: : March 2007 The monthly gathering at the Blandings saw the place heaving with members, a cheery sight to gladden the weary worker, as I’ve already mentioned. I was also pleased to welcome for the first time Alan Sands who was later joined by his wife Tina. Alan bought an MG F towards the end of last summer, I think he said? And has been enjoying it ever since, I know that Tina has been enjoying driving it as well. Alan is looking to get more out of the MG experience and also some tips on servicing and improving, so I was pleased to point him the direction of Richard Platt and John Holt, fellow F owners. So I hope we will see John and Tina in the future. Also along for the first time was Laurence Pine, who I must apologise to now, as I didn’t catch up with until just before I left. But I know he received a warm welcome from Malcolm Bailey and Gordon Maxwell. Laurence has a 1275 Midget which, if my very vague memory serves me correctly, he has done some restoration to before putting it on the road. Indeed this I think was the chrome bumper car I admired in the car park lights that I didn’t recognise? In any case I hope to see Laurence and his son soon so I can get the full story from them. Changing tack slightly form the normal line I take with this column, we were all sorry to note Tania was missing, Bryan turned up a little later than usual and explained she had only just got in from work and was completely tired out. You will now be aware of Tania’s decision to resign the post of Secretary because of the very real pressures of work. I’m sure I speak for all of you when I say how sorry we are to hear this news, but also how grateful we are to have had such a superb hard working secretary for the last ? years. I have to put that in because I don’t know how long it has been, having only been in the club for two years myself. But this bit it is important, the best way to repay her hard work is for ONE OF YOU to step forward NOW and take on this role. Your club needs you, but more importantly Tania needs you now, so the pressure is off and she can start to enjoy turning up to club events when life allows and not because she feels she has to. The social side of life is a relief from the pressure and stress of work that we all need. So if you think you can fulfil this role please make it known to Tania as soon as you can, her contact details are on our Contact Us page. Bits, Bobs and the odd Spare Part I’ve had my ZS for just over a month now and do you know the most often asked question I get about it? Well I can tell you it isn’t “What’s it like to drive” or “what makes it different to a Rover 45”. Oh! No Sir, it is in fact “How do you get it repaired and where do you get parts for one of them now?”. I find it bizarre that people think because the car company went bust then all the suppliers must have done the same. Now all of you who own MGFs, ZRs, ZSs, ZTs or any of the equivalent Rover models will have heard of X-Part, but if you haven’t, then listen up. X-Part is the spares side of the former MG-Rover that was sold off by BMW in 2003, 2 years before MG-Rover went belly up. X-Part is an offshoot of Caterpillar International, yep, the company that started with earth moving equipment and now empcompasses everything from those mammoth machines to trendy clothing and one of the largest logistics organizations in the world. Since the demise of MG-Rover they have also set up X-Part AutoService Centers, to replace the former franchised dealers, many of these are in fact those former franchised dealers. So for the equivalent service, repair and genuine spares in our area, we have Sewards at Christchurch, Viking Garage at Hedge End and Martins at Winchester. But you may be interested to know that X-Part also have their own web site for genuine accessories for all MG and Rover models, where you can order them on line, including some of the X-Power performance upgrades. So if you after over mats, mud flaps, dog-guards or what have you, go to, www.xpart-accessories.com. I got involved with an enquiry on the MGs on Track forum last week about upgrading MGB brakes. You may recall I did an article about upgrading my B’s brakes to the Powerstop X25 big brake kit last year. (Copies still available for anybody who missed it just , Ed) The thread was from a member who wanted to fit vented front discs on a standard car and I advised that wasn’t worth the expense. The Powerstop set up, combined with braided hoses, was more than adequate for standard or road tuned cars. I directed him towards their web site where they claim that buying direct from them is the cheapest option. Well I can tell you that it isn’t, they want in the region of £200 plus carriage for the kit without braided hoses. So I checked out Mike Rolls' MG Services web site, www.mikerolls4mgs.co.uk, and found he is still doing the disc/pad kit for £159. So if you are thinking of upgrading your brakes, then my advice is to pop along to Mike's, it is a lovely run to Fifehead Magdalen, there is always plenty of interest to see in Mike's Aladdin’s Cave and you can have a lovely lunch and stroll around Shaftesbury. But I’d do it quickly before he puts his price up! < Return to previous page