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MG TD TF 1500 Update-Gatlinburg BBS discussion at MG-Cars.net
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MG TD TF 1500 - Update-Gatlinburg
| Well, about 1000 cars made it down here...pretty amazing sight..although with Gatlinburg in a ravine, and tons of tourists, its hard to see many of the cars at one time...Friday there is a car show in a town close by and am told they will all fit??? Monday drove from Buffalo (in torential rains) for about two hours...cleared a bit and continued to Front Royal...Tues, drove the first 20 miles or so on the Skyline Drive, then headed over to interstate 81 and headed straight south...spent a night in Abingdon (thought that made sense) and got in Wednesday morning about 10. Car was flawless and cruised along at 59 mph most of the time. (well, 50 uphills and 60 downhill....did I mention the hills?) Anyway, great time...really great people.(who would have known?) Oh, the guest speaker this morning was the designer of the MGB who flew over from England...very interesting. Have talked my way into the computer at the campground and won't get a chance to see any responses till next week....take care all...(am looking forward to meeting forum members tomorrow) |
| gblawson |
| Nice to hear from someone down there. Those of us stuck wherever can only wish we were there. Our intrepid group from Minnesota is down there haveing a ball. I know at 2001 we had a great time and seeing the cars is so great. Any idea how many T types are donw there? |
| Tom |
| Can't wait to see the pictures! |
| David Sheward |
| Thought I would add an update. Cars went to a park in Cosby TN. today. A truly amazing sight. Literally a sea of MG's Hundreds of B', A' T's Ticfords and various other MG's. So many that it was difficult to walk around and see them all. They took some photos from the air. Hope someone has one they can post. |
| Bruce Cunha |
| Made a special trip to the car show, and what a site and delight to see so many beautiful cars. |
| Jeff McWhirter |
| Just posted photos on our club's page...three links... The trip down (just a bunch of shots looking through the windshield...roads, campsites, same old, same old) The time in Gatlinburg plus the car show plus traffic, etc. The trip home...again same through the windshield stuff http://www.niagarabritishcarclub.org/events.html down the page... Now that I am back, I can appreciate the last three days...have to admit that from the moment I left and at each mile I was waiting for the car to do something 'bad' and what I would do if it did...made for a bit of a high stress level...One of the TD's from Maine blew a piston and had to be towed home on a rental truck and trailer... I then even more found myself hearing rods knocking, tranny noises, rear end whines...arrghh. As it was I have developed a 'rattle' (timing chain perhaps) that is very, very loud. Also have two leaking carbs (at the bottom...time for a rebuild) and a leaking fuel pump which I was able to fix. Other then that, the darn thing just cruised down and back at 55 mph and purred like a kitten..45 lbs oil pressure even after hours of driving (at 80 degrees C on the dial)...Of course, Gatlinburg set new heat records for the three days...96 all day Thursday... The car show was really something...over 1000 cars (in the only flat field for miles) that filled the space to the edges. MG's from 1930 on...a line of Tickfords, 4 Airline coupes (worth the drive down), Sebring and LeMans cars, the 100,000 restored MGA, a really good showing of TD's. Tons of B's and A's... The highlight for me was one of the tech sessions with Don Hayter, the designer of the MGB...he even brought an original 1/4" scale drawing of his first draft. Skipped the Awards Dinner and left Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and drove 12 hours up 77 and 79 (thought it would be flatter then 81...yeah, duh!!!). Drove from 6:00 this morning until 2 p.m when I pulled across the Peace Bridge. Not bad for approx 840 miles. Oh, and last night I couldn't find a campsite so i "slept in the car'... you know, even at 6'4", it is managable...got 6 hours or so.... Anyway...lots of stories... |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Oh, the shots in the middle...how weird is this...I'm paying my bill at "Bit Walley's" (best hamburg I've ever had) and this chap says "nice car...I've got a couple British cars myself....want to see them". Now I don't usually drive out into the hills following Tennessee pick up trucks, but I thought "what the hell"... So off I went...and those photos are what he had!!!!! |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Regarding the new pan gasket and front and rear seals... I didn't use 'any' oil on the 1600 miles...nothing. Few drips each night under the front and rear, but no pools and no burning...????? Am going out now and pouring half a quart over the valve and tappet covers just to see the 'shine' again!!!! |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Gordon; Thanks for the fabulous photos for those of us unable to attend. I envy you. PS. Yain't cool if your valve cover don't shine. Sandy Sanders Hudson Florida |
| Sandy Sanders |
| Gordon, Thanks for the pictures. I saw several pictures of friends' cars, and even two pics of the MGB I helped prepare for the trip. As ususal you find the most interesting and artful angles to capture. Your contributions to our hobby are wonderful! warmly, dave |
| Dave Braun |
| Gordon, Thanks for the great pictures! Hey...I did not see a "Tail of The Dragon" sticker on your car! I thought for sure you would do that whilst down there. That was one of the things I was really looking forward to doing. Cheers, David 55 TF1500 #7427 |
| David Sheward |
| Gorden Thanks for the great pictures. Glad that your trip home was relatevly uneventful.Im glad you enjoyed the hills of Tenn. I was very delightful to meet you at the show. I have a few pics to send when I return to Pa. John Shoemaker |
| John Shoemaker |
| Ok...I have to admit...just before leaving (after the pan gasket and seals) I said..."think I will just adjust the brakes..." and proceeded to turn the adjustors and....nothing... couldn't get them to hit the drums...Turned them fully and found my right front grabbing so I backed it off until it was equal to the left....This left even braking, but an extremely hard pedal (like, hard to stop quickly)! I got on the skyline drive and lasted 25 miles (first exit), the braking required just wore me out...I got off and onto #81 and thats were I stayed. Thought 158 turns in 11 miles might just redesign my front end in the shape of an MGB rear rubber bumper so I skipped anymore hilly turns.... so much for the Tail of the Dragon...( Just ordered 8 shoes this morning and the car will sit until they are on...) (added some captions to the photos.....) Anyone with any pics, send them to me and I will set up a new page if you don't have a site. |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Gordon --- Those pictures are awesome!! Glad you got a shot of the first MG in the US. The present owner is a member of the MG T Party here in New England. Looking at them was almost as good as being there. Cheers, Bob |
| R. K. (Bob) Jeffers |
| Gordon, Maybe we can get a trip to go back to do the "Tail" sometime! I have been talking to a TF owner that lives near there and (hi Mark!) he say's it is nicer in the spring or fall when not so full of tourest and rice-rockets! Thanks again for the pictures...they help a lot right now. It is 15min till 5pm day before we were to go to court for the 3rd time in 5 years and the attorney just called to tell us "no-court" tomorrow at 9:00am.....maybe sometime in September now.??? So once again they have cancelled us just like the last 2 times. No doubt more $ down the tubes for DR. depositions (they have to be done just before court and we have to pay for them, again .) Corporate headquaters for these "crackers" is in TN. so maybe we will make a trip down there. Anybody out there ever mounted a rocket launcher on a TF? please contact me with your design! Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh David 55 TF1500 #7427 (that could have gone to GOF2006!) |
| David Sheward |
| Ok David... only this time I will trailer it down and we can do the tail...met a lot of really fine people...know there is a TC owner who would like to do it as well.... |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Gordon, Enjoyed finally getting to meet you there at MG2006 - as I said, I've enjoyed your website and the photos you continue to post online. Had no clue you were 64 years old though - you look a heck of a lot younger than that - many more years ahead of you! Gene |
| Gene Gillam |
| Gordon and others, After arranging to meet the BBS'rs at FlapJacks, none of you turkey's showed up. What's up!!!! The show was great. Ells Carlton and I, met two guys from TN at Flapjacks at the proscribed time, but none of the rest showed up, even after talking to Gordon at the car show! Don H. |
| Don Harmer |
| Hello David! The poster arrived today and I do appreciate the wiring diagram. They will be framed asap! I especially like that caricature TF with the Raydot spot on it. And for all that came to the MG06 event.....it has been pouring the rain here all day and last nite, the rains held off until all had gone home! TF's on the Dragon has a nice ring wouldn't you think, or just T series on the Dragon......hmmm. Mark |
| Mwhitt |
| Gordon Great meeting you. Saw your car at the show. Nice job. Great pictures. It was a lot just to walk around the grounds and look at all the cars. |
| Bruce Cunha |
| Don, That was my Dad & me. ;) I discovered that there was another Flapjacks on 321 after the turn toward Cosby. Maybe they drove there instead of walking to the closest one? Met Gordon L. at the vendors, but didn't get to talk. My wife & daughter had just arrived. Also met Gordon C. & John Downing at the show. Gordon L., that is 318 turns in 11 miles. I slayed & skinned that Dragon in my MGB V8. Mounted it on the trunk lid. :) |
| Carl Floyd |
