SABCC President's Blog

192 BHP in a MINI Cooper Not Enough Thrill?

2008-07-21T12:27:00.003-05:00

MINI has released the John Cooper Works edition of the MINI Cooper S. Packing 192 BHP and all manner of go-faster goodies, the little car is an adrenaline rush on wheels. MINI has produced a video to try to convey the sense of acceleration. Yes, it's mostly in German but the only place on earth that MINIs are built (for now) is Oxford, UK. Enjoy the clip and check out www.miniusa.com for details on the MINI Cooper S JCW.

A Great Movie

2008-07-15T11:30:00.000-05:00

SABCC member and all-around good guy Don Pritchett loaned me his copy of a 2005 film titled The World's Fastest Indian a few days ago. I finally got the chance to watch it and I loved it.
This true story is about New Zealander Burt Munro and his efforts to set a world land speed record on a 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle (or "motorsickle" in Kiwi parlance). Munro battled bureaucracy, a tiny budget and health issues to make his attempt at the world record at the Bonneville Salt Flats near Salt Lake City, Utah in 1962.
Anthony Hopkins plays the part of Burt Munro and does a fine job of it. Go out and find this film!

Lola Featured at Goodwood Festival of Speed

2008-07-07T16:18:00.001-05:00

2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Lola Cars by Eric Broadley. In honor of this milestone, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is featuring the cars made by this famous car constructor.

This year's Festival of Speed is July 11-13 on the estate of Lord March in West Sussex and, no, I won't be attending.

The Goodwood festival has invited such racing luminaries as Damon Hill, John Surtees, Carl Haas,
Brian Redman, Paul Tracy and Sebastien Bourdais.

Lola has produced competition cars for nearly all
forms of motorsport including prototype sports cars
and open wheel cars. Lola has also work behind the scenes, more or less, on many well known modern prototypes such as Nissan's R90 and MG's EX 257 LeMans cars. The legendary Ford GT40 is based on Eric Broadley's Lola Mk 6 - also known as the Lola GT.

I wonder if SPEED TV commentator David Hobbs is on the guest list? He had the dubious distinction of
destroying the only Lola Mk 6 in the 1963 edition of
the 24 hour LeMans race. It was reported that Eric
Broadley was close to tears upon hearing the news.

The E-Type is Indoors

2008-06-27T18:15:00.001-05:00

As you can see, the project E-Type is in Richard Cunningham's garage. The silver cars are his - a '64 E-Type and '89 XJS V12. The scruffy E-Type we brought in lends a bit of ghetto to an otherwise pristine place to work on cars.
We've got the bonnet and hatch off and the interior is out of the car. The radiator and air conditioning unit are also out. We plan to remove the engine and gearbox next.
Body-wise, much worse cars have been restored. This car has some rot in the boot floor, driver's side floor and toe board and driver's side sill. I'm sure we'll find more as we go.
We plan to part the car out, but we are open to offers from anyone that has the time, skills and-most importantly-the budget to put it back on the road. If you are interested, get in touch soon.

Taking in a Stray Cat

2008-06-21T22:19:00.000-05:00

I've bought another car. Well, half a car.

It started earlier this week when my wife, Melissa, read an ad to me about an estate sale in Point Clear, Alabama. I half-listened as she ran through the usual list of antique furniture, artwork, collectibles and a 1969 Jaguar XKE Coupe for restoration. I scanned the ad - no phone number, no address; just 'three miles south of the Grand Hotel'.

"Hmm, I might go take a look. There may be some other automobile-related stuff that I might be able to afford."

Later in the day, I sent an email to SABCC NEWSLETTER editor and local Jaguar enthusiast Richard Cunningham about the Saturday sale. He said he would drive down to see of there might a pre-sale viewing. He did. There wasn't.

Richard and his wife, Donna, met Melissa and I for dinner Friday evening and before the last of the pizza was gone, we had a plan to be at the sale as it opened at 8:00 AM.

After breakfast at a Fairhope cafe, we made the drive down the bay to Point Clear. The knot of cars parked along the road let us know we'd found the place. Walking up the driveway, we spotted the car. It had been maroon once, but the paint was faded to a red-brown color. It was on four flat Michelin Redlines and the California license plate hadn't had a tax sticker since 1987.

We asked about the car and was given the asking price and was told that nothing was negotiable. However, the owners instructed the people running the sale that they could accept offers on anything that hadn't sold after 2:00 PM . Richard and I decided that we would come back after 2 o'clock.

We returned promptly at two and we made an offer to the sellers. Richard and I bought ourselves a Jaguar.

It will stay in Richard's 'Garagemahal' as soon as the tow truck delivers it. We plan to give it a thorough looking-over before we decide what to do next. Sell it on? Part it out? Stay tuned!

