MGoT track day, Silverstone, 11th April 2005, V8 Register, MG Car Club

V8s at Track Days

V8s at Silverstone for the MGoT Track Day
The Track Days organised by MGs on Track or MGoT are proving popular with Club members as an opportunity to drive on the track at speed. The standards of driving are good and most entrants feel it is far safer than driving on the public roads! Victor Smith called into Silverstone on Monday 11th April 2005 and found another MGoT Track Day well underway with several V8s on the track enjoying a dry track and bright sunshine. (11.4.05)

Metallic Blue 3135 from Oxfordshire is a beautiful MGBGTV8 Conversion built by Micahel Sparks from a Heritage shell. (Photo: Victor Smith)

Michael Sparks (Red 0610) from near Witney in Oxfordshire was in the paddock with a new MGBGTV8 Conversion (Metallic Blue 3135) he has built for track days and similar events. It is a beautiful car and fools a few admirers with its MGC bonnet which Michael fitted to provide room for the large circular air filter. The engine bay was truly magnificent.

On the track, Michael demonstrated the handling of his new V8 is excellent and he looked very steady through the fast corners and in the tight corners in the Complex.

Michael Sparks was really enjoying the 20 minute sessions on the track. (Photo: Victor Smith)

Lawrence Wood (Mallard Green 3121) from London SW commented his co-driver, his South African girlfriend Amanda Barber, kept willing him to go faster on Club Straight but was strangely quiet when we tearing through Copse in 4th at full bore! Lawrence says "It was s great day out, and I was amazed at how well the V8 handled in general,

V8 Register - MG Car Club

Lawrence Wood (Mallard Green 3121) from London SW with his MGBGTV8 Conversion in the paddock with his brave co-driver, girlfriend Amanda Barber. (Photo: Victor Smith)

especially as mine is a bit of a mish-mash under the skin. My instructor for one session even managed to get me completely sideways around Luffield - something I repeated every lap afterwards and something I will never forget. See you at the next one".

Michael O'Leary (Artic White 1829) from Lancashire was running his immaculate Factory V8. In his early sessions he was suffering understeer which was eased with some subtle tyre pressure and rear shock absorber adjustments with advice from the old sage of the track, Barry Sidery-Smith.

Michael O'Leary (Arctic White 1829) from Lancashire. (Photo: Victor Smith)

The general consensus amongst the V8 enthusiasts at the Silverstone MGoT Track Day is they are are well run and a very enjoyable way of letting your V8 stretch its legs! We are hoping to arrange for a larger V8 Track Day Group to attend at least one, and maybe two, of the MGoT Track Days in 2006. If you are interested get in touch with Al Barnett (V8 Events Committee member) at albarnett(at)v8register.net but do note we use "(at)" instead of "@" to try and thwart the wretched spammers who plague websites by harvesting email addresses automatically.