January 2010 £2 No. 310 Mascot - Midget and Sprite ClubIt’s not long until springtime. Gary &...

The Magazineof the

Midget & SpriteClub

www.midgetandspriteclub.co.uk

MascotJanuary 2010 £2 No. 310

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THE WHO, THE WHAT & THE WHERE of THE MIDGET & SPRITE CLUB

COMMITTEECHAIRPERSON Now on a rota basisGENERAL SECRETARY Philip Sellen, 40 Amberley Way, Wickwar, Wotton-under-Edge, Glos, GL12 8LP.

Tel: 01454 299222 email: [email protected] Anita Lachowicz, 5 Park Grove, Knaresborough, Yorks. HG5 9ET.

Mobile: 07720 725429 email: [email protected] Gary Lazarus, 40B Hungerford Road, London, N7 9LP. Tel: 0207700 5696 email: [email protected] REP’S DELEGATE Geoff Hunter, Tel: 01562 851544 email: [email protected] ADVISOR Mark Boldry, 5 Park Grove, Knaresborough, Yorks. HG5 9ET. Mob: 07889 799033

Email: [email protected] John Platt, 2 Pear Tree Gardens, Bearley Road, Aston Cantlow, Henley-in-Arden, Warks.

B95 6HT Tel: 01789 488321 email: [email protected] MEMBER Mark Hall, Tel: 01296 660103 email: [email protected] Nigel Williams, 7 Kings Avenue, Hanham, Bristol BS15 3JN.

Tel: 0117 961 2175 email: [email protected]

OFFICERSCLUB ARCHIVIST & Terry Horler, 63 Littledean, Yate, Bristol, BS37 8UQ. Tel: 01454 881770TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATIONEVENTS CO-ORDINATOR Gary Lazarus, 40B Hungerford Road, London, N7 9LP. Tel: 0207700 5696

email: [email protected] ADVERTISING Alan Lo, Tel: 0117 9572617 Mob: 0775 3867806 email: [email protected] ASSISTANCE David Hill, Llyserfan, Beulah, Newcastle Emlyn, Ceredigion. SA38 9QB. CO-ORDINATOR Tel: 01239 811307 email: [email protected] REGISTER Bob Clarkson, Tel: 01902 842643 email: [email protected] OFFICER Mike Grout, 55 Park Road, Spixworth, Norwich, NR10 3PJ. Tel: 01603 890211

email: [email protected] Toby Anscombe, 7 Lysander Court, High Road, North Weald, Epping, CM16 1HF.

email: [email protected] ADVERTISING John Clark, 16 Barley Close, Broomfield, Herne Bay, Kent. CT6 7XG

Tel: 01227 368638, Mob. 07971 153556 Email: [email protected]

AREA REPRESENTATIVESBRISTOL Terry Horler, Tel: 01454 881770EAST ANGLIA David Dixon, Tel: 01733 222810 email: [email protected] VacantDORSET Ian Beaver, Tel: 01722 326840 email: [email protected] Bryan Fox, Tel: 01202 683842 home, 01202 674017 work

email: [email protected] Jane Gates, Tel: 01255 830 509 Email: [email protected] Terry Langridge, Tel: 01252 626063 email: [email protected] COUNTIES Chris Jackson, Tel: 01707 261567 [email protected] WEST or Mark Hall, Tel: 01296 660103 [email protected] Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050 email: [email protected] VacantLONDON Gary Lazarus, Tel: 020 7700 5696 email: [email protected] STAFFS & Bill Mohan, Tel: 0121 353 7211 or mobile: 0798 461 6371 email: [email protected] BIRMINGHAM SCOTLAND Carson Thomson, Tel: 013606 22334 email: [email protected] WEST Les & Diane Robinson, Tel: 01772 432138 email: [email protected] IRELAND Robert Holmes, Tel: 02892 689274 email: [email protected]/DERBY Ian Cooke, Tel: 0115 938 3838 email: [email protected] Dave Bearne, Tel: 01823 412004 email: [email protected] WEST WALES David Hill, Tel: 01239 811307 email: [email protected] Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050 email: [email protected] David Southcott, email: [email protected] Alan Couch, Tel: 01564 773302 Chris Yates, Tel: 01608 665066 email: [email protected] Andy Cross, Tel: 01225 743554 email: [email protected] Sarah & Tim Saunders, Mobile: 07968 261990 email: [email protected]

Also see the Club Nights section on page 3 for new areas and contacts.Compiled by David Hill. Please advise me of any changes, errors etc.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL: IF YOU EXPERIENCE ‘MASCOT ’ PROBLEMS UPON RENEWAL, PLEASE CONTACTTHE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY OR THE TREASURER STRAIGHT AWAY. The Committee

© Midget & Sprite Club

Printed by Quorum Print Services Ltd, Units 3&4, Lansdown Industrial Estate, Cheltenham, GL51 8PLTel: 01242 584984 Website: www.quorumprint.co.uk E-mail: [email protected]

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January’s Editorial

Front cover picture: Robert Visser’s Sebring Sprite at Goodwood in 2008 © Ivo Visser

The statements and opinions expressed in each and every issue of the MASCOT are not necessarily the considered views of the Midget and Sprite Club. The views expressed by the editorial contributors, letter writers and advertisers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Club. The Midget and Sprite Club accepts no responsibility for the results of following contributor’s advice, nor does it necessarily endorse the services or products offered by advertisers.

It seems I’ve only just finished wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and here I am writing about the New Year ahead. 2010, how weird does that sound? Wasn’t it only yesterday that we were being told our video players, microwaves and computers were going to explode on

the stroke of midnight in a fit of self destructive Millennium madness?This year sees my ninth year of Spridget ownership and it seems that I am happy (for the foreseeable future) to remain a one Spridget man. Nine years and over 28 and a half thousand miles later, “Gaps” and I are still together. We’ve had some adventures and so far, no mishaps. Nine years since I became a member of the Midget & Sprite Club and in that time, “Gaps and I have got to know many new people and made some good Spridgety friends. Two of those are Anita Lachowicz and Mark Boldry, respectively the Club’s Treasurer and Technical Advisor, as well as being the backbone of the vast Yorkshire area of MASC.As we sit here in sub-zero temperatures, spare a thought for poor Anita & Mark who are upping sticks on the 26th of January and heading south from Yorkshire. Not south as in Birmingham or London south. But south as in Australia south! Congratulations to Mark, who has successfully beaten hundreds of candidates to secure what had been described by it’s advertiser as the “Second best job in the World”. He will be giving up the cold garage floor and wet weather of Yorkshire to take up his new post as head foreman/chief mechanic at Dave Godwin’s Gold Coast Classic/Historic Car Restoration Company. With the aid of modern technology, Anita will still continue as the club’s treasurer and one of its directors, as everything is being put into place to allow her to continue the fantastic job which she has done since taking over the role in 2006. I, on behalf of the rest of the committee, would like to wish Anita and Mark all the best in this exciting next stage of their lives and even though it’s only for a few years, hope they come back to visit us regularly. We send them our thanks for a job well done, safe in the knowledge that Anita will continue to look after the club’s finances in the same professional and conscientious way that she has for the last three years.This New Year also sees Stuart Miller at home convalescing after a very serious fall. Stuart, for those of you who didn’t know, is one of the club’s unsung heroes and a very important part of MASC. He assists John Platt with the day to day running of the membership side of the

club. We wish Stuart a full and speedy recovery. You only have to look at the New Members pages in this month’s MASCOT to realise that these things just don’t get organised without some serious teamwork.Please note that the deadline for next month’s MASCOT is Tuesday 12th January.It’s not long until springtime.

Gary & “Gaps”[email protected]

020 7700 5696

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Club Nights1st Tuesday Essex Area – Now meet at The Bell, Beckenham Road, Tolleshunt Major,

CM9 8LL. For further details contact Jane Gates Tel: 01255830 509 or email: [email protected]

2nd Tuesday London Area (Congestion Zone) – Meet at The Ace Cafe at 7:30pm. together with the Classic Cars Magazine night. Details: Gary Lazarus on 020 7700 5696 [email protected]

1st Wednesday South Staffs & Birmingham – Meet at the The Green Man, Middleton Village, 8.30-8.45pm Contact Bill Mohan on 0121 353 7211 or [email protected]

1st Wednesday NEW! Oxford Area. Meet at the Blackhorse Pub, Gozzards Ford, Nr Abingdon. 7pm for those eating or 8pm for those not. Contact Grahame Gibbins at [email protected] or [email protected]

1st Thursday Notts/Derby border Area at the Sitwell Arms near Horsley Woodhouse from approx. 8.30. Just a mile north-west of the A608/A609 crossroads. Ian Cooke 0115 938 3838 [email protected]

1st Sunday Lincolnshire Area – NOTE CHANGE. Lunch time meetings at various locations. Please email; [email protected] or 01522 531425 for next month’s details.

2nd Wednesday Warwickshire – Meet at The Green Dragon, The Green, Sambourne, Redditch, B96 6NU, at 8.30pm as usual.

2nd Wednesday North West Area – meet at The Kilton, turn off M6 at Jct 20 onto A50 towards Macclesfield. Pub 4 miles on left. Please note new venue.

2nd Wednesday Bristol Area will meet at The Rose & Crown, Pucklechurch at 8pm. All Bristol, Bath and surrounding areas members welcome. Contact Terry Horler on 01454 881770

2nd Thursday Cambridgeshire – Now called East Anglian Area. Meet at The Mad Cat pub in Pidley Village, midway between Huntingdon & Chatteris, 8pm

2nd Saturday Yorkshire Area – for maximum coverage, the meeting moves around Yorkshire each month – venues are listed ahttp://yorkshiremasc.blogspot.com/ for the next 3 months, or contact Sarah & Tim at [email protected] or on 07968 261990 for more details

3rd Monday Dorset – Meet at St. Peter’s Finger, Lytchett Minster, Poole, BH16 6JE 7.30pm

3rd Tuesday Scotland – Meet at The Garfield Hotel, Stepps, East Dunbartonshire. 7:30pm in the Lounge. Contact Carson on 013606-22334.

