The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This photo (LATplate C8716) was taken in May 1936 during the running of that year’s MGCC’s Abingdon to Abingdon trial. The Autocar photographer carefully chose his moment to take this photograph of Cecil Kimber who appears to be spectating, although his car is wearing a competition plate. A picnic basket lies open on the hillside adjacent to his female companion.  An enlargