Safety Fast! February 2019 by MG Car Club

THE MARQUE OF FRIENDSHIP

February 2019 Volume 63 Number 02 £3.95

THE

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Inside this issue 7 8 12 14 56 59 60

Club Matters and Kimber House News News Products Postbag Out and About Race Torque MGs on Track

68 71 82 92 98

MGCC Speed Championship Overseas Review Centre Updates Register Updates Classifieds Looking Back

Features 16

MGLive! 2019 Super Early Bird Tickets on sale from February 1

MGF: Racing Into History The history of the MGFs racing with the MG Car Club

Event Report A report on the MG Event at Expo Houten, Holland

A nice drive with me Dad! David Allison takes his dad for a trip down memory lane

Tech Torque The MG6 Flasher – replacing an MG6 wing mirror indicator

Manchester XPAG Tests Ethanol blended Petrol by Paul Ireland

Overseas News

MG Rhein Tour 2018 by Michael Benecke

Newsletters 39

Triple M Newsletter Kimber Classic Trial, Events Ahead, Triple-M Racing and more

Midget Newsletter Midget Register Road Run 2018, The Famous Five Midgets seek a Wicked Witch and The MGCC Lackford Engineering MG Midget and Sprite Challenge

MGB Newsletter The Bicester Heritage Scramble and The 1968 London to Sydney Marathon

The MG Car Club, Kimber House, 12 Cemetery Road, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 1AS Tel: 01235 555552 Fax: 01235 533755 E-mail: mgcc@mgcc.co.uk www.mgcc.co.uk. If visiting The MG Car Club using Sat Nav please use OX14 1AS

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Welcome

MGF Pictured with the Prince of Wales Pub, which was popular with the Abingdon MG Factory employees, in the background. Photo: Colin Grant

@mgcarclub

FO U N D E D 193 0

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The official publication of The MG Car Club Incorporating ‘The M.G. Magazine’, ‘The Sports Car’ and ‘Brooklands Track and Air’, Safety Fast! Copyright MG Car Club 2019

It’s hard to believe that we’ve owned our MG ZS Exclusive auto for a year now and covered 6,500 trouble-free miles. With the glorious MG weather we had last year the time seemed to fly by. Within the news section of this issue is an announcement about the formation of the SUV Register, which will cater for the whole range of MG SUV models, from the GS, through the range of ZSs including the electric model due to be released later this year, and the all-new MG Hector which has just been announced for the Indian market. With over 5,300 ZSs sold in the UK alone last year, more and more members are registering them with the Club. If you think you could help get the SUV Register established, and are willing to offer some time to the Register, please drop a line to mgsuvregister@gmail.com At the other end of the MG scale, in this issue is the first Triple M Newsletter edited by Cathelijne Spoelstra, which gives a great insight into what the Triple M Register get up to and what exciting plans they’ve got for the year ahead. The MG Car Club is the club that caters for all. With this magazine you should have received the first of the MGLive! booking forms. For this year we’ve introduced a new pricing structure, with Super Early Bird tickets on offer from February 1 10.00am until March 4 10.00am. Booking between those dates gives you a super saving of the on-the-gate price. If you don’t manage to book then, don’t fear, as there’s an early bird offer running after, which still offers a substantial saving of the on-the-gate price. For full details of the ticket offers please take a look at page 16 of this month’s issue. With the show season kicking off this month, I’ll be taking a trip to the MG Spares show at Stoneleigh, looking for those all-important MGF service parts so I can get my car up and ready for the MG motoring year ahead which, looking at the calendar on the www.mgcc.co.uk website, promises to be a good one. Until next month, drive safely. Andy Knott

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CHAIRMANS NOTES BY DAVE T YNAN

This month’s picture shows me standing next to the Mike Brewer MGA which was revealed to the public at the NEC Classic Car Show in November last year. The restoration has been showcased in Safety Fast! over the past year. The MGA is currently on display at Kimber House. Also currently on display is the Marathon MGB which took part in the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon and was driven by Jean Denton. It is currently in the late stages of being restored by our own MGB Register, led By John Watson and George Wilder. Look out for this important historic car as it tours around the country and appears at events and features in articles in Safety Fast! during the year! Talking of Kimber House, the team have been very busy already planning for this year’s MG Live!. Tickets go on sale much earlier this year than ever before, with the Super Early Bird tickets available from February 1 until

10.00am on March 4, for £16 for a Day Ticket and £27 for a weekend ticket! That represents a fantastic saving of £14 and £18 respectively on the gate price! Phase two of the Kimber House archive will be starting soon, headed by Dave Saunders. They will be looking at the digitisation of some of the records held on paper. This is essential to help keep the information for future generations. Any donations from CRBs to help towards this important work would be gratefully received. I recently attended one of the CRB AGMs, during which there was a conversation around a piece of equipment that some of the Natters used that needed replacing. A short discussion followed where it was decided to get some quotes for replacement costs. I was delighted to read in the latest committee minutes that the item had been sourced and was now available for use by the Natters.

A timely reminder that all CRBs hold funds that can and should be used for the benefit of members. While on the subject of CRBs and funding, we have two new CRBs set up by council in October last year, the Young Member Branch and the SUV Register. There is a great tradition in the MG Car Club whereby existing CRBs help new CRBs get set up by making a financial donation to them, so could your CRB help? The MGCC racing subcommittee and some of our championships attended Autosport International at the NEC in January, where a cheque was presented to the British Motorsport Marshals Club to show our appreciation and thanks for all their support during the racing year. After all, without these volunteers none of our racing (or any other form of motorsport) could take place. Ineke and Colin from Kimber house travelled over to the Netherlands to attend the annual MG Show organised by the MG Car Club Holland at Houten in January, where they received a very warm welcome from our friends and colleagues from the various European MG clubs.

KIMBER HOUSE NEWS Record Breaking Artefacts Donated to Club Mike Hearn, who worked as the Development Engineer at the MG Factory, has kindly donated a conrod that was used in EX181 Record Breaker and also a Tachometer that was in used in another Record Breaker EX179. Jim Cox, long-time member of the Club and an ex-factory Engine Development Specialist, was heavily involved in preparing the record breaking cars during his time at MG. He recognised the conrod as one used in EX181. He said it was very distinctive as, apart from being highly polished, it had an oil way from the big end through the ‘I’ section to the small end. He felt the rod donated was probably used during testing. Peter Neal, Club Archivist, said he was excited by the donation and will arrange for it to be displayed for visitors to view.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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Jim Cox with recent donations to the MGCC Archive

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NEWS

Barry Boyd 1943-2018 Barry was an enthusiastic member of the North Eastern Centre of the MG Car Club in the 1970s and 80s, firstly with his pageant blue MGB and then with his white Beer of Houghton MGB V8. Barry was always the life and soul of any party and even when ill health started to take its toll he still retained his marvellous sense of humour. He was an exceptional anglophile promoting Great Britain, everything British, and especially the MG Car Club, at every opportunity. He was a supporter of both BRM and Donald Campbell and his world speed record attempts. He assisted Jack Armstrong in the organisation of the 1980 Golden Jubilee Tour of Great Britain, from which many friendships with overseas members blossomed. Barry had volunteered his passenger seat to Robert Downie from Canada for the tour. He attended MG Car Club events in Florida in 1981 and Hausach and Luxembourg in 1982 where his V8 gave an E-Type a fright in the sprint. He also had a short period on the Executive Committee of the Car Club in the Bill Wallis era. When ill health eventually stopped Barry driving, he rechannelled his enthusiasm into volunteering at the Media Museum in Bradford and joining or starting local enthusiast societies for Laurel and Hardy, Frank Sinatra, Tony Hancock, and Anthony Newley, amongst others. He remained a supporter of Bradford Park Avenue Football Club, Bradford Dukes Speedway Team, and Quicksilver – the World Water Speed Record Challenge. Barry left the MG Car Club when his health failed and he moved into sheltered accommodation and later into a care home where he sadly passed away. He will be missed by many Car Club members around the world. Peter and Jean Ellis

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MG MOTOR UK CELEBRATES BIGGEST YEAR EVER! MG Motor UK is celebrating its biggest year ever, after achieving record car sales in 2018. Figures released by the SMMT confirmed that MG had reached its stated 2018 goal of more than doubling its sales volume versus the previous year. During the past 12 months, MG achieved several monthly sales records, securing an annual sales total of 9,049 registrations, an increase of 104% versus 2017. This percentage increase made MG the fastest-growing car manufacturer in the UK during 2018. With more than 5,300 ZS compact SUVs sold, in addition to almost 1,000 of the larger GS SUV, MG’s products are finding success right in the heart of the UK market. In addition to the impressive increase in sales volumes, the company also saw its dealer network grow rapidly with the addition of 18 new dealer partners during the year, including the recently appointed Bushey Heath Garage, Glyn Hopkin East London, Richmond Motor Group and Islington Motor Group. Daniel Gregorious, Head of Sales and Marketing at MG Motor UK, said: “We’re very proud of our achievements in 2018, and we’re delighted to be confirmed as the UK’s fastest-growing car manufacturer. Our sales performance is built upon having the right cars, bang in the heart of the market, and the right dealers, providing an excellent customer experience. 2019 will be another very exciting year for MG, as we continue to expand our dealer network and launch some brilliant new products including our very first battery electric vehicle, the MG ZS electric SUV.”

The MG Car Club Limited (‘The Club’) Notice of Council Meeting A Council Meeting of The MG Car Club Ltd will be held at the MINI Plant, Eastern Bypass Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 6NL, on Saturday March 16 2019, commencing at 10.30am. Motions for debate at the Council Meeting should arrive at Kimber House by February 8 2018. We need to know if you are able to attend and who will be representing your Centre/Register/Branch. Could you please complete the slip on the form that has been emailed to all Chairmen/Secretaries of CRBs, and return it not later than Friday February 22 2019 to Colin Grant.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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NEWS

MGTAMGTBMGTC MGTDMGTFMGBGT MGTFMGZRMGKN MGVAMGZSMGSA MGWAMGZTMGGS

The MG Car Club SUV Register Some time ago, MG started making new cars – from this, the 635 Register was born. Some didn’t believe that they were ‘real’ MGs, but however you look at it, this is the current MG brand. These cars are how the current generation will learn about the MG heritage, and hopefully fall in love with the marque as much as we all have. After a couple of years of producing the MG3 and the MG6, a new breed of new MG was born – the MG GS SUV, followed up by the MG ZS and fairly soon the electric ZS, amongst others. The GS and ZS have sold fantastically well. Let’s be clear here – these are not particularly sporty cars in the truest MG sense. A Sports Utility Vehicle is not called that because it is sporty (quite obviously); it’s because it can be used to carry your sports gear or work tools somewhere. I have to say, though, that my ZS does feel surprisingly nippy! As the SUV market has always been a different segment, a new idea was formed – should there be a new Register for these vehicles? Well, after some brief discussions, we believed it should be and three of us stood forward to set up the Register and offer time to get it all going. So, here we are – at the last MG Car Club Council at Longbridge it was voted on and agreed. The MGCC SUV Register was born. We will be taking on any vehicle that MG make that can be described as an SUV, either past, current or future – this currently means that GS and ZS models are catered for. In the near future, the electric ZS (which I am really quite excited about) and the upcoming HS. As this is a rapidly growing market, I imagine that future years will see an increase in these vehicles. We can hope that, due to this expansion, more people will join us under the MG banner – and we will welcome them all. We hope to be visiting major events throughout the year, and as the Register grows perhaps start doing our own as well. It goes without saying that we are happy to support any events in any region that we might have a presence in, and would welcome any invitations. We all love MGs of all types, so don’t be put off by the “newness” of it all – we all carry that important MG octagon! Ian Trevena Chairman MG Car Club SUV Register

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NEWS FROM THE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE

MG LE

THE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE The 17th European Conference was held at Wroxall Abbey, near Birmingham, at the back end of last year. We had 31 delegate attendees and 12 accompanying partners. While the delegates had their all-day agenda to work through, the non-participants were well looked after by Sally Silcock and Madeleine Harvey who took them to Stratford. The conference was most competently chaired by Bill Silcock who kindly stood in as a late substitute for Brian Woodhams. The Wroxall Abbey venue was both convenient to Birmingham airport and to the NEC where the Classic Motor Show was taking place. Wroxall Abbey owner, Grant Howlett, is himself a classic car enthusiast and is attracting car clubs to the abbey for their AGMs and other meetings. It is both an impressive as well as a convenient location. MGCC overseas is quite complex. Although all affiliated to Kimber House, each continent and its Clubs have their own ways of organising themselves. The European Clubs are different to the rest of the world in that their governing relationships and their relationship with Kimber House is through a European Protocol. The two-yearly conference is essentially to report back on how the Protocol is working, and where necessary to amend it. The aspects of the Protocol which were restated are that the annual European Event should never take place in June to avoid a clash with MGLive!, and that the Clubs – including KH – should not support or give free publicity to events which are not supported by affiliated Clubs. Two significant changes to the Protocol are as follows: the full cost of the conference is in future to be borne by the delegates. A current problem has been that the conference is fairly expensive for the host Club, which so far has had to pay for the conference arrangements and the evening dinners – roughly €2,000. Unsurprisingly, volunteer Clubs to act as host have

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Dev the gas buz

been rather thin on the ground, and for smaller European Clubs it has been out of the question. Consequent upon the Protocol change, the Austrian Club has volunteered to organise the event in Vienna in 2020. This offer was received with much enthusiasm. We have smaller Clubs which are recently affiliated or may soon affiliate – Czech Republic, Slovenia and Croatia are examples. They can now host the EC without breaking the bank. The second significant change is as regards the timing of the European Event of the Year. The convention has been that it normally takes place in August. It has become apparent that whatever other failings there might have been with an event, the high August temperatures (and prices) in the southern European countries has contributed to dissatisfaction. The Portuguese Club, which is hosting the 2021 event near Lisbon, proposed holding the event in May, the two advantages being that daytime temperatures were lower and hotel costs were also lower. They also proposed (as the German Club is doing for the 2019 event in Wurzburg) that one day is a non-driving day. The conclusion is that we may see more flexibility in the timing of the EEOTY depending upon the summer conditions in the various parts of Europe. At each European Conference the European Manager for the following two years has to be elected. A ballot more typical of elections held in most

M R

European countries was organised this time and the candidate with most votes was Vivian Vleeshouwer from MGCC Holland. She took up her position from January 1 2019. We thank Hakan Sigemark for the eight years he has contributed to the MG European scene. As with all positions of responsibility in MG Clubs at home and abroad, there is no financial reward, simply the satisfaction of knowing that what you have left for your successor is in much better condition than when you took over. We wish Hakan well and thank him for his commitment over the years, and we welcome Vivian and hope that she continues to build upon the European MG scene. The EC was not only the focus for adjusting the Protocol and electing a new European Manager, it was also the venue for the final KH responsibility for one of our long-standing directors – Paul Plummer. Paul worked tirelessly in organising the event, negotiating with Wroxall Abbey, getting the agenda and proceedings published, organising the ‘Ladies Day’ with Madeleine, and all the other minutiae of an international event. All comments I received were complimentary as far as the organisation and the tone of the conference were concerned. While spoken to me, the true recipient was Paul.

O cy pe id a

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PRODUCTS IF YOU HAVE A NEW PRODUCT THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO OUR MEMBERS, AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IN SAFET Y FAST! WHY NOT CONTACT COLIN GRANT AT COLINGRANT@MGCC.CO.UK

TA HEAD GASKETS FROM NTG Now back in stock, made to original pattern on new tooling, TA head gasket £93.60; Head gasket set with head gasket £150. To order or for more information telephone 01473 406031/32 or go to their website at www.mgbits.com

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Sealey’s New IW230V Impact Wrench is powerful, ergonomic and capable of removing the most stubborn of wheel nuts. It is mains powered and produces up to 300Nm of torque in both forward and reverse. It is fitted with a 2m heavy-duty rubberised cable and is supplied in a carry-case with four impact sockets (17mm, 19mm, 21mm, 22mm). For further details or to view Sealey’s range visit www.sealey.co.uk or alternatively call their customer service department on 01284 757500.

GREAT NEWS ON TYRES FROM BROWN & GAMMONS Due to a recent bulk purchase, Brown & Gammons, the MG Specialists based in Baldock, can now offer Toyo 330 tyres, 165/80x15 at bargain prices. One tyre will cost you £69.95 or if preferred we can do a set of 4 for £264.00. Both prices include VAT but are plus carriage. The tyres are ideal for MGAs, MG TDs, MG TFs and classic VW Beetles. To order either visit our website at www.ukmgparts.com or telephone our parts department on 01462 490049. If local, we can also offer a fitting service at competitive prices.

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www.mgcc.co.uk

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AGM NOTICES

Midget Register AGM Date: Sunday March 10 2019 Venue: The MG Car Club, Kimber House, Abingdon, OX14 1AS Time: The meeting will commence at 10.30am. Agenda 1. Apologies for absence. 2. Approval of the minutes of the 2018 AGM. 3. Matters arising. 4. Chairman’s Report. 5. Secretary’s Report. 6. Treasurer’s Report and adoption of 2018 accounts. 7. Registrar’s Report. 8. Election of Officers. 9. Election of Committee. 10. Any other business. 11. Date and time of next AGM. Several members of the existing Committee will be standing down at this meeting so we are looking to recruit some new members to join us and help run the Midget Register. Nominations for election to the Committee and/or Officers should be submitted to the Secretary, Pete Chaundy, 156 Roman Way, Bicester, Oxon, OX26 6FL or by email to secretary@midgetregister.com by February 8 2019.

Abingdon Works Centre AGM Date: Saturday March 2 2019 Venue: MG Car Club, Kimber House, 12 Cemetery Road, Abingdon, OX14 1AS Time: 2pm There will be a talk by recently elected MG Car Club Chairman, Dave Tynan, so please come along and make him feel at home in his new role. Timetable: 2.00pm – Light refreshments, 2.45pm – Talk by Dave Tynan, 3.15 – AWC AGM Agenda Apologies Approval of the minutes of the March 2018 AGM Matters arising Chairman’s Report Secretary’s Report Treasurer’s Report Election of Officers Election of Committee Any Other Business Nominations for election to the Committee and/or officers should be submitted to Secretary, Sarah Davies, 38 Swinbrook Road, Carterton, Oxfordshire, OX18 1DS or by email to secretary@ mgabingdon.org.uk by February 22 2019.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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Devon and Cornwall Centre AGM Date: Saturday 23 March 2019 Venue: Callington Bowling Club, 38 Liskeard Road, Callington, PL17 7JE Time: 7.30pm for 8.00pm Agenda 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Approval of the 2018 Minutes 3. Matters Arising 4. Chairman’s Report 5. Treasurer’s Report 6. Secretary’s Report 7. Competition Secretary’s Report 8. Election of Officers and Committee 9. Points for Discussion This will be followed by a Complimentary Buffet, etc. MGA Register AGM Date: April 6 2019 Venue: The MG Car Club, Kimber House, Abingdon, OX14 1AS Time: 10.00 for 10.30 sharp (immediately followed by a Committee Meeting) Agenda 1. Welcome and Apologies for Absence 2. Review and Approval of Minutes of 2018 AGM 3. Chairman’s Report 4. Treasurer’s Report 5. Election of Officers and Committee 6. Any Other Business Date of Next Meeting Nominations for Committee posts and requests for other information to be received by email to the Honorary Secretary, Colin Manley, at colinmanley99@gmail.com by Monday March 4 2019. MGCC T Register AGM Date: March 23 2019 Venue: The British Motor Museum (formerly the Heritage Motor Museum), Banbury Road, Gaydon, CV35 0BJ Time: 4.00pm approx. Agenda 1. Apologies for absence 2. Minutes of last AGM 3. Chairman’s Report 4. reasurer’s Report 5. Competition Secretary’s Report 6. Election of Officers 7. Election of Committee members 8. Appointment of Council representative 9. A.O.B. Nominations (forms are available on the T Register website or from the address below) and topics for A.O.B. should be sent in writing by March 8 2019 to: The Secretary, MGCC T Register, 29 Church Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire MK45 2PL. Or by email to: treg.sec@ntlworld.com by the same date.

MGB Register AGM Date: Saturday March 23 2019. Venue: The MG Car Club Ltd, Kimber House, 12 Cemetery Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 1AS. Time: Starting at 11.00am. Agenda 1. Apologies for absence. 2. Minutes of the last AGM. 3. Matters Arising. 4. Chairman’s report. 5. Secretary’s report. 6. Treasurer’s report and adoption of accounts. 7. Registrar’s report. 8. Election of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee. 9. Any other business. Nominations for Committee Posts and AOB Agenda Items should be submitted to the Secretary by March 8 2019. All communications to Neil Hyett, Secretary MGB Register. Email: secretary@mgb-register.org Tel: 01869 241180. MGB Register Mobile: 07555 044528.

MGs on Track AGM Date: Saturday March 9 2019 Venue: The MG Car Club, Kimber House, Abingdon, OX14 1AS Time: 10.00am Agenda 1. Apologies for absence 2. Minutes of last AGM 3. Chairman’s report 4. Secretary’s report 5. Treasurer’s report 6. Election of Officers 7. Election of Committee 8. Any Other Business’’ Nominations for Committee posts and requests for other information to be received by email to the Honorary Secretary, James Mumford, at jamesm@mgs-ontrack.co.uk by Monday March 4 2019.

Yorkshire Centre AGM Date: Tuesday March 19 2019 Venue: The Star, 223 Roberttown Lane, Roberttown, Liversedge, West Yorkshire WF15 7LQ Time: 8.00pm Agenda 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Minutes of Last AGM 3. Chairman’s Report 4. Treasurer’s Report 5. Secretary’s Report 6. Election of Officers 7. Election of Committee 8. Any Other Business All nominations for candidates for election to the committee and topics for AOB should be sent to: Cliff Hobbs, Cedar Croft, Wood Lane, Whitwood, Castleford WF10 5PJ by March 1 2019.

Tyne-Tees Centre AGM Date: Thursday March 7 2019 Venue: Coulby Manor, Coulby Manor Way, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, TS8 0RP Time: 8.00pm Agenda 1. Apologies for absence 2. Approval of the Minutes of the 2018 AGM 3. Matters arising from the above 4. Chairman’s Report 5. Secretary’s Report 6. Membership Secretary’s Report 7. Treasurer’s Report and adoption of the Accounts 8. Election of Officers 9. Election of the Committee 10. Any Other Business Nominations for election to join the Tyne-Tees Centre Committee to be sent to the Secretary, by email to david.alexander2012@btinternet. com or by post to David Alexander, 29 Till Grove, Ellington, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 5ER. Closing date for nominations is February 23 2019.

