SPOTLIGHT

Two months ago we met Peter Burgess who somehow turned his psychology degree into doing something useful with MGs. Now we meet Gerry Brown, a former chemistry graduate who also finds the former knowledge helpful with his current business of competition preparation for MGs and other sportscars. Not surprisingly Peter and Gerry are good friends and frequently work closely together. Many will recognise Gerry as the ‘Brown’ from the well known specialists Brown and Gammons’ of Baldock, who has now opted for a country life but still very much with MGs. His new company Merton Motorsport has quickly carved out a niche for itself over the past three years since inception, his clientele learning of his specialist services mostly through word of mouth from happy customers. Zoe Heritage met Gerry to chat about his new lifestyle.

 Gerry Brown has been a well known figure in MG circles for many years. Not only has he been in the trade for the past 20 years, he is also a familiar figure on the historic race and rally circuit in his MG TC an MGB. His enthusiasm for the marque is genuine and his expertise in helping customers’ cars to become more proficient in the competition world stems from first hand knowledge. Today, Gerry likes to concentrate on building fast engines, gearboxes and axles for competition MGs and other sportscars, claiming he is not a body specialist . However, he has five MGs in for total restoration which is not bad for someone who does not do panel work! He explained further: A car comes in for engine and rear axle modification as the owner wants it to go quicker. This MGC here is a prime example as when we took the engine out and dropped the front suspension, underneath was very rusty, probably because the car may have sat on damp grass for a period of time. Chassis work is definitely necessary, then dig a little deeper and before you know it, a complete rebuild is on the cards. Obviously, building a quick engine is not the end of the story in any case as suspension setting up, tuning, gearboxes and axles are all part of the whole so naturally we expand into complete cars.

Thirty years ago Gerry owned his first MG. I bought a TC when I was at Birmingham university reading chemistry he recalled. After discovering that it could not reverse more than two yards I reckoned it had a problem so sold it the next day. Even made a small profit! I immediately bought another and still have it sitting in my garage now. The TC cost Gerry £350 so it was a good investment . Apparently there were half a dozen or more TC’s in the campus car park at that time. Well they were cheap, looked the part and impressed the girls. You know, the typical student bit he joked. This car was Gerry’s passport into the MG world. At the time the engineering department of the university was thronging with now notables – Harvey Postlewaith of Ferrari and Tyrell F1 fame and Josh Sadler of Autofarm Porsche notoriety to mention but two, so a strong university motor sport section emerged, always active with rallies and autotests a common occurrence. The TC and I were regular competitors before branching a little further to racing in MGCC events at Silverstone. This brave venture was after spectating in 1967 and thought I could do that , well with the back markers anyway. This initial debut naturally had Gerry wishing to be up with the big boys, well nearer them at least and so gradually modified the TC. Although I had some experience, I had not had any official mechanical training so I had to talk and learn fast he said, and it soon became quite an exciting road car. Other road users would be amazed when this old banger would roar past them at 85 mph on the outside lane of the M1. Well it was 1968

Mustangs & TC’s
Landing a job with Kodak for two years in the United States found the TC being fostered by Alistair Naylor while Gerry was roaring about in Mustangs. In the States you just have to have a car to get around . Ignoring sensible vehicles he chose instead a 66 Fastback an incredible machine that would pull to 7000 rpm and do 70 mph in first fear which inevitably led to a few speeding tickets. Regrettably I just abandoned the car when I left. On return to England, the TC came home and was rebuilt into a pukka racing car , eventually being fitted with a 1500cc engine which is when I started winning . Gerry was one of the first people to obtain sponsorship for a one-make championship when Oliver Rix Garages in Luton put their name on the side of the TC, also carrying their distinctive blue and yellow livery. The sponsors must have been delighted with their choice as he won the Championship in 1975 and 1976.

The T-type racing led to Gerry’s next career move. I met Ron Gammons on the track and from that Brown & Gammons’ evolved. We started the company together officially in 1978 when I left Kodak and from there it grew into the well known and successful MG specialists they are today. I know there has been much speculation as to why our spilt happened but in reality it was what frequently happens after any fifteen year partnership. Outlooks on life change. We simply wanted to go in different directions and decided to do just that. In 1992 Gerry and his wife Annabel moved their family of Rachel (12) and Mary (10) out of Baldock and into the wilds of Suffolk where ponies, Jacobs sheep, chickens and cats roam the yard of their small holding and cars fill every barn and outbuilding.

Historic Rallies
Another of Gerry’s well known campaigners is his MGB Roadster bought in 1982. This car has been successful in races this year at the Coys Festival (visitors will have seen ADD 880B take a creditable fifth place overall) and a good finish in the Spa six hours historic race. Formerly Gerry was a frequent competitor in the world of rallying. After racing it shortly after purchase, the car went into hibernation for 8 years before Mike Berry in Hong Kong persuaded me to enter the 1990 Coppa D’Italia, a four day Italian event with 10 hill climbs and 3 races. The car was stripped to a bare shell and fully rebuilt to a race/rally specification with full road equipment. Second in class and nineteenth overall was not up against lightweight E-Types and Elans plus the odd Ferrari he commented. Subsequent events included European historic tarmac rallies, Rally Britannias and the RAC Charringtons forest events, with finishes in the top fifteen. The car’s rally career finished with a notable second overall in the 1993 Targa Rusticana before the tide of Porsche 911’s drove it back to the race circuits. This car also added to its history when it was loaned to Stirling Moss in the 1990 Pirelli Classic Marathon who finished third overall when partnered by Chuck Shields. Gerry also enjoys driving other MGs in competition, for example Gunther Stamm’s K3 which he has been privileged to race twice, with any other offers welcome!

Although only three years old, Merton Motorsport based near Woodbridge in Suffolk has quickly established itself and is now well respected for its specialist services. Engines and gearboxes fill Gerry’s workshop awaiting his attention, with many of their parent-cars undergoing further work out in the barns and stables that have been transformed from animal houses into dry and spacious garages. Future plans include in-house dyno testing which will ensure maximum performance relative to the set up of each individual car. MGs are the core but other historics are welcome. MGs are such affordable, honest cars with a strong character. They are invariably quicker than you think and it is always good to put that Porsche in your mirror although you know it is going to race past you on the straight exclaimed the proprietor on his long association with the marque. So far I have managed by doing most of the work myself Gerry commented, but now need someone else to help with the growing workload. This person would have to be another perfectionist – no rip it off, stab it on merchants need apply! Seriously, we have some very exciting projects through our hands and a dedicated, experienced mechanic who was willing to get fully involved would have a very satisfying job. Currently in the workshops are a selection of MGs and two Mustangs, one off on the Panama to Alaska Rally and a Shelby for European events. Although all in varying degrees of readiness, the care and standard of work that has gone into each project is evident. Gerry obviously works on each and every car and component as if it is his own. There are no short cuts at Merton Motorsport!