The Works MGs

Mike Allison, author of the pre-war section of this book, worked at the MG Car Company as a technical specialist under Reg Jackson. He knew many other MG luminaries including Cecil Cousins, Alec Hounslow, Syd Enever, Bert Wirdnam, Sam Nash, Henry Stone, Frank Stevens and Harry Herring. -- Peter Browning enjoyed a 50-year career within motorsport, encompassing racing, rallying, and motorcycling. He is best known as the last competitions manager of BMC, serving between 1967 and 1970, and later BL - acknowledged worldwide as the most successful rally team of the era. As executive director of the British Racing & Sports Car Club (the world's premier race organising club at the time), he was the most experienced clerk of the course in the UK. He spearheaded the creation of many new racing formulae and events, and served on numerous race and rally administrative committees. Peter went on to form his own company, which handled the worldwide media services for Marlboro, motorsport's largest sponsor. He was the founding general secretary of the Austin-Healey Club, and before retirement worked as competitions secretary of the MG Car Club.

Acknowledgements and bibliography

Part 1 The pre-war cars
Introduction to Part 1

Chapter 1 Establishing the breed: 1924-30
The 14hp and 18hp cars, Wolseley Motors and the development of the Midget

Chapter 2 The luck of the game: 1931
Development of the racing Midget, early record attempts, sports cars from racing cars

Chapter 3 The luck continues: 1932
Supercharging, more record-breaking

Chapter 4 As if by magic: 1933
Development of the Magnette

Chapter 5 The magic continues: 1934
Unsupercharged Magnettes, high-pressure supercharging for Midgets

Chapter 6 Maintaining the breed: 1935
Independent suspension, the cessation of racing, but competition continues

Chapter 7 Establishment and retrenchment: 1935-39
Sports cars from touring cars, more record-breaking, trials and rallies

Chapter 8 Post-war record-breaking: 1945-54
The end of the overhead-camshaft cars

Part 2 The post-war cars
Introduction to Part 2

Chapter 9 Post-war revival
MGs return to motorsport, works support, competitions objectives, race and rally car development and preparation

Chapter 10 T-types and Magnettes: 1949-55
Support to private owners, TCs and TDs at Silverstone, rallying Y-types; the Competitions Department is formed; Willy Cave and Magnette on the 1955 Monte Carlo Rally, Pat Moss and TF on the 1955 RAC Rally, new recruits

Chapter 11 MGA's sporting heritage: 1950-55
George Phillips' specials, MGA prototype, 1955 Le Mans and Tourist Trophy

Chapter 12 MGA in rallying: 1956-62
Pat Moss on the 1956 RAC Rally, 1956 Mille Miglia and Alpine Rally; Chris Tooley on the 1956-57 Liege; Twin Cams on the 1958 Liege, 1959 Tulip, Acropolis and Alpine rallies; Rauno Aaltonen's 1962 Tulip Rally

Chapter 13 MGA in racing: 1956-62
Sebring 1956-62; Le Mans 1959-61

Chapter 14 Midgets and 1100s: 1961-65
Midgets on 1961 RAC and 1962 Monte Carlo rallies; the Dick Jacobs Coupes, 1965 Sebring and Targa Florio; 1100s at 1962 Brands Hatch Six-Hours, 1963 Monte Carlo and Liege

Chapter 15 MGB in racing: 1963-66
Debut at 1963 Sebring, Le Mans 1963-65, Sebring 1964-69; winning the 1964 Nurburgring Marathon and 1965 Brands Hatch Guards Trophy; 1966 Targa Florio

Chapter 16 MGB in rallying: 1963-66
The 1963-64 Tour de France with John Sprinzel; 1964 Monte Carlo Rally with the Morleys; 1964 Liege and RAC Rally, 1966 Monte Carlo

Chapter 17 MGC-GTS: 1967-68
British Leyland rule; 1967 Targa Florio, 1968 Sebring and Nurburgring Marathon; the closure of Competitions

Appendix A Pre-war personalities

Appendix B Pre-war results and achievements

Appendix C Pre-war racing cars: technical specifications

Appendix D Post-war international race and rally entries

Appendix E Post-war works drivers

Appendix F Works MGB build sheet

Index