CHAIRMAN’S CHAT Happy Birthday MG, the car brand turns 100 years old this month. Although exactly when the production of "MG" sports cars started is a little vague the MG Octagon logo and brand name was trade-marked by Morris Garages on May 1st 1924, so I guess that makes it the "official" birthday. While some makes went for niche or exclusive markets the aim of MG was to make sports and competition cars for the everyday market. Taking the best of what was available and making it that bit better. In the early years the factory even produced dedicated racing cars,the C-Type and Q-Type that were sold to enthusiasts and had factory support for their campaigns, though the widest success came from the lower budget trials and endurance competitions. These were a "big thing" in the early days, and having a car with which you could compete at the weekend, and then drive to work on Monday morning brought motorsport to the masses. Sir Stirling Moss set a world record by taking the MG EX181 to over 245mph on the Utah salt flats in 1957, then MG decided to break their own record again in 1959 with 254mph!. The competition success was of course a good advert of durability and reliability for people who just wanted a "nice car". The company then became part of Morris cars through its many forms, from BMC in the sixties, through Leyland, Austin Rover, Rover Group etc but always kept to its brief of giving the parent company a bit of pizzazz. From Joanna Lumley as Purdey in the Avengers, the King (then Prince ) Charles own MGC, to Elvis Presley driving an MGA around Hawaii on the big screen for Blue Hawaii (1961), the MG marque flew the flag for Britain around the world. And you can't argue with Elvis… Andrew

Moss Bristol 14 Avonside Industrial Park, Avonside Road, Bristol BS2 0UQ Tel: 0117 923 2523 Fax: 0117 942 8236 Email: bristol@moss-europe.co.uk Web: www.moss-europe.co.uk Our thanks go to Moss Bristol for advertising in our magazine and to Owen, Jim, Tony, George, Steve and Martin at Moss Bristol for all their help and support to our members.

Chris Leverett Classics (near Backwell) Tel: 07710 796841 Web: www.mgrepairs.co.uk Our thanks go to Chris Leverett Classics for advertising in our magazine and for advising members for many years.

Cover pic: Looking forward to Summer

SECRETARIES’ SLOT Hi All We hope all our members are enjoying the improved weather. “Three Go to Norfolk” took on a new twist this year. Chris had to deliver an MGA bonnet to MGOC HQ at Swavesey en route (don’t ask!). Pauline gallantly drove from Clevedon to Swavesey in the pouring rain while Chris steadied our cargo in the back. On arrival at Swavesey, bonnet safely delivered, we were offered a tour of the spares warehouse. A comprehensive tour with Tim was full of information and mind-blowing numbers. There are 36,000 separate parts stocked in a crowded but well organised warehouse with operatives dispatching parcels world-wide. Another reminder to members to book for Brunel - this is your area event and the funds raised go to a very good cause. We hope to see many of you on our visit to the Triggol Collection at Barn Farm on July 21st, Hélène and Pauline

Hélène at MGOC HQ

CHAIRMAN’S CHAT Happy Birthday MG, the car brand turns 100 years old this month. Although exactly when the production of "MG" sports cars started is a little vague the MG Octagon logo and brand name was trade-marked by Morris Garages on May 1st 1924, so I guess that makes it the "official" birthday. While some makes went for niche or exclusive markets the aim of MG was to make sports and competition cars for the everyday market. Taking the best of what was available and making it that bit better. In the early years the factory even produced dedicated racing cars,the C-Type and Q-Type that were sold to enthusiasts and had factory support for their campaigns, though the widest success came from the lower budget trials and endurance competitions. These were a "big thing" in the early days, and having a car with which you could compete at the weekend, and then drive to work on Monday morning brought motorsport to the masses. Sir Stirling Moss set a world record by taking the MG EX181 to over 245mph on the Utah salt flats in 1957, then MG decided to break their own record again in 1959 with 254mph!. The competition success was of course a good advert of durability and reliability for people who just wanted a "nice car". The company then became part of Morris cars through its many forms, from BMC in the sixties, through Leyland, Austin Rover, Rover Group etc but always kept to its brief of giving the parent company a bit of pizzazz. From Joanna Lumley as Purdey in the Avengers, the King (then Prince ) Charles own MGC, to Elvis Presley driving an MGA around Hawaii on the big screen for Blue Hawaii (1961), the MG marque flew the flag for Britain around the world. And you can't argue with Elvis… Andrew

Cover pic: Looking forward to Summer

SECRETARIES’ SLOT Hi All We hope all our members are enjoying the improved weather. “Three Go to Norfolk” took on a new twist this year. Chris had to deliver an MGA bonnet to MGOC HQ at Swavesey en route (don’t ask!). Pauline gallantly drove from Clevedon to Swavesey in the pouring rain while Chris steadied our cargo in the back. On arrival at Swavesey, bonnet safely delivered, we were offered a tour of the spares warehouse. A comprehensive tour with Tim was full of information and mind-blowing numbers. There are 36,000 separate parts stocked in a crowded but well organised warehouse with operatives dispatching parcels world- wide. Another reminder to members to book for Brunel - this is your area event and the funds raised go to a very good cause. We hope to see many of you on our visit to the Triggol Collection at Barn Farm on July 21st, Hélène and Pauline

Thank you to everyone who sends in reports for the magazine. Word documents are great for words (as the name suggests) but make a poor job of photos. So, please include your photos into the Word document by all means but also email photos in separately so that the best can be made of them. Thank you - Pauline

Hélène at MGOC HQ