Safety Fast! Notes for April 2009

Reading Dave Coppock's notes last month reminded me of my earlier motoring days when it was a choice between a beat up mini van or the TC for transport. This year for the first time in 35 years I was asked if I would take the TC to the Annual Dinner and as we were staying the night at the venue I readily agreed. This reminded me of that last time back in the days when to drive to such an event in winter in a dinner jacket was not considered unusual. Driving home in the early hours on a dry crisp night with no moon and probably over the drink drive limit we passed through a long section of road works on a twisting steep hill. These were controlled by traffic lights. Half way up the hill the car missed a beat a few times and then stopped. I remember spending 10 minutes or so fiddling in the dark with only a box of swans for light, continually turning the engine over. It coughed a few times until the battery gave up. It then dawned on me that the pump was not ticking so off came the cover and after some superficial treatment with emery paper the pump ticked into life - just. The starting handle solved the starting problem and we crept up the hill as we didn't know if the lights were in our favour. Nobody had come either way in the roadwork's and apart from getting cold and my dirty pair of hands we had nothing to show for the breakdown. What chance of doing the same with today's machinery?

With the Annual Dinner and Centre AGM behind us the competitive season gets under way with a chance to get your first drivers championship points of the season by entering the Kimber Classic Trial on April 18th. This is not a trial of the Lands End variety but a more gentle drive of about 90 miles through Dorset and Somerset with some 10 sections mainly on public ( green ) roads. This is your chance to take in some of the original sections used in the pre war years. The route can be muddy and although sections are over unpaved but passable roads the event is considered non damaging to the average car. Wonderful countryside, great company and if you want to make a weekend of it stay at the start/finish Sherborne Hotel and/or join in the evening dinner following the event. Plenty of space to park in secluded grounds and only a short drive on the Sunday to Barry Fosters where the Gymkhana is held before a pub lunch and home before sundown. You still have time to enter by calling Andrew Owst on 01761 221893

You may be aware of the National Drive your Classic Day on April 26th. The day is simply an excuse to get out and show off your classic and join a cross section of our motoring heritage on the road. The SW Centre have nothing organised for the day but rumour has it that various motoring club members will be taking in Priddy Green near Wells on there day out, so why not pay a visit around lunch time to see how many other classic owners had a similar idea.

The motoring year in the South West normally starts with the Bristol Classic Car Show at The Bath and West Showground at Shepton Mallet but this years winter weather lead to the event being postponed. The rearranged show will now be on the early Bank Holiday w/e May 2-4th.
Great news for the public and non competitive clubs and we will be there to celebrate the 30th anniversary show. The SW MG Stand 56 will have an interesting theme with cars to match I promise.

You will note I said non competitive clubs. The SW Centre is far from non competitive and the original cars for the stand will be at Colerne for the Wessex Sprint on May 4th. This is not a spectator event but you can get close to the action as a marshal by contacting Bruce Morgan on 01275 790855.

On Sunday May 17th you are in for a treat if you turn up for The Wye Valley Social Run which takes in the best of the Herefordshire countryside and gives a feel of motoring in the 50/60s. The event starts at 10.00am with coffee at Symonds Yat and this year the event will be visiting a National Trust property. For more details give Terry Davies a ring on 01989 5622366.

For competitive fun the Bath Gymkhana on May 31st is a must. Held on a Sunday afternoon at the old WW2 Charmy Down airfield near Bath you can show off or sharpen up your driving ability on a combination of grass and loose surface. Some tests are against the clock whilst others need your judgement skills by proving you know the size ( or not ) of your car when parking, reversing, getting through those narrow spaces avoiding modern wing mirrors or simply parking in the supermarket without touching anybody! great fun with a practical application.
Ring Peter Jones on 01225 837545.

Further details of the above and other events in the South West can be obtained from the web site www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgccsw