Safety Fast! August 2016

THE MARQUE OF FRIENDSHIP

August 2016 Volume 60 Number 08 £3.95

THE

CAR

CLUB

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Inside this issue Regulars 7

Club Matters and Kimber House News

8

News

10

MGCC Merchandise

12

Products

14

Postbag

48

Race Torque

50

BTCC 2016 – Croft Report

52

MGs on Track

53

Luffield Championship

54

Event Reports – MMM Ulster Tour, Welsh Rallye and Zed15

66

Calendar of Events

72

Centre Updates

84

Register Updates

92

Classifieds

98

Looking Back

Features 16

Club History Part VIII MG’s Wilderness Years by Roger Parker

45

Magnificent Mallory Leanne Fahy reports on the MGCC race action from Mallory Park

68

MG2016 Report from the superb MG bonanza jamboree held in Louisville, Kentucky

Newsletters

16

22

Midget Newsletter Wine and eBay, a lethal combination, Midget Weekend, Say hello to Scarlet

28

MGB Newsletter An interesting meeting at Silverstone, Two events in two days

34

V8 Newsletter Mike Macartney’s rebuild series, Modification to reduce MG V8 sump gasket leakage and more

40

FWD Newsletter Ben Hatton’s MG Metro restoration

The MG Car Club, Kimber House, PO Box 251, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 1FF 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

Front Cover: Blaze MGB GT V8 photographed at the Bicester Heritage Centre during one of their Sunday Scramble events. Photo: Dennis Wharf

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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 2016

As I mentioned in last month’s editorial, the UK events season is in full flow and this month’s Safety Fast! reflects this, with reports from the excellent Triple M Ulster tour that attracted an eclectic mix of pre-war machinery, from an M Type to three K3s, with their owners travelling from as far as Canada and Australia to participate. The Midget Register report on their weekend away in Minehead in their newsletter this month. Meanwhile the MGB Register attended two events in two days, heading to the Heritage Centre at Bicester on Saturday July 2 for the Flywheel event and then moving down the road to Gaydon for the Sunday and the BMC Show, reports on both are in their newsletter.

Members of the Midland Centre headed to Wales for their annual Welsh Rallye. This has always been a popular event since its reincarnation in 1997, although it broadly follows a format adopted by the Midland Centre’s previous competitive event held in the 1950s. You can read all about their antics on page 60. The Northern America Manager, Brian Woodhams, and Overseas Director, Peter Cook, travelled a bit further afield to attend MG2016 held in Louisville, Kentucky. This superb MG bonanza jamboree is organised by the North American MMM, T, MGA, and MGB Registers. The last allRegister event was held in Reno, Nevada in 2011.

You can read all about MG2016 on page 68.

The Competitions department headed to Mallory Park for their fourth race meeting of the year, and the two MG6 BTCC cars went north to Croft for their sixth meeting of the year, both reports are published this month. Finally this month, we carry a report from the excellent Zed15 and Saloon Day held at Gaydon on July 9. With over 230 modern MGs in attendance it was a real sight to behold.

As you can see the MGCC is very much about using your MG and enjoying it with like-minded enthusiasts. See you at an event soon?

Until next month, drive safely.

Andy Knott

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CHAIRMANS NOTES

BY IAN QUARRINGTON

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ouncil Meeting. On October 15 we will once again meet in Abingdon to hold our Council meeting. You may remember that in the Spring I asked all 37 CRBs if I could have two come forward to contribute to this Autumn’s gathering. The original question was posed by the Kimber House staff who said that Council might like a change to the usual format of the Directors and staff presenting a ‘state of the Nation address’, especially for the CRBs as this is one of the few occasions when there is an opportunity to talk to representatives from every part of the Club. I am all in favour of looking at change and any different ways we can progress as a Club whilst still maintaining the principles and basis upon which the MGCC was founded and thrives, 86 years on. The Caledonian Centre have already stepped up and are preparing their offering as I write. If your CRB would like to contribute please just get in touch with me and I will be happy to give you more information. The AGM also takes place on the same day: the three Officers of the Club stand for election each year plus two Directors each stand down

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every three years. In this way the Club keeps itself refreshed and remains accountable to you, the members. The details for the meeting are published in this month’s magazine.

In May I wrote in this column that it was time for Little Gem, the Club’s Y type, to be moved into the care of a new enthusiast. Looking back at correspondence from 2009 when we were bequeathed the car to do with as we wished, the Board at that time had intended to keep it for one year only.

However, Little Gem proved such a popular attraction that the Club decided to extend this. Now with the help and advice of the Y Register, the car has found a new home with Paul and Maggie Grafham, who have a close affinity with it, having borrowed it many years ago to take on their honeymoon. So a happy ending for everyone concerned.

Our Young Person’s Initiative continues to be one of our leading projects this year but I am always reminded of how important it is to support ALL parts of the Club from the earliest to the most recent additions.

There was a good example of how this Chairman got involved on two weekends this month. Firstly at Mallory Park we enjoyed another day of first class racing well supported by the many

Club members who came to spectate.

The MGC Register chose to come to Mallory to hold part of their upcoming 50th anniversary on the same day.

The Racing Committee worked with the Register to make this a most successful event. I was honoured to be able to hand out some awards to the Register and to choose which car I would like to take home. That was difficult! During the lunch break I had the opportunity to drive a brand new MG GS around the circuit. The appearance of this latest model caused a tremendous amount of interest.

The next weekend saw a very large gathering on the Saturday for ZED15 with the ZR/ZS/ZT, and the MG6.3.5 and FWD Registers at Gaydon. Another fantastic turnout with support from Kimber House. The next day I was at a Triple M gathering in Buckinghamshire where 120 people and their cars enjoyed an afternoon of entertainment provided

by Peter Green and his family with the support of Dick Morbey and the committee. George Wilder handed the Member of the Year trophy to a very surprised and delighted Mark Dolton for his work with Triple M racing and the Register kindly made a significant donation to the continuing Club Archive project. Two weekends to enjoy the MG Car Club from 1930 to the present day.

KIMBER HOUSE NEWS

n the Saturday before MGLive! the Club held an open day at Kimber House for all members and non-members wishing to visit the home of MG. The Club also relaunched the merchandise shop, Kimber Stores, in what was a brilliant day.

Visitors came from far and wide in a selection of cars, including an MG 18/80, Midget and a few MGFs – including a special press Amaranth purple VVC, ‘Zip’ which brought a lot of attention.

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In the week that followed, the Club had guests call in from across the globe who were visiting before heading to Silverstone for MGLive! 2016. The new Bill Wallis Wing continues to impress everyone who comes in, and most are surprised at just how much material there is inside it!

The MG Car Club is now pleased to announce that it is on TripAdvisor. The travel rating website is a useful tool for

anyone visiting a new location to check out a range of restaurants and attractions. Kimber House has been added as a place of interest for Oxfordshire and Abingdon – so if you’re coming to visit, don’t forget to leave us a review. You can find us by searching ‘MG Car Club’ at www.tripadvisor.co.uk

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NEWS

2015 TRIPLE-M REGISTER YEARBOOK! The Triple-M Register of the MG Car Club is home to the overhead camshaftengined MG cars – Midgets, Magnas and Magnettes – built in the marque’s halcyon years of 1929 to 1936.

The Register’s eagerly awaited 2015 Yearbook, published in June 2016, continues the tradition of providing

readers with historic, technical and other information which will appeal not only to the owners of these splendid cars, but also to the wider vintage motoring fraternity and MG enthusiasts generally.

Triple-M cars are increasingly active in competition of all types and much of this lavishly illustrated, full colour, glossy A4 publication is given over to an account of their exploits during 2015.

The Yearbook also includes a number of articles chronicling significant historic and technical aspects of these iconic cars.

The Triple-M Register 2015 Yearbook offers much of interest for enthusiasts of cars of the pre-war era – MGs and other marques alike – in a professionally presented and fascinating publication, with a limited print edition. Now is the ideal time to add it to your bookshelf.

Price: RRP £12 + p&p from the Triple-M Register’s online Library Shop at www.triple-mshop.org or contact info@triple-mshop.org for details.

MGCC LAUNCHES SUPER SILVERSTONE TICKET OFFER! Join us at Silverstone on Sunday September 18 for the penultimate round of the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship!

MG Car Club members can benefit from a unique Club ticket offer. Due to our relationship with Silverstone, we are able to offer a pair of Sunday tickets for just £28. This is for access on race day only Sunday September 18.

The race day features a busy schedule of racing, with many support races on track in between the main events. Included with your ticket is: free paddock access all weekend, roving entry to selected grandstands,

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free car parking in the centre of the circuit on the MGCC stand, Silverstone Radio broadcasting on 87.7FM and giant viewing screens.

Tickets can be purchased from the MGCC shop www.mgcc.co.uk/shop/ category/btcc-tickets-2016/ with free roving entry for children aged 15 and under. Please book a children’s pass to speed up entry on the day.

Ticket sales will close at 4.00pm on Wednesday August 24, upon which we will start dispatching them to our members.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE 2016 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE MG CAR CLUB LIMITED WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 14 2016 AT SOPHOS LTD. THE PENTAGON, ABINGDON SCIENCE PARK. Commencing at 4.00pm Agenda: 1. Apologies for absence.

2. To approve the minutes of the AGM held on October 24 2015.

3. To receive the Financial Statements for the year ending December 31 2015 together with the Reports of the Directors and Auditors thereon.

4. To elect the Chairman of the Club for the coming year.

5. To elect the President of the Club for the coming year.

6. To elect the Vice-Presidents of the Club for the coming year.

7. To elect the Vice-Chairman of the Club for the coming year.

8. To elect the Treasurer of the Club for the coming year.

9. To elect other Directors of the Club.

10. To transact any other ordinary business of an AGM that may properly be considered.

11. There will be an open forum following the close of the AGM. Every member has a statutory right to appoint another person as his proxy to exercise all of his rights to attend and to speak at a general meeting of the Club.

Please note that only the elected CRB Representatives have the right to vote at such meetings on behalf of members.

Issued by Colin Grant Company Secretary

www.mgcc.co.uk

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NEWS

MARK DOLTON – MEMBER OF THE YEAR 2016 The MG Car Club is delighted to announce Mark Dolton of the Triple-M Register is the 2016 Member of the Year.

Mark received the award at the Triple-M Register Summer Gathering on Sunday July 10, where 120 people turned out and saw Mark collect the award from Club Director and ViceChairman, George Wilder.

The Member of the Year award, otherwise known as the Geoff Coles Trophy, is given out to a standout member of the MG Car Club and is decided by the board of directors. Mark

has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to the Register and the organisation of the Mary Harris Trophy, which took place at Brands Hatch earlier this year when 25 cars lined up on the grid – one of the highest numbers in recent years.

Mark said: “It was a real surprise and an honour to receive the award. A huge thank you to all at the MGCC. We have put a lot of effort in, but it’s been great fun and very enjoyable working with so many enthusiastic and supportive people at the MGCC. “To receive the Geoff Coles Trophy, with all my family present too, was wonderful. A real surprise! Geoff and his great cars were an inspiration to my Father when he started racing his J2. I know how proud Dad was yesterday, he has been the real inspiration for me, on and off the track.

“It’s been a pleasure to be part of the Triple-M register. Dick and the committee and so many others have been instrumental in the success over the last few years.”

Everyone at the MG Car Club would like to congratulate Mark on his award.

ANGLIA CENTRE AGM Venue: Limes Hotel, Needham Market, IP6 8DQ (01449 720305) Date: September 10 2016 Time: 2.00pm Agenda: 1. Present.

2. Apologies for Absence.

3. Approval of the Minutes of the last AGM (September 12 2015) 4. Matters Arising.

5. Chairman’s Report.

6. Secretary’s Report.

7. Treasurer’s Report and adoption of accounts for year ending December 31 2015.

8. Election of Officers.

9. Election of Committee.

10. Any other business.

Please let me have any apologies for absence Roger Moran Telephone: 01502 722122 / 07920 054422 Email: secretary@mgccanglia.com

SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS

As some of you who attended MGLive!

2016 may have seen, the BBC Top Gear crew were present on the Sunday at Silverstone, and this was because they were recording a special feature for Top Gear Extra Gear that aired on July 3.

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In the main show, Chris Evans reviewed the very impressive MGB Frontline Abingdon Edition, and went on to call it his favourite car of the entire series. The Club plugged this across social media and generated a very positive response from it.

During the past month, we also ran a story across social media of two men driving an MG J2 from Kent to Le Mans for their named charity, ‘Catching Lives’. Their adventure will be featured in full in next month’s Safety Fast!

In July, ZED15 was held at the British Motor Museum that officially celebrated 15 years of the MG Zed range. Alongside the photo album that was uploaded, we shot another

live Facebook video, this time giving everyone who couldn’t make it a special walk around the entire event.

It’s still available to watch on there now, so if you haven’t seen it yet then make sure you do.

For America’s Independence Day on July 4, we posted a special MG version of the stars and stripes that went down quite well with our MG friends across the pond.

And finally, the Club’s Facebook page is now just shy of 15,000 likes – a big milestone.

We have something quite special planned, so keep an eye out in the coming weeks for when we reach it!

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Kimber Stores 20

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For more information EMAIL: Ineke@mgcc.co.uk Tel: 00 44 (0)1235 849731

A DAY OUT IN YOUR MG...

NOW AVAILABLE FROM KIMBER STORES

1. MG Body warmer – to keep you warm, when the weather is unpredictable £45

14. Thermal MG Live! Mug - To keep the your drink warm for hours £7.50

2. MG Men’s T-shirt – for the warm days ahead of us £18

15. MGCC cool bag – Handy lightweight for your picnics in the country side £11

3. DVD MG Live! Why not look back in time to re-live 2003 £2

16. MG parking only sign - £28

4. Shopping tote – Keep Calm and Love MG/Union Jack Waterproof and reversible £11

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5. Wooden handmade pull along MG, with driver available in Green and Red £40 (especially designed for the Car Club by local craftsman)

17. Sweatshirt with MG Car Club Logo £20 18. Mr MG Biography of J.W.Y. Thornley by his son Peter £15 19. Thermos flask – for all your hot and cold drinks £14 20. BTCC Baseball Cap £20

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6. Kids T-shirt – MG light blue £12. (ages 4-12), also available in adult sizes £18 7. Binder for the Safety Fast magazine £7.50 8. MG Car Club Keyring £3 9. Documents folder – Designed To hold Your Car Registration Forms, Insurance, Driving License, Service Documents and Cards - All In One Place! £35

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10. MGZB in Ivory/Red or Black, Blue/Black - fun for the young and old £4 11. MG Car Club Lapel Pin in MGCC presentation box £4.50

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12. Selection of Lapel Pins in Presentation box £11 13. MG Top Trumps – The traditional fun card game designed by the Club for all ages £5

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21. MG Live! 2016 T-shirts - Men’s and Ladies – last chance to buy your souvenir Now £10 22. Large Club Car Badge – £26, Small Club Car Badge – £16.50, Small 90th Anniversary Car Badge – £9.50 23. Souvenir Plaque MGLive! 2016 £3 Please use the order form on the reverse of the address label. or contact Ineke using the details above Payment by VISA/ MASTERCARD/VISA DEBIT OR

by Cheque.

Postage and packing: Royal Mail - Package weight under 2 kilo £3.95, over 2 kilo £7.95. For European and overseas rate please email ineke@mgcc.co.uk for quotation

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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

CARBON AND CARBON/ALLOY EXTENDING AERIALS FROM MG AND AMC PARTS We now offer a series of eight styles of Aerials, varying lengths and the new Extending type, all with 4 screw adaptors and spacers to fit: MG6 - MG3 - MG TF – MGF – MGZR – MGZS – MGZT etc.

With improved reception capabilities, the Extending Aerials can be used in any position and extend from 11 to 28cm.

Priced at only £14 including P & P. For more information contact:

KROWN RUSTPROOFING

MG & AMC Parts, The Smithy, High Street, Southwick, Hampshire, PO17 6EB. ● Tel - +44 (0)2392 220222, email: enquiries@mgandamcparts.com.

NEW FROM NTG

MGA 1500/1600 Mk1 Grille assembly. Stainless slats as original, UK manufactured some time ago, remaining stocks purchased by us, so limited number available. £97.50 incl VAT. ● For more information contact NTG Motor Services Limited, at 82-4 Bramford Road, Ipswich, IP1 4AY, Phone: +44 (0)1473 406031, Fax: +44 (0)1473 742087, Email: info@mgbits.com

With over 30 years’ experience in rustproofing, Krown is using the next generation of rustproofing inhibitors which has been proven to be the best rustproofing in Canada and is now available in the UK. Krown offers the highest quality rust protection service available.

Krown helps in extending the life of vehicles, reducing the cost of maintenance, while increasing the resale value. This saves the owners money, while providing peace of mind, knowing they have a safer, betterlooking vehicle. To find out more about Krown’s rustproofing service or how to purchase their products contact Krown on 0121 557 3874. Email: info@ knownuk.co.uk or visit their website at www.krownuk.co.uk. Krown are located at Krown Rust Control Ltd, 36 Coneygree Road, Dudley, West Midlands, DY4 8XF. ● A full product review of Krown’s rustproofing service will feature in a future issue of Safety Fast!

MG T-TYPE BRACKETS AVAILABLE NOW FROM BROWN & GAMMONS MG

Brown and Gammons MG are now able to supply three different MG T-Type brackets. All three brackets have been made to OE specification and have been beautifully crafted in the UK to exacting standards. The addition of powder coating will also help towards corrosion resistance.

MG TD/TF Battery clamp, part number 131957 priced at £29.99 incl VAT, MG T-Type Starter motor return spring bracket, part number 53683 priced at £14.95 incl VAT MG TB & TC Choke Cable bracket, manufactured with the correct bend, part number 27H5133PLT priced at £29.95 incl VAT ● All three parts can be found at Brown & Gammons website – www.ukmgparts.com – or alternatively you can phone 01462 490049

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POSTBAG

admit that it is very likely that Dickie had entered his T-type (we know he owned one at that time) for this event, but for some reason he chose to drive his PB. Jonathan Toulmin

JACK MURRAY My wife and I were sad to hear of the death of Jack Murray, whom we met four years ago, when we purchased his MGB GT, as a result of talking to Peter Arnell.

We still have the car and the change of ownership was advised to the MGB Register at the time as Jack was also a member.

When we visited him and Molly to secure the purchase, he told us a great deal about his interests and his Y type which you have already covered in July’s Safety Fast!

We cannot therefore add to what has been said, other than probably his final MG purchase was an RV8 which he acquired shortly after our visit.

I am involved with Brooklands and the 2017 MG Era day which is to be held on April 2. I informed the Brooklands organisers it is the 70th birthday for the Y type. It would make a nice tribute to Jack if we could assemble as many Y Types as possible.

John Davies

MGCC HISTORY PART 7 I refer to the photograph on page 30 of the July 2016 issue of Safety Fast! The drivers are actually CAN (Austen) May in JB7521, WJ (Dickie) Green in MJ9898 and EJ (John) Haesendonk in JB7524, all driving blown PBs. The photograph was, most probably, taken in 1937.

Behind JB7524 is one of the T-type Cream Crackers, probably that of JES Jones in ABL964. When the Cream Cracker team (Toulmin/Crawford/Jones) got their new T-types in January 1937, their specially built blown-PBs were sold off by the works and Austen May purchased my father’s old car (JB7521) and John Haesendonk bought Ken Crawford’s car (JB7524).

It is possible that the photograph was taken shortly after the Experts Trial run on Exmoor on October 30 1937. The event is described in considerable detail in May’s fascinating book on pre-war

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trials “Wheelspin”, and that confirms that the team consisted of the cars and drivers shown in the photograph in question. Mr Haesendonk’s MG team, as it was called, won the trophy for the best one-make team, the Cream Crackers won the Trophy for best club team. The overall winner was a tie between my father (driving ABL960) and Goff Imhof (both driving T-types), and both going through without penalty and both with the same fastest times on the timed test – so another most successful event for the MG marque.

Abingdon celebrated their success in this ‘Experts Trial’ (an event open only to invited expert competitors) with a poster.

It is interesting to note that there is a mistake on the poster, which claims that Dickie Green was driving a T-type, whereas he drove his blown PB that day.

For Abingdon’s defence, I would

MGCC OVERSEAS HISTORY I have been following and reading the serialisation of the MG Car Club History.

I own a copy of “The first 70 Years” and well remember the trauma of getting this limited edition published, as I was on the Board at the time.

In Part 3 – Safety Fast! of March 2016 – mention is made of the Ceylon Centre (now Sri Lanka) and the New York Centre in September of 1936 and 1938 respectively. As both these Centres no longer exist, I find it a bit disappointing that no mention is made of our longest continuous Affiliated Centre who joined in 1938/9, and is the Natal Centre in South Africa. In line with changes in South Africa it is now known as the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Centre.

Unfortunately, due to a house move and downsizing, I am unable to lay my hands on the documentation as, like my old copies of Safety Fast! which go back to the late 1960s, they are in boxes which have not yet been unpacked, but the original paperwork is held by the KZN Centre. I should mention that the Western New York Centre, based in Rochester, New York State, is still thriving and active, and I attended their 45th and 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2003 and 2008, and was looked after by them at the MG Focus meeting at Watkins Glen in 2014 – they were founded in 1958 and I suspect were named to differentiate them from the previously mentioned New York Centre.

Unfortunately, a lot of the history of some of our Overseas Centres is a bit sketchy and threadbare, probably due to the War, politics and the upheaval of the Club Headquarters in the Fifties and Sixties, and the passing of generations.

Brian G Woodhams Overseas Manager

www.mgcc.co.uk

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Sussex Classic MG Car Parts Huge range of MGB parts!

We stock MG Midget and MGB GT Roadster Parts and accessories including: bumpers, tuning, body, engine, seats, brakes, clutches, hardtops, windscreen, headlamps, mats, exhausts, chrome wheels, gearboxes, suspension, calipers and catalytic parts.

We sell online and from our premises at Partridge Green, and are always pleased to see visitors even if only for a chat about their cars.

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Sussex Classic Car Parts, Unit 28, Huffwood Trading Estate, Partridge Green, West Sussex, RH13 8AU +44 (0)1403 711551 www.sussexclassiccar.co.uk

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CLUB HISTORY

The last MG Midget heads down the Abingdon assembly line

CLUB HISTORY The eighth of the serialised 12 part enlarged and updated Club History

O

MG’s Wilderness Years Roger Parker

lder people, and those with a historical interest, will recognise the title for this section from Winston Churchill’s memoirs. It referred to the period of time when he was out of favour with the Government of the time and for him he was out in the cold. It is also apt for the 13 years between 1980 and 1993 during which there was no current production MG sports car, and in fact between 1980 and 1982 there was no MG car being made.

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Against the background of the end of Midget and MGB production, the MG world had to endure the closure and ignominious dismantling of MG’s ancestral home at Abingdon. The well-meaning attempts of the time to continue MGB production also came to nothing and suddenly MG became just history.

Then just two years later, in early 1982, BL’s Austin Rover Division launched to an eager, but somewhat sceptical world, the new MG Metro 1300. This immediately polarised the MG fraternity into two distinct camps, those who

simply could not, or would not, accept that this was an MG, and those who looked deeper at the new car and assessed it on its merits.

The big problem for the MG Metro, which continued with the MG Maestro and MG Montego, was the simple fact that these cars had to carry the MG mantle on their own without the support of a parallel production MG sports car. This almost certainly blighted the reception and subsequent sales, as not only MG enthusiasts questioned whether these front-wheel-drive production saloons justified the MG treatment.

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CLUB HISTORY

A simple analysis of previous MG saloons showed that in terms of engineering changes done specifically for the MG models, the MG Metro had undergone more than many previous MG saloons. The fact that the earlier saloons have a higher level of acceptability I put down to the simple fact that there were MG sports cars produced at the same time, and that the saloons were simply regarded as there to fill a niche.

Motor magazine headed the first paragraph of their full road test of June 19 1982 with, “Don’t let the so-called purists fool you: BL’s new MG is an entertaining little sports saloon which is worthy of the name, and a practical and economical one into the bargain.” Now Motor were not renowned for mincing their words when it comes to road tests, and if the car was bad then they would have had no hesitation in saying so.

The fact is that they didn’t, and went on to end their road test with: “BL have another winner here which we greatly enjoyed.”

Indeed the car was a sales success and was joined at the 1982 Motor Show by a model that no-one could claim was a just a few trim bits and badges.

This was of course the MG Metro Turbo, which was totally re-engineered with assistance from Lotus. This was a significantly faster car and one whose performance I had some experience of before the official launch. I was involved in some specific tyre testing and using MIRA facilities. One aspect involved driving flat out around the high-speed track with its steep banked curves. At this time I was in a Rover 3500 SD1 reaching speeds in excess of 130mph on the straights and losing eight to nine miles per hour on the banked curves.

About half a lap ahead was a matt black Metro, which I had been reliably told was a Turbo development car. For some considerable time we held these speeds and made no impression on the distance between this Metro and us – very impressive for the time!

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The Maestro and Montego Turbos.

BL anticipated that the MG Metro would account for about 8,500 UK sales per annum; the fact that this was exceeded by a very significant margin caused a number of problems for the next new MG saloon, the MG Maestro.

The Miracle Maestro as it was dubbed was initially planned to be announced with a limited range of models. Of note was the fact that the performance versions were to be badged MG. The sales success of the Metro caught BL by surprise and this forced a rethink of the model line-up for the forthcoming Maestro launch. Thus on March 1 1983 the Maestro was launched to the world with an MG version, known as the MG Maestro 1600. The Maestro was a slight oddball from the start as it was aimed into the Escort/Astra/Golf class, yet had the dimensions more common with the Sierra/Cavalier size of car. As such it did

not have quite the same performance as the XRi/SRi/GTi competition.

One well-remembered feature of the new MG Maestro was the green display digital dash with its connected trip computer and voice message system. The comedians of the time had a field day with jibes about the way in which Nicolette McKenzie’s voice was nagging male drivers. In reality, the clear numerical speed display and sensible voice messages of main system faults was a boon, even if the ‘please fasten your seat belts’ message every time you switched on the ignition was a little tiresome.

The Montego launch in April 1984 followed the previous pattern with an MG Model being available from day one, and was of course the MG Montego EFi. This used a radically revised version of the 2-litre version of the O-series engine, fitted with what was then a very advanced Lucas

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CLUB HISTORY

engine management system, with microprocessor-controlled ignition and fuel injection.

Unlike the MG Metro and MG Maestro models before it, the MG Montego was aimed more up-market and in direct competition with the 1.8-litre SRi and CD Cavaliers, and 2.0-litre Sierra. It was a viable alternative to these, but still suffered from the BL stigma, which of course was not helped by problems with the early MG Maestro 1600.

The MG Montego EFi carried on from the MG Maestro in having a very advanced multi-colour digital dash, trip computer and driver information system. Again the comedians took delight in ridiculing the nagging voice, but I have fond memories of one true incident where the voice could have saved much embarrassment.

The 1984 Motor Show at the National Exhibition Centre always needs careful police planning if things aren’t going to come to a complete standstill. Manufacturers often loan out new models for police use, and to obtain exposure of the new models.

One MG Montego was being used by two very senior officers, who turned the voice unit volume right down. Had they not done so, they would not have suffered the breakdown in the middle of a very busy junction outside the NEC. Messages crackled across radio channels that the engine management system had failed along with all the derogatory comments that follow.

The recovery arrives, switches on the ignition and the voice says, ‘The fuel level is low’! One can of petrol later and the car is up and running. The cartoons that appeared all over the place for weeks afterwards tell the rest of the story!

The MG Montego EFi was a competent saloon in its class, but did not particularly stand out from the crowd. However on April 3 1985 arrived an MG Montego that most certainly did. This was of course the MG Montego Turbo, which literally burst onto the scene with performance previously unheard of in this class. The development of the 2-litre O-series engine followed similar lines to the MG Metro Turbo, with the use of a specially-

prepared sealed SU carburettor. Unlike the Metro, there were no serious transmission weaknesses and so the turbocharger fitting included an intercooler which allowed the engine to produce a market-leading 152bhp with an equally impressive 169ft lbs. of torque. By comparison the Saab Turbo was the accepted turbo road car of the period with 145 bhp and more weight to move.

Quietly and with no fanfare on a corner of the Austin Rover stand at the 1988 Motor Show at the NEC, was sitting a flame red MG Maestro with an aggressive bodykit and Turbo badges.

Here at last was the final piece of the jigsaw with a production MG Maestro Turbo. The phrase ‘better late than never’ was muttered in many quarters and is quite true. On the positive side the delay had seen the need to involve Tickfords in the development and build. This led to the striking bodykit, the use of the intercooled O-series straight out of the Montego Turbo, and the 1989 introduction of 15-inch wheels and imperial sized ultra-lowprofile performance tyres.

A late specification MG Metro

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CLUB HISTORY

The MG Maestro Turbo became the pinnacle of the modern frontwheel-drive MG scene. It took the mantle of fastest production MG from the Montego Turbo, but later relinquished it to the MG RV8. It provided performance that completely trounced the market competition of the period and forced many a Maestrobaiting motoring journalist to eat humble pie. Road tests, although few, indicated that the cars were faster than the claimed performance, in that well under seven seconds was average to get to 60mph and a top speed of 130mph was easily achieved.

Whilst the production MGs were rolling from the production lines during

Press photos on an early MG Metro, 2.0 MG Maestro and 2.0 MG Montego.

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the mid-1980s, Austin Rover decided to take a foray into International Group B rallying. In doing so they created one of the most famous MGs of all time, the MG Metro 6R4. This was a very unusual car not least for the decision to use a naturally aspirated three-litre V6 engine, rather than follow all the other major manufacturers with forced induction. It was just beginning to develop its potential when the powers that be decided that this class was too powerful and they consequently banned it. This led to the 200 production and 20 evolution models of the car being sold to private owners to use mostly in other classes of rallying.

Will Gollop with his championship-

winning 700-plus bhp rallycross version demonstrated the potential of the car.

At the completely opposite end of the scale is the quite long-standing situation with the value of FWD models. Apart from the Turbos, the FWD MGs have never really generated a wide and lasting enthusiast base.

Generally there is a period of high enthusiasm, which then wanes, before another car takes its place.

The second-hand values of the cars became very depressed and the result was the rapid disappearance of the cars from daily use on our roads.

