May 2009 £2 No. 302 Mascot

The Magazine of the Midget & Sprite Club www.midgetandspriteclub.co.uk Whatever your pride and joy. Rest assured. We’ll get you covered.

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COMPETITIVE RATES on Modern Car, Motorcycle, Home & Contents insurance. THE WHO, THE WHAT & THE WHERE of THE MIDGET & SPRITE CLUB COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON Nigel Williams, 7 Kings Avenue, Hanham, Bristol BS15 3JN. Tel: 0117 961 2175 email: [email protected] GENERAL SECRETARY Vacant TREASURER Anita Lachowicz, 5 Park Grove, Knaresborough, Yorks. HG5 9ET. Mobile: 07720 725429 email: [email protected] EDITOR Gary Lazarus, 40B Hungerford Road, London, N7 9LP. Tel: 0207700 5696 email: [email protected] AREA REP’S Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050 Email: [email protected] REPRESENTATIVE TECHNICAL ADVISOR Mark Boldry, 5 Park Grove, Knaresborough, Yorks. HG5 9ET. Mob: 07889 799033 Email: [email protected] MEMBERSHIP John Platt, 2 Pear Tree Gardens, Bearley Road, Aston Cantlow, Henley-in-Arden, Warks. B95 6HT Tel: 01789 488321 email: [email protected] GENERAL MEMBER Philip Sellen, 40 Amberley Way, Wickwar, Wotton-under-Edge, Glos, GL12 8LP. Tel: 01454 299222 email: [email protected] OFFICERS CLUB ARCHIVIST Terry Horler, 63 Littledean, Yate, Bristol, BS37 8UQ. Tel: 01454 881770 EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR Gary Lazarus, 40B Hungerford Road, London, N7 9LP. Tel: 0207700 5696 email: [email protected] MEMBERS ADVERTISING Alan Lo, Tel: 0117 9572617 Mob: 0775 3867806 email: [email protected] MUTUAL ASSISTANCE David Hill, Llyserfan, Beulah, Newcastle Emlyn, Ceredigion. SA38 9QB. CO-ORDINATOR Tel: 01239 811307 email: [email protected] CAR REGISTER Bob Clarkson, Tel: 01902 842643 email: [email protected] REGALIA OFFICER Mike Grout, 55 Park Road, Spixworth, Norwich, NR10 3PJ. Tel: 01603 890211 email: [email protected] WEBMASTER Toby Anscombe, 7 Lysander Court, High Road, North Weald, Epping, CM16 1HF. email: [email protected] TRADE ADVERTISING John Clark, 16 Barley Close, Broomfield, Herne Bay, Kent. CT6 7XG Tel: 01227 368638, Mob. 07971 153556 Email: [email protected] AREA REPRESENTATIVES BRISTOL Terry Horler, Tel: 01454 881770 EAST ANGLIA David Dixon, Tel: 01733 222810 email: [email protected] DEVON Vacant DORSET Ian Beaver, Tel: 01722 326840 email: [email protected] Bryan Fox, Tel: 01202 683842 home, 01202 674017 work email: [email protected] ESSEX Vacant HAMPSHIRE Terry Langridge, Tel: 01252 626063 email: [email protected] HOME COUNTIES Chris Jackson, Tel: 01707 261567 [email protected] NORTH WEST or Mark Hall, Tel: 01296 660103 [email protected] KENT Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050 email: [email protected] LINCOLNSHIRE Brian Jeffery, Tel: 01522 531425 or mobile: 07952 969514 email: [email protected] LONDON Gary Lazarus, Tel: 020 7700 5696 email: [email protected] SOUTH STAFFS & Bill Mohan, Tel: 0121 353 7211 or mobile: 0798 461 6371 email: [email protected] NORTH BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL SCOTLAND Carson Thomson, Tel: 0141 245 6327 day or 013606 22334 evening email: [email protected] NORTH WEST Les & Diane Robinson, Tel: 01772 432138 email: [email protected] NORTHERN IRELAND Robert Holmes, Tel: 02892 689274 email: [email protected] NOTTS/DERBY Ian Cooke, Tel: 0115 938 3838 email: [email protected] SOMERSET Dave Bearne, Tel: 01823 412004 email: [email protected] SOUTH WEST WALES David Hill, Tel: 01239 811307 email: [email protected] SURREY Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050 email: [email protected] WARWICKSHIRE Alan Couch, Tel: 01564 773302 Chris Yates, Tel: 01608 665066 email: [email protected] WILTSHIRE Vacant YORKSHIRE Anita Lachowicz, Mobile: 07720 725429 email: [email protected]

Also see the Club Nights section on page 3 for new areas and contacts. Compiled by David Hill. Please advise me of any changes, errors etc. MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL: IF YOU EXPERIENCE ‘MASCOT’ PROBLEMS UPON RENEWAL, PLEASE CONTACT THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY OR THE TREASURER STRAIGHT AWAY. The Committee © Midget & Sprite Club

Printed by Quorum Print Services Ltd, Units 3&4, Lansdown Industrial Estate, Cheltenham, GL51 8PL Tel: 01242 584984 Website: www.quorumprint.co.uk E-mail: [email protected] Editorial OK, apologies to those of you who spent the first few days of last month bent double with a torch and a mirror taped to a stick, looking for your Spridget’s VRC (Vehicle Recognition Code) on the underside of the battery tray. Your Spridget is obviously one of the few which slipped through the net and never got stamped. All complaints and osteopath’s bills should be directed to Dr Uve Binhad in Norway. April has been a month filled with small victories. Firstly my appeal for members in Essex and Wiltshire to step forward to fill the vacant Area Reps positions has been answered. New member Jane Gates is organising a meeting in Essex on the 2nd of June. If you are in the vicinity of Colchester or Clacton-on-Sea please make the effort to pop over. Full details can be found in this months MASCOT. I will be driving up from London in the evening to lend my support. Wiltshire member Andy Cross has also bravely raised his head above the parapet and will by the time you read this, have organised a Wiltshire meeting that took place at the Barge Inn at Seend Cleeve on Monday night the 27th April. He will now hopefully be looking into the second meeting. Again the details are in this month’s MASCOT. The centre page Sprite featured last month sold at auction for a whopping $69,300. Come on, I want to know which one A little bit of silverware of you bought it and can I please have a go in it. Another small victory is the Midget and Sprite Club’s slow but steady march to total world domination, with just over 20% of this month’s new members living abroad. It rises to over 35% if you include those living in Wales. I mention this as Dave Hill’s South West Wales area also had their first organised trip out. Take a quick look at the contacts page (the one before this) and familiarise yourself with your area reps details. Why not get in touch and introduce yourself (if you haven’t already). They won’t bite. Also while you are there, you may notice the name of Robert Holmes who has put himself forward as the Northern Ireland Rep. So as far as I can tell, the only place which is devoid of an area rep is Devon. Having Just spent the Easter weekend driving around North Devon, I can attest to the Counties wonderful Spridget friendly roads. How about an area rep for Devon? The final little victory last month belongs to me and Gaps. We entered our first competitive event. It was only an Autosolo, which is a cross between a Sprint and an Autotest. But I’m delighted to say that Gaps did me proud and we walked away with a “first in class” and two fastest times of the day. We will have taken part in our first full sprint at the end of April, so I’ll let you know how we get on. Have a great month Gary and Gaps

The statements and opinions expressed in each and every issue of the MASCOT are not necessarily the considered views of the Midget and Sprite Club. The views expressed by the editorial contributors, letter writers and advertisers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Club. The Midget and Sprite Club accepts no responsibility for the results of following contributor’s advice, nor does it necessarily endorse the services or products offered by advertisers.

Front cover picture: Richard Delorey’s immaculate concours winning Mk II Midget

2 Club Nights 2nd Tuesday London Area (Congestion Zone) – Note Changed day and Venue! Meet at The Ace Cafe at 7:30pm. together with the Classic Cars Magazine night. Will revert to The Plumbers Arms, Belgravia next spring. Details: Gary Lazarus on 020 7700 5696 [email protected] 1st Wednesday Wiltshire – Meet at The Forresters, Leigh, near Cricklade. 1st Wednesday South Staffs & Birmingham – Meet at the The Green Man, Middleton Village, 8.30-8.45pm 1st 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 of the A608/ A609 crossroads. Ian Cooke 0115 938 3838 [email protected] 1st Thursday Yorkshire Area – See below 1st Saturday Yorkshire Area – Contact me, Anita 01423 862738 or 07720 725429 email [email protected] for details of the May meeting. From May to September, meetings are held 1st Thursday of the month in the evening. 1st Sunday Lincolnshire Area –- NOTE CHANGE. Lunch time meetings at various locations. Please email; [email protected] or 01522 531425 for next month’s details. 2nd Wednesday Warwickshire – Meet at The Green Dragon, The Green, Sambourne, Redditch, B96 6NU, at 8.30pm as usual. 2nd Wednesday North West Area – meet at The Kilton, turn off M6 at Jct 20 onto A50 towards Macclesfield. Pub 4 miles on left. Please note new venue. 2nd Wednesday Bristol Area will meet at The Rose and Crown, Pucklechurch at 8pm. All Bristol, Bath and surrounding areas members welcome. Contact Terry Horler on 01454 881770 2nd Thursday Cambridgeshire – Now called East Anglian Area. Meet at The Mad Cat pub in Pidley Village, midway between Huntingdon and Chatteris, 8pm 3rd Monday Dorset – Meet at St. Peter’s Finger, Lytchett Minster, Poole, BH16 6JE 7.30pm 3rd Tuesday Central Scotland – Meet at The Garfield Hotel, Stepps, East Dunbartonshire. 7:30pm in the Lounge. Check first with Carson on 0141-245-6327 day or 013606-22334 evening. 3rd Tuesday Surrey – Meet at The Blue Ball, Walton-on-the-Hill, 7.00pm onwards. Contact Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050. [email protected] 4th Thursday Sussex – Meet at the Friar Oak, Hassocks, from 19:00. Contact Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050. [email protected] 4th Thursday Hampshire – Meet at The Poacher, South Warnborough. Please ring Terry or Harriet Langridge on 01252 626063 for details. 4th Thursday NEW! South West Wales – Meet at the Fox and Hounds, Bancyfelin, Carmarthen, SA33 5ND. Contact David Hill, Tel: 01239 811307 or email [email protected] 4th Sunday Kent Area – Meet at The Moat, Wrotham Heath at 12:00 for lunch. Contact Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050. [email protected] Last Wednesday Home Counties North West for members in Herts, Beds, Bucks, Berks, N. London or anyone interested! Meet at the Chequers Inn, Redbourn, AL3 7AD from 6:30pm. Please contact Chris Jackson Tel: 01707 261567 or Mark Hall, Tel: 01296 660103 Last Thursday Somerset – Meet at The Lord Nelson, Norton-sub-Hamdon. 8.00pm Most Sunday Wiltshire – Meet at The Spotted Cow, Marston Meysey Lunchtimes Northern Ireland Point of contact is Robert Holmes, tel: 02892 689274 or email: [email protected]. If enough interest, will arrange a meeting.

3 Club Website Members Only pages for May, User name: Micro Password: Blister Events From David Hill and Webmaster Toby Anscombe Events organised for 2009 so far. May Friday 1st Yorkshire Area are going to the MGCC MGs on Track at Cadwell Park, Louth, Lincs. Details on www.mgs-on-track.com MASC will have a dedicated group. Sunday 3rd Home Counties North west’s “Spirit of Dacorum” Historic Car Run through the Borough of Dacorum. Multiple start points with Grand Finish in the Marlowes, Hemel Hempsted. Contact Mark Hall on 01296 660103 Saturday 9th Warwickshire are holding their Exmoor and even more” Run. For details contact: Chris and Sheila & Sunday 10th Yates, Tel: 01608 665066 email: [email protected] Saturday 9th MGCC Midget Challenge at Oulton Park. Details on www.mgmidgetchallenge.co.uk Sunday 10th Hampshire are going to the Basingstoke Festival of Transport, War Memorial Park, Basingstoke. Contact: Harriet or Terry Tel: 01252 626063 or Email: [email protected] Saturday 16th Hampshire are organising the Bill Targett Memorial Rally Nr. Winchester. & Sunday 17th Contact: Harriet or Terry Tel: 01252 626063 or Email: [email protected] Saturday 23rd South East Area’s Westward Ho! Tour. Visiting Somerset Exmoor and North Devon. Book now or you To Tuesday 26th may be too late. Details Julie: john _ [email protected] or Helen: [email protected] Monday 25th MGCC Midget Challenge at Castle Combe. Details on www.mgmidgetchallenge.co.uk June Friday 5th Warwickshire are attending the “Spridgettreffen” in Germany. If interested, please contact, Geoff To Sunday 7th and Janet Hunter, Tel: 01608 665066 email: [email protected] Sunday 7th Dorset Area will be attending the New Forest Run organised by MGOC 1009. Further details from Ian Beaver on 01722 326840. Sunday 7th It’s the South Hants Vehicle Preservation Society Show at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park, nr. Petersfi eld. Just turn up! Hants members contact: Harriet or Terry Tel: 01252 626063 or Email: [email protected] for more details. Thursday 11th South East Area’s annual June Battlefi eld Tour visiting museums, monuments and castles To Sunday 14th around Amiens. Contact Alan Anstead, [email protected]. Sunday 14th Dorset Area are organising their annual “MGs at Kingston Lacy” with all proceeds to Dorset Air Ambulance. Further details from Ian Beaver on 01722 326840. Sunday 14th East Anglia Area are running a Treasure Hunt. For details please contact David Dixon on 01733 222810. Saturday 20th Central Scotland: Does anyone want to join us as we head south to Whitby, on our June, Longest Day & Sunday 21st Run? The gang is all coming, are you? Contact Carson on 0141 245 6327 day or 013606 22334 evening. Saturday 20th MGCC Midget Challenge at Brands Hatch. Details on www.mgmidgetchallenge.co.uk & Sunday 21st Saturday 27th Hampshire Area are going to the Bloxham Steam Rally at Bloxham, Nr. Banbury. & Sunday 28th Contact: Harriet or Terry Tel: 01252 626063 or Email: [email protected] Sunday 28th East Anglia Area’s “Something in Suffolk”. For details please contact David Dixon on 01733 222810 TBC Home Counties North West will be taking part in the Stoney Stratford Car Club Meet. Details to be announced. July Saturday 11th MGCC Midget Challenge at Silverstone. Details on www.mgmidgetchallenge.co.uk Sunday 12th Warwickshire are holding their “Worcester and Shropshire Run”. Contact Stuart Watson or Roy Cole, Tel: 01562 885766 email: roy@geraldineand roy.co.uk Tuesday 14th East Anglia Area are going to the Ace Café. For details please contact David Dixon on 01733 222810

4 Saturday 18th Warwickshire’s Woodies Wild Weekend in Hereford. Overnighter. Contact Phil and Mo Wood, & Sunday 19th Tel: 1905 456303 or email: [email protected] Sunday 19th East Anglia Area are going to the Kimbolton Charity Classic Meeting. For details please contact David Dixon on 01733 222810 Friday 24th to East Anglia Area are going to the Silverstone Classic Race Meeting. For more details please Sunday 26th contact Hubie on 01733 265548 Saturday 25th Silverstone Classic Racing. Warwickshire Area will be there. Contact: Chris Yates, Tel: 01608 665066 email: [email protected] August Sunday 2nd Hampshire are going to the Twyford Water Works Craft Show and Open Day. Contact: Harriet or Terry Tel: 01252 626063 or Email: [email protected] Sunday 2nd East Anglia Area will be at the BMC Rally at Ferry Meadows. For details please contact David Dixon on 01733 222810 Sunday 9th Wisbech Road Run organised by East Anglia Area. For details please contact David Dixon on 01733 222810 Tuesday 11th Ace Café Classic night. Warwickshire will be there. Contact John Platt, Tel: 01789 488321 or email: [email protected] Friday 14th Warwickshire will be “going abroad” to the Isle of Man between these dates. If interested, please To Sunday 23rd contact Alan Couch, Tel: 01564 773302 or email: [email protected] Sunday 16th South East Area’s Bar-B-Q chez Ashley and Denise. Details from [email protected] Sunday 30th Dorset Area and Hampshire Area will be attending the Hampshire Pageant of Motoring at Broadlands, Romsey. For further details please ring Ian Beaver 01722 32684 for Dorset members and Harriet or Terry Tel: 01252 626063 or Email: [email protected] for Hampshire members. Remember there are Club Night Natters throughout the year and that area events are also open to members from other areas!

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5 Some Eyesore!

oday, when the original Mark 1 (‘Frogeye’) Sprite has ‘classic’ status Tand is regarded by almost everybody as cute and collectible, it must be hard for the younger members of MASC to understand that its unusual frontal appearance attracted considerable controversy when it first appeared in 1958. The initial press reports were definitely all ecstatic and none fell much short of a rave review. This is not too surprising because at considerable expense the press had been flown to Nice on one of British European Airways’ new Vickers Viscounts. In pairs they were assigned brand new Sprites for a hard day’s driving around the spectacular roads rising above Monte Carlo. Some hardship, particularly as the exercise coincided with the Monaco Grand Prix! The day was warm and sunny, perfect Sprite weather, no wonder he paused longer than the rest of them they liked it. My favourite report is that before he jumped into the cockpit and took written by Ian Nickols in the Sunday Times: off into the Monte Carlo hills. No matter what ‘I drove it several hundred miles, not because prompted it, his comment did prove to be I had to, but because I wanted to. Even more particularly pertinent and prophetic because surprisingly, my wife wanted to come with the distinctive ‘Frogeye’ headlamp treatment me’. On that first press day, a handful of was to prove a constant source of criticism journalists discovered what tens of thousands and controversy throughout the whole AN5 were to discover later: that to get behind the production run at Abingdon (1958-1961). wheel of a Sprite is to enjoy a great motoring But even at its height, this controversy was experience at a very modest cost. But this mostly mild-mannered, low key and often enjoyment comes mostly from sitting behind humorous, confined for the most part to the wheel in the cockpit and driving the comments such as ‘the bulging headlights thing top-down on balmy days, it does not are not to everyone’s taste’. There was also come from sitting back and admiring the car an enterprising and practical side to the while it sits stationary in a car park. Almost criticism because it spawned a flourishing certainly, those Monte Carlo pressmen were aftermarket trade in alternative bonnet too busy having fun from the inside looking assemblies, mostly fibreglass. In print at out to worry too much about the view from least, really vitriolic comments were rare and the outside looking in – a situation which are now hard to find. reminds me of a limerick from my Australian In an excellent article1 about the birth of childhood … the Mark 1 Midget, Malcolm Green briefly As a beauty I am not a star, mentions that one Bob Cumberford, writing There are prettier people by far. in the June 1960 issue of the American But I do not mind it, magazine Sports Cars Illustrated (‘SCI’, now For I am behind it. ‘Car and Driver’), called the Mark 1 Sprite It’s the people in front that get the jar! ‘a fine little car, ingeniously engineered … (but) a ridiculous looking object, an eyesore, In fact, only one member of the original press a really ugly car’. On reading this I was team seemed to be jarred by the car park surprised and then intrigued. Later, I resolved view: the Manchester Guardian thought that the Sprite’s headlamps ‘appear to have been 1 ‘Milestone Midget brought sports car motoring to the added as an afterthought and they sit rather masses’, Malcolm Green, MG Enthusiast, April 2007, uncomfortably on the bonnet’. Well, perhaps pages 12-16

6 One of Bob Cumberford’s drawings, if possible to acquire a copy of the whole illustrating what a Mini-based Sprite Cumberford article in the hope that it might replacement might look like. shed some light on the reasoning behind such insulting remarks. Glossing over the details seater fashion. Although we cannot be sure, of a difficult and protracted search (there are it seems that Cumberford somehow received insufficient pages in this issue of MASCOT to news of what was happening in England with describe it), I purchased a job lot containing these Mini-based prototypes and approved. He all twelve issues of SCI for the year 1960. must then have decided to support the idea These eleven extra issues did seem to be strongly by pointing out how much prettier an extravagance at the time but eventually, a Mini based sports car could be compared as we shall soon see, they proved to be an to a Mk1 Sprite. In his article he probably excellent investment. used words such as ‘eyesore’, ‘ridiculous’, Cumberford’s article certainly does make ‘ugly’ etc. on the grounds that the uglier the interesting reading. In it, he argues that a Sprite, the stronger his case. In the light of much better and cheaper replacement for this background information, the text of the the Sprite could be manufactured using the relevant part of Cumberford’s article is worth then-new Mini chassis. Now this may have reading. It is reproduced here verbatim … been Cumberford’s own idea but I tend to agree with Malcolm Green who wrote ‘…one has to wonder if the writer had gained some inside knowledge of the work on ADO34 being carried out by BMC designers because the illustrations in his article bear an uncanny resemblance to the surviving prototype’. The ADO34 project was one of several attempts within BMC to construct a sports car based upon the Mini2. One prototype (which does still survive) was built in 1959 but abandoned soon after, not least because Alec Issigonis was violently opposed to the idea of his ground breaking and space saving Mini concept being used in such a wasteful two-

2 ‘ADO’ means ‘Austin Drawing Office”. For more Closing paragraphs of Bob Cumberford’s article information about the history of these Mini projects, see ‘Sprites and Midgets, The Complete Story’ by Anders (‘MG’S NEW MIDGET?’ Sports Cars Illustrated, Ditlev Clausager (ISBN 1 86126 653 7). June 1960, pages 52-53.

7 The surviving ADO34 Prototype

… and we see that it was not just the Frogeye he head-hunted by Triumph? Did he survive? front view that was rubbished: Donald We don’t know that either. What we do know Healey, MG and the whole of BMC were also is that today, almost 50 years after Bob attacked. Now this would have been the end penned his article for SCI, thousands of ‘no of our story had it not been for those eleven fuss and feathers’ Mk1 Sprites are still being extra issues of SCI. Rather than throw them driven and admired, loved and cherished, all in the bin immediately, I dipped into them at over the world. random and discovered rapidly that they are a Some eyesore, some car! treasure trove of fascinating material: to read John E. Davies them is to be transported back to the halcyon (Member 3443)[email protected] days of 1960 when Sprites were new and a young Stirling Moss often showed a clean pair of heels to far more exotic and expensive machinery. Even the advertisements are splendid (one example is reproduced on page 6). It is the August issue though, that provides some extra eye-popping information for our story. In this critical issue (two months after the Cumberford article appeared), the Editor was forced to apologise to his audience for in his words ‘(allowing) into print some needlessly subjective criticism of the shape of the Healey Sprite’. To force such an apology, Bob Cumberford’s article must surely have precipitated a storm of angry letters to the Editor. Karl Ludvigsen’s mailbox must have overflowed and his telephone switchboard must have been jammed solid. Perhaps enraged and infatuated Sprite owners were even beating on his door, we don’t know. Nor do we know what happened in the end to Bob Cumberford. Was he sacked? Was Extract from the Editorial, Sports Cars Illustrated, August 1960

8 Problem Solvers

Last month we highlighted problems, causes and cures relating to steering. This month we concentrate on Fuelling.

Part 4. Fuel

Problem Cause Cure Flooding 1. Improper seating or damaged fl oat 1. Check and replace parts as needle or seat necessary 2. Incorrect fl oat level 2. Adjust fl oat level 3. Fuel pump has excessive pressure 3. Check fuel pump

Excessive fuel consumption 1. Engine out of tune 1. Tune engine 2. Float level too high 2. Adjust fl oat level 3. Loose plug or jet 3. Tighten plug or jet 4. Defective gasket 4. Replace gaskets 5. Fuel leaks at pipes or connections 5. Trace leak and rectify 6. Choke valve operates improperly 6. Check choke valve 7. Obstructed air bleed 7. Check and clear Stalling 1. Main jet obstructed 1. Clean main jet 2. Incorrect throttle opening 2. Adjust throttle 3. Slow-running adjustment incorrect 3. Adjust slow-running 4. Slow-running fuel jet blocked 4. Clean jet 5. Incorrect fl oat level 5. Adjust fl oat level Poor acceleration 1. Defective accelerator pump (if fi tted) 1. Overhaul pump 2. Float level too low 2. Adjust fl oat lever 3. Incorrect throttle opening 3. Adjust throttle 4. Defective accelerator linkage 4. Adjust accelerator linkage 5. Blocked pump jet 5. Clean pump jet Spitting 1. Lean mixture 1. Clean and adjust carburetter 2. Dirty carburetter 2. Clean carburetter 3. Clogged fuel pipes 3. Clean and replace pipes 4. Manifold draws secondary air 4. Tighten or replace gasket

9 Insuffi cient fuel supply 1. Clogged carburetter 1. Dismantle and clean carburetter 2. Clogged fuel pipe 2. Clean fuel pipe 3. Dirty fuel 3. Clean fuel tank 4. Air in fuel system 4. Check connections and tighten 5. defective fuel pump 5. Repair or replace fuel pump 6. Clogged fuel fi lter 6. Clean or replace fi lter Loss of fuel delivery 1. Pump faulty (electric) 1. Replace pump 2. Slotted body screws loose 2. Tighten body screws 3. Diaphragm cracked 3. Overhaul fuel pump 4. Loose fuel pipe connections 4. Tighten fuel pump connections 5. defective valves 5. Replace valves 6. Cracked fuel pipes 6. Replace fuel pipes Noisy Pump 1. Loose pump mounting 1. Tighten mounting 2. Worn or defective rocker arm (if manual) 2. Replace rocker arm 3. Broken rocker arm spring (if manual) 3. Replace spring In next month’s MASCOT, Problem Solvers Part 5 will cover Electrics. First published in and written by “Abingdon Classics” November 1981. Reproduced with the kind permission of NAMBG (North American MGB Register) Petrol pump image with kind permission of Roger Baker, www.vintagepetrolpumps.co.uk

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10 Essex Report Your support is needed as MASC is back up and running again in Essex.

Hi, The contact details again are: My name is Jane and I have not long been a New Essex Area Rep member of MASC. I don’t know much about Jane Gales Midgets and Sprites even though I have a 01255 830509 Midget. I hasten to add I’ve only just acquired [email protected] it in February. It was a Valentines Day Tuesday 2nd of June at 8.00pm. The first present. And they say that romance is dead. meeting at THE BLACK BOY, Colchester So all you ESSEX and SOUTH SUFFOLK Road, Weeley, Essex, CO16 9JJ members please reveal yourselves and come Editors note. I will be doing my utmost to along to the first meeting I’ve ever organised. venture over to Essex on the 2nd of June to Your support counts. lend my support, why not join us. Even if you haven’t got a Spridget, you will be most welcome. The first meeting will take place on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the Black Boy, Colchester Road, Weeley, CO16 9JJ. First meeting on the 2nd of June at 8.00pm. Directions can be given. Telephone: 01255 830 509 email: [email protected] I may not know a sump gasket from a flywheel but I have a husband with me who can talk about engines and messy stuff. By the way, does anyone know the whereabouts of a Midget VBH 121S, as I know she’s still on the road.

Jane and her newly acquired Midget

11 New Members We extend a warm welcome to the following new members 2746 Dirk Becking Netherlands Midget Mk 3 3304 Justin Saunders Somerset Sprite Mk 4 4112 Alister McKinnon Clark Surrey Sprite Mk 4 4113 Ian Dobson Surrey Frogeye 4114 Karen French West Midlands Midget Mk 2 4115 anon Hertfordshire n/a 4116 David Amos Pembrokeshire Frogeye 4117 Christian Morgan West Glamorgan Midget 1500 4118 Richard Crew and Sue Barrow Surrey Midget 1500 4119 Adrie and Elizabeth Hoogesteger Netherlands Midget 1500 4120 Andy Lee Avon Frogeye 4121 Norman Verona France Midget Mk 3 RWA 4122 Marvin Hurst and Claire McKenzie West Yorkshire Austin Sprite 4123 Paul Seager Hampshire Sprite Mk 4

Norman Verona’s Mk3 Midget living in France

Adrie and Elizabeth Hoogasteger from Holland, 1500 Midget”

12 Top left: Rejoined Dutch member Dirk Becking’s Mk3 Midget Bottom Left: Marvin Hurst and Claire McKenzie’s Austin Sprite Below: Jim Knorr with his Mk1 Sprite from AZ USA

Mutual Assistance Directory ell, Summer is a comin…! Had a great run with the West Wales WArea to the Museum of Internal Fire (see separate report) and we are off to Aberdovey in a couple of weeks for a picnic. Our pet collie loves the Midget too. She is strapped in so can’t jump out! Not too much to report this month, so enjoy your Spridgets! Don’t forget, if you don’t carry your copy of the Mutual Assistance Directory and you do not have access to the web or don’t know someone who does, I will print off a copy and send it to you. Just ask! David Hill

13 NescotNescot AutotestsAutotests Sunday 15 March

Nick, Laura and Lissie Rowlatt with Frogeye 6743 he Midget & Sprite Club were invited Me and Sprite BLJ23A by the MG Car Club to take part in the Lissie Rowlatt shows how it should be done TAutotests held at North East Surrey College of Technology, Ewell. Having recently installed my reconditioned engine in my Frogeye I needed an outing to start the running in process. I had in mind a gentle drive around a few cones. Imagine my shock when I arrived to find cars with spare sets of wheels and hydraulic jacks to fit them! Fortunately these enthusiasts were in the minority with the rest of us making do with our normal road tyres. We had to do nine course in a cloud of dust, back-ends drifting different tests with two all over the place. My attempts were far more goes at each. After each sedate since I valued both my tyres and my batch of three tests new engine. were set up we had the opportunity to “walk the We were split into various classes and I was course”. However once competing against another Frogeye and a behind the wheel it all later sprite. It turned out to be a family affair looked different. The – father, mother and daughter driving the two chaps with the spare cars alternately. It was the Rowlatt family and wheels tore round the very competitive they were too. I didn’t stand a chance but then I was a novice. I felt I had achieved something by simply getting correctly round each test irrespective of the time it took. As you can see from the one test shown here it is quite a challenge. There is no need to wreck your car doing these sort of tests – just go the right way round and to choose a “tight” line. Roger Pearce and YLT 938 “ taking it easy” Roger Pearce

14 15 Austin Healey Sprites prepared by the Donald Healey Motor Company, Warwick, first raced at Sebring, Florida, U.S.A. during March 1959, in a combined Hambro Automotive Products of New York and B.M.C. Canada venture, using only American and Canadian drivers. Three steel-bodied ‘Frogeyes’ painted Speedwell Blue with glassfibre hardtops in Old English White, were assembled using modified engines, all-round Dunlop disc brakes and wire wheels. They were shipped out to the ‘States in time for the 12-Hour Sebring Photo: The 1962 event and in spite of torrential rain during Donald Healey Motor Co. the race, they finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in prepared Sebring Sprite MkII of Steve McQueen, class. An impressive result! basks in the Florida sunshine

In the years that followed, Healeys They were all finished in Iris Blue and were continued to develop and modify the Sprite dispatched to The Cape (Healeys factory) and when John Sprinzel joined the at Warwick. Four of the five MkII Sprites company in 1960, the Speed Equipment were then stripped further. The standard Division was formed. This led to the front and rear drum brakes were removed creation of the ‘Sebring Sprite’, a and replaced with the homologated Sebring homologated, modified version of the spec’ Girling discs brakes on the front and Frogeye featuring Girling disc brakes and larger 8-inch diameter Girling drums on the wire wheels. rear. Wire wheel hubs were fitted, along with a 100M type front anti-roll bar. Uprated During December 1961, with a view to front lever arm dampers and adjustable rear preparing a team of cars built to ‘Sebring shock’s also replaced the standard items. Sprite’ specification for the 3 hour race at Sebring the following March, Healeys took Attention then turned to the bodyshells. delivery of five brand new, but partially assembled MkII Sprites, direct from the M.G. factory in Abingdon. by Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird The Donald Healey Motor Company Sebring Sprite MkII 16 All bolt-on panels - front wings, front valance Once the bodyshells were assembled, each assembly, bonnet, doors and bootlid were car received the latest Healey produced removed and replaced with standard shape ‘Warwick’ glassfibre hardtop, designed for alloy panelling that had been punched out the MkII Sprite by Les Ireland . All cars on the press tools at Abingdon. The original were finally painted in the Healeys usual steel rear wings, outer rear wheel arches, team colour - metallic Ice Blue. bootlid shroud and rear valance were then cut from each bodyshell.

At this point, wire wheels shod with 5.25 x 13 Dunlop ‘green spot’ racing tyres were fitted to the rear hubs of all four cars. This may have appeared an odd thing to do, but the reason for doing it was quite simple.

The front and rear wire wheel hubs (which formed part of the Sebring homologation) when fitted, increased the track of the car. Although this hadn’t created a problem on the MkI with its round wheel arches front and rear, it did however, make rear wheel removal problematic when the conversion was applied to the later MkII Sprite - with its square wheel arches - especially when wider racing tyres were used.

For this reason the rear wheels were The engines used on all four MkII Sebring offered up to the cars, and the resident Sprites were the ‘experimental special bodywork team at The Cape - headed by production’ (or ‘XSP’ ) type ‘A-Series’ unit. Bill Buckingham - hand-crafted new alloy These were, as the name implies, specially rear inner wheel arches and alloy rear produced engine blocks which had equally wings, which provided extra clearance for spaced bores, a steel crankshaft with 2” the rear wheels to assist with wheel mains, and dry-sump lubrication connections changes during pit stops. The rear wings as common features. On this occasion the still retained the appearance of the standard 995cc XSP 1862 unit was used and each panels but were slightly ‘eased out’ in their one fitted with a 4-exhaust port cylinder overall shape. The remaining rear outer head, the centre port being split horizontally. body panels - boot lid shroud and valance - were also created by the team in alloy. Photos: Bill Buckingham and the bodywork team Other areas of each bodyshell had get to grips with the new cars (left). Two of the handmade alloy panelling including: inner four cars undergo final checking and rectification front wheel arches and parts of the floorpan. at The Cape (above).

17 Above: The engine compartment of one of the A 15 gallon Smiths fuel gauge was added to four Sebring Sprite MkIIs with its XSP unit. combine with a large alloy, long-range fuel tank now located in the boot of each car. A special 3-branch exhaust manifold was produced to suit this unusual cylinder head, As a result, the spare wheel was moved the ‘double-decker’ centre pipe hiding what to a point behind the passenger seat and to was a unhomologated modification from the house it, a handmade alloy dividing panel eyes of the scrutineers. Carburettors were containing a ‘wheel well’ was positioned S.U. H4’s and gearboxes had ‘ultra-close’ where the standard trim panel normally sat. gear ratios, but these were not straight cut. The spare wheel was anchored through its centre with a threaded steel bar and cup Interior fittings were fairly basic with all retainer. floor mats, carpeting and trim removed. The standard seats were substituted with Below: Healey Speed Equipment woodrim lightweight glassfibre items from the Speed steering wheel dominates the stripped-out interior. Equipment range. The production dashboard was retained, but apart from the dual oil pressure / water temperature gauge, all other instrumentation was changed.

A 3” Smiths 8,000 rpm chronometric revcounter was employed and instead of a speedometer, a blanking plate (similar to that used on the MkI Sprite when the ‘optional’ revcounter wasn’t fitted) filled the hole in the dash. This contained a separate ignition light.

18 Photos: Healey lightweight glassfibre seats and 9254 WD by the Donald Healey Motor spare wheel location (above). 15 gallon alloy fuel Company at Warwick, on 1st February 1962 tank fills the boot space with the ‘wheel well’ for and shipped to Florida, U.S.A. for the the spare behind (right). 3-Hour race in early March. Cars were usually driven to and from the race circuit, so all lighting was to US spec’, Drivers chosen for the event included: with LHD headlamps, plastic single lens movie star Steve McQueen (9251 WD), sidelights and all-red rear light lenses. Innes Ireland (9252 WD), Pedro Rodriguez (9253 WD) and Stirling Moss (9254 WD). When the four cars had been completed, they were then registered 9251 WD to Below: Steve McQueen checks out 9251 WD.

To be continued...

19 TThishis MMonth’sonth’s CCoverover CarCar Richard Delorey’s Immaculate Concours Factory hardtops are very rare in the U.S. Winning MkII Midget This one is in exceptional condition

his story begins 44 years ago when I also discovered too much rust and body was a senior in high school and working filler in the rear quarters for his liking. What Tpart time at the local supermarket. One happened next would be hard to believe if it of the older stock boys had a Midget for sale, were not for more 100 photos he provided I can still see it now, black with red interior documenting all aspects of his work. Picking and wire wheels (most likely a MK l). There it so few was a very frustrating task. was, the car of my dreams. I had the money, Tailpipe details: The muffler was purchased but my mom said “Those little cars are too from Moss and when it was installed, I did dangerous” and I missed my chance at one. not like the way the tailpipe ended even That Midget stayed in the back of my mind with the back edge of the bumper. It lacked until 1995, when a co-worker’s brother had that 1960’s look to it that I remembered his 1965 MK ll for sale. Needless to say, I was not going to let this one get away. I should not have been so impulsive, it would need much more work than I ever imagined! I started the restoration immediately, working John Thompson intently for 2 years. The engine had a working on the Midget complete professional rebuilt, only to go sour before the car ever got out of the garage. I could not rebound from this setback and it sat untouched for the next 7 years. During which time I was sure I would never finish the ambitious project I had started. A story about my car would be incomplete without acknowledging the work of Jon Thompson at Sports Car Specialties in Grafton, New Hampshire. After decades of dents, dings and a hit to the rear, the fit of the boot lid was unacceptable. Jon Before After

20 This vintage license plate has not been restored and is correct for the car with the ’65 sticker

from Terry’s reference book page 75. A 3" extension was then was TIG welded, filed smooth, filled where needed and finished with high temperature paint. This modification had to be undetectable for Concours competition. Rear exhaust, bumper and overider I feel this small detail adds character to the The engine bay has won awards in rear of the car. Now you all know how crazy I Rod and Custom shows because of really am! three things... details, details, details My 1965 MK ll Midget has been restored to Concours d’Elegance standards. After 32 years of service at the New York State Museum, the term “Museum Quality” was an ever present goal. After retirement, it was a natural for me to take the same approach with my restoration. Recent Concours awards at the “British Invasion” car show held in Stowe, Vermont have been very pleasing. The show is touted as being the largest in New England with a car count of 650+ each year. Last year as well as the year before, my car was awarded Second Place in class. Each of the First Place cars went on to be awarded “Best of Concours”. I have no regrets finishing next to the best. The car is also very competitive in “open” shows earning awards in such categories as engine compartment. The Midget can hold its own against customized cars with chrome under bonnet and a flame paint job! My Midget is not a “Trailer Queen”. It still looks like new and after 3 years of enjoyment, it has over 8,000 miles on the odometer. I have special thanks for Terry Horler and his superb reference book on Sprites and Midgets. It served as my “compass” from the beginning in deciding how to proceed with my restoration project. Richard (Rit) Delorey The wrinkle finish on the fascia is one Clifton Park, New York USA of the highlights of the interior Member No. 3660

