In one of California’s many little coastal towns is an MG collector like few others. His knowledge and interest in the brand stretches back to the 1950s when he first began racing them at various tracks against various storied racing names.
“MGs are a great car to race in,” he said. “They are very durable and flexible, they can keep up with cars that are more powerful if they are properly tuned and driven.”
Like any good racer, or even a regular car enthusiast for that matter, after that many decades of being in the hobby, he’d amassed a spectacular workshop where he enjoyed tinkering and tuning, fixing and readying cars for racing. Most amazing about him, he was still racing at his advanced age, and still taking trophies.
“It keeps me young,” he chuckled.
A narrow, but lengthy shop, four banks of fluorescent lighting span the length of the shop overhead, ivory-colored walls bouncing the light beautifully for a seemingly never-ending supply of light. Three MGs occupy the floor, each in various stages of build, plastic and canvas tarps covering parts and machinery, a couple cherry pickers that look as old as the owner stand ready to pluck an engine with ease.
“My engine hoists are older, I’ve had them for a long time,” he said, “but MG engines are fairly light, so these hoists are never stressed, I think that’s part of the secret to their longevity. That and keeping them maintained.”
Sprinkled on all the walls are various pieces of art from races long ago, and pictures of racing cars long forgotten. Workbenches, both portable and fixed to the wall, are absolutely strewn with parts and tools and books and cables and boxes – and he seems to know where everything is, or just enjoys puttering around poking through it all. Wooden steering wheels and wire wheels alike pop up here and there.
“I love coming over here,” he said. “This is a great place to get focused and let time pass. It’s quiet and I can work on projects and get things done.”
Still spending a fair amount of time in the shop, he greatly enjoys working on various projects, apparently simultaneously like a chef in a busy commercial kitchen, hopping around from oven to oven, keeping all the dishes cooking, getting them ready for their debut. Despite his age, he says he would still take a car to a track for racing, and was in fact planning on running an MG at an upcoming event.
“I love driving them, racing them is more exciting, I can still compete,” he said. “This is why I’m working on the car here, to make sure it’s ready to go.”
As a well-known, long-term resident, business owner, landlord, and former member of the city council, most all the locals known him. His shop is actually part of an apartment complex he owns.
“It’s safe here, this town is fairly safe, but having it here, I think, makes it even safer,” he said. “The tenants keep an eye on it, they listen for sounds and call the police, if need be, but it’s never been needed.”
Approaching the door to the shop almost feels like trespassing, walking along side the building, ducking through some slightly overgrown bushes and flowers, it’s also a little like finding the Batcave. In a way, that alone makes it kind of perfect.
“I have a lot of fun in here, a lot of memories,” he said.
