DURNOVARIA 1008 NEWSLETTER JULY 2016

The Essential Newsletter for the MG Owners Club Dorchester Area 1008 £5 p.a.

INSIDE THIS MONTH’S NEWSLETTER * Pre-War J-Type Midgets * MG Midget - a Wolseley, Austin or Triumph? * Jay Leno’s MG TD Hot Rod - 340 Horsepower! * Diary of Events - Gartell Railway * Minterne House Evening Run * Fish & Chip Run - Durlston Castle

1933 MG J1 Salonette at Amberley Museum W. Sussex MGOC Durnovaria 1008 - July 2016

FRONT COVER - The J-type was produced by MG from externally mounted 12 gallon slab tank and carrier mounted 1932 to 1934. It used an updated version of the overhead spare wheel. The J1 had a bulbous rear end with only a 6 gallon camshaft, crossflow , used in the 1928 tank concealed behind the rear seat. A neat lockable hinged and Wolseley 10 and previously fitted in the MG M-type fuel flap was incorporated on the nearside rear corner of the car. Midget of 1929 to 1932. Other differences on the J1 were the side shields faired into the cycle type front wings, giving greater protection from road dirt The chassis was from the D-Type with suspension by half-elliptic and water. springs and Hartford friction shock absorbers all round with rigid front and rear axles. Most cars were open two-seaters, but a Later on in 1932 the J3 and J4 became available. The J3 was closed salonette version of the J1 was also made, and some a racing version with the engine capacity reduced to 746 cc chassis were supplied to external coachbuilders. The open by shortening the from 83 to 73 mm and fitted with a cars can be distinguished from the M type by having cut-away Powerplus supercharger. The smaller engine capacity was to tops to the doors. The MG J1 cost £220 in open and £225 in allow the car to compete in 750 cc class racing events. Larger Salonette form. It was a pretty looking car and was a practical brakes from the L-type were fitted. The J4 was a pure racing 4 seater sports returning reasonable performance from its race version with lightweight body work and the J3 engine, but using developed 847cc engine, about 380 J1s were built. more boost from the supercharger to obtain 72 bhp. Motor magazine gave extensive editorial to the new range of Only nine J4s were produced, the £495 price tag was probably Midgets leading with a banner headline ‘80mph MG Midget for the limiting factor. The J4 was a very fast car with several runs under £200’. This statement, although true, caused considerable of over 100 mph being recorded at Brooklands. If you fancy a embarrassment later on for Cecil Kimber. He had instructed Reg replica J4, the last one sold by Barry Walker, the pre-war MG Jackson, one of his top development engineers to ensure that specialist, went for almost £70,000 - start saving! MB all the press cars were capable of at least 80mph. This he duly did and reports in the press gave great prominence to this with S C H Davis of Autocar reporting that he had achieved 82mph on road test. Several days later the two main bearing crankshaft broke on this particular car and the factory had to lower the compression ratio for the start of the production run. The J2 was then dogged with complaints from owners bemoaning the fact that their cars would not perform as Autocar said they would! The J1 and J2 set the fashion in MG cars for many years to come with the J2 displaying a classic humped scuttle and low cut away This J4 Midget was spotted at Beaulieu ‘Simply Classics’ event in June. doors. The J1 was This is a much-raced replica looking very original to the untrained eye. a little more sedate with a flatter topped Technical data J1 - J2: scuttle incorporating • Engine: In line, water cooled 4 cylinder; 847cc a less sporting but • Overhead Camshaft - Twin semi-downdraught SUs nonetheless highly functional dashboard. This had an enclosed • Compression Ratio: 6.2:1 - Power: 36 bhp @ 5500 rpm glovebox on the near side with a dummy one for symmetry on • Manual ‘crash’ 4 forward speeds and reverse. the off side on which was mounted the horn push and dip switch. • Wheelbase: 7’ 2” Track: 3’ 6” front and rear. The long bonnet seemed out of proportion with the rest of the • Suspension: Front: half elliptic springs beam axle. car, but this concealed not only the engine and gearbox, but the • Rear: half elliptic springs, live axle. foot controls and the legs of the driver and passenger as well! • Brakes: 8” drum cable operated - Tyres: 27x4 • Maximum speed 75 mph. Fuel; approx 35 mpg On lifting the bonnet is seemed odd to peer into the footwell • Acceleration: 0-60 mph 15 secs. and cockpit from the engine compartment, but this design had its advantages for ease of maintenance and it also kept the passenger compartment reasonably warm from the heat generated by the engine. The tail of both the J1 and J2 was relatively short and stubby with the J2 only extended by the

