1. Robin checks his wheel alignment before setting off for Shuttleworth!! - 2. & 3. Club members have a good look around!
| Ray's Ramblings! | Le Mans 24 hr - June 2001 |
Hello from Cambridge
At last we have had some good weather and our last two club runs have been
in Top down mode for a change. On Mayday we had a clued / picnic run through
Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire ending at the Shuttleworth CC show. 14
assorted MG's arrived at the start; the most we have had for sometime.
On
arrival at Shuttleworth we joined hundreds of Classic cars and had a good
time in the sunshine,winners of this run were in fact visitors for the day
and had to leave before we could dish out the bubbly so we will keep the
empty bottle for them!
Thank you Robin and Joyce once again for another Simply the best club run.
Our Bank Holiday Treasure hunt this time arranged
by our club Rally driver (who has done one or two!)
And who's battle scared MGB.GT graces most of our runs. On this run 11 MG's
met in a local hostelry set about a short driving test (won by Dave
Coventry) before setting out on a clued treasure hunt to an unknown
destination. Fenland was the backdrop for this run which included a stop at
Ely Cathedral. Relatively quiet back roads and apart from one MG with a
badly leaking petrol line patched up by those following on behind and
another MG with a broken Speedo cable ( who won the least mileage part of
the run by the way) all went off smoothly to the destination in Exning.
Winners Roger and Elaine . Thanks Dave for a well organised run.
(sorry no pictures for this event as yet)
The attendances at our club evenings have increased over the past year or so but we would welcome any MG owner or prospective owner to any of our meetings or runs, we don't bite and you can be sure of a warm welcome as long as you make yourself known at the pub. If you own an MG or are about to buy one, come and make yourself known and speak to the Experts at one of our club evenings or runs we will be pleased to see you.
Dates For The Diary
July 2nd Concours at the Green Man
July 8th Fish and Chip run to Dunwich
July 16th Boules / Petanque at the Green Man
Aug 8th Punting on Cam meet Rat And Parrot
Aug 20th An evening run TBA
Regards Ray
MG MAKES HISTORIC RETURN TO 24 HEURES DU MANS
MG is making an historic return to Le Mans to compete in the world-famous 24-hour endurance race on Saturday and Sunday June 16/17, 2001. 1965 marked the last time an MG competed in the 24-hour Le Mans race. Paddy Hopkirk and Andrew Hedges finished 11th in the race - the best an MGB had achieved there and second in its class.
Sporting the vivid green MG octagon on X-Power grey paintwork, the MG Lola EX257 sports car conveys a modern, bold and powerful message for MG Sport & Racing Limited.
The vehicle has been produced by Lola Cars International to compete in the LMP 675 class at Le Mans. Advanced Engine Research (AER), responsible for the power-unit Lola used to win last year’s LMP 675 class at Le Mans, was commissioned to produce a brand new light-weight two litre turbo charged four-cylinder engine.
Martin Birrane, owner of Lola Cars International commented that MG’s driver line-up could prove to be a surprise package at the 69th Le Mans race: “We have a formidable team of drivers who have the mixed blend of youth, speed and experience on their side. In a short amount of time, the team has done an incredible job and I hope that we can surprise a few people.”
Mark Blundell, former Le Mans winner and experienced Formula 1 driver said: “It’s great to be returning to Le Mans and it’s fantastic to go with five other British drivers in the team. The prospects of competing against other big names, especially the new brands involved, is exciting. This is the start of a new era and it’s great to be a part of it.”
Anthony Reid, current holder of the British Land Speed Record said: “MG back at Le Mans, I think it’s wonderful. British car company, British team and all British drive line-up - this is rare in motorsport. And entering the most challenging motorsport event on the calendar makes it all the more exciting.”
Frank Dernie, chief engineer at Lola Cars International, commented on the drivers’ challenge ahead: “Today’s drivers view Le Mans both as an endurance and as a sprint race. Clutches, engines and gearboxes are vastly improved compared with years gone by. For the drivers, it’s a combination of mastering fast laps and reducing fuel stops.”
Rob Oldaker, managing director of MG Sport & Racing Limited, said: “We’re extremely proud to be entering an MG into Le Mans in only the company’s second year. We have embarked on a three year motorsport programme and 2001 is very much a testing and development year. “It will be a huge bonus to us if we can show pace and an even greater bonus to finish the race. The team is motivated, enthusiastic, determined but also realistic in its approach to its success at Le Mans 2001.” The enthusiasm among the MG Lola Le Mans team is best summed up by driver Jonny Kane: “From the laps I’ve done at Le Mans, I can’t wait to get back on track as it’s a race I’ve always wanted to do. I’m fidgeting because I can’ t wait to get going.”
Additional Quotes
Warren Hughes: “I’ve even used my Playstation to help familiarise myself with the Le Mans circuit. I’m completely focused on doing a good job to the best of my abilities - it is certainly a new and exciting challenge.”
Kevin McGarrity: “Le Mans is a place I’ve always wanted to try my hand at. I’ve been really looking forward to it and I can’t believe that it’s so close now - I’m so excited. To drive down one of the world’s most famous straights, I just can ’t wait.”
Julian Bailey: “The start of the race at 4pm is something special. Le Mans is one of the great races, along with Indianapolis and the Monaco Grand Prix. With so much British support I feel quite patriotic!”
Above text from official MG Release June 9, 2001
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