MASCOTTHE MAGAZINE OF THE MIDGET AND SPRITE CLUB

ISSUE NO. 247 AUGUST 2004

MASCOTMASCOT

www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub

Serious Frogeye:Photo courtesy of Retro Cars magazine (www.retrocarsmag.com)

THE WHO, THE WHAT & THE WHERE of THE MIDGET & SPRITE CLUB

COMMITTEE

CHAIRPERSON John Ruderman, 24 High Street, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 4AR. Tel: 0117 967 8351email: johnruderman@blueyonder.co.uk

GENERAL SECRETARY Terry Horler, 63 Littledean, Yate, Bristol, BS37 8UQ. Tel: 01454 881770TREASURER Pauline Walters, 18 Lodway Road, Brislington, Bristol, BS4 2NR. Tel: 0117 971 3092DEPUTY TREASURER Brendan Joyce, 18 Lodway Road, Brislington, Bristol, BS4 2NR. Tel: 0117 971 3092MEMBERSHIP Nigel Williams, 7 Kings Ave., Hanham, Bristol, BS15 3JN. Tel: 0117 961 2175

email: nigelwilliams7@tiscali.co.ukMAGAZINE EDITOR Mike North, 123 Devonshire Road, London, NW7 1EA. Tel: 020 8343 2817

email: Mike643mnp@aol.comREGALIA Christine Barton, 10 Wrens Park Ave., Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B76 8LP

Tel: 0121 351 2513GENERAL COMMITTEE Alan Barton, 10 Wrens Park Ave., Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B76 8LP

Tel: 0121 351 2513

OFFICERS

CLUB ARCHIVIST Terry Horler, 63 Littledean, Yate, Bristol, BS37 8UQ. Tel: 01454 881770TECHNICAL ADVISER David Smith, Doric Lodge, 10 Mansfield Terrace, Budleigh Salterton, Devon, EX9 6EN.

Tel: 01395 446353 email: j4ye55@tiscali.co.ukWEBMASTER Chris Nevard, Tel: 01932 847933, Mobile 07798 743922 email: nevardmedia@yahoo.co.uk

Website: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclubEVENTS CO-ORDINATOR Alan Barton, 10 Wrens Park Avenue, Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B76 8LP.

Tel: 0121 351 2513MEMBERS ADVERTISING David & Jenny Smith, Doric Lodge, 10 Mansfield Terrace, Budleigh Salterton, Devon,

EX9 6EN. Tel: 01395 446353 email: j4ye55@tiscali.co.ukMUTUAL ASSISTANCE David C. Hill, Penrallt-Y-Cordde, Glynarthen, Llandysul, Dyfed. SA44 6PE.CO-ORDINATOR Tel: 01239 811423 email: david@hillnet.clara.netDATA HANDLING Dave Symes, email:Spritelydave@aol.comTRADE ADVERTISING Ian Rider, Tel: 01793 685351. Email: ianrider@ntlworld.com

Trade Advertising Rates Full page one issue £30. Half page one issue £15.Full page whole year £300. Half page whole year £150.

AREA REPRESENTATIVES

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Simon Jennings, Tel: 01296 482573CAMBRIDGESHIRE David Dixon, Tel: 01733 222810 email: e-dave@ntlworld.comDEVON David & Jenny Smith, Tel: 01395 446353 email: j4ye55@tiscali.co.ukDORSET Pete Downton, Tel: 01202 515544 email: pete@phc.co.uk

Ian Swinden, Tel: 01202 623002 email: Eswinden@aol.comHAMPSHIRE Terry Langridge, Tel: 01252 626063SOUTH STAFFS & Bill Mohan, Tel: 0121 353 7211 or mobile: 0798 461 6371 email: bill.mohan@btinternet.comNORTH BIRMINGHAMCENTRAL SCOTLAND Carson Thomson, Tel: 0141 245 6327 day or 013606 22334 eveningNORTH WEST Les & Diane Robinson, Tel: 01772 432138 email: les.robinson@breathemail.netSOMERSET Dave Bearne, Tel: 01823 412004 email: dave@quintins.freeserve.co.ukSURREY David Wright, Tel: 0208 642 4789 email: dandcwright@ukonline.co.ukWARWICKSHIRE Alan Couch, Tel: 01564 773302 email: alanrosemary@acouch.fsnet.co.uk

Chris Yates, Tel: 01608 665066 email: Sheila@sheya.fsnet.co.ukWILTSHIRE Ian Rider, Tel: 01793 695351 email: ianrider@ntlworld.com

Also see the Club Nights section on page 2 for new areas and contacts.

Club Mileage Competition Contact and Co-ordinator is David Southcott, 29 Skylark View, Horsham, RH12 5EA.Email: dsouthcott@ukonline.co.uk

Compiled by David Hill. Please advise me of any changes, errors etc.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL: IF YOU EXPERIENCE ‘MASCOT’ PROBLEMS UPON RENEWAL, PLEASE CONTACTTHE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY OR THE TREASURER STRAIGHT AWAY. The Committee

© Midget & Sprite Club

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E-mail: production@quorumtech.co.uk ISDN: 01242 250756 Modem: 01242 528185

Editorial

Busy, busy month. Not only do I need to mention Dave Symes wedding, David is the clubData handling manager. Well done David, excellent news and on behalf of all of the clubsmembership that hasn’t already given you their best wishes, let me do so now! I mustalso mention how the MIDGET AND SPRITE CLUB helped to carry the Olympic Baton, yesreally, THE real one!! See the Dorset report, what a scoop for them and for the club. I also haveto mention elections and ballot papers and such. These will be coming to you under separatecover. Re-elect me if you dare. Phew! So much going on, great isn’t it. The club has never beenbusier, just look at the events listing and read the area reports.This months issue owes much to our good friends at Retro Cars. In secret talks with myopposite number at Retro cars, Mascot has negotiated the rights to our cover photo, the featureinside about our own club member, ‘Don Francis’ and his Track Day Frogeye. Last month youwill have seen the MG ZA Magnette Race car with the Mercedes Touring car engine bay and inreturn all I had to agree to was to run a free advert for them, I think Mascot is ahead on points.I have purchased and read several issues and can recommend it to those of us that like theirclassics slightly warmed over!! � Visit them at www.retrocarsmag.comAs you read this it’s August, and if things have gone to plan, in July yours truly went to the ‘LeMans Classic’, a 24hr version of the Goodwood revival if you will. Except that it is of course atLe Man itself, the spiritual home of all our hopes and dreams in the Fifties and Sixties for AustinHealey and MG, class wins, team honours (Triumph) and of course wins for Jaguar and AstonMartin. So maybe it has the edge on Goodwood, even if the ‘classic’ was devised after theFrench saw what a success Lord March had made of the revival (and how much money!).Some say the French event is better as the racing is as good, includes night racing but best ofall you have paddock access. We’ll see, full reports to follow. I hope our Lotus convoy driver hasfitted his electronic ignition in time for the run (see Ed, May 2003)Meanwhile you guys and girls have your own fun and thrill’s this month judging by the eventslisting for August. Warwick and North West are off to Prescott, Dorset has a picnic planned,Surrey has an Auto-jumble, the annual BBQ (which Ed will miss!) and the South Downs run tofit in. So what are YOU doing.....Well I must be off so I wish you all a great August, good tripsand recovery free returns �

Editor at LargeMike ‘Ed’ North

PS. Wiltshire’s meeting night has changed, it’s now the first WEDNESDAY ofeach month from AUGUST at the same ‘Foresters’ venue to suit the regularattendee’s. Ed says: Don’t turn up on Tuesday!! �

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All articles and photographs for the magazine must be received by the first of themonth preceding publication. Articles submitted for publication should be e-mailed tothe editor if possible or on disc accompanied by hard copy. Members should beadvised that pictures will be returned the month after inclusion in Mascot. Photos willonly be returned if supplied with a SAE.

