Monthly Archives: March 2022

17 Mar

Itinerary for the MOGSouth Fall Meet ~ Sept. 29 – Oct. 2, 2022

With special thanks to the Merlin Auto Group

of Atlanta for their part in sponsoring our Fall Meet this year, your planning committee is pleased to
present the following itinerary. You will notice that there is a change in how the various meals have
been planned….basically more catered affairs so you’re not off on your own. This is due to the shortage
of restaurant staff, post Covid-19 and the desire to have more time together in private venues where we
can socialize and enjoy each other’s company more comfortably.

Thurs – 9/29: For the “Early Birds” taking advantage of the optional, additional day we suggest that you check out Cartersville’s website www.visitcartersvillega.org for information about the many nearby tourist attractions including it’s award winning Smithsonian Institute affiliated Booth Museum and Tellius Museum. Let us know your ETA so we can meet you at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel where we will have local maps and brochures along with suggestions for your visit. Light refreshments will be available at the home of Gary & Judy Heck (11 miles from the hotel) beginning at 3:30. At 5:00 we will caravan to the Home Town Steak & Que in Euharlee ( 12 miles) for dinner on your own. There will be an opportunity for Morgan photos in front of the nearby historic Euharlee Covered Bridge after dinner and a stop at the close by ice cream shop and bakery for those who can’t resist.

Friday – 9/30: This is a day for exploring tourist attractions in our area that interest you. We will be available with suggestions, maps and brochures, plus the Cartersville Tourist Bureau is right next door to the Marriott.

The Booth Museum (Contemporary Western art, Civil War art, Cowboy & Native American artifacts, etc.) plus the 120,000 sq ft

Tellius Science Museum (Planetarium shows, gems, minerals, fossils & Science-in-motion gallery) are both fascinating.

Barnesley Gardens (15 miles from the hotel) is a luxury resort on 3,300 acres that features the ruins of an 1840s Manor House, centuries old gardens, horseback riding, champion golf course plus the Woodlands Grill and an outdoor Beer Garden for your enjoyment

Sat – 10/1: We have a lot to do today so the plan is we will line up at the Marriott at 8:30 to start the scenic 1 hour drive to Ellijay at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our first destination is the R&A Orchards for apple picking (or you may purchase them in their market along with fried apple pies, etc). Afterwards there will be time to explore the unique shops in the downtown area (5.4 miles from the orchard) before we meet at 12:30 at the River Park Shelter (1.7 miles from downtown) for a boxed lunch (of your choice) from the Back Porch Bistro. We will depart for Cartersville at approx. 1:15 so you will have enough time to freshen up before heading to the new, highly acclaimed Savoy Car Museum at 3:00 (2 miles from the hotel). At 6:00 we will all gather for a much needed Noggin’ at Gary’s shop (97 Wansley Drive) just 5 mins from the Marriott. At 7:00 we will have a bountiful 3 entree catered dinner at the shop surrounded by Gary & Judy’s collection of 19 classic cars. For your convenience and ease of
parking, Rosie will provide a shuttle for anyone desiring a ride between the hotel and the shop. Golden Oldies music will be provided by Jim McCartney for your listening pleasure and for Sock Hop dancing for those who are still “young at heart”…..PLUS you will be entertained by a wonderful video presentation full of great memories from past MOGSouth meets and events that Brian Miller is putting together and a Morgan media presentation that Steve Eckhoff of Merlin Motors will be showing. You don’t want to miss Saturday night!

‘ 50s Style Dress is encouraged…just for the fun of it!

Sun – 10/2: Check-out time is anytime before 11:00

Important Links:

Box Lunch Order Form
Registration for MOGSouth Fall Meet
Final Itinerary

The link to book using our group rate is: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1644268467465&key=GRP&app=resvlink

Co-Hosts for the Meet Are:
Judy Heck 404-24-0948
Gary Heck 770-595-8846
Rosie Miller 256-683-9294
Brian Miller 256-683-9417

Host Hotel: The Courtyard Marriott
5460 Georgia Highway 20
Cartersville, GA 30121
678-721-1660

Gary’s Shop Address:
97 Wansley Drive
Cartersville, GA 30120

Gary & Judy’s Home Address:
224 Old Dallas Road SW
Cartersville, GA 30120

03 Mar

NHTSA Approves Manufacture of Low-Volume Turn-Key Replica Cars (Road & Track)

[At this point, it is hard to say how this will effect the future importation of Morgan cars into the U.S. Morgan has been continually involved, as a potential Low-Volume Manufacturer, during this regulation’s evolution. They have commented on draft wording and supported the concepts inherent in the regulation. We shall have to see how this all works out, but, at this point in time, it can only be beneficial for us all. Mark]

After years of lobbying from SEMA, it’s now legal throughout the U.S. for manufacturers to build and sell brand-new replicas of cars over 25 years old.

Replica vehicles and kit cars have long been a way for enthusiasts to get a piece of some of the greatest examples of automotive unobtainium.  Thanks to the efforts of the Specialty Equipment Market Association and their partners lobbying Congress, the replica market is about to get a lot bigger.  Customers in the United States will now be able to legally purchase turn-key, factory-assembled replica vehicles, based on designs more than 25 years old, now that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has officially implemented the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act.

According to this new policy, low-volume vehicle manufacturers will be able to construct up to 325 replica vehicles a year—anything from old-school hot rods to mid-century muscle cars and more modern classics.  These vehicles will still be required to comply with some level of federal oversight, but not at the level of modern mass-produced vehicles.  This should allow small manufacturers that don’t have the resources of a legacy automaker to build limited-production replicas that comply with the new law.

That said, these replica vehicles will still be required to meet current model-year emissions regulations, and as such, all replica manufacturers must register with NHTSA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the California Air Resource Board in order to build and sell street-legal vehicles.  The process of verification with these entities may take several months, according to SEMA.  That means we still likely have a way to go before we start to see an influx of new pseudo-vintage machines powered by modern emissions-compliant engines. For those who don’t want to wait, we should note that this new policy has no impact on your ability to build a traditional kit car.

It doesn’t feel like automotive enthusiasts catch many breaks these days, especially as our zero-emissions future draws ever-nearer.  This is a win we can all get behind, and one that could help get some seriously cool cars on the road in the near future.  Let us know what vintage vehicles you’d like to see as turn-key replicas in the comment section below.