The calendar for the 2013 Driving Season is slowly beginning to take shape. But before we go in to the details, I'd like to remind you that this column is published in two newsletters. Yes, I am trying to develop one calendar for the two MG clubs in the Chicago area. That means that if you are one of the many readers that is a member of both clubs, you'll see the New Directions column two times. Of course we all know that the two clubs are: The Vintage MG Car Club of Chicago and the Chicagoland MG Club. Those names are too long to be typing and reading every time I use them in my column so from now on I will use the following acronyms: VMGCC and CMGC. And for those who are associated with one of the two clubs, the newsletter of the other club is Vintage Viewpoint (VMGCC) or Driveline (CMGC).

When I introduced the idea in the January newsletter, I mentioned something along the lines of no more scheduling conflicts and hurdles to overcome in the first year. Well, May traditionally home of many Spring events is still going to be a little bit of that. The season kicks of on Saturday April 27, when we will have the 28st Spring Tune-Up Party at Mark Lueck's, Quality Tire and Auto in Willowbrook. Mark and his brother actually owned T-Types and were VMGCC members in the early eighties and Mark hosted a few tech sessions or tune up events for the VMGCC at his business (located in Riverside at that time, I believe). At some point that ended and the CMGC started to have the Spring Tune-Up, first at Mark's Quality Tire in Darien, and now at his new location in Willowbrook. I am sure that Mark will be delighted to see a few more T-Types on the racks on April 27.

One week after that, May 5, we'll have the Spring Brunch Drive. Glenn and Barb Grossklags have set the date, and there is plenty of time to fill in the details.

Next Sunday is Mother's Day but the weekend after that will be double busy. Ric and Nancy Maitzen are planning the Spring Tour to LaPorte, Indiana for Friday-Sunday, May 17-19. The tour includes a visit to the county museum with a MG TC on display. That Sunday, the 19th is also the Spring Chicken Tour or Rally. George and Jana Phariss will set the route and host a chicken lunch at their house in Ivanhoe.

Finally, on Sunday, May 26, Dino and Lisa Perez will organize a Garage Tour in the far Northwest corners of the Chicago area. This is the Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend, a perfect opportunity to take the MG for a spin and to introduce a partner, family member, child, grandchild, or friend to the 2013 Chicagoland MG Clubs Driving Season.

  These dates are pretty solid but the organizers are still working on the arrangements, start locations, routes, and reservations etc. However it is our responsibility to reserve the dates on our calendars and refrigerators and to get our MG projects completed in time for the first events of the year.

In the February or March Newsletter I will able to publish the calendar for the entire year. I am still looking for organizers for a Garage Tour, preferably West or Southwest and hopefully including some T-Type locations. And wouldn't it be fun to bring back the Lucas Memorial Night Rally. The idea sounds a lot scarier than it actually was. Maybe we can have a late summer evening drive, one that extends into the darker hours of the day and takes us away from the city lights. I have space on the calendar in late August. a perfect time of the year as the sun starts to set early in the evening. Please let me know if you have a good idea or are willing to take the lead with one of these open events.

The CMGC has dash plaques for all driving events, and little trophies for rallies and events that include a scored quiz. I will order the 2013 dash plaques with the logos of both clubs, but we have just reordered the trophies last year and they only have the CMGC logo. We'll use these first because don't like to order new trophies and leave the ones we have in stock. In the CMGC we also have an extensive annual driving events awards program. We'll discuss later how to make that work for both clubs but if you have any suggestion, please let me know.

We'll recognize the winners and present awards at the CMGC Annual Business Meeting on February 18. There are many different categories and special awards, and I hope that many of you will be able to attend. If you participated in a couple of events this year, you may be surprised and actually receive an award. If you're new to the program as many of the VMGCC members are, join us to see how it goes and how you can participate next year. The awards section of the annual business meeting is to recognize you, the participants, drivers, co-drivers, navigators, and organizers.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions. You can call me at 847 342 9804 or e-mail me at reinoutvogt@gmail.com. For now, stay warm and get your MG's ready for the 2013 Chicagoland MG Clubs Driving Season.

"The more you drive, the more you smile".

-- Reinout Vogt