Joys of the MG Midget Rt 66 5000 miles of Fun HD 1080p

This is a mixed bag of our 5000 mile Journey October 2022, in a 1973 Mk3 MG Midget from Hopkinsville Kentucky and back. Kentucky to Chicago doing as much Old Route 66 as we could find all the way to Santa Monica California, then back to Springfield Missouri on Rt 66 and back to Kentucky.

[@carlbickerstaff5229]

Brilliant, how did she do ?, i have a 74 and im worried about taking her down the road. respect to you guys

[@johnnywarnerperfectroad66]

Thanks Carl, Jim from Hopkinsville Kentucky owns the car and doesn't exactly treat it well. Having found his preparation to be a bit last minute, I expected our first breakdown to be after a couple of hundred miles. However, despite Jims off roading and a spare race track we found near Sayre, our only breakdown was when the muffler bracket broke in New Mexico aided by the previous. Some Navajo boys gave us some wire for a temporary mend when we pulled into an abandoned gas station. Pretty much kept us going till Kingman AZ, where a lovely guy Dave Grasi kindly welded the bracket back in place. After that the car was good as gold. It did need daily oil and the gearbox l'd suspected was short from the start, we checked when up on the ramp and credit to the BMC gearbox, incredibly low but fine. Topped up and had done 5000 miles by the time we got back to Kentucky. Have to say my experience has given me even more faith in my own 1964 Midget.

[@britishsouth]

If we were to take our '77 MGB on the route, how do you think it would make the run? The car is in excellent condition and well-looked after. I only worry about the daytime temps in the desert.

[@johnnywarnerperfectroad66]

Hi Chris, I feel the B would be excellent. We hit the desert in both mid and late October, It was rather warm for my sheep skin flying Jacket mid Oct, but not uncomfortable. Late Oct I wore my duck down coat as was a bit nippy at times. I'd go mid September to October if given a choice. We left Chicago on Oct 1st and got back to Kentucky about 8th November. Hope that is of use, we also only had the hood (roof) up for about 2 hours the whole trip (except night times when it went up as we found dew on the seats without doing that). Enjoy your trip perhaps you'd post something on the mgexperience Midget forum Rt 66 Spring or fall as we've kept the forum going and want to see what others do or try and answer questions (type of car doesn't matter just we had a Midget). All the best Johnny

[@North49191]

you need to worry about a breakdown in the middle of nowhere and not able to get parts

[@MarcelaR-dh1ok]

I agree. Had a new one in 76, and it ran on the warm side....just gave her more rps to cool down.

[@mgmidgetsandme6647]

Where you at arminghall on Saturday think I got a picture with your car with the 66 stickers on it

[@johnnywarnerperfectroad66]

Hi Midgets and me, I was indeed and am just working on an Arminghall video. It was wonderful as ever and full of gems 👍 Where you by any chance the person that left the invite to join the Sprite & Midget club? The RT66 Fun run sign was one I picked up in Kingman Arizona as we went through for the second time on the way back East.
All the very best Johnny

[@mgmidgetsandme6647]

@@johnnywarnerperfectroad66 no I wasn’t, wish I was there for longer only went for 30mins as I had work in the afternoon but there where lots of amazing motors there

[@johnnywarnerperfectroad66]

Yes it was certainly a good event. If you fancy a run out in our Midgets sometime drop me a line [e-mail]