| First of all, Gordon Clarke and I were the only ones to be at the 'flapjack' place at 8:00...and we had a nice chat... (I thought after seeing all those pancake/flapjack places that we might all go to different ones....I almost went to 'The Little House of Pancakes' instead of the 'right' one)? Sorry to have missed you guys...great meeting some of you one at a time.... And, I'm 59, not 64 !!!! |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Gordon: One of the many pictures that intrigues me is the cream-colored hot-rod TD with the brown cycle fenders, brown hood, and the Weber megaphones sticking out the starboard side. Are those oversize tires, do you remember? They look like they may be on 185's 16" rims, or maybe it's a set of 6.75/15's? This is the way mine's heading, and I'd like to find the fellow who brung that particular chunk of iron... Thanks for the wonderful tour, Dave Jorgensen |
| Dave Jorgensen |
| Ahhhh, read that wrong...6'4", not 64. No wonder you looked so much younger. Gene |
| Gene Gillam |
| Dave J. Sorry, don't know whose it is...think those are velocity stacks on SU's... http://www.niagarabritishcarclub.org/gatlinburg/velocity.jpg |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Gordon: Hmmmm, you're right - the Weber stacks would be closer together, wouldn't they. Does anybody else out there know who owns this beast - I've found some inspiration here... Dave J. |
| Dave Jorgensen |
| Gordon, Thanks for the photos. Great job as usual. Wish I could have been there. LaVerne |
| LED DOWNEY |
| Hi Gordon Would I right in thinking that pictures DSCF0707.jpg and DSCF0708.jpg at the event are of the ill-fated MG Le Mans car of 1959? David Knowles in 'MG The Untold Story' says that it was built in secret and then hurriedly shipped it off to Qvale in San Fran so that the BMC bosses wouldn't find out about it. He also says that it went into private ownership in 1983 since when not a lot has been known about it - and he wrote that in 1997. Any more details? Regards David |
| David Wardell |
| David... yes, I believe that would be the same car...it was mentioned that it was 'hidden' from BMC when withdrawn from LeMans...here is the story on the card: http://www.niagarabritishcarclub.org/gatlinburg/ex186.jpg That one and the 100,000 MGA were pretty special exhibits! |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Gordon, sorry we missed you for breakfast. I was at the main Flapjacks location at 7:45. It is walking distance from the hotel near Calhoun's. Looks like this: http://dininginthesmokies.com/_gatlinb/dg2fjcab.htm 59, eh? I figured 5 years older than me, never would have thought 10! Must be that healthy Canadian livin'. |
| Carl Floyd |
| Ahhh... well, there seemed to be a flapjack place on every corner... that is really too bad....well, next time for sure! (I thought Gordon C would have brought his own 'syrup', but he didn't...does travel with a jar of orange marmalade however). Its the Canadian clean living, hamburgs, french fries and 4 or 5 cokes, and a pack of cigarettes a day!!! |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Hi Folks: Looks like it was a dream MG meet. When is the next one? . . . never too early to start planning! Perhaps the organizers can be persuaded to hold it a bit later in the summer so that those of us that are a long ways away can drive there in our MGs. Many Canadians are tied to our school year that ends at the end of June. In the meanwhile thanks for the wonderful pictures. Godspeed in Safety Fast Jc |
| John Crawley |
| I love you guy's ...not only can we never all agree on anything M.G. as being "correct".....this group can't even agree on where to eat a pancake...or is the "correct term" a "flapjack" !!!! LMFAO! God Bless you all ....Do we all agree we could all use an "OSH" to wash (or "warsh") one down? Cheers, David 55 TF1500 #7427 |
| David Sheward |
| Don't know if anyone is interested, but the Ontario MGT Register is having it's fall 'GOOF' in Niagara Falls in September. One of the NF members and I are organizing it. Information can be seen at: http://gblandco.com/gb/falls/falls.html Any and all are welcome... there are tons of rooms at the Hotel we booked, and if by chance that books up, Niagara Falls is filled with "great/good/not bad/ok/fair/almost average/average/below average/really awful/rooms by the hour" type of Motels.... there is always room at various prices. You are all welcomed and could taste the really, really good Maple Syrup from the Northern Ontario area spread on your 'flapjacks, pancakes, waffles'!!!!!! |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Is that good on "hotcakes" also? David, 55 TF1500 #7427 |
| David Sheward |
| Gorden My TD was imported to the US from Canada. Do you know if there is a way of tracing its history Thank John |
| John Shoemaker |
| Listen, I have been all ove US and Canada and the absolute BEST "PANCAKES" flipjacks what ever you call them are ONLY AVAILABLE IN SUDBURY ONTARIO!!!!!! period. It looks like the MOON in Sudbury but They have THE BEST!!!! Greg & Grimm |
| G.J. Cenzer |
