Additional merchandise including the following can be found at our Fieldhouse Club Store located at www.fieldhouse.com/amgba .
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Welcome to the new members that have joined since the last issue.
We would like to thank Joe Marasco, Art Isaacs for his story, Tom & Lynette Hummel, George Galyean, Jeffrey Louis and all of the other contributors to this issue of the Octagon. Also thanks to Art Isaacs for his continued work in answering members’ technical questions and answers. Be sure to send in photos and stories so we can include them in future issues of the Octagon.
American MGB Association Meet 2009 will be held in Sussex, Wisconsin in June. This is just outside of Milwaukee and more details will follow with up to date information always on our website at www.mgclub.org.
I am sure you have noticed the improvement in the look and feel of the Octagon. The pages are larger, the paper is better and the quality of the color pictures is considerably better with more vivid colors. We have made a change in printers to make a better looking magazine. Let me know what you think of the changes.
We now have member grille badges and key fobs. This is in response to many member requests. Technical Sections Volume III is now available which continues the great tradition of practical tech advice started with Volumes I and II. In keeping with the times this one is available only on CD for PC or Mac. Another new item in the store is a complete copy of the past ten years of the Octagon available on CD only for PC or Mac.
American MGB members receive the Octagon, now published in March, June, September and December and the eOctagon, published in February, May, August and November.
We now offer a 3 year membership or renewal rate which includes a free t-shirt or tech volume III CD. The rate is $95 or $125 for members outside the USA. And in response to many members we now have a 3 year eMembership for $65 which also includes a free t-shirt or tech volume III CD. Save money and get a t-shirt or tech CD!
The club now has a Message Board at http://board.amgba.com , a Blog located at http://blog.amgba.com . The sites are available to all but American MGB Association members are able to place ads and access more tech info.
The new American MGB Association Photo Gallery is located at http://photos.amgba.com. The same login is used for the Gallery as the Message Board. Members can place their car photos directly at this location.
Send us your email address so that we can send you the eOctagon. The eOctagon is sent via bulk email so if you are blocking this type of email you will not get it. Please send in your stories and photos to be used in the Octagon. You will receive a credit toward renewal or regalia.
Send in your list of spare parts that you have for sale as we send out all lists we have received during the year to members that request lists of spare parts available. These lists are also now appear on our web page in the “members only” section!
You need an ID and password to access the “members only” section of our web site at www.mgclub.org . You will find the ID and password on page 3 of the OCTAGON. These change with each issue so be sure to use only the ones listed in the latest issue. Also now you can to create your own id and password for the members only section. Submit the form on the members only page to do this.
Make plans to get your car back on the road in the spring and then we will see you at the many shows this year!
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The March 2010 issue’s Queen B is the ‘74 B-GT of George Galyean. Here are some photos of the car.
Since 1995 the MG Vintage Racers have annually teamed up with one vintage racing organization for their designated “Focus Event”. For it they encourage all their MG racing members (250+) to attend, and they arrange for special MG races at it with the organizers, plus holding some of their own MGVR social functions and awards during the weekend, including awarding of the “MGVR Spirit Award”, also known as “The Big Copper Bucket”. For 2010, they have accepted the northern hospitality of the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) at their “Vintage Racing Festival” at Mosport International Raceway, in Ontario, just west of Toronto, being held the weekend of June 18-20. A large turnout of 60+ MGs of all types and years is expected and there will be at least one “All MG” race, possibly more! All of these racing MGs will compliment the rest of the many vintage racing cars competing at the event. But two items of note. Everyone crossing the border into Canada MUST have a valid passport with them. And since VARAC rules for racers may vary from your home club rules for car and driver requirements, please check with VARAC to be sure you and your MG comply with their regulations. This event is shaping up to be one super weekend for racers and spectators alike!
Contacts: VARAC on the web at www.varac.ca or Stefan Wiesen, VARAC Race Director at Wiesen@sympatico.ca; MG Vintage Racers on the web at www.MGVR.org, or MGVR Newsletter Editor Chris Meyers at editor@mgvr, or tel: 860-490-5950.
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Tom and Lynette Hummel became owners of their MG by chance. Tom was visiting his mother when he saw a small red convertible drive by. As he was leaving, he saw the car again. He drove by it slowly and saw a for sale sign on the front seat.
They then took the car for a test drive. The owner gave them a list of problems but they did not matter as they were in love with it already. The next day they bought the car. The owner had the 1974 Midget for five years while she lived down the street from his mom. He had never seen it before that day. The photos show Lynette in the Midget on the day they bought it and the other one is Tom washing the car.
MG not defiere history in excess of other British signatures, at least in his genesis. A concessionaire of a big signature, in this case Cecil Kimber, who had Morris’s representation in Oxford, began modifying the cars that it was selling to take part with them in competition in highway.
