Guinness ... Episode 1

Well today we went for a dig round Guinness to see what we were dealing with.

The rear panel and boot floor has been welded, which reminds me, I must get photographs of that for you.  Anyway, back to the archaeological dig.  There appears to be a rather large gap has appeared between the drivers floor pan and the inner sill.  Not good news.

A quick phone call to Lyn @ Brooklands MG Centre and we have inner and outer sills for both sides, closing panels, jacking points and floor edge repairs.  Also thrown into the mix is a nice new fuel tank to replace the current teabag that was removed from her.

Anyway, slowly she is getting close to being useable again.  So keep checking back and see how the build is coming along.

Pete

Creative Cocaine........

You all know that feeling.  You go to a car show, race meet, autojumble, cake sale :S, ann summers, etc, etc, and you come away with a buzz in your tummy and your head full of sweetie mice.  No notepad to hand, so there are 4 million minute details you want to remember floating around in your head and your creative juices are flowing.

You saw a shiney car, a really really shiney car and now (this is for the Mg Owners Club members reading) you want to go and polish the life out of your car until you are able to check for bogeys in the reflection.  You perhaps saw a full Group4 spec Mk2 Escort, and you think that the gorgeous loom, axle linkages, dashboard toys and extravegant tube work is absolutely necessary in your 1969 Mg Midget complete with original holes and rust because it is at the perfect point of restoration that you can do that.

Well the latter is kind of where this story is heading.  Having known for years there was a guy who built really quick Midgets in the middle of nowhere in Co. Down, I called up for yet another chat about random stupid ideas in my head and whether they were worth persuing in the search for the "epic midget".

** Photo is ©Ken Grey @ motorpix.co.uk

Mike Johnston has been building some of the best Class A race cars ever seen. Which is amazing considering it is just him and his small workshop.  I am yet to find someone else who is as inspirational when it comes to the "cut it, weld it, drive it, crash it, repeat" attitude.  Build your car for you, if it doesn't work in its entirity, then start looking into what you need to do to make it do what you need it to.  Anyway, I got permission to take some snapshots and you can see them throughout this blog post.  Normally, people who do work of this nature are very protective over what is and isn't seen outside of the workplace, but I think Mike knows his work is outstanding even when it is barely even a few tacks on some sheet and a tube.

The Daily Driver....

Generally I can be seen beating about in a ropey old Passat TDI estate.  It is fantastic, 60+mpg, coilovers, seats like your favourite sofa and big enough to carry 3 or 4 midgets in parts.  However, in my infinite wisdom to lower it (for handling of course ;) ) it has proven to be rather costly when it comes to replacing sump after sump and turbo after turbo due to pushing the sump against the oil strainer, causing oil starvation to aforementioned turbo and as such causing the Passat to feel like K.I.T.T and push out a rather unpleasant smoke screen behind it.

Due to this, and a severe shortage in funds, the Passat has been laid up waiting for the bits to fix her and get it back on the road.  In the meantime however, my Step-Father has willingly thrown me the keys for the Mini.  No normal Mini though.  A City 'E' ;)  Only kidding, it's a '66 Mk2 Cooper 'S' built for the Night Navigations and Classic Rallies held up and down the country throughout the year.  So this is my public thank you to Robert for his help whilst I try and get life back in order.

Oh and did I mention, Mini's are awesome fun on the road!!!!

Twidget.... Episode 1

Well this is set to be the quickest project to date.  Basically what we have to begin with is a good solid 1500 Midget shell, in the best colour they ever came in (Pete's opinion), Damask Red.

Details are still being worked out on a daily basis, ideas come, and disappear even quicker upon realisation that they just weren't viable.  On plan has managed to remain a constant though is the mass of materials we are dumping into the engine bay. The 4AGE Toyota 1600 Twin Cam motor.

It really doesn't look anything special at the minute, but give us a wee bit of time to get our act together and to allow Will at least 5 minutes in the country and progress shall be made.

We have been assured that the engine has covered a genuine 45,000 miles and has all the loom, ECU, ancillaries and bits we require to at least get it running once we have it mounted nicely in the car.  Hopefully this should give the car somewhere in the region of 130hp and ~110lb/ft of torque to propel the wee car along.  Although this may not appear to be much on paper, from experience it is going to make one hell of a difference to the cars driveability and the way it begs to get up the road.

