The First 25 Yearsof the Ohio Chapter of the

New England MG-T Register1969 -1994

By Peg and Shep Black

as chronicled in

The Lord Nuffield Crier

This history covers the first 25 years of the Ohio Chapter of the New England MG-T

Register as gleaned from the pages of The Lord Nuffield Crier. It is a chronicle of the

chapter's beginning, its gatherings, natters and the associated activities of satellite

groups within the state. It recounts adventures and the camaraderie of members and

introduces some of them in profiles. Holding all this together, of course, are the

cars-the T-series, with occasional mention of other MG models.

The contents of issues vary reflecting the activity of the chapter and the interests

of the several editors. Little attempt has been made toward imposing any

uniform presentation since issues of the Crier differed widely in what they

covered. Too, two of us worked on it with our own differing approaches. The

editing style is vaguely that of the Associated Press.

Dan Glow supplied a remarkably complete run of the Crier. There are some

missing, but preceding and following issues usually cover a year's main events.

Shep and Peg Black

1969 and 197O

The establishment of the Ohio Chapter of the New England MG-T Register was a

response to the distance from the NEMGTR events, and the beginning was

recorded in the second issue of the Lord Nuffield Crier. This publication had

begun with the working name of the Ohio MG "T" Newsletter, and it appeared

after the first Ohio Gathering of the Faithful in the fall of 1969.The publication

was to Brow, change, occasionally bypass a scheduled issue, but always be the

chronicle that informed Ohio Chapter members on chapter and NEMGTR

events, provided helpful technical information and, most importantly, helped

build the camaraderie that is at the heart of the chapter.

November 1,1970 was the date of that first issue of the newsletter, and was after

the chapter had already had two Ohio gatherings. Edited by Carol Hunter, it was

a modest four mimeographed pages and it identified the four officers of the

chapter: Craig Seabrook, president! Rita Glow, treasurer; Nancy Seabrook,

secretary; and Carol Hunter,publicity and TSO chairman.

"This newsletter needs a name," wrote the editor. Suggestions were solicited and

a vote promised. There followed a brief report on the most recent gathering,

which "despite ominous weather" had been highly successful. Held at the Green

Meadows Country Inn in Worthington also the site of the first gathering, it had

been attended by 22 couples. Events included a tour of Delaware County led by

Jack Hunter, and in the evening cocktails, a banquet, auction and slide show.

This followed the basic pattern for national GOFs and would continue at Ohio's

future gatherings.

Editor Hunter noted that Birdie Nichols had volunteered to make the chapter

banner and that suggested designs were in order. Those submitted were to

appear in the next issue of the newsletter. The final page of the newsletter listed

the 37 charter members of the Ohio Chapter, almost all of whom continued as

"hard core" chapter members

1971

Early n1971came volume two, number one, and the newsletter had become

'The Lord Nuffield Crier," and although mimeographed it had grown to 15

pages. A chapter secretary had disappeared from the masthead and a sPares

chairman had appeared.

With this issue the president's column was titled "Seabrook's Sump." That

column included several paragraphs of reminiscence regarding the founding of

he Ohio Chapter. From "Seabrook's Sump," then, the following:

Things started to happen...after I missed the Provincetown Gathering

in the fall of '69. I really felt lousy that weekend because I was not where it

was at. I could picture all of the cars and the people up there having a great

time and I was stuck in Westerville with the TC in the garage. So I figured

why not get on the ball and plan a local chapter with a few gatherings.

Reading The Sacred Octagon I had noticed that there were a few other local

chapters in the country and they seemed to be doing well. I knew quite a few

"T" owners in the Cleveland and Columbus area and thought they might like

to get together some time. So I dashed off a note to Frank Churchill asking

that he put something in "The Sacred Octagon" concerning my desire to get a

local chapter going.

So the next issue of TSO arrives in the fall and no mention of my ideas. A

quick check with Frank and he said it would definitely be in the next issue.

Finally the January /February issue came out and it turns out that Gary

Spradlin had the same idea. He and Jack Hunter wanted to get something

cooking in Ohio. We decided that I would send out a questionnaire if

response to the article in TSO was right. As it turned out, I had one reply;

Kells Lindsey was in the Columbus area picking up a stiff and stopped by

our apartment. I was not around but he talked to my wife.

So in the early spring I put together a questionnaire to check and see how

many people might be interested in a local register. I compiled a mailing list

of about 50 "T" owners. The questionnaire went out in the spring of '70 and

just asked for name, year and model of MG, would you be interested in

starting a register, and would you be interested in small gatherings. The

response was good; people passed the word and I had about 70 interested

people. Checking with some MG owners that I knew personally, I decided

why not shoot for a mini-gathering (Ohio Chapter rather than NEMGTR) in

July sometime to get things rolling. Figuring Columbus was centrally located

in Ohio, why not have the first gathering someplace in the area. Checking

around Columbus for suitable facilities and accommodations I found that the

Green Meadows Country Inn located in Worthington had what we needed.

So information and registration blanks were sent out to all who sent in the

questionnaire telling them about the planned Ohio GOF Mark I. The date

was set for July 25 and for me it came too soon.

There were all sorts of details to work out but it was well worth it. The day

was hot and sticky but about 60 people managed to make it for that first

Ohio gathering. Car tum out was not quite as good with about 1"6 "T" types

making it from all ends of the state. The gathering consisted mainly of tire

kicking and making new friends. A two hour tour took place Saturday

afternoon and the banquet was held in the evening. After the banquet we

decided on a number of items including: calling ourselves the Ohio Chapter,

sending out registration blanks, keeping our New England membership

numbers, holding mini-gatherings on the third weekend in July and the

third weekend in October, that dues be $3.00 per year, and that I should be

head cheerleader of the Ohio Chapter. So we were off.

Shortly thereafter I sent out our official registration forms for the Ohio

Chapter and a short newsletter informing all of what had been decided at

the founders' meeting at GOF I. The notice also mentioned that GOF

Mark II was planned for October 10 back at the Green Meadows Country

Inn. This information was sent out to all who had answered the original

questionnaire. Slowly the registration forms came back.... By early fall I

had received about 35 registration forms which meant about $100 for the

treasury. GOF Mark II was fast approaching....

Straight from "Seabrooks's Sump," that's the way it all happened.

This second issue of the Crier credited Pam Glow, daughter of Rita and Dan, with

having submitted the new newsletter title. There were also sketches of designs

offered for the Ohio Chapter badge and banner; two the six entries came from

that same Pam Glow!

A bonus for readers of the Crier was the inclusion of "The Hamilton Pit Stop," an

account of racing found in the book Moments That Made Racing History. It was the

great story of the Tourist Trophy of 1933,Tazio Nuvolari and his victory at the

wheel of an MG. The clever newsletter editor cut the story at the very start of the

race; to be continued!

Membership had now reached 51. A three page membership roster arranged by

vehicle model revealed two vintage MGs, two 'TAs, 16 TCs, 32TDs, and seven TFs.

The Crier of March 1971, was almost entirely devoted to "Seabrooks's Sump."

Not only full of news of Ohio Chapter members activity, Craig included an

article found in the T'rillium News, the newsletter of the Ontario Chapter, that

had been taken from a book, Classic Cars 1930-1940. Edited excerpts below give

the chronology of those years.

Suffice it to say that by 1930 the firm [Morris Garages] was well established at

the Pavlova Works in Abingdon building a much modified version of the Morris

2 l/2 litre six cylinder car, and also a sports version, with a very light fabric two

seater body known as the 'M' fire. There were three editions of the cat, the Mark

I, a devil to slide, the Mark tr, a very good car built until1933, and the Mark II, a

wonderful car under development through 1929 and most of 1930.

In the 1930 Brooklands Double twelve hour race and subsequent events,

the M type proved so successful, and so much cheaper, that all available

personnel were put into developing the &47 cc car....These little cars went

from strength to strength and George Eyston took a number of

international class records in the prototype racing MG for 1931. This car

burned during the job.

From it was developed the successful "Monthery Midget 'C"' type racing

and "D" type sports models. While the 'C' type was performing well, and

the 'D' types selling well, a prototype car, the "Ex 127" was developed at

the same time as the I.3, developed from the 12. Then came a 'D' type and

'F' t;rye Magna. While these were in production H. H. Charles was busy

designed the I range, great little cars even if the braking was not up tr

standard. The J2 was the first of the line to carry the classic MG

coachwork, with "cutaway' doors and a slab tank aft that was to set the

fashion for many years to come.

Then came the J3,a supercharged J2, and the J4 in 1933, the racing version

of the J3, with much improved braking. In the same year came the F type

Magna, the L type and the racing version, the K3 Magnette, a great little

car that went on winning races for nearly 20 years. Tazio Nuvolari got

into one of these cars, never having seen one before, and won the 1933

tourist trophy.

The first of the 'P" range, the PA was virtually a commercial form of the

J4, also heavier, which led to the similar PB. From the "P" type was

developed the "Q" type racing car...with one outstanding arrangement, a

built-in clutch. But it became obvious to the MG design team that the "Q"

type engine gave more power than a conventional chassis could handle.

The natural result of which was the "R' type single seater racing car, a

brilliant piece of work, with, of course, troubles. Before the problems of

the "R" type could be eradicated, a crushing blow fell on the dedicated

band at Abingdon, who in five years had made MG one of the big names

in racing. Lord Nuffield sold out to Morris Motors LTD, who promptly

put a stop to racing.

It turned out that these pioneers of the 1930-35 had wrought better than they

knew. All over the world MG cars were raced in the hands of private owners,

with many successes, to the outbreak of war. Under the new regime in 1936, the

PA model became the PB and very good it was too, as was the TA model or large

engine capacity which followed it. The L type Magna was replace by the N type

Magnette, which was larger and heavier, more powerful and handles very well.

It grew up even more into the SA type.

In 1939 the SA became the 2.6litre WA, a splendid car that readily gave

90 mph together with 20 mpg when cruising fast. In 1936 the VA model

appeared, whose pretty range of bodywork was more attractive than its

performance. At the outbreak of war tn1939, MG were building the TA

and WA and VA" not a bad car though not very exciting.

The March issue continued with a brief mention of the forthcoming Ohio

GOF Mark III, but both host and locale were lacking. Plans were more firm for

the midwest caravan to the Register's GOF XII in Waterville Valley, NH.

"We have a spares laden American sweep car lined up and as usual will give

a caravan dash plaque, marked route map, route instruction sheet and

advance motel reservation service to anyone who applies for a caravan berth

and sends in a buck...."

There followed a lengthy account introducing the MG Marathon. [It] "is a

1000 mile reliability trial for T series and earlier cars, first planned in 1967 by

the Vintage MG Car Club in Chicago, first run in 1968 through the cooperation

of that club and the New England MG-T Register. The event is scheduled each

year to coincide with even-numbered 'Gatherings of the Faithful' semi-

annual outings of MG-T enthusiasts conducted by the Register." Purpose,

event format, route and awards were all addressed in detail. And extant

records for the event, as of the spring of 1971', were as follows:

TF 1500 17 hrs. and 15 min.

TF 1250 (none)

TD Mark II 17 hrs. and L4 min.

TD 19 hrs. and 58 min.

TC 18 hrs. and 37 min.

Meanwhile, back at "The Hamilton Pit Stop".... And about time, but again a

great account of racing ended with "to be continued."

The April-May issue of the Crier, now volume two, number three, identified

Put-in-Bay as the site for the 1971, summer Ohio Gathering. Details were

promised from Jerry Gundrum, the event scheduled for the third weekend in

July.

"Seabrook's Sump" reported long delayed success in "milk(ing) some

information out of Bob Satava concerning the upcoming marathon run

to...Waterville Valley.

To give you an idea how the T's can do over a course such

as this, the roster of the 20 Hour Club....includes the seven

best drives out of 11 attempts at the 1000 Marathon miles

made by six Register members driving four different

models of T, authenticated by the Register and the Vintage

MG Car Club in Chicago since 1968. The TS 1250 record is

wide open, the TD record vulnerable. It will take some

digging to lower the TC, Mk II and 1500 marks, but even

they aren't safe. Every one of those drives included many

wasted minutes which could be converted into lower

elapsed time without driving any faster. Bob's advice was

"just put together a good car, good luck and a desire to

bring out the best that's in an MG-T, and a place on the

roster and maybe a new record is yours - to cap off an

unforgettable experience. "

The April-May issue also reported the results of a membership survey conducted

by Doug Ruth, spares chairman. The issues were several. There was

overwhelming disapproval of the Crier's cover design, a caricature of Lord

Nuffield. Regarding frequency of publication, a large majority favored

publication every other month. A third response was to the choice of a badge

design with the favorite being a design submitted by Beverly Jaquays.

At last and as promised came the conclusion of "The Hamilton Pit Stop." A great

account and a smashing final few lines.

As if Nuvolari was not aware that it was now or never on

that last lap, the pit staff were leaning far over the counter,

waving arms and screaming; the crowds were shouting.

On that lap both men [Nuvolari and Townsend] defied all

laws of gravity and centrifugal force. They went through

Newtownards one behind the other, and on the fast

section beyond, the extra power of the Magnette came into

ib own and Nuvolari slashed past, 115 mph to the

Midget's 105. It was the end. And as the excited

spectators craned forward, Staniland crashed the

six-cylinder Riley at Quarry Corner.

Nuvolari screeched around Dundonald hairpin and came

flat out up the hill to where the chequered flag was held

high. He had lapped at 80.35 mph. He shot across the line

with one arm in the air, 40 seconds ahead of Hamilton, at

an overall average of 78.65 mph, a record for the race by

more than 4 mph.

Behind the exhausted pair, Dixon, undaunted as ever, was

fighting for third place with Rose-Ridrards, Eddie Hall

(Magnette), after a magnificent race, dose behind them.

Dixon's mechanic had been in agony-he was holding the

loose exhaust pipe in place and the battery was splashing

burning acid on to his trousers, which disintegrated onto

his legs. They finished fourth, Hall fifth, but, after

examination of the regulations, the stewards reluctantly

disqualified him [Dixon] for having a defective silencing

system - they had no alternative. Hall was therefore place

fourth, Lord Howe fifth, Belfast's Bobby Baird sixth.

In tribute to Dixon's wonderful, fighting race, Sir William

Morris presented Dixon with a special award of L10O

equivalent to what he would have won.

Nuvolari finished on his reserve tank- and that was

nearly empty. It is on record that somebody asked

Hounslow [Nuvolari's mechanic] about the state of the

brakes after those astonishing lap times. "Brakes?'he said,

"the man doesn't use them!"

It had been the fastest race of the series. ' ,'.

By the 1971 August-September issue, the Crier confirmed a successful summer

Ohio Gathering, not, however, at Put-in-Bay. Although hosted by the Gundrums,

the locale was the Derrick lnn, just north of Mansfield. The schedule of events

followed precedent with a tour, banquet and auction.

At the business meeting, Bob Satava reported on the forthcoming national

Gathering of the Faithful to be held in Ohio. Kells Lindsey was to host the fall

Ohio Gathering, its location yet to be determined. And there was an election d

officers and discussion of dues. New officers were Craig Seabrook and Rita

Glow, retaining their posts as president and treasurer, Bob Beck became spares

chairman and Doug Ruth publicity chairman. Dues were unchanged at $3 per

family.

The December 1971. issue of the Crier was a slim one, there being only brief

mention of the Ohio Gathering held in New Philadelphia. Most important,

perhaps,was the inclusion of a statement from Dick Knudson regarding local

chapters of the Register. These seven paragraphs or so affirmed the Register's

desire to encourage the formation and growth of such groups.

1972

With the first number of volume three dated January-April, 1972, the caricature

of Lord Nuffield disappeared from the cover of the Crier.

The issue led off with a full schedule of events for the national gathering, GOF

Mark XIV, at Hudson. Doug Ruth reported on the Ohio Chapter summer

gathering to be held at Burr Oak Lodge in southeastern Ohio near Athens.

For the first time the Crier reprinted the full text of minutes from the February 5

1972 meeting of the Register Board of Directors. Although the minutes do not

indicate a representative from the Ohio Chapter in attendance, copies of the

minutes must have been provided local groups. The minutes reveal thoughtful

discussion of a variety of issues. Of particular interest was the concern for safety

as it arose in tours and caravans. Appended to the minutes was a lengthy

explanation of the Beaulieu Cup.

Volume three, number two of the Crier offered a report, "as seen from the drain

hole of Seabrook's Sump," of the Ohio Chapter's GOF Mark V held at Burr Oak

Lodge. It was a lovely setting, but it was hot! Some 67 people and 25 cars were

there.

There was the usual tire kicking, an inviting pool as well as the lake, rallye and

tour, banquet, auction, and to end the evening a fi[m, "Safety Fast" and Merrit

Lighthall's slides of the very first Ohio Chapter Gathering.

Announcements included notice that Craig and Nancy Seabrook were to host the

upcoming fall gathering, its location Punderson State Park and the dates October

21-22. Ohio Chapter badges were at last ready. Samples has met with approval

at the recent Burr Oak Lodge Gathering. Fourteen new members were listed,

among them one Fred Kuntz.

As was often the case in earlier issues of the Crier, this issue contained lots of

information regarding activity of the Ontario Chapter. Gatherings were

regularly announced in the Crier and nearly every issue contained contributions

from Ontario Chapter members, news of members activity, and articles drawn

from the Ontario Chapter newsletter.

1973

New names appeared on the masthead of the Crier, volume four, number one,

dated January 1973. Richard Lewis was identified as editor and publisher; Jim

Young, membership chairman; Birdie Nichols, secretary; Dan Glow, technical

chairman; Dick Gardner, regalia chairman; Jerry Gundrum, publicity chairman.

Craig Seabrook remained Ohio Chapter chairman, Rita Glow, treasurer, and Bob

Beck, spares chairman.

"Seabrook's Sump" provided a full account of the Ohio Chapter Gathering at

Punderson Manor House. Although "damp and chilly," participants lunched on

hot dogs and hamburgers done over charcoal in the parking lot. Mid-afternoon

cars were dispatched at two minute intervals on Dan Glow's Treasure Hunt

Rallye. Some 60 attended the evening banquet.

From The Octagon, the newsletter of the Classic MG Car Club of Orlando, Florida,

came two items, the first regarding the membership of any organization.

Who Does The Work?"

Some one has said that the membership of any organizations made up

of Four Bones.

There are the Wishbones who spend all their time wishing someone else

would do all the work.

There are the ]awbones who do all the talktng, but very little else.

Next come the Knucklebones who knock everything that everyone else

tried to do.

And finally come the Backbones who get under the load and do the work.

Remember, the club is only as good as you make it!

The second item offers lyrics to be sung to the melody of "Born Free." Here the

lyrics for a "T" owner's serenade.

Serenade to Your "T" Type

MG_

I live just to touch you"

When I double-clutch you,

MG, it gives me a thrill!

MG-

I love your ignition

your four-speed transmission

your points, your plugs and

your grill!

MG-

When I look inside you

the sight of each piston rod

brings me closer to God!

MG-

I'll wash you and wax you!

If some Chevy smacks you,

I'll die, M...G...!

Although Dan Glow had often written on technical matters for the Crier, this was

perhaps the first issue in which his column bore the title "Valve Clatter."

Sixteen new members were listed, including the Rev. and Mrs. Thomas

Baumgardner. The issue came to an end with "The Real Cost of A Sports Car."

Volume four, number two, May 1973, featured "Tweets from the Big Bird; or, what

it's like being a sports car enthusiast." Author Birdie Nichols spoke from long and

certainly rewarding experience. "Only those who own them know," she wrote.

The following Crier, number three, in September, mentioned "our last gathering

in Piqua," but offered no recap of the event. Ohio Chapter Gathering Mark VIII

was announced for October 20 at the Treadway Inn, Aurora, Ohio. The fall

Register Gathering in Watkins Glen N.Y., would include the awarding of the

Beaulieu Cup, and Ray and Charlene Kuhar were assembling an Ohio Chapter

team. And a determined effort it was. The governing rules read:

The Beaulieu Cup will be awarded at GOF XVII, Watkins Glen,

September 15 to the local group which has compiled the highest total of

T-Series (including vintage) MG miles driven in caravan from its central

point of departure to the Glen. In the event a secondary point of

departure is required, it is expected that complete records will be

maintained and that routes will converge into one caravan the significant

point being that the concept of the Beaulieu Cup competition is a caravan

of MGs and not a series of individual starting points. Safety precautions

seem to indicate that the maximum number of cars Per caravan unit is

about 10 [but] there is no limit to the number of units.

In a printed letter, the Kuhars wrote that the previous winning chapter compiled

a total mileage of 2,037. "with just 10 cars we can total over 3,000 miles. If we can

get 20 we can win the cup by a fantastic margin.', Tentative plans for beginning

the September 14 drive called for a starting point in the Columbus area, where

cars would leave at 7 a.m. and another point in the Medina area, leaving there by

10 a.m. It would be a one-day trip. Accompanying the letter was a questionnaire

for those planning to go and a plea for a quick response, ending with ,,see you at

the starting line."

