A Trip back in time…

[RodKirby]

Back in 1964 I was 22 and my recollection of that time was a bit hazy (well it is 42 years ago).

On vacation I visited a long time friend (Bill) who moved interstate 10 years ago – ex-pat American, born in Kansas city, moved to Oz around 1958.

He has always been aware of my interest in WW and he said “you’ve got your Shed, I’ve got this – let’s go for a spin”.

Wow – burble, burble, rock-hard suspension, sitting about 3” off the ground – AND – Buddy Holly and Bill Haley blasting from the CD player (got to make some concessions for the 21st century). NOW I remember a whole lot of “stuff” that happened back when I was 22 – most of it involved girls, I think – and wanting an MGB. BTW The chicks we were attracting (today), we couldn’t pick up – their walkers wouldn’t fit in the trunk

The pic shows Bill and Carole (LOML) – during her “spin”, she apparently remembered some guys BK (Before Kirby) – don’t think I want to go there!.

We had a great time visiting – fantastic 64th for me .

[Derrick]

Well anybody born in KC can't be all bad . Sounds like you had a blast on your 64TH birthday. Welcome back Rod...

[Pappy]

Other than the inablilty to get in and out of it at this point in your life, what's stopping you from getting that MG now???

[dlminehart]

My wife's cousin, a UC Berkeley professor, had one of those red MGB's. It was a cute little thing which he dearly loved, but ridiculously flaky. At 30,000 miles, he was on his third engine. Once, while driving down the freeway to an appointment at Stanford, the accelerator stuck on high speed (and he was a FAST driver); he swerved his way into a large shopping mall lot and wore out the brakes a bit slowing it down enough to stall it. Another time, he made a hard left turn and the passenger door swung open . . . and came right off the car! He ended up trading it in for a Miata.

[Ken Weaver]

Omagawd!!! I remember the TD and the TF! I'm doomed!

[LinuxRandal]

I remember my friends MG's (not all B). Most of the ones I knew that had them, worked on them more then they drove them. LOL
While I am not as old, I sometimes feel it. I have spent my whole life in the KC metro area, and while I was growing up I remember listening to WHB for YEARS. I think I spent as much time with 50's and 60's music as I have with more modern (after 70) music. Lost one of the Crickets last year, and he lived here.
Heck, I still miss listening to Wolfman Jack (as the kids today go "who?")

[RodKirby]

Other than the inablilty to get in and out of it at this point in your life, what's stopping you from getting that MG now???

You got it right Pappy!

AND - I don't even have the strength to turn the wheel - no power steering back then

[cwsmith]

Hi Rod,

I had a 1970 MGB-GT for quite a few years. Bought it used in the early 80's and it was a bit worn, but it brought back some good old memories. When I was a teen in the early 60's you could still find the old TC and TD's around and the MGA's were very popular. While I had a 56' Merc, I had two good friends with MG's... one an A and the other a Midget.

The "B" that I had, though quite rusty in the bottom pans, was still a fun car and being not a roadster, you didn't have to worry about the bonnet leaking. Of course you had to love trying to keep those SU's in synq and and the Armstrongs topped off with fluid. I'm sure you also remember preferring to drive only in the day, as you could never trust the Lucus electrics (Lucas being, as we joked, "The Father of Darkness!"). Still, nothing seemed quite as much fun and I've never sat in a car where the smell of leather was so pleasing or you found the shifter, so naturally just falling into your right hand.

The "B" is long gone and today I have a 95' Miata with whick to challenge the curves. Much easier to maintain and a lot of fun to drive, but it somehow fails to catch the feel and charm of the MG. But, then again, I don't seem to get nearly as much grease and oil under the nails either.

Thanks for the story and the great picture,

CWS

[BobSch]

Nice looking set of wheels there — brings back a lot of memories. I always wanted an Austin Healey 3000. Never could afford one so I settled for a Fiat 124 Spider. In BRG, of course

[lucifari]

Omagawd!!! I remember the TD and the TF! I'm doomed!

Ken,

You're only half way there. I owned a '54 TD (bought used in '57) and drove it until Sept. '63. My family tried to have me committed several times but if I got 'em on a twisty road I could always out run 'em in the TD.

Spent many hours working on that beast including wood work on floor panels and body subframes. Always got a kick out being waved at (and returning the wave) by other sports car drivers.

Many, many hours of fun and crazy goings on with that car.

[JR]

My BIL has an MGB, looks pretty much like that one, Rod. He drives it though the mountains every day to his job at the beach in Malibu.

He's a pretty mellow dude.

JR

[jcjrsmith]

That is a nice car, but the steering wheel is on the wrong side.