| No longer looks like the moon, they filled it all in and planted trees (and closed the plants)!!! |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| For those of you BB-ers that tried to meet at FLAPJACKS on 321, there was only ONE “Flapjacks”. Several people approached me afterwards and complained as there were other pancake houses, like the one at light 8 and another up the road, but only ONE Flapjacks. Sorry we missed you. Those that did make it, had a good time. Enjoyed an excellent seminar by Peter Caldwell of World-Wide Auto, on Girling and Armstrong shocks - especially the cut-away examples he passed around, I now have a much better appreciation of hydraulic lever shock absorbers. That car display on Friday - was that fantastic, or what? According to Rick Ingram - the main organiser, 1,092 MGs were officially registered. Some of the interesting cars included: 4 - yes 4 Airline Coupes and 8 - yes 8 gorgeous Tickford Drop-heads. They had their own class. ... hard to choose. And a drop-head SA A s/c L-Type Magna - drop dead gorgeous A half-dozen (or more) M-types I didn’t count the TDs (many) but I did count 29 TFs The MGB Limousine was there - quite a sight! There were 52 MGB-V8s of the 80 that had appeared at the V8 meeting a few days earlier Then there was the LHD RV8 that a guy constructed from parts starting with an abandoned RV8 chassis in South Africa. It had a legit chassis plate with number and a legit Rover V8 engine c/w 5-speed. All very lovely. ... and the 100,000th MGA from the NY show - painted by the works in gold Sebring mga twin cam coupe and the Le Mans MGA deLuxe Coupe. The MGBs just seemed to go for miles. I didn’t vote, I spent my time gawking! The number of Vendors was fantastic and their goods were well selected for the crowd. I would like to add some comments about my trip home. Week-end air temperatures in Tennessee were a scorching +34̊C (about 92 in the old system, I think) and my TF ran like a train - going and coming. Cruised at a consistent 3,500 to 3,750 (4.3 cwp). I think the Water Wetter helped keep the temperature below 100̊. Most of the entire trip was driving up and down hills (the illusion was, that I was continually climbing), yet the engine never missed a beat! Like Gord Lawson, I was continually listening for the fatal “noise” but it never came. Coming home through the Poconos I encountered serious and very heavy rain - driving sheets of water with passing 18-wheelers tossing up huge spray. I still can’t believe I didn’t get wet. Top up, but not sidescreens. But at those speeds, the water seemed to go everywhere but inside my TF. Despite the deplorable driving conditions, I made it home, a thousand miles, easily in 2 days. In earlier threads on tires, I disclosed that I bought 5 new $28 Kuhmo 758 radials, I cannot speak highly enough for them. At one time, going down a long hill, at the bottom, I encountered a puddle I would guess was 2 or more inches deep. Too late to slow from my 4,000 rpm speed (probably about 60 mph), I figured I would be water-skiing, but no, the tread cut through the water and I had no control problems, but I did slow down after that. I got scared-off doing the Tail of the Dragon, after one of our group who did it, related stories of ambulances going up and down the hill, and of 2 deaths that week. I would love to hear from some BB-er that did it - and survived! Gatlinburg was a great MG experience (in the Smokies). Despite having difficulty understanding their speech, and pouring “porridge” (white glue) all over my eggs, I am looking forward to another trip. Gord Clark Rockburn, Qué. PS The only way to spell Gordon is not Gorden! |
| Gordon A. Clark |
| Welcome home Gordon...nice to chat at breakfast... certainly was a great show and your right... a 'slew' of Tickfords is a sight to behold...well, next to the Airlines. |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Gordon C., I drove the Dragon like a maniac in my MGB V8 with a co-pilot that raced SCCA midgets for 5 years. He had no complaints. I'm one of the hotdogs among the British V8 bunch. http://www.britishv8.org/2005-British-V8-Car-Meet.htm There are some pics at killboy.com The British V8 Meet had a go on 6-20-06. I saw a few pics of a TC on the Dragon. I must disagree about Flapjack's. We walked down to light #8, then turned left & walked about a half a block to this Flapjack's: http://dininginthesmokies.com/_gatlinb/dg2fjcab.htm They said that they have 5 locations in the Gatlinburg/Pidgeon Forge/Sevierville area. I guess we should have been more specific. At least, I got to speak with you at the show field. |
| Carl Floyd |
| Carl, With a face covered with egg, I will eat a little crow! By golly you're right! And I apologise to any and all for being so emphatic, but I was relying on the counsel of another less wise individual. I thought that the 321 location would be enough but I was presumptious. Let's try again in 5 years! Despite being an ex-motor racer, I somehow chicken out when the racers are coming 'towards me. Two-direction motor racing is something I have yet to try. One of your V8 colleagues (a Rockburnian, at that!) told me a story about two ambulances heading up the hill, just as he was exiting. Anyway, I let discretion be the better part of valour, and decided against it - especially on Saturday, as I'm told its a crazy-house on the week-end. Gord Clark Rockburn, Qué. |
| Gordon A. Clark |
| How about the name "T's-ing the Dragon"? |
| Tom |
This thread was discussed between 23/06/2006 and 29/06/2006
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