Mongrel - Of mixed breeds. I built my '72 B by cannibalizing 2 cars years ago ergo the name "Mongrel".

It's been a great car and over the last couple years I have focused on making it more of a "distance" drive adding the overdrive, quiet exhaust, heavier gauge header, insulation and rebuilding the seats in a certain way. I was also able to find a larger heater box matrix/impeller with a 2-speed motor (this I had installed by a pro) and the car is actually warm in the winter and has a kick-butt defroster.

First rest stop in Indiana

Susan and I relocated to Tennessee in April but without a place to put the Mongrel it stayed in Illinois. This allowed the ability to come back and participate in the club's driving events the last of which was Wine, Cheese & Beer Tour. Well, time for the big test i.e. a 600 mile drive south. I 355 to I 80 to I 80-94 to Indiana and I 65.

Things went well as well-travelled thru Chicago area (no civilized traffic) and onto I-65 south. Took I 65 all the way Louisville where we switched to I 64 east to Lexington. It was a hot day and there wasn't much I could do about that but as we headed east the landscape started getting more interesting with the rolling hills of Lexington.

Not much of a view. Sitting in 4-mile long traffic on I 75

Road noise was a constant issue and I remembered what Steve Skeggs told me on his long MG trips...."wear ear plugs"! Well, couldn't do that this trip and then there are trucks whizzing by. The view of their tires from the side of a very small car can be unnerving!

Things still went well we turned passed thru Lexington and headed south on I 75 toward Tennessee. The scenery kept getting better and better as the rolling hills began to grow into
bigger. But it was still hot. The B did very well without a "lick" of overheating but the driver was sweating it out. South on I 75 we hit a snag. The entire interstate was shut down in both directions to a chemical truck fire. In 90 degree heat this was NOT fun!! It was time to find an alternative so Susan and I got off at next exit (we were close thank god) and Google mapped it.

So for next 3.4+ hours it was the back roads which sounds crazy but the highway was closed for the rest of the day.

The detour was scenic and air very cool.

Mountains - almost there!

The good was that the back way was not only pleasant and scenic, but these were MG roads! Surprising there was no traffic to speak of so we just cruised along our from Kentucky into Tennessee where the scenery changed once again to the Great Smokey Mountains.

Mongrel made safe and sound - of all the things I did to the car the seat rebuild was the best. No aches or pains (believe it or not). If anyone wants the special rebuild I did just let me know.

~~Ralph Arata