Northumbrian

December 2014

Merry Christmas

Ian MacNeish regrets forgetting to

rinse the TF off after giving it a late
night wash.

16

www.mgnorthumbria.org

Chairmans Chat
Hello again, as we begin the quieter winter season.
I am pleased to report that the end of season wear and
tear damage to my car has now been put right. The
brakes now work without the worn pad grating noise and
the new hinge on the tailgate has also made talking in the
car possible as the rattling noise has gone. So only the
MOT to pass and we will be ready for the new season.
At the November committee we agreed that in future
members on email will no longer receive a printed copy.
We feel that now it comes in page order the email copy is
more reader and printer friendly and of course it will save
us money. I hope this doesnt upset the few members receiving both versions.
We also discussed the possibility of two trips in 2015.
The first would be 6-8 June and would be a run into the
borders on the 6th with a visit to Thirlestane show http://
www.bvac.org.uk/thirlestane/ on the 7th with a return home
on the 8th. I remember this was often in the club calendar
years ago, but it is a long day to have as a day out.
The second trip would be later in the year and based on a
highly recommended route and hotel in the Yorkshire
Dales based near Skipton where John Mitchell stayed this
year. It would probably follow a similar format over 3
days/2 nights.

15

Please let me know if you would be interested in these. In

particular the Thirlestane trip as we will need to find somewhere with enough rooms and the deadline for booking a
club stand is 19/4/15.
Those at the AGM will know that Bob Heslop has decided
to stand down from the committee after many years service, for that and on behalf of the club I say a big thank
you.
Bob organised the MG90 timeline we had at Classics in
Corbridge this year. 2015 is the 60th anniversary of the
MGA and the 50th of the MGBGT. Do you know of any other anniversary? Let me know.
Wingrove & MG Newcastle
Wingrove motor company are pleased to bring the all new MG to
the North East. Wingrove was founded in 1925 by John Myers Dalkin Snr a local cattle auctioneer. Wingrove pride themselves on being a family owned business, with five generations in the business.
Having stood the test of time overcoming issues such as the devastating WW11 and the major changes in the automobile industry,
Wingroves latest venture comes in the form of becoming the sole
North East provider of MG.
Unbelievably starting at 8,399, for the entry model. The real value
lies in the mid-spec 3Form because it starts at 9,299, with spec including iPod connection, DAB radio, aircon, Bluetooth and steering
wheel audio controls. The top-spec 3Style adds parking sensors,
cruise control auto wiper/lights and diamond cut alloys.
MG Newcastle are the dealer for Newcastle at Fox & Hounds 388
West Road Newcastle NE51ER and fully trained service and after
sales department. Follow us on Facebook MGNewcastle. Call on
0191 2288025

14

Thanks & best wishes for a happy Christmas.

Tim Cook
chairman@mgnorthumbria.org

New Members
This month we welcome to MG Northumbria:
Kevin Garside and Wendy Monaghan from Togston,
Morpeth. Kevin and Wendy have a MGF Trophy.

Little known motoring facts

1. The Longest traffic jam ever occurred in France on the 16th

June 1980. It stretched from Paris to Lyon, a distance of 109
miles (176 km).
2. Police in the city of Monrovia, Liberia have controlled the
flow of traffic by hand since 1990 when the traffic light system
stopped working.

3. The first land-speed record

was conducted in 1890 by
Count Gaston de ChasseloupLaubat, or the "Electric Count"
as he was later known. Using
his electric car he achieved a
top speed of 39.24 mph (63.15
km/h). The record only stood for a few days before it fell to a
slightly faster electric car. Less than 100 years later (99 to be
exact), Thrust SSC became the first vehicle to break the
sound barrier. Now that's progress

4. Taxis have been operating in the city of London since 1636.

Back then there were only 50 taxis serving the entire city.

Established 1983
-------

Scotlands largest stockists of new & used MG & other Classic Parts.
MGOC Reccomended Supplier & 5 Star Spanner Award .
Full Workshop facilities, Bodywork specialists, Insurance work undertaken.
Always breaking Maestros, MGAs, MGBs, Magnettes, Midgets, for spares.
Fast & efficient Mail Order service
-----131, Jamphlars Road, Cardenden, Fife, KY5 0ND
E-mail :- sales@chicdoig.com
Tel:- Office 01592-722999, Parts Department 01592-722666

5. Vehicles sitting in traffic jams around the world use up to

5.7 billion gallons (26 billion litres) of fuel each year.

13

Survey
With the deadline for completing this now passed,
Peter Hyde reports that he received 61 responses.
Thanks to all those who took the time to complete it.
Peter is now analysing these and his report will be in
the January newsletter.

7. The average American spends around 100 hours a year

commuting back and forth between work.

8. Due to the increasing number of electric and hybrid powered vehicles, firefighters and other emergency services personnel are having to undergo special training which teaches
them how to safely manage the high voltage power sources
which may be exposed and extremely dangerous after a vehi-

Standard exhaust? Dont think so!

cle accident.

9. The World's longest car was

a specially constructed limousine which was built in California. Where else? It was 100
feet long (30.5 metres), and
featured a swimming pool and
king-size waterbed. When the
1983carry a small helicopter at
pool was covered over Established
it could also
------the rear!

This Midget was spotted by Bob Heslop at the MG Live event at Silverstone in July. Bob reckons its a bit of an anachronism as although
it has a 1966 registration it has a GAN5 shell. The safety cage confirms
it as being there to race, although Bob says it didnt appear in the race
programme.
12

Scotlands largest stockists of new & used MG & other Classic Parts.
MGOC Reccomended Supplier & 5 Star Spanner Award .
Full Workshop facilities, Bodywork specialists, Insurance work undertaken.
Always breaking Maestros, MGAs, MGBs, Magnettes, Midgets, for spares.
Fast & efficient Mail Order service
10. The Pan-American
Highway, which stretches from Circle,
-----Alaska to Puerto
MonttRoad,
in Chile
- a distance
16,031 miles
131, Jamphlars
Cardenden,
Fife, KY5of
0ND
E-mail
:- sales@chicdoig.com
(25,800 km), is the
longest
highway in the World.
Tel:- Office 01592-722999, Parts Department 01592-722666

Thanks to Dave Stokoe for unearthing these.

3rd

Clubnight, Backworth 8.00 pm

13th Christmas night out

Chris Wilson

So now to the race weekend. Saturday morning starts very early with
car club parade laps, then a classic race for cars that had raced in
previously at Le Mans. Then a massive build up to the start at 300pm and for the next 24 hours, we spent watching the race from the
spectator banking on our campsite, which is at the start of the Porsche Curves, driving to various points on the circuit, to watch the race
progress. This driving, included at 01-00 am driving around to the forest at Les Hunaudieres, just after the chicane Michelin and before
Virage de Mulsanne. This has to be seen to be believed, the speed in
the pitch dark is incredible, and the braking distances from over
200mph, do not seem possible. Usually we get to bed in the early
hours, not long before sunrise, but some of our group go to bed earlier
and get up to see the cars at day-break. After a hearty breakfast it is
back to more spectating, but before long 3-00pm is here, and another
24 Heures Du Mans has come to an end.

Pam and MG6

at the circuit
entrance

Les Davison has let us know of the death of former member

Chris Wilson, who was actually one of the founder members
of the MGOC Tyne and Wear branch, which evolved into MG
Northumbria.
Around 1984 Chris took over running the club and had a
1500 damask red Midget and lived on Newsham Farm estate, Blyth. Current MGN members who were contemporaries of Chris include Bruce Beattie, Eric and Jackie Turtle and
of course Les.
Apparently Chris died in September but the news has only
just reached Les.

A quiet Sunday evening was followed by an early start on Monday

morning to pack everything up for the journey home and by lunch time
we said our goodbyes, and headed north. The Auto-routes that are
normally empty, as the French do not like paying the toll fees, are like
a mobile car show, full of British registered sports cars, and a lot of
them travelling at very illegal speeds, hurrying to catch car ferries at
the channel ports. Needless to say the gendarrnes are out in force,
and fines on the spot are order of the day. We safely reached our
ferry at Calais, and after a smooth crossing, we booked into our Premier Inn at Ashford in Kent. After a good nights sleep and another
hearty full English Breakfast, drove back home to Blyth.

