23 minute read
Centre Updates
ABINGDON WORKS
With the easing of Lockdown restrictions and the appearance of some sympathetic weather, there have been opportunities over the past few weeks to give our cars some exercise, albeit a little chilly if you’re top down. The sunshine of Drive it Day saw us out in our B on a 50-mile round trip through the Vale of White Horse and Berkshire Downs during which we saw a couple of other Bs, a FrogEye plus a few other classics enjoying the quiet country roads. David Cato went on a nostalgic trip into Oxford in his B to visit a couple of former MG homes, whilst members of the North Oxon MG (NONG) Natter visited The Old Shed, Charlbury, for breakfast. I hope that you managed to get out and about in yours.
With the approaching prospect of Natters getting under way, we’re pleased to report a new one in the Chilterns. It will be on the second Tuesday of each month at The Inn at Emmington (OX39 4LD) under the stewardship of Greg Smith. Details from Greg on 01844 351418 or gregory.gp.smith@gmail.com
Thanks to David Cato (yellow MGB) and Brian Fisk for the photos published above.
ANGLIA
Rob Muir 01206 862619 scribe@mgccanglia.com www.mgccanglia.com
The Road out of Lockdown, or how to negotiate Dartford Crossing ‘Dart Charge’
With the easing of Lockdown restrictions, the eagerly anticipated MGCC Race Meeting at Brands Hatch arrived. Although spectators were not yet admitted due to Covid restrictions, I was able to attend as a nominated mechanic to Simon Tinkler and James Walpole, both of whom are drivers in Class A/B of the BCV8 Championship.
On the evening before the race my phone went. It was James, to tell me that when he was loading his race car onto the trailer, the engine suddenly locked up. With no time to investigate, poor James was going to have to miss the event.
The drive to Brands was uneventful and I met up with Simon in the paddock. Qualifying went well, except Simon reported an ongoing difficulty disengaging the clutch. We bled the system but it still didn’t feel right. Fellow competitor and MG expert Steve McKie pitched in to help and it was diagnosed that the new clutch master cylinder, a copy part that Simon had fitted, was faulty. We then trawled the paddock to try to find someone who had a spare cylinder. The boys from Oselli had a refurbished original. We fitted this and Simon had a fantastic couple of races, fighting his way through the field and finishing a very close second in class in race two – a great day.
A week later, I received a penalty charge of £140.00 from ‘Dart Charge’ for using the crossing without paying! I knew I had enough credit in my account, but it seems that because I had not used the crossing for over a year, my account had been deactivated. It seems I had been sent an email, but I never saw it. I was let off the charge as it was my first offence, but it’s worthwhile checking your ‘Dart’ account BEFORE you use the crossing if, like me, due to lockdown you haven’t been over for some time.
Anglia Centre Picnic
There is still time to book – see May Safety Fast! or Anglia website, for our Centre Picnic at Holkham Hall on June 27. The 2019 event had record numbers. This year’s event will follow full Covid-safe protocol and is just the place to enjoy your MG as it was meant to be used.
Drive It Day
The photo above shows George Wilder and Roger Martin’s MGBs at Long Melford
CALEDONIAN
Bob MacGillivray 07870 407111 mgcarsscotland@gmail.com www.mgcaledonian.com
Pleased to say that we have a run this month! The annual Solstice run is on June 18, note, a Friday evening. Starting at Kirkintilloch and heading for the Stirling area, it is always a good night, so check the website and please enter.
There will be other one-day runs in July and August and details of these will also be on the website.
Do not forget about the Kames show on August 8. We already have a good entry but can take plenty more. This year there are several anniversaries, 60 years of Midgets, 25 years (plus one) of MGFs, 20 years of ZEDs and 10 years of MG6s. To celebrate any or even all of these we need cars, your car! So please check our website and enter.
For MGA owners, do not forget that the date for your run has been altered. It is now on August 7 starting from the Dunfermline area. Details are on our website.
I do not think there has ever been a time when the Committee had two of its members closely connected with a Register. I am pleased to say that we now have two such. For some years, the MGF Register had a Scottish section but it fell into disuse. However, Glenn Neilson is now responsible for promoting this north of the border and has already arranged a couple of F Register events. They have their own Facebook page, so look out for more info under MG Fun.
And most of you who have attended recent shows will be familiar with Peter Chalmers, well turned out, MG3. Peter is now on the 635 Committee representing these models. Is there a 5 in Scotland? Glenn’s lovely TF 85 at Kames last year
I was contacted last month by an MGC GT bought a C roadster but I began to wonder how owner and new MGCC member. He was seeking many we have in Scotland. Hands up all who some help from other C owners, but I could not own one! think of any more than perhaps two or three Do not forget that we have a surfeit of and one of these cars is for sale! An Aberdeen Regalia stock for sale at prices you will not member, previously owning a B roadster, has now believe! Contact Leslie for info, thanks.
DEVON & CORNWALL
Young Janner II bobslatter@hotmail.com www.mgcc.co.uk/devon-cornwall-centre
Well, we are nearly halfway through 2021, and some sort of normality appears to be returning, albeit very slowly. This is a good indication that we may be able to start holding some sort of gatherings very soon, even if they are in small numbers. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
I think that quite a large number of members did their own thing on what would have been Drive It Day in April, as we did not organise any official outings this year as we have done previously. When we drove around, there were a very large number of classic vehicles on the road or parked outside the owners’ homes, which again shows the enthusiasm and value of the Classic Car market to the country. Long may it continue.
At the beginning of June, we would have been recovering from a great trip to the MGCC Silverstone Race Meeting held over the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend for many a year. There was always a good number of Devon and Cornwall members camping (we were always allocated a specific area for D&C, I wonder why?) and participating in everything from the racing to the California Cup Autotest and Concours. The Saturday evening would consist of a Centre barbecue followed by some very lengthy discussions with our other MG friends from all over the world in the Club marquee, usually well into the early hours of Sunday morning.
The pictures show Bob Slatter competing in the California Cup in his 1500 Midget in 1978 and John Bishop racing in his 1350cc PA/TC Special in the Kimber Trophy Race on 2009.
If any members have items of interest to others, let me know as both Ted Lawrence and myself want to keep in contact with you, but due to the lack of events at this present time, that is getting more difficult.
LINCOLNSHIRE
IAN MACKENZIE 01529 497849 MaccaV8@aol.com www.mgcclincolnshire.co.uk
WELCOME BACK! Octagonal Life Restarts Here!
Our first East Kirkby ‘Post Lockdown’ Autotest took place on April 18. Bob Welch came out tops in the ‘Specials’ class, Danny Reid took the honours in the ‘Long Wheelbase’ class, and Malcolm Clark took fastest time of day in his Midget. Well done everyone who took part, either as a competitor, marshal or picture taker. It was fab to see you all in the great Lincolnshire outdoors (and the sun shone) (in Lincolnshire) (in April).
Around 20 of us braved the elements to attend our first outdoor picnic of the year, held at Woody’s, near Ancaster, organised by Richard and Victoria, who intend to continue with similar events throughout the year. They are also involved in the organisation of the Allington Car Show, near Grantham. This will take place on Sunday August 29. For details of this event, plus an
Despite the disguise, we recognised that Danny Reid had won his class intended lunch meeting on Wednesday June 23, feel free to contact richard.withington1969@ gmail.com or call on 01949 844066.
We are hoping to hold the Centre’s AGM at Abbey Lodge on Thursday July 1 – the room is booked, the stage is set, we await Boris’s nod.
East Kirkby’s Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre will surely be a hive of activity in the ‘released’ second half of the year – and we expect to enjoy the MG Rover day there on Saturday July 3. To find out more, contact Dave Stonehouse.
Even Lincolnshire’s ‘hot fuzz’ want to get involved
MIDLANDS
Paul Hollingworth Paul_irene@btinternet.com
As I sit writing these notes, many of us would have been preparing for our Welsh Rallye in Telford which has had to be cancelled again for the second year due to the COVID situation. We have now rolled the booking over with the hotel for a second year. Fingers crossed for 2022.
I hope you enjoyed Tony Lake’s excellent report on the Spring Sprint. The large entry of 83 led to the event being a great success. A factor in that was that it was a round of Shenstone and District Car Club’s championship combined with the pent up demand for any form of MG motorsport. We hope to repeat the arrangement for 2022. A significant contribution was made to Centre funds, which was a blessing. Any surpluses from our Sprints and Trials had not been enough to cover the operating expenses of the Centre. Let’s hope we achieve the breakeven entry of 40-odd for the Summer Sprint (August 1).
By the time you read this you should be just in time to get an entry for Bob Blackstock’s Naviscat competition which takes place in Herefordshire on June 5. This style of event involves plotting onto an Ordnance Survey 1:50,000-scale map 20 or 24 clue-point locations and then selecting a maximum of three quarters of them to visit. They will likely be within a radius of eight to ten miles of the start and the plotting will require an understanding of basic navigation techniques, such as grid references, tulip diagrams, map symbols, spot heights or herringbone diagrams. Bob has written a beginner’s guide which is available on the Centre website.
June 8 sees our inaugural ‘Super Natter’ evening at BMM Gaydon. Refreshments and toilets will be available, so why not come along to meet up with old friends (socially distanced of course).
The Centre and the MGB Register will have a presence at the Classic Nostalgia weekend at Shelsley Walsh June 17-18. Discounted tickets are available through the MAC website on the car club’s page.
Bob has arranged a Tulip Run with of 50 miles around the Herefordshire and Worcestershire countryside, to be held on the Saturday morning (August 14) starting at the Triumph and MG event at the Three Counties Showground. If there is sufficient demand, we may repeat on the Sunday.
MIDLAND CENTRE DIARY
JUNE 2021 Saturday 5 ‘NAVISCAT’
Contact - Bob Blackstock blackstocks2000@aol.com
Tuesday 8 ‘SUPERNATTER’ EVENING
5.00pm at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon.
Saturday 12-Sunday 13 MGCC RACE MEETING
Silverstone, Northants. Contact – www.mgcc.co.uk/motorsport
JULY 2021 Tuesday 13 ‘SUPERNATTER’ EVENING
5.00pm at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon.
Saturday 17–Sunday 18 CLASSIC NOSTALGIA at SHELSLEY WALSH
The Hill Climb Circuit is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Classic Nostalgia and is offering an action-packed weekend.
See https://www.mgccmidlandcentre.co.uk/ events.htm for more details and entry forms.
NORTH WEST
Paul Goodman 01625 876300
Two meetings at the Plough and Flail are the highlight this month. The normal gathering will take place on Tuesday June 15. This will be the welcome back to all our members as the restrictions on meeting are lifted. Then two weeks later our annual concours event will take place on Tuesday June 29. The organising team have been working away to make this an evening to be remembered. Drivers have been invited from several other sports car clubs and a big turnout of MGs is expected. Parking will be organised so that cars from each era will be parked together. Attending drivers will be invited to select their favourite cars and at the conclusion of the evening there will be an awards presentation. There are some new awards sponsored by “Pinkstones” the MG dealers located in Stokeon-Trent. The Plough will be serving food and drink outside under their canopy. The organisers would like cars to be in place by 7.00pm, as far as the attendees are able, so that the event can be concluded before it gets too dark.
SOUTH EAST
Ray Ruffels and William Opie scribe@mgccse.co.uk www.mgccse.co.uk
The first outing in 2021 for the Centre was an excellent charity Drive it Day run on April 24 from Denbies Vineyard to the finish at Rottingdean via some delightful roads. 60 cars took part in this Covid-compliant event in cold but sunny conditions, raising funds for the NSPCC Childline charity. Afterwards many enjoyed the beaches and villages along the South Coast.
