Journal: Dan's MG Essence

I Won 1st Place this year, 2008 at the All British Field Meet here in Portland! Rock on!


I have to thank my brother Jeff - for inspiring me from a ride he gave me in his then, new '79 MGB red roadster, I was just 16 years old, I'm now 45 and still get that smirk on my face that he had while driving me around that first time in his new B! I thought I'd died and went to heaven, as he skillfully drove those curvy lanes and accelerated on the straight a ways in his new B, faster and faster - almost to the point I thought we were going to crash...but we didn't! He smiled, said to me, 'cool it!' and he drove on. I got the point.
I was blown away with how much fun it was - the throttle drown of the engine, the sound of the road, the smell of the interior, unique to the MG and the low profile of the actual car! It was something I'll never forget! Just a few years later, I got my first B - and drove it out to Oregon, from Indiana - charting my map using AAA and a trip ticket!

I now have my second MGB - a 79 Red Roadster, my first was a red '76 MGB Roadster.

When I drive my B - there's nothing better than to get a blank, yet jealous stare from a guy my age, in a ugly closed in-a-box-of-an-SUV, shaking his head so ever-slightly, in disgust because he wishes he was in my seat! I laugh, shift into first gear and take off - top down, exhaust purring and years of heritage behind me as I drive away! My brother Jeff still has his original B, as a parts car, and now has a '77 that he procured from a work buddy for $200 - as the guy that owned it couldn't get it started. Jeff raced through the entire car's make up and repaired, fixed and tenderly brought it back to life, making it the pride of his life...the MGB! It looks, drives and feels as good or better than the original B he gave me a ride in, so many years ago. The MG is the "Poor Man's sports car" and that suits me fine. Better than a Miata, BMW, Toyota, Bug and any other modern roadster, as the creature comforts ruin the true essence of what a ride in a roadster ought to be. They’re all copy-cats, the B is an original.

In the winter/spring of this year - 2008, I did a complete restoration on the engine and bay, exterior. I cleaned, degreased, polished, and painted everything to a bright blinding shine! Now the engine bay is a 'show' engine bay and I'm quite proud of it! Thanks to all the enthusiasts on this site, and my brother's initial inspiration, I can say with distinction that my engine bay is almost perfect!

Another thing I love is when I drive up to a stop light on a hot summer night - top down and a beautiful girl is in the car next to me. She's waiting to go...she looks over - and sort of smirks, I smirk back, (shades on) - so she can't see my eyes...and I drive off. She wonders, I laugh and know she's got me on her mind! Now that's what I'm talk'n about!

It's a funny thing - I see convertibles 20 years my junior and they're in poor condition - Miata's and the like. The cars don't hold enough heritage to deem them worthy of being well kept. The MG however has a deep destiny of character, bore from decades of fellow car enthiasts that care to keep the breed alive. The MG is a leader in classic, post-modern auto technology.