Jim Thorpe Classic Run IV

Saturday, September 19, 2009

It was our second time participating in this very cool outing. The weather was great and the event, people -- and of course refreshments in Jim Thorpe after the run were right up there as well!

While the classic Mini lost a front wheel (no injuries, thankfully...and a roadside repair) and one of the Volvos lost an exhaust hanger, there were no other mechanical issues during the run (that I know of)!

Several members from the Keystone Region MG Club and the British Car Club of The Lehigh Valley participated in the run this year and rounded out the field of TWENTY vehicles.

To top it off, we even ran into a couple of other KRMGC club members in Jim Thorpe and had dinner with them. Good day! If you've never done it, I'd highly encourage you to consider it next year!

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Fraternal Twins, maybe?


Typical of the roads on the Jim Thorpe Run


The twenty participants (click photos to see entire width)




A quick scenic stop at Flagstaff Ballroom




Sometimes, you need a third hand!

Spitfire Painted Spitfire

Absolutely the BEST paint scheme for a Triumph Spitfire...painted like an RAF Spitfire fighter from WWII. Brilliant! (Captured at the Lord Of The Manor British Car Show in Pocono Manor PA 2009)

MGB Anti-Gravity Lift

The Anti-Gravity LBC Lift...The easiest way to work under your MGB if you don't have room in your garage for a traditional lift. (Patent Pending)

Terry and Pat Allen's MG Run and Sunday Brunch

Keystone Region MG Club Event, July 19th, 2009. All I can say is...great day!

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Turning a corner on the MG run route. (photo by Marybeth Chamberlain)



Our fearless leader, Terry Allen. (photo by Marybeth Chamberlain)



Penny, Bob and Vixie Pilat in high-speed pursuit! (photo by Marybeth Chamberlain)



Terry taking a corner like a bat out of hell...wonder why everything's blurry? (photo by Marybeth Chamberlain)



The participants literally in the corral at the Allen's place. More horsepower than usually in the corral, but not by much!



Voted official mascot of the Allen MG run and brunch...Bob and Penny Pilat's new addition Vixie. She rode along. I think she may have even driven a bit. :)

Gettin' Ready For Spring!

Taken off the MGB:
Weber DGV 32/36 carb and Peco exhaust


Put on the MGB (gotta clean that engine bay some day!):
Stock SU carbs and stock exhaust manifold


Stainless exhaust


Limey's headlamp and horn relays

Winter goodies...

...the B's getting a visit from Santa in the form of the replacement of the existing Weber 32/36 DGV carburetor by the twin SU HIF4's that were originally on the car. Also replacement of the exhaust header and old performance exhaust by a stock exhaust manifold and stainless from the manifold back.

"Free hardtop" update: The B's got its winter hat on! I fabricated the hold-downs by bending up some quarter-inch threaded rod. Coupled with some nylon washers and wingnuts it makes for a secure top that's installable/removable without tools. Works better than I thought and less complicated than my original plan of welding up some brackets.

Pics coming soon. Will probably be putting the Weber on eBay.

KRMGC Fall Foliage Drive and Winery Tour

October 26, 2008
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The Miers' organized another great club event again this fall. Their "Fall Foliage Drive and Winery Tour" brought together eleven British cars (and their owners or course) for a sunny drive through the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside. The destination for the drive this year was the Galen Glen Vineyard and Winery in Andreas, PA.

Bill picked some great roads, and we had a nice wine tasting and a relaxing shared picnic (and some wine) on Galen Glen's beautiful grounds. The winery is situated atop a hill with a panoramic view of their vineyards and the surrounding hillsides. The winery owners, Galen and Sarah, did the tasting and were very hospitable. Galen was nice enought to take the panoramic shot below of all the cars lined up in front of the tasting room. All in all, an awesome day and awesome company! Thanks, Bill and Gini!

