WORKS ALLOY MG MIDGET Mecibakert z nt Let's ro ight, precise steering and bags oles wl prop youtroughthe corer, Sfshary tei eitareniin ioc of erga Darl Locker means ye ls ly toend up adting the mone handiwork GOR Node Women RU ee Lar even fewer believe either ear has survived, Bul thisonchas it’s real, itraces and it’s unbelievably quic Cece dubia reny eset ErmeteaaniedHE CALIFORNIAN classic car Micaler didn't know what he was selling. The browsers who glossed ‘over the online advertisements for ‘ovo years without buying didn’t know what ‘hey’ were looking st, And even the Austin “Healey pecilistwhohappenedtohavea spare slotinacontainerandimporteditinto the UK in 2002 didn’ kmow what he'd taken delivery fof But when works MG enthnsiast Dave Sounders inspected the red alloy panelled MG ‘Midget with ‘Sebring’ race history, he spotted what everyone elae hed missed: the Sobring heritage was 2 red herring. but this was 00 ordinary Midget ~it was onc of tivo works cars that raced atthe 1965 Bridgehampton Double 500, both missing, presumed dead Why such mystery surrounded the ear is simple: the story of the Bridgehampton Midgetsis one othe east perpetuated in BMC Competitions Department history, Just three sentences eachin thebooks The Works MGsby ‘Mike Allison and Peter Browning and Mighty [Midgets and Special Sprites by John Baggott fare all that’s written on the cars, and those tntris aren'tentrelycorrecteither. "Nowit’s time tn set the recordstraight BMC vas selling the Midget in the US through Ridgefield, New Jersey-based Hambro Incand the launch ofthe 27sec MIE wersion ofthe car for 1966 vas iniminent, soit wanted topromote the familar ‘win on Sunday, selon ‘Monday’ sales pitch ‘The Bridgehampton Double 500, hal at Bridgehampton Raceway in New York State cach September from 1963-65, as ane of the East Coasts premier racing events With 10 ‘500-kilometre races (honce Double 500), it ‘counted towards theFTA World Championship of Males for GT ears and the International “Trophy far GT Prototypes. Cars up 10 2000ce {up to 1600ce for Sports Car Club of America ‘Modified sport eas) lke Porsche's 004 GTS, ‘Lotus Elans and the Midgets ron on the ‘Saturday, those over 2000ce Cover 1600 far ‘theSCCA Modified sports cars such asShelby Cobras, Vi2 Ferrari protolypes and Hap ‘Sharp’ Chaparral 2A ran ontheSunday. BMC targeted the 100le=-1300ce GT 8 ategoey with the 1203ce Midgets, whore they ‘would be up against 2 1290ec Alfa Romeo. Giulietta and 1103ee Alpine Renault Au, Tt also entered an MGB for Paddy Hopkirk nthe 1601-2000ce G12 Blass ‘The race-tuned cars needed to seman recognisable to the busts publi in 1966, 0 the Competitions Department st Abingion1965 MG MIDGET MKIL Engine 125° Antoun siren choke Weber SDOOE seeker Powar Oot coc Mamaia Fpl eas ie eae sigerirnl Steering ck sspcon Suspension rar reps leone cl spn Inseam aro fe le ser apclef srg erm dares at ‘ag tae Brakes ses a marr Weight ats th G00 00) etformanee Tp ‘pone Lone simp eee) Valu ew 100000 fool to standard right-hand drive British acing Green Mkllsoffthe production line in May 1965 ~ they weren't rebadged Austin- Healey Spritesassomesourecsclaim and set bout modifying them to make them more ‘competitive without lsing the Midgets ook. It succeeded. Fven allowing for the works hattop, leather bonnet straps, race number roundels and the absence of burnpers, you ‘wouldn't guess that this Midget yas particularly special - unlike the streamlined fastback special of privateer Dick Jacobs ‘The outer body panels are al Lightweight shuminiumalls, fabricated by hand, and mate secmlessyto the sea! oorpan and bulkhead. ‘The rear bumper area is remodeled ike the works MGB rear ends, soit aes’ ook ike the bumper is obviously missing, Peer elsoly and you! spot thatthe rear wings are slightly auneAstonen makes he chequered fag son ster le’ Brdgehampton DoubleS00 casein ‘FEW PEOPLE CAN WORK OUT WHY IT’S SO QUICK, AND OWNER SAUNDERS IS HAPPY TO KEEP IT THAT WAY’ fared to cover sin x 1sin wire wheels with broad-shouldered Dunlop Racing tyres Gt'son 445in x iin sims with road tyres here), The resultisacarthatslighterthansomeglassfibre- bodied WSM Sebring Sprites — just how light, ‘Saunders isn't saying other than isles than 0k” Still thats at east 100k iter than a standard Midge. ‘The 1208ce Mini Cooper S A-seres engine ‘eneited rom the department's most current ‘tuning tweaks, veile a long-range fue tank yo regular tanks sandwiched. together) ‘esied inthe boot. Using various parts from the EMC stores saw the brakes and transmissionupratedandsuspension tweaked, ‘with ant-tramp bars fitted at the rest. The ‘Midgets also guined Detzoit Locker locking ifteentials giving go-kart like drive characteristics - immense traction, butlift off ‘and the rear-end would snap sideways. You edo a driver withthe reflexes ofa