able to see this historic racer without making a trip down under! A brief history of #44 provided by Ian is as follows:

#44 - 1961 MGA Sebring Deluxe Coupe (Car Number GHD 100148)

GHD 100148 is one of two MGA Coupes specially prepared by the BMC Competition Department for the 1961 Sebring 12 hours race. Running in class GT9 for Grand Touring vehicles for up to 1600 ccs, it was driven by two Californians, Jack Flaherty and Jim Parkinson, winning the class and finishing 14th overall completing 175 laps of the 5.3 mile circuit in the 12 hours at an average speed of approximately 77 mph. After the race, #44 was purchased by Fred Ball, who autocrossed and rallied the car in SCCA sponsored events, winning his class in the Orlando Nocturn Dark to Dawn Rally. Herb Burns also raced #44 on behalf of Fred at Osceola, Florida and the 1962 Daytona SCCA Divisionals.

The next owner Richard Robson Jr., as well as competing in SCCA events, also entered the car in the 1964 and 1965 Daytona Continental 2,000 kilometer races. In 1964, entered with race number 64 and driven by Robson/Jacobson, the car completed 101 laps before engine problems forced it out. The following year 1965, carrying race number 3, it was driven by Dobkin/Slottog/Jacobson but completed only 42 laps.

Purchased by Ian Prior in 1977 in Titusville, Florida in very poor condition, #44 was shipped to Australia. Restoration was finally finished in June 2005 and #44 was immediately shipped to England to participate in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the formation of the BMC Competition Department and the start of MGA production held at the Silverstone circuit. This was followed by a 2,500-mile tour of Britain organized by the MG Car Club. On return to Australia, #44 has been used in historic racing and MG Car Club events. Number 44 was the most successful MGA at Sebring.

With Ian bringing this car over from Australia and Frank Graham also bringing his ex-Sebring 1961 Deluxe Coupe #43 from New Jersey, there will be a one and only opportunity for a reunion of the entire 1961 Sebring team! Don’t miss it!

Categories: NAMGAR News

MG Vintage Racers - Racing Schedule for 2012

2012-02-01T03:40+00:00

Greetings MG Vintage Racers. Here is a list of significant MG races for 2012. Please contact the editor@mgvr.org if your Club's racing event is missing from this list.

12 Hours of Sebring with SVRA March 13-17 Sebring International Raceway

This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of MGA’s last participation in the Sebring 24 Hours. Several significant Sebring MGAs are expected to be on display, including MGAs from Australia and the ex-Jim Weissenborn #39 MGA, now residing in Germany. Don’t miss this last of the big gathering of Sebring MGAs. Click here for more information.

The Classic Motorsports Mitty April 26-29 Road Atlanta

This year’s Mitty celebrates the 50th birthday of the TR-4 and the MGB. Special guest includes Cas Castner. The big feature for MGB owners is a gathering of the largest group of MGB GT V-8 race cars in recent memory with Jerry Richards, Les Gonda, Bruce Blakeley, Don Munoz, Bill Bartlett (borrowing a V-8 from Jerry) participating. This is another DO NOT MISS British race event! Click here for more information.

VARAC’s 2012 Canadian Historic Grand Prix June 15-17 Mosport

This year marks the 34th running of VARAC’s vintage festival. As always, VARAC welcomes MG vintage racers and sponsors the Simms Cup Trophy for MGs. This year ‘s event also features the only Canadian round of the Small Bore Challenge Cup, an enduro series for small bore vintage and historic racers. Click here for more information.

Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix - PVGP Historic Races at PIRC (formerly BeaveRun) July 13-15 PittRace

The opening race weekend in the PVGP Grand Prix, PVGP Historics celebrate their 30th anniversary by naming MG at their featured marque. PVGP Historics again this year will feature the second annual Donna Mae Mims Spridget race for all Midgets and Sprites. Last year’s first DMM race was a huge success-show up for this year’s race in pink and receive special recognition! There’s plenty to enjoy at this race, including kart track racing, and Candy’s Rides-PVPG’s charity hot laps. Click here for more information.

Schenley Park Vintage Races July 21-22 Schenley Park

The Gold Standard of Vintage Race weekends, and only vintage race in North America raced on city streets, the PVGP Schenley Park races are also featuring MG as Marque of the Year, with special race cars and show cars slated to participate. Wayne Carini has been named honorary race director and will race his MG ND at Schenley Park while taping a new segment for his “Chasing Classic Cars” TV show. If you have never raced your MG at Schenley, this may be the year to do it. Click here for more information.

