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V8 Column for September 2002 published Safety Fast!

The key news to report this month is a massive surge in new registrations following the formal launch of the V8 Register website in June with the convenient online registration facilities, and the enthusiastic response to the style and content of the website from both new and existing members. Many existing members have used the online form to update their records. Within a week of the launch of the site, the hit rate rose rapidly as word spread of our site. It has continued growing strongly as our registrations with the search engines have taken effect and are steering V8 enthusiasts to the V8 Register website - now seen as indisputably the leading group providing specialist support and technical information for V8 powered MGs.

The new V8 Register website has some sixty five pages with full information on the content, availability and prices of the V8 and RV8 Workshop Notes series, details of the V8 LIFELINE (a listing of contacts of recommended V8 specialists), a listing of RV8 Reimporters, advice on buying an RV8 and a topical note on current RV8 price trends. The site is regularly updated with news items like the launch of an RV8 back axle refur-bishment service from Clive Wheatley and details of the availability of a transcript of the Don Hayter Talk on CD.

The launch of the V8 and RV8 Workshop Notes on CD in May has proved very popular and has completely replaced email attachments as a more convenient way of obtaining new or updated sets of the notes. The CDs come in an attractive package with prompt delivery in the UK and by airmail abroad. Do take time to visit the website - you will find there is also a very active bulletin board where members are discussing and exchanging V8 and RV8 maintenance and spares tips. For members without internet facilities, sample printouts from the website are available from Victor Smith on the contacts above or by fax on 0208 392 9673.

New registrations of Abingdon built GTV8s have come in from Philip Shingler (Teal Blue 0171) from London SW with an early car, Richard Langton (Jaguar Blue 0871) from Suffolk who is just starting a restoration, Peter Romilly (Old English White 1570) from Suffolk with an enthusiast recruited by Monte de Bankes, Andy Mathew (Tartan Red 1635) from London E, David Beresford (Damask 1720) from Derbyshire with a car he is using for

BCV8 Championship events, Philip Clow (Glacier White 1878 from Lincolnshire, Neil Morris (Blaze 1899) from Whangaparaoa NZ, David Green (Blaze 2137) from East Yorkshire, LiesJan Huysman (Tahiti Blue 2346) from Holland, John Toomey (Harvest Gold 2231) from Berkshire, Adrian Menzies (Flamenco Red 2458) from Nottinghamshire with a car restored over recent years, Geoff Moss (Citron 2596) from New South Wales Australia and Norman Green (Black 2840) from Lincolnshire with a car formerly owned by Peter Broomhead. Registrations of V8 Roadsters have come from Neil Ritchie (Damask 4163) from Oxfordshire and Simon Denney (Vermillion 4218) from Hampshire. RV8 registrations have come in from Paul Cheal (Nightfire Red 0295) from Sussex with an early car, Colin Boots (BRG 0662) from Buckinghamshire, Albert Wiersinga (Woodcote Green 0684) from Holland, Simon Denney (Woodcote Green 0783) from Hampshire, Tony Duggan (Le Mans Green 1243) from Buckinghamshire, Geoff Harris (Woodcote Green 1433) from Yorkshire, Mike Simmonds (Woodcote Green 1504) from Berkshire, Tony Lansdell (Woodcote Green 1514) from Victoria Australia, Anthony Swift (BRG 1686) from Oxfordshire, Tony Litchfield (Oxford Blue 1711) from Herefordshire, Sarah Bawden (Woodcote Green 1969) from Cornwall with an ex 1996 demonstrator found stored in a Japanese dealership, and Roger Brown (Woodcote Green NNNN) from Essex for which the VIN has still to be registered.

As part of the celebrations for the V8 Register 25th Anniversary in 2003, we are planning to publish a new Members' Directory listing vehicle data and the telephone and county or country details of those members who have agreed to the circulation of that data. This is in response to many members who have said they would welcome local contacts for mutual support in running their V8 or RV8 cars. Do be reassured addresses will not be published. It is now many years since the last directory was produced and part of the exercise will be an update of the database. So do send in an update of your registration details - car number or VIN, colour and registration plate together with your name, current address, telephone number and email address. You can supply this by using the online form at the website, request a registration form or simply set it down on a sheet of paper. Providing your email address is important as our communications are increasingly by email - for example regular V8 NEWS mailings are already being sent to members for whom we have an email address. All members returning an updated registration by 30th November 2002 will receive a free copy of the Members' Directory when it is published in Spring 2003.