MG Oil DRIPS 

Nearly 40 CCMGC members and guests gathered at Champion Park in Round Rock on Sat., April 13, for the annual club picnic. A big thank you to Joe and Karla Vining for planning and organizing another successful event. Eric Van Note and Bruce Whiteside grilled burgers, and club members provided sides and desserts. The weather for our gathering was perfect! Light breezes and a mostly sunny day made for an enjoyable time and a perfect complement to the fields of wildflowers nearby. 

Scott Hardy, Denise Whiteside, and Bev Van Note agreed to continue serving in their respective positions as treasurer, secretary, and website content manager. However, with the departure of our current president, Martyn Atterton, as he prepares to move back to England, and with Joe Vining stepping down after several years in key positions, the club needs new leadership. Since we currently have no candidates for president or vice president, the conversation about filling those key leadership positions and about what members want from the club going forward will be taken up at the May meeting. 

On a purely personal note, Eric and I have been part of this club for more than 15 years. It's a cooperative, fun, and helpful group. We pitch in and assist each other with events and meetings when needed (just like we did for this picnic). But the group won't run effectively, and perhaps won't continue to run at all, if more of us don't step up. Please consider volunteering! You'll have plenty of help when needed! 

--Photos by Joe Vining and Bev Van Note

On January 24, CCMGC members visited Moment Motors in South Austin for an informative and interesting tour. Moment Motors, started by Marc Davis in 2017, converts classic cars to fully electric operation. Marc explained that they begin with highly restored cars and laser map the engine bay, trunk, and (sometimes) interior. That data is then used to design electric motor placement and, more importantly, the number and placement of batteries to be installed. As Marc says, it’s a case of “more batteries, more range,” but also more weight, so suspension modifications are the norm.

Marc pointed out that the high cost of conversion makes relatively low-cost cars like our MGs unlikely candidates. The cars we saw included older Mercedes SLs, Porsche 911s, a Jag E-Type Coupe and an Austin Healy 3000. They were also working on a beautiful 63 Corvette Split Window.

Depending on needs (and budget), Moment can make the car direct-drive with just an electric motor and no transmission, or they can attach the motor to the existing transmission.

The shifter on several of the direct-drive cars had been changed to a panel with just three buttons: park, forward and reverse. 

After the tour, most of the club members attending went to a nearby taqueria for a nice lunch and great conversation.

Thanks to Henry Reynolds and Joe Vining for organizing this outing and to Marc Davis for sharing his expertise!

--Article submitted by Eric Van Note; photos submitted by Scott Hardy, Joe Vining, and Eric Van Note

A fun crowd gathered at Maggiano’s Little Italy at the Domain for the Capital City MG Club Holiday Party on December 3.  The group was full of good cheer as we enjoyed a tasty Italian lunch and a lively gift exchange where everyone went home a winner.  A British flag blanket was the most popular item – exchanged 2 times.  Our newest club member, Sam Duckett, went home with the blanket. 

Wonderful door prizes were donated by British Parts Northwest.  Lucky winners went home with items like an MG tool bag, a leather gear knob and much more.

British Parts Northwest’s generosity also included a gift certificate valued at $150, which was raffled off with all proceeds going to the Central Texas Food Bank.  Eric Van Note was the lucky recipient!  The club raised over $200 for the Central Texas Food Bank. 

Rick South, Ken Parris, and Eric Van Note recently lent a hand to Will Evans, whose TD needed some brake work. Got Will's car back on the road, enjoyed some pizza together, and had a great time working together.

--Photos submitted by Rick South and Eric Van Note

The 31^st Texas All British Car Day show was blessed with wonderful blue skies and mild temperatures.  After the traditional Friday evening gathering at the Brass Tap in downtown Round Rock, Saturday featured an exciting road rallye, punctuated by an eclipse, and a BBQ lunch at Southside Market in Elgin on Saturday.  This year’s show was held at the Live Oak Brewery, just a stone‘s throw from the Austin airport, and included a first-ever swap meet.  Over 100 entries had assembled by 10:00 am that morning with all of the usual favorites--MGs, Triumphs, Austin Healey’s, Jaguars and Mini Coopers--but also a strong showing of Aston Martins. 

CCMGC was well represented in the afternoon awards ceremony.  Club members Eric Van Note and Bruce Whiteside won first for the Saturday Rallye.  Cars and their owners taking home the gold included Joe Vining and his MGA, Crystal Johnson and her chrome-bumpered MGB, Rick South in the rubber-bumpered MGB category, and Nick Roccaforte in a combined MG/Triumph GT category. Second-place winners included John Mulloy and his MGA, Eric Van Note in the chrome-bumpered MGB class, and Henry Reynolds for his rubber-bumpered MGB. Third-place winners were Tom Luin and his MGTD, Ed Rogus with his chrome-bumpered MGB, and Andy Hempel with his MGB-GT. 