MGVR Focus Event with VSCDA at Grattan Raceway August 17-19 Grattan Racetrack

MGVR’s 17th Focus Event is being held in conjunction with University Motors famous Summer Party. Still lots of planning ahead of us but expect to enjoy special All MG races, MG car shows, MG tech sessions,-alll sorts of special MG stuff. VSCDA is rolling out the red carpet for MGVR with our own paddock, and special all MG races including the third and final race in VSCDA’s 2012 Vintage Sprite and Midget Race Series. Located just 20 miles from Grand Rapids, Grattan Raceway offers amenities such as a swimming pool, on-site camping and easy access to track viewing. Click here for more information.

US Vintage Grand Prix and Collier Cup Race with SVRA September 6-9 Watkins Glen International Raceway

This is an event many of you are familiar with. The 2004 event still holds the North American record for most vintage race MGs as 143 MGs participated in that year’s focus event and Collier Cup races. In 2011 over 40 MGs participated in the Collier Cup race and related activities including the tech session at Smalley’s garage, the race re-enactment where selected racers drive the old race course at pursuit speeds, and of course the downtown festival, where 30,000 vintage race fans line the streets to greet the re-enactors. A great event at a storied track. Click here for more information.

Categories: Chapter Events

12 Hours of Sebring 2012 - Sebring MGA Reunion (March 13-17)

2012-02-01T03:17+00:00

This year’s 12 Hours of Sebring support race with SVRA is a ‘do not miss’ event for the MG enthusiast. This year marks the 50th year of the last MGA participation in the 12 Hours. In honor of the MGA’s proud place in Sebring history, 8 surviving Sebring MGAs will return to the track to join other vintage and historic race cars.

MGAs participated in the 12 Hours of Sebring from 1956 through 1962, with the exception of 1958. During this brief span MGAs finished 1st in class twice, 2nd in class three times, third in class twice, and 4th in class 5 times, while winning the manufacturer’s team prize in 1956, and 1957. In 1961, an MGA built to Deluxe specifications finished 14th overall and took 1st and 2nd in class! A total of 19 MGAs participated in the 12 Hours of Sebring; ten of these are confirmed survivors.

The Sebring MGAs will also be a featured class at the Amelia Island Concours on Sunday, March 11. This “Pebble Beach of the East” is an outstanding automotive event with many attractions over a four day period.

Special Sebring MGA features include a display at the Reunion Tent in the paddock area, along with a “Cowboy BBQ” Friday night (tickets available for $30 through David Harrison @ davidmharrison@yahoo.com) where Michael Eaton will present a live photo history of Sebring MGAs. Guest speaker will be famed MG driver Gus Ehrman.

SVRA has posted their event entry and provisional event schedule on their website. Go to the right side of their home page and look under NEWS. There is a limited supply of rooms available on a first-come first-serve basis at the Jacaranda in Avon Park. Call Elaine at 863-453-2211 and tell her you are with David Harrison’s MGA gang…but do it NOW to guarantee a room. David Harrison is in need of a room mate-see his email above.

I hope to see you at this year’s Sebring MGA Reunion at Sebring!

Chris Meyers, Editor, MG Vintage Racers' Newsletter

Categories: Chapter Events

4NORMY: One Woman’s Saga of Adventure on the Road - Part 2

2012-01-28T21:01+00:00

When we left Debi Wilson, our fearless traveler, (in Part 1 of this article) she was stranded in Sioux Falls, SD, in need of a regulator for her MGA. As you may recall, Debi is on her way from Texas to Alaska in her recently purchased A, to fulfill a promise in memory of her late husband.

Terry made a phone call and, with a smile, told me not to worry. The regulator would be fixed in the morning.

One of the guys took me to a very nice hotel and picked me up the next morning. At the dealership, six smiling men met me and they were proudly holding up a brand new regulator…a 1959 Lucas regulator in the original box! I cried an hour later when I started the roadster and slowly drove away from “the guys”; the original Lucas box packed safely away in the boot.

I’ve come to think of my trip with the roadster in two parts: pre Sioux Falls and post Sioux Falls. A more accurate conception might be of the shake down phase and the excursion phase. I never expected a breakdown free trip and dysfunctional gauges, flat spares and frozen wipers were really no more than anticipated inconveniences that were dealt with in turn. Even hose and belt replacements were repairs planned for in advance. The never knowing if the car would start however had been a tedious and time consuming effort. Every stop for fuel, food, lodging and sightseeing had to be planned before Sioux Falls; before the engine was shut off. Was it a safe place, could I back in, was there an incline to get me going, was it at least flat enough and with enough room so that I could push the car myself and then jump in and pop the clutch? It takes a certain level of skill and agility to seat yourself in an “A” under normal circumstances which truly becomes somewhat of a circus act featuring the human contortionist under rolling conditions.

