THE NORTH AMERICAN MGB REGISTER The MGB Driver is the oMcial publication of the Nnrth American MGB Register, a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining ond expanding inferest jn Bnlaln's most popular sporls I :he Editor's \~ew car-the MG8. The opinions expressed within are those ofthe individuul aurhors ond renders are womed that they onemlrt any mechonjcal or other modifications described herein, entirely at their own risk. t was in the 1920s that Cecil Kimber Membership in the North American MGB Register is open to ull, wllh no restrictions. first was inspired to modify produc- Owiiership of on MG is not a condition of membcrship. NAMGBR Regional Chapters will be A pleased lo welcoine you to their events. Membership dues are S25.00 per year. ' tion Morris's, and then shortly after for membership details or further inlormotion write to: that he was inspired to compete with NORTH AMERICAN MGB REGISTER them and prove what those modifica- P.O. Box MGB lions were worth. The plucky Little Akin, 1L 62805 sporting versions of production cars soon acquired reputation being Or call the toll-lrce hotllne: 800-NAMGBR-1 a for Or visit our website at: http://www.namybr.oryInomgbr/ competitive on the track, in the hill- climbs, on the endurance trials, and OFFICERS ,OF THE NAMGBR in the record books. CHAIRMAN: Ron Tugwell CONVENTION/ lake h Ann Snyder That competitive spirit still exists from MG/RoverJs new management. P.O. Box 2406 I ACM 505 E. North Avenue today ar many levels. From club gim- Rumors of MGIRover returning to 3 Oe Amoral Road COORDINATORS: Luke Bluff, It 60044 mick rallies, to racing against the LeMans with a car to be co-developed Carrnel Valley. CA 93924 (847) 295-2753 (831) 659.2449 clock autocrossing, to wheel-to-wheel with Lola. And even coming to our ., - I tugwrll~oJix.nercorncorn ( TECHNICAL Bob h.lason track racing, there are all kinds of shores and dusting off EX255 to 5 Leslie Court MGs competing today, and in this return to Bonneville to challenge the VICE-CHAIRMAN: Kcit11 Holdswonh Fairhope, AL 36532 issue we look at just some of the now 40-year-old all-time MG speed of 7305 Woodbine Avc.. Suite 250 Whm writing (334) 928-5366 Morkhurn, Ontario 11, a :c

Kelvin Palmer, ful sports cars hugging corners and Chicagoland MG Club aromas of hot rubber and brakes have never left my memory. he following is a whirlwind I became an MG owner a short account of my past three years time later with the purchase of a 1969 Tsince deciding to start road racing MGC roadster. It kept me busy for 14 an MGB. The roots of my interest in years, never running quite right and racing go deep back into my cbild- shaking badly over 50 mph. But even I MGA a MGB MGC Midget hood when in the early and mid-'60s 1 in that condition the top down sports was building models of Le Mans and car driving bug had bitten me badly. I Get your MG out of the garage and back on the road. We stock a Indy racers and people with names finally sorted out the 'C with some wide variety of OEM and reproduction parts plus accessories at like lim Clark, Graham Hill, and much needed expenditures, in time for great prices. Call for your free catalog today! Parnelli Jones were my idols. Through the big 1996 Indianapolis MG meet, I .# \\ my youth I was (and remain) a and it has become a truly wonderful mechanical tinkerer. Bicycles and car. Through my MG-related acquain- CallToll Free - All USA & Canada lawnmowers were transformed into tance with a local sports car garage I -bikes when I was 10. I was tun- learned of a summer event at Road ing and repairing the family sration America called the Chicago Historics 1-800-255-0088 wagon engine at 12. My dad boughr (now known as the Brian Redmond me a 1955 VW Bug for $25 at 13 just International Challenge). This was my I Request a Catalog Online at so 1 could go into an engine as deep as first experience witnessing 'Vintage' I wanted without stranding the family Racing. What a shock! These were -- - -.------for days. The stage was set early on! many of the same cars I watched here DIrnLPM)R Following the high school years (and a 20 years earlier. Now though, they Worldwide 3-54 -8500 brief detour into rock and roll) a buddy seemed to be in the hands of mere Orders 91 1 of mine from the local NAPA store and mortals rather than seasoned racing 24 Hour Worldwide Fax 91 3-599-3299 I discovered the Road America race- professionals. This was a revelation! A track at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. We seemingly regular guy could acquire a would spend extended camping week- car, a little schooling and go racing! It VICTORIA BRITISH LTD.@ ends several times a summer taking in wasn't long before I couldn't watch the atmosphere of racing at SCCA, anymore but just had to get involved. a PO Box 14991, Lenexa, Kansas 66285-4991 Can-Am and Trans-Am events. Those / first, in person visions of small, color- (please turn lo page 10) 8 Breaking Into Racing (an MGB) - Continued from Page 8 One particularly boring winter I know exactly who you want to race happened across a photo of a partial- with before going any further. ly race prepped MGB for sale while Research their rules and prepare your "shopping" at a local Brit parts swap car accordingly. I've settled on racing meet. The detail that caught my inter- with the Vintage Sports Car Drivers est was that this car had flared fend- Association (VSCDA) based out of ers. I always drooled over Cobras and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the vin- this thing had vaguely similar muscu- tage group within the Midwestern lar curves. I inquired as to the price Council of Sports Car Clubs (MCSSC is and was shocked to hear I could have comprised of nine individuul car clubs it for 5600 (no engine or trans). I went from Illinois and Wisconsin). Vintagt? to see it a few days later, determined it race clubs across the nation vury was definitely a project but a do-able widely in their eligibility rules. It took one, and purchased it on the spot. The some doing to get VSCUA to accept price was a no-brainer as the car was the car with its unorthodox flares and equipped with a duo1 Girling master it would not even be considered cylinder setup wirh a front/rear pro- among certain other vintage clubs. portioning control, a fat front sway he first order of business was get- bar, those wild flares and a great deal ting the body in shape for painting. appropriate racing seat to fit (Fit ing radials. A simple, used, single axle of custom sheet aluminum interior Vintage racers like showing off good being the important word here). trailer was acquired, modified and and dash panels. I was on my way. looking cars, I wasn't going to be an MGBs do not want a sear wider than still serves me well. Now I had to start researching the exception. A $2500 paint job for a about 18" because of the trans tunnel A few months after the initial car rules of car preparation to be legal race car? Of course it wasn't necessary interference. Naturally, 20" wide seats purchase the seller accepted my offer when I finally got to a track. Fi.rst I but I got what I was looking for and were plentiful and cheap. I spent for the engine and trans from the car contacted the SCCA for a copy of their that did include a fair amount of prep about $400 to get a seat 2" narrower that he had planned on keeping and "GCR" (General Competition Rules). I work. The required safety equipment than typical. As is, it's positioned as using himself. The exact state of the figured that if I made an SCCA legal was all missing from the car. A roll far forward as it will go while still engine was somewhat of a mystery. car it would be acceptable anywhere. bar of adequate height was necessary being centered with the steering Receipts suggested that a rebuild had Wrong! My first advice to anybody as was o safety fuel cell. The car came wheel. I'm 6 feet tall and still wish the just been done and that a non-stock considering race car prep would be to with no seats so I had to find an seat was an inch or two farther for- cam and lightened flywheel were in ward. A safetv belt setup, or harness is there. It was obviously equipped with required with a miniihm of five or an exhaust header and trick air filters six mounting points. Some groups on the twin SUs. The seller kindly will require a built-in fire system with helped me (or did I help him?) install multiple mounted nozzles. I'm OK so the drivetrain in his well-equipped far with just a small extinguisher shop. I was ready to hit the track. clamped within reach of the driver. All told, about $10,000 (and Two sources for race gear I don't mind countless hours) went into that $600 plugging here are Pegasus in car. Another piece of advice: Unless Wisconsin and Racer Parts wholesale you really want to build your own out of Indianapolis. Both publish race car as I did, you can find plenty great catalogs full of everything you'll of sorted, starter level MGB or Midget need. And of course Moss Motors and racers ready to go for $4000 to $7000, Victoria British have lots of MG specif- probably wirh a trailer included. It ic competition items. I had to find would not be unheard of to spend some appropriate wheels and tires. 120,000 to 525,000 for a proven full Here again, rules ...rule! Most clubs race winner. (You can bet the devel- have limits on wheel width in excess oper of one of these has even more of stock dimensions and tire spec than that sunk into it.) requirements are all over the map. I During the car development settled on some used 5.5" wide slotted process I had attended a race driving aluminum wheels and BF Goodrich school sponsored by my home club DOT approved (slightly treaded) mc- (please (urn ro page 12)

10 MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 11 Breaking Into Racing (an MGB) - Continued om Page 11 !allying the MG within Midwestern Council-the checked, what I was doing wrong in North Suburban Sports Car Club. Held the corners, and arranged for me to at a local Holiday Inn on four Friday chase and be chased by other instruc- John Sprinxel and then onto a third site for a rapid nights in March, they introduced club tors in similar cars. His instructions to ingestion of peach melba! Souvenirs racing to a hundred or so absolutely me were, "First, master the grace and ile I was fortunate enough were handed out according to the inexperienced people. They taught us precision, the speed will follow". I did to have driven works' MGs region, and I recall Monsieur Martell everything necessary to lead us into a some pretty ungraceful. things under during the fifties; it was not himself, handing out half bottles of first season of high speed autocross or his watchful eye and was certainly until 1963 that I was to get a drive in brandy to each crew member. Now 'wheel-to-wheel' competition-for free! made aware. (M.L., by the way, is an an MGB. Donald Morley was to have you have to remember that this was I chose autocross for my first season. It instructor for VSCDA as well.) The day driven the famous "droop-snoot" Le long ago, and in France, in times seemed like a safer way to ease into progressed through practice starts and Mans MGB (BMO 5418) on the Tour when drinking and driving was not at the on-track experience without the ended with u five lap race amongst the De France Automobile, bur at the last all unusual, although naturally the added pressure of pursuing (and being students. My fastest lap times of the minute, Donald, who was a farmer in teams' service vans collected most of pursued by) other cars. High speed day came in that race under full traf- East Anglia, found that the early har- the spoils for later enjoyment. autocross simply pits you against the fic conditions. We all finished without vest required his attention on the The Tour was one of the mast clock for lap time but on a full road- incident and totally jazzed! I was pre- farm. Stuart Turner therefore asked heavily sponsored events of the whole racing track at full racing speeds. sented my competition license that me to co-drive with Andrew Hedges, season, and attracted the very cream of Individual cars are staggered with 20 evening along with dozens of other who had been so successful with competitors, not just from rallying, but or so seconds between them. This exhausted but happy novice racers. Sprite and Midget racing-and also from Formula One and the Le proved to be a real blast and gave me The most troubling aspect of indeed, had spent a couple of seasons Mans drivers. After each night of con- the confidence that both I and the car going into this wheel-to-wheel racing racing one of my original alloy bodied centrated rally driving, with a couple had some potential. Typical entry fees thing was not trusting the 'other' guy. Sebring Sprites. Andrew and 1 were- of long timed hill climbs, the tired were $75 for each of the six or seven The most important thing I got from as they say--old mates, and I was crews would arrive at one of the day's autocross events in a season. these courses was the confidence that Looking fornard to my first outing on circuits where Mr. Shell had arranged a The following year the same free comes from knowing that all the stu- this fantastic event. sumptuous four or five course gourmet school was offered and this time I dents received an incredibly high level The Tour takes place over ten lunch in a specially erected tent, while opted to follow the 'wheel-to-wheel' of quality instruction with safety and days, with just three nights in hotel the cars were placed in 'parc ferme' side of the instruction. These classes proper attitude as top priorities. You beds! For the rest of the time, there is where no repair work was allowed. were somewhat more intense than the can trust, and know what ro expect a long trail around France-much as The drivers also had to concentrate autocross side a year earlier. Safety from each other on the track. on the bicycle event of the same enough to compete in one or two hour issues were given rhe highest priority So now it's race season and the name, visiting most of the well-known races, which were grouped according to and many details were covered more events are no longer limited to rank French race tracks, such as Le Mans, car type, separating the powerful GT than once. The meanings of the vari- amateur students. My first big event Clemont Ferrand, Rouen and Pau, cars from the tin-top sedans. Our GT ous flags and hand signals were given was the one that started it all for me, plus most of the famous hill climbs category included half a dozen GTO special emphasis. Other topics includ- the Brian Redmond Int'l Challenge at and a diversion into Germany for a Ferraris, sleek racing , plus a ed car preparation, helmets and suits, Road America. This had been my goal race at the old Nurburgring. This took range of the best that Europe's factories cornering techniques, and what to since first watching it several years place on the "old" circuit, which is could provide-so the racing was, to expect at the on-[hack drivers' school earlier. The VSCDA-sanctioned event about 14 miles long, and winds say the least-spectacular! (offered for a very reasonable fee) draws over 500 entrants in 10 or so through the forests with far more cor- As Andrew had spent a few years which is required to be granted a classes and thousands of spectators. ners than can be remembered in just racing on many of these circuits, his 'wheel-to-wheel' competition license. My practice and race sessions were one practice session. One of the clever performance was really an eye-open- The on-track school came in April, somewhat tense being amongst such ploys of the Tour, was that control er, and the crowds just loved the sight and WOW, what an experience! I got large grids of very fast cars for thc fjrst points on the road sections were rarely of the rather ungainly MGB mixing it more seat time in this one day than all time but proved to be exhilarating further apart than about half an up with such exotic machinery. In the autocross events of the previous and fun. The MGB ran flawlessly (if hour, which meant that you couldn't addition, Ferraris and Porsches were season combined. Fellow MGB racer not exactly up front). make up a great deal of time, and crashing out at a steady rate, so our M.L. Hillard was my assigned instruc- All the races of that first, and now nothing more than routine servicing litrle Abingdon delight advanced tor. In addition to instructing me, M.L. second season have gone well for me. was possible. slowly, but surely, up the leader wears a lot of adminjstrative hats with Topping my list of accomplishments is The evening meals were unusual, board. Spectator interest, encouraged the Midwestern Council drivers' school the fact that I didn't cholk up a single in that a course was served at each by the L'Equipe sporting newspaper's (he leads the hotel school sessions too). DNF (Did Not Finish) until the middle time control! So, you could wolf down sponsorship of the event, meant that He 'mothered' me (a good thing) all of my second year. Up until that day a plate of oysters, speed to the next virtually every kilometer of the route control for the delicious sliced beef, day about keeping things on the car (please turn to page 40) (please turn to page 14) MGB DRIVER-July/Augusl 2000 MGB DRNER-July/Augusl 2000 13 Rallying the MGB - Continued from Page 13 a factory entry, or one sponsored by trimmed and wired, just needing my the various newspapers for which I engine, transmission and wheels to was lined with spectators. Even in the he was driving, and he parked the wrote reports. resume rallying. However, it took MY middle of the night, every crossroad or gallant MGB into the side of the I see from Tom Coulthard's bodywork rather longer to get back junction would have a bevy of locals, mountain! Fortunately it was my side detailed records, that this Midget int,o shape! well wrapped up against the night air, and not his, which would have led to appeared on several National and A couple of years later, I entered sitting on deck chairs and such, check- quite a drop into the valley below! So international events, first as a Mark this same Midget on the first great ing off each car in the lists published we spent the night in .a French slnic, 11, then as a Mark 111, with reasonable modern, morathon rally-the London in the daily papers. Arrival at any having our wounds patched up, while success for what was now an old and to Sydney (Australia). With big town of size could be a little nerve the car was towed to the nearest BMC outdated design, The change from changes in the BMC-Leyland owner- wracking, as even at busy rush hour dealer for subsequent retrieval. Mark IT to Mark Ill was occasioned by ship the month before the start, half times, the French motorcycle police Andrew and I spent the next day with my only really serious crash as a dri.- the work's entries had been cut, among would accompany each of the cars at my aunt, who happened to live in the . ver, on the Circuit of Ireland. A dam,- them my Triumph 2000. So at the last breakneck speed through the town nearby town of Perpignan, and who aged exhaust had allowed fumes to minute I had to enter my own car and center. Any attempt by some innocent was kind enough to provide us with enter the cockpit, and although I find sponsorship. Although this rdly is little Renault to insist on his right-of- sufficient decent French wine with remember nothing of the incident, I a srory, which would need a few more way at a junction, would be met with which to drown our sorrows! finished up in the intensive care ward pages to describe, it was the very first severe arm waving and blasts from One great thing about the Tour, of Limerick Hospital, with some rather event for which openly displayed spon- his whistle by the traffic cop. Speeds of was that prize money was doled out serious and painful injuries. I was told sorship was permitted. When rhe MC 80 and 90 mph through such traffic for every circuit and hill climb, and a marshal driving a Morris Minor, and the FIA, who governed our motor- were not at all unusual! our efforts did eventually gain a large had driven into the side of my car, sport, realized just how much it would By the time we got to the bundle of French francs, even though and although he was in the next bed cost to participate in such a huge Pyrenees, there were two 'heroes' who there was a dcly to go before the fin- to me, neither of us felt particularly event, they relented their long stand- emerged from the pack. Andrew, with ish. Paddy went on to bring his Mini aware to make an issue of the matter! ing rules regarding advertising on his deeds of daring among the GTs into first place in the handicap sec- Stuart Turner gave me a new competitjon cars, and thus we saw the and 's Mini Cooper S, tion, and third overall among the tin bodyshell for a very reasonable sum- start of the mobile signboards which which was trouncing the seven liter tops, so at least the BMC team did not just E300, and this arrived completely are the n.orm today. @ Ford Galaxies and 3.8 laguars. On the go home empty handed. two hill climbs up into th.e sky, the The following year Stuart Turner, clouds were so low that visibility was Abingdon's Competition Manager, I terrible. I had never read pace notes to felt we might repeat the better side of sic Car Show 1I anyone in an actual competition, 'and our effort, and providmed an.other one I Andrew hud certainly never driven to of the highly tuned Le Mans MGBs for and them. However, a teammate had us to try again. As before, Andrew given us a set for these two climbs, worked his way around France, slowly The North American MGB Register and with them I proceeded to try and passing all the exotics on the leader tell my driver a little about each board until fate struck again! This unsighted bend.. Now Andrew was a time the head gasket and cylinder i Southeast Meet little like Mr. Magoo and wore glasses head burnt a track between cylinders so thick, that one wondered if he number two and three-a not too could see anything at all! As it turned uncommon fault w-ith BMC 'A' and 1 aaturday, October 14, 2000 out, this combination was perfect for '0' series engines, and once again we us and we managed to beat everyone were sadly forced to retire. On the 1 Prime Outlets, Morrisville, North Carolina up these climbs by over thirty seconds brighter side, we were, by sheer coin- I on each hill! cidence, within five kilometers of the Hosted by the The L'Equipe headlines the follow- spot where were had crashed the year I ing morning read ".Sprinzel-Hedges previous, so once more Auntie had MG batters the Ferraris", and we cer- another visit and needed to pour North Carolina MG Car Club tainly enjoyed our moment in the more wine to revive our spirjts! spotlight. By this time we were actual- This was my last drive in a works Early Registration ends 9/30/2000 ly fourth overall in the elite company, MGB although I did venture out with For more information contact: but the next night section was to be an MGC GT on the Monte Carlo Rally our downfall. a year or two later. I did however, pre- Don Annas (919)467-8391 or Andrew decided to have a short pare an MG Midget to tackle those sleep, but unfortunately it was while events for which 1 coul,d not scrounge e-mail [email protected] I MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 15 Letters to the Registe,

1 recently received the MGB Driver at Hooters, the Hot Rods at some little for MarchJApril 2000. I began read- town's founder's day celebration or ing, with great interest, the article just the youngsters in their cars with regarding the Hammer and Tongs the little tires and more horsepower in Registry. That is until I came to the their stereos than I have in my MGA. mileage requirements. Like many of We will pull in ond park right next to your readers I have a full-time job, a the Corvettes and Mustangs. Nothing family, and dare I say, other hobbies. makes me more proud than when the It would be very difficult for my Chevy boys come by for a second look wife, Tracy, and I to log 5000 miles a at the little British cars. They always year. At best we only rack up about have a few questions, which would be 2000 miles. we do however consider difficult to answer while driving in a those miles to be significant. Maybe race. we don't take part in endurance trials, The Hammer and Tongs is a great track racing, or performance rallying register for those with the time to trav- but we do promote the inrerest in little el but perhaps there should be a regis- British cars. ter for the rest of us. I think the Lawn As important as it is to drive our Chair and Ice Chest Register would be MGs, sometimes we can better serve a fitting name. The requirements the interest by parking them. Tracy would be 40 hours a month in a park- and I, along with several other club ing lot with other car-horny boys and members, frequently "crash" any and girls. Only by getting in the midst of all car shows, road rallies, and cruise other car folks can we really keep our nights that we can find. Not just the hobby alive. local British car shows either. It does- -Gary R. Cahill, President n't matter if it's the local Camaro club Kansas City MG Car Club 4

-.- - Malcolm Gammons and Glenn Jarvis 'get some air'. 16 MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 17 Road RaI Iy ing

Since the cars will be running in correct way, they will see the plate. If order, you will need to create some they don't see the plate within '/lo sort of number for each car to display. mile, they have to go back and choose I have made numbers on 3" X 4" self- another road. The winner has the stick shipping labels and attached closest mileage to the "official" them to the front headlamp and rear mileage. This works best if you hove bumper. Avoid using any window long country roads with few intersec- markings for safety reasons. Number tions, and you probably won't need each car at registration and start each Route Instructions. team one minute apart so everybody In it's original form, Hare and isn't all bunched up. State the starting Hound rallies used a splash of flour or time of your rally as "10:OO a.m., plus lime on the road to indicate an inter- your car number in minutes." section where a turn may be made, Open registration for the rally and another splash down the correct about one to two hours before the first route. The flour or lime will be washed car is off, and have a short driver's away with time and no harm is meeting before the start to explain the done ...plus, you don't have to go whole rally concept, and answer ques- back and remeve all the paper plates. tions. Some rallies will hand out an Q&A: Think up a theme for your Allen Hefner, private roads, etc. You should also "Emergency Envelope" with directions rally, and And some interesting signs Philadelphia MG Club explain how the rally is scored. There to get ro the end point of the rally. The or landmarks that relate to the theme, is a short giossary at the end of this envelope is sealed and has to be then create a backroad route that con- 4 lave you ever been on a road column that you might want to use in turned in at the end. If it is returned nects them. Ask questions in your :brally? Nothing is quite as much your Generals. sealed there is no pena.tty, but if you Route Instructions that require the hn as motoring down a beauti- Please make sure your rallyists open the envelope (or lose it) you rallyists to see the signs or landmarks. ful country lane In your MG, wtth the drive safely. Include disqualification receive penalty points on your score. You can fill in with additional ques- hood down on a warm spring for gettjng a traffic citation during the tions like, "How many geese did you day ...while you're looking for the rally, and explain that speeding is not Types of Rallies see between instruction #2S and next route instruction' (f your club necessary and will not be tolerated. You have to determine what kind 130?" Remember that you really can't hasn't held a road rally in a while, Safety Fast! of rally you want to have. There are use living things that can move, so here are some ideas that might make Most rallies' now use the format Gimmick rallies and Time-Speed- the geese in this question would all it easier to put one together that words in "quotation marks" are Distance (TSD) rallies. Gimmick ral- have to be illustrations on signs. Remember that a road rally is only words on a sign, and words not in lies are low key, fun events, and can Make sure you explain this in the an excuse to have a party at the end1 I quotation marks are an object or a take many forms, so let's talk about General Instructions. have heard rallies described as a board picture of an object. The instruction them. Keep your club rally short and You can also make a Q&A rally game, played on a really big board. It is RIGHT AT BLUE BARN would indicate fun, and people will come back for without a theme, and ask a variety of also a good way to involve your a right turn at a blue barn, and the more. A Gimmick rally can be 40 interesting questions found along the Srgnificant Other in your sports car instruction RIGHT AT "BLUE BARN" miles to 80 miles long ...any longer route. This will require good observa- activities, since each ralLy team could indicate a right turn onto Blue and you need to plan on some breaks. tion skills, so make sure you look very includes a driver and a navigator. Have Barn Rd., but with no blue barn in Here are a few types that are easy to carefully for every answer you can two classes for experienced and novice sight. (Sneaky, huh?) Make sure to put together. find when you create the rally. Assign teams, and trophies for each class. explain this in your Generals. Hare and Hound: Create a scenic a point value for each correct answer. You will also need to make Route route and measure the distance as You will have to have good The Basics Instructions so your teams can follow accurately as possible. After each Route Instructions to keep your ral- A rally should have a set of the route. These need to be very clear intersection where a car has more lyists from getting lost. Use stan- General Instructions that will explain so no one gets lost. Generals are usu- than one possible direction of travel, dard rally instructions like the ones the rules. These should include ally mailed to registrants before the mark the correct rally route '/lo mile in my glossary. Check and re-check descriptions of what to look for, and rally, and Routes are handed out on down the road with a paper plate the route, or have two friends run it, also what can be ignored, such as the day of the rally. The exact form of (marked with your club's initials) to make sure you didn't miss any- unpaved roads (unless indicated in your Route Instructions will depend attached to a sign post or utility pole. thing. At intersections that may not the Route Instructions), "no outlet", or on the type of rally you plan. The idea is for the rallyists to guess at have a clear direction of travel you a direction of travel. If they chose the (please I~rmto page 20) MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 MGB DRIVER--July/August 2000 JOG RIGHT-Requires you to make Road Rallying - Continued from !:'age 19 happy to e-mail files of some of our previous rallies to you so you can get a Right turn at a T intersection, fol- lowed by a Left turn. can add "Helper" clues (which are an idea of what is involved. Good luck The Bad News! in your new role as Rallymaster! SOL-Sign On Left. usually in parentheses). To put on a successful rally, you STOP-An intersection controlled by a Regularity Run: Create a route that need at least two months of work to conventional octagonal sign($) that is fun to drive at legal speeds, and GLOSSARY plan it, check it, and make all the nec- The following actions can only requires you to stop. takes about 30 to 40 minutes. Time essary forms. Make sure you have a T-An intersection in the approxi- each car through the course, and committee of workers to help. If each occur at an intersection: LEm-Make a Left turn of any angle. mate shape of a capital 'TI, always then have them run it again, and try person takes on a job, the work is a lot approached from the bottom. to get the EXACT same time as the easier. One person can handle regis- RIGHT-Make a Right turn of any angle. TRAFFIC LIGHT-A fixed signal light first time through. Give them a tration, one can do all the typing and that alternates green and red, fre- penalty point for each second faster copying, one can handle publicity or STRAIGHT-Make the least possible or slower than their original run. turn. quently including yellow between the party at the end, and if your rally green and red, used at an intersec- Lowest score wins. Again, accurate has checkpoints, you may need sever- AFTER-Execute the action of the route instruction at the first opportu- tion to regulate traffic and which Route Instructions are necessary to al teams to work them. Top the rally controls the Rally vehicle. For Rally keep everyone on course. nity after passing the referenced off with a party or picnic, and have navigational aid. purposes, only one Traffic Light may A fun twist on the Regularity Run an awards ceremony. Have some nice exist at an intersection. A Traffic can be done if your club is having a AT-"In the vicinity of" for actions trophies for the winners in each class, that direct a course of travel. Light may be set to btink, although it weekend event. Run the rally once, and dash plaques for all the entries, will not be referenced as such, or starting at 8:00 p.m., then the second BEFORE-[n sight of and prior to the and you will have an event that peo- referenced navigational aid. may not be operating. run starts at 8:00 a.m. the next mom- ple will talk about for years. ing. You can have a longer route this BLINKER-A warning signal at an Y-An intersection in the approxi- It is not a bad idea to think about intersection or railway crossing which mate shape of a capital 'Y', always way, too. having an insurance poiicy in force approached from the bottom. Poker Run: I'm sure many clubs the contestant is obligated to obey. for each rally. Your club's insurance The blinker may be any color, and have held Poker Runs, but in case this company can issue special coverage Allen Hefner lives in Abinglon, is new to you, a Poker Run is simple to operates at a fixed sequence of on and for this, and it is usually at a very low off. For Rally purposes, only one Pennsylvania and is the SCCA do. Once again, start with beautiful, cost because road rallies are safe Philadelphia Region Rally Steward. He country roads. Have 5 or 7 stops, or blinker may exist at an intersection or events that are run at legal speeds on railway crossing. The blinker may or has been competing in rallies since the checkpoints, during the rally. (Scenic roads open to regular traffic. A rally is mid '60s. He started out rallying in a overlooks work well.) At each one, may not be operating. NOT a race! You may want to send a HELPER-Additional information 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser before have the navigator pick a single play- letter to each local police department he found out how much fun LBCs are! ing card from a deck of cards. At the that is not required to help you stay that the rally will encounter so they on-course. (Helper clues will be in Since [hen he has rallied in a 1956 end of the rally the team with the best know what you are doing. Corvette, a I961 Simca Aronde, his poker hand wins. No skill is involved parentheses.) There are probably rallies being INTERSECTION-Any meeting of own 1963 Sunbeam Alpine Series Ill, at all, unless you get lost! held somewhere in your area, and his 1967 TR4A IRS, his I967 Rover There are other types of Gimmick roads where the rally car could pro- you should try to go on a few of them ceed in more than one direction 2000TC, and now he drives Q 1977 Rallies too. Shortest Run and Map for experience. Most clubs encourage MG Midget, and is a member of fhe Rallies require the teams to get from without making a U-turn. participation by non-members to cre- JOG LEFT-Requires you to make a Philadelphia MG Club. I one point to another in the shortest ate more interest in the sport. Your distance. To be fair, any time LeFt turn at a T intersection, followed local NAMGBR Chapter or SCCA by a Right turn. mileage is used in a rally you need Region is a good place to start. some sort of odometer check leg, usu- For more information on Road ally about 10 miles, so you can find Rullying, check the Sports Car Club of a correction factor for each car's America web site (www.scca.org). odometer error. Divide the official They have instructions for creating mileage for the odometer leg by the Game Rallies based on the popular competitor's mileage for the same games Clue, leopardy and Trivial leg, to get the correction factor. After Pursuit. These are really fun, but you know the correction factor, sim- require more work to put together. ply multiply it by the competitor's Start out with simple rallies that are odometer reading to obtain the good quality, and get more sophisti- adjusted mileage that is used for cated as you go along. scoring. Odometers can be off by as [f you have any comments or much as lo%, especially if you have questions, you can contact me by e- changed to non-stock tires. mail at . I will be 20 MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 MGB DRIVER4uly/August 2000 2 1 ~~ct!Preparing a B-Series engine

William Spohn and it runs distinctly freer than the five main bearing version thar has to The process of preparing any put up with the increased friction of sunes fur an British cars. We stock ~houwndsof0 E. parts. Confact I engine for competition use is actu- the additional main bearings. 1;s fur authcntrc. original, pcrfcctly-fi!l& prts l'or volu Mr. oIly two separate endeavors car- Notwithstanding the fact that factory ried out simultaneously. First, you power figures were always identical. Ternax: 905-627-4006 have to identify any weak or poten- The only thing unique to the 55 Head Street, Dundas, ON L9H 3H8 CANADA tially weak areas in an engine, and do three-main rhat must be done is to what you can to ensure that they ore replace the small end bolt that rectified, or that their effect will not clamps the wrist pin, with a grade 8 cause unpredictable engine failures. bolt. The crank should be mag- Second-you try to improve the nafluxed (remember that they have efficiency of the engine. This is the been in service for 37 years now, and measure of how well the engine con- many have used up a large portion of verts gasoline to power. The only way their useful lives). to a to get more power out of an engine is Letters of Intent Run for to cram more fuel into it by increasing Five Main Engines - the flow efficiency (carbs, manifolds, Crankshafts & Connecting Rods Chapter Office are due to the compression, cam) and by increasing The five main engine came with the number of firing strokes in a given several different crankshafts. In my Secretary by September 1, 2000. time (that is, use it higher up in the opinion, the original one used from rpm range). 1965 to around 1969 is the best one to Get Involved! Run for an Office! I will be giving a necessarily brief choose, as it is the most completely overview of both of these areas, as they cross-drilled and is a good strong cast- relate to someone that wishes to use ing. The easy way to recognize this II rheir car for a bit more than the usual crank is the slightly tapered counter- street or light competition purposes. weights, as opposed to the rather square ones on the next version, and the late Reliability - crank which has much larger counter- Bottom End Preparation weights. Either of the earlier cranks are First, choose the best parts to acceptable for performance use. Dritish Car build an engine with. There are many The crank should be mag- The American Magazine for MGB variations in the BMC 'B' series nafluxed for cracks, and if you intend engine, which started in the early '50s to use it at high rpms (defined as any- Enthusiasts Who Love British Cars as a power unit in the MG Magnetre, thing but momentary use at, or above and for our purpose, ended in 1980 6500 rpm), it must be cross drilled. Technical Information with the removal of the MGB from the Mains 2 and 4 are not drilled, with the Classic Profiles product line, although variations of result that big ends adjacent to them - the engine continue to this day in axe not fed oil from them, and can Buyers' Guides .. . some markets in both automotive and starve at high rpm. This operation Club Events industrial use. must be done bv a machine shop familiar with the engine and the tech- Historical Articles Three-Main Engines nique. Nitriding of the crank bearing Restoration Advice Discounting the earlier versions surfaces is also a good idea, if avail- smaller than 1798cc, I'll start with the able to you, as it hardens the crank Photo Features To Subscribe: Call three-main MGB engine. This was and will allow you, if lucky, to avoid Manllon This Ad Gel an looked upon for years as a weaker - 1-800-520-8292* damage to the crank surface when Ex&? Bonus Issue Fme Fax 1-650-949-9685 'Canada 1-650-949-9680 inferior version of the MGB engine. (not if) you have a bearing go out. Nothing could be further from the Do not use a crank that is ground m,PO BOX1683 1 year (6 issues) $22.95 2 years $39.95 truth. The crank will take use above more than about .020M-you will !- LOSAltos, Ca 94023 Canada US dollars only $26.00 1546.00 I3 Our Cuaran*s: I1 you'n emr ndl salldlsd, canc~land wa'll rshrnd Ihs corl of all unmallrd lrousr 6500 rpm without modification, weaken the crank a little when it is MY something the five main will not do, (please [urn to page 24) 22 MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 23 Race Preparing a B-Series Engine - Continued from Page 22 ground to a smaller diameter, but rpm, then cast pistons are an option; even more important (and something above that a forged piston is absolute- often forgotten), the thicker bearjng ly necessary (and you should be look- shells will interfere with heat dissipa- ing at a change to Carrillo connecting tion. Lay the crank dry with some rods as well). I will assume that the Plastigage to measure clearance, and engine I am talking about will be used then send it back for more polishing at, or below 7000 RPM. as required. You should be shooting Buy good pistons that are suited for a clearance of -002" on the mains to the co~nprcssion ratio that you and about .002"-,0025"on the rods. want, WITHOUT shaving either the Cranks, rods, and flywheels must head or block. I know that it should be be balanced to within a tenth of a axiomatic that it is far better to leave Line Service. gram. The factory's idea of balance the head and block alone as we need was wjthin a couple of ounces! the maximum rigidity at their inter- The connecting rods come in three face, but I have seen many people different flavors-the early rods, the shaving either or both to increase later rods that have the cap to rod joint compression, to save money, notwith- cut straight across instead of on an standing the fact that it compromises angle, with bushed small ends like the strength and reliability, and causes first style, and the even later straight untold problems in valve train geom- cut rods with press fit wrist pins. etry. Such bodging may be alright for All can be used for competition, people trying to eak out a little more and should be routinely magnafluxed, performance for the street; it has no Restoratior checked for straightness, and resized place in this discussion of serious on the big end (they shave a little off competition engine building. Both the cap and regrind the hole to be sure block and head may be shaved light- the opening that holds the bearings is ly (up to .005" or so) to true them up, absolutely round. I am partial to the but no more. Technical Seminars ~ latest rod, if only because you have Use whatever piston-to-wall clear- reduced the things that can come ance is specified by the manufacturer, adrift in the engine by one when you Typical would be about ,004"-.055"at do away with the circlips, but the the bottom of the skirt, a far cry from trade-off is that the bolts are unsuit- the stock .0015"-.002". 1 use Ross lechniP~lSupport able for performance use and must be Racing pisrons custom made for my replaced with proper racing bits made Twincam race engine, and they speci- by ARP. The bolts in the earlier are fy .004" (rather tighter than some oth- fine, but as you will be spending a fair ers). Too tight and you can lose whack of money on an engine any- power, or even seize the engine. Events, And More! way, you might as well not try to save [ like the skel rings made by a very few dollars by not getting the Deves, as they allow less compression ARP parts for them as well. loss, but there are advocates of good Use good bearings, such as the cast iron rings such as Hastings as Vandervell, especially the lead-indi- well. Either way, pay strict attention to urn overlay style (VP2 material) if you end gap-use around ,015"-,018"end Call, write, or EMail for our all new Services Catalogue can still find it. gap. Check the gap yourself, for each 6490 East Fulwn Srrccc Ada, MI 49301-9006 ring, in the bores once they have been Phone (616) 682-0800 Fax (6 16) 682-0801 EMail: u~~v.uniuersitymotorslrd.com Pistons finally honed (and be sure to check if This area is one that pushes my there are any specific honing instruc- buttons many a time when I see peo- tions to telt the machinist-steel rings ple trying to save money. The pistons have a different requirement than iron give you two things, strength and ones). Adjust with a ring gapping tool. compression. If you are going to Or carefully by clamping the end of restrict vour enaine to use beiow 7000 (pleose turn fo page 26i MGB DRIVER-July/Auqust 2000 MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 25 Race Preparing a B-Series Engine - Continued from Page 24 the ring carefully in a vice, and using much thinner than elsewhere. Had it a fine file, or Dremel. been just a tad thicker and not broken through, I'd have built the engine and Block had it go in use. I like to use 83mm as Take the block to a good machine a safe practical maximum size. shop and have it boiled and then Have all the brass plugs popped align bored, which makes sure the out of the block prior to boiling and bearing saddles are all in line. Have then run a brush or gun cleaning tool them replace the cam bearings (which through all the galleries to get the will have been toasted in any case accumulated sludge out. Tap the ends when it was boiled). of the galleries and install Allen head Now is the .time to attend to valve plugs with Loctite on them. These reliefs for the exhaust valves where should be 5/16" coarse thread, but they overlap the block. Late blocks check to make sure the holes on your already have this done, and you just block match that-there could be need to be sure there is enough clear- variation over the years that I am not ance lor the cam you'll be using. Early aware of. blocks will need a pocket cut in the Assemble the bottom end, using edge of the bore about a quarter of an only an old ring on each piston, and inch deep. Use the head gasket as a check that the deck height is correct template and scribe about '/la" inside and even. If not, machine the head that. Grind away at a 45 degree (or piston, if you have to) to suit. Most angle, but don't go down to more head gaskets are about .02S1' com- than .200"-.250" below the block face pressed, and you need about zero to (depending on where your top ring is minus .002" with no gasket, i.e. located in your new pistons-you almost flush with the top of the block. want to avoid the burning gasses also That extra .025" clearance when burning the top ring!). assembled is your safety margin to The block can then be bored. A keep the piston from coming up and word of caution here. The MG blocks hitzing the head. were designed and cast in a day before modern thinwall casting tech- Oiling System nique made it to the British Isles. The With the exception of the rare result is that they will take a consider- competition pump with an extra lobe able overbore, as the walls are quite that was available for the three-main thick. The downside is that their con- engine (I have one in my TVR race car trol of casting thickness and consis- with a three-main cross flow engine in tency was poor. If you go for the max- it), the only thing worth doing on an imum bore of 83.5mm or even larger, oil pump is to check the clearances there will be a certain number of (and reduce the end clearance to the blocks that simply won't cake it. Either lowest spec. in the workshop manual, the cast iron begins to get porous, or by sanding it against a piece of fine core shift in casting leaves you with emery cloth on a flat surface like plate too thin a wall on one side, something glass), and 'double port' it. The you may find out only when you hole instructions for grinding an extra it (often thinking it is a blown head intake for the pump lobes at the other gasket) or when you watch the water end of the body is in all the competi- in the filler neck going up and down tion manuals, and in any case would as it idles. Seriously, though, I had a make no sense for me to describe in block that I had bored to 83.5mm pin- detail without diagrams. Note also hole part way down the bore, only that the early pickup tubes were after the final honing took place. I smaller interior diameter, and Iater broke the block apart with a hammer, ones should be used (these fit on the to find an area of about .5"that was (please turn to page 28) 26 MGB DR[VER4uly/Augus~2000 MGB DRIVER--July/August 2000 2 7 Race Preparing a B-Series Engine - Continued from Page 26 do is to buy a modified head from a plied, without further modification, specialist, perhaps from England, as than anything but the more exrrcme three-main pumps as well) or the ear- end. An accumulator is, to my way of they know (presumably) what they versions of the race prepared cast iron lier ones drilled out. thinking, not a luxury, but a necessity. are doing, and can supply a ready to head, and the cost may be cornpara- You will read about deepened oil Finally, run a large oil cooler, and install product. A head modified to ble. Another advantage is that you pans in many tuning books. This stems if you can, an oil temperature gauge. the old factory competition specs will can run a little more compression from long races of more than 30 min- You want to maintain at least 60 produce adequate flow, but nowhere with the alloy head. utes duration, and a lack of other meth- pounds of pressure, at a temperature near optimum for racing. A fully Since compression has come up, ods of temperature control in the early of about 200 degrees-more than 220 modified head done by a machine let me make some recommendations. days. 1 disa~reewith this sort of modifi- is a definite siqn of trouble. shop building current SCCA engines A fast street engine will normally use caiion, as t

Phil Smith, many places to turn in this country mets are fastened, the intercom's on, nied the licensing school, and two Rally Rhybudd Racing for advice on preparing an MG for and the adrenaline running. FIVE - National events, Susquehannock stage rallying. While I learned some FOUR - THREE - TWO - ONE, and Trails and Lake Superior Pro Rally. We A)I acing is not new to either MGs or new driving techniques, my wife and you're on the clock, driving as hard have had a number of teething prob- d the enthusiasts that drive them. co-driver was learning how to set up and fast as you dare, for the next five lems with the car, such as dealing \One of the lesser known (at least her 'office' in the right-hand seat. In to twenty miles. Except this isn't 1-75, with insufficient lighting, and prob- in the U.S.A.) racing formats is short, a rally driver's job is to keep the It's more likely a twisty one-lane grav- lems with oil pressure, cooling, and Performance Rally, known until car upright and on the road, while el road through a forest. So your speed braking. These problems are being recently as SCCA ProRally. The funda- covering the greatest distance in the is tempered not by the horsepower, dealt with this winter, and driving mental concept of this sport harks least time. The co-driver's job is to be but your realization that those are slulls will be honed at at least one back to the origins of road racing, sure the driver knows where heishe is real, live trees winging past your win- rally driving school this spring. It's that is racing street-legal cars on the going and when to be there. In other dows. The co-driver is constantly doubtful our MGB will win its class, same roads used to drive home after words, the co-driver is the brains and 1 updating the driver about upcoming since we're up against machines engi- work. That is, if you live in the back- boss of team. turns and hazards, which means that neered thirty years after Syd Enever beyond down some one-lane dirt A performance rally goes sorne- the driver can confidently (!) blast up laid down the MGB. What we gain road. And you're racing against the thing like this: Upon registration, over that blind crest, knowing that with the simplicity of the MGB can't clock. Kind of makes me think of competitors are given a 'route bookJ, there won't be a 90-degree left turn quite make up for the losses to the lunior lohnson running moonshine. which describes in some detail the right away (unless of course the co- engine, suspension, and braking sys- Except this sport didn't turn into route to be taken. A typical national- driver called one out and the driver tems of new cars. But we aren't last in roundy-round racing by guys named level rally will cover 250-300 miles, didn't pay attention.. .). A flying fin- the class, either, so we can be "in the Dick and Dale and Rusty. And the about half of which is 'special stages' ish completes the stage; you slow hunt," and besides, we're having a roads are officially closed to the pub- (i.e. timed racing over closed roads)! down, and pull up to the checkpoint great time doing jt. In addition to the lic during the rally. the other half being 'transits', normal worker, where your time over the same rallies we ran last year, OUT Being MG enthusiasts, we have driving on open, public roads, con- stage is recorded on the score card, plans for the upcoming season includ- embarked upon a performance rally necting the special stages. The route and another transit begins to take you ing running at Sno*Drift and Maine program using an MGB GT. Our rally book not only notes which way to to the start of the next Special Stage. Forest ProRallies, and perhaps other team is called Rally Rhybudd Racing. turn at intersections, it also contains Oh yes, don't forget to let your heart divisional rallies. I drive, and my wife Dallas is the nav- road information about the special slow down some. We would really like to see more igatorlco-driver. Eric Tones has been a stages, such as noting the location of Do this cycle ten or tweIve times, MGB enthusiasts involved with this great "crew chief" for us; having been hazards like single lane bridges, extending into the morning's wee great sport, as compeMors, crew mem- a successful stage rally driver in the humongo pot-holes, and 'exposures' hours, with some service breaks and bers (which we'll need for this season!), past, he knows what the car and its (cliffs to one side or the orher). All maybe another Parc Expose tossed in. or spectators. More information and pic- contents must endure. His advice has these directions are given to the hun- And of course, this goes on in all con- tures about this sport as well as about saved us more than one headache, dredth mile from the stage start. ditions; conditions at the rallies we our team can be found on the Internet, I'm sure. And of course the car wear- Performance rallies start with a ran this past reason varied from tern- Rally Racing News (hctp://www.rallyrac- ing ProRally #137, Rhybudd, an blGB public display of the cars, a 'Parc peratures in the 50s, wet and muddy, ingnews.com/) or Ben's Rally Page GT built from scattered chrome- Expose'; this is held in a conspicuous to hot, dry and dusty, to 20s with ice (http://www.cwl. com/bensrallypage). bumper car parts, carrying a 1968 downtown location, where the public and snow and gate-force winds See you out there? $ title. To our knowledge, this is the can get a look at the sheet metal (although crew mernber/MGB only MG currently running in U.S.A. before it becomes distorted. At the ral- ownerlyooper Jim Bradley claimed performance rallying. ly's start, cars leave at one minute that was positively balmy...); now Our very first performance rally intervals, the historically fastest com- I you have some idea of what perfor- experience was at the national licens- petitors going first. This initial transit mance rallying is all about. At

