News and views

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the memorial tribute meeting for Mike Allison in Abingdon on the 27th April; but from the videos there was an impressive array of Triple M cars there but no D Types?

Weather continues to dampen the ground if not spirits and Triple M Racing have been active already at Brands, Cadwell Park and Silverstone.

This fine picture by Colin Murrell of Chris Edmundson in D0442 taken at the VSCC Silverstone meeting in April.

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Looking splendid in super sunshine for a change at Silverstone! Drive it Day was on the 21st April this year (nearest Sunday to St. Georges day) and our local Natter had theirs on the 28th (so the finish venue could accommodate us) I went but not in a D – did any D go on a run?

Vincent Dransart in D0456 took part in a rally commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the twinning of Le Touquet with Val de la Race back in May pictured here at the starting point.

John Emmett’s D0430 attended the Brooklands MG centenary celebration, also back in May, pictured here looking resplendent as ever!

Our man in The Netherlands Onno Konemann was racing in the Historic Zandvoort Trophy meeting also in May in his D0495. If you go to YouTube and search on Onno Konemann you will find some super videos of the racing taken from the car.

Work on the restoration of D0494 continues apace by Tom Goodyear in the States with an interesting but appropriate colour scheme that works:
On forthcoming events the MGCC/Triumph clubs meeting at Malvern is at the end of June and the Vintage Minor Register weekend event centred around Ludlow is in July. Details on the respective websites.

The big news though is that at the Prescott Car Club Day P Type owner William Opie has arranged for an ‘informal Pre-war MG Gathering ‘on Sunday 29th September. This is the day after the VSCC Long Course meeting there. Hill climb entries are £65 for 4 climbs subject to the usual rules. In addition there is a parking/display area in Orchard for non-competing cars and I have booked 6 spaces for the D Group, 3 are already taken.

We are hoping to have a small marquee adjacent to it for any Group visitors whether in their D Type or not! If you would like further details of the competing rules or the display area please email me.

When the new MG F came out after the MG/Rover Group reshuffle back in 1994/5 many thought it was to be called the MG D as it naturally followed on from the MGC all be it there had been an RV8 in between. I spotted this picture on Facebook recently which judging by the registration it dates from 1972/73.

Very much in British Leyland era. Was this wishful thinking on the artist’s part or did this model ever reach the drawing boards? I would be pleased to hear If anyone has any further information on it.

Bits and Pieces

I have for sale at cost an excellent inlet/exhaust manifold pictured here:
£130 plus postage or collect from me or at VSCC Prescott in early August or September 29th also at Prescott.

Dealer Plaques

Back in Dispatch 6 I mentioned I had been lucky enough to acquire a Dealer plaque for D0311 and again in Dispatch 68 that I had one for D0464. However as some of you will know usually there were two dealers involved – the main distributor for say a county and the subsequent sub or retail dealer for a town or district.

The main dealer for D0311 was Dorking Motor Co and the sub dealer was Wray Park Garages in Reigate, both in Surrey. I acquired the Wray Park earlier this year via Ebay and have just got round to mounting it – on the tool box lid – rather than on the dash board. If you wish to know which dealer or dealers were involved with your car drop me an email. I have the information on most of the D Types.

Rear Wing Protectors

Another topic I’ve touched on before (see Dispatch 68) is the question of the protectors or ‘spats’ on the front of the rear wing. This area of the wing can easily get chipped by stones etc. and whilst not a factory option it was on the works publicity photo much used by them.

Bill is quite keen to replicate these on his D0253 and would appreciate any details of material, sizes etc. anybody may have?