Gallery of Past Club Events
Tag-Along With the Rallye to Reno
June 4, 2011
Submitted by Charlie Adams
Bill Marshall kept us informed about the progress of the Rallye to Reno as it evolved on its first day, which was Saturday, June 4. (This cross-country drive was held in conjunction with the MG2011 all-Register MG convention in Reno, Nev.)
More than 30 cars were at the start in Ocean City, Md., (the beginning of Route 50 on the east coast), with a 9 a.m. get away. Bill reported that the drive from Ocean City was uneventful, although driving through Washington, D.C. was made difficult due to the traffic and heat.
We timed our arrival at the our rendezvous point in Chantilly so that we had only a half-hour wait until the rallye cars began to appear on the horizon. Bill and Kathy Wemhoff, Butch and Judy Smith, John Padget, Keith Kallipos, and Alana and I formed our welcoming group in Chantilly.
Bill and Karen arrived at our Chantilly rendezvous about 1:30 pm in very good spirits, followed shortly by Carl and Jean Josefson. We saw most of the cars on the rallye from this point, and 15 or more stopped for a few minutes. Bruce Woodson, and his son Brian were among the first to pass our rendezvous point. Bill and Karen Marshall and Carl and Jean Josefson, from our chapter, stopped to join us. In addition, we greeted Charlie Baldwin, in his black 1962 Austin-Healey 3000, Phil and Arty Williams, in their green 1949 MG TC, and Constantine and Maryann Polidoroff, in their red 1952 MG TD, among others.
Butch and Judy Smith and Alana and I continued with the rallye cars on to Winchester. Keith Kallapos made it as far as Aldie, Va., where his wife, Kathy, spends her days at an antique shop named "Diamonds and Rust." Kathy set up a welcome and refreshment stop for the rallye and many of the cars stopped there along the way.
Next we stopped in Upperville, Va., at Paul Warren's British and Classic Car Doctor shop. It’s quite busy there, with lots of interesting cars. Chris Kintner was there at the time we visited, and Carl and Jean had the fan belt of their car tightened by three mechanics. I learned that Paul Warren had completed work on the Josefson's MGA at 6 p.m. the previous night. Among other things, Paul installed a 5-speed, an alternator and an electric radiator fan.
After arriving at the Winchester hotel where the rallye participants were staying, we all went downtown and parked our cars on the walking mall. We attended a reception graciously hosted by Moss Motors, and later had dinner in a British pub. This was a very happy moment for all who made the drive. Later, Butch and Judy and Alana and I spent the night at Martha Ludtke's home and enjoyed her fine hospitality.
