"I Almost Gave Away The Ending" December 2, 2022

[Limerick Savant]

an MG, my first sport car!

TD? TF?

In ancient times I had a girlfriend who had an MGA. And a St. Bernard. It made for interesting road trips.

A 1952 TD in British Racing Green and a tan leather interior. The windshield folded down. I loved it. My second was a 1960 MGA.

Real sport cars.

Wow! I lusted after that car from a very young age. A true classic. When I bought my first car however I settled for a used Fiat 850 Spyder with the rear engine. It only lasted a couple of years before the unibody frame rusted beyond repair but I have never owned a car as fun to drive since

NB: Not my actual car but the the spitting image

[Kas]

I'm at the bar! Again. On my personalized stool.

[Mister Squawk]

After exploring a large number of closely related rabbit holes, I have arrived on shore.

[Janet]

I am ashore, thank heavens the beach umbrellas are keeping the rain off me.

[whimsy]

@Dplass still has his Triumph!

Indeed I do. Still a work in progress.

My dentist restored a couple of old Jaguars -- XK-120, 140. A guy he did some dental work on told him, "There's a guy in Scotland -- I know him because of my golf courses -- and he has the best leather ever for car interiors." So my dentist went to Scotland, and it turns out his client wasn't lying.

Did no one else besides myself, upon beginning to read this message wonder: What the heck is Bird doing with old jaguars in his mouth? And furthermore, why was he lax in flossing them?

[Colin]

On beach with my car.
Toes in sand, beer on the bar.
Cloud nine, tip in jar!

[LadyBird]

Finished before lights out last night and caught the last skiff to shore. Found this one so easy but elegant that I have decided to take on Paul and Prue’s technical challenge this week. I just hope it’s not stodgy.

4AA5645F-E557-417A-8AAE-0150AB05BFBF.jpeg

If you would like to join me, you have 2 and a half days left.

We are thinking of trying Prue's Buche de Noel yule log for our Christmas Day dessert.

[bread-girl]

On the shore here! Now you guys have inspired me to make a fun dessert

[ricky]

Ashore. Very smooth sailing this week - 13m total for grid & meta.

[Deb F]

Joining Car Talk. I drove a TR3 named Black Charlie. Loved it. Then met a guy driving a TR4. He sold that and subsequently got a 1972 MGB. Great car--except maybe for the time we drove it to Boston just in time for the blizzard of '78. Yikes. That took some digging! Good memories.

[ship4u]

I drove old MG's and Jaguars for years. They were great fun to drive, but they were not the most reliable. I remember pulling behind an MGB with a bumper sticker that said, "Every part falling off of this car is genuine British Leyland."

I eventually moved to German engineering when a friend offered me his 1971 Mercedes SL.

[JRS51]

Nothing, nothing, nothing...hey that's odd, and that's odd too, nope can't be odd three times in a row! Is that sand I fell on my feet?

Ashore!
It's a cold, rainy day in Phoenix. No golf, so worked on the grid this morning. Didn't see much as I was filling it in. As I started to review things, Dr. Tom's three stages are a good description for my emotions! Quickly completed the solve at that point. Remarkable construction!

In late HS and then college, my dream first cars were MGB and TR4. Typical teen, collected sales brochures, planned my eventual purchase. . .
Never happened, my first car was a rusted out piece of junk from a used car lot in Detroit. Big mistake! My first ride purchased new was a beautiful Honda 450, not a car at all. It was fun but my motorcycle days are long gone now.

[Limerick Savant]

I drove old MG's and Jaguars for years. They were great fun to drive, but they were not the most reliable. I remember pulling behind an MGB with a bumper sticker that said, "Every part falling off of this car is genuine British Leyland."

I eventually moved to German engineering when a friend offered me his 1971 Mercedes SL.

top up shade.jpg

Reminds of an old joke about the difference between heaven and hell.

[steveb]

I drove old MG's and Jaguars for years. They were great fun to drive, but they were not the most reliable. I remember pulling behind an MGB with a bumper sticker that said, "Every part falling off of this car is genuine British Leyland."

I eventually moved to German engineering when a friend offered me his 1971 Mercedes SL.

top up shade.jpg

Your house looks pretty nice, too!

[HunterX]

Car Talk: I never owned a classic sports car as many of you have. But I'm hoping some day my current car will be considered some sort of a classic. I got one of the last rotary engine cars in production, the year before they discontinued it--a 2010 Mazda RX-8. Super fun to drive. Six speed. Redlines at 9,000 RPM. (Loved a Dan Neil review that described the front grille as having a "happy mushroom eating grin."

Also, it's got suicide doors for the back seat! (Ignore the ugly backpack in the back seat. I'll need to update that photo some day.)

I've put less than 50,000 miles on it in 12 years. It's pretty much as pristine now as it was in that old photo. Only had to replace the battery a couple of years ago. And the tires around then too. The guy who ran the service department at the dealership for many years was a great guy named Cliff. I'd call up to get an appointment, he'd recognize my voice and ask me how the RX-8 was doing. He'd always ask, "Are you driving her hard?" (Which would usually turn into a source of humor for my wife and me.)

Maybe some day she'll get some "classic status" love.

[Jeanrosz]

Got it…

[Collegetowngirl]

On the ship with no idea.

[DrTom]

Indeed I do. Still a work in progress.

My dentist restored a couple of old Jaguars -- XK-120, 140. A guy he did some dental work on told him, "There's a guy in Scotland -- I know him because of my golf courses -- and he has the best leather ever for car interiors." So my dentist went to Scotland, and it turns out his client wasn't lying.

Did no one else besides myself, upon beginning to read this message wonder: What the heck is Bird doing with old jaguars in his mouth? And furthermore, why was he lax in flossing them?

He wasn't flossing, he was flogging, that's what the leather was for I assume?

[DrTom]

Car Talk: I never owned a classic sports car as many of you have. But I'm hoping some day my current car will be considered some sort of a classic. I got one of the last rotary engine cars in production, the year before they discontinued it--a 2010 Mazda RX-8. Super fun to drive. Six speed. Redlines at 9,000 RPM. (Loved a Dan Neil review that described the front grille as having a "happy mushroom eating grin."

0725001915a.jpg


Also, it's got suicide doors for the back seat! (Ignore the ugly backpack in the back seat. I'll need to update that photo some day.)



0725001914.jpg


I've put less than 50,000 miles on it in 12 years. It's pretty much as pristine now as it was in that old photo. Only had to replace the battery a couple of years ago. And the tires around then too. The guy who ran the service department at the dealership for many years was a great guy named Cliff. I'd call up to get an appointment, he'd recognize my voice and ask me how the RX-8 was doing. He'd always ask, "Are you driving her hard?" (Which would usually turn into a source of humor for my wife and me.)

Maybe some day she'll get some "classic status" love.

Do not make Wankel pun, do not make Wankel pun, do not....

[jimbo1]

Ashore. Very creative one.