Another month and another Newsletter is finished, but only just in time!
At the recent Cambridge & District MGOC AGM, there were a few changes to the main club committee.Firstly, we welcome back, Brian Fish, as Area Secretary, to the club. Our new treasurer is, Keith Fairchild, and the new social committee is made up from the following member of the club.

The Cambridge & District
1997 Social Committee:

• Jacqueline Deakin..
• Kelvin Fagan..
• Bob Thompson..
• Mirium Thompsom..
• Jeremy Mustoe..
• Heather Fairchild..
• Linda Revell..

At the AGM it was agreed to give a donation of 200 pounds to a local charity, MAGPAS. Magpas is an organisation funded purely by local donations. So who/what is MAGPAS?....
Mid Anglia General Practitioners Accident Service
When there is a serious road accident on the roads in and Cambridge, first on the scene will most likley be a doctor from MAGPAS
From a control room near Addenbrookes Hospital, in Cambridge, a radio operator can dispatch the nearest the nearest voluteer Doctor to the scene of a road accident, often beating the Ambulance Service, (who struggle through the Cambridge traffic) on arrival, the MAGPAS Doctor gives the essential medical attention that is required in those vital few minutes after an accident.
As road users, it was a unanimous decision by the Cambridge & District MGOC to give a donation to the local 'flying doctors' (and fly they do, in soon rather quick motor cars, sporting sirens and green flashing lights).

The new Social Committe has already met and have formulated a programme of Events

Well that's about it from me this month, thanks for reading these web pages, and I hope you will return again soon!

Dear Member,
First, may I wish you a very happy & prosperous New year and hope you enjoyed a restful, peaceful Christmas. Last year (my sabbatical) came and went so quickly that at times their did not seem enough time for much else but work and more work, and I thank all of you who took the time out of Hectic schedules to support Peter Paige by attending our meetings and social functions. I am sure that had it not been for Peters efforts then the club would not be in the strong position it is at the present THANK YOU PETER.

Now to 1997, under 3 years to the millennium, can we create more free time to enjoy our MG's, I am sure we can. Your social committee have had their first of many meetings and formulated a programme for the next few months (more ideas are still needed).This should be printed within the newsletter if our Editor (Tintop KeIv.) got his act together in time, this should give you a chance to digest it prior to our next two meetings. ( yes I did!...ed.)

I really look forward to seeing you at these venues for an informative, educational meeting with some good food (if their is any turkey leftovers) and conversation, when I hope to cajole convince, help and answer to all questions including "how much will it cost".

If you have not been for years, never been before, do not know anyone, belong to some other car club, or don't even like the area secretary, whatever the reason, please come along to:
SIMPLY THE BEST place to be.

The Black Horse. Dry Drayton on the 3rd. and 17th. February @ 8.00 PM
I am sure you will be made very welcome.


The Diary for other meetings and events is here!

The 'Miggy' of the title, namely my little MGF, transported John and myself on a cold, icy, wintery day, that is, Tuesday last, the 7th January, to Longbridge, NR. Birmingham. I had wondered, having watched the previous day's weather forecast, whether we would even get there because, apparently, we were destined to travel along treacherously icy roads and on the return journey, encounter thick fog. However, the weather was relatively kind to us and we arrived, together with other MGOC & MGCC Club members at the 'Hare and Hounds' in Longbridge with plenty of time to spare. Many members, who joined us at this pub, had travelled from destinations such as Somerset, Devon, Rugby, Norwich and London. Kelvin, Jonathan, Bob, Ray and we had travelled, of course, from areas around the Cambridge area.

Having arrived at the 'Hare and Hounds', we each had time to partake of a pub lunch very tasty and inexpensive in relation to similar meals down south, sorry, east - and passed a pleasant hour or so chatting to each other about the impending visit to the Longbridge plant. The main topic of conversation was MGF's - enthused over by MGF owners or soon-to-be-owners.

Before setting out on this journey, I was quite uncertain what a car plant would be like and had visions of dull, dirty areas, oil-covered floors and men in greasy overalls. I was curious about so many areas of car production, especially those relating to MGFs, and had many questions firmly planted in my mind. The working areas and conditions did not, of course, bare any resemblance to those I had anticipated and it was a pleasant surprise to find that the factory areas we visited were bright and clean and much as described by Zoe Heritage in her article in 'Enjoying MG' - (May, 1996). As was also pointed out in this article, pleasant music does indeed pervade the working areas. However, having visited a Mercedes plant in southern Germany about ten years ago, John pointed out, and I have to agree with him, that one or two Rover body-part areas were, disappointingly, quite untidy.

At the site we were met by our two Rover guides, John Cockayne and Derek Tilt, both of whom were excellent; full of enthusiasm, they encouraged us straight away to raise questions about the site, the cars and work practices carried out at this plant - in fact to be generally inquisitive. We were transported by our two guides, firstly, to the automated body assembly lines for Rover 200 and 400 models. From comments made, partly in jest, during our tour of this part of the factory, I gather that, where in earlier years J.I.T amounted in reality to being 'Just Too Late' (rather than Just In Time, for those of you who may not be familiar with the term or the practice) modern working practices now necessitate that every part is produced and fitted at an allotted time and place. Having learned this, it was quite a surprise that there were two breakdowns on the automated lines within the short time we were in the plant. We were informed, however, that a system is in place to rectify line faults with the minimum of delay in order to keep 'down-time' to a minimum and that other parts along the line take up the continuation process. Just a little note of interest here, perhaps - we were told that several of the robots were named after the operatives wives or girlfriends - I wonder what the ladies think of that?

Welding of car body panels on the 200/400 assembly line

After visiting this area, we were driven in mini-buses to see the finishing lines for MGFs and other special Rover models. MGF bodies, which are made elsewhere, arrive at Longbridge, by train, ready to be painted. Then all the interiors, engines and other fitments are assembled in CAB2.(Car assembly building) The Rover technicians in this area, or associates as they are known, appeared to be very happy to answer any questions that were asked of them and were most helpful. From what I saw and heard, it is quite apparent that Rover have reacted very quickly and positively to the 'teething' problems that they have encountered with the introduction of a completely new model of sports-car. Several modifications, and I give here just one example, have already been made in order to rectify' the annoying little problems that have arisen. The boot lid, for example, which had previously allowed water to gather in a 'well' in the boot or, more aggravatingly seep into it, has now been modified so that, very importantly, water now escapes into the engine compartment, thus solving this problem.

Associates fit the wheels to an almost complete MGF

When attending some of the MGOC national and/or local functions, I was quite surprised to find that people were intrigued as to the location and size of the MGF engine; where various parts, for example, spark plugs, were to located and generally, how accessible 'serviceable parts' were. Before going to Longbridge I already had some idea with regard to some of these points, but now, having actually seen a complete engine being fitted, feel a little more 'enlightened' and will now be able to actually show people precisely where it is positioned - instead of just saying that "it is in the middle".

All in all, the journey to Longbridge and the time spent there was well worthwhile and, as a Public Relations exercise, was an absolute 'winner'. Thank you very much Kelvin for organising it, Rover for inviting us, and John and Derek for making it such a cheerful and interesting experience.

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