The one benefit of these rockbottom residuals was that it allowed new young drivers the opportunity to own an MG. The clear lack of status meant that young MG FWD owners had a difficult enough time justifying their choice with their peers, then to find they were not accepted by MG people really put them out in the cold.

History has shown that this opportunity was not grasped properly by the Club and some members went out of their way to actually alienate these poor lads and lasses. The formation of alternative clubs such as the MGM Group was one result of that. How much of a loss to the MG Car Club is impossible to assess, but a loss there certainly has been. I wonder whether we, the membership of the Club, will learn from this? I doubt it, as human activity shows the same mistakes being constantly repeated, but at least we should try.

Even so, the MG Car Club clearly embraced the FWD MGs, and still does, even if too many individuals within the Club did/do not. In the early 1980s dedicated enthusiasts of the MG Metro started Metro file Safety Fast! passing on all sorts of useful information for the growing number of owners in the MG Car Club. In fact new owners of the FWD MGs helped to increase Club membership, and we must also remember that the 1980s was the period when the hot hatch

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CLUB HISTORY

The Metro Challenge, a popular series in the 1980s dedicated to the MG Metro Turbo

was king, and no volume manufacturer paid more than lip service to soft top sports cars. Once the MG Maestro and MG Montego were established, the Front Wheel Drive Register was born. This Register has always had a core of dedicated enthusiasts helping to support other owners. The biggest problem is that there were few enthusiast members who only own a FWD MG. The majority of MG Car Club FWD owners will also own another MG two-seater sports car and this tends to take the limelight.

Will Gollop in his MG Metro 6R4

Roger Parker’s attraction with MGs goes back to a boy in the early 1960s with older siblings owning MGs and culminating with him being able to convince his mother to buy an MG1300 in 1970 instead of a Morris, and benefitting from regularly driving it and later tuning it! He became a police officer in the Midlands in 1971 and had a very focussed career in trafficorientated matters, which included the development of the first UK unmarked police patrol cars with fully integrated video in the late 1980s and then the further development of this with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) with the first fully mobile system in the UK that saw him drawn onto a national ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) working party for the national introduction of ANPR technology. Roger retired from the police in 2001 when he took up a position with the MG Owners Club to provide members with technical advice, writing magazine features and general Club activities. Roger has owned his 1968 MGB since 1973, which he still has in a much-modified form and he and the car were pivotal in convincing the Rover management to progress with the Adder project, which became the MG RV8.

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Fue (Ma

Mod veh and

M

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Fuel consumption: URBAN 37.6 mpg | 7.5 l/100km (Manual) 36.6 mpg | 7.7 l/100km (Auto), EXTRA URBAN 53.2 mpg | 5.3 l/100km (Manual) 53.2 | 5.3 l/100km (Auto), COMBINED 46.3 mpg | 6.1 l/100km (Manual) 45.5 mpg | 6.2 l/100km (Auto). CO2 EMISSIONS 139 g/km (Manual) 141 g/km (Auto) Model shown is MG GS Exclusive with Sunset Orange paint and black A-post decal at £19,989. *On the road price of £14,995 applies to the MG GS Explore with no optional extras. On the road (OTR) prices include VAT where applicable, vehicle first registration fee, delivery, number plates and 12 months’ ‘Vehicle Excise Duty’. From prices exclude optional metallic paint, accessories and graphics packs. Fuel consumption values shown are based on official EU test figures and are to be used as a guide for comparative purposes and may not be representative of actual driving results.

MG Sales Centre MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_3-50.indd 21

Lowhill Lane, Longbridge, Birmingham, B31 2BQ 0121 251 6533 | www.birmingham.mg.co.uk

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MIDGET NEWSLET TER Neil Thomas Tel: 07891 684435 email: ns.tenby@hotmail.com www.midgetregister.com

WELCOME TO THE MIDGET NEWSLETTER WINE AND EBAY, A LETHAL COMBINATION Winner of Pride of Ownership at MG Live! 2016 MG Midget. Mk III, 1275cc First Registered July 3 1970 It’s good advice not to mix alcohol and online shopping, but life sometimes has a way of happening…July 2010, it happened on a relaxed, outdoor Sunday afternoon after a few beers. We had been looking out for a little classic for some time and had a pretty good idea of what we wanted: a little MG or Triumph, maybe, affordable with good availability of spares and technical support. We had worked out the models, conditions and approximate values. So when the pretty little blue Midget Mk3, in regular use, fair condition, and a full year MOT that I was watching was still below £2,000 with not long to go before the online auction ended, a cheeky last-seconds bid for just £4 over the 2K changed significantly the course of life...

Take-me-home roadside recovery membership sorted, we set off the next Saturday morning by bus, train, another train, then a taxi to a village in Cumbria.

After a short test drive, exchange of cash for keys, handbooks and history file, we filled the tank and then drove all the way back to Norfolk. Every button was pushed, every lever pulled, each whine and rattle analysed and worried about, but the old gal didn’t skip a beat. We were home by 10pm.

The next months were spent tidying up the engine bay, I fitted a LCB manifold and stainless straight through exhaust, fitted and learned how to

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Mike Authers (right) presents Bobby Pretorious with his awards at MGLive!

tune a pair of reconditioned SU carbs, electronic ignition, and fitted new rear springs. I stripped and painted the rear axle and overhauled the rear brakes, sorted a rusted tray between the radiator and front valance and bought an original steering wheel through the online auction site. I also became increasingly aware of the rust in the footwells, the rusty A-pillar on one side, and the rotting rear quarter panels behind the wheels.

We usually only went out in the dry, but when it poured down with rain on the way back home from the Midget 50 event we had wet trousers and shoes. It was time to take on the windscreen and bodywork over the winter, and when one evening some weeks later billows of

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smoke poured out from under the dash when I put the lights on, I drove home in the fading light with the looming reality of a full rebuild. Autumn 2012. I’m not a chap for easy fixes and half jobs; it’s got to be right, correct, perfect.

The strip down was partly easy.

I took photographs to record wiring connections and fastenings. But some of it was hugely challenging. I remember the front suspension as the worst, dirt and rust, bolts that just wouldn’t release.

I turned off the heads of several and it would take painful hours to drill out the bolts. Time does erase some of the pain I had at the time. At times, my good other half would say that if I wasn’t enjoying it I should give it up rather than let it make me frustrated or miserable.

I decided that a full chemical bath stripping of the bodywork was the best way to get rid of all the sealant, filler, grease and rust. I hired a truck and carted it all off for the treatment with the help of a great mate. Some weeks later (during which we moved house! Yes, I know!) it was back, clean bare metal, but like a sieve! I bought a rollover jig and began removing panels but it was slow and by my calculations would take me the rest of my life to complete! Grief and gloom and a freezing garage. Too little time and too much work. I needed help.

I found an advert online and clinched the bargain of the decade: an early job with an experienced car builder restarting his business, for a reasonable cost. The repaired shell was dipped and e-coated, then prepped and painted in azure blue two pack, and delivered home. It was now the end of 2014.

In the meantime the engine had been rebuilt by MED to a fast road spec. The other half just could not grasp that I needed ‘that’ engine, when I could get one elsewhere for less than a third of the price.

Then began the task of building everything back in – front and rear suspension, steering, brakes, then gearbox and engine, doors,

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reconditioned windscreen, and interior.

Small parts needed cleaning and refurbishing, or replacing, and that all took time, and nothing fitted! The process of replacing some panels and lining it all up, new doors etc, now meant that everything needed fettling or adjusting to fit. The new doors didn’t have the captive bolts for the original inner door handles, the new radiator didn’t fit. The new five-speed gearbox upgrade required the gear lever opening to be moved backwards and meant cutting into the newly coated bodywork and welding back the opening in the new position. Eventually I had the windscreen and a new hood fitted, and tuning and MOT done by a proper MG garage in April this year. Then began running in the engine, and adjusting and tightening up of everything.

I don’t wish to make it sound like an ordeal, but it took almost all the focus and energy that I could muster to keep going at times. Progress was slow, a heady mix of pain and pleasure, struggle and achievement, frustration and satisfaction. Hours were spent online reading, researching, sourcing advice and parts. But now it’s all worth it. When I turn the key and that beast of a motor snarls with its throaty growl, the pick-up when driving is just amazing. I’m still fixing little things, a sticking accelerator cable, a fading badge, a squeak etc.

I understand the concept of ‘too many to mention’ when it comes to what has been done. The engine spec is impressive: lightened and balanced flywheel, five-speed gearbox, front suspension, front and rear adjustable dampers, 11/16” roll bar, alternator, Aldon distributor, HS4 carburettors, thermostatic electric fan, recalibrated speedometer...

We went to the MGLive! this year, just planned to attend the two days, a sort of rite of passage, celebrating the completed rebirth. I had done the 500 mile oil change just days before and the trip to Silverstone was the longest and furthest from home we have been.

With every mile that we drive she gets better, and my smile gets bigger. What a thrill to drive over the bridge and drop into a sea of MGs at Silverstone.

Saturday, we were happy to enjoy it all. We were encouraged to enter the Pride of Ownership, unplanned and not fully prepared, but it was all a great experience. We met fabulous people, including a nostalgic early owner of the car, who drove her in rally events back in the early 70s and recognised the number plate. We have since exchanged photographs by email. We learned loads and were so surprised and happy to be awarded the Mike Authers trophy.

So, what’s next? Advice suggests that a rolling road setup is money well spent. Perhaps a track day? Not sure yet.

Maybe a road trip, Europe?

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MIDGET NEWSLET TER

There is a good saying: never build a car that you can buy. Could I buy one like this? There are so many options for almost everything and choosing is sometimes hard. Go new or keep it original, upgrade or standard spec, subtle or bling, and then there is personal taste. Total costs in parts and work done are around £15K. Perhaps a Heritage shell would have been a quicker option even though a bit more costly. Maybe a lesser engine would be good enough. Perhaps the suspension upgrades were not essential. Be under no illusions about easy bolt-on upgrades: they present all sorts of challenges.

At the end of it all we have a unique car that’s lots of fun, looks great, can overtake and do 70mph at just over 3000 rpm, a quirky mixture of old and new that will bring us many happy miles over many years, as long as we can still fold in and out. And most that see her, smile too. Many have had a Midget in their past, and fondly remembered and associated with good times.

Bobby Pretorious

SAY HELLO TO SCARLET My name is Edward and I own a 1977 MG Midget 1500 named Scarlet. Despite being only 16 years old and unable to drive, I have wanted to own an MG

Edward Yeatts and his Midget with his dad and MGC GT 24 SAFETY FAST! AUGUST 2016

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Midget for many years, particularly one I could work on before turning 17.

My dad already owned an MGC GT before I bought Scarlet but we were both complete novices with no idea of how to work on a car. We even saw little point looking at the car before buying it, because we’d have no clue what to look for! But, in September 2014 we found YFE 222S online and bought it. Before we had time to realise what we had let ourselves in for, the car was on our drive. It appeared to have had a hard life, certainly showing its age and needing a lot of work. Thankfully, this was bought as a project, and there were plenty of jobs for me to get on with straight away.

The following months were a real rollercoaster. The problems were endless, and included, a starter motor that went up in smoke, among other things. The costs started spiraling upwards. I started to wonder if I should simply cut my losses. But I decided to stick with it and push forward. A year on, I am really glad I didn’t sell her, not least because I would have missed out on all the fun I have had. Some of the work I have done includes a new electronic ignition system, a new distributor, performance spark plugs, plug leads and a new coil. I also had to take the carburettors off as the jet assembly had broken.

Looking back at the journey so far, all I can say is if you are thinking of getting

a project car…then just do it! There is nothing more satisfying than your car starting and running after doing the work to it yourself. I can’t wait until I can drive and go out for a cruise in my beautiful MG. Edward Yeatts

MIDGET WEEKEND The Midget Register’s third weekend away this year was based in Minehead on July 1-3. This beautiful Somerset seaside resort provided an ideal base from which to tour the north Somerset/ Devon coast and Exmoor. Seven Midgets and one Sprite joined us on the weekend, everyone arriving on the Friday evening at the Northfield Hotel.

Set in a residential area on the side of North Hill with panoramic views of the Bristol Channel, it had everything we wanted. Lovely accommodation, super food, plenty of parking and a leisure suite. Friday night was catching-up night as most of us knew each other from previous weekends away. It was however great to be joined this year by John Day and his wife Janet, John and Cathy Egan and Graham and Carol Springthorpe.

Saturday morning was showery and this was expected throughout the day. Some of us were brave and started with hoods down. As it turned out, the weather was lovely and so by the afternoon, all hoods were off. Our tour began by heading up onto the hill behind the hotel to Selworthy Beacon.

This was quite a climb but the five mile drive rewarded us with fantastic views of the coast and surrounding countryside.

The Belted Galloways were a joy to see,

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MIDGET NEWSLET TER

MIDGET REGISTER CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

The 2016 Midget Register Weekend participants

too. The view at the top provided great photo opportunities.

Heading off the Beacon, next stop was Porlock, a very quaint and bustling little village. The sight of eight beautifully turned out Spridgets attracted so much attention. To avoid the main Porlock Hill on the A39 we chose to take the toll road which presents a much less steep route, with the added benefit that it is used for various hillclimbs. It was great and I heard John Day even had to use some opposite lock at times. Arriving back on the A39 we soon turned off down into the valley which was the inspiration for the book Lorna Doone. Negotiating the narrow Robber’s Bridge we continued to Malmsmead and instead of taking the bridge across Badgeworthy Water we instead negotiated the ford. Bar one refusal all the other runners did the water jump. Continuing on to Brendon we then climbed out of the valley back onto the A39 to capture the fantastic coastal scenery as we approached

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Lynmouth and Lynton. Here we stopped for lunch and experienced the nearvertical Cliff Railway.

Leaving Lynton we took the gorgeous Valley of the Rocks road and then the toll road which forms part of the Tarka Trail. The scenery was stunning. Before long we were heading for Challacombe, Simonsbath, Exford and Winsford, stopping en route to experience Liscombe Farm ice cream. It was then back to the hotel to relax and prepare for dinner. We also sang happy birthday to Mark, his age not declared.

Sunday was a glorious day with roofs down again, the plan being to visit the nearby medieval village of Dunster and its imposing Castle. Roly took the opportunity to experience driving up the nearby Porlock Hill in his Sprite and then with Graham headed for the steam trains in the town. There is so much to do in this area that a weekend isn’t long enough and I, with others, plan to return to the area for a holiday. This was just a taster weekend.

We’ve recently returned from the Midget Register Weekend, I must thank Neil and Sharon Thomas for looking after us all so well, you can see from Neil’s report what a great time we all had.

Moving on, the next event on our calendar is the Midget Register Road Run. This year we take to the roads of Shropshire, looking on the register Facebook Page the views look amazing!

The Register will also be supporting the Kop Hill Climb, September 17-18.

Book your tickets directly on the Kop website www.kophillclimb.org.uk/ tickets.html and mark your display entry as MG CAR CLUB Midget Register.

Further details from Pete at secretary@ midgetregister.com The Midget / Sprite Challenge, supported by Lackford Engineering is very close this season, with the top five drivers separated by a few points, so it looks like it will go right down to the wire.

Pete has just informed me and the committee that he is now down to his last few cars for his ‘Car of the month’ on the Midget website. So, if you have not sent your car to him yet please do. All the details are on the Midget Register website, along with a lot of info about our register.

The register committee will be losing some members at the AGM next March, so some help may be needed.

We meet four times a year at Kimber House in Abingdon, or why not join us to help for a few hours at any events we run, and also the register stand at MGLive! details from mike parker78@ talktalk.net I look forward to seeing see some of you on the Midget Register Road Run. Mike Parker

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MIDGET REGISTER ROAD RUN

SEPTEMBER 4 2016

This Year’s MGCC Midget Register’s September Run’ is open to all types of MG’s and deriva ves and to both MGCC members and non-members. It will take place on Sunday September 4 and will based around the Ludlow area and the Welsh Marches.

The event will be centred on the beau ful 13th century for fied manor house of Stokesay Castle, just nine miles from the charming town of Ludlow in Shropshire. It is undoubtedly one of the finest and best-preserved for fied medieval manor houses in England, constructed at the end of the 13th century by Laurence of Ludlow, once one of the richest men in England. The great hall has been unchanged for over 700 years and its fairy-tale tower gives breathtaking views of the Shropshire Hills.

Once again, this year’s event is planned to start and finish at Stokesay Castle. Entrants will assemble close to the Castle and be able to take advantage of the Café which will be open early to welcome par cipants, before following a route through the adjacent Shropshire Hills and Border country.

Having followed a circular route, Cars will arrive back at the Castle to provide an opportunity to visit the a rac ons there.

See www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle/ The entry fee is £26 and includes entry to the Castle for two people, Route Book and Plaque. Joining instruc ons will be sent to you prior to the start date.

Name

Reg No

Address

MGCC membership No Entries to: Neil Thomas, The Hollies, Gumfreston, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, SA70 8RA

Telephone No I enclose a cheque for £ Email MG model

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made payable to: MGCC Midget Register, ENCLOSING A STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE

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MGB NEWSLET TER David Broadhurst newsletter-editor@mgb-register.org www.mgb-register.org

A

WELCOME TO THE MGB NEWSLETTER

s my MGB GT sailed through the MOT without any advisories, again, I’ve had a few good, local runs out with the MG this early summer, including two days around Cape Cornwall doing some seascape painting ‘en plein air’ as they say, as here in the far west of Cornwall we escaped the thunderstorms that affected the rest of the country. I just need to do some routine maintenance on the MGB, such as change the brake and clutch fluids and, all being well, we are fit for the long trek to Skipton in North Yorkshire in September for the annual B Register weekend.

Following on from what I was saying in July about changing to historic vehicle status, Roger Cooper has gone through the process with his GT. It seems to be more straightforward than he initially found. He wrote as follows: Just had a word with DVLA about what to do. I can deal with sending them the V5C and the form V10 but they also want an extract from either the manufacturer’s records of production

AN INTERESTING MEETING AT SILVERSTONE Neil Hyatt had an interesting meeting at Silverstone with Mike Garton caused by the Denton Rally Car that the Register have acquired and are having fully restored. Again, I am using the ensuing correspondence in reporting this.

“Mike Parker introduced me to Mike Garton at MGLive! when we

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(our MGB Register perhaps) or an extract from the Glass’s Guide check book. If we don’t have the data on the Register and I can’t get hold of a Glass’s Guide easily I look like I have a problem. So! Does the info you are publishing give us a way round this?

DVLA do not have this info on file – only the date of registration. Granted that will be a later date than date of manufacture but they don’t see it that way.

I suggested: Date of original registration is apparently sufficient or date of build if known. Aren’t the records for build dates in the Archive department at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon?

Roger: I shall have to try Gaydon. As I bought the car second hand I do not have a date of original registration or a build date – only the bill of sale from the local garage where we bought it in 1979 – five years after original sale somewhere in Bristol. I do however have a tax disc dated July 28 1976 from Swansea – that, by July 31 this year, should be enough to make it 40 years old. Perhaps that is good enough?

However the solution was easier than DVLA were making out. Following the DVLA lady’s advice I popped into my local Post Office to ask for a form V10, only to be told they are no longer relevant and so they could not supply.

The lady asked why I wanted one and when I said I wished to change the MGB from a taxed vehicle to HISTORIC classification she said all I needed to do was take the V5C to her and she would do the rest – so I went back with the V5C and she did just that, giving me a receipt to confirm she had done it and tearing off half the form to send to DVLA, returning the other half to me. She said it would take two to three weeks and that DVLA would automatically refund any tax outstanding for the rest of the year.

Could not have been easier, so why the lass in Cardiff wanted so many impossible proofs of this that and the other I do not know – the lady in the Post Office said NOTHING was required except the V5C. So, there you have it. The definitive way to change the status of your vehicle to historic once it is 40 years old- tried and tested by Roger.

had a good chat about the car and Jean. Evidently he knew both Jean and her husband Tony, Tom Boyce and many more. Mike’s background is engineering and obviously he was very much involved in motorsport at the time. He said he would look through his things and pass anything of interest to me. Attached is what he has sent so far.”

It’s taken a while, but I’ve searched through a lot of photos and old diaries.

Unfortunately the 1969 one suffered

from water. When working at Comps, Peter Browning introduced me to Jean to help her with racing.

Initially she had UMD 534F, which was a GPIII MGB we raced at the Nürburgring 500Ks and at Mugello.

At the Nürburgring Jean drove alone, although I sneaked in a qualifying lap for her.

I was driving a French Sprite Mk IV I had specked for Special Tuning at Abingdon, but Jean wanted me to drive the MGB.

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My notes revealed that Special Tuning had fitted a new production multi blade, plastic fan, which broke up during the event!

Some notes from the events that were in my diaries:

1968 July: Brands JDR 1, Super Charged Heavy rain, hopeless.

John Gott Mini stolen from car park!

Mugello with UMD August: Marathon 84 Hours at the Nürburgring. Crank failed 46 Hours in, when 9th overall September: MG Silverstone, JDR 1 Supercharger blown again!

1969 July: Mugello, UMD, diff failed after four laps.

September: Nürburgring 500Ks, Jean in UMD, MG in Midget Silverstone: JDR 1, 2nd to John Gott Healey October: Brands Hatch,

JDR 1, Supercharger again!

Montlhery Rallye l’Agaci in Midget 13th Overall Class 2nd I am hoping we can find out a lot more about this period, the works race cars and the people involved with them.

Publishing some anecdotes would, I am

sure, be of interest to many people.

John Watson sent the following notes after a hectic weekend with the Rally car at the Bicester Heritage Flywheel event and a visit the next day to the British Motor Museum at Gaydon in Warwickshire.

TWO EVENTS IN TWO DAYS

The Marathon MGB on display at the Bicester Heritage Flywheel event.

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The weekend of July 2-3 were busy days for the Jean Denton Marathon MGB. On the Saturday it appeared at the Bicester Heritage Flywheel event on the MGB Register stand.

An early start saw the car arrive at 8.30am with thanks to David Savidge of British Motor Heritage. The wind was blowing across the second world war airfield as we put up the MGCC marquee. We were very pleased to have it, as during the day we had some big black clouds dropping lots of rain on us. We tried selling standing space for £20 but not many visitors wanted to pay up!

The Marathon MGB received a lot of interest from all who attended. One gent who visited us was looking at the folders of pictures of the car and said he had some bonnet straps at

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MGB NEWSLET TER

MGBs at the Flywheel Event

home that we could have. I have since received a text from Nigel wanting my address so he can post them to me.

In the afternoon we had an excellent aerobatic display from a selection of WWI bi- and tri-planes.

Around 4pm the sun came out and dried off everything, so we could pack up and prepare for the next day’s show.

Sunday saw us set up at the BMC day at the new British Motor Museum at Gaydon. We were invited to attend with the Marathon MGB as they were going to arrange a display of BMC 1800 Landcrabs and other World Marathon cars. This day we got sunburned and spoke to many interested rally people about the car.

There were some interesting cars on display, including a group of Austin Metropolitans and a beautifully prepared Austin A35 with a 1275cc 140bhp turbo charged engine!

I would like to thank Neil, Robin, David and Clive for assisting over two long days.

John Watson

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The MGB Register at Gaydon

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MGB NEWSLET TER

REGISTER CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS I recently attended the Scottish Transport Extravaganza at Glamis Castle, where there were hundreds of vehicles of all shapes and sizes, two, three and four wheeled, from 1890 to present day.

It was encouraging to see so many MG owners turning out despite the rain to support this event. Perhaps not surprisingly the largest penned-off areas belonged to the MGCC Caledonian Centre and the Tayside MG Owners Club. In chatting to Anne Howitt of the MGCC Caledonian Centre, who has a very smart MG TD, it brought home to me just what a passionate following, of not just MGs but all Classic Cars, there is in Scotland.

It is clear that the MGB Register needs to make renewed efforts to engage with our friends, not only in Scotland but in all corners of Great Britain, and wherever else passionate MG Owners live. During my period as Chairman I hope to be able to further develop these links.

The Croft Weekend, often referred to as a mini Goodwood (August 6-7) is fast approaching and I encourage you all to attend this event where we will be flying the MGB Register Flag. Please see our webpage for details www.mgbregister.org/MGB-Register/Events.html On the same weekend we also have the Bicester Heritage, Sunday Scramble, which looks to be a grand day out.

There are discounted tickets offered to members. See our MGB Register Forum and Facebook Public Group for details www.mgbforum.mgbregister. org/index.php www.facebook.com/ groups/201714326571607 Both the Forum and the Facebook Group are being visited by a large number of members and proving to be a great success.

If you haven’t accessed these yet then I urge you to do so. Both sites are great for finding out answers to

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Graham Dix at the Scottish Transport Extravaganza, held at Glamis Castle

technical problems or offering your own advice to others’ problems. Not only this but they are a useful resource for finding out what’s happening, and letting others know what is happening. Many proud owners have put photos of their cars on there and I encourage you all to do the same. We are currently looking at next year’s events and I look forward to presenting these in the next issue.

Graham Dix

ANDREW VIGOR… THE NEW REGISTRAR I have recently taken responsibility for the MGB Register and this seems a good opportunity to introduce myself. Firstly I must thank the previous Registrar, Chris Wilkins. He and his predecessors have managed the database diligently and we now have details on over 18,000 cars from the full period of production.

For the cars for which we have full information, we now have almost

3,000 ‘GHN3/GHD3’ listed which date from the beginning of production to 1967, almost 9,000 ‘Mark II’ cars dating from 1967 to 1974 and 6,500 ‘Rubber Bumper’ cars produced from late 1974 to the end of production. To put this into context, the DVLA have over 34,000 cars listed either currently registered or on SORN. Of course these are all UK registered, whereas many of ours are registered in other countries. We have a considerable amount of detail for most of the cars on the register.

Because the register number stays with the car, this is retained on file and data on the vehicle is built up through changes of ownership. For the future, subject to maintaining confidentiality, we intend to make more information available through the website and the MGB Forum. In the meantime if you would like to register your car or have a question please contact me through registrar@mgb-register.org or use the Register link on the website. We will do our best to help.

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V8 NEWSLET TER Victor Smith 0208 392 9434 victorsmith@v8register.net www.v8register.net

WELCOME TO THE V8 NEWSLETTER them. I may carry a small hydraulic jack in the boot instead”. Later on, working on the other jacking point, he added “that jacking point did not need so much tidying up”.

Dugald has been visiting Mike during the current rebuild to lend a hand with the work. Mike noted in one report that “Dugald was doing his first bit of welding since we were 16 or 17 years of age at technical college. I wanted a new bracket made for the rear of the spit so I could fit the rear glass fibre bumper.

Having made the part, Dugald is seen bolting the bracket in place on the spit”.

You can see all the rebuild reports using the link on the “More” webpage.

MIKE MACARTNEY’S REBUILD SERIES One of the popular items on the V8 website is the series of illustrated reports from Mike Macartney of the major rebuild he has underway on a V8 Roadster. Mike is experienced with car repair and restoration work and in his retirement restored an MGB GT V8 for longstanding V8 enthusiast Dugald MacNeil. He then purchased a V8 Roadster in need of a great deal of work. Recently he posted the fiftieth report and his subsequent reports have provided a detailed insight into the work needed to remove corroded areas of the shell and weld in new sections.

Fortunately Mike has a ‘spit’ on which the MGB Roadster shell is mounted, so access to the underside is far easier than it would be without the ability to rotate the shell through 360 degrees on a longitudinal axis.

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Mike had to do some work on both jacking points and noted in his Report 53 that to remove corrosion around the jacking point “I used a die grinder to get to the difficult-to-reach welds. I may decide later to do away with the jacking points altogether, as they are not the strongest jacking points in the world and are another area for mud to build up in and cause rusting of the area around

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V8 NEWSLET TER

MODIFICATION TO REDUCE MG V8 SUMP GASKET LEAKAGE A thread on the V8 Bulletin Board in May 2016 discussed the suitability of several sump gaskets for the RV8. One contributor, Tony Lake, mentioned how a problem with the pressed steel sump is the light steel section used. He noted “the V8 sump is one of the best candidates I’ve seen for leakage, along with the valley cover”. He then mentioned he had some sketches of the stiffening pieces he had made to overcome the problem and solve the leaks.

Tony Lake mentioned in his posting on thread that “one of the problems with the pressed steel sump is the light steel section used to facilitate a relatively deep draw. Although the flange is rolled over it is not very stiff so the clamping load midway between bolt holes drops pretty much to zero, so it is not surprising that leaks occur”.

He built another 3.5 engine for his Factory MGB GT V8 five years ago. A local machinist made up some longitudinal stiffening pieces to fit inside the sump flange, just like the stiffening piece that fits at the rear of the sump (see sketch alongside). He used 0.25” x 0.56” mild steel strip. That allows 0.25” longer bolts to be fitted which provides more stretch for the same torque and gives a bit more margin to deal with the different rates of expansion of steel and aluminium.

He used the fibre sump gasket; the design with a hard insert is superior because it provides controlled compression on the gasket material around the bolt holes, but “I fear that with the same weak flange, leakage is still a risk. Now 20,000 miles on and the sump is still as dry as is the front oil seal

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but the rear seal is now leaking – woe is me”.

Tony feels “gasket designers don’t usually specify sealant to make their products work. I’m not sure they look at flange stiffness in sufficient detail to ensure leakage really is a thing of the past. Fuji film is a pressure sensitive paper that visually displays load distribution on a flange between mounting bolt holes – quite clever. The result looks like a badly printed banda copy; remember them? A poor design has good solid colour at the bolt holes fading to nothing at the midpoint. Fuji film fits at the stiffest surface under the gasket, in this case the block, and quickly confirms why joints leak.

The V8 sump is one of the best candidates I’ve seen for leakage, along with the valley cover. If anybody is interested I’ve got a sketch of the stiffening pieces I had made. All the dimensions are good old simple imperial fractions”.

Peter Garton suggested “you obtain the rubber version of the sump gasket and try again. Racetech Direct in Henley can supply them. I think the part number is. RD2087A”.

Geoff King noted “the supplier and part number for the rubber type of sump gasket Peter mentions is correct.

See the Racetech Direct website. I hope service workshops don’t use sealant on a gasket; if they do the chances are sooner or later it will leak. I mentioned when this was discussed on the V8BB last October 2015, all that is required is the smallest amount of an anaerobic sealant, such as Loctite 518, the mechanic can apply where the vertical front cover joins the horizontal sump and crankcase face.

Oil leaks from the sump leak are generally caused by distortion of the

pressed steel sump and/or overtightening of the bolts. When a leak occurs the natural reaction is to tighten the bolts.