Les Davison
6

11

Also on Monday Alan Hutchinson and Bill arrived for a couple of

nights, before they went off to their marshaling post for the duration of
the race week. On Tuesday I had to go down to the Tram station to
pick up Aslak Vind, another of our Danish friends, who is a motor sport
commentator on Danish Television, then on Wednesday it is time for
the first practice sessions to start. The public roads are all closed at
around 1-00 pm and the first of the support race practice sessions
start. Then at 6-00pm daylight practice for the 24Heures Du Mans
runs for 2 hours until 8-00pm, then again from 10-00pm until midnight
for night-time practice. Then it is time for some more beers in the bar.
This procedure is repeated on Thursday evening and night.
Friday is always called a rest day, with at 5-00pm a drivers parade in
Le Mans Centre Ville, (town centre) but we usually make this a party
day, and this year was no exception, and we had invited our French
Neighbour's and the head of security to a banquet and drinks in our
bar/restaurant. Pam had made one of her Speciality Cheesecakes
this time flavoured with Mandarin Napoleon Brandy for "pudding" and
this went down very well with our French Guests. It turned out that the
guy who was head of security on our site was a retired French Chef,
and had worked most of his life in some of the top restaurants in Paris.
After eating his pudding, he complimented Pam, saying that was the
best cheesecake that he had ever tasted and could not believe that it
was created in our camp kitchen!!!!! Pam was over the moon.

Jim Jamieson
Most of you will already be aware of the recent sad death of
former club chairman Jim. Stephen Ruddick has kindly
sent in a few words to mark his passing.

Jim, pictured here driving his distinctive green MGB roadster with matching hood, was a knowledgeable classic car enthusiast and former Chairman of MG Northumbria.
An evening spent in Jims company was always a lively and stimulating experience. His intelligent mind and ready wit were greatly enhanced
by the presence of a bottle of red wine.

Camping Danish
style!

A skilled engineer, he painstakingly restored his MGB, designed and

built his own trailer, then turned his attention to constructing the clubs
famous flagpole.
It has been very sad to witness the mental deterioration of our good friend
during the last few years. However it was typical of Jim that during my
last visit to the care home, he couldnt remember my name, but was able to
identify every make of vehicle in a photo album we looked at.
Jim will be sadly missed by all of us who knew and loved him.

10

Le Mans 2014 - the spectator experience

Just when you thought youd heard enough about Le Mans for one
year Les Davison couldnt resist sending this in.
Following on from the Editors report last month about his adventures
"Marshaling @ Le Mans 2014, I thought I could add my slant to this
"Adventure". As most of the club Know, Pam and I make the pilgrimage down to what we consider to be the "MECCA of Motorsport" every year, and have done so since 1989, when the Sauber Mercedes
of Jochen Mass won. This trip, way back then was organised by
Eric & Jackie Turtle (Tyne & Wear MGOC) who took their MG Midget
1275 and of course Pam & I in our MG Midget 1500. Joining us on
this trip were Derek and Sheila Pickering - MG Montego, Dave White
- MG Midget, Dave (the dentist) and his brother - MGB GT, Shaun
from Australia, with my son Darren - MGB, Clem & Anne Bains in
their MG Montego "QUICKSILVER". There were also a couple of
members from Gosforth, in their MG Midget, who managed to cross
the channel on the ferry, then stayed in Honfleur for the week and we
met them at the ferry terminal on our way home.
Anyway, enough of this history and on with this years trip. It started
on Saturday 7th June with the long drive down to Dover. We had a
ferry booked at 14-45, but arrived at Dover early and P & O put us
onto the next ferry to Calais. Once onto French roads, we headed
South from Calais on Autoroute A16/E402. After a couple of hours
we arrived at our first nights destination, just off the Autoroute near
to Abberville, at SARL Chateau Gaillard, This is a lovely old French
Chateau, which does Bed & Breakfast, but we had booked to stay in
one of their "Gypsy Style Caravans" and spent a lovely sunny evening enjoying a couple of beers. Next morning after a continental
breakfast, we were back onto the Autoroute and heading south
again, only to run into terrible roadworks in Rouen and a signed diversion route.
The diversion signs were in French, of course, and disappeared after
10 miles or so, but pointing us in the wrong direction. Thank god for
Sat Nav, which after a VERY long detour got us back on the correct