The final issue of the "Crier" for 1973, volume four, number four, Iisted a new

Ohio Chapter chairman, Jay Nichols. Craig Seabrook,s long devotion to the Ohio

Chapter was happily not an end for "seabrook's sump,' was filled to

overflowing. Craig, Nancy, and other Clevelanders had hosted the gathering at

the Treadway Inn in Aurora. Threatening weather had failed to bring rain, and

the rallye proved challenging to say the least, requiring among other things a

telephone call to Lord Nuffield himself for directions. Bob Gressard was credited

with having shaped the rallye.

The evening brought a social hour, banquet, auction and slide show. Officers

were elected, reports given and upcoming gatherings announced. Jim and

Miriam Yaussy would host the summer gathering in Bucyrus, and John Dyarmett

and Jack Smittle would co-host the fall gathering in the Columbus area. Slides of

earlier gatherings were provided by Craig Seabrook and Dan Glow. Sunday

morning brought sunshine and a tour to the Glow's "octagon Acres.,,

This issue came to an end with "Nichols Worth', an apt title for notes from the

newly elected Ohio Chapter chair.

1974

The attractive cover illustration of the Crier for volume five, number one, April

1974, featured a pen and ink drawing of an MG-TD. It was the work of Henry

Haserot.

"Seabrook's sump" noted the resignation of Dick Louis from the editor's post.

Craig agreed to step in, observing that "the paper is printed by my graphic arts

students which makes for an excellent learning experience. They learn-about

printing and old MGs whether they like it or not."

"Nichols Worth" was devoted almost entirely to excerpts from the minutes of the

Register board of directors meeting of February 2, 1974. Of particular interest

was this.

The 1000 mile marathon is not a Register even! it is under the complete

control of the Vintage MG Club of Chicago, and Register support has

been limited to publicity. In view of expressed concern over average

speeds and low elapsed times for the 1000 miles and before a tragedy

occurs, it was voted to terminate support of the marathon under its

present rules.

This issue of the Crier also printed actions of the Ohio Chapter Board of Directors

at its meeting of March 24, 1974. Of interest was Jim Yaussy's motion that the

Ohio Chapter publish a membership directory. The motion was approved.

Cloth badges were available, Ray Kuhar reported, and action by the Board of

Directors allowed the return of old style car badges for credit toward the

purchase of the new style.

Dan Glow's "Valve Clatter" addressed oil leaks from the bell housing, and were

that not sufficiently exotic there was this.

Now then, a few weeks ago when I just happened to be wandering

through a local shop that manufactures dental equipment,low and

behold -what to my wondering eyes did appear but the latest, the

greatest - the painless dental chair!!!

And guess what - the shipping label said Bucyrus, Ohio! See you all

there in July.

The next page noted that P. J. Yaussy, D.D.S. would host the Ohio GOF July

19-21,1974 at the Bucyrus Holiday Inn. The event was to include the usual

activity plus the Mohican Hilt Climb. There followed full page announcements

of the Great Lakes GOF Mark I, the Ontario Chapter Gathering, GOF West, and

the 1"0th anniversary Register Gathering.

Ohio Chapter membership continued to grow, and among new members listed

were Paul and Addie Johnson and Tom Metcalf.

In September 1974,the second issue of the year - volume five, number two -

bore a second cover drawing by Henry Haserot, identified as a friend of Dan

Glow. Pictured was a TA-Tickford. And for the first time, this issue of the Crier

led off with a bit of verse, initialed K.G.R.

Ode To The Limit

Though New Year spirit may be short,

I hope you get your share,

And that your local garage

Has a gallon or two to spare.

Now when you roar along the lanes,

Keep a look-out to the rear,

For the friendly local copper

Who will test your blood for beer.

Then on the motor-way so wide

You open up the taps,

Except when passing police cars

And those clever radar traps.

But if you will keep to 50

Like following awake,

Move over when you see me friend

For I shall overtake.

Editor/columnist Craig Seabrook had entered the hill climb following the

Bucyrus gathering, an event in which five "T" cars participated, Bob Satava

taking the trophy. Craig also ran at Nelson Ledges, where there were again five

"T" cars competing.

Chairman jay Nichols announced the upcoming fall gathering would be held at

Roscoe Village near Coshocton, October 12 and 13. Jay also issued a call for hosts

for the new year's events.

"Valve Clatter" spoke to the TC front axle and talk of caster and camber was

followed by a long article, illustrated with graphs,by Larry Wilson. The subject

matter was timing, all this prompted by the consequences of fitting an MGA

differential to a TC.

1975

Volume six, number one of the Crier featured another Henry Haserot drawing,

this one of a TC. Inside, perhaps the biggest and best news from the Roscoe

Village Gathering in October was Jim Yaussy's report of Ohio Chapter

membership-126 and growing! The summer gathering was announced for

Lancaster, to be hosted by the Zukovs.

The Crier again printed several paragraphs from the minutes of the Register

Board of Directors meeting of February 1,1975. It was reported that there were

25 to 30 local groups with four or five in formation. It was moved and approved

that the Register issue certificates of accreditation to such groups. Continued

affiliation with the Register would require the submission of an article each year

for publication in The Sacred Octagon. Discussion and lengthy debate followed

regarding Register affiliation for MGA owners. Several motions were made and

defeated; no action was taken.

"Valve Clatter" made its regular appearance and was followed by a plea for a

Buckeye Beaulieu Challenge. When last awarded, the Beaulieu Cup was won by

the Michigan Chapter, which fielded a team of 10 cars. The distance to the

upcoming Register Gathering in Springfield, Massachusetts, was estimated to be

600 miles, and a team of 15 cars was hoped for.

A new column appeared in this issue, "Gundrums Graffiti," and the "Odds and

Ends Department" reprinted an article from the March 1956 issue of Hot Rod.

Titled "Full House MG," it pictured a dual overhead cam kit for the XPAG

engine.

And with this issue color appeared for the first time in the Crier. A single page of

snapshots was supplied by Ray Kuhar, reproduced via color Xerox!

Volume six, number two, of the Crier found ]oy and Birdie Nichols preparing for

a trip to the Ontario Chapter Gathering. During these early years of both

chapters activity, the relationship was very close. ]ay wrote that "the hospitality

of the Canadians can't be beat, and the American MGers are always welcomed

with enthusiasm." This issue's "Nichols Worth" ended sadly with jay's report of

the unexpected death of Guynne Collacott. She, her husband Brian and their

children were Canadians, active in both chapters and exemplifying perfectly

what is meant by octagonal fellowship.

1976

Volume seven, number one of the Crier took note of new Ohio Chapter officers;

Bob Gressard was chair, Jay Nichols membership chair, and Jack Smittle

publicity chair. The issue featured a cover illustration drawn by David Lawley, a

1936 TA Airline Coupe. "Midget Madness," the chairman's column, offered a

welcome to new members, jay Nichols having reported 25 such. The column also

mentioned "the second annual Natter 'N Noggin," held at the Montville Inn near

Medina, the first mention in the Crier of such an Ohio Chapter event.

"Seabrook's Sump" plead again for support of the Buckeye Beaulieu Cup

Challenge. Lee Kulis hoped for a team to wrest the cup from the Michigan

Chapter. And Dan Glow's "Valve Clatter," as was usual, made interesting and

useful reading on the subject of crankcase ventilation.

The issue also included a brief synopsis of business conducted at the Natter 'N

Noggin. Action taken included the appointment of Jay Nichols as awards

chairman and Jack Smittle as historian.

Concluding this issue were several pages devoted to the text of Ohio Senate Bill

52, Ohio's Collector's Vehicle Bill. Gathered by Jack Smittle the text of the bill

was followed by several paragraphs of explanation.

And finally an invitation from host Tom Metcalf to attend the Ohio Chapter

Gathering, Mark XIII, on the campus of Ashland College. The dates were July

16-18,1976.

Volume seven number two of the 1976 spring Crier again featured a drawing by

David Lawley, this time a1939 TB Drophead Coupe.

"So much has happened and is about to happen " wrote Bob Gressard, 'how to

cover it all?" There was the upcoming Ohio Chapter Gathering in Ashland, a

Register Gathering, the Bicentennial Challenge, and the Stan Hywet Show.

Jay Nichols reported having mailed 20 applications for Ohio Chapter

membership on request, 13 promptly returned: And with obvious conviction,

Birdie Nichols supplied an explanation of 'Why We Don't Have Concours."

"Something from Smittle" spoke to the winter months and the rewarding

challenge of hands-on work in the garage. This was not simply armchair counsel.

Since, for most of us, doing this kind of work is so far removed from our

vocations that the maintenance and restoration of our MGs becomes a real

challenge. This challenge includes: research, reading, talking with fellow MG-T

owners, courage, physical strength, busted knuckles, agility,dirt in our eyes/

studying, talking with fellow MG-T owners, writing orders for parts, more tears,

developing physical skills, imagination originality, more reading, try again,

improvise, and last but not least, talking with fellow MG-T owners.

Another view of "do it yourself' followed, this from the Trillium Times, the

newsletter of the Ontario Chapter. A list was introduced thusly: "Those of us

who have spent many years in restoration work understand only too well that

'Murphy's Law' is usually in full operation. 'Murphy's Law' is simply that "If

anything can go wrong, it will." There followed 17 "grim facts about restoration

work...that go a long way towards explaining why you will never succeed in

completing your restoration as quickly or as economically as you had expected."

Selected facts follow:

Interchangeable parts won't.

Availability of a part is inversely proportional to your need for it.

After a part has been fully assembled, extra components will be found on

the bench.

A dropped tool will land where it can do most damage, or where it will

be most inaccessible.

Sometimes it will do both. (This is known as the law of selective

gravitation.)

Components that must not and cannot be assembled incorrectly will be.

An adjustable spanner used to remove a component will either be too

tight or too slack to replace the same part, even it you try to replace it

immediately.

Hermetic seals will leak.

To estimate the time a restoration will take carefully work out how long

you expect the job to take, then treble it. To estimate the cost, carefully

work out all known expenditure, then quadruple it. You will still be

wrong, but not as wrong as you would have been if you had believe

your first estimates.

This issue's "Valve Clatter" was devoted to ignition systems, and was followed

by an article from Motor Trend, the subject matter - a supercharger which

promised 148 horsepower for the TC.

A change for the Crier came in September, 1976. A David Lawley drawing on the

cover, but that cover was of colored stock. Inside was a new typeface, welcome

white space, lots of illustration and the use of more colored stock.

"Midget Madness" had much to report of Ohio Chapter activity-and honors.

First came the Ohio Chapter Gathering in Ashland, a great success and the

occasion for first displaying the new banner created by Birdie Nichols. Then

there was the Stan Hywet Show, where Bob Jensen's TD took entrants' choice

and Fred Kuntz' TC best in class. "Class was the word for the day" Chairman

Gressard wrote, a tribute as well to "the Bly's splendid kick-off party!"

The Ohio Chapter took more awards at the Register Gathering in Buck Hill, Pa.

Fred Kuntz and Lee Kulis were first and second in the premier class. The Jensen's

TD took best TD and second in judged concours. J.R. and Mary Behm took best

unrestored in their TD, and the Kuhar's YB took third in the same class. To top it

all off, Addie Johnson took first in the black and white photo contest.

The Ohio Chapter was also well represented in the Bicentennial Rallye, a

national Register event that visited the capitals of the original 13 states.

Chairman Grissard, a participant, found it "much like an eight day GOF." Birdie

Nichols supplied a day-by-day account of the Bicentennial Ralley. For other

events, Manley Ford supplied an account of the Ashland Gathering and an insert

to the Crier supplied details of the fall Ohio Chapter Gathering to be held in

Dayton, October 8-10 and hosted by members of the Southwestern Ohio Centre

MG Club.

"Valve Clatter" appeared as usual, but on this occasion the clatter was not Dan's.

He was recovering from a motorcycle accident and former newsletter editor Dick

Louis filled in. The unusual and interesting subject matter was "British Patents

and Registered Design." After considerable research, Dick had obtained patent

information, drawings and related text from London. The first such drawing,

with related text, was reproduced in this issue, and was titled "Improvements

Relating to Vehicle Steering Mechanisms." This was followed by yet more tech

talk, an article from a 1952 issue of Road and Track titled "S.U.

Carburetors...servicing and tuning."

The December Crier,volume seven, number four, was a holiday issue and

featured David Lawley's season's greetings, a drawing of a 1934 PA.

1977

Chairman Gressard's "Midget Madness" offered 'The Ins and Outs of T-Series

Motoring," this patterned after a like piece which had appeared in Car and Driver.

"Eating Danish pastry at the Bly's Stan Hywet Bash is in.

Drinking their Bloody Mary's might well be illegal." Or,

"Being able to name three factory colors correctly is in;

remembering more than three is impossible, even for the boys

in Abingdon."

"Seabrook's Sump" saluted the MG Car Club, Southwestern Ohio Centre, for a

well organized and successful gathering. Craig also announced the decision d

the Ohio Chapter board of directors to hold a winter get-together. The board had

traditionally met in February and now it was Jack Smittle's suggestion that the

meeting be opened to the membership and include a tech session.

It was dues time, and editor Seabrook reminded his readers of the increase in

dues, approved by the board, from $3 to $5.

"Something from Smittle" provided more information regarding the upcoming

Natter N Noggin. Scheduled for February 19 and 20, two tech sessions would

feature DanGlow on "Basic Electrics," and Jay Nichols and Craig Seabrook on

the MG-T braking system. The site for this first mid-winter session would be the

Holiday Inn at the intersection of I71 and Route 18.

"Valve Clatter" revealed the full story of Dan's broken ankle and the

resuscitation of his M-Type with the aid of Paul ]ohnson and Walt Ellert It was a

good story, and as Dan wrote at its dose,'No matter what you may lack, the

knowledge, the skill, the physical ability to do the project, as long as you are rich

in friends...nothing is impossible. You do get by with a little help from friends."

Chapter secretary Birdie Nichols reported on Ohio Chapter gatherings, the

summer GOF scheduled for the third weekend in July on the campus of

Denison University, Granville, and the fall gathering to be held in New

Philadelphia.

Dick Louis offered the second in the series of "British Patents and Registered

Design." This one, including both text and drawing, was titled "Improvements

Relating to Tensioning Means for Power Transmitting Chains."

From the Trillium News came a somewhat revised version of "The Night Before

Christmas," with apologies to Clement Moore.

T'was the night before Christmas and out in the shed

All the "T" cars were fucked into bed.

The children were down in their cots for the night,

Dreaming of GOFs that turned out all right.

Mom in her nightie and I in my shoes...

Were having a nip of the Old Christmas booze.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash

Tripping on chairs as I started to dash,

When what with my blurry eyes did I see...

But an odd looking man driving a "T".

The bundled up driver emitted a yawn

As he flashed that strange symbol...the Octagon.

Then up to the rooftop the 'T" car it flew,

With a bag full of goodies landing there too.

I drew in my head and was turning around,

When down the chimney he came with a bound.

He was dressed in a jacket with badges sewn on,

His one stop of many before the grey dawn.

A sack full of "T" parts were flung on his back,

And he look like a salesman just opening his pack.

His eyes-also blurry'-his glasses fogged up

He started unloading, knocked over a cup.

He spoke not a word, just unloaded each thing

To stock up the "T" parts we'd asked him to bring.

He finished unloading, decided to go,

Rose up the chimney and into the snow.

]umped into his "T" and turned on the key,

I looked at the parts he left there for me.

Then I heard him exclaim as he drove through the stars,

"Merry Christmas to all and to all you "T" cars."

The March issue of the Crier, volume eight, number one, brought a lament from

Chairman Bob Gressard. He had a bad cold induced by over indulgence in top

down driving. "I'm not as young as I once was. No more top down, no heater,

damn the elements, press on all winter."

The first natter in Medina had been highly successful, thanks to Jack Smittle for

the idea, and to "wheel chair bound Paul Johnson for the follow through." Tech

session expertise was provided by jay Nichols, Craig Seabrook, and Dan Glow.

"Seabrook's Sump" noted the June date for the Stan Hywet Show and the

Register Gathering in Dearborn the following week. The Ohio Chapter was again

to mount a Buckeye Challenge for the Beaulieu Cup.

Craig announced several changes in the "Crier," among them the treatment of

technical articles as loose supplements.

Jay's "Nichols Worth" reported a total of 110 paid memberships, "with more lab

comers arriving each week." The membership roster included "T" owners from

nine states!

"Something from Smittle" reviewed Ohio's special license categories, Historic

Motor Vehicles and Collectors' Vehicles. Jack also shared his genealogical quest,

not in search of family, but rather in the past history of his TC.

Just as promised, "Valve Clatter" was a single sheet, unattached. The subject was

head gaskets.

Dick Louis continued to share his research into "British Patents and Registered

Design." Hoping to discover the drawing and patent application for the familiar

MG octagon, he found instead the drawing of a wholly unfamiliar badge. The

drawing was registered in ]uly of 1938 by Morris Motors.

Chairman Gressard led off volume eight number two in 1977 with reminders of

upcoming events and a brief recap of the 26th annual Alley Rally of the

Cleveland Sports Car Club where the Ohio Chapter was well represented.

"Seabrook's Sump" offered details of the fall Ohio Chapter Gathering to be

hosted by Manley and Kaye Ford and Tom and Susie Scott at a Ramada Inn in

the Akron Canton area.

Dan Glow, celebrating the sale of the one millionth Honda motorcycle, was

reported to be unable to find his typewriter. Thus no "Valve Clatter." But from

the MG Tattler came a short piece on the oil pump. "British Patents and

Registered Design" returned,this time text and drawing of "Improvements to

Road Vehicle Steering Mechanisms."

The final page of this issue was borrowed from the T-Times, the newsletter of the

Michigan Chapter. Titled "Bird's Eye View," it promised "to tell if your husband

has been in the hobby too long." Wisdom was evident. For example:

If his birthdays no longer mean adding another year, but an excuse for

adding another 'T" car.

If he has more pictures in his billfold of his car than of you and the kids.

If he can explain what GOF means without feeling silly.

Chairman Gressard's "Midget Madness" in volume eight, number three was a

valedictory, his last column as Ohio Chapter chair. Craig, too, wrote that the

beginning of the end was in sight for him as editor of the Crier.

Tom Metcalf supplied this issue with a spirited summary of the Mohican Hill

Climb, held in August in Lucas, Ohio. Forty five cars were entered, the Ohio

Chapter well represented. "Piloting a dandy TF was Doc Yaussy, who resembled

the famous Tazio Nuvolari, gritting his teeth as he took it to the limit.... Bob

Satava...had a fresh TD that he stripped of all excess weight, including most d

his clothes, in order to gain a few hundredths over the next guy." There were

others, too. But in Class E, Bob Satava took second, Doc Yaussy third, and

author/driver Tom Metcalf fourth."something from Smittle" was also a

valedictory of a sort. Jack was to relinquish his position as publicity chairman

but certainly not his continuing active participation in Ohio Chapter activity.

His column offered thanks to the hosts of the Granville Gathering, Dave and

Nancy Gaston and Josh and Marilyn Gille. Too, Jack's column paid much

deserved tribute to the enormous contribution made to the Ohio Chapter by

Craig and Nancy Seabrook.

Much of this issue was devoted to a reprint from The Sacred Octagon, a piece by

Dick Knudson titled "Production Facts and Numbers." Then another reprinted

article, this one from Road and Track, the issue of October, 1951, and titled 'MG

Sets Record for 1-Hour at Bonneville."

Then yet another reprint, this one from an October 1950 issue of Motor Magazine.

It was a quiz on the MG-TD Midget. Answers were supplied, printed on the

inside of the back cover.

Dan's "Valve Clatter" took a new direction. Recognizing lob of varied expertise

among Ohio Chapter members, Dan offered his readers an interview with fay

Nichols on the subject of water pumps.

Dick Louis was back again with "British Patents and Registered Design." With

text and drawing as usual, the subject was "Improvements Relating to Motor

Vehicle Front Wheel Mountings."

To end the issue was a parody of the verse of Robert Service titled 'l[he Ballad of

O'Leary's Test-A True Tale." The author escaped without identification.

A new editor brought a new look to the Crier. Manley Ford's first issue, that for

December 1977, was a slender but very attractive one. Featured was Susie Scott's

story of her last year's Christmas gift for her husband Tom, an MC-TC! On the

cover of the issue was a picture of the car.

The masthead reflected other changes; Birdie Nichols had become the Ohio

Chapter chair, Kathy Metcalf secretary, and ]im Beal publicity chair.

Manley's editor's column was titled "'T'-ing Off." And indeed he did. "All I said

was: 'Who the hell is Lord Nuffield?' and next thing I knew I was editor."

In other columns, Birdie Nichols in "Chirps from Your T' Bird" reviewed the old

year's events and offered gracious thanks to the retiring officers. Dan Glow

continued his interviews, on this occasion with Craig Seabrook. Dan's article was

titled "MG Wood -- making an ash of yourself."

The fall Ohio Chapter Gathering in Akron-Canton had been a wet one, successful

despite the weather. The Crier account of the Photo Rallye referred to the

participants as the "drip dry entrants."

