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ed him of a Top Gear travel
episode. I'm looking forward
to the next adventure the
Mortenson brothers plan.
The panel van restoration
is coming along well. The
painting is nearly complete
and the engine is almost
ready to pick up from the
machine shop. UPS brought
the new wiring harness yes-
terday and just looking at it
gave me nightmares. It's
probably much less terrify-
ing than the
original Lucas design,
though!
So, see you all soon at
coffee or Summer Tour
Realy Ann
Charlie told me he could-
n't believe the school year was
almost over - "It went by so
fast!" Yep, it did. It's almost
June and time for summer
driving. These rainy days
have made it a bit harder, but
the hills are certainly beauti-
ful as a result. My mom and I
drove up to Garden Valley
yesterday and it was lovely.
Summer Tour is 32 days
away. If you have a room re-
served and haven't yet regis-
tered for Tour, please do so
soon. We want to have
enough materials for every-
one. Like last year, we are
having our first night Meet
and Greet at Fort Walla Walla
park and encourage everyone
to bring a beverage of their
choice and to plan on dinner
from the food truck we've got
coming. Andrae's Gourmet
Food Truck has an amazing
menu (http://
www.andraeskitchen.com/
Menu.html) and we have a
great space re-
served in the park.
There are still
seats available for
the wine tour on
Friday afternoon
($12/person) - let
Nancy O know if you are in-
terested. Watch your email for
more Summer Tour details as
we get closer to the launch
date.
I'm looking forward to
hearing more tales from our
intrepid Canadian explorers,
recently returned from the All
-British Field Meet in Van-
couver, BC. I think some
awards were won, as well.
Does Rick M get to pass on
the Traveling Trophy?
Nathan and Charlie went
on the Barn Finds drive a cou-
ple weeks ago and had a beau-
tiful drive through Idaho City,
Lowman, and Garden Valley.
Since 3/4 of the cars were
LBCs, Charlie said it remind-
S P OK E ‘ n ’ W OR D
Presidents Words
I D A H O B R I T I S H
C A R C L U B
h t t p : / / i d a h o b r i t i s h c a r s . o r g
S pe c i a l po i n t s o f
i n t e r e s t :
May 27, Wednesday
Night Drive
May 30, Odd Saturday
Out
June 25-28
Summer Tour
I ns i de t h i s i s s ue :
President Words 1
Upcoming Events &
2015 Board
2/3
May Happenings
& For Pete’s Sake
4
Welcome
New Members
4
Summer Tour Update 5
Barn Find Rallye 6
MG T Series 7
Gearbox Oil Advice 8/9
Classified 9 &
10
J une 2 0 1 5
Vo l u me 2 4 , I s s ue 6
Ethanol free gas stations in the Treasure Valley Several ethanol free gas stations in the TV have gone to a minimum amount of gallons purchased
per month—with Baird Oil being the most recent at 50 gallons minimum purchase/month.
According to the web site: http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=ID here are some that still sell
ethanol free gas: Northend 76, 1522 W. State Boise—87, 89 & 91 octane
Phillips 66, 8160 W. Overland, Boise 87 octane
United Oil—Sunoco, 120 N. Curtis, 110 octane—however there wasn’t any information if they sell to the
public
Phillips 66, 835 E. Fairview, Meridian, 87 octane
Upcoming IBCC Even ts P a g e 2
Wednesday, May 27th Wednesday Night Drive to Cold Creek Mountain Restaurant—Emmett, ID Rodger Shaver will be our host—Off we’ll go to the Gem county Wilds! We’ll meet at Veterans Memorial
Park. For a 6:30 departure to Emmett for dinner.
Saturday, May 30 Odd Saturday Out—Rick Kloss has arranged a drive and lunch at the Hilltop Sta-
tion. Meet at Café Capri at 10:30 for a 11 am departure.
June 25-28, Summer Tour—Walla Walla Washington Here We Come
Registration form: http://idahobritishcars.org/images/ST2105_Registration.pdf
Current tour information: http://idahobritishcars.org/images/ST2015_Info.pdf
IBCC members meet for coffee the first and third Saturday of each month.
