|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Updated: 25 June 2006 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pat and I went to the big, big MG International that was held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee 21 thru 25 June 2006. Now, we weren't there the whole time, and we didn't register our car as it is still in pieces in two states. But we did try to see every car and we talked with a lot of people and had a great time. There were over 1500 MGs there ... imagine that: 1500 antique cars scattered over 10 or so acres. Gad, it was breath-taking. We drove in to town on Thursday, the 22nd and left on Saturday, the 24th. By Saturday, I'm sure that Pat was thoroughly tired of hearing: "Ooh-ooh, look at that!" I got to give her credit, she listened to me say over and over, "That's a TD just like ours." and she didn't smack me up side the head even once. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
On Thursday a large number of them were in the parking lot of the hotel where registration was and where many of the registrants stayed. So it was easy to get some real good photos. As you can see, not all MGs spent their lives as underpowered 4-bangers. The V-8 installation in an MG-B started with an English automotive engineer named Ken Costello who discovered that an aluminum V-8, (1961 - 63 Buick 215 c.i.d.) would easily fit in and was 30 pounds lighter than the original cast iron 4 cylinder model. So from about 1973 to 1976, over 2500 factory produced MG-B V8s were turned out. I can't tell you if the ones pictured here are factory or not. Except for this last one which is an MG-A and never came with a factory V-8, especially an Offenhauser. |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Looks like
a MG-TD that morphed into a street rod. But check out the engine compartment
and you'll see the usual 4-banger. It's a bit dressed up and the ignition
and electrical has been updated, but the engine looks like the normal
one. |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Time
after time during our 3 days visiting Gatlinburg we saw "parades"
like this. It was really neat to see all the MGs driving around and
parked at restaurants. But a few other British cars showed up also;
we saw more than one Austin Healey 3000 and quite a few Triumphs. |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
These are some nice folks
from PA, Gerry & Lynne Fitzgerald, whom we met when all the cars
were on display in "On Cosby," TN. "Look Pat, it's a
TD like ours." Gerry's grandfather originally owned this one and
Gerry did one knock-out restoration on this. Lynne has a Triumph, but
she's still a nice person. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
This little darling has
a really interesting view under the hood. Look closely and you can see
the brake and clutch pedals. What's that in front of the radiator? Why,
it's the carburetor of course. You can see the dashpot at the bottom
of the photo. This is a 1930s something MG. |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
On the left is the
view you and I normally see and on the right is what our doctor sees
when he looks at the X-rays. These look like 1930s something Airline
Coupes. |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
This we were completely
unprepared for: Rocker Cover Races. For some of the "machines"
you have to look hard to find the rocker cover; for others they're very
apparent. But it was great fun watching and all the contestants seemed
to have a great time. The rules are much like the pinewood derby rules,
except the sizes are bigger. Wish I could tell you who won. |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
And now let me offer a variety of MGs, yes all MGs, of various years and shapes. Not all MGs were small little two seaters. Many of the "newer looking" 4 seaters were built in the 1950s, as their body style suggests. The old, open Touring Car however is from the 30's or 40's. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Same car in the photos on the left and right. I bet you thought only Auburn made a boat tail. Here's what the fine print on the left says: Owner's name: Curtis M. Beck |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Oh, Look Pat those are
TD's just like ours except the one on the left has a trunk I'd love
to have and the one on the right is ... uhh ... really colorful. And
the one on the bottom has bicycle fenders in front. Say, that's the
one that was in the hotel parking lot. |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.JPG) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gatlinburg viewed from
the bypass. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
