MG History
As a past employee of the the MG Car Company Ltd, and its successors, when I was privileged to have worked with some of the legendary MG personalities, I have much unique knowledge, and many stories which were told to me first-hand. My personal knowledge of production during the late 1960's and early '70's extends to production and development of models, and I was, for many years, including the later years of my employ, regarded as an expert on matters relating to exhaust emissions and safety matters relating to the production process in the factories... I attended several seminars at which I led discussion groups on the subjects to ecology groups and colleagues working for other companies.
I have been tracing the histories of various individual cars for a number of years, since the formation of the Triple-M Register, and since I was involved before that as an interested spectator, I have a fund of knowledge at my disposal, stretching back to 1957.
Since this information is shared with the Register, you may already have found what is known although my personal records may fill in small amounts of information. When I worked at Abingdon, I was on the staff of Reg Jackson, who had been responsible for most of the important achievments made by MG cars both before and immediately after the war, and he was able to fill me in with small details which are not generally known.
There is no charge for anything in this section, unless it involves travelling, in which case I would expect reimbursment of expenses incurred.
I have considerable records of the exploits of the MG Car Co in the pre-war period.
Talks to clubs, "speaking appointments"
As a well established "expert", a term I abhor but which others use, I am always willing to give talks on MG related history, whether of past times or those more recent. As an ex-employee of the Company in the later glory days, I have several stories to tell about subjects such as what it was like, what various personalities were like to work with, and something of the policies we operated from a personal point of view. Lastly as one who was involved at the start of it all, I am well placed to talk about so-called green issues.
All talks are given on the basis of an expenses paid trip. I am usually in company with my wife Anne, and can bring a CD photo file to illustrate any talks I give, where this is appropriate.
News section
Hello again! After a bit of a hiatus, the followng has happened. 2010 is upon us and nearly half gone by, what a truth my father used to say about time passing quicker as you get older!
We have changed our broadband carrier to Talktalk, so all E-mails and other correspondence should be carried out through our new contact address, shewn on pages one and three.
June: the year half gone! The preselector courses are going well, and I have been kept busy with these.
We had an outing to Crystal Palace, but only as a spectator, as Jane was competing in her Lagonda Eccles-Rapier, which was good enough to win the Class!
Just a week later, and it was MG Silverstone Race Meeting. The NO performed well, and Jane covered herself in glory, winning the Handicap for the combined race with MGA's and T-types, and the Mary Harris Trophy for the Triple-M section of that race. This is third time the car has won that Trophy, myself in 1999, Tim in 2004, and now Jane in 2010. We are now ably assisted by Oliver Richardson on the mechanical side, but he was the mechanic on all three occasions... must be a lesson to be learned there?
The NA was present as my transport, and although we had a problem, it should all be fixed later this week.
I hope to take the NA to the opening ceremony for the new John Thornley suite at Kimber House, and the next outing will be on 20th June for the Tewin Water diamond celebration.
Tewin was a sprint course in the port-war period, and the NA ran for certain in 1951 and '52. In '51 with the standard body, it did 18.6 for the standing quarter, which was good enough to win the Class. But the following year, now with the special body, it did 16.6, and set the Class record, which I am told was never bettered... that day it beat two Coopers!
Other events are being anticipated, including Kop, but the NO is to undergo its refurbishment during the autumn and winter.
More news as the year progresses, but I hope to meet some of the readers at those meetings I attend.