Midget Newsletter

NEWSLETTER WELCOME TO THE MIDGET NEWSLETTER

With lockdown well on the way to being consigned to history (hopefully by the time you read this most of the restrictions should have been revoked) we can once again look forward to exciting times with our cars and reacquainting with old friends and making new ones all as part of the marque of friendship. That being said, much of 2021 has been adversely impacted, with many planned events being either cancelled or postponed to future years, but even so there are many great times to be had this year. As many of you will know, the British Motor Museum at Gaydon has introduced a regular evening gathering for classic car fans about once every two months over the summer, and my eldest son and I went along in May to see what it was all about. As the Midget is still a long way from being roadworthy, we went in the 80th Anniversary MG TF. It proved to be a great evening with MGs being the most numerous marque present, but with everything from pre-war models through American muscle cars and hot rods through to modern-day classics turning up. The museum also had a couple of rare vintage cars out and driven round the car park and you could get up really close to examine them in detail. There weren’t many Midgets there but if you can get along to future events, I thoroughly recommend it. One where there was definitely a larger number of Midgets present was the event organised by the Midget Register to

The Midget 60th celebration ale, brewed in Abingdon

celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the first modern MG Midget rolling off the Abingdon production line in June 1961. Max Authers takes up the story. 60 years of joyful motoring is certainly something to celebrate and this year the Midget Register hosted a celebratory trip

A varierty of Midgets, from a MkI to a 1977 rubber bumper one parked at Nuffield Place

From early to late, a good selection of Sprites and Midgets enjoyed the day Discussing beer and Midgets outside the Loose Cannon Tap Room

around Abingdon to visit the ancestral home of the MG and the birthplace of the Midget.

We had an excellent range of cars show up on the event, starting with the Austin Healey Sprite of Steve Clark, the precursor of the Midget platform that introduced the first unibody construction of a British sports car that made good use of many off-the-shelf components from its much more sensible cousin, the Austin A30. Next up, we had two gorgeous MkI Midgets of Pete Chaundy and Angela Magee which brought the Midget name back to cater largely to the American market which had fallen greatly in love with the earlier M, D, J and T -type Midgets before being discontinued and replaced by the more expensive MGA.

The MkI Midget and MkII Austin Healey Sprite were released bearing many of the unmistakeable lines of what would be the upcoming MGB, released a year later.

We also had selection of the later MkIII Midgets, including two ’67 early 1275cc models with the large chrome bumpers alongside a group of the post-facelift British Leyland era MkIIIs in both round and square-wheel arch varieties. Fortunately, we also had an example of one of the 1022 Austin Sprites produced, where the branding deal between Austin and Donald Healey had ended and the cars were therefore badged without the Healey name.

Two of the late 1500cc Midgets were also present, representing the last generation of the Midget that was modified for the American market and their increasingly stringent

MIDGET REGISTER ROAD RUN TO HANBURY HALL

Starting once again at Timothy’s Restaurant, Fosseway Garden Centre, Moreton-in-Marsh, this year’s route will take you, through the Vale of Evesham where you can enjoy the scenery at a leisurely pace. Hanbury Hall and Gardens, a William & Mary-style country house, garden and park, is located 4 miles from Droitwich Spa in Worcestershire, the estate being owned and managed by the National Trust.

Entry fee: Non- members £30.00 MGCC members £26.00

Includes all route instructions and rally plaque. Entry to Hanbury Hall is free for National Trust members and available to non-NT members at a discounted rate of £8.10 per person. To enter, please visit our website at www.mgcc.co.uk/ midget-register/ , or complete the entry form opposite.

In the event that the current coronavirus pandemic persists and that the Road Run has to be cancelled, all entry fees will be refunded in full.

Name …………………………………….. Address …………………………………..

…………………………………………….. Tel No ……………………………………. Email……………………………………… MG Model/Other…………………………

……………………………………………. Year………………………………………. Reg No…………………………………... MGCC Membership No/Other

Entries to: John Grainger, 10 Oak View, Great Kingshill, High Wycombe, Bucks HP15 6HB. Tel 07785 902920 I enclose a cheque for £ ……….made payable to MGCC Midget Register, ENCLOSING AN SAE PLEASE, or online at: www.mgcc.co.uk/midget-register/

The lunchtime halt, the Doghouse pub at Frilford Heath

regulations on crash protection and emissions regulations. This included the controversial black rubber bumpers, body strengthening pieces and the switch to the torque-y Triumph 1493cc engine paired up with a Marina gearbox that would finally give owners synchromesh on first gear also.

The group met where all good things start, the Loose Cannon Brewery to visit the tap room for the unveiling of the Midget 60th anniversary-labelled Abingdon Bridge beer.

We proceeded to follow the historic factory test route designed to stretch the legs of the MGB V8s, which takes the same route out of the factory ground up to the Sheepstead crossroads as the Midgets would have done but continues on for a stretch of the A420 to make good use of fourth gear.

After returning to the country roads through Tubney, the convoy stopped at The Doghouse pub for lunch and more photos where, by chance, one of the patrons interested by the sight of all the cars told us about the 10 years he worked in the MG factory on the Midget production line as a trim fitter, likely fitting the rear cabin carpets, window mechanisms and quarter lights to some of the cars there! Our final destination for the day was Nuffield Place, the home of William Morris. We were able to park right in front of the entrance of the house for more photos before taking a tour of his modest home (for one of the richest men in the world!) and learning more about his growth from starting a bicycle repair shop in the front room of his parents’ house to manufacturing his own vehicles and starting an Automotive empire that would be the largest in the UK and Europe and second to only Ford in the world.

Overall, a fantastic tour and interesting house in a lovely part of the world that is definitely worth a visit.

As you receive this copy of Safety Fast! the MG and Triumph show at Malvern on August 13-15, is just around the corner and in case you hadn’t realised(!) includes the celebration of Midget 60 and there is just enough time for you to put forward your car for the anniversary display. Please contact Mike Authers through our web page at www.mgcc.co.uk/midget-register for further details.

Back on the calendar for this year is the Midget Register Road Run, which always promises to be a great day out. This year’s event is planned to take place on Sunday September 5 and will start at Moreton-in-Marsh and end at Hanbury Hall near Droitwich. Reserve the date in your diary and keep an eye out for the booking information on our microsite, e-newsletter, social media (Facebook and Instagram) and in Safety Fast! Or contact John Grainger through our website at https://www.mgcc.co.uk/ midget-register/ for further details.

I hope you all have a great summer and happy Midgeteering!