Members in the Spotlight
Brian and Jane Goldsmith
When one is compiling a list of owners of British Cars in the Western Iowa/Eastern Nebraska area Brian and Jane Goldsmith's names always come up. The Goldsmiths and the cars they have prepared over the years are well known, not only in this area, but nationally for the quality of work done on them. Many of their former cars, especially their former MGAs, are still winning shows for their current owners. Additionally, their building behind the house is the envy of all in the club who have had the good fortune to visit it.
Brian Goldsmith bought his first MG, a Œ68 B Roadster, 28 years ago. He paid $1100 for it, drove it a year, and sold it for $1200. It is a pattern that he has repeated several times over the years, with several different British cars. He currently has a Jaguar XJS for sale, a nice car if you know any one who is interested in one. The exception to this rule is Old Blue, which Brian, and his wife Jane, bought in Merriman, IA in 1979. It didn't run so well, so they pulled the engine and replaced it with a three main B engine, which it has been running ever since.
Jane says she knew from the beginning of their friendship what she was getting into. The first time she was at Brian's house there was a disassembled engine in the kitchen in boxes. On the first date they collaborated on the color for the car that Brian was working on. They chose bright red, and Jane drove the car all summer. She was hooked.
Brian and Jane have been married for 24 years. Both Brian and Jane are teachers in Council Bluffs. Brian teaches industrial technology and Jane teaches elementary reading. Beyond their reputation for quality cars, Brian and Jane are known for their generous, outgoing nature and their good humor. Say hi to the Goldsmiths at the next club event you attend with them.
WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION TIMES 30
Brian Goldsmith
I'm a teacher. I married a teacher. What do teachers do in the summer? Anything they want to! Who would have thought that buying a little convertible in the summer of 1973 would develop into an addiction for MG's.
The first 23 yeas of my life I didn't know what an MG was. I was always a car nut but never got excited about MG's until my second year of teaching in Council Bluffs. The first one I looked at was a 1968 MGB. I bought it for $1100, drove it and had lots of fun with it, but most incredibly nothing ever went wrong with it. The following summer I painted it and sold it for $1200. Thus began my hobby involving MGs. Since then I have bought, fixed up, driven, and sold more than 25 MGs, mostly MGBs. I have owned a TR6, Healey 3000, MG 1100, and a Jaguar XJS. It has been a great summer hobby.
After working on MGBs for so many years I was bound to eventually come across an MGA that I had to have. The first time I saw a MGA I thought someone had customized the car by taking off the door handles. My first MGA was a 1961 purchased in 1978 over Christmas vacation; $300 bought this roadster that had rust and Bondo under four colors of paint. It took two summers
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