2015 Event Archives
January 27: General Meeting
“Post War M.G. History”
A video detailing the history of post-war MGs will be shown, including the TC through TF, MGA and racing efforts. Start the new year off with some M.G. fun, and use the chance to meet your new 2015 TCMG executive council!
FEBRUARY 7: Lame Duk Kup
Start off the new year with a thrilling, no holds barred TC Motoring Guild miniature golf competition! The winner takes home our coveted Lame Duk Kup Trophy, to be treasured for one whole year. Lunch and awards will follow at the nearby Robin Hood British Pub.
Meet on Saturday, January 38 (aka February 7) at Castle Park in Sherman Oaks at 9:00 AM, located near the 101 & 405 freeways. Our competition begins shortly after we arrive. Price per person is $3.00 for one 18-hole round.
For more information see the January / February newsletter or contact Steve Simmons.
February 24: General Meeting
“TC S.U. Carburetors”
David Edgar will be speaking about the SU carburetors found on our TCs. Examples will be on hand for members to see up close in various states of assembly.
March 24: General Meeting
“Puzzle Night”
Fancy yourself a champion puzzle solver? Take part in our jigsaw puzzle challenge at the March meeting! Teams will compete for the fastest time to solve a TCMG-related puzzle. Who will be crowned champion? Be there to find out!
March 28: Strathearn Historical Park
Join us on Saturday, March 28 for a tour of Strathearn Historical Park & Museum in Simi Valley. The site features numerous buildings from the 1800’s and early 1900’s. See historic homes from the area, exhibits on the early history of the region and vehicles ranging from horse-drawn wagons to early automobiles.
We will meet for breakfast in Chatsworth before departing on a 25-mile scenic tour to the park. 
Our driving route will take us along scenic back roads (no freeway) over the Santa Susana Mountains and through Simi Valley. Lunch will follow the tour at a nearby restaurant.
Watch for a flyer in the mail, or look to the March newsletter for additional information.
April: Wildflower Tour (CANCELED)
CANCELED due to unseasonable heat killing the blooms early!
The Joe Douglass Wildflower Tour is back! Following the recent heavy rains, blooms of all types (especially poppies) are expected to be excellent this year. Our adventure will take us along scenic roads to the California Poppy Reserves in Lancaster where Joe will lead us to his favorite spots.
April 26: Queen’s English British Car Show
Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy one of the better British car shows in the area. It is a non-judged show, and includes an auto jumble nearby. The show is held at Woodley Park in Van Nuys, and runs from 9AM to 4PM. Club members are encouraged to gather in the MG T-Series section at 11AM for a picnic among the TCs. Bring your own, or buy food from the food truck vendors on site. See www.queens-english.org for more information.
April 28: General Meeting
“What Was He Thinking: Restoring an MG SA Saloon”
NOTE REMOTE LOCATION: Our April meeting will take place in the workshop of TCMG member David Spiegel. David will be showing a restoration in progress on his MG SA Saloon, pictured here as it was in 2009. David will be discussing the trials and tribulations of such a job, and telling stories that could make a grown car guy cry! Meeting begins at 6:30 PM. Watch for a flyer in the mail for location and other details.
May 1-3: Wine Country Weekend
NOTE: This is an RSVP event! Please contact Steve Simmons if you plan to attend.
Meet at the Simmons home for a light brunch before embarking on a memorable weekend trip to Santa Barbara! Our journey will take us along a relaxing 80-mile scenic route to Santa Barbara on Friday. Saturday will include several activities including a special tour of Moss Motors, a visit to a historical landmark and a scenic driving tour. We finish the night with a group dinner at a local restaurant, and return home on Sunday morning.
Extra rooms are being released so if you haven’t signed up yet then do it now! Contact Steve Simmons for reservation info. For those who have signed up already, you will receive a flyer in the mail with information on meeting time and location, and other details. For those who haven’t signed up, you’re missing all the fun!
