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Created on Thursday, 29 September 2005 11:08

LIVING WITH "ALISON" (5)

In an occasional series, Malcolm Robertson outlines life with 'Alison', his 1957 MG ZB Varitone Magnette….
Episode Five - the ceremonial starting

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Created on Monday, 18 July 2005 11:05

LIVING WITH "ALISON" (4)

Episode Four - light at the end of the tunnel

In an occasional series, Malcolm Robertson outlines life with 'Alison', his 1957 MG ZB Varitone Magnette….

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Created on Monday, 04 April 2005 11:03

LIVING WITH "ALISON" (3)

Episode Three - A Gleam in the Eye
In an occasional series, Malcolm Robertson outlines life with 'Alison', his 1957 MG ZB Varitone Magnette….

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Created on Saturday, 12 March 2005 11:59

Recognition Lunch for Warren Marsh

by Malcolm Eades

On 6th March the Register Committee and friends got together at The Crossways Inn, North Wooton near Glastonbury for a lunch to recognise the long and dedicated service of Warren Marsh during his 25+ years on the Committee. Warren stood down at the 2004 AGM having served at various times as Historian, International Secretary, Event Organiser and general anchor man. His was the inspiration to begin the annual season with the highly successful Magnettes 'n Steam events, whilst ,with the late Roy Smalldridge, he planned and organised the excellent 2004 50th Anniversary Event on the Somerset Levels. To many overseas members he has been the face of the Register in the UK and a valuable source of those hard-to-get parts. His Magnette has been and still is his daily transport and at lunch he modestly admitted to having put 400,000 miles on the clock since 1975! The far flung outposts that have had the privilege of a visit from KCF 51 are too numerous to list, but suffice to say that the list includes Egypt.

David Johnson, Register Chairman, presented Warren with the Magnetteer of the Year award, paying a tribute to his many achievements, which include very active membership of the Historic Rally Car Register. Warren responded with an entertaining series of anecdotes from his travels and exploits over the years, including losing all his electrics in an eastern bloc city late at night and cutting up the late Morgan Marshall's "Yellow Peril" with an angle grinder because that was the only economic way to get it out of the back garden. Warren was accompanied at the lunch by his wife Janice who has shared Warren's Magnetteering over the years (dare one say "patiently"?) and she was presented with a splendid bouquet by former Chairman Andy Brock.

Naturally the Committee is sorry to lose Warren's energy and experience but fortunately will still enjoy his friendship and good company.

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Created on Saturday, 26 February 2005 17:49

MG Magnettes in Sri Lanka

It is recorded that only 60 ZA, ZB and ZBV Magnettes were shipped to Sri Lanka between the period 1954 till 1959. Today, it is estimated that a total number of around 25 running cars exist, all of which are ZA and ZB Magnettes. 
Only two ZBV Magnettes were shipped to Sri Lanka. No ZBV Magnettes that were shipped to Sri Lanka exists at this point in time. The only running ZBV car on the road is a subsequent import from Singapore, while there is a ZBV car rotting away rather unfortunately due to a  misinterpretation of a last will left behind by the owner. The other ZBV from the original imports has been scrapped for spares. 
So far I have come across the following cars which are running or being restored. The number is the distinctive identification number after local registration. 

Apart from the above, I can account for another 17 cars, living amongst us in Sri Lanka but do not have the specific registration numbers. I plan to set up a registration process to record the details of all these cars for our Sri Lanka page.
What has happened to the 60 cars that were shipped to Sri Lanka ? Many have gone to the grave yard just like their one time enthusiastic owners, while a handful are awaiting their destinies to be decided upon resolution of family disputes / testamentary cases. Some cars also have been shipped out to certain other countries – UK, Netherlands after restorations.

Dr. Vickum Senanayake,Sri Lanka