Safety Fast! February 2021 by MG Car Club

THE MARQUE OF FRIENDSHIP

February 2021 Volume 66 Number 2 £3.95

THE

CAR

CLUB

LT D

ABINGDON-ON-THAMES FO U N D E D 193 0

DASH THE MGB GT ● LIFE AT LONGBRIDGE ● FITTING A TF WINDSTOP Safety Fast_Cover Feb21.indd 1

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PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR

ISSUE 26

ISSUE 25

MGA

PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR

PARTS ACCESSORIES TOOLS

Parts, tools & accessories since 1948.

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PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR

MG T-TYPE Restore Maintain Modify

PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR

ISSUE 23

ISSUE 17

MGB including technical advice and detailed schematics

Restore Maintain Modify

including technical advice and detailed schematics

PARTS ACCESSORIES TOOLS

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TR5-6

ISSUE 14

Restore Maintain Modify

ISSUE 20

ISSUE 17

TR2-4A

PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR

including technical advice and detailed schematics

SPITFIRE

ISSUE 1

PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR

E-TYPE including technical advice and detailed schematics

including technical advice and detailed schematics

PARTS ACCESSORIES TOOLS

Parts, tools & accessories since 1948.

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PARTS ACCESSORIES TOOLS

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PARTS ACCESSORIES TOOLS

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including technical advice and detailed schematics

ISSUE 3 including technical advice and detailed schematics

PARTS ACCESSORIES TOOLS

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PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR

ISSUE 11

ISSUE 21

PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR

MX-5

PARTS ACCESSORIES TOOLS

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CMY

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free catalogues... • Full colour accessory parts section, with colour images, prices and comprehensive information of each product, including interior, exterior and performance parts.

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JAGUAR

MX-5

moss-europe.co.uK SPECIALISING IN CLASSIC MINI, JAGUAR, MAZDA MX-5, MG, MORRIS, TRIUMPH AND UNIVERSAL COMPONENTS.

London +44 (0)20 8867 2020

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Bradford +44 (0)1274 539 999

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Manchester +44 (0)161 480 6402

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WELCOME GARAGE ESSENTIALS

t hasn’t been the best start to the year, as the UK went back into lockdown due to the surge in Covid cases. This in turn has meant that many events scheduled for the first quarter of the year have had to be pushed back to the later part of the year or cancelled. If you don’t subscribe to your local Centre or Register’s emails, or visit their websites I would suggest you do, as I’m sure as soon as they’re allowed to progress with events it’s the quickest way of notifying members, and of course we’ll promote any forthcoming events with in the pages of Safety Fast! With so much time at home over the past year, I’ve seen lots of photos and read reports of long-term restorations really progressing, and I look forward to seeing those MGs out and about at shows later on in the year, when it’s safe to do so. I thought the auction of Classic Cars would have been affected by the lockdown. It has, but in a positive way with lots of auction houses saying that the cars they are selling are reaching, and quite often exceeding, reserve by quite a large margin. uite remarkable considering all the cars are only viewable online – thank goodness for modern technology. The Historics auction held mid-December saw a few MGs pass through. From an MG 1100 that fetched 10,080 to an MG PA Special that exceeded the valuation, and sold for 40,320. A couple of MGBs passed through as well, both hitting the top end of their estimate. One of the wonderful things about our beloved marque is that there’s an MG for most budgets. Probably the most affordable two-seater sports car currently is the MGF or MG TF. These can still be picked up cheaply, although the prices are creeping up and good ones are getting harder and harder to find. The Midget is also still relatively affordable with useable cars selling for 3,000-plus now. Two MG sports cars built in different eras, both great fun to drive. The saloons never seem to command the premium the roadsters do; take the MGB GT for example. A good car will fetch a lot less than their roadster equivalent. And then you have the Zed range that can be bought relatively cheaply still, and of course you have the latest range of MGs from the dealers with great finance offers. Whatever your MG or preference, you’re assured of a great welcome from the MG Car Club. Until next month, drive safely. Andy Knott

Membership Type

Direct Debit Rate

Standard Rate Online

Standard Rate Post

Single

£50

£55

Joint

£54

£59

Young Members 16-20

£15

Young Members 21-24

£30

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

www.mgcc.co.uk

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MGCC 90th Overalls Navy Blue, Lightweight and comfortable. The durable polycotton fabric used in the overalls ensures high performance and maximum comfort for the person wearing them. £30.00

MG wooden sign especially made for the MG Car Club. This crackled background wooden street sign would be the perfect item for your garage, £25.00

Hamilton Classic indoor MG Car Clover. Three Layer Semi-Fitted breathable indoor car cover with soft lining. From 103.

MG Travel Mug. Made from stainless steel for maximum heat retention, the outside is decorated in a stylish black with the MG in red. £22.50

All prices exclude P&P, visit https://shop.mgcc.co.uk/

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MIDLAND

CLASSIC

R E S T O R AT I O N S

Servicing and MOTs, Restorations, Insurance Work, Full Trim Facilities, Full Race Preparation and Performance Modifications Offering a comprehensive range of services for all types of MGs and any classic motor car 5 minutes from Junction 6 of the M5 at Worcester

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We We manufacture manufacture aa complete complete range range of of top top quality quality ash ash frames frames and and components, components, complete complete panelled panelled bodies, bodies, individual individual steel steel parts. parts. Full Full restorations restorations undertaken undertaken on on all all classic classic cars. cars. Comprehensive Comprehensive paint paint shop shop and and trim trim facilities. facilities. Ash frame skeleton bodies. Ash frame skeleton bodies. Individual Individual ash ash frame frame components components and steel panels. and steel panels. •• Dashboards Dashboards •• Quarter Quarter Panels Panels T-Series ash frame sections & body panels T-Series ash frame sections & body panels •• Door are hand built in our Bradford factory. Door Frames Frames are hand built in our Bradford factory. •• Hood Hood Finishers Finishers Fully Fully assembled assembled complete complete panelled panelled bodies bodies for for TA TA to to TF. TF.

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www.mgcc.co.uk 4 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

JULY 2016 SAFETY FAST! 3 www.mgcc.co.uk

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INSIDE REGULARS 7 8 12 14 18 66 70 72 73 77 86 93 98

Club Matters and Kimber House News News Products Postbag Young Members Branch Tech Tips Race Torque MGs on Track MGCC Speed Championship Centre Updates Register Updates Classifieds Looking Back

NEWSLETTERS

45 Triple M Newsletter 51 Midget Newsletter 56 MGB Newsletter

FEATURES

20 DASH THE MGB GT The story of the Asquith family’s useable everyday classic

26 LIFE AT LONGBRIDGE Josh Langstaff visits Paul Rigby MG, located on the former Longbridge factory site The winning MGCC Photo Competition image, Brian Cohen’s MGA in an Australian urban setting. Photo: Brian Cohen

32 MG CAR CLUB FRANCE CELEBRATIONS Celebrating 90 years of the MG Car Club, French style

37 DRIVING WITH THE WOLVES

The MG Car Club Italy head to Terni and celebrate the XVIIIth MGCCI Sette Colli event

41 SOUTH AUSTRALIA CELEBRATE MGCC 90 116 cars and 190 members get out and about to celebrate the MG Car Club’s 90th Anniversary

61 TECH TORQUE Colin Grant explores what’s involved when fitting an MGF or TF windstop

68 THE MGF ABINGDON TROPHY The history of the popular speed and race championship, as told by Peter Browning

74 OVERSEAS REVIEW

37 www.mgcc.co.uk

Peter Stevens reviews a selection of the Overseas Magazines we receive at Kimber House

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Abingdon MG Part of the David Manners Group

Established over 30 years ago, the David Manners Group prides itself on putting our customers at the centre of our business. With over 31,000 MG, Triumph & MX-5 listed parts, exceptional service and a dedicated sales team, we go the extra mile to help keep your classic on the road.

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CHAIRMANS NEWS

hen I returned to the chairmanship on an interim basis in October 2019, I did not expect to be writing a Chairman’s Notes for the February edition of Safety Fast! in 2021, but 2020 has been the most strange and challenging year for the Club.

We were forced to cancel two successive council meetings due to Covid-19, and extend the gap between our Annual General Meetings to the maximum separation allowed, with the hope that we could have a gathering of some sort; instead we will have held, by the time of reading, our first and hopefully our last virtual AGM on January 23. In 2020 we lost so many events and opportunities to do all the things that the Club was created 90 years ago to do for its members. We did manage a few events at main Club level, with three race meetings, and a 90th birthday social gathering at Gaydon. Thanks to the editorial team the pages of Safety Fast! have always been full despite the lack of activity. A small number of Covid-19 compliant social events have been run in the Centres of the Club, but the Registers are finding it more difficult to gather because, by definition, they are more spread geographically. The Club, like others everywhere, has found new ways of working which should serve us well in the future, and we have found new ways of communicating with

the membership which will stand us all in good stead in the future coming years. Considering the circumstances, we have come through the pandemic with some degree of satisfaction that we can prepare for a better summer season this year, although the spring season looks more doubtful, and the early season tours are of course under constant review by the organisers. Across the Club, this year’s calendar will be under constant review and as with last summer we will be looking forward to events with the expectation that last-minute changes may occur. Please be patient with all the folks who are organising things – they will try to make things happen if it is safe and within whatever guidelines apply at the time. I’m retiring as Chairman for the second time in far different circumstances than previously. I must thank all those who have contributed to the efforts to keep the Club active during this extraordinary period that no one could have ever expected, and I wish the best of fortune to us all for the future. Bill Silcock

KIMBER HOUSE NEWS Since launching earlier last year, the MG Car Club Podcast continues to explore the personal stories of you, the member, the latest Club and car industry news, and interviews from the worldwide MG community. So, what is a podcast? Well, put simply, podcasts are best described as on-demand Internet radio. The word “podcast” combines the words pod and broadcast. Don’t worry though, you don’t need an iPod to access them, which simply refers to the fact that the content is portable, so you can listen to it anywhere you go. How do I listen? Listening to the MG Car Club podcast is really easy! The quickest way is via the dedicated podcast website at www.mgpodcast.uk There, you will see a list of episodes with the newest at the top. Click “listen now” and you will see an article with a little audio player at the top, on which you can hit the play button or choose to download the MP3 to your computer. Then, just sit back and enjoy!

www.mgcc.co.uk

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NEWS DRIVE IT FOR CHARITY

MG BEATS ALL RECORDS IN 2020 WITH BEST-EVER SALES The UK’s fastest-growing car brand broke all previous records in 2020 despite the challenging market conditions led by the UK lockdown and COVID-19 restrictions. MG Motor ended the year with total registrations of 18,415 – an increase of 41% over its previous best sales year in 2019. Much of the growth was driven by electric vehicles, with almost a third (32 ) of new MGs being plug-in models, with over 5,500 MG ZS EVs hitting the road, and the first MG5 EVs and MG HS Plug-In models reaching customers before the end of the year. MG has more than doubled its annual sales since 2018 and has successfully increased its dealer network to 120 outlets, while it now has an impressive six-car model range covering the most popular sectors of the UK car market – something that has clearly resonated with buyers, given the brand’s astonishing growth through the UK car industry’s most challenging year in recent memory.

Classic car enthusiasts are being encouraged to purchase special rally plates to carry on their cars on any events running on April 25 to raise funds for the NSPCC Childline charity. The initiative, run by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC), is selling the rally plates, priced from 10 for a standard plate to 30 for a platinum plate, with proceeds going to charity. The event runs under the banner of the FBHVC’s Drive It Day, which was first organised in 2005 and is timed for the closest weekend date to the running of the 1,000-Mile Trial of 1900, which was then held to raise the profile of the then-new motor vehicle. The plates can be affixed to any cars running on events run by the FBHVC’s membership of around 500 clubs, be it a run to a picnic at a local place of interest, the local pub or to well-known motoring destinations such as The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Brooklands, The British Motor Museum at Gaydon and Bicester Heritage. To purchase yours please visit www.driveitday.co.uk/shop

MG5 EV WINS FIRST MAJOR AWARD The All New MG5 EV has won its first major award after WhichEV? named the groundbreaking electric estate car as its Best Value EV, thanks to its range, equipment, affordable purchase price and lengthy warranty. In addition, the MG ZS EV was also Highly Commended in the same category of the first high profile EV awards ceremony in 2021. The MG5 EV – available from 24,995 – is the only all-electric estate car currently on sale in the UK and offers a 214-mile range, an 80 /50-minute rapid-charge capability and an 80,000-mile/7-year warranty. WhichEV? Editor James Morris said: “The MG5 EV sets a new benchmark for EV affordability. Not only does it deliver an incredibly low price for an electric car, but it also provides a decent range,

commendable performance and great practicality for passengers and cargo alike. It has a decent level of equipment and long warranty, too. This EV represents superb value for the UK market, and breaks down the barriers to electric ownership.” The iconic brand – which has been a motor industry innovator for almost a century – is already ahead of the curve with its plan to offer affordable EVs for

everyone, reflected by the fact that the recent largest single shipment of MGs contained a 66 EV mix, made up of the company’s best-selling MG ZS EV, All New MG5 EV and MG HS Plug-in. MG will be engaging with its 120-strong (and growing) dealer network over the coming months to offer reassurance to customers and help them make the most informed EV choice possible.

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www.mgcc.co.uk

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BROWN & GAMMONS FIRST FOR EVERYTHING MG! MG PARTS SALES Catering for MG T-Types, MGA, MGB, Midget, MGC, MGB V8, MGR V8, MGF, MG TF and MG Rover range Main MG dealer able to supply the full range of parts for the modern MGs including body panels Over 25,000 parts lines in stock Mail Order Worldwide or collection from our shop Approved British Motor Heritage stockist Ongoing remanufacturing programme

MG CAR SALES Sales of Brand New and Classic MGs Phone for latest offers on the new range of MGs Part exchanges welcome Finance Available - Call for offers Classic MGs Bought or sold on commission basis See our website for latest offers and stock

MG WORKSHOP Service & MoT Accident repair All warranty & insurance work Full Diagnostic Analysis Performance Upgrades

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NEWS NUMBER PLATE STYLES When the start date for the historic class was unfrozen in 2015, and became a rolling 40 years, it was overlooked that the regulations for number plates had linked the validity of the old style black and silver plates to the vehicle qualifying for the historic tax class. This meant that it rolled forward every year, despite the law previously requiring all vehicles first registered after January 1 1973 to only display the yellow and white number plates with black characters. As this was never the intention, the DVLA have sought to rectify this through a legal correction which will shortly be implemented. The change seeks to prevent MGCC South West Centre AGM Date: Monday March 1 2021 Venue: Online via Zoom Time: 7:30 pm Agenda 1. Apologies for absence 2. Minutes of the last AGM March 3 2020 3. Matters Arising 4. Hon. Secretary’s Report 5. Hon. Treasurer’s Report and Explanation of Accounts 6. Competition Secretary’s Report 7. Election of Officers 8. Election of Committee 9. Appointment of MGCC Council Representative 10. Any other business 11. Chairman’s closing remarks Please email chairman mgccsw.com to be included in the online meeting. MGCC Tyne-Tees Centre AGM Date: Thursday March 4 2021 Venue: This will be an online meeting by Zoom Time: 8:00pm prompt Members wishing to attend by Zoom should refer to the AGM access details that will be in the February and March issues of Tyne-Tees Tidings, which goes out to all Centre members with email accounts. Agenda 1. Apologies for absence 2. Approval of the Minutes of the 2020 AGM 3. Matters arising from the above 4. Chairman’s Report 5. Secretary’s Report 6. Membership Secretary’s Report 7. Treasurer’s Report and adoption of the Accounts 8. Election of Officers 9. Election of the Committee 10. Any Other Business Nominations for election to join the Tyne-Tees Centre Committee to be sent to the Secretary, by email to david.alexander2012 btinternet.com or by post to David Alexander, 29 Till Grove, Ellington, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 5ER. Closing date for nominations is February 20 2021.

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any vehicle constructed after January 1 1980 from the ability to display the black and silver number plate despite being recorded in the DVLA’s historic tax class. Those vehicles with a construction date prior to January 1 1980 will continue to be able to legally display black and silver number plates to avoid any undue costs of replacement. Also, from January 1 2021 it was no longer permissible to fix a new FWD Register AGM Date: Saturday March 6 2021 Venue: Via Zoom Time: 10.00am Agenda 1. Apologies for absence 2. Welcome and introduction 3. Minutes of the last meeting A) true record B) matters arising C) actions 4. Chair’s report 5. Treasurer’s report 6. Annual statement of accounts 7. Registrar’s report 8. Event/show report 9. Election of officers 10. AOB Please contact Tanya Field on tanyafield999 gmail. com or Ben Hatton on ben2692 hotmail.co.uk for login details for the meeting.

Yorkshire Centre AGM Venue: Via Zoom meeting Date: Tuesday March 16 2021 Time: 8.00 pm Agenda 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Minutes of Last AGM 3. Chairman’s Report 4. Treasurer’s Report 5. Secretary’s Report 6. Election of Officers 7. Election of Committee 8. Any Other Business All nominations for candidates for election to the committee and topics for AOB should be sent to: Marie Dobson, 30 Ingleborough Drive, Sprotbrough, Doncaster, DN5 7AD by March 1 2021. If you wish to attend the meeting, please email secretary mgccyorkshire.co.uk quoting your membership number to request the Zoom link.

number plate displaying a Euro symbol. Number plates already fixed to vehicles are unaffected. The DVLA will also be introducing a new British Standard for number plates produced from September 1 2021 which will mean all current style number plates that are first fixed to a vehicle from that date must meet the technical requirements contained in that standard. MGF Register AGM Date: Saturday March 6 2021 Venue: Via Zoom meeting Time: 10:30am Agenda 1. Apologies for absence. 2. Approval of minutes of the last AGM. 3. Matters arising from previous AGM minutes. 4. Chairman’s report. 5. Treasurer’s report and adoption of accounts. 6. Regalia. 7. Membership. 8. Registrar. 9. Events. 10. International Events. 11. Archive. 12. Election of Committee, Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. 13. Any other business. Nominations for election to the Committee and AOB Agenda Topics should be submitted to the Secretary by February 20 2021. To attend the Zoom AGM please request link from the Secretary by Saturday February 27 2021. All communications to Jane Parry, Secretary MGF Register Email: secretary mgfregister.org Tel: 07841 648428 MGCC Midget Register AGM – Calling Notice The Midget Register will be holding its AGM on Sunday March 7 2021 via Zoom. We would request that people sign up by emailing the Secretary via our website www.mgcc.co.uk/ midget-register/contacts/email-the-secretary/ You will then be emailed out the joining instructions, agenda and financial results a couple of days before the meeting. All MGCC paid up members are welcome to attend the AGM and we are always looking to recruit some new members to join us and help run the Midget Register. Nominations for election to the Committee and/or Officers should be submitted to the Secretary, John Grainger, via our website contact page at www.mgcc.co.uk/midget-register/contacts by Sunday February 7 2021 latest please.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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Merchan

MERCHANDISE

KIMBER STORES Wooden Bits and Bobs box £20.00 each

MGCC 90th Anniversary Polo Shirt £25.00 each

MGCC 90th Anniversary Cap £12.50

Umbrella for two £32.50

Mugs £9.00

MGCC lapel pin £4.50

MG Books for more details go to shop.mgcc.co.uk

Ladies linen caps £13.50

MG Clocks £34.00

All prices exclude P&P

To order please visit shop.mgcc.co.uk email ineke@mgcc.co.uk or Phone 01235 849737 www.mgcc.co.uk

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PRODUCTS

This page is a free service so if you have a product that would be of interest to our members contact Colin Grant at colingrant@mgcc.co.uk

THE MGA – THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS

MOUSE, THE MAN AND THE MGB

Written by Wayne Traux and Illustrated by Andrew Black

By The MGA Register Review by Colin Grant – Past Secretary of the MGA Register. The MGA Register was formed in 1970 after a meeting at The Phoenix at Hartley Wintney where George Ward and Ian Andrews persuaded Dennis Ogborn to get a Register started. From little acorns a thriving Register came into existence and was successful right from the word go. The book to celebrate the first 50 years is made up of contributions by Register members past and present, such as George Dutton, Roger Martin, Edward Vandyk, Ian Wilson and many others. Chapters go into great depth in covering their subject such as the chapter by George Dutton on Publications, or the excerpts from Safety Fast! MGA-related news items by Howard uayle. There is a chapter dedicated to the MGA Twin Cam by Colin Manley which I found fascinating and Edward Vandyk’s chapter, called ‘What Price an MGA’, showing a sobering statistic that in today’s money an MGA would be worth around £23,500. For the racing fans, Roger Martin covers the racing years and has a list of the past winners of various MGA trophy races. To finish off this excellent book, a chapter called Golden Oldies compiled by Ian Wilson covers owners and their cars in their own words. This book is a must-have, not just for the owner of an MGA but anyone with a passion for MG, a first-class read. Available from the MGA Register Merchandise shop at https://www. mgcc.co.uk/mga-register/merchandise The book is priced at 30.00 plus p p. 5.50 to UK addresses and 12.50, Europe, 24.00 USA, and 22.50 to the rest of the world.

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A mouse, a man, and an MGB, what could possibly happen? A heart-tugging story about a curious little mouse that falls in love with an MGB and the challenges he faces when he tries to help. Written as a reminder that when little ones watch from a distance, they may just be waiting to be invited to share in the very thing we enjoy. Readers young and old, especially MGB enthusiasts, will enjoy just turning the pages to look at and enjoy the illustrations. This is a great fun loving book that clearly encourages interaction between a child and adult. The mouse’s point of view helps young readers to consider other people’s perspectives. The possibilities are endless for this fun loving story to target so many developmentally appropriate skills in children. Plus, it’s fun for any MGB lovers! Available from well-known bookshops, Amazon and other online booksellers. Prices range between 8.00 to 10.00 plus p p.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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electric for everyone with 0% apr* across the mg range

Available on the ALL NEW MG5 ev, MG ZS EV and MG HS Plug-in discover more at MG.CO.UK Fuel economy and CO2 results for MG ZS EV. Mpg (l/100km): Not applicable. CO2 emissions: 0 g/km Electric range^: 163 to 231 miles. Fuel economy and CO2 results for All New MG5 EV. Mpg (l/100km): Not applicable. CO2 emissions: 0 g/km Electric range^: 214 to 276 miles. Fuel economy and CO2 results for the MG HS Plug-in Excite Mpg (l/100km) (weighted combined): (weighted): 43 g/km Equivalent allelectric range: 32 miles. 155.8 (1.8) Electric energy consumption (weighted combined): 2.6 miles/kWh CO2 emissions. These figures were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. The All New MG5 EV and MG ZS EV are battery electric vehicles requiring mains electricity for charging. The MG HS Plug-in is a plug-in hybrid vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. There is a new test for fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures. The electric range shown was achieved using the new test procedure. These figures were obtained using a combination of battery power and fuel. Figures shown are for comparability purposes. Only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. ^These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. Models shown: All New MG5 EV Exclusive with Piccadilly Blue Paint £27,540 On The Road (OTR) after PiCG, MG ZS EV Exclusive with Pimlico Blue Paint £28,540 OTR after PiCG and MG HS Plug-in Excite with White Pearl Paint £29,995 OTR. *Offer subject to availability, on selected models at participating dealers only. Personal Contract Purchase. Finance subject to status, T&Cs apply. Applicants must be 18+. MG Motor Financial Services, RH1 1SR. 49 month term. Guarantee may be required. Offer shown is available on All New MG5 EV, MG ZS EV, MG HS Plug-in. Orders or registrations from 1st January 2021 until 31st March 2021 At the end of the agreement there are 3 options: (i) Part exchange the vehicle, (ii) Pay the Optional Final Payment to own the vehicle or (iii) Return the vehicle. Further charges may be made subject to the condition or mileage of the vehicle.

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POSTBAG MGA PHOTO SHOOT WITH FIONA HARRISON I have been to three local classic car functions where Fiona Harrison, www.fionaharrison.biz/ has been performing. Fiona sings classics from the 1880’s to the 1970’s including Opera, Big Band and Swing, Hollywood Musicals to Rock and Roll, all performed in authentic uniforms and glamorous costumes of the period! At her last event we got talking and I suggested she might like to consider using a few of the classic cars for some new publicity photos. We exchanged contact details and a few weeks later she contacted me to say she had a spare day available and her photographer Angela Adams was also free and she would like to use my car! A suitable venue was provided by one of our classic car friends who had previously hosted some of her events, and on a cloudy day we agreed to meet up. Fiona changed into various out-fits depicting the fashions of the Swinging 1960’s and posed with my car for many photographs. Despite the cloud and a few rainy moments all went to plan. She also posed with a Jaguar XK150 but the best shots were those with my vintage MGA! Pete Macwaters

JANUARY LOOKING BACK I’ve just picked up on the photo of ‘three dapper gentlemen’ in Looking Back for January. In case their identity has been lost, I can confirm they are the South East Centre driving test team from the early 1960s. Left to right – Ron Randall, Norman Dunton and John Calton. They ran a very successful team of three identical 1098 Midgets, consecutively registered 6012 PJ, 6013 PJ and 6014 PJ. Purchased direct from Abingdon, they had been specially painted in a dark blue previously used only for MGA coupes. Norman was my uncle, and carries the blame for my lifelong enthusiasm for the marque. Sadly all three have now passed on. Martyn Phillis

MORE ON CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE AND AGREED VALUE I was interested to read a letter from Mike Edmondson in the last issue of Safety Fast! His letter immediately rang alarm bells in my mind and caused me to call my insurer to check the position with my (what I thought) guaranteed value policy. My story might be of interest to other members and, more importantly might prevent the sorrow of finding out that you never had the agreed value policy you thought you enjoyed:Earlier this year I changed from an insurance provider who is very active in supporting classic car events. I moved to an advertiser in Safety Fast! and looked forward to better service (as well as a reduction in premium!) I ticked the ‘Agreed Value’ box and submitted what I felt was a fair valuation of my MGB GT.

