MGA Guru Gone Mobile

On September 30 we visited Triumph Drivers Club of Manitoba in Winnipeg, MB. There is no MG club here, and no British car club, but the TR club does have other British cars in it, including MGs. Lots of good tech chat, and picked up names of two shops in the area. Next day we met with Austin Healey Club of Manitoba, same story, lots of MGs in this club too.

Triumph Drivers Club of Manitoba, more MGs than TRs

Tom Struthers' garage with attached house

On October 3 we visited Tom Struthers in Winnipeg, MB, someone with his priorities in order, just built a new home with lots of garage space up front and a house tucked in behind it. Inside Lotus 7 replica, Jaguar XK 120, big Healey, Triumph Stag, and a 70's something very original Land Rover with a matching Land Rover trailer (factory original I think), another big Healey in restoration, a TR3, and an Austin Healey 100 (and I may have missed a few). Then we were off to Red Bearing Automotive Service & Restoration in rural Stony Mountain, MB, just moved into larger quarters, serving primarily vintage British cars.

Graham Lowden lounge

Next day we dropped in to visit Graham Lowden in rural St. Clements, MB. Not a commercial shop, just an invite for friends to get together to work on the cars every Wednesday. Big shop with drive around space inside, nice lounge and kitchen in front, engine assembly room and upholstery shop in back, and eventually 19 people came to socialize and tinker with the British cars. Resident cars were a Lotus Elite Turbo, a Triumph Stag, a big Healey in running condition. In a back bay there were a few complete cars and a few restoration projects. In another month or two most of the space will be filled with friends' cars for winter storage. Visitors brought a couple of TR6's to tinker. In early afternoon we took a short side trip to visit Classic Motor Works in rural St. Andrews, MB, doing some engine work, a little service work, and supplying parts to the area hobbyists. By day's end we got a call to go rescue an MGA from the roadside, to be fixed with an ignition coil from my magic trailer. In the evening a "Tech Session" with some members of the Triumph club, actually a natter "N" noggin, but "Tech" sounds better for the wives.

On the 5th we had a stop at British Motors Garage in Winnipeg, MB, and a couple more MG enthusiasts there to meet us.

Big hello from Gene Cooper, Prior Lake, MN

This shop is almost exclusively for MG service and restoration. By evening, with weather getting cooler (cold rain and frost warnings) it was time to be heading south. We will have to return to Canada next spring to take up where we left off.

Next day on Friday October 6th we were back in the USA at Grand Forks, North Dakota (where fuel was back to $2.59/gal), catching up notes and planning for upcoming adventures. Then on through Fargo ND, Avon MN, Grand Forks MN, fussing with a failing computer, ordered up a replacement keyboard. Sitting one night in Prior Lake, MN, we got a call and invite from Gene Cooper, almost around the corner, so bopped in there late night for a visit. Heading on through Minneapolis MN, and more than a few days in Wisconsin before getting back into Illinois. One notable stop at Finishmaste in Appleton WI to order special match touch-up paint for my MGA.

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