MG Sports Cars

PJ! Your in my neighborhood. Even though I have a house in WA I'm currently working in Kingman,AZ. The power plant is right off I40. Laughlin is about 35 miles away. I have enjoyed the buffets! I think the Grand Canyon is open. After that keep on I40 and you can detour down to route 66. Williams,AZ is a neat little town.

Thanks Jim I check out Williams. I heard from a hotel person in Flafstaff that the Grand Canyon will be open until Friday, not sure after that.
Pretty good food here all u can eat for $10.95. and a bed for $19.95.

At the start of this 4th day of of the MG road trip the elevation was almost 4000 feet here Clingman Arizona. By the end of the day I had climbed to 7000ft in Flagstaff This is State number 13 on the moss challenge scavenger hunt.
200 miles driven mostly on historic Route 66, a bit slower than the parallel I-40. I visited a couple museums and walked around downtown Williams, AZ.


It sure was nice to see trees again,
Much cooler up here may need to wear long pants. I haven't tried the heater in this MG in probably six months I wonder if it works?

This 3.4 V six can pull these hills in fifth gear at 75 miles an hour without even raising the coolant temperature. Sweet.

Tomorrow is Grand Canyon day!

Scraping frost from windscreen was my first task on day five of this road trip
I was warned to watch out for Elk crossing AZ hwy 180 N of Flagstaff. Perfect weather and a great 1.75 hour drive to the park.
So I'm texting and driving , just kidding. I do have a dictation app on my iPhone which is useful but prone to goofy stuff.
BTW the heater in the MG is Aok.

Visited an air & auto museum. one of those things where a roadside sign prompts a unscheduled and fun look and some old aircraft and brass cars.


Had an up close wildlife encounter got a photo of a deer 5 feet from the MG clearly not afraid of people or vehicles..

If a guy were afraid of height this canyon could be scary. I think I'll stay back from the edge, it's a long long way down.

Saw snow on mountains as I was southbound leaving the Grand Canyon park.

And just like the Eagles song, I did see the girl in the flat bed ford while I was standing on the corner in Winslow AZ.

Felt some really hard wood at the Petrified Forest National Park.

The sun was setting in my rear view mirror so must going in the correct direction. 350 miles today. Stopped in Chambers, AZ not far from the NM border.

Yes but the question PJ is, did she slow down to look at you?

Jim

Yep then I handed her the camera and she took the photo. . . . and that all I have to say about that

not much to report today visited my wife's niece which was good, but no parks or cool sights on Historic Route 66. It was laundry day so swam in the pool while the clothes were washing, enough of the boring stuff.

well I've made it to O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A- where the wind. . . . . and there is no fringe on the top of my buggy.

It's pretty scary when you're going 75 the posted speed limit and all of a sudden three lanes merge into the right shoulder because of a overturned travel trailer ahead sure am glad I went through the entire brake system earlier this year.
This morning drive was a little boring mostly I- 40

Exited for a couple of short segments of the historic route 66, but some parts of our great nation are more scenic than other parts.

In Amarillo I stopped by the Cadillac ranch for the photo; was unable to park the MG near the tails up Caddys. But I was pleasantly surprised just a mile up the road by three more Cadillac at an RV Park and that made a better photo.

Planning to visit another family member tomorrow in Oklahoma City, the up to Wichita to see a MG friend.

When my GT was a 4 cyl I drove it back and forth from Dallas to LA and San Diego 14 times stopping just for food and gas; I didn't think there was that many miles in a 1800 MG :-) I was a lot younger then but it was tough. I turned 70 yesterday so that's pretty much behind me; I envy your odyssey.

On second thought I might could do it but it would take a month and a lot of Holliday Inns.

Paul

Paul,

Do it, and just take your time. I have to get out and stretch often. BESIDES HOW ELSE CAN I TAKE ALL THESE PHOTOS. If there is alot of stuff to see I might only travel 100-150 miles. Some days I've done 350 but that was in an area where there was not much of old Rt 66 si I used I-40 and went much faster.

