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MG MG Y Type Promoting the Y Type to a wider audience BBS discussion at MG-Cars.info
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MG MG Y Type - Promoting the Y Type to a wider audience
| A recent email from Bryan Mellem commenting upon the MGCC's lack of decent coverage in Safety Fast of Mark Hansen's successes with his YB in the Classic Monte Carlo Rally earlier this year promted me to post this note and to outline how this might be addressed. To put this in context I have included part of Bryan's e-mail and added a few thoughts. He noted: 'I was thumbing through Safety Fast and came across a small picture of Marc Hanson’s YB.It did occur to me that the MGCC show very little interest in Marc’s achievements, but plenty of circuit racing. My past experience has been of a similar indifference by the Club, and I can assure anyone that hauling a caravan with a YA over the Alpes Maritimes takes a lot more grit and determination than buzzing round a small circuit on a Sunday afternoon. I can fully relate to Marc’s experience and feel that its long overdue that the Club take a more balanced view of achievements of our Y types instead of treating our cars as a kind of curiosity and not proper MG’s’ There is a significant degree of truth in these comments, although the model has gained wider acceptance in recent years. However, if folk don’t report this to a wider audience then it will probably remain that way. Perhaps, Mark you could write a few words and photographs for me that I can knock up into an article for not only Safety Fast! but also 'Enjoying MG’ (MGOC) and MG Octagon’s Bulletin’. I can also widen its circulation to the MG Enthusiast and the mainstream Classic Car magazines. Most are always seeking quality copy and I am more than willing to take on this role. Please use me as a conduit for 'spreading the word’. To paraphrase a well known saying - ' We have to take the Y Type to the top table rather than the top table seeking us out’! However, Peter Arnell has been contacted by MG Enthusiast and they are preparing an article about his YB, which is the reverse of the above saying! You can contact me on this format or e-mail me on: jerrybirkbeck@btinternet.com Thanks Jerry |
| Jerry Birkbeck |
| By a wider audience, do you mean members of the various MG clubs, the classic car fraternity or simply the general public? Completely unsolicited my YB has featured in a greeting card display by Dorset artist, Richard Atkins. http://www.watkinart.co.uk/collections/dorset-prints/products/wimborne-minster-with-mg-print Richard is in the process of designing a second greeting card featuring the MG YB, watch this space, as they say. Wendy Peart runs a modelling agency called South Coast Gems, the model Lauren, sitting in the YB, checking her make up, features on Wendy's home page, you can find the rest of the photo shoot, including close ups of the car, elsewhere on her website. http://www.southcoastgems.co.uk/ One of the photographers that Wendy uses is one Adrian Lambert. Adrian booked the car for a classic photo shoot on Poole Quay. For further shots of that event go to Events on his web page, then scroll to Summer Breeze. http://www.adrianlambert.co.uk/summerbreeze/h9aee88b#h7794848 Throughout the summer months, a classic car show along the front at Bournemouth, known as Classic Cars on the Prom, featured the YB on their 2015 flyer/calendar details. I can't find that photo on their website and I'm not savvy enough to upload it myself. But, if you go to http://www.crotchcooler.co.uk/gallery/ Scroll down to April 2015 the YB pops up again. The car has also appeared in a short film made by the students at Bournemouth College of Art. It's done countless weddings and is a feature for The Wedding Car Hire company it's registered with. The Swing era band, The Jive Aces, saw it at a show they were performing at and have used it as a promotional aid. About the only thing it's not done so far, is appear on TV, Give it time. |
| R Taylor |
