Northumbrian

November 2015

MGN members gathered together with

recipients of this years car show funds
at Backworth.

www.mgnorthumbria.org

Chairmans Chat
Hello again
October has been a very different month for me but I still managed to
keep connected with the club and classic cars while in Malta. If you
dont visit our Facebook or website you will not have seen the pictures
and videos of the Mdina Grand Prix in Malta.
A lot of these pictures feature what may be familiar to some as Ian
McInnes' old BGT. After his death his cars were bought by Ian Foggett
and Ian was there in Malta taking part and has kept the car as it was
with Ian's stickers on, including MG Northumbria. On a bus on my way
to the racing on Sunday a fellow passenger spotted my MG Northumbria shirt and asked if I was connected with the BGT. It is a small island. In two of the races Ian started and finished second to a 1966
Corvette Stingray and gave it a good race.

Ians B GT on
display with
its MGN sign
still in place.
Yes, the
dodgy looking
tourist is Tim.

The island also has many other excellent attractions including a Classic Car Museum and an Aviation museum. There are also a lot of war
related museums, tunnels and shelters you can visit. Travelling round
on the local buses is quite an experience, road markings, traffic lights
and bus stop queues in many cases voluntary.

17

I would recommend a visit and if you go in early October enjoy the

Grand Prix weekend.
So while away I missed Bob Heslop's run but was back in time for the
formal presentation event at Backworth to 12 of the 14 charities that
benefited. It was good to hear how they had used the funds and what it
meant to them.
Last weekend was Ian MacNeishs Absent Friends Run which took us
through some colourful autumnal roads to finish with lunch at the Railway, Acklington. Thanks to Bob and Ian.
Absent Friends has for many years been the last run of the season but
this year we are experimenting with runs in November, January & February. This has been a feature of this years programme with weekday
runs and the two weekend breaks.
So I hope to see you at the AGM which will also feature the results of
the photo competition. The agenda was in last months newsletter.
Best wishes

Tim Cook

chairman@mgn
mgnorthumbria.org

The B GT
in action
during the
Grand
Prix.

16

The Triumph Dolomite

-Was introduced in 1936, just in time to be caught out by hostili-

ties. In the same year Triumph recorded losses of 221,104, in

1939 it went bust and was sold to T.W. Ward and Co.
Oh, you cant remember that far back. OK.

By the 1960s however Triumph as part of Leyland Motor Co.

had the financial clout to bring out the all new and upmarket
2000 in 1963, to join the Herald, TR sports car and the Spitfire.

Introduced by BLMC in 1970 the Dolomite had a relatively short

life. It was discontinued after only ten years. A conventional
three box body was given many incarnations. Being Triumph it
was a rather up market saloon car with some sporting intensions.

15

MG Newcastle
388 West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 2 ER

Tel: 0191 228 8025

Wingrove & MG Newcastle

Wingrove Motor Company Celebrates 90 years of business in 2015 first
opening the doors in 1925 by Local cattle auctioneer and current director Peters, Grandfather John Myers Dalkin Snr.
The MG3 starts at 8,399 for a 1.5 petrol engine with 106 PS power,
and the range topping 3 Style including a variety of specialist equipment such as DAB Radio, rear parking sensors, Automatic lights and
wipers to name but a few, is still available to drive away for under
10,000.
In 2014 MG Newcastle was awarded MG Dealer of the year and in 2015
launched the New MG6 model, now at the incredible price of 13,995
for a 1.9 turbo diesel with 0% finance applicable on some models.
To arrange a test drive, discuss the cars or and vast amount of personalisation options available contact us on facebook, or call 0191
14

Its predecessors were the four door front wheel drive 1300 styled
by Michelotti. Its success resulted in the 1300TC with an extra
14bhp.
The face lift in 1970 gave us the 1500 with four doors and a
much larger boot, and the Toledo.

he Dolomite 1850 arrived in 1972 and the Sprint in 1973. The

sprint saw some success in motor sport under the umbrella of
the Competitions department.
The slant 1850 engine was also sold to Saab and lasted quite a
while with them. They did modify it and added a turbo.
In 1976 the range was rationalised with the family name of Dolomite.
Note that the Doly 1850 is the only engine I have had that gave
me an oil leak from the water pump, but thats another and rather
long story.

