Bored with staying in the house and working for most of the day I got my old MGB GT out tonight and, risking the salt spray and the immune system, went to our monthly MG club meeting. Bad news was one of the stalwart club members had passed away recently which was sad and kind of a theme of this week.
Never the less managed to get a nice wooden steering wheel for the car in the second hand charity trade bin, and chatted with some folks who have done a lot of classic car rallying which I would really like to take up after all this stuff is over. I have been putting it off for years so I think this is going to be on my firm plan list for next year as a major post chemo treat. I was really jealous as tales of Le Man and Spa flat out in various old MG's were swapped across the table. Researching how to really get into this will be a good way to use some of the spare time not spent on British Airways or in Airports over the next six months.
The MG has been a great hobby for me mostly because it was a crap impulse buy when I came back from Hong Kong. I had one when I was younger and really enjoyed it so was tempted by an overpriced but pretty one on a garage forecourt. As soon as I got it the rear suspension collapsed and had to be rebuilt (by my own hand) once I did the rear I got stuck into the front to get the handling balanced. Four months after the suspension rebuild the engine blew a valve and one thing led to another so now it has new competition level engine, gear box and refurbished engine bay, carbs, ignition etc etc. Holly has been my helper from time to time as she enjoys painting the bits before I reassemble them, usually with much swearing from under the car, and encouragment to Holly or Poppy not to tell mum. However as an antidote to meetings, computers and powerpoint presentations rebuilding an old car is very theraputic. All I need is a cardigan with elbow pads and a pipe to be properly old.
Last nights post seems to have created a "gerrys nickname" competition in my work email tray - it seems like there are much worse ones out there than have been divuleged so far, may need to be a post all to itself, Yoda may have been too nice, Darth has been suggested as a better fit.
Perhaps we can run a sweepstake
Cheers for now
Gerry
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Just checked the dates and the Le Man classic is in July so I am tempted to book as a spectator and take the MG just to get a feel for the scene. There is a organised trip by the classic car mag from London via Plymoth to Caan and then on to Le Man. The other event which interestes me is Goodwood again just as a spectator.
Unfortunatly my car is not eligible for proper historic rallying as currently set up due to modern suspension element and needed safety features. I need to look into the modifications vs just buying a racer over the summer, first I want to go along for a bit and learn more to avoid buying badly again.
Keep you posted on dates etc
Congratulations to Christopher the home email is on the blog page Brenda "mulliganhome@blueyonder.co.uk"
Cheers
Gerry
Cheers
Gerry
Hi Serge :)
I bet it was tales of Spa that got you interested, in your mad motorcycle days did you race there a lot? I bet lots of the folks at work do not know quite how big a nutter you were on a motorbike in your youth! Anyhow great to hear from you keep in touch.
Cheers
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