This is almost an OMG moment, realizing another month has gone by and it's time to do my monthly trip report again, including the one I missed doing last month. Now how do I do this without writing a book? Lots to be abridged and abbreviated I guess. Okay, back up to the end of February when we were sitting on WiFi catching up grunt work, planning on a short trip to visit Eddie Lewis in Acworth, GA when he dropped in on us. He has an extensive interest in Datsun 240Z, which has some things in common with MGs. That gobbled up most of the evening into late night, and he gave us the name of a local shop the specializes in Z-cars and works on vintage British cars.

Next day (March 1) two more walk-ins. The first bloke has an MGA, owned for decades, still drivable but deteriorating. His daughter wants the car and intends to finance its restoration. Bully! He gave us the name of another shop in the area that works on classic cars including vintage British cars. Later in were Jim and Rhonda McCartney from Acworth, GA with an MGB and an MG Midget (both running), members of Peachtree MG Register, added them to our Friends list. Got a message about a new club member in Columbus, GA with a newly acquired MGB. A real newbie, nearing retirement, just acquired an MGB that runs (roughly) and needs floor pans and dog leg panels (and maybe more that you can't see). Two-car garage, no workbench, and so far, not many tools, but he seems enthused and is ready to attack the learning curve for this quest. A lot for one day without even moving.

Got a message that a longtime friend (and prior CMGC member) Ed Kaler had passed away in January (RIP). He was proprietor of "Just Brits" vintage car shop in Hinsdale, Illinois. Also had some discussion about rolling radius of tires, leading to update of a couple of tech articles. And a question about effectiveness of carburetor heat shields in MGA.

Stopped to visit E Radatz Motorsports in Kennesaw, GA, a Datsun Z-car specialist, but also working on vintage British cars. Plenty of vintage cars in sight, including at least four MG Midgets near the front. Another visit to All Classic Car Service in Woodstock, GA. Nice MG Midget restoration project in final assembly. They farm out body work and do all the mechanical and electrical work in house. Then we were out of Florida and into Georgia.

Gallaher Restorations, Landrum

Monday March 5, early start to visit Triumph Restorations in Westminster, SC (temporarily closed at the time), and The B-Hive in Clemson, SC. Still in business, but much of their prior inventory of parts has been transferred to Sports Car Parts LTD in Knoxville, TN (been there last year). Visited All Tech Tire & Auto Repair in Greenville, SC with one veteran mechanic still working on LBCs. Just passing by, so we stopped to visit Hap Waltrip atAcme Speed Shop in Greenville, SC (been there before). His traditional shop recently closed, and he is now working in his home garage while he builds an even larger shop on site. Then a stop to visit D&M Restoration in Greenville, SC. They restore smaller things like vintage dash instruments and electric motors for wipers and window winders. Spartan Import in Spartanburg, SC was defunct. An hour north we found Gallaher Restorations in Landrum, SC, where we found lots of British cars (ran out of fingers counting) including an MGA Coupe belonging to the shop owner, and a big Jaguar being prepared for competitive rally. Another half hour north across another state line we found Special Interest and Nostalgia Automotive in Flat Rock, NC. Some decades past this was "British Restorations", passed on from father to son, then sold. Now back to lease the building and re-start the business under its current name. Long day.

Elliott Cox in Columbia SC, E-type

Wednesday (3/7) off to visit Brad’s British Cars in Chapin, SC, just finishing a long transition of an MGA from basket case to show car, and an MGC show stopper. Then visit to Carolina Auto Salon in Columbia, SC, primarily a spit shine and polish expert recommended by a member of the local car club, but also some LBC restoration work with a flat-rad Morgan in the shop (currently on the slow plan). After a lunch stop we found a business card on the windscreen and took a short side trip to visit Import Specialties of Columbia, a new place to add to our Shops list. I stuck a couple fingers into an MGB with Weber carburetor to sort out PCV and vapor recovery and anti-run-on. Then off to visit Elliott Cox in Columbia, SC (been here before) to tinker with an E-type tune-up, electric fans.

We ran a couple hours south to visit British Corner in Moncks Corner, SC, only to find the place out of business. Then to Charleston Import Automotive in Charleston, SC,

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