Milwaukee Midget

[Captthundarr]

Good column Chris. I have enjoyed reading them as you post them.

[Dr Goggles]

 Yep, 'nother nice little story.

Good luck on the slog Chris I hope there's some interesting stuff to listen to, and watch.

On that video I'd like to see the ratio of shots that were used on the tear-down versus the build, I didn't notice it go backwards at all on the build....and it started first time??

there's trickery in them cameras.

[Milwaukee Midget]

On that video I'd like to see the ratio of shots that were used on the tear-down versus the build, I didn't notice it go backwards at all on the build....and it started first time??
there's trickery in them cameras.

The whole stop-action animation thing has always fascinated me.  What I found intriguing about that Triumph tear-down and reassembly is that he HAD to have story boarded the entire production.  The camera stayed in one place, as did the block for each of those sequences.  That took incredible mechanical patience and artistic acumen.  The more I view it, the more amazed I am about what had to remain consistent behind the scenes to pull it together so artistically.

[Milwaukee Midget]

Finally crawling out of my extended work exile – I forced the issue on Monday when I called in dead, and judging by the way I smelled after a 16 hour day on Sunday, two 'must attend' post production parties, and my Lazarus reflex when I got home Monday morning at 4:30, it was probably the right call.

But what's really cool is that while I was personally on build hiatus, work was progressing.


Dave Bartelt did the chassis work on Stan Johnson's '27 Olds powered roadster, and he's doing some updates to my cage.  You know a build is taking too long when your cage requires rule change predicated  updates before you even get it to your first SCTA-BNI inspection.  

The new gussets are in place – 1" v ½".  


Dave also pointed out a few things that had slipped through the cracks, so we're working on solutions.  When I had Skeeter put the cage in initially, no thought was given to bars under the seat – the seat is suspended between the front seat attachment bar and the cage itself.  Blackslax asked about an "anti-submarine" bar two years ago, and I thought the front attachment was what he was talking about – you attach the nut belt to the bar, and it keeps you from submerging under the dash in a crash.  Still learning this nomenclature, guys.  Dave has some proposals, and I've got a call into Kiwi Steve on that.



Dave also pointed out that my seat belt attachments didn't provide the proper angle of pull, so a rework is in order there, also.



Just as well, the outside bung was welded by yours truly, and it is butt-ugly.



There's the reason I sold my welder.

We're also reworking the steering rack crossmember to accept the Gilmer drive Fordboy is putting together for this.  The old cross member was 3/8" from the toothed crank trigger wheel, and quite honestly, I suspect an unfortunate hard braking situation could have shifted the engine forward into the crossmember.  Dave's opening it all up, which will also make it easier to put a wrench on the snout and adjust valves.

[krusty]

      Bartelt - haven't heard that name since I left the Midwest. Maybe related to Phil? (yellow Mustang  B/P as I recall). And glad to hear that Dick Leuning is still racing MGs; he built nice fast cars.   We need to talk @ Speed Week so I can catch up on old road racing acquaintances.   vic (#1429 ?/GRMR)

[Milwaukee Midget]

Hey, Vic -

Would love to talk to you at SW, but it looks like World Finals is going to be the event I run this year.  Reasons are work conflicts, time to actually dyno this engine and get it PROPERLY dialed in, and the cooler temperatures, which should be helpful for an oxygen challenged, normally aspirated 5 port tractor motor.

I'll ask Dave about Phil, but of course, Bartelt is actually a common name in the upper Midwest.

[38flattie]

Bummer we're going to miss you at Speedweek.

I'm going to try and make WOS, so I"ll cath you there!

[Jack Gifford]

Hey, Midget- you'll probably be amused that until today I thought the first MG Midget was in the sixties. But I just discovered that it was in the twenties! 1928(?) M-type Midget. Of course you're old enough to recall their introduction, right?

[Milwaukee Midget]

Hey, Midget- you'll probably be amused that until today I thought the first MG Midget was in the sixties. But I just discovered that it was in the twenties! 1928(?) M-type Midget. Of course you're old enough to recall their introduction, right?

Most people don't know that the name "Midget" for an MG product dates back that far, and it was common to refer the TC's and TD's as "Midgets".

The one that fascinates me is "The Magic Midget", or the factory EX 127.  750 cc OHV engine set in at an angle to put the drive shaft off to the side of the driver, which let it be built lower to the ground.  Held 26 records between 1931 and 1936, 19 of which were held by George Eyston, a charter member of the 200 mph club.

Still have to finish this one, but lately I've been toying with the idea of a lakester.  Something different.  A MIG drop tank with a ZIL limo motor.

Last picture in this montage shows unfinished blocks and bellhousings in Moscow. 

http://englishrussia.com/2011/10/20/places-that-are-slowly-being-forgotten/

The tanks are available in Poland.

A Comrod, anybody?

[wisdonm]

Reminds me of the AO Smith/Tower Automotive plant on 35th and Capitol Drive, that I worked at for 35 years. At one time we made everybody's car and truck frames, both domestic and foreign.

[fordboy628]

Still have to finish this one, but lately I've been toying with the idea of a lakester.  Something different.  A MIG drop tank with a ZIL limo motor.

Last picture in this montage shows unfinished blocks and bellhousings in Moscow. 

http://englishrussia.com/2011/10/20/places-that-are-slowly-being-forgotten/

The tanks are available in Poland.

A Comrod, anybody?

Midget,

All hazardous waste free & non-radioactive I'm sure.   Are you willing to supply all the Wotka I can consume??

Fordboy

[WOODY@DDLLC]

Still have to finish this one, but lately I've been toying with the idea of a lakester.  Something different.  A MIG drop tank with a ZIL limo motor.

Last picture in this montage shows unfinished blocks and bellhousings in Moscow. 

http://englishrussia.com/2011/10/20/places-that-are-slowly-being-forgotten/

The tanks are available in Poland.

A Comrod, anybody?

Midget,

All hazardous waste free & non-radioactive I'm sure.   Are you willing to supply all the Wotka I can consume??

Fordboy

Fordboy, make Chris take you to the best Wotka! Where the [Polish] buffalo roam: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BBubr%C3%B3wka 

[Milwaukee Midget]

Woody!  A man after my own heart!

A RYE VODKA!

It's like I told the Mayor of Impound, who was prattling on about the joys of Jack Daniels -

"Corn is for flakes - Rye is for drinking."

I've seen Fordboy enjoy Piwo - I doubt I could keep up with him on Wotka.

[Stan Back]

CAUTION -- CAUTION -- CAUTION

Be care of how you speak of the Mayor of Impound.  If, after all the years, you should appear before him, you don't want to be on his bad side.  He is always fair -- and just -- but you should pray that he is fairly just with you. 

[Milwaukee Midget]

CAUTION -- CAUTION -- CAUTION

Be care of how you speak of the Mayor of Impound.  If, after all the years, you should appear before him, you don't want to be on his bad side.  He is always fair -- and just -- but you should pray that he is fairly just with you. 

I know - never argue with the officials - I've already had my privileges at the WG threatened by the mayor on these very threads, but Wayno snuck me in last year on probation, and I was on my best behavior.

Perhaps I should bring a token of good will in October . . .


http://www.templetonrye.com/home/