3rd Tuesday Surrey – Meet at The Blue Ball, Walton-on-the-Hill, 7.00pm onwards. Contact Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050. [email protected]

4th Thursday Sussex – Meet at The Red Lion, Handcross, RH17 6BP from 19:00. Contact David Southcott at [email protected]

4th Thursday Hampshire – New Venue! Now meeting at The Fox and Goose, Greywell, RG29 1BY. Please ring Terry or Harriet Langridge on 01252 626063 for details.

4th Sunday Kent Area – Meet at The Moat, Wrotham Heath at 12:00 for lunch. Contact Alan Anstead, Tel: 01322 384050. [email protected]

Last Monday Wiltshire – Meet at The Barge Inn, Seend, Nr. Devizes, about 7pm except on Bank Holiday Mondays when it will be the Bell Inn at Yatton Keynell near Castle Combe, 6.30pm. Contact Andy Cross on 01225 743554 or e-mail [email protected]

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Last Wednesday Home Counties North West for members in Herts, Beds, Bucks, Berks, N. London or anyone interested! Meet at the Chequers Inn, Redbourn, AL3 7AD from 6:30pm. Please contact Chris Jackson Tel: 01707 261567 or Mark Hall, Tel: 01296 660103

Last Thursday Somerset – Meet at The Lord Nelson, Norton-sub-Hamdon. 8.00pmLast Thursday South West Wales – Meet at the Fox & Hounds, Bancyfelin, Carmarthen,

SA33 5ND. Contact David Hill, Tel: 01239 811307 or email [email protected] Ireland Point of contact is Robert Holmes, tel: 02892 689274 or email:

[email protected]. If enough interest, will arrange a meeting.

Members Only pages for January, User name: Micro Password: Blister

From David Hill & Webmaster Toby Anscombe

Events organised so farJanuarySunday 3rd London Bridges Run. Kent & Surrey Area are taking part. Details from

[email protected]

FebruarySaturday 13th & The Footman James Great Western Autojumble at The Royal Bath and WestSunday 14th Showground, Shepton Mallet. Dorset Area will be going Details from Ian

Beaver on 01722 326840 or Bryan Fox on 01202 683842

AprilSunday 4th Chatham Festival of Steam and Transport at Chatham, Kent.

www.thedockyard.co.uk Kent and Surrey will be there with a Club Stand. Details from Alan Anstead at [email protected] or Tel: 01322-384050

Sunday 25th DRIVE IT DAY. Get out in your classic car today and see and meet others doing the same.

MaySaturday 1st & Dorset Area will be at the 31st Bristol Classic Car Show at the Royal BathSunday 2nd and West Showground, Shepton Mallet. Details from Ian Beaver on

01722 326840 or Bryan Fox on 01202 683842Friday 21st Surrey and Kent are off on their May Run to Laon, France for the LaonTo Monday 24th Historique. Details from [email protected]

JuneSunday 13th Dorset Area are going to Classics at Kingston Lacy. Details from Ian Beaver

on 01722 326840 or Bryan Fox on 01202 683842Sunday 27th Kent area are meeting at the Cliftonville Classic Car Show. There will be a

club stand. Details from Alan Anstead, [email protected] Tel: 01322-384050

Club Website

Events

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JulyMonday 5th South East Area are going to the Le Mans Classic 2010. Yes really! Theseto Friday 16th events take advanced planning to secure accommodation. There is a

provisional list and I will be seeking non refundable deposits from around May 2009.

August Sunday 15th Cranleigh Car Show. South East Area are going with the Club Stand. Details

from Alan Anstead at [email protected] or Tel: 01322-384050

SeptemberSunday 5th Pembrokeshire Run. Classic vehicle Run through the magnificent SW Wales

countryside. Let’s get loads of Spridgets taking part. More details later.Sunday 19th Church Knowle 2010 Classic Car Show. Near Corfe Castle, Dorset. Dorset

Area will be there. Details from Ian Beaver on 01722 326840 or Bryan Fox on 01202 683842

Sunday 19th Turweston Wings and Wheels. Lots of Spridgets are planning to be there. Details www.turwestonflight.com or phone on 01280 705400.

Sunday 26th The September Kent meet will be at the Bearsted Classic Car Show. Details from Alan Anstead at [email protected] or Tel: 01322-384050

November Thursday 11th South East Area are planning a Remembrance Tour to Ypres and Bethune. to Sunday 14th More details later but in meantime contact Alan Anstead

[email protected] Tel: 01322-384050

DecemberTuesday 14th South East Area’s Christmas Meal and December meet. Details from Alan

Anstead at [email protected] or Tel: 01322-384050

Remember there are Club Night Natters throughout the year and that areaevents are also open to members from other areas!

Please also note that the above lists only M&SC events or events where wehave a presence or an interest. General classic events are listed in the classic press.

Well, I hope that you all had a great Christmas and I would like to wish all members a successful and happy

2010 with endless sunshine and deserted roads. Deserted that is except for fellow Spridgets Did anyone get out and about on New Year’s Day? I won’t be able to as my Midget is SORNed. Unfortunately I missed the free road tax by a couple of months! Given the state of the economy, I doubt that the new Government in June will help us. Thanks to those members who did heed my appeal for more MAD members, especially in the more unrepresented areas. We are not

doing too badly but even more MAD members would be even better. You know what to do don’t you? Email me your details ([email protected]) or complete the online form under MAD on the members only pages.Don’t forget, if you don’t carry your copy of the Mutual Assistance Directory and you do not have access to the web or don’t know someone who does, I will print off a copy and send it to you. Just ask! Enjoy your pride and joy.

David Hill

Mutual Assistance Directory

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It is with great sadness that I report the passing of John Britten, one of the early racing exponents of MG Midgets. John,

proprietor of the Arkley based sports car garage, which bore his name, did not start racing until he was 34. The ex Paddy Gaston Sprite coupe RAM 35 was his first competition car. His inaugural race was at Mallory Park in May 1966, when he was unfortunate enough to roll the car at Shaws Hairpin, whereupon it promptly caught fire. Undeterred by this slight setback, John and his mechanic Oliver Ball built another racer using a crashed LHD 1962 Midget, as a basis. This was later registered as SS 1800 – a

number that many would come to remember during the remainder of the 1966 and all through the 1967 season.John debuted the Lenham GT bodied car at Brands hatch on 10th July 1966, where he won the race for Sprites and Midgets, having lead from flag to flag. During the last half of the season he amassed no less than 14 wins. At the end of the year he was awarded the Peter Collins Memorial Trophy for the most promising new comer. A regulation change for 1967 saw SS 100 revert to standard silhouette, again with a body in fibreglass. That season’s tally was 28 wins and nine lap records. Many times the Midget has shown more powerful and expensive sports cars the way home! He later raced another Midget, which carried the notional registration BRI 10.John was also responsible for the Arkley SS, a fiberglass kit to replace the corroded bodywork on tired Spridgets. In 1972, his racer was converted into a Modsports Arkley, which John and later his Service Manager Peter May successfully campaigned. The garage also had two unique Midget pick-up trucks. His company’s half-page advertisements in the cars for sale columns of Motor Sport, written in John’s inimitable style, became legendary. He later moved from cars to cameras when he founded the

John Britten1931-2009

John Britten with Shaun Rainford and Shaun’s replica of SS 1800 in 2007

John Britten’s original SS 1800

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Techno and Fox Talbot camera shop chain in 1971 – sold to Jessops in 1998.Ever progressing, in 1983 John launched the Morse Computer Group. He still maintained an interest in motor sport and around this time forged a link with his friend Richard Lloyd’s international sportscar team. Perhaps his most significant involvement in the sport was yet to come when in 2003, he joined Jonathan Palmer and Sir Peter Ogden to found Motor Sports Vision, which successfully acquired the Brands Hatch group of companies and thus took control of Brands, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park and Snetterton circuits. John’s business acumen played no small part in turning the business round financially.In 2007, my friend Shaun Rainford of CCK Motorsport, decided to build a replica of SS 1800. I introduced him to John, who though surprised that anyone would want to do such a thing, promised his help and also put us in touch with Oliver Ball. That summer Shaun and I took the completed replica up to John’s

Surrey home and spent an enjoyable morning with him as he walked around and sat in the car whilst reminiscing about those 1960’s races. He also confided that he named his first daughter Sophie Simone, so he could pass on SS 1800 as her personal plate, once she passed her driving test.Ever the enthusiast, John still had a project on the go: A 1935 Jensen Sports Tourer, based on a Ford V8 engine and chassis, which he intended to sprint, sadly his ill health and component supply problems meant it was not completed before his passing. I last met John at the Goodwood Revival a year or two back, when he gently chastised me for still having film in my camera – he had naturally gone digital at the earliest opportunity.John Britten precise racing driver, astute businessman and a true gentleman. He leaves his wife Diana and three daughters Sophie, Chloe and Fleur to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.

John Baggott

We Like to Give advice!The following article has appeared on various websites recently and I thank John Foard from the Hants area for forwarding it to me via Barry Green.

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New Members

We extend a warm welcome to the following new and rejoined members2745 Andrew Gibson Kent Arkley Midget & Midget Mk 3 3575 Matthew & Lizzie Wrigglesworth West Yorkshire Midget Mk 3 RWA4194 Laurence & Lynn Evans Worcestershire Sprite Mk 44195 Dr Bob & Jackie King Warwickshire Frogeye Sprite4196 Justin & Emma Rawson Tayside Sprite Mk 34197 Robert Newton West Midlands Midget Mk 3 RWA4198 James Brearley Staffordshire Sprite Mk 2 4199 Rose O’Donovan Co Cork Midget4200 Guy Newton Oxfordshire Sprite Mk 44201 Tim Holdsworth Clwyd Midget Mk 3 RWA4202 Ray Hoffmeister West Midlands Frogeye Sprite4203 Peter Morrow Lurgan Midget Mk 34204 Ian & George Farrow Northamptonshire Midget 15004205 Frank McCallion Co Tyrone Midget Mk 3 RWA4206 Gary Hendon Staffordshire Midget 15004207 Roger Palmer-Clark Staffordshire Midget Mk 3 RWA4208 Terry Moores Cheshire Frogeye Sprite4209 Ian & Gloria Averill Hampshire Midget Mk 34210 Peter Neachell Staffordshire Sprite Mk 34211 James Lamb Derbyshire Midget Mk 14212 David Davies Gloucestershire Frogeye Sprite4213 Mike Pope West Midlands tba 4214 Guy Barton & Deborah Chittenden East Sussex Midget 15004215 Alan Goose Nottinghamshire Midget 15004216 Christopher Severn Warwickshire Frogeye Sprite4217 Ian Cameron Lancashire Sprite Mk 44218 Patrick & Juliet Ewing Staffordshire Midget Mk 24219 Noel Preece West Midlands Midget4220 Peter Willoughby Worcestershire Midget Mk 34221 Rachel & Michael Ward-Sale East Sussex Sprite Mk 44222 David & Gillian Evans Worcestershire Midget Mk 34223 Maxine Hookway & Garry Morris West Midlands Midget Mk 24224 Gillian & David Hansford Wiltshire Austin Sprite4225 Stephen Marchant East Sussex Frogeye Sprite4226 Anna Lee & Iain May Hampshire Midget 15004227 Richard Cowley Buckinghamshire Sprite Mk 34228 Dyfrig Hobbs Dyfed tba4229 Terry & Shirley Course Bedfordshire Midget 1500/Tifosi Rana 4230 Tristan & Ray Ellis Somerset Sprite Mk 34231 Steve Roberts Warwickshire Austin Sprite4232 David Whalan Avon Midget Mk 34233 Marc Morgan West Midlands Midget 15004234 Daniel Usher-Clark Somerset Sprite Mk 44235 anon Aberdeenshire none yet4236 Howard Owen Cheshire Midget Mk 3 RWA4237 Jeremy & Helen Lenox Worcestershire Healey Frogeye IOW4238 Mark Kendall Shropshire Frogeye Sprite4239 anon West Midlands none yet

Without doubt my favourite part of compiling MASCOT each month is the new members section. It’s like receiving little presents from

the membership secretary John Platt by email.As some of you may know and all of you will have noticed, new members receive a request from John for a photograph of themselves with their Spridget. Often John only receives images of the cars but to me it’s exciting when then they come through.One reason for my excitement is that I can gauge how well the club is doing. Another is that I know that each one of these cars represents much needed income for the club as well as filling the various areas with new members. The main reason though, is just the sheer pleasure of seeing different Spridgets and their owners. I always get excited

looking at photos of Midgets and Sprites. I just can’t help it!Because of the unbelievable level of new members who joined at the Club’s stand in November at the NEC Classic Cars Show. This month’s section could literally fill a quarter of the magazine, and it is for this reason that I have decided to split the New Members pages to run over two (and possibly three) editions of MASCOT. So apologies to those of you whose name is on the list below but whose car hasn’t appeared in the magazine this month. It will be in next month’s magazine.Welcome to the Midget & Sprite Club.

Gary

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Andy Gibson’s Mk3 MidgetAndy’s Ashley Midget

Justin & Emma Rawson’s Mk3 Sprite

Rose O’Donovan and her Midget from Co Cork. The cup was for the best sport car and the plaque for best sport car. The trophy was for second best of show all in 2009. Guy Newton with his Mk4 Sprite

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Ray Hoffmeister’s Mk1 Sprite

Tim Holdsworth’s RWA Mk3 Midget

Roger Palmer-Clark’s Mk3 Midget with Grace and Elliott in the car. William by the winch with Roger’s father, also a Roger.

The Midget of Frank McCallion from Co Tyrone

Peter Morrow from Lurgan and his Mk3 Midget then and now

Gary Hendon’s 1500 Midget

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In this 6th and final part (as I’m not sure how much longer I could have dragged it out) of this series of articles on celluloid

Spridgets, I’ve thrown together those cars which for whatever reason didn’t make it into the previous five episodes. Once again, most are from British films or television series but as you will see, a North American offering has slipped in at the last moment.

“Monty Python’s Flying Circus” 1969-1974

I don’t really want to write too much about Monty Python and I could probably fill every page of a year’s worth of MASCOT and still only just scratch the surface. Needless to say, love it or hate it. Almost everyone reading this will have heard of it. Staring Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam and John Cleese, it ran for 46 episodes plus a number of films, LPs and live performances. It’s not the place that you’d logically expect to see our Spridgets, but they were there if you looked for them. Here you can see an orange Midget in a scene from the 1971 Python film “And

Now for Something Completely Different”. Which, if memory serves me well, featured some kind of Olympics for twits (though I will no doubt stand to be corrected).The second Python Midget to be spotted (possibly a MkII) can be seen being driven by a cat? While pursued by a dog driving an E Type Jaguar! Not something you see every day and this example sums up quite well how surreal some of the sketches in the series could be.

Carry on Loving (1970)The plot summary on the Internet Movie database describes the film as follows: “The Wedded Bliss computer dating agency aims to bring together the lonely hearts of Much-Snoggin-in-the-Green. Its owner, Sidney Bliss, has enough complications in his own love life, but still produces a pamphlet called “The Wit to Woo”. The strange collection of hopefuls lead to some outlandish matches, and jealousies are bound to lead to trouble”. Either way, it features a what I believe to be a white Midget MkII pulling up and parking behind a blue Mini. The film stared most of the usual “Carry on” regulars including Sid James

Spridgets on the Big (and little) ScreenPart 6 – Odds and Ends (including blink and you’ll miss it)

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as Sidney Bliss, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Hattie Jacques and Terry Scott.Under the heading “Blink and you’ll miss it”, the following Spridgets appeared simply in passing shots or perhaps we can be generous and call them “cameo roles”. Here are a selection from more serious films and television series.

A couple of Science Fiction films both directed by Terence Fisher feature glimpses of Spridgets. A White square bodied MkIII Sprite from the 1967 Science Fiction film “Night of the Big Heat” staring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.And a MkII Sprite with a very nice Donald Healey hard top in the very jolly named 1965 film Earth Dies Screaming. An early Zombie film. Does anyone recognise the names of any of the cast? Willard Parker – Jeff Nolan, Virginia Field – Peggy Taggett, Dennis Price – Quinn Taggett, Vanda Godsell – Violet Courtland, Thorley Walters – Edgar Otis, David Spenser – Mel, Anna Palk – Lorna. You’ve got to love the poster.

continued on page 16

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These original ‘try out’ sample sketches by Roy Cross used ink, gauche and grey lead pencil, for the Airfix Austin Healey

Sprite kit. These were drawn before any colour work drawings and were designed to fine tune what would look good on the final box artwork. One of the sketches is clearly marked “NO” on the top right hand corner and was not used for the final artwork. The other clearly states “This One”.The two sketches were used as samples for the header card artwork of the Airfix kit. One of them is the final one chosen and that would have gone on to have some colour sketches made before final artwork was prepared. Most of the final artworks was thrown out by Airfix years ago, so very little survives. These sketches are from Roy Cross himself who was the main artist for Airfix in the late ’50s to mid ’60s. The final artwork is much bigger than the kit headers and is shrunk down quite a lot so the detail looks better. These sketches are about the same size as a header bag kit would have been.This original artwork by Roy Cross is currently up for sale on eBay. The seller, Greg Diffen has kindly allowed MASCOT to reproduce them.

Gary

Seen on eBay

Original Header Card Artworkfor the Airfix Mk1 Sprite Kit

The discarded artwork for the Sprite kit

The accepted sketch

As it appeared on the early header card

The same image on the later boxed kit

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Hi. I’m John Clark and for my sins I now deal with Trade Advertising for MASCOT. Not that I am that good with computers

and formatting. Give me a set of spanners and an oily rag anytime. Anyway taking on this job gives Gary more time to put MASCOT magazine together and still have some family life.My Frogeye took me into its life in 1972 (although I was on the verge of buying a new Midget in ‘71). The Frog was on the verge of being life extinct though, but we finally got on the road in 1999. I joined the Austin Healey Club early on, but did not get a lot out of that, and gave that up (thinks – perhaps I did not put enough in to that so could not really expect to get much out). Anyway, a while back we were lured into MASC (Kent and the SE) and we haven’t looked back, getting

well and truly involved. So this is where that thought applies now. We have a splendid Club Magazine to back a friendly and active Club. All the Club Officers freely give their time to make the Club what it is but MASCOT costs money. The vast proportion of our membership fees go towards its production and Trade advertising does contribute. If you are like me, I always thumb through the back pages of any classic car magazine to find what I need (or what I did not realise that I needed!) This goes for MASCOT too. So what do you want to see in our Magazine? We are obviously specialised in our interests so advertisers need to have our interests at heart. I am always on the lookout for new advertisers with Spridget products to promote. I am trying to think of new ideas and formats which may be attractive to advertisers in these difficult times. Would Specialist Trade classified ads be useful to you? Could we attract more dealer adverts or attract non member adverts for car sales or wants. You may know of a potential advertiser out there who might be tempted to advertise nationally. Let me know.

John, Member 3583

To advertise in MASCOT please contact me by phone or email:Tel: 01227 368 638Mobile: 07971 153 556Email: [email protected]

**** PS PLEASE REMEMBER TO MENTION MASCOT WHEN RESPONDING TO

ADVERTISERS – IT HELPS THEM AND US.

