The past month, we’ve seen some very successful events. I don’t think that we ever had as many participants as we saw for the 4050 Tour with 68 people, 32 MGs, and a few OMs (other makes) and for the Tally-Ho Rally with 64 people, 25 MGs, and also some OMs. You’ll find reports of the events in this issue. Together with the Westmont Crusin’ Night, the President’s Picnic, and the final 2016 Autocross, August has been one of the busiest MG months of the year. Sometimes a larger than expected turn-out presents a little bit of a problem as event organizers and restaurant staff may be overwhelmed by the large group and we run out of dash plaques. However, those are great problems to have. We can make accommodations for larger groups and we can order more dash plaques. But that only works, when the trend continues; for the remaining events this year and, just as important, for next year. Organizing an event is a lot of work, and I think that there is no better form of gratification then a large number of participants with or without their MGs. So keep coming out to the driving events.

I haven’t updated the overall standings for the Moss Motors and Victoria British Trophies yet. However, it looks like not too much has changed since my last column, mostly because of the leaders, only Ric and Nancy Maitzen placed second, and got a few extra points, in the Tally-Ho Rally. As a matter of fact, the Tally-Ho Rally saw several unexpected winners. Tom Moore (1949 MG TC) hooked up with top-navigator Doug Clark and tied for 1st place with Bob Riley (1951 MG TD, who formed an ad-hoc team with Don Ross. And Ric and Nancy Maitzen (1951 MG TD) came in 2nd. If you know all these names, you’re probably a member of the VMGCC. If these names don’t ring a bell, you’re probably a member of the CMGC. In other words, the VMGCC, the guys with the older, T-Series, MGs, smoked the CMGCC. A similar thing happened in 2014 and the following year, 2015, drivers from the CMGCC took revenge. I like that there is a

little bit of healthy and friendly competition and I hope that Laurel Fredericks and Carl Vogel will do another Tally-Ho in 2017, so that we can enjoy the next chapter.

For the last few years, September has been the beginning of a special phase in the Driving Events Series of the MG Clubs of Chicago. A lot to do, but not a lot of ‘real' MG club events, Labor Day weekend and British Car Festival. The Wine, Cheese, and Beer Tour is our only event. But what an event it is! An all-weekend tour with lots of spirited driving, overnight stays, dinners, and, for some, late-evening parking lot parties. Because we lost the Jo Daviess County Tour, we only had the Spring Tour this year and the WCB Tour is the last chance to get your MG out on a multi-day driving tour before the weather changes. Then we have quite a long hiatus on the calendar before the season comes to an end with the Halloween Rally, the Fall Tune-down, and the Cruise to the Rock. If you have any suggestions for an impromptu late addition to fill the gap in early October, please let me know and we’ll do our best to fit it in.

Talking about the Halloween Rally, we haven’t decided on a starting place yet, but please mark Sunday, October 30th on your calendars. The details of the rally will be in the next issue of the newsletters. The Halloween Rally has lucked-out with incredible nice weather for the last couple of years and we’ve ordered blue sky again. It is the last opportunity to drive your MGs, with fellow club members, in a competitive, official, MG Clubs of Chicago driving event. I hope that you’ll join us and that the ‘great problem to have’ trend continues.

As always, I invite you to call me at 847 342 9804 or email me at reinoutvogt@gmail.com if you have questions, good ideas, suggestions, or concerns. I look forward to hearing from you.

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

-- Reinout Vogt