Well, I was hoping someone who was paying more attention than I would
cover the Berkeley show...
It was a gorgeous fall-oid day in Eastern Virginia... my friend Bill and
I had just put the new convertible top on the B the night before (so now
I can >see< out the back window! haha!)... it was just in time for a
frog-drowner that evening (now my glasses don't get wet when I drive, but
the wipers STILL suck. and no defogger capacity yet). Anyway, that
storm got the moisture out of the local air and Sunday was LOVELY.
I filled up with gas at the local Exxon, which was along the route most
folks take from the interstate to the Plantation... saw a Land Rover, an
old MG saloon of some kind, and a TD or TF at the gas station... more
along the road... Anyway, a half hour drive to the Plantation along
scenic route 5 later (sandwiched between an MGA MkII and a TR6) and I was
there... the road in was a dirt farm road and a bit muddy... somewhat of
an equalizer to the show cars.
Initially I planned to spectate and not show, but the flacker at the gate
convinced me to show (twist my arm a bit, thanks). I don't have an
interior in the B at this point, and ratty sheepskin seat covers, so
thought I might be in running for Most Room for Improvement. No such
luck, the competition was stiff!
My green '73 "SAFT FST" was parked next to the car which made 3rd
place... his paint wasn't any better than mine but he had a good interior
and a detailed engine compartment.
Their estimate of 300 cars wasn't far off... I'd say there was close to
100 MGs alone.... a good number of Triumphs... 5 Deloreans... a very nice
Aston Martin... some lovely Jags... about 8 Land Rovers, many in army green.
We only had one car dump its oil on the way in, and a Lotus Elan caught
on fire. The Land Rover which won its class wouldn't start for the
parade... all in all, not bad!
I browsed the parts tents and picked up a couple of taillight fixtures
and a wiper switch. The prices on these made the whole trip worth it <g>.
At one point a locally based SNJ (a single-engine Navy training aircraft)
swooped down low over the crowd and LANDED at the top of the hill. I was
one of the few in my area who knew there was a landing strip there....
caused quite a stir! <g>.
Notable winners: the Aston Martin (best Touring)... a GT-6 (Most miles
driven, somehow he made it take 295 miles from Fairfax, VA, instead of
130 or so...), Austin-Healy 3000 1st place (a golden 67, very nice) and
Most Room for Improvement (a Midget with no bonnet or paint, they
displayed their previous trophies in the same category...) and a TIE for
oldest car (I'm sorry, I don't know the type... both from the 20s).
The B made it home with no complaints.... unfortunately, over the next
day of sitting the HIF4 carb float decides to become a carb sink. Now we
finally have the motivation to put the other manifolds and two HIF4s on.
Naturally we have a nor'easter which prevents me from working on it (and
an autocross school this weekend.... arrrgh!)
John M. Trindle | jtrindle@tsquare.com | Tidewater Sports Car Club
'73 MGB E Stock | '69 Spitfire E Stock | '88 RX-7 C Stock
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