The same weekend, Brands Hatch hosted an excellent MG Car Club event with six categories of MG racing around the Indy circuit – for full details go to www.mgcc.co.uk/motorsport
Natters and Wanderers gatherings and runs are now going back into action as normality returns. For example, the Fairmile Natter is arranging a Brooklands Museum Car Display on June 12 which always proves very popular with members. Contact your local Natter Leader or see the SE website and facebook pages for up-to-date details of all events.
On the racing scene, the Club ran a superb race meeting at Brands Hatch in April. Although the Cockshoot Cup did not have any races, a few of the drivers appeared as guests in the MG Cup. The Committee is going to consider running Cockshoot rounds at Brands Hatch in 2022. This month rounds three and four of the Cockshoot Cup will be run at Plough and Flail Concours, June 2016. Photo: Paul Goodman Silverstone on the Grand Prix Circuit on Sunday June 13. It is anticipated pre-war cars. Highlight of the Saturday will be the that spectators will be allowed at this event, Equipe three-hour relay race for pre-1965 sports which runs over two days, and that there will be and saloon cars. circuit parades on both days. Entry tickets and The Speed Championship is now well participation in the parades will have to be pre- underway with two opportunities this month to booked and information about this will appear on watch the cars and chat to the drivers, these being the main Club website. You should also be able June 13 at Three Sisters near Wigan and June 26 to book to see rounds five and six which will be at Aintree within the Grand National fences. run at Donington Park on July 18. This two-day Looking further ahead, the Centre is hoping to meeting will be a superb festival of MG racing have a stand at the Tatton Park Show and at the with all the Club Championships plus the MMM Gold Cup at Oulton Park. More details next month.
Potential Car Insurance issues: it has come to light that many policies need checking to make sure you are compliant with details regarding parking at home, hoods erected to comply and locked vehicles even on your own drives in some cases, so it is worth checking the small print!
Sadly, note the Speldhurst Natter at the George and Dragon, Tunbridge Wells, is no longer operating after many years under the organisation of Grahame White. We all wish him well for the future.
Finally, if you are not receiving the quarterly SE newsletter it may be because your up-to-date email address is not held by the main administration at Abingdon.
Start at Denbies Vineyard. Photo: John Morgan David Chase and Charlotte Braithwaite selfie on the Drive it day run
To update your details either go to the Members login area of MGCC website, email office@mgcc. co.uk or call 01235 555552.
Les and Fran Hudson at the Rottingdean finish. Photo: Will Opie
SOUTH WEST
Ian Beningfield ianbeningfield@gmail.com www.mgccsw.com www.facebook.com/MGCCSW
After a long period of enforced inactivity, the improving situation means that once more we’re in a position to restart SW Centre events and motorsport. Obviously, we are still at the mercy of government restrictions so please keep an eye on the Centre website and Facebook page for the latest info.
For me, this return to normality has meant I’ve been out and about with the Midget as the MGCC speed championship also returns for 2021. A few weeks ago, I was down at Wiscombe Hillclimb; the team there had done an amazing job preparing the hill and putting on a safe event. The weather was glorious; really, the only things missing were spectators and the beer tent – hopefully both will be able to return when we run our own event there in September.
Putting on an event like this takes a huge amount of effort and we are urgently in need of
TYNE-TEES
Tony Wood anthony@scrutonvillage.co.uk
Have you successfully passed the audition for human pincushion yet? I just managed to resist the temptation to wear my underpants outside my trousers for the rest of the week, but don’t be swayed by my natural reticence. (Why do superheroes all wear impractical outfits? Discuss.)
I don’t want to labour old news. Can I welcome the new board on behalf of Tyne Tees Centre; we are eager to continue working with them and the spirit of co-operation and communication that came out of the April General Meeting was very welcome.
