Spring has finally come. As I'm writing this, just three weeks ago the temperatures were barely in the 40s, and now we've seen the upper 80s already. I think all the trees went from bare to full leaves in about a week. Which makes the pollen horrendous this year. But we did have great weather for our first drive to Quaker Steak & Lube in Pleasant Hills. The turn out was great, with close to 30 cars on display. We saw a lot of shoppers going out of their way to check out those cute little British cars. Triumphs outnumbered the MGs, but not by much. It was nice to take a drive after this past winter. While we have the whole driving season ahead, let's take some time to talk about winter storage. One option I've used for many years is underground storage. This has the advantage of storing the car is a climate con-trolled environment and freeing up garage space for the daily driver, which in my case is Su-zanne's MINI Clubman! I've been storing my cars at Brady's Bend Underground Storage near East Brady PA. This year, Bob Affleck stored his MGB GT at Wampum Underground Storage. Bob and I compared notes. It looks like the experience is pretty much the same at both companies. Brady's Bend charges $55 per month with a 4 month minimum. Wampum is $65 per month, and I did not see any minimum rental period. You drive into the mine fol-lowing a mine employee. They show you where to park the car and wait until you disconnect the battery and do any other tasks, like putting on a car cover. The attendants at Brady‘s Bend usually help me put on the car cover. Both places require the fuel be less than ½ tank, which is a Bureau of Mines regulation. Batteries must be disconnected. At Brady's Bend a cut-off switch is OK for the battery disconnect. Once the car is parked, you follow the at-tendant back out. Oh yes, someone else has to be there to drive you there or back. It's pret-ty simple. Both places require a 3 day minimum appointment to schedule drop off and pick up. This is a good thing. Before Brady's Bend required appointments, I went to pick up the MG one Saturday, and sat in a line for close to 2 hours before getting to the office. With the appointment, there have never been more than 2 others waiting to pick up or drop off. Week-days are recommended as they are not so busy then. Bob Affleck and I can recommend these underground storage facilities as a secure winter storage option. I checked with Hagerty Insurance, and they approve these types of secure storage places even though most policies say the cars must be stored in locked garages. The storage rooms at Brady's Bend are locked when not moving cars in or out. Don Stewart

Volume 22, Number 3

So it Don’d on me

June/July 2015

Special points of interest:

So it Don’d on me

Activity Reports

Coming Events,

Club Regalia

Officers & Affiliates

MG

CR

IER

G

RE

AT

ER

P

IT

TS

BU

RG

H

MG

C

LU

B

Tech Session #2 Bud Osbourne was to host this event, but due to a back injury the tech session was post-poned. Bud is doing OK now and will reschedule for a later date. All the best Bud. Georges D’Eon

ACTIVITY REPORT

The MG M-type was produced by the MG Car company from April 1929 to 1932. It was sometimes referred to as the 8/33. Launched at the 1928 London Motor Show when the sales of the larger MG saloons was faltering because of the economic climate, the small car brought MG ownership to a new sector of the market and probably saved the company. The M-Type was one of the first genuinely affordable sports cars to be offered by an established manufacturer, as opposed to modified versions of factory-built saloon cars and tourers. By offering a car with excellent road manners and an entertaining driving experience at a low price (the new MG cost less than double the cheapest version of the Morris Minor on which it was based) The M-type was also the first MG to wear the Midget name that would be used on a succession of small sports cars until 1980.

Wikipedia

Page 2 MG CRIER

Quaker Steak & Lube

As Don noted, the weather brought out a number of cars to this season opener. The participation surprised the QSL staff and service was somewhat tarnished. As an owner of an MG in restora-tion, I participate in a majority of our events without driving my car, I’m either in my Wife’s Jag, or using my Jeep. But this year Don and Suzanne made it special by offering Angie and I to drive Suzanne’s 1979 MGB while they drove the MGA. (Look at it as an incentive to get my car on the road). We wound our way from Blawnox to Pleasant Hills and back via back roads and all I can say is it was awesome and thanks. Georges D’Eon

Trip to Put-in-Bay

Sylvia and Bob Affleck hosted a “Special Event” by organizing a trip to Put in Bay Ohio. Six couples attended in total, with three MG’s participating. We gathered at Evans City Park n’ Ride and made our way to our first stop in Salem OH, where we met up with Beth and Tait Hil-bert. Our next stop was at Johnny’s Pub and Grill in Akron OH. We had Bob lead in his MG as it’s too easy for the non-MG cars to leave the MG’s behind when the speed limit hits 70 mph. We all made it to Country Inn & Suites in Port Clinton without any trouble, except for Joe and Jan Scarlet’s MG had a blown fuse for the tail lights. Most of us carried tools, but it was Bob who had a spare fuse. The next day we left our cars at the ferry parking lot and walked onto the ferry for the trip over. Once we were all there, we rented six golf carts for the day, where we drove respectfully around the island. It was the Victoria Day weekend and all historic sites were open, plus an island wide garage sale was taking place. Each couple ventured out in different directions meeting up now and then at points of interest or for lunch at the Irish Pub Hooligans. At the end of the day, we made it back to the ferry for a trip back to the mainland. That evening we had dinner at Ciao Bella’s, a fine Italian restaurant in Port Clinton. The following day was open to anyone, you could return home at your own pace/direction or as a group we decided to check out the Canton Classic Car Museum in Canton OH. A must see for fans of the Lincoln Highway and Ohio’s past auto industry. I would like to thank Bob, Sylvia and for all those attending that made this event possible. Georges D’Eon

