Welcome to the final issue of TTT 2.
My first one was in August 2010 and I was so proud of it. That’s not to say that I haven’t been proud of each and every issue that followed, but the first was special to me.
As I write this editorial, I have mixed emotions. I have received so many goodwill messages, some hand written and posted (including one from the US about which my wife remarked “What a lovely letter!”), that I almost feel guilty about retiring. But the way I have struggled to produce the final two issues, convinces me that I have made the right decision.
The M.G. Centenary event at Gaydon has been and gone and I said in the previous issue that it was a real success. For me, the sight of those wonderful vintage M.G.s from the Early M.G. Society, parked on the bank against the backdrop of the British Motor Museum was one to behold and one which I will savour for years to come. What I did not know when the previous issue went to press was that the event raised £9,500 for charity. Air Ambulance UK received £5,000, with Prostate Cancer, Dementia UK, and Sporting Bears Motor Club (who raise money for children’s charities) being given £1,500 each.
GOF CENTRAL, Gathering of the Faithful has also been held since Issue 78 (June). Tom Wilson took the trouble to send me a ‘goodie bag’ from the event, which included a copy of The Kimber Gazette.
This is an impressive publication (the picture shows it folded in half). It contains 40 pages of (mainly) things to do at the GoF, and there was a lot to do! These included Tech Sessions and Presentations, Tours of the Studebaker Museum, Oliver Mansion (home to industrialist J. D. Oliver) South Bend Chocolate Factory, and Indiana Whiskey Company and the Notre Dame Campus Walking Tour. A car wash facility was open for the first three days of the event. There were also car displays at the GOF Car Show, a silent auction and an M.G. Birthday Party, Banquet and Awards on the last evening.
The Kimber Gazette also featured lots of period Factory photographs and some interesting historical articles along with advertisements from traders and some cars for sale at the GOF. Tom Wilson, who was “the main man” (I’m sure he had his band of helpers) pulled out all the stops to make this a truly memorable event. Well done, Tom!
Another event which missed the publication date for Issue 78 was the M.G. Pre 56 Gathering at Blenheim, New Zealand in March 2023. Ross Armstrong emailed me about this in June. This biennial Rally saw some 110 MG’ers accompanying 67 cherished Pre56 M.G.s. Attendees from overseas, using borrowed M.G.s, joined the Kiwi’s for a memorable 5 days. M.G.s attending ranged from a 1931M-type through to MGAs with all other Types in between. The programme included a Concours d’Etat, Observation trial, Gymkhana and a prize giving dinner. The weather was absolutely stunning with mid 20 Deg. C temperatures each day.
Time now to put my final editorial to bed. One last ‘thank you’ to all advertisers, contributors, and readers. You’ll find me at the end of this issue with my IT man, without who, this magazine would never have seen the light of day.
Thank you for an excellent publication and all of your hard work. Enjoyment your retirement.
THANK YOU!
I only found out about the magazine a year ago and have always looked forward to reading it. I am sad to see it finish up but I wish you all the best in your future endeavours and thank you for the huge effort you and your team put in to producing it. Best Regards, Dave
John, you are a legend. Right back to committee days we have known one another! The series of TTT2 has been extraordinary and we shall all miss it. However we can keep looking back online to editions we never had time to read! See you at events, or if I’m passing again. Chris Tinker
Well Done John and very best wishes for the future. Whilst many of the technical elements covered in TTT2 have been well above ‘my pay grade’ I have enjoyed the challenge of trying to get my head around them, failed on many occasions but has helped keep the grey cells ticking over.
A special thanks as I will never forget your support in our epic battle to recover the original registration for my TD ‘LLO 352’ even better that DVLA made it non transferable so I know it cannot be separated from where it belongs!
Cheers
Jeff
Thank you for your time and effort. Have a great retirement.
Well I have enjoyed it from beginning to end. Sorry to end but happy for you.
Wow! So sorry to see you driving off into the mists! Publishing a club newsletter myself, I know it ain’t easy! Thanks so much.
Hi John
I have just opened TTType and I am so grateful for all the hard work and input you have given to the MG movement over the years. I wish you and your wife all the very best with your retirement and of course many more miles in your MG.
If TT type is being over by over by another person then please forward my details on.
I still have my TD 1952 over here in Australia and enjoying the sunshine and unsalted roads!!
Again all the very best
Regards Richard & Angela Hyde
End of an era.
Well done Sir, what a marvellous job you have done over the years that you have been the editor.
I have you to thank for putting me in touch with the owner of FHT 696 an MG TA that I owned way back in 1964. I keep in touch with Bob and we meet on occasions so that I may see my old flame from the good old days once again – Marvellous !
Owner of YB and have always enjoyed and found very useful.
Thanks and good luck
Thank you so much for some fascinating and very helpful articles so skilfully put together. I will miss the publication very much, you have certainly left your mark on my appreciation of all things T!
A super edition to finish with, John ! I’ve already thanked you I know, but I will gladly do so again !
However, no doubt your expertise & knowledge will not be entirely lost to members in the future – I certainly hope not !
In any event, do stay healthy & safe in your ‘retirement’.
Well done John,
Sad to see you and your wonderful magazine go, so many great articles and tips that all MG T Type owners will miss.
Enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
Neil.
John, Have received and kept every one of TTT2 and enjoyed them all.It is very sad that we will not receive any more but I and most others will accept the amount of effort required to produce the magazine is (was) a considarable effort.
Thank you very very much and enjoy retirement and good wishes.
Mike Armstrong, Northern Ireland
Best wishes for your retirement John
Maybe like me you will come back again after a few years rest ????
Thank you John, I have enjoyed each and every issue. Thank you so much.
TTT2 has been a joy to read. Thank you for all your efforts over the years!
Many thanks John for years of good reading, such fine and expert articles, and professional editing! We’ll all miss TTT2, but its great that it remains available to find relevant articles as necessary. You have done wonders for M.G. T type owners, as well as remaining a true Gentleman.
Hi John,
It was lovely to see you at the Gaydon 100. Thanks for all your hard work to produce such an excellent magazine. It will be missed. Enjoy retirement and I look forward to catching up with you at a future MG event.
Best wishes
Colin
I offer your my heart felt thanks for all your fantastic work in putting together this top notch publication. I am very new to MGs and the brilliant articles in TTT2 have helped me a great deal in being a better custodian of TC 7940. I raise a glass of GnT right back to you. Stay well and happy motoring.
it comes to us all eventually John .Thanks for everything ,Keep moving
Cheers
Ron
From over the Pond:
Appreciated your service to the MG community… I think you should be proud of the technical information you conveyed for the next generation of caretakers!
Thank you ! Enjoyed the reading over the years…
Sorry this has had to come to an end, I always found it a wonderful source of information and inspiration. May I wish you all best wishes for your future.