Vintage Register AGM Date: Sunday March 17 Venue: Shillingford Bridge Hotel, Wallingford, OX10 8LZ Time: 10.00am meet for coffee. Meeting 11.00am. Agenda 1. Apologies for absence 2. Minutes of previous meeting 3. Chairman’s report 4. Treasurer’s report 5. Secretary’s report 6. Registrar’s report 7. Forthcoming events 8. Election of officers 9. Any other business not covered above Nominations for Committee positions and apologies to Debbie Brading, please, by March 12 2019 Debbiebrading@v8register.net or 07795 227715. North West Centre AGM Date: Thursday February 14 2019 Venue: The Ship Inn, Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4JE Time: 8.30pm Agenda Apologies Minutes of the 2018 AGM Matters Arising Chairman’s Report Treasurer’s Report/Approval of Accounts Election of Centre Officers Election of Centre Committee Any Other Business All communications to Paul Goodman, email paul.goodman7@ ntlworld.com Tel 01625 876300

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POSTBAG

Two Brits go to Bergen When we go on holiday abroad, I usually contact the MGCC of that country for advice on the best places to visit, as well as what MG events are happening during our vacation. This year we decided to visit Norway for a couple of weeks and so I contacted Peter Skarsjo, chairman of the Norsk MG Klubb. As is usually the case, he turned out to be very helpful! There were three possible events we could attend, Norsk MG Treff, MGA dagen and his local Sognetur Bergen long weekend drive. The Norsk MG Treff and Bergen group meetings were just a little too far apart to do both, so we opted for the local Sognetur run, which sounded really exciting! We decided to fly into Bergen and spend three nights in a central hotel. We would then drive to Kinsarvik, where we booked a fantastic little cottage overlooking the fiord, for five nights, before returning to Bergen in time for the Sognetur drive. Not only did Peter offer an MG for the run, he also offered his own MGB GT for the rest of our holiday including Kinsarvik! He had already promised his B GT to another club member for the run, so arranged with a local member, Ola Skar, to lend us his 69 B Roadster as he would be away for that event. What can one say to such generosity! Peter also offered for us to stay with him and his wife the night before and the night after the run! On arrival in Bergen, Peter kindly picked us up from the airport and drove us to our hotel. He then suggested that we all might like to visit the house of Edvard Grieg and listen to a lunchtime piano recital followed by lunch at his house, prepared by his lovely wife, Hege. An offer we didn’t refuse! The day after, Peter picked us up from the hotel and took us back to his house where his BGT was ready and waiting. I must say, I was a little nervous driving someone else’s pride and joy on the wrong side of the road! I was more than happy to be told that the maximum speed limit in Norway is 80 kph! With all the beautiful views, I never wanted to go faster and spent most of the time at about 60, pulling over regularly to allow cars to overtake! When we arrived at our little cottage at Kinsarvik, the owner opened the door and said: “Oh, my father-in-law used to own an MGB until last year!” (He now owns a beautiful Volvo 122 Amazon because it rains so much!) Later, on our return from the village, father-in-law and ex-member of the club, was there. He showed us photos of his beautiful 1964 red B roadster and commented that our BGT was very similar to Peter Skarsjo’s BGT! We had an incredible time over the next few days, driving around the fjords and inland. We visited Lofthus, where Grieg had a studio in the famous hotel there, which is where he composed much of his work. Also east over the mountains into the Hardangervidda National Park. We had a fantastic

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time and I know driving the MG made all the difference to our enjoyment! The weather was also fantastic every day. So, it was then back to Peter and Hege’s to swap the GT for the roadster and stay the night, before starting our Sognetur trip. Raymond Lauritsen, who was going to borrow Peter’s GT, picked Ola’s roadster up and brought it over for us before returning home in the GT. Everyone made our life so easy! There were ten cars, nine MGs, the tenth one having gearbox trouble just before the event, and 20 absolutely delightful people! Everyone was so friendly and all spoke to us in English, given that our Norwegian is non-existent! Over the three days, we got to know everyone. When I first took Rebecca to Club meetings, she was surprised that we talked about things other than MGs! We found it so interesting hearing about families, jobs and life in Norway (keeping off the Brexit debate!). Driving in convoy was really enjoyable, and I have to thank Raymond and Inger who looked after us by driving either in front or behind us, stopping when we got left behind (twice!). The only stressful time I had when driving was going through all the tunnels, (and there were lots of them!) The only tunnel I ever go through is 500 metres long under Heathrow airport runway! Many of them are very narrow, MG headlights aren’t very bright, you sit low down and are glared from front and rear! To make matters worse, I wear photochromic glasses, so when entering the tunnel from the bright sun, it’s like looking for a black cat in a coal cellar! I will finish off by saying that, without a doubt, this was the most enjoyable holiday Rebecca and I have had in Europe! And that was down to the stunning beauty of the countryside, the weather and the incredible friendliness of everyone in the Norsk MG Klubb group. Also Ola, for trusting us with his lovely roadster, and everyone to whom we gave the opportunity to practice their English! Not forgetting Peter and Hege for looking after us. What more can one say! Neil and Rebecca Woolley

www.mgcc.co.uk

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POSTBAG

Parade Motors

December Looking Back The MGB race car in the December Looking Back section of the current Safety Fast! belonged to Tony Price who for many years owned T and L Autos in Bedfont. He started in BCV8 with a Roadgoing MGB then moved on to a Roadgoing Modified MGB then on to the Full Race car on slicks. He was BCV8 overall champion in 1987 and 1988. Regards, Jim Baynam

December Looking Back I can add something to the location of the photo of the MG outside the Waggon and Horses, pictured in Decemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Looking Back. The magazine suggests it was in Somerset. In fact this pub is on the A4, at Beckhampton, west of Marlborough, and near Silbury Hill. I used to pass it as a student in the late 1960s when driving my MG TC, FUY 370, from Bath back home to Essex. Any known history to my TC? I sold it to Dangerfield Sports Cars in Bristol in 1968 and bought an airline ticket to America. Regards Martin Kerly

www.mgcc.co.uk

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The November MGA Newsletter provided me with one of those amazing trips down memory lane with the picture of the Parade Motors, Mitcham, advertisement dated July 29 1960. I completed my degree as a Civil Engineer in the summer of 1960, starting work in September. Having utilised my first car, a 1935 Standard 10, while I was a student I decided to purchase a better car for my newfound employed status and of course it had to be an MG. Accordingly, as I lived in Croydon, off I went to Parade Motors to purchase the new car. My original choice was to be a TD but when I got to the showroom and saw the TF I changed my mind and purchased one instead. The amazing coincidence is, of course, that as I brought the car from Parade Motors in August/September 1960 it is likely that my car was one of the TFs advertised. I kept the car, registration 955 CMV, for about seven years, until the arrival of our second child meant that we could not get two children in the back of the TF. Alas, a Cortina Estate took the place of the MG. I do believe, however, that a car with this registration is currently owned by a member of the MGCC. The story has a happy ending as, during the course of my work, in 1976 I moved to a project in Thailand and in 1977 I located and purchased another TF. It has a long history but, briefly, I had the car re-spayed and chromed in Bangkok, and when my project ended I moved to Hong Kong taking the car with me. I worked for eight years in HK and as a member of the local branch of the MGCC took part in several of the Macao Classic Car races on the Grand Prix circuit. I returned to UK in 1987 and brought the car back home where I still own it. Best regards Rick Walters

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MGLIVE! TICKETS 15-16 JUNE 2019 SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT

CELEBRATING 95 YEARS OF MG WITH OVER 3000 CARS ON DISPLAY

MGLIVE! TICKETS WILL BE LIFESTYLE MARQUEE GOING ON SALE ON FRIDAY MG MOTOR ARENA WITH STUNT SHOW FEBRUARY 1 AT 10.00AM LIVE MUSIC AT THE VILLAGE GREEN

ACTION-PACKED MG RACING ON TRACK

For 2019, we have introduced a new WWW.MGLIVE.CO.UK pricing model for Members and NonMembers alike. We have previously had feedback that there wasn’t enough of a reward for buying tickets early and the discount for Members wasn’t significant enough compared to Non-Members. The principle we have introduced is to ensure that buying tickets early secures the best price for all ticket holders. Members can save a large amount off their tickets (nearly 50% off) and we also have a compelling offer for Non-Members outside the Club to attend. Our aim is to attract more car enthusiasts to the event, enjoying the great atmosphere and MGs on display; so much so that they want to join the Club and become owners themselves! From 10.00am on Friday February 1 to 10.00am on Monday March 4: Super Early Bird Member tickets will be available priced at £16 for a day ticket or £27 for a weekend ticket.

This is a huge saving of £14 and £18 respectively versus buying tickets on the gate, and also a discount on the ticket prices for 2018, ensuring Members have an opportunity to buy tickets at a highly reduced price, saving some cash to spend on some bits and bobs at the event! On Monday March 4 at 10.01am, ticket prices will move up to the Early Bird Members bracket of £18 day and £28 weekend as outlined in the table above. Tickets will then move up to the Advance Members Price on Tuesday May 7 at 10.01am (£22 day, £35 weekend). In these periods, only the applicable ticket will be available to

purchase. For example, on March 4 after 10.01am Super Early Bird tickets will go off sale and not be available to purchase. Paper booking forms included with Safety Fast! will be date marked, and these forms should be returned to the

Taking this feedback into account, our pricing structure will be as follows: DAY Rate

VALID

WEEKEND

NonNonMember Member Member Member

Super Early Bird 10.00 1st Feb - 10.00 4th Mar

£16

Early Bird

10.01 4th Mar -10.00 7th May

£18

Advance

10.01 7th May - 10.00 7th June

£22

Gate

15th-16th June

£23 £25 £30

£27

£35

£28

£40

£35

•C M

£45

•A IN G

•O

•L

•M

•L W

•F

•C 16 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2019

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www.mgcc.co.uk

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THE MG CAR CLUB PRESENTS

15-16 JUNE 2019 SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT

THE WORLD’S LARGEST MG SHOW

SAVE UP TO £14 OFF* BUYING ON THE GATE!

SUPER EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW! • CELEBRATING 95 YEARS OF MG WITH OVER 3000 MGs FROM THROUGH THE ERAS ON DISPLAY • ACTION-PACKED MG RACING ON TRACK INCLUDING GUEST RACES FROM PORSCHE CLUB GB, SUPER 2000 AND MINI! • OPEN PADDOCK & PITS - SEE THE CARS UP CLOSE • LIFESTYLE MARQUEE • MG MOTOR ARENA WITH STUNT SHOW • LIVE MUSIC AT THE VILLAGE GREEN ALL WEEKEND! • FAMILY-FRIENDLY FREE ENTERTAINMENT • CHILDREN 15 & UNDER GO FREE!

SUPER EARLY BIRD OFFER EXPIRES AT 10:00 ON 4TH MARCH!

£16 DAY

MG CAR CLUB MEMBER

£23 DAY

NON MEMBER £30 DAY ON THE GATE * SAVING REFERS TO BUYING A SUPER EARLY BIRD MEMBER DAY TICKET AT £16 VERSUS BUYING A TICKET ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT AT £30 ON THE GATE.

GET YOUR TICKETS AT WWW.MGLIVE.CO.UK MGSF_February2019_3-50.indd 17

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Club as quickly as possible to ensure they are processed in line with the ticket cut-off dates. Tickets will be available to purchase online at www.mglive.co.uk from 10.00am on Friday February 1.

MINI SE7ENS AND MINI MIGLIAS JOIN THE RACING ACTION AT MGLIVE! In addition to joining the March 30 Silverstone meeting, the Dunlop Mini Se7en and Mini Miglia Challenge supported by Mini Spares will be taking to the grid at MGLive!. Mini is having its 60th anniversary in 2019, adding to the celebrations taking place at MGLive!. A revolutionary design that influenced the cars of today and a cult classic designed by Sir Alec Issigonis, today Minis can be found racing in historic motorsport and across the classic car scene, being admired by young and old. Mini Se7en Racing Club and MG Car Club racing goes back a number of years, including the M7RC attending the MGCC 75/BMC Comps meet held in July 2005 at Silverstone Circuit, and 2019’s appearance is sure to be a real crowd-pleaser with packed grids promised.

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The already packed on-track programme will feature a doubleheader race for the Mini Se7en and Mini Miglia Challenge. On Saturday, spectators will be treated to two servings of historic motorsport’s icon with a 20-minute qualifying session, followed by a 20-minute race. The Minis will be back on track on Sunday for another 20-minute race, too.

SHOP TIL YOU DROP AT THE LIFEST YLE MARQUEE! This year’s Lifestyle Marquee is shaping up with a number of traders already confirmed! The Lifestyle Marquee is designed to highlight the best in local artisan craft and food producers, providing visitors with the chance to discover

something different and add a different facet to MGLive! Here’s a couple of our traders, with many more to follow! Busy Bee Books will be attending the event, selling Usborne Children’s books. Michelle can offer advice and help pick the right book for any child from newborn all the way to young adult. www.busybeebooks.co.uk Mei’s Homemade is a family business from Swindon and Mei specialises in vegetarian and vegan sauces and condiments which were originally developed as quick, tasty and healthy meals for her family and their on-the-go lifestyle. https://meishomemade.co.uk/



www.mgcc.co.uk

23/01/2019 17:16

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03/01/2019 10:58:40 23/01/2019 17:16

FEATURE

MGF:RACING INTO HISTORY T by David Coulthard

he MG Car Club has been involved with the racing history of the MGF from the very outset. Within a year of being launched in 1995, the first racing MGF hit the circuit as part of the MGCC Anglia Phoenix Championship in 1996. Of course, the Anglia Phoenix Championship lives on as the Peter Best Insurance-sponsored ‘MG Cup’. That first racing MGF was built by Gaydon Team Spirit, an ‘after hours’ team of Rover factory employees, based at the Rover Engineering Centre at Gaydon. The driver was Don Kettleborough, who is well known in MG circles for his development and engineering work on the MGF. Don’s racing MGF started life as a Quality Prototype phase four car (QP4), chassis number 48. ‘QP’ cars were used to iron out any issues encountered during the production line build process. It was a highly successful

debut for Don and the car, taking a race win at a very wet Silverstone on Saturday March 16 1996. Thanks to a 100% finishing record, success continued throughout the season, with Don and the red MGF eventually winning the Championship. On October 23 1997 during the Earls Court Motor Show, Rover Group and the MG Car Club made a joint announcement, proposing two race Championships specifically for the MGF, starting in 1998. One would be the high profile, big budget MGF Cup and the other, aimed at MG Car Club members, would be the multidisciplinary Abingdon Trophy. With the support of Rover Group, the MGCC Abingdon Trophy allowed the MGF owner to take part in races, sprints and hillclimbs in a mildly modified MGF. A kit could be purchased from Roversport, comprising all the parts a budding racing driver needed to start competing.

Don Kettleborough leading the Anglia Phoenix Championship in his MGF during the 1997 MGCC Cadwell Park race. Photo: Eric Metcalfe

For the BRDC organised MGF Cup, 30 identical and highly modified racing MGFs were built. The Championship supported the British Grand Prix and was part of the ‘Power Tour’ package for the British GT and Formula 3 championships. By coincidence, both championships had their first races on Sunday April 5 1998. The MGF Cup and the MGF Abingdon Trophy ran in parallel for the next three seasons, until 2001

Start grid for the 20th anniversary race, MGLive! last year. Photo: Dickon Siddall 20 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2019

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www.mgcc.co.uk

23/01/2019 17:16

FEATURE Lloyd Tredell sprinting his MGF in the Abingdon Trophy back in the late 90s. Photo: Peter Browning

when they merged to form the MGF Challenge, under the management of the MGCC. In 2003, the championship became the MGCC Mayflower MG Trophy and eventually today’s MG Trophy. Whist the MGF and TF were dropped from the MG Trophy a couple of years ago, cars continued to race in the MGCC Cockshoot Cup and MG Cup, plus the MGCC Speed Championship for sprints and hillclimbs. Following the success of last year’s Church Square Autos-supported MGF 20th Anniversary race at MGLive!, the Club is delighted to announce a series of races for the MGF and TF. Races will be held at each of our six race meetings in 2019. It is anticipated that the MGF races will initially be merged with either the Cockshoot Cup or MG Cup races as appropriate, until such time that numbers have grown sufficiently to support a stand-alone

a second for more ‘standard’ cars, in the spirit of the Abingdon Trophy. Assignment to a class will be at the organiser’s discretion, based upon the specification of the car. With the 25th anniversary of the launch of the MGF just around the corner in 2020, the Club looks forward to supporting the ongoing sporting history of this iconic sports car.

race. This has the added benefit that competitors will still be eligible to gain points for the Cockshoot Cup or MG Cup, in addition to the chance to win awards for the MGF/TF element of the race. The MGF/TFs will run in two classes: one for fully modified race cars in the spirit of the MGF Cup and

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FEBRUARY 2019 SAFETY FAST! 21

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EVENT REPORT

MG EVENT AT EXPO HOUTEN, HOLLAND By Colin Grant

from all over Europe. The doors were opened at 10.00am and, with over 2,000 people attending the show, we were soon busy selling our merchandise and talking to the many enthusiasts about our Club and MGLive! Many of the people we spoke to were members of our Club as well as the European Clubs, and had great pride in showing us their membership cards. One gentleman, Pim van de Veer, had been a member since the 1960s and recalled

Brisk business on the Car Club stand

e were invited to attend the 2019 MG Information and Spares Day at Expo Houten in Holland, which is the largest MG Fair in Europe. The MG Car Club Holland was one of the organisers of the event and felt it would be great to have the Mother Club attend so we could meet the many MG enthusiasts. Ineke and I were given a very warm welcome on arrival by the show organisers Kaj and Maria van Ginkel, and shown to the area where we

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could lay out our stand. We took vast amounts of Club merchandise items and after several hours had everything in place. The one-day show was held on Sunday January 6 with queues forming an hour or so before the show opened. It was held in two Halls, with cars for sale and Club stands being in the smaller hall and the main autojumble in the larger hall. With over 150 stands taken it was almost at capacity. The clubs in attendance were ourselves, the MGCC Holland, MGCC Belgium, MGCC Germany, and other MG Clubs

Beautiful Show winning F Type www.mgcc.co.uk

23/01/2019 17:16

FEATURE

his visit to the factory where he met John Thornley and Wilson McComb. The cars for sale area had some interesting cars up for grabs, including a lovely MGA Twin Cam, a European market MGF 75th Anniversary in silver, a ZT-T and a couple of MGB GTs. Apparently, they all sold quite quickly. The well-known MG specialist in Holland, MG Workshop, had arranged for a display of MGs outside the exhibition hall, showing some lovely examples of their restoration work. Also on display was a Frontline MGB GT with the proud owner on hand to discuss his car.

European Spec MGF 75th Anniversary for sale

The traders area was vast with an amazing selection of parts and accessories on sale.

MGF with 3737 stickers placed on it

An MGF with TF front grille was displayed with 3,737 stickers on it. The car is owned by Max De Canadese who said it was cheaper than a respray and certainly caused a lot of interest. A cake was awarded to the person who guessed the total numbers of stickers. Certainly food for thought. An award was given for the best car displayed at the show. It went to a beautifully restored MG F Type owned by Rene Hoogmoed, with an MG YA second, and a white MGA third. What impressed us most about our visit was the enthusiasm and technical knowledge of the people we met, and the support they get from their respective Club Registers. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good to see that the Marque of Friendship is alive and well in Europe!

MG Y Type taking second place in the concours

Frontline MGBGT on display Members of the MGCC Holland www.mgcc.co.uk

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FEATURE

A NICE DRIVE WITH ME DAD!

he pleasures of being a grown-up start with your son buying you a pint for the first time, but then again there are other upsides, too. I had never really intended buying an MG last year; however events took over and a forced career change led me to start looking for a new car for the first time in over 25 years and I have bought myself a very nice MGF. My parents, stuck for birthday gift ideas for the 54 year old, suggested that as I now owned an MG for the first time in 10 years “would I like membership of the MGCC?” which I thought was a super idea! Dad also suggested that as I am currently on “gardening leave” that I accompany him to the Club offices and we could have a look around. I haven’t been to Kimber House for many years and the weather was particularly fine, so “why not have a drive out in the MGF?” A beautiful Wednesday morning, hood down, windows and wind deflector up, round to Mum and Dads house to collect the man who taught me how to look at the world

By David Allison

The Black Horse at Gozzards Ford, a popular haunt of Sam Nash in the 1960s. Photo: Colin Grant

through octagonal-shaped eyes. We left Newbury towards Cold Ash and Hermitage, following the B4009 through Hampstead Norreys and down into Streatley, hang a left and follow the nose into Wallingford, then Dorchester, Culham and across the Thames into Abingdon. Parked up in front of the new Bill Wallis Suite at Kimber House. Dad introduced me to the many new faces at Kimber House, who in turn introduced us to visitors from Melbourne, Australia – happy An MGF pictured with the popular Prince of Wales pub, a short distance from the old factory site. Photo: Colin Grant

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octagonal tales shared before we went upstairs and I was re-enrolled with my old membership number and new car. I have to say that Kimber House is a wonderful place to visit. The Car Club merchandise is now very posh and the shop is well laid out and stocked with everything you could wish for – plus, there are wonderful objects d’art from the MG Car Clubs overseas and at home. I haven’t mentioned staff by name to spare their collective blushes – my Dad has been involved in the MGCC continuously since 1959 – but the greeting I received was as warm as I have come to expect of the MGCC family. We then went downstairs into the Bill Wallis suite and had a look at the extensive archives and factory memorabilia. Dad caught up with a former colleague, which is always great to watch and listen to. All too soon it was time for lunch (which is never a chore) so we leave

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03/01/2019 10:44:18 23/01/2019 17:17

Passing the Dog House on the MG test route, and heading in to the Oxfordshire countryside. Photo: Colin Grant

Cemetery Road and hang a left following a former MG Test Route, through Shippon and a stop at the Prince of Wales. Yes, I know it is only a short way (about half a mile) but this pub was one which Dad and his colleagues used to visit at lunchtime. A really classy roast beef sandwich and a glass of beer (well, it was a warm day!) and we were ready to make the turn for home. A right out of the Prince of Wales towards the aerodrome and then right again towards Sam Nash’s Office – The Black Horse at Gozzard’s Ford was where the former MG mechanic, Musketeer trials driver and latterly chief road tester, used to “hold court” when not on duty (and sometimes when he was on duty, too – we are talking 1965). On to Frilford and past another pub on the MG test route, The Dog House. I hasten to add that Sam never used to stop at more than one pub on his test route – he did share it around the 15 or so hostelries directly on his route, it was just carefully planned to make any stop worth staying for! Plus, of course, a pub car park was a useful place to get a car off the roadside and pubs always had a phone available for regular customers. He did, however, towards the end of his time at the factory, seek sanctuary at The Black Horse to avoid conversations he didn’t want to have! Dad said that it wasn’t a nice decision to implement, but while Dad was at the factory they started to roller test the cars instead – mostly because the roads had become too busy, but also they had a couple of near-misses and this was with cars which were effectively sold. Back to the route, a left at Frilford and on towards Venn Mills and then Grove, Wantage and then across the Downs back towards Newbury. The test route then went back along the A34, although earlier on in pre-war times it had been on the B4009 which we had taken in the morning. A route of around 60 miles in unbroken sunshine, a chance to see Berkshire and South Oxfordshire at their very best, plenty of hostelries along the route, and although they are no longer sanctioned by the road test staff, all of them looked and smelled rather super (they will all need checking out – I might need help). The route we took from Newbury and back takes in some of the most spectacularly beautiful countryside in Britain – a beauty which I think we all too often take for granted. Dappled sunshine through ancient woodland and treelined avenues. Vales, Downs, farmland, market towns and pretty villages – this route honestly has it all.

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SAM NASH Extract from Mike Allison’s article “The men who made MG”, the Triple-M Register Yearbook 2017. Cecil William Nash had always been “Sam”, and in my time was the foreman road tester. Before the war he had been a member of the original “Three Musketeers” trials team. His driving ability was wonderful, and took the place of Alec Hounslow or Fred Kindell as required, although from the 1936 season the cars became the property of the official team drivers when criticism from other teams was levelled at the Musketeers because they were all factory employees. Sam told me he was relieved, really, as he could not afford the “mess bills” like those of the trials drivers, who were all relatively wealthy men. However, this was not before Sam and the team won the 1935 Welsh Rally, the one event in which, rebodied with P-type bodies, the ex-TT NE Magnettes were successful. When those bodies were transferred to the “Musketeer Magnette” specials, Nash continued with Aramis until the end of 1935, after which the cars were sold to regular trials drivers. Nash, however, kept his steering wheel as a memento which I was instrumental in getting reunited with the car when John Reid bought it, and brought it to Abingdon around 1970. As it happens, Sam came onto my staff while we were trying to get roller testing installed at the factory to replace the old road tests… but if he was missing after lunch I always knew that I would find him at his “office” at the Black Horse at Gozzard’s Ford! Sam retired in 1967 to Southampton, and I kept in touch until he died a few years later.

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TECH TORQUE

The new LED wing mirror indicator for the driver’s side ready for fitment

THE MG6 FLASHER By Mike Knott

ith the earliest of the MG6s reaching nine years old, it’s inevitable that some parts will fail with age. age. Recently the indicator in the driver’s side wing mirror failed on my 2013 MG6. Searching through the various social media sites, I found I was not alone with this failure as it cropped up in several locations, with more people concerned about fixing it promptly now, due to it being an MOT failure. With the wing mirror indicators being a sealed LED unit there are no bulbs to replace, so it means replacing the unit itself. Thankfully you can now buy the unit on its own; at one stage you had to replace the whole of the wing mirror, which meant paying out £200+ for a genuine colour-coded new mirror unit. Companies such as https://tazoparts. co.uk now stock just the wing mirror indicators for a reasonable £30 per side. Fitting the new indicator LED unit is relatively straightforward, as shown in the following step-by-step guide.

The underside showing the three mounting points and the electrical connection

With the hazard lights going you can clearly see the old unit has failed on the drivers wing mirror

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Tilt the wing mirror glass towards the car using the adjuster in the car cockpit, slide you fingers behind the glass and pull gently to remove the glass from its clips

With the glass off, you can either unplug the two wires that heat the glass, or support the glass so you don’t put strain on the wires

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Undo the three crosshead screws holding the mirror mount in place. The first is located through the hole here

With the mirror mount out of the way you now have access to the LED indicator which is held in place with three screws. One is located above and one below the electrical plug (shown with the green wires)

The old LED unit can now be manoeuvred out of the mirror casing to the right, as shown in the photo

The second is easily accessible and located on the edge of the mirror mount

The third is a bit more fiddly and located in the slot in the middle of the mirror, shown here to the left of the wire

Slide the new LED indicator unit into position, plug in the two-pin electrical connector and check to make sure all is working ok before reassembling

The third is also easily accessible and located on the edge of the mirror mount

Unplug the electrical connector by pulling gently down on it. You may have to wiggle it slightly whilst pulling

Reinsert the two LED holding screws by the electrical connector, and the third through the slot shown in the photo. A magnetic screwdriver makes locating the third screw a lot easier

Relocate the mirror mounting and tighten the three crosshead screws (one in the hole top right, one in the left slot and the third in the bottom slot). Be careful not to overtighten as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re screwing them into plastic

Click the glass securely back onto the mounting plate, making sure you reconnect the heating element wires before doing so

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With the mirror back together, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to stand back and admire your handiwork and watch all the indicators working in unison as they should

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FEATURE

MANCHESTER XPAG TESTS Ethanol blended Petrol By Paul Ireland

Introduction A great deal has been written about petrol that contains ethanol (alcohol) by experts such as Barrie Jones of the T Register, some authors suggesting it may cause serious problems in older cars. In the UK, 95 octane and some premium brand fuels can contain up to 5% ethanol blended into the petrol. This is referred to as E5. In Europe and other parts of the world, petrol with 10% ethanol (E10) and greater concentrations are sold. These are often marked on the pump as E10, E15, etc. Unfortunately, in the UK, it is virtually impossible to tell if the petrol you are putting into your tank contains ethanol and, if so, at what concentration. Adding ethanol to petrol is not new. Cleveland Discol was introduced in 1928 and was sold until 1968, claiming to “contribute to a brilliant performance and better mileage because it keeps the engines cooler and cleaner”, “the perfect cold-weather fuel”. However, it is not known what percentage ethanol Cleveland Discol contained, making it difficult to compare with modern fuels. The good news, however, is that 40 years of use in what are now today’s classic cars did not appear to cause major failures of their fuel systems. While this article is not a definitive description of the issues of using ethanol blended petrol, it provides practical observations on the severity of some of the problems to allay some fears, but also to raise others.

Why add Ethanol to Petrol? It has been suggested that the initiative to add ethanol to petrol was driven by Governments trying to reduce a country’s dependence on imported fuel. This may or may not be true. One fact is true: adding ethanol does reduce carbon emissions and pollution. Firstly, the carbon in the ethanol comes from renewable sources, it is a by-product of the sugar industry and, as the tests at Manchester showed, it burns better than non-blended petrol producing less pollution. There is also a financial benefit for petrol companies, as the cost of producing ethanol is around 13% lower than petrol and it is not subject to UK fuel duty (which is currently 57.95p per litre plus VAT). Ethanol is also an octane booster, reducing the need for other octane boosters such as methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) and ferrocene that are now being added to petrol. These, in turn, replaced tetraethyl lead (TEL) that was used in leaded petrol before it was banned. Some brands of super grade fuels sold in the UK use ethanol to boost their octane rating. If you are using an ethanol blended fuel, it is important NOT to try to remove the ethanol as this will reduce its octane rating. Why is Octane rating Important? During the engine’s compression stroke the air/petrol vapour mixture is heated and, especially if there are incandescent

carbon deposits in the cylinder, the mixture can auto-ignite before the spark plug has fired. This causes a phenomenon called pinking or knocking when the engine makes a sound like a pebble being shaken about in an empty tin. Pinking can cause serious damage to an engine. A fuel’s octane rating is a measure of how resistant the petrol is to auto ignition. The higher the octane number the less likely it is to auto ignite and cause pinking. The only problem is there are two similar measures: Research Octane Number (RON) and Motor Octane Number (MOM). RON is determined by running the fuel in a test engine with a variable compression ratio and is the measure widely used in Europe. MOM is determined at 900 rpm engine speed instead of the 600 rpm for RON. Usually, MOM numbers are around 6-10 points lower than RON, which means 89 MOM is approximately the same as 95 RON. (MOM is commonly used in America and Canada).