route, Autoroute past Alencon to Le Mans. arriving at our circuit camp

site mid afternoon, way behind schedule, after our long detour. We
met up with our Danish friends and set up our camp. As well as our
tents, we have a large marquee, which has a full kitchen, run by our
Danish chef, Thor, and a large dining room, which doubles up as a
bar, or restaurant, depending on whether you were eating or drinking!!! Generators are running 20 hours a day, to power up the fridges
and freezers, as it is very important to keep the food chilled and the
BEER COLD!!!!! This year we had 4 fridges, + 2 freezers, as well as a
beer cooler, IT IS VERY THIRSTY WORK SPECTATING AT LE
MANS.
On Monday we always make an effort to make friends with the security guys on our camp site and they do enjoy a can or two of very cold
beer and an extra effort was made with the guy in charge. This can be
very beneficial, if you have problems through the week.
As the campsite started to fill up, our neighbour's moved in next door,
a French family in a motorhome, from Alencon, just up the road. Again
we made friends with this family, who after setting up their camp, left
and went back home, to pick up one of their other cars! Tuesday
morning they arrived back onto the campsite, in a FORD GT40, not a
kit car or replica, but a real 1966 Mk2 GT40, which must have been
worth 500,000. No wonder it had its own garage, with a groundsheet, in the awning of their motorhome. We all stood in awe, gazing
at this piece of motor racing history, and the owner, who could not
speak any English ( and we speak very little French), offered to take
Thor, our chef, out for a run in the car. We were all VERY envious,
and when Thor came back after about an hour, he was so emotional,
he was in tears, having had a ride in one of his dream cars. Yet another Le Mans highlight to go into the memory bank, never to be forgotten!!!!

The car that reduced

Thor to tears.

Continued on page 10

Le Mans 2014 - the spectator experience

Just when you thought youd heard enough about Le Mans for one
year Les Davison couldnt resist sending this in.
Following on from the Editors report last month about his adventures
"Marshaling @ Le Mans 2014, I thought I could add my slant to this
"Adventure". As most of the club Know, Pam and I make the pilgrimage down to what we consider to be the "MECCA of Motorsport" every year, and have done so since 1989, when the Sauber Mercedes
of Jochen Mass won. This trip, way back then was organised by
Eric & Jackie Turtle (Tyne & Wear MGOC) who took their MG Midget
1275 and of course Pam & I in our MG Midget 1500. Joining us on
this trip were Derek and Sheila Pickering - MG Montego, Dave White
- MG Midget, Dave (the dentist) and his brother - MGB GT, Shaun
from Australia, with my son Darren - MGB, Clem & Anne Bains in
their MG Montego "QUICKSILVER". There were also a couple of
members from Gosforth, in their MG Midget, who managed to cross
the channel on the ferry, then stayed in Honfleur for the week and we
met them at the ferry terminal on our way home.
Anyway, enough of this history and on with this years trip. It started
on Saturday 7th June with the long drive down to Dover. We had a
ferry booked at 14-45, but arrived at Dover early and P & O put us
onto the next ferry to Calais. Once onto French roads, we headed
South from Calais on Autoroute A16/E402. After a couple of hours
we arrived at our first nights destination, just off the Autoroute near
to Abberville, at SARL Chateau Gaillard, This is a lovely old French
Chateau, which does Bed & Breakfast, but we had booked to stay in
one of their "Gypsy Style Caravans" and spent a lovely sunny evening enjoying a couple of beers. Next morning after a continental
breakfast, we were back onto the Autoroute and heading south
again, only to run into terrible roadworks in Rouen and a signed diversion route.
The diversion signs were in French, of course, and disappeared after
10 miles or so, but pointing us in the wrong direction. Thank god for
Sat Nav, which after a VERY long detour got us back on the correct