May 26: General Meeting
“History of the Mount Wilson Observatory”
Our special guest is Mike Simmons, president of Astronomers Without Borders and founder of the Mount Wilson Observatory Association. Mike has given talks to numerous scientific organizations around the world, and this May will be giving our club a presentation on the rich history of the Mount Wilson Observatory which spans well over a century. His talk will include a slideshow of historic images, showing turn of the century vehicles and machines, how an observatory came to a 5700-foot mountaintop in 1904, and the many famous faces like Einstein and Hubble who made important scientific discoveries while working at Mount Wilson.
This is a fascinating presentation and is an excellent primer for our June 6th tour to the observatory itself. Whether or not you will attend the tour, you won’t want to miss this program!
June 6: Mount Wilson Observatory Tour
Come experience a special VIP tour of the historic Mount Wilson Observatory! Our group will be treated to a guided tour of the facility and it’s historically important instruments, most over 100 years old and still making discoveries. We will see parts of the grounds that are not visited by the general public including the inner workings of a 5-story tall telescope built in a World War I shipyard.
Please RSVP for this event by May 26 and note there is a fee of $12 per person for the tour. If you plan to attend, contact our events coordinator Steve Simmons for detailed information.
June 15-19: GoF West
This year’s GoF West will be held in Rohnert Park, California. This is a 5-day event that is not to be missed! Pre-1956 M.G.s of all types gather at GoF West each year to celebrate the marque. Events include a car show, funkhanas, navigational rally, arts & crafts competition, auction, banquet dinners and more.
See www.gofwest.org for more information.
June 23: General Meeting / Annual Henkels Picnic
The much anticipated Summer Picnic Meeting at the Henkels home on June 23. Note the earlier start time of 7:00 PM. Watch for a flyer in the mail with further information, or contact Cindy Henkels.
July 12: USS Iowa Tour
Continue your patriotic celebration beyond Independence Day with a tour of the historic battleship USS Iowa! Now docked in San Pedro, the Iowa is open to visitors. We will experience a guided tour of the ship and learn of its dramatic and important history in protecting our nation.
Lunch will follow the event at a nearby restaurant. Cost for USS Iowa tour tickets, as well as parking fees and locations can be found by clicking here. Online purchases get a $2 discount per ticket.
Meet at the entrance to the ship at 10:00 AM. Lunch after the tour will be at Nikos, 399 West 6th Street, San Pedro. Click here for the restaurant menu. Nikos is half a mile from the ship so you can leave your car where it is, or park in the lot across from the restaurant.
July 28: General Meeting
“Pottery Making by Sandra Loe”
Enjoy a special presentation by TCMG member Sandra Loe on making custom pottery. Examples will be on hand to examine, and Sandra will describe the process, tools and materials used in her creations.
August 22: Adolfo Camarillo House Tour
Take a drive to the city of Camarillo for a tour of the historic Adolfo Camarillo House, built in 1892. This two-story Queen Anne Victorian style home is maintained as it was when new, and still includes the barns and stables built to house the famous Camarillo White Horses. Beat the Summer heat by joining us along the coast for this cool and historic event! Stay tuned for further details.
August 25: General Meeting
“Underwater Photography by David Reid and Terry Schuller”
TCMG members David Reid and Terry Schuller will present a followup to their previous program, discussing their career in underwater photography and the equipment required to do this kind of work. Learn about their cameras and techniques, plus enjoy samples of their work at this most interesting presentation.
September 12: Civil War Exhibition at the Gene Autry Museum
Our next event on September 12 takes us to the Gene Autry Museum for a special exhibit on the Civil War in the Western states. “Empire and Liberty” is the first major museum exhibition to examine the American Civil War from the vantage point of Westward expansion. Explore an array of more than 200 artifacts, including Texas slave sale documents, Andrés Pico’s war drum, the battle flag carried by soldiers of the California Hundred, a Buffalo Soldier’s revolver, and Cherokee General Stand Watie’s bowie knife. This exhibition shows how the Civil War was more than a clash between the North and South; it was part of a history of how America would expand.