The mid-winter natter was scheduled again for the Holiday Inn in Medina, and

would feature tech sessions with Jay Nichols on rebuilding water pumps and

Bob Satava and Manley Ford on engine rebuilding.

1978

In the March issue of the Crier in 1978, volume nine, number one, Manley's

"'T'-ing Off' column pictured the pewter sculpture titled "Taking the Curve." The

work of sculptor Raymond Meyers, it pictured a TC at speed rounding a curve. ft

was to be the first in a series of "great sports cars." Initially available from the

Sports Car Club of America, editor Ford suggested that those interested in

purchase write directly to the Franklin Mint. The cost was $180.00.

"Chirps from Your T-Bird"' offered a hint to wives. "Be interested when your

husband is working on the car, and willing to help him if he asks you to. You'll

no doubt come to have 'that feeling' about as much as he does. I'll bet he'll be a

lot more willing to let you drive it...."

And more than that, Birdie wrote that "we have been thinking of having a Girls

Greaser Gathering sometime for the purpose of learning some of the basics about

your T' car. There are, for instance, things such as 1) flat tire, 2) funny noise, 3)

car stops, 4) car won't start, etc., etc. that can occur and occasionally do. So we

thought you would feel a little more confident about driving alone if you knew a

little more about this precious gem."

"Valve Clatter" offered thanks to all those involved in the natter technical

sessions. The engine tech session occupied nearly 12 hours, and interest was sudr

that a scheduled attitude adjustment hour was foregone! Jay Nichols reported a

total of 153 Ohio chapter members with paid up dues, and it was not yet March.

Announcements were of the Ohio Chapter summer gathering, hosted by Paul

and Addie Johnson and others, to be held July 14-16 at the Holiday Inn in

Strongsville, Ohio. The fall gathering would return to Burr Oak Lodge in

southeastern Ohio, hosted by Will and Jeri Kennard.

"Would you buy a used car from this man?" asked the July Issue Crier. This man

was Jim Yaussy, and "judging from the fact that [he] has owned some sixty cars

to date and has sold all but five, a lot of folks must have bought from him." This

front page lead and accompanying photograph prefaced a "Crier Closeup: A

Saturday Visit with Jim Yaussy." The interviewers were editor Manley Ford and

Tom Metcalf. The result was an interview as warm and good natured as the

Yaussys themselves.

The larger part of Manley's "'T'-ing Off" was devoted to an account of just how

each issue of the Crier came to be. It was a familiar story to any newsletter editor.

In volume nine, number three in l978,the Crier gave editor Manley Ford fire

opportunity to tell a story. It was an account, with imaginative additions, of his

return trip from the Register Gathering in Toronto. Manley and Kaye were part

of a small caravan, one of the cars without lights! It was a good story of a not

atypical MG adventure. Seems that en-route back from the GOF in Toronto,

driving through a 3:00 a.m. downpour, Pitchett's (no first names) TC was driving

without lights and...

'Formation flying,' I thought. 'Like the Blue Angels.' Hovering near the left wing

of Pritchett's TC, which was running without headlamps due to a failed

generator, I guided the TF so its 'main beam' could help light the road for both of

us. Across Interstate 90 we traveled, with the TF always in the same relative

position to the left and behind the TC.

]Jensen's TD led the modified V' formation of MGs, with the bleary-eyed

Pritchett ever-so-close behind using Bob's taillight and my headlights tr

find the way home -saving what was left of the battery. Behind and tr

the right were the Scotts in their TD and a little farther back and to the left

was the Ryan MGB with Lucas driving lamps that occasionally flashed,

signaling that a 'lesser vehicle' was about to overtake and for me to yield

the left lane long enough to let it by.

...Kaye was waking up. Yawning and rubbing her eyes she asked the

usual question, "How much further?'

'Couple hours, 'I said.

'You tired?'

'No.'

'Having fun?'

Chair Birdie Nichols reported in her column on the Toronto Gathering and the

successes of the Ohio Chapter. It was, Birdie wrote, "a super time in the

Canadian way."

Jack Smittle and Jack Bauer reported on activity in Columbus and Cincinnati.

With tongue largely in cheek, Jack Bauer's account ended with this editorial

aside. "Was Jack hallucinating? Will the oil pressure problem be solved? Will

Meier take up residence elsewhere? Can this marriage be saved? Find out in the

next thrill-pa&ed episode in the December Crier!"

Dan Glow's "Valve Clatter" dealt with carburetors and included drawings for

"building an adult sandbox," that is a box for sandblasting small parts.

The issue ended with a charming article titled "First Encounters of the MG Kind."

It was written by Jim Beal, recently elected Ohio Chapter publicity chairman.

For volume nine, number four, 1978, the editor chose a summary in pictures of

the old year's activity in lieu of his usual column. Chair Birdie Nichols offered

thanks to Will and Jeri Kennard for hosting the Burr Oak Gathering and noted

with gratitude that the Kennards had kept records on the meet, sent to Birdie,

that were likely to be of interest and value to first-time hosts. She announced that

the summer gathering would be held in Cincinnati and hosted by Jack Bauer and

Dave Zyp. The site would be the College of Mount St Joseph, the dates July

20-22. The mid-winter Natter N Noggin was scheduled for the Merrick Motel in

Mansfield, February 10-11.

Well, "regular readers of the Crier will recall that in the last issue Jack Bauer was

about to expound at great but enjoyable length on the trials and tribs of his TD in

'How I spent my summer vacation."' The fact was, Jack did go on at great but

enjoyable length. In approximate order of their happening, the trip to the

Toronto Gathering was made in a Pontiac, but not without adventure; the TD

was sufficiently sound for the trip to Strongsville; not only sound enough for

Strongsville, but for continuing on to GOF West, in Vail, Colo. More important

Jack's marriage had survived. Fond as always of suspense, his account ended

with "continued next issue."

1979

A new job for Manley Ford in far off Louisiana forced an end to his editorship of

the Crier. 'No matter how much editors bitch about missed deadlines and

working evenings and weekends and hassling with printers, editing a paper,

particularly one like the Crier, it is .great fun. I'll miss it."

This March issue of the "Crier" reprinted the Ten Commandments, these,

however, not the familiar Mosaic commandments. "Lifted" from Car Collector and

Car Classics, these were familiar enough to "T" car owners.

I Thou shalt not store thy cars out of doors, except for thy wife's modem iron.

II Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's car, nor his garage nor his battery

charger.

III Thou shalt not love thy cars more than thy wife and children; as much, but

not more.

IV Thou shalt not read the Hemmings Motor News on company time, lest thy

employer make it impossible to continue thy car payments.

V Thou shalt not despise they neighbor's Edsel, nor his DeSoto, nor even his

47 Plymouth.

VI Thou shalt not allow thy daughters nor thy sons to get married during the

holy days of a GOF.

VII Thou shalt not deceive thy wife into thinking that thee is taking her for a

romantic Sunday drive where indeed, thou art going to look at another

car.

VIII Thou shalt not tell thy spouse the entire cost of thy latest restoration, at

least not all at the same time.

IX Thou shalt not promise thy wife a new addition to the house and then use it

to store cars? Thou shalt not store cars in the attic.

X Thou shalt not buy thy wife a floor jack for Christnas.

-Donald R.Peterson.

Plans for Ohio Chapter gatherings were fully on target, the summer meeting tl

be held in Cincinnati and the fall gathering to be a joint meeting with the Ontario

Chapter. The latter was to be hosted by Ohioan Ray Kuhar and Ontario's

Graham Johns. The site chosen was the Edinboro Castle Inn in Edinboro, Pa.

Jack Bauer continued his account of "How I spent my summer vacation." This

third installment told the story of the Bauer's adventures on the trip to and from

GOF West in Vail, Colo.

Craig Seabrook returned once again to the editor's chair with volume ten,

number two in June. The cover again featured the art of David Lawley. This

issue included a "Crier Closeup" featuring Bob Satava. Defining fully what was

meant by enthusiast, Bob had been active in Register and Ohio Chapter events

from the very beginning.

Chair Birdie Nichols led off volume ten, number three in September with a recap

of the Cincinnati gathering. The statistics alone were impressive; there were 157

registrants and 43 cars. Of these 43,30 took part in the River Rat

Rallye. Registrants included some 25 welcome guests from lndiana.

"Seabrook's Sump" reported the victory of Paul ]Johnson and Tom Scott in the

"Sea to Shining Sea" rallye, run from Long Island, N.Y. to San Diego, Calif. "They

drove Paul's TD, covered 2,800 miles in 50 hours and 28 minutes, averaging 56

mph." Craig also announced that Jack Bauer would assume Crier editorship with

the next issue.

Another "Crier Closeup" appeared, this a profile with pictures of Bob Beck and

family.

"Valve Clatter" was devoted to an article submitted by Jim Yaussy. The subject

matter was tires, and Jim wrote that "the object of all this is to show that with

proper size tires, our cars can cruise the speed limit at less than 4500 rpm." The

final page of the issue reprinted an article from the January 1.,1951., issue of Road

and Track. Titled "MG Processing," it really was an admiring account of how MGs

reached showroom floors in the United States.

In the final issue for 1979, the new editor, Jack Bauer, inkoduced a new look to

the Crier. It was the beginning of a long series of covers that featured, most often,

photographs of members or events. The photos, framed in a less than three inch

square (what his printer could accommodate), were under a neat The Lord

Nuffield Crier title.

Editor Bauer began with an interview on a trip of the previous April when Paul

Johnson had matched prediction with achievement. In July Paul had proclaimed,

"Coast to coast in a T-car can be done in under 60 hours." In Q & A style the

interview with Paul and relief driver Tom Scott told of their trip, made in Paul's

supercharged TD, from Staten Island to San Diego in 50 hours and 28 minutes.

The two men reported a series of adventures from having to pass (successfully) a

State Patrol car because the MG missed if they slowed to his speed, driving off

the side of the road when Tom fell asleep (Paul already was), a sand storm

coupled with a rain storm to make a mud storm, weather cold enough to require

mittens, and a police stop point in Arizona to check for transport of wetbacks!

Paul's retort "Yeah, they're under the hood pedaling."

There was also an account by Geri Kennard of the damage done by the aftermath

of Hurricane Frederick which dumped 5 l/2 inches of rain on Newark, flooding

their home and cars with "three-feet plus" of water. The house was Pumped out

quickly and suffered no permanent damage. Although their Chevy was

considered totale4 the Kennards refused that evaluation for "Elizabeth." "She"

was towed to shop for steam cleaning, then Will and Geri stripped her "entire

interior out, bonnet, wings, top, all chrome and trim." I{hen reported in the

Crier, a mechanic was to bug rebuilding the engine, to be followed by the

Kennards stripping the paint before a professional paint job. The account

concluded with a "thank you to all members of the club who helped."

This December issue had a Dale Horton report on the September Indian Summer

tour for "19 of us" through Clermont, Brown and Adams counties on the way to

Moyers' Winery for dinner. "Not a hint of rain" for the third Cincinnati Summer

GOF in a row. Credit was given to "our Dynamic Duos, the Bauers and the

Zyps."

|ack Smittle reported on the third Annual Picnic of Central Ohio MG-T Owners

in August, a "mix of 18 MGs, 54 friendly people and a bright sunny Sunday

afternoon."

And Ray Kuhar reported on the first joint GOOOF for the Ohio and Ontario

chapters the end of September in Edinboro, Pa. Co-chairs were Ray and Charlene

Kuhar and Graham and Glennys John of the Canadian group. It was a test of

faith when Ray committed the two chapters for a dinner for 175. On Tuesday

there were 113 registered, by the start of the Funkana 170, and finally 175. There

had been 62 recognized cars with TDs predominating.

There was an obit of sorts for the closure of the Abingdon plant after "some 54

years of continuous production of the marque." It came in the form of a reprint of

a Cincinnati Enquirer editorial titled "It a Bloody Sad Thing" by Bob Brumfield,

"an enthusiast who has restored a PA." It concluded with the following two

graphs:

Well, despite all the adverse criticism, the cars bearing the MG badge

in recent years have been excellent vehicles. Perhaps not the hairy-chested MGs

of the old "do or die" racing crowd, but sound, economical, reliable, sporty little

cars. And there's something to be said for cars whose drivers can spend more

time in them than under them.

But times change, and the economy dictated the end of the current MGVs and

Mark tr Midgets (Sprites). Now they're talking about possibly sticking *re

not-so-sacred anymore octagon on the radiator of Japanese Hondas and calling

them MGs. Which is sort of like adding a pagoda to Buckingham Castle, or King

Aurthur swinging a samurai sword.

This very full issue also announced an MG-T tour of England scheduled for June,

1980. There was a notice of the 1980 Natter'N Noggin in Mt Gilead in February,

to be hosted by Dan and Rita Glow, and Dan's technical column was titled "Care

& Feeding of Ball Bearings."

New board members for the year ahead, 1980, were announced. A new position

of trustee had been created to provide continuity.

Chairman - Paul Johnson

Membership -David Bly

Editor - Jack Bauer

Trustee - Craig Seabrook

Secretary - Nancy Seabrook

Regalia -Will Kennard

Publicity/Historian - Dave Zryp

Trustee - Birdie Nichols

And for the new 1,980 year ahead, chapter dues were being raised to $7.50 a year

to cover the increased costs of publishing the Crier.

1980

The Crier's new editor, Jack Bauer, in his first issue, reintroduced using Q & A

interviews with chapter members, or people of interest to members. Craig

Sherwood was the first to be featured, and be supplied a review, for recent

members, of the beginning of the Ohio Chapter. Craig also responded tr

questions on his first TC, bought following his sophomore year at Miami, his

break from teaching industrial arts, and the decision to expand his carpentry side

work into a full-time shop.

An editorial by Jack had been inspired by a photo of an impromptu hill climb that

tested the mettle of the participating cars. Considering their performance, Jack

wrote:

There is a lesson to this photo and it is something to remember in these

days of escalating car prices and the attraction that holds for dre

'investor.' These cars are not not museum pieces. They do not

disintegrate when in competition, on a long tout, or on a quick trip

through the countryside. Jack's reminder was that participating in local

sports car club events was more than enjoyable, it was important to the

authentic 'maintenance of the breed.'

Dave Zyp had joined in Editor Bauer's pledge to broaden the scope d

notification of MG activities. Dave had compiled an April to October events

column listing 15 events nationwide, from Daytona to Lake Tahoe and Nashville

to Peterborough, Ontario. [r Ohio there were ralleys in Cincinnati and

Cleveland, a covered bridge tour near Lancaster, area events in Cincinnati,

Cleveland, Coshocton and Ohio GOFs in Ashland and Piqua.

Dan Glow in his technical column reported on the growing popularity of the

mid-winter tech sessions that had begun in 1974 with a Saturday-only event. 'At

11 a.m. we started to tear down and rebuild a TD-TF transmission. I knew then,

based on the response that we had started something worth continuing. Many

inquiries followed as many of you picked up on doing it yourself." Dan listed the

tech topics for the past seven years and those who gave the demonstrations,

concluding with plaudits for the 1980 session's main feature on coachwork and

bodywork. 'The learning experiences made available by people like Fred and

Craig are absolutely invaluable, besides being free. I'm sure there are few, if any,

organizations today, either professional or amateur, that are presenting seminars

such as our at any price!"

Signs of the time appeared in the "spares Column." Homer Ward listed a'47 TC,

90 percent complete, for best offer over $4,000, and Ed Bowman listed his 1937

VA Tourer (4seat convertible) in "fantastic condition," including leather side

curtains, for $10,000.

The June Crier brought an account of the impromptu hill climb that topped off dre

tour of five cars from Cincinnati to Edinboro the previous fall. Dave Jackman

wrote of a trip begun in rain, the inevitable en route mechanical problems - a

leak over a wind screen for Dutch Lange, no electricity for Dave Zyp, fog and the

death of a battery for J.R. Brehm. The hill climb, inspired by a black cinder road

winding up two miles on Tunnel Hill in Jefferson County, was run by Dutch and

Dave Jackman and Zyp, withZyp having the record time. Jackman wrote,

"Needless to say, it was quite a sight to see the funny little cars throwing cinders

as they climbed the hill at speed."

The Dan Glow technical column for the issue was on Potential Internal

Coolant/Oil Mixing at Rocker Shaft Oil Feed. A Bauer editorial offered a

"reasonable proposition" that rationality and moderation did not exist when

attending the rollicking Rites of Spring weekend put on by the Mid-Tennessee

T's members.

By September, Crier readers had a Jim Yaussy report of the June trip of 10 Ohio

Chapter members to England for the Silverstone Tour. On their second day, a

Saturday, they had seen 11 short races. 'MG's of all ages raced, from early thirties

M and ] models up to late model MGB V-8s. It was amazing to us to see these T

series and other vintage MG's being raced to their absolute limits." The following

day at Silverstone was Concours day with "so many interesting MG models that

it would have been difficult to choose a best of show." There was a Thursday

tour of the MG factory in Abingdon with a walk along the assembly line to talk

with the workers, then making the last MGBs, and lunch at the Magic Midget

Pub. In between MG events there was time to explore London and, on the last

evening, an Elizabethan dinner at the Beefeater Pub. '

A report on the June Ashland GOF congratulated Tom Metcalf for

"singlehandedly organizing a fine meet" for 38 MGs, 33 of themT cars. The

results of the rallye "were very dose and ultimately decided by some impossible

tie breakers which left Dick and Phyllis Hall with the only perfect score."

In the technical column came a view of the future. Dan and Rita Glow had taken

a7,085 mile B.M.W. motorcycle trip to Victoria, British Columbia, and Dan

reported their experiences in the Midwest with "leaded" fuel having a maximum

of only &5 octane. "The moral of the story is," Dan concluded, "high octane with

lead is a thing of the past. Before the whole 'fuel thing' is sorted out, octane

numbers will probably fall to about 80." In light of this future, Dan

recommended "not milling any real amount off your cylinder head to get more

horsepower, and to "thoroughly polish the complete combustion chamber and

exhaust valve, and/or have the exhaust valve stellite welded if a supercharger is

being used."

The December Crier beg* with a Q & A story with Jack Breen who provided

some memorable quotes. "The first time I saw a T-car it was in front of a saloon,

a TC. I was still in school. I thought,'Oh boy this is it.'...and just climbed in the

guy's car and sat there and cherished it." Other selected comments by Jack:

"there weren't really that many sports cars in a range that anybody could

afford....That's the advantage of the MG, it was very inexpensive...like an MG

was $2000 and maybe a Triumph in those days was $2,500 [and] in those days

$500 was a chunk of money...The people who bought them really felt that were

doing something pretty neat... everybody waved then. It was ridiculous, but it

was fun....I suppose we felt that we had superior taste. We laughed at Detroit

iron although they were comfortable and we envied their dependability.

"In some sense we thought of them as funny cars. You had to have some sense d

humor....I remember people pulling up along side of me, Do you want to drag

me?' Sports cars were rare enough that...they thought you had a race car.

Another part of the myth was only wealthy people could afford them....A

clapped-out, beat up, old TC meant wealthy eccentric." hr response to a question

on whether Jack would restore his car, he answered "Absolutely not. There are

things that need fixing...and it needs paint, but I don't like the restored look. I

think it looks better when you can see it has been driven."

A short Associated Press story, headlined "Finally!" and datelined Abingdon

England, was reprinted in the December issue.

'The last MG rolled off the assembly line and into a museum Friday,

giving the aerodynamic little sports car an instant touch of the classic

status enjoyed by its square-grilled predecessors. The MG, long a favorite

of car buffs on each side of the Atlantic, folded after years of financial

losses despite rescue efforts. Workers picked up their last pay checks at

British Leyland factory at Abingdon near Oxford, where 1,155,032 MGs

have been made since 1929. After efforts to save the factory and the jobs

of its 800 workers, including a bid three months ago by an Aston-Martin

led consortium, government-owned British Layland shut the plant, saying

it was losing $48 million a year....British Leyland has promised spare

parts will be available for at least 10 years."

].R. Brehm offered "Membership Observations" gleened fromthe 1980 Ohio

Chapter Directory. There were 158 members who listed a total of 228 MGs.

Among the T series there were 45 TCs,109 TDs included six TD Mk IIs, and 43

TFs. There also were 4 PBs,s TAs, 7 MGAs, and two VAs and Amold Coupes.

AIso listed was one each of the J1, N4 TB, SA, Yf, YB, MG Lester and Cooper

MG.

The fall gathering in Piqua was, to no one's surprise, well organized and

executed by Dutch and Niki Lang and J.R. and Gertrude Brehm. The rallye

competition's first prize went to Susan ]ackman and her father Dave.

1981

Birdie Nichols was the subject of the March 1981 Q & A story of her love affair

with MGs. It had begun in 1959 when husband Jay bought her her first car, a

cherry red Sprite. The couple quickly moved into the area of competition with

Jay getting certified for scoring and timing school at Watkins Glen. There was

then three years of racing and volunteer registration work that began with the

very first races sponsored by the MG Car Club and SCCA at Mid-Ohio. Birdie

was a driver in her own right and remembered winning a trophy in competition

with another woman who was a national race driver. Birdie had won by four

seconds.

