Brian
Field and Mike Sutcliffe on their way to a class win on the
Welsh Rally retrospective in 1994. (Photo: Speedsports Ruthin)
Brian Field campaigned his MGBGTV8 (Harvest Gold 0097)
for well over 20 years in the RAC, Welsh, Scottish, Manx and
Irish rallies and had many successes including winning the RAC
historic class in 1990. He was still rallying the car in the
1990s at 80 but in 2002 decided that it was time for the V8
to go as at 86 he no longer felt he could exercise the machine
in the style it was used to! It was sold to an enthusiast in
Yorkshire for historic rallying.
Harvest Gold 0097 was well prepared for rallying. Originally
a works LHD V8 pre-production development car fitted with the
North American emission equipment and used for the US engine
emission tests. It was purchased by Brian, converted to RHD
and then prepared for rallying with modifications included fitting
the stronger SD1 gearbox, an uprated backaxle with a Salisbury
limited slip differential with Watts linkages, 14 inch Minilites
for 185 x 6 inch rubber, a dual circuit braking system uprated
with DS11 pads upfront and VG95 linings at the back, the V8
engine with a Holley, a stainless steel exhaust system and a
protective shield for the fuel tank. It had a fully plumbed-in
fire extinguishing system. There were twelve Minilites shod
with various rally and road tyres. Inside, it was fitted with
a Halda twin meter, hi-back rally seats and four point full
harness, and a roll over cage. Some of the original parts were
still available as spares - the original engine in the same
state of tune, V8 gearbox, six original V8 wheels and the original
back axle. The car was registered with the RAC MSA for Post
Historic Rallying.
Brian casually mentioned one rally took them to the MIRA test
circuit and whilst circulating with his wife Margaret as passenger,
she casually asked Brian what speed they were trundling round
at, only to receive the reply - "top of the red in fifth"
which Brian estimates was 140mph. Brian noted "it was as
steady as a rock!". Recently
Brian recalled the car could rev to 7,000 rpm and one rolling
road session showed it was producing around 125bhp at the wheels.
Brian says "Harvest Gold 0097 was one of two prototypes
I bought from Bill Price at Abingdon with Special Tuning parts
from the USA - Holley, Isky cam and lifters, flowed heads with
sodium filled valves, a |
Stag
distributor with twin contact breakers, and much more. I undertook
to develop the car for competition to keep the name of MG prominent.
I converted it to RHD." Brian mentioned that the car had
a Crane cam which he feels is better and a "double-pumper"
Holley. Clearly the car has had an active life and Brian acquired
a crashed V8 shell a while ago from which floor sections and
elsewhere have been repaired, so the body is surprising as the
rust has been kept down and the body much stiffened.
"It's
a flyer" on the Harry Platter Eppynt with a 1st in Historic.
Brian has been known for his penchant for getting airborne over
humped bridges! (Photo: Brian Field)
The
competition history is extraordinary for an amateur entrant
"At the end of the day" - Denis Cordell and Brian
Field with HUD 577 N. (Photo: Margaret Field)
The
competition history is extraordinary for an amateur entrant
- "successful runs in the RAC, Scottish, Welsh, Irish and
Manx rallies were followed by historic events. We were first
overall in the 1990 Mike Spence (against a top field) and had
many class wins in Ireland, Prescott, Wiscombe (fastest MG),
Harry Slatter's rally on Eppynt, the Coronation, Bridgend stages
and Silverstone. Yes we did racing and hillclimbs as well as
rallies."
In his modest way, Brian thanks his friends who have worked
with him over the years - "thanks to co-driver/navigators
Denis and Stuart Cordell, Colin Francis, Mal Stuart and others
- still best friends! All the work on the V8 was carried out
in my garage at home by Mercedes trained mechanic, Frank Ferris,
with valuable advice from Special Tuning at Abingdon, Lucas
Comps, Salisbury and Aldon Engineering." |