An In-depth Interview of Our Presidential Family
A few months ago Rick Storms, Abingdon Rough Rider's able webmaster, felt that maybe the website was looking a little
tired and in need of refurbishment. He sought input and proceeded to provide a functional, stylish new digital home for
the Rough Riders. However, on review, it occurred to me that the "About Us" section was a little spare and presented a
glaring void, as few of the club officers were profiled in it. I vowed to try to fill that hole by immediately introducing our
president and the ARR Review's in-resident cartoonist to those in the club who don't know him. The portrait below
illustrates two real TC aficionados, Jane and Brian Sonner...
The path that led each of us to our TCs is, for me, always interesting. Brian, how did it all start for you; what was
your first car and what is your favorite car?
My first and favorite car was a 1962 Austin Healey 3000. (The car was actually owned by a retired schoolteacher from
Pasadena who wanted a new one. It had 29,000 original miles on the odometer when I acquired it.) The 1962 Healey
was the last year before roll up windows, had three carburetors and electric overdrive. The combination of these made it
the best all around sports car that I've ever owned. (A girl drove her dad’s Lincoln into it while it was parked: totaled it.)
The TC is currently my favorite and will be the last car I drive. At various times I owned MGs but did not make the TC
commitment until 4 years ago. At 6’ 3” (and large feet) I assumed that I wouldn't fit into the car comfortably. Lawrie
Alexander was working on a TC (now owned by Ed Dail) and encouraged me to try it. That was when it all began.
Who is Brian Sonner? Where did you grow up? How and under what circumstances did you come to fall victim to
the curse of the TC?
I grew up in southern Indiana in a small town near Louisville, KY. This town was the home of the second largest
gunpowder plant in the world (Dupont) and was a major part of the WWII effort. Most of the employees were from the
Tennessee hill country and southern Kentucky. So I speak “southern”. My dad was superintendent of schools there
until the desire to move west took over and I spent the years until high school graduation in Tracy California. Then, I
was off to the University of Southern California. Graduating with a degree in comparative theology and playing tennis
for USC took up 4 years. Thirty years in the Coast Guard forced me to move 17 times and live all over the world. As
the years passed, I acquired a wife and children. Through the years I acquired a MS in financial management
(accounting), a MS in political science (international relations) and upon retirement went back to school and picked up
46 units of studio art. The vast majority of my art is sporting art centered on pheasant hunting and fly-fishing, both of
which occupy a lot of my time. Cartooning has become a major part of my recent artistic efforts.
Mme ARR First Lady Jane Sonner please introduce yourself. Where are you from? How are you able to cope with
Brian's TC addiction?
I grew up on a farm in Tracy, California. Some of my fondest memories were of riding in a cousin’s TR3 or ogling
another cousin’s TC. I grew up loving to travel—Carmel and Lake Tahoe were favorite destinations. Brian and I were
high school friends and saw each other when I was a student at UCSB and he at USC. I spent a year in Bordeaux,
France, and upon graduation from UCSB went into the Peace Corps, teaching English in Morocco. Two years extended
into 7 before I returned to Tracy to teach English and history. Meeting up again with Brian again was most fortuitous,
and his MG addiction was part of his allure.
Please list all cars that the Sonners own.
We own a 2006 Toyota Tundra, 1979 and 1970 MG roadsters and, of course our 1948 MG TC (TC 5381).
Owners used to drive their TCs much more often than they do now. I understand that you drive yours 6000 miles per
year. I'd be willing to bet that yours is to be the most-used TC in the Western USA. What features have you
incorporated into it to make it as drivable as it is? Safety? Reliability? Comfort?
Yes we drive the TC 6000+ miles per year. A lot of effort was put into the front-end alignment that allows me to drive at
65+ without the wandering which appears to be part of other TCs I have driven. (the toe in is ¼ “ rather than 3/16” ). As
Lawrie Alexander and I put it together from the-frame-up, every decision was based on my expecting to drive it for 20
carefree years. I added shoulder seatbelts. I also added insulation under the driver’s feet due to summer heat.
Brian, given your livelihood, you've developed a serious relationship with matters nautical. Given that, why don't you
own a boat!?
The plan for most Coast Guard officers upon retirement is to take an oar and walk inland until someone asks him what it
is and retire there. Living on ships and driving Coast Guard boats in horrible weather has created a desire neither to take
cruises nor own any watercraft with an engine.
Jane, please share with us your thoughts about cars in general and MGs in particular. You've been sighted driving an
MGB, but surely it can't be the most practical (not to mention dependable) car. Although undoubtedly It’s probably
the most enjoyable to drive, if you had garage space would you have a different daily driver than you do? Which cars
do you like?
I truly enjoy driving either of the MGBs and am willing to drive them great distances. Since Brian has learned how to
work on his own cars, thanks to Lawrie Alexander’s training, he keeps them in tip-top shape so I don't often have a
problem. I usually take Cruz to school and pick him up in an MG, and the other children enjoy seeing the cars! They're
good daily drivers, easy to park and fun. My only other car wish would be to have a Prius that my mom could get in and
out of; Mom is 93!
Here's a question for both, if you had more garage space and an unlimited budget which cars would you put in it?
We'd keep the pickup (necessary for hunting), keep the 1948 TC, keep an MGB, acquire a 1962 Austin Healey 3000, and
a Prius.
9. Winter in your Placerville home is different from the winter that most other ARR members experience. Do you
drive your car in the winter? How do you prepare the car for winter?
I drive my TC year round except when it rains. I simply do not set out in the rain but certainly don’t mind driving home
if rain comes along. The side curtains are a necessity. Winters in Placerville are not harsh; however, Jane has a
“cocoon” made of double thick wool that is shaped somewhat like a sleeping bag that zips slightly above her waist and
has foot warmers installed on those 30-degree days. The cocoon is modeled after a friend’s that was original outfit with
her grandfather’s 1914 Buick.
Brian, if you were to restore your car again what would you do differently?
If I were doing the TC restoration again the only thing I would do differently would be to install a 5 speed with the
original pumpkin (5.125/1) rather than using the 4.55/1 high speed pumpkin with the original transmission.
How is the ARR different from any other MG clubs of which you're a member?
The ARR differs from other clubs I have joined because members really drive their cars. However, the key to the club is
the openness and welcoming nature of members. Jane and I have felt welcome from our first experience
Finally, what lies ahead for the TC car hobby is a question that has occurred to all of us. Unlike some Rough Riders,
you share your home with a possible heir to your car. Is he interested in "maintaining the breed?" How are you
cultivating his interest in cars in general and TCs in particular? How does the future of the TC look to you?
As you know Jane and I are “in the business” again, but young master Cruz is not the only one who is interested in the
TC. My youngest son, Colin (30 years old) was just home for 10 days and immediately demanded to drive Nelson. That
was a first. He loved it so I took the keys when I put Nelson in the garage. You will note that in my cartoons and in life
I have named my car. Cruz talks about Nelson as if he is a person. And, I include Cruz during the routine maintenance
process. This past week he asked when we would be working on Nelson again. I expect that in 10 years Cruz will learn
to drive and part of that will be to drive Nelson. Frankly, these are not practical cars and not cheap. However, all that
one has to do is see the reaction of other drivers on the highway to believe that these cars will be around for a long time.
I firmly believe that ARR members are the main reason they will survive. We all drive them and demonstrate that they
are real cars and not just for shows. My biggest concern is the next generation of mechanics that will be available to
work on TCs. My experience has been that there are individuals who claim to be able to do the work, but they can’t.
Thanks, Sonners. This interview, as well as the events which you've organized, serve only to add to the appreciation
we already have of the President and First Lady!