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All of the documents came through but mysteriously there was no valuation documentation or requests for the photos etc. I’ve normally been asked for. I convinced myself that I was now dealing with a more gentlemanly company and perhaps, things were being done on trust. Mike’s letter made me double check.. and.. guess what …I did not have Agreed Value cover. The perfectly polite call handler arranged to send me the paperwork which I duly filled in and now I have an agreed value. BUT… I asked him what would have happened if I had not called to check the position and his answer was that my insurance covered only ‘Market Value’. I hope Mike’s letter and my story encourage other MGCC members to double check the insurance they have. Philip Hull

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23/06/2020 16:21 25/01/2021 17:08

POSTBAG PROPSHAFT SAFETY Concerning the letter last month about propshaft failure and safety device, after retiring after 40 years of propshaft manufacture I thought I would give some insight. Major propshaft failure is rare in standard road-going vehicles. Most “Classic” car propshafts are vastly overrated. Racing, heavily modified and Off Road are a different matter. On all UK cars there are basically two sizes of universal joints. These were specified back in the 1930s (Hardy Spicer) and the sizes are still on a few vehicles in current production. An Austin 7 universal joint is the same dimensions as some Freelander units. MG Midget or MGB shaft size shaft design is capable of taking 200hp. MGB V8 has been used in certain vehicles of up to 800hp. The above is dependent on application, installation angles, and torque. All complete propshafts have a critical speed dependent on length, tube diameter and tube wall thickness. The longer the shaft, the larger diameter tube is required for stability. It is bad practice to increase tube wall thickness to make the shaft stronger and longer. On certain production vehicles it was deemed necessary to have a two-section propshaft, complete with centre support bearing eg Morris Marina. (Also, this vehicle was one of the few production vehicles to have a resilient tube (rubber inserted tube in tube design) to overcome transmission

noise/vibration problems. This tubing was re-introduced for kit cars using motorbike engines for the same reasons. Most propshaft failures are due to either poor maintenance/incorrect fitting. Correct shanked bolts should be used, although not essential as torque transmission is by the clamping action between the two flange faces; that is why they should be absolutely flat and clean (a major mistake when changing a universal joint is to clamp and distort the flange face in a vice). A shaft failure at speed can cause a major incident. We have known vehicles (mostly light commercials) being pitched over as the failed shaft has dug into the road and stopped the vehicle by lifting the rear wheels off the road and turning the vehicle over. In classic car racing an incorrectly manufactured shaft in its first race failed at speed causing catastrophic gearbox failure. The propshaft and gearbox remains ripped through the aluminium transmission tunnel injuring the driver. A lot is spoken about propshaft dynamic balance. A propshaft correctly manufactured should require little in correction of balance; straightness is more beneficial. No vehicle, however old, should suffer vibration problems with a wellmanufactured shaft. Propshaft balance specification is usually specified as an ISO 1940 (VDI2060) (at a specified speed) which is universally recognised for dynamic balance on anything that rotates (from CD drives, wheels, tyres to complete engines). G40 spec should be adequate for most car applications, although G25 or indeed G16

are higher specifications and should be achievable (if shaft is in good condition). The correction weights are normally added to the tube by spotwelding additional weights (although if not done correctly this can cause stress raisers, and possible failure, in the tube itself). If universal joints are replaced, always retain the original circlips for possible reuse. Most replacement joints come with very thin pressed steel circlips. Universal joints when assembled should have no end float and have resistance but smooth in operation. On original build circlips of varying thickness are used to overcome any “looseness” (endfloat). Sealed for life (no grease nipple) universal joints are used widely (and theoretically stronger due to no cross drilling in cross section) and should last vehicle lifetime. The biggest problem is that as there is no chance to re-grease these units when assembled, everything must be perfectly clean – any muck/ debris will remain inside the joint. With greasable joints a grease gun should discharge grease past the rubber seals, pushing out any debris/muck accidently left on assembly. Finally, getting round to the original question, there is a specification for a propshaft safety hoop in the 2018 MSA race specifications Competitors Safety, section K12 (with front engine cars a propellor shaft restraint should be fitted. Either safety hooks or rigidly fixed steel panel of not less than 18 SWG). This may have now been updated. Clive Cocks

THE MYSTERY PHOTO The attached photo was taken from an original picture negative number 8918 BMC Cowley. The picture came to light again following our move from Scotland. As you can see on the pit board is the name V Worsley. Doing a quick bit of research, I have found that entry 73, which I believe is an M Type, was driven by a Victoria Worsley and Derek Foster to 20th place overall at the 24 hour Double Twelve race held at Brooklands in 1930. If anyone else has any other information on either the photo or Victoria Worsley I would be grateful to hear from them. Jim Worsley 16 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

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YOUNG MEMBERS

Shaun Nelson shaunnelly@hotmail.com

MG XPOWER SV-R

– THE LONG SWAN SONG By James Crow

hat a strange year 2020 has been. Coronavirus, social distancing, and little to no car shows. My year became even stranger when I received a phone call about a possible new project. An MG Xpower SV-R that was still factory

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fresh, never finished or ever run. Upon the demise of MG Rover a few cars were left unfinished from the factory. I never thought I’d ever see one of these cars, let alone own one – so I jumped at the chance. A carbon fibre supercar with a 5.0 litre V8!

Thankfully, the project is around a good 80 complete. Upon first inspection it needs the interior trimming and a respray, along with a few bits here and there. Whilst collecting the car, we noticed it didn’t run as it should. The engine had never run before and was struggling to start. We found that due to the immobiliser, the ECU was stopping the car from running. With some software from the States and the ECU re-programmed, we were good to go. And then the next hurdle… A missing idle air control valve gasket and a substantial air leak from a poorly modified throttle body. Parts replaced and the engine burst into life with a throaty American rumble. So, the engine is a Sean Hyland unit from Canada. For the SV-R variant, the engines were hand built by Ford in the United States in 4.6 litre form, then shipped up to Sean Hyland to be reconstructed into a 5.0 litre, along the way adding forged items and stage one camshafts. Following this, they made their way over to Italy where each vehicle was made into a running driving shell, before finishing in Longbridge. Next on the list is to trim the interior in royal black, and repaint the car in Biomorphic green. An original MG Rover colour. The car is currently wearing a colour called ‘Monogram Red Hot’ which is an SV-only colour from the factory. Sadly, the original paint is not up to scratch and lets the appearance of the car down somewhat. I am hoping to get the car finished by at least mid-2021. A huge thank you to the MG Specialist Retro Sports Cars for providing missing components and valuable help along the journey.

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25/01/2021 17:08

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FEATURE

‘DASH’ MGB GT THE

By James Asquith

When the Asquith family moved to New Zealand, they brought with them an MGB GT. Aiming for a useable everyday classic, they set about a rebuild with the help of Kiwi experts.

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www.mgcc.co.uk

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DEFINITELY AWESOME SUPER HORSEPOWER At its launch in 1965 the MGB GT was hailed as an affordable and very practical sports car, but it’s not often described as having definitely awesome super horsepower. However, this 1968 MG earned that name when James Asquith and his then eight-year-old son were driving home soon after buying the car in the UK. James’s son saw his dad flick up the overdrive switch – and when he felt the modest surge of road speed, he christened their new car ‘Dash’ (short for ‘definitely awesome super horsepower’). Dash was initially garaged at James’s parents’ house in Yorkshire, England before being shipped to New Zealand to join the family in late 2018.

KIA ORA ‘DASH’ When the car arrived in Wellington in December 2018 it was taken along for entry certification. Vehicle Inspection NZ (VINZ) found some wrongly wired lamps and switches – but more significantly some poor welding repairs. As the structural problems were investigated closely, it

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became obvious that the previous owner’s restoration needed an upgrade. ‘Dash’ had made it into NZ, but it became apparent that some time and money would be required to bring him up to standard for the New Zealand Roads. The Asquith’s brought the car to their new home in Johnsonville (in the northern suburbs of Wellington) and James looked over the car in detail to figure out what was next. There were lots of new parts on the car – and a very perky reconditioned drivetrain – but the chassis needed a lot of work. Seeking help, James met up with members of the MG Club of Wellington at the British Car Day in Upper Hutt. The show has become an annual celebration of all British and European cars held at Trentham Memorial Park each February. There were lots of offers of support from the friendly club members manning the stand. James got chatting with Michael Anderson (Rally and Regalia Director, MGCC Wellington) who was quick to understand the situation and willing to help figure out how best to progress the project.

BEST OF BRITISH Michael connected James with Ray Hartley motors in Wellington. Ray and his crew are specialists with classic cars and have a long history of repairing and racing MGs, so when James called for help Ray was sure he could assist – and visited Dash to assess the project. Ray suggested that the simplest path would be to strip down and salvage all the best components from the imported car and find another NZ chassis as a basis for the restoration. James began the process of dismantling the donor car while Ray looked for an NZ registered BGT. A suitable chassis for the restoration was quickly acquired (from a Telescope Engineer in Lake Tekapo) and Ray’s team set to work on preparing the panels and chassis for repainting.

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In his spare time over the next six months, James continued to prepare the interior and mechanical parts for the rebuild while Ray and team readied the chassis. The plan was for Ray’s team to deliver a rolling chassis for final assembly in James’s home workshop. The Lucas Type45D distributor was serviced with new inertia springs and an electronic ignition conversion. This was in preference to a full electronic timing system as that would have required modifications to the rev counter (it relies on a pulse from the coil LT circuit) plus James wanted the option of switching back to the points if need be – thinking of roadside emergencies in the rain!

ENTERING THE GREYZONE The chassis was extensively rebuilt and repaired – including new floors, inner and outer sills on both sides and repairs to the firewall and heater box. The doors, tailgate, bonnet and guards were all in great shape and only required sanding, priming and preparing for paint. Grampian Grey – an original 1968 GT paint that matched the donor car’s original specifications – was chosen for the respray. Fast forward to February 2020 and, on a sunny and blustery Wellington afternoon, Dash returned home looking as handsome as they day he left Abingdon in the newly painted Grampian Grey. James’s son was excited to see the car home and ran out to give Dash a hug!

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THE REBUILD By this stage of the project most of the refurbishment work was complete and what was really required was some spare time to progress the rebuild. This was March 2020 and the news was all about Covid-19 and the possibility of a lockdown in NZ. James realised that if he could get some help with fitting the engine and gearbox, he might be able to do the rest of the work at home during lockdown. So, on what turned out to be the last Saturday before lockdown, Ray spent a day helping James to fit the engine and gearbox back into the chassis. The drivetrain installation went smoothly but – as those that have done this will know – there’s not much space to move a spanner in the area where you must tighten up the gearbox mounts to the crossmember and onto the chassis rails. It took most of the afternoon to get these in tight!

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Over the next eight weeks work progressed at home. The fuel tank, brakes, interior, wiring harness, fuel and hydraulic lines, lights, bumpers, seals, glass, and chrome were re-fitted. It was slow and careful work but gradually Dash was taking shape. Since James is intending to use the car as a practical classic (rather than a show car) he decided to make a few concessions to modern motoring, including key fob activated central locking, a periodstyled modern radio, and an aluminium radiator with automatic auxiliary cooling fan. Reconditioned black leather seats with red piping and a new gear knob finished off the refreshed interior. By early May two milestones were reached: NZ started to ease Covid-19

lockdown and Dash was ready to go back to Ray’s garage for final commissioning and a warrant of fitness (WoF).

A DASH FOR FREEDOM The car was finally ready for shakedown by mid-May 2020 and around lunchtime on a crisp autumn day Ray called James to say the MG had sailed through the WoF and was ready to get back onto the open road. There’d been a scary moment when Ray first took the car for a test drive as he heard an unusual noise coming from the engine bay under braking. Luckily, this turned out to be a slight catch of the fan on part of the radiator housing, so with the addition of a spacer plate all was well. At the time of writing, James has

had the car on the road for just over a week and has done a few hundred kms in shakedown testing. It starts easily with full choke and quickly warms to operating temperature. James has been enjoying driving the car and says that “there’s nothing better than the sound of the SUs breathing deeply as you blip the throttle and change down!” The handling is surprisingly taut and balanced and very predictable. It’s perfectly suited to NZ main roads and keeps up easily with the modern traffic – and with overdrive engaged in top gear, the car will cruise all day at motorway speeds with the motor burbling at 2 - 2,500rpm. As with all classic cars the project is never really finished. James is already making a list of jobs to do as time allows, including work on the bonnet and tailgate panel gaps and a possible LED headlamp upgrade and the addition of rallying spotlights.

USEABLE EVERYDAY CLASSIC So, does Dash live up to his name? James’s son certainly thinks so. Not only is the car a practical and useable everyday classic (benefiting from refinements including extra sound deadening., remote central locking, modern aluminium radiator and auxiliary fan to cope with any traffic jams, hands-free iPhone connectivity) but, crucially, when you flick the overdrive switch, the B-series engine splurts into life and offers Deﬁnitely Awesome Super Horsepower.

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www.mgcc.co.uk

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FEATURE

The following is what will hopefully be the first of a series of dealer and trade profiles by Josh, showcasing the businesses that support the Club and our MGs.

LIFE AT L

have several businesses that I would like to visit when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m able, but to start off, I thought I would visit a dealership that is located on a site that is close to many of our hearts as MG enthusiasts. Longbridge has been a Mecca for many British motor enthusiasts for many years, with many cars returning on a regular basis to where they were born. Sadly, cars havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been produced at the site since 2016 but there is a glimmer of light still shining on the site with Paul Rigby MG. Based in the rotunda of the Conference Centre building of the factory site, Paul Rigby MG serves the Birmingham area for all things modern MG. The Paul Rigby Group, which started out as a Volvo and LEVC Taxi dealer 10 years ago, has worked its way up as a respected group in the Birmingham and Stourbridge area. From their success with Volvo, they then established their presence with MG at the Longbridge site in the early part of 2020, before the first lockdown came into effect. They are also well on the way to opening a second MG dealership in Erdington. Since taking over from the MG Sales Centre, the team has redecorated the Longbridge showroom with a fresh lick of paint and spent time getting to know their customer base, becoming a wellestablished dealer in the Birmingham area. The Paul Rigby MG team offer all of the new MG models, from the MG3 right through to the MG HS PHEV and the newly released MG5 EV. Not only this, but they also have a comprehensive range of used vehicles from MG and other brands. 26 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

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www.mgcc.co.uk

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T LONGBRIDGE By Josh Langstaff

Josh and his MG3 by the Paul Rigby dealership.

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Servicing is possible from their on-site workshop and MoTs are also available through the dealer. I’ve always enjoyed visiting Longbridge, often finding myself taking diversions to the site whenever I’m in the area. Heck, I even visited at 3.00am on a charity rally once. Until now, though, I had never been in to meet the chaps behind the dealership. After a phone call with Service Manager, Stuart Weston, I soon found myself on another 150-mile pilgrimage down to Longbridge with my best friend Nick. After several hours driving, we pulled up in front of the grand, art deco, factory administration building and we were quickly welcomed into the showroom where we met several members of the team, including newcomer Sheryl, who was really enjoying her new position at the business since moving there a few weeks before. Some friendly chat ensued and when asked about what it is like to work at the historic Longbridge site, Stuart replied: “A lot of enthusiasts and local customers come to us now that we’re back open, and are still operating from the site they love. We adore the passion that comes with both MGs new and old. It’s just an enjoyable atmosphere with events like Pride of Longbridge, held in the park opposite the hallowed factory gates, which we’re really looking forward to. As well as that, with the modern MGs, the value for money and the quality that the cars have, set them apart from other brands.” He continued to say that “we’re also looking

The first MGF and five millionth Rover

into selling more of the older MG’s and Rovers, as we enjoy the classic models as much as the new ones”. Shortly after, we were whisked away into a corridor filled with glass trophy cabinets, inside which were stacks of MG and Rover memorabilia. I could have gawped at these cabinets for hours, and after having a nosey at Lord Austin’s office, we were shown into the main hall. In some sort of film style cinematic, the lights turned on to present a hall of perfectly preserved Rovers, Austins, MGs and Minis. It was a bizarre feeling, being in a ‘museum’, yet having all the lights switched on especially for your visit. It instantly has the hairs on your neck standing on end. We worked our way through the collection, slowly sifting through the Minis

and Rovers, until stopping dead in our tracks at a car that, unbeknownst to Nick and I, was still in existence. The MG TF Coupé. This MG TF was one of the cars (along with the 75 Coupé) that I wish MG Rover could have made as, if it had been announced just that tiny bit sooner, it may have given the ailing company a fighting chance. Seeing it up close was a wonderful spectacle. Just admiring that stunning rear roofline in all its glory.

The latest MG HS PHEV, parked by the factory gates

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www.mgcc.co.uk

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19/05/202016:21 15:58 25/02/2020 25/01/2021 17:09

MGB Roadster, taking pride of place in the Paul Rigby showroom

Right at the back of the room were two of the cars I had specifically wanted to see for years. A burgundy red Rover 75, that has the honour of being the 5,000,000th Rover ever made, and more importantly, the very first ever production MGF. The 75 looked as new as the day it rolled off the line. On the other hand, the first MGF had seen better days. But even though it was missing the odd badge, its seats were still plush and the paint still shone bright. A very strange car to be in the presence of. Looking through this wonderful collection was an experience I will never forget, and even though the visit was coming to an end, Stuart and Andy had one last thing to show us. We had had a brief look on the way in, but finally, I got to see probably my dream MG3,

Andy, Stuart and Jacob of Paul Rigby MG on the steps of the rotunda

The sleek side profile of the TF Coupe

the MG3 Trophy concept. Made for the 90th anniversary of the MG brand, the MG3 Trophy concept took all that was sporting about MG and packed it into this wonderful little hot hatch. This had to be one of the best visits to Longbridge Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever had and I know I

will be back again soon. If you would like to get in touch with Paul Rigby MG, their telephone number is 0121 295 9282; alternatively you can find them on their website at paulrigby-longbridge.mg.co. uk where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be assured of a first-class welcome, and some excellent MGs.

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www.mgcc.co.uk

25/01/2021 17:09

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EVENT

The quiet roads through the Champagne region

MG CAR CLUB FRANCE T CELEBRATIONS

MG DAY celebrates MGCC 90

he MG Club of France is very pleased to report that so many MG owners were able to hold the annual MG Days weekend at the same time as the 90th anniversary of the MG Car Club on October 11 2020. Each year the MG Club of France invites MG owners, whether they are members or not, to join us for a special

By Wendy Packer

Champagne-Ardenne Region at circuit ReimsGueux

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www.mgcc.co.uk

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EVENT

Airfield at Chézy

MG day in one of the many regions of the country. The traditional date of the weekend June 5-6 for MG Days had to be postponed because the lockdown made any assemblies impossible. The revised date was therefore selected to coincide with the MG Car Club’s celebrations. The logo was shown on the rally plates for the regional rallies which attracted in total nearly 100 MGs in seven regions all over France. Here in France we feel fortunate to have been able to hold this event in the knowledge that many of the planned festivities in the UK had to be cancelled. In the Burgundy Region 16 cars ran along the little roads in the beautiful Morvan. In the Centre Region 12 cars passed by beautiful ch teaux of the Loire, including driving through the park of the grand Château Chambord for a photo opportunity. In the Champagne-Ardenne Region 10 cars enjoyed a full weekend of sights such as Hautvilliers, birthplace of the famous Dom Pérignon, and tastings of champagne at Champagne Petit at Chézy where the airfield provided a good photo location. On Sunday the route took the direction of the circuit Reims/Gueux, ideal for more photos.

Champagne vines as far as the eye can see

Centre Region at the Chateau Chambord www.mgcc.co.uk

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EVENT

Keeping an eye on the road during the Burgandy run

Ile de France learns about watercress

In the Ile de France Region 22 cars, many without their hoods on, enjoyed fine autumn weather in the lovely rural Beauce. The Region Midi-Pyrénées organised a rally for eight cars along the meandering Tarn river, which included a quiz on the MG Car Club’s anniversary. The west coast was represented by the Region Pays de Loire where the route took 12 cars to vantage points along the Loire to see the river and its ch teaux and local crafts. It was the season for walnuts in the Region Rh ne-Alps, so an interesting visit was arranged by a member who processes these nuts.

A scenic stop by a canal during MG Day

We were so lucky to have been able to maintain the MG Days, and at the same time to raise a glass to the MG Car Club and congratulate the Club for its 90 years. Next year our special MG Days weekend is scheduled to be held on June 3-6 based in the spa town of Vichy in the Auvergne Region where the MG Club of France was founded in 1981, 40 years ago. The weekend is open to all MG enthusiasts to help us celebrate the anniversary. For further details see our website: www.mgclubdefrance.com under the heading ‘MG Days’. Even with all the unfortunate cancellations Club members have been able to enjoy many rallies before and after the restrictions, respecting the rules which are now necessary. Track days included the very popular “God Save The Car Festival” at Montlhéry and a day on the Michelin circuit at Clermont Ferrand which was held without spectators. At the time of writing this article our MGs are, alas, forced off the road again as

Rule Britannia For the Centre Region

we are again in lockdown. Fortunately the European Clubs are able keep in touch via email and zoom to compare our situations. It is everyone’s hope that next year brings better times for us all.