Your Editor (with hairy face) and ‘modified’ MG J2 - drinking, not driving!

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Is your MG Midget a Wolseley - or an Austin - or even a Triumph? ‘noun: midget - a very small thing or person - diminutive of midge (from Old English mygg, mycg (“gnat”) pushrod, overhead valve, four-cylinder A-series unit. In the Sprite however, it had been given twin SU carburettors and developed around 42bhp, which was sufficient to propel the little car to around 80mph. The new Austin-Healey Sprite became known as the “Frogeye” Sprite due to its headlamps being set into the

In 1922 the tiny 748cc had brought motoring to a new public. Four Years later William Morris’s answer was the Morris Minor, a small 4-seater car with an 850 cc engine, produced from 1928 to 1934. A more complex design than Austin’s Seven, the all- new car was on the market by the middle of 1928. The new Morris engine was designed by Wolseley which front of the one-piece front end, with a mouth-like grille by this time was personally owned by William Morris. being mounted on the front edge. However, in 1961, the It was largely a new design but much smaller than any bodywork of the Sprite came in for a major restyling. The existing Wolseley unit. The overhead camshaft engine central cockpit portion remained essentially the same, but produced 20 bhp allowing a top speed of 55 mph. the front and rear bodywork was completely restyled and redesigned to give the car a more conventional squared-off The MG M-Type Midget had been developed from the baby Morris Minor, The result was a basic, cheap, fun two- appearance. The engine and running gear was essentially the same as the earlier Sprite, but output was up to around 47bhp, which lead to increases in performance. In this form, the car was known as the Austin-Healey Sprite Mark II, but shortly after a De Luxe version was announced. In 1961 the Sprite MkII was re-badged to become known as the MG Midget. The Austin’s steering was replaced by a rack and pinion set-up as used in the then current Morris Minor. The designed Minor was also the source for the hydraulically-operated rear brakes, although the rear axle was from the baby Austin. As with the MGB, later models were fitted with oversized ‘rubber’ bumper’s, nicknamed “Sabrinas” (after the well- seater, with sporting pretensions which triggered a whole endowed British actress). These replaced the chrome dynasty of Midgets. It was the Midget series which had bumpers, in order to meet US impact regulations. The ride established MG as a manufacturer of sports cars with an height needed to be increased which affected the handling excellent reputation in motor sport. and an anti-roll bar was added to help. With the arrival of The Midget range had culminated with the TF face-lift the 1500 model, the A-Series engine was replaced by the model and was laid to rest in 1955, when it was replaced 1493 cc unit from the Triumph Spitfire and a modified by the more modern Morris Marina gearbox with synchromesh on all four design of the MGA. gears. The New more powerful engine was better able to It seemed doubtful cope with increasing emission regulations. In 1980 after that we would ever 19 years, Midget production ceased along with the last of see a Midget again. the MGB models. MB However, in the late 1950’s, yet another basic, cheap, fun two-seater was developed from a “baby” car. This time, the more modern equivalent of the old Austin Seven was used, the Austin A30/35. This new two-seater car was the Austin-Healey Sprite, which appeared in 1959 and was built at Abingdon. The Sprite was powered by an engine and transmission which had come straight from the Austin, and was a 948cc 3 MGOC Durnovaria 1008 - July 2016

Jay Leno’s MG TD V8 Hot Rod - from 48 to 340 horsepower!

