Life is Too Short to Drive a Boring Car:
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Club Drive & Picnic | MG Classics of Jacksonville
Don't Let COVID Spoil Your Enjoyment of Your MG. Go for a Drive & Picnic
Take Your MG for a Drive & Picnic and Explore new Picnic Locations
The June Picnic destination was Trout Creek Marina, an ideal destination due to the many large shade trees and a large pavilion for shelter in case of rain. In our case there was no rain but a hot June day with temperatures peaking at 91 Degrees by mid-afternoon. The gathering was timed to start at 10.00am with members departing for home at mid-day to avoid the peak afternoon temperature and any late afternoon thunder storms.
Nineteen members and guests joined us arriving in eleven MGs and two Daily Drivers. Although the original registration included twenty-five members and guests a number dropped out before the event. A recent spike in COVID-19 cases a few days prior to the event was cited in a few cases for withdrawing their registrations. Caravans were arranged for those who wished to drive in the company of another MG and a number of members made their way solo. Although the Club Prez had worked tirelessly to get his '73 B ready for the event parts stock-outs at MOSS resulted in a missed deadline. However, Bruce arrived with Roberta in his cool air-conditioned truck, Miss Ruby, in good form as this photograph attests. What better than British Beer for a British Car Club event.

Hmmm! Guinness Extra Stout is not a British Beer but brewed in the Republic of Ireland. Calling it a British beer will offend both an Englishman and an Irishman. However, the can of Old Speckled Hen* in his left hand, courtesy of Mark Spaulding, is most definitely an English Beer. It was first brewed in Abingdon, England to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the MG car factory in Abingdon. The Old Speckled Hen was named after a MG car that was used as a runaround by workers in the MG factory. Over years of service it became covered in flecks of paint gaining it the name "Owld Speckled 'Un". This was translated to "Old Speckled Hen" when the beer was first brewed in Abingdon in 1979, when the brewery was asked by MG to create a commemorative beer for the factory's 50th anniversary. Of course MG Classics does not condone drinking and driving and I was assured that both containers were empty when I asked.
To continue with more about the Picnic: All attendees enjoyed the outing in their MG and a few hours in the fresh air meeting with their Friends in the Club. When asked if they
wanted a Drive and Picnic during the month of July the answer was an emphatic Yes. The July Picnic destination will again be Trout Creek Marina on Saturday, July 18, 2020. This event will be a mini-Club meeting with a short agenda, but primarily about getting Members' MGs on the road to meet up with their MG friends to socialize, kick tires, have a Picnic, and enjoy the delights of the beautiful surrounding shade trees. If you missed this one you have a chance to join us on Saturday, July 18, 2020.
Our assembly attracted a visitor to our encampment. We explained who we were and what our Club is about and he told us he owns a 1973 MGB. We presented him with a Club business card as he left. That evening we won another new member. Driving our MGs out and about is the best advertisement for our Club.
* Old Speckled Hen Beer is available at Total Wine, St. John's Town Center