]a& Bauer, Dave Bunse and Paul Johnson had attended the February NEMGTR

at Mt Holyoke and Jack and Meier were unanimously "awarded the opportunity

to host the Fall Register gathering at Kings Island in 1984." The Bauers were also

the recipients of the Gardner Mulvaney Trophy for the Lord Nufuld Crier. the

meeting also brought the resignation of several of the top officers of NEMGTR,

including Dick Knudson as Register chairman and as editor of TSO. The

upheaval, Bauer reported, was unfortunate but "all these positions involve hard

work and lots of time and it is unreasonable to expect people to give all of the

time, spare and otherwise, to a volunteer club year after year."

The Crier ran a registration form for the July Ohio GOF Mark XXIII at Oglebay in

Wheeling July 17-19 and an events calendar listed 32 events between March 20

and October ll, including the Oglebay GOF and an Ohio fall GOF at Mohican

State Park. Dan Glow in his tech column focused on trouble shooting the

ignition system.

By June, a Q & A feature was on Jack and Maxine Smittle, charter and active

members of the Ohio Chapter, who also had initiated the mid-summer Central

Ohio MG picnics. They also reported on the Columbus area British Car Club

Counsel that included clubs of different English marques, such as the Jaguar and

Austin Healy Clubs, and a cooperative show once are year. Jack further

announced the 5th Annual August Picnic for Central Ohio MG-T Owners, to be

joined by the area MG-A owners.

There was also a report on the first Bluegrass Bash in Lexington, Kentucky held

in early June. It had been a weekend arranged around "those things for which

Kentucky is famous - horses and spirits - and entertained about 100

enthusiasts in a style which appears wherever MGs gather but was truly

mastered in Lexington." The Kentucky hosts also managed a tour of Spendthrift

Farm "which included standing within arms reach of some of the most expensive

and famous race horses in the world, including Affirmed, Nashua and Seattle

Slew."

In the September issue, the Crier featured an article reprinted from the Columbus

Dispatch in which reporter Robin Yokum interviewed Dave Jackman. The

reported set up the rest of the article with the lead: 'To say Dave Jackman has an

obsession with cars may be an understatement. To say he 'likes MGs' would be

absurd." The article reported a collection of 19 cars, induding every model of MG

made since the 1950s, plus a Model T, a 1924 Ford touring car, and a pair d

vintage Dodges. "What makes the collection even more unusual is that Jackman

rebuilt all his MGs from the remains of what he calls basket cases.' Taking c

long as two years and thousands of dollars on each model, he rebuilds them

from the ground up." Jackman, an attorney, explained "That's my relaxation."

The issue's tech column was a reprint from the newsletter of the Oakland,

California-based Sorry Safari Touring Society, a Chapter of the NEMGTR. The

column covered Vehicle Wiring complete with directions, Starting System Quick

Checks and a chart of Tests for the Voltmeter Connections.

The year wound down with a December issue devoted mostly to a Q & Awith

Dave Zyp on a July trip with Bill Forbess to the GOF-West in Spokane, Wash.

Despite advance AAA routings, plans changed by Indianapolis; they would

detour to Colorado Springs and climb Pikes Peak. They arrived late morning

ready to go only to be barred because of "catastrophic conditions." This, they

later learned, meant there was ice and snow and 34 degrees.

Describing the climb, Dave reported "It was slow fun. We did not play Pikes

Peak Hill Climb. We never overheated, we did not experience any vapor lock,

the car ran perfectly all the way." Being one of the first cars to reach the top,

Dave said, paid off because the up bound lane deteriorated with traffic. Passing

upbound cars thoroughly muddied the TD, which Dave "considered a badge of

something, so, I refused to wash my car." Next was a stop at Yellowstone for a

raft trip on the Snake River. Once at the GOB his dirty car earned him a display

slot next to "the infamous dirty Sally from the west coast " (who/whatever that

was). The Spokane hosts had put on "a super, super meet " and Dave and Bill

took the distance award.

Pat and Victoria Zyp and Jackie Forbess flew out for the GOF and after some

vacationing, all flew home, except Dave. Driving back by himself "definitely left

me with feelings of adventure and there were times when I felt quite alone,

particularly coming across Nevada and Wyoming where the off ramp goes 50

yards and then disappears into a field." Was there a feeling of accomplishment?

"Most definitely. My car performed well, I didn't get as tired as I had expected

and I genuinely enjoyed myself. The experiences - such as coming through a

draw out of Salt Lake City and having my car slow down because the wind was

blowing too hard, just like a big venturi -were something to remember." But

the high point of the trip had been "climbing Pikes Peak."

The December Crier listed two new officers, Phyllis Hall and Tom Baumgarbrer:

other officers were unchanged.

Chairman - PauI fohnson

Membership -David Bly

Regalia -Tom Baumgarbrer

Editor - Iack Bauer

Spares -Larry Wilson

Secretary - Phyllis Hall

Treasurer - Rita Glow

Tedrnical - DanGlow

Publicity - Dave Zyp

A few announcements were added, a tech column titled Centre Lock Knock Off

Wheel Maintenance, and the names of 14new member couples.

1982

Crier editor Bauer began the March issue, the first of the year, with the

observation that "The more I see of Register people, the more apparent is the

diversity in our ranks. That diversity is, however, a function of something

shared by the vast majority - an absence of passivity. We do things." This

launched an atypical Q & A feature with Scott and Elaine Rasey who while

restoring their TD had also restored their residence, a farm house nearly 170

years old. The house was apparently a far more interesting project than the TD,

which was barely mentioned.

The enthusiasm of those attending the winter Tech Session had been "what

makes it all worthwhile," Dan Glow wrote in his tech column, but he gave no

mention to the topic. Will and |eri Kennard had handled the arrangements for

the session and Natter'N Noggin. Dan limited his advice in the column of

recommendations on the T Series Handbook by Dick Knudson and Chip Old, a

"truly excellent publication." Dick had composed "a terrific T-Series history,

documented with sales brochures, and invaluable for the true enthusiast." Chip's

tech articles, reproduced from TSO were a "down to earth presentation d

technical material, the content of which is not found elsewhere, is easy to

understand, very accurate and of genuine value."

Dan also gave "the very highest marks for quality" to Rhode Island Wiring

Service in Kingston, R.I. The people make the finest cloth bound wiring

harnesses that Ive ever seen. They provide tags on the ends of the wires giving

their exact location. This makes wiring a T-series a breeze for anyone. They even

tin the ends of all the wires."

Chapter chairman Paul Johnson wrote of the Natter'N Noggin as one of the best

ever, with 62 at the banquet, including so many new faces he didn't get to speak

to them all. He had attended the national natter at Sturbridge, Mass. and

reported, happily, that Dick Knudson had been convinced to stay as number one

by promising that many of the more routine and time consuming functions of the

job be assigned to an as yet unnamed general secretary. Dick would also stay on

as editor of The Sacred Octagon.

At Sturbridge, Paul had also been challenged by Michigan Chapter members

who "have regrouped and informed me they are going to take back the

Ohio-Michigan Beaulieu Cup and at the same time take back from Ontario d:re

national Beaulieu Cup." Competition had lapsed the year before but "the

challenge has been made." Those driving to GOF MK XXXIV at North Conway,

N.H. were urged to keep keep track of their mileage. "The usual rules apply. Two

or more cars must travel together from a common starting point." Paul

concluded with a special note. 'I heard that the reason they drink warm beer in

England is because they use LUCAS refrigerators."

For the June, 1982 Crier, Editor Bauer returned to his Q & A format with an

interview with Dick and Phyllis Hall, beginning with the national prizes they

collected in the national big bore drag racing scene prior to their interest in MGs.

Dick had started in drag racing, began racing a '6.3 Steel car-after driving it

140,000 miles on the street, and moved on to the Hemi car, a factory built 1965

426 Plymouth, built --only 100 of them-- and sold for racing only. It was fast,

"134 MPH in 10.2 seconds in a quarter mile. That is Pretty fast. Count to 10

seconds and that is a quarter mile from a standing start."

The move from big bore racing to "obsolete short track club racers" came when

Dick "could not keep up timewise. The kids were getting bigger and I could not

keep the maintenance up om the car. I couldn't keep up all the weekends."

The move to MGs came when Dick "just stumbled on the TD....If you appreciate

cars, you see a decent car and you appreciate it. I sort of lean toward specialty

products [and] each car was particularly different." He bypassed track racing

because 'how that I have the TD in the shape it is, I really don't want to tear it

up. When I race, I want to be competitive, I mean very competitive." From the

TD Di& next bought an SA, "more of a family car," and he "needed a project "

which took two winters. "When I got it, eight valves needed to be replaced."

Then came an M-type. Phyllis was not left out of the interview: "His race cars

always had really nice work and nice paint jobs. Nobody was allowed to touch

them....I think once you see a pretty TD you get the same value out of it."

Editor Bauer reported seven cars had gone to North Conway and their

aggregate mileage per the Beaulieu Cup rules, was just over 6,000 miles,

sufficient to secure for the Ohio Chapter a victory in the 1982 Ohio-Michigan

Beaulieu Cup competition and the third in a row. There was reference to

Michigan's prior domination of the contest, "second only in sport to the National

League domination of the all star series."

Jack Smittle offered his own challenge a "BRAT" rallye, the reference being to the

Bucyrus Rallye and Tour with the brats to be roasted by "Doc" Yaussy. Dan Glow

in his tech column offered a list of spares he would carry while touring in a

T-series, and why. The list ran to23 items. Under "Spares," Larry Wilson listed a

"1932 MG K-1 Magnette, body wood salvageable, balance OK for patterns," and a

1927 Frankliin Series 1LB Victoria Coupe for $13,500. Listed under "New

Members" were the names of 17 individuals or couples.

In the September Crier,1982, came an interview with Howard Goldman, who

had bought Moss Motors from Al Moss five years earlier. Editor Bauer had

interviewed Goldman and his principal competitor, Gerry Goguan, at the

GOF-West in Santa Barbara in August, and promised the Goguan interview in the

next Crier. Excerpted comments by Goldman explain his expansion of the

business.

I have had a T-series since 1949 so it is not new to me." [He had bought it

from Al Moss.] Sometimes in management, after 27 years in one business,

you get stale....The opportunity came along. I knew the potentials as a

businessman. Also, I believe strongly that you can enjoy a business even

more it it can give you back something in return besides money, in this

case, [my] hobby....I have other interests, but at the same time they relate

to hobbies. I fly and collect airplanes, collect antique cars and boats, I

have done some work on all of them. I am building an experimental

aircraft.

But the challenge of Moss was not difficult....It is an extremely vital

company. [Regarding substantial changes at Moss,] We have a lot of good

young men that wanted to grow [so we went into Triumphs, Healys, B's

and A's]. I cannot take credit for that. The men saw the opportunity to

expand....[and] we got into upholstery. [Regarding expanded computer

capacity and an East Coast warehouse], We had to expand to get closer to

our market and we have to respond faster. An MGB might be the only

means of transportation and you're not going to wait 10 days for a part

to come from California. [Acknowledging the motivation behind his

Jaguar dealership was to get the part wire from BL], Seeing the Jaguar

facility and the attitude of their management one cannot help but

become a little excited and realize the potential of the Jaguar to become

the new in-car. Mercedes and BMW will have run their course.

The complete Goldman interview took up half of the September issue, leaving

room for a February 1983 Natter N' Noggin registration form, a tech column Dan

Glow interview with Fred Kuntz on the basics and fine points of painting, plus an

account of the Ohio Chapter GOF XXVI inBucyrus (the BRAT meet) that drew

121people and 37 MGs.

1983

The first Crier of 1983 carried the dateline, December 1982/March 1983 and

opened with the promised interview with Gerry Goguan. He was introduced by

Bauer as "having been operating Abingdon Spares for a considerable time,

during most of which he was primarily engaged as a player with the Boston

Symphony Orchestra, selling pistons and spark plugs on the side. However, the

parts business grew and now represents Gerry's principal vocation." Goguan

played trumpet and had been in both the Boston Symphony and the Pops.

I bought a brand new TD in '53. It was, at that time, the most popular

foreign car sold in this country. In my apartment building, a guy in a TD

used to wake me up every moming [driving down]a long driveway and

a dirt road fulI of bumps....I just could not believe the sound that this guy

was making....One day I talked with him in the yard and right after that I

went to a dealer and tried one and bought it. I got so excited driving it I

wanted to become a dealer....I used to go to Inskip [in New York City] to

talk about cars....So I became a dealer [in 1955]. I picked up a TF 1500, the

first to get one, for a local motor show. The next year I was the first to get

an MGA, again for the February show."

In the late '50s I started buying T-types. We used to have double rehearsal

in a day and I had about three hours to kill [at Foreign Motors in Boston].

While chatting, these cars would be coming in and I started buying them.

Once, there was this one for about $750. He said it needed an engine job.

It was black with red leather, so I bought it, took it home, took the head

off - a blown head gasket. I put a new gasket on and the thing just sung.

Then I started buying these cars, restoring and selling them and soon I

started collecting parts....People who knew I had extra parts would

call....I decided that if there is a demand in it, maybe I should start looking

for parts instead of cars.

One day Foreign Motors called to say [they were dropping parts] and to

come get theirs. It took days to carry this stuff home....Traveling with the

orchestra I was going to dealers combing out their parts. I bought out

Inskip in New York [and] Manhattan Motors in Washington D.C. [when

they moved into Maryland]. There were a lot of new and used parts, but

nice, clean and everything tagged.

I used to spend my four week holiday in England, a knap-sack on my

back. I went to Birmingham, highly industrialized.... and realized 'That's

it!' I started walking around and knocking on doors, 'Can you do this?'

'Sure, how many?' What is the price?' Every year I would do that and to

this day I have the same people...I have 186 suppliers. [Regarding

pre-war stock] I have had them for a long time [but] I have mostly

electrical and brakes....I [plan to stay with the T-series.] Ten years ago, my

wife told me the age of restoration of the T-type is over, and this year was

the first that it let up. Is it the times or the economy? Will there be a point

where these cars are all restored? In England I was warned years ago that

I should go into the MGAs.

I have 36 different models of MG. I have some cars that I have had for

years, some running chassis, and enough used parts that I can bring them

back to life and I want to. I bought a building in Vermont [with a

restoration shop in the back] and hope to have my museum there. I have

25 cars that are good enough for a museum. I can put them in without

touching them.

Goguan had left the orchestra four years before the interview but had taken on

his town's 'big band era group" that performed six times a year to raise money

for music scholarships.

The remainder of the December/March issue had a center section registration for

the fuly 1983 XXVII summer GOF at Quaker Square in Akron, checks payable to

Dick Hall, and a short story on the meet by the Halls.

In the June 1983 issue Editor Bauer opened with an interview with George and

Doris Dorris, then of Jackson, Texas. They had had "one of the more disastrous

events that can happen in the Iives of old car enthusiasts, a garage fire." The

interview reviewed in detail what Bauer had reported briefly in the preceding

issue.

"George had parked in his garage a newly acquired TC to occupy the space

beside the green premier TC (the second place premier car at Jekyll Island) and

the Morgan....Apparently, a trickle of gasoline coming from the TC made contact

with a kerosene heater and the resulting explosion and fire wrote off the green

TC, severely damaged the new TC (an original low mileage car), a Morgan and

most of his pars and tools....The house was badly smoke damaged."

In the in-person interview, more damage was reported. Also lost was the hood tr

a TD, though it was parked outside, and fire damage to the front of an MGA'

George was planning to restore "what's left" of the two TCs, a '46 and a'49,but

said only of the Morgan, "it's bad news." The report also gave evidence d

support and sharing of parts from fellow MG owners.

Chairman Johnson urged attendance at the upcoming GOF in Baltimore to retain

the Michigan/Ohio chapter Beaulieu Cup Challenge noting the determination

voiced by the Michigan Chapter to recapture the cup. Dan Glow wrote d

burned valves and Manley Ford contributed a short report on the MS Safety Fast

Championship, a part of the Southern Vintage Racing Association's fall event in

Atlanta. Ohio's only entrant, Tom Scott, had finished second in the street class

race. The events calendar listed 1,0 more events before a fall GOF in Perrysburg.

By September the Crier had a report of the NEMGTR GOF in Baltimore, which

had been attended by 19 families and 12 cars. The Ohio Chapter had won the

Ohio/Michigan Beaulieu Cup for the second consecutive year with 6,489

aggregate miles. And Ohioans took other awards: 1st Vintage - Dick Hall 1st,

Post War Variant - Tom Baumgartner; and Honorable Mention TC - Paul

]ohnson. Ken and Kathy Kubick had come in first in the rallye.

Editor Bauer's report on the mid-luly Ohio GOF, number XXVII, was headlined,

"Lordy, Lordy, What a Party!" The meet had been "within the typical framework

of the July GOF, nothing really typical ever happens." ft was host Dick Hall's

birthday, members slept in the a converted grain elevator (the Quaker Square

Hilton), and there had been the surprise appearance of "the dancing girl and her

related equipment-I mean the bells and balloons." Bauer also had attended the

fall NEMGTR in Cooperstown to promote the Register's national meet that the

Bauers would host at King's Island in September. Of interest on his 750 mile run

home was that he had averaged 56.5 mph, "and I never drove faster than 58!"

The Q & A feature for the issue was an interview with Dan Glow. It covered his

partnership in a motorcycle business, his ongoing affair with MGs from age 15,

and numerous trips, including racing with Bob Satava in the latter's car at Lime

Rock. But the essence of the interview was the relationship Dan and Rita had

with other MG owners; the people were of more value than the cars. Excerpted

comments from Dan reflect his fondness for and admiration of MG people.

What really keeps you coming back all the time is the people involved.

The guy who calls you up on the phone and says, 'Hey Dan, I have a

problem with this,' and you say 'Well, I will be over in a little while and

we will see if we can't work it out.' Likewise, if you are in houble and

you say, 'Hey, how about loaning me a rear end or loaning me an axle,' cr

whatever the case may be, the guy comes right over with it. And it isn't

just the par! it's the thought behind it that counts and the fact that he's

doing it for you. I don't think there is another group in the world like

that.

I used to carry the master Register listing of members by np

codes...because it gave you people by geographical location. In one case

in Alabama...Rita and I rapped on this guy's door and he said 'come right

on in' and we were there until midnight. I think there has got to be some

sort of attraction between a certain type personality, a certain composure,

who tend to get along with each other and who like the cars.

Once I was too late on a hotel reservation so we spent the night with

Birdie and fay Nickols in their room. It's the kind of thing tr

do....Somebody in the Register comes up to your place and knocks on

your door and you say, 'Yeah,sure come on in. Have a beer. Have coffee.

You want to stay over night? We have a room. Here's the key to the joint.'

That is the fellowship of the club.

Of the future, Dan said he expected to see more professional restorations, though

his pleasure came from doing his own work, as did "most of the hard core of the

Register." Looking at the Register membership, the recent growth had been

"phenomenal" with a current membership of six or seven thousand. Other MG

groups in the west were having the same growth. "So the question becomes, do

we reach a plateau and fractionalize, or does it keep going? I think we will see a

lot more local chapters." He thought there would be some segments such as

racing, which was getting more popular with "more guys in the competition end

of it." And he thought "the trend of the show car is diminishing. People are

driving them more now because they were restored more mechanically sound

than before."

The December Crier 1983 brought a report by Walt Foster who with his wife,

Rhea Mae, concluded a tour through England with a visit to "the MG Holyland,

Abingdon." There was a report titled "Toledo Was Terrific" with plaudits to Bob

and Christie Bellaire, chairs of the Ohio fall GOF. And there was on "Open

insurance Letter" from Will Kennard, CPCU, discussing the policies members

had on their T-cars. The focus was on homeowners policies and auto coverage,

and the basic coverage he recommended. It was an example of what Dan Glow

had spoken of, members helping members. Dan's tech column spoke to "quality

driving techniques that would increase the life of any and all components in

your MG."

1984

There were two Crier issues for 1984, the consequence, undoubtedly, of the editor

Jack Bauer's responsibility, with Meier, for the upcoming NEMGTR GOF at

Kings Island September 20-23. The |une issue stories explained the many events

and were impressive as an indication of the work the Bauers and others had put

into the national gathering. Addie Johnson would be responsible for registration

and the hospitality room Al Moss would oversee an event called "The Wizard

Mechanic's Contest " and there would be the traditional art display where

balloting would judge photographs, models and are and crafts. Special events

would include "The Great Steamboat Adventure," a "Valley Vineyards Steak Fry"

and a trip to the Cincinnati Zoo. And there would be technical seminars

organized by Dan Glow and offered by him, Craig Seabrook, Al Moss and Fred

Kuntz.

To get members out of their cars there would be 'The Great Volleyball

Challenge," and to get them back in there would be a funkhana. The schedule

included a "Meet the Board" reception, a "First Timers Car Display," and a dinner

at the National College Football Foundation's Hall of Fame. A rally was planned,

with an explanation of the spelling - without a final "e".

