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As I stated in another thread, I’m glad a forum member got the Pink MG. I am really thrilled that the car ended up with the Murphy’s. They are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Larry is psyched and will have her running soon.
Larry and Becky actually confirmed they wanted the Pink MG about two weeks before the delivery could take place. The ugly weather was presenting the transportation. I agreed to personally deliver her to the Murphy’s. I’ll keep this as short as I can, but there was lot more hospitality extended to my son and I than mentioned below.
Saturday, 09 May: After literally weeks of rain here in NJ, the sun finally showed itself. I had to get the Pink MG ready to trailer to Larry & Becky. I pushed the car out into my driveway, mated the engine and transmission back together, installed them and then pushed the car back inside. I then loaded my ’89 GMC Suburban with the remaining Pink MG parts; grille, hood, bumpers, seats, extra transmission, and many other “still in the box” parts.
Sunday, 10 May, Mother’s Day: At 5:30 AM, I took my 17 year old son, Tyler, to his new job as a County Park Ranger. I came home, hooked my trailer up to the Suburban, loaded the Pink MG on my trailer, packed a cooler and suitcase and got on the road at 9:30 after a stop to fill the 40 gallon gas tank with premium.
The “normal” I-95 route from NJ to NC takes you east of Washington, DC on the nightmare Capital Beltway. Then on a traffic congested I-95 south through Richmond, VA. I wanted to miss this route, so I went west of DC to US 29 South. US 29 twists and turns, uphill and downhill along the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains and the famous Blue Ridge Parkway.
After a looooooong ride south on US 29, it was about 7:00 PM and I was approaching The Murphy’s Reidsville, NC home. Only about 12 miles to go! I had just watched the odometer zero itself for the 3rd time. At 300,023 miles, I started to smell something burning as I watched smoke billow from both rear wheel wheels of the GMC. The engine RPM’s climbed, but the truck was slowing. My TH700R4 transmission was becoming a TH700R3. I dropped it into 2nd and called Larry on my cell phone as it became a TH700R1. I limped into the Murphy’s driveway at 7:30 PM as it became a TH700R-zero. I HAD MADE IT!!!
We unloaded the Pink MG and attempted to “doctor” the GMC transmission to no avail. I was going to leave the trailer and attempt to start on a return trip tp NJ. What was I thinking!
The Murphy’s graciously invited me to stay. The next moring several scenarios were discussed and I ended up having the GMC towed by the Greensboro, NC AAMCO for repairs. Larry took me to Enterprise rental car in Reidsville where I rented an ’09 Nissan “SPECK”. I have to mention that Larry paid for 2/3 of the rental costs.
I didn’t expect this, but Larry insisted. After lunch, a 70 mile round trip to the AAMCO to have a “face to face” with the manager whose crew laughed when they saw me get out of that Nissan, a fill up back in Reidsville and I started my trip back to NJ in that little 40+mpg tin can at 3:45 PM. Using the “normal” I-95 route back, I hit horrible T-storms, torrential rain and a procession of 18 wheelers at dusk just south of Washington DC and the freaking nightmare Capital Beltway which is under perpetual construction. Two close calls with those trucks on the beltway made me wonder if I was going to be the bug or windshield before I got home. It stayed this way to nearly the MD and DE border. I got home at 12:30 AM.
Friday, 15 May: My son Tyler and I loaded ourselves into the Nissan “SPECK” rental and started the drive back to Reidsville, NC at 7:00 AM. We arrived safe and sound at the Murphy’s at 5:30 PM. The Greensboro AAMCO closed at 5:00 PM and was closed weekends, but on the trip I stopped and called to pay via phone with a credit card. So, after the Murphy’s had attended their granddaughter Shelby’s recital and Tyler and I had stuff ourselves at Short Sugar’s Barbeque, Larry took us to retrieve the GMC in Greensboro. We got back about 9:30 PM.
Saturday, 16 May: After again spending the night at the Murphy’s, ate breakfast at Reid’s House diner, we returned the rental car, loaded up the GMC, hooked up the empty trailer, said goodbye to the Pink MG and “Murph” the Bassett Hound and headed north at noon. We decided on the “west side” route home via US 220 through Martinsville, VA to Roanoke, VA, then I-81 north to US 30 through Gettysburg, York and Lancaster, PA, then east on the PA Turnpike to NJ and home. We arrived home at exactly 11:00 PM. It was after 7:00 PM when we would have been able to stop by Carlisle Fairgorunds for the Kit Car Show, so we opted for the scenic ride east on US 30.
Tyler and I cannot thank the Murphy’s enough for their unselfish hospitality. They surely went above and beyond helping me in a situation that was really not their problem. Tyler and I were blessed to have met some really great friends in Reidsville…not to mention at least two great places to eat!
BTW…the Suburban’s tranmission works great too. I have to recommend the Greensboro, NC AAMCO if you are ever jammed up near there. You know I had it on a lift when I got home checking out their work too!
WOW. I was watching the movie in my head while reading about the adventure. It is such a gut wrenching feeling when you’re on the road, far from home, and things start going bad. I was somewhat in your area last week on my TD-less roadtrip in North Georgia and up in NC on the Parkway. We were west of you in the Asheville area, traveling the mountains.
I think I guessed right in the poll….I can’t remember who I landed on after I eliminated myself and Ringo. I think I did land on Larry. Glad you found an excellent home for your baby, I don’t think you could have done any better. I know it must have been tough to let her go, but I am sure you feel good about her new home and the fine folks that will now cherish her. I was fortunate that we got no rain during our roadtrip, only sunny days with few clouds. Glad you made it safe and sound back to home.
James
James,
Can’t steal my thunder. I voted for Larry!
Congrats, and a great story. Sounds like very nice people on both ends of the sale!
Can’t wait to see the finished “Pink MG”
Rich
Rich,
You the man. I think Larry only had one vote. I must have changed at the last minute. I know I hovered around Larry’s button for a while, but have slept since I voted and reset my brain, couldn’t remember exactly who I voted for.
Good voting
. Hopefully Larry will post some pics for the Pink MG. Mark did you take some pics on the exchange?James
Nice story Mark.
Although I did not get the car, I’m honored to have won the vote.
Thank you for your support!
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Hey everyone,I am glad the suspense is over and now I can talk about the car and the excitement of the past few days. First of all, thanks for all the nice comments, I don’t feel that we deserve them. I feel the compliments should all go to Mark. The car is all he said it was and much more ,no disapointments on this end at all.Becky and I both hated that Mark’s truck broke down but we tried to do what we could to help him out. He is a super nice person as is his son Tyler, the kind of people you are glad to have had the opportunity to know.Becky says that since it came here on Mothers Day it is her car,that is OK with me since it gives me more time to work on it. It is now well on the way to being back together. I am making pictures as I go and will post them soon. I feel so blessed to have it in my garage,it’s a dream come true for me. Larry M.
Ah…living the dream.
Congrat’s Larry!
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Larry,
First Congratulations!
I know that blessed feeling you are talking about.Second, try to get a mini fridge and a cot for your garage. I don’t think you will be anywhere else for the next couple of months!I know my wife just assumes that if she opens the door to the garage that I will definitely be there either working on the car or staring at it with a beer in my hand. )It’s very similar to that Tony Stewart commercial where he just stares at the car for hours and can’t notice anything else around him)
Enjoy your time together,it’s very exciting. Just think soon you will be blasting down some country road with the wind in your hair and a huge smile on your face! Can’t wait to see some pictures, and good luck!
I was so burned out over the Suburban’s transmission debacle (no pun intended) that I didn’t take any pictures with my camera. Larry’s grandson took several of the off-loading process in Larry’s driveway on Mother’s Day though. Maybe he can post them?
Larry & Becky…the pleasure was all Tyler’s and mine. He’s still talking about a trip to Short Sugar’s and Reid’s House!
Geoff, as long as you don’t end up with all the lipstick tracks that Tony Stewart does in that Armor All commercial, your wife will stay happy.
Today at 10:30 am she came to life for the 1st time in NC. What a good feeling to hear it run after those hours of figuring out where it went and how does it go. Mark did a good job of labeling and grouping stuff together and the two manuels were a great help also. I sent Mark some pictures in hopes that he can get them on the forum,it seems that my camera doesn’t want to cooperate.
Larry,
You’ve been a busy man! The picutres look great
That new chrome really shines! It should purr like a kitten! It’s hard to see in the picture, but I think you used the straight water outlet (Stat housing) that I got from a Chevette Forum member in Canada. That was one hard part to find. The original aimed the outlet at the master cylinder.
Send the pictures as attachments (jpg) and I can save and post them here.
Pink MG39961.9869212963
I’m looking forward to see the pictures,
15 days till I leave for Florida and get to ride in my car
Wow Larry,
That car looks really sweet!!!!
I bet you’re working the night shift getting it all together. That is going to be one fine ride.
Mark, I don’t know how you were able to part with it, but it sure looks like it went to a great home.
All the Best!
Rich
Great pics, thanks for sharing. Larry, hope you got your cot set up in the garage, like Geoff has done.
Looks like the Pink MG has a great new home and family. Left one great family for another, one lucky automobile indeed
.Look forward to future pics and the pic of Larry behind the wheel as she glides down the highway. Looking forward to see a pic of Mel hugging his baby in a couple of weeks
.I’m with Rich, all the best to Larry and to Mark as new chapters in life begin.
James
Larry,
What great pictures! That car is B-E-A-UTIFUL! I can’t wait to see her finished. I don’t know what you paid for her, but the smile on your face after your first cruise is going to be priceless! Try to get some sleep once in a while, and don’t forget to pay attention to your real wife once in a while too!! hahaha
It really looks great so far. What kind of wax/polish are you using? It looks awesome– Geoff
Hi Geoff
I am Larry’s wife or was till the pink mg came in. I will be glad when he does get it finished because he is getting behing on his house work. And oh by the way it came in on Mothers Day and I am Not His mother but I have 3 children for him so that is a good Mothers Day Gift ,but to think he loved me enough to get me the pink mg.WOW! I just may let him drive it ,after he does his house work.
Becky
Becky,
That is too funny! I also got my car on mother’s day and I had my mother over, but found it really difficult to spend any time away from my car (sorry mom).
Sounds like your husband definitely loves you dearly, after all he got you an MG, maybe you could forgive the housework for a while?!
You guys definitely have the best stocked garage in the south!
Have fun– Geoff
Becky,
I noticed the vacuum cleaner in the garage. That must have been where Larry let go of the handle.
James
Great pics…you can even see my Suburban’s tranny fluid all over the front of my trailer!
How did you get them to post?
Mark, I uninstalled the software that came with my camera and then things worked like they did with my old camera.I noticed that after I posted the pics, it changed the previous posts or at least most of them to the wide or spread out format.It seems that Rich and Geoff’s posts stayed in the original size. They must be doing something that I still have not learned about. Perhaps they can let me know what I need to do to stay in a more readable form. The pics also went into my photo gallery in proper size without any help on my end.
Any cp help will be appreciated. Larry M.
pics ,I hope
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