Problem Solved MGF
LETTER OF THE MONTH
Steering OUR LETTER OF THE MONTH AUTHOR WILL
Just a quick correction to the Q&A answer
RECEIVE A MEGUIARS CAR CARE PACK
from August’s Safety Fast! about loss of
power steering on an MGF after fitting a new
exhaust and revving the engine. The cause A C in Cyprus
is EPAS going into fail-safe mode – since the
My wife and I recently came back from a
level of assistance is speed sensitive (more
holiday in Northern Cyprus. We hired a jeep
assistance at lower speeds, less at higher
for seven days (open top to get the sun!),
speeds) the system takes a speed input from
whilst out and about we spotted this MGC
the speedo. By revving the engine whilst
Roaster (see photo). If it had been an MGB
stationary for some time the EPAS unit
Roaster, I would not have been quite so
senses a high engine speed but no associated
surprised, because we had already spotted an
road speed and therefore assumes the
MGB GT on the road. I naturally went into the shop to make enquires, because I own an
speedo is at fault. It then illuminates the EPAS
MGC GT and know how rare they are. The Turkish gentleman in the shop fortunately
light and disables assistance – this is by design
could speak English. He informed me it belonged to his Manager, the shop owner, and that
so that, in the event of a speedo fault, the
it was driveable despite its condition. He also informed me that he was trying to restore
potentially dangerous situation of excessive
it, but it lacked some non-essential parts. I gave him a few website addresses; I am also
EPAS assistance at speed is avoided.
sending him a copy of Safety Fast!, in the hope of spurring him on. (Perhaps one of your
Kind regards,
members could tell me if they require MOTs in Northern Cyprus, I don’t think so?). My car
Tim Jenner
is in extremely good condition and has been modestly feature in your magazine, because
Re: The devil is in the detail
of taking part in the C Register outings. My wife had trouble pulling me away from the car,
because I was almost tempted to give it a good clean! I don’t like to see a car that rare in
Ref. Ernie Preston’s letter in October’s Safety
that condition.
Fast! (The devil is in the detail) perhaps I can
Regards,
add a little more detail. He is correct in saying
John & Sue Saunders
that Richard Mullins would not have travelled
by steam train to Abingdon in 1968. To be
Send your letters to:
completely accurate, the last scheduled
Postbag, The MG Car Club, Kimber House, PO Box 251, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1FF
steam hauled passenger train to depart from
or email: postbag@mgcc.co.uk
Paddington was the 4.15pm to
Banbury, hauled by 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ on
Friday June 12 1965, but the very last
MGA Tourer – a reminder from the past
scheduled steam-hauled passenger train of all
When I saw the cartoon on page 19 of October’s Safety Fast!, I had a real blast from the past.
on British Railways Western Region was
It shows an MGA on which the passenger door has opened on a corner. The passenger has
hauled by 6998 ‘Burton Agnes Hall’ on
left the car as a result of sideways Gforce, because of the MGA’s superb road holding.
Monday January 3 1966, working the 10.25
In the mid1960s Roy Brocklehurst in MG chassis design and myself were instructed to
Poole-York between Oxford and Banbury.
investigate an accident in the USA where a passenger had done this and was badly hurt.
6998 is now preserved at the Great Western
We were given all the evidence as British Leyland was being sued for marketing an unsafe
Society’s Didcot Railway Centre in
car. Roy went immediately to America to see the car and the site of the accident and to
Oxfordshire. The Abingdon branch closed
obtain speed and road marking information.
to passengers in 1963, although it remained
Evidence provided indicated that it was not surprising that car left the road on the
open for freight until the 1980s, and of
corner at excess speed. On its own this did not satisfy queries as to why the door opened.
course was used for transporting new MGs
However, on examination of the passenger door, the lock seemed OK and operated
until the plant closure in 1980.
normally but the door release cable had been overstretched or changed and was too low.
Best wishes
This meant that the passenger’s right elbow (left-hand drive car) could operate the lock
Peter Chatman
when swinging sideways on abnormal cornering.
Website praise
Demonstrations of a standard MGA at steadily increasing speeds on the corner in
question, by a test driver, with insurance underwriters present, showed the crash car was
You are to be commended on the new look
going too fast for the corner to be safe. The claim for the passenger’s injury was abandoned
and feel of the site. I am having a wonderful
in our favour.
time exploring and learning my way around.
As a result, instruction was given to all distributors, in all markets, to check every car
As a Yank, the magazine and website are my
as delivered and when serviced in the field. Pictures in Anders Clausager’s book Original
best connections to the Club, and the
MGA, pages 16 and 17 show both the correct original production condition with the cable
improvements in both are more than ample
above the edge of the access pocket trim panel and a condition from a used or modified
reasons to keep my membership current and
car with the cable visible.
my enthusiasm high.
This sort of problem in service and its solution is one which can improve car design.
Cheers! And thank you for all of your
The same principle as racing improves the breed!
hard work, dedication and talent.
Yours sincerely
Steve Hanegan
Don Hayter
16 Safety Fast! NOVEMBER 2008 www.mgcc.co.uk
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