Brian
Field and Mike Sutcliffe on their way to a class win on the Welsh Rally retrospective
in 1994. (Photo: Speedsports Ruthin)
Brian Field campaigned his MGBGTV8 (Harvest Gold 0097) for well over
20 years in the RAC, Welsh, Scottish, Manx and Irish rallies and had many successes
including winning the RAC historic class in 1990. He was still rallying the car
in the 1990s at 80 but in 2002 decided that it was time for the V8 to go as at
86 he no longer felt he could exercise the machine in the style it was used to!
It was sold to an enthusiast in Yorkshire for historic rallying.
Harvest
Gold 0097 was well prepared for rallying. Originally a works LHD V8 pre-production
development car fitted with the North American emission equipment and used for
the US engine emission tests. It was purchased by Brian, converted to RHD and
then prepared for rallying with modifications included fitting the stronger SD1
gearbox, an uprated backaxle with a Salisbury limited slip differential with Watts
linkages, 14 inch Minilites for 185 x 6 inch rubber, a dual circuit braking system
uprated with DS11 pads upfront and VG95 linings at the back, the V8 engine with
a Holley, a stainless steel exhaust system and a protective shield for the fuel
tank. It had a fully plumbed-in fire extinguishing system. There were twelve Minilites
shod with various rally and road tyres. Inside, it was fitted with a Halda twin
meter, hi-back rally seats and four point full harness, and a roll over cage.
Some of the original parts were still available as spares - the original engine
in the same state of tune, V8 gearbox, six original V8 wheels and the original
back axle. The car was registered with the RAC MSA for Post Historic Rallying.
Brian casually mentioned one rally took them to the MIRA test circuit and
whilst circulating with his wife Margaret as passenger, she casually asked Brian
what speed they were trundling round at, only to receive the reply - "top
of the red in fifth" which Brian estimates was 140mph. Brian noted "it
was as steady as a rock!". Recently
Brian recalled the car could rev to 7,000 rpm and one rolling road session showed
it was producing around 125bhp at the wheels.
Brian says "Harvest
Gold 0097 was one of two prototypes I bought from Bill Price at Abingdon with
Special Tuning parts from the USA - Holley, Isky cam and lifters, flowed heads
with sodium filled valves, a | Stag
distributor with twin contact breakers, and much more. I undertook to develop
the car for competition to keep the name of MG prominent. I converted it to RHD."
Brian mentioned that the car had a Crane cam which he feels is better and a "double-pumper"
Holley. Clearly the car has had an active life and Brian acquired a crashed V8
shell a while ago from which floor sections and elsewhere have been repaired,
so the body is surprising as the rust has been kept down and the body much stiffened.
"It's a
flyer" on the Harry Platter Eppynt with a 1st in Historic. Brian has been
known for his penchant for getting airborne over humped bridges! (Photo: Brian
Field)
The
competition history is extraordinary for an amateur entrant
"At the end of the day" - Denis Cordell and Brian Field with HUD 577
N. (Photo: Margaret Field)
The
competition history is extraordinary for an amateur entrant - "successful
runs in the RAC, Scottish, Welsh, Irish and Manx rallies were followed by historic
events. We were first overall in the 1990 Mike Spence (against a top field) and
had many class wins in Ireland, Prescott, Wiscombe (fastest MG), Harry Slatter's
rally on Eppynt, the Coronation, Bridgend stages and Silverstone. Yes we did racing
and hillclimbs as well as rallies."
In his modest way, Brian thanks his friends who have worked with him over
the years - "thanks to co-driver/navigators Denis and Stuart Cordell, Colin
Francis, Mal Stuart and others - still best friends! All the work on the V8 was
carried out in my garage at home by Mercedes trained mechanic, Frank Ferris, with
valuable advice from Special Tuning at Abingdon, Lucas Comps, Salisbury and Aldon
Engineering." |