Everything Old is New Again - Eventually

2008-06-17T12:31:00.000-05:00

The video is of the introduction of a new BMW concept car called the GINA. Discussing the car is BMW Design Chief Chris Bangle (the namesake of the "Bangle Butt"). The new concept? A fabric covered body.

Fabric bodies were common on British cars in the '20s & '30s. A number of pre-war MGs carried fabric bodies as standard equipment. I've never seen a fabric bodied car, but I have been around a number of fabric covered aircraft. If you squint your eyes, the GINA is somewhat reminiscent of a Zeppelin. I wonder what a hydrogen-powered version of the car would be called?

New Land Speed Record Attempt

2008-06-09T12:16:00.000-05:00

I see where another team from the UK is going to attempt a run at the world's land speed record - for steam powered vehicles.
That's right, it's not enough to hold the records for open land speed (Thrust SSC) and diesel powered (JCB DieselMax) LSR, the boys flying the Union Flag are going to attempt 200 MPH in a steam powered car. The car is currently under construction and will utilize 12 boilers and a steam turbine. The team leader of this attempt is Don Wales, the nephew of Bluebird constructor and multiple speed record-breaker Sir Malcolm Campbell.
The current LSR for steam was set in 1906 by a Stanley Steamer at 127 MPH. You can keep up with the team's efforts here.

Endurance Racing

2008-06-08T17:17:00.001-05:00

This coming weekend is the date for that grand-daddy of all endurance races, the 24 Hours of LeMans. Of interest to the members of this club is the evergreen MG-Lola entry of RML Racing. This LMP2 prototype car won its' class in 2005 & 2006 and still carries the MG name into European sports car competition. Best of luck to Ray Mallock and his driving team of Tommy Erdos, Mike Newton & Andy Wallace.

Racing is an expensive hobby so most of us won't be spending much time on the road courses trying to become the next Juan Manuel Fangio. However, for a little money and work you could assemble a team and enter a REAL LIVE 24 hour automobile race. Check out the Web site for the 24 Hours of LeMons and then go buy a $500 beater to enter. That's right - the 24 Hours of LeMons is basic entry level racing with several devious twists. You've got to see it to believe it, and no, it won't be on SPEED Channel anytime soon...

The Old Car Brochure Project

2008-06-06T15:58:00.000-05:00

A neat Web site with a large number of brochures
detailing our British cars can be found here.
There's a pretty good collection of brochures
about the more common marques such as
MG and Triumph, but some of the more
surprising entries include Jowett,
Marcos and Standard. It's worth a look.

Cat Scratch Fever

2008-05-27T12:47:00.001-05:00

The long Memorial Day weekend afforded me a couple of opportunities to do car stuff with buddies from the club. Last Saturday, our intrepid NEWSLETTER editor, Richard Cunningham and I popped down to Silverhill, Alabama to take in the annual car show there. It's a big event for the little community and the purpose is to raise funds for the local library.
I rode shotgun with Richard in his newly-tuned Jaguar XJS V12 (yeah, baby) on the way down. On the way back, he kindly invited me to drive. Nothing could have prepared me for the turbine-smooth power from the V12. Literally, the more I pressed the go pedal, the more my head was pushed back into the headrest. More impressively, this 20 year-old example was tight and rattle free - even with 100,000+ miles on the clock.
The next day was a traditional SABCC event - the annual Lawn Party at St. John's Catholic church in Magnolia Springs, Alabama. My transport this time was my faithful Mini - 70 MPH is as fast as I can pedal. The Mini is fun, but the Jag is seriously posh. I wonder how much plasma I would need to sell to get one?

The British Leyland Family Tree

2008-05-20T12:50:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for the last word in scholarly references, Wikipedia is probably not it. If you do need a quick read on nearly any subject it can be fairly useful.
A Wikipedia contributor developed an easy to read timeline of the marques that made up the old British Leyland conglomerate with along with some very recent updates. It's interesting - have a look here.

SABCC June Meeting- Family Picnic

2008-05-15T07:58:00.000-05:00

This year's family picnic will have a new venue due to construction activity at our traditional site, Meaher State Park on the Causeway. We're set for Blakeley State Park, site of the defunct town of Blakeley, Alabama off Alabama highway 225. Saturday, June 14 is the date.
Situated about 5 miles north of Spanish Fort, Blakeley is a gorgeous spot with century-old oak trees, natural springs, walking trails and wildlife everywhere. We'll be in the Pavilion which will provide us with shade and a nice place to chat.
The June meeting is also when we select a charity to support from a portion of our British Car Festival proceeds. Nominate your favorite charity at the meeting!
As beautiful as Blakeley is, you might want to consider whether you want to bring your British pride and joy since the roads are pretty dusty. If you love detailing your car, you will have a good reason to after the picnic.

