Milwaukee Midget

[Milwaukee Midget]

I wish I could remember where the photos are - probably at my parents house - about 1974 at Road America -  I just looked it up - Harry Theodoracopulos driving a V6 Capri in the Trans Am race that year.

The announcer commented it sounded like ripping sheet metal with your bare hands.

That was the year when Gregg, Holbert and Heywood ran away from everyone in the Carreras, and Warren Agor was running the big, orange Camaro.  THAT was an intimidating car. 
 

[fordboy628]

fordboy628,

You could also depress anyone without a plan for

building their engine.

FREUD

Here's what I learned from this - so far -

To an average hot rodder with a Jegs or Summit catalog, a subscription to Hot Rod and friends who drag race or oval track - it appears easy to bolt together that 700 horse small block or order up a crate engine and go racing.

Then reality sets in.

Hey midget,

Did a THOROUGH search of both Summit & Jeg's online catalogs . . . . . .

NO ROVER 'K' parts, whatsoever!!

Go figure!!      

 
Fordboy

[Ron Gibson]

Fordboy
Isn't that like throwing salt in a wound.

Ron

[fordboy628]

fordboy628,

You could also depress anyone without a plan for

building their engine.

FREUD

Here's what I learned from this - so far -

To an average hot rodder with a Jegs or Summit catalog, a subscription to Hot Rod and friends who drag race or oval track - it appears easy to bolt together that 700 horse small block or order up a crate engine and go racing.

Then reality sets in.

Hey midget,

Did a THOROUGH search of both Summit & Jeg's online catalogs . . . . . .

NO ROVER 'K' parts, whatsoever!!

Go figure!!      

 
Fordboy

midget,

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa . . . . .

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/KeywordSearchCmd?storeId=10001&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&Ntk=all&Jnar=0&itemPerPage=60&Ne=1%2B2%2B3%2B13%2B1147708&searchTerm=rover+k

A)   ARP flywheel bolts   (but for the stock flywheel, so won't work with the one off crank needed . . .)
2)   ARP con-rod bolts    (but for the stock con-rods, so again won't work, doh!!)
d)   ARP head stud & nut kit . . . . .   Aha.  At $408.61 for the set, freight and handling included, cheapest I've seen them.
z)   Assorted Rover air cleaners ? ? ? ? ?

 
Fordboy

[fordboy628]

Fordboy
Isn't that like throwing salt in a wound.

Ron

Well, yeah I guess so.

But I redeemed myself by finding a cheap price on parts he is going to need.

 
Fordboy

[fordboy628]

midget,

Methinks you should try and turn some of your newfound British notoriety into some sponsorship from ARP.

In the form of product for "testing and evaluation", perhaps . . . . .

Worth a phone call?   E-mail?   Press release?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
 
Fordboy

[Milwaukee Midget]

There are two lines of thought on sponsorship.

A lot of racers go with as many as they can get.  When they're done, the car looks like this -



So . . . Who sponsors this car?


When the racer uses his head and keeps the brand message clear, the appearance is much cleaner -



The Holman - Moody Volvo.

If you were a sponsor, which vehicle is going to give you the most bang for your buck?

If you're a racer, which car would you rather be seen in?

I'm looking for a single sponsor who I can work with and provide an uncluttered vehicle to get their message out, plus support for their product.

In fact, the biggest problem with most auto-related sponsorships and contingencies is that they're selling to the converted - the Holman - Moody Volvo included.

If you're still running at the end of the event, chances are, you're using ARP studs and bolts.  But Joe Blow isn't going to take his Acura down to the dealer and have them swap out his fasteners, is he?

He might consider a beer he hasn't heard of, though.  

EVERYBODY has ARP stickers on their car - they come with the bolts. 

Disciplined branding comes from not applying 'em. 

[Stainless1]

I'm looking for a single sponsor who I can work with and provide an uncluttered vehicle to get their message out, plus support for their product.

Chris, you already have that sponsor, unfortunately it is you and Kate...
If LSR was on TV every week, and everyone wanted to see an old English turd go fast you could have any sponsor you wanted, but finding someone interested in paying to make it happen is like finding the "proverbial needle".
By now, hopefully, the parent company knows about the Midget, if that could be worked to the proper angle, you might have a chance
Strike while the iron is warmest 

[Milwaukee Midget]

Bob, I'd love to have them aboard, even if it was just a contact in the engineering department I could call and get advise about the K-series, or to source crank bearings, belts, oil rail - the stuff I won't be able to source stateside.

But then the question becomes, what do they get out of the deal?

MG's marketing focus is clearly on the new MG3 and MG6, and they're simply not trading on their history.

The truth is, if you include the Midget, it's a long history of record setting by the marque, going back to 1930.  It's an elite group of manufacturers who can claim record setting cars over 84 years.  On top of that, Great Britain has always had a larger fascination with record breaking cars than the US.  One need look no farther than the Bloodhound project and the support they're receiving from Cosworth, Jaguar, Rolls Royce, Lucas, Rolex . . .

That's an angle I'm taking, but MG's current stature is one of a start-up, salvaged from Rover's demise, primarily going up against Honda, Nissan, Fiat, MINI and Toyota in their domestic market.  Translating what I'm doing into sales of their MG3 and MG6 would require a degree of mental gymnastics few bean counters are willing to attempt.

On the other hand, the MG EX 135 chassis was a car purchased used by MG, and it was 15 years old before it ever turned a wheel on the salt.

I can make a compelling argument, but I don't know if I can make a persuasive one.

Yeah, the iron is warm - the question is, can I forge it into something that makes sense for both of us?

[Frankenhealey]

Chris,

I'm new here but have been lurking for a long time. Should you need any help in sourcing stuff from the UK for a K series then give me a shout as I'm on the right island on this side of the pond.

I should in all honesty, mention that it was reading your stuff on Faceache that gave me an idea to build something to run on the salty stuff and it is Midget based but luckily in another class.

Cheers,

Ian

[Stainless1]

Maybe try the long racing history angle that they should see in their new products....

After all, the MG is faster than an Abarth... and Fiat is working that part of their history.  Finding that spot where your foot fits in their door may be the hardest part.
I probably wouldn't say the fastest English tractor motors on earth    

[Milwaukee Midget]

Welcome aboard, and thanks!

Frankenhealey - That's an astounding handle!

 

[Milwaukee Midget]

Maybe try the long racing history angle that they should see in their new products....

After all, the MG is faster than an Abarth... and Fiat is working that part of their history.  Finding that spot where your foot fits in their door may be the hardest part.
I probably wouldn't say the fastest English tractor motors on earth    

And it's not like they're averse to racing - working with an independent team, they just took the BTCC manufacturer's title this year . . .

http://mg.co.uk/news/2014/10/13/mg-wins-first-british-touring-car-championship-manufacturer-title/

[Stainless1]

Got started on your letter to Guy Jones? 

[Milwaukee Midget]

Went out just before Christmas.

About time I pestered him again.

You don't pick up a girl at a bar without being a little persistent . . .