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V8 Column for January 2002 published in Safety Fast!

This month we have more registrations from new members and news of two forthcoming events - an invitation to join Don Hayter talking on the development of the BGTV8 at Abingdon in February and the traditional annual V8 Curry Evening in March.

New registrations this month include details of Abingdon built GTV8s have come in from Roberta Meadows (Tundra 0896) from Surrey, Paul Perry (Red 1005) from Hampshire, Paul Bray (Damask 1021) from Australia, James Brooks-Fisher (Black Tulip 1098) from Sussex, Christopher Thompson (Glacier White 1416) from Leicestershire, Richard Froggatt (Damask 1466) from Leicestershire, Geoff Robe (Harvest Gold 1768) from Hampshire and Philip Glow (Glacier White 1878) from Cambridgeshire. Geoff Broad has registered an MGBV8 Roadster (Blue 4182) from Hertfordshire. Details of RV8 registrations have come from Jim Dowie (Le Mans Green 0373) from Northern Ireland with a UK specification car together with reimports registered by Russell Kelly (Woodcote Green 0524) from Australia, Richard Dunn (Woodcote Green 1056) from Buckinghamshire, Granville Heeley (Woodcote Green 1417) from Cornwall with a car reimported through HS Imports and Peter Tothill (Woodcote Green 1636) from Oxfordshire. The MGBV8 of Roberta Meadows has a Franklin Crane cam, Janspeed multi-exhaust manifold and pipe, full leather trim and Wilton carpets. The Abingdon produced BGTV8 of James Brooks-Fisher (Black Tulip 1098) was previously owned by Stephen Illing at Abingdon Car Restorations who restored and uprated the car including a rebored and sleeved 4 litre engine tuned to Stage 1 by Oselli, with a five speed SD1 gearbox and Peugeot 505 GTI front ventilated discs.

An analysis of the V8 Register membership in November indicated a total of 2,503 current registrations with 2,074 BV8s, including almost 300 BV8 conversions, and 417 RV8s. These statistics indicate that some 66% of BGTV8s built at Abingdon are registered with us and, if you take account of the probable number of cars written off through age or accidents over the last 30 years, it is likely to be closer to an extraordinary 80%. Similarly the registration of UK specification RV8s of 282 is around 76% of the original production and prototypes supplied to the UK market. The fastest growing part of the membership is from registrations of reimported RV8s, now up to 165 cars which is equivalent to some 44% of the RV8s originally supplied to the UK market. At the current rate of registrations, the stock of reimported RV8s in the UK is likely to exceed the UK specification machines during 2003, the V8 Register's 25th Anniversary Year. Certainly the specialist

spares suppliers will find an enlarged stock of RV8s in the UK a more attractive market for RV8 spares than before which will be good news for RV8 enthusiasts. Around 83% of the BV8 and RV8 registrations are in the UK of which some 76% are south of a line drawn from Norfolk to South Wales taking in the West Midlands, and around 44% in London and the Home Counties. Some 53 registrations are in Scotland, forming 2.1% of UK members. With the unmatched technical support, particularly the two successful workshop notes series, it is clear the V8 Register is the leading specialist group any V8 enthusiast in the UK or overseas needs to join!

The arrival of the new MG X80 sportscar with its V8 power and good looks is a very welcome news for V8 enthusiasts. The V8 Register is making preparations to provide support and services for this new model. Any members placing orders or taking delivery should get in touch with the V8 Scribe as we would welcome their road test report as soon as the model is available.

Don Hayter speaking on the development of the BGTV8 at the Factory during the early seventies is an event few V8 enthusiasts will want to miss. Many of us have wondered over the years "how did they get they get the package so right?" and recall on first driving a V8 how we found it such an extraordinary car in terms of driving pleasure and response with the V8 power. Well Don has accepted an invitation from Peter Buckles, the V8 Chairman, to join him and V8 Register members for an afternoon when the format will be a presentation by Don followed by an open forum for discussion. That will run from 1500 to 1800 hours followed by a short break of an hour for everybody to prepare themselves for an early supper. The event will be held at Milton House Training Centre near Abingdon on Saturday 23rd February 2002. The cost will be £10 for the afternoon session (presentation and discussion forum) and a further charge for a three course supper. Overnight accommodation will be available for those who need it at Milton Hall at reasonable rates to be advised nearer the time. For further information and bookings, contact David Biddle at dwbiddle@cs.com or on 01753 892714. All cheques payable to "V8 Register - MG Car Club" please.

The annual V8 Curry Evening will be on Saturday 16th March at 7pm in Beaconsfield, just off the M40 near Junction 2 so will be easy to find and convenient for members from the Midlands, the west of England and the Home Counties. It is always a popular event at the start the year and of course all Club members are very welcome. For further details of the restaurant location and bookings, contact the organiser who lives nearby, David Biddle.