The success of the first models they provided orders to him and, little by little, what was only a parallel activity turned into the principal one. This way it began MG, modifying Morris for competition and selling short series of cars as the Super Sport 14/28, derivative of Morris Oxford, with open bodywork of two or four squares. Kimber kept on throwing new built models of handmade form, until in 1928 it met in the nail on the presentation of the Midget, a sports child of 847 cc that was using the platform of Morris Minor.
Child and Spartan, although very sports, the Midget supposed an authentic success in sales up to the point of which Kimber turned out to be forced to buy an old leather factory in Abingdon to initiate there the serial production.
In the thirties, the MG added innumerable victories in the highway tests and even ran in mille Miglia. The most important of these victories achieved the big Tazio Nuvolari in Tourist Trophy, in Island of Man, where with a MG Magnette established a mark that was not beaten until 1951. The children MG captivated for his sportsmanship the North American soldiers emphasized in the United Kingdom, which took them back to the United States.
To face to the demand, MG had to extend the production of the successor of the Midget, the Type T, and decided to leave the careers to concentrate on the serial production.
In 1955, the signature threw the Type A, more refined and expensive. By that time, the mark already was part of British Motor Corporation, after his merger years earlier with Austin. It implied that MG was spending to make of his plant Austin Healey and was beginning developing the MG B, which was his only product to the sale between 1962, year of his throwing like substitute of the A, and in 1980, year in which I stop the production.
Integrated to the consortium British Leyland along with Austin, Rover, Jaguar and Triumph, the mark MG served simply to designate the most powerful versions of Austin’s models, before disappearing definitely in 1986. Fortunately, the Rover privatization allowed to recover the mark and, under the name MG, a child appeared in 1996 roadster two-seater of central engine, the MG F, which is still supported in production and to which they have been added it, in a return to the recent past, promoted versions of the Rover 25, 45 and 75.
After happening, (together with Rover and Mini) for BMW hands, the signature remained alone with Rover. The MG-Rover bankruptcy in 2005 took it almost to the disappearance, but now this in a new way thanks to the Chinese group SAIC.
The MG 6 mid-class hatchback, equipped with a 1.8-liter turbo engine, will be produced by SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle Co in a plant in Lingang.
“There will be market potential for the MG 6 if SAIC prices the car competitively,” said Ye Sheng, an auto analyst at automotive consulting firm, B. Thinking Management, in Shanghai.
MG 6
SAIC has operated the sporty MG brand as its own since the car maker acquired smaller domestic rival Nanjing Auto at the end of 2007. SAIC now produces the MG 7, MG 3SW and MG TF sports car in China as well as the Roewe series that came from the Rover Group of the UK. Despite its western pedigree, MG remains first and foremost a brand focused on the Chinese market first and overseas markets second, and if it can assuage western concerns about product safety and quality upon its British launch next year, it could give Chinese (or at least Chinese-owned) car companies a much-needed PR boost.
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The December 2009 Queen B is the 1973 B of David Perkins: Here is his story:
Here are some pictures of my newly restored (in 2009) 1973 MGB. The frame, most body trim, chrome bumpers, and engine are original. The interior is new, as are the wire wheels, and the convertible top. The British Racing Green paint job is also new, as well as all of the front/rear light lenses. It runs beautifully at about 87,000 miles, and never needed any major mechanical work. I replaced the wiring. I’ve owned it since 2005. Nearly all of the restoration and paint work was done by Mods for Rods in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
We would like to thank Jack Feldman, Lee Shook, Roger Ayers, David Perkins and all of the other contributors to this issue of the Octagon. Also thanks to Art Isaacs for his continued work in answering members’ technical questions and answers. Be sure to send in photos and stories so we can include them in future issues of the Octagon.
I am sure you have noticed the improvement in the look and feel of the Octagon. The pages are larger, the paper is better and the quality of the color pictures is considerably better with more vivid colors. We have made a change in printers to make a better looking magazine. Let me know what you think of the changes..
The new American MGB Association Photo Gallery is located at http://photos.amgba.com . The same login is used for the Gallery as the Message Board. Members can place their car photos directly at this location.
Have a great holiday season and start making plans to get your car back on the road in the spring!
by Jack Feldman
Over 800 British car owners and enthusiasts were greeted by picture perfect weather at the 23rd annual Chicagoland British Car Festival. The event took place on Sunday, September 13th at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.
There were nearly 600 cars in the field. All British cars no matter what condition were welcome as was anyone who enjoyed British cars. The cars ranged from a rare Morgan three wheeler to a Concours condition Aston Martin. In addition, a selection of British motorcycles was welcomed.
In addition to the joy of exploring other marques and meeting other enthusiasts, a full range of vendors, local, national and international lined the field. You could find that rare part, discover a new book or enhance your collection.
All registrants received a free special gift and many donor prized were awarded during the day. For the hungry car lover, food vendors presented traditional delights.
Mark your calendar for our next festival on September 12, 2010 when we gather again at Oakton Community College. It is an event you will not want to miss.