route, Autoroute past Alencon to Le Mans. arriving at our circuit camp

site mid afternoon, way behind schedule, after our long detour. We
met up with our Danish friends and set up our camp. As well as our
tents, we have a large marquee, which has a full kitchen, run by our
Danish chef, Thor, and a large dining room, which doubles up as a
bar, or restaurant, depending on whether you were eating or drinking!!! Generators are running 20 hours a day, to power up the fridges
and freezers, as it is very important to keep the food chilled and the
BEER COLD!!!!! This year we had 4 fridges, + 2 freezers, as well as a
beer cooler, IT IS VERY THIRSTY WORK SPECTATING AT LE
MANS.
On Monday we always make an effort to make friends with the security guys on our camp site and they do enjoy a can or two of very cold
beer and an extra effort was made with the guy in charge. This can be
very beneficial, if you have problems through the week.
As the campsite started to fill up, our neighbour's moved in next door,
a French family in a motorhome, from Alencon, just up the road. Again
we made friends with this family, who after setting up their camp, left
and went back home, to pick up one of their other cars! Tuesday
morning they arrived back onto the campsite, in a FORD GT40, not a
kit car or replica, but a real 1966 Mk2 GT40, which must have been
worth 500,000. No wonder it had its own garage, with a groundsheet, in the awning of their motorhome. We all stood in awe, gazing
at this piece of motor racing history, and the owner, who could not
speak any English ( and we speak very little French), offered to take
Thor, our chef, out for a run in the car. We were all VERY envious,
and when Thor came back after about an hour, he was so emotional,
he was in tears, having had a ride in one of his dream cars. Yet another Le Mans highlight to go into the memory bank, never to be forgotten!!!!

The car that reduced

Thor to tears.

Continued on page 10

Also on Monday Alan Hutchinson and Bill arrived for a couple of

nights, before they went off to their marshaling post for the duration of
the race week. On Tuesday I had to go down to the Tram station to
pick up Aslak Vind, another of our Danish friends, who is a motor sport
commentator on Danish Television, then on Wednesday it is time for
the first practice sessions to start. The public roads are all closed at
around 1-00 pm and the first of the support race practice sessions
start. Then at 6-00pm daylight practice for the 24Heures Du Mans
runs for 2 hours until 8-00pm, then again from 10-00pm until midnight
for night-time practice. Then it is time for some more beers in the bar.
This procedure is repeated on Thursday evening and night.
Friday is always called a rest day, with at 5-00pm a drivers parade in
Le Mans Centre Ville, (town centre) but we usually make this a party
day, and this year was no exception, and we had invited our French
Neighbour's and the head of security to a banquet and drinks in our
bar/restaurant. Pam had made one of her Speciality Cheesecakes
this time flavoured with Mandarin Napoleon Brandy for "pudding" and
this went down very well with our French Guests. It turned out that the
guy who was head of security on our site was a retired French Chef,
and had worked most of his life in some of the top restaurants in Paris.
After eating his pudding, he complimented Pam, saying that was the
best cheesecake that he had ever tasted and could not believe that it
was created in our camp kitchen!!!!! Pam was over the moon.

Jim Jamieson
Most of you will already be aware of the recent sad death of
former club chairman Jim. Stephen Ruddick has kindly
sent in a few words to mark his passing.

Jim, pictured here driving his distinctive green MGB roadster with matching hood, was a knowledgeable classic car enthusiast and former Chairman of MG Northumbria.
An evening spent in Jims company was always a lively and stimulating experience. His intelligent mind and ready wit were greatly enhanced
by the presence of a bottle of red wine.

Camping Danish
style!

A skilled engineer, he painstakingly restored his MGB, designed and

built his own trailer, then turned his attention to constructing the clubs
famous flagpole.
It has been very sad to witness the mental deterioration of our good friend
during the last few years. However it was typical of Jim that during my
last visit to the care home, he couldnt remember my name, but was able to
identify every make of vehicle in a photo album we looked at.
Jim will be sadly missed by all of us who knew and loved him.

