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Millenium Run; Was: Top Down Driving....

To: "Michael Graziano" <mgraziano@mindspring.com>
Subject: Millenium Run; Was: Top Down Driving....
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2000 20:55:16 -0500
Cc: spridgets@autox.team.net, clmautz@yahoo.com
References: <MPBBIONGDLECAGOHEDLCEEODCMAA.mgraziano@mindspring.com>
"Michael Graziano" <mgraziano@mindspring.com> wrote:

>THe MIdget sure handles well in the snow....  it was even better driving
>around with the top down.  Eat that MIata lovers....  I did get quite e few
>strange looks, though.  And a bunch of pictures....

---

Yeah baby! Yeah!

The Atlanta paper front page headline read "Coldest December in 
Decades", so of course I had to go on the Last LBC Run of the 
Millenium this morning. And of course, with the hood stowed firmly in 
the boot (topless to us Americans). OAT was 19 degrees F, -6 with 
windchill. The Atlanta area MG and Triumph clubs organized this run 
and invited members from the other LBC clubs. There were two staging 
areas, one west of the city (Six Flags) and the other to the east 
(Stone Mountain). The two groups then met at the Southern staging 
area, which was McDonough, GA. McDonough is an old-style town with a 
central square and courthouse.

The ultimate goal was Warm Springs, GA. I thought that that was a 
nice way to thumb our nose at the Cold Weather. Warm Springs is where 
FDR went for the waters, to alleviate some of the pain of polio. He 
had a little house there, The Little White House, which is not much 
more than a shack. He died there. The train ride back North was 
marked by citizens lining the tracks all the way.

Due to work constraints and a death in the family, I had to limit my 
participation to meeting up with the other crazies at the eastern 
staging area and then driving with them down to McDonough. The ride 
out to Stone Mountain was not too bad. A wool cap, muffler, and good 
gloves made it painless. We eventually assembled a group of 11 crazy 
LBCs with drivers and passengers. They all sat there in the lot with 
hoods up and engines and heaters going. They sure looked cold! I 
hopped out and took a few photos. We had 4 TR-6s, 2 MGBs, and one 
each GT-6, Morgan, MGA, Jensen-Healey, and my Sprite.

We got underway only 15 minutes late. Took back roads down to 
McDonough. The first part of the drive was not so great - Altanta is 
truly sprawling now. Way too many SUVs getting in my way!! However, 
as we moved away from 'civilization', the roads got twistier and 
emptier. The GT6 led, followed by the Morgan, then me in the Sprite, 
then a gaggle of TR-6s, MGBs, the Jensen, and the MGA.

It wasn't too bad, as long as the sun stayed out the clouds and as 
long as the trees on the road side didn't throw too much shade. Only 
my hands got cold.

We all made McDonough except the MGA. He called the leader on the 
cell phone and said he had a fuel problem. Last I heard, they were 
going to NAPA to get a fuel pump.

At McDonough, we were met by a clean Allard with a flathead Ford 8 
for propulsion. Sharp car, but way too big for me! The western 
contingent didn't show up in time for me - I had to get back to work. 
However, they called by cell and said they were on the way with 7 or 
8 cars.

The trip back was interstate all the way (I-75 to I-285). The fifth 
gear came in handy. With speeds as high as 80 mph, I _did_ get a bit 
chilled on this run. But, I got back in time to get some good things 
done, all before dinner.

A few OK photos are available at:

     http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=996373&a=10681324


Have a Happy New Year, and remember, you're fine, it's all the other 
drunks that will cause your accident!

Safety Fast!
-- 


__________________________________________________
Jeffrey H. Boatright, PhD
Assistant Professor, Emory Eye Center, Atlanta, GA
Senior Editor, Molecular Vision
<http://www.molvis.org/molvis>
<mailto: jboatri@emory.edu>

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