Jay Leno is never one to surprise us with anything - we’ve come to expect his crazy vehicular shenanigans. A recent episode of ‘Jay Leno’s Garage’ featured a 1952 MG TD body mated with a ‘stroked’, fuel-injected V8. As he describes it, “this drop-top makes in the neighborhood of 48 horsepower when stock, but the new mill takes that to around 340 horsepower at the rear wheels, according to the dyno sheets – that’s a healthy upgrade by any It is currently fitted with a mild cam and electronic measure. Also, the looks could almost pass for stock until someone notices the fuel injection, and produces 340 horsepower at the massive rear tires sticking out past the fenders.” rear wheels, pushing the car to an impressive 10.70 second quarter mile at 127 mph. In addition to just talking about the car, Leno invites the original owner and builder to come on the show. The MG now in Jay’s possession, was built by Jay has kept the car in the same basic condition David Stenmark, who found the MG in a small New England town back in since he bought it, but course, part of the spirit of 1970, languishing without an engine or transmission. He bought it on the spot, hot rodding is continuously making a vehicle better, paying a whopping $150 for the car. It was so incomplete that it had no hope of and Jay’s latest project with this MG is installing disc ever being an all-original restoration, so he subsequently built himself a unique brakes up front. hot rod and documented the process as work progressed. To view this episode just search for ‘Jay Leno’s The 1952 MG TD is fitted with a 383 stroker Small Block Chevy crammed Garage MG TD V8’ - or follow this link: under its ‘hood’ and massive rear tyres spilling from under the ‘fenders’. After https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRx6LqWTE-I at least one V-8 engine swap, Stenmark settled on the stroked 350.

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EVENTS DIARY

Next Weekend Run Sunday June 26th The Gartell Light Railway at Templecombe

NEXT CLUB MEETING TUESDAY 5th JULY - ‘NOGGIN & NATTER’

MONTHLY TUESDAY CLUB EVENINGS WEEKEND RUNS

MAY MAY Tuesday 3rd Bring and Buy Saturday 7th Hooke Park Wood & School of Architecture JUNE Kingston Maurward 11:15 for 11:30am No club meeting - replaced by Wednesday evening run MAY JULY Monday 30th DAMASC - Classics in the Park Tuesday 5th Noggin & Natter’ Poole Park AUGUST JUNE th Tuesday 2nd ‘Prod & Poke’ bring your MG Sunday 26th Gartell Light Railway - Templecombe Top O’Town Car Park 11:15 for 11:30am SEPTEMBER JULY Tuesday 6th Wayne’s MG ‘Beetle Drive Sunday 31st Sub Tropical Gardens OCTOBER Top O’Town Car Park 11:15 for 11:30am th Tuesday 4 Murder Mystery Evening AUGUST th NOVEMBER Sunday 28 Stourhead House & Garden Tuesday 1st AGM & Quiz 8pm prompt Top O’Town Car Park 11:15 for 11:30am SEPTEMBER DECEMBER th TH Sunday 25 End of Season Run to Tuesday 6 Christmas Dinner (venue TBA) The Fox Inn Ansty All meetings at The Colliton Club 7:30 for 8pm: Top O’Town Car Park 11:15 for 11:30am Colliton House, County Hall, Please note that events may change or be amended - please check Dorchester DT1 1XJ Tel. 01305 224503 the current newsletter or contact a committee member

WEDNESDAY EVENING RUNS MGOC 1008 DURNOVARIA CONTACTS

MAY 11th The Sennett’s Mystery Tour Chairman - Ray Moore Top O’Town Car Park 6:30 for 6:45pm T: 01305 268105 E: [email protected]

JUNE 1st Visit to Minterne House Gardens Vice Chairman & Events Organiser - Peter Elliott Top O’Town Car Park 6:30 for 6:45pm T: 01258 451763 E: [email protected]

JUNE 22nd Evening Fish & Chip Run to Treasurer & Secretary - Paul Storey Durlston Castle T: 01305 848656 E: [email protected] Top O’Town Car Park 6:15 for 6:30pm Charity Organiser and Assistant Secretary - Hilary Storey T: 01305 848656 E: [email protected] JULY 13th Graham Starr’s Mystery Tour Top O’Town Car Park 6:30 for 6:45pm Committee Members Alan Cooper T: 07815 305619 E: [email protected] th AUG 10 Ray & Lorrain’s Mystery Tour Mike Benton - Newsletter - T: 01929 554250 E: [email protected] Top O’Town Car Park 6:30 for 6:45pm