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The Frog and I

16

The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963)

In this British comedy staring Peter Sellers, Lionel Jeffries, Nanette Newman and Bernard Cribbins. The story goes that the crooks in London know how it works. No one carries guns and no one resists the police. Then a

new gang appears that go one better. They dress as police and steal from the crooks. This upsets the natural order of the police/criminal relationship and the police and the crooks join forces to catch the IPOs (Impersonating Police Officers), including an armoured car robbery in which the police must help the gangs to set a trap. In the final car chase a very nice MkII Sprite driven by Nanette Newman leads the Police via a short cut, to head off the gang at an airfield. There is some very spirited driving with not only the Sprite but also this Aston Martin DB4 being driven (flown) within an inch of its life.This last offering features a Mk1 Sprite from the USA.

The Wonder Years (1988–1993)Kevin Arnold played by Fred Savage, recalls growing up during the late 1960s and 1970s. The show focuses on Kevin, a young teenager living in a quiet middle-class American suburb. Throughout the series’ 5-year run, Kevin deals with middle and high school, encounters puberty, has ups and downs with childhood sweetheart and deals with his annoying older brother Wayne. In this episode “Grandpa’s Car” Grandpa Arnold has trouble driving, but refuses to listen to anyone’s concerns. When

Kevin agrees to accompany Grandpa back home, their road trip takes some unexpected turns.I hope that you’ve enjoyed this series featuring Spridgets on the Big (and little) Screen. I’ve enjoyed researching it and my thanks and credit goes to the IMCDB (Internet Movie Cars Database) and the IMDB (Internet Movies Database) as well as the many official and unofficial websites run by fans of these films and television programmes.

Gary

Spridgets on the Big (and little) Screen continued

17

Tom Coulthard (co-author of the simply wonderful Spritely Years) drolly referred to these ramblings as a “spritography”.

It continues thus. I’m still on a Frog hunt – went after a car in Hampshire (originally sold by Lancaster Cars of Surbiton – some three miles from where I live) – lovely chat with the owner – (542 XUB age related) this was the actual car that Keith Brading used to pull the mould from when he set up the IoW Frogeye company (or was it? To be continued). Bodywork rebuilt by Dave Grove and absolutely stunning, far too good for a scruff like me. The car looked about 6 months old – all clean and shiny under the wheel arches, cor. On the downside it was a 948 with falling oil pressure – a rebuilt engine didn’t extend to the main bearings! The gearbox synchro

into second was on the way out and annual mileage was so low that the head wasn’t unleaded, just used additives. Anyway, I’d ruin a car like that, it would be filthy in a month (and stay that way – the editor’s car’s three washes a year sounds like gurly pampering to me). I need something a bit more quirky.Regular readers (thank you Mrs Trellis from North Wales) have asked for further information on the supercharged Frog mentioned hitherto. In a curious example of serendipity, MASC member John, selling a drop dead gorgeous Frog, went to the very auction and described the car as, well, let’s not go into that. Sufficient to say that it needed work. Lots of work!Life on the car search is beginning to blur, thus here we have a shot of XDL 599 – a car I looked at but have lost track of when! The registration nagged me, I’d seen it before, but where? Contemplating life in the smallest room, I was idly flicking through a copy of Clausager when the registration jumped off the page. Checked with the DVLA website, car still exists. Now, a million years ago when the world was younger and so was I, a hookey visit was paid to the Isle of Wight. I was changing jobs and just needed a breath of fresh air so I took myself off to the IoW for the day. As you do. It was January and the

XDL599 as it appeared on the cover of Classic and Sportscar December 1990

Spridgets I have Owned –Part the Fourth, Frogwatching ‘r’ Us

18

IoW was closed. Well, most of it was closed. I visited the Frogeye car company and can only assume that the car they were building on that particular day was XDL 599 as I have no recollection of ever being offered the car and, let’s face it, IoW Frogs aren’t thick on the ground. Of course, if anyone out there knows differently, and recognises their garage – when did I visit? Did I behave?

Sprite recollections, number 476in a seriesAmongst the many sins we perpetrated on the humble Frogeye back in the ’70s (wide wheels, flared arches, very low suspension etc) one of the most obvious was the ‘dodgy paint job’. My chum Guy had coveted my BRG Frog and was on the lookout for his own set of wheels. Came the ‘phonecall, came the man. He’d seen one languishing in a front garden, queried whether a sale was in order and been quoted a price of £35. Since the car wouldn’t start (an alleged dodgy starter motor although one was proffered with the deal) the princely sum of £30 actually changed hands. I turned up to be the mug in the car to be towed by Guy in his company car (MkIII Escort, those were the days). Anyway, the Frog was purple, make that PURPLE, with a white leather interior (I believe they refer to this sort of vehicle, in the motor trade, as a California car!). I hopped in, we set off. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to give the lubricants a spin (all the engineers reading this are now having forty

fits) so stuck the old girl in top and let in the clutch. Interesting popping sounds emerged so I switched her on, fifty yards of coughing and banging (with an anxious Guy peering in his rear view mirror) and she exploded into life. Kept the revs up and we swung into his block of flats. Switched off, wouldn’t restart. Rocked her backward in gear, to no avail. Looked at the ‘replacement’ starter motor, hey, why not, worth a try. Whipped out the distributor (if you remove both the 7/16th bolts you don’t lose the timing) swapped the starters, hooked up the electrics again and (fingers firmly crossed) turned the key. Started beautifully. Now, truth be told, and possibly not that much of a shock to most of you, she needed a lot more than that for an MOT and Guy ended up getting grief from the flat management agents about this purple shed (untaxed etc) that was something of an eyesore to the other residents. He rang MotorBuild who came and had a shufti. “That’ll never start”, sayeth the MotorBuild man. “What’ll you pay if she does” said Guy – £50 came the reply. She burst into life on the button and drove out of his life. He sort of made amends some years later in the purchase of a very tidy RWA Midget but now drives an SLK, the big gurl (jealous, moi?). I’d love to think the Frog still exists (see dodgy polaroid somewhere hereabouts) but I doubt it! As usual, if you know differently….

Andy Duff

The famous MK III (dig out last month’s MASCOT for the full saga) and another shot of the car. (Picture of the car at Silverstone next to a chum’s full race engined Magnette)

19

WANTED Midgets and Sprites

Excellent prices paid for properly restored cars

Especially Frogeyes, Original or IOW Sprites and Heritage Shelled cars

Call Mike Authers Classics on Abingdon Tel: 01235-834-664

Mobile:07703 465224 or

www.mgmidgets.com

New Year’s Caption Competition

Since the season of giving is well and truly behind us and you are trying to recover

from the financial and emotional outlay of the preceding couple of weeks, I thought I’d lessen the burden and lighten the mood by including this year’s caption competition. By setting it in January, it will allow me to get over my disappointment at the poor responses early, rather than having to wait until later in the year!I will keep the prize a secret until I’ve chosen and announced a suitable winner. That’s assuming that I get more than two people responding.Here is my offering:“Everyone pretended to look at the engine bay rather than tell Alan that they’d just voted him in as South East Area Rep forever!”

20

In our family six people own several Austin Healeys between them. When I count them up it takes me an hour, in addition there

are also about 700 models which are in the collection. So we are definitely speaking as Healey-lovers, it’s in our genes. My father and uncles were always going together to Healey-events during the ’80s, As a young boy I was taken with them and became familiar with the beautiful shape of Donald Healey’s creations.When I was 15 years old I bought my first Austin Healey, an original Dutch Frogeye which is still awaiting restoration. I’m now 34 and really enjoy driving the different types of Healeys, Sprites and Big Healeys. But there is one rare Healey, a leaf green Sprite with a yellow stripe which belongs to my youngest brother. It’s a Sebring Sprite which he acquired from my uncle by making a respectful deal. My brother exchanged his restored primrose yellow Frogeye for a complete but totally unrestored historical Dutch racing Sprite which my uncle had owned for more than 20 years. “Keep the Sebring in the family” was the statement from my uncle. Not to get a lot of money, but to be close, to have the opportunity to see, smell, feel and drive the Sebring Sprite. He’s had the chance to enjoy this very rare Healey and has already driven it to Goodwood for the International Healey Weekend in 2008 and

during the 3rd European Healey Meeting at the Falkenberg circuit in Sweden. The Sebring Sprite had light damage to the front, the unique Alloy Speedwell Monza bonnet had to be brought back to the original shape which became the hardest part of the restoration. Although the Healey had been stored for the last 25 years, the Dutch weather in the sixties had caused some rust here and there.

A fast Sebring Sprite in Holland

John Healey, Robert Visser and Gerry Cooker at the Falkenberg Motobana during the 3rd European Healey Meeting in Sweden

A fast Sebring Sprite in Holland

21

All the rare parts on the project where there. It’s hard to believe but there were even some new unused ultra rare Girling brake discs which came with the Sprite. You can imagine my brother and I danced all night when we discovered them among all the parts. There was a strange French part which was a very small ignition lamp on the front of the bonnet. We thought both lamps were missing, but luckily we found one in the boot. Looking at the old photographs we couldn’t tell which type or brand this lamp was but having found that one solved a big problem.My brother took various paint samples from the car. These were identified so that we could keep them with the history files of the Sprite. We decided to bring the Sebring Sprite back to the colours leaf green with a yellow stripe, which it carried during the period 1960/1961. These were also the famous racing colours from the well-known former owner and Racing Driver Tonio Hildebrand who had a garage called “De Pits” in Amsterdam. Tonio Hildebrand was a good friend of John Sprinzel at the time, so they must have had a lot of

fun. This relationship resulted in John Sprinzel delivering the alloy Monza bonnet and later Speedwell built the Sprite to Sebring Sprite homologation.After the full restoration we were really happy to be invited to celebrate 50 years of the Austin Healey Sprite at Goodwood and Gaydon in 2007. When bringing this interesting Historic Sprite to events, we were made to feel very welcome by the Healey enthusiasts and the Sprite received a warm response.On the Goodwood circuit and the famous Hillclimb at Goodwood House were able to test the Sprite for the first time. The results were absolute fantastic, the balanced and highly tuned 998cc engine worked beyond our expectation, the streamlined bonnet and hardtop must have done their work also, because the Sebring Sprite could easily keep up with the bigger engined Special Sprites. After the Historic Healey-display at Healey Meets Le Mans 2008 we went to the 3rd European Healey Meeting in Sweden to give the Sebring Sprite a full speed test on the Falkenberg Motobana. I was driving our yellow

RAC west Autosprints zandvoort 23 April 1962

22

rally Sprite with 1380cc and lots of adrenaline but couldn’t keep up with my brother in the Sebring Sprite. The fast cornering he was able to do with the Sebring and its high top speed on the straight of 160kmph were enough to keep me (with winter tyres) behind. The Sebring Sprite is really well balanced. The stronger front and the adjustable rear shock absorbers work very well, combined with the Speedwell anti-roll bar. It’s great to see the fast cornering, to inhale the smell from the Avon’s and it’s exhaust-octane, even when you are driving behind in a rally Sprite with a much bigger engine. The Sebring Sprite is alive again, and how!!!I’m excited, my brother is not at home; the Sebring keys are laying on the table ... That’s reasons enough to stop writing and start-up the engine.You’ll see us next time again on a circuit or during a Healey event, we’re looking forward to meeting you!!

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A brief history of Austin Healey Sebring Sprite DD-55-63The Austin Healey Sebring Sprite (AN5-L/3182) was manufactured in July 1958 and immediately shipped to Stokvis at Rotterdam. Originally the Mk1 Austin Healey Sprite was old English white with a red interior. The Sprite was an early production car which was strengthened with additional plates welded into the rear bodywork. In early 1960 Tonio Hildebrand bought the Sprite and sent it to Speedwell in London (John Sprinzel) for an aluminium Monza bonnet, Ashley (Mk1) fibreglass hardtop, aluminium doors and suspension modifications. The Sprite was painted leaf green with a central yellow stripe. The car then went to Downton Engineering (Salisbury) for a competition engine. Hildebrand made a deal with Speedwell and Downtown to use the Sprite to promote their performance products.On 22nd May Ies Langestraat loaned the Speedwell Sprite to compete in a national sporstcar race at Zandvoort. On the tenth lap whilst in the leading group of three cars, Langestraat rolled the car whilst exiting “Bush” destroying the hardtop, luckily only causing light damage to the bonnet and panels. Following the crash the Sprite was repaired locally, and in June competed in the SLS rally finishing tenth overall.

Prior to the start of the 1961 racing season the Speedwell Sprite was air freighted back to Speedwell were it was prepared to Sebring Sprite homologation. The Sebring Sprite was primarily raced at national level race meetings during 1961 at Zandvoort. The Sebring Sprite was also used by Mr. Maus Gatsonides in conjunction with the Zandvoort police to test his early speed cameras (Gatso meter).In 1962 Mr. Wim Booker bought the car and campaigned it very successfully in hillclimb and sprint meetings recording many class victories in the sportscar class up to 1000 cc. Mr. Booker repainted the car in “his” racing colours of red with a white central stripe.In 1964 Mr. Jan Kanters purchased the Sebring Sprite, racing for the final time at Zandvoort; then selling it later that year to Mr. Dirk Kuiper.Mr. Kuiper used the car as a road car until 1969 and sold it. The car was repainted in old English white. In 1972 the Sebring Sprite had a road accident which damaged the left front side, was bought by Klaas van Dijk. In 1983 it was purchased by Mr. Guus Visser (the uncle of Robert Visser) who planned to do a full restoration.At the end of 2004 Robert Visser acquired the Sprite and completed a full restoration returning it to the Sebring Sprite specification as prepared by Speedwell in 1961.

Happy Healeying and Spriteley greetings,Ivo Visser

The Netherlands1962 Dutch Rally, Haarlem

Maurice Gatsonides used the Sebring Sprite for testing the Gatsometer with help from the

Zandvoort police.

24

While helping to man the Midget & Club Stand at the Classic Car Show at the NEC in November, I was approached

by Peter Parsons who asked if it would be possible to trace his old Mk1 Midget. Peter has subsequently written to me saying:“My MG Midget of 1962 was a present from my father for my 21st Birthday, don’t laugh, April the 1st. Registration number 21 XBH. I wonder if it’s still around. Perhaps you might be able to trace it?P.s. I became engaged to the young lady in the picture but we did not marry!”Peter mentioned that the car was used regularly to travel long distances around the country. 21 XBH was sold about three years later when he went to work in Switzerland, but not before the Midget was fitted with a replacement Gold Seal engine (due to an oversight concerning a lack of oil).I’ve done a quick search for the car but have so far drawn a blank and it may be that such a nice registration number was later transferred. Does it ring any bells with you?Mike Howlett has also contacted me regarding his old Midget. He writes:Here is a poor quality picture (it was a slide and I don’t have a proper slide scanner) taken

in about 1972 and here is a potted history.During the years 1971 to 1973 (I think) I owned a 1964 MG Midget registered number AKO 310B. This car was a delight to use and came to me with flared rear wheel arches and wider steel wheels. It was painted the unusual colour Basilica Blue and had a red hood. In this car I courted the girl who became, and still is, my wife. Whilst idly looking at the DVLA website, I put the car’s number in the search box and found that it is still being used. I wonder if any readers know this car? I would love to have some information about it after all these years.Mike Howlett, now in Troon, Scotland, but who lived in Surrey back then.

If you any information on either of these two cars, please contact the editor: [email protected] or on 020 7700 5696.If you have an ex-Spridget which you’d like to ask about, or own a current one which has gaps in its history. Perhaps we can help by featuring it in the pages of MASCOT.

Gary

Where Are They Now

Peter’s 1961 Midget

Mike’s Midget AKO310B

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This time of the year is usually a bit quiet with regard to Spridgets. People either seem to be refreshing their cars, for next

year, or hiding in the warmth of their home as far away as possible from the cold of their garages. So for something a little different here is something to consider looking out for when next the Spridget sees the light of day. It is aimed at those members living in counties, surrounding London, on the edge of the Metropolitan Police District.In days of old when knights were bold coal was brought, to London, by sea and river and duties were levied at unloading. Then railways and canals changed all of that so an alternative means had to be brought in to collect duties. Eventually in 1851 the London Coal Duties Act 14 & 15 Vict Cap 146 saw the placement of boundary marks set at 20 miles from the G.P.O. in London wherever railway, canal, or road crossed the 20 mile limit. At this point coal coming into London was duty payable. Apparently a refund was obtainable if the coal went the other way! Then in 1861 the area for collection of Coal duties was amended by the Coal & Wine Duties Continuance Act 24 & 25 Vict Cap

42 to coincide with that of the Metropolitan Police District. The boundary marks were moved to the new boundary and new types of posts, plaques, and obelisks were added.The ACT 24 & 25 means the posts were set up following the Act of Parliament in the 24th and 25th year of the reign of Queen Victoria and the Cap 42 refers to Chapter 42 of that Act and this legal reference can, usually, be found upon the marker. These days the markers are maintained by the local council. The photograph shows one of the more common, bollard, types to be found at the roadside. Do you have an alternative form near you? A full list of Coal and Wine Markers (with some images) can be found online at:www.rhaworth.myby.co.uk/coalwine/postlist.htm

Alan AnsteadKent / Surrey Area Rep.

Mail to: [email protected]

Coal Tax Markers

Lisa Anstead leaning against a coal tax marker

No byway was too small to evade the liability for coal tax. This post is on a footpath in Wormley Wood, Hertfordshire

26

TheTransmission

SpecialistSprite & Big Healey:

Gearboxes, Diffs

and Overdrives

Supplied or fitted

Customers own units repaired

Straight Cut gears and LSD’s in stock

Est 1969

Tel: 01372 378927

www.hardy engineering.co.uk

268 Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7QA

Hardy Engineering

27

On our club outing to the Tilford Country show back in the summer, a letter was placed on my windscreen inviting me to

phone a BBC researcher if I was interested in taking part in a TV programme that was being filmed later in the year. The result of this was that at crack of dawn on Monday 19th October I set of for Margate! (Chalfont St Giles) to take part in the filming of a pre-quel to Only Fools and Horses called ‘Sex, Drugs & Rock’n’Chips’. It is set in 1960, (hence the interest in the car) written by John Sullivan and starring Nicholas Lyndhurst as Rodney’s Dad! I arrived to join a pink and white Vauxhall Cresta and a 1957 Triumph Standard Eight among others, in a car park opposite the village green, shortly followed by a 1956 SB Bedford Duple Vega (37 seater) coach. The story line was that the Jolly Boys were on a day trip to Margate which explained the signs in the Coach window, Margate or Bust and Jolly Boys Outing.The morning was spent waiting around in the cold and damp comparing restoration

notes with other owners. Cars were being called as and when until finally it was my turn I was handed a walkie-talkie and asked to follow instructions and position myself at the bottom of the hill leading out of the village. On cue I would drive up the hill (not hanging about!) but to be cautious of the Coach coming down the hill at speed. Whilst I was waiting for my cue one of the crew was busily covering up the double yellow lines

with leaves. The road was duly closed off to ‘modern’ vehicles by ‘Stop’n’Go’ boards and I began my twenty seconds of fame. Unfortunately the sequence had to be retaken as I had passed the coach out of shot – well he did say ‘don’t hang about’, the Coach and I returned to our starting position for the retake, this time I was cued a little later and all went according to plan!

CushtyCushty

The Jolly Boys

More legroom than I thought!

Are we there yet?

