Young Driver in a BGT or MGBing Around
I have owned my MGB GT now for three years – where has that time gone? However, it has only been since July of last year that I have been able to drive the car. This is because since passing my driving test in February of 2006 I have had an ongoing battle with the insurance companies to try and secure a realistically affordable price. It came to a point when I had to seriously consider letting the car go because there seemed to be no hope of getting the car insured for anything under £2,500. Luckily though I have now been able to insure the car for a more ‘acceptable’ price courtesy of Lancaster Insurance which means I can now drive it after three long and frustrating years.
Enough of my insurance woes, what is the car like to drive? Well by chance I met up with friend who owns a Triumph GT6 arguably, the BGT’s biggest rival from the days before the British Leyland merger. The temptation was too much; I had to drive his GT6 to compare it to my BGT. It was clear from driving just a short distance that the GT6 is a pretty fast little car, in fact quite worryingly so. It certainly is an entertaining sort of a car to drive but my general feeling was that the BGT was a much more predictable through the corners. The GT6 has a bit of reputation for dangerous handling which I think really depends on how you drive it. If you drive it too quickly into a corner it will be bite back, but given a little of respect and a firm hand, I felt that it was challenging rather than dangerous. My opinion though was still that overall the MGB GT was the better car. I would welcome other people’s views on this matter if they have driven the two cars.
Day to day running of my BGT has not always been as smooth perhaps as it could have been. The well known problem of bad running has occurred more often than not. It is amazing how what turns out to be relatively simple problems can really make the experience of owning a classic car a bit of heartache.
This came to a head back in the summer on a fairly short journey to fill up with petrol. Anyone familiar with the area around Littlehampton in West Sussex, mainly on the Worthing Road, will have noticed that there is a large residential development being constructed just before the ‘Body Shop’ headquarters roundabout, close to the petrol filling station to which I was heading. I got stuck in a mammoth traffic jam about a mile away from the temporary traffic lights controlling works associated with this new development. Obviously being the middle of July the weather was pretty warm, and so the resulting constant stopping and starting brought about the rough idling problems. I’m sure many MG owners will be familiar with excess heat causing fuel vapourising in the carburettors which eventually causes the engine to misfire. That was not the only problem, as the engine temperature was slowly getting very hot (no Kenlowe fan fitted) causing further concern. Unfortunately, there was simply nowhere to turn around and so I just had to pray and hope for the best.
Jamie’s BGT
Once I finally got past the temporary traffic lights the car started misfiring quite badly – think of ‘Onlsow’s’ Ford Cortina in the comedy series ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ and you will see where I am coming from. Without a doubt this little journey was the most embarrassing experience since I have been driving. It was the way people were looking at me, as if to say ‘what a pleb driving that stupid old car’. I did mange to get the car, albeit a very sick car, home and decided to take the BGT to a well established local garage to have it properly tuned and checked out.
I must say that since then it has performed tremendously well and it is amazing what a difference careful setting up can make to the way the car runs and even sounds. I was therefore very happy to take the MG to this year’s annual Goodwood Revival and thoroughly enjoyed what was another fantastic weekend, held at one of the world’s most famous motor circuits.
I am currently looking forward to taking my BGT to the next 1006 Chichester MGOC Trackday which will be held on Saturday, 9th February 2008 at the Goodwood Circuit.
I must say though it is a real shame that more people of my age (19) do not consider the ownership of a classic car. There’s so much more character, feel and individuality than with any modern car. I’m very happy I made the decision, although it has proved quite expensive for me to experience and own what is perhaps one of the best sportscars ever made.