MGBs arrive at the Chateau Condé on the Champaign route

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EVENT

fter a long 2020 summer in which all the Italian motoring events were cancelled due to the pandemic, finally, we managed to make the engines of our beloved MGs roar, and head to Terni and celebrate the XVIIIth MGCCI Sette Colli event called Driving with the Wolves. In Terni, where we started the event, there were crews representing almost all of the regions of Italy: Puglia, Sicily, Campania, Calabria, Lazio, Umbria, Abruzzo, Liguria, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Piedmont, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto. There were also owners from Switzerland and Holland. In total, there were 53 cars parked between Piero Fusaroli’s garage and the forecourt, testifying with certainty that the MG family is united, strong and large. A short evening briefing, with the recommendation to follow the indications given in the road book, gave us a taste of the wonders that we would encounter in the next few days. Amongst these the most important are the reconstructed basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, practically destroyed by the 2009 earthquake and an area called “Little Tibet”, the plateau of Campo Imperatore, in the shadow of the Gran Sasso mountain.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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DRIVING WITH THE WOLVES By Pier Luigi Fusaroli

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EVENT The next morning the weather was fresh. L’Aquila is located at 714m above sea level, but few gave up the chance to drive with the roof down, and the orderly multicolored “snake” climbed towards Bominaco along the winding streets that lead to the medieval village, whose most important building is the Benedictine monastery in which the most famous medieval frescoes of central Italy are located. Towards the evening the most athletic participated in the evergreen Silver Cup. The next day, the multicolored column moved towards the Gran Sasso national park, in the direction of Santo Stefano in Sessanio. After 30 kilometres of curves and hairpin bends the white stone village of Castel del Monte appeared. Fortunately, it is not only the land of witches but also that of excellent local cuisine of the territory. In fact, in the restaurant “da Loredana” in which we

had lunch, it was decided unanimously to reward the cooks with a gift, the precious MG banner, for the exquisite ravioli of ricotta with ragù and the delicious roast lamb. We would have liked to taste other delicacies but there was no more time to linger, because “Little Tibet” awaited us. The long caravan of MGs headed up and off again and finally, around 2,000m above sea level the plain of Campo Imperatore opened before us. Vast, silent and pristine could be the words that describe the beauty of the place. Upon the rugged and lush plain, which has always been a paradise for those on two wheels, the sparkling MGs illuminated by the pale rays of the sun stood out against the rugged mountains and seemed to want to leave an indelible trace of their passage. The event was held from September 1820 but we are sure that the good Saint Francis, Patron of Italy, looked on with a

benevolent eye at the long column of MGs that passed through his land, because the sun always accompanied us and there were no mechanical failures (with the exception of one MGF, unfortunately delayed due to broken front suspension). The next major event for us is the international event MG BY THE SEA 2021, from May 29 to June 7, which will see us take our MGs to the most beautiful gulf in the world, that of Sorrento. So, for now, enjoy the beautiful video presentation of the event that you will find on the club’s website, and we hope to see you in Italy soon: www.mgcarclubitalia.org/

Driving with Wolves participants by the basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio

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EVENT EVENT

MGs, oldest to youngest parked outside the Birdwood National Motor Museum

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

CELEBRATE MGCC 90 By Stephen Marlow

n one of the MG Car Club of South Australia’s biggest turnouts in 2020, 116 cars and nearly 190 members, family and friends turned out on October 11 to commemorate the 90th birthday of the world’s oldest MG Car Club. Each register chose its own starting point with a ‘group photo’ in mind before

heading in glorious sunny conditions to the National Motor Museum at Birdwood, a lovely run from the State capital Adelaide through the scenic Adelaide Hills. The largest group honours went to the MGB Register, where 58 Bs lined up in front of the historic ‘City of Adelaide’ clipper ship at Port Adelaide, while the

MGAs met at the Adelaide Observatory. All our Registers were well represented on the day and it was great to see so many cars all lined up in the sun at Birdwood. There, our generous hosts provided the perfect backdrop to display our part of MG history from pre-war to the very latest offering, while more than 100 other

MGAs met at the Adelaide Observatory

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EVENT EVENT

MGBs photographed by the city of Adelaide ship restoration

Top-down motoring on the drive to Birdwood

(great!) cars were arranged nearby for photos, drone pictures and video, and some great conversations by owners, drivers and aficionados. MGCC of SA would like to thank the National Motor Museum for their help in putting this hugely successful day together, and Shannon’s for sponsoring free admission to the wonderful museum which just seems to get better with every visit. Many thanks, too, to the team from our Club who worked on arrangements, including the Register

MGs in front of the museum, earliest to latest in attendance

Co-ordinators who did a great job of ‘cat herding’ early that Sunday morning! The first UK club’s origins lie in an advertisement placed in the Light Car magazine in 1930, suggesting forming a club for MG owners. Over 30 cars and their drivers turned up at that first meeting, at the Roebuck Hotel in Hertfordshire, and since then MG Car Clubs have sprung up around the world. All those clubs were asked to take part in the 90th birthday, with photos, videos

and texts winging their way through the ether to the UK to be shared globally with followers of the Octagon. It was great to see that, despite the restrictions we are all putting up with currently, we were able to get out together and enjoy a really great day at a prime location, while at the same time contributing to part of the marque’s international reputation and history. We’re all wondering what we’ll do when our friends in the UK turn 100…

A good variation of MGs at Birdwood www.mgcc.co.uk

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE • Reg: 6116 WW • Year of Manufacture July 1960 • Home market R/H/D Heritage certi cate build sheet speci cation MGA 1600 Mk1 Restored and taxed sixty years later, July 2020

M V CLASSICS M V CLASSICS’ Lawrence Smith tells the story:

“I first saw the car in 1998, it was in a barn belonging to the late Mr Mike Tucker – I was there to look at a Mercedes 230SL restoration project he wanted me to take on, it would be my first restoration project on opening my own business. After looking at the Mercedes, he showed me the MGA and said one day we will do that one. He had purchased the car some years before and just stored it with the intention of restoring it but had other projects he wanted to complete first.

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Move on to April 2015, Mike came to see me at my workshop and told me he wanted to restore the MGA. I was surprised he still had it, we discussed the project and arranged for the car to be brought to the workshop for appraisal. On first inspection I suggested he put it in auction as a barn find and just get what he could for it as to be restored properly it was way beyond economic repair. He listened to what I said but decided he wanted to save this car, not restoring it

www.mgcc.co.uk

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but making it usable, so we agreed to go through it mechanically and take it from there. Firstly, we tried to get it running and after cleaning the contacts and plugs, jury rigging a coil and fuel pump it fired up and ran, actually sounding quite sweet apart from the blowing exhaust. We then fitted new brakes and hydraulics all round. So now we had a car that would start and more importantly stop. We removed the body and sent it for shot blasting – in the mean time we made some repairs to the chassis where necessary; Mr T’ then took the chassis home to clean and paint it while we concentrated on the body repair. We had been using the car as a fill in job so progress was slow but Mr T’ was in no hurry. Then he contacted me and asked if for personal reasons we could stop work on the car for a period of time. We agreed and sadly later learned from him it was for health issues. In February 2018, Mike told me he wanted me to buy the car as he would not be able to complete it, initially I did not want to buy it as I had other commitments and still thought it was not a viable project but he persuaded me and we struck a deal. I collected the MG from his house and reassessed it, the problem was that because it was now mine it had to be restored to a much higher standard than Mike had wanted. So now the real work began and a plan was hatched, I wanted to complete the car for its sixtieth birthday and take Mr T’ for a drive in it. We stripped the chassis to bare and had it blasted along with all the suspension components; it was then prepared, primed and painted in two pack

www.mgcc.co.uk

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satin black, re bushed and rebuilt with all new bearings and bushes, we made all new brake and fuel lines in copper, but bright zinc plated to look more original. The engine and gearbox were striped and inspected, everything was standard and all wear was found to within tolerance indicating the mileage of 57,000 could be correct, fitted with new bearings and rings, oil pump etc it was all reassembled painted in the correct dark red and fitted to the then rolling chassis. The carburettors and all ancillaries were fitted and the engine was run and tested. The body was in a very poor state as after blasting, it became obvious it had been patched up with tin plate and pop rivets. We saved as much of the original body as possible and fabricated repair panels for the inner wings to shroud on the body tub. We replaced the flanges on three of the wings and used lower repair sections from Moss, unfortunately one wing could not be saved and we had to replace it along with the sills and A and B posts. I wanted to save as much of the original car as possible. Once the welding and fabrication had been completed, the body was offered to the chassis and doors, wings and all outer panels trial fitted and gapped. Once I was happy, we removed the body and started the paint process, this involved profiling the body tub and

individual panels, priming and painting in two pack material. The body was then bolted down to the chassis and once again all outer panels fitted and checked for alignment. The whole car was then painted in its finishing coats, flatted and machine polished to a near original finish in Iris Blue the original colour. The paint colour was matched to the original paint found behind the dash roll top by Total Concept Paints, as this part of the car had never been subjected to ultra violet light. Sadly, some of the chrome had to be replaced with reproduction, but again we used as much of the original as possible after having it triple plated by our local company Silvabronze. The trim was replaced with the original specified black leather with blue piping, a blue hood and tonneau cover. In total, we invested over 1,500 hard but satisfying hours in the restoration, which culminated in the MGA being inspected and taxed in July 2020, sixty years after it left Abingdon and probably better built. Whilst sadly, not in time for me to take Mr T’ for a ride in her, most definitely set for the next sixty years. As for her next journey, it now seems fitting that she have a new custodian…” For all enquiries, please call 01489 878059 Visit www.mvclassics.com

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

NEWSLETTER

WELCOME TO THE

TRIPLE M NEWSLETTER

The 1936 RAC Rally. Miss E.M. Dobson films her sister M.J. while fettling. Miss J. Hughes, another competitor, assists. Miss Moyra took off from the Ace of Spades garage on the Great West Road, London, finishing in Torquay some 1000 miles later.

A little under a year ago, I mentioned in these notes that young master Adam Forster joined the Triple-M ranks by being presented with J3611 for his 21st birthday. I then mentioned I had some more snippets to share about his car in a future edition of and so here we are! While Adam regularly takes the car to the pub, its original owner regularly took it rallying. Miss M.J. (Moyra) Dobson

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of Burton on Trent took part in a couple of RAC Rallies and some RSAC Scottish Rallies as well in her green J2, and not altogether unsuccessfully either. Rumour has it she was also a member of the Junior Car Club, but so far no conclusive evidence she took part in any of this clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events has been found, I believe. Nonetheless, a lovely bit of history to have with your car, eh?!

FEBRUARY 2021 SAFETY FAST! 45

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NEWSLETTER

Miss Moyra Dobson and her sister Elizabeth partaking in the 1934 RSAC Scottish Rally; a thousand miles in six days through the Low- and the Highlands.

‘In weak sunshine Mrs Sheerer and Mrs Dobson (sic), dressed for battle, push their MG to the start of the RAC Rally at the Ace of Spades near the Kingston crossroads, March 1936.’ (JFB Collection)

STRAIGHT ON!

Straight on it is and straight on Guy Robins’ F0904 shall go!

Remember Guy Robins’ F0904 that featured in October’s four-page spread last year? In reply to my question what the ‘S.O.’ stood for on one of the car’s headlamps in the Land’s End Trial, Jonathan Toulmin kindly shared the following: “The route of the 1935 Land’s End Trial, starting at Virginia Water, was over a distance of 340 miles and the following observed hills; Grabhurst, Lynmouth Hill, Station Hill, Beggar’s Roost, Barton Steep, Darracott, Hustyn and Blue Hills Mine (at Perranporth). Porlock was on the route, but not observed. After Barton Steep (used on a Land’s End Trial in recent years), the route went by way of Simonsbath, South Moulton, 46 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

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Torrington (Great Torrington) and on to Stibbs Cross (which is Stibb Cross on modern Ordnance Survey maps). On minor roads, the route took competitors to Kesmaldon Bridge (Kismeldon Bridge on my OS map) and on to Meddon to join the main A39 at Meddon crossroads (To pinpoint the place, the OS map reference is SS 265179 on sheet number 190). Here the route card stated: ‘Note - As the route takes a complete circuit from Meddon Cross to include Darracott, competitors should remember that on joining the main road at Meddon Cross they will be traversing for a short distance the same route as earlier competitors who have already climbed Darracott and who will

therefore carry straight on at the Gooseham Right turn. Be careful not to overlook the Gooseham Right turn.’ It seems almost certain that the sticker was fitted at the foot of Darracott. I believe that there may have been a policeman at the Gooseham turn. On seeing a competitor approaching without an ‘S.O.’ on his headlamp, he would have directed the competitor to turn right off the main road towards Gooseham for the Darracott section, whereas, if he saw an ‘S.O.’, the competitor would be waved straight on along the A39 towards Stratton. This loop is still used (or a similar one to take in both Darracott and Cutliffe Lane), but long gone have been policemen on point-duty telling competitors which way to go! There were 75 MG drivers out of a total of 339 cars entered for this 1935 event, which marked the debut of the ‘Cream Crackers’ and ‘Three Musketeers’ MG trials teams. It is interesting to note that Beggar’s

Jonathan Toulmin’s Dad Maurice and his famous Cream Cracker ‘TJ 5000’ (PA0337). (Northern Whig, August 31 1936) www.mgcc.co.uk

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NEWSLETTER Roost, Barton Steep, Darracott and Blue Hills Mine have all been included in Land’s End Trials of recent years. It is a real thrill to drive those very same hills that competitors have been tackling for more than 85 years! You should try it!” Jonathan is so much ‘in the know’ because he is the son of leading ‘Cream Cracker’ Maurice Toulmin who drove

his PA0337, or ‘TJ 5000’, to victory on many an occasion. When Jonathan repurchased his father’s old car in mid-1994, he set about rebuilding it with the aim of participating in the 1995 run of the Land’s End, to commemorate 60 years since the Cream Crackers’ inception. Of this he wrote: “Apparently my chances of even getting through the Land’s End had been

QUARTERLY QUIZ

Another view of the same towing adventure from Richardson’s of Staines to the Netherlands in 1968.

With last October’s uarterly uiz car featuring in a couple of recent Bulletins and, as a consequence, the answer a dead giveaway, I must say having received only four entries subsequently is a bit on the low side, isn’t it? Although I’ll be the first to admit I hadn’t remembered either! A good thing current owner (as the author of the Bulletin articles) David Allen did and so did Andrew Fock from Australia who remembered it for its twin filler pipes

and took the trouble of combing through a whole pile of old Bulletins, eventually coming up with the correct answer. The car on show (or tow …) is indeed NA0793. The prize, however, goes to Christian H ptner from Germany who always strives to take part in my silly little quizzes. He not only noticed the twin fuel pipes, but the two exhaust pipes as well. Furthermore, he painted a lovely picture of his thoughts on the location: “Looks to be a brand new dual

David Allen behind the wheel of NA0793 as it stands today. A job well done!

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discounted by Steve Dear and others since I had hardly even driven a Triple-M car before the event, and never before had I driven one on any surface other than tarmac. Since the car was only finished 20 hours before the event, I largely agreed with them!” Jonathan proved them all wrong, though, with a clean run earning himself a muchcoveted gold medal. Must be in the blood!

carriageway in the late 1960s and a break on the hard shoulder or a lay by – perhaps on the way back from the Bone yard or Richardson’s of Staines? The new acquisition proudly being towed home … Wonderful!” And how right he was, too! Dutchman Cees Roeleveld bought the car at Richardson’s and towed it home in 1968. He then kept it until 2009 when it moved back to England in the exact same state as it had left the country 41 years earlier. Several years later still it ended up with David who set about rebuilding it and now enjoys the finished product. It has been suggested the car was used for petrol testing by Shell, hence the two filler pipes, but whether there’s any truth in that has yet to be determined. New assignment for the anoraks, although I’ll make it a tad easier for the less nerdy, plus there’s only 33 to choose from … So yes, it’s a K3! Another one! But who is the driver? Extra credit for those able to name the car’s chassis number, the event, year, location and the name of the mechanic. Good luck and Safety Fast!

All you need to do is name this car’s driver!

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NEWSLETTER CAR OF THE MONTH

Derby Daily Telegraph, 3 April 1936)

As some people are of the opinion that K3s are more appealing than their two and four seater tourer and saloon counterparts, the K1, KN and N models, in some horrid cases even justifying chopping up perfectly good cars to make them look like K3s, I thought I’d throw in a real one again. I found these snippets of K3009, the ‘Parnell K3’, while combing through the Derby Daily Telegraph looking for all things Donington. I always thought the car was owned by Reginald Parnell himself, but one of the captions tells us differently; apparently it was owned by his brother William. Journalists are not always correct, though, so the truth probably lies in the middle somewhere. Reg and Bill ran a garage together which I have seen named ‘New Garage’, ‘Standard Garage’, the ‘Standard Haulage Company’ and even a fourth variety I forgot, emphasizing the fact that journalists are only human after all. However, they do seem to agree it was located on Alfreton Road, Derby. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that the Parnell brothers probably co-owned the car. What I find more intriguing still, is the mention of a second Magnette in one of the newspaper clippings. The Hawke History

tells us Parnell did drive K3015 on occasion, but that wasn’t until July 1937 and the clipping is dated August 1936. More journalistic licence? Or fact? Technically it’s possible Reg drove K3015 in the 1936 500 Miles race at Brooklands, as stated, but it really does seem unlikely. Or does it? Sorry to be boring you, though surely some of you at least are as interested in what happened all those years ago as I am, right? And if, like me, you’re into these useless facts, you may want to pop over to our online shop and order yourself a copy of the Hawke History, indispensable reading materials in matters such as these! (Derby Daily Telegraph, 16 August 1935)

Journalistic license; poor Hamilton was killed racing a Maserati in the Swiss Grand Prix. And poor Gardner was of course not a gardener! (Derby Daily Telegraph, 17 September 1935)

‘His other 1,100 c.c. M.G. Magnette’ … (Derby Daily Telegraph, 13 August 1936) K3009’s engine capacity was increased to 1,500cc by early 1935, but this caption has us believe it was still quite standard by September. (Derby Daily Telegraph, 5 September 1935) 48 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

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Unfortunately Reg Parnell and Mrs Elsie Wisdom didn’t finish the race. (Derby Daily Telegraph, 21 September 1935)

The 1937 British Empire Trophy at Donington. It is believed K3009 was blue by mid-1936, but this snippet tells us otherwise. Irishman Manders drove his newly purchased RA0260 for the first time at this event. (Derby Daily Telegraph, 10 April 1937)

www.mgcc.co.uk

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Chris Hale c.hale1962@btinternet.com www.mgcc.co.uk/midget-register/

NEWSLETTER

WELCOME TO THE

MIDGET NEWSLETTER As we move forward into what we hope will be a much better year for MG activity, there are a couple of events on the horizon.

MIDGET 60

As many of you will know, 2021 marks the 60th Anniversary of the launch of the MG Midget. Who would have thought back then that this little car would have a production run of around 18 years and would become a cherished classic and yet still used (and winning!)

As we move forward, the Register has a couple of vacancies on the Committee which would suit anyone with a passion for our little cars. Due to work and personal commitments our current Chairman, Pete Chaundy, will be stepping down from this role

in active competition including circuit racing, hill climbs and sprint, rallying and often reigning supreme in autotests due to its fantastic handling and agility. Talk about something being more than the sum of its (humble BMC) parts! There are likely to be a number of celebrations to mark the event, including the Register and main Club at Silverstone in June. We are hoping that this will be MGLive!, subject to current restrictions allowing the event to go ahead. Also in June (Sunday 27) to celebrate Midget 60 is the “Big Day” celebration at Gawsworth Hall, Macclesfield. at the next AGM (but remaining on the committee) and we are seeking an enthusiastic member to take up the reins and take us forward. The role of Safety Fast! scribe has also come available so this would be the ideal opportunity to release those creative journalistic skills. Please get in touch if you would like to know more or just to help in future Register events.

WUZZUM? WHAT’S THAT??? Those of you who know their Midget and Sprite history will know of the WSM cars, also affectionately known as “Wuzzum”. The name comes from the builder of the cars being Douglas Wilson-Spratt (WS), and Jim McManus (M), one time sales partner at Delta Garages, the spiritual home of the WSM. Most of the WSM cars were built on the Austin Healey Sprite platform although there was one based on an MG Midget and also an MGB derivative. In contrast to some models based on the Spridget platform sporting different bodywork, the ten WSM cars were all hand built to exacting standards by Douglas Wilson-Spratt and his team between 1962 and 1967, and as a consequence there are only a handful of the original cars in existence. Many have been campaigned in competition with a number having a dual role as road and track vehicles.

I first saw a WSM car in the metal a number of years ago at a race meeting at Donington Park. I was there with my son and we saw a very pretty coupé which was obviously based on

the Spridget platform but was not the “usual” Sebring Sprite, Lenham or Ashley GT. We approached the driver who turned out to be Tony WilsonSpratt, son of the creator Douglas, who

Lorraine’s stunning completed WSM www.mgcc.co.uk

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NEWSLETTER very kindly gave us the low-down on this lovely race car. Over the years I hadn’t really seen much of the Wuzzums; however, during the long period of enforced lockdown in 2020, I had been listening to the MGCC podcasts by Wayne Scott and Adam Sloman (if you haven’t listened to any of these, I suggest that you do, as they are excellently produced and very entertaining!) when I caught up with the episode with MGCC Director Lorraine Noble-Thompson, discussing her passion for the marque and the many MGs in her ownership. My ears pricked up at the mention that she owned one of the Sanction two WSM cars and that the car was very definitely based on an MG Midget rather than a Sprite, making it a very rare model indeed. Only one other Wuzzum is based on the Midget. Douglas Wilson-Spratt sadly passed away in 2011. However, prior to his death, he had been persuaded to agree to the production of a second series of

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ten Wuzzum cars under the direction of his son, Tony, and undertaken by Paul Woolmer of well known classic car specialists, Woolmer Engineering. However, Douglas stipulated that this was only on the understanding that the cars were hand built as per the originals, to order only, and that they would not be available as kits or home builds, thus preserving the build quality that as an engineer and designer, Douglas felt was essential to maintain the integrity of the brand. Proof of the pudding is that 10 of the 15 originals he built or penned are still active and now sought after. The Wilson-Spratts had moved from their family home in Hockliffe, Bedfordshire, in 1976. Later, in 1978, on a return visit to their old home, Tony

The plush interior of Douglas, Lorraine’s WSM

and Douglas recovered the moulds for the original cars from the rafters of the garage; however, it wasn’t until around 2007/2008 that thoughts turned to the production of Sanction two cars. Lorraine first became a fan of the WSM cars after seeing one at Goodwood during a Healey Weekend. Unsure as to what the car was but struck by the beautiful lines, a photograph of the “red car with the smiley face” graced Lorraine’s office for a number of months. With only a very limited number of original cars

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NEWSLETTER being built and fewer survivors, the scarcity and consequent cost made owning one of these an unlikely proposition. Lorraine was already friends with Paul and Sharon Woolmer, and when she heard that there was to be a second series of WSMs, the S2 cars, she determined to have one. Because of the hand-built nature of the cars and that each one of the series would be effectively built to order as a bespoke vehicle, Lorraine was able to tailor the specification to her own requirements. The first step was to find a suitable donor car on which to base the S2 WSM, and as a self-confessed MG “nut” Lorraine was determined that this would be a Midget rather than a Sprite. A 1962 car was found but it was just too good take apart to use as a donor and so Paul Woolmer found a suitable 1972 Midget which means that Lorraine’s car has the semi-elliptical rear spring set up. Lorraine’s car is to “GT” specification which means that it has been built to be primarily a road car rather than an out-and-

out racer or competition vehicle; however it is still a very quick and able performer. Whilst at least one of the S2 cars has been built with Frontline suspension and K series power, Lorraine was determined that hers would be much more akin to an in-period “fast road” specification. Power comes from

a 1380cc Oselli-built A series engine, mated to a Toyota five-speed gearbox and higher ratio final drive to give the car “longer legs” to improve cruising. The engine is no slouch, with around 105bhp on tap which, combined with the lighter weight of the WSM body, gives a power to weight ratio

Lorraine and her WSM

A collection of Wuzzum’s and their owners www.mgcc.co.uk

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NEWSLETTER of around 200bhp per ton which Lorraine advises is more than enough to keep up with the K series model on a twisty hill climb. Original series Spridget-based WSMs have been finished in different colours – five blue (with one being repainted green), three red, one white, and one green (plus the repainted blue one). When questioned regarding her choice of silver for her car, Lorraine advises that this was following discussion with Douglas Wilson-Spratt at a Goodwood Revival meeting, where he suggested that Silver would be a great colour as per the 1960s Jaguars, and also that whilst wire wheels would look great, Douglas recommended Minilites due to the ease of maintaining their appearance, and so this is what the car wears. In keeping with its GT role, the car has a few plusher interior fitments including Mazda MX5 seats, engine turned and padded dashboard and a radio! MGB boot locks are utilised as door handles whereas some of the originals had no handles, with owners having to reach inside and pull a cord (as per early Minis). There is also a subtle badge on the boot proudly displaying both the WSM and MG heritage. The entire build from first commission to completion took around three years, as is the nature of bespoke builds, and unfortunately Douglas died prior to seeing the completed vehicle. However, his signature does grace the dashboard and the car is named Douglas in his honour. Lorraine got into Midgets after owning an MGB and wanting something more agile to use in competitions such as autosolos. The WSM has been used for hill climbs at both Bo’ness and Hare Hill, and a track day at Goodwood has also been undertaken and proved highly suitable, although Lorraine has installed a front spoiler as the car has a tendency to lift and become a little flighty at speed, probably due to the low overall weight and lower drag body shape. The car is eminently drivable both on the road and in competition and Lorraine has no qualms in undertaking the long drives from her home in Scotland to venues such as Silverstone and Goodwood. Inevitably, the restrictions brought about in 2020 have curtailed road runs,

S but a planned trip to Germany will be undertaken in 2021, along with taking to car to the Isle of Man. Lorraine is highly delighted with her WSM, and even a mishap on a Car Club road run in 2017, which saw the car skid unavoidably on a diesel spill on the road, which resulted in a collision with a farm gate and necessitated a new bonnet being made and fitted by the WSM team, hasn’t done anything to dampen her enthusiasm for this little car. Lorraine’s car has featured in both MG Enthusiast and Octane Magazine and we hope to have Lorraine’s car on display the Register’s stand at some of the events throughout the year. To date, four of the S2 cars have been built. First built was a fibreglass racer (WSM 401) for Ian Hulett. As a competition driver recommended by Paul, Ian had raced Tony’s WSM at the Goodwood Revival in 2006 while Tony piloted the WSM MGB, and Tony reckons it is fair to say that Ian became a WSM fan thereafter. Lorraine then stated an interest in a road car as detailed above (WSM 402), as did Bill

Emerson from Florida (WSM 403) and Geoff Hill from Stalybridge (WSM 405). The numerical identification stems from the original index of cars WSM 201 - WSM 301 and the fact that it was anticipated replicating the number of WSM Spridgets built (ten) in the 1960s. Geoff actually owned WSM 205 in period and regretted selling the car so much that when the Sanction 2s were mooted, he immediately expressed a desire for one, albeit with a ‘K’ series engine that Douglas was intending to use in due course. WSM 405 is perhaps the fastest Wuzzum to date, overtaking the WSM MGB, WSM 1100, WSM Austin Healey 3000 and Jaguar XK-powered estate that were all subsequent 1960s one-offs built by the WSM Team. Many thanks to Lorraine NobleThompson who was very generous with her time in discussing her car via Zoom and sending very comprehensive information via email, and to Tony Wilson-Spratt for filling in some of the background and details about the WSM story. You can find out more about the WSM Cars on their website at www.wsmcars.com

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David Broadhurst 01209 614704 newsletter-editor@mgb-register.org www.mgb-register.org mgbforum.mgb-register.org

NEWSLETTER

WELCOME TO THE

MGB NEWSLETTER In early January we were told that Lockdown Mk3 was to commence. This will, potentially, impact the exciting programme that your committee has been putting together for 2021, so it will be a case of wait and see. Hopefully, things may start to happen later in the spring but, for now, keep fettling! Contributions from Germany and Switzerland this month, as well as a heartwarming set of memories from Ian Hayter…enjoy!!