The Bruce McLaren Trust

2008-05-13T12:04:00.000-05:00

A little Web surfing brought me to the Bruce McLaren Trust site. It's an amazing collection of McLaren related facts, photos and stories of this talented driver and car constructor. It's worth a visit online if you won't be finding yourself in New Zealand anytime soon.
There's a fascinating story about the restoration of M8A-2, the car campaigned by Denny Hulme in 1968. This car is owned by the trust and is shown publicly at special events.
The distinctive car color was chosen by Bruce McLaren for visibility when passing backmarkers. The official name of this shade of orange 'papaya'.

50 Years Old and Still Smiling

2008-05-07T12:25:00.000-05:00

2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the beloved Austin-Healey Sprite. Known in the US as the 'Bugeye', this happy little car brought inexpensive sport cars to the masses.

The Sprite was designed by the renowned Donald Healey who raided the Austin parts cupboard for bits to include in his low-priced sports car. Engine, suspension and various other pieces used on downmarket Austin saloon cars found their way into the Sprite. The original design called for 'popup' headlights, but they turned out to be costly. Hence, the most endearing characteristic of the car was set.

Sprites were built in the MG factory at Abingdon and were so well received that a MarkII version was developed as both an Austin-Healey and an MG Midget.

Happy birthday, little friend!

Jaguar Shows the Way

2008-04-28T09:04:00.000-05:00

One the most striking features of any competition car must be the vertical stabilizer on the immortal Jaguar D-Type. Other competitors copied it to a certain degree, but none came close the Jag's look. After watching the Formula 1 race from Spain last weekend, I noticed that the Jaguar stabilizer is back on a couple of the cars.

The Original

Red Bull F1

Renault F1

Originality - Again

2008-04-21T16:05:00.000-05:00

Check out the photo of the MGA dashboard with the competition plaques. This old girl earned her keep in her early days. You can't fake originality like this!

The MGB Gets a New Steering Wheel

2008-04-21T15:54:00.000-05:00

I went with several members of our club to the 16th annual Brits on the Bay British car show put on by the Panhandle British Car Association . They had an autojumble tent where I scored a really nice steering wheel for the 'B. OK, it's for a '72 model, but it is in good shape and even came with the horn push. My MGB is a bitsa, anyway. The steering wheels are not available new at any price - the horn push is $54.95 from Moss. Fifteen bucks bought whole deal, including the hub.

A Caddy with a Sense of Humor

2008-04-10T19:32:00.000-05:00

Melissa and I were out in the classic Mini on a trip to Fairhope to walk on the pier and have a cup of coffee at the Page & Palette bookstore. On the way home, we were passed by a '65 Cadillac Fleetwood sedan on a Sunday drive, too. The driver waved in the friendly manner that car enthusiasts do as he went by. His vanity plate was hilarious!

A Girl and Her DeLorean

2008-04-07T12:59:00.000-05:00

The New York Times automobile section ran a story about a young lady who runs a DeLorean as a daily driver. In addition to the story, a really nice audio slide show is worth your time.

Cars That Are Driven

2008-04-01T15:14:00.000-05:00

The British Car Day in New Orleans brought out several cars that the owners don't pamper, but you can tell they are loved. It is refreshing to see cars like this - I hope it brings more of them out of their sheds. Cars at shows don't have to be show cars!

Unintended Message?

2008-03-27T09:59:00.000-05:00

This Triumph Spitfire brochure cover from 1967 may not convey the message that was intended. The gentlemen with their heads under the bonnet may be admiring the engine. Those of us with experience with old British cars might come to a different conclusion...

Cecil Kimber's House

2008-03-26T13:02:00.001-05:00

If you find yourself on an MG tour in Abingdon, be sure to stop in at the Boundary House - a pub about mile outside the city center. This was Cecil Kimber's home during his time in Abingdon. With the incredibly weak dollar, I doubt I'll be in the UK any time soon, but I can dream. There are more details about the pub here.

Weeping Heater Control Valve

2008-03-10T18:33:00.001-05:00

After a brisk drive in the Mini, I looked under the bonnet to make sure everything was in order. The heater control valve was weeping. Dang. Supplier A wanted $59.95, supplier B wanted a little less. Great British Car Parts wanted $49.95. Sold! Now I've got to get the new heater valve on before warm weather sets in. Huh?

Classic MGB TV Commercial

2008-03-04T16:26:00.000-06:00

Here's a classic MGB TV commercial that you may have seen when MGs were still sold in this country.

The dashing parachutist starts the car and drives away. What you don't see is the trail of oil pouring from the punctured sump. At least this take worked out better than the first one...

Music From Car Parts

2008-03-03T16:55:00.000-06:00

Some creative types in the UK have written a song for musical instruments made from car parts - specifically UK Ford Focus parts. The tune is pretty catchy and the video is worth watching - even if it is 23 MB! You can read the story in the Times of London here.