As I write this update, MG2011 is only 3 months away! It seems as though I was still in Gatlinburg helping out with MG2006! By the time you read this issue, the event will only be a few short weeks away!
The MG Council had its final site visit to Reno in March; everyone in Reno is looking forward to their own “British invasion”. All three hotel properties (the Silver Legacy, the El Dorado, and Circus-Circus) are bending over backwards to accommodate almost every need and desire that we’ve presented to them. The Reno-Sparks Visitors and Convention Authority has also been a great asset for us during the planning of this mega-event.
The Rallye-To-Reno has been a very successful event, with Moss Motors and Victoria British both making nice contributions to the activity. (Moss is even providing a support vehicle stocked with commonly used parts for the M.G., be it a “T”, “A”, “B”, “C”, or Midget!)
There have been some updates to the MG2011 website ( http://www.mg2011.com ) If you’ve already registered for the event, you may still want to go back into the website. Clarifications have been made to the Register nights; information on the MG2011 Nite at the ballpark is available; we’ve added vegetarian meals to the box lunches at the show field and additional vegetarian choices to the Thursday night awards banquet. And, don’t forget to order your MG2011 regalia! We have hats, t-shirts, polo shirts, dress shirts, tote bags, sweatshirts…t-shirts and totes are screen printed; all other items are embroidery. Order pre-event and pick up your regalia items at the event. (Orders placed after the third week of May will be sent via USPS as there will not be time to make these items before the event.)
Registrations have been coming in nicely; about 20% of the total have placed items into their “shopping cart”. If the latter is something that you have done, please remember to go back into the website and finalize your choices. Also remember that you can go back into your registration and add items such as meals and regalia at any time. Should you wish to decrease or eliminate an item, you will need to contact BlueSkyz to do so.
Be sure to arrive by Monday afternoon if possible, as you will NOT want to miss our opening activity at the National Automobile Museum. You must pre-register for this event.
Our tech sessions will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday at the hotel properties. We have a very knowledgeable group of enthusiasts (among them being Ken Smith, John Twist, Lloyd Faust, Brian McCullough, Bill Guzman, and Pete Mantell) who are eager to share their expertise with you.
Tuesday night is “Register Night” and each of the five M.G. registers has made some special arrangements with the hotels in order for their members to have a memorable night of camaraderie. These “Register nights” are an activity NOT to be missed. If you’ve not signed up for a Register Night, go back into the MG2011 website and do it now!
There are a few spots left for the Reno-Fernley driving events being held on Wednesday. The autocross experience is certain to make you a better driver (as well as a better competitor in your local autocross competition); the performance driving module will also increase your driving skills. Note that the performance driving session is NOT a competitive session, but is a learning tool available to you to better learn how your car handles and performs (with the added bonus of possibly making you more competitive at a future track event). Both modules include classroom time (instructed by professional drivers) and Behind-The-Wheel sessions (also being conducted by professional drivers). The fees of $75/driver (autocross) and $225/driver (performance driving) are quite a bargain.
We’ve been making arrangements for an “MG2011 Nite” at the Reno Aces ballpark (located a short five-minute walk from the hotel properties). Low ticket prices, special pre-game events for our registrants and their cars, and a fun night at the “old ball game” await those who choose this activity. Just save me some beer and Cracker Jack (you can keep the peanuts), okay?!
Our auction of donated items (for example, George Herschell has donated several of his M.G. prints) will be held at the Silver Legacy on Wednesday night as well. We will also be entertained Wednesday evening by the Morris Garage Band. Don’t miss these activities!
Keith Sanders and Mark Saylor of the MGC Register have already determined how the M.G.s and vendors at the show field at Rancho San Rafael will be displayed. We have a tremendous amount of grass available to us for our car show. Did you know that Rancho San Rafael is only 1&1/2 miles away from the hotel properties?! As you saw on the website, we have box lunches available for pre-event purchase. There will be no other food vendors on the show field. There will be a limited number of box lunches for sale at the field the day of the event. I highly advise that you reserve your lunch through MG2011.com today!
The awards banquet, held at the Reno Ballroom across the street from the Silver Legacy, will be a fun evening with a lot of surprises. You will want to attend the pre-banquet happy hours of your Register as some awards will be given out at that time. We have a nice buffet selected that should please the palates of all attending. Our keynote speaker, Tim Suddard of Classic Motorsports, is certain provide an entertaining outlook of our hobby. Don’t miss this activity!
As I’ve mentioned before, it is important that you advise us if you have elected to bring your M.G. to Reno on a trailer. Offsite parking has been arranged; no trailers will be permitted in the hotel parking garages.
I’ll either see you “on the road” or in Reno on June 17th!
Rick Ingram – Executive Director, North American council of M.G. Registers