MG 2011 Reno-Tahoe "A Western Experience" June 13- 17, 2011

Every five years the National Council of MG Registers hosts an all-register meeting and car show.  This means that all types of MGs come together for a large gathering, this year about 630 cars were on display in San Rafael Park in Reno.  There were pre-war Magnas, Midgets, Magnettes and saloons- SA and Y-types.  There was a grand turnout of T types, C, D, and F.  Many MGAs with one variant Elva.  B's galore, of course, and last but not least, 11 Magnette ZA and ZBs.

1935 MG NB

1952 Y-Type Saloon

Some of the Midgets and MGBs on the field

Maggie and her sisters in the line up.

This was our Magnette's first long drive, we left on Monday morning and took about 8 hours to cover the 420 miles.  We went through the Owyhee Mountain region of south west Idaho and into Oregon on Highway 95.  There were some steep climbs, this area is very bleak with little human activity.  The mountain peaks remain snow covered.  We turned onto I 80 in Winnemucca and arrived at the Silver Legacy Casino and hotel without any troubles.  There were MGs everywhere on the streets and in the parking garage.

Maggie picked up a million tiny bugs on the drive down.

 The Legacy complex includes three city blocks and the El Dorado and Circus Circus casino and hotel complexes.  It was like a maze inside, we had trouble finding some rooms and even the doors to the outside world.

Reno is a fun place, there is a vibrant area along the river with a new Triple A ball park and whitewater course on the Truckee River.  We liked walking there and found good ice cream.

On Tuesday we had the Magnette breakfast and viewed a good slide show from the Delavan meeting last summer.  We heard of a group drive leaving from the top of the Legacy parking garage and decided to tag along to Virginia City and Lake Tahoe.  We we got to the top floor, the 11th, there were a few cars and John Twist was setting up for his rolling tech sessions.  I said hello to him and he asked me how the car was running, next thing I knew I was first in line for a tune up.  My carbs were in worse adjustment than I thought!!

John Twist tuning Maggie's carbs.

After my quick tune we followed a mixed group of MGs from a California club up a twisty path to Virginia City.  Cindy and I decided that since we were coming back with a bus tour the next day we would continue on to Carson City and our lunch stop ahead of the group.  The burgers and malts were good, but the tiny cafe probably got pretty crowded when the whole group showed up.  We drove past the state capital and legislative buildings and headed up to Lake Tahoe.  The lake sits at about 6000 ft, passes in are between 8,000 to almost 9,000 feet.  The little car was mildly out of breath but not bad.  We went past the Rose Mountain ski area, lots of snow left to about 7,000 foot level.  We made it back to the Silver Legacy and walked to the Truckee River area in Reno for dinner.

Cindy overlooking the east side of Lake Tahoe.

On Wednesday we had a bus tour with a very interesting guide to Virginia City with a drive through of Carson City.  Virginia City, with its mining lore and tales of great riches, is an interesting place.  The "Silver Kings" and their huge fortunes make for some good daydreams.  The Ponderosa was nearby too!  Huge mine shafts, high temperatures, and hard work make the miner's life seem less than inviting.

Virginia and Truckee Railroad from Virginia City to Gold Head

Tunnel on the grade.

I wished to be "big" but no dice.

The trip home was uneventful, the little car had no problems and had more uphill power after the carb tune up.  The car show went well and Maggie won second in class, pretty good for our restoration, and in the largest national MG show too.