| Robert, I remember seeing you dressed up in period clothing surrounded by the most glamourous models... one of the rare times the YB has been overshaddowed. LOL Going slightly off topic is the need to highlight and promote all classic ownership to the next generation. This was touched on briefly yesterday at the Hagerty Classic Question Time 2016 at Beaulieu. The seminar was talking about the values of Collectors cars, and one question was "What is the definition of a Classic Car?" It went on to discuss things that affects the value of the cars 1. Originality & Provenance 2. Brexit 3. Aged related number plates 4. MOT - should all classics still be MOT'd 5. Left hand drive converted to Right hand drive - what % would it be worth less than original RHD car etc. 6. Paris & London banning older cars, is this start of more to come. One interesting theme that keeps re-occurring is how does the classic car movement in general sell the car to the next generation and custodians of our cars? An auctioneer suggested that the young are more interested in the faster more modern "Classic" than perhaps the humble Y Type and equivalents, maybe this is down to practicality i.e. speed to keep up with modern road conditions, or perhaps it is simple economics of the cars being out of reach of those in their 20/30s! Either way without engaging this age group there will be a glut of old cars when the present owners pass on, so it is in the interests of all to keep the market vibrant and to pass on the expertise, which is why the likes of Bicester Heritage is so vital. One question I didn't put to the floor but was on my mind was will the idea of Driverless cars have impact? The key to all this is use the car and enjoy it at every opportunity, showing the greater public that the classic car movement is a vibrant and greater good for global PLC GDP. |
| R E Knight |
| Robert and Richard - thank you for all that you both do to bridge to a wider audience. I have written to Simon Goldsworthy (MGE Editor) and suggested he contact Marc Hanson for a feature article too. I look forward to that as Simon has a great soft spot for Ys and is very happy to work with us. Meanwhile the IMGYTR will continue to try to provide a good service to MG Y owners and fans to help promote the model. Happy motoring Paul |
| Paul Barrow |
| Robert - can you send me an email so I can contact you off line please? Click on the link on this message where my address shows to reply. Thanks Paul |
| Paul Barrow |
| With respect the wider public are unaware of what the Y type is apart from hopefully a gleaming chrom embellished old car, but within the MG fraternity one would hope for a more informed appreciation of its qualities. I read at length of racing successes with very occasional article of some amazing journey. but it seems to me that unless its a 2 seater open top car it isn't a proper MG, in saying that I did enjoy the Classic Le Mans article. There must be many stories of exploits by Y types which go un published, one perhaps of the late Allan Chick journey to Turkey now lost for ever, my own when I took the wrong turning in western Italy and ended up with a caravan on the Sospel Pass, I shouldn't have been there but how the YA got me out of that mess is the stuff of legends. I'm sure that other owners have had experiences that should be published. It just seems to be met with a yawn by the MGCC. Bryan |
| B Mellem |
| In defense of the MGCC Bryan I doubt that you will find an article about Y Types that has been turned down for publication. It is very much up to ourselves to write up our experiences and offer them for publication. The lack of coverage is more down to the number of owners of each type of MG.I have about 65 Y owning members on my email list there are probably thousands on T type lists. Lets not forget the club did own and promote Little Gem for over 8 years. I think the longest they have owned any MG model. Peter |
| Peter Vielvoye |
On the other hand I did get turned down when I asked for the picture of models around a YB to be used on the front page. The reason given was that the editor tries to evenly use different models of MG and we had only just had a Y on the front page perhaps our turn is due again I must re submit.
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| Peter Vielvoye |
| The MG Octagon Car Club magazine The Bulletin has had a pretty good number of articles in of late too on the MG Y. Look out for these as Reprinted Articles in the coming months as they (MGOCC) have kindly given permission to the International MG Y Type Register to reprint these on the website. Best wishes Paul |
| Paul Barrow |
| In 1979 on our way to a rally at Hausach we parked our caravan at a camp site near Ostend, later a large contingent of MMM members entered the same almost empty field saw us and pitched on the other side. I recognised some as prominent figures in the MGCC so tried to engage them in conversation but found them indifferent to a point of rudeness. Most of their cars were on trailers, so it was ironic that on that trip my YA demonstrated that it could wipe the floor with their precious ornaments. I hope things have improved since then. Bryan |
| B Mellem |
| Bryan While we cannot offer you a 'real' field of MG Y Types, I do hope that you feel welcome in our 'virtual' field of MG Ys. Paul |
| Paul Barrow |
| I was at Shuttleworth this afternoon for their 'Wings and Wheels' show (I didn't take the Y because last time I did, their speed bumps ripped my exhaust off!). I found there a Y Type I hadn't seen before; an early LHS battery box YA. I spoke to the owner who was instantly enthusiastic about the car, telling me how much he loved driving it and extolling it's looks; all this before I had told him that I had one too. He had a friend with him who hadn't ridden in the car before today and he was equally enthusiastic about it. I asked if he was in the MGCC because I wanted to know if he had heard about the 70th Anniversary Spring run. He said he had been but after attending one meeting, which he found cliquey, he didn't renew his subscription. I won't say anymore but my experience was the same and echoed what Bryan experienced on his Ostend campsite. I told him that Y Type owners are a wonderful bunch who attend social events where the boys are left to indulge their interest in engines and arcane Y detail while their delightful and intelligent wives talk about important stuff over a bottle of wine. I hope that I have persuaded him to come to the 2017 Spring Run, but it'll be no thanks to the MGCC. (He lives near you Gerry and had heard of you; but then who hasn't?). Peter |
| P S Sharp |
| Hi Peter (S) Was the chap who knew me Bernard Foad his Y is a duo tone and a very nice model? He lives about a mile away. I sold him some spares a few months ago. He turns up at our monthly natters, a nice guy. I am more than aware of the reaction of some of the swivel eyed members of the MGCC, although in fairness a lot are far more receptive, Certainly you are absolutely right about Y Type owners - they are a really nice bunch - a point that was echoed by Mollie Murray but a few months ago. The folks who attend our events are not all members of the MGCC and that of course doesnt matter one iota. Oh and by the way I am a Jeremy - hence JERRY and not a Gerald which would be Gerry! How is the resto going on your Y? I have just sold the MGA and have bought a rather nice TC, which hopefully will be delivered in 2-3 weeks time! Cheers Jerry |
| Jerry Birkbeck |
| Hi, In all the years of Y type ownership I've experienced many different attitudes to Y types. They are often a very underrated car and have been seen only fit as donors for the two seaters. Often compared to more bread and butter cars of the era. I think the Z type has also suffered similar attitudes. As I was once told by a very prominent member of the the Club "It's only a saloon, not worth bothering with" Hence it took me 40+ years to join the MGCC. One thing the post war T type owners forget is that the Y type was developed pre-war and is the last new model that Cecil Kimber actually had a hand in the design. (the TC/TD/TF being developments of an earlier model) David |
| D P Jones |
| I am a member of the South Wales Classic Car Club which caters for any make of car which the owners wish to regard as classic, there is a totally different attitude between members and their eclectic mix of cars. Anything from a Citroen Dolly to a 1930s RR, Jag XK to Fordson van, it doesn't matter all are equally welcome. Why is it so structured in the MGCC where some are more worthy than others. Marc Hanson's car should be on the front cover of Safety Fast Bryan |
| B Mellem |
| Some two years ago I held a presentation about the Y-type on an MG Saloon evening held by the local MGCC. All the 20 people in the audience listened carefully and I infected at least one person who has two Y-types now! I don't have any experience with the negative sentiments from other MG owners, but that may be because I'm always enthusiastically putting forward the advantages of the Y. I also believe in having a properly sorted car that you can drive 'as if you stole it'. On a Swiss mountain pass a British TC owner came to me to complement me on the pace I set on the way up. He said he could barely keep up and obviously had some work to do under the bonnet. Just keep giving the good example and be glad the prices of our cars are not too high to enjoy them to the fullest. |
| Willem van der Veer |
| A fascinating development in this thread. Last weekend Chris Callaghan, the MGCC Y Register Secretary attended the Midget Register Event and was delighted to spot two Ys both owned by Paul and Maggie Grafham, one of which was a YA and the other the YB Little Gem, which they acquired by auction held by the MGCC at MGLive! in June. LG had been excellently maintained by Neil Cairns. However, the front seats needed recovering and she was looking a little down at heel. However, a repaint and retrim have revived her and she looks very impressive! Well done Paul and Maggie. I forwarded the photo to Ian Quarrington, the Car Club Chair who was delighted. He in turn passed it onto Adam Sloman, the Club General Manager who wants to make a feature of it in Safety Fast. No doubt they will contact Paul and Maggie and if they are happy to provide the information as a basis for a spread in Safety Fast! We will see but it is a case of spreading the word and as Willem has suggested there is a greater awareness of the model. I wonder how many are nearing restoration across the world and how many of those are the result of restos over a number of years and those that have been encouraged to complete a rebirth if their Y through the raising of the profile? Anyhow encouraging and we need to continue the work over the world. Use classic car magazines in your country to raise the flag! All the best Jerry |
| Jerry Birkbeck |
| Jerry http://www.midgetregister.com/galleries/2016-midget-register-road-run/ Looking at the photo's Peter Arnell YB owner was there too. Had Y Type presence. Richard |
| R E Knight |
| Dear All, Apologies, I have only just seen this thread. In defence of Safety Fast and the MGCC, they have agreed to carry an article on the Monte and Mille Miglia exploits of UMG 662 - I just need to find the time to write something. In addition Vintage Racecar (a US publication) will do an article on the car this autumn (to be published early next year). I am also working with Brian Rainbow, the Chairman of the Octagon Car Club, to produce two articles for their club magazine - one on the Monte and the other on the MM. I have nearly finished the first - the second will follow in a few weeks. In the past MG Enthusiast carried a nice article on UHK 111 and Octane Magazine did a great article with some lovely photos on UHK a few years ago. I think there are reprints of both articles on this website. I had asked the new editor of Octane if he was interested in doing anything on UMG 662 but he didn't even bother replying! Personally I have only ever had a positive reaction from car enthusiasts when they see UMG 662 or UHK 111. I think they like seeing what looks like a great aunt's car doing unlikely things (racing / rallying). Little do they realise (till I tell them) that the Y type was the BMW of its day - a sporting saloon with IFS and rack and pinion steering (when at the time - and for long after - even Jaguars were still labouring on with horrible old worm boxes). I have been a member of the MGCC for over 20 years but on the whole restrict my involvement with the club to the sprint and hill climb guys (and very nice they are too). I have attended a few local events and on the whole people have been friendly. The only time that I detected any degree of sneering was when I used to take along MG Metros (a guilty pleasure of mine). The Abingdon devotees (usually those with 'B's) could be a bit snobby about them (and the MGF). Quite ironic when you consider the way pre war MG owners used to look down on MGA / B owners! I guess in the past owners of the Oxford built MG's used to look down on the Abingdon cars! And at the last meet I was at I was amused to hear the owner of an MG ZR say that the MG3 / 6 and GS "were not real MGs"! Anyway, many apologies for not doing more with the Y Register. Hopefully in the future I will be able to get to know you all in the real rather than the virtual world! |
| Marc Hanson |
| Paul Barrow wrote: "Robert - can you send me an email so I can contact you off line please? Click on the link on this message where my address shows to reply." Paul, I have received your letter, thank you, what a delightful surprise it was. Sorry I couldn't respond immediately, but I have now answered it. From here on it's up to Royal Mail & USPS. Don't hold your breath. |