25 YEARS OF PRIDE OWNERSHIP

In 1992 I saw an advert in a local paper: MGB 1971, needs some TLC, 1.300,-DM. It sounds cheap, but no, the snow white MG was a wreck. However, I was young, just sold my BMW motorcycle combination and my everyday car was a Volvo 544 and there´s some spare room in my garage, just the right size for a little roadster. I bought the MGB and started work. Two years later, exactly March 3 1995, the now black car was back on the road with fresh TÜV and better than new. During the first drive on March 5 it began to snow, but my wife Ulrike and I loved it. This was the start of my life with an MGB. It only let me down once, in front of my drive with a broken timing chain and gears. No problem, replaced it including new big ends and that’s it. The MGB is very reliable and comfortable. First holiday was in the summer of 1995 for four weeks to the south of England. Loaded with an exchange gearbox, which I brought back to the Owners Club, and full camping equipment with tent, chairs and table. It was a hot summer and we loved it touring round. More holidays in the UK, Austrian Alps and Germany followed. After I sold the Volvo, the MGB was my everyday transport to work for some years, with no problems. For winter I fitted a works hardtop and snow tyres. In 2005 I bought a Rover Mini Cooper and the MGB was mostly used for holiday tours and in summer with the hood down. In 2012 we went for a long trip around Orkney, the Lake District, Blenheim Palace (MGB 50) and then on to Dover. In 2015 the MGB clocked over 60k miles near Newcastle and in 2018 got new paint and a two-litre balanced engine. Ready for the next 25 years. Thomas Becks Thomas is a welcome sight at so many Register gatherings over the years. He is usually the one who has travelled the furthest to get there.

Thomas Becks‘ MGB

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NEWSLETTER

Don and Ian in EX234, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the MG factory in Abingdon, 1979

Don at home being interviewed

DON HAYTER - GROWING UP WITH DAD. complete. I was a mower, a coal boy, and bonfire maker and car washer. My sister opted for vacuuming and dusting. I think my deal was better!

Don and Syd Enever, who worked closely together at Abingdon

Don Hayter, my dad, was quite a quiet man. As children, we were certainly looked after and even indulged at times! He was a calm man and a fair man, but you did not want to push him too far. I certainly found this out when I was younger and boundaries were being laid and thresholds set. When not working, we were lucky enough to enjoy our home, garden and some travel. We grew up in a small village called Appleford, not far from Abingdon. We were lucky to have a large garden, and so dad had his vegetables growing and my sister and I had daily chores to 58 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

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Holidays... Younger years. Sitting on a rug with a plastic sheet underneath it, two windbreaks tied together into circle with a small gap to enter and exit. Another plastic sheet over the top secured with garden vine. The only family left on Woolacombe beach as the rain beats a rhythm above us. We are on holiday and the weather is not going to move us! This is a part of life growing up with an engineer and designer, everything planned and accounted for. And when the rain abates, we have the beach to ourselves for a while. A later holiday having to be taken in a family car which was a Harvest Gold Austin Maxi, a spare fan belt, some water, a big tool roll and off we went. Down to Dover, hovercraft to Calais, a long drive through France stopping at Beune and Menton. Over the border into Italy and a sample of some interesting local driving styles, and the scary cliff roads of the Amalfi coast. Constant updates of unusual cars en route with factual updates of make/model/ engine size and top speed, etc.

At one point we stopped with dad’s friends in Sanremo. A first experience of bread sticks and fizzy water at the table. All topped off with me being presented with an octopus salad. Dad looked at me scanning the tentacles and just said: “Just have a go at that”. This pretty much summed up his attitude to life and the whole trip, really. In a world before car seats, and where you could easily perch on a parcel shelf, my sister Alison and I were soon introduced to life in an MGB. The whole experience of an open-top car was very exciting for us, and we used to giggle and shout the faster we were driven. I don’t think that dad needed much encouragement to push on, though. The MG factory, photographed from Marcham Road in 1967

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NEWSLETTER

The busy MGB assembly lines in the works

Just seeing a picture of a dash or a view looking forwards down the front wing still brings great memories. Nothing can match a summer’s evening, and the smell of bonfires, freshly cut grass, and rush of air past your face. I remember the “new” smell of these cars, and spent many hours travelling in them all over the county. Now in later years, I feel a bright spark of pride whenever I see one. One moment that springs to mind is dad having his “fashion moment” for a flat cap and a pipe. Whilst the cap works well with the roof down, a pipe did not! We had a bit of off-roading and an emergency brake test after the pipe embers jumped out, bounced down his front and ended up between his legs! On Saturdays if dad had to work more hours to finish a particular project, we would go into the works. I remember the drawing office vaguely, and being impressed with the assembly line. We spent a fair amount of time watching the crash testing results with the introduction of the rubber bumper models. I was always drawn to seeing the lines of completed cars in an array of colours, and would wonder where they would go and how far they would travel. I can remember being in the EX234 prototype for the Abingdon parade. It was quite embarrassing having all those eyes on

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you. My current workplace is actually on Kimber Road, so I still feel a connection with the old site. Another exciting weekend pastime was the racing scene. This included mainly trips to Silverstone and Brands Hatch. The pits were always great build up before a race and you could feel the expectation in the tone of the conversations taking place. I think that sometimes the racing extended into our own car on the way home.... When home in the quiet of the village the races would stay with me. The smell of petrol, oil, burning rubber... most of all the howling symphony of engines being pushed to capacity. It always took me a few hours to regain calmness. When it came time for me to buy my first car, I was looking at a blue MGB GT. It was out of my savings/price range, though, and with my impatient youth, I was desperate to own something. A guy I worked with was selling a Triumph Spitfire in need of some TLC, so I got that. I don’t think I had fully grasped that this was part of the “opposition” as it were. Dad showed no negativity at all with this (or possibly hid it very well) and he helped me with various jobs on the car, including later on a clutch replacement and how to balance the carburettors. He was very interested in the way the front wing and bonnet section pivoted forward to give engine access. In later years I have really regretted my decision, but that is how it went and he did find it quite amusing. On dad’s 90th birthday, my wife Ruth came up with the idea of giving dad a leather-bound diary, the idea behind this being to capture and then write down any specific memories. At this stage we were well aware that in a life so packed full of work, and travel, we were going to miss out on many of his experiences. Now in the diary there are entries of different designs that he worked on. These were normally small modifications or updates to existing

Crash testing a rubber bumper MGB

designs. What absolutely stands out here, is that the MGB was a project that he was able to be involved with and follow through from the start to the finish. Anyone given that opportunity is very lucky. He was always very humble about his input and I think this was backed up by the fact that, as children, we never really knew exactly how much involvement there had been in the design. He just got up early, went to work. When home he never really mentioned too much. We were always excited to see new and different cars being brought home, and would form a disorderly queue to go out in them. I normally lost out on best seating position to my bigger sister. A diary entry Dad was the eldest of three. His dad was demobbed from the war and became a Police constable in Abingdon. Another role of bomb recovery officer was also passed his way. This included dealing with calls from local farmers and landowners reporting unexploded bombs in their fields. Grandad would take my dad with him to these sites. They would carefully collect the smaller bombs, wrap them in blankets, and place them in the boot of the car. Then they would take them back to the local depot to be defused.

Don’s 90th birthday celebrations at Cosener’s House Abingdon, Don being presented with a photo by Ian Quarrington and John Watson FEBRUARY 2021 SAFETY FAST! 59

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NEWSLETTER Dad recounted to me that he and his younger brother, Peter, had pyjamas made from silk by grandma. The silk came from a parachute with some sort of explosive device that got caught in a tree. Another time, another world indeed. On a personal note, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and thanks to everyone that sent messages and tributes to dad and the family. Also, to the constant work that is done to keep the marque alive. These cars have made their way into people’s lives and have become part of families history. I nod to you all and doff my cap... Let’s leave the pipe be.... Ian Hayter

Don pictured in John Watson’s MGB in 2017, the smile says it all

AN UNLUCKY COVID-19 PROJECT ON AN MGB GT Did you ever try to navigate your forefinger in an MGB GT to one of the switches on the dashboard during a dark new moon night? And then, if you feel a damn switch, to be sure it’s the requested function “Wiper on/off” or could it probably be the one for “Blower on/off”? If the answers to both questions are no, then you can stop reading here and skip the article. As an occasional classic car driver, not only running MGs but other cars with black dashboards as well, I ended from time to time in the above-mentioned uncomfortable situation. The dashboard is really one of the darkest regions in my MGB GT 1974, besides my fingernails (being her technical support-in-training and proud driver…). So, instead of sitting around bored during lockdown, I decided to open a project to improve the unsatisfying situation. My following investigations to fix the problem ended in the possibility of installing a slim light source to the stem of the interior mirror. There was a good chance that the beam of the light source might illuminate some of the most often used switches on the dashboard, in order to stop the fumbling around in the darkness. I bought a 4-19V dimmable LED (4’000 mcd, more would have been better!) from a DIY shop and soft-soldered two thin wires to its legs,

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one wire clipped to the red-white +12V panel illumination cable, the other wire connected to frame GND (e.g. somewhere at the A-post, behind the vinyl A-post cover). The two legs of the LED must of course be separately insulated by using heat shrink tubing. This method is also useful to protect and cover the whole LED assembly in order to prevent light scatter in the direction of the windscreen, etc. It’s now an easy job to fix the LED assembly to the stem of the interior mirror by using some small cable ties (see photo). Wires can, in an MGB GT, easily be hidden by routing them behind the front header rail, down along the A-post (behind the cover) and then, behind the dashboard, to be directly connected to the red-white +12V panel illumination cable and to GND (without any electronic dingdongs!). The installation of a fuse (max. 500 mA) between the +12V wire to the LED and the original red-white +12V panel illumination cable is strongly recommended. But tests during implementation showed a suboptimal result, because the now dimly illuminated switches were still unsatisfactorily identifiable. The readability of the engraved white symbols did not match my expectations. Therefore I tried to improve the situation by filling the engravings with a white wax-based paintstick, but the engravings were

unfortunately not deep enough to hold the white colour as desired... Conclusion: At this actual stage the solution is not yet recommendable! There is still enough room for improvements but, honestly, the readability during night is better than it was before. In fact so far an unlucky Swiss project, but at least I had some fun and still no close contact with the Covid-19 beast. Don’t forget, this solution works for GTs only and not for MG Roadsters, but their drivers are, while searching switches during well-planned night trips, anyway supported by the bright light of a nice full moon... Rainer Stahel

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25/01/2021 17:10

TECH TORQUE Car as purchased without windstop

FITTING A TF WINDSTOP

By Colin Grant

Most MGF and TFs were not fitted with a windstop as standard equipment, this being mainly the preserve of LE variants and if required had to be specified as an additional cost item at

Windstop with fixings

www.mgcc.co.uk

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the point of sale. If you have experienced driving an F or TF without a windstop fitted you will know that you are subject to a fair amount of wind buffeting, which is fine on short journeys but

Original MG Rover fitting instructions

when travelling over long distances it becomes very tiring, especially when motorway driving. Having a friend, with a Pearl black TF, which had not been fitted with a windstop, I was asked if I could source one and carry out the fitting. I did this by attending the annual MG and Triumph Spares Day at Stoneleigh, where I picked up a very tidy original MG Rover example complete with fittings for under ÂŁ100. Before starting the installation, I first downloaded the fitting instructions and template from the internet at https://mgfcar.de/windstop/ index.htm This allowed me to print off a copy of the instructions which were originally supplied by MG Rover with the windstop kit. FEBRUARY 2021 SAFETY FAST! 61

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TECH TORQUE

Template

Cut out left and right templates

Fixing the template in place

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TECH TORQUE

Drilling the pilot hole

I printed off the template and cut out the left and right hand sides (see picture). These, when positioned correctly, allow you to drill the necessary hole in the correct place to locate the threaded fixing holes. You may find removing the hood makes the job easier but I found I could easily carry out the drilling and fitting process with the hood in the down position. I placed the template in position and secured it with tape. Then I drilled a pilot hole to the depth of 30mm with a 4mm drill bit, followed by a 12mm drill bit. You can then gain access using a ratchet and a 10mm socket to a bolt which you need to remove as you will be using the threaded hole this came from to locate your windstop fixing block. Take one of the plastic tubes that came in the kit and push it into the 12mm hole that was drilled earlier and using one the plastic blocks, together with the long Allen screw supplied in the kit, locate it to the rear panel through the drilled hole.

Drilling the 12mm hole

Removing the existing bolt

Extracting the bolt

Locating the plastic tube

Fixing the block with the Allen screw

Locating the windstop and fixing in place by tightening the thumb screw

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TECH TORQUE Note that the blocks are handed left and right and you will need to make sure that they are fitted so the fixing thumb screw goes into the block from the inside, mating up with the nut the other side. I carried out the same procedure to the other side of the panel, then took the windstop and slid its locating plates into the plastic block, aligning the holes to allow fixing. I located the thumb screws and tightened them by hand till the windstop was firmly located in place. Once out on the open road the difference is amazing, making for a much more comfortable top-down driving experience.

Locate the thumb screws from the inside

Rear view of windstop located in position

Front view of windstop

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www.mgcc.co.uk

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TECH TORQUE

TECH TIPS We are frequently asked technical questions covering all varieties of MG. With the help of our Registers, members, and past Safety Fast! magazines, here is a selection of the more commonly asked questions and solutions.

Tech Tip from: Safety Fast! Archive How can I improve the performance of my Midget? The intake and exhaust systems will always smoothing out the rough cast surfaces have scope for detailed improvement with a rotary grinder attached to a drill simply by gas flowing the cylinder head on a flexible drive. The same can be done inlet and exhaust ports. This is done by with the inlet and exhaust manifolds and

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then these can be matched to the cylinder head by ensuring that no step is left where the joint faces meet. You can of course buy a professionally prepared stage two cylinder head with a levier camshaft. The head will have been skimmed to give a higher compression ratio and will use stiffer valve springs with the reduced likelihood of valve bounce, thereby improving the rev range. Follow this by fitting a sports exhaust which will extract more horsepower. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good idea to stick to the standard carbs but adjusting to suit your modifications as fitting larger carbs can spoil its drivability. Braking and suspension if in good condition will cope with the improvements as will the cooling and lubrication systems. Other items to consider are an oil cooler, always a wise fitting, and an electric fan which will help to release a little more power.

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25/01/2021 17:10

TECH TORQUE Tech Tip from: Safety Fast! Archive My MGB won’t start easily after a complete rebuild. I’ve had my MGB engine completely rebuilt with full balancing, high compression head, fast road cam, new bearings and piston rings, and hefty valve springs, with all the ancillary items overhauled. But the new battery just runs out of steam when I try to start it. Solution: The budget battery fitted was checked and the charge was OK and the specification was correct for a standard car. But it was a standard budget battery and did not have the stamina to start the car, due to all the improvements carried out to the engine. A new high power quality battery was sourced and the car now never misses a beat when starting.

Tech Tip from: Safety Fast! Archive Core plug leaking on my MGB engine. I have noticed a leak from the core plug on the side of my engine and wanted to know the procedure for replacement. Solution: Core plugs are a necessary fitment owning to the casting techniques used in the manufacture of engine block and cylinder head. They seal the water spaces and provide a limited safeguard if the engine freezes in cold weather by popping out when the freezing water expands. So remember your antifreeze. They very often leak at the edges but from the centre also. Once a leak is detected urgent attention is needed as if they fail completely the cooling system will be lost instantly. Remove by cutting into the centre with the corner of a small cold chisel. Then insert a screwdriver blade into the cut and lever out. Be careful not to insert the screwdriver too far as you could damage the internal engine casting.

Before fitting the new plug clean the seal face of the opening with emery paper to a smooth finish. You can if you wish use a small amount of sealant around the sealing edge. Place the plug into position

and gently tap evenly until in position. A friend of mine always had the knack of hitting the plug in the centre which sprayed it out to a perfect fit into the opening.

Tech Tip from: Andy Knott Replacing that awkward bolt. I hate it when you’re trying to get a bolt back in an awkward place; inevitably you almost get it located, to find it falls out of your socket and lands in the most inaccessible spot, that’s assuming you can find the bolt at all when it drops! I’ve found a little bit of blu tack on the bolt, and then pushed into the socket keeps it firmly in place until you’ve located and tightened the bolt up. It also makes it easier for removing next time as well, as the bolt stays in the socket.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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RACE TORQUE Jack Ashton and Mike Williams battle it out at a wet Oulton Park last year. Photo: Dickon Siddall

RACE TORQUE by Mark Baulch

t the time of writing, we find ourselves back in an uncertain place, with tighter lockdown procedures and immense pressure being exerted once again on our amazing NHS. Despite this, we continue to plan for our first race meeting at Silverstone National on March 20. We are monitoring the situation closely and will make informed decisions as and when it is prudent to do so. For up-to-date information on this event, continue to refer to the Motorsport News page at mgcc.co.uk/motorsport/about-mgccmotorsport/news-events/ On a happier note, I am delighted to report that Championship Registrations have been rolling in, with all six of our MG Car Club Championships back up and running for 2021. So, if you have not returned your registration yet, please do so. Championships have also been highlighted in the media. The Autosport website recently ran a list of the top ten

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rivalries in National racing during 2020, with MG Cup contenders Mike Williams and Jack Ashton featured at number eight in the list! Having previously jostled with each other in the MG Metro Cup, both of them increased the power in their cars in order to compete in the fastest class of the MG Cup and gave us some great action at the three meetings that we were able to successfully run last year. The MG Trophy championship also appeared in the press, thanks to an article

by James Dennison in CAR Magazine about technology that enables drivers to hone their skills with the use of an electronic racing coach. Competitors have also remained very active on social media as well as the new WhatsApp groups that were set up last year. Officials have also been busy in the background, making all the necessary arrangements for the coming season. By far the majority of these people do all of this in their own time on a voluntary basis, so I extend my thanks to them once again. So, as we start to see some flowers break through the earth on our daily lockdown walks, spring is rapidly approaching and an excellent season at some great circuits is approaching fast. In the meantime, keep safe and well.

The MG Trophy ZR 170 of James Dennison at speed. Photo: Dickon Siddall

www.mgcc.co.uk

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COMPETITIONS

Former MG Car Club Chairman Steve Cox at speed during the Prescott round of the Abingdon Trophy in 1998. Photo: Peter Browning

THE MGF ABINGDON TROPHY W

hen the MGF was launched it heralded a new era for the Club. For the first time since the closure of Abingdon there was a volume production MG on the market, reflected in a significant new influx of members. Inevitably, there was talk of the MGF in competition and it was not long before one or two cars appeared in races; rather more started to compete in speed events, particularly in the MG Car Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prestigious Speed Championship. But it was not until mid-1997 that serious plans were made for an MGF championship and timely discussions took place between the Club and MG Cars who were also planning a UK MGF race series. The two proposals went forward together; the MGF Cup was to be a highprofile race championship, with highly modified cars built and sold by MG Cars to mainly dealer-sponsored teams. In contrast, the proposals for the Club championship were for a two-discipline series of speed events and races aimed to appeal to the novice driver competing in showroom

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By Peter Browning

specification cars. The series was to be called the MGF Abingdon Trophy. Both series were launched at the London Motor Show in October 1997. Inevitably, the more exciting MGF Cup scooped most of the publicity within the MG Cars presentation, and the Abingdon Trophy tended to be somewhat side-lined. There was also considerable confusion between the two championships, which had to be overcome with some keen promotion through the winter within Club motorsport circles. With the start of the 1998 season there was keen interest in the speed event discipline, with a group of novice drivers enthusiastically experiencing their first attempts at sprints and hill climbs around the country The attraction, and the key objective of the series, was that it was possible to compete with your everyday road car with only minor and inexpensive safety modifications. Support for the race discipline was, however, slower to materialise. One of the main hang-ups was the requirement that

MGFs assemble at the Prescott Paddock in 1998. Photo: Peter Browning

the cars had to be fitted with a roll-over bar. The first design was an adaptation of the roll-bar used for the MGF Cup but this proved very difficult to fit into the standard car. Thus a special design had to be

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COMPETITIONS commissioned which attached to higher mounting points behind the seats. While this worked well, it was then found that with the roll-cage in position it was not possible to use the standard hood, nor could the standard hardtop be used. The only alternative was the exorbitantly expensive sports hardtop sold by Rover. The 1998 racing discipline, therefore, got off to a slow start and through the season MGF grids were combined with one of the regular Club race championships. The racing within the group, however, was very competitive and the cars proved safe, reliable and fun to drive. Overall Championship winner was John Dignan, driving a 1.8i against mostly WC engined cars. John was a worthy winner, being unbeatable in sprints, hill climbs and on the race track. Into the 1999 season, again the speed discipline was well supported; indeed problems arose when several events could not accommodate all of the MGF entries. The race grids were slowly improving as more and cheaper second-hand cars came onto the market, which people were prepared to modify for competition. The MGF Abingdon Trophy achieved its objective of introducing novice competitors to the sport at comparatively low cost. Above all, firm foundations had been laid for the future of the MGF in club motorsport.

Lloyd Tredell sprinting his MGF in the Abingdon Trophy back in the late 90s. Photo: Peter Browning

MGFs fill the paddock at Ty Croes in 1998. Photo: Peter Browning

(L-R) John Thomas, John Dignan, Graeme Bishko and Carol Bloomfield, pictured at the Pestalozzi Hillclimb in 1998

Olsson (106) and Dignan (102) battle it out in the 1998 Abingdon Trophy round at Silverstone. Photo: Eric Metcalfe

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www.mgcc.co.uk

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MGs ON TRACK

MG on track

Duncan Wood duncanw@mgs-on-track.com

COCKEYED OPTIMISM?

ne of the problems of writing these monthly reports for Safety Fast! is that in the weeks that pass between my penning of the words and the magazine dropping through your letterbox, fate will have stepped in and rendered at least some of my article misleading, and bits of it downright untruthful! Despite my broadly positive thoughts on the MGoT year just gone, back in Decemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition, in an imaginative twist that 2020 reserved until its final month our Brands Hatch event was abandoned due to the thickest of fogs wreathing the circuit, the lack of forwards vision seeming an apt analogy for the year and a belated instance of defeat snatched from the jaws of victory! However, despite the foregoing, and despite the introduction of the third national lockdown, and despite the widely held but mistaken belief that with age comes wisdom, I am still willing to give hope one more chance over experience and predict another great year in prospect for our track days. So, with the obvious proviso that U-turns are not without precedent and that things might change with little warning, let me offer an optimistic outline of where we stand at this moment of writing in early January. The big news is that we now have a confirmed date in March for Silverstone and will be using the full Arena GP circuit as endorsed by Sir Lewis himself. Befitting the general age of our cars and that of most of

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our members, we will be operating from the Heritage pits rather than the Wing Complex, but otherwise drivers will be able to relive the full British GP experience as seen twice on TV this year! The track is fully 3.66 miles in length and offers plenty of opportunity to stretch the legs of the most powerful cars, whilst still presenting some real technical challenges, particularly in the eponymous Arena section. Ensuring that we could proceed with this event, we are pleased to have the support of our partnering clubs Lotus on Track and Project 8 which will each be taking one of the 20-minute sessions in every hour. We will have 45 MGoT places in our dedicated session and, if there are no stoppages, everyone should get over two hours of running; this is more than even the F1 drivers do on race day, but our members are made of sterner stuff! Regrettably, we cannot allow first-time track day participants onto this event due to a requirement of our contract with Silverstone. As mentioned last month, the scheduling of Silverstone means that the previously listed Bedford Autodrome event will no longer take place, but hopefully we will be able to make our return there before too long. We are yet to receive final confirmation from MSV for our requested dates at Cadwell Park, Snetterton, Donington Park and Brands, but hopefully these will be firm soon. Once these events are confirmed we

would hope to arrange further track days at Blyton Park and possibly Mallory Park, plus our North Weald experience day which is aimed specifically at newcomers. As well as Silverstone the dates for both Goodwood days, Anglesey, and both Castle Combe events are definite, but regulars might like to note that the second Castle Combe will be on a Wednesday unlike the more usual Monday. It is more important than ever that members check our website regularly both for news on the opening of booking and for updates. We are all familiar with the concepts of social bubbles, household groups, etc, and hopefully our event information will be clear on how those affect the participation of second drivers, passengers and spectators; if in any doubt members should contact the event manager for clarification. Unfortunately, we are unlikely to be offering either in-car instruction or helmet rental until the latter half of the year at the earliest. The aim of MGs on Track has always been to offer fun, sociable and, above all, safe track days for MG drivers. In these Covid times safety has clearly gained an extra dimension, but with most of the pre-event formalities and briefings moved online, and with the many additional precautions put in place at the circuits, members can be assured that our aims are still metâ&#x20AC;Ś Fun, Sociable (at a distance!), and Safe.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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MGS ON TRACK – 2021 CALENDAR

MGCC MGCCSPEED SPEEDCHAMPIONSHIPS CHAMPIONSHIP

Please visit www.mgs-on-track.com to register, check availability, or to book a track day.