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Minterne House Visit - Wednesday June 1st Evening Run

t was a cold and Minterne shows strong heavily clouded influences of Brown’s work evening on June 1st as although he took no part in the theI hardy few gathered at the design. Originally at Minterne Henry Digby Sophie Digby Top O’Town car park. there was just a small stream below the Previously it had been raining heavily house, with a square bowling green and and blowing a gale at Wareham so your Editor and Mrs. Editor four rectangular, gardens or paddocks, up to the house. The small decided that discretion being the better part of something or other, stream was dammed up to make a series of small lakes & cascades. we would go in the modern. However we should have had more faith The square gardens were swept away, and many trees planted, and by the time we got to the T.O.T.C.P. to join the others, the rain had mostly indigenous varieties, but also cedars and other exotic trees. stopped and the roads had dried out. However it was still blinkin’ cold Although the hills are chalk, the garden is situated on a mound of for June and in fact the temperature on my car’s digital readout was green sand and this, with the humus and dappled shade provided by showing 13ºC - colder than it had been in January - very odd! the large beech trees, was the perfect setting for the Rhododendrons Peter and Pam led the way in their TD and Sarah and I brought up the and Magnolias. The 20 acres of wild woodland garden are laid out rear. At Minterne we drove through the gates marked ‘No Vehicles’ in a horseshoe over a mile round. The original Minterne House has and parked in front the house at the main entrance. We had been been the setting for several films and television programmes including; granted free access to wander around and we meandered off into Tom Jones in 1963 and Far from the Madding Crowd, filmed in 1967. the gardens. To our surprise, we were greeted by The Hon. Henry The original Manor House suffered from the ravages of dry rot and Digby, who described to us the fascinating history and construction of became uninhabitable. The treasures and furniture were put into Minterne gardens. After our rather chilly walk around the wonderful storage and the house was totally demolished and the site cleared. Himalayan gardens, which were in full magnificent bloom, we were The new house, built of Ham Hill stone, was constructed between invited into the house by Henry Digby and his wife Sophie, who made 1904-6 to designs by Leonard Stokes. It has stone slated roofs with us most welcome. Henry Digby regaled us with tales of his family’s stone copings and variously positioned ashlar and brick chimney derring dos, sea battles and memorabilia. One notable example was stacks. The north front has a U-shaped plan with a central porch. a book, which had been ‘shivered’ by a musket shot at the Battle of Our group was so much taken with the tales and adventures told by Trafalgar in 1805. Also passed around the group was a gold Spanish Henry Digby and his personal tour of the house, that no time was left doubloon coin, part of the bounty seized by Admiral Henry Digby in to go ‘pubbing’ afterwards. As the light faded we bade our farewells 1799 from a Spanish frigate. and made our separate ways home, thinking what a splendid evening The park was laid out by Admiral Robert Digby, an officer in the we had all enjoyed. A big thank you goes to Peter for arranging Royal Navy, who was appointed ‘Admiral of the Red’ and given the this visit for us and to Henry and Sophie Digby who made us most command of the North American Station in 1781. When he returned welcome. For our fellow members who couldn’t make it - you missed to Minterne after the American War of Independence, it is believed a cracking evening! MB that he brought key members of his crew back with him to undertake the landscaping. The plant hunters of the Victorian times explored throughout China, Bhutan and the Himalayas in search of botanical species. These plant hunters were sponsored by many amateur garden enthusiasts in England, under the umbrella of the Royal Horticultural Society. Their trips, lasting up to 6 years each, introduced countless new exotic species to English Gardens. Magnolias, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, to name but a few. The seed was shared around the sponsors who propagated them as a basis for exotic subtropical shrub gardens; the vast majority of species at Minterne were propagated from seeds brought back by these explorers. The gardens are influenced by ‘Capability’ Brown’s work who when he came down to Sherborne Castle, Our group with The Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Digby (centre) Robert Digby would ride over to pick his brains.

