At the Pizza Joynt, 39 W. North Avenue, Northlake, IL, 8 P.M. 708-562-5334

Vintage Viewpoint

Vol. 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, INDIANA By 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, 2nd TD: John Hubbard, 2nd; Bob Hanselman, 3rd TF: Gerry Risner, 2nd MGA: Earl Campbell, 1st First-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. Everyone had a great time (even Gerry Risner). More Pictures inside!

1 Bits and Pieces The rod is 3/16 inches in diameter. Get a coupling nut at the hardware store: either 10-24 or 10-32. By Jennifer Smith Get two corresponding nuts. Cut the rod in the President 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 Our next meeting is on August 13th. The July the lock nuts against the coupling nut. meeting was cancelled due to a conflict with the GOF. Hopefully, we will have some members at This should help. But keep in mind, nothing will the August meeting who can fill us in on the details keep you from cramping up when you are on the of the GOF and share photos of the event. Borman Expressway!

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 Other Upcoming MG Driving recommendation to the club members. Events for VMGCC Members – Until the next meeting, With Our Cars! From Doug Clark, Vice President Safety Fast  August 23: Lucas Memorial Night Rally, Addison, Ill. Driving an MG can be  September 13-14: Beer, Wine, Cheese and a pain in the …. foot Architecture Tour, Wisconsin By Ric Maitzen These are driving events on the schedule of our It doesn’t take long to get uncomfortable in a T- friends at the Chicagoland MG Club – and we type. Your passenger can at least shift around a would be welcome to participate. Let’s help them little. But the driver is pretty much stuck in one support these events by driving our cars in them. spot. And the high position of the gas pedal can lead to a cramped foot. Details for each, including where to meet, the cost, and how to make reservations are available at the I know at least one person who shortened the rod, in CMGC web site (www.chicagolandmgclub.com), the cockpit that has the pedal roller at the end, I and in their newsletter, Driveline. 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.

2 Minutes of the Meeting of the Courtesy of Hemming’s Sports & Exotic Car Vintage MG Car Club of Chicago

Since there was no July meeting, I have no minutes 2008 VMGCC to contribute to the August newsletter. However, I President’s Picnic find the following enlightenment about Lucas systems to be much more entertaining than my Sunday, August 17th minutes. (Rain date Sunday August 24th)

Win Gould, Secretary From Vice President, Doug Clark: The Truth About Lucas Electrical This year’s Picnic will take place at the Systems Chicagoland Orphan Car Picnic on the east bank of the Fox River in Aurora (1020 Aurora Avenue on Positive ground depends upon proper circuit Illinois route 25 between Indian Trail and Illinois functioning, the transmission of negative ions by Avenue). Hours of the Picnic are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. retention of the visible spectral manifestation known as “smoke.” Forget all that nonsense about We will be sharing the grounds with owners of magnetic fields and flow of electrons along a other old cars, many of which should be interesting. conductor, for it is just that: nonsense – a myth put Other car clubs are likely to be present. As we have about by auto electricians to support their lavish been unable to get confirmation that we can get a lifestyle at your expense. Smoke is the thing that reserved spot for our Club, it is suggested that we makes electrical circuits work; this can be verified arrive early to stake out our turf. repeatedly through empirical testing. The wiring loom in your car carries smoke from one device to More information about this event and venue another, pumped around the system by the dynamo (including map with driving directions) – which is or alternator; the starter motor requires lots of organized by the Chicagoland Corvair Enthusiasts – smoke to work properly, so it has a very thick wire is available at their web site: www.ccecorvair.com. going to it. In the event bad weather is likely on August 17th, When the wiring springs a leak, it lets all the smoke check the CCE web site to see if it will be out and everything stops – and when the smoke postponed to the following Sunday (August 28th). 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!

3 antiquing. We met a woman whose favorite car was Back in the saddle again! an MGA. She said she had a brand new body for By Ric Maitzen one in a barn.

