MG Roadmaster & the Hot Rod Power Tour

[ex-tyke]

...It's really a restaurant?

You've really got to get out of the hills more often.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Do they serve green eggs and ham?

[MGBV8]

Now, Graham, just because they are all over the frozen, great white north doesn't mean they are relevant down here in God's Country. We have more than enough Dunkin' Donuts, Krispy Kremes, Daylight Donuts, & Waffle Houses to feed the mass migration from up yonder.  

[kstevusa]

Gentlemen, Tim Horton's is a Institution in Canada.   Krispy Kreme failed in an attempt to establish a footing and  Dunkin Donuts would probably fail also.  They are passionate about Tim Horton's, he is a hero north of the border.  They have great sandwiches, and other snacks and really good coffee, (ask Merv).   The Franchise has a few resturants south of The Border and seem to do ok here.  I was not aware they existed until Gil Price and i attended the National meet in Belleville Ont.  We visited 2-3 different Tim H.   This is how Merv got his start with Tim's.   NO!  they do not have curb service
SAFETY FASTER!

[rficalora]

Quick update from the last 2 days of the Power Tour...

Friday was a great day.  Headed out about 9am and the route had us on some back roads with some nice hills & good curves .

All along the route there were folks sitting & waving as we went by -- it was like a 4000 car rolling parade.  Everyone leaves on their own, but you can't help but come up on groupings 3-4 or 6-8 cars...


Stopped at CoverCraft's headquarters for a hospitality lunch - didn't get any pictures there, but if you ever need a car cover definitely check them out...  The covers were very high quality, made to fit, & they have patterns for everything - including MG's.  I showed some pics of my car & they said they could make the cover 3-4 few inches wider in the front & 6-8" wider in the back -- then send it to me to have me mark where the mirror pockets would need to be & send it back & then they'd add those... definitely customer service oriented.  And, while they do make some of their sun screens in Mexico, all of their covers are made in the USA (OK & TX); it's a family owned business; and, several of the employees we talked with commented about how much the owner treated everyone like family -- definitely a place to support with our business!

Next, stopped at a cool side of the road look-out called Turner Falls -- couldn't get a pic with the falls in the background, but there's about a 100' waterfall there.


While there, chatted with Iana - she was a photographer with Hot Rod Magazine.


I shared the story of the car & she took several pictures & we talked for a bit about them running some of them - also invited them to the Omaha meet suggesting that they do a feature on British cars with American motors (we can claim the Rovers have American roots, right?).  She took my business card but I'll follow up if I don't hear from her before too long.  Hopefully we'll get some great publicity out of that.

Then we were back on the road to Arlington -- not long after the falls, the route shifted back interstate highways -- and construction traffic.  About 2hrs in this stuff spread across two different construction areas:

[rficalora]

...continued...

Finally arrived in Arlington at about 4:30 or 5pm -- way later than planned, but we were in good company as lots of folks were delayed by the same construction.

Once we got there though, there were still a good number of folks checking out the cars...

[rficalora]

Had dinner with my folks after the show on Friday & then Drew (my older son) & I went back out on Saturday morning for the Long Haul ceremony...  This was a chance for the Long Haul cars & owners to get some special recognition.  There were a few long haulers...


And of course, the Roadmaster was there ...


Last pic...


After that, we had a great lunch with some of my family and then headed back to Houston.

The car performed great.  It's definitely burning oil & I think the rear main seal is leaking too -- will know more when I get up under it sometime this week.  I noted a few other things to sort out of course, but overall it did the 1375 mile treck (plush however many mile it was to get it to the start in Detroit & the 250 mile to get back to Houston) with no significant issues.  All in all, it was a great event!

[MGBV8]

Thanks, Rob. Great job, guys!

[mowog1]

Glad to see you got a "Power Tour 2012" windscreen decal for it.

I tried to find one and was told that they were sold out.

[rficalora]

Painless wiring had them.  But, seemed like you had to know & tell them you wanted it before they'd give you one.

[Merv]

Carl, you really have to start frequenting some of the more UP SCALE restaurants. Being a Souther boy you are possibly not exposed to many international dining establishments, but To say that TIM HORTON'S is really a just another restaurant is like saying that Robert E. Lee was just another solider.

Rick, I did notice that you managed to get a picture of the Roadmaster, along with those 3 Young Ladies at that other place that is just another restaurant.

Glad that the Roadmaster tour is going well.
Merv

[pspeaks]

I'm also glad it's going well and grateful for the pictures, wish I were up to doing a trip like that.  Back in the 50's when I was a kid; I was invited to go on a weeklong rally from Dallas to Big Bend with Carroll Shelby's sports car club.  There wasn't any B's of course but it's what set my heart on British Sports Cars.  Other than when I bought my first Harley, it was the greatest experience in my life; at least so far anyway.  I met with and talked to Mr. Shelby many times that week and thought he was just another sport car guy from Dallas because that's how he acted.  I've now had a life time of learning just how wrong I was.  You guys cherish this and keep the pictures coming. Thanks!


Paul

[Dan B]

I know of 3 Tim Horton's within about 15-20 minutes of my house.  One even has a Cold Stone Creamery inside it.

[Dan B]

Great Job with the Power Tour guys!

[pspeaks]

I wish we had Tim Horton in Texas, but apparently  no!

Paul

[BlownMGB-V8]

Yes indeed, congratulations to all!!

Very likely we will get some good publicity from this, and the fact that we have not one but TWO separate photo sessions with Hot Rod almost guarantees at least an honorable mention of some sort. Rob, I hope she took a shot of the rear window! We've already been on radio, I suspect that by the end almost all of the Long Haulers knew about us, and who knows how widely our fame has spread?

You guys have done a great thing pulling this off. I'll admit at the first I had my doubts but it is a wonderful thing to see how we can pull together to achieve a common goal this way. I think it's an achievement that really stands out. And maybe as someone who was not an actual participant in the Power Tour (I was Mikes road crew) it might not be too out of line for me to mention that some recognition for these guys could be a good thing. I certainly recognize that it was far more than simply jumping in a car and going for a drive.

Jim

[Bill Young]

We definitely made some new friends along the way. Met one gentleman in Joplin,MO who was from Ontario and had a MGB V8 at home. Knew a few of our Canadian group and we definitely invited him to join us in Omaha. Also met guys from Montreal and talked to many others from all over the country. I think the Power Tour was exactly the type of event that allowed the car to achieve the purpose intended when we built it, expand the awareness for modified British cars to a broader audience. So many were surprised that the car was a group effort and that no one person owned it. We really have achieved something unique with this project thanks to the leadership Jim and others gave us over the past 4 years.

[Dan B]

People seem to have a hard time grasping the concept of a group effort.  When I had the car our local club kept referring to it as Jim's car.  Of course I corrected them numerous times, explaining that the owners of the car are listed on the back window.

[danmas]

http://www.hotrod.com/powertour/2012/hrdp_1206w_long_haulers_pictures_with_tour_bus/photo_54.html

[Moderator]

Awesome!  

Do you suppose Hot Rod will forgive us for sharing their excellent photo of Roadmaster amongst ourselves? I hope and trust so; they seem like very nice people. Here's a rotated/straightened and cropped version for your scrapbooks:

[MGBV8]

Was the word performance already cropped? Would have been nice to have the whole word in the pic.  

[danmas]

Carl,

Click on the link above for the full pic.