The statements and opinions expressed in each and every issue of the Mascot are notnecessarily the considered views of the Midget and Sprite Club. The views expressedby the editorial contributors, letter writers and advertisers are their own and do notnecessarily reflect the view of the Club. The Midget and Sprite Club accepts noresponsibility for the results of following contributor’s advice, nor does it necessarilyendorse the services or products offered by advertisers.

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Call for a freecopy of our MGB

catalogue ordownload from

our website!

Club Nights1st Wednesday Wiltshire – Meet at The Forresters, Leigh, near Cricklade. NOTE

CHANGE OF NIGHT1st Wednesday South Staffs and Birmingham – Meet at the The Green Man,

Middleton Village, 8.30-8.45pm1st Thursday Lincolnshire Area – Meet at Heneage Arms, Hainton, nr. Wragby.

8pm. Contact Brian Sumner on 01507 3281281st Thursday Notts/Derby border Area (note change of day) at the Sitwell Arms

near Horsley Woodhouse from approx. 8.30. Just a mile north-west ofthe A608/A609 crossroads. Ian Cooke 0115 938 3838 ilc@bgs.ac.uk

1st Thursday NEW! Yorkshire Area – August meeting (5th) at The New Inn,Robberttown, Liversedge, WF15 7LZ. September meeting at CravenArms, Appletreewick, Nr. Skipton, BD23 6DA, both from 7.30pm. Foodavailable at both venues. Contact Anita Campbell 01423 862738 or07720 725429 email: spridget.girl@ntlworld.com

2nd Tuesday Surrey – Meet at The Blue Ball, Walton-on-the-Hill, 7.45pm.2nd Wednesday Warwickshire – Meet at The Green Dragon, The Green, Sambourne,

Reddich, B96 6NU, at 8.30pm as usual.2nd Wednesday North West Area meet at The Kilten, turn off M6 at Jct 20 onto A50

towards Macclesfield. Pub 4 miles on left. Please note new venue.2nd Thursday Cambridgeshire – Meet at The Mad Cat pub in Pidley Village,

midway between Huntingdon and Chatteris, 8pm3rd Monday Dorset – Meet at St. Peter’s Finger, Lytchett Minster, Poole 7.30pm3rd Tuesday Central Scotland – Meet at The Wheatsheaf, Torrance, East

Dunbartonshire. 7:30pm in the Lounge. Check first with Carson on0141-245-6327 day or 013606-22334 evening.

4th Thursday Hampshire – Meet at The Lord Derby, North Warnborough. Pleasering Terry or Harriet Langridge on 01252 626063 for details.

Last Thursday Somerset – Meet at The Lord Nelson, Norton-sub- Hamdon. 8.00pm

Club WebsiteMembers Only pages for August

User name: real Password: beer

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EventsFrom David Hill and Webmaster Chris Nevard

Events organised so far for 2004

AugustSunday 1st Warwickshire Area Group visit to Prescott Hill Climb. Details from Dave

Parker on 01564 784766Sunday 1st BMC Annual Rally and Spares Day at Ferry Meadows, Peterborough.

Club Stand. Details from David Dixon Tel: 01733 222810Sunday 1st Prescott Hill Climb. North West Area are attending this event. Details

from Les or Diane Robinson, Tel: 01772 432138Sunday, 8th Dorset MGOC Picnic at Athelhampton. Dorset MASC attending the event

which includes Teddy Bears Picnic, Huge Raffle, Sewards BBQ, allproceeds to Dorset Scope. Details from Ian Swinden,Tel: 01202 623002 Email: Eswinden@aol.com

Sunday 15th The Annual Furzewood Autojumble and Frolic, chez Chris and Jacqui.Surrey Area attending. Details from David Wright, Tel: 0208 642 4789email: dandcwright@ukonline.co.uk

Saturday 21st Warwickshire Area’s Mystery Tour including visit to Hook NortonBrewery. Details from John Platt on 01789 488321

Sunday 22nd Surrey Area Cliveden run. Details from David Wright,Tel: 0208 642 4789 email: dandcwright@ukonline.co.uk

Sunday 29h Gransden Flying Day (a stunning event with classic cars and aircraft,stalls and displays all in aid of children in need (places must bepre-booked). Note change of date. Cambridgeshire Area. David DixonTel: 01733 222810

SeptemberFri/Sat/Sun Goodwood Revival Meeting. Warwickshire Area are planning a group

visit.3rd/4th/5th Details from Chris Yates on 01608 665066Sunday 5th MASC stand at Himley Hall Show. Details from Alan Barton on

0121 351 2513Sunday 5th North West Area are joining the MGCC in their West Lancs Run. Details

from Les or Diane Robinson, Tel: 01772 432138Saturday 11th Classic Car Action Day at Castle Combe Circuit, Wiltshire. Club stand

and free entry for members if prebooked. Details from Terry Horler on01454 881770

Saturday 11th Warwickshire Area planning a visit to Shelsey Walsh Hill Climb for 60sOr Sunday 12th vehicles. Details from Stuart Watson on 01562 883076Sunday 12th Surrey Area Southdowns Run – Petersfield to Eastbourne. Please note

change of date. Details from David Wright, Tel: 0208 642 4789email: dandcwright@ukonline.co.uk

Saturday 18th North West Area’s Yorkshire Dales Weekend. Details from Les or Dianeand Sunday 19th Robinson, Tel: 01772 432138

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OctoberSunday 10th Warwickshire Area AH Spares Auction at Nether Whittaker Hall. Details

from Dave Parker on 01564 784766Sunday 10th Exmoor Rut Tour for classic cars organised by the MG Car Club. Whole

day tour of Exmoor area. Details from, and entries to, ColinLennox-Jones on 01752 892434 or email: clj@talkgas.net

Friday 15th North West Area visit to a Brewery. Details from Les or Diane Robinson,Tel: 01772 432138

Friday 22nd MASC stand at the Classic Car Show at the NEC. Details from Alanto Sunday 24th Barton on 0121 351 2513

NovemberMonday 29th Ace Café, North Circular Road, London. 6pm BMC Cars Meet Up.

Details from www.ace-café-london.com Every 2nd Tuesday, Classic Cars

DecemberSunday 5th North West Area are going on the MG Christmas Cracker Run. Details

from Les or Diane Robinson, Tel: 01772 432138Wednesday 8th Warwickshire Area’s Christmas Dinner. Details from Chris Yates on

01608 665066Sunday 12th North West Area’s Christmas Meal. Details from Les or Diane Robinson,

Tel: 01772 432138Tuesday 14th Surrey Area Christmas Dinner. Details from David Wright,

Tel: 0208 642 4789 email: dandcwright@ukonline.co.ukSaturday 18th Warwickshire Area are having a Christmas Party at Mo and Phil’s.

Details from Mo and Phil Wood on 01905 456303

Area Reps please let David Hill have confirmed dates for new events Asap. Remember there areClub Night Natters throughout the year and that area events are also open to members from

other areas!

Please also note that the above lists only M&SC events or events where we have a presence oran interest. General classic events are listed in the classic press.

Mutual Assistance Directory

Oh dear! Where did the summer go? Thelast few weeks have not been good foropen top cars. Hopefully August will bebetter than July. There are a few local showsin West Wales in August and as I amcommitted to attend in the Midget, it wouldbe nice to have the top down. Hopefully,wherever you are will be warm, sunny anddry. I think that dry weather lessens thechance of a breakdown or is it that abreakdown in the wet remains in the memorylonger?

Has anyone suffered a breakdown so far thisyear where a fellow member has come to the

rescue? If so, please let me know so that Ican give it some publicity (anonymously ifyou like) to support our cause!

Don’t forget, if you need a copy of the latestMAD you can download it from the membersonly section of our website but if you do nothave access to the web or don’t knowsomeone who does, I will print off a copy andsend it to you.

Well, it has just stopped raining so I hadbetter get out in the Midget quickly before thenext lot of rain!

David Hill

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Webmonster – Auto site of the monthThird in the current series of featured sites that help members link to the world of motorcars,motorsport and motor enjoyment! This month is.....http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.

Cabelas, Who you say? Well a bit of variety this month. Couple of people in the club haveSatellite NAVIGATION! Yes really. YOU don’t want Sat Nav I hear you say, but a compass wouldbe nice. So I had a look on the web. You need a dash mounted marine spec, back lit unit andit’s the same size as your fuel and oil/temp gauge. Neat! Ed.

Bodger’s CornerThe Anonymous Bodger’s tip of the month’

When I rebuilt my Sprite MkIII a couple of years ago the guywho did the paintwork gave me the following advice whichI found very helpful. Put the bonnet on first then the wingson after. It was a fairly simple matter to adjust the wings and getthose gaps right without damage to the paintwork.

Terry Ward

After last months electrical bodge, another!!Ed says: Thanks Terry, short but sweet! Any other bodyshop mods?

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July and the Summer Gathers PaceSouth Staffs and Birmingham make hay

Do you see that? It’s Julyalready and even beforethe first Wednesday of themonth there is stuff to write. Lastmonth my wife Gwyn and I tookpart in the Avro (HawkerSiddeley) Vulcan engine runningday at Wellesbourne Mountford,near Stratford upon Avon. Theorganisers had arranged for aclassic cars show at the sametime and all cars as old as (orolder than) the Vulcan wereinvited to be part of the event.Soon after we arrived acontingent from Warwickshireturned up too. Lots of nice interesting carsthere, including our neighbour in a nicelyrestored (60’s?) Alfa Romeo. He had a heckof a bad time when the inevitable rains camedown, leaks from every seal and hoodconnection, “No matter” he said, “now Iknow where to fix it!”

I have photos of our Warwicks’ friends“responding” to the first downpour, but neverfear, they will never see the light of day.

While we from South Staffs etc had beenvisited by Tiff Needell at Le Mans (did I tellyou he visited our camp site?) another TVmotor journo’, Quentin Wilson did acommentary as the cars gathered under thewing of the “tin triangle” and then wentacross to Warwicks’ cars to have a chat withthem, no TV cameras there though,unfortunately.

On the Wednesday meeting night there werequite a few of us Steve and Matt were withfriends inside the pub when I went in withBill3 and Mrs Bill3. (sorry I should haveasked your name, but I’m notoriously badwith ‘em anyway) We found Geoff tuckedaway around the corner having saved us atable surrounded by evening meal munchers.

Alan came in with his newly back on the roadcar, with Frontline front-end conversion andhis own rear vertical conversion using Volvo

Amazon shockers. It has a lovely bonnet bulgetoo, to give clearance to his HIF44 carb andK&N air filter. Overall consensus? We like it!

We had a visit from Malc, who worked hisway round the pub brandishing his copy ofMascot to allow him into the magic circle sohe could take photos for his rebuild. He hadbeen to the Dog and Doublet as advised byour Geoff last month, but we had stayed “athome” ‘cos the service was vastly improvedthis time. If we let anyone down, we are sorrybut as it was blowing up a mighty windstormand the run down to the Dog and D isthrough a heavily tree lined area, I have tosay it must have been the wisest decision tomake. There were enough lumps of treearound to avoid as it was.

We are going to try a pub near CannockChase as a new base, when tested, we willadvise! Hopefully we will be able to link upwith Ian and his group at the Sitwell Armssoon, too.

The next thing we shall do is visitWarwickshire branch, then send this to Mikewho is straining at the bit to get off to the2004 Le Mans Classic, wish I was going withhim. That place gets into the blood. Enjoy itMike and you can tell US all about it whenyou return.

Bill Mohan

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Scotland Report

Betty and John Kerr very kindly gave mea holiday loan, for a week, of their kingof collies, GT [cover vol 241]. On thebo-at to Tiree, a great wee chap, [primary 6]from Wishaw, chatted to me and the dug. Hewas more lucid than most biggies I know-MASC types excepted-with a great knowledgeof just about everything, knocking spots offme; so much so that I kept away from thesubject of Midgets! The only time he strayedinto childhood-at which point he seemed toget lost- was when he revealed his secretplan to invade England by tunnel.Here, in the Western Isles, I become dourlyruminative and this year I’m not going to letthat happen.News. Bob Miller was at a businessmeeting in Lytham-7 people-of whom 3 hadMidgets! Aileen’s friend Morag has bot ayellow R/B. At Sherifmuir, John and Bettybrought along Scott and John in a R/B thathad been exhibited at David Coulthard’s carmuseum [with a transfer on an ‘A’ post toprove]. Bob’s lady friend Liz, is on thepurchase trail for a Midget and, here I mustclaim considerable influence. On our NWweekend, Bob asked if Liz could swap withLinda, as passenger, for part of the run. Liz

was well impressed with our little cars and,interestingly, felt very safe; so much morethan with re-build Bob, driving his Alfa. But,then, Bob would need to be driving aSherman tank before most people felt safe,me excepted. Alan and Fiona Plumtreeattended the A-H weekend in England [areport, you say?]. A man from Helensburghhad phoned Alan and asked if he would liketo uplift, for free, a MK1 driven into hisgarage 20 years’ ago. Alan said ‘Yes’, butwhen he got there, somebody else had takenit. Odd-bods are the Scots. McQueeries withtartan ketchup in their sporrans all. To thetunnel at the border! Charge!HEE ME-OORI-ISHT

Carson and chums

PS. For info on our early Oct. Ulster bash,there might be a letter from MASC’S onlyknown Northern Ireland member, BarryStanage. (There is: Ed) When I said to himthat for the great planning he’s doing, we willneed to bring a bottle of good Scotch, Barrypaused, then replied ‘There’s no such thing’.A patriot to the last drink!

