Here you will find up to date information
and results, together with news and reports.
We will also publish a gallery of photos
and there is a section for your 'sales and
wants’Please email me at alisonmutch@hotmail.co.uk
with any comments or contributions for the
website.
I’ll do my best to make it as useful
as possible.
If you click on the 'web links' button above,
it will take you to other associated
websites.
Thanks ..... Alison
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Club Committee 2009
Chairman - Alison Mutch
Secretary - Carol Willis
Treasurer - Garth Maxwell
Comp. Secretary - Trevor Reid
Asst. Comp. Sec. - Bryan Mutch
Committee - Mike Wilson
Mike Adair
Tom McConnell
Alan McCartney
Michael Reid
Trevor McIlroy
Club History
A Brief History of the Ulster Centre of the MG Car Club.
Part 1 “The First Ten Years” by Mike Armstrong
Little did I think 40 years ago that I would be sitting writing about the history of the
Ulster Centre of the MG Car Club. Back then I had recently swapped my 1934
sidevalve 2-seater Morris Minor for a red 1939 TA model MG registration FZ1834.
I had for long been hankering to own an MG sports car having learnt to drive in a new
TD MG and having rallied as navigator on several “Circuits” in an MGA. It wasn’t a
particularly good swap as the car had a Morris 10 engine and leaked oil profusely.
Undaunted I joined the MG Car Club – as an “Unatached Overseas Member” and I also
sought out the Ulster MG T-Owners Club. The latter had been formed by one Charles
Batham – consisted of about a dozen T-type owners and met for runs to places like
Kirkistown for the race meetings.
As time went by we wanted to involve ourselves in some competitive motorsport but were
not allowed to do it except under RAC Motorsport rules. Firstly we had to be members of an
affiliated Motor Club. The obvious choice was to become involved more closely with the
MG Car Club – in other words “Attached and UK”.
At the time my father – Dr.Jack Armstrong - was the Chairman of the North East Centre of
the MGCC and had the ear John Thornley, the Chairman of the Club, and of F.Wilson
McComb the General Secretary. Jack and Wilson – being native born Ulstermen – were
dispatched to see what could be done and they met with a group of interested MG owners at
the Stormont Hotel in July 1968. The expressed wish of the meeting was to become an
affiliated UK Centre of the MG Car Club.
At an MG Council meeting in October the proposal was put and approved and we were in.
The timing was not good because the MG Car Company, which had been initially been
under the Morris Nuffield Organisation umbrella before being combined with Austin to
form the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in 1952 and then combined with JaguarLtd.
to become British Motor Holdings (BMH) in 1966 – suddenly was merged with the Leyland
Motors in mid 1968. Leyland Motors had acquired Standard Triumph in 1961 and had
absorbed Rover in 1967. The new company was British Leyland Motor Corporation and t
here was new management at MG. An order was made that all the previously affiliated Car
Clubs to BMC would have no further factory support – effect immediately. “Safety Fast”
magazine was to cease and Wilson McComb – long employed by BMC – resigned. His place
was taken by an MG enthusiast – Gordon Cobban – who agreed to become unpaid Secretary.
A new format for “Safety Fast” was hurriedly found and the first issue announced the new
Ulster Centre.
A formal General Meeting of the new Ulster Centre of the MG Car Club was held on
Monday 11th November at the Stormont Hotel. First business was to elect a Committee.
The first Chairman was Mike Wilson, the Secretary and Treasurer was Mike Armstrong,
and committee members were Bill Sherwood, Ivan Wallace, Alan Hailes, and Gordon
Jackson. Other attendees at the meeting included MGCC members Dr.Sidney
Armstrong, Michael Thomas, Vivien Scott, Miss Margaret Erskine, Ian Dunlop,
Norman Greer, Barry Quinn and David Murphy.
The first Committee meeting was held on 25th November and a programme of events
was formed.
Competitive events – which required the insurance cover of RAC Motorsport – could not
begin until membership reached 50. The Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs
recognised us and we had a great deal of support and encouragement from their Secretary
Ronnie Trouton.
A weekly motorsport paper had given us some useful publicity.
One year later the Secretary’s report to the second AGM summarised the Centre’s
activities. There had been 2 Gymkhanas – 3 social events – a monthly Noggin ‘n Natter –
and we were now recognised by RAC Motorsport to hold competitive events from August
1969 having enrolled the 50th member.
A Dinner Dance had been held at which a Trophy had been presented by the North East
Centre, and Leslie Porter Cars had also presented a trophy. A bimonthly newsletter had
been published and the Committee had met monthly. A very reasonable start.
Storm clouds were gathering and the September 1969 Newsletter had the comment “ –
at the time of writing it is difficult not to be minded of the recent disturbances in Ulster.”
How little did we know what was to come.
Despite the deteriorating political situation and the terrorist atrocities – we managed to
establish a full competition programme. We requested, and were granted, 8 motorsport
events per year – more I think than any other N.I.motor club – as we were considered not t
o threaten any other motor club activity being a one-make club. We therefore held 5
Autotests and 3 Production Car Trials and these 8 events continue today.
In 1970 we sent a small exploratory team to the MGCC Silverstone meeting to compete in
the California Cup Inter-Centre Autotest Challenge. No member of the team actually drove
their own car and we didn’t fare well.
At the end of 1970 the Centre was awarded the prestigious Nuffield Gold Cup for the
Centre showing the most progress over the year. Mike Wilson, Karl Murray and Mike
and Jenny Armstrong went to the main Club’s annual dinner at the Hyde Park Hotel in
London to receive the trophy. We were allowed to bring it home in those days.
For the rest of the 1970’s we ran all of our events bar a few which had to be cancelled
because of petrol shortage and the 1974 Ulster Worker Council’s Strike. The standard
of Autotesting increased with an influx of new and established competitiors.
The social side continued – sometimes with difficulty – but we held an annual Gymkhana
and Concours d’Elegance, a Barbecue - Indoor Rallies – Film Shows – and an annual very
successful Wine and Cheese Party as well as a very well attended Annual Dinner Dance.
The social side was very well supported. A Boxing Day Treasure Hunt was also popular
and in 1978 it was moved to New Year’s Day and gathered in some 100 participants in that
year.
The Committee changed each year. The term of office that had been decided was for 2 years
for the Chairman and Secretary with one of those being changed on alternate years.
Chairman.
1968-1971 Mike Wilson 1971-1973 Mike Armstrong
1973-1975 Karl Murray 1975-1977 Leslie Ardill
1977-1979 Trevor Moffett
Secretary
1968-1970 Mike Armstrong 1970-1972 Karl Murray
1972-1974 Linda Ingles 1974-1976 Trevor Moffett
1976-1978 Mike Wilson 1978-1980 Simon Johnston
Sadly, Leslie Ardill died in September 1977 just after relinquishing his spell as Chairman.
He had been ill for some time. He was a true MG enthusiast and had amassed a collection of
several MG’s – all requiring rebuild – which he unfortunately was not torealise. In his
memory we commissioned a beautiful mounted glass crystal with an engraving of a TC
to be awarded to the best used car each year.
The forays to Silverstone to compete in the California Cup event were successful in most
years in which we entered a team.
The California Cup was won on 3 occasions – 1971 – 1973 and 1978.
The other team competition at Silverstone was for the Register Trophy – awarded to
the best team of Register cars – MMM or T-Type and this was won in 1971 and 1973
At home we had acquired two more trophies – a Production Car Trial Trophy and a
Lady Enthusiast Trophy.
For the annual results of the trophies you will have to go to the Centre website where
a more complete history of the Centre is being constructed.
Towards the end of the 1970’s we had participated for a few years in an MG “Demonstration
Run” at one of the Kirkistown meetings. Although this was not a race – the pace was brisk!
Our first speed event was a Sprint at Kirkistown which was but a foretaste of the racing
that was to become popular in the next ten years.
All in all these first ten years were great fun – competitively as well as socially and
although being the “Marque of Friendship” I think it fair to say that we had left our mark
on the Ulster motoring scene,
Mike Armstrong.