28

It was lunchtime, so I took the opportunity to walk into the village. What a transformation! The village green had been decked out with bunting, an old fashioned red GPO pillar box was being wheeled about on a sack barrow and some of the shop fronts had been changed to display different products. After lunch myself, the Standard Eight and the Coach plus other support vehicles, drove off into the country lanes for filming from inside the coach, so as to see period vehicles outside the coach windows. I was later told by one of the Jolly Boys that they were singing Cumberland Gap and My Old Man’s a Dustman.Early afternoon we were taken to an old country estate somewhere in the area (by now I was totally confused as to which way was up!). This was the base for numerous large vehicles making up the production offices, dressing rooms, make up etc and yes, yes, yes a canteen. To my delight hot food was on offer, turkey and ham pie plus many other goodies from the caterers ‘Fill Yer Boots’. I did get to see Nicholas Lyndhurst

briefly, looking a lot older than when he was not his dad! (Can’t quite get my head around that one!). We were then signed off. The crew were going to Aylesbury to continue filming till 10.30 that night. One of the Jolly Boys asked if I could give him a ride in my Frogeye, which I did in return for a photo (see above with coach and Frogeye). He commented on how much legroom there was even though it was a bit of a squeeze for him to get out. Barry the Standard Eight owner from Aldershot and I from Bracknell both returned home following each other on the M25 and M3 before going our separate ways.I will look forward to seeing this on TV sometime in 2010 – that’s if my bit does not end up on the cutting room floor. It certainly was an experience I will never forget. I had never imagined how much hard work and forward planning goes into making such a programme.

Barry Green (Hampshire Chapter)www.midgetandsprite-hampshire.info

NW Area Report

On 6th December we had 3 cars taking part in the Christmas Cracker Run organised by MG Cumbria and

the Wigton Motor Club. This is a 70 mile run around north Cumbria taking in some fantastic roads. Due to the horrendous weather that area has seen recently it’s a wonder the event took part at all, but it is thanks to the efforts organisers that this was once again a very successful day. Apparently the route was rewritten three times to accommodate the changing conditions.The event is open to anybody and therefore attracts is a vast array of cars ranging from pre-war Bentley’s to modern day cars.From the NW area of the Midget and Sprite club there was myself and Diane, Mike and Karen plus Neil and Shelly. Neil was in his MGB GT, I know but what can you do. We’ve tried talking to him, we’ve even tried to ignore him but it’s no use he just doesn’t understand.At lunch, Mike and Neil were talking about MGB GTs and Mike said that his should be on the road just after Christmas; terrifying news.

With these two and Ian this is starting to form a very worrying trend.For the December club night we went to Manchester for our Christmas do. Neil very kindly offered to organise the meal, at Donmarco Italian restaurant. Diane suggested that before the meal we should all meet up for a cocktail at the Hilton ‘Cloud 23’ bar. As the name suggests this is on the 23rd floor and has fantastic panoramic views over Manchester. Bernie is now seeking counselling after paying for a cocktail for Lynne! ‘What, they don’t serve real ale?’ asked Bernie. No, it’s a cocktail bar. I do wonder at times!This was a really good night so thanks again to Neil and Diane – its something we should definitely do again next year.So that’s another year of club events done with, and now we are starting to plan for next.In the meantime what were doing with the cars over Christmas? Bernie was well on with his 5-speed conversion – he certainly doesn’t waste any time. Neil needs to sort

29

Les and Dianne’s Sprite next to a Renault Floride Caravelle

out his Frogeye bonnet but was probably too busy polishing his MGB, I do despair at times! Mike was hoping to get his MGB GT on the road. Oh dear oh dear – what is it with these cars? Andrew has hopefully sorted his head gasket problem; he just needs to get some miles on the car to make sure its ok. Ian, well I believe he was planning to spend Christmas day in the garage trying to work out how the hood comes down! Rob needs to get Janet’s Frogeye back on the road. He has got the new gearbox and clutch fitted and the engine is ‘loosely’ fitted in place. He also wants to replace the rear springs. This car has been off the road for ages but now Janet is nagging him to get it sorted, in time for our Wales weekend in March. So come on Rob, for heavens sake get your finger out and get on with it man.As for me, I should have started my 5-speed conversion although I seem to recall I said the same thing last year – the gearbox has been sat ready on my bench for 18 months! Plus I’m changing the cam and fitting a LCB manifold. There are also lots of little jobs to get done.So a busy Christmas for most of us.That’s all for now, see you at the Kilton on 13th January.

LesPhotos courtesy of Mike Bennett

1926 Bentley Speed 6

Karen with the Frogeye on the Christmas Cracker Run

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Just five Mascateers made it to our final meeting of 2009 at the Rose and Crown at Pucklechurch. Happily, four arrived

in softly hooded vehicles whilst our General Secretary really let the side down by arriving in his cubicle tin top. Ok, to be perfectly honest, it was only Andy Cross who actually arrived in a Spridgley thing, the rest of us in such unmentionables as a Z4, Lotus Elise and Pseudo Elise. Actually, full marks to Andy as he had used his Sprite Mk11 all day for a business trip to Gaydon from Box near Bath, taking in our gathering on the return trip home. Andy did reveal the name of the ‘manufacturer’ to be relaunched without the threat of death this time. However, this is still on the ‘Sound thrashing’ list so I will keep silent for now until it is reduced to a mild

smack on the wrist list. By which time you will probably know anyway.The much talked about sale of Alan Lo’s Midget Mk1, rumoured to be to Richard Hammond, is still pending. The meeting agreed that it was unlikely that Mr Hammond could ever obtain insurance for such a famous car – or reach the pedals.Anorak corner severely attacked Alan Anstead’s article in the December edition for a grossly mis-leading image. This referring to the ‘CLUTCH’ pedal re-bushing. Clearly, this was a ‘BRAKE’ pedal as it had no stop bar to prevent over declutching. Beware Alan, the Bristol Anoraks will be watching you very closely in future.You all remember the story why BL stopped producing holed spoke steering wheels for our Spridgley things in the early 1970’s. No? Well it was because some daft individuals got their digit stuck in a hole. Quite why anyone should stick their finger in a steering wheel spoke hole will of course delude the sensible amongst us. The sensible of us in the Bristol group listened intently as Alan explained how, why and how much it hurt! This could have opened up a whole new topic upon unusual places the rest of have stuck our fingers – but we will save that for another time.So from Bristol, here is to a Happy New Year and some sunshine.

Terry Horler

Bristol Area Report

The closest I could find to a Hamster in a Midget. Ed

Andy Cross’s well travelled Sprite

31

while watching the racing. They had thought of everything, comfort, food, drink, exciting racing (made even more interesting by having a little flutter), attendants to explain the form and how to bet, and to carry our excess money away at the end of each race. It was a lot of fun for a wet Friday night and a very pleasant way to spend a winter evening with a great bunch of people. I even had the unique experience of making a small profit on the evening.Getting back to the here and now, bearing in mind I am writing this pre Christmas and it is now early January and we have got rid of what turned out to be a pretty dismal 2009. The recession really started to bite, we had floods and disasters not to mention my Sprite being off the road for much of the summer, but I have a good feeling about 2010. 2010 is going to be a brilliant year as we start to see the upturn and everything gets sorted out, so get out there in your Spridget and take advantage of global warming while you can. See you all at the Mad Cat and beyond

Dave Dixon

Not much going on this time of year relating to Spridgetly things however what we in the angular corner of the

east do this time of year is to run a few events that don’t involve getting the cars wet, but help hone our Spridget related skills, first up was Pidley bowling (designed to help with hand eye coordination, judgement and humiliation), this took place in the lakeside development at Pidley, very cosy and great fun. I started the proceedings off with a series of consecutive strikes before handing over my bowling magic button to Fred who went on to clock up an enviable score and become our overall winner. The dark horse of the evening was Pat (who despite having some wrist problems and some strong competition) managed to clock up the highest female score of the evening.After the bowling we adjourned to the Mad Cat inn, for a post mortem on the bowling and a very pleasant meal, we had a small issue squeezing everyone in since on the night we were slightly oversubscribed, but all was well in the end. We even managed a tin top MG in the car park (well done Fred) everyone had a very enjoyable well rounded evening, thanks are due to Nigel & Diane for organising it. Next MASC went to the dogs in Peterborough, this was to hone our judgement and money disappearing skills (a vital bit of training for classic car owners). Hubie and Sally had organised this one right in the middle of moving house so very well done guys. This was a very civilised evening, we were seated at tables overlooking the dog track and served drinks and a very good value meal

East Anglian Report

Remembering sunnier times at Silverstone last summer

32

MASC at the Silverstone Classic 2010

An event not to be missed for all classic car lovers. Three days of classic racing with cars from the twenties to the eighties, not only can you see these cars raced competitively with no quarter given with regard to their value, you can also get up close and personal

to them in the pit garages.If this is not enough there are classic stands of most car clubs including of course the Midget and Sprite club with its display of member’s cars, yours included if you come along. There is also a large number of autojumble and trade stands.A classic fair ground with rides you will remember from your childhood. Then in the skies above there are aerobatic displays and hot air balloons, plus vintage aircraft flying in for the day.If by the evening you are not totally exhausted you can take in a rock concert (included in the ticket price). Last year’s concerts were Friday: Pussycat Dolls and Blue; Saturday: Santana. This year’s line up is yet to be named.So do give it a try, you will not be disappointed, great value at the 2 for 1 price.Cheers

Hubie

See page 31 for last year’s MASC Club Stand.