21 Diary of a Race Midget

ell how fast did the last week before WDonington go! When my old radiator came out with the intention of Redgate replacing it with a new one it was discovered that I needed some emergency welding then it was straight off to Scrutineering for to the front cross member of the chassis. 8.20. We had to be ready for qualifying at So I had to go off on the trailer to Drymar’s 9.20 and the time just flew by. This was the fabrication workshop. That was on the first time my new driver had driven me as I’m Tuesday! There was still a long list of things not road legal but at least he had driven the to finish and check before departing for circuit before. The track was dry and the sun Donington on Friday afternoon. It was 9.30pm had come out despite the forecast of drizzle by the time we arrived at Donington service and Mark took a steady 1:51.518 on the first station Travelodge so it was decided to just lap gradually improving to 1:32.607 on lap 6. get an early start on Saturday morning. This put us 21st on the grid but 2nd in Class C. I was very excited about this promising We got to the circuit to meet up with my start to the season. My previous owner Steve Spridget racing pals at 7.30am. I was given and his brothers John and Pete, the famous a quick clean with the Autoglym, much to the Team Sibling Rivalry (www.teamsiblingrivalry. amusement of my previous owner, whilst the com), were having a few problems but Pete charging problem with my transponder was qualified 12th and 2nd in Class B. causing a major headache. My driver was fiddling around with my new numbers (I was Our first race wasn’t until 12.25 so plenty car 36 last year) but had to sign on at 8.00 of time for the drivers to relax after a few

Leading Class C down Craner Curves

22 1:32.016. At the end of lap 4 I caught up with car 66 and passed him cleanly going into the chicane. It was a great feeling leading our little group of three Class C cars round Hollywood and down Craner Curves towards Old Hairpin. Then on the apex of McLeans I went for a spin and that was the end of the race and the day for me and also for Feeling a bit car 66 who didn’t manage deflated to avoid me. I limped back to the paddock with a flat post-qualifying spanner checks plus adjusting rear offside tyre and a sore wing. We had and re-bleeding the brakes. Mark was due very kind offers of spare wheels but Mark at the Drivers Briefing at 11.30 but he was felt I may have damage to the rear axle and still chatting away to his Motorsport college thought it safest to give Race 2 a miss. course colleagues and students. So he ended up having a personal briefing with the Clerk of Despite the disappointment of not finishing the Course about 10 minutes later. He wasn’t I enjoyed my first run of the season out with the only one to miss the group briefing! my friends and I’m looking forward to Oulton Then it was straight back to the paddock Park on May 9th. Come and see the MG to get me ready for Race 1. We had a fair Midget Challenge there! start and my second lap was my fastest at Chequers

23 MASC in Wiltshire in my Morris Minor raced for 30 years, 19 of them by me, in Masters Top Hat and Classic Touring Cars. Of course I have my Austin Healey Sprite Mk2, which is, er, “well used”, along with another Minor and one and a half A35s in a desperate state of disarray. So, this is just an introduction, and I do hope to meet any or all of you soon. After exhaustive research (basically a pub crawl last Friday night) I would like to suggest a first meeting at the Barge Inn at Seend Cleeve on Monday night the 27th April, from about 7 o’clock (19.00), although by the time that you’ve read this, we will be arranging our next Andy’s Austin Healey Sprite Mk2 meeting. The Barge is very picturesque with a great waterside garden, beer is OK though a Dear everyone! little pricey (but I’m buying this time), food is good, and the car park will fit many Sprites, My name is Andy Cross, I live in Box near Corsham, and I am volunteering for a new role. For some time there has not been anyone in the lovely county of Wiltshire to act as the Midget and Sprite Club Rep. There has been in the past, and I used to join them occasionally at Leigh, near Cricklade, but that has stopped now. There is still a very select group (of three) who meet at Marston Meysey north of Swindon on Sundays; hello Malcolm, Barry and Annette! Without in any way intending to interfere with that, I am suggesting that some more of us might like to meet up somewhere The Barge Inn at Seend more centrally in the County, once a month perhaps, have a small drink and a laugh and Midgets or related cousins. The intention is exchange a few stories, Spridget-related or to meet on the last Monday of the month in otherwise.... future, but please contact me if you have any I’m sure everyone is busy, and I am too so I’m other preference or have any other ideas, not promising a plethora of organised events desires, or whatever! I know the location or anything, but I have found that it’s amazing won’t suit everyone; Wiltshire is a big county; how much a bunch of similar-minded people but it’s a start. Location is SN12 6QB. can help each other out, either practically or If anyone wants to chat before then I would with ideas, and there are often a whole lot of be really glad to, and also I will inevitably be things going on that you only find out about at Castle Combe on Easter Monday so call by chatting with friends. me on 07776 171251. My home number is A bit more about me – I’m married to Jane, 01225 743554. and have two boys Alfie and Edward. I have My best wishes and happy Spridgeting! always been into the A Series cars and Motorsport, so managed to combine the two Andy

24 EEastast AAnglianglia RReporteport

ot much to report this month, since yesteryear run starting from Cottenham on I am caught between a demanding the 19th April will be reported in the next Ndeadline and a holiday in the amazing issue of MASCOT (such are the vagaries of Frogeye cottage in France. All this and deadlines and lead times). It should also be absolutely nothing happened in East Anglia noted that the Flying Frogs BBQ has been since the last report (this must truly be the rescheduled for 6th September, this should offest part of the off season) and my poor be a great event on Ken’s organic farm with Sprite is still sans engine, not to mention me Frogeyes and Spridgets and (I think) Tiger having my mind firmly on job survival since I moths. Now off to France to unwind relax and work in the automotive industry (one of the plan the June event I pencilled in “something few remaining hangers on). Happily for me I in Suffolk” I’m thinking Felixstowe river have just leaned that I can continue to work Deben Walderingfield and maybe lunch at in the industry for a bit longer, which is great the Maybush or the FBI but I have to get the news for my bank manager but maybe not engine back in the Sprite, do a reconnoitre such good news for my many car projects. and put some flesh on the bones, and then Joking apart, these are tough times for many there is the Nottingham pork pie run (but and some inevitably are members of our that’s just a brilliant idea at the moment). One club and having been through a particularly thing that is happening is the once cancelled tough few months myself and been fortunate and much looked forward to visit to the Mad enough to have survived without too much Cat by Peter Baldwin, well known “A series damage. I can only sympathise with any guru, for an informal, and informative chat, others out there in similar circumstances, should be great. Peter will be with us on the and fear for the future of what is left of our 14th of May for the normal pub night, so don’t one time world beating auto industry. miss it. Getting my mind back to the job in hand, our See you all at the Mad Cat and beyond next event, and at last something good and Dave Dixon relevant to write about (isn’t it Graham) The

25 Brooklands M.G.

Frogeyes at Brooklands

Various historic buildings and hangars house a plethora of items of historical motoring and aeronautical interest. The restoration of a WW2 Hurricane fighter, located in Russia, and bought in bits for £32,000, was progressing nicely. Striking up a conversation with the volunteer restorers John Clark and I were invited behind the cordons to view at close unday 5th April 2009 was a good day quarter. John then offered a piece of wartime for a car meet with fine weather. The equipment, and subsequent childhood SM.G.C.C. had organised a meeting for plaything, to the restoration group a rescue all M.G.s but appeared to be happy to allow kite as used for recognition by “downed” entry to three Austin – Healey ‘Frogeye’ pilots when afloat in a dinghy. The group Sprites. With such good weather and such a has such a dinghy but was missing the kite. great location as Brooklands (Nr Weybridge, A more recent acquisition is a Lancaster Surrey) I was very surprised not to meet up Bomber fuselage now undergoing restoration with more MASC members there? Our three out in the open. To see work in progress ‘Frogeyes’ were joined by four MASC M.G. on the Hurricane a return visit will have to Midgets our total seemingly exceeding that of be made on either a Tuesday or Thursday. the host club. Anyone interested in a mid week run out to Brooklands remains a good place to visit Brooklands? whether or not a car meeting is taking place. Alan Anstead An Unusual Rear End Dutch Rep Arie DeBest asks if anyone knows or recognises this Sprite which he photographed recently in the Netherlands. Arie says that it looks to be made of metal rather than fibreglass and is finished to a high standard. Unusually for a Spridget based on the continent, this Sprite is Right Hand Drive. Was it yours? Please contact the editor if you can supply any additional information.

26 Hampshire Tunes up for the Spring at Slark Race Engineering

he three Frogs and one Midget met at Slark Engineering, after a rather cool Tdrive down for the two cars who don’t like driving with the top up! As neither Mike nor Barry had had cars Barry and Terry put on the rollers before, it was interesting take shelter watching the looks on their faces as the revs waiting for their got higher. We could also read the computer turn screen readout of the speed, during the power runs. Neil Slark, who was doing the work, is obviously a complete petrol head and A series guru. Apart from the small niggles of where to anchor the Frogs, and where to watch the timing light, nothing was a problem! After coffee, Mike’s Midget (Mk 3 1275) was even suspect that the whitewall tyres give an the first on the rollers, and after a hiccup with extra couple of HP. Following the instructions a stray lead turning the fan belt over, and on rebuilding the carbs pays off too. A breaking the ‘ear’ bracket on the alternator, healthy 50.2HP at the flywheel. and a twiddle of the carburettor after a new needle, produced a very respectable 69.5HP. Terry was up next (948 plus .060”). As the ‘oldest restoration and the smallest engine, the engine had been on the rollers when it was built for another car in 1991, so questions were asked about it... The John’s turn, Mike, Terry distributor and carburettor were both reset(!) and Barry and despite higher expectations (based on look on historical data) the reading was 55.7HP. Oh, and how often do you clean out your K & N filters? Every 20 years? Thanks to John for organising the morning, Neil for the expertise and to everybody for putting up with my daft comments. I think we can all say we learned a lot, (lots and lots of John’s beautiful Frog (1098 with Imp pistons layers Chris!) and had a great morning. – 1133 ish) was next, but unfortunately blew a core plug on the first power run! After www.midgetandsprite-hampshire.info various thoughts of how to get over this small www.slarkraceengineering.co.uk difficulty, the hole was plugged, more water Harriet Langridge put in, and the test continued. (At least the hot water on the floor cleaned off the oil from Mike’s car!) A twiddle of both the distributor and carburettor, saw an eventual 70HP. I was beginning to worry for the other two cars … but needn’t have, Barry (1098 standardish) was up next, and good apart from a couple of weak springs in the distributor. Have you checked yours recently? Would you even know what weak springs feel like? Well we have a calibrated Barry now! We

27 Hardy Engineering Est 1969 The Transmission Sprite & Big Healey: Specialist Gearboxes, Diffs and Overdrives Supplied or fitted Customers own units repaired Straight Cut gears and LSD’s in stock

Tel: 01372 378927 www.hardy engineering.co.uk 268 Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7QA

28 ScotlandScotland ReportReport

Matt and the Midget nfortunately, Carson’s been devoured by the enormous chilli he was sporting a wife’s bemusement (she’s knows I need to be Ucouple of reports ago, so he’s asked me ‘humoured’ when it comes to cars). Anyway, to pen a few words for this month’s update. back to my original point (sounds like one of Hopefully you’ll not need a dialect translator Ronnie Corbett’s ramblings now), imagine my for a change! surprise when I walked out of Sainsbury’s the The weather most of us have been having other day and met the owner just stepping over the last few weeks (well, days really) out of the car. Needless to day I stopped for is probably spurring everyone to get the a chat and when he realised I was a fellow car out of the garage, whip off the roof and enthusiast and not some kind of headcase, start using it again. I took my wee Midget to we had a good blether about our respective this month’s meeting at the Garfield Hotel in cars – nice chap by the name of Andrew, with Glasgow for the first time and, although there a very clean ’73 black RWA. With any luck, was only one other car of interest there – I’ll get him along to some of this years runs/ Doug’s Spitfire from our Triumph club chums meetings. – the meeting was really well attended. There On the subject of this year’s runs, hopefully was even talk of needing to look for a bigger you’ll all have had a look at the Scotland venue. For those of you that saw Doug and I region’s events list on the regional pages. As departing for home at the same time, I can Carson mentioned last month, our ‘longest confirm that the Midget did have the edge day run’ is to Whitby in June and it would be on the Spitfire during the run back along the brilliant if the troops could meet up with some motorway.... ‘locals’ over the weekend – more logistical The sunshine certainly brings Spridgets out details will be forthcoming from Carson but of the woodwork. During the winter, whilst out please let him know if you want to meet up. walking the dogs in the dark, dreich Scottish You were all probably eagerly awaiting the evenings, I’d been passed by a Midget a photo with this month’s report after Bob’s few times, with the roof down (they breed X-rated torso appeared a month back, posing us tough up here), zooming along the road. in the minus 10 degrees summer sunshine on Unfortunately, I’d never been able to catch Islay. Sorry to disappoint you but it’s just me the driver’s eye in time to stop him for a chat. in a slightly stupid hippie outfit (Carson’s idea As Midgets aren’t exactly thick on the ground of course) – just focus on the car, it’s much where I live in central Scotland, I was quite better looking! excited about it when I got home, much to my Matt

29 SSurreyurrey MMeeteet Tuesday 17th March

The car line-up for the visit to Ashley Hinton

ood weather brought seven Spridgets Ashley Hinton Factory Visit to the Blue Ball, Walton on the Hill, Saturday 21st March 2009 GSurrey, for our monthly meet. A Surrey member Ashley Hinton owns the varied selection of headgear was worn by factory at Unit 36, Bookham Industrial those persons choosing to drive with the Park, Church Road, Gt Bookham, Surrey, hoods down. Perhaps I should start taking KT23.3EU. Where many of the Spridget pictures of what people wear when driving/ panels that are available from the likes of passengering Sprites and Midgets. Roger Moss, or other motor factors, are made. Pearce was running in a new engine and Ashley has been making panels for about 5 speed Sierra gearbox conversion, on his thirty two years. Formerly employed by Frogeye, with all seemingly well with the car. Hoover at Perivale he began making one or Hils and Pete are soon to start their Frogeye/ two Spridget panels for Graham Paddy (a Sierra conversion. Soon there will not be ‘Spritely’ name from the past). As demand many 4 speed Frogeyes left. Hang on to the for his panels grew Ashley quit his job with old gearboxes, though, in case the new FIVA Hoover and started in business for himself. definition of a historic vehicle affects the law He has been established at this present makers, in this country, as we may all have site for about twenty two years. It is some to return to 4 speeds to comply with future while since Ashley threw open his factory legislation. How much a standard 4 speed doors, to members, for a club visit and in ribbed/smooth case gearbox then? John that intervening time Ashley has updated Clark had brought along a modified gear lever his machinery as well as introducing many, canister and transmission tunnel blanking previously, unavailable parts and panels. plate that he had constructed, for Roger to Twenty three people attended, the majority fit to his car. Tim and Helen were out in their coming in Spridgets. This event had been freshly repaired, and painted, Frogeye. Mike Gorman had found it cheaper to buy a new piston, for his Austin Sprite, than to buy a set of piston rings. A piston ring on Mike’s piston had been found to have cracked with a slither missing. Once upon a time adverts for piston rings, with miraculous engine healing claims, were common place in the advert sections of magazines. I don’t believe that I have seen such an advert for many years. Col Carpenter casually took the relevant ring off the new piston and placed it in relevant slot on the old. Not a task for the feint hearted. Twenty one attendees – not a bad number. The group get a tour and a lecture

30 Some parts oil cooler pipe on their MGB(?) but Ashley on display was happy to provide an individual tour and demonstration for these late comers. After demonstrations of a CNC sheet metal press/ Frogeye rear punching tool and a leviathan of a press for suspension punching out floor panels Ashley showed us component how he spot welds the strengthening channel assembly to the freshly pressed floor panels. I, and probably others watching, shall now put a spot welder on my wish list. We must send thanks also to Ashley’s assistants who came into work on this Saturday morn. As midday drew near we left, with Ashley, at first in a long line of cars to take victuals and quench thirsts at the local Plough Inn. Turns and traffic split the line causing confusion and loss. This was not helped by there being two Plough Inns in the locale. Thus it was that half went to one Plough and half to the other. Suitably refreshed, at either location, I trust everyone had an enjoyable trip home as it was perfect weather for top down Spritely motoring. Alan Anstead advertised in MASCOT Magazine so it was S.E. Area Rep good to see Barry Green, John Foard, and Reps Rep to National Committee Mike Sleath venture over from Hampshire to Mail to [email protected] join us. They were a little delayed by a frayed Tel: 01322-384050 (answer phone)

KKentent MMeeteet Sunday 22nd March

member. The bad news of the day was that he Moat, Wrotham Heath, Nr Brands Tracey Neil was forsaking her Frogeye for an Hatch, Kent is the venue for the regular E type Jaguar. Sacrilege! TKent Sunday lunchtime meeting. Being near to Brands Hatch race circuit cars and For our April meet we are hoping to travel motorcycles of interest often pass by. A fine to Hants to join the Hampshire Chapter for day brought out eight cars. A first showing there ‘At home’ meeting whilst taking the for Lisa and Jerry Diccox nice MK2 Sprite. opportunity to show our cars across several Infrequent visitor Mike Pearson attended counties on what will be ‘Drive it day’. and announced that at last he was a paid up Alan Anstead

31 SouthSouth WestWest Wales’Wales’ DayDay OutOut

Left to right, Malcolm and Pat Meyers, David and Andrea Hill, Paul and Vanessa Evans and Neil and Sharon Thomas

aster Monday saw a small group of SWW members go to the Museum of Ruldolf Diesel’s EInternal Fire at Tanygroes, Ceredigion. original designed This museum is one of the best in the world first commercial for stationary diesel engines and has one engine of the first commercially produced single cylinder diesel engines actually running. Four cars and eight members had a good mooch around. From the almost silent very large twin cylinder Tangye to the Paxman Vega (which would wake the dead), we (or at least the men in the group) enjoyed looking at and listening to, the engines. Afterwards, everyone was invited back to David and Andrea’s for coffee and cake before heading off home. We were lucky as the forecasted rain did not materialise. David Hill Linc’Slot n 1st March all met at Uncle Henry’s and hunted for bargains in four of the Farm Shop and Restaurant at Kirton. We recycled, art deco styled, war time Bomber Ohad a nice Sunday lunch, if a bit pricey. Command buildings. The £1.50 weekend Phil and Annie were in the Midget, top off, parking fee was not one of the bargains. as were Sue and I. Pete and Mary had their Neither was the pernickety 50p refundable Moggy Van and discussions were afoot about entry fee to the buildings. However, the an L.P.G. conversion. Tim and Jill took their browsing continued until some of us found Moggy Minor Traveller, which is up for sale bargains. Mary in particular found a lovely and a potential buyer was at the venue. green, almost complete, Winton tea and Lunches and puddings consumed, we set dinner service for all of £6.00. off to the ex R.A.F. Hemswell site of the Brian Jeffery Hemswell Antiques Centre where we browsed (details in the front of MASCOT)

32 Sussex Section Slowly Slips Away f it were not for stalwarts David and Linda for seventy of those miles! Chris Harding Southcott and David and Chris Wright struggled in with several large boxes of Ithere would, probably, be no Masc meet regalia. John and Julie Harle completed the in Sussex. There is little, or no, support. A gathering for the evening. We had a good recent e-mail survey of members brought evening. few replies. What is wrong? Is it the wrong Seriously. If people do not lend support, or night? The wrong location. Blame it on the provide constructive criticism, those people recession! Is it me? trying on your (the members) behalf will The once popular show at Ardingly, where probably become frustrated, demoralised, Masc has a Club Stand, on 11-12 July 2009 and give up to everyone’s loss. It is your Club. is, so far, so poorly supported, by members Give it your support. from Sussex that it is hardly worth David Alan Anstead Wright’s efforts organising. S.E. Area Rep (Sussex, Surrey, and Kent) Kent member John Clark travelled from Herne Area Reps Rep to National Committee Bay, to the Sussex march meeting to give Mail to: [email protected] support. Over 120 miles! I accompanied John Tel: 01322-384050 Bristol Area Report ine Mascateers turned up for our March The thorny subject of liabilities was carefully club night which sets a new record explained and although very important, in Nsince our move to the Rose and Crown practice, shouldn’t prevent us from doing at Pucklechurch. Some disappointment that what we already enjoy now (excepting the car park wasn’t littered with the carnage some Bristol club nights perhaps). Defining of destroyed Spridgley things and severed what is a ‘club event’ and ensuring that limbs, but then, some nights are quieter that members ‘sign on’ for these will be the easy others I guess. In fact, heavy muscle has bit. It’s the ‘small print’ that needs to be moved in, Ford Mustangs to be precise. worded correctly and will require careful consideration. Naturally, no one should fear It seems that the fun that Bristol Mascateers signing away their legal rights by entering enjoy has reached the ears of the warbling V8 an event but on the other hand, the club, fuel burning, eco killers who now make the its representatives and members, need to second Wednesday of each month their club ensure that our ‘enjoyment’ is not someone night too. They watch us closely, no doubt else’s opportunity to start legal proceedings. waiting to see how a club night should really be enjoyed but alas, they don’t have Alan Lo. It was a good questions and answers (Although we are open to offers). This joint opportunity as well as to meet fellow patronage of the Rose and Crown should AOs and to compare how we all operate. Some areas are very well oiled machines, provide a good Anglo-American car show highly organised, highly motivated, great once the lighter evenings kick in, they provide camaraderie – then there is Bristol…! the muscle, we provide the oil stains on the floor. If want to know what the row of dots really mean, Bristol Meets at the Rose and Crown, Must say how useful and enjoyable the Area Pucklechurch on the second Wednesday of Organisers get together at Gaydon was. Held each month. All welcome but please leave in late February in a pub (No-not the Motor your legal advisors in their office! Heritage Centre), many of the club’s 16 or so areas were represented. Terry Horler