When I left Sioux Falls I still couldn’t bring myself to completely trust that the roadster would start after so many miles of uncertainty. By the time I reached Chamberlain, SD that had all changed. I crossed the Missouri River three times that day just because I liked the view and just because I could! The car kept starting on the first try, and with my confidence soaring, I took last minute turns to Big Bend Dam and Fort Defiance. Between Chamberlain and Rapid City I toured the Badlands and Wind Cave National Parks. For most of one day I walked around and shopped in every store in Wall, SD. Just east of Rapid City a sign for “Custer” caught my attention and a quick turn south took me to Mt. Rushmore and Wounded Knee. I spent a late afternoon one day just rock hounding along the Kyle but eventually headed north again to Sturgis. I was too early for the big bike rally in August but I bought a t-shirt anyway and packed it away in the boot with all the other souvenirs. I was running out of room and told myself to stop buying things but that only lasted for the remainder of South Dakota and a few miles later I crossed the state line into Wyoming.

Wyoming saw the continuation of al fresco lunches. The weather was pleasant and with deli sandwiches from small stores, days were spent exploring around Devils Tower and in quiet hours along the Powder River and Crazy Woman Creek. A cold bottle of beer and my latest reading material completed glorious afternoons and spectacular sunsets of peace and reflection with no particular plans for the next day.

I kept buying souvenirs all the way across Montana. My favorite is a t-shirt I found in a small store near the Little Big Horn Battlefield. It depicts a child-like Indian chief in full headdress standing on the edge of a bluff. His hands are cupped to his mouth and he is yelling “Red Rover, Red Rover, Send Custer Right Over.” I even bought a stuffed toy prairie dog at Greycliff Prairie Dog Town that I have since placed on the shelf next to the little stuffed bunny my husband adored for reasons that can’t be shared here. At Bozeman, the signs for Yellowstone could not be ignored and so a three day trip south was in order. South, back into Wyoming and then west into a touch of Idaho and eventually north again into Butte we rolled. Along the way, small state roads and highways that were ideal roadster traveling material made it difficult to leave the Yellowstone area.

Just west of Missoula an ugly sky signaled heavy rains. I pulled into a large station near Frenchtown and decided to put the windows back in. I was not afraid because I had plenty of duct tape and the wipers were working after all. Fellow travelers and some locals told me that it looked like “hail” weather. Memories of Decatur, IL were still fresh in my mind. I thought about the hail and could picture my beautiful car all dented up like someone had beat it with a ball peen hammer and I quickly pulled the roadster to the nearest open pump under cover. I had just gotten gas and serviced the car but for the next thirty minutes I pretended to check the oil and tires, washed the windshield and windows, filled the tank (almost a whole gallon) and watched the skies for the golf ball sized hail a local had warned me about in this area. I sweated and watched the skies and stalled until the attendant inside (where he was safe from golf ball sized hail) waved at me. I walked slowly into the store, my eyes still on the clouds and stalled some more by pretending to look at souvenirs until the attendant told me I couldn’t sit at the pump any longer…that I would have to find someplace else to wait out the storm. The hail came down as I was getting my change and I could not, despite my best efforts, keep from laughing out loud in relief. Ten minutes later the roadster and I were back on the road under light rain without a ding. It rained the rest of Montana and through Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. It was a scenic drive and I enjoyed it very much when the rain was light and when I wasn’t busy packing souvenir t-shirts around the leaking windows.

Just east of Spokane, Washington, warm, dry weather returned along with a very strong head wind. The wind blew constantly and as the little car struggled with the wind I watched the fuel consumption rise commensurate with my temper. Mile after mile of head wind until I yelled at no one in particular that a little tail wind from time to time would certainly be nice. My yelling went mostly unnoticed, but I’m sure was witnessed by a few cars that passed as they were always staring at the car and waving. I’m sure some of them noticed anyway. I stopped just west of Moses Lake to pack the windows away in the boot one last time. I was tired of the wind and constant noise. Even if the wind persisted I thought I was looking forward to the Columbia River Gorge that lay in our path a little farther west.

The wind continued all the way to the Columbia River. As the little car nosed over the edge of the eastern side of the gorge the wind suddenly stopped and I yelled and whooped and slapped the side of the car. It was wonderful to finally have some quiet and be able to relax my grip on the wheel. Nearing the bottom and looking ahead at the bridge I noticed red wind socks standing straight out at about the same time as the wind, in even greater force than before, struck. I shifted the roadster into third as we began the climb up the western side. I kept one eye up on the hood and the other on the road and the heat gauge. The hood was holding well, the temperature gauge was rising. I shifted down into second gear just to keep moving forward, up the hill and still into that God awful wind. We limped along in the truck lane as the temperature gauge continued to rise and our forward momentum went down. The roadster began to miss and I pulled off onto the shoulder and shifted into first. The little car struggled so just to move forward and ever higher. I told the car lies about seeing the top just ahead and patted the center console yelling, “you are a magnificent machine.” Secretly I prayed that the semi slowly coming up the hill behind us would not push us farther off the shoulder and into the ditch. And so it went for what seemed like hours until the semi finally pulled even. As the semi driver came along side he opened his window and yelled for me to “get in behind—as close as you can.” As the tail of the semi passed the nose of the roadster I carefully pulled back into the truck lane and eased the roadster up to the truckers’ bumper and then slightly under where aside from tire noise, it was quiet once again. The roadster began to cool and pick up speed as the trucker moved up the hill.

Debi pictured (left) with another Open Road Adventurer, Mark, who also was traveling from Texas to Alaska by motorcycle with his eleven year old grandson, Mikey.

There’s a pull out/rest area at the top of the Columbia River Gorge along Interstate 90 where I’m now sure, on windy days, travelers stop to brace themselves for the trip down or like me, stop to gather themselves after the long haul up. The semi didn’t stop but I slowed and eased the roadster from behind him and pulled into the rest area. As the semi made the slow turn away from the pull out, the driver waived and flashed his lights two times. I flashed back and waved watching the big truck roll on to the west. When the car was stopped and as I watched the temperature gauge slowly go down I cried quietly because there are acts of kindness that can never be repaid.

The morning I left Ellensburg, Washington, the weather had turned cool. I danced around the car that morning as I checked tires and oil and everything else in part to keep warm, but mostly because the wind had stopped. I dug out two souvenir t-shirts that didn’t smell too badly from being wet and put them both on. I threw my only hooded sweatshirt on the passenger seat and thought about putting the windows back in. I decided it would warm up as it got later in the day and drove off. The roadster seemed to thrive in the cooler temperatures and the drive through the Cascades, while not terribly long, was one I will remember always. The roadster had no difficulties going up and down the mountains. Through every pass the little car hummed and held tightly to each curve while I put on my hoodie and ran the heater on full. Fog and light snow shrouded the highway before and over the summit at Snoqualmie and with few other cars and only an occasional trucker along the way we cruised silently westward nearing the end of the road portion of our adventure.

The traffic from Seattle to Bellingham was too much like all the other large cities we had gone through and I wished for a few more days of open highway or the winding roads in the mountains along the way. Our last day before we boarded the ferry in Bellingham was spent in line waiting to load. Six days later after stops in Ketchikan, Juneau and Yakutat the little car started on the first try and rolled off the ferry in Whittier, Alaska. Hugging the mountain sides along Turnagain Arm we drove the last few miles to Anchorage in the early morning hours when the road is quiet and the roadster just hummed.

My friends all draw a sigh of relief when they see me now – home safe and in one piece. They ask sheepishly if I had a good time, or with that, “I told you so” tone. Was it a nightmare of breakdowns, repairs, and hours stranded in one scary place or an other? I smile and simply say that it was a grand adventure with absolutely no regrets because that is all they can understand and they would not believe the rest. I think about trying to tell them about the lure of little blue cars and the hundreds of people that took time to just stop and talk with me about the A.

For so many it was a time to remember their own cars and express their regret in ever letting their cars go when life got in the way, as it usually does as you get older. I think sometimes that I will tell them how the wind feels in your hair and face in the minutes before sunrise and there’s nothing between you and the horizon but a ribbon of asphalt and the sound of the little engine. I wonder if they would appreciate the warmth of a sunset on their shoulders or a shady rest area beside a swollen river. Would they feel the awesome beauty of Rushmore in the early evening floodlights or the sheer magnitude of the Grand Canyon when viewed from behind the wheel of a two-seater convertible?

