February was a great month for the EMC.  Club members started off bright and early on

Saturday February 12 from the Vicksburg rest stop.  Eight car loads including Paul McNeill in his Ferrari F 355 left the rest stop in Vicksburg for a visit with Gene Ponder and his collection of automobiles all thanks to club member Parker Hall’s assistance.  Several folks got the chance to sample Paul’s F 355 on the way over and all were needless to say impressed with the ride.

 

We stopped in Shreveport and acquiring another group arriving at Gene Ponder’s about

12:30 pm with nearly 40 auto aficionados. 

          

As promised Gene’s collection of automobiles and memorabilia is nothing short of overwhelming.  For three hours Gene lead us on a tour of some of the most unusual and fascinating cars I, and I dare say most other club members have laid eyes on.  Cars from A to Z were represented, my favorite of course being the MG’s in the collection including two pre-war racing MG’s, one-offs, several T series and an absolutely gorgeous MGA Twin Cam.

 

PS. Photos are posted at www.msemc.org/events_021205ponder.html so check them out.

 

A special round of applause and thanks go to Gene for allowing the EMC a visit with him and his collection of automobiles.

 

Next on our calendar was Tech Session I for 2005.  On February 19 the EMC met at Jim and Faye Enzman for food, fun and frivolity all the while eyeing the job at hand.  Jim’s been working to add an MGB GT to his collection.   Faye’s requesting something with air.  Jim’s just about stripped the GT down to a bare chassis so seven strong EMC backs jumped in right after lunch and pulled the engine out.  Jim’s now well on his way to getting the sandblasting, bodywork and painting done.  Stay tuned for upcoming Tech Sessions with Jim and Fay.

 

The EMC members are now off to the spring southeast British car show series kicking off with the March 18 -19 New Orleans British Car Show and The EMC’s Annual Top’s Down being held March 26 at Rocky Springs Park on the Natchez Trace south of Jackson MS.

 

If you haven't signed up for another exciting year of EMC please do so as soon as possible. Mary Katherine as been advised by the British Marque that effective June 1, 2005 that the subscription price of the British Marque will increase to $8.00 so we need to gather our resources now.

 

Stay tuned for the outcome of our adventures in upcoming editions of the British Marque.

 

For other dates, times and of course membership information please visit our web site, www.msemc.org.

 

Happy Motoring

 

Gene Johnston

 

PS.  I have received notice, that long time South Alabama British Car Club member Bob

Mason passed away during February.  I only met Bob during the last few years of my involvement with this hobby but I know that Bob was a long time lover and supporter of all things British that rolled on 4 wheels.  Bob was a longtime technical coordinator for the North American MGB Register.  He'll be missed enormously by the hobby.