Vintage ViewpointVol. 42 No 8 Vintage MG Car Club

August 2008

The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 13,

at the Pizza Joynt, 39 W. North Avenue, Northlake, IL, 8 p.m. – 708-562-5334

GOF 2008 – AUBURN, INDIANABy Jerry Cihak

The Editor asked me to report on the GOF held in Auburn, Indiana. Around 25 VMGCC members attended. The Old Octagons of Indiana hosted the GOF and did a magnificent job in making us feel comfortable and welcome. The hotel was located close to all the events and we were the only occupants during the four days. Eighteen states and one from Canada were represented at the GOF and more than 100 cars were on display. The venue was perfect for a car display, at the park near the Auburn-Cord-Deusenburg Museum (ACD). There was a good showing of triple-M cars (MMM), as well as 19 TCs. The Rally/tour was a 72 mile course through the countryside and around three lakes. The views were magnificent and the roads were perfect for our

MGs. There was a good selection of vendors and the auction was interesting and fun.

The awards banquet was held at the ACD Museum. We had nearly two hours to tour the museum and see the cars on display. The museum is considered one of the five best automobile museums in the U.S. The 100,000th MG built, a 1962 MGA, was on display, lending class to the museum.The VMGCC was well represented in the awards that were presented:

Vintage: Lou Louchios, 1st MMM 6 cyl: Bob Sterling, 2nd TC: Jerry Cihak, 2ndTD: John Hubbard, 2nd; Bob Hanselman, 3rdTF: Gerry Risner, 2ndMGA: Earl Campbell, 1stFirst-timer: Bob Hanselman, 1st TD; Bill Latham, 1st MGA

We had a wonderful drive home along Route 6, a perfect road for our MGs. Unfortunately, Gerry Risner blew a head gasket and had to hitch a ride on a flat bed for

over 135 miles. I heard from Bob Figenskau in Minnesota. He broke a crank shaft about 65 miles from home and also arrived home on a flat bed.

At the hotel next to ours there was a meeting of the Nash club. My first car was a ’48 Nash. I was able to find one (see photo). I bought it for $100 in 1955 and used it until I graduated High School, when I sold it for $100.00. Not much profit, especially since it burned more oil than gas. Anyway, it’s very nostalgic to find your first car.

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Everyone had a great time (even Gerry Risner).More Pictures inside!

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Bits and PiecesBy Jennifer SmithPresident

Our next meeting is on August 13th. The July meeting was cancelled due to a conflict with the GOF. Hopefully, we will have some members at the August meeting who can fill us in on the details of the GOF and share photos of the event.

Vice-President, Doug Clark, also has an announcement in this issue about this year’s President’s Picnic and about his program for this month’s meeting.

There was some discussion at the last meeting about making a contribution to charity in John Fee’s memory with the proceeds received from the sale of his two donated MG TDs. I have received word from our Board members to please defer any action until the Board has met and made a decision on this issue. After such time, they will present a recommendation to the club members.

Until the next meeting,

Safety Fast

Driving an MG can be a pain in the …. footBy Ric Maitzen

It doesn’t take long to get uncomfortable in a T-type. Your passenger can at least shift around a little. But the driver is pretty much stuck in one spot. And the high position of the gas pedal can lead to a cramped foot.

I know at least one person who shortened the rod, in the cockpit that has the pedal roller at the end, I think by about 2 inches. He claims this was a big help.

I have also seen where people have shortened the linkage in the engine compartment between the

pedal rod and the carburetor linkage. This is the approach I took. It was easier, and reversible.

The rod is 3/16 inches in diameter. Get a coupling nut at the hardware store: either 10-24 or 10-32. Get two corresponding nuts. Cut the rod in the middle. I removed about half an inch. Thread the cut ends to match your new hardware. Assemble as per the picture. Adjust to your comfort. Tighten the lock nuts against the coupling nut.

This should help. But keep in mind, nothing will keep you from cramping up when you are on the Borman Expressway!

Other Upcoming MG Driving Events for VMGCC Members – With Our Cars!From Doug Clark, Vice President

August 23: Lucas Memorial Night Rally, Addison, Ill.

September 13-14: Beer, Wine, Cheese and Architecture Tour, Wisconsin

These are driving events on the schedule of our friends at the Chicagoland MG Club – and we would be welcome to participate. Let’s help them support these events by driving our cars in them.

Details for each, including where to meet, the cost, and how to make reservations are available at the CMGC web site (www.chicagolandmgclub.com), and in their newsletter, Driveline.

Minutes of the Meetingof the

Vintage MG Car Club of Chicago

Since there was no July meeting, I have no minutes to contribute to the August newsletter.  However, I find the following enlightenment about Lucas systems to be much more entertaining than my minutes. Win Gould, Secretary

The Truth About Lucas Electrical Systems Positive ground depends upon proper circuit functioning, the transmission of negative ions by retention of the visible spectral manifestation known as “smoke.” Forget all that nonsense about magnetic fields and flow of electrons along a conductor, for it is just that: nonsense – a myth put about by auto electricians to support their lavish lifestyle at your expense. Smoke is the thing that makes electrical circuits work; this can be verified repeatedly through empirical testing. The wiring loom in your car carries smoke from one device to another, pumped around the system by the dynamo or alternator; the starter motor requires lots of smoke to work properly, so it has a very thick wire going to it.

