MGCC South West Centre

Although the Annual Dinner held in February and the AGM in early March are now distant memories, the low number of members who attended both were very noticeable. The dinner of course involved cost which these days is a big factor in everyone’s budget. Although numbers were down the evening was a great success with an excellent meal followed by after dinner recollections of our past chairman Steve Dear who had the assembly laughing from the start.

The AGM on the other hand is always held on a natter night which is usually well attended. Well this year the numbers dropped to 22 and 7 of those were on the committee. With a centre membership of over 1100 this was and has been in the past very disappointing. I wonder if other Centre’s have a similar problem?. The AGM is the one time of the year when the local membership can air their views and get things onto an agenda for change. I can only assume
1. the events listed are considered suitable and varied enough for the active membership.
2. interest is only in Register events and 3. Safety Fast is attractive enough to maintain an armchair interest in the marque. How different all those years ago when I and most of the committee were invited to join and organise competitive events which attracted full entries and a good turn out of marshal’s. If the social side of the club is what matters to most of the membership why do they not speak up and come and organise their type of event via the committee? financing centre events is seldom a problem but getting anyone interested in organising or even helping on the day is being left to a dwindling number of dedicated members who are not getting any younger. Food for thought

Now on the brighter side of life you should all have time to enter or marshal this years Kimber Classic Trial on April 17th. The event really is possible in the average MG although it can be muddy and may get the carpets wet if the ford is a bit higher than normal!. The idea is to give a ‘taste’ of the pre war type of trial without damaging the car. I can get up most sections in my Astra Estate when setting up the trial on the previous day so don’t be put off come and spectate or better still enter or marshal. Entries on the Centre web site www.mgccsw.com or contact Andrew Owst on 01761 221893. Help with marshalling please to Bruce Weston on 01963 440941 .The social side follows in the evening with an informal dinner at the Sherborne Hotel followed by a Gymkhana on Sunday 18th at the home of Barry Foster at Butliegh near Glastonbury.

The Bristol Classic Car Show on May 1st and 2nd is held at the Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet and the SW Centre has always been well represented since the first show back in 1978. Autojumble and trade stands together with a wide range of classic’s makes this a very good day out so why not come and see us on Stand 56A.

If its speed you want then the Wessex Sprint on Bank Holiday May 3rd at Colerne North of Bath will get you up close and give you an exiting days motorsport but only if you enter or volunteer as a marshal as spectators are not admitted due to safety considerations. Details are on the web site but further information can be obtained from Bruce Morgan on 01275 790855.

Going into May two events for the diary are

1. The Wye Valley Social Run on Sunday May 16th, organised by Terry Davies on 01989 562366. This event is always a delight being held in and around the County of Hereford on country lanes which really do give a feeling of driving in the 1950/60s.

2. The Bath Gymkhana on Sunday May 23rd, held in the afternoon and consisting of a light hearted romp around various obstacles placed about a disused airfield just to the North of Bath on the A46. Full details on the web site or from Peter Jones on 01225 837545.

To give a bit of encouragement to all those thinking of entering this years Kimber Classic a photo of Val and Tony Blake ‘meandering’ up ‘Hell Ladder Lane’ on last year Kimber.

Neil Lock

neil@mgccsw.com

SW Centre website: www.mgccsw.com

The more observant amongst you will have spotted that I’m back again as SW scribe – by popular demand! And even the least observant amongst you will have spotted the poetic licence exercised in that last sentence… We’ve engaged in a great deal of committee discussion as to how we might encourage a few more of you along to SW events in 2010; so I decided to ‘put my laptop where my mouth is’ and take up the mantle of communications.

Have you ever been to a ‘Natter’? There are eleven Natters covering the SW area so there is sure to be one near you. On the first Tuesday of the month there are Natters at the Ring O’Bells in Compton Martin near Bristol, the Plough and Harrow at Llangyfelach near Swansea and the Fighting Cocks at Arreton on the Isle of Wight. On the second Monday of the month there’s a Natter at The Old Court Hotel in Symonds Yat near Ross-On-Wye. On the second Tuesday of the month you’ll find Natters at Three Horse Shoes in Langley Marsh near Wiveliscombe, at The Bell in Laycock and the Nantyffin Motel, Llandissilio, Clynderwen in West Wales. On the second Thursday there’s a Natter at the Lime Kiln Inn in Long Sutton near Langport and on the third Tuesday you’ll find Natters at Queen’s Head, Broadchalke near Salisbury, the BBC Social Club in Cardiff and the Bridge Inn at Preston near Weymouth. Contact details are on the website or available from Kimber House.

If you went to the SW Centre Annual Dinner then you’ll know that the winner of the 2009 SW Driver’s Championship was Jim Lott (pictured below with his MG Metro) for the second year running. I’ve checked the archives (www.mgccsw.com) and ascertained that Jim came second in 2007, and third in both 2006 and 2005. Jim’s a very nice chap and I wouldn’t actually begrudge him a hat-trick; but I’m worried that the Jules Rimet rule will apply and we’ll have to give him the trophy to keep! So in the interests of Centre finances, I’ve resolved to give him a run for his money this year – anybody care to join me?

I mentioned SW Centre regalia in the Notes last month. I’m hoping that the editor will be able to find space in next month’s Safety Fast! for a look at what is available and how you can get hold of it.

There’s just enough space to remind you that our first ‘competitive’ event of the year is the Kimber Classic Trial on 17^th April and, as always, help with marshalling would be very much appreciated by the organisers. If you want to enter, marshal or spectate then please contact Andrew Owst on 01761 221893 or send me an e-mail and I’ll pass it on. Finally, please get your entries in early for the Wessex Sprint on Monday 3^rd May – the event is very popular and normally sells out well in advance of the closing date.

Neil Lock

neil@mgccsw.com

SW Centre website: www.mgccsw.com

Unfortunately, I have to start this month’s Notes with an apology for the dates I gave you last month… The SW Centre Annual Dinner is actually on Saturday 20^th February, and the SW Centre AGM is on Tuesday 2^nd March. The Annual Dinner is at the Limpley Stoke Hotel, near Bath and, at the time of writing, John Bird is still able to take your bookings for the Dinner, so why not give him a call on 0117 956 0175? The AGM is, as usual, at the Ring O’ Bells in Compton Martin, on the A386 between Bristol and Bath.

The SW hard-copy calendar is a ‘work in progress’ which I hope will arrive on your doorsteps with the March issue of Safety Fast! Full details should be on the website – www.mgccsw.com – by the time you read this, but for those of you without web access who cannot wait for next month I summarise as follows:

17^th April – Kimber Classic Trial

1^st/2^nd May – Bristol Classic Car Show

3^rd May – Wessex Sprint

16^th May – Wye Valley Social Run

23^rd May – Bath Gymkhana

5^th June – California Cup Autotests

4^th July – MG Auto/Aero Day

18^th July – Shelsey Walsh Run

1^st August – Chew Valley Gymkhana

22^nd August – Mendip Classic Trial

11^th September – Wiscombe Hillclimb

3^rd October – Treasure Hunt

17^th October – Kimber Classic Trial

24^th October – National Trust Visit

The date for the Dorset Day Out is as yet unconfirmed.

As you’ll know if you read your Safety Fast! from front to back, I am endeavouring to increase the number of addresses on our e-mail database. Your committee (well most of them, anyway!) has agreed that it is time to embrace the ‘electronic age’, and hence I can announce here that the website is going to be redecorated too! The present website has served us well for many years, thanks to the dedication of webmaster John Thomas. I think that it is unsurpassed in terms of content, but we have decided that it needs a lick of paint to reflect current trends – so please watch out for the changes and let us know what you think. Those of you who prefer the more ‘traditional’ approach to communication should not worry; we will still be using pens and paper and stamps and envelopes. But we hope to reach a wider audience through e-communications and thereby increase attendance at events. Numbers at events remain steady, but we would very much like to see some new faces. To that end, next month’s Safety Fast! will feature a longer article on the SW Centre calendar, so watch out for that!

Finally, I am please to advise that SW Centre regalia will soon be available once again. We have identified a local supplier able to supply a huge range of garments on a one-off basis at very reasonable prices. I’ll provide more details in Safety Fast! and via the website once the SW Centre logo is finalised.