That was some serious driving in a 4cyc MG back in the day, I assume you had OD.

a few more

A Stop in Elk City Oklahoma for the route 66 Museum, resulted in meeting a group on a bus tour group from Japan.
Through and an interpreter one of the ladies was telling me the typical story, she had an right hand drive MG back in the 60s in Japan.
With the group surrounding the MG, the car is almost blocked but not the biggest Rt 66 sign I've seen.

This is an area where large cattle drives took place . Thus the photo of the two cowboys in front of a local bank;
they are shaking hands and the sign underneath says binding contract.
Had a great burger El Rino, thanks to Swamperca.
I was challenged by the exact change tollbooth going around Oklahoma City. The MG set too low for me to reach the dollar changing machine.
Glad it wasn't rush hour as I had to get out of the car to feed the machine. The total was $1.15 had to have all coins
No human beings present to assist a somewhat befuddled newcomer to this toll system.
Having lived all my life in the East , it's comforting to me to get back to an area where things are green instead of brown.
The deserts are beautiful but I think I like my green landscapes best.

No, no overdrive back then so I had to be watchful of the distance to the next gas station that would take my gas card but I drove it so many times I had the trip down pretty well. Now days I use a debit card so I can stop anywhere; don't even have a gas card. Haven't driven the LBC with the T-5 but I'm sure I'm going love it. Sold the house in California so don't have a place to stay but someday I'd love to do it again now that the Navy doesn't have me on such a tight schedule and I could take time to see the sites.


Paul

I started Day 9 with short drive over to visit with Jenny and Bill in Wichita Kansas. Bill's been real active in the British V8 website and roadmaster project. He's had a pretty rough spell lately with his health but he's on the mend now.

It was then 200+ miles through rural Kansas on back roads.
Found some twists on Rt 60 in ok near AR.. Really enjoy all the trees and lakes; looks a little like home.
But it's the eastern Shawnee nation.

States visited today ; KS. OK. MS. AR. and drove 350 miles of backroads.

The Pig Trail and a few other scenic byways are on tap for day 10 on my way to Memphis,TN.

I was cruising thru the Ozarks about an hour into my drive when I smelled anti freeze.

The Radiator had sprung a leak. Did a little smart phone research and found some great guys at a shop not far away who liked the challenge of custom built cars. They helped me get the leaks fixed and six hours later my journey continues.

today started with a little re-work of the fan shroud, then on to meet Keith in Little Rock. He's building a V8 MGB.
Had to remove the radiator shroud again this morning. Shim it out to give it more clearance from the fan.
Was back on the highway by 10:30 AM central time.
I want to make Little Rock time for lunch. Meeting an online friend from the MG experience.
I arrived at the Flying Sacer on time and Keith and I enjoyed telling stories about our cars experiences.
After lunch I drove a couple of blocks to see the Bill Clinton library and park.
I've had the part ways with historical 66 it went up to St. Louis and I'm headed to Memphis. I plan to go south on the Riverroad and find a welcome to Mississippi sign for Moss motor challenge
Heard this area is also called the redneck Riviera evidently there's a lot of gambling casinos down there maybe I can find another hotel for 20 bucks just like I did in Laughlin Nevada.

Haven't turn the windshield wipers on one time. and this is the 11th day of driving from SFO

As I get closer to the Mississippi River I begin to realize that this trip is coming closer to an end. Three more days I should be sleeping in bed. A three state day today: AR,TN, & Miss.
Tomorrow I plan to drive to Chattanooga by way of Huntsville, AL.
MGB.

Welcome to Ala. PJ. If you drive on I-565 into Huntsville. Ck out the Saturn 5 Rocket and the SR-71 Blackbird within view of the highway. The size of the Saturn 5 rocket boggles the mind each time I drive past. Hwy from Memphis down south to Miss. is good and then the main one across northern Miss. to Huntsville, through Muscle Shoals and Decatur is easy ride. Have a safe trip. SAFETY FASTER!

Kelly,

Call me if you want to try to meet up. 336-four six two-1147

Passed thru 4 states on the 12th day of my SFO to NC trek in the MGBT

Should be home tomorrow