Safety Fast! March 2020

£3.95 MARCH 2020 VOLUME 64

NUMBER 3

This month

THE MARQUE OF FRIENDSHIP

AN eMIDGE OF THE FUTURE THE STORY OF JIFF Y THE MIDGET I N C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H A L E C P O O L E T H E 19 5 3 M O T O R S H O W

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WELCOME MARCH HIGHLIGHTS

SPRING NAVISCAT The South East Centre are holding their popular Spring Naviscat around the area of South Downs National Park, West Sussex, on March 8. Details from www.mgccse.co.uk/calendar-2020/

W

elcome to March’s Safety Fast!. With the first major MG show at Stoneleigh over and the weather picking up, it’s great to see more classic MGs emerging from their winter hibernation and back on the roads. Don’t forget the Club’s next major appearance is this month at the NEC for the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration show, from March 27-29. As a member of the Club you can still get discounted entry tickets right up to midnight before the show opens on March 27 by quoting RSCC1134 on the booking site www.necrestorationshow.com It’s a great show with lots of interesting cars on display and being worked on, and the MGCC always have a good presence.

Carrying on with the theme of covers of publications which were instrumental in the Club’s history, this month sees us return to Safety Fast! which was first launched in April 1959. Between 1949 and 1959 the MG Car Club did have an official column in The New Outlook for Motoring, a title designed to cover all the Nuffield products including Wolseley, Riley and MG. Later this was shortened to Motoring; it wasn’t to be until April 1959 that the Club had its own publication back. In the first issue of Safety Fast! John Thornley described the introduction of Safety Fast! as re-establishing a link which was broken in 1939 when the Sports Car ceased publication at the outbreak of the Second World War. Safety Fast! had since 1929 been the slogan and watchword of the MG Car Company. With their permission the editorial team adopted it, as they believed it accurately describes the subject to which the magazine was devoted – speed with safety.

After resting it last year, the Club’s premier event MGLive! makes a welcome return for 2020. The event is fast approaching, being held on the June 13-14. To guarantee the excellent members ‘early bird’ discount rate make sure you book your tickets by April 22 on www.mglive.com or by using the form enclosed with this magazine. New attractions for MGLive! are being confirmed on a regular basis, so do keep checking www.mglive.com to keep up to date.

Until next month, drive safely.

Andy Knott Membership Type

Direct Debit Rate

Standard Rate Online

Standard Rate Post

Single

£50

£55

£55

Joint

£54

£59

£59

Young Members 16-20

£15

£15

£15

Young Members 21-24

£30

£30

£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

CLASSIC CAR & RESTORATION SHOW The popular Practical Classics show returns to the NEC on March 27-29.

Book your tickets online at www.necrestorationshow.com/ quoting the MGCC code RSCC1134.

MGCC RACE MEETING The MGCC race season kicks off on Saturday March 28 on the Silverstone International Circuit. More details from www.mgcc.co.uk/motorsport/

MGF OPEN DAY The MGF Register are holding an open day at Kimber House on March 21, free entry. All details and booking available from www.mgfregister.org/ For many more events during March please visit www.mgcc.co.uk

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 3

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

INSIDE REGULARS 7 Club Matters and Kimber House News 8 News and AGM Notices 12 Products 14 Young Members Branch 65 Race Torque 66 MGs on Track 67 MGCC Speed Championship 69 Centre Updates 80 Register Updates 91 Classifieds 98 Looking Back

NEWSLETTERS 50 SVW Newsletter 55 MGA Newsletter 60 MGF Newsletter

The 1966 MK2 MG Midget, affectionately known as Jiffy, now being totally restored by the MG Car Club.

Photo: Roger Stinson

FEATURES 16 THE MG ADVENTURERS ARE AT IT AGAIN! Dave Godwin, RIP and co are off to Mt Everest

18 MGLIVE! More information on the 2020 MGLive! event

20

37

To celebrate 90 years of the MG Car Club, we’re tracing our roots right back to the early 1930s and taking a look at the various publications the MGCC have used to communicate with their members. The front cover of this issue is based on the first issue of Safety Fast!

The Sports Car magazine which we covered last month became a victim of the war, and did not reappear. By the time MG was ready to resurrect a magazine, the Lotus boys had pinched the title, The Sports Car. The Morris Owner, a long-standing title which pre-dated the MG Car Club, had become The New Outlook for Motoring, a title designed to cover all the Nuffield products including Wolseley, Riley and MG. Later this was shortened to Motoring, a title which continued to 1968 and the Leyland takeover. From 1949 to 1959 there was an official MG Car Club column in this magazine. Club members received the magazine regularly but, although it was interesting in parts, it was not an MG Car Club publication by any stretch of the imagination. After the Leyland takeover the new combined house magazine became High Road and the first copies were circulated to Club members but the practice was short lived. The very first issue of Safety Fast! which became the MG Car Club magazine was issued in April 1959 and our section in Motoring was discontinued.

www.mgcc.co.uk

20 AN EMIDGE OF THE FUTURE The MG Workshops electric Midget

30 THE STORY OF JIFFY THE MIDGET The background of how the Stinsons acquired Jiffy, and also what a lasting effect it has had on their lives

37 IN CONVERSATION WITH ALEC POOLE MGB Register stalwart, John Watson, talks to the famous BMC Works driver, Alec Poole

43 THE 1953 MOTORSHOW Bill Hartley reviews the MG TF and Magnette which were displayed at the motorshow in 1953, reprinted from the November 1953 Motoring magazine

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 5

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CHAIRMANS NEWS

W

e have now started the second phase of our MGLive! ticket sales and you can now purchase Early Bird tickets for our major event of the summer. We will be contacting our regular volunteer team shortly; if you would like to join us and help in the lead up week to the event or the Sunday tidy up please let us know via the Club office, myself or Jim Andrews of the SVW Register.

Our spring season is upon us and we start with Racing at Silverstone on the new-to-us, International or Southern Circuit and we will be operating for the first time out of the iconic wing complex, so come along and have a look. Our speed championship kicks off with sprint at Curborough on April 5, MGs on Track will be visiting Bedford Autodrome on March 9 and your Centres and Registers are all starting their spring programmes shortly, so why not shake off the winter blues and get out with some like-minded friends.

In March we hold one of our twiceyearly council meetings. The other one is in October and that one includes our Club AGM. At this meeting your Centre, Register and Branch representatives will be gathering to discuss the higher level running of the Club and raising any concerns they have and any that you have raised with them over the winter months. Of course, we will be addressing the usual management issues that a Club of our size and complexity needs to keep on top of, but one of the items for discussion will be the output of the Members’ survey and it’s not too late to have your say in the next few days.

I was most impressed last month when I attended the AGM of our Young Members Branch. There was a feeling of enthusiasm from them that I had not experienced for years. If you know of a young person (we define that as someone under 25) member of the Club or not, please encourage them to get involved with the group. They are very active on social media and the best way to find them is on Facebook @MGCCYMB. They are running their own programme of events as well as participating in the normal run of things.

I find it amazing that we will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the MGF. The main celebration will take place at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon over the weekend of July 25-26, with a Show Day on the Saturday and an Anniversary Road Run on the Sunday. You can find all the details on the “mgf25.org” website or by contacting the MGF Register in the normal way.

As we look forward to a scorching summer of MG motoring, I hope that none of you have been affected by the February storms and rains.

Bill Silcock

KIMBER HOUSE NEWS Bill Wallis Collection The Club has recently been bequeathed the MG Memorabilia collection of the Club’s late President, Bill Wallis.

The collection was donated by his daughter Louise Davies.

Amongst the many interesting items, which include books, magazines, an MG tie collection, photographs, posters and framed pictures, is a programme of the 1954 MG Car Club Welsh Rallye and also a programme of events from the Club’s 60 Years Anniversary gathering, held at The Roebuck, near Stevenage, where a group of enthusiasts founded the Club in 1930. The programme is signed by those who attended, including John Thornley, and the programme will now be on display together with many other items at Kimber House.

www.mgcc.co.uk

Archive Volunteers We are pleased to announce that following the advertisement in last month’s Safety Fast! for Archive volunteers two people have come forward. They are Robert Collier and Michael Gibbard. Both have already made a valuable contribution to the archive, sorting many of the magazines and photographs ready for recording and archiving. Our thanks go to both of them for volunteering.

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 7

NEWS THE PETER BEST DRIVE-IT DAY 2020

Following the huge success of last year’s event when 500 classic cars and many more motoring enthusiasts took part, this year Braxted Park in Essex will be opening its stately doors to up to 1,000 vehicles on Sunday April 26.

The Peter Best Drive-It day is FREE, a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow Car Club members and motoring enthusiasts and admire a wonderful array of vintage through to modern-day collectable vehicles. As well as vehicles from various car clubs and motoring enthusiasts, there’ll also be a static display of rare and interesting vehicles.

On the catering front, there’ll be plenty to choose from, too, including delicious vintage-themed food stalls or you can treat yourself to a VIP breakfast or afternoon tea experience (book online only).

All types of vehicles are welcome – Peter Best is particularly keen to hear from Car Clubs who’d like to take part. So, whether you drive a classic, modified, supercar, or something else, you can bring it along for others to admire.

If you don’t own a classic, modified or supercar, don’t worry, you’re still more than welcome to attend our event. You will just need to make sure that you register yourself, and your vehicle, as well as any passengers that may be coming with you.

To secure your place – we’re strictly limited to 1,000 vehicles – please register online NOW at: pbis-drive-it-day-2020.eventbrite.co.uk MGA Register AGM Date: April 18 2020 Venue: The MG Car Club, Kimber House, Abingdon, OX14 1AS Time: 10.00 for 10.30 sharp (immediately followed by a Committee Meeting) AGENDA (subject to change) 1. Welcome and Apologies for Absence 2. Review and Approval of Minutes of 2018 AGM 3. Chairman’s Report 4. Treasurer’s Report 5. Election of Officers and Committee 6. Any Other Business Date of Next Meeting Nominations for Committee posts and requests for other information to be received by email to the Honorary Secretary, Colin Manley, at colinmanley99@gmail.com by Monday March 14 2020.

8 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

MGCC T Register AGM Date: Saturday April 18 2020 Venue: The British Motor Museum (formerly the Heritage Motor Museum), Banbury Road, Gaydon, CV35 0BJ Time: Approx 4.00pm AGENDA Apologies for absence Minutes of last AGM Chairman’s Report Treasurer’s Report Competition Secretary’s Report Election of Officers Election of Committee members Appointment of Council representative A.O.B. Nominations (forms are available on the T Register website or from the address below) and topics for A.O.B. should be sent in writing by March 28 2020 to: The Secretary, MGCC T Register, 29 Church Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire MK45 2PL. Or by email to: treg.sec@ ntlworld.com by the same date.

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After its facelift in September 2018, the number of new MG3s hitting UK roads has steadily increased. Backed by MG’s famous 7-year warranty, MG3 continues to win the hearts of buyers across the country, thanks in part to the brand’s commitment to providing the best value-for-money cars in the UK. Also in the MG3 range, the mid-level MG3 Excite is now available on a four-year 0% APR PCP finance deal as part of MG’s new year offers. For customers looking to trade in their car, the MG Swappage scheme offers buyers a minimum part-exchange of £2,000 on cars older than seven years.

PETER ARNELL We recently heard the news that Peter Arnell sadly died on Wednesday February 12. Many older members will of course know both him and his wife Suzie as members of the South East Centre. He owned an NA and a YB, amongst other classics, and for many years was Chairman of the Y Register. Over the last 15 or more years the couple lived in Shropshire. We extend our condolences to Suzie and the rest of the family.

Caledonian Centre AGM Venue: The Royal Hotel, Bridge of Allan, FK9 4HG Date: Tuesday April 7 2020 Time: Starting 7.30pm. Tea/Coffee and home baking will be available from 7.00pm Agenda Apologies for absence Approval of the 2019 AGM Minutes Matters arising from previous AGM Chairman’s Report Secretary’s Report

Treasurer’s Report Election of Office Bearers and Committee Members Events for 2020 Motions for debate Any other Competent Business Date of next Annual General Meeting Nominations for Office Bearers, Committee Members and Motions for debate should be forwarded to the secretary no later than Monday March 23 2020.

www.mgcc.co.uk

NEWS

BICESTER SUNDAY SCRAMBLE

M G TA M G T B M G T C M GT D M GT F M G B G MGTFMGZRMGK M G VA M G Z S M G S A MGWAMGZTMGGS

The MG Car Club has booked a Club stand at this popular event at Bicester Heritage on Sunday April 26 2020 – taking place on Drive it Day. The stand will be jointly manned by our Midget Register and Young Members Branch.

To book on to the Club stand visit https:// bicesterheritage.co.uk/tickets/april-scramble-tickets/, select the MG Car Club from the Club drop down after the payment details on the same page, and use the code MGBHDID20 to ensure you will park on the MGCC stand.

The Club code is valid until midnight on Tuesday April 21 – club bookings will be unavailable after this time.

FREE DELIVERY ON ALL MARCH ONLINE ORDERS Last year DMG launched their brand new website which they hope you have had the opportunity to visit.

Unfortunately due to unforeseen issues and ongoing maintenance to improve functionality, the website experience has not met their usual high standards.

They would like to apologise, and as a thank you for your patience and loyalty DMG are offering free delivery on all UK orders (retail only) placed during the month of March.

To place your order visit the website now at www.davidmanners.co.uk

BILL CHARLTON 1934-2020 Most of us will remember Bill with his wife Heather, driving their 1978 Russet Brown MGB Roadster. They went on continental tours and supported every event the MGB Register and Abingdon Works put on.

Bill joined the RAF, qualifying as a high-grade engineer. He went on to be involved with the design and production of Concorde at Filton.

His working life was always linked to aircraft; he held a pilot’s licence which was very useful when they lived on the Channel Islands.

He was also a keen volunteer for the RNLI, along with his wife Heather.

The couple moved to Dorset from where they travelled to most MGCC Race meetings to help with the organisation. Bill was well respected in the MGCC, and will be missed by all who knew him.

We send our condolences to Heather. www.mgcc.co.uk

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all it MGA’ book

ers sign the ‘C artin (L) and Pi

Roger M

I

at Silverstone in

Piers and Linda Hubbard rece ive their MGCC 50 year members badge and certificate from MG CC President John Day.

2005

A TRIBUTE TO

PIERS HUBBARD

n recent years, Piers and Linda are known for being the founding members of the Surrey Wanderers some 23 years ago, a weekday lunchtime Natter and according to the pubs list, starting at The Dolphin, Betchworth.

Piers, however, was more active by far in earlier years in the South East Centre.

He joined the MGCC in 1961, at about the same time as he married Linda, and they supported the local Natter at the Sugar Bowl, Burgh Heath, Surrey, now a Premier Inn and Brewers Fayre. The South East Centre then was run by Gordan and Elsie Cobban, the backbone of the Club and SE Centre at this time, and Piers was invited to become Centre Treasurer in 1965.

The South East Centre was much larger in the sixties, as younger centres such as Anglia and Abingdon Works had not been formed, and these areas were all part of the South East. The Centre was actively involved with MGCC Silverstone and other race meetings and Piers was involved with much of the race organisation.

Initially, Piers had a TA, which he bought in 1958, but when the family arrived, this had to be exchanged for a Y Type in 1965 and later a Z Magnette.

Events such as the Beaulieu Summer Gathering became very much a family weekend from 1963 onwards. Horror of horrors, the Magnette had to be sold and a Morris Marina was acquired in the early

10 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

70s and for three years, this was the only time in his motoring history that he didn’t have an MG! In 1975, he bought his fourth and final MG, the Iris Blue MGA that he drove absolutely everywhere with the roof down whatever the weather (some doubted it even had a hood). Piers relished driving his MGA, together with his wife Linda, enjoyed many MGA Register weekend events as well as the 2005 Round Britain Tour. He also used his MGA to attend the annual MGCC International event at Silverstone and was proud of the fact that he had never missed a year.

Always one to contribute, he held the MGA Register Historian committee responsibility for many years and with his extensive knowledge of MGA

manufacturing history and racing exploits he was ideally qualified to co-author the Register book “Call it MGA” as well as to assist other authors of MGA-related publications and classic car magazines.

In 1992, Piers became main Club Treasurer when financial problems arose and he was instrumental in restoring sound finances. He also returned to race organisation in later years, when again finances were a problem, and worked closely with Ron Gammons on the MGCC Race Sub Committee until recently.

Piers also visited many overseas MG rallies and events, including USA, Canada, South Africa, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The last big trip was to the MidWest of the USA last summer, flying to Minneapolis and meeting MG friends to travel by road to Dubuque, Iowa, for the 44th MGA GT in North America. Piers gave two talks on some of the history of MGs. He was also a keen photographer and for many years supplied numerous photographs of race meeting and club events to Safety Fast!.

Piers will be very much missed by all who knew him.

John Morgan and Roger Martin

Piers in the drivers seat of his MGA about to head out on a Silverstone parade lap 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

RPS MGB SEBRING-STYLE VALANCES

RPS’s latest development is a set of Sebring-style front and rear valances for the MGB. This is another option for converting a rubber bumper car to sit alongside RPS’s existing conversion kit. The new valances are also designed to be a bolt-on conversion, with no fixings showing. Prices are to be confirmed but are likely to be around £118 for the rear valance and around £138 for the front with the ducts fitted, or £122 without the ducts. All of the valances come with all of the fixings required to fit them to your car along with full instructions. They can also, with a slight modification, be fitted to a chrome bumper MGB. For more information contact RPS Ltd, Tel: 07900 431244, Tel: 07868 131906, Email: enquiries@rpsltd.info Website: www.rps-ltd.info

CLASSIC ENGINES AND MODERN FUELS BY PAUL IRELAND

Classic Engines, Modern Fuel brings together a collection of popular articles previously published by the author in assorted car magazines. Based on indepth research carried out at Manchester University, the articles investigate how classic engines respond to modern petrol/ gasoline, and the results are presented here in a way that any enthusiast can understand. Paul Ireland’s years of experience and no-nonsense scientific approach will help you get the best from your classic car.

One chapter ranks some brands and grades of modern petrol/ gasoline, helping you choose the best type for your vehicle, while other chapters present the findings that debunk some of the myths about petrol/gasoline and engines. Real data is provided to help you tune your classic vehicle, and ensuring that it runs as it should. You will be able to experience the pleasure of driving your classic car instead of worrying about it breaking down.

The appendix gives a down-to-earth description of how to rebuild and tune SU and similar carburettors. After reading this, even a very nervous owner was able to rebuild and re-tune his twin SU carburettors.

Priced at £15.99 plus £3 p&p and available from Kimber stores. To order go to the Club shop at shop.mgcc.co.uk or phone Ineke on 01235 849737.

MG3 2019/2020 NEW MODEL ALLOY ENGINE BRACE

An excellent quality Alloy Engine Brace for the MG3. No modifications to the engine bay required. All brackets and fixings are supplied, together with two flexible alloy MG3 Badges. The two fixing brackets can be colour coded to your requirements. Fitting time is approx. 20 to 30 minutes. Really enhances the look of the engine bay. Previous MG3 models Engine Brace is also available. Total Price delivered to your door £118.00. We offer MGCC members a 10% discount. Contact MG and AMC Parts, The Smithy, High Street, Southwick, Hants.

PO17 6EB. Main Office, Tel. 02392-220222. Warehouse Tel, 02392-372648. Mobile: 07454 006080.

Email: roger@briscoe.net Web: www.mgandamcparts.com

12 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

www.mgcc.co.uk

New products available from

MERCHANDISE

KIMBER STORES Wooden retro box £25

Garage Sign £ 25

MGCC 90th Anniversary Note book £ 9.50

Travel sweets £ 4.75

MGCC 90th Anniversary boiler suit £ 30.00

MG Umbrella £ 25.00

MGCC 90th Anniversary Journal book £ 17.50

Factory original T-series New edition £40.00

MGC GTS Lightweights £ 35.00

All prices exclude P&P

To order please visit shop.mgcc.co.uk email ineke@mgcc.co.uk or Phone 01235 849737 1www.mgcc.co.uk www.mgcc.co.uk SAFETY FAST! XXXX 2020

MARCH XXXX2020 2020 SAFETY SAFETYFAST! FAST! 13 1

YOUNG MEMBERS

Shaun Nelson shaunnelly@hotmail.com

JOHN GALLOP 1973 MGB GT

T

he idea of blasting around the countryside in a classic MG has always been a recurring daydream of mine. I knew once I had my licence, that as soon as possible, I wanted to be able to use a classic to enjoy the art of driving.

My family have two MGB GTs, both of which brought myself, my father, uncle, and grandfather together. They were always a talking point and something we could all share together. Often a hot topic, discussed over a pint, and an excuse to get out of the house on a Sunday morning to go and see other lovely classics in the local area. It’s not exactly common seeing somebody my age driving a classic car – my friends think it’s actually pretty crazy!

However, the experience of driving a car

14 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

that’s so visceral and engaging, yet so forgiving, is something a lot of people my age should experience before saying their hopped-up hatchback is more enjoyable!

There are few things that make me happier than driving my BGT on a good road.

I’m studying Automotive Design at Coventry University with the ambition to be among the next generation of creative minds working at the pinnacle of industrial design. Sadly, the automotive industry is moving away from the idea of fun cars with character, and cars are becoming more and more synthetic and feel less alive –despite the incredible feats of engineering they achieve. However, there will always be classic cars, and as long as they are legal to enjoy on the road as intended, the spirit of classic motoring

will be there to be loved and enjoyed for generations to come. As someone who endeavours to be on the front line of what is one of the most exciting industries on the planet, the timeless beauty and elegance of classic cars and MG will always be in my mind when sketching out the future.

Being part of the MG Car Club Young Members branch, and indeed this year becoming vice chairman, has really brought me into the MG community and I am incredibly proud to count myself amongst friends within the Young Members Branch.

Representing them at the NEC Classic Car Show was a lot of fun and it was incredibly enjoyable to share my passion for MG with other young people, keeping the love for these cars alive. www.mgcc.co.uk

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FEATURE

THE MG ADVENTURERS ARE AT IT AGAIN!

By Dave Godwin

In 2017, I thought that having circumnavigated the world in our MGA ‘RIP’, this would be the end of my association with RIP’s Trips, but RIP has thrown a curve ball at me, yet again!

She whispered, “Want to be the first MG to drive to Base Camp Mt Everest?” Of course! Why not!

P

reliminary planning started in 2018 but things got serious in early 2019 when the editors of Safety Fast!, Enjoying MG and the MGA Register graciously posted an “Expression of Interest” for me in their relevant magazines.

The short story is four very adventurous – or is that brave – teams will be joining RIP, including Blue B from Australia, two MGAs from the UK and an MG Midget, also from the UK.

16 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

Preparations have been exciting, but also challenging for the group. Remember, we organise as much of the trip as permitted by the laws of the countries we traverse! Each MG had to be prepared to within an inch of its life! – or, is that, our lives? Spare parts and special tools had to be decided upon and packed away.

The itinerary was decided upon. Agents were appointed in South East Asia and

China/Tibet to assist with hotel bookings and getting us through country borders.

Then came the administration tasks – researching, passports, carnets, shipping, insurances, vaccinations, first aid courses, visas, flights, handouts/gifts, regalia, car decals – the list goes on and on!

The MGs will leave Australia and the UK mid-February 2020 for Bangkok, Thailand, in time for the MG Adventurers to head to the Bridge over the River Kwai early April. Thereafter, we head eastwards to Siem Reap in Cambodia and the delta of the Mekong River in Vietnam, before turning northwards and following the Mekong River to Laos and into China.

From China, we meet our Government-approved guide and visit rice paddy fields, historic villages on the

www.mgcc.co.uk

The Adventurers are: Dave and Laurel Godwin in RIP, an MGA, who visited the UK in RIP in 2005 and fell in love with travelling the world in RIP and meeting MG people.

Ross and Shez Letten in Blue B, an MGB, which has completed all trips with RIP, except for the first trip in 2010 – namely, the first MG to drive from the MG Factory, China to the MG Factory, UK.

Ross and Shez Letten in Blue B encounter an obstacle

Charlotte (Charlie) and Steve Vowden, daughter and father, in Frisky, an MGA. Charlie inherited her Grandfather’s MGA and is the youngest member of the group – very young!

Lloyd and Sue Tredell in an MG Midget.

Packing will be a challenge for Lloyd and Sue as they are both tall and the MG Midget is not large…

Paul and Susan McAvoy in an MGA. Paul is an Engineer extraordinaire – designs, fabricates and installs bespoke machinery for the agricultural industry.

Silk Road and Tiger Leaping Gorge over the Yangzi River, before turning west and entering Tibet.

Tibet is home to very many high mountain passes – our route taking us over five passes above 5,000m (15,000ft) and around ten passes above 4,000m

Steve and Charlie in Frisky their MGA www.mgcc.co.uk

(12,000ft) – with views to die for! After visiting the capital, Lhasa, we drive to our overnight stop at Rongpu Monastery, 6km from Base Camp, where an eco-friendly bus will take us to Base Camp for an experience of a lifetime! Let’s hope the weather plays its part!

At this point, the MGA and MG Midget will travel to Nepal and on through India to be shipped home to the UK while the remaining three MGs will continue along the very barren track westwards to Kyrgyzstan, where the MGs will be stored for 12 months – hopefully in a secure location!

Bring on May 2021 and the Adventurers will return to their MGs and drive to Abingdon, UK, via Uzbekistan, Russia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and France.

Lloyd Tredell getting in some packing practice MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 17

THE WORLD’S LARGEST MG EVENT!

Join us to celebrate 90 years of the MG Car Club at Silverstone Circuit MGLive! will be packed full of exciting features to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the MG Car Club, the original club for MG enthusiasts.

It’s going to be a truly memorable weekend of MG fun, so don’t miss out on the chance to celebrate this major milestone in the club’s history.

All this and more!

• Live action arena with car stunts and presentations hosted by Wayne Scott • Return of Russ Swift, sponsored by MG Motor UK • Racing • California Cup Autotest • Autosolos plus race action on track all day.

• Concours & Pride of ownership • Traders

• Cars for sale display • MGCC displays including our Registers and Centres • Displays from the MG manufacturer • Live music • Variety of food and drink stalls • Kids activities • Circuit Parade Laps • Lifestyle marquee for all the family • …and MGs as far as the eyes can see!

Traders We have a huge array of traders and specialists from the MG world and classic car industry booked to attend, just some of those exhibiting include; British Motor Heritage, Moss Europe, RPS. Smart Tech Car Care, Martin Smith and Classic Driving Developments plus many more. If you would like to enquire about exhibiting, contact lauran@mgcc.co.uk.

The MG Lifestyle Marquee, for when all the cars get a bit too much!

The MG Lifestyle Marquee will offer an escape from all the petrol-head hedonism with plenty of stalls featuring an array of crafts, food, jewellery, clothing, photography and other interests.

The Lifestyle Marquee for this year is already taking shape and already there are some exciting and interesting exhibitors booked.

Please see www.mglive.co.uk for the full list.

MGLive! is not just the world’s biggest festival of all things MG. It is also home to some of the most spectacular club motorsport you will ever see! Proving that there is something for everyone at MGLive! there is a full programme of racing out on track at Silverstone throughout the weekend, all in addition to the show field, trade arena, live music and stunt driving displays.

