When I purchased my TD in 2002 it was missing the serial number
plate. The car had been registered in New York under the body number.
In August of that year I joined NEMGTR and got a "registry number" from
them.
Dick Knudsen kindly helped me find the correct serial number for my
car. I was then able to get Wisconsin to change the title. Dick also
told me what day my car was built (Oct. 12, 1951) so I could have a
party. Actually, there was a tour of the Milwaukee & Greatlakes MG
Motorcar Group (MGMGMG) not far away that weekend, so I really did have
a party of sorts.
Since my car had an old NEMGTR badge on the radiator, Dick told me
the name of the last owner who had belonged to the club. I discovered
that I could reclaim his earlier registry number, so I set out to do
that. It was a little frustrating, but only because I didn't know the
rules. Hank Rippert finally explained to me, via eMail, that I had to
get the previous owner's written permission to make the change.
Using the Internet, I managed to track the previous owner down
through his college alumni association. Reverend Fenn gladly gave me
written permission to get his old number. I sent this into Mr. Rippert
and heard nothing for quite a while. I finally got frustrated and
complained a little. I was slightly embarrassed to learn the change had
been made -- I just wasn't advised.
It seems to me that the NEMGTR is responsive if you understand the
club's system and you persist in your needs. Tech editor Don Lawson has
been very helpful with several technical questions that helped me sort
out my car. Like most clubs, there is a lot of time constraints on
officials, who are largely volunteers. However, NEMGTR has a great
magazine, helpful information, good ads and a nice book store and
Website. If the organization is slightly "quirky" that seems to fit
well with the cars we drive.
Clubs that are closer-to-home (such as MGMGMG and the Fox Cities
British Sports Car Club) are better for social activities, but I find
that NEMGTR has its place in my MG world and I wouldn't be without a
membership.
John Gunnell
OLD CARS WEEKLY
Iola, WI
P.S.
By the way, my brand new book STANDARD GUIDE TO BRITISH SPORTS CARS has
now been puiblished and I am, as you might expect, proud of the job of
getting it out. Information about the book is available at
www.krause.com or a bookseller sites such as www.amazon.com. It was fun
to compile this work and I hope that it is enjoyed and contributes to
the growth of our hobby. It was our best selling book in the month of
may. For those of you who get the opportunity to read it and use it,
please advise me of any errors you note. In this manner, we can make
future editions even better.
/// unsubscribe/change address requests to majordomo@autox.team.net or try
/// http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo
/// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive/mg-t
|