Ed says: Another impenetrable report fromthe master �

The First Scotlandand NW Run of 2004

Les Robinson made up splendid rallyplates. We all wore them with pride andclearance from Mike. I do think,however, that things get different with the lawwhen more than 12 cars are involved. We gotto 9 cars-should have been 10-Alan Plumtreebroke down with distributor trouble a milefrom home. So, if 9 could be divided equally,then we had had an even split. The highpoint was Richard and Anke Rieksen comingover from Holland. Very well done, indeed.

We set off from Glasgow at 50mph, Richard’spreferred speed and met Aileen and Morag atAbingdon services-this was Aileen’s firstouting in her John Kerr supplied R/B.

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Anke and Richard Rieksen all the way fromHolland!

We met up with the NW ‘boys’ at Lockerbiefor lunch and thereafter it was hoods down.Glorious. Originally, we had hoped to have arally in a field; but that didn’t happen. So wedid what we are best at; driving. And thensome more driving.

For those in need of spiritual revival, westopped at a Tibetan Centre, then dawdledback to Lockerbie and the hotel. At dinner, itwas like one of those Southern based scenes

with 2 rows of tables for 22 people whichwas terrific-no less than that.

On Sunday, the weather was good and off wewent towards Denholm, stopping for aprolonged time at a village craft fair. Theladies were well pleased! In fact, we were allwell pleased with everything. I just hope thatnobody found it too long. I’m sure not, not fortuff guys and gentle ladies!

Next time, in September, Les and Co areputting on a run in the North Yorkshire Dales.Who knows, we might even be in thecompany of the new Yorkshire Area.

Carson, Les and absolutely all chums

Ed says: Soundslike a reallysocial tour, twoareas and threecountries, phew!

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Maintenance stop (look familiar?)

Warwickshire Report

Sunday, 20th June found a small groupof us meeting at the Greenway inStratford, to set off for the Avro VulcanXM655 Run Day. The sky looked ominouslydark and, we set off in a light shower. TheVulcan XM655 is the youngest Vulcan inexistence. She was delivered to 9 squadron in1964 and after 5,744 flying hours was stooddown in 1983. The aircraft arrived atWellesbourne in February 1984, with hernew owner, Roy Jacobsen, intending to flyher, but plans were haphazard and he lostinterest, buying another, which is, currently,situated at Southend. The parking fees atWellesbourne grew and eventually Jacobsenwas taken to court, with the result that theaircraft became the property of the airfield.

Since 1990, RAF engineers have worked onthe plane, slowly bringing her back to life.The Maintenance and Preservation Societywas formed and although she will never flyagain, she is kept in working order and toraise funds public taxi runs are held, whereshe develops enough speed to lift her nose offthe ground.

The classic car show has developed aroundthis event and this year, because it was theaircraft’s 40th birthday, a parade of cars, theage of each matching the years of her service,

was held with a groupphotograph at the end.Unfortunately, as many ofour cars are too old for thisparticular span, we had tolook on, but Nick, and Mo,Stuart and Sybil, and Philand Mo were able toparticipate. Quentin Wilsonattended the event and gavea summary of the cars thatwere on display and MoWood ensured that he tooka photo call with our group.He commented on the highstandard of our cars, sotheir proud owners now feelable to advertise their carsas “recommended by FifthGear presenter”. Had the

weather been sunny, it could have been areally splendid day, but our picnic wasinterrupted by people scrambling for hoods,as one of the heaviest downpours of the yeardescended, so I will categorise it asinteresting. Chris even had the audacity tosuggest that I was too wet to shelter in thecar.

The Welsh Trip on the 17th/18th July, theMalvern Drive with indoor bowls, as theyshould be correctly named, on 24th July, andthe Prescott Hill Climb on 1st August, alloccur before our next meeting, so it will be avery busy month.

Sheila

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Warwickshire members with Quentin Wilson

Lift off!

Surrey Report Photo File

Apologies. No Surrey report this month (Ed’s fault) due to a mix up in the Editorial Office, soexpect a double bumper report in next edition. Can Surrey members please check with Davidabout any events that would/may have been published in the missing report.

NW Area Report

Another month gone and yet anotherreport. We’ve had a couple of eventsthis month. First was the ‘Symphony atthe Tower’ held at Hoghton Tower. Diane andI went in the morning to erect the gazebo ingale force winds. In fact it was so bad wecould only put the frame up leaving thecanopy till the evening. For the concert itselfthe wind had dropped quite a bit but it wascold. What ever happened to the hot balmysummer nights, it was more like winter, mindyou what do you expect for July! But, in spiteof the weather we all had a good time and

this event will certainly be on our calendar fornext year.

Next in line was the club night. Excellent turnout, only two cars though courtesy of Kennyand Tim. I didn’t go in mine because theweather in Leyland looked decidedly iffy so Ichickened out. Yes I know I was being soft,and in the end I regretted it as it was in fact avery nice evening.

The last event for August was again atHoghton Tower. This time it was the classiccar show. The day before the show it

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Ed says: Surrey’s last outing (Ardingly Show?) obviously a good turnout with Mike making themost of his remote control submarine, below

David’s new baby. Ed says: Very nice sir, verynice.

absolutely chucked it down all day and Ithought this is going to be wonderful for theshow. However, come the Sunday and it wasblazing sunshine, absolutely brilliant. On ourstand we had 7 cars including ‘that TR6’.I think Andrew’s become quite attached to it,having said that I do quite like it myself butwon’t admit it certainly not to Andrew or hisdad anyway. Also joining us was Shaun fromthe Yorkshire area – I think, with his verynice much modified Midget.The show thisyear was bigger than normal and thereseemed more variety of cars. The day had afamily feel to it, Chris’s family where out inforce, Mum, Dad, brother and girlfriend andbaby. Our middle daughter turned up withher husband and dogs and then our eldestdaughter came along with her baby-Rebecca. This was Rebecca’s first classic carshow and she thoroughly enjoyed it. In reality

she didn’t have a clue what was going onbecause she’s only 4 weeks old. Mind youI’m convinced she smiled when she saw mycar although it could have just been wind ofcourse. Rebecca is our first grandchild, and Iknow you’re all thinking ‘this can’t be true,surely Les isn’t old enough, he barley looksout of his teens himself’. Well it’s true and Ican’t believe it myself but as you can imagineDiane and I are chuffed to bits. I pushedRebecca around the car show in her buggyand its amazing how it only seems likeyesterday when it was our girls we werepushing, where does time go? Its frighteningisn’t it

Well that’s enough rambling. See you inAugust.

Grandad Les

Wiltshire Now Meets on Wednesdays

We have decided to meet on the firstWednesday in each month fromAugust as the Tuesday night isdifficult for some of our regulars. We hopethis won’t cause any trouble for the lessregular visitors, and if anyone misses this Iapologise for no-one being there to chat withyou on a Tuesday.