NEW FEATURES ANNOUNCED MG Trophy Championship The MG Trophy is one of the UK’s most hotly contested single make club championships. It offers wheel to wheel racing for the front wheel drive MG ZRs in 3 classes, and the more modern MG3.

The MGCC Peter Best Insurance MG Cup Established for over 20 years, this year includes a range of MGs from post war T-Types through to sixties Midgets, MGBs and MGCs, plus more recent MGFs and Z series cars.

BCV8 Championship The MG Car Club’s long established BCV8 Championship is the premier series for MGB and MGC racing, offering classes for the fully modifed V8s to road going cars.

Stunt driving displays with Russ Swift Over the years, Russ has established 3 Guinness World Records for Parallel Parking in the tightest space, a J-Turn in the tightest space and the fastest donuts! Russ will be demonstrating all these moves, plus passenger rides, driving an MG on just two wheels and all sorts of other tricks and stunts for you at MGLive!

Live entertainment

Cockshoot Cup

The Village Green returns to MGLive! To ensure we offer you true ‘festival feel’.

THE Cockshoot Cup Championship is a racing championship run by the North West Centre of the MG Car Club. The cars are split into four classes and cover everything from Midgets, MGBs to ZRs, MGFs and MGTFs.

This year, we’ll have music from the Candy Girls, a ’40s and ’50s close harmony group back by popular demand, alongside the Jazz Experience, a five piece band recreating swinging renditions of beautiful songs in ‘Rat Pack’ style.

Lackford Engineering Midget & Sprite Challenge The Midget & Sprite Challenge is the only exclusively ‘Spridget’ race series in the UK. With the backing of the well-known Classic Car restoration company, Lackford Engineering, it is THE home for racing MG Midgets and Austin Healey Sprites of the kind built 1956-1979.

The entertainment carries right on through to the Saturday night After Hours party. Headlining the stage all evening will be The Guitar Legends who will mesmerise you with the Greatest Guitar Hits of all time.

Glo-Car competition Complimenting the live music will be the annual GloCar competition organised by the MGF Register. This spectacle really brings the show alive during the hours of darkness with competitions for ‘Pro-Glos’ that have all the serious kit to make their car glow, flicker and twinkle. Plus, classes for ‘amateurs’ who can enter by grabbing anything that they have to hand to make their MG stand out at night, the more wacky the better!

MGLive! 2020 Ticket Prices

DAY

Rate

VALID

Early Bird

26th February (10:00) - 22nd April (10:00)

Advance

22nd April (10:00) - 4th June (10:00)

Gate

13th - 14th June

WEEKEND

Member

Non-Member

Member

Non-Member

£17.50

£25

£30

£40

£25

£35

£20 £30

£40 £45

Early bird tickets now on sale!

Tickets are even better value this year for club members, as we would like to share the MG Car Club’s 90th anniversary celebrations with as many members as possible. It’s set to be a momentous occasion, so don’t delay – book now!

Keep watching www.mglive.co.uk for more details!

FEATURE

AN eMIDGE OF THE FUTURE

by Colin Grant

With the ever-increasing threat of becoming carbon free by 2050, and with a ban on selling new petrol, diesel or hybrid cars in the UK by 2035, what effect will this have on our classic MGs?

What Lies Ahead Few will deny that the road to cleaner air is a good thing to protect the future of humanity and its environment, but the realities, logistics and practicalities of encompassing these changes are anything but straightforward. In 20 to 30 years’ time we may find that fuel prices have gone through the roof with fewer outlets available to us. On top of this, Government legislation together with insurance costs could restrict us to limited use of our classics, and of course the values of our classics could plummet. The last thing we want, though, is for our cars to become immobile works of art!!

When the existing generation, which is currently enthused by classics, dies out, what will be the impetus for the preservation of historic vehicles? Will the next generation of digital-savvy successors share the love of our motoring and want to encompass it with all its future restrictions? There is an answer. A few individuals and companies are pioneering ways to convert your car to electric power, and in years to come this could be the only practical way to use your classic MG on a regular basis.

The Beginnings One such firm is MG Workshop, based in Monster, Holland. The firm was started by an MG enthusiast called Bart Spoelstra in February 1972. With many MGs still everyday transport, Bart’s business grew. After being asked to prepare an MGA for racing, his business took another turn and he eventually ran a team of MGs in many local and national events. This led on to preparing and entering cars in rallying. In 1996 he was joined by Thijs De Groot who became their full-time mechanic. Later, at the turn of the millennium, Bart’s youngest daughter Cathelijne joined the

20 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

www.mgcc.co.uk

Cathelijne and Thijs outside the MG Workshop premises in Monster www.mgcc.co.uk

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 21

Engine being removed by Hans van der Laan

team. In 2013 sadly Bart passed away after suffering health issues and a new era dawned with Thijs and Cathelijne taking over the business.

The Alternative Today the MG Workshop is thriving; with spares now freely available they are able to service, repair and restore a whole range of classic MGs. This is thanks in part to a loyal band of volunteers who freely give

Original gauges removed and new instruments being fitted with additional switches. The Halda is a left over from the cars rallying days.

of their time to help out with the many tasks. So what brought about the eMidge project? Thijs explains that he was inspired

by Matthew Quitter of London Electric Cars, who converted a Morris Minor. He found this conversion very appealing as it retained the Minor’s character. This led him on to think how would a Midget behave with such a change. So in November 2018 Thijs together with one of their team helpers, Hans van der Laan, began the

project. The Midget they chose for the conversion had been owned by them since 1982 and had been seen in all sorts of guises, including having a Heritage shell in 2006. He decided from the outset that the whole operation could be reversed again in the future if so desired.

So no structural changes were made to the body shell which stayed completely standard.

Engine on its way out.

22 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

www.mgcc.co.uk

TRACK DAY

at Croft Circuit July 17 2020

This is an ideal opportunity for first time and novice Track Day drivers to experience this wonderful circuit, with sessions arranged according to driver experience and the cars being driven. Experienced ARDS Instructors are available to offer tuition during the day, on this superb race circuit that is a favourite for so many drivers.

Open to all MGCC members, including those who may have done a track day before.

Bookings open on March 3.

MG on track

BOVOANKCE

IN AD

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NECRE

TION STORA

MGCC Tyne-Tees Centre, supported by MGs on Track have arranged a Track Day at Croft Circuit on Friday July 17 2020. This will comprise of 3 x 20 minute sessions each hour with a maximum of 10 cars on track. The event is limited to a maximum of 30 cars on the day.

Visit: www.mgs-on-track.com for more details and to book your place

TS -TICKE /CLUB M O .C SHOW In association with

Official Show Partners

SPRING’S BEST CLASSIC CAR SHOW 27-29 MARCH 2020 • NEC, BIRMINGHAM

Get hands on, sit back and learn, and be entertained at the friendliest of classic car shows!

Over 1,000 Classic Cars • 150 Car Clubs • Live Demonstrations • 250+ Traders Car Dealers • Celebrities • Restoration Gurus

Exclusive discount on Saturday and Sunday adult or family tickets with your club code*:

RSCC1134

Book your tickets today at necrestorationshow.com/club-tickets *Exclusive discount code is for club members use only, available in advance until midnight on Thursday 26 March 2020.

To book by phone call 0844 858 6758, calls cost 7ppm plus network extras.

454639_PCRS03_Club_A5_Landscape_Ad_2020_FV.indd 1

www.mgcc.co.uk

31/10/2019 12:09

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 23

Contemplating over coffee

Motor ready to fit complete with original clutch

Battery boxes in process of being made

The Solution On researching the options Thijs decided to use Tesla batteries as they had the best power to weight ratio (26kg each, 5.3Kwh, 24VDC) and were perfectly shaped to fit the car. They used four second-hand batteries connected to an Emus battery management system. This system communicates with the charger and can be read by a Bluetooth device such as a smartphone. The car’s 12V battery is retained to drive the ancillaries such as lights, heater fan, wipers, etc. 12V is also needed to operate the high-voltage main contact relay and is charged by a DC converter. This set-up is a RDW (Dutch DVLA) requirement.

The choice of the E-Car Box power unit controller system was because it was one of the few controller units accepted by the RDW. From this year there is an alternative RDW-certified system made by EV Europe.

The choice of motor came down to budget constraints, and a brushless alternating current (AC) motor, air cooled, fitted with temperature and rev sensors was chosen.

It has less hp than the original engine, but with much more torque. This combined with the weight of the Midget is quite sufficient and makes for a very fast car.

The electric motor that replaces the original ‘A’ series engine sits in exactly the same position, which means it can

It fits and only after 3 tries

Battery boxes and engine mounting brackets before powdercoating 24 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

www.mgcc.co.uk

electric for all mg zs ev from just £22,495 ^

HIGH TECH, FULLY ELECTRIC WITH ZERO EMISSIONS AND AVAILABLE NOW!

Fuel economy and CO2 results for the MG ZS EV. Mpg (l/100km): Not applicable.

CO2 emissions: 0 g/km Electric range†: 163 to 231 miles.

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. ^MG ZS EV range starts from £28,495 OTR. After Plug-in Car Grant of £3,500 and the MG Customer Saving, customers can purchase their MG ZS EV Excite from just £22,495. The MG Customer Saving and Plug-in Car Grant also applies to Exclusive versions. Offer available until 31st March 2020. OTR prices include VAT where applicable, vehicle first registration fee, delivery, number plates and 12 months’ Vehicle Excise Duty. Prices are correct at time of being published and are subject to change without notice.

No one would guess its electric Battery and control boxes in situ. Almost ready for closing the box

eMidges charging point

be connected to the original gearbox by a back plate and works with the original clutch. You can use the car as an automatic simply by selecting 4th gear from standstill and drive away with no need to use the clutch pedal. The reason for this is that at standstill the motor is not running. But if sporty driving is your desire you can start off in 2nd or 3rd gear, but once in motion you will have to use the clutch to change gear.

The car’s fine balance has been retained. This has been achieved by utilising the fuel tank mounts and the original brackets to place the batteries.

Each battery pack contains two Tesla batteries, one positioned at the front of the car and one at the rear. This is done in a way that the weight distribution is 350kg at the rear and 400kg at the front.

26 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

The Tesla batteries are 26kg each and this helped maintain the car’s original weight.

Additional gauges and switches are fitted. Because the oil/temp gauges are now superfluous, one has been replaced with a so-called Spy Glass, which informs you of power, voltage, engine revs and temperature during driving. The other vacant aperture will be filled with a simple clock. Switches fitted are a contact switch, which basically initialises the car, a drive switch to get the car in motion and an economy/sports mode option switch. A Cut Out button is fitted in case of an emergency, which is also a legal requirement. The car has a regenerating braking system and this can be adjusted.

A Halda is also fitted, but is a leftover from the car’s heyday as a rally car and now helps to keep ‘range anxiety’ low.

The Shake Down Once the project was completed, tests were carried out to check the vehicle range and charging times. The car is charged via a socket in the grille, which has some slats removed to accomplish this.

Thijs said he had wanted to have a socket where the now-defunct petrol filler cap was, but this was not allowed by the RDW. In summer it was found that between 90 to 110 miles can be achieved, but it loses some 10% when the temperature drops.

Charge times worked out at around 8 hours for a full charge.

For the car to be made road legal Thijs had to contact the RDW and produce a user manual and a technical report. Also, Certificates of Authenticity were required from the manufacturers of all components used and weight balance had to be tested and approved. Checks were also made of every fitting, the magnetic field and wiring.

The cost of the project, which includes all the components including fitting material, came to almost £18,700. This does not include labour or the car itself.

The Experience Whilst attending the MG Spares Day at Houten in Holland this year, I met Cathelijne and Thijs who had their eMidge on display, and they invited me along to their premises to test drive the car.

The following day I arrived at the MG Workshop in Monster, where Thijs showed www.mgcc.co.uk

Hans van der Laan checking out the wiring

Test fitting the battery and control box

me round the eMidge which was parked in their amazing workshop, flanked by Classic MGs. Jumping into the eMidge I was instructed by Thijs on its start-up procedure. Switch on the contact and drive switches, choose a gear and away we go. If you have never driven an electric car before, the sensation of moving off with no sound is a little nerve racking and you have a sensation of not being in control.

But this feeling quickly evaporates as you move off onto the road.

At first I was making very careful use of the accelerator and driving quite slowly,

www.mgcc.co.uk

All change under the bonnet

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 27

Lots of interest at the MG Spares Day at Houten

Every things fits in well

but as confidence grew we soon gathered speed. I had started off in 3rd and using the clutch I changed into 4th. To me there was no noticeable difference as the car just keeps pulling. On deaccelerating as I approached a T junction, I was impressed at the equivalent engine braking of the car, which was utilising its regenerating system.

Within five minutes of driving, I felt quite at home and have to say it felt very much like a petrol-driven car to drive.

Cathelijne and Thijs with their creation at the MG Spares Day at Houten

The torque is very impressive, and pulling away from a standstill in top gear gave no problem at all. Having driven Midgets before, the car felt perfectly balanced, and handled in typical Midget fashion, as if on rails. The standard braking system coped well with the extra power delivery, and when I had to pull up quickly, avoiding one of the many cyclists, I did so with complete confidence. The test drive came to an alltoo-soon end, and as I pulled back into the MG Workshop garage I realised I had a big grin on my face. Talking over my test drive

with Thijs, I had to admit that this was just an incredible experience and one I could get used to.

Conclusion In the future will this type of electric conversion be the only way we will be able to continue using our Classic MGs? Only time will tell. But if this is the route we have to take, it’s good to know that people like Cathelijne, Thijs and their loyal band of volunteers are pioneering the way forward for us to be able to achieve this.

First time charging. Quite at home amongst its peers.

28 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

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PROJECT JIFFY

30 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

www.mgcc.co.uk

THE STORY OF

JIFFY THE MIDGET

By Roger Stinson

I

This is the background to how we acquired GFJ 697D, (Jiffy) the Midget, (now being restored by the MG Car Club) and also what a lasting effect it has had on our lives, and mine in particular. www.mgcc.co.uk

suppose the story all started when I was about ten. My elder brother was what you might call a real car enthusiast.

When the ‘new’ Jaguar (since labelled the MkI) came out in 1955, the then 12 year old sent off a reply slip for a brochure from one of the papers that our father read. A few days later a spanking new shiny Jaguar pulled up at the end of our drive, asking to speak to Mr Stinson.

Needless to say, my father was acutely embarrassed by this and it caused some mirth in the sales department when it was realised that the ‘Mr Stinson’ concerned was only 12. They did offer a quick run in the car but much to my brother’s disgust, Dad declined. With a background like that, I was almost bound to take an interest in cars, wasn’t I, although I was more of a realist, for I felt that I was never going to be able to afford a Jaguar. As I grew up, I began to take more of an interest in cars in general, but my first real awareness of MG came with a MkI Midget belonging to one of the sixth-formers at the grammar school I attended. I noted that it was very manoeuvrable and obviously fun to drive, but again I felt that anything like that was way beyond my means. I duly went to college where some of the other students had MG sports cars. One mature student even had an MGB GT, but the real clincher was that one day a student on my course who, whilst initially driving an old Vauxhall VX 490, ended up driving a new red MkII Midget with winding windows and a much-improved engine which appeared much more civilised. The number plate MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 31

THE BEDFORD GARAGE HAD A MKII MIDGET IN STOCK WHICH COULD BE OURS AT A BENEFICIAL PRICE, AS THE NEW MODEL (1275) WAS BEING LAUNCHED SHORTLY

Jiffy and the future Mrs Stinson

was 4 EOT and the driver Alan Wright, so thank you, Alan, for introducing me to the wonderful world of MG. I wasn’t able to have one straight away, but made up my mind that that was what I wanted. In the meantime I had met a young lady and whilst her preference was for a white Mini, we reached the compromise of having a white MG Midget. One Saturday morning we decided to go to the Bedford Garage in Exeter (now unfortunately closed with a tyre company using the premises). Here we spoke to a Mr Parsons in the sales department, who said that in his younger days he had raced at Brooklands. (If

anyone can supply further information about this gentleman, whose home I discovered was in Topsham at that time, I would be very interested.) The Bedford Garage had a MkII Midget in stock which could be ours at a beneficial price, as the new model (1275) was being launched shortly. My thinking was that it was better to have a slightly earlier car which we could afford rather than a new one which we would have to wait for and would not be able to afford. Apart from a few very showery days, we have never regretted that decision. So that car became GFJ 697D and because it was quite quick in

those days and because of the registration it became known in the family as GiFy or more easily spelt as Jiffy.

We had quite a few adventures in Jiffy, the first major one being our honeymoon, spent in the Lake District at the Howtown Hotel. On one of our day trips into Cumbria we went out to the Wrynose Pass, along Wrynose Bottom and then followed the road over Hardknott Pass.

The scenery on this route is wonderful and the roads fun to drive, particularly in the light traffic of 1967. We also took a trip out to Hawick in Scotland where we found the residents friendly and the scenery and the roads well worth the visit. We also met another couple driving a white Midget who were camping in the area.

The gentleman preferred his own car, a performance version of the Vauxhall Viva, but was holidaying in his lady’s Midget, registration number also starting with GFJ, and if memory serves ending in D. It was a wonderful week in the Lake District, but

Roger and Jiffy

32 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

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when the time came to leave, I took out all the luggage and put it in a pile by the car, at which point the number of people sitting enjoying their coffee in the sun suddenly became an audience. The general consensus passed on to us by quite vocal comments was that we would never get it all into such a small car! Which leads to me on to the second of the lasting effects of Midget ownership, and that is how to pack a lot into a small space, an art that I have never forgotten, as future journeys were to prove. The second? What about the first? Well, that was that any car I had needed to have good road-holding and accurate steering, plus a good feeling for what happens at the tyre/road interface, for after all that is what I had become used to in the Midget.

Winter (yes, they were much colder then) at that time provided the opportunity to learn another vital lifetime skill, apart from being aware of the state of the road surface by feel through the steering, and that was how to handle a skid. It is something that you never want to happen, but if it does you must know what to do and have the trained reactions to do it. Travelling along the A35 on one wet occasion a Ford Cortina GT was 34 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

following me and as I went round a fairly sharp corner where some fuel added to the problem, the rear of the car started to slide, but a quick flick of the wrists corrected the situation. The Ford was not so lucky and modified the roadside hedge a little, but apart from a few dents to car and pride, was unhurt.

Another earlier little incident happened on the A35 when driving down to Exeter, where there is a section of three-lane carriageway leading up to what was the Askers Motel (now not there, apart from some ruins). The priority changes at that point from two lanes up the hill westward, one lane down, to one lane Exeter-bound and two lanes east. As I got to the westbound single lane, I noticed a car at the Motel waiting to turn out onto the main road. Good, he’s seen me and stopped. But no. Just a handful of yards away, he pulls out. Even with brakes hard on there was absolutely no room to stop. But there is a double white line. And worse, there are two cars side by side coming the other way. What can I do? There is a verge on the left. Foot off brake and flick the steering onto the verge, momentum alone now overtaking the car on the inside. But there is a road sign on two posts just ahead. Aim for the gap. Subsequent investigation showed clearance of about an inch each side of the mirrors on the car. Fantasy? No. The whole scene was observed by my girlfriend’s parents’ neighbour, driving down to visit his father next door. The son’s congratulations on quick thinking

were passed on the following morning when he was surprised to see the very car parked outside. The other driver did stop and offer apologies and to make sure I was alright, and shortly afterwards the road sign was taken away. It pays to have a car, like the midget, that handles well and responds quickly.

Some of the uses the car has been put to would not be legal now, but were quite acceptable at the time, and some of them might be considered a little demeaning for a sports car, but proved the versatility of it. A few little incidents might make the point. Whilst living in Southampton, we needed to buy some carpeting, and as delivery would cost (in my view an unnecessary expense) and require a wait of nearly a week, we decided to take it home in the car, so down came the hood and the carpet roll was put into the passenger foot well alongside my wife’s legs. The only thing was that it started raining, and whilst the rain went over the cockpit most of the time, there were traffic lights, many on red, so what would we do? Every time we stopped, up went my wife’s large umbrella, and by judicious watching of the traffic lights, was down again when the lights turned green. For some reason we got a few funny looks and smiles!

Likewise, a double bed mattress was bought for us, but in Exeter, and we were living in Southampton. As a keen canoeist, I had already devised the MkI canoe carrier which had two uprights front and rear, joined by two tubes along the length of the car, and this proved very capable of supporting a double mattress. Securely tied down, the mattress became the ‘roof’ of the car and we became rather like ‘the surrey with the fringe on top’. The sight of us travelling along the A35 in this manner elicited some strange looks and one or two rather more bawdy but amusing comments from lorry drivers, possibly suggesting that we needn’t look for a hotel... Shortly after this came a rather better MkII canoe carrier, much stronger and more capable of carrying loads both safely and at higher speed. I should mention at this point that the car had been fitted with a tow bar which became the rear, very rigid, fixing. The tow bar had been fitted in order to tow a trailer www.mgcc.co.uk

carrying six canoes and the car proved more than capable of keeping up with a Ford Zodiac towing a similar, somewhat larger, trailer carrying ten canoes on group camping trips. It was with this MkII carrier that I and my wife travelled from Gosport in Hampshire up to Carlisle and back for a weekend Division two Canoe Slalom along with life jacket, paddle, wet suit and full canoeing kit, and now also with our dog, a cross between a Labrador and Alsatian, so not pocket size. The car coped admirably with the mix of trunk roads and motorway, where it existed in the late sixties.

The MkII carrier, designed originally to take two canoes, was easily modified to be more family friendly on our trips between Shropshire and Exeter and was used more than once on that journey to carry the same canoeing load but now also with a collapsible pram alongside, as there was a new baby and all the paraphernalia associated with travelling little people. The baby was carried on my wife’s lap whilst the dog lay down behind the seats, neither of which we would even consider now but which was not illegal at that time. Once again the car acquitted itself admirably, but it was obvious that a more capacious car was needed. Jiffy lived in garages most of the time from then on and was to be my hobby, rebuilding and preparing for our silver wedding anniversary. www.mgcc.co.uk

WHICH LEADS TO ME ON TO THE SECOND OF THE LASTING EFFECTS OF MIDGET OWNERSHIP, AND THAT IS HOW TO PACK A LOT INTO A SMALL SPACE, AN ART THAT I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN, AS FUTURE JOURNEYS WERE TO PROVE The trouble is that you can make plans – and then life happens. Our golden anniversary was passed as well, due a little, rather expensive, problem called radon.

Oh, and a few ‘little’ health problems along the way and finally one of our daughters becoming seriously ill. Along the way, I didn’t ignore MG as a 2.0 litre

MG Maestro and a rather special ZR 160 have graced my garage, both of which proved to be reliable and had the attributes that I became accustomed to in the Midget. We have been sorry when it had become time to part with them all, but especially with dear little Jiffy, so much a part of our early life together.

First view of Scotland on their way from cumbria to Hawick, with Roger’s new bride in the foreground

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 35

FEATURE

IN CONVERSATION WITH

ALEC POOLE

MGB Register stalwart, John Watson, has known the famous BMC Works driver Alec Poole for some time. He recently got together with Alec to discuss the London to Sydney Marathon MGB driven by Jean Denton, and took the time to ask Alec about his time with MG. www.mgcc.co.uk

H

is MG history goes back to the Sixties when he was a BMC apprentice. Alec’s dad was the MG and Wolseley assembler and importer in Ireland. Along with another apprentice, Roger Enever, (his dad was none other than Syd, MG’s Chief Engineer who conceived the MGA and MGB) they took up very competitive Club racing in the UK with a 1275cc Sprite and Midget respectively. Their skill and activities were rewarded by being invited by Donald Healey to race for the BMC Team in the Sebring 12 hours in 1966.

Early in January 1966, with Comps Dept totally involved with the Monte Carlo Rally, (they were right in the middle of the Mini Cooper S rally heyday) apprentice Alec had been requested to spend a week at Silverstone shaking down all the BMC MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 37

race cars for Sebring. Today others would call this task testing, but way back then, to the lowest form of factory life to the tea boy – the Comps apprentice – this was shake down post new car build.

Later in 1966 the boys were asked

by Shell engineer John (Baggy) Sachs to drive his Stage six road-going MGB in the Ilford Films International 500-mile race on the Brands Hatch GP circuit, where they finished a remarkable third overall behind Jack Sears in a 7.0 litre Cobra and a GT40, but in front of some very heavy metal.

Buoyed with this success, they found a tired MGB in the factory with the then new five bearing engine which had done 100,000 development miles on the banking at MIRA. Syd’s Development Department gave in to the Stage six treatment, and in September the lads set off to do the 84-hour Liege Marathon de La Route on the combined Nord

and Sudschleife at the Nürburgring. They broke a halfshaft while leading with four hours to go, but team mates Andy Hedges and Julian Vernaeve in another MGB went on to win. Pity, as in the fog one night Alec managed to lap the whole field in the 22-mile lap, which included drivers like Vic Elford in a Porsche and Jacky Ickx in his works Ford Lotus Cortina. (A strange benefit he credits to coping with those horrible peasouper smogs in Brum back then.)

Undaunted by their luck in the Liege Marathon de La Route, they then did the three-hour international at Montlhéry, near Paris, in October and finished 12th overall.

In 1967 they won their class and the GT category overall at Monza and again at Spa in the 1,000km international sports car races. They later finished second in their Class at the 1,000km races at their old stamping ground the Nürburgring and Brands Hatch. They also did one of the last 12-hour races at Reims and found time to go to the old Mugello road race which took in the famous Futa Pass which was part of the Mille Miglia.

Remember that in this era the incredible Porsche 911 had been on the

Alec (left) and Roger talk tactics at the 1967 Monza 1,000km

market for two years when our heroes were doing their stuff.

Denis Jenkinson wrote in MotorSport magazine: “The Enever/Poole MGB finished yet another long-distance race in a fine example of reliability and good preparation… many competitors trying to tackle serious racing would do well to give a close look at the preparation that goes into this private entry.”

Along the way during his driving career, Alec joined Andy Hedges in a works MGB at the Targa Florio. Sadly, Andy found the only tree in the whole of Sicily so Alec didn’t get to drive, but he tells me he was pretty disappointed

BRX during the Monza 1,000km 1967. Roger and Alec Poole finished first in class 38 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

www.mgcc.co.uk

The MGB of Roger and Alec ready for the 1966 84-Hour Marathon

Alec (left) and Roger hold the broken halfshaft that ended their 84-Hour Marathon race 80 hours in www.mgcc.co.uk

because he was fastest BMC driver in qualifying (which included the regular rally drivers Timo, Rauno and Paddy!).

In 1968 the boys drove for Donald Healey again. This time in a special bodied Sprite at Le Mans, they finished 14th. That was prior to Alec co-driving with Paddy on the London-Sydney Marathon, when they finished second.

As an afterthought, Alec mentioned that he also won the British Touring Car Championship in a Cooper S in 1969. He also drove one of the fabulous lightweight full house MGCs with Roger for Comps Department at the 84-hour NĂźrburgring Marathon which he says went quite well until they retired with head gasket failure.