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

Registered members will receive regular newsletters and notification of event opening dates.

Goodwood – February 20 Take a step back in time with the first of two visits to this atmospheric venue, including one dedicated session for the Triple M Group.

Silverstone – March 22 A welcome opportunity to experience the full GP Circuit.

Cadwell Park – April 12 A twisty and hugely scenic circuit in the Lincolnshire Wolds.

Snetterton 300 – May 17 A fast and open track; long straights combined with a challenging infield section.

Castle Combe – June 21 The first of two annual visits to this very friendly circuit in Wiltshire.

Anglesey – August 9 Experience this challenging circuit on a day shared with the Lotus 7 Club.

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!

www.mgcc.co.uk

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Richard Atkins leaving the line at Prescott in 2013

uring the present lifestyle hiatus, it becomes increasingly difficult to find something to write about that is relevant. After all, as the dayto-day news gets more dire and confusing one is constantly feeling that any speculation as to future events may well be totally redundant by the date of publication. As such, I am tempted to temporarily change the title of this article to ‘Old Racer’s Ramblings’. Having been around the championship from the beginning, both as a competitor and scribe, I find myself looking back at the years and remembering competitors and cars that were a big part of the scene for a time and then disappeared. Some of them, of course, moved on to circuit racing, many of them competing in our own Cockshoot Cup series where many of the regulars are Speed Championship old boys/girls. Many of our readers may not know that back in the day the Cockshoot was a multidiscipline series and to qualify, competitors had to enter a number of speed events to count towards their ultimate score. To that end, our class structure used to include a number of Cockshoot-specific classes as the modification level sometimes differed between the two entities. Indeed, our current road modified ‘A’ or group 2 classes evolved from what was known as the, ‘Cockshoot Standard’ class which allowed limited modifications and tyre choices.

In the 80s the entries were dominated by Midgets and MGBs with occasional appearances from square riggers, MGAs, MGCs, 1100s and Maestro/Montego variants. At that time you could count on a significant number of Midgets and Bs in each modification level at any given event and as such, class awards could be acquired by beating a similar car on the day. However, along came the MG Rover group and we were inundated with a number of Rovers and their MG equivalent, and ultimately the mid-engined Fs and TFs. As a result, the class definitions became less clear and a new system of scoring had to be found. To that end, my predecessor Lawrie Brown was pressed into service as co-ordinator and he and the committee set about the mammoth task of devising a scoring system which would give all models an equal chance based on their performance. We eventually settled on a system based on performance as a percentage of a target time for any given model in any level of modification. This target time was based on the previous year’s record at each and every venue. This system is still in use with slight tweaks along the way. It goes without saying that for the first few years anomalies did show up but eventually we accumulated sufficient data which is now producing, year by year, worthy winners based on their performance. FEBRUARY 2021 SAFETY FAST! 73

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OVERSEAS REVIEW

s someone once said, an optimist begins a crossword puzzle with a fountain pen. I’m not that good at crosswords, but am making diary entries for MG Car Club events for this year in ink, in the hope that most will go ahead, and with the determined aim of attending all that I possibly can. Last year was disappointing and we very much missed days spent in our MGA, in the company of friends. Our Christmas family gathering was via Zoom, and the lack of personal contacts is beginning to take its toll on my (normally) good humour. Luckily, I have magazines from around the MG world, to cheer me up, and the first this month is the August 2020 issue of Forever Young,, from the South Cape Centre, South Africa. It’s their fifth lockdown issue, and their Chairman discussed the current local Covid-19 restrictions and, whilst considering what might be possible, urged members to be cautious. The Editor followed a similar theme in his piece. It was heartening to read a letter of thanks for a contribution to the work of the Rotary Club Covid-19 Committee, demonstrating once again, the generosity of spirit which exists within our club. I enjoyed the item on the restoration of a 1959 MGA Twin Cam Roadster, and appreciated the advice on the correct use of a manual choke, pointing out that incorrect use can contaminate engine oil. A schedule of possible late-year events was included (I hope they took place), together with available regalia items, cars and parts for sale, and details of local specialist services. Further back in time, MG HERITAGE, from France included an item on MGLive! 2018, and a very detailed piece on the K Series engine, which many owners would find most useful. There was a cheering list of future events, and an extensive article on the career of George Eyston and his many successes in MG cars. The item included a comparison of the contemporary Vane and Rotor superchargers, which, in this age of turbochargers, many would find intriguing. I particularly 74 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

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A look through a few of the overseas magazines we receive at Kimber House reviewed by Peter Stevens

enjoyed the details of an MGA Roadster restoration, the comparisons between TD and TF Models, and the information on the MGA Twin Cam, re-bodied by DN Stephenson, as a coupé. Beauty in the eye of the beholder, perhaps?

In THE CANTERBURY MaG, from New Zealand, the editor commented on the very low mileage his MGA had covered in the past year and I suspect he will not be the only one these days. The interview with a married couple whose parents were both keen club members and who met through MG connections was interesting, as was the 50th Anniversary Tour report, and the Annual Awards event. Clearly enthusiasts having fun. I was fascinated by the article by Peter Cook, on Cecil Kimber’s collection of 78rpm records. I’d quite forgotten how relatively fragile they were, and remember breaking some of those which I inherited, when a small boy. A thought-provoking insight into the character of a very dynamic man. Several event reports rounded off a most enjoyable read. One of the items passed to me for review was a calendar from the MG Car

Club Deutschland e.v. in which each month had a superb photograph. I was relieved to see that it’s not only in the UK that it rains on MGs. G-TORQUE from Geelong, Australia, included an appreciation of the life of recently deceased, Joy Rainey, about whom I’ve read much over many years. Clearly a very talented and inspirational lady, with remarkable driving abilities. The magazine included a number of event reports, details from the Presentation Lunch, at which awards were given, and a member profile of Mandy Fisher, a successful businesswoman, pilot and MG enthusiast. A “Handy Hint” regarding ignition points lubrication, cars and spares for sale, and regalia on offer, were also good to see.

My final read was MG-Nieuws, from Holland, in which there was an item on an MGB V8 prototype and a report on a journey around the north coast of Scotland, made by five MGBs. One of the accompanying pictures showed an AA van in attendance, which I hope was for only a minor issue. Other event reports showed many smiling faces, and the article on the functioning of MGF suspension looked very detailed and informative. As I write this review we are probably all having to cope with Covid-19 related restrictions, and hoping for happier times to come. I really hope they do. Finally, a motoring enthusiast friend has told me of a satnav upgrade for old chaps like me. Apparently, it will not only tell me how to get to my chosen destination, but also remind me why I wanted to go there. Is he trying to tell me something?

www.mgcc.co.uk

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e ite - Typ s b we nd T d e a t ica e MG m d e D r th .commg.co g y fo xpagm xpag l l a @ ci w. spe ww ingdon b il: a a Em

NO PART OF THIS ARTWORK MAY BE REPRODUCED, STORED OR OTHERWISE All restoration work USED BY ANY OTHER PUBLICATION UNLESS PRIOR PERMISSION IS GIVEN BY undertaken THE PUBLISHERS - © MS Publications (2001) Ltd. Engine refurbishment including lead-free conversions

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F C AN OLL REE D EC DE TI LIV ON ER Y

Thank you to all our customers for their ongoing support. Classic & Sports Cars Essex – open for business I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each and every one of you who contacted us last year. It has helped us remain open, keep MG’s active and provide you with the service we always have. To repay your continued support, I will be extending our free collection and delivery service this year. If you would like to reserve a space for big or small jobs, I will be very happy to hear from you. We celebrated our 10th anniversary last year and still managed to do it in style, with a workshop full of wonderful MG’s! Kindest and warmest regards,

Jason

View all our work at www.xpagmg.com

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CENTRES ABINGDON WORKS Richard Martin sfscribe@mgabingdon.org.uk www.mgabingdon.co.uk Normally, if you can recall ‘normal’, I’d be talking of events coming up in the next few weeks, but, as we all know only too well, these are not normal times. Whilst the Centre does have a framework of events for 2021 it’s impossible at present to say with any degree of certainty that these will take place. We had planned to hold our AGM at the end of February, but we’ve decided to put that on hold, so keep an eye open in a future Safety Fast! for when that will take place. Increasingly, we’re all relying on electronic communication to keep in touch and this is looking likely to continue for some time to come. With this in mind, please can you make sure that we, the Centre, have your latest email address. Just before Christmas, I circulated a Christmas message using the email address list which we have recorded; did you receive it? If not, could it be that we don’t have your current email address? I know a lot of you did receive it and I very much appreciated the

ANGLIA Rob Muir 01206 862619 scribe@mgccanglia.com www.mgccanglia.com Roger Latham As I write these notes, Roger Latham, our Anglia Centre President and one of the founding members of the Centre, will be celebrating a milestone Birthday. Apart from all of us wishing him a Happy Birthday with many happy returns, I thought that I would look back to the Anglia Centre Safety Fast! Notes of June 1982, when the Centre came into being. At the first meeting, which was held at The Kings Arms near Clacton, Founding Fathers Roger, Peter Best and David Saunders were in attendance. One of the other early members, Phil Thompson, wrote the notes for June 1982 and interesting reading they make. The notes open with an announcement of a new Natter (now known as a Club Meet) opening at the Rushbrooke Arms near Bury St Edmunds. Nowadays this would be classed as the MidSuffolk area of our region, and is catered for by one of the Anglia region’s most popular Club 78 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

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replies I received; however, I also received a lot of ‘bounce backs’. If you’ve recently changed your email address or are not sure that we have your correct one, please drop a message to chairman@ mgabingdon.org.uk and I’ll ensure that our (and the main Club’s) records are up-to-date. With the ever-changing circumstances in which we currently live, when we are in a position to arrange events, we’d like to get the information out as quickly as we can. Our hard-working Webmaster and Newsletter editor will also try to keep abreast of events, so keep an eye on those as well. For this month’s photos it’s the ladies’ turn to take centre stage. From 2004 it’s the Midgets of Sophy Bassett (Damask) and Janine Pratt (Green) in action and from 2008 the Charlton’s MGB with Heather at the wheel partnered by Linda Thomas.

Meets held at The Lion, Needham Market, and hosted by John Cumming and Graham Wills. It goes on to say “Dave Saunders and his merry band of members at The Milton Natter, have been invited along to the launch of the new MG Metro at Marshalls of Cambridge” and asked to provide a display of members’ MG cars for the event. The White Horse at Milton is still run as a successful Club Meet (née Natter) hosted by Alan Yeo. Alan was another of the original members of the Anglia Centre. Other upcoming events are mentioned, such as The Balsham Weekend with camping, Driving Tests (now called Autotests) and the Anglia Concours, plus The Tour of Lincs. Then he says that the Danbury Natter will be organising their weekend including a barbeque at Gosfield Lake (near Braintree) in deepest Essex. Interesting to note that the telephone number to book for this one is Danbury 4311 – no six-figure telephone numbers plus dialling codes needed in those days. Phil concludes the notes saying: “Anyone attending Silverstone with a CB, give out a call for the Essex Bandit and we’ll have a ratchet! Channel 33!” (A translation may be needed for this one for younger members and for those of us who have

Welcome to all our new members whom we look forward to meeting somewhere, sometime, in what we hope is the not-too-distant future.

fading memories! CB, Citizens Band short wave radio, no mobile phones back then. Essex Bandit, Phil’s ‘Handle’ or CB callsign and, have a ratchet, a chat on radio channel 33.) All that remains is to thank Roger for his hard work over the years, which has helped make the Anglia Centre what it is today and to say that we look forward to having him as our President for may years to come. The photograph this month was taken at one of Roger’s ever popular, traditional Anglia Picnic’s, which is again planned to run this year on June 27 visiting Holkham Hall Stop Press announcement by MG Car Club Directors. Roger has just been awarded the club’s prestigious Marque of Friendship Trophy for his dedication to the Anglia Centre, well done Roger, fantastic

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CENTRES CALEDONIAN Bob MacGillivray 07870 407111 mgcarsscotland@gmail.com www.mgcaledonian.com The other day I took a quick glance back to the Notes for February 2020; what a difference a year has made! As I write this in January, another lockdown has just been announced and already two events have been cancelled. I suspect that the after-effects of lockdown will affect us for a good part of this year! Shows normally feature prominently on our annual calendar and at the moment all may still go ahead. When we have clarification and open entries please assist by getting entries in quickly as this makes a big difference in planning. Keep an eye on the website and emails. In connection with shows, 2021 is the 60th anniversary of the modern Midget and the postponed 25th anniversary of the MGF. We may decide to mark these anniversaries at our shows, but do we have any 1961 Midgets or 1995 MGFs in the Centre? Please get in touch if you have one.

DEVON & CORNWALL Young Janner II bobslatter@hotmail.com www.mgcc.co.uk/devon-cornwall-centre What a way to start a New Year with another lockdown, just when we were hoping to get back to some sort of normality and be able to safely drive our cars to a Natter or similar. I hope you are all keeping safe, as a large number of our members are within the vulnerable groups for one reason or another. I must now apologise to you for a mistake I made in last month’s notes. The picture of the

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Separately, I wonder what the oldest MG is in the Centre. I suspect it will be an M type, as to my knowledge there are no earlier vintagetype MGs north of the border. Am I wrong? And if it is an M type, how many do we have? One in Orkney, one in a museum, one in Aberdeenshire, and my example, is that it? A few people have emailed to enquire about Happier Days, Dreadnought 2012 the Jim Clark Trail event postponed from May last year until July this year. me know and I will send you one. Already I This is still on the calendar and we would expect to have received an article for use in the next issue have more information by March/April as to what the and if any of you would like to try your hand at arrangements will be. We will then email all those authoring then get in touch and we can discuss. who have carried their 2020 entries forward and Could be the start of a whole new career! post more information on the website, etc. That is all for this month, but as things change rapidly keep your eyes on the website, our You should all have received your copy of FB page, and emails. And stay safe! the 2021 Newsletter. If you have not, then let

M-Types celebrating their 90th Birthday was at the Classic Vehicle Gathering at Powderham Castle, near Exeter, which is organised by the Crash Box and Classic Car Club of Devon, not as stated. I know a lot of our members belong to both the MGCC and Crash Box Clubs. I hope that the excellent newsletters edited by Ted Lawrence have kept all of you in touch with the Centre and that you are not forgotten in these strange times. I have also been forwarding the newsletter from Kimber House for those not on the direct mailing list to keep you informed with interesting interviews, etc, included in them as extras to the contents of your monthly Safety Fast!

Ted has asked about members having interests outside of the MGCC, so to add a new dimension to the newsletter, would you like to prepare a short article about your other hobbies and interests that you have been following during these difficult times. Photographs would also be welcome. Also reports and pictures of past events that may interest members can be included in ‘Blast from the Past’. Whilst on the subject of emailing information to members, can I make my usual plea to let me know your current email address if you are not receiving these communications, as I still get about 10% of emails returned as undeliverable due to incorrect addresses. Please keep an eye on the Centre’s website as above, and the Facebook and Twitter pages for any news we may have about future events, as soon as it is safely possible to organise something of at least a social nature. This month’s photo is a reminder of what members and friends look like at the Centre Spring Gathering of 2019 at the Shillingford Bridge Hotel near Abingdon.

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CENTRES LINCOLNSHIRE IAN MACKENZIE 01529 497849 MaccaV8@aol.com www.mgcclincolnshire.co.uk Well, at least we didn’t lose any runners or riders on New Year’s Day – that’s the benefit of a shielded digital run around the marvellous Lincolnshire countryside. Thank heavens for Google Maps Street View. And it doesn’t even matter which route you choose, you’re always home in time for tea (we took an easterly route, skirted the Wash and finished up at dear old Skeg). Then straight into the lounge for port and cheese & biscuits. (And the weather was great!) Also fab was the news from Geoff and Vicki Edge that their White Hart MGF/TF Natter raised £159.30 for the Lincolnshire Air Ambulance last year. Considering that they were only able to hold two natters during the year, that’s a brilliant result. Well done all! As our events have again been curtailed in the short term, your Committee still hopes to run a full programme of events for 2021, including

MIDLANDS Tony Lake tonylake134@hotmail.co.uk Website: www.mgccmidlandcentre.co.uk Midland Centre Facebook: @mgccmidlandcentre Forgive these ramblings and my opinions but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to report on events that haven’t happened. At the moment Zoom reigns supreme; the committee continue to peer at each other through a screen once a month and have finalised plans for 2021 that will whet the appetite of stranded Club members who can only do the same as us and wait for the lights to change to green. Of course it isn’t really Zoom; if it were, I’d be able to read the book titles on the shelves behind their heads. Mind, some of the backgrounds are quite stimulating, a view of the Rhine one month, then outer space, next month a shot of the starting grid at grand prix, another one with a collage of classic cars. How do they do that? I can’t even book a decorator. The Kimber House podcasts have been excellent and a welcome insight into topics that benefit from a conversation rather than a diatribe 80 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

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a ‘Drive It Day’ on Sunday April 25, and a series of Autotests. We await the go-ahead from Boris before we launch. We fully intend to hold an AGM when possible – it won’t be around the usual anniversary date in March (for obvious reasons) but we’ll keep you all posted through these notes, email and jungle telegraph. Watch these spaces... If you’d like to get involved on the Committee,

feel free to contact our Hon. Secretary Sue on MaccaV8@gmail.com, as we’ll be looking for all the help we can get. Roll on a healthy 2021. To this month’s picture: How many faces do you recognise from our 2005 New Year’s Day Run? Hopefully we’ll be able to meet up again soon and take similar photos.

in print. Maybe that is the future for these columns, perhaps a blog of a committee meeting. Answers on a new expensive postage stamp, but nothing that you wouldn’t want Mum to read. When things were normal, years ago, we did a cruise. At dinner on the first night I sat next to a lovely old boy. We reminisced Visit the Midland Centre website for all the latest Centre news about all sorts and got round to the season, reckon Mercedes would scoop that cars, but he couldn’t drive, asked him why. “I’ve as well. MotoGP has been most exciting, ﬂag to got something,” says he. He turned to his wife ﬂag close racing and the whole field over the line and said: “I know I can’t drive, but what have I about 20 seconds after the winner, and the 250s, got?” Without a break from her conversation she like the 125s they replaced, well anybody has said: “Short term memory loss!” been able to throw a blanket over the first 10 for Elite sport has been a mixed bag. Rugby decades, fantastic stuff. Union obsession with box kicks and Gary Owens The Zoom AGM held on January 21, has run is boring, France has got two world-class teams, its course and an exciting 2021 events calendar watch out Eddie! But I’ve also seen some sublime is available to download in glorious technicolour, one-touch Soccer recently. In F1 after the first or in black and white if you’re a silent movie corner hiatus and the stewards’ impenetrable rule buff. Go to our revitalised website www. book assigns the drive throughs, the high-speed mgccmidlandcentre.co.uk follow-my-leader yawn has been predictable. Now Be good to see you all again soon, on as needs a prize for the most heartbreaking safety many occasions as you can fit in. car-induced pit lane or tyre change cock-up of www.mgcc.co.uk

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CENTRES NORTH WEST Paul Goodman 01625 876300 www.mgcc.co.uk/north-west-centre Lockdown mark three means that there are unlikely to be any events to attend in February. The Centre had been hoping to visit some pubs for lunch but until they can re-open this is not going to be possible. It has been heartening to see that we have gained a significant number of new members during the last 12 months and that some who are longer serving have been able to finish their car projects with a view to attending events when that becomes possible. For the benefit of these members, this month’s column summarises what the Centre organises and how you can get involved. First is the Cockshoot Cup Race Championship. This has been run every year since 1984. The cars on the grid used to be MGBs and Midgets, but the more modern ZRs, ZSs, and MGFs are now in the majority. The cars run in four classes, three for modified, road modified and standard classes and the fourth for standard MGFs and TFs. Participating in racing is not cheap, but the

SOUTH EAST Ray Ruffels and William Opie raywillmg@gmail.com www.mgccse.co.uk We hope that members are well in these difficult times and the calendar of events can be enjoyed rather more this year than the last one! Centre History Our Centre is steeped in history and evolved out of the 1939 AGM meeting of the Main Centre which evolved into the Southern Centre and then subsequently the South East Centre we know today. The first activity was in July 1939, the

Plough and Flail Concours in 2019, June 15 is the Date for 2021. Photo: Paul Goodman

Cockshoot provides genuine low-cost competition. The first races of the year are scheduled for Silverstone on March 20 with the next being at Oulton Park on May 22. Second is the Speed Championship. Hillclimbs and sprints involve cars being driven on tarmac roads against the clock. The fastest driver wins, as simple as that. Each competitor is given several attempts during the day. There are different classes based on modification and engine size. Newcomers are very welcome. For standard cars made after 2000 with an engine below 2000cc the driver only needs a licence from Motorsport UK and a crash helmet to compete. Many cars are driven to the circuit, although the very quick, modified cars tend to arrive on trailers. The Championship runs at many venues

across the country with national, northern, and southern awards. Helpers are always needed to run these events, with the Centre running the Anglesey Sprint Weekend on May 1 and 2, and Scammonden Dam Hillclimb on May 16. Thirdly, the Centre provides opportunities to meet fellow enthusiasts at regular monthly meetings. These are often in the evening, but in normal times a monthly lunchtime gathering has always been well attended. An extension of this activity is having stands at outdoor car shows. Sadly, there are no longer any indoor events in our region, but shows such as Tatton Park and Lymm enable us to promote the Club and show off our cars to the public. The best way to keep up with these happenings is via the Centre website www.mgcc. co.uk/north-west-centre

Surrey Master Run starting at the Talbot at Ripley, which was used for many years for meetings. Post war, the Natters grew and by the 50s it also organised two 300-mile rallies a year, one of which was used as a warm-up event for BMC teams competing in the Rome-Liege-Rome rally. Importantly, the Centre was responsible in 1951 for the organisation of the first race meeting at Silverstone. Brands Hatch was also utilised and in 1975 hosted “Golden Brands’ in celebration of the MG Jubilee event. William and Dianne Opie were tunnel marshals at this event and remember on track seeing George Eyston, Paddy Hopkirk, plus more MG royalty! I am sure others will remember this event, too. We are indebted to the late Piers

Hubbard for providing this history. The reason for going back is that an interesting silver cup appeared on ebay, posted on the Centre The mystery of the Facebook page by David Carissima cup! See notes Coulthard. It is engraved ‘MG CC South-East Centre The Carissima Cup’, solid silver and described as dating from 1928, so this could be the hallmark date as the Club was not even formed then! We are pleased to advise the Centre has now acquired this cup, so if anyone knows anything about the history of the Carissima Cup please let us know -raywillmg@gmail.com Events Owing to current restrictions the postponed Valentine Run on February 14, for SE members, will now be a ‘Love your MG’ photo competition. The Spring Naviscat at the Buxted Park Hotel, Uckfield, is planned for Sunday March 28, Covid permitting. For further details on the above and all event statuses see - www.mgccse.co.uk

A major SE Centre event at Hucking Kent in the 70s

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CENTRES SOUTH WEST David Mothersdill davidmothersdill@aol.com website http://www.mgccsw.com/ Facebook www.facebook.com/MGCCSW Twitter @mgccsw Normally at this time of year our full callendar would have been published and everyone would be gearing up for the annual Dinner. Alas, we are still in lockdown and prospects for future enjoyment are limited. We will be holding our AGM via Zoom on March 1. There is little to report as we only held one event in 2020, but this will be an opportunity to find out what may or may not be possible for 2021. To get an invite to join the meeting please contact Jim Lott – chairman@mgccsw.com As always, we welcome any input or ideas from anyone to contribute towards the running of the Centre, and any volunteers to join the committee are also very welcome. We have provisional dates for some events during the year, the first being MGs on Grass on April 24. It depends on rules and regulations whether this can go ahead; we will endeavour to

TYNE-TEES Tony Wood anthony@scrutonvillage.co.uk Cometh the hour cometh the AGM, or in this case cometh the virtual AGM which will take place on March 4 at 8.00pm via the miracle of Zoom. Our AGM is normally the best attended of our monthly gatherings due, I suspect, in no small part to the combination of being able to buttonhole the committee and the free buffet which we normally provide. This year no free buffet, how will that affect attendance? We can only wait and see. Seriously, the AGM is important to us all, your feedback is always encouraged and appreciated, nobody gets it right all the time and another perspective is always a good thing, even if it sometimes leads to a bit of rapid self-assessment! This year we already know that there will be some changes to our structure as our long-serving Secretary, David Alexander, has indicated that he is stepping back from that role. David has been Secretary since 2013 and has been a stalwart member of the team, bringing a wealth of experience to the committee from his many years

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Mark Withers in his very smart 1972 Midget enjoying MGs on the Grass in 2014

keep the website up to date as the rules change. Visit www.mgccsw.com for the latest information. It’s hard to believe that 12 months ago life was fairly normal, the first lockdown being announced on March 16 2020. We have all endured hardship since then. I can only hope that vaccines will be effective and we can start to return to normal soon. I think it’s taught us not

to take things for granted, to enjoy every day and appreciate our health and good fortune. When events do restart please make every effort to support the Club and enjoy your cars you don’t know when the opportunity to use them may be curtailed again! Take care and hope to see you out and about soon!

of involvement with Club motorsport, both with MGCC and throughout the North East of England. He has been instrumental in setting up and running our Facebook page as well as being the leading light in activities north of the Tyne. It is with genuine regret that we will see him cease from being Secretary but equally genuine pleasure (and relief) that he is willing to continue both on the Committee and with Coffee and Cars at Allendale Tea Rooms, October 17 2018 his non-secretarial input. As usual, we will have vacancies on the agreement that all our main (MSA permit) events Committee and if anyone feels they would like to should be run electronically in the future, no paper join please contact David, Noel or myself. It is not entry forms, no cheques, etc. This has been partly onerous, especially now we are embracing virtual forced on us (it is currently a requirement for the meetings, so please consider it. granting of an MSA permit) but we also recognise that we are in the electronic age and should For those of you who aren’t able to Zoom but embrace technology where it helps, and it will want to make an observation, suggestion or just have certainly help the event organisers. We appreciate a grump, please send your comments to the secretary that this may not be ideal for everyone and I in advance of the meeting so that they can be would like to hear from you at the AGM or by your discussed, lauded, or mysteriously muted! I say this preferred contact method if you feel that this is with a certain degree of calm, as in my experience going to hinder your enjoyment of the Club, which bad news always travels faster than good. is the last thing we want. We will always find a One of David’s recent secretarial activities has way to be inclusive to all whatever their level of been to adapt an all-electronic entry system which electronic engagement. will simplify all our events. The Committee are in

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CENTRES YORKSHIRE Ken Cothliff kencothliff@hotmail.co.uk https://mgccyorkshire.co.uk Well, I think you will all agree 2020 was a rubbish year, and one to forget. With all the runs being cancelled we are now looking to see if we can go ahead in 2021. The South Natter are considering the Daffodil Run and the Vale of York are looking at a Heartbeat Run. By the time you read this at the end of January, we will have some idea how the vaccination programme is going for making plans for the spring. My personal feeling is we will still be under some restrictions, and runs may have to be put back towards the later part of the year. To some good news, South Natter’s entry for the photographic competition made it to the final ten, reproduced here, and Vale of York’s to the preliminary selection published in Safety Fast! As I write this, winter has moved in with the first snow falls, and appropriate traffic advisories on the radio. So to cheer you up, some summer photos remembering brighter times.