We met for the last time on Tuesday andfound the car park awash with Spridgets, aswe all brought ours, it being a promisingevening. Barry and Annette arrived early topartake of the hostelry’s fayre and were mostof the way through a nice bottle of wine whenthe rest of us arrived. We did have a bit of adiscussion about the G.W.R event and howwe had enjoyed the proceedings previously.

Barry and Annette and myself intend toappear for the road run on Saturday, but wecan’t come to the fun on Sunday so I hopeeveryone has a great time. Some of themembers of my other club are going, so I’llget a report from them – (they won the wheelchanging contest last year!).

I hope to attend the Nostalgia Show on 31stJuly at South Cerney airfield and if any other

members go I’ll be glad to see you at theNWCVC stand. The show’s also on theSunday but as usual now I’ll be working.

A further date in the Calender is 7th Augustat the Kemble airfield Steam and VintageRally whch is a huge event and well worthvisiting. The next event is a ‘Nostalgia’ showat Wantage which I’ve a ticket for on 28thAugust – a new one this, hope it’s a goodone. Then there is the Abingdon Works Showon 30th August, celebrating 75 years of MGproduction – theres a run too for those upearly enough (9 a.m.). The same day there’sa country show at Uffington(not far away)and Malcolm and I are going to that, (I’ll bein a rush as I’m trying to visit both on thesame day). And before you know it Malcolmand I will be travelling to Beaulieu on 11thSeptember, as usual, to fill our shopping bagswith goodies for the winter.

If anyone visits any of these events I’ll bedelighted if you make contact.

Ian RiderWiltshire contact

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July Natter

This time we met at The Bay Horse,Goldsborough about 5 minutes fromhome for Mark and me. The weatherwas very changeable but we decided we hadto take the risk, so we took both the Midgetand the Sprite. Sporting our identity badgesshowing our Spridgets, courtesy of Barry, wearrived at 7.00 as we were expecting a fewnew faces. No sooner had we parked up thanChris and Lin arrived in their super Iris BlueFrogeye. They had taken the afternoon offfrom their B&B in Settle to join us.

Next cameMartin,Margaret andtheir sonMatthew.They have a1968 Midgetundergoing

restoration. It has been a work in progress for12 months already and Martin reckons itcould take another year to complete. A recentmilestone was getting the engine running.

Robin completed our newcomers for theevening arriving in his green Midget. HisMidget is very much a leisure car doing lessthan 1500 miles a year in the 3 years he’shad it, prompting an interesting discussion onclassic car insurance. Robin had brought hiscamera, and I’d remembered mine this time,so the two of us took a few photos of the 8Spridgets. As a result I’ve got lots for thismonth’s Mascot. Hope the editor finds roomfor them all!

Shawn was happy, as he’d just collected hisMidget after the repairs made necessary bythe foreign tourist. He offered to get thebattery out of his car to bring Mark’s steakback to life, as it was so rare! (Apologies to allthe vegetarians reading this).

Barry arrived in his Innocenti and told usAndy couldn’t make it this time due to havingto prepare his Midget for the round of theCockshoot Cupat Oulton Parkon Saturday.Simon explainedwhy he is sobusy. He is akeen cyclist andis about to go offto take part in a one day 150-mile section ofthe Tour de France! Hope he comes back inone piece. Arthur came well prepared. Havingfound a suitable pub for our next meeting inAugust he gave everyone a copy of a map.Thanks Arthur. All help is very welcome. Nickand Jo didn’t come in the Midget. This timeits absence was due to some ‘tarting-up’ workgoing on prior to a trip to France. Mark and Imade a suggestion for a two-day run nextSpring and got a very favourable response.Something for us to organise during thewinter months.

Oulton Park

Mark and I managed to get some free ticketsfor 3rd July from the MG Car Club. As part ofthe MG 80th anniversary celebrations aparade of MGs around the Cheshire circuitwas planned. I spotted an L registered MidgetI recognised from a recent magazine article sowent over to have a chat. We discovered theowners live in West Yorkshire so got theiraddress to send them details of our nextmeeting.

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After the 4-lap drive around the track, wefound Andy, Helen and the boys just beforeAndy’s race (we’d missed the early morningpractice). Sorry if we got in the way Andy!Enjoyed watching the race and seeing Andyhave a bit of a tussle with another car.Luckily no damage done, just a dark paintsmudge at the back of the offside rear wing.

Also had the opportunity to meet a driverfrom the MGCC MG Midget Challenge withwhom we had previously corresponded via

email through an ad on the MASC website.Good to be able to put a face to the name.

Had a great day out watching lots ofSpridgets racing. Maybe we could put thatspare Sprite shell to some use after all!

Next meetings

We are continuing to have a different venueeach month. Details for the next two are:

5th August – The New Inn, 5 Child Lane,Roberttown, Liversedge WF15 7LZ01924 402069

2nd September – Craven Arms,Appletreewick, Skipton BD23 6DA01756 720270

Got to go and pack for our trip to France withNick and Jo. We’re going to Le Mans for theClassic 24 hour event. Maybe we’ll see oureditor there!

Anita

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Andy at Oulton Park

Servicing, welding to MOT standard, re-spraysAll work undertaken on all Sprites & Midgets

Contact Rob Tel: 01264 790744 or 07778 667458Email: robsfrogs@classiccars905.fsnet.co.uk

Visit my web site @ www.robsfrogs.org.uk

Austin Healey Mk1 Frogeye Sprites fully restored toOriginal specification

Robsfrogs

Dorset MASC in 2004 Olympics Bid!

Children’s Hospices Olympic BatonMy wife, Pam, got a call from Gavin at theJulia Perks Foundation to explain that anOlympic Baton was making its way across theUK and would Dorset MASC like to take it onthe next leg of its journey? It had to get toSutton Scotney, near Andover by Wednesday16th June. I called Gavin back and acceptedthe honour with alacrity! But who would befree mid week to do the deed? My thoughtsturned to our, er, greyer members – those notentangled with tiresome things like work!Colin and Vi Morris were my first port of call –result! Not surprisingly, they leapt at thechance and offered to phone around to recruitother Midgeteers to accompany them. Here isVi’s report:

‘The Olympic Baton, which had started itsjourney from a Children’s Hospice in Northern

Ireland and had travelled via Scottish andEnglish Children’s Hospices, arrived at Julia’sHouse, Broadstone from the BarnstapleChildren’s Hospice. On Tuesday 15th June2004 Colin and Vi Morris, accompanied byMike and Freda Holbrow of the Dorset AreaMidget and Sprite Club in their MG Midgetstook the Baton from Julia’s House to Naomi’sHouse, Sutton Scotney. At Sutton Scotney,Hugh Thompson, Fundraising Manager forNaomi’s House received the Baton. TheBaton was then going on to Children’sHospices at Guildford, Surrey and Gillingham,Kent and finally to London where it was to bepresented to the England Olympic Team whowould take it on to Athens.’