Normally Register rallys are designated by that word spelled in the

British fashion, with the final "e". Not so in this instance, and for a very

good reason. British rallyes are direct descendants of the Mille Miglia and

Ulster Trials - at which MGs established their racing heritage - but

which are essentially open end road races on public streets. The object is

to cover the course according to the route instructions in the shortest

possible time. They are most closely related in this country to the SCCA

Ito Rally series, i.e. staged events for which the insurance and equipment

destruction costs are not comprehensible to people of ordinary means.

To avoid the astronomical cost and to permit larger participatiory the

sports car dubs formed when the T-Series cars were new created a new

form of precision driving event called the Time-Speed-Distance $SD)

Rally. Therefore, this type of contest is really more appropriate for the

T-cars than 'Rallye' and it is of this type that our rally has been

constructed. The event...will lead you through the neighboring

countryside a distance of about 30 miles. If you are unfamiliar with this

sort of competition, fear not. This is a short, low speed event in which

there are no course-following problems (traps)....The unequipped and

inexperienced may be reassured to know that this writer and spouse have

competed in and won rallys of this type with no working odometer in the

TD. But,win or not, they have always been enjoyable.

Paul ]Johnson was to be the rally master and the Miami Valley Sports Car Club

(formed in 1955by MG owners) would provide the control workers and time

equipment. On Saturday evening, a traditional final event was scheduled -

cocktail pary,dinner and silent auction, and the after-banquet announcement d

"award winners." jack ended the issue saying "Meier and I see this gathering as

having a party for our friends. It is a large party. We hope to entertain you as a

guest. And to part as friends."

The next Crier issue was dated December and brought some new contributors to

the publication. It opened with a Tom Metcalf brief travelog of his and Diane's

four-day trip to the NEMGTR Register 20th Anniversary GOF at North Conway,

N.H. fuly 48. They did not drive an MG, but Diane's new Jetta GLI. "Everytime

we saw an MG of any sort we wished we had driven one -as we were cruising

along 65-70 mph and listening to the Beatles in air conditioned comfort." But a

Tom analogy on the sunny-bright to wet and dreary weather was pure MG: "It

was like the difference between the outside and inside of a freshly plated TC

radiator shell." The GOF offered "goodies from England" sold by John Marks d

Vintage Restorations and Barry Walker and more MG wares peddled by Dave

Zyp. A Friday night steak fry was capped with Dick Knudsen's "famous Trust

Me auction."

The NEMGTR directors, Tom reported, had "added class to the 20th Anniversary

banquet by donning black tuxes." But the real class, Tom wrote, was the business

side of the evening "when the Ohio Chapter stood tall. Of the 98 MGs displayed,

Ohio Chapter cars totaled the most miles to snare the coveted Beaulieu Cup."

George and Doris Dorris were there in their black TC, "one of those that got

fried" in their 1983 fire, and they took the distance award for 1,550 miles from

their new residence in Jackson, Tenn. And the 'biggie, the award for premier

class," went to Dick and Phyllis Hall for "their perfect SA." A note on the trip

home was that "Fred Kuntz and Bob Satava did the Mt Washington hill climb in

their slick twin BRG TCs, two former premier winners."

Sharon Hasek reported on the mid-July meet at Denison University in Granville

hosted by Dave and Nancy Gaston. Twenty-five T-cars were there plus two Bs

and 3 As and "some newcomers." Back were George and Doris Dorris, who won

the Distance Award for 2,719 miles. The funkhana was won by Dick Hall, and

the photo contest, for the second season, went to Jack and Eileen Hall. A new

award that year, The Crushed Car Award, "went unfortunately to Josh

Hoffman."

Jm Yaussy contributed a report about a reliability run around Iake Michigan as

a navigator for Paul |Johnson The event had been organized by the Chicago MG

group and was run on a handicap basis, like the marathons of the early seventies.

The run began in Libertyville, Ill. and went counter-clockwise around the lake to

end in Milwaukee for the GOF Central. With temperatures in the forties, Jim

subscribed to 'Jack Breen's theory that the amount of fun at an MG meet is

directly proportional to how miserable you are." After 14 hours and 41 minutes

and 84O miles, they were the third car in. Eight of the nine starters finished.

Paul's TC had run perfectly the whole time.

The chairman's column was by Will Kennard, successor to Paul Johnson, who

had led the chapter for six years. Will reported that under Paul "our

memberships, treasury and spirit were the strongest they have ever been." Paul's

"crowning glory' came at Kings Island when he was presented the Founders

Award by the New England MGT Register. This is not an annual award; it is

given sparingly to persons who have contributed a great deal to the furtherance

of the MGT on a national as well as local level." There followed a notice, with

names, of 48 new members.

New officers for 1985 had been elected and were reported.

Chairman -Will Kennard

Publicity - Dale Schuster

Spares -Dave Zyp

Editor - Jack Bauer

Secretary - Rita Glow

Membership -J.R.Brehm

Technical - Dan Glow

At Large - Paul Johnson

1985

For the first Crier in 1985, in lune, Editor Bauer returned to his Q & A format in

an interview with Owen 'Jim" Williams, "friend, neighbor, T enthusiast, and a

metallurgical engineer." Jack's TD had had a crank shaft break and his question

for ]Jim was "Why?" After establishing that Jim was "acquainted with state of the

art in metallurgy, alloy manufacturing and heat treating," and had examined and

tested the broken crankshaft, Jack pressed him for details. Jim began with the

following:

Examination of the fracture itself revealed it to be fairly typical of a

fatigue failure with the very smooth section being where the crack had

propagated over a period of time and the courser grain type fracture

being the sudden brittle failure when the crankshaft ultimately let go. The

crack appears to have started in a groove left in the radius of the journal

by the machining process. I spark tested the broken part for material

composition. The spark test indicates probably a.30 to .35 percent carbon

steel with the possibility of a little bit of chrome, but I believe ifs basically

a straight carbon It is a very low alloy forged steel. The hardness test

came out with a rockwell C hardness of 12 to 15 both on the journal and

counter weight. It was the same hardness, so I really don't believe that

the crankshaft had any heat treatment on it other than probably being

normalized and tempered after forging 35 years ago.

Enough? The technical explanation went on for six pages and this chronicler lost

it in the first graph.

Will Kennard, Paul Johnson and Dick Bauer had attended the February

NEMGTR Natter and directors meeting where there was the first mention of an

Ocean to Ocean T Tourist Trophy race in 1986. One report explained the

relationship between the Register and chapters.

General discussion centered around local chapter organization and the

specific guidelines for the formation of a chapter unit of the Register.

Essentially, it would appear that the only guidelines really in existence

are that the events of local chapters be scheduled so as not to conflict with

those of the Register and that members of local chapters be at least

requested to join the Register. Most of you are aware that the Ohio

Chapter by-laws require that membership in the Ohio Chapter be

accompanied by membership in the Register. [Please do so] so as tr

remain a member in good standing of the Ohio Chapter.

Announcement was made of the second Mid-West MG-T Reliability Run that

would be in conjunction with the GOF Central at Indianapolis July 18-21, 1985.

Entry fee was $10. And Jack Smittle wrote of "an opportunity for members of the

Ohio Chapter of the New England MG-T Register to be involved with the fast

growing interest in vintage and historic racing." The Central Ohio British Car

Club Council, in cooperation with the Southeast Vintage Racing Association was

to sponsor the third Annual British Car Days at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

in Lexington the end of June. All individuals driving older British sports cars

would "get a low admission charge and have the chance to take your MG a

couple of laps around the circuit behind a race car."

Dan Glow had a form in the Crier asking for the level of interest in a list d

technical subjects. Responses would help him schedule presentations for future

Ohio Chapter mid-winter tech seminars.

The success of the national GOF Mk XXXIX of the fall of 1984 was recounted by

Dave Bauer, who with Meier had masterminded the planning and execution d

the gathering. The events announced in the 1984 June issue had all gone as

anticipated, "solely due to the hour upon hour of plain hard work contributed by

all those people who ran things and helped others run them." T-owner members

there by Saturday had topped 350 and the First Timer's car display of almost 60

cars had been the largest ever. The lively spirit of the Saturday evening banquet

received an outside evaluation by a member of the Jazz group that played during

the evening: "A great gig, man! Great gig."

Closing this first issue of 1985 was a comments column by Chairman Will

Kennard who wrote of a new competition announced at the national natter-the

John Boiteau Memorial Award for the creator of the magazine cover voted 'best"

from among the six issues of. The Sacred Octagon published each year. Members

could submit color photographs suitable for a cover.

The second and December Crier of 1985 was full of photos and an announcement

of the February Natter'N Noggin to be hosted again by Jim and Miriam Yaussy

at the L K Motor Inn in Marion. A short report on the fall Sandusky Buy

Gathering, hosted by Tom and Diane Metcalf, noted that 'Tom has hosted or

been involved in hosting more Ohio Chapter events than he probably cares to

think about." Thirty-eight MG Cars were on display, there had been a pizza and.

toasted marshmallows party on the beach,lunch on a ferry steamer, and a

kidkhana. Jim Pesta and Linda Reef, attending their first Ohio Chapter event,

won the rally, on which there was further comment. "My recollection of the

Metcalf rallies of the past, including the recent edition is that they are terribly

difficult unless you just happen to think as Tom does."

The biggest news was the changing of the editor of The Lord Nuffield Crier. Jack

Bauer, after more than six years, was retiring from the job and Jim Williams

would take over as the new editor. Jim wrote: 'Jack will be a hard act to follow.

He has made the Crier an outstanding publication with the proof being the two

Gardner Mulvaney Awards he has won." Jim's primary objective as editor

would be to "maximize service to the membership." He asked for articles

whether long or short, funny or sad, technical or just interesting information.

Will Kennard added his comments: "Jack has toiled at this difficult and often

thankless job for six years. He has brought honors to himself and the Ohio

Chapter by twice winning the Gardner Mulvaney Award...presented to the

editor of the best local chapter news letter by the New England MG T Register."

During Jack's six years, the Crier had been recognized as the best of the chapter

newsletters and no other Gardner Mulvaney awards had been awarded during

that period.

Jack himself had a farewell editorial, recounting his experiences in keeping the

printing price low by using "a small offset press printed as a moonlight activity."

The size of the Crier had been dictated by the size of the press, "the largest image

[the owner]could print, but "he had been both reasonable and willing to lay a

half-tone image on the cover" by hand feeding slipsheets between covers as they

came off the press.

Jack concluded: "Editing the Crier has given us [Jack and Meier] exposure to

more of the things going on in the MG world and the people making them

happen than any other activity we could have gotten into. Well, there was the

Kings Island GOF. For all the willing cooperation and cheerful help, we are

permanently grateful." jack's hallmark as editor, the Crier interview, "an idea

stolen from Manley Ford, who stole it from Craig" had followed "the guiding

principle Meier and I adopted at the outset...that people are more important than

cars...even in a car dub."

The editor's position would not be the only change among the officers. An

election at the fall gathering had resulted in several officers continuing in their

positions, some shifts in responsibility and a couple of new names.

That was it for 1985 and the editorship era of jack Bauer.

1986

With the March 1986 issue of. The Lord Nuffield Crier, Owen J. Williams, Jim to

most of us, took over as editor. He brought a more factual orientation than his

predecessor, Jack Bauer, who had generally used a narrative approach. The new

issue returned to noting volume and number, in this case 17 and 1, as well as

date. The issue was without feature material but, in line with Jim's stated

objective "to maximize service to the membership," there was a focus on

announcements and straight information. The issue had a new look with a red

octagon on the cover.

The title page again listed the chapter's officers.

Chairman -Will Kennard

Past Chairman - Paul Johnson

Publicity - Dale Schussler

Technical - Dan Glow

Regalia -George and

Sharon Hasek

Treasurer -Rita Glow

Secretary -Phyllis Hall

Membership -J.R. Brehm

Spares -Dave Zyp

Editor- Owen J. Williams

Additionally, the hosts of Ohio Chapter events for the year were Jim and Miriam

Yaussy for the Natter'N Noggin, Dick and Phyllis Hall for the July GOF XXXIII

and J.R. and Gertrude Brehm for the fall GOF XXXIV. Jim ran a welcome list of

the 16 new members, the familiar regalia offerings, and a registration form for

the July gathering - to be at Roscoe Village. The list of events, 16 in all,

included a full range of state and national events and this time, international -

a Register hip to South Africa. Dan Glow's technical column was there, this time

on Trouble Shooting the Ignition System.

New twists were found in the Spares xChange where Dave Zyp wrote briefly of

"what is new in the market place" such as parts available in the Moss Motors

spring sale and his opinions, such as 'The dash switch that is offered is better

than no switch and has a very friendly price, but be advised that the knob is very

wrong and not easy to remove." There was a description of the Ohio Chapter by

membership chair J.R. Brehm, and an application form to pass out to

nonmembers.

An introduction to the British MG Car Club noted membership perks, which

included the monthly magazine Safety Fast, and touted the publication as a

winner of Thoroughbred & Classic Cars "Club Magazine of the Year Award," which

was "packed with news, features, technical tips, sales and wants." And there was

an MG Car Club overseas membership application form. Also new was the

inclusion of a separate listing of the Central Ohio club's events calendar.

Will Kennard's "Chairman's Comer" column reviewed the February NatterN'

Nogin hosted by the Yaussys, and called attention to a cover photo on the

August 1985 TIE Sacred Octagon submitted by Dave Bly, which was repeated on

the new membership forms of the NEMGTR membership forms. Will reported

on the national Natter in Springfield, Mass., and for new members explained:

"This National N&N is where directors of the NEMGTR meet to discuss plans

and establish guidelines for the upcoming years." And there was to be an

increase in the size of T5O, from 48 to 64 pages, without any increase in dues!

Dave Zyp, in a one-page article, wrote of the Register's June 21- July 10 Ocean to

Ocean "T" Tourist Trophy trip, planned by Hank Rippert of the national board.

It was routed through Columbus and Ohio chapter members not making the

whole 2000 mile trip could participate for as little as 50 miles or join the tour in

Pittsburg and travel as far as Indianapolis in "what should be the largest rolling

GOF we will ever see."

In the June Crier, Will Kennard in his chairman's column gave information on the

annual Father's Day Stan Hywet Car Show in Akron, vintage car racing at

Mid-Ohio and the Spring National GOF in Toronto and information on the

Ocean to Ocean trip stop in Columbus. He added a pep-talk to Ohioans for "an

unprecedented fifth win" in the Michigan-Ohio Beaulieu Cup competition.

Editor Williams offered a reprint of a short informational piece titled "Cost

Cutting" as a prospect for the country's auto industry in 1990s.

According to a poll done by Arthur Anderson & Company, the North

American auto industry will have to cut costs by 25 percent by 1990 if it is

to remain competitive. Also in the firm's fore cash by 1995 a gallon of

unleaded gas should cost $1.50; passenger car fuel economy should

increase from 26 mpg now to 32 by 1995; by 1990 new car ownership will

last five years and the expected life of a new car will be 10 years; full size

cars will account for 19 percent of the U.S. market and auto industry

employment will drop five percent per year through 1990.

There were new registration forms for the early-July national GOF XLII in

Toronto and an August Indy GOF in Nashville, Indiana. And the regular

informational columns were there, including Dan Glow's tech column, "Valve

Clatter," that listed the results of his earlier poll on preferred subjects for tech

sessions at winter natters. The top six (with two ties) were, in order, Carbs and

Fuel Pumps, Brakes, Transmission and Clutch, Electrical Wiring and Charging

Circuits, Ignition Systems and Engine Rebuilding.

Dave Zyp in Spare xChange gave a list of spares he always traveled with, all

packed (with a few exceptions) in a water tight .50 caliber ammo box. The list

ran to some 40 items that he "wouldn't leave home without." Some other parts

for the long hauls including axle shaft generator and "ladies nylon hose - color

optional - which make a fan belt for water pump if the generator has to be

taken out of the loop."

A fall issue for 1986, Vol. 17, No. 3 was not in among the Criers available to the

writers and undoubtedly carried an account of the fabled Ocean to Ocean trip.

But since the oft-told tales of this trip should always be recounted in the first

person, newer members are encouraged to ask about it from those Ohio Chapter

members who made the 2000 mile trip. Those planning "to participate in the

ordeal," as reported by Will Kennard in the June issue, were: Bill and Maxine

Murray, Leonard and Alice Lee Sargent, Dave Zyp and Jim Williams, Jim Pesta

and Roy Wood, and Barry Carter and Pat Downey.

The next available issue was for December, with registration forms for the

upcoming January Natter N Noggin. In the "Chairman's Comer," Will Kennard

congratulated Dave Bly for winning the John Boiteau Memorial Award for the

best cover photo used on The Sacred Octagon. It showed Dave's award-winning

green TC being used as the Chase Car for a hot-air balloon rallye. Will reported

the chapter had added over5O member families in 1984 and he gave a quick

preview of a spring GOF in Cincinnati and a fall GOF at Punderson State Park.

The issue ran two articles, the first being "The OOTTT, A South African

Viewpoint " reprinted from the South African Airways Flying Springbok. The

author, Norman Ewing, chairman of the South African MG Car Club, had

participated in the Ocean to Ocean trip and was the organizer of the 1986 MG

Indaba (Zulu for "get together") in Johannesburg. The second article, "African

MG Tour, An American Viewpoint," was by Ohio Chapter members Roy and

Lois Wood. High points of the three-week hip had been a concours in

Johannesburg with 300 MGs, a welcoming dinner with 600 people, a party at a

crocodile farm with a torch-lit war dance by 30 Zulu warriors, and a luxurious

Blue Train trip from Capetown to Johannesburg. The out-of-country visitors had

included 31 Americans, six Dutch, four Australians, two English and a family of

five from Bahrain.

Jack and Meier Bauer offered an account of traveling with Kate (about two) on 'h

long ride in a T-car" to the national gathering in Albany. Despite adventures, it

was an encouraging account for other parents of young children. And they won

the distance award. Dave Zyp, in Spare xChange, wrote of his work on some d

the cars that were on the OOTTT that had needed major repairs. He reported,

"Of the cars with head or valve troubles, all experienced some of the same

symptoms which can be attributed to not having enough lead in our gas." And

Editor Williams ended the issue with a notice that the Vintage MG Club d

Chicago was attempting to buy stainless steel valves (four times the life d

regular valves) in sufficient quantity to keep the cost to around $1+$16 per

value.

1987

Editor Williams altered the look of the Crier for the new year with a drawing of

an MG TA Tickford on the cover. A short cutline read: "Made 1938 to1939.

Approdmately 252 Produced." On the title page, the GOF hosts for 1987 Ohio

Chapter events were the Yaussy's for the Natter N' Noggin, the Bauers for GOF

XXXV in the spring and Ralph and Florence Tenney for the fall GOF, number

XXXVI.

This March issue was spare, with GOF registration info and forms. In the

"Chairman's Comer," Will Kennard reported that nine Ohio Chapter members,

all wearing matching rugby shirts, had attended the February New England

Natter'N Noggin in Springfield, Maine. He reported that "each chapter can

obtain liability insurance for meets at no charge from the New England Register."

hr "Scribes from the Glow," Dan wrote of the Yaussy's Natter, and apologized for

not getting to the TC steering portion of his technical presentation. He had

covered the hydraulic/mechanical brake portion. An uncertainty "about which

way the 'dished washer' should be oriented had been clarified by john Linn and

there was an illustration showing the correct position.

hr Spare xChange, Dave Zyp reported on "some nice cars for sale," Jerry Temple's

TC and Jim Williams M Type "a real hoot to drive" and over55 years old. He

recommended the Nationwide stores for their nut and bolt rack, though pricey,

and a new video tape from Moss about rebuilding and tuning SU carburetors.

The cover of the June 1987 Crier had a drawing of the

MG-TC and noted, "Made 1945 to 1949 Approximately

10,000 Produced." Will Kennard urged response to a

special mailing of a registration form, due June 3Q to

ensure that the chapter would have the entire Punderson

State Park Lodge for the busy fall weekend. Among the

standard columns, Dan Glow wrote of New Parts That

Don't Fit " and included some interesting statistics on an

exhaust valve, for example. Originally, when the

[Abingdon] factory was in full swing in the 50s, they were

producing about 8,000 cars a year....Small suppliers,

jobbing shops, were prolific at that time and 32,000 pieces

was a pretty good annual order. There were no doubt

countless suppliers to the manufacturer who would be

only too willing to bid a quality part at very reasonable

prices. Then too, the technology to produce the product

was consistent with the time at which the parts were

made.

The rub n1987 was that the run of exhaust valves for an XPAG engine was 500.

After talking about the specs, a manufacturer would say, "Sorry sir, we're just not

set up for what you want." Dan credited Moss Motors and Abingdon Spares

with doing a great job keeping MGT parts affordable but warned "it is always

wise to check all mechanical parts before forcing things together."

A registration form was included for the national GOF West in Snowmass in the

Rockies and there was a form, for the first time, for University Motors' 11th

Annual Summer Party in Grand Rapids.

