Wow! 25 cars and 50 club members. The line of MGs (including 2 - 6 packs) was awesome to see. As in past WCBTs we all met at La Quinta Hotel in Rockford, Illinois. It was Friday, September 14th. We gathered at 6:00PM to make a 6:15PM reservation at the JMK Nippon restaurant. We filled an entire section (4 large tables). Spirits were high and the service and meal were just great. This Benihana-style restaurant is always a crowd pleaser.

As dinner came to a close we were approached by the Creature Luke, who is the cousin to the Prince of Darkness. Creature Luke warned our group (via verse) to be wary of his constant presence in our MG electrical systems....oh, the power of Lucas!

We left the restaurant and returned to the hotel. We trooped together for our traditional 'social hour'...the bar was open at pool side! The social hour is one of my personal favorites as people get to chat one-on-one with club friends.

Saturday Russ and Amy conducted the drivers meeting followed by the official start of the WCBT at 8:30AM.

This year's WCBT was a bit different than previous with less turns and long scenic drives by the Rock and Mississippi Rivers. I liked it! The weather was perfect i.e. sunny and in the low to mid 80s. Creature Luke only showed his face once on an alternator, but with a team effort the cousin to the Prince of Darkness was defeated. The drive from the hotel along the river was scenic and serene. These drives are always the superb opportunity to really enjoy our MGs. The club had its first rest stop and then it was onto Poopy's Restaurant for lunch. We drove along the Mississippi on route 84 through Savanna, IL and then crossed a bridge with the restaurant about a 1/2 mile on the left. Poopy's was somewhat crowded as there was a Miata club and also an Antique car club. Of course, as Poopy's is a famous motor cycle bar/restaurant, there were over 100 cyclists present.

After lunch Russ and led the group back to the drive. Over the hills and dales of NE Illinois we drove through shaded country roads. We enjoyed a number of countryside vistas as we traveled through our evening destination to Le Claire, IA. At one point we drove over an "interesting" country road....hard surface and graveled. The road was VERY dry and with 25 MGs in a single line the dust was something along the lines of a Sahara sandstorm. There is little doubt that when Russ & Amy picked this particular road, the driving conditions were very clear and normal. I did find the dust clouds exciting although my "B: got quite a coat!

We arrived safely at the Holiday Express in Le Claire (in view of the Mississippi River) where we showered and rested. Some of us checked out Le Claire, a neat old town along the river, and home to the TV show, American Pickers! Russ & Amy

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