The MGA With An Attitude
MGA Guru Is GOING MOBILE - (December 16 - December 31, 2018)
Sunday December 16, 2018:
Had a little fun with email correspondence today, chatting with Chris Beckwith in Middletown, Connecticut, USA. There is (or was) a highly modified MGA that we fondly refer to as an MGA Superamerica, as it may look a little bit like a Ferrari Superamerica (maybe). There is a photo of this car taken at Thompson Raceway, Connecticut, USA in the early 1960s, looking rather spiffy back in the day, having been posted on my web site in 2010. Around 2011 Chris' father discovered/recovered what appears to be the same car but with different body styling, having been modified again sometime in the interim period, given a large duck tail spoiler (something like a Ford GT40). Recently they have begun some restoration work on the car, removing the duck tail parts to disclose the first modified body shape still there underneath. It will be interesting to follow the progress on this restoration.
Monday December 17, 2018:
After most of a year of dashing around the eastern half of North America, trying to accomplish too much in too little time, it seems to be a good time to relax for a while. Part of this will be a review to see what we have been ignoring or forgotten to do recently, or just been putting off for lack of time.
Tuesday December 18, 2018:
Early this morning we bumped into a bloke driving this Dodge Sprinter van decked out to be a cruising van or small motor home. Had a nice long chat with this guy to see what he was up to, kind of semi-retired, cruising around where the wind may blow, no particular rush to get anywhere. My interest here is that 4 or 5 years ago I was considering getting a Sprinter van for pretty much the same reasons. But while cruising around in our MGA motor home, the van idea never rose to high enough priority. I recon we just never felt the need for it (yet).
 One thing I found I had been ignoring for a long time (like a whole year) was the BMTA discussion forum. So I spent the rest of the day reading the prior posts, lots of interesting stuff for sure, but haven't gotten all the way though it yet.
Wednesday December 19, 2018:
Finished catching up the one year backlog of notes on the BMTA forum. Interesting stuff. They are a fairly chatty bunch, and I should make a better effort to keep in touch there.
A bit of email chat half way around the world, discussing a planned video phone link-up for an on-line tech conference with an Australian club meeting in February. I'm sure we will have to give that one a test run in advance to be sure it will work when required.
Thursday December 20, 2018:
Mid morning,and I just finished explaining to someone how to reverse the parking direction for a DR3 wiper motor on a 1965 Jaguar S type. Really? It's a Jaguar. I'm not supposed to know that stuff, but I have it fully documented on my web site as part of installing 2-speed wipers on the MGA (one of several ways to do it).
Friday December 21, 2018:
Back to Tech Central in Bonita Springs, FL. I don't think the Corvettes or the Dodge Charger were here last week. Maybe the Jaguar was, and the Mercury Comet saw its first day back on thee road a week ago. The black MGA was an old acquaintance, but not seen since last winter.
The yellow MGB was familiar, having given it a tune up last winter. It is now for sale, in case anyone was interested. The red MGB being new here last week was getting cleaned up and a bit of disassembly with the intent of being converted to a race car. The beige Chevy Chevette (bad paint job) we forgot to mention last week. It is about to donate its drive train for a kit car that is hiding in the back (may appear later). The MG Midget that came out of the paint booth last week was having doors installed today, with a lot of attention being paid to alignment.
That was about as far as we got today, as mid day was programmed to be the annual holiday dinner party with turkey and all the trimmings, after which the party broke up with promises to reassemble next week.
Saturday-Tuesday December 22-25, 2018:
Day off, day off, day off, day off. Feels good to just chat email and bugger off while killing time during the holidays.
Wednesday December 26, 2018:
Got bored and took a little cruise from west coast to east coast by way of Alligator Alley (Tamiami Trail) from Naples to Doral (near Miami). Couple people we should see in this area, but still trying not to bug people during the holidays. Wrote up my monthly trip report for the CMGC newsletter.
Thursday-Monday December 27-30, 2018:
Just bumming around within 25 miles NW of Miami, Pembroke Pines and Davie. Uploaded a searchable copy of Workshop Manual for MGA Twin Cam, compliments of Dominic Clancy in Switzerland on the 28th.
Tuesday December 31, 2018:
Spent most of the day correcting a part number error in 4 or 5 different copies of Service Parts Lists for MGA. Just changing a 1/4-28-UNF hex nut to 1/4-26-BSF hex nut for the MGA Coupe vent window, as the SPL error was causing some vendors to supply the wrong part. Simple change, just time consuming to revise image based PDF files. Just about time to close out the year and wish everyone Happy New Year.
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