Members
Martin Evans. MG Midget Register member
for 24 years
The Midget c.1981 was taken before I owned the car (Before I had a driving
licence infact!!), by its second owner. I met him for the first time last
year, at a local classic car event. He was at the event with his present
black 1500, something he promised himself again one day, when he sold mine
all those year ago (That's two people who have sold it because of getting
married!!). I couldn't bring myself to part with the car, so I expect it
to form part of my estate, though hopefully, that is some way off.
I also run a 1974 MGB BT V8 and a 1971 Morris Traveller, appropriately fitted
with a 1275 Midget engine. I have nothing "Modern", the Morris
fulfils the role of runabout, though because I commute almost entirely on
a bicycle, even the Morris spends most of its time parked in the garage
with the others.
My father also has a Midget. His is a nice 1275 GAN 5 in blaze red. He used
to have a V8, which he passed on to me. My mother has a low mileage 1978
MGB GT (We have no modern cars). I am in the MGCC (Plus the Morris Minor
OC!!), my father the Midget & Spite Club and my mother the MGOC. I am
also in the Bugatti Owners' Club, not because I own one (If I had enough
money I'd like one!!) but due to my hillclimbing activities.
Midget 1981 Midget 1994 2005
2008 Nice interior
Thanks Martin for sharing you and the Midget
Members
Mark Boldry. MG Midget Register Technical Rep
My first Spridget (a Mk3 Sprite) I bought at the age of 17 and found it was beyond my capabilities for restoration. (it must have been bad as I built my first car, a 1964 Mini from bits at the age of 15). I scrapped that car and was amazed at the response from the advert in the local paper for the parts. I immediately sourced another in York, a 1964 1098 Midget in Tartan Red with Wire Wheels, this one didn’t escape me, for a while anyway. I did welding repairs where essential and MOT’d the car and had miles and miles of fun with it. I believe the car still exists to this day in Sweden after having a brief racing career. Since then and to this day, 32 years on, I have owned, maintained and driven Spridgets. That is not to say that I have always had one on the road, but I have had them.
Mark's first runner
My working career started when I did an apprenticeship in a Civilian REME
workshop, taking my City & Guilds qualifications at the same time. From
there, my enthusiasm for MGs got the better of me and I started my own business
servicing and repairing all models. One car that I used to look after in
those days I still have today, a 1938 MG TA.
As the years went on, my business sense as a youngster was not all it may
have been and I moved about job to job, gaining experience all the way and
still keeping my professional eye on the cars and era I love, honing my
skills everywhere I went.
Today, I have a small collection of Cars, Bicycles and Military vehicles. My business is now more involved in supplying to the Television and Film world but I still take on a small selected amount of work on Classic cars.
2009 should see me competing in the MGCC Midget Challenge and also I hope in occasional Historic Road Rallies in Anita’s Midget ‘Atlantis’.
Mark posing in his new racer Who does not know this grandstand?
Members
Graham Springthorpe. MG Midget Register Jack of all Trades
I first came across Spridgets as a teenager reading about their exploits
at LeMans and other race tracks around the world. Later my brother and his
mates drove a selection of Frog-eyes and later models. At the age of 17,
unable to afford a Midget my first car was an A40 which unfortunately destroyed
itself of a Ford Popular at some traffic lights. After a short acquaintance
with Ford Capri Mk1 (classic style) my first Midget, JUC677D a tartan red
66 MkII arrived and stayed as my only transport for about 5 years. With
married life approaching and the tin rot steadily taking hold the Midget
was dispatched- but life wasn’t the same any more. Enter my current
car, FYD600K in 1982, fitted with revolution wheels and various modifications
for sprinting and insatiable thirst for oil. Almost 30 years later, it now
shares a garage with an MGCGT which last year replaced a ZB Magnette after
ten years of ownership.
I have been on the Midget Register committee for about 14 years, firstly
as Secretary, later a Safety Fast scribe and more recently “minister
without portfolio- jack of all trades”.
Graham Springthorpe