Fernandina Beach, November 4, 2017
The Classic MG Club of Orlando moved the club overnight drive from the traditional date in October to November, resulting in clear, cool weather, lower hotel prices, and a great opportunity
for MG camaraderie. Amelia Island and the
city of Fernandina Beach were the destinations, with a visit to Amelia Dream
Cars the featured event.
A convoy of MGs left Central Florida on a rally-like tour of
Florida back roads. State Roads 19, 40, 11,
and 100 led to A1A at Flagler Beach for a drive north along the beaches of the
Atlantic Ocean. Crescent Beach and the
South Beach Grill, with seating overlooking the beach and ocean, made for an
enjoyable stop with delicious seafood lunches.
Heading north, the convoy traveled through St. Augustine,
Guana State Park, and the Jacksonville Beaches on the way to Mayport and the
ferry for a boat trip across the St. Johns River. Once off the ferry, the trail headed through
Little Talbot Island and Big Talbot Island State Parks and onto Amelia
Island. The Amelia Hotel on the Beach,
near the north end of the island, is owned by our host and fellow Classic MG
Club member, Richard “Choo Choo” Germano.
Saturday morning, a visit to Amelia Dream Cars, Choo Choo’s
car shop, was the highlight of the activities.
Choo Choo is a life-long owner of MGs (and some other interesting
automobiles). He has restored many MGs
and is in the process of restoring multiple cars, some quite rare and rarely
seen. Amelia Dream Cars is located in
the building that was originally built as the Oldsmobile Dealership. Outside in front of the shop an MGYA and MGTD
were on display.
The new car showroom is filled with cars and motorcycles for
sale, including a red MGA. The service
department is filled with cars, some completed and some under restoration. One group in the photo includes an MGC, MGTC, MGTF, and an MGNA with a custom body of which only 9 were built. The MGNA (the red car) has the original engine, a 6
cylinder overhead cam. MGs had overhead
cam engines until the motivation for increased production and lower costs
became company policy in 1935. The
black TF won first place in a major New England MG event shortly after
restoration and has remained a driver for one of Choo Choo’s daughters. The TC is immaculate. It truly is in original, showroom condition. One of the badges on the front of the TC below is an early Classic MG Club
badge, with Orlando and Miami listed.
That is a rare MG collectible.
An MGTA Tickford Drophead Coupe was well underway in its
restoration process, with the frame, suspension, and body tub completed. Few Tickfords exist and only a very small
number reside in North America. A couple
years ago a TA Tickford sold at the RM Auction in Amelia Island sold for
$149,000, a measure of its rarity and quality.
A beautiful MGYT just gleamed. It
could be described as a drophead sedan, as it is a 4 seater, but the English term the car a "Tourer," thus the name YT - Y type tourer. Then, there was another YT in complete
condition, but in need of restoration, and an MGPB that had one of the members actively
negotiating about how he could become its owner. Sitting on a trailer in the covered area
outside the building the body of an MGA Twin Cam was to travel to the paint
shop the next week. Just an overload of
MGs.
The many quality restaurants in Fernandina Beach provided a
variety of lunch opportunities for the members.
The afternoon had a number of activities from walks along the downtown
shops and waterfront to a coordinated drive to the Omni for shopping or a visit
to the Falcon's Nest, a flight-themed pub. Saturday
night, all the participants headed to downtown Fernandina Beach for a dinner in
a private upstairs room at the Crab Trap, Choo Choo’s restaurant.
Many thanks to Mark and Ellen Tidwell for organizing the
Overnighter to Amelia Island, ensuring that The MG Classics Club members
experienced an interesting drive in their MGs, enjoyable activities, and great
camaraderie. We are all most grateful
to Richard “Choo Choo” Germano for sharing his car collection and teaching
everyone more about the cars and history of MG.
His hotel, Amelia Hotel at the Beach, was a great place to spend the night and dinner at the Crab
Trap was delicious.
April 2019 Update: The Dream is but a Memory now. Many good things come to pass and so has Amelia Dream Cars. Choo Choo made the decision to sell the old Oldsmobile dealership building and some of the cars in his collection. Many of the cars and all the collectibles will be kept and moved to a new building built behind his house. An important part of MG history has ended.
September 2020 Update: On Monday, September 21, 2020, Richard "Choo Choo" Germano passed away. He will be missed by his many friends and all in the MG Community. An even more important part of MG history has ended.