The September Crier cover featured a MC TD drawing, noting "Made 1950 t)

1953 Approximately 30,000 Produced." Will Kennard reported that the "1987

Beaulieu Cup came home to Ohio" for the sixth consecutive year. The victory

"was especially sweet because the Michigan Chapter had vowed to win this year"

and several of Ohio's faithful team cars were unable to participate in the drive tr

the Springfield, Mass GOF. "However, our Ohio Chapter team spirit cam

through as 46 people arrived in 26 cars," which included 15 member cars from

Ohio, six from Ontario, two from West Virgina, and, surprisingly, three cars

from Ohio Chapter members in New Jersey and New York. The aggregate

earning the cup had been over 15,000 miles.

Bob Satava, apparently subbing for Dan Glow, offered "Tech Tips" to keep your

car serviced from top to bottom. He covered windshield replacement, installing

a canvas top, frozen wheel (brake) cylinders, and gasoline drips. For the latter,

he offered a non-technical solution a "Rector Seal #5 on each fitting, a material

that really is impervious to gasoline and found in plumbing shops."

There was a registration form for the national GOF in October in the Hershey

Pocono Resort in White Haven PA. And there was, again in 1987,a reprint of

the Bob Brumfield column from the Cincinnati Enquirer titled 'A Bloody Sad

Thing for Motor Car Fanciers," circa 1979. For sale was a 1953 YB Saloon "looks

god, runs great " by Jim Williams.

The 1987 December Crier completed the run of drawings of T cars, the MG TF

with notation: Made 1953 to 1955 Approximately 9,600 Produced. Will Kennard,

retiring as chapter chairman, had planned to recap "the good times" but wrote d

one of our most dedicated members, J.R. Brehm of Arcanum who had

unexpectedly passed away in November. "Due to his enthusiasm [as

membership chair], Ohio grew in membership to be the largest chapter in the

New England MG-T Register." J.R. and Gertrude had helped with many meets

and hosted two Ohio GOFs. But Will's greatest tribute read: "He was the kind d

gentleman who always made everyone feel welcome. He would help anyone in

need by trailering a disabled car, retrieving needed parts or just being there to

lend moral support."

There were registration forms for a national Natter in Windsor Locks, Conn. the

Kimber Festival in April in Providence R.I. and the Ohio Natter, again hosted by

the Yaussys. A personal report by Roy Wood, titled "The Car That Made It"

recounted the Woods first participation on a Beaulieu Cup Team. A good start

for the eight-car team had been short circuited in the middle of Pennsylvania

when Roy suffered a heart attack. "It was great to see how MG people react in an

emergency. J.R. slipped a nitro tablet under my tongue, Joan [Baumgardner], a

nurse, was busy checking my pulse, and the rest started switching cars" to give

him the back seat of a YT in a trip to a local hospital. There followed a helicopter

flight to a trauma center in Pittsburgh, where, in a few hours, he was in

satisfactory condition and Lois had a guest room in the hospital. Jim Pesta had

driven Lois there, and others got the Wood's car to Pete and Vicky Hempstead's

in New York.

Jim Williams continued the tale, which included a broken rear end in Tom's YT

and a helpful ride in a sheriff's car to a MG junk yard for a truck to tow the car.

"About midnight, driving in the rain on a very dark road just following the little

red tail lights in front of us, we climbed a mountain and there we were in Pete

and Vicky's front yard with everyone waving flashlights to show the tow truck

and the rest of use where to go." At 1:00 a.m. they had the cookout Vicky had

prepared and fell into beds Vicky had found. A cooperative effort got the YT

repaired, and there was a good report on Roy. "Knowing how excited he was to

be driving his MG to a national GOF for the first time, we decided it would be

great to take his TD on to Springfield," a drive volunteered by Lou Phillips.

"And that's the story of how Roy Wood's MG got to the GOF in Springfield

without him."

A speech by Meier Bauer, "The Magic of MG," given at the GOF had so

captivated Jim Williams, after the Ohio team's en route experience, that he

ended the issue with a copy of it

1988

With the publication of the hrstCrier of 1988, the March issue, there was a list of

new officers. Whether new to the board, taking over new duties or carrying

forward, they were all familiar names.

Chairman -Jack Bauer

Secretary - Phyllis Hall

Publicity -Roy Wood

Technical - Dan Glow

Regalia - Sharon and

George Hasek

Treasurer - Rita Glow

Past Chairman - Will Kennard

Membership - Gertrude Brehm

Spares -Dave Zyp

Editor- Owen J. Williams

The hosts for Ohio Chapter GOFs were the Yaussys for the natter, the Central

Ohio MG-T Owners for GOF XXXVII in the summer and Dave ]Jackman and

Linda Stokes with Linda and Joe Diamond for GOF XXXVIII in the fall.

[r the "Chairman's Comer," Jack wrote of a trip different from the "ritualistic

drive of 500 miles" to the national natter. The hosts, Dave and Joanne Raymond,

had scheduled the weekend at the Hartford (Conn.) Airport. Amid financial

reports, he reported that the Ohio and Michigan Chapters were withdrawing

from the Beaulieu Cup competition for the year. There were the usual features,

including an events listing and registration forms, the first being for the Central

Ohio hosted June GOF at the Mid-Ohio track, with a quick review of what

members could expect. Other registration forms were included for the GOF

Central Mark X in Topeka, Kansas, the GOF West in Reno, and the summner

NEMGTR GOF in Andover, MA. In "Valve Clatter," Dan Glow reported on the

Ohio Natter's program on chrome plating and offered a 14 point checklist to get

members cars ready for the driving season.

Editor William's June issue of the Crier began a series of marvelous stippled

illustrations credited to Ann Alexander of San Diego this one of a TC. The

wrap-around conception was by Jim Pesta. This series would continue on four

more cover illustrations of a MGA" a Vintage T-series race, a display of MGs, and

an MG exiting a covered bridge.

This was a lean issue. Jack Bauer wrote of an early outing with the Zyps to the

Mason-Dixon Steeplechase where driving an old British car qualified you to

bring your "T' car into the tailgaters area. There was a picnic competitive event,

and Meier's menu, chilled avocado lime soup to champagne sorbet, was in Jack's

words "adequate. But the two little T-cars put us over the top [for] the Best of

Show trophy."

Jeri Kennard offered an admiring report on the Mid-Ohio Race Course GOF and

the planning that had gone into it made "it different from any other Ohio

Chapter met previously held." In addition to some of the "standard, backbone

features," those attending - in some 48 cars for the car display - had the

opportunity to participate in the Vintage Car Race. No mention of how many

actually did, but "the excitement of watching the [Saturday] time trials and

[Sunday] race was surpassed only by the fact that our cars were allowed to lap

the race course on both days." Photos documented the event.

An advance story on the Hockng Hills GOF told of plans for an October driving

tour through the Hocking State Park, a real old fashioned hill clmb and a

Sunday morning train ride on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway. There was

also a promo for the NEMGTR Gathering in mid-September at the Otesaga Hotel

in Cooperstown, NY.

The third and last Crier of 1.988 featured a long three-page article on Joseph

Lucas, the often vilified "great man" who with his son turned their partnership

into Joseph Lucas Ltd in 1897, a time when acetylene was just becoming accepted

for use in lamps. Editor Williams, unable to answer questions about the man

behind the company that inspired so many Lucas jokes, had sought the

assistance of the promotions manager of Lucas Industries to put together the

biography.

There was a photo spread of snapshots from the Hocking Hills GOF and

Chairman Jack Bauer reported on the fall meet where "the enthusiasm was

pervasive and the Sunday weather brutal." Again the quote of Jack Breen on MG

events surfaced: "You have fun in direct proportion to how miserable you are."

1989

In the Volumn 20 Number 1 issue, a switch from calling it the March issue, the

Ohio Chapter GOF hosts were given as the Yaussys for the Natter N Noggin,

Harriet and Bob Forbes for GOF XXXIX in the summer/ and Pat and Dave Zryp

for the GOF XL in the fall. Chairman Bauer's report from the NEMGTR natter

told of interest in "a remake of the Marathon" to get in on some of the fun of the

VMG people of Chicago. His description of the idea offered insights into how

such events came about and the reasoning behind them.

But since their Reliability Run already offers an opportunity to average

over 75 mph in a T-series for more miles than anyone much cares to

think about, the Register thinks it would be better to set this up as a TSD

event requiring an average of something reasonable - say 62 - for one

thousand miles. The idea is to start in Cincinnati...and to go Nashua, NH

[the summer national GOF] by some set route, complete with several

timing controls along the way. Hank Rippert is in charge of developing

this idea...and the whole thing appears to be happening. Plan to party in

Cincinnati Wednesday before the GOF and leave on the longest TSD

Rallye for old MGs in recent memory.

Mileage would count toward the Beaulieu Cup, which the Ohio Chapter was

again planning to participate in.

Dan Glow in "Valve Clatter" wrote of a Dave Zyp and Jim Pesta winter Tech

Session which demonstrated the directions given in their booklet on rebuilding a

T-series engine. Dan returned to the problem of parts that don't fit, this time

concentrating on those needed for engine rebuilding. He recommended "some

vital rules to follow" and two bibles to use for standard dimensions, Blowers

Manual or the XPAG Engine by W.D.F. Wood.

There was a registration form and advance story on the end-of-May Ohio GOF to

be held at the Harley Hotel East in Willoghby Hill, hosted by the Forbes. And

there was notice of a new event, a Iuly 1 Wyandot Picnic Rallye conceived of by

Phil and Dallas Smith. "It is not a timed event but rather a three to five hour

drive around Wyandot County, including stops at several points of historic

interest as the county is the site of the last Indian Reservation in Ohio," Phil

wrote. The day event would close with a cookout. Other upcoming events

receiving notices we the MG GOF Central in St. Louis in mid-July and the end of

June NEMGTR Gathering in Nashua, NH.

Secretary Phyllis Hall reported from a chapter trustees business meeting at the

winter natter on changes the chairman proposed in the chapter's code of

regulations. After discussion, the motion on the proposal as tabled and a

committee named to study the regulations and develop recommendations.

By the September 1989 issue, Secretary Phyllis Hall wrote of a May 2l committee

meeting "to reorganize the Record of Proceedings of the Incorporators, Members

and Trustees of the Ohio Chapter of the New England MG-T Register."

Committee members were long-standing chapter members, Rita and Dan Glow,

Phyllis and Dick Hall and Paul Johnson. Input had also come from Jim Yaussy

and Will Kennard. Phyllis wrote that the suggested changes followed how the

chapter had actually been run in recent years. The articles of the code had been

simplified with the intent of making them flexible for club growth. The

committee hoped that the suggestions would make the membership more

involved in the policy making and running of the club. The proposed changed

were published for the Crier's readers to review before being voted on at the fall

meet.

Chairman Bauer wrote of the return of the Beaulieu Cup back to Ohio, "where it

belongs." The Hank Rippert thousand mile TSD rally from Cincinnati to Nashua,

N.H. had been held and Paul Johnson had made the trip in exactly 20 hours. Jack

added a notice of the untimely passing of Roy Wood during the summer.

Dan Glow, still following up on engine rebuilding wrote of "The Everett

Bowman, sweet and simple or down and dirty, way to install an XPAG main seal

(oil thrower.)"

The events listing covered the Ohio Chapter and NEMGTR events from

September 1989 through September 7990,and included the first Crier notice of

the Circuit of Britain scheduled for the next July. Registration forms and

information were included for the upcoming fall meet at Kings Island, and the

June 1-3 1990 meet at Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, "the site of

the infamous Put-in-Bay Sports Car Races of the 1950s on South Bass Island."

The hosts would be Dave and Shelia Bly and the logistics would included

ferrying the cars from Catawba Point to the island. Anew Miller Boat Line's

ferry would allow members to drive both on and off the boat assuring "complete

control of our MGs."

In the December Cier, Jack Bauer opened his chairman's column with a tale

about a nephew who had "the unofficial record for elapsed time between

Cincinnati and Dallas-Fort Worth in a little less than 12 hours, averaging

something over 83 mph for about 1000 miles." His passenger had been his

grandmother who was 94 and got around with a walker. "Grandma navigated

and changed tapes as needed. She didn't drink any coffee before they left."

Phyllis Hall, in a published secretary's report, wrote that the proposed changes

in the Ohio Chapter Code of Regulations had been approved unanimously at the

King's Island meet.

Dan Glow reported on a new T-Register event called "the safety fast tech check "

apparently introduced at the last GOF in Saratoga Spring in September. He

expected it to become standard "bill of fare" at all future gatherings and

described it for readers.

The idea is to give your car a really thorough mechanical safety check.

Mind you, this is not the once around check the state highway patrol uses

or even the race committees at most race tracks. The fact is that lights,

horn and the normal stuff aren't even checked. What is checked are the

items that are seldom looked at in day-to-day operation after a car has

been restored. [A] crew worked hard and long to run all the cars

through. About 70 cars entered, only 14 passed.

Congratulations to Jim Yaussy and Fred Kuntz, our only Ohio chapter

members to pass....Your tech chairman's TD flunked.

The items inspected are: carburetors, fuel and water pumps for soundness

and leaks, the wiring and battery for condition and security of all

fasteners and connections. The tires, all suspension and steering

components for fit, straightness, function and general condition. The

door latches, fuel cap latch and gasket, seat belts and optional fire

extinguished for general condition. Then you drive your car onto the

ramps so all the lower chassis components can be checked. Here is where

rack boots, A arm ends and rubber, swivel pins, king pins, tie rod ends,

shocks, brake hoses, master cylinder, clutch linkage, transmission

mounts, oil leaks and wiring can all be thoroughly checked. All items are

rated good, serviceable (showing age but OK), needs work (showing age

working, but should be attended to soon), and unsafe (go fix it, don't go

far or fast!)

Dan added that he thought "this safety check is a great idea and I wonder if we

should incorporate it into some of our Ohio Chapter Meets? Your feed back on

this one would be appreciated."

1990

By the first Crier for 1990, March, Volume 21, Number 1, there were two different

names among the officers last reported in 1988, Sheila Bly and Jim Pesta, with the

others continuing.

Chairman -Jack Bauer

Secretary - Phyllis Hall

Publicity - Sheila Bly

Technical - Dan Glow

Regalia - Sharon &

George Hasek

Treasurer - Rita Glow

Past Chairman - Will Kennard

Membership -Jim Pesta

Spares -Dave Zyp

Editor- Owen J. Williams

Hosts for the 1990 Natter N Noggin were the Yaussys; the spring GOF XLI hosts

Sheila and Dave Bly; and the fall GOF XLII, Sharon and George Hasek.

Jack Bauer in the "Chairman's Comer" column wrote: "The membership has

become increasingly polarized over the source of its leadership and the approach

it takes toward the activities of the dub." He felt mechanisms for ensuring

rotation officers were unnecessary and instead urged members to confer with the

nominating committee and let them know whom they recommend.

In truth, the nominating committee is the single most important...group

in the club....[By] increasing the number of people who have held or hold

offices in the club [comes] the increased feeling of ownership, of

belonging to and caring about the organization for its own va1ue...[and]

from having been ...involved in shaping the character or the

organization....Help the nominating committee find and draft people for

office whose interest we share and from whose talents we have thus far

failed to benefit.

There were six new members of the chapter and the "Great Events" column listed

11 events. The Kimber Festival would be in Shreveport, La., the Ohio Chapter's

June 1-3 GOF on South Bass Island, hosted by the Blys, and the chapter's October

5-7 GOF in Richfield, hosted by the Haseks. Other U.S. events, some supplying

registration forms, were scheduled from points as distant as Portland, Ore. to

Mystic, Conn. The unusual listing was for a July 2-24 Circuit of Great Britain.

A short article from Phil and Dallas Smith invited all to the second Wyandot

Picnic Rally on Saturday, August 1,8, "a seat-of-the-pants fun rally through

Wyandot County. It would involve 40 to 50 miles of leisurely driving, as well m

some out-of-car experiences, and conclude with a picnic. The hosts added that

"while the rally is primarily an MG event, we will welcome any British sports

car" and even your modem iron will serve as an acceptable replacement.

Secretary Phillis Hall looked ahead in her report and asked members to note on

their 1991 calendars the April 5 Kimber Festival to be held in the Cincinnati area

and hosted by Pat and Dave Zyp. Help would be needed. There was also notice

that lim Pesta's Autographics "is now providing all of the Ohio regalia clothing.

Anything with an Ohio logo would earn a 10 percent contribution "to our club."

Dan Glow in "Valve Clatter" gave suggestions for successfully removing rusty

bolts rather breaking them off out of haste. He detailed several possibilities,

including advice to not plunge ahead but "stop for a minute, relax, have a beer or

whatever....Think the situation through" to avoid a worse position. Dan added a

request for input from others for the column.

Creating new topics is becoming more difficult as time goes by. The

purpose of these articles is to present material which is not available in

other MG publications and which does not repeat itself. Our last tech

session which addressed your current needs directly, seemed quite

successful and saw us answering each other's questions. Please help us all

by writing your questions to me which we will answer to the benefit of all

through 'Valve Clatter." Or better still, write me about a helpful thing

you've discovered so we can all share your knowledge.

The June Crier, issue 2 of 1990, included a "Chairman's Corner" account of the

Bauer's anticipating the Circuit of Britain tour which would cap a long list d

trips for his TD.

The list of "Great Events" spanned more than a year and in addition to the April

1991 Kimber Festival in Cincinnati, there was a NEMGTR tour planned for early

July in 1991, the Maritime Meander. Most of the issue was taken up with

registration forms for events. Dan Glow in "Valve Clatter" first offered thanks for

the great time at the Put-in-Bay Ohio GOF "thanks to the Blys, the Metcalfs, Bob

Satava, Susan Rockford" and all their committee people. "Technically speaking,

we all discovered how well a t-Series will handle eight to 10 foot waves

tenaciously clinging to a wet steel deck." Dan again asked for contributed articles

and included a page questionnaire of restoration steps seeking to find which

ones members would do for themselves or have done professionally.

For the December Crier, the third and last of 1990, Chairman Bauer reported on

his, Meier's and third passenger Katie's participation in the Circuit of Britain. A

snapshot of the Ohio contingent showed 16 Ohio Chapter members posed below

an MG sign in Abingdon-on-Thames. It was a romantic account of the

countryside, towns named Upper and Lower Slaughter, and spoke of the 49

Yankee cars and one Canadian car participating. The Prescott Hill Climb had

been a memorable challenge. While his TD performed well for "the most difficult

race track" Jack had ever been near, "the right axle half-shaft snapped coming

back from the laundromat that evening. He closed noting it was his last article as

chairman and said "good luck to Tom Metcalf as he assumes this role." A page by

Pat and Dave Zyp promoted the 1991 Kimber Festival promising "good food and

no arches over the building!" There was a call for assistants, "folks to make it all

work."

Dan Glow reported that the upcoming natter and tech session would focus on

special tuning for trials work, "commonly called speed tuning." The list of things

to be covered was long, "everything from stage one through stage five" plus

differences between stock and racing heads, manifolds and cams "and all that

good stuff that makes the adrenaline flow when you put your foot in it."

The last Bauer edition ended with an invited piece from his father, an account d

his parent's trip to deliver Jack's TD to the dock at Port Elizabeth, N.J. for

transport to Liverpool and the Circuit of Britain. These MG enthusiasts were

"seventy years plus" but enjoyed an adventurous trip east.

1991

Anew year and with it came changes in the roster of Ohio Chapter officers. Tom

Metcalf became chapter chair and Crier edltorship was assumed by Phil and

Dallas Smith.

The new editorial team had kind words, deserved, for retiring editor Jim

Williams. Phil and Dallas offered new ideas as well. Manley Ford had agreed to

provide a column devoted to vintage racing and the editors intended to

inaugurate another new column, "Restorations in Progress ... or/ Resting, in

Pieces."

Chairman Metcalf, a purist to the core, scolded defectors to the Miata, and had

even less patience with those parts from MG vendors bearing the tag reading

"Made in Taiwan, R.O.C." At the same time, Tom was gracious in his thanks

offered Jack Bauer, Dan Glow, Manley Ford, and Jim Williams for their

contributions to the chapter.

The schedule of future events was highlighted by the 1991 Kimber Festival, to be

held in Cincinnati at the Drawbridge Inn and hosted by Dave and Pat Zyp. The

dates were April 5-7. And then there was the "Fall Hall Affair." Chairman

Metcalf did have a way with language! The site for this gathering was to be

Akron and the hosts Dick and Phyllis Hall and son Tim.

Looking ahead to1992, the summer gathering hosts were to be Joe and Linda

Diamond. Come fall of 1992,Phil and Dallas Smith were to be hosts. And for

1993, the chairman reported, there were rumors of a return to Put-in-Bay.

Secretary Phyllis Hall reported on the meeting of the board of directors on

]January 27.There was good news, a healthy bank balance and chapter

membership of 252. Despite the balance reported by the treasurer, there was

concern expressed with the costs incurred publishing both the chapter directory

and the Crier. There was discussion of an increase in dues, but any decision was

postponed.

Just as the editors had promised, this first of their issues contained "Restorations

in Progress." Featured was a photograph of Dr. Don Smith replacing a clutch on

his 1953 YB. This was undertaken just weeks before the car and Don and Judy

were off to England on the Circuit of Britain.

