MG Manawatu

Ahhhh….Sunday morning, time to wake up and smell the roses! Well at least we should be able to as that’s where we’re heading! Go topless or not? Overcast, little bit of drizzle around, might not I think. Good decision!

12 cars (B’s, Midget, Stag, MGF, Bitsamitsi) assembled at Ashhurst for Trev’s jaunt to Onga Onga. Whilst we were waiting a rather noisey bus (or should that be coach?) came tooting along – it was Rachel of course and all her passengers were waving at us as well – got the feeling they would like to be with the MG’s? Trev turned up in his “AA” coloured modern vehicle and sneakily to get away with it had hidden the Easter Bunny in his car that happily bounced around and gave everyone an Easter Egg. Nice touch! I think Alec’s was the first one to disappear in record time no less. Who was that wandering around trying to sell their one for a dollar? Some people!

Off we went through the ever scenic Manawatu Gorge and on to some familiar back roads leading into Dannevirke and by this time a steady persistant drizzle had joined us so it was wipers and lights on as we carried on to Onga Onga and our rose growing destination. The roses were a little past their best and the inclement weather meant wandering around the blooms was not a good option so we all carried on to Onga Onga.

A picnic lunch was enjoyed under the shelter of the DOC building in the historic village part. Once lunch was over we had a most interesting talk from a member of the Onga Onga historical society all about the historic village we were in and some of the tales of the area from long ago – very intriguing. Next the museum in the old school house was opened along with the old butchers, jail, army cabin, cottage, shearing shed, workers hut complete with long drop and a prison – now the public loos! Each was filled with a great array of historic objects and pictures etc…something of interest to everyone.

The drizzle still persisted as some of the group now headed for home through the lovely slushy roadworks on the main highway – remember Manawatu Toyota sells Autoglym car care products if you want to restore that lost sparkle!

Thanks to Trev, Sandy and the Easter Bunny for todays run and making the most of the trying weather conditions.

Don’t forget the Awakino run next month – sure to be good – and spaces are still available!

Tags: Bulletin Board by Dom
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Many of you will be aware that the official MG Car Club (Wellington Centre) has been in touch with our group over recent months with an emphasis on incorporating MG Manawatu into the wider and “official” MG Car Club scene as associate members.

To keep everyone up to date with progress on this issue, I can report that an initial meeting to discuss this was held on Saturday March 13th in Otaki. Present at the meeting was Ross & Carolyn Fallaver, John Eames & Dominic Scott, representing MG Manawatu along with Bob Hulena, Terry Collier & Ross Armstrong from MGCC (Wellington Centre).

The purpose of this meeting was for the Wellington Centre to express their concerns about us running as an unofficial MG “club”, along with the implications of this, why they would like us to become part of the wider international MG scene and what they can offer us as part of this. It was also an opportunity for us to reinforce the fundamental values of our group and that we would need to retain a separate (but linked) identity, and continue to run our group as we always have and which has proven very successful up to this point.

After some fairly lively discussion from both points of view, we are now awaiting the MGCC (Wellington Centre) to forward to us a discussion document outlining how a simple “associate membership” scheme could be put into place, what we would gain from this, what they would gain and how it might affect our group.

Once we have received a written outline further details can be passed on to the group for consideration.

Tags: Bulletin Board by Dom
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After a recent drive in my ‘B I noticed a puddle of fuel under the car at the back of the fuel tank. After some investigation it turned out to be one of the two rubber fuel hoses that connect the pump to the fuel feed pipe under the car had perished and gone mushy around the clamp and had started to leak.

These hoses are well hidden from everyday view and easily forgotten about, so I decided it was timely to replace all the fuel hoses. Interestingly the under bonnet hoses were still in good condition unlike their under car counterparts.

Just a reminder to everyone to check these hoses periodically and particularly if you have a late B with the HIF4 carb set up, the fuel hose that connects the two carbs behind the air cleaners. Well hidden and sits above the hot exhaust manifold……one of our group has had this hose let go whilst on a previous run.

Tags: Technical by Dom
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Above: The MG Manawatu display featuring M Type, TC, Magnette, Frogeye Sprite, 2003 TF, & B roadsters and GT’s. (Photo: D Scott)

A fine sunny morning as members of our MG Manawatu Group assembled in Sanson on SH1 ready for an 8.30am departure to the Wanganui Charity Classic Motor Show. As we waited we got to enjoy quite a few classics of other marques passing en route to Wanganui. The XK Jaguar sounded great! Pat duly arrived with his 1931 M Type and told us of his good news – that he & Lynette have got engaged! Congratulations to both of them! I also think I heard some mention of “50″ coming up also……..!

Off we headed on a perfect calm sunny morning with tops down for an easy run to the City College grounds in Wanganui where we set about setting up our display of around 20 cars or so. Tents, flags and banners and information cards for each car made an interesting display for all to enjoy. Not long after everyone settled in for a good chat and catch up and some good looking picnics came out also. Everyone wandered around and enjoyed the more than 400 cars that were on display…wasn’t that big Bentley an amazing car!

John Eames was spotted on his own but Viv was nowhere to be seen, although we were all sure she was in the car when we picked them up at Turakina. A little while later (quite a while actually) Viv suddenly “appeared” and was acting like she had been there all along…little did she know that we all knew she had scuttled off to the movies in town to help fill in the day – it must have been been a very good movie to compete with what we had on offer!!!!

It was not long and 3pm had arrived and we all packed up and made our way back home after a very pleasant day with lovely weather amongst good friends as usual.

A big thank to you Rachel for organising our run (We’ll see Jasper at the next Wanganui show Rachel!!!!) and of course to Ken & his team in Wanganui for organising another good event – I don’t know how they keep managing to arrange such good weather!!!

Note: More photos in gallery soon……

Tags: Bulletin Board by Dom
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