Re: [mg-tabc] Stuff

[Jackarch2@aol.com]

'Till now I have managed to remain silent in spite of horror stories of
failed half-shafts and valve/block interference owing to too vigorus planing
of heads. In both cases have been there done that. Actually my half-shaft
incident was a bit more complicated. I drove, unknowingly, 500 miles on a
BENT half-shaft. How it got bent is a story unto itself, but suffice it to
say that the stupid car in getting wrong side up in its maiden race, folded a
16 in rim, bent both axle housing and half-shaft. Upon arrival at home (we
did not tow in those days - 1951) and during repair of a rather sorry looking
TC, I discovered that the half-shaft could not be reinstalled owing to its
loss of virginity, or whatever. I decided, no problem, straightened it on an
arbor press, and proceeded to put some 20K miles on it, including a number of
SCCA and CASC events. I will confess that after learning of the
vulnerability of TC half-shafts, the questionable member was replaced prior
to the car's racing reincarnation in '96. I'm still trying to figure out how
it managed to survive all those miles after such mistreatment.

What prompted me to sit down at this machine was the recent thread of member
age and in some cases the tales of how/when members acquired their T-Series.
I was reluctant to admit to being chronologically challenged, and then along
came Jack Signy of Long Beach, CA to take me off the hook. No longer need I
worry about being labled the partiarch of the List. If anyone is still
persuing this, I will attempt to add something to the archives. Bear with me
while I present a run-down of the wheels that led up to the acquisition of
'48 TC 5050 in 1950. First car, at age 17 in 1942 (you are welcome to do the
math) a 1931 Model A Ford Roadster - price 20 bucks. It was towed home,
coaxed into running with a battery and a new head gasket and served me well
until sold upon departure for Engineering School in the Fall. There followed
a period (until Spring of'46) when I had transportation courtesy of the Air
Force. But upon discharge, I again needed wheels. What turned up and was
affordable, was a 1925 Model T Ford Coupe. This was progress? It served me
well until the time came to return to Engineering School in the Fall. I went
in relative style, however, having obtained a '37 Ford Woodie. This was
traded for for a '40 Mercury Coupe, which later gave way to a '47 Ford
Convertible. Patience, we are almost there. It is now Spring 1950 and I
decided I could not survive without a TC. To make a long story short, the
Ford Convertibe was traded even up for the TC, which I might add had beem
purchased in the States 8 months earlier by an ex-Air Force bomber jockey who
had been exposed to the breed while serving in England.
He had not had his fill of the TC but his bride-to-be had, and so he was
vulnerable.

This could go on and on, but I promise you it won't. If you have read this
far, you must have figured out that TC 5050 has been in my possession for
half a century. It has been twice restored by the writer. Still in race
trim, it has been retired since it carried home the Collier Cup from the 50th
running of Watkins Glen in 1998. The car and I came to an understanding -
half century mettalurgy and three quarter century reflexes are perhaps not
the best combination.

One last item. I urge all members of the list who can attend the the Watkins
Glen Collier Cup event this September to do so. For some years the first car
to finish has been awarded the Cornett Trophy, but this has invariably gone
to one of the Killer Bs. This year the T-Series will have their own
race-within-a-race and their own trophy, The T Cup. Please come and
introduce yourself to:

Old Arch (Jack Archibald TC5050)

[CFritz7001@aol.com]

Arch/Jack
Thanks for sharing your delightful story with us!! I must confess to a
damp eye as I read it, but enjoyed it nonetheless. For a while there I
thought I was the oldest TC owner in the group at nearly 71, but others
prevailed. However, I think I'm still the oldest OWNER with the oldest TC
which was THE OWNER'S FIRST CAR Hope I'm right on that, 'cause I'll still
be searching for my "15 seconds of fame" if I'm wrong.
Regards to all,
Carl Fritz

[PMS GB Ltd]

Message text written by INTERNET:CFritz7001@aol.com

>For a while there I thought I was the oldest TC owner in the group

at nearly 71, but others prevailed. However, I think I'm still the
oldest OWNER with the oldest TC which was THE OWNER'S
FIRST CAR <

Congratulations Carl - The TB was my first car too- but at just (!) 54 and
only having had the TB since I was 17 - I might be outbid on this one - any
TB challengers? Any 50 year ownership in the TB Ranks to match Jack's?

Clive Sherriff
Oxford UK.