Bob Heslop
5

4th

Clubnight, Backworth 8.00 pm

Annual General Meeting.

22nd

Breakfast run. Meeting at the Toby

Inn, just off the A1 at Ponteland Road,
Kingston Park, NE3 3TY around 9.00 am
for a 10.00 am start. Breakfast for only
3.99 for 10 items (tea/coffee 1.99 ex
tra). Seating has been held for up to 25
people.

Run is 55 miles ending at Bellingham.

Established 1983
-------

Scotlands largest stockists of new & used MG & other Classic Parts.
MGOC Reccomended Supplier & 5 Star Spanner Award .
Full Workshop facilities, Bodywork specialists, Insurance work undertaken.
Always breaking Maestros, MGAs, MGBs, Magnettes, Midgets, for spares.
Fast & efficient Mail Order service
-----131, Jamphlars Road, Cardenden, Fife, KY5 0ND
E-mail :- sales@chicdoig.com
Tel:- Office 01592-722999, Parts Department 01592-722666

13

Michelle my daughter was heading home from friends in Sheffield. She

called into MGFnTF Bitz, all parts fitted into her boot/back seats and
they arrived a few days later.
Bumper, headlight, bonnet, slam panel, scuttle panel all for a few hundred quid

New Members
This month we welcome to MG Northumbria:
David and Sylvia Bulcraig who live in Wallsend
and have a Ford Zodiac, BMW E36 and a MGB
GT.

Eileen has passed on this letter that she received from one of
the groups we have helped this year.
Dear Eileen,

Parts have arrived

Good as new

A couple of mates turned up, I fired up the BBQ and that afternoon, less

than a week after the accident Maggie was fixed. What topped the
whole experience was how well the panels matched the existing car.
The insurance company finally paid up after convincing them that I
kept repair costs down. I was quoted 2500 for parts, respray, and repair. My bill 285, recovery 150 and replacement windscreen 350.
So all in all I think we all come away lightly. Shame about the holiday,
maybe next year.

Steve Miller

12

Please pass on my thanks for the ceremony last Saturday. It was

lovely to meet so many interesting people. We were all made to feel
valued and very welcome.
Your group clearly works extremely hard to raise funds to help so
many organizations. Talking and listening to other participants, they
all appreciate your efforts on their behalf.
I am attaching an action photograph
of the snatch block which you
Established 1983
enabled the working party to buy.
They are removing a fallen tree
------from the
Seaton
Burn.
Scotlands
largest
stockists of new & used MG & other Classic Parts.
It is worthMGOC
notingReccomended
that while this
group
Supplier
& 5was
Starundertaking
Spanner Awardthe
. hazardWorkshop
facilities,
Bodywork
specialists,
Insurance
workgroup
undertaken.
ousFull
task
of removing
the
tree from
the burn,
the other
was
Always breaking
Maestros, MGAs,
Magnettes,the
Midgets,
carrying
out the allegedly
easier MGBs,
job completing
last offor
thespares.
strimFast &
efficient Mail Order
service
ming for the season.
Unfortunately
they strimmed
a large wasps
------ Im definitely sticking to litter picknest and suffered multiple stings.
131, Jamphlars Road, Cardenden, Fife, KY5 0ND
ing!
E-mail :- sales@chicdoig.com
Many Tel:thanks
again,
Office
01592-722999, Parts Department 01592-722666
Kind regards,
Chris Wood (Chair of Friends of Holywell Dene)

oncoming traffic and to ring 999 on my mobile phone. A passing nurse

stopped to help.
Police and ambulance finally arrived. Statements were taken and I was
breathalysed. Police informed me there was nothing I could have done
as all three bikes were without brakes. The young girl, now conscious
was rushed to the nearest hospital. All three bikes taken away to be
crushed.

Christmas night out

Please pay the balance of 11.95 or in the case
of any late bookings the total amount of
21.95 for your Christmas Dinner by Friday 6th
November. (This applies of course only to paying members, not to the helpers at Corbridge
who are entitled to a totally free meal)
Cheques should be made payable to MG Northumbria and sent to:Eileen Dalgarno, Denecroft, Wallridge Drive,
Holywell Village, Whitley Bay, NE25 0NN.
Should anyone decide that they would like to go
to the dinner after that date this would not be a
problem and they can contact Eileen.

