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PO BOX 52336 SAXONWOLD 2132 JOHANNESBURG

A Natter & Noggin is normally held on the first Thursday of each month at 8pm. The Old Edwardian Club, Houghton

For more details see Motoring Calendar in this issue of “Thumbs Up!”

Club Runs, are normally held on the second Sunday of each month.

AFFILIATED TO THE MG CAR CLUB - ABINGDON-ON-THAMES - ENGLAND

Vice ChairmanCLIVE WINTERSTEINHome: 011 476 7182Work: 011 237 4444Cell: 083 795 0000Fax: 011 237 4445E-mail: pet@iafrica.com

May 2013

Register SecretaryNORMAN EWINGHome: 011 728 5536Cell: 083 654 5433E-mail: mgewing@polka.co.za

SecretaryCLIFFORD SMYTHHome: 011 462 0322Cell: 082 898 9772E-mail: csmyth@vodamail.co.za

Treasurer/Membership SecretaryTONY MAYBANKHome: 011 678 9267E-mail: tony@mgcc.co.za

EditorTOM KIRKLANDHome: 011 391-3459Cell: 082 445 6770Fax: 011 391 3459 ask for fax.E-mail: kirk1@lantic.net

CommunicationsCo-Opted MemberKEVIN LOADERHome: 011 678 3762E-mail: kloader@worldonline.co.za

ChairmanWILLIAM KELLYE-mail: william@happykoi.co.za

RegaliaTo be announced shortly

Membership ConvenorJEANNE ERASMUSHome: 011 888 5364Cell: 084 261 4427E-mail: erasmi@icon.co.za

MarketingPAUL HUGHESOffice: 011 465 6456Cell: 083 320 5249E-mail: paulh@commrisk.co.za

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MG WEBSITESOur Website: www.mgcc.co.zaOur E-mail: mgcc@worldonline.co.za

Other Sites worth visitingwww.pistonring.org.za (Great Links)www.mg.2001.comwww.fmm.co.zaWww.solaschallenge.org.za/index.php?option=com...view

Printed by John MacKenzie of Kalalex Business Forms & Systems (Pty) Ltd. Tel: 011 787-5620Colour Section by Rolf Schweizer of Ultra Print.

ThumbsUp!!!Editorial

My world has just come to an end

For the last month or so I have been having Computer Problems. Running slow, losing info, Then the modem gave up. At a visit to Telkom I was told “your contract has expired”. OK, I was given a new one. The problems still continued. Off to the Computer Hospital where we are told “Your computer is old, there are several problems but you need to have it upgraded”.Now, my son Colin, gets to hear about it and kindly says “Dad bring it into the office, I will arrange for my ’IT’ man to get us a new computer”.That’s GREAT, meantime the magazine deadline is coming up fast. By last Friday we got it back only with my printing programme and modem working, but the Mag would be done on time!! After connecting up, again no modem, and even the printing program was not fully functional. So last resort, let’s try Martie’s laptop.Marvelous, there is still a chance.Well, the system is working, but, I find the feel most difficult to get used to, and my limited knowledge of laptops is causing a great deal of frustration. By the way - this is the second attempt at setting this page, the previous one just disappeared. My patience is getting stretched...However, while waiting for the computer, I went back to reading some of the old Magazines from about 1980. What interesting reading it was.Without any articles (all being hidden in the non existent modem. Hopefully) I am going to reproduce some items and pictures for you this month. How many cars and faces do you recognise? How do we fare now compared to yesteryear? Happy Reading

Editor

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CONTENTS

Your Committee

Editorial

“The Chairman Chirps”

Gymkhanas at Esra’s Farm - Bapsfontein

Show Day at The Zoo (late 1980s)

Norman Talks - History of Angela’s Picnic

A Wonderful Classic Car Event

Ads for Forthcoming Events

MGB GTs and an MG TC

MG Family Tree

Historic Racing, Alive and Well - 1987

BMC B-Series, Specs, Tuning Improvements

Trading Post - Hillman Imp Saga

Calendar Page

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The Chairman’s TwitterWilliam Kelly

What a great day was had by all at Angela’’s Plastics, Casheri Restorations (Clive W), sales Picnic! We had well over 50 cars there - easily the of bits and bobs from a host of members of the best showing at the event - it was wonderful to Club and other fund raising efforts are all part of see everybody out and about and the weather the YP money pot.certainly played ball. Even got a bit of sunstroke This year we are going to need more - more as it turns out - but all good fun in the end. If we money , more young uns and more cars! As it is could only braai there.... just the race prepping of the two cars we already It was excellent to meet MGSA in the form of have is almost enough to keep the kids busy on Lionel Hillary. We hope to ensure our ongoing their own.relationship with MGSA is a strong one and we I am making an appeal though - we need more will continue to strive to get them involved in our interested parties - ages 15 to 24. Send us your little Motoring Club. kids, and we will send them back with oil stains By the time you read this the Youth Project will and quite possibly an interest in something in have concluded another race at Zwartkops. addition to PlayStation.There will be feed back on this in the next issue - On a slightly more serious note. I have taken the and hopefully by then details of the next race tough decision to ask the Editor not to reprint a which the Car Club will be invited as a whole. letter received from an MG member. The On the topic of the Youth Club,I can say that the contents therein are relevant, they were frank feed back from their presentation at the Noggin and they are being dealt with by the Committee was overwhelmingly positive. They put together which is where it will remain and my thanks to the a ‘kick ass’ presentation, got up and told us member for raising the issue. It is the last time exactly what they were up to and across the on my watch that there will be open war in these board, they knocked our socks off - a more pages. Thumbs Up is about the MG Car Club sorted, confident, focused bunch of young Johannesburg Centre, and having some fun people will be hard to find. I think some with our MGs. It is not about individual members members got the shock of their lives to see just and disputes. If you have an issue, bring it to the what this young team is doing, and whilst Committee, and we’ll deal with it there. Else admittedly long overdue, their integration into the resolve those amongst yourselves - at 20 paces Club with feedback on their progress is I feel well if needs be. on the right road, now thanks to Dave Holt and Cheers,the rest of the team. William The costs of the project are significant. They have self funded/been sponsored and carried the MG flag by themselves now for 3 years. It is time to give them recognition and support for what they do for the MG brand, and as such the Committee has agreed to request R20,000 from you for this year. Ongoing support from Sizanani

Most Popular Event of the YearThe Annual Gymkhana at Esra’s Farm

Then the Transformation to this …

This event brought great memories to me, the way that so many folk just enjoyed the freedom of racing around between the mealie fields in the dust, (or the mud). Esra held close to 20 annual events on his farm, for which we thank him.Then in our dusty attire we then participated in a social braai while waiting for the results of the day.This left only a short time to clean cars for the Annual Show Day which also drew up to 150 Bright and Shiny Show Classics.

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I get a kick out of Angela’s Picnic every man the gate and collect donations. In year - no doubt great sunshine adds to the last three years Craig Anderson and it. Ian Huntly have handed over cheques in Angela Hinds, as my good Morgan excess of twenty three thousand rands.friend will attest, was a really That fact alone should be positive proof remarkable lady. When we formed that events like this are so important. SAMCA in 1981 it was really to take on Long may it continue.the petrol controller who refused to We should all say a special thank you to issue permits for low key competitive Citroen’s Rob Clark, who has on our motor sport and one of the spinoffs, behalf seen to all the red-tape with the when we assembled 13 representative Council. Every Year!marque clubs in our tiny Norwood lounge, was the incredible collection of Tailpieceknowledge and talent. On the 12th April 2003, fifty friends Angela was opera crazy and a member joined Pat and I to receive the keys for of “Friends of the Opera”. She had just “Ducky”. Pat had a cake made, as it was returned from Paris where she had Cecil Kimber’s birthday - albeit in his witnessed “a most marvellous motoring absence! To think that that was ten event in the Bois de Bologne”- years ago is frankly staggering. Many hundreds of Classic Cars with their there that day have passed away, these owners in period costume - picnicking! last ten years have left us with many She asked why we could not do the memories. At 158,000kms “Ducky” has same. It sounded fantastic and I said served us well - and in spite of a head “Do It!”. She lived close by on Munro gasket, clutch, water pump and three Drive and over the next months came suspension bolts, has served us as I had and reported progress, as she first went hoped. It may not be “Midgy” but its a to find a venue - Delta Park was it - then Great Little Car!to the Council Offices to get approval Octagonally,before approaching Castrol for toilets. Norman At a Council meeting at Bruce Caw’s home in Johannesburg North, she rose to her feet and asked in her quiet way - “What shall we call it? “Call it Angela’s Picnic” I said, and so it was.We had over the years collected for various charities, but when Angela died of cancer, it was decided that this should be our aim, and we supported CANSA, and then Hospice. Each of the member clubs have come forward to

The Story behind Angela’s PicnicNorman Talks

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A WonderfulClassic Car Event

Written by Martie Kirkland - Pics by Kevin

Having had bad weather the w e e k b e f o r e , i t w a s wonderful sunshine for our day at Angela’s picnic. The place was packed with young and old lining the way to watch all the old cars arriving.There is nothing compared to spending a day with friends. The cars keeping the men occupied and the gossip to keep the women busy. I can remember one of the very first outings we had with the MG Club was at Angela’s Picnic. It was so relaxed and fun was had by all. Nothing has changed. Again we had a wonderful time with friends and we had time to chat. It was l ike a family get together.New cars inspire men, but the old beauties inspire them more. The variety of older models restored to their original standard surprised me.I do bel ieve that the youngsters will carry on where we left off, because of the number of younger people present on the day amazed me. I watched as a n u m b e r o f y o u n g e r Grandpas and Grannies with their families walked past and I thought “here is the future visitors to Angela’s Picnic”Some of them may even own their own Classic cars in the future.Tom and I really enjoyed the day.

Martie

Angela’sPicnic

Alma, Martin vd Merwe & Johan Meyerreminiscing about old times

Best not to stand too close or elseyou could get burnt when Lucy fires

Cliff & Wendy Smyth (seated) withBruce Dixon talking about anything to do with cars

William teaching James to drive,together with sound effects

Picnic Italian style in mid-field

V8 BMW departs from Delta Park

Lucy's details; 1 x tank engine onRolls Royce chassis.

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Pics by Roger Bull

Angela’s Picnic

Roger took these photos at Angela's Picnic with a GoPro Hero 2 (sports action) camera. Many sports photographers use this type of equipment for those unusual images taken from next to the wheel or guys jumping out ofaircraft.

Roger's next thought is to get a drone / quadcopter to carry the GoPro. The kit comes with a radio control unit and an instruction manual on how to fly the thing without pranging and damaging the camera. Who knows, perhapsRoger will be taking an aerial shot of Angela's Picnic next year?

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______________________________

The Vaal Old Wheels Club

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Scottburgh Classic Car ShowSunday 21st July 2013

Weekend Tour departs Fri 19th & returns Mon 22nd July 2013Book at Blue Marlin Hotel for 20th & 21st @ R235 pp per night Book direct: www.bluemarlin.co.za or Tel.039 976-0971 E-mail info@bluemarlin.co.za

For more Information go to www.scottburghclassiccarshow.co.za/

GMSGauteng Motor Show 1-2 JUNE 2013Zwartkops Raceway - TSHWANE - 9 to 5 Daily

Show History: This is the 10th Annual Show. Last year the Show attracted12,000 ‘motoring’ enthusiasts and their families “racing through the gates” atthe Zwartkops Raceway. With the inclusion of Atomic Junkies Adrenalin Fest, the 2013 Gauteng Motor Show will offer exhibitors and visitors an even biggerand more action packed show than ever before

Sat 31 August & Sun 1 September

Steam & SteamFestival

North West University Campus

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Are theseone and thesame Carjust manyyears later?

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Can you providea suitable captionfor this interestingphotograph?

And who is theinquisitiveowner?

I am sure that 2 cent piece rolled under there somewhere!E Mail your answer to the Editor: kirk1@lantic.net

From L to R: William Kelly, Dave Holt, Stephen Britz, Michael Kernick, Tim Brinkman, Bhagved Singh,Cameron McLeod, Steven Kernick, Scott Rainier, Gavin Holt.

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As you all know our centre has been pioneering youth development via our racing program. We've thrown some money at the project with an initial R60k being put in 3 years ago to build the program. Since then the project has been self funding with various sponsors helping us out and members of the Car Club all doing their bit to help keep the project on the road - Roger (EmGee), Nick, Dave, Les, Glen, Clive - the list is endless.

At the last noggin the youngsters presented a feedback session that knocked everybody's socks clean off. They put together a team effort that reflects exactly what has been going on behind the scenes and I think those at the Noggin were blown away. The kids rocked it and I think we all got a sense of what this project means to them.

The result is that we have a team of young confident up and coming future MG Car Club members that we can be rightly proud of. We now have young (!) ambassadors for MG that have joined, and left the program in the natural course of events and better yet we have ongoing interest from all over the place. We also have the start of more involvement between the car club and the project and the talk of an Old Farts effort to match the kids on the track is becoming somewhat less hot air and more concrete. Congratulations to the youngsters and may we swell their numbers continually.

Youth Project

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While looking through my collection of old Club low budget.Magazines I came across this item which I Number 75 thought would make interesting reading for many Dave Lyons, Single seater MG Specialof our members today. You will recognise many We extend a big welcome to Dave who took over of those youngsters who enjoyed their MGs on the ex-Peter Bridges famous TC Monoposto, the track, as you are doing today. You can feel originally constructed in the 60’s by Harry their excitement and enthusiasm and their pride Pearce. This is no newcomer to our circuits, and of being MG members. Read on . . . in Dave’s first time out, he is lapping at 2 mins 30

secs at Kyalami.On the starting grid of some 40 cars, seven MGs Number 21already appear on the register for 1987, and Jimmy Moggridge1275cc road going Midgetwithin the next three to four months this figure is Joined the Historic register in 1986 and this year expected to embrace 12 MG cars racing on our intends racing on all our Championship Circuits. circuits. This beautifully prepared Midget is an absolute Number 21 credit to our ranks and as an entrepreneur, Chris Costas Modified Roadster Class K tuner/driver, Jim is expected to graduate into the This car in its bright red colours, has been faster classes shortly - at present is lapping completely restored to a very high standard and Kyalami at 2 mins 6 secs.was originally constructed and raced by Roger Number 37Pearce and now enters the fourth year of racing, Dave Wheeler, MGB GT Std Production Modelnot only in Historics, but in the 2 and 3 hour Dave now enters his third year of campaigning enduro races. More recent lap times at Kyalami his MG in historic racing and his two tone record 1 min 47 secs. presentation graces our circuits - lapping Kyalami Number 7 at 2mins, this immaculate car has a pleasing Allan Cuninghame Mod. MG Midget Class I presentation.This car carries the BRG colours and now enters the fifth year of historic racing and was the fastest We understand that a further five MGs in various MG on our circuit during 1986, lapping Kyalami at stages of preparation will be joining us, 1 min 44.1 secs. commencing with the next race at Lichtenburg.Number 74 Roger Pearce is re joining the MG team and is at Rod Green present preparing a highly modified MGB GT and A welcome newcomer to the 1987 circuits, driving we welcome Roger back to the MG Pits. He a standard maroon MG Twincam in Class I, and in seems to like, and be successful with yellow.its present form is lapping Kyalami at 2 mins 6 Monica Galli will be rejoining the team with a secs, well within his class time and we look newly prepared MGB GT in road going form. forward to a long association with Rod Green. Monica records consistently improved lap times Number 31 with this car, the organising committee could Mike Hibberd, Std Production MGB GT have a headache.Mike is no newcomer to historic racing and has Could we get this kind of reporting for the YP???spent four years driving MG and Lotus cars. This year sees Mike lapping Kyalami at 2 mins 3 secs in Class H running and racing on an extremely

Historic Racing was Alive and Well in 1987This was written by Stewart Cuninghame, and appeared in the April Edition of Thumbs Up

The B-Series is a good candidate for tuning rare to find one in a scrapyard now.because it’s so strong. Unless originality is Specialists will sell you a big-valve, gas-flowed important to you there’s little point starting with head for about L350. This, in conjunction with an anything other than the 1798cc unit. extractor exhaust manifold, free-flow air filters This is a straight swap for the 1489, 1588 and and a road camshaft, will give an extra 15bhp. 1622 versions, although gearbox input shafts will More importantly, it will greatly improve 40-need modifying to fit some cars and the front plate 70mph acceleration in top gear, making the car (which carries the engine mounts) from the more driveable in modern traffic conditions.oiginal engines will need modifying to fit the For more power, the next step is to bore the block bigger engine. Check with the relevant club to 1950cc. At this size, porosity of the bores can before attempting the swap. be a problem, so get the block inspected by a Engines with single SUs can be fitted with the specialist before you have it machined. A 1950cc twin-carb set-up from an MG. engine with the mods listed above can produce By far the most restrictive part is the cylinder about 125bhp. At this stage it becomes worth head. The best standard head was not an MGB while to fit a twin-choke Weber side draught item, but the one fitted to the Austin 1800S carb, but for anything below this state of tune, (Landcrab), which had bigger valves. These cars you’re best sticking to SU’s.have engine numbers with 18 H prefixes but it’s Bruce, Thanks for this informative Article Ed

BMC B-SERIESSpecifications & Tuning Improvements

Submitted by Bruce Dixon

Brown and Gammonoffer performance heads,including MGB crossflowand gas-flowed MGA/MGB

A uprated oil pumpcan be fitted forcompetition use.

Gas-flowing thehead will helpthe enginebreathe.

A twin-choke Webermay be useful if theengine has been boredout above 1900cc capacity

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Hillman ImpSaga

After almost a two weekdelay in departing on theirepic trip up through AfricaTerence Tracey and his partner Geoff Biermann, finally set off inhigh spirits, after both mechanical, and visadelays. Following themon their Blog has made veryinteresting reading. With several minor issues up to I

Nairobi, but from there onmud continuously caked up between the wheels the wet weather was againstand the mudguards, forcing them to keep clearing them, particularly along the infamous Road of the mud from the wheel arches. The latest news Hell, in northern Kenya. The mud and water ob-that I have been able to get was that when they scured the rocks and holes in the most reach their destination in the UK they were impassable road in Africa. Their steering being considering selling their little imp!!!badly damaged in their attempt to negotiate all Good Luck Chaps!! Keep Going... Ed.this road. At one point they were being towed (or

dragged) by a gal lant 4x4, but the

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SAMCA Drivers Challenge Winner Won by Roger Bull in the mid 1980’s

This was a regular popular event which was run annually amongst the SAMCA Clubs in the area.

Wanted for 1970 MGB GT

To complete my Concours CarAn Original JackOriginal AircleanersOriginal Steering WheelOwners HandbookRodney Norton (h) 011 828-7776 (w) 011 776-5000

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WHAT Natter and Noggin, C2C - Feedback by Michael BrettWHEN Thursday 2 May, WHERE Old Edwardians, 4th Avenue and 11th Street, Houghton

WHAT Pietermaritzburg Cars in the Park, Sunday 19 May, Arrangements Mike 083 449 5220

WHAT Monthly Run, To be advisedWHEN NOTE 3rd Sunday 19 May, Due to Mothers Day

WHAT MG Tour of Zimbabwe Highlands Limited Booking still availableWHEN 16th to 29th May Suzette Bouwer and PJ Ryan 083 303 4304

WHAT Natter and Noggin Inter Car Club QuizWHEN Thursday 6 June, WHERE Old Edwardians, 4th Avenue and 11th Street, Houghton

WHAT Combined Centres Show Day, 9 or 23 June, Venue to be advised Northern Centre

WHAT Polana Rally, 14 to 17 June, Tour Section, contact Mike O’Keeffe 083 449 5220

WHAT Natter and Noggin, WHEN Thursday 4 JulyWHERE Old Edwardians, 4th Avenue and 11th Street, Houghton

WHAT Monthly Run, Zwartkops Air Force Base MusemWHEN Saturday 6th July, Clive Winterstein 083 796 0000 WHAT Scottburgh Classic Car Show, Weekend www.scottburghclassiccarshow.co.za/WHEN 19 to 22 July, Country Club, Airth Street, Scottburgh

Book at Blue Marlin Hotel (Special Rates R235pp per night) Must Book 039 978-3361Tour being arranged. Details to follow. Watch this Space.

WHAT Natter and Noggin, Thursday 1August, Old Eds

WHAT Cars in the Park (POMC), Sunday 4th August, Pretoria.

WHAT Combined Northern/Johannesburg Drakensberg Weekend at (The Nest Hotel)WHEN 16 to 18 August, Glen Parker 083 633 7575 - Pta. Gary Chapman 082 653 1888

Must Book SOON!