Ian Swinden/Vi Morris

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Dorset Area SpecialAnnouncement

Dorset Area wish to send their congratulationsto Dave Symes (the clubs data handler) whomarried Natalie on Saturday 19th June 2004at Highcliffe Castle in Dorset. The bride arrived at thecastle in a vintage Rolls Royce, the groom and hisbest man, Mr Mike Symes, arrived in POD (thefamous red Sprite owned for many years by Dave).While the invited guests arrived at the ceremony inan ex London Transport Routemaster bus, trust Daveto be different! Thewedding wasperformed by fellowMG enthusiastMr Richard Jolly. Asumptuous receptionwas held in thegrounds of Nat’sparents home atnearby Sway in theNew Forest, wherefamily and friendsgathered to toast thehappy couple. Thenewly-wedshoneymooned in theChannel Isles,returning to theirnew home adjacentto the river Stour inChristchurch later inJuly.

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Top – The happy couple

Above – Dave and his first love PODarriving at Highcliffe Castle

Left – The Dorset team with the happycouple (from left to right Colin Morris(route master) Pete Downton, Bryan Foxand Ian Swinden.

Cambridgeshire Report

Lots going on this month so I will getstraight into it in chronological order. 5thof June advanced landing of the Dixonsin France in a D registered Sprite (1966).Pat’s birthday on 6th June D-day 60thanniversary (that was good for free drinks anda rose in at least one French restaurant). Wehad a great time in classic car friendlysouthern Brittany and apart from the Sprite’sfaultless performance, the perfect weather, onwonderful open roads, the friendly wavesthumbs ups and hoots of the grinning locals,we managed to keep bumping into a weeklong French classic car run lots more waving.

We loved southern Brittany so much that webought a piece, half an acre of a Cap Sizunhillside overlooking the ocean and withinwalking distance of a wonderful sandy cove.As you read this an architect in Audierne willbe poised over the drawing board ready todraw up the plans for Frogeye cottage (smallbut beautifully formed and full of character).Here comes the plug, if you fancy a holidayin this stunning bit of France Frogeye cottagewill be available for holiday rental in a year orso (I will pay for the ad next time honestMike). Moving swiftly on, we had a great timein France (how could you not) the onlydownside was not having time (with the

property viewing and buying) to get to LeMans, maybe next year.

We got back to England just in time to hostthe MASC stand at the 25th annual AustinHealey weekend at Wyboston. The friendlyAustin Healey club could not have made usmore welcome and it was a great event withso many wonderful cars. Through theweekend we counted 7 MASC cars inattendance (some on the stand and some inthe concourse area). The weather could havebeen kinder on Saturday (got a bit dampgoing home) but Sunday was dry and sunny.It was great to meet Chris and Ashley (whotook some well deserved silverware home)and all those others who’s names I haveforgotten (sorry guys I am terrible with names

but you know who you are) I have to reservea special mention and a photo for two ofCarson’s Chums Alan and Fiona Plumtreewho made it all the way down from Scotland(and were excused Spridgets on grounds ofhaving to transport autojumble and top hats)but never the less well done guys and great tosee you again.

Next came the three dumplings drive on the4th of July ably planned by Hubie (with alittle help from her majesty). We met up atthe now familiar (to seasoned dumplingdrivers) Safeway car park at Swaffham. I wasdelighted to see Martin and Les againcomplete with two bubbly ladies whosenames I instantly forgot (sorry girls), we werealso joined by Mike and Trish and Sally andHubie who were delayed by a bird strike.

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Despite some worries about the weather (ithad been a very wet week) and Becky ofAnglia Television forecasting rain with herseaweed, I preferred to believe my openpinecone. Shortly after 10-30 am we were onthe road (bathed in sunshine) and off toexplore the nicer bits of Norfolk, I mustconfess that our convoy did make one briefstop to erect hoods on some of the cars,however the erecting lasted longer than theshower (pinecones never lie).

All in all a very enjoyable day in a great partof the world with some excellent company allrounded off will a good meal at a great

English pub (where were you Quentin youwould have loved it).

Last but not least was the pub night at theMad Cat which coincided with the worst Julyweather in living memory with 60 mph windsand 75 cms of rain (not that unusual for clubnight). Unsurprisingly no Spridgets inattendance however we did make up for it byhaving a special surprise celebrity guest,none other than the fen tiger himself Dave‘boy’ Green. See you all at the Mad Cat nexttime.

Dave Dixon

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Special Frogs

This Frogeye was at the Wyboston Healeyweekend, it had been de-seamed, hadthe boot fitted and the front chrome grillmodified it was also a slightly odd colour, buta very nice job had been made of the work.Unfortunately I did not see the owner so had

no opportunity to look inside. There wasanother Frogeye at Wyboston that wouldappeal to you it was one of 50 I.O.W. Frogsbuilt for export to Japan to an amazingspecification and standard of finish andincluding a ‘K’ series engine and five speedbox as original equipment, this one had beenbought in Japan and re-imported to Englandby the present owner (sorry no photo).

Also see the Sprite pickup truck, while I waslooking at it someone asked me why Ithought it only had one seat in it, I said thatI expected nobody but the owner would beseen dead in it, but it’s a novelty never theless.

DaveCambridge Area

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26Reproduced with permission. All rights acknowledged. www.retrocarsmag.com

No More CirclipsTechnical Feature

(Weapons grade ‘Bodger’: Ed)

And if this sounds like a quick fixin an aerosol can from yourlocal DIY shop, well, it isn’t. Itis however a fix for an ancientaffliction suffered by many aSpridgley thing owner when it comesto the circlips that hold the rearwheel brake cylinders to theirbackplates.

The spring circlips that hold the twinpiston cylinders are a bit of a devil tofit properly, even when fitted, thecylinder can still move. Often, therubber dust excluders can come intocontact with the hub resulting in tornrubbers and even strange noises asnon-moving and moving parts get toknow one another a little too well.Now sensible manufacturers bolttheir cylinders to the backplate – andso can we.

Faced with a cylinder replacement on my1967 Sprite, I decided that the standard.750 bore cylinder could be modified to bolton pattern rather than iffy circlip pattern. Imust stress that a small degree of engineeringis required here (No, not a degree inengineering). The cylinder is fitted with asmall locating dowel (rawl pin) next to thebleed nipple tapping. The pin fits into a0.160" diameter hole which is convenientlythe tapping size for a 10 UNF thread. Firstremove the pin by gripping it in a vice andwiggling it free. That’s the easy bit. You willnow need to make up a small drill jig out of apiece of 14" thick mild steel. Drill an 1116"(0.6875") diameter hole, this will locatearound the brake pipe stub of the cylindersnugly. Centralise this hole about thecorresponding hole in the backplate and markthrough the position of the locating pin hole.Drill through 0.160" in the drill jig. You nowneed to reproduce this hole symmetricallyopposite on the drill jig. This requires to bemarked out very carefully. You should nowhave a drill jig with one 1116" hole and two

0.160" diameter holes as shown in theaccompanying sketch.

Offer up the jig to the brake cylinder, locatingoff the 1116" hole and aligning the 0.160" holewith the locating pin hole in the cylinder.I would advise positively locating this byinserting a drill of this size. Next, drill acorresponding hole in the blank side of thecylinder to a depth of 3 8". Go no further asyou could break into the cylinder bore – andyou don’t want to do that! I would point outthat I used a pedestal drill for this, you wouldneed to be VERY careful to do this with ahand held drill. Not only is the depthimportant, but keeping the drill square to thejob is also crucial. Both holes can now betapped out to 10 UNF to depth. Careful not tobreak the tap when you touch bottom!

