Wow!  The GatorMOG Summer Noggin in Titusville, FL was exceptional.  Thank you Adam Hitt!!  I am so happy that I didn’t have a conflict or chose to miss this one!  I would be kicking myself right now!   I would have to say it was one of the best GatorMOG weekends we have had in a very long time.  All the others in attendance were equally pleased!!

The weather was exceptional.  We had a spot of rain on the way there, but thanks to Andrea, we had the Roadster top up.  (I personally prefer it down, with my physical challenges, as I can get into and out of the Morgan much easier with the top down!!  Andrea doesn’t like the sun, she takes pills . . .)  Then nothing all weekend, except a short shower while we were having brunch on Sunday. 

It was pretty much a weekend of air conditioning.  It was a bit warm at the Valiant Air Command Museum, when we were out in the big hangars as they only have large fans to circulate the air but really it was not all that bad.  I wasn’t even sweating!  In the other museum display areas, they had air conditioning.  Then at the KSC everything was air conditioned, except the walk across the apron between the Shuttle Atlantis display and the Ice Cream Shop!  I found that walk a bit warm, but the destination made it all worth it!!

The primary activities of the GatorMOG event, mostly Saturday’s itinerary, was exceptionally well planned and executed.  It was a dipole sort of thing for me, at one end the realization of someone’s dream, in some cases the results of which proved to be wildly successful, in other cases not so much, but all were driven by the necessities of war and were accomplished with the most rudimentary of things.  Hand drawn blueprints on vellum, mental and manual calculations (no computers back then), and ultimately the grit and determination of the entire nation. 

One of the aircraft on display at the Valiant Air Command Museum was the P-82 / F-82, ‘Twin Mustang,’ two Mustang fuselages joined together at the wing.  They indicated that this aircraft is the only F-82 in the world still flying and oh by the way, it is available for sale!  It could be yours for only $11M.  And you thought the Morgan’s upkeep was pricey??  (To be honest, I’ve seen a good number of aircraft in my time, but never one of these!!)

At the other end of my dipole, the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).  Again the realization of another dream, accomplished this time with a stubborn determination, repetitive failures, big budgets and massive engineering efforts driven by national pride and patriotism.  I guess I do have to admit, that even as an engineer, I was in awe by it all and humbled by the bravery of the crews. 

Then at the KSC, my personally beliefs were again aroused, this time by the expansive and theatrical displays of early NASA and then again, with the display of the Atlantis Space Shuttle.  It was all exceptionally well done, and it actually brought me to tears!! 

If you have not been to KSC, you have to go!  There are no excuses not to!

The social activities, the Friday evening gathering at the Playalinda Brix Project, the Saturday dinner at Dixie Crossroads, and the impromptu Sunday morning brunch at Steve’s Family Diner on HWY – 1 in Titusville were all superb!  Great beer and food at the Playalinda Brix Project but it was a very, let me emphasize very, popular place!  And, with no reservations, we did have to fight the crowds.  But in the end, it was well worth it!   The Dixie Crossroads Restaurant was great, as always, but we went a bit early this time.  Something about a beer??  (And it was still packed??)  And brunch just happened.  The timing was convenient as it showered while we sat and ate!  Then it was clear and bright for our ride home.  In all cases excellent food, drink and company!!!

Again, an exceptional weekend.  And, one I am not likely to forget anytime soon!!

Cheers,

Mark

The Hotel Room block is all set up in the (Hyatt) system and ready for attendees to make reservations.  Hyatt is using the group code of ‘G-MOG’. Don’t procrastinate as the weekend is coming up quickly and we wouldn’t want you to miss out on our reduced group rate!! The link is below. Click the link and then, once the Hyatt page comes up, click ‘Book Now.’ Also make sure the dates show 18 August for check in and 20 August for check out.

https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/florida/hyatt-place-titusville-kennedy-space-center/mcozt?corp_id=G-MOGS

Pencil in the Weekend of August 18 – 20 (Friday through Sunday) for the next major GatorMOG activity. It is likely to be raining so what you drive is your call!!

Drive to the event hotel on Friday.

The planned hotel is the Hyatt Place Titusville / Kennedy Space Center, 6299 Riverfront Center Blvd, Titusville, FL 32780 (less than 5 min from Valiant Air command.) BUT DON’T MAKE YOUR RESERVATION JUST YET!

The hotel has an internet link being produced and they want us to use this link to ensure we get the Group Rate. Their code for our group is ‘G-MOG’. Don’t worry, we will let you know when the link is available.

IT IS NOW AVAILABLE NOW. SEE LATEST UPDATE POST!

Beer call / Dinner Friday night is at the Playalinda Brixworks Project at 1900 (tbd). Again, less than 5 mins away from the hotel. The time is still up in the air but we’ll let you know!!

Saturday Morning we’ll visit the hangars at the Valiant Air Command Inc, Warbird Museum ($12 dollars per a person.) We asked for a tour of the behind the scenes greasy stuff, typically’ out-of-sight’ back shops, so be prepared (e.g. don’t wear your fancy white clothes)! It is not confirmed by they were pretty positive?

I would guess we will form up on Saturday morning at the front of the hotel around 0830. We need to be prompt and be at Valiant Air Command Inc., NLT 0900 but the hotel is just some 4 mins from Valiant Air Command so this shouldn’t be too hard and our tours are estimated to take some 2.5 hours.

