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The Magazine of the Midget & Sprite Club www.midgetandspriteclub.co.uk Mascot March 2011 £2 No. 324
The Magazine of the
Midget & Sprite Club
www.midgetandspriteclub.co.uk
MascotMarch 2011 £2 No. 324
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THE WHO, THE WHAT & THE WHERE of THE MIDGET & SPRITE CLUB
COMMITTEECHAIRMAN Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050, email: [email protected] SECRETARY Philip Sellen, 40 Amberley Way, Wickwar, Wotton-under-Edge, Glos, GL12 8LP.
Tel: 01454 299222 email: [email protected] Natalia Flynn, Tel: 0121 559 3103, email: [email protected] Gary Lazarus, 40B Hungerford Road, London, N7 9LP. Tel: 0207700 5696 email: [email protected] REP’S DELEGATE Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050, email: [email protected] John Platt, 2 Pear Tree Gardens, Bearley Road, Aston Cantlow, Henley-in-Arden, Warks.
B95 6HT Tel: 01789 488321 email: [email protected] MEMBER Mark Hall, Tel: 01296 660103 email: [email protected] Tim Saunders, Tel: 07968 261990 email: [email protected] Alan Couch, Tel: 01564 773302, email: [email protected] David Dixon, Tel: 01733 222810, email: [email protected] Geoffrey Hunter, Tel: 01562 851544, email: [email protected] Jim Willis, Tel: 01527 402804, email: [email protected]
OFFICERSCLUB ARCHIVIST & Terry Horler, 63 Littledean, Yate, Bristol, BS37 8UQ. Tel: 01454 881770TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATIONMEMBERS ADVERTISING Alan Lo, Tel: 0117 9572617 Mob: 0775 3867806 email: [email protected] ASSISTANCE David Hill, Llyserfan, Beulah, Newcastle Emlyn, Ceredigion. SA38 9QB. CO-ORDINATOR Tel: 01239 811307 email: [email protected] REGISTER Bob Clarkson, Tel: 01902 842643 email: [email protected] OFFICER Mike Grout, 55 Park Road, Spixworth, Norwich, NR10 3PJ. Tel: 01603 890211
email: [email protected] ADVISOR Mark Boldry, email: [email protected] Toby Anscombe, 7 Lysander Court, High Road, North Weald, Epping, CM16 1HF.
email: [email protected] ADVERTISING Richard Flynn, Tel: 0121 559 3103, Email: [email protected]
AREA REPRESENTATIVESBRISTOL Terry Horler, Tel: 01454 881770EAST ANGLIA David Dixon, Tel: 01733 222810 email: [email protected] VacantDORSET Ian Beaver, Tel: 01722 326840 email: [email protected] Bryan Fox, Tel: 01202 683842 home, 01202 674017 work
email: [email protected] Jane Gates, Tel: 01255 830 509 Email: [email protected] Terry Langridge, Tel: 01252 626063 email: [email protected] COUNTIES Chris Jackson, Tel: 01707 261567 [email protected] WEST or Mark Hall, Tel: 01296 660103 [email protected] Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050 email: [email protected] VacantLONDON Gary Lazarus, Tel: 020 7700 5696 email: [email protected] STAFFS & John Collins, Tel: 07970 213084 email: [email protected] BIRMINGHAM SCOTLAND Betty Kerr, Tel: 01357 300355 email: [email protected] WEST Les & Diane Robinson, Tel: 01772 432138 email: [email protected] IRELAND Robert Holmes, Tel: 02892 689274 email: [email protected]/DERBY Ian Cooke, Tel: 0115 938 3838 email: [email protected] Grahame Gibbins, Tel: 01865 383199 [email protected] Dave Bearne, Tel: 01823 412004 email: [email protected] WEST WALES David Hill, Tel: 01239 811307 email: [email protected] Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050 email: [email protected] David Southcott, email: [email protected] Alan Couch, Tel: 01564 773302 email: [email protected] Andy Cross, Tel: 01225 743554 email: [email protected] Caretaker Area Reps: Sarah and Tim Saunders, Tel: 07968 261990
email: [email protected]
Also see the Club Nights section on page 2 for new areas and contacts.Compiled by Richard Flynn ([email protected]). Please advise me of any changes, errors etc.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL: IF YOU EXPERIENCE ‘MASCOT ’ PROBLEMS UPON RENEWAL, PLEASE CONTACT THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY OR THE TREASURER STRAIGHT AWAY. The Committee
© Midget & Sprite Club
Printed by Quorum Print Services Ltd, Units 3&4, Lansdown Industrial Estate, Cheltenham, GL51 8PL Tel: 01242 584984 Website: www.quorumprint.co.uk E-mail: [email protected]
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March Editorial
Cover image: USA member Ken Samen’s wonderful Rubber Bumper 1500 Midget
The statements and opinions expressed in each and every issue of the MASCOT are not necessarily the considered views of the Midget and Sprite Club. The views expressed by the editorial contributors, letter writers and advertisers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Club. The Midget and Sprite Club accepts no responsibility for the results of following contributor’s advice, nor does it necessarily endorse the services or products offered by advertisers.
Happy March and hello to the start of the show season (a welcome distraction to the turmoil that is happening in the Middle
East as I sit and write this). I have just returned from a really pleasant day out at the MG Spares day at Stoneleigh in the Midlands. The MASC stand was buzzing as usual. In fact one of the photos that I took simply showed a large group of people standing around having a chat without a Midget or Sprite in sight. The Spridgets were there all right, all four of them, it’s just that the throng of people obscured the cars. As many of you will know this is quite normal on the Midget & Sprite Club stands at various shows and events. We always seem to have more people milling around, asking questions, getting advice or simply having a chat than is visible on most other club stands. Obviously I’m biased, but I really do think that we are one of the friendliest clubs. Our cars can’t be regarded as exotica or unattainable and we certainly don’t rope them off from the visiting public. Therefore we tend to get visitors mingling with the large number of Club members who attend and I feel that the friendliness along with the accessibility are a couple of MASC’s greatest strengths. In a sector which is generally shrinking, we are in the enviable position of increasing our membership numbers month after month. Therefore the membership secretary’s job is one of the most important roles in the club and it was with some trepidation that we realised that we may not have a full time membership secretary by the latter part of this year when John Platt steps down. My fears were that there would no one to replace him. Those fears however were unfounded as someone has stepped forward to take on the role and there will be more information and a formal introduction in a future issue of the magazine. What it does mean however is that we can continue to expand the membership of the club in the knowledge that all new and existing members will continue to get the excellent service which John has provided over the last five and a bit years.We are in the process of raising the club’s profile with a year long series of monthly adverts in “MG Enthusiast” as well as targeted ads in classic car magazines running Spridget related articles.The new secure online application and renewal pages on the club’s website seem to now be running smoothly after their initial gremlins and the long awaited website upgrade is being worked on behind the scenes and will only be rolled out and the starting handle cranked once we are absolutely sure that it will work properly from day one.So soon this friendly car club will have even more to smile about.Have a great monthNext month’s deadline for articles (especially technical ones please) and reports to be included in MASCOT is Tuesday the 15th of March.
Gary & Gaps
There are four Spridgets underneath there somewhere!
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I am the Club’s current General Secretary, my second year in this position. As I have no shorthand skills, it’s a challenge taking minutes at our long committee meetings, and then later trying to decipher what I’ve written!
I’ve owned a 1964 MKII Midget since 1992 – and that’s when I joined the club, although back then I barely had the time or money to maintain it in a good roadworthy condition. Consequently, for a number of years it languished in the garage with the occasional trip out when time permitted. Finally, in 2003 I managed to organise enough time and money to undertake a comprehensive restoration. Unlike so many Spridget owners out there, I do not have the necessary skills and experience to work on body repairs or the application of paint – well, not to a standard that I’d be happy with. So while these aspects were being taken care of by someone more competent than me, I concentrated on repair, refurbishment and renewal of the majority of mechanical components and trim, followed by refitting to the body shell. Many of us know what a revelation that first drive can be in a newly restored car, especially when you’ve put so much time and effort in to it. My two teenage daughters always enjoy going out for a drive whenever the opportunity arises. Whilst I envy the excitement of those who compete in a performance Spridget, my preference is originality and to re-live car driving from that period of registration. I suppose ideally I’d like to have a race prepared Spridget alongside my original – then I’d have the best of both worlds. I regularly attend our area meetings and although these are typically quite small gatherings, we enjoy lively discussions about all things Midget and Sprite, plus drives in the surrounding area that is the wonderful West Country. I’m looking forward to the year ahead and working with those serving from last year and all the new committee members. These new members will inevitably bring enthusiasm and their own ideas and initiatives to the workings of the club.
Philip Sellen: 1153
Committee Member Profile: Philip Sellen
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1st Tuesday Essex Area – Now meet at The Bell, Beckenham Road, Tolleshunt Major, CM9 8LL. For further details contact Jane Gates Tel: 01255830 509 or email: [email protected]
2nd Tuesday London Area (Congestion Zone) – Meet at The Ace Cafe at 7:30pm. together with the Classic Cars Magazine night. Details: Gary Lazarus on 020 7700 5696 [email protected]
1st Wednesday South Staffs & Birmingham – Meet at The Green Man, Middleton Village, 8.30-8.45pm Contact: John Collins, Tel: 07970 213084 email: green _ [email protected]
1st Wednesday Oxford Area – Meet at the Blackhorse Pub, Gozzards Ford, Nr Abingdon. 7pm for those eating or 8pm for those not. Contact Grahame Gibbins at grahame _ [email protected]
1st Thursday Notts/Derby border Area at the Sitwell Arms near Horsley Woodhouse from approx. 8.30. Just a mile north-west of the A608/A609 crossroads. Ian Cooke 0115 938 3838 [email protected]
2nd Wednesday Warwickshire – Meet at The Green Dragon, The Green, Sambourne, Redditch, B96 6NU, at 8.30pm as usual.
2nd Wednesday North West Area meet at The Kilton, turn off M6 at Jct 20 onto A50 towards Macclesfield. Pub 4 miles on left. Please note new venue.
