#1. How to transport snow wheels & tires added 2-25-10

Ingredients:

one M.G. Midget,
four 15"x6" steel wheels,
four 195mmx15" snow tires,
one moving blanket,
two bungee cords &
one-half hour

Directions:

1. Remove tonneau cover. Keep the bar in place to protect the seats.
2. Cover passenger seat with the moving blanket.
3. Lower two wheels into the passenger footwheel. Put two tires on the covered seat.
4. Put the remaining two wheels on the shelf behind the seats.
5. Remove spare parts & tools from the trunk. Carefully place other two tires in the trunk. Mind the fuel filler tube.
6. Discover a way to make the tires fit inside the trunk and still allow the lid to close on them. This takes time!
7. Bungee cord the lid down.

   

#2. Can you drive cross-country in a forty-four year-old car? added 10-05-09
Yes, and it's easy! See my trip here.

#3. How to fit a large TV (have large TV, will travel) added 11-29-03

Ingredients:

one 36-inch "tube" TV,
one M.G. Midget,
one MR2,
two strong guys &
one-half hour

Directions:

1. Unbolt passenger seat from the floor and push seat back down and into footwell, remove seat bottom.
2. Buy/pick up TV at local (very local) electronics store.
3. Turn down half a dozen offers for help from employees. "You don't want to be involved, trust me."
4. Wheel boxed TV to parking lot.
5. Remove TV box from cart.
6. Extract TV from box using the packaging to soften the ground.
7. Reject help from friendly ex-Sprite owner now driving a van.
8. Lift TV onto rear deck of Midget.
9. Say a quick prayer that the TV won't fall into the fragile windshield.
10. Lower into passenger side of cockpit. Develop your own technique and make sure to include the proper language!
11. Don driving clothes; jacket, scarf, gloves, and cap.
12. Lower yourself into the driving seat and discover that second, fourth, and reverse are exceeding difficult to reach. Buckle seat belt- warning this takes a few minutes. Shrug and look into rearview mirror at side of TV. Smile as you contort your arm to push the gear lever into reverse.
13. Drive out of lot onto road, while waiting at the signal fix your cap. Attempt to find a comfortable location for your right arm. Then give up.
14. At green light turn right onto the main drag and hear something. Promptly turn into a car wash and stop. Get out look under car, ask buddy to do so too. Then realize your stupidity, the damn TV was amplifing the road noise through the windshield. Repeat steps 12 & 13.
15. On the main road notice a cop on the opposite side of the divided highway. Pray that he's too busy with the car he's pulled over to notice your Massachusetts inspection sticker and New Hampshire tags!
16. Grind second gear slightly and recognize that the TV moved foward so that now the lower gears (i.e. second, fourth, and reverse) are unattainable. Slip back into first, which is fun at 4,000 rpm without syncronizers. Run up to redline and skip second and go straight into third. Thank God for the insight of English engineers who gave the little engines plenty of low end.
17. Continue on and then realize that it's starting to sprinkle. Wonder if your big TV will be soaked by a downpour as you curse the motorists in front of you for not choosing a speed appropriate for your new-widely-spaced gear ratios.
18. Stop at the final signal and celebrate that the sun has come out and the sprinkling has stopped. Look behind and notice that your buddy has his car's four-ways on. Smile as the light turns green and the traffic pulls away.
19. Almost there but now you've got a choice:
   A. Take the right turn in third gear at 25 mph and possibly stall the engine or
   B. Put the clutch in and coast around the corner onto the side road, stop and restart in first.
20. The 40º weather has gone to your head. You coast through the turn, stop and continue on into the driveway.
21. Removal of the TV is the reverse.
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And you thought it wasn't possible.