So . . . is it cheating if NOBODY'S PAYING ATTENTION?
The Milwaukee and Great Lakes MG Motor Group, aka, the MG3 club, of which I am a proud member, put together a display at the "Show and Glow by the Lake", the first day of the Annual 2-day Milwaukee Concourse d'Elegance program. 18 Post-war MG Sports cars were on display in chronological order, and the Midget was selected as the centerpiece of the display.
Most people weren't aware that there were that many rust-free MGs in the entire state.
A large enough group or club can request a separate category for awards. We had enough MGs that the President of the club solicited and received a category for MGs, and due to the fact that I went through the hassle of trailering a vehicle and setting up a display recognizing MG's history on the salt, he graciously insisted that the nod go to the Midget. Yeah, it has a degree of cache due to its record, but I can certainly say there were better examples of MGs in the circle.
Next year, I'm personally going to lobby to see that Dan Donahue's Midget takes the trophy - he bought it while stationed in London in 1965, shipped it stateside, and has been driving it ever since.
So we're all sitting back in our lawn chairs, sipping beer, chatting with visitors, answering questions, and I heard over the intercom about the "People's Choice Award".
Good lord, I thought, I'd been there for three hours, and I didn't even know there was a ballot available.
I looked through my presenter's package - nothing there.
So I went up to registration, and asked about the ballots. "Yeah, the volunteers forgot to include them with the presenters envelopes", I was told.
So I said, "Geez, I've got about 25 club members and their significant others over here with the MG club. Can I take some ballots over for them?"
I was handed an appropriate number of ballots, I thanked the lady, and I went back to the group.
They needed to fill out their name, a valid e-mail address, and a car number.
I went around the group, asked each member if they wanted a ballot, and handed one to everyone who said they did.
"And if it's no skin off of your nose", I said, "I'd appreciate a vote for number 513."
The balloting ended at 2:00, and at 3:00, the announcement was made to the category trophy winners to drive their cars up for the presentations.
I didn't know they did this.
It's kind of hard to do with the Midget, at least at this point in time. First off, the master cylinder is disconnected, and secondly, the engine is currently in a crate at a DHL international shipping facility, waiting to be carted of to its new owner in Derbyshire, England.
As I approached the podium, I explained the situation, and they handed me this really swell plaque - "First in Class" - took my picture with a celebrity weatherman from Green Bay, and I climbed down from the stage.
I was then told by one of the officials not to "run off too far".
The final trophy of the day was the "People's Choice Award".
I'm looking out at a sea of iconic cars - a fist full of Packards, a Stutz Bearcat, a 1969 Daytona Charger wing car, a sea of Jaguars and Porsches, a dozen Ferraris - better than 300 entries - and they want me to make an acceptance speech . . .
I acknowledged the MG3 club and members for their support, but I also was able to shine a light on MG's history in setting land speed records, and the company's history at Bonneville.
And truth be told, it's a history I'm proud to be trading on.
But like any owner of a British car is quick to point out, they can be damned embarrassing when they neither run, nor stop.