2nd Wednesday Bristol Area will meet at The Rose and Crown, Pucklechurch at 8pm. All Bristol, Bath and surrounding areas members welcome. Contact Terry Horler on 01454 881770
2nd Thursday East Anglian Area. Previously the Cambridgeshire Area meet at The Mad Cat pub in Pidley Village, midway between Huntingdon and Chatteris, 8pm
2nd Saturday Yorkshire Area – meet each month at Ye Jolly Farmers Inn, Dalton near Thirsk YO7 3HY – please note new fixed venue – more information at http://yorkshiremasc.blogspot.com/
3rd Monday Dorset – Meet at St. Peter’s Finger, Lytchett Minster, Poole, BH16 6JE 7.30pm
3rd Tuesday Scotland – Meet at The Garfield Hotel, Stepps, East Dunbartonshire. 7:30pm in the Lounge. Contact Carson on 013606-22334.
3rd Tuesday Surrey – Meet at The Blue Ball, Walton-on-the-Hill, 7.00pm onwards. Contact Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050. [email protected]
4th Thursday Sussex – Meet at Selsey Arms, Coolham, RH13 8QJ from 19:00. Contact David Southcott at [email protected]
4th Thursday Hampshire –New Venue! Now meeting at The Fox and Goose, Greywell, RG291BY. Please ring Terry or Harriet Langridge on 01252 626063 for details.
4th Sunday Kent Area – Meet at The Angel, Addington Green, West Malling, Kent, ME19 5BB at 12:00 for lunch. Contact Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050. [email protected]
Last Monday Wiltshire – Meet at The Barge Inn, Seend, Nr. Devizes, about 7pm except on Bank Holiday Mondays when it will be the Bell Inn at Yatton Keynell near Castle Combe, 6.30pm. Contact Andy Cross on 01225 743554 or e-mail [email protected]
Last Wednesday Home Counties North West for members in Herts, Beds, Bucks, Berks, N. London or anyone interested! Meet at the Chequers Inn, Redbourn, AL3 7AD from 6:30pm. Please contact Chris Jackson Tel: 01707 261567 or Mark Hall, Tel: 01296 660103
Last Thursday Somerset – Meet at The Lord Nelson, Norton-sub-Hamdon. 8.00pm
Last Thursday South West Wales – Venue changed. Please contact David Hill for details of new venue, Tel: 01239 811307 or email [email protected]
Northern Ireland [email protected]. If enough interest, will arrange a meeting.
Club Nights
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Members Only pages User name: Micro Password: Blister
From Richard Flynn & Webmaster Toby AnscombeEvents 2011February Sunday 20th MG Show and Spares Day. 10:00am – 4:00pm at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ. For tickets
call 0871 620 7067 web address www.mg-show.co.uk
MarchSaturday Warks Area Wet and Wild Welsh Run Two day event. Contact: Sheila Yates & Sunday [email protected] & 20th
AprilSunday 13th Hampshire Area “Drive It Day” 12:00pm – 4:00pm aprox at the Fox and Goose, Greywell, RG29
1BY. To book phone 01256 702062 www.midgetandsprite-hampshire.info
Sunday 17th Essex Group.”drive it day” to Aldeburgh in Suffolk details and numbers please contact Jane Gates [email protected]
Sunday 17th Warks Area Drive it Day. Contact: Geoff Hunter [email protected]
Saturday 30th Warks Area Droitwich Spa Classic. Contact: Alan Pritchett [email protected]
MaySunday 15th Warks Area May Prescott Hill Climb. Contact; Graham Storry [email protected]
June Sunday 12th Midget 50 At Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire Register at the web site and order tickets at
www.midget50.com or call the ticket hotline 01954 231125.
July Saturday 2nd – Brittany week-end “discovery of the Emerald Coast: Le Mont St-Michel – Le Cap Fréhel” forSunday 3rd July Midgets, Sprites and derivatives. A 300 km tour in two stages with the charming village of St Briac
(near St Malo) as a base. Details from Thierry Schimpff, Member n°4386, [email protected] Tel +33 (0)6 86 41 50 56 or David Dixon [email protected] Tel 01733 222810.
Friday 22nd – national / international MASC event of the year at Silverstone Classic, the biggest and best Saturday 23rd – classic sports car event in the world including dedicated MASC members infield parking area, Sunday 24th July celebratory lap of the circuit for Midget 50th birthday, over 6000 classic cars, classic racing
and lots more. See further information on Silverstone classic website and elsewhere in MASCOT for booking info or contact David Dixon [email protected] Tel 01733 222810. Note heavily discounted tickets available to MASC member.
September 10th – 20th MIGLIA 2011 For M.G. Midgets, Austin Healey Sprites, and derivatives only. For more Details
contact Alan Anstead Surrey/Kent Area Rep. [email protected] Tel: 01322 384050.
NovemberFriday 11th Join Warwickshire at the Classic Car Show at the NEC. Details from John Platt onTo Sunday 13th 01789 488321 or email [email protected]
Club Websitewww.midgetandspriteclub.co.uk
Events
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of the squabs from my white MkIII Sprite, one the product of a proprietary cleaner, the other having been saddle soaped. Guess which is which! The instructions on the tub say use a well wrung sponge to apply the soap then wipe off with a soft cloth. This did achieve a major improvement, but after a bit of experimentation I found that using a medium hard tack brush to lather up the first application, then repeating with a sponge and wiping off was even better. Best regards,
Dale Lodge 4168
I apologise to those who believe that the only true horsepower is generated by oats as they will almost certainly already be aware
of this snippet of advice. However, those who share my view that a horse is best described as having one end that bites, one end that kicks and a bit in the middle that is damned uncomfortable to sit on may not have realised that the horsey fraternity hide a wondrous secret for cleaning leather and vinyl upholstery: saddle soap. I have struggled with all manner of proprietary cleaners without being truly pleased with the results. A chance remark put me on the scent and the results are astonishing. I’ve included a picture
Cleaning your Steed’s Saddle(Or how to make your seats look nice)
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The Cars:No engines or propulsionNo moving weightsWheel can be attached to the car in any manner, but must not extend beyond the front of the rocker coverNothing can extend beyond the front of the rocker coverCars shall be based on steel rocker covers from any production SpridgetCars must have four wheels, each no more than six inches in diameterWheels must have a non-metallic surface contacting the track
Critical Dimensions:Overall length: Midget rocker cover – with no overhangsOverall width: Midget rocker cover to the maximum of 15.25cm (6")Overall height: Midget rocker cover to 10"Maximum weight: 2.75kgs (6.1lbs)
Concours Competition:There will be NO modifications to the Rocker Box, outside making it a car, under the above rules.The racer must be capable of competing on the track, even if it doesn’t win!Car the Judge would most like to take home:Car can be decorated in any manner, within the above rules.
Midget50 Rocker Box RulesTo be raced on 12 June 2011, Burghley House, Lincs
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Running the Race: The Races:We will supply the track.Cars will be run in heats of two cars.The cars are to be launched with their front wheels on the starting line. The first car to have its’ front wheels cross the finish line is the winner. In the event that neither car makes it to the finish line, then the winner is the one which went furthest in it’s lane wins.If the wheels of the car cross over the line marker, the car is disqualified.Winning cars will go through to the next round until the last one is the winner.In ALL classes, the Judge's Decision is FINAL.
Prizes:Champion of the Racing – Two free day tickets for MGLive, and the chance to race in a "Champion of Champions Race" on the Saturday afternoonWinner of the Concours – One year’s Membership of the MGOCWinner of the Car the Judge would most like to take home – One year’s membership of MASC.In the event that the winner has tickets/membership, then arrangements will be made to either reimburse or do the next year’s membership.
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New MembersWe extend a warm welcome to the following new and rejoined members
1789 Cameron Brownlee Wiltshire tba4411 Paul Freeman Cambridgeshire Alexander Sprite 4412 Clive Witcombe Somerset Midget Mk 34413 Matt, Jennie, Jack, Oliver & Zoe Turner Hampshire Midget Mk ? 4414 Simon & Veronica Waller Lancashire Sprite Mk 44415 Alan & Linda Spiers Warwickshire Frogeye Sprite4416 Michael Youles & Sophie Beckham West Sussex 2 x Sebring Sprite / 2 x Midget Mk 14417 John Todd Northumberland tba 4418 Anne & Richard Holland Somerset Frogeye Sprite4419 Robert & Frances Underwood Somerset Midget Mk 3 RWA
Paul Freeman’s Alexander Sprite as it raced in 1963. Look out for a full article on this famous Sprite in a future Mascot
Crispin Whiting with his Mk1 Sprite
Matt Turner’s Midget
Alan & Linda Spiers’ Frogeye seen here with their grandson Samuel in the passenger seat
Bob and Frances Underwood’s Mk111 Midget
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Keen students of the Hampshire Chapter section of the MASC website may have noticed the infiltration into the gallery
of a Blaze Austin Sprite, AOP208K. This is the tale of how he came to occupy our real estate and drain our purses. As he reaches his fortieth birthday, he has been with us for 24 years. Only for five of those in total has he graced the Queen’s highway. The other 19 years were taken up with a “six month rebuild programme”. The point of this story, apart from rank self-indulgence, is maybe to provide a little warning to others who dream that their heap of Spridgley junk will miraculously transmogrify into the envy of any of their few remaining friends at the expense of a few weekends and/or passing copious quantities of the children’s inheritance to “experts”. The 10th of October 1987 was cold and very wet. The rain was the kind of rain that lets you know that any fantasies of an Indian summer are an illusion and from now on it is downhill all the way to full blown winter. Just the kind of dark, dismal evening to buy an open sports car in fact.
A few weeks beforehand, I’d proved, as did Stirling Moss amongst others before me and no doubt many since that the right hander into St Mary’s at Goodwood is not flat, not if you want to make it round the left hander anyway. The proof was the rolled Alfetta GTV on our drive. At this time I was commuting to London, or at least I was if I had wheels to get me to the railway station. And that was all I needed, nothing flash, just a boring box that would start every morning and evening, amble through the winter’s rage, thrive on neglect and cost nothing. Then Freda said “we’ve never had an open top” and produced a small ad for a worryingly cheap Austin Sprite. So, on the night in question, me, Freda and 9 year old youngest son stood up to our ankles in mud on some poor benighted soul’s lawn in the dark viewing what can only be described as a very tired looking Sprite. I took it for a drive. It drove. I brought it back. That should have been the end of the story, but….. There are advantages to viewing sports cars in filthy weather. Water flowing over the sills when you open the door does not lend power to the negotiating stance of
Why, Oh Why?
January 2011 with his Christmas presents period plates and new seat belts
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the vendor. He didn’t want the car, he wanted to get back into the warm and the modest wedge of wonder wallet filler I flashed under his nose was too much to resist.So, family gratefully got back into the warm, dry, luxuriously appointed Giulietta. I followed in the Sprite. Half way home I seriously doubted my sanity. I was petrified. There was no visibility through the downpour in any direction. The lights, wipers and for that matter the hood seemed to be there because the handbook said they were rather than to perform any useful function. But, no matter, the following week was fine and clear and at least the heater worked. On the Thursday of that week I was due to give a paper on rocket science, my forte, in Brighton and stay overnight. Of course I’ll take the Sprite! Dear God, by the time I’d reached Goodwood, half way on the outward leg, I needed a rest, the Sprite needed a rest and I was seriously doubting the wisdom of all this. But I made it, stashed the little heap away underground beneath the hotel and wowed the scientific elite of the world with my erudition. A pleasant evening followed, I retired to bed only to be awoken by the sound of the window cleaners’ trolley battering its way into the fifth floor rooms. This was the night that Michael Fish said that there will definitely not be a hurricane.The next morning, I looked out onto a seafront covered in boats. Well, what would you expect? For them to be in the water for a start, not in the middle of the road. We decided not to hang about socialising but set off home. We made it out of the car park, weaved our way between the flotsam and jetsam on the seafront and set off back to Hampshire. The journey down was, I think, about 75 miles. The journey back was
nearer 200. We only made it at all thanks to the amazing ability of the tiny, top down, Sprite to creep under fallen trees and other obstructions when grown up vehicles had to turn back. I relate all this because it shows how the hideous little beast inveigled itself into my good books in very short order. It also rapidly proved to be the only car we’ve ever had that the children, and crucially their friends, approved of. It became a regular sight around the village heading for school festooned with dangling ten year olds like something off the Indian railway system.Time passed and we reached 1989. A change of job brought a shiny new Alfa 75 Twin Spark. The Sprite was getting very tired, consuming a pint of oil faster than a gallon of petrol and being told by the MoT tester very firmly that it was only being passed so that I could take it away and under no circumstances was it ever to be brought back again. I didn’t mind. I’d resurrected the GTV in a repaired insurance written off shell so welding held no terrors. I resolved to embark on a rebuild. First I’d cut back from the front wheel arch to find solid metal. Oh look, we’ve reached the rear wheel arch. Perhaps this is a bigger job that I’d planned. But then salvation! The Heritage Shell programme was announced. Instantly, I placed an order, confidently expecting months if not years of delays before anything transpired. Oh bugger. Two weeks later two gorillas and a low loader dumped new shell on my drive.
October 87 soon after arrival with son Seth at the wheel, then aged 9
Gorgeous girls, wife Freda at the wheel with my sister Selina hanging on
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Refusing to be bowed, I started to strip the old shell. Everything was dismantled, neatly labelled and stored in boxes around the garage. The shell was painted in authentic baked bean orange and the future looked bright. But the problem with being employed is that one is expected to work. I changed companies in the early nineties, gaining a Nissan 200SX in the process, but spare time was increasingly at a premium. Real time continued to pass and all of a sudden we were in a new millennium. This is the point where these ramblings become a cautionary tale for the unwary, especially those unwary enough to believe that “professional” help actually helps. It does, but always remember: one, if you want a job done well, do it yourself; and two, you get what you pay for. We have for many years had our day to day cars (currently elderly Porsches and a battered Vitara) looked after by an extremely efficient, friendly and understanding local garage whose praises I will sing forever. Realising that I wasn’t making any progress, I sounded the owner out in 2003-ish about taking on the Sprite as a long term project done on the back burner. He was very enthusiastic seeing it as a training programme for his apprentice. At first all went well, mechanical refurbishment was done in no time. Then things went horribly wrong, and they could not have been much more horrible. The apprentice died in a horrific road accident. The Sprite was no-one’s priority for some time. Eventually, we discussed what to do. The original plan was no longer an option. I could not afford workshop rates to complete the task as a primary job, so I assumed that the only option was to drag it back home and complete the task in the mystical future. But, my mentor came up with a good and I have to say very generous solution. He would provide the workshop space and specialist tools and he recommended a part-time professional restorer whose rates were very reasonable to finish the job off. This was the way forward.At this point, pretty well all the bits of the car except the shell and engine were still in my garage. Remember the bit about carefully labelled and boxed? Labels had mysteriously vanished. Boxes had disintegrated. There is also a curious attribute of classic car restoration. You worry about losing vital bits. But actually what happens is that if you
leave a pile of bits for a known and specific vehicle in one place for longer than a month, nameless alternative, unidentifiable oily and corroded remnants propagate out of control. “Friends” who once had a mythical Midget empty their garden sheds of all their generations of accumulated junk into your carefully organised garage.
Nevertheless, progress restarted. This is now 2006 by the way. We agreed the objectives with the restorer, that is a workmanlike, solid job but no hang-ups about concours or originality. Basically that is what we got. Eventually. He used the job as a fill-in between more lucrative work, but obviously at his convenience, so progress was slow. Because we were looking to keep costs down a lot of parts got reused or scrounged from dubious donors – we were given an unfinished and derelict project Midget 1500 for example – when new or refurbished would have been nice. I stress again I am not complaining, I am eternally grateful to the guy that did the work at minuscule hourly rates and the generosity of the guy with the garage for making it possible. But, in 2008, when it eventually burbled back onto the drive with a shiny new MoT, I have to confess to a slight feeling of disappointment. The interior was very tired and grubby. The seats required two copies of yellow pages under the cushion to allow a view forward. It was all there and mostly working but the detail left a huge amount to be desired. I’d got exactly what I’d paid for.But since then, retired and with the time to indulge these fetishes, I’ve gradually brought him up to a standard where there
March 2008 first day in the open air for 19 years
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is a real thrill in taking him out and seeing him with his siblings. Up to this point I was not really a Spridget buff, so deep gratitude to the estimable Mr Horler and his definitive works. Much of the work has been redone. The apprentice-built engine has had a new head gasket and an awful lot of work done on the carburetion and now behaves as it should. Systematic cleaning of the trim, refurbishing the seats and adding lots of goodies from radio console to pointless lamps has transformed him. Oh, and trawling autojumbles becomes a hobby for its own sake. So, here he is, bright as a button and
always ready(ish) to go, now also with proper period plates!There is a part 2 to this story, perhaps for a later date. While waiting for the professional restoration to be complete, I bought a MkIII Sprite which had been off the road for nearly twenty years. Within six weeks I was driving it around and have never had to redo a job I did myself. His tale though will have to wait. Right now, the moral of the tale of AOP is that you get what you pay for, and if you want a job done well….
Dale Lodge, 4168
Dale, Freda and Nelson (he’s the one with the wet nose) with their Sprites
September 2010 with MASC at Tilford Rural Life Centre proudly displaying period picnic set!
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Les Healey du Marathon; Les Healey au Mans and Les Healey dans les Alps are three excellent books written by
Frenchman Herve Chevalier about the exploits of Healeys, and Austin Healeys, racing at the Le Mans 24 hour motor race (1949-1970) or rallying on the Marathons (Liege/Rome/Liege: Spa/Sofia/Liege; Liege/Sofia/Liege 1951–1964) or in the Alpine Rallies (1947–1967). All three share French and English text with many superb period photographs of both the works cars, and privateer cars, competing in the various disciplines.On reading Les Healey au Mans it set me to doing some detective work that
has now become a quest to find a location in France relative to Healey history. If successful I shall take some photographs and report on the quest later in the year.My latest acquisition has been Les Healey dans les Alps which shows amongst other things Healeys, and Austin Healey Sprites, attacking various Cols and the Stelvio Pass; which I am hoping to visit in September on another Miglia Tour that I am arranging (see January 2011 Edition of MASCOT, No 322, for advert).
I was pleased to see, for the first time, period pictures of Healey Silverstone OUB68, which is owned by my friend Roy Drudge, on the 1952 Alpine Rally, which it failed to finish through accident, as in 1996 I navigated the same car on a Tour in U.K. Yet again this is a book that begs a question as the Barry Shawzin’s Sebring Sprite WYT381, appears in a period photograph, entered in the1962 Alpine Rally, which it failed to finish, displaying a badge on its radiator grill upon which is a caricatured
Healey Books
Navigating in 1996
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Frogeye Sprite. It does not appear to be of the Scottish Sprite Club (See Mascot No 320 November 2010) so has anyone any information or suggestions about the badge?Martin Ingall has given permission to copy a piece from his www.sebringsprite.com website re Barry Shawzin car: One of a number of Sprites modified to Sebring specification during 1960, by the Donald Healey Motor Company, WYT 381 was bought by Barry Shawzin, who later brought it to John Sprinzel for further development and rally preparation. Barry was a successful character actor who sadly died of throat cancer in 1968 (b.1929 d.28/02/68? AA). Sprinzel tells me that he later suggested to Shawzin that he convert the car to a full coupe but that Barry preferred to have the option of an open car. He failed to finish in his first big rally with the car, the RAC in 1960, but went on to campaign it for a full season in 1961. Brian Culcheth navigated for him on the Lyons-Charbonnieres Rally in which they came 5th in class, the car by this time with a Pride & Clarke hardtop and Sebring style fibreglass bonnet. It was initially a light colour, perhaps white, but was later re-sprayed in metallic blue. With John Makin, who has recently produced an article for the RAC magazine "the motoring enthusiast", Barry and WYT came 4th in class in the Tulip Rally, but, more significantly, they were 2nd in class in the Mille Miglia, by now run as a rally rather than a road-race.
John describes the car as a delightfully elegant small GT car. Barry continued to rally the car in 1962 after which it disappeared from the scene until Neville Jones rescued it from a breakers yard in the '70s, paying just £100 for it. The car is now believed to be in the possession of Paul Woolmer, the owner of another Sebring that competed, on the 1958,1960 & 1961 Alpine Rallies, in different body styles – PMO200.According to the books reviewed here Barry Shawzin & the Sebring Sprite WYT381 entered the 1961 Alpine & 1962 Alpine, which he
failed to finish, and crashed out of the 1962 Marathon.These three books are still available at Motoring Book specialists.