Guests are always welcome
1st Saturday at 9:30 AM Coffee Gathering at Caffe’ Capri on Federal Way and
Gowen Road
3rd Saturday at 9:30 AM Coffee Gathering at Moxie Java on Overland Road and
5 Mile
Other Car C lub Even ts Around the NW Area
United Street Rods of Idaho has a listing of all the local car shows http://www.usri.org/events-calendar/
June 1-6, Drive Your British Car Week, http://www.britishcarweek.org/
June 6, June Cruisin & British Touring, Pendleton, OR http://www.roopsmg.com/signup.htm
June 8-12, 2015, NAMGBR Annual Convention, MG 2015 “The MaGic in Niagara Falls” Cana-
da, http://www.mg2015.com/
June 29-July 2, Mini Meet West. http://www.minimeetwest.com/2015/index.htm
July 25, All British Field Meet, Kenmore, WA http://abfm.com/
August 9th, BRITBULL. Spokane, WA (details not available)
August 14-15, 35th Annual All Triumph Drive In, Silverton, OR. Hosted by Portland Triumph
Owners Assoc. http://portlandtriumph.org/
September 5, 2015 All British Field Meet, Portland, OR (details not available)
September 12 & 13, Wheelin’ Walla Walla
Friday classics cruising & BBQ; Saturday show & shine followed by award ceremony and street dance
September 19, 9am to 2pm British Car Show & Shine, Wenatchee, WA
Sponsored by the Greater Wenatchee, WA British Car Club—registration is FREE! For more infor-
mation or questions, please contact British Car Club of Wenatchee at 509-866-3773 or BritCarClub-
P a g e 3
IBCC Board for 2015
President Realy Ann Wingert [email protected] 208 338-0837 (H)
Vice President Bill Dryden [email protected] 208 867-8670 © 208 388-8863 (H)
Treasurer Wes Seideman [email protected] 208 514-7209 © 208 384-0566 (H)
Secretary/Membership Greg Bell [email protected] 302 635-4514 © 208 297-7728 (H)
Events Coordinator Brad Eells [email protected] 208 631-3991 ©
Newsletter Editor Nancy & Lee Otterness [email protected] 208 376-5931 (H)
208 861-1186 Nancy’s cell
208 861-8333 Lee’s cell
Web Master Rick Mills [email protected] 208-890-7252 © 208-895-0752 (H)
Historian/Archives Bob Frisby [email protected] 208-336-2169 (H)
Past President Dave Countryman [email protected] 208 336 0806 (h) 208 841 8251 @
S P O K E ‘ n ’ W O R D
COFFEE TIME NAME’S DRAWN
May 2 - John & Laila Suter’s name was drawn, they weren’t
there—even though their old car was!!!
May 16 - Christopher & Callum Marshall—their name was drawn
but they weren’t there to collect!
FOR PE T E ’ S SA KE
Cof fe e o n Ju ne 6 th w i l l be t he l a s t t i me t h i s y e ar
tha t y ou c an c as t y our ba l lo t for the “ Pe te ” Awa r d
It is that time of year
to begin thinking of nomi-
nations for the “For Pe-
te’s Sake” Award. Each
year the “Club” awards
this trophy to a member
who symbolizes Pete’s
spirit of fun and his knack
of encouraging and help-
ing others with not only
cars but life as well.
Ballots will be availa-
ble at the annual meeting
and at several coffees.
Submit their name,
why you believe they
demonstrate that some-
thing “extra” and sign the
ballot.
The 2015 winner will
be presented the trophy at
the Summer Tour 2015.
Tony & Susan Stapleton—they drive a 1972 MGB
New Members can pick up their name tags at coffee.
M a y H A P P E N I N G S
P a g e 4
New Members
Summer Tour 2015; It’s (almost) here!
In less time than it takes to rebuild your transmission, this year’s
summer tour will be here…four days of excellent driving, good food,
and fun times with both old and new friends. Here are some “insider”
tips to make this year’s summer tour even better. Be sure to check the
IBCC website for the details and any last minute changes.
http://idahobritishcars.org/
Join the organized drive leaving from Boise on Thursday, June 25.
