The first drive of the year

OK so we can be really technical. It wasn't the first drive of the year. I'd driven it around town, out to a restaurant and to the petrol station. But Sunday May 15 th was the first proper drive of the car. We got into the car and drove from Princeton down to Eden Prairie and back to visit the out-laws. The sun was out it was in the 70's, it was a wonderful afternoon for a drive. After two minutes on the road we realized what a wonderful experience driving in a car with the roof down is. Sun on your face, wind in your hair, all those cliches. Unless you've done it you can't know how much fun it is. We drove around with silly grins on our faces all the way there and back.
Let's not forget the reactions of people who saw the car. Many people took a second look at it as we passed. One fellow, a passenger in a large SUV had his face pressed up against the passenger window glass as they overtook us. I won't forget his wide eyed stare in a hurry. It would almost pay to have a camera mounted on the car somewhere to capture their expressions.
The only bad spot of the trip was the loss of first and second gear a few miles form home. Yes it felt pretty bad at the time but the car pulled away in third and once you're on the move on many roads in the states you don't need any other gears. So we got home with no problems. We have since discovered that the loss of gears was caused by the loss off a bushing in the gear shifter linkage. A five dollar part probably. The car is 35 years old so these things are going to happen. There's no point in getting too upset about them. Perhaps I should have to learn how to fix them myself rather than send the car down to my local repair shop, as much as they love to work on the car. I have the help of the MGexperience.net forum to help diagnose and advise. At some point I will have a go.
One thing, I need to find some proper roads to drive on. Not interstates or multiple lane highways. Driving these are ptretty boring. I need roads with sweeping curves to feel the car turn. That's what driving a sports car is about.

Playing catch up

I'm a bit behind here lately so here's what's been going on.
The last week of April the car came off the dollies and was readied for the road. Notable aspects of that day were lying on my back underneath the car topping up the oil in the gearbox. This is not an easy task at all. I suppose it will get easier with time and practice. Getting the filler plug out was also a struggle but with a long handled wrench and a hearty cry of "You bastaaaad" it came loose. Filling was quite easy once I got a small hand pump to do the job.
Then it was over to Jim's Auto repair here in Princeton to have the car given the once over as I hadn't had the chance to do so in November before the snows set in.
To say the guys there love the car is an understatement. They love the change of pace that it provides.
Th e car was checked over and my new radiator was fitted. Great! I thought time to get on the road. First trip out and the car was leaking anti-freeze. Panic set in initially but it was nothing more than the top hose perishing after 35 years.
So we now have another chance to get back on the road. A 100 mile trip to test things out and 19 miles from home I lost 1st, 2nd and reverse at a set of traffic lights. Luckily the car has enough power in it to start off in third.
Another trip to jones reveals nothing more complicated than a worn off bushing in the gear shifter linkage. A simple job to replace but the part will take a few days to get here.
So there we are . Less than a month into MGB motoring and we've been back to the garage twice. But nothing serious, nothing terminal to the summers motoring. Which is a good job because that drive last Sunday in the sun was nothing short of wonderful.

iPhone 4

I now have an iPhone 4.

Not anything remotely connected to owning an MG.

Except.

The wife thought that it would be a good idea for me to have a phone just in case I was out in the car and it broke down...

...

...

Says a lot about her opinion of the mechanical qualities of the car.

Don't you think?

Time to spend some cash

I'm excited.
I spent the back end of last year piling up the overtime to build up a bank of cash so I'll be able to afford to run FG this year.
I've yet to insure it or get the personlised registration plate but today I ordered a replacement dash cover, new sun visors, some interior mats and a hood (bonnet) liner.
Then just to treat myself I got an MG key ring (key fob) and a 2 pint vintage looking Castrol oil can from Moss motors.
The oil can is a pure indulgence if there is one thing I remember from waiting around in Seacroft Garage, Mablethorpe for Dad was the Castrol Oil cans. So there are lots of memories attached to one of them. If I could get a yellow "Shell" one too that would be pretty neat as well.
So order in the mail, time off work booked. I'm raring to go to get the car ready.

The Ugliest car in the world...

Good readers;

Having shown you the most beautiful car in the world at the Minneapolis Motor show I now feel compelled to show you the Ugliest car in the world at the Minneapolis Motor show. I show you this as a dire warning as to what could happen to you if you pursue a career in automotive design without a decent design education.

Here then I present you the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray concept...

Isn't it just atrocious? Some will say that I should cut Chevvy some slack as it's a concept car. But a concept car should inspire you and fill you with awe not make you want to fill up a sick bag...

I can see where they are trying to go with the design. They are trying to echo the style of the 70's stingray. But oh my god from the front it looks like a skull grinning spookily at you the way a skull does. Don't even get me started on the rear. It looks like a guy who's filled his mouth with food, and his cheeks are about to burst. Then there is those rear light clusters, what are they about?

I hope this car never sees the light of day in this form...

The most Beautiful car in the world...

The Jaguar XK coupe as seen at the Minneapolis motor show

Gotta Go to the Auto Show!

Every March, here in Minneapolis the TV ads scream that message. It really gets quite annoying after a while.
So this year was my wife, Lorrie and I's semi annual trip to the Minneapolis convention centre to see the Minneapolis Auto Show. We both love looking a shiny clean cars. Some years we go with a purchase in mind but this year we were unencumbered with that thought. So we were able to just look at cars for the fun of it.
We looked at many cars, sat in loads of them. Enjoyed many of them. I took some pictures too. I'll share those with some more detailed observations in some coming posts.
But overall we enjoyed the show. Lorrie thought the show was smaller than in previous years. Indeed the classic car collection appeared to be missing and there seemed to be less representation from the local racetracks. They being tucked away in a "dream garage" display.
What did we like the best?
We both seemed to gravitate towards the German cars. Liking the Porsche 911 Boxster and the Mercedes SLK350 Roadster equally. Lorrie also liked the Porsche Panamera as she is quite tall any sporty car that she can comfortably get in to always scores highly.
My favourite was the Jaguar XK Coupe. I have never seen such a beautiful car and so comfortable too.
Getting away from the sports cars we both also thought very highly of the Range Rovers. Quite incredible soundproofing in the cabin.
We didn't just look at the expensive cars though. A top of the range Kia Soul was also very nice and comfortable.
Biggest disappointment? Cadillac.
I sat in the cabin of a CTS4. For a company that bills itself as "the new standard of luxury" there was an awful lot of cheap looking plastic in the cabin.
All in all though it was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday.
More opinions to come with pictures later....