The players
Met up with Larry at 9:30 to begin the trek to Rothsville for the TOB Polo
match and car show. Larry was topless and solo in his almost BRG Midget. I
had my second youngest, 3 year old Clara Jean, riding shotgun in the C
roadster with the top up and back window zippered down.
Hey let's take the scenic route!
We had decided to take the scenic route. For all intents and purposes
"scenic", as used here to describe the trip to the TOB event, shall be defined
as transporting oneself along a single lane double yellow line roadway with a
front seat view of the rear ends of dump trucks, old men wearing caps driving
big chevys, slow corvettes and a variety of others in the slower than speed
limit club. Actually, I think they were having a tag team rally as every time
one would turn off the road, leaving a clear open path ahead, another would
immediately pop on (this ever happen to any of you??). At one point, we
passed an Amish church full of parked horse and buggies .... Fortunately,
church did not let out while we were in the area.
What's that racket ...
Larry asked at some stop light? Well, the fan on my alternator decided to
lose its spacer and make the most horrible metallic squealing while rubbing
itself to death against the alternator housing. Prognosis was that it sounded
a lot worse than it actually was so the trip continued.
What's that smell daddy?
Clara asked this question as I watch the temperature gauge closely. New
radiator filler cap has decided to pull the old Chinese coolant torture trick
on the manifold - drip ...... drip ....... drip ... . Oh, for those of you
who are C challenged. The C radiator is capless, the fill hole is located
just above the forward part of the exhaust manifold which assures that any
escaping coolant will find itself being vaporized on the manifold. Prognosis
smelly, messy but not really a problem.
Radio Flyers and Midgets.
Larry discovered that his brakes are indeed balanced as a big ass Suburban
decided that stop signs are optional if the driver in the right-of-way is in a
Radio Flyer or Midget.
Slow Corvette pulls over so I can pass.
I thought this as the guy in the slow corvette pulled off the road at a stop
light waving me to pass. Wrong - it was the pull along side so we can talk
wave! The slow corvette guy rolls down his window and says, in a one second
burst of chatter, "Is that a C, naw, its not, it's a B isn't it? (Me:) Yes,
it's a C. (Him:) You wanna buy another? (Me) Pull off over there and we'll
talk! - Turns out he has a C roaster (auto) that was restored in the
eighties and has been sitting around for the last 8 years doing nothing - he
has too many cars, his wife wants him to cull the collection and he's just
looking to get rid of it (sound familiar). I'm gonna call him later today.
I have to make pee pee.
Ok, for those of you who have had occasion to have a 3 year old in the car
with you, on a trip of any length, you know the story. I used this
opportunity to go topless.
What's the difference between a B and a C?
Ask Larry, he now knows why the rear end of a C can disappear in front of you
a lot sooner than the rear end of a B.
The Show
Hey, we finally made it at 12:15 pm. Larry's car appeared to run flawlessly
and he was quite pleased at the balanced state of his brakes. The field had
about 150 cars on it and the guy that pulls up next to me has two rather large
moths embedded in the grille of his TF - oh wait - upon closer inspection one
can see that it's a bat!!!!!
OK, so I open the trunk (yes, that's what we call them over here) to get
chairs, blanket and food out (to my 3 year old's chant "I'm Hungry" which was
closely followed by those all time favorites "I'm thirsty" and "I have to make
Pee Pee"). After completing my parental duties I open the hood (see comment
about trunk in the previous sentence) to see what the engine compartment looks
like - YUK!! - what a mess, coolant everywhere. So into the trunk again to
bring out the gallon jug of water, which was next to the tool box and jumper
cables, to wash off some of the coolant. Looked OK when done and I left the
hood open for all to see.
The show was fun
There were 300 lbcs on the field by the time the show was in full swing.
Jags, triumphs (even a Stag with realistic CO who noted, on the windshield
card, under special car qualities: "It runs!"), MGs of all flavors (even a
TA), Land Rovers, a butt ugly morris 100 station wagon (Larry got a photo of
that one), 3 kit cars, a hot rod and one Sterling (Honda - that got in on a
technicality).
The Polo match was very interesting. It appears that some have polo
spectating down to a science with tables, chairs, wine and a variety of fine
foods.
The trip home
Larry and I decided to break up the LBC caravan into two smaller caravans for
the trip home (read as: we left at different times). Can't report on Larry's
adventures on the way home but trust his balanced brakes comforted him
throughout the entire return trip. I did not take the scenic route home.
Clara lasted about 10 seconds and then passed out for the next hour. On the
way home and before the interstate, I was challenged by a TR-6 to a series of
friendly short light to light races which, in the end, had the TR-6 looking at
the taillights of a MGC (what a putz for thinking I wuz an easy pickin B!).
Otherwise the trip home was uneventful ... that is until I was within 10 miles
of my garage ...
This is the grand finale
Remember that prognosis of the alternator fan sounding worse than it actually
was - well true enough, but then the sound stopped!!! Apparently, the fan got
tired of making all that noise and took off to enjoy some silence on the side
of the road. As I saw it for the last time in my rear view mirror, I could
not help but think of that saying about parts falling off being of the finest
British quality. This was followed by the alternator pulley mutilating itself
in apparent agony over the loss of the fan and committing itself to the side
of the road for all of eternity also. This allowed me to put the belt on the
smooth shaft coming out of the alternator and although loose, was sufficient
to drive the water pump and keep the coolant circulating - it got me home.
Well, that's the trip to TOB - LANECO deserves plenty of kudos!!! Can't wait
till next year.
Dr. Doug
Half a six pack of MGs (1/3 of which need some minor work to the cooling and
electrical systems)
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