Enjoying the stunning scenery during the 2019 Dales Run

Photographic competition entry, the 2019 start of the Daffodil Run

Top down Midget motoring during the 2019 Dales Run

ULSTER Carol Willis 07831 345560 www.mgcculstercentre.co.uk carol.mgulster@hotmail.co.uk The beginning of 2021 doesn’t appear to have much promise for us to run our core events, eg, Derek Walker, Ulster Classic Trial and the PCTs but we will endeavour to continue with the socially distanced picnic runs which proved to be popular and successful in the of e Garth’s joy l! al that smile, th latter part of last year. Just look at loved MGB V8 - Says it cing his be We would be delighted if ra you could send us in photographs especially those telling the story of your MG improvements and activity over the past 12 months. A few photos of times past to bring back memories:

Our President, Mike Armstrong in his

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Lining up to start a Boyd’s quarry test on the DWT

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REGISTERS VINTAGE Rob Constant rob@littleabingdon.co.uk www.mgcc.co.uk/vintage-register/ Welcome to the February Vintage Register notes! As I write this, we are once again in national lockdown and we hope and trust that you are all keeping safe and avoiding this terrible virus. Hope springs eternal, nevertheless, with the vaccination programme getting well underway. We must patiently await the time when we are all able to meet again in the ‘real’ world, rather than as it is so much at present - the ‘virtual’… However, it is from the ‘virtual’ that we bring

SVW Paul Campbell svw.safety.fast@gmail.com www.svwregister.co.uk When you read this, we will be well into the New Year and we hope you enjoyed the festivities despite the restrictions caused by Coronavirus. The various vaccines are being rolled out, the Brexit negotiations have come to a reasonable conclusion and the year ahead beyond Easter looks very promising. Owners will be champing at the bit to get out and about and the annual SVW event (postponed from last year) at Battle, East Sussex, in July will be top of the list for many. The 2021 (issue 30) edition of The SVW Review is being put together, again edited by Malcolm Robertson in Australia and printed in the UK. We would especially like more technical articles, so can we encourage you to write something up – please get in touch via the above email address in the first instance. If you are a supplier of parts or services for our cars you should consider advertising in The SVW Review, published each Spring. This is read by most owners of SVW cars as it goes out free to 86 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

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you this delight – a truly charming and interesting film from the 1934 Colmore Trial, shared on the Vintage Register Facebook page by our good friend and supporter Cathelijne Spoelstra. Search YouTube for ‘1934 Colmore Trial’, or, should you struggle to find the film, initially as I did, your diligence in carefully typing in the following address will be rewarded! www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Qaxp_bq_DGE&feature=youtu. be&fbclid=IwAR1xvjhBWYe3m-Q2tmEX7J3m5bjE XSpUjrwecFTOP_4f1VTCrhqJTiuCNdw In particular, one’s attention is drawn at 1 minute 25 to the car which has ‘come a cropper’ on a hill! Let the film play and then stop and restart! You will be at it several times over. It is none other than EX 1, 18/80 Mk I

prototype – by now registered JK 1110; a highly significant car. It is from experimentation with this device – its chassis believed to be basically a 14/40 adjusted to accept a JA six-cylinder engine -–that led MG to produce their first purposedesigned chassis. In order to comfortably accept the larger engine, in retrospect this signifies the ‘trigger-point’ for the long-line of MG chassis. It is, it could be observed, rather appropriate that the car is shown being pulled back on to the hill as the chassis is believed to have not handled at all well! Aside from this, the headlight arrangement, wings, sidelights, wheels, windscreen, dashboardand-all belie its experimental status, evolved a little through changes of ownership by 1934 – but the radiator is, however, instantly recognisable….! Enjoy.

all members of the MGCC who own an SVW MG and is bought by other owners (who choose to purchase a copy at a reduced price if pre-ordered before publication). The SVW Review remains on people’s shelves for many years as it makes great reference material going forward. When cars change hands, copies of The SVW Review often transfer to the new owners, or they buy bulk back-copies. Not only do advertisers appear in the Review, they also appear free on our website for the publication year. SVWs seem to be changing hands more often these days, perhaps because people are moving or seeing the SVW range as a good investment or perhaps selling because they seem to be achieving higher values than some other cars of the era. There is an indication that the market for cars of the 1920s and 30s has moved on and the younger generation hankers over things like the fast Fords of the 1960s-70s with most post-war cars still doing well. However, there is some evidence that high-end cars of the 1930s are increasing in value, together with any good-condition rarer models with sufficient power for modern-day driving. An SVW seems to tick all the boxes, as do many other MGs of the era. Better than money in the

banks, as they say! Having said that, most of us don’t only see ownership as an investment and would find it hard to part with our pride and joy whatever its value, despite our advancing years. The March edition of Safety Fast! will carry the SVW four-page spread. When you read this there’s still time to submit news, stories, technical material or perhaps simply a photo of your car. Here’s to a good MG year, anyway.

A peek at next month - garaging displaying more patina than the SA! www.mgcc.co.uk

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REGISTERS T TYPE Paul Plummer 01926 854574 scribe@tregister.org As I write these notes in early January it has just been announced that we are back in a full nationwide lockdown; however at the same time the vaccination programme is being rolled out and let us hope this will be effective against the virus. I feel that it is likely to be early summer before we see the benefits of this and things can begin to get back to normal, whatever that transpires to be. Your committee held its second virtual meeting on Sunday January 3, where the main topics were the upcoming (or not!) Spares Day and Rebuild Seminar, how we might stage events live or virtual and how to communicate with the membership. The provision of a Specials database, Heritage Certificates and the future of T Type racing were also discussed. I note that several other motoring-themed events planned for the early part of this new year have now been cancelled yet again, which leads into our own events.

Y TYPE Jerry Birkbeck 01926 258691 Mob: 07855 566325 birkbeckjerry@gmail.com www.mgccyregister.co.uk Hopefully, this year will bring changes for the better, although life has taught me that promises made by senior figures in life need to be taken with sensible reservations. Undoubtedly, the development of a vaccine will help, although its roll-out will take time and I really do hope that frontline NHS workers are immunised first. We will see! Events Last year was a washout with hardly any events happening at a national level. I attended the MG & Triumph Day at Stoneleigh in January and the MGCC 90th Anniversary event at Gaydon in September. Both were inevitably very different in character and numbers present, for obvious reasons. There were several local gatherings arranged by a variety of organisations – and some were more successful than others. One has to admire the resourcefulness of the individuals who went out of their way to put such events on. www.mgcc.co.uk

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MG Spares Day at Telford At the time of writing, the organiser’s website indicates that this event is going ahead on the revised date of Sunday April 18; however the T Register has decided not to exhibit at this show. T Register Spring Tour, April 26-30 Again, at the time of writing this tour is scheduled to go ahead, and the arrangement that we have with the hotel allows us to cancel with no penalties. The situation is being closely monitored by the organisers who will keep us informed as things develop. The photo gives you a taster of what to expect, this being the T Register Spring Tour to the Ardennes in 2008.

Rebuild Seminar, April A decision was taken at the recent committee meeting to cancel this event and provide a similar event sometime in the autumn. New Material During these challenging times when there are no events to report upon, copy is difficult to obtain and interesting stories are few and far between. If you have any adventures in your T type, heroic restorations or other stories please contact your scribe as above.

T Register Autumn Tour, September 10-13 This is the re-scheduled 2020 event which hopefully will be visiting parts of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire and the Malvern Hills, but who knows what September will bring? Watch this space!

Some were frustrated by the introduction of the Tier systems which often brought in draconian changes with just 48 hours notice. How will we fare this year? Hopefully by April the country will return to a sense of some kind of ‘normality’, though I suspect that that will still be very different from what was an everyday picture just 12 months ago. The Register’s first event will be the Spring Weekend which will be held at Middle Aston House in Oxfordshire in early May 2021. This was booked last year by Chris and Annette and obviously had to be cancelled because of the pandemic. The booking has been transferred to this year and will be an occasion for many of us to meet up. Contact Chris: chrismgabingdon@yahoo. co.uk for up to date details. Chris has also arranged for us to go to Llanerchindda, which is near to Llandovery. The dates for 2020 were at the beginning of September. Chris will provide more detail. What have we done to our Ys One of the positive side effects of lockdown (if that is a correct phrase!) has been the attention and rebuilding of our beloved cars.

From completion of total restorations through to attention to those small fiddly jobs that somehow have been delayed as the cars have been in regular use. It will be fascinating to see the outcome of this work when we all meet up. Until next month, stay safe and I look forward to meeting you all very soon. The photo was taken at the MG Day Stoneleigh in February 1998. We owned the car from 1992 until late ‘98. It was sold for £5750.00 and is now in Malta. The replacement was a TA... sorry Y owners, and was joined by the YT in 2009. The TA was replaced with an MGA which itself was replaced with the TC. I wish I could have afforded to keep the A as well! FEBRUARY 2021 SAFETY FAST! 87

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REGISTERS MAGNETTE Stephen Tickell 01737 760330 stephen.tickell@gmail.com www.magnette.org After finishing the January newsletter I had a further mail from Loz Scott in Geelong about my featured photo from the Register archive with the caption ‘ZA in the Australian Outback 1961’. Following up the idea that the car might not in fact be Australian, Loz had spoken to fellow Car Club member Robert Hyland, originally from South Africa, who confirmed the registration would be consistent with a car of that period from Durban. Safety Fast! reader Simon Cauthery then wrote independently to corroborate this, and suggested the two windscreen discs could in fact be for tax and insurance rather than rallying. That may be as far as we can go with the detective work, but I’d be delighted to be proved

MGA Edward Vandyk 01488 608810 mgascribe@vandyk.co.uk The MGA Register 50th Anniversary book Less than 20 copies of ‘The MGA Register – The First Fifty Years’ now remain available, so if you would like a copy please email mgaregistershop@ outlook.com MGA Register Spring Tour 2021 The Register’s ‘One Rally – Two Countries’ Spring Tour organised by Richard and Janet Day had already been postponed from 2020 to 2021 and given events at the turn of the year and subsequently the organisers, in consultation with the Committee, have concluded that there is insufficient certainty that the event can be run safely or satisfactorily in 2021 for a majority, let alone all, of the participants. The social and financial success of these events depends in large part in participation including particularly in the formal and informal social side. Accordingly, the decision has been made to cancel the event. All involved are obviously disappointed that the event will not go ahead and the Register Committee thanks Richard and Janet for their time and effort in planning this tour. The Grange Hotel has cancelled all relevant bookings and entry fees paid to the MGA Register should have been refunded during January. 88 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

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wrong. Certainly, several hundred Magnettes were exported to South Africa when new, mostly as complete knockdown kits (CKDs), and in fact nearly 20 are recorded in our website gallery (but none apparently matching the car in the photo). Peter Cadman We were saddened to hear of the death of Magnette owner Peter Cadman last October. With his fine black ZA he was a regular at Register events, attending for a number of years with his wife Patricia before she passed away. Living in the High Wycombe area, he continued to support Kop Hill Climb at Princes Risborough until 2019, and was always happy to chat around the Register gazebo there. After acquiring his Magnette in 1996, Peter, an experienced engineer, had carried out most of the work himself to bring it up to a high standard – it featured in more than one magazine photoshoot – and although he owned other MGs, he seemed to enjoy driving the Magnette most. MGA Register Events 2021 and beyond In anticipation of easier times ahead, preparations are advanced for events in 2022 and 2023 and venues have been identified and reserved. However uncertainty remains over what can safely be achieved in 2021, especially in the near term, bearing in mind the importance of the social interaction which our events engender. MGA Day 2021 should be on Sunday August 1 2021 at Stowe Park in Buckinghamshire. This arrangement has been carried over from 2020 and more details will follow in the coming months. The MGA Register Golden Anniversary Tour from Friday 24 to Monday September 27 2021 has also been carried over from last year and rooms and places are available as the hotel has been able to allocate us further rooms. Details are on our website. The Register Committee is proposing that on the weekend of May 8-9, when the Spring Tour was to have taken place, that we seek to get as many MGAs out on the road as possible, ideally along with other MGAs, in local Social Runs. Who knows, dependant on the then-current restrictions these could even be two-day happenings with an overnight stay. Whilst the Register Committee are happy individually or collectively to facilitate such events, there will be no central organisation for these Tours and it will be left to the initiative of individual MGA Register members to make arrangements with other like-minded MGA owners for their local Social Run. However the Register has created a web page about the do’s and don’ts of organising Social Runs, and if you tell us in advance of any such plans we can

assist with putting potential participants in touch with organisers through Safety Fast!, through the e-newsletter and through the Register. Stella Dutton We are sad to report the recent death of Stella Dutton, George’s wife, who died on Christmas Day. Our condolences go to George and his family at this difficult time. Stella was an active member of both the North West Centre and MGA Register which recognised her contribution to the organisation of the 2017 Cheshire Cat Spring Tour when she was jointly awarded, alongside George, the Ogborn Cup for exceptional service to the Register. I am sure we all share fond memories of Stella from many MGA Register events and will miss her friendly and warm presence. MGA Register Merchandise MGA Register Committee member Graham Eke has taken over the role of Merchandise Officer. A smooth transition is envisaged as the shop’s email address remains unchanged – mgaregistershop@outlook.com – as does the PayPal account which will continue to be used for invoicing and payment. We thank Graham for talking on this role and wish him every success, and we also take this opportunity to thank George Dutton who has been our focal point for Merchandise for the past six years. George will continue in the role of our MGA Register Web Master. MGA Weddings Your stories and photographs keep coming, for which thanks, and please keep it up. www.mgcc.co.uk

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REGISTERS MGC Mike Haughton mgc_mike@btinternet.com www.mgcc.co.uk/mgc-register/ Well, the muted Christmas and New Year celebrations are well and truly over and we’re facing a difficult couple of months ahead. Time, methinks, to get back into the garage and get on with a few more jobs. One thing to have come out of the whole Covid saga is the amount of rebuilds on Cs which we are hearing about and certainly

Magnificent Mineral Blue roadster taken at Apethorpe

look forward to seeing the results of your hard work when we are finally allowed out to play again. Our thanks again go out to Rick Parry for his excellent article on the University Motors Specials, published last month. The article generated a substantial amount of interest. This was a period of C history which was not particularly well documented and it is always very interesting to learn more as to what went on at Downton Engineering and University Motors. Rick and I are continually on the lookout for new unpublished information and photographs on the Specials and if you are able to contribute to the research on the

Ghostly scenes outside Kenilworth Castle

V8 Victor Smith 0208 392 9434 victorsmith@v8register.net www.v8register.net Using a battery conditioner or a battery charger The typical annual mileage for modern classics like an MG V8 is probably around 2,000 to 2,500 miles so clearly they spend considerable time parked up, often in a lay-up over the Winter months. Many classic car enthusiasts keep their vehicle connected to a modern battery conditioner to maintain the battery charge level and condition whilst others do periodic charges of the battery using a battery charger. Here Nic Houslip highlights the differences between a battery conditioner and a more traditional battery charger and the care you need to take with a charger. Battery conditioners A battery conditioner will have limited charge current (usually one or two amps) and an electronic system that senses when the battery is fully charged and then it switches from charging to monitoring the battery condition and voltage. www.mgcc.co.uk

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UMS cars it would be great to hear from you. On the subject of articles, if you would like to contribute your story to the newsletter or Register notes then do get in touch. We are allocated a maximum word count, so please contact us for details first before steaming ahead. The MGC-2021 calendar proved a great success and thanks go out to everyone who took part, both in submitting your photos and for buying the end result. As promised, we will publish some of the photos in Safety Fast! which were unable to be included in the calendar. Happy C Motoring. Colin Howes

It’s a smart battery charging and conditioning solution that could remain connected indefinitely to the battery without over-charging, so providing simple “plug n play” battery maintenance. The two leading brands are CTEK and Accumate. Once the battery is charged, most goodquality conditioners switch automatically to a conditioning mode to maintain the battery at optimum performance levels. Battery chargers A battery charger will have a higher charging rate – for example up to 12 amps. More recent chargers may have an electronic circuit inside that senses the battery voltage and reduces the charge current as the fully charged voltage is reached. When leaving a battery charger connected for an extended period there is a concern over a potentially unsafe situation if the battery had one short circuit cell. In such a case, however much

the charger tried it could never drive the battery terminal voltage up to the charged potential of about 14.6 Volts, and it would then continue to charge at maximum. At this point the charger may overheat if left on continuously. A 12 amp charge rate is quite a heavy current and any doubtful connections might be a source of overheating and possible ignition. Do also regularly clean the top of the battery and around the terminals and connectors because accumulations of road dust and other muck can cause leakage, reducing the charge in the battery during an extended period when parked up. If you continue using a long-cherished battery charger then do take care to avoid a live connection to your battery for lengthy periods and instead adopt a regular “connect-chargedisconnect” routine. If you still have the original type of twin 6V batteries you will need to check the liquid electrolyte regularly and top up when necessary with distilled water. Leaving it on a battery conditioner like a CTEK doesn’t remove the need to check the level regularly and top up with distilled water. There is always some loss of water as part of the chemical reaction that makes the battery work. “More” on related topics at: www. v8register.net/more.htm FEBRUARY 2021 SAFETY FAST! 89

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REGISTERS FWD Ben Hatton ben2692@hotmail.co.uk www.mgcc.co.uk/fwd-register/ 2020 was a washout for most of us and almost a complete washout for the MG FWD Register, with the only show we managed to attend being the combined BMC & Leyland Show and Metro & Mini Show at Gaydon. The loss of the show session meant for many of us, the loss of a chance to meet up face to face, have a natter and catch up. It also meant that there was no chance of those special exciting moments happening, the chance to meet with our heroes. This got me thinking and reminded me that in 2020 we also lost Sir Stirling Moss who even in his older years was still a regular and enthusiastic visitor to the Classic Motor Show at the NEC. Back in 2013 when the Maestro turned 30, I was invited by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs to show Arthur, my MG Maestro 1600, on their stand and of course I said yes! It turned out

MGF Tim Morris 01932 882467 scribe@mgfregister.org www.mgfregister.org We can only hope all is well with our members in the present circumstances. We can only look forward to better times in the future and are tentatively planning for events later in the year with our fingers crossed. The AGM is on Saturday March 6 at 11.00am and not as you may have read in the last column (apologies, I got my months mixed up). It will be on Zoom and to take part you will need to email Jane the secretary at secretary@mgfregister.org and she will email the meeting link closer to the date, and you should find the agenda at the front of this magazine. We will be looking forward to a much better year and several events have already been announced which we hope will be able to go ahead. You can find the details on our website at www.mgfregister.org or main Facebook page. They include a weekend in Northampton, a trip to Wales, MGF25, camping in the Chilterns and Christmas at Cricklade. Our regions are not planning too much at the moment, for understandable reasons, but be sure to keep in touch with them via their social media pages and regular Zooming. 90 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

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that they had a fantastic stand with a really diverse range of vehicles right in the middle of the show. When I arrived on the Thursday, I was told that Sir Stirling would be visiting the stand during the show, and while there was no guarantee that he would come and say hello to Arthur, there was a chance, and a chance was good enough for me! You can just imagine my delight when he chose to sit in him and I got to demonstrate Arthur’s talking dash. If I’m honest, I think he was more bemused than impressed, but he got to hear it nonetheless. I remember there was some concern about Sir Stirling’s ability to get back out of Arthur, but thankfully he did. Having Sir Stirling sitting in Arthur and listening to his talking dash was the highlight of the show for me and has given me fond, lasting memories. Tanya Field

We did run an abridged photo competition on Facebook this year to replace our normal professionally judged one and the resulting 12 top photos as voted for by you were put into a downloadable calendar; again, you can find that on our new-style website. We are delighted that the winner was Marc Pearson with his Monogram TF perfectly coordinating with the wisteria in Broadway. Tim Rowe and Alan Bradley managed to get sufficient votes for two of their respective entries to be included, so well done to them and Ian Wright, Kim Tiller, Mark Humpage, David Coulthard, Anne Ogden and Leigh Crane.

Hopefully this year we can get back to normal with plenty of pics of F/TFs in scenic locations. We are pleased to announce that we have three new regions starting up this year – Rob Parry heads up a new English Borders region to incorporate those counties bordering Wales, Glenn Nielson re-activates our presence north of the border with a new region in Scotland and Steve White will be kicking off a region to cover Leicestershire. Check on our website for how to contact them and get involved. Initially, of course, there won’t be any meets but come our summer freedom, look out!

Marc Pearson’s winning entry in the 2020 photo competition

www.mgcc.co.uk

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1972 MGB Roadster. British Racing Green, black trim. Leather seats. Antique red carpets. Fast road engine, balanced and stage 11 head. 15” minilites, carbon ﬁbre dash, moto lita, superb driving car in super condition. Nice engine bay, superb shell, fast and fun £13,795.00

1976 MGB Roadster, Black (with red ﬂeck-range rover colour), black leather trim, antique red carpets, 15” minilites, Oselli fast road engine. Restored car, all new chrome. Red mohair hood, walnut dash. Drives superbly, well maintained, excellent car ready to use and have fun. £11,995.00

1952 MG TD, Black, red leather interior, tan hood, tonneau and hood cover. A superb MG TD original spec . Restored in the 1990s and still superb , massive history ﬁle , drives superbly ,panel ﬁt is excellent, one of the nicest TDs we have had in a long time. well sorted and maintained car, has been used reguarly so lovely patina looks and feels like a 10 yearold well maintained car. Original R/H/D car, was exported and returned to uk before being completly restored. If being very picky has a slight 3rd synchro lag, Super car £22,995

1964 MGB Roadster Pull door handle car, Iris blue, black /white trim. Excellent restored car done a while ago in the 90s but still excellent and one of the early Californian imports when they were really good. O/drive, interior really as good as new, lovley engine bay, superb shell and superbly original, painted underside, alloy bonnet, w/wheels, original steering wheel. Fitted with better 5 brg engine, original banjo axle. A superb older restoration and ready to enjoy with no work required £15,995.00

1963 MGB Roadster, Iris Blue, Blue trim. Pull door handle, original 3 brg engine, chrome wires, blue everﬂex hood with incredibly rare very early folding frame, overdrive, again very very rare on a 3brg car. Totally restored with photographic history, during the 1990s. Superb condition. Has been impeccably maintained by last owner for 25 years. A super car and rare to ﬁnd an early car so original and usable. £21,995.00

1957 MGA 1500, Iris blue, Black trim, walnut dash, chrome wire wheels, immaculate restored car, painted underneath, everything is new or reconditioned, lovely panel gaps, a superb car and ready to use, would cost double asking price to restore. £32,995

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Reduced to sell £26,495 ()*+,-.-)/0.12304

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`,#+%@#&'*)#>+/#1*%*)'$@#*%# DG+>I#*)#X()&#+)#H--@F#T-.#*)#&'$#&*A$#&-#D(5#D$1-/$#?/*>$)#/*)$#*%#C?/*%H#a _1#5-(#'+2$#$)>+?$@#&'$#@$+@G5#2*/()#.'5#%-&#&/$+&#5-(/)$G1#&-#)-A$#&/(G5#$%X-5+DG$#>G+))*>#A-&-/*%HF#b*%H#J-'%#+%@#/$A$AD$/ &'$#>G+))*>#!"#G*%$# NcKB#UST#[K#_6#_T#ST#!"OF

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www.mgcc.co.uk

Safety Fast_Feb21_49-98.indd 91

FEBRUARY 2021 SAFETY FAST! 91

25/01/2021 17:11

REGISTERS ZR/ZS/ZT JOHN THOMPSON 01702 298866 johnt5@btinternet.com www.mgcc.co.uk/zedregister We hope you are all keeping well. A number of events and shows have already been postponed following the announced lockdown in January. It is uncertain how long this present situation will continue and what further events will be affected, however we will keep you up to date with the latest information via our website/Facebook group and be guided by Club announcements. Zed 20 We have received a huge, enthusiastic response to Zed 20 since we announced the event at the start of the year – thank you. Arrangements for the day continue to forge ahead despite our present situation. A number of questions have arisen over the past few weeks, some of which we need to clarify with the venue. Once the offices have reopened at Burghley House, we will inform you of their reply.

