The Sacramento Valley MG Car Club is thrilled to welcome Dave Lawson as its incoming President for 2025. Known for his cheerful demeanor and infectious enthusiasm, Dave is eager to lead the club into a new year of camaraderie and classic car adventures.
"It's a lot to figure out," Dave admits, "I'm not really sure what the role is supposed to entail."
But he's already taken the initiative in at least one area: "I'm a member of several car clubs around here now, and one of the things I've already done is talk to the presidents of the United British Sports Car Club and the Jaguar Club about the possibility of doing some things together."
As a long-time member of the club and one who has been of tremendous assistance both in planning events and helping others sort out mechanical issues, Dave is already much appreciated. The feeling is mutual.
"This is a good group of people, it's a fun group of people, so it really doesn't need any change,” he says. “It just needs to be maintained. And that will be my focus – to just keep things rolling and keep having fun."
Dave brings a wealth of experience to the role. He spent 15 years at McClellan Air Force Base, primarily as a supervisor of an engineering group, and another 19 years at the Federal Bureau of Reclamation at Folsom Dam, overseeing electricians, operators, and other craftspeople.
Now retired, it is his automotive pursuits that keep him excited: “I just enjoy driving cars and fixing them and working on them," he shares. And he’s been at it a long time.
"I caused my first automotive disaster when I was about 9 or 10," he recalls with a chuckle. "My dad told me to tighten something up, and I promptly snapped the stud off. My dad was 'Oh my, oh my.' But when my dad pulled the manifold off, the end of the stud was still sticking out, so he grabbed a pair of vice grips and twisted it out."
Dave's lifelong passion for cars was nurtured by his father, a music teacher and auto mechanic who ran a Citroen shop for 50 years. "Citroen was his religion," Dave explains. When his father passed away a couple of years ago, Dave inherited a collection of 25 Citroens, though he's gradually reducing that number. "I'm giving them away, selling them, anything I can to get rid of the excess."
Despite his affection for Citroens, Dave's preference for two-seaters led him to the world of British sports cars. He mostly drives his 1961 MGA 1600 – no top, thank you very much. His other MG cars are a TC and a TD.
Dave’s nomination to be president occurred at the club’s November monthly meeting, and he was officially elected at the December 4 meeting. Dave and his wife Sandy are proud parents of two successful daughters. Jennifer, 28, is an environmental cleanup expert in Oklahoma, while Danielle, 25, recently secured a new position at a healthcare organization after a stint as a CPA (which she earned at the young age of 21) at Deloitte and Touche. "She got an A-minus once," Dave jokes, highlighting his daughter’s exceptional academic achievements while at Boise State University.
The Sacramento Valley MG Car Club warmly welcomes Dave Lawson and eagerly anticipates his leadership in the coming year.