| R Taylor |
| http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-37449289 I see MG are stopping production in the UK, hence best off promoting the MG models built in UK. |
| R E Knight |
| Robert Thank you very much for your very interesting and informative letter. It will take me several reads to absorb it all fully :)! Paul |
| Paul Barrow |
| Jerry wrote: "I was thumbing through Safety Fast and came across a small picture of Marc Hanson’s YB.It did occur to me that the MGCC show very little interest in Marc’s achievements, but plenty of circuit racing. My past experience has been of a similar indifference by the Club, and I can assure anyone that hauling a caravan with a YA over the Alpes Maritimes takes a lot more grit and determination than buzzing round a small circuit on a Sunday afternoon. I can fully relate to Marc’s experience and feel that its long overdue that the Club take a more balanced view of achievements of our Y types instead of treating our cars as a kind of curiosity and not proper MG’s" I've never heard of Safety Fast so I looked it up and found a picture of a Y type with it's offside wheels off the ground as it corners hard in some race or other. This wasn't an MG sports car, it was a Y type, in race mode. What better achievement is there to promote a particular model? The argument about proper MG's being sports cars is baloney, I know that a roadster is likened to a mistress: Exciting, Exalting, Exhilarating, Expensive. And a saloon is likened to a wife: Exquisite, Experienced, Exclusive, Exceptional, some might argue differently, or perhaps I got lucky in the marriage stakes, but all said and done, I would say that most people couldn't even tell you the name of popular celebrity cars. Did you know for example that there are two Wolseleys in Foyle's War? Similarly, most can't name the Jaguar in the detective Morse series. It would be fascinating to know what exactly would, so call, raise the Y types profile. |
| R Taylor |
| I am sure the Editor of SF would jump at an article from Mark and I repeat No Articles about Y types have been turned down to my knowledge certainly in the 8 years I have been chairman of the MGCC Y Register. Please send in your experiences to Jerry or Andy Knott the Editor you don't need to be a member. I know back in the 20th century there was some discrimination but MG Saloons are well represented now, right through to Chinese models. For Y Types Jerry has a half page of Y News every month and twice a year has the opportunity for up to a 4 page spread. He is always looking for interesting Y news. We also make the front cover occasionally so I have attached two SF cover pics of Y Types. Elsewhere if you are looking for an example of a brilliant 4 page spread that gets right to the spirit of the Y Type only two weeks ago there was one in Classic Car Buyer issue 350. Check out our Face Book Page for details and day to day informed comments, excellent photos and technical solutions. https://www.facebook.com/mgoneandaquarterlitre 
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| Peter Vielvoye |
Second cover picture
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| Peter Vielvoye |
| Internet is the problem and solution to the question. Prior to the Internet, safety fast had a fair few technical articles on Y's and other models of MG. I remember at college in 96/97 using the early Internet and Netscape to try to find info on Y types, of which I found next to nothing. 20 years later, we are spoilt with a vast array of information starting off with International MG Y Type Register which has almost complete source of data and hints tips for owners, there is resources such as NTG for photo's of spares, and Octagon who can provide the parts at lower price. Neil Cairns gave up writing the monthly technical update in Safety Fast but followed recently in past few years with the Facebook page, often with a Q's and A's style of post. I often tour websites such as different Australian MGCC pages where you can see event reports and photos of Y's In defence of SF and other magazines in general it must be hard to find new material that does not already exist either in old SF magazine or on one of the three main website platforms www.mgytypes.org www.mgccyregister.co.uk facebook.com/mgonequarterlitre Marc Hanson, also had informative Twitter page of Monte Carlo and blog for his second adventure, so any SF article would be slow reproduce of what readers could already have read about. If you think of the knowledge known about the Y Type now compared to early internet days, I think the proof is there to be seen, like the rest of world, the Y community is now a smaller place with global help on BBS and templates for boot floors being sent from Switzerland to US I read recently. Amazing world of Y's. |