Now, we were all lucky. If I had been driving a car with a higher front
profile. Or driving with the roof up the outcome would have been completely different. A higher grill would have caused horrendous injury to
the young cyclist. If I had the roof up, she would have rolled off the top
and into following/oncoming traffic. Strange how fate plays out the
cards.
Our car was recovered by truck to Turriff. A pretty market town 10
miles in land. We stayed overnight and decided once the windscreen
was replaced we would head home. The third day was a long miserable
day. With the accident playing on our minds, the weather had closed
in, dull, grey, heavy rain and cold. A sharp contrast from the days before. We collected the car from the garage. The mechanics managed to
patch up the headlight, the rest of the damage was superficial so we
were able to drive her home. We hit rush hour in Aberdeen and then
same again north of Edinburgh. Six hours later we finally arrived home
this being our third day of our road trip.
When we arrived home, we received a phone call from Frazerburgh
Police. Good news, the girl had been released from her overnight stay
in hospital with bruises to her legs. A very lucky girl indeed.
So that weekend I decided to see how quick I could get the TF fixed.
The insurance company was dragging their heels. I searched the internet and managed to find replacement parts in trophy blue from a company in Glossop.

11

refinery and drilling towers. The harbour was impressive in scale compared to the small town that hugged its coast.
nwards now to Fraserbugh for lunch. Sadly this town didnt have much
going for it, again relying on the oil industry which was experiencing a
bit of a downturn and the town centre and surrounding buildings reflected this.
As we now headed west to Banf and Macduff tragedy struck. Escaping
the speed restrictions of Frazerburgh and gaining momentum as we
headed for Rosehearty two cyclists crossed my path from my left. I
braked to avoid a collision. Unfortunately a third cyclist decided she
could also repeat what had gone before. I swerved to my right. Hit the
third cyclist on the front left corner of the TF. The bike hit the front
bumper and headlight, the rider landed on the bonnet smashed into the
windscreen and landed on my lap as the car came to a halt. At first I
thought someone had thrown a rag doll into the cabin. It became immediately apparent that this rag doll was in fact a six year old girl unconscious on my lap.

Scottish summer holiday trip cut short.

This year Anne and I decided to head north up the East Coast of
Scotland without a firm schedule to hand. One proviso, visit John O
Groats during our trip.
We set off with roof down in glorious sunshine on a Wednesday
morning in early August, armed with a road map and sat nav packed
away but available as a backup. Somehow we took a detour into
Leith before finally finding the forth road bridge. Exiting the magnificent bridge spanning the Firth of Forth we turned right and hugged
the coast up to Kirkcaldy, stopping off for a late breakfast then onto
Anstruther for lunch. We had heard about the reputation Anstruther
had for hosting the best fish and chip restaurant in the land. As we
dropped into this quaint little fishing village our hopes were dashed
when we couldnt find a parking space and looked in dismay at the
queue outside the chip shop. So we headed further up the coast to
Crail and stopped for lunch. On the menu was fish and chips so we
were not disappointed. We arrived in St Andrews mid-afternoon and
stopped to spectate over the 1st and 18th tee, lofty spectator stands
still stood straddled along the fairways two weeks after the Open. We
carried onto Dundee crossing the Tay Bridge and booked into Carnoustie Golf Hotel for the night. The golf theme starting to unfold,
but as mentioned this was a trip without a plan. I think I convinced
Anne that this was all coincidental.
Day 2 Carnoustie Golf Hotel

Day 2 Frazerburgh after the accident

I carefully placed her onto Annes lap and leapt out to wave down

10

We woke the next morning with blue skies and a fantastic lazy sun
rising over an unusually light blue calm North Sea. Weather forecast
was for more blue sky today with heavy rain the following day. So we
decided to head further north, then west and stay 3 nights at Muir of
Ord. This would be our base to reach John O Groats and back. Passing through the seaside resorts of Arbroath and Montrose we arrived
in the Granite City of Aberdeen. We drove through the centre admiring the architecture as we navigated north to Peterhead. It was soon
obvious as we arrived into Peterhead that the town was built for the
oil industry as we dropped into a huge harbour full of tankers, oil
9

refinery and drilling towers. The harbour was impressive in scale compared to the small town that hugged its coast.
nwards now to Fraserbugh for lunch. Sadly this town didnt have much
going for it, again relying on the oil industry which was experiencing a
bit of a downturn and the town centre and surrounding buildings reflected this.
As we now headed west to Banf and Macduff tragedy struck. Escaping
the speed restrictions of Frazerburgh and gaining momentum as we
headed for Rosehearty two cyclists crossed my path from my left. I
braked to avoid a collision. Unfortunately a third cyclist decided she
could also repeat what had gone before. I swerved to my right. Hit the
third cyclist on the front left corner of the TF. The bike hit the front
bumper and headlight, the rider landed on the bonnet smashed into the
windscreen and landed on my lap as the car came to a halt. At first I
thought someone had thrown a rag doll into the cabin. It became immediately apparent that this rag doll was in fact a six year old girl unconscious on my lap.

Scottish summer holiday trip cut short.

This year Anne and I decided to head north up the East Coast of
Scotland without a firm schedule to hand. One proviso, visit John O
Groats during our trip.
We set off with roof down in glorious sunshine on a Wednesday
morning in early August, armed with a road map and sat nav packed
away but available as a backup. Somehow we took a detour into
Leith before finally finding the forth road bridge. Exiting the magnificent bridge spanning the Firth of Forth we turned right and hugged
the coast up to Kirkcaldy, stopping off for a late breakfast then onto
Anstruther for lunch. We had heard about the reputation Anstruther
had for hosting the best fish and chip restaurant in the land. As we
dropped into this quaint little fishing village our hopes were dashed
when we couldnt find a parking space and looked in dismay at the
queue outside the chip shop. So we headed further up the coast to
Crail and stopped for lunch. On the menu was fish and chips so we
were not disappointed. We arrived in St Andrews mid-afternoon and
stopped to spectate over the 1st and 18th tee, lofty spectator stands
still stood straddled along the fairways two weeks after the Open. We
carried onto Dundee crossing the Tay Bridge and booked into Carnoustie Golf Hotel for the night. The golf theme starting to unfold,
but as mentioned this was a trip without a plan. I think I convinced
Anne that this was all coincidental.
Day 2 Carnoustie Golf Hotel

Day 2 Frazerburgh after the accident

I carefully placed her onto Annes lap and leapt out to wave down

10

We woke the next morning with blue skies and a fantastic lazy sun
rising over an unusually light blue calm North Sea. Weather forecast
was for more blue sky today with heavy rain the following day. So we
decided to head further north, then west and stay 3 nights at Muir of
Ord. This would be our base to reach John O Groats and back. Passing through the seaside resorts of Arbroath and Montrose we arrived
in the Granite City of Aberdeen. We drove through the centre admiring the architecture as we navigated north to Peterhead. It was soon
obvious as we arrived into Peterhead that the town was built for the
oil industry as we dropped into a huge harbour full of tankers, oil
9

oncoming traffic and to ring 999 on my mobile phone. A passing nurse

stopped to help.
Police and ambulance finally arrived. Statements were taken and I was
breathalysed. Police informed me there was nothing I could have done
as all three bikes were without brakes. The young girl, now conscious
was rushed to the nearest hospital. All three bikes taken away to be
crushed.

Christmas night out

Please pay the balance of 11.95 or in the case
of any late bookings the total amount of
21.95 for your Christmas Dinner by Friday 6th
November. (This applies of course only to paying members, not to the helpers at Corbridge
who are entitled to a totally free meal)
Cheques should be made payable to MG Northumbria and sent to:Eileen Dalgarno, Denecroft, Wallridge Drive,
Holywell Village, Whitley Bay, NE25 0NN.
Should anyone decide that they would like to go
to the dinner after that date this would not be a
problem and they can contact Eileen.

