Welcome to the final issue of 2015!
First, some good news for printed copy subscribers, which is that I’m going to give you a free issue (the February 2016 magazine)! By then I will hopefully have arrived at a subscription amount for the six issues after the February issue.
The photo for this issue’s front cover comes from Jonathan Goddard, who has supplied these words:
“Lymington is a busy port on the south coast of England. It has all sorts of marine craft, private and commercial, sailing or motoring up and down the river, to head out to the Solent, the Isle of Wight and beyond. Lymington Quay, where this picture was taken, also has a commercial importance. Local trawlers and fishing boats deliver their cargos directly onto the quay, to sell to companies that transport the catches to shops and businesses.
This busy quay does not allow much time or space for classic car owners wishing to capture some of this nautical ‘atmosphere’ for a photograph! Due to the fishing activities taking precedence over all other, I was forced to visit this spot on a number of occasions, always with an eye out for the sun’s position in the sky, and the fishing boats going about their business, before I was able to capture this photograph.
The idea of having a view ‘reflected’ in the rear view mirror was inspired by a painting I saw whilst visiting Donner Lake, in southern California. This local picture showed a close up of a small speedboat’s dashboard, with a nice view out over a lake, and with the reflected shoreline featured in the windscreen mirror.”
Current work in progress is an index of TTT 2 articles under appropriate headings – e.g. Steering & Suspension, Body & Trim etc… The aim is to have it ready by the time of the next issue. At the time of writing the first 10 issues have been done.
Bookings for the TTT 2 Tour of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley have flooded in of late and at the time of writing it looks as though it is fully booked. It is being held from 26th to 29th August. The rate negotiated with Bells Hotel in Coleford http://www.bells-hotel.co.uk for the Dinner Bed and Breakfast package is £57 per person per night and the reservation number for bookings is BK07359 (£25 per person deposit).
Later in this issue are some details of the MG Octagon Car Club’s ‘Founder’s Weekend, being held from 13th to 16th May and based on the Moore Place Hotel, Aspley Guise Village, Bedfordshire.
The MG Spares Day at Stoneleigh is taking place on 21st February and we will be in our usual pitch.
Next year’s Goodwood dates have been recently announced with the Festival of Speed scheduled for 23rd to 26th June and the Revival meeting due to take place on 9th to 11th September.
The April edition of Totally T-Type 2 contained an excellent article by Stewart Penfound, telling the story of how he came to publish his book “Harry Lester, his cars and The Monkey Stable”. He is delighted to announce that it has been voted book of the year by The Society of Automotive Historians, and he was presented with the prestigious Michael Sedgwick Award at their recent AGM.
Stewart being presented with the Michael Sedgwick award by Craig Horner.
Stewart’s book contains much previously-unseen material and is a story as much about the period and the characters, as the cars themselves. It is a significant addition not only to MG history but to the record of motor racing immediately after the end of the Second World War and has been recognised as such by The Society of Automotive Historians.
The book has had excellent reviews in the motoring press (from the BRDC bulletin – “a truly excellent book… it cannot be recommended too highly”) so if you are still wondering what to get for Christmas, look no further. See www.lester-mg.co.uk for details.
Just enough space left to say that Steve Poteet is looking for an original jack for his early TC. Please contact him at pspoteet{at}yahoo.com
JOHN JAMESDISCLAIMER BY THE EDITOR Totally T-Type 2 is produced totally on a voluntary basis and is available on the website www.ttypes.org on a totally FREE basis. Its primary purpose is to help T-Type owners through articles of a technical nature and point them in the direction of recommended service and spares suppliers. Articles are published in good faith but I cannot accept responsibility or legal liability and in respect of contents, liability is expressly disclaimed.