This distorts the sump further and tends to increase the leak. The solution is to remove the sump and clean any sealant off and correct any distortion of the joint face before reassembly with a gasket or sealant – but not both.

A Range Rover 3.5/3.9 gasket will fit the RV8; it’s the same engine of course”.

Copies of the sketches are available via the ‘More’ link on the V8 website.

MGB GT V8 HAS A REBUILD Peter Ellis originally purchased his MGB GT V8 in 1980 – Damask 2632 – and it was used as everyday transport for two years, then as a second car for 14 years, during which Peter and Jean attended events throughout the UK and overseas together with autotests, rallies, concours and touring. Peter sold the car in 1994 when the bodywork was starting to show signs of needing some major surgery. In 2008 he repurchased the car. The bodywork still needed surgery and so he started the strip down. The bodywork and painting were completed in early 2010 and the rebuild took place over the following four years culminating in an MOT in November 2014.

The body colour is now Tahiti Blue and the rubber bumpers have been removed leaving a clean bumperless front and back. Peter has sent in a couple of photos along with a copy of his modified wiring diagram, saying he has them “so I don’t have to try and remember what I did when I rebuilt it!” See the ‘More’ page for the full report.

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V8 NEWSLET TER

WHAT ARE THE LIKELY EFFECTS OF BREXIT ON THE UK CLASSIC CAR MARKET? In a lead article reviewing the effects of Brexit on classic car demand and prices in the UK, the popular weekly newspaper Classic Car Weekly noted recently that “demand from international buyers will rise, values will remain strong and classic-friendly legislation will be more easily achieved”.

Demand from international buyers Following the Brexit result from the UK referendum, foreign exchange rates moved against Sterling leaving UK classic cars less expensive for buyers in Euros and US Dollars. That foreign exchange movement also reduces shipping costs too. In the longer term, opinions vary over the Brexit effect on the UK classic car market – in the short term Classic Car Weekly says “it’s unlikely the domestic (UK) market will feel any effect from Brexit if people keep on spending”. The factors having a bearing on spending on classic cars are likely to be low deposit interest rates in the UK encouraging “alternative investment activity” in the classic car market and the general state of the UK economy. The prospects for UK interest rates seem to be for low or even lower deposit rates.

EU classic car legislation Geoff Lancaster (FHBC) is reported as saying “a Remain vote would have secured us a seat at the table when discussing the classic car movement across Europe, but having left we will only be able to watch (the development EU classic car regulations) from the sidelines”. Sir Greg Knight (chairman of the Parliamentary Historic Vehicle Group at Westminster) disagrees, saying “Britain is classic car friendly and I feel this (Brexit) move will allow us to breathe easier.” Whether the UK

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Government will put into effect the recent unwelcome EU roadworthiness directive that will apply to classic cars remains to be seen, as technically the UK is still in the EU and obliged to do so until we are out! Chris Hunt Cooke feels that with Brexit there will be “less possibility of unwelcome classic car regulation” as the UK approach is far less rigid and instead focused on ensuring vehicles are safe and allowing sensible improvements or upgrades.

What is the impact on MGB GT V8 prices?

Sterling/Euro and Sterling/US$ exchange rates have moved significantly following the UK Brexit result, providing potential savings for overseas buyers of MG V8s offered for sale in the UK priced in Sterling. Taking a Condition 1 MGB GT V8 offered at £20,795 (the price indicated in our updated price guide updated in May 2016) as an example, our calculations based on the foreign exchange rates applying in early June indicated a likely saving of just over two and half thousand pounds. That is a reduction of 9.6% on the ‘Euro price’ seen in May earlier this year, which will provide an attractive discount for potential buyers in the Eurozone and overseas.

You can see the worked example via the ‘More’ link on the V8 website.

There is probably a 2 to 3 year “buyers’ window” in the Eurozone during the Brexit process before the EU is likely to introduce import duties and taxes on classic cars imported from the UK.

CHECKING A SMALL MOD ON A JAPAN SPEC RV8 HAS BEEN DONE When a Japan spec RV8 is reimported to the UK or exported elsewhere you need to change over the

vacuum advance to the UK spec as recommended in RV8 Workshop Notes 60 and 258. If you buy one of these cars it is well worth checking a simple modification has been carried out – ensure the male intake on the upper side of the plenum chamber has been drilled out as this was not done on Japan spec RV8s.

The small male intake on the upper side of the plenum chamber, outside of the butterfly valve, needs to be drilled out to the same internal diameter as the male intake. Then the ignition timing needs to be reset to UK spec which at 800 rev/min maximum is 5 degrees plus or minus 1deg. BTDC with the vacuum pipe disconnected as stated in the RV8 Repair Manual AKM7153ENG, it is just a very thin ‘membrane’ at the bottom of the intake. There is no need to remove anything, just find a drill that fits the diameter of the intake and drill it out in situ, very little pressure needed. With a Dremel hand tool with a 1.5mm drill it will take about five seconds to do.

Take the air induction ducting off the plenum, wedge the throttle linkage just behind the plenum so that the butterfly flap is held open and carefully place a piece of greased but otherwise clean rag on top of the open flap to catch any swarf that might drop down.

Put a little grease on the drill bit; there’s very little metal to go through. Make sure afterwards that there is no swarf left in the hole and no rough edge to the hole inside the plenum, as it is very close to the top edge of the butterfly flap when the throttle is closed.

Carefully remove the rag and the wedge on the throttle linkage, replace the vacuum pipe and air induction ducting. Finally check this is air tight and has no splits in the ducting.

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MG V8 CONCOURS WINS AT MGLIVE! The MGB GT V8 in Teal Blue entered by Howard Guiney in the premier concours class at Silverstone came first, beating some well-known previous winners.

Howard (seen with Club President John Day and Ant Anstead, commentator at the event) also gained a trophy for the best MGB and also came away with the top award for the Best Car of the Show at MGLive! 2016; recognition that a V8 not only performs well on the road but also is seen as a worthy show car.

At the European Event of the Year in France another V8 enthusiast, Roger Glover, reports his RV8, in British Racing Green, won the Modern concours section. He adds “amazingly, we received numerous prizes consisting of various polishes, drying cloths, four MG mugs, an MG rosette, dehumidifying cloths and a gallon of oil. Although we donated the oil to the BMC Abingdon Competition Truck which was there. It was a lovely event held in Le Touquet.

Congratulations to all the organisers”.

Roger also participated in the track day at Abbeville, which was part of the European event, and feels that whilst “using and exercising the car in that way totally conflicts with entering concours events, as some RV8s only go to shows for concours events”. He believes in using these wonderful cars, so was very pleased to win this major European concours award.

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V8 AUTUMN TOUR 2016 The next V8 Tour in the popular series will be based in The New Forest National Park and run from Thursday 1st to Monday 5th September 2016. The tour will be through beautiful areas of the forest and visiting various establishments, including a winery, the famous Buckler’s Hard where ships of the line were built and finishing at the Museum of Army Flying for a tour followed by a buffet lunch prior to departure for home.

Contact Mike Lane on 01264 350040 for information. Full details are on the ‘More’ webpage on the V8 website.

SEASONAL TIP As you start thinking of taking your V8 or RV8 out this summer, it is a good idea to lubricate parts that are not often thought about. What of the moving parts that are used every time the car is used that don’t have built in lubrication? When you insert the key in the lock to get in the car, that’s a metal to metal contact which will benefit from a squirt with the straw of a can of WD-40 poked into the key aperture.

Incidentally this is a good way of lubricating all car locks, not only on your classic but also on more modern cars that don’t get used much as we open them with an electronic key fob.

WD-40 is a water dispersant, originally formulated for use by NASA in space rockets to displace water from sensitive moving items that are exposed to adverse weather conditions. It works because the constituents of WD-40 have greater molecular affinity for metal than for water and literally shove the water away. If you lubricate the locks in this way during the summer, when the winter comes you will not find yourself with a frozen lock.

Now move to the lock mechanism that you can see on the inside edge of the door, that strange, but effective device that is able to hold the door closed under unimaginable forces, yet opens at the press of a button.

A good spray of WD-40 all over this and into the spaces between the parts will keep it working smoothly. Have a rag handy to wipe up any surplus and make sure you spray the mating part on the door pillar as well, again wiping any surplus away to avoid getting it on your trousers, or worse still, on your wife’s summer dress! Don’t forget to do the same for the boot or tailgate locks, then go to the front of the car, open the bonnet and spray the bonnet catch mechanism, the projecting bolt with a spring on the bonnet (the bit you usually hit your head on!) and the Bowden cable that operates the bonnet catch. As these are usually of a wound wire outer construction, spraying it with WD-40 will lubricate the inner cable and prevent corrosion.

WD-40 isn’t harmful to the paintwork, although on external areas it should be wiped away for cosmetic reasons. Under the bonnet it does no harm at all and the solvent dries out to leave a film of oily stuff over metal components. It does no harm at all to electrical connections, indeed it is a benefit in preventing corrosion and poor contacts.

Enjoy the summer motoring, noting how much more nicely the locks operate as you get in.

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22/07/2016 17:22

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FWD NEWSLET TER Ben Hatton - ben2692@hotmail.co.uk www.mgcc.co.uk/fwd-register/

WELCOME TO THE FWD NEWSLETTER

Body being sent off to the paint shop

O

ne car, a box of tools and a Haynes manual – that’s how I have gone about restoring my 1983 MG Metro 1300, with some help along the way.

Metros and MG Metros may not be the most fashionable car but they are part of British car history. They played a big part in helping to turn around the fortunes of BL in the early 80s, with final sales figures of over two million cars when production ceased in 1997. They also played a part in reviving the MG name in the 1980s and were once a common sight on Britain’s roads. Now it seems many

Sub-frame awaiting refurbishment

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have gone to the MG graveyard, but a few survive and live on. Many of the cars are now at that age where a lot of TLC is required. Here Ben Hatton talks about his current restoration project, a 1983 MG Metro 1300 which he purchased in 2013 as his first car, but after attending various classic car shows for two years he decided that a full restoration was required.

This particular car was first registered in August 1983, had covered 87,000 miles and had been owned by the same family from new until it was sold in 2000. Its massive history file showed that no expense was ever spared on it. Lots of receipts from

early on in its life and a replacement gold seal gearbox in 1992, the year I was born! Its general condition was very solid but it was looking tired.

Faded graphics, mismatched paint on the front wings and the odd rust bubble had started to appear.

At the end of the show season in 2015 I decided to take it off the road, strip it right back to a bare shell and restore it. I was going to do everything myself and only get things done by other people where I did not have the facilities.

So, the car was pushed into the garage and I set to work. First to be removed was the interior. Easy enough, and removing the carpets revealed that the floors were nice and solid with only one small section requiring a plate where the front passenger arch joins the floor pan. All bolts were labelled and kept safe ready for reassembly.

The next component to be removed was the engine. Now, this might surprise some people, but this is the one component that has required the least attention. The engine was always a strong, smooth runner; it did not burn any oil, always started first time and would average 50mpg on a run. Upon performing a compression test it was found that all four cylinders

Sub-frame ready for re-installation

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Engine bay -work in progress

were running to exactly the quoted figure with no deviation between any of them. For these reasons I have decided to take the ‘if it isn’t broke don’t fix it’ approach. So the engine has just had a good clean and a repaint in the correct red for the 1275 A+ engine. The gearbox has also been painted gold seal gold. A few have criticised that ‘this is not original’.

It may not be, but as previously mentioned the car had a replacement gold seal gear box in 1992. It is part of the cars history and I have all the official paperwork from when the work was completed, so I felt that this detail needed preserving.

With the engine removed and safely stored, the next components to be removed were the front and rear subframes. Again this job could have been an absolute nightmare, with seized subframe mounting bolts needing to be drilled out and with the car only being on low height axle stands this could have been extremely awkward. However, not one bolt put up a fight. All were undone easily and the subframes dropped. These were then stored until space was available for them to be stripped down, but first the body shell needed to be sorted and sent off to the paint shop, I would at least then have some space in which to undertake the other work.

With regards to the car’s body shell, this was the one area in particular that I was dreading. I think everybody knows that Metros enjoy turning themselves into a pile of that flaky stuff as soon as they see the smallest amount of water. What would I find? Would the tin worm have attacked any part of the car that wasn’t easy to repair? Remarkably, it

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One of two places that required welding

was found that the car only required welding in two places. The first was a patch on the driver’s side inner wing that had previously been repaired, but not with a welding gun. A plate of metal had been fixed to the car with 10 bolts! This looked a total mess, so this was removed and a plate welded in and neatly finished so you could no longer tell that a repair was there. The second was in the Metro’s favourite place to rust through: the seam where the floor pan meets the front arch.

Again this was neatly prepared and a plate welded in. Once these repairs had been made, the empty car shell was sent off to the paint shop for prepping and a full respray.

With that out of the way, I was able to start work on the two biggest components, apart from the car shell, the front and rear subframes. These appeared to be in a solid condition, but 30 years of grease and dirt could hide anything. So every single component Looking splendid in a new coat of paint.

was removed. Hydragas suspension units, rear radius arms, steering rack, top and bottom suspension arms, subframe mounts and various other bits and pieces. The subframes were then sent away to be shot blasted. This did reveal that a couple of the welds on the rear subframe had started to deteriorate, with some small holes starting to appear in them. Fortunately all of the main structure of both subframes were perfectly solid with no rust damage to any of their structure.

So the failed welds were ground out and redone ready for the next stage.

Now this is going to sound a bit extreme to some people, but both of the subframes were next galvanised before being painted. A friend was able to organise this for me; a bit over-the-top but it will ensure that the subframes will last for as long as possible and will never rust again.

Whilst the subframes were away I was able to start reconditioning all of the components that I had removed in preparation for when the subframes retuned. This involved a lot of degreasing, derusting and painting of various components. Wheel bearings have been renewed, and radius arm and top suspension arm bearings renewed (what an awkward job that turned out to be). Those old needle bearings did not want to be removed from where they had been for the last 30 years, but they were soon removed and new ones pressed into place.

Upon the subframes’ return, I decided to first rebuild the rear one.

Engine ready for painting

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FWD NEWSLET TER

Now, this to date has been the most awkward job of the whole project.

How these things were ever assembled on a production line is beyond me.

I say this because of the four-plus hours it took a friend and me to refit the rear radius arms. Place washers on the end of the radius arm, easy, fit sealing rings. OK, now place into the subframe. Every single time we went to do this, either one of the sealing rings flew off or one of the washers dropped out with a clatter and landed in the bottom of the subframe. To say this was extremely frustrating is putting it mildly, and more than once I felt like throwing tools across the garage with frustration, but I managed to stay calm and through trial and error with a few different tools managed to finally fit the radius arms with the seals and washers seated correctly.

Next new knuckle joints were installed before the Hydragas suspension units were clamped into position and piped up, before being pressure-tested to check for any leaks.

Amazingly, there were none.

With the first major component complete, it was now time to bolt it back onto the car. Two hydraulic jacks, various blocks of wood and the subframe was slowly offered back up to the car and bolted back into place.

Nice and shiny new stainless steel bolts and plenty of copper grease not only make it all look good, but should also ensure that it will be easy to remove it in the future, should it need it.

Much the same process as described has applied to the front subframe; however tricks learned from what’s been described previously have

Work in progress on body Rear Sub-frame reassembled

Front sub-frame re-assembled

Rear sub frame in place

meant that the process was much quicker and far less frustrating.

At the time of writing the front subframe is complete and awaiting fitment to the car. The engine is complete and stored, so once the sub frame is home the engine will soon be back in place, and shortly afterwards the car should finally be back on its four wheels. The aim is to have the car complete and back on the road in time for the 2017 show season, starting with the pride of Longbridge.

This is only one story about what is happening with our FWD cars. We know that more of these cars are out there, and more and more of them are being brought back to life. If you or anyone you know have similar stories to tell we would love to hear from you.

So please get in touch and tell us your own FWD story.

Freshly prepared bodywork

Bodyshell awaiting its components

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Richard Buckley (20) leads the MGCC Peter Best Insurance MG Cup race.

Photo: Mick Edwards

A

MAGNIFICENT MALLORY

fter the hustle and bustle of the busy MGLive! weekend a few weeks ago, we arrived at a fairly serene Mallory Park, for the fourth 2016 race meeting of the MG Car Club. Complete with sunshine and blue skies in tow, the paddock was ready for another exciting day of high speed entertainment, and as ever our drivers and teams delivered.

MGCC MG Trophy Championship Doug Cole fought back from a difficult start to claim race one spoils, in the opening MG Trophy encounter. Despite a pole position start, Cole’s advantage escaped his grasp, handing initial control to Robin Walker.

Walker encountered trouble, when his MG ZR suddenly slowed, dropping him from his race-leading perch. Unable to overcome a seemingly terminal issue, his race ended, just in time to see Cole’s recovery drive launch him back in front.

With Cole firmly in the lead, the Class B battle raged on behind. The trio raced virtually side by side for a number of laps, as positions changed hands

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By Leanne Fahy

multiple times. After 22 laps, it was Sullivan who claimed the upper hand, to finish as Class B victor and second overall, ahead of Marsh and Luti, also securing him the Driver of the Race and the eventual Driver of the Day awards.

Class C honours were awarded to William Payne, who secured the accolade over Gianni Picone.

Cole doubled his Mallory Park success with victory in race two. His triumph was not so easy once again, when he was forced to battle through a number of fast starting Class B drivers to lead the way.

Class C was again won by Payne, whose second victory was enough to catch the eye of our commentary team and secure him Driver of the Race.

MGCC Peter Best Insurance MG Cup Thomas Halliwell triumphed in somewhat uncertain circumstances, after a chaotic first outing for the Peter Best Insurance MG Cup. The front row pairing of Richard Buckley and Halliwell were evenly matched on the run towards Gerard’s for the first time, but it was

Buckley who gained the upper hand.

Determined not to give in so easily, Halliwell immediately fought back, with the pair racing side by side for a number of laps.

Buckley managed to leap ahead; however after dropping from the running order, Halliwell inherited the lead, to steer his way to honours.

Behind, Tom Diment and Lewis Anderson enjoyed a similar battle.

However, as Diment settled ahead, his MG ZR suddenly began to slow, erasing his chances of success.

In Diment’s absence, Anderson claimed an untroubled second place, ahead of James Walpole and Grant Summersbee. Summersbee was also awarded Driver of the Race.

Another double winner, Halliwell secured the spoils in the second Peter Best MG Cup appearance, to finish comfortably ahead, with just over nine seconds to his nearest challenger.

MGCC Cockshoot Cup Ross Makar steered his way to a sole Cockshoot Cup victory, despite fierce competition from those around him.

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Charles Harmer in his 1450cc MG TF. Photo: Chris Webb

Phil Standish had led the way for much of the first half of the race, but he was eventually unable to fend off the charging Makar.

Standish soon found himself under pressure, when the fast starting Makar found his way to second place after muscling ahead of Ashley Woodward.

After attaching himself to the rear bumper of Standish’s MG TF LE500, the pair wrestled, as they launched towards Gerard’s side by side Forced to briefly slot in behind, Makar saw his opportunity as he and Standish exited Gerard’s, as he leapt past and into the lead, ahead of Standish, Woodward and Wetton.

As the lead quartet carved their way through back markers, positions changed once again. With Makar firmly in control, Standish found himself demoted to fourth place by race end, when Woodward and Wetton both weaved ahead.

Equipe GTS A 26-second advantage was more than enough to secure Equipe GTS victory for Tom Smith and his MGB. After a dash towards Gerard’s on lap one, including a three-car wide manoeuvre for Smith, John Andon and Rob Cull, it was Andon who claimed the advantage.

However, as the field headed onto their second lap, Smith moved ahead before settling in a strong lead position.

A series of fastest laps secured his stance at the front, as Andon and Cull battled profusely behind.

With Smith firmly in control, Andon managed to hold onto his second place standing; however a swift manoeuvre from Pete Foster ensured he was in the midst of the battle. As the chequered flag fell, Foster had positioned himself nicely to collect third place.

MGCC Drayton Manor Park MG Metro Cup Lee Connell enjoyed a triumphant end to the Drayton Manor Park MG Metro Cup race. An early lead was quickly thwarted by the charging Ben Rushworth; however Connell managed to reclaim his position in time to see the chequered flag.

After following from second place, Rushworth saw his opportunity to move ahead of Connell for his familiar lead spot. However, his advantage was short lived when Connell immediately fought back, reclaiming his advantage.

Shortly afterwards, Connell’s lead was protected when Rushworth began to suffer difficulties, before dropping to an eventual fifth place. In his wake, Andrew and Jack Ashton managed to slot into the vacant second and third positions, whilst Richard Garrard happily took over fourth place.

Lackford Engineering MG Midget & Sprite Challenge James Dunkley returned to winning ways in the solitary MG Midget and Sprite

A varied selection of MGs all fighting for position in the MGCC Peter Best MG Cup race. Photo: Mick Edwards

Challenge appearance. A formidable performance was enough to secure victory, despite intense competition from Graeme Adams early on.

As the race began, the upper hand immediately fell to Dunkley; however as the opening laps developed, Adams’ pressure turned into a race-leading performance. His glory was short lived, however, when Dunkley reclaimed his position at the head of the field.

Iconic 50’s Sports Cars with FISCAR Brian Arculus enjoyed a thrilling race to claim a narrow victory over Jonathan Smare, by just 0.6 seconds. Arculus led the way from start to finish in his Lotus Elite machine.

Behind the lead duo, Graham Coles found himself in third place, with Alex Quattlebaum and Bob Lines on his tail.

In glorious sunshine we made it to the end of another successful race meeting. Although some of you will venture off to enjoy your own rounds, we will have a bit of a break now from the main MGCC championships. Good luck to everybody who will be racing over the coming months, and we look forward to seeing you all again at Oulton Park in September.

The Class B cars of George Streather (34) and James Cole (8) battle for position in The College Motors MGCC MG Trophy Championship. Photo: Mick Edwards

The close racing in the MGCC Drayton Manor Park MG Metro Cup. Photo: Mick Edwards

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The MGB Roadster of Tom Smith leading the Equipe GTS Race.

RACE TORQUE

T

By Ron Gammons Photos: Chris Phillips

he Club’s last race meeting before the summer recess successfully took place at Mallory on July 3. The spectator ranks were swelled by the MGC Register who included a day at the races in their annual weekend away. Everybody seemed to enjoy the occasion, with close to 60 MGCs lining the bank overlooking the fast right hander of Gerard’s, before taking lunch in the hospitality suite in the Race Control building. A number of members were also given an insight into the management of a race meeting by visits to Race Control itself, and during the lunch break a number took part in a tour of the track as well. Perhaps also of note, was the first appearance at a race meeting of the latest MG, the very competitively priced all new MG GS, a five door SUV which circulated with the group.

The Mallory event was a very successful day for all and really emphasises the opportunity there to other Registers and Centres to make the

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Club’s race meetings a focus for their own events.

The race meeting itself was also a success with some very close racing, and nail-biting finishes all being completed before the curfew time of 6.00pm.

While there are some who say that Mallory doesn’t offer a challenge, they are well wide of the mark, and probably haven’t been there! It’s a truly great challenge from the critically fast Gerard’s, the demanding Esses, a hairpin and the well-named Devils Elbow. Lap times of sub-one minute give the spectators their money’s worth as well, since almost all of the circuit is in view from most vantage points!

The summer recess comes to an end on Saturday September 3, when we make our annual pilgrimage to the scenic circuit of Oulton Park. We have TVR Grantura leading the MG Dick Jacobs Special

most of the Club’s Championships present along with our regular guests Porsche and Morgan. We race on the International circuit, the longest one available, which is a true driver’s circuit, fast and demanding, all set in some beautiful parkland. Well worth a visit for competitor and spectator alike, wellpositioned close to the M6, although many use the less crowded A51 and more scenic roads to get there (just watch for those pesky yellow boxes!).

John Hutchison tells me that he already has some 61 entries for the event! Looks like another good meeting.

As is usual at this time of year, we are already in deep discussions with the circuit owners to try and get a sensible calendar for 2017. Obviously the fulcrum point is the Club’s annual visit to the Silverstone Grand Prix track, and while there has been a preliminary F1 calendar mooted, in truth it’s likely to be later in the year before we are certain of how the dates will shape up.

The planning tries to ensure that over the six-month period, April to September, we have some six race meetings to meet our Championship and guest club needs, with hopefully at least four weeks between dates, and trying to avoid late July and all of August to allow for holidays etc. We aim to race at the major circuits in central areas of the country, with reference to where the bulk of our competitors are resident. We have given serious thought to circuits such as Anglesey, Croft, Knockhill and others but have been concerned as to whether we could truly get enough support to break even on the entry.

Perhaps it’s a point worth making that the race programme is required to break even through the year, which thankfully we have managed to continue to do.

We hope to see many more Club members coming and supporting the Club’s major events.

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BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

L

ittle trace is now left of the former bomber command airfield at Croft. The old runway is used as a paddock area and the track was reconfigured some years ago. The outstanding part of the circuit is the Jim Clark Esses which are taken flat out by the competitors in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The option tyre rules had been changed for Croft. One race would have to be run using the hard (Thruxton) tyre and the other two on the medium rubber. Dunlop had decided that the current soft tyre would not stand up to the particular conditions found at Croft.

Qualifying Qualifying at 4pm took place on a dry track. Just as the drivers were attempting to set fast laps, Matt Neal clipped the slowing car of Rob Collard bringing the session to a stop. Ashley had no time on the board before this after a dusty spin.

When the cars were released Ashley drove a brilliant lap which put him third on the grid behind pole sitter Colin Turkington’s Subaru and Daniel Lloyd’s Honda Civic. Meanwhile Josh was having a tough time with a vibration in the car and getting a clear lap and was only able to secure 18th on the grid.

Race One Conditions were still dry when the 32 cars lined up for the first race of the day. The competitors at the back of the grid were actually in the hairpin and not on the start finish straight so it was some time

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ROUND 5 CROFT

By Paul Goodman Photos: btcc.net

before the red lights went out. The start was initially clean, but front row driver Daniel Lloyd went broadside and hit the barrier bringing out the safety car. At the resumption, the two Subaru Levorgs of Colin Turkington and Jason Plato rushed away at the front leaving Ashley to fend off Jack Goff’s BMW. Despite another safety car, Ashley held on to secure third place and his first ever BTCC podium finish. Further back, Josh was involved in close mid pack racing which didn’t allow him to show the potential of the MG6 and he finished 17th.

Race Two The rear wheel drive cars got the jump on Ashley at the start, forcing him down to fifth position which he held to the finish. Up front the two Subarus had a coming together which allowed Rob Collard to jump into the lead in his BMW. Josh again fought hard, but 14th place was the best that he could do.

Race Three As the cars began to form up for the final race of the weekend, the rain began to fall. Several drivers decided to try and race on slick tyres, but the

Ashley Sutton on the podium

majority bolted on the Dunlop wet weather rubber. Conditions would have suited ‘intermediate’ tyres, but they are not provided for the BTCC. After the lottery draw for grid positions, local hero Sam Tordoff was on pole in his BMW with Tom Ingram’s Toyota alongside.

Ashley was in fourth spot. Sam took the lead at the start but safety car periods followed. Ashley was grabbing all the attention with some brilliant driving in the MG6, the tail hanging out at many corners. He passed Colin Turkington and then Tom Ingram and was closing lap by lap on Sam when the safety car came out again. When it was released, Ashley snatched the lead and held on to the flag for his first BTCC victory and the first in 2016 for the 888 MG6. Josh also had a stellar race. Starting from 14th position, he overtook many cars to finish sixth.

A great weekend for Ashley Sutton resulted in him moving up to seventh in the points, only 49 behind leader Sam Tordoff. Josh Cook is now 12th. In the Manufacturers Championship, WSR BMW have a very big lead leaving Yuasa Honda and 888 MG to fight for second spot with the gap between them being reduced to just 26 points.

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22/07/2016 17:23

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03/02/2015 16:22:53

AN MG SPECIALIST GARAGE RUN

BY MG ENTHUSIAST AND MG ROVER FACTORY TRAINED TECHNICIAN, CHRIS FLANAGAN.

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DUNCAN WOOD DUNCANW@MGS-ON-TRACK.CO.UK WWW.MGS-ON-TRACK.COM SPONSORED BY

MG on track

CASTLE COMBE TRACK DAY – FLAMING JUNE? Castle Combe circuit in Wiltshire is a firm favourite of MGs on Track members and easily warrants our customary two track days held at the venue each year. The first visit in June of this year was notable for the contrasting weather which greeted us. Persistent rain throughout the morning meant slippery conditions and more than a few excursions off the tarmac and onto the grass, whilst the afternoon remained dry and breezy leading to much greater grip and levels of confidence … sometimes misplaced!

We were delighted to be joined by a dozen cars from the Triple M Register.

Ranging from a 1930 M Type with 25bhp to a 1934 K Type with 100bhp they all had a feature in common: that being the absence of all but the most vestigial weather protection. Seemingly as content to travel sideways as directly ahead, the group revelled in the wet conditions; indeed, as their numbers were reduced in the afternoon sessions, one must assume that the kinder weather was not considered sufficient challenge to the drivers’ skills or physical duration. I think that all of us who witnessed the sight of these glorious historic cars circulating were surprised at their speed even in the poor conditions, admiring of the driving talent that was on display, and not a little relieved that we had cars with a roof and windscreen wipers!

Another car with interesting history was the MGB of Andy Smith who was accompanied by his son, Nick. Andy has owned MGs since the mid-70s, and was delighted to purchase BGS 861A a little under a year ago. A 1963 ex-California car, this was one of a batch to be rebuilt and modified by Ron Gammons for the early Classic Marathon series, and it is still maintained and serviced at the Brown and Gammons workshop. It was driven to 15th place in the Pirelli Classic Marathon of 1989

by Malcolm Gammons and Roger Clark,

52 SAFETY FAST! AUGUST 2016

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Andy Smith and his early 1963 MGB

and Tony Mason guided the car to 7th place in the same event the following year. In the 1992 Mitsubishi Classic Marathon the car was again 7th, the crew this time comprising Stirling Moss and Zoe Heritage. The car was kept active through the early part of this century with two 1st places and a 2nd in the HRCR Classic Trophy events of 2002–2004, and 1st place in the 2007 Le Jog for Chris Hunt-Cooke and David Kirkham. Andy fully intends to continue in the competitive vein, having taken part in HERO’s Summer Trial on the weekend previous to Castle Combe, and plans to enter similar events in the coming months and years.

The track day was a 60th birthday present from Andy’s family. Castle Combe was a particularly apt venue as Andy cycled to race meetings at the circuit frequently when he was a teenager, and he was there when

Peter Gethin broke the lap record in a Formula 5000 car at an average speed of 117mph. Although he was not alone in finding the morning’s conditions challenging, his overall impression of the day was completely positive.

Starting with the signing-on process and the informative driver’s briefing, he found the organisation to be efficient but welcoming, and the availability of professional tuition was considered a real aid to getting the best from both car and driver. However, it was the friendliness and enthusiasm of his fellow MG drivers that really made the day special, and we fully expect that Andy will become a regular at MGoT events in the future.

A return to Castle Combe in September or to Goodwood in October might be on the cards and, who knows, the sun might even shine!

Finally, those with an eye for detail may have spotted the change of name

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LUFFIELD CHAMPIONSHIP JOHN WILMAN, BEECHFIELD, FERN BANK, C H A P E L -E N -L E -F R I T H , H I G H P E A K . S K 23 0J J T E L : 07778 165186 W W W . M G S P E E D . N E T

MGS ON TRACK - 2016 CALENDAR MGs on Track – 2016 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.

Brands Hatch GP – August 25 A must-do! A rare opportunity to try the GP circuit which has imposed limited use during the year. It’s a privilege for MGoT to be invited back for a third year running.

Castle Combe – September 12 A second opportunity to enjoy the thrills of this everpopular track which includes a couple of chicanes and technical corners!

Anglesey – September 30 Our first visit to 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.

Goodwood – October 31 A second visit, in case you missed the first due to popularity!

Oulton Park –November 18 Back on the calendar due to demand by members, a circuit that has a bit of everything for everyone!

Brands Hatch ‘Indy’ – December 5 Our last event of 2016. Don’t miss the chance to experience this undulating circuit, including Paddock Hill Bend!

at the top of this page over the past couple of months.

Steve Brand has prepared the MGoT articles for inclusion in Safety Fast! for the past four or five years but has now passed that responsibility on to me, and I’m just beginning to realise why! Happily, Steve remains a full committee member and enthusiastic promoter of MGs on Track, and I’m sure all members will thank him both for his work in the past and for that still to come. Freed from the commitment to produce a monthly article he tells us he has quite a few ideas he would like to try out. Brace yourselves … we’ve not heard the last of him!

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W

ith the re-launch of the magazine, and the changes in the June copy date, I have got a little out of sync with the events reports. At the end of this article is a report by Dave Coulthard on the Scammonden Hillclimb, held on May 15.

Our visit to the Liverpool Motor Club event at Aintree took place on June 25. The weather was overcast but warm and dry, some would say ideal for purpose. The organisation there is so good; we had two practice and four timed runs. Outstanding performances came from Richard Watkinson in his modsports Midget, who exceeded the current record, and also Christopher England in his group two TF 135 who equalled the record.

On July 2 we made a return to Barbon Hillclimb near Kirkby Lonsdale. On this occasion, the event was a round of the British Hillclimb Championship. The quality of the cars in that group was a delight to behold. As for the event, only one word describes it adequately, WET. The weather moved from rain to apocalyptic rain and back again all day. Consequently, the run times were academic and everybody did the best they could.

Scammonden Dam hillclimb Scammonden Dam hillclimb, just below the M62 motorway close to Huddersfield, was in perfect condition for the North Western Centre-organised event. The weather played its part too, with sunshine warming the tarmac and a cool breeze keeping the engines happy.

On his first acquaintance with the steep West Yorkshire hill, Dave Morris slipped under the 32 seconds mark in the RV8. Half a second up the road was Chris England in the TF. Chris smashed the old F/TF record in the process. Helen Waddington, in her ZR 160, set a new PB at a shade over 30 seconds. The MGF Trophy of Ian Howlett and the ZR 160 of David Coulthard were evenly matched, with DC just getting the nod by a couple of tenths. Both cars set new records in the 29-second bracket.

Richard Watkinson was flying in the Midget, affectionately known as ASBO. A new record was taken in 26.58. But, it was Andy Walker in the B V8, which was clearly far from being healthy, which led the way. Andy destroyed the old record with an incredible climb of 25.42.

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A

ULSTER TRIPLE M TOUR

rriving from Cairnryan

by Stena ferry on Tuesday 7 June, I was one of the last to reach the Dunadry Hotel on Tuesday evening, but was pleased to find plenty of parking and a warm welcome from Simon and Sandra Johnston. Although I hadn’t required

By Colin McLachlan Photos by Fred Kullas trailer parking myself, it was clear that plenty of separate space had been provided for trailers and tow cars. The turnout was fantastic considering that most cars had had to make a ferry crossing to join the event. In addition, Fred and Diane Weber M), Hans Betty van den Bosch J2), Bert Willy Nijhof J2), Henk Ruud de Vries K1),

The Walker F1 is shown at the Dark Hedges made famous by the TV series Game of Thrones.

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and Jan van der Werf L1) came from the Netherlands, Karl Wiessman Christine Beck K3), Walter Brigitte Kallenberg K1), Gerhard Baerbel Maier K3), Dieter Julie Haupt ND), and Ron Ilse Maier came from Germany. From even further afield came Rod Ptak Steve Rankin L1 Salonette) from Canada, and finally George Marguerite Morgan C), John Helen Gillett Bira K3), Aubrey Ren Paverd PA), and Arthur Ruediger riding with John Emmet) from Australia.

Dinner that first evening had prearranged seating, and we all settled down to meet old friends and make new ones. The food was excellent, and my only complaint is that the bar only stocked one single malt Scotch, which I finished that evening. After that I had to make do with Bushmills.

Wednesday morning dawned dull but dry as we set off with a quick lap round the Ballyclare race circuit, used in 1937 for the International County Down Trophy race, and then up the Red Brae Hillclimb, scene of the first recorded competition appearance of an MG M Type) in Ulster in May 1931.

Shortly after, we arrived at the coffee stop at Billy Andy’s, where morning tea/coffee with scones had been laid on. As with nearly all refreshment stops on this tour, this had been included in the entry fee, so no need to worry about paying before setting off on the next leg.

Although I was originally travelling

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EVENT REPORT

on my own, I had been lucky to pick up a navigator at the start in the form of Dave Cooksey, who had unfortunately had to leave his C Type behind as the gearbox was making expensive noises. So I dragged him away from the buns for an early start to the next leg, which included a run up the public road that forms Cairncastle Hillclimb, at 1.65 miles the longest in Britain. We managed to get a clear run up the hill, made all the more exciting because Simon had evidently arranged for new loose chippings to be put down for us.

Simon must have heard that I had fitted new front shock absorbers, so the next stage of the route included a fine test of them – thanks Simon! Further adjustment was clearly necessary, but it wasn’t until some helpful advice from Hugh Back “Try turning the adjusters the other way”) the next day that I finally got them sorted.

A light lunch at the Londonderry Arms in Carnlough was followed by a visit to another local hillclimb, Garron Point, the turning to which we found at only our second attempt. Another fun section and as the route went round in a circle, I was tempted to have another run up it for once I resisted).

Thursday morning again was overcast but dry. The route to our first stop at Newtownards of necessity involved about ten miles on the M2 motorway, but I’m pleased to say that our little pre-war cars coped admirably with this. The section was also made easier by Simon thoughtfully providing photos in the route book of the correct lane to be in for each junction. After that we were treated to yet another Ulster hillclimb. Again we managed to miss the turning into Craigantlet, ending up going down first, then up.

During a spirited run up the hill my navigator somehow felt the need to remind me that this was not a closed road. Fortunately nothing was coming the other way. At least I remembered

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K3016 is owned by Howard Maguire. No Ulster history but extensive racing history in Australia

in time that it crosses the main road halfway up – it must cause quite a lot of traffic disruption when the competition is run.

Simon had warned us more than once that we had to be sure not to be late for the first stop of the day, a civic reception in Conway Square, Newtownards, with a welcome speech from the Mayor. Absorbent cloths were to be provided for the cars to avoid soiling the tiled square, but we mostly tried too hard not to be late, and duly arrived early, before the marshals with the “car nappies”.

I was slightly concerned to realise that after waiting at Conway Square for nearly an hour, my friends Bill Karen Niven still hadn’t turned up in their blown PA, MG4440. When bought about five years ago, this car was in need of a certain amount of sorting, and it’s fair to say that up till this point it had never completed a tour, hence my concern. They eventually turned up in time for the speech, with their own story to tell.

They had decided to use the satnav as a fall-back when they took a wrong turning, and had been congratulating themselves on their foresight to set it for Conway Square before leaving the hotel. Unfortunately they had set it for Conway Square, Belfast not Newtownards), and shortly found themselves driving down the Falls Road, admiring the mural of Bobby Sands, and wondering whether Glasgow Rangers blue was the best colour for their MG. Fortunately the natives here, as elsewhere, turned out to be friendly, and having posed for photographs for them, the Nivens duly set off again in the right direction and

arrived safely at the correct square.

The display in the square was certainly impressive, and drew large crowds of well-wishers. After coffee and a welcome speech from the Mayor, we were off again, with police stopping the traffic to get us going out of the town, and on round the rest of the TT course, past the famous butcher’s shop in Comber nobody hit it this time), and on toward the Dundonald hairpin. There we left the TT circuit, and continued east past Stormont Estate and Parliament Buildings, then south to Ballynahinch in the now blazing sun.

And so on to Hillsborough Castle, for afternoon tea with the Queen. She must have just popped out for a fag when we got there, or perhaps she was held up elsewhere organising birthday parties or something. Anyway, she had organised a very posh tea service for us, complete with a pianist playing throughout. The tour that followed was fascinating, both from an historic and recent political point of view.

Thereafter it was a simple trip back to the hotel, except that an instruction involving a hidden dip seemed to my navigator to involve a hidden road as well! As the day was nearly over, we gave up and set the satnav for home carefully avoiding the Falls Road).

Friday morning again started overcast, and the day was punctuated with the odd shower and mist turning to fog in places, though finally clearing again later. After a brief stop for coffee, the highlight of the morning run for me was the truly stunning Dark Hedges road. I understand there is a Game of Thrones connection here, but for me it seemed straight out of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. Our Scotch car decided to give Bushmills Distillery a miss.

Lunch at the Causeway Hotel was again well-organised, and a brisk walk to the Giant’s Causeway to work it off was definitely called for. I was told it was twenty minutes each way, and

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was proud to get there in ten, only to make up the difference by taking thirty minutes on the way back up the hill.

The rock formations are dramatic, and very similar to Fingal’s Cave on the Isle of Staffa, off Scotland’s west coast. I searched for some time, but failed to find an octagonal rock which is just as well, as I don’t think the National Trust would have appreciated an MG graffito on it).

Next stop was the Carrick-a-Rede, the scary rope bridge, 20m long and 23m above the water. Actually the steps on the mainland down to the bridge are just as scary, but the crossing to the island was well worth it, as once again the mist cleared to give us at least local views. We then rushed back to the hotel, so that I could drive over to Cultra and have the car scrutineered for the hillclimb tomorrow. This meant being slightly late for the hog roast final dinner, but also meant a later start tomorrow, with time for a good breakfast before the competition.

As this was the final dinner, we had a short speech from Simon, who usually starts his speech by telling us he doesn’t like speeches. The excellent hotel staff were duly thanked, and then a well-deserved vote of thanks to Simon and Sandra was proposed by John Gillett.

Saturday morning dawned dull and slightly damp, but nothing to put us off open top motoring, so we all duly set off down the M2 again, bypassing Belfast to head for the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, where eight of us were entered for the Cultra Hillclimb, and the rest were scheduled to be part of a featured Triple M display.

The first practice run of the morning was slightly damp, but the second one largely dry, so times started to improve. Our paddock area was largely sheltered by trees, so I for one failed to appreciate that what seemed like a very light shower where we were, was actually quite wet on the track. This gave rise to a first timed

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run by yours truly which could best be described as ‘entertaining’, resulting in a significantly slower time! Needle matches and friendly rivalries were now developing, so the second and third timed runs, by now on a dry track, gave rise to steadily improving times all round. After the first timed run, the entire rally group did a demonstration run up the hill, and I understand that our cars did not waste any time once on the hill.

DURING A SPIRITED RUN UP THE HILL MY NAVIGATOR SOMEHOW FELT THE NEED TO REMIND ME THAT THIS WAS NOT A CLOSED ROAD The organisers had instituted a predicted time handicap for our pre-war class, and this was won by Sheelagh Glover in a Riley Special, with our own Frank Ashley second in his M type, and Brian Galbraith third in his J2.

MGs did well in the overall scratch results for our class. The full results are as follows: 1. Andy Storer, Issigonis Special, 1936/8, 45.88 sec.

2. Duncan Potter, C type, 1931, 46.20 3. Chris Cadham, C Type, 1931, 48.24 4. Colin McLachlan, PA, 1934, 51.05 5. John Gillett, Bira K3, 1934, 51.33 6. Simon Jackson, PB, 1935, 52.06 7. Simon Thomas, Ford TT V8, 52.76 8. Alan Clarke, Riley, 1935, 52.90 9. Frank Ashley, M Type, 1929, 53.11 10. Sheelagh Glover, Riley Special, 1936, 53.19 11. Brian Galbraith, J2, 1932, 53.89 12. Roger Corry, M Type, 1930, 60.66 There can be no doubt that the pre-war class was greatly enhanced by our presence, and equally that the organisers bent over backwards to welcome the Triple M cars, both racers and tourers. After the hillclimb, many cars dispersed to make their way home via various ferries, and a few returned to the hotel to continue touring, or head home on Sunday.

Altogether the Tour was a masterpiece of organisation, and many from the mainland should regret having missed out on it. The route book was very thorough, with maps and photos helpfully provided, including ferry ports and tricky junctions. Much local information was also included, and the whole presentation very professional, making the route book a souvenir to treasure. I for one look forward to returning some day.

C0287. now owned by David and Duncan Potter.

Brooklands racing history before the war and some Ulster history in the 1950s and 1960s.

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22/07/2016 17:28

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EVENT REPORT

Tight Parking at Symonds Yat

MG TF LE500 enjoying the Welsh scenery

MIDLAND CENTRE WELSH RALLYE

A

By Andy Robson

s some members will know, every year since 1997 the Midland Centre has hosted its ‘Welsh Rallye’ touring run in May of each year, broadly following a format adopted by our previous competitive events held in the 1950s, and our regular entrants will know that the weather has, to say the least, often not been kind to us. So, it was with a great deal of relief that our 2016 event took place over a weekend blessed with blue skies and not a little warmth once the sun had got his hat on.

Other CRB event organisers will know how difficult it is to maintain high standards with every passing event, and our Rallye is no different. There are only so many mountain passes and quiet country roads in Wales that you can use over a 20-year period without repeating part of a route from one year

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to the next, and only so many hotels that can offer 50 or 60 double/twin rooms at affordable prices. So, for 2016 we decided to branch out and try something a little more ambitious. Traditionally, we will map out a linear route for the Saturday run, starting at a West Midlands location and finishing at a designated hotel for the Saturday night dinner-dance. In the last couple of years we have modified this by plotting a circular route, starting and finishing the Rallye at the same hotel, making it a two-night weekend. This year saw that pattern altered yet again by Coming down from Bwlch-y-Groes

starting at one hotel and terminating at a second and, additionally, we also decided to hold the traditional Sunday lunch at a third hotel! Potentially a planning nightmare.

On Saturday morning, our longestserving Club member from the area, Mike Dowley of Sports Vintage Motors in Shrewsbury, arrived at our weekend base, the Lion Quays hotel on the A5 near Chirk, to flag away the cars. It was a bright and early start for a scenic route down through the body of Wales, passing through no fewer than three National Parks, arriving in the late afternoon at the Diplomat hotel, part of the Best Western group, in Llanelli, a drive of approx. 200 miles.

This route took our cars into Snowdonia and through the scenic pleasures of Lake Vyrnwy, where there was a brief pause for photos, and up to the Bwlch-y-Groes mountain pass at 1,788ft/545m one of the highest public road passes in Wales) with stunning views down the valley and across to the far mountains, arriving mid-morning at the Meirion Mill woollen shop and caf near Dinas Mawddwy for the first coffee stop. After a quick 15-minute break, crews continued down through Machynlleth and along the main coast road, then just north of Aberystwyth they diverted onto the minor roads and into ‘hinterland’ country) down through Tregaron and on to the University of Wales in Lampeter for their lunch stop.

Unfortunately, between getting the route books printed and the day of the event a bridge had been closed, necessitating an unscheduled detour which caught a few navigators

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by surprise, and resulted in some frustrations being expressed on arrival at the university car park. Thankfully, the lunch choices provided respite sufficient to placate most ruffled feathers, and everyone left an hour later, suitably refreshed …

Only to find that just down the road the intended route from Lampeter to Newcastle Emlyn was blocked by an overturned tractor, and the Heddlu we were in Wales after all) had blocked the road and enforced another detour! What is it they say about the best laid plans …?

Anyway, once folk had consulted their route instructions and map books or taken the easy option and set the satnav) everyone headed south for an all-too-brief excursion into the Preseli Hills National Park and on towards the beaches of the south coast for their afternoon tea break at Wiseman’s Bridge, where the chosen pub was right on the shoreline. Once refreshed, it was off again to sample the delights of Amroth, Pendine with a quick stop to see Parry-Thomas’s ‘Babs’) and Laugharne, site of the famous boathouse where Welsh poet Dylan Thomas wrote many of his works. Then onto the A40 for a rapid circumnavigation of the River Towy estuary, finally turning south again for a run past Kidwelly Castle and the Pembrey motor racing circuit before arriving at our Saturday destination, the Diplomat Hotel on the outskirts of Llanelli, where we had reserved all of the hotel’s fifty rooms.

Most crews arrived in good time for a bit of a rest and some liquid refreshment, and then it was time to change into costumes for the evening’s fancy dress dinner dance. The theme this year was ‘Star Wars’, so the dining suite was populated with various interpretations of Darth Vaders, Han Solos, Luke Skywalkers and Princess Leias, and light sabres flashed in the night.

Sunday morning dawned bright and dry, and the crews were flagged off for

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Coffee break at Meirion Mill

the run to the lunch stop. This time, the route took the cars up into the Brecon Beacons for a morning coffee stop at The New Inn at Ystradfellte and then on around Brecon, through Crickhowell, into Abergavenny, on past the famous recording studios in Rockfield, finally arriving at the Royal Lodge Hotel on the banks of the River Wye at Symonds Yat. Lunch came late, but was enjoyed once it arrived, after which we held our traditional awards ceremony with prizes for fancy dress and best cars of the weekend. Midland Centre Chairman Paul Hipkiss, recovering from illness, had travelled down especially for the occasion, and handed out to the following recipients: • Best male fancy dress – Jason Browning-Williams • Best female fancy dress – Kerrie Munton • Best pre-65 car – Nick Oswell-Jones, MGA Coupe • Best pre-65 car runner-up – Peter Blackwell, MG TD • Best post-65 car – Vince Williams, MGB GT • Best post-65 car runner-up – Alex Timmins, MGRV8

Fancy dress - may the force be with you!

In fact, Nick’s MGA Coupe was considered to be the car of the weekend, and he was awarded the Malcolm Knowles Trophy.

The Natter-of-the-Year award for 2015 went to North Worcestershire Group 2, collected by Paul Hollingworth, the Malcolm Garrett Trophy for Marshal of the Year 2015 went to Roger King, and the PJ Evans Trophy for the Midland Centre Committee Member of the Year 2015 was awarded to Andy Robson.

After the ceremonials, it was time for everyone to say their farewells and head for home.

The Midland Centre committee would like to thank everyone who helped to make this Rallye another success, particularly our various marshals, the staff at the Lion uays, Diplomat and Royal Lodge hotels, and of course our hardy guests who withstood the rigours and unexpected encounters of the event with their usual good humour.

So, that rounds up this year’s Welsh Rallye, and we have already started planning our 2017 event which will be our 20th anniversary in the current era. elwn ni chi i gyd y wyddyn nesaf” - See you all next year!

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22/07/2016 17:28

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Saloons gather at Gaydon for ZED15

ZED15

INCORPORATING SALOON DAY

When the ZR/ZS/ZT hit the scene in 2001 they became an instant success, and it’s not surprising really. With their bold bright colours, eye-catching bodykits, alloy wheels and performance-inspired suspension and engines the MG Rover customers loved them. 15 years on and all of the Zed cars still have an enthusiastic following

A

nd so it started from a flippant remark by myself late last year, I’d been disappointed by the lack of respect for Zeds at a few of the shows I’d attended, organised by various clubs, and the decline of the original MG Saloon Day once the MGM Group folded in 2012. Being a dedicated Zed fan, and owning a concoursstandard MG Maestro, I had lamented

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By Ian Kimpton Photos by Chris Kynoch the absence of a show where the focus was on MG ‘Tin Tops’ and not the usual, but equally worthy MGBs, Fs, TFs and other splendid soft top MGs. With the support of the MG Car Club, the FWD Register collaborated with the ZR/ZS/ZT and 635 Registers to host Zed15, to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the launch of the ZR, ZS, and ZTs as well as relaunch MG Saloon Day Metros, Maestros and

Montegos) under MGCC guardianship, and promote the popular and growing enthusiasm for the next generation of MG6s and MG3s.

As Event Lead, I have an almost inexhaustible list of thanks to the many people at the MGCC, and the Registers who supported this concept, and allowed it to turn into a fantastic event for all modern MG ‘Tin Top’ followers.

Special thanks go to the British

www.mgcc.co.uk

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EVENT REPORT

Sean Round’s MG3 with the new 635 Register marquee in the background

Magnettes were a welcome addition at Saloon Day.

Matthew Lynch collecting his award for the best car in show

The MGCC ZR Express, yellow XPart Express and ZS race car were all popular attractions in front of the marquees The FWD cars are always a popular sight at Saloon Day.

Motor Museum’s Tom Caren for his patience, the traders who attended, MG Motor, Meguiar’s and Part for providing terrific prizes in the Pride of Ownership, and finally to everyone who joined us on a rather weather-variant Saturday to make it such a great day! Also, I must not forget the Magnette Register for their very welcome guest appearance.

The blueprint and future more later) base format for this event have now been established. The vision was an uncomplicated day out with an independent judge for Pride of

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A stunning MG ZT260, belonging to Matthew Lynch was voted car of the show

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EVENT REPORT

COMMENTS

The Monogram display was as popular as ever.

Ownership, with a simple and short awards ceremony. The layout by model range was very successful, and everybody loves the Monograms having a ‘special’ area. Enthusiastic

Thank you to all those who supported this event and made it such a great success. If you’re reading this, and own a ed, FWD or 6.3.5 MG and have not updated your vehicle with the Registrars of your respective Register, please do so… it’s important, even more so if you’re a Metro, Maestro and Montego owner.

ZED15 STICKER

Register representatives and traders who understand the cars, underpinned by the MGCC’s main gazebo with support from MG Motors UK, who brought along two MG GSs for the public to look at and the popular Racing Bug; overall it made for an enjoyable day, with many favourable comments.

What’s next? Well, this event is now going to be annual, and will include all ‘Tin Top’ MGs, bringing the golden age together with the modern age. This dedicated event needs a name, and we are open to suggestions…

To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the ZR/ZS/ZT we have had a limited run of internal stickers 23cm x 7cm) produced. Orders yours for £3 including post and packing) from www.mgcc.co.uk/shop/product/zed15-sticker/

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Zed15 was a great success, a big thank you to everyone who took part in the Monogram display.

So great to celebrate ED15 – 15 years of the MG #ZR #ZS #ZT #ZT-T Thanks to all that made Zed15 such a great show. It was really good to see everyone.

Thank you and your members for making me feel welcome and for such a great day – the first MG event I have taken my first MG to.

Lovely to see everyone at ED15.

So chuffed I chose to buy a ZT-T as my first ever MG! Had a great but brief time at ed15 due to work! Also got some new little bits for my MG3.

Superb day at Gaydon celebrating several birthdays - Z Series, MG6 and MG3. Great to see such a good turnout. ed15 was brilliant! Really enjoyed it but really felt strange not entering the Pride of ownership .Lovely to see you all!

Great! Just great!

Zed15, great day, very busy with some super-looking cars! Five years of the MG6 and three years of the MG3! Good to see modern MGs for a change, not just the classics. It’s good to see the brand living on and even the new cars have a following.

Great event and can’t wait to get my MG6 to go to more longdistance events that the Midget won’t go to.

I’ve had a lot of enjoyment out of these cars over the years. Happy 15th MG R, S and T!

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/07/2016 17:28

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MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 65

For all your MG requirements, from a service to a prize winning restoration, contact Adrian Priestley via

www.chisbon.com or Tel: 01255 862626

AUGUST 2016 SAFETY FAST! 65

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CALENDAR

AUGUST Tuesday 2 MGCC: Anglia Centre Longham Natter Pride of Ownership The White Horse, Norfolk Contact: William Ball – 01508 471506 Saturday 6-Sunday 7 MGCC: Tyne Tees Centre Croft Nostalgia Weekend Croft Racing Circuit Contact: Noel Lindford – 0191 587 0753 or noel. lindford@btinternet.com Saturday 6 MGCC: Lincolnshire Centre MG Display East Kirkby Air Show Contact: Dave Noble – 01507 527945 Sunday 7 MGCC: Midland Centre Summer Sprint Curborough, near Lichfield Contact: Barbara Whale – 07768 686425 Sunday 7 MGCC: Lincolnshire Centre MG Display Revesby Show Contact: David Stonehouse – 01790 754774 Sunday 7 MGCC: Caledonian Centre Kames Show Kames Race Track, Ayrshire Bob MacGillivray – 07870 407111 Sunday 7 MGCC: South East Centre Summer Gathering Tour into Above, Chatham Dockyard Contact: Philip Bayne-Powell – 01483 811428 Monday 8-Friday 12 MGCC: Caledonian Centre Five Day Tour Southern Uplands Contact: Tony Smith/David Reid – 07770 927803 Friday 12-Sunday 14 MGCC Germany AVD Oldtimer Grand Prix Nurburgring, Germany Contact: Hakan Sigemark – hakan.sigemark@mgcc.se

Sunday 14 MGCC: MGA Register MGA Day 2016 Charlecote Park Contact: Peter Morgan – 01794 323160

Sunday 21 MGCC: MGA Register Stockfest Car Show and Rare Breeds Tour Contact: Edward Vandyk – mgascribe@vandyk.co.uk

Saturday 3-Sunday 4 MGCC: Caledonian Centre Bo’ness Show Bo’ness Contact: Rob MacGillivray – 07870 407111

Sunday 14 MGCC: South West Centre Mendip Car Trial Pagans Hill Farm, Chew Stoke Contact: Jim Lott – chairman@mgccsw.com

Thursday 25 MGCC: MGs on Track Brands Hatch GP Contact: Martin Holmes – martinh@mgs-on-track.co.uk

Sunday 4 MGCC: South East Centre Shere Hill Climb SE Centre Display Shere, Surrey Contact: John Davies – 01737 241971

Saturday 14 MGCC: Anglia Centre Anglia Mid-Summer Run Suffolk Contact: Margaret Beresford – 01394 382096 or Barbara Pratley – 01394 385135 Friday 19-Sunday 21 MGCC Norway Norsk MG Treff Norway Contact: Hakan Sigemark – hakan.sigemark@mgcc.se Saturday 20-Sunday 21 MGCC: Caledonian Centre Ingliston Show Ingliston Show Ground Edinburgh Contact: David Reid – 01383 727695 Sunday 21 MGCC: Magnette Register Stockfest 2016 Near Newbury Contact: John Harris – johnharris37@btinternet.com Sunday 21 MGCC: Caledonian Centre Royal Deeside Speed Festival Kincardine Castle, Kincardineshire Contact: Bob MacGillivray – 07870 407111 Sunday 21 MGCC: Abingdon Works Centre Summer Day Out 2016 Broughton Castle, Banbury Contact: Mike Gething – 01295 254498 Sunday 21 MGCC: Twin Cam Group Stockfest Car Show Contact: Edward Vandyk – info@stockfestcarshow.co.uk

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Sunday 28 MGCC: Caledonian Centre Fun Day & BBQ Location TBA Contact: David Reid – 01383 727695 Sunday 28 MGCC: Yorkshire Centre Dales Run Contact: Paul Croft – 01274 783442 Sunday 28 MGCC Austria Club Championship Contact: Hakan Sigemark – hakan.sigemark@mgcc.se

SEPTEMBER Thursday 1-Monday 5 MGCC: V8 Register Autumn Tour New Forest Contact: Mike Lane – 01264 350040 Friday 2-Sunday 4 MGCC Czech Gymkhana/Meeting Prague, Czech Republic Contact: Hakan Sigemark – hakan.sigemark@mgcc.se Friday 2-Monday 5 MGCC: T-Register T Weekend 2016 West Dorset Contact: Geoff Matthews – 01840 214972 Saturday 3 MGCC Race Meet Oulton Park Contact: www.oultonpark.co.uk Saturday 3-Sunday 4 MGCC Germany Stadtpark Revival Hamburg, Germany Contact: Hakan Sigemark – hakan.sigemark@mgcc.se

Sunday 4 MGCC: Midget Register Midget Register Road Run Contact: Mike Parker – 01235 525255 Sunday 4 MGCC: Tyne Tees Centre Old Speckled Hen Run Contact: Noel Lindford – 0191 587 0753 or noel. lindford@btinternet.com Saturday 10 MGCC: South West Centre Wiscott Hill Climb Wiscombe Park, near Honiton Contact: Jim Lott – chairman@mgccsw.com Saturday 10 MGCC: Anglia Centre 2016 AGM The Limes Needham Market, Suffolk Contact: Peter Skipper – 01502 731141 Sunday 11 MGCC: Lincolnshire Centre Autumn Autotest East Kirkby Contact: David Stonehouse – 01790 754774 Sunday 11 MGCC: Midland Centre Autumn Trial Burton Dassett Country Park, near Gaydon Contact: Tony Lake – 01604 589104 Monday 12-Thursday 15 MGCC: Vintage Register EMGS The Hampshire House Party Audleys Wood Hotel, near Basingstoke Contact: John Venables – 01865 862573

Saturday 17-Sunday 18 MGCC: Abingdon Works Centre Kop Hill Climb Kop Hill Road, Buckinghamshire Contact: www.kophillclimb.org.uk Saturday 17-Sunday 18 MGCC: Magnette Register Kop Hill Climb Kop Hill Road, Buckinghamshire Contact: David Halliday – davidh@egopharm.com Friday 23-Sunday 26 MGCC: MGA Register MGA Register Autumn Weekend The Park Farm Hotel, Norwich Contact: Peter Morgan – 01794 323160 Saturday 24-Sunday 25 MGCC: Caledonian Centre Two Day Tour Trossachs Contact: David Reid – 01383 727695 Saturday 24 MGCC: MGF Register MGF Register’s London, Tunnels & Bridges Charity Road Run in aid of Guide Dogs Contact and registration: http://www.mgfregister.org/shop/ Saturday 24 MGCC: Anglia Centre Thames Bridges & Tunnels Contact: Adrian Clifford – adrian.clifford@mgfregister.org Sunday 25-Friday 30 MGCC: Vintage Register Guernsey Event Contact: John Day – mg1880@ntlworld.com Sunday 25 MGCC: South East Centre Autumn Gathering Polesden Lacey, near Bookham, Surrey Contact: Andrew Mitchell – 07703 138419 For a full list of MGCC events please visit www.mgcc.co.uk/ events-calendar/

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/07/2016 17:29

H1 - CLIVE WHEATLEY_H7 - CLIVE WHEATLEY 26/03/2015 11:29 Page 1

New Replacement MG RV8 Heatshield Fits above catalysts on the underside of the car. Stops heat ingress and paint burning on underside of car £119.50 NEW All Alloy 15 inch Replacement Wheels for the GTV8 £384 With an alloy centre and a highly polished alloy rim. Weighs approx 2kg lighter.