33 S.O.S. May Day – May Day!!!

o here we are; The 11th of April, Easter COBRA and a Golf or what ever else may be Saturday and the sun is shining, does in his Garage at Colyton in Devon. this auger well for a hot summer in S That just leaves Peter/Susan who we haven’t 2009? We can but hope. seen for some while, as they moved from May Day – May Day? So what’s the panic, South Somerset to East Devon and bought a well S.O.S. now stands for Somerset Odds Gentry- forsaking quite a nice AH Sprite but and Sods as we loose more Spridgets and we are not sure whether they still own this in our members’ collection of cars moves to addition to a Freelander. err on the side of those mostly driven by However, despite our eclectic collection of elderly drivers. Well – some of us have been cars it is fair to say that we all remain fans collecting a pension for several years! of the mighty SPRIDGET and are generally Our small group of half a dozen or so “petrol heads” So if there are any “closet” regulars now lists amongst the cars owned Spridget owner/drivers out there in South just 4 Spridgets with the top prize going to Somerset, West Dorset or East Devon who Malcolm/Elaine who run a superb Mk1 Frog want to redress the balance by joining our eye and an MG Midget along with an “old Somerset team then we would be pleased to man’s” Honda Civic ( Auto) then Peter/Val hear from you. with a 1500 Midget in addition to a Subaru We continue to meet at the Lord Nelson in Forester and the latest addition an MGB GT. Norton sub Hamdon on the last Thursday Justin, occasionally running an elderly and each month to feed the inner man and to modified “Sprite” with fibre glass back end organise our runs out, the first of which for and frog eye bonnet now that he has sold his 2009 on the 19th April, will see us run across early MGF- yes problems with the head! His the levels up into the Mendips/Cheddar and latest “baby” is a Caterham 7. on to the Bristol Channel coast after lunch at John/Shirley have two MGBs one a lovely Winscombe, yes more eating! Roadster t’other an equally nice GT along Then on “Drive it Day” we will be out again with his more pedestrian Rover 400 Diesel, – though I note this clashes with the London a caravan, several horses etc. etc. how does Marathon so I won’t be there – and no I’m not Shirley let him get away with it! Norman/ running, just supporting a nephew! Gillian after an abortive love affair with a Tifano Rossi have bought another MG 1500 Then of course there will be the usual and also drive a BMW 1 Series and a Toyota calendar of Rallies and Shows throughout the Prius. summer, including 7th June D-DAY +65 Air Show and Classic Car Event at Smeatharpe Brian, our international traveller (well he is Airfield, Nr. Honiton, organised by Marie Curie always away on holiday in exotic places, Cancer Care and well worth supporting. Then, as far as I can make out) is now running an the Windwhistle Motor Club Classic Run, a Astra along with his SMART Roadster. Dave week later and on into July with Classics at our area representative and “Head Man” has The Castle in Sherborne. just sold his BMW Alpina Convertible and is looking at MX5s. It seems ages ago that he The big trip this year will see the team run to ran a Midget. Brittany via the ferry from Poole for a week in September stopping at La Bois Coudrais Me, I drive a Rover 75 Tourer, (Diesel of in Cuguen which is close to Mont St. Michel course). And, would you believe, that unable When no doubt, the other main interest of our to find a decent replacement for my AH Somerset membership, namely, wining and Sprite with a Lenham Bonnet, which I sold dining, will be well in evidence, Q.E.D. last September that I too have just bought an MX5; which came highly recommended by Ray Darch Gerry/Leslie our “Team Mechanic” who has a 3568

34 Warks Talk

Drive Your Classic Day in the Welsh Mountains

e realised that due to unavoidable Alan and Rosemary celebrating their ruby circumstances, April’s meeting was anniversaries and Barrie and Margaret Wonly the second we had attended celebrating their diamond anniversary. Our this year and with it being close to Easter, congratulations go out to them and we hope numbers were low, as many members were their celebrations will not prevent them enjoying an early holiday. Our next event is attending too many of our events. It would be on “Drive Your Classic Day”, April 26th, with great to think our cars will hold together as a two and a half hour run organised by Geoff long as they have. Hunter. The assembly point is at 9.15 am Following Geoff’s run is the Exmoor Run, for at Bodenham Arboretum, which has some which, even with all our other commitments, pleasant walks for those inclined to take an we managed an investigatory trip. Although, early morning stroll. The route will be detailed there will be an element of surprise as some in the form of tulip diagrams and we will be of the route has not been explored. There joined by the Stourbridge Pre-War Car Club, are some lovely toll toads on the moor and of which Geoff is also a member. There we have even found one that takes us around will be a choice of two routes and it will be Bath, so participants will need to bring some followed by a carvery lunch at the arboretum. change in the form of £1 and 50p coins. The This is a year of important wedding hotel has been investigated and will involve anniversaries, with Roy and Geraldine, plus some interesting manoeuvring when parking

Last year’s Drive It day

35 the cars on our arrival. The lunch venues Shropshire Run on the 12th July, and Roy for all 3 days have been booked, with those offering an additional event on July 4th to travelling on Friday needing to give us their Croombe Park to include the Hagley Fete, order for the Piper’s Inn. where the cars will be on display. John is also recommending the Banbury Vintage Rally at The organisers have finally decided to hold Bloxham on 27th and 28th June. the Droitwich Classic Show on May 2nd, but at this late stage, individuals who are If anyone would like to join us at any of these interested will need to make their own or our other events, we look forward to arrangements. There have been some welcoming you. Please contact the organiser to confirm details. changes to our planned future events; with Stuart organising the Worcestershire and Chris and Sheila Home Counties North West A penny for them. I have a couple of thoughts arising from last month’s mag. To add to John Sprinzel’s note about the Ace Café. From the early fifties I lived in the area and can recall that the North Circular Road junction at Neasden was a roundabout. This was frequented by the bikers from the Ace who would put a record on the juke box and then make the trip from the Ace to Neasden and back before it finished. The sweeping bends at the Neasden railway bridge were the unscheduled stopping place for many of the contestants. From 1957 I lived a step around The Chequers Inn in Redbourne the corner from the bridge and could hear the unfortunates coming unstuck. I didn’t Midget it must follow that the new shape was visit the Ace myself. A 125cc BSA Bantam designed as a Midget and not as a Sprite. So was, I think, a little persona non grata in the the Sprite is a rebadged Midget and not viccy company there. vercy. Eh? A question to which I thought I knew the So Home Counties have been a little slow answer but which is possibly the other way out of the blocks this year. We do have some about. If Mark now owns the pre-production things organised even if they haven’t all managed to make it to the Events section yet. Probably by the time you read this a number of us will have taken part in the Spirit of Dacorum run around Hemel Hempstead for the bank holiday (if you are reading this before 3rd May then come and join us in Hemel town centre from late morning with around 200 other cars!). Pub night this month will be 27th May, at the Chequers Inn in Redbourn, and with the arrival of the lighter nights we expect to see at least a couple of Spridgets there. Racers at the Ace Café Chris

36 Rotor arm sends you spinning and condenser removes your sparkle

n several occasions recently people close tolerances and reputedly will not let have drawn my attention to, or asked you down. The integrally moulded brass inlay Omy assistance with, faults concerning dispenses with the troublesome rivet. The the failure of ignition system components. increased insulation properties of the body The two main problems concern the failure of makes them suitable for use with high voltage rotor arms and condensers (capacitors). coils and electronic ignition kits. The spring Firms such as Aldon Automotive, Moss, and steel clip on the underside, in conjunction Distributor Doctor now are able to supply with a revised internal tolerance assures a really snug fit, even on old and slightly better quality alternatives to the commonly reduced diameter mountings. available reproduction rotor arms which have been routinely failing and leaving people Part number DRB101 for Sprite/Midget 25D stranded. Such is the problem of poor quality type distributors. automotive electrical ignition parts that some A model for the 45D distributors will, classes of historic motor sport are, this apparently, be available shortly. year, to allow electronic ignition systems to be fitted to overcome reliability issues. This Lucas number DRB104 move removes the problem of condensers These updated rotor arms retail at about and contact breaker points completely but £6.95 inc. VAT. the rotor arm, depending on what sort of More detail re distributor doctor can be found electronic ignition is used/allowed, will still at: www.distributordoctor.com remain. More detail re Aldon Automotive can be found Apparently recently manufactured rotor at: www.aldonauto.co.uk arms have been failing because the typical “mix” used in the injection moulding process, nowadays, contains more carbon blacking and is therefore more conductive. In conversation with a representative of 25D Dizzy with Aldon Automotive, at the recent Race Retro points and exhibition, I was informed that it has been condenser found that the rivet which holds the brass contact inlay into the moulding is slightly longer than the original, bringing it too close to the spring clip on the underside. The high tension current, averaging 30,000 volts, is Kent based Swiftune Racing has developed always looking for the easiest route to earth an all-new Competition Condenser for all and shorts out from the tip of the over length engines running with conventional ignition rivet, through the reduced thickness of more points. The Swiftune condenser replaces conductive plastic and the spring clip on the the existing Lucas unit which have proved underside of the rotor arm, to earth out down increasingly unreliable in recent years due to poorer quality. Optimising the capacity the distributor shaft. This results in no spark of the condenser for the distributor points to the spark plugs. The situation sometimes has resulted in a unit noticeably bigger than rectifies itself on cooling, but then reoccurs the previous Lucas item. The Competition with increasing frequency until the rotor Condenser is mounted outside the distributor, permanently short circuits. a significant advantage because condensers Distributor Doctor offers “Lucas red rotor don’t like heat! The Competition Condenser arms” which are modelled on the original, kit consists of a condenser, P clip and wires 1960’s design, but made from modern with heat shrunk connections for the coil and materials on the latest machinery to very earth. These items retail at £27.60 inc VAT.

