MGs In Key West, April 20-24, 2026

by Nancy Lowda

Over the years, my husband, Jim, and I have enjoyed joining a group of MG enthusiasts at a Key West event held in April that corresponds with the Conch Republic Independence Week Celebration.  Usually, this event is held at the Southwinds Motel.  This event was cancelled in 2020-2021due to the pandemic.  Prices for lodging in 2022 were out of line, thus ending hopes for a reunion of the group. In 2025, Jim spoke to several members, and with a renewed interest, he pursued making plans to return to Key West.  The Southwinds Motel reduced rates to a reasonable level and provided a block of rooms for attendees.  Jim contacted Bruce Woodson and found considerable interest, despite the short notice for an April gathering. Also, he had to keep in mind that this event was to be held during the same time period as the GOF in Cape Canaveral, and some of our FSMGCC members would be attending that event.  Barrie Carson and Lorraine Spicer made reservations, along with our friends from Texas, Moose and Amy Stovall. 

Jim worked on getting our 1967 MGB ready---tune up, spark plugs, fluids, etc., as the car had not been used much since the hurricanes in 2024.

On Sunday, April 19, we set out from our home in New Port Richey, intending to meet Moose and Amy at Barrie’s home at 9:00 A.M. in Clearwater.  Barrie and Lorraine have a maroon 1980 MGB.  Moose would be driving a green, 2001 Corvette-powered Morgan + 8.  We soon began to have problems.  Our car started to buck at high speeds.  We limped to Barrie and Lorraine’s.  The problem was a clogged fuel filter.  Fortunately, Barrie had a spare fuel filter in his garage.  The guys quickly got it installed, and then our 3-car caravan got underway on a route Lorraine planned.  It would be a 450-mile trip to Key West.  We drove I-275 to the Skyway Bridge to I-75 to FL-70.  In Arcadia, we had a pit stop and lunch break.  On Route 27, we all pulled over as Lorraine searched frantically for her sunglasses, thinking they may have been left at the gas station.  Oh, no!  They are prescription glasses! She continued to agonize and search, and then, with great relief she announced, “Barrie was sitting on them!” By the way, speaking of Lorraine, she certainly LOVES her comforts.  As the temperature outside heated up, she cooled us down with frequent squirts from her hand-held battery-operated mist and fan-blower. Every MG should contain one.   The weather was beautiful and we made it to our first destination, a lovely Best Western Motel in Homestead, ahead of some very threatening storm clouds in the distance.  We had a light dinner within walking distance. The motel provided a very nice breakfast buffet the next morning.

On April 20, we set out on the 120-mile road south through the Florida Keys, stopping at various places we had enjoyed in the past: a wild bird sanctuary in Largo, Robbies in Islamorada (where tourists enjoy feeding the huge numbers of tarpon that congregate near the dock, and where we stocked up on tee shirts and other supplies), Sombrero Beach, and Kiki’s Sand Bar for a late lunch (that included must-haves:  raw oysters and luscious Mango Coladas, and salad with grilled grouper).

We arrived at the Southwinds Motel later in the afternoon and enjoyed getting reacquainted with friends from past events, such as local resident Curtis Skomp with his iris blue MGA. There were new faces also, such as Mike and Lucy Hughes from VA, who arrived towing a trailer with their dark green 1933 MG L1 Magna Salonette. Activities included a welcoming poolside cocktail party, a miniature golf/lunch outing at Boondocks, a bocce ball team competition, a sunrise walk to Higgs Beach, the Thursday night parade, and walks/trolley rides to quaint and funky restaurants and shops along the famous Duval Street. One such place is called Garbo’s Grill.  It is an Airstream trailer-turned-eatery that was given mention years back on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. People also visited an historic fort at Higgs Beach which houses the beautiful orchids and other tropical plants maintained by the Key West Botanical Garden Club. 

Nancy and Jim received a wonderful surprise when their daughter, Cheryl, and four-year-old grandson, Reiss, arrived via a flight from VA to celebrate Nancy’s birthday on April 21^st.  They took a walk downtown to visit the famous Southernmost Hotel where many famous Americans have stayed.  The famous southernmost statue is temporarily repositioned here during some re-construction.  The Lowda’s enjoyed taking Reiss to the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, a free museum near the Mallory Square waterfront which boasts many hands-on/ interactive exhibits which serve to educate the visitors about our responsibility to help preserve our fragile coastline and waterways.  Nearby, there was a large farmers’ market with many craft booths and also a children’s park with a refreshing splash pond.

On Friday morning, we said our farewells to our friends old and new.  Many folks expressed an interest in getting together again next year.  We’ll see what 2027 brings.