Inside: • Sherman’s Way Movie • The Midget History File • MG 2008 Update Vol. 18, No. 3 May/June 2008 Spridget 50th Anniversary 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 modifications 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 • Website: www.namgbr.org OFFICERS OF THE NAMGBR CHAIRMAN: Bruce C. Wyckoff PUBLICITY Richard Liddick 10975 Aspen Trail COORDINATOR: 5237 Glen Arm Road Zeeland, MI 49464 Glen Arm, MD 21057 (616) 748-0580 (410) 817-6862 [email protected] [email protected] VICE-CHAIRMAN: Richard Liddick CONVENTION/AGM Tony & Lynne Burgess 5237 Glen Arm Road COORDINATOR: 318 Hampton Park Glen Arm, MD 21057 Westerville, OH 43081 (410) 817-6862 (614) 899-2394 [email protected] (614) 899-2493 fax [email protected] SECRETARY: Jerome Rosenberger 13112 Benton Camp Road TECHNICAL John H Twist Benton, IL 62812 COORDINATOR: 6490 Fulton Street East [email protected] Ada, MI 49503 (616) 682 0800 TREASURER: Alan Magnuson [email protected] 7754 South Waco Street Centennial, CO 80016 REGALIA Elvin Davis (303) 400-8076 COORDINATOR: 7027 Brookshire Ct. [email protected] West Bloomfield, MI 48322-2735 (248) 960-2296 [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) 353-7655 [email protected] CONCOURS Paul Hanley Coordinator: 12403 Coopers Lane Worton, MD 21678-1350 (410) 778-3674 ADVERTISING Charles E. de Bourbon [email protected] & PRODUCTION PO Box 293 COORDINATOR Del. Water Gap, PA 18327 Service Bruce C. Wyckoff ART DIRECTOR (570) 424-6259 Recommendation (269) 751-2625 [email protected] Coordinator: [email protected] FOR REGISTRAR INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE PAGE 59. The North American MGB Register is affiliated to 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 situ- ated in Abingdon-on-Thames close by the birthplace of all MGs. www.mg2008.com • [email protected] MGB Driver Magazine ©2007 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 issue of the MGB Driver; ©2008-BGA Studios.com/Charles de Bourbon, unless otherwise noted. The Editor’s View Chairman’s Chat appy birthday, Spridgets! It’s his issue of the MGB Driver is dedi- hard to believe that the iconic cated to the 50th anniversary of the Hlittle Austin-Healey Sprite and TAustin-Healey Sprite and its close its sister MG Midget turn 50 this year. I cousin, the MG Midget. For many MG know it seems like the MGB gets all the owners like me, the Midget was my first exposure to the MG family of automo- attention, but the 1961-1979 Midget is Robert biles. Bruce a very important model represented Rushing My wife and I purchased a used Wyckoff under the NAMGBR flag and it is my Editor 1975 Midget in 1981, shortly after we Chairman hope that we can spark some renewed MGB Driver enthusiasm for that register within got married. The previous owner was a NAMGBR these pages. In the last issue, you should have young lady who had purchased the car were traveling down the road on a I know I’m dismayed when I go to read that both the vice chairman and to drive to the beach during the sum- beautiful summer afternoon when we British car shows and only see one or secretary positions will be up for elec- mer. After about two years of owner- encountered a large sprinkler head had two Midgets, only to turn around and tion this year. I haven’t received any let- ship, she had her sights set on a newer come loose in front of a county-owned see a dozen or more MGAs. Not that ters of intent yet and am hoping that I Mustang and was selling the Midget. building and was spraying a torrent of there’s anything wrong with MGAs, I will before the next issue. (The deadline Having driven a convertible during water over the entire roadway. I decided just can never understand the low turn- is May 15.) my high schools years, I missed not our options were backtrack a couple of out of Midgets when there were over The North American MGB Register having a roof over my head and my wife miles and take a different route or get twice as many Midgets built compared is a membership ran organization. It and I stopped to look at the car. I didn’t out of the car and put the hood up. My to the MGA! The only thing I can figure needs your help to keep things running know much about MGs, but I was told wife came up with a third alternative… out is that Midget owners are too busy smoothing and to keep the Register about a shop in Grand Rapids, Mich., put the pedal to the metal and just drive having fun driving their cars to stop alive. Please seriously consider taking where they worked exclusively on MGs. through it. We did! long enough for a show. Hopefully on one of these two very important Having an expert just 30 miles away was When NAMGBR started in 1990, I more of them will take some time out to roles – you’ll have fun and you’ll meet a reassuring, so we agreed on a purchase had the honor of being the first Midget let the rest of us get a closer look at their lot of great MG people! price and the Midget has been a part of registrar of the organization. Over those little beauties! Robert the family to this day. Over the years, years, I had the opportunity to meet we have attended events and taken a and talk with a number of Midget own- number of Sunday drives in the country ers. Even after an active travel schedule with the top down, usually ending at forced me to resign from the position, I Page 11 MG 2008 Update a favorite ice cream shop. You cannot By James Schulte Philadelphia MG Club still enjoy talking to Midget and Sprite beat the feeling of driving on a shady owners. country lane or strapping an overnight Over the years, we have owned a Page 24 Vintage Racing an MG Midget bag on the luggage rack and heading out By David Littlefield, Houston MG Car Club number of British cars, from an MGA for a long weekend adventure. to an Austin American, but the Midget Page 29 Sherman’s Way One of my favorite Midget stories remains a part of the family. involved a trip to a co-worker’s house By Craig Saavedra Southern California MG Club along the Lake Michigan shore. We Bruce Page 34 Spridget 50th Anniversary By Kim Tonry, MGB Driver Editor Emeritus Page 43 The Midget History File By David Knowles — Author of “MG: The Untold Story” Page 49 Midget Alternator Problem P HO T O By Steve Olson Kansas City MG Car Club P ROVIDED BY Page 50 Clay Bar Your Car The Inside Line By Dave Handley, Emerald Necklace MG Club B RUCE W YCKOF F Page 53 Tech Talk By John Twist, NAMGBR Technical Coordinator 4 MGB Driver May/June 2008 MGB Driver May/June 2008 5 Vice Chairman’s Notes From the Secretary ue to recent discussions over very month a member or two will Chapter affiliation definitions, tell me that the only notice they Dthere has been a debate going on Ereceived that their membership about allowing a member to list two lo- was due was the “final” notice. This is cal clubs and allowing the second club odd, as I send out up to six reminders to also claim them for the purpose of per member. Jerome affiliation. The by-laws state in Section Richard I think this may be due to our in- Rosenberger III - Chapters, under A-1-b, “Chapters Liddick creasing reliance on e-mail reminders. Secretary should have a minimum of eight Regis- Vice chairman Postage expense has gone up drastically NAMGBR ter members.” The debate has been on NAMGBR in the last couple of years and will be whether that means “unique” members going up again in May. So we decided or just eight members that belong to the that if a member has a good e-mail revoked. Register. Traditionally, we have inter- address, we will remind them using It is really easy, however. When preted this as being “unique members” e-mail to reduce costs and attempt to you get your reminder, just log on to I have a couple of other items to or one NAMGBR member can officially avoid raising dues.