Postbag

THE ND MAGNETTE OF H.B. SHAW

I was pleased to read Jonathan Toulmin’s letter in the January issue of Safety Fast!, especially the bit about the North-West London Motor Club’s team trial on October 20 1934.

I have the original publicity poster (copy printed here), which was issued by the MG Car Co after the MG Car Club’s success in winning this event with three P Types. The Kentish Border Car Club team of Magnettes driven by K. Roe and H.B. Shaw came second, and I own the ND Magnette (NA 0509) that H.B. Shaw used in this event. He also won the Best Performance as can be seen in the MG Car Co’s poster.

This car was very successful in the hands of H.B. Shaw, winning the Alexander Trophy in the 1935 Kentish Border Car Club trial, and the Stafford Clark Cup in the same club’s February event, as well as silver medals in the MCC Gloucester, Exeter and Colmore trials. Also published is a photo of the car in the 1935 Gloucester trial – note his lady passenger with her fur coat! I first bought this car back in 1965 for £18.10s, and restored it and raced it in the following years. When I got K3003 to restore in 1972, I sold the ND, which subsequently was re-restored by Len Goff. I bought it back from him in 1995, and competed in hill climbs and sprints up to ten years ago.

So, the car has quite a long competition history. It is fitted with an original 1930s Marshall 87 side mounted supercharger, giving it a top speed of nearly 90mph – not bad for 1286cc!

Phillip Bayne-Powell

FEBRUARY’S MYSTERY PHOTO

It is indeed a photo of Victoria Worsley after the Double Twelve race at Brooklands held on May 9-10 1930 when she and her codriver, the Warwickshire cricketer Derek G. Foster, came seventh in Class G and 20th overall in the race.

The Double Twelve race had been run successfully the previous year as an English version of the Le Mans 24 hour race but was run as two 12-hour events as the local residents did not like the noise at night!

Victoria Worsley was the daughter of Sir William Worsley of Hovingham Hall in Yorkshire and brother of Yorkshire cricketer also William Worsley, who may be the reason that Derek Foster was her co-driver.

She had started her motoring exploits trialling doing some minor racing events in a Jowett and had then trialled a new MG M type and entered that for the race.

However, there was a ‘works’ built M type race car available and she was able to use that. It is not known if she bought it or was loaned it for the race.

The following year she competed in an Austin Seven, and in later events in a Salmson and in an Amilcar. She married Roland King-Farlow who was an accountant and time keeper at Brooklands but they had no children. The story goes that he stored his timing clocks at Hovingham Hall during the war.

Victoria later wrote a few novels and taught at a driving school. She attended many of the Brooklands reunions after the war and passed away in September 1984.

She was the aunt of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, but no relation to Lucy Worsley of television fame and Curator at Historic Royal Palaces.

Mike Dalby M type Registrar, Triple M Register

VICTORIA WORSLEY

The photo on page 16 of the February 2021 edition of Safety Fast! is of Victoria Worsley with an M type, in which she competed in the Brooklands 24 hour race (12/12 race) on May 9-10 1930.

Victoria earned a modest living, acting as a chauffeur to her father, for which she was paid £2.00 per week. She was fortunate to win at horse racing, and thanks to a lucky wager by her brother at York racecourse, she had a win at 20:1, which gave her sufficient funds to buy her first car, a Salmson Grand Sport. After some encounters and a few exchanges she ended up with an MG, with which she entered a number of ladies races at Brooklands. Her brother either acted as a passenger or team manager, in accordance with the local anti-female regulations. She was one of the ‘faces’ of Brooklands between 1928 and 1932. She married a member of her team, who subsequently became head of timing at Crystal Palace circuit.

In 1931, for the 12/12 race she drove an Austin accompanied by Boote, in which they achieved seventh place. This particular race was won by Lord March’s team of MG Midgets. Also in 1931, she was part of a threecar team of Austins, entered for the Light Car Club Relay Grand Prix, held at Brooklands on July 25. The drivers were: Victoria Worsley, Randall and Wood.

She is also recorded at Brooklands in 1931 as driving an Alvis in the Duchess of York’s Race for lady drivers. Her car is noted as having a mechanical problem.

Hope that is of help.

David Griffiths

FAREWELL TO PEPI – A BELOVED MG FRIEND

It had to be the most heart breaking and shattering of tragic calls ever. When Robin Clarke phoned I simply could not believe what he was telling me; my wife Pat was on the house phone being told the same thing by Steven Grover. We were just looking at one another in total disbelief. Not Pepi, not the one person who has travelled with us on our journey through life since the very day he joined the Club. This cheery-faced young Italian, who came over and introduced himself, with a smile, as the owner of a dark red MGA. I can still remember how I felt, smiling that a young Italian architect had chosen to buy an MGA, because he loved the look of it, in spite of his father believing an Alfa was the way to go.

He and Marizabel, were to prove not only the most incredible members, but also dear friends, and in the years ahead would be the Ewing anchor in the years to follow. His caring nature directed not just to my family, but indeed to everyone in need, or not just in need, has convinced me that we have just lost an MG Saint. He had this incredible ability to be interested in each and every one he knew, and to not only be interested but to contribute in a way that made that person feel so very special. In 1992 he bought a P-type, happy to be able to compare the driving characteristics of the two cars, ever the enquiring mind. He took over the tour to Australia in 1993 making many new friends in the process. His friendships ensured that he was invited to meet and visit many MG personalities, from the Allisons, Thornleys and Hayters to the warm and special relationship he had with Andy Green.

I will always remember the fun times, with my sister Sandra and daughter Sarah in Singapore, our stand building with Stirling Moss, which absolutely thrilled him, as did meeting Fangio and Phil Hill with whom he watched a Ferrari win. Only possible because he had taped the whole thing. His friends from all over the world have responded with overwhelming sadness at the news, Andy Green requesting an email address so that he might send a personal message to Pepi’s mum. It really was thanks to Pepi staying in touch with Andy, that we were invited up to dinner and a ’show’ on the Pan, with Bloodhound the star. To say that he was absolutely adored by the Ewing family would be putting it mildly, and like everyone here, we know full well that he was the cog that has kept the club vibrant, an impossible hole to fill, for thanks to his untiring energy, enthusiasm and leadership, what the Northern Centre has done for the local community in need in Pretoria, has been nothing short of miraculous. It will be up to all of us to ensure that the Gasparis all receive the love and warmth, that Pepi gave so generously to others. Truly, he was a Saint.

Norman Ewing

GEORGE PHILIPS – A LIFE WITH MGs

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the George Philips – a Life with MGs series in Safety Fast! but a small correction is needed. In part one the article refers to competing at the invitation of the ‘Ulster Club’ in the Ulster Trophy Race at a circuit just on the outskirts of Dublin. I think not! The clue is in the photo on the opposite page of George competing in the Leinster Trophy, presumably at the invitation of the Leinster Motor Club, on the Tallaght circuit which was indeed just outside Dublin.

Simon Johnston

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