I’ll finish up with a photo from the archive to remind us that Spring is only just around the corner. It was taken at the Pucklechurch Gymkhana way back in 2002 – a warm and sunny day as I recall!

Neil

I’ll kick off 2010 with warm wishes to you all for a happy and prosperous year. At the time of writing (early December), the South West Centre programme of events for the coming year has yet to be finalised. However, I do have two dates for your diaries; the Annual Dinner is at the Limpley Stoke Hotel (near Bath) on Saturday 12th of February (check the website or contact John Bird on 0117 956 0175 for details) and the Centre Annual General Meeting is at the Ring O’ Bells at Compton Martin (in the Chew valley, South of Bristol) on Tuesday the 12th of March.

As there’s not much else to report event-wise, I thought I’d fill you in on MG happenings in the Lock family. Having decided to get the GT out of the garage in February for it’s first blast of the year, I was surprised – no shocked – when it started first time! The happiness lasted only seconds, however, as I realised that the clutch had given up the ghost. On closer inspection, it turned out to be a leaking slave cylinder; so not a disaster, should be able to fix that in an hour or so I thought. Nine months later and I’ve got the day off work tomorrow to make a start… But the year hasn’t been a dead loss from an MG perspective as I decided that the time was right to invest (!) in an MG TF – the new kind, rather than the 50’s version. Having looked at several bangers (including several with mayonnaise for coolant and one in ‘immaculate condition’ notwithstanding the hand-painted repair on the rear quarter), I found a nice Solar Red TF160 with low mileage, Oxford Leather, hardtop and air conditioning. So what do I think of it? Well the ride is dreadful, the steering soggy and the seats about as supportive as, well, something not very supportive at all. And the water level drops over time; not lots, but enough for me to worry that it’s something more than ‘finding it’s own level’ and top it up again. So is it all bad? No, absolutely not! Far from it; in fact, the more I test it’s limits, the more I appreciate the finer points of the car. If you haven’t tried one, or have only had a test drive with the seller in the car, you’ll not realise the performance potential. The engine sings when that VVC mechanism kicks in and the handling is amazing now that I’ve put some decent tyres on it and had the tracking reset. We made our competitive debut (me and the car, as a team) at the Bristol Pegasus Chepstow Autosolo and I was shocked, no stunned, at the way the car can be chucked around. First time out, and being careful because I didn’t fancy telling Michèle that I dinged the car when we’d only had it a fortnight, I found myself only a second or two off the pace of John Delafield in his modified Midget. Result! Plans were hastily drawn up for a season of competition culminating – in winning the SW Centre Drivers Championship. Of course, family life intervened and we only managed another two events – plus the run up to MGLive! at Silverstone. Albeit on a non-competitive basis, the TF proved somewhat more nimble than the Midgets and MGB of the California Cup winning team from the Lincolnshire Centre who complained that I had set the demonstration autotest too tight!

Safety Fast! Notes for December 2009

Here we are then, December again, where did 2009 go? If it went as fast for you as it did for me then it can’t have been too bad!

So that we don’t forget, the Kimber Trial was in late October at the usual Pagans Hill venue, South of Bristol and attracted 21 entries, many regulars plus some new faces, most encouraging. The five hills provided a challenge to experienced drivers but also allowed the less experienced to get some good scores. A splendid performance by our Chairman’s wife Victoria in that well known TC earned her Best Novice Award, Dave Coppock (TC) was best Pre 1955 MG, Dave Mothersdill (MGB) best Pre 1960 and John York (Midget) got the First in Class award. Many thanks to Bruce Weston, Officials and Marshals for a successful event. Oh, and Peter Jones (TC) won the Best MG Award!

On October 25th John Bird organized a Social Visit to Kymin, a National Trust property just outside Monmouth.
The day was purely social and produced some 20 entries ranging from a TA to an RV8 with most models in between represented. The Kymin hill provides spectacular views over the town and the surrounding countryside but, alas, the weather played its part with alternating rain showers and patches of bright sunshine, and a strong wind at the summit limited the time spent taking in the views. However, being at the head of the Wye Valley and at the edge of the forest of Dean, we were treated to an early autumnal landscape.

