Spirit of MG Vintage Racing

I was so saddened to hear that Tony (David Anthony) Roth passed away on October 27th, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. He was Mr. MG in so many ways and for so many years. He was dedicated to enjoying MGs, having fun, and ensuring everyone else had fun. He had just turned 76 in September and was fighting cancer.

Tony Roth - Road Atlanta 1981

What can you say about an MG racer who cruised the Road Atlanta paddock in the early ‘80s in an MG TD racecar fitted with a generator-powered blender, making piña coladas, and handing them out to all his MG buddies? (He did this after the racing had ended, of course.)

His MG spirit was unmatched. He influenced my MG attitude and activities, including helping me launch the MG Vintage Racers’ Newsletter in 1981.

As far as I know, he never won any races. He began vintage racing his MG TD in 1979 and was a founding member of the Southeast Vintage Racing Association. Ford Heacock (who ran SVRA back then) asked Tony to be the MG race coordinator for SVRA’s All-MG Safety Fast Championship at Road Atlanta’s Vintage Grand Prix, which began in 1981 and ran for several years.

In Tony’s letter to potential MG entrants for that first MG race, he wrote, “The main interest will be to participate and have fun, regardless if you have a special MG racer or just want to have fun in your street machine.” His letter and attitude convinced me and others to enter that early MG vintage race.

Yes, I will miss him, but in some ways he still will be with us. He made a difference to help so many others enjoy MGs.

—Greg Prehodka, MG Vintage Racers