Picnic + Motorcycle Museum + British Car Tech Session at Mike Mutter’s

Michael Mutter has invited us to his beautiful home and workshop/museum on the Rivanna River near Earlysville. He admits to being more into motorcycles than cars (although he has a beautiful XK150 Drophead). Expect to see Nortons, Vincents and Velocettes among the British bikes in this private collection.

Here’s updated information from Michael:

“Please join us for a luncheon at my home at 600 Sweibyan Dr. Earlysville VA 22936 to view my collection and shop from Noon to 3:30 on Saturday May 10. I will supply pulled pork, black beans and rice, beer, wine and some form of sparkling water. Please feel free to bring an appetizer or dessert or supply your special dietary needs.

My collection is primarily motorbikes (OK, also a 1960 Jaguar XK150 DHC, hence membership in this club) with nearly two dozen British bikes from 1931 to 1972 with makes including Vincent, Velocette, Norton, Ariel and Matchless, and a number (greater than 30)  of Japanese, Italian and other European bikes, as well, mostly from the 50s to 70s. I do my own mechanical and cosmetic work and will give a tour of the shop as well.

There will also be several technical demonstrations more relevant to the four wheel inclined given by Mark Lee.

I hope to see you all.

Best,
Michael Mutter”

Mark Lee is planning a brief tech session in Michael’s workshop to cover these three topics:

• The inner workings of a gearbox – Mark has a dissected MGB gearbox and laid it out so that you can see precisely how power flows through the input shaft and layshaft to the gears on the output shaft, what happens when you change gears, and how synchromesh actually works.
• Relays demystified – how common relays actually work (much simpler than many realize), how their wiring is virtually universal, and how you can add one to a circuit. If you don’t have a relay in your headlamp circuit, this will show you how you can add one for brighter light and reduced strain/wear on your headlight switch.
• The basics of constant vacuum carburetors like SU and Zenith-Stromberg – how they actually work and how they differ from conventional venturi carbs. We’ll have an S.U. apart for reference.