Safety Fast! April 2019

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April 2019 Volume 63 Number 04 £3.95

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Inside this issue 7 10 65 66 67

Club Matters and Kimber House News News Race Torque MGs on Track MGCC Speed Championship

71 Centre Updates 82 Register Updates 92 Classifieds 98 Looking Back

Features 8

MGLive!

MGLive! loses Silverstone venue and date

13

MOT and VED MoT Exemption and VED (Road Tax) Exemption explained

by Chris Hunt Cooke

18

“My mother doesn’t like it!”

A glimpse of some of the MGs driven by our Young Members Branch

21

Race Ready The all-new low-cost MG3 race car is ready to race

29

MG TA Tickford Project Martin Curren documents the rebuild of his MG TA purchased in 1968

39

Records at Utah The 1959 records set by EX219 and EX181

69

Overseas News MG Swiss V8 Register tour to Hallwyl Castle 2018

29

Newsletters 42

Vintage Newsletter A roundup of what’s going on within the Vintage Register

47

Twin Cam Newsletter Castle Combe track session, a ‘heads up’ on cylinder head repair, Looking ahead and more

53

V8 Newsletter Consultation on a ban on 10-year-old tyres, out of winter layup checks and forthcoming events

59

MG 635 Newsletter 2019 events roundup and changes to the committee

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

If visiting The MG Car Club using Sat Nav please use OX14 1AS

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Welcome

The all-new MG3 Racer, ready to take to the track with the MG Car Club.

Photo: Gez Hughes

42

@mgcarclub

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

Copyright MG Car Club 2019

The article on the MG3 race car in this issue follows the recent trend in Safety Fast! of modern MGs. It’s great to finally see an MG3 take to the track with the MG Car Club. The SMTC interns have done a sterling job with the car, as can be seen in this issue, and all being well those who attended the Club’s first race meeting of the year, held on the Silverstone National Circuit would have seen the 3 take to the track in anger in the first round of the MG Cup. Their next outing should be at Brands Hatch on April 27-28, where we will also see a brilliant grid of the Triple M MGs of the 1930s racing.

Also, in this issue we’ve got an excellent article on the rebuild of a 1939 MG TA Tickford, purchased by Martin Curren in 1968 as his first car.

As you can imagine, the TA has got quite a history and story behind it. We also kick off a series of articles celebrating the MG speed run anniversaries; hard to believe that some of the records set by Phil Hill at Bonneville in 1959 in EX181 still stand today.

2019 also marks the 80th anniversary of Major Alfred Thomas ‘Goldie’ Gardner setting several new speed records with his streamlined MG EX135 on the German Autobahn near Dessau. Look out for these articles throughout the year in forthcoming Safety Fast! issues.

We’ve got lots of exciting articles planned throughout the rest of the year as well, some celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Triple M Cars and others supporting the campaign being run by our ZR/ZS/ZT Register, ‘Save our Zeds’.

It’s encouraging to see the Classic Car press responding so encouragingly to the campaign, and we’re even getting letters and requests from enthusiastic members who would like to purchase a Zed car to keep and show. The campaign kicked off in earnest at the recently held Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration show at the NEC. The Register is very active in promoting the campaign, so why not visit their website at www.mgcc.co.uk/ zedregister/ to find out more about ‘Save our Zeds’ and the events the Register is putting on this year.

Until next month, drive safely.

Andy Knott

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CHAIRMANS NOTES

BY DAVE T YNAN

The last few weeks have ended up being a lot more tumultuous than any of us expected.

It started when two members of the MGLive! committee met with Silverstone Circuit, where they dropped the bombshell that our date for MGLive!

2019 was to be withdrawn due to essential track maintenance.

At this point, a full Crisis Communications plan was launched.

The Kimber House team worked late into the night responding to hundreds of posts on social media, taking tickets off sale, getting communications out on our website and across our social media channels. The team at Kimber House deserve a huge thank you from us all for dealing with an unprecedented event in such a short time and in an extremely professional way.

On pages 8 and 9 there’s more information about the loss of venue and date of MGLive!. I am not able to add any further information at the time of writing other than to say that various options are being looked at.

We held a successful council meeting at the MINI plant at Cowley.

There were various presentations from Motorsport, the Treasurer and Kimber House team. We were also able to ask council to clarify the age range for the Young Members Branch, which is 16 to 30 with a staged membership reduction from 16 to 24.

The Marque of Friendship award is given to a member that has made a great contribution to the Club, giving freely of their time to enhance the experience of other members, and I am pleased that this was awarded to

Debbie Brading for all her hard work on behalf of the Club.

We also had the Jean Denton Marathon MGB on display, thanks to John Watson and the MGB Register.

I also would like to thank Tanya Field for arranging the venue.

The archive is a great asset of the Club at Kimber House, which is administered by a number of volunteers. One of those volunteers, Phil Grinham, has decided to step down. Thank you, Phil, for all your work over the years!

We are now looking for another person who would be willing to assist with the archive, so if you have a good IT knowledge and are interested in volunteering please contact Adam Sloman at Kimber House.

Do you have in-depth knowledge of a sales and stocktake system called EPOS? Last month I mentioned the MGCC Shop, Kimber Stores. The sales and stocktake system we use is EPOS and the Kimber House team are looking for someone with knowledge of this system to help them with using it to its fullest and to help with reports, etc. If you can help please contact Lauran Gallacher at Kimber House.

handsome-looking SUV and should sell well in India. Just a shame there are no plans for its launch here.

The filming lasted all day with local members and members of our Young Members Branch invited to come along to be extras in the making of the film. Adam Sloman, MGCC General Manager, took a lead role and we look forward to seeing the finished result.

We bid farewell to Phil Grinham, who has been a volunteer for the last eight years assisting Peter Neal with the Kimber House archive. Phil took on the task of setting up a computerised database for the hundreds of photo

CDs received by the Club, allowing them to be easily accessed. Phil also assisted with the job of listing and maintaining the Club’s large collection of MG and MG-related books and videos as well as handbooks and manuals. Another of Phil’s activities was helping to list the various individual collections that the Club receives on a regular basis. When not working at the computer Phil could be found updating the various display cabinets we have dotted around Kimber House.

We would like to thank Phil for the important contribution he has made to the Club and to wish him well in the future.

KIMBER HOUSE NEWS On Thursday March 14 we welcomed an MG Motor film crew from India, who were filming for the launch of their new Indian market SUV. The launch will take place in India at the end of April.

Because of this we can give no details here; suffice to say that it is a really

www.mgcc.co.uk

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MGLIVE!

MGLIVE! LOSES SILVERSTONE VENUE AND DATE WHAT HAS HAPPENED? Since last month’s Safety Fast! was published, we have received the sad news that due to Silverstone Circuits Limited’s decision to carry out essential track maintenance during June 2019, MGLive! has lost its venue and dates.

Silverstone has been the home of MGLive! since its inception as the Club’s annual national meeting in 1951, meaning the loss of the opportunity to host the event at

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Silverstone has hit the Club very hard sentimentally.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? This means that MGLive! cannot be held at Silverstone in any capacity in June 2019.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The Club are now exploring options to move the event to a new location and/ or date, with further announcements

to be made on this in due course once arrangements are in place.

At the point Safety Fast! closed for press, we are not able to confirm the alternative options so please keep an eye on the Club website and social media for announcements in the meantime.

WHAT IF I’VE ALREADY GOT A TICKET? All ticket holders will be contacted in due course, once the Club have

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MGLIVE!

ADAM SLOMAN, GENERAL MANAGER OF MG CAR CLUB

confirmed the arrangements around the event with what options will be available.

WHAT IF I’VE BOOKED TRAVEL AND HOTELS? We are really sorry about the inconvenience and upset this situation has caused. We would suggest you get in touch with your travel provider/travel insurance company to see what your options are in the interim whilst the Club makes alternative arrangements.

WHAT IF I WANT TO COME TO THE NEW EVENT? Tickets have been removed from sale currently whilst we pursue alternative arrangements, and will go back on sale once alternative arrangements have been made.

Again, watch out for announcements on the Club website and also social media for ticket information, once confirmed.

HOW CAN SILVERSTONE DO THAT? WHAT ABOUT CONTRACTS? We’re really sorry, but we are not in a position to comment on this at the moment for legal reasons.

This cancellation is out of the control of the Club, and the Club are doing everything possible to arrange an alternative event.

Please keep an eye on the Club website and social media for announcements in the meantime, as well as next month’s Safety Fast!

“We are incredibly sorry to be sharing such devastating news and everyone at the Club is so distraught that we are no longer able to hold MGLive! at Silverstone this year, due to this situation.

“It is such a shame, as we have experienced record sales versus previous years, with so many members and classic car enthusiasts purchasing tickets well in advance. We are so deeply sorry to all of those ticket holders and enthusiasts who have supported the Club and event to date.

“We are absolutely making every effort to find an alternative option for MGLive! in 2019; we do not want to add to the decline of classic motoring shows or events we’ve already seen recently, and we are not going to be beaten by this.

“We are working very hard to find a solution for a venue that can hold our unique race and entertainment event, and hope to make a further announcement soon confirming the arrangements going forwards.

“Once we have those arrangements in place, we will be in touch with all our current ticket holders outlining the options that will be available to them.

“We’d like to thank the classic car community in advance for their support and understanding.”

STUART PRINGLE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SILVERSTONE CIRCUITS LIMITED “Silverstone Circuits Limited is extremely sorry for the cancellation of the MGLive! event in June. This is due to essential track maintenance. We will work with the Club to find a suitable alternative date later in the year that accommodates MGCC Members aspirations for their racing.”

www.mgcc.co.uk

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NEWS

The 2019 SAIC Design Challenge The SAIC Design challenge was created to help young students achieve their automotive design dream, and the European Region of the SAIC Design Challenge competition is open to all colleges and universities, undergraduate and postgraduate students in Europe, whose major is design-related.

The brief for this Challenge is intelligent frontier 2030. The concept of the designs should be a product that future MG customers can use as part of their hyper-connected lifestyle in the future urban setting of 2030.

The closing date for entries is June 6 and full details can be found at www.saicmotor.co.uk/ saicdesignchallenge/

MG and Alfa Spares Presents: N.A.S. Car 2019 MG and Classic Car Run This run, in support of the National Autistic Society, takes place on Sunday August 11 2019 assembling from 10.00am at MG and Alfa Spares, Unit 10, Stockfield Mill, Melbourne Street, Chadderton, Oldham OL9 9EW Your £20 per car entry fee includes: *Morning tea or coffee *Your own Monte Carlo-style bumper plaque *Full instructions for the detailed route along some great driving roads *Ample time and opportunity for rest breaks at various places of interest en route Please note that this event is not a race or time trial of any kind. We just want you to enjoy the day in your classic car.

For more information contact Jason Swinyard at MG and Alfa Spares 07711 097957 or email to mg-alfaspares@hotmail.co.uk

Triple-M Register AGM

MG GOES ELECTRIC! MG Motor UK is set to launch its very first battery electric vehicle in the UK this autumn with the arrival of the MG ZS electric SUV. With a full-sized boot and room for five, the MG ZS EV is the perfect car for people who want to go electric but also need the space and practicality of a compact SUV. Since launch in November 2017, MG ZS has become a familiar sight on British roads, always propelled by unleaded petrol fuel. With prices starting from just £12,495, packed full of tech and sporting a seven-year warranty, MG ZS has become a popular choice amongst British car buyers. From autumn, the petrol version will be joined by its zero-emissions electric equivalent, bringing affordable electric motoring to the British public.

Daniel Gregorious, Head of Sales and Marketing at MG, said: “With the launch of our MG ZS electric SUV we’re delighted to be entering the electric car market at such an exciting time. With all the practicality and versatility of a compact SUV, a full-sized boot and room for five, ZS means electric without compromise. With MG’s trademark value-for-money approach, we’re confident that we can help more and more new car buyers to go electric.”

The MG ZS EV will be launched in the UK in autumn 2019. Full details, including pricing and specification, will be released closer to launch, but in the meantime potential customers can register their interest at www.mg.co.uk/electric

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Date: Sunday June 2 2019 Place: MG Car Club, Kimber House, Abingdon OX14 1AS Time: 2.30 pm Agenda 1. Apologies for absence 2. Approval of minutes of the 2018 AGM 3. Matters arising from the minutes 4. Chairman’s Report 5. Secretary’s Report 6. Treasurer’s Report 7. Consideration of the 2018 accounts 8. Election of Officers 9. Election of Committee 10. Other business of the AGM 11. Open Forum For information about the meeting please contact the Committee Secretary, Dick Morbey at richard.morbey@gmail.com or ‘Marlstone’, Frieth, Henley-on-Thames RG9 6PR or 01494 883112.

Nominations for election to the Committee and notice of any topics proposed for discussion should be sent to him by May 11 2019.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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NEWS

MGTAMGTBMGTC MGTDMGTFMGBGT MGTFMGZRMGKN MGVAMGZSMGSA MGWAMGZTMGGS

John Harold Haynes OBE It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John H Haynes OBE. John, the entrepreneur and creator of the Haynes Manual, founder of the Haynes Publishing Group PLC and the Haynes International Motor Museum passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on the evening of Friday February 8, aged 80, after a short illness.

John was a kind, generous, loving and devoted husband, brother, father and grandfather, who will be missed enormously.

In 1965, John was posted to Aden and it was there that he created the first Haynes Manual. An RAF colleague had bought a ‘Frogeye’ Sprite, which was in poor condition and he asked John to help him rebuild it. John agreed, and quickly realised that the official factory manual was not designed to help the average car owner. He bought a camera and captured the process of dismantling and rebuilding the engine.

The use of step-by-step photo sequences linked to exploded diagrams became the trusted hallmark of Haynes Manuals. The first Haynes Manual, for the Austin Healey Sprite, was published in 1966, and the first print run of 3,000 sold out in less than 3 months.

To date over 200 million Haynes Manuals have been sold around the world.

In 1985 he founded the Haynes International Motor Museum in Sparkford, Somerset as an Educational Charitable Trust, bequeathing his collection of 30 cars to the charity to be held for the benefit of the nation. John continued to support the museum charity throughout his life by donating cars and funding its growth, and thanks to his support the museum has grown and now displays more than 400 vehicles, and is enjoyed by over 125,000 people a year. At the 2014 International Historic Motoring Awards the museum was recognised as The Museum of the Year.

A true gentleman, and a kind and considerate man, John will be greatly missed not only by his family, friends and colleagues but also by the many people that use his manuals, and benefit from his reassuring guiding hand as they repair and maintain their cars and motorbikes. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Annette, his brother David and sister Mary, his sons J and Chris and their families.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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MG 18/80 Mk1 Four Seat Tourer

A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE A VERY EARLY AND HISTORIC MG. Unlike earlier cars, which were converted Morris Oxfords, the 18/80 was designed from scratch

by Cecil Kimber. There are only around 30 MG 18/80 MK1s that have survived and this model is fitted with the very desirable 4 seater tourer body with an excellent hood and side screens.

With the weather equipment in place the inside is as water tight and cosy as a saloon. It was first registered in June 1929 and was purchased by Robin Salter from Bognor Regis who purchased the car directly from Morris Garages in Oxford hence the Oxford Registration number.

The 18/80 is a very capable car on the road powered by its 2468cc Six Cylinder OHC twin SU engine.

The smooth and quiet ride means it can cruise all day at 60mph making it an ideal long distance touring car. WL 7196 has been owned for the last 24 years by John Day who has attended many European Events of the Year in it, successfully completing tours in eleven European countries. The car drives extremely well under any conditions and with positive steering and powerful brakes the performance can be used with confidence. The Tourer body is fitted with a boot, somewhat unusual on a vintage car, and can comfortably accommodate four adults in comfort.

It was restored in 1983 and remains in beautiful condition. Its engineer owner has continuously developed the car for reliability and it is a delight to drive under any conditions.

The full history of the car is known from 1929 and the current owner is only the fourth since new!

A huge number of logs and files detail the maintenance work carried out in the last 35 years. These logs include details of all the continental trips that the car has completed and will be sold with the car as they are part of the incredible provenance of this historic MG.

For more details please contact; John Day on mg1880@ntlworld.com or 07817 295570

Price £100,000

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MOT EXEMPTION EXPLAINED

P

rior to May 20 2018, cars first registered or built before 1960 were exempt from needing an MoT, but this is now extended to vehicles first registered or built more than 40 years previously, provided that they qualify as a Vehicle of Historic Interest (VHI); this 40-year period rolls forward, so more vehicles become exempt on a daily basis.

This does not require any action on the part of the owner, it is a matter of law in the same way that the exemption for pre-1960 vehicles was. When the time comes to relicense the vehicle, the DVLA will require either an MoT or evidence that the vehicle is exempt, and that

www.mgcc.co.uk

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By Chris Hunt Cooke

evidence has to be provided by the keeper completing a form V112 and declaring it exempt as a category ‘r’ vehicle, as defined in the notes on the back of the form V112.

Expert help may be sought over this, but the responsibility for making a declaration remains that of the keeper alone. There are no plans for the keeper’s declaration to be verified by examination of the vehicle.

Important clarifications It is important to recognise that this exemption stands on its own; it does not depend on the vehicle having been transferred into the Historic class for VED (road tax) purposes, and likewise transfer to the Historic class

does not depend on MoT exemption.

A vehicle may be in the Historic class, but still require an MoT if it is not a VHI. When this exemption was first being discussed, there was a suggestion that the DVLA’s rule on radically altered vehicles (“the eight point rule”) might be used for this purpose; that was not adopted, and it therefore has no relevance to VHIs. What is a Vehicle of Historic Interest?

A VHI is a vehicle that: • Was manufactured or registered for the first time at least 40 years previously.

• Is of a type no longer in production.

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FEATURE

A 2005 MG TF having its compulsory MOT.

• Has been historically preserved or maintained in its original state and has not undergone substantial change in the technical characteristics of its main components.

The first two criteria are clear enough, but the phrase “substantial change” requires explanation. The DfT has given its opinion in the form of a document reasonably entitled DfT: Substantial Change Guidance.

This states that “a vehicle will be considered substantially changed if the technical characteristics of the main components have been changed in the previous 30 years, unless they fall into specific categories”. It is worth noting here that components do not have to be original, they have to have the same technical characteristics. The main components are considered to be: • Chassis or monocoque bodyshell including any subframes – replacements to the same pattern as the original are not considered a substantial change.

• Axles and running gear – alteration of the type or method of suspension or steering constitutes a substantial change.

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• Engine – alternative cubic capacities of the same basic engine and alternative original equipment engines are not considered a substantial change. If the number of cylinders in an engine is different from the original, it is likely but not necessarily the case that the current engine is not alternative original equipment.

What is not mentioned is significant. The transmission is a case in point: it is not mentioned so is not considered a main component in this context.

On the other hand, some changes will not be considered substantial, whatever components they affect, if they fall into these specific categories: • Changes made to preserve a vehicle, which in all cases must be when original type parts are no longer reasonably available.

• Changes made of a type that can be demonstrated to have been made when vehicles of the type were in production or in general use within 10 years of the end of production.

• Changes made to axles and running gear made to improve

efficiency, safety or environmental performance.

If a vehicle has been issued with a registration number with a “Q” prefix, or is a kit car assembled from components from different makes and models of vehicles, or is a reconstructed classic vehicle as defined by DVLA guidance, or is a kit conversion, where a kit of new parts is added to an existing vehicle, or old parts are added to a kit of a manufactured body, chassis or monocoque bodyshell, changing the general appearance of the vehicle, it will be considered to have been substantially changed. In such a case it will not be exempt from MoT testing, unless, that is, the vehicle is taxed as an historic vehicle and has not been modified during the previous 30 years, when it can be considered a VHI. This is an exception to the general rule set out earlier that MoT exemption and Historic tax class are separate matters.

Note that the guidance on substantial change given by the DfT is only intended to determine the testing position of a substantially changed vehicle, not its registration position, for example as possibly a radically altered vehicle which has a very different set of rules.

To evidence exemption from MoT testing the keeper of a vehicle must make a declaration that it is a VHI when renewing their vehicle tax. This is done by completing a V112 declaration form, available online, and applies as much to pre-1960 vehicles that were previously automatically exempt as it does to newer vehicles.

The responsibility to ensure that the vehicle meets the criteria for a VHI rests with the keeper of the vehicle. If they cannot determine that the vehicle has not been substantially changed, they should not claim it as a VHI. To assist them, a list of marque and historic vehicle experts is available on the website of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC). The

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guidance on substantial change has been considerably influenced by input from FBHVC.

test, then they can continue to do so, whether or not the vehicle could be exempted.

It is important to appreciate that DVLA will keep no record that a vehicle has been declared a VHI and MoT exemption claimed, and the same declaration will need to be made each time the vehicle is re-licensed. If substantial change has been made to the vehicle, then it is not a VHI and the declaration cannot be made. There is of course no compulsion to declare a vehicle to be a VHI and if the keeper is content to continue to have an annual MoT

Wise precaution As DVLA keep no record that a vehicle has been declared exempt, police cannot confirm that is the case when they see a vehicle on the road. FBHVC were informed that police were told to assume a car was exempt unless there was evidence otherwise, but there have been press reports to the contrary, and FBHVC have sought assurances from the National Police Chiefs Council. It might be worthwhile to keep the V112 form, stamped at the Post Office, or a screen grab if submitted online, and a copy letter from DfT, available from FBHVC, in the vehicle.

Continuing to have an MoT test or similar test or inspection?

As mentioned, it is open to an owner to keep having their car MoT tested even though it is exempt, but is this advisable or not? Certainly an annual test of some sort is a good idea. Faults can progress slowly so that even the most conscientious and knowledgeable owner may not be aware of them, but a tester coming new to the vehicle will pick them up.

There are however disadvantages to an actual MoT test. Bear in mind that the aim of the DfT in creating the MoT

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MGSF_April2019_3-46.indd 15

exemption was not to oblige owners, but the need to simplify and modernise roadworthiness testing procedures by removing from the testing regime numbers of older vehicles designed to different standards from more modern vehicles. Different standards and exemptions were listed in the tester’s handbook, but these will be going and in addition automated test methods being introduced may actually damage older vehicles. If submitting a 40-yearold vehicle for an MoT test it would therefore be advisable to speak to the tester beforehand to clarify the testing standards to be applied.

Responsibility for the roadworthiness of a vehicle All vehicle keepers, whether the vehicle has or could be exempted and whether or not it has an MoT certificate, are of course responsible for the roadworthiness of their vehicle, and commit an offence if it is driven on the road when it is not roadworthy. In addition, motor insurance policies will have conditions requiring the insured to maintain the vehicle in a roadworthy condition.

See our separate information note on VED (Road Tax) Exemption. Further information is available on a dedicated micro website covering MoT exemption and VED exemption at: http://www. buyinganmg.com/exemptions.htm

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 15

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VED (ROAD TAX) EXEMPTION EXPLAINED

T

By Chris Hunt Cooke

he tax exemption for 40-year-old vehicles rolls forward on a calendar year basis, so vehicles manufactured before January 1 1979 are exempt from vehicle tax from April 1 2019 continuing on an annual basis. There is a concession under which if the actual date of manufacture is not known, those vehicles first registered within the first week of a new year (January 1-7 inclusive) are accepted as having been manufactured in the previous year.

Important clarification It is important to appreciate that this VED (Road Tax) exemption stands on its own. It is quite independent from MoT exemption status, and a vehicle in the Historic tax class may or may not require an MoT.

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How to apply for VED exemption To apply for tax exemption, you will need to change the tax classification of your vehicle from Private/Light Goods (PLG) to Historic. To do this, apply at a Post Office that deals with Vehicle Tax. You need to take: • the log book (V5C) in your name.

• your vehicle tax reminder letter (V11), if you have one.

• an MoT certificate that is valid when the tax starts, or evidence that your vehicle is exempt from an MoT in the form of a V112 declaration.

• in Northern Ireland only, an insurance certificate or cover note.

Enter the word ‘HISTORIC’ in section 7 of your V5C, marked Taxation Class, and write it where it states ‘Changes to current vehicle’ in the box provided. Use a black pen and write

MG LE

the wording in capitals. Then sign the declaration in section eight.

The V5C should show your vehicle being first registered 40 years prior to January 1 in the qualifying year.

Which would mean if you were applying in April 2019 your V5C must show a registration date prior to January 1 1979 or by concession up to January 7 1980. You can only make your application on or after the date your car becomes exempt on April 1 of the qualifying year. If you do not have the log book, download and complete an application for a log book (V62) or get one from the Post Office. Take it to the Post Office with the £25 fee.

The Post Office will send your application to DVLA and you should receive a confirmation within 10 working days that the change has been made and your new log book within four weeks. If you are due a refund, you should receive it within six weeks. Contact the DVLA if it does not arrive within that time, and likewise the new log book. You can still use the vehicle while your application is being processed.

In future years you will receive a vehicle tax reminder letter (V11) as normal, and you will be able to relicense it online if you wish, including declaring that it is exempt from MoT requirements as a VHI, otherwise of course doing so at a Post Office.

You must carry out the re-licensing process, even though there will be nothing to pay with a VED-exempt car or alternatively put it on SORN if an owner might want to do that to enable them to cancel their road cover insurance if the car was not being used.

See our separate information note on MoT Exemption. Further information is available on a dedicated micro website covering MoT exemption and VED exemption at: www.buyinganmg.com/ exemptions.htm

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22/03/2019 17:16

YOUNG MEMBERS BRANCH

“MY MOTHER DOESN’T LIKE IT!”

T

his is a collage featuring a small selection of cars driven by fellow members of the recently formed Young Members Branch. In the coming months, we wish to feature as many of these cars as possible, and hope to describe just what it is that makes the MG marque so appealing to the younger generation.

There’s plenty to be excited about in the Young Members Branch – with

18 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019

MGSF_April2019_3-46.indd 18

By Shaun Nelson

2019 looking to be a very busy year! We have the release of our first generation of Branch merchandise, and attendance at several shows up and down the country, including a weekend and drive with some other car club youth groups (watch this space!) Following the success of our first AGM; I am also pleased to announce that Iwan Jones has become our Branch chairman, with Ellie MacbainWilliams as secretary and James Crow as treasurer.

As can be seen from this collage, we have a fantastic variety of cars in our Branch, spanning just about every Register the MG Car Club has to offer.

If nothing else, it shows just how accessible the MG marque is and that it has real staying power as we move deeper into the 21st century. If you own, drive, or just share a love of the octagon, as we do, we’d love to hear from you!