Alan Anstead Kent / Surrey Rep.
Mail to: [email protected] Tel: 01322-384050 (answer phone)
WYT381 photograph ©Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird with thanks
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I first became the owner of this car in the late seventies or possibly the early eighties, it had one owner since new, and was
registered in January 1959 to one Mr Sidney C H Davis, better known as Sammy Davis, who was not only a well known motoring writer, but was one of the original Bentley boys, and joint founder of the Veteran Car Club, Sammy was one of the winning drivers in the 1927 Le Mans 24 Hr Grand Prix. Over the years Sammy and his wife Susie had made the Sprite individually theirs. For example the car had a Welsh badge with emblem on each front wing, badges along the front, a wind up pocket watch mounted in a green box mounted on the dash board, a St Christopher on the dash. Another mod was taken straight from the days he raced Bentleys in the late 1920s, the steering wheel was bound around the circumference with string, and still is today with exactly the same string. Sammy’s Sprite never had a front anti roll bar. The engine is the original 948cc unit, not modified, the car did undergo an overhaul that was the subject of a magazine article in the Autocar in the late sixties or early seventies, I have a copy somewhere, and when I got the car it underwent a respray, a fair bit of rust was removed and plates added. Just like any other Classic car owner various bits have been replaced, overhauled or have been repaired, however I have tried to
keep the car as original as possible because of its history, Sammy and the car were quite well known in their day.My late father Maurice Smith also a motoring journalist knew Sammy well, and it was through this contact we purchased the car from Sammy when he was in his early nineties, his doctor suggested he should have a car that was easier to get in and out of, Sammy and his wife were very hard up in those days, we found them a good Wolseley Hornet to use, or a Riley Elf, can’t remember which (a booted Mini), but it had big doors, I was in my late teens at the time, my father
Pictured at Brooklands 1st of January 2011
Frogeye Sprite
XOK 156
Sammy Davis, in the 1930 Brooklands 500 Mile-winning Austin Seven
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thought, quite rightly, the Sprite would be a good starter classic for me.One of my memories of Sammy and the Sprite, was a Sunday afternoon when he and
Susie paid us a rare visit, when it was time to say goodbye, they got in the car, and Sammy must have felt it appropriate to do a racing start perhaps to prove he had not totally lost his racing spirit in his advanced years, how he made an old 948cc car disappear so suddenly and quickly remains a mystery to this day! I have always had a desire for an exotic high powered classic car, in these hard times of many safety cameras and very expensive fuel I am now pleased that I have the Sprite which driven carefully will return a decent MPG, has plenty of charm and it is still easy to get most bits, in fact where I live in Sussex, is within four miles of a Sprite specialist, and separately a big parts' supplier.In past years I did part two of my honeymoon in this car taking it from where I lived in Surrey to the then developing Grampian Transport Museum, in Aberdeenshire, we won a prize at a cavalcade. I repeated the trip a few years later with a lifelong best friend, same show and again won a prize but this time we did the 630 odd miles home in a day! Nowadays the car does not do a huge mileage, two or three events a year, it may not have seen Scotland for the last time in my hands though! I hope you enjoy your cars as much as I do.
Colin A Smith West Sussex
Featured on the cover of one of S.C.H. Davies' many books” (from the Editor’s collection)
Dear Gary,I recently acquired a very early Frogeye – chassis number 544 and originally registered as SVE 948 by Marshalls of Cambridge – which was abandoned in 1982 and was recovered only a few years ago without any of its original documentation. This has meant that it has had to be re-registered since the DVLA now insist on solid evidence linking the chassis number and registration to retain the original plate.My research so far has included Gaydon, the Cambridgeshire county archive where the original registration should have been recorded, and lots of friendly help from various sources, but so far to no avail. By the way, for those MASC members who haven't used the Gaydon archive, they are very helpful and highly organised.
I just wonder if by any happy chance anyone might have come across this car somewhere – it’s a very long shot since it was lost for 25 years, but who knows. Given that it’s such an early vehicle it would be very satisfactory to recover the original registration and any help would be very much appreciated. With Best Wishes for 2011,Mike de St Paer
Lost & Found SVE 948
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Many of us have envisaged being in a Steve McQueen movie, or serving in the Healey pits at Le Mans, or having
the opportunity to be driven around the English countryside by Roger Menadue in his personal 100-4 Le Mans" company car." Well, in 1960 a young man from Florida had all the planets align as he experienced some of the most wonderful Healey motoring memories imaginable. Raised in Avon Park, Florida, John Hill attended the very first Sebring road race in 1950 and was even drafted to serve as an official timer as a 16-year-old high school student. He tagged along with his mother, a local teacher who ran a concession stand as a charity fundraiser. When the organizers realized he had assisted in scoring while his dad raced speedboats, they gave him a stopwatch and a pair of binoculars. The race itself was somewhat unspectacular, especially in terms of modern road racing, and it was won by a portly Crosley Hotshot. But the passion for motor racing was firmly established and this fledgling teenager was setting in motion a lifelong devotion to racing British sports-cars.Avon Park's proximity to Sebring caught the eye of the British Motor Corporation (BMC) folks as they chose the Sebring race
to be the springboard for their marketing efforts to promote the Austin-Healey and MG sports-cars to the American market. They contracted to use Murphy's Garage as their off-track support facility and the nearby Reed's Motel as their team's housing site. John's best friend was Mr. Murphy's youngest son and that relationship provided him with the entrée he'd needed to befriend the likes of Roger Menadue, Healey's chief engineer. and Geoff Healey. John's local knowledge and willingness to serve as the BMC team's "gofer" made him an indispensable member of the Sebring crew while he proceeded to Georgia Tech as an electrical engineering student and later as a young Army electronics specialist stationed at nearby Cape Canaveral. Fortunately, his Spring Breaks fell during the Sebring races and he was able to schedule leaves from his Army responsibilities at Cape Canaveral to drive his
John Hill's Memories of Sebring and Le Mans
The 1961 'BMC Team' line-up alongside Reed's Motel on Highway 27, Avon Park, Florida. The motel is still there complete with neon sign!
L to R Pat Moss, John Sprinzel, Cyril Simson, Stirling Moss and Bruce McLaren
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100-6 personal car back home to work with the BMC teams.But the story for Healey enthusiasts really comes together during the 1960 Sebring event where BMC brought three factory prepared Sprites and three MGAs to compete on the cement runways of the old Air Force base. Making the Sebring races interesting for the spectators was the presence of many international driving legends including Stirling and Pat Moss, Graham Hill, Bruce McLaren, Paul Hawkins, Dan Gurney, John Sprinzel and Pedro Rodriguez. Added to this was the extra star power of actor Steve McQueen and young American BMC driver, John Colgate. During practice the Healey team discovered problems with the clutch discs on all three cars and with Murphy's Garage filled with activities on the MGAs, the Healey team turned to young John Hill, who offered his father's boat shop as an alternative location to work on the cars. In a matter of a few hours, John and Paul Hawkins changed all the clutch plates on the three Sebring Sprite prototypes. Then during the four-hour race, one of the cars broke down, out on the course and Donald Healey needed someone to go out into the Florida sunshine to locate the car and determine if a fix could be found. Stepping forward was young John, but without a full track pass he was officially restricted to the paddock area. Donald quickly removed his personal official pass and gave it to John to wear as he trekked out to the car, then back to the pits for a Wentworth wrench, then back to the car so the driver
could repair the damaged fuel line. Under FIA rules, only the driver can repair a car on the track using tools carried in the race car, so bringing a wrench from the pits was outside
PMO 200 and S 221 with other cars and a speedboat
in the parking lot at John Hill's father’s boat shop
S 221 outside John Hill's workshop, minus its bonnet,
engine and transmission
John Colgate Jr. at speed during the 12-hour race. This car was an all alloy
special bodied Sprite.
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the "rules". John put the wrench in the pocket of his blue BMC coveralls, and when the nearby official was distracted he shook the wrench out for the driver to make the repair. The Targa Florio Sprite of Stirling Moss was 2nd overall and 1st in Class in the four hour 1000cc race after leading the race for over three hours and losing the Abarth that didn't need to stop for tyres. John Sprinzel's factory prepared Falcon Sprite prototype won its class (41st overall) in the 12 Hour race while struggling with head gasket issues throughout the race. Everyone on the team was very happy with the results. John Hill still has Donald Healey's Sebring credentials as a wonderful memento.In appreciation of his efforts, John Hill was invited to join the Healey team for Le Mans, if he could get himself over to Europe. Being a young Army specialist, he quickly put in for leave and arranged for a MATS flight to London. Once he landed he travelled down to Healey's dealership in London where Roger Menadue picked him in Roger's former Le Mans 100-4 prototype "company car". Roger drove him around the English countryside and introduced him to his wife and daughter. John especially remembers going to Stratford-on-Avon and Shakespeare's home where Roger seemed to be known by all the staff and got John a great behind-the-scenes tour of
the home and museum. John spent a week in Paris before heading over to Le Mans where he once again hooked up with the Healey team and joined John Colgate as the only Americans in the compound located at a rural inn in a small village a few miles from the race venue. Colgate was there to team with John Dalton driving the Falcon Sprite prototype that had run at Sebring. Once again, John Hill's Florida experience proved invaluable as the FIA officials deemed the low cut windscreen on the Falcon Sprite unacceptable and forced the team to cobble together a "full" windscreen that had a propensity to capture every bug in the vicinity of the track. John suggested that a small bug deflector located on the bonnet would solve the problem, and he quickly fabricated one out of some Plexiglas that saved the day for the Colgate/ Dalton team which finished the race and won their class.John's life moved on to full-time employment in the NASA programme that culminated with his name being placed on the moon in recognition of his work on the Apollo programme. He bought a factory MGA Twin Cam race-car from a NASA associate in 1962 and successfully campaigned it in Florida until 1968. He got married and had a son who is now a career Army Airborne Green Beret stationed at nearby Fort Bragg. With his son's help, the Twin Cam is being restored to be a retired street-legal race car. Now retired and living outside Columbia, South Carolina, he enjoyed recalling his Healey adventures
in the 1960s to former AHCA president, Carl Brown, and Healey vintage Sprite racer, John Jones, from the Carolinas Austin-Healey Club. As the ten-year Twin Cam restoration project is nearing completion, John has decided to clear out some of the historic mementos that fill shelves in his office, cabinets in his garage and boxes in his attic. He accumulated much of his treasure trove of goodies as the BMC teams left used and excess parts and pieces at Murphy's Garage rather
The Falcon Sprite at Le Mans with the “full” windscreen and John’s bug deflector
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than ship them back to England. Among the items he is donating to the Healey Museum effort is the seat insert used by Stirling Moss when he co-drove a Sprite at Sebring with John Sprinzel, and the Sebring credentials of Donald Healey he used to take the wrench out to the stricken car in 1960. He also has the red Le Mans "MECANIC" armband and his Le Mans pit credentials, plus some neat home movies he took at Sebring, Daytona and Le Mans.Making our visit even more interesting I called John Colgate while we were there and they were able to resurrect friendship and Le Mans experience after 50 years. Sometimes you hear of someone finding an exceptional or historic car in a barn, but rarely do you uncover a piece of personal history that fills in gaps and memories of the storied Austin-Healey racing experience. It was a privilege to meet John Hill and record his fascinating story. I can only hope to find a few more somewhere.