Events Coming Up

We have now added the calendar of events 

The 'Rod

The latest pony to join the stable.

This is Guinness, Baileys new brother. A late '72 1275 Midget (with the nice 1/4 bumpers) in black.

Not very much to say about her apart from a damn good polish is required.

The spec will changing rather rapidly and hopefully for the better.  So check back to keep up to date with how the wee car is coming along.

Pete & Will

More Photos from past events

Well, just throwing these up there to give everyone something to look at whilst we go for lessons in writing so we can keep you all amused for years to come.

Classic Rallying

Okay guys, another one to add to the list of excitement.

Throughout the year we do everything in our power to get out and compete in multi-venue Autotests and Classic Rallies.

The likes of the Derek Walker Classic Trial, "Not" The Boxing Day Rally, JJ Farrell's event and the Circuit of Ireland Retrospective Trial.  All host new ways of trying to melt my head as a navigator and push Will to be the quickest he possibly can against the clock.

All in all, it is mighty craic and we will cover each event as and when they come along with the prep and testing prior to each event.

Autotesting Introduction

Well, this is our passion, the main reason behind owning Midgets and a great way to spend at least one day a week for 7 or 8 months of the year throughout Northern Ireland.

So far the majority of events have seen a dual entry using Will's Midget, but times are changing and a new toy is en route.

In the mean time I will show you some images I shot during the TSCC Millisle autotest last year.

Enjoy

Sexy Red!!!

This car has been turned out to a very high standard by Will Corry and Myself.  I will let Will take the reigns here:


I was trying to lure my dad back into competition with it, but alas my plan failed! The car is gorgeous and to repeat this build would be upwards of £20,000 in parts and labour and have all receipts to back up the build not to mention pictures below taken every step of the way. 


The car has only covered 4 miles shake down before passing its MOT. It has not touched wet tarmac. Enjoy the post and the pictures and thank you for coming over to see it. 


The car now resides in Edinburgh with its new owner who is in regular contact to reassure us how much he is enjoying classic car ownership.

Spec:

1974 Mg Midget
1275cc A Series Engine
Round Wheel Arch

Bodywork:
Shell Sandblasted to show true condition of metal
Battery tray replaced with new Heritage panel
Original Bonnet, Boot, Floors, Bulkheads, Inner and Outer Wings, Boot Floor, etc
New Front Slam Panel (Heritage Panel)
New Door Seals, Window Rubbers and Gaskets throughout
Rear Valance Smoothed
New MIDGET badging on Sills
All parts bolted to the bodyshell are either brand new or reconditioned to a very high standard
All Nuts, Bolts and Washers replaced with new Plated items
New front indicator/sidelights
New Rear Lights
New H4 Halogen Headlights

Engine:
1275cc
Twin 1 1/4" SU Carbs
Peco Competition Exhaust Manifold
Peco Competition Exhaust System
New SU Fuel Pump
New Water Pump
New Oil Pump
Complete New Gaskets throughout
10 Row Mocal Oil Cooler
New Oil Fiter
Duckhams Classic 20w50 Motor Oil
New Decals throughout engine bay
New alternator
All engine parts and ancillaries are either brand new or reconditioned to a very high standard
All Nuts, Bolts and Washers replaced with new Plated items

Gearbox and Axle:
Standard MG Midget Gearbox
Quiet 1st and reverse gear
3.9:1 Final Drive
EN17 Half Shafts
All Nuts, Bolts and Washers replaced with new Plated items
New Gaskets and Seals throughout
Gearbox finished with standard brush polish
Axle finished in black with Diff cover brush polished as per original

Brakes and Suspension:
New Brake lines throughout
New Clutch lines
New Brake Master Cylinder
New Bushes and Rubbers throughout
All suspension parts removed, blasted, inspected then refinished
Spax Telescopic Shock Absorbers all round
Mintex Brake Pads
Mintex Brake Shoes
New 13x5.5 Minilites
New Yokohama A539 Tyres
All Nuts, Bolts and Washers replaced with new Plated items

Almost every part was photographed either during restoration, or during refit

So here you go, some photos for your perusal.

more photos if you click "more"