MGCC Speed Championship

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.

Anglesey – August 9

Experience this challenging circuit and splendid views on a day shared with the Lotus 7 Club.

North Weald Activity Day – August 13

An opportunity to test both car and driver in a mildly competitive setting.

Blyton Park – August 16

Not a traditional racing circuit, but a fun and friendly venue boasting a layout with real character.

Castle Combe – September 8

A second opportunity to enjoy the thrills of this ever-popular track which includes a couple of chicanes and high speed, technical corners!

Donington Park – October 4

A circuit with a long history, this is a firm favourite with all. Includes plenty of

changes of elevation and the swooping Craner Curves.

Goodwood – October 25

A second visit in case you missed the first

due to popularity!

Brands Hatch ‘Indy’ – December 6

Our season finale; don’t miss the chance

to enjoy this undulating circuit including Paddock Hill Bend!

John Wilman, Beechfield, Fern Bank, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak. SK23 0JJ Tel: 07778 165186 www.mgspeed.net

In June, after a stuttering start, the season finally got underway with a bang. No less than four events, counting Prescott on July 3. There should have been five, but the muchanticipated new event at Brooklands had to be cancelled by the organisers. June 6 saw us at our first visit to Harewood Hill. Six of our number made the journey to Yorkshire and enjoyed a day of perfect weather at this long-established venue. The following weekend saw another six competitors at the Three Sisters sprint at Wigan. The event was very well supported and everyone enjoyed the demanding and very twisty track.

On the 26th came our annual outing at the historic Aintree club circuit Momentum is obviously building as 13 members turned out. This venue is the opposite to Three Sisters, with only three fast corners culminating in the daunting Beechers bend named after the Grand National feature.

The Bugatti club’s Prescott hill at Cheltenham always attracts a big entry, in this case, no less than 23. I have yet to receive details of this event but judging from the scores I would guess that it may have been wet. There follows a report on Aintree by David Couthard.

On its traditional end of June date, the Championship moved to Liverpool and the Aintree Circuit, home to the British Grand Prix in the 1950s and 60s. Time has not been kind to the track, with original surface starting to break up and a little bit of subsidence here and there. The weather was pleasantly warm for the 13 participants.

Nigel Pratten would only manage one timed run after buzzing the engine of his TF on the long, fast back straight. Competition was tight across the field. The MGFs/TFs of Paul Watson, Kevin Lahert and David Tandy were separated by just three tenths of a second at the end of the day, David winning out on a 63.33. Danny Cusworth in his Sprite overcame fuel supply problems to record a respectable 61.28. ZRs made up the next group of cars. Helen Waddington once again just pipped Jamie Stevens, with one tenth of a second between the two – 59.60 v 59.50. Andrew Till’s 1400cc version recorded a 58.73, just shy of the Target Time. With us both in the 57s, Tim Kirkham just had the legs of me, having played with tyre pressure during the course of the day.

It was great to see Championship stalwart Paul Drake and his ever faithful MGB GT back in the Championship. The local man’s best effort was a 55.96. Having resolved the blown gasket issue on ASBO the Midget, Richard Watkinson was fastest MG with a best of 54.38. All four of Richard’s runs were within half a second of each other – very consistent driving!