Page 7 - June 2022

Headed to Clarksville, continued from p. 6

Although Gene Parker has owned Jaguars and
Austin Healeys, the car he always wanted was
an MG TD. He told his lunch companions that he
had wanted one since he was 10 years old and
that he still has the owner's manual for a vintage
MG that he had as a boy.

This year in 2022, while other people are
observing the Queen's Jubilee, Gene is having his
own Celebration of achieving a lifelong dream. It
started at the Celtic games in Columbia, South
Carolina, which also featured a British car show,
when he uttered the famous call: " Does anyone
know where there is an MG TD for sale?"

He was put on the hunt, eventually had the Tom Edwards led with his Grand Touring E-Type-
Lemon Squad check out two possible a very classy, classic..
contenders, rejected one on their advice, and
bought the second one from an owner in
Maryville, Tennessee. His dream car arrived home
in Hermitage two weeks before the May 21st
drive. Gene described the experience of driving
the top up but open air trip as being rather like
riding a motorcycle, complete with the noise. He
loved every minute of it.

Should you think that driving a newly purchased
classic in 94 degree weather might be a bit risky,
Gene craftily showed his past experience with the
LBC community. His wife Lilli followed behind him
in a hybrid Toyota Avalon providing a safety car,
just in case. The MG, however, came through its
shakedown cruise with flying colors. Registered
as a 1953 model, Gene says his TD also has parts
from 51 and 52 rolling around. This means that
his car was new when Queen Elizabeth both British Racing Green, a group already has style from the
came to the throne and at her coronation. minute it hits the highway. It was top down for the
Having been set a 70 year example by Her convertibles, windows down for the Jaguar coupe, and air

Majesty, long may the Parkers' MG TD reign. conditioning of varying degrees for the less hardy souls.
Above, Barry Whitehead, normally seen in his big Healey,
Tour Leader Tom Edwards Planned a
appeared in a Triumph coupe. It didn't have a/c but it did
Great Drive
have a roof to keep the sun at bay; he felt that was a
A smaller than usual, but enthusiastic, group of benefit. Two very modern Minis came complete: power
NBCC members turned out in Franklin ready to steering, a/c, windows and doors, rooves-- the full
enjoy the trip to Clarksville. package--producing a comfort level right up there with the
Avalon and the Porsche Cayman that were included in the
Whenever a drive is led by an E-type Jaguar in
car count. Continued on page 8
7