Spring Chicken Run
Sunday, May 23, 2021

If you have ever been lucky enough to experience horses being released to run in the field after a too-long lockup in the barn, you’ll have some idea of what happened on this year’s Spring Chicken Rally.

The weather looked a little threatening at the start of the day, but you get kind of used to overcast skies as long as there is no water coming from them. Another benefit is that Mr. Sun doesn’t compete with the heat coming from the firewall at your feet.

26 cars ready to start this year’s Chicken Run.

Event Organizer, Ray Hansen—goes over the rules prior to the Run.

But like steeds from the open barn doors, unrestrained MGs of numerous styles spanning four decades came together by one, two, sometimes three at a time, to snort and cough as they eyed each other. Some were new to the herd and had to answer to some prying eyes. Somehow the word got out and other breeds showed up – a fancy new-to-the-group “Big Healey” (that didn’t break down… *wink* to Drake), a token Triumph (ugh!), and several “civilian” vehicles (made with steel manufactured in this millennium).

All told, there were 26 cars participating in what was (I think) the first driving event since #19 (I refuse to call it by its name) came along and tried to beat us down. Not today, sucker! Not on May 23rd either. But come together we did!! There were more than fist-bumps…. there were handshakes and hugs for the comfortable ones…since most are of a certain age, vax’ed, and ready to return to normal. The Normal of letting our steeds Run, Baby, Run!

As if the Drivers weren’t rusty enough, we started off by testing Eye-Bumper Coordination for the most basic parking skills. Unlike a bowling score, you don’t want a high number. And who ever knows their axle-to-axle distance, let alone rolling it out without looking!! So then we’re finally off to give the steeds free rein to Run, Baby, Run! Of course it wouldn’t be a rally without more tests of answering questions along the route, but who has time for that between ogling mansions, checking safety gages, listening to purring engines, looking in the rearview for the newbies following you, and screaming “Yeah, Baby. Run!”

(Continued on page 13)