Dan Glow's "Technical Comer" fumed to the engine camshaft. It was a

cautionary piece. 'No matter how tempting," Dan wrote, "never select a cam that

is more radical than you need. In fact, good advice here is 'if in doubt, go

milder."'

Fran and Jerry Moore supplied a more detailed account of the summer gathering

to be held in Amish country where the roads were to be shared with horse-

drawn Amish buggies. A Sunday feature of that gathering would be a visit to the

Warther Museum in Dover which housed the extraordinary railroad art of carver

Ernest Warther.

This issue contained the first of several articles titled "A Backward Glance."

Librarian Shep Black wrote of the early years of the motor car as told in pages of

early 20th century American popular magazines.

In volume 22, number 2, dated June 1991, Chairman Metcalf wrote of a trip tr

South America to visit friends. Told that Spanish and Portuguese resembled one

another, Tom found this not to be the case. But he did recognize one word, in

both languages, the word cerveja- beer.

Both Tom Metcalf and Phil Smith spoke of the recent Kimber Festival. Tom, with

serpent's tongue (in cheek), wrote that "Sheila Bly, our own Ohio Chapter island

expert, and Bob Satava, who is actually old enough to have attended many of the

Put-in-Bay races in the 50s, described the tiny island's racing days...."

Sheila and Bob were not the only speakers, for Bob Hentzen spoke of the

restoration and display at Pebble Beach of his beautiful TB Tickford. Other

speakers included Dick Knudson on Captain George Eyston and Bob Vitrikas on

the record breaking MGAs.

This issue's "Club Notes" identified the site of the fall gathering as Quaker

Square in Akron, a return visit for the Ohio Chapter.

Dan Glow's "Technical Corner" tackled the distributor, an item "at least equal in

importance to the carburetors in so far as engine performance is concerned." In

fact, Dan wrote, "carburetors are blamed for more problems caused by the

ignition system than they usually cause by themselves."

This issue of the Crier also provided Tom Metcalfs introduction to powder

coating, these remarks first delivered at the 1991 natter. Manley Ford supplied a

calendar of vintage racing opportunities, a full plate for both spectators and

participants.

'The Great Leather Color Hoax" was adapted and reprinted from Torque, of the

Michigan Region, Classic Car Club of America. "I was working at Packard years

ago," the author wrote, "when a number of those sometimes spontaneous,

sometimes intentionally planned jokes were pulled. There were also occasions

when a very small effort at humor got completely out of control. That was the

case in the story on the leather color hoax."

"A Backward Glance" returned, this time examining early efforts to find an

appropriate name for the horseless carriage.

Volume 22, number 3, of the Crier brought Tom Metcalf's account of Amish

oatmeal pie and his rally experience in New Philadelphia with son Kyle, then

age four, as navigator. His report also noted discussion at the meeting of the

board of directors of dues and the possibility of an increase. With the aid of

raffles and auctions, however, the board chose to retain the dues structure

without change.

The chair also shared his hope for an Ohio Chapter trip to England and MG

activity at Silverstone. More detailed discussion was promised for the fall

gathering in Akron.

A new slate of officers was provided by the nominating committee, voting to

take place at the fall gathering. With a couple of changes in position names, the

slate would be elected. (See next issue.)

The editors' account of the New Philadelphia gathering identified Dave Zyp,

auctioneer, as "Master of All Auctions," surely a richly deserved accolade. Phil

and Dallas also took note of the guest or guests of honor, Pete and Dolly

Holloway. The Holloways were guests of the Jackmans and were on this

occasion made welcome by the Ohio Chapter. Pete was employed at the factory

in Abingdon from 1952 until the end of production in 1980. Pete spoke briefly

following the banquet and then answered questions. One questioner, perhaps

the last, asked if the cars were really important to the men who assembled them;

was it just a job, or did they care? The answer, after what seemed a very long

pause, was yes. "They really cared."

There was lots of technical talk in this issue, with both Dan Glow and Phil Smith

on camshaft bearings, and an article on extending the life of a battery. The latter

was reprinted from The Reflector, Antique and Classic Car Club of Canada.

"Restorations in Progress" had grown to include several projects. Thanks for the

growth of the column could be largely attributed to Dallas' indefatigable,

notebook-in-hand pursuit of the membership for stories of activity in garages. "A

Backward Glance" took a look at the bicycle and its contribution to the Good

Roads Movement.

The editors led off the 1991 December Crier, vol:umre22, number 4 with a

deadline schedule for contributed columns and articles. Article deadlines in the

past had been "rather amorphous," but "henceforth will be the first of March,

June, September and December."

It had been a "tremendous three MG months since the last issue." Indeed it had.

Tim Hall had masterminded a great Ohio Chapter GOF in Akron failing only to

gain the cooperation of the weather. Next came the Register GOF, and "this was

notable for the British entourage that invaded our shores with their Pre-war

MGs." The "stuff we've seen in books," the editors wrote, "but they were here to

see, to hear and to smell."

The 1992 natter was near at hand, and was scheduled for Marion; it would be the

last to be hosted by Jim and Miriam Yaussy. This issue also contained a farewell

from Dan Glow, a farewell not from octagonal activity or from the Ohio Chapter,

but from his very long tenure as technical chairman. "The 2}-year association

with the Ohio Chapter has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my

life," he wrote.

There was a secretary's report by Phyllis Hall giving the 1990 slate of new

officers elected at the fall meeting. They were as nominated.

Chairman - Tom Metcalf

Treasurer - Rita Glow

Regalia -Dave Zyp

Technical - Manley Ford

Editors - Phil & Dallas Smith

Secretary - Janet Jackman

Membership - Doug & Sharon Hasek

Publicity - Sheila Bly

Spares - Fred Kuntz

Among other reports, there would continue to be a charge for breakfasts at Ohio

GOFs to protect the budget, Phyllis Hall and Fran Moore were putting together a

parcel of information to assist future Ohio GOF hosts, and that the natter include

recognition of past board members and those who volunteered services to the

club.

There was a report on the creation of chapter awards to encourage members to

"drive MG, particularly T-series cars," to chapter meets. Also recommended by a

committee of five chapter officers, was a category of associate members for those

interested in MGs but perhaps as yet unable to afford a T-series car. "While the

chapter's awards cannot determine policy, it can be more supportive of the

general concept of maintaining the breed," the report said.

A Car of the Year award was to be created as the chapter's premiere award. It

would recognize the pre-156 MG best exemplifying quality restoration and

maintenance in an "actively campaigned" car. The car would have to be

registered with NEMGTR and the Ohio chapter. Driving the car in events,

winning rallies and shows, and in general actively "maintaining the breed,"

would be the basis of the award. The winner would be decided by a points

system, weighted towards Ohio Chapter events, and an application form with

specifics was promised for the March issue of the Crier. It would be awarded at

the annual Natter N Noggin and a trophy was planned.

A second pair of awards had been created to honor the MG most actively driven

each year. The more prestigious of the two would be for the pre-'56 MG and a

second for post-'56 MGs. These awards would be based solely on the miles

driven over one year's time, from natter to natter.

Yet another award was discussed for the NEMGTR/Ohio Chapter registered car

driven the most miles. The feasibility of the award was to be determined.

Finally, the awards structure for the chapter's GOF rally and funkhana was

expanded to have first, second and third prizes. Winners driving T-series (and

other pre-1956) MGs would be awarded pewter trophies while post-1956 drivers

would likely get glass trophies.

Craig Peck contributed an account of NEMGTR GOF Mark 53 a trip to Lime Rock

taken with Fred Kuntz. Craig's was a romantic piece of chasing "the familiar

scent of R" from the pre-wars, whidr included a D'Artagnan, a KE Magnette

replica, and two 18-80s. There was a trophy of sorts for the two Ohioans at the

end of a fox and hounds game with the pre-wars. Craig wrote, "Patrick Gardner,

the capable rider of the KE Magnette upon seeing Fred said,'That is one running

TC. You did very well to keep up with us."'Other Ohio Chapters members on

the trip to Lime Rock had been Tom and Dane Metcalf and Phil and Dallas

Smith. There were several great photographs of great cars at the event.

This December Crier carried a fourth "Backward Glance" from Shep Black, this

one reviewing the enthusiasm of the popular press about the automobile, circa

1902-1905. An in "T Tidbits" Tom reported that response to a trip to Silverstone

had been too low to pursue for the coming year, but promised the idea would

not be forgotten.

1992

With the beginning of 1992, Phil and Dallas Smith published an ambitious 36

page Lord NuffieId Crier with a 14 page removable center section and, helpfully, a

contents page. The issue was volume 23, number 1.

The editors used their regular column to introduce a two-part series of articles

they planned to run titled "SU Carburetor Restoration." The series, by Matt

Joseph president of the Society of Automotive Historians, Inc., had originally

appeared tn Skinned Knuckles, A journal of Car Restoration. hr anticipation of a

great MG driving season, Phil wrote, the article would be "a somewhat different

approach to the SU than is usually passed around the MG publications." This

first article, printed toward the back of the issue, ran some 11 pages.

The editors' column further included a call for reports on restoration projects for

the June issue (number 2), a report their own TC EXU 7617 project, and a

recommendation for any member traveling to Houston, Texas to "not miss" the

Jerry Moore museum that displayed some 30 or 40 cars from among the 800 the

owner had collected.

Ohio Chapter chair Tom Metcalf in his "T Tidbits" column reviewed the

mid-winter Natter'N Noggin, "a delicious MG break " and the surprise visit of

George Washington, in costume, at the natter's Saturday night banquet. In "Club

Notes" George was reported to be member Bob Forbes, "who bore a striking

resemblance" to the first U.S. president. "He" had reminisced about his days at

Mt Vernon and the Capitol and told of "a new conveyance his coach-builder had

finished," which sounded amazingly like an MG, though the M was for Martha

and the G for George. A photo of "George" appeared on the cover of the center

section and there was also a photo page from the natter.

The banquet had been a recognition dinner for a number of people "who have

contributed so much time and enthusiasm" to the club over the years. Honored

were Paul Johnson with the first mileage award; Shelia Bly for developing

artwork; Jim Pesta for work on membership and computerizing the list." Other

outgoing board members recognized for their dedicated service were long-time

secretary Phyllis Hall, the Haseks for regalia, Dave Zyp for work on spares, and

the Yaussys for having been "natter hosts for the last eight years."

Dan Glow had received a standing ovation as 'he stepped down from his

position as the club's first (and only) technical chairman for the last 20 years.

After reminiscing about the early days of the Ohio Chapter, Dan, with

characteristic humility, took the opportunity to recognize with a 'technical' pin,

all the people who had contributed articles and helped with tech sessions over

the years."

Among his tidbits, Tom reported on the January New England MG T Register

natter in Worchester, Mass.,which he drove to with Dave Wittmer. "Not much

real exciting going on -- mambership stable, dues and budget stable, new

NEMGTR car badges due soon, 40 local chapters now, a TC Challenge

discussion." There had also been an announcement that MG Magazine was

growing from four to six issues. -

There was a "Spares" column by Fred Kuntz with a call for sharing any

information on which supplier of reproduction parts produced "the best quality

part." The column "Restorations in Progress" led with a report from new member

Bob Riley on his new high-tech home garage. Other restoration updates,

gathered by Dallas, were shared from some 15 members. In 'A Backward

Glance," Shep Black wrote an account of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup race, and

Manley Ford offered the 1992 schedule for vintage races.

The removable center section for the issue was a compilation of information and

registration forms including the Ohio Chapter summer GOF in Delaware June

12-I4, to be hosted by ]oe and Linda Diamond; the July Columbus Arthritis

Foundation Classic Car Show, with MG owners guests of the sponsors; and

forms for GOF Central MK )([\/ in Nashville, Ind. and GOF West in the Grand

Teton National Park. Also, there was a copy of the Ohio Chapter "Car of the Year

Award Rules" and application form.

This March,1992 issue, volume 23, number one, was, in short, packed.

And in the June Crier, volume 23, number 2, the editors Smith went even further

with a 44 page issue. In the "Editors Page" they reported Fred Kuntz "is taking

the spares chairmanship to new heights" and would be the chapter's

"clearinghouse" for any MG items to sell or buy. They reported a growing debate

on a proposed MGCCNA, or MG Car Club of North America, and possible

membership of the Ohio Chapter in it rather than the NEMGTR. Should the

chapter become the Ohio Chapter or the Ohio Chapter of NEMGTR or the Ohio

Chapter of MGCCNA? Sound advice from experienced car club members, the

editors reported, was to not take the club organization too seriously or the cars

would become a secondary issue and enjoyment of the marque would wane.

Chair Metcalf's "T Tidbits" included the sensitive issue of potential theft if Ohio

Chapter directories went beyond the hands of members. Less serious were his

favorite entries from the English CAMRA (an acronym for Campaign for Real

Ale) published Good Beer Guide,480 pages reviewing all the pubs and ales

available in England.

Tom further offered his "Thoughts on MGCCNA," the proposed affiliation with a

MG Car Club of North America, which would be associated with the MG Car

Club of England. The proposed affiliation, which Tom described as having a

"bumbling takeover approach," was still an issue. Tom agreed with the

arguments of NEMGTR members Dick Knudson and Dave Raymond for

retaining the association with the Register and added his thoughts.

1. The NEMGTR has provided the basic foundation for the preservation

and maintenance of MGs. Plus, being a NEMGTR Chapter, we are

automatically insured at our Ohio GOFs (therefore the requirement

that our Ohio members are first members of NEMGTR).

2. I'm not sure our MG club system here in the U.S. is broken....While

that doesn't mean it can't be improved upon, I'm not sure the new

MGCCNA is an improvement.

3. I like the MGCC in England the way it is. I've been a member for

years and have enjoyed reading about their events. But they're

England and we're USA.

4. We already have strong clubs with quality publications. Is another

publication overkill?

Time will tell what happens, but regardless,I genuinely feel our Ohio T-series

group has the highest quality people of any group I've been associated with -

bar none....Whatever happens to the exterior of our Ohio Chapter, it's nice to

know the interior is alive and well with warm, genuine Ohioans.

A "Club Notes" column by Dallas Smith related the participation in the MG

Motorists Group Finger Lakes Rally at Watkins Glen entered by three teams

from the Ohio Chapter, Tom Baumgardner and Rich Torde in a TD, Craig Peck

and Bob Niebaum in an MGB, and Dallas herself with Jim Pesta in a ZB

Magnette. Describing her first orientation experience in the race-equipped car,

Dallas wrote, "There I was, sitting in front of a series of stopwatches, odometers,

tables, gizmos and gadgets, wondering how (and if) it all was supposed to

work." Despite weeks of preparation on the Magnette, there were en route

problems - a bad coil, TwinsMaster odometers that quit working, a loss of

brakes, a muffler that came loose - and driving adventures, such as this report

on "the way round the old Grand Prix course."

The (repaired) brakes got a good test when Jim nearly missed a road to

the left, but managed to make it by locking up the brakes and riding

the gravel through the turn. [Jim's explanation:] 'You don't have to take

any mileage off the odometer, Dal, since the wheels weren't turning.'

By the end of the rally on Sunday, Dallas wrote, "the Ohio chapter team did will,

with Rich Torde and Tom Baumgardner winning the unequipped class, and Jim

Pesta and me taking the equipped class and best overall score (by a frighteningly

small margin)....The whole weekend was exhilarating and I can't wait to do

another one of these rallies." Phil Smith, by the way, had had to stay home with

his biggest excitement being the delivery of twins.

In the "Restorations in Progress" column, Tom Metcalf reported on the recently

completed work on a PA and there were a series of photographs of TC chassis

parts being sandblasted, metal-prepped and powder coated.

In "Manley's Mechanical Musings" Manley Ford reported the cost of parts - $12,

time involved - 20 minutes, and directions for assembling "a gen-you-whine

official T-type door holder-closer thingamajig" that had been figured out by a

friend of the Mardi Gras Ts. The importance was, it worked. A final installment

in the Matt Joseph series on the S.U. Carburetor was included and ran a full 16

Pages.

Dave Jackman, in a "Travel Tips" column, had a good word for Lucas as he

shared his solution to a problem with a coil wire, the source of "a poorly running

car," and explained why coil problems occurred. "It is my understanding that the

silver colored Lucas coils have a much hotter spark than the coils used by

American manufacturers. Apparently, it takes something like eight to 10,000

volts to jump the spark in a spark plug, and these Lucas coils put out

considerably more. Since carbon wires are designed for the lower voltage, they

bum out readily when hooked up to one of these silver Lucas coils." The

recommendation to eliminate the problem, Dave said, was to 'buy a copper wire

ignition set...NAPA still sells them," or travel with a coil wire. The moral to the

story: "Lucas is not always the problem."

The "Calendar of MGatherings" repeated the summer's events adding the

October 24 Ohio Chapter GOF MK 46 to be hosted by Phil and Dallas in the

Tarhe District. Further information and registration forms had been in the

removable center section. And there was, from D.P. Smith, details on the annual

Wyandot Picnic Rally to be held August 22, leaving from Phil and Dallas's house

and finishing at Don and Judy Smith's farm for a picnic.

In the September Crier,Phil Smith confirmed reports that the MG Car Club of

North America proposal was dead. He proceeded to reviews of the various

events of the summer, the Delaware GOF, MG Canada in Peterborough, the

Arthritis Foundation Meet, the University Motors Summer Picnic, and several

smaller gatherings of Octophiles.

The "Club Notes" column included a rundown on the cars at the Delaware GOF

PB, five TCs, 15 TDs,9 TFs, one YB, one ZB Magnette, three MGAs,

and four MGBs. The distance award had gone to Bob and Sue Riley (Kentucky)

and the rally winners were Jim and Mriam Yaussy. Jerry and Fran Moore had

run the funkhana, a challenging run which required the navigators to spear

potatoes while the driver "screamed through a slalom course." It had been won

by Phil and Dallas.

An account on MG Canada '92, "another North American MG extravaganza,"

reported more than 400 cars present. Tom Metcalf had received first place in the

Pre-War category with his PB and also won the Best Paint award. Dave Wittmer

won first place for saloons with his Magnette, and the "rally-mania Smiths" (Phil

and Dallas) won the rally. MGs and Harleys had mingled during the GOF

Central in Nashville, Ind. and Greg Gamett reported there had been 5,000 bikers

camping at a Harley-Davidson gathering!

The Wyandot Picnic Rally account, which had been organized by the "elder

Smiths," had brought comments "that it was obvious that Phillip's devious and

diabolical rally mastering was a genetic fault."

There were 21 "Restorations in Progress" reported and Manley Ford's

"Mechanical Musings" was devoted to the continuing saga of cams and oil pump

gears. There was "A Backward Glance" by Sheppard Blak titled "The Goddess

in the Machine," a report on the association of women with the motor car "from

the beginning."

The Removable Center Section promoted only the Ohio Chapter's 1993 winter

Natter'N Noggin at the Great Southern Hotel in Columbus and the 1993 GOF

Central in Ann Arbor, but the calendar included notices of the NEMGTR natter

in Burlington, Maine and the first notice of a NEMGTR Skyline Soiree (as in

Skyline Drive) and Kimber Festival scheduled for April 1993, in Abingdon, Va.

Chairman Tom Metcalf had his column of "T Tidbits" with his own review of the

summer's events. He reported a new-to-him F-Type frame with front and rear

axles, "very rusty," that he had "taken home," as in stray dog. It had first been

sold in February 1932 and a data sheet described it as "an Abbey, which would

be a two seat solonette....I think I'll take the easy way out and build an F2."

This September issue was notable for its 14 photographs that documented the

summer events.

In the 1992 December Crier the "Club Notes" section gave a rundown on the

Tarhe District GOF (Wyandot/Seneca counties) which had had "stunningly

beautiful" weather and attracted 85 registrants, including 32 Ohio Chapter and

eight Michigan Chapter MGs. There were seven TCs, 15 TDs, 13 TFs, 1 ZB, 1 YB,

and three MGBs which "drove as many as 834 miles to be there." Responding to

critical comments on the difficulty of their rallies, hosts Phil and Dallas Smith

scheduled two for the GOF a scenic tour, which was taken by 32 cars, and a

challenge tour, taken by 12! There had been multiple awards, with winners all

duly noted.

Notes from the Sunday morning board meeting reminded members that dues

would be going up to $12.50 to help cover printing costs of the Crier Dick Bremer

from Michigan introduced discussion on Ohio Chapter participation in GOF

Central. Deciding that joining GOF Central would offer new friends and not

sever ties with NEMGTR, the chapter board appointed Joe Diamond as GOF

Central representative, and included practical responsibilities such as

investigating insurance coverage for such a meet. Ohio Chapter members were

to be encouraged to go to the next GOF Central in Ann Arbor in July 1993 and

then have more discussion. If the chapter participated, it would mean hosting

GOF Central in 1996.

