Milwaukee Midget

[Crackerman]

What the hell is a plinth?

Thats a very manageable list. I cant wait to see it kick some butt!

[Milwaukee Midget]

What the hell is a plinth?

Thats a very manageable list. I cant wait to see it kick some butt!

The plinth is the part of the grill that holds the MG emblem in place.

Yeah, this is stupid from a racing standpoint, but there's a bit of a story behind it.

Neil was over visiting our pit last year, and while I tried to tighten the loose emblem, the nut fell off of the plinth.  I tried fishing it out with a magnet, but the nut was stainless, so I never got around to reinstalling it.

Fast forward - the "100 years of Bonneville" book comes out, and just above a picture of the BMR coupe - a car and a team I have held in high esteem for years and was one of my inspirations - is a picture of the Midget.

And the authors referred to my MG as an Austin Healey Sprite.     

I know - badge engineering - but despite the fact that the car graphics include a HUGE OCTAGON that include the car's number and class, I was a little miffed by the misidentification.

Part of what I'm doing is trying to reintroduce an MG into the record books.  Goldie Gardner, Phil Hill, George Eyston - all members of the 200 mph club - all raced MGs on the salt.

So the plinth goes on with a shiny new MG logo badge, which will give me the right to yell at people -

"IT'SAGODDAMNEDMGITSAYSSORIGHTONTHEFRICKINGRILLYOUDORK!"   

[Finallygotit]

Don't forget your log book. 

[gkabbt]

"IT'SAGODDAMNEDMGITSAYSSORIGHTONTHEFRICKINGRILLYOUDORK!"   

Too funny.....ROTFLMFAO!!!!     

Check list looks decent so get'em done then gitter done on the Salt!

Good luck and I'll be listening to the audio stream daily!

Gregg

[manta22]

What the hell is a plinth?

Thats a very manageable list. I cant wait to see it kick some butt!

The plinth is the part of the grill that holds the MG emblem in place.

Yeah, this is stupid from a racing standpoint, but there's a bit of a story behind it.

Neil was over visiting our pit last year, and while I tried to tighten the loose emblem, the nut fell off of the plinth.  I tried fishing it out with a magnet, but the nut was stainless, so I never got around to reinstalling it.

Fast forward - the "100 years of Bonneville" book comes out, and just above a picture of the BMR coupe - a car and a team I have held in high esteem for years and was one of my inspirations - is a picture of the Midget.

And the authors referred to my MG as an Austin Healey Sprite.     

I know - badge engineering - but despite the fact that the car graphics include a HUGE OCTAGON that include the car's number and class, I was a little miffed by the misidentification.

Part of what I'm doing is trying to reintroduce an MG into the record books.  Goldie Gardner, Phil Hill, George Eyston - all members of the 200 mph club - all raced MGs on the salt.

So the plinth goes on with a shiny new MG logo badge, which will give me the right to yell at people -

"IT'SAGODDAMNEDMGITSAYSSORIGHTONTHEFRICKINGRILLYOUDORK!"   

Right!   

Magnets won't work to retrieve small stainless fasteners but chewing gum on the end of a stick will    In the Army we called this "field expediency".

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[Jack Gifford]

The ultimate in fuel efficiency? One gallon of gas? [Or is that some other 'gas' other than gasoline?]

[Milwaukee Midget]

The ultimate in fuel efficiency? One gallon of gas? [Or is that some other 'gas' other than gasoline?]

That's just to check to see that the drivetrain is working, the fuel system isn't leaking, and to make the neighbors crazy.

[SPARKY]

ROTFLMAO---At my age the F part is hard to come by---lol

 

[Milwaukee Midget]

Well, it wasn't SUPPOSED to be a thrash this year. 

Nobody to blame but the guy in the mirror.

The electric radiator fan seems to have lost its will to survive.  If I had half a brain, I would have tested it BEFORE I installed the radiator and buried it behind the grill.  Radiator comes out Wednesday night - Advance Auto has one on the shelf.  Once the car is out of 1st gear, I switch it off and let the wind take over, but it's critical to keeping the Grenade from boiling over while waiting in line, and cooling it down after a run.

