Inside: • Readers Rides • What Might Have Been-MG/Auston Martin • Wipers: Tough Love Silver Metal • Rewiring Your MG • North Meets South-A NAMGBR Event Vol. 22, No. 4 July / August 2012 50 Years of MGB and still making memories. THE NORTH AMERICAN MGB REGISTER MGB Driver is the official publication of the North American MGB Register, a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining and expanding interest in Britain’s most popular sports car—the MGB. The opinions expressed within are those of the individual authors and readers are warned that they attempt any mechanical or other modifi- cations described herein, entirely at their own risk. Membership in the North American MGB Register is open to all, with no restrictions. Ownership of an MG is not a condition of membership. NAMGBR Regional Chapters will be pleased to welcome you to their events. Membership dues are $30 per year. For membership details or further information write to: NORTH AMERICAN MGB REGISTER P.O. Box 55 Whittington, IL 62897-0055 Toll-free hotline: 800-NAMGBR-1 • www.namgbr.org OFFICERS OF THE NAMGBR 6 2 6-4 2 7 1 CHAIRMAN: Richard Liddick PUBLICITY Jeff Taylor 5237 Glen Arm Road COORDINATOR: 1645 NW 23rd St. Glen Arm, MD 21057 Corvallis, OR 97330-1956 (410) 817-6862 541-753-0777 [email protected] [email protected] VICE-CHAIRMAN: Kim de Bourbon CONVENTION/AGM Tony & Lynne Burgess PO Box 293 COORDINATOR: 318 Hampton Park Del. Water Gap, PA 18327 Westerville, OH 43081 (570) 994-5748 (614) 899-2394 [email protected] (614) 899-2493 fax [email protected] SECRETARY: Denny Elimon 103 Woodcreek Court TECHNICAL John H Twist Mahomet, Ill. 61853 COORDINATOR: 4571 Patterson Avenue SE (217) 649-6925 Grand Rapids, MI 49512 (708) 221-6435 - Fax (616) 301-2888 [email protected] [email protected] TREASURER: Dave Mullen REGALIA Connie Wyckoff 5266 Woodridge Drive COORDINATOR: 10975 Aspen Trl. Newburgh, IN 47630 Zeeland, MI 49464 (812) 853-5108 (616) 748-0580 [email protected] [email protected] COORDINATORS OF THE NAMGBR WEBSITE Rick Brown COORDINATOR: 7146 Snowberry Loop EDITOR: Robert Rushing Brooksville, FL 34602 MGB Driver 5444 Sutherland Ave. (352) 650-5135 St. Louis, MO 63109 [email protected] (314) 614-4671 [email protected] CONCOURS Bob Gloyd COORDINATOR: 19692 East Garden Drive ADVERTISING Charles E. de Bourbon Centennial, Colorado 80015 & PRODUCTION PO Box 293 Phone - (303) 263-8189 COORDINATOR Del. Water Gap, PA 18327 [email protected] ART DIRECTOR (570) 460-6370 [email protected] SERVICE Bruce Wyckoff RECOMMENDATION 10975 Aspen Trl. EDITORS EMERITUS: Ken Smith COORDINATOR: Zeeland, Mi 49464 Kim Tonry (616) 748-0580 [email protected] FOR REGISTRAR INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE PAGE 61. The North American MGB Register is affiliated with the MG Car Club of England. The MG Car Club was founded in 1930 and is the original, factory supported, and approved organization for all MGs, with the club headquarters situated in Abingdon-on-Thames close by the birthplace of all MGs. The North American MGB Register is a 501(c)7 Not-For- Profit Corporation. MGB Driver Magazine ©2012 All rights reserved. Any part of this publication may be reproduced by members and member clubs only, with the expressed credit given to “MGB Driver Magazine” — Editor Robert Rushing. All images in this MGB Driver ©2012-BGA Studios.com/Charles de Bourbon, unless otherwise noted. Editor’s View Chairman’s Chat appy Anniversary MGB! It’s ue to the deadlines we face hard to think that the first MGB with the production of the Hrolled off the line at Abingdon DMGB Driver, I am going do my fifty years ago and it’s just as hard to Robert Rushing best impression of an odds maker and Richard Liddick believe that the last one rolled off the Editor reliably predict that MG 2012 was Chairman line thirty-two years ago. Time flies as MGB Driver a smashing success. I would like to NAMGBR fast as the wind through your hair at thank the Peachtree MG Registry for office skills and can spare a 1-hour or speed. ety of articles that will hopefully help hosting our 21st Annual convention. so a day, you are the person we need to We take a look back in this issue at keep your car on the road for another Dillard, Georgia is a fantastic location, step up for the Secretary position when what might have been if the proposal fifty years of anniversaries. old friendships were renewed and new Denny’s term expires in October. The from Aston-Martin to buy MG had Now for a bit of sad/happy