But all the extra features included with the car ended up taking its price above £16,000 -and into the area occupied by its formidable roadster rival the Mazda MX-5.Now the entry-level version of the TF has arrived and, in retrospect, the Chinese-owned firm may have been better served by going with the standard car from the word go.The new MG TF 135 will retail for £13,511, which in itself is not bad value for a 1.8 litre, mid-engined soft-top sports car.

Throw the government’s scrappage scheme into the equation, however, and you can get a new TF for £11,511, plus your old banger as a trade-in.

And at this sort of price point – around the same as a Renault Clio 1.2 Dynamique – the TF starts to look quite tasty.Bar some minor trim alterations, notably to the grille, the car is essentially the same as the limited edition model – only without leather seats, air conditioning, rear parking sensor, the spare hard top roof or a wind deflector.And of the above list, I would suggest only the last is really necessary, as it really can get blowy in an open top car without a deflector.

Air conditioning may be desirable in most vehicles but do you really need it when you can throw back the roof in a matter of seconds?

The TF 135 has a new Clarion sound system with the usual small fiddly buttons that come with many after market sound systems. Other than that, it’s pretty much the same as the LE 500.Compared to some of the modern front-wheel drive open-top cars of today the TF offers an ‘old school’ driving experience.

The engine is gruff-sounding, the steering on the heavy side, and there’s no ESP to interfere with the handling (or help keep you on the straight and narrow in the wet).

The TF is not particularly refined but can hit 60mph in eight and a half seconds. It’s possible to have to some fun with this car – even if the lumpy five-speed gearbox does its best to be a killjoy.Folding back the roof is a simple matter. You unclip two catches and push back the canvas.

If you want the car to look at its topless best you’ll have to fetch the tonneau out of the boot and clip it on; there are around half a dozen studs.

Though the engine is tucked away behind the passenger cabin, there is still enough room for a reasonable boot at the back.While access to the engine bay may be tricky, owners can attend to oil, water and the battery matters by opening the bonnet. The front compartment also houses a proper spare tyre too.Much has been made of the fact that the TF is based on an ageing design but this need not be a problem if the price is right.

After all, Morgan is still doing tidy business down the road in Malvern making cars like the 4/4, which first appeared as long ago as 1955.

Ok, you may not be getting the build quality of an Audi TT Roadster or the handling of a Porsche Boxster – but the TF is half the price of a TT soft top and nearly a third of the price of the Porsche. MG is further boosting the TF 135’s value by equipping the first 120 cars with leather seats at no extra cost, so it may pay to get in quick if you have your eyes on one and can be flexible over choice of colour.The new MG TF 135 will receive its local launch this weekend at Summit Garage in Himley Road, Dudley.

From The Express & Star.

As I grew older and started driving, I was drawn to European sports cars. The first two that I owned were used Triumphs, which were all that I could afford at the time. What I really lusted after, though, was one of the Jaguar XK120s that I had fallen in love with at Golden Gate Park. But Jags were too expensive for my wallet at the time. Besides that, they had a reputation for mechanical failure and were expensive to fix. As I got older my attraction to sports cars remained strong but switched from British to German. During my thirties and forties I owned a BMW and two Porsches. These were relatively expensive cars that would have been out of my league if I had purchased them new from a dealer.

About five years ago I started getting a hankering for something different. I still enjoyed the sports car experience, but this time I wanted something a little bit more refined, smoother, quieter and easier to drive. My research showed me that a Jaguar XK8 might meet my needs. In the late 1980s Jaguar was purchased by Ford Motor company, and they totally redeveloped the line. They got rid of the old mechanical elements that were so unreliable and difficult to maintain, but the kept the traditional looks of the old Jaguar line in retro form. The XK8 is similar in appearance to the Jaguar XKEs of the 1960s and ’70s, which in turn were an evolution of the original XK120s. The interior, although much more refined than its predecessors, still bears the signature burl wood dash of the old XKs that I first saw in Golden Gate Park 50 years ago.

One of the interesting things about the XK8 is that it was the first eight-cylinder production car ever made by Jaguar. Although V8s were a mainstay of most U.S. manufacturers for decades, Jags had always sported six, 10 and 12 cylinders; this model was really a departure for the company. It was also one of the first brand-new models developed under Ford’s ownership regime, so perhaps it has a bit of Detroit under the hood.

To me the lines of the XK8 are beautiful, the engine is quiet but powerful and the handling is tight. The ergonomics make every thing smooth and easy. When you open and close the doors they automatically crack open slightly because the fit is so tight. The top is fully automatic and goes up and down in seconds. These are some of the niceties of upper-level vehicles whose costs are often prohibitive.

This car cost around $75,000 when it was new in 1999, and I bought it in 2004 with 20,000 miles on it for $30,000 and it was in excellent condition. This is a big savings for a car with such low mileage. I have often thought about why the car was so inexpensive, and it is probably due to Jaguar’s poor reputation during the 20 or so years prior to Ford’s buyout. I’ve owned the car for almost five years and have had no major problems. I’m totally happy with it and will probably keep for a long time. Its well sculptured lines give it a unique look. It is as reliable as any other brand in its class. I think it was – and still is – a steal of a deal.

From San Francisco Chronicle. Cal Tabucchi, 66, taught junior high school in Los Gatos for 28 years and sold real estate for the next 10 years. He recently retired and currently lives in Aptos.

Now most of the events had to be registered for as part of the club, but there is one that will surely draw attention: The Peak 9 Car Show and Concours. The event will be on Saturday, June 27th in Breckenridge. More details to follow as I get them, so check back soon or check out the MG2009 website here.

Another event that might be of interest is the Gold Rush Rallye on Friday, June 26th. If you have a spare moment you might be able to catch 100 different MG’s competing to win this Time, Speed, Distance Rallye. More details to follow on this event as I get them

Bottom line—If you love MGs and want to catch a glimpse of some here in Colorado, then you should head up to Breckenridge…you never know what you are going to find. I hear there are some rare MGs scheduled to make an appearance.

From: The Examiner

As proof, check out the new fansite dedicated to Top Gear at site www.topgearshow.com. With subject ranging from the recent Stig reveal controversy to the reviewed cars themselves, there is a ton of good information on the site. (Let’s just hope they devote a nice section to Oliver, my favorite car from the show.) They are trying to create the ultimate fan site that is dedicated to classic moments of May, Clarkson and Hammond, so stop by and take a look.

And don’t forget to tune in to Top Gear!

And that sets the tone for the World Of Top Gear section that opened last week, coinciding with the start of a new series of Top Gear today (June 21st).

The motoring programme has a huge following in 80 countries but this will be the only place in the world where you can see some of the vehicles that featured in Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May’s best-known stunts.

Cars such as the Reliant Robin Space Shuttle, Suzuki Swift that played ice-hockey and Toyota Hilux driven to the North Pole are almost TV stars in their own right and are expected to attract thousands of visitors to the museum in the New Forest.

Seen up close, the modifications to vehicles from the world’s most popular motoring show look amazingly crude. It’s easy to see why the 1,000ft stretch-limo Fiat Panda built by Jeremy to taxi Chris Moyles to a red-carpet celebrity event in London broke in half on the way there.

And you wonder why anyone would want to take to the water in the homemade ‘Dampervan’ and ‘Toyboata’. No wonder they drenched their occupants on the Top Gear amphibious car challenge. Other highlights include the humble Mini that was fitted with rockets and sent down an Olympic ski jump, and Richard Hammond’s Suzuki Vitara ‘police car’ with a DIY stinger device made from a rubber mat with nails hammered through it that hopelessly missed its target.

The Top Gear section is a refreshing change from the ranks of historic cars in the rest of the museum. Unlike the gleaming pristine classic cars in the main part of Beaulieu, many of Top Gear’s vehicles appear to have been simply cut up with an angle-grinder, then stuck back together with rivets.

One of the highlights is the Mercedes S-Class Cottage. Peep inside and you’ll see the driver sits in a wing-backed armchair (I seem to remember Hammond toppling over when it went round a corner). It also boasts stone tiles and rugs, bookcases, a fireplace and a fringed lampshade hanging from the ceiling.

Visitors can wander round a mock Top Gear TV studio complete with ‘fastest lap board’ – where the racing achievements of the show’s celebrity guests are recorded – and Cool Wall, where new cars are rated.

Big screens show a ten-minute film specially made by the Top Gear team. True to their irreverent form, it starts with Clarkson knocking James May’s elbow so his tea pours down his shirt.

After a fit of giggles, Jeremy announces: ‘We’re really sorry we can’t be there – but we literally couldn’t be bothered.’

From The Daily Mail

The retro-racing vibe goes deeper. Brabham, the outfit launched by “Black Jack” Brabham and once owned by F1 capo di tutti capi Bernie Ecclestone has its eyes on the grid. There’s also some mumbling about Lola and March fielding cars next year.

All of this is fueled by the civil war between the Formula One Teams Association and the Federation Internationale d’Automobile, which are at odds over the FIA’s plan for a budget cap to rein in the stratospheric cost of racing. With the FIA promising to bring down the cost of entry and the major teams threatening to bolt if that happens, smaller outfits see a chance to go racing.

For the rest of this story, check out Wired.

The British victory was Vettel’s second of the season – he also won the rainy Chinese Grand Prix – and third of his F1 career. It was also the German’s first career win under dry conditions. All three of his wins have come from Pole position. Vettel also scored the hat-trick: Pole, fastest lap, and the win.

For the Red Bull F1 team, it was their second win of the season, and their second in the team’s five year 80-race history. It was also the team’s second one-two finish of the season as Mark Webber got by Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello on the first round of pitstops, and easily pulled away once the Brazilian was behind. Both Red Bull drivers turned down the revs on the engines to save them. Had it been 2005 and one-race engines, the pair likely would have lapped the field.

They were that good.

“This is a dream come true, this is a dream come true,” Vettel said of his straightforward cruise to victory. “It’s never easy, you have to stay focused and keep your eyes open all of the time. I had to push during the first stint, I was able to push, push, push, more and more. “

See the full story at Paddock Talk!

Fees for the driving academy are $300 for one day, $500 for two days. And there will be lunch-time touring laps for non-participants for a fee of $25 per car. Racers’ fees are $300 for the weekend.

So go to the website now for registration information and send it in soon to ensure your spot on this great weekend.

Phil Wicks Driving Academy
North American MINI Cooper Challenge
www.minidriving.com
803-699-4691
314-330-6449

Join award-winning television comedian Dom Joly on an epic road trip around Britain in an attempt to fill his house from top to bottom with British-made products in the brand new series Made In Britain.

As part of this unique experiment, Dom will have his family home turned upside down and stripped of everything he owns that’s not made in the UK. He’s then challenged to go on a remarkable shopping trip, travelling the length and breadth of the country to try and replace all his foreign goods with British-made products.

Before the inspectors arrive, Dom’s quaint country cottage in the Cotswolds is a safe haven for foreign merchandise: the Italian coffee machine, a television manufactured in Japan and pants made in Taiwan. In no time at all the Joly family home isn’t looking quite so jolly anymore. In their bid to find out what’s British and what’s not, the experts have banished two thirds of everything they’ve looked at including his bed, laptop and, controversially, his wife’s cosmetics, and Dom is left with little more than his Savile Row suit, a pair of muddy Wellington boots and a lengthy shopping list for his trip.

Each episode of Made In Britain will see him tackling a different room in his house in a bid to replenish its contents with British-only goods and restore normality at home. Dom’s travels take him to Europe’s oldest waterbed company (turns out us Brits invented waterbeds!); a lava lamp factory in Poole where the psychedelic favourite was invented in a shed and bath products company, Lush, which is one of Britain’s global success stories.

Dom’s journey takes him to the heart of British eccentricity and ingenuity as he meets the quirky, colourful and charismatic characters who just won’t give up making products they believe in, all the while discovering what it really takes to be made in Britain. Find out more about Made in Britain and Blighty here www.loveblighty.co.uk

Follow Blighty on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Love_Blighty and join the Made In Britain Facebook group: http://bit.ly/2eAnb now.

MG enthusiasts can purchase their admission tickets securely through a familiar shopping cart system and select which events they’d like to participate in throughout the course of the weekend. Those who pre-book will benefit from a £5 saving when compared to the on-the-gate prices.

With such a vast array of activities programmed, the online ticketing system separates each individual activity and allows enthusiasts to tailor a bespoke MGLive! weekend package. For those seeking an adrenaline laced experienced there is the autotest, sprint and Pirelli Pro Rally Rides but for a more sedate weekend the concours and Circuit Tours will also be available to purchase online.

Commenting on the launch of the MGLive! online ticketing portal, MG Car Club Chairman, John Day, said; “The online ticketing system represents an exciting new dimension to MGLive! and provides those wishing to attend with an opportunity to save money. Within the first 24 hours ticket sales were very strong and we are expecting that this will prove a popular method of buying tickets for the event.”

MGLive! will feature action on the track for the full three days, with races running continuously over the weekend. The MGLive! Arena will feature, amongst its many attractions, the amazing Russ Swift Precision Driving Team including its two-wheeling, spinning, dancing and parking routines. This year they will be demonstrating the versatility of the new MG TF LE500. Overhead the crowds will be entertained by the amazing Blades 4-plane aerobatic team on the Saturday.

To mark the 85th anniversary of the marque there will be a display of MGs through the ages from the earliest to the latest with the intention of covering every model ever made. Those wanting a more hands on experience will have the opportunity to take part in the Sunday morning circuit tour or take a trip round the track in an MG ZR.

Not only is MGLive! the largest MG event on the planet it is also the biggest MG race meeting in the UK. For further information and booking details visit the dedicated event website – www.mglive.com.