We will travel some excellent backcountry roads, see beautiful scenery,
and enjoy a great lunch at the Oregon Trail Café in Meacham.
On Thursday, registration is also our opening event in Walla Walla.
Bring your favorite beverage and have dinner at Fort Walla Walla
Park—Rotary Shelter We have arranged for a mobile epicurean facility
(not a taco truck) to be a part of the opening reception. Be ready for another great meal at our meet
and greet event.
Friday’s agenda includes two events, (1) the economy run in the morning and (2) the wine tour
in the afternoon with prizes to those who can best estimate their car’s fuel use during the 70-mile
drive. For the wine tour, there are a few empty seats on the bus so if you want to go, please contact
Nancy O. ([email protected]) For those doing both the economy run and wine
tour, be sure to grab a quick lunch and remember, any wine you purchase must fit in that little car
for the drive home! If you are not joining the wine tour, downtown Walla Walla offers many
shops. Look for those businesses displaying the IBCC Summer Tour flyer.
Saturday morning is our car show. Car washing stations will be available at the hotels so polish
the car and maybe you will garner an award. Saturday afternoon is open time for a drive in the roll-
ing hills of eastern Washington or a leisurely lunch at a local eatery.
Saturday evening is the banquet and awards presentation. We have reserved the Jacobi’s restau-
rant and will have an excellent buffet dinner after the social hour. Be ready for another fun even-
ing!
New this year is an organized road trip back to Boise. After breakfast, we will gather up in the
hotel parking lot and head home.
Summer Tour 2015 is just around the corner. The IBCC website will have more details and
your registration packet will include a detailed schedule. The plans are in place with some last mi-
nute polishing in the works. See you all on June 25!
Bill Dryden
P a g e 5 S P O K E ‘ n ’ W O R D
P a g e 6
The drive put on by Jesse and Josh Mortenson, owners of the Barn Finds website, Saturday, May 13,
was great fun. It wasn't really a rally in the time-speed-distance sense but rather a fast tour through Idaho
City, Lowman, Garden Valley, Horseshoe Bend, and back to Boise. Except for some truly tough cyclists we
had the road to ourselves until we were headed home on Highway 55 so we drove those curvy roads as fast
as we wanted. Some of us found new performance limits! Lunch was provided by Jesse and Josh at a camp
ground near Lowman.
Two of the
cars were truly ”barn
finds”. Nathan and
Charlie Wingert were
there in the red Mini
rescued from the
Sufke collection and
returned to health by
Nathan. Josh drove
his Spitfire, formerly
of the Black Hole
with an engine from
Bob Huston. Admit-
tedly, Jesse's MGB
GT (ex Brown's) and
the 914 were both
purchased more or
less running. Near the
end of the day, the
Spit developed an oil leak but made it back to town under its own power.
Thanks to Jesse and Josh for putting on this no-charge event and providing breakfast, lunch, badges,
and other rally goodies. Their website, Barnfinds.com lists interesting cars from around the country. You
might want to check it out.
Barn Finds Rally, a Mostly British Car Drive
by
Nick & Susan Brown
P a g e 7
The MG T series is an easy car to describe: There’s one at every car show, and it looks 20 years old-
er than it actually is. Look past the old-school exte-
rior, though, and you’ll find, well, old-school under-
pinnings. The MG T series started with the MG TA
in 1936, and over the next four generations and 20
years it kept its prewar character and classic design
relatively unchanged.
Meanwhile, American-made cars progressed
from small engines and swooping fenders to full-
bodied highway cruisers. But that doesn’t mean you
should overlook the T series. Instead, it means you
should buy one. These cars have everything neces-
sary for driving, and nothing more. They’re sports
cars in their purest form.
The first postwar MG, the TC, still looked like the old TB. And it shared the same engine, too–albeit
with slightly higher compression. However, the TC did have a few notable upgrades: a wider cockpit and
normal leaf springs in the front suspension. Yes, we just described a solid axle with leaf springs as
an “upgrade.”
Its biggest change was where it was sold: This was the first T series sold in the U.S., albeit only with
right-hand drive.
