Mike-
I am glad you enjoyed the show. Although I can't take credit, a lot of work
goes into it, and it shows. Granted, when I left this morning, I had intended
to show my Midget on the field, leisurely look at the other cars, talk to
friends I had not seen since last Fall, etc.
The MG had other plans for me. After a flawless drive to my exit off I-95 (I
swear, it was the best she's ever ran) , I crunch the gears downshifting into
third. At another stop, I barely get her into first. Second was ok, third was
hell, and fourth was tolerable. Finally, I get to a stop light with at a
slight upward angle. The car just wouldn't go. Thankfully, I was able to
coast in reverse to a florist shop. There, I sat and pondered my options.
Then, an MGA and a Mini pull up to the stop light-I'm saved, I'm thinking. I
run out, yell to the Mini: "The clutch on my MG isn't working, I need to get
to Harkness!" Reply "What?" I repeat myself. Light turns green, passenger
waves, and off they go. There I stand like an idiot, and they never came
back. That was my low point. I saw the Mini at the show; thankfully my wife
was with me to give an icy stare to the passenger who blew me off.
Back in my car, I decide we MUST make it to the show, otherwise we are
screwed. I am able to get the car going again, and by some miracle, I made it
all the way to the park in third gear. Car dies again. I pull up behind a
dead Healy who had radiator trouble. Once at the show, I sought the help of
the CT MG Club. I was a tad low on clutch fluid. I topped it off, but it was
clear I was leaking the stuff fiercely.
Ironically, another club member who had her B on the field had the same
problem. It was determined the problem was related to the clutch slave
cylinder. Some of the more knowledgeable MG fans told me this was something
that could be fixed on the spot. As luck would have it, no one had this part
for my Midget, so I was stuck. I call AAA, who took twice as long to get
there as they told me, and did not bring a flatbed, meaning my MG was towed, r
ear wheels up, 50 miles back to my hometown, at a cost to me of $3.75 a mile.
Thank the Lord my parents, who were in Mystic, decided to stop in and see us
at the show. This finally allowed me, and my wife (who patiently stayed with
the car the ENTIRE time as I scrambled about) to enjoy the show, the cars (at
3:30, what was left of them), and the beautiful grounds of Harkness Memorial
State Park. So, I arrived in an MG and drove home in a Honda.
Carl, sorry I did not meet you, but you drove right by me when I was
sidelined by the entrance, so I saw your car.
As for me, better luck next year, and to all those who offered help to me
today, thank you.
Tom
78 Midget
PS. The real pisser is that I lost power steering in my Range Rover the night
before. This is not my weekend with british cars.
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