A grand tourer (Italian: gran turismo) (GT) is a performance and luxury automobile capable of high speed and long-distance driving. The most common format is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-door coupe' with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement. Wikipedia
GT is a European classification of cars often used to tour, rally, or race on the public roads. The MGA coupes displayed above certainly meet the definition of a GT. Although here, GT is used as a much simpler term, just an abbreviation for "get together." It was the 43rd year the NAMGAR (North American MGA Register) has gathered to show and appreciate the MGA and other MG's built during that time period.
The featured car at the GT-43 was the MGA Coupe. Since Jill's Little Blue Coupe is one of the few coupes made, and the fact that GT-43 was held in the historic and beautiful town of Richmond, Virginia, the decision was made to head north and join the other MG enthusiasts.
The Virginia Crossings Hotel, a beautiful facility built in the Jeffersonian style, was chosen as the site for GT-43. With little time to make the event and then drive to Michigan to launch Last Dance, the coupe was trailered to Virginia. The little Escape performed well with the MGA in tow.
Since the coupe was the featured car, a display of the coupes was organized on the front lawn of the Crossings. The image at left is the cars on the left of the cannon, with the owners standing next to their cars. The first car is Jim Cheatum's recently restored Mineral Blue Coupe.
And to the right of the cannon, four more coupes with Jill standing by her Mineral Blue Coupe. This paint color was original to the coupes and was not used on the roadster.
To welcome participants who have not attended a GT before, or those who have but have a new car, a show of First Timers is held. This British Racing Green roadster set up as a cafe racer was one of our favorites. It had just undergone a total restoration.
This car sported an original Judson supercharger with an external oiler.
Another favorite was this red 1500 roadster which was flawless. It won its class in the big show.
There were over 160 cars displayed for the show judging, divided into multiple classes. Right is a small class of two - two Twin Cams, an engine developed for racing. One of these cars has a racing history.
One class is known as Premier. It is comprised of cars that won their class in the previous couple of years. The best of best competing with each other.
There is much more to the GT than a car show. There were workshops, drives, visits to historic sites in Richmond and history lessons on MGAs. The car in the image at right is famous for being one of the three-car MG factory team at Sebring in 1959. It has a twin cam engine and a coupe body.
The car was prepared with a hood scoop, seemingly normal for a race car but a much different function on this car. Hood scoops traditionally bring large amounts of cool air to the engine intake system. This hood scoop is ducted to the driver's compartment, bringing cool fresh air to the drivers. The MGA Coupe is known to be a hot car.
Workshops were held inside the hotel conference rooms on a wide range of topics from fuel and oil for classic cars to a full rebuild of an MGA. The most famous of MG mechanics, John Twist, ran a workshop on tuning MGs while actually tuning participant's MGAs. Many left the GT with better running cars. Here John syncronizes carburetors using a hose and an ear.
A number of drives were held, mostly on back roads, with destinations of interest. One was to a museum which wasn't a museum, but it was most interesting.
Richmond Auto Museum is in an older industrial area where a building that once housed a small manufacturing plant now home to classic cars. The coupes were the first to arrive.
The main function of this museum is not to display cars, it is to store cars. When you get into the classic car hobby, it is easy to purchase more cars than will fit into your garage.
Individuals can rent a space to store their car(s) freeing up space at home, maybe allowing them sufficient room in the garage so that it functions as a workshop rather than just storage. There is a high-tech computer system for security and to keep track of comings and goings.
There is also a workshop in the museum, complete with a lift. This Alvis was in the shop area during our visit. When was the last time you saw an Alvis? Was the rabbit hood ornament on all Alvises or just special models?
There is a formal meeting room at the front of the building. As you enter the doors you are greeted by an MGTC. Most appropriate, in our opinion.
The group from the GT enjoyed a box lunch after the tour of the "museum". A Jaguar XKE was part of the room decoration.
Oh, to have such a facility close to home allowing the collection to grow!
A gathering of people needs something for fun and games. At GT-43, one evening had valve cover races. A valve cover, preferably off an MG engine, is modified into a race car powered by gravity. There is a set of rules, but creativity is prized. This racer was even prepared with a driver.
NAMGAR members and, in particular, those from the Central Virginia Chapter organized a great and enjoyable event. Thanks!