Though the TC was still stuck in the 1930s, Americans didn’t seem to care. TCs were a welcome
respite from the gigantic cars of the ’40s. They were light–about 1700 pounds–simple, and fun. Add in a
bunch of young men with disposable income returning from war, and it’s no surprise that 10,000 TCs were
built before the TD came along in 1950.
The TD’s 1250cc engine was a carryover, but the chassis was all new. The body was lower and wid-
er, and the solid front axle was gone–replaced by wishbones and coil springs. Out back, the frame was
raised; giving the rear springs more room to move. The result was a more comfortable, better handling car.
Also on the chopping block were the giant wire wheels. Instead, the TD sported smaller, modern
steel wheels. The final touch? Left-hand drive, a feature that was guaranteed to make the TD an even bigger
hit in the U.S. About 30,000 units were produced, making this the most common T series.
In 1953, the final T series was introduced, the TF. The TD’s chassis and running gear were carried
over, but the body was decidedly modern. The grille was swept back, and the headlights were built into
the fenders.
However, the TF’s improvements weren’t enough. The Triumph TR2 and Austin-Healey 100-4 were
also introduced in 1953, and they were simply more modern cars. To compensate, MG increased the TF’s
displacement in 1954, stuffing 1466cc under the hood of the cleverly named TF 1500.
1955 marked the end of the T series, though, and the beginning of the new era. The MGA was intro-
duced, and with it the MG Car Company had finally abandoned the 1930s for good.
This article was originally published in the January 2015 issue of Classic Motorsports. http://
classicmotorsports.com/articles/window-shopper-mg-t-series/
S P O K E ‘ n ’ W O R D
MG T Series—reprinted from The Square Rigger—the Chesapeake Chapter of the
New England MG-T Register, Steve Woodall, Editor
P a g e 8
G e a r b o x O i l A d v i s e S u b m i t t e d b y W e s S e i d e m a n a n d r e p r i n t e d f r o m h t t p : / /
w w w . m o s s m o t o r s . c o m / f o r u m / f o r u m s / 9 7 2 8 / S h o w T h r e a d . a s p x
www.bpnorthwest.com
Phone (503)864-2001 FAX (503)864-2081
STOREY’S GARAGE
LLC.
OFFERING HIGH QUALITY
RESTORATION SERVICES
AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE
OF YOUR SPECIAL VEHICLE
15% off labor for all IBCC members
(208)-697-0923
www.storeysgarage.com
MGB gearboxes (especially the early ones) aren't the most bullet proof of modern day designs. However, this
doesn't mean they can't give reliable service over extended periods. As with any mechanical component, proper lubri-
cation is critical.
A favorite topic of conversation among B owners is what sort of oil to put in these funny English gearboxes,
and this is where the trouble starts. Everyone has a pet theory, even the factory books have been known to provide
conflicting information. Whatever one might think, engine oil seems to work best, not 90wt. gear oil.
Unfortunately, many people, upon hearing that the gearbox uses engine oil, mistakenly assume this means oil is fed
to the gearbox from the engine. Not so. The gearbox has its own oil supply which leaks out on the driveway in the
same manner as the engine's oil supply. A lot of "slow" MGB gearboxes are simply suffering from lack of oil. This
condition must not be left unchecked.
If you own an MGB and have never checked the gearbox oil level, now's the time to start. First off, let's bear
in mind the simple fact of personalities. MGBs (in fact most British sports cars) require that you occasionally get
down on your knees and grovel before them. Think of it as idol worship. Bearing this in mind, wander over to the
passenger side of the car, open the door, get down on your knees, and crawl head first into the passenger's footwall.
Once in position, knees on the ground, head where your feet belong, look for someplace really inaccessible. Let's try
under the carpet, between the firewall and console on the transmission tunnel. Peel back the carpet to expose a rubber
plug (or empty hole as the case might be.) Lurking somewhere down there, half covered by old grease and dirt, is a
combination filler plug and dipstick. Pull this out, wipe it off, then attempt to restore it to its original location in the
gearbox. Once done, pull it back out and get a proper reading of the oil level. You may find the hole in the trans tun-
nel is conveniently designed to be a little too small for you to get your hand down in there. Use the stiff upper lip
method...perseverance.