There was also a report on "a goat of a trip," the MG GTO (Grand Tour of Ohio)

MkII driven before the fall GOF, an idea combining a grand tour (as in Mk I the

previous Easter), and "the reliability runs that used to precede GOF Central." At

about 8 pm Thursday before the fall GOF, four hardy teams had left Columbus

for a tour visiting Union City, Procterville, East Palestine, Streetsboro and

Winchester, Ohio. The challenge, "in other words, circumnavigate the state and

b.irg back photographic proof of having done so." Eighteen hours and 32

minutes later, Jim Pesta and Mark Milheim in aZB completed the course,

followed a minute later by Jim Yaussy and Paul Johnson in a TF. Tom

Baumgardner and Bob Niebaum, in a TF, "took a more circuitous route" arriving

later. One team, Bob Satava and Susan Rockford, in a TD, "suffered a broken

odometer" and dropped out. Scoring was based primarily on least mileage and

less so on time. The Pesta/Milheim team won by a close margin and received a

suitable presentation at the GOF banquet.

"Restorations in Progress" updated individual projects by 10 members. "Manley's

Mechanical Musings" focused on the compression ratio in T-types and included

a chart titled Compression Ratios for Various Cylinder Head Thicknesses

(XPAG). Added in the car upkeep category was a continuing feature by Dave

Snediker on lubrication with part one being on motor oils. It covered basic

lubrication theory, additives and good practices. Dave and his wife Trudi had

joined the chapter during the year.

This Crier included a feature article titled "How Do You Pack?" by Jo Kimberlin

of the Michigan Chapter. There was a notice that this "tech article has been

written for the interest of the ladies," (and it is included here for the same

reason). To those not knowing |q there was this introduction. At any meet "it

comes to everyone's attention that Jo is a 'clothes horse' and the "Sweet One' (her

pet name for her husband) owns one pair of Levis and two shirts."

Inviting the article, the editors had asked, "how do you pack all your hats and

coordinating outfits in the MG?" Answering, Jo wrote: 'I have the same amount

of packing space as everyone else. What I include out of necessity are the hats,

gloves and umbrellas because of an acute aversion to the sun. So that explains all

the accessories." To the question of how she actually packed, ]o explained a

process of listing days to be on the road and "what outfit I chosen and then

merely list the accessories that complete the ensemble." The key Jo said, was

neatly rolling or folding the actual items and packing them in a plastic bag

designated for each day or event. "You literally wear the complete ensemble in

the plastic bag...and use it to store the prior day's ensemble," continuing as the

trip progresses. What was never explained was how her hats fitted in a suitcase!

In "T Tidbits" Tom Metcalf, in his own parlance, wrote of "Iff'n you weren't in

Tiffin" (the fall Ohio GOD, and other chapter events. In this column he again

broached the idea of a chapter trip to England in 1995 to celebrate the chapter

being 25 years old. He dropped names to entice, Silverstone, Beaulieu, Wings

Run in Abingdon. The question was the timing.

The December issue's removable center section included registration and

reservation forms for the Ohio Chapter 1993 Natter 'N Noggin, GOF Central

1993, and the '93 University Motors Technical Sessions, all among the seven

events also listed in the "Calendar of MGatherings." The center section further

provided a tally sheet for members to fill out in order to vie for the Ohio Chapter

Car of the Year award. Tobe tallied were the gatherings attended, events

entered, places taken in events, with a multiplier of the subtotal for a final

gathering total.

It was the end of another year for the Crier and its editors.

1993

"It looks like we're off to a banner start for the 1993 MG season!" wrote Phil Smith

in February for the April Crier of the new year. He and Dallas had had the GT out

a couple of times already. These two outings had been enough to cause them tr

look way ahead on the rally circuit to MGMG Historic Rally in southwestern

Ohio tobe hosted October 22-23by Jim Pesta. "Mark your calendars," Phil urged.

Chairman Tom Metcalf in "T Tidbits" put the Smith's outings in chilly perspective

when he reported that "after several seasons of mild winters, BOOM! All of Ohio

got snow this time, nobody was spared." Optimistically, he was looking toward

spring weather.

Tom reported on the Natter N Noggin held at the Great Southern in Columbus,

with nearby shopping. Manley Ford had put together quite a package for the

technical meet of the weekend with a theme described. as "from wire wheels tr

rear ends, unsprung weight." Jim Pesta and Dave Zyp had told "all they know

about TD-TF rear ends - ratio changes, options, what to replace, how to do i9

etc." Attracted to the session from out of state were Dick and Dorothy Bremmer

from Ann Arbor, Bob and Sue Riley from Lexington and Bill Murray and Brian

Warmuth from Charleston.

The newly established Ohio Chapter awards went to their first recipients at the

natter. Joe and Linda Diamond had become the first winners of the new Car d

the Year award. "Their gorgeous deep red TF was everywhere all summer long.

Not only did they show up, they participated in all events and won a few."

Tom and Joan Baumgardner had driven far and wide in their TF and received the

Paul Johnson Award for the most miles driven in a T-Series car. The editors

themselves drove the most overall MG miles in the preceding year winning that

title; many of these miles had been in the Smiths Grampian Grey MGB GT. There

had been a coverall contest, won by George Hasek sporting a black leather tie.

The Metcalfs and Smiths (the younger) would go to the chapter's Put-in-Bay GOF

and immediately on to Detroit to fly to England for a few weeks. On their

itinerary was a stop at Guiness in London, another at the Morland Brewery in

Abingdon (Samuel Smith ale), and The Wings Run in Abingdon "where MMM

and T-series MGs converge 120-150 strong." There would also be factory records

to look into at the MG Car Club visits to museums and English friends. His end

line was, "And be thinking about a large Ohio group going in '95."

The "Club Notes" section added to Tom's account of the natter crediting Jim

Schardt, vice president of Dayton Wheel Products with an very interesting

lecture on the building and restoring services his company offers. There was a

photo of Dave Zyp and Jim Pesta holding tight to a rear axle with this cutline,

"Although it tried to escape, Dave and Jim were able to wrassle it into

submission."

The "Restorations in Progress" listed a full 20 projects in process. The center

section featured a relaxed Dave Witmer photo and registration forms for the July

15-18 GOF Central in Ann Arbor. Dave Jackman returned with his "Travel Tips,"

this time defining one problem for a car that wouldn't start - the rear frost plug

in the intake manifold that had blown out - and giving a temporary solution for

fixing it - furnace tape. And there was part tr on lubrication by Dave Snediker.

There were three guest articles, all a good read. Jeanne Lever wrote "The Tale of a

TD," an account of buying with husband Jack a 1952 MG TD, that year, and the

fun they had with it for several years,'even as it served as Jack's go-to-work car.

She then had an accident in it, "not much damage but Jack kept removing parts

from it and before long it was down tot he chassis with all of the parts in bushel

baskets." It moved with them, in the baskets, over the next 30 years. They finally,

with help from experts, got the TD restored. It was finished and delivered on

jack's 75th birthday, the day he came home from a long stint in the hospital."

Tom Baumgardner contributed "1051 Miles," his account of the Grand Tour of

Ohio Mk tr (remember, visiting five sites around Ohio in the least time over the

least distance.) He and Mark Milheim had driven the tour in Ms. Blimey, a TF,

and made it in just under 20hours. There had been the normal problems, such as

repairing a loose carb float bowl and reattaching a right rear shock with duct

tape. But when speed is a factor, the following description revealed other

frustrations.

The best plans and shortest routes on a map do not take

into consideration the bridges out and roads closed due tr

construction. Each time we thought we were gaining on

the average speed we encountered some delay or need b

backtrack. Even the high-speed run up I-75 was thwarted

first by a closed entrance ramp at Sidney and then by 15

miles of construction slow-down around Lima.

So it went. Would he do it again? "If Phil does it agarn, I will. Or I might organize

GTO W so he can run it."

Under the title "MG-NZ-MG," Crier readers got to share a piece of the diary d

DP and Judy Smith had kept of their NEMGTR trip to New Zealand, taken in

January. There had been 29 on the trip, from across the country and from

Canada. It was a inclusive account of a trip that began in Auckland, included a

four day New Zealand rally with 55 pre-1.955 MGs participating, notable stops,

driving a route of rugged rocky coastline, and a final brunch with a group d

New Zealanders in a MG owner's home overlooking Christchurch. The following

paragraph perhaps highlights the whole story, for, as in Ohio Chapter events, it's

the people who count.

The next three nights each American couple was hosted by a New Zealand

couple. Our host family was Ken and Ruth Hand. They were lively,

talkative, and very enjoyable. Ken is restoring a ]2 which had been

wrecked over 20 years ago. Because of the tremendous expense d

obtaining parts, Ken is doing everything himself from making new wings

to turning out necessary bits and pieces on his lathe. We found that most

of our New Zealand friends had done their own restorations.

Ir conclusion: "This was an unforgettable trip. Dick and Ann Knudson thought

of the MGMG visiting New Zealand and they, along with many New

Zealanders, worked hard to bring it about. Our thanks to everyone involved."

The second Crier of 1993, volume 24,number 2, brought a Phil Smith account of

the trip to England, shared with the Metcalfs. "The highlights certainly included

meeting lots of MG folk, including a visit with Mike Allison, being introduced to

John Thornley, seeing Barry Foster's garage full of C-types, drinking lots of

bitters, a visit to my uncle, Samuel Smith's brewery, etc."

There was a proud announcement that The Lord Nuffield Crier had been awarded

the 1992 Gardner-Mulvaney award by the NEMGTR, which they had learned of

at the Putin-Bay GOF. There was also a call for contributions to the periodical.

"We've tried to put together a quality publication that is worth your time to read,

and it was great to receive recognition. However, the LNC is your

publication....We need your articles and contributions, what you're doing with

your MG, tech tips, travels, natters, etc."

"Club Notes" led with a headline: The Rain in P.I.B. Falls Mostly On MGs, a one

line description of the dismal weather that began after arrival via ferry at the

Put-in-Bay Ohio GOF and that continued on into the following afternoon. But

the late afternoon on Saturday and the banquet (and glorious Sunday) had dried

folks out. There were many awards and in a board meeting a slate of officers was

nominated.

There were encouraging reminders to participate in a number of upcoming

events: the GOF Central in Ann Arbor July 15-18, the Arthritis Foundation

Classic Car Show in Columbus ]uly 23,the Wyandot Picnic Rally (its fourth year)

on August 14, the University Motors' Summer Picnic in Grand Rapids in August

(called the Woodstock of North American MG events), the competitive overnight

Grand Tour of Ohio on Thursday October Z which would precede the ]Jackman's

GOF XLVIII that weekend. Also noted was Jim Pesta's Miami Valley Classic rally

in the MGMG series of vintage MG rallying events - a three day

time-speed-distance rally throughout southwestern Ohio on October 22-24.

There were 22 restorations in progress, one illustrative of Ohio Chapter

members' generous spirit. One notice backed into the restoration news this way:

"Peg and Shep Black were at PIB with visitors, their son Jim Sheridan and

granddaughter Morgan from Denver. Jim and Morgan had driven Dave Zyp's

TD (Shep's tub is in Novelty "indefinitely" waiting ib tum for rebuild), and Peg

and Shep had their TC. (It just had its steering gone through by Tom Metcalf

and Shep reports that it is much better - he can actually choose a lane on the

roadway and stay there now.) And their TF is in Tom's shop - soon to be

painted."

Manley Ford in his "Mechanical Musings" spoke to "some technical tidbits

related to T-type push rods and lifters (tappets)." In "The Racing Beat " Manley

reported his calendar included a new vintage racing venue in Philadelphia (no

date given), Mid-ohio July 8-11 and the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix July

24-25. Later there would be the traditional Grand Rapids race the same weekend

as John Twist's summer parly,and back to Mid-Ohio August 27-28. Manley

concluded: "For my money this second Mid-Ohio vintage racingvenue is a much

better event to attend as a spectator than the SVRA extrvaganza in July."

The June Removable Center Section was overflowing with information and

registration forms for all the events previewed in "Club Notes."

A two-part personal reminiscence by John Dugdale of England, "Half a Century

of MGs" began with the pre-war models. He related his keen interest that began

around age 10 "when the first octagon badge took to the roads in 1924. I can

remember the pretty four-seater sports tourers that Cecil Kimber devised from

the prosaic Morris." It went on from there, a charming review of the successive

MGs prior to WW II..

The accompanying photographs, taken/collected by the editors Smith, were

great, tight shots of some of the classics. The cut lines read: David Potter's 1,4/28

"Bullnose"; ALB 3, Geoff Radford's 18-80 Mk tr, fitted with a Mk I body; An M

Midget at the Octagon Car Club's 193 Wing's Run; Bob Fergus' C-type, at the

1992 Dublin Arthritis Foundation Show; D Midget at Farmington GOF, 1991; The

Chairman's PB, the famed "BKA"; Beautiful sights and sounds: a K3 at speed,

Lime Rock, 1991; and NA Magnette, owned and driven by Bob and Sonja

Sterling, from Andover, Ill.

hr "T Tidbits" Chairman Metcalf handed out plaudits to the nominating

committee members, Dan Glow, Craig Seabrook and Jack Breen for their efforts

in coercing three new volunteers to serve on the Ohio Chapter board. They were

Peg and Shep Black, chairing publicity, and Bob Forbes as secretary.

And there was the persistent encouragement for a trip to England in 1995 with

questions to determine what the interests of members might be and when their

preferred date was. And there was a report on "Rover."

As you have probably read, the new old MG RV8 is selling well to

the well-to-do nostalia types. The real news, though, is if enough d

these MG's sell, and the UK economy picks up, and Rover is still in

business, by 1995 the all-new MG could be real. While size is

comparable to the Miata, the new MG (PR3) is to be mid-engined,

rear wheel drive, and powered by a 1.61 in both turbo and non

turbo. Top speed is to be around 130 MPH which is handy for the

UK Motorway driver. The drawings prove the car is snappy

looking. If it happens, will it be federalized?

The next Crier available at the compiling of this history was the December 1993

issue, volume 24, number 4. It was a full one. The "Editor's Notes" led with a

dedication of the issue to Paul Johnson, who had died on October 24. There was

the following remembrance.

Through the past 20 years, Paul served as chairman of the

Ohio Chapter for six of them, and helped grid" the chapter by serving

as an at-large member on the board since then. There are many stories

that are told when two or more chapter members gather, often times

recounting driving exploits of the past. Paul Johnson seems to be a

constant feature of these tales. Here was the man in our chapter who

embodied the Drive MG spirit. Paul's involvement with the cars, the

people, and the chapter was certainly inspirational, and I am sure he

will become one of the grants of the Ohio Chapter as it gains new

members. To quote part of his chairman's message in the September

1980 Lord Nuffield Crier, 'The friendliness and cooperation within the

MG fraternity beyond compare...I am firmly convinced that we are

members of one of the friendliest, most cooperative, fun loving, and

helpful groups in the world.'

Later in the issue the editors would reprint the 1979 Lord Nuffield Crier

interview with Paul Johnson along with photos provided by Addie Johnson and

others. (See December 1979 Crier.)

hr "Club Notes" there was a report on the fall GOFXLVII on the second

weekend of October, "the second coldest Ohio Chapter meet of the year (the

Natter was the warmest)." Dave and Janet Jackman had put on a great weekend

with lots of MG driving. The all-day drive on Saturday that took the GOF from

Chillicothe to Roscoe Village and incorporated a TSO rally segment, a gimmick

rally and a poker run. All winners were listed for T cars and non-T cars, first

through third places (a continuing effort to encourage driving MGs to meets).

|im Pesta's Miami Valley Classic TSO rally had had 26 entries from five states

and Ontario and the Ohio Chapter had fielded seven teams. Three firsts were

won by chapter members: Craig Peck and Bob Niebaum first in the Novice MG

class; Manley Ford and Tom Baumgardner first in the Unequipped MG class;

and Phil and Dallas Smith first in the Equipped MG class and first overall.

Seventeen restorations in progress were reported. And in "Spares," Fred Kuntz

wrote of Bob Watts of Columbus who bought his TC in 1954 and shortly after

disassembled and started to restore it. In the process of restoration, which was

still going on, Bob had recorded "items as found with photographs,

measurements, inspection of very minor details and sketches." The reason for

this detail, Fred wrote, was Bob's interest in how and what may have been done

when TC 6557 was built. Bob had sent Fred several of these write-ups for use in

the Lord Nuffield Crier, which were "a sort of combination of spares and

technical articles." The article in the December issue, titled "TC Details," was on

Cable Brake Clamp Plates on the Rear Backing Plates.

There was a Dave Snediker technical article, 'TF Gearbox Extraction, Engine

In-Situ," which covered both disassembly and reassembly, step by step.

The center removable section carried an application for the Ohio Chapter Car d

the Year Award, and a registration form for the 1994 natter to be held in Newark.

Host Will Kennard offered the weekend schedule under the subject: Natter'n

Noggin to All There was also a notice from George Hasek on dues due by

December 31. The amount of dues was by then $20.

Manley Ford in "Racing Beat" ate crow gracefully. He remembered a

conversation at the last Natter'N Noggin when, after watching Dave Zyp

demonstrate a broken-axle-stub-removal-tool, had said to him, "In all my vintage

races I had never snapped an axle shaft." Later, in a nightcap conversation with

Jack Bauer, Manley added he had also never bent any sheet metal, nor had he

ever seen a serious injury. The response from jack was, "'You will,' as he toddled

off to bed like some soothsayer." Manley also has a soothsayer sister, an English

professor, whom he had told of lowering his lap times at Mid-Ohio to less than a

second over two minutes and his assertion that "if you can break two minutes at

Mid-Ohio, you're driving a real race car." Her response had been "Hubris,"

referring to the fatal flaws of memorable literary characters such as Ulysses.

At Pittsburgh with a practice session topping his previous best times, "my

axle-shaft luck ran out. SNAP! After replacing it (without a Zyp tool), I was

relegated to start Sunday's race DFL (Dead Frazzlin' Last)."

Then at the August Mid-Ohio event Manley entered his TF in a sprint race where

"there were a few MGs, Alfas and other stuff but other than an Allard and an

XK120, mine was the oldest car in the whole event." In qualifying he actually

broke two minutes and on Sunday he won his class over three other cars in the

enduro and went out for the sprint race "in which I was the sole car in my class"

but with "a few folks I like to dice with - an MGA Coupe and the XK120."

Then...

I stayed close to both of them in the race but couldn't really

press it, sol backed off and was just cruising around when the

left front hub broke while Iwas going through a hard

right-hard turn known as The Keyhole. The wheel peeled

back the fender and running board iind launched, I was told

later, some thirty feet in the air. Amazingly the car stayed

under control and I coasted to a safe stop out of harm's way.

With help from Tom Baumgardner, we maneuvered the TF

onto the trailer and headed home.

Now, several months later as I sit, early on a beautiful Sunday morning

in October recounting these events,I'm still thinking about it....I'm sure

Dave Zyp, Jack Bauer and my sister will understand if I avoid discussing

vintage racing with them in the future.

A poem by Craig Peck was in the December Crier, perhaps inspired by a Friday

experience en route to the Jackman's fall GOF (the rain came on Saturday).

An Aufumn Poem

by Craig A. Peck

spidering along serpentine mounds

southem Ohio

motoring wheels whirl while we watch nature

first hand

breezing through tunnels of trees

sun flashes

leaves sparkle like Christmas tinsel

we sparkle

Chairman Metcalf in "T Tidbits" wound down 1993 with a year-in-review skip

through the year's events and good times. And in a section titled "Hyde Park,

Speaker's Corner," Tom spoke to proposals over the years (apparently

continuing) "to expand our Ohio Chapter to include modern As, Bs, etc, and to

dissolve our relationship with the NEMGTR. In other words, become an open

MG Car Club." Although Tom owned five MGs ranging from 1932to1974,had

over the years owned over a dozen MGs, and had been a member of the original

MG Car Club of England for 20 years/ he liked membership in NEMGTR.

Despite "an up and down relationship with our parent NEMGTR,I say let's bury

the hatchet, go to a NEMGTR GOF and have fun."

Speaking of his view of the Ohio Chapter he concluded: "Why change the Ohio

Chapter, it's not broken." He liked the exclusivity of a T-Series club, "especially

ours. Our Ohio Chapter is 'Dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of

T-Series and vintage MGs.'I like that. I feel strongly about that."

Tom felt the club really didn't care what you drive to an Ohio Chapter GOF. "Just

come and join the fun. The GOF is our main function - its why the Ohio

Chapter exists." He wondered if it were not "highly presumptuous to imagine

other MG owners are begging to join us." And in a final statement, Tom wrote:

I don't buy for one minute that our club will disappear as we and the

cars get older. The cars -barring a nuclear holocaust - will outlive

all of us and they will have new owners. In fact, it's unlikely that you

are the original owner of your T-Series MG. They will continue to

pass down from generation to generation, and in many cases to our

very own children.

If we focus on all MGs, what will happen to our T-Series MGs? With

two kids to maintain in addition to the MGs, it already is way too

easy to jump into the GT for the weekend instead of the TC.

Tom concluded with a Happy Holidays greeting, an admission he was hoping

for a diminutive little F2 body tub for his F Magna project, and a final "See you at

the natter."