Category Archives: GOF Central

GOF Central, Tech Sessions

1938 MG-SA 2333 Tickford Drophead Foursome

Besides the well known sports cars, MG also produced a larger, more family-suited series of cars, known as the SA, VA, and WA. Three body styles were offered in each of the series, Saloon, Tourer, and Tickford.

The SA Tickford, along with the SA Saloon, are the largest MGs ever built. These luxury cars were intended not for motorsport as such, but rather the gentle British road rallies of the time, especially in the Concours D’Elegance which concluded many of these events. MGSA Tickfords competed very well, and MG was quick to promote this success.

Salmons & Sons (founded 1830) were responsible for the custom coachwork along with the manufacture of the ‘Tickford’ folding hood (top) from which the model gets its popular name. (“Tickford” still exists to this day as a division of Aston Martin). The top can be used in 3 different positions: closed, coupe de ville, and fully open (top down). The “Tickford” mechanism, with its ‘S’ shaped pram-irons (landau bars), made folding the top effortless.

Unique features for SA Tickfords include: a windscreen that folds out to provide additional air, hydraulic jacks at each of the wheels, controlled from the inside, which allow the car to be elevated from the ground either front, back, or both, leather & English walnut trimmed interior with brass instrumentation, trafficators (turn signals), and a chassis central lubrication system.

Performance was decent for a car weighing 3330 pounds, with a top speed of around 85 mph from a 2322 cc, 80 H.P. 6 cylinder engine with dual carbs.

Options include a 7-valve radio, cigar lighter, duo-green paint (wings-Ulster green, Body-Dublin/Apple green), Mellowtone dual horns, translucent rear number plate, and a rare original rear bumper. (See list of options).

Patience and time is the key to working on cars like SA2333. Often, a car goes through many previous owners on the road to restoration, and SA2333 is no exception. Fithian Wilbert, of Ohio, took the car apart in 1968, assumed room temperature in 1975, and I eventually became the owner in 1978.

This car took thousands of “fun” hours to restore. The majority of the work, including wood, bodywork, paint (single stage urethane), and mechanical, was done by the owner, to the highest standards of originality possible. Advice from SA owners around the world helped tremendously on the details.

Just 57 MGSA Tickfords are known to survive, and this is one of them!

 

GOF Central

Funkhana

What is a “Safety Fast” Funkana?

At GOF Central 2011, MGs will have a chance to actually get out of 2nd gear in a competitive event on an actual race track! Yes, you actually may hear squealing tires!

The course is a roughly ¼ mile asphalt oval track, (view track) with some interesting ‘tweaks’ added to make the event interesting and safe. It can be driven alone, or with a navigator; your choice. The fastest time wins.  Horsepower does give an edge, which is why there will be two classes, one for MGs up to and including 1955, and another for MGs 1956 and later.

In addition, each class will be divided into “rookies” and “vets,” as picked by the driver at the event registration. However, other skills do affect your time as well. Registration is near the water tower.

A typical scenario:

Let’s take your MG through the course.

You notice the starter holding a checkered flag, waving you to the start/finish line. The flag drops, the clock starts, and you are off, quickly moving into 2nd gear as you immediately enter the pylon balloons and round the first turn. You maintain speed, even hit the brakes, swerving either left or right to weave through them, break one, and time (10 seconds) is added to your run. They seem to go on forever down the back stretch. Finally, you apply the brakes as you enter a “garage” at the 3rd corner. You back out of the garage, and continue backwards, (avoiding pylons) and back into another garage near the 4th turn. You pull out forward, hit 2nd gear, swerve through more pylons on the home stretch, and slam on the brakes at the finish line.

Expect some tire noise! The two foot wide finish line is where your front tires must be stopped to stop the clock. Go too far? Back up and stop!

Now you can relax a little; the timer is off. Let your heart slow down a bit, the fast stuff is over, but other skills now come into play. That is why it is a “Funkhana.”

Look over your shoulder, back up, and parallel park next to a designated curb. One chance to back in only—no pulling forward, no time limit. Anything within 6 inches of the curb (both tires) is “no penalty.” For additional inches away, (farthest tire) add one second per inch or partial inch. Hit the curb, add ten seconds to your time. Prewar and right-hand drive cars have a definite advantage here! Once parked, you will be handed 3 “pub” darts. Toss these at a bullseye target marked 1-10.  Your dart score is converted into seconds off your time.

You are done! Pull forward and exit to the right, park somewhere and watch the rest of the field compete.

Volunteers needed for this event include:

  • Starter/finisher with checkered flag , will also do initial registration (1 sheet per car).
  • Timer and scorekeeper, Will also judge parallel parking and darts.
  • Person in middle of oval to reset “busted” balloons. (Must be agile!)
  • “Recruiters” at the car display area to promote the event and bring in contestants.
GOF Central

Photo Contest

RULES:

All photos are to be printed 8″ x 10″
Subject matter must include a T-Series vehicle or part
No matting
No frames
No captions or comments

Name and registration number should appear on the back
Limit of 3 entries per member

Please submit photo entries (in advance if possible) to:
Tom Booth, 430 Aspen, Birmingham, MI 48009, or bring them to the GOF and submit them before 10 am, July 28, 2011.

Winners will be chosen by popular vote at the GOF.

