yellow MGB roadster with top down and tonneau cover on in parking lot

Sporting Pleasures

“There’s a sports car out there with its top down,” remarked a Fort Collinser to his kid standing behind me inside the diner I was having lunch at. “Someone’s thinking positive…”

Er, yes, that would be me. While I have enjoyed the unusual snowy weather the last few weeks, I’m looking forward to warmer days. In just a couple of days the high temperatures of Fort Collins will be in the mid-50s, which should feel absolutely scorching after weeks in the 20s and 30s. Never mind that when I drove out to lunch, the temperature was still 17 degrees and there’s still some snow on all grassy areas.

No matter; the sun was out, and to paraphrase a wise man, “it’s never too cold; you just aren’t wearing enough.” So after throwing on a fleece headband and donning my warmest car coat, I hopped in the MGB and off we went.

Well, sort of. Goldie was a little recalcitrant in starting considering that I haven’t driven her in three weeks and the garage was quite frigid during then. But after a couple of minutes, she awoke. In a couple of minutes I was strumming through the remarkably precise gearbox with an amazingly rhapsodic exhaust note behind me.

Sometimes I forget how it is to be in a “proper” sports car. While the Alfa Romeo Spider had evolved into something of a sports-tourer over its product cycle (even given power steering!), everything about the MGB is more direct. Suspension, stick shift, steering… oh, the steering. Much more quick-ratio than the Spider’s. Despite having less power than the Alfa, the MG seems a bit more responsive off the line. Her engine is a torque-monster for something just 1.8 liters in displacement.

The quick backcountry jaunt reminded me how much I love to drive the car. I still haven’t decided what to do with her (the last year or so I’ve been thinking a car that can take me into snow country would make more sense), but in the meantime, here’s to warmer days ahead and positive thinking.

yellow MGB roadster with top down and tonneau cover on in parking lot
Goldie at Tilden Park