The season will be done and dusted by the time you read this. As winter closes in, how many of you
have put the MG(s) into hibernation?
Mine needs some TLC lavished on it – any offers of help gladly received…
Just three event reports this month – all from me!
Our ‘flagship’ event is the Wiscombe Hillclimb, this year held on Saturday 11th September. Wiscombe Park is a picturesque venue admired by spectators and respected by drivers. The course is steep and includes several very sharp turns and a fast, straight (ish) section. A vast array of machinery was entered; the 136 entries included 38 MGs ranging from J2s to ZRs with plenty of Bs and Midgets in between. My particular favourite was a YB saloon – hardly a potential winner, methinks, but very much in the spirit of Safety Fast! The fastest MG driver was John Dignan driving his BGT V8. Fastest SW Centre member was Russ Morgan in his Midget, narrowly beating Dad Bruce in his BGT V8. On behalf of the competitors and spectators, may I thank everyone involved in putting on this event – it was really fantastic, a credit to the MGCC.
Six cars and their ‘crews’ assembled at Chew Valley Lake Visitors Centre on Sunday 19th September for the Bristol Sunday Lunch Run. Unfortunately there were only four MGs amongst them – Robert Owst was relegated to the Renault 21 (yes, really) when Mum and Dad bagged the Midget on the basis that torrential rain and a T-type don’t go together. It actually stopped raining about two minutes after we arrived and stayed dry the rest of the day. They should have braved it, I reckon! A BGT, ZS, RV8 and our Mondeo made up the group that wound itself through the Chew Valley and the Mendip Hills, ending up at the New Battleaxes in Wraxall for carvery lunch.
The Patchway Autotests on Sunday 26th September were not well supported but those who did make the effort were rewarded with a sunny day and lots (and lots) of tests. Would you believe that three of the five MGs were Bs? The other two MGs, Dave Mothersdill’s T-type and Chris Blake’s PB were joined by a couple of Minis, a 205 GTi and a Renault Fuego (yes, really, again) from the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club. John Delafield laid out some of the tightest tests I’ve ever seen which tipped the balance in favour of skill rather than brute force and ignorance. My shoulders are still sore! We all knew that Rob Orford had won, but a recount was necessary to restore pride for the rest of us. I’m still not sure that I didn’t dream it – 3 MGBs in the first three places!
And now for some news of a minor revolution: the ‘SW Centre Dinner and Dance’ is no more, being replaced by the ‘SW Centre Dinner’. John Bird tells me that he has abandoned the ‘dance’ part due to lack of interest. As I told you last month, the date is Saturday 5th March 2005 and the location is the Limpley Stoke Hotel near Bath. Presentation of awards for the SW Centre Driver’s Championship shall follow the dinner, and there will also be presentation of some awards from the Luffield MGCC Speed Championship. I neglected to ask John about ticket prices and preferential room rates – please give him a call on 0117 956 0175 or click here for more details.
Finally, those of you with internet access may be interested to look at the ‘gallery’ section of the SW Centre website. A link takes you to another site set up by Jim Lott to display his many photos of SW Centre events. If you have entered an event this year then you will probably have been marshalled by Jim and Sam – they have taken advantage of quieter moments in proceedings to produce a website to display their handiwork. The gallery is well worth a visit, either to see if you are featured or to see what you have missed!
See you soon?
Neil Lock
neil@port-z.fsnet.co.uk
01275 817915 (before 9pm please)
SW Centre website: www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgccsw