Some of you will know that I was taking my P-type to New Zealand to
compete in the Pre 1956 MG Rally. I thought I would throw a few words
together to let you know how it went.
We Came, We Saw & We Conquered.
An invitation was issued to several Australians to attend the MG Pre 1956
meeting in New Zealand during January, 2001. Quite a good deal of
interest was shown by members with interests in Pre War MG's in Australia.
Plans were laid for Murray Arrundell & myself to fly cars over to New
Zealand and Lynne & I were to meet up with Ron & Lindy Taylor and do a
weeks touring before the meeting commencing with registration on 7th
January. Also in attendance were Marta & Phil Redhead & the Smith family
from Sydney.
Lynne & I felt we would need to rest up before this touring adventure with
the Taylors' so we booked 3 nights over Xmas at Huka Lodge near Lake
Taupo. The quality, beauty and peace of this place is beyond belief and
well worth at least one visit in every ones life. Would you believe that
we met a Belgium guy there, who rebuilds J2s for a hobby. From here Lynne
and I flew to Motueka (near Nelson on the south island) to renew
friendships with B & B hosts where we had stayed previously. It was,
again, simply magnificent even though there were no MG's.
A quick trip by plane to Auckland & we were met by Ron Taylor. Somehow we
managed to jam everything into the 4 wheel drive. Ron had a large
suitcase of camera equipment & Lindy had 2 huge suitcases (of Champagne, I
think) and so the tone of the trip was set with a laugh a minute all the
way to Bay of Islands where we met up with Robert & Jill Smith from Sydney
+ their two wonderful children and Kim & Kate Walker, now living back in
Auckland after many years in Australia.
The weather was cold & windy but the friendship warm & strong. Ron,
Lindy, Pip & "Miss" (Nick age 15) Smith went deep sea fishing and were
delighted with the experience & success of the mission. New years eve was
spent trying to drink Lindys Champagne Cellar and eating far too much.
drinking that 3rd bottle of port the night before we headed back to
Auckland. We collected my P-type (Murray unfortunately did not make it
with his TC) and managed to bluff our way through the certificate process
so we could drive to from Auckland to the meeting at Masterton. My car
had been flown over on Xmas day and collected & stored by Club Member,
John Hancock. When we pulled into his drive way, there were 2 beautiful
P-types & a J2 in his sparkling garage.
I could not have managed without Johns help. He purchased all the things
we needed that could not be flown over. Things like a drum of special
racing fuel, Aero start, oil etc. He arranged the inspection. Everything
went perfectly. Bill Bollendonk & his wife Jeanie and Jack Kailher (all
from USA) were staying with John. I knew all these people from trips to
USA. Both Bill & Jack had purchased P-types in New Zealand and were to
fly them back to USA after the trip. Bills car was a beauty and Jacks
will be magnificent as he has done some special work on 2 M-types he owns
in USA.
So we set off individually. I was escorted by Ron to Rotorua and the
others went through to Taupo where we all met for lunch on 6th. John
Hancock was driving his beautiful VA saloon & Jack was driving Johns TD.
Bill & Jeanie were driving Johns 4 wheel drive towing a trailer with Bills
PA on board. Unfortunately the VA chewed up the generator and needed a
"bypass operation" to continue. In the normal MG way this was achieved
and we set forth to Napier in convoy with a beautiful TC and other MG's
including a wonderful SA open sports model.
Napier was a glorious stop and we stayed in a fabulous motel (The Beach
Front Motel) and spent a grand evening out at one of the night spots. I
think the New Zealanders were trying to nobbled me by force feeding me so
that the P would be weighted down and not able to run quickly. Another
great night of merriment and too much drinking. Next morning we split up
and the convoy went off towards Masterton and Ron, Lindy & Lynne spent the
morning with their own pursuits before following. The convoy stopped at
several Antique shops & the Americans helped re build the New Zealand
economy.
A safe arrival at Masterton and registration. What a welcome with the
Twin Cam R-type in the foyer. I learnt much from this display. Did you
know that this was one of just 11 R-types built ? I certainly did not
know that.
I had strict instructions that I had to have cold booze in the fridge when
the others arrived. Having just achieved this and gathering with friends
in the hotel, we saw dark clouds and a tremendously heavy hail storm
arrived. It was quite terrifying and also hilarious. Lindy an Jill were
laying over the bonnet of my car whilst Ron ran round filming on the
video. Lynne stood in the door way and ran out to top up the champagne
glasses. I stood there with towels & a blanket and was bombarded by large
hail stones. Luckily the P-type suffered only minor damage but many
others were not so lucky.
The hotel suffered much water damage and then the fire alarm went off and
we were all thrown out into the rain and the fire brigade came roaring in
with bells a clanging. The foyer was cleared of all the registration
material but strangely the R-type was left to burn if the hotel went up in
flames. The Kiwis certainly have their priorities sorted out. In about
half an hour the all clear was given.
So to the next day, being the concourse. What an array of Pre war cars. I
have never seen anything like it on this side of the world.
2 F's
3 J2's
4 P's
approx 5 VA's
approx 5 SA's
approx 5 WA's
All beautiful cars in just wonderful condition. I was especially
impressed with the F's. And of course a large number of MGs up to and
including MGA's
The show was just beautiful and I finally saw for the very first time on a
P-type, the original lay out of the windscreen wipers. I have these in a
box but I have never seen them on a car before. The detail of some of the
cars was outstanding. Seeing something like a hundred Pre 1956 cars in a
semi circle in front of an old fashioned grand stand with a brass band
playing really set the scene. It was a wonderful display although my car
was grandly out concoursed although it was featured in the Auckland
newspaper.
Next day was the trial. Not a highly competitive event but a glorious
tour round some pleasant country. Robert Smith navigated for me but it
was an up hill battle as the results were decided on average speed & this
was somewhat difficult without a speedo. We enjoyed the run to
Martinborough and had a glorious lunch at a great cafe called the
Flyingfish. Then a free tour home after stopping at more antique shops
and a Steam Museum.
Wednesday was a lay day and most went to Wellington on a Pre arranged
tour. I took the opportunity to do one or two things to the car in
preparation for what was coming. First was the Motorkhana on grass and
yes it rained. Robert Smith drove my car as I hate motorkhanas. But it
was a good event and the "Old Mother Hubbard" event was much fun. Lindy
did the work for Robert & Lynne did the work for Ron in a VA Pickford. And
that is not a typing error. It really was a Pickford.
And finally to the speed event - a hillclimb. Wet & cold. Far too cold
to risk using the racing fuel. The night before I had met up with Lawrie
Poolman who owns a magnificent C-type. Believe me, that car does go and
Lawrie has a reputation for being entirely fearless. We had much in
common other than the driving differences.
There were 5 supercharged Pre 1956 cars.
1932 C-type
J2 developing 96bhp
My P something
TF 1500
and a ZA Magnette all lowered and looking menacing.
Now, you need to understand that I am about the worlds worst driver but
enjoy what I do. We had 3 timed runs up a beautiful hill about a 1.5
miles in length. On the first run the C-type was the quickest (with a
lead of about 4.5 seconds) & the TF second quickest followed my P, the
Magnette & then the J2. By completion of the second run I had closed the
gap to about 2.5 seconds on the rapidly improving times of the C-type but
was still 3rd to the TF driven by local identity, Rod Brayshaw.
Time to get serious & as it was a little warmer I threw in some racing
fuel. What a difference a drop makes. On every run Lawrie went faster &
faster and ended with a time of 69.59sec and I managed second fastest with
a time of 70.02. The wonderful thing was the friendly competition and we
all took each other for a ride in the cars after the event.
There was an English couple out in New Zealand who were driving a borrowed
TA. They were Lynne & Robert Douglas from South Yorks. Lynne writes for
MG Enthusiast Magazine and we teased her continually and she took it all
in the manner it was dealt out. She had shown some interest in the P-type
and she was amongst many who said it certainly sounded the best going up
the hillclimb. So I relented, and offered to take Lynne for a ride and it
should be noted that I have never taken another woman in the car. She had
driven Pepi Gaspari's P-type in South Africa and was impressed but thought
the gearbox was hard work. Anyhow, I gave the car a real push and I think
Lynne is still looking for her eye balls. You know that Toyota add with
the guys grinning, well Lynne out did them all and was still grinning 24
hours later as we said good bye. She described the experience as mind
blowing and it will be interesting to see what she writes in the MG
Enthusiast. I also arranged for Lawrie to take her for a run in the
C-type. That is a really special little car and he takes the engine to
nearly 7000 rpm.
Just consider the results as they were from the event. The oldest &
smallest engined car actually took fastest time of day from something like
50 entries up to and including MGA. That is a pretty grand achievement,
well I think it is, anyway.
So to presentation night. More food and water (well, I ask you). Bill
Bollendonk (from USA) took out overall award with his PA in the concourse
and my Australian P-type took out Pre war Speed trophy and outright speed
awards as Lawrie was not eligible for an award. I did leave my perpetual
trophy in his care.
So we achieve what the title says : We Came, We Saw & We Conquered.
It was a grand meeting and has spurred me on to a full commitment to
completing my single seater racing car built on a P chassis. For those who
are interested I own 3 P-types and I am going to combine the best of these
into a car that I hope will literally blow my brains out. From then it is
time to hand over to the younger brigade. So watch this space.
Story by Pip Bucknell
Thanks to MG People in New Zealand & friends from around the world.
Just in closing, if anyone is looking for an Arnott Supercharger, I know
where one can be found that is for sale.
British Cars Web: http://www.team.net/sol
MMM list subscription info: http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool
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