(Left) Bruce Whiteside and Eric Van Note take first in the Rallye

(Right) Rick South earns first in late-model MGB class

--Photos submitted by Henry Reynolds and Joe Vining

--Article submitted by Joe Vining and Bev Van Note

The Gregarious Garrulous Garage Guys and Girls gathered on Sept. 16 at the Van Notes' and Vinings' garages, followed by lunch at Mesa Rosa. We began with coffee and donuts at Eric's, where he showcased collectables such as a telephone from the MG factory and a handcrafted wooden MG toolbox . At Joe's, members enjoyed posters, photos, and other racing memorabilia from his time racing in SCCA events, including Aquafest in downtown Austin. 

--Photos submitted by Scott Hardy, and Eric and Bev Van Note

At our August meeting, Gary Potter addressed the known problem of oil leaking from the rear main scroll seal on the crankshaft after driving some of our little British cars. 

Drip pans for the T-Series are now being fabricated and sold online for about $75. Their solution takes care of the issue for the T-Series, but there are no commercially available solutions for MGA’s. However,  Gary has designed his own MGA drip pan, fabricated out of 22-gauge steel. Below you'll find the template and pictures of his design.

Many thanks to Gary for sharing!

 

--Submitted by Gary Potter

Craig Burchstead shared the following photos of MGs at Keeneland Concours d'Elegance in Lexington, KY, on July 15. 

The beautiful 1921 MG M-Type Boatail took 1st in MG Class and the red MGA got 2nd.

  

Craig's Arnolt didn't get in the same class with the MGs and was in “ European Classics,” with a gorgeous DeTomaso Vallelunga taking first and a really nice Rolls Royce taking 2nd. No silver to bring home to Austin this time!

--Submitted by Craig Burchsted

How hot was it? How cool was that!

As seven cars pulled out of the Bee Cave Elementary School parking lot a bit after 9:00 a.m., it was a pleasant 82 degrees with a nice breeze blowing. However, it didn’t take long for the temperature to reach 100 degrees.  But that didn’t deter this group. Led by Scott and Trish Hardy, we set out for a fun hour and half drive to Gateway Classic Cars’ Caffeine and Chrome gathering in New Braunfels. 

Gateway Classic Cars is in a large industrial space that houses about 130 vehicles of all makes, models, and years.  The Caffeine and Chrome gatherings are very low key and offer attendees convenient parking as a club, unsupervised access to their showroom, a goody bag with lots of reminders of our fun day, and, of course, coffee and donuts. 

The pictures below are sure to impress any car enthusiast!  The collection of cars in the showroom included the usual Camaros, Mustangs, and Corvettes.  There were some hot rods from years past, but also TDS, MGs, a Rover Sedan, and a handful of other unique cars. 

After walking and talking about our memories of the cars we owned and the memories of the ones we wished we still owned, the group made their way to a nearby Willie’s Grill and Icehouse for more stories and tall tales.  We bid farewell to our fellow car guys and gals and struck out on a quick path to our air-conditioned homes.

Contributed by Joe Vining

                               

The 27^th annual Keels and Wheels Concours was held the weekend of May 6-7 in Seabrook, TX, at the Lakewood Yacht Club. 

The show is always a chance to see a curated selection of very nice classic cars and wooden boats.  One of the themes of this year’s show was “100 years of MG,” and there was a good representative showing of MGs, from a lovely 1937 MG VA Saloon to a 1979 rubber-bumper MGB. 

One of the highlights of the show was Aaron Shelby, grandson of Carroll Shelby, who was there celebrating the 100^th Anniversary of Carroll’s birth.  Aaron showed Carrol’s first race car, a beautifully restored 1949 MG TC.  

Many folks don’t know that Carrol Shelby, the “father” of the Cobra, the Ford GT, and so many other successful racing and sports cars, started out his career racing an MG TD!    

Overall, there were a total of eighteen MGs, including the aforementioned VA Saloon, seven T-Series cars (TCs, TDs and TFs), six MGAs (including a very nice Twin-Cam roadster), three MGBs, and my Arnolt MG Coupe (representing the Capitol City MG Club).  The weather was fairly nice on Saturday, not so much on Sunday, but we all kept a stiff upper lip and got lots of exercise putting car covers on and taking them off!  The MGs were right up front at the show, so we got a lot of exposure and interest.  Many CCMGC cards were passed out, and and I think everyone had a great show.  If you have never been to K & W, I highly recommend it.  The venue is great, the weather is usually good, and there is always a great variety of vintage vehicles.

--Submitted by Craig Burchsted