Page 58 - Feb2023
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St uart , contniued from page 57 He also flipped houses, " at a time before
flipping houses was even a word," Stuart
Stuart tells me that for him, it has always been about explained, which gave him a ground floor entry
MGs. "The cost of a car plus insuring it was into what was to become Nashville's burgeoning
prohibitive for a kid," Stuart remembers. " When I real estate market.
was in my mid 20s I finally did buy a 1969 MGBT and
Although he understands the economics of
I kept it until I started on cruise ships. Then I sold it
rapid development, because he's British he
to an Indian friend, who was almost more English
retains a feeling for old places, old buildings,
than I was. He went back to India for a visit and
and the history and the memories they
returned to England with a wife , an arranged
represent. Once they're gone, they're gone, and
marriage. He wanted the car for her and I sold it to
so is the sense of place that comes with them.
him in 1979. I was MG free until I bought the car I
have now that past owners christened Henry." Working as he did and making time for things
he loved like his music and photography, Stuart
Stuart says he did have an older model Mini for a
says he found he was so busy he didn't have
few months but wanting a roadster was never far
much time or room for any new "things" in his
from his mind. He did gigs playing the trumpet in a
life. Still, that MG roadster continued to drive
band with his life long friend , Tony, who he met in
through his head from time to time.
1973, and when Cunard came calling he went to sea
and stayed there working the company's big liners " When I got to retirement, I said, I need my
for two and a half years. retirement car," Stuart remembers and he
began the hunt, as most people do these days,
He not only saw a good part of the world, he also
especially if they are computer literate, by
made friendships that have lasted him a lifetime and
cruising the internet.
he made one particular friend-- the manager of the
ship's gift shop , who just happened to be a recent He found a rubber bumper MGB in Knoxville
graduate of Vanderbilt University. She came from that had belonged to a club president . It was
Paris--Paris, Tennessee, that is, he says with a smile. well maintained and all of that but it didn't really
set bells ringing, still it was an MG.
The friendship progressed, Stuart asked Caroline
for her hand, she said yes. Stuart says one hold That's when Caroline, the shopper deluxe
over from her time managing a shipboard gift store, stepped in. " That's not really what you want is
a very demanding and lucrative concern, was that it?" she asked. And, when Stuart agreed that it
she now never misses an opportunity for shopping. wasn't exactly what he was looking for, she went
to the web and-- " She found this one, the MGC,
In 1985, the couple moved to England to see how
and it turned out to be exactly what I was
they would get on in Stuart's country, but the
wanting."
economy was bad, in fact depressed, the weather
was gray, and Caroline missed home. They returned True, the cost was around twice the amount
to Tennessee, decided to live in Nashville, and Stuart that the other MGs he had looked at were going
turned in his horn for a career in the computer for, and yes, it was in Texas and he was in
industry. Tennessee, but the car had also been fully
restored over four years from 2006-2010. Stuart
He went to school, worked first for a firm that was in
admits that he both loves to solve problems and
the business computer end of the industry and
he has very specific tastes. The MGC had what
then, after establishing himself, started his own
he describes as " an ugly American pillow dash"
computer consulting business.
for safety purposes, but that could be replaced
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