1997 MG V-8 Conversion Convention - June 13-16 - St. Louis MO
MEET VEE IN ST. LOUIS
as published in MG V-8 Newsletter, Volume V Issue 2, August 1997
Amidst the MG V-8 contingent's camaderie and conversation (plus a hint
of beer fumes) at the 1996 University Motors Summer Party, late night
parking lot gathering, a lone, distinctly British voice raised above
the background of conversation and laughter. "This is rather absurd!",
it said, "We have been farting about and talking over an MG V-8 meet for
years. Let's just do it!" So declared MG V-8 owner/advocate and expert
Robin Weatherall. So was sown the seed of the first annual MG V-8 meet
which culminated very successfully in St. Louis this last June.
The original plan had been to hold the get together in Georgia, but
interminable problems with the host hotel lead to an eventual transfer
to Robin's home turf of St. Louis. With the considerable assistance of
the St. Louis MG Club, Robin organized three days of tech sessions,
auto museum tours, driving events and fine dining. The event was held
under the auspices of the North American MGB Register (NAMGBR) which
afforded the liability insurance required for almost any gathering in
these litigation-insane times. (Subliminal Message: Join NAMGBR if you
are not already a member. Great organization, fantastic magazine, and
they are very supportive of the MG -V-8's.)
Eight V-8's eventually lined up in the roped-off Marriot parking lot.
Robin Weatherall (St. Louis, MO), Bob McClain (Longwood, FL), Jeff and
Jerry Romans, Wayne Peterson (Topeka,KS), Glen Towery (Cheswold, DE),
Larry Dickstein (Kansas City, MO), Kurt and Diane Schley (Rocky River, OH),
and the flawless factory V-8 of Don Peery (Enid, OK). Dave and Linda
Michel of Alexandria Virginia were in attendance but could not bring
their ultra-rare Costello Mk II because Dave had integrated attending
the meet with business, necessitating airborne travel. Several other
enthusiasts joined the group, either being in the construction or
planning/parts gathering phase of their own V-8's.
On Friday morning a caravan of MG's traveled to Robin's workshop which
he shares with another eight or so race teams, restorers, and Ken Bierman
who showed us his under-construction MGB V-8 roadster. Tech sessions were
conducted on engine bay sheet metal modifications, trans/engine combos,
and Robin's own talk on fuel injection for the Rover V-8. I, for one,
came away with a much better understanding of Rover's FI and the steps
necessary to install it under an MG bonnet. Side note: Robin consistently
gets about 35 MPG during highway driving using a Costello Fl system!
Saturday's events included visits to both a great auto museum and to a
sports car dealer/collector's premises which held over 100 MG's, Jags,
Aston Martin's, 'Vettes, Healeys, and most other sports car marquees.
The midday was taken up by a most enjoyable road trip through part of
Missouri's wine country. Practically deserted winding roads, cloudless
skies, a bunch of fast cars... doesn't get much better!
The later hours of each evening were generally spent at the hospitality
suite, which was well stoked with MG V-8 literature, videos and books.
All this, in addition to a picnic in one of St. Louis's central parks,
fine dining each evening, and the opportunity to rub elbows with other
V-8er's and swap stories and information, added up to one fun filled
week-end. Hats off to Robin and the generous help of many other
St. Louis MG'ers for a well run and very enjoyable first annual MG
V-8 meet.
Attendees
| Event Coordinator: | ||||
| Robin Weatherall | St Louis, MO | (kneeling, 5th from left) | ||
| Participants: | ||||
| Ken Bierman | Kansas City, MO | (not shown) | ||
| Larry Dickstein | Kansas City, MO | (standing, 3rd from left) | ||
| John Mangles | Kansas City, MO | (not shown) | ||
| Bob McClain | Longwood, FL | ? | ||
| Dave Michel | Alexandria, VA | (standing, 5th from left) | ||
| Linda Michel | Alexandria, VA | (standing, 4th from left) | ||
| Don Peery | Enid, OK | (standing, 12th from left) | ||
| Wayne Peterson | Topeka, KS | (kneeling, 4th from left) | ||
| Jack Renaud | Dearborn, MI | (kneeling, 3rd from left) | ||
| Jeff Romans | ? | ? | ||
| Jerry Romans | ? | ? | ||
| Kurt Schley | Rocky River, OH | (kneeling, 2nd from left) | ||
| Diane Schley | Rocky River, OH | (photographer) | ||
| Brett Shelley | Amherstburg, ON | (standing, 7th from left) | ||
| Glen Towery | Cheswold, DE | (standing, 11th from left) | ||
| ? | ? | ? | ||
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Please help us complete this table. Let us know if you can fill-in any of the question marks!