No further rusting.

Tel: +44 (0)1746 710810 Fax: 01746 710999 email: sales@mgv8parts.com

RV8 Bespoke Smoked Perspex Windstop. £234

Highgrosvenor, Worfield, WV15 5PN

Genuine RV8 heater valve (ZKC 5119 - the correct one) £54.95 RV8 Brake Servo. Made by the original manufacturer £118.80

(between Bridgnorth & Wolverhampton)

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RV8 wood refurbishment & mail order services worldwide.

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RV8 Petrol Tank Sender with Seal & Locking Ring. £59.95 B17 - Barrie Carter_CLASSIC MOTORING 24/06/2016 RV8 Front 12:12 Page 1 HERITAGE APPROVED brake caliper clips & pins.

RV8 boot stays. £30.20 each RV8 cars available £15.95

Volvo 131 coupe, which I bought for myself last year and have thoroughly enjoyed. One of the last built. 2 door, which for some reason is more desirable than a 4 door. I expect everyone wants to go rallying… Ostensibly two local owners from new with delivery docs and some history. It appears never to have been welded and has the later and last, B20 2 litre engine which performs remarkably, and as well as any modern. It is in lovely original condition with nice paint work and even has the original parcel shelf. The interior has unworn seats and original carpet. It has a new MOT. An exceptional Volvo that is modern to drive and stop, yet retains the classic lines so impossible to repeat now. £7,950

RV8 New Polyurethane rear anti-roll bar bushes. £16.70 for the pair

V8 Engine Steady Bar This is the best you can buy for the money! £50.60

BRAND NEW high torque starter motor.

British made £252

for sale - please call

URGENT PROOF

RV8 Spax Krypton filled dampers

Adjustable on car through 28 different stages £129.00 each (front) £142.25 each (rear) full set £522 - save £20.50

CM05.15/H1/kk

RV8 front radiator cover Black £199.50 Part Carbon Fibre £227.80

genuine & conversion parts

New, better quality, harder wearing replacement overmats. Original patterns, colour & embroidered with MG logo. Pair RV8 mats £99.50

Austin A40 Somerset historic rally car. This car has had 1 owner for at least 30 years and only for sale due to his age. It has covered many Rallies, Rusticana, Le Jog etc.

It is in lovely original condition inside and has upgraded brakes and a modified 1500 MGA engine, suspension, and wider wheels. The engine is at present being rebuilt and can be supplied in any guise. A lovely conditioned useful historic rally car, whose preparation would cost more than the price of the car. £10,250

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. _ _ _ _ _

Fax 01206 500180

www.mgcc.co.uk

MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 67

CM08.16/B17/re

Telephone 01206

I also have two festering XK40s, One a Daimler with an excellent cream and red interior. The We reserve the right to charge for any alteration to this proof which other is a 3.6. Both were running when parked is a departure from the original copy here. They belonged to my now deceased nieghbour. Spares or repair, £600 the pair.

AUGUST 2016 SAFETY FAST! 67

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OVERSEAS NEWS

Looking over the showfield at Waterfront Park on the banks of the Ohio River.

MG 2016 IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

E

By Brian Woodhams

very five years an All Register event is organised by the North American Council with 2016 being the fifth.

Basically, the MMM, T, MGA, and MGB Registers all come together for what is a superb MG bonanza jamboree. The last All Register event was in Reno, Nevada in 2011. The MG scene in North America is very much alive and well, and although attendees are young in spirit, they are getting older. There has been no new MG available in America since 1980.

Peter Cook and I attended the event and represented Kimber House. I was

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hosted by Alan and Laura Magnuson in Denver, Colorado, and attended the Rocky Mountain Centre club meet the evening after arriving. Alan is the Chairman of the North American MGB Register NAMGBR) and took a lot of stick that evening over recent breakdowns of his Grampian grumpy) Grey 1966 MGB GT – the car I was scheduled to drive the 1140 miles to Kentucky in temperatures of 35 deg C plus and high humidity. The three-car convoy set off at lunchtime the next day. After two days’ driving, we broke the journey to meet up with members of the MGCC of St Louis. Known as the ‘Gateway to the West’, St. Louis is a

large and impressive city with a massive 630ft arch that dominates the city skyline. The MGCC St Louis had made a contribution to the Archive project at Kimber House, so we were doubly grateful to Robert and Vonda Rushing, and Simon and Tara Dix for their time in hosting us and showing us the sights in their city. In recognition of the St Louis club’s contribution to the Bill Wallace archive Peter Cook presented a plaque to them. The next day we drove the remaining 265 miles into Louisville to our hotel, which was one of the six hosting attendees and their cars. The North American Nuffield Trophy, currently held

by MGs of Baltimore, was brought to the event by Baltimore Chairman Richard Liddick and his family, and was on display at all the major events.

Monday was registration day which went off very smoothly. The MGCC UK had been given our own stand which was manned all day by Janine and I, and

by Linda and Peter Cook. The Nuffield Trophy was prominently displayed along with some Safety Fast! magazines, which soon disappeared! We met up with South East Centre stalwarts Piers and Linda Hubbard, and in the evening a large contingent of the attendees went

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/07/2016 17:29

1929 MG M type of Rob Orander from Raleigh, North Carolina

2004 MG SV of Ron Neal from South Carolina on the showfield

to Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby for a conducted tour and supper.

Early on Tuesday morning Peter and I attended the North American Executive Council breakfast at which we were both introduced and spoke briefly.

The programme included conducted tours on the Bourbon trail around Bardstown, the Corvette factory, the Louisville Slugger baseball factory, and Kentucky pie making. For two days there was a full programme of technical sessions. They ranged in topic from ‘Five-speed for all post-war MGs’ and ‘Insurance Valuations’, to ‘Timing by the Numbers’ and John Twist’s ‘Rolling Technical Session’ John once worked at University Motors in London). In the evening I attended the NAMGBR dinner, and I made a brief presentation.

Peter attended the parallel NAMGAR event where a framed print from Kimber House was presented to one of the behind-the-scenes stalwarts of the MGA Register, Dave McCann from Ohio, by Chairman Carol Shamonsky.

A fun evening with the other Registers

www.mgcc.co.uk

MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 69

followed, with dancing to ‘Captain Rat and the Blind Rivets’ – very popular!

Much of Wednesday was spent on the MGCC stand socialising with attendees and swapping tales of rebuilds, technical merits and demerits, and ideas for appealing to potential younger members. Three cars from each Register were lined up in the conference room in the hotel, and the owners invited to speak on the history and

1938 MG SA Tickford of Lee Jacobsen from Michigan in the hotel car Park

unique features of the cars – a sort of MG timeline.

The car show took place at Waterfront Park on the Kentucky side of the mighty Ohio River with Indiana on the far bank. Tony Burgess ran the Rocker Box racing, and Bob Gloyd ran the Concours. There were 820 cars registered for the show. It was a very warm day, and the freeway overpass provided some welcome shade – it was no surprise that the ice cream vendor sold out! After the show it was back to the hotel and a mad rush to get the results out for the pre-banquet awards, with some classes having awards down to sixth place. We then moved onto the Banquet where a thousand people were catered for. Peter Cook and I were both recognised by Rick Ingram, Chairman of the North American Council, as well as the contingents from Australia and Canada. Of the many awards from the Concours, one deserves a special mention. Barry and

Rolling Tech Session – John Twist fettling the Canadian 1953 MG TD of Bob Mills

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OVERSEAS NEWS

MGs at the Waterfront Park

Joyce Humphrey won the overall award for their immaculate red MGB Roadster.

They divide their year between Boston and Florida – the ideal combination for a forty-year old British car.

Having said our goodbyes, we set off on our long drive back to Denver. There were some technical problems which were fixed without too much difficulty.

We learned, though, that while the modern high-torque starter motors are a great improvement, they are not much good if they lose their bolts and end up dangling under the engine held on only by their wiring. But with help from John Mangles of All British Car Repair, we were up and running in fairly quick time. John, I should add, had helped to fix no less than four MGs that day, and became our hero – the MG family and the Marque of Friendship!

The list of people to whom I owe thanks is far too long to list, but I hope they know who they are – most are mentioned above, but there are more!!

This was truly a great International Event – well done the North American Council.

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Andy York’s otherwise unremarkable Teal Blue MGB GT V8 on display at the Kentucky event reveals an interesting story. Car VIN number GD2D2UD98G, a prototype built in December 1972 at Abingdon, now resides in Indiana. This LHD V8 – one of perhaps10 – was made at a time when Abingdon had every intention of exporting the V8 to North America. Six pre-production cars three LHD, three RHD) were hand-built and tested after six four-cylinder versions were taken off the Cowley assembly line, and shipped to Abingdon’s development shop later seven more LHD V8s were made).

The development cars were different from the later production V8s in a number of respects: the inner wings were modified by hand in order to accommodate the exhaust manifolds, the oil drain plug had a temperature probe fitted, the engine was the higher 8.5:1 compression as opposed to the production cars’ 8.25:1, and on Andy’s there are three aluminium testing tubes at the front which may have been used to monitor differential air pressure or, perhaps, to measure the asbestos given off by brake pads.

Details are hazy, but apparently in the mid-70s the car was found in very poor condition in an orchard in southern England. It had never been registered in the UK, so was somehow disposed of by Abingdon as incomplete. Andy’s late father, Lyle, got to hear about the car, and asked a friend of his Peter Wood) to purchase the car on his behalf and to renovate it. The car underwent extensive repairs and the intention was to import it into the USA. However, as the car had never obtained US certification EPA) it was refused entry. Fortunately Lyle York was friendly with an Indiana senator who was persuaded to add a ‘sunset clause’ to a motoring bill which was then making its way through the Indiana legislature. The ‘sunset clause’ allowed a collector to import one uncertified car per lifetime into the USA. The car has since been in the ownership of the York family and is an interesting talking point at MG events. It is also an example of what ‘might have been’ had BL senior management taken a different turn.

Another unusual MG appearing at the Kentucky event was E 186. Now owned by Joe and Cathy Gunderson of Colorado, this is a car which is not supposed to exist. E 186’s stunning appearance is a fine example of Cecil Kimber’s dictum that “a sports car should look fast, even when it is standing still”. Its appearance clearly indicates MGA origins, but there are also signs of MGB as well.

E 186 started life in 1958 as a reborn E 182 with an original 1489cc Twin-Cam engine. John Thornley and Syd Enever wanted to win Le Mans outright, and realising that even the twin-cam engine would be outperformed by competitors, they wanted to compensate with a very lightweight and aerodynamic body. They opted also for a De Dion-type rear suspension. Similar to the situation in the mid-1930s, Abingdon wanted to compete in racing but was faced with an overall corporate policy which was opposed and was led, again, by Leonard Lord. So E 186 was essentially a ‘skunkworks’ project kept secret from Lord and other BMC directors, even though sponsors like Dunlop and Esso were persuaded to get on board. E 186 was successfully race tested but the project was cancelled by Abingdon before the car was entered competitively. The final straw was the cancellation of twin-cam production.

The car was destined for destruction as per normal Abingdon practice, but somehow it was crated up, labelled as ‘spare parts’ and shipped to Californian distributor Kjell Qvale who kept the car until 1966 when it was sold, still unraced.

Licensed, the car was driven for about two years on public roads until it required an expensive engine overhaul. It was then stored in a barn on a walnut farm until tracked down in 1982 and bought by MG enthusiasts Joe and Cathy Gunderson who have been restoring it as a very) long term project. Clearly a beautiful piece of engineering, E 186 is, alas, another one of those ‘might have been’ projects in the history of the marque.

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/07/2016 17:29

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1969 MGCGT A spectacular rebuild by perhaps the best MG specialists for a very discerning client, and has since been called “Probably the best MGCGT in the world” Tartan Red with Black trim and incorporating some subtle upgrades to bring this car into the 21st Century and make it more usable. Now available at considerably lesswebsite than cost.for Asking £39,950 Please visit our current stock

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AUGUST 2016 SAFETY FAST! 71

22/07/2016 17:30

CENTRES

ABINGDON WORKS

TONY COTTER sfscribe@mgabingdon.org.uk www.mgabingdon.co.uk Phew, just made it! I very nearly missed the publishing deadline for this month’s AWC update.

Recently, I’ve spent so many hours looking at the ‘Sits Vacant’ list in the newspapers I got quite carried away. I can’t decide whether to apply for the PM’s job, perhaps the role of Leader of the Opposition, or maybe the Leader of UKIP. In all honesty, I’m nowhere near qualified to do any of these jobs, so I’ll stick to what I’m reasonably good at. I love fast sports cars, I’m experienced at travelling the world, I’m used to working with American colleagues, people tell me I speak utter gibberish, and at times can be a loudmouthed childish brat. Oh, and I’m a ‘strawberry blond’ – no, not ginger! So I’ll have to settle for the

role of Top Gear Presenter. Now, where’s my CV? And talking of Sits Vacant, if any AWC member is interested in joining the Committee, we’d be delighted to hear from you. We’re always looking for enthusiasts to help us plan events for the membership, someone who can come up with ideas/suggestions and is able to help run some of the many events we organise each year. We meet every month, usually the second Tuesday, so please do have a think about joining us.

We’ve had quite an eventful Spring and early Summer in one way or another. The very positive feedback we received following the St. George’s Day and Old Speckled Hen runs has been

ANGLIA

ROB MUIR 01206 862619 Rob.Muir@hotmail.co.uk www.mgcc.co.uk/anglia

Pub Meet News The West Norfolk Pub Meet originally held at The Crown at Gayton will now meet at The Woolpack, Terrington St John, Wisbech, PE14 7RR, on the 4th Tuesday of the month. The hosts of the popular meet are the same, being Steve and Alison Kemp with Peter Thompson.

The reason for the change of venue is to give a more central meeting point to members in the area.

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The East Coast Pub Meet will be meeting at a different venue for August, The Bell, Middleton, IP17 3NN on Wednesday August 24 at noon. They will be back to their normal venue of The Fox, Shadingfield from September.

MG GS Launch Kerridges Dealership in Needham Market was the venue for the launch of the new MG GS in the Anglia area on June 28. With over 100 years in the motor trade, the garage put on a fine display for us, including a delightful buffet. We were able to try out the car on display and the general consensus was that we have another fine MG to join the marque’s illustrious past.

ZT260 enjoying the lunchtime parade at MGLive!

really encouraging. Some even suggested that it was one of the best OSH runs ever. By the time you read this, the MGs in the Deep South will have already taken place, another great venue in the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. There’s still time to sign up for our Summer Day Out event at Broughton Castle, a 14th Century moated and fortified manor house near Banbury in North Oxfordshire, on Sunday August 21. Details can be found on our website www.mgabingdon. co.uk or from Mike & Jan Gething on 01295 254498.

Our St. George’s Day run this year took us to the excellent Cotswold Woollen Weavers Museum at Filkins. Imagine our amazement to find a welcome poster at the entrance to the museum, penned by none other

than the multi-talented Richard Martin.

At MGLive! this year, I bought a Circuit Tour ticket, and took my ZT260 around the F1 Grand Prix circuit for the first time. Although there was no overtaking, it really was a fantastic experience. I recommend it to anyone who’s not driven their MG around Silverstone before, but get your name down early for 2017 as places are limited.

And finally, just space to plug our AWC Regalia. You can order Polo Shirts, Sweatshirts, Caps, plus lots of other goodies via our website www.mgabingdon.co.uk or from the Car Club shop in person at Kimber House.

A warm welcome to all new members who have joined us this month.

The photo below left shows Anglia members Adam Breen, John Cumming, Peter Skipper and Nick De-Vries enjoying the evening.

Anglia Summer Picnic This year we were at Audley End House (English Heritage) for the picnic. The beautiful Jacobean mansion with its landscaped gardens by Capability Brown provided a wonderful setting for our event.

We were given a superb area on grass with some splendid mature trees for our cars and picnic, sited just left of the front of the house, adjacent to the path for the shop, restaurant and house entrance.

The house was magnificent with wonderful plaster and ornate decorated ceilings plus painted and gilded woodwork, sumptuous furnishings and many fine paintings.

The formal gardens at the rear of the house were at their colourful best, with the grounds overall in wonderful condition. The stables and kitchen garden were well worth a visit, too.

Despite the weather being rainy in other parts of Anglia, we enjoyed a fine and warm day with plenty of sunny intervals.

There was a splendid turnout of 42 MGs ranging from TD to Magnettes, MGBs aplenty, a quorum of RV8s, many Fs and TFs and a few new MG3s. An impressive line-up which attracted a lot of admiration from the other visitors.

Words are thanks to Roger Latham and photo to Roger Martin.

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/07/2016 17:30

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1959 MGA Roadster

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1600cc engine with four speed gearbox. Just superb

£37,500.00

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MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 73

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George now has a trainee chef seen in action at the Cleghorn Open Day!

CENTRES

CALEDONIAN

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

I’m writing this just prior to leaving for Glamis Show. The ZT-T is packed as is the ZR Express and David is towing the trailer north! It’s becoming quite an expedition … hopefully the weather will remain reasonably fair. Time will tell!

August is a busy month with two high-end shows. The first is over the 5-7 at the Ignition Festival of Motoring at the Glasgow SECC. This is a brand new venture and we are hopeful that we will attract some new younger members ... we are trying! We are on stand 5B90 which we are sharing with the Bo’ness Hillclimb Revival. All five cars on display will be MGs so if you are around make sure you look us up.

Two weeks later on the 21st we are at another new venture, the Deeside Speed Festival based at Kincardine Castle. This looks to be a very large event and one with plenty of variety. Some members are competing on the hill and others will have their car on display. Again, it would be good to see you.

We also have tours! And you might just be lucky to get a cancellation for the Five Day Tour starting on Monday 8th. Give Tony a call if you want to check.

And on the 28th we have a new ‘Fun Day’ based at Yetts o’ Muckhart. David and Fiona Chapman have kindly let us have the use of their field to hold this

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The Midsummer Madness for South Hams evening went to Richard Wade whose beautiful red MGA, photo below, won the Mumford Cup and Peter Stapleton’s Jaguar won best of others.

The 90th Anniversary Atlantic Coast Run started from Launceston Steam Railways and ended at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. Tony Bolt flagged the cars off at one minute intervals, and as one MGB had its hood up he suggested they put it down as the forecast by him was no rain. Ten minutes down the road the heavens opened. So much for his forecast! Most competitors stopped for lunch near Crackington Haven. The views along the route were misty in places but the roads were good. As we entered Bodmin,

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marshals were there to guide us to a car park and walk to the finish for a cream tea. As we neared the station there was an event taking place, with steam engines (including a replica of the Trevithick’s first steam engine) classic cars and a log cutting machine run by belts from a traction engine. We picked up our cream

and have a BBQ. The day will consist of some easy, fun driving tests which are not competitive but will test your driving skills.

The driving part of the day has been devised by Andy Baillie, with the emphasis being on fun and will be completely nondamaging to your car.

At lunchtime we will have the Gazebo and CARBQ set up to provide burgers and banger rolls with some sweet things to follow, and as normal tea and coffee will be available all day.

You will also have the opportunity to see around David and Fiona’s spectacular garden, which was featured on Beechgrove Garden some years ago.

Please come along, even if you don’t want to take part in the skill side, watching can just

teas and joined the steam train for our trip to Wenford and back to the station for another trip to Bodmin Junction and back. A great day had by all and thanks to Terry Bolt.

The countdown was next for Sarah Slatter and Kyle’s wedding.

We all assembled in the chapel and the proud father, one Bob Slatter, led Sarah down the aisle to Kyle. It was an emotional time and Sarah looked exquisite. The wedding photos were taken around a Land Rover DODO; so Sarah has

be as enjoyable and chatting to like-minded members.

If you intend to be at Bo’ness in September please get your entry in now, as these close on the 7th. This event gets bigger and better every year and is one not to be missed! You have been warned!

Don’t forget too the September Two Day Run on the 24th-25th, based in the Trossachs. It’s our last overnight trip this year. It will be relaxing and based at a good hotel, so again get your entry in now!

Entries close on the 27th!

progressed to Land Rovers but Kyle still retains an MG ZR. I am sure we all give them our blessing for a good life together.

Events For Your Diary August 21 – Coffee and Car Meeting at Knightstone Restaurant, Yelverton, PL20 6DT between 3 and 5 pm. Just turn up, no organised run!

They have a small display of WW2 items as the building was used for the control tower of RAF Harrowbeer.

September 11 – The Cornish Riviera Run, starting at Plymouth Science Park and finishing at the Headland Hotel, Newquay. Entry can be booked before August 16.

Contact Sue at allegropeter@ aol.com October 23 – North Cornwall and Tamar Trial, anybody free to marshal, Bob Slatter would be pleased to hear from you.

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22/07/2016 17:30

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CENTRES

LINCOLNSHIRE JOHN HEBB 01522 683541 jhebb38@virginmedia.com www.mgcclincolnshire.co.uk

August Natters: Wolds Wednesday 3 (Landlords Choice); Lincolnshire Poacher Friday 5; Abbey Lodge Monday 8;Wishing Well Wednesday 10; Three Horseshoes Thursday 18; Admiral Nelson Thursday 25.

August Events: Saturday 6 East Kirkby Air Show (Dave 01507

The winning BMC Trophy team.

527945); Sunday 7 Revesby Show (David 01790 754774); Sunday14 Boston Classic Car Show; Sunday 21 Poachers Concours Doddington Hall (Geoff/Vicki 01205 871973).

Luncheon Club: Wednesday 17.

Early September Natter: Lincolnshire Poacher Friday 2.

The big event in June was, of course, MGLive! Lincolnshire members were active in all disciplines, Mark Bellamy, Steve Hall and Adam Key all taking to the race track, with Adam winning his class in both of the Cockshoot Cup races. In the California Cup Autotest the team of Malcolm Clark, Ken Waylett and Bryan Pack

MIDLANDS

PAUL HOLLINGWORTH paul_irene@btinternet.com www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgccmidlandcentre/

Please see report below from our Silverstone Camping Marshals coordinator Lech Zakrzewski.

For the 24th year the Centre undertook the marking out and running the campsites at MGLive!

Due to this year’s Silverstone Weekend being earlier than normal, some stalwarts who have helped for many years were unable to commit their time, which left a small band of helpers to cover the weekend.

Friday proved a little warmer than the Thursday, but still cold. The campers were let in at 3.00pm and a steady stream arrived throughout the afternoon and evening. A slightly brighter Saturday heralded more campers and by the afternoon the campsites were all reasonably full.

Overall a successful event from the Centre’s point of view. Although

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reduced in numbers, members who committed their time to helping ensured that the campsites worked effectively, with positive comments received from campers. Many thanks to all who helped over the weekend.

Lech stood down from the role this year and will be succeeded by Scott Munton and Jason BrowningWilliams who have been part of the marshals team for some time. I’m sure you will join me in thanking Lech for his many years’ service and wish the new boys all the best.

Now some news from the East of the region. The North Leicester MG Club was able to make a donation of £1,000 to the local charity Headway Leicester at the Club’s June meeting. This donation was as a result of the surplus made on the Club’s 2015 Charnwood

retained the California Cup, won by Lincolnshire last year, and the team of Bob Welch, Matt Walbran and Ena Fox retained the BMC Trophy for the Midget Register. In the individual results Bryan Pack was first in Class four, with Ken and Ena second and third respectively.

David Stonehouse was second in Class six, Robert Taylor won Class three and Malcolm Clark won Class eight and also achieved the Fastest Time of the Day. On Sunday, Jordan Fox won his class in the Sprint, and there was more local success in the Concours and PoO. The MGA of Geoff Edge was judged second in the Elite Class, best MGA and was also awarded the NTG Trophy. Wendy Smith’s MGF was judged best MGF, and Ken Waylett’s Midget, fresh from its efforts in the Autotests was the Best MG Overall in the PoO.

Pictures on the Centre web page.

The Luncheon Club made a return visit to the Woodhouse Arms in Corby Glen on a typical June day, i.e. lots of showers, and a thunderstorm during the starter course resulted in a power cut!

Luckily, just as we were wondering about the fate of the rest of the meal power was restored.

At the end of the month a small convoy of MGs headed to Gainsborough Old Hall. The building is one of the most impressive and best-preserved manor houses in England.

Construction started around 1450 by the Burgh family, who a few years later were the hosts of Richard III and later still of Henry VIII. Armed with our audio-visual guides it was an interesting afternoon. Thanks to John & Yulia Bromfield.

Caper Run. Headway Leicester gives support to adults in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who have brain injuries acquired as a result of a medical condition.

A group of five cars from the North Worcs group (Fox Natter) took part in the four night Causeway coast tour of Northern Ireland organised by Scenic car tours. As well as the stunning costal drive, all the usual attractions were visited: Giants Causeway, Dark Hedges, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Titanic experience. A good time was had by all, the only dampener for the men in the party being that the Island seemed bereft of real ale.

A reminder that the second half of the Centre’s sporting calendar is still to come. The 50th Anniversary Summer Sprint will take place on August 7 at Curborough, near

Litchfield, and the Autumn Trial on September 25 at Burton Dassett, near Gaydon. Both these events are free to spectators, but why not volunteer to marshal – all necessary tuition will be given.

Please contact Simon simonmorrisbmmcmgcc@gmail.com if you can help.

There are a few places left on the Stone Natters summer tour which takes place on August 13.

This comprises a 140 mile touring assembly around interesting sights of the Peak District with meals included. It starts and finishes at the natter venue of the George and Dragon Pub, Meaford Road, Stone.

Please contact Peter Cresswell for details. Pete.cresswell.t21@ btinternet.com 01785 760211.

Finally, Roger and Fran Bragger are again organising their MG Day at Middleton Hall, near Tamworth, on August 14. Please contact them on 01827 54692 to attend.

Cheque presentation to Leicester Headway Charity

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LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER CONCOURS AND PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP SHOW 2016 SUNDAY AUGUST 21 2016 10AM – 4PM DODDINGTON HALL AND GARDENS, DODDINGTON, LINCOLNSHIRE LN6 4RU Set within spectacular gardens, Doddington Hall, Doddington, near Lincoln is an example of a fine late Elizabethan mansion house and is, for the fourth year, the venue for the MG Car Club Lincolnshire Centre’s flagship event sponsored by Peter Best Insurance, the Lincolnshire Poacher Concours and Pride of Ownership Show.

Enjoy a great day at a special loca on Classic Cars of any marque and par cularly MGs of all models welcome! Rose es will be awarded to winning cars on the day with fabulous trophies presented at the Centre’s annual Dinner Dance in January 2017.

Refreshments are available throughout the day.

Winners of each Show Class, the Premier Concours and the Premier Condi on award winners will be announced at the club marquee at 3pm.

Don’t forget – for those that don’t want to enter their car to be judged, the day is s ll open for you to come along for a relaxing day out at no charge.

Full details available on www.mgcclincolnshire.co.uk or contact Geoff and Vicki Edge on 01205 871973 geo edge@aol.com www.doddingtonhall.com

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MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 77

AUGUST 2016 SAFETY FAST! 77

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CENTRES

NORTH WEST PAUL GOODMAN 01625 876300

The first group of MG enthusiasts to hit the road this month are the Cockshoot Cup racers. They are heading off to Anglesey on August 6 and 7 for rounds five and six of the Championship. The race meeting is organised by the British Racing and Sports Car Club and includes TVRs, Formula Ford and saloon car racing. There will be a race on each day. Anglesey is a superb circuit for spectators and is easily reached off the main A55 from the North West.

Our three main social events this month are on August 9 at the Old Hall Farm Pub, August 16 at the Plough and Flail, and our lunchtime meeting on August 31 at The Swan With Two Nicks, Park Lane, Little Bollington,

Altrincham, WA14 4TJ. The Plough and Flail is under new management with a revised menu. You can take advantage of this by having some food before or during the evening.

Many of us like to see cars from the 1950s, 60s and 70s racing and the main opportunity to do so will be at the Oulton Park Gold Cup on August 28 and 29. There might still be time to join our display so email if you would like to be involved.

One week later, on Saturday September 3, the MGCC will be taking over the Oulton Park Circuit for a full day of thrilling racing.

Nearly all the Club championships will be in attendance, and the penultimate round of the Cockshoot Cup will take centre

SOUTH EAST

PHILIP BAYNE POWELL philipbp@mgcottage.freeserve.co.uk www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgccse/

There are only a few days to go now until our main event of the year takes place at Chatham Dockyard on Sunday August 7.

The details were included in the July Safety Fast! advert. The preentries have now closed; but you can still enter on the day for a very reasonable £10 a head, and you can also enter the Concours or Pride of Ownership competitions.

You will not be able to take Nice line up for the Lingfield Pride of Ownership

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part in either the Ropery tour or the Walking tour, as these needed to be pre-booked. However, you can still visit the three ships, although the submarine visit needs to be booked with the dockyard on the day.