John Hill's Personal Memories and Impressions (of those involved)Donald Healey – Carefree, very personable. He let Geoff run the show.Geoff Healey – Friendly, but serious when it came time to race. Really knew his business, always tried to be helpful and was on top of the situation.Roger Menadue – He had a dry humor, but very witty. He was very sharp mechanically. He was always the first to ask the drivers how the car was doing, and then made the necessary adjustment.
Stirling Moss – One hell of a driver, he had an amazing ability to get peak performance out of everything he drove. He never lorded over folks, very considerate.Pat Moss – All woman, very strong personality as well as physically.John Colgate – A cool guy. He had very competitive lap times comparable or better than Dalton at Le Mans. He was a very good looking guy and very friendly. He was the only other American on the BMC Le Mans team with John Hill.Paul Hawkins – Most like an American on the BMC team although he was from New Zealand. Drove a Sebring Sprite at Sebring and his first American car, John's father's big Cadillac. He was John's Le Mans roommate.John Sprinzel – A happy-go-lucky guy who enjoyed what he was doing. Friendly and played around at the pool at Reed's Motel.Bob Olthoff – A very businesslike individual. He wrote out just how to fix his Twin Cam race-car's suspension to BMC Competition specifications on a napkin during one race at Sebring.BMC Team Trailer/Lorry – One of the real draws for the English drivers at both Sebring and Le Mans, no matter what car they were driving. Graham Hill was one of many who came to the BMC pits for tea and to get away from the ltalians.
Dick LunnyPhotos courtesy John Hill and the collection of Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird and article reproduced with thanks to Martin Ingall’s SebringSprite.com website
1411 WD and 1413 WD at Le Mans during 1961.
1413 WD was built by the Donald Healey Motor Co.
for Ecurie Ecosse. Drivers were Ninian Sanderson
and Bill McKay
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MG On Track as the name suggests is an organised track day for MGs. It was a cold, damp, day at Brands
Hatch. Three MASC members were testing their cars, and themselves, on track and against the elements. Ex Formula Ford and Mini saloon car ace, and Surrey member, Col Carpenter was, on this occasion out on track in his MGZS. Apparently Col used to race a rare Jomo formula ford built by Keith Vickery's England-based Jomo Motor Racing which was founded in 1967, and first built an F750 car. A Jomo FF was announced later that year, and a pencil sketch appeared in Autosport in Jan. '68, the car apparently set to debut at Brands Hatch that April. There does not seem to be much information on this racing car although, I am led to understand there were several variants.
Mike from HCNW was in his smart, dark blue, Sprite and Sussex member Jeff Snell was first time out in his recently completed Frogeye. I am glad to see that all three managed to control their exuberance, keep their cars on the dry parts of the race track, and have fun. A number of others were not so fortunate!
MG On Track are very safety conscious. The two other cars in the crash photo are the Doctor’s car and the Race Control vehicle. The MGBGT had already hit the wall coming down the straight off clearways. He bounced off then 360'd into the wall again. No injuries. They did say anyone going into the kitty litter would be sent home damage or not.
Alan Anstead
Sussex Member Jeff Snell
MASC at MG on Track January 24th at Brands Hatch, Kent
Mike from HCNW
Surrey saloon car ace Col Carpenter
A track day ends in tears for an MGB
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HTR 800L was a 1973 model which I bought in 1974 for £800 with 8,000 miles on the clock. I had been to the
building society where I had £800, saving for a deposit for a house. Unfortunately they wouldn't lend me enough to buy a house, so I drew out the money and bought the Midget from a friend at work. I didn't tell Frances what I'd done, and just came home with it. And we are still married! Frances and I went everywhere in that car. I had to change a universal joint and Frances wasn't too happy with the prop shaft on the kitchen floor.On one occasion, we were booked to go to Austria, and I had the car Crypton tuned the week before, only to find no.3 cylinder had very low compression so they tuned the carbs to try and compensate! I stripped down the engine, and to my horror the piston rings on that cylinder just fell apart. I managed to find all the bits and no damage had been done to the cylinder. The valve guides were also shot (thank goodness I didn't try and drive it like that on holiday). I managed to get a garage to recondition the head in the week.
I replaced the big end bearings and managed to get all of the replacement parts and gaskets apart from new Hepalite piston rings standard size.My Dad drove down from Nottingham to Bucks stopping at every motor factor on the way to no avail and he had to drive all the way to Finchley Road in London until he was successful. He arrived on Saturday afternoon and I worked late reassembling the car. On the Sunday morning we had to push start it as the engine was so tight, pushing it around with no spark plugs in top gear just to get it to turn. Then we bump started it down a hill and it went. I then warmed it up, tightened down the head, reset the carburettors, got cleaned up, and packed the car and drove down to Dover to catch our pre-booked ferry. I kept the speed down to 50mph for the first 1,000 miles and I reckon we did about 50 MPG. I then opened her up a bit and she went faultlessly for the holiday, and I didn't have the opportunity to tighten the head again until we arrived home two weeks later.We also took her to Spain and I have included some photos, but that's another eventful story for another time, although the car behaved herself perfectly.We sold her in 1978 because of children. It would be nice if it was still around, but I suspect not.
Bob Underwood Somerset
Editor’s note: I have checked the DVLA website and Bob’s old Midget was last taxed up to the 1st of September 1990. That doesn't mean to say that it isn't languishing in the back of someone’s garage awaiting "rebirth". Did you ever own this Midget?
Bob removing the propshaft to replace a universal joint in 1975
Adventures in my first MG Midget
Frances and HTR800 in the Spanish mountains 1976
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I recently saw an out of date advert for a very interesting Spridget which had been sold in the USA in 2008. The builder of
the car, Jason Hassenbusch has been kind enough to allow MASCOT to reproduce some of his photos and technical description. Jason explained that he sold the car to a local man in late 2008 as he had moved on to other projects. Jason tells me that it was a fun project which he drove daily to work for about six months. The reason he sold it is that the technology is advancing so rapidly that it was already outdated and he is waiting for the cost of lithium batteries to lower so that he can build another car.
The specification/advert1959 Austin Healey Bugeye (Frogeye) Sprite
EV Electric Vehicle. 100% electric direct drive conversion FUN and FAST!
I am offering my 1959 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite for sale. It has been converted to an all electric vehicle making it environmentally
friendly!
The car is very simple to drive and makes no noise. Many people have driven this car with ease, one did not even know it was electric. Basically you put the key in and turn on, then press the button for the main contactor to engage. After that you flip the switch to forward or reverse and you are off. It is direct drive so there is no changing of gears or anything, basically it is like an automatic car.The weight of the car is about 200lbs more than the standard car.
This car has a Zilla 2K controller (2000 amps max) that is programmable by the on-board PDA. It has 12 batteries making it 144v total. This powers a 9” TranswarP DC motor that is directly attached to the rear axle via the driveshaft. It has forward and reverse contactors along with a main contactor and electronic fuse. It has an inverter to change the traction pack (144v) to 12v for lights and all original electronics on the car.It has a 30amp Manzanita Micro PFC-30 Series charger that can be connected on-board or outside the car. This charger works on 110v and 220v and has the optional amp gauge so you know how much amperage you are drawing. I typically charge the batteries at 8amps on 110v which takes under two hours (I charge while I am at work so I have plenty of time and thus no need to increase the amperage). It comes with a ~15’ cable that plugs into the new petrol cap and then has an attachment for 110v or 220v.
The Electric Sprite
It all looks pretty standard from here
27
The car has upgraded front Disc Brakes (late model Austin Healey Sprite), tube shock conversion (modern shocks), and special air
shocks in the rear. The differential is upgraded to a 3.9 ratio for lower RPM. All of the parts for this car can be easily acquired from |Spridget specialists. There are eight batteries in the rear and four in the front making the car close to a 50% / 50% weight balance.The gauges are Autometer electronic (modern style with digital odometer) and work perfectly. The “fuel” gauge is a state-of-charge gauge that measures in percentage. The dash is fibreglass and you could add a radio if desired.The car has the Café Electric Zilla 2K controller. This was one of the last ones that Café Electric made and I received it less than a year ago. It is fully programmable with the on-board PDA. It has the HEPA electronic accelerator pedal (throttle by wire) and the optional forward / reverse contactor. This controller was the best one on the market and cost well over $5k with accessories. This controller is large for this car, given the weight of the car is under 2000lbs. The reason behind this controller is if you want to go fast and accelerate faster than most cars, it has the ability. I know people who say that 500 amps are more than enough, but driving in Houston traffic it is not enough. The great part about this controller is it is very smooth, quiet, and you can limit the amperage with the PDA. You can go to cafeelectric.com to read more.The batteries are Interstate Optima Marine Deep cycle (SC34DM) rated at 55 amp hours. There are 12 of them and they were purchased new in November 2008.All of the work was done on this car on a professional level in a professional shop and it has won awards at shows. There was not any cutting on the car for the conversion so you could convert it back to a petrol engine if ever desired. There have been no changes to the structure which keeps the car safe. I have it
28
insured as a classic car and thus the insurance is low. It is registered and insured and I drive it weekly. The car has about 500 miles on it since the conversion.The car does have a top and sliding windows (original), but like most convertibles of this era, it does not seal tight! I have only had the top on once as I drive it when it is not raining. The windows of the top have some discolouration, this is easy to purchase a new one. Yes, the wipers and horn do work!!The great part about this car is it does not produce any heat or leak any oil (only oil is in the differential). This car also requires almost no maintenance as there is no oil to change. The batteries are sealed gel-cell so there is nothing to do there. This is a DC powered car.
