Vintage Vol. 42 No 4

Viewpoint

Vintage MG Car Club

April 2008

The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 9, at the Pizza Joynt, 39 W. North Avenue, Northlake, IL, 8 p.m. – 708-562-5334

For Sale Vintage Viewpoint or the club web site and you can see pictures. The serial number of the car is TD/C16203. The engine number is 17503 XPAG TD2.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or enjoying warm weather somewhere without having your mail forwarded to you, you should know by now that the VMGCC has TWO (as Lawrence Welk would say, “a one an a two”) TDs looking for a good home. It was the desire of John Fee, who donated the TWO cars to the club, that a VMGCC member (or TWO members) should become the new owner(s) of these TWO cars. However, they are not to be given away by any means.

The engine bottom end looks fresh out of a machine shop and learned eyes pronounce the collection complete. There may even be some extra parts. At the moment this “car in parts” is filling up the car trailer of Lou Louchios. Lou says that by the end of April the trailer gets emptied on the club President’s front lawn. Lou said that he has received an offer of $3K for the car. If you have any interest in car number two please call Lou (847-397-0623) for an appointment to look into the trailer so you can make your own offer. Lou doesn’t charge admission.

The VMGCC Board had some discussions. The VMGCC Membership had some discussions. Maybe even you had some discussions with the significant other. Here is the state of play at the moment. The club hired Auto Appraisal Group, Inc., one of our newsletter advertisers, (no, we did not get a discount) to evaluate the two cars. We expect to hear their report at the next meeting. Once we know the cars’ appraised values, the highest reasonable bidder will take one or both cars home home.

That’s it. Two cars, two people to contact. Bids must be in by April 8. The highest bidder(s) at or above the appraised values will get to take a car (or TWO cars) home. And if no club member bids close the appraised value? Well, that will be another discussion.

The number one car is complete (well reasonably complete anyway) and it did start up. Don Gottlinger looked it over and, well, he has some issues with it. At the moment, the car is in a rented garage ($$s from the treasury) in Berwyn. Anyone interested in looking the car over (and you should) must call Don at (708-366-2821) for a guided tour and a frank discussion. Don tells us that there is an offer of $5K on the table for this car.

TREASURER’S REPORT Ric Maitzen, Treasurer Monthly Beginning Balance, 2/24/08 Receipts: Regalia Disbursements: March VV Garage rental – Feb/March Ending Balance, 3/24/08

The number two car, an MKII, is not quite drivable. Well, it’s actually a car in parts, the proverbial Basket Case. Go back to the January issue of the 1

$10,395.20 12.00 -115.20 -150.00 $10,142.00

Minutes of the Meeting of the Vintage MG Car Club of Chicago March 12, 2008

Art Schleicher reports that an Austin-Healy GOF is planned for this summer. The club has received a letter from the Volo Auto Museum noting that they have a new facility available for club events.

This time we didn’t wait for our missing president. Vice President Jennifer Smith called the meeting to order at 8:07 pm.

Bob Provost reported that Willow Creek Church is holding a car show Saturday and Sunday, Fathers’ Day Weekend. There will be free food and dash plaques for exhibitors. He expects 25,000 – 30,000 visitors to the show! (Yes, it’s the big Willow Creek Church.)

There were 14 members in attendance, including Reinout Vogt who showed up to prove he had survived that bicycle accident.

Now that spring is approaching (despite what seems to be an unending winter) Jennifer Smith encouraged members to volunteer for garage visits.

Minutes of the previous meeting were approved by motion. OLD BUSINESS

TECHNICAL TOPICS

The ongoing discussion continued as to what to do with the two TDs the club has been given. Pictures of the car in parts were passed around for everyone’s edification. Don Gottlinger reported that the “running” TD with a broken clutch is now stored in a Berwyn garage. After more thoughts, a motion was made, seconded, and approved to sell the cars, by May 1st if possible. Don Gottlinger says someone has offered $5,000 for the running car. Another individual has offered $3,000 for the car in parts. Any other offers?

Dennis Stahl, owner of a ’51 TD is rebuilding his brake system. Don Gottlinger advised him to make certain he buys steel lines, not copper. It’s also a good idea to put a tiny bit of anti-seize on the bleed screws It was noted that if your starter is frozen after a long period of storage, putting the car in gear and rocking it back and forth a few times often frees the starter. This led to another discussion of procedures for putting cars away for the winter and starting them up in the spring. While turning the engine over a few times without ignition will get oil into dry parts, another member changes oil in the fall but leaves the car a quart low. In the spring he adds that quart before starting, ensuring a good coating of oil on the upper engine parts.