When the wiring springs a leak, it lets all the smoke out and everything stops – and when the smoke escapes from a specific electrical component (e.g., a Lucas voltage regulator), it will be observed that the component stops working.

The battery stores up lots of smoke dissolved in the battery acid, which is why they were once called accumulators. Naturally, if you try to dissolve too much smoke in your battery it will escape through the little holes in the top; this is why the new-fangled batteries with sealed tops explode when they get too much smoke in them.

But why are Lucas components more likely to leak than, say Bosch, Ducellier, or Nippon Denso? Because Lucas is British. British things always leak: British engines leak oil, British sports cars leak rain, British hydraulics leak fluid, and British

governments leak secrets. So naturally, British electrical components leak smoke!

Courtesy of Hemming’s Sports & Exotic Car

2008 VMGCC President’s Picnic

Sunday, August 17th(Rain date Sunday August 24th)

From Vice President, Doug Clark: This year’s Picnic will take place at the Chicagoland Orphan Car Picnic on the east bank of the Fox River in Aurora (1020 Aurora Avenue on Illinois route 25 between Indian Trail and Illinois Avenue). Hours of the Picnic are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We will be sharing the grounds with owners of other old cars, many of which should be interesting. Other car clubs are likely to be present. As we have been unable to get confirmation that we can get a reserved spot for our Club, it is suggested that we arrive early to stake out our turf.

More information about this event and venue (including map with driving directions) – which is organized by the Chicagoland Corvair Enthusiasts – is available at their web site: www.ccecorvair.com.

In the event bad weather is likely on August 17th, check the CCE web site to see if it will be postponed to the following Sunday (August 28th).

Back in the saddle again! By Ric Maitzen

It had been a long, dry spell, but Scarlett was finally back on the road. Nancy was suggesting that we go to the GoF in Auburn, Indiana. I don’t know if she really wanted to go, or if it was just a ploy to get me working on the car again. In any event, it worked. After a few marathon weeks we were ready. I took a couple of trips around the neighborhood. We then hit the back roads to Wisconsin on the 4th of July weekend. Nancy followed me just in case. I was keeping the speed down to let the engine break in. Nancy was a good distance behind me, so she got the angry glares for holding up traffic.

Thursday morning we left (in one car) for the GoF. We took the Tri-State Tollway. The construction zone speed limit allowed me to take it easy, and where there was no construction. I just stayed out of everyone’s way. The Borman Expressway in Indiana is no fun at best. And in a T-type, surrounded by semis, you just want to close your eyes and hope for the best.

I wanted to make a couple of side trips so we took SR 30. We stopped in Koontz Lake to surprise Judy Specht. We were surprised because Duane and Jane McCart were already there. After a quick visit, and an invitation from Judy for everyone to stop by on the way home, we were back on the road.

Auburn sure has changed. When we were there a few years ago for a Spring Tour, there were only two motels on the west side of town. Now there are six, a Wal-Mart, lots of stores and restaurants, and traffic. The first timers show was in the parking lot. The quality of the restorations just gets better and better. For dinner that night a group of us went into town and ended up at a brew-pub. There were a lot of T-types parked nearby. Other MGers had the same idea. The food and conversation were great.

Friday morning, at 8:30, early by some standards, was the drivers meeting for the rally. As it turned out, early was a good thing. There wasn’t much traffic and it got hot later on. It was a beautiful route of about seventy miles over mostly quiet county roads. The route was clearly explained, so no one got lost. But some of the clues we were looking for were really tough to find. We didn’t do very well.

There was a lot of free time to explore the area. Several people went to a car and truck museum (not the ACD museum), a WW II museum and an airplane museum. We went into town to do some

antiquing. We met a woman whose favorite car was an MGA. She said she had a brand new body for one in a barn.

The hospitality room was a very popular place to hang out in. The beer keg didn’t start to float until much later in the day. Wine, pop, and snacks never seemed to run out. For dinner we drove about 10 miles west of town to a historic hotel/restaurant/ banquet hall. The food and the service were very good.

Saturday morning we woke up to rain – not a good thing for a car show. The hard core people, eager to show their cars, drove to the other side of town, to a beautiful city park. (I think the organizers had some pull with the mayor.) Those of us who were less eager, lingered over breakfast. The rain stopped and we were off to the car show. After walking around, looking at the cars and catching up with old friends it was time for lunch. Some of us went to a nearby bar. The hot item that we had heard about was their pork tenderloin sandwich. Unfortunately our sources weren’t specific as to which pork tenderloin sandwich to order. The one we ordered was flattened out, breaded, deep fried and served on a bun. The best part of the meal was the presentation of the sandwich – the poor little bun on top of this huge piece of “cardboard.” In the meantime the vendors had set up inside the conference rooms of the motel because of the rain. There was a lot of good stuff.