It had been a long, dry spell, but Scarlett was finally The hospitality room was a very popular place to back on the road. Nancy was suggesting that we go hang out in. The beer keg didn’t start to float until to the GoF in Auburn, Indiana. I don’t know if she much later in the day. Wine, pop, and snacks never really wanted to go, or if it was just a ploy to get me seemed to run out. For dinner we drove about 10 working on the car again. In any event, it worked. miles west of town to a historic hotel/restaurant/ After a few marathon weeks we were ready. I took banquet hall. The food and the service were very a couple of trips around the neighborhood. We then good. hit the back roads to Wisconsin on the 4th of July weekend. Nancy followed me just in case. I was Saturday morning we woke up to rain – not a good keeping the speed down to let the engine break in. thing for a car show. The hard core people, eager to Nancy was a good distance behind me, so she got show their cars, drove to the other side of town, to a the angry glares for holding up traffic. beautiful city park. (I think the organizers had some pull with the mayor.) Those of us who were less Thursday morning we left (in one car) for the GoF. eager, lingered over breakfast. The rain stopped We took the Tri-State Tollway. The construction and we were off to the car show. After walking zone speed limit allowed me to take it easy, and around, looking at the cars and catching up with old where there was no construction. I just stayed out friends it was time for lunch. Some of us went to a of everyone’s way. The Borman Expressway in nearby bar. The hot item that we had heard about Indiana is no fun at best. And in a T-type, was their pork tenderloin sandwich. Unfortunately surrounded by semis, you just want to close your our sources weren’t specific as to which pork eyes and hope for the best. tenderloin sandwich to order. The one we ordered was flattened out, breaded, deep fried and served on I wanted to make a couple of side trips so we took a bun. The best part of the meal was the SR 30. We stopped in Koontz Lake to surprise presentation of the sandwich – the poor little bun on Judy Specht. We were surprised because Duane and top of this huge piece of “cardboard.” In the Jane McCart were already there. After a quick visit, meantime the vendors had set up inside the and an invitation from Judy for everyone to stop by conference rooms of the motel because of the rain. on the way home, we were back on the road. There was a lot of good stuff. Auburn sure has changed. When we were there a The highpoint of the weekend was the banquet. We few years ago for a Spring Tour, there were only had the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Museum all to two motels on the west side of town. Now there are ourselves. Just imagine, cocktail in hand, piano six, a Wal-Mart, lots of stores and restaurants, and music in the background, walking among some of traffic. The first timers show was in the parking lot. the most exciting cars ever produced in this country. The quality of the restorations just gets better and Very cool. After an hour and a half we filed into better. For dinner that night a group of us went into the banquet room for a delicious buffet dinner. The town and ended up at a brew-pub. There were a lot after dinner program included a history of the City of T-types parked nearby. Other MGers had the of Auburn presented by none other than the mayor same idea. The food and conversation were great. himself. Afterwards pictures of the cars and the car show were shown. The awards presentation Friday morning, at 8:30, early by some standards, followed. Our club did well, but I don’t recall the was the drivers meeting for the rally. As it turned particulars. out, early was a good thing. There wasn’t much traffic and it got hot later on. It was a beautiful We called it an early night. We had to get an early route of about seventy miles over mostly quiet start to get home. This time we took the Indiana county roads. The route was clearly explained, so Toll Road and the Skyway – much better. (I think no one got lost. But some of the clues we were most people were planning on stopping at Judy looking for were really tough to find. We didn’t do Specht’s on the way home.) very well. Thank you Olde Octagons of Indiana. You are to There was a lot of free time to explore the area. be congratulated. It was a fun, well thought out and Several people went to a car and truck museum (not organized event. the ACD museum), a WW II museum and an airplane museum. We went into town to do some VMGCC Members at the GoF Central MK XXX

4 5 VMGCC REGALIA Qty.ItemPriceAmountSend Regalia orders to: Lou Louchios 3101 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: [email protected] 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 Flashlight10.00Postage3.00Total Name:Address:

Phone: MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND RENEWALL Dues and registration $25.00 per year Make your check payable to: Vintage MG Car Club

Mail your payment to: Bill Dobeus – Membership 1556 Tara Lane Lake 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:

______

6 The VMGCC President’s Picnic will be held at The Orphan Auto Picnic in Aurora, IL Contact Doug Clark, VMGCC Vice President, for more information 773-281-2016 or email: [email protected] 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 Road Joilet, IL 60436

www.autobahnhistorics.com

7 British Car Union presents BRITISH CAR FESTIVAL September 7, 2008

Moraine Valley Community College Palos 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 Rally Saturday, September 6, 2008 in conjunction with the British Car Union 2008 British Car Festival!

8 9 Officers and Directors – 2008 President: Jennifer Smith; Vice President: Doug Clark; Secretary: Win Gould; Treasurer: Ric Maitzen Board of Directors: Jerry Cihak, Brian Dubin, Glenn Grossklags Newsletter: Greg Hoeft- Editor: Lou Louchios- Distribution Website: www.vintagemgchicago.com

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

Vintage MG Car Club c/o Editor 1814 Illinois Road Northbrook, IL 60062

First Class Mail