Page 3 Volume 22,

COMING EVENTS

Summer Solstice Tour Sunday June 21

We’re actually having the tour this year on the longest day. Summer officially begins at 12:39 PM, just about the time we should be sitting down to a nice glass of wine. We will meet at the Sheetz just east of the PA Turnpike Irwin exit. Departure is at 11 AM. Our route will take us to the Southeast, through New Stanton, then through Mount Pleasant and on to the Stone Villa Wine Cellars near Acme, PA. Entertainment this afternoon will be by The Elliotts. They are a Pittsburgh band and feature early British Invasion music, the perfect era to fit our MGs and Tri-umphs. There is no food served by Stone Villa, but you are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch. Only Stone Villa wine can be consumed, and no other alcoholic beverages are permitted. You can bring your own non-alcoholic beverages. A wine purchase is required for admittance to the out-door entertainment venue. Parties of 6 or more must make reservations, which requires a $100 wine card purchase per 8 persons. That works out to $12.50 per person to purchase a bottle, which is about the cost of one of their lower priced wines. I will be collecting the money before we leave Sheetz. Because of the reservation and pre-purchase requirement, you will need to RSVP by Friday June 12 at the latest. You can bring a lunch from home, or pick up something at the Sheetz before departure. Although the reservation requirements are a bit of a hassle, I think you will enjoy a pleasant afternoon by the lake listening to great music with fine friends. Please RSVP to Don Stewart by June 12 at 412-963-1893 or by email to britcardon@verizon.net

Trip to Put-in-Bay

PVGP Countryside Tour Thursday, July 16

British Car Day (PVGP) Saturday July 18

One of the highlights of Grand Prix Race Weekend in Schenley Park is British Car Day, sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Triumph Association (WPTA). It features 500 of England’s best sport and luxury automo-biles. 2015 marks the 35th year of this great event Download the brochure for pre registration @ http://wptriumph.org/bcd/BCD%20brochure%202015.pdf

MG 2015 Niagara Falls, Canada

June 8-12

NAMGBR Event.

Page 4 MG CRIER

CLUB REGALIA Get your Summer wardrobe of MG Club clothing and accessories at Tees-n-Tops in Vandergrift, PA. They have many styles and varieties of shirts, hats, jackets, visors, tote bags and lots of other items to complement and color coordinate with your MG. Call Cutta @ Tees-n-Tops: 129 Grant Ave. Vandergrift, PA 15690 Phone: 1-800-313-0009 Fax: 724-567-7310 Email: TeesnTops@comcast.net

GREATER PITTSBURGH MG CLUB OFFICERS

President Vice President Don Stewart Chuck Keller 324 Canterbury Drive 140 Verdant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15238 North Huntingdon, PA 412-963-1893 15642 britcardon@verizon.net 724-863-5860 cfk930@yahoo.com Secretary Norbert Sliwinski Treasurer 856 Cottonwood Drive Randy Fertelmes Monroeville, PA 15146 251 Keasey Road 412-372-7338 Cabot, PA 16023 nsliwinski@hotmail.com Newsletter Georges D’Eon 105 Spring Valley Road Valencia, PA 16059 412-298-9262 timetraveler.ctc@gmail.com Greater Pittsburgh MG Club Membership is $20.00 per year per family, payable in January. CLUB WEB SITE: www.greaterpghmgclub.org WEBMASTER: greaterpghmgclub@yahoo.com

Please support our affiliated registers: North American MGA Register www.namgar.com/membership Registrar: Ben Nolan P.O. Box 89 Elmer, NJ 08318 North American MGB Register www.namgbr.org P. O. Box 55 Whittington, IL 62897 800-NAMGBR1

Exhaust Notes: Put in Bay

Quaker Steak and Lube ride

Now available in 2D Color Remember you can read the latest newsletter on the club web site: www.greaterpghmgclub.org. And the pho-tos are in color! It is in the Members Only section. You need a user name and password to enter Members On-ly. If you have not set up a name and password, your default name is the initial of your first name and the first 4 letters of your last name. The default password is: mgclub. If you forgot your user name and password, send a note to:

webmaster@greaterpghmgclub.org and ask for it to be reset.