| R E Knight |
| With respect I have no idea what a twitter is or where to find one, no I look to SF as a source of information or its not worth having. I left the MGCC in the 1980's because it only wanted our money so as to indulge themselves in what they considered to be MG's. even now there is usually three articles on circuit racing each month. I also detect a trend to drop technical items perhaps since big money is moving into the market they all have a man who does all that. Bryan |
| B Mellem |
| Hi Bryan You arent wrong. Hopefully though you find the pages on the International MG Y Type Register to be informative and interesting? If not, tell me what you like or want more of and provide the content for it. We try to always bear in mind that this is YOUR club and website. Paul |
| Paul Barrow |
| One of the items Robert Taylor recently sent me in a packed letter was a leaflet for the Classic Cars on the Prom 2015 event - see attached! Robert certainly does his bit to promote the MG Y Type to a wider audience! Well done Robert and thank you for all the info in your letter! Always good to hear from MG Y owners by snail mail as well as email. Keep enjoying your cars guys and girls and keep enjoying the website too. Paul 
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| Paul Barrow |
| In regard to Brian Mellums comments regarding "Safety Fast" , as a newcomer to the MGCC I would tend to agree. Jerry's articles every month are very interesting and in the great range of models and types within the MG family certainly keep the Y type flag flying. Of course, the more modern MG tend to have a good following as they are affordable to the 20-30 year olds and they are still good every day cars. However, any specialist publication is only as good as it's correspondents and contributors. Note the very few letters to the editor or special technical items. The editor may not have a great deal to choose from, (witness the frequent requests for material from the editor of the Octagon Car Club bulletin) as well as, of course, internet forums such this esteemed one, provide solutions to issues as well as good advice almost instantly from right around the world proving to be a great way of keeping like minded people in touch with one another. So, contribute to keep them alive! As to the main topic of the thread, I often meet people in various situations, Static shows, petrol filling stations or even supermarket car parks who tell me that dad/uncle/neighbour etc. used to have one of those, even one guy who was taxied to school every day in a Y type. Sometimes even offers of spare parts. Many consider the Y type to be probably one of the prettiest just post war cars ever made. I await with interest more detail about the round Britain relay, so that I can give the local media a poke for some free publicity for the Y type. Well done to Marc Hanson for his exploits now that is promoting the Y type. Regards Dave |
| D P Jones |
| For those interested, the first article on UMG 662's trip to Monaco last January has just appeared in the November Bulletin of the Octagon Car Club. |
| Marc Hanson |
| Look forward to getting my copy Marc! Non-MGOCC members will have to wait for this to appear in Reprinted Articles though! Paul |
| Paul Barrow |
| Anyone who reads the monthly magazine MG Enthusiast will know that the front page feature of this month's issue is that of the five 'T' Types. Read about each and you will soon see many references to The MG 'Y' Type. The write up, although T Type sports car orientated, will leave readers in no doubt that MG produced some fine saloon cars, of which the aesthetically pleasing Y type was one. Often referred to as a TD spares donor, readers who are not MG aficionados, will soon learn the the Y Type was the basis for the TD, not the other way around. Further still, those readers with a constructive thought, will deduce that MG were way ahead of their time. Let me explain by an analogy. Back in the 80's, I drove a VW Passat company car, on one occasion the car's servicing clashed with an important appointment. The VW service manager came to the rescue by allowing me to drive his company car for the day, the car being an Audi. Returning his car that evening, I commented that his car was much the same as mine. "You're right," he agreed, adding: "you see those four circles on the grille of my car, they cost a grand a piece." Four thousand pounds being the price difference between our two cars. Now think back to the Y Type and the T Types. MG had come up with a way of selling to the 30 somethings, a car that, in the owners head was the dream car he desired as a skint 18 year old. So now, as a 30 something, married with a couple of kids, but with an income far in excess of his impoverished teenage years, he could indulge in his teenage fantasy, albeit with a couple of sprogs on the back seat. |