We regret that the Summer BBQ last month had to be cancelled due to lack of entries, but the Three Horseshoes natter are holding their own BBQ on Monday August 15. Contact John Morgan for more details email johnv.morgan@btinternet.com or ring 0208 657 2714.

The Ham Polo event has also been cancelled, which is a pity as we all enjoyed the outing three years ago.

The Plough and Flail Concours, June 2016. Photo: Paul Goodman

stage. There will be an opportunity for Club members to drive around the circuit in a convoy at lunchtime.

There is no need to book in advance and no charge. Signing on will be during the morning in the pit garage which is set out as the ‘Welcome Centre’ next to race control. The cars will then gather in the ‘assembly area’ and enter the track after the marshals have left the circuit for lunch.

Looking back to June, the two Cockshoot races at MGLive! were brilliant with Gary Wetton and Ross Maker taking a win

each. The sprint on Sunday was a big success with over one hundred entries. Thanks are due to the Centre members who made it happen. The Plough and Flail concours was also a wonderful event with more than one hundred cars filling the car park and grass areas adjoining it.

Finally, this is the last call for entries to our photographic competition which closes on August 31. Either email your entries to paul.goodman7@ ntlworld.com or provide a link to a file storage site.

Our MGLive! stand this year was a pub theme, enhanced by a full depth backdrop of a Kevin Walsh painting of MGs outside a pub. The stand was expertly organised by Ian Ailes and Jon Glover, with support on the two days from several kind members.

Just a week later, we had our display at the Brooklands 12/12 weekend. This was very successful, and attracted a lot of interest from many non-members. We had 21 cars on display on the Sunday, ranging from Triple-M to MGFs. Next month, on Sunday September 4, we have our display back at the Shere Hill Climb, which we have supported yearly from the beginning three years ago. This is becoming an excellent event, nearly comparable to the wellknown Kop Hill Climb. Both use closed public roads, and the length

of the Shere event is now over a mile long. It is so popular that the organisers can choose which cars they accept, which results in a very wide spectrum of cars, ranging from Edwardian to modern Supercars.

At the end of September our Autumn Gathering goes to Polesdon Lacey on Sunday 25. The flyer is now available on the South East Centre’s website. No pre-entry needed; just turn up on the day and pay £10 per car (NT members pay £5 per car with membership card).

We are pleased to announce that we now have a replacement for John Bennett as the SE Centre scribe. This is Jo Ruffells, who with husband Ray owns two MGAs and a ZT-T. She will be starting her new role with the October Safety Fast! She can be contacted on joruffels@gmail.com or at home on 01795 538138

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AUGUST 2016 SAFETY FAST! 79

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Dave Story with his Best Classic Car Trophy. Photo: Jim Lott

CENTRES

SOUTH WEST

IAN BENINGFIELD 07747 080417 ianbeningfield@gmail.com www.mgccsw.com www.facebook.com/mgccsw their cars for display and for staying around to help myself, Jim and Andrew man the stand over the weekend.

I said Dave’s MGA was immaculate and clearly I wasn’t alone in this thinking, as the judges awarded him first place in the Classic Sports Car category.

In June the SW Centre was out in force at the Bristol Classic Car Show held at the Shepton Mallet show ground. Once again we were in the main hall, which meant we were able to escape the flooding that affected some of the exhibitors, although I for one chose exactly the wrong moment to venture outside to sort out the trailer and still managed a soaking.

We had four cars on our stand, the immaculate MGA of Dave Speak, Rob Orford’s Bumble B hillclimb car, Jim Lott’s Metro Turbo and my Midget. Thanks to Dave and Rob for volunteering

Cars on the SW Centre Stand before the doors opened to the public

TYNE TEES

NOEL LINDFORD noel.lindford@btinternet.com

Once again, the Tyne Tees Centre managed the Circuit Tours at MGLive! This year was even more entertaining on the Sunday parade laps, as we were joined by Top Gear presenter Rory Reid, who entered a £96,000 Frontline MG Abingdon Edition Roadster. My thanks to the TTC marshalling team for a superb effort on both days.

Congratulations also to Tyne Tees Centre member Howard Guiney who won the Concours competition with his immaculate teal blue MGB GT V8.

The Prince Bishops & St. Cuthbert’s Runs attracted very good entries, and despite the inclement weather on the run down from Seahouses, everyone enjoyed the excellent route which Ian Whyte had put together.

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Looking ahead, by the time this issue of Safety Fast! lands most of the summer events will have been and gone but there are still two big events to go in this year’s calendar. First up is Wiscombe Hillclimb on Saturday September 10. Speaking from experience the hillclimb, near Honiton, is one of the more challenging for drivers, with fast straights, blind corners and two hairpins. All this takes place with trees, gateposts and even the

The southern route was run under clearing skies from the start at Stokesley, despite an earlier downpour. All cars from both starting points successfully finished their runs at Palace Green in Durham City, and following cream teas and much socialising, our guest judge Ian Lindley, chairman of Caledonian Centre, kindly presented the prizes. David Rawlinson won the Prince Bishops Trophy with his 1933 MG J2, Richard Pearson won the Prebends Trophy with his red MGF VVC of 1999 vintage, and Ian Clayton won the Spirit of Event award for his 1960 Austin Healey 3000.

Top Gear presenter Rory Reid

A full report with photos on our website at www.mgcc.co.uk/tynetees-centre/past-events/ Classics in Corbridge: There were close to a thousand entries and many club displays, for this excellent show organised by MG Northumbria which makes so much money for local charities.

We were delighted to have won the Club Stand award for our display of 22 cars, plus our event banner which highlights what we are about.

Events Coming Up August 6-7: Croft Nostalgia Weekend. Even if you do not have a display entry, why not come along for a great day out and say hello.

August 28: Regularity Autotest at Seaton Carew in conjunction with Hartlepool Motor Club, on the fun fair car park. For an entry form contact Tony Coates at tonycoates2003@gmail.com

odd pheasant all waiting to catch you out. For those who don’t fancy thrashing your pride and joy up the hill, spectator viewing is fantastic with just about all of the track visible and there is free access to the paddock giving you the chance to see the cars up close.

Finally, in October the Centre will be celebrating our 80th anniversary. Neil Lock will be organising a social run to mark this milestone. Keep an eye out in future issues and of course on Facebook and our website for details.

Come on Tyne Tees, let’s try to get more entries this time (drivers and navigators) …being a regularity it is not car-damaging.

August 28: Hamsterley Hoppings.

This is the 10th anniversary of this excellent village show, organised

by Tyne Tees members George and Irene Stephenson, which has raised well over £30,000 for local charities. Tyne Tees will have a display of cars, alongside many other exhibitors. Please contact Dennis Hope at denhope@ hotmail.co.uk if you would like to take part.

Sunday September 4: The 9th Old Speckled Hen Run. This year’s run will be over some of the most wonderful driving roads in Swaledale, Wensleydale and Teesdale, and in stunning scenery.

A booking form with full details should be in this magazine and also on our website. We also have a rather special lunch halt. More info from me on 07432 152095.

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22/07/2016 17:31

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The route takes in some of the most stunning scenery and amazing driving roads you will ever encounter in Northern England. Reserved parking at the lunch halt offering a wide range of good quality light lunch options.

Your details: Mr/Mrs/Ms First Name Address Email: MGCC Membership No: (if applicable) Your car’s details: Make

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Entry fee: £17.50 per car for MGCC members or £20.00 for non-members. All entrants receive a Rally Plate, Route Book, and based on 2 per car, a drink at the start & light afternoon tea at the finish.

Breakfast rolls are available at the start and these can be pre-booked.

Please insert requirements for bacon/sausage butties at £2.50 each and include with your entry fee.

Refreshments for extra passengers are charged at £5 per person, so please include with your payment.

Total payment (entry fee + any pre-paid breakfast items) = £………..

Make cheques payable to MGCC Tyne-Tees Centre. If using Internet banking the details are as follows: Sort Code: 40-43-13 Account No: 41051067 quoting TTOSHR and your surname.

Please send your entry form to Noel Lindford, 3 Springbank, Peterlee, Co. Durham SR8 1FA or email to: noel.lindford@btinternet.com Further information is available from Noel on 0191 5870753 or 07432 152095 Closing date for entries is 26th August 2016. This Touring Assembly will have MSA Approval www.mgcc.co.uk

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CENTRES

YORKSHIRE

DAVID COPEMAN 07920 064585 www.mgccyorkshire.co.uk North – Paul Croft Highlight of the June Natter was the annual Club Summer Walk organized by Mike and Val Payne.

The MGB Register visit Yorkshire soon, and will be based at Coniston Hall between September 16-19. They have invited us to join them on the Saturday and Sunday Runs, and for dinner on Sunday.

Applications for this year’s Dales Run have now reached over eighty, as we head towards our target of 100 cars.

South – Geoff Norcliffe On the meteorological first day of Summer a biting wind swept across the start venue of our June evening run, before we headed off on our 30-mile route to the White Hart. Only one car braved the elements with hood down as

we meandered along the lanes to our pub meal. At least it was dry…..

Several members went off to the European Event in June, while many Yorkshire Centre members joined the Prince Bishop/St Cuthbert’s runs, both finishing at Durham Cathedral.

Our Pride of Ownership, competing for the Douglas Cup, was held in the car park of the Old Post Office. Congratulations to Malcom Perry whose YB was the choice of the Natter.

Numbers were swelled by several ZT and F/TF owners who made the trip to the Natter as well as a Maestro Turbo which claimed third place in the Pride of Ownership.

East – Brian Rylance The evening social run by Pauline

and Dave Carey was supported by a few stalwarts who braved the weather to enjoy a superb route and repast at The Altisidora in Bishop Burton The results of the June Pride of Ownership: 1st in Class 2 Richard Kirk, MGB GT. 1st in Class 3 Craig Pickering, MG TF. 1st in Class 1 and Best in Show, Jill Thornton, MGB. Events coming up: Wolds Vintage Show July 23-24, Evening runs July 28 and August 25, details on website. MG Harrogate August 6-7.

Visit to Bubble Car Museum near Boston with optional camping September 10. Contact Chris Moore camoctagon@gmail.com West – David Copeman June was a busy month with members travelling to both MGLive! and the European Event in France. Thanks to Mick Thorpe for standing in as Natter leader.

We opted for our own three

week MG tour to the South of France in the RV8 which attracted a lot of attention and many comment. The French seem to be oblivious to the endless rows of expensive Porsches. MGs were a rare sight – we only saw a UK MG TF in St Tropez and a Belgian MGB in Cannes throughout our 3,000 mile tour.

Tiger – Pete Welbourn For a change our Wednesday luncheon run took place on Tuesday, so our visit to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre coincided with their Avro Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ taking paying guests on taxi runs, up the grass airstrip that is GJ, not to Skegness.

Now, in an alteration to the proposed programme, the July luncheon run will be a return visit to the Railway Inn at New Ellerby. The route will be Terry’s because I liked it and it will be emailed with a menu in time for the 20th.

ULSTER

CAROL WILLIS (028) 9079 9997 or 07831 345560 www.mgcculstercentre.co.uk carol.mgulster@hotmail.co.uk

Our new autotest site at Transport Training Services (TTS), Nutts Corner, proved to be extremely popular with our competitors on June 16. Three tests were run, three times each, and flowed very well, and we managed to leave the site before darkness fell! Upon arrival TTS had organised that their canteen would stay open to provide burgers and hot or cold drinks for £5, and this was taken up by almost all our competitors.

We had six from the tutorial the week before come and join us,

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and they had some extra tuition and a separate test for themselves.

Congratulations to Richard Earney who won the event overall in his Mini with 371.1 secs, 2nd was Crawford Ewing Jr (Nova 392.9) and 3rd Andrew Earney (Yaris 397.5).

We will hold our Sunday Run to The Argory on August 14, meeting at Sprucefield (the top of the car park at the M&S Foodhall). You can bring a picnic lunch to have upon arrival at our destination. We will, as before,

organise a tour of the house and would ask that you confirm your intent to come along so we can make the relevant booking.

We will again book for a meal at The Stonebridge just outside Portadown and will need your confirmation of attendance. As we usually have quite a few eating at the end of the day we need to give prior notice!

You will be pleased to note that Noel already has plans in hand for the Ulster Classic Trial, to be held on Friday September John Trimble in his T-Type

2, and regulations will be issued for this event shortly. It will again run within the Killinchy area and continues to be a charity event.

We have amended the regs for Class D to include any modern MG (Class D cars are not eligible to win the event overall). If anybody would be free to help marshal on the night please get in touch with Carol or Stephen Dawson as soon as possible.

Dates for your Diary August 14 – Run to The Argory August 17 – Drivers’ Tutorial at TTS September 2 – Ulster Classic Trial September 17 – PCT

www.mgcc.co.uk

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Mobile (07836) 222111

Telephone 01753 644599 Email: sales@runnymedemotorcompany.com

www.runnymedemotorcompany.com

Aston Martin in the Thames Valley

1963 MGB Roadster FIA Race car finished in Tartan red with current FIA papers. First Registered on the 17th of October 1963 Chassis number GHN3-21208 is an early pull door handle car which we understand was converted into a race car using a Heritage body shell some 20 years ago. We understand that the works were carried out on behalf of the MG Enthusiasts Club Magazine. It was acquired about 8 years ago by lady racing driver Susan Surtees who shared the car with her daughter at MG and Aston Martin Owners Club events with some success. The car has been prepared to a high standard and can be used for race or Rally events. It sits on Minilite style wheels shod with Dunlop “L” race tyres and the specification includes a 45DCOE Weber carburettor, electric cooling fans, oil cooler and factory hard top. It also comes with a quantity of spares. An ideal first race car and could be very competitive in the right hands £26,950

Please view our website at www.runnymedemotorcompany.com for further information or contact Martin Brewer on 01753 644 599

MGB GT

MOT April 2017. Walnut interior wood trim kit, re-trimmed seats, electronic ignition, four new Minilite style wheels with new Uniroyal tyres, manual gearbox with overdrive.

Registered on 1st January 1974

Detailed history file of invoices showing regular maintenance and expenditure, including comprehensive overhaul of brakes in 2010 and the track rod ends replaced for its recent MOT.

£3,395 ono.

Tel: 07969 456214 www.mgcc.co.uk

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REGISTERS

VINTAGE

JOHN VENABLES 01865 862573 johnandtriciav@gmail.com

Our main gathering this month is at VSCC Prescott, where we meet up in the Orchard for a lunchtime picnic during the break in proceedings. The event covers three days, so we have three picnics. We should be able to enjoy member Geoff Radford and his son Andrew climbing the hill in anger in his fabulous Tigress 18/100.

John Day still has a few places available for our Guernsey trip from Saturday September 24 to Friday September 30, which promises to be an excellent event organised by Marion Quarrington for the Register.

John is helping with the booking so contact him if interested, mg1880@ntlworld.com

I recently attended the Flywheel event at Bicester Heritage and was amazed at the volume of cars there, probably in excess of 4,000. This site is fast becoming the place for vintage, veteran, and classic cars, plus vintage aircraft, which put on a super display after lunch. Maybe we should consider going as a Register on one of their open days?

Last month I mentioned that a local village, quite a big one, had requested they wanted a few cars to transport previous carnival queens in the parade. As you can see from the photo, I had a couple from five or six years ago, but what I did not realise was that we would be travelling

TRIPLE M

JEREMY HAWKE +44 (0)1225 863934 mgk3007@btinternet.com www.triple-mregister.org Castle Combe MGs on Track Following on from its success earlier in the year, at the end of June an energetic bunch of MMMers descended into Wiltshire for what started out as a very wet Castle Combe ‘MGs on Track’ session. Now, for the rest of the world, Castle Combe is better known as a pretty village rather than a race track and the scrutineers can be a little tetchy on noise. Anticipating this, I put a selection of miscellaneous exhaust bits and pieces in with the car. It was just as well, because we ‘bombed’ the noise test by a considerable margin. An hour later (with a considerably lighter wallet) all was well and we ventured out onto the slippery track. Having

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restricted myself to short hillclimbs & sprints over the last 25 years or so, the chance to get in a few decent sessions of lappery really does your confidence the world of good, as you can progressively ‘lean’ on things to really get a feel for your car. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. As expected, my fellow MMM drivers behaved themselves impeccably (though a few of the cars threw the odd ‘wobbler’). As the

at about 1mph behind a Morris dancing group! I became seriously worried as the engine temperature finally got to 100C as we pulled in to the field and

was concerned for my clutch. The car was seen by at least 4,000 people, but I’ve made a note not to do this again for the car’s sake, despite enjoying it.

John Venables, the 18/80 and the 2010 and 2012 Carnival Queens

day wore on, the rain stopped, the track dried and lap times tumbled. A thoroughly worthwhile day out, with the K3 putting in more miles all at once than she has done in many a year (photo Jim Lott).

The Summer Gathering This year’s Summer Gathering was held on July 10 in Farnham Royal, hosted by Peter Green (and clan).

After a slightly damp morning start, the weather cleared, giving us all an afternoon of glorious sunshine. As usual, everyone became somewhat lost in ogling the variety of MMMs on display and general ‘catching

This year’s MMM Summer Gathering

up’. It fell to Peter and the rest of the Green organising team to keep us all on time with food, refreshments, the mind-bending ‘feel test’, quizzes, Gymkhana, etc. For many, this is a ‘must-do’ event and owners attended from all over Europe, with some cars coming from as far away as Australia (stand up K3030!).

As I write, I don’t yet have all the results to hand, but a full report and photos will be included in our next spread. The photo included is from my own somewhat limited take on the day (having not yet mastered a new camera-phone, I seem to have spent most of the day taking ‘selfies’ rather pictures of the cars!)

Technology – who needs it?

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REGISTERS

SVW

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

At this time of year there is always much to write about. MG Live!, the European Event of the Year (EEoTY) and our annual SVW Event all took place in the first half of June, so writing this at the end of June the space provided only allows a brief overview, but rest assured the September edition will include much more detail in our four-page spread.

MG Live! at the beginning of June saw our Register displaying John Bates’ VA Tourer on our stand amidst a Downton Abbey theme. The photos show Charlie and Jeanine Plain-Jones serving tea to Val Swann and the superb new Keller-bodied WA owned by Maurice Standish on its way to the

EEoTY. Jim Andrews was presented with the Frances Adam Award for services to the SVW Register over many years.

The SVW Event in the beautiful region of the Ardennes in Belgium was organised by John and Gail Bannister in association with Norbert and Marcella Huyghebaert, owners of Chateau Bleu at Trooz. We were to be split between this hotel and the Chateau Harzé a few miles away.

Getting there had its challenges, not least the fact that the French border control at Dover were on some kind of go-slow, checking every passport in detail. This led to a two-hour delay and several of us missed our 10am sailing, instead having to catch the next one at midday. We then encountered severe rain, the rush-hour traffic around the Brussels ring road and one of our number had a minor breakdown on the motorway – thankfully only a condenser/points issue that was quickly resolved (good photos though!). Our late arrival at the hotel meant we needed to eat (and drink!) straight away, but at least we had arrived.

All was well and we looked forward to a lovely few days. Much more on this next month.

In my own case, I had prepared my VA Tourer as far as possible, including replacing one

kingpin. The car didn’t miss a beat over the 753 miles travelled. The only issues were a broken rev. counter cable, a missing screw from one of the radiator grille slats, a noisy wiper motor (probably due to water ingress) and weeping wheel cylinder.

The SVW Review was issued at these events and a great read it is again – thanks Charlie. All SVW Register members will receive their copy soon, or will have already. Non-members may wish to purchase a copy at £5 + p&p.

T TYPE

JOHN WARD 01621 773606 johnw.ward@yahoo.co.uk www.tregister.org THE T REGISTER T PARTY 2016 Well, we did it again – glorious sunshine once more for the annual picnic!

This year, a change of venue from our regular Shuttleworth visit.

Unfortunately the entrance fees had doubled from last year and therefore an alternative was sourced by our man who knows about such things, Graham Brown.

So this time we went to the Bicester Heritage Centre on Sunday July 2, accompanied by scudding cumulus clouds and bright sunshine. The Centre is the former RAF Bicester Bomber Training Station and now houses a historic motoring and aviation industry that employs over 28,000

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skilled people in 30 specialist businesses on a 348 acre site.

The two-day extravaganza was aptly named ‘Flywheel’ a combination of all manner of vehicles together with vintage and classic aircraft and a flying display including the BBMF flypast of Spitfire and Hurricane. It is only the second time this event has been held, and based upon its current success we are sure that it will become a major attraction for many years to come.

We mustered over 40 T Types coming from far and wide and, with a fine array of our banners and flags, we were the Register that stood out among all the other classic car clubs who attended on the Sunday.

The familiar T Party scene just before lunch

Much thanks to Graham and all the committee who organised such a splendid day.

Now would you believe it, on to next year so soon! This year’s Autumn Tour is fully booked and rumour has it that next year’s trip to the Lakes and Dales border is filling up fast, so if you want to go, do not hesitate and contact The Shap Wells Hotel on 01931 716628. The dates are September 1-4 2017 and mention the MGCC T Register upon booking.

Also, in the final planning stage for next year, is a trip to the

Ardennes in May 2017. Bill and Sally Silcock have again arranged accommodation with the fine chateau hotel that we stayed at in 2008. Full and further details soon to be published in TRN and on our website and newsletters.

’Ello, ’ello, ’ello, what’s all this then The local constabulary check out a squad car of yesteryear!

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REGISTERS

Y TYPE

JERRY BIRKBECK jerrybirkbeck@btinternet.com www.mgccyregister.co.uk Tel: 01926 258691 Mob: 07855 566325 MGLIVE! I only attended on the Saturday and did a brief spell on the Register stand. I was impressed with the work that Mike and Sue Silk had undertaken and this was echoed with the presence of Slater Reynolds’s YA which has been in the family for nearly 50 years. We must thank all of the above for the effort that had been put in, CHURCHILL FESTIVAL The Churchill Classic Car Festival

is held bi-annually and is always a brilliantly organised and fun event. This year the organisers were over-subscribed and late entrants had to park within the public car parks. There was only one Y there (Y6162) owned by a couple who lived locally and who were not members of any of the MG Clubs. They had been put off when they attended an event 30 years ago and were told that their car was too old!

Reverse snobbery, I guess.

UPDATES In the June Newsletter I touched on the ownership of YB 0326, registration number XMY55. The car has been rebuilt, and I received the following feedback: From Ian Coxen: In an article headed ‘and a YB that has been rebuilt’ comment was made of Alan and Verona. This is Alan Davis, former proprietor of Tamar Valley Motoring Centre which continues to be run by well-known MMM man Colin Bird since Alan’s retirement. The Davises can be reached at Harrowbarrow, near Callington, or by contacting Colin at the garage on Liskeard Rd. Callington, where all MGs and

others are serviced and restored. and from the present owner Mark Withers: Delighted to see a picture of my YB in this month’s newsletter. I bought the car from Roger Webb of Bishops Stortford in 2010. He had done much welding and restoration work, and is responsible for the car’s survival. During my ownership I have had the interior retrimmed, and rebuilt the engine. The “Alan” you mention in your notes is, I think, Alan Davis, who was owner No.8.and living in Cornwall at the time.

XMY 55 is on the road and used regularly having covered about 10,000 miles during my ownership.

Courtyard at Wroxall Abbey

MAGNETTE

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

Black Country Museum, Wroxall and AGM July 2-3 On Saturday morning about 12 Magnettes assembled at the Black Country Living Museum, along with a couple of other MGs and owners without their Magnettes.

The day was overcast to start, with light rain, but not enough to spoil our enjoyment of the museum, which really brings to life the industrial history of the area, with reconstructed buildings and machinery, populated by a ‘cast’ in period costume and appropriate accents. The tour of a real drift mine and the demonstration of chain-making by hand were particularly fascinating.

Organisers Alan and Julia Cleobury thoughtfully booked our fish and chip lunch in advance – a good move as the queue for Hobbs 1950s chippy was by then stretching back along the period

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shopping street. After further exploration of the museum in the afternoon, we set off for the drive of an hour or so to Wroxall Abbey Hotel, where director Grant Howlett had as usual arranged excellent hospitality. Wroxall will be familiar to many after the GP100 and Magnette60 events, and this time we were rubbing shoulders with the MGC Register weekend – only metaphorically, though, as we had the use of the Courtyard, a former stable block, where our own evening barbecue was expertly prepared.

The Register AGM on Sunday morning, a fairly brief meeting

Palatinate tour on Z Magnette Day

as usual, was notable mainly for the presence of Chairman David Halliday (who hadn’t managed to be in Australia this time) and a couple of committee changes. Günter is relinquishing his Registrar role, which will be taken over by Cynthia Harris, but he continues as webmaster. Alan Cleobury also stepped down from committee, although he and Julia will doubtless continue to be closely involved in an unofficial capacity, and Rosie Jones hopes to hand over her Treasurer duties when a volunteer can be found.

Following the AGM there was an optional scenic drive through the Cotswolds to Bourton.

Z Magnette Day June 23-26 20 years ago three German and two British Magnettes met in the

middle of Germany for a BBQ. There was no programme other than sitting together, talking, eating and drinking. It was the first time so many Magnettes assembled in one place in Germany. Since then, the annual Z Magnette Day has attracted people and their cars from all over Europe and everybody likes the relaxed style of the event. This year we met in the Palatinate, which is a famous wine area in Germany. A total of 13 Zs and one Farina Mk III came from Denmark, England, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Germany, including three cars which took part in the very first event!

The first cars arrived on Thursday in temperatures above 30C. Luckily the locals have a good recipe to counteract this: ‘Schorle’, which is a mixture of wine and sparkling water, and this was used intensively! Along with wine-tasting, the programme over the weekend took in some of the highlights of the area – more photos at magnette.org

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2016

MIKE ROLLS

TRADE MEMBER

Specialising in all MG’s

2016 201 6

SERVICES FOR MGs

MIKE 01258 ROLLS TEL/FAX: 820337 SERVICES FOR MGs

Specialising all MG’s Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8am-6pm,inWed: 8am-5pm, Sat: 8am-1pm TEL/FAX: 01258 820337

TRADE MEMBER

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8am-6pm, Wed: 8am-5pm, Sat: 8amam-11pm

MG PA, 1934, finished in black with red leather seats & matching trim. Completely restored, to a superb condition, with documented history from Peter Monkton of Monza Engineering and mechanical restoration by Baynton Jones, then finished off with new weather gear and red carpet, carried out by LA & RW Piper.

Invoices and photos showing that much money has been spent on this restoration. £67,500 1952 MG TD finished in Green, with beige interior, and wet weather gear. The car was re-imported back in 1989 from the USA, it is structurally and mechanically very sound, with various new parts fitted by the present owner. There are some minor paint blemishes but its’ a very good usable classic, it comes with a history file, old workshop manual and handbook. £19.995

MGB ROADSTER, 1970 so tax exempt.

It is a older restoration but still in excellent condition, finished in Blue Royale with Chrome wire wheels, Overdrive, Black leather seats, Full and half tonneau’s, history file and is MOT’d to April 2017, many parts added by present owner.

Lovely car to drive. £10.995

MGB GT, 1972, Tax exempt, finished in glacier white with navy interior The car has been fitted with a up-rated 1860 engine, five speed gearbox, electronic ignition and K & N Filters, it will have a new mot upon purchase and is a lovely solid car. £7,500

MGB ROADSTER, 1972, Tax exempt, finished in Midnight Blue. The car has Wire wheels, Overdrive, Grey leather interior, Grey carpet and boot carpet, Motolita wood rim steering wheel, Radio/ cassette, MOT to Oct 2016 and full and half tonneaus. This car is structurally sound, it has some minor paint bubbling but presents itself very well. £7,500

MG TF SPARK, 2004 in Firefox Red with only 2 owners from new and 34,000mls. Many added extras including, Electronic boot release, Gaz bonnet strut, Remote operated radio/cd player, Roll hoop with built in windstop, Cruise control, Refurbished alloy wheels with a set of Toyo tyres, Parking sensors, Stainless steel exhaust, Stainless steel coolant pipes, comfort pack suspension and large detailed history file. £5,500 MGB ROADSTER, 1980, Finished in Iris blue. It has been converted to sebring valances with a MGC fibre glass bonnet and comes with black leather seats, overdrive and wire wheels. This is a good sound car which can be used as is or improved on if desired. MOT’d to April 2017. £4,995

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

E-mail: mail@mikerolls.4mgs.co.uk • www.mikerolls.co.uk

www.mgcc.co.uk

Units 9/10 Fifehead Business Park, Manor Farm, FiAUGUST fehead Magdal2016 en, nearSAFETY Gil ingham,FAST! Dorset SP8875RR

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REGISTERS

MGA

EDWARD VANDYK 01488 608810 mgascribe@vandyk.co.uk August brings us two more MGA events.

First of all on Sunday August 14 we have MGA Day, again kindly organised by Jon Pollard who can be contacted on 07881 300061 or at jonknutsford@gmail.com. I have been contacted recently by a number of people wanting details of the day or how they might register. Clearly Jon is the person who has all the answers, but there is no need to register, just turn up any time from 10am!

The venue is Charlecote Park, a National Trust property (www. nationaltrust.org.uk/charlecotepark) which is six miles south of Warwick on north side of B4086.

For those using Satnav the postcode is CV35 9ER. Then the following Sunday, August 21, we have the Stockfest Car Show and the Rare Breeds

Tour. These take place just outside Newbury, Berks, and whilst we hope for a high proportion of MGs, both Tour and Show are open to any classic car. It is not too late to sign up for the Tour. Entry forms are available at www.rarebreedstour. co.uk Any queries, please contact me on 07836 727212 or at mgascribe@vandyk.co.uk The tour will be over about 60 miles, returning between 1pm and 2pm in time for lunch.

Entry to the car show is free in your MGA! Turn up any time from 11.30am. For those with Satnav the postcode is RG20 8LP. MGA South West Tour: July 10 2016 The day started at Terry Drinkwater’s garage in Lower Weare, Somerset. Peter Morgan, the MGA Register chairman,

MGC

GINNY CARTMELL 01208 821552 ginnycartmell@btinternet.com

MGC 50th Anniversary 2017 As promised, we opened for online booking on July 1 and wow – we had some very keen members that must have been poised at the computers, bookings started coming in almost immediately. We have entries from as far afield as Canada, Australia and New Zealand already, not to mention many of our European countries. At home, as normal, the C Register has great support from North to South.