Over the last few months there has been much debate, comment, angst and hand wringing in respect of the new MOT and
it’s implications concerning those of us who drive classic cars which have had a different, later or larger engine fitted. It seems that DoT have accepted that a change of engine is OK at MOT time if the engine is of the same marque (e.g. up-rating a 1098 Midget to 1275). Below is the explanation according to the Federation of British Historical Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) website:
“The bureaucracy involved with correcting or substituting engine numbers on V5C documents and making minor engine capacity changes on old vehicles was discussed in November 2010 at a meeting between members FBHVC’s legislation committee, the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicle Group, the Under-Secretary of State for Roads and Motoring, Mike Penning MP, and two senior officials from DfT and DVLA.DVLA have now confirmed that this policy has been reviewed and that it will no longer be necessary for keepers of vehicles in the Historic class – date of manufacture before 1 Jan 1973 – to provide evidence to support an engine change notification.”I am however unsure how this effects those Spridgets manufactured after that date. I would be delighted to hear from anyone who is able to clarify the situation.
Researching a Registered VehicleOne of the options when considering acquiring a vehicle is to look at the website: www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk, then key in the registration number, vehicle make and basic details of the vehicle (excluding, any owner information, chassis or engine numbers). Details of this website have been given in a previous Newsletter. However, this system can only give a positive result if the vehicle maker, as recorded by DVLA, is known. For example my Frogeye (USY 875) is listed with the manufacturer as Austin rather than Austin Healey, DVLA have recorded the vehicle maker as Austin, (as distinct from Austin Healey) so in a search using ‘Austin Healey’ the vehicle licence website will bring up a nil result. DVLA have indicated that they want to retain registration number and maker in the search criteria.Where you get a nil result, it is possible to investigate further by going to www.rac.co.uk and click on the link to ‘Car Checks and Inspections’. Then go for a ‘Car Data Check’ and click ‘Go’. Select ‘Buy 1 Check’ and key in the registration number and very basic information comes up on that registration number, including the all important vehicle maker as recorded by DVLA. There is no requirement to progress through to the actual ‘buying’ stage.Finally, armed with the registration number and the maker, go to www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk and then do a vehicle check.
The batteries are DC, the controller is DC, and the motor is DC voltage. The inverter is DC to DC, just reducing the voltage down to 12 volts so there is not a need for a separate battery. This also makes it easy because when you charge the car, it charges everything (not a separate battery to worry about).And for the questions everyone asks:How fast will it go – It will go over 65mph, but it uses a considerable amount of battery power at this speed. I use it to drive to work and run errands around town, typically between 35-40mph.What is the range – Using it to drive around town, I gain about 35 miles of range taking the pack to above 50% drain.
Jason Hassenbusch
Changes to Engine Details for Historic Vehicles
29
We had another great meeting at Ye Jolly Farmers in February, with four Sprites and two Midgets in attendance, plus
plenty of others in more modern cars.It was a pleasure to welcome several new members to the meeting this month. Pete & Lou and their kids who have recently acquired a Mk 3 Sprite which is still having some work
done on it, came up from near Wakefield, as did Chris & Phil whose car is also under restoration at the moment. John came down from Richmond in his daughter’s 69 Sprite which has been having some overheating problems, which several old hands tried to
diagnose (and admired the rather nice paint job).It was also great to see old friends Roger who had driven up from York “roof down” in his Sprite and Harvey & Lesley who had come across from Wharfedale with hardtop on the Austin Sprite, in addition to local monthly regulars Rob & Jenny in their K-Midget, Kevin
in his RWA, and John & Jeanette in their daily driver. Our next meeting is on Saturday March 12th at Ye Jolly Farmers Inn, Dalton near Thirsk, and if anyone would like to join us, an informal scenic drive to Nunnington Hall for tea and cakes after lunch. April promises to be busy. Due to the proximity of Easter to various other events, we are not having a Hot X Run on Good Friday this year. Instead we will be organising a road run on Drive It Day, Sunday 17th April, and then on Friday 29th April, The Royal
Wedding Run (for those who wish to avoid being sat in front of the telly all day!). More details follow on our website at http://yorkshiremasc.blogspot.com/
Sarah & Tim Saunders Yorkshire Area Reps, 07968 261990
Yorkshire Area Report
30
Not a great crowd, for the opening meeting of the year, but a great crowd
none the less!With one place remaining for the Late May Bank holiday Tour of Norfolk that place was quickly snapped by Mike Gorman. I believe we will have fifteen cars, maybe more, for the event. We are hoping that East Anglia Centre may join us for part of that Tour. At the same time some of our members will be attending the excellent Laon Classique.It seems that people are already booking rooms for Midget 50 (Burghley House, Lincs 12th June 2011) and the MASC Grand National gathering at Silverstone on 22–24th July. Our ‘twin’ club Amicale Spridget will be travelling from France to join us at Midget 50.A group from Surrey will be, later in the year, travelling to Angouleme for the Circuit des Remparts motor race, a venue also incorporated in our Miglia Tour (10–20 September 2011) Have you booked your place on that Tour yet?I would like to thank those present who contributed monies toward the purchase of an Area Sail (flag / banner). Anyone who was not present who would like to make a contribution please do not hesitate to get in touch as, at the time of writing, still a few quid short. I would also like to thank Hants Chapter member Barry Green for taking the time to design a sail that might be used by all MASC Areas. Sussex Area Rep David Southcott was present and hopes to purchase one for Sussex. I have recently sent the design, and manufacturer, details to all Area Reps so that they can canvas that
area’s members should they wish to avail themselves of a sail. If all areas had them what a sight it would be, the sails fluttering in the wind, when we all congregate, with our cars, at Midget 50 and MASC Grand National Gathering at Silverstone.
Alan Anstead Surrey / Kent Area Rep
mail to: [email protected] Telephone (answer phone) 01322-384050
Mock-up of the banners
Surrey Meet
31
February club night was another good turn out. Dennis has obviously set an example now as we had four cars turn up, well
done to Dennis, Mark, Andrew and Bernie.Bernie still had his Ashley hardtop fitted; this looks absolutely fantastic.
I didn’t go in my Sprite as I’m in the process of doing a number of small jobs to it, nothing to do with the fact that it was cold and dark.During the evening we had a discussion on this year's forthcoming events, apologies to all if this dragged on a bit but you would keep interrupting! Anyway we now have a plan which I am finalizing, no doubt it will all change but at least it’s a start.We will once again be going to the Pageant of Power at Cholmondley Castle and there are details published elsewhere in the magazine. Leaving the Kilton after the meeting, Andrew was behind us in his Frogeye when he was pulled over by the police. They said he was driving in excess 60mph and still pulling away
from them, oh yeh in his Frogeye!. Anyway he clearly wasn’t as we were doing less than 60mph and he was behind us. They just gave him a warning telling him to slow down and be on his way – another yob gets away scot free; bang em up I say, it the only way they will learn. Actually I think Andrew was quite chuffed that he was seen to be speeding!On 23rd January, Diane and I, Mike and Karen plus Neil and Shelly all took part in the Christmas Cracker Run organised by MG Cumbria and the Wigton Motor Club. This was originally organised for the beginning of December but was postponed due to the atrocious weather conditions.Starting point was the Rheged Discovery Centre at Penrith. Cars were started in order of date of manufacture, oldest going first and leaving at 10am. Diane and I actually only arrived at 10:15am so after booking in, getting the route map and having a brew we finally got ready to set off; we were 46th in line when actually we should have been 7th. By this time Neil and Mike had already set off, on time of course. Mind you it is easier for older people as they generally don’t sleep much and get up early; they were probably there before it even opened!It was a bitterly cold day but we still went top down. The journey from home to the Rheged Centre is just over 70 miles of motorway driving; cold and boring, not sure Diane was too impressed, in fact I know she wasn’t. Being a typical bloke I can sense these things, well eventually anyway and then only after a number of very subtle but obvious hints! Ultimately it was the frost on her eyelashes and the icicles hanging from her nose that gave me a clue that all was not well. I was going to ask if she was ok but my face was numb with cold so just gave her a nudge and a wink. She turned her head, her eyes giving what can only be described as a look of love, burning into my face and softening the pain from the frostbite. Then through her frozen and expressionless face she whispered some words of deep affection to me. I didn’t catch it all, just the odd word and phrase, it was something along the lines of “if in you’re tiny brain you for one minute think … freezing … bored … that I will ever … then
Bernie's Ashley hardtop
NW Area Report
32
you must be out of your … mind – darling”. I think she was enjoying herself, probably just overcome with emotion bless her!The run itself was 70 miles around north Cumbria taking in some fantastic roads. There are two checkpoints along the route. When we pulled into the first one, Neil and Shelly were there with bonnet up. For some reason Neil’s Frogeye had started to run very rich plus his handbrake had expired, possibly a broken cable. After a bit of tinkering they decided to head straight for the finish. On returning home he also discovered that one of the rear springs had broken – really not his day.Mike and Karen were well ahead by now following the route to the letter. We however made a few navigational errors; in fact we even went the wrong way out of the car park after leaving Neil. After one or two more wrong turnings we eventually arrived at the second checkpoint – last!From here and heading on towards the finish we got completely lost, don’t ask me how. We had no idea where we were but we knew that the finish was on the A66 between Cockermouth and Keswick. So we decided to head on and see where the next signpost would take us, however with it being ‘one of those days’ there were no signs for miles, and miles and miles. Eventually we arrived at Cockermouth, picked up the A66 and headed towards Keswick. Mind you at this point we thought sod it, if we can’t find the finish then we are going straight home. We did eventually find the finish point, entering the hall just as the chairman was finishing his talk and everyone was getting ready the go home. The only good news was that we were not last – two MGFs which started ahead us actually arrived just after us. After a quick lunch it was off home, another 70 miles down the motorway. But did we have a good time that day? Not decided yet and I daren’t ask Diane – once home she’d hit the Vodka bottle even before I got my coat off.On 16th April we are attending a classic car show at Bridgemere Garden World at Nantwich. If anyone is interested in joining us then please give me a call. We have never done this event before, in fact not even sure the garden centre has, but it’s worth a go.Incidentally, this is the second garden centre event that we have taken part in, last year
was the Leafy Lane run organised by the High Legh garden centre, and they also had a show. Seems to becoming bit of a trend for garden centres, apparently they see it as a way of drawing more customers by having an additional attraction.That’s all for now, see you at the Kilten on 13th April.