2 for 1 ticket price is: until 31 March 2010 until 30 June 2010 early bird advancedFriday £20 £25Saturday £30 £35Sunday £30 £353-Day £70 £80Club order code: SC10MSC

Ticket sales office now open! Club members must have their car club display car registration availble when booking. Ticket prices include evening concerts.Tel: 0871 231 0849Or on line via: www.silverstoneclassic.comNOTE car club ticket sales finish 30 June 2010For further details of MASC at the Silverstone Classic, Please contact meTel: 01733 212722Email: [email protected]

Simon Clegg’s Sebring Sprite in the

paddock in 2009

33

On my leaving, the last thing Tim Hicking of Whitby said to me was ‘I don’t suppose we’ll see each other again this

side of heaven.’ I agreed. You almost expect that kind of thing from a Lifeboat supporter and helper. The eternal sea. Well, I’ve stolen an earth plane march on you Tim; for here I’m looking at you in December’s MASCOT with your dug and the magnificent Frogeye you always promised yourself. Never figured on that one, Tim! All round nice.Tim’s principle pleasure in his car, is to look at it. I told the companions that at a natter after our longest day run to Whitby in June. It’s about beauty. They didn’t get it, but I did; even although our car was always and is a carpetless worker in the rain. And the rain and yet more rain; although there was a near sickener on a run last April, after which I got holes bored in the floor.I would like to thank Tim for all the help he gave in the planning of our run. Like me, he’s a detailist: well, I am sometimes. In the event, I was the only one to be pleased to take his assistance with parking in parking-is-no-fun- Whitby. I think this was because everyone else was a strong minded post-Thatcherite for whom little is a difficulty. What a marvellous way to go through life. Well, I presume it is, as I wade through uncertainties.I must also very much thank Anita and Yorkshire and Les and Diane and their quiescent bolshies, and of course, all the chums from Scotland, for their great support.The journey to Whitby was made on my own because Linda was studying for a new job which she didn’t get: a great pity because she would have got away from Glen Ford’s ‘Blackboard Jungle’ scenario. Know what I mean? I expect someone must love those

little ba-bas. ‘Naw. I’m no dain that. My maw disnnae like you. I’m fur hame you, yous and yer stupit school. So, there!’ Thank you little modernist loveable little lad.Linda and I and the dug made a recce to Tim’s in April and Linda took route notes throughout. Never the less, I got the Midget rigged for Sput- Nav [sputniks came first]. Without this terrific device, I never would have made it solo.Bob and Lorraine and Betty and John and me [no dug] were setting off together from Bothwell. The day before at the toil, had been a real baddie. I was exhausted. Bob ‘the bullet’ shot off with John ably pursuing. Secretly, Bob thought I was going to turn right there at the start and go home. Oh, no! Not without trying. I got 90 miles down the road to Gretna and had to pull over for a rest. Unfortunately, the Midget had a steering wobble which meant I was mostly driving at 48mph, beneath the wobble and shake. So, it was slow and on my own; thank goodness for Sput-Nav, I kid you not. I’d had had four shots at getting the wheels balanced etc. before the trip. All hopeless. It was only subsequently that my Citroen specialist pronounced that a new wire wheel was needed; although, with skill, he has nearly fixed the problem, temporarily.I’ve more than used the word count, so this will need to be a serial from 2009, if tolerable.Although we have a digital camera, I don’t take photos anymore; and this, as an example of age retardation, may or may not form some chat about Area Reps being asked, preferably by themselves, to let it go, when they become 65.

Carson and chums

Scotland Report – Well done Tim!

The Dug taken by Doug

34

Thank goodness it’s stopped raining. I’ve blasted through floods, mud and fog, fallen trees and rain, rain, rain and

more this month. I’ve resorted to taking the poor Sprite out every few days only to shake the pints of water out of the brake drums, foot-wells, bonnet and sills, where it seems to accumulate when left static on the drive (Garage occupied, again). I’ve made a few longer runs for work too, up to the Midlands, getting the cockpit as cosy as rattling side-screens allow. It helps when you can see out, though. If you spot a wiper on the Fosse Way, it’s mine. I had to miss the October meeting at the Barge Inn, and Colin and Janet Biles stood in, entertaining all the others. Well, chatting amongst themselves, it seems, as my absence seemed to prompt everyone else to stay home in the dry. In contrast, we had a good turnout at the November meeting including new members Dave and Jill Hansford. I thought at first they were double Healey owners, but no, their Sprite is an Austin-not-Healey version, but they also have a Big Healey having an engine rebuild

at the moment. Living just up the road from the Barge, Jill has started driving the Sprite and seems to love it. Thanks for a very entertaining evening both of you; I’m glad we met you, and look forward to brighter days in the Spring. It was also great to see the North Wilts contingent, and all the rest, and a lively crowd it was.As some may know, living on the edge of Wiltshire, I occasionally fall off into Bristol. So I have to firmly deny everything Terry may say about our Pucklechurch meeting this month. Or previous months. It’s all fiction. And my wife makes and fires ceramics, she would like me to point out, so references to her jugs must always be taken in context.At this time of year, as well as trying to prepare for Christmas, (new side-screen Perspexes please, Santa! Oh, and a windscreen wiper) I look forward to next year’s race shows; first the Autosport Show at the NEC, and then the Historic Motorsport Show or Race Retro as it is now called, at Stoneleigh. I’ll be at the Autosport Show on the Friday, so if anyone else is there or planning to go from the Wilts/Bristol area, please get in touch. I’m also planning on doing the London Bridges, which was bloomin’ cold, but an excellent run, a great Spridget snake smoking round The Thames last year. So I will probably see a few of you there. Now I’m waiting for the snow to start. Has anyone tried those in-car electric blanket thingies? All the best and Happy Christmas!

Andy CrossTel: 01225 743 554

Email: [email protected]

Wiltshire Weather Report

Wiltshire Weather Report

Dave and Jill Hansford arrive

in their Sprite

35

Heavy rain, flooding, plague and pestilence – o.k. maybe the last two are a slight over exaggeration but it

has not been very good week weather wise and there was much standing water around, and about, so I was pleased to see the few people that did make the effort to attend the last monthly meet of the year. Remember that there is no monthly meet in Kent (or Surrey) except for the Christmas meal shared with Sussex on 15th December. Mel & Barb and Peter Gardiner both came, despite the poor conditions, in there respective 1500 Midgets still contesting the annual championship for the person attending the Kent meet the most times in a Spridget. The rest of us, Paul & Jane Coveney and I, with no chance

of the title came without. Ron Edwards came bringing good news that his Midget, damaged in a collision on the Miglia Tour 09, has been returned to him, from Fishers Services at Sydenham, in fine fettle now with a total respray.In my last month’s write up about fitting hydraulic struts to the bonnet I said that my money was on Mel to be the first to follow and I was proven correct. A photo of his top mounting should appear together with his under bonnet view. There was little else to photograph this day.*** If anyone from Kent & Surrey Sections is not receiving my monthly reminder e-mails will they please let me know.

Classic Motor Show at NECI am sure that this end of season Classic Car Show will be written up by someone else, somewhere else, in MASCOT Magazine but I would like to take a couple of lines to thank John Platt (membership secretary) for organising the Club Stand and allowing me to spend a very enjoyable three days at the show alongside the other helpers on the stand. For a brief view of the show have a look at: http://www.myspace.com/necclassicmotorshow

Gary’s Frogeye photo collectionMany of you may not be aware that our Editor Gary has an ever increasing photo file of Frogeyes at:http://www.frogeye.fotopic.net/ If your car is not shown then send a photo to Gary at [email protected] Whilst mentioning Gary, in his capacity as Editor, what about submitting an article or two for the Magazine. One recent edition was filled seemingly almost with every article, save the Area Reports, written or sourced by Gary. It is a club magazine. Why join a club if you are not willing to join in. If you use him and abuse him we may all lose him and we don’t want that so come on all help him out? Sermon over!

Alan AnsteadArea Rep’ for Kent & Surrey

Mail to: [email protected] 01322-384050

Mel’s top strut mount

Under bonnet shot

Kent Meet

36

Apologies to Gary for not sending in a write-up last month, unfortunately it was a very quiet period from a vehicular point

of view both for our trips out and current projects ! Warwickshire had their focus centred around the Classic Car Show with John Platt, as ever, organising a very successful event for all of us. He had even managed to compile a report in time to get it into the magazine, in which he thanked every one for their help; however he is the one who deserves the thanks as without him and all his hard work it would not have possible.He is talking about next year’s event already and we as a group have also been considering what we would like to do in 2010. Sheila has (almost) volunteered to organise our first outing which has now become a tradition and will certainly involve some detailed planning and several “pre-runs”. It was agreed that we should arrange an ad-hoc drive in the quiet period between Xmas and the New Year, if the weather allows, to prevent us becoming housebound.It is fortunate that many of the Warwickshire members need only a little persuasion to take on the arrangements for a day-out or trip to an event. Alan is starting to think about another “foreign” trip with Ireland and Normandy being mentioned. Mo and Phil have some ideas for a day around Herefordshire, Stuart and Roy mentioned a possible Worcestershire/Shropshire run and we are sure to attend the regular events such as the Severn Valley Railway days, Silverstone, Ace Cafe etc. Geoff suggested an extended Spridget Treffen event taking in some famous circuits on the way and also the possibility of attending the Spridget Racing at Mallory Park. There seems to be a penchant for Steam Rallies and a desire to re-introduce the Cotswold evening runs which we used to run regularly.Our last meeting was for the Xmas dinner at the Green Dragon where twenty-six of us enjoyed each others company and a traditional meal. This was followed by an entertaining quiz about various historical facts associated with motoring which Rosemary had discovered and copied for us

to answer while she acted as quizmaster. The result was a tie between Graham and Roy. Alan had some questions in reserve for such an eventuality and Roy finally won a bottle of wine by knowing the speed limit for lorries on single carriage ways with a normal limit of 60 m.p.h.In closing, on behalf of Warwickshire Group we would like to wish all of the Midget & Sprite Club members a Merry Christmas and full use of our little cars in the New Year!