Flying Finn to handle that, and handily BMC had woe arch rival rally men Rauno Aaltonen and Mimo Makinen, Aaltonen vas paired with Briton Gil Pase, ‘Makinen with American Leo Picard, but only the two Finns would actualy tale part in the rice. BMC Comps Manager Stuart Turner made the cand drivers it fully kitted on the pit wall throughout the race, suspecting they would have compromised the — race performance if they had driten. Asltonen ‘recalls ‘A the half-way fuelling stop he asked ‘me “Are youOK to continue?" Ofcourse, being arally driveritwas easy, apiece afeake!” “Makiner led the clas for 85 ps but had to pit for four to have the tubular exhaust manifold welded up, which let 27-year-old ‘Aaltonen into the clas ead and on to victory. Aaltonen finished sixth overall and claimed the chequered flag asa memento as well a 4 share ofthe $500 prize money, while Makinen had tosetle fr third in clas and ith aver ‘Aaltonen enjoyed the Bridgshampton race, likening lapping the hilly ereuit in the sand unestosurfingwhencomparedto tail based cireuits elsewhere inthe StatesYouhad to be very caroful whore you went over the Dlind crests, butit was very similar to a rally Stage, which must have helped us. The only problem was the Alfa was faster in «straight Jineso we had to pushall he time. Tnemember \maricans inthe pits afterwards saying "iow stupid are thore Scandinavian taking such big risks" ~ but ofcourse me werent it ‘wasall under contolWhen Saunders was first asked to authenticate the Midget as found, there were.a few telbtale clues that it was one of the Bridgehampton cas. The ful illeron the rear Wing was one, the rolleage another. Saunders says: Tehadd a huge diameter rlleage fitted at ‘the insistence of the American scrutineers, ‘who did like BMC’: square-tube one, [twas sobigthatthesest had tobe carvedaroundit? Seundersthenfellinlovewithit and bought the project as 2 25th wedding anniversary present for himself and wife Nikki. With the helpofformer BMC Competitions Department yen Peter Browning, Bill Price and Den Green ho was able to confirm it was genuine and identity it as Aaltonen’s clase-winning ear: ‘Raunoalways hadhis seats moulded tofithim. Den Green sawit and said "That's Rano’! Former Shelby American works driver Ray ‘Cuomo had bought the Asltonen Midget soon after Bridgehampton and owned it into the early Seventies. Cuomo would have seen the car there, having Anished sith overall in the big-banger 500 race the following day with a works Shelby American Cobra 289, Cuomo painted the Midget blue, with Goodyear sponsorship logos, and took it to the 1965 International Speed Week at Nassau in the Bahamas in late November, Of three maces entered, It flled to finish the first to: the Nassau TT Griven by Paul Richards) and the Governor's Trophy, and 24th overall in the [Nassau Trophy Gecond inthe up to1200eeGT class behind Howard Hanna's René Bonnet Djet wasits bost result. fing the bonnet eval tweaked 1293ec Mint (CooprSt-serle fed byatainchoke Weber ‘The ownertrailgoescold after Cuomo, butit was registered for Californian roads in 1979, ‘The current registration mark “6 GRXC is nother red herring: both Midgets ran unregistered at Bridgehampton to. avoid paying purchase tax and although RX rogistrations were used by the Competitions Departinent ~ the three works Midget rally cars were YRX 727, 737 and 747 it's just a REMEMBERING THE BRIDGE FROM THEA an ineres ‘oes of rads Hats indy treat Bideckarstonon Now ai’ Long and also relic thes (Bl ‘rushing Br) Bs oF Spe Franeoectares ard Zandvoort inite285 me you Conmpatierstlastedalone teste starve tea before dkingover abn ‘vars thetihteneriet- tae tara two, Mistne Tn, Other cameesinlided s bere aiar,butaywage ap speed for Scles Con ears ‘Doped Om Lie monet hada reputations anol he Ustsmatchaterging tacks. ‘The cat was butane roadrasingonNew York States country les was banned ‘olowine oa mary acer | Opening in Seotombe 1957 was ost recat erate place on the NASCAR calendar {1 1958~ the ist reronal ‘aurse used, Dan Gury vo Me avin Faris oriy Garé win ith ‘he azdahl Specal Loa 120 Spider athe series frst tia “Sa whl the ase caw as 2 ras-fm ancourtrn June 1970, ony Mar Dorehues Houshgar tauren emnsnds trou edecying ‘tack oseta borg alton in 198, but amateur racine ond trough 1987 thanks tolntenenton bythe Friends ck Bidgetereton (ater the ‘Ther’ just space to squeeze between the bucke eat andMeto Lita wheel, but headromizmoregoneros number that Saunders came arossand bought Itlooks the part hough, doesn't? ‘Makinen’s ear is still missing, with rumours thatitexistsinapoorstatesofar unfounded. If Itever surfaces, Saunders and John Palmer of Essexrbased MG preparer Specialist Cats, who restored this Midget, willbeabe totell whether its the real deal: ‘There ae afew details that ‘the works carried out that [havent