The MGA With An Attitude
MGA Guru Is GOING MOBILE
NAMGAR GT-44, Dubuque, Iowa
July 10-14, 2019
Wednesday July 10 2019:
We strolled across the Mississippi River to Dubuque, Iowa today, found the host hotel, and picked up our registration packet for NAMGAR GT-44. Then wandered around the car park a bit to check out the early arrivals.
We have seen most of these cars before, but snapped a couple of interesting ones.
I'm always on the look-out for the small trailers, in case there may be a new one worth posting in the Trailers Tech section of my web site.
 The red MGA trailer we have seen before. The Haul Master in the middle looked pretty good. I spent some time looking for this one on the net, found it to have 600 pound load capacity and locking side-lift cover with gs struts. Looks good, so I may have another look at it later.
The small box trailer on right is new to me. I suppose the heavy-looking rear bumper is fiberglass, which may or may not be substantial. The bumper being that low might help if you back into a wall, but it isn't going to match up to the height of most vehicle bumpers. I will try to find the owner later for more information.
I took a short stroll through the vendors display room. Lots of nice vintage tools from Liverpool Motorworks, LLC in Liverpool, Pennsylvania. I will be adding this one to the Shops list, keeping in mind it is a mail order house, not a walk-in shop.
The NAMGAR regalia tables were overflowing (already got the event T-shirt), and the always present Scarborough Faire display. The guy selling LED lamps was also there, but all the flashing lights washed out the picture. Easy enough for me not to buy anything (as I don't have any space to stow more stuff).
In the evening we attended the First-Timers and Welcome Party (combined this year). Had an extended chat with a newcomer, and more chat with a bunch of old friends and a few new ones, and got to chew the rag with John Twist for a while. As the light was failing I had another stroll round the car park to check out new arrivals. Lew Palmer is selling his 1936 MG PB Airline Coupe (in case anyone might be interested). There was a nice factory issue 1976 MGB GT V8 (mostly original). Also a nice MGA with an "oops" in front from rear ending an MG Magnette on the way to the event (both cars with the same owner).
Thursday July 11 2019:
Skip the tourist attractions, the main reason I attend the NAMGAR GTs is for the tech sessions. There are time slots for four per day on Thursday and Friday (maybe not all filled). The 9am session today was Piers Hubbard talking about the history of the MGA which began with a review of all models of MG through time (including mention of the post 1980 models).
Second tech session was Kent Prather detailing installation of the rubber rear seal for MGA and early MGB 3-main bearing engines. I was hoping he might have found a better way to do it, but not so. This was a review of the one I designed in 1994, but give him credit for a few refinements. Where I have only installed one in my own car, he has installed multiple copies in his own engines and more for some customers. He has made a few special jigs and fixtures to make the job easier, and has a few suggestions for techniques to get it right the first time.
During the mid day break, while checking out more cars in the hotel garage, I found another small trailer. This one is "Eagle", and I will have to look up the specs later. Had a nice chat about LED lights, and time for lunch.
First afternoon tech session was about sports car racing over the years. Nice review of open road racing which was eventually banned, then the tracks and cars and drivers, lots of good stories.
By later afternoon the weather was cooling a bit and shadows getting longer, and folks were stumbling around the car park again. The Escapade is a very nice trailer, but I already have this one documented.
Then the 4-door MGB rolled in, compliments of Quality Coaches Inc in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Not long enough to be a limousine, but a four door convertible is unusual (as well as the jacked up off-road configuration). Turns out it was assembled form two MGB and a Nissan truck chassis.
Friday July 12 2019:
The first morning tech session was a repeat of Kent Prather and the rear seal installation for 3-main bearing engine (I skipped the repeat). Second morning tech session didn't happen, because the presenter didn't show up, so I wandered down to the parking garage to drop in on John Twist's rolling tech session. He was doing tune-up work on a Magnette by the time I arrived. Next up was a nice MGA, on which I quickly spotted a missing lug nut (not why it was there).