Now locate the drill jig on the facing side ofthe backplate. You can align this with the11

16drill and the 0.160" drill. Use a second0.160" drill to drill through the jig into thebackplate to produce the second hole to alignwith the new screwed hole in the cylinder.Both of these holes will now need to beopened up in the backplate to clear a 10

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UNF screw, a 13 64" drill should do it. I used 2stainless steel Allen screws cut to 3 8" long tosecure the cylinder to the backplate. Don’tforget to use a plain washer on each screw.

Yes, a bit of effort, but you will enjoy easy toreplace and properly secured wheel cylindersin future. If you fancy the idea but not

actually performing the surgery bit, give me aring on 01454 881770 as I may be able tolend a hand.

Terry Horler

Ed says: As always, Terry offers a technicallysimple fix to a real problem. Top man!

End of a ‘Saga of a Sprite’The New Century

I sometimes wonder if we in the Midgetand Sprite Club give the right impression tothe general public. When I drew up at themeeting place for Surreys trip to Somerset Inoted several bonnets up with little knots ofmembers peering underneath. Passers by inthe traffic stream must look across and thinkto themselves “That car club is hopeless; halfof them have broken down already and theyhaven’t even started yet; In David’s report onthe recent annual trip he remarks that I choseto take alternative routes a couple of times.This was not my intent: I stayed on the A303too long, got caught in the traffic, turned duenorth and then a road closed sign directedme onto the wrong route. It was ratherinteresting though because I passedNetheravon RAF base and remembered I hadplayed rugby there many years ago whendoing my National Service. I stopped and apoliceman strolled up and asked me if I wasmaking for Devon! I replied that I wasn’t quitethat lost: Farther on I passed Upavon,another RAF base (I played rugby there also).I was rather intrigued by a vast “To Let” signon an equally vast hanger. Continuing on myway I wondered who would want to rent thishanger out in the wilds, but then thought itwould be a great venue for a GoKart Track.I did contemplate ringing up to ask what therent was-I might just do that, but it wouldtake some organising. (Not that I wasthinking of organising one myself)

Although this period only covers four years,I seem to lave had quite a lot of expenditureon my Sprite, the major item being a newmaster cylinder. It failed the MOT, so I askedthe garage if re-rubbering (if that is the rightterm) would do. Not this time said the

proprietor firmly. Ithad done a quarterof a million miles soI suppose it was duefor a new one.(That’s 250,000miles: Ed ) Gary atSurrey Sports wasable to produce abrand new original,he has this this habit of conjuring scarceitems like a rabbit out of a hat. I also had ablown head gasket earlier this year for someunexplained reason, and also a new startermotor which I think I ‘mentioned previouslyThe usual bits of welding occurred; mymobile welder saying it would have to be anew floor next time. My mobile mechanicwhile replacing a new brake cable said it waslike a patchwork quilt under there: It wouldbe interesting to get the car up on a ramp andpaint it varied colours; that would be anunusual photo for the magazine, wouldn’t it ?

Reverting to my early years of motoring asmentioned last month, I eventually sold myM Type for £75 (wish I hadn’t) and Ipurchased a red TC MG for £250. I was notoverstruck on this car; it looked nice, soundednice, and was comfortable, but I thought theroad holding left something to be desired. Ithad adjustable shock absorbers which werealtered by knurled knobs under the cashboard, the result being it drove even more likea brick than usual. It had this fuel light whichcame on when one was down to a gallon Ithink. I did not have much money at the timeso only bought petrol a few gallons at a time,so this blinking light seemed to be alwaysblinking at me. Most aggravating.

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In 1959 I bought my first Sprite, a whiteFrogeye, and it did seem a giant leap forwardin all respects from my T.G. It had superiorroad holding and was much moreeconomical, no more blinking lights either.The upholstery was black, I had ordered onewith red upholstery but this one arrived first.And then only three years later Ipart-exchanged it for my Iris blue Mark 2,which is where I started this epistle.

When I first started motoring it never occurredto me to buy a saloon car and I don’t supposeI would have had one if a company car

hadn’t come along. I wonder how many clubmembers always had sports cars. Well thatsall-for now: This has been very long but Ihope, interesting little saga Perhaps anothermember could take over with their story??

(Yes please: Ed)

Reggie

Ed says: Thanks Reggie, I am sure we allenjoyed every word. Elaine will alsoappreciate me being not being in front of theOCR keyboard for hours on end as well!!!

Haynes Guide to Tools of the TradePart Two

Ed says: Follow on from April issue, anadditional and more comprehensive guide tothe tools of the trade.

PHONE: Tool for calling your neighbour tosee if he has another hydraulic floor jack.

SNAP-ON GASKET SCRAPER: Theoreticallyuseful as a sandwich tool for spreadingmayonnaise; used mainly for getting dog-doooff your boot.

BOLT AND STUD EXTRACTOR: A tool thatsnaps off in bolt holes and is ten times harderthan any known drill bit.

TIMING LIGHT: A stroboscopic instrumentfor illuminating grease build-up.

TWO-TON HYDRAULIC ENGINE HOIST:A handy tool for testing the tensile strength ofground straps and brake lines you may haveforgotten to disconnect.

CRAFTSMAN ½ x 16-INCHSCREWDRIVER: A large engine mountprying tool that inexplicably has an accuratelymachined screwdriver tip on the end withoutthe handle.

BATTERY ELECTROLYTE TESTER: Ahandy tool for transferring sulphuric acid froma car battery to the inside of your toolbox afterdetermining that your battery is dead as adoornail, just as you thought.

AVIATION METAL SNIPS: See hacksaw.

INSPECTION LIGHT: The mechanic’s owntanning booth. Sometimes called a drop light,it is a good source of vitamin D, “thesunshine vitamin,” which is not otherwisefound under cars at night. Health benefitsaside, its main purpose is to consume40-watt light bulbs at about the same rate as105-mm howitzer shells during the Battle ofthe Bulge. More often dark than light, itsname is somewhat misleading.

PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used tostab the lids of old-style paper-and-tin oilcans and splash oil on your shirt; can also beused, as the name implies, to round offPhillips screw heads.

AIR COMPRESSOR: A machine that takesenergy produced in a fossil-fuel burningpower plant 200 miles away and transformsit into compressed air that travels by hose toa pneumatic impact wrench that grips rustybolts last tightened 30 years ago by someonein Dagenham, and rounds them off.

PRY (CROW) BAR: A tool used to crumplethe metal surrounding that clip or bracket youneeded to remove in order to replace a50 pence part.

HOSE CUTTER: A tool used to cut hoses½ inch too short.

Many thanks to Trevor Lane, Sth Staffs area.Ed.