Sure, it is said that motor racing is dangerous, but the stories of the fun and games they had back then before all of the present-day political correctness, health and safety took hold doesn’t bear thinking about. Like on a seven-day BMC record attempt on the banked Monza track in an Austin 1800, seeing who could do a lap at a constant 105 mph with their hands MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 39

The MGB of Roger Enever and Alec Poole (74) chasing down bigger machinery at the 1966 prestigious Brands Hatch meeting

on the top of the driver’s seat backrest, looking out the back window… Or when they turned up for their first works drive at Sebring, Florida, in 1966 they were joined by half-a-dozen Aer Lingus girls who had been on the St Patricks Day parade in New York a few days earlier. Strange how all the Journos noticed the boys who were racing a near-standard Sprite. Maybe our young drivers weren’t quite so innocent after all, insisting their girlfriends wore their flying uniforms at the racetrack…

Alec has never lost his interest in cars and modifying them. He’s just completed a four-year project for Vitesse Global Ltd to set up their sales system for the Mazda five-speed gearbox kits for all MGA and MGB models and more recently for the Triumph range of TR sports cars.

In this day and age of social media it is a pleasure to meet Alec face to face and reminisce about a couple of guys who are still mates, who haven’t more than two pics between them of the best MG international racers ever, both of whom are so grateful to their dads who made the whole thing possible.

40 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

Andrew Hedges (left) and Julien Vernaeve, winners of the 84-Hour Marathon at the Nürburgring

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FEATURE

THE 1953 MOTORSHOW

The Motoring magazine carried an official MG Car Club column from 1949-1959, in addition to many technical articles and news of changes to MG models.

The November 1953 issue dubbed a Motorshow special carried a description by Bill Hartley (well-known Radio and TV motoring Personality) of two of the ‘new’ MGs which were to be present on the Nuffield Stand, reprinted below.

The MG TF Midget If ever a car has become a part of motoring, it is the MG Midget! Countless people have started their motoring, after a period of yearning, in a Midget. No need to say what sort, just “a Midget”. So the knowledge that “TD” was to give place to “TF” whetted my enthusiasm, as it will that of so many others. The “TD” has been loved for some time now and the MG folk at Abingdon have been quietly working to bring out this new Midget for our enjoyment.

Recognisable Radiator To the beholder, there is still an MG Midget that can be seen and recognised.

But modifications and re-styling have www.mgcc.co.uk

taken place to bring a line that attracts from the start and puts the car right where it should be, abreast the times.

The bonnet has been given a downward slope towards the front where it meets the recognisable radiator of such distinctive line. The radiator, in its turn, slopes back a few degrees and the line blends well with

the downward slope of the bonnet.

The bonnet has been altered in another respect, too. The sides are now fixed (but easily removed) valences, and the centre-hinged top opens smartly with the operation of two push-buttons on either side. Access, I made sure, was adequate.

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 43

This open bonnet brought new features to light. The power unit had obvious outward differences. Questions soon gave me the answers. The twin S.U. carburettors are larger; in fact they are now 1 1/2 in. bore as opposed to 1 1/4 in. on the “TD”. There are twin Vokes air cleaners to cope with them.

This led me to guess at internal mods, and interesting they are, too. The compression ratio has been raised as high as 8 to 1 and in conjunction with the larger bore carburettors the valves have been increased in size and are fitted with stronger valve springs. Thus, while it is in the main the same reliable and efficient unit, the Abingdon team have now provided this version, designed to give more power and all that goes with it, as the standard unit.

Naturally, with the re-styled bonnet and radiator, the front wings, while still recognisably MG, are reshaped to shroud the headlamps. The whole front is clean and tidy and has an air of efficiency.

44 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

Padded Dash Rail I climbed into the driving seat and gazed around me. It seemed different and a check revealed where the changes lay.

The instruments are grouped in the centre of the facia, with an open glove-box on either side, which is welcome. The facia and instruments are hooded by the dash rail, which is padded and trimmed in matching leather, presenting a pleasing and very neat appearance.

Out of the car and round to the back, seeking more changes. Yes, the petrol tank, while remaining of the same useful capacity of 12 1/2 gallons, has been reshaped to bring it lower and this gives quite a surprising new overall line to the car. It has another effect, too. The sidescreens are now stowed in the car in a horizontal position instead of being vertical as in the “TD”. I must say that I found them very easy to take out and replace, and this arrangement makes more room

for baggage and so forth – a useful point.

So there the modifications end.

There still remains the same suspension, with independent front coils operating on unequal length wishbone-type links, and the semi-elliptic rear springs. The transmission is unaltered, with the same handy gear lever and sweet change. The wheels are the ventilated-disc type but, as an alternative, you can have “knockon” wire wheels if you wish. Direction indicators are fitted.

A “Dice” Keen to handle the car on the road, I started up and set off. Pretty soon I sensed benefit from the changed aspiration and as I got clear of traffic it became evident that there is a gain in acceleration and power. The higher compression produced no pink even when I slogged in high gear up hills, deliberately leaving my change rather late.

www.mgcc.co.uk

I settled down to enjoy, as always, the handling quality of this car and indulged in what can only be described as a bit of a “dice”. The handiness and very positive feel in the steering certainly does permit one to enjoy this sort of thing with a feeling of safety and security, and I must say that the direct-action rack-and-pinion equipment is quite a joy. The accuracy with which one can place the car round fast bends adds tremendously to this feeling of being well within safe limits and makes for very high average speeds.

Comfortable and Durable Maximum speed seemed to me to be reached much more quickly and to be handsomely over the figure which the

“TD” would give. Of that there is no doubt – this “TF” is faster than the “TD”, and once more the Midget has advanced while retaining so many of its quite delightful characteristics in feel and looks.

Back at the Works I had a look down the line. The colour range is the usual attractive selection so well known and associated with MG. The real leather trim is, to my mind, carried out in a standard of finish not perhaps usually linked with a sports car and more reminiscent of limousines! Certainly it is comfortable and durable, which is what one wants.

So the newest of the long, continuous line of Midgets has arrived. And like all its famous predecessors, it will add to the success of the name. Of that I am quite sure.

The 1250cc XPAG engine

www.mgcc.co.uk

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 45

The prototype MG Magnette

The MG Magnette A splendid name revived! That was my first thought as I heard of the new MG “Magnette”. This is one of the names to be remembered and, from now, to mean something new.

For here is a car that, on sight, strikes one as being an outstanding product of a marque that has brought us such fine performance cars over the years.

Twin Carburettors Here is a new car; new in almost every aspect, and which I confidently expect will set a new standard in MG motoring.

At once, you ask: What’s the engine?

Right, it’s a 1 1/2-litre unit and a new BMC design. In actual fact it is 1489cc with bore 73-02 and stroke 89. The compression ratio is 7-15 to 1. It is, of course, a four-cylinder unit with push-rod operated overhead valves and twin S.U. semi-downdraught carburettors, breathing through an AC air cleaner. Cooling is by a four-bladed fan, with pump and thermostat. Ignition has vacuum-controlled advance. It is a neat and good-looking unit, which means a lot to any engineer.

Taking the logical route and passing to the transmission, the 8in Borg & Beck clutch is hydraulically operated and housed in the cast aluminium clutch and gearbox case. The box is four-speed and the gearshift is central on an extension from the box. More of this anon.

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Rear axle is a BMC banjo unit with hypoid gears and three-quarter-floating axle shafts, which is located by a torque arm anchored at the forward end. Brakes are very amply sized 10in x 1 3/4in Lockheed with cast-iron detachable drums.

Like the Midget, the wheels are ventilated disc with 5-50 X 15 tyres.

Cooling Fins The suspension has a new and welcome feature. The telescopic dampers are fitted with cooling fins at the bottom end and I am assured that this can make as much difference as to keep them 40°C cooler.

Now that’s a very worthwhile feature and should do away with any question of fading. At the front they are housed inside the coil springs which work on long and short wishbones. The rear suspension is taken care of with half-elliptic springs (pivoted onto the axle casing) with rubber spring eye bushes and the same finned dampers. This, I was to find out, made for a steady, sure ride, keeping up the “Safety Fast” slogan so honestly applied to MG motoring. Linked with it, I must remember, is the rack-and-pinion steering.

For All to See Moving into the driver’s seat, the vision obtained seemed first-rate but a road run would confirm. Handbrake between the front seats and not, by the way, of

The prototype MG Magnette

the fly-off type. Instruments well laid out and easily read without moving from the normal driving position. The clock, unusually, is mounted centrally above the screen for all aboard to see.

Of the trimming and general finish inside I need really say little because all I could say is that it is fine and well up to the standard we now expect from an MG. Now was the moment when, having looked around and asked questions, I could take the Magnette out on the road.

The roads around Abingdon and Oxford provide plenty of scope for obtaining an

www.mgcc.co.uk

unit has a snap and bite that should please the most heavy-footed, merchant, and which, whilst I again took no acceleration figures, was as satisfying as I might have expected; which is a lot!

The performance in third was a particular joy, for one could deal with somewhat sluggish main-road traffic with the utmost ease. The vision, bearing out what I had anticipated, I would simply say is excellent, and that is so important as a contribution to safety and driving comfort and as a fatigue saver, too.

MG Magnette actually on display at the 1953 Motor Show

assessment of a car and I made full use of them. In this I include the congestion of the central part of the city, which is pretty typical of the sort of traffic we all have to cope with in our travels. And I’d say right away that it is a very long time since I so quickly settled down in a new or strange car or enjoyed such an exhilarating experience. The controls suited me well and all performed their functions with admirable ease and effectiveness, and, to an engineer, they had the feel of firm sweetness that good design and good machine work alone can bring to a product. No bent-wire feel, if I may use such a term. Just certain mechanical smoothness.

No Qualms I was asked to take care of the car, for she was a rather precious machine and one that, shall I put it, would be sadly missed!

I intended, therefore, to take things just that little bit more gently. I say intended, but as the miles mounted I found the roadworthiness so true that, before long, corners were treated with something almost approaching contempt and no qualms did I have. The new power

Functional and Smart Yes, the Magnette will draw them all right, I punned to myself. The lines (just look at them!) call for no comment. The designer has achieved a proportion and shape that perhaps even a photograph will not convey in its full attraction. Clean, functional and smart, the Magnette is, how else can I put it, a real beauty! And, from my 50 miles or so, I’d say she handles as well as she looks.

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MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 49

NEWSLETTER

Paul Campbell svw.safety.fast@gmail.com www.svwregister.co.uk

WELCOME TO THE

SVW NEWSLETTER This month we hear from two of our Australian friends, including some insight into the awful bush fires there, news on the annual SVW Event in July and the Brooklands MG Day in April, Steve Curtis reminds us to check our timing chains and I report on some work I’m doing on my VA Tourer.

Rob Dunsterville writes from Down Under: I’ve just reviewed the Register website and read your tribute to Bas. You mentioned he found VA0251 in a breaker’s yard. I am not sure that is correct. It’s only a minor point but I will give you my recollections.

In the summer of 1975 I was living in London and visited the Norfolk property of the Cramer Brothers, I was shown several K saloons and tourers and VA 0251 amongst other cars in Nissen huts. I bought a KI and a KN saloon which survive in Australia as a K3 replica and a lovely special-bodied K tourer. I didn’t buy the VA as it didn’t have enough appeal to attract an Aussie buyer even though it was the first!

The Norfolk property was not a breaker’s yard but a collection of cars the Cramer Brothers had acquired over time. They were collectors/hoarders and didn’t restore any as far as I know.

‘Hoarders’ is used today as a rather nasty description but thank goodness they did buy and hoard so that others had access to them later to return them to their former glory!

On returning to London, Cramer showed me his brother’s K3013 in a lock-up, which had a small bench seat in the back!

Ten years later it was bought by Gerhard Maier and then restored to Ulster TT body shape.

I have always had a love for the SVW range and drove Gary Wall’s VA Pickford (correct spelling!) on a NZ rally a few years ago. As co-organiser of the Australian Pre-war Register’s biennial Rally in 2015 I had registered 20 SVWs to attend but only 16 arrived, which is still a Down Under record.

I’m currently writing the history of SA2387 which arrived in Sydney without a body, now being restored. At the 2015 rally (above) there was a VA that arrived in Sydney without a body and the factory sent front wings from a saloon, so the nearside has the spare wheel. This car was bodied in Sydney with a tourer body similar to the factory one but now with the spare in a different location. There’s also a shortened chassis WA being restored with a two-seat wooden boat-tailed body so we have a few different SVWs including Malcolm Robertson’s SA Coupe.

Thanks Rob, lots happening Down Under, as ever! Looking at Bas de Voogd’s own recollections of VA0251 on his website, he said: “It was standing in a barn at a sort of scrapyard-like place where it had been for the last 20 years,” so that chimes reasonably well with Rob’s memories. VA0251 is currently back on the market looking for a new owner.

WILMOT BREEDEN FRONT BUMPERS Known as harmonic stabilising bumpers, they are intended to reduce the effect of torsional vibration in the chassis.

Wilmot Breeden supplied harmonic front bumpers to several upmarket car-makers; Rover used them until 1947. These have substantial lead bob-weights mounted in the rolled ends of the bumper blade, with the whole bumper assembly able to move relative to the chassis on a full-width steel leaf spring.

I removed mine from the VA Tourer to Wilmot Breeden bumper bracket components. Photo: Paul Campbell 50 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

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NEWSLETTER repaint the front valance section, but in so doing decided to refurbish all the bumper components and badge bar assembly. The substantial badge bar brackets that support the transverse leaf spring comprise the bracket itself, a Silentbloc that slides on to the dumb iron, a bottom cover and a top piece that converts the cylindrical shape of the Silentbloc to a flat surface for the transverse spring, all pulled together with a special U-bolt. My rubber bump stops were perished but they are available from Meteor Spares (who mainly supply pre-war Rover parts). There are several sizes but the ones that fit the VA are 1 3/8”.

There’s something satisfying about handling these original 82-year-old parts that have barely been touched since they were fitted.

Steve Curtis sent in this photo of the timing chain on his VA Tourer where some link pins had started to fall out. He spotted one missing pin, but after removing the chain found another two! He’s planning to fit replacement chains, but certainly something to check on a regular basis – thanks Steve

BROOKLANDS MG DAY APRIL 19 2020

Brooklands 2019, looking forward to the event this year. Photo: Paul Campbell

WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK GROUP I’m not sure how it’s happened, but I now look after the website and Facebook group in addition to writing these notes. This was rather unplanned but it does streamline

www.mgcc.co.uk

I noted that there are changes to the event this year, so I made enquiries with Steve Castle, Head of Track and Air Event at Brooklands, who said the following: “We have had to pull both the MG Day and British Marques Day together for this year, to try and free up some time in our calendar. The MG part of the day will be run much as it was last year, with a timeline of MG models running up the finishing straight and the areas to the west of it. The MGF will be the feature model in the Paddock, and we hope to have separate displays for the MG TC which I think celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. We also want to make something of the 40th Anniversary of the cessation of MGB production and the demolition of the Abingdon factory.

The British Marques side of things will be allocated spaces around the Aircraft Factory apron, around Concorde and in and around the Aircraft Park during the day”.

I enjoy both events and take different cars to each, so this year it will have to be the VA Tourer.

things, as I can get things on the website and let you know there’s something to see via the Facebook group. The website is under redevelopment (not by me, I hasten to add!) and the new specification has been created and approved by your committee. In the meantime it’s just a case of keeping everything up-to-date and relevant. Lots of items have recently been listed in Spares For Sale/Wanted, so do take a look.

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 51

NEWSLETTER

Canberra’s iconic Parliament House flag pole is barely visible through the heavy pollution. Photo: Malcolm Robertson

AUSTRALIA BUSH FIRES – DIRECT FROM OUR MAN ON THE GROUND

SVW Review editor Malcolm Robertson who lives in Australia’s capital city, Canberra, reports that the note on the door of the bookshop at Cobargo, a delightful small town nestled in the bush on the far south coast of NSW says it all: “All books on the apocalypse have been moved to current affairs”! Along with many other small bush communities, Cobargo has been severely burnt by the fires that have ravaged Australia this Malcolm’s SA looms out of the heavy bushfire smoke blanketing Canberra on January 1. Photo: Malcolm Robertson Many houses and several buildings in the main street of Cobargo were destroyed by fire.

Photo: ABC News

52 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

www.mgcc.co.uk

NEWSLETTER summer. Malcolm’s photos showing his SA looming out of what looks like a typical winter fog demonstrate the extent to which Australia has been impacted by the fires this season. The typical fog is bushfire smoke, blown several hundred miles inland from the fire grounds to the nation’s capital, blanketing it under a dangerous smoky cloud and pushing the normally pristine air quality figures to the top of the global city pollution scale, easily surpassing cities such as Calcutta and Beijing. Similar

REGISTER CHAIRMAN’S JOTTINGS It is that time of year when one’s thoughts start to consider what events to participate in during the year. As most of you know, I am quite active in either my VA or MGC and attend many local (Leicestershire) events, plus those considerable distances away.

We’re planning to attend this year: Brooklands MG Era, Jacobite Run, Charnwood Caper, Old Speckled Hen, MGLive!, the SVW Event and the Rainbows Run. If you are now starting to plan your year, there are three principal events where a good SVW turnout can hopefully be achieved, especially as the MGCC is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year: Brooklands MG Era, MGLive! and of course our SVW Event. It would be great to see you at these events with your SVW car if at all possible.

One of my annual winter jobs is to update the Index of Articles on the Register website, which many members find useful in locating technical information and help on their cars.

Late last year Walter Prechsl sent me an initial document he had produced on the differences between the Wet Clutch and Dry Clutch power units fitted to VA. This was a very significant and major change during the production of the VA. On searching the Index of Articles it became obvious that this important detail had not been fully detailed before. How many VA owners have obtained second-hand power unit spare parts and found they did not fit?

VA HEAD GASKETS

I heard of a stash of NOS Payen gaskets in January not too far from me. After a 100-mile round trip I came home with 11 of them (although a couple cannot be used)! They’re no good for my own VA as I have the 1707cc engine, but I thought I’d grab them for those who may need one now or would like a spare. The last ones we had access to were selling for £110, but as a bulk purchase these will be rather less. Three of them come as full head sets in the original packaging and will cost more, but they are in super condition. I’m advertising them here initially so members have first choice, then in April I’ll put them on the website and Facebook… so be quick!

Collection from Brooklands or Battle can be arranged.

Email Paul Campbell svw.safety.fast@gmail.com

www.mgcc.co.uk

days of bushfire smoke pollution have occurred in Sydney and Melbourne and, while the city population reaches for P2 face masks, Australia’s political leadership continues to express surprise at the “unprecedented” events despite warnings from scientists and other experts who have been predicting such impacts since 1975. “All is not lost,” says Malcolm. “I think I detected added performance in the SA due to the increased levels of combustible matter in the airflow.”

Walter’s initial document stimulated me to start compiling a comprehensive article identifying all the individual component changes. This is becoming quite a large document (13 pages to date) due to the level of detail. I am planning to have a simple guide to the differences published in the SVW Review and the full detailed document on the website once I have completed the work.

My research has identified considerable other changes that were made to the power unit during its production between 1936 and 1939. I believe the modern term would be “continuous improvements” which unfortunately gives us problems in identifying second-hand spare parts.

Happy SVW motoring.

Jim Andrews

ANNUAL SVW EVENT 28th – 30th JULY 2020 BATTLE, NEAR HASTINGS, EAST SUSSEX Based at the PowderMills Hotel at the site of the famous Battle of 1066, a lovely hotel with outdoor swimming pool and our own private dining.

Extend your stay to include Mon/Fri at a special price. Full booking details on our website under Social Events and also on our Facebook page where you will find extended (and evolving) details of the event.

Programme hopefully to include Beachy Head, Filching Motor Museum, Battle Abbey, Herstmonceux Observatory, Chapel Down vineyards and Dover Castle.

AGM for members at 6pm on Wednesday evening followed by the traditional gala dinner.

We hope to see you there where you’ll find a warm welcome!

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 53

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54 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

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NEWSLETTER

WELCOME TO THE

MGA NEWSLETTER Spring is just around the corner, March 19 being the spring equinox and the official start of spring, and hopefully the weather will allow us some early days of MGA activity.

The Restoration Show at the NEC runs from March 27-29 but the first general opportunity to get on the road is the MG Day at Brooklands on April 19 which this year is billed as the MG and British Marques Day. This is closely followed by Drive It Day on April 26.

The MGA Register has a number of events in 2020, all of which are detailed in the Events section of the Register website at www.mgcc.co.uk/mga-register/events-in-2020/ The list comprises:May 9-10 - MGA Spring Tour “One weekend – Two countries”; June 13-14 -MGLive! at Silverstone; July 25 - Scottish MGA Day - Kinross East Fife; Sunday August 9 - MGA Day at Stowe; September 25-28 - MGA Register Golden Anniversary Tour.

BLASTS FROM THE PAST

A number of us have been beavering away writing sections for the 50th Anniversary Book due out later this year. Details of how to acquire one will appear in Safety Fast! when published. This has required some research through the Safety Fast! archives which, as ever, has elicited MGA snippets and trivia from the past, as you will see below.

WHERE EXACTLY WAS HOME FOR THE DE-LUXE? Over the years the MGA Register Committee has been supplemented by various members who have taken on specific tasks relative to their own area of interest. One such is John Barrett who has a particular interest in the MGA De-Luxe. Over many years of serving the MGA Register as De-Luxe Co-ordinator, John has amassed a considerable amount of information and history on this rarest of MGAs.

John and Ingrid with their MGA www.mgcc.co.uk

During his time in the role John has built up a complete set of the factory records of all of the De-Luxe cars, together with over 3,000 digital photographs. John recently took the decision to step down from the role and he has now passed on the archive into the keeping of Howard Quayle, MGA Register Archivist, and Colin Manley, Chairman MGA Twin Cam Group.

The MGA Register Committee would like to place on record its grateful thanks for the work John has done over the years. The accompanying photograph shows John and his wife Ingrid with one of John’s MGA De-Luxe at their home in Norway.

I asked John for some thoughts on his involvement with the De-Luxe and his role as De-Luxe Co-ordinator. Here is his response.

“My interest in De-Luxes really started on August 5 1991 when, at Horner and West’s, I was offered an unrestored 1600 De-Luxe for sale, a LHD drive car just back from the USA. It was the first time I had heard of the De-Luxe. Mike Horner explained how rare they were, and the price reflected this fact! It was to become the car to feature on the front cover of “Original MGA”!

In 1994, on another visit to Bob West’s I came across another unrestored 1600 De-Luxe in a pig sty, together with an unrestored 777 ENK. Again the price was too high for me. On a later visit I asked about the car, to be told that it had been sold but the rear section from behind the boot had been replaced and the original part was out the back on the tip”. I had missed buying the car but

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 55

NEWSLETTER

A pair of MGA Mark II DE-Luxe’s photographed in New Zealand, 2009.

I took the rear end with me back to Norway where it still hangs on my garage wall! In 1997 I bought the rest of the car!

I then started collecting information about De-Luxes. In 2000 at a NAMGAR meeting I was given a complete list of the 395 De-Luxe chassis numbers. This in turn led me, several times, to BMIHT at Gaydon to copy, by hand, everything recorded by the MG factory in its ledgers on these 395 cars. My work was greatly assisted by Roger Martin, who gained us access before opening time, as well as Piers Hubbard. Roger, Piers, Robin Barker, Ingrid and I sat there until after closing, and then returned the following day, and the following year!

My work as De-Luxe Co-ordinator has brought me in contact with enthusiasts all over the world. Jeff Wicks in Australia had

Roger, Piers, Robin and Ingrid at Gaydon

already put in years of hard work tracking De-Luxe owners, so too Jim Brown in America. Communication between us took weeks, and progress was slow. This was turned upside down with the arrival of the internet. Jeff, Jim and I worked closely, tracking cars and keeping each other updated. I have now collected over 3,000

56 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

pictures of De-Luxes and much detailed information about these cars. I collected body numbers, engine numbers, even oil cooler numbers! Patterns appeared. Having read maths at university, this was something for me! Slowly, oh so slowly, the body numbers began to fall into place. The early 1600 cars just continued from where the Twin Cams stopped, one series for roadsters, another for coupés. When these ran out MG allocated blocks of body numbers used only on De-Luxes. So, whilst chassis numbers were all over the place, body numbers followed a close pattern.

Following up each little clue, for example, an article in Safety Fast! from a member who had been in Argentina on holiday and seen a “Twin Cam with a pushrod engine”. This led to discovering one of the largest collections of 1600 De-Luxes in the world. A similar story led to a similar discovery in Portugal.

When I started as De-Luxe Co-ordinator, I was part of the MGA Register Committee. However, we had too many committee members so I became an associate. Traditionally De-Luxes had been part of the Twin Cam Group and I was asked to join them and was duly voted in.

I never left the MGA Register and have felt myself welcome in both camps. When I retired from this position I sent copies of all my research to both the Register and the TCG, simultaneously. I hope that my successor also has a foot in both camps.

The position has involved very many hours of work but this has been repaid many times over with meeting so many fantastic enthusiasts throughout the world.”

Accordingly the piece of MGA trivia below is most timely, given John’s departure.

In Safety Fast! February 1972, as part of the resolution of what I suspect must have been a serious spat between the MGCC Council, the MGA Register and the Twin Cam Group – about

www.mgcc.co.uk

NEWSLETTER which more follows – Dennis Ogborn, MGA Register Chairman and Scribe included the following in his report in his response to an article from the Twin Cam Group, details of which follow later in this column.

“One other point: the MGA 1600 De-Luxe has never been persona non grata with the MGA Register; we did not accept them for the reason given earlier – our inability to provide a proper service. The Twin Cam Group did not accept them either.

However with mutual co-operation this has now been rectified, the only proviso is that when writing to the Register it must be clearly stated that the vehicle is a ‘De-Luxe’. ” The reason referred to as being given earlier adds nothing new to the above. What this seems to mean is that the De-Luxe (not limited to the 1600 version) was previously out in the cold and could not join either the Register or the Group, despite there being two MGA Registers/Groups from 1970. Being of the ‘an MGA is an MGA’ school of though myself, and being on both the Register and Group Committees, this situation seems absurd, especially with hindsight, and possibly gives some insight into the politics and empire-building within the Club at that time.

Even now I feel some confusion as the MGA Register has its De-Luxe Co-ordinator, a position now vacant after John Barrett’s recent departure, and clearly, if the 1972 arrangements still stand, may appear to be the place for the De-Luxe whereas my impression is that the Twin Cam Group also belatedly felt they

MGA TWIN CAM GROUP TO MERGE WITH MGA REGISTER This was not ‘Fake News’ back in December 1971, about a year after the MGA Register was formed, after Council had seemingly decided that this was to happen but were somewhat reluctant to spell it out in black and white. In what appears, to me, to be a carefully crafted piece in Editorial Comment (editor Mike Allison) the following appeared: “The question of further Registers was raised at the recent MGCC Council Meeting, and Council passed a resolution which in effect limits the number of Registers to five. For financial purposes the MGA Twin Cam Group will be considered as part of the MGA Register, when Register fees are abolished, and the next probable Register, that catering for the Z-Magnettes will likewise be administered by the MGA Register. It seems likely that demand for this sub-group will be small, but Dennis Ogborn would like a volunteer to look after the Magnette interests within the MGA Register. Full details will no doubt be printed in the MGA Register News section of Safety Fast! as plans crystallise.”