ones made, along with a good time same can be said for the position of happened; get a glimpse of the new news… My car was in for a heart (cam) being had by all. There will be more Vice Chair, although this position MGB50 book that’s being published, transplant by John “The MG Doc” about MG 2012 in the next issue of the does not require the same amount of and the first celebration of the anni- Mangles at All British Car Repair when MGB Driver. time as the Secretary’s, it is vital to the versary in the UK. We also have a vari- it got hammered during a massive I am sure that most of you remem- smooth running of the organizing. hail storm that unexpectedly swept ber the signs with Uncle Sam pointing If you are interested in seeking one in on us here in St Louis. It looked and the caption reading “Uncle Sam of these positions, please contact me, On the Covers like someone parked my car on a golf needs you”, well your club needs you, Denny or Kim, we would be happy to driving range for a week. The whole that’s right, imagine if you would a explain what is involved. Don’t forget, Front: George Carrasquillo assist- front of the car was covered in dimples picture of John Thornley pointing at we are a member run club, we have no ing his daughter Michelle into his and the top got several rips in it from you, saying The North American MGB paid staff and except for professional MGB for the trip to the church. the baseball-sized hail. Luckily, the Register needs you. We have two very services, we are all volunteers. Emily Winiker photography. windshield was spared. Good for me important positions that are open in Finally, I would like to remind ev- that the B was at the right spot for the up coming election and they are erybody about the Pittsburgh Vintage repair and should be looking more the position Secretary and Vice Chair. Grand Prix coming up July 8-22. This Back: MGB magazine ad from 50 beautiful than ever in time for MG years ago. For the past few issues of the Driv- is a NAMGBR Regional Event, for more 2012. Thanks John – you saved my er, I have talked about these open posi- information or to register go to www. baby (again)! Robert tions hoping that two or more of our pvgp.org Also coming up is the return 2300 members would consider throw- of the University Motors Summer Page 13-14 Readers Rides ing their name in the hat. I have talked Party this August 17-19 and for those by Klienschmidt & Holmes with a couple of interested parties, but of you that really want to celebrate Page 19 Firing Up the M-Type as far as I know, no one has presented the MGB’s 50th birthday there is the us with a Letter of Intent seeking By Connie Ness, North Carolina MG Car Club bash in the U.K. at Blenheim Palace on either of the two positions. With that September 23. Check it out at www. Page 21 Got Her to the Church On Time said, I can tell you how much the club mgb50.com By George Carrasquillo, MG Car Club-Long Island Centre needs for the membership to step up to the plate and volunteer. If you have Safety Fast! Page 25 MGB - Serious Competition Richard by Robert Rushing Page 27 North Meets South - A NAMGBR Event By Jim Bull, Paradise British Car Club Page 34 What Might Have Been: MGB by Auston-Martin Images and article submitted by Don Scott by way of Rick Feibusch The Inside Line Page 40 Wipers: Tough Love Silver Medal Photos and article by Dave Burns, MG Car Club of Toronto Page 47 Rewiring Your MG Images and article submitted by Dave Braun, Minnesota MG Group 4 MGB Driver • July / August 2012 MGB Driver • July / August 2012 5 From the Secretary From the Treasurer s you read this article hopefully, ell, since driving weather has everyone will have fond memo- hit our area, it has become Aries of MG 2012. We extend a Wharder to be setting at the special thank you to everyone, espe- computer doing the Treasurer’s work. Dave Mullen cially to the Peachtree MG Registry Denny Elimon I have been trying not to follow the Treasurer club for hosting our annual conven- Secretary old adage of “all work and no play NAMGBR tion. I am certain all participants en- NAMGBR makes Jack a dull boy,” so I have been niversary t-shirt is a classic and can be joyed the event and especially the of- name in nomination, by submitting a able to escape several times, drive and worn for years. ferings of the surrounding mountains letter. Letters of Intent present infor- lunch at “Patti’s” at Kentucky Lake On the Treasurer side, with new and the good old country hospitality.