Film Show &Talk at Albury Village Hall- 6th May
This was mentioned in the editorial. MG J1 Salonette owner, Richard Hinton is a member of a group of lifelong motor racing enthusiasts drawn from all corners of the country, many of whom have been competitors themselves or worked in some branch of motor sport or the industry.
Three times a year the group runs “History of Motor Racing” film shows with a guest speaker at Albury village hall (between Ware and Bishops Stortford, in Herts). The next film show/talk day is on 6th May and is devoted to all things Jaguar.
The guest speaker is Neville Swales. He has embarked on a project to construct a car inspired by Jaguar’s one-and-only 1966 XJ13 Le Mans Prototype (built by the factory’s racing dept. to re-enter the Le Mans 24hrs in the 1960s).
Graham Robson, a design engineer at Jaguar in the Mk II/E-Type era, will be talking to Neville and other seasoned Jaguar personalities of that period during the day. He will also enjoy seeing the archive films of this period, and perhaps add some anecdotes of his own time in that company. As a motoring author of 40+ years, he has written several books on the marque. (and MG – Ed).
Cost for the ticket is £30 for which everything is included – tea or coffee and biscuits on arrival, lunchtime barbeque, afternoon tea and cakes. First film starts at 9.50am.
Please check ticket availability with Richard Hinton at richard(at)hinton1.fsbusiness.co.uk {please substitute @ for (at)}
PRE-’56 MG EVENT- SCOTLAND – 28th May
Dughall Leask of the MGCC Caledonian Centre has sent me the following details:
On 28th May there will be an event around Montrose for all Pre-56 MG cars (Vintage, Triple-M, SVW, T & Y types).
We plan a visit to a site which is a home to elderly aircraft and also have a picnic in the grounds of a private castle. This is a ‘get together’ event, rather than a Concours event.
The event is organised by the MGCC Caledonian Centre and the MG Octagon Car Club, but all suitably aged MG cars will be made very welcome.
In addition to the picnic, it is the intention to operate a ‘Bring and Buy’ stall at the event, for all those bits that are spare in your garage and are suitable for the age of vehicles attending. Who knows, you might just find the spare you have on your own ‘wish list’!
For more comprehensive details, including booking arrangements, please go to:
Ed’s note: I hear that Octagon Secretary Pete Moore, is driving up from Leicestershire to attend the event.
XPAG rear crank seal and front seal
Further to the information in the last issue, Ian Thornhill has spoken to Eriks, who say they use a selection of suppliers and there is not a ‘common’ part number.
So, to order the rear crank seal:
Ask for a 95-120-10 ‘Viton’ R23 [this is a double lip seal, the R21 is single lip]
For the front double lip seal;
36-47-7 ‘Viton’ R23
Bill Thomson (Thomson’s of Wimbledon)
The following was received from John Douglas:
“Please give my regards to Bill’s son; Bill is one of those people I’m glad to have met as I wandered through life. I have stacks more memories of the man, some scurrilous (!). It’s incredible what you chance upon online, finding your site was pure serendipity….as ever, I wish I still had the TC; would have made a great stable mate to the Lotus!
4 years of my life were spent rebuilding BJL 116, these were the days before they became “collectable” and parts for bodywork and the wood frame became available, so lots of carpentry was done using a large baulk of ash from one of my neighbours at the time, who ran Alsford’s wood yard in Twickwenham! I only sold it because I was going through flying training in the RAF and couldn’t really look after the beast. I modified the head and fitted the supercharger…the supercharger itself cost me £7 12/6d from the Exchange and Mart….all the fittings I got from Allards in Putney.
When I arrived there and told them what I was going to do, the chap got out the drawings of the inlet manifold, drive extension etc. and took me up to the loft of one of the outbuildings…it was piled high with stuff…he said “I’ll start at this end, you at the other…these are what we are looking for!” and we set off in our search. We finally found all the bits, apart from the pulleys which they had to make.
It was quite potent with all the modifications….what a wonderful time it was, when a humble apprentice could embark on such a restoration!; couldn’t do it, these days. I’ve been up to my elbows in machinery ever since!”
Ed’s note: Sadly, BJL 116 is not listed by DVLA.