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:16

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06/03/2019 13:32:09 22/03/2019 17:16

FEATURE

RACE READY

By Adam Sloman

The all-new low-cost MG3 race car is ready to race – Safety Fast! caught up with the interns who built it ahead of the MGCC’s motorsport season launch.

W

alking into the Technical Centre at Longbridge is always a fascinating experience – home to around 400 designers and engineers, there is a buzz of creativity about the place. Some have been here for many years, with stories of Austin Rover and MG Rover, but today the focus is on a group at the start of their career in the automotive industry and their first project is to create the latest in a long line of factory-built MG racers.

The route from the road to the track has been a tricky one for the MG3, launched as the MG Zero concept car back in 2010. The car would get its first chance of a career in motorsport in 2014 with the creation of the MG3 Trophy.

Though well received, the Trophy variant of the 3 was ultimately too expensive and as any racer will tell you

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MGSF_April2019_3-46.indd 20

“there’s no such thing as cheap motorsport”.

Fast forward to 2018 and the team at Longbridge remained keen to get the 3 into competition trim. “We have an Out of Hours Motorsport team here” explains Andy Kitson, Senior Manager for Chassis, Dynamics and Vehicle Attributes. “We’ve put together an MG6 and MG3 for sprint use – it’s good fun for us out of hours and lets us really get to know the product we’re working on in a properly intimate way.”

In Andy’s time with MG he has led the chassis development of the Zeds, MG TF, MG6 and MG3 and therefore knows a thing or two about chassis set-up. His appetite to see the 3 on the grid was mirrored by Adrian Guyll, a homologation specialist. “I just kept thinking, there’s got to be a way to get this car out there racing. There had to be. There’s been so many great things

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:16

FEATURE

www.mgcc.co.uk

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done in motorsport by MG and the MG Car Club over the years. We all thought the 3 was perfect for it, but it had to be affordable.”

Testing Times The project took its first steps forward with a test day at Donington, back in November 2018. “We used our Out of Hours Sprint MG3 as the test car,” notes Andy. “The Sprint 3 is pretty close to a road-going car, albeit with a few minor tweaks, but as a test-bed, it seemed the ideal choice.”

The After Hours 3 did well and the team at Longbridge decided that a car in similar trim would be the most cost-effective way to get the car on the grid. It was at this point the project really began to gather speed as the programme to build the car was handed over to SMTC UK’s current intake of interns.

www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_April2019_3-46.indd 23

“We have a really strong internship programme here,” says Andy. “SMTC UK has worked hard to develop relationships with some fantastic universities and the programme gives students across a wide range of courses a genuine opportunity to work within the industry.”

Previous intern projects have included the 2.0 turbo MGB GT (featured in the November 2017 Safety Fast!) as well as research and development into electrification.

Enter The Interns By late November 2018 the project had received the green light and the interns were called together to have the concept explained to them.

Joanna Burland is currently studying at the Birmingham City University and it’s fair to say she knows a thing or two about some

of the famous cars produced by the Longbridge plant down the years – by her own admission she has a particular soft spot for the Metro, owning a late Rover Metro, and is a big fan of the monster Group B Metro 6R4. She recalls when the group first had the project explained to them.

“It was an exciting idea, but a little overwhelming. The budget was tight, as was the timescale, but it was a really well-defined brief, so that helped.”

The brief, as it was given to the team, was intentionally planned to allow them to focus on the key areas required to put the car together with a tight build time. A 2018, face-lifted MG3 was provided to the team as the base for the build, with a strict budget of £5,000.

Callum Anderson is an Advanced Engines intern, and like Joanna, he’s got previous ties to the MG family,

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 23

22/03/2019 17:16

FEATURE

owning a 1980 MGB GT, which he’s currently restoring. “To come and intern for a passenger vehicle manufacturer and do a motorsport project has been great,” he says. “As our first project it was a challenge, there’s a lot to organise.”

In total, a team of 12 interns had just a few months to build the car, with the plant’s Christmas shutdown dropped in the middle of the programme.

“To begin with, it was kept quite quiet,” says Joe Power, who is studying Motorsport Engineering at the University of Derby. “Some of it was hard to plan in the timescales involved because we’d not done it before and we found lots of little jobs crept into the build. But for me personally, this is a perfect project because it fits so perfectly with my degree.”

The intern team was backed up by SMTC UK’s design department when it came to coming up with a livery for the car, with the look including the MG Car Club’s green, the iconic British racing green, and MG’s corporate red in the final scheme. The car is completed with a bold number ‘95’ on its doors, bonnet and boot – a sweet nod to the MG marque’s 95th anniversary.

The car was ready for static display by the end of January and was presented to Dave Lindley, managing director of SMTC UK. “It was really well received,” says Joe. “To begin with there was a little bit

24 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019

of confusion about the car,” adds Callum. “Yes, some people didn’t realise it was actually going to be used in competition, but once we explained there was more to it, it’s been really well received. The reception has been very positive.”

Testing Times As February rolled around, the car was ready for its first test – a day at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground. The car was driven on the day by Alan Phillips, a chassis dynamics specialist, who brought his experience developing MG road cars to evaluate the car on behalf of the interns. “The car going out for the first time was always going to be a tense moment” recalls Callum. “You put all this hard work into the car and hope that it’ll do what you want and expect it to do.”

The intern team were joined on the day by MG Car Club Competitions Secretary, John Hutchison, who was on hand to offer his support to the team. “I thought it was a decent little car,” said John. “It’s got a good chassis. It’s very predictable, you know how it’s going to react, which is ideal for a car like this.”

Thankfully the car behaved as expected and came through the test day unscathed. “The car was easy to set up with a wide range of adjustment,” says Joe. “The test day was important because it teaches you about the car,” adds John. “You fire it up, drive it,

www.mgcc.co.uk

FJ1825 MGSF_April2019_3-46.indd 24

22/03/2019 17:16

Insurance solutions for classics and more. *

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19/11/2018 13:46 22/03/2019 17:16

FEATURE

The Car 2018 MG3 1.5 VTi engine developing 110bhp 5 speed manual Safety Devices full roll cage Scorpion Exhaust K&N Air Filter EBC Yelowstuff brake pads Bradied steel brake lines 4L plumbed in fire extinguisher Dunlop Direzza Tyres GAZ Gold Coilovers

The Team Tristan Stubbs Lightweighting and Electronics Joe Power Head of Lightweighting Callum Anderson Head of Powertrain and Electronics

leave it and repeat – if it doesn’t break, that’s a good sign – I’ve had test days where you go out and on the first corner, something goes wrong and that’s the end of the day. The 3 did well, so that’s a great start for the team.”

The 3 was presented to the media alongside its fellow competitors at the Club’s Motorsport season launch at Castle Combe on March 21 and has generated a huge amount of interest.

“It’s really pleasing to see the way people have reacted to the car,” says

Joanna. Callum agrees. “It was great to have the chance to present to the press and media at Castle Combe and it’s brilliant that people have been so positive about our work.”

With a successful test day behind them, the team is now focussed on the first meeting of the season, at Silverstone on March 30.

“Entries for the MG Cup have been really strong,” notes John Hutchison, “I’m looking forward to seeing the 3 out there and wish the team all the best for the coming season.”

Angharad Davies Suspension and Controls Joanna Burland Project Co-Coordinator Emil Chodowiec Head of Suspension Adam Lofthouse Powertrain Jason Boldero Regulations and Safety Henry Speeks Design and Lightweighting Sampan Singh Lightweighting

26 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019

MGSF_April2019_3-46.indd 26

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:16

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All MPG and CO2 figures quoted are sourced from official EU regulated laboratory test results. These vehicles are WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure) type approved vehicles. However, in-line with Government guidance, to facilitate direct comparison between different models from different manufacturers and to accommodate the full transition to this new testing regime, we have displayed the NEDC figures. These NEDC figures are the values for this vehicle used in all registration and taxation until further notice from the UK authorities. Fuel consumption and efficiency figures are provided for comparative purposes only and may not reflect “real world” driving results. Model shown: MG3 Exclusive with Hello Yellow paint at £12,795 on the road (OTR). OTR prices include VAT where applicable, vehicle first registration fee, delivery, number plates and 12 months’ Vehicle Excise Duty. “From” price is based on OTR price of £9,495 for MG3 Explore. £1,250 deposit contribution applies to 4 year 5.0% APR . Representative on Personal Contract Purchase and is available at participating dealers until 31st March 2019. Finance by MG Financial Services CF15 7YT. Subject to satus, availability and terms and conditions. Applicants must be 19 or over.Prices are correct at time of being published and are subject to change without notice. Please see your local dealer or visit MG.CO.UK for details. * Not available on Explore.

MGSF_April2019_3-46.indd 27

22/03/2019 17:16

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22/03/2019 17:16

MG TA Tickford, built March 13 1939

MG TA TICKFORD PROJECT

I

by Martin Curren

purchased this car from Plymouth in 1968. It was my first car and I subsequently ran it until 1976 as my daily car, including regular trips from Plymouth to Leeds where I got my degree. It was a runner when I bought it but it had no hood and only cycle wings on the front. I fitted full front wings and running boards and got a local trimmer to make up a rudimentary hood. The car was laid up in 1976, not being suitable for our growing family, but I was always able keep it stored in the dry and hoped one day I would be able to restore it to its former glory.

The car was laid up in 1976

www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_April2019_3-46.indd 29

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 29

22/03/2019 17:16

Chassis mounts needed some repairs

That chance came in 2010 when it became my first retirement project.

Between March and October 2010 I completely stripped the car down to bare chassis level. The chassis itself was sound apart from needing some repairs to the rear body mounts, repairs to the battery carriers and a new front pin for the rear spring hanger on the offside. I repaired these bits myself and then had it shot blasted, primed and painted in satin black. I got a local engineering shop to make me up a new pedal shaft, drilled and tapped for a grease nipple so that I can lubricate the pedals.

The rolling chassis was built up in the usual way for any T Type with the possible exception of the road springs which I took to Jones Springs in Darlaston and asked for them to be reprofiled with an extra one inch lift to cope with the extra weight of the Tickford body. The springs seem to be standard TA ones but I thought it sensible to allow for the extra weight.

The Tickford body adds at least another two hundredweight to the car compared to the standard body.

The Tickford has an additional metal subframe mounted on the chassis and bolted to the front and rear outriggers, plus additional mounts bolted each side adjacent to the front hand brake cable mount. These brackets are handed with the nearside one allowing for the two petrol pipes to run through it.

The subframe on my car was badly corroded and needed quite a bit of new metal welded in to certain parts. I made up a wooden jig to keep the shape correct while I made the repairs. This frame provides the essential shape for the rear wheel inner arches and acts as a mount for the wood frame uprights for the bulkhead, the door posts and the wood over the rear arches.

The repaired subframe was then mounted on the chassis and the scuttle toe board and heel board fitted to

30 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019

MGSF_April2019_3-46.indd 30

Tickford chassis had additional brackets welded to it.

Scuttle, toe and heel boards in place

ensure everything lined up. The scuttle is unique to the Tickford, having an extra metal strip added around the outer edge making it slightly wider than the standard car. The scuttle on my car was in good condition and just needed cleaning and painting. Similarly, the toe board was fine and is the same as a standard TA. The heel board is an allsteel one instead of the wooden one on the standard car. On my car both outer edges had corroded badly and I made up new ends and welded them in. The battery cover over the rear axle is also unique to the Tickford, all in steel with two removable covers for the batteries.

I made up a new one in place of the single sheet of aluminium on my car.

The complete installation, together with the original floorboards, fitted together pretty well.

Progress then slowed down. The Tickford has two key brackets that form the curves at the back of the body tub bolted to the metal sub frame. These are made of aluminium and the brackets on my car had almost corroded away because when you have steel and aluminium in contact it is the latter that suffers the most. I had to find a source for some new brackets. Eventually I

located a small company in Bridgnorth who were prepared to have a go using what was left of my old parts as a pattern. Initial attempts failed to get the right shape but eventually they got it right. However it took the best part of a year to get them made. I also got the alloy pieces that act as rear mounts for the subframe cleaned up – these also support the petrol tank.

During that time I also found a brass foundry in Telford that could make me some “pram irons� for the hood because these had always been missing on my car. They did a good job and

A source had to be found for a replacement bracket www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:16

FEATURE

Body frame under construction A foundry in Telford made the hood supports

stamped the body number on the inside of the pieces as per the originals.

By now it was 2012 and I started on the body frame to create a new tub.

As with the standard TA all the body timbers are made of ash and there are 14 that make up the rear of the tub, another 14 that make up the scuttle and under door framework. Each door has another eight pieces of wood. My car only had two pieces of the scuttle that were salvageable and two pieces of each door that could be used again.

Fortunately I had enough to create patterns for each piece I managed to find a large amount of seasoned ash and bought myself some woodworking kit, including a band saw, a planer, a belt sander and a router. Armed with this lot I spent the next year making and fitting each individual piece until I had a complete frame and two doors that fitted. I assembled the windscreen to ensure the

Body being skinned www.mgcc.co.uk

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fit of the scuttle was right and would allow the opening screen to fit and seal properly. Quite a long time was then spent installing the winding window mechanisms into the doors to make sure they worked and would line up with the hood bows and door apertures.

The next job was to refurbish the hood bows of which there are three with an additional front stick that mounts on the windscreen. The metal parts cleaned up fine but I decided the wood had to be replaced in every case and I also made new rails that swing over the tops of the doors. Once this was all done I fitted the radiator and headlight brackets so that I could check the alignment of the bonnet and front wings. Finally I made up new inner wheel arches at the rear from new steel since the old ones had almost rusted away. I made each out of two pieces spot welded together.

In 2014 I felt the body was ready to be skinned and I looked for a specialist who could undertake the work,

preferably not too far away so that I could keep an eye on it and sort out queries if they arose. I was fortunate to find David Cale who runs Cales Specialists, just outside Worcester. David learnt his trade at the Morgan factory and has set up his own workshop specialising in bespoke bodywork. He had not worked on an MG Tickford before but was confident he could do the job, based on the frame I had built and a variety of patterns and pictures that I have. I had to wait nine months for him to be able to fit it in but I’m glad I waited because he did a great job reskinning the complete tub and doors in aluminium. We discussed whether to do it in steel or aluminium and I opted for the latter to save weight, particularly for the doors, and also to limit future corrosion. He managed to get the swage line down each side lined up well with the bonnet tops. The bonnet tops are also unique to the Tickford, slightly wider at the scuttle and with a swage line

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FEATURE

down each side. This was all finished by November 2014 and the car trailered back home.

In the meantime I had stripped the engine down and thoroughly cleaned and inspected everything. The car has the original TA engine as first fitted to the car MPJG 3442. It had been bored out to +80 and one bore was badly scored from the little end where the little end bolt had come slightly loose and allowed the pin to slide though the piston slightly. The most critical thing was the fact that the water jacket on the offside of the engine (manifold side) was badly cracked. Not that unusual for a TA but the cracks were extensive and I had previously tried to reduce water leaks with copious amounts of araldite.

Despite all this I was keen to stick with the original engine if possible. I decided to use Coventry Boring and Metalling after visiting them to look at their workshop and facilities and see what they could do. I was very pleased with their work and service.

I first asked them to repair the block and crack test the crankshaft.

The crank was sound and I next asked them to pressure test the block and head – fortunately both turned out to be OK. So the decision was made to sleeve the block back to standard, fit new pistons, re-metal all main and big end bearings, lightly skim the cylinder head and fit valve guides and seats suitable for modern fuel. I also persuaded them to lighten the flywheel by taking about

Door mechanism in place

32 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019

5lbs off. I don’t think they had done this for a TA before but I felt that the standard TA flywheel was so heavy it would benefit from this – it is still very heavy! I looked into the option of a counterbalanced crank but I decided to stick with the standard one and have the whole bottom end, including clutch assembly, fully balanced. This leaves the rotating mass a lot lighter than having a counterbalanced crank and, at the end of the day, you rarely rev these engines beyond 4,000 rpm.

I asked Newman Cams to check the camshaft and see if it could be re-profiled. They advised that there was too much wear and strongly advised that I have a new one. This was expensive but I felt it was an important step in getting the engine running well. I also fitted new timing gears and timing chain. I asked Coventry Boring to ensure that the new camshaft would fit the old bearings properly.

This was all done by February 2015 and I collected all the parts and started assembling the engine at home. I had already fitted the original back axle which just needed new bearings and some shimming and I had completely stripped and rebuilt the gearbox which was simply very dirty inside. The only thing I did was fit a new front seal for the input shaft. The engine and gearbox assembly was installed and running by the end of 2015.

During this time I had also sorted out most of the parts that might need

new chrome work. As well as the usual headlights, radiator surround and so on, the Tickford has a wide array of various hood parts that need chroming, as well as a comprehensive windscreen frame and brackets and catches that allow it to open from the top – all of which are chromed. In total there are 28 individual chrome parts associated with the hood in addition to the external beading and the rear window.

All these parts were cleaned up and checked for fit and about 80% needed to be re-chromed. I had the radiator surround repaired and re-chromed by S&T in Bristol but I opted to have all the other smaller parts done by Castle Chrome in Dudley. Both did a good job.

At this stage I also needed to get all the rubber parts, most of which came from the MGOCC but some, being peculiar to the Tickford, I sourced elsewhere.

This included the seal at the top of the windscreen and the seal that goes around the windscreen frame itself.

Woollies and Phoenix Trim both have extensive ranges of rubber seals and other bits of trim. I also used them for the window channel felt used in the door windows. I also needed the special grommets that fit in the bulkhead to seal the wiper spindles. I thought Y type ones might work but Pete at the Club dug some out and they were the wrong size. He very helpfully pointed me in the direction of Paul Beck and they had what I wanted. They were also able to supply window winder handles very similar to the originals. I also needed the correct door handles (my original ones were not right) and I sourced these from Peter Radcliffe in Hull who was still running the SVW business at the time.

The driver’s door has a lock and the passenger door has an MG logo.

By this time we were into 2016 and I did a trial fit of all the body panels prior to painting. Most of this is the same as for the standard TA, with the exception of the petrol tank which has special alloy mounts with studs fitted into the rear bodywork for the top of the tank straps

www.mgcc.co.uk

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FEATURE

Re chromed hood parts in place

and the tank sits on the special cast aluminium brackets previously noted.

The other main difference is that the running boards have a different fitting arrangement underneath the doors.

I think the original running boards must have been made specially for the Tickfords but I only had a pair of standard ones and adapted them to fit.

The car was originally a singletone green (Apple Green, I think) but I decided to go for Duo Green which I thought would suit the car even better.

Tom Wilson in the States was able to tell me that the two colours are Westminster Green (dark) and Almond Green (light).

I got these mixed up in cellulose and opted to have a go at this myself. The results are not bad for an amateur and I certainly learnt a lot as I went along. I left

Newly chromed window winder and door handle after ďŹ tting

the panels for a couple of months before fitting them so that the cellulose would have extra time to harden During that time I stripped the instrument panel down and took all the interior wood trim back to bare wood before applying a new stain and several coats of varnish. I managed to clean and refurbish all the instruments myself and got everything working, even the clock. I also stripped the seats down to see what could be salvaged. I made new wooden bases but the seat backs and hinges are steel and they were fine after a coat of

paint. The spring backs were also good to use again. The base and front of the seat back are trimmed in leather but the rear of the seat back is trimmed in carpet. The trim is attached to wood strips attached to the outer edge of the seat back and I had to make new wood strips for both seats. I had the seats and door cards professionally trimmed in leather. The carpet is Wilton produced in small quantities by David Tankard to the original patterns and colours available in the 1930s. In my case it is green with a black fleck. David has been an avid collector of Tickfords and Tickford parts and it is sad to know that he is now not well enough to realise his dream of driving a finished car on the road.

The seats are special to the Tickford and have a useful hinged back. Originally the bases were filled with an inflatable bladder and I can still remember using these when I first had the car and on a long trip they would always leak and deflate. Although new bladders are available I opted to go for solid foam-filled bases as a more practical arrangement. Dean Russell in Rubery did this trim work for me.

There were three main jobs to do next to get the car finally on the road.

This consisted of the wiring, interior trim, and the hood. I felt I could tackle the

Three main jobs left to do to get it on the road were the wiring loom, interior trim and hood 34 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019

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Ready for the open road Finished engine bay looking resplendent

Semaphore and interior light now working

wiring and the interior trim myself but I would need a professional for the hood.

In terms of the electrics, I had been thinking about the main elements for a while. In the main I have tried to keep the car as original as possible except where it was either safer or more practical to change things. I tried to adopt the same approach with the electrics. So I have kept the original third brush dynamo and CJR3 control box, the original distributor, coil and fuel pump and kept it all positive earth.

The original wiring loom was only good as a pattern, as was the dash loom.

So I bought a new loom for a positive earth TA from Autosparks, with built-in flashing indicators and this included a new dash loom.

The Tickford has the same electrical set-up as the standard car, with the addition of semaphore-style trafficators fitted just in front of each door, an underbonnet wiper motor driving individual wipers via a series of cranked arms under the dash and an interior light fitted on the hood bow just above the rear window. So I installed the

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new looms – both the dash and main loom – and first of all wired up the dash and fitted all the instrument panel lights. I then added extra wires for the trafficators, the wipers and the interior light. To reduce the load on the old third brush dynamo I decided to fit LED bulbs wherever possible. After much research I managed to find suitable bulbs for the panel lights, the interior light, front and rear sidelights and brake lights and the headlights. They reduce the load considerably and are brighter at the same time than the originals. I managed to wire up the indicators in such a way that the trafficators work in unison with the front and rear orange flashing indicators. The arm comes up and the bulb flashes in line with the others, a bit like a side repeater. I also decided, in the interests of safety, to fit an extra high-level brake light and chose a simple LED one mounted above the petrol tank. It is bolted to a stepped aluminium bracket that is clamped under the fuel tank straps. In this way no extra holes had to be drilled anywhere. The original indicator switch was similar to those

found on Morris Minors and positioned to the right of the speedometer. My car had always had a stalk indicator switch fastened to the steering column and I opted to keep that as more practical and use the hole for the indicator switch for a water temperature gauge.

The interior light attached to the rear hood bow and a close up of the same.

My car was missing the interior light and the late Derek Hopper had a spare one which I bought from him. When he had finished building a couple of Tickfords himself, Derek was very helpful with various patterns and measurements as well as odd bits like this light.

Once all this was complete I could drive the car on the road and, subject to dry weather since there was still no hood, I started to cover some miles and start running the engine in. I had also made a decision on my favoured professional to do the hood. I knew of three possibilities, Peter Radcliffe at SVW in Hull, Suffolk and Turley in Nuneaton and a self-employed specialist living near me in Worcestershire called Bernie Lewis. Peter had lots of experience of Tickford hoods, Suffolk and Turley had done at least one for Derek Hopper and the local person had not done a Tickford hood but was well recommended locally, although he had a long waiting list. I preferred to try the local option on the basis that it would save on transport distance and time and would mean that I could keep an eye

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 35

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FEATURE

on progress and resolve queries on the spot with the professional.

So I called Bernie Lewis and agreed to drive the car to him so that he could see what was required. This was Easter 2017 and he had work lined up for the rest of the year. However I felt confident that he would be able to do a good job and it was also obvious that he liked the look of the car and saw it as a good challenge. So we agreed to aim for early 2018 and he would have the car for about six weeks. With his advice I bought the material needed for the hood, lining and external beading from Marstons in Digbeth, Birmingham, and in the meantime I started work on the interior trim.

Apart from the seats and door cards my car was missing all the interior trim.

There are trim panels around the rear of the car and there are carpets covering the rear wheel arches, the battery cover, the heel board, the transmission tunnel, the floorboards, the gearbox cover and the front side foot wells. There was also a gaiter for the handbrake. David Cale, who skinned the body tub for me, mentioned that he had done some work for someone with a TB Tickford and I was able to get in touch with the owner, Clive Brook. By good fortune he had stripped the trim out of the car and I was able to take photographs and cut out paper templates of all his trim pieces.

In all there were 17 different trim pieces and this gave me a good guide as to what goes where.

Taking these patterns as my starting point, I cut out the trim panels to fit the rear of my car and covered them in PVC to match the leather used for the doors and seats. I also cut out all the carpet pieces for the rest of the trim and sourced an MG heel mat from NTG. I eventually got these to fit well and took all the carpet pieces to Dean Russell for him to bind the edges, stitch in the heel mat, insert lift the dot fasteners for the floor carpets and make up a handbrake gaiter. The original foot well arrangement was a single piece of carpet

36 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019

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Interior trim in place, worth all the effort

Additional vinyl covered armrest in place

each side stuck to the well and with a large pocket on the passenger side. I decided to alter this arrangement and carpet just the front part of each well, held in place by a vinyl-covered trim piece at the rear of each well with a pocket in each.

Finally I made up an additional vinyl-covered box cum armrest that sits between the seats on the transmission tunnel. As well as general storage, this houses two modern USB charging points directly wired to the battery with negative earth. This enables me to charge modern equipment such as phones or a satnav if necessary.

This was all completed by the end of the summer of 2017 and I completed 600 miles by the end of the year and did an initial oil and filter change. The car then went into the garage to await the hood work scheduled for January 2018. I took a call from Bernie Lewis towards the end of November to say he had a gap in his workshop and could take the car in straight away. I jumped at the chance

and said I would be there on the next dry day. I got the car into his workshop the following week, together with the material that I had bought earlier in the year. I took with me as many pictures as I could find showing Tickford hoods, including some from Bill Hentzen in the States showing the hood on his car in various stages of completion. We talked through the various options in terms of fixings and fastenings and I left Bernie to decide how he was going to do it.

The following week he asked me to call in and talk through various aspects of the work, in particular the tensioning arrangement for the front part of the hood. We worked out the best way of getting the tensioning wire fitted, the correct positioning of the hood bows and the desired line of the hood over the top of the door windows.

We talked through the best line for the front of the hood and how to seal it on the windscreen and also how the straps would work to hold the furled front section of the hood in place

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FEATURE

Raising the hood

when in the coupe de ville position.

Bernie continued work through to the first week of January and I picked the car up on January 8 2018 and drove it proudly home. It had proved to be a good decision to use Bernie Lewis – he had done a good job and the car now looked like a Tickford should. There is no doubt that the hood is a key component of the Tickford cars.