Even more welcome is the prospect of roaring back into action, well more like a gentle throatclear at first. Our Coffee and Cars meetings are due to resume outside in June following the rule changes due on May 17. June 16 in the North and June 23 South are your diary dates, check Tyne Tees Tidings for our venues. We have already published our provisional calendar for the second half of 2021 with events old and new to hopefully entertain you. All Clubs have had to adapt to volunteers to help with the organisation and running of the hillclimb. No prior experience is needed, so please get in touch if you would like to know more.
Before then we will be holding our first competitive event, MGs James Burmester 1934 MG PA Monoposto Special at Wiscombe Hillclimb on Grass, on Sunday May 2021. Photo: Colin Murrell July 25. The popular grass autotest is suitable for to view some of his amazing personal collection. cars of all eras and no experience is needed. A July 4 will be our Summer Picnic, to be held at quick reminder as it’s been a while, that all drivers the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore, a chance will need a Motorsport UK licence to take part. not only to view the usual collection of MGs in The licence is free so no excuse not to join in. Like attendance but also the stream trains which will Wiscombe, we are also always on the lookout for be running on the day. marshals to help with the event; details of how to For members in the New Forest or volunteer are on the website or get in touch. Southampton area, John Sampey is keen to get
By the time this issue lands on the doorstep, a few events going and would like to hear from hopefully we would have held a first social event any fellow members in the area who might be with the Wye Valley Social run. I’ll leave it to next interested. John can be reached on 07904 265939. month’s scribe to report but I can let you know Finally, we are hoping to restart all of our about two more events coming up. Centre Natters after June 21. Details of all the
June 27 we will be visiting Middlewick House venues and contact details are on our website, near Corsham, home of Pink Floyd drummer and along with more information on the classic car enthusiast Nick Mason, with the chance upcoming events.
the times so change in format of some events is inevitable. The Newby Hall event organised so efficiently by our friends at NECPWA has had to reduce numbers to 1,000 cars with no Club stands or group parking. This means we cannot support it in our usual way, but for members who wish to enter individually I will be organising an outside meet-up venue so that we can arrive and park together. Contact me for details.
One event we will be supporting as a Club is Classics at the Castle at Witton Castle on July 11 where we will have a Club stand. Just off the A68, this is an ideal venue in the middle of our area, accessible to all, so come along. There is something for everyone, so check in with Noel if you are coming and enter via the Durham Auto Club website; entries close on June 21.
This month’s photo is of Owen Frankland’s TA Numbum leading out the circuit parade at the much-missed Croft Nostalgia weekend.
YORKSHIRE
Ken Cothliff kencothliff@hotmail.co.uk https://mgccyorkshire.co.uk
Summit
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The South Natter has been busy. To support place this year. Opening Hoursthe Drive It Day, Denise and Malcolm Perry There was no news of Members of the Mon-Fri 8am–6.30pm organised a run through South Yorkshire and other Natters organising anything. West Soft Stretch Indoor Covers from £99 Waterproof & Breathable Outdoor from £179 Sat + Sun Closed – but our Web Site is open! the Peak District National Park, with five other Yorkshire look to be planning their first Unit 2, Furze Platt Industrial Estate Off St. Peters Road, Natter Members in a selection of MGs. They Natter meet on Tuesday June 22 and no PROTECTOR4 FLEECE LINED BREATHABLE FROM £112 Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 7QU stopped at Langsett Dam reservoir and a tea doubt the other Natters will be looking to OUTDOOR CUSTOM WATERPROOF FROM £275 CUSTOM INDOOR COVERS FROM £279 Parts +44(0)1628 629707 Workshop +44(0)1628 636001break at the Old Hall Hotel and Tea Room, where REVEAL COVERS FROM £159 meet up around the same time, and then Website www.summitmg.co.uk Facsimile +44(0)1628 580291 suitable outdoor seating was available. They were we can all get back together with our MGs. E-mail enquiries@summitmg.co.uk
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