10

3rd

Clubnight, Backworth 8.00 pm

13th Christmas night out

Chris Wilson

So now to the race weekend. Saturday morning starts very early with
car club parade laps, then a classic race for cars that had raced in
previously at Le Mans. Then a massive build up to the start at 300pm and for the next 24 hours, we spent watching the race from the
spectator banking on our campsite, which is at the start of the Porsche Curves, driving to various points on the circuit, to watch the race
progress. This driving, included at 01-00 am driving around to the forest at Les Hunaudieres, just after the chicane Michelin and before
Virage de Mulsanne. This has to be seen to be believed, the speed in
the pitch dark is incredible, and the braking distances from over
200mph, do not seem possible. Usually we get to bed in the early
hours, not long before sunrise, but some of our group go to bed earlier
and get up to see the cars at day-break. After a hearty breakfast it is
back to more spectating, but before long 3-00pm is here, and another
24 Heures Du Mans has come to an end.

Pam and MG6

at the circuit
entrance

Les Davison has let us know of the death of former member

Chris Wilson, who was actually one of the founder members
of the MGOC Tyne and Wear branch, which evolved into MG
Northumbria.
Around 1984 Chris took over running the club and had a
1500 damask red Midget and lived on Newsham Farm estate, Blyth. Current MGN members who were contemporaries of Chris include Bruce Beattie, Eric and Jackie Turtle and
of course Les.
Apparently Chris died in September but the news has only
just reached Les.

A quiet Sunday evening was followed by an early start on Monday

morning to pack everything up for the journey home and by lunch time
we said our goodbyes, and headed north. The Auto-routes that are
normally empty, as the French do not like paying the toll fees, are like
a mobile car show, full of British registered sports cars, and a lot of
them travelling at very illegal speeds, hurrying to catch car ferries at
the channel ports. Needless to say the gendarrnes are out in force,
and fines on the spot are order of the day. We safely reached our
ferry at Calais, and after a smooth crossing, we booked into our Premier Inn at Ashford in Kent. After a good nights sleep and another
hearty full English Breakfast, drove back home to Blyth.

Les Davison
6

11

Survey
With the deadline for completing this now passed,
Peter Hyde reports that he received 61 responses.
Thanks to all those who took the time to complete it.
Peter is now analysing these and his report will be in
the January newsletter.

7. The average American spends around 100 hours a year

commuting back and forth between work.

8. Due to the increasing number of electric and hybrid powered vehicles, firefighters and other emergency services personnel are having to undergo special training which teaches
them how to safely manage the high voltage power sources
which may be exposed and extremely dangerous after a vehi-

Standard exhaust? Dont think so!

cle accident.

9. The World's longest car was

a specially constructed limousine which was built in California. Where else? It was 100
feet long (30.5 metres), and
featured a swimming pool and
king-size waterbed. When the
1983carry a small helicopter at
pool was covered over Established
it could also
------the rear!

This Midget was spotted by Bob Heslop at the MG Live event at Silverstone in July. Bob reckons its a bit of an anachronism as although
it has a 1966 registration it has a GAN5 shell. The safety cage confirms
it as being there to race, although Bob says it didnt appear in the race
programme.
12

Scotlands largest stockists of new & used MG & other Classic Parts.
MGOC Reccomended Supplier & 5 Star Spanner Award .
Full Workshop facilities, Bodywork specialists, Insurance work undertaken.
Always breaking Maestros, MGAs, MGBs, Magnettes, Midgets, for spares.
Fast & efficient Mail Order service
10. The Pan-American
Highway, which stretches from Circle,
-----Alaska to Puerto
MonttRoad,
in Chile
- a distance
16,031 miles
131, Jamphlars
Cardenden,
Fife, KY5of
0ND
E-mail
:- sales@chicdoig.com
(25,800 km), is the
longest
highway in the World.
Tel:- Office 01592-722999, Parts Department 01592-722666

Thanks to Dave Stokoe for unearthing these.

Little known motoring facts

1. The Longest traffic jam ever occurred in France on the 16th

June 1980. It stretched from Paris to Lyon, a distance of 109
miles (176 km).
2. Police in the city of Monrovia, Liberia have controlled the
flow of traffic by hand since 1990 when the traffic light system
stopped working.

