DURNOVARIA 1008 NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017

The Essential Newsletter for the MG Owners Club Dorchester Area 1008

The British Motor Museum - ‘Old Number One’ MGOC Durnovaria 1008 - September 2017

Old Number One - a Brief History Front cover story The rather charming 1925 cherry red sports car on the front cover is the first MG to be built specifically to compete in sporting events. I took the photograph whilst on a recent visit to The British Motor Museum. The reason we had gone to the area was that Sarah had planned a visit to the Quilting Exhibition at the NEC. This was to be a two-day session, but I declined the offer to join her and the hoards of other quilters, (probably mentioning that I would rather boil my own head), so I planned a two day petrol-head session for myself, taking in The British Motor Museum and the National Motorcycle Museum at Meriden Cecil Kimber and the ‘MG’ Special after preliminary testing and somewhere else, which I am too embarrassed to mention (oh alright, it was a bus museum!) The former Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon in Warwickshire has now been renamed the ‘British Motor Museum’ after a five million pound revamp with the aid of lottery funding. It now features over 250 cars on display and a fascinating ‘reserve collection’. With my obvious connections with things MG, on my visit I sought out quite a few interesting cars, including a rather nice black 1954 MG TF 1250 very similar to my own. There was also a fascinating cutaway display of an MGA Twin Cam amongst the other rare MGs. The ‘bullnose’ sports car I photographed on the front cover, is traditionally called ‘Old Number One’, however it is not Notice the MG octagon on the side - 1925 the first ‘MG’ car. By 1924, Morris Garages had produced several cars based on the Bullnose Morris chassis, Eventually Old Number One was sold for £300 to a friend of Cecil Kimber’s . It was reputed to have only cost £279 advertised under the now famous MG initials and several more ‘MG sports Morris’ cars followed before the year end. to build. Sadly some years later it was spotted being used to haul a pig food trailer of all things and subsequently in 1932 it was discovered in a Manchester scrap yard by an employee of the MG Car Company. It was bought for £15 and taken to the Abingdon factory to be restored and used as a promotion vehicle. The Nuffield Organisation were the first to adopt the title Old Number One when they utilised the car in advertising and publicity material for the MG Car Company and the title has remained ever since. When the car was restored by the factory the colour was changed from the original grey primer to the colour it is today, cherry red. The car has always featured well in MG publicity material and has been exhibited on numerous occasions at home and also abroad, A 14/28 MG Super Sports Morris Oxford - At this time the MG on one occasion it was shipped to the USA to feature in the logo was not used on the cars, just in the sales literature 50th anniversary celebrations of MG. Cecil Kimber (sales manager for Morris Garages - Morris’s The car now forms part of the collection at Gaydon, where retail outlet) ultimately won approval from William Morris to it is generally on permanent display. It is kept in full running build a true sports car. The first one was built specifically order and indeed throughout its life many privileged for entry into the Lands End trial in early 1925, in which the journalists, historians and enthusiasts have been allowed car took top honors. It was initially painted grey and had the to drive the car to assess its merits - the car that helped MG octagon symbol painted on the side. In retrospect Cecil fuel the tremendous following that the marque now enjoys Kimber himself dubbed this one the first MG he ever built. worldwide. But still there was no M.G. Car Company. ‘Old Number One’ was registered FC 7900 and was completed in March of 1925. His passenger on that occasion was Wilfred Matthews, who was later described by Kimber as “my first passenger in my first MG”. Early MGs, including this ‘Kimber Special’, were based on standard Morris chassis with special coachwork, far more elegant than the normal range of Morris bodies. Old Number One had bodywork by of . It used a special overhead valve version of the side-valve Hotchkiss-type engine normally found in the Bullnose Morris. The engine in the car has been dated to 1921 yet it A fortunate journalist gets to drive Old Number One was capable of reaching 80 mph. The British Motor Museum A Grand Day Out