The car has now done 2,500 miles, including a weekend trip to Plymouth to meet up with my brother and sisters in March, a trip to Abingdon to meet up with friends in April and a trip to Goodwood for the Classic Revival meeting in September, where it attracted

much attention as well. There have been the usual teething problems along the way but most of them minor. Two mechanical problems stopped me for a while, the first a failed condenser which cut low voltage supply to the distributor (fortunately I had a spare condenser) and second a broken pushrod which snapped clean in half. I was able to extricate the broken parts from the tappet chest and fitted a replacement with no serious damage done.

Compared to another ordinary TA I have fitted with an XPAG engine, the performance is stately but I am actually surprised how well it goes given the extra weight. There is less acceleration

but once wound up it cruises along on A and B roads quite happily. It is snug inside and certainly not ideal for the taller person. It is OK for me at 5’10” but anyone much taller would struggle for headroom and legroom. The seats will not go as far back as the standard car because of the rear wheel arches.

That said, it is a very comfortable ride and with the hood up very warm even in winter with no draughts – quite an unusual experience compared to the standard car where I usually need extra clothing. There is a little more body roll but the handling remains good and feels safe. I think in many ways the TA MPJG engine suits the character of the car very well.

It has been a long road to getting her back on the road, at times definitely a labour of love, but over all it has been well worthwhile and I have enjoyed the challenges and the new skills I have had to learn along the way. If anyone is interested in even more details about the Tickfords I would be very happy to share more information with them. Finally, my thanks in particular to Bill Hentzen and Brian Rainbow for their help and encouragement during the rebuild project.

Teething troubles apart it now runs well after 2500 miles.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 37

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22/03/2019 17:16

Gus Ehrmann climbing in to the cockpit of EX219

RECORDS AT UTAH

In 1959 BMC cars took 21 International Class records at Bonneville Salt Flats, powered by supercharged MG and Austin-Healey Sprite engines

I

Tommy Wisdom, who with Gus Ehrmann of USA and Ed Leavens of Canada, drove EX219 in the record runs, found the cockpit a close ďŹ t www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_April2019_3-46.indd 39

n 1957, a vehicle known as B.M.C. Development Project EX179, fitted with what was later to become the 950cc Austin-Healey Sprite engine, made two long-distance runs on a ten-mile circular course at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.

One run was of 12 hours duration, which was completed at an average speed of 118.13mph, and the other of six hours, averaging 132.13mph. In the

process, seven International Class G records (750-1100cc) were taken.

During 1959, preparations were made at Abingdon for another record-breaking expedition to Utah and a development of EX179, known as EX219, was built, again to be powered by a supercharged Sprite engine. The renewed efforts of the Development Department at Abingdon were outstandingly successful, for in September 1959 no less than 15 International Class G records were smashed by the new car, including lifting the 12 hours standing-start record to the amazing figure of 138.75mph. In addition, a further 12 American National records

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Nearly 150mph – with a 950cc engine. EX219 prepares to streak on its way around the 10 mile circular course on the vast, sun baked salt flats at Bonneville.

The lower part of the steering wheel was flattened to allow more room for the driver’s legs

were broken – at this very home of American high-speed motoring!

The chassis of the car is substantially orthodox, having independent coil spring front suspension, lead springs and solid rear axle behind, and rack-and-pinion steering. Two power units were taken for the attempts, both in most respects quite standard BMC ‘A’ Series engines and gearboxes, to each of which had been added a Shorrock low-pressure

belt-driven supercharger kit. This gives a manifold pressure of 6-7lb. per sq. in. and the engine for the long-distance records developed 78bhp at 5,500rpm or 86bhp at 6,000rpm. For the shorter distances, up to the one-hour record, a ‘sprint’ engine was used, running at a higher compression ratio and developing 98bhp at 6,500rpm.

Then, after delays due to wet weather, Phil Hill took out the famous EX181 – the MG streamliner with the supercharged Twin Cam engine, with which Stirling Moss recorded over 245mph for the flying mile in 1957.

It set up remarkable new records in the 1500cc class that time, but in 1959 it was bored out to I506cc and established even more startling figures for International Class E (1501-2000cc), one new record being more than 70mph faster than the previously held figure.

EX181 sans engine cover on press day at Abingdon in the summer of 1959 prior to being shipped to America.

EX219 (Austin Healey Sprite) can be seen in the background.

40 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019

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The Records EX219 (Sprite engine) International Class G (750-1100cc) 50Km (142.01mph) 145.56mph 50 Miles (140.87mph) 145.48mph 100Km (141.14mph) 145.08mph 100 Miles (140.21mph) 146.17mph 200Km (140.19mph) 146.64mph 1 hour (137.26mph) 146.95mph 500km (132.39mph) 138.85mph 1000Km (131.84mph) 138.39mph 2000km (120.81mph) 138.86mph 200Miles (131.89mph) 138.15mph 500 Miles (131.38mph) 137.72mph 1000 Miles (120.62mph) 138.55mph 3 hours (132.62mph) 139.38mph 6 hours (132.13mph) 139.09mph 12 hours (118.13mph) 138.75mph American National Class G 25 miles: 127.88mph; 50 km: 129.86mph; 50 miles: 132.94mph; 75 miles: 135.17mph; 100km: 134.09mph; 100 miles: 136.53mph; 200km: 137.15 mph; 1 hour: 137.38mph; 250km: 137.68mph; 300km: 138.12mph; 400km: 138.48 mph; 250 miles: 138.49mph.

EX181 (MG engine) International Class E (1501cc to 2000cc) 1km (185.41mph) 254.91mph 1 Mile (180.50mph) 254.33mph 5km (170.52mph) 232.97mph 5 Miles (140.17mph) 238.36mph 10km (140.07mph) 234.49mph 10 Miles (138.34mph) 191.03mph

A F www.mgcc.co.uk

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VINTAGE NEWSLET TER Peter Jones peterjones1880@me.com

WELCOME TO THE VINTAGE NEWSLETTER

OR, OLD MAN IN EVEN OLDER CAR WINS RATHER A LOT OF PRIZES!

All scrubbed up, Peter and Graham Robson

Peter and his prizes

Recently I attended the South West Centre’s annual dinner and presentation of awards. This year I actually got a personal invitation so I duly turned up in my pretty suit with black tie and after the meal, the speeches, the toasts and

all that stuff, came the distribution of awards ceremony, towards the end of which my name was called. Any of you who have been to similar celebrations know that the awards are presented by the guest of honour, or his wife, and as

You can see why Kimber would have liked it. The rather fine bronze model which, for a long time, adorned Kimber’s office desk

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the lucky winner receives his or her prize a photograph is taken of the participant and the celebrity shaking hands as the trophy is handed over and they both smile with ecstatic joy. When I was eventually called I went up but no prize was given just shaking the hand and a photo, which is all very nice but not particularly gratifying. After the pose-forthe-photo bit the celebrant said: “all that stuff left on the table is yours!”

The big wooden shield is for the South West Centre Drivers Championship in class one (Vintage and MMM) and it has but three names on it, Dave Mothersdill in 2010 (the dark days before he had his 18/80) and then, for the next six years, it was rather repetitively inscribed J. Hawke who is famed as the driver of what is probably the world’s most used J2. I have been trying for years to get the better of him in my behemoth but without much in the way of success.

I had the same problem with his dad, too. This year, however, he suffered a failed head gasket earlier on in the season and I was able to sneak through on default.

One of the two small cups was for the most sociable and not-to-bemissed MGs on Grass 1 where I was third overall behind two Midgets, and the other was for the most energising

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VINTAGE NEWSLET TER

Peter and his 18/80 beautifying the front the SW calendar

cover of

Kimber Classic Trial where I came third in class. The silver coaster was for best MGCC member on the lovely and utterly under-damaging Kimber PCT. As it so happens, these two trials have an award for the best MG overall in both events and that explains the rather fine bronze model which, for a long time, adorned Cecil Kimber’s office desk until he donated it in 1936 as an award for the best performance in what we now call the Kimber Classic Trial. Many famous names decorate it including Waller, Jones (That’s JES not PJS!), McDermott, Best, Duncan and Pow. More recently Harris, Newton, Loveday, Sterry, Dear, Grassam, Burrage, Coppock and now again, after a nine-year break, Jones (of the PJS variety).

As an aside, when Allan Grassam resurrected the event, I could have been the first name in the ‘modern

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era’ to grace the shield, as I was well in front of the rest of the field in my TC until the last test which was by way of a timed tie-breaker which took place in the farm yard. One set off, turned left around the corner of the farm house and you had to stop astride a line, which was obviously out of sight. Off I set with engine screaming and wheels scrabbling for grip. Rounded the corner with the tail stylishly ‘hanging out’ and into the car park! Alas, with all that gusto I had completely missed the line that I was supposed to stop astride. Oh, woe. Good fun, though.

If none those names mentioned above mean anything to you I would highly recommend a book named “Wheelspin” by one C.A.N. May who wrote a definitive and stirring account of the rise of spectator-friendly sport before the war. He also wrote “More Wheelspin” covering the post-war period. But beware: this may ignite such a conflagration of interest in the noble sport of trialling that you may find you spend the rest of your life indulging in this most glorious and gentlemanly diversion.

Back to the South West Centre’s Drivers Championship for a moment.

Looking at the top 10 overall results for the year you will see that the winner was Neil Lock in his MGB GT and ZR 160 with a massive 102 points. Second was Jim Lott in MGF 73 points, and third was the 18/80 with 71 points.

The remaining cars included two MGFs, four Midgets, two ZR160s, a ZR105 and another B GT. Alas only one pre-1963 car…

All this frankly leaves me scratching my head and wondering why so many people who have such beautiful and practical old cars in their possession that are immense fun to drive, yet they don’t actually seem to use them on the roads or even enter events that especially cater for people who enjoy driving motorised machinery, especially the older variety. However, hope springs eternal as you start a new

season. Please check out your Centre and see what is being put on for you – you may never be the same again.

The final icing on the cake is the South West Centre’s trifold calendar which, on the front cover, has a most glorious picture – see photo attached.

After all that, back to the old issues with my car. I finally stopped the petrol tank leaks and the petrol gauge now works, if only episodically. In order to maintain interest, the reserve petrol tank’s tap has taken to leaking all by itself.

This I have tried to mend, but without measurable improvement thus far.

I noticed on the Kimber Trial that although the ability to go up the hills was fairly good, getting it to go around the corners proved problematic. I then glanced at what was left of the tread on the front tyres and realised why.

Later, rummaging in the garage roof, I came across two brand-new Firestones that Clive Williams gave to me some 15 years ago. He had bought them at an autojumble a few years before that, when he owned ABL 3, the mark II speed model, but never got around to fitting them. The deeply treaded tyres have now made cornering on slippery surfaces much improved, especially handy for trials and gymkhanas/ autotests/driving tests/auto solos or whichever name is popular this year.

I seem to have got to the bottom of the overheating problem. This all started when both the old three-lobed distributor points had worn out and replacements were unobtainable. Fred Body converted a Morris Isis device that had the advantage of six lobes and just one set of points and this works very well, the only snag being that it has an automatic advance system and this seems to advance my engine far too much at the higher revs. This resulted in things being very hot in the cylinder head environs and caused the adjacent water to boil furiously. Retarding the distributer improved the overheating but low revs performance was appalling. Not ideal for trialling purposes.

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Some marshals didn’t need hi-vis jackets to get noticed at Silverstone in the 70s. Photo Roger Stanbury collection

Silverstone 1974 - with elbows out. Photo Roger Stanbury collection

I have now adjusted it so that when at low revs, I set the advance and retard lever, too full advance and as the revs increase over to over 1,500 or thereabouts, I start to retard it as the automatic mechanism starts to advance. This keeps the spark arriving at more or less the right time and has improved performance and keeps the engine running happily, and at a less alarming temperature when on the

motorway or in the higher rev range for longer periods.

For a bit of nostalgia in this newsletter, I’ve included a few snaps from Morgan Marshall’s collection, probably taken at an early 1970s Silverstone, and hope you enjoy them. I wonder if grouping all the cars together in types is perhaps not such a good idea. I remember the old days, probably the 1970s again, when the South

West Centre was asked to organise the Beaulieu Autotests. We arranged a largish field near the house, set out a roped-off square in the middle for the tests and everybody parked around this, two or three cars deep and in no particular order, to spectate.

It was a relaxingly easy day because people picnicked by the cars watching others as they gyrated round the various tests or pottered off to the

Racing Roger Stanbury

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I think that this was the 1929 Monte Carlo when Samuelson’s co-driver/navigator fell ill before the event and Samuelson did the whole thing, including navigation, all by himself!

Lorton 1974. Is the start marshal waiting for the BANG?

house or museum to see the rather eclectic mix of motoring miscellanea they had in those far-off times.

In this way, each year, you met so many new people in their various types of MG. This strikes me as much more social, not to mention more interesting, way arranging things. I remember once parking my TC next to a beautiful black WA. I asked the owner if he ever thought of entering.

He said: “No, because when driving a WA you don’t park so much as ‘come alongside’ in it!” It was a stunningly large and magnificent vehicle.

Having spent most of last year in the South West Centre I fear I haven’t caught up with many of my vintage friends. Maybe it’s because we are all getting old and sedentary and we miss all the ‘driving force’ encouragers like Peter Haig and Roger Stanbury to keep regularly in touch and on our toes to meeting up regularly.

Just near me, in the village called Southstoke, a few old car-minded people meet up for lunch on the last Wednesday of the month in the now re-opened Pack Horse pub. They have been kind enough to invite me along

Morgan in his element. Land’s End commemorative trial on Blue Hills Mine - probably www.mgcc.co.uk

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Roger Stanbury broken down in Scotland as a penniless student

for the past year or so and on every occasion something has happened and I’ve been unable to attend. Perhaps it’s mere busyness that is the main enemy.

On the positive side, I use the car three or four days each week, either taking the dog for a walk, going shopping, using it for work or just pottering round in all but icy weather (because it is then that they put salt on the roads so I wait for a few showers of rain to wash it off before I venture out again). The last few weeks have been absolutely delightful, hood down and the sun strong. How have you found things, driving your ancient machinery lately?

In order to advertise my cry for pictures of cars actually in motion rather than prettily parked, I have pillaged some of Roger Stanbury’s photos as well as the Marshalian collection to illustrate these few, scattered words.

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TWIN CAM NEWSLET TER Colin Manley mgatcgscribe@gmail.com

WELCOME TO THE TWIN CAM NEWSLETTER WINTER PASTIME Over the winter period, I decided to fix the problem of a sticky choke. It was never perfectly right from when I fitted Viton O-rings on the carburettor jets in place of the cork seals when they were leaking. On fitting the O-rings, the choke knob was harder to pull out and, if full choke was applied, I had to ‘help’ the jets back up to the no choke position. Clearly the Viton O-rings were too tight on the jet and causing too much friction (one also wept a little as well!) so, I bought two sets of “Stay Dry” seals from Burlen which are Ethanol resistant and fitted them. They are, in effect, a subtly shaped rectangular cross section O-ring, toleranced correctly to fit the jet and the top and bottom thrust washer to effect a suitable seal.

The difference is very noticeable; the choke is now so light to pull and operate and it pops back in smartly when released. Neither jet weeps, either!

I also fitted a high torque starter motor with a modicum of power wiring modification. With being able to smoothly and finely set the choke now and with the engine spinning over so much faster on the new starter arrangement, a cold start is almost instantaneous.

I found time to fit a headlamp flasher and reversing light, too, but enough of my stories – let’s have some items and contributions from you – this is your Newsletter, so do please contribute to its contents.

An MGA at Castle Combe

CASTLE COMBE TRACK SESSION As covered in February’s TwinCaMGazette, the MGs on Track (MGoT) Committee is happy to accommodate a Twin Cam session at the Castle Combe track day on Monday September 9 for paid-up MG Car Club members.

MGs on Track normally run their days as sessions, but at this particular event the morning is split into four sessions, each 15 mins long and after lunch at 2.00pm the day switches to open pit lane. During the sessions cars are split into groups of 12 and drivers/cars allocated to the group that best suits

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their experience and the performance of the car. That way, the slower cars are not continually looking in their mirrors and the faster cars get a freer run round the circuit. The groups go out on track at allotted times each hour. The open pit lane session in the afternoon allows any car to go out as and when they please, with the constraint that there will only be 12 cars on track at any time. There may be a short time to queue if the track is full but usually not very long.

Note that if we get enough Twin Cams booking we may run in one dedicated session; it would be good to

see 12 of our cars on track together and I am sure the experienced racers will be kind to the first-timers or slower cars!

Castle Combe circuit is situated barely a mile from the eponymous village which has featured in many films including ‘Warhorse’ so, in the interests of noise control, numbers are limited to the 12 cars, which allows plenty of space per car. Note that cars will be noise tested on arrival and the limit is 98dB; the test is conducted at 4500rpm with the noise meter 0.5m and at an angle of 45deg from the exhaust - you will not be allowed on track if you fail this test.

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A good mix of cars at a previous event

If in any doubt, your nearest racetrack will usually be happy to run the test on your car.

A wartime training airfield (fewer restrictions on noise back then, I imagine) it is a long, fast circuit with challenging corners, so plenty to entertain drivers whatever their cars. As at all MGs on Track events instruction is available from ARDS registered instructors, as is helmet hire. Finally, in the paddock there is a retail supplier of all things performance or race car oriented, so a good opportunity to buy those Nomex socks you’ve always hankered after or, perhaps more likely, purchase something mechanical for those unplanned running repairs!

The paddock café produces excellent food, from breakfast bacon sarnies to a full lunch.

Those of you who attended the Twin Cam launch re-enactment at Chobham last July will be familiar with the format of the day, but in summary this is how it operates: The day starts from 7.30am with sign-on, licence check and initial wristband, for drivers and passengers.

There is then a briefing by the Day Manager at 8.30am to explain the track day driving rules, particularly overtaking

and on-track etiquette. No touring car style lunges on corners allowed! The first track session starts with low-speed sighting laps behind an instructor’s car, which peels off after three laps and drivers can then continue at their own pace. This gives drivers a chance to get to know the circuit layout and see where the marshal posts are for flag signals.

From here on, the day runs as described, up to circuit closure at 5.00pm.

I hope this has whetted your appetite and gives an idea of how track days are run. MGs on Track encourages all MG drivers, from first-timers to experienced drivers, and in all types of MG cars to join in and have an enjoyable day in the company of like-minded enthusiasts.

The event is not open for booking yet, but there is a back door that will allow members of the Twin Cam group to book now. The link is:

https://www.mgs-on-track.com/ booking/book_event/1013 When making a booking, as the event is technically not yet open, the payment/booking page will ask for an unlock code, there is a box to type this in. The unlock code for this event is: CRANKSHAFT 1 Please note, there is a different code for each of the MGoT events – randomly generated so this one won’t work for any other event. To be able to book, you need to be a registered user on the website – this is all free and only takes five minutes to register. If anyone has problems booking, please use the contact form on the website for help.

If you have any further queries, please contact Nigel J Silman, Vice Chairman, MGs on Track on; NigelS@ mgs-on-track.com Hope to see some of you there.

60TH ANNIVERSARY YEARBOOK We sold all our copies of this super 60th Anniversary Yearbook, but the MG Car Club online shop has a few copies for those who may have missed out and do not yet have a copy.

This 142-page yearbook marks the 60th Anniversary of the Press Demonstration Launch of the Abingdon based MG Car Company’s “MGA Twin Cam” in July 1958.

The yearbook captures images and footnotes from various events, and owners of MGA Twin Cams, throughout their 60th Anniversary year. It recaps MG’s July 14 1958 Press Demonstration Launch and then using this year’s timeline, photos and text are used to illustrate the activities through the year. Subsequent sections then give further history and other useful information.

Priced at £25, purchase your copy while stocks last from https://shop.mgcc.co.uk/ product/mga-twin-cam-60th-anniversary-year-book/

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TWIN CAM NEWSLET TER

LOOKING AHEAD

TWIN-CAMGAZETTE

If you haven’t ‘warmed up’ your Twin Cam yet, now is the time to do so. Let’s hope for a full year of Twin Cam activity.

April 14 – MG Era at Brooklands. We hope to see as many Twin Cams as possible turn out for this event. With the new Aircraft Factory and finishing straight reinstated, it has a good layout for all models of our cars. Look out for our new ‘Sail’ banner and come and join us.

April 28 – National “Drive it Day”. Get out and about in your Twin Cam. May 17-19 – MGA Register Spring Tour.UK, Anglesey and Snowdonia.

June 15-16 – MGLive!, plus the TCG AGM at 1.00pm on Saturday 15th August 11 – MGA Day. Shuttleworth Collection.

August 18 - Stockfest September 9 – Track Day. Castle Combe.

Our “Twin-CaMGazette” (contact Colin Manley on mgatcg@outlook.com to go on the email distribution list) is circulated to over 200 people around the world by email. Since taking up the Chairmanship and with an eye on GDPR I have tried to tidy up several ‘failed’ email addresses. Where a message fails, I try once more as an individual mail, and, if that fails, the contact is removed from the group list. I have also tried texting some people whose details I had; again, where there is no response, the contact is removed. If you no longer receive the Twin-CaMGazette and would like to, contact me on mgatcg@outlook.com.

A ‘HEADS UP’ ON CYLINDER HEAD REPAIR

The “culprit” hole

Adrian Gregory has given us a few technical articles recently that have been included in the Twin-CaMGazette, and Bob Zanetti now imparts some very useful knowledge here: At a luncheon party and in the company of fellow petrolheads I was showing them my 1958 Twin Cam MGA. The car is an early, 72nd made car, that sports the first twin cam

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modified body and has body number 1. I, inevitably, lifted the bonnet to show the engine and an aero engineer friend commented that I had a bit of a leak and pointed at the sparking plug number two depression. Sure enough, the area was wet from coolant. It was not immediately possible to see where it was coming from and I closed the bonnet.

The next day, at home, I started to search for the source of the problem, but it was curiously difficult to find.

A microscopic examination finally revealed a seepage through the paint on the head close to the plug. Probing with a pointed implement unearthed a soft patch and after the paint had been scraped away an area of what looked like Araldite could be seen.

What could also be seen was the origin of the leak. A little work with a scalpel found a small round hole that had been repaired with epoxy resin.

The question of how to repair this hole in a more permanent manner arose. Clearly it needed to be welded but I was concerned that any amount of heat could distort the head and lead to bigger problems. Research revealed that ‘cold welding’ might be the answer, but what was it and where could it be done?

Most obviously, the fundamental of welding is to melt the base metal and add, from a filler rod, a similar melted metal into the hole. The more common methods, using inert gases, (the head is an aluminium alloy), still involve quite high levels of heat which could

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Ready for welding

lead to consequential problems. The answer is to separate the associated conditions of temperature and heat.

Laser techniques developed from the dental industry came to the rescue.

They develop the necessary high temperatures to melt both the base metal and filler, but they do it over a microscopic area. Indeed, the area of melt is but a pinprick and the weld can be touched with an un-gloved hand immediately after the weld.

The machine that achieves all this is a sophisticated piece of expensive kit, but the results are remarkable. The amount of weld, at any one moment, is very small and can only be seen by the machine operative by looking through a microscope. A feed from this microscope can be fed into a large display screen and an observer can watch what looks like a normal weld taking place. Peering at the workpiece without this aid, however, reveals that it is virtually impossible to see with the naked eye as it is so small.

The process has many applications in the automotive industry, particularly in the classic car industry. I have seen deep hairline cracks on such things as a 1920’s Bentley Cam Cover being repaired. The laser beam can be directed down into the crack and using a filler rod no bigger than 0.2mm the

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crack is repaired starting at the bottom and working slowly to the top.

Surprisingly large repairs can also be carried out with these machines.

A large section of an ancient Maserati head had broken off and metal was painstakingly being added until machining could be effected to reveal a perfectly undetectable repair.

With the cost of these machines and the level of expertise needed, one would not find these businesses in every town, but I found EMP Tooling who undertook my repair. They are based in Havant and can undertake many aspects of laser welding as well as general machine work. In addition to classic car repairs they undertake work for other disciplines including aeroplane makers and the space industry. I saw parts for a stealth bomber and EMP are one of very few who are licensed to work on such critically important products. Their expertise in matching the filler material to the host product, combined with the skills of the welding process, make them highly prized. It was fortuitous to have discovered them.

This is not an everyday requirement, but if you need any further information do not hesitate to contact Bob on robert.zannetti@ hotmail.com

WHITE “TWIN-CAM” OVERALLS Following our mention of these overalls in the February 2019 Twin-CaMGazette and people collecting them at Brooklands, with the loss of MGLive! in June, collection from that event is now not possible. Our ‘Overall’ Champion, Ian Warner, has also offered to post these items out now.

The overalls have “TWIN-CAM” and the MG logo on the front pocket and a large MG logo and octagon on the rear, all in black. Those of you who were at the Chobham event will have seen them, but there is a photo of them on p79 of the 60th Anniversary Yearbook.

Sized to fit over clothing, they are priced at £45 each, plus postage and packing.

Please contact Ian Warner on ianwarner921@btinternet.com for sizing, details on how to order and p&p costs based on your location.

AGM AT MG LIVE With the loss of Silverstone this year and MGLive! not happening in June, we will be unable to hold our AGM at this venue now. We will think of alternate options.

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Other Tubular long branch large bore exhaust Oselli cast rocker cover £185 Weber carb kit £799 Performance distributor £265 Head and engines supplied on an exchange basis Prices subject to VAT

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1971 MGB Roadster restored to a very high specification.

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Other Tubular long branch exhaust Oselli cast rocker cover £185 Weber carb kit £795 Performance distributer £265.00

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Still 12v but with double the capacity. Fits existing battery boxes, with minimal extra wiring. Reliable starting power after your MG has been parked up. KIT £150 +vat.

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

WELCOME TO THE V8 NEWSLETTER V8 TECHNICAL DAY The event will be held on Saturday June 1 at a study centre on a fellow V8 member’s farm near Watlington in Oxfordshire, just west of the M40. Details of the programme of presentations and speakers, together with booking details, are available via a link on the ‘More’ webpage or the V8 Scribe above.

RE-REGISTRATION

AFTER SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE

Early UK spec RV8 in Nightfire Red with 15,400 miles seen for sale

EVENTS IN JUNE On Wednesday June 12 Nic Houslip is arranging a visit to the Forge Mill Needle Museum which celebrates Redditch’s history of needle and pin production in the UK. On Thursday June 13 a visit to Birmingham Symphony Hall will see what goes on behind the scenes to cater for the world’s leading artistes in both classical and modern music. The organ is a truly amazing masterpiece and the tour guide’s stories are legendary. Briefing web pages and booking details are available via our ‘More’ web page.

V8 LINCOLNSHIRE TOUR The next V8 Tour will be from Thursday 12 to Monday September 16 2019 in Lincolnshire and is planned to give a taste of some of the attractions in this often underrated county. The tour will have contrasting scenery, from the open flat fenlands to the largely unknown Wolds, with visits to Lincoln Castle and Cathedral, Heckington Mill Windmill, the 8 Sail Brewery, the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and the Kinema in the Woods at Woodhall Spa. The tour organisers are Richard and Victoria Withington. An event information web page and booking details are available via our ‘More’ web page at www.v8register.net/more.htm

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Reporting changes made to a vehicle to DVLA that affect the V5C is required so DVLA can consider whether it is a radically altered vehicle. This is where the DVLA “eight point” rule comes from. A recent news item in circulation suggested that a crackdown on unsuspecting classic car owners seems imminent as Westminster discusses inconsistencies with DVLA changes to classic cars and the way in which they are registered. The safest route with a V8 Roadster conversion would be to purchase a four-cylinder MGB Roadster, and rebuild your V8 engine into that bodyshell or a new shell, keeping the registration of the Roadster.

You would then have to report the change of engine size and perhaps colour to the DVLA, but there should be no concern that the identity of the vehicle has changed.

Useful links to the GOV.UK web page on the eight point rule are on our ‘More’ web page.

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CONSULTATION ON A BAN ON 10-YEAR-OLD TYRES

Tyre wall ageing

An announcement on the GOV.UK website says “the Government will consult on options to ban older tyres from use on buses, coaches, heavy goods vehicles and mini-buses to help keep road users safe. This follows a research project, launched by the Government last year to look at whether the age of a tyre has a direct impact on its safety”. At this stage the options seem to cover heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and public service vehicles (PSVs).

In November 2018, the DVSA guidance on maintaining roadworthiness was updated to say that tyres of 10 years of age or older should not be used on the front axles of heavy goods vehicles as well as buses and coaches. Hopefully this recognition of tyre age safety concerns and prudent guidance will extend to other categories of vehicles in the UK, including classic cars.

HOW OLD ARE TYRES WHEN YOU MUST REPLACE THEM?

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Over time the suppleness of tyre rubber reduces so that by around seven to eight years old the ageing effect will have reduced the flexibility of the rubber to something that begins to have characteristics similar to that of wood, with consequent adverse effects on grip, handling and ride. For most classic car enthusiasts doing modest annual mileages this will inevitably mean the tyres age well before they wear out. For many, it will feel wrong to throw away tyres which appear to have plenty of tread remaining but with a high-performance car which has a suspension package from an earlier age, good wet and dry grip and braking performance are essential, together with supple rubber for a comfortable ride. But the age effect does not only affect the tread; the tyre walls also age and fine cracks can develop in tyres over 10 or 12 years old.

So be prepared for a tyre change well before 10 years and preferably at seven or eight years from new. Avoid offers of “brand new” tyres that have been in dark storage for a year or more and are claimed by the supplier to be “as good as new”. Sadly, there are reports that a few traders and service providers seem not only unaware of the age effect on tyres and state, or by implication recommend, relatively unworn tyres that are over 10 years old are serviceable. In one case a trader insisted tyres well over 18 years old he was offering with an MG V8 were “perfect and safe to use”!

Remember, your classic car insurance policy will include a condition that you must maintain your car in a roadworthy condition. Tyres well over their prudent service life may well be regarded as not meeting that condition and in the event of your making a claim, a vehicle inspection by an insurance assessor may well note the old age of the tyres in their report and the insurer may regard that as a breach of the policy and decline to pay out.

How can I know the age of my tyres?

The tyre sidewall markings have an elongated circle within which is the date of manufacture as four numbers – the week number and the year. So in the example bottom left the 2618 indicates that tyre was made in the twenty-sixth week of 2018.

Tyre sidewall markings explained Understanding the markings on the sidewalls of tyres will help you choose the right tyres for your car. Here’s a guide to those sidewall markings using a 175/80 R14 88H tyre as an example.

175 – Tyre width This is the width across the tread measured in mm but more accurately defined as the section width – the width of the inflated tyre section, excluding any lettering or decoration on the sidewall.

80 – Aspect ratio The aspect ratio or profile of the tyre is calculated as the sidewall height expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. So a tyre with an aspect ratio of 80 is a tyre whose height is equal to 80% of its width. Modern tyres have lower aspect ratios – for example 60 – rather than the 80 originally fitted to the MGB GT V8. The expression “sidewall height” is more accurately defined as the section height – the radial distance between where the bead of the tyre sits on the wheel rim to the outermost point at the centreline of the tread.

Selecting a lower aspect ratio than originally specified for the wheel on

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V8 NEWSLET TER

your classic MG can lower the gearing, so care needs to be taken in any tyre choice. However if you fit wider tyres, say 195 rather than 175, then a slightly reduced aspect ratio may not result in a significant change to the gearing of the drive train, but it will need to be carefully thought through before making a decision on choice of tyre width and aspect ratio. The rim width also has to be a major factor in tyre choice.

R – Radial construction This marking is almost redundant these days because very nearly all tyres for cars are radials but when the MGB GT V8

was launched in 1973 tyres with crossply construction were still available and fitted to some vehicles. Radial tyres were specified equipment for the MGB GT V8 from its launch.

14 – Wheel rim diameter This is the diameter in inches of the rim of the wheel that the tyre has been designed to fit. The diameter is measured bead shoulder to bead shoulder which equates to the tyre internal diameter. Simply measuring the external wheel diameter includes the bead/rim retaining lip and will make the dimension appear slightly larger than it actually is.

88 – Load index This is a numerical code which gives the maximum load that the tyre can carry whilst it is travelling at up to the maximum speed set by the speed rating of the tyre. In the example above, 88 means that this tyre can carry 560 kg whilst travelling at its maximum speed.

H – Speed rating This indicates the maximum permitted speed that the tyre can endure for a period of ten minutes without being in danger of sustaining damage. The speed rating of the tyre must match or exceed the maximum speed of your car. “H” is 130mph.

OUT OF WINTER LAYUP CHECKS As many MGV8s come out of a winter layup, Nic Houslip provides a useful checklist of some important service items that need attention.

Time to renew the engine oil?

The Buick-derived V8 engine is a design dating from the early 60s but does include hydraulic cam followers.

The importance of regular oil changes with this V8 engine cannot be repeated too often because the engine lubrication system is a low pressure-high volume system and the oil passageways to the rocker shafts are prone to sludging up.

So an oil change every 3,000 miles or at least annually is vital.

Some lubricants mentioned in the original handbooks and manuals may no longer be available, but useful information on choosing a suitable oil can be obtained from a book with the title “Which oil?” reviewed in 2014.

See our ‘More’ web page for a link to the review.

The Rover V8 is a relatively lowstressed engine compared to modern cars, where outputs of over 150 bhp per litre are not unusual. The MGB GT V8’s specific power is in the low forties per litre while the RV8 is still under 50 bhp per litre, so engine oil is less stressed.

Remember to change the compressible sump nut washer to avoid

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oil weeping around the sump nut. It’s worth buying three or four of those washers and having them in the arm rest pocket so one is always readily available when needed.

Topping up SU dashpots With SU carburettors, topping up the dashpots with engine oil is a must, it improves drivability, particularly a smoother pick up from low speeds.

An oil can with a long projecting spout makes reaching over the engine to the carburettors much easier to deliver the oil to the dashpots.

Check the gearbox oil It needs checking regularly as the level does drop through weepage. Draining and replacing is a good idea at longer intervals. The MGB GT V8 original gearboxes use EP90 like Castrol Hypoy, rather than engine oil for MGBs, whereas MGV8 Conversions and RV8s with LT77 or R380 gearboxes use Automatic Transmission Fluid or ATF.

Rear axles They are quite highly stressed and the correct grade of oil according to the handbook must be used. The RV8 has limited slip differential and bearing where gear loadings are higher than in a non-LS unit.

What else needs lubrication?

Certainly, throttle linkages, bonnet

catches and especially the bonnet release cable on a BV8 and RV8. These are difficult to get at but a spray of WD40 along the outer cable will help as it is usually an open wire wound type. If in doubt, replace it, opening the bonnet may be a tricky job if it breaks or freezes solid.

On the MGB GT V8 the choke cable will benefit from the same treatment.

The throttle cable is nearly always a nylon lined type and should not be lubricated. If you suspect it is sticky then replace it as it’s embarrassing to have a throttle stick open.

There are numerous grease nipples on the MGB GT V8. The most important are located around the king pins and must be greased regularly to help keep the steering effort manageable and wear minimised. Check, too, for grease points on the prop shaft. The workshop manual will indicate where, when and how to grease up.

Door locks and strikers benefit from lubrication, but beware of excess; if it gets onto the passenger’s clothes it may be a long, quiet journey home. For

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 55

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V8 NEWSLET TER

the exposed parts of door locks there are “solid” greases that work well, but simply rubbing a stump of candle on the exposed parts is better than nothing.

Battery Most MG V8 owners have some form of battery maintenance charger when the car is in a garage, so now is a good time to check that the electrolyte level is still above the plates. If not, add distilled water. If the terminals are corroded, when you have the car outside pour a kettle or jug of hot water over the top of the battery and the terminals, which will clean them perfectly. Some No-Crode smeared over the terminals will keep corrosion at bay for another year. Mixing some baking powder with Vaseline works just as well.

Checking tyre pressures Check the tyre pressures and clean off any WD40 spray on the wheels used to deter corrosion during the layup.

With an MGB GT V8 with 175/80 R14 88H tyres, experimenting with pressures you will find 22 (F) and 26 (R) certainly give greater comfort and less thump from drain covers and bumps in the road, but the tyres at those pressures do squirm on corners to some extent.

Raising them to 26 (F) and 30 (R) gives a more positive feel, good handling but a noticeable reduction in ride comfort.

With an RV8, whilst the handbook shows pressures at 22 (F) and 24 (R), many RV8 owners tend to run higher pressures around 28 (F) and 28 (R) depending on the load (passenger and luggage) carried.

How old are your tyres?

Two reports of tragic accidents involving vehicles have highlighted a failure of tyres over 18 years old. In the case of a horsebox on the M5 in 2017, the driver experienced the failure of an 18-year-old front tyre. With an earlier case, a coach crashed on the A3 in 2013 and claimed three lives and it has been reported that the coach had aged tyres, one almost 20 years old. Links to the crash reports are on our ‘More’ web page.

But what has a horsebox or coach to do with our MGV8s? Many horseboxes and some coaches, like classic cars, may be driven infrequently and so tyre wear isn’t the issue that determines tyre life, ageing of the rubber is the dominant factor. Ageing by time is accelerated by exposure to sunlight and chemicals.

Classic car tyres usually age long before they show any sign or wear on the treads. If you cannot remember how old the tyres are without looking in your car file or checking the tyre

wall markings, it’s probably time to replace them. Change tyres at seven to eight years old and certainly at 10 years, as rubber compounds harden which compromises wet and dry grip, handling and ride comfort. This happens slowly over time and it may not be until by accident, you are forced into a difficult manoeuvre that the tyres’ deficiency becomes apparent.

Another and more alarming failure is that an aged tyre subjected to a long, fast run on a motorway, perhaps for two or three or even more hours, will heat up and be liable to catastrophic failure with loss of steering and the inevitable collision. The same stress occurs on a track day under high-speed cornering as can be seen alongside, the nearside front tyre and suspension are compressed while the offside is not at all.

See additional notes online via a link on our ‘More’ web page.

MILD TUNE, BIG PLEASURE

Photo: by Alex Tapley for a Classic Cars magazine feature article by Ross Alkureishi

56 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019

MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 56

A 19-page lead feature in Classic Cars magazine took “six current best-value V8 grand tourers on a shakedown tour of the Peak District” and the result was “the MGB GT V8 was a real surprise. Forget what year it was made, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable sports tourer that won’t break the bank”. It was up against an Aston Martin V8, a Porsche 928 S4, a Mercedes 380SLC, a 1966 Gordon Keeble GK1 and a 1967 Bristol 410.

The MGB GT V8 there was the exceptional example in Damask owned by Keith Belcher, one of our hardworking Pricewatch duo. He bought it in 1991 and then it was laid up in 1994 “when life got in the way”, but on retirement he spent £3,000 re-commissioning it for the road followed by a light restoration. Keith says: “It’s a pleasure to own – the sound and abundance of torque are addictive.” Journalist Ross Alkureishi sums it up: “throttle blips of beefiness elicit a recurring smile”.

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:54

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

New Replacement MG RV8 Heatshield Fits above catalysts on the underside of the car.

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errors in style, content and layout.

Only Although every care is exercised in preparing your advert, we cannot hold £445 ourselves responsible for any inaccuracies you may overlook. RADIATOR Only BLEED SHOULD YOU REQUIRE ANY ALTERATIONS TO THIS PROOF PLEASE £8.75 SCREW TELEPHONE BEFORE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ AND QUOTE KNOBS ADVERT NO ._____ ALI HEATER SUNMATE Only

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£46 The Mike Satur TransFormer Coilover Kit STANDARD Only features a CNC machined alumininium top OR LOWERED £30 assembly housing that bolts into the top of the subframe via a rubber CLUTCH LEVER cushion isolating pad (no drilling required). The spring and shock AIR SEATBELT ACCESSORIES Only body moves without lateral resistance from the mounting plate. This DUCT Only £35 From unique design has a 50mm diameter large capacity shock body for a KIT £ 20 £21 improved ride with height and damper adjustment so the suspension HYDRAGAS NIPPLES - SET 4 HUB ADAPTERS can be fine-tuned to your requirements... a first for TF owners!

WIPER LINKAGE Only WELD IN SCREW IN Supplied as a fully assembled unit with springs, ready to bolt into Only £36.75 Only Only Webolts reserve the right to charge for any alteration to this proof which £115 the subframe and supplied with new lower fixing that are CNC £70 £50 precision machined. No old parts are re-used. The springs can be easily is a departure from the original copy changed for different rates without the need for spring compressors.

All products designed by Mike Satur Note: the top arms will require re-drilling for the larger diameter bolts.

All prices exclude VAT unless stated The kit comprises 4 springs, bottom bolts and top mounts.

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MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 57

Fax 01206 500180

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D_CLASSIC MOTORING 05/06/2018 14:55 Page 1

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NO PART OF THIS ARTWORK BE inc REPRODUCED, for allMAY models, Mk1 MGA, TD etc.STORED OR OTHERWISE USED BY ANY OTHER PUBLICATION UNLESS PRIOR PERMISSION IS GIVEN BY DRL THE Discreet PUBLISHERS - © Acevillesystems Publications Ltd New!

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www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:54

MG635 NEWSLET TER Steve Haines Steve-haines@live.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/MG635Register Twitter: https://twitter.com/635register

WELCOME TO THE MG635 N E W S L E T T E R

Stu Forbes latest MG3

There’s lots going on around the world in terms of MG6, 3 and 5 ownership, with plenty of good value secondhand buys on the market as well as the facelift MG3 selling well and

The prominent MG badge adorning the front of the touring car

www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 59

exciting developments around the MG6 elsewhere. The Sales Centre at Longbridge has been selling MG3s with the marmite Rally lights on them and some of our members have picked up a great deal from them.

It’s good to see that Excelr8 Motorsport will be running the two MG6s in this year’s British Touring Cars series with Rob Smith and Sam Osborne at the wheels. They have been busy stripping and rebuilding the cars after a few years of being battered around the BTCC circuits. We wish them well with setting up and running the team and cars for the 2019 season, starting off with Media day on Wednesday March 27. They’ve even got a range of team

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 59

22/03/2019 17:54

Repair Specialists

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22/03/2019 17:54

MG635 NEWSLET TER

The TCR MG6, let’s hope this comes to fruition

wear out in advance of the season, which is a first. We will find a way of getting an MG badge on there and we do sell sew-on Register badges!

There is a real interest in other areas of the racing world with the announcement of a TCR MG6 entry in, of all things, MG XPower

2019 EVENTS ROUNDUP With the 2019 season now upon us, we are planning to support some old favourites, the BTCC rounds and some new events working closely with our friends in the newly formed SUV Register, the Young Members Branch and the ZR/ZS/ZT Register. It’s looking to be a very exciting year ahead!

We will start off the year at Pride of Longbridge on April 13, weather and ground conditions permitting this time.

Please add your names to the events on the Facebook page to make sure we can account for numbers attending.

We hope that a solution can be found for MGLive!, and of course the return of MG Saloon Day, this year to be held at The Shuttleworth Collection on Sunday July 28.

We will also be supporting the ZR/ZS/ZT Register at their South West event ‘Zeds in the West’ at the Haynes motor museum on Sunday May 12.

With an ever-growing member base, we are going to need some help to ensure these events go off as planned.

As such; we are looking to our members for support in running these events, be it manning our stand, helping with parking, or just generally singing the praises of the fantastic cars we all own! Should you wish to help us or find out more about what support we need, then please contact Sean Round on Facebook, through our Twitter feed or by emailing Sean on sean@seanround.co.uk Besides the events listed, we hope that you can take part in local Natters and Car Club events. If you need to

www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 61

colours! Let’s hope this comes to fruition and hopefully the race cars and new MG6 will arrive in the UK sometime soon...

promote a local event, please add it to the Facebook group.

Saturday 6-Sunday April 7 BTCC Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent Saturday April 13 Pride of Longbridge, Cofton Park, Birmingham Sunday April 28 Drive it Day Saturday 27-Sunday April 28 BTCC Donington Park, Leicestershire Saturday 18-Sunday May 19 BTCC Thruxton, Hampshire Saturday 15-Sunday June 16 BTCC Croft, North Yorkshire Saturday 29-Sunday June 30 BTCC Oulton Park (Island), Cheshire Sunday July 28 MGCC Saloon Day, Shuttleworth Collection Saturday 3-Sunday August 4 BTCC Snetterton, Norfolk Saturday 17-Sunday August 18 BTCC Thruxton, Hampshire Saturday 14-Sunday September 15 BTCC Knockhill, Fife Saturday 28-Sunday September 29 BTCC Silverstone, Northants Saturday 12-Sunday October 13 BTCC Brands Hatch (GP), Kent Saturday December 7 AGM/Christmas Do (TBC)

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 61

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MG635 NEWSLET TER

CHANGES TO THE COMMITTEE

Barry Faiers receives his thank you for long service to the MG635 Register

The 635 Register has said a sad goodbye to Barry Faiers who had completed five long years as Treasurer at our AGM in December.

Barry has been a part of the MG6 then MG635 Register since its inception and has been a very active member and promoter of all things MG 6, 3 and 5, attending as many events as geographically and logistically possible over the years, promoting and enabling the Register to grow and flourish.

In order to celebrate Barry’s contribution towards the MG 635 Register, we will be procuring a trophy, which will be called the “Faiers

Cup”. This will be presented annually at MGLive! to celebrate the most enthusiastic and dedicated MG6 or 3 owner taking part in the Pride of Ownership competition.

Barry has done a fantastic job looking after the Register’s accounts and at the end of 2018 was able to report a balance in four figures for the first time. He was presented with a pack of Old Speckled Hen at the end of the AGM by Steve Haines and thanked for his sterling service.

Taking over as Treasurer is Sheila Ballard who has been the registrar/ archivist for the last couple of years.

Richard’s old 2003 X Power Grey MG ZR TD 62 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019

MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 62

Barry will be a very hard act to follow!

Sheila has plans to try to develop a range of regalia for the Register now that Top Signs have stopped producing items of clothing for the MG Car Club and would be interested in hearing what types of clothing members would be interested in purchasing. She has found a company in the South West which already produces badged items such as fleeces, sweatshirts, polo shirts and hats in a range of colours for the MGCC Devon and Cornwall Region at very reasonable prices. All we would need to do is to arrange for them to make a template of our logo and then we can order badged items in whatever quantities are required, so we would be able to order individual items as and when members place an order. If you are interested in finding out more contact Sheila (contact details on the Committee page of the 635 Register area on the website).

In other changes to the MG635 Register committee, we welcome Richard Bibby-Brooke to the role of Registrar: “Hi everyone, my name’s Richard, and I’m your new Registrar and archivist for the MG Car Club 635 Register.

I was pretty much brought up with British Leyland and Austin Rover cars, both of my uncles had Morris Marinas, my two best friends at school had Minis in their families, and my dad even used to hire a Mini Clubman in the 70s to go on family holidays. You couldn’t get away with that now!

There was also the elderly gent across the road, who always had a Rover or a Triumph parked outside, or sometimes a Vanden Plas 1500. He had a bit of a collection, so he used to rotate them every so often.

When we were older, both my brothers had Austin Metros at one point, one of them later upgrading to a Rover 213S, similar to the one in Keeping Up Appearances. When it was my turn, MG Rover was the way forward.

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:54

MG635 NEWSLET TER

The Rose Red MG3 purchased in 2015

After my 1994 Rover Metro was written off in a rear end collision, some years later I had the chance to own a 2002 Rover 45. By this time, MG versions were also commonplace, but I would have to bide my time.

Finally in 2013, following a couple of unhealthy relationships with a Ford and a Volkswagen, I found a 2003 MG ZR 2.0 TD, in XPower Grey. At last I had a car I could enjoy! At this point I joined the MG Car Club, having chosen it mainly for its involvement with MG Live! as well as the numerous charity events that seemed to be going on. At the time, the Club’s involvement with Macmillan cancer support was the deal breaker.

In 2015 I found myself needing something newer that I could use more regularly, so I sold the ZR to my local MG specialist, and got myself a nearly new MG3 Style in Rose Red. Having spent several years gently upgrading it with white wheels, trophy stripes and the like, I was presented with an offer I simply couldn’t refuse, the chance to own a brand new MG3 Excite in Arctic White for less money per month than I was paying for the old one!

One set of go-faster stripes later and I have an eye-catching, comfortable, reliable car that I hope will keep me going for many years to come. Or at least until I get tempted by another offer!”

Richard’s role as Registrar will encourage as many members as possible to register their cars with us so that we

www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 63

can have a better idea of how many of the various models there are around the country and beyond. Having taken over as Registrar, I am in the process of trying to tidy up the lists, deleting duplicate entries, and will also be merging the original database, created manually from paper-based forms, with the new electronic register.

If you haven’t already registered your MG6, MG3 or, if you are abroad, your MG5, the quickest and easiest method is to go to the MG Car Club 635 Register Home page (http://www. mgcc.co.uk/mg635-register/) and then click on the link Register your car. You may find it useful to have your V5 document handy as this is the quickest way to get some of the information you will need to enter on the form. You will

also need your Car Club membership number to enter on the form. Be assured that the online form is very secure and your data will not be shared with any other members without your permission. Once entered, the only way the information can be retrieved is by going to the secure register Google docs area which is username and password protected.

If you are not sure if your car has been added to the register, please contact me (my email address is in the Committee and Contacts area of the Register area) and I’ll be happy to check the register for your details. I will be contacting some members of the Register via email as there are some gaps in the information recorded which I would like to complete. Ultimately I hope to send everyone a copy of what is stored for their cars so that they can check it is correct, and I would also like to link a digital photo of as many cars as possible with the register entries. If you have changed your email address or postal address since you registered your car, please send me an email with your new contact details, using your car registration in the subject line, so I can update your record in the Register. If you sell your car, please also let me know so that we can record a change of owner.

Looking forward to seeing lots of new entries very soon!

Richard’s latest acquistion, an MG3 Excite in Arctic White APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 63

22/03/2019 17:54

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15/05/2017 13:33

www.mgcc.co.uk

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RACE TORQUE

Photo: Dickon Siddall

RACE TORQUE

by Mark Baulch

DifďŹ cult month for racing community March turned out to be a difficult month for us, firstly because we learned of the loss of Pam McCarthy. As many of you will know, Pam was a stalwart figure of the paddock as the MG Car Club BCV8 Championship Co-ordinator. Her sons are also well known as competitors and their bright yellow machines often feature towards the front of the action.

A tribute to her will appear in the magazine next month. In the meantime, our thoughts are with all of her family and friends at this difficult time.

Like the rest of the Club, we also learned of the loss of the date and venue for MGLive! Please let me assure you that, as I write, many people are working hard to replace this fixture with another and indeed you may have learned of details by the time that you read this.

On a more positive note, we will have had a pre-season race launch at

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Castle Combe on Thursday March 21. Attended by all the well-known motorsport media, this was an amazing opportunity to raise the profile of the Club and the racing that we provide.

We will also have the racing season under way, with our season opener at Silverstone, on the National circuit. This means that we will be looking forward to our annual visit to Kent and the Indy circuit at Brands Hatch, a deceptively tricky circuit which often catches people out and always creates a great deal of action.

We continue to look for some assistance that weekend, April 2728, in the Welcome Centre that we always offer at each race meeting. At the circuit, this is situated in the very heart of the action, so please do let us know if you would be able to lend a hand with tea and coffee facilities for drivers and spectators. We can promise you a great view of the action, the opportunity to see the award

presentations and, naturally, unlimited tea, coffee and biscuits!

The Race sub-committee are also continuing work on the 2020 season and welcome any and all feedback from members on when and where they would like to see MGs being driven to the limit. The Championship Coordinators have been working hard, not only supporting the Club at Autosport International, Race Retro and the media launch day, but ensuring that as many cars as possible take to the grids. I know that I promised to introduce you to some more of them on these pages and I will endeavour to do so in the coming months, as well as profiling some of our newest competitors and a few of our more long-standing racers, many of whom have been competing in Championships for not just years, but decades.

In the meantime, as always, we look forward to seeing you at one of our events in 2019.

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

SUPER START TO SEASON

A

s with last year’s visit, the Weather Gods smiled upon MGs on Track’s Goodwood event held in February. Despite most of my journey to the circuit being in mist, Goodwood itself was wreathed in sunshine and well worthy of its ‘Glorious’ epithet. Always scenic and undoubtedly historic, the circuit has a special attraction for MGoT members that justifies two visits each year. With roofed but open-sided parking bays rather than enclosed garages, the paddock area encourages the friendly interaction of members and makes nosing around the varied cars easier.

Rather than the gravel trap run-off areas paired with high wire net fencing of a modern race track, Goodwood spectators are protected by low but very solid banks, white painted picket-fencing, and, in early Spring, ‘a host of golden daffodils’ set in neatly mown grass! Therefore, visitors can enjoy an almost unhindered view of the on-track action whilst savouring a country garden ambience.