For those that have not booked as yet, you will find the online entry form on our microsite, within the MG Car Club website; just follow the link to the MGC Register. Willy

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Scot from the Caledonian Centre has been very instrumental in putting this form together and without his help, it would not have been possible. It is very easy to navigate, with a return email to confirm your entry, once you have clicked the submit button. We look forward to receiving many more entries in the coming weeks. We are aiming to fill Chateau Impney, with exclusive use of the hotel and grounds.

Wroxall Abbey & Mallory Park MGC Register Weekend July 2-3 this year was held at Wroxall Abbey Hotel and then on to Mallory Park

presented Terry with a framed photograph of his sprint car in action to mark his retirement as the Register’s South West representative after 10 years.

The route took us via Wedmore and across the Somerset levels with views towards Glastonbury Tor, before turning towards Bridgewater and on to the Quantocks.

After leaving the Quantocks the route picked up speed on the drive to Wimbleball Lake on the edge of Exmoor, where a refreshment break was taken.

Turning back towards Taunton and our destination of Hestercombe House, our route took us via Bulham Ford to wash the mud off.

MG European Event of the Year: June 8-12 2016 MGAs were well-represented at this year’s EEOTY, held at LeTouquet-Paris-Plage, the elegant seaside resort situated just south of Calais in northern France.

Race Circuit, for a full day of MG Classic Racing.

We had a total of 62 MGCs over the weekend this year, with a Magnette joining us at Mallory Park on the Sunday. We saw a greater number of GTs than Roadsters, and both types were in splendid condition. It was also great to see six cars with disc wheels; it made a pleasant change from the normal wire wheels. The line-up of MGCs at Mallory Park did create quite a spectacle, with many race spectators stopping to take a look at our MGC display at Gerard’s Bend. The racing did not disappoint, with MGs and other marques racing throughout the afternoon. The highlight was the lunch time parade of MGCs around the track. Sorry to those that didn’t get the chance to go out – it was a

From the 368 MGs scheduled to attend, no fewer than 68 (18%) were MGAs, with an additional black Swissregistered Twin Cam coupe putting in a late appearance.

The 68 were made up as follows: Friday June 10 allowed the cars to stretch their legs on the Abbeville circuit, about 35 miles south of Le Touquet. A relatively short circuit (1.5 miles with 13 corners) Abbeville is well-suited to older vehicles. A 15-minute morning session for MGA 1500s and 1600s was followed by a 20-minute afternoon session.

The field was relatively small, meaning that there was plenty of space on the track to enjoy yourself.

Excellent food, drink, and accommodation, together with good company and excellent runs out into the northern French countryside, added up to a firstrate 2016 EEOTY. Anyone for Porto, Portugal in 2017?

first-come first-served situation and time was limited in between the racing programme. A few C owners also had the opportunity to go up to Race Control and see firsthand what goes on there. Ian Quarrington kindly presented awards to our Trophy winners during the afternoon and then farewell to all whilst the sun was still shining. Much more to come on this weekend in next month’s issue.

Our trophy winners this year were: Concours Jim Corbett Pride of Ownership Douglas Samuel Car of the Show Colin Reynolds Furthest Travelled Rebecca & Nick Ricketts Taking over at Wroxall Abbey Hotel

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1980 MGB ROADSTER Leyland White, black/white MGB GT Black, cloth trim, sunroof. Full history, new leather trim. Boot rack. Wood steering wheel. Elm o/d just fitted. Incredibly original car. Only 2 owners in dash. Superb condition and mostly original. All new last 30 years. £3,495.00 chrome. Lowered. Superb car and value @ £11,995.

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1968 MGB V8 ROADSTER Nightfire Red, tan/ red trim. 3.9L injected V8, RV8 running gear & crossmember. RV8 dash, Red Maple wood trim, mohair hood. 15” minilites. Totally rebuilt & restored at huge expense a few years ago. Looks & drives superbly. The ultimate touring MG. £26,995.00

1993 MG RV8 Pearl White, Stone trim. Superb example of an RV8, not concours but excellent.

Stunning in Mica Pearl White, tan mohair hood and yes, the registration is really MGR 3.9L (MGR 39L), the ultimate RV8 registration. Unique opportunity to own a superb piece of MG history. £26,495.00

1967 MGB GT V8 BRG, Biscuit/green leather trim. Fully restored last nut & bolt 5 years ago.

Professionally converted to V8 spec, no expense spared. Webasto roof. Moto Lita wheel. 15” minilites.

Fast touring car. Rare early GT. Superb! £23,995.00

1979 MG MIDGET Pageant blue, black trim, superb little car, body is in excellent condition, recent respray, all new chrome conversion, new hood, new carpets, new dashboard, recovered seats. Exceptionally pretty car in excellent order. Ready for lots of summer fun. £5,995.00

All items Supplied - from body panels, interiors & engines to headlights & wheel nuts

Tel: 07722 175473 East Lydford, Somerset Email: usedmgspares@hotmail.co.uk

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

MG TF 135 85TH ANNIVERSARY (20,000 Miles)

MG TF LE500 #70/500+H/top ( just 24,000m)

MG TF 115 Facelift (just 8,800 miles)

MG TF 135 Style Pack.1 owner (just 23,000m)

2009 (59 Reg) Manual, Petrol. Previously supplied by us a superb 85th ltd edition in Ice white with aubergine leather sport seats. Air conditioning, special suspension set up only used on the 85th edition including soft ride suspension. Glass heated rear screen, engine water level censor etc. £8,995.

Immaculate LE500 #70 off 500 made. Complete with removable colour coded hardtop. Very high spec ltd edition model fitted with air conditioning, leather sport seats, park censor, soft top fitted with a heated glass rear screen, engine water level censor, soft ride suspension, wind deflector. Fully detailed service history just moted. Immaculate condition throughout. £6,795

Previously supplied by us. This very very low mileage MG TF was the 20th from last MG/Rover TF ever made. Having covered just 8,800 miles repeat 8,800 miles. Just two owners supplied by us at just 4100 miles. Finished in Firefrost red metallic, fitted with a heated glass rear screen, soft ride suspension, engine water level censor, remote central locking.

Outstanding condition. £5,495

2011 model year TF135 Style pack. Ltd edition high spec models. One owner from new full service history services and just 23,000 miles. 2011 model fitted with folding door mirrors. Style pack fitted with a heated glass rear screen, remote boot opening, engine water level censor, soft ride suspension, wind deflector, full leather sport seats, silver interior console and trims plus unmarked 16” Twisted pepper alloys and Red 4 pot brake calipers. Superb. £6,795

MG TF 115 Spark + H/top (just 37,000m)

MG MGF 75th VVC ltd edition

MG TF 135 Spark ltd edition (just 58,000miles)

MG TF 135 High spec (just 46,000 miles)

Previously supplied by us . Ltd edition Spark.

These are high spec Models, fitted with Half black leather with grey alcantara inserts, chrome packs, sports pack 2 with 11 spoke 16” alloys, passengers airbag etc Just been though our workshop serviced and fitted with a new Xpart headgasket/water pump /cambelt. £3,795

Previously supplied & serviced by us. A superb low mileage high spec TF135. Fitted with full black leather sport seats, sports pack 2, wind deflector, front fog lights, etc Full service history including bills and old mots. We have just serviced and fitted a new Headgasket/waterpump/cambelt to this superb condition TF. £3,795

Low mileage TF Spark ltd edition. Just 37,000miles. The Spark model is a high spec model and the last made by MG/Rover group.

This one is also fitted with a removable colour coded hardtop. Superb condition. £3,900

MGF vvc 75th Anniversary ltd edition model 1572/2000, one of only 332 VVC’s made.

Finished in Black with unmarked Aubergine leather seats, ‘SE’ 16” alloys, red hood, wood trim, chrome packs etc, Full service history. Also old mots since 2002 and receipts etc Cambelt service by main dealer September 2015. Just serviced and moted. MG car club members car, less than 100 75th VVC recorded left. £2,695

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.mgcc.co.uk

MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 89

www.churchsquareautos.com AUGUST 2016 SAFETY FAST! 89

22/07/2016 17:33

REGISTERS

MGF

TIM MORRIS 01932 882467 scribe@mgfregister.org www.mgfregister.org Last month I promised a picture of David’s cylinder head after it let go on ‘Racing Red’ at MGLive! I don’t think David found all the valves, so some drastic renovation is required.

Around the country our Regions are really busy now, and a weekend does not go by when at least one of them is not present at a classic car show.

In the last few weeks the Register has had stands at shows at: Atwell-Wilson Museum, Audley End House (Anglia Picnic), Brooklands, Bromley Pageant, Clandon Park, Cotswolds Wildlife Park, Maldon, MGLive!, Queen Victoria Concours, Uxbridge and West Wycombe, to name but a few.

Then of course there are the runs and visits the Regions organise

ZR/ZS/ZT

too – local trips and weekenders.

You can read all about these activities in the Register’s own magazine, FasTForward, along with other features on the MGF/TF. It’s a brilliant permanent record of what the Register gets up to and forms an important part of our historic archive, recording what we have done for over 10 years now. If you don’t subscribe then you can do so by visiting our online shop at www. mgfregister.org/shop for £16 a year (UK price). It is published every quarter and the next issue is out any moment.

The Register is also well represented on the Continent with our International Rep, Colin Murrell, attending many events, as does our former Rep, Adrian

Clifford. Both are frequently sent representing the Club at events as wide ranging as MGs by the Sea in Italy and Dutch Octarun tour.

Our Members also attend events in Europe and receive a very warm welcome, as Simon and Ann Young found out when they attended the Iberia club weekender in Portugal.

You can read about those events in the latest issue of FasTForward as well, another shameless plug I’m afraid.

Plenty still to look forward to as we head for the downward slope to winter, although some of us may still be waiting for the summer to start! The main event on the horizon is the Thames Tunnels and Bridges charity event – a unique MG event right in the heart of the capital city. A navigational challenge for certain, as you negotiate the tight streets of

Zeds. There was also a healthy number of cars from the FWD JOHN THOMPSON Tel: 07854 275541 johnt5@btinternet.com www.mgcc.co.uk/zedregister Register and 6.3.5 Register, and from the Rover Group era too.

MG Motor UK brought along the grids of the day was provided by NEWS IN BRIEF new MG GS, bringing the MG the Cockshoot Cup, increasingly Mid-season and Mallory Park was story right up-to-date. We also had populated by ZRs and ZSs. It was the venue for the fourth MGCC race a selection of Monogram Zeds Zeds that filled the first three places, meeting of 2016. Doug Cole’s ZR which had been assembled by Ross Makar’s 190, interestingly 190 lapping over 91mph took pole Justin Smith and members of the qualifying faster than the Trophy in both Trophy rounds, and he led Monogram Appreciation Facebook cars, leading home the 180 of Ashley 19 starters away from the line in the Group. The Pride of Ownership first race. Only ninth at the end of the Woodward and competition proved very popular, Gary Whetton’s 190. first lap, he fought his way back with with multiple entries in all categories.

Geoff Hirst great effort to lead on lap seven and Congratulations to all the winners won by a clear 19 seconds ahead of and the runners-up. Thank you for ZED15/MG SALOON DAY Lee Sullivan. In the absence of Robin entering; there were some stunning We reached the high point of our Walker, he also took the second cars out there. There are just too 15th Anniversary year on July 9 race again. There was Zed interest many people to thank individually as ZED15/MG Saloon Day finally in the Peter Best rounds, too, with for their involvement in Zed15 dawned. After months of planning Tom Halliwell’s ZR coming home but it really was a team effort. But and teamwork we pulled off what well ahead of Lewis Anderson’s 170 we would like to thank everyone was a hugely successful day. Despite at the end of race one. He was the who helped with the organisation, the indifferent weather over 230 victor again in race two, this time planning, advertising, setting up and cars arrived at the BMM during ahead of Richard Buckley’s rapid marshalling on the day. the morning, most of which were Rover Tomcat. One of the biggest

90 SAFETY FAST! AUGUST 2016

MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 90

London whilst admiring the lights of the City, plunging beneath the river and soaring over the bridges.

There are not many places left, so apply now via our online shop.

We reported on the Hard Top Relay in the last issue, and it has now come back to the Thames Valley area after a hiatus in the Midlands and further north. It has been a fun initiative and lots of members have been taking part – check out the Internet forum for details of how you can join in, or contact Adrian at registrar@ mgfregister.org It will be running until the end of September. A big thanks to all the Regions and individuals who have so far taken up the relay baton, and a reminder that donations can still be made to Guide Dogs through our charity web page at https:// mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/ mgfregister2016.

EVENTS AND SHOWS As a reminder for all the racing enthusiasts among you, there will be two Cockshoot Cup races on Anglesey over the weekend of August 6-7.

The championship then continues at Oulton Park on September 3. The next rounds of the Trophy Championship take place on the same weekend at Oulton. Don’t forget that we also organise the lunchtime parade laps at the race meetings. If you have never done it before this is your opportunity to take your own car around the racing circuit. It can sometimes be very popular so go along and see Geoff and put your names down nice and early.

If you wish to register your car with us, please contact Paul Money at the following: paulmoneymg@gmail. com Paul also has the build data for the entire run of Zeds. If you would like further information about your Zed contact him at the same email address.

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/07/2016 17:33

REGISTERS

MG6.3.5

STEVE HAINES Steve-haines@live.co.uk www.facebook.com/groups/MG635Register https://twitter.com/635register The MG6 5th Birthday and Zed15 was very well attended on July 9 at the Heritage Motor museum at Gaydon. There were at least 20 of each model, plus a pair of GSs from MG Motor representing the newest of the MG marque. It was a great turnout, given the unsettled weather.

We were very proud to show off our new Club gazebo, which was recently purchased following a successful bid from the MG Car Club Douglas Mickel fund. We are extremely grateful for this grant as it now enables us, as at Gaydon, to have a better presence at events, to support owners and encourage new members into the Car Club

and raise funds for the Register and our chosen charity.

We had a full range of Club regalia on the stand, as well as formally adding vehicles to both the MG 6.3.5 and GS Registers on the day. It was great to meet new friends as well as some familiar faces, some of which were around buying the first MG6s five years ago. Time has flown, but it was clear from the conversations going on that many owners have found

the 6 a fantastic car to own and enjoy, with lots of modifications evident making the cars more individual as time goes on.

To celebrate the MG6 5th Birthday, there were plenty of balloons and cakes supplied by the talented Forbes clan, which were sold for donations to our charity, Crohn’s and Colitis UK, as well as a very nice MG6 5th Birthday cake, which was a real shame to have to cut…but it tasted as good as it looked! Huge thanks to Bev Forbes and her minions Stu and Emily for such a nice creation.

The Register was well represented in the Pride of Ownership paddock, with three MG6s and two MG3s. It was a tricky day to keep the cars looking dry and polished given the inclement weather, but it dried up for judging time. Richard Bibby-

Brooke was the winner with his MG3 and Steve Haines with his MG6…the cries of “fix” didn’t go unnoticed!

The Facebook page has been very busy with owners attending local runs, meets and events over the summer period. It’s good to see the newest models being a part of the traditional MG meets.

Our next big get-together will be the BTCC event at Silverstone on Sunday September 18, where you can take advantage of the MGCC pair of adult tickets for just £28, which includes infield parking. We will have the gazebo set up and are looking forward to catching up with everyone at this great event.

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX 4Sight Lighting Company.............................65 Adrian Flux....................................................65 Airflow ..........................................................87 Barrie Carter ................................................67 Barry Walker ................................................93 Beech Hill Garage.........................................96 Blue Diamond................................................. 6 Brian Brown Classics....................................93 British Motor Heritage.............................31, 39 Brown and Gammons..................................13 Car Cover Shop ...........................................75 Car Workshop...............................................93 Carole Nash Insurance .................................47 Chertsey Minors ..........................................75 Chisbon Restorations....................................65 Church Square Autos ...................................89 Classic and Retro..........................................44 Clive Wheatley ..............................................67 Colin Groom Vehicle Storage .......................65 College Motors Burford ................................79 Colne Classics ..............................................79 Crown Classic Cars ......................................71 Dennis Welch................................................79 Distributor Doctor..........................................71 Don Trimming ...............................................79 EJW Classic and sports................................97 Eric Hoult – Misc parts .................................97 Fishers Services............................................61 Footman James ...........................................57 Frontline .......................................................37 Halls Garage .................................................79 Heathrow Transmission ................................75 Hoyle Suspension.........................................47 JLH Morris Minors........................................58 John Cooper.................................................95 Just Right Autos Ltd......................................49 Kevin Speight................................................58 Kimble Engineering Ltd ................................75

www.mgcc.co.uk

MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 91

Longstone Tyres ..........................................43 Manor Garage .............................................71 Martin Smith Used MGTF Spares ...............89 MG Mecca....................................................89 MG Sales Centre ..........................................21 MGF Mania...................................................61 Midland Classic Restoration ........................... 3 Mike Authurs Classics( MG Midgets)............93 Mike Rolls .....................................................87 MJS Auto and Marine ..................................33 Moss Europe Ltd ..........................................33 Norton Insurance ..........................................51 NTG Services.............................................OBC Oselli Ltd.......................................................73 Peter Best ....................................... IBC, 75, 79 Prestige MG..................................................81 Rees Bros .....................................................81 Retro Lifestyle (formerly MG Lifestyle)...........51 Rimmer Bros Ltd ..........................................39 RJJ Car Shipping and Transportation ..........75 Robin Lackford Motor Engineering ..............61 Runnymede..................................................83 Scenic Car Tours Generic .............................25 Silver Arrows Automobiles Ltd......................71 SMR..............................................................91 South Coast MG Rover (WAS H A S MG ROVER) ..................................................73 Steve McKie Sports Cars..............................75 Surrey Sports & Classics ..............................79 Sussex Classic Car Parts..............................15 Sussex Sports Cars ......................................75 Terry Bone ....................................................95 The Hutson Motor Co Ltd ............................... 3 Trophy Cars ..................................................IFC Vitesse Global Ltd – AD ................................31 Webcon .......................................................44

enquiries@mgsforsale.com

01707 876089

MGB Roadster 1973 (NKG1M), chrome bumpers, non-overdrive, last owner 15 years, older mid 90’s rebuild still with good structure having had new sills, castle rails, lower rear wings, front wings & doors, Snowberry White coachwork now requiring some attention, engine rebuilt

www.mgsforsale.com

07831 556666

with only 19k since, nice condition Black interior trim with clean facia, good brightwork, chrome boot rack, original steering wheel, nice history file with invoices, old mot’s, tax discs etc back to early 90’s, very nice drive, ideal entry level classic, just arrived, £5,995.00

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.

AUGUST 2016 SAFETY FAST! 91

22/07/2016 17:33

CL ASSIFIEDS

CARS FOR SALE 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 Colin Grant at 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 nonmembers to advertise is £20. All adverts should be submitted by the 15th of the month for the following months issue.

MGC ROADSTER 1970

MGB Roadster 1970

Moving house and no garage forces a very reluctant sale of my lovely Roadster. 1950cc, lead-free petrol, with electronic overdrive. 7500 miles since rebuild. Iris Blue with dark blue hood and tonneau cover, dark blue leather upholstery, motolita steering wheel and walnut fascia. Chrome bumpers, wire wheels and luggage rack. Fully MOT'd and very recently serviced, road tax exempt. Garaged, and in first-class condition throughout. £10000 ono. Contact Angus Loudon 07532 164609 (Scotland)

BRG. 116k, o/d w/w owned 39 years. Bare metal restoration 2005 (excluding engine bay) New dash/seats/trim/carpets. One year MOT. Just serviced, new clutch slave, batteries, carbs serviced & balanced. Cream bermuda h/t s/t & tonnau £18995. Contact Colin on 01297 792538 or email cogstewart@aol.com

MGB Roadster 1974M

MGBGT 1978

MGBGT 1974 BGT

Very reluctant sale due to health reasons. Good condition, drives well, MOT Feb 2016. New tyres. £3000ono. No time waters please.

Contact Karyn on 07966342813 or email: Karyn.finch46@gmail.com (Near Aylesbury Bucks)

Chelsea Pewter LE. Heritage shell, chrome bumper and wheels.

Walnut dash, blue leather interior.

Blue mohair hood, half tonneau and full tonneau covers. 1800 engine with overdrive gearbox. Full MOT. Very smart car, tax exempt. £14000. Telephone 07817451360 (West Yorkshire)

In Harvest Gold. s/s exhaust, new clutch, electronic ignition, MOT February 2017. Owned since 2005.

Extensive history file. Agreed valuation £3,500. Condition 2/3.

Tel: 07841 566468, or email geoffb39@btinternet.com. (Surrey)

MGA 1600 Mk2 FHC

Owned since 1965, run until 1971/72 and eventually dismantled and stored in my garage for the rebuild that never took place. In addition to the bodywork almost all parts are available including the original chassis, engine, gearbox, glass and seats. I would prefer to sell it complete for restoration rather than dispose of the parts separately. Contact Mike at 01900 812188 or e-mail: mikebacon@globecottage.wanadoo.co.uk

(West Cumbria)

92 SAFETY FAST! AUGUST 2016

MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 92

MG ZT260 SE

Registered 2004 and comprehensively restored over past 6 years.

Thousands £'s spent inc brand new engine and ancillaries inc clutch (5K miles ago), new brakes, bearings, complete suspension repalcement inc rebuild of rear sub-frame by MG Workshop. Countless other parts replaced inc new tyres and rare Raven Black paintwork in good condition for year. Recent MOT low mileage for year 48K. Rated as condition 2-3. Club and insurance valuation £7500 - Price £6750 or vno.

Please email me at Email: frankjohnsfja@hotmail.com or phone: 01489878533.

(Winchester Area)

Lhd, registered in UK, a matching number car. Needs restoration finishing. £10750. Call 07801250486 or 01273945877

Anniversary Edition. Finished in metallic green. If you are looking for a TF this is the model to buy and this is a very nice example with only 37,700 miles. Bodywork and interior in excellent condition. The engine has an uprated gasket fitted and previous owners are contactable. A good set of tyres including full sized spare wheel. £2499. Contact Chris on Telephone 07879343725 or email: broadcj@yahoo.com (South Oxon)

MGB Roadster ‘Project’

1965 Push Button ex USA LHD but with rusty shell. W/W O/D with all current import docs and duties paid. I planned to build an FIA car but plans changed. Offers.

Contact Bernard Giller at email etypebernard@aol.com or telephone: 01234 714894 (Newport Pagnell.)

MG TF LE500

Scorched Red. Only 6000 miles.

Beautiful car. All LE500 luxury features - aircon, wind stop, rear parking sensors, hood bag and hood protector, leather interior and black alloys, full sized spare wheel, works hard top. Never used in inclement weather. Recent MOT. Private sale.

Sensible offers please to Michael at 02920563957 (Cardiff)

MGZT 260 V8 SE 2004

X-Power grey metallic, full leather heated sports seats in black with electric adjustment. Climate control and electric sunroof. Multi function steering wheel. CD multichanger.

Park distance control. Stainless steel Zero exhaust. Zenon headlights.

K+N filter. 18” alloy wheels and full size spare. 41000miles. Full service history. £8995. Telephone 01322 522371 (Kent)

WANTED EARLY MGA ROADSTER

MGTD 1952

MGTF VCC 160

In need of full or part restoration.

Complete or uncomplete car. Any car considered. Wanted by Genuine MG enthusiast. Please telephone 07795670881.

MGB Roadster 1974

Green with overdrive. Owned for the last 9 years. Garaged. Heritage Trust Certificate. Years MOT with no advisories. Bare metal respray in 2008 and waxoyled. New wire wheels & tyres 4000 miles ago.

Alarm fitted. 12 Volt battery conversion. Electric ignition. Moto Lita leather steering wheel. Top good with no marks/leaks. Loads of invoices and paperwork. New cream leather seat covers, doorcards & trim kit.

Email: alancook19@sky.com Tel: 01529 302684 (Sleaford,Lincolnshire)

1979 MGB

Roadster, lots of work carried out on it and is valued at between £6000 to £7000. I would like to swap it for a MGBGT of similar value. I based Essex. Please call me on 01375 360956 for further information

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/07/2016 17:33

OR SALE

Advertise

vertise their cars Safety Fast. The be posted on the due course. This is only. To place an

ditional insertions t at co.uk with details d 60 words, togethhed picture, your on, price of your ere you live, and

ber. Cost for nonertise is ÂŁ20. All e submitted by the h for the

issue.

CL ASSIFIEDS MGB Roadster 1970

Moving house and no garage forces a very reluctant sale of my lovely Roadster. 1950cc, lead-free petrol, with electronic overdrive. 7500 miles since rebuild. Iris Blue with dark blue hood and tonneau cover, MG darkTF135 blue April leather2004 upholstery, 35,000 miles, one wheel owner,and X Power motolita steering walnut Grey, Smokestone interior, fascia. Chrome bumpers, wire Gunsmoke/Alcantara Full wheels and luggage seats, rack. Fully service history. New grey hood MOT'd and very recently serviced, with glass, recent h/gasket,timing road tax exempt. Garaged, and in belts,heater pipesetc. Windstop. first-class pack. condition Comfort DAB, throughout.

MP3 Sony ÂŁ10000 ono. luggage Contact Angus Radio.

Bagworld set includLoudon 07532 164609Summer (Scotland) ed.

Always garaged, use only. This is a genuinely immaculate example which looks and drives like a new car. ÂŁ4,100. Contact John Day 01234 295592 or 07817 295570 Email: Mg1880@ntlworld.com (Bedfordshire)

STER 1970

w/w owned 39 l restoration 2005 ine bay) New arpets. One year iced, new clutch carbs serviced & bermuda h/t s/t & Contact Colin on email com

MG ZT260 SE

Registered 2004 and comprehensively restored over past 6 years.

Thousands ÂŁ's spent inc brand new engine and ancillaries inc clutch (5K miles ago), new brakes, bearings, complete suspension repalcement MGF VVCof1999 inc rebuild rear sub-frame by MG Tahiti Blue 83000 miles.

MOTparts to Workshop.

Countless other June 2017.incNonew advisories. replaced tyres and Main rare service donepaintwork June 2016.

Annually Raven Black in good conserviced. Garage bills. FSH. Most dition for year. Recent MOT low past MOTs. Head gasket replaced. mileage for year 48K. Rated as conNew catalytic converter. Fold down ditionstop.

2-3. Club and insuranceGood valuwind CD player/radio. ation hood ÂŁ7500with - Price or vno. black cover.ÂŁ6750 Very reliable Please emailexample me at ofEmail: car.

A nice well cared frankjohnsfja@hotmail.com for F. Always covered. ÂŁ1600 ono.

More details/photos call or phone: 01489878533.

01945-738327 or email (Winchester Area) darcyhamilton@waitrose .com (Cambridgeshire/Lincolnshire borders)

MGB Roadster 1974M

Chelsea Pewter LE. Heritage shell, chrome bumper and wheels.

Walnut dash, blue leather interior.

Blue mohair hood, half tonneau and 1959 MGA Mark1 Roadster full tonneau covers. 1800 engine Californian car with RHD converwith overdrive gearbox. Full MOT. sion. Original B series engine rebuilt VeryColtech smart now car, 1762cc. tax exempt. by Twin ÂŁ14000.

Telephone 07817451360 Dellorto carbs. Close ratio 5 speed (WestCosworth Yorkshire)gearbox. Modified Ford steering and suspension with V8 calipers. Brtitish Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate. Fast car great fun. ÂŁ20999.

Tel: 07771865463 (Leeds)

MG TF LE500

Scorched Red. Only miles.

MGBRoadster 19676000 1800cc car. overdrive, All LE500 Hopkinson luxury fea4Beautiful Syncro with tures - aircon, wind stop, rearsports parkhandling kit. Fast road cam, ing sensors, bag and hood distributor andhood coil, S/Steel exhaust, unleaded, seats. This MG protector,leather leather interior and black was mewheel, 1989-1993 alloys,restored full sizedbyspare works using Heritage bodyshell and all hard atop.

Never used in inclement new panels exceptMOT. for the aluminiweather.

Recent Private sale. um bonnet. It has since covered Sensible offers please to Michael at about 50,000 miles. A very usable 02920563957 (Cardiff) motor car, it drives beautifully.

Excellent, but used, condition with 10 months MOT, bills and History. ÂŁ11,000. Contact: Alan on 01275 856887 (Bristol)

MGBGT 1974 BGT

8

ale due to health condition, drives 016. New tyres. me waters please. n 07966342813 or h46@gmail.com Bucks)

k2 FHC

5, run until 1971/72 mantled and stored r the rebuild that . In addition to the t all parts are availhe original chassis, glass and seats. I sell it complete for er than dispose of tely. Contact Mike 8 or e-mail:

ottage.wanadoo.co.uk

In Harvest Gold. s/s exhaust, new clutch, electronic ignition, MOT February 2017. Owned since 2005.

Extensive history 2009 file. Agreed MGTF135 85thvaluation ÂŁ3,500.

Condition 2/3.

ANNIVERSARY. Limited edition566468, model, or onlyemail 50 Tel: 07841 made in 2009 in three (Surrey) unique geoffb39@btinternet.com. colours all with the N series engine.

Enigmatic Silver, 17 cars produced in this colour and only 15 remaining in the UK. Mileage just 22K. Rimstock Twist of pepper alloy wheels. Bilstein shocks and Eibach anti roll bars. Aubergine colour leather interior. Monogrammed sill plates and special alloy gear knob.

Unique 85th anniversary body graphics. Air con & engine water level sensor, rear parking sensors, MGTD 1952tonneau cover plus wind deflector, external hood cover.

Lhd, registered in UK,Outstanding a matching condition throughout.

Full service number car.

Needs restoration finhistory. for sale. UK ishing. Genuine ÂŁ10750. reason Call 07801250486 delivery can be arranged. ÂŁ7,695 or 01273945877 01582 760120 (Herts)

MGZT 260 V8 SE 2004

X-Power grey metallic, full leather heated sports seats in black with MGF 1998 Climate control electricMk1 adjustment.

InandOld English White MPI. electric sunroof.

Multi1.8function 81,000 MOT 2017. steeringmiles wheel.

CD March multichanger.

Original MG Leather seats. A steel few Park distance control. Stainless small age related marks, but good Zero exhaust. Zenon headlights. overall condition. £900 OVNO K+N filter. 18� alloy wheels and full Contact Dave on 01795 535776. size spare.

41000miles. Full service Email: david.tynan@btinternet.com history. ÂŁ8995.