Now, we were all lucky. If I had been driving a car with a higher front
profile. Or driving with the roof up the outcome would have been completely different. A higher grill would have caused horrendous injury to
the young cyclist. If I had the roof up, she would have rolled off the top
and into following/oncoming traffic. Strange how fate plays out the
cards.
Our car was recovered by truck to Turriff. A pretty market town 10
miles in land. We stayed overnight and decided once the windscreen
was replaced we would head home. The third day was a long miserable
day. With the accident playing on our minds, the weather had closed
in, dull, grey, heavy rain and cold. A sharp contrast from the days before. We collected the car from the garage. The mechanics managed to
patch up the headlight, the rest of the damage was superficial so we
were able to drive her home. We hit rush hour in Aberdeen and then
same again north of Edinburgh. Six hours later we finally arrived home
this being our third day of our road trip.
When we arrived home, we received a phone call from Frazerburgh
Police. Good news, the girl had been released from her overnight stay
in hospital with bruises to her legs. A very lucky girl indeed.
So that weekend I decided to see how quick I could get the TF fixed.
The insurance company was dragging their heels. I searched the internet and managed to find replacement parts in trophy blue from a company in Glossop.

11

Michelle my daughter was heading home from friends in Sheffield. She

called into MGFnTF Bitz, all parts fitted into her boot/back seats and
they arrived a few days later.
Bumper, headlight, bonnet, slam panel, scuttle panel all for a few hundred quid

New Members
This month we welcome to MG Northumbria:
David and Sylvia Bulcraig who live in Wallsend
and have a Ford Zodiac, BMW E36 and a MGB
GT.

Eileen has passed on this letter that she received from one of
the groups we have helped this year.
Dear Eileen,

Parts have arrived

Good as new

A couple of mates turned up, I fired up the BBQ and that afternoon, less

than a week after the accident Maggie was fixed. What topped the
whole experience was how well the panels matched the existing car.
The insurance company finally paid up after convincing them that I
kept repair costs down. I was quoted 2500 for parts, respray, and repair. My bill 285, recovery 150 and replacement windscreen 350.
So all in all I think we all come away lightly. Shame about the holiday,
maybe next year.

Steve Miller

12

Please pass on my thanks for the ceremony last Saturday. It was

lovely to meet so many interesting people. We were all made to feel
valued and very welcome.
Your group clearly works extremely hard to raise funds to help so
many organizations. Talking and listening to other participants, they
all appreciate your efforts on their behalf.
I am attaching an action photograph
of the snatch block which you
Established 1983
enabled the working party to buy.
They are removing a fallen tree
------from the
Seaton
Burn.
Scotlands
largest
stockists of new & used MG & other Classic Parts.
It is worthMGOC
notingReccomended
that while this
group
Supplier
& 5was
Starundertaking
Spanner Awardthe
. hazardWorkshop
facilities,
Bodywork
specialists,
Insurance
workgroup
undertaken.
ousFull
task
of removing
the
tree from
the burn,
the other
was
Always breaking
Maestros, MGAs,
Magnettes,the
Midgets,
carrying
out the allegedly
easier MGBs,
job completing
last offor
thespares.
strimFast &
efficient Mail Order
service
ming for the season.
Unfortunately
they strimmed
a large wasps
------ Im definitely sticking to litter picknest and suffered multiple stings.
131, Jamphlars Road, Cardenden, Fife, KY5 0ND
ing!
E-mail :- sales@chicdoig.com
Many Tel:thanks
again,
Office
01592-722999, Parts Department 01592-722666
Kind regards,
Chris Wood (Chair of Friends of Holywell Dene)

4th

Clubnight, Backworth 8.00 pm

Annual General Meeting.

22nd

Breakfast run. Meeting at the Toby

Inn, just off the A1 at Ponteland Road,
Kingston Park, NE3 3TY around 9.00 am
for a 10.00 am start. Breakfast for only
3.99 for 10 items (tea/coffee 1.99 ex
tra). Seating has been held for up to 25
people.

Run is 55 miles ending at Bellingham.

Established 1983
-------

Scotlands largest stockists of new & used MG & other Classic Parts.
MGOC Reccomended Supplier & 5 Star Spanner Award .
Full Workshop facilities, Bodywork specialists, Insurance work undertaken.
Always breaking Maestros, MGAs, MGBs, Magnettes, Midgets, for spares.
Fast & efficient Mail Order service
-----131, Jamphlars Road, Cardenden, Fife, KY5 0ND
E-mail :- sales@chicdoig.com
Tel:- Office 01592-722999, Parts Department 01592-722666

13

MG Newcastle
388 West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 2 ER

Tel: 0191 228 8025

Wingrove & MG Newcastle

Wingrove Motor Company Celebrates 90 years of business in 2015 first
opening the doors in 1925 by Local cattle auctioneer and current director Peters, Grandfather John Myers Dalkin Snr.
The MG3 starts at 8,399 for a 1.5 petrol engine with 106 PS power,
and the range topping 3 Style including a variety of specialist equipment such as DAB Radio, rear parking sensors, Automatic lights and
wipers to name but a few, is still available to drive away for under
10,000.
In 2014 MG Newcastle was awarded MG Dealer of the year and in 2015
launched the New MG6 model, now at the incredible price of 13,995
for a 1.9 turbo diesel with 0% finance applicable on some models.
To arrange a test drive, discuss the cars or and vast amount of personalisation options available contact us on facebook, or call 0191
14

Its predecessors were the four door front wheel drive 1300 styled
by Michelotti. Its success resulted in the 1300TC with an extra
14bhp.
The face lift in 1970 gave us the 1500 with four doors and a
much larger boot, and the Toledo.

he Dolomite 1850 arrived in 1972 and the Sprint in 1973. The

sprint saw some success in motor sport under the umbrella of
the Competitions department.
The slant 1850 engine was also sold to Saab and lasted quite a
while with them. They did modify it and added a turbo.
In 1976 the range was rationalised with the family name of Dolomite.
Note that the Doly 1850 is the only engine I have had that gave
me an oil leak from the water pump, but thats another and rather
long story.

Bob Heslop
5

The Triumph Dolomite

-Was introduced in 1936, just in time to be caught out by hostili-

ties. In the same year Triumph recorded losses of 221,104, in

1939 it went bust and was sold to T.W. Ward and Co.
Oh, you cant remember that far back. OK.

By the 1960s however Triumph as part of Leyland Motor Co.

had the financial clout to bring out the all new and upmarket
2000 in 1963, to join the Herald, TR sports car and the Spitfire.

Introduced by BLMC in 1970 the Dolomite had a relatively short

life. It was discontinued after only ten years. A conventional
three box body was given many incarnations. Being Triumph it
was a rather up market saloon car with some sporting intensions.

15

I would recommend a visit and if you go in early October enjoy the

Grand Prix weekend.
So while away I missed Bob Heslop's run but was back in time for the
formal presentation event at Backworth to 12 of the 14 charities that
benefited. It was good to hear how they had used the funds and what it
meant to them.
Last weekend was Ian MacNeishs Absent Friends Run which took us
through some colourful autumnal roads to finish with lunch at the Railway, Acklington. Thanks to Bob and Ian.
Absent Friends has for many years been the last run of the season but
this year we are experimenting with runs in November, January & February. This has been a feature of this years programme with weekday
runs and the two weekend breaks.
So I hope to see you at the AGM which will also feature the results of
the photo competition. The agenda was in last months newsletter.
Best wishes

Tim Cook

chairman@mgn
mgnorthumbria.org

The B GT
in action
during the
Grand
Prix.

16

Chairmans Chat
Hello again
October has been a very different month for me but I still managed to
keep connected with the club and classic cars while in Malta. If you
dont visit our Facebook or website you will not have seen the pictures
and videos of the Mdina Grand Prix in Malta.
A lot of these pictures feature what may be familiar to some as Ian
McInnes' old BGT. After his death his cars were bought by Ian Foggett
and Ian was there in Malta taking part and has kept the car as it was
with Ian's stickers on, including MG Northumbria. On a bus on my way
to the racing on Sunday a fellow passenger spotted my MG Northumbria shirt and asked if I was connected with the BGT. It is a small island. In two of the races Ian started and finished second to a 1966
Corvette Stingray and gave it a good race.

Ians B GT on
display with
its MGN sign
still in place.
Yes, the
dodgy looking
tourist is Tim.

The island also has many other excellent attractions including a Classic Car Museum and an Aviation museum. There are also a lot of war
related museums, tunnels and shelters you can visit. Travelling round
on the local buses is quite an experience, road markings, traffic lights
and bus stop queues in many cases voluntary.

17