How can you check if a Petrol contains Ethanol? It is relatively easy to determine if a fuel contains ethanol, BUT you must be VERY CAREFUL. Petrol vapour is highly flammable so care should be taken to ensure there are no naked flames, sources of sparks or similar anywhere near to where you test the fuel. The test is based on one of the

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FEATURE

problems with ethanol blended petrol, the fact that when water is present, the ethanol will be sucked out of the petrol and into the water, increasing the volume of the water. To perform the test, add some food colourant to a small quantity of water and pour it into a small bottle, such as a drinking water bottle. Place the bottle on a flat surface and put a mark at the top of the water. Fill the bottle to the top with the petrol you want to test. Put the lid on and shake. After the mixture has settled and the coloured water has dropped to the bottom, look at where the level of the water is. If it is above the line, the volume of the water has increased, proving that the petrol did contain ethanol. The two bottles in the picture were filled to the same level with red/brown dyed water, the petrol on the left does not contain ethanol and the one on the right does. The difference in height of the water is easy to see. (Note there is nothing at the bottom of the bottle, this is just an effect of the light on the indentation). When you have finished the test, remember to dispose of the petrol and water responsibly – do not just pour it down the drain!

What are the Problems with Ethanol? There are four potential problems with ethanol blended petrol: 1. It rots non-metallic components such as rubber hoses, seals, diaphragms and plastic floats. 2. It contains oxygen which weakens the mixture. 3. It is corrosive to metallic components such as the steel petrol tank and aluminium float chambers. 4. It absorbs water and can create a separate acidic layer underneath the petrol. The effect and seriousness of these problems are discussed in the following sections. Rots Rubber hoses, Seals, Diaphragms, etc. Ethanol blended petrol removes the plasticisers from the rubber and plastic components used in fuel systems, causing them to become brittle and crack. Old braided fuel hoses which have lasted for many years have been known to fail within weeks of being subjected to ethanol blended fuel. Most MG owners are fortunate to have an electric fuel pump which makes it very easy to detect most leaks in the

The bottles show that the petrol on the left does not contain ethanol and the one on the right does

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fuel system. When you come to start the car from cold, switch on the ignition and before you start the engine, just listen to the petrol pump. Normally an electric pump will click for up to 15 seconds or so as it replaces fuel lost by vaporisation from the carburettors and pressurises the system. This clicking should gradually slow and stop. If it doesn’t, you may have a leak in the fuel system or a problem with the petrol pump, leaking needle valves in the float chambers or a faulty float. In any case, this should be investigated. Note that if you are trying to restart a hot engine, then a continued clicking may be due to petrol vapour in the fuel pump or hoses. Is this tendency to rot hoses, seals, etc, a real problem? Probably not. These components are relatively cheap and easy to replace with ethanol-tolerant parts and in the older cars they would probably need to be replaced anyway, due to their age. However, it is important that owners are aware of this problem and keep a regular watch for any petrol leaks, especially if the fuel hoses are hidden inside a metal braiding. If your car is fitted with an electric fuel pump, make a habit of listening to the clicking. Enleanment Pure petrol is a mixture of hydrocarbons – it contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms. Hence, 1 litre (1000ml) of petrol contains 1000ml of hydrogen and carbon atoms. However, ethanol contains 35% oxygen atoms by weight, so 1 litre of E10 (with 10% ethanol) will only contain 965ml of hydrogen and carbon atoms. In effect, we are being “short changed”. All else being equal, a car that returns 30 mpg will only give 28.9 mpg when running on E10. However, as we found at Manchester, the XPAG engine ran more efficiently on ethanol blended fuels and it is quite possible E10 will give a better mpg despite containing less hydrocarbons.

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FEATURE

The replacement of hydrocarbons by oxygen has a second effect called enleanment. Carburettors deliver a precisely measured volume of fuel to a given volume of air. The ideal is called the Stoichiometric ratio, with 14.7 parts of air to one part of petrol. With this ratio there are exactly the correct number of oxygen atoms to combine with the hydrogen and carbon atoms when they burn to produce water and carbon dioxide. Adding ethanol to the petrol has a double effect. Not only does E10 reduce the number of hydrocarbons by 3.5%, it also increases the amount of oxygen in the mixture by a similar amount. This has the effect of weakening the mixture. Most carburettors are set slightly rich as standard, and the tests at Manchester showed they will cope with E5 without any adjustment. If E10 is used, they should be adjusted to make the mixture slightly richer. With the older SU carburettors this corresponds to screwing the adjusting nut DOWN by a half to one flat on the adjusting nut. On the HIF type the adjusting screw should be turned an eighth to a quarter of a turn clockwise. At higher concentrations of ethanol, SU carburettors will require slightly richer metering needles. Weber carburettors and mechanical fuel injection systems will need larger jets and possibly different emulsion tubes. Modern computerised fuel injection systems should adjust the mixture automatically. Enleanment does not appear to cause any practical problems with 10% or less ethanol added to the petrol. Corrosive to Metallic Components Corrosion of metals is a complex process, however; it can be caused by two different processes: 1. Oxidation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where oxygen combines with the molecules on the surface of the metal to create a metal oxide. This is most common when an acid comes into contact with a metal. 2. Galvanic corrosion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; occurs when two dissimilar, electrically connected

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metals are immersed in a liquid which is able to conduct electricity. This acts like a battery and as current flows, the positive anode corrodes. Galvanic corrosion is often the cause of electrical problems in classic cars where dissimilar metals in the connectors build up an insulating layer of metal oxide. Ethanol blended petrol causes both oxidation and galvanic corrosion to metals. Additives are available on the market that have been tested by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) who found their recommended additives reduced the severity of oxidation. However, some grades of petrol claim they already contain such additives. Fuel systems are made from a range of different, electrically connected metals, such as brass, copper, steel and aluminium. As a result you get galvanic corrosion when using ethanol blended petrol. The test I ran over one winter clearly demonstrates this. The picture shows the same piece of abraded aluminium sheet before the tests (left hand picture) and after spending three months immersed in E10 while electrically connected to a similar sized sheet of mild steel (right hand picture). The black dots on the right hand picture are galvanic corrosion pits.

Although I did not test the combination of stainless steel/ aluminium, electrical test suggests this combination will cause a higher level of galvanic corrosion than mild steel/ aluminium shown above. Other metal combinations, such as brass/aluminium or brass/steel, appear to be far less affected.

I have not tested the effectiveness of the additives in protecting against galvanic corrosion. However, voltage measurements across a mild steel/ aluminium cell containing E10 treated with additives showed an increase in voltage, suggesting the use of additives may make the galvanic corrosion worse. While ethanol blended petrol does cause galvanic corrosion, its effects appear to be relatively minor compared to the effect of water absorption. It will probably not create any practical problems. Water Absorption Ethanol blended fuel absorbs water vapour from the atmosphere. If the critical concentration of water is reached, the ethanol/water mix will separate from the petrol and form a layer underneath the petrol, just as shown in the test bottles shown above. In practice, it is unlikely you will experience this problem unless the fuel you used was nearly saturated or your car has been stored in a damp environment for a long time. What is a more serious threat is the ingress of water in liquid form. The fuel systems of classic MGs are far from waterproof. The filler cap is located where rain can easily get in and the float chambers have ticklers on them that can also allow water in.

The container after six months, showing the rusty petrol water mix

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FEATURE

It only requires one droplet of rain to enter a tank of ethanol blended petrol to cause a far greater problem. The droplet will not mix with the petrol. It will fall to the bottom of the tank where it will absorb ethanol. This droplet could also get pumped into the float chamber. Water containing ethanol is highly corrosive and, if the car is not being used, it will sit in the same place, corroding the base of the fuel tank or float chamber. This is something I have tested by mixing ethanol blended petrol with water then storing a piece of mild steel and a section of aluminium float chamber in that water. I am sure you can imagine how shocked I was when I opened the storage container used to hold the test (show in the left photo). Yes, they are still in there, hidden by the rusty water! The before and after pictures right show the piece of mild steel (left of the picture) and a section of a float chamber (right of the picture) used for this test. The degree of corrosion of both the steel and aluminium is extreme and it is hard to believe these are the same pieces of metal taken only six months apart.

The mild steel and section of float chamber before entering the container

The mild steel and section of float chamber six months later

The corrosion inside one of my float chambers

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The problem also shows itself in real life. This picture left shows similar corrosion inside one of my float chambers, probably caused by water getting in through the tickler pin when driving in the wet. You can see the dark line about 12 oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock on the bottom of the chamber caused by the corrosion. When I first looked into the float

chamber, there was what looked like a worm, sitting underneath the petrol at that point. This was almost certainly a small quantity of water. Once the water settles at the bottom of the petrol tank or float chambers, it will sit there absorbing ethanol from the petrol and corroding the metal. Not only is the degree of corrosion seen in

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FEATURE

this case far greater than the galvanic corrosion reported above, the problem will occur regardless of the concentration of ethanol. In other words, while the degree of galvanic corrosion increases with ethanol concentration, corrosion from water which has absorbed ethanol will be just as bad with E5 or petrol with lower ethanol concentrations. Unfortunately, the additives sold to protect fuel systems against ethanol give no benefit. While they will mix with the petrol, they will not mix with the ethanol/water mixture. The problems caused by water getting into the petrol system are not new. Even with petrol that does not contain ethanol, any water that gets into the fuel system will sink to the bottom of the tank or float chambers and cause corrosion, particularly to steel petrol tanks. Ethanol blended petrol just makes the water more corrosive. I believe this poses the greatest threat of using ethanol blended petrol. Hot restart problem It is worth mentioning what is known as the Hot Restart Problem. This describes the problem where, once stopped, a hot engine will not restart and is caused by the petrol boiling in the carburettor. As ethanol has a relatively low boiling point of 78.4 °C some people have suggested it may make the Hot Restart Problem worse. The tests at Manchester showed that this is definitely NOT the case. By 75°C, 43% of a branded 95 octane petrol without ethanol had evaporated, while only 35% of a super grade petrol with ethanol had evaporated. The petrol with the ethanol was LESS volatile than the unblended 95 octane petrol. However, the reduction in volatility may be due to the fact that the less volatile petrol was a super grade blend rather than the effects of ethanol. Certainly, many classic car owners have reported that their cars run better on super grade petrol than on normal 95 octane.

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The tests also showed that ethanol blended petrol burned more efficiently than non-blended petrol. For a given load, the exhaust gas temperatures will be lower when using ethanol blended petrol, creating less heat under the bonnet, reducing temperatures and the effects of petrol vaporisation. Ethanol blended petrol appears to reduce the severity of the hot restart problem, not make it worse.

for modern carburettors. In both cases they were coated to prevent corrosive damage. Coatings protect against both oxidation and galvanic corrosion. Perhaps the most satisfactory solution is to slosh coat the inside of the petrol tank with an ethanol-proof paint. Unfortunately, I have not found any similar products that can be used to coat the inside of the float chambers. Suggestions would be most welcome.

Solutions The only practical solution to avoid the problems caused by ethanol blended petrol is to use a fuel known to be ethanol free, such as Sunoco Optima 98, a specialist storage petrol. While this cannot be bought at a filling station, it can be ordered direct from the Anglo American Oil Company via their web shop (www.aaoil.co.uk) or by telephone on 01929 551557. Be aware: the law limits the amount of petrol that can be stored in a garage, or anywhere within six metres of a dwelling, to 30 litres. Sunoco Optima 98 is approximately twice the price of pump fuel; however its long shelf lifetime and excellent combustion properties make it an option worth considering for low mileage vehicles. If you are using pump fuels, you do not know if they are ethanol blended or not. The composition of a particular brand or grade may change day-on-day. For example, two samples of branded 95 octane petrol bought in Manchester at the same filling station within days of each other were different. One sample contained ethanol, the other did not. Great care should be taken to avoid getting water (eg rain water) into either the petrol tank or carburettor float chambers. Perhaps it is worth draining the petrol tank and float chambers once a year and allowing them to dry to ensure no water/ethanol mix remains. Possibly the most satisfactory solution is demonstrated by modern practice. For the tests at Manchester, I was sent drums of petrol and replacement parts

Conclusion While there are issues, it appears that ethanol blended petrol is not the “baddie” that some people fear. As far as I am aware, there are two practical problems owners need to be aware of: rotting petrol hoses and seals and, more serious, the severe corrosive effects of any water that may get into the petrol. On the positive, the tests at Manchester showed the engine ran better on ethanol blended petrol. The first problem is something that can occur in older vehicles, as age as well as ethanol causes degradation of fuel hoses, etc. The second, water in the petrol, can be avoided with care. Slosh coating fuel tanks will significantly reduce this risk. Be aware: stainless tanks may not be the answer. Stainless steel can be attacked by acid such as the water/ ethanol mix and it may cause more severe galvanic corrosion to any aluminium parts such as the tank petrol level sender. It may be worth getting replacement stainless tanks slosh coated as well. I believe ethanol blended petrol is here to stay and, over time, concentrations of ethanol will rise. I hope this article will reduce owners’ worries and help them be better prepared for this when it happens. The MG Car Club takes no responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material or information in these articles, and the opinion of the author is his own and the Editor and the MG Car Club are not bound to agree with those opinions.

FEBRUARY 2019 SAFETY FAST! 37

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23/01/2019 17:19

TRIPLE M NEWSLET TER CATHELIJNE SPOELSTRA CATHELIJNESPOELSTRA@OUTLOOK.COM +31 (0)6 41216600 WWW.TRIPLE-MREGISTER.ORG

WELCOME TO THE TRIPLE M NEWSLETTER Welcome to these four pages of snippets. Something with finding my feet and such, please bear with me as I develop some sort of a plan for future spreads... Events Ahead In a week or two the International MG

and Triumph Spares Day – ‘Stoneleigh’ for short – will be upon us again, on February 10. The Committee are currently finalising what to do with the stand, but I’ve heard there’ll be a slideshow of Colin Murrell’s fantastic photographs of Triple-Ms in action

which will no doubt be worth a viewing. There will also be two cars on display, one of which should be of particular historical interest. I won’t give anything away, though, you’ll just have to go and see for yourself. Please say hello to everyone from me!

new on November 24 1931. The registration indicates it was supplied to him by University Motors, the London-based dealers who had most of the cars they sold issued with MG registration numbers. Unfortunately, there is no evidence to suggest the car has survived. Then, onwards to the car in hand, the Montlhéry Midget! I’m afraid I have no idea which car it is actually… Well, ‘no idea’ is overdoing it a bit: I do have a hunch, but no hard facts to actually prove my theory. Simon Johnston, our Yearbook Editor, was able to establish that ‘AZ 7852’ is a Northern Irish registration number, or more accurately from Belfast. However, there is no evidence of any of the C-types ever having been sold to Ulster. One of the first batch of 14 was indeed sold to Ireland in 1931, but we all know that’s quite a separate country, don’t we? However, by way

of elimination, this Ireland-sold car is really the only one eligible: C0259 was sold to Ireland, then competed in the Irish Grand Prix on June 5 1931 after which; nothing! It transpires the car was then sold to Ulster where it received its AZ number and was then sold on again to end up back on the mainland where it was yet again for sale in November 1932 as per the photograph. Or was it in for servicing or repairs only? There are pictures of the Irish Grand Prix showing the car in the exact same colour scheme as the car at C.A. Paul’s seems to have, so that’s another snippet that adds up. The next thing that is known about C0259 is that it was in Kendal up in the Lake District by June 1935 after which, again; nothing! Anyone in the Cumbria area want to go and roam the countryside for some nice old barns to do a find?

CAR OF THE MONTH Following on from what has been suggested since enquiring in last month’s notes, we’ll simply be running through the alphabet and so the next Car of the Month is inevitably my favourite, a Montlhéry Midget or C-type. People who actively browse our forum will have already seen this stunning photograph of Cyril Alban Paul’s premises at 51 The Mall, Ealing, in November 1932, but I thought it worth giving it a wider audience. The photograph was first published in The Light Car & Cycle Car and the caption read ‘Ancient and Modern – an interesting array at the showrooms of C.A. Paul, the Mall, Ealing. The cars, from left to right, are a Montlhéry Midget, a 1903 50 h.p. Napier, an M.G. Magna, a 1898 M.M.C. Daimler and a 1933 J.1 M.G. Midget.’ Purists, note the dots in M.G., but even the one in J.1! Looking at the J for a minute, the four-seater version of the famous J2, it seems as if it sports the door line of the D-type, its predecessor whose leftover bodies were used up on the J1. This would indicate the J1 is actually an early 1932 example of the model. I suppose, much like they do today, they were trying to pass it as newer than it actually is. ‘MG 1383’ is the F1 that the Earl of March (of Goodwood fame) bought

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TRIPLE M NEWSLET TER

KIMBER CLASSIC TRIAL Skip all other commitments that day. You need to be in West Coker in loveliest Somerset on Saturday April 13! The South West Centre’s Kimber Classic Trial is an absolute highlight in the MG Car Club’s list of annual events. Having been run consistently since its inception in 1937 (well, alright, there’s a gap of a few years, of course) it is in fact the oldest event on the Club’s calendar. The point of the exercise is to navigate the beautiful Dorset and Somerset countryside while trying to storm up some 10-12 muddy and rocky and treacherous hills and cow fields along the way. The route should be about 80-100 miles long, and with plenty of cars sort of struggling up the hills or through the famous Alham Splash, there is plenty of time for socialising during the day while you queue! People who regularly compete (or take part, anyway…) will know most of the hills, even though they vary annually when it comes to how easy or difficult they may be to tackle, with the weather being quite different year in year out. We’ve had hail, we’ve had tropical heat and pretty much everything in between. Anyway, I’ve heard a rumour that Clerk of the Course Bruce Weston is currently trying out famous hills such as Honeycliffe, Batcombe and – my personal favourite – Hell’s Ladder, and may even manage to include one or two fresh ones. For people who have yet to enter their first ‘Kimber’: Please come along and join in the fun and soon all these historic hills will be as familiar to you as they are to regular competitors. If you don’t (yet) have a Triple-M car, or you have one but feel uncomfortable to go trialling with it just yet, by all means bring your other car. Be they T-types, MGAs, Midgets or MGBs; the event is equally suited to all models and should give you a taste

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of history and a flavour of what you and your car are capable of together. You might surprise yourself and turn out to be really good at it! Don’t forget to bring a bouncer in the form of a passenger who can shift his or her weight to the back axle for extra traction when you’re plodding up the hills, quite essential! Oh, and it has been decided by the organising team that a one-off

prize will be awarded this year to the best-performing M-type to celebrate the 90th anniversary. In the event of a draw the oldest chassis number will win. M-types being particularly suited to trialling, I hope we get to see many of them in action this year. More info can be obtained from Secretary of the Meeting, Andrew Owst, at andrewowst@hotmail.com or give him a ring on 01761 221893

www.mgcc.co.uk

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TRIPLE M NEWSLET TER

QUARTERLY QUIZ

To be in with a chance of winning this wonderful card model kit which comes courtesy of the Dutch MGCC’s MG Nieuws, all you have to do is tell me what car this is above and and you might spend a happy evening cutting and glueing together your very own K3. Extra points for knowing where, who and when, although that won’t give you any more of a chance than anyone just

submitting the correct model. Having said that, I do need to hear the actual chassis number, model alone is not enough. All correct answers will then go into the hat and I’ll draw a winner.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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Emails to the above address before February 20, please. If (what I deem) a sufficient number of people submit the correct answer, I’ll know to make the next one a bit harder. So, to work!

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TRIPLE M NEWSLET TER

TRIPLE-M RACING The racing season ahead promises to be another ‘bumper one’ as Mark Dolton, our Race Co-ordinator, would call it and so he well may, for the resurrection of Triple-Ms racing is truly astounding. Of course, there have always been a few die-hards who kept on racing, mainly with the VSCC, and a double bravo to them, but a grid of eight or more cars would have been hard to establish in those days. And look at the scene now! Even though the Grand Prix circuit used at MGLive! makes it more or less impossible for Triple-Ms to race at that event, Mark has since – together with our own MGCC – worked hard to get us a spot at the Club’s Brands Hatch

spring meeting which is now in its fifth year. This event is highly sociable and entertaining for racers and enthusiasts alike. To aid with costs and such, Baynton Jones has been head sponsor since that first race in 2015 and a bunch of ‘race partners’ have also been continuing their support, witness the logo for the 90th anniversary. Only a few more months and the race for the Mary Harris Trophy will be upon us once more. The racers welcome all enthusiasts to come and join the social bit, Triple-M driver or owner or not. Having attended all of them as a spectator, I can personally vouch for the magnificence of the whole thing.

It truly is a spectacle to behold, to see some 30 Triple-Ms battle it out; Castrol R reaching your nostrils, crisp exhaust notes making your ear drums vibrate, superchargers whining straight through your heart, yes please!

CHAMPIONS Some 150 Triple-Ms have been out and about with their owners during 2018 and claimed points for our Register championships which Mike Linward (Competition Secretary of the Century or so it seems; he’s been doing it forever!) has painstakingly been keeping track of. He’s accumulated lists and lists of points and scores and performance indexes and whatnot and he can now present the top three for 2018: Car of the Year is Brian Galbraith’s J2 which was driven by himself, son Toby and Colin MacLachlan over the season, mainly in sprints and hill climbs. J2s to the fore! Next up is John Gillett’s K3, the ex-Bira car which has spent the past few years in the UK after having lived in Australia most of its life. The car usually hibernates at Brooklands and when the season starts anew, John flies in to take the car racing, sprinting and hill climbing, but he also uses it for simple and straightforward touring. Nothing so versatile as a Triple-M car. Number three is Andrew Morland’s L1 Magna. Andrew has managed to somehow turn a sort of bulky fourseater tourer into a rather quick racing

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Toby Galbraith driving the Car of the Year at the VSCC Prescott Hill Climb on the Long Course back in September. Photo: Colin Murrell

car which looks quite the piece when you see it go round the track. Again, a sign of versatility! The Betty Haig Cup for racers was won by Mike Painter and his Kayne Special which is an ultra-fast amalgamation of a J and a P-type. Runner-up is Fred Boothby with his J2 which looks like a lovely slab-tanked Montlhéry Midget in a sort of duck egg blueish colour and is surprisingly quick, but then its driver has been racing consistently for some 52 years now, which should count for some experience, I suppose!

The Slade Trophy for the best triallist goes to Bill Bennett, to which I could basically add “as ever”. There are a few people trying hard to beat him, trialling their J2s and M-types, but they usually only stand a chance when Bill cannot for some reason compete. Bill’s car is another amalgamation of a J and a P-type. Is there a lesson in here somewhere? Last but not least: The Speed Championship spoils also go to Brian Galbraith’s J2 closely followed by Tim Sharp’s supercharged PB. Congratulations to all!

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MIDGET NEWSLET TER MIKE PARKER MIKEPARKER78@BTINTERNET.COM WWW.MIDGETREGISTER.COM

WELCOME TO THE MIDGET NEWSLETTER Welcome to the first bumper Midget spread of the year. We’ve got a packed year ahead, which kicks off with our now annual pilgrimage to Stoneleigh for the MG and Triumph spares show, held on February 10. We’ve got a trio of cars on display, including John Heap’s Zetec engine Midget and the Clark’s sprint and hillclimb Midget that was the November 2018 Safety Fast! cover star. If you’re heading to the Stoneleigh show come and find our stand, where

you’re assured of a warm welcome. In this month’s newsletter we’ve got some event reports from last year, including the popular Midget Register Road Run (date for this year is September 1) and the Midget Weekender. If the report on the weekend event whets your appetite, the details of the Midget Register tour 2019 are that it’s going to take place around the Brecons on Monday 16 to Thursday September 19 2019. We’ll be staying at the Llanerchindda

Farm Guest House, near Llandovery. The owners of the guest house are planning day excursions of about 100 miles, for those that are interested. We have spaces for 9-10 cars; for more details contact me on 01235 525255 or email at mikeparker78@ btinternet.com We round off this month’s newsletter with a few Midget racing shots taken by the effervescent Dickon Siddall. Enjoy. Mike Parker

THE FAMOUS FIVE MIDGETS SEEK A WICKED WITCH (with due deference to Enid Blyton) The Fourth Midget Register Weekender returned to Somerset in July after a lapse of a year, this time in the east of the county. A small contingent of five cars, less the Midget of Anne and John Dorney who unfortunately broke down en route, assembled at the Wookey Hole Hotel on Friday evening. The Midgets of Mike and Caroline Parker, Dennis and Linda Wharf, Mark and Caroline Jackson, Graham and Carole Springthorpe and the MGC of Rob and Carole gathered at the venue nestled in the Mendip Hills. The location of Wookey Hole Caves tourist destination offered lots of distractions, but in a quiet valley with views across Somerset to Glastonbury Tor. The planned route intended to provide experience of the varied landscapes of the area, from steep inclines to undulating moorland lanes, with a lunch stop at the Haynes Motor Museum. Informative directions using tulips, instructions and points of interest to note on the drive were given to each

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Looking towards Bristol from a high point during the run

car along with a MG quiz to keep us amused over the weekend. Saturday morning dawned bright and hot. Midgets and the MGC, masquerading as a Midget, set off, leaving Wookey immediately up a step and narrow climb up on to the Mendips. We stopped to gaze over the moors to the south, with the Quantock Hills, Blackdown Hills, Alfred’s Tower and Minehead clearly visible in the distance. After a brief stop to allow

the cars to cool, we then drove on to Priddy where the annual folk festival was in full swing. Navigating the crowds, the route took us across the top of the Mendips, past ancient iron ore pits and then down the beautiful Cheddar Gorge. The route then took us through the ancient village of Axminster where a farmers’ market was under way in the square, the location of King Charles I’s hunting lodge (now the museum) and

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MIDGET NEWSLET TER

The Lamb, a 16th century coaching inn. A narrow road out of the village past many old cottages was negotiated carefully without incident. After a stop for fuel on the A38, we crossed the Somerset countryside to the beautiful old village of Wedmore, where another farmers’ market was in full swing, closing the road through the middle of the village. With no diversion signs out, cars parked along its narrow streets and a coach trying to negotiate its way around the obstruction, it was only after a lot of manoeuvring backwards and forwards to allow the coach to pass before returning the way we had come to divert around the mayhem that we could continue. (A little local knowledge is so very helpful when organising a road run!) Now running a little behind schedule, we ran down onto the peat moors west of Glastonbury and a coffee stop was required. Fortunately Sweets Tea Room, a popular top-up place for cyclists and bikers, appeared so we all pulled in. Thirty minutes later we were on the move again to experience the lanes across the peat moors, which many will know probably have some of worst undulating road surfaces to be found. Surprisingly, no one suffered from “mal de mer” but low exhausts were severely tested. Next we ran along the top of Street Hill, giving great views to the north and south. Glastonbury Tor and

Glastonbury Tor towards the left, seen from another high point during the run.

Wells Cathedral were clearly visible in one direction and villages of south Somerset in the other. The route then ran east towards Castle Cary before taking to a country lane which wound its way to Sparkford and the Haynes Motor Museum where a lunch stop was planned. Refreshed, and after the appropriate group photo had been taken, the band of happy Midgets took to the road again, this time northwards towards Castle Cary and Shepton Mallet (site of the oldest prison in England). Having avoided incarceration, the road book led us towards Wells, which was approached via the village of Dulcote, offering a splendid view of Wells Cathedral. The ancient city of Wells was basking in the late

afternoon sun as we drove through the high street before making our way back to Wookey Hole. There, after an enjoyable tour of Somerset, in front of the hotel was the elusive Witch of Wookey. On the Sunday morning several of us took to the moors again and drove to Glastonbury, where secure parking had been arranged at the family-owned Rapsons Garage, in times past an MG dealership. After a morning spent wandering around the interesting and bizarre town overlooked by Glastonbury Tor (considered centre of the universe by some) we all made our way back home. All in all, a great weekend in lovely weather and countryside. Don’t miss out on the next weekend away! Graham Springthorpe

Enjoying the Summer Sun! MG’s at Saturday lunchtime during a visit to The Haynes Motor Museum.

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MIDGET NEWSLET TER

MIDGET REGISTER ROAD RUN 2018

On Sunday September 2 MGs of all persuasions (Midgets, TCs, As, Bs, BGTs, Fs, TFs and an RV8) converged from many counties in England and Wales on the Motor Hub, Bibury, Gloucestershire, for this year’s Road Run. We were welcomed at the entrance by Steve Clark, Mike and Caroline Parker, and Pete Chaundy who organised the event. After lining up our MGs in the grounds of what was part of a WW2 RAF Fighter Command Base, we inspected some of the magnificent cars on display in the old Hub hangar. After a bite to eat at the on-site stalls, cars started their Run from about 10.00am, following Pete’s briefing notes and Tulip Guide instructions. The route took us through many typical

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The photos show MGs galore at Stowe House andLandscaped Gardens, the end point of the Midget Register Road Run

Cotswold villages, along narrow roads, and past scenic views across open countryside. The route included the delightful towns of Northleach and Bourton-on-the-Water, and the villages of Icomb, Upper Oddington and Swerford with their local stone and thatched-roof houses. Later we passed through the villages of Stoke Lyne and Hethe, and Fulwell and Shalstone before approaching Stowe House and Landscaped Gardens. We were given permission to park our MGs in front of the entrance arch where the House can be seen in the distance – the setting was magnificent! Some of us took the opportunity to walk around the grounds with their temples, lakes and vistas, and there was a very nice restaurant near the entrance. We had ideal weather for our Run, and it was very rewarding meeting up with old friends and making new friends. Many thanks to the Midget Register Committee for arranging the event, with particular thanks to Pete Chaundy, Mike Parker and Steve Clark. Mark Jackson

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MIDGET NEWSLET TER

THE MGCC LACKFORD ENGINEERING MG MIDGET AND SPRITE CHALLENGE Here is a selection of photos from the various rounds held last year, photographed by Dickon Siddall. If you want to watch these cars in action, the race dates for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Midget and Sprite Challenge are: April 27-28 Brands Hatch, June 15-16 MGLive! at Silverstone, July 4-5 Donington Park, August 26 Castle Combe and October 5 Snetterton.

Nick Day in the morning mist at MGLive! Silverstone

David Morrison in his class A Midget at Silverstone

Edward Easton leading a gaggle at Brands Hatch

Pippa Cow leading Paul Clanfield at Snetterton

The Frogeye of Robin Lackford being chased by Ian Burgin, with Steve Collier ready to overtake at Donington Park

Mamba Motorsport Midget of Richard Bridge at MGLive!

The class A Midget of Stephen Pegram heading out around Silverstone during MGLive!

Andrew McGee at Brands Hatch

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MGB NEWSLET TER DAVID BROADHURST NEWSLET TER-EDITOR@MGB-REGISTER.ORG 01209 614704 WWW.MGB-REGISTER.ORG MGBFORUM.MGB-REGISTER.ORG

WELCOME TO THE MGB NEWSLETTER I was scratching my head and wondering what to put in this four-page spread when content arrived from Roger Boys and, to my astonishment, from Australia! It’s good to get confirmation that one’s

ramblings reach far and wide. Thank you, Gentlemen. It only remains for me to remind you of the Register AGM to be held at Kimber House on Saturday March

23 at 11.00am and the Spring Run on Sunday April 7 starting at Millet’s Farm, Abingdon. Details, of course, on the Register website www.mgb-register.org

THE BICESTER HERITAGE SCRAMBLE Christmas has come and gone, the Boxing Day Run was great fun in the cold, so now it’s some time before the MGB can be used again. Oh no, it’s not – the first Bicester Heritage Scramble was on January 6. “Let’s go,” I said to friend Tony. So on a cold winter morning I got the Boneshaker out and set out on the 50-mile drive to this excellent event. There was a really old-fashioned queue when we arrived, full of a wide variety of classic cars waiting to get in. When we got into the massive site we quickly found the MG parking area, organised for the MGF Register by Ian Worzel Wright, there were in the region of 70 other MGs parked up. Then it was off to explore the site. There is a fantastic variety of cars on display, ranging from VW split-screen campers right through to beautiful Rileys via 1930s Bentleys to a 2018 McLaren super car. The pre-war cars this year were in the main hanger again with

a wonderful variety of splendid cars. It was “tyre kicker’s” heaven! There are a number of classic cars specialist companies who open their doors to display their skills. It was interesting to see that Vintage Tyres were now on the site and happy to answer questions. The same applied to Classic Oils who are experts on all lubrication products available for classic cars and generously provided the oil for the MGB Marathon Car during the rebuild. Also, there are numerous high-end restoration companies showing some absolutely amazing cars that most of us can only dream about unless the Lottery has come up trumps. The food sites were doing a roaring trade as they became the focal point for meeting up with friends and a warmup with a bacon butty and coffee. The PopBangColour Studio completing an amazing art work on the floor with lots of paint and electric model cars as paint

A good selection of over 70 MGs on display. Photo: Ian Worzel Wright

www.mgcc.co.uk

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The MGB Register banners proudly being displayed by a variety of MGs. Photo: Ian Worzel Wright

brushes made an interesting and very messy contrast to all the magnificent cars on display. It proved to be a great day out, which perhaps you should add to your diary for 2019. There are numerous similar events on during the year, including Drive it Day. Take a look at the website www. bicesterheritage.co.uk Remember that it’s situated only a mile away from the famous Bicester Village Outlet Centre, so it would be possible to drop your partner there for a shopping experience, providing you have deep pockets! I didn’t remind Nicky about it this year! Roger Boys

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MGB NEWSLET TER

THE 1968 LONDON TO SYDNEY MARATHON

The Marathon B ready for the radiator change.

Peter Briggs has sent us the following from Australia. It follows on from what we knew about Jean Denton’s adventures. The London to Sydney Marathon in 1968 with Jean Denton’s MGB story was featured in recent editions of Safety Fast!. This has brought back a lot of memories for the Western Australian MG Car Club members. Particularly now that the original car has recently been discovered. I was a Foundation Member of the Club in 1962, which was the first “all model” MG Car Club in WA. At the time, in 1968, I had an MGB and I now own an MG NE and an MG K3 Chassis

The holed radiator is resting against Jean Denton’s legs as Tom Boyce continues ﬁtting the radiator to the MG.

Members of the Western Australian MGCC greet the boat bringing the Marathon crews.

3003 and an MG Airline Coupe. In 1968, whilst I was President, I had a call from your Club in London to say that Jean Denton was in the London to Sydney Marathon and would we look after her whilst she was in WA, which naturally I accepted. This was like a Club Event and my fellow Club Member Richard Ashton takes up the story from here: “The London to Sydney Marathon event started in London Earls Court, November 24 1968. One of the entrants was an MGB No 47 being entered and driven by Jean Denton and co-driven by Tom Boyce.

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www.mgcc.co.uk

23/01/2019 16:33

MGB NEWSLET TER

Jean inspecting the holed radiator

Jean Denton

The rally was routed through Europe. Paris, Turin, Belgrade to Istanbul across the Bosporus by ferry, then on to Asia via Kabul, to Delhi on its way to Bombay, India. On December 5 they were transported by sea to Fremantle where we waved Jean in. The first check point was at Youami, a deserted old mining town seven hours away from Perth. Some of us went there to be on standby. The second group were split into two and three. One group were to go to the end of stage two at Marvel Lock for 5.00am onward and the following morning for an expected 7.00am arrival of the MGB. The second group would go on to Norseman, to be on standby for an anticipated 10.00am arrival. Although it was not an official check point, it was a stop for fuel and service point, before

The Marathon MGB raring to go

the big crossing through to Ceduna in South Australia on the old road, a journey expected to be some six hours and 18 minutes. From the start at Gloucester Park at 6.00pm for the first cars, it would be 1.00am to expect the MG to reach Youami. A further

Tom Boyce ďŹ nishing the radiator change whilst others check over the MGB

www.mgcc.co.uk

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four hours to Marvel Lock by 5.00am. Then on to Lake King by 7.00am. Considering that it would take the field about an hour to get on their way, we had adjusted times for us to be in place. 50 kms after leaving Lake King on the way to Norseman, Jean and Tom and the MG became briefly airborne

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MGB NEWSLET TER

Heading out from a BMC Service Centre

No. 47 was on its way. We also reversed and made our way back the way we came. Back at Norseman, with Jean and Tom well gone; we caught up with our remaining MG crew. They had seen them through and on their way to cross the Nullarbor. In my radiator-less MGB, my wife Ronda and I were towed through to Esperance, after receiving promises that a new radiator would be sent down on the overnight trucking service from Perth. It’s amazing how cold a car can become with no engine heat from up front. MGB No 47 got through to

Sydney and finished in 42nd place. After leaving Ronda and I to wait for the radiator, the rest of the MG Car Club team drove back home to Perth the next day. We had a forced but happy break at Esperance, even though we were on shanks’s pony and forced to live frugally, owing to not having much cash with us, as we had to wait for the Rural & Industries bank to open. Three days later a new radiator turned up after much telephoning through to Perth. Radiator fitted, which today is still in the car, we were on our way back home.”

16,625

over a “jump” section. They were going a little too fast and applied the brakes too suddenly. When the car hit the road, the engine kept going and the fan went through the core of the radiator. They patched up the radiator as best as possible and sent forward a message to us who were anxiously waiting at Norseman. Finally the message came through via another competitor that they were in trouble half way across from Lake King. At the toss of a coin, which I lost, my radiator was sacrificed to the cause, and quickly removed from my car. Away we went; about six suddenly MG Car Club radiator experts were sandwiched into three cars, complete with a dripping radiator, a toolbox and water. We found them about 30 miles into the Lake King Norseman track. Jean and Tom were running slowly toward us, after having blocked off the engine water pipes, they had had no success with trying to patch up the radiator. They had crawled along mile after mile with the heater going full bore. When the engine frequently got too hot, they would stop and wait for things to cool down and slowly move on again. With repairs quickly made, MGB

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23/01/2019 16:34

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23/01/2019 12/12/2018 16:34 16:37

OUT & ABOUT

OUT & ABOUT Walter and Brigitte Kallenberg with TD pictured with beautiful Scottish scenery

MGs at the South African National Museum of Military History during a major event organised by Norman and Pat Ewing, which raised 5,500 rand for the museum

Claire Rolfe in a 1930 MG M Type (with a Riley engine) competing in the VSCC Cotswold Trials Newcomers class. Photo: Colin Murrell

Nigel Gladwin’s MG Magnette MEV388 which celebrated its 60th Birthday on November 13 2018. Nigel is the third generation owner, and decided to take it on and make it roadworthy again two years ago, after being garaged for 14 years (or more) since his dad died. Nigel’s dad had previously restored it over many years after purchasing it from his dad, in the early 80s

Brian Fisk’s Primrose MGC GT photographed looking resplendent in the dappled light

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www.mgcc.co.uk

23/01/2019 16:34

Dave Rushton in a 1932 MG M Type. Dave set the standard for being the most airborne, during the VSCC Cotswold Trial. Photo: Colin Murrell

A trio of South West Centre members’ cars pictured at Iford Manor, near Bradford-on-Avon, during a 2018 hot summer’s day. Photo: Warren Marsh

Out on a road run during the MGCC d’Italia’s popular MG by the Sea event. Photo: Hiroshi Tachika

www.mgcc.co.uk

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MG GS spotted in Luang Prabang, Laos, whilst holidaying in January 2019. Photo: Peter Cope

A selection of MGs at Shin-Nishinomiya Yacht Harbour, near Kobe, photographed during the Meet the MG event. Photo: Hiroshi Tachika

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www.mgcc.co.uk

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RACE TORQUE

John Pearson (Equipe), Geoff St John Mitchell and Rob Cull (Equipe)

by Mark Baulch

Great British Marques Reunited in Historic Year It was a very busy four days for the race organising team at the Autosport International Show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham in January. MG Car Club had two MG Trophy Championship MG ZRs and a Metro GTi representing the MG marque, as well as numerous Club members both assisting with and visiting the stand. A lot of interest was shown in racing with us and a healthy list of email addresses to follow up on was taken from the event.

Steve Kevlin (Porsche Club GB) and John Hutchison www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_February2019_51-98.indd 59

The show is a fantastic networking opportunity and allowed us to finalise arrangements with some of our racing guests this year. We are delighted to confirm that we will be welcoming back some of our regular guests. Fellow British marque Morgan will join us again and we are also able to look forward to more big grids from our friends at Equipe, often with a good number of British marques being represented, including Jaguar, Lotus and, of course, MG itself. Porsche will thunder around some of the tracks with us, too, and we welcome their return. In 1959, a certain little frontengined, front wheel drive car rolled off the production line for the first time and not only went on to be produced in millions, but become prolific in motorsport, attaining the heady heights of World Rally Championship wins in places like Monte Carlo, and thrashing much bigger cars around the race tracks of Britain in Touring Car Championships. It is therefore very pleasing for me to be able to report that Minis will return to racing

with MG in this 60th anniversary year, at Silverstone in March and then at MGLive! for the first time in many years. These little cars continue to compete at all levels, from grass roots auto testing and club-level rallying, to track racing and more. With so many shared values and a strong following for both, it seems fitting for MGs and Minis to be back together. We also had some very positive discussions with potential guests for 2020 and continue to consider the option of some other tracks. Finally, we were delighted to present a cheque to the British Motorsport Marshals Club for ÂŁ1,000. This money is raised from the drivers at each race meeting via their entry fees and we are always delighted to be able to give something back to the men and women that keep racing safe. We could not enjoy our sport without them. At the end of February, we head to Stoneleigh Park for Race Retro and we will have two more cars on the stand, from a rather earlier era, so do come along and see us on stand number 2-310 in Hall 2. If we do not see you at the Show, then we look forward to seeing you at an event in 2019.

Colin Peacock (Mini 7 Racing Club) with Geoff St John Mitchell

British Motorsport Marshals Club being presented with the donation from MG Car Club by Geoff St John Mitchell

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DUNCAN WOOD DUNCANW@MGS-ON-TRACK.COM WWW.MGS-ON-TRACK.COM

MG on track

GOODWOOD AND BEDFORD AUTODROME

he moving finger (having writ) has indeed moved on since last month’s jottings and I am very happy to report that we now have a worthy substitute for that evaporated Silverstone date in the form of our track day on March 11 at Bedford Autodrome, which is situated a few miles north of the eponymous county town. The venue offers all the facilities that you might expect, including catering and on-site fuel. MGs on Track will be providing two 20-minute sessions in each hour for our members, assigned as usual according to driver experience and the car’s speed potential, with track owners MSVT selling the third to the wider public. The day is priced modestly so may prove enticing to those who have yet to try a track day, especially if a session with one of the ARDS qualified instructors is also booked. The Autodrome does not host races but has been purpose built for track days and testing by ex-F1 driver Jonathan Palmer, and is both entertaining and challenging. As there is no requirement to provide spectator protection or safety barriers the circuit has very large run-off areas to ensure the chances of a spinning car meeting an immovable object are minimal so, again, might be a reassuring choice for a novice. Bedford Autodrome is

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capable of being configured in three different layouts, and we will be using the longest and fastest of these, the GT circuit. Even longer than Silverstone at 3.8 miles per lap, the track has plenty of straights for the power fiends, with flowing corners meaning drivers in less well-endowed cars should not feel short changed.In a contrast to Bedford, Goodwood is a very traditional motor racing circuit in all aspects, with a history of competition stretching back decades. Such is the track’s popularity with MGoT members that we schedule two visits each year; the first of these is at the end of this month so may already be fully booked, but it is always worth joining the waiting list as there are sometimes cancellations. Uniquely for an MGs on Track event the entrance cost for drivers and passengers includes a buffet lunch and hot drinks throughout the day; I understand that the food is prepared in the kitchens at Goodwood House, so this is your chance to live like a Duke if only for a lunchtime! The Triple M Group will be taking one of the sessions in February, so even if you are not driving there will be plenty to entertain if you wish to come along and spectate. The Goodwood circuit is very scenic, steeped in history, and the open paddock area ensures an opportunity to study cars close-up and chat with the regulars to learn

more about our track days. As always, instruction by ARDS qualified instructors will be available to book; the intention is not to turn you into a Stirling Moss in the space of a session but to help drivers extract the best from themselves and from their vehicles, thereby gaining maximum satisfaction and enjoyment from the day. Alan Wilshire and Phil Brough are our instructors for February, and both know Goodwood in some depth. You might notice from the Calendar that we will have a stand at the NEC Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show, with Discovery 2019! Clearly MGs on Track is always seeking new members, and this type of event allows us to reach MG owners who have not previously considered taking part in a track day. Invariably an open bonnet will lure in potential newcomers, who are then subject to a mix of encouragement and coercion until, through gritted teeth, they agree to at least give the matter some thought! It seems unfair that the rewarding task of manning the display is restricted solely to members of the committee, so we would welcome offers of assistance from any members who will be at the Show and who are willing to help on the stand for an hour or two. Please contact John Robertson for further information johnr@mgs-on-track.com

www.mgcc.co.uk

23/01/2019 16:35

MG CAR CLUB SPEED CHAMPIONSHIP MGS ON TRACK – 2019 CALENDAR

JOHN WILMAN, BEECHFIELD, FERN BANK, CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH, HIGH PEAK. SK23 0JJ TEL: 07778 165186 WWW.MGSPEED.NET

MGs on Track – 2019 Calendar Please visit www.mgs-on-track.com to register, check availability, or to book a track day. Registered members will receive regular newsletters and notification of event opening dates. Goodwood – February 23 Take a step back in time with the first of two visits to this atmospheric venue, including one dedicated session for the Triple M Group. Bedford Autodrome GT – March 11 At 3.8 miles in length there is ample space to unleash those horses, with generous run-off areas for the directionally challenged! NEC Practical Classics Restoration Show – March 22-24 Visit MGoT on Stand 5-415 to find out more about our events, or just to say hello. Cadwell Park – April 15 A twisty and hugely scenic circuit in the Lincolnshire Wolds; flat it certainly isn’t! Snetterton – May 20 A fast and open track; long straights combined with a challenging infield section. Castle Combe – June 24 The first of two annual visits to this very friendly circuit in Wiltshire. Croft – July 12 Experience one of the hidden gems of British Motorsport on a day shared with Lotus on Track. Brands Hatch GP – August 1

2019 CALENDAR OF EVENTS April 7 Curborough Sprint MGCC Midland Centre April 14 Harewood Hill Climb BARC (Y) April 20 Goodwood Sprint Bognor Regis MC May 4 Anglesey Sprint MGCC NW Centre May 5 Anglesey Sprint MGCC NW Centre May 11 Llandow Sprint Bristol Pegasus MC May 18 Wiscombe Hill Climb Torbay MC May 19 Scammonden Hill Climb MGCC NW Centre May 19 Rushmoor Sprint Farnborough & DMC May 25 Prescott Hill Hill Climb Bugatti Owners Club June 8 Abingdon Carnival Sprint Sutton & Cheam MC June 15 Three Sisters Sprint Longton & DMC June 29 Aintree Sprint Liverpool MC July 6 Barbon Manor Hill Climb Liverpool MC July 28 Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb M.A.C August 3 Castle Hill Hill Climb Camel Vale MC August 4 Castle Hill Hill Climb Camel Vale MC August 4 Curborough Sprint MGCC Midland August 24 Loton Park Hill Climb H & DLCC August 25 Loton Park Hill Climb H & DLCC September 1 Three Sisters Sprint Longton & DMC September 7 Aintree Sprint Liverpool MC September 8 Gurston Down Hill Climb BARC (SW) September 14 Wiscombe Park Hill Climb MGCC SW Centre September 14 Harewood Hill Climb Hill BARC (Y) September 15 Harewood Hill Climb BARC (Y) October 6 Eelmoor Sprint Farnborough & DMC October 19 Castle Combe Sprint Bristol Pegasus MC

A rare chance to experience the full GP Circuit on a day shared with Lotus on Track Anglesey – August 12 Experience this challenging circuit on a day shared with the Lotus 7 Club. Overlooking the Irish Sea and with views to Snowdonia this track offers something for all. Castle Combe – September 9 A second opportunity to enjoy the thrills of this everpopular track which includes a couple of chicanes and high speed, technical corners! Goodwood – October 28 A second visit in case you missed the first due to popularity! Brands Hatch ‘Indy’ – December 2 Our last event of 2019. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy this undulating circuit including Paddock Hill Bend!

www.mgcc.co.uk

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Photo: Colin Murrell

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Terms Apply

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23/01/2019 16:35

OVERSEAS

MG RHEIN TOUR2018 By Michael Benecke

fter a total of six Niederrhein weekends, I realised I had driven lots of routes in our area, some of them even more than twice and I got – erm – a bit bored. While this might be no problem for most of the participants, I developed an itch to try something new. Remembering a TV series I had watched a couple of years ago, a documentary about the river Rhine in its entire length, a plan started to unfold. The result of this was the MG Rhein Tour 2018, by all means the largest event I have got going – uh – rolling so far. Much about this tour was different. First off, it was a real road trip, staying at a different place every night. Furthermore, there was no road book. This time we trusted our satnavs’ capabilities (with slightly variable success). I had sent out the data files to all the participants before the start, and finally all of them arrived – not necessarily taking the same routes. But

www.mgcc.co.uk

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At the top of the Furka Pass. Photo: Andy Phillips

Hotel Cruna. Photo: Michael Benecke

writing a road book for a distance of 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) would have been impossible. The early birds met on Saturday August 18 at our starting point in Sedrun in Graubünden, quite close to the spring

of the Anterior Rhine. On the Sunday we went for a pre-tour across a total of four alpine passes: Oberalp, Furka, Nufenen and, as a special treat, the historic St Gotthard, the old cobblestone-plastered Tremola from the 1940s. In the evening everybody else had arrived and we could enjoy a tasty four-course “Bündner menu”. So, on Monday morning we started the Grand Tour with 10 MGFs, one MG TF, one MGB, and an MGA Coupé (and me in the ZR). Along the Anterior Rhine the route led us via Chur to the little town of Triesenberg in Liechtenstein, where we stopped for lunch and paid the local museum a visit. The next part

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FEATURE

took us through the Bregenzer Wald mountains to Lindau, an island city in Lake Constance. Our challenge was to fit 14 (!) MGs into a garage with four bays. After all, we managed to squeeze in 13. Just my ZR, which I had to take because of a clutch issue on my TF, wouldn’t fit. Tuesday was all about Lake Constance and the High Rhine. Our first stop was at the magnificent Car and Tractor Museum in Gebhardsweiler, where we also had our lunch break. Down to Meersburg, then across the lake by ferry to Constance. The rest of the route took us criss-cross the river, sometimes on the Swiss bank, sometimes on the German one, finally reaching the Rhine falls, which obviously are a must-see on such a tour. In the late afternoon we carried on to the Gasthof Sternen hotel at the Ravenna gorge, passing the great lakes in the southern Black Forest on our way. Sadly the first couple had to say good-bye after our dinner at the hotel. The Black Forest is quite famous for its glassworks, so on Wednesday we visited the Dorotheenhütte in Wolfach, where we also had lunch after our tour. Afterwards we left for the longest run of the whole tour, which took us into the neighbouring Alsace region in France, but not without a coffee break at the Geroldsau mill near Baden-Baden. In the evening we arrived in the historic

MGB Cockpit, with satnav route set up. Photo: Michael Benecke

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Waiting for the Amerongen ferry. Photo: Dieter Könnecke

Rhine bridge into Alsace. Photo: Jette Seabrook

town of Wissembourg, near the German border, where most of us had a typical Alsacian tarte flambée for dinner. We didn’t see too much of the Rhine at first on Thursday, as the route took us through the Dahn Rocklands and the Palatinate Forest first. The satnavs started to play up a bit in the narrow valleys, but with a bit of patience we all arrived at the designated location. At least when getting out of the Forest into the Rhine plains near Bad Dürkheim, everything was clear to go again. After a lunch and museum stop in the picturesque village of Freinsheim, we drove through the almost endless vineyards of Rhine-Hesse to Mainz, where the day’s trip ended. Here we were joined by two more cars, a 1300 Crayford Convertible and another TF for the weekend.

Passing through a Rhine gorge. Photo: Jette Seabrook

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23/01/2019 16:36

OVERSEAS

On the Loreley ferry. Photo: Dieter Könnecke

The Friday schedule had two more classics on the agenda. We were following the Wispertalstrasse (very popular with bikers as well) to end up on the famous Lorelei rock, where old and young had a lot of fun on the summer bobsleigh track. Talking about old and young: our group members were between nine and 80 years of age, MG really spans generations! Afterwards we crossed the Rhine by ferry to St. Goar. On we went a bit through the Hunsrück ranges and along the Moselle, finally taking a round on the Laach Lake shores. The destination of the day was Andernach, where we went back on board. But this time without the MGs, which had to wait for us in a specially opened parking lot. The steamer took us to the highest cold water geyser in the The Starting point at Sedrun. Photo: Jette Seabrook

www.mgcc.co.uk

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Mainz old town. Photo: Andy Phillips

Overlooking a stunning Rhine gorge. Photo: Dieter Könnecke

world, a spectacular sight! Just a few miles down the road a tasty dinner was waiting for us at Haus Oberwinter hotel, with a fabulous view across the Rhine. On Saturday it was back on the ferry. On the other bank of the Rhine we were met by Günter Graskamp and Anja Pilz, Chairman and Regalia Manager of the MGCC Germany, who joined us in Günter’s 1957 Magnette to Cologne. Yes, indeed: Cologne – on a Saturday, with 16 cars right into the city

centre. What could possibly go wrong? Nothing, as we had reserved bays in an underground car park, Contipark had been very co-operative! We had lunch directly on the river bank after a stroll through the city. In the afternoon we all went on to our last hotel in Krefeld, each at his or her own pace. The first part of the Sunday journey took us to Arnhem, to the well-known John-Frost-Bridge from “A Bridge Too Far”. Here we visited the museum near

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OVERSEAS

Heading across the Oberalp pass. Photo: Andy Phillips

Enjoying the stunning Tremola Pass. Photo: Dieter Könnecke

the site and had a lunch snack. Along the dykes of the Rhine, and after another ferry crossing, we finally reached the little town Wijk bij Duurstede, where we met at 3.30pm for our final meal. After a very emotional farewell everyone started to drive home – to Bavaria, Hesse, Denmark, Belgium, or England. Or the Netherlands, but there we were already. We were a great international company of all ages who got on perfectly well and had shed loads of fun. The conclusion is, such a tour is a very special experience. And old and young go together very well, both regarding the participants and the cars. We had build dates ranging from 1957 to 2004, all traveling along in perfect harmony on the roads. So, this event will be repeated this year, but not on the Rhine, as that would be boring again. No, this time we will go down the river Elbe, from its spring in the Czech Krkonoše Mountains to the Ball Beacon in Cuxhaven. The dates are set, the early bird meet will be on Friday evening, July 26 2019, and we will reach our final destination on Saturday August 3 in the afternoon. Early bird registration started 251 days prior to the event on November 18 2018. More details coming soon on the website www.mgf-tours.de.

The Bad Honnef ferry crossing. Photo: Dieter Könnecke Calm waters on the Meersburg crossing. Photo: Andy Phillips

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www.mgcc.co.uk

23/01/2019 16:36

H1 - CLIVE WHEATLEY_H7 - CLIVE WHEATLEY 09/10/2018 14:41 Page 1

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URGENT PROOF Please check this proof carefully for errors in style, content and layout. Although every care is exercised in preparing your advert, we cannot hold ourselves responsible for any inaccuracies you may overlook. SHOULD YOU REQUIRE ANY ALTERATIONS TO THIS PROOF PLEASE TELEPHONE BEFORE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ AND QUOTE ADVERT NO. _ _ _ _ _

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A MONTHLY LOOK THROUGH A FEW OF THE OVERSEAS MAGAZINES WE RECEIVE AT KIMBER HOUSE REVIEWED BY PAUL PLUMMER

We start this review with a colourful row of MGBs to brighten the dark days of winter, from the front cover of Heritage, the magazine of the MG Car Club de France. Also, from the same magazine, the French Club celebrates the 50th edition of ‘Heritage’ in its present form, the first being published in June 2001.

Another Club celebrating many editions of its magazine is the MG Car Club d’Italia, having published 18 annual editions of its MG Car Club News, the cover showing all front covers of the preceding editions. Reports of the 2018 European Event of the Year, held in Flims in Switzerland celebrating 70 years of the Swiss Club, are featured in three magazines, Medlemsblad from the MG Car Club Danish Centre, MG Kurier from the MG Car Club Deutschland and Bulletinen from Sweden. Each gives detailed accounts of their contingent’s adventures getting there and subsequent experiences on the actual event supported by many photos, but the one that caught my eye comes from the Kurier and was the black and white ‘spotty’ TD!

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As I read through the various magazines from around the world, it never ceases to amaze me the vast number of organisations that provide support services for our hobby. Additionally, these advertisers support the publication of the magazines from our world-wide affiliated clubs. Each and every magazine has advertisements from MG garages, parts suppliers, tyre fitters, engine rebuilders, restoration specialists, booksellers, auto electricians, insurance brokers, wire wheels, hoods, etc. The list is endless and I feel that we will never be in a position of not being able to repair our cars and keep them on the road. This centre-page spread of suppliers comes from the Sacred Octagon. From the Bulletinen, the journal of the MG Car Club Sweden, comes a fascinating article about a 33rpm long play record found in the depths of eBay. This features interviews with John Thornley, reports from Silverstone and Brands Hatch, together with the exhaust notes of many different models. The front of the sleeve shows a 1939 WA and on the rear is a display of memorabilia. The ‘Hawk Special’ is a one-off, fibreglassbodied TD. It was created in 1955 by David Hawks, son of Hollywood film director Howard Hawks, and the car featured in several films during the 50s and 60s. The car was restored in 2007; the chassis and mechanicals are all TD,

with the fine body being very ‘Ferrariesque’. The story of this car is published in the Sacred Octagon, the journal of the New England T Register.

Spotted in The Spark, the newsletter of the MGCC Washington DC. We all know that Lucas has been referred to as ‘The Knight of Darkness’ but I have never come across this useful service part! And finally, a challenge for the judge from Canterbury, New Zealand.

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Abingdon Works Centre’s (Not quite) St Georges Day Run Sunday April 14 2019 Starting from the Miele Experience Centre Abingdon, this year we will be visiting the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum

MG Car Club Members: £10.00 pp

Non MGCC members: £11.50 pp

THIS INCLUDES ENTRANCE TO THE MUSEUM

Your Details Mr / Mrs / Ms Full Name ............................................................................. Address ................................................................................ ............................................................................................. Post Code ............................................................................ Phone .................................................................................. E-mail .................................................................................. MG Car Club Membership No. .......................................... (Valid MGCC number required for discounted price) No of participants: ………... Total submitted: ……………...... Cheques payable to: MGCC Abingdon Works Centre Entries to: Pete & Sarah Davies, 38 Swinbrook Road, Carterton, Oxfordshire OX18 1DS. Tel: 01993 212420 / 0778 651 1387 e-mail: pete_davies@ntlworld.com If no e-mail address above, please include a stamped addressed envelope.

27th Old Speckled Hen Tour Sunday May 26 2019

Your Details Mr / Mrs / Ms Full Name ........................................................................................... Address .............................................................................................. ........................................................................................................... Town ................................................................................................. Post Code .......................................................................................... Phone ................................................................................................ Mobile ............................................................................................... E-mail ................................................................................................ MG Car Club Membership No. ........................................................ MG Car Information Model: …………………………............ Registration No: …………………… Year: …………….... Years Owned: …………….... Entries limited to 100 cars | Entry Fee: £25 per car To include light refreshment at the start; detailed tulip route book; rally plate and one cream tea per person at the finish. Last date for entries: Monday May 20 2019 Cheques payable to: MGCC Abingdon Works Centre Entries to Richard Martin, 26 Medlicott Drive, Abingdon, Oxon. OX14 5PS. Tel: 01235 529331 e-mail: r.martin@mgabingdon.org.uk If no e-mail address above, please include a stamped addressed envelope.

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CENTRES

ABINGDON WORKS

RICHARD MARTIN sfscribe@mgabingdon.org.uk www.mgabingdon.co.uk Is it just me who’s thinking 2019 is racing along at a greater pace than its predecessor? It certainly doesn’t seem a month ago that I was penning the January notes, but Andy tells me that it is! I hope you managed to get the car out over the festive period and enjoyed taking part in one of the events taking place around the Centre. On Boxing Day we had over 50 MGs shoehorned in Abingdon’s Market Place, with the majority also taking in Roger and Nicky Boys’ scenic road run to the Black Horse pub, on the old factory test route. Photos are on the Galleries section of our website. New Year’s Day saw events taking place at Stony

Stratford in the North of the Centre, the Phoenix in the South and in the West at Bibury’s Classic Motor Hub. At the end of the 2019’s first week, there was also Bicester Heritage’s first Scramble of the year with 70 MGs taking advantage of the arrangements made by the F Register’s Ian Wright; thanks Ian. I’m sure there were others, but if you want to ensure you don’t miss out on future events, make sure you sign up to the Centre’s Newsletter. Each year we ask for nominations for the Centre Member of the Year so please give this some thought and let us know if you feel someone you know has made a significant

Variety of MG models on Boxing Day

contribution to the Club. The current worthy holders of the Charlton Shield are Richard and Christa Colston who have run the Chesham Natter for more than 30 years. Who do you think should be this year’s winner? Please let me know, chairman@mgabingdon. org.uk or 01235 529331; I’m waiting to hear from you. Starting next month, March, we have an event a month for three months with the AGM, followed by the Not Quite St George’s Day Run and then the

27th Old Speckled Hen Tour. Details of all three can be found in this issue and we look forward to welcoming you at one, two or all three of them! Finally, almost, the Aylesbury Natter has a new home. As from March 4, their first Mondayof-the-month meetings will be at The Lion, 70a High Street, Waddesdon, Aylesbury HP18 0JD. Welcome to all our new members whom we look forward to meeting during the coming months.

ANGLIA

ROB MUIR 01206 862619 scribe@mgccanglia.com www.mgccanglia.com

The Sixteenth Annual Norfolk Riviera Run- A report by William Ball Car Club members from as far afield as London and Nottingham attended the traditional PostChristmas Riviera Run, with a total of 32 cars converging on North Norfolk for the Anglia Centre’s 2018 event on December 27. Meeting at The Running Horse Restaurant, Fakenham, from 9.00am for tea, coffee and rolls with plenty of time for a ‘chinwag’ before the first cars got under way at 10.00am. The route took the participants on a wonderful 50+mile drive through the North Norfolk coast from Blakeney to Happisburgh.

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The Happisburgh Lifeboat Station was opened up especially for us, as one of the volunteers was a driver in the Metropolitan Police in the 1970s and drove an MGB GT V8 in the course of his work. He also drove a Sunbeam Tiger. He told me he was looking forward to seeing the cars. (I remember seeing the Police MG V8s in the 70s. Do any Centre members own one of the ex-Police cars now? It would be great to see a photo of one. – Scribe.) The run finished at Vera’s Coffee Shop at Wayford Nurseries, Stalham, and we were able to enjoy lunch and have a browse. The weather was kind to us with dry roads and no frost, if a little overcast. A fantastic run and

Ready to head off on the Annual Norfolk Riviera Run

by all accounts a good time was had by all. Events Planning The new 2019 Calendar of Events may well be available by the time you read these notes in the magazine this month. As I write Tony Batson, our Events Co-Ordinator, is producing it for our website and as soon as it is finalised Kelvin Fagan, our Webmaster, will publish it and Alison Isaacson, our Facebook Editor, will post it.

Once it is on the website you will be able to download a hard copy to keep. For those members who do not use the internet and would like a paper copy, if you contact any of us on the committee, we can print one off and send it to you (a SAE would be appreciated). Remember, you can publicise Club Meet events by sending information to Kelvin at webmaster@mgccanglia.com or Alison at Facebook@mgccanglia.com

FEBRUARY 2019 SAFETY FAST! 71

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CENTRES

CALEDONIAN

BOB MACGILLIVRAY 07870 407111 mgcarsscotland@gmail.com www.mgcaledonian.com

By the time you read this the days should be lengthening and MGs beginning to stir from their winter slumber! Hope summer is a repeat of 2018. If your MG is still slumbering then you can bring any car to the ‘Ain Car Run’ on February 9 (it’s a Saturday). This is an easy run down to the Clyde Coast to a lunch stop at the Ship Inn in Irvine. Details are on the website. The following weekend on Sunday 17 is our Technical Day at Dreadnought in Callander. We usually meet for lunch around 12.00pm at the Old Rectory before heading to the garage for 2.00pm. We need topics for discussion, so if you have

anything then let me know. There is no charge for the event but if you would like to attend please book through the website so we can advise numbers for lunch. Our May Three-Day Tour has filled up quickly but there will be a waiting list if you missed the first opportunity. And you should still be able to book for the Freddie Mercury Tribute weekend in Pitlochry on March 8-10. This is a relaxed, fun weekend in good company so check the website and book! Bookings for our various shows, Thirlestane, Glamis and Bo’ness, will be open soon; in fact they may be open already. Please do book early as this

DEVON & CORNWALL YOUNG JANNER II bobslatter@hotmail.com www.mgcc.co.uk/devon-cornwall-centre/

Now we are comfortably into 2019, the Calendar of Events is coming along nicely and is published in the excellent February edition of the Centre Newsletter from Ted Lawrence and is also available on the Centre website, Facebook, etc. Whilst on the subject of future events, we know that the Natters also organise events local to them and would ask that details are forwarded to the Competition Secretary to ensure any documentation that may be required is organised in plenty of time to keep the Centre within MSA regulations and their relevant Insurance cover for such events. Ideally, a six-week

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lead time would be great for the paperwork and also that details can be added to the website. As mentioned last month, there is a new venue for hopefully another successful Skittles Evening, this being the Treburley Social Club, Lezant, near Launceston, on Saturday February 9. Full details are in the current Newsletter. Details of the Centre’s Annual General Meeting are published elsewhere in this issue of Safety Fast!, so please come along and have your say about how the Centre is run and offer any ideas as to what you would like to see as future events within the Centre. We could certainly

makes the organiser’s job so much easier. We would also like to attend another show. Any suggestions? We are also hoping to arrange another two events in addition to those on the Calendar list you received with the Newsletter. Details will be on the website when available. And the committee also requires someone to take over responsibility for Regalia. Full training can be given for this important task. Sorry no salary, but any takers? We would like to encourage more Caledonian people to attend MGLive! in June. It’s the largest MG event in the UK with something for everyone, young or older, male or female! We will have a stand there, but if we can get sufficient interest then we

could perhaps organise a team for the driving tests or autosolo. Details are in Safety Fast! and also on our website. Why not give it a go? You should all have received your 2019 Newsletter. Let me know if you have not. And if you don’t receive regular update emails it’s because I do not have your email address. Please contact me! Thanks.

do with some fresh blood on the Committee and possibly any new ideas on how to run the Centre even more successfully than now. For those not familiar with the venue for the AGM, here are directions. If travelling from the Plymouth area on the A388, turn left at the traffic lights in Callington onto Fore Street, continue around the left hand bend onto Liskeard Road and the Bowling Club is on the left. If coming from the Launceston area on the A388, turn right at the traffic lights. From the Liskeard area, on entering the town, the Bowling Club is on the right. The following day, Sunday March 24, sees the annual Brian Williams Spring Run organised by the North Cornwall Natter; again full details are in the newsletter and on the Centre website. Now an early mention: on Friday April 19 (Good Friday) and

we will be helping out the Motor Cycling Club by organising the start of the Land’s End Trial in the Launceston area, and any assistance would be appreciated. It will be for approximately five hours from about 4.00pm until 9.00pm. It will consist of organising the parking of all the entrants, checking that their paperwork for the event, etc. is correct and then getting them to sign on for insurance purposes before they start the night run. Any offers of help please to me as soon as possible so that I can include the names in the programme as usual. National Drive It Day is on Sunday April 28 and it is hoped that as many Natters as possible will organise a drive to a common finish, as we have done over the past few years, for a late lunch which has proved highly successful.

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CENTRES

LINCOLNSHIRE

IAN MACKENZIE 01529 497849 MaccaV8@aol.com www.mgcclincolnshire.co.uk

February Natters: Wolds Wednesday 6; Abbey Lodge Monday 11; Wishing Well Wednesday 13; Three Horseshoes Thursday 21; Lincoln Tuesday 26; White Hart Thursday 28. Luncheon Club: Wednesday 20. March Event: Lincolnshire Centre AGM 7 – Abbey Lodge. The weather gods were very kind to us on January 1 – hopefully the start of a wonderful relationship. The Abbey Lodge was full to bursting with post-revellers,

with new friends Rob and Sue rejoining us from the South-Eastern side (Norfolk) – welcome, one and all. With the pub overrun, and no staff free to judge for us, it fell upon Bill Sharp (everyone loves a volunteer!) to wander round in the cool afternoon air and pass judgement on the assembled fleet. Moderns did particularly well (he must have been considering heater efficiency) and top of the tree was Keith Robinson’s MG TF 85th Anniversary.

The New Year’s Day Run leaders Kimmi and Sue take ﬂight

We then continued with a run of 30 miles through the Wolds approaches enjoying a terrific, clear day view from the top of Castcliffe Hill, before descending into Belchford and looping back to The Lancaster Bar in Woodhall Spa for coffee and mince pies. Sadly, one of our number didn’t make it back – the Mercedesmounted crew of Bob and Carol Welch succumbing to a thoroughly British pothole near Roughton. Then home, in time for tea. As you will note in the above Natters list, the venue for the joint MG Car Club/MG Owners Club/MGF Register Natter in the Boston area has moved to the White Hart at Old Leake, just north of Boston. Although they do not have a food menu, they have offered to provide us with a chilli or a curry on our meeting nights, free of charge, which is

extremely generous. If you are thinking of going along to a Natter there, please drop the Natter leaders, Vicki and Geoff, a note on: vewardell@aol.com or call them on 01205 871973 so that they can collate numbers. Looking further ahead, the V8 Register is planning this year’s tour, to take place in Lincolnshire over Thursday 12 to Monday September 16. Masterminded by Richard and Victoria Withington, it will be based at the Olde Barn Hotel, Marston, near Grantham. If you are interested in taking part, or would like to offer the organisers some help, then please get in touch on: 01949 844066, or email: r.withington@btinternet.com Please don’t forget to put Thursday March 7 in your diary. Our Centre’s AGM starts at 8.00pm, and we (the committee) would love to hear your points of view.

husbands/partners. The Centre`s Welsh Rallye, taking place over the weekend of May 17-19, continues to attract entrants. At the time of writing these notes over 30 have signed up, leaving just 10 places available. If you are planning to join us then please apply for an Entry Form asap by emailing me at rogerking43@gmail.com With the route now settled, embracing some lovely North Wales roads, this event will be the perfect antidote to all the Brexit hoo-ha. The hotel at Llangollen is ideally situated as a jumping-off point for a driving adventure. A group from the Centre will be manning sections on the

Clee Hill Trial in mid-January, followed by our AGM a few days later. Details on any committee changes will be available next month. Also looming up is another round of the Skittles challenge. Not really a Centre event as such, it is nevertheless a great MG social occasion and hotly contested. The North Worcester Natter my wife and I play for sadly got beaten in the first heat. OK, we fielded a mixed team whilst our opponents were all male dominated. The thing was, though, the ladies outperformed the men on the night! It must have been the beer we consumed.

MIDLANDS

ROGER KING rogerking43@gmail.com

2018 ended with a good turnout for the Centre’s annual post-Christmas walk. Designed to blow away the yuletide excess, this certainly did that as a result of many apparently getting lost, with several circulating a field in deepest Worcestershire seeking the correct way out. The long and short of it was (well, there was no actual “short”) a four-mile ramble became a six-mile one for many, or so they claimed. As far as we know, no one remains out there looking for the hostelry where lunch was to be taken, since all were counted out and nearly all were counted back. ‘Challenging but fun’ seemed to be the consensus view.

Clearly, recovery was quick because most participants reported for the “Chilly Willy” run on New Year’s Day. Despite the forecast predicting sunny but cold weather, actually becoming cloudy with drizzle, a pleasant 27-mile tour of Worcestershire back roads, so well organised by Arden MG Club and followed by a good pub lunch, made for a satisfying start to a new year of MG motoring for the 30-plus cars taking part. In case you are wondering, 20 of the cars were MGs, with one being a brand new MG3 which a member had just bought his wife as a Christmas present! One hopes this is not expected of all other

F o

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CENTRES

NORTH WEST PAUL GOODMAN 01625 876300

There are four indoor events happening this month, providing that we are not all confined indoors by a new “beast from the east”. First off on Tuesday February 12 is the gathering at The Shrewsbury Arms. This is followed by the AGM of the Centre which is on Thursday February 14 in the upstairs meeting room at the Ship Inn, Styal, starting at 8.30 pm. Then on Tuesday February 19 we have the Plough and Flail meeting at which we hope to show some short MG-related films. Finally, the month closes with the Wednesday lunchtime meeting on February 27 at The Dog, Wellbank Lane, Over Peover,

Knutsford, WA16 8UP. All the calendar dates for the rest of 2019 are now listed on the Centre website. This has recently been given a makeover using the enhanced facilities provided by the main Club. The Cockshoot Cup Race Championship and the Speed Championship dates are also now fixed, with amazing opportunities to use your MGs. The Cockshoot Cup drivers start with their race at the MGCC meeting on the Silverstone National Circuit on March 30, with the Speed Eventers beginning at Curborough on April 7. Participating in speed events is a great way to have more

SOUTH EAST JO RUFFELS joruffels@gmail.com www.mgccse.co.uk

January has proven to be another typically cold and damp month with most MGs tucked away in garages. With February fast on its track, it could be a great opportunity to venture out and join the Valentine’s treasure hunt on February 17 starting out from the Pheasant Pub,

95 Anniversary ‘M’ Type 2019

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Buckland (RH3 7BG) organised by Derek Edwards – Edwards. mgmadness@ntlworld.com The Fairmile Natter are also running a Valentine’s dinner on February 14. For details contact Ian Ailes (01932 856960). The Stoneleigh MG and Triumph Show is being held

fun with your car. You will be competing on a level playing field with all the other entrants. Road-going cars do not require any modifications to compete. You will need a licence from Motorsport UK (a form-filling exercise) and fireproof clothing and a helmet. The Championship cars are split by modification and type with each having a “bogey time”. Your score will be based on how close you can achieve to that time. Venues range from flat-out race circuits, such as Anglesey and Curborough, to famous hillclimb venues such as Shelsley Walsh and Prescott. Our Centre speed events are the weekend sprint event at Anglesey on May 4 and 5 and the Scammonden Dam Hillclimb two weeks later on May 19. The entry forms for both these

on February 10, at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry. This includes an autojumble, club displays and even cars for sale: www. mgandtriumphsparesday.co.uk MG Car Club Register displays include the Triple-M, ZR/ZS/ZT, MGB and MGF. The spring naviscat is being held on March 10 (Philip BaynePowell 1942mgman@gmail. com). This will be starting from the Old Tollhouse Pub in Bramber, near Steyning, BN44 3WE, with signing-on at 10.00 am. Cars will leave at 11.00 am, returning for a buffet lunch at 2.30 pm. Ordnance Survey map 198 Brighton and Hove is required for this event. It would be great to see more members supporting these days. The printed flyers with all of the 2019 South East events should be enclosed with this issue of Safety Fast! magazine.

Ray Collier presented with the Cockshoot Cup 2018 by Danny Cusworth. Photo: Maggie Goodman

events will be available shortly on the Centre website. As well as competitors, we need many helpers to run these meetings. We have vacancies for members and friends to operate on and off the circuit. There are administration and organisational roles as well as the more familiar on-track marshalling. Don’t be worried if you have no experience. We will always place you with somebody who knows the ropes.

So please take a look at these so you can plan your season’s itinerary! Volunteers to assist at the events are really welcome, so please do contact the organiser if you are able to help in any way. There have been some changes to this year’s itinerary, as well as changes to Natter venues: • The Three Horseshoes Group headed up by John Morgan is moving to the Pheasant Pub at Buckland with immediate effect, due to the closure of the former venue. • The summer gathering has been moved to Michelham Priory to coincide with their classic car day on July 14. • The Canterbury Natter has advised that it will be moving venue from February to meet at the Chequers Inn, Stone Street, Petham CT4 5PW. cmgow.sec@gmail.com

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FEBRUARY 2019 SAFETY FAST! 77

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CENTRES

SOUTH WEST

ANDREW OWST andrewowst@hotmail.com 01761 221893 www.mgccsw.com www.facebook.com/MGCCSW Our first event of 2019 is the Centre Dinner at Limpley Stoke Hotel, Limpley Stoke, near Bath, BA2 7FZ, on Saturday 23 February 2019. If you have not already booked your place please do so as we all have a great time, hence the reason we continually return to the same hotel, year after year. The cost is £27 per person and special room rates have been negotiated if you wish to stay at the hotel. Full details are available on the South West Centre website along with the other events your committee have arranged for 2019. The second event of the year is our Annual General Meeting which will be held on Tuesday

5 March 2019 at 8.30pm at The Old School Room, Compton Martin. This coincides with the Chew Valley Natter at the Ring o Bells, Compton Martin, and the usual procedure is to come to the Natter, have a beer, walk the couple of hundred yards to the AGM , and then return to the pub for the rest of the evening. It is your chance to let the committee know what you expect from the Centre and your committee really could do with your support at the AGM. New, enthusiastic members with new ideas are particularly welcome on the committee. Our third event is the second largest meeting the Centre runs, ie The Kimber Classic Trial,

TYNE TEES

TONY WOOD anthony@scrutonvillage.co.uk

Another month flies by and here we are facing the annual milestone of the AGM. This will be at Coulby Newham on Thursday March 7 and will be followed by the now-traditional free buffet which, if it does nothing for the waistline, always seems to ensure a good turnout, Tyne Tees members will always turn up for a freebie! Assuming re-election, this will be Noel’s last year as Chairman. Main Club have granted him the dispensation of an extra year to get a successor in place, not an easy task as volunteers are somewhat thin on the ground, but the role of Chairman is what you make it. Noel’s shoes are too large for most of us to fill, but

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jobs can be shared and things done differently so that the role need not be as all-consuming as it currently appears. Please give this some thought; the AGM is not just a time for plaudits and brickbats, it’s a time for all members to have their say on how things go forward and preferably volunteer to do a little of the necessary work running the Centre. We start our year with the Sunday Lunch run ably organised by Dennis Hope on Sunday March 24. A short scenic tour in the morning, followed by (surprise) Sunday Lunch! Further details next month or contact Dennis at denhope@hotmail.co.uk

which takes place on Saturday 13 April 2019. This popular trial traditionally attracts a strong entry from the MMM Register, and for those who prefer to spectate, PLEASE volunteer to marshal, as large numbers of marshals are required on all the separate sections. This does have the advantage that the marshalling only lasts for two or three hours and therefore the rest of the day is free to view other sections and enjoy the long lunch break at The Camelot Inn, South Cadbury. The trial, which commences at The Lanes Hotel, West Coker, near Yeovil, runs through North Dorset and South Somerset finishing near Castle Carey. The scenery is truly superb and is another reason to volunteer for this event. The entry forms and details of the

meeting are on the South West Centre website and volunteers to marshal should contact Bruce Weston on 01963 440941, bruce@brimblelea.co.uk The photo shows the start, and the atmosphere, at the Lanes Hotel of a previous Kimber Classic Trial. If you do not attend one of your local Natters, I strongly recommend you do so to meet other Club members. Details are on the Centre website. These are normally held in the evening, but a few years ago a lunchtime Natter on the third Tuesday of each month was introduced and the next one will be at the White Hart, Iron Acton, north of Bristol, on Tuesday February 19 and the March lunchtime Natter will be on March 19 at the Burcott Inn, Wookey, Near Wells. We meet from noon onwards.

New for this year, we are planning visits to local classic specialists linked in with our popular breakfast/coffee and cars morning meetings. Currently plans are being finalised for an April visit tied in with the southern Breakfast meet and plans are underway for an equivalent northern one. Watch this space! Finally, for those wishing to get in touch with their inner competitive self, we are

investigating doing a driving academy day at Harewood Hill Climb. This would be a full day event using your own car with instruction, helmet, food all provided on England’s premier hill climb, an ideal way to sharpen up your skills in a fun and car-friendly way. Current thinking is Thursday July 18 with an all-inclusive fee of £180. Check the Harewood Hill Climb website for details and contact Noel if you are interested.

Beamish 1999 weekend event, a blast from the past. Photo: Noel Lindford

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FEBRUARY 2019 SAFETY FAST! 79

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CENTRES

YORKSHIRE

DAVID COPEMAN 07920 064585 www.mgccyorkshire.co.uk South – Geoff Norcliffe Our Christmas celebrations were spent with a run out to Harewood House where we took part in a tour of the house, depicting Christmas’ past. This was followed by a meal at a local hostelry and distribution of the secret Santa gifts. All this organised by Sue Hibbert; thanks, Sue. The first of the Centre Runs will soon be upon us, the Daffodil Run, with a new date this year; details on the website.

for organising the many Christmas Runs and lunches for the Natter. The delicious lunch was at Cave Castle which was in full Christmas decoration. Having obtained replacement power unit and handsets, the December Scalextric Natter was without its usual breakdowns. Congratulations to 2018 champion Geoff Kirk and to runner-up, Carl Reid. The East Yorkshire Natter is now at: The Duke of Cumberland, The Green, Cottingham, HU16 5QG.

East – Chris Moore Flowers were presented to thank Jill and Greg Thornton

West – David Copeman I had nothing to report for January, but thought this MGF/

ULSTER

CAROL WILLIS 07831 345560 www.mgcculstercentre.co.uk carol.mgulster@hotmail.co.uk

The Mince Pie Night proved to be popular again this year, with another great turnout. Lots of chat amid a couple of table quizzes which promoted great hilarity and we didn’t even get to play the “Spark Plug” game, so that has been put on hold for another occasion. Yet again, a terrific turnout for the New Year’s Day Treasure Hunt, having a Midget, MGF, MG3 and an MG ZT amongst the motley crew who took part in Brian and Liz Patterson’s Treasure Hunt which started and finished from Dunadry, via Tardree, through Kells and Connor and incorporating stunning scenery. While they were waiting for the crews to

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return, Brian was having second thoughts about the difficulty of clues on their route – were they too easy or too hard? Not a bit of it. The response was great when participants handed in their answers. We had a tie in the final results – Colin Earney and Laura Reid, Ralph Ewing and Val Heron, and Will Corry with Lee and Dave. Ralph and Val won the tie break and Pete Moreland-Moore, ably assisted by his daughter Aria, received the wooden spoon. I think Aria is perhaps already using it to help Lyn bake some goodies! In fact, Pete and Aria were drawn to set the route for 2020. We wish to convey our thanks to Brian and Liz for putting together a terrific

TF seat adaptation may be of possible interest to the more mature passengers who find the low seat position difficult to get in and out of. The passenger seat has been raised 75mm, matching the height and headroom of the RV8 and achieving a much more comfortable seating position. Thanks to Chris at Retro Sports Cars.

Andrea Fletcher. We welcomed new Natter members, Stella and Robert, long-standing MG owners who run Yorkshire’s best Smokehouse – not to be missed if you are in Nidderdale. Dave Fletcher and Dennis Hodge came forward to offer their help for the Heartbeat Run on May 25, so that is our big event for this year.

Vale of York – Ken Cothliff Well, that was some Christmas Party. 33 people attended the dinner at the Masons on December 20. Excellent raffle organised by Rod, and everyone got a prize – admittedly some were more fun than practical. Special thanks to Mal Reeves for the MG Clock, which was won by

Forthcoming Centre Dates for your diary: Sunday February 17 Awards Lunch Tuesday March 19 Centre AGM Sunday April 14 Daffodil Run Saturday May 25 Heartbeat Run All details at www.mgccyorkshire.co.uk

route. Lyn and Robert Holmes were two in particular who were noticed through their absence. Lyn’s daughter, Samantha, had a 6lb 7 1/2oz baby boy on the morning of Sunday December 30, with both mother and baby doing well. To blow off the Christmas glitter, a few members had also given a hand with marshalling at the Ulster Automobile Club’s annual ‘It’s Not the Boxing Day Rally’ on December 27 which saw Will Corry and Mark Brien out in their Midgets, breaking up the boredom of the hoard of Japanese machinery! We have a busy mix of social and competitive events lined up over the next couple of months, with a Tutorial and Autotest at Delamont on February 2 and a Film Night on 6. Planning is underway for the Derek Walker Trial, possibly around the Ards

area, which we are holding on April 27 to gain some additional daylight and perhaps more clement weather. More about those events next Safety Fast!. Please note the Nosh ‘n’ Natters will be held every other month and so there is not one in February, and the date of the Prizegiving Dinner is Saturday March 9 and not as shown in January Safety Fast!. Dates for your Diary: February 2 Tutorial and Autotest at Delamont Country Park February 6 Film Night – 7.30pm in Tudor Cinema, Comber March 9 Annual Dinner and Prizegiving – The Ivanhoe, Carryduff March 13 Nosh ‘n’ Natter – from 12.45pm, The Poachers Pocket, Lisbane, Killinchy

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REGISTERS

VINTAGE VR SCRIBE Scribe@VR.net

Events. I was pleasantly surprised at doing some research for this month’s words to be able to make a list of what there is coming up for us and our cars this year. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. The Flywheel Festival at Bicester Heritage, due in June, has been cancelled. It seems that Haymarket Media who own Classic and Sports Car magazine and who took over and renamed the event last year have had a bit of a reorganisation and they don’t have the capacity to organise the event this year. Well, with that out of the frame, please let’s see even more Vintage cars at MGLive! which is June 15 and 16 this year. The CRB stands will be in a closer arrangement to the Main Club

marquee and the village green which was a great success last year. How about a VR entry to the California Cup which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year? This month there is the Stoneleigh International MG (and Triumph) spares day on February 10. It is amazing what you can find at this event – that odd rare spare part may yet come to light. I will be searching for a couple of bits for my MGB, so fingers crossed. And you can turn up in your MG and park it under cover in the cow sheds. Can’t say that for too many events!! Next up is our AGM at Shillingford Bridge on Sunday March 17. Please, Oh Lord, no snow this year. Contact TED for details (DebbieBrading@ V8Register.net)

SVW

PAUL CAMPBELL svw.safety.fast@gmail.com www.svwregister.co.uk

The annual SVW Event has recently been announced and will take place in Holland based at Alphen aan de Rijn from June 25-27. Our Dutch friends have organised such events several times and it’s always great fun. Please keep an eye on the website for further details as we receive them and there’ll be a flyer in our four-page spread next month. We now have 109 members in the SVW Register Facebook group with lots of interesting content, so do take a look and ask to join if you would like to. Recent topics have included cars for sale/acquired, our new Register online shop, tyre

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recommendations, whether to recondition Luvax shocks or opt for telescopics, and VA tool trays. SVW cars seem to be changing hands at quite a pace these days. Given the rate of exchange it’s no surprise that they sometimes go abroad and one such ex-Lancashire Police VA Tourer recently went to Germany. More often, though, they find appreciative new owners in the UK and they receive a big welcome in the SVW Register. I mentioned David Ballard last month who purchased one of the nicest VA Tickfords available, following which I paid him a visit – see photo. Mike Long has been looking for a VA Saloon

Current VR chairman Peter Mace arriving at Shillingford Bridge for the AGM in March 2015

March 22 to 24 is the Practical Classics Restoration show at the NEC. The Club won the most prestigious award in 2017 at this show and will be exhibiting again. There are lots of practical demonstrations going on all over the halls, so well worth a trip…but take comfortable shoes, there is such a lot to see and plenty of walking is involved. On March 30 the Club is racing at Silverstone for the first time this year. It would be great to see some more support for this, the oldest and

one of the key elements of our Club life. Early April is MG ERA day at Brooklands. I hear there are plans for cars to be shown from every decade of manufacture. This is always a great day out. April 14 Finally, there are only a few places left for this year’s VR Tour. We are off to Norfolk and TED has some great trips out organised already. The hotel is, as you would expect, on a par with those one would expect for our tours. That’s all for me…off to change the oil in the RV8 now!

for a couple of years and has at last found one that ticks all the boxes, although to do so he had to sell his much-loved YB. Welcome packs have been sent out, including the latest edition of The SVW Review. Now that the festivities are over I’m about to embark on changing the king pins on my VA Tourer and doing more

home repairs on the bodywork, hopefully in time for The MG Era Day at Brooklands on April 14, which often kicks off the season. Next month will be our four-page spread, so if you have anything you’d like to see included please send it to me before the end of January (email address above). We hope that 2019 has started well for you all.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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REGISTERS

Y TYPE

JERRY BIRKBECK birkbeckjerry@gmail.com www.mgccyregister.co.uk Tel: 01926 258691 Mob: 07855 566325 Welcome to 2019 Writing the Register Notes at the beginning of a new year is always slightly more challenging. Not so much due to editorial deadlines but more with the availability of content. Certainly, there are far fewer events to talk about and more so where the presence of a Y or gathering of Ys are few and far between. So any details of events that you have attended together with a photo of your Y are always welcome. Please forward them to me by email to: birkbeckjerry@ gmail.com

How do you use your Y? I would be really interested to hear from any owner who uses their Y throughout the year and those who have owned their cars for many years. I am aware that Slater Reynolds owned his 1948 Y for many years and I believe he has now sold that. Perhaps Alan Chick may be able provide us with some updates on his late Uncle Alan’s YB, which he now owns. Alan Jnr has undertaken several upgrades and it would be great to read an account of his progress. If anyone sends me a report with photographs then please do not embed them in the text as

MAGNETTE

STEPHEN TICKELL 01737 760330 stephen.tickell@gmail.com www.magnette.org

MkIII Magnette launch

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As we hurtle into 2019, it’s worth noting that January 1 1959 was when the very last Z Magnettes left the Abingdon factory – at that time New Year’s Day wasn’t a holiday. Chassis 37101 is thought to be the final one (unless you know differently) and so the youngest Zs, including mine, have now turned 60. A slightly melancholy anniversary perhaps, although it was accompanied by the launch of the MkIII (Farina) Magnette, which actually started pilot production at Cowley in November 1958,

Andy, the SF!. Editor, is unable to enlarge the photos. I should have mentioned this to Peter Sharp prior to his submission on the restoration of his YA. (Featured in the December issue of SF!.) I must apologise for not remembering this as I am well aware that Peter was rather disappointed when the photos came out as almost ‘thumbnails’ in the body of the text. So please attach any photos to an email and don’t include them in the written article. The YT goes out for its ﬁrst run in 2019 I took advantage of a dry day with no salt on the roads and took the YT out for a run. Wrapped up with sufficient layers of clothes and a pair of gloves, I drove some 30 miles and took

and has arguably become more appreciated over time than at its launch. New spare parts Many Magnette owners will be grateful to Peter Martin for his continuing work to keep Z spare parts available, a business which he took over from Lou Shorten. Peter also has a good relationship with Paul and Mike at NTG Services (who’ve supplied parts over many years for various models, including the Z), and in fact they’ve been able to co-operate on remanufacturing when expensive tooling is required. Peter now has new rear screen rubber for ZA/ZB (Varitone is obviously different), and

in an opportunity to visit a TC owner so I could see how he had fitted a front panhard rod. Very worthwhile, as it is always helpful to see how others have tackled problems. The car was filthy on return, so a good wash down and leathering then an application of wax and the appearance of the old girl was greatly improved. Next job is to take the radiator out, which has been gradually leaking for some months, and have it recored. Photograph shows the YT alongside its far younger cousin (by 51 years). The MG and Triumph Day at Stoneleigh February 10 2019 I will be celebrating my birthday at Stoneleigh on the MG Octagon Vehicle Stand and I look forward to seeing some of you there!

quarter-light seal for all models, both of which are apparently easier to fit than previously available versions. In the chrome department, ZB short ‘door spears’ are a recent addition, following on from the longer ZA ‘hockey sticks’ which Lou had introduced. Peter is also looking into remanufacturing the interior clock cover, an easily broken item that’s been very hard to replace, and a rear wheel-arch repair section – difficult to fabricate because of the compound curves. Finally, of interest to owners of later Zs, you can now buy the correct vinyl headlining rather than having to fit the (admittedly more luxurious) Union cloth type. More details at mgspecs.co.uk

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REGISTERS

T TYPE

JOHN WARD 01621 773606 johnw.ward@yahoo.co.uk www.mgcc.co.uk/t-register MG International Show & Spares Day Sunday February 10 2019 at the National Agricultural Exhibition Centre (NAEC) Stoneleigh Warwickshire CV8 2LG. Final reminder for the opening event of the T Register year and your opportunity to buy T Register regalia, books and memorabilia and grab those much sought-after spares brought in by members for sale. Should you also wish to sell on some spares of your own, clean them up and clearly label the item stating ownership, contact details (preferably a mobile phone number) and the price required. There is a form available by

download from the website or on the stand on the day. Advance tickets are available online up to the day before at mgandtriumphsparesday.co.uk at a reduced price of £10.00 plus a small service charge or pay on the day at £13.00. You will be able to print off your ticket online in A4 format and beat the queues standing in the cold. Any further enquiries or information required email Barry Knight or on 01252 875740. Rebuild – Saturday March 23 at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon CV35 0BJ The T Register has been hosting Rebuild seminars for nearly 40

MGA

EDWARD VANDYK 01488 608810 mgascribe@vandyk.co.uk Time to start filling the diary, if you have not done so already, and even though the MGA will be staying under wraps for a few more weeks. February 10 (Sunday) sees us kick off with the MG and Triumph Spares Day at Stoneleigh. March 24 (Sunday) takes us to the Restoration Show at the NEC. April 14 (Sunday) takes us to MG Era at Brooklands followed on 28 April (Sunday) by Drive It Day. May 17 to 20 (FridayMonday) is the MGA Register Spring Weekend. June 15 and 16 (Saturday and Sunday) is MGLive! Silverstone. July 14 (Sunday) MGA Register South-West Day

followed on July 27 (Saturday) by Scottish MGA Day. August 11 (Sunday) MGA Day at the Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire. September 27 to 30 (FridayMonday) MGA Register Autumn Weekend, Castles and Gardens Tour. Based at the Powdermills Hotel in Battle, East Sussex (01424 775511 or https:// powdermillshotel.com). Hotel bookings will go live on February 1 and full details/entry form will be on the MGA Register website. Be sure to book your hotel reservation promptly; all 49 rooms at the hotel have been reserved and it will be first come first served. Any queries please contact the organisers, Nick

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years for the benefit of owners to look and learn all about our remarkable motor cars. These have always been very popular and well supported and in the past all our very knowledgeable and experienced speakers have never failed to enthral and entertain, so no exception again this year. Once more at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon which has proved to be an accommodating and convenient venue. As last year, it has been popular format to have one stream of speakers in one conference room and the formula will be the same this time. The sessions are still to be finally scheduled, but topics on the agenda are: first-hand experiences of embarking on a nut-and-bolt rebuild of a TD and, more importantly, what he wished

and Claire Kay 01580 879708 or 07748 276615 or email: nick54kay@gmail.com November 8 to 10 (FridaySunday) is the season finale, the Classic Car Show at the NEC. Details of the above events will be found at the relevant websites or the events page of the MGA Register www.mgcc.co.uk/ mga-register/events-in-2019/ Your Register Needs You! One more date for your diary – the MGA Register AGM is to be held at MGCC Abingdon on Saturday April 6 when our longserving Chairman, Peter Morgan, will be stepping down and Ian Wilson will be taking up the reins. Peter has been a member of the Club since 1985, a member of the Register Committee since 2005 and Chairman since 2013. The Register and Committee members owe him an enormous debt of

he had known before he started; a session on preparation, painting and spraying; also the important matter of all-weather equipment and finally finishing with a forum dealing with questions and answers from the floor. Booking forms can be downloaded from our website at www.mgcc.co.uk/tregister/2019-events or see the January edition of T Register notes in Safety Fast!. The T Register AGM will as usual follow the last of the sessions. Please do stay for an extra half-hour or so and listen to your committee outline the current status of the T Register and hear the proposals for the coming year and your opportunity to voice opinion and comment on the future and wellbeing of the Register.

gratitude and, whilst he will be sorely missed, his stepping back to continue to enjoy his MGA means he will still be seen at Register events. The Register always needs new ideas, enthusiasm and energy – could this be you? Please come to the AGM, stay for the committee meeting and see what your Register Committee does. Finally Stuart Mumby, the MGA Register Registrar and editor of the Register eNewsletter, has asked me to point out that a number of MGA Register eNewsletters have bounced back from recipients owing to server problems, changes of address, etc. If any readers have failed to receive their eNewsletter, or if any reader would like to be added to the circulation, please drop a line to Stuart Mumby at: mgcarclubmganewsletter@outlook.com

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REGISTERS

MGC

MIKE HAUGHTON mgc_mike@btinternet.com www.mgcc.co.uk/mgc-register/

We see from the MGC Register Facebook page that there are a number of cars undergoing a rebuild – good luck to all of you, and it will be great to see you at events this year, particularly at MGC Weekend July 6-7. The following was recently sent to us from John Weston. Remember after the Chateau Impney MGC 50 Event it was suggested that we shared our individual cars’ 50th Birthdays as and when that happened. My MGC GT left the Abingdon production line on September 25 1968. To mark this special occasion in the car’s life I took it back to Abingdon

50 years later on September 25 2018 to celebrate 50 years of motoring. To celebrate, we made a visit to Kimber House and were given an interesting tour round by Colin Grant, not to mention a visit to the well-stocked MGCC Shop. We were joined for lunch by Gill and Richard Martin at The Dog House, a hotel and hostelry with a long-standing MG history and still maintaining an association today. The Dog House is on one of the Factory Test Routes used to check all the newly built cars as they came off the production line until a rolling road was installed in the latter days. My MGC was given

VICTOR SMITH 0208 392 9434 victorsmith@v8register.net www.v8register.net Classic car theft is increasing With rising classic car values, thefts of classics are increasing. They are stolen by determined criminals, in some cases to be broken for spares. What a fate for a cherished classic car! The vital thing for a classic car owner is to be alerted of any interference with the car and, if it is stolen, to have information as to where the car is to enable recovery to be achieved. The likelihood of a police response and active work to recover the car will be far, far greater with live information on where the car has gone. That’s why a tracker is an essential device. The standard tracker provides continuous monitoring

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of the car for disturbance and its location, but in addition the specialist tracker suppliers, like Automatrics and Classic Tracker, also offer their professional active monitoring service. So if your car were to be stolen that service can promptly trace your car for you and coordinate with the police to achieve a successful recovery. Naturally that professional service costs an annual fee, so a classic car owner will need to judge whether that service on top of the purchase price of the tracker is worth the additional cost. For more on trackers, including a special time-limited discount offer, visit our ‘More’ web page at www.v8register.net/ more.htm

the chance to retrace its original Test route journey again on its 50th birthday and passed with flying colours! In honour of the occasion Gill and Richard presented the car with a 50th Birthday Rosette. Happy 50th, WPD 12G. Happy C motoring Colin Howes

V8 Technical Day The event will be held on Saturday June 1 at a study centre near Watlington in Oxfordshire, just west of the M40. Details of the programme and how to find the study centre are on our ‘More’ web page.

Rolling V8 Calendar Full details of all the events for 2019 are on the online Rolling V8 Calendar – see our handy More’ web page at www.v8register.net/ more.htm

www.mgcc.co.uk

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REGISTERS

FWD

BEN HATTON ben2692@hotmail.co.uk www.mgcc.co.uk/fwd-register/

Recently Ben and I were chatting about how we got into the world of MG FWD cars, which got us thinking and it would be lovely to hear your stories about either how you came to be involved in the MG FWD community or how you came by your MG FWD car, so please do let Ben know your story and send a photo or two. I have always had a love of Cowley and Longbridge-built cars going back to my early years, being particularly fond of MG Metros when they first appeared. However, I ended up with a Mini as my first car, mainly as they were cheap and plentiful back in the 80s and also because that was what most of my friends owned.

Once I was in a position to own more than one car, one of my first purchases was a 1983 1.3L Maestro in Silver Leaf with a Bounty Blue interior. She was great and I loved showing her until most people who showed an interest asked “does it talk’”, and then looking somewhat disappointed when I had to explain that she was a base model and that the digital dash only featured on the MG and Vanden Plas versions for the first 18 months or so of production. One day, I was perusing the Maestro & Montego Owners Club forum when a thread came up with an eBay link to an MG Maestro 1600, which of course

MGF

TIM MORRIS 01932 882467 scribe@mgfregister.org www.mgfregister.org We are all over the festive period now and looking forward to 2019, aren’t we? I’m not too sure about that but at least in the wonderful world of the MGF/ TF we are looking forward with optimism and busily planning our activities for the year. Main events fast approaching are the MG & Triumph Show at Stoneleigh where we’ll have a stand for the umpteenth year on the trot. After that will be our annual Chairman’s Weekend and this year, we’ll be launching our fundraising campaign for 2019 in aid of the Brain Tumour Charity. Over £1,000 was raised for the RNLI last year and we hope to raise much the same or even

www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_February2019_51-98.indd 87

beat that figure for this charity. The Chairman’s weekend takes place on March 30-31 and will be based for one night at the Wroxall Abbey Hotel. It’s a fantastic place and even boasts a Sir Christopher Wren cathedral in the grounds; now you don’t get that everywhere! The venue may have moved a bit further north from our usual Abingdon base but we hope that those members from the Midlands and further may find it easier to get to, whilst still not being too far for the Southerners. The format stays similar with an AGM for he diehards in the afternoon on Saturday followed by a dinner at the hotel in the evening (you do have to be staying at the hotel to take part

Sir Stirling Moss meets Arthur the MG Maestro at the NEC

had the all-important digital dash. People on the forum seemed to know the car and thought it was a good one, so that was enough for me to place a blind bid and for £1,100 I gained a Maestro with a talking dash and it was somewhat incidental that it was an MG. I duly collected ‘Arthur’, so named from his VAT number plate as Arthur Daley drank Vodka & Tonic, VAT. I have now

owned Arthur for coming up to six years and he’s been great fun, as has my time with the MGCC. He’s competed (in the loosest of terms!) in the Autotest at MGLive!, been featured by the classic car press and has been to the NEC where he met Sir Stirling Moss! However, most importantly, buying Arthur led me into the world of MGs where I have made many friends. Tanya Field

in the dinner, though) when we’ll also dish out the annual Register awards. The Sunday run will start at Wroxall Abbey and you can join us there without staying at the hotel to take part in it. That will be a scenic drive out, finishing at a location of interest that Ian hasn’t quite decided on yet. We know, though, that it will be a jolly good weekend with the MGF Register and raise a bit of cash for the Brain Tumour Charity, too. There are still some caravans left to book at the Heather View Caravan Park in Stanhope, Durham, for our National weekend event on September 20-23 2019. Hurry or you’ll miss out. Check out the Internet

forum/ Facebook Page/ website for details of how to book both these or email Worzel at mgf. events@mgfregister.org Regions are putting up their plans for the year on their various social media forums and in our main online calendar accessed from the mgfrgister.org website, so look out for that. There are 40 events in the South East list alone, so around the country there is plenty to get stuck into. Finally, we booked spaces at Brooklands New Year’s Day meet (complete with a Classic Car Weekly picture) and Bicester Scramble to start the year off with a bang at two of the biggest events in the country. South East Region at Brooklands New Year’s Day Meet

FEBRUARY 2019 SAFETY FAST! 87

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REGISTERS

ZR/ZS/ZT

JOHN THOMPSON Tel: 07854 275541 johnt5@btinternet.com www.mgcc.co.uk/zedregister I realised whilst preparing my notes for this month’s update that a personal milestone had been reached. It has been, in fact, 10 years since I first started writing these updates. In some ways it seems only a short time, but I’m very proud of how the Register has grown and what everyone involved has achieved during this time. UPCOMING EVENTS It seems that 2019 is going to be another busy year and there has been lots going on in the background during the ‘closed season’. Our first event of the new year is nearly upon us and plans have been finalised for

MG & Triumph Spares Day which takes place on February 10. Our Detailing Seminar at Meguiar’s takes place on March 16. This event is a first for us and will give you the opportunity to learn the best methods of looking after your Zed and which products are the best for each process. I should point out that the seminar is limited to between 12 and 20 places and we are expecting a good response. If you are interested in attending please either contact myself at the email above or Paul Money at paulmoneymg@gmail.com so we can put a list together. Please see the advert elsewhere in this magazine for further information.