February’s event was enriched by the participation of ten cars from the Triple M group. Making the next oldest vehicles, a pair of MGAs, seem futuristic by comparison, the Triple M cars

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provided onlookers with a feast for the eyes, the ears, and the nose; probably best to momentarily ignore the unburnt hydrocarbons and instead applaud the period feel engendered by all that atmospheric smoke! With the drivers so exposed in those very open cockpits, it was easy to admire the skill needed to keep these cars heading in the right direction at some considerable speeds, and we look forward to their return to a future MGoT day with keen anticipation.

As I write this report, April’s Cadwell Park is fully booked but it is always worth putting your name on the reserve list, as a last-minute change of circumstances or a mechanical failure mean that spaces sometimes become available as an event approaches. In opposition to the stereotypical perception of Lincolnshire as flat and featureless, the Cadwell circuit twists its’ way up and down hill, past wooded banks and beneath overhanging trees! It’s a venue not to be missed in future years if you have been unlucky in this.

It is possible that a few spaces remain for the May visit to Snetterton. In some contrast to the heavily undulating nature of Cadwell Park, Snetterton was developed from an original wartime bomber airfield so is predominately flat

MG on track

and open. However, the circuit is not just straights and right-angle bends, as redevelopment within the last few years has provided a challenging track with a more organic feel, with many corners to test the handling of cars and the skills of drivers. A couple of long straights still feature, so those with a more powerful car will have the chance to fully extend their vehicles far beyond that which is responsible or safe on the public road.

As we are only in the very early part of the MGs on Track season, it may be timely to remind MGCC members of our purpose. The aim is to provide a fun, sociable, and above all safe opportunity to drive some of the UK’s best known and sometimes lesser known circuits in the company of likeminded drivers in similar cars. You’ll be free to drive as hard and fast as you are comfortable with but, without any judgemental onlookers and timing of any sort banned, there is really no need to ‘perform’ for anyone but yourself. With cars all travelling in the same direction, generous run-off areas in case of over-enthusiasm, and no cyclists or stray dogs on the circuit, the riskiest part of your day will be the drive to and from home rather than the time on track! Apart from your car and a normal driving licence, an approved safety helmet is required, and we have these available to rent. Finally, ARDS qualified instructors attend all our events to guide and encourage; a session of instruction is great value and will enhance the track day experience without doubt.

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:54

MG CAR CLUB SPEED CHAMPIONSHIP MGS ON TRACK – 2019 CALENDAR MGs on Track – 2019 Calendar

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

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.

Cadwell Park – April 15 A twisty and hugely scenic circuit in the Lincolnshire Wolds; flat it certainly isn’t!

Snetterton – May 20 A fast and open track; long straights combined with a challenging infield section.

Blyton Park – June 3 Not a traditional racing circuit, but a fun and friendly venue boasting a layout with real character.

Castle Combe – June 24 The first of two annual visits to this very welcoming circuit in Wiltshire.

North Weald – July 5 An introductory activity day for those who have not yet tried a full track-day. A chance to explore the capabilities of driver and car in complete safety.

Croft – July 12 Experience one of the hidden gems of British Motorsport on a day shared with Lotus on Track.

Brands Hatch GP – August 1 A rare chance to experience the full GP Circuit on a day shared with Lotus on Track Anglesey – August 12 Experience this challenging circuit on a day shared with the Lotus 7 Club. Overlooking the Irish Sea and with views to Snowdonia this track offers something for all.

Castle Combe – September 9 A second opportunity to enjoy the thrills of this ever-

During the unseasonable sunny weather in February I had a super run down to Bath to attend the South West Centre dinner. It has become a tradition that this event is shared by our Southern competitors in order to receive their awards from the previous year and it has become my privilege to facilitate their presentation.

As always, the Southern committee extended a warm welcome to the speedsters. This year we had the added bonus of being entertained by none other than Graham Robson who gave us a potted version of his career after the meal. His anecdotes and memories were fascinating, particularly to listeners of a certain age. Later in the proceedings he was kind enough to present the awards.

Shortly after you receive this issue we will be embarking on the first event of the season at Curborough sprint course, near Lichfield, on April 7. The Midlands Centre are the organisers of this annual event and the majority of the competitors are MG mounted. It is well worth a visit for spectators, as entry is free and the whole of the course can be seen from various vantage points. Apart from the paddock, we always get a good attendance in the ample car park of many examples of our marque.

The following weekend, the 14th, is our first visit to Harewood Hill, between Leeds and Harrogate. Again, this is a superb venue for spectators and a really spectacular setting with an excellent standard of organisation and facilities.

On the 20th our Southern contingent will be able to compete at the historic Goodwood circuit. This venue is so iconic in the history of post-war British motor sport that it needs no comments from me.

The weekend of May 4-5 is our Anglesey event. This is a bank holiday and a visit to this superb venue on the south coast of the island would be a great addition to any holiday.

The rest of May is a very busy month and I will cover the coming events in my next article.

popular track which includes a couple of chicanes and high-speed, technical corners!

Donington Park – October 7 A flowing, historic circuit in the Midlands, featuring the fantastic Craner Curves and Old Hairpin sequence.

Goodwood – October 28 A second visit in case you missed the first due to popularity!

Brands Hatch ‘Indy’ – December 2 Our last event of 2019. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy this undulating circuit including Paddock Hill Bend!

www.mgcc.co.uk

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Graham Robson (right) presents the Windmill & Lewis trophy to Iain Reynolds

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22/03/2019 17:54

Hallwyl Castle

Hallwyl Castle courtyard

SWISS MG V8 TOUR TO HALLWYL CASTLE 2018

by Andreas Gloor, Swiss V8 Register Chairman, MGCC Switzerland Photos: Eric Pfändler and Andreas Gloor

O

n Sunday September 23 2018 we met in a relatively cool 20 degrees in front of Hallwyl Castle, near Seengen, Canton Aargau, in the heart of the Swiss midlands. However, a hard fate hit me as Register head: my RV8 1995 was not yet back from the workshop after transmission problems and so the old buddy MGA 1960 had to step in.

Gradually the participants arrived with their MGs on the parking ground next to the castle. After we had refreshed ourselves with coffee and croissants, we were guided through the castle by a very competent guide.

Hallwyl is a classic moated castle on the shores of Lake Hallwyl. Around 1256 a residential tower was built at the north side. The complex was later extended and finally stood as a two-part complex on two small islands surrounded by

three arms of a river. On the front island on the eastern side is the front castle with a granary and barn. A drawbridge connects this part with the rear castle and the residential tower. The palace now houses an exhibition showing the lives of the lords of Hallwyl.

After our cultural part we drove to the restaurant Schifflände in Birrwil for culinary fun. The former small inn was demolished a few years ago and replaced by a spacious hotel. It is situated directly by the lake of Hallwyl, at the landing stage for scheduled boats. We were able to sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the specialities of the lake in pleasantly mild weather.

At the time I wanted to drive home with my brother in the MGA, well, the starter went on strike. But thanks to a strong push we still got home safely.

I thank all participants for joining us.

At the table looking out on the lake Treffen 46.

L-R: Roland Gloor, Victor Rodriguez, Mr and Mrs Stephan Blank, Jacqueline Albrecht, Eric Pfaendler, Jacques Avondo, Andreas Gloor

Swiss V8 Register Chairman Andreas Gloor www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 69

This is a translation of the article published in the Swiss MGCC magazine Sign Post.

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 69

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22/03/2019 17:55

CENTRES

ABINGDON WORKS

TONY COTTER sfscribe@mgabingdon.org.uk www.mgabingdon.co.uk Well, who would believe that during the second half of February, we’ve enjoyed summer temperatures of over 20 degrees in South Oxfordshire? Too bad for those who SORN their MGs over winter; it has been ideal weather for getting the top down and enjoying some exceptional driving conditions, especially compared to the same time last year when we suffered the infamous Beast from the East. As promised in previous Safety Fast!

Centre updates, planning is well under way for a full year of AWC organised events for our members to enjoy.

Next up is the (Not Quite) St. George’s Day Run on Sunday April 14. Starting at the Miele Experience

Centre in Abingdon, the run follows a scenic countryside route to the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum in Calne, Wiltshire. Contact Pete and Sarah Davies on 07877 932284 to join the fun. There are still some places available for our historic Old Speckled Hen run on Sunday May 26. Richard has all the details on 01235 529331, but don’t leave it too late. This is a very popular event, not just within the AWC region.

Entry forms for both events can be found at our smart new website at http://mgabingdon.org.uk We held our Centre AGM on Saturday March 2 at Kimber House. Sadly, our planned guest speaker was unable to attend due to illness; however I must say that

ANGLIA

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

Chairman’s Trophy Anglia Centre Chairman, William Ball, has presented Alison Isaacson with the Chairman’s Trophy for her tremendous work in co-ordinating and editing the Centre’s Facebook page and her

outstanding contribution to the Anglia Centre.

In this digital age, it is no mean feat to keep on top of all the latest reports and events that happen within the Centre and Alison does a sterling and muchappreciated job.

Congratulations and very well done, Alison.

Anglia Summer Picnic This year’s traditional ‘Anglia Summer Picnic’ will be held at the National Trust property of Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk, on Sunday June 24.

It’s hard not to fall in love with Oxburgh Hall when you catch your first glimpse of the imposing brick manor house. The gardens are a mixture of formal

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our last-minute (literally) stand-in, Peter Cook, gave a very informative update on the European Event of the Year and also the MG Centenary Celebrations which are already in the planning stages. Members in attendance voted the existing committee back in for another year, with James Page taking on the Secretary role. We also welcome Richard Smith to the committee.

The speakers all made reference to the many AWC members who give their time and effort in helping us to run the varied events throughout the year. Whether helping prepare scones, pouring teas and coffees,

erecting tents on cricket pitches or organising parking, the committee is most grateful for your support. We could not run the events without your help.

Above is a photo taken at the AGM. Can anyone guess the combined Car Club involvement for these four current and former CRB Chairmen?

Finally, a warm welcome to all new members. We hope to see you at an event soon.

(By the way, the answer is a staggering 130 years between them, and we are privileged to have them in our Centre.)

and wilderness. These days, otters can often be seen along the banks of the River Gadder that flows through the estate.

Last year’s event at Felbrigg Hall had a record number of 63 MGs attending. Organised by Anglia Centre president, Roger Latham, it is such a popular event so get your booking in early.

Look for the booking form in Safety Fast! and on the Centre website, or email president@ mgccanglia.com

Racing Championship, plus Chapman Warren MGA Racing and Thoroughbred championships.

She was devoted to her late husband, Roy, and two sons, Russell and Spencer, all three of them top-flight racers in their own right, and Pam was always trackside giving them her support. These are the memories that many of us will have of her.

There cannot be many people who have given so much to our Club as Pam. A member of the racing committee, she has always been there to offer help and organisation.

A wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Pam will be missed and our thoughts are with her sons, Russell and Spencer, and their families The paddock will never be the same without Pam’s presence.

Pam McCarthy It is with deep sadness that I have to report that Pam McCarthy has died following a short illness.

So many of us will know Pam as a stalwart within the Anglia Centre and the MG Car Club. With her years of service as co-ordinator of the MCCC BCV8

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CENTRES

CALEDONIAN

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

Depending on when you receive this, you may still be in time to attend our annual AGM in Bridge of Allan on April 2. It’s an important meeting and it would be good to see a good representation of members attending.

You may also be in time to book for our first proper run of the season, the Satellite Run on April 14. With three start points in widely spaced parts of the country all converging on Pitlochry, it’s an excellent way to start the season. Check the website for details.

The push is on now for Show entries! Booking forms are available on the website for all our 2019 shows so please get

booked. If you leave it too late you may be disappointed.

There is quite a lot of news on the Bo’ness event in August/ September. The theme for the weekend will be ‘Jim Clark’ who competed there 60 years ago and set FTD. The hope is to have a good selection of his cars on show with others of a similar type.

On the Saturday there will be a road run of about 70 miles to the new Jim Clark Centre in Duns, and for others who prefer a mildly competitive event the Saltire Rally will be on the same day. In the evening at Bo’ness there will be a dinner, although space is restricted and this will be on a first-come, first-served

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

Hopefully, by the time you read this the decent weather will have returned and everybody will be enjoying driving their MGs, especially those who SORN their vehicles for the winter.

The major event for this month is, of course, Drive-It Day on Sunday 28. I know some of our Natters are arranging morning runs to a common finish at the Lifton Strawberry Fields Restaurant for a late Carvery lunch. If you haven’t decided to join one of the runs yet please let the Natter leader know, as we need to inform the numbers eating at the restaurant before the day.

Hopefully the entries for the Atlantic Coast Express Run, being

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held on Sunday May 19, will be pouring in. Remember the start is at the Old Railway Station at Okehampton and the finish is at Petroc College, Tiverton, and the route will be less than 100 miles with several different places available en route to stop for lunch, if needed.

Recently there was a successful gathering of all the local Motor Clubs to discuss the future for all. We are in a very lucky position where our Centre membership has remained steady over the last few years, whereas other local Clubs are seeing a decline in membership. Basically, the meeting discussed the types of events being held, whether social or competitive. Are they

updates simply because we don’t have their current email address.

If you are in that category then please let me know. And your committee could use help setting up at shows. If you can assist here, please let me know.

basis. Bookings for any of these events should be via the Bo’ness website not ours. If you want to enter the Classic show on the Sunday then you can do that through our site.

But before Bo’ness we have Thirlestane Castle in June and Glamis in July. PLEASE get your entries in!

And remember ALL MGs are welcome at all of our shows.

You can still book for the 5-Day Tour in August which will be based in the Lake District.

The organiser, Tony Smith, has an intimate knowledge of that area so you can expect some very interesting roads! It’s always a good event, in a good location with good fun! Don’t miss it!

Can I again make a plea for email addresses? Many of our members do not receive regular

2019 Technical Day with Brian Luti

what members want these days?

Are there too many events on the calendar in the area that clash, so attendees are split between events? If you have not been able to attend the AGM, but have some ideas of what you would like to see the Centre, in particular, organise, please let the committee know and we will try to accommodate.

There are a large number of events in the pipeline in your local areas that are being

organised during the summer months, to which we have been invited. Please keep an eye on the Centre website, Facebook, the excellent newsletter from Ted Lawrence and also at Natter level to know what is arranged.

The picture this month, taken by Wendy Keeling, is a little unusual as it is an MG Midget that resides in the FW Homestore in Barnstaple. There is also one in their Wales branch. So you can move house in an MG.

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 73

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MGCC Lincolnshire Centre “National Drive Your Classic Car Day” Booking Form

Sunday 28th April 2019 Metheringham Airfield and the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln Make Model Name Address Postcode Email address

Registration Number

Year

Tel: MGCC Member No

I would like to book an entry for the MG Car Club Lincolnshire Centre two venue event at Metheringham Airfield and International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) on Sunday 28th £ April 2019 @ £8.00 to include Social Drive and Pride of Ownership. I enclose my cheque for £8 payable to “MG Car Club” Refreshments: These are available as light refreshments from the Airfield Café and the International Bomber Command Centre but participants are advised to bring a picnic.

Additional costs: Please note that entry at the IBCC to the memorial gardens, memorial spire and restaurant is free but the Bomber Command Exhibition is available at additional but discounted cost payable directly to the Exhibition Centre. There is a £5 per person charge at Metheringham payable directly to the Visitor Centre

Drive Ins:- There is no organised drive-ins to Metheringham Airfield but participants may take part in a scenic run from Methingham to the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln. Participants are advised to arrive at Metheringham Airfield LN4 3WF between 10.30 am to 11.00am.

Please post to: - David Stonehouse, “High Meadows”, 4 Bowmans Ridge, Hundleby, Lincs. PE23 5NR Tel: 01790 754774 email davidstonehouse1@btinternet.com Please note the above rates apply only to those who have made to the MG Car Club by 16th April 2019. Thereafter, attendees will have to pay the full rate of £10 per vehicle.

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www.mgcc.co.uk

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CENTRES

LINCOLNSHIRE

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

April Natters: Wolds Wednesday 3; Abbey Lodge Monday 8; Wishing Well Wednesday 10; Three Horseshoes Thursday 18; Lincoln Tuesday 23; White Hart Thursday 25.

Luncheon Club: Wednesday 17.

April Events: Autotest East Kirkby Sunday 14; National Drive Your Classic Car Day Metheringham Airfield Sunday 28.

Well, the dust will now have settled on the Centre’s AGM, and off we go into another year.

Our thanks must go to last year’s committee, and welcome to this year’s batch.

Congratulations! to Nigel Pack, recipient of a lifetime achievement award at our recent

Bentley Hotel Dinner. Here’s someone you definitely want on your side. For details of all Nigel’s exploits, and tributes, look at his special awards page on our website.

The first competitive event of the year is the Autotest at East Kirkby on the 14th, where we hope to see some new competitors in action; with coaching available from the very experienced Malcolm Clark, alongside some of our seasoned campaigners looking to sharpen their skills. For an application form, please look on our website at: www.mgcclincolnshire.co.uk or contact our Competition Secretary David Stonehouse on 01790 754774.

On the 28th (National Drive Your Classic Car Day), we have a ‘create your own run event’ to Metheringham Airfield, where we can explore the visitor centre and the planes kept there, and learn about the recent history of the area, along with its role during World War 2. Aiming to arrive there by 11.00am latest, after a spot of lunch, we’re off to the

International Bomber Command Centre, Canwick Hill, Lincoln, to find out about the service’s activities and sacrifices. Once again, application forms from the above sources.

As we move into May, our first Landlord’s Choice event will be at the Abbey Lodge on Monday the 13th. Best get polishing!

Malcolm Clark in-flight, Autosolo East Kirkby

MIDLANDS

JOHN FRY jcfryza@gmail.com www.mgccmidlandcentre.co.uk

The Centre held its AGM in late January, and in addition to the existing Committee being reelected, we are very pleased to welcome Jane Parry and David Wood. Full contact details and a list of our events appear in our 2019 Events Calendar which accompanied March SF!. If any Midlands member did not receive this please email me.

These Notes should appear just before our Curborough Sprint on Sunday April 7. Spectator entrance is free. This interesting and tricky circuit is off the A38 at Fradley, outside of Lichfield. Light snacks available! Martin Price, our Sprint Co-ordinator and Chairman 01299 401177, confirms that he may well be able to accept late entries

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for this, the first event of the 2019 MGCC Speed Championship. If you are able and would like to marshal, please offer your services to Simon 07788 168488.

In mentioning Curborough, the Cannock & District Car Club have kindly invited us to an “all forward” Autotest at this venue on April 22.

No Competition Licence required.

Contact www.cdcc.org.uk or phone 07807 054309.

Other dates for your diary in April are the Pride of Longbridge on the 13th, and of course the national Drive It Day on the 28th.

Contact your local Natter for details of the latter.

Our Welsh Rallye on May 17-19, centred on Llangollen in north Wales, may still have a few

vacancies – so if you fancy some non-competitive driving along (Tarmac) roads you did not know existed, please get in touch quickly with Roger King (rogerking43 @gmail.com).

And finally, on May 19 there is the Charnwood Caper starting at Quorn Grand Central Railway Station (contact Colin 07583 231393) and on June 9 is the Ratae Run starting at the White Horse, Broughton Abbey (contact Michael 01455 553868).

The pictures are of a couple of our favourite cars residing in the warmer climes of Johannesburg.

This city is 6,000ft above sea level where oxygen is thinner – hence Supercharger! Incidentally, both Johannesburg and Vancouver MGCC Centres are celebrating 50 years in 2019.

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 75

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CENTRES

NORTH WEST PAUL GOODMAN 01625 876300

The clocks have changed and spring has arrived, so it is time to get your MGs out and attend an event this month. The Shrewsbury Arms is our first venue on April 9, an opportunity to chat and compare notes about cars. Then on Sunday April 14 the Speed

9

K Series Engine in an MG3, Colin Robertson’s Race Car. Photo: David Coulthard

Championship competitors will be out at Harewood Hillclimb in Yorkshire. This venue is worth a visit, with a packed paddock of interesting cars and a great view of the tarmac road snaking up the hillside. The Plough and Flail gathering will be on Tuesday April 16 when we will be finalising our show appearances for the coming year. This will be followed by the lunchtime gathering on Wednesday April 24 at The Dun Cow, Chelford Road, Knutsford, WA16 8RH. Drive-it-Day this year is on Sunday April 28. The Centre gathering will be at the Lion Salt Works, Ollershaw Lane, Northwich, CW9 6ES. We have booked a parking area for around 12.30pm. There are no specific

routes planned, but members can get together and follow their own. There is an opportunity to buy refreshments and take a tour of the museum.

Just into May, on Saturday and Sunday 4 and 5, we will be organising our sprint weekend on the Anglesey Circuit. We have a large entry of cars ranging from standard sports cars to powerful, modified Porsche, Westfield and singleseater racers. There will also be a good contingent of MGs competing for Speed Championship points and the prestigious John Ellison Trophy for the fastest Centre member over the weekend. The cars will run over two laps of the shorter circuit for each run on Saturday and one lap of the full track on Sunday. We are looking for

members and friends to help in running the meeting, so please get in touch if you are interested. We can offer tasks off track in the administration of the event and the opportunity to help trackside at a marshal’s post. You will be placed with an experienced person who will be able to help you to learn on the job.

Final event to make you aware of is the Cheshire Candles run on May 12. You can book a place via the dedicated website to take part in this tour of the countryside.

All the latest details about our events can be found at the Centre website. There are also dedicated sites for the Cockshoot Cup and Speed Championship with results, calendars and regulations.

SOUTH EAST

JO RUFFELS joruffels@gmail.com www.mgccse.co.uk short trips up the river to Upnor April offers a number of South East Castle, with all the proceeds going events to enjoy, kicking off with the to the RNLI, weather permitting. annual MG Era Day at Brooklands A detailed route will be issued but on Sunday April 14, celebrating Landranger Map 177 will also be an amazing 10 decades of the helpful on this run. For more details: MG. Tickets are available at: www.

Richard@printd.co.uk brooklandsmuseum.com/whatsThe Brands Hatch MGCC on/brooklands-mg-era or can be race meeting is being held on bought on the day.

April 28-29, a must to experience The Spring Run coincides with the excitement and amazing Drive It Day on Sunday April 28 spectacle of many eras of MG and is being organised by Dick race cars, plus the fantastic Triple Owens (01689 858907) starting Ms in the paddock and racing on at the Toby Carvery, Halstead, the Indy track.

Kent TN14 7AD. Teas/coffees and The Belgium Rally is being breakfast are available with cars held on May 3-6 2019, travelling starting off around 10.30am. The to Oudenaarde and touring run finishes at the Medway Yacht the Flemish Ardennes region Club, Lower Upnor, Rochester of Belgium. Club runs include ME2 4XB, with superb views over Waterloo and Ghent with optional the Medway; bar and galley will meal and boat cruise. For full be open. A club launch will offer

9

urt, UK om

15:38

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MMMs at Brands Hatch April 2018. Photo: Will Opie

details contact Derek Edwards (01737 765891).

The annual Awards Sunday Lunch is being held at Hartsfield Manor, Betchworth (RH3 7AA) on Sunday May 19, more details to follow. Contact Austin Banner austin.banner@gmail.com A full calendar of events is available on the new website, plus links to flyers with information: www.mgccse.co.uk/calendar-2019/ Natter Change – please note the Eastbourne and District Natter will now meet at the Boship (Lions) Farm Hotel, Lower Dicker, Hailsham BN27 4AT.

The Club is looking for volunteers to fill two vacancies: 1. Newsletter Editor – see the webpage for details www.mgccse. co.uk/2018/10/08/newslettereditor-urgently-wanted/ This goes out electronically to those on the members list signed up to receive this.

2. MGCC SE Scribe, writing the monthly Safety Fast! Section.

If you are interested in taking on either role please contact Philip Bayne-Powell (01483 811428) or Derek Edwards (01737 765891).

These roles also include being part of the MGCC SE Committee.

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 77

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FORMER GLORY The MG COLLECTION

Celebrating 30 Years of Showroom MG Sales offering the Largest selection of Classic MG’s in the UK www.classicmg.co.uk

MGA ROADSTER, 1600 MK 2, UK CAR, 1961.

Rare year model, in original chariot red. Heritage certificate. Body off restoration to exceptional standard. Detailed engine bay. All new /reconditioned throughout. All new leather and weather gear. Recent work by beech hill garage. Just arrived. £TBC

MGB HERITAGE SHELL, 1968, TARTAN RED 5000 miles since built, detailed engine bay and body coloured underside. Leather seats, wires and overdrive. Uprated brakes, polybushed suspension, rebuilt/reconditioned throughout .

Immaculate paintwork £TBC

MGB ROADSTER 1970, MK2 correct mk2, GHN4 model, alloy bonnet. Bare metal respray , special leather interior and mohair hood, wires and overdrive, detailed engine bay. £14750

MGA 1600 MK2 COUPE, RARE HOME MARKET CAR old english white with deluxe leather seats. Bare shell respray in 2014. Fully photographed. Peter Burgess eco tune head, fully rebuilt throughout with history back to 1972. previous full rebuild by brown and gammons. Dunlop replica wheels. Heritage certificate and original green log book. valuable plate. £25,950

MG RV8, 1993, UK CAR WITH POWER STEERING one of 307 Home market cars AND 136 in BRG Metallic. Immaculate example with only 30000 miles from new. Brand new hood, refurbished wheels, adjustable power steering, clive wheatley uprated shocks, Fastidious owner undertook a bare shell respray in 2015, hardy used since.

Finest available and drives as I remember them from new. £25950

MGB GT JUBILEE, 1975, SPECIAL MODEL fully restored bodyshell and new interior. Full sunroof, detailed engine bay. One of the best Jubilees I have owned. £7950

MGC ROADSTER,1968, TARTAN RED, 51000 MILES FROM NEW Much recent work including unleaded head, new servo, maniflow exhaust system and electronic ignition. new chrome wires. Excellent paint finish. original leather steering wheel. £25950

MG PA, 1934.

Delightful pre war MG that is currently being re commissioned by us. £TBC

FACTORY GT V8, 34,000 MILES FROM NEW,1974 Aconite with full sunroof and original period vinyl covered roof and tailgate. Much recent expenditure including suspension and cooling system. Remarkable time warp condition. Just arrived. £TBC

FACTORY GT V8 WITH UPGRADES, 1974 original chrome bumper model. Rebuilt engine with uprated heads and holley carb. 5 speed gearbox , uprated front brakes and suspension. Excellent bodywork and repainted in MG Mineral blue. full sunroof.

