: : September 2007 Well, I said August was going to be a very busy month and so it has proved, despite the best efforts of the worst summer on record.  Athelhampton proved the exception, with a nice day, and only one brief shower. The same could not be said for the mid-month barbecue at Anderwood, but it just proved what a hardy lot 1009-ers are, with 17 others turning out for a lovely barbecue in the rain! As I write this I’ve just come back from the GymCarNa, again huge fun, a few good laughs, another barbecue and it stayed dry, if a little chilly. Before August is out I still have an MGs on Track day and the Hampshire Pageant of Motoring to enjoy. I would like to express my thanks for the kind words I’ve received over the Newsletter since I announced my intention last month. Just to clear any confusion I have been asked to join the MGs on Track committee and not the Air Ambulance, although my fund raising activities for them will continue, along with supporting this club’s events. I will also offer any assistance I can to anybody who would like to have a go at the Newsletter. Finally I must congratulate Malcolm Bailey and Cat Lake, their efforts in giving us a superb web site for the club have been recognised. A club member nominated them for the Hantsweb Awards 2007, from 81 nominees in the Best Special Interest category, we are one of the three finalists, the winner to be announced on September 18th. Bits, Bobs and the odd Spare Part So NAC have announced their first twelve dealerships to be awarded franchises to sell the new MG TF, the first of which will be the LE 500. It is a mix of former MG/Rover main agencies and independent specialists, all based in the central band across England, the nearest to us being Thomas Day of Fleet. Perhaps more surprising is that our own club, MGOC of Swavesey, have been awarded a franchise to sell the new cars, see the September issue of Enjoying MG. But is this so surprising?... their workshop and spares business is a huge thriving business. They have a huge, potential ready made market of keen enthusiasts and if you want one of these cars who better to by from? Let's be honest, if you are going to have problems with a new car, the club are going to be pretty keen to resolve any issues smartly, or else their reputation is going to plummet quickly, and amongst the people who they exist to serve. At the time of writing, there is no news about prices or of when deliveries may be expected to start, but NAC have said they would like a network of forty dealerships to be in place before sales commence, so there may yet be a dealer closer to home. I know that Viking Garage of West End, Southampton, former MG/Rover dealers have applied. < Return to previous page