Les Tel: 01772 432138
Email: [email protected]
Cholmondley Castle Pageant of Power 2011The NW Centre are once again attending the Cholmondley Castle Pageant of Power and cordially invites all members to join us at this years event which takes place on Fri 15th, Sat 16th, Sun 17th July.The event features cars and bikes of all types and ages competing over a challenging course in the grounds of Cholmondley Castle. In addition there army displays, ‘up-market’ shopping opportunities, trade stands, helicopters, power boat racing, classic car displays, fireworks, concert and much more.Full details of the event can be accessed via their website www.cpop.co.uk or from NW Centre member Ian Jones on email [email protected] .Tickets are available direct from the organisers; you should state you are a club member. Also, and this is very important, please inform Ian if you wish to attend as the organisers need numbers so that a suitable club pitch can be allocated – the deadline for this is16 April. In addition Ian will give you a code required for obtaining discounted tickets.Equal numbers of cars are requested for both Saturday and Sunday and camping is available if required.Last year we enjoyed a great weekend and got very favourable comments in the motoring press about our display which featured every model of Spridget including an IOW Frogeye.Do give the ‘Goodwood of the north’ a try – were sure you’ll enjoy it.
33
Sunday lunchtime on the 23rd Jan and Kent MASC meeting beckoned. Not the warmest of days but surprisingly a few
members still turned out in their Spridgets. The Moat, Wrotham Heath, where we regularly meet, or should I now say used to, was quite full and I had forgotten to reserve a large table in advance. There was still a lot of room but the staff were unwilling to allow us to move tables together (we have had that problem before with the picnic tables outside in the summer). This became a problem as the staff didn’t want chairs moved either and it got to the situation where any minute I was expecting someone to clamp a ball and chain around my ankle to stop me moving about. Time for a change of venue! We managed although I was unable to communicate all that I wanted to say to those in attendance. I did manage to collect enough money for a Kent sail. Well done those in attendance that contributed.I wanted to mention lots that the National Committee had achieved so far this term.Twinning with Amicale Spridget, the National Day piggybacked on the Silverstone Classic where you can get a buy one get one free offer on tickets and take part in a parade lap around Silverstone Circuit. I also wanted to show off the Club's Advert in M.G. Enthusiast Magazine which will be run for twelve months. In order that the advert does not become stale the picture will change at intervals. The challenge is to get your Spridget featured in the advert. Look out also for the Club advert aligned to features in other magazines this
year. And this is but a proportion of what your National Committee is doing on your behalf this year. Had anyone from Kent noticed that a picture of several of our cars was on the Midget 50 advert in M.G. Enthusiast Magazine: our cars being the front line of the picture taken at Spridget 50.I was hopeful that John Clark would update us on Midget 50 as he is a representative on that Committee that is striving to make that event a really special day. It is my understanding that currently when you buy Midget 50 tickets there is an offer of 25% off a Concert at Burghley House on the Saturday night – an Abba Tribute Band?Whilst there will probably be a ‘drive’ from the Grasshopper to Hants for Drive it Day (17th April) I have no plans for organising a ‘drive’ to Burghley House for Midget 50. Because of the ‘situation’ the meeting ended earlier than the norm.But “always look on the bright side of life” ‘cause there are a lot of things for us to do throughout the year with event organisers forwarding info to me at this time.On 30th April there is a visit to a private motor museum at Haslemere, Surrey. £10 is required, per car, for ‘Help the Heroes’ charity. This event is taking place, jointly, with the Southern Austin Healey Club.New Kent Venue: The Angel, Addington Green, West Malling, Kent. ME19.5BB.
Alan Anstead
Kent Meet
Our new venue, The Angel at Addington Green
34
I had intended to email Terry to congratulate him on his brilliant report in MASCOT, you know the one about passing round the prop
shaft and so on, but I have just realised that that was back in December’s MASCOT. It is amazing how rapidly time passes by these days but none the less it was a great article almost to Carson’s standards.Reading last month’s MASCOT I was pleased to find someone refer to it as the comic (a Carsonism I think) and a few places where I found myself laughing out loud, the bit about someone giving his Spridget the pet name of “Start you bastxxd” for example, all brilliant stuff. All this got me thinking that this outbreak of joviality is something to be encouraged to make the marvellous MASCOT much more magnificent and entertaining to read. I have always tried to do my bit on this front and dress the basic facts up in a bit of Mickey taking (although you would have to have attended some our meetings and events to pick up on all of it), but these days it seems I have some real competition.Getting back to the here and now, it’s almost spring and time to roll the Sprite out of the Sprite cave and hibernation. I know there are some intrepid souls who are out in their Spridgets in the snow, and the Scottish bunch in the frozen wastes of the north driving up Ben Nevis in their kilts on a wild haggis hunt and so on, but for normal people now is the hour. I have lots of work to do on the Sprite
before it is fit for public appearances, and so far (as usual) I have done little or nothing through the winter (far too cold in the cave) so the next few weeks will see a frenzy of activity, new boot lid, new bonnet and a bit of work on the “A” posts to name but three.I am really looking forward to the summer with Midget 50, Silverstone Classic (bigger and better than ever this year with loads of us attending and actually getting to drive on the track) and the Brittany weekend not to mention my usual Sprite adventure in France, and all the other events we have yet to finalise.Mad Cat night was a filthy foggy affair so was more about quality than quantity, main topics were the Yesteryear run (17th April), Kimbolton classic (10th July), Midget 50, the Brittany run, Silverstone Classic and Graham Badger Bigfoot’s new MG (tribute) motor. The Yesteryear run will be our first official event this year, this is a parade of all types of classic and vintage vehicles through some of Cambridgeshire’s loveliest old villages to be cheered and appreciated by the villagers and with appropriate refreshment stops along the way, a brilliant start to the season.See you all at the Mad Cat and beyond
Dave Dixon Tel: 01733 222810
Email: [email protected]
East Anglian Report
35
We are now getting excited about the summer. The snow has gone (we hope) the colds and flu have passed
(we hope) and our cars are being worked on ready for the barmy summer days ahead (we hope!). The excitement meant we missed the January deadline for MASCOT though … sorry Ed.Unfortunately the December pub night was not quite as positive! The flu and cold bug hit us hard in the Home Counties and only two members made it along, but gave up early and went for a curry. January was much better and we had a lively evening. We are still thinking about a different venue for our pub nights as the Chequers is a bit hit and miss; but they have a big car park and plenty of seating we can move around! A dilemma faced by many areas I am sure. If we move we will let you all know.The HCNW Christmas Meal has traditionally taken place in January and this Christmas was no exception. Sunday January 16th was
the date and the Whistling Duck, just outside Hertford, was the venue. A big attendance again this year with 29 members sitting down to eat. The HCNW regulars were in attendance and we were joined by six friends from Hampshire and our very own editor, Gary, but unusually without Gaps. In fact only Pat and Zara Kimber were brave enough to arrive in their Spridget. We should do this Christmas meal in the summer really!The food was good as was the company, which was probably the reason the lunch drifted into afternoon tea! Chris Jackson, my fellow Area Rep, had organised us brilliantly and a big thanks goes out to Chris and Pat, who I am sure played her part! In fact Chris was rewarded with a presentation of the ‘Red Leader’ Oscar for his sterling efforts throughout the year (thanks to Lily) and I must thank her again for my ‘present’; very much appreciated Lily.So we are now ready to start our 2011 events and the first one will be a road run on Sunday
the 20th March. If you haven’t joined us before why not get the cobwebs blown off the car and join us? As I write this details are yet to be finalised, but we will be meeting at Hatfield Tesco at 10 am and will end up having lunch in a pub somewhere. Check out our site for details or give either Chris or Me a call. It would be good to see you.
Mark hcnwmasc.blogspot.com
tel: 01296 660103 email: markdhall@aolcom
Home Counties North West Report The late late
Christmas gathering
Chris receives his RED LEADER Oscar from Lily
36
No snow, no ice, no rain, no fog, no storm or tempest, we couldn’t believe that our
February club night was actually a very pleasant dry and mild experience. Even the threatened alien invasion (other than Alan Lo) passed over to create a crop circle just south of Bath. We even had a Spridgley thing line up of Jim White’s Austin Sprite, Andy (all weather) Cross’s Sprite MkII, Alan Lo’s ‘Special K’ and my multi shades of red Frogeye. On the non-Spridgley thing table at the Rose and Crown were Trevor Large, Andy Grimm, and Jeff Allen whilst Philip Sellen was alone on the ‘naughty’ table for not bringing his Midget Mk11 when he could have and being late without a note. Local member in the spotlight this month is Bath based David Lunson. David’s cherry red Frogeye being the centre piece for the Buyer’s Guide in ‘CLASSICS MONTHLY’ magazine. Philip’s Midget also appeared in the same edition plus a couple a good advertising pieces for the club. Classics Monthly is based in Bath so we are well placed to help out should they require any Spridgley things for articles. Philip’s Midget took part in a group comparison article last year (a lot of key swapping went on which Philip is still reluctant to tell us about – despite being lashed to the wall in front of the dartboard when being questioned) Philip was also very coy about telling us how he found his grille muff online. I tried ‘Googling’ “Muffs R us” but couldn’t find a similar one.Now, we have a dilemma. Our annual pilgrimage to Castle Combe circuit for the Classic and Sportscar Action Day will be on the same weekend as Midget 50 this year. Should we book a club stand or not? Most members “Down ‘ere like” reckon that the visit to Midget 50 may be a weekend jaunt whilst some reckon they can do both events
whilst others probably won’t do either. So, do I book a space at Castle Combe or not? Please let me know as soon as possible as I have to act soon if we are to have an official presence at the Combe this year. Give me a ring on 01454 881770 or email – [email protected] if you are at all interested in the Action Day on Saturday the 11th of June.We have a long list of events that we could attend this year plus any impromptu things that we could get up to if the mood takes us. Find out more either at the R & C at Pucklechurch on the second Wednesday evening of each month or from me at the above. Hopefully we shall be seeing more of our nearby Wiltshire members and comparing our Spridgley things and crop circles throughout the summer months.
