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Road Trip in a Midget

Posted by GSlahor 
Gary Slahor
Baltimore, USA   usa
Was just wondering if anyone else takes their Midget out on the road for a long"ish" trip?
Last weekend I made the trip (300mi ea way) from Baltimore to Watkins Glen for the SVRA Vintage weekend.
I was quite tentative about taking the car so far away from home, but she behaved like a champ, with zero problems all the way. The Rivergate 5 speed conversion allowed me to cruze at 70+ pretty easily on the interstate, which was my biggest fear.

Here's a pic at the Glen all loaded up with tent, cooler and all the goodies for the weekend.

BTW: I got 42 mpg cruzing at 60 up route 15....even dragging that cooler through the air. I was absolutely blown away !

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YB Avatar
YB Gold Member
Larry Youngblood
Englewood, Ohio, USA   usa
A few years ago, when the speed limit was still 55 on the freeways, I drove my '75 Midget from Dayton, Ohio to Newport, RI for Navy Reserve active duty. Momma flew in for the last week I was there and the two of us drove it home. Now I am older, fatter and arthritic! Doubt seriously I could even consider doing something like that again...
Bill Masquelier
Santee, Ca, USA   usa
Last May I drove my '65 Midget from Seattle to San Diego (around 1100 miles) in 2 days- ran perfectly, no problems. Went around 65 MPH and got about 35 MPG (towing a Harbor Freight 8' trailer).
BillM

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rbastedo Avatar
Rick Bastedo
Snoqualmie, WA, USA   usa
Seattle to Wisconsin and back in 2011.

When we drove 60 I got 40mpg.
That's with my big Nissan 1500 and dual 1.5" SU's.

60MPH = about 40MPG
75MPH = about 30MPG

Since the tanks are small you have to get out and stretch every few hours, that helps.
For myself having the Miata seats also helps, and I had massage motors in the backrest which I used almost constantly.
SURFIT Avatar
Mike Schultz
Zionsville, IN, USA   usa
1973 MG MGB
Houston to L A via I-10 in two days with the top down and shirt off in my 74 Midget.
Bad sunburn on one side only. Drove with the heater on thru Phoenix where the temp.
was 120 F. Only problem was the points slipped in L A. Adjusted them on the side
of freeway at night while holding a flash-light in my mouth.

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Eric EN
Indianapolis, USA   usa
Ny to chicago round trip 1700 miles in three days.
oldag98 Avatar
Jeff and Brittany Brackenridge
Choctaw, Choctaw, Oklahoma, USA   usa
1965 MG MGB "B"
1976 MG Midget 1500 "Yellow One"
1977 MG Midget 1500 "Dunkirk"
1979 MG Midget 1500 "Parts Car"
Just did OKC, OK west to Fayetteville, Ark for Brits in the Ozarks. Had top down, no OD, no radio, gas gauge inoperative, temp gauge inoperative, terrible fuel smell in the cockpit, but did have newly rebuilt front suspension, newish tires, newly installed remaned shocks on all four corners, and an oil cooler, so all was well. Got sunburned and then caught in a rough thunderstorm that blew through, but that was the worst aspect of the trip.

taskadog Avatar
Phil Burke
Tequesta/Orlando Florida, USA   usa
2008 West Palm Beach to Lake of the Ozarks, Sridget 50. 4 speed ribcase. 2600 mi. R/t
2011 Orlando to Road America WI. Midget 50. 5 speed Datsun 2400 mi r/t
2012 Orlando Dillard GA MG2012 1100 mi.

top down most of the way. Wet knees the rest of the time cool smiley

I carry a tool kit, cell phone, the "List", and a few spares
1974MGMidget Avatar
Jack Orkin
Grayson, GA, USA   usa
Heck, yeah! We always try to take a couple of long trips each year. Top down unless raining. My wife says she can't see the scenery with the top up and she never tires of seeing baby farm animals! We almost never take the Interstates. The secondary highways are for the most part in very good condition and usually have light traffic. And, the scenery is much nicer than the Interstate. You go through alot of interesting small towns - we ate at the Yellow Wood Cowboy's restaurant somewhere in a small Alabama town. It's the guy that invented the method to preserve wood after they took the arsenic out of it and he makes those awful commercials. He made a fortune and now owns much of the town, including a restaurant. We'll be going from Georgia to Natchez, Miss. in a couple of weeks via Tupelo and the Natchez Trace.