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LettersUpdate on WSM 203

A 40 year ‘before and after’ – WSM 203 just after export to the USA in 1963, and Japan in2003.Tonytonyws@robinsons-fruit.com

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Letter from UlsterThirty years’ ago when I was Press Officer on the Circuit of Ireland rally, is like forgotten dust ona discarded rug. Nowadays, I give minority publicity to our Club driving my green RWA inBelfast.I have responded to Carson’s call for local help and between the MGCC, MGOC, Ulster AutoClub and anybody else who knows me, I think we should manage something. I’m onlyproposing advice, you understand, but we might want to include the Irish TT Circuit making itinto a retro Ulster rally. Nothing dramatic. More a flavouring for more; an imagining of the wayroad races used to be in this lovely country of ours. Please phone Carson for details or get intouch on carsonthomson5@hotmail.com. We might even manage a flash of the blarneyedbonne vivant, not from me of course, but I’m coming.I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible, for it’s a car you’ve got there, not just acan of polish.Barry StanageBelfast

Ed says: Well done Carson. This needs support from the membership to fly. So howabout it?

Spare PartIn response to yet another excellent(if everyday) new part from theAshley and Saw Mills of Surrey, abattery stay bracket! I declined toinclude it in Mascot with the followingnote....

AshleyAs you know I am your BIGGESTfan, however! The ‘Ed’ in me saysit’s got to be a VERY quite month forthis to make it into the pages ofMascot.EdThis in turn produced an anonymous reply from Mascot friend John Gibbons (opps) as follows..“How beastly! It’s a beau-ooo-tiful bit of bent stainless. Probably just the right size to. May havelots of other uses, too. How about a competition? How many uses can you find for one ofAshley’s new stainless steel (not just your black painted) wot-nots? The winner gets a spare forhis garage clutter-box. Here’s a starter for 10...1) Ice cream spoon for use on absent minded picnics2) Channel for guiding those water drips away from your right knee if you’ve got a leakywindscreen surround3) Useful gadget for getting stones out of tyre treads after you’ve just visited friends with a nicenew beach driveway – know who I mean?4) A thingy for lifting a nail that you’ve just mis-hit and bent flat5) A useful prop for holding up the front seat on a 2-door Ford 100E Popular while you hooverout underneath6) A dibber for use in planting daffodil bulbs

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7) A scraper for smoothing down the sand underneath a wobbly patio stone8) A vicious-looking drumstick for use by a visiting two-year old on your nice new saucepans9) A stirrer for paint that avoids you using a screwdriver – it will also double as a big screwdriverif you have forgotten to bring an old penny (or a 2p piece) to do up the sidescreens.10) A useful strip of metal for use in securing the battery on a Spridget when your old one’scorroded through”JG

Very amusing. However, he did say, “I’ll deny all knowledge. ... And I’m not donating theprize!”Excellent!! Ed says, that will get in Mascot, so here it is.

Market Place – AugustAdverts to be received before 10th each month

Tel 01395 446353 Email: j4ye55@tiscali.co.ukOr Post to:

David Smith, Doric Lodge, 10 Mansfield Terrace, Budleigh Salterton,Devon EX9 6EN

SALESFrogeye bits: 2 x door pockets, soundcondition, but dirty, dark blue. 5 x rearoverriders, 2 with brackets – needre-chroming. 1 x front bumper blade, needsattention. Number plate light plinth. All aboveF.O.C.Phil 07768 875394 (Cheshire)

1960 MkI Frogeye Sprite, original greenlogbook, needs bodywork and chassisrestoration. Soft and hardtops included, brakemaster cylinder many other parts alsoincluded, too many to list. Must be seen.£1100 o.n.o.Lawrence 07759704545or 01767 222890 (Beds)

Midget 1500 Heritage bodyshell withbonnet, bootlid and doors, sprayed vermillion,unstarted project, bodyshell cost £2,500,primer/paint etc cost £2,000 total cost£4,500, bargain £2975 also donor car withV5 available. Midget/Sprite 1275 rear oil sealconversion kit, brand new as supplied byPeter May Engineering stop that persistent oilleak problem cost £81, bargain £50.George 01457 864536 (Derbyshire)

MG Midget 1970 1275cc, Red. Runs anddrives, but needs restoration £450. o.n.o.Roger 01252 837630 (Surrey)

Turn over fixture for stripped down Spritesand Midgets. Originally designed and madefor Mk I Sprite but has also been used on halfelliptic sprung Midgets and Sprites usingadaptor plates (with front and wingassemblies removed). Also includes tie barsfor retaining A and B posts at the correctdistance when replacing sills etc. Open tosensible offers.Colin 01752 892434or clj@talkgas.net (Devon)

1970 MG Midget, 10 months MOT.Reconditioned gearbox and shock absorbers,unleaded cylinder head. Alloy wheels, newtyres, brake servo, and roll-bar £2400 o.n.o.Cooper S Cylinder head with unleadedconversion, complete with valves and springsIn regular use until removal last month.£125.David 01395 446353 (Devon)

PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS AT TOP OF PAGE!

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Be recognised as a Midget & Sprite Club Member with any of ourexclusive designer range of regalia items.

Sweatshirts- (In Blue, Red, Bottle Green & Black With embroidered Club Logo) -Please state size and colour required. Each @ £17.00 + £1.75 p&p

T-Shirts- (In Blue, Black, Green, Red & White with screen printed Club Logo)Please state size and colour required. Each @ £10.50 + £1.25 p&p

Grille Badge- £20.00 inc p&p

Cloth Badge- £2.75 inc p&p

Windscreen sticker with Club Logo, in Black, Red & Silver. £1.00 inc p&p

Leather key fob with club logo, in Black, Red & White. £2.25 inc p&p

Midget & Sprite Club “Buyers Guide” £4.50 inc p&p

Sprite 40th Anniversary windscreen stickers. £1.25 inc p&p

Poloshirts (Red, Royal Blue, Bottle Green: Embossed Logo)Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL. Please state size and colour. Each @ £12.00 + £1.25 p&p

Fleece Jackets (Black and Bottle Green: Embossed Logo)Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL. Please state size and colour. Each @ £25.00 + £2.25 p&p

Baseball Style Caps (Black brushed cotton with a Red Suede Peak, Embossed Logo)Each @ £7.50 inc p&p

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGECheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to the

Midget & Sprite Club.

SEND YOUR ORDERS WITH CHEQUE OR POSTAL ORDER TO:-

Christine Barton, Regalia Officer, Midget & Sprite Club

10 Wrens Park Avenue, Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B76 8LP

Tel 0121 3512513

MIDGET & SPRITE CLUB REGALIA

Working with cars like these since the 60’sactively involved in Club Motorsport at all levels.

COMPLETE RANGE OF GEAR BOXES & DIFFERENTIAL UNITSFOR ALL SPRITE & MIDGETS FROM FROGEYE TO

RUBBER BUMPER HELD IN STOCK.EXCHANGE OR OVERHAUL YOUR UNIT.NEW AND USED PARTS FROM STOCK.

Visit our Website at: www.hardyengineering.comAsk for Bill or Neil, Club discount given

SPECIAL SERVICESCompetiton gearboxes built. Limited slip differential units.

Competition crownwheel & pinion3.7, 3.9, 4.22, 4.875

HARDY ENGINEERING, 268 Kingston Road,Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7QA

Tel: 01372 378927 Fax: 01372 376794

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