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Tim Morris's JayPeG at the back next to a Trophy 160 |
Rob Hall in a Lola Mk1 in the Historic Sports Car
Championship |
Half as good as the real thing ! Found this interesting
trailer in the For Sale section - only £1500. |
This F has entered the dark side with a large appendage ! |
Anthony Reid's "Hot Wheels" Touring car |
Steven Warburton's winning F in the Jamie Hunter Memorial
Race (appropriately for the Jamie Hunter Racing Team). |
MGB's 40th anniversary display produced this unique Aston
Martin prototype MGB Roadster. |
Not all the cars were pristine ! The seller was asking a
hopeful £650. |
Silverstone montage 1. Clockwise - A's, Z's, Magnettes,
Maestros, JHR Racing F's, MG Lola. |
The MGF Extreme in the pits |
Silverstone Montage 2 - Clockwise - B's , Midget
Challenge, Wings, Gromit, Y , TF's in a row, Silverstone. |
Seeing Double - twin TF's
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There is an A under the extensive body reworking. |
Trio of T's - a TD, TC and TF |
MG XPAG historic racers |
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| The weather held off despite a few
threatening clouds and a couple of minor rain spots. Saturday is
traditionally more of a racing day at the MG Car Club's
Silverstone International and , accordingly, we were treated to
nine races including the fantastic sight of the only non MG race
of the day - the BRDC Historic Sportscar Championship. What a
selection of great sports cars - including a Jaguar XKD,
selection of Lotus's, Cooper Monaco, Lister Knobbly, Lola Mk1
etc etc. Probably the highlight of the day although there was an
excellent tussle in the MGF dominated Jamie Hunter Memorial race
between the two JHR drivers resulting in Steven Warburtons no 2
car just pipping Steven Hunters no 1 car at the post. It was
also good to see MG boss, Rob Oldaker, getting his hands dirty
on the track in a ZR. The rest of the show was up to the
usual high standard - plenty of MG's in the register parking
areas including many rare and interesting models. On the F front
it was good to see quite a few TF's turn up even if one did get
a puncture !. Most were fairly normal although some had gone
over to the "dark side" considerably with huge spoilers and
assorted chrome bits but nothing too outrageous- even Scarlet
Fever was clean for the day !. The MGF Extreme was also on
display at the back of the MG Sport and Racing pit. It was a
real pleasure to walk through the pits and see the mechanics and
drivers tweaking the engines and in the case of one BV8 looking
tearfully at a completely wrecked front end after a spin.
The B register had put on their 40th anniversary display in
the main marquee and you could find several interesting cars in
here including the very last roadster and GT LE's off the
production line and a unique Aston Martin prototype B when that
company made a failed bid to take over MG. The vintage section
were also in evidence with a fine display of the oldest MG's
including the rebuilt "Old Speckled Hen".
Taking a stroll among the many retailers and trade stands
you could find just about any "bit" imaginable and in whatever
condition - there were some rusty old parts on offer and even
rusty old cars at exorbitant prices ! There were also some fine
cars for sale including an interesting MGBGT "Combo" with a
roadster trailer and a V8 conversion 2+2 roadster (a GT with
it's roof cut off !). You could also "accessorise" your
favourite MG, buy pictures of it, buy models of it, buy covers
for it - anything really. Yes Mike Satur was there so all the
F'ers could make a bee line for his stall and buy their chrome
cigarette lighters and door knobs in an even greater attempt to
"Saturise" their cars.
Once again there was a huge turnout and despite reports from
the British Grand Prix that the new road was open - it wasn't
and there were still plentiful supplies of roadworks to hold you
up en route. Sadly I could only make the saturday this year but
I'm sure the sunday was just as good with even more MG's
descending on Silverstone for another excellent day of parade
laps, Gymkhanas, autotests and condition competions.
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Words and Pics Tim Morris |
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