GOF Central

Map to GOF Central

The Clarion Hotel is located off Interstate 94, halfway between the cities of Detroit
and Chicago in Kalamazoo. The hotel is close to the Gilmore Car Museum, AirZoo, Western Michigan University, downtown Kalamazoo, and Peterson & Sons Winery.


View Larger Map

GOF Central

Paul Johnson Memorial Trophy

Team distance driving award to the Club with the most MG miles driven to the event.

Competition Rules

The object of the award is to encourage the preparation and driving of all MG’s in the long distance driving tradition of Paul Johnson.  Paul was an ardent supporter of GOF Central and the award  is also intended to promote the attendance of GOF Central by members of all GOF Central Clubs even though it may require them to make a long journey and to encourage owners of older MG’s to drive them to GOF’s.

The award will be made on the basis of miles driven to GOF Central in an MG by members of a MG Club that is a member of GOF Central.  A traveling trophy will be awarded each year to the winning club, with the club being responsible for engraving its name and the year on the trophy.  Members of the winning team will also receive individual awards recognizing their participation in the team winning that year’s Johnson Trophy competition.

The following rules will govern the Johnson Trophy competition:

  • Competitors must be a member of the member Club prior to their departure for GOF Central.
  • All miles driven during the trip to GOF Central will be counted.
  • Points for mileage driven in an MG will be awarded as follows:
  • 1 point per mile driven in a 1956 or newer MG
  • 2 points per mile driven in a 1945 through 1955 MG
  • 3 points per mile driven in an MG older than 1945.
  • A Club can not win the trophy 2 years in a row.

Each Club will designate a leader for their team who will be responsible for gathering name, mileage and car type driven for each of their participants and submitting it to the person responsible for the award at GOF Central (Suggested form for this is attached).  Information may be supplemented by that person up to the cut-off time designated by the Host Club (suggested time not earlier than noon of the day of the Awards Banquet).  The Host Club will total the points for each Club on the basis of the information submitted by the designated person of each Club. Presentation of the trophy to the winning team will be made at the Awards Banquet at each GOF Central.  Club winning the trophy will be responsible for engraving the trophy and delivering it to the Club sponsoring the next GOF Central in time for presentation at their event.

Paul Johnson Memorial Trophy
Team Scoring Information

Download your team scoresheet below.

Team does not need to calculate scores.  It will be done by GOF person coordinating competition using the following factors:  1 for 1956-1980 MG,  2 for 1945-55 MG; and 3 for MG earlier than 1945.

Download rules and team scoresheet as a Word file or PDF file.

GOF Central

Valve/Rocker Cover Racer Official Rules

Valve/Rocker Cover Racing is a regular event at GOF Central meets.
Get your MG cover ready to rocker and roll!

The Course

  • The course shall consist of a launch incline eight (8) feet long, followed by a level run out of twenty (20) feet.
  • The launch incline shall be divided into two (2) lanes, each two (2) feet wide. The incline shall be two (2) feet high at the rearmost part and level with the course at the front edge. The front edge shall be mitered so as to provide a smooth transition from the incline to the run out area.
  • The official “starting line” shall be two (2) feet from the rear edge of the incline. A mechanized starting gate may be provided.
  • The run out section of the course shall consist of two (2) lanes, each three (3) feet wide. The lanes shall be clearly marked.
  • The finish line shall be marked twenty (20) feet from the front edge of the launch incline.

The Cars

  • The cars shall have no power source. All motive force is provided by gravity.
  • Cars shall be based on an actual rocker cover or cam cover from a British automobile engine.
  • Wheelbase shall be no more than twenty-four (24) inches.
  • Wheel track shall be no more than fourteen(14) inches.
  • Cars must have four functioning wheels, each no more than six (6) inches in diameter.

The Races

  • Cars will be run in heats of two (2) cars each.
  • Race will be single elimination random draw pairings.
  • The cars are to be launched with their front wheels on the starting line. The first car to have its front wheels cross the finish line is the winner. If neither car makes it to the finish line, the car going the furthest wins.
  • If the wheels of a car should touch the lane markers, or cross over the lane markers, the car shall be disqualified. The competing car immediately becomes the winner.
  • Winning cars will advance to the next round until all are eliminated except one car.
GOF Central

Shirt Information

Logo will be embroidered

Please pre-order as a limited selection of shirts will be available on site.

Johnathan Corey Short Sleeve Polo – $25

90/10 Cotton/Poly Men’s 7oz

90/10 Cotton/Poly Women’s 6oz (w/Johnny Collar)

Red/Black trim (Rd)

White/Royal trim (Wht)

Navy/White trim (Nvy)

Sizes: Men S-3XL, Ladies S-XL

Crew Neck T-Shirt – $15

65/35 Cotton/Poly

Men’s and Ladies

Colors: Grey (Gry), Red (Rd), White (Wht)

Sizes: S-3XL

GOF Central

Accommodations

Hotel Information:

Clarion • 3600 E. Cork Street • Kalamazoo, Michigan ? www.KalamazooClarion.com

Room Rate: $94.99 per night ? Tax is additional and is currently 11%

Reservations may be made by calling (269) 385-3922 by DATE, 2011 and referencing GOF Central.

We will be reducing our room block on July 14 to avoid paying for unused rooms – don’t miss out on our room rate!