TOPS lN BLACK OR TAN AUSTIN-HEALEY SPORTS CAR SERVICES Sprite Mk I, Mk It $209.00 1V We have been servicing MGB's for Sprite Mk Ill, Mk 199.00 100-4, 100-6,3000 2-seater 199.00 over 12 years, and KAMGBR 57-59 100-6,3000 4-seater 209.00 members have raced us as 60-64 3000, BJ7, Mk If 199.00 "excellent" three years running. We 3000, BJ8, Mk 111 zipper win. 21 9.00 maintain extensive stocks of new and used parts in order to efficiencIy TD or TF MG $1 99.00 maintain and rebuilt MG's and MGA (1 window) 199.00 ocher British sports cars. Our MGA (3 window) 209.00 inventory is also available to you MGC 199.00 fQO, the 'S purious' R egister wit,h their chtserleader. overnight rhrougbouc Eastern New Midget 199.00 England and New York. We are just MGB (through 1970) 199.00 Bob Zimmerman Pennsylvania Turnpike a nightmare off I-91 1 Yi hours north of MGB '71 -on (sewn window) 199.00 so we split off and did the Laurel Hartford, Connecticut. MGB '71 -on (zipper window) 21 9.00 en D and I received our invi- Mountains via some absolutely stun- tation to the Spurious VB MG ning back roads. Somerimes Plan I3 Conv. Top Boot '71 -on MGB 99.50 Club's Second Annual Pxxx should actually be Plan A. We Conv. Top Boot '70-on Midget 99.50 Pa rty... oops, can I say Pixx here? stopped in Breezewood, the Town Of Carpet set for 1963-on MGB 119.00 Hey, Kim, can I say Pisx here? (Editors Motels, for some much needed hot Carpet set for '61 -on Midget 109.00 note: No you can't say Piss here!) tub time. Tonneau MGA with headrest 155.00 Anyway, we decided that a road trip Saturday morning we hit the trail Tonneau MGA w/o headrest 140.00 was in order for the Sunday, May 28 at sunrise for a side trip to Gettysburg. gathering. The party is actually an One cannot help but to be utterly Tonneau MGB with headrest 155.00 acronym for the Pender Invitational moved at this site. The taking of lives Tonneau MGB w/o headrest 140.00 Spurious Show and is open to all to prove a point still remains man's TRIUMPH members in good standing of the greatest folly. TR2, TR3, TR4 or TR4A $1 99.00 Spurious club. Onward and upward to the home -- TR250 or TR6 sewn window 1 99.00 After reading the police reports of Ian and Gini Pender in Hamilton Srev< Cheerq @.I071 Thomp~on(IL a cwfom pnne[ to converf on MGB Mk I1 ro srtel TR6 zipper rear window 21 9.00 from last year's show, we decided that Square, New lersey. It was too early &h there was a possibility rhat we would for dinner so D and I found ourselves TR7 or TR8 zipper window 21 9.00 be somewhat safe at the event. If not strapped in behind the wheel of a cou- ROUTINE SERVICING, Spitfire MK I, II or Ill thru '69 199.00 we would just have to live with those ple of delightfully spurious MGB V8s. HEAVY REPAIR & OVERHAUL of Spitfire Mk 111 '70-on, Mk IV nasty ink stains from the fingerprint- D bolted down the road in Ian's MG,AUSTIN HEALEY AND 1500 (zipper rear window) 219.00 ing. Now, as near as I can tell, when 'EIGHT UP'. I found myself taking lim OTHER BRITISH CARS Stag (specify 1 or 3 window) 269.00 the nominations for club membership Brucato, the Florida tugboat captain, Send SASE for material samples. Different are re-opened, the foremost criteria for on a run in his blue screamer. I swear, Westminster, Vt. 802.387-4540 colors available at extra cost. Other sport, being nominated is that one does not if MG had built cars like these in the imporl8 domestic tops available. Worldwide have a rotary engine in their MG. At '60s and '70s, there would not be a SERVICE PARTS shipping. VISA, MIC, AMEX, Discover least that's what I think they meant Mustang on the road today. 0 to 60 in CARIBOU CANVAS when they said, 'No wankers allowed!' the squeeze of a sphincter! 26804 Vista Terrace Seems to be a bit of a language barri- On Sunday morning Mike Robson Lake Forest, CA 92630 er with some of those overseas chaps. arrived as did Albert and Beatrice So D and 1 busted out of Kent, Doelatip with their 3-year-old spuri- Information (949) 770-31 36 Ohio on Friday about noon and ous son, Al. D and I were given the FAX (949) 770-0815 headed east. A combination of heavy honor of driving 'EIGHT UP' to the 1-800 776-3136 traffic and construction made the [please Pum to page SO) for orders only please1 MGB DRIVER-July/Aigust 2000 Breaking Into Racing (an MGB) - Continued from Page 12 when I found the limits of my inade- for some suspension updates that will Little British Car Ca. quate fuel pump I successfully fin- result in a lower, stiffer car. I'm leaving ished every practice, qualifying and the so-far reliable engine alone. My Vintage Motors race session I started. I credit that to plan for the moment is to try going having a car of modest engine prep faster by slowing down less rather than level and religiously inspecting the turning up the horses just yet. www.LBCarCo.com brakes and suspension following I've kept the cosrs of my racing Visit us on the Internet Secure Server for Qu~ckOnline Ordering. every race event. I've found some pretty low. The actual costs of the rac- ALL BRITISH CAR PARTS at substantially lower prices. pretty scary stuff under there after a ing itself (so long as you aren't pour- Aulhorized Moss Distributor particularly brutal weekend. ing money into the car on a daily The off-track camaraderie among basis) are tolerable. It's the costs Ignitor Electronic the drivers and their families at these "around" the racing that add up lgn~t~on events is easily as big a part of the quickly. It's easy to spend way more Get uo lo 100% more The concealed electronic jgnition. experience as the driving. The atrnos- on the gas to tow the race car to the light from these bulbs. Replaces your pornts and phere is closer to that of a typical MG event than the actual cost of gas ro Be seen &Her during condenser. More fuel car show or meet than what you race it (not to mention the costs of the economy,more might expect from a group of racers. necessary tow vehicle itself). The hotel dayl~ghtor darkness. smxllher runn~rg,fr% lust like in the back parking lot of a and meal costs for an extended week- Headlamp, fogldnnng, plug 8. car show hotel, helpers and well wish- end away can easily exceed the $150 From $72.50 ers quickly congregate around the to $300 entry fees for a typical event. Also available 40,000 volt open bonnet of any ailing car. Spare Racing as a hobby, and especially bulbs ballasted sport coils parts are instantly exchanged vintage racing with the whole his- from $26 between friendly competitors. toric, collector car aspect of it, exposes Jeff Zom 29311 Aranel Farmirigton Hllls, MI 48334 wide Phone: 248489-0022 Toll-free: 800-637-9640 :Fax: 248-489-9665 Anybody's morning donuts, coffee or you to a variety of pocketbook Emall: LBCarCoOLBCarCocorn Major credtt cards accepted evening burgers off the grill are gra- sizes. If you are the sort who feels the ciously offered along with a smile and need to "Keep Up with the loneses" endless conversation. Newcomers this arena may be a frustrating and with questions rarely find a racer that damaging one unless you are excep- doesn't have all the time until his tionally well heeled. If, like me, you next race to talk racing. can be satisfied with a modestly pre- I've never had delusions of being pared (read reliable) car and the a regular race winner in these excitement of a good dice and the endeavors. Oh, there are regular win- thrill of just being there is the draw, ners. It becomes obvious in a hurry costs and self respect issues can be that, like big time pro racing, the reg- kept under control. ular winners are spending the most The spirit and exhilaration oirac- time, energy and money to come out ing the MGB at vintage race events is on Lop. Unlike big rime pro racing, at everything to me. After three years of most, there is a trophy waiting for rhe hobby racing my best advice to some- winner, or sometimes just a few grati- one considering the sport comes in the fying and well deserved pats on the form of a couple of healthy mottos back. 1 have managed to move from that can save your sanity and your the extreme back of the pack in my bank account: first outings to being a solid, mid-field 1) You don't win any less for fin- finisher. I can be happy here a long ishing last. time I think. 2) Somebody will always have The car was in the hands of a MG more money than you. 4 specialist in Milwaukee this past winter