Lunch (1300 – 1400) will be at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). There are several lunch spots and we just establish a time to reconvene.

The best group rate we could get is $68 pp but you are welcome to use what ever you might have (annual pass, AARP, Military Veteran, AAA, other?) to swing a better rate. What ever you do, do it quickly as we are likely to go straight to the busses to beat the crowds.

Saturday Dinner is planned for 1800 at the famous Dixie Crossroads. It will take us some 20 minutes or so to get there, and once done with dinner, some 15 mins or so to get back to the hotel.

Things do change so please be flexible!!

Please let Mark know if you plan to attend or not. We need to provide headcounts to various business as soon as we can. (Mark’s email – series1@cfl.rr.com or call 407-322-5060)

A big ‘thanks’ to Adam Hitt work working the details.

Cheers,
Mark

The British Car Club of Central Florida held their 38^th annual All British Car Show on Saturday, 1 April 2023.  Some 200 british cars were highly detailed and displayed for well over 500 spectators.  It was held at Henry’s Depot, the old town train station, right downtown Sanford, FL.  Sanford is really just a bedroom community for Orlando Florida however it was once the Celery capital of the world?  Or at least that is what they claim.  Also on Saturday was the weekly farmer’s market and it was an easy walk from the car show.  Proximity to the downtown shops and quaint boutiques makes this a great location for a car show! 

Morgans were there in force.  There were 16 Morgans preregistered and then the Daytona Morgan Dealer, Christopher John, LTD, brought in a few more.  So lots of Morgans.  We had everything except a trike and an Aero.  Folks came from all over Florida and some from further afield. 

Interesting, for me anyway, was the fact that my old 4/4, a car I sold some 10-15 years ago, was back in Florida and on the show field.  My jaw dropped when I saw it and I had a nice chat with the latest owner.  I may still have bits and bobs for that car in my garage? 

A Morgan even won best of show (my Series 1 DHC prototype.)  I disagree with the selection (but I am not giving back the lovely Best of Show trophy.  I already have a perfect spot for it in the garage!)  There were a good number of absolutely gorgeous cars on the field, and some with serious provenance.  I am truly humbled by the selection. 

The meet hotel was the Comfort Inn and the club held its Meet and Greet, at the hotel, on Friday night.  MOGSouth members, Les and Joan Neumann, were the hosts and made sure everyone was quite welcome!  Job well done!!

Cheers,

Mark

The Comfort Inn Sanford located at 590 Ava Court; Sanford FL 32772 has been selected as the Host Hotel for the 38th Annual Central Florida All British Car Show!

• Lots of free parking for cars and trailers
• Many restaurants within walking or short driving distance
• A short drive to the show field on Saturday
• Hospitality suite for socializing
• Buffet breakfast

Rates:

• Room with either 2 Queen beds or King bed; $159.00 +tax per night. Make your reservation by 3/16/2023 to get this special rate!

Show is on Saturday so plan to arrive Friday, March 31, 2023 and depart on Sunday April 2, 2023, To Make Reservations Call the Comfort Inn Sanford @ 407-585-1580, Use Code: British Car Show Block

We’re looking forward to seeing you in April for what should be a wonderful event!

Lois Slavin and Mike Palfreyman organized and hosted GatorMOG in St Petersburg, FL on 4-6 February 2023.  St Petersburg Yacht Club (SPYC) Motor Classic is an all marque car show held along the water adjacent to the Yacht Club.  They chose Morgan as the featured marque in 2023, after some prodding by Lois and Mike. 

GatorMOG, with a little help from the greater MOGSouth membership showed up in force.  We had 21 Morgan cars on the field for judging.  A few medical and mechanical mishaps precluded us from having more!  Augmenting the expected Florida GatorMOG Morgans were cars from Ohio, Alabama, and Georgia. 

Even the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum brought out their 1930 Morgan Aero three wheeler to join us. A big thank you to all that participated!  I am sure you would agree it was a great show and a great Morgan display!  

The weekend started with a fully catered affair and cocktail party Friday evening at our hosts 5^th floor penthouse overlooking Tampa Bay.  The edible offerings were tremendous with all sorts of wonderful hors d’oeuvres . . . crab cakes and wontons and other enticements.  And the view of the bay was simply mesmerizing!!  Forecasts of dire weather seemed to wane as the weekend went along.  It was rumored that a SPYC member even went so far as to bring in a Chinese ‘weather balloon’ to influence the weather. 

The Meet Hotel(s) (the Hollander and the Avalon) were accommodating albeit a bit quirky.  The restaurant was good and the bar better.  They seemed quite crowded all weekend (must be popular?) and they were certainly convenient to the show field! 

Morgan award winners included Brian and Rosie Miller, Keith Kasen and Rick and Sam Frazee.  Lovely cars and awards well deserved!  Congrats!!

Also, we’d like to congratulate the SPYC and its new Motor Classic Chairman Andy Evans for a very successful show!  The car count was something over 225 cars of all types – Vintage, Modern, European and American.  Thank you to all the SPYC volunteers who were there with a smile and always ready to help.

And of course, a huge thanks to Lois Slavin and her husband Mike Palfreyman for hosting this wonderful Morgan gathering!  Without Lois’s original idea for the Morgan class at the show and hard work to keep the information flowing there would not have been a Morgan class.  Again, thank you!

An amazing weekend and a wonderful show.  This was a MOGSouth and GatorMog event that will be hard to beat! 

Rick Frazee and Mark Braunstein