The in-process MGA V6 conversion chassis distracted me for a while. I was particularly interested in how they handle engine mounts and exhaust manifolds without hacking up the frame. There is a neat 3-gear transfer box on the front of the firewall to relocate the steering shaft using three U-joints. Seems like everyone does this differently, and so far never in commercial kit form.
Then it was time for the late morning tech session on rebuilding Armstrong hydraulic shock absorbers for MGA (and other cars), presented by Peter Caldwell from Worldwide Auto Parts of Madison, Wisconsin. Always entertaining, and something new to learn every time I sit in one of these.
Early afternoon tech session was a Story of the Devin, presented by Mark Brandow from Quality Coaches Inc in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After the history lesson we got a first hand look at his Devin bodied MGA.
A look under the skin reveals a Rover V8, a TR7/8 5-speed gearbox, and dual line braking system.
Second tech session in the afternoon was, a repeat of the history of MG presented by Piers Hubbard. Include the Q&A session at the end, and it reveals more information worth the time. A rescheduled tech session on painting and coating garage floors didn't happen (again) as a no-show.
Evening brought us to a race car exhibition and dinner with David Hobbs at Stone Creek Winery. There were a couple hundred people for the buffet barbecue, lots of photo ops with groups from various clubs, plenty of chat time, and a live band for entertainment in between. More chat back at the hotel later.
Saturday July 13 2019:
NAMGAR GT-44 car show today, began hot at 9-am and got hotter with full sun. We had a temporary hint of a light shower, but gone after just a few drops, and overcast shade didn't last long, so just humidity, and we all got to baste. I counted 103 cars on the show field, not including a few early leavers. Supposed to be 130+ cars registered, so there must have been some no-shows.
I started taking pictures in the back row with "Altered" cars and "Other" (not MGA). Already seen the 4-door MGB and the Devin MGA. There was an MGF here, now that some are more than 25 years on and becoming legal to import. The GM V6 MGA rolling chassis in process was here, followed by a Rover V8 MGA (fairly well done, not butchered), and a GM V6 MGA quite nicely done. The MG TD was a knock-out, destined for a trophy today. The 1936 MG PB Airline Coupe was immaculate (and for sale).
I think all MGB and MGC were lumped into one class (right).
The Premier class (previous class winner cars) is always sweet (below). There were a few Twin Cams here, at least enough to make a class of their own (below right).
Half a dozen MGA Coupe here, all very nice. I like to check out the air conditioning set-ups. Then nine or ten MGA 1600-MK-II roadsters, including one restored police car on the end.
Next row forward was MGA 1600 non-wire-wheel cars, sort of a small class (five cars?), likely a result of so many people converting these cars to wire wheels. Also note that most of these are not using original steel wheels. Then a full row of 1600 wire wheel cars, several with non-standard chrome wheels (period correct accessory parts), and a few with optional wide whitewall tires.
The 1500 model non-wire-wheel cars (eight of those) many not using standard steel wheels (mine included of course). Then the 1500 wire wheel cars, 15 of those, again greatly disproportional to the ratio of original production.
In the front row we had the race cars, at least 11 of those, jolly good fun. It was an open class, so welcome the TVR (but maybe we shouldn't count the Mustang).
I felt compelled to have another look at the Altered cars, especially the V6 conversion in which I have a personal interest. This one is owned by Brian and Jane Goldsmith, particularly well done, including the air intake and modified heater, and a carburetor (good going).
There was also an MGA with a Ford Duratec-R engine, very impressive. These can be tuned to well over 300-HP, although they start about half that in low-end production form. One picture and one space left, so say hello to Jeff Zorn, sitting the shade to hawk his wares at the car show.
The show was scheduled to run until 2-pm, but I suppose exhibitors voting was done around 1-pm, which is when the show field began to empty in rapid succession. If I wanted to chat with friends it was time to beat it back to the hotel, as that would be where every one was going. We had skipped all of the tours and tourist traps this week in order to catch the tech sessions. After the car show a light lunch and a little chat with friends. In the evening a Natter 'n' Noggin social before the awards banquet. We tried a few pictures in the car park, but not much luck in the dark. Then elected not to stay over for breakfast, and headed east over the bridge back to Illinois, thinking about another appointment in the morning.
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