Chicagoland MG Club: Driveline

April 2018

Monthly Meeting Minutes
March 19, 2018

34 Members in attendance.

CMGC President Dean Hickenlooper opened the meeting at 8:00 pm. No new guests were present.

Car Projects
Dave Bralich remarked that he will be reinstalling the engine in his 1967 MGB on Saturday and offered a tech session for this event. He also noted that he has a case of engine red spray paint for sale—only $10 per can.
Dino Perez completed the installation of side mirrors on his YB Sedan.
Steve Sparks found the culprit to the damaged starter motor. Turns out the flywheel ring gear was loose and caused the scoring on the starter housing.
Chuck McCallum install a 5-speed transmission in his 1962 MGA.
Dean Hickenlooper noted his 5th gear is not yet functional.

Past Events (detail summaries of these events are in this issue of Driveline)
March 18 – Swap Meet — Jim Evans reported the day was a success with 77 spaces rented and 550 shoppers on hand. New vendors this year was Eastwood Company, and a booth for the Windy City Miata Club.

Upcoming Driving/Social Event Schedule (additional details of these events are in this Driveline issue)
April 21 – Spring Tune-Up. Notify Dave Bralich of any special projects to be addressed at the event.
June 27-31 — GOF - Ray Costa still looking for additional members to assist with this event. Contact him at 217-390-5300.

Break/ 50:50 raffle– CMGC member – Victor L’Heureux -- was the winner of $21. Tim Schafer and Ray Hansen were the winners of a magnetic light and Form-a-Funnel tool respectively.

With no further business to discuss, president Dean Hickenlooper closed the meeting at 9:418 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Victor L’Heureux

New Word of the month

Twisty-turney thing - refers to any tool or item requiring a rotational movement of the wrist to engage the proper response.

~~ Steve ‘Sparky’ Sparks

DID - U - KNOW
by Facia Nearside

At the dawn of the 20th century when motor car development was in its formative stages, many people were just as open-minded about new ideas as they are about self-driving cars today. Motor racing was banned on English roads and the Motor Car Act of 1903 raised the speed limit to only 20 mph. The Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland was keen to hold a race but was unable to persuade the government to allow racing in England. The decision was made to hold the event on the Isle of Man which had successfully hosted the Gordon Bennett cup. The course chosen was 52 miles long with 420 corners and elevation ranging from sea level to 422 meters.

A basic premise of the race was for cars to be representative of touring cars that were available to the public. As such they had to be available for general sale for at least one month after the race, had to be able to carry four people, had to compete carrying a load of 950 pounds, and could weigh no more than 1600 pounds empty. The fuel requirement was perhaps the most difficult however, only one gallon (Imperial of course) per 22.5 miles of racing was permitted.

The first race of what became known as the International Tourist Trophy took place on 14 September 1905. Due to the very strict fuel limitations cars were towed to the starting line with horses, then the 42 competitors started out at one-minute intervals. Crashes, breakdowns, and running out of fuel eliminated 24 cars by the end of the four-lap event. John Napier won driving an Arrol-Johnston with a time of 6 hours 9 minutes. Second place went to a Rolls-Royce only two minutes behind; while the last place ?nisher was a full three hours longer.

Times have changed, and motor racing is now allowed in England. In 2017 the International Tourist Trophy was contested at Silverstone, the winning car being a Toyota TS050. Still being awarded more than 100 years on makes this the longest running trophy in motorsports.

Reprinted from British Boots & Bonnets Chronicle — February 7, 2018 issue.

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