I took a strange call in March. Dick Lunney told me he was editor of Classic MG magazine. He was planning a drive from Savannah to San Diego with several other MGB owners to the North American MGB Register annual convention. Dubbed the MGB Coast-to-Coast Adventure, their plans were to dip a tire in the Atlantic in Savannah and dip a tire in the Pacific when they arrived in San Diego. (Later, they admitted they had to scoop the water out of the Atlantic and pour it on their tires to avoid “drowning” their cars.) Dick said they would make a stop in Montgomery on June 17 and wanted to meet up with our club. As a BGT owner, the first thing that crossed my mind was how hot the journey would be. So, I promised the group air-conditioned rides in our non-British cars to a local restaurant and a quick tour of downtown Montgomery.
Eleven people in six MGBs arrived midafternoon at Hope Hull. What a surprise to find two of the MGBs had A/C and three had more than four cylinders – two with V8, one with a V6 engines! Dick and his wife Beth were driving an SUV with their MGB on a trailer, which would serve as the life raft for cars needing a lift. They were wonderful fun-loving people and it was quickly apparent that they were seasoned travelers. Excited about their trip, the long hours and heat did not bother them a bit.
Tom, David and I picked up the group. The planned restaurant would not take reservations on a Saturday night so Tom came to the rescue and offered his beautiful home to host the group. On the way to his house, we caravanned down Dexter Avenue and took in the sites. We stopped for photo ops at MLK’s church, the Capitol and the Maya Lin Civil Rights Memorial. The club provided pizzas and our members brought extra goodies. Doc Peden showed up in his ’83 Corniche. At least our club got to show off one of our cars! It was a great night with lots of conversation, and the group was very appreciative of our hospitality. After many more photos were taken, we returned them to the hotel and wished them well as they continued westward to their next stop in Vicksburg, MS on the long road to San Diego.
Our new friends and their cars listed below have a Facebook page if you would like to learn about their “MGB Coast-to-Coast Adventure 2017.” They arrived in San Diego as planned, enjoyed the three-day convention, and are now on their way home.
Pam Bransford
Dick and Beth Lunney, Charlotte, NC
Terry and Mary E McClain, Charlotte, NC
Mike and Sue Cook – Roswell, GA
Gayle and Larry Norton – Atlanta, GA
Shirley and Roger Goebbert – Huntley, IL
P.J. Lenihan – Winston-Salem, NC