1993

 

"It looks like we're off to a banner start for the 1993 MG season!" wrote Phil Smith

in February for the April Crier of the new year. He and Dallas had had the GT out

a couple of times already. These two outings had been enough to cause them to

look way ahead on the rally circuit to MGMG Historic Rally in southwestern

Ohio to be hosted October 22-23 by Jim Pesta. "Mark your calendars," Phil urged.

 

Chairman Tom Metcalf in "T Tidbits" put the Smith's outings in chilly perspective

when he reported that "after several seasons of mild winters, BOOM! All of Ohio

got snow this time, nobody was spared." Optimistically, he was looking toward

spring weather.

 

Tom reported on the Natter N Noggin held at the Great Southern in Columbus,

with nearby shopping. Manley Ford had put together quite a package for the

technical meet of the weekend with a theme described. as "from wire wheels tr

rear ends, unsprung weight." Jim Pesta and Dave Zyp had told "all they know

about TD-TF rear ends - ratio changes, options, what to replace, how to do i9

etc." Attracted to the session from out of state were Dick and Dorothy Bremmer

from Ann Arbor, Bob and Sue Riley from Lexington and Bill Murray and Brian

Warmuth from Charleston.

 

The newly established Ohio Chapter awards went to their first recipients at the

natter. Joe and Linda Diamond had become the first winners of the new Car d

the Year award. "Their gorgeous deep red TF was everywhere all summer long.

Not only did they show up, they participated in all events and won a few."

 

Tom and Joan Baumgardner had driven far and wide in their TF and received the

 

Paul Johnson Award for the most miles driven in a T-Series car. The editors

themselves drove the most overall MG miles in the preceding year winning that

title; many of these miles had been in the Smiths Grampian Grey MGB GT. There

had been a coverall contest, won by George Hasek sporting a black leather tie.

 

The Metcalfs and Smiths (the younger) would go to the chapter's Put-in-Bay GOF

and immediately on to Detroit to fly to England for a few weeks. On their

itinerary was a stop at Guiness in London, another at the Morland Brewery in

Abingdon (Samuel Smith ale), and The Wings Run in Abingdon "where MMM

and T-series MGs converge 120-150 strong." There would also be factory records

to look into at the MG Car Club visits to museums and English friends. His end

line was, "And be thinking about a large Ohio group going in '95."

 

The "Club Notes" section added to Tom's account of the natter crediting Jim

Schardt, vice president of Dayton Wheel Products with an very interesting

lecture on the building and restoring services his company offers. There was a

photo of Dave Zyp and Jim Pesta holding tight to a rear axle with this cutline,

"Although it tried to escape, Dave and Jim were able to wrassle it into

submission."

 

The "Restorations in Progress" listed a full 20 projects in process. The center

section featured a relaxed Dave Witmer photo and registration forms for the July

15-18 GOF Central in Ann Arbor. Dave Jackman returned with his "Travel Tips,"

this time defining one problem for a car that wouldn't start - the rear frost plug

in the intake manifold that had blown out - and giving a temporary solution for

fixing it - furnace tape. And there was part tr on lubrication by Dave Snediker.

 

There were three guest articles, all a good read. Jeanne Lever wrote "The Tale of a

TD," an account of buying with husband Jack a 1952 MG TD, that year, and the

fun they had with it for several years,'even as it served as Jack's go-to-work car.

She then had an accident in it, "not much damage but Jack kept removing parts

from it and before long it was down tot he chassis with all of the parts in bushel

baskets." It moved with them, in the baskets, over the next 30 years. They finally,

with help from experts, got the TD restored. It was finished and delivered on

jack's 75th birthday, the day he came home from a long stint in the hospital."

 

Tom Baumgardner contributed "1051 Miles," his account of the Grand Tour of

Ohio Mk tr (remember, visiting five sites around Ohio in the least time over the

least distance.) He and Mark Milheim had driven the tour in Ms. Blimey, a TF,

and made it in just under 20hours. There had been the normal problems, such as

repairing a loose carb float bowl and reattaching a right rear shock with duct

tape. But when speed is a factor, the following description revealed other

frustrations.

 

The best plans and shortest routes on a map do not take

into consideration the bridges out and roads closed due tr

construction. Each time we thought we were gaining on

the average speed we encountered some delay or need b

backtrack. Even the high-speed run up I-75 was thwarted

first by a closed entrance ramp at Sidney and then by 15

miles of construction slow-down around Lima.

 

So it went. Would he do it again? "If Phil does it agarn, I will. Or I might organize

GTO W so he can run it."