The annual Swap Meet at the DuPage County Fairgrounds was successful with many parts sold. Hopefully, at our next meeting, Ric Maitzen will report if the club made any money. NEW BUSINESS The Spring Tour is on for May 16 – 18. This year’s tour is to Baraboo, Wisconsin, including a brewery tour at Capital City Brewery on the way up (be careful drivers). Contact Ric Maitzen for details, 847-205-0182.

A question was raised on alignment of body parts during car restoration. Most needs to be done by eye, but bolt down the tub first, check doors, and shim if necessary. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm.

Also, don’t forget this year’s GOF Central in Auburn, Indiana July 10 – 13. The event includes a banquet at the world-class Auburn-CordDuesenburg Museum. If you’ve never toured this museum, don’t miss this opportunity. The automobiles are magnificent – although somewhat larger than our T-series!

Respectfully submitted, Win Gould Secretary

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Baraboo, Wisconsin May 16, 17, 18 This year we are going to the historic town of Baraboo, Wisconsin, just north of Madison. There is a lot to do so you will have to pick and choose your activities. The main attraction is the Circus World Museum with a live circus performance. (There have been rumors that this may be closing due to lack of funds. They have already discontinued the circus train and wagon parade to Milwaukee.) There is the opulent Al Ringling Theater that he built as a gift to the town of Baraboo. (The same architect that would later build the Chicago Theater designed it.) There is the Fair on the Square with arts and crafts exhibitors, food stands, farmers market and live music. Also of interest are the International Crane Foundation, The Mid-Continent Railway Museum, Ho-Chunk Casino, Devils Lake State Park, and the Dells. Also not to be missed is the strange sculpture garden of Dr. Evermore – you will not believe what can be done with junk. On the way up, on Friday afternoon, there is a brewery tour at the Capital City Brewery and a great beer tasting in their beer garden. Friday dinner is on your own. Saturday dinner will be as a group. We’ll be staying at the Best Western Baraboo Inn near the intersection of Routes 12 and 33. A block of rooms has been reserved. The release date is April 16th. They need 24-hours’ notice for cancellation. You are responsible for your own reservations. Call 1-800-831-3881. Mention the club by name or by group number 516.

More information to follow as plans progress.

Questions—Comments—Suggestions Ric Maitzen Home: 847-205-0182 [email protected]

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June 14-15, 2008 | 5:00PM to 1:30PM Willow Creek Community Church Corner of Barrington Road and Route 68 Algonquin Road South Barrington, IL 60010

This is our 4th annual celebration of Fathers Day. Church services are 5:30PM Saturday evening and 9:00AM and 11:30AM Sunday morning. Our CARS ministry sponsors a car show, inviting individuals and clubs to show their cars. We usually have around 300 cars with no formal registration. Each entrant gets a goodie bag and Harvest ministry provides free food and drink for all. Plus live ‘60s music and lots of other activities. This year we are giving awards in a few, in yet to be defined, classes. Cars come and go as needed. And families show up before, between and after each service, eat a little free food, walk around all the cars, ask a few questions and head for home. It’s usually quiet during the service with only a few other car guys wandering around. But, when each service ends, about 7,000 people descend on the cars. Let me know if you’re bringing an $80,000 show car, I’ll make sure it gets roped off in one of the large tents. Otherwise, expect people touching the paint as they lean in to look at the cool dash. The one guarantee is that it’s always a good time. For further information, comments or suggestions please contact:

Bob Provost (847) 426-6382 (home) or [email protected]

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For further information contact:

Kathy Kubick, Meet Chairman 7915 W. Stinemeyer Rd. New Palestine, IN 46163 kkubick67 @gmail.com www.geocities.com/hoosiermgs/gof2008.html

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Officers and Directors – 2008 President: Larry Carlson; Vice President: Jennifer Smith; Secretary: Win Gould; Treasurer: Ric Maitzen Board of Directors: Jerry Cihak, Brian Dubin, Glenn Grossklags Newsletter: Greg Hoeft- Editor, Lou Louchios- Distribution Website: www.vintagemgchicago.com

Upcoming Events: April 9 – April Meeting May 16 – Spring Tour June 14-15 – DadFest 08 July 10-13 – GOF Central

Vintage MG Car Club c/o Editor 1814 Illinois Road Northbrook, IL 60062

First Class Mail

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