The photos really don't do justice to the scenery at Galen Glen, but here are some snapshots from the event...click to enlarge:

Stroudsburg -- Autos In Autumn

October 11, 2008 -- Stroudsburg, PA

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Stroudsburg, PA hosted a car show that included a special area for British cars. While other cars were lined up on Main Street, the British cars had the lovely courthouse square as their own turf. The Keystone Region MG Club was there with their tent, which provided some shade as well as advertising for the club.

It was a gorgeous day, mid 70's temperature and pretty much cloudless skies. The drive up at 9:00AM was very brisk, but invigorating. The drive home was a bit warmer. One of the highlights of the day: Having a pint at Siamsa Irish Pub (which is right off of courthouse square) with some other LBC nuts.

Right Place/Right Time Item: During the show, a gentleman from Brodheadsville offered me a free HARDTOP for my B. Seems he needed to make some room in the garage and wanted the top to go to a good home, rather than the dump. Good call...and I'm very thankful to have it! It's in very good shape, just needs some rubber. Now we just need a ski rack and some snow tires for the B! While I was picking up the top later that evening, he also threw in a half tonneau and a full tonneau. Wow. I've already given the half tonneau away to a club member who needs one, and am going to repair the zipper on the full tonneau so that I can use it.

Here are some photos from the event -- and one of the free hardtop!

Autumn Leaf 2008

It was a good mellow day at Autumn Leaf 2008. Thanks to the British Car Club of the Lehigh Valley for a very good show!

Show Me The Haggis...OK...it isn't all about MG-ing!

View the: WFMZ Channel 69 News Video

"The days of jigs, jousting and jolly good fun have begun in Bethlehem. The 21st annual Celtic Classic is underway this weekend. The three-day festival features traditional Scottish and Irish food and music. 69News cameras were rolling as hungry contestants tried their luck at the coveted Haggis- eating crown."

Who is that guy at the very end of the video throwing his hands up in the air in victory after winning the coveted Haggis-eating Crown? He's a member of Team "Show Me The Haggis" from Nazareth, PA. Hmmmmmm....If Stalone could put the gloves back on as an old man, why can't an amatuer competative eater do the same? A gentleman from Brooklyn, NY won the event the previous three years. We can rest easy now...The crown's back home in The Lehigh Valley.

MG Club Picnic and "Fun Run" 2008

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Marybeth and I were delighted to host our third annual Keystone Region MG Club Picnic and "Fun Run" on September 20, 2008. We had great weather and a very nice turnout for the event! The event consists of an hour-long "fun run" through the countryside of Northampton County and then a cookout...ummmmm...and impromptu wine tasting!

Here are some photos from the event. All photos are courtesy of my neighbor (and fellow British car owner) Fred Baum -- Thanks, Fred! By the way, that's his Sunbeam Tiger that everyone's drooling over in one of the photos below. It is drool-worthy even if it isn't an MG :).

The Fun-Runners Readying To Depart for The Run
We had about nine cars that participated in the fun run portion of the festivities. Most were MG's but we were also graced with the presence of Fred's Sunbean, Steve's TR7, and Leon's MINI to round out the group.


On The Road
Winding, tree-lined country roads were the order of the day (as was the case the past two years). The route I chose was good, but a few too many "interesting" intersections...lesson-learned for next year.


"Did I mention that we have 0% APR financing available?"
When the fun-runners made it back to the house, we found that several more British cars had arrived and were arrayed nicely on the front lawn. Once the fun-runners joined the group, the front lawn looked like a cross between a British Car Show and a used car lot...granted, a British used car lot.


Grillin' and Chillin'
While the fun-run was, well, fun -- the best part of the day for me was getting to meet some new people, to share our home, and to spend time relaxing and having fun with some like-minded British Car Nuts.

Some folks got to try playing Quoits for the first time, which was quite entertaining -- for the players and spectators alike.



Thanks to everyone who participated, it was a great time and we hope to do it again next year! Thank you for bringing side dishes and desserts to share and a special thanks to Ed Haas who helped out on the grill while I was playing host and fetching drinks for people.