April 2011
Val with the flowers presented by Mick Cook. I would like to thank all who attended the AGM for their best wishes and kind words on my retirement as Area Secretary especially the Committee for the beautiful bouquet, Lyn & Kevin Munton for the lovely plant and card and Barbara Trafford for the paperweight which I will use daily. I wish Steve and the new committee lots of luck and John and I look forward to a new era for Northants MGOC. Val Val, Mick and Edward enjoying the AGM. Inside Front Cover
April 2011 Northants MG Owners Club Club Secretary: Steve Trafford 63a Marshall road, Raunds, Northants, NN9 6EY E-Mail: mail@mgnorthants.org Telephone: 07825 643084 Web: www.mgnorthants.org Committee contacts: Club Secretary Steve Trafford 07825 643084 secretary@mgnorthants.org Treasurer Michael Port 01933 224019 treasurer@mgnorthants.org Events Support Magazine editing and publishing Bill Price 01536 742685 newsletter@mgnorthants.org Club Event Bookings Adrian Higman membership@mgnorthants.org Equipment/Regalia Edward Scott 01604 882472 07770 817017 regalia@mgnorthants.org Sports Events Stuart Simons 01933 674655 sportingevents@mgnorthants.org Events Les Barras eventsupport@mgnorthants.org Deadline for the next issue: All submissions for the next issue should reach Bill Price (Email as above) by 18th April 2011 Cover picture: Cover picture: New MG6 Front inner: AGM pics Rear cover inner: Rear cover Jokes Charity Run Advert & Les Barras, new committee member All online submissions should be sent to newsletter@mgnorthants.org 3
What s on? Here s a list of what s happening this and next month that may be of interest to Northants MGOC members. Please don t forget to check the Blue Book at club meetings for details and if you re interested in an upcoming event or wish to propose your own, please get in touch with Adrian Higman Please read Newslink for up to date details such as convoy starts, etc. if not given below. April/May April 13th 8.00pm Club Night Northampton Casuals Cash in the Attic evening in aid of club funds Steve Trafford 07825 643084 April 24th 12 noon April 28th to May 3rd May 11th 8.00pm May 15th Sunday meet Aviator, Sywell Jersey Rally Club Night: Northampton Casuals Ataxia Charity Road Run entry forms have been sent More available see Barbara Trafford Steve Trafford 07825 643084 Steve Trafford 07825 643084 Steve Trafford 07825 643084 May 22nd Aylesbury 25th Anniversary Rally. Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury May 29th 12 noon Sunday Meet. Aviator, Sywell Steve Trafford 07825 643084 Welcome New Members Chris Ferrett from Wellingborough and his MGB John Langford from Raunds 4
Newslink Time s flying and I am already sitting down to write the next update. In truth it s still early stages for me getting my head round deadlines for the magazine. (Writing this in early March) You may have noticed a few technical problems with February s More Graffiti edition as we ran out of ink in mid print. We were unable to stop the run once it had started so some of you received editions with the inner sleeves missing and others where the colour had faded on some of the pictures. As the inner front cover was a thank you article to all the members from Val we are reprinting both original inner sleeves in this edition. To move the magazine forward you will find an article from Stuart in the magazine asking if you would like to receive More Graffiti via email. Depending on the results of this we might also consider going to a black and white printed issue to save costs that way. Remember it s your magazine and we really need your feedback please respond as soon as possible. It s getting towards spring and I m sure you will be dusting down your MGs and looking forward to getting out and about on some runs etc. We have already had our first run of the year completing the Snowdrop Run from Cambridge which was a lovely day out and attended by quite a few from MG Northants. Check out the Blue Book as it s filling up nicely and thanks to members who have agreed to organise some of these. A new entry just added was in response to a member s request for a trip to Bletchley Park and I have managed to get a group booking for the 12 th June so please come along to what should be a very interesting day out. Admission is 12 each and includes a guided tour. If you would like us to add a run to the Blue Book please let us know or drop an email for inclusion in the next edition of More Graffiti. Good news is our web site is back up and running so we can add to that throughout the month so keep clicking on for the latest news. I hope to see many of you at the regular meets and thanks for the emails wishing the new committee well. Let s hope we can keep the club running as well as it has in the past but to do that we need your ideas and assistance. Don t forget our Charity run on the 15 th May it would be lovely to see a good turn out from MG Northants. Happy motoring Steve Trafford Club Secretary 5
NO MORE MOTs FOR PRE-1965 CARS? FOLLOWING ON from the recent government announcement of potentially making pre-war cars exempt from the MOT test, the Under-Secretary of State for Roads, Mike Penning, let slip the idea of scrapping MOT testing on Pre-1965 cars after the annual dinner of the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group. Pre-war exemption is in the discussion and consultation stage at the moment but the minister s plans to extend the deadline by 26 years took those who were at the dinner by surprise. When asked whether restrictions on use would be imposed on classics that didn t have to be tested, Mr Penning gave assurances that there wouldn t be any on private cars. The proposals have been welcomed by some, many believing that most historic vehicles are looked after more carefully and used less by their owners than modern cars. Others are more wary. Typical concerns centre around the increased performance and capabilities of pre-1965 classics for example, Jaguar E-types are capable of almost 150mph. Imagine the public response if an untested historic vehicle were to be involved in a major accident with faults that would normally be picked up in an MOT. However, when discussing the pre-war exemption plans back in January, Rt Hon Greg Knight, the Chairman of the APPHVG, pointed out that: If these older vehicles are exempted from the MOT test, owners will still be legally required to ensure that their cars are safe, roadworthy and in a proper condition to be on the road. Rosy Pugh, the secretary of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs said that the organisation would be looking very closely at the proposal, although stressed that it was very early days at the moment, and that there would be a long consultation process ahead before any legislation was enacted. Stuart Simons 6
CONTINUOUS INSURANCE YOU MAY RECALL that, in the October 2008 edition of More Graffiti I contributed an article on the vexed issue of Continuous Insurance! At that time, the requirement for continuous insurance had not come into force but now... For clarification regarding Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE), the Motor Insurer s Bureau website states: The Road Safety Act became law in November 2006, and introduced a new offence which is aimed at overcoming the problem of vehicles not specifically covered by any insurance policy (even a blanket policy) being used by drivers who claim cover under their driving other vehicles extension. The requirement for insurance will apply to vehicles whether they are being driven or not. The new approach will also have the added benefit that, like continuous vehicle registration, it can be enforced from the record, and vehicles need not be seen on the roads before action can be taken. Once the necessary regulations are drawn up, it will be an offence to be the keeper of a vehicle which is not covered by a specified policy or by a blanket policy ( open cover contract ) covering vehicles owned by the policyholder or other party named in the policy. There will be specific exemptions, the main two of which will be that the vehicle has been statutorily declared off the road (SORNed) or a change of keeper is in the process of being completed by the DVLA. I have highlighted the alli m p o r t a n t p o i n t a b o u t exemptions to CIE. In simple terms: If the vehicle is taxed, it MUST be insured. If it is SORNed, it needn t be. Owners are strongly advised to check that their vehicle is on the Motor Insurance Database (MID) by visiting their selfchecking website by going to www.ownvehicle.askmid.com Stuart Simons 7
Midsommer Delights The actor John Nettles has entertained for many years and surely encouraged island visits to Jersey as he drove the lanes in his classic Triumph Roadster, then Midsummer Murders appeared on our screens with a ridiculous head count of misdeeds and murders beneath a back drop of an England past. Therein lays its appeal. A new actor, Andrew Duggan has now filled the role, he is a screen cousin apparently and the first episode was a delight for motoring aficionados as it was chock full of desireable classic cars. A Concours de Elegance beneath a stately house provided the back drop for a murderous theme. One victim, a young man, buys an immaculate pale blue MK1 MGA and befriends a fem fatal who drove a gorgeous Alvis Tourer, all headlights bonnets and wings. I spied a Ferrari Daytona (twelve cylinders) a couple of MGBs, roadster and GT, then a non blower Bentley and an AC, about two dozen cars in all. Of particular interest to me was the 1963 single seater Cooper Climax Grand Prix car with the number 47 on its tail, the driver now a skeleton after thirty years covered and forgotten. This was the number Bruce McLaren raced under whenever he appeared and I would guess that the car was from the Tasman Series that Bruce raced in in the sixties here and in New Zealand with some success. The crash of the MGA was delicately presented and from a distance, the bonnet seemingly detached and laid to rest at an angle creating the illusion of destruction. No one wants to wreck a classic car do they? The deejay? He was crushed against a wall by that beautiful Alvis, what a way to go? Dave Walker 8
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ONLINE MOVE TO REDUCE CLUB COSTS FOLLOWING THE DISCUSSIONS at our recent AGM, your Committee has decided to take the bold step of offering the monthly My Graffiti newsletter to members online! Members will know that we have been struggling with the newsletter for some time and it has been costing far too much and depleting our much needed funds. So to get around this, we will be introducing a new, electronic version of the newsletter, which will be made available to read and print out online via an emailed link. This opens up a whole new chapter for the club. The electronic version cannot only save money, but it eliminates any restrictions on how many photos we can place in the document, or colours used, making it a much more desirable read for all. But of course, we do have members that do not have a computer or access to email, and we have to ensure they still receive a newsletter but this is likely to be reduced to only black and white to further help save club funds. There are other benefits too. Once we have members email addresses, we can send members information quickly and freely. We can remind members of meetings, guest speakers, confirm arrangements for runs and events etc., not that we are suggesting that we are all of an age where we need such reminders! If you are wishing to participate in this new, cost effective, online era, please send an email to: onlinenews@mgnorthants.org with the subject line of ONLINE NEWSLETTER and include your name and address in the body of the email for confirmation purposes. A list of members will be compiled and the club will immediately start to save money! If you wish to revert to the printed version, you will have the opportunity to request to do so at any time. Remember, this is an opt-in service, you will not be able to receive the necessary link via email unless you send us an email as advised above. Stuart Simons. Online Services. 10
CASH IN THE ATTIC! MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Well, it was mentioned at the last meeting and the idea was met with laughter and generally welcomed. To help raise funds and make our meetings enjoyable, we are having our very own Cash in the Attic evening on Wednesday 13 th April. Members need to have a good rummage in the attic, find something that you really don t want or have no need for and bring it along to this meeting, where we will all have some fun with an Entertaining Auction. We are sure that we won t be seeing much in the way of priceless antiques or an old undiscovered Rembrandt, probably just the old 1970 s era items! But we are sure that this will be a fun filled evening nonethe-less. We are pleased to say that most members have been very organised this year and have paid their subscriptions on time thank you! With the summer approaching and new blood on the committee, we intend to build the club up this year to one of lots of activities, runs, speakers etc. So this is good reason to keep your membership up to date. In the past, the club has sent out reminders by post to those who hadn t paid this we feel is a waste of club resources so, reminders will now not be sent. Payments can be made by cheque to Northants MGOC or by contacting Adrian Higman. Please also note, to anyone who has not paid their subs THIS C O U L D B E Y O U R L A S T NEWSLETTER! Thank you. Money raised on the evening will go straight into our own club funds so please give this your fullest support by way of bringing something along and then bidding on the evening! 11
Marketplace If you have anything for sale or are trying to locate that elusive part, place an advertisement here. Non-trade advertisements are FREE to members. Trade and nonmember advertisers are asked for a small donation to club funds. Advertisements will only appear for a three month period. If you wish to place an advertisement or continue / cancel your existing advertisement, please contact any committee member or e-mail the club at newsletter@mgnorthants.org YOU CAN USE THESE SPACES TO ADVERTISE ANYTHING FOR SALE (Donation to club if sold) SUPPORT YOUR CLUB BY PURCHASING OUR REGALIA 12
Northants MGOC Logo Fleece Jackets Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL Full Fleece 27.00 Colours: See Catalogue for colour choices Gillett Fleece 26.00 Gillett Sport 30.00 Northants MGOC Umbrellas 12.00 Short Sleeve Shirts 24.00 Other items Clothing Baseball Caps 9.00 Tee shirts 14.00 Polo shirts Polo Shirts 100% Cotton 18.00 20.00 Sweatshirts 19.00 Rugby shirts 26.00 Beanie Hat (Woolly Hat) 7.50 Rally Plaques 5.00 Key Fobs (while stocks lasts) Rose of the Shires 2009(trolley disc key ring) WNAA Northants MGOC (leather) Clocks.. (while stocks last) As below 2.00 1.50 1.00 4.50 Colour photographs of the range can be found on our website, www.mgnorthants.org To purchase or order any items or for any other enquiries regarding our exclusive regalia, please see Edward Scott at the next meeting or call him on 01604 882472 (Email: regalia@mgnorthants.org) 13
NORTHANTS MGOC CHARITY RUN SUNDAY 15th MAY 2011 MG A Includes: Bacon Roll, tea /coffee, tulip style route, rally plaque, finishing at Upton House, Warwickshire. Proceeds to the local Ataxia (East) Group. 22 per car Booking forms on website mgnorthants.org Further information contact Barbara 07708010054 Les Barras New committee member Inside back cover
I told my girlfriend I had a job in a bowling alley. She said 'Tenpin?' I said, 'No, permanent.' ----------------------- I went in to a pet shop. I said, 'Can I buy a goldfish?' The guy said, 'Do you want an aquarium?' I said, 'I don't care what star sign it is.' ---------------------------- I bought some Armageddon cheese today, and it said on the packet. 'Best before End' --------------------------- I went to buy a watch, and the man in the shop said 'Analogue.' I said 'No, just a watch.' I went into a shop and I said, 'Can someone sell me a kettle.' The bloke said 'Kenwood' I said, 'Where is he then?' -------------------------- My mate is in love with two schoolbags. He's bi-satchel. ------------------------ I went to the doctor. I said to him 'I'm frightened of lapels.' He said, 'You've got cholera.' --------------------------- I met the bloke who invented crosswords today. I can't remember his name, its P something T something R. ---------------------------- I was reading this book today, The History of Glue. I couldn't put it down. ---------------------------- I phoned the local ramblers club today, but the bloke who answered just went on and on.