The Best Laid Plans, ARRRGG!!Quoting the immortal Robert Burns; “In proving foresight may be vain:The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men Gang aft agley,An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy!”

While Burns was speaking ofthe destroyed home of a fieldmouse, the idea is more thanapt for the BSCC and ourmembers right now. We’veall had carefully thought outand arranged designs on howto spend and enjoy ourspring and summer.

Well, those are now shattered like the mousie’s littleden.

Spring is on us, but convertible tops are still raisedwhile twisty roads beckon silently as our LBCslinger in garages. Late news hints we’ll stay insuspended animation until, perhaps, Memorial Dayor possibly later. Geeze Louise!

BSCC members have a history of participating inannual gatherings for various marques of Britishcars. The Austin Healey Conclave (why does thatname resonate of theKKKK?) invariably drawsat least one or twomembers.

This year’s festivities is set

Wyres & TyresApril, 2020

Membership Meetings

Coletta’s Italian Restaurant, 2850 Appling Rd.

3 Monday of each monthrd

6:00 p.m. if you wish dinner;7:00 p.m. for our program

Mark your calendarApril 20th, 2020 ????May 18 , 2020th

June 15 , 2020th

July 20 , 2020th

2020 BSCC Officers

Terry Roberts PresidentJeb Blanchard V. PresidentJerry Farrar TreasurerJim Hofer Austin Healey Marque Leader Tom Wilson Empire Marque LeaderDave White Jaguar Marque LeaderPaul Burdette MG Marque LeaderJon Brody Triumph Marque LeaderChris Irving Lotus Marque LeaderJoe Reed HistorianJim Duke Secretary

for the Tampa Bay area in May. Who knows if it willgo forward as planned, or if it will be postponed orcancelled.

BSCC’s MGB faithful have been drawn to theirnational convention in places as far-flung as NiagaraFalls, Canada and Breckenridge, CO; at least four andas many as a dozen members have shown up.

In June of 2020 the gathering will be, or is planned tobe, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. That’s a looong wayfrom Memphis, but some of us have talked aboutmaking the trek - more than 2000 miles each way! Now, the decision has likely been taken from ourhands.

Not being able to make our usual ‘rounds’ we’ll haveto content ourselves with enjoying the local signs of

spring - plenty of oak pollen, hay fever, and lots andlots of spring blossoms.

Memphis is at its prettiest this time of year anyway,so why not stay home and enjoy these sights for achange.

To quote Douglas Adams, another author from theBritish Isles, “Don’t Panic!” From ‘TheHitchhiker’s Guide To The Universe’

My Miniby Jack Reynolds

Well, after talking about my Jaguarissues for months, I finallytook some action.

About a month ago, Idropped by RoadshowBMW and begannegotiations for a new Mini. I wanted a six-speed manualtransmission but was told

that they may introduce a manual transmission inmid year. That sounded a bit iffy. The onlytransmission they offered was a seven-speed BMWautomatic. The other item I wanted was a two-doorhardtop. All Roadshow had were four-doormodels.

Still, I took a test drive and was very pleased withthe performance of the automatic. The car had a189 HP engine and was very quick. As for the two-door, they were able to find one in Minnesota, andwe agreed on that car. It took only about a week toarrive in Memphis.

The new car is a Cooper S two-door hardtop inThunder Grey with black spoke wheels.

I agreed to accept the trade-in offer on the Jag and putthat car behind me.

We had a trip planned to Florida for a St. Patrick’s dayparty and parade, etc. Bear in mind, at that time thevirus had not reared its head so we headed off toNaples, Florida - a trip of a thousand miles one-waythrough Birmingham, Atlanta, Tampa, etc.We decided to take the Mini.

The car isn’t huge as far as luggage space is considered. I took golf clubs which took up a chunk of theavailable space. To help with packing space, we usedonly a small suitcase and multiple soft carry-bags. Even with that, the back seat was filled. The Mini’sfront seats are very roomy and comfy so we were ableto enjoy the drive.

I was amazed and shocked that the Mini got 43 MPGon the trip. The car has three operating modes. Asport mode for faster sports driving. An everydaymode for around town use, and a ‘green’ mode forhighway driving. We used the ‘green’ mode for mostof the interstate highway route along the trip. Thus,the great MPG.

The Mini came without a satellite radio and Janeyinsisted I have one installed. That meant, back to thedealer because all my Jaguar problems were caused bya poorly installed satellite radio.

I presumed they would install a new radio, but waswrong. A satellite receiver is part of the existingradio’s electronics and only needed to be programmedto operate.

Though still new, I’m thoroughly enjoying the newMini, and am glad to have the Jaguar troubles behindme.

And, give this a try to learn about the Minihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLp2bnGSkIw

How Well Do You Know Member Cars?

Below you’ll find images of some of the British carsthat make up member stables. Actually, some ofthe cars have moved on to newer ownership, but itwill be interesting to see how many you mightrecognize.