(Faversham Kent) Telephone 01322 522371 (Kent)

WANTED EARLY MGA ROADSTER

In need of full or part restoration.

Complete or uncomplete car. Any car considered. Wanted by Genuine MG enthusiast. Please telephone 07795670881.

BARRY WALKER

MGTF VCC 160

Anniversary Edition. Finished in .....for the veryforbest in vintage MGs.....Estd.1968 metallic green. If you are looking 0 to buy and MGs 10......................percent a TF this BANKS is the model this is a very nice example with only 37,700 miles. Bodywork and interior in excellent condition. The engine has an uprated gasket fitted and previous owners are contactable. A good set of tyres 1935 MG PA SPORTS ÂżQH GULYHUV FDU QRW including full +HUH sizedLV D spare wheel.

FRQFRXUV EXW LQ H[FHOOHQW RYHUDOO FRQG $ UHFHQWO\ ZHOO 1935 MG PA SPORTS $ EHDXWLIXOO\ UHVWRUHG 3$ ZLWKRXW EHLQJ EXLOW HQJLQH Contact DIIRUGV WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ IRU JRRG UHOLDEOH ÂŁ2499.

Chris on RYHUGRQH $ UHDOO\ XVDEOH WKLQJ WKDW \RXÂśOO EH PRUH WKDQ GULYLQJ FRXSOHG ZLWK RXU RZQ UHFHQW ZRUN \RX KDYH WKH SURXG WR RZQ )XOO\ VHUYLFHG HQJLQH UHEXLOW VWHHULQJ GHOX[H FDU HYHU\ERG\ ZDQWV %ODFN ZLWK EHLJH KLGH QHZ URRI Telephone 07879343725 or GDVK DHURVFUHHQV VWRQHJXDUGV DQG VXSHUE OHDWKHU LQWHULRU WRQQHDX[ V VFUHHQV LWÂśV D QLFH FDU ÂŁ45,000 $OO QHZ ZHDWKHU HTXLSPHQW MXVW ÂżWWHG WKLV LV UHDOO\ ZRUWK YLHZLQJ ÂŁ45,000 (Optional s/charger available at cost) email: broadcj@yahoo.com (South Oxon) British Motor Heritage approved

MGB Roadster ‘Project’

1965 Push Button ex USA LHD but with rusty shell. W/W O/D with all current import docs and duties paid. I planned to build an FIA car 1934 MG PA DELUXE SPORTS. 2QH RI WKRVH UHDOO\ QLFH FDUV ZLWK D JHQXLQH SDWLQD 1RW FRQFXUV EXW SURSHUO\ but plans changed.

Offers.

XVHG PDLQWDLQHG E\ WKH SUHYLRXV IDVWLGLRXV RZQHU 'HOX[H GDVK Bernard EXFNHW VHDWV ZDWHU IURP QHZ Contact Giller atSXPS email $GGLWLRQDOO\ DHURVFUHHQV VWRQH JXDUGV EUDQG QHZ GRXEOH GXFN ZHDWKHU HTXLSPHQW 'HHS UHG ZLWK EODFN etypebernard@aol.com or OHDWKHU IDQWDVWLF YDOXH ÂŁ39,750 telephone: 01234 714894 1933 MG J2 CYCLE WING SPORTS. :H DUH EXLOGLQJ WKLV FDU IURP VFUDWFK ZLWK D IXOO\ UHEXLOW HQJLQH E\ %DUU\ (Newport )RVWHU DQG \RX Pagnell.)

KDYH WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR FKRRVH WKH

1947 MG TC SPORTS. $ YHU\ UDUH 0* 7& EHLQJ WKH FDU IRXQG GHUHOLFW EXW YHU\ RULJLQDO DQG WRWDOO\ UHVWRUHG IRU WKH FKDQQHO 79 SURJUDPPH ³)RU WKH /RYH RI &DUV´ 0DQ\ RULJLQDO ¾EXJVœ KDYH EHHQ IXOO\ LURQHG RXW DQG WKH FDU LV QRZ OLNH D QHZ SLQ 3RZGHU %OXH ZLWK EHLJH OHDWKHU WDQ URRI V VFUHHQV &RPSOHWH GRFXPHQWHG KLVWRU\ ¿OH YLGHR RULJLQDO PDQXDO RULJ UHJ 1R SHULRG H[WUDV DOO LQFOXGHG .......................Open to sensible offers £39,500

FRORXU WKDW \RX ZRXOG OLNH DW WKLV VWDJH <RX KDYH D FKRLFH RI D GDUN UHG RU EHLJH OHDWKHU LQWHULRU E\ 0LNH &ROOLQJEXUQ 7KH FDU ZLOO EH LQ PLQW FRQGLWLRQ MXVW OLNH WKH 3 W\SHV LQ WKLV DG The price will be approx. ÂŁ42-45,000

SHORTLY TO ARRIVE A number of P type projects.

1930 TRUE VINTAGE MG â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; TYPE. 7RWDOO\ UHEXLOW WKURXJKRXW WR LPSHFFDEOH RUGHU E\ OHDGLQJ HDUO\ 0* UHVWRUHU $ SURSHU MRE D 96&& FDU HOLJLEOH IRU DOO HYHQWV WULDOV UDOOLHV DQG RIIHUHG DW OHVV WKDQ WKH UHVWRUDWLRQ FRVW %ODFN IDEULF ERG\ ZLWK JUHHQ KLGH LQWHULRU ÂŁ29,500 (See website for photos)

RING FOR DETAILS

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

MGB Roadster 1974

Green with overdrive. Owned for M.G. in North the last 9 years.Herts Garaged. Heritage Trust Certificate. Years MOT with MGOC Recommended no advisories.

Bare metalWorkshop respray in and and Power Steering Installer 2008 waxoyled.

New wire MoT&&tyres Failures Repaired wheels 4000 miles ago.

Servicing, Restoration Alarm fitted.Welding, 12 Volt battery conversion.

Electric M.G.A. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; B â&#x20AC;&#x201C;ignition.

C â&#x20AC;&#x201C; V8, Moto MidgetLita leather steering wheel. Top good Langley Garage with Rear no of marks/leaks.

Loads of London Nr Hitchin, invoicesRoad, and Langley, paperwork.

New Hertsseat SG4 covers, 7PJ cream leather doorcards & trim kit. 729288 01438 Email: alancook19@sky.com 07860 473298 Tel: 01529 302684 www.mg-repairs-hertfordshire.com CARSâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;FORâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SALE (Sleaford,Lincolnshire)

MIDGETS! WANTED

Contact the Midget Specialist MIKE AUTHERS on Abingdon 07703 465 224 CHROME BUMPERED MIDGETS in excellent condition bought up to ÂŁ8,000. View current stock at

www.mgmidgets.com

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 Colin Grant at colingrant@mgcc.co.uk with details car, around 60 words, togethyour MGB of 1979 with anlotsattached er Roadster, of workpicture, carried your out of your information, contact on it and is valuedprice at between car, the area where you live, and

ÂŁ6000 to ÂŁ7000. I would like to

membership number. Cost for nonswap it for a MGBGT of similar members to advertise is ÂŁ20. All value. I based Essex. Please call me adverts should be submitted by the on 01375 360956 for further infor15th of the month for the

mation

following months issue.

MGB Roadster 1970

Moving house and no garage forces a very reluctant sale of my lovely Roadster. 1950cc, lead-free petrol, with electronic overdrive. 7500 miles since rebuild. Iris Blue with dark blue hood and tonneau cover, dark blue leather upholstery, motolita steering wheel and walnut fascia. Chrome bumpers, wire wheels and luggage rack. Fully MOT'd and very recently serviced, road tax exempt. Garaged, and in first-class condition throughout. ÂŁ10000 ono. Contact Angus Loudon 07532 164609 (Scotland)

AUGUST 2016 SAFETY FAST! 93

www.mgcc.co.uk

MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 93

These rarely come up today. They are not â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bags of bitsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; but original cars with numbers,simply dismantled.

They offer a rare opportunity to obtain a pre-war MG at a low price for restoration.

MGC ROADSTER 1970

MG ZT260 SE

Registered 2004 an sively restored over Thousands ÂŁ's spent engine and ancillaries miles ago), new br complete suspensio inc rebuild of rear su Workshop. Countle replaced inc new t Raven Black paintwo dition for year. Rec mileage for year 48K dition 2-3. Club and ation ÂŁ7500 - Price Please email me at frankjohnsfja@hotm or phone: 01489878 (Winchester Area)

22/07/2016 17:49

CL ASSIFIEDS

MGA 1500 Coupé 1958

Present owner for last 25 years.

Total rebuild 14 years ago, only 14,000 miles since. Loss of heated garage space forces this very reluctant sale. This car is featured on the rear cover of 'Call it MGA' - 2nd edn. Very original car with rare 'Ace Mercury' wheel trims. Interesting Registration number - PMO 30. £22,500 o.n.o Contact 01245 260728 (Essex)

1975 MGBGT

Tax exempt.Webasto sunroof, overdrive and SS exhaust. Bodyworks needs slight attention, all original car, many new parts too many to mention.Well maintained, good runner. 9 months MOT. Owned for the last 26 years. £1,700 ONO Tel: Terry 01322 557914 (Bexley Kent)

MG TF 135 2004

Very Good Condition, Engine - cc 1796, Body colour Starlight Silver, Black Leather Seats, MOT May 2017. Cam Belt changed May 2015, Full service history, 33.000 miles, 2 Keys 1 Fob. Hard Top included in price, £3000ono. Tel: David on Mobile 07974 540903 or home 0203 718 3878.

(West Wickham, Kent)

1974 MGB Roadster

Damask red, overdrive, new red leather seats & door cards. Duck down hood. Body work excellent , correct oil pressure, gearbox just overhauled with new clutch, new fuel tank, new radiator / Kenlow fan, new starter motor, 5 new Firestone tyres, s/s exhaust, walnut dash, Heritage certificate, large history file, Condition 2. £10,850 ono, 07764-781657 Email:ro d g o o d i e r @ b t i n t e r n e t . c o m (Cheshire)

MGF 2000MY MGTB.

Due to changed circumstances my TB is regretfully for sale. Subject to a 9 year ground up £30k plus restoration it can only be described as beautiful. Original Reg number and all matching numbers with some history. Appropriate offers to Harry on 07968401316

Platinum Silver MGF, registered April 2000 with MOT until July 2017, in good condition and kept garaged. Plenty of added extras such as Trophy headlights, Trophy splitter, rear spoiler, rear 3 disc lights, TT exhaust, side scoops, hoops, 52mm throttle body and cone air filter make this a unique MGF. Head gasket changed and low coolant alarm fitted. 82,500 miles. £1,995.00 ONO. Contact Paul on 07713 270036 or Email; batchpad@talk21.com (South Yorkshire)

1959 MGA 1600

Roadster sold because of an acute hay fever allergy in favour, we hope, of a late model Steptronic TF with aircon. I imported the car from Virginia last year, LHD but being sold with RHD rack and dash panel.

Excellent engine with reground crank, new oil pump, timing chain and piston rings. Red trim renewed plus good weather equipment. Paint smart enough for all but concourse showing. A genuine mid-range ‘A’ for £17,500 ono. 01227 637813 johnbennett698@gmail.com (Kent)

MGB Roadster 1970

Tartan red, lovely car, full refurbishment in Scotland by the previous owner, bills and history file. Mohair hood, black leather interior, wooden dashboard trim, full years MOT. £10500 For more photos please contact Dick on 07802 637896 (Cirencester)

1974 MGB GT V8

One owner Factory V8, Glacier White / Autumn Leaf, superb condition, 56,000 miles. Reluctant sale after 25 years dry storage and comprehensive refurbishment. 5 speed gearbox, good tyres, many new parts. Lots of history, including original receipt, MOT’s, bills covering the last 40 years. Heritage Certificate, MOT until July 2017. £23,500 offers considered. Phone 07531368119 or email: v8rover@live.co.uk (Location Worcestershire)

1979 MGB MGF 2000 MODEL YEAR

2 owners only. Car is on the road but requires small amount of work sill repair needed, Good points are no other marks on the car It looks good, soft top is in excellent condition, plus hard top. Interior black leather very clean no rips Mot November 2016 Runs well at 53k miles Tiptronic box (all works great) 4 new tyres, new battery, new exhaust. £650 ono Please call 07762611868 (Crewe Cheshire)

SELLING YOUR CAR?

MGC Roadster Auto 1967 MOT February. My age forces sale. £27,000 but would consider all sensible offers. For more info phone Carol on 07925150337 (Kent)

94 SAFETY FAST! AUGUST 2016

MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 94

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

MG TF 1.8 2003

Stunning looking example in the most desirable and rarest dark blue metallic. A very reluctant sale due to baby on the way. All the usual refinements including: Cream Leather interior, Remote Central Door Locking, Electric Windows, Radio/CD Player, Power Steering, Alloy Wheels, Leather Steering Wheel, Twin Chrome Exhausts, Driver & Passenger Airbags, Centre Armrest, Alarm. Fitted with a wind deflector and stainless steel heater pipes. Recent work completed includes a brake overhaul, new wheel bearing, tyre, track rod end and battery. No head gasket issues.

Next MOT due June 2017, 61,500 miles. LOCATED IN ABINGDON £2,100 ono. Contact Graham Dix 01235 201871 or 07549676772 email: graham.dix@ntlworld.com

Inca yellow, excellent condition mechanically and body, MOT until July 17. Showing 93k, new black leather seats, refurbished over the last few years, Peter Burgess Econotune head, only used in good weather. £6,995. Telephone: 07816250269, (Nottinghamshire)

MGC GT Automatic 1968 Much loved car, part of the family.

My age forces sale. £20,000 But all sensible offers considered.

Mot March. For info phone Carol on 07925150337 (Kent)

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/07/2016 17:33

18/80 M.G. SIX – MK 1 1929 4 SEATER TOURER

This motorcar was built at Edmund Road, Oxford in about May 1929. It is not known whether it was sent new to New Zealand or registered here and then sent overseas.

It was built as one of only 25 two seaters, chassis No 2/6461, body No. 7556. The first known owner in 1938 was a Mr Marlow or Marler (both names are used in the paperwork). It is one of only about 25 Mk1 cars left worldwide.

A Sue Naylor bought the motorcar in 1981 as “two trailer loads of bits” and rebuilt it as a 4 seater tourer, re-using all the original wings and the bodywork from the front doors forward.

Peter Mace bought the motorcar to the UK in 1981, hence the age related number and I bought it in May 2003. I did a tidy up of the bodywork in 2009/10 and had a professional overhaul of the clutch, gearbox and rear axle in May 2016.

oiro £80,000 John Cooper 07976 982830 or j-jcooper@ntlworld.com

MGs

TERRY BONE Established in Business Since 1959

MGs

Cars for sale Cars sold About Terry Bone I personally deliver to your home all the cars sold.

Phone: 01825 722359 Mobile: 07889 227552 terry@terrybone.co.uk Location: East Sussex

TERRY BONE’s (MG BUSINESS) FOR SALE Details under: Cars for sale on www.terrybone.co.uk www.mgcc.co.uk

MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 95

AUGUST 2016 SAFETY FAST! 95

22/07/2016 17:33

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

MGB Hardtop

In Black Factory shape. No fittings. Sound and presentable £75.00. Tel: 07961948279 (West Somerset)

MGF or TF

Hood + Hardtop protection. Both hoodmats + Sunmate. £59.00 Tel: 01491 838737 (South Oxon)

MGB

4 x refurbished Rostyle wheels, 2 with near new Nexens and 2 with part used Pirelli.

Also further wheel with legal tyre as spare. £75 or offer.

MG ZR

New 3 button remote. may also suit ZS/ZT etc. £20.

Contact Roger Latham on 01702 580472 or 07866 241841 (Essex).

Books for Sale

Maintaining the Breed by John Thornley.Third Edition £25:00 The MG Companion by Kenneth Ullyett.Third Impression. £20:00 MGB Special Tuning by BMC Special Tuning Dept' £10:00 MGB 4-Cylinder Engines by Peter Burgess £15:00 MG's Abingdon Factory by Brian Moyland £ 5:00 Tuning Rover V8 Engines by David Hardcastle. £15:00 How to Power Tune Rover V8 Engines by Des Hammill.£15:00 How to give your MGB V8 Power by Roger Williams (Updated) £15:00 Post and packing at cost Contact Ralph on 01823 335657

MGTF

Half cover £20,MGTF hood storage cover £25 cash on collection please from Sidcup Kent DA14 4NR. Contact Pete Hanaway 0208 302 1739

MG Maestro

Towbar complete with electrics etc.s needs a coat of paint but serviceable. Free but collection only from Coventry(or Bristol, Southampton by arrangement).

Jim 02476 673894.

96 SAFETY FAST! AUGUST 2016

MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 96

MGF/TF

Black hardtop, black leather headliner,glass HRW and stand (good condition) £250 Black mesh windstop £60 Rear tonneau cover £30 MGF complete workshop manual £10 Pair black/grey check seats (excellent condition) £180 Coversure fully fitted outdoor car cover £70

MGA WHEELS

set of 4 60spoke chrome wire wheels fitted with Goodyear Grand Prix S 155 SR 15 tyres £100 Black mesh windstop from MGOC for MGB/RV8 £60 Tel 07967742279 (Tyne and Wear)

Midget 1275

4 off 5 x 13" Alloys New, Black c/w caps and nuts, minilite pattern, boxed. £130 Final Drive units 4.1:1, 5.3:1, 5.8:1 £75 - £100 each. Can post Please call Philip 07403521034 (Plymouth, Devon)

MG RV8

Pair of door cards surplus to requirements £100.00 the pair

M.G.T.D.

Rear bumper blade (not quite concourse but very serviceable) £35.00 One steel wheel also very serviceable. £ 30.00 Left hand steering rack £ 80.00 Phone 01943 872607 email sde@stevedavidellams.co.uk

XPAW block. Bo 1500(Edney) wi rods £400. B&G used £75. Alloy with vent £50. A plate (Moss) £50 oil/temp gauge n £30. New oil pre £50. New 8inch plate £20

ZA/ZB Spares

Unique and uno tine new/ unuse Stored40 years chrome and bad with wiring. Fits wheel only. £200 Pair new Wire w hubs bolt on to r Distributor Luca clamp /leads. Pa c/w excellent Kin bearings,drums from Wore whee £75. New, unpa indicator mounti indicator lights £ ratio £30

MGB Spares

Pr wire wheel hu shafts for early(b £50 Can post sm Buyer collects la davidjburgess12 or 07768 77560

MGTF Dayton

Brand new in its MGRover packa either the driver seat. £45 plus £ For more inform Colin at the MG 01235 555552.

WAN

WAN

MGB 1800 engine 1971

No RWE-H2061 with O.D gearbox inc. all instruments and ancillaries 34,000 miles stored many years. Also full Webasto roof, tailgate with wipers and one good Rostyle wheel with new Michelin XAs tyre. All must go. Offers to 01243 576337 (West Sussex)

MG BGT V8

Three original wheels, in very poor condition, especially the chrome rims. Would be OK for refurbishment. Wheels FREE but must be collected from Ascot Berks. Tel: 01344 883640 if interested/need directions.

1970 MGBGT

T Type Spare

Abandoned project breaking for spares has wire wheels and limited bits still available. Phone 01522 727586 (day) 01476 210191 (eve) for details (Lincoln)

MGB sccr gear out overdrive MGB Aluminium MG ZR Express MG ZR Walnut facelift) MG ZR Genuine Please contact B on 07870 40711 mgcarsscotland

WAN

Pair of sills for 1 Montego saloon 01436860664 o email robertik@ (Nr Glasgow)

WAN MG TC w

If you have two reasonable wire 19", 48 spoke) l back of your gar you would consi them? I would b if you could call.

James, tel; 0777

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/07/2016 17:33

Rostyle wheels, Nexens and 2 relli. el with legal 5 or offer.

mote. may also 20. lack leather atham on r 07866 241841 HRW and stand

£250 dstop £60 e over £30 Breed

by John workshop manu-

dition £25:00 nion by Kenneth check seats ression. £20:00 ion) by £180 ning BMC ept' outdoor £10:00 itted Engines by 15:00 S Factory by Brian

e chrome wire hEngines Goodyear by 5 SR 15 tyres e. £15:00

une Rover V8 Hammill.£15:00 dstop from MGB V8 /RV8 £60 Williams 90 g) at cost n 01823 335657

MGTF hood stor-

ys New, Black

nts,please minilitefrom pat14 4NR. 0 naway 0208

4.1:1, 5.3:1, 0 each. Can post p 07403521034 on)

with electrics at of paint but e but collection try(or Bristol, arrangement).

94.surplus to ds

100.00 the pair

ade (not quite ery serviceable) also very serv-

ng rack £ 80.00 72607 email dellams.co.uk

Final Drive units 4.1:1, 5.3:1, 5.8:1 £75 - £100 each. Can post Please call Philip 07403521034 (Plymouth, Devon)

MG RV8

Pair of door cards surplus to requirements £100.00 the pair

T Type Spares M.G.T.D. XPAW block. blade Bored(not to quite Rear bumper concourse butwith verypistons serviceable) 1500(Edney) and £35.00 rods £400. B&G camshaft little One steel wheel also very servused £75. Alloy rocker cover iceable. £ 30.00 withhand vent steering £50. Alloy tappet side Left rack £ 80.00 plate (Moss) Combined Phone 01943 £50.

872607 email oil/temp gauge needs refurb sde@stevedavidellams.co.uk £30. New oil pressure regulator £50. New 8inch clutch driven plate £20 MGB 1800 engine 1971 ZA/ZB Spareswith O.D gearNo RWE-H2061 box inc. and all instruments and Unique unobtainable prisancillaries 34,000 miles stored tine new/ unused horn push. many years. Also full Webasto Stored40 years unblemished roof, tailgate with wipers and chrome badgewheel complete one goodand Rostyle with with Michelin wiring. Fits ZAtyre. flat All steering new XAs must wheel only.to£200. go.

Offers 01243 576337 (West Sussex) Pair new Wire wheel adapt or

hubs bolt on to rear axle £30 Distributor Lucas DM2 with MG BGT V8 Pair front hubs clamp /leads.

Three original King wheels, in bushes, very c/w excellent pins/ poor condition, especially the bearings,drums ,linings. Surplus chrome rims. Would be OK for from Wore wheel conversion refurbishment. Wheels FREE £75.must New, but beunpainted collected steel from rear indicator mounting pods883640 c/w Ascot Berks.

Tel: 01344 lights £55 ZB diff. 4.55 ifindicator interested/need directions. ratio £30

MGB Spares

Pr wire wheel hubs on axle 1970 MGBGT shafts for early(banjo axle) car Abandoned project breaking for spares has wire wheels and lim£50 Can post small items. ited bitscollects still available.

Phone Buyer larger items.

01522 727586 (day) 01476 davidjburgess123@gmail.com 210191 (eve) for details or 07768 775600 (Lincoln)

MGTF Daytona Seat Cover

Brand new in its original MGRover packaging.

Will fitsteel MGA lightened either the driver or passenger flywheel with twin seat. £45 plus £8 P&P or collect plate clutch fitted For more information contact Colin atUsed/ the MGsecond Car Club hand on plus another twin plate 01235 555552.

(Abingdon)

clutch assembly, again used. £500 ono

WANTED

MGB engine and WANTED

gine 1971

with O.D gearuments and 0 miles stored o full Webasto h wipers and e wheel with As tyre. All must 243 576337

heels, in very especially the ould be OK for Wheels FREE ected from : 01344 883640 d directions.

ect breaking for wheels and limlable. Phone day) 01476 r details

MGB sccr gearbox with or withoverdrive gearbox out overdrive The gearbox is just as MGB it Aluminium bodyyears panelsago was many MG ZRwhen Express Bulkhead taken out cage the MG ZR Walnut dash items ( pre car. facelift) As Genuine far as IMG know, MG ZR mats it is in fullcontact working order. The Please Bob MacGillivray engine on 07870 407111on or the emailother hand is in bits but mgcarsscotland@gmail.com

complete – although, it has also been in the WANTED for many Pair ofshed sills for 1991 MG years. £500 Montego saloon.

Tel ono Robert 01436860664 or email email robertik@btinternet.com Original 1500 (Nr Glasgow)

cylinder head casting Never been used or evenWANTED had valves fitted, MG TC in wire been mywheels. shed for If youmany have two second handono years. £500 reasonable wire wheels (2.5" x 19", 48 spoke) lurking in the back of your garage perhaps you would consider selling www.mgcc.co.uk them?

I would be most grateful if you could call. Kind regards James, tel; 07779423847

MG_SafetyFast_Aug16_51-98.indd 97

ratio £30

MGB Spares

Pr wire wheel hubs on axle shafts for early(banjo axle) car £50 Can post small items.

Buyer collects larger items. davidjburgess123@gmail.com or 07768 775600

MGTF Daytona Seat Cover

Brand new in its original MGRover packaging. Will fit either the driver or passenger seat. £45 plus £8 P&P or collect For more information contact Colin at the MG Car Club on 01235 555552. (Abingdon)

WANTED WANTED

MGB sccr gearbox with or without overdrive MGB Aluminium body panels MG ZR Express Bulkhead cage MG ZR Walnut dash items ( pre facelift) MG ZR Genuine MG mats Please contact Bob MacGillivray on 07870 407111 or email mgcarsscotland@gmail.com

WANTED

Pair of sills for 1991 MG Montego saloon. Tel Robert 01436860664 or email email robertik@btinternet.com (Nr Glasgow)

ANY MG WANTED ANY CONDITION

07774 484497 • 01923 840236 ejwhitescars@aol.com www.mgandporsche.com Northwood, Middlesex

www.mgandporsche.com TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE MARQUE OF FRIENDSH IP

June 2016 Volume 60 Number 06

WANTED MG TC wire wheels.

If you have two second hand reasonable wire wheels (2.5" x 19", 48 spoke) lurking in the back of your garage perhaps you would consider selling them? I would be most grateful if you could call. Kind regards James, tel; 07779423847

THE

CLUB

CAR LT D

ABINGDON - O N -T H A M ES FOUNDED 1 930

MGLIVE! 201 6 MG_SafetyFast_June1

6_Cover.indd 1

●

GREEN ENVY

●

2 016 R EG E N C Y RUN 16/05/2016 17:23

C O N TA C T U S O N 014 5 2 7 3 07 70

THE MARQUE OF FRIENDSHIP

PARTS FOR SALE

ORIGINAL & UNUSED 2 original unopened VP lead/copper bearing sets, conrod, std 1 original unopened VP lead/copper bearing sets, conrod +0.10 1 original unopened VP lead/copper bearing sets, conrod Big end 2 original unopened VP lead/copper bearing sets, conrod Mains Various unused VP shells (half packets?)

1 new and unused Weber inlet manifold Large selection of engine Gaskets including many sump, seals, other gaskets etc, unopened copper head gasket set 1 original unused rear brake drum 2 unused steering rack boots 2 oil filters 1 inline fuel filter 1 cooper s contact set 2 new sets Ferodo Brake pads (3 pot Rover type) 3 unused distributors. drive gears 2 drive gears oil 1 timing tensioner 1 box assorted steering bushes, seals etc all unused I put the cost of all of the above to be just over £1,000 taken into account that these are all original and quality items, that have not been made overseas. I donʼt even know if you can still get original VP lead copper shells for MGʼs, been a long time. All parts must go, so please make me an offer:

USED/SECONDHAND PARTS The following are original and quality items, that have not been made overseas. I believe I have valued these fairly also at around £1,000 but they all have to go as a job lot so make me any kind of a reasonable offer and I will accept.

1 Steering rack complete 1 gearbox layshaft unused but does need cleaning up 1 original crankshaft, lightened/balanced etc – I feel sure it is ok as I wouldnʼt have kept it, if it wasnʼt!

3 gearbox selector forks 2 kingpins + 7 top/bottom knuckles 4 half shafts, 2 coarse spline, 2 fine spline 1 engine mounting 1 box double valve springs – I think unused but it does need cleaning up a bit 1 box various rear light bits Round type, seals, suspension bushes, bearings, brake seals etc 1 engine timing gear 2 steering rod ends 1 starter motor 4 850 Norton Commando pistons+ 0.40” used but good, complete (I think used once).

1 850 Norton Commando pistons std 4 pistons boxed minus top rings + 0.60

All parts must go, so please make me an offer: Eric Hoult on 07872521382 or email at ejhoult@googlemail.com

CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS

AUGUST 2016 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.

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 2016 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, Dennis Wharf, Colin Grant, Adam Sloman PR and Communications: Lauran Gallacher 01235 849735, Chris Kynoch 01235 849731 Advertising: Hine Marketing 01452 730770 Published by: Hine Marketing, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton Glos, GL2 9LN. Tel: 01452 730770 Printed by: Precision Colour Printing. Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ Tel: 01952 585585 President: John Day Vice Presidents: Ron Gammons, Don Hayter, Peter Best.

Chairman: Ian Quarrington Vice Chairman: George Wilder Treasurer: Richard Colston Directors: Dave Saunders, Paul Plummer, William Ball, George Wilder, Dave Tynan and Peter Cook Company Secretary: Colin Grant

T

his month we have a trio of interesting Mike Wray photos dating from the Silverstone meeting back in August 1987.

This Metro 6R4 pace car must have caused quite a stir at the time.

By contrast this rather more sedate vintage offering is a stunning example of Cecil Kimber’s early handiwork.

Perhaps somebody can tell us more about its pedigree and current ownership?

How about this for a wellcoordinated outfit from the John Tadman stable? That’s what you might call going racing in style.

Staff Members: Adam Sloman (General Manager 01235 849732), John Hutchison (Competitions Secretary 01235 849738), Andy Knott (01235 849730), Liz Allsworth (Membership Secretary 01235 849734), Colin Grant (01235 849733), Lauran Gallacher (01235 849735), Cherina Scarrott (Finance Officer 01235 849736), Chris Kynoch (01235 849731) and Ineke Sherman (Merchandise 01235 849731) Honorary Members: Michael Allison, Ron Gammons, Peter Best, Don Hayter, John Quenby, Sir Stirling Moss, Paddy Hopkirk, Norman Ewing, 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.

The MG Car Club, Kimber House, PO Box 251, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 1FF Tel: 01235 555552 Fax: 01235 533755 E-mail: mgcc@mgcc.co.uk www.mgcc.co.uk

98 SAFETY FAST! AUGUST 2016

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If visiting The MG Car Club using Sat Nav please use OX14 1AS

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/07/2016 17:33

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