Perdido Avatar
Rut Rutledge
Slapout, Alabama, USA   usa
Jack,
You will love the trace, but mind the speed limit. Since its a federal road you can get a pretty big ticket for speeding and you don't go to the usual courts! Also, you have to leave the trace to get gas. Enjoy...
Rut
taskadog Avatar
Phil Burke
Tequesta/Orlando Florida, USA   usa
My friend Gary lives near the Trace south of Nashville. I drove on it going to Lake of Ozarks.
You'll have a great time, however X2 on the speed limit, you speed demon.
Drive it like you stole it devil smiley

1974MGMidget Avatar
Jack Orkin
Grayson, GA, USA   usa
Thanks guys, I'm looking forward to it and will watch my speed. However, I am usually reminded of the speed limits by my navigator seated to my right!!
taskadog Avatar
Phil Burke
Tequesta/Orlando Florida, USA   usa
My next planned trip is MG 2014, in French Lick Indiana. 1800 mi. r/t

rbastedo Avatar
Rick Bastedo
Snoqualmie, WA, USA   usa
It would be great to start looking forward to another Spridget get together.
Would Nevada be too far for you East Coast guys?
Seems like somewhere in Nevada was one of the choices last time, but then Wisconsin was chosen?
purpleGT Avatar
Bud Osbourne
Pittsburgh, PA., USA   usa
1974 MG MGB GT "The Grape"
1977 MG MGB
Oh, yeah. For the past 30 years. Latest was to Watkins Glen, last weekend. As usual, the car ran like a charm and made the "big" Triumphs travelling with us really work hard to keep us in sight, on the back roads winking smiley.
Had to decide between our Porsche 356B S-90 coupe and the Midget. With hot, humid weather forcast for the drive up (from Pittsburgh), I opted for the Midget and (as usual) never once regretted the choice. Sure, the 356 is way faster and very comfortable, but the Midget is still the most fun you can have in a car with your clothes on. The Midget just never seems to lose it's charm.

7mg2 Avatar
Andrew Hardie
Calgary, Alberta, Canada   can
1969 MG MGC GT "Mr "C""
1972 MG Midget
In reply to # 2168155 by purpleGT Oh, yeah. For the past 30 years. Latest was to Watkins Glen, last weekend. As usual, the car ran like a charm and made the "big" Triumphs travelling with us really work hard to keep us in sight, on the back roads winking smiley.
Had to decide between our Porsche 356B S-90 coupe and the Midget. With hot, humid weather forcast for the drive up (from Pittsburgh), I opted for the Midget and (as usual) never once regretted the choice. Sure, the 356 is way faster and very comfortable, but the Midget is still the most fun you can have in a car with your clothes on. The Midget just never seems to lose it's charm.

Big "OH YEAH" here too. Went to California and back in 8 days back in '78 for the USGP west at Long Beach. Car never missed a beat despite still being winter here in the big white north.

More recently, I've just returned from the Portland Or ABFM where the car won the chrome Midget class in the peoples choice deal, and gave fault free spirited driving throughout the 2400 mile tour which included the Olympic peninsula of Washington, and the very picturesque Cascade Scenic highway (route 20) through northern Washington.
All this two up with a big load of luggage including a full trunk rack for the two week trip. Put the accompanying MGB's to shame in both performance and economy. Best fuel mileage was 50 (big imperial gallon) and worst 30. Median was 36-38. This is a hopped up 1275 with a lead footed driver. I do have a 5 speed, but didn't use 5th nearly as much as I thought I would since we never saw the interstate. 5th just kept the noise down to a more acceptable level. Oh, top down the entire time BTW, except day 1 in the rain when I got the 50mpg.
My face will hurt for a while from the grin I've been wearing for the past couple weeks.

I LOVE this car in ways words cannot explain. thumbs up smiley



Andy
ianjoub Avatar
ian joubert
Homosassa, FL, USA   usa
In reply to # 2167530 by SURFIT Drove with the heater on thru Phoenix where the temp.
was 120 F. Only problem was the points slipped in L A. Adjusted them on the side
of freeway at night while holding a flash-light in my mouth.

True british motoring there winking smiley



Ian:
Mo's Auto Repair / JTI Suspensions
352-382-7433

taskadog Avatar
Phil Burke
Tequesta/Orlando Florida, USA   usa
In reply to # 2168123 by rbastedo It would be great to start looking forward to another Spridget get together.
Would Nevada be too far for you East Coast guys?
Seems like somewhere in Nevada was one of the choices last time, but then Wisconsin was chosen?

I have suggested that we meet at MG2014 in French Lick Indiana.
Unfortunately, anywhere is going to be a long drive for you and I Rick.

When we where last looking for a spot, I suggested we keep the location between I 25 and I 75, or roughly between Denver and Indianapolis
Eric EN
Indianapolis, USA   usa
Im in for french lick only live about 60 miles from there.

metalhead Avatar
Andrew F
NSW, Australia   aus
These cars were built for driving. Last week, I put the engine back in the car on Wednesday afternoon (clutch repair) and had put >800km (~500miles) of mostly back roads on the car by Friday night, despite working full days on both Thursday and Friday! Big grin attached to my face once more. smiling smiley

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