 

Under the title "MG-NZ-MG," Crier readers got to share a piece of the diary d

DP and Judy Smith had kept of their NEMGTR trip to New Zealand, taken in

January. There had been 29 on the trip, from across the country and from

Canada. It was a inclusive account of a trip that began in Auckland, included a

four day New Zealand rally with 55 pre-1.955 MGs participating, notable stops,

driving a route of rugged rocky coastline, and a final brunch with a group d

New Zealanders in a MG owner's home overlooking Christchurch. The following

paragraph perhaps highlights the whole story, for, as in Ohio Chapter events, it's

the people who count.

 

The next three nights each American couple was hosted by a New Zealand

couple. Our host family was Ken and Ruth Hand. They were lively,

talkative, and very enjoyable. Ken is restoring a ]2 which had been

wrecked over 20 years ago. Because of the tremendous expense d

obtaining parts, Ken is doing everything himself from making new wings

to turning out necessary bits and pieces on his lathe. We found that most

of our New Zealand friends had done their own restorations.

 

Ir conclusion: "This was an unforgettable trip. Dick and Ann Knudson thought

of the MGMG visiting New Zealand and they, along with many New

Zealanders, worked hard to bring it about. Our thanks to everyone involved."

 

The second Crier of 1993, volume 24,number 2, brought a Phil Smith account of

the trip to England, shared with the Metcalfs. "The highlights certainly included

meeting lots of MG folk, including a visit with Mike Allison, being introduced to

John Thornley, seeing Barry Foster's garage full of C-types, drinking lots of

bitters, a visit to my uncle, Samuel Smith's brewery, etc."

 

There was a proud announcement that The Lord Nuffield Crier had been awarded

the 1992 Gardner-Mulvaney award by the NEMGTR, which they had learned of

at the Putin-Bay GOF. There was also a call for contributions to the periodical.

 

"We've tried to put together a quality publication that is worth your time to read,

and it was great to receive recognition. However, the LNC is your

publication....We need your articles and contributions, what you're doing with

your MG, tech tips, travels, natters, etc."

 

"Club Notes" led with a headline: The Rain in P.I.B. Falls Mostly On MGs, a one

line description of the dismal weather that began after arrival via ferry at the

Put-in-Bay Ohio GOF and that continued on into the following afternoon. But

the late afternoon on Saturday and the banquet (and glorious Sunday) had dried

folks out. There were many awards and in a board meeting a slate of officers was

nominated.

 

There were encouraging reminders to participate in a number of upcoming

events: the GOF Central in Ann Arbor July 15-18, the Arthritis Foundation

Classic Car Show in Columbus ]uly 23,the Wyandot Picnic Rally (its fourth year)

on August 14, the University Motors' Summer Picnic in Grand Rapids in August

(called the Woodstock of North American MG events), the competitive overnight

Grand Tour of Ohio on Thursday October Z which would precede the ]Jackman's

GOF XLVIII that weekend. Also noted was Jim Pesta's Miami Valley Classic rally

in the MGMG series of vintage MG rallying events - a three day

time-speed-distance rally throughout southwestern Ohio on October 22-24.

 

There were 22 restorations in progress, one illustrative of Ohio Chapter

members' generous spirit. One notice backed into the restoration news this way:

"Peg and Shep Black were at PIB with visitors, their son Jim Sheridan and

granddaughter Morgan from Denver. Jim and Morgan had driven Dave Zyp's

TD (Shep's tub is in Novelty "indefinitely" waiting ib tum for rebuild), and Peg

and Shep had their TC. (It just had its steering gone through by Tom Metcalf

and Shep reports that it is much better - he can actually choose a lane on the

roadway and stay there now.) And their TF is in Tom's shop - soon to be

painted."

 

Manley Ford in his "Mechanical Musings" spoke to "some technical tidbits

related to T-type push rods and lifters (tappets)." In "The Racing Beat " Manley

reported his calendar included a new vintage racing venue in Philadelphia (no

date given), Mid-ohio July 8-11 and the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix July

24-25. Later there would be the traditional Grand Rapids race the same weekend

as John Twist's summer parly,and back to Mid-Ohio August 27-28. Manley

concluded: "For my money this second Mid-Ohio vintage racingvenue is a much

better event to attend as a spectator than the SVRA  extrvaganza in July."

 

The June Removable Center Section was overflowing with information and

registration forms for all the events previewed in "Club Notes."

 

A two-part personal reminiscence by John Dugdale of England, "Half a Century

of MGs" began with the pre-war models. He related his keen interest that began

around age 10 "when the first octagon badge took to the roads in 1924. I can

remember the pretty four-seater sports tourers that Cecil Kimber devised from

the prosaic Morris." It went on from there, a charming review of the successive

MGs prior to WW II..