40 MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 National Kac~ngLolo[ 3 -

NAMGBR MG Becomes Art in California Rodney McDonald, South Alabama British Car Club Annual General Meeting 2000 Art collector Rene Di Rosa has just s British car enthusiasts all of us are familiar with British Racing Green. The North American MGB bought a rather "smashing" new The term has been applied to several shades of green over the years by Register's Annual General Meeting work of art for the Di Rosa Preserve in I\.BMC and later British Leyland, but it's that shade of dark green that's not will take place on Saturday, October Napa, California's Carneros Valley. quite olive but not bottle green either. In any case, how did BRG come into 28, 2000 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. near It's a 60-foot-tall file cabinet (over five being, anyway? Chicago's O'Hare Airport. The AGM is stories high!) filled with file folders by The FIA, the French-based worldwide authority of motorsport, some years the Register's annual business meet- San Francisco artist Samuel Yates. ago decreed that competition automobiles be painted in color schemes assigned ing as well as the venue for presenta- Yates took a 1974 MG Midget car to their home nations. The idea was that the spectators would be able to tion of the Enthusiast of the Year, apart, then steamrolled every single instantly pick out their favorite cars and drivers on the track. Up llntil the mid- Chapter of the Year, Newsletter of the piece of the car as flat as Wile E. '60s (when big money sponsorship dictated that racing cars become rolling bill- Year, and Good Samaritan Awards. Coyote. Then he weighed each flat- boards), cars were painted in those national colors. The election for the offices of the Vice- tened piece (in milligrams) and put Ever wonder what other nations' racing colors were? Wonder no more as Chairman and Secretary will take each one in a labeled Ziploc bag. All your South Alabama British Car Club Newsletter Research and Oil Change place as well. All members of the the bags were then put into the file fold- Department has the answers: Register are welcome to attend. ers, which fill the 60-foot tall cabinet. Austria - body and bonnet dark blue The meeting will be held at: Yates had to give Di Rosa the car's DMV registration when he Belgium - body and bonnet yellow Ramada PIaza Hotel O'Hare purchased the work for an undis- Brazil - body and bonnet pale yeltow, lower body and wheels green 6600 N. Mannheim Road closed amount. Canada - body and bonnet red, white stripe front to back Rosemont, IL 60018 Oh yes, the title of the work, Cuba - body yellow, bonnet black which curator Richard Reisrnan Switzerland - body red, bonnet white Accommodations: 595 per night, Czechoslovakia body white, bonnet blue, lower body red plus tax. Parking is $8 per night. hopes to install by the end of Iune: - "Minuet in MG." Di Rosa Preserve, Germany - body and bonnet silver Call 1-800-2-RAMADA and use the Denmark - body and bonnet silver, national flag painted on bonnet group code CGNAtvlG, or call 847- on the Sonoma Highway 121, is open by appointment weekdays and Spain - body and bonnet yellow, lower body red 827-5131 and use the group code Egypt - body and bonnet pale violet NAMGBR. Deadline for reservations Saturday mornings. So this is what's happening to all of France - body and bonnet blue (most Bugattis are painted this shade) is October 13. Great Britain - body and bonnet green There is free shuttle service to those missing British cars in California! -Rick Feibusch, Venice, CA Greece - body and bonnet light blue, two lengthwise white stripes on bonnet and from O'Hare Airport on a regu- Hungary - body (front) white, (rear) green, bonnet red lar schedule. Jordan - body and bonnet brown The Chicagoland MG Club will be John Dugdale Passes Away MG Magazine founding Editor and Italy - body and bonnet red our hosts and are planning a pub Ireland - body and bonnet green, lower body orange crawl on Friday night. Travel is easy longtime luminary in the world of British cars, particularly MGs and Japan - body and bonnet white, red disc on bonnet to the Chicago Loop, Sears Tower, Luxembourg - body and bonnet white, red and blue stripe front to rear Rush Street, Museums, etc. from Jaguars, lohn Dugdale passed away May 10, 2000 at the age of 86. % Monaco - body and bonnet white, lower body red O'Hare via the CTA elevated trains for Mexico - body and bonnet gold, blue crosswise stripe on bonnet a fare of $1.50. Netherlands - body and bonnet orange Portugal - body and bonnet red, lower body white Argentina - body blue, bonnet yellow, lower body black Chile - body red, bonnet blue, lower body white Sweden - body and light blue, three yellow stripes crosswise on bonnet Finland - body and bonnet white, two blue stripes forming a cross on bonnet Thailand - body and bonnet light blue, lower body yellow Uruguay - body and bonnet light blue, large red stripe across bonnet USA - body and bonnet white, lower body blue South Africa - body gold, bonnet green There you have it-more information than you ever really wanted. [t may just be me, but Jordanian Racing Brown or Egyptian Racing Violet just don't seem to have the same cachet as good old British Racing Green ...but I may be biased. a MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 43 À rack side in ButtonwiIIow, CA

Kenny Rogers and his wife with a reproduction of a factory competition car. Note the light on the door to illuminate he number on this 1964 MGB.

You're never too old to race! 'Racing Grandma' Bonnie Laitsch with her '64 MG8

Ready for the off! The 'Mambo Ring' #I 0, I and 'Racing Grandma' #dd. If you're considering converting your MGB lo V8 power or just lhioking bout rc-rrirnrninp- your car, our "On a shoesrring"~videoswill save \,uu many titncs [heir cost! Bob Mason Thanks for your letter regarding "BIGB \'8 Power" is cmrnrned li~llof~lrone~ your MCB problems--and thanks for saving tips ancl tricks for rhs MG owner who is alf the year gone already, and 1 the S.A.S.E. considering a VP convcrsion. do hope you ore enjoying your Firstly, the nut torque problem is "Interior Re-Trim" is Tor [he budget nlinded 'new millennium' motoring this most likely with the nut and not the re-trimmer and sllnws how yo11 con usc evenday itc~t~sIO re-trim or cusro~nize)our summer. Here I am deep in the swel- stud. I'd re-examine using new nuts cnrs ullerior. tering South and the first letter I open on the rocker hold-down studs that comes from Homer, Alaska-where take the small nut, which is only a it's much cooler! Hal writes: standard nut (SAE threads) and torque all four down to 25 ft./lbs, per First of all thanks very much for all the Haynes manual. I have seen the help during my valve job. The MGB is many 'used' nuts that would start to up and running well. I have retorqued the strip when being torqued and a head and set the valves at 100 miles. brand new nut nearly always solves However, when retorquing the nuts on the problem. the tappet assembly, number 3 will not Valves burn almost always from torque down. Which is more likely-the either high mileage or incorrect nut or the stud? adjustment, usually the latter-yours 1 also have several other questions should all be adjusted at ,013hot. Your hot starting problems could for you, most ofwhich predate the valve ABSORBERS:F~~~ job. I #I be several things, so I am enclosing a The Marque Of Friendship SHO,CK First om wondering why valve MOTC ...... 145.00 burned. The car had 75,000 total miles copy of john Twist's article titled 1929 - 1936 MOTD 6 TF ...... 145.M) 59.45 and for the year it has sometimes "Those Damned Zenith Strombergs" I I Wk 49.85 past North American MMM Register ...... MGB. Midget ..6 49.1 been very hard to start when warm. It which I have taken from his excellent Box 727, St. Helena, CA 94574 ...... rakes a steady grind and then flooring it tech tips manual. Running on is HEAVY DUTY UPGRADE...... 10.W 10.00 707/963-2313 SHOCK LINK (New or Rebuilt)...... ,... Sca31 when it will finalfy start. There's no prob- sometimes caused by an overly rich lem when (he engine is cold. I have won- mixture and a small problem earlier 19351955 Pre-Warm-SeriesIY Type BRAKES dered if the choke is sticking, but it runs could be aggravated by your recent The New England MG'TJRegister WB.Midget callper (sbInlassprstMY..... $75.00 fine once started. valve job-the valve job would make Drawer 220 Oneonta, NY 13820 'MGqMGC caliper (shln~Nslons) ...... $95.00 MA,Mil twin rnas(er395647...... S145.M Also since the valve job there is the problem more obvious. Also a 7041544-1253 MGB. Midgel master 196&80 ...... tSS.00 some running-on and the idle is about dark tailpipe is more often seen these Bake & Clulch cyfindem brass sleeved.... WW 1100-1200. I have nor yet figured out days, since the elimination of lead in 1956-1 962 MGAlZAlZB KlNGPIN Swivel axle rebushed ...... 540.00 how to change the idle. For what it's our fuel, which was the usual cause of The North American MGA Register FRONT END A-ARM midgel) ...... S75.W worth the exhaust pipe looks ralher dark, the gray tailpipe in prehistoric days! P 0 Box 11746 Albuquerque. NM 87192 CARBURETORS:COMPLETE REBUILD(NC which I always was led to believe meant However, an overly dark pipe which is 5051293-9085 Disassembly, cleaning. MesmDushed, new a rich mixture. also "sooty" could be caused by an BmWe shaRs, jets. needles,float vahw, gaSkeQ, Fhbench tesled...... 5325.Wpir Anyway, I was wondering if this was overly rich mixture. I think if you fol- 1963-1980 MGB/Midget/1100/1300 The North American MGB Regis,.ter CAR8 BODIES REBUSMED; reloted to the burnt valve as 1 don't want low john's tips, you can cure your car- and new throflle sbRs...... each to burn another one! Should 1 mess with buretor problems. PO Box MG Akin, IL 62805 U5.M the man- A quick 'fogging' of the inner 80WNAMGBR-1 I choke-if so, how? The Haynes I Pkes shown ere Iw Exchange .or Yaurs Rehlll ual is a little light on this, and J always windscreen is almost always caused 1968 - 1969 MGC (5 day IurnerwncI). Ccre chqw apply 1 Itam thought 'carburetor' was French for by a lack of coolant somewhere American MGC Register are -red ,prkr lo (aod are mrunded anq cxrr "Leave it alone!" within the heater core itself, or mlvlng your dd rm&W $6.00 per itarn.FffEE 2809 Copter Rd. * Pensacola,. . FL 32514 CATALOG. W. ~~mh~ullcs.com... Another strange problem is the fol- within the heater box, and heater I I I I lowing: The windshield fogs up easily! fan when operating will blow over- 8501478-3171 The air to the healer and defrost seems ly humid air through the defroster 200i: An M.Q. Odyssey! APPLE HYDRAULICS OK and the flap is working. This is a new ducts to the windscreen. I doubt July 24,2001 St. Paul, MN 1610 Middle Road, Calverton. NY 11933 problem since last year and has only very much whether the screen Sponsored bv The North...... American 51 6369-9515, FAX: 51 63699516 Council w M.G. Registers occurred since the windshield was replacement is the cause of this I Toll Free 800-882-7753 replaced. Again, thanks for the help. problem. You might add some radi- I Visa. MaslerCard. COD. Free Calalog (please turn to page 48) MGB DR[VER-July/August 2000 Technical Talk - Coqtinued from Page 46 exercised to regain freedom of move- (*ln the factory for several years [he ment and reused. chap who fitfed the one way rubber ator sealant, such as Bar's Leak This check valve is spring-loaded Water Everywrhere! drain tube was Tommy simp&. The through the filler neck above the to the closed position on high vacu- tube ~ventuolly become papulorly TI I have heard quite a few com- thermostat-not in the overflow um, such as at engine idle RPM. ments lately from MGB drivers known as "Tom's Knob" for reasons best tank-and see if this cures your this inner valve becomes clogged and regarding water coming into the car left to your tender imaginations!- problem within the heater core. stays open, your engine at idle may from around the tunnel fresh air box Marchom Rhoode) Also if you still have the plastic quit when the brake pedal is opening. This is almost always filler neck plug, consider replacing depressed. This valve is normally car- caused by the water drain tube at the A Gentle Reminder it with the brass type carried by our ried by Moss Motors as #582-996 or bottom of the air box, in front of the There are numerous items on major suppliers. Please DO NOT use Victoria British #7-226. The Moss windscreen, becoming clogged with our MGs that should be changed the 'taper type' plug available from part 8373-875 (adapter) is simply a dirt, leaves, twigs, etc. This drain tube before they wear completely out your local auto parts store. This straight-through hose attachment (known in the factory as AHC321 such as radiator and heater hoses, type will really 'bodge' the threads without the inner spring loaded 'drain tube with valve', among other fan belts, tires, etc. But there are in that somewhat expensive alu- valve and is NOT what you require names') can only be cleaned from some out-of-sight items that we minum thermostat cover on your as a replacement. underneath the car and its location is often forget about, such as the orig- engine. In conclusion I have really The bad news is that this check at the front right of the transmission inal fuel pump contact points, fuel enjoyed our various conversatians valve js not currently available (see photo at lefi). If you need help in filter, and the carburetor air filters. over the past few years from 'way from our major suppliers at the locating or cleaning this tube, contact Any time we are looking in our up 'nawth' and I hope the foregoing time of writing, although Moss someone who has already carried out engine compartment, we see the air will be of help to you. advises me that they are seeking a this simple procedure. filter housings, but when was the new supply source. After you have cleaned out the last time that you opened them up Check Valve Tip The check valve is spring-loaded tube, install a custom screen mesh to check the actual condition of the All MGBs from 1975 onwards in the UP position and you can check under the air vent grille to prevent air fitters themselves? You might be have a vacuum operated brake its operation by blowing into the hose future problems. Any water leaks near surprised at what you will see and booster system, and the system's hose end. You should not be able to suck the center of the floorboards is almost may wonder how rhe engine actual- connects to a vacuum check valve on air through the hose end. If plugged, always coming from the failure of the ly continues to run! Replacement fil- the intake manifold (i.e. a one-way this valve can usually be cleaned with rubberized seals under the windscreen ters ore available from any of our check valve). carburetor cleaner and the spring wiper wheel boxes, but their replace- major suppliers. Why not check ment is another story. them out next Saturday morning? 4