We were invited to the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club Autosolo meeting on September 19th at Chepstow Racecourse and before you ask, there were no fences to jump!
For those of you, like me, who have not been to an Autosolo, the event is similar to an Autotest, where each driver attempts a number of tests which are timed (eg. The California Cup Autotests at Silverstone).
However an Autosolo is supposed to be less complicated with all tests being in a forward direction, no reversing and simple enough not to require a photographic memory. No Competition Licenses, helmets or overalls are required either. Sounds good to me! Drivers are asked to do a share of marshalling too.
Six of our Centre Members “saddled up” in two Midgets, one Metro and one MGB with John Delafield winning class 1 in his Midget. From what I hear all had an enjoyable day. Thanks to Bristol Pegasus Motor Club who we hope will invite us next year.

Bristol Pegasus also invited us to their ‘Pegasus Sprint’ at Castle Combe on October 17th.
14 of our Members entered and awards were won by John Yea and David Savage who shared a Midget, Rob Orford in his very smart MGB, Terry Drinkwater in his even smarter MGA and Terry Pigott in his slick shod MGBV8.

If you’ve not already booked your place for the Ring-O-Bells Xmas meal on Dec 1st you may just be in time, ring Andrew Owst 01761 221893.

So now to 2010, the only confirmed dates as I write these notes are our Centre Dinner and Awards Presentation at the Limply Stoke Hotel near Bath on Saturday February the 20th (John Bird 01179 560175is taking bookings) and our AGM on Tuesday March 2nd.
We are also planning to repeat last year’s “Old Timer Film Show” at the February Ring-O-Bells Natter

It just remains for me, on behalf of your Committee, to wish you all a Merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Bruce Morgan

Wiscombe Hill Climb 12 September

The main South West Centre event which took place at the beginning of September was Wiscombe Hill Climb, near Sidmouth in Devon. There was a huge entry of over 135 cars ranging from Vintage and MMM cars, a few MGAs, Midgets and MGBs and a tremendous number of Caterham Sevens. The remaining entries consisted of six Reliant Scimitars, one each of other makes too numerous to mention and finally a few single seaters. The weather was glorious which was just as well as it was a long day, partly because of the large entry but mainly because the event was hardly incident free. Early on during practise, Ian McKay rolled his immaculate MG J2 in the Esses but thankfully was unhurt. During the afternoon runs one of the Caterhams and a Lotus both left the track at Bunny’s Leap, and ended up in the trees. Once again the drivers happily suffered no injury even if the same could not be said about their bank balance.

For those who have never visited this event, it is really worthwhile making the effort as the hill is in a beautiful setting, and the friendly atmosphere of the meeting is what a club meeting is all about. Better still come and marshal as offers for marshalling are always welcome and you get the best view of all the fun. Our thanks are due to Bruce Weston who organised the meeting, ably assisted by Jon Pittard and Dave Mothersdill. Our thanks also to all the other officials and marshals as without their presence there would be no hillclimb.

South West Centre Inaugural Treasure Hunt 4 October

It is many years since the South West Centre organised a treasure hunt, if ever in living memory, but your committee decided to give it try. Dave Coppock and Dave Mothersdill did a superb job organising the meeting which started at a café near Cheddar. After a jaunt across the Somerset Levels and then up onto the Mendips, we ended up at the Crown at Regil, where we all enjoyed an excellent lunch. The route instructions were excellent so no one got lost and the clues were just right with everyone getting most of them, but sufficient clues just a tad harder to ensure the tie breaker did not come into play to select the winner. However what was really disappointing, was the very low entry of only five cars. These consisted of myself in the TC, Alan Diamond MGB, Jeremy Hawke in Mum’s Midget, Jim Lott Metro Turbo(not that the turbo would have kicked in on this event!) and Chris Warden in a modern MG TF. Considering the amount of work put in by the organisers it is not much incentive to do something different when there are so few entries. The event was hardly taxing, and what better than a steady drive in one’s MG through beautiful countryside for two and a half hours ending up at an excellent pub where the landlord made us most welcome. Assuming we run this event next year please make a special effort to participate, you will enjoy.

