Welcome to Issue 62 – October 2020.
The nights are well and truly drawing in, here in the UK, as I start to pen this editorial on 13th September. It usually seems to be the case that the weather and daylight hours are OK here up to the August Bank Holiday.
Thereafter, Autumn (‘The Fall’) creeps up on us to arrive almost overnight; that is, of course, unless we have one of those rare late ‘Indian summers’. But wait! the ‘Indian summer’ has just arrived and temperatures of 30 deg. C are forecast for Monday 14th.
I was saddened to hear from Sergio Pagano in Italy of the passing of Bill Hentzen. Bill was a leading light in the Tickford Register, owning TB0437, carrying registration mark MG 6450, which he displayed at shows in the US. The car won ‘Best TA/TB Tickford in the World’ award at GOF 60 in 1995.
As a tribute to Bill, I hope Sergio Pagano won’t mind me quoting from the e-mail he sent me, as follows:
“I am very, very, very sorry to know that Bill is gone. I didn’t know Bill directly, but since 2011 it’s been like I’ve known him for a long time. He drove, helped and supported me during 7 long years of restoration of my MG TB Tickford, with his great knowledge of this car and with great patience, grace and affection. Since then it’s like we’ve known each other for years.
We shared a great passion.
I am very sorry that I have never been able to meet him. I will always remember Bill’s kindness and gentleness.
Goodbye Bill”
Whilst I am normally a “glass is half full” individual, rather than a “glass is half empty” type, there isn’t much to be cheerful about these days. We are at loggerheads with our European neighbours over BREXIT and notwithstanding whether one is for or against the path the UK Government is currently taking us down, we should all be uniting to fight the dreadful virus which has engulfed us and shows no sign of going away any time soon.
We face an extremely bleak winter with indications that the virus is again taking hold and with unemployment about to increase dramatically by November.
Covid 19 has all but decimated classic car events in 2020. One has to sympathize with Brain Rainbow, who has had to postpone the Octagon Car Club’s trip to the Isle of Man twice (from May 2020 to September 2020) with the latest (hopefully third time lucky!) date of 10th to 15th May 2021.
Talking of events, Christian Bianco is again organizing the annual MGs in the Dolomites event. The dates are 30th May to 2nd June 2021.For further details the website is at https://mg-dolomites.jimdofree.com/events-meetings/mgs-in-the-dolomites/
In closing the editorial to this issue, I would like to thank all those members who sent donations in August and the first part of September. I was staggered by the response from all around the world. At the last count, the total was just shy of 1,000 GBP.
I even receive a monthly donation by standing order!
DISCLAIMER BY THE EDITOR
‘Totally T-Type 2’ is produced totally on a voluntary basis and is available on the website 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 neither I nor the authors can accept responsibility or legal liability and in respect of contents, liability is expressly disclaimed.
Before doing anything that could affect the safety of your car seek professional advice.
JOHN JAMES, EDITOR TTT 22
