(Produced by Graham Mackie)

New Secretary Ralph K. with great help from Mary hosted our relocated meeting. Barry Palmer thanked Ralph for stepping in to the breach to allow his meeting to happen later in the warmer months.

Visitors were Rob Ozane and wife Jenny. Rob was, I believe the Inaugural President of our Club. The story told was that he was driving down St. Georges Terrace in 1961 listening the exhaust note bouncing off the buildings when he noted Laurie North doing the same thing but in the reverse direction. They turned and met for a pow wow and decided as they knew others with TC's they would convene a gathering at his flat in Shenton Park. The Club was formed after that meeting. His TC was bought from Custom Credit and at 125,000 miles he sold it (and wished he hadn't) to Julian Cowan. Paul Gale was able to pull up its history of three other owners to find it's now in the Brian Wilkinson stable. His last contact had been from a guy in Alice Springs (Brian). He remembered that Mike lived in the hills and they had great fun coming down Greenmount hill.     He also found the meeting to be as if he had not been away. There was some mention of heavy drinkers – must have been another club!!!

Apologies John B, Martin S, the Pyles, Graham R, Kevin, Graham B, Neville G.

Graham A. will be away 6 weeks from next week.

Minutes of 1191

Snippets were calendar changes, rear vision mirror – concensus says vertical, brake adjustment, screws in brake drums.

Matters Arising

Gourmet Lunch by Morris attracted 8 cars – food excellent, afternoon tea at Darryl's top notch and christened his patio. Darbs could identify cars from oil droppings on driveway. Brian W. must be running dry 

Vic L is progressing. His TD sold. Wiring business may go to a Toodyay fellow that bought some Morris Minor parts.  Col B. said that by upgrading the Longden trophy it was not to belittle it but to add space which had run out. All info is on it. John L congratulated Colin but noted that the engraver had made his wife Karin into a Kevin without an operation. Will be amended in due course. John has some explaining at home... Old trophy to the archives???

Bob Annear has passed away reported Mary Ann. He apparently towed Colin Dines home with a piece of fencing wire on one occasion.  An innovator of machinery , delightful person, well regarded race car driver in a Peugeot Special.   

Natmeet meeting to discuss options to be at the Pinch northern retreat next Saturday 15^th. BYO for a BBQ or whatever.

Old Farts Lunch at Z's was a bright sunshining day – ideal for TC's and good tucker. Mike S. was wearing the British Old Farts jumper and we need a latin scholar to translate the saying. All must have skipped those lessons. It came from Brian Rainbow in the UK.

Ted and Maureen  are now contactable on mgtc@westnet.com.au.

Car Birthdays

During Aug            YA 3184      Mike S                  not known

During Aug            YA 5242      Col B                     not known

10^th Aug ’49           TC 9348      Graham A               7^th car of 17 on a Weds

10^th Aug ’49           TC 9349      Mike S                  8^th car of 17 on a Wed

11^th Aug ‘49            TC 9370      Rob B                    12^th car of 16 on a Thurs

15^th Aug ’47           TC 3326      Martin F                14^th car of 19 on a Fri

15^th Aug ’49           TC 9402      Rob D                    14^th car of 14 on a Mon

16^th Aug ’49           TC 9410       Peter D                  8^th car of 15 on a Tues

17^th Aug ’48            TC 6233      Tony C                   12^th car of 14 on a Tues

VSCC at Collie 12^th/13^th September . Bikes and Cars racing on a superb track plus a hill climb. Volunteers appreciated.

Wings and Wheels . Clark recommends we defer for a year . Same weekend as Collie. anyway so give it preference.  Poynton hangar no longer open. All agreed.

MG NA Salonette was featured in two UK Magazines . Mike S. sent them around.

Special Business

Next Meeting arrangements.  Clark R. reminded us that Barry Markham, who flew his Tiger Moth from England to Perth and wrote a book about it will be a guest speaker at 8pm next meeting at the Aviation Museum. Please arrive 7.30 pm to allow time for the talk. No museum inspection this time.

Chilly Willy Run - 16^th August  leaves Burswood carpark 7.30am sharp for Pelicans Cafe South Yunderup.  8.45 am   Morris is on 0419 911 103

Bob Bissaker. Morris says he is keen to come to any 50^th Anniversary Celebrations.

MG Car Club 4^th October have an event at Motoplex -witches hats, sprint, quarter mile. Speak to Morris for more info.

Dash instrument cover. Mike S. displayed one with new labels for instruments. Graham A's apprentice did the silk screen job- impressive work.

Next OFL is with Len to arrange. Still researching. The table sign now has a third leg Bert & Angie  in the Ford Ranger have broken down in Port Hedland and Broome.

Dave Ashley is looking for a header rail for an MGB.

Ron M. of Y Type clan went for a run with the Morgan Club. 25 cars. Morning tea Mt. Helena and lunch Herne Hill.

Number Plates with MG Prefix eg., MG 1945  will be available in polycarbonate shortly.

Safety Fast Run – entries close 22^nd August for the event at Club Capricorn. Will take a run north on Saturday and Toodyay on Sunday.  More from Brian W. 94444746  

Tonneau Cover price. Graham M . has had quotes of $460 and $720 and asked if they were about right. Concensus said OK at $450.

Unique Cars article featuring Ken and Mary Ann and the Plymouth Special was a great success. Not only free but got a sale within a week and went to a good home in SA.

Audi Quattro Mike S. flying to Sydney to inspect an Audi on Friday and if acquired will drive it back. May not be here for next meeting. Much discussion re steps to be taken when coming into WA to give 3rd party cover.

Commercial. Mike S. bought a Nikkon camera when his was lost but turned up. 3 inch screen. Price stated but I can't remember quantum. Mike's mobile is 0408 062 892.

Next Meeting - 1201 Thursday 20/8/09  hosted by Clark is to be at the Air Force Museum, Bullcreek. Please arrive about 7.30pm. Guest speaker commences 8pm.

Editorial Note

To fill this space I've extracted a segment from my life story, currently being written.

Carmania

My interest in cars stemmed, I suspect from my father.  Before I came along, Dad had owned a Citroen which he obtained from one brother if he gave another brother his motor- bike. He painted the Citroen red with a fly spray and then dotted it with yellow spots and it was nicknamed 'The Leopard'. In my early days, he invested in a couple of T Model Fords, an Austin 7 Meteor (bumble bee pointed tail end) as well as a Ford Pilot and Renault 750 for me to drive to Uni in Wollongong.

I vividly remember as a teenager, a black MG Y Type owned by Barry Piggot,  being driven around Kiama and I thought it was the nicest car I had ever seen.

By the time I had the funds to purchase one for myself, Dad and I travelled when I was 17 or 18  to Parramatta Road for a possible first car.  From all the Car Yards we entered, the only car I wanted was an MGTC. We took it for a trial run along Parramatta Road but the skinny 19 inch wheels kept getting stuck in the tram lines. In addition to that problem, the original steering box was not well designed and the car was all over the place. Dad then stated with some conviction 'turn this bloody .car around son and take it back. You're not having it. You will kill yourself'.

So that was my early MG experience.

Thirty years later I was to buy a T Type MG. It was in fact a black MGTD, made in 1950. I joined the MGTC Owners Club and took the car on a few events. One was a South West tour that took us to Esperance, Hopetoun, Bruce Rock and other stopovers. I lost a tread on one stretch and it broke the tail lamp.

I tried the wreckers yard in Esperance to no avail but on leaving, the wrecker noticed that a bee had somehow gotten into the speedo dial and was buzzing around and around. He very observantly called it my 'MG Bee'.