I can’t tell them about the kindness I received from “the guys” and so many others like the man that gave me a CD of his own recordings when I stopped for gas in Montana. He thought I might just enjoy the music. He had an MGA once and decided his music and my car would go well together. How do I tell my friends about the absolute joy of the Cascades or the upper passes of the Bitter Root Range lost in fog and light snow in mid-afternoon? How the little car’s performance up one canyon and down another, along winding roads, was the envy of every semi and most new cars. I would never dare to tell them about the little car’s struggle to get up the west side of the Columbia River Gorge in 110 mph head winds or how the friendly semi signaled for me to pull in behind him and up close, and how with an invisible tow rope he pulled the little car to the top. There’s no sense in trying to explain how every motel, hotel, and restaurant worker made sure I was parked in a safe place where I could see the little car or the countless times people took pictures as they drove by. There’s no hope in my friends understanding why a group of Harley riders, out touring themselves, would ask me to pull over just so they could take a picture of their bike next to my car. How do you explain Lake Michigan, Mt. Rushmore, Sundance, the Grand Canyon, and so many places across 14 states and over six weeks of random turns and stops to just gaze? Most of all, I want to tell them that I was never alone and that I was out there in the roadster, and so very much alive with it all.

Home now and the roadster sits in the garage waiting for sunny days when it can be out on the road again, humming smoothly as it travels up, down, and around the mountains where we live. Rainy days are spent with me tinkering under the bonnet, working on door panels and replacing the radio with a very fancy stereo/ CD player with speakers hidden under the dash. Ramps have been purchased and the oil changed. Tires have been balanced, but the horrible shimmy persists at 62 mph; new rims are needed, but can’t be found, yet. Evenings when sleep doesn’t come easily, I find myself down in the garage with the door open. The little car is pointed toward the open road with the engine running and “An Unchained Melody” playing on the new system. I fight against the urge to “give ‘er some gas” and set my hair on fire once again. Ah Norman, I sigh, but then I have to smile because he didn’t make me promise it would be just one ride. Summer is just six short months away and I’m already planning.

Categories: NAMGAR Member News

An Unbelievable MGA Drive

2012-01-28T19:53+00:00

Do you think that your MGA is reliable? No problem - a trip to the corner store and back, a drive across your state, even to visit friends in a neighboring state. But would you drive it more than 7,000 miles for 53 days in the heart of Africa? That's what eleven MGs, including two MGAs will be doing later this year.

Eleven MG owners and their co-drivers/mechanics are presently working diligently to prepare their cars for a great drive. Nine couples hail from Australia, along with one each from the UK and South Africa. They will drive the classic Cape to Cairo trans Africa route in September and October this year.

They will leave Cape Town, South Africa on September 9th 2012, and if the trip goes to plan, they will arrive in Cairo, Egypt, on October 31st 2012. The cars will have done a total of 7,445 miles (12,408 kms). Of course there are some “rest” days along the way, but the driven days average around 235 miles (390kms) per day. That’s quite a tough schedule, especially as a lot of the route is on dirt roads. The route takes them through 10 different African countries, with the associated visas and border crossings to add to the stress.

Pictured in Abingdon after their epic drive to China

Some of the romantic places, and unique geographical features, enroute include:

Day 1 - Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa (mile 0)

Day 6 – Luxury tented accommodation in Namibia

Day 9 – The Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe

Day 11 – Lusaka, capital of Zambia

Day 16 – Dar es Salaam, on the east coast of Tanzania

Day 17 – The Spice Island of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean

Day 19 – Moshi and Arusha on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain

Day 22 – The MGs will feature at a Concours D’Elegance competition in Nairobi, Kenya

Day 26 – Cross the Equator into the northern hemisphere in the shadow of Mt Kenya, African’s second highest mountain

Day 30 - Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa

Day 39 – The convolution of the Blue and White Niles in Khartoum, Sudan

Day 45 – Ferry trip down the Nile in Egypt

Day 50 – Visit to pyramids and the city of Luxor

Day 53 – Arrival in Cairo (mile 7,445)

And Beyond

Dave Godwin, of the Gold Coast MG Car Club in Australia, tells NAMGAR that the group will then decide on a route to MG Motors in Longbridge near Birminham, England. This will depend on the political situation at the time in North Africa. They expect to visit Abingdon around November 18th/19th, having covered around 10,300 miles (17,200kms). We wish them lots of luck on this incredible road trip.

Visit the NAMGAR website from September 2012 on, for updates and photos along the route.

Categories: International MG Articles

4NORMY: One Woman’s Saga of Adventure on the Road-Part 1

2012-01-27T23:16+00:00

NAMGAR member, Debi Wilson from Alaska, relates her remarkable story of how her dream to own an MGA came true, and her subsequent incredible solo journey from Texas to Alaska. This article is in 2 parts - the second part will be posted on the website in the near future.

When I was very young, and long before I could legally drive, I found an abandoned MGA roadster and coupe on the edge of a farmer’s cornfield in Kansas. I convinced my father to take the bullet riddled and now rusting pile of cars home and over the next few years we spent countless hours restoring the roadster using the coupe for parts.