Very quick example. £18950

MGR V8, NIGHTFIRE RED. 1994 , imported from Japan in 1998. 53000 miles and in superb original condition. New stainless full exhaust system. Full history. Tonneau cover and tool kit. Workshop manuals. £22000

MGC GT 1969, RCY 8G previous full body restoration to show standard,including fully detailed engine bay.A well known MGC at all the MGC club events. Rebuilt engine, gearbox and overdrive.

New suspension. electronic ignition, good history file.

Fully refurbished interior. Drives superbly. £19950

MGC ROADSTER, 1969, SNOWBERRY WHITE,5 SPEED, 200BHP. very special MGC as it was the first one to be fitted with the MG Motorsport 5 speed gearbox conversion and with Triple webers make this a fantastic drive.

Fully restored shell. MGOC Executive leather seats and matching blue mohair hood. Magazine Featured and tested. Built by renowned specialist Doug smith.

Heritage certificate and supplied new by University Motors London. £29500

MGR V8, 1995, OXFORD BLUE 28000 miles, excellent original car . no.1562.

Some details could be improved.

Air conditioning has been removed. 2 owners since repatriation from Japan in 2oo2 £18500

MGB V8 ROADSTER, HERITAGE SHELL,1966 Mineral blue with 72 spoke 15” wire wheels. Bespoke build to exceptional standard. 3.5 Litre new engine and 5 speed gearbox. v8 axle. Edelbrock carb, uprated suspension with Bilstein shocks. MGC alloy bonnet. detailed engine bay. Please call for full spec. £25950

MGC GT 1968, TRIPLE WEBERS WITH UPGRADES. Overdrive. New leather seats. Huge history file showing restoration and upgrades over many years. Twin pipe maniflo exhaust system. Full sunroof. Parabolic rear springs, twin fuel pumps. Kenlowe fan. £19,950

MGB ROADSTER MK1 PULL HANDLE, 1963 black with chrome wires. Bespoke biscuit leather interior by PJM. Californian shell that has been professionally built to uk spec. 6600 miles since rebuild. All original panel work and structure.

Currently being prepared for sale by us. £TBC

MGB HERITAGE SHELL, 1972, BRG. CHROME WIRES AND LEATHER INTERIOR. Resprayed in 2017 and previously supplied by us. £15950

MGB , HERITAGE SHELL, 1967 Oselli engine with sports exhaust and weber carb. Re shelled by Beech hill garage and 1 owner for the past 35 years. Leather seats and walnut dashboard. Superb paintwork and rust free bodyshell.

It would cost 28k to replicate. £16450

MG TD, 1951, FACTORY BLACK, UK CAR new chrome wires and beige leather with matching tonneau. Previous full restoration with new ash frame. Very clean underside and drives superbly. Currently being prepared for sale. £24,500

MGOC RECOMMENDED DEALER • MG CAR CLUB TRADE MEMBER 01844 281700 • nigelguild@hotmail.com

YOUR MG WANTED TO PURCHASE MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 78

22/03/2019 17:55

CENTRES

SOUTH WEST

IAN BENINGFIELD ianbeningfield@gmail.com 07747 080417 www.mgccsw.com www.facebook.com/mgccsw Last month saw our annual dinner and awards evening at the Limpley Stoke Hotel. As always, we were pleased to welcome competitors from the MGCC Speed Championship. In addition, this year we were joined by Graham Robson, motoring historian and prolific author who gave an interesting and

entertaining after dinner speech on his involvement in the British motoring industry, from a graduate engineer through to involvement in manufacturer competition departments and as a respected journalist and author. Graham kindly also agreed to present trophies to both SW and Speed Championship

TYNE TEES

TONY WOOD anthony@scrutonvillage.co.uk

Spring has sprung, (hopefully) and things are happening in the world of Tyne Tees. You still have time to enter the Cobweb Run on the 28th, starting and finishing at the Brocksbushes farm shop at the A68/A69 junction. Contact Ian Graham ianmggrahham@ gmail.com for details.

With the onset of lighter evenings our pub meets are again staging the Pride of Ownership awards, an excuse for individuals to wander in a distracted manner round pub car parks wishing they had washed the car before attending and inwardly cursing those who had. (Perhaps you are immune to car envy – come along and find out.) On a serious note, our pub meets are fun and friendly; make a resolution to

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MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 79

come along to the Ridley Arms or Coulby Manor, you won’t regret it.

The Northern Natter are holding their Treasure Hunt and supper on Saturday May 18, a great fun, free event (sadly you need to pay for supper) contact David Alexander david. alexander2012@btinternet.com

competitors, including Neil Lock (pictured) who collected the SW Centre top award for overall winner of our drivers’ championship after a successful year campaigning both his BGT and ZR. No sooner have we awarded all the 2018 trophies than we are already looking forward to the 2019 season. A full calendar of events is now on the Centre website, but two dates for your diary are:

out then please get in touch with Bruce Weston by emailing bruceweston@gmail.com

Kimber Classic Trial – April 13 This year we will be celebrating 90 years of the M type at the event, so expect a good entry of MMM cars taking on the 80-mile route through the Somerset countryside.

Entry details are on the website and as always, we are on the lookout for marshals to help run the 10 special tests along the route. If you’re interested in helping

MGs on Grass 1 – April 27 Hot on the heels of Kimber Classic is our first autotest, held just a few miles north of Bath. The event is suitable for cars of all ages from vintage to modern and no prior experience or modifications to your car are needed. The aim of the autotest is to navigate your way around the course as quickly as possible without clipping any of the course marker poles and the tests are a measure of skill rather than outright speed. The event is ideal for those wanting to try their MG in a competitive situation for the first time and is even open to drivers under the age of 17 as long as they have a passenger in the car with them.

The Prince Bishops and St Cuthbert’s runs are slightly earlier this year, on Sunday June 2. Starting at Lordstones Country Park and Newbigginby-the-Sea respectively, and thanks to Noel navigating his way through the labyrinthine paperwork, once again finishing on Palace Green, Durham, surely one of the finest finishes in the UK. Entry forms will be on the website.

Moving seamlessly on, have you entered the rebranded Croft Retro and Classic Weekend?

Entry forms are available to download from the Croft website and this year entries for Classic cars are free, so hurry up and enjoy a great weekend of cars and close racing, but note that entries close on June 7. Please let Noel know if you are coming along as our Club stand is for 30 cars and soon fills up.

MGs and people enjoying the finishing venue of a previous Prince Bishops run

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 79

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MG CAR CLUB YORKSHIRE CENTRE

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CENTRES

YORKSHIRE

DAVID COPEMAN 07920 064585 www.mgccyorkshire.co.uk North – Nick Mann The February meeting consisted of a talk by Anne Buckley concerning the mainly German high-ranking officers who had been taken prisoner during the First World War and their incarceration near Skipton.

They were tended to by fellow soldiers from the lower ranks of the German army who had been similarly taken prisoner. It was a fascinating presentation and greatly enjoyed by all who attended. With the unseasonably warm weather we are currently enjoying, it has been great to get out in the MG for some drives. Long may it continue, although I strongly suspect there may be yet more winter weather to come!

South – Geoff Norcliffe Thanks go to Malcolm Perry for his work as Natter leader as he stood down in February after three years, one year more than

the normal term of office here.

After much barrel-scraping to find a replacement, I took over from Malc for the next two years.

We have our Drive it Day on April 28, visiting South Yorkshire Transport Museum. There is always room for more, so let me know if you want to go.

East – Brian Rylance At the Award Luncheon the East Enthusiast Trophy was awarded to Jill and Greg Thornton, for Outstanding Contribution to the Yorkshire Centre. John Milner was awarded the trophy for his many years’ service as the Centre treasure rand finally the Centre Enthusiast Trophy went to Ray Snowley.

West – David Copeman At the recent Awards Luncheon our Natter had a great selection of silverware.

ULSTER

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

We are in the throes of coordinating The Derek Walker Memorial Classic which this year will start and finish at Echlinville Distillery, Kircubbin.

It is somewhat later than usual, on April 27, and will be a compact event running down the Ards Peninsula and we are trying to gather up marshals to cover the tests. There are a few events being held on this day and some of our regulars will

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MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 81

be unable to attend, so if you will be free to help please get in touch as soon as possible.

Signing-on will start at 8.00am and regulations can be found on the website.

Your ‘Social Committee’ has been putting together a programme for the year and come up with some great ideas which should get us out and about to meet other members of The Ulster Centre.

Carol received the West Enthusiast, we also won the photographic competition with a photo taken by Carol in Italy during the MG by the Sea event, the inter-Natter quiz team of Geoff Morris, Alan French, Phillip Kent and myself took the trophy, Auto Sport went to James Johnson, and the Young Enthusiast to his son Archie.

Tiger – Pete Welbourn The recent spate of unseasonal good weather persuaded me to get my act together and fix a couple of leaks in our old red B’s engine bay, and maybe use it to get to the Awards Dinner. The maintenance was completed but a more comfortable old car got us to the Dinner. Many thanks go to the organisers; Mel and I had a good time in good company.

We have just returned from checking the route for our March luncheon run to Bert’s Bistro at Brandesburton.

You will be pleased to hear the route today included lots of mud as we passed the

We have participated in Drive it Day for a couple of years now. This is a national event where different clubs organise outings for their members. This year it is being held on April 28, so if you haven’t had your MG out for a while, there is plenty of time to blow off those cobwebs and get your car on the road.

We are planning a “Run” for Sunday, May 19, details of which will be advised in next month’s Safety Fast! and also on our website.

We are always trying to think of new social events and would really appreciate receiving

Pocklington Flood Prevention Scheme, more than a few pot holes and some stunning views across the Wolds.

Vale of York – Ken Cothliff The good Lord must favour our Natter meetings – yet again sunshine blessed the day. Tony Margel arrived in his VA, and Bob and Beth Walker in their old 1932 F-type. Our Area President, Alan Dakeyne, was enamoured enough with the day to bring his 1950s ZB Magnette. We welcomed new MGCC member John Gott from Pudsey, owner of an MG M-type.

We congratulated David Fletcher and the first winner of our new Natter enthusiast trophy. Dave and Dennis are now planning the Heartbeat Run for May Whitsun weekend. Many conversations varied around events for the forthcoming summer season, and yours truly went through the calendar and the possibility of a run to the Real Aeroplane Collection at Breighton.

ideas from you, the members, so please get in touch and help us organise something you would like to do.

Dates for your Diary: April 16 Film Night – Tudor Cinema, 22a Drumhirk Rd, Comber 7.00 for 7.30pm April 27 Derek Walker Memorial Classic – Echlinville Distillery, Kircubbin, 8.00am April 28 Drive it Day – check the website nearer the time for more information May 8 Nosh and Natter – 12.45pm at Poacher’s Pocket, Lisbane

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REGISTERS

TRIPLE M

CATHELIJNE SPOELSTRA +31 (0)6 41216600 cathelijnespoelstra@outlook.com www.triple-mregister.org

April is chock-full of events for you to choose from. There is, of course, the Kimber Classic Trial on the 13th and the Kimber Classic Gymkhana on the 14th, but if racing is your thing you may want to venture towards Silverstone for the first round of the VSCC’s ‘Formula Vintage’ race meeting, also on the 13th and 14th. Another event well worth a visit is the MG Era Day at Brooklands, also (you’ve guessed it) on the 14th. Then a bit further on is Drive it Day on the 28th. If you’re in need of a goal for the day, do drive your car to Brands Hatch that morning for the Club’s spring race meeting to see the Baynton Jones Historic Motorsport Mary Harris Trophy and Kimber

Trophy races for Triple-Ms. We’re expecting grids of almost 30 cars, which should make for some great spectating. I look forward to seeing you all, either at ‘the Kimber’ or at Brands Hatch!

Baby car success We’ve reached the E for the Car of the Month and even though it actually precedes the C- and D-types we’ve already dealt with, E is for EX120. When it seemed Austin was going to walk away with the honour of supplying the first 750cc car ever to do 100mph, Captain George Eyston took up the gauntlet and had the Works build him a record-breaking MG. The first record he took at Montlhéry

was at a bit over 86mph on December 30 1930, only to have it snatched away by Sir Malcolm Campbell and his Austin who did some 94mph at Daytona soon after. Back at Montlhéry in February, on the 9th, EX120 raised the bar to 97mph. And then, leaving Austin no room, on February 16 the tiny MG did it and took several records at well over 100mph, ending up in the history books forever.

There are some fascinating tales

accompanying these exciting and adventurous times and I can highly recommend reading up on the subject in Barré Lyndon’s ‘Combat’ and in John Thornley’s ‘Maintaining the Breed’, both essential reading matter for any admirer of the marque.

The photograph shows George Eyston seated in EX120 with his motley crew behind, being, from left to right, Reg Jackson, Fred Kindell, Ernest Eldridge, Cecil Cousins and Gordon Phillips.

issue was the fact that the wedges beneath each set of leaf springs that control the caster angle were incorrectly fitted. The thick end of the wedge should be pointing towards the rear of the car; one was correct, the other was round the other way, thereby giving different caster angles each side.

Finally we checked and adjusted the tracking using a lovely set of 1950s optical gauges. As I’m

finishing off some bodywork renovations I’m yet to test all the changes, but I’m confident it will drive better than ever and I shall of course report on this next month.

Don’t forget to have a look on our SVW Register Facebook group where we now have 119 members. The Brooklands MG Era Day on April 14 looks like being a big one for SVWs.

SVW

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

James Worsley wrote in with an update on the VA Saloon he owned from 1977 to 2003 (see photo). His affection for this car leads him to keep track on its whereabouts. After going through a few dealers he saw it advertised on eBay at the end of last year. James made contact with the new owner, who acquired the car in Germany and is having some work done on it there before shipping it to his home north of London. The new owner is not yet a member of the MGCC, but James will work on him! We recently saw a VA Tourer going to its new owner in Germany from the UK, so it’s always nice to see one coming the other way!

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I’ve previously written about my disappointment after having my king pins and track rod ends replaced last year on my VA Tourer.

With the help of a well-qualified friend, we’ve replaced the king pins with the later type after reaming the new bushes and getting a perfect clearance by shimming.

We found several other reasons why the driving experience was so twitchy. The bolts securing one set of leaf springs were all loose and had stretched, so we replaced them with new BSF 3/8” x 3.5” bolts both sides and fitted the new bump stops I’d made. The torque cables were badly adjusted (one very loose, the other over tight) so we adjusted these to the recommended setting. One major

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REGISTERS

T TYPE

PAUL PLUMMER 01926 854574 ptplummer@icloud.com

Hello and welcome to my first ramblings as your new T Register Scribe.

The March issue of these notes was John Ward’s last words before he passed the mighty quill on to myself, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank John, on behalf of all the T Register members, for his sterling work, persistence and humour over the past nine years. Well done, John!

I thought it was just worth reiterating the status quo so that we all know where we are and how to get in touch.

The T Register committee is headed up by the officers: Chairman: Ian Palmer, Secretary: Sally Silcock, Treasurer: Glenys

Knight. Our President is Mike Lugg, and there are 18 other members of the committee with varying responsibilities. Full contact details are available on the website.

In addition to these articles written in Safety Fast!, we have the following lines of communication: a monthly emailed newsletter to all members of the Register for whom we have email addresses, the website, www.mgcc.co.uk/ttreg an active online presence on most social media, www. facebook.com/mgtregister http:// twitter.com/mgcctregister https:// www.youtube.com/channel/ UCGRcRM-4UsutI1OrJ-QS0yg Happy surfing!

The Register’s programme of events is now finalised for 2019 and are shown here.

T Register Events 2019 March 23. T Register Rebuild 2019.

British Motor Museum, Gaydon CV35 0BJ April 8-12. Spring Tour to Normandy April 14. MG Era Day at Brooklands.

Brooklands Museum, Brooklands Road, Weybridge, KT13 0QN August 4. T Party at Shuttleworth, Old Warden Aerodrome, Nr

Biggleswade, SG18 9EP September 13-16. Autumn Tour to Rutland. The Haycock Hotel, Wansford, Peterborough, PE8 6JA Over the coming months I will try to make this piece interesting, topical and hopefully new. Any ideas for ‘new’ content will be welcomed and should be emailed to the above address.

And finally, just in case you don’t know who I am, here is a photo of yours truly alongside my TF 1500.

Y TYPE

JERRY BIRKBECK TEL: 01926 258691 MOB: 07855 566325 birkbeckjerry@gmail.com www.mgccyregister.co.uk Y Register Spring Weekend May 4 and 5 2019 This year’s Spring Weekend has once again been arranged by our hardworking Chair Chris Callaghan and Annette. It will be held over the weekend of May 4-5 in Wiltshire and centred at Cricklade House, Common Hill, Cricklade, Wiltshire SN6 6HA. If you are looking to stay then phone 01793 750751 and quote the code MG Y TYPE. If you just wish to attend the dinner then this is £35 a head for a threecourse meal.

The Spring Run starts from the Hotel at 10.00am on the Sunday and will end up at Sudeley Castle and Gardens.

www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 83

For more details please contact Chris Callaghan on chrismgabingdon@yahoo.co.uk or by phone 01865 820312 or by looking at the MG Y Type Register.

We need a new Regalia Officer As many of you know, Mike and Sue Silk have run the Regalia site since 2009 and mentioned at last year’s AGM that they were standing down. We had hoped that Paul and Maggie Grafham would be running it by now.

However, they are emigrating to France and will no longer be able to offer the service. Mike has mentioned that it involves probably no more than four

to eight transactions a month.

All the material is stored in a couple of tea chests, taking up around a square metre each.

This is our principal source of funds and therefore is very important to us. If you are able to help then contact me initially: birkbeckjerry@gmail.com or phone me on 01926 258691.

The photos are of Richard Dick’s YB, now in the hands of his son Patrick in Australia. Still looks in great condition and was running well when I spoke to Patrick at Richard’s wake.

Articles and Photographs I would like to thank both Alan Chick and Slater Reynolds for their articles and these will be in the June issue of Safety Fast!.

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 83

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E G

REGISTERS

MAGNETTE

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

Club member Nigel Hay is looking for a ZA which he hopes to enter in the Mille Miglia Retrospective, meaning the car has to match the specification of one that competed in the original race (last run in 1957). There were probably only a couple of such

Autosport Magnette roadtest

Magnettes, one driven in 1956 by Gregor Grant, founder and editor of Autosport magazine (and a prolific journalist and author).

The early ZA, 414 BMD, was his privately owned car, bought

by Grant in 1954 for a roadtest due to the restrictions imposed around the time of the Magnette launch by the BMC press office – they refused to supply test cars to magazines which might give unfavourable reviews.

In fact Autosport

MGA

EDWARD VANDYK TEL: 01488 608810 mgascribe@vandyk.co.uk Photographs of two winners this month, the first of which is, of course, the MGA! Chosen as the car to convey the F1 Grand Prix drivers round the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne for the Drivers Parade before the 2019 inaugural Grand Prix. Here we have the MGAs lined up

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with their drivers. The second photograph is the winner of that race, Valtteri Bottas on the parade lap.

A message from the editor of the MGA Register eNewsletter, Stuart Mumby:- A new, dedicated email address has been set up specifically for

published a very positive report, and obviously the Magnette made a good impression since Grant afterwards kept it for everyday use, as well as driving it in the 1955 RAC Rally, the 1955 Monte Carlo and the 1956 MIlle Miglia. When he returned for the 1957 Mille Miglia, his specially prepared Lotus Eleven was actually trailered to the start behind the Magnette. Clausager’s ‘MG Saloons’ book shows 414 BMD after coming off the road in the Monte Carlo, a crash that forced Grant to retire, although obviously both he and the car survived.

Grant drove the 1,500km of the 1956 race without any co-driver/navigator, commenting that he “hated the idea of scaring someone else stiff”.

He finished fourth in his class (although near the bottom

of the overall ranking), a respectable result in a class featuring Porsches and Sunbeam Rapiers, averaging over 50mph despite running much of the race on three cylinders and in torrential rain.

Nigel needs to find a ZA in sufficiently original condition to gain a FIVA ‘passport’ – matching numbers, etc. Many Magnettes have had larger engines and other mechanical modifications fitted over the years, although some changes could be reversed if the car is otherwise suitable. It seems unlikely that 414 BMD still exists (certainly DVLA and the Register have no record) but let me know if you have information to the contrary, or can fill in any of its later history, or can help Nigel with his quest.

the distribution of the MGA Register eNewsletter. However there have been some technical issues with Outlook.com so if you failed to receive the March edition of the eNewsletter, or if you have not previously subscribed and now would like to, please contact me at mga@ live.co.uk An update on the MGA Register Spring Tour 2019 May 17 to 19 – Mynyddoedd â Mor – Mountains and Sea To date, 65 cars have entered for the MGA Register Spring Tour around Anglesey and Snowdonia on successive days.

Although we have taken all the allocated rooms at the rally hotel, The Royal Victoria, they have a cancellation list and there is other accommodation available in the area so it is still not too late to sign up!

If you are interested, download the entry form at www.mgcc.co.uk/mga-register/ events-in-2019 Complete it and send it with your cheque for the entry fee, £30, payable to “The MG Car Club - MGA Register” to Alan Sheridan, 6 Hillside Drive, Liverpool L25 5NS. Any questions please contact the organisers, Diana and Alan Sheridan, Tel: 0151 428 1655, Mobile: 07768 816907 or email: jalansheridan@gmail.com

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:56

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06/02/2019 12:49:12 22/03/2019 17:56

REGISTERS

MGB

DAVID BROADHURST 01209 614704 newsletter-editor@mgb-register.org www.mgb-register.org mgbforum.mgb-register.org There are still places to be snapped up on April 7 on the MGB Register Spring Run 2019 Supported by British Motor Heritage. This year’s Spring Run starts at Millets Farm, visits the Classic Motor Hub Bibury and finishes at Kingston Bagpuize House. .Entry is £26 and includes Route Book and Rally Plaque.

Don’t forget, if you wish to visit the house this can be booked on the day. There is a maximum limit of 100 MGs. You can turn up on the day and register your intentions…

I had a phone call from Peter Nixon of the Tyne Tees Centre and, consequently, he sent me the following. In response to a posting I put on MG Experience website in the USA, looking for Works

hardtop parts which are no longer available in the UK, I was given the following web address: http://trf. zeni.net/MGB-GC/254.php which brought up the ‘The Roadster Factory’. I was able to order the retainer strips which go under the rear glass area for the rubber that sits on the back of the MGB, total cost including postage from the USA was $58. The price includes the rivets.

This is on that page: “It may be that we at TRF know more about the hard top than any other source because we purchased all the remaining parts and moulds from a motorcycle side car company known as Watsonian Squire back in the 1980s.

MIDGET

MIKE PARKER mikeparker78@btinternet.com www.midgetregister.com/ At the Midget Register AGM, held on March 10 2019, we saw Dennis Wharf and Graham Springthorpe step down after 34 years on the Register – that’s each, not between them! We must thank them for their services.

I also stepped down after serving as your Register Chairman over the past eight years but will stay on the committee for several months to write the notes, and then other members on the committee will start submitting them. If you feel you could help, please do contact me.

The good news is we welcomed to the meeting our new Club Director, Keith Williams, and three new members also joined us. John Grainger, Chris

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Hale and Max Authers. Welcome to you all and I hope you all enjoy helping Peter Chaundy, the new Register Chairman, bring the Register forward.

With spring upon us, why not treat your MG Midget to a Register grille badge or keyring?

All details are on the Kimber Store website https://shop.mgcc.co.uk/ Dates for your Diary The Midget Register Road Run is being held on September 1 2019.

Details are on the Register website http://www.midgetregister.com and will be published in a future issue of Safety Fast!.

The September Register Weekend event in North Wales is filling up quickly, but there is still

Watsonian manufactured parts in glass fibre, and they were the original supplier of the hard top to MG. This project has been on hold at TRF for many years, but we are looking again at the possibility of producing original hard tops. In the meantime, we have many parts in stock for repair of used hard tops.

By the way, TRF’s owner, Charles Runyan, was trained by Watsonian Squire in hard top assembly. Also, Watsonian is a descendent of a company once known as The Swallow Side Car Company (I vaguely remember the Austin 7 having bodywork by Swallow, correct me please if wrong) When the company split, the other branch was known first as SS Cars and later as... yes, Jaguar. No English company wanted to be known as ‘SS’ anything after World War II.” Incidentally, the works hardtop rear glass is available from Brown

time and room to book. Details from Mike Parker on 01235 525255 or email mikeparker78@ btinternet.com The Midget and Sprite Race Challenge kicks off at Brands Hatch on April 27-28 2019. This is an MG Car Club meeting so there is a race on each day for the Challenge. It’s been a long winter for us, so we’ll be glad to get back on the track.

& Gammons for £46.80 including VAT, postage is prohibitive at around £76 for a pallet, so better to pick it up. I just bought that glass for the hardtop which I picked up for a pittance as it had no rear glass in it.

The photograph is of Danny Waters, our technical guru for many years. He is collecting the Marque of Friendship Award from Club Director, George Wilder, and the caricature as a thank you from the MGB Register.

Finally, the Register has 4,950 cars listed on our site and we would like to get to 5,000 cars this year. The 5,000th car registered will receive a plaque with the car number details to keep with your car as a souvenir, so please send your details in to our Register. Full details are on the Midget Register website.

Dennis Wharf and Graham Springthorpe receive awards for services to the Midget Register from MGCC Director Keith Williams

www.mgcc.co.uk

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REGISTERS

MGC

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

Well, the clocks have gone forward and hopefully by now we will have seen through the worst of the winter months. Time to get out there and start putting some miles on the clock again!

There are a number of events scheduled in the coming months, so hopefully something to cater for everyone. In date order: April 3 – Richard Davies owns GCN1/6480-G which was released from the factory on that day in 1969 and is planning a mini-pilgrimage to Abingdon with a couple more Cs. Richard has asked that if anyone else would like to join him on that day in their C then please get in touch. He is planning to visit HQ and drive the test route

which the production staff at the factory would have used in 1969. His contact details are richarddavies014@gmail.com or 07932 712362.

April 14 – Brooklands MG Era Day. May 4-5 – Salisbury – Downton Engineering Works Show on Saturday and the Downton Classic car run on the Sunday. The Saturday event coincides with the local ‘Cuckoo Fair’ held in Downton and is highly recommended.

May 8-12 – MGC Jersey.

