Buick, MGB, free golf balls, etc...

At the local PGA Tour event today, Buick was giving away free Nike golf balls - you just had to fill out a brief questionaire. Since I liked the price, I figured "Why not?". I handed the form to the Buick guy, who looked to be in his late 20s, and he need one more item of information.

"Sir, what kind of car to you presently drive?"

"1978 MGB!"

"Nineteen seventy eight??"

'Yep..."

"A '78......what??"

"MGB!"

"Is that a make??"

"Yep!" (not wanting to further confuse him by explaining that it was the make and model...)

"Thank you sir.....here are your golf balls...."

Good thing he didn't ask me what type of golf clubs I use. He probably never knew they were made from persimmon - and probably wonders why they call those metal clubs "woods"!

Later, I'm on the way home after dropping my buddy off at his house - and I start hearing an intermittent, loud metallic clank from the right rear - nothing like I've ever heard before on a car. Nothing seemed to be odd about the handling, but I was picturing something like a broken spring or shackle. Then, as I looked toward the right side to try to determine the source of the sound, I figured it out.

The outboard half of the passengers seat belt was nowhere to be seen (I've got old-fashioned lap belts - not the original 3-point belts). My buddy had shut the door with the belt hanging out of the car!!

Now, I've gotta get the car cleaned up for the Great Race event tomorrow - dented fender and all. Maybe I should get my son (a critical care nurse) to bandage it for me!!

I got that beat! My wife went to register my MGC when I purchased it. The young girl working at the DMV didn't know what an MG was. It was not even in the computer as a selection of car. She had to get her manager in on it and they both stood there scratching there head. They made my wife call me and ask what MG stood for. I said it used to stand for Morris Garage but I think that was long before the MGB so I told them it didn't stand for anything. They had to manually input MG-C into the computer. I swear South Carolina is still in the dark ages!

David, I didn't have any problems at the DMV other than the guy that couldn't run the new computer.
I lucked out, the lady who ended up doing all three MGs is a relative of Susanne's from Pamlico County, NC. She owned a Spitfire and knew all about LBCs. I ended up getting sequential license plates even though it was over a several month period.

My biggest problem at the DMV was that my VIN (and I guess most old cars) don't have as many digits as the computer expects.

Did anybody read Dave Barry's column in the papers today?
He was recalling the cars of his youth, the Mustangs, GTOs, Vegas.
It's worth the read, especially about his modern car; a 2003 Actuary.

Also Dave Barry is here:

<http://www.iht.com/articles/101014.html>

thanks for the link david...that was a funny story...

Hey Joe! I've got persimmon woods, but very few decent golfballs. My local course, a mile or so from my house, is a nine hole course being developed into 18 holes. If you hit a ball out of bounds, you don't want to look for it. Our course is built on a former strip mine, and "out of bounds" is generally in some places where you can hear the rattlesnakes raise hell when disturbed by golfballs bouncing off the rocks as they fall down the valley. Come on up to eastern Kentucky, and we can shoot a few rounds. Lots of nice MG roads around here.

A couple of "ricers" pulled up next to me last night. One hung his head out the window and said, " Nice car, what is it." I replied, "MGB."
"who makes it?" I reply, "MG." He says, "Never heard of it."

Then today, a young kid at the supermarket walks over to look at my B and says "Nice MG, what year is it?" Turns out that this high school kid had already restored a Beetle and was working on another. He said he would really like to have a B.

Hey, I had a Vega GT w/Cosworth engine! Took it to Germany....Jerri wanted a Mercedes so I wen to dealer to trade it in...his mechanic came out in a white doctor's smock & tie...measured the engine compartment & went back in....dealer gave me a good deal on a 230 4-door that we eventually brought back to the US...only Mercedes sedan in the US with a 5-speed....when I took it back in for warranty work, they had transplanted a baby Mercedes engine in my Vega....dealer's daughter was gonna drive the little American "sportscar"!

that cosworth engine wasn't bad, they should have kept it

When in Germany. Mercedes is better!!! :o)