| R Taylor |
That’s a very interesting comparison Robert, although it should be remembered that from the time of its launch in 1947 through till the end of production in 1953 the Y was always more expensive than the contemporary TC and TD’s. The cost of a new Y at launch was £641.00 (in Purchase Tax) whilst the TC was £527 (inc PT). The average annual salary was £400, so it was always (in the mind of the MG Car Company) a more expensive and far better equipped model than its sister TC’s and TD’s. Certainly, if you look at the promotional literature of the day the Y Type was indeed seen as the car for the professional man (and in general it was a male!) and someone who had owned an open two seater and now had a family and needed a saloon. It was marketed as a SPORTS saloon! Which considering it had a top speed of around 78 mph was somewhat of a misnomer (although a TC and TD were pushing it a 80 plus! I am unsure that those of us fortunate enough to own a Y Type now, would necessarily have felt that the TC or TD that they had lusted after as a teenager would be indulging their fantasy in a Y Type - though I stand to be corrected! You mentioned in an earlier posting under this thread that - 'most people couldn't even tell you the name of popular celebrity cars'. You are probably correct there, though it is amazing the number of folk who attend major classic car events that have 'come along for the ride' and the Classic Car Show is a case in point. Last month 71,000 attended the 3 day event. Whilst many could probably name Morse’s Jag, most may not but there is a great interest in older cars at these shows and attending summer events and shows of all descriptions with classic cars in attendance. To promote a model means getting out to these places, writing about them and explaining to a wider public what it is about your Y or whatever that attracts you to it and how straightforward they are to use and insure. It should be a pre-requisite of ownership of a classic that you use it and only that way can a greater number of folk be aware of the significance of these vehicles in the development of the history and fabric of our modern society. |
| Jerry Birkbeck |
| Jerry, Selfish but true...I think a lot to do with attendance is about time, money and weather. I like local trips, spur of moment when weather is nice. Nothing worse than commitment of date in future and weather is raining, deposit or full fee is required and the fun is destroyed by the weather. I understand organising an event requires commitment from attendees paying in advance if it involves hotels, venues to be booked etc, however this can put folk off for reasons above, hence why I've not signed up for round Britain tour next year, as I don't want to be tied to a specific date, but I do promise I'll support and promote Ys by regularly driving on public roads on nice enjoyable days in the sun shine. Call me a fair weather driver if you wish, but I can't either recall a time when I've said to family "let's go for drive through new forest" when rain is pouring. Not much fun is it. Events need flexibility and venues that don't charge so you can turn up on the day, an example being crotch cooler at Alton, it's at venue but no commitment to pre pay, just turn up on the day. Richard |
| R E Knight |
| Absolutely true Richard. However, even the for free events are reliant on folk turning up otherwise they wouldnt be run. So as the the British weather is so unpredictable there are occasions inevitably where folk have paid and the weather is foul but thats unfortunate What do you want a compensation scheme if it rains? That would result in no events being run! The only time that I can recall any organised run being cancelled was as a result of a Government edict in 2001 (?) when the UK suffered from an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. I am sure that if every classic car owner took your thinking through to every event they would never commit themselves to anything. In this context the Round Britain relay will rely on names being put forward to an as yet unspecified date which in itself will have to be flexible and may well be influenced by the weather. That being so I hope that you might reconsider your view when more details are published in the next month. I will be including all details of Ys at 70 in each of the Classic Car magazines - Classic Cars, C and SC, The Automobile, Practical Classics, MG Enthusiast, and working closely with the Octagon, Owners Club and MGCC to ensure that the profile of the Y is raised. Hopefully including as a starter the (free) New Years Day Gathering at Stoney Stratford. If folk are attending any event in their Y in 2017 I would love to receive any photos and experiences that I can relate and forward to the Classic Car press and wider. Thanks Jerry |
