A Whirlwind Weekend in Timeline
Saturday 5/3
Afternoon Entered Annual Moonshine Rally in Elkin NC. Car #97. Navigator: Janie Neely. We have run this event several times in years past. 107 cars registered, 106 finished. Course was ~92 miles with beautiful views of the countryside. Finish at Grassy Creek Winery outside Elkin with interesting wines to taste. Result: 87th place, ~23 minutes late – VERY DISAPPOINTING since we sped wherever we could. Somehow, the numbers didn’t compute with the instructions, but all that’s in the past. As they say, “There’s always next year.”
Evening: Janie & I had dinner at Elkin Creek Restaurant. She was chilly so I went to look inside the MGB for a possible jacket, which I knew we had left at the motel. Smelled gas and thought that was very strange.
On the way back to the motel, I felt gas drip on my left ankle and on the rubber mat when depressing the clutch. Uh-oh! Kept driving. At a stop light, a motorist next to me said I was losing gas. We immediately pulled into a bank parking lot across the street from the Elkin police station. Called someone whom I had met at the winery, Jeff Irwin, for advice on the source of the leak. A police officer in his unit was in the police parking lot and was happy to help us. Used the car cover that was packed in the trunk in case of rain. Left the covered car in the parking lot, and the kind officer drove us back to the motel.
Sunday 5/4
Morning: Back to the bank parking lot with Janie after a good breakfast. Further troubleshooting of the leak. MGB was safe and sound overnight. Checked all fuel hoses and found frayed edges on the clamped ends. Went to Advance Auto located next to the restaurant in Janie’s car to buy replacement hoses and clamps. Her ignition key would not come out and the engine would not shut off. Back to the parking lot to resume work.
Afternoon: Replacement hose diameter was too large. Needed ¼” ID. Gathered all the stuff that was bought, and we went back to Advance Auto. By now Janie was fuming because of her situation. Exchanged for correct parts, and counter person sprayed the ignition lock with WD40 so ignition could at least be turned off.
Back to bank parking lot again. Hoses & clamps replaced. Still had a leak coming from the fuel pressure regulator that someone suggested I install back in Aug. Called Jeff Irwin again, who came to help with a genuine fuel filter. Told me to remove the pressure regulator Tested the connections. NO LEAKS! Yay!! Jeff was preparing to leave for China very early Mon. morning. His assistance was much appreciated!
~3:00PM: Janie left to return home to Mocksville. I got a little bit lost leaving Elkin looking for Rt 268W. No worries: found 77S to 421W to take the scenic route home – Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) to Asheville.
BRP closed at eastern edge of Boone. Filled up with gas near App State campus. Detoured to 321S. Back on BRP at Blowing Rock. Late afternoon views on BRP were spectacular, and this is what top down driving is all about. Temp. was beginning to cool down.
Sign said BRP closed 25.4 miles ahead at Mt Mitchell State Park due to landslides earlier this year. With 11 miles to go, saw another sign for Route 80 (Burnsville/Marion) that I ignored, but thought, “should I have exited there?” I thought what the hell? There will be an exit at Mt Mitchell SP. No such luck! Had to go back all 11 miles! At that point, I put the top up because of cooling temperatures. Drove all the way back to Rt 80 and exited toward Burnsville. The drive on 80 was beautiful and twisty. RV’s not recommended on this road. Passed through Pensacola along the stream bed. There were 5 large rectangular pools or ponds that I guessed might have been fish hatcheries. Wrong: they were used for mining mica. Still very pretty.
Took Micaville loop to 19E (south). Saw a sign for 197S. I thought I would save time by taking this road through Barnardsville and shorten the route to my house near Weaverville. This road was also very scenic and extremely twisty in spots, maybe a good place for a club ride. It led up a mountain, but with no warning at the very top, it becomes unpaved. What a joy it was ride all the way down, also twisty, with gravel pinging off my exhaust system, and rear end jarring as I went over mild ruts. At the very bottom, pavement reappeared, and I zipped home heading west on 197 from Barnardsville as quickly as possible.
Finally home at 8:00 PM - 123 miles from the fill-up in Boone. Janie’s ignition problem with her 97 Honda was in the shop today.
Holy crap, what an adventure!
George deWalder at Grassy Creek Winery – Rally End
George deWalder at Grassy Creek Winery – Rally End
Janie Neely at Grassy Creek Winery – Rally End
George's 1975 MGB ("rubber bumper")
Leaking gas on Elkin, NC Saturday night 10pm May 3rd and Sunday, 2pm +/- May 4th (& Janie’s Honda with key stuck in the ignition)