This takes in Liberation Day on Thursday 9 and a tour of the island on the Friday. Further details can be obtained from Jon Glover at jongloveractor@gmail.

FWD

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

My 1988 MG Metro 1300 was unfortunately involved in an accident in November last year.

I was hit from behind while approaching a roundabout and, needless to say, my Metro did not come out of it well. Fortunately, the ease with which my Metro folded up saved me from experiencing any of the impact, leaving me totally unharmed. The damage was severe, with not only the rear end being totally deformed but also parts of the boot floor were crumpled and the rear wings were slightly damaged. Fortunately, the damage could have been far worse and was repairable. Following six weeks of battling with my insurance company, they finally agreed to pay out without writing

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off the car – although they paid out less than the repair would cost and much less than my agreed value.

I decided that this would be a good opportunity to have a lot of other work done which quickly turned into a full body respray! Removing the front wings revealed a lot of rust in the inner wings, which has been cut out and replaced with new metal. The rather grotty-looking filler pocket has been sorted and the driver’s door that was hit a few years back has been set straight again. Rocky, named as such because of the colour (stone grey), has had brand new front wings, brand new front lower panel and a second-hand tailgate to replace the damaged one.

com or 07802 318950 or from the C Register micro website.

June 9 – MGs in the Park – Cotswold Wildlife Park, Gloucestershire. Contact Peter Mapson for details on peter. mapson@bowermapson.co.uk July 5-7 – MGC Day Sunday July 7 is being held at Holdenby House, just north of Northampton. We will base the event from the De Vere Staverton Estate, near Daventry, for those wishing to make a weekend of it and special rates at the hotel have been arranged. Please book with the hotel directly, quoting reference MGCC050919.

Further information can also be obtained from Mike Haughton or myself.

October 5 – MGC 50th Anniversary Ball – Chateau Impney, Droitwich. Still in the

planning stage at the moment, but we are hoping to arrange an ‘end of production’ ball to celebrate the closing of the 50th Anniversary. Please refer to March SF! page 87 – and register your interest with Mike before the end of April.

Colin Howes

Nearly four months after the accident, Rocky is nearly finished and already looking spectacular.

His restoration work will be joined by some MG Metro Turbo wheels I had refurbished a couple of years ago to replace the metric wheels, for which the tyres are now obsolete. While I will still use my MG regularly, this work has meant he will be far too good to carry on using as a daily. I will miss driving an MG Metro every

day but keenly look forward to being out in him in the summer.

Jamie Field

Peter Mapson braving the cold at MG Stoneleigh

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:56

TRADE MEMBER

Specialising in all MG’s

TEL/FAX: 01258 820337

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

MGC DAY JULY 7 2019

MIKE ROLLS

2016 201 6

TRADE MEMBER

SERVICES FOR MGs Specialising in all MG’s

TEL/FAX: 01258 820337

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8am-6pm, Wed: 8am-5pm, Sat: 8am-1pm MG TF RED -1954 MG TF 1954, 1250cc, Red with original red interior and black carpets. This car was originally exported to Switzerland and was always been right hand drive, in 2001 it was reimported to this country after having a mechanical restoration over there. It is a very genuine car with a great MG number plate, lovely history with black and white pictures of the family that owned it when new, it has recently had new wire wheels and tyres fitted and comes with good weather gear and heritage certificate. This TF drives beautifully. £26,995

MG TC, 1947

A special event for MGC Cars and their Owners!

Event booking forms, prices, weekend hotel details if required, and further informaaon—all available now from: Mike Haughton—MGC Register Secretary Mi mgc_mike@banternet.com +44 787 657 2202 or +44 151 336 1994 And on the MG Car Club—MGC Register —News Page: www.mgcc.co.uk/mgc-register/news/ Book early to avoid disappointment!

Last date for event only booking = June 7 Last La date for hotel booking = May 17

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

MG RV8 - 1995

MG RV8,1995 finished in Woodcote Green, the car was reimported back to the uk in 2005 and has only done around 50,000mls from new. The car has recently been fitted with electric power steering and a new hood, it comes with a very nice MGR registration number, good history files, MOT to June of this year and looks and drives superbly. £20,500.

SALOON DAY 2019

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

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

www.shuttleworth.org

July 28 2019 More information available soon

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

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

www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 89

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 89

CM02.13/B32/d

HOLDENBY HOUSE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

MG TC, 1947, finished in black with beige interior and weather gear, it has been fitted with a re-con engine which has only done 10,000 mls. The car comes with a very good history file including old MOT’s, invoice’s and details of work done over several years. It does have one or two minor paint blemishes but still presents itself very well. £25.995

22/03/2019 17:56

REGISTERS

MGF

TIM MORRIS 01932 882467 scribe@mgfregister.org www.mgfregister.org It’s an odd time of year, after the New Year classic meets and waiting for the warmer weather to arrive before the season begins in earnest. It feels like treading water but most of our regions are still active in one way or another – a spattering of winter drive outs, and pub meets with cosy fireside chats about MGs and the World in general. We had a stand at Stoneleigh for the Triumph and MG Show, well attended as usual and with a car from the new Young MGCC section on the stand. We are helping them get on their feet, too, with a donation for the basics. Some choose to drive around the M25 on the Friends Round London in the middle of the night and help raise

money for Homes 4 Heroes whilst freezing fingers grip the steering wheel as the only rule is that you must be topless.

There wasn’t much snow in the south east, but our South East Region managed to find most of it on a snow-covered hilltop in Surrey on a February drive out.

The question was whether it was best to slither down a steep snow-covered hairpin hill with more freezing fingers gripping steering wheels or turn around and go back. Some cars had no choice as it was too late, and they were already halfway down or just about to take the descent.

Engaging reverse led to wheels spinning and no motion – the only choice was downwards.

ZR/ZS/ZT

JOHN THOMPSON Tel: 07854 275541 johnt5@btinternet.com www.mgcc.co.uk/zedregister Events and shows Our first ‘big’ event of the year is just over a week away while I write these notes. We are looking forward to returning to the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show for a third year. There has been a lot of local interest in our cars in previous years from people who either worked at Longbridge or who had owned a Zed at some time. This makes an ideal location to officially launch and promote our ‘Save Our Zeds’ campaign.

The following Saturday (30th) we head for Silverstone for the first racing rounds of the new year.

After a close finish in the Trophy Championship at Snetterton last year, how will this season begin?

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It’s looking to be another large grid of ZRs this year. Further Zed action can be seen in the Cockshoot Cup and Peter Best Insurance Challenge. We will be organising the lunchtime parade laps as usual – so please find Geoff Hirst to sign on for this unique opportunity to view the track from the driver’s-eye view. Please bring your membership cards with you as membership numbers will be recorded on the forms. There will be a full account of both these events in the next update.

Upcoming Events Later this month we return to Birmingham for the annual Pride of Longbridge gathering on Saturday 13. There has been a

Some hadn’t got that far and did turn back. It took me back to driving over a mountain range south of Geneva in 2010, as part of MGF15, with skiers looking curiously at our MGFs as they sped by. Fs are not the greatest in inclement weather; rear engine and rear wheel drive is not the best combination in snow and ice and there has been plenty of that around most of the country this year (except the south east, of course, apart from that hill).

But the season is approaching, there has been a smattering of brief sunshine in between the gales and the Register are holding their Chairman’s Charity weekend as you receive this edition of SF!.

Wroxall Abbey is base camp and the AGM was on Saturday with a dinner in the evening at the hotel.

The next day’s run took us out into the surrounding countryside and a

mixture of fast and slow roads. You might find a further report on the weekend next time or, in any case, in the pages of the summer edition of the new-look FasTForward.

Do join our Facebook groups to find out what is going on or look at our Internet forum and website. There is a calendar on there with most of the main and regional events on it. We’ll be linking up at various events during April – the St George’s Day Run in Norfolk and the Bicester scramble are on April 28, and the Amberley MGOC meet is the day before on the 27th. We’ll have a multi-regional presence at all of those events. Some of the regions are also going to the Pride of Longbridge event on April 13, particularly Central, so if you’d like to join up with one of those please check the forum or Facebook pages again.

lot of interest in this event on social media over the last couple of months and the turnout is expected to be massive again. Bearing that in mind, we advise arriving early as there will be a queue to get in. We will be sharing an area with the main Club, where we aim to have our Campaign Car and ZR Express Van on display.

Our new feather-flags are huge, so hopefully we will be easy to spot on the field. At the end of the month we return to Brands Hatch racing circuit in Kent for a full weekend of racing action.

Mention should also be made of our upcoming regional event, ‘Zeds in the West’, which is taking place at the

Haynes Motor Museum in Somerset on Sunday May 12. Please see the advert for this elsewhere in Safety Fast!. For further information visit our website or Facebook page.

If you have recently joined the Register or have changed your Zed over the winter then please contact our Registrar, Paul Money, at the following: paulmoneymg@gmail.com. We are currently in the process of updating our database. We’d also like to welcome all the new members who have joined us recently. We also have the build data for the entire run of Zeds. If you would like to know more about your Zed, then contact myself or Paul. Please use your membership number in all correspondence.

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:56

enquiries@mgsforsale.com

Sunday Scramble Bicester Heritage Sunday 28th April 2019 Meet from 9am at the MG CC reserved area

We have again arranged in-field parking for the MG Car Club to bring together as many types of MGs at the fully restored WW II Bomber base with 50% off ticket price - can we beat 72 cars!

There is plenty to see on the morning with all of the buildings fully open to walk through and see the different classic car restoration companies etc. that are now there, and of course a reason to have a Sausage & Bacon buttie…..

Club Parking hosted by the MG Car Club MGF Register

Bicester Heritage Buckingham Road Bicester OX26 5HA

Email events@mgfregister.org for the PROMO code.

Tickets then must be ordered in advance by 21st April via the web address opposite.

http://bicesterheritage.co.uk/whaton/sunday-scramble-drive-it-day

01707 876089

www.mgsforsale.com

07831 556666

MGB Roadster 1967 Older Restoration (MUB211F) MGB Roadster 1967, 3 synchro model with overdrive, first registered in Leeds in 1968, chrome bumpers, chrome wire wheels, original steering wheel, double duck hood, older early 90’s bare tub restoration by Colour Developments of Bradford-on Avon in Tartan Red with Black leather interior trim, restoration included complete power train, only three owners in last 27 years, heavy history file with photographic and documentary evidence, invoices from MGOC, B Hive etc. etc. drives nicely, more recent upgrades include 12 volt battery conversion, electronic ignition, previously sold by us, just arrived, £14,950.00

URGENTLY WANTED

ANY MG

ANY YEAR

ANY CONDITION SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF OUR STOCK

www.mgsforsale.com

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

“ZEDS IN THE WEST” “A fantastic day out in the West Country. “Zeds in the West” will take place between 10.00am and 4.00pm at the Haynes Motor Museum” The Haynes Motor Museum is the UK’s largest exhibition of great cars from around the world. A living and working museum with over 400 cars from 50s/60s classics through to the exciting super cars of today Complete your day out in Café 750 and visiting the gift shop Discounted entry into the museum

SUNDAY 12th MAY 2019 For further information contact Paul Money at paulmoneymg@gmail.com

www.mgcc.co.uk

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APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 91

22/03/2019 17:56

CL ASSIFIEDS How to Advertise Members can advertise their cars free of charge in Safety Fast. The advert will also be posted on the Club website in due course. This is for one insertion only. To place an advert or for additional insertions email colingrant@mgcc.co.uk with details of your car, around 60 words, together with an attached picture, your contact information, price of your car, the area where you live, and membership number.

Cost for non-members to advertise is £20. All adverts should be submitted by the 10th of the month for the following months issue.

1994 MG RV8

Fine example of an everyday classic.

In woodcote green with beige leather trim. 45,000 miles from new with original specification. Reimported into U.K in 2005. Fully serviced with new tyres, battery, alternator and starter motor.

Brakes overhauled and much more with a comprehensive file of receipts. Price includes desirable private registration plate M6 EEE. £22,500. Tel 01386 831771. Email mauricealanclarke28@gmail.com (Worcestershire)

1973 MGB GT V8

Factory produced. Glacier White.

Bare metal respary and engine rebuild in 1999. S/S exhaust.

Uprated suspension. Garaged.

History. Current owner 8 years.

Excellent condition. £21950.

Email: rgtysoe@hotmail.co.uk.

Mobile: 07785734310 (Oxon )

1978 MGBGT

Carmine Red, Black Leather ‘Club’ Sports Recliners. Excellent comprehensive restoration (Full details on request). Mileage: 48,000. 2 litre ‘Ivor Searle’ engine and clutch fitted at 42,493 miles. Factory fitted Overdrive, Hydraulic Power Steering, ‘Minilite’ type wheels.

Lowering kit fitted (ready for straight conversion to chrome bumpers, if desired). Alpine Radio/CD (DAB, FM, MW, LW. can play iPhone library, hands free phone. Excellent condition, Drives great. £7,600. Tel: 01502 722122 / 07920 054422

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In BRG. 1293cc engine ‘S’ Head, S/C C/R gearbox. 4.2 diff. Standard camshaft. Historic vehicle reg.

Owned from 2000. History file going back to 1973. Dry stored for 2.5years. £4000ono. Contact 07521235127 (Whitstable Kent)

1971 RWA Midget 1946 MGTC 1953 MG TD

Re-imported from USA January 1993 – Now RHD. Full service history for last 15 years. Benefits from current owners work including: Engine overall with new crank and cam shafts. New head for unleaded petrol – re-bore to 1350cc. Gear box changed to 5 speed. 2006 Strip down and Respray. New fuel tank, tank sides, rear and front apron fitted. New half shafts Rear elliptical Springs Renewed, Four instruments replaced with correct refurbished models. carpets need refurbishment but runs very well. 2018 brakes overhauled and MOT Oct 2018. For more information call 07536077023 (North Dorset)

1994 MGRV8,

Pearlescent Oxford Blue/Light Beige Leather. Low mileage 30,000m. FSH, Air Conditioning, Power Assisted Steering, Factory Tool kit, Fitted ‘Tornado’ chip (replacing factory chip for V8s agri. cars. Result: Better suited to sports cars, better mpg). Full dk. Blue mohair tonneau, Half lt. beige mohair tonneau, Electric rear view mirrors (Oxford Blue), Alpine Radio/CD (DAB/FM/LW/MW), Bluetooth, can play iPhone library as MG factory radio/cassette for Japanese market which does not fully function in UK/Europe.

Excellent condition, Good reason for sale. Much improved MGRV8 that drives exceptional well. £24,995. Tel: 01502 722122 / 07920 054422.

1965 Arkley MG Midget

Milage: original unknown; Less than 100 since full restoration.

Transmission: Manual RWD, Condition: Mint. Exterior: Black Interior/redleather. Received a comprehensive restoration in 2015.

Just enough miles on the car since restoration to thoroughly debug.

The rebuilt engine (a BMC factory replacement) runs smooth and strong with plenty of power.

Gearbox shifts crisply. All sheet metal was stripped, repaired, and repainted. Body tub is new, made by Steve Gilbert. Original steering wheel restored by Ben Cordsen. All chrome replated and trim polished.

All gauges and lights work. New Optima battery. New tonneau cover. Original side curtain frames and kit included (but not completed). Correct, original 48-spoke wire wheels wrapped by excellent tires.

Contact Sharon Email: Emsjf81972@gmail.com $36,000.00 USD. (Located in Columbus, Indiana USA)

MG ZTT 260 SE

Rare Supercharged 400+, Facelift Estate, High miles 126k but excellent condition, full very extensive service history, full MOT, Sunroof, Leather, Xenon, Heated Power seats mirrors etc, refurbed Alloys new tyres. This is the Kenne Bell version 420bhp. Fully sorted rare chance to acquire. Please ask for further details. Fully sorted £12995ono. Tel: 07534466595 or PJD@mg-rv8.co.uk (Hants)

MGB V8 Roadster

With exceptional rust free bodywork, chrome bumpers and genuine Minilite alloys. V8 conversion 1989-91, 3500cc tuned to 175bhp.

Fully documented history file.

Ready for the new season. £24,500 01752 316020 (West Devon)

Tax and Mot exempt. Restored last year and finished in British racing green. Engine rebuilt and converted to unleaded, new radiator, high torque starter and converted to alternator now run in and ready for the summer. Stainless exhaust, Suspension and brakes renewed, drums, discs, callipers etc. New interior and hood. Large history file MoT till May (my choice) will put new MoT on before sold. Need to sell to finance the restoration of my other MG. Asking price £7950 ono Contact 1362 683671 (North Norfolk)

1954 MGTF 1250

This car has had a recent ground up restoration. Painted in unmarked Monza blue with blue/grey upholstery and navy hood, tonneau and side screens. Upgrades, all reversible are a solenoid starter motor, electronic ignition, Dynamator alternator, bonnet supports, luggage rack, modern indicators. It was in concours condition when purchased 2 years ago and has had only a few road runs since.

There is full documentation of the restoration. This is one of the best TF 1250s you can buy. Offers around £32,000. Contact John Dutton on (44)1959522548 or jwdutton@btinternet.com (Sevenoaks Kent)

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:56

CL ASSIFIEDS

BARRY WALKER

Estd.1968

SOME OF THE FINEST MGs FOR SALE SEEN ANYWHERE

British Motor Heritage approved

1937 MG SA ‘ALL WEATHER’ TICKFORD d.h.c This is the finest restoration of an SA, I personally have ever seen. It is truly stunning, luxurious and fit for royalty.

Complete rebuild record, very rare model and an impeccable investment........................Reduced to £79,500

1935 MG PB 2-seat sports.

This truly magnificent ground-up restoration offers a Phoenix c/b crank, Cosworth pistons, lightened f/wheel and close-ratio g’box. In perfect order, this is one of only 2 road-going MGs eligible for the Mille Miglia. Side or nose mounted s/charger optional. Immaculate..........................................£55,000

1934 MG PA EX. LEICESTER POLICE CAR A very original car with full history. Period police photos, factory extras as recorded in the chassis file. In fine driving order with nice patina. Uprated engine and gear box and still finished in its original black with green trim. Very good value. Reduced to.......£35,000

1946 MG TC SPORTS One of a batch of TCs exported

by Abingdon to Ceylon. Returned in 1952 and now a total chassis-up rebuild to the highest standard; all matching numbers. Very interesting history. All paper work, orig. buff log book, V5c and original registration.

Reduced to.....................................................£37,500

1933 MG J2 - 2 SEAT SPORTS The ‘Amelia Island’ concours winning car. It has to be seen if you want to see how a J2 should be restored. Heavy crank, forged rods, deluxe dash, immaculate paint & Collingburn trim & weather gear. Finished in the original colour scheme of black with brown interior, of which only 12 were supplied...£48,750

We carry a range of side-mounted and nose mounted superchargers’ service accessories, mirrors, luggage racks, genuine tool kits and mascots – see website

Robin Lawton

FOR OTHER CARS IN STOCK – PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE Vintage & Classic car specialist

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

Over 50 years Tel: 01789 400181. Fax: 01789 400230. Mob: 07836 244103 Email: barry@barrywalker.com Web: www.barrywalker.com experience

Busy Pre-Spring already - thinking of selling? Talk to us first!!

Vintage & Classic car specialist Fellow Enthusiasts always welcome at our new Premises in the Heart of The Meon Valley Over 50

Robin Lawton

www.mgmecca.co.uk

years experience

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

Busy Pre-Spring - thinkingof of selling? selling? TalkTalk to us first!!

Busy Spring alreadyalready - thinking to us first!!

Fellow Enthusiasts always welcome ournew new Premises in in thethe Heart of The Valley Valley Fellow Enthusiasts always welcome atatour Premises Heart ofMeon The Meon

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

1972 MGB Roadster, Old English White, red trim.

Totally restored , everything new/recon. 2L fast road engine. Sports leather seats. Everflex red hood. W/ Wheels. Drives like new, superb, S/S boot rack, sports wheel, painted dash. Hydraulic bonnet struts, K&N filters. Would cost in excess of £35k to build. £27,995

1972 MGB ROADSTER, teal blue , ochre trim. W/w, o/drive. A superbly original car, best example of very rare ochre trim i`ve ever seen.

Genuine 80,000 from new with full history.

Excellent body, nice engine bay, drives superbly, nice original patina, cars like this come avaliable very rarely. £12,995

1959 AUSTIN HEALEY FROGEYE SPRITE Leaf Green, green trim. Totally restored car.

California dry state car, now R/H/D. Bare metal respray. Rebuilt mechanicals. All new trim etc.

Great value and impossible to restore at anything close to this price. £22,995

1954 MGTF Black, red trim. Original UK car!! It is original and totally untouched, a very rare find indeed.

The body is remarkably good, with surface rust and some corrosion around the lower rockers and lower panels. Would be very easy to restore, but a car like this would be better to do minimum and keep the originality and patina that is impossible to replicate. Original paperwork and reg number are with the car. A very rare opportunity for the MG Enthusiast. £14,995

1995 MGRV8, Woodcote Green, stone beige trim.

New beige mohair hood, new (original) tonneau, interior in excellent condition, new door cards. Re veneered dash console and door caps. 48,500 mls.

Screen frame (refurbed). Power steering, upgraded to Clive Wheatley Spax shocks. Suspension poly bushed. New clutch and slave cylinder, new boot stayst. We also have a very rare hardtop for sale for the RV8 in Woodcote @ £2750. £22,995

1952 Healey Tickford Sports Saloon 1924 Vauxhall 23/60 OD KingtonRoadster Tourer 1952 Healeyrestored Tickford Sports £33,950 Saloon 1960 MGA MK1 1600 in Iris Blue - totally In fastidious ownership last 20 years, extensive history

1924 Vauxhall 23/60 OD Kington Tourer

Imposing and powerful - ideal for longer distance touring

Imposing and powerful - ideal for longer distance touring

In fastidious ownership last 20 years, extensive history

LD

SO

LD

SO

1935 Morris Eight Pre-Series Two Seat Tourer Probably the best available £13,995

1961 Fiat 500D finished in Verde Chiaro - One of the finest available £15,950

1933 Riley 9 Lynx - Almost Certainly the best in existence £49,500

1931 Riley Alpine 14/6 Fabric Saloon

SOLD after just 3 days with us!

Total restoration, exceptional throughout, much history

Please see full information on all of the Motor Cars we are currently offering by visiting our Website 1932 Riley 9 Gamecock

Railton Straight Eight Special £69,950 1951 Bentley Special 1933 Riley 9 Lynx - Almost Certainly 1936 the best in existence £49,500 Riley Alpine 14/6MkVl Fabricborders Saloon £75,000 01420 474919 enquiries@robinlawton.com1931 Surrey/Hampshire/Sussex SOLD after just 3 days with us!

Total restoration, exceptional throughout, much history

Full details on our Website including other quality MGs

www.robinlawton.com

Please see full information on all of the Motor Cars we are currently offering by visiting our Website 1932 Riley 9 Gamecock

01420 474919 enquiries@robinlawton.com Surrey/Hampshire/Sussex borders

01420 474919 enquiries@robinlawton.com Surrey/Hampshire/Sussex borders Robin Lawton March 19 Page.indd 1

www.robinlawton.com

06/02/2019 13:59

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1968 MGC Roadster

Snowberry White/Red int.

Condition 3 or much better. Please contact alan.wardbest@gmail.com, To get link to my BTCloud where there are 41 pictures to start price offer discussion!

1969 MG Midg 1956 MGA 1500

Roadster in Dark Blue with red interior, matching mohair hood, side screens with storage bag and tonneau. Boot rack. Kenlowe fan. New front drums and servo recently fitted along with 4 new tyres. Lady owner for past 21 years who had ex-US vehicle first restored.

Further work done to body 11 years ago. Full documentation available. 58,000 miles covered since 1997. Lovely car which drives really well. Reluctant sale. £22,950.

07719 798649 or 0131 336 1691 Email ysy705@aol.com. (Edinburgh)

1974 MGBGT V8.

First registered 1/1/75. Original factory black with chrome bumpers. 6 owners & approx 76k miles. New Minilite wheels/tyres. (Original wheels retained if required). Sale due to age of owner! Much history & thorough check/necessary works carried out last autumn (along with MoT issued) since when only a few miles driven. Garaged all during my ownership of some 30 years. £24,750ono. Tel: 01293 203499 (nr Gatwick).

1968 MGCGT

Much loved and beautifully restored and featured on many magazine covers. New pewter metallic paintwork. New red leather, reclining seats and carpets. Lightened balanced engine. Burgess gas flowed head. Triple Webber 45 carbs.

Electric ignition, Power steering.

Alloy wheels. Genuine reason for reluctant sale. Price £23,000.

Email: mawright333@gmail.com (Kent)

1953 MG TD

In BRG with black weather gear.

Work done includes RHD conversion, S/S exhaust, engine rebuilt, new loom, brakes, ignition, new dynamo.

It is both mechanically and bodily sound but the green interior needs attention. It is a good useable, presentable car. £12,750ono. Email davidjsylvester@btinternet.com (WKent)

1947 MG TC Reluctant sale of a wonderful reliable car. Total rebuild from chassis up in 1998, history file dating back to 1958, red leather interior , used regularly on dry days. £25,500 contact Chris on 07710 751 329 arundelmarquees@hotmail.com

94 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019

MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 94

Black interior. An tion, recommission Excellent conditio MOT. £7750. Tel: (Midlands)

1938 MGTA

Rosso red TA2334. ability. 1939 MGT engine, new hood a twin fuel pumps overall on day 4 of Mile Trial. Faultles from Ardennes to L one day. Kept in home. Lots of doc parts. £39,000 mg2000@btinterne

1951 MGTD

Ivory with Green speed g/box, Leys minium head, remo new hood and Imported from Ca and converted t Current owner Registration No. 1 reliable car with ready to enjoy. davidtinker@xpag 07771735304. (Mid

2004 MGTF SPARK 135

In excellent condition, 49,000 miles, full service history, X power grey. Colour coded hard top, correct salt and pepper hood, Alcantara/ leather seats,full chrome pack, stainless steel coolant pipes, face off MP3 stereo.

Long MOT genuine reason for sale. £2,950. Tel. 07866 473262 or 01278 684506. (Somerset)

WANTED

I am looking for an MG YB Restoration Project. Please telephone 01482 846572 with full details.

