The Newsletter of the

                Independent

May 2002
Contact the Newsletter Editor
Tel: 01785 612320
Mobile:  07815 173289
Email: roadster@ntlworld.com

Our sponsors are:
David Manners Ltd 
Friarsgate MG Rover
Renaissance MGs
Stafford Vehicle Components

                      For Contact Details please see bottom of this page.

VCFirst things first – Peter our Chairman has been unwell  - Peter is currently taking it easy 'on doctor's orders'.  I'm sure you will all want to join me in wishing him a speedy recovery and look forward to having him back with us all soon. A great time was had by all on Sunday 14th April when our first event, The Special Run to The Staffordshire Regiment Museum, took place.  Even the weather was kind and has been ever since - although as I write it does seem we've had a bit of a blip!!

A big thank you to all who helped set it up and of course to the competitors, not just from our own club, but several other clubs in the region who joined us on the day. The deserving winner was Ian Haydock. Photographs of the day were taken by Peter, and these will be available on club night.

Plans for the Jubilee Ball are well underway and last minute details are being finalised as I write. The event is being well supported by club members and associates, and we are all looking forward to an excellent evening. That's all for now folks!

Chris Abel, Vice Chair email chris-a@fsmail.net

An update from your Secretary – I’ve had the chance to visit our convalescent companions, Lesley Cheadle and Peter Wallis. Lesley is coming along in leaps and bounds, (although not literally speaking). She is strong in will, body and determination to return to as normal a life as is possible, and she has lost none of her charm and wit. Peter too is thankfully on the mend, and although he needs a period of absolute rest, he is also cheerful and resolute. I expect that we shall see them both back in the club circles very soon, wearing their trade mark smiles, and in the meantime we wish them a speedy and absolute recovery, so that those kind, smiling faces are soonest back in our presence.

Llangollen Run - Since Harry Cheadle has had his hands full with Lesley, (and knowing them well, I’m sure that they will both forgive me for saying that), Mike Roberts and I have taken his ideas for the Llangollen Run on Bank Holiday Monday 6th May, and planned the outward and homeward routes. On arrival, there is much to do and see, and the itinerary is open. There will be a slight diversion on the way back for those of us who wish to partake in pub grub. More event details are over the page.  

 Recommended Suppliers - Since we have been conducting research on local suppliers and contacts within the MG world, we have been asked by number of club members for an up-to-date list of those proprietors, coupled with what they are prepared to offer our members. This will be available on request, and will also be posted on the club web site within our secure member’s section. To view this you will require a username and password. Mike Abel, our Web Master, will be very happy to answer your queries on how to get the best from the developing facilities on the site. We are hopeful that the combined numbers of our club, or indeed of the region where possible, will provide real potential for great savings in the pursuit of the cosseting of our beloved MGs. To prove your eligibility for discount, you will shortly be issued with Club Membership Cards  
– The issue of which has been realised by our newest sponsors, Abingdon Parts 4 MGs. Talking of suppliers, it is with the greatest pleasure that we hope to personally introduce to the club at this month’s meeting, Mike Stewart of Abingdon, (David Manners Limited), and Yvonne who runs PJM Motors of Market Drayton. Your membership card will be issued soon, and revalidated at annual renewal of membership. Please note that some proprietors make offers exclusively to our club, therefore, in these instances, discount can only be awarded at the time of purchase and on production of your valid membership card.
The Special Run to The Staffordshire Regimental Museum last month was a resounding success. 25 MGs, including a good number from South Staffs MGOC and some from North Staffs MGOC, were parked on the Woolpack car park by 9.45am. 27 MGs met at the museum after a pleasant run through local countryside. Congratulations and well done to Ian Haydock and his co-pilot for not only winning a bottle of bubbly for the highest score in the clue spotting, but also winning the raffle – he was certainly glad he came. A variety of shots of the day by various members, will be posted on the web site. Peter took a photograph of every car that arrived at the Museum. He has kindly donated copies for those who he captured on film.

 
Keep your eyes peeled  –  I have received a request from the MG enthusiast son of a previous owner of MGA Roadster 
YKM 464. On behalf of his father, he wishes to trace the vehicle, which is known to be in use on the roads. Is it in our area? We are not represented by an MGA owner, and we are on the look out anyway, but keep ‘em peeled.

 

MG Rover’s Jubilee Celebrations – Thankfully, it is very evident that MG Rover are proving that they can design and plan for the successful future of the MG brand. From MGOC’s EMG magazine, and for those of us who subscribe to MG Enthusiast magazine, we will have read about MG Cars’ production of a special Golden TF to commemorate the Golden Jubilee. Was this their own idea, or were they ill prepared, and did they need a prompt? The car was very nearly not considered, because this time MG got it wrong. Hurriedly prepared, they also missed out on maximising its publicity. An exclusive report on the story comes from its source, club members John and Crissy Weston-Smith. As the owner of the unique MGB GT commissioned for the Silver Jubilee, (featured by MG Enthusiast in 2001, so no excuses for MG Cars here), John wrote to MG Cars earlier in the year to ask them of their plans for the Golden Jubilee. You could probably have heard the jaws drop at MG Rover HQ, when they received the letter, because it was evident that they had completely failed to even plan, let alone commission a special vehicle for this historic event, and time was moving on. John continued to harry MG, and finally received a letter dated 29th March, which indicated that the special TF would be produced to happily and conveniently coincide with the production of the 1.5 millionth MG car. The question then from MG was, could John please come along with his unique Silver Jubilee BGT to help promote the occasion side by side with the Golden TF? – Too late again – John had already arranged to be in the USA for a few weeks.

Above images of the two Jubilee cars side by side.

So MG missed out on a historical line up of two unique cars, and provided just a small epilogue within MG Enthusiast for a brief mention of the Silver Jubilee BGT, (“The car still exists, in the hands of a private owner”). The true story is not printed, so bad luck MG, and full marks to John Weston-Smith, without whose timely questions and suggestions to MG Rover this commemorative Golden TF would not exist. Just as he did in acquiring the Silver Jubilee car, John has got his sights set on the Golden TF, and the historic line up of the two cars side by side may yet take place - within our club realm. The Golden TF may be auctioned to raise money for one of H.M. the Queen’s nominated charities. John is watching events closely, and has promised to keep us informed of any developments. You read it first in the Stafford MG Enthusiasts Newsletter.
EVENTS TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON IN THE NEAR FUTURE
For details, contact your Event Co-ordinator, Mike Robets.
Tel: 01785 812817 or Mobile 07968 435163
or email    mikerobertsmg@aol.com

Llangollen Run - Don’t forget that on Bank Holiday, Monday 6th May, a club convoy leaves our venue for a day in Llangollen, where there will be much to see and do.  Please see Mike Roberts.

On Sunday 19th May, our close neighbours. South Staffs MGOC are holding a Treasure Hunt. Our club will be supporting them, and we meet them at 9.0am at the Seven Stars Inn, on the A34 at Brocton. At the destination of the run, there will be a traditional lunch served at reasonable cost. Definite numbers are required by SSMGOC. Please see Mike Roberts or Neil Perry.

Our Golden Jubilee Summer Ball at Weston Hall will be held on Friday 31st May – some tickets are still available. Photo’s taken on arrival, with champagne reception and wine on your table at a three-course silver service dinner with disco’ - Where else could you get this superb value for money at only £26 per head? Please see the convenor, Chris Abel, if you are interested.
Cars in the Park 2002 and The Staffordshire Regiment Jubilee Spectacular – Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July. This is a two day combined event advertised nationally. Entry is free to both events. The Club will have a stand and a presence on both days at both events, and we have arranged that members and our visitors can travel freely between locations, provided they adhere to stewards’ directions when moving their cars. The Rotary Club of Lichfield St.Chad are once again presenting Cars in the Park, and will require an entry form to be completed by each driver. A fee of £2 is payable for those of us who wish to enter their ‘Concours d’elegance’, (sponsored by Friarsgate Rover MG). A separate registration form will be required for the Regimental Spectacular, which will have a designated area for our club cars to be admired by the general public. There is far too much going on at these events for the limited space in this newsletter to give justice, but suffice to say participants will certainly not be disappointed with either event. Our advice is to use both days to full advantage – camping and caravanning facilities are available at both sites – for details and car registration, please see Mike Roberts or Neil Perry.

Silverstone  International  MG  Meeting.

This meeting is billed as the biggest and best MG event in the world – This is a three day event covering Friday 19th to Sunday 21st July. Don’t forget that we have a private suite for our members kindly provided by Renaissance MGs and Friarsgate MG over for the Saturday and Sunday respectively. Admission to the circuit per person for a two/three day ticket will be £21 for advance booking, £25 on the day, a one day ticket will be £11 for advance booking, £15 on the day. Closing date for advance tickets is 5 July 2002.  Camping at the circuit is available at an additional costs.

A promotion circular will be coming your way, complete with entry form – please use this to confirm numbers as soon as possible.  If you want to check yourself then please refer to the 

   MGCC web site at www.mgcc.org.uk/carclub/

 
  

 

 Coming next month, June, the next issue of your Club Magazine - Overdrive

How to contact your club

Contact the Club:  Email  staffordmgclub@fsmail.net

Don’t forget the Information you need may be on our website at www.mgcars.org.uk/staffordmgclub/

Peter Wallis - your Chair can be contacted on   peter.wallis@ntlworld.com  or 01543 305987                
Chris Wilkins – your Treasurer can be contacted at CSHW@aol.com  or 01785 252900
Neil Perry - your Secretary can be contacted on roadster@ntlworld.com or 01785 612320
Chris Abel  - your Vice Chair can be contacted on chris-a@fsmail.net  or 01922 455304
Mike Abel - your Web Master can be contacted at mikea@fsmail.net. or 01922 455304
Mike Roberts - your Events Coordinator can be contacted on mikerobertsmg@aol.com or 01785 812817

Happy MG motoring- we hope to see as many of you as possible on 
Monday 6th May for the Llangollen Run.