V8 Column for July 2005
published in Safety Fast!, the award winning monthly magazine of the MG Car Club

This month we have news of the V8 Gathering at Hazeley Heath in May, a brief report of the V8 goes East and a welcome to new members to join fellow V8 enthusiasts at the V8 Marquee at the Club's annual meeting at Silverstone in July.

Father and son RV8s of Martin and Richard Selwyn. (Photo: Richard Selwyn)

On a warm, sunny day the V8 Gathering at Hazeley Heath on Sunday 22nd May over 28 V8s arriving at the Shoulder of Mutton. It has become a popular event for RV8 enthusiasts and we saw 23 RV8s packed into the car park. The long distance award was held jointly this year with Al Riches over from Canada and Al Barnett had returned from the south of France by TGV to attend in his RV8. Phil Edwards (Glacier White 0198 and Aconite 0791) brought the Aconite V8 which is a colour often confused with the less numerous Black Tulip. Bryan Ditchman, still convalescing from his "prostate reaming", arrived on foot as he lives nearby. Richard Selwyn (Oxford Blue 0934) was there with his father Martin (Woodcote Green 0664) which is the first father-son combination we have had. Philip and Linda Gent from Yattendon were enjoying a relaxed Sunday for a change as they had only just sold their pub back in Berkshire.

The V8 Marquee will be the place to meet fellow V8 enthusiasts at the Club's International MG Meeting at Silverstone over the long weekend 22nd-24th July 2005. There is a dedicated V8 parking area alongside and usually well over 120 V8s are there on each day. Full details are on the V8 Website with a detailed briefing note. On Saturday evening there is a V8BBQ sponsored by Clive Wheatley mgv8parts starting from just after 6.30pm and the V8 AGM is held at 12.30pm on Sunday - all V8 members welcome.

Gordon Hesketh-Jones, Kai Knickman and Allan Doyle relaxing in a German heatwave at Erlangen - a welcome break for the V8 goes East team after the rigours of Romania and Bulgaria. (Photo: Eva Maas Doyle)

Many members have been following the V8 goes East trip undertaken by Gordon and Jennifer Hesketh-Jones in their MGBGTV8 out to Greece, to Join up with the MG Italia event, and then on through Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and a long weekend in Germany and then on via France to the port for England - a total distance of approaching 5,500 miles. Well they arrived safely in Erlangen in Germany and rested for the weekend with fellow V8 enthusiasts Allan and Evan Doyle. Kai and Claudia Knickman joined them for a party on the Saturday to celebrate an extraordinary feat. In the four page V8 Newsletter in August we will have a longer report and photos.

Bob Owen (Blaze 1625) from Berkshire was also at the MG Italia event with his wife Carolyn and they had a journey back over some impressive high passes.

Bob Owen (Blaze 1625) at the high Simplon Pass on his way back from the MG Italia event in Greece. (Photo: Bob Owen)