6 Minterne House Gardens June 1st Evening Run

5 MGOC Durnovaria 1008 - July 2016 Editor’s Notes So far the MG ‘season’ is going brilliantly and we have enjoyed the Colliton Club for a ‘Noggin’ and Natter’ evening. Then of some great outings, only the weather seems not to be playing course we have our next Wednesday evening run on July 13th the game. Now that Summer has officially arrived and we have when that mysterious fellow Graham Starr will lead us astray for cast our vote in the Referendum, what else remains but to get out his Mystery Tour, starting at the Top O’Town Car Park 6:30 for and about in our MGs. The next Durnovaria event is on Sunday 6:45pm. Graham’s tour is still a mystery (to him as well as us!) June 26th to the Gartell Light Railway at Templecombe. however the sure thing is that we will end up at the Frampton Arms Gathering at the Top O’Town Car Park at 11:15 for an 11:30am at Moreton for a ‘Ploughman’s Supper’. Graham will contact you start, the run will head north for about 25 miles taking in some of with more details closer to the time. Looking forward to Sunday the most beautiful parts of North . 31st July Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens promises to be On Tuesday July 5th, we are back to our regular meeting at another great day out - happy MGing. Mike Benton Fish and Chip Run - Durlston Castle he morning of Wednesday 22nd June started out really wet and Tmiserable, in fact it was pouring down and the chances of it clearing up for the evening run looked pretty slim. However, by the late afternoon the rain had given way to blue skies and fluffy white clouds. A band of happy MGers loitered at Wareham in readiness to join up with the Dorchester starters. After a wait, communications were established with the Dorchester section and the rules of engagement established to assemble with the Wareham sec- tion in a lay-by on the Wareham bypass. The two groups thus assembled in formation to head down to . After a very pleasant run in the sun- it was now pouring with rain with zero visibility- a mass exodus shine with hoods down, our band a intrepid fish and chippers ensued to the car park to raise hoods that had been left down arrived Durlston castle. after the journey to Swanage in the sunshine. Sometime later The Durlston area was owned and farmed by various farmers the ‘drowned rats’ reappeared and resumed their places, gently and landowners, but in 1863 George Burt purchased a sig- steaming for the rest of the evening as we enjoyed the spectacle nificant part of Durlston and a new era began. Burt used his of thunder and lightening over Swanage bay. wealth to help transform Swanage from an ‘old world village’ to As we left, fully satiated with the best of British traditional fare, a fashionable seaside spa. He retired in 1886, and turned his we were grateful that the downpour had stopped. The skies energies to developing further his estate, with the newly still looked dark and sinister as we travelled in convoy commissioned Durlston Head Castle as its centre- back towards Corfe Castle. Approaching the vil- piece. The Castle was constructed by a local lage, the horizon had now cleared to reveal a builder, William Masters Hardy, and despite band of glowing orange, spookily silhouett- its traditional appearance, an iron frame ing the castle towering above us. Thankfully lies behind its stone cladding. Durlston we didn’t see any bats flying around the tur- Castle has now been refurbished funded rets or long-toothed Transylvanian counts in partly from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It took 8 flowing cloaks! Continuing on our return journey, years to transform and now provides a unique and beauti- we reached the Wareham roundabout and went our separate ful facility for visitors to Durlston and the World ways, waving a cheery goodbye to the fifty or so modern cars Heritage Site. that had joined the rear of our convoy. In spite of the downpour, Our hosts at the Seventhwave café and restaurant, made us we all spent a most enjoyable evening in good company and full most welcome and served up our group of 32 quickly and ef- to the brim with some spot-on fish and chips. Many thanks to ficiently. Needless to say the fish and chips was of excellent Peter and Pamela for organising the evening and checking the quality and a good time was being had by one and all. One of route for hazards and obstructions a few days earlier - another our group, on casually glancing out the window of the restau- Durnovaria very successful evening. MB rant, noticed that we had suddenly become part of a cloud and Some of the dozen MGs on the run at Durlston

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