Continue on page 9
P a g e 9
CLASSIFIED ADS
FOR SALE: 1976 Triumph Spitfire
It is in decent running condition. Comes complete with factory hardtop, custom spoke mag wheels, and a trailer full
of spares. Asking $3,000. Erik Faudeck --- 570-1691 or "[email protected]" for more information. (nm6/14)
FOR SALE: 1955 MGTF $26,000
It's in pretty good shape. Needs a few mechanical fixes and i would love to give her a new coast of paint. Contact Lori
at 208.859.8393. Pictures available at https://db.tt/JFqMaevP (nm3/15)
FOR SALE: ’69 MG Midget $1250.00 Car is either a project or a parts car.
The Good: It has excellent chrome spoke wheels and like new tires and tubes (approximately one year old). These
alone are worth more than the asking price for the car. It has good chrome all around including the bumpers. The
windshield is good and even the seal at the base is good. It supposedly had a new gas tank installed a few years ago.
The Bad: Engine will need rebuilding. I was told the transmission was good, but it seems awfully noisy to me. The
interior is shot. The body was very straight until it was hit in the rear a few months ago. There is some rust showing in
the “A” pillars and there may be more hidden. The brake master cylinder is BAD. I don’t know about the rest of the
brake system.
The car needs quite a bit of work but is very salvageable. For someone with a Midget or Sprite who’s been look-
ing for wire wheels this is the perfect donor car. I will have the title in hand within the next week or so. I bought the
car a couple of weeks ago and am just looking for a small profit. I am asking $1250.00 but will entertain offers.
Please call Bob at 703-0083. Please DO NOT text or email. We can email photos upon request.
FOR SALE: 1970 MGB GT $5300 The only year with the split bumper in the rear. This one runs really well. The owner has been using it as a daily driv-
er. It is in good shape though not concourse by any means. It’s got a little rust in the sills, nice wire wheels, a service-
able interior though could use new seats. It has been properly maintained, fluids and tune-up recently and garaged. It
has good paint, but again it’s daily-driver quality. $5300, please contact Mike Hipsher 208 720-8384 for details and
more pictures. The car is in Hailey, Idaho. (m 7/14)
For Sale: Brown & Geeson LTD, Shortie Rampipe, S.U. H2 { 1 1/4 "} chrome, $25.00 Richard Kloss 208-362-2374
FOR SALE MG-TD Transmission Cover, good condition, cleaned and painted $175/obo. Drive shaft with good U-
Joints, cleaned and painted $175/obo. Steering wheel, needs complete restoration $50/obo. Gear shift knob, $10/obo.
Used clutch pressure plate and disc Make An Offer. Misc. odds and ends—Inquire. Craig McAllister 208.861.9208
[email protected] (m 3/13)
Contact Nancy Otterness, Editor, to place an ad—[email protected]
S P O K E ‘ n ’ W O R D
If the level is at the top mark, all is well. If not, the best way to add oil is by using some cheap plastic tub-
ing from the hardware store and a funnel. Feed the tubing into the tiny little hole in the transmission, then slowly
pour oil through the funnel. Remember, the gearbox doesn't hold all that much oil, so check the level often. You
don't want to overfill it. Put everything back together, crawl out, and know in your heart of hearts that the MG
gods have been satisfied.
We have heard quite a few stories about cars that worked well until the day the gearbox ran dry and locked
up at 55 mph. Make a gearbox oil level check part of your routine maintenance schedule and you'll never have
trouble again. Well, at least not until something else goes wrong.
Little British Car Co. Vintage Motors
All British Car Parts
Jeff Zorn - Owner
Email: LBCarCo.com
Phone: 800-637-9640
Www.LBCarCo.com
Western Showroom
440 Rutherford St.
Goleta, CA 93117
800-667-7872
http://www.mossmotors.com/
Moss is primarily known for its activity in the British
restoration market and is the world's oldest and
largest supplier of these parts
IDAHO BRITISH CAR CLUB
PO BOX 9484
BOISE, ID 83707
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