| Jerry Birkbeck |
| Jerry wrote: " If folk are attending any event in their Y in 2017 I would love to receive any photos and experiences that I can relate and forward to the Classic Car press and wider." Jerry, if you get the chance, look up a Swing-Jive band called The Jive Aces. They play music from that late 30's through to early 50's period. They are a, much in demand, extremely popular band with those that enjoy such music. My wife has agreed to make them period Aloha shirts, which they want to wear when they film their next video. Centre stage of that video will be my YB. I don't know when as yet, you only have to see the band's gig guide to see how busy they are, but when it happens I'll try and get some personal photos as well as pointing you towards the YouTube link. Richard will confirm that my wife and I don't just dress the part, we live it. |
| R Taylor |
| Robert Please let me know when the video is made. Will it be available on YouTube? If so, I will be happy to put that on our Ys on Film and other media and promote not only MG Ys but also great music too! That is a Win Win!! Paul |
| Paul Barrow |
| I have two articles on Ys in my latest Club magazine. One on my attendance at TYme in Canberra 2017 in my YT and the other is an information sheet on MG 1 1/4 ltr / Y type. see http://32js022xf7eoyi8t1gw7lhjj6.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Dec-Jan2017TM.pdf cheers Stuart |
| Stuart Duncan |
| Stuart, Excellent, I especially liked the article about Facebook to the end of newsletter, and three followers. So true. Richard |
| R E Knight |
| Hi Stuart That's a very interesting link. May I use some of this in any copy that I write for a number of different magazines as part of promoting the Y Type during the 70th Anniversary celebrations in 2017. Sincerely Jerry Birkbeck You can e-mail me off line On: jerrybirkbeck@btinternet.com |
| Jerry Birkbeck |
| Stuart, the poem gave me such a laugh, it does make me wonder where the time goes. I've written a ditty about my YB but for the life of me I can't remember if I shared it on this forum. Paul was sent a copy, and I think Richard might have read it at Cobweb Spin, but the grey cells forget more than they remember these days, so I just cannot remember if it was ever posted here. |
| R Taylor |
| Robert Can you please send me an email as your address that I have is coming up invalid. Thanks Paul |
| Paul Barrow |
| The thread title: "Promoting the Y Type to a wider audience," really resonated with me last Sunday. I dropped my wife off at a fabric warehouse, she has always made her own clothes, (and a good few of mine.) Knowing that I probably won't see her for at least a couple of hours, I wandered off to a newsagent for a Sunday newspaper. On the news stand I saw a magazine titled: "The Complete Guide to MG Saloons." It cost seven quid, but, well I'm a sucker for the marque. Did you know that MG saloons started life in the 1950's with the Magnette? The ZA/ZB featured prominently, less so the sixties Magnette. The MG Metro also featured, taking five full pages. The 1100/1300 had a small mention, but the bulk of the publication was reserved for the MG ZS based on the Rover 200 series, the MG ZT, based on the Rover 75 and all of the latter model's engine variations. Silly me, I should have read the foreword by Kevin Jones. He tells us that he was an apprentice at the company in 1980. Chances are he's never heard of the Y Type, let alone the SVW series or anything with an MG badge made pre-war. It was the title: The Complete Guide, that caught my attention.A lesson learned, I shall be much more wary in future. |
| R Taylor |
| https://magsdirect.co.uk/magazine/practical-classics-guide-to-mg-saloons/ Robert, the magazine is published by Practical Classics, I like their magazine, but you won't find a lot on Y Types in their magazine, correct. Nice article on Y Types in this months Octagon Bulletin. Richard |
| R E Knight |
| Thanks for saving me the cost Robert. Unfortunately the level of knowledge of some authors on MG Saloons is woeful! The item should of course include a date - MG Saloons from 1955. It seems that history of the car starts from the mid 1950s onwards was when automobile production began! A very notable exception is Malcolm Green with his detailed accounts every month of different MGs in the Owners Club magazine Enjoying MG. I am sorry you were mislead by an errant author but thanks for the warning - avoid! All the best Jerry |
| Jerry Birkbeck |
This thread was discussed between 03/09/2016 and 14/02/2017
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