MG6.3.5

STEVE HAINES Steve-haines@live.co.uk www.facebook.com/groups/MG635Register https://twitter.com/635register Things are starting to take shape for 2019, with lots of events being organised and booked. Hopefully the early season events will be well supported at the BTCC Media day at Brands Hatch on Wednesday March 27, with the season opener at Brands on the weekend of April 6 and 7. We are still awaiting further announcements from team Excelr8 about the second driver and we hope to see the MG6 GT out testing sometime soon. Our first big event for 2019 will be the Pride of Longbridge at Cofton Park on April 13, and we have booked a large stand for MG6 and 3 and with our friends from the MGCC SUV Register.

Further details will follow on our stand number and location. The Register will have its gazebo and regalia, as well as an opportunity to sign up to the Register. If you have any queries or ideas for events, please either check out the Facebook page events tab or the MGCC web page on our Register micro page, where there is a full list of events for the year. If you are going to an event, please indicate attendance so we can account for numbers on stands and allocate enough space for everyone. If you have any ideas or wish to promote any events, please contact Sean Round: sean@ seanround.co.uk

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Work is in hand with the arrangements for the Practical Classic Restoration & Classic Car Show in March. Once finalised, we will announce the details in the next Register update. We also aim to officially launch the ‘Save Our Zeds’ campaign at the show to the national classic car press. Whilst on the subject of saving our Zeds, we’d like to thank you for getting behind our campaign with such enthusiasm. It has certainly become a huge talkingpoint since last month. Work continues on the arrangements for events later in the year. ‘MGs in the West’, which is taking place at the Haynes Motor Museum event in May, is shaping up very nicely. They are looking forward to hosting our event.

MG Saloon Day 2019 has also been launched on our website and social media. Plans are in motion to make it an enjoyable family day out. We can’t plan the weather, sadly! We also aim to visit Burghley House within the next few weeks to discuss our joint charity event with the F Register, Monogram Sunday. In April we will be booking space at Pride of Longbridge. The space requirement and vehicle numbers will be confirmed with the organisers in due course. All this is weather permitting, of course!

The Register Committee for 2019 was voted in at the recent AGM at Kimber House, Abingdon. Steve Haines remains Chairman, Sean Round Events, Sheila Ballard moves to Treasurer, as Barry Faiers retired after a stellar career over

the last five years – thank you, Barry, for all of your hard work! Richard Bibby-Brooke joins the team as the Registrar. See the picture below of his new MG3. We hope to see you all at an event soon.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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OPEN DAY

Saturday March 16 2019

The open day will consist of:• A 45 minute presentaaon of "Best Praccce" in the Training Room. This is a great opportunity to ask quessons and hopefully dispel a few myths. • An hour or so working on a visitor's car in our Detailing Bay to demonstrate products and techniques and give visitors an opportunity to try for themselves. • Every visitor receives a pack of sachet samples to take away. This dday is for enthusiasts with a passion for making their car look the best it possibly can. When such people have experienced Meguiar's products for themselves, they invariably become advocates for the brand. We aim to start the seminar at 10.00am but ask if you can aim to arrive for 09.30am where we will provide refreshments. For more details and to book your place please email the ZR/ZS/ZT Register Events Co-ordinator Paul Money on paulmoneymg@gmail.com

MARTIN MARTIN SMITH SMITH www.usedmgtfspares.co.uk

SHEPPERTON, MIDDLESEX TEL: 01932 241843 / 07836 281493 WWW.CHURCHSQUAREAUTOS.COM EMAIL: MGSALES@CHURCHSQUAREAUTOS.COM

www.usedmgtfspares.co.uk

The MG specialists for MGF-MGTF -MG3

MARTIN SMITH Quality new and used spares. Car trimmers/upholstery. MG car sales and MG repair service

MG TF LE 500 + H/top. (52,000 Miles) 2009 (59 Reg) Manual Petrol A Superb LE500 #383/500 with removable hardtop. the LE model is full spec eg, as well as the hardtop, air con, soft ride suspension, 16” 11 spoke alloys, Black leather sport seats, Black soft top with a glass heated rear screen , wind deflector FSH, new cambelt and water pump. Black alloys can be supplied. Excellent condition and value. £4,995

MMG TF LE. ex Trophy 190bhp /Cup Racecar 2011 (PP Reg) Manual Petrol Finished in Orange My MG TF LE Ex (mgcc) Trophy 190 / Cockshoot race car. Built using a new NAC pre production ‘LE’ bodyshell. Made by Techspeed (BTCC Team) no expense spared, not a converted roadcar hence NOT road registered, Racing hardtop, full FIA cage, special race suspension PX considered £7,500 + VAT

MG MGF TROPHY 160vvc (just 6,009 miles)

MG TF 160vvc +H/top (just 7,100 miles)

2001 (Y Reg) Manual Petrol Finished in: Trophy Yellow/black A totally immaculate MGF Trophy ltd edition, totally original with wind deflector. Full handbook pack as from new, huge history file Just fitted with a new headgasket / water pump / cambelt. The very very best lowest mileage Trophy for sale anywhere, From my own MGF/TF collection £9,995

2004 (04 Reg)7,100 Miles Manual Petrol Finished in: Xpower Grey/Grenadine interior A very very low mileage high spec TF160vvc. Black leather sport seats, colour coded hard top, black soft top, sports pack 2, soft ride suspension having also been fitted. Fully documented service history Immaculate outstanding condition unrepeatable collectors car. Can sell without hardtop if not wanted. £7,995

www.usedmgtfspares.co.uk

Tel: 07722 175473 Units 1&2, Westlane Farm, Westlane, East Lydford, Somerset TA11 7HD Email: smudgemg@yahoo.co.uk www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_February2019_51-98.indd 89

This is just a small selection from our stock FAMILY BUSINESS ESTABLISHED 1981. OUR OFFICE/ SHOWROOM IS AT 62B HIGH STREET SHEPPERTON TW17 9AU VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT PLEASE

www.churchsquareautos.com FEBRUARY 2019 SAFETY FAST! 89

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THIS ARTWORK IS THE PROPERTY OF CLASSIC CARS FOR SALE MAGAZINE. All restoration work

undertaken NO PART OF THIS ARTWORK MAY BE REPRODUCED, STORED OR OTHERWISE USED BYrefurbishment ANY OTHER PUBLICATION UNLESS PRIOR PERMISSION IS GIVEN BY Engine THE PUBLISHERS - © MS Publications (2001) Ltd. including lead-free conversions

URGENT PROOF

Classic car sales including

Please Please check check this this proof proof carefully carefully for for errors errors in in style, style, content content and and layout. layout.

commissionAlthough sales every Although every care care is is exercised exercised in in preparing preparing your your advert, advert, we we cannot cannot hold hold

Classic Car Specialists focusing on Servicing,

ourselves ourselves responsible responsible for for any any inaccuracies inaccuracies you you may may overlook. overlook.

Insurance repair work

SHOULD SHOULD YOU YOU REQUIRE REQUIRE ANY ANYRestoration, ALTERATIONS ALTERATIONS TO TO THIS THIScation PROOF PROOF and PLEASE PLEASE Sales Modifi bespoke

approved

TELEPHONE TELEPHONE BEFORE BEFORE__ __ __ __ __ __ __ AND AND QUOTE QUOTE ADVERT ADVERT NO NO..__ __ __ __ __

UK & Europe collection

refinishing work to a wide range of classic MG’s

and delivery service

Telephone Telephone 01206 01206 Fax Fax 01206 01206 500180 500180 Unit 9, Broadfields Farm, Dunmow Road, Essex. CM77 6SA We We reserve reserve the the right right to to charge charge for for any anyRayne, alteration alterationBraintree, to to this this proof proof which which is is aa departure departure from from the the original original copy copy

01376 569355 | info@classicandsportscarsessex.com | www.classicandsportscarsessex.com MGSF_February2019_51-98.indd 90

23/01/2019 16:39

Classic and Sports Cars are extremely proud to have for sale this newly completed MG TA Special. This MG TA Special recreation has just been finished to the highest standard and the rebuild and restoration quality is “probably” the best you will ever see. No expense has been spared and the eye for detail is second to none. SPEC All aluminium ‘Boat-Tail’ design bodywork. Small boot space for overnight bag. Side foot plates to aid entry to the interior. Fully overhauled XPAG Engine bored to 1300cc. Ported cylinder head and fully unleaded. New Sports Camshaft and matched distributor. Engine Fully Balanced. Stainless Steel fish-tail side exhaust. Supercharger Front mounted direct drive period style supercharger. 2” SU carburettor mounted on aluminium supercharger manifolds Aluminium induction tubes leading to aluminium coated cast iron inlet manifold with pressure relief. Suspension & Steering Front – New Andre-Hartford shock absorbers. Rear – Overhauled Armstrong hydraulic dampers. Rebuilt Steering Box New 15 ½” Blumel style Steering Wheel Brakes Aluminium Alfin style brake drums. Differential Differential rebuilt and all bearings replaced. Gearbox Gearbox rebuilt. All bearings and seals replaced. Remote shaft replaced and casting re-bushed. Bell Housing shaft replaced and casting re-bushed. Dashboard & Instruments Period style dashboard anodised matt black. Period instrumentation and controls matt black anodised bezels. Large rev counter, Radiator Temperature, Supercharge Boost, Oil Pressure, Clock and Lap Counter. Upholstery Wooden seat frames covered in maroon leather. Side panels with map pockets also covered in maroon leather. Split Tonneau in black mohair.

£88,495.00

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CL ASSIFIEDS How to Advertise enquiries@mgsforsale.com

01707 876089

www.mgsforsale.com

07831 556666

MGB Roadster 1972 Professional Restoration, power steering (LLW285K) MGB Roadster 1972, wire wheels, overdrive, tax exempt, older professional bare metal restoration by renowned MG specialist ‘Brian Brown Classics’, Midnight Blue coachwork, Biscuit interior trim, rebuilt unleaded engine with little miles since, detailed clean engine compartment, recent electric power steering, servo brakes & quality blue mohair hood, carpeted boot, heavy history file with restoration invoices, old mot’s and numerous invoices from MGOC and specialist companies both current and going back to the 80’s, an interesting provenance with the original ‘passport to service’ book and much correspondence from previous owners, drives delightfully, previously sold by us, just arrived, £17,495.00 MGB Roadster 1967 Older Restoration (MUB211F), 3 synchro model with overdrive, first registered in Leeds in 1968, chrome bumpers, chrome wire wheels, original steering wheel, double duck hood, older early 90’s bare tub restoration by Colour Developments of Bradford-on Avon in Tartan Red with Black leather interior trim, restoration included complete power train, only three owners in last 27 years, heavy history file with photographic and documentary evidence, invoices from MGOC, B Hive etc. etc. drives nicely, more recent upgrades include 12 volt battery conversion, electronic ignition, previously sold by us, just arrived, £14,950.00

URGENTLY WANTED ANY MG ANY YEAR, ANY CONDITION SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF OUR STOCK

www.mgsforsale.com

Do not confuse the above vehicles with cheaper inferior quality models offered elsewhere. Part exchange any make of Motor Car with generous allowances. Discounted cash purchases. Viewing by appointment only please (available evenings & weekends) no obligation to purchase. All our vehicles carry a warranty, have an MOT and are fully serviced prior to collection/delivery.

Members can advertise their cars free of charge in Safety Fast. The advert will also be posted on the Club website in due course. This is for one insertion only. To place an advert or for additional insertions email colingrant@mgcc.co.uk with details of your car, around 60 words, together with an attached picture, your contact information, price of your car, the area where you live, and membership number. Cost for non-members to advertise is £20. All adverts should be submitted by the 10th of the month for the following months issue.

1955 MG ZA Magnette This car is in Australia. It is an early “Tin Dash” model with the original engine, carbs, air filter etc. It is a project car that needs paint and trim. Door cards and headlining are quite reasonable. There is almost no rust. The car is on NSW Concessional registration and is used regularly. It is very similar to one of the original BMC Competition cars. Bruce Smith Ph 61 2 9875 1144. Email spor tspar ts@bigpond.com £5000. It would buyer’s responsibility to transport it from Sydney. All assistance would be given.

1974 MGBGT

1974 MGB GTV8

In Midnight Blue. Body re-shelled, Engine by J.E Developments. All mechanicals new or refurbished. Parabolic springs & Spax at the rear, new Loom, K&N Filters, Revotec Fans, & Polybushes where possible Complete re-trim Black with white piping. WheeIs powder coated Anthracite. 3362 miles on speedo. Comprehensive file included. £23500ono. Condition2. Telephone: John on 015395 64463. (Cumbria)

1955 Magnette

Good condition throughout Maroon in colour, Interior all retrimmed, seats, door cards etc. Drives ok New stay up floats in carburettors along with needle valves New battery, timing chain and tensioner. All plugs + leads, distributer cap, rotor, points ,condenser replaced Exhaust could do with being replaced but everything else in good order. £12,000 call 07764188791 (Cambridgeshire )

www.classicmg.co.uk 1968 MGC. GT

MGR V8 1994, 53,000 miles. £22,000

MGC ROADSTER 1969, 5 Speed. £29,500

MGC GT - FIVE IN STOCK 1968, BRG. £21,500

FACTORY GT V8 1974, 80,000 miles. £24,950

30 MGS FOR SALE

MGS URGENTLY WANTED TO PURCHASE

92 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2019

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1954 MG TF 1500

I have had this car since 1995 and am the second owner from new having imported it from California USA. The car has never been restored but well maintained. The car is complete and is in very good overall condition having done 88000 miles and dry garaged. Would suit a new owner who could enjoy and cherish this original car which is in good overall running condition with no need to perform any form of restoration but could, if so desired, make cosmetic changes to suit one's own tastes. Comes with original workshop manual, history, all matching numbers and heritage certificate; oiro £18000; 01507 600391 (Lincs)

Rare, original chrome bumpe 6th or 7th ow approx. Built 19 1/1/75. I have lo Guy I bought fr California at “ Valley”. Has new as originals not checked over b garage in Gatwi order. Selling Price: £25,000 number is 0 (Gatwick)

Beautifully restored and featured on many magazine covers. New pewter metallic paintwork. New red leather, reclining seats and carpets. Lightened balanced engine. Burgess gas flowed head. Triple Webber carbs. Power steering. Alloy wheels. Genuine reason for reluctant sale. Under 66,000 miles. £26,900. Email: mawright333@gmail.com

1959 MGA Tw

Home market RH Twin Cam Coup Rolling Chassis w Black Painted w and bonnet. Nee Buff log book. B complete to a ve 100% rust free w wings and door Dunlop knock/on 4 New Dunlop parts fitted as fo calipers, wheel front/rear, histo floor boards, wiri wheel, windows MK1, exhaust wit fold, petrol tank box / master cy front/rear lights. bished items as suspension, rear locks. Lights com with new parts. £ Roderick on 0778 (Winchester)

1970 MGC GT

In mineral blue with black interior 4speed with O/D 98K miles MOT'ed until May 19, and tax exempt. 5+ owners from new with some service history & bills, Chrome wire wheels. Car is always garaged. Paintwork a little tired hence the car is priced at £12250, ono. Phone 07979696119. (Liskeard )

As a member in Safety Fa words, togethe ingran

www.mgcc.co.uk

23/01/2019 16:39

Barry Walker 1/4 November 17:Layout 1 05/10/2017 11:41 Page 1 Barry Walker 1/4 November 17:Layout 1 05/10/2017 11:41 Page 1

CL ASSIFIEDS

British motor heritage approved

arry W Walker alker bbarry .....for the very best in vintage MGs.....

estd.1968

.....for the very best in vintage MGs..... Estd.1968

Stoneleigh MG Spares Day Sunday 10th February ’19 S

1974 MGBGT V8

TV8

. Body re-shelled, Developments. All or refurbished. & Spax at the rear, N Filters, Revotec s where possible m Black with white powder coated miles on speedo. le included. dition2. Telephone: 64463. (Cumbria)

Rare, original factory-Black chrome bumper & I am about 6th or 7th owner. 80k miles approx. Built 1974 & first reg on 1/1/75. I have lots of “History”. Guy I bought from took her to California at “birth of Silicon Valley”. Has new Minilite wheels as originals not good! Recently checked over by specialist MG garage in Gatwick area and all in order. Selling due to “age” Price: £25,000 ONO. Contact number is 01293 203499. (Gatwick)

1959 MGA COUPE

Iris Blue, black leather trim. Low mileage. MOT to July 2019. MGB GT 1800cc engine. Converted to negative earth. Previously restored (photos included in sale). Extra photos of current condition available. Great winter project – requires some cosmetic chrome and paint work. £18,750. Contact (daytime): 01386 442758 ) to arrange viewing. (Worcestershire)

1978 MGB GT

on throughout r, Interior all redoor cards etc. ay up floats in carwith needle valves ng chain and tenleads, distributer ints ,condenser t could do with ut everything else r. £12,000 call ambridgeshire )

ed and featured on overs. New pewter ork. New red seats and carpets. ed engine. Burgess d. Triple Webber ring. Alloy wheels. for reluctant sale. es. £26,900. Email: mail.com

1959 MGA Twin CamCoupe

Home market RH Drive car Twin Cam Coupe - Pull Handle. Rolling Chassis with body fitted – Black Painted wings, doors, boot and bonnet. Needs assembling. V5 Buff log book. Body and chassis complete to a very high standard, 100% rust free with all its original wings and doors. 4 refurbished Dunlop knock/on wheels/spinners 4 New Dunlop sport tyres. New parts fitted as follows: brake discs, calipers, wheel bearings, bushes front/rear, historic works seats, floor boards, wiring loom, steering wheel, windows rubbers, grille MK1, exhaust with 4 branch manifold, petrol tank, h/Brake, pedal box / master cylinder, clutch, and front/rear lights. Complete re furbished items as follows: front end suspension, rear end, diff, all door locks. Lights complete re furbished with new parts. £18750. Please call Roderick on 07786 334411 (Winchester)

Genuine 5000 mls from new. Not Restored and car is as it left the factory. Full history and MOT`s from 1982. Possibly one of the lowest mileage and genuine GT`s available. £15500 ovno. Tel Geoff 07884494535 or Email: geoff.silvester@gmail.com

ls)

1933 poST pRodUcTIoN mG k3 oN chASSIS k 0302. This former K1 has been rebuilt to the exacting K3 specification by its meticulous owner over the last 10 years with input from leading mechanical & body engineers to put this in a class almost of its own. Totally restored from the chassis-up, with a complete engine rebuild by SPB Historics coupled to a newly geared Wilson pre-select gearbox and supercharged via a Roots type s/c fed with a 21/4” SU with twin T4 float bowls. The 4.3:1 back axle pulls 21mph per 1000rpm in top (don’t tell this to the wife!). The magnificent body is by Dave Cooksey and is presented with a proper Brooklands exhaust, the correct K3 dashboard, aeroscreens and a (rare) full screen for hood fitting if required. This exhilerating and exciting MG is finished in BR Green with K3 piped seating, tonneau cover, full invoice file, VSCC buff form, MGCC MMM registration no. and a substantial spares package. This is the closest you’ll get to an Abingdon built K3, and whilst it may not have pre-war race history, it offers the same (or better) driving experience, an ever-increasing investment, and for a third of the price of its factory-built cousin................................£220,000

If there is particular car that you would like me to view at Stoneleigh, please advise in good time

www.barrywalker.com

1945 mG Tc mIdGeT. 1954 mG TF mIdGeT. FAcToRY oRIGINAl pA ToUReR. No room here to do justice to this Totally restored 1250cc TF with 60 An interesting car with excellent incredible time-warp MG. Please spoke chrome wire wheels; original original bodywork, original wings, all see new website for the story of this RHD home market model. In matching nos., brand new tyres and car. Suffice it here to say it is virtually pristine condition throughout and all new weather gear (no s/screens). Unrestored gauges but all original. finished deep Cherry Red is with untouched; COMMISSION two owners; 53,000 orig. Our SALES: highlyin regarded service always available to you. miles; still with its original guarantee red leather and corrct period Fascinating, original TC, one of the accessories.......................£32,500 earliest recorded...............£29,500 Tel: 01789 400 (alas elapsed) signed by Cecil 181. Fax: 01789 400230. Mob: 07836 244103 Kimber himself.Email: barry@barrywalker.com Web: www.barrywalker.com Superb condition JUST ARRIVING. Very, very rare MG ‘M’ type ‘Sportsman Coupé in both bodily & mechanically. Simply beautifully restored condition. For full details see the article on this car in amazing find.........................£45,000 the April 2017 edition of ‘The Automobile’.....so rare....................£36,000

For stock please see our website

oRIGINAl Tool kITS IN STock

NoSe & SIdemoUNTed SUpeRchARGeRS IN STock

COMMISSION SALES: Our highly regarded service is always available to you.

Tel: 01789 400 181. Fax: 01789 400230. Mob: 07836 244103 Email: barry@barrywalker.com Web: www.barrywalker.com

2003 MGTF 1.8 Litre

First Registered July 03. 58,000 miles, 5 speed, 12 months MOT. Metallic Grey with black roof. Chrome twin exhausts. Alloy gear knob. Wind deflector. Tonneau cover. Electric windows. Remote control alarm. Sony CD/Radio with removable front. 6 spoke alloy wheels with locking nuts. Full size spare wheel. Full range of photos on request. Reason for sale – bought vintage MG. £1950.00 ONO 07976 625454. (Hartlebury, Worcestershire)

with black interior O/D 98K miles May 19, and tax rs from new with history & bills, eels. Car is always rk a little tired priced at £12250, 79696119.

SELLING YOUR CAR? As a member of the MG Car Club you can advertise your car in Safety Fast for free. Just email your car details, max 60 words, together with a JPEG picture to Colin Grant at colingrant@mgcc.co.uk. Non member fee is £20

FEBRUARY 2019 SAFETY FAST! 93

www.mgcc.co.uk Barry Walker 1/4 July 18.indd 1

MGSF_February2019_51-98.indd 93

23/01/2019 16:39

CL ASSIFIEDS

PARTS FOR SALE XPAG 1500cc. Engines.

How to Advertise Members can advertise their cars free of charge in Safety Fast. The advert will also be posted on the Club website in due course. This is for one insertion only. To place an advert or for additional insertions email colingrant@mgcc.co.uk with details of your car, around 60 words, together with an attached picture, your contact information, price of your car, the area where you live, and membership number. Cost for non-members to advertise is £20. All adverts should be submitted by the 10th of the month for the following months issue.

1974 MGB GTV8

California at “birth of Silicon Valley”. Has new Minilite wheels as originals not good! Recently checked over by specialist MG garage in Gatwick area and all in order. Selling due to “age” Price: £25,000 ONO. Contact number is 01293 203499. (Gatwick)

Great winter project – requires some cosmetic chrome and paint work. £18,750. Contact (daytime): 01386 442758 ) to arrange viewing. (Worcestershire)

1978 MGB GT

1955 Magnette

1968 MGC. GT

1954 MG TF 1500

1)  In build. Late block linered and bored 72mm +.030”, pressure tested, late crank .010/010”, crack tested, lip sealed front and back on SpeediSleeve. Steel ‘spider’ flywheel. Diaphragm clutch, all balanced. Big sump, 280º fast road cam. Vernier timing sprocket set. Cylinder head, stage II, big valve, unleaded.  2) Next build (ex TC race engine.) Late block linered and bored 72mm +.040”. Pressure tested, late crank STD/STD. Crack tested, lip sealed front and back on Speedi-Sleeve. Steel ‘spider’ flywheel, double diaghragm clutch, all balanced. Big sump racing oil pick-up. 280º fast road or full race camshaft. Vernier timing sprocket set. LAYSTAL aluminium cylinder head. 3)  Next build. Late block bored 1974 MGBGT V8 MGA COUPE 1350cc., lightened1959 and balanced Rare, original factory-Black Iris Blue, black leather trim. Low chrome bumper & Iengine.  am about mileage. MOT to July 2019. MGB fast road 6th or 7th owner. 80k miles GT 1800cc engine. Converted to approx. Built 1974 & first reg on negative earth.contact Previously restored For all enquiries, please 1/1/75. I have lots of “History”. (photos included in sale). Extra phoRon Ward Guy I bought from tookon her 01422 to tos of823649 current condition available.

Garage clear-out, after 50 years in MG’s

I am trying to retire and get rid of all the junk. (Sorry not PC, all the beautiful previously cherished parts!) A lot of it is competition and ‘fast road’ but ‘normal’ stuﬀ as well. Please go to my web site www.hewittsracing.co.uk and click 2003 MGTF 1.8 Litre Registered July 03. 58,000 on spares. I can alsoFirst build you12 amonths good miles, 5 speed, MOT. Grey with black roof. engine, and have tiMetallic me for one Chrome twin just exhausts. Alloy gear Wind deflector. Tonneau more rebuild/ knob. renovati cover. Electric on. windows. Remote

1959 MGA Twin CamCoupe

control alarm. Sony CD/Radio with Please ring 07831 104020 removable front. 6 spoke alloy wheels with locking nuts. Full size for a chat. spare wheel. Full range of photos on request. Reason for sale – bought vintage MG. £1950.00 ONO Visit us at Stoneleigh Spares Day 07976 625454. (Hartlebury, Worcestershire) 10th February 2019

1970 MGC GT

1956 MGA 1500

Originally exported to Kenya and RHD. Excellent condition dry climate car. Enjoying MG feature car this year. Engine and gearbox recently rebuilt. Fantastic condition underneath. Hood, tonneau and side screens. 01545 581155. £27,995 ono. (Wales)

2005 MGTF Spark

XPower Grey, Grey hood, Hardtop. Excellent stamped history with invoices. MOT Nov 2019. Nearly new matching tyres. Stainless exhaust, coolant pipe. MLS Head gasket at 41k, now 52k. Cambelts changed. Recent £625. FULL service. Mike Satur chrome roll hoops and windbreak. Absolutely NO rust. Waxoiled regularly. Door pocket Immaculate condition. £2600 ovno. 07789118296. (Twyford, Berkshire)

2003 MGZS120

Rare ignition blue paint, Genuine 72k miles. Two owners from new. Smart throughout with no rust, though wheels need refinishing. New battery, head gasket and timing belt, two new tyres. FSH, MoT until June. £1,250 ovno. Email: bill.munro99@btinternet.co.uk 07748 782437. (Surrey)

URGENTLY WANTED MGA/MGB/MGC/V8/ MIDGET/SPRITE ETC

Any Condition from non runners to rebuilt cars

Please call Edward 01923 840236 or any time on 07774 484497 Email: ejwhitescars@aol.com Website: www.mgandporsche.com (Northwood, Middlesex)

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www.mgcc.co.uk

23/01/2019 16:40

CL ASSIFIEDS

SPARES FOR SALE HOW TO ADVERTISE

Members can advertise their spares for sale/wanted free of charge for items up to £250. Over £250, or for non-members to advertise, there is a charge of £20. To submit your advertisement email Colin Grant at colingrant@mgcc.co.uk. Please remember to include your membership number in all correspondence. All adverts should be submitted by December 4th for the January issue.