3. The first land-speed record

was conducted in 1890 by
Count Gaston de ChasseloupLaubat, or the "Electric Count"
as he was later known. Using
his electric car he achieved a
top speed of 39.24 mph (63.15
km/h). The record only stood for a few days before it fell to a
slightly faster electric car. Less than 100 years later (99 to be
exact), Thrust SSC became the first vehicle to break the
sound barrier. Now that's progress

4. Taxis have been operating in the city of London since 1636.

Back then there were only 50 taxis serving the entire city.

Established 1983
-------

Scotlands largest stockists of new & used MG & other Classic Parts.
MGOC Reccomended Supplier & 5 Star Spanner Award .
Full Workshop facilities, Bodywork specialists, Insurance work undertaken.
Always breaking Maestros, MGAs, MGBs, Magnettes, Midgets, for spares.
Fast & efficient Mail Order service
-----131, Jamphlars Road, Cardenden, Fife, KY5 0ND
E-mail :- sales@chicdoig.com
Tel:- Office 01592-722999, Parts Department 01592-722666

5. Vehicles sitting in traffic jams around the world use up to

5.7 billion gallons (26 billion litres) of fuel each year.

13

Please let me know if you would be interested in these. In

particular the Thirlestane trip as we will need to find somewhere with enough rooms and the deadline for booking a
club stand is 19/4/15.
Those at the AGM will know that Bob Heslop has decided
to stand down from the committee after many years service, for that and on behalf of the club I say a big thank
you.
Bob organised the MG90 timeline we had at Classics in
Corbridge this year. 2015 is the 60th anniversary of the
MGA and the 50th of the MGBGT. Do you know of any other anniversary? Let me know.
Wingrove & MG Newcastle
Wingrove motor company are pleased to bring the all new MG to
the North East. Wingrove was founded in 1925 by John Myers Dalkin Snr a local cattle auctioneer. Wingrove pride themselves on being a family owned business, with five generations in the business.
Having stood the test of time overcoming issues such as the devastating WW11 and the major changes in the automobile industry,
Wingroves latest venture comes in the form of becoming the sole
North East provider of MG.
Unbelievably starting at 8,399, for the entry model. The real value
lies in the mid-spec 3Form because it starts at 9,299, with spec including iPod connection, DAB radio, aircon, Bluetooth and steering
wheel audio controls. The top-spec 3Style adds parking sensors,
cruise control auto wiper/lights and diamond cut alloys.
MG Newcastle are the dealer for Newcastle at Fox & Hounds 388
West Road Newcastle NE51ER and fully trained service and after
sales department. Follow us on Facebook MGNewcastle. Call on
0191 2288025

14

Thanks & best wishes for a happy Christmas.

Tim Cook
chairman@mgnorthumbria.org

New Members
This month we welcome to MG Northumbria:
Kevin Garside and Wendy Monaghan from Togston,
Morpeth. Kevin and Wendy have a MGF Trophy.

Chairmans Chat
Hello again, as we begin the quieter winter season.
I am pleased to report that the end of season wear and
tear damage to my car has now been put right. The
brakes now work without the worn pad grating noise and
the new hinge on the tailgate has also made talking in the
car possible as the rattling noise has gone. So only the
MOT to pass and we will be ready for the new season.
At the November committee we agreed that in future
members on email will no longer receive a printed copy.
We feel that now it comes in page order the email copy is
more reader and printer friendly and of course it will save
us money. I hope this doesnt upset the few members receiving both versions.
We also discussed the possibility of two trips in 2015.
The first would be 6-8 June and would be a run into the
borders on the 6th with a visit to Thirlestane show http://
www.bvac.org.uk/thirlestane/ on the 7th with a return home
on the 8th. I remember this was often in the club calendar
years ago, but it is a long day to have as a day out.
The second trip would be later in the year and based on a
highly recommended route and hotel in the Yorkshire
Dales based near Skipton where John Mitchell stayed this
year. It would probably follow a similar format over 3
days/2 nights.

15

Northumbrian
December 2014

Merry Christmas

Ian MacNeish regrets forgetting to

rinse the TF off after giving it a late
night wash.

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