MG6.3.5 Sean Round sean@seanround.co.uk www.facebook.com/groups/MG635Register twitter.com/635register 2021 is here and we’re finally able to say goodbye to 2020! 2020 was a very quiet year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our absence from Safety Fast! over the last few issues is something which we’ll ensure we rectify during ’21 and we’ve already got some plans for some exciting content, in conjunction with dealers amongst others, so keep your eyes peeled! Covid-19 has presented the world with all sorts of challenges and resulted in difficult times. However, for us at the 635 Register, we’re really pleased to see that MG continue to succeed with UK car sales, being a rarity in that they’ve observed a significant increase in sales year-onyear. This proves that the current offering on the UK market provides outstanding value and leaves an exciting future ahead. There are a number of rumours about future offerings circulating in the press currently and we wait with excitement to see if those come true! Events wise, it is looking like the lack of 92 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

Safety Fast_Feb21_49-98.indd 92

ZEDS AT THE LAKES Our ‘Zeds at the Lakes’ road trip continues to attract a lot of interest. Postponed from last September, this event makes an ideal addition to our 20th Anniversary events calendar. Further details can be found below. Pricing • £299.00 per person sharing a car/room (£598 per car) • £398.00 per person in a room on their own (£200 reduction from the total 2-person price) Prices include ALL of this: • Three night/four-day tour from September 10-13 2021 • Three nights’ accommodation in the 3-star Riverside Hotel in Kendal • Breakfast included each morning at the hotel • Three dinners included – one every night • Evening meals provided will be a three-course meal with at least two options per course. If everyone is dining together, the hotel may propose a fixed menu; i.e. the same menu

• • • • •

for everyone, if they feel it will ensure a good standard of service One route guide per car, which will feature details and maps of attractions and places of interest One rally plaque per car – Zeds at the Lakes tour plaque 24-hour out-of-hours helpline whilst on the tour Full financial protection via ABTOT – registered number 5405 All bookings are bound by SCT conditions of booking

You will have the opportunity to travel on some of the most scenic roads in England in the comfort of your own Zed. Those of you who live locally are more than welcome to join us on our days out. Just to remind you of the dates: September 10-13 for our road trip. It’s still not too late to register your interest with Scenic Car Tours if you still wish to go. Simply email your details to admin@sceniccartours.com Payment for this tour has been made very simple and ﬂexible by SCT with various options.

opportunity for us to meet is going to continue. Major events such as Pride of Longbridge have already been cancelled for this year. This is a real shame for our Club and Community and I’m sure that, like us, you’re all missing our meets and events. I, for one, was gutted that our Happier times. The 2017 6.3.5 Register bash that followed the AGM. AGM wasn’t able to whilst in post. I’d like to thank them for their efforts go ahead this year – a highlight of the calendar and hard work and wish them the best. As this is the and always a source of much entertainment and case, we need to fill both roles. Should you wish to amusement! That being said, we’ll be looking to find out more about these roles then please do not hold this virtually and will make the necessary hesitate to get in touch with me to discuss further. arrangements to do so over the next few weeks. In the meantime, should any of you require any We’ll confirm a date to you and the medium which support with your cars, or have any questions of the we’ll hold this through as soon as it is confirmed. committee, then please do feel free to get in touch On the subject of our AGM, unfortunately, both with any of us and we’ll be pleased to assist. Andy Littler and Richard Bibby-Brooke have taken I do hope that all of our members are safe and the decision to resign from our committee. Andy well, and the same applies to your friends, family and Richard have held the roles of Secretary and and loved ones. Stay safe, Stay well, Go 3njoy! Registrar respectively and have done a great job www.mgcc.co.uk

25/01/2021 17:11

church square

autos FAMILY BUSINESS ESTABLISHED 1981. Our ofﬁce/ showroom is at 62B HIGH STREET SHEPPERTON TW17 9AU VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT PLEASE

MG TF 85th ltd ed+Hardtop,just 26,000miles

1956 MGA ROADSTER Old English White, with red trim. Originally a North American

1956 MGA 1500 In Signal Red. Restored in the late 2000’s by MG specialist Simon Robinson, and religiously

Export. Brought back into the

serviced every year after. Red

UK in the late eighties and given

trim and black carpets. Kenlowe

a ‘Nut & Bolt’ restoration to

fan, period radio, chrome wire

concourse condition. Restored to

wheels, full weather equipment,

RHD spec. A stunning example

new starter motor, alternator

and one of the best MGA

conversion. Recent full body

Roadsters we have owned.

respray & detailing by ourselves.

£36,995

£34,995

Rare MG TF 85th ltd edition. Having covered just 26,000 miles with F.S.H, plus a removable colour coded hardtop with stripes, just 17 in this colour. Aubergine leather seats, Bilstein soft ride shockers, thicker ‘Eibach’ anti-roll bars, Air condition, 16” Twisted pepper alloys, Red 4 pot’ AP’ brake calipers, H/glass rear screen on black soft top £9,695

MG MGF VVC – just 28,000miles 97 (R Reg) 28,000 Miles Manual Petrol 1.8vvc, utstanding MGF Spent it first 3 years here in the UK, before being shipped to Sunny Jersey. We have just imported back into the UK. Finished in Flame Red with full Red leather seats, wind deflector, mud flaps. Documented history file and in outstanding immaculate condition. Just Moted and registered here on its original Reg number R492 VAB. £5,995

MG MGF Convertible + H/Top – Just 43,000 miles 1999 (V Reg), Manual, Petrol Finished in: Silver / Black leather MGF 1.8i Facelift model, with removable colour coded hard top, black soft top. Fitted with black leather sport seats, passengers airbag, adjustable steering column, electric mirrors, documented service history. Just moted. New headgasket/cambelt/water pump (13/10/20). Outstanding original car immaculate condition. £3,795

MG MGF Freestyle – Limited Edition.

1971 MGB V8 ROADSTER.

1968 MGC ROADSTER

5 Speed gearbox, Power steering, Custom Metallic Blue paint, Beige trim with blue carpets. Blue Everflex Hood, Wood trim dash with a Mota Lita steering wheel. The car was rebuilt in 1993 with many upgradesNot for the purists, but beautifully detailed and a lot of fun! The car has just come in and it is awaiting preparation. Please call for more details.

White with Black Interior piped White, Black Mohair Hood, Still retains its ‘original’ registration number ‘OOB 21G’ Stainless Sports Exhaust, Spax Shocks Conversion – front and rear. Painted Wire Wheels, Superb history going back over many years Invoices, photographs, Original Sales Brochure etc.Please call to arrange inspection or to discuss further.

£23,995

£24,995

For full stocklist please see our website

Upton Fields Garage, Upton Road, Southwell, Notts. NG25 0QB. www.sherwoodrestorations.co.uk sales@sherwoodrestorations.co.uk or call us on 01636 812655 www.mgcc.co.uk

Safety Fast_Feb21_49-98.indd 93

2001 (51 Reg), 70,000 Miles, Manual, Petrol, Finished in: BRGreen/Black leather Last MGF ltd edtion made. MGF Trophy front and rear spoilers, full Black leather sport seats, 16” ‘SE’ alloy wheels. Rare in British racing green. Serviced, new headgasket cambelt, new mot, no advisories. A very sort after MGF model. £3,495

MG TF 160vvc 80th ltd edition, Just 38,000miles Finished in Goodwood green a Tan cockpit with wood console door trims steering wheel tan leather seats/black alcantara insert plus MG logo. All old mots. Just serviced fitted with a new headgasket/water pump/ cambelt stainless water pipes rear disc’s/pads also fitted with a new Super sport exhaust upgraded Kmaps ECU new Falken tyres and refurbed alloys and moted. £5,495

We have a Large selection of MGF/TF’s Parts for sale. MGF/TF/LE500 huge parts selection, MGF TF/LE500 Body panels, interiors, alloy wheels, mechanical parts. MGF / TF’s Front Bumpers, Rear Bumpers, bonnets, wings, doors, MGF/TF Door handles / locks / motors / mirrors. Interior Items + Door cards & trims. MGF/TF Walnut / Carbon Fibre & Silver interior trims & Steering wheels.. MGF / TF Lights, Interior Items, Seats And Trims MGF/TF alloy wheels New and Secondhand

THIS IS JUST A SMALL SELECTION FROM OUR STOCK 01932 241843 OR 07836 281493 mgsales@churchsquareautos.com • david@usedmgf.co.uk www.churchsquareautos.com • www.usedmgf.co.uk SALES &PARTS FOR YOUR MGF/TF FEBRUARY 2021 SAFETY FAST! 93

25/01/2021 17:11

CLASSIFIEDS How to Advertise

Members can advertise their cars free of charge in Safety Fast! The cost for non members is £20. The advert will also be posted on the Club website in due course. To place an advert in Safety Fast! please email colingrant@mgcc.co.uk with an attached photo of your car, details of your car, your contact details, price of your car, area where you live and membership number. Please keep your advert to 70 words, the editor reserves the right to edit longer adverts. This is for one insertion only, for additional insertions please email colingrant@mgcc.co.uk

1 9 8 1 M G B L E Ro a d s t e r

One of the rarest limited edition MG B roadster 1981 became for sale because of moving house, looking for a good house with garage, comes with heritage certificate, 1,8 engine, all original, wire wheels, 48000 miles, kept in garage most of its life, underseal protected, overdrive gear works fine, 4 owners (including myself) over the past 40 years, previous owner had it for 16 years. Price £7820. No dealers please. Email: Judit at drkissjudy@gmail.com

M G Z R 1 7 0 Ra c e C a r

Built from a brand new shell in 2013 by Paul Luti (Dreadnaught Garage), fully seam welded with air jack system incorporated. One season on the engine (MSA seals in place). Outstanding condition, always garaged, never used as a road car. No expense spared. Very competitive race winning car. Reason for sale- too many toys and an expanding family! Please note stickers removed since photo leaving gleaming Trophy Yellow paint£6995ovno. Tel: 07771848754 (Preston)

Or similar late model TF in reasonable condition for a sensible price. Please c o n t a c t Tr e v o r o n 0 7 7 7 8 7 9 5 7 9 2

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 hasslefree cash buyer! Please feel free to contact me for a no obligation friendly chat.

1997 (Dec) MGF VVC

BRG in absolutely pristine condition with only 13,156 miles on the clock. FSH from new with last cam belt change at 11,333 miles (05/17). Original Sales invoice and 2x keys, with extras such as interior Leather (cream) option pack. Recent new set of Falken ZEI tyres at 11,781 miles (06/18) and new rear vinyl screen. £5995. Tel. 07785 354371 (Somerset).

I am especially interested in the following models: MG TC, MGA, MGB, MGC, MGB V8, Magnette and Midget.

FOR DISPLAY ADVERTISING IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF

THE CLUB

Th e “ L o s t ” 1 9 5 2 M G

August 2019 Volume 63 Number 08 £3.95

M G Z T-T

WANTED

Looking for a ZT-T. Would prefer Diesel, Automatic with F.S.H. Contact Danny Powell 01568 770081 (Herefordshire)

Pl e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e Advertising deadline is F e b ru a ry 1 0 fo r th e M a rc h issue of Safety Fast!

MIDGETS! WANTED

CALL DIRECT UKON: 07787 528131 Based Buyer

PLEASE CALL NICK ON 01452 730770

Seat Sports. Total chassis up rebuild to the highest standard. New body and bonnet skinned in aluminium, rebuilt engine, gearbox and back axle. New modified prop sha , new black leather seats by Collingburn. For more details and photos contact John on 01132 574100 or email: jgott1941@googlemail.com

WANTED M G TF L E5 0 0

WANTED

THE MARQUE OF FRIENDSHIP

1932 M Type Midget 2

Cisitalia Special Race Car, originally built in 1952 by Mickey Thompson and Bill Burke in California. They made a mold of a 1946 Cisitalia Coupe and made about 50 coupes for racing they were going to make a do en Roadsters, but didn’t, they made only ONE, and this is it, stored in a barn for nearly 60 years. Restored as a Vintage Racer, it has a TF1500 engine with steel billet cranksha , racing cam, Laystall Head, roll bars, Fuel Cell etc. and is a wonderful and beautiful driving car on street or track.worth For more information email: Bob at mgtdva@gmail.com 145,000.00 SD

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

CAR LT D

ABINGDON-ON-THAMES FO U N D E D 193 0

THE BATTLE OF THE BABIES ● CLUNKING AND CREAKING ● JEKYLL AND HYDE Safety Fast_Cover August2019.indd 1 25/07/2019 09:09

94 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

Safety Fast_Feb21_49-98.indd 94

www.mgcc.co.uk

25/01/2021 17:12

THE ONLY SHOPFOR FORMMM MMM OWNERS. CARS, SPARES, & USED. THE ONLY ONE-STOP SHOP FOR OWNERS. CARS, SPARES, NEW &NEW USED. ARE YOUONE-STOP PREPARED..... THE BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD? Estd.1968

Estd.1968 Estd.1968

B32 - MIKE ROLLS SERVICES_MIKE ROLLS SERVICES 13/12/2012 09:50 Page 1

1933 J2 Specification. A totally totallyrestored restored J type MG MG toMG J4tospecifi cation with Phoenix crank, Corello rods MG J2J4 to to J4J4Specifi cation. restoredmint mintcondition condition JJ type cation with Phoenix crank, 19331933 MG J2 MG to Specifi cation. AA totally mint condition type toJ4J4specifi specifi cation with Phoenix crank, & Cosworth Genuine NNose cross tube gearbox Nose mounted s/charger, J4counter, dash with 6” rev.bank, counter, Corello rods & pistons. Cosworth pistons. mounted Arnotts/charger, s/charger, fullArnott J4 with rev. switch Corello rods & Cosworth pistons. Nose mounted Arnott full J4 dash dash with6”6”full rev. counter, switch bank, switch bank, dashlamps, etc; Full Brooklands exhaust; bucket seats inleather grey leather to compliment the superb Ocean blue coachwork, dashlamps, etc; Full Brooklands exhaust; bucket seats in grey to compliment the superb Ocean blue coachwork, dashlamps, etc;setFull Brooklands exhaust; seatsA in grey leather to compliment the rare superb Ocean blue coachwork, &full a full of black double-duck weatherbucket equipment. wonderful a very MG................£69,950 & aset of black double-duck weather equipment. wonderfulopportunity opportunitytotoobtain MG................£69,950 & a full ofsetblack double-duck weather equipment. AAwonderful opportunity toobtain obtaina avery veryrare rare MG................£69,950

WE iscovered HAVE SPARES, 1934 MG PA. A true barnfind. after years’SPARES,

SPARES FOR ALL PRE-WAR MGs – BOTH NEW & USED OUR MOST RECENT PARTS... or NEW phone or email

Visit www.barrywalker.com hibernation. equires complete restoration, but totally complete as

4 , 4 , . Brand new crown wheel & piston sets to suit or 4 star diff. D untis I F F .................................................................................................... I C U L T P A R T S N O T O F T EN A V A I L A BL E from set J/F/ /P -S A OO F AM S ................................................................. P Series cyl. block...excellent...............................................................£850 P/ /N P A BO engine breathers ............................................................ . * come out of . on’t miss it. elivery .. £18,750 N Superb die-cast MG crested bonnet catch handles ......................... . ea. * P Series cyl. head...excellent..............................................................£950 N Superb die-cast MG crested door handles.............................. sp. Offer 6 pr. * Set of 12” cable brakes...per corner.....................................................£250 Set of orig. J/F/D cable brakes...whole car...........................................£650 Mushroom headed chrome wing fixing bolts/nuts ........................................... . * P/ /N reverse stock catches new quality castings . ue any day.................. . * V. rare 4-star steel J/L/P/N differential.................................................£975 ROAD WHEELS....................................................................£50 each Adaption bkt. For fitting friction shocks to rear of PA/PB ................................. 6 . V. rare MG diff........................................................£850 Off-the-shelf F restored & rebuilt MMM & A/B/C * NAMO S &‘M’ S 9:44 A REBUILT MO O S, O G O N SPARES BA C ofFOR MMM/ P F CAS FOG– AMPS .................................. C . -B ARRANGED S MMM also F available SHIPPING OR AL L CARS WE OF ER,J2 windscreen...£650..........................................P WE HAVE SPARES, SPARES, ALL PRE-WAR MGs BOTH NEW & USED type..........................£550 * V.F rare N CAS P WIT 6 HOUT A M EO S FO A V.MGS F OM , ‘ ing-OfheMMM/ P hardened & ground track-rod ball pins ............................... 6. ea. Visit www.barrywalker.com or phone or email HASSL dash panel, complete...totally rebuilt as new......................£950 Medallion S H I oad’ PPIN G A R R A NA G EAD AB F O Rwith A L L C&A R Sarms. W E O* F Frare E R D/F1 , WE H AVE SPA R ES, SPA R ES, ywheel SPA Rring ESgears FOR NA LLOPR FAC E-WA B OTH NE W & 6US E D MMM OR M S Gs OC –.............................. SO,SO MUCH MORE TO SEE IF YOU CALL IN www.barrywalker.com or phone or email Visit WITHO U T H include: ASSLE MOST RECENT SECONDHAND SPARES J/P/ /N engine radiator mountings .................................... MMM wiper systems everything except motor ............................................. 4. L L ratios P MMM/TABC R I C for ES allP MM L U Spares A R R I A G E & V NA T O R CAS C A L6 L &I N F O wiper R BET T ER ................................................................ BA R G A I N S O N P R I C E ery good J engine, fully restored, not assembled ....... 6, Fully restored differential A may &S C type, motors Send for a full listing of all v PetroNEW F 12” /F/J models all guaranteed cable brake..................................... sets now coming back on stream, available..........................................................from as full sets or pairs. 8:43; 8:41; 8:39 brand new crown wheel & piston to cation suit 2 orOO 4 star diff. best all available. emember factorysets specifi S units.............the NO P OS. Allvery original, *SComplete * MMM/TABC Spares parts available or send us ery the rareshelf J4/ type double plate clutch assy.MMM .................... Pr. ’ ”& /STARTER /N org. S MOTORS, carbs ................................. 6 ORIGINAL car set LAMPS...HEAD/TAIL/SIDE correct, all MMM &for A/B/C. * aLUCAS all early MG models...all totally restored, outright or exchange. Off FULLY restored & rebuilt & TA/B/C DYNAMOS *Set Send fulllist. listing of all emember we carry off-the-shelf, both NOS -MO N & S -MO N yourfor ‘wants’ totally restored bron e A carbs set Bron e clutch bearing carriers ............................................. * INSTRUMENTS - we carry one of the largest ‘off the shelf’ stock of early MG gauges, OUTRIGHT OR EXCHANGE (2-............................ BRUSH MMM also available). supercharger installation for all pre- models. parts available or send us ast remaining h’brake c/shaft assy. ................................. Almost every type of steering wheel. LUCAS TYPE 160 REAR VIEW MIRRORS FOR ALL MGs FROM 1930 - 1950 all types, any model, outright or exchange. NO VAT EXCEPT UK ORDERS *JNEW radiator shell with nose cone ....................................... Many cord strung........................................... from list. your ‘wants’ with ‘King-of-the-Road’ medallion....................................available with RH & LH arms. Remember factory specification TOOL KITS...NO REPROS. original, MMM & TA/B/C. SHIPPING ARRANGED FORAllALL CARSall WEcorrect, OFFER,allWITHOUT HASSLE * NA/NB hood frame assy A ..................................... /J/F fully rebuilt rad. with new core ................................. now &offer original large.............................. button/parallel sided MMM button dip switches & SIDE MOUNTED WWW.BARRYWALKER.COM * We * Remember - we carry off the shelf, both NOSE-MOUNTED A can ground tested crankshafts ea. horn PA orig. rev. counter. xcellent cond. ................................ in C black or brown plinth..............long overdue......................................... 6. each. supercharger, installations for pre-T models.YOU CAN GET ELSWHERE AND FOR EVERYTHING ELSE YOU CAN’T FORallEVERYTHING Fully rebuilt OwithG.chrome ev. counter with clock ........o/r Fully rebuilt PA/NA g’box ................................................ driven into the garage in

A R EallS matching O ME Nos. R A R E & 6 .HER NothingEmissing,

orig. reg, from new, old buff log book,

, and the best thing to

MIKE ROLLS

2016

BBARRY WWALKER ARRY ALKER BARRY WALKER

British Motor Heritage approved British Motor Heritage approved

British Motor Heritage approved

.....for the very best in vintage MGs..... .....for the very best in vintage MGs..... .....for the very best in vintage MGs.....