To make matters worse, the really nice used tach I bought from Bill a few years back didn't survive the gravitational challenge of Chris Clutzrad.  At first, I thought it might have been my new dash wiring job.  But checking that with an old Smith's tach from an MGB informed me that yes, I'm pretty good at this wiring harness stuff - it's my ability to not drop things that I need to work on.

It'll all get sorted this week, and I don't THINK there's anything left around the corner that will bite me in the arse.

Still . . . 

[wheelrdealer]

Well, it wasn't SUPPOSED to be a thrash this year. 

Nobody to blame but the guy in the mirror.

The electric radiator fan seems to have lost its will to survive.  If I had half a brain, I would have tested it BEFORE I installed the radiator and buried it behind the grill.  Radiator comes out Wednesday night - Advance Auto has one on the shelf.  Once the car is out of 1st gear, I switch it off and let the wind take over, but it's critical to keeping the Grenade from boiling over while waiting in line, and cooling it down after a run.

To make matters worse, the really nice used tach I bought from Bill a few years back didn't survive the gravitational challenge of Chris Clutzrad.  At first, I thought it might have been my new dash wiring job.  But checking that with an old Smith's tach from an MGB informed me that yes, I'm pretty good at this wiring harness stuff - it's my ability to not drop things that I need to work on.


Rats Chris, since my chances of setting a record are slim I was hoping to  see my old tach get a trip to impound. If you had a mechanical tach drive I have two jones/moroso tachs I would send you.

It'll all get sorted this week, and I don't THINK there's anything left around the corner that will bite me in the arse.

Still . . . 

[Milwaukee Midget]

Well, it wasn't SUPPOSED to be a thrash this year. 

Nobody to blame but the guy in the mirror.

The electric radiator fan seems to have lost its will to survive.  If I had half a brain, I would have tested it BEFORE I installed the radiator and buried it behind the grill.  Radiator comes out Wednesday night - Advance Auto has one on the shelf.  Once the car is out of 1st gear, I switch it off and let the wind take over, but it's critical to keeping the Grenade from boiling over while waiting in line, and cooling it down after a run.

To make matters worse, the really nice used tach I bought from Bill a few years back didn't survive the gravitational challenge of Chris Clutzrad.  At first, I thought it might have been my new dash wiring job.  But checking that with an old Smith's tach from an MGB informed me that yes, I'm pretty good at this wiring harness stuff - it's my ability to not drop things that I need to work on.




It'll all get sorted this week, and I don't THINK there's anything left around the corner that will bite me in the arse.

Still . . . 

Rats Chris, since my chances of setting a record are slim I was hoping to  see my old tach get a trip to impound. If you had a mechanical tach drive I have two jones/moroso tachs I would send you.

Thanks, Bill.

I can get you half way there - the shift light and bracket are still in place.

That was a really nice tach, though. 

I damn near threw my knee out kicking myself in the butt . . .

[fordboy628]

Okay, here is a link for everyone who wants to get smarter . . . .   It is Nascar-centric, but the science applies to all engines . . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBZCnG1HwDM#t=1148

45 minutes and worth every second.
 cheers
Fordboy

P.S. this is the same link I put up on my Race Engines 101 thread.

[Milwaukee Midget]

Okay - after calling my local guys - C&S, Pegasus, et al, I was unable to get a new tach, so I went with the mail-order guys in Ohio.  Always prefer putting faces with products, but along with the tach, they included a free voltage gauge.

I was thinking they must be high, but then I thought of their name and realized - yes, they are.

I don't have room for it in the dash, but I suspect I can wire it up in the trunk by the battery and it might prove helpful letting me know when it's time to recharge.  Turn everything on, have someone crank the starter, see how far it drops.  An ammeter would be a better bet, but they didn't offer me a free one.

Tires are on, the air bags are pumped up - 9:00 AM Wednesday, I'll be dropping it off for alignment.  Eric thinks he's going to get it on the elevated rack.  As low as it's sitting, I need to jack up the tongue of the trailer to clear the exhaust on the ramps.  And seeing as it won't launch below 6 K and it has no brakes on the front, well, I'm thinking he's going to be pulling out his old-school 1950's vintage Bear toys.

[Rob]

Remember Chris,

Photos or it didn't happen!

See you on the salt,
Rob

[Stainless1]

MM, always charge your battery during your 4 hours in impound  no matter what the gauge says