Kicking off vintage weekend in a 1939 MG TB

LIME ROCK — Prior to the Sept. 1 parade of classic race cars from Lime Rock to Falls Village, all I knew about MGs was that a college girlfriend of mine had one and she wouldn’t let me drive it.

I rode in the parade Sept. 1 in a 1939 MG TB, owned and operated by John Schieffelin of Northampton, Mass.

Schieffelin is a genial gent who used to run a motorcycle shop, worked in an automotive museum and was “born with a steering wheel in my hand, as my mother said.”

Now more or less retired, he said he is “fortunate to enjoy the cars I like. It’s a good way to stay young.”

We had a good time during the parade, chatting about this and that and waving with regal restraint to the spectators. There was a slightly anxious moment on Brinton Hill, as the car in front of us looked like it wanted to stall.

The MG TB had no such problems.  Schieffelin routinely takes it up bigger hills — such as Mount Washington.

The only drawback was post-parade, when I was informed I had a nice collection of bugs in my teeth.

The parade was part of the Labor Day weekend vintage festival.

Click here for more on Labor Day at Lime Rock Park.

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