Details of the winners of awards at the above events can be found on the South West Centre website www.mgcars.org.uk/mgccsw/

Future Dates for your Diary

By the time you read these notes all South West Centre motoring events will have happened. However there are a couple of festive activities i.e. on evening of Tuesday 1st December there is an informal dinner at the Ring O Bells, Compton Martin which coincides with the usual natter night on the first Tuesday of each month. If you wish to join us we are taking names on each natter night prior or you can contact myself by email or phone, details above.

The Annual South West Centre dinner will be held once again at Limpley Stoke Hotel near Bath on Saturday 20 February.
Finally the photo was taken prior to the start of the Treasure Hunt in the car park of the Lillyput Café, Shipham.

Andrew Owst

I hate deadlines! I am writing this in between coming home from holiday and trying to arrange marshals etc for our Wiscombe Park hill climb event in Two days time! Still I do think the Weather is going to be kind.

Enough of my rantings, on to other matters. Later in October, the 18th to be precise, my old mate Bruce Weston is hopefully organising the Kimber PCT, a great little trial near Chew Stoke, Bristol. Suitable for most cars due to its non-damaging field but you will have to wash them as it is still made of mud! Give him a phone on 01963440941 to enter or help/marshal (I marshalled last year and will again this year, great fun).

Towards the end of the month (The 25th October) John Bird is organising a social run to take in a NT property in the Wye valley area, contact him by e-mail (johnbird@fsmail.net) I am sure he will enjoy your company for the day (as you will his).

That is the last event or gathering we have in the calendar for 2009 but don’t forget that Andy Owst organises a small meal @ the “Ring of Bells” Natter on the first Tuesday in December, which this year is the 1st of the month, give him a call to book your place.

I have been given a report about the aero day that Tony Blake organised back in July. It was a charity event with moneys going to the Air Ambulance Appeal, a great day out with a difference!

The South West’s annual Auto Aero picnic had a special exemption from foul weather this year! It took a special deal with the weathermen but we got sunshine all day even if a bit blustery. Even this was not enough to stop half a dozen lovely Auster light planes and an exceptional pre war Percival Vega Gull which flew in to join us down at Henstridge airfield in Somerset; so thanks to our friends from the Auster Club. In the air the star turn was the giraffe painted autogyro, whizzing down the runway 10 foot off the ground and pulling up to make a sharp turn. But the real rotary wing stuff was demonstrated by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance which dashed off to three emergency calls but not before showing a number of people the kit that they carry and how it’s used.
On the ground we had an incomparable collection of MGA and MGBs, and a special welcome went out to the members of the local branch of the Sprite and Midget club who have graduated to MGB and joined us for the day, more than welcome to you all and please come and join us more often.
Picnic’s are a chance to play games and have an outing, so thanks to Ian Fraser from the Henstridge Aero Club who led almost the entire gathering in a tour of the hangars to view the collection of experimental, homebuilt and personal aircraft on the site.
As for fun and games thanks to Jim Lott for marshalling the mini-gymkhana, where we had two courses, one for the morning and one in the afternoon. It’s an opportunity for the old hands to have a go at some familiar tests and newcomers to try the delights of gymkana-ing on grass for the first time. As it happened Mike Hawke’s skilful handing showed how to do it; glad the diff got you home. But Dave Jackson in his Midget set the quickest time in his very first attempt. Last year Dave came down for the first time and he was so fired up by the event he bought a Midget and came back all the way from Wolverhampton again this year. I hear he experienced the full range of delights of owning an MG as he had to call the AA to fix the exhaust somewhere near Gloucester on the way home. Perhaps we should not have all borrowed his Midget to have a go as well!
As Henstridge is the home of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance we had Wendy and Richard, who are their ace collectors, along to help with the raffle and the £250 proceeds from that and the event all go to the Air Ambulance. We also have a super DVD of the event made by Terry and Finbar Donavan. I’ve got ten copies of this and £5 will secure you a copy, all the proceeds from this will also go to the Air Ambulance Appeal so just email me at tonyblake38@hotmail.com for the details.
Thanks must also go to Joe Williams the airfield manager at Henstridge for letting us have the run of the place, Brian for getting the grass prepared for the mini-gymkhana and the ladies in the restaurant for the unending supply of bacon sandwiches and all the other goodies.
Tony Blake

That did sound good, and as I said before a little different, thanks for that Tony. The two pictures were taken at the aero day.

Regards to you all

Jon Pittard.