Chris and Sheila

Warks Talk

37

Many of you will already know that I am off to the Gold Coast, Australia with my other half Mark. We leave the UK on

Australia Day, 26th January.We have enjoyed many good times since the Yorkshire Area got going on 1st April 2004. We have made many friends not just in Yorkshire but in other UK areas as well as in Holland, France, Germany, even the USA and now Phil & Paul Cuthbert and Mike Allen in Australia. Some of these friends we have met in person. In particular, Carson Thomson and Bob Miller from Scotland, Arie from Holland, L’Amicale Spridget members in France, David Deutsch and friends in Long Island and not forgetting the many area reps and members from around the UK. Then there are the folk we have met through Spridget 50 and other events as well as many virtual friends from the BBS.We will greatly miss the fantastic roads of the Yorkshire Moors, Wolds and Dales and we are very disappointed that we haven’t managed to do the Tyne Bridges Run again in memory of our good friend Nick Veuger. Hopefully we will get the chance when we come over for Midget 50 in 2011.We are delighted that Tim & Sarah Saunders are the new Area Reps for Yorkshire. They have already been a tremendous support organising excellent runs and helping with meetings for some time now. They have created an area website at http://yorkshiremasc.blogspot.com/. They can be contacted on 07968 261990 or [email protected]

I will continue to carry out as much work as I can as Treasurer, thanks to internet banking and the support of other Committee members, and Mark will still be able to answer technical questions via email. We have worked out that we can even attend Committee meetings using the modern technology of web-cams or Skype.Many thanks to everyone for their support in the past and look out for an occasional report from ‘down under’ in 2010. Happy New Year to you all.

AnitaYorkshire Area Brief

As Anita & Mark are moving to Australia at the end of January, we have agreed to become the new area reps for the Yorkshire Area. Our January meeting will be on Saturday 9th at The Crosby, Thornton le Beans, Northallerton DL6 3SP. Please come along and say farewell to Anita & Mark, and wish them every success in their new venture in Oz.For the time being in 2010, our meetings will now be on the 2nd Saturday of the month, but will continue to move around God’s own rather large county to a cosy new pub each month! We have set up a new area website at http://yorkshiremasc.blogspot.com/ which will always contain details of forthcoming meetings for the next 3 months, road runs, events and car shows, so there will be plenty of notice. Please join in and contribute on the site and let us have your thoughts – its your area. We hope to see lots of you often in 2010.

Sarah & Tim Saunders07968 261990

[email protected]

Yorkshire Report

Mark and Anita clearly lookingstressed about going to Australia

Tim & Sarah, the new custodians of the Yorkshire area

38

Surrey Meet 17th November 2009Eighteen members is not a bad turn out on a cold, dark, November evening. Two 1500 Midgets were to be found in the car park. Mel & Barb were out in theirs, for their first visit to a Surrey meet – they are regulars at Kent meets – whilst Peter Gardiner was forced to have his car’s hood up to protect his annual hair trim – and very smart it looked indeed.At this time of the year conversation was directed to what to do next year. Hopefully Darren Tyre will again run his London Bridges Run, on Sunday 3rd January 2010, which is an excellent opportunity to meet folks from ‘all over’ whilst blowing the winter dust, and cobwebs, off both driver and car. Interested? Contact Darren [email protected] 07774 128295In May 2010 we have a block booking with Continental Car Tours for the Laon Historic (France. 21st-24th May) should anyone wish to join us. Let Hils know email [email protected] and CC me in

please. We also have our Le Mans Classic/ Loire Valley Tour 5th-16th July and talk about enthusiastic, there was also talk of a Pembroke Run on 5th September and a Battlefield Tour (Ypres – Fromelles – Bethune) on 11th – 14th November. The date has been chosen so that we can attend the remembrance day service and parade at the Menin Gate (Ypres) on 11th. This last event unfortunately coincides with the Classic Car Show 2010 on 12th – 14th November. The diary of events for next year is filling fast!Unfortunately Sue Judd was kept away, for the second month running, being poorly and leaving Jim to come alone, let us all wish her a speedy recovery.John Gibbons, returned to the fold, having been away for a very, very, long time as his Frogeye has been restored. The trials and tribulations – ups and downs – of this lengthy rebuild would certainly fill a novel. I know he has pictures so let’s hope that now there is “light at the end of the tunnel” and that John will write a précis for the magazine and share his story. So confident is he that this 10 year epic is nearly at its end that he has been bold enough to book an entry on our May run to Laon.Ashley came ‘bearing gifts’ – a Frogeye front number plate plinth – for a prospective new member who did not show. The latest part to be manufactured for Spridgets is the bonnet hook in stainless steel. More detail at: [email protected]

Miglia 2009Dave Parker did an excellent job at the recent Classic Car Show in arranging a display of pictures from the recent MASC Miglia 09 Tour. He has also produced a DVD of pictures, which runs for about an hour, which was repeated on a lap top computer placed upon the Masc stand counter. Both pictures and DVD attracted much interest – so much interest that I am minded to run the event again in September 2011.See the eleven day write up on the club website at: www.midgetandspriteclub.co.uk

Alan AnsteadKent / Surrey Area Rep.

Mail to: [email protected]

John in Sue’s Sprite enjoying

the evening sun at the old Reims circuit

39

When I was a small boy I am told the highlight of every trip to visit my Grandparents was watching out for

a blue Frogeye parked outside a house in Potten End. It was clearly the start of an obsession that 30 odd years later I still have.In my teenage years my interest in all cars grew, but unfortunately much faster than my salary did. In around 1987 I tried to buy my first Frogeye from a used car lot near my office. It was no more than a body and boxes of bits, but at the time it was far too much for me to afford. Around this time two of my mates both had round wheel arch

Midgets and it was on a trip with one of them to a local MG specialist that I sat in my first proper Frogeye. A memorable occasion and not just ‘cos I ripped my trousers on the door striker. I knew then that one day I would have my own Frogeye.In 2004 my wife, Jen, who had put up with me talking about Frogeye’s for at least 12 years, finally agreed I should raid the savings and buy a Frogeye. After months of unsuccessfully searching for a decent car I decided to join the club. In the first copy of MASCOT I received I spotted in the Market Place a ’59 Frog, but would it still be for sale? It was and within minutes of arriving in Southampton to look at it. I knew it was the car for me. 478 LHA had found a new owner.After my first MASC event, a trip to the Silverstone Classic in 2005, and a conversation with Gary about the lack of an active local group he put me in touch with Chris Jackson. Within weeks Chris and I formed the Home Counties North West area and the rest, as they say, is history! Having joined the committee I hope that I can help the club to continue to thrive. After all, without the club I would never have found my car. I hope that in the future when someone with a passion for our cars joins, they find the club as welcoming and satisfying to be a member of as I do.

Mark

New Committee Member Mark Hall’s Profile

Mark, Jen and the Frogeye© Stephen Welsh and his company Racing Photos Media

HCNW December 2009

This month I have a brief report and an appeal to our local members. It’s been a quiet month in the Home Counties and

other than the usual pub night on the last Wednesday of the month, we haven’t had any planned activities. Chris has been busy organising our Christmas Meal, which we traditionally have at the end of January. This year it is planned for the Lilley Arms, Lilley, just outside Luton on 31st January. So if you are quick I am sure we can still save you a seat.Now the appeal; Chris and I are trying to pull together the events for next year. We would

like to publish early and make sure that we get things in to your diaries and stick to them. So, if you have any ideas for an event or, even better, you would like to organise something please get in contact with me or Chris. Whether it’s a drive for the sake of a drive or trip to an event or a show I am sure others will be interested in coming along. If you live in the area or close by, and you have never been out with us why don’t you make your new years resolution to come out and join us on an event. You might just enjoy yourself!Happy New Year to you all!

Mark

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Market PlaceAdverts to Alan Lo

23 Charnell Road, Staple Hill, Bristol, BS16 5NEemail: [email protected] Tel: 0117 9572617

For SalePair of Side Screen Frames to suit early Sprites & Midget – In excellent condition having just been anodised @ £50 incl P+P or would exchange for a pair to suit MGA.Carl Archer (non member) 0151 2808769 / email: [email protected] (Liverpool)

Two ribbed case gearboxes for disposal due to workshop clearance. I understand that they are returned items under guarantee but have no idea of the defects. I have used two from the same source previously having had them repaired at very modest cost. Offers invited to clear. Also one fully reconned 4.2 diff. Please call Geoff. O1562 851544 Worcs.

100AYSV-1 spec (yellow) Aldon Distributor. A vacuum distributor, to suit most tuned A series (Spridget) engines, using camshafts such as Piper 270/285, Kent 266/276 and 286.but with side entry cap for Spridgets. Fitted with Aldon Ignitor electronic ignition but supplied with spare base plate mounted with points and condensor. Spare parts include 2nd side entry distributor cap.Bosch rotor arm. To buy new this kit, without spares, is in excess £193, Offers? Contact Alan [email protected]: 01322-384050Early 1958 Frogeye Sprite for restoration. Stripped, shotblast and sprayed in weld-through etch-primer. With most necessary repair sections. V5 with reg no. Location West Sussex. Tony 01903 873924.

I received this email from MASC Member Cliff Robinson regarding a very sorry Sprite. See the images opposite.

Cliff writes:“If you look very carefully you will see a Frogeye overgrown by a hedge in Pembrokeshire I managed to contact the owner but he was unmoved by my offer of help. I would never normally say this about anyone, but what a #&8%^ ! Not for not accepting my offer but for abandoning the car in the first place. The car has been in this position for 25 years and was in good condition when left to the elements”.

Then an additional email from Cliff:“Visited the site today and even had a chat with the owners brother! Over the years members of MASC (South West Wales) have been watching this car deteriorate so any collective credit should be offered to them if you publish the pictures. I don’t think even David Hill knows about this one!The reg. no. is XCY 31”.Regards,

Cliff Robinson

A Dead Frog!

Another cartoon from the French series “Starter”

discovered on the Internet

FROGEYE SPARES CO

Tel: 01885 400791 Fax: 01885 400791 www.frogeyespares.co.uk

“Anything and everything for the Frogeye Sprite”

New Parts, Performance Parts and Many Used Parts Interior Trim - Seats, Carpets, etc

Hard Tops, Tonneau Covers, Hoods, Side Screens Engine Rebuilds - Standard & Fast Road

Restorations Carried Out - Complete or Partial Download our Catalogue from the Website

Gift Vouchers £10, £25, £50 & £100 New Range of Prints and Cards for all Occasions Visit our New Premises in Droitwich (Jn5 - M5)

January 2010 £2 No. 310 Mascot - Midget and Sprite ClubIt’s not long until springtime. Gary &...

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