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MG Midget and Sprite General - I'm looking forward to USA Midget 50th

"50 Years of Midgets - A Spridget Event!! "

July 18-22, 2011

In 2008 I was unable to attend the 50yr sprite jubilee in PA. So I opted to attend the event at Lake of the Ozarks. I honestly did not know what to expect from this event, but I figured that I would at least get to put a few faces with names of people I had met over the internet. It turns out that the event had a whole lot more to offer.

I had attend several large car events. For example MG2006, it was a good event with a nice venue, but with so many different types of MG's I had a little trouble meeting up with midget people. Many of the displays and tech sessions didn't seem very relevant. Another example is a regional Healey event I attended. It had similar problems as the MG event, but further complicating issues was the number of rather lethargic Big Healey owners. I'm not saying all Big Healey owners are lethargic, but there were a fair number at this particular event that weren't much interested in driving their cars, and really had no interest in anything that wasn't directly related to their car.

So when I went to the Lake of the Ozarks(LotO) event, I really did not know what to expect. I was very surprised and impressed. It was far from a polished event. It had its fair share of glitches, but those glitches showed the nature of most spridget owners. In general, we are a group of problem solvers that like a little adversity and can appreciate quirkiness. There are also a fair number of use that can laugh at ourselves.

The common bond of these spridgets is rather unique. At the LotO event there were perpetual tech sessions. Fuel pumps were replaced, carbs were tuned, suspension bushings were replaced, timing was adjusted, etc. Yet none of this was on the agenda. These were all things occurring in the parking lots out of necessity, courtesy, or curiosity. There was never a shortage of help and gawkers always felt welcomed. There were also spontaneous driving tours where groups of people decided to take advantage of breaks in the weather. The unplanned portion of the event was the icing on the cake.

The planned events at LotO were great as well. The gymkana had was a light hearted competition. There was no one out there badgering the judges. People were having fun and the spectators had a great view. The autocross had a similar feel, though people seemed to be taking it a little more serious. But since it was not sanctioned by any organization there was no stress. There were also events that i had not seen at any other car meet (such as "start the spridget competition"). Evening tech session were directly related to the cars we all drive, and the talk at the bar always came back around to our beloved LBC.

It was a very unpretentious setting were all makes and variation of spridgets/owners were welcomed. I'm looking forward to this years event in hopes that it recaptures some of the magic. I've made my hotel reservations, filled out my registration including the Road America Track Tour, the Autocross, Popular choice car show, and of course... the awards banquet.

This may be the last all inclusive spridget event for some time. I'm not going to miss it, and I'd like to see as many of you there as possible.

Information Here: http://sprite-midgetclub.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63&Itemid=126
Trevor Jessie

I want to 2nd Trevor's post about our gathering at Lake of the Ozarks in 2008.

I had a great time at the event, but for me a lot of the fun was the road trip it took to get there from South Florida. 3 days of driving each way!

This trip is my graduation present to myself. My long lost college buddy lives an hour from RA and my sister is in Terre Haute.
I've been map-questing routes since November.

To anyone who is on the fence, all I can say is you won't be disapointed.

Phil 1452 mi to Midget 50
Phil Burke

My feelings echo those of Trevor Jessie. I had a great time at LotO for Sprite 50 and expect Midget 50 to be just as much fun. Probably more as I'll be seeing old friends now as well as making new ones. If you have a Spridget in the US or Canada you should put this one event on your agenda for this year. If your car is still under restoration, that doesn't matter. Come anyway and I think you'll still have a great time. I'm only hoping that we can figure out another excuse after this year's meet to have another one. ;-)

B Young

I met Trevor way back at MG2006 and I doubt if he remembers me (with my flamenco 76 Midget)though as it was a busy place.

I liked hearing stories from people who had Midgets in the past. One story I was told by an elderly cane bearing gentleman who was accompanied by his wife, was that the only reason he was allowed to date her was because her father had said the car was too small to do anything in!