The highpoint of the weekend was the banquet. We had the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Museum all to ourselves. Just imagine, cocktail in hand, piano music in the background, walking among some of the most exciting cars ever produced in this country. Very cool. After an hour and a half we filed into the banquet room for a delicious buffet dinner. The after dinner program included a history of the City of Auburn presented by none other than the mayor himself. Afterwards pictures of the cars and the car show were shown. The awards presentation followed. Our club did well, but I don’t recall the particulars.

We called it an early night. We had to get an early start to get home. This time we took the Indiana Toll Road and the Skyway – much better. (I think most people were planning on stopping at Judy Specht’s on the way home.)

Thank you Olde Octagons of Indiana. You are to be congratulated. It was a fun, well thought out and organized event.

VMGCC Members at the GoF Central MK XXX

VMGCC REGALIAQty.ItemPriceAmountSend Regalia orders to:

Lou Louchios3101 West Frontage Rd.

Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Orders may be picked up at regular business meetings with no postage charge. Contact Lou first.

e-mail: Mgairline35@aol.com phone: 847 397-0623

First Name

________________________

Last Name

________________________

Lapel Pin 1"6.00 Key Ring 1"6.00 Stick Pin 1"6.00 Charm 3/4"5.00 Tie Tack 3/4"5.00 Lapel Pin 3/4"5.00 Name Tag10.00 Decal-transfer1.00 Car Badge25.00 Patch, sew-on 5.00 Cap (black or tan)12.00 2005 GOF

Lapel Pin2.00 2005 GOF Dash Plaque1.00 VMGCC Flashlight10.00Postage3.00TotalName:Address:

Phone:

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND RENEWALLDues and registration $25.00 per year

Make your check payable to: Vintage MG Car Club

Mail your payment to: Bill Dobeus – Membership1556 Tara LaneLake Forest, IL 60045

Include the following with your dues. We will use this information to update our membership directory

Name:___________________________________ Spouse or Partner:_________________________________________

Address:___________________________________________ Home Phone:______________________________

Street:_____________________________________________ Business Phone: ____________________________

City:_______________________________________________ Email: _____________________________________

State and Zip:_______________________________________

Please list your MGs, including Model and Year:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The VMGCC President’s Picnic will be held atThe Orphan Auto Picnic in Aurora, IL

Contact Doug Clark, VMGCC Vice President, for more information773-281-2016 or email: mgtbc@sbcglobal.net

Sunday August 17th 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• No admission charge! • No judging • Games & prizes for kids! • Raffle • Rare, spectacular, and bizarre orphan vehicles

Open to orphaned makes and models at least ten years old.

Rain date If it looks like rain on picnic day, or has rained heavily the days before, call:

877-COR-VAIR or 815-469-2936

www.ccecorvair.com

3795 S Patterson RoadJoilet, IL 60436

www.autobahnhistorics.com

British Car Union presentsBRITISH CAR FESTIVAL

September 7, 2008

Moraine Valley Community CollegePalos Hills, Illinois

Sponsored by the British Car Union, a not-for-profit organization of a dozen Chicago area British car clubs, this Festival is the 21st annual gathering of British car enthusiasts. The Festival features one of the finest displays of British cars in the USA. Where else will you see classic British cars ranging in age from 1928 to present, Austin, Austin-Healey, Bentley, DeLorean, Triumph, MG, Lotus, Morris, Morgan, Jaguar, Jensen-Healey, Mini-Cooper, Sunbeam, Aston Martin, Daimler, Cortina, Land-Rover, Riley, Rolls-Royce, TVR and others you've only read about.

There will be registration and display of British Motorcycles.

Tight turns, long drives on summer nights, even the distinctive aroma of an aging British car interior; all these things are part of the mystique of British motoring. The Festival reflects all that and more. It's about seeing British cars, talking to their owners, meeting fellow enthusiasts, finding out about spare parts, getting information about the car you'd like to own and hearing about the club representing your favorite car. It is an opportunity to recall the days when British car drivers waved and honked as they passed on the road.

To pre-register, download the British Car Festival Registration Form from www.britishcarunion.com .

And don’t forget the:

Donald M. Healey RallySaturday, September 6, 2008

in conjunction with the British Car Union 2008 British Car Festival!

Officers and Directors – 2008President: Jennifer Smith; Vice President: Doug Clark; Secretary: Win Gould; Treasurer: Ric Maitzen

Board of Directors: Jerry Cihak, Brian Dubin, Glenn GrossklagsNewsletter: Greg Hoeft- Editor: Lou Louchios- Distribution

Website: www.vintagemgchicago.com

Upcoming Events: August 13 – Regular MeetingAugust 17 – President’s Picnic

Vintage MG Car Club

c/o Editor1814 Illinois RoadNorthbrook, IL 60062

First Class Mail