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30th annual LaConner Tulip Rallye

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RickB

RickB

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We had a great time at the 30th annual La Conner Tulip Rallye.

Vicky and I stayed in Anacortes, Washington on Friday and then on Saturday we took our little MG Midget to the start of the Rallye. Before arriving the engine had to overheat - because we have to have some sort of adventure after all.

One of the radiator hoses was about to give up and die - I got it tightened up and thought all was well and we continued to the Rallye starting point. Once there we discovered that the repair wasn't good enough as there was a growing green pool under the front of the car.

So off to the auto parts store while others were off starting up their journey. Once the suspect hose was replaced we drove back to the Rallye start and found we were the very last car, we were given our driving packet and instructions and our start time was noted and we finally began.

We drove all over Burlington, Mt Vernon, Discovery Pass, Coupeville, and then back to Anacortes. about 3 1/2 hours and 90 miles later.

It was a Trivia Rallye so we were tasked with answering questions along the way that could only be answered by what we were seeing along the roads. "An Elephant could get stuffed here" was the Jumbo Buffet - that kind of thing.

The weather was PERFECT, about 65F and very sunny.

We really enjoyed the drive and Vicky wrote up a poem about the misadventure as we started the day. There was to be a prize for the best "hard luck story" so when the awards were being handed out the MC announced it was time to award the best Hard Luck Story award and the prize went to my better half. They read her poem out to the hundreds of sports car enthusiasts gathered there and everyone applauded.
This event is sponsored by the MG Car Club Northwest Centre and other clubs are invited, so the Corvette club, the Porsche club, the Fiat club etc were all represented.
At one point in Coupeville we even got to jump start a Corvair! You know us LBC people, always willing to help someone else out!

Ours was the only Spridget to run the Rallye, another Midget owner was there but just came to see the start and didn't drive.

She won a bag full of car detailing goodies - and a couple things that she liked too.

It was a great day, and I'm sure we will want to do it again next year!
 
She will have to type that up, after she does I'll post it here.
Also pics to come, hopefully today after work.
 
Excellent! Sounds like a fun day.
 
Rick,

Sounds like a nice drive. I like the drive through Whidby Island.
The drive up Chuckanut Drive to Bellingham is a good one too.

- Doug
 
I would love to do that sometime too, but for me it's a 2 /12 hour drive just to get to the starting line. Good that you're gettin' the bugs worked out before the big trip in July...


And don't forget, the Portland Auto Jumble, normally held on the last Sunday of April was moved because Easter fell that day. It will be this Sunday, at Montgomery Park in Portland. Easy to find, head down I-5 to 405 in Portland. As you head across the Aurora Bridge you can see the Neon Sign on the top of the building. It's held in the parking structure so the exhibitors are dry no matter the weather. It's sponsored by the Oregon MG-T club.

NFI
 
Here is her poem:

Tale of Woe by Vicky Bastedo

Before we even got to the mall
The night before, in the parking stall
We saw the puddle, fluid so green
Underneath the car, showing what had been
A strain, an indicator, or perhaps a clue
That the radiator hose was not brand new
Oh no, it was flawed, a bust, and otherwise weak
The ratted thing had sprung a leak
But we denied, we comforted, with a pat and a grin,
"It'll be fine, Honey," the husband said, before we went in
That night we slept peaceful, the next morning still unaware
We left the hotel at the last moment, on a wing and a prayer
The needle she went up, the heat started purring
When the husband saw the gauge and said, "We must hurry,"
"To pull off the road, to tighten connectors,"
And deny again, that we might be defectors
Things seemed fine so we found the Rallye,
We grooved, and laughed, and chatted all happy
Till a friendly guy said, pointing under the car
"You guys are dripping now, you won't get far"
So we opened the hood, ready to deal at last
With the hose that was causing us to watch others drive past
We worried, we drove a ways, then we looked up and saw
O'Reillys, right in front of us, with parts to install
The husband did all the work, per usual he thought
While the wife whipped off this ditty, and waited to start.
A little late, oh well, we're just glad to be,
Here with friends, and nice sun, in our little MG.
 
La Connor / Washington is a beutiful place to Drive. Wish I could have made it! Glad you had a good time.
 
Fun times.
 
Used to drive Chuckanut Drive all the time in my Bugeye while attending Western Washington University (State College back then) in the old days. The Puget Sound area is a very nice part of the world.

JPF
 
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