by Corky Guenther
Last month, Kathy Ahrendt wrote an article about a mid-week trip to West Jefferson and I commented that this was the first of those trips documented since may of 2019. Similarly, our attendance at car shows both personally and as a club have been non-existent due to events being cancelled (mostly) and covid aware preference.
Usually, the first event that we attend is “The Gathering” at Shelton Winery. This year after receiving an invitation from Ed Stanfield, President of British Car Club Midlands Centre, we signed up to attend the Carolina British Classics XIV Collector and Vintage British Car Show at the Historic Columbia (SC) Speedway, held in conjunction with Tartan Day South, a Scottish festival. We’ve known Ed and Donna for years as members of the now inactive Southeast MG-T Register, so the invitation was hard to ignore.
Dean Sprague and Davie Poe, this year in Dean’s bugeye also attended the event as they have done several times previously. They normally have driven down on Friday attended and returned home after the show on Saturday. This year though we made a one-day trip of it necessitating a 6:45 departure from our house for a 7:15 start from Dean’s. The temperature at that hour was somewhere between 35- and 40-degrees F meaning that in the heaterless and side curtainless TC, we had to “layer up” (hoodies to keep the wind off of the back of the neck topped by leather jackets to keep out the breeze). We also have what we call “Cockpit Cozies” Which are basically the bottom half of the side curtains that serve to reduce the airflow intrusion. To arrive before registration closed, we travelled via Interstate mostly. Saturday morning traffic was fairly light and we were able to cruise at 60-70 MPH except when we encountered hills that reduced the TC rate of progress. The 5-Speed doesn’t do anything for torque and horsepower so a reversion to gear 4 and a reasonable RPM limit are necessary. We made a Pit Stop at a McDonalds and tried to grab a quick breakfast. Wrong move. The order que in which we were 3rd and 4th in line just stopped. Nobody at the register and lots of activity behind the counter as they apparently attempted to fulfill drive through orders. Presumably they were suffering from a pandemic induced staff shortage. Eventually, our orders were taken and we were on our way. One benefit: The TC occupants were thoroughly warmed and the ambient temperatures had moderated some.
Arriving at the registration tent we were told that Dean had been given the last goody bag as they had more “day of show” participants than expected. Not to worry as we have enough stuff and they brought one to us as we were parking the car. We set up and walked around perusing the entries making note of those we wanted to vote for. Among the unusual standouts to me were a couple of Triumph LeMans coupes and a Morris Traveler Woody with an attached Allstate one wheel trailer.
Voting completed, we walked around the Tartan Day festival being amazed (at least I was) at the number of clans represented. There were mini concerts by Pipe and Drum ensembles throughout the day adding to the festival flavor. When awards were presented, Dean’s Bugeye placed 1st in Class. Our class, MG TC/Prewar (4 entries), was won by a gorgeous restored1936 MG TA. When I spoke to the owner, I noted that it had the correct MGJP engine as many have been replaced by later XPAGs. He said that it was the original as are all the parts.
The trip home as uneventful. We stopped for fuel and later for dinner and arrived home about 8:30. Not the longest TC day but long enough.