SERVICES FOR MGs Specialising in all MG’s

TRADE MEMBER Tel: +44 (0)1789 400181 Mob: +44 (0)7836 244103

TEL/FAX: 01258 820337

please400181 ‘phone beforeMob: calling in07836 244103 Tel: 01789

Email: www.barrywalker.com ‘phone Web: beforeMob: calling in+44 (0)7836 244103 Tel:barry@barrywalker.com +44 (0)1789please 400181 Email: barry@barrywalker.com Web: calling www.barrywalker.com please ‘phone before in

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8am-6pm,Wed: 8am-5pm, Sat: 8am-1pm Email: barry@barrywalker.com Web: www.barrywalker.com

2016 201 6

enquiries@mgsforsale.com

www.mgsforsale.com

01707 876089

07831 556666

MG CGT PA Midget 1934 Two Older SeaterNut a delightful pre-war MG 1968 AUTOMATIC & Bolt Restored e example in Cream Black leather interiorMineral trim, (RWD628G) MG coachwork CGT 1968,with automatic, excellent o MGCC. a known example that appeared in Mike original Allison’s book Blue coachwork withhasnicely mellowed Black ral lue “The Magic of the Marque”, not a concours leather interior trim, originalalthough genuine leather boundshow MGC ofe the u erange T enquiries@mgsforsale.com car it doeswheel, emanatenicely an original ‘time warp’ feel and is a credit steering detailed engine compartment sel. lmost,000 miles to its former custodians for its upkeep and maintenance, the housing the smooth 3.0 litre engine ideal with the Borg age dernwill increase car also has had the benefit of an overhauled engine with little Warner automatic rare head, MoT d until nserts. miles since, a historygearbox file has making invoices this both particularly past & present model an idealbyclassic today, this vehicle formed of aNorth collection a deceased st iscs and pads as well accompanied copy documentation fromapparently when supplied by part Turnhill & Co.ofnew in 1934. o. interior, sat estate, on inspection can see the quality of the rebuild ain number yearsRestored ago and ather MG CGT 1968 AUTOMATIC Nut &ofBolt The weather equipmentone of black hood, side screens and tonneaufrom areOlder good serviceable condition, m with likely little miles since is still very fresh in appearance, just arrived £24,950.00 ectivity. ull service the leather interior provides a nice patina and alsoMG benefi ts from instrumentation, this is a (RWD628G) CGT 1968,deluxe automatic, excellent Mineral C Motor 2016 Tech MG6 matching numbers car and whilst maintaining so many original features does also original have indicators Blue coachwork with nicely mellowed Black GT diesel MG BGT 1972 Last Owner 37 Years (LLF951K) MG BGT, condition. pacious, fi tted which can be reversed of course if desired, price reduced, £34,495 leather interior trim, original genuine leather bound MGC aceli model. Top of the range T 1972, last owner 37 years, chrome bumpers, overdrive, g modern MG. £6500 steering wheel, nicely detailed engine compartment model. . turbo diesel. ,000 miles MGB Roadster Mk1 PullAqua Door coachwork Handle, four former3.0 litre engine ideal with the Borg chrome Rostyle wheels, now requiring 5 0 0 daily driver so mileage housingonly the smooth will increase keepers since Feb 1965, British Racing Green Coachwork, some improvement but a very solid vehicle indeed with a Warner automatic gearbox making this particularly rare alloys, red bumper inserts. MoT d until nicely mellowed leather interior trim, style original period nice original feelBlack and appearance, original navy cloth une 2020. ecent discs and pads as well steering wheel, Mohair hood, chrome wire wheels, overdrive, gold sat seal engine fitted mid 80’s and drives as new tyres. ullinterior leathertrim, interior, older restoration on original shell with good structure, paintwork nav, luetooth connectivity. ull service delightfully, good file withmore original documentation not perfect but still history much admired, recent works have history servicedback by to C Motor Tech of invoices from renowned specialists Brian Brown Classics & B the 80’s, a plethora included new correct period petrol tank, new brake calipers, nical Centre. n good condition. pacious, Hive, original Unipart Gold Seal papers, old mot’s etc. just arrived £5,950.00 electronic ignition, carburettor overhaul, carpeted boot,etc. battery economical engaging MG. £6500 modifimodern cation & isolator, very few miles in recent years and properly dry stored, previously sold by ono. Call dam on 0 5 0 in 2013 0 & 2018 (images relate), available now, £13,495 50 ever ourselves eated r alloy URGENTLY WANTED ll si e oolkit very h ke this6 . n the uilt ANY CONDITION uced. es. t has approv s it was approved SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF OUR STOCK power of the motor changed to lead s black with a beige Do not confuse the above vehicles with cheaper inferior quality models offered elsewhere. Part exchange condition. M G A 1 6 0 0 any make of Motor Car with generous allowances. Discounted cash purchases. Viewing by appointment only e side of then car. good condition, built 6 evenings . n1the please (available & weekends) no obligation to purchase. All our vehicles carry a warranty, have an Barry Walker December 20 (2).indd MOT and are aretfully fully serviced prior to to collection/delivery. collection/delivery. r £ 200 G tacho P. Theare 5 000 MOT and prior miles. hasserviced approv from rance.alPhone papers before this it was approved or mail in wit erland The power of the motor org is P and had be changed to lead www.mgcc.co.uk freeBarry petrol. The car is black with a beige Tel: +44 (0) 1953 717618 Fax: (0) 1953 717850 Walker October 20.indd 1 interor. t s in a good condition. Barry The Walker December 20le (2).indd wheel is on the side of1 the car. Price 000 uro or £ 200 G P. The car has to be picked from rance. Phone 00 0 56 or mail MG MODELS! francoise@bignens.org Safety Fast_Feb21_49-98.indd 95

T diesel

01707 876089

TRADE MEMBER

MIKE ROLLS 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 MIDGET, 1973

Round wheel arch in racing green. High spec hillclimb/sprint/track car built on a Heritage shell in 2004 by Oselli. www.mgsforsale.com Fitted with with full race 1380 engine with weber, Maniflow straight through exhaust, 4 Speed dog engagement straight cut gearbox, Quaife 4.2 diff with Quaife LSD, 4 Pot calipers, plumbed in Fire extinguisher, Alloy radiator, lightweight battery, 2 x set wheels with tyres ( Road and Track) , Drivers harness, Works style hardtop, Frontline roll cage and Soft top with frame. Engine was built and fully balanced by CCK Historic in 2017 with Omega forged pistons, Swiftune camshaft, Ported and polished 11 stud head and weber and exhaust as above, lowered and stiffened suspension, polybushed, negative front camber, Panhard rod, Lightened flywheel, Uprated rear leaf springs .7.5 Helix clutch, Peter May halfshafts etc the list goes on. Spec sheet upon request. This is a stunning well sorted Midget in excellent condition having had a large amount of money spent with good history/invoice file. £18.995.

07831 556666

URGENTLY WANTED

ANY ANY MG MG

ANY ANY YEAR YEAR ANY CONDITION

www.mgsforsale.com

MGB GT - 1967

Finished in black with painted wire wheels and Michelin XAS Tyres, it comes with an impressive spec of a 1950 fast road engine, Weber, 3 branch big bore manifold with stainless steel exhaust to match, 123 Ignition, twin coils and fuel pumps, 5 speed gearbox, Ridgard RS9 seats with Willans harnesses’s, and Motolita wood rim steering wheel. This car has been built for Rally, Fast road, Track day use, it has a very sound body and excellent paint, it drives like a proper sports car with loads of torque, it has a Heritage certiﬁcate, good history ﬁle and is Tax and MOT exempt. £15,995 Units 9/10 Fifehead Business Park, Manor Farm, Fifehead Magdalen, near Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5RR

E-mail: mikerolls4mgs@compuserve.com • www.mikerolls.co.uk 12/11/2020 Mail Order “Friendly Quality Service”

www.mgmecca.co.uk

ANTED

d, from barn ﬁnds to

1933 MG J2 – Totally restored. A really beautiful example of the archetypal cycle-wing J . otally restored from the chassis-up with c/balanced crank and rods, lightened clutch and all new head gear. uality bodywork de-luxe dash, period extras and ﬁnished in Br. acing Green with apple green leather interior & all new weather equip. A P OP restoration that will offer service, and a sound investment when the Covid-free rush arrives £43,500

NOW REDUCED...£42,500...Just view it

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15:35

FEBRUARY 2021 SAFETY FAST! 95

15/09/2020 09:27

12/11/2020 15:35

25/01/2021 17:12

Insurance for all MG’s classic and modern

URGENTLY WANTED MGA/MGB/MGC/V8/ MIDGET/SPRITE ETC

Any Condition from non runners to rebuilt cars

Please call Edward 01923 840236 or any time on 07774 484497 Email: ejwclassiccars@btinternet.com Website: www.mgandporsche.com

DONHOODS-SFAug07.QXD:Layout 1

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(Northwood, Middlesex)

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Choice of heavy duty PVC, ICI Vynide, Everflex, Duc k and Mohair AL MAKES & L incl: MG, MODELS Tr Escort, Giumph, olf etc.

mingham B23 7JJ

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13 Tel: 0121 373 13FICE SOUTHERN SALES

00 Tel: 01202 7422

CARPET SETS FOR MOST

1974 Midget 1275cc.

A veritable Cornucopia of spares. Too much to list, but includes panelwork,

Page 1 engine/gearbox 3 types of Carbs. vari-

DON HOODS •BETTER THAN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT QUALITY •STITCHED AND WELDED FOR MAXIMUM LIFE •WIDEST CHOICE OF COLOURS AVAILABLE •ALL FASTENERS & FITTINGS INCLUDED D PRICE FOR LEAFLET AN LIST CONTACT Ltd Don Trimming Co.

How to Advertise

Members can advertise their spares free of charge for items less than £250 in Safety Fast! The cost for spares more than £250 is £20. The advert will also be posted on the Club website. To place an advert in Safety Fast! please email colingrant@mgcc.co.uk Please keep your advert to 60 words The editor reserves the right to edit longer adverts. This is for one insertion only, for additional insertions please email Colin Grant

MODELS

www.donhoods.com

ous diffs. wire wheel axle and wheels, rostyles, instruments, lights, Manifolds and exhausts etc.,etc. All located Didcot. Collection only. Email- kduncan1940@gmail.com

Mike Satur MGF/MGTF

Sunmate Total Protection Hood Cover. New and unused due to sale of car before use. Gives protection from rain or heat build up in cabin. Heavier weight nylon with an aluminised surface to reflect heat. Water resistant. Fully covers the windscreen door windows and seals giving protection from seal leaks. Suitable for all year round protection including frost and snow. In protective bag. Cost £60, so £49 to a good home now! £3.50 postage or collect in person. 01983 761382 or 07802 170135 (Isle of Wight)”

Books from the late Bob Clare’s Collection

MG A Pictorial History John Tipler £12 Magic of the Marque Mike Allison £8 Magic of MG M Allison. £18 Works MG 1st edition Mike Allison/Peter Browning £30 CHESTERFIELD • DERBYSHIRE Works MG 2nd edition £22 MG Log. Peter Haining £5 The Classic MG Richard Aspen £10 MG by McComb. Wilson McComb £12 MG 1911 to 1978 Peter Filby £15 Great Marques – MG C Harvey £8 MG Sports Cars, Autocar road tests £10 M-type to TF 1500 1975 Paperback £12 Classic MG Yearbook 1973 £18 Suppliers of parts for Triple-M 1993 Yearbook £4 • MGA • MGB • MGC • Midget Project Phoenix –the birth of the MGF IanAdcock £7 • T Type • MGF/TF A to Z of Cars of the 1930s Michael Sedgewick £10 Repairing & Restoring Classic Car Components, Peter Wallage £10 Tel 01246 454527 • Fax 01246 453681 Autocar motor manual – 33rd edition (1950s)£4 Albert Street North, Chesterfield, S41 8NP Haynes Classic Car interiors £8 Haynes Workshop manual for the Mini (1969-87) £6 Safety Fast:- Volume 39 (1995) Nos 3-12, Steve McKie Sports Cars Hi-Res.indd 1 23/06/2010 13:46 Volume 40,41,42,43,44 all 12 volumes £3 each Octagon Car Club Bulletins:- No. 177 (August 1984) to 191, and No.302 (June 1995) to 435 (August 2006) (54 total) £30. Please contact Philip Bayne-Powell on 01483 811428 or e-mail to buy any nigelguild@hotmail.com 1942mgman@gmail.com book or to obtain further information.

Call for a quote today

01376 574000

www.classiccarinsurance.co.uk MG Y Type

Radiator grilles- two available. One is complete with radiator and cap. Grille is free of dents, straight slats. Ideally needs rechroming as it is dull but no flaking. Second item consists of grille, false nose and slats only, free of dents with slats in good condition, chrome has reasonable shine , ideally should be rechromed. Will sell separately. Open to offers. Contact Andrew on 01761 221893. Or andrewowst@hotmail.com (Bristol area)

MGBV8 Radiator

In good condition, internally clean. Has Otter switch provision. £50. MGB Bootlid, good rust free condition, tartan red. modified to carry spare wire wheel complete with fixing spinner. (free-up boot space for her shoes!)£60. Buyer collect for both items please from Leicestershire. Please phone Keith 07551653890.

Workshop Manuals

The MG Workshop Manual From 'M' type to T.F. (Tenth impression Published 1967) MG TF Oil Pump (New in box) MG TC Plywood Dashboard blank MG Head Gasket Set HS1A532 Any queries and offers to Nick Harrison, nmharrison9@gmail.com

MGTC Parts

Headlamps, pair in good condition except for missing rim clips and one rim needs chroming. £250. Tel: 01344424258

SPARES WANTED WANTED For 1971 MGB

Automatic gear lever knob - original in black. Automatic gear lever illumination light - original. Tel: Lawrence 07934 599501

STEVE McKIE SPORTSCARS

Specialists in the repair and restoration of MG cars

FOR DISPLAY ADVERTISING IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF

www.stevemckiesportscars.co.uk

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96 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

Safety Fast_Feb21_49-98.indd 96

Please note that the Advertising deadline is February 10 for the March

issue of Safety Fast!

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25/01/2021 17:12

Insurance for all MG’s classic and modern

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rie Carter r a B and Alan Bartlett

07885 ‘T-type’ - ‘T-type’ - ‘T-type’ ‘X-pag’ - ‘X-pag’ - ‘X-pag’ 768830 email barriemgracer@yahoo.co.uk

I’ve decided to create space for the work that’s coming through our doors, MG’s, Race cars, Classics of all types. WE ARE OPEN AND NOW IS THE TIME TO HAVE ALL YOUR WORK CARRIED OUT, SO THESE SALE CARS ARE AT, OR WELL BELOW THEIR COST TO ME. ,·P YHU\ GHDODEOH My 1932 Lanchester L10 is a gem that I’ve been meaning to finish for myself to use. It appears to have only 32,000 miles on it and there are various supporting facts to this including a large folder of dedicated service history. It’s barakes have been attended to, radiator recored, and dash beautifully refubished with the correct instruments. It needs the rewiring finishing and has a new loom fitted, a small job. It drives well and sweetly, stops good too. The interior is sumpmtuous red leather and all origional. Its body had surface paint disturbance, but I wouldn’t touch it, it’s part of its charm. I love it. Hope you do. £7250 My MGA race car. This fully prepared virtual FIA exchampionship winning race car is available as rebuilt for the coming season. It’s 1840cc steel full race engine was sealed by an MSA scrutineer during its build at Sigma and has only rolling road running time. The suspension, straight cut CR gearbox, LSD etc were all rebuilt to the correct specs and the car was repainted at the same time. It handles superbly, especially in the wet. It has had 2 Thoroughbred and Classic Championship wins historically and is capable of winning again in the right hands and with its correct full width screen is elligible for just about every classic race series available. I’m 79 now and the years, aching bones and a promise to my dear late wife, mean I’ll no longer be racing after 55 years. My lovely A needs nothing doing to it and is ready for the next owner to carry on its sucessfull career. It is a UK car, and is road registered with its origional number. £35,000 I may take a part exchange if I like it.

TC Racer Although there has been much interest in my ex-championship and well known T.C. race car, I don’t want the part xs offered. It is already very cheap and has so many rare and expensive parts I’m not giving it away. L.S.D. Derrington inlet and ex. manifolds, 13/4 50s vented brakes, trampbars, telescopics, alloy panels, 72 spoke 16” wheels, Avon ZZR. To build this would cost £50k but it’s a proven car. It can be sold as a rolling chassis all complete but less engine, or with a less modified engine or whatever combination you wish. It’s very cheap and will give you lots of fun, road or competition. Ring for a price

Saab 99 2 litre with only 33,000 miles and 3 owners, Absolutely unmarked body that is in as new, unrestored gorgeous condition, the interior is as faultless as the rest of this rare RHD beauty, A Treasure that has never been restored and is lovely. £8,999

Lancia Appia 1960 RHD. This superbly restored Car is a 4 door pillar less replica of the same car as competed in the Acropolis Rallye in 1960, It has had £ thousands spent making it the superb example you see, Luxurious red leather trim, All the required navigation equipment, Drives free and flowingly, I doubt there’s a better one anywhere. Enormous amount of boxed history and receipts, Gorgeous, £19,995 - May Part/ Ex for something tasty.

1936 Morris Eight Tourer. This absolutely beautiful car has had only two owners and has been fully restored by it’s last owner of 29 years. I don’t think you’ll find another one like this. £11,995

Triumph 2000 MK II Estate. I’ve seldom seen car that looks like it’s just come out of the showroom as this does, Not only pristine top, but underneath too, It shows 47,000 miles and is fitted with Power Steering, so us older gentry don’t get tired arms, Interior is in reddish brown and Mint, Exterior is likewise and you’ll never find another like this. £9,750

MG YB Saloon Still they emerge! MG YB, the rarer of the forgotten MG. 3 owners, 1 for 40 years and owner history from new. It has never been restored and is still wearing its original and very nice paint. Being interred for so long it has missed the ravages of time and has no apparent rust problems on its very straight original body. The interior, always a problem with “Y’s” is intact and only needs cleaning. The carpets are very original and the sunroof water tight. Excellent chrome and square tyres make this the barn slumberer of the year. Unrepeatable and complete with dust £8,950

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

www.barriecartermg.com 4Sight Lighting Company........ 65 A-Plan Insurance, Cherished Vehicle Insurance ................... 15 Adrian Flux ........................... 81 Barrie Carter ......................... 97 Barry Walker ......................... 95 Beech Hill Garage .................. 94 British Motor Heritage ........... 29 Brown and Gammons .............. 9 Bucks Sports and Classic ....... 81 Chisbon Restorations ............. 50 Church Square Autos ............ 93 Classic & Sports Cars (Essex) 76, 77 Clive Wheatley ....................... 85 College Motors Burford........... 56 Colne Classics ....................... 97 David Manners ....................... 6 Distributor Doctor ................... 35 Don Trimming ........................ 96 EJW Classic and Sports .......... 96 Fishers Services..................... 65 Footman James ..................... 17 Former Glory ........................ 96 Foston’s Ash Inn .................... 55 Frontline ............................... 25 Halls Garage .......................... 56 Heathrow Transmission........... 97 Hoyle Suspension................... 35 Hydragas ............................... 50 Just Right Autos Ltd ............... 75 Longstone Tyres .................... 39 Machine Mart ........................ 36

www.mgcc.co.uk

Safety Fast_Feb21_49-98.indd 97

Manor Garage........................ 65 Martin Smith Used MGTF Spares 91 MG Motors ........................... 13 MG Motorsport ..................... 35 Midland Classic Restoration ...... 4 Mike Authurs Classicsm ......... 94 Mike Rolls ............................ 95 Mike Satur............................. 31 Modern Garage Classics Ltd .. 91 Moss Europe Ltd ................... IFC Motor Wheel Services............. 50 MV Classics ........................... 44 NTG Services .......................OBC Oak Cabin For Sale ................ 81 Oselli Ltd .............................. 36 Peter Best ...............OBC, 96, 97 Quarry Classics ............... 85, 91 Car CoverShop....................... 56 Rees Bros.............................. 65 Retro Sports Cars .................. 71 Rimmer Bros Ltd .................... 31 RJH Automotive Transport ....... 49 Robin Lackford Motor Engineering 71 Sherwood Restorations .......... 93 Skiptune ................................ 71 SMR – Car For Sale ............... 95 Steve McKie Sports Cars ........ 96 Summit MG ........................... 56 Sussex Classic Car Parts ........ 49 The Hutson Motor Co Ltd .......... 4 Torro Sports Cars Ltd ............. 94

Colne Classics

MG Power Steering and restoration specialists

View the website on www.colneclassics.com B1 Seaden Court, Gorse Lane Ind Est, Clacton, Essex. 01255 432693, 07714 675319

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FEBRUARY 2021 SAFETY FAST! 97

25/01/2021 17:12

LOOKING BACK 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 2021

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: Advertising: Hine MarketingJade 01452 Beckett 730770 01233 849731

his month we thought we’d feature Kimber House in the Looking Back page. Since its official opening in 1990, it’s been a pilgrimage for MG fanatics from around the world. It’s also been the start or finish point for many a road run over the years, which is what we’re going to feature this month. The first photo by Martin Woods features a trio of Turbos, ready to leave Kimber House winding their way, very quickly I expect, to Gaydon as part of the 2002 Turbo Run. I always remember the

Published by:Hine Advertising: HineMarketing Marketing, 01452 Hill Farm 730770 Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Glos, GL2 9LN. Tel: 01452 730770 Published by:Norton Hine Marketing, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes

Maestro Turbo advertising tag line: ‘The Golf GTi will be along in a second’. The photo below shows a good selection of classic MGs, with an interloper, parked in the Kimber House car park in 2010, ready to head across to the Abingdon Air and Country Show on a damp May day. The final photo is of an Australian MGB GT pictured outside Kimber House in 2017 at the end of an epic journey along the Silk Road, traveling from Bangkok to Abingdon. As the slogan goes, you can do it in an MG!

Distributed Lane, Bishopsby: Norton Air Business. Glos, GL2 Merlin 9LN. Centre, Tel: 01452 4 The, 730770 Acrewood Way, St Albans Tel: 01727 890600 Distributed by:AL4 Air0JY Business. Merlin Centre, 4 The, Acrewood Way, St Albans President: John AL4 Day 0JY Tel: 01727 890600 Vice Presidents: President: John Day Ron Gammons, Peter Best, Ian Quarrington, Bill ViceSilcock Presidents: Ron Gammons, Don Hayter, Peter Best, Bill Chairman: Keith Williams Silcock. Vice Chairman: George Wilder Chairman: Dave Tynan Treasurer: Richard Colston Vice Chairman: George Wilder Directors: Saunders, Treasurer: Dave Richard ColstonPeter Cook, Lorraine Noble Thompson, Colin and Dave Tynan Directors: Dave Withers Saunders, Peter Opie and Peter Cook Company Company Secretary: Secretary: Colin Colin Grant Grant Staff Staff Members: Members: Adam Adam Sloman Sloman (General (General Manager Manager 01235 01235 849732), 849732), AndyHutchison Knott (01235 849730), Lauran Gallacher John (Competitions Secretary 01235(Assistant 849738),General Manager 01235 849735), Liz Lauran Allsworth (Membership Secretary Andy Knott (01235 849730), Gallacher (Assistant General 01235 849734), Baulch 07554 160840), Manager 01235 Mark 849735), Liz (Motorsport Allsworth (Membership Secretary Colin Grant (01235 849733), Cherina Scarrott (Finance Officer 01235 849734), Colin Grant (01235 849733), Jade Beckett 01235 Sherman (Merchandise 01235 849737) (01233849736), 849731),Ineke Cherina Scarrott (Finance Officer 01235 and Gemma Administrator) 849736) andBray Ineke(Communications Sherman (Merchandise 01235 849737) Honorary Honorary Members: Members: Michael Michael Allison, Allison, Ron Ron Gammons, Gammons, Peter Peter Best, Best, JohnHayter, Quenby, Paddy Hopkirk, NormanMoss, Ewing, RobHopkirk, Oldaker, Don John Quenby, Sir Stirling Paddy Steve Hanegan, GerryHubbard, McGovern, Ann Hawke,Steve JohnHanegan, Dutton, Norman Ewing, Piers Rob Oldaker, John Julian White, Bill Silcock. GerryDay, McGovern, June Wallis, Ann Hawke, John Dutton, John Day, Julian White, Bill Silcock. Company limited by guarantee The Club, as a corporate body established as the MG Car Club Company limited by guarantee Limited, is a company limited by guarantee. Every member of the The Club, as a corporate body established as the MG Car Club Club undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Club in the Limited, is a company limited by guarantee. Every member of the event of its being wound up while he is a member, or within one Club undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Club in the year after he ceases to be a member, for payment of the debts event of its being wound up while he is a member, or within one and liabilities of the Club contracted before he ceases to be a year after he ceases to be a member, for payment of the debts member, and the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and liabilities of the Club contracted before he ceases to be a and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributors among member, and the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, themselves, such amount as may be required, not exceeding and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributors among one pound. themselves, such amount as may be required, not exceeding Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of one pound. information at the time of going to press, neither The Publisher Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of (herein referred to as Hine Marketing), the Editor, nor the MG information at the time of going to press, neither The Publisher Car Club can accept any responsibility or loss occasioned to any (herein referred to as Hine Marketing), the Editor, nor the MG person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material Car Club can accept any responsibility or loss occasioned to any in the publication. The opinions of authors are their own and Hine person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material Marketing, the Editor and the MG Car Club are not bound to agree in the publication. The opinions of authors are their own and Hine with opinions expressed herein. Reproduction in whole or in part Marketing, the Editor and the MG Car Club are not bound to agree without written permission is prohibited. Safety Fast! and The MG with opinions expressed herein. Reproduction in whole or in part Car Club badge are protected through trademark registration in without written permission is prohibited. Safety Fast! and The MG the UK and in the foreign countries where Safety Fast! circulates. Car Club badge are protected through trademark registration in Readers are warned that if they attempt any mechanical or other the UK and in the foreign countries where Safety Fast! circulates. modifications or methods referred to herein, they do so at their own Readers are warned that if they attempt any mechanical or other risk and no liability will attach to the MG Car Club, the Editor nor modifications or methods referred to herein, they do so at their own Hine Marketing. Neither shall the MG Car Club, the Editor nor Hine risk and no liability will attach to the MG Car Club, the Editor nor Marketing have any responsibility for the accuracy of the content of Hine Marketing. Neither shall the MG Car Club, the Editor nor Hine the editorial, neither the content of any advertisement published in Marketing have any responsibility for the accuracy of the content of Safety Fast! the editorial, neither the content of any advertisement published in ItSafety should be noted that neither Hine Marketing, the Editor, nor the MG Fast! Car Club make any recommendation in respect of any goods and/ It should be noted that neither Hine Marketing, the Editor, nor the MG or services advertised or featured in this issue. It is the responsibility Car Club make any recommendation in respect of any goods and/ of readers to satisfy themselves that the goods or services offered or or services advertised or featured in this issue. It is the responsibility referred to are bona fide and in no instance shall Hine Marketing, of readers to satisfy themselves that the goods or services offered or the Editor or the MG Car Club be held responsible for the quality or referred to are bona fide and in no instance shall Hine Marketing, suitability of any such items. the Editor or the MG Car Club be held responsible for the quality or suitability of any such items.

98 SAFETY FAST! FEBRUARY 2021

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19/01/2021

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series catalogues- email or phone for your copy

9 et of alloy brake drums . with steel liners for TA,TB,TC £1

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C813SS TA/B/C Folding luggage rack polished stainless; folds behind spare wheel when not in use £475.50

NTG Motor ervices Ltd 2 2-2 Bramford Road pswich Tel + 1 1/2 a + 1 2 sales mgbits.com

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