1995 MG RV8

Woodcote Green since imported 19 miles. Owned since ice and maintenanc April 2020, just se history, a thorou desirable RV8. £19 further details and d av i e s 1 1 @ b t i n 07806707078/0 (South East Wales)

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:56

CL ASSIFIEDS

1969 MG Midget 1275cc

00

k Blue with red mohair hood, side age bag and tonKenlowe fan. New servo recently fitnew tyres. Lady 1 years who had first restored. one to body 11 cumentation availes covered since which drives realnt sale. £22,950. r 0131 336 1691 l.com. (Edinburgh)

eautifully restored many magazine ter metallic paintleather, reclining s. Lightened balrgess gas flowed bber 45 carbs.

Power steering. nuine reason for ce £23,000.

3@gmail.com

Black interior. An older restoration, recommissioned last year.

Excellent condition throughout.

MOT. £7750. Tel: 07703 532507 (Midlands)

1938 MGTA

Rosso red TA2334. Rebuilt for reliability. 1939 MGTB spec XPAG engine, new hood and side screens, twin fuel pumps and coils. Third overall on day 4 of the HERO 1000 Mile Trial. Faultless run in 2018 from Ardennes to Leicestershire in one day. Kept in garage within home. Lots of documentation and parts. £39,000 ono. Email: mg2000@btinternet.com

TED

or an MG YB roject. Please 846572 with full

‘Olive Oil’ Reluctant sale due to Arthritis. Present owner since 2006. First reg. N. Ireland. Original log book. Returned to England 2006. Engine No. and Chassis No. match plate. Wire wheel conversion circa 2000. Professionally and owner maintained since 2006. Full history from 2006 purchase.

Mechanically very good, runs well.

No Rust, Paintwork not perfect.

Original leather, full Tonneau, hood and side screens. Chrome luggage rack and Badge Bar. Lucas Spot and Fog lamps. Rear fog and high level brake lights. £19,500. Email Brian, adb142@hotmail.co.uk or Mob. 07723566073. (Devon)

1951 MGTD

www.mgcc.co.uk

MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 95

1953 MGTD2 1250cc

British Racing Green, beige interior, new beige hood and tonneau, new petrol tank. One caring owner from 1969, green log book, T reg.cert. comprehensive maintenance history and invoices.

Excellent condition throughout. £22500. Telephone 01904 489719 (York area)

BRG with green hood and Abingdon Walnut and Cream interior, leather seats. 65k miles, good condition with known history from 2010. 4 new tyres, new battery, MoT to December 2019. MLS head gasket and crankcase stiffener fitted. Affordable fun at £1500 ONO. Phone for more details and photos, John Cooper on 07484 145224 or 01869 323349, (Near Oxford)

Owned since 2010, 67k miles. silver with black leather interior and blue hood. 1796cc. Manual transmission, Toyo proxi tyres, recent battery, front discs, alternator, cambelt, tensioner and water pump.

Quarter tonneau cover, wind break. Some spares. MOT to 23/9/19 good condition £1,495.

Tel: 01803 863849 (Devon)

MGRV8

1963 MGB Roadster

Excellent condition, 69,000 miles on the clock, MOT til November, car has been recently refurbished and is a rare pull handle model.

Price 21,500 ono. Contact Manfred on 02476395185.

(West Midlands)

1995 MG RV8

Woodcote Green. Two owners since imported 1999. 31,000 UK miles. Owned since 2009. Full service and maintenance records. MOT April 2020, just serviced. Loads of history, a thoroughly clean and desirable RV8. £19,850 Email for further details and photos - johnad av i e s 1 1 @ b t i n t e r n e t . c o m .

07806707078/02920864712 (South East Wales)

Factory Produced car. Chassis No.GD2 D1 2389 in excellent metallic Pewter (Jubilee and run out model colour similar to Gunmetal Grey), red hide trim. solid underneath.

Not a Concourse Trailer Queen but an everyday useable car with exceptional torque, high gearing and overdrive when driven sensibly. £15950 ono. Call Geoff 01562 851544 to inspect (N. Worcs)

2000 MGF VVC

SE. 52,000 miles. Stainless exhaust and water pipes. Matching hard top. Recent cambelt. Full service history by Rover and MG specialists. £3,300 ONO. Tel: 01765 608529 (North Yorks.)

Ivory with Green leather trim, 5 speed g/box, Leystall- Lucas aluminium head, remote brake servo, new hood and side screens.

Imported from California in 1989 and converted to R/H drive.

Current owner 29 years.

Registration No. 1951 MG. Good reliable car with no issues and ready to enjoy. £26000. Email davidtinker@xpag.co.uk. or tel: 07771735304. (Mid Wales)

1975 MGBGT V8

2002 MG TF 135

2000 MGF 1.8 Wedgewood

PARK 135

ndition, 49,000 history, X power ed hard top, corpepper hood, ther seats,full stainless steel e off MP3 stereo. e reason for sale.

66 473262 or omerset)

1951 MGTD

2002 MGTF135

16,000 miles. Trophy blue, black leather and hood.

Garaged.

Excellent condition. 16” wheels and ap brakes. 3000 miles in last 10 years. Pre project drive early vin model. £4250. Tel: 07739 094372 (Lincolnshire)

1968 MGC GT

6 cylinder 3 litre. The car has been totally restored, stripped and rebuilt using new body panels where required. A total engine rebuild and Unleaded Fuel conversion by Peter Burgess of Alfreton. At the same time the Gearbox was fitted with new bearings and synchros and a new overdrive unit was fitted along with refurbishing the Brake Servo. New brakes and Steering Rack are fitted. Black Leather pipped red seats and new carpets fitted. Completely resprayed in Tartan Red. Has Heritage certificate, plus lots, lots more. £27,500 OVO. Telephone Colin 078 1111 4450, colinbrearad@aol.com for more pictures and work completed.

Woodcote Green. Car was reimported from Japan and Registered on 15th February 2008. The milage was 33837km. Had a new speedo fitted February 2008 and has done 18000 miles since. The has easy steer electric power steering. Hoyle independant rear suspension and rear disc brakes fitted. Many new parts fitted. including water pump, front wheel bearings and discs, clutch master cyclinder, two boot stays. Full tonneau cover and five new tyres. £22,500 ono. Tel: Tony 01883 743627. (Surrey)

2004 MGTF 160vvc

Xpower Grey/Black Daytona. Exceptional condition,like new,only 15,000 miles.Matching factory hardtop,with clips to garage wall and a hardtop stand trolley with cover. F.S.H. & M.O.T. £5,600.Tel: 01502 722122 or 07920 054422.Email:roger.moran@yahoo.com

APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 95

22/03/2019 17:56

Insurance for all MG’s classic and modern

WANTED WANTED ALL MG MODELS! All conditions wanted, from barn finds to concours. Complete collections purchased.

Cash buyer. Discretion assured.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are interested in selling your MG and are looking for a prompt hassle-free cash buyer! Please feel free to contact me for a no obligation friendly chat.

I am especially interested in the following models: MG TC, MGA, MGB, MGC, MGB V8, Magnette and Midget.

CALL DIRECT ON: 07787 528131 UK Based Buyer

MIDGETS! WANTED

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

www.mgmidgets.com

SPARES FOR SALE HOW TO ADVERTISE

Members can advertise their spares for sale/wanted free of charge for items up to £250. Over £250, or for non-members to advertise, there is a charge of £20.

To submit your advertisement email Colin Grant at colingrant@mgcc.co.uk. Please remember to include your membership number in all correspondence. All adverts should be submitted by December 4th for the January issue.

TD/TF XPAG 1500cc

Engines newly built. Fast road camshaft, lightened and balanced.

Lip sealed. Strage 11 unleaded TC - same specification.

Later build 1350cc either TC or TD/TF. Can be fitted with laystal alloy cylinder head. Contact Ron 01422 823649 or 07790458386.

Email: valerieandron@gmail.com

MGTC

Tonneau cover for sale. Black Mohair as new. £125. Also pair front side screens to match. £75.

Tel: 01287 643195

MGB Garage Clear Out

Parts available include 18V block and crakshaft good condition, Vulcan 285 deg camshaft also std cam, 18GB rods and pistons, 18GB unleaded cylinder head etc.

E-mail for full list at applebyarthur@mypostoffice.co.uk

MGC Engine Block

Garage clear-out, after 50 years in MG’s I am trying to retire and get rid of all the junk. (Sorry not PC, all the beautiful previously cherished parts!)

A lot of it is competition and ‘fast road’ but ‘normal’ stuff as well.

Please go to my web site www.hewittsracing.co.uk and click on spares. I can also build you a good engine, and have time for just one more rebuild/ renovation.

Please ring 07831 104020 for a chat.

SPARES FOR SALE HOW TO ADVERTISE

Members can advertise their spares for sale/wanted free of charge for items up to £250. Over £250, or for non-members to advertise, there is a charge of £20.

To submit your advertisement email Colin Grant at colingrant@mgcc.co.uk. Please remember to include your membership number in all correspondence. All adverts should be submitted by December 4th for the January issue.

MGTF 2004

Front and rear suspension units, covered approx 25000 miles £120.

Midget: Various tyres 96 MG SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019 and ROstyle wheels. Tel 07703 532507

Wire Wheel

19” x 2 ½ “ side laced Fitted with a 4.50 MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 96 x 19” Dunlop tyre. £80.00. Tel: 01483 487546 or

Pistons (standard) and crankshaft.

Also sump, damaged but repairable. £300 o n o Contact Martin 01604505723 or mgrey47997@aol.com (Northants) MGA Sidescreen Stowage Bag: Virtually mint, minimal use, undamaged, red. Most A's today will not have their original sidescreens so it's impossible to be certain yours will be a perfect fit for this bag. The vast majority are, those that don't will with a squeeze! Cost new is between £157 and £195, I am offering mine for just £85. Please phone Dave 01672 520975 or text 07503 240251.

REGISTRATION FOR SALE T15 EMG

Turbo 1.5 Engine MG. This IS Eco

MG ??. £800 ono, please contact Lucas Headlamps krg969@sky.com, 07955 767674

Pair black bodied type 700 new (Hampshire) old stock genuine headlamps RHD. These were bought many 123 Electronic Distributor years ago but never used and From MGB. Adjustable settings so have been dry stored £230. can be used on other engines.

Cylinder headcondition. gasket to fit MGTC Clean, good and early Tel. TD with water £145.00.

Mikeoblong on jacket holes, not This is 01923678160 orround.

07967146204 British made new old stock item.

(Watford) £40. The above can be collected or plus P&P. Contact Phil 01792 Sealey Engine Hoist 587337 or ph10 mobile 07074760536 Model no very good condi(Swansea) tion. Hoist 1 ton when stored or for transport 62 inch x 17inch Will go in back of most cars with seats folded down. For collection only. £60. Tel 01723 374237.

(Scarborough, North Yorkshire)

MGB PARTS FOR SALE.

Parts refurbished or in vgc.

Bonnet £30. Boot Lid £30.

Leather rim Steering wheel and Hub £50. Wind Stop £20. Gear

YTYPE SPARES

YB master cyl, Y-type master cyl, Bonnet –complete and solid, Pair of bonnet tops-solid with good chrome strips, Front floor mats, cream rubber, Radiator core with top tank, Front valance, Wiper motor drive complete, Instrument: fuel/amps/oil, Ali inlet downpipe, Ali top jointhead to radiator hose, Fan beltoriginal wrapper, Arm rest pads and gearbox cover- red/brown leather, 2x overriders- ribbed, 2x overriders- plain, 2x dumb irons, 4x D lamps with glass, 4x slave cyls and hoses (for pattern only) Offers for all or any to: ericpeacock@yahoo.co.uk Condition report and photos available.

MGB MK1 Spares

RH&LH front axle inc stub axles, king pins, wire wheel hubs, discs and calipers. Pair. £100 Cross member £30 Exhaust manifold £30. Buyer collects. Tel: 01798 812745. (West Sussex)

MGB Engine

18V. Complete. Taken from a running car. PO told me it had new rocker gear, cam followers and big end shells. Probably needs a rebore and pistons. £180ono.

E-mail: topwood1@gmail.com Phone 07444 776049 (South Dorset)

Garage Clear Out

MG A & C parts please ring for more info. All spares to be collected. Contact B Cole 01276475581.

Email: bobskiing @talktalk.net

MG Midget Mk3 body panels Complete front panel £50 Bonnet £50 O/S & N/S front wings £100 each O/S & N/S doors £50 each Boot Lid £25 Hood & frame (white) £25 Radiator £20 rough but no leaks.

All body panels in very good condition as they were removed from a heritage body when building a lightweight sprint & hill climb car.

For more details contact Tel: 01235, or Mobile 07789127449.

Email:clarkmorlands@aol.com (East Hanney)

MGA Gearbox

Standard 1960 four speed gearbox.

Recently overhauled by a Running board specialist firm Sussex.

Strip set for TD.inPart No.281-248.

Brand new in original £475.00 o.n.o.

Buyer packaging. collects.

List price sell £43.

Please Contact Bill£86, Outram: Email telephone 01204 494597 info@oideas.co.uk or Tel:(Bolton) 01892890996. (Tunbridge Wells) MG Z Magnette

New &Petrol boxed.Tank Speedo, fuel pump, MGB stop/tail lamp, Dip switch, solenoid

Late rubber bunper MGB fuel tank Also: Register badge, Workshop in good condition, rustybadge on top manual, glove boxnot book, surface usualglass problem). bar plus(the various and lots Will also fit 01872 earlier cars with a more.

Tel: 510373 minor mod to fuel line connection.

(Mid Cornwall) Complete with sender unit.

Collection only. 01787 277469.

MGA Email: rstanbo@gmail.com Competition style windscreen 7ins (Suffolk) height made from original frame

with. Polished alloy side posts and Perspex screen, good useable condition but needs new frame to body rubber seal. £250 MGB. 3/4in front anti roll bar kit, includes drop links and centre mountings . As new £50 Buyer to collect or can deliver to MG live. For more info and or photos Tel 0191 5860075.

Call for a quote today

01376 574000

www.classiccarinsurance.co.uk MG YType

2 x serviceable windscreen frames with glass (1 laminated).

Any offers? Also, set of (free) window glass. Nigel Pratten (37870) 0151 327 6776 or Email ncwpratten@btinternet.com (North Cheshire)

MGB

New black folding hood frame never fitted as bought in error. £150.

Alloy bonnet very good condition.Usual small dents at front have been repaired ready for painting £95.

Laycock type LH overdrive. New old stock and still boxed. Suitable for 4 synchro cars £250.

Works hardtop in tartan red including all fastenings. One side window has been removed as a pattern and two new ones have been purchased. Also includes a new screw set and a complete set of new seals.In overall good condition. £250. If more detail ring Bob 01943 607337 (Yorkshire)

MGRV8

Full length Tonneau cover. VGC. Hardly used. £175.00. Contact Trevor on Tel: 07950963939

Tyres

Two 450 x 19 Waymaster tyres new 2018, 800 miles only never punctured or kerbed cost £206 for sale £120. Contact Bob on 01341 430210 (NW Wales)

MG RV8 brochures 1992

1.The Shape of Things to Come 4343 2. The Marque has Returned 4405 30 page large format 3. The Marque has Returned 4441 18 page small format All in perfect condition, Offers. Tel: 01872 510373

MGB

Front seats with headrests rebuilt on rust free frames,new foams and diaphragms, best quality hide,little use, black with white piping.

MGA back axle (steel wheel) complete with four exellent brake drums rust free with good unmarked nuts, low mileage, unused for fifty years - offers.

Tel: 01873 853287.

WANTED WANTED

Bootrack for MGB Roadster. Bolt on type to carry my disability walking frame. Needs to be in good condition. Tel: John on 01865 862573

WANTED

2 x MGA 60 Spoke 15” Wire wheels. If bit tatty OK but important splines must be in good condition. Please call Daran on 07841 321118

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:56

Call for a quote today

01376 574000

B4 - BARRIE CARTER_CLASSIC MOTORING 21/02/2019 11:20 Page 1

Insurance for all MG’s classic and modern

I owned this incredible Alfa/Riley special about 30 odd years ago and marvelled at its fabulous design and hand beaten aluminium body panels and Panache. Built on a shortened Riley chassis it is a true special. Registered 1952 and with 2 ltr Alfa engine and 5 speed box it encompasses all that is vintage and classic imaging the style of prewar Alfas. It is a sculpture and drives as you would expect. Gorgeous and unique, and a star any where it goes and at fraction of its mentor. £26,950

TC Race/fast road car, allegedly twice championship winner, fully modified to T reg. specs. Full race 1350 engine! “1/2” S.Us branched manifold, plumbed in ext. comp clutch, alloy body panels, 15” wheels, tramp bars modified brakes, teles, cage, race seat, and more. It’s as scruffy as raced and very quick. Ideal circuit, race or hillclimb. £23,950

Vauxhall 10, 1939. This lovely car was the property of a friend who used to show it.

It appears to have had an historic body off rebuild and kept its lovely original interior.

We are just finalizing engine work and it will have to be run in by its new owner. Not many like this.... £9,995

MGA race car, Prepared for the US series and raced at Watkins Glen.

1650 all steel engine, Kinky race seat, LSD, Fully plumbed in system, triple Mater Cyls, wires, uprated brakes, race suspension mods, lovely rot free body and chassis. Three GP wings one steel, steel wings available, fuel cell, twin facets, so much and so cheap. LHD but if you’re racing, no one’s coming the other way. Eligible for so many events or road. So cheap! £23,950

FIAT 124 COUPE 1975 RHD. Superb interior with dash protector, mini-lite rep wheels.

Unmarked paintwork, lovely chrome. In lovely un-welded condition, you will never find one like this. Beautiful inside and out. £9,995

www.classiccarinsurance.co.uk

Citroen 2CV6 Dolly. What a lovely 2CV. Probably the best I’ve had. Plums and Custard they call the colour but this one has a gorgeous all leather Plums and Custard interior, lovely floors and panels, eyebrows, leccy ignition, Remote control radio, history and indicates 26,000 miles. It’s lovely and drives as it should.

Faster than you think and handles and stops superbly and you can get a bike in the back!! 2CVs are highly collectable and appreciating... one of the last ones built. £8,995 Austin A40 Somerset, somewhat different, 30 odd years in the same garage owner’s possession, Already a very low mileage and unmolested car, he prepared it for long distance reliability rallies. It still has its Targa and Le Jog plaques. The brakes were uprated to A60, teles, uprated diff, and has a 1500 MGA type 1500 engine and modified it to.

You’ll never find a better one. Goes extremely well, as you’d expect. Looks standard though. It’s lovely. £12,995

Amilcar body with dicky seat, 20s/30s in very good condition.

Ready to fit a medium sized chassis. Body, wings, running boards, hood, doors, bonnet, all good and ready to fit. £3,250

CM04.19/B4/pa

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ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

www.barriecartermg.com

4Sight Lighting Company....................58

Just Right Autos Ltd.............................46

Adrian Flux...........................................51

Kimble Engineering Ltd .......................64

Auto Electrical ......................................68

Longstone Tyres .................................87

Autoseal...............................................60

Manor Garage .....................................52

Barrie Carter .......................................97

Martin Smith .......................................64

Barry Walker ........................................93

Mech Mate..........................................68

Beech Hill Garage................................94

MG 18/18 For Sale ............................12

Bespoke Rallies ..................................76

MG Mecca...........................................93

British Motor Heritage.........................IFC

MG Sales Centre .................................27

Brown and Gammons.........................17

Midland Classic Restoration ..................3

Bucks Sports and Classic....................70

Mike Authurs Classics (MG Midgets) ..96

Car Cover Shop ...................................64

Mike Rolls ...........................................89

Carole Nash Insurance ......................68

Mike Satur ...........................................57

Chisbon Restorations...........................70

Moss Europe Ltd .................................28

Clive Wheatley .....................................57

Motor Wheel Services .........................28

College Motors Burford .......................64

NTG Services....................................OBC

Colne Classics .....................................80

Oselli Ltd .............................................51

Cotswold Car Storage .........................38

Paul Depper MGs ................................52

SPECIALISTS IN CAR SHIPPING AND TRANSPORTATION

Worldwide export and import services

• Customs clearance • UK & European collection & delivery • SAFE • SECURE • COMPETITIVE t: 01394 695566 f: 01394 673031 kevin.lewis@rjjfreight.co.uk

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URGENT PROOF URGENTLY WANTED

Crown Classic Cars .............................52

Peter Best ...............................96,97, IBC

David Manners ......................................6

Peter James Insurance .......................12

Dennis Welch.......................................80Please Rees Bros ............................................58 check this proof carefully for

errors in style, content and layout. preparing your advert, we cannot hold Don Trimming ......................................64ourselves Rimmer Bros Ltd .................................38 responsible for any inaccuracies you may overlook.

Distributor Doctor.................................51Although Retro Sports Carscare ..................................6 every is exercised in

MGA/MGB/MGC/V8/ MIDGET/SPRITE ETC TELEPHONE BEFORE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ AND QUOTE ADVERT NO. _ _ _ _ _

Duckhams ..........................................41

RJJ Transportation...............................97

SHOULD YOU REQUIRE ANY ALTERATIONS TO THIS PROOF PLEASE

EJW Classic and sports.......................97

Robin Lackford Motor Engineering .....58

Fishers Services ..................................60

Robin Lawton ......................................93

Footman James ..................................25

Scenic Car Tours .......................... 19, 85

Former Glory........................................78

SMR – Car For Sale ............................90

Fostons ................................................72

Steve McKie Sports Cars.....................64

Frontline ..............................................22

Summit MG.........................................68

Any Condition from non runners to rebuilt cars

Please call Edward 01923 840236 or any time on 07774 484497 Halls Garage ........................................58 Sussex Classic Car Parts.....................74 Email: ejwhitescars@aol.com Heathrow Transmission .......................70 The Hutson Motor Co Ltd ......................3 We reserve the right to charge for any alteration to this proof which Hewitt Racing ......................................96 Torro Sports Cars Ltd...........................96 is a departure from the original Website: copy www.mgandporsche.com Hoyle Suspension ................................70 Vitesse Global Ltd ................................60 (Northwood, Middlesex)

www.mgcc.co.uk

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APRIL 2019 SAFETY FAST! 97

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

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

Copyright MG Car Club 2019

Editor: Andy Knott 01235 849730 / 01235 555552 andyknott@mgcc.co.uk Deputy Editor: Colin Grant 01235 849733 colingrant@mgcc.co.uk Editorial Committee: Andy Knott, Colin Grant, Adam Sloman PR and Communications: Jade Beckett 01233 849731 Advertising: Hine Marketing 01452 730770 Published by: Hine Marketing, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton Glos, GL2 9LN. Tel: 01452 730770 Distributed by: Air Business. Merlin Centre, 4 The, Acrewood Way, St Albans AL4 0JY Tel: 01727 890600 President: John Day Vice Presidents: Ron Gammons, Don Hayter, Peter Best, Bill Silcock.

Chairman: Dave Tynan Vice Chairman: George Wilder

P

lease do not adjust your sets!

For our pictures this month we’ve harked back to the old days before colour became the norm.

Our first image shows a very brave TC driver negotiating the banked section of the Great Auclum National Speed Hill Climb, located in deepest Berkshire. We think the date might be c1961 but we have no details of the car or driver. Over to you.

This photo by John Laurence is of a Farina Magnette kicking up the dust at the Practical Autotest held in the attractive Lincolnshire village of Folkingham. Although we have no date, we do know that the car was being

Treasurer: Richard Colston Directors: Dave Saunders, Peter Opie and Peter Cook Company Secretary: Colin Grant Staff Members: Adam Sloman (General Manager 01235 849732), John Hutchison (Competitions Secretary 01235 849738), Andy Knott (01235 849730), Lauran Gallacher (Assistant General Manager 01235 849735), Liz Allsworth (Membership Secretary 01235 849734), Colin Grant (01235 849733), Jade Beckett (01233 849731), Cherina Scarrott (Finance Officer 01235 849736) and Ineke Sherman (Merchandise 01235 849737) Honorary Members: Michael Allison, Ron Gammons, Peter Best, Don Hayter, John Quenby, Sir Stirling Moss, Paddy Hopkirk, Norman Ewing, Piers Hubbard, Rob Oldaker, Steve Hanegan, Gerry McGovern, June Wallis, Ann Hawke, John Dutton, John Day, Julian White, Bill Silcock.

driven by John Hall who was at that time the Lincolnshire Centre Chairman.

Our trio is completed with a picture of a very young-looking Bruce Beer holding a steady line in an NE Magnette at Silverstone in May 1963.

Can you tell us more about Bruce or the car?

Company limited by guarantee The Club, as a corporate body established as the MG Car Club Limited, is a company limited by guarantee. Every member of the Club undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Club in the event of its being wound up while he is a member, or within one year after he ceases to be a member, for payment of the debts and liabilities of the Club contracted before he ceases to be a member, and the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributors among themselves, such amount as may be required, not exceeding one pound.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information at the time of going to press, neither The Publisher (herein referred to as Hine Marketing), the Editor, nor the MG Car Club can accept any responsibility or loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in the publication. The opinions of authors are their own and Hine Marketing, the Editor and the MG Car Club are not bound to agree with opinions expressed herein. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Safety Fast! and The MG Car Club badge are protected through trademark registration in the UK and in the foreign countries where Safety Fast! circulates.

Readers are warned that if they attempt any mechanical or other modifications or methods referred to herein, they do so at their own risk and no liability will attach to the MG Car Club, the Editor nor Hine Marketing. Neither shall the MG Car Club, the Editor nor Hine Marketing have any responsibility for the accuracy of the content of the editorial, neither the content of any advertisement published in Safety Fast!

It should be noted that neither Hine Marketing, the Editor, nor the MG Car Club make any recommendation in respect of any goods and/ or services advertised or featured in this issue. It is the responsibility of readers to satisfy themselves that the goods or services offered or referred to are bona fide and in no instance shall Hine Marketing, the Editor or the MG Car Club be held responsible for the quality or suitability of any such items.

98 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2019

MGSF_April2019_47-98.indd 98

www.mgcc.co.uk

22/03/2019 17:56

PeterBest_SafetyFast_MGCarClub_Advert_297x210.pdf

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07/01/2019

14:28

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Our ‘Abingdon’ policy covers classic use for MG’s 3 years and older.

Policy benefits may include: • Free agreed valuations • Roadside assistance and recovery within UK/EU • Limited mileage options • Discounts for multiple car ownership • Club member discounts

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Parts for TA to TF 1936-55, YA YB YT, MGA & Magnette.

Secure online shopping at: www.mgbits.com or by phone.

Worldwide shipping.

T&Y Type or MGA & Z series catalogues- email or phone for your copy Disc brake conversions for most models (TD TF YB shown) from

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