by Mike Benton

he British Motor Museum, (previously The Heritage Under current construction is the development of the old Land Motor Centre), at Gaydon in Warwickshire, was originally Rover off-road course into a staff car park for 500 vehicles Topened with the assistance of the . It adjacent to the Heritage building, which hopefully presents an charts the history of the British motor industry starting from opportunity for much larger Heritage gatherings. The catering the beginning of the 20th century up to present day. Opened and other facilities within the Heritage building are shared with in 1993 as the amalgamation of the British Motor Industry JLR staff and the excellent café/restaurant provides first class Heritage Trust’s preserved car collection, it brought together reasonably priced meals. cars from various locations under one roof for public viewing. The Museum leases the building from JLR. The main entry fee The centre originally only housed cars from companies that includes a one year free pass and admission to the adjacent had been part of , but when the Rover Group Jaguar Daimler Heritage collection - well worth the visit on its was broken up in 2000, the trust decided to expand its remit to own. The Jaguar collection includes some unique vehicles all of the motor industry in Britain. In 2016 the Trust won a £4 including William Lyons very first complete car, the SS1 16hp million Heritage Lottery Grant to complete an exciting project coupé along with the original E-Type demonstrator car that to put cars from its reserve collection on show. Now totally Norman Dewis drove overnight from Coventry to the Geneva revamped, it provides a fascinating insight into Britain’s once motor show for the model’s launch in 1961. proud and diverse motor manufacturing industry. I managed to spend a whole day at Gaydon but still there The 65 acre site is now owned by Jaguar were many items and vehicles I was unable to take in. Foot Automotive plc, (JLR) and in March of this year the company fatigue set in before I had explored all I wanted to see! As well embarked on a £200 million redevelopment of its design and as some rare and interesting MGs there was a whole area engineering centre at Gaydon. The new space will centralise showing experimental vehicles and one-off prototypes including design, product engineering and purchasing functions in a some rather special MG prototypes that never made production modern environment, as well as creating additional capacity for pictured below. In all, it was a grand day out for anyone even future expansion. mildly interested in British motoring.

1989 MG DR2 prototype was fitted with a Rover V8 engine - the project MG EX-E 1985 concept MG using the rally Metro 3 litre V6 engine - in was retired in favour of the mid-engined MGF road it trim was to develop 250hp & 410hp for competition use

A 1964 MG design concept based on sub-frames as a Midget/Sprite Just in case you were wondering, this is what an MGB GT looks like cut replacement which thankfully never made it to production. in half! MGOC Durnovaria 1008 - September 2017

The Portland Show Run not forgetting Breakfast at Broadmayne

lthough not in our scheduled diary of events, what a a dog show, archaeology display, pony rides, face painting, great turn-out of MGs we had at Tim and Sharyn’s various refreshments plus an amazing raffle with many Ahome in Broadmayne on Saturday morning the 19th super prizes, such as meals for two, all donated by local August. I think it must have been something to do with the business and individuals. yummy breakfast that Tim and Sharyn provided for us. Who In celebration of a grant keeping the playing field out of can resist the lure of bacon rolls, croissants, pastries and the hands of developers for the next 35 years, the show coffee? was formerly opened by Mayor Cllr Thurston and was We were made so welcome and we were all enjoying the well supported. Durnovaria members enjoyed their usual convivial company so much that we were reluctant to leave. pastime - sitting around in a group eating and chatting. We But as we were due at the Portland show at Weston by also made good use of the stalls and later paraded our 1.30pm we had to fire up the MGs and head off to the show. cars in convoy around the showground for all to admire! All At the event field were cordially greeted by Garry and Liz members of our Durnovaria group agreed that it was a most who waved us in and we lined up to display our cars. This enjoyable event and many thanks to Tim and Sharyn for was the first year of the show and although small included organising and hosting it for us.

Bacon Buttie or croissant? - Too full to stand up! better have a sit Our Oz upside down ‘down under’ difficult decision - let’s have both! down at half time - room for more? friends now thankfully the right way up

Queen of the kitchen bringing home I’ll tell you about Bath and Our new member Fig looking longingly the bacon - & coffee & pastries & ...... you tell me about Berlin at Peter’s sausage The Portland Show Run More Photos

1936 MG TA, driven up from Chard by Paul has learned to stand well clear Derek has trouble persuading the John and Shirley Mansell when Hilary is wealding the hammer group to join in armchair aerobics

MG Ted and England Ted It’s actually quite tiring sitting in a field join in the fun

A fine line-up of MGs Fig the dog finds new friends MGOC Durnovaria 1008 - September 2017

Tuesday Club Nights Wednesday Evening Runs Weekend Runs N.B. All club meetings Colliton Club Wednesday 17th May Sunday 23rd April: at 7.30 for 8 pm. Alan & Judi’s Mystery Tour Please Book “Drive It Day” Tuesday 7th February POSTPONED due to bad weather Classics at the Mill, The MG year ahead more details later Haselbury Mill nr. Crewkerne. 10am - 4.00pm Saturday 18th March Wednesday 21st June Skittles Run to Durlston Castle followed by Sunday 7th May The Spitfire Club, Mount Skippet Fish & Chips Run + Picnic then run to Compton Way, off Warmwell Road, TOTCP 6.30 for 6.45 Abbas Airfield Crossways, Dorchester DT2 8TP TOTCP 11.00am Wednesday 12th July Tuesday 4th April Peter & Pam’s Mystery Tour Saturday 10th June Peter & Ray’s Quiz TOTCP 6.30 for 6.45 Lunch @ Peter & Pam’s Tuesday 2nd May TOTCP - see additional information Wednesday 9th August Bring & Buy Sale Alan & Judy’s Mystery Tour Sunday 23rd July Tuesday 6th June TOTCP 6.30 for 6.45 start Run & Afternoon Tea at The Great MG Bake Off Symondsbury Kitchen, nr. Bridport All our Wednesday evening runs TOTCP 2.00pm Tuesday 4th July are now complete marking the Old Photographs end of our evening run season. Sunday 10th September Tuesday 1st August Haynes Motor Museum Display of members’ cars TOTCP 9.30am Tuesday 5th September Saturday 23rd September Wayne’s MG Beetle drive Picnic at Sculpture By The Lakes, Tuesday 3th October Pallington & Tea at Storey’s TBA TOTCP 12.00pm Tuesday 7th November Sunday 15 October AGM & Quiz The Dorset Golf club. Tuesday 5th December Our end of Season Run & Lunch Christmas Dinner TOTCP (Time to be decided)

MGOC 1008 CLUB CONTACTS

Chairman - Ray Moore New Date T: 01305 268105 E: [email protected] Vice Chairman - Peter Elliott T: 01258 451763 E: [email protected] Treasurer & Secretary - Paul Storey T: 01305 848656 E: [email protected] Charity Organiser and Assistant Secretary - Hilary Storey T: 01305 848656 E: [email protected] Sculpture by The Lakes Events Coordinator - Tim Creed T: 01305 520086 E: [email protected] Saturday 23rd September Newsletter Production - Mike Benton Picnic by The Lakes & Tea at Hilary & Paul’s T: 01929 554250 E: [email protected] Meet TOTCP 12 Noon Alan Cooper T: 07815 305619 E: [email protected]

MGOC Durnovaria 1008 - September 2017

August Club Events - Hilary Storey Our August Club night has traditionally for the last few years involved a display of members’ cars. This year it was probably the best attended for a long time. A gathering in the Colliton Club car park of a most fantastic array of various MG models. I won’t attempt to recount all the model types in case I miss one out, but I think we had an MG PA 1934, MG TF 1954, MGA, MG Midgets, an Austin Healey Sprite, Austin Healey Frogeyed Sprite, MGB Roadsters and GT’s, and Alan’s new acquisition a late model modern MG ZR 1.8 Ltr 160 model. Mid Week Pub Run This event was followed the following week by the mid month pub run organised by Alan and Judi. There had been an awful lot of rain in the daytime but the forecast for the evening was better and the sun evenly briefly came out accompanied by our MG coming out of the garage. When we got to Tincleton church Paul always says “Which Way?” and I always reply “Up to you, you’re the driver!”. Well that night he made the wrong decision. So instead of opting for a really nasty bend, and the Puddletown by-pass we went on the little back road to Dorchester. There was soon evidence of a strong smell of muck spreading followed by about 4 miles of the muck freshly dropped that afternoon!! Despite this Paul arrived at TOTT car park fairly cheerful. Numbers were slightly down on the previous month probably due to the weather but a fair number of MG’s arrived. It was good to see Tony and Cythya. It was a lovely run via Sydling, Cerne Abbas, the ford was useful and we managed to clean some of the muck off by driving through several times, and onto Pulham, Holwell, and Glanville Wootton. Our destination was the Hunters Moon at Middlemarch where we had an enjoyable supper. Paul found it rather strange that having left Dorchester first we ended up being the last to arrive at Middlemarch. I can only put it down to the navigator and not Alan and Judi’s excellent scenic and quiet route. Farewell On another matter Paul was sorry to hear this month that Philip and Hilary from Langton Matravers have decided to sell their MGB based upon assessing restoration costs that were needed. Subsequently they have decided to leave the club.

When we arrived home [from the pub run] the hose pipe was unreeled. Nothing like a bit of late night car cleaning! HS Sylvie Starr

It was upsetting to find out recently that Sylvie had been diagnosed with a serious illness from which she has now sadly passed away. It is also sad as Sylvie had only fairly recently retired from many years of service as a dental nurse/receptionist and of course was expecting a long retirement with her family, lovely flat coated retrievers and their glorious MGB red roadster. Sylvie was a true MG owner’s stalwart, patient and understanding wife. I am not exactly sure when Graham and Sylvie joined our club but it was certainly over 12 years ago. Although they lived in Broadstone they regularly both attended our monthly meetings and also joined in with lots of events and run runs. It was very rare for Sylvie not to accompany Graham in their MG. When Sylvie and Graham were about there was certainly never a dull moment. We had fantastic fun together at MG events, on MG holidays in Brittany and in Devon and both very much enjoyed being part of the Durnovaria trip to Bath this June.

Sylvie will be remembered with much affection by the club members both past and present. Sylvie’s funeral takes place on Tuesday 12th September at St John’s Church in Broadstone at 1.00pm followed by a celebration of her life at The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna. Club members are very welcome. Paul and Hilary Storey

Sylvie standing third from right next to Hilary