48 MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 Chapter Spotlight - Continued liom Page 7 Reg isrra b~ held on the second Thursday each successful. Our tech sessions cover a month and these are hosted by mem- wide range of topics such as, engine bers who have volunteered to hold rebuilding, brakes and suspension, MGB Reqistrar Pull Handle MGB Reqistrar this event in their homes, as we do not electrics, welding, and a very po,pular Marcham Rhoade Bill Barae have any suitable watering event where we invite members to P.O. BOX 8645, Goleta, CA 93117 930 N~-?soE., Angola, IN 46703, holes/pubs in North Carolina. These bring their new soft tops for jnstaHa- (805)683-2906 (219)665-64 76 'Noggin and Narters' are very infor- tion by our team of experts. All of the e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] mal, and will only include a few min- talent that provides these services comes from within our membership. Midaet Reqistrars MG 1 100/1300 Reqistrar utes for matters of a business nature. D and Bob Zimmerman Thomas K. Gaylord Attendance at these meetings will Our annual dinner meeting is 811 S. DePeyster Street, Kent, OH 3 180 Verdun rive, N.W. usually be in the range of 30 to 40 usually held in January each year and at that time awards are presented to 44240, (330)678-9394 Atlanta, GA 30305; (404)261-5083 happy souls as the club provides the e-mail: enrngfisssnet .corn beer and wine. outstondjng members, and the new 100,000 Mile Reqistrar During the year we will organize slate of officers are duly appointed for 197472 MGB Reqistrar lai Deaqan rallies, a Beach Tour that is a two or the corning year. Steve Harding 11825 Columbia Highway three day event, several informal 1913-0 Darby Road, Havertown, PA Eaton Rapids, MI 48827 breakfast meetings, and of course, For more information please contact: 19083, (610)446-2073 e-mail: [email protected] tech sessions. During the last three The North Carolina MG Car Club years we have also hosted three P. 0. Box 12273 MGB V8 Reqistrar Oriqinal Owner Reqistrar British car shows that have been very Raleigh, NC 27605 Q Kurt Schley Deter Cosmides P.O. Box 161156 219 Pleasant Valley Avenue, Rocky River, OH 441 16-7156 Moorestown, NJ 08057, (856)778-3695, e-mail: [email protected] Spurious Paw - Continued from Page 38 MGB Limited Edition and 1967 MGB GT Special Reqistrar Hammer & Tonqs Reqistrar honor of driving 'EIGHT UP' to the unveiled the club's pink mushroom Ron Tuawell banner. Gene Fox and his wife dropped Phil Smith party as we queued up to caravan 3 De ~GaralRoad, P.O. Box 2406, 103 N. Pennington by in Gene's fuel injected LE ... coo-el. over to West Chester, Pennsylvania. Carmel Valley, CA 93924, Sycamore, OH 44882 From the passenger seat I pho- David and Eileen Deutsch MC'd in (831)659-2449 e-mail: [email protected] tographed some of the caravan, from Long Island. Rick Brown came e-mail: [email protected] though much of it was a blur. As [im over from Asbury, New Jersey. And the Brucato roared by, the term blue lovely spurious cheerleader, Christina streak became quite clear to me. Fox, mode her debut. How many clubs The party took place at Brian and have their own cheerleader? A mare Beth Ichter's home overlooking some depraved yet fun loving group has POB 321 Otego, NY 13825 golf links. Among those in attendance mrely been assembled. Mountains of wings and ribs were devoured along BritBooks Tel&Fax 607 988-7956 were Kurt Schley and Sue from Ohio. Richard Liddick and Michael Egliskis with proportionate amounts of wash. I 1 I motored over from Maryland in Mike's wonder where we shall PISS next year ... We have over 300 MG titles in stock racing-striped GT V8 racer. They also We came together to laugh. Aye, plus a major inventory of books on Triumph, Lotus, Jaguar, A-H, Morgan. 1 BritBooks is the largest supplier of current and )I [( out-of-print books on sports cars in America )I [) Call for a Catalog today, 1-800-732-3646 I1 Ron Ernbling - e-mail: [email protected] Homepage: http:liwww.britbooks.corn 1I, I I

50 MGB DRIVER-July/Augusl2000 dur Valb,, Sup

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56 MGB DRIVER-July/August 2000 Where 2 'B The Marketplace of the NohAmerican MGB Register Forthcoming Events of Interest to MGB Drivers ds in this section are FREE to individual MGB Regjster members in good stand- ?lease check for up to date information before deporting to the meet. The ing-please no business or commercial ads. Send ad copy with name, address, 7pbi Reglster encourages local groups and clubs to submit their MG events to A, hone number and membership number to 4904 Puffer Road, Downer's hliCB Driver. Information must include, date, location, and contact phone Grove, It 605 15. Ads only accepted in writing. Business or other ads by arrangement number. Please submit events at least three months in advance to the Editor. with ]im Btucato, Advertising Coordinator (see inside Front cover). All ads must be 4904 Puffer Road, Downer's Grove, 11 60515. received by the 1st of the month prior to publication for inclusion. (i.e.Septernber/October issue deadline is September 15.) Ads will be run for two (2) MAJOR NORTH AMERICAN MG EVENTS FOR 2000 issues, space allowing. The Register retains the right to refuse any ad it deems unac- August 17-20, Abingdon Summer Parry, Abingdon, IL, (630)289-7915 ceptable. The originating state is shown at the end of each ad. ~ugust19-20, Heartland Brihsh Autofest, Davenport, IA: (309)797-2043 MGs FOR SALE ~ugust27, Taste of Britain, Lancaster, PA, (717)292-0579 Sept. 9-10, British Car Meet, Polo Alto, CA, (310)392-6605 1968 MGB GT-80% restored all original, has rare 30"x30qroll back sun roof Sept. 10, Chlcago Bntish Car Fest~val,Des Plaines, 11, (708)442-7380 (two tops one Black and one Tan) in original BL box! Have all to com- parts Sept. 10, Battle of the Brits, Sterling Heights., MI, (810)979-1875 plete car including a complete pans car, two engines (one needs to be put Sept. 15-17, Southeastern Regional MG Feshval, Dillard, GA, (706)268-1045 together and the other is complete and balanced), True spoke wheels and new Sept 24, British Car Meet, Woodley Park, Los Angeles, CA, (310)392-6605 Avon tires, color is Jasmine Yellow. Car should be worth $13,000 to $15,000 Sept. 2.4. Richmond British Car Show, Richmond, VA, (804)264-855 f when completed, just found out I have cancer to battle and need to sell. Call (540)785-9121 or e-mail Sept. 29- Oct. 1, Indy British Motor Days, Indianapolis, IN, (317)887-3867 $5500. or trade for 18' box trailer. Sept. 30, MGs on the Rocks, %elAir, MD, (410)817-6862 or e-mail [email protected]. VA 1972 MGB Roadster-Recent engine rebuild, newer interior, wire wheels Sept. 30-Oct. I, Battle of Britain 2000, Wings & Wheels, Santa Monlca, CA, wlgood tares, roll bar, removable hard top included, needs paint. 52137.43 meet (800)235-6954 Will be at the All-British Field Meet swap at Portland International Sept. 30, Autumn in the Mountains British Car Gathering, Flat Rock, NC, Raceway Sepr. 3 Call (503)604-4544, or e-mail [email protected]. OR (828)685-8483 2974 MGB GT VGRight hand drive. Rover V8, Rover 5-speed, Spax shocks, Oct. 7, MGs at Mercer, Doylestown, PA, (610)446-2073 Moss coil over front end, HD ventilated duc brakes, composite springs, trac- Oct. 14, Triangle British Classic Car Show, Morrisville, NC, (919)467-8391 tion bars, custom leather interior, sunroof, plus extras. $12,500 (651)779-8605 or e-mail