tld you Bridgeton Rac Hetiege Group and current ste oor Eebhubin ut nse complaints mean its now goes who en he ‘reals serranilens athe ‘eis prtct hubs got couse The Brie opered in 2002, About ile at otis preserved andGrdgehampton Racraestage Group | Ccomiuesocelerate hs once restock Goete// Dridgenamptonacewaycom) Seema ee |WORKS ALLOY MG MIDGET about! says Saunders with a knowing smile He tilling no-one, ‘The Midgct was amazingly complet, right own to the original steering wheel, and required relatively litle preparation to get it looking this good. ‘I was «typical California cay’ says Saunders. The loorpans wererotte, ‘which happens when cars get left out in the rain with no roof on. But the exterior panels just needed cleaning up ve didn't have to do ‘any repairs. Stripping the red paint off we uncovered the Cuomo bive, then the original [Britsh Racing Green. Even the brake calipers are original they were rusty but cleaned up and workperfectly For the wiring Saunders approached Stan Chalmers, oneofonly two Lucas Competitions Department employees ho wired EMC's ‘works cars. 1 asked Stan if hel make a new loth-covered loom fr the ear fT sentthe old ‘one to him. He ssid he wouldnt, but would hull iton the ear He could tll by looking at the way the oldloom was wound thathe'dmade it 40 years easier’ The malticoloured loom, ‘with con fuse boxes, e both besutifil and an exact copy ofthat used in the arin 1965, right downto thecorreet materials, Palmer's concours restoration work has returned the Midget to condition fr superior tohow itwas new. There's nota smear of flee anywhere an the body and it ooks to good to ace ~but race it does In the hands of Palmer land Scottish motor trader John Clark the kerb-hopping Midget has won its class ill Equipe GTS and GT & Sports Car Cup races entered and is theoretically rapid enough to ‘qualify among th top six Modsports Midgets {nthe MG CarChubsrace series. That's without the Modsparts cary slick tyres. Fw people can work out why its so auiek and Saunders is happy to keep it that way. Under the bonnet sits a Weber 4SDCOE-fed 1293ee Mini Cooper S-based series built by Nick Swift at Swiftune Engineering, With @ camshaft profile and power output whose details even Saunders isn't allowed to know, it abit special. Swiftune-pawerod Cooper Se 56 DECEMBER 2009 /CLASSIC CARS Wing mounted el er an double-apacy tank are hs to this Mga works acer dnt claimed the top three spots during the Se ‘Mary's Trophy race at the Goodwood Revival reetingin September ~ Swift himself piloting, thewinningear~sohecleariyhasacompetitive advantage that's worth keeping schtum. Limboing between the deep sided bucket Seat and Moto-Lita wheel (both mote recent additions to preserve the originals), you drop down into tho Midge’s dark, confined cabin. It almost seems crime to eft on the gloss= painted panels, every one af immaculate a= those outside Wriggle to get comfy and there just enough zoom for your arms and legs, but surprisingly gonorous headroom under the workshard-top-even forasixfooterlike me. ‘Witha turnofthe keyinthedash andprodot the lange toprhat starter button the A-series immediately barks into life. With leary very aggressive cam profiles, each angry, Blunt tickover pulse sounds like i'l e the engine's last. Thatall changes once you start exploring theupperechelonso the tachometer: Youneed 2000-8000rpm to pull away cloanly, full ‘momentum engaging the instant you lt aut the sharp race cuteh;but once the eam comes snand thesidedraught Weber fuelsuply gets ‘morefullyburt, rittiness gives way toashril scream to the 8000rpm red in, That seream is matched by an intensifying gear whine from the special close-ratio {our speed "box. I's tough but erunchy and --wl tora das plague now shone oft its Proveraree onthe boot rewards dlligent speed matching the driver in the lower two ratios ~ not easy as the accelerator sits a sole's width away from the soft brake pedal “Hurtlingtowards tight corner, hardon the ‘centr pedal, atrst of right fot to keep the revsup,'mmindfal of the locking ferential coming in to play, but theres no noeds the Detroit Lockerhas made way foramore fentle Salisbury Iiited-slip item, Tweak the light nd immediate steering and the Midget darts towards the apex, a surprising amount of rol, building through the corner, before you parer out on the exit, the differential ensuring a surfelt of traction. With greater confidence comes more speed andamesmeriesloteatlike rhythm ~ minus the high-speed off into thoskirtingboards, ‘Mystery and intrigue still seems to fallow the works Midget around, ut somehow thet adds to its appeal. And now you ean count yourself among the initisted few. Its real, it tives, and it’s coming to a race circuit near you~ T cant think of better way to spread the word, scars Westie —Brollande imation