I recently took my MGB GT to the Bonny Eagle Car Show in Standish, Maine (May 15, 2011). It was a dreary wet day, a day that kept many very nice convertibles at home. The result was my taking home, the FIRST PLACE trophy in the Brit Division of the show. While I am pleased to boast of my win, the truth is that there were only two entries in this division - a hollow win. I will have to plan more rainy day show entries.

I do have several changes to the car that I wanted to show off. I exchanged the squarish fender mirrors for round mirrors and up-graded the tired steering wheel to a smaller Moto-Lita-style wheel. The smaller steering wheel provides more room for me and my 6 foot 5 inch son, who likes to spend time practicing driving in the MG in preparation for his driving license. How many 15 year-olds can say they have even driven a classic British auto?

I have one more mechanical issue to fix in the next few weeks. I have to get the wiper blades to move with the wiper blade pivots. Perhaps I will add an additional set screw to lock the blades onto the pivots. Any ideas or successes you have had would be welcomed.

I am thoroughly enjoying tooling around in my newly restored MG B-GT. While there are a few items that require attention, steering wheel cosmetics, turn signal switch, rubber floor mats, and dash gauge bulbs, she seems to run better with each foray onto the road. I especially like using the three trumpet air horn to mark my presence next to large semi-trailer tractor rigs that may not have seen my little green silhouette. The car turns heads, and a short blast form the horn solidifies their feeling that this is a special little car.

Snow covers the ground and my MGB waits patiently in storage deep in a barn in Harrison, Maine. I can't wait to get out on the road again. Spring cannot come soon enough.

New trunk lid arrived from the paint shop. Doors are painted, interior pieces applied, windows in, and ready to install. Interior is nearly complete. Front end is in the process of being cleaned and restored - new bushings throughout, new sway bar and a-frame on passenger side. Spoked wheels cleaned to show off the chrome. She's looking good. Already planning several car trips this fall to show her off and tour with other MG owners. Just delivered - trim fastners, tie rod ends, quarter rear panels (interior), fender mirrors, horn (Hella 3 trumpet), suspension straps, and pedal pads. Wife is getting the itch to drive her too.

Almost a year since we got started and several thousand dollars later, I am beginning to see progress. The shell is back and in good form, with work beginning on the re-population of the shell with all the pieces that make her a car worth driving. In addition to the body work and new paint, I've added new gaskets and seals all around (MacGregor Car Parts specialty), new seat vinyls and door panels, new carpet, and a new dash. I am still waiting on the new hood insulation, but the work progresses.

The engine is in good shape - rebuilt in Ohio by a man who used to race MG Midgets, it has a 3/4 race cam and high compression cylinders, racing plugs and other goodies too numnerous to mention. Let's say that I used to run this lovely beast from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Ithaca, New York in under 7 hours, without the benefit of overdrive - and enjoyed every minute of the drive.

We will be adding a new oil pump, paint, and a good cleaning of all the parts. The steering rack and rear axel (steel wheels) will come out and the wire wheel set of axels installed. I'll be putting mirrors on the fenders and eagerly look forward to driving her again.

It's now time to start considering making a home for her in the garage where my boys will have difficulty scratching the paint and dinging the doors.