MG & Rolls-Royce Autotest

MG T Type, Sprite & Midget (Photo: Andy Moss)

A good entry of 18 competitors arrived in the Rolls-Royce car park at Gypsy Patch Lane for the inaugural MG car club and BAC MC co-promoted autotest. The event had been added to the clubs calendar at the last moment, when MG approached us looking for a suitable venue for an event.

MGF (Photo: Andy Moss)

With our own Crumpled Cup event not being well supported in recent years the ideal solution seemed to be to pool resources and run a joint event. We provided venue, scruitineer Richard Reynolds, and Steward Kieron Winter, while the MGCC provided Clerk of the Course, secretary and Marshals. It was good to see such a spread of cars, with Minis, a TVR, MG Maestro, Midgets old and new, T types an MGF.

TVR (Photo: Andy Moss)

Most of the BAC Members were in class 1 which consisted of all Mini's with the exception of a solitary MG Maestro. Ernie Burles Autotest special finished in front of the Mini's of Andy Moss and Howard Johnston, with the Maestro in front of Jocelyn Burles in the same car that one the class.

T Type with union jack (Photo: Andy Moss)

Class 2 consisted of the T Types, D Types and classic Midgets, with Bruce Morgan finishing top. Many BAC members would also know RR employee John Bird who was one of the deputy Clerks of the Course at the Pegasus last October.

Class 3 consisted of the modern TVR and MGF and Midgets and Sprites.

Mini's in paddock (Photo: Andy Moss)

Comparison of the times in the different classes shows perhaps sports cars have not progressed as much as we might think - certainly the gap in times between the TVR/MGF and the T Types is not as great as you might expect !

John Bird in the MG TD (Photo: Andy Moss)

Thanks to all those from both clubs who helped run a very enjoyable event.