Oily Hand's Life with MGs |
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I found this super video of the day, made all the more intersting to me as our 1971 MGB GT shows its rear end around the 1.19 mark This one of the 2012 Beamish Reliability Trial. some good shots of Numbum at 2.32 and 7.52
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MGB50 was an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the start of production of the MGB in 1962. Held in the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace over 2000 MGBs and variants turned up, plus many other MGs. During the week before this event I realised that I didn't have anywhere to mount the rally plaque, which had to be displayed on entry, so I made up a plate for it from some scrap plastic and used one of the bumper bolts to fix it on. It did the trick. We made the trip in Bruise, the 1971 MGB GT and travelled down in blazing sunshine on the Saturday. We made good time on fairly quiet roads and arrived at our hotel early afternoon. We weren't the only ones staying there. Once we'd freshened up we set off to Abingdon to have a look around and eventually found Kimber House, headquarters of the MG Car Club. After a stroll round this lovely town we returned to our hotel for our evening meal and settled down for the night. Sunday dawned, cold & grey, a big change from the Saturday. We set off for the 11 mile drive to Bleheim and soon found ourselves in a convoy of MGBs. As we were early we didn't have to queue much at all compared to some later arrivals. One guy we spoke to said he'd queued for 4 miles! We got parked up and went for a wander around. Cars were streaming in. We wandered around the trade stands and in doing so we met a few people that we knew, then we wandered round the park looking at the cars. Just as forecast the rain appeared at 11 o clock and it lashed down, putting a real dampener on the day. At noon we had a pre-arranged meeting with some forum members, we'd been in touch with but never met and whilst there we also met some readers of this site. Standing around in the rain wasn't too pleasant so the meeting was brief but enjoyable. It was good to see you all. As we were wandering down the timeline we saw two people we hadn't seen for years arriving in their MGB but we didn't see them after that. Also there were Geoff & Vicki Edge with Vicki's beautiful Iris Blue MGB on the timeline. We met Geoff & Vicky at the Lincolnshire Poacher Concours show earlier in the year and it was good to see them again. You had to remember where you left your car. It's there somewhere. Yes, there it is. Thanks to Pam for these pictures. Soaking wet, we decided to leave early and joined the queue to get out. Eventually we made it out of the grounds and we were on our way home. Busy traffic on a rain lashed M1 kept our speed down, but the traffic lightened and the rain eased and normal cruising speed was resumed. Parts of me were still damp when we got home.
Was it a good day? Meeting the people was great, but I found the day to be somewhat lacking. I don't know what I was expecting but this wasn't it. I know the rain didn't help but it can't all be down to the rain. Did you go? What did you think of it? This is an email I received today.
Dear Mr. Frankland, You wrote to your MP Mr James Wharton on 27 August to share your concerns on the European Commission's proposed new regulation on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles. As Conservative MEP for the North East in the European Parliament, James has asked me to respond to your email. The proposed regulation, which is part of the 'Roadworthiness Package', was submitted to the European Parliament during the summer recess. It has not yet been considered, or even studied, by the Parliament's Transport Committee. When the Transport Committee has reached its view of this proposed regulation, the matter will be referred back to the European Commission and the Council of Ministers, which comprises national Transport Ministers from around the EU. I realise this process is very bureaucratic and I do not expect a decision on this proposal before the end of 2013. I am seriously concerned that this is yet further interference by the EU in matters which, certainly in the case of the United Kingdom, have been handled perfectly well until now. I do not believe that roadworthiness testing should relate to modifications, alterations or improvements to vehicles. Most historic vehicles will have been modified at some stage and so testing against its original characteristics, as the proposal suggest, is simply unworkable. I shall be making robust arguments to the Parliament on these issues. Speaking personally, I am an enthusiast for historic vehicles, having owned a 1961 Ford Popular and a 1974 Triumph Stag. I therefore fully understand the problem caused by this proposal and I will do all I can to oppose it. You will be able to follow the progress of the proposal through the web site of the European Parliament. If you have any further comments that you would like to bring to my attention, please feel free to contact me again. In the meantime, I am pleased that the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs has confirmed that it has submitted comments to the Department for Transport. I would urge you to also contact your Member of Parliament in Westminster, if you have not already done so. With best wishes Yours sincerely, Martin Callanan MEP for North East England Chairman, European Conservatives and Reformists Group Whilst it is encouraging that Mr Callanan is opposed to this proposal and will argue against it, he is but one voice amongst many. It needs everybody with an interest in classic and modified cars to make a noise about it. Contact your MEP, MP and anybody else who will listen. The online petition is here. It beeds 100,000 signatures to force the issue before the House of Parliament. It won't make that figure if you don't sign it! Cruising along the A174 in our 1937 MGTA I noticed a black dot in the mirror, rapidy getting bigger. Very soon there was a roar as a C Type Jaguar went past us like we were stood still. We thought he must be heading to the Saltburn Historic Motor Gathering and we were right. This event is a non competitive hillclimb on a closed road, expertly organised by the Middlesbrough and District Motor Club. The road is closed and the car park comandeered for a paddock and holding area. Runs start just outside the car park entrance and each car or bike runs up the hill to a holding area at the top. One vehicle at a time on the way up, and a convoy under the control of marshals brings them back down again. Great fun. Things didn't go as smoothly as last year because of an oil spillage from one car and a breakdown with another. These happenings held the day up and it was tight for time at the end. Everybody got four runs at the hill. As well as the driving, this is a great social event. There weren't as many vehicles there as last year. Quite a few had entered but not turned up. Maybe it was the weather forecast which wasn't good. Thankfully the rain mainly held off with only a very light shower in the afternoon. Some great cars and bikes and the sounds and smells were out of this world. The event finished just after 4 o clock so we wandered along the front for fish & chips before setting off for home. The rain came and it was a damp ride home. I ended up with a wet right knee where water had entered round the front edge of the door. Never happened before.
Once again the lads & lasses of the motor club had done us proud. Old Numbum's exhaust has never been quite properly fixed since we dragged it off on the Beamish Run earlier in the year. With the Saltburn event tomorrow I decided it was time I tried to make it better.
Eventually after making a new bracket I think I've finally got it sorted. Time will tell. While I was crawling around I noticed the temporary repair to the centre hanger on the 1971 MGB GT so I decide to make that more permanent too. Another small bracket and a clamp and that exhaust isn't dragging the ground any more. Good friends, Don & Eileen told us about this event and what a great event it was. We didn't enter but managed to blag our way in with the 1975 MGB GT as Saturday was the quieter day. We wouldn't have been able to do it on the Sunday. Hunton Steam Gathering started over 20 years ago as a small group of steam engine owners and enthusiasts getting together and has grown to the size it is now. A great event with something for everybody, steam engines, cars, fire engines, motorcycles, crafts, displays, food and a beer tent. We spent happy hours just wandering about taking in the sights and smells and chatting to folks. They were inviting ladies to drive a steam engine and Pam had a go and really enjoyed it. I'm so jealous I think I'll wear a skirt next time we go. Some astounding engines there. This showmans engine would have been used to tow rides and accommodation from show to show. Sometimes pulling seven trailers, it would have been a slow journey. If a hill was too steep, they would have taken the engine to the top and winched the trailers up one by one. As with the old car movement, the average age of those taking part is a tad on the high side so it was refreshing to see youngsters getting involved and keeping the hobby alive. You have to be careful with these steam engines, they breed, you know! The more I read this the more confused I become. The proposal states -
The goal of roadworthiness testing is to check the functionality of safety components, the environmental performance and the compliance of a vehicle with its approval. The safety and environmental parts are what we have in the UK at present. The compliance with the vehicles approval is the new part. Each vehicle has a statement of conformity from the manufacturer, its type approval. This states that the vehicle meets all the requirements to allow it to be sold to joe public. If you have a modified car, it no longer meets the type approval and so must fail the test. Historic vehicles have an exemption from the test provided that they meet the following requirements. It was manufactured at least 30 years ago, – It is maintained by use of replacement parts which reproduce the historic components of the vehicle; – It has not sustained any change in the technical characteristics of its main components such as engine, brakes, steering or suspension and – It has not been changed in its appearance Fair enough if you have a standard historic car which hasn't been modified in any way, but how many have such a beast? Even fitting later, better brakes to a car means that it has been modified and is the excluded from the exemption and has to be tested. Because it has been modified it doesn't meet type approval and so must fail the test. If my interpretation is wrong I'll hold my hand up, but I don't think I'm far off the mark. There is an epetition live. Please sign it. It needs at least 100,000 signatutes to force a debate in the House of Commons. A poor show will not help the case against this proposal. The EU has proposals to restrict any modification of cars from the original spec and already modified cars will become illegal.
The full details can be found here. This is a long and wordy document with cross references to other documents and as such is typical of the EU in that it makes full understanding difficult. Proposals similar to this have been around for a while and they won't go away without a fight. Each time one is announced, people complain and it goes quiet. Everybody thinks that's it. When the proposal is reannounced most people think it won't happen as the last one was defeated (or so they thought). Fewer protest each time until finally nobody protests and the deal is done. It's a bit like water dripping on a stone. At first the stone resists but is eventually worn down. Don't think it won't happen. I urge you, if you have any interest in classic cars to contact your MP and your MEP. If you have press contacts, please get them on board. This must be stopped. According to research by The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs the UK market is huge and this doesn't take into account all the other car modifiers.
I've written to my MP and here is his reply. I have highlighted the most worrying comment from him. Basically once this is passed the UK Government have virtually no powers to change it. It must not be passed. Thank you for your email. Having looked over the document link you sent and the contents of your email I do understand your concerns. Most worryingly the European Commission appears to want to do this as a regulation (rather than directive) which would mean very limited scope for the UK government to do anything about its implementation once passed. This means that by the time this matter reaches the UK our MPs have no power to amend it (just one of the many problems with the EU!) As such I have today written to the Europe Minister, David Liddington MP, and our Conservative MEP for the North East, Martin Callanan MEP, making them aware of this issue. I will pass on to your what responses I receive (this can take around 6 weeks for the Minister) and we can then look at what further steps should be taken on your behalf and that of so many historic and modified vehicles owners. I have also written to my MEP but as yet have had no reply. Please, I urge you to join all those who have any interest in older cars, modified or not to spread the word (many are unaware of this) and protest to your MPs and MEPs. I found out about this here where there is more information and a link to a forun discussing this serious matter Taken at last years Saltburn Historic Motor Gathering by Bob Chatterton. Thanks Bob! One of only two external videos I have of the TA. |
AuthorHi, I'm Owen and I've been having fun with MGs since 1970, starting with my 1937 MGTA. Since then I've had three Y types and a couple of Z Magnettes. I now have a 1971 MGB GT along with the TA and my wife and I are still having fun Archives
September 2020
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