In the same issue in the MGA Register piece Dennis, possibly somewhat disingenuously, says: “Reorganisation is going on, the results of which will be published in this column Inshallah (in case you didn’t know – that means “in Allah’s own good time!”) and in full glorious detail with your 1972-3 Membership Card – not sent, I should add, unless you pay your subscription.”

www.mgcc.co.uk

‘owned’ the De-Luxe, a position reinforced by John’s comments and the piece from Safety Fast! January 1972 below in the Twin Cam Group section which is of interest, especially given what I have said about the De-Luxe and its exclusion from both the Group and the Register, that Robin Gunn says: “1600 De-Luxe (and 1600 MkII with Twin Cam options*) – the cars with Twin Cam running gear and the push rod engine – have been so far persona non grata with MGA Register, or so I understand, and therefore rather out in the cold. With Dennis Ogborn’s agreement, I suggest that if their owners care to write to me or to Abingdon with 25p we shall be delighted to have them as associates of this part of the MGA Register with full access to all facilities.” * A descriptive distinction not encountered before, I believe.

This, of course, makes no sense either because it is written by the Twin Cam Group in the Group report with reference to writing to and paying the Group, yet De-Luxe owners seemingly become associates of the MGA Register! In the MGA Register’s version of events the following month as set out in the above there is no mention of associate or any other status other than full MGA Register membership.

Better to have a foot in both camps than in neither! That confusion was obviously evident even then.

Incidentally, there is no correct spelling for the Deluxe or DeLuxe as MG used both.

John Barrett, MGA Register De-Luxe Co-ordination

Apart from not making sense, do I detect in Dennis’s words a possible embarrassment at what was being proposed and an anxiety about the likely reaction?

If that is the case, Dennis was not wrong. Robin Gunn wrote an impassioned and angry piece in January 1972’s Safety Fast! noting the Council vote was 15 to 1 in favour with 1 abstention.

By reference to others, anticipating such expressions as the ‘anger’ and the ‘fury’ etc that current media attributes to others as a way of expressing their own view without specifying it, Robin calls into question the ‘corporate intelligence, morals and parentage’ of members of Council. Heavy stuff. Robin then rows back and says Council acts with the big picture in mind. He goes on to say he fought his corner for the Group in vain. He also recalls that Dennis wanted no part in the plan and that there was no question of a takeover bid. Robin continues with a note of acceptance of the plan and the practical import of its implementation. In the same issue Dennis make no reference to the plan, so I wonder just how much Dennis was involved or was Robin simply giving Dennis a way out?

Dennis Ogborn’s gracious withdrawal in February’s Safety Fast! seems to close the chapter but I have the feeling that there was a lot going on here! Given that withdrawal recognises and recites the undertakings given to the Twin Cam Group by Dennis personally prior to, and effectively as a condition of, the formation of the MGA Register, but one year prior it seems somewhat odd that Dennis would have even started to go along with this scheme let alone appearing, to me at least, to possibly be a willing if wary

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 57

NEWSLETTER supporter. I suspect this may have been all about a struggle for control of the MGCC, newly independent of MG. Suffice it to say I can find no formal recognition of a withdrawal of the proposal by Council in Safety Fast! The nearest we come to that is another editorial piece by Michael Allison in April 1972’s edition where he conjectures about the value of multiple Registers, comes down on the side of the merits of Registers and cautions against factionism and “take-overs”. That edition notes the existence of seven Registers including the Z-Magnette Register – I think we can assume the matter was now closed.

Addendum – Michael Allison was kind enough to give me his recollection of events which I reproduce below:“In 1971, The MGCC was still newly separated from BMC support, and we were having to exist on subscription as our only income. There was also concern from the Centres that representation on the Council might soon be overloaded to the extent that Register representation was higher than that of Centres! Oh dear, the boat was rocking, and the question of finance arose. As I remember, there was a problem with the Centres, in that they received a capitation fee based on their membership, and Registers (Vintage, Triple-M, T, SVW, and MGA) received an agreed sum, based on Registrations. Each new Register was to be provided with this “allotment”, and the Twin-cam Group were applying for similar treatment, while the Magnette Register was in the process of arising. The Treasurer of the day (Tom Hazlam) wanted the T and SVW and Y types to be a single Register, and also the MGA and Twin Cams to be amalgamated.

This was never implemented, and it was agreed that a separate Council of Registers be formed. This proved to be a lead balloon, however, and the constitution of the Council was stabilised under the Articles of Association as it currently is, I believe.”

In addition, Peter Neal, MGCC Archivist, has located the minutes of the various Council meetings from 1971/72 and his immediate comment was that he had the feeling they had been ‘sanitised’.

MGA MAINTENANCE SESSION – MGLIVE! SILVERSTONE JUNE 13-14 2020

Would you like to know how to look after your precious MGA and have a basic knowledge of what makes it go?

The Register is proposing to hold practical maintenance sessions at MGLive! 2020. Join us as we pass on knowledge and experience of running and maintaining an MGA in good order.

If you are interested in having a better knowledge of what makes your car work do put this date in your diary. To get the most out of the session we need to know what you would like covered.

The sessions will only take place if there is sufficient demand, so please contact: Ian Wilson at ian@mulberryhouse. karoo.co.uk and let us know what you would like.

OBITUARY - ERIC OAKES

We are sorry to report the death of Eric, who with his wife Anne, were regular supporters of our tours in his 1958 roadster 11 GPB. Pictured with Anne at Portmeirion at the Spring Tour last year. He was a quiet and thoughtful man and great company, he will be missed by all his friends on the Register.

At his packed Memorial Service, we learnt of a rich life well lived; as well as churchwarden for the past 14 years, he was also President of Frome Swimming Club. His family gave moving tributes of a father and grandfather much loved and respected by everyone who knew him.

After a successful career in the agricultural industry, he set up a very successful business with Anne from their lovely cottage near Frome supplying clients in the Middle East with nutrition products for the racing camel industry. He developed the products from his knowledge of the pig industry and spotted a niche in the market during a visit to the Middle East. He was also an accomplished ballroom dancer in his early years at Agricultural College in Warwick, having sussed that it would be a good way to meet girls!

As well as his A, he had an MG ZTT and a very rare Mini Countryman Estate, both in mint condition, bought from new and immaculately maintained. He was also a lover of Jaguar saloons.

Our condolences go to Anne and their family at this difficult time and we hope to see Anne at our events when she feels able.

58 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

www.mgcc.co.uk

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NEWSLETTER

Tim Morris 01932 882467 scribe@mgfregister.org www.mgfregister.org

WELCOME TO THE

MGF NEWSLETTER THE PR3 REGISTER

Towards the tail end of 1994 the MG Car Club wanted to launch a brand-new Register to launch at the same time as the car itself – the MG PR3. The name of the new Register first appeared in the pages of Safety Fast! in December 1994 under the curtilage of Don Bishop – it was written as The PR3 Register (in waiting). The new roadster was much anticipated in MG circles, and by the wider public in general, as the official launch in March 1995 approached, but the name had yet to be announced. David Knowles reported in the February edition of Safety Fast! that “the eagerly anticipated new MG sports car is still firmly under wraps” and that “the appearance of the finished car remains a fairly well-guarded secret”.

The PR3 Register was chaperoned by Don and the MGB Register through to the November MGCC Council meeting when the first committee was formed of the, now renamed, MGF Register.

The MGF, of course, had been launched at the Geneva Salon following a special event at Gaydon where Club members were given a chance to view the new car in more detail. Those attending included MGCC staff and directors Julia Marshall,

Paddy Willmer, David Askew and Ron Gammons. The official press launch and road runs for journalists were held later in the year, based at the Heritage Motor Centre again but with a two-day event overnighting at the Coombe Abbey Hotel in Warwickshire. Unfortunately, Safety Fast! editor Paddy Willmer was not able to attend the weekend so the onerous task of a weekend away being wined and dined

by Rover in five-star luxury fell to David Askew. David packed his cameras and bag straight away saying: “I was prepared to endure such hardship for the marque!”

There was another chance to see the car prior to this, however, at the MGCC’s Silverstone event when one of the prototype cars was demonstrated on the track. This demonstration resulted in the first front cover for the MGF in Safety Fast! August 1995 and saw the F in its first race… well, nearly.

In September Paddy Willmer noted that “September 23 is red-letter day, as from then the MGF will be in the showroom and in owners’ hands”. He goes on to note that the Club will also change from that point – “We can no longer be regarded as an old car club – we will be the only club spanning the whole range of MG, with individual Registers

Lorraine Hindley as passenger in her brand new MGF on a hill climb for the Ulster Centre in 1996 60 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

The first Safety Fast! cover to feature an MGF in August 1995. It shows one of the prototype cars on the track at Silverstone back in July for the MGCC International MGCC

for all models including the MGF, with the depth of historical and technical knowledge they, and individual members, possess. [Members] will certainly discover a friendship and comradeship that is singular in the ownership and driving of an MG”.

Today that epithet is still very relevant. The MGF now at 25 years is getting older, no longer the baby or even the adolescent and the Club itself remains as inclusive as Paddy wished for, by its close link with MG Motor UK and the current crop of modern and technologically advanced SUVs bearing the magical MG badge.

The MGF was received with much enthusiasm. The Club arranged a convoy of MG cars to drive to Geneva for the launch of the car that included Club Director Julia Marshall. Journalists including Jeremy Clarkson fell over themselves to write nice things about the new wonder sportscar and the launch was attended by such high-profile figures as Jackie Stewart and Prince Edward.

Special preview for Club members at Gaydon in February 1995 with some heritage MGs in the background www.mgcc.co.uk

NEWSLETTER

Julia Marshall and Dawn Marie-Turner on their way to Geneva in the MGCC convoy March 1995

Autocar’s Steve Cropley said: “Britain has a new sporting flagship” and David Askew writing in Safety Fast! after that luxurious weekend said: “The MGF positively encourages you to try and catch it out and then forgives you by safely correcting your mistakes. This car is really the epitome of ‘Safety Fast!’ motoring”.

Following that first front cover in August, the MGF Register’s first actual column in Safety Fast! was not until December’s issue. In it, Don Bishop wrote that this “was the first-ever official ‘MGF REGISTER NEWSLETTER’ for those fortunate enough to own (or have on order) the latest jewel to carry proudly the MG octagon.” Thus began the MGF Register itself. The first committee had been formed and were ready to take over the reins by January 1996. At the helm was a lady we have already mentioned a few times, Julia Marshall, who took on the role of the very first chairperson. She was also the lucky recipient of one of the very first customer MGFs, although not the first person to be included on the Register itself.

That honour went to Shaun Perry from Hampshire, who registered his white MGF 1.8i N444 MGF on September 22 1995 (VIN 480). Several other people had joined the Club ahead of actually receiving their cars, including Gerald Thomas who was an MGCC member in the 1950s and drove at Silverstone from 1958 to 1962 as part of the South West Centre team and was now back with MG again, thanks to the MGF. Julia was joined on the first committee

by Dawn Marie-Turner and Stephen Cox, who were both also on the board of the MGCC, and the new scribbler for this publication was Victoria Marshall (Julia’s www.mgcc.co.uk

MGF 1.8i and VVC at Coombe Abbey on the Press runs September 1995

sister). However, the first column of 1996 was written by Paddy Willmer who noted that sales were increasing and that an MGF had been spotted taking part in an Ulster Centre Hill Trial at Ballyblack. It was owned by Lorraine Hindley who didn’t quite know what to expect and turned up wearing high-heels, not the best footwear for a hill climb. One of the Ulster Centre members jumped in the driver’s seat and “shot off up all the hills and cleared them all” with Lorraine as passenger – “her shrieks could be heard a quarter of a mile away”! We think this is the first occasion when an MGF was used in such motorsport. Today they can be found in all types of competition from track racing to sprints and 12-car rallies. In this four-pager we see Rob Bell and Helen Blake taking part in both of the latter.

Victoria’s first column in March noted that there were many MGFs appearing on the roads in London, included a purple one that nearly caused an accident in Parson’s Green (yours truly paying more attention to the MGF than the road!). She mentions the first official gathering of the MGF Register which was planned to take place at MG Silverstone International on June 1-2. This was the first opportunity for private owners to get together, park together and to drive around the Silverstone circuit.

Now we fast forward 25 years and are looking forward to the silver anniversary celebrations of the MGF/TF back at that same location of the Heritage Motor Centre, now renamed as the British Motor Museum. We’ll see you there.

The first MGF Register SF! column January 1996

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 61

NEWSLETTER

Nick Fell, Jackie Stewart and Gerry McGovern at the Geneva Salon 1995. Nick will be a special guest at MGF25

MGF25

We hope that you can all join us at the British Motor Museum on the Silver Anniversary weekend of July 25-26. Plans are now well apace, and we can give a summary of some of the highlights that are already in place:

Saturday 25 10.00am to 4.00pm Launch panel featuring Nick Fell, Denis Chick and Steve Cropley (editor-in-chief Autocar) Technical Panel featuring Roger Parker, Ian Pogson and Andy Kitson HGF demonstration with Mike Stafford 25th Anniversary cars paddock, race cars, special cars paddock and showcase General MGF/TF parking (arrive together if you would like to park together) MGF/TF Trade village, craft stalls Camping on site Saturday evening 7.00pm ‘til late Anniversary dinner Live Music – Not the Hoople Sunday 26th 10.00am Press Route road run based on the 1995

Steve Cropley with Tim Morris – Steve will be heading up our launch panel at MGF25

press launch from Gaydon Check the MGF25.org website and MGF25 facebook for more information as we approach the date. Tickets for the Saturday show are available from the British Motor Museum website and tickets for the evening party and Press Route Road Run available from the MGF Register shop. www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/ mgf-register-25th-anniversary-event www.mgfregister.org/shop

IN THE DARK Mapreading – Reading a small car can be tricky large map in a

Peanut at sunset, ready to rally

The MGF/TF is used in many differing types of motorsport, from full-on racing on track in specialised cars to events you can do in your own road-going car such as autosolos, naviscats, regularity runs and more. Helen Blake had the opportunity to take part recently in a 12-car rally in Yorkshire. She did not know quite what to expect. “It was a damp, dark and foggy Winter night.

The roads were wet, and visibility was low.

Through the fog some headlights glinted in the distance. We pulled into a lay-by and were met by a group of officials in high-viz vests. There was a registration form to fill in and an entry fee to pay and we were given a really cryptic set of clues and a map.”

The difficulties of navigating with a large map in a small car quickly became apparent. “There was literally no room – the map filled the entire car, enrobing us like a blanket across our laps and reached from one side of Peanut to the other.” It 62 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

should be said that “Peanut” is Helen’s daily driver TF and, whilst being serviceable, she describes it as being a bit “rough”.

The start came, it was still wet and foggy but Helen began enthusiastically.

“I released the clutch and off we went.

Peanut launched into action with a tyre spin, showering the marshals with mud.

We were zooming along country lanes in the pitch black and fog.” Helen’s navigator regaled her with strange instructions – “Hard right, 45 left, 30 right into 90 left” – but her favourite was “Foot down, go, go, go!”

Part of the rally was to note down number codes tacked to trees on old number plates. “Soon enough, something up ahead glowed. We hurtled towards it and then slammed on the brake to enable Jonathan to write down the code.” The 12car rally was certainly a challenge with bad weather and driving down pot-holed tracks.

“The driving became quite frantic, avoiding potholes and stones. Poor Peanut’s already bad suspension was banging loudly in protest and I feared parts of her were going to drop off! We were carrying some speed when we came to a rather steep bridge and took off like a scene from the ‘Dukes of Hazzard’! Upon landing I was sure I had just killed off my car.” Luckily that was not the case and Helen and Jonathan were able to continue and finish the rally.

The finish was at a pub where muchneeded hot beef stew and Yorkshire pudding were served. The results were great for the Peanut team – first place in the Novice group and fifth place overall.

Not bad for a first attempt at a night-time rally and Helen pondered over her “rough” TF. “What an incredible drive she had just given me. Perfect handling, awesome acceleration and a fantasticlooking thing, too.”

You can read the full story of Helen and Peanut’s adventure in the summer edition of FasTForward. www.mgcc.co.uk

NEWSLETTER

Project Shed in action

AHEAD OF THE SPRINT The name of Project Shed does not reflect the physical state of Rob Bell’s MGF race car project. Rather, it describes his endless quest to shed weight and add lightness to the car in the search for that minuscule extra mph. He has been chronicling the progress of his mission in the pages of the Register’s magazine FasTForward for some 10 years now. The latest issue features part 37! You may have seen the multi stickered car at various events and shows, as well as on the track at Sprints round the country and wondered about it. Rob is the Register’s technical advisor and is himself a long-term MGF owner. The complete strip-down and rebuild of Project Shed has led to him gaining a great understanding of how an MGF works. He has also studied other aspects of the car in great detail, and in the current FasTForward he takes a detailed look at the original MGF Aerodynamics research.

However, 2019 was definitely a redletter year for Rob and Project Shed. The Sprint season was going very well for Rob. “The Shed was running very well.

It is rocking a new induction system (ITG Maxogen), a little less weight and a tweak of the engine management. As a result of these modifications (and perhaps the driver being a bit more experienced) I was consistently roughly a second or two faster than the previous year almost everywhere I raced.”

The championship was looking very close at Wiscombe when Rob’s main rival, Nick Walker, put down a blistering time in his MGB V8, leaving Rob three points adrift of the Championship. The last two events, at Eelmoor and Castle Combe, due to some unforeseen circumstances involving the Ministry of Defence, had to take place on the same weekend in late October. The first day at Castle Combe www.mgcc.co.uk

threatened to be wet but the puddles on the track dried out and Rob was able to put in some good times, ending the day just half a point behind Nick. Eelmoor is used to train MoD staff how to drive military vehicles and is consequently a highly technical and tight circuit. Luckily it stayed dry and Rob says that “by first practice I was already on the pace of

my previous best time” and “by second practice I was already faster and only needed to match this time in the timed runs to get the score I needed”.

Rob needn’t have worried, as he finished the day with an extra 102 points and comfortably overtook Nick’s score to clinch the National Championship trophy along with the Regional championship and national road-going modified class.

Not only that, but there is also a trophy for the best MGF and Rob sums it all up: “I certainly would not have thought that possible 10 years ago when I collected a rusty pile of parts and scrap metal from the south coast of England.”

You can read about Project Shed as a continuing series in FasTForward and more on the Championship win in the current spring 2020 issue, out now.

Rob receiving National Championship Cup

COMING UP….

There is plenty coming up from the MGF Register as we celebrate this Silver Anniversary year. Check our Facebook pages, website and Internet Forum for all the details and latest updates. Here are some of our main and multi-region events you may like to join us at, and don’t forget your own local region’s events, too:March 7-8 – Chairman’s Weekend – Haynes and Wilson Atwell Museums March 21 – Kimber House Open Day and AGM April 19 – Brooklands MG and British Marques Day (MGF 25th Anniversary Paddock display) April 26 – Peter Best Car Show, Braxted Park, Essex April 26 – St George’s Day Run, North Norfolk June 13-14 – MGLive!

June 28 – MGs in Paradise, Paradise Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire July 25-26 – MGF25 British Motor Museum September 18-20 – National Weekender in North Wales – SOLD OUT November 28-29 – Christmas at Cricklade

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 63

RACE TORQUE The white Midget of David Morrison.

Photo: Dickon Siddall

RACE TORQUE

by Mark Baulch

T

his month, I bring you news from the Race Retro Show, where we were meeting members, competitors and car and motorsport fans from February 21 until 23. Our thanks to David Morrison and Olly Wardle for allowing us to display their racing Midget and MGB V8 respectively. I would also like to thank all the other volunteers that helped us to promote the MG Car Club during the show. In no particular order, Geoff St John Mitchell, James Wheeler, Neil Fowler, Bruce Woods, James Fettipace, Gil Duffy and Mike Parker. With the Midget being fully race modified and the B being light tuned, there was plenty to talk to prospective racers about. The weekend also saw a good number of current and potential future members enjoying a conversation with the MG Car Club staff and volunteers and gaining an understanding of the relatively low cost of racing with us.

As the evenings become lighter, all of our competitors will be savouring the thought of the end of March. Not only because the clocks go forward, but we have our first race meeting of 2020. All of the organisers are really looking forward to providing our competitors with the www.mgcc.co.uk

opportunity to race on a new circuit for the Club on Saturday March 28. With all of our Championships competing and our guests from Equipe Classic Racing expecting good attendance, this should be a great meeting to spectate on, too.

The MG Welcome Centre will be available to all competitors and members and I am delighted to say will be sponsored by British Motor Heritage once again for this year. We are very grateful to John Yea and all of his team for this.

Also for your diaries, it is then only a few short weeks until our next meeting, at Brands Hatch on April 18 and 19. The eagle-eyed amongst you will note that this

is one week earlier than our normal end of the month weekend. Nonetheless, it is shaping up to be a packed programme with plenty of action and cars from a good part of our 90-year Club history.

Then, we move on to MGLive!. I look forward to sharing more details of our planned programme there with you next month. Suffice to say, a visit to the paddock to see the huge variety of cars that will be racing should be on your ‘todo’ list for the weekend. You could also pop in to Garage 5 of the paddock and enjoy a cup of tea, a biscuit and maybe one of the award presentations. They are a lot of fun.

Finally, do not forget that your Club Membership allows you to drive a lap of all of these circuits in your own road car as part of the Parade Lap in the lunch break. This is free to Members at the first two meetings, with a small charge for the Grand Prix circuit. All you need to do is visit the Welcome Centre and sign up, so I will see you there.

The Class C BCV8 car of Olly Wardle

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 65

MGs ON TRACK

MG on track

Duncan Wood duncanw@mgs-on-track.co.uk

MALLORY PARK

T

he eagle-eyed among you will have spotted a change to our MGs on Track 2020 calendar in February’s Safety Fast!. Sadly, due to a rescheduled race meeting our Cadwell Park event has been cancelled by the circuit owners, so we will have to wait another year before we can once again enjoy this twisty and scenic circuit.

However, at short notice we have been able to plug the gap with a visit to Mallory Park in Leicestershire, so all is a long way from being lost.

It is almost a decade since our last Mallory event so I am sure I will not be the only one who has not actually driven around it. I did attend our previous visit at the end of November 2010 but, emerging from the hotel in the early morning, we were greeted by a thick covering of snow, suggesting that any track action was unlikely. However, in a spirit comprised of optimism and foolhardiness in equal measure, we drove in convoy to the circuit to be greeted by more snow, plenty of other track day hopefuls, and a fully staffed and operational Lakeside Café!

After a leisurely and sociable breakfast, some irresponsible ‘donuts’ performed in the parking area, and the assistance of the

66 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

friendly tractor driver to recover several of our number from the low-lying paddock, we set off homewards in bright sunshine and crisp conditions. I still remember this as the best track day that never was!

Mallory Park, much like Brands Hatch, developed from an original grass track layout. When first hard surfaced in the 1950s the circuit was an oval, and Gerard’s Bend, a near-constant radius turn of more than 180 degrees, remains from this first iteration. The track was later extended out to Shaw’s Hairpin, and finally incorporated some chicanes, primarily to slow motorcycles. Despite being one of the shortest permanent UK circuits, in the 60s Mallory mounted non-championship Formula One racing, and, in 1966 the first 100mph lap was posted by Denny Hulme driving a Lola T70. Over the years the circuit has hosted numerous famous drivers and riders in all formulae and remains a very active venue to this day.

The infield of the circuit contains several large lakes which give the track a unique feel as at times you are quite close to the water’s edge, although barriers do prevent the wayward from using the water as an unwanted and very wet run-off area!

As mentioned, food and drink are available

from the Lakeside Café, and, as always, I urge members to take advantage of ontrack tuition from the ARDS instructors. I suspect the latter may prove particularly popular as, like me, this may be a first drive at Mallory for many. Despite the UK’s unpredictable weather, it would seem unlikely that the previous visit’s snowy conditions will be repeated in late April, and we can look forward to a thoroughly enjoyable day.

On the 9th of this month we are heading to the Bedford Autodrome. If you are free on this day it may be worth checking availability on our website as it may not be too late to secure a place even at this late juncture. I described Bedford more fully last month, so suffice to say that, despite not being an active race circuit, with its long straights and numerous corners this venue offers all the excitement and challenges that you could wish for.

Within the MGs on Track website there is a forum area for members to post comments and ask questions. Importantly, it is here that members can co-ordinate their accommodation plans if they are travelling from further afield. A meal and a ‘responsible’ drink on the evening before an event is a great way to get to know your fellow members a bit better, and it can be especially useful to novices who will arrive at the event the following morning with new friends and already feeling an integral part of the Club. It’s a warm welcome to all at MGs on Track!

www.mgcc.co.uk

MGS ON TRACK – 2020 CALENDAR Please visit www.mgs-on-track.com to register, check availability, or to book a track day.

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

Bedford Autodrome GT – March 9 At 3.8 miles in length there is ample space to unleash those horses, with generous run-off areas for the directionally challenged!

Mallory Park – April 21 A welcome return to this characterful Leicestershire circuit with lakes!

Snetterton 300 – May 18 A fast and open track; long straights combined with a challenging infield section.

Castle Combe – June 22 The first of two annual visits to this very friendly circuit in Wiltshire.

North Weald – June 26 An introductory activity day for those who have not yet tried a full track-day.

A chance to explore the capabilities of driver and car in complete safety.

Croft – July 3 Experience one of the hidden gems of British Motorsport on a day shared with Lotus on Track. ‘Open pit lane’ format so not suited to novices.

Blyton Park – July 6 Not a traditional racing circuit, but a fun and friendly venue boasting a layout with real character.

Anglesey – August 10 Experience this challenging circuit on a day shared with the Lotus 7 Club.

Overlooking the Irish Sea and with views to Snowdonia this track amply repays the journey west.

Castle Combe – September 7 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 5 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 26 A second visit in case you missed the first due to popularity!

Brands Hatch ‘Indy’ – December 7 Our season finale; don’t miss the chance to enjoy this undulating circuit including Paddock Hill Bend!

www.mgcc.co.uk

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

2020 DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES April 5

Curborough Sprint

MGCC Midland

April 12

Harewood Hillclimb

BARC

April 18

Goodwood Sprint

Bognor Regis MC

May 2-3

Anglesey Sprint

MGCC (NW)

May 10

Rushmoor Sprint

Farnborough & DMC

May 16

Wiscombe Hillclimb

Torbay MC

May 17

Scammonden Hillclimb

MGCC (NW)

May 23

Prescott Hillclimb

Bugatti Owners Club

June 6

Abingdon Carnival Sprint

Sutton & Cheam MC

June 13

Brooklands Sprint

Farnborough & DMC

June 14

Three Sisters Sprint

Longton & DMC Regs

June 27

Aintree Sprint

Liverpool MC

July 25

Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb

Midland Automobile Club

August 1-2

Castle Hillclimb

Camel Vale MC

August 2

Curborough Sprint

MGCC Midland

August 15

Llandow Sprint

Bristol MC

August 16

Pembrey (New!) Sprint

Bristol MC

August 29-30

Loton Park Hillclimb

H & DLCC

September 12

Wiscombe Park Hillclimb

MGCC (SW)

September 13

Gurston Down Hillclimb

BARC (SW)

September 19-20

Harewood Hillclimb

BARC (Y)

October 4

Eelmoor Sprint

Farnborough & DMC

October 17

Castle Combe Sprint

Bristol Pegasus MC

For all up-to-date information and entry forms and regulations please visit www. mgcc.co.uk/motorsport/speed-championship/ or www.mgspeed.net

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 67

Abingdon Works Centre’s (Not quite) St Georges Day Run Sunday 19th April 2020 Starting from the brilliant Miele Experience Centre Abingdon this year we will be visiting Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Museum, Prince Philip Barracks, Lyneham. The REME Museum is fully accessible with disabled parking bays, accessible toilets and step free access throughout. They have a wheelchair available for visitors to use

PRICE MATCHED TO LAST YEAR

MG Car Club Members: £10.00 pp

Non MGCC members: £11.50 pp

THIS INCLUDES ENTRANCE TO THE MUSEUM Your Details Name ...................................................................................

Address ................................................................................ ............................................................................................. .............................................................................................

Phone ..................................................................................

E-mail ..................................................................................

MG Car Club Membership No. ..........................................

(Valid MGCC number required for discounted price) No of participants: ………... Total submitted: ……………......

Cheques payable to: MGCC Abingdon Works Centre Entries to: Pete & Sarah Davies, 38 Swinbrook Road, Carterton, Oxfordshire OX18 1DS. Tel: 01993 212420 / 0778 651 1387 e-mail: pete_davies@ntlworld.com

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1968 MGB Roadster, finished in Old English White with Red hood, carpets and cream piped trim.

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CENTRES ABINGDON WORKS James Page sfscribe@mgabingdon.org.uk www.mgabingdon.co.uk I am sorry first to pass on some sad news – Bill Charlton died in late January. For those more recent members, Bill and his wife, Heather, were stalwart supporters of the AWC, coming to many events travelling from Dorset where they lived, and donated the Centre Member of the Year Shield which has been awarded annually since 2005. We send our condolences to Heather.

Although January and February is a quiet time from the point of view of driving our cars and outdoor events, our Natters have been active. I particularly mention the January Wanderers meet which was held at the George Hotel in Dorchester; 35 of the group attended – nearly a full house! (Thank you to Carol Gibbons for organising – please note that Carol is now the contact for the Wanderers, either awc12wanderers@gmail.com or 07788 658855, as some are still contacting Gill).

Richard, our Chairman, responded to a request from Kelli Hornachek who is President of

ANGLIA Rob Muir 01206 862619 scribe@mgccanglia.com www.mgccanglia.com SaveOurZeds My photograph last month of our nice old MG ZS on the Lakeland Pass, taken when Gill and I were on holiday, sent me into one of those relaxing nostalgic moods thinking of old times. That and

the MG Club of Southern California for an MGrelated visit to Abingdon. The visit happened on January 17 with a tour of Kimber House – thank you Ineke for doing the guide bit – lunch at the Boundary House with some AWC members and a quick visit to Abingdon Museum. From the feedback we had from Kelli on her return she had had a perfect day!

We have had thanks from two local events that AWC members kindly attended with their cars last year. The Abingdon Poppy Appeal, which Bill Morris attended with his red B, raised a total of over £44,000. And the Kop Hill event, attended by a number of AWC members, raised a total of £106,000 for various good causes.

Clearly both were well worth supporting.

Looking ahead, we have our AGM on February 29. As well as the ‘drier’ agenda

items, we will show the film that the Indian film crew made when they visited Abingdon last summer, including their attendance at the Old Speckled Hen Run. We then have the ‘Not Quite St George’s Day Run’ coming up on Sunday April 19.

More details are given in the entry form included in this month’s magazine. Fingers crossed that it will be a bit warmer than last year!

Finally, a warm welcome to all our new members and hope to meet you in the coming months.

looking through the Club website and stumbling across the main Club’s support of the Z Register campaign to Save Our Zeds, really brought it home to me how fast our favourite cars can disappear from the roads once they go out of production.

This is not a new phenomenon, of course; it seems that almost all cars get to that point when it seems no one wants them if they need an amount of work or money spent on them.

I remember back in 1977, not having much money, buying my very much down-at-heel 1967 MGB Roadster from the Chelmsford Car Auction for £172.00, including buyer’s commission, as no one else wanted to bid for it!

It had a ‘slightly’ twisted chassis and the shock absorbers on the right hand side were so bad, giving it such a lean

towards the starboard side, that the local Police pulled me over on my first drive out to see a friend in Hatfield Peverel, to check the car over, fortunately with no action taken! (Oh, happy days of my youth.)

As we have a growing MGCC Young Members Branch, it is nice to see in the Z Register and on Facebook a number of the members buying a Z as a first car, especially the 1400cc model, being reasonable to insure.

Do any of our Anglia Centre members have a Zed, perhaps being restored at the moment? It would be great to have a photo and some details from you that we can publish in these notes and on our website.

Oh, and by the way, back in 1977, I bought the MGB to replace my MG 1100, and when was the last time you saw one of those. As the saying goes ‘use it or lose it’.

The rare ZR Express of Roger Martin spotted at Brands Hatch www.mgcc.co.uk

Bill and Heather in their distinctive brown B

Race Season Don’t forget that the 2020 MGCC race season gets underway at Silverstone on Saturday March 28. A good number of Anglia Centre drivers will be competing and would love your support.

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 69

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CENTRES CALEDONIAN Bob MacGillivray 07870 407111 mgcarsscotland@gmail.com www.mgcaledonian.com We have had a good start to our year… the annual Film Night in January had the best attendance so far of all our Film Nights. It would be good if we see an increase at all our 2020 events!

Our first main lunch of the year is this month at Airth Castle on the 15th. This is always a relaxing and informal afternoon with friends.

Check our website, and please book now.

And later this month our Tribute weekend on 27-29th is based at the Angus Hotel in Blairgowrie. The tribute bands this time are Freddie Mercury and Bon Jovi. At the time of writing this it looks like the event is fully booked but there is always the possibility of a cancellation. If you want to know if there is a place, then get in touch.

Further ahead, the Satellite Run is available for booking. With more than one start point it should be possible for a good number of you to join in. It’s on April 19 and you can book through the website.

DEVON & CORNWALL Young Janner II bobslatter@hotmail.com www.mgcc.co.uk/devon-cornwall-centre I will start with a quick reminder of the Centre’s Annual General Meeting at the Bowling Club, Callington, on Saturday March 21. The official notification was published last month in Safety Fast!. Please come along and have your say on how the Centre is run and also give ideas of what you would like to see from the organisers in the coming months. Maybe, even offer to join the Committee; we would certainly welcome new blood, hopefully, not literally.

For those who have not been to the venue before, here are some directions. From the Plymouth area on the A388, turn left at the traffic lights in Callington into Fore Street, continue around the left-hand bend and the Bowling Club is on the left.

From the Launceston area, turn right at the traffic lights. From the Liskeard area, on entering the town the Bowling Club is on the right.

By the time you read this, the final details of the Brian Williams Spring Run being held on

www.mgcc.co.uk

Entries for our Three-Day Jim Clark Trail tour in May will close in the next few days. If you want a place, then let me know quickly, please!

You can now book for our first show, Thirlestane Castle on June 7. This is always a popular event, with plenty for all the family to do and see, in a great location. Usually we have 3035 cars – can we better that this year? Check for details on the website and book there.

The annual Bo’ness Revival will be held on September 5-6. The organisers are rearranging the show field layout to incorporate the paddock area

and as a result entries to the classic show may be restricted. So, when the event is on our web page, please book early!

On a more formal note, the AGM is on April 7 at the Royal Hotel, Bridge of Allan. There are a few committee vacancies and if you would be interested in standing then get in touch either with our secretary, Nancy Crichton, or myself. And there are a few minor positions needing to be filled – could you take on regalia? It’s also your opportunity to voice your views on Caledonian matters, so put the date in your diary and come along!

Moreno’s TD at Thirlestane 2019

Sunday March 29 and organised by the North Cornwall Natter will have been circulated. If you have not received an email and require further details please contact myself or Rob Constant on rob@littleabingdon.co.uk The following weekend, on Saturday April 4, we are holding a skittles evening once again at the Treburley Social Club, near Launceston, from 7.30pm onwards. Please contact Ian Cameron if you would like to attend, so that he can pass on numbers so the stewards know how many to cater for. He can be reached on 01566 774426 or ian. cameron@mgccdc.org The venue can be found very easily from the A388 Callington to Launceston road. If approaching from Plymouth area, on entering the village, at the top of the hill, turn left signposted Industrial Units 1/4 and ignoring the turning on the left, continue to the Club

is on the right hand side of the road. If coming from the Launceston area, continue past Treburley Garage on your left and turn right signposted the Industrial Units.

Next month will bring the final details of the various runs organised by the Natters for Drive It Day on Sunday April 26. We are planning to have a common finish once again as this has been so successful in past years, and gives members from all areas a chance to get together.

The picture this month is from the archives and shows some of the cars taking part in the MGCC Tour of Britain in 1980 at Lidwell Cottage, Stoke Climsland.

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CENTRES LINCOLNSHIRE Ian Mackenzie 01529 497849 MaccaV8@aol.com www.mgcclincolnshire.co.uk March Natters: Wolds Wednesday 4; Abbey Lodge Monday 9; Wishing Well Wednesday 11; Three Horseshoes Thursday 19; Ferry Boat Tuesday 24; White Hart Thursday 26.

Luncheon Club: Wednesday 18.

March Events: Lincolnshire Centre AGM, Abbey Lodge Thursday 5.

How many standing founder members does it take to make a Ruby Anniversary picture? Apparently, the answer; as revealed at our recent Annual

Dinner Dance and Awards Presentation, is 18. The event took place at a new venue: the Olde Barn Hotel at Marston near Grantham.

Not only were we celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the creation of the Lincolnshire Centre, but also 90 years of the MG Car Club itself.

To help us, we were joined by the Chairman of the MG Car Club, Bill Silcock and his wife Sally, and to help sweeten the occasion, a magnificent octagonal cake was created for us by Linda Harris.

The cake was cut by the longest-standing member present: Dave Kempton, ably assisted by one of our younger members: Dan Williams. The cake was never going to last very long.

Lots of people won awards, but the Chairman’s Cup was awarded by Steve Hall to

Dave Kempton and Dan Williams cutting the Centre’s Ruby Anniversary cake

Standing Lincolnshire Centre founder members

MIDLANDS Paul Hollingworth paul_irene@btinternet.com www.mgccmidlandcentre.co.uk/ First of all, news from the Centre’s AGM held towards the end of January. Martin Price stood down as Chairman after his second stint. He will stay on the committee as Sprints Co-ordinator before handing over to David Russell in 2021. As foretold in his notes from last month, Roger King was duly elected Chairman.

The other officers remained the same, Brian Osborn as Treasurer and Paul Hollingworth as Secretary.

Andy Robson and Jane Parry stood down from the committee. Andy had served for 13 years, some of those as secretary and he assured the meeting he would still be around in the background, assisting David Wood with communications and IT. Jane has to stand down because of her other commitments, not least as secretary of the MGF Register. Her fresh perspective will be missed. We did win one back when Bob Blackstock agreed to serve. The other members of the committee remained unchanged.

David and Andy have been making a big effort to keep you all informed of what is happening in the Centre with the new website and quarterly newsletter. www.mgcc.co.uk

Richard and Vicki Withington for all their hard work in organising the luncheon club Natters and the V8 Register Tour of Lincolnshire.

We look forward to seeing you all at the Centre’s AGM at the Abbey Lodge, Woodhall Spa, on March 5. For more information, please contact Secretary Sue on MaccaV8@gmail.com Our National Drive Your Classic Car Day run to the Walled Garden at Baumber, near Horncastle, is on April 26 – see our website, or contact Dave Stonehouse on 01790 754774 for details.

We have also increased our presence on Facebook with the addition of a new group where you can post your news, plug your events and request help.

Just search for ‘MG Car Club Midland Centre Group’. www.mgccmidlandcentre.co.uk/ In other news, our Trials Co-ordinator, Tony Lake, finally appears to have won the long battle in restoring the venue of our Autumn Trial. He met with Warwickshire County Council and the tenant farmer at Burton Dassett and it seems they have relented.

We will be sure when the Council issues the permit.

Forthcoming events First up we have the Spring Sprint at Curborough on April 5. Entries are always welcome and it’s free to spectate. Why not volunteer to marshal, no specialist equipment required and

The Walkers monster V8 competing at Curborough

all instructions will be given. Contact Simon simonmorrisbmmcmgcc@gmail.com Next we have the Pride of Longbridge which is held on Cofton Park on Saturday April 26. We hope to have a Centre presence and representation from the Club; however, any individual can turn up in their Leyland/Austin/Rover/MG car. Admission is free. Search for it on Facebook for more details.

Then on to Drive it Day. Many Natters will be organising a run out so please get in touch with them if you wish to take part.

On May 3 Bob Blackstock is organising the Cotswold Naviscat on behalf of the South West Centre.

My understanding is that it’s like a treasure hunt with maps. Entries from Midland Centre members welcome.

Contact Bob blackstocks2000@aol.com Last call for our premier social event, the Welsh Rallye, which is being held over the weekend May 15-17 and is based in a four-star hotel in Telford.

The Saturday touring run will take in the Ironbridge Gorge and the Long Mynd before heading off into deepest Wales. Saturday evening gala dinner with entertainment is included. Contact Roger rogerking43@gmail.com That’s all for now, but watch this space for further updates, as they say.

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CENTRES NORTH WEST

Scammonden Dam Under Sunny Skies. Photo: David Coulthard

Paul Goodman 01625 876300 Lighter nights are on the way, spring is nearly here, and there are lots of events coming up for you and your MG to attend. Our three regular meetings will be a good starting point. On Tuesday March 10, the focus will be on the Trophy Room at the Cheshire County Sports Club. This relatively new venue is thriving and is easy to reach from Liverpool, North Wales and North Cheshire. Then one week later the gathering is at the Plough and Flail on Tuesday 17. There will be a lunchtime meeting in March on Wednesday 25. Please look at the Centre website for the venue.

The Cockshoot Cup Race Championship for 2020 starts at the MGCC Race Meeting on Saturday March 28 on the Silverstone International Circuit.

This layout uses the “Wing” pits and start line and includes the southern part of the Grand Prix Circuit.

This means that there are some great spectating opportunities and the opportunity to view the race cars which will all be under cover in the Formula One garages. If you are thinking about taking up racing this is a good opportunity to see the cars up close

SOUTH EAST Ray Ruffels and William Opie raywillmg@gmail.com www.mgccse.co.uk The MGCCSE Events Calendar Flyer was a supplement to the Feb issue of Safety Fast! and is now also available on the website – www.mgccse. co.uk. Importantly, March kicks off the beginning of the season for MG motoring, so please review the calendar and enjoy planning your 2020 itinerary.

March starts with the Spring Naviscat on Sunday March 8. This will start (and finish) from The Spur at Slindon, West Sussex, BN18 0NE. Registration will be from 10.00am with the start at 11.00am, finishing at 2.30pm. Teas/Coffees will be available at the start with lunch available to competitors at the end. For further details please contact organiser John Reay on 01798 343719 or entry forms are available at www.mgccse.co.uk/ calendar-2020/ Following this, Pheasant at Buckland RH3 7BG is the venue for our General Meeting plus MG Videos on March 16. Contact John Morgan 07802 770025 for more details.

www.mgcc.co.uk

and talk to the drivers and championship organisers.

Paul Clackett is defending his title but in a Class B, rather than Class C, MG ZS. There are also a record number of MGFs appearing in Class F. The Speed Championships kick off in early April with two events. The Midlands Centre Sprint at Curborough on Sunday April 5 and the Harewood Hillclimb on Sunday April 12. The drivers will be looking to set good early season times at these events. Entering speed events is now very simple, particularly if you have a post year 2000 standard car with an under two litre engine. If you are interested in participating by driving your car on tarmac against the clock, then visit one of these events to get more information.

Looking further ahead, Drive-it-Day on Sunday April 26 will be to the Anderton Boat Lift. Final details will be in this column next month.

Preparations are now well in hand for the two speed events which the Centre is organising this year. Entries have been flowing in for the Anglesey Sprint Weekend on May 2-3. Invited clubs include Porsche, Austin Healey, Morgan and several of the multi-marque championships. This will make a great spectacle. Spectators are welcome, but we really need a few more volunteers to work both off the circuit in clerical and administration roles and on track with our experienced marshals. Please contact me if you are interested. Two weeks later is our Scammonden Dam Hillclimb on Sunday May 17.

This year’s Spring Luncheon with Awards will be held again at Hartsfield Manor, Betchworth RH3 7AA, on Sunday March 29. Many will remember this very successful event from last year, so contact Austin Banner on 07850 769506 or austin.banner@gmail.com for more details.

The Brooklands MG and British Marques Day is on April 19, celebrating the best of British manufacturing at our all-marque event.

Alongside the MG displays there will be a host of British-built vehicles including pre-war Alvis and Sunbeam through to the latest Jaguar models. For more details contact John Davies on 01737 241971 or view web on - www. brooklandsmuseum.com/whats-on/MG-andBritish-Marques-Day The same weekend, April 18-19, is the MGCC race meeting at Brands Hatch, a must to experience the spectacle of post-war MG racecars plus the amazing Triple-M cars in the paddock and racing on the Indy track!

This year’s Spring Run on Sunday April 26 is centred on the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, with visits to the National Memorial to the Few at Capel-le-Ferne -

www.battleofbritainmemorial.org and the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial museum at RAF Manston - www.spitfiremuseum.org.uk The day provides a fantastic opportunity to join in the celebratory year of such an iconic event.

Full details and the entry form (for completion and return) are available on the MGCCSE website/calendar or for any questions contact raywillmg@gmail.com

In January the Sussex Wanderers’ David Griffiths presented a cheque for £1,600 to the East Park Riding for the Disabled Group, a charity they have supported since 2015 with great success for this worthwhile cause

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CENTRES SOUTH WEST Mike Angwin m.angwin@tiscali.co.uk www.mgccsw.com; www.facebook.com/mgccsw By the time you read this, the South West Centre’s 2019 season will have been completed by the presentation of prizes at the Annual Dinner at the Limpley Stoke Hotel, near Bath. The full results are available on the South West Centre website www. mgccsw.com and the overall winner of the South West Drivers Championship was Ian Beningfield, driving his MG TF. The Events Calendar for the new season is also on the website, with the SW Centre’s AGM as the first entry on Tuesday March 3. The AGM starts at 8.15pm in Compton Martin Church Hall, just along from the Ring O’ Bells where the Natter is held on the first Tuesday of each month. Please come to the AGM and support your committee.

The SW Centre’s 2020 competitive events start with MGs on Grass 1 on April 25 at Charmy Down, near Bath, followed by the Kimber Classic on May 2, based at West Coker, near Honiton, and with a

TYNE-TEES Tony Wood anthony@scrutonvillage.co.uk Spring is on the way, allegedly, and so is the annual tyre-kicking ritual loosely disguised as the AGM whence the Committee emerges from its bunker into the light of Coulby Manor, reassures the enthralled hordes that all is well before partaking of a light supper and disappearing once more. Is this an accurate portrayal of events? Come along on March 5 and find out – don’t forget to let Noel

series of stages held in Somerset and Dorset. On May 3 there is an on-road Cotswold Navigation Scatter event starting from Northleach, near Cheltenham, organised by Bob Blackstock of the Midlands Centre.

Please come and join us to compete or just to spectate, and marshals are always welcome.

Please note that from this year Motorsport UK, who issue the permits for all competitive events, require all competitors and passengers to have RS Clubman licences. The licences are free and details can be found at ‘Important Changes to 2020 Competitive Events’ under Recent Posts on the SW Centre website.

Our 2020 social events start with a charity visit on the evening of March 16 to the Great Western Air Ambulance HQ near the M4/M5 interchange at Almondsbury and, continuing the aeronautical theme, the SW Centre Summer Picnic will be held at the Helicopter Museum at Westonsuper-Mare on June 7, and a social run is being planned for July 11 to the Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop in Hampshire for the Wallop Wheels and Wings 2020 event, to see some of the finest classic aircraft and vehicles in the UK. This month’s photo is of the 2019 Championship winner Ian Beningfield at MGOG2.

know how many hungry mouths we need to feed.

Noel is standing down from the Chair at the AGM and it would be great if you could make the effort to attend and show your support for one of the greatest servants of the Centre. Noel has effectively been a full-time manager and cheerleader for the Centre, raising its profile within the MGCC and the wider MG world. As he takes a (hopefully small) step back, on behalf of us all a heartfelt thank you.

Sunday March 29 sees our first social run when Dennis takes the reins for his annual Sunday Lunch run, starting from Costa Coffee at Wolviston

Services at the A19/A689 junction and taking in the scenery of south Durham to finish with… the clue is in the title. Contact Dennis at denhope@ hotmail.co.uk for details and entry.

Our first feature event of the season, the Cobweb Run on Sunday April 26, is an allrevised venture in the capable hands of our Secretary David Alexander. A new start venue, Plantsplus Garden Centre at Seaton Burn, has been chosen with the aim of allowing different areas of Northumberland to be visited. David is promising a 114-mile route through historic towns, skirting the Cheviot, Otterburn ranges and the Coquet Valley before returning to Seaton Burn.

Interested? I should think so. Contact David at david.alexander2012@btinternet.com and don’t shilly-shally as this event is always very popular.

Finally, for the keen car cleaners amongst you, don’t forget that our April Natters at Stannington and Coulby Manor signal the beginning of our Pride of Ownership awards which finally culminate in prizes at the Annual Dinner. As these events are self judged, it’s wise to keep in with your fellow members. I’m partial to red wine, purely for information, you understand!

Noel leaving Harewood Hill in his MG TF 85 www.mgcc.co.uk

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CENTRES YORKSHIRE Ken Cothliff kencothliff@hotmail.co.uk, mgccyorkshire.co.uk With mild winter, at least here in Yorkshire, some members have been tempted to bring their cars out and about. As well as the “Chilly Willy Run, mentioned in last month’s news, the Tiger Natter group were out and about on New Year’s Day at a classic car gathering at Swan Inn at Brandesburton, near Beverley, where MGs outnumbered the other marques. There was a pre-war Riley Sprite Roadster on its way to Glasgow to start in the Rallye Monte Carlo Classique – 1600 miles with no windscreen as such, no weather equipment at all, dress for the worst and hope for the best!

Dark evenings mean several groups resort to other entertainment, with East Yorkshire having a very competitive Scalextric meeting at Cave Castle after their Christmas run. According to reports it was compared to the teamwork of the Mille Miglia Run of post-war years. They had a reflective January Natter with a look back at the much-missed Sledmere Show of past years – a bit of a shock for some members who looked a lot slimmer – well, it comes to all of us! They have now confirmed the

ULSTER Carol Willis 07831 345560 www.mgcculstercentre.co.uk carol.mgulster@hotmail.co.uk We were delighted to get the benefit of dry and crisp weather this year and started bright and early at Echlinville. Very soon the whole area was buzzing with activity and with scrutiny and sign-on sorted and the crews fed, the sound of tuned engines ripped the morning air as the first car crossed the line. Appropriately this was our President, Mike Armstrong, in his 1953 MG TD but with grandson Zak at the wheel brimming with enthusiasm.

Running on what sounded like two cylinders was Trevor McIlroy in the Frogeye Sprite. Hoping the engine would clear, he pushed on but was to become the first casualty of the day. However not far behind him was Ralph Ewing whose Midget was whining from a gearbox problem.

Frustratingly, Ralph had just had a professional gearbox rebuild; three tests later he and navigator Valerie Heron were back at base. Consolation by retail therapy, however, came in the purchase of a nice bottle of gin.

www.mgcc.co.uk

date of the 25th Anniversary Wolds Way Run as May 17; entry form on Centre website soon. On the subject of dates, the Vale of York’s “Heartbeat Run” for the Centre has been put back to July 12 to clear two other events including MGLive!

After relaxing on a ten-pin bowling night in January, the South Natter team are preparing the route and paperwork for the first major Yorkshire Centre Run of the year, the Daffodil Run on April 19.

Again this will be around the Peak District National Park and Sheffield areas, starting at Fox Valley Retail Park outside Sheffield, and finishing at South Yorkshire Transport Museum. It looks to be a good day, and the forms are ready for download NOW on the MGCC Yorkshire website.

Last year’s event was organised

by South Yorkshire for the first time in many years and a photo or two are shown here.

At the West Yorkshire evening Natter, Colin Bateson, John Willis, Andy McGee, Robin Kent and Martin Wise celebrating collectively achieving 230 year’s membership of the Club to date. Martin arrived

in an MG ZS EV he had taken delivery of that day – from petrol to electric, how the MG world is evolving! North Yorkshire’s January meeting was their annual review or member roles. Colin Brear, who is Centre Chair, has agreed to continue as Natter Leader, and there was a change of Natter scribe to Jeff Marsden. Also, the financing of runs was discussed in the light of recommendations by the MGCC; a lively discussion ensued.

This time of year is always busy with plans for the coming season, and here in Yorkshire it looks to be as busy a time as ever this year. We hope to offer Yorkshire hospitality to MGCC members from all over the UK. Do keep a check on our website.

Bryan Mutch, too, had problems when the gear lever of his trusty Fiat 127came off in his hand. A trip back home and Bryan and Ken continued in an MX5. Not counting in results but the Scotsman nevertheless got his money’s worth.

The tests varied between farmyards, old wartime runways and slithering muddy lanes. Deftly mastering the traction problem was Will Corry, keeping the wheel spin to a minimum but driving hard when grip was there and leaving a nostalgic aroma of Castrol R behind.

Driving exceptionally well was Robert Dickson in the Mini. He was flying but fell foul of the Mini Achilles-heel and broke a drive shaft in the yard of Ballyhemlin House. Robert was to get going again and managed to climb back to sixth overall. Also going hard were Robin Lyons and David Cochrane, proving once again that autotest skills can be inherited.

One thing that could not go without notice was three generations from the Johnson dynasty. Together they formed four Sprite and Midget crews with a Starlet, ranging from young George and Patrick through to Dermot, Andy and Michael. A collective noun for such a gathering could only be “A jolly of Johnsons” which is certainly appropriate as all of

them seemed to spend their day smiling.

Winners in great style were Will Corry and Pete Moreland-Moore. A near-faultless performance marred only by some damage to the left rear quarter but, happily, easily rectified as Will and Pete had worked long hours into the night to get the A Series Midget ready for the event; but it was all worthwhile and the honours go to them once again.

There was a great atmosphere back at Echlinville, reminiscent of the old days, with groups gathered in the car park discussing everything car-related and leaving politics and any other problems far behind.

We owe an enormous debt to Noel Cochrane and Richard McCracken for putting the event together and to all the marshals, many of whom stood out in cold and windswept areas.

Gordon Buckley

MGs head off on the start of the 2019 Daffodil Run

Dates for your diary:Thursday March 12 Nosh and Natter at 12.45 at Poacher’s Pocket, Lisbane Saturday March 28 Autotest – MG round of the NI Championship at TTS Saturday April 4 Karting – event to be confirmed (Lambeg)

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 79

REGISTERS VINTAGE Ian Quarrington IanQuarrington999@BTInternet.com Recently I attended the AGM of the Young Members Branch of our Club. There was a very good turnout and some super cars to look at in the car park at Gaydon. What an astonishing group they are, full of enthusiasm and hope and energy for their work and for the future of the MGCC. You will remember that we as a Register proposed these young people when they applied to be the 37th CRB. This is now a forthright appeal to you, as the Senior Register, to help them grow even more with your support by treating your own grandchildren or great nephews or nieces to membership of the MG Car Club as a special gift to them and to the Club.

It is very little money for such a lot of return, only £15 for the 16 to 20 years old group and £30 for the 21 to 24 year olds.