Some of my best memories in life are the ones I spent with my father and the roadster. In my memories my dad is often scratching his head at the jumbled mess before us, but always smiling at me as another restored piece went into place. Nearly 50 years later I can still recall my father’s look of determination and the sound of his laughter as we put the roadster through test drives at a deserted airfield. “Give ‘er some gas little girl” he would yell as we screamed down the runway, top down, our hair on fire, and so very much alive with it all.

I’m much older now and my hair has been grey for many years. I’ve done all the responsible things like going to college and being a successful professional. I married the love of my life and our dream was to own an MGA roadster and tour someday. My husband Norman became ill and after a long and insidious journey, died before we could pursue our dream. He made me promise that I would buy a roadster and “take a drive anyway”. A year after Norman died it was time to start the engine so to speak and I began looking for a roadster. I’ve lost track of the number of people that looked at me with concern when I told them I was going to buy a roadster and take a road trip. An even greater number gasped when I cashed in my life insurance to get the money for a car. Most just shook their heads when I got a second job to finance what the insurance money wouldn’t cover. Through it all I kept going, looking for a roadster, and never telling anyone about the little car in my dreams that beeped plaintively in the night.

In December of 2010 a man e-mailed me in response to my constant web searches for a ’58 or ’59 roadster. Gerard sent pictures and histories, when known, on every roadster for sale that he knew of and even some he had just heard about. Through it all he was patient and somewhat understanding. He wrote once that he was not sure if I was a scam artist or not, but the story about the promise to my dying husband was a nice touch. Eventually I suspect he believed me and one day sent a picture of a roadster he knew about in Texas. It was the car in my dreams, but I did not share that with Gerard. He put me in touch with Brian, the man in Texas that owned the car. Brian sent more pictures and two e-mails and one phone conversation later I put a substantial down payment on my AMEX card to hold the car until I could get to the bank. By this time most of my friends were avoiding me and, I believe, were secretly thinking of having me committed.

January of 2011 was busy with roadster business and plans for the trip. I bought a one way ticket to Houston for May, assorted items from Moss Motors (hoses, belt, points) I thought might come in handy along the way and a 1911 model .45 I decided to take in “any event.” I put together an emergency fix it kit that included among other things, black electrical tape, bungee cords, a metric wrench and socket set, assorted battery operated warning lights, electrical wire, silicone caulk, a few flashlights, my Gerber knife, and because I’m an Alaskan, two rolls of duct tape. I had a chrome boot rack sent to Houston to be mounted, had Brian install an alarm system for the car, and generally pestered the poor man over one thing or another on a weekly basis. Brian agreed to start the roadster and let it run for a while along with everything else. Mostly, he kept telling me that I should not, under any circumstances, try to drive the car from Texas to Alaska. He would tell me that the car was only for show; to be transported on a trailer to a show and then trailered home. He was vigilant in reminding me that something terrible could happen if I broke down at night on some deserted stretch of highway. I would reply that bad things could happen in broad daylight and that I didn’t get to be my age from too much stupidity. By the end of January the Alaska vanity plates “4NORMY” arrived at about the same time as my new passport. I removed more clothing from my little duffle bag to make room for both, trying to keep not only space but weight to a minimum. My ferry ticket arrived and Brian continued to e-mail his concerns about my safety. He resorted to including reminders that Gerard did not think it was a good idea either. I spent the next four months annoying my coworkers with pictures of my car, deciding and re-deciding what to pack, going to the range with my .45, and generally walking around with a smile on my face. I had no plans except to head north from Houston and eventually get to Bellingham, Washington where the roadster and I would take the Alaska Marine Highway home to Alaska. I did buy a TomTom GPS so that I could find Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants along the way as well as auto parts stores for oil and lead additive.

The heat in Houston nearly made me pass out as I waited for a taxi outside the terminal and the next two hours became a blur. I remember seeing the car for the first time as the giant warehouse door opened and running my hands over the cool surface of the fenders. At some point I gave the man that met me the Alaska plates and while he put them on I sat behind the wheel staring at the dash. My hand on the gearshift I mentally went through an H. I remember starting the engine and taking my husband’s necklace with his wedding ring from around my neck and hanging it from the rear view mirror. From somewhere in my memories I heard “it’s ready to go” and I drove away.

A few blocks away I found a shady parking lot where I could stop until my hands stopped shaking and face my first problem. I couldn’t reach the pedals well enough to shift without grinding let alone brake when needed. Sliding down in the seat I could manage the pedals but couldn’t see over the dash. When being short is your normal you have a tendency to forget that well, you’re short. I made pedal blocks out of discarded cardboard I found in a trash can and arranged my clothes on the seat until I was tall enough to see. This arrangement worked well enough to see me safely to a variety store where I purchased two chair cushions that worked nicely for the remainder of my trip.

I drove most of the first night trying to escape the heat. The car temperature gauge teetered on overheat and any stop and go traffic sent it into extremes. Every fifty or so miles I stopped to top off the tank (gas gauge didn’t work) and check the oil and water. I used my TomTom to calculate my speed (speedometer didn’t work) at 3700 rpm’s (if the tach was right) I was cruising at a nice 57 mph. I was averaging 26 mpg, if the odometer was tracking correctly, and oil consumption was one quart every 200 miles. If the mileage was correct (28,864 at pick up), and after sitting for so long (four years I was told), I was sure the rings and seals needed some time. As I drove along the dark and quiet highway, I learned the sound of the engine. New little rattles always meant that another nut or bolt had come lose someplace and needed to be found and put back tightly.

Diboll, Texas began the first of many engine no starts after getting gas. The attendants in the stations those early hours were always willing to lock up long enough to help give me a push start. Eventually I found a safe place with an incline and waited for dawn. In the morning I discovered that the starter and connecters had rattled lose, but I could not reach them with my short socket set. At every oil and gas stop the little car attracted attention. An old woman tinkering under the bonnet increased the curiosity level considerably. A woman with a van full of children stopped to show her kids the “toy car.” She told me about a friend that had a garage just down the road and with a roll down the incline to start the engine; I followed her to the shop. Without a moment’s thought, the garage owner said he would take the car in right away. One half hour later billed $5.00 for labor and $14.97 for extra oil the starter was tight and the car started easily on five test runs. Clear skies, heat, and easy starts continued for the remainder of Texas, north across Arkansas, and into southern Missouri. Some days I drove only a few hours during the relative coolness of the mornings. There were frequent stops for cold drinks and to let the car rest and cool down. At every stop people came over to talk and ask about the car. There were shady places to relax and enjoy the view and a lot of the time was spent reading my car manuals and back issues of MGA! The engine was still idling too high at 1300 rpms, the wipers still didn’t work despite my tinkering, and the spare tire was flat.

I spent a few days revisiting the Lake of the Ozarks after a 40 year absence and found that much had changed. In Osage Beach I drove along the lake, stopping at stations and auto part stores, inquiring if anyone could help with my wiper problem. They all said no but if anyone could work on the car, it would be Lance and they gave me his number. Lance Hedrick said he could look at the car right away, to come to his shop, and once there, he had me pull immediately into a bay. Within minutes the engine was running smoothly and idling at 900 rpms and the wipers were working! The rest of that day and half of the next was spent replacing hoses, running bench tests on the generator and starter, replacing the battery and cables, and eventually installing a remote starter relay as the random no starts had returned and with a long weekend approaching, a new starter was a week away even with express mail. Once in a while I handed Lance tools and was ever ready to start the engine when needed. I hovered when not pacing about the bay but Lance didn’t seem to mind. He talked about the engine, refreshing my memory for parts and the function of each as he went over each item in detail. A radiator cap gasket was also found missing and promptly replaced. When I drove away from Lance’s shop, I knew that the roadster and I had found another, very special friend.

North and through St. Louis the car ran well. Oil consumption was down to one quart each 400 miles and mileage was up to nearly 36 mpg. The car started with little effort and the rattles were nearly gone, signaling that my efforts to tighten bolts and nuts was paying off. A light rain near Decatur, IL however, proved to be an interior flood. An examination of the hood front seam disclosed broken stitching and a small gap between the header rail and windshield top. Duct tape and cloth torn from a t-shirt packed along the windshield kept the majority of rain outside the car and only a few places continued to drip down upon the dash. Near Gilman, IL a large thunder storm with high winds forced semis to pull over and huddle under an overpass with other travelers, including me. I spent ten or so harrowing minutes hanging, with my arms locked in the hood frame and my knees wedged up under the dash for leverage in an attempt to keep the hood from being ripped away by the winds. Wet and exhausted after the storm, the little car and I limped into the next rest area where dry clothes were put on and additional duct tape and bungee cords were employed to secure the hood. An hour was spent simply composing myself and thinking about ways to address the hood before the next rain and certainly before any more wind. I’ll also admit that a considerable amount of time was spent remembering scenes from The Wizard of Oz and promising myself I was never going to do anything as stupid as lock my arms in the metal framework of the car for any reason, ever again…really.