MG TC – Doors

1 pair of Doors. Good Condition in Primer. £150.00 each

MGB GT 1974

Carpet set for Sale. As new. Colour Mustard. Reasonable offer considered. Tel: 01483 487546 or marystanley@talktalk.net

MG Midget boot handle,

Original and unused, full working order, includes three keys, £25.

MGB quartz clock

Marked “Made in Germany”, not tested (it was most recently wire up as a garage clock). Hands move freely, £20.

MG wooden gear knob

Unused, appears to have “push on” fitting. A couple of small marks on the wood, but otherwise good condition, £15. All parts include P&P for UK. Please contact me for more details or photos. galucas@waitrose.com Tel. 07941 155317.

MGC Gearbox with rebuilt overdrive £250.00. MGC Peter Burgess gas-flowed unleaded cylinder head £200.00. Buyer Collects. Contact Mike on Tel 01580 753175. (Hawkhurst)

MGB

Pair of reclining seats (driver and passenger), centre headrest with seat belt holder - material is cloth, black with grey stripe and blue surround. Sides, back and headrest are vinyl. Do not have fixing rails. Can send picture. £25 Email: niall.hossack@gmail.com. Tel: 07778 033528 (South Essex)

MG Midget Mk2/Sprite 3:

Bonnet panel, fair skin and repairable. Quarter lights complete, good chrome, door and window furniture, seats (covers good, refurb needed), heater system. Free as lot collection. Email: Pauldeville11@btinternet.com (Stafford area)

TD/TF EPAG 1500cc

Engines newly built. Fast road camshaft, lightened and balanced. Lip sealed. Strage 11 unleaded TC - same specification. Later build 1350cc either TC or TD/TF. Can be fitted with laystal alloy cylinder head. Contact Ron Ward on 01422 823649

www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_February2019_51-98.indd 95

www.mgmecca.co.uk

MG TF hard top.

Black. Excellent condition. Heated window. £250. Buyer collects. Tel. 01568 709376. (Nr Leominster, Herefordshire)

Tel: +44 (0) 1953 717618 Fax: (0) 1953 717850

B32 - MIKE ROLLS SERVICES_MIKE ROLLS SERVICES 13/12/2012 09:50 Page 1

MG3

Spare wheel kit complete unused. £70.00. New these kits are £120.00. 07866 473262 Buyer collects. (Bridgwater Somerset)

1968 MGB Roadster.

A pair of leather seats in good condition, no tears or rips, black with white piping. £100. Contact John 01268 763805 (Essex)

1968 MGC, Old English White, black trim with red pipe. Restored 8 years ago, bill for well over £15,000. Moto Lita, knock on minilites, alloy rad. Body excellent. Very well maintained by enthusiast. A superb example £22,995

1968 MGB GT Tartan Red. W/W. O/drive. Original trim. Black leather, red pipe. Original steering wheel. Chrome wires. Drives superbly, just like driving a new one in the 60’s! Restored a few years ago, some minor blemishes. Looks fantastic. All the desirable attributes with an MGB. £8,995

1972 MGB ROADSTER, teal blue , ochre trim. W/w, o/drive. A superbly original car, best example of very rare ochre trim i`ve ever seen. Genuine 80,000 from new with full history. Excellent body, nice engine bay, drives superbly, nice original patina, cars like this come avaliable very rarely. £12,995

1972 MGB ROADSTER Old English White, red trim. Totally restored on dry state shell, everything is new/recon. 2L fast road engine. Sports leather seats. Everflex red hood. W/Wheels. Drives like a new car, superb, S/S boot rack, sports wheel, painted dash. Hydraulic bonnet struts, K&N ﬁlters. Would cost in excess of £35k to build. £27,995

MG TA MPJG

Solid copper cylinder head gasket. They are made in the UK with high pressure water jet CNC machining which means they are distortion free. They are made from 1.5mm thick solid copper and they will need annealing before you use them as copper work hardens. I am prepared to send them any where in the world at the appropriate postage costs, as I know these are not available any where else at the present time. I have 10 available but if more are required I can have them made. They cost £98.00 plus P+P in the uk that is £6.50. Contact Gordon Norman 01482867740 or Email: gnorman@gnorman.karoo.co.uk

MGTF 2004:

Front and rear suspension units, covered approx 25000 miles £120. MG Midget: Various tyres and ROstyle wheels. Can bring to Stoneleigh. Tel 07703 532507

MG F Parts

Panels in BRG off 1996 car. Bonnet, front wings, Doors complete, boot lid, hardtop GRP black, windstop, standard 15inch wheels. Offers. Collection only. Contact Paul on 07725 109589 (West Oxon)

WANTED WANTED Complete Heater Assembly

Suitable for a MGA (converted from LHD). Please contact Chris Norman 01394 460 576; 07591177490 or Email: chrisnorman2211@btinternet.com

2016

MIKE ROLLS SERVICES FOR MGs Specialising in all MG’s

TRADE MGB MEMBER Ermine White (like Old English), black trim,

TEL/FAX: 01258 820337

red pipe. Antique Red carpets. Sports leather seats. Moto Lita wheel. Minilites. All new chrome. Red boot carpets, mohair hood. Genuine 55,000 miles from new. Superb shell, recent respray. Drives superbly. A super car. £11,995

1966 MG MIDGET. Midnight Blue, red trim, black seats. 1098 engine. These are getting very rare now to ﬁnd. New hood. Lots of patina, body has marks and small dents, as expected from a car that’s been used for over 50 years. Just had complete new rear hanger and floor on n/s. Not many left like this £4,295

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8am-6pm, Wed: 8am-5pm, Sat: 8am-1pm 2016 201 6

TRADE MEMBER

MIKE ROLLS SERVICES FOR MGs Specialising in all MG’s

TEL/FAX: 01258 820337

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8am-6pm, Wed: 8am-5pm, Sat: 8am-1pm MG TF RED -1954

MG TF 1954, 1250cc, Red with original red interior and black carpets. This car was originally exported to Switzerland and was always been right hand drive, in 2001 it was re-imported to this country after having a mechanical restoration over there. It is a very genuine car with a great MG number plate, lovely history with black and white pictures of the family that owned it when new, it has recently had new wire wheels and tyres ﬁtted and comes with good weather gear and heritage certiﬁcate. This TF drives beautifully. £26,995

MG TC - 1948

MG TC, 1948, British Racing Green, fitted with a re-con engine and 5 speed gearbox supplied by Andy King and has only done 1,500mls since fitted. The car has black interior, aero screen, telescopic shock absorbers at the front, 16in wheels at the front and 19in wheels at the back, good hood, weather gear, (side screens a little tatty) and history file. The is a very good usable classic which is lovely as is but could be improved if wanted. £24,500

MG TD - 1953

MG TD 1953, Finished in British Racing Green with green interior and Tan weather gear. This MG TD had a light restoration in 2009/10 and it is a beautiful car. It has a good history with the original buff log book and drives extremely well. £26,995.

WANTED MGA 1600 MK 1

Propshaft. Please contact Bob Divine on 01273 555902 or email r.divine@ntlworld.com"

WANTED 1972 MGBGT

Untinted clear glass windscreen in good (i.e.no scratches or cracks) condition. If possible with a Triplex XXX mark. Tel: 01507 600391

DAX 427 COBRA -1973

Dax 427 Cobra, 1973, Built between 1984 - 1988 using number one of a series two chassis, Jaguar series two front suspension and Jaguar S Type rear suspension and Spax shocks all round, it has a Chevy 5.7ltr engine with a Getrag gearbox. Dark blue with grey interior, MOT’d until May 2019 and comes with good history ﬁle with invoices etc. This cobra is now a historic vehicle, tax exempt and built to a high standard. £29,995

Units 9/10 Fifehead Business Park, Manor Farm, Fifehead Magdalen, near Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5RR

E-mail: mikerolls4mgs@compuserve.com • www.mikerolls.co.uk Mail Order “Friendly Quality Service”

FEBRUARY 2019 SAFETY FAST! 95

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MG16 - BUCKS SPORTS CLASSICS_BUCKS SPORTS CLASSICS 26/09/2012 14:24 Page 1

Insurance for all MG’s classic and modern

Colne Classics

Call for a quote today

01376 574000

www.classiccarinsurance.co.uk

Bucks Sports & Classic Car Centre

MG Power Steering and restoration specialists

For friendly advice contact Pete Giles on Tel: 01296 433550 or Mob: 07831 404968 www.mgsonthenet.co.uk www.mgsonthenet.co.uk email: peter.giles@mgsonthenet.co.uk

View the website on www.colneclassics.com B1 Seaden Court, Gorse Lane Ind Est, Clacton, Essex. 01255 432693, 07714 675319

NEW MGB Baulk Rings

10STREET Rabans Aylesbury. HP19 BUCKS 8RS HP20 1EB UNIT 18, PARK IND Close, ESTATE, OSIER WAY, AYLESBURY,

MIDGETS! WANTED

WANTED

www.bighealey.co.uk

WANTED ALL MG MODELS!

CNC Machined in the UK to our specification

All conditions wanted, from barn ﬁnds to concours. Complete collections purchased. Cash buyer. Discretion assured. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are interested in selling your MG and are looking for a prompt hassle free cash buyer! Please feel free to contact me for a no obligation friendly chat. I am especially interested in the following models: MG TC, MGA, MGB, MGC, MGB V8, Magnette and Midget.

Brass 2nd & 3rd/4th £59.95+VAT Steel 4 synchro £49.50+VAT (Prices are subject to change. Please see our website!)

CC10.12/MG16/p

Specialist in MGA, B, C, V8, RV8, Midgets, and MGF. Also specialists in early Minis

Contact the Midget Specialist MIKE AUTHERS on Abingdon 07703 465 224 CHROME BUMPERED MIDGETS in excellent condition bought up to £8,000. View current stock at

www.mgmidgets.com

CALL DIRECT ON: 07787 528131

For the ‘best’ in MG high-performance Parts Hotline: +44(0)1543 472244 E-mail: sales@bighealey.co.uk

Fleet, Hampshire

DENIS WELCH MOTORSPORT, YOXALL, BURTON ON TRENT, STAFFS DE13 8NA, UK

STEVE McKIE SPORTSCARS

Tel: 01932 568822

CHESTERFIELD

OPENING HOURS: 08.30am – 5.00pm Mon – Fri Sat am: By appointment only

KEEPING MORRIS & MG ALIVE FOR THE FUTURE Welding to MOT standards Vehicle safety checks undertaken

DERBYSHIRE

Suppliers of parts for • MGA • MGB • MGC • Midget • T Type • MGF/TF

Mechanical repairs and servicing Bodywork/paintwork

www.stevemckiesportscars.co.uk

SAVE MONEY WITH US – NO VAT ON LABOUR! Kimble-SF_Nov-09.qxd:Kimble MGEChertsey, 1_8 col 3.3 Unit 6, Stevens Yard, 113 Fordwater Road, Surrey KT1626/10/09 8HB www.chertseyminors.co.uk

The Great British

•

Specialists in the repair and restoration of MG cars

Steering Wheel

Tel 01246 454527 • Fax 01246 453681 Albert Street North, Chesterfield, S41 8NP

13:0

Custom made and standard fit covers for your car from £99

Steve McKie Sports Cars Hi-Res.indd 1

Please check this Although every ca ourselves respons

23/06/2010 13:46

The Brooklands We manufacture the BROOKLANDS

Steering Wheel from the original BLUEMEL tooling. It is not a Far Eastern copy and is made using the original methods and traditional materials. The CENTRE BOSS fixing kit, again from the original tooling, not only fits the MG TC and pre-war MGs, but the TD, TF and MGA. There are boss kits for other makes and kit cars too.

Ww14” ENo Nalso in W

NO ABLE Ivo AILry AV

Now also 15½ inch wheel

BROOKLANDS AEROSCREENS are made using laminated glass to original specification to suit all vintage and sports cars.

john@johnkimble.co.uk

K KIMBLE

Tel: 01803 835757 Fax: 01803 834567

SHOULD YOU RE

• Custom Indoor from £150

• Custom Waterproof Outdoor £295 • Standard fleece-lined breathable from £112

EST 1969

MGSF_February2019_51-98.indd 96

Telephone

• Soft Indoor Stretch from £99 NEW!

We reserve the

(Covers for all other cars too)

Online database for the perfect cover at www.carcovershop.co.uk Tel 01780 749449

Unit 5, Old Mill Creek, Dartmouth, Devon TQ6 0HN.

96 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2019

TELEPHONE BEF

Premium Quality since 2003

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13:33

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B12 - BARRIE CARTER_CLASSIC MOTORING 19/04/2018 09:35 Page 1

Insurance for all MG’s classic and modern

Call for a quote today

01376 574000 CL ASSIFIEDS

www.classiccarinsurance.co.uk

X-pag’ – ‘X-pag’

– ‘T-type’ – ‘T-type’ ‘X-pag’ – ‘X-pag’ – ‘X-pag’ spect and we buy and sell T-types and‘T-type’ other classics. restore and refresh both T-types and X-pag engines, gearboxes, trim, paint; every aspect and we buy and sell T-types and other classics. f after retirementWe and banishment to the garage. Running out of T’s for sale but we have some interesting objects to occupy yourself after retirement and banishment to the garage. THIS MY OWN MX5. A This is a Mk1 very rare MK1 very early bytoa MX5car thatrestored according Westland Helicopter engineer. garage It must my be MoT the only MXhas with never been welded. unscuffed leather seats. It has a twin stainless exhaust, It passed with no upratedadvisories. brakes, adjustable It is the shocks,rare newV spec, hoodwith et al.unmarked It handles and interior, drives superbly. leather Brace bar, Alloy coil wheels propel it. These cars embody the ultimate 60s sports overs overs, alloy wheels, electric windows, full original experience without the problems. It also has £1000 worthtool of kit, player. and appears to be rustclassic free I had a new with hood today's fitted last stereo/cd Yesterday's panache reliability. quickly exhilarating year.I love It is fiit…a tted with a veryappreciating expensive radio and DVD player, bolide…and onlyone£3,995. Lotus itbadge on…then itsit40k. whatever of thosePut is, Iabought for myself and used all last summer, but now it needs a new appreciator. A rare MK1 andPOIRIET sought after... I hope... £5,250 FRENCH 125cc.

or many nd call for

Very unusual and rare FIATA 124 COUPE cycle car. French Poiriet RHD.miles Superb 125cc 1975 and 200 interior with dash indicated delightfully protector, mini-lite rep different and original, 2 wheels. Unmarked seats and 3 gears and paintwork, lovely In lovely un-welded condition, you will you won’t fall off andchrome. we have another one! This has find one like miles! this. Beautiful and out. £9,995 done anever colossal 600 Bothinside unrestored and nice £4,500 each.

TC Race/fast road car, allegedly twice championship winner, fully modified to T reg. specs. Full race 1350 engine, !”1/2” S.Us branched manifold, plumbed in ext. comp clutch, alloy body panels, 15 “ wheels, tramp bars modified brakes, teles, cage, race seat, and more. It’s as scruffy as raced and very quick. Ideal circuit, race or hillclimb. £23,950 MGA race car, Prepared for the US series and raced at Watkins Glen.1650 all steel engine, Kinky race seat, LSD, Fully plumbed in system, triple Mater Cyls, wires, uprated brakes, race suspension mods, lovely rot free body and chassis. Three GP wings one steel, steel wings available, fuel cell, twin facets, so much,and so cheap. LHD but if you’re racing, no one’s coming the other way. Eligible for so many events or road. So cheap! £23,950

Amilcar body with dicky seat, 20s/30s in very good condition. Ready to fit a medium sized chassis. Body,wings, running boards, hood, doors, bonnet, all good and ready to fit. £3,250 Austin A40 Somerset, somewhat different, 30 odd years in the same garage owner’s possession, Already a very low mileage and unmolested car, he prepared it for long distance reliability rallies. It still has its Targa and Le Jog plaques. The brakes were uprated to a 60, teles, uprated diff, and has a 1500 MGA type 1500 engine and modified it to. You’ll never find a better one. Goes extremely well, as you’d expect. Looks standard though. It’s lovely. £12,995

Heathrow Transmission .......................97

Adrian Flux ..........................................85

Hewitt Racing ......................................94

www.barriecartermg.com

EST’D

Autoseal...............................................21

Hoyle Suspension ................................72 T-Type restorations and XPAG engine rebuilds Barrie Carter .......................................97 JLH Minor Restoration.........................79 and general Barry MGWalker servicing are the mainstay of our .......................................93 Just Right Autos Ltd.............................80 business. We welcome your custom. Beech Hill Garage................................94 Kimble Engineering Ltd .......................96

mg.com

OOF

nt and layout. we cannot hold ook.

PROOF PLEASE

RT NO. _ _ _ _ _

Bespoke Rallies ...................................75 Brand Events: The London

1989

MG GEARBOX AXLE DIFFERENTIAL URGENT PROOF OVERDRIVE SPECIALISTS CM04.18/B9/ffr

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

dy off rebuild terior is all urbishment. chrome. ared and w weather 26,950

FIAT 124 COUPE 1975 RHD. A beautiful unrestored Australian car, 1 owner for 25 years, soon here, please ring. 4Sight Lighting Company....................85

CM06.18/B12/dfff

We also have a vast amount of XPAG spares and will rebuild your XPAG to any spec. Or supply a new build. B series engines also rebuilt to road or race specs. Please ring Barrie or Alan

Longstone Tyres .................................44

Manorcheck Garagethis .....................................72 Please proof carefully for errors in style, content and layout. Martin Smith Used MGTF ......89in preparing Although every care is Spares exercised your advert, we cannot hold OVERHAUL – REPAIR – EXCHANGE UNITS British Motor Heritage.........................IFC MG Mecca...........................................95 ourselves responsible for any inaccuracies you may overlook. FULL WORKSHOP FITTING SERVICE AVAILABLE Classic Car Show ................................36 Brown and Gammons.........................11

All work carried out by time-served BMC/BL engineers

MG Sales Centre .................................43 Bucks Sports and Classic....................96SHOULD YOU REQUIRE ANY ALTERATIONS TO THIS PROOF PLEASE Midland Classic Restoration ..................3 Car Cover Shop ..................................96TELEPHONE BEFORE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ AND QUOTE ADVERT NO. _ _ _ _ _ Mike Authurs Classics (MG Midgets) ..96 Carole Nash Insurance .......................21 Worldwide Mail Order Service Mike Rolls ............................................95 Chertsey Minors .................................96 Visit our eBay Shop and Website for products and details Mike Satur ...........................................77 Chisbon Restorations...........................62 Unit 20c (Rear of 20/22) T 020 8577 1505 Mirror Trim ...........................................38 Church Square Autos ..........................89 DONHOODS-SFAug07.QXD:Layout 1 23/9/09 16:22 Page Hanworth Road, Hounslow E heathrowtransmissions@gmail.com NTG Services....................................OBC Classic & Sports Cars (Essex)....... 90, 91 Greater London TW3 1UA w heathrowtransmissions.co.uk Oselli Ltd .............................................69 Classic Motor Hub ...............................67 Peter Best ..............................96, 97, IBC Clive Wheatley .....................................67We reserve the right to charge for any alteration to this proof which Peter James Insurance .........................9 College Motors Burford .......................85 is a departure from the original copy Rees Bros ............................................72 Colne Classics .....................................96 Retro Sports Cars .................................6 Crown Classic Cars .............................62 Rimmer Bros Ltd .................................38 David Manners ......................................6 Dennis Welch.......................................96 Robin Lackford Motor Engineering .....77

DON HOODS UNBEATABLE QUALITY – UNBEATABLE VALUE!

Distributor Doctor.................................77

RPS Ltd ...............................................38

Don Trimming ......................................97

Scenic Car Tours........................... 19, 25

Duckhams ..........................................50

SMR.....................................................92

EJW Classic and sports.......................94

Steve McKie Sports Cars.....................96

Fishers Services ..................................85

Summit MG.........................................79

Footman James ..................................49

Sussex Classic Car Parts.....................62

Former Glory........................................92

The Hutson Motor Co Ltd ......................3

Frontline...............................................58

Torro Sports Cars Ltd...........................96

Get Patina ............................................55

Vitesse Global Ltd ...............................69

Halls Garage ........................................93

Xpag 1500cc. Engines........................94

www.mgcc.co.uk

DIRECT FROM THE MAKERS – WITH OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE

•BETTER THAN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT QUALITY •STITCHED AND WELDED FOR MAXIMUM LIFE •WIDEST CHOICE OF COLOURS AVAILABLE •ALL FASTENERS & FITTINGS INCLUDED D PRICE FOR LEAFLET AN LIST CONTACT Ltd Don Trimming Co.

Choice of heavy duty PVC, ICI Vynide, Everflex, Duc k and Mohair AL MAKES & L incl: MG, MODELS Tr Escort, Giumph, olf etc.

ingham B23 7JJ Hampton Road, Birm

13 Tel: 0121 373 13ICE OFF SOUTHERN SALES

00 Tel: 01202 7422

CARPET SETS FOR MOST MODELS

www.donhoods.com

FEBRUARY 2019 SAFETY FAST! 97

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LOOKING BACK IF YOU CAN TELL US MORE ABOUT ANY OF THESE CARS OR THE EVENTS, WE ARE ALWAYS KEEN TO HEAR FROM YOU AT KIMBER HOUSE; CONTACT THE MGCC ARCHIVIST PETE NEAL ON PETERNEAL@MGCC.CO.UK.

‘

ell, there was an engine there the last time I looked!’ John Thomas and John Dignan with MGF at an Abingdon Trophy round. Does anyone recognise when and where? Champing at the bit on the starting grid at MG Car Club Silverstone in 1985, are Gus Gregory (6) and George Edney (2) in their respective MG TBs. Photo by Chris Harvey. What was the eventual outcome? Looking like he’s escaped from a Pixar movie in this Mikey Wray study, is Chris Groves (doing rather well at Cadwell Park in 1998). OK, so it’s not an MG, but the sprite platform was after all the genesis for the last of a great line of Midgets.

Editor: Andy Knott 01235 849730 / 01235 555552 andyknott@mgcc.co.uk Deputy Editor: Colin Grant 01235 849733 colingrant@mgcc.co.uk Editorial Committee: William Ball, Andy Knott, Colin Grant, Adam Sloman PR and Communications: Jade Beckett 01233 849731 Advertising: Hine Marketing 01452 730770 Published by: Hine Marketing, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton Glos, GL2 9LN. Tel: 01452 730770 Distributed by: Air Business. Merlin Centre, 4 The, Acrewood Way, St Albans AL4 0JY Tel: 01727 890600 President: John Day Vice Presidents: Ron Gammons, Don Hayter, Peter Best, Bill Silcock. Chairman: Dave Tynan Vice Chairman: George Wilder Treasurer: Richard Colston Directors: Dave Saunders, Peter Opie and Peter Cook Company Secretary: Colin Grant Staff Members: Adam Sloman (General Manager 01235 849732), John Hutchison (Competitions Secretary 01235 849738), Andy Knott (01235 849730), Lauran Gallacher (Assistant General Manager 01235 849735), Liz Allsworth (Membership Secretary 01235 849734), Colin Grant (01235 849733), Jade Beckett (01233 849731), Cherina Scarrott (Finance Officer 01235 849736) and Ineke Sherman (Merchandise 01235 849737) Honorary Members: Michael Allison, Ron Gammons, Peter Best, Don Hayter, John Quenby, Sir Stirling Moss, Paddy Hopkirk, Norman Ewing, Piers Hubbard, Rob Oldaker, Steve Hanegan, Gerry McGovern, June Wallis, Ann Hawke, John Dutton, John Day, Julian White, Bill Silcock. Company limited by guarantee The Club, as a corporate body established as the MG Car Club Limited, is a company limited by guarantee. Every member of the Club undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Club in the event of its being wound up while he is a member, or within one year after he ceases to be a member, for payment of the debts and liabilities of the Club contracted before he ceases to be a member, and the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributors among themselves, such amount as may be required, not exceeding one pound. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information at the time of going to press, neither The Publisher (herein referred to as Hine Marketing), the Editor, nor the MG Car Club can accept any responsibility or loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in the publication. The opinions of authors are their own and Hine Marketing, the Editor and the MG Car Club are not bound to agree with opinions expressed herein. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Safety Fast! and The MG Car Club badge are protected through trademark registration in the UK and in the foreign countries where Safety Fast! circulates. Readers are warned that if they attempt any mechanical or other modifications or methods referred to herein, they do so at their own risk and no liability will attach to the MG Car Club, the Editor nor Hine Marketing. Neither shall the MG Car Club, the Editor nor Hine Marketing have any responsibility for the accuracy of the content of the editorial, neither the content of any advertisement published in Safety Fast! It should be noted that neither Hine Marketing, the Editor, nor the MG Car Club make any recommendation in respect of any goods and/ or services advertised or featured in this issue. It is the responsibility of readers to satisfy themselves that the goods or services offered or referred to are bona fide and in no instance shall Hine Marketing, the Editor or the MG Car Club be held responsible for the quality or suitability of any such items.

98 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2019

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