Category Archives: 2023 GatorMOG / Spring Noggin (St Petersburg FL) 5 Feb

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

There are significant changes to times and locations so read carefully!

Changes to the Saturday 4 February Reception:

• It is now earlier 4:30 – 6:00pm

• The Reception, hosted by Mike Palfreyman and Lois Slavin, will now be at the ShoreCrest Condominiums, 1200 North Shore Drive NE, Community Room, 6th Floor, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

• Parking is available on a first-come, first served basis in the lot across the street.  On-street parking is available on 13th Ave NE and on Beach Dr. NE.

• Use intercom for Slavin/Palfreyman for access.

• Please send an email to lois.slavin2015@gmail.com to RSVP. 

Other Updates From the Organizers:

As of today we have 21 Morgans Listed, I am sure it will be a great show. Here is a few updates to help your arrival. I understand there are events that are planned by the Morgan Owner Club representatives, but in regard to St Petersburg Yacht Club and the Show you have all been granted VIP access on the day, which allows you to the upper deck level overlooking the park and waterfront. There you can relax and have coffee, use the private bathrooms and the Tiki Bar will be open enabling you to purchase drinks (credit cards accepted). 

• Parking: I have arranged with the Club (SPYC) to provide parking in our multi-story garage. For most of the time there will be a valet on hand to direct you, it is possible that some days not all cars will be parked in one location. We would most likely issue some form of parking permit, but I think they will know who your are. The garage doors are locked at night and we have 24hr security.

• The Valet entrance is located at 11 Central Ave, St Petersburg, 33701 But it is unlikely some of the entrants will use valet. So to self park the garage entrance is on Beach Drive SE and Corner of First Ave NE (cordinates 27.77207° N, 82.63317° W)

• Those who are bringing trailers: On the Day of Show,(Sunday) trailers and tow vehicles can be parked for a small fee at the Al Lang Stadium parking lot immediately south of the Club, entrance off 1st Ave SE.

• Those arriving earlier or with larger vehicles: City’s Port Director has confirmed  participants would be allowed to utilize the secured parking lot at the Port.  250 8th Ave SE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. There will likely be some nominal charge for the parking, but I do think this would be preferred to an unattended lot elsewhere in the area.  They can coordinate their arrival/departure plan with Joan McGowan by calling (727) 639-5762.  She is aware of the request and will be expecting their call. CALL NOW

• Day of Show Timing: Load-in of vehicles begins at 7:30 am. Cars will proceed from the garage south to Central Ave, turning left, then left onto Bayshore Dr NE, this road is closed Southbound, so you will be directed up this road to the vehicle reception ramp and sign-in, there you will be escorted to the designated parking position. These details should be on you final documents.

St. Petersburg Yacht Club (SPYC) Vintage Motor Classic – Sunday, February 5, 2023.

MORGANS ARE THE FEATURED MARQUE

Registration information and fees: https://registernow.regfox.com/2023-st-petersburg-motor-classic-spmc. 

NOTE: Free t-shirt to first 100 registrants!

Please confirm attendance/registration, via email to livi_02446@yahoo.com and include the year, make, model and color of the car(s) you have registered.

Tentative Schedule (exact times TBD)

Friday, February 3rd, 2023

• 4pm onward: Check in to The Hollander, The Avalon, or your hotel of choice
• 6:00pm: Drinks and dinner at The Hollander

Saturday, February 4th 2023

• On your own to enjoy world-class exhibits at the Sunken Gardens, Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement (diagonally across the street from the hotels), The Dali. 
• The James Museum of Western Art,Imagine Museum, Chihuly Collection, and more. Stroll along Tampa Bay in world-class parks. Check out a broad array of things to do!
• Tampa Bay Auto Museum. And they have a 1930 Morgan Three Wheeler!!

• 6:00pm – 8:00pm: Reception at the St. Petersburg home of Mike Palfreyman and Lois Slavin

Sunday, February 5th, 2023

• Breakfast on your own
• SPYC Classic Car Show
• 8:00am – 10:30am: Arrival and staging
• 3:00pm – 3:30pm Awards

Hotel Reservations

Special discounts have been arranged the nights of Feb. 3, 4, and 5 for GatorMOG and MOGSouth members. Please visit the following websites to learn more about the hotels, then call the phone # indicated. 

You MUST CALL and identify yourself as a Morgan Car Club – GatorMOG or MOGSouth Member. The reservationist will provide you with a quote that includes the Group discount.

The Avalon Hotel, (727) 317-5508

The Hollander Hotel, (pet-friendly) 727-873-7900

More details on how to enter your Morgan in the show, fees etc., will be coming soon but as this is high season in St Pete you will want to make your hotel reservations so call soon – or better yet, call now!