Did you recognize them all?

Did you ever wonder what would have happened ifBritish Leyland made trombones? What a God-awful idea!!!

Do n ’t Pan ic , Pay Yo u r Du e s

Mail $30 dues check to PO Box 38134Germantown, TN 38183-0134

British Iron and The US Marine Corps?By Dave White

I got my first sports car in 1964 while stationedCamp Lejeune NorthCarolina. I was a SecondLieutenant and executiveofficer of a trainingcompany. I had little to nomoney. Back in those days aSecond Lieutenant withfewer than two years servicea whopping $222 a month.Since I'd been formerly anenlisted man, I had more than two years in theCorps so I got $375 a month. While that was morethan most of my comrades, it didn’t go a long way;and, I just had to spent $1200 for new uniformswhile in The Basic Officers School

That said, my platoon sergeant told me of a guy with acar for sale cheap. I went over to take a look it, and itwas a 1959 MGA Twin Cam. It had been sitting out inthe rain with the top down, had four flat tires, and theupholstery was starting to go due to rain exposure. Ipaid $300 for the car, aired the tires up and drove itback to the base. It was a thumpy-bumpy ride becauseit been sitting so long that each of the tires had a flatspot. Needless to say I had to replace the tires. Stillperpetually broke, I got them from a junkyard anddrove the car for a number of months.

Sadly, while driving back to my BOQ room after having stopped in for a drink or so at happy hour atthe Officer's Club someone ran a red light and hit mebroad side and totaled my MGA. Even in those days,the insurance company knew the value of the TwinCam and I got a enough money out of the MGA tobuy a new Triumph Spitfire.

I was so unhappy (no single women, but that's anotherstory) at Camp Lejeune that when the Marine Corpswent to Vietnam in May of 1965, I volunteered toavoid spending another year in North Carolina. 1966was a good year for me. I was promoted to Captainand got orders to flight training school at Pensacola.

Not only getting ready for flight school, I spent a lotof time studying sport cars and saving my money (mypay was now about $650 a month, counting the bonusfor combat).

I had narrowed the field down to Lotus and Jaguar andthe Jag won out. I ended up ordering a new E-Type,but then read about the changes Jag had coming soon -Series 1 to Series 2.. I wanted those changes in my car,primarily the change to negative ground and a fullysynchomesh transmission.

Who knew the US DOT was going to make them dropthe covered headlights! I wrote the dealer that Iwanted the VIN number that would start the Series 2. They wrote back that they did not know when it wouldbegin. So, I wrote Jaguar in Coventry and asked thesame question and got the same answer. It was notknown that the changes would be phased in over a 3year period. I should have left my order in butcanceled it. Had I not canceled I would have gotten a1966 with covered headlights, synchomesh tranny,negative ground and 4.2 engine. The 3.8 Liter engineand associated gearing, I’ve always thought to be moreof a sports car than the 4.2. Nevertheless, I did not getmy E.

I went to Pensacola, finished Flight School, and wasordered to California. 1968 was spent gettingaccustomed to CA life and learning the skills ofcombat flying.

Vietnam called again in 1969, where I once againstarted dreaming of home and a Jaguar. Followingmy second tour in Vietnam, I returned to Californiain 1970 and transitioned into KC-130s, the USMarines Tactical Tanker.

In 1972 I found what I thought I wanted, a lateSeries 1 coupe (FHC). After that purchase I trulyknew that I wanted to drive an E forever butrealized that life in sunny California would be much

better with a roadster (OTS, Open Two Seater), so Ifound and bought one. For a while, I drove bothcars but once again got orders back to Vietnam. The Marines would only store one auto for me so Isold the FHC.

Returning to CA in 1974, I enjoyed Sunny SoCalfor two years. The E-type took me throughoutCalifornia and Mexico. The mountains roads werespecial - where I could open her up. Over the next35 years I took her to Washington, DC and Europe,wherever the Marine Corp took me. While inEurope, I took it to London where I had new

Dunlop tires and wire wheels installed, rebuilt theexhaust and the brake system. Then, I purchased anew original Connolly leather interior in Wales andhad it installed. Finally the Jag got repainted in Italy.

Upon turning it to be shipped back to the U.S., theauto inspection form was marked "No Defects". Upon picking it up in CA, it had the bonnet smashedin, the tranny stripped, the clutch burnt up, the engineover speed and poring oil. The port tried to tell methe tie downs had come loose and my auto keptbanging the auto in front of it. No explanation as themechanical problem nor the 180 miles put on it since Iturned it over for shipping. I finally got $4500 fromthe government. Cost me $24,000 to put it back onthe road

Still, It has been a true love affair for 48 years now.

Wyres & Tyres is a publication of the BritishSports Car Club, LTD. PO Box 38134,Germantown, TN 38183-0134

Please visit our internet siteat:www.memphisbritishcars.org

You may direct correspondence to eitherlocation, above, or to dukemeteo@gmail.com