 

The accompanying photographs, taken/collected by the editors Smith, were

great, tight shots of some of the classics. The cut lines read: David Potter's 1,4/28

"Bullnose"; ALB 3, Geoff Radford's 18-80 Mk tr, fitted with a Mk I body; An M

Midget at the Octagon Car Club's 193 Wing's Run; Bob Fergus' C-type, at the

1992 Dublin Arthritis Foundation Show; D Midget at Farmington GOF, 1991; The

Chairman's PB, the famed "BKA"; Beautiful sights and sounds: a K3 at speed,

Lime Rock, 1991; and NA Magnette, owned and driven by Bob and Sonja

Sterling, from Andover, Ill.

 

hr "T Tidbits" Chairman Metcalf handed out plaudits to the nominating

committee members, Dan Glow, Craig Seabrook and Jack Breen for their efforts

in coercing three new volunteers to serve on the Ohio Chapter board. They were

Peg and Shep Black, chairing publicity, and Bob Forbes as secretary.

 

And there was the persistent encouragement for a trip to England in 1995 with

questions to determine what the interests of members might be and when their

preferred date was. And there was a report on "Rover."

 

 

As you have probably read, the new old MG RV8 is selling well to

the well-to-do nostalia types. The real news, though, is if enough d

these MG's sell, and the UK economy picks up, and Rover is still in

business, by 1995 the all-new MG could be real. While size is

comparable to the Miata, the new MG (PR3) is to be mid-engined,

rear wheel drive, and powered by a 1.61 in both turbo and non

turbo. Top speed is to be around 130 MPH which is handy for the

UK Motorway driver. The drawings prove the car is snappy

looking. If it happens, will it be federalized?

 

 

The next Crier available at the compiling of this history was the December 1993

issue, volume 24, number 4. It was a full one. The "Editor's Notes" led with a

dedication of the issue to Paul Johnson, who had died on October 24. There was

the following remembrance.

 

Through the past 20 years, Paul served as chairman of the

Ohio Chapter for six of them, and helped grid" the chapter by serving

as an at-large member on the board since then. There are many stories

that are told when two or more chapter members gather, often times

recounting driving exploits of the past. Paul Johnson seems to be a

constant feature of these tales. Here was the man in our chapter who

embodied the Drive MG spirit. Paul's involvement with the cars, the

people, and the chapter was certainly inspirational, and I am sure he

will become one of the grants of the Ohio Chapter as it gains new

members. To quote part of his chairman's message in the September

1980 Lord Nuffield Crier, 'The friendliness and cooperation within the

MG fraternity beyond compare...I am firmly convinced that we are

members of one of the friendliest, most cooperative, fun loving, and

helpful groups in the world.'

 

Later in the issue the editors would reprint the 1979 Lord Nuffield Crier

interview with Paul Johnson along with photos provided by Addie Johnson and

others. (See December 1979 Crier.)

 

hr "Club Notes" there was a report on the fall GOFXLVII on the second

weekend of October, "the second coldest Ohio Chapter meet of the year (the

Natter was the warmest)." Dave and Janet Jackman had put on a great weekend

with lots of MG driving. The all-day drive on Saturday that took the GOF from

Chillicothe to Roscoe Village and incorporated a TSO rally segment, a gimmick

rally and a poker run. All winners were listed for T cars and non-T cars, first

through third places (a continuing effort to encourage driving MGs to meets).

 

|im Pesta's Miami Valley Classic TSO rally had had 26 entries from five states

and Ontario and the Ohio Chapter had fielded seven teams. Three firsts were

won by chapter members: Craig Peck and Bob Niebaum first in the Novice MG

class; Manley Ford and Tom Baumgardner first in the Unequipped MG class;

and Phil and Dallas Smith first in the Equipped MG class and first overall.

 

Seventeen restorations in progress were reported.  And in "Spares," Fred Kuntz

wrote of Bob Watts of Columbus who bought his TC in 1954 and shortly after

disassembled and started to restore it. In the process of restoration, which was

still going on, Bob had recorded "items as found with photographs,

measurements, inspection of very minor details and sketches." The reason for

this detail, Fred wrote, was Bob's interest in how and what may have been done

when TC 6557 was built. Bob had sent Fred several of these write-ups for use in

the Lord Nuffield Crier, which were "a sort of combination of spares and

technical articles." The article in the December issue, titled "TC Details," was on

Cable Brake Clamp Plates on the Rear Backing Plates.

 

 

There was a Dave Snediker technical article, 'TF Gearbox Extraction, Engine

In-Situ," which covered both disassembly and reassembly, step by step.

 

The center removable section carried an application for the Ohio Chapter Car d

the Year Award, and a registration form for the 1994 natter to be held in Newark.