After the exhibit we will enjoy lunch (of course!), and afterward for those interested there will be a showing of a Civil War movie starring Errol Flynn. The film is free with your museum admission. Look for a flyer in the mail with details on meeting time and location, etc.
For more information, see the Autry Museum website at http://www.theautry.org/
September 22: General Meeting
“Movie Night”
Note location change! Our annual movie night on September 22 has moved back to our regular Montrose location this year. The presentation will be part one of a two-part program on Route 66, a road that has captured the imagination of generations, both home and abroad. In this video, you will travel the “Mother Road” with noted author and highway historian Michael Wallis as he revisits the tourist spots and quaint motels, secret corners and little towns made famous by his popular book.
October 9-11: 59th Annual TCMG / ARR Conclave
Don’t miss our premiere event of the year, the Annual Conclave with the Abingdon Rough Riders! This year’s event will be held October 9-11 in Cambria, at the charming Bluebird Inn on Main Street. For the latest information on hotels, activities, etc, please click here.
To see photos from previous years and learn about this event’s 59-year history, visit the Conclave Pages.
October 27: General Meeting
“Halloween Meeting & Potluck Dinner”
This is our annual Halloween Pizza Party Potluck! There will be entertainment, prizes and good food a-plenty. Also partake in nominations for the 2016 TCMG Board.
NOTE 7:00 PM START! Pizza is provided by the club. Watch upcoming newsletters for RSVP and side dish info.
November 14: Halfway House Brunch
Cruise through the rural areas of Northern Los Angeles County on this 70-mile tour, featuring a stop at The Halfway House for brunch. This out-of-the-way eatery was established in 1931 and hasn’t changed much since. Also enjoy some lesser used byways as we wind our way to where the food is.
Watch for a flyer in the mail with further information!
November 24: General Meeting
“Great Rally Around Britain”
Our night will start with a brief video presentation by Jim Crandall, showing highlights from the 1992 Great Rally Around Britain in which several TCMG members transported their TCs to England for an extended driving tour. Following the video will be a “show and tell” by former GRABers of their favorite rally photos and other memorabilia. Stan Belland has agreed to lead with his recollections of “How GRAB was born,” followed by anecdotes from other participants ranging from planning and preparation to surviving breakdowns and British weather.
Any TCMG members who may be toying with the wild idea of another “extreme” TC tour should hear these tales of woe as well as the fond recollections. But all members should enjoy the variety of experiences shared by those who were brave enough (read crazy enough) to commit to months of planning and weeks of extended touring in an MGTC.
December 13: Annual Meeting and Holiday Party
Our much anticipated holiday party and annual meeting! 
The 2015 holiday party will be held on Sunday, December 13 at Hotel Huntington Beach. A block of rooms are being held at the hotel for those traveling in from longer distances. (Deadline to make reservations is Nov. 12) In addition to great company and lots of food, you will also enjoy the following entertainment and activities:
- A live auction run by our own Art Ludwick. If you haven’t seen Art in action, you’re in for a treat! Item donations for the auction are greatly appreciated and funds raised are used to help run our club!
- Each membership will receive one raffle ticket at the door, for a chance to win a $100 prize! You must be present at the time of drawing to win.
- Awards ceremonies for our three prestigious trophies – Earl Sargent Memorial “Use it or lose it” Trophy, Frank Mason Award, Breakdown Award. One of our memberships is also attempting a new club record – two consecutive years of perfect attendance to all TCMG meetings and events for an entire year! Be there to see if they achieve this very difficult task and win the Iron Bottom Award!
- Announcement of the 2016 TC Motoring Guild Executive Council.
- Bring a new, unwrapped toy for our toy drive! Esther Belland will take all toys donated to the Foster Children’s Resource Center, run by the Hilltoppers Auxilliary, a part of the Assistance League of Los Angeles.
If you plan to attend the holiday party, please send your meal choices along with a check to our treasurer as soon as possible. The deadline is December 5 so don’t delay! See the latest newsletter for meal and pricing information.