MG TD TF 1500 Glenwood Rallye report BBS discussion at MG-Cars.info

MG TD TF 1500 - Glenwood Rallye report

As many of you know I proposed a second starting point for the oldest continuing rallye in North America to the Rocky Mountain MG Car Club (Denver, Colorado) last fall. Although I have participated in the 3 day event in the past, it does provide some difficulties in traveling (250 miles) and an additional day and an additional hotel night for those of us on the western side of the state. The club was receptive to the idea and it seemed a good timing fit as the event changed the host hotel location after having been at the past one for quite a number of years and a couple of other new changes as well. So with the go ahead from the club I laid out and wrote the "Western Slope Tour" which traveled from Montrose, Colorado to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Montrose being south of my home by roughly 70 miles is a more of a central location to western Colorado and thus giving more equal access to those from the west. I expected to be able to write the "observation type tour" without much difficulty. What I did not expect was a brutal winter that kept my planned route snowed in late into spring. Additionally I did not expect my house to be under full reconstruction and all of our household items to be packed away into boxes and storage. Nor did I expect two minor surgeries either. I was able to get the tour questions written with the help of my family and I think it was a great drive of 200 miles through some of Colorado's beautiful mountain two lane roads. 15 cars registered to start at Montrose with 6 coming from the local group we started last fall. Two registrants from this board paired up driving both of their "T"s. Ed Haskell in his TD and John Brickell who drove 1250 miles one way in his TF. Additionally we had two entrants from Salt Lake City some 300 miles plus in a Triumph TR3 and 53 Austin Healey 100. I've never been superstitious of Friday the 13th but I may change my mind. Getting up a 4 AM I walked into the bedroom door that for some reason was half closed. And as most of you know by now I had an encounter with a deer in a small town about 50 miles into my drive to the starting point. I feel very lucky however that the I did not center punch the first deer that passed in front of the car and that the second one that must have done the Edwin Moses high hurdle only clipped the windshield and didn't nail me in the head. I pulled over imediatly and saw no signs of the deer anywhere. I was disappointed that none of the other half dozen cars around me stopped to check if I was ok. I surveyed the damage..cussed a little and continued on to the starting point to welcome the participants. Here is a road side shot..about 6:30 AM...40 mph and not a location where one would expect to see deer. Damage to the windscreen post, mirror, cowl and possibly the frame itself. Very lucky in my book.

MG LaVerne

The host location...Golf club ..for breakfast.

MG LaVerne

Nice view while drinking that morning java.

MG LaVerne

Cars gathering in the lot.

MG LaVerne

John and Ed posing with "Meeker" ready for action.

MG LaVerne

A part of the route where I would expect to see some deer...and yest the shot was taken above the windscreen.

MG LaVerne

One stop for a photo op.

MG LaVerne

Joe and Kathy Gundersons 34 PA

MG LaVerne

On the pickup of one of our local club members who did not participate in the rallye but drove up to check it out and do some local fishing. Thank God my encounter wasn't with one of these.

MG LaVerne

One of the members of this board from New mexico navigated in this Maseratti although disappointly started in Denver.

MG LaVerne

Thats right..Tyler Irwin...maybe next year in his TF? I did get to visit with him some and I'm glad we had the opportunity.

MG LaVerne

John and Ed at a confusing check point (what isn't) of the TSD on Saturday in Ed's TD.

MG LaVerne

Caught up with Ed and John again at the lunch stop in Basalt. The pick we made for lunch turned out to be less than what we had hoped for.

MG LaVerne

John waiting for service..

MG LaVerne

And Ed....and we were still waiting...and waiting... They had one hour only and barely got a bite before taking off again.

MG LaVerne

Saturday night social

MG LaVerne

Sunday car show with a fair number of "T"s..another TD not in the shot.

MG LaVerne

A good turnout..I believe they said they had 107 entrants. The host hotel is in the background across the river.

MG LaVerne

John and I spent a fair amount of time in this position but I think we ironed out a number of issues. I heard from John last night and he was roughly half way home and tells me that "Meeker" has never run better. I hope to hear from him this evening to tel me he has made it safely home.

MG LaVerne

Even though I spent a great deal of time looking through this, I had a great time. I wish you all could have been there and I hope some of you will consider coming out next June. And thats a wrap... PS: I did get to visit a short time with Randy Biallis who came over for the event, but unfortunatly not in his TD. That reminds me Randy..I forgot to collect the second postage.. :-)... not to worry...I'll collect it next time we meet.

MG LaVerne

John, Ed, Laverne, the 3 Musketeers!

R Biallas

The "eastern" start in Golden, CO. Didn't take a pix of the other 2/3 of cars there at the start.

R Biallas

Don't know how this guy did the TSD Rallye portion with his navigator "Teddy". (Trivia fact: The "teddy" bear was first created at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs as gift to President Teddy Roosevelt. Note this Hotel CO version in their showcase differs somewhat from the Wikipedia version.)

R Biallas

This thread was discussed between 17/06/2014 and 20/06/2014

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