37 25D baseplate with points and Petronix kit condenser for roadside repair

configuration, fit within the distributor with More detail re Swiftune can be found at: no outward signs that they are installed. It is www.swiftune.com easy to carry a spare distributor base plate set up with points and condenser in case of Electronic ignition systems can easily be the rare instance of the electronic system fitted to Sprites and Midgets. Types such failing at the roadside. as the Aldon Ignitor or Petronix, which are available in either positive or negative earth Alan Anstead FIVA definition of an Historic Vehicle assing through the magazine section must, surely, open up a area of my local W.H. Smith minefield as many vehicles were, Pa magazine front page and are, to this day modified. headline drew my attention. It Must such modification pre date was something akin to ‘French 1978/9. What of modifications ban modified cars’. made later for ’Health and Safety’ What had created such alarm was reasons. Not relative to our the FIVA definition of a Historic Vehicle which cars but as an example would trafficators is:- have to be returned to where over the years indicators not an original fitment or A mechanically propelled road vehicle requirement be fitted. Will non standard which is at least thirty years old; fitments one day in the future draw penalty? which is preserved and maintained in a What upgrades may be permitted and what historically correct condition; may not? Whereas most now run their Sprite which is not used as a means of daily or Midget as a hobby car one or two may be, transport and is therefore a part of our as other historic vehicles are, used as a daily technical and cultural heritage. driver. How many days, in fact, class a vehicle The FBHVC, of which MASC is a member, as a daily driver? We can only wait and see opines that it will not mean that all countries what repercussions this definition may have will use it for all purposes and suggests that upon our lives and look to the FBHVC to ‘fight it is unlikely to impact upon the UK. our corner’ and lobby upon our behalves and provide guidance. This definition has already caused concern amongst Masc membership whose vehicle For those 1500 Midget owners who do not fall ownership, with regard to Sprites and within the “thirty year rule” it is rumoured that Midgets, spans 1958 (Frogeye) – Dec 7 1979 our own government has plans to hasten the (1500 Midget). Thus depending on the exact demise of vehicles over seventeen years old. date of the announcement of that “definition” Perhaps members will now realise why the greater proportion of our members cars the National Committee, on behalf of the will fall within the thirty year rule. members, considered FBHVC membership so The next issue is “preserved and maintained important for the preservation of our hobby. in a historically correct condition”. This one Alan Anstead

38 Letters from America missing) also; two ribbed case transmission (no smooth case), although one is quite literally a basket case; two full up differentials; an original Sprite hardtop!; lots of wheels albeit only 3 are Sprite (where can I get one more?); all the AH hubcaps; two master cylinders; two steering wheels; 3 remote shifters; 2 handbrakes, 2 radiators, 3 carb set ups (1-1.125, 2x1.25), 2 steering racks, etc. Got disc brakes already but still have the front drums in a basket. Dynamo is not original and I have two, neither of which are for the Sprite, one is not even Lucas (Prescott?). More clutch slave cylinders than I’ll ever know what to do with. Seems one of lease excuse me for being slow in the prior owners was a collector of parts but introducing myself and my Frogeye. not a restorer of cars. PSo, I’m Jim Knorr, 4084. And I’m just a The most recent past owner has moved on to few years older than my car. I’m an engineer far more complex (read: way more expensive) who heads up the mechanical bits (bearings, cars than a Sprite so knowing that I’ve been gears, seals, gearboxes, shafting, etc) for interested in it for the past ten years, he Honeywell gas turbines, so the moniker finally gave into to sell it and all his Sprite/ “gearhead” the electrical engineers tag us Midget parts. Didn’t hurt that he needed cash with (whom we call “sparkies”) is a good one. for that Miura he bought... I’ve been interested in motorcars since So far the project has been exceedingly slow, around age 2 and British sport cars since late not the least of which was finding where to ‘60s spawned mostly by reading early and mid ‘60s Road and Track and Car and Driver keep all this stuff and a place to work on it magazines. Soaking up automotive books all. I have a tent garage for the Sprite and a from the library back then, too, resulted in garage/shop for working the mechanicals. my first car (in 1974) being a 1963 Triumph Disassembly is equally slow, some due to rust Herald Coupe (1200cc convertible). Those but mostly due to other obligations. Shoulda swing axles taught me a lot about driving! got them all behind me before I started on the Sprite but then I may have never bought My Frogeye project is the Austin-Healey it if I thought I’d have to finish all those other Sprite Mk I, VIN AN5L39735. Body Number projects first... AN 526919. Please see pictures in New Members section. Apparently, a 1960 manufacture not If ever Jim (previous owner) finds the pictures registered until 1961. I’ve no idea how many before he cleaned it up, I’ll share. The car was owners it has had but I’m the third since quite literally a desert rat midden; filled with 1980ish and it hasn’t run since at least 1987. prickly pear cactus fruit and cholla and much It’s a basket case or more accurately based worse. The pictures are from last September on how I received the parts: a wheelbarrow when I took receipt and then a couple of case. I have to guess it has always been a weeks ago since I’ve started taking it apart. South West USA car as its rusty bits aren’t too bad: I’ve only found 4 holes so far and Looking forward to more issues (and back none larger than a quarter. It’s nice to have issue content?? The technical articles appear friends with MIG welders and who have done invaluable to my project). this sort before. Cheers, I’m pretty well provisioned: a 1098 engine Jim Knorr (10CC-DA-H 12961) and a 948 (Nameplate is USA

39 Does what it says on the can

This can of easystart was photographed by the Hampshire area during their recent visit to Slark Engineering’s workshop earlier this year. The label seems to really sum-up what many of us have felt on cold wet mornings when the thing just wont fire.

Market Place Adverts to Alan Lo 23 Charnell Road, Staple Hill, Bristol, BS16 5NE email: [email protected] Tel: 0117 9572617 For sale seats, harnesses, Mota-lita steering wheel, decent hood, works hardtop. MoT ‘til July 09, MG Midget MK1/GAN steering wheel 1962 Taxed ‘til Sept 09. Used regularly, quick car, on very rare MG Midget MK1/GAN original requires cosmetics and TLC. MG registration cream steering wheel and complete horn number. Priced to sell, may p/x for larger push, year 1962 on, fantasticly rare as hens’ classic or sportscar. £1200 ono. teeth, this is brand new and stored item. Tel: 01475 674280 (eves) Do not think that this has been restored it has or e-mail: [email protected] not, It is a genuine original, you will never find another see the book Terry Horler “Original For sale: The family of the late, Surrey Sprite and Midget” page 57, you will see the Masc member, Reginald Bretherton Roberts same rare wheel. As the wheel is so rare I will (Reggie) wish to dispose of his 1962 Mk2/ only sell at an agreed price, pictures can be HAN6 948cc Austin Healey Sprite. Owned sent to your email, contact me on email at by Reggie since new/registered 23 Aug 1962 [email protected] you would never the vehicle was used until about 12 months find another all offers considered. ago but needs restoration. This is one of only Contact: David Bridge, 38 Heathey 3596 cars built for the home market and Lane, Shirdley Hill, Halsall, nr Ormskirk comes with period Speedwell door handles Lancashire L39 8SH Tel: 01704 840504 and hardtop. Featured in a series of articles, in MASCOT Magazine, by Reggie, in 2003, 1979 MG Midget ‘2000’. Black. Fitted about his ownership. Vehicle located in with 2.0 litre Ford Pinto engine and 5-speed Woking. Offers invited. gearbox. Bumperless with round rear wheel Contact Edwina Roberts arches. Rear Spax adjustable shocks, poly Mob: 07805977943 bushed, Minator alloys, roll hoop, bucket Home: 01298-814427

40 RRegaliaegalia UpUp CloseClose Baseball Style Cap and Grille Badge

This month’s regalia close up looks at the Midget & Sprite Club’s baseball-style cap and the grille badge.

One will keep the sun off your head and hopefully out of your eyes. The other is just a very nice badge to have adorning the front of your car(s).

The Cap is made of black brushed cotton with a red suede peak and an embossed logo. The price is £7.50 incl. p&p.

The price of the Grille Badge with fittings is £20.00 incl. p&p.

Both are available from our Regalia Officer, Mike Grout.

Cheques & Postal Orders should be made payable to the

Midget & Sprite Club

Send your cheques and postal order to:

REGALIA OFFICER Mike Grout 55 Park Road, Spixworth NORWICH NR10 3PJ Tel 01603 890211 Email: [email protected]

See the back of the address sheet which came with this month’s MASCOT

i

FROGEYE

SPARES CO

“Anything and everything for the Frogeye Sprite”

New Parts, Performance Parts and Many Used Parts Interior Trim - Seats, Carpets, etc Hard Tops, Tonneau Covers, Hoods, Side Screens Engine Rebuilds - Standard & Fast Road Restorations Carried Out - Complete or Partial Download our Catalogue from the Website Gift Vouchers £10, £25, £50 & £100 New Range of Prints and Cards for all Occasions Visit our New Premises in Droitwich (Jn5 - M5) Tel: 01885 400791 Fax: 01885 400791 www.frogeyespares.co.uk