Terry Horler Tel: 01454 881 770
Email: [email protected]
Bristol Area Report
Phillip’s T-shirt showed his contempt for Terry’s questioning techniques
37
Finally a report from the continent again. Since Arie is very busy painting and refitting another mileage-counter-cable, it is time for me to let you know what’s happening on the continent. Since just about a year my Mighty Midget has finally got its own registration number and I’ve driven towards Germany to join Marcus Pieper with the MG meets TR meeting. Well, MG met a lot more in Paderborn because there were a lot of (most British) cars. A fantastic event, which I recommend to you for the forth coming year! That was in May, but in September we have our Midgets and Sprites' weekend in Overdinkel in Holland. This time I arrived on a sunny Friday late in the afternoon, with enough time to build up my two person tent. It was a special edition for me because the two earlier years I had to come with the MGB since the Midget wasn’t finished or had no registration number. So this time was the first time that I arrived with the Primrose Yellow monster, well at least it sounds like it is, but it has still some minor problems, so the reverse gear won’t work and sometimes first gear jumps out as well but what’s the problem? First gear is made to go as fast as possible to the second and if you want to go backwards there’s always a roundabout or a handbrake! Just don’t see the problem. The Maathuis family was coming with a Mk I midget and two specials to Overdinkel, and Marcus and Birgit brought six German equipes to Holland! Arie arrived a few hours later, when it was pouring with rain, and since he followed up our advice from last year, he went camping as well, so he had to put up his tent in the rain. I can really watch that for hours you know, especially since he and his mate Rob had arranged a tent which had the size of a small villa. It was big enough to put the midget in, such a shame that the door was too small Arie! A few beers and a lot of legendary stories later, the evening died like a night candle. The next morning the rain had stopped. After the great breakfast buffet new people came by to join us with driving the puzzle-tour, which had a few nasty moments in it. That’s where you can recognise Richard’s part in the puzzle. Half way we had a superb
lunch, served by S&S Tuning, where we could also see some beautiful examples of British heritage like for instance a Wolseley Hornet convertible. The other thing I did was bluffing my way about how many photographs I have seen during the first part, so Arie was initially thinking to exchange his navigator, but then he saw the little grin on my face and realised I was only joking. The complete first part of the puzzle-tour it rained cats and dogs, but at the end it looked like the sun was putting up a happy face again, still after half a mile in part two the sky was dripping again. After a while the hood went down so we could see a little more and the sun was shining happily for a few hours, when dark clouds came towards the track. Then it was that we shut the hood while Arie was passing and shouting that driving closed was for fags. Well, it could be, but in the end we were dry and they were soaking wet! So, who’s the smart ass now! Next time some more about the weekend and something that controls Arie, and this time it isn’t a woman!Cheers
Alex Mol Holland
Dutch Area Report
38
Dave (a new member) had contacted me via email regarding coming along to our monthly meets, and seeing as he was
passing my way, we arranged to meet up at a convenient petrol station. He was there just before me and I easily spotted him in a very shiny teal blue Midget which made my unwashed, mud spattered Midget look slightly unloved!In all, nine of us turned out for our monthly meeting and discussion soon turned to putting some miles on our cars this year. Lots of ideas for various shows were kicked around and email/internet research tasks
were given out. More to follow on that in the near future though. By the time you are reading this, Stoneleigh will have been and gone and we will probably have returned home with empty pockets having spent too much and will have met many like minded Spridgeteers. We will be having a SS&NB run down to the show, so will hopefully have some pictures for next month’s report.One thing that was discussed was Midget 50, and in particular a road run from the Midlands up to Burghley. We will confirm details nearer the date, but if members wish to join us, please email me and I’ll keep you up to date. There will also be details published on the Midget 50 website.During February, I took a run over to see how Steve was progressing with his Sprite. Some
of you may remember this car on the MASC stand at the NEC a few years ago. He is very pleased with his progress and has replaced/repaired pretty much every panel on the bodyshell and it's looking very solid and straight now and is nearly ready for some primer and paint to go on.
Finally, I bought probably the rustiest Sprite I’ve ever owned which came via an email tip off. I’m hoping that I can persuade Pom to let me keep this one as well. I’ve told her, it would make a good first car
for Austin, and it will also give me 16½ years to restore it for when he’s able to drive!
John Collins Tel: 07970 213 084
Email: [email protected]
Another Quiet Month in SS&NBSteve’s Austin Sprite rebuild
The rusty Sprite
Dave’s teal blue Midget
39
Possibly the biggest motoring news within Scotland during the last month has been the return of The Monte Carlo Rally.
This year marks the centenary of the rally, the first having taken place in 1911. In the early years the rally started at various points throughout Europe and the competitors congregated at Monte Carlo prior to undertaking various driving tests over a common route. From 1926 one of the starting points had been in Scotland, this initially was usually John O’Groats, although on occasions Glasgow was also used. However, from 1949 the start was moved Glasgow and remained there until 1964. The starting ramp was in Blythswood Square outside the Headquarters of The Royal Scottish Automobile Club. In the late 1960s and early 1970s the British start moved progressively further south, to London and finally Dover. Glasgow was however the starting point in 1971, '72 with the last Glasgow start being 1973. The modern Monte Carlo Rally now has just the one common route for all competitors. However, the Historic Monte Rally sticks to the old format with starts scattered over Europe and even one in Africa at Marrakech.Thus, when the competitors in the 14th Rallye Monte Carlo Historique left the starting ramp in Blythswood Square on January 27th, it was after an absence of some 38 years.The 47 cars were on display during the afternoon in George Square prior to the first car leaving at 6:30pm with the remainder leaving at one-minute intervals thereafter. In addition to British competitors there were crews from France, Japan, Monaco, Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Canada, Holland, America, Estonia and Portugal. The cars varied from genuine ex-works fully equipped rally cars to a very humble looking un-restored Triumph Vitesse. There were two Spridgets present: the 1961 ex-works Sebring Sprite of Jonathan Peck and Oliver Tomlins and the very standard looking 1972 MG Midget of Richard Pisarki and Stephen John-Cox. A check on the website of The Automobile Club de Monaco shows that both cars successfully completed the Rally with the Sprite finishing third in class.This month’s (February) Group meeting will be somewhat different from usual. Instead of our
usual informal get together at The Garfield Hotel we will be congregating at Viewpark Church Hall. Willie Paul, one of our group, recently attended a presentation given by Ian Watt. Ian has been on visits to, including other places, the Ferrari and Bugatti factories and now gives an illustrated talk on his visits entitled “Italian Motor Valley”. Willie has been good enough to arrange a repeat visit on our behalf and to ensure a good turnout on the night invitations have been extended to a number of other local car clubs.I am informed by John T that work has recommenced on the restoration of “Tango” with the intention of getting it (her?) back on the road this year. Unfortunately, space precludes me from giving further details in this report. Next month more details about both the presentation and “Tango”.
John PardoArea Rep details: Betty Kerr Tel: 01357 300355 email: [email protected]
Scotland Area Report
MG Midget of Pisarski & John-Cox
Sebring Sprite of Peck & Tomlins
40
Market PlaceAdverts to Alan Lo, 23 Charnell Road, Staple Hill, Bristol, BS16 5NE
email: [email protected] Tel: 0117 9572617
For sale, a new Mota-Lita steering wheel boss for Midgets 1964 to 1969 complete with the centre cap (MG logo). Part no. MLW111725B and B25. £35 + postage. [email protected], 0117 9572617For sale, 1973 Midget in red, 1275cc RWA. Re-shelled in 1992. 5 x alloy wheels. Front telepscopic dampers. Unleaded head. New battery and tyres. MOT until April 2011. SORN for winter. Needs some cosmetic work. Some spares and cotton storage cover. £4000 Phone 01634 365058For sale, 1977 1500cc Midget – Red in genuine good condition, but needs a little 'tlc' for the coming summer. Interior immaculate,
complete with new hood, and almost ready for road use. Genuine 55480 miles. The car is a runner but no MOT. Photos available £1990.00 Leeds Area. Contact Ken Cothliff 0113 250 9524 or [email protected] sale, All from 1500 Midget – Hardtop (black) and 2 boxes of assorted spares including Springs, Shocks, Air Filter, Coil, electronic ignition and more – Brian Haw. Tel 01706 344893 (Rochdale) (non member)Wanted, 1275 cc engine complete. Tel Peter Ward 01425 475445 (non member) (Hampshire)
February’s meeting at the Green Dragon was well attended by 26 members, though several members were
noticeably not with us. The evening began very pleasantly with drinks and sandwiches courtesy of Geoff Hunter to celebrate a milestone birthday – though he doesn’t look a day older than …?We discussed the upcoming events of the year, with particular emphasis on the International MG show to be held at Stoneleigh on February 20th. This event is being co-ordinated by Dave Colclough and will include four Midgets on the stand. In Dave’s absence, Chris Yates finalised the arrangements for the equipment for the stand which is stored by Jim Willis for the Club.Details were given about the event in March which is being organised by Chris and Sheila
Yates. It is always a very popular, well-organised event involving an overnight stay and this year is no exception, with 13 cars already booked to travel to Wales via the Elan valley. In expectation of the weather we have experienced in Wales in the past they have called it the Wet and Wild Welsh Trip – you never know, maybe this time will be different!!! We shall wait to see how the cars perform after their winter break.Alan circulated a list of events that have been suggested for the year, and thanks go to those people who have volunteered to co-ordinate or organise them. We think we have a good, varied programme, hopefully with something to interest everyone – even including a proposed visit to a local Scalextric club – date to be announced.
Rosemary Couch
Warwickshire Area Report
Celebrating 5O Yearsof the MG Midget
Burghley House, Stamford, LincolnshireSunday 12th June 2011
Entry £16.50 per carVisit www.midget50.com for more details or
call the ticket hotline on: 01954 231125
Celebrating 5O Yearsof the MG Midget
Burghley House, Stamford, LincolnshireSunday 12th June 2011
Entry £16.50 per carVisit www.midget50.com for more details or
call the ticket hotline on: 01954 231125
FROGEYE SPARES CO
Tel: 01885 400791 Fax: 01885 400791 www.frogeyespares.co.uk
♦
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