dispatch
number 27 summer 2010
News and views..........
Hopefully this edition has reached you before Silverstone. I’m planning to be there for the three days and will be in front of the Triple M Register stand in the main club marquee at 2.00 for half an hour or so on the Saturday and Sunday – Triple M and T Type races permitting! So even if you’re not collecting or delivering something do come and say hello.
Whilst talking of Silverstone, next year’s, 2011, will be the 50th Anniversary of the Triple M Register (of which, of course, we are a sub group) and by coincidence the 80th Anniversary of the D Type! We hope to be there with our own marquee and I know at least a couple of people who are targeting to complete their rebuilds for this event. It would be good to beat our record of 5 attained in 2006 for our 75th Anniversary if only as a show of force against what promises to be a large turnout of Triple M cars!
Have had no news about other people’s Drive it Day on April 25th so you are stuck with mine! We teamed up with the Malvern Hills Natter with a run to Batsford Arboretum on the A44 near Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire.
Two Ds attended, my D0311 on the left and Pete and Janet Chapman’s D0295. A chilly wind didn’t spoil the picnic, or the walk round the Arboretum, and the flying display at the falconry was superb. However depending which way you went home decided whether you got wet or not as there was a short but heavy cloud burst early evening – we headed south and missed it!
A superbly restored C Type replica on a D chassis has recently changed hands in the States and we hope to have a picture or two in the next issue. Good opportunity to include news on any other C replica too, so please let me have any.
alasdair malcolm.........
Very few of you will have known Alasdair, he was relatively new to our Group having purchased D0285 just a few years ago as a retirement project. But he was a real enthusiast and one of those people who could make you even more enthusiastic and an ardent supporter of the Group. A true gentleman, he died in March after a bravely fought battle against cancer.
He was keen to get the car absolutely right and even planned to supercharge it. The family’s intention is to have the car completed and we wish them, and in particular son James, our very best wishes in this endeavour.
anti freeze.........
Just in case some of you have missed all the publicity on this topic. Some of the modern antifreezes are particularly harmful to older engines inducing increased rust to some order. Organic Acid Technology (OAT) is NOT recommended but look out instead for Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT). Personally I use ‘4Life’ which is now made/sold by Castrol in its Classic range; it is put in neat and replaces all the water and any additives. It is a summer coolant and will not freeze. You may have to go to Classic Castrol dealers to get it. It is not cheap but does last for ten years if you don’t lose it!
the 'garden' d..........
I know a lot of you were interested in the outcome of D0430 found hidden in the undergrowth of a garden near Weston Super Mare in late 2007 (see Dispatch 18). It was ‘saved’ by Tony Mowbray who restored it to a rolling chassis (Dispatch 22) and soon after it was bought by Chris Blood and just look at it now, pictured on the left below!
Chris already owns D0407, shown above on the right, which was originally built as a salonette, and he intends to restore it as such.
So if anyone has any information, pictures etc. on the salonette Chris would be very pleased to have copies. On that topic did anyone spot the D salonette pictured behind the period shot of EX127 on page 43 of the latest Triple M Register Bulletin?
He is also in need of an Adamant steering drop arm and associated track rod so if you can help please get in touch with me in the first instance.
tools and tool roll.........
In Dispatch 23 I listed and pictured the tools issued with the D Type. In Dispatch 25 I mentioned that the MG upholsterer Wm Collingburn is now selling new Triple M tool rolls, copies of the originals. Well, Mike Jakeman (D0427) was lucky enough to get one for his birthday!
It is pictured here with some of Mike’s tools, the quality looks excellent. I have only one or two pieces to find to complete my set but one query of interest; there is a single ended 9/16 whitworth box spanner listed which must be for the 18mm plugs. But should this be a standard looking box spanner or the ‘plug’ spanner sort, both pictured?
Any comments gratefully received.
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