AMGBA Club Blog
HISTORY OF THE
AMERICAN MGB ASSOCIATION
AMGBA publication history
AMGBA
organizational timeline
AMGBA past
shows/conventions/meets
by Frank Ochal
The American MGB Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1975 in New
York. From the club's inception through today the club is dedicated to serving
the interests of MGB, MGB-GT and Midget owners throughout North America.
The American MGB Association was started by John Giannasca and Rick Horan, the
original chairmen. They thought it would be nice to have a club for MGBs just as
there were clubs for other cars that people were driving new out of the
showroom. They operated the club out of a spare room in the house where they
lived. It was there that the 111 Roger Avenue in Inwood, New York address was
used. They advertised the club in Road & Track and invited responses from
prospective members for ideas in starting the club. The first newsletter was
published in 1976 using a copier and contained some of the features still used
today such as the Technical Section and From the Editor's Desk. Newsletter
mailing preparation and mailing were done in Inwood, New York.
In those early days, as the club continued to grow, it provided a way for people
to meet other members in the same area who wished to start Local Chapters. It
was this way that the Chicago Chapter of the American MGB Association was
founded. Two of the most prominent American MGB Association members were there
at the start of the Chicago Chapter - Bruce Magers, the current Vice-President
and Steve Glochowsky, the past president.
Steve Glochowsky became heavily involved with the National Club through the
Chicago Chapter. Each early AMGBA newsletter which was filled with accounts on
how well the Chicago Chapter was doing and the events that were being held. Rick
Horan and John Giannasca wished to have some of the same expertise in the
national organization and Steve became the AMGBA Publicity Director. The member
magazine, the Quarterly, began being published using Liberty-Whitfield Printing
in Glenview, Illinois which was the same printer that the Chicago Chapter of the
AMGBA used with magazine mailing preparation done by AMGBA officers. The
magazine was now being mailed out of the Fort Dearborn post office on Ontario
Street in Chicago, Illinois. I, Frank Ochal became involved in the club at the
1978 Chicago Auto Show when he met Chicago Chapter members at the MG Exhibit. As
a result, I became both a Chicago Chapter member and AMGBA member shortly
thereafter.
The AMGBA held its first National Convention in the summer of 1978 in Chicago at
the Hillside Holiday Inn. It was moderately successful and was a result of much
hard work by Steve Glochowsky, Rick Horan and John Giannasca. I attended and met
the founding chairmen for the first time. During that year I became more heavily
involved with national AMGBA activities and was named assistant publicity
director.
During the spring of 1979, Steve and I visited New York to promote the AMGBA at
the New York Auto Show. It was at this time that I saw the original club
headquarters and met with some of the other original officers including Marion
Farrell, the first secretary.
During the summer of 1979, our first eastern convention was held in Ithaca, New
York with Floyd Garren as convention organizer. The enthusiasm was growing as
evidenced by the turnout. On another promotional trip later that year, Steve and
I went to a GOF, a 'Gathering of the Faithful' held by the New England MGT
Register, in Cooperstown, New York. Rick Horan joined us in Cooperstown for this
event. It was at this time that Rick told us about his new business and how it
would be consuming much of his time. Consequently, he and John were transferring
the administration of the AMGBA to Steve Glochowsky and Frank Ochal. Steve
quickly formed an administration with himself as President, Frank Ochal as
Vice-President and Debbie Glochowsky as Secretary. So the AMGBA headquarters was
moved to Chicago area where it still is today serving MGB, MGB-GT, and MG Midget
owners throughout the USA, Canada and the world.
In 1980, the AMGBA made a trip to England to tour the Abingdon Works where MGs
were made. We were hosted in England by Ken Smith who was the AMGBA British
coordinator and a leader of an MG Club district out of Sheffield, England. He
became a friend of the club through many conversations with Steve Glochowsky.
Steve Glochowsky, myself and other members of the club went on the last tours of
the Abingdon Factory and visited other important MG sites in England. John Twist
began contributing his technical expertise to the membership through the club
magazine as well as holding his very successful MG Summer Parties in Grand
Rapids, Michigan.
The conventions continued to grow and to be moved around the country. The 1980
AMGBA National Convention was held in Glens Falls, New York. The organization's
growth and success led to renting the world famous Indianapolis 500 Motor
Speedway in 1981 for that year's AMGBA National Convention. In 1982, the AMGBA
held its first National Convention outside the USA in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
1982 also saw a change in officers as Margie Johnson (now Margie Springer)
became the Secretary and the AMGBA opened an office in Schaumburg, Illinois for
storage, work area and a telephone answering service. In 1983, the AMGBA went
west for the first time in Lake Tahoe, California-Nevada.
Toward the end of 1983, Steve Glochowsky started working at a new job that
consumed much of his spare time. I, Frank Ochal assumed most of the duties of
running the club and became President in 1984 with Bruce Magers as
Vice-President in a Milwaukee meeting of the club. Magazine mailing preparation
was now transferred to North Suburban Office mailing service in Northfield,
Illinois with the Winnetka, Illinois post office now doing the actual mailing of
the magazine. In 1984 we went west again and held our national convention in
Boulder, Colorado. In 1985, the AMGBA held two conventions in Santa Barbara,
California and Abingdon, Illinois. Later in 1985, the AMGBA office was moved to
Margie Johnson's (now Springer) apartment in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. In
1986, we visited Texas during its 150 year anniversary in San Antonio, Texas and
in 1987 we visited the Saratoga Springs area of beautiful upstate New York. In
1988, the convention site was Kansas City, Missouri. In 1989, we visited the
Great Northwest part of our country in Springfield, Oregon.
In 1990 the convention was held in Atlanta, Georgia, which was a first for the
Southeast portion of the country. In 1991 we returned to the site of our first
convention in Chicago. That same year, Margie Johnson (now Springer) moved to
Cape Cod, MA where she continued as the AMGBA secretary. The AMGBA Office was
moved to 5875 N. Lincoln, Chicago, Illinois. In 1992, we returned to the West
Coast to the beautiful San Francisco Bay area in Palo Alto, California. In 1993,
we traveled to New England at Keene, New Hampshire / Westminster, Vermont, the
site of the Westminster MG Museum. Also in late 1993, Bruce Magers became the
Vice-President. In 1994, we went for the first time to the San Diego, California
area at the world famous Del Mar racetrack. In 1995 we traveled for the first
time to Memphis, Tennessee. In 1996 we joined with all of the other major MG
Clubs in North America for MG Indy '96 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Indy 500
racetrack. Also in 1996, we changed printers to Newsweb in Chicago and began
publishing the member magazine, the Octagon with color on 8 pages. In
1997 we were on the West Coast in the San Francisco area at Palo Alto,
California. In 1998 we were in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Lake Campus of
Davidson College. In 1999, we were in Los Angeles, California for the first time
at Woodley Park near Van Nuys to join the British Car Meet organized by Rick
Feibusch. Also in 1999, we began publishing the member magazine 6 times per year
and the name of the name of the magazine was changed to the Octagon
(formerly the Quarterly) and also began
publishing the eOctagon as a supplement to the Octagon and sent to
all members with email addresses.
In 2000, we went to Armagh, Pennsylvania and joined with The Roadster Factory
Summer Party. In 2001, we went to Houston, Texas for the Houston MG Club's All
British Motor Vehicle Exposition and in 2002 we again went to the San Francisco,
California area for the Palo Alto British Car Meet.
Also in 2002, we began offering eMembership at a reduced rate
and included all benefits of regular membership except the printed Octagon
would not be received by postal mail.
In 2003 we were in Florida
for the first time in Titusville, Florida. The Octagon began being published 5
times per year and Victor Gariti formerly of North Suburban Office mailing
service began preparing the magazine mailing. In 2004 we had a very successful
Meet in Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts in conjunction with the Cape Cod
British Car Club’s British Legends Weekend. In 2005, we were in San Diego,
California at Fairbrook Farms in Bonsall for San Diego British Car Day. Also in
2004, the AMGBA officers again started preparing the magazine mailing. We were
in Maryland in 2006 at the MGs on the Rocks Show and in 2007 we went to
Charlotte, North Carolina at the MGs on the Green Show. In 2008 we were in
Armagh, Pennsylvania with The Roadster Factory Summer Party. For 2009 we planned
for a show in the Central Valley of California. Also in 2009, we changed
printers to Leesburg Printing in Florida with the printer doing the member
magazine mailing in Leesburg, Florida and the Octagon was now published 4 times
per year.
In 2010 we went to Sussex, Wisconsin for the British Car Field Day. For 2011 we
were in Ohio for the first time at Dayton in conjunction with the 27th Annual
British Car Day at Eastwood Metropark. For 2012 we went to the Jersey Shore to
Ocean Grove, New Jersey to join in with Brits on the Beach 2012. Also in 2012,
we changed printers to Johnson Press in Pontiac, Illinois with 16 pages of
color. They did the magazine mailing preparation and mailed it in poly wrap to
better protect the magazine during mailing. In 2013 we visited Mississippi for
the first time to the oldest city on the Mississippi River in conjunction with
the English Motoring Club of Mississippi's Brits on the Bluff Show in Natchez,
Mississippi. In 2014, we were at New England's largest British car show at the
British Invasion in Stowe, Vermont. Meet 2015 was in South Carolina at the Grand
Strand British Car Club's Britfest in Myrtle Beach. Also in 2015, the AMGBA
Office closed on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago with the items moved to Frank Ochal's
and Bruce Magers' homes. In 2016 we were in Virginia for the first time in
Waynesboro at the Shenandoah Valley British Car Festival. Also in 2016, we
changed to full color printing with the September 2016 issue and cancelled the
long time post office box address. The club address became 5433 N. Ashland Ave.,
Chicago, Illinois 60640. In 2017 we made our initial trip to Alabama in Fairhope
which is near Mobile and the Gulf Coast at the South Alabama British Car
Festival. In 2018, we went to the Philadelphia area for the first time at the
Brits in the Village Show in Lahaska, Pennsylvania. For 2019 we were at the
Grand Strand British Car Club's Britfest at Market Common in Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina.
Meet 2020 was not held due to the Coronavirus pandemic. For Meet 2021 we were
"back where it all started" at the Chicagoland British Car Festival at Harper
College in Palatine, Illinois.
Future Meets will always be listed in our club member magazine, the Octagon, on
our website (www.mgclub.org) as well as on our blog (https://mgclub.org/wordpress),
message board (https://mgclub.org/smf), Twitter (@amgba) and Facebook (American
MGB Association) pages.
Remember that the American MGB Association, the AMGBA, offers what no one else
can - a tradition of service to MGB, MGB-GT and Midget owners since 1975 with a
proven track record as evidenced that many members that have been with us for
more than 40 years. Why? - because the AMGBA gives them what they want and
need!!
For more information contact the American MGB Association, 5433 N. Ashland Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60640 USA, call 773-769-7084, email:
info@mgclub.org, website:
www.mgclub.org.
Note: The above history tries to be as accurate as possible. If you notice
anything that should be corrected or something that should be added, contact us
and we will place the correction on the club website as well as in a future
emailed publication.
AMGBA PUBLICATION HISTORY:
1976: 1st American MGB Association newsletter using a typewriter and copier
was published by the club founders in New York
1978: The AMGBA newsletter, now called the Quarterly was printed using spot
color on the cover but otherwise only using black ink in by Whitfield-Liberty
Press in Glenview, Illinois
1996: The AMGBA Quarterly now included 8 full color pages on newsprint was
published in Chicago, Illinois by Newsweb
1999: The Quarterly name was changed to the Octagon and began being published 6
times per year
2000: The eOctagon is published for the first time as an
additional
publication sent to members by email
2009: The Octagon was again published quarterly and printed using glossy paper
with 8 full color pages by Leesburg Printing in Florida
2012: The Octagon was published with 16 color pages by Johnson Press in Pontiac,
Illinois
2016: The Octagon was published in full color on all pages.
AMERICAN MGB ASSOCIATION ORGANIZATIONAL DATELINE:
1975: American MGB Association (AMGBA) founded by Rick Horan and John Giannasca
in New York; Bruce Magers started Chicago chapter and it joined AMGBA
1978: Frank Ochal joined Chicago chapter at Chicago Auto Show
1979: At GOF in Cooperstown, New York, Rick Horan transferred AMGBA to Steve Glochowsky and
Frank Ochal
1982: AMGBA Office in Schaumburg opened; Margie Johnson (now Springer) became
Secretary
1984: Steve Glochowsky stepped down and Frank Ochal became President with Bruce
Magers as Treasurer and Vice-President with Margie Johnson (now Springer) as
Secretary in Milwaukee organizational meeting
1985: AMGBA Office moved to Margie Springer's apartment in Elk Grove Village,
Illinois
1991: AMGBA Office moved to 5875 N. Lincoln, Chicago, Illinois
2015: AMGBA Office closed on Lincoln - items moved to Frank Ochal's and Bruce
Magers' homes in Illinois
List of American MGB
Association Meets and Conventions
1. 1978 - Chicago, IL
2. 1979 - Ithaca, NY
3. 1980 - Glens Falls, NY
4. 1981 - Indianapolis, IN
5. 1982 - Kingston, Ontario, Canada
6. 1983 - Lake Tahoe, CA
7. 1984 - Boulder, CO
8. 1985 - Santa Barbara, CA and Abingdon, IL
9. 1986 - San Antonio, TX
10. 1987 - Saratoga Springs, NY
11. 1988 - Kansas City, MO
12. 1989 - Springfield, OR
13. 1990 - Atlanta, GA
14. 1991 - Chicago, IL
15. 1992 - Palo Alto, CA
16. 1993 - Keene, NH
17. 1994 - San Diego, CA
18. 1995 - Memphis, TN
19. 1996 - Indianapolis, IN
20. 1997 - Palo Alto, CA
21. 1998 - Charlotte, NC
22. 1999 - Los Angeles, CA
23. 2000 - Armagh, PA
24. 2001 - Houston, TX
25. 2002 - Palo Alto, CA
26. 2003 - Titusville, FL
27. 2004 - Cape Cod, MA
28. 2005 - San Diego, CA
29. 2006 - Rocks State Park, MD
30. 2007 - Charlotte, NC
31. 2008 - Armagh, PA
32. 2009 - Fresno, CA
33. 2010 - Sussex, WI
34. 2011 - Dayton, OH
35. 2012 - Ocean Grove, NJ
36. 2013 - Natchez, MS
37. 2014 - Stowe, VT
38. 2015 - Myrtle Beach, SC
39. 2016 - Waynesboro, VA
40. 2017 - Fairhope, AL
41. 2018 - Lahaska, PA
42. 2019 - Myrtle Beach, SC
Meet 2020 not held due to the Coronavirus
pandemic
43. 2021 - Chicago
(Palatine), IL
|