In Chicago I spent four days visiting with a friend and taking short drives into Indiana and along Lake Michigan. Chicago also saw the return of the no starts which prompted a call to Moss for a new starter. New duct tape and three small c-clamps along the windshield and header rail resolved the ill-fitting hood. Silicone caulk worked into the front seam stopped water from coming into the interior after repeated tests using a garden hose. With the new starter installed and the flat spare tire finally fixed I was ready to begin the more westward leg of our trip home to Alaska.

Days were spent driving across Wisconsin and Minnesota. I kept the top up “just in case” most of the time, but gave up on the windows as they had been drilled and re-drilled until they just didn’t fit. Duct tape along the front had kept them from flopping in the wind over 40 mph and more duct tape kept them under the hood but it was an unsightly affair and besides, it was too hot. I packed the windows away in the boot and prayed it wouldn’t rain.

Twenty miles west of Sioux Falls, South Dakota with my portable radio blaring and cruising at my usual 57 mph, the car simply died. I made a quick call to my insurance company road service number and spent my time standing by the car watching buffalo graze along the fence, waving back at passing motorists, convincing everyone that stopped that I was indeed fine (.45 in my belt at the small of my back under my shirt), and generally getting blown into the ditch by passing semis. An hour later the roadster was placed on a large truck and together we headed back into Sioux Falls. The first garage said they could not look at the roadster for possibly a week but knew of another garage that might be able to help. A phone call later the roadster was on its way to five sets of experienced and caring hands at the Subaru dealership. Within minutes of our arrival, I knew that the car was in the very best care and in turn, I was finally sure I was going to keep my promise. The owner of the dealership once owned an MG dealership in the 50s and early 60s and Terry knew his As! As two mechanics under Terry’s direction systematically checked out the roadster’s electrical system, another mechanic tackled the windows and still another carefully checked hoses, fluid levels, tires and the transmission. Just before closing that evening, they found that the regulator was shot....

……. To be continued

Categories: NAMGAR Member News

Winter 2011 Newsletter

2012-01-19T21:01+00:00

Hi Contacts - Happy MGA New Year! We trust that most of you have one or more bench projects going on that hopefully will be completed before the driving season starts in a couple of months. For those of you in warmer climates, enjoy driving your MGAs, Magnettes or Variants. Here's some MG information that will be of interest to your chapter or interest group members.

2012 Events of Interest to Members of Chapters and Interest Groups

March 14 - 17

This event is the Last Sebring MGA Reunion celebrating the 50th anniversary of the last MGA factory team entered at Sebring. There will be several Sebring MGAs in attendance. Contact Dave Harrison for details.

April 20 - 22

Kimber Festival in Norwich, NY. A weekend of MG related seminars held at the Northeast Classic Car Museum and also featuring a MG literature swap. Details on the NEMTGR website.

April 23 - 27

Key West Regional GT hosted by the Key West British Car Club and they're celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Independence of the Conch Republic. Details on the Key West British Car Club website.

May 5

Drive Your MG Day. It's a day to let the world know you have an MGA and enjoy driving it. Be sure and wave at other MGA drivers as you pass them by.

July 9 - 13

GT 37 being held in Dayton, OH and is being hosted by the Southwestern Ohio Center MG Club. Lots to see and do, this should really be a great event. What the heck make it two full weeks by getting together with your chapter or interest group friends and making plans to attend both the Dayton Air Show on the weekend before and the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix on the weekend afterward. Details on the GT37 website.

A Differential of a Tale

Click on this link for the single best explanation of exactly how your MG's differential works.

Renkenberger Spirit Award

Don't forget to nominate one of your club or interest group members for the Renkenberger Spirit Award. This award is NAMGAR's way of thanking loyal club or interest group members for their efforts. It's free and the recipients do not have to belong to NAMGAR. Click here to view the award guidelines.

What to Do When It's Snowing outside And/Or It's Too Cold To Work In The Garage

Everything you ever wanted to know about MGs appearing in the movies or TV shows. Click here for a mind blowing experience. There are 1,156 separate listings on 39 pages for MGs. Now get this, there are 175 listings on 8 pages for MGAs alone! Now you can become an expert in MG movie trivia.

NAMGAR Regional's - Something your chapter might want to contemplate!

Is there any event on your club's calendar such as a weekend trip or a car show that could also be expanded to become a NAMGAR Regional? It's something that you might want to consider. What the heck, the more the merrier. If you've already done the planning for an event then you're more than half way there. Having a regional just might fill up that motel or enhance your car show field. Contact Carol Shamonsky, NAMGAR Vice Chairman, for details and advice on hosting a NAMGAR Regional.

Just think Spring is almost (well sort of) here. Get those winter MG projects completed too.

Lee & Liz Niner - NAMGAR Chapter & Interest Group Coordinators

Categories: Chapter Coordinator Newsletters