Around the UK in 30 days for MG Enthusiast who took on the World!

Roy Locock, the MG Car Club member who successfully completed a 39,000 mile Around the World trip in his 1977 MG Midget, is hitting the road again!

Oxfordshire based Locock received extensive media coverage in the latter part of 2009 when he successfully completed his mammoth journey, all of which was in aid of Unicef. 

The 62 year old who survived earthquakes in Panama, waded through floods in Australia and dodged Taliban bullets in Pakistan is taking his MG Midget, affectionately known as Bridget, to meet fellow Classic Car enthusiasts.

Starting in April, happy go lucky Locock is embarking on a more sedate journey – a month long trip of the UK during which time he’ll give a series of presentations to members of the MG Car Club.

Once again, proceeds from the tour will be donated to Unicef and combined with the substantial sum already raised.

Roy’s tour, aptly titled “An Evening with Miss Bridget”, will begin and conclude, at the MG Car Club’s recently extended headquarters in Abingdon, the site of the old MG factory. His UK journey will see him give presentations throughout the UK – including a talk in Scotland.

Locock has condensed his 18 month journey into a rip-roaring two hour presentation. The former telecommunications engineer will recall tales that will set tongues wagging, jaws clanging and heads shaking!
An excited Locock said:

“Since I’ve been back in the UK I’ve had several requests to attend MG Car Club meetings to relate my adventure around the world. Rather than tackle these on a piecemeal basis I spoke with the MGCC to see if a tour could be arranged and I’m delighted we’ve been able to lock in so many dates.

I know how much passion there is for MG up and down the Country and I’m hoping the tour will prove extremely popular.

Of course, there were many experiences throughout the trip that raised the adrenalin levels. These included my brush with the Taliban, the meteorological extremes of Australia and earthquakes of Panama. Some events were actually pleasant and I will try to give people as complete understanding as possible in the time”.

The provisional tour is currently as follows, more dates are likely to be added.
•    MGCC Abingdon, Kimber House, 9th April.
•    Midland Centre, East, Loughborough 14th April
•    MGCC MG101 Lunch Group , 16th April
•    MGCC Anglia Centre, 20th April
•    MGCC Yorkshire  Centre, 24th April
•    MGCC Tyne Tees Centre, 28th April
•    MGCC Caledonian  Centre, 9th May
•    MGCC North West Centre , 11th May
•    MGCC Midland Centre, 12th May
•    MGCC Abingdon – Kimber House, 14th May

For more information please contact the MG Car Club.

Chris Seaward
01235 849731
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ON Saturday 5 December, the MG Car Club hosted a PR & Communications seminar at Gaydon Motor Heritage Centre, Warwickshire.

It was a productive and lively day, during which lots of exciting projects were discussed.

Of course, it's not practical to post everything that was talked about in a single news item. Therefore, any member wishing to see the two powerpoint presentations by MGCC General Manager Julian White and Chris Seaward can request them by e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A new way of dealing with inter club communications was introduced to the attendees.

Chris Seaward has been appointed PR and Communications Manager responsible for sending and receiving communications to CRB PR and Comms officers (or secretaries)

All main Club PR is to be handled by Chris Seward except for MGLive!

If your C/R/B wants to talk about anything PR or communication related, please call Chris Seaward direct on 01235 849731.

2010 is going to be a VERY exciting year for the MG Car Club.

MG CAR CLUB member Roy Locock completed his 39,000 mile, 17 month round-the-world journey at Kimber House on Friday afternoon. Roy and ‘Bridget’, his affectionately nicknamed 1977 MG Midget, journeyed through a total of 27 countries in a trip that saw the Oxfordshire based enthusiast dodge gunfire from the Taliban in Pakistan and narrowly avoid flash floods in Australia.

62 year old Roy was greeted in Cemetery Road Abingdon, the marque’s spiritual home, by dozens of motoring enthusiasts and an array of journalists. The Abingdon Mayor, Councillor Patricia Hobby,  was also in attendance to pass on her congratulations as were plenty of former MG factory employees.  The eye-watering adventure has raised over 3,000 for Unicef and donations are still pouring in.

Roy’s car, Bridget the Midget, received invaluable help from affiliated worldwide MG Car Club centres in every corner of the globe. A complete engine re-build in Western Australia prepared Bridget for the long journey through South America’s often treacherous roads.

Roy said:

“It has been an absolutely amazing experience. I had two sports bags in the passenger seat with all my clothes in, and that was it. The boot was filled with spare parts.

“One of the first things I have to do is see my two grandchildren. The youngest one, Matilda, doesn’t really know me. She was only six months old when I left. I just love travelling, and I will miss that, but it’s good to be back to see friends and family.”

Roy carried on despite an earthquake in Panama and Taliban attacks in Quetta, Pakistan.

He said: “I woke up one morning and the hotel was shaking. There was mortar fire outside, followed by small arms fire. The Taliban were firing on the army garrison next door. But the only time I was really concerned for safety was in the Northern Territories in Australia, when the area suffered the worst floods in 30 years. Over here, really bad floods are six feet deep, but over there, they are 66 feet. The extremes of weather are incredible. I was held up in Queensland for four weeks as a result.”

He added: “Bridget was absolutely amazing.” He wants to publish a book about the adventure before planning a new trip to drive the length of Africa.

To find out more or to make a donation, please visit www.bridgetthemidget.co.uk

Maintaining an MGB in the 21st Century

A new book by MG Car Club
member Barrie Jones

A new 80 page booklet written by Barrie Jones, detailing how to maintain the MGB in the 21st century, will be published by the MG Car Club’s MGB Register in July 2009. Priced at just £10 it will be launched at MGLive! at Silverstone circuit, July 10 to 12 2009 and will be available to purchase thereafter from the MG Car Club 01235 555552 or
www.mgcc.co.uk

Barrie Jones, a lifetime MG enthusiast and qualified engineer, has written the book from his experience and knowledge gained from owning and maintaining 18 MGBs. Packed with detail and with an index that runs to three pages, the book covers all the major aspects of MGB maintenance as well as looking at model variations.

 

Practical tips include how to strip and rebuild a gearbox which Jones hopes will encourage others to undertake the task themselves. As well as mechanical maintenance the book covers rebuilding the body, including the wings, sills and rear quarter.

 

Don Hayter, the Chief Designer of the MGB and Danny Walters, the MG Car Club, MGB technical expert, have both given the book their seal of approval, Danny Waters, said “A gem of a book that every MGB owner should have in their glove box. ”

Commenting on the book, Jones, said, “I am not suggesting that this book will turn the amateur into a professional but it will give the reader an appreciation of what needs to be done, with many jobs being within their scope.”

 

Barrie Jones and Don Hayter are expected to be on the MGB Register stand at MGLive! on Saturday July 11 to discuss the book, individual problems and sign copies of the book.

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