From the MG National Meeting Organising Committee.
The National Meeting (15 - 19 April) is an Annual Event held at Easter and involves 4 days of competition and social events. The weekends always follow the same format.
Friday: Registration during the day to confirm entry details, check details, collect souvenir bag with program poster and welcome supper that night
Saturday: Concours – judging of the condition and originality of the cars / Fancy dress evening with dinner and activities and dancing
Sunday: Hillclimb / or Touring Assembly = which is an Observation Drive around the local area, answering questions about areas of interest along the way and involving some simple navigation.
Sunday night is a free night
Monday: Motorkhana = a test of manoeuvring around short courses / Kimber Run which is a social drive around the local area similar to the Touring assembly but without the navigation or Observation elements and does not form part of the competition side of the weekend.
Monday night is Presentation Night and Dinner
Tuesday morning: Farewell Breakfast
The social entry fee covers all, the souvenir bag with program, poster, and other goodies. Dinners and Evening events, participation in the Kimber Run and the farewell breakfast.
Our fee is the lowest fee in the past 7 years.
To be a competitor you need to be a member of an MG Car Club as all the events score points to overall trophies and are run under the licencing of Motorsport Australia as the governing body for all motorsport events.
The Concours will be held at Speers Point Park
The Hillclimb at our Hillclimb Track on Italia Road about 12 km north of Raymond Terrace.
The Motorkhana is being held at Rathmines near the Lake.
The Committee has taken advice on holding Club Night meetings under COVID directions and determined they can go ahead.
The way it will work is:
There are a limited number of places available so members will need to notify a committee member of their intention to attend.
The car club has a NSW Government QR code. Members will need to scan in. There will be a committee member at the top of the stairs to assist if needed.
If you are feeling unwell, don't come.
Seating will be set out with distancing in mind. Family groups can sit closer.
Drinks will be available from the bar.
Tea and coffee will be available.
At this time, if you want some nibbles, it will be BYO and unfortunately no sharing except between family members.
Extract from the August Edition of "On The Marque"
President's Report - Stephen Jones
The post-Covid-19 world doesn’t look like getting back to pre-pandemic normal any time soon. Victoria is showing us all what can happen if we take our foot off the accelerator and don’t do what is right for our fellow Aussies.
Your club is stuck between a rock and a hard place. We can’t have any gatherings over our social distanced 20 (16 seated and 4 working) in the clubrooms. We can go for drives in the countryside (at the time of writing) but are we able to find a destination that can cater for us? Groups of 10 are ok but a lot of venues still aren’t open because of the lack of patronage and government restrictions. We can’t run our major fundraising events due to the confines and numbers. We’re doing alright and can continue for a few years yet without getting too worried.
I sincerely hope we can and are providing a service to you to keep you interested in your ‘feel good’ hobby (that’s the MG). We’re always open to constructive ideas.
MG Car Club Hunter Region - Announcement of Events for June 2020
Dear Members,
Your Committee met last night to discuss various issues, including the impact on Club activities of the new COVID-19 regulations commencing 1 June 2020.
Members will be pleased to hear that some Club activities are now able to re-commence - but we emphasise that safety of our Membership and of the NSW general public is of paramount importance. All of us must remain absolutely aware of the need for physical distancing (minimum 1.5 metres between people, limit of 10 people per group, and 4 square metres per person when gathering indoors). There are also venue-specific limits on the permitted number of people.
Complying with the regulations is of special importance to protect people aged over 65 - which is a sizeable part of the MGCCHR’s demographic!
Now, to the good news:
Thursday 4 June: from Rob Dunsterville for our square riggers “New NSW Gov regs starting 1 June allow 50 persons in cafes so ... I'd like to email the usual crowd and alert them that the 12 -2 lunch meet is back on at Cafe Inu at Carrington for Thurs 4 June and that concession rego plated cars are OK as it's a club event.”
Sunday 21 June 10 a.m.: Club Captain Jeff Lauff is organising a Clubman Run.
Thursday 25 June 9 a.m.: Club Captain Jeff Lauff is organising a Tuning Run.
Details of the Clubman and Tuning Runs will be advertised in the June edition of On the Marque.
The MGCCHR has received this advice from the Historic Sports and Racing Car Association of NSW Inc., via Denny. Click the image to view in greater detail.
Mechanically the rebuild was oriented towards reliability for use in Historic Navigation Rallies. The 5 speed and tall diff (3.7, maybe just a touch too tall) were suited to the longer distances covered in the events. We also soon found the “rubber bumper” rear springs were essential to give the car sufficient height with a crew of two, equipment for a days driving and to cope with the country roads. The extra 4″ of space in the cabin of the Midget was a side benefit of the wider body. The body had been widened by the previous owner to fit bigger rubber under the car for racing.
Full conversion kits are still available from the company in the UK as well as Sebring Sprites.
Gallery (Select an image to enter the Gallery):
Eric competing in the dirt motorkhana special stage at Awaba during the Fluffy Duck Rally in Feb 2007
Stylish Le Mans nose has recessed headlamps
It even looks like it’s smiling
Comfortable cabin for long rallies
Clear switch labeling so there can’t be a mistake
Roll Bar
1275 A Series motor as original
Twin 1 1/2″ SU’s
Austin 1800 Radiator with good ducting for the essential heater
Sports coil feeds electronic distributor
Electric water pump
Electric fan because the water pump isn’t a functioning unit and thus the fan is not there.
The original water pump is just there to fill a hole. Fan belt only drives the altenator
Bespoke rear hatch for access to spare wheel.
Because the body has been cut in 3 and 2″ added each side a solution had to be found for the windscreen. A one-off item
would cost several thousand dollars each the standard unit was used with modifications to the pillar instead.
Engine: ‘B’ series bored to 1868cc, Argo rods with Lotus Cosworth forged pistons. Crankshaft is standard with scraper. APT camshaft 1.6:1 roller rockers with chrome moly tubular pushrods. Alloy flywheel, sump baffled + windage tray. Stage 4 head with extractors.
Compression ratio: 11.8:1
Peak Power output: 123hp @ 5500rpm
Induction: 45MM DEOC Weber carburettor on factory S/T manifold and linkage.
Cooling System: Radiator: D type core. 13 Sereck row high capacity oil cooler with thermostat control. Water pump standard, with large alloy pulley. Red line water wetter coolant.
Differential: Quaiffe LSD
Lubrication: Engine uses Joe Gibbs 10W/30. 2 qrt Accusump
Fuel system: Holley Red high output electronic fuel pump with pressure regulator
Starter motor: Geared
Brakes: MGB Discs drill & slotted with Hawk Blue pads. Drums are drilled with competition shoes. VH44 brake booster running Castrol 4 dot fluid.
Suspension: Front has 7/8″ roll bar, urethane bushes, adjustred roll centre, Eibach coil springs and uprated lever arm shock absorbers.
Rear has single leaf tapered rear spring, urethane bushes where applicable and Koni adjustable shocks
Built by: 1990 by Geoff Foster/ Stephen Jones 2006
THE STORY:
‘Myf” is a 1973 MG Midget (US Spec). In 1990 Geoff Foster purchased her and built her into a race car. Geoff campaigned her around many of Victoria’s famous tracks until November 2000.
Steve Jones purchased the car in a very sad state in December 2007. She went into Steve’s workshop and underwent a full restoration. The car was completely stripped and the body sandblasted revealing an extreme lack of bodywork (rust). New inner & outer sills, A-pillars, footwells and lower rear guards were either purchased or made. Although the basics were there, Steve re-engineered a number of areas including the doors, boot, interior, wiring, engine breathing, front and rear suspension.
Every component was checked and repaired/ modified or replaced. Steve and a few mates did virtually all the work in Steve’s shed. The car was painted and after 12 months work, she had her first test run on a closed road. Here first race meeting in Steves’ hands was at a GEAR meeting in December 2008 where she instantly showed her potential. Since then Myf has competed at:
Oran Park (GP) – 1′:26″:93
Oran Park (south) – :52”:69
Wakefield Park – 1’:11”.63
Eastern Creek – 1’:55”:38
Mt Panorama – 3’:04”.01
Phillip Island – 2’:00”.95
Sandown Raceway – 1′:35″:84
Winton Raceway ( long) – 1′:45″:16
Ringwood Hillclimb (original short) – 32”.39
Ringwood Hillclimb (long) – 42″:64
Rob Roy Hill Climb – 26″:02
King Edward Park Hillclimb – 44”.04
At the 2011 MG National Meeting in Newcastle NSW, Steve and ‘Myf’ took the outright Hillclimb as well as outright Motorkhana trophies
Took the 2014 Australian Hillclimb title for Marque Sports < 1600ccat Ringwood Hill Climb (long)
took outright speed event title at 2014 MG National Meeting in Victoria (Rob Roy Hill Climb)
All of these (except for Mt Panorama) can be seen on Youtube.
Shannons Insurance
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine:
1327.4cc ‘A’ series block with thick flange bored +.060″ to 72.1mm x 81.28 stroke. Omega pressure cast pistons with machined tops to allow for the 1.5/1 lift ratio. Compression ratio: 12:1. Lightened crankshaft, wedged, cross-drilled, Tuftrided and fully balanced with large main bearings and a steel centre bearing cap for extra rigidity. Pauter rods, ARP bolts. APT Fast race cam. Aluminium Flywheel with a steel facing. Aluminium backing plate. Fully baffled sump. 2-quart Accusump fitted.
Induction:
Single Weber 45 DCOE carburetor on long neck manifold. K&N filter with 75mm ram tubes.
Ignition:
NGK BP6ES spark plugs. Lucas based Aldon Automotive Distributor with Ignitor II electronic ignition. Aldon Flamethrower coil.
Cooling:
High flow VW Golf radiator. 16 row oil cooler. Manually controlled electric fan.
Exhaust:
3 into 2 extractors then 2 into 1. 2” system running through the car. Single box muffler. Jet coated headers with exhaust wrap through the car.
Transmission:
MG Midget/ Needham 4-speed box with straight cut close ratio gears.
CD Cortina Stub axles with Midget hubs. Nylatron bushings. 3/4″ anti-roll bar (removed for Hillclimbs). Uprated and lowered coil springs Frontline Telescopic conversion. AVO telescopic adjustable shock absorbers.
Rear Suspension:
Nylatron bushings. Lowering blocks. Koni adjustable telescopic shock absorbers. Panhard rod. Strut braces were made for the rear spring mounts in the boot up to roll bar welded onto chassis in the boot. Tramp rods fitted when needed.
Differential:
Quaffe limited-slip differential. 3.7:1 or 4.2:1 ratios.
CIG locked diffs. 4.875:1
Brakes:
7/8″ Master Cylinder. Standard drums (modified backing plates) with 9 1/2″ CD Cortina slotted discs. MGB calipers with Hawk Black pads and Mintex M20b competition rear shoes. 0.8″ MGB rear wheel cylinders. Wilwood Adjustable Proportioning valve.Braided brake & clutch hoses.
Wheels & Tyres:
Toyo R888 205/60/13 on 13″ x 7″ Minilite style alloy rims for normal racing.
Lifeguard Tyres Cessnock
Electrical & Instruments:
Autometer 8000 RPM Tachometer. MSD Shift light and soft touch rev limiter. 120mph MGB speedo. Rev limiter set to 8000rpm. Smiths oil temp gauge as well as the original Smiths oil pressure/ water temp gauge. 50lb oil pressure warning light.
Fuel System:
JAZ Fuel Cell 45.42lt. High output Mallory electronic fuel pump with pressure regulator. Longacre fuel pump cut off switch (12psi oil pressure).
Body Modifications:
Fibreglass guards, bonnet, doors, flares, boot lid. Inner front guards removed. Roll cage built to CAMS regulations. Sparco racing seat. 6 point 3” ERG racing safety harness. Front valance with hole cut for improved airflow over the oil cooler and brakes. Aluminium Tourneau cover.
Weight:
650 Kg’s (fully fueled without driver)
Horsepower:
103.8 RWHP
Racing Class:
CAMS logbooked Group 2B Marque Sports
Steve would like to thank Warren at Warners Bay Radiators for his invaluble help in everything to do with cooling MG’s, race cars and tow cars.
Gallery (Select an image to enter the Gallery):
Phillip Island 2010
Oran Park 2009
Midget VS Honda.
Engine Bay
Weber linkage and airbox
BMC Special Tuning water pump pully and large Alentaor pully. It’s a tight fit.
Modified Golf based radiator and electric fan
Catch tank and engine breather
Aldon Automotive Distributor. To the left is a 50lb oil pressure switch the turns on an idiot light on the dash (if you’re at speed and the light comes on the engine is about to haemorrhage but at 50lb hopefully the engine is salvagable).
7/8″ brake master cylinder
Aero screen (deosn’t keep too much off)
Work station. Suede Moto-Lita steering wheel give great grip and feel.
8000 rpm Autometer Tacho and 120mph speedo. MSD change light (set @ 7000rpm).
Leyland Special Tuning decal and rare Vitaloni Sebring Mirrors.
The tourneau is light sheet aluminium cover in vinyl (to look like a soft cover)
Battery box with gel cel battery
Passangers side floor with exhaust system running throught the car. The black plate on the floor is for the timing unit.
MSD Rev Limiter (set @ 8000rpm) and switch panel (battery isolator, ignition on/off, fuel pump on/off & start switch). The rev limiter and change light use the same chip modules so they areeasily adjustable and interchangable.
Boot: 12 US gallon Jaz fuel cell. Note the bracing for the rear suspension
Slotted discs with MGB callipers running Hawk Black pads
Front suspension. note the cooling duct for the brakes and the sway bay mount.
Rear suspension showing Panard Rod. Note the exhaust running through the car.