Host Will Kennard offered the weekend schedule under the subject: Natter'n

Noggin to All There was also a notice from George Hasek on dues due by

December 31. The amount of dues was by then $20.

 

Manley Ford in "Racing Beat" ate crow gracefully. He remembered a

conversation at the last Natter'N Noggin when, after watching Dave Zyp

demonstrate a broken-axle-stub-removal-tool, had said to him, "In all my vintage

races I had never snapped an axle shaft." Later, in a nightcap conversation with

Jack Bauer, Manley added he had also never bent any sheet metal, nor had he

ever seen a serious injury. The response from jack was, "'You will,' as he toddled

off to bed like some soothsayer." Manley also has a soothsayer sister, an English

professor, whom he had told of lowering his lap times at Mid-Ohio to less than a

second over two minutes and his assertion that "if you can break two minutes at

Mid-Ohio, you're driving a real race car." Her response had been "Hubris,"

referring to the fatal flaws of memorable literary characters such as Ulysses.

 

At Pittsburgh with a practice session topping his previous best times, "my

axle-shaft luck ran out. SNAP! After replacing it (without a Zyp tool), I was

relegated to start Sunday's race DFL (Dead Frazzlin' Last)."

 

Then at the August Mid-Ohio event Manley entered his TF in a sprint race where

"there were a few MGs, Alfas and other stuff but other than an Allard and an

XK120, mine was the oldest car in the whole event." In qualifying he actually

broke two minutes and on Sunday he won his class over three other cars in the

enduro and went out for the sprint race "in which I was the sole car in my class"

but with "a few folks I like to dice with - an MGA Coupe and the XK120."

Then...

 

I stayed close to both of them in the race but couldn't really

press it, sol backed off and was just cruising around when the

left front hub broke while I was going through a hard

right-hard turn known as The Keyhole. The wheel peeled

back the fender and running board iind launched, I was told

later, some thirty feet in the air. Amazingly the car stayed

under control and I coasted to a safe stop out of harm's way.

With help from Tom Baumgardner, we maneuvered the TF

onto the trailer and headed home.

 

Now, several months later as I sit, early on a beautiful Sunday morning

in October recounting these events,I'm still thinking about it....I'm sure

Dave Zyp, Jack Bauer and my sister will understand if I avoid discussing

vintage racing with them in the future.

 

A poem by Craig Peck was in the December Crier, perhaps inspired by a Friday

experience en route to the Jackman's fall GOF (the rain came on Saturday).

 

An Aufumn Poem

by Craig A. Peck

 

spidering along serpentine mounds

southem Ohio

motoring wheels whirl while we watch nature

first hand

breezing through tunnels of trees

sun flashes

leaves sparkle like Christmas tinsel

we sparkle

 

Chairman Metcalf in "T Tidbits" wound down 1993 with a year-in-review skip

through the year's events and good times. And in a section titled "Hyde Park,

Speaker's Corner," Tom spoke to proposals over the years (apparently

continuing) "to expand our Ohio Chapter to include modern As, Bs, etc, and to

dissolve our relationship with the NEMGTR.  In other words, become an open

MG Car Club." Although Tom owned five MGs ranging from 1932to1974,had

over the years owned over a dozen MGs, and had been a member of the original

MG Car Club of England for 20 years/ he liked membership in NEMGTR.

Despite "an up and down relationship with our parent NEMGTR,I say let's bury

the hatchet, go to a NEMGTR GOF and have fun."

 

Speaking of his view of the Ohio Chapter he concluded: "Why change the Ohio

Chapter, it's not broken." He liked the exclusivity of a T-Series club, "especially

ours. Our Ohio Chapter is 'Dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of

T-Series and vintage MGs.'I like that. I feel strongly about that."

 

Tom felt the club really didn't care what you drive to an Ohio Chapter GOF. "Just

come and join the fun. The GOF is our main function - its why the Ohio

Chapter exists." He wondered if it were not "highly presumptuous to imagine

other MG owners are begging to join us." And in a final statement, Tom wrote:

 

I don't buy for one minute that our club will disappear as we and the

cars get older. The cars -barring a nuclear holocaust - will outlive

all of us and they will have new owners. In fact, it's unlikely that you

are the original owner of your T-Series MG. They will continue to

pass down from generation to generation, and in many cases to our

very own children.

 

If we focus on all MGs, what will happen to our T-Series MGs? With

two kids to maintain in addition to the MGs, it already is way too

easy to jump into the GT for the weekend instead of the TC.

 

Tom concluded with a Happy Holidays greeting, an admission he was hoping

for a diminutive little F2 body tub for his F Magna project, and a final "See you at

the natter."