He smiled and said compared to the other cars back then it was tiny, but then we were a lot more flexible way back then. She seemed a bit embarassed by that story but smiled all the same. Just for that moment, looking at the car, they were young again.
Clive Reddin

5 months from today and Ill be on the road...Thats hard to belive

Is it just me, or are others also looking forward to going to a town called "sheboygan" I hope they got T shirts with that towns name...lol

Ive been thinking alot about LOZ latley, that was such a great time... we sun cooked that 1st day and drowned like rats the rest of the time, Meeting Tony Barnhill was a blast.. that guy was loud, arogent, and vain... AND I really liked him, he knew what fun was, i never knew when he was lying to me or telling me the truth, he had a story for every topic... what a loss, they dont make guys like that anymore... Im going to miss him not being there this time.


For me the best moment of the entire event was of Trevor in the ("start the spridget competition"). Treavor has this single SU Hs6 half torn apart while halfway crawled into the engine bay, fuel everwhere, trevor is soaked in fuel, there must have been 3 gallons just everywhere ... and Frank clarisy is the MC of the event, great guy, so fuel soaked trevor and the car is under this car over hang in front of the hotel, and I look over and I ll never forget this image, but heres frank just leaning up agianst a piller, totally relaxed, on break, in his own little world and he is trying to blow smoke rings, and he is like 7-10 feet away from trevor....Hahahaha... God! that was so funny, that was my favorite moment of the whole event... what kept that place going up like a minuture nuke, was only an act of god...LOL


but that ride out to the airport for the group panoromic photo, now that was nice... just nothing but midgets as far as you could see on this windding back 40, 2 lane road and all with that distinctive Midget engine tone... that was nice

yeah wisconsin I know will be just as good.

But I have to tell ya, im looking forward to the caravan drive up, thats going to be so cool to get about 25 of use togather driving up north

Prop
Prop

I remember you Clive. Like I said MG2006 was a good event despite being really hot and a few soaking rains. However, the "spridget only" meet was much cozier.

I forgot about Frank smoking while he had knowingly caused a fuel leak. :)
Trevor Jessie

Opps... Sorry Trevor,

I didnt mean to imply that you were the cause of the fuel leak... That was Jim and Frank arranging the carb to shoot fuel everywhere as part of the fix it problem/solution game.


Prop
Prop

I'm sending in my registration today. I see that volunteers are still needed for some of the activities. I'd be glad to help you on the car show portion and David on the autocross. I've signed up for all the activities including the Road America tour so I could help there as well I suppose. Just let me know what you guys need.
bkyoung@kc.rr.com

B Young

Couldn't make Lake of the Ozarks. Wouldn't miss this one! Hope to get to the races the weekebd before as well.
John Deikis
www.kidsCURE.blogspot.com


Deikis

I NEED to get that roundtuit engaged and send in my reservation. They really should put an earlier price hike on these things to motivate some of us to register sooner ;-)

I have gotten my reservations in for the campground at Three Guys and a Grill about 5 miles out of town. Site #38 if anyone cares to try to get a site nearby.
http://www.threeguysandagrill.com/

Bill, the problem with the 3-peat is that someone competent has to step up to handle logistics. Jim Johnson did it for LotO as well as RA, but he ain't taking on the dirty thankless task again unless you get him very well lubricated first. The latest scuttlebutt making the rounds has been a proposal for occasional Spridgets-only driving events scattered across the country. Nothing elaborate, just volunteers planning a route and looking for good roads and meals and lodging for a drive of several days. Lots of good roads near Jesse (hint hint). I rather like the idea myself. Not into shows and Spridgets were meant for driving.
David "at least it is something that could be subsidized to some small degree by calendar sales so I have an excuse to make a few more of them" Lieb
David Lieb

I've got reservations at Victorian Village. Can't wait.
Lee Fox

This thread was discussed between 16/02/2011 and 11/03/2011

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