That brings me to our own AGM, coming up on Sunday March 15, once again at Shillingford Bridge. Please do let Debbie know if you are coming (Debbiebradingvr@yahoo.com). I hope you will support this meeting in equal if not greater numbers than I saw today. It doesn’t matter one

TRIPLE M CATHELIJNE SPOELSTRA +31 (0)6 41216600 cathelijnespoelstra@outlook.com www.triple-mregister.org Having gone through the entire alphabet since I started this thing, I’d like to continue with this Car of the Month thing, just not necessarily follow the models anymore. I suppose I could have started over but with different examples, but it’s going to be whatever takes my fancy at any given time. This month I’ve chosen this wonderfully evocative photograph of L.F. Robson spiritedly driving his F1 tourer, F1260, up a hill. Would you just look at the interest from the public, leisurely enjoying the spring sunshine? Or at least that’s when I imagine the pic was taken. Though the competition number indicates this was not one of the larger MCC trials, it still looks a popular enough event. From the factory files we know the car was originally red and supplied to Mr. Robson on May 14 1932 through Graham & Roberts Ltd of Carlisle. What we do not know is where the car is now. Could it be hiding in a barn somewhere

80 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

you don’t come along you really are missing an opportunity to see how well the Classic Car movement is doing in the UK and your chance to support it. Next month there is MG Era day at Brooklands, FBHVC Drive it Day, and a lot of CRB activities to enjoy and get involved in.

Last words from me, as Club Chairman Bill has asked me to support him with a number of projects for the MGCC for later this year, so I am going to hand over these monthly notes to a well-known and respected Vintage Register Member from May. Next month Peter Jones will be providing you with the twice-yearly four-page VR Newsletter.

bit if you are no longer the custodian of a Vintage MG. Some of the Young Members can’t afford an MG yet but they came in large numbers to support the group they want to see flourish.

Have you got your tickets for MGLive! yet? Bill and Lauran and the whole MGLive! committee have worked hard to bring us a superb weekend of entertainment and I know Ron has been very busy supporting the Racing folks by helping to organise some exciting grids to look forward to. Don’t forget you can sign up to take your cars around the circuit at lunchtime (racing schedule permitting). It is a membership benefit you won’t find in any other MG Club.

There is a host of other social activities to enjoy, too. This year we are going to share a large marquee with our friends from the Triple M community, and there will be somewhere to sit and take the weight off your feet and enjoy some refreshments courtesy of both Registers.

Later this month the Main Club will be at the NEC for the Practical Classics Restoration Show. This is the place where you may yet find an elusive part for your car if you didn’t see it at Stoneleigh last month. Please don’t tell me it’s too much of an effort to get to these shows – if

A Trio of Vintage MGs at Silverstone.

Photo: Aaron Lupton

still, awaiting the sun to shine on it again as it did in its heyday? As an aside, Robson bought himself a C-type Montlhéry Midget through the same dealer a year earlier which he took round Brooklands before selling it and moving up two cylinders and two seats. The remaining questions are if anyone has any info on this particular event and which hill is being climbed. Replies en masse to the above email address, please. By the way, having lost my slightly photographic memory somewhere along the way in the past few years, I can look at a photo I have only seen a few months ago and swear I’ve

never seen it before. Apologies if this is in fact a well-known picture and it’s only ‘new’ to me …

Now, let us return to the 21st century. With not much going on in March event-wise, it’s a bit of a long haul to April when both the touring and racing season will commence. The first race meeting will be the VSCC’s Spring Start at Silverstone on April 18 and 19 with the South West Centre’s Kimber Classic Trial two weeks after that. Has everyone got their entries in? Of course, if you want to take your car out now and stuff this season ‘rule’, please do! Safety Fast!

www.mgcc.co.uk

REGISTERS T TYPE PAUL PLUMMER 01926 854574 scribe@tregister.org By the time you read this the Spares day at Stoneleigh in February will have come and gone, which was the first event in the T Register calendar for 2020.

Spares day at Stoneleigh The Register had its normal presence at this show, which proved to be a great place to stop and have a natter with fellow T Typers.

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of ‘stuff’ that is for sale at this show, from books to brake linings, polishing cloths to pre-selector gearboxes, spanners to shock absorbers, all evidencing the health of our hobby.

It also provides a venue to meet old and new friends, from home and abroad, and to have a good old chat about your latest project.

The remaining events for this year are: • April 18 – Rebuild Seminar and AGM at Gaydon • April 19 – MG and British Marques Day at Brooklands

Y TYPE Jerry Birkbeck 01926 258691 Mob: 07855 566325 birkbeckjerry@gmail.com www.mgccyregister.co.uk Welcome The first major event of the UK MG Calendar started in early February with the MG and Triumph Day on Sunday February 9. Normally a well-attended event that draws together marque enthusiasts and traders, it also enables Clubs to display their cars and projects. Unfortunately, Storm Ciara had a major impact and visitor numbers were down, I saw two Ys, a YA and YB and I believe that there was a third present. Ray Cotter’s YB, which was on the Octagon Stand, was a rather different example from the stock version and took the Show Judges Award for the ‘Best MG of the Day’.

Very well done, Ray! Why is it different?

It was found on a farm in Cornwall in 2012. It had no chassis nor any running gear. The body was used as a chicken shed and all the trim had

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• April 27-1 May 1 – Spring Tour to the Ardennes • June 13-14 – T Register at MGLive!

• TBA – T Register T Party • September 11-14 – Autumn Tour to the Malvern and Shropshire Hills Rebuild Seminar The next event is our rebuild seminar which has an interesting range of topics which include: • LED lighting upgrades • Voltage regulators and dynamos • Competition preparation for a T Type • Solving T Type drum brake problems • A practical approach to common problems all of which are invaluable for the enthusiastic T Type owner and should not be missed!

It is not too late to sign up for this event and the application form can be found online or in last month’s magazine.

Any questions contact Barry Knight at barglen@ntlworld.com The T Register AGM takes place immediately after the seminar is finished, where all T Reg members are welcome.

T Party At the time of writing, plans for this event are still not finalised. We have several options in mind, all of which are being explored and we will let you know as soon as things are firmed up.

The popular T Register stand at Stoneleigh.

been eaten away. Not a job for the faint-hearted!

However, the chap who came across it had a rusty MGB. He found the YB chassis nearby, refurbished it and undertook a small amount of rewelding. He painted it and fitted all new bushes. He then fitted all the running gear from the MGB including the suspension and disc brakes. This was followed by stripping the body and undertaking any necessary welding, and applying a zinc phosphate primer. A stainless-steel fuel tank was fitted to replace the existing leaking unit. Unfortunately, he was in poor health and could no longer continue with the rest of what was a challenging project. At this point Ray stepped in and bought the car in April 2018.

He has since then fully rebuilt the car. The body was painted in Jaguar dark blue and silver grey two-tone. The engine has had a full rebuild and is matched to a five-speed box.

What is your view?

The question one might reasonably ask is whether this can be considered as a true YB? The obvious answer is, of course not. However, the reality is that it is a truly modern Y which, had it been left to rot away, would have been lost forever.

The foresight of the individual who began the project eight years ago and the major input that Ray has made has ensured its future.

Moreover, this is a car that uses MG parts. If one examines the history of MG, it is evident that all models were developed and improved through experimentation and parts were used from other MGs and the wider Nuffield parts bin! Just think how the TD emerged from the Y as an example.

Perhaps it is an upgrade that Cecil Kimber may have approved of?

Ray’s YB is certainly different but visually is very much a Y Type. It is also remarkably quick, with excellent braking and a fine 1800cc engine. A classic that can be used and admired. I like what has been done and the likelihood of finding a spare XPAG engine and gearbox at a reasonable price is highly unlikely, so this approach is, in my view, a common sense solution. There are several Ys around where the B series engine has been added owing to the lack of an original. These are accepted in the Y community, although a purist would never agree. A Y saved, though.

So what do you Y owners think? Please let me know your thoughts on this.

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 81

REGISTERS MAGNETTE Stephen Tickell 01737 760330 stephen.tickell@gmail.com www.magnette.org Event News Paul Batho has just given me outline details of the Somerset weekend which had been pencilled in for April 18-19 as our season-opener. There should be a full programme available by the

time you read this, incorporating Haynes Motor Museum near Yeovil on Saturday, an evening meal in Glastonbury, and a scenic drive around North Somerset on Sunday.

We last visited this area (and the museum) in 2014 for the Register 40th anniversary event, organised by Rosie and Trevor Jones. Rosie still lives in Glastonbury, and their son Andy has been finishing the Varitone restoration which Trevor was working on when he sadly passed

away – they hope to have it back on the road this year.

As previously mentioned, August 8-9 also promises to be an excellent weekend, combining the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway on Saturday with the Harrogate MG Club show on Sunday. In case you wondered, the railway is actually near Skipton rather than Bolton, firmly in Yorkshire about 15 miles from Pateley Bridge where the Show is held. Magnette owner John Beesley is involved in running the railway and in addition to organising our visit he’s suggested that you may wish to enjoy a ‘Fish and Chips special’ evening train ride. This leaves Embsay at 6.30pm, returning about 8.00pm to allow plenty of time to enjoy fish and chips and scenic views from the dining car, then drive back to the showground at a reasonable hour.

Balmy August evenings do admittedly seem a long way off at present, however John advises that their special excursions tend to be booked up quickly in advance, and on that particular weekend there’s a beer festival as well. John Harris will be circulating details of the whole weekend in due course, so this is just to alert you that numbers will be needed fairly soon if dining seats are to be reserved.

code gives you an exclusive discount on Saturday and Sunday adult or family tickets ONLY up until midnight on Thursday March 26 2020. …

We had a steady flow of visitors to the stand, some even from Germany and Luxembourg asking technical and general questions. One chap was considering converting an early rubber bumper roadster to chrome. We made the point that if more and more people do this there will be shortage of rubber bumper models. A sad prospect as this model reflects a big part of MGB history.

As always, the committee enjoyed the day talking about our favourite interest and meeting fellow enthusiasts. As we left, we looked forward to next year and were arranging a meeting to finalise plans for the Restoration Show in March.

There’s never a dull moment on the Committee!

Hopefully see you at the NEC in March.

Haynes Motor Museum 2014

MGB David Broadhurst 01209 614704 newsletter-editor@mgb-register.org www.mgb-register.org The MGB Register AGM is to be held on Sunday March 22 2020 at 11.00am at Kimber House. Any member is entitled to attend, so don’t be shy!

More details, as ever, on our website at www. mgb-register.org Apart from the AGM, other upcoming events include the ever-popular Spring Run on April 5 starting at Millett’s Farm, Abingdon, and eventually going to Stowe, outside Buckingham. You can always go in your other MG if you wish, should your B still need some fettling! Astonishingly more details are on…the website.

We’re attending the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show (NEC Birmingham, UK) from March 27 to March 29 2020. Be part of the friendliest of classic car shows and visit the MGB Register on stand 5-535 #NECRestoShow Plus MGCC Members can benefit from discounted tickets in advance by using the code in the MGCC Members area: mgcc.co.uk/members/members-discounts The

82 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

MG/Triumph Spares Day The Register made its’ annual pilgrimage to Stoneleigh on February 9 for the annual MG/ Triumph Spares Day. As usual the day was well attended even though the country was being battered with gale force winds and heavy rain. For many this is the first event of the year when you brush the cobwebs off the car to meet up with like-minded friends. There was a good mix of Trade and Club stands covering everything to purchase, from nuts and bolts to body shells. With the decline of the local motor accessory shop it’s great because you can usually find that little connector or gizmo which Halfords fail to stock, plus it saves on the postage cost of mail order.

We displayed three cars on the stand which covered the development of the car during its production years.

They were: - 1967 Chrome MGB GT, 1974 Chrome MGB Roadster, and a 1979 Rubber MGB GT, all of which were of great interest, particularly to those undertaking rebuilds.

MGBs on the Register stand at Stoneleigh.

Photo: Roger Cooper www.mgcc.co.uk

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REGISTERS MIDGET Chris Hale c.hale1962@btinternet.com www.midgetregister.com By the time you read this the MG and Triumph Spares show will have been and gone. If you attended, I hope you managed to pop over to the Register stand and say hello. A write-up will appear in future Safety Fast! notes.

My Midget has been off the road for some years now, waiting for me to recommence the

MGC Mike Haughton mgc_mike@btinternet.com www.mgcc.co.uk/mgc-register/ Bookings for MGC 52 weekend on June 27-28 are now being taken. All information and booking form are available on the Register micro-site or directly from Mike Haughton. If you wish to stay over on the Saturday evening you are advised to book the hotel quickly as there are a limited number of rooms available. On Saturday a visit is organised to the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton. Saturday evening, we have dinner being held at the Royal Chase Hotel, Shaftsbury, and Sunday is the main event at the Haynes Motor Museum in Yeovil.

I have recently embarked on a new restoration project (more information about this at another time). Bearing in mind I restored my roadster back in the late 80s and have not had that much to do on the car since, I cannot help thinking about how much easier it is to restore a car some 30 years on. Let me elaborate.

Back in the late 80s there was no such thing as the internet, eBay and other various online

84 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

rebuild – long story which I might bore you with in a future article. RRH needs new sills, part floors, A posts, and repairs to footwells and bulkheads, all the typical Spridget trouble spots. I have been researching advice and techniques on undertaking what can be quite involved and potentially scary bodywork repairs, and whilst there are some excellent manuals and articles on the subject, nothing beats being shown how to undertake the jobs in detail. I used to attend a classic car renovation evening class but like most such classes, this closed many years ago. An internet

search brought up an excellent series of videos on YouTube by Rob of Vision Auto Garage, serialising the extensive repair of a 1979 Midget 1500 over 21 videos. These demonstrate, in great detail, how to undertake all of the bodywork repairs on my car, so there is no excuse not to get on with it. Rob also has some other videos relating to MG Midget modifications, including fitting a Jaguar V6 engine!

Finally, following on from last month’s article, our Chairman snapped a couple of Midgets competing in the Monte Carlo Classique Rally as they passed through the Passage Control at Banbury. If you have any information as to how they got on please let us know.

forums, so tracking down spares was very much a case of trawling though the miscellaneous sales ads in Safety Fast! and other MG-related publications. At that time my job entailed a reasonable amount of travelling so I was often fortunate to be able to combine ‘business with pleasure’ and collect the parts I needed. The courier services we have today were certainly not as widespread and prolific, so personal collection of all but small parts was really the only option.

Very few mobile phones were around at that time to help contact people, either!

The digital camera is worth its weight in gold.

During disassembly I must have taken a thousand or more photos already as an aide-memoire.

Technical advances in tools have also been invaluable. Probably my favourite is a set of dumpy AF ratchet spanners which a good friend and fellow C enthusiast put me on to.

These have just been nothing short of fantastic in accessing those hard-to -get nuts and bolts!

Magnetic LED inspection lamps are also a godsend. Remember their

predecessor? A lamp that was plugged into the mains, which invariably wrapped its cable around you when you were struggling to access that particularly difficult bolt under the car. Then you would knock it over and the bulb would blow, just at the critical time!

The re-manufacturing of parts has also made life so much easier. Yes, lots of spares are common to the MGB but there are a great deal of parts which are not, and it’s great to have these available.

One thing that hasn’t changed over all this time is our C Register Technical Advisor. Yes, Vic Young has been helping us since 1992. Nice one, Vic. Happy C motoring.

Colin Howes

On of the Young’s MGCs sporting the MGC50 plaque.

www.mgcc.co.uk

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MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 85

REGISTERS V8 Victor Smith 0208 392 9434 victorsmith@v8register.net www.v8register.net

A modern MG sporting DRLs

Concerns with the relative visibility of classic cars Classic car enthusiasts are increasingly aware that with the growth of bright Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) on modern cars, which have become much larger, the relative visibility of a car like an MGB GT V8 is becoming a real concern. They are also aware that when you drive on UK roads today you sense that MG V8 is much smaller than many modern cars which seem to get larger and larger

FWD Ben Hatton ben2692@hotmail.co.uk www.mgcc.co.uk/fwd-register/ February 8 was the Register’s AGM which we held at Kimber House. The committee members have remained the same with Ben Hatton continuing as our chair, Wayne Bates as treasurer, Jim Lott as secretary, Alan Webb-Moore as registrar, Colin Corke as historian, Ken Armstrong as a committee member and me as events co-ordinator. After the business of the AGM, those who didn’t need to rush off enjoyed a pub lunch and a good chinwag.

We are in the slightly unusual position because although our committee is strong and cohesive, we tend not to be joined by that many members at our events, which is a bit of a shame. If you have a car which is part of our Register, please do get in touch and consider joining us at some events. One of the good points of not having that many members join us at events such as MGLive! is that we can offer a free spare ticket to more members in return for helping to man the stand for an hour or two. For the BMC and Leyland

86 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

– not to mention the explosion of the numbers of even larger SUVs and 4x4s. With the combination of these factors, a classic car driver naturally feels concerned that their car from the 1970s is less noticeable on a relative-visibility basis and consequently is aware that it can be less easy for other drivers to see a classic car on the road or in their rear-view mirror.

See our full article on this plus a comparative analysis of the size of an MGB GT V8 with a VW Golf from the mid-1970s and a Golf in 2020 – even a modest hatchback has become so much larger. They are on our ‘More’ web page on the V8 website. www.v8register.net/more.htm What are the daytime lighting options for a classic car?

Mike Howlett has an MGB GT V8 Conversion which he uses frequently throughout the year and he commented on a V8BB thread that “having just driven 400 miles on the M4, M5, M6 and M74 today I can assure you that having DRLs on the front of the car is very valuable in dark, gloomy weather, even on a dual carriageway. If you want to pull out and overtake you need to be able to see vehicles coming up behind – and be seen too! The current trend for

Show we get eight free passes and as yet, we’ve never been able to use them all, so it would be lovely if more members did join us and they can join us free of charge.

While we’re talking MGLive!, it looks like the Metros within our Register should be able to put forward a three-car team for the autotest, and we’re on the way to forming another team of three but could do with another car or two. Would

dark grey paintwork on modern cars makes cars nearly invisible when you steal a quick glance in the mirrors. I use my headlights whenever I think it makes the car more visible, and on today’s drive they were on pretty much all the time.” The question for many MG V8 enthusiasts thinking of a DRL upgrade is what are the daytime lighting options?

In an article released on the V8 website we reviewed three options: using dipped headlights upgraded with halogen bulbs and fitting DRLs, either within the headlamps or as separate units in the grille or elsewhere. An article on installing DRLs in replacement H4 Halogen headlamp units using a rubber bumper reflector with a pilot light fitting for a sidelight which is used for the DRL is available on our ‘More’ web page.

Visit to the Workhouse at Southwell Ken Clayton has arranged a group visit to The Workhouse in Southwell in Nottinghamshire on Sunday July 5 2020. For full information and booking details see our ‘More’ web page.

V8 Kent Tour 2020 The event organiser, Ian Quarrington, reminds members that the next V8 Tour is fully booked.

you like to join us and have a go at autotest? If you’ve never done it before, I would urge you to have a go. I did my first autotest four years ago and I was rubbish, came last out of everyone and when I took part at the last MGLive!, I was still rubbish and still came last and no one cared and nor did I! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I have no doubt if any of you have a go, you’ll have great fun and be better than me!

The committee with Wayne’s Maestro after the recent AGM at Kimber House www.mgcc.co.uk

CM06.19/B8/drd

• MGB we restored was chosen by Oxford Automobile Model Company Failing 6v batteries?

• Servicing and MOT Work Fit Manor Garages • Sill Replacement Restoration twin 12v conversion.

• Professionally Spot Welded Still 12v but with double the capacity. Fits existing battery boxes, • Gearbox rebuilds we have a with minimal extra wiring. Reliable stock of 4 synchro reverse starting power after your MG has gears that are currently not been parked up. KIT £195 + vat. available • Engine rebuilds • Wiring looms fitted • Very large stock of new parts • 27 Years in Business

by

Re For comm me r G ende d lor y M G

2 4 H R R O A D S I D E R E C O V E RY A N D T R A N S P O R T, O X F O R D S H I R E We specialise in moving classic, prestige, and track cars, offering local and nationwide delivery and collection.

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Specialising in transporting all MGs

Please check this proof carefully errors • R e for com m e nindstyle, e d bcontent y F o r and m e rlayout.

Glory MG Although every care is exercised in preparing your advert, we cannot hold • D e a l e r Ve h i c l e Tr a n s f e r ourselves responsible for any inaccuracies you may overlook.

2 4ALTERATIONS h r R e c o v e r TO y THIS PROOF PLEASE SHOULD YOU REQUIRE• ANY

e C aQUOTE r Tr a nADVERT s p o r t NO. _ _ _ _ _ TELEPHONE BEFORE _•_ _ _P r_i _v a_ tAND • Over 25 years motor trade experience • W i d e a n d v a r i e d l o y a l c l i e n t b a s e •

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For more information, please call us and we will help with any queries on 01869 600920 i n f o @ r j h a u t o m o t i v e . c o . u k • w w w. r j h a u t o m o t i v e . c o . u k www.mgcc.co.uk

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 87

REGISTERS ZR/ZS/ZT JOHN THOMPSON 01702 298866 johnt5@btinternet.com www.mgcc.co.uk/zedregister Recent events Our first event of 2020 was held on Sunday February 9. The MG and Triumph Spares Day at Stoneleigh has become the traditional season opener for many Registers over the years. It’s good to catch up with friends and to meet our members after the winter hiatus. Our stand area was slightly smaller than previous years, but we still managed to have all three variants of Zeds on display.

Upcoming events Plans also continue on the arrangements for the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration show in March. We will be located in Hall 5 on stand 430 next to the Main Club stand and the Young Members Branch. Work continues apace on our arrangements, but we decided early on to only go with two display cars this year. This will allow the space to promote our continuing ‘Save Our Zeds’ campaign and our upcoming road trip later this year.

Zeds at the lakes – update Our main event of 2020 is of course the ‘Zeds at the Lakes’ road trip which takes us to the Lake District for four days. Since the last update was published, we are happy to confirm the final pricing for the weekend and also confirm what everyone will get for their hard-earned cash.

Final 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: • 3-night/4-day tour from September 11-14 2020 • 3 nights’ accommodation in the 3-star Riverside Hotel in Kendal • Breakfast included each morning at the hotel • 3 dinners included – one every night • Evening meals provided will be a 3-course meal with at least 2 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 • Discounted entry into the Lakeland Motor Museum

• 1 route guide per car, which will feature details and maps of attractions and places of interest • 1 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 not on the road trip are more than welcome to join us for an enjoyable day at the museum where the same discounted entry rate will apply.

Just to remind you of the dates: September 1114 are the dates for the road trip. Sunday September 13 is the day at the Lakeland Motor Museum.

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. Call their Sales/Operations team on 01732 879153 for further information.

MG6.3.5 Sean Round sean@seanround.co.uk www.facebook.com/groups/MG635Register twitter.com/635register Our events preparation is in full force now. We are heading to Pride of Longbridge in April, as well as hopefully meeting up with the guys at John Woods Motorcare! As soon as arrangements for both events are confirmed, we’ll let you know through our Facebook and Twitter feeds!

As we head into March, I’m sure a number of you will be looking forward to picking up your new ‘20 Plate’ MGs. A number of posts from dealers indicate that sales are going really well and we are really looking forward to seeing your new cars on Facebook and hopefully at our events, too!

The BTCC Season is upon us and it is now all but confirmed that the MG6s will no longer feature. A real shame for us, as the car had proven to be successful in its earlier days, and with the right investment its success could have been maintained. We hope that MG will be back in the

88 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

A trio of BTCC replica MG6s at Pride of Longbridge.

BTCC in the future with one of its products, and that we can see the Octagon back at the front of the grid!

Whilst our vehicle Register is growing, we’d very much like to increase the vehicle numbers.

We have an online-based system into which you can enter the details of your car, and help us to build up a history of the MG6, 3 and 5 cars on the road. Your data is held securely and will only be used for the purposes mentioned. Should you have any queries regarding the Register then please feel free to contact our Registrar, Richard Bibby-Brooke.

In April’s we’ll have our latest four-page spread for you to catch up on all things 635 Register. Whilst we’ve got some content, if anyone has any interesting contributions that they wish to make to this article then please contact me on sean@seanround.co.uk and we’d be more than happy to include this in our submission.

As always, if anyone has any suggestions for events that we are not yet aware of that you think would be great for us to attend and meet up at then please feel free to contact Steve Haines, who will be more than happy to take a look and potentially add to our calendar!

www.mgcc.co.uk

FOR SALE

Highly Competitive MGA Deluxe / Twin Cam with FIA HTP

Built as new to high specification for competition in 2013, with all aluminium panels and both homologations for Twin Cam and push rod engine variants, currently with checked and sealed ultimate specification B-series 1850cc 160 BHP engine, SCCR gearbox, LSD, adjustable rear Armstrong dampers, aluminium race tank, Vbox data logger and video. This frontrunning MGA and genuine MGB beater has proven to be consistent and reliable in multiple series including:

Silverstone Classic RAC Tourist Trophy - 2nd in class Donington Historic Pre 63 GT - 3rd in Class MGCC Iconic 50’s - Outright Winner AMOC Jack Fairman - Class winner Equipe GTS - 2nd in class British GT support race - 1st MG Offered for sale in current specification and / or with rare opportunity to be supplied with brand new MSA checked and sealed homologated MGA Twin competition 1600cc with all new components including brand new unused NOS Barwell spec cylinder head.

Price £45,000 depending on spec

IDEAL FOR 2020 SEASON EQUIPE 50s

Mellis99@btinternet.com 07703 525024

Colne Classics

MG Power Steering and restoration specialists

Building engines and supplying cylinder heads for the Midget and MGB for over 30 years.

All engines are built in our own workshop and come complete with flywheel, clutch, water pump and front pulley and are ready to ‘drop in’.

We can also rebuild your existing engine.

We supply standard unleaded cylinder heads as well as our renowned Stage 2 fast road heads.

Please check website for full cylinder head specs.

Price Guides View the website on www.colneclassics.com B1 Seaden Court, Gorse Lane Ind Est, Clacton, Essex.

01255 432693, 07714 675319

New MG

Competition Half Shafts

www.bighealey.co.uk

Not only are these stronger than the original half shafts they are also lighter than any other design available.

• Made from brand new forgings of higher grade steel and surface treated.

• A direct replacement for standard.

• To suit cars with a Banjo axle and bolt-on wheels.

MGB: MCRAX152 Midget: ZCRAX152 £345.00 each + VAT Parts Hotline: +44 (0)1543 472244 E-mail: sales@bighealey.co.uk DENIS WELCH MOTORSPORT, YOXALL, BURTON-ON-TRENT, STAFFS DE13 8NA, UK

www.mgcc.co.uk

MIDGET 1275 Std Unleaded Engine £2345 1275 Balanced Engine £2545 1275 Balanced Engine With Cam £2800 1275 Stage 2 Engine £3300 1380cc Stage 2 £3550

MGB Std Unleaded Engine £2345 Balanced Engine £2545 Balanced Engine with Cam £2800 1860cc Stage 2 Engine at £3300

Please check website for full engine specs.

All the above prices include VAT

Engines and Cylinder heads are sold on an exchange basis. If no exchange unit is available please add £550 to the price of a Midget engine £250 MGB. If you are looking to rebuild your own engine we also stock the full range of parts you will require from pistons to bearing, reconditioned rocker assemblies to genuine Payen Gasket Sets.

We now stock a wide range of road, performance and competition spares PLEASE VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE

www.skiptune.com Email: info@skiptune.com

01276 479647/ 07810 482200 Bagshot, Surrey

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 89

e ite ebs - Typ w T d cate G and i d de e M W com g.com h . t E g r N fo agm xpagm ly l p a x i . @ c w spe ww ingdon b il: a a Em

PLEASE NOTE: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED THIS ARTWORK IS THE PROPERTY OF CLASSIC CARS FOR SALE MAGAZINE. Fixed price servicing

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

URGENT PROOF

Please check this proof carefully for errors in style, content and layout.

Classic car sales including Classic Car Specialists focusing

Although every care is exercised in preparing your advert, we cannot hold

commission salesourselves responsible for any inaccuracies you may overlook.

on Servicing, Sales, Restoration, SHOULD YOU REQUIRE ANY ALTERATIONS TO THIS PROOF PLEASE Insurance repair work Modifi cation and bespoke approved TELEPHONE BEFORE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ AND QUOTE ADVERT NO. _ _ _ _ _ refinishing work to a wide range of UK & Europe collection classic MG’s and delivery service

Telephone 01206

Fax 01206 500180

Unit 9, Broadfields Farm, Dunmow Road, Rayne, Braintree, Essex. CM77 6SA We reserve the right to charge for any alteration to this proof which a departure from the original| copy 01376 569355 is | abingdon@xpagmg.com www.xpagmg.com

T-Type

Servicing, Restoration and Bespoke reďŹ nishing work Classic and Sports Cars Essex have been established for many years, and over that time have built up an excellent reputation as one of the UK’s leading T-Type specialist restorers.

We understand the need to balance maintaining originality with 21st century modifications such as 5 speed gearbox conversions, uprated brakes etc.

Our in house engineers can help you with a range of work starting from basic service packages to a

complete engine rebuild. If paint work is required, our bodywork specialist is on hand with a fully operational spray booth, boasting the highest quality work seen.

As a family run business we pride ourselves on a personal service. You will be welcome in our workshop throughout all stages of your project.

We are happy to discuss any requirements you may have so please get in touch.

We look forward to seeing you!

View all our work at www.xpagmg.com

CLASSIFIEDS CARS FOR SALE SHEPPERTON, MIDDLESEX TEL: 01932 241843 / 07836 281493 WWW.CHURCHSQUAREAUTOS.COM EMAIL: MGSALES@CHURCHSQUAREAUTOS.COM

MG MGF 1.8vvc. One owner, Only 10,500miles

Here I offer what must be the very best one owner very low mileage MGF vvc for sale anywhere. Garage all of its life, with these extra’s from new, Hard top, passengers airbag, fire extinguisher, front fog lights, mudflaps, making a total new price of £20,637. We have the original bill of sale full service history, handbooks, number plates, 2 sets of keys everything from new when Supplied by Clive Sutton MG Kensington. This unmarked MGF vvc is totally original and as near new as you can get, a total one off collectors / showcar £7,995

MG TF LE 500+H/top, #140/500,Just 6,600miles

MG TF 135 80th Anniversary, Just 47,000m.

This is the very best low mileage LE500 for sale anywhere. Supplied by us some 8+ years ago to its second owner, having purchased it from its original Lady owner, supplied by Thomas Day Motors (MG) Fleet,now owned by David. # 140/500. Now just 6,600 miles with fully documented service history. £8,495

A very rare 80th ltd edition Heritage model in Goodwood Green with Tan cockpit and tan leather seats, wood pack, tan hood, sports pack 2, chrome packs, wind deflector, front fog lights, Headgasket /cambelt/water pump change by us April 2017 @44,985 miles. Supplied serviced and with a new mot. Sold with reg number X15 MGF. £5,695

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

1963 MGB

Iris Blue. Basically good condition but in need of some love and attention. The car has Overdrive, Dish wheels, old set of Wire Wheels rear hubs for Wire Wheels,Boot rack, Tonneau covers,various spares. £6500.O.N.O. Anne Denny 07901852292 (West London)

1972 MGBT

Superb throughout. 2000 cc stage 2 engine, (8,000 mls only), power steering, adjustable shocks, 4 pot Wilwood front brakes, Panhard rod, parobolic springs, 123 Luminition, new quality carpets, Xnon headlights, new front tyres and fuel tank. Manflow exhaust, excellent body, always garaged by known previous owner and myself last 10 years. £9,950 Roger 07801 188212 (Suffolk)

4 door saloon green. 1 owner from new.

Only 55,801 miles. In excellent condition with only a few marks on the body in keeping with its age. Wheels also have a few scuffs. Years Mot. £2250 ono. For more information Phone - 01255 420492.

This is just a small selection from our stock

MARTIN MARTIN SMITH SMITH www.usedmgtfspares.co.uk

1974 MGBGTV8

Factory Black, chrome bumpers. Built 1974 & first registered 1/1/75 - “nice“ original registration number ending “1 N”. 6 owners, full history. New Minilites ( original wheels retained if needed by buyer), Good condition. 76k miles approx.

Owned by seller 30+ years & garaged all this time. £21,500. Tel 01293 203499.

(Surrey by LGW airport)

2004 MG ZTT 260 SE

MARTIN SMITH Quality new and used spares.

Car trimmers/upholstery.

MG car sales and MG repair service

www.usedmgtfspares.co.uk

Tel: 07722 175473 Units 1&2, Westlane Farm, Westlane, East Lydford, Somerset TA11 7HD Email: smudgemg@yahoo.co.uk 92 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

1955 M

Older resto good condi 3000 miles spec. Many brakes, fue Original log and MOT’s painted no Always gar details con Email: jiffy

Rare Monogram Poseidon, 2004 Facelift Estate, 70k, excellent condition, full very extensive service history/paperwork, MOT, SE with Extras pack, Sunroof, Leather/Alcantara, Xenon, Heated Power seats mirrors, new tyres. Rare chance to acquire. £12995 ono. Mob 07534466595 Email: ZTT@mg-rv8.co.uk

MGF

www.usedmgtfspares.co.uk

The MG specialists for MGF-MGTF-MG3-MG6

Owned by but now off ment. The ready for a summer. It recommen and is a ve Green seat £22,500OV to arrange alan.verona telephone

2002 MGZS 2.5 V6

FAMILY BUSINESS ESTABLISHED 1981. OUR OFFICE/ SHOWROOM IS AT 62B HIGH STREET SHEPPERTON TW17 9AU VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT PLEASE

www.churchsquareautos.com

1953 M

1937 MG TA

Vehicle bei deceased C which ran o a year ago barely used hospital. G condition f amental. C Reasonable My contact 0797 331 4

1951 MG YA

MG Mi

1937 MG TA

Very good condition. Chassis number TA1734. British Racing Green. Green leather upholstery. Restored in 1989 by previous owner. Mileage since restoration 5012. Seller owned since 2006 and serviced annually by Classic Car Specialist. Black Tonneau cover and two other covers. MOT’d annually in July despite exemption. Extra photos are available on request by email. Large history file dating back to 1988, including restoration photos. A photo of the car is attached. mike_simmonds@btinternet.com or 07763459185. (Suffolk)

Please note that the Advertising deadline is March 10th for the April issue of Safety Fast!

With Q type body in Tartan Red, chassis no TA1167 rebuilt XPAG engine, unleaded head, 5 speed Hi Gear gearbox conversion,Hy Torqe starter motor, new brake & master cylinders, brake shoes, total rebuild, biscuit leather upholstery, matching tonneau etc, etc£45,000. For full details contact Richard on 01833 660000 email-beckside.41@gmail.com

For restoration. Has xpag engine. Car comes with heaps of Y parts. Space needed! £1500. For more info Tel: 07534 707189 (Fife)

1978 MG MIDGET 1500

Complete for restoration. To clear £350 For more info Tel: 07534 707189 (Fife)

www.mgcc.co.uk

Champions 2016/17/1 standard an race 1460 e head. Trasp 3 way shoc slicks and w extinguishe car help av 079514112

adRocket

B ARRY WALKER Sherwood Restorations Ltd Estd.1968

British Motor Heritage approved

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

A MAGNIFICENT & HISTORIC BROOKLANDS MG J2 The ex-Vic Derrington (of Derringtons of Kingston) 1933 MG J2

Established 1966

Established as one of the leaders inpre-war theatfield of vintage and Raced both Donnington & Brooklands and, classic car sales and restoration, almost uniquely, with awinners recorded historyof frommany Day One. major Concours d’Elegance Awards with over 200 years of combinedEvery experience, log book from May ‘33, factory correspondence and owned by myself for almost 40 years. Referenced in Mike Hawke’s book on the J2 and also graces the front cover of our early Parts Catalogue - very rare in itself.

Now totally restored to immaculate condition with a Phoenix c/b crank; forged rods & pistons; J4 front hsg. with water pump; 4-branch extractor manifold & supercharger coupling already fitted for ease of s/charging later if required.

Finished in Monza Red with Connolly grey leather interior

by Collingburn and full weather equipment.

A very rare opportunity to secure a historic & magnificent Brooklands car with performance and reliability to match

SOLD 1960 MGA ‘1600 ROADSTER’.

Completely refurbished by Bob West MGA. There is little I can say about this other than it’s fabulous & offered in show condition. Not a car we often sell, but when as good as this it meets the standard we sell at. Deep red, beige leather, full weather equipment .........................................................................£35,500

1936 MG PB for restoration.

An original factory demonstrator, this wonderful barn find is together in one lump. Original car for easy restoration.

Chassis PB 0505 with PB engine that comfortably turns over. Very sound orig. body, set of clearly restored orig. gauges, new r’boards & a rare full Celestra Red Connolly hide included. Buff log book, orig. registration & factory chassis file. Not many of these left now...£22,500 inc. UK del.

1935 MG ‘N’ 6 CYL. 4-SEAT MAGNETTE. The ideal long distance touring MG or perfect for golf clubs, dog or wife’s luggage. Good ground clearance, roomy & comfortable with proper 6cyl. performance.

In original condition throughout. Two-tone blue with complete interior by Collingburn in blue leather with full weather gear. Such a practical car with sensible ease of entry. Ideal for the Flying Scotsman or similar...£65,000

1949 MG TC SPORTS. A slightly older restoration than some we offer, but in really good reliable condition with a lovely engine & box, and nicely patinised red leather. Correct & original with excellent steering & performance ...................................................................£26,950

* We carry shelves full of new & secondhand spares for the type of cars we sell – just phone or email.

COMMISSION SALES: Our highly regarded service is always available to you.

Tel: 01789 400181. Fax: 01789 400230. Mob: 07836 244103 Email: barry@barrywalker.com Web: www.barrywalker.com adRocket

Sherwood Restorations Ltd Established 1966 Established as one of the leaders in the field of vintage and classic car sales and restoration, with over 200 years of combined experience, winners of many major Concours d’Elegance Awards

1961 MGA ROADSTER MK2 Chariot Red with Black trim. Bob West restoration some years ago and still stunning throughout.

WAS: £36,995

NOW £34,995 SAVE: £2,000

1974 MGB 1.8 ROADSTER – OVERDRIVE

Citron Yellow with Black Interior and Hood. One of the last chrome bumper ‘B’s, restored a few years ago to a high standard, remaining in the same superb condition to this day. An ideal start to Classic Motoring.

WAS: £13,495

NOW: £10,995 SAVE: £2,500

1968 MGC ROADSTER Glacier White with Black trim.

Retaining its original registration ‘OOB 21G’. Sympathetically modified with ‘touring’ in mind.

Comprehensive history. So nice, so original and so understated.

RHD – WAS £31,995

NOW £27,995 SAVE: £4,000

1974 MGB GT V8 – GENUINE FACTORY ‘GD’ CHASSIS NO.

Green with Autumn Leaf interior, genuine factory example. A very original, unmolested example supplied new by Kennings in Chesterfield. Very low ownership and a believed genuine 66,000 miles from new.

WAS: £25,995

NOW: £19,995 SAVE: £6,000

If your car is one of the very best, please call with an accurate description, detailing condition, history, ownership, etc. All makes and models required.

Upton Fields Garage, Upton Road, Southwell, Notts. NG25 0QB. Tel: 01636 812655/812682/812700

www.sherwoodrestorations.co.uk sales@sherwoodrestorations.co.uk

Barry Walker March 20.indd 1

“SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATES FOR READERS”

19/02/2020 16:44

Please mention ‘Safety Fast’ when calling.

FP_CLASSICC_3899348id3990095.pdf 05.08.2019 12:09

www.mgcc.co.uk

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 93

CARS FOR SALE www.mgmecca.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1953 717618 Fax: (0) 1953 717850 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 to 1973 MGB Roadster, Oxford blueadvert (RV8 colour), 70 words, editor reserves rightfully Barley trim, the mohair hood, chromethew/w, restored about 15 years ago, still excellent, to edit longer adverts. This is for one well looked after car, excellent engine bay. Super example insertion only, for additional insertions £14,495.00 please email colingrant@mgcc.co.uk

1964 MGB ROADSTER Pull door handle car, Iris blue, black /white trim. Excellent restored car done in the 90s but still excellent an 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, steering wheel. Fitted with better 5 brg engine, original banjo axle.

A superb older restoration and ready to enjoy with no work required, fantastic value £15,995.00

1963 MGB

Iris Blue. Basically good condition but in need of some love and attention. The car has Overdrive, Dish wheels, old set of Wire Wheels rear hubs for Wire Wheels,Boot rack, Tonneau covers,various spares. £6500.O.N.O. Anne Denny 07901852292 (West London)

1995 MGRV8 Woodcote Green, stone beige trim.

New beige mohair hood, new (original) tonneau, interior in excellent condition, 48,500 mls. Screen frame excellent (refurbed). Fitted with power steering.

New clutch and slave cylinder, new boot stays, in fact all the usual RV8 foibles all sorted out. Excellent example. £22,995.00

1972 MGBT

Superb throughout. 2000 cc stage 2 engine, (8,000 mls only), power steering,

1972 MGB Roadster British Green, black trim, adjustable shocks, 4 Racing pot Wilwood front leather seats, antique red carpet, fast road engine, brakes,and Panhard rod, parobolic springs, balanced stage 11 head, 15” minilite, carbon fibre Moto-Lita,new superb drivingcarpets, car in super 123dash, Luminition, quality condition, nice engine bay , superb shell fast fun at Xnon headlights, new front tyres and fuel £13,795.00

tank. Manflow exhaust, excellent body, always garaged by known previous owner and myself last 10 years. £9,950 Roger 07801 188212 (Suffolk)

1952 MGTD

1955 Magnette ZA

MG TC 1948

Owned by the same family for over 30yrs but now offered for sale due to bereavement. The car is in good condition and ready for a new owner to enjoy this summer. It has been well maintained by recommended MG Specialist workshops and is a very genuine car in Ivory with Green seat and trim. Private Sale asking £22,500OVNO. For more information or to arrange viewing Contact Alan E mail alan.verona0251@gmail.com or telephone 01579 351034. (Cornwall)

Duo Red. 5 Owners since new (including well known MG people). Original body and engine. Current milage 101519. I bought this car in August 2003. Chassis number TD16082. MGT register number 1000. Engine overhauled in 1999. many original features. Many spares including Shorrock supercharger, crankshaft, halfshaft. Full history recorded including original logbook. £20,000ono. Contact Jerry Green on 07860502926 (South Oxfordshire)

1976 MGB Roadster. Tartan Red, black trim, totally restored car stripped back to bare shell and restored over 10 years. Thousands spent on parts alone, everything is either new or reconditioned.

Immaculate engine bay, stone chipped painted underside, all new chrome, new seats (period 60’s style), wood dash, mono style wheel, 15” minilites. A superb car and fantastic value @ £14,995.00

2002 MGZS 2.5 V6

4 door saloon green. 1 owner from new.

Only 55,801 miles. In excellent condition with only a few marks on the body in keeping with its age. Wheels also have a few scuffs. Years Mot. £2250 ono. For more information Phone - 01255 420492.

1969 MGC Mineral Blue, grey leather trim. Chrome wires. Overdrive. Totally restored by ourselves 10 years ago. Superb car in superb condition. Lovely engine bay. Unleaded rebuilt engine. Bespoke grey trim, leather seats. A fine restored and very well looked after car. £27,995.00

1974 MGBGTV8

Factory Black, chrome bumpers. Built 2004 MG ZTT 260 SE 1974 & first registered 1/1/75 - “nice“ Rare Monogram Poseidon, 2004 Facelift original registration number ending “1 Estate, 70k, excellent condition, full very N”. 6 owners, full history. New Minilites extensive service history/paperwork, ( original wheels retained if needed by enquiries@mgsforsale.com www.mgsforsale.com MOT, SE with Extras pack, Sunroof, buyer), Good condition. 76k miles approx.

Leather/Alcantara, Xenon, Heated Power Owned by seller 30+ years & garaged all seats mirrors, new tyres. Rare chance to this time. £21,500. Tel 01293 203499. acquire. £12995 ono. Mob 07534466595 (Surrey by LGW airport) Email: ZTT@mg-rv8.co.uk MGBCGT Roadster 1974 Restored (YWP726M) MG 1968 AUTOMATIC Older Nut & Boltchrome Restored bumpers, overdrive, chrome wheels, older restored (RWD628G) MG CGT 1968,wire automatic, excellent Mineral vehiclecoachwork still maintaining very nice fresh appearance, Blue with anicely mellowed original Black delightful White coachwork with as new Black leather leather interior trim, original genuine leather bound MGC ge TL interior trim & walnut pack,detailed qualityenquiries@mgsforsale.com Mohair clean steering wheel, nicely enginehood, compartment 00 miles & detailed engine compartment, heavy historywith file the withBorg housing the smooth 3.0 litre engine ideal crease) 18” original documentation including ‘Passport to Service’ rare Warner automatic gearbox making this particularly oT’d until book and a plethora of invoices back to the 80’s. More model an ideal classic today, this vehicle apparently formed part of a collection of a deceased ads as well recent expenditure includes new chrome wires, re-chromed bumpers, boot rack, interior trim, estate, inspection can seeignition, the of rebuild a number years ago and rior, satMGquality CGT AUTOMATIC Older &ofBolt Restored lead freeoncylinder head,one electronic boot1968 lid the gas struts &from under bodyNut waxoyl, drives nicely, with likelysold littlebymiles since still very fresh in appearance, arrived £24,950.00 ull service (RWD628G) MG automatic, excellent previously us with littleis miles since, images 2018CGT but 1968, stilljust in same condition, qualityMineral badge 1937 MG TA tor 2016 UK Tech-MG6 bar Blue with nicely mellowed original Black GT diesel fitted since with period spot lamps and coachwork badges, just arrived, £14,950.00 Very good condition.

Chassis number MG BGT 1972 Last 37 Years (LLF951K) n. Spacious, leather interior MG trim,BGT, original genuine leather bound MGC Facelift model.TA1734.

Top-of-the range TL Owner British Racing Green. Green 1972, last owner 37 years, chrome bumpers, overdrive, MG. £6500 MGB Roadster 1965 Mk1 Pull Door Handle steering nicelyMG detailed model.

1.9 turbo diesel.

48,000 miles 1937 TA engine compartment leather upholstery.

Restored in 1989 by wheel, (HLE628C) chrome bumpers, wire wheels,the overdrive, chrome Rostyle wheels, coachwork now requiring litre engine ideal with the Borg 044(daily driver so mileage housing smooth will increase) 18”Aqua With Q3.0 type body in Tartan Red, chassis previous owner.

Mileage since restoracomprehensive older 90’s bare tub rebuild on an original some improvement but a very solidWarner vehicleautomatic indeed with a gearbox making this particularly rare alloys, red bumper inserts.

MoT’d until no TA1167 rebuilt XPAG engine, unleaded tion 5012.

Seller owned since 2006 and shell byand Suffolk & Classic Car Specialist nice original feel MG and appearance, original style ‘Fisher navy cloth June 2020. Recent discs pads as well head, 5 speed Hi Gear gearbox converserviced annually

by Classic Car SpecialGarage’ with invoices exceeding £12,500 back then!, gold satseal engine fitted mid 80’s and drives as new tyres. Fullinterior leathertrim, interior, sion,Hy Torqe starter motor, new brake BlackfileTonneau cover and two history with restoration andother itemiseddocumentation invoicing, nav, Bluetoothist. connectivity.

Full service delightfully, good history images file with original & master cylinders, brake shoes, total covers.

MOT’d annually in July despite British Racing Green coachwork still in from goodrenowned condition history – serviced by SAIC Motor UK Techback to the 80’s, a plethora of invoices specialists Brian Brown Classics & B rebuild, biscuit leather upholstery, matchExtra photos available with condition. only some age/mileage related imperfections, niceetc. just nical Centre. Inexemption. good Spacious, Hive, original Unipart Gold are Seal papers, old mot’s etc. arrived £5,950.00 Leather interior trim with serviceable style hood, original steering For wheel, ing tonneau etc, etc£45,000. fullIvor onBlack request by email.

Large history file packaway economical engaging modern MG. £6500 Searle rebuilt engine housed in clean & detailed tight gearbox with660000 good detailscompartment, contact Richard on 01833 back tostandard 1988, including restoration ono. Call Adamdating on 07530734044 synchromesh and working overdrive, delightful drive, just arrived, £16,950.00 email-beckside.41@gmail.com photos. A photo of the car is attached. mike_simmonds@btinternet.com or URGENTL Y WANTED 07763459185.

(Suffolk)

01707 876089

1953 MG TD

Older restoration but still in remarkably good condition having covered just over 3000 miles since. Gold Seal engine to ZB spec. Many new parts fitted including brakes, fuel pump, exhaust, tyres etc.

Original log book, history from the 80’s and MOT’s to verify mileage. Underside painted not undersealed – no corrosion.

Always garaged. £9995 ono. For further details contact Jeff on 07840 207827 or Email: jiffy@waitrose.com (Somerset)

A reliable and very original British delivered TC - First registered in West Yorkshire in January 1948. Owned for the last 19 years and steadily fettled in that time. Excellent steering, black body and green wheels and seats. Blockley tyres, new tonneau, aero screens and many original tools. Featured on the cover of the May 2016 MG Safety Fast Magazine cover in front of Brooklands Club house! Used on many MGCC events and Brooklands12/12. Offers on £24000 - Call Christopher on mobile 07775 847 811

07831 556666

el

01707 876089

MGF

Vehicle being sold for family of recently www.mgsforsale.com deceased Car Club member. Last MOT which ran out in October 2019 passed a year ago with no advisories. Vehicle barely used since as owner has been in hospital. Genuine sale. Car in average condition for year. Starter motor -temperamental. Could do with an exchange one.

Reasonable offer accepted around £500.

My contact details: Nigel Edward-Few 0797 331 4118. (Hampstead/Kilburn)

07831 556666

1973 MGB Roadster

Bronze Yellow. Only done 8650 miles since full restoration in 2010. Heritage certified, chrome bumper model. New MOT (Tax and MOT exempt). Black leather seats Motolito steering wheel, walnut dash, Rostyle wheels with as new tyres, 2 new batteries, electronic ignition, new radiator, overdrive, only used in summer, kept under a dust sheet, large history file.

Owners age forces sale £10750ono.

Tel: 07754 915924. (Malvern)

URGENTLY WANTED

ANY ANY MG MG 1951 MG YA

ANY ANY YEAR YEAR

For restoration. Has xpag engine. Car comes with heaps of Y parts. Space needed! £1500. For more info Tel: 07534 Please note that the ANY CONDITION 707189 (Fife)

ANY CONDITION

On the EU approvAdvertising deadline is pproved SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF OUR STOCK the motor March 10th for the 1978 MG MIDGET 1500 o lead April issue of Complete for restoration. To clear £350 th a beige Do not confuse the above vehicles with cheaper inferior quality For models offeredinfo elsewhere.

Part exchange more Tel: 07534 707189 (Fife) n. MG A 1600 Safety Fast! any make of Motor Car with generous allowances. Discounted cash purchases. Viewing by appointment only f the In car. good condition, built 1961.

On the please (available evenings & weekends) no obligation to purchase. All our vehicles carry a warranty, have an MOT and are areItfully fully serviced prior to to collection/delivery. collection/delivery.

GBP. Theare 58’000 MOT and prior tacho miles. hasserviced EU approvnce.alPhone papers (before this it was approved in Switzerland) The power of the motor is 79 PS and had be changed to lead free petrol. car is black with MARCH a beige 2020 Tel: +44 (0) 1953 717618 Fax: (0) 1953 717850 94 The SAFETY FAST! interor. It’s in a good condition.

The wheel is on the left side of the car.

Price 38’000 Euro or £34’200 GBP. The

www.mgsforsale.com www.mgmecca.co.uk

MG Midget class A Racer

Championship/class winning car 2016/17/18/19. Maintained to very high standard and extremely reliable. Full race 1460 engine just rebuilt with KAD head. Trasport type 9 gearbox, Nitron 3 way shocks, 3 sets wheels with good slicks and wets. Recently new belts and extinguisher. Race ready well known car help available. £22,000 ono. For 07951411261 (Burton on Trent)

2000 MGF

Full leather seats, hardtop, 57,000 miles, one owner, dealer maintained from new.

Two new tyres less than 3000 miles ago, New cam belt in June, MoT until June 2020, I have all service details, MoTs etc.

Garaged all its life, this car is in excellent condition - not concours but little work to make it so. £1995. Tel: 01793 763364. or Email: grahamarrondelle@yahoo.com (Near Swindon Wiltshire)

www.mgcc.co.uk

Mike Satur), new tonneau. Excellent condition. £3,000 ONO. Contact; Robin on Phone; 01245224208 Email; randmkerridge@yahoo.co.uk (Chelmsford area)

1973 MGBGT

1970 MGB Roadster

Owned by me since 1989. MOT and RFL not required. Red, wire wheels, Overdrive, tonneau cover, only ever used in dry weather. More photos available. Very reliable car, drives extremely well. Not concours, but excellent condition, selling due in last 5 years only covered 500 miles, £9000. Telephone 07702048530 email: n23mrb@outlook.com (Oxfordshire)

2001 MGF 1.8 FREESTYLE

Limited edition, 1 owner from new, 20 Nov 2001. Always garaged. 29,000 miles, Tahiti blue; Roll hoops & wind break(Mike Satur), new tonneau. Excellent condition. £3,000 ONO. Contact; Robin on Phone; 01245224208 Email; randmkerridge@yahoo.co.uk (Chelmsford area)

1973 MGBGT

In raven black 2-pack finish. Comes with good chrome, all round new alloys with new tyres, sunroof, overdrive and tidy interior. Tax exempt, MOT exempt but offered with full MOT certificate. Detailed older restoration photos available. Nice up together classic motoring from elderly lady owner 84 giving up for good. £7995.

Tel: 07770 382285 or 01258 830241 (Dorset)

In raven black 2-pack finish. Comes with good chrome, all round new alloys with new tyres, sunroof, overdrive and tidy interior. Tax exempt, MOT exempt but offered with full MOT certificate. Detailed older restoration photos available. Nice up together classic motoring from elderly lady owner 84 giving up for good. £7995.

MG M Type Restoration project.

Complete 1931 M Tel: 07770 382285 or 01258 830241 Type, with full original documentation, (Dorset) bought MG as a restoration project a couple 1955 TF 1250 of years ago and only partially complet-

D.I.Y. RESTORATION KIT comes with new ed. Engine and chassis are refurbished 5and wirerebuilt, wheelsbodywork completeand withremained hubs drums, of spinners, spare wheel boss, and spinner. car still requires restoration. £12000 ono.

SS Exhaust Ford Type 9 5 speed g/box, Contact Dave email: dashwo@gmail.com new and carpets.

AND a sound Tel: hood 07834326187.

(Loughborough) straight RHD English car which drives nice but needs restoring. c £15000 Lying Costa Blanca Spain tel.34 643050953

1972 MGBGT

14,000 miles since major work. Respray, stage two balanced engine. Poly bush suspension and uprated shock absorbers.

New interior etc. £7500ovno. Phone 01314400799 for more details.

(Midlothian)

Please note that the Advertising deadline is March 10th for the AprilPlease issue ofnote Safetythat Fast!the

Advertising deadline is March 10th for the April issue of Safety Fast!

URGENTLY WANTED

1955 MG TF 1250

D.I.Y. RESTORATION KIT comes with new 5 wire wheels complete with hubs drums, spinners, spare wheel boss, and spinner.

SS Exhaust Ford Type 9 - 5 speed g/box, new hood and carpets. AND a sound straight RHD English car which drives nice but needs restoring. c £15000 Lying Costa Blanca Spain tel.34 643050953

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

Any Condition from non runners to rebuilt cars 1972 MGBGT

Please call Edward 01923 840236 or any time on 07774 484497 Please note that theejwclassiccars@btinternet.com Email: Advertising deadline is March www.mgandporsche.com 10th for the Website: April

14,000 miles since major work. Respray, stage two balanced engine. Poly bush suspension and uprated shock absorbers.

New interior etc. £7500ovno. Phone 01314400799 for more details.

(Midlothian)

issue of Safety Fast!

www.mgcc.co.uk

(Northwood, Middlesex)

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 95

Insurance for all MG’s classic and modern STEVE McKIE SPORTSCARS CHESTERFIELD

•

DERBYSHIRE

Specialists in the repair and restoration of MG cars Suppliers of parts for • MGA • MGB • MGC • Midget • T Type • MGF/TF

www.stevemckiesportscars.co.uk Tel 01246 454527 • Fax 01246 453681 Albert Street North, Chesterfield, S41 8NP

MIDGETS! WANTED

Steve McKie Sports Cars Hi-Res.indd 1

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

r e m

For

MGB twin loop

Rollover bar with pair of full harnesses.

All as new £50, buyer collects or arranges carrier. email: nixon95@sky.com (Leeds)

WANTED

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

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

ry o l G BY

Lucas TVS F700 7" Pair

BPF non pilot headlamps, almost new only replaced due to acquiring a pair of P700's. Made in India on Lucas tooling, glass marked 'Foreign'. £40 pair plus P&P. Contact Jeffrey on Tel. 01424772535.

Hepolite Pistons 57mm,

new old stock, fit all MG’s from M to PA 1 set of 4 pistons +.040, 1 set of 4 pistons +.060. Each set for GBP 100.00 +p&p. Rudolf Wild, Email: ruedi.wild48@bluewin.ch Mobile +41792021383. (Switzerland)

MG RV8

01844 281700

nigelguild@hotmail.com

MGOC Recommended Dealer 40 MGs in Stock Best Prices paid with friendly advice. Est 1986 Fast payment and collection

Spares and memorabilia surplus to requirements. Too many to list most new and in original boxes. Contact Steve for an up to date list on 01943 872607 email sde@stevedavidellams.co.uk

MGB Rear Axle

Casing with crown wheel & pinion for later wire wheel MGB. NB. Semi-floating (Salisbury) type. Collection only from S Birmingham/ Bromsgrove area.

Price - best donation to Midland Air Ambulance.

Brianosbornmg@gmail.com or 0121 445 4889.

MGB and MGC Parts EST’D

1989 MG GEARBOX AXLE DIFFERENTIAL OVERDRIVE SPECIALISTS OVERHAUL – REPAIR – EXCHANGE UNITS

FULL WORKSHOP FITTING SERVICE AVAILABLE

All work carried out by time-served BMC/BL engineers

Worldwide Mail Order Service Visit our ebay shop and website for products and details Unit 9, Shopwhyke Industrial Centre T 01243 782671 Shopwhyke Road, Chichester E heathrowtransmissions@gmail.com West Sussex PO20 2GD w heathrowtransmissions.co.uk

96 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

Members can advertise their spares for sale/wanted free of charge for items up to £250. Over £250, or for non-members to advertise, there is a charge of £20. To submit your advertisemet please email Colin Grant at colingrant@mgcc.co.uk. Please remember to include your membership number in all correspondence. The editor reserves the right to edit longer adverts.

This is for one insertion only, for additional insertions please email colingrant@mgcc.co.uk

Original drivers handbooks for MGA, Midget Graphoref 27, MGA Special Tuning. Also Austin Metro, SD1 Vanden Plas 23/06/2010 13:46 (hardback version) drivers handbook.

An Austin-Healey original BMC WANTED ALL MG MODELS! workshop manual for 100 Series BN4 All conditions wanted, from barn finds to & 6 plus the 3000 Series MK1 & 11 & concours. Complete collections purchased. the MK 11 & 111 convertible. Original Cash buyer. Discretion assured.

Montego w/shop manual, Rover service fault finding manual for 1.4 to V6 2.7 Please do not hesitate to contact me if engines. For more informsation contact you are interested in selling your MG and Email: pete.ohare1@ntlworld.com are looking for a prompt hassle-free cash

UK Based Buyer

AN W G RM U YO

How to Advertise

BMC Handbooks

CALL DIRECT ON: 07787 528131

TED

SPARES FOR SALE

1 x MGC Close Ratio overdrive gearbox @ £1250.00.

1 x MGB Aluminum 5 speed gearbox bellhousing @ £195 Collection from Silverstone.Contact: signalhillmsport@aol.com.

Genuine MG Rover

Fitted rubber front floor mats, part EAH000910PMA 'Made in UK' to fit the MG ZS. The packaging is still sealed, the mats have the MG logo embossed in the rubber. Sold with a very good pair of genuine Rover rear mats. £30 + p&p Tel. 01424-772535 or email: j.bridges815@btinternet.com.

Call for a quote today

01376 574000

www.classiccarinsurance.co.uk MG Two Litre SA

Service parts list. Fully illustrated, no missing pages, Some slight oily thumb prints. Ex Leighton Buzzard MG dealer 1946. £20 inc post.

Contact John 077925 43043.

MG3 Spares

4 16" Carousel Alloy Wheels and Tyres. Hardly used. £200 the set.

Spare Wheel Kit, includes jack and Wheelbrace, new, £50.

Contact: 01529 241698 or jbspannerman007@btinternet.com (South Lincs)

Midget MK1/Sprite MK2

Hardtop £95, Frogeye hardtop £95, Midget Ashley GT hardtop with bootlid rare £250 plus lots of Midget parts to clear. All cheap 07534 707189. (Fife)

MGA

Re-furbished Boot Lid: The boot-lid has been stripped, etch primed and primed in grey ‘2 pack’ paint, ready for re-spraying to the desired colour of the car. It comes without hinges, catch or stay- hence £165-00, buyer collects, photos available. Contact Gerry on 01767 260797 or email: gerry.amsden@ btinternet.com (Bedfordshire).

REGISTRATION FOR SALE – T15 EMG Turbo 1.5 Engine MG, This IS Electric MG ??. £800 ono, please email: krg969@sky.com, or Tel: 07955 767674. (Hampshire)

A Series Spares

Over 200 items for sale including, cylinder head, crankshaft, pistons, gaskets, gearbox parts, clutch parts, Carburettors complete and parts available. Complete dynamos, distributors, control boxes, fuel pumps, headlamps and rear lights plus much, much more. Collection from Abindon Oxon. Email Leslie for more details at: leslie.steele@sky.com

MGC

Single box stainless steel exhaust for sale ( without downpipes).

Little use - cost £180 accept £75 Collection only Call Ray Osborne 07941 458151 or 01268 784532 (Essex)

TC Headlamps In good condition £250 for the pair.

Tel: 01344 424258

SPARES WANTED WANTED SU Carb Bits

For J/P and TC/D/F. What have you got hidden away that you will never need.

Tel: 01344 424258

WANTED Seat Belt Keepers

For my ‘New’ early 1973 BGTV8, one owner-driver. Car laid up since 1982.

Please tel: Bryan on 01189 326346

WANTED Pair of Red Seats

For 1961 MG Midget Mk 1 (GAN 1).

Must be sound, in reasonable useable condition, and as originally fitted. I think they’re the same as Frogeye and early Mk ll Sprites (HAN 6). John 020-8947 2631 or john@bunnycarter.com

Please note that the Advertising deadline is March 10th for the April issue of Safety Fast! www.mgcc.co.uk

Barrie Carter

868884

email barriemgracer@yahoo.co.uk

‘T-type’ – ‘T-type’ –

and Alan Bartlett ‘T-type’ ‘X-pag’ – ‘X-pag’ – ‘X-pag’ email barriemgracer@yahoo.co.uk

768830

Insurance for– all MG’s ‘T-type’ – ‘T-type’ – ‘T-type’ ‘X-pag’ ‘X-pag’ – ‘X-pag’ classic and modern

Barrie Carter Barrie Carter

01308 868884

01308 868884

01308 868884

Call for a quote today

This lovely Citroen 2cv Dolly has undergone a very nice restoration at some point. It has more performance than most, don’t know why but it’s quicker than others!! It has a lovely body & interior, galvanised chassis, boot rack & a large history file. These cars are rising in value & I love em! £6,995

01376 574000

www.classiccarinsurance.co.uk

07885 ie Carter 07885 768830 r r a B 768830 B32 - MIKE ROLLS SERVICES_MIKE ROLLS SERVICES 13/12/2012 09:50 Page 1

This lovely Citroen 2cv Dolly has undergone a This very lovely nice restoration Citroen 2cv Dolly some point. It has performance and AlanatBartlett has more undergone a very nice restoration than most, don’t know why but it’s at some point.

It has more performance email barriemgracer@yahoo.co.uk 07885 thanItmost, know why but it’s and Alanquicker Bartlett than others!! has adon’t lovely 768830 quicker than others!! It has a lovely body & interior, galvanised chassis, body & interior, galvanised email barriemgracer@yahoo.co.uk boot rack & atrim, largepaint; history file. aspect These and chassis, and and Alan Bartlett We restore refresh both T-types and X-pag engines, gearboxes, every buy Be Different!!

London Taxi professionally boot rack a large fiwe le. These cars are rising in value & interesting I& love em! history of T’s for sale but we have some objects to occupy and sell T-types and other classics. Running out email barriemgracer@yahoo.co.uk converted to a mobile cafe with a London cars are rising in value & I love em! £6,995 yourself after retirement and banishment to the garage MGTF for restoration. RHD, wire wheels, theme. Fridge, hot water, superb lighting,

‘T-type’ - ‘T-type’ - ‘T-type’ ‘X-pag’ - ‘X-pag’ - ‘X-pag’

Ford Model Y Vintage Special 1935 fitted with a prewar MG body & wings, lovely seats, etc in the 60s & has been owned by the same family since. It’s a lovely car to use for the fun it was meant for.

Some racing history. Very cheap. £6,950

‘T-type’ – ‘T-type’ ‘T-type’ – ‘X-pag’ – ‘X-pag’ ‘T-type’ – ‘T-type’ – ‘T-type’ ‘X-pag’ ––‘X-pag’ – ‘X-pag’‘X-pag’£6,995 all complete, very sound and only. £10,250 seats 8. Great fun MoTd & very cheap. £4,750 XPAG 1500. We are building an XPAG 1500 engine to any spec. Please ring with requirements.

XPAG 1250s MGC Roadster 1968, built In Mineralto Blueorder from £3000 manual and Overdrive. One attentative owner for 17 years. It has a historic TC Race/fast road car, allegedly twice championship winner, fully and very nice restoration that inccured Subaru Justy, You’ve forgotten these This 2cv Dolly modified to T reg. specs. Rolling chassis £13,950. or with fulllovely race Citroen new panels, carpets, hood, wire wheels, 1200 cc FWD! Switchable! 34K I love 1350 engine! “1¾ SU’s Derrington manifold, now removed head and engine rebuilt to fast these, a low mileage lovely example. hasand undergone amodified very nice restoration available separately. Car has plumbed in ext. comp clutch, alloy body road specification. This “C” is in very They have MX5 Performance. Cheeky, some has more Ford Y Vintage Special 1935 13/4”SUs, instantly useable condition.

TheseModel Fordperformance Model Y Vintage Special 1935 panels, 15” wheels, tramp bars modified brakes, teles, at cage, racepoint. It lovely quick and great off roaders. Beautiful than most, don’t know why but it’s cars are romping away in valve so next with a seat, and more. It’s as scruffy as raced and very quick. Ideal circuit, inside and out. and fitted prewar MGIt rubbishes body & 205s wings, tted with a prewar & wings, year you canamake a profit! £21,000MG bodyrare. race or hillclimb. £18,500 quicker than others!!

Itfihas lovely £3,250

Rover Metro 1.1 R Series 1952 Austin A40 Somerset.

Two owners, one lady, This is a stunning A40. one doctor. 21,00 miles, Totally restored, retrimmed, lovely 2cv Dolly seats, etcThis inbeen the 60s & hasCitroen been immaculate condition. unleaded. The best I’ve seen, lovely seats, etc inlovely the 60s & has body & interior, galvanised chassis, Different!! London Taxi professionally Be Different!! London TaxiBe professionally owned by since. the same since. It’s aa very nice restoration New MoT, ideal 1st classic boot rack & a large history file.

These even the cushions match the toMGC has owned byCitroen the same family It’sfamily aundergone This lovely 2cv Dolly has GT 1968 Beautifully a mobile cafe with a London converted to a mobile cafe converted with a London lovely car to use for the fun it was meant for. cars are rising in value & I love em! undergone a very nice restoration at restored to endurance and MGTF restoration. wheels, £2,650 car £8,250 lovely car to use for the fun it was meant for. point. It has more performance theme.lighting, Fridge, hot water, superb lighting, MGTF for restoration.

RHD, for wire wheels, RHD, wire at some some point. It has more performance historic rally specification.This theme. Fridge, hot water, superb Some racing history. Very cheap. £6,950

£6,995

£6,950

all complete, very sound and Some only. than£10,250 most, Don’t know why, but its cheap. £6,950 seats 8. Greatisfun MoTdall & very £4,750 probably the best cheap.

“C” I have racing history.

Very complete, very sound and only. £10,250 seats 8. Great fun MoTd & very cheap. £4,750 than most, don’t know why but it’s quicker than some others!! It has owned and I’m very tempted to

2016

MIKE ROLLS

TRADE MEMBER

Specialising in all MG’s

quicker than others!! It has a lovely www.barriecartermg.com

a lovely boby , interior, galvanised keep it. It has been fully restored chassis, boot rack and a large history and has pictorial evidence but file. These cars are rising in value has had1500. sensible upgrades, gas building an XPAG 1500 engine XPAG We are very quickly and I love em! £6,995 shocks all round, Anti Roll bar, XPAG 1500. We are building an XPAG 1500 engine Minilite reps with rally tyres.

Sebring headlight front valance. to any spec.

Please ring covers withandrequirements.

Competition quick Overdrive on all gears 10 gears!! Stage 2 head with to any spec. Please ring with requirements. mild cam, six branch exhaust and specialto system.

Inside from the car has rally XPAG 1250s built order £3000 Gordon England Cup Model Austin 7 1926 cobra seats, and the correct rally£3000 navigation aids. Halda, stopwatch One owner for over 50 years & in lovely XPAG 1250s built tobelts order from and Brantz clocks for endurance events. It is all topped off with a Britax condition. This well known Gordon England matching sunroof. The car is an absolute delight to drive with oodles of Austin is fitted with the rare LAP. OHV conver torque and power. If you want the best “C” look no further Ford£21,995 Model Y Vintage Special sion and1935 has performed with this for many fitted with a prewar MG body years.&Itwings, has the spare engine and box with it & is&ahas finebeen Austin that is acceptable for many A very rare 1929 BMW Austin 7 lovely seats, etc in the 60s Be Different!! London Taxi professionally 13owned /4”SUs,by the same familyVintage Badge, radiator emblem and surround since.and It’sAustin a events. For sale on behalf of the family. £29,950 converted to a mobile cafe with a London are pure BMW, as are the 3wheel hubs. lovely car to use for the fun it was meant for.

4 1 / ”SUs, MGTF for restoration.

RHD, wire wheels, theme. Fridge, hot water, superb lighting, This car must rank in the forefront Some racing history.

Very cheap. £6,950 all complete, verydesirability. sound and Panhard Dyna X 1947 RHD Austin 7 and BMW Builtonly. £10,250 seats 8. Great fun MoTd & very cheap. £4,750 Allegedly 1 owner & specially built as RHD for

by BMW in 1929 with its mirror image a disabled customer. Resting undisturbed in a & engine adapted for LHD and then French barn for over 20 years,ROLLS it has now beenSERVICES fittedan with XPAG JHLE sports1500 600 bodyengine and B32 - MIKE ROLLS SERVICES_MIKE XPAG 1500. We are building recommissioned and is a lovely Oily Rag car that is Ulster suspension modifications. Has £6,950 now running and braking, with everything working. to any spec. Please ring with requirements. a fully documented and fascinating history, all documented. It has been in the same The car has been researched ROLLS by a Panhard historian B32 - MIKE ROLLS SERVICES_MIKE SERVICES years or £3000 more, being in many Austin events, before being loaned to a who has unearthed its fascinating history from the XPAG 1250s built toownership order50from £6,950 museum. Now, on the demise of the owner, the car is being recommissioned in our factory records. It is at present being registered in workshops, please enquire for further details. £31,000 the UK with full authorisation from the Panhard Club. Offered £6,995

TC Race Car. Alloyed panels, 72 spoke wires, roll cage, Derrington manifold & 1¾’ SUs plus all race modifications to brakes etc. Well known championship contending car, ready for all motorsport or road use.

With race engine £18,000 With rolling chassis £negotiable

body & interior, galvanised chassis, boot rack & a large history fiLow le. These Cost Kit Race cars are rising in value & I love Carem!

Complete £6,995 rolling chassis, RS2000 wheels, Pinto engine not fitted, roll cage, nicely put together, needs finishing, no 13/12/2012 reg £2,450 09:50 Page 1

SERVICES FOR MGs

TEL/FAX: 01258 820337

www.barriecartermg.com

13/12/2012 09:50 Page 1

Ford8am-6pm, Model Y Vintage Special 1935 www.barriecartermg.com www.barriecartermg.com Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: Wed: 8am-5pm, Sat: 8am-1pm

fitted with a prewar MG body & wings, lovely seats, etc in the 60s & has been Be Different!! London Taxi professionally owned by the same family since. It’s a 4Sight Lightingto Company. ...........76 converted a mobile cafe with aKimble-Rutter London Ltd........................70 lovely car to use for the fun it was meant for.

MGTF for restoration.

RHD, wire wheels, 2016 theme. hot water, superbLongstone lighting, Tyres .........................47 £6,950 Adrian Flux Fridge, ..................................78 Some racing history.

Very cheap. £6,950 all complete, very sound and2016 only. £10,250SERVICES FOR MGs seats 8. Great fun MoTd & very cheap. £4,750 Aldon Automotive........................78 Manor Garage.............................87

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MIKE ROLLS MIKE ROLLS Specialising in all MG’s SERVICES FOR MGs

TRADE MEMBER Barrie Carter ...............................97 Martin Smith ...............................92 TEL/FAX: 01258 820337 Specialising in all MG’s Barry Walker................................93 MG Mecca...................................94 MEMBER Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8am-6pm, Wed: 8am-5pm, Sat: 8am-1pm XPAG 1500. We are building an XPAG 1500TRADE engine TEL/FAX: 01258 820337 Beech Hill Garage........................95 MG Motors .................................25 Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8am-6pm, Wed: 8am-5pm, Sat: 8am-1pm to any spec. Please ring with requirements.

MG TD - 1953 Bespoke Rallies ..........................36 MG Motorsport..............................6 MG TD 1953, Finished in British Racing Green with green interior 1250s built toRestoration..........4 order from £3000 British Motor Heritage ..XPAG ..............IFC Midland Classic and Tan weather gear. This MG TD had a light restoration in 2009/10 and it is a beautiful car. It has a good history with the original buff log Brown and Gammons.................11 Mike Authurs Classics book and drives extremely well. £26,995 (MG Midgets)...............................96 Car Cover Shop ..........................85 Mike Rolls....................................97 Carole Nash Insurance ................6 MG TC, 1947 Mike Satur...................................83 Church Square Autos .................92 MG TC, 1947, finished in black with beige interior and weather gear, it has 13/4”SUs, Moss Europe Ltd.........................59 Classic & Sports Cars been fitted with a re-con engine which has only done 10,000 mls. The car comes with a very good history file including old MOT’s, invoice’s and (Essex).................................. 90, 91 Motor Wheel Services.................70 details of work done over several years. The car has recently had Blockley Classic Car Hub...........................74 NTG Services............................OBC tyres fitted all round. It does have one or two minor paint blemishes but still College Motors Burford...............85 Oselli Ltd .....................................68 presents itself very well. £25,995 Colne Classics.............................89 Paul Depper.................................78 MGC ROADSTER - 1969 £6,950 Competitive MGA Deluxe / Twin Peter Best............................ IBC, 95 MGC Roadster, 1969 in Old English White. This car comes with overdrive, painted wire wheels, black sports reclining seats with white piping, uprated Cam with FIA HTP For Sale.........89 Peter James Insurance.................9 engine with gas flowed head, Maniflow exhaust system, Motolita wood rim Crown Classic Cars.....................76 Rees Bros....................................70 steering wheel, new hood and good service history. The car has recently been re-commissioned and serviced by us and is in good condition. £22,995 David Manners .............................6 Retro Sports Cars .......................70 Dennis Welch..............................89 Rimmer Bros Ltd.........................42 MGB ROADSTER - 1975 Distributor Doctor.........................87 RJH Automotive Transport...........87 MGB Roadster, 1975, Rubber bumper in Citron yellow, Tax and MOT exempt.

The car comes with overdrive, Black leather recliner seats, Alloy wheels, Don Trimming..............................85 RM Car Care................................54 Motolita steering wheel, Full and half Tonneau’s, Black mohair hood and some EJW Classic and Sports..............95 Robin Lackford Motor service history. The present owner has owned the car since 1984. Good usable tidy car. £4,995 Engineering ................................83 Evans Division of Hydratech........42 Scenic Car Tours .........................15 Fishers Services..........................76 MGB ROADSTER - 1972 Sherwood Restorations...............93 Footman James..........................41 New Project, 1972 MGB Roadster undergoing full respray in Dark Racing Green. Excellent rust free body with Tan interior, Walnut dash and Chrome Skiptune......................................89 Former Glory ...............................96 wire wheels. Ready early spring.

SMR ............................................94 Fostons Ash Inn...........................74 Steve McKie Sports Cars.............96 Frontline ......................................33 Barrie Carter February 20 1/4.indd 1 Summit MG.................................83 Halls Garage................................54 MG TF - 2002 ONLYFarm, 24.000MLS FROMnear NEW £2,495 Dorset SP8 5RR Units 9/10 Fifehead Business Park, Manor Fifehead Magdalen, Gillingham, The Hutson Motor Co Ltd..............4 Heathrow Transmission...............96 E-mail: mikerolls4mgs@compuserve.com • www.mikerolls.co.uk Units 9/10 Fifehead Business Park, Manor Farm, Fifehead Magdalen, near Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5RR Mail Order “Friendly Quality Service” The Metropole Hotel....................49 Hoyle Suspension........................54 E-mail: mikerolls4mgs@compuserve.com • www.mikerolls.co.uk Torro Sports Cars Ltd...................96 John Woods Motorcare Ltd.........49 Mail Order “Friendly Quality Service” Vitesse Global Ltd .......................85 Just Right Autos Ltd....................64

www.mgcc.co.uk

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CM02.13/B32/d CM02.13/B32/d

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

13/4”SUs,

MARCH 2020 SAFETY FAST! 97

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 2020

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 Advertising: Hine Marketing 01452 730770 Published by: Hine Marketing, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton Glos, GL2 9LN. Tel: 01452 730770 Distributed by: Air Business. Merlin Centre, 4 The, Acrewood Way, St Albans AL4 0JY Tel: 01727 890600 President: John Day Vice Presidents: Ron Gammons, Don Hayter, Peter Best, Ian Quarrington Chairman: Bill Silcock.

A

s 2020 marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of the MGF, we thought we might devote this month’s ‘Looking Back’ to that happy occasion.

Our first picture shows the new two-seater convertible in its starring role at the Geneva Motor Show in 1995. Doesn’t the new car look absolutely fabulous under the lights

of the exhibition hall. (Photo David Askew).

Our next photograph shows a delighted Paddy Hopkirk trying the cockpit out for size. Just made for him, don’t you think?

(Photo: John Watson).

Our last photo, courtesy of John Watson, is of the MG Car Club contingent grouped around the version fitted with a hardtop, all looking like the cat who got the cream!

Vice Chairman: Keith Williams Treasurer: Richard Colston Directors: Dave Saunders, Peter Cook, Adele Rand, Lorraine Noble Thompson, Colin Withers, George Wilder and Dave Tynan Company Secretary: Colin Grant Staff Members: Adam Sloman (General Manager 01235 849732), Andy Knott (01235 849730), Lauran Gallacher (Assistant General Manager 01235 849735), Liz Allsworth (Membership Secretary 01235 849734), Mark Baulch (Motorsport 07554 160840), Colin Grant (01235 849733), Cherina Scarrott (Finance Officer 01235 849736) and Ineke Sherman (Merchandise 01235 849737) Honorary Members: Michael Allison, Ron Gammons, Peter Best, Don Hayter, John Quenby, Sir Stirling Moss, Paddy Hopkirk, Norman Ewing, Rob Oldaker, Steve Hanegan, Gerry McGovern, 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 Limited, is a company limited by guarantee. Every member of the Club undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Club in the event of its being wound up while he is a member, or within one year after he ceases to be a member, for payment of the debts and liabilities of the Club contracted before he ceases to be a member, and the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributors among themselves, such amount as may be required, not exceeding one pound.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information at the time of going to press, neither The Publisher (herein referred to as Hine Marketing), the Editor, nor the MG Car Club can accept any responsibility or loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in the publication. The opinions of authors are their own and Hine Marketing, the Editor and the MG Car Club are not bound to agree with opinions expressed herein. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Safety Fast! and The MG Car Club badge are protected through trademark registration in the UK and in the foreign countries where Safety Fast! circulates.

Readers are warned that if they attempt any mechanical or other modifications or methods referred to herein, they do so at their own risk and no liability will attach to the MG Car Club, the Editor nor Hine Marketing. Neither shall the MG Car Club, the Editor nor Hine Marketing have any responsibility for the accuracy of the content of the editorial, neither the content of any advertisement published in Safety Fast!

It should be noted that neither Hine Marketing, the Editor, nor the MG Car Club make any recommendation in respect of any goods and/ or services advertised or featured in this issue. It is the responsibility of readers to satisfy themselves that the goods or services offered or referred to are bona fide and in no instance shall Hine Marketing, the Editor or the MG Car Club be held responsible for the quality or suitability of any such items.

98 SAFETY FAST! MARCH 2020

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