Finally Reno

Sunday, June 12th, having truly enjoyed the "Loneliest Road in America" following the old Pony Express trail across Nevada, we arrived in Carson City. Those Rallye to Reno participants who were roughly on schedule gathered at the local high school parking lot, met by others who had traveled from the Northwest and from California on their own rally route. From here, we all caravaned the last 30 miles to Reno, entering "The Biggest Little City in the World" down its main drag, Virginia Ave.  As we passed under the famous Reno arch in the center of town, the entire entourage was captured on video and by local news outlets.

The MG International 2011 headquarters was to be the Silver Legacy Casino Hotel right downtown and the organizers had arranged for special roped off parking for all MGs in the hotel's parking structure. The traffic jam pulling up the ramps was a sight-- little supercharged overhead cam MGs from the 1930's with motors smaller than today's motorcycles alternating with hot rodded MGB V8 conversions sporting Ford Cobra power.  Over 1,000 cars were expected for the week's planned MG activities and everyone was excited to check in, unpack, and begin sampling product at Brew Brothers Brewpub off the Silver Legacy's concourse. I guess some may have also looked forward to casino stuff, but gambling has never been a draw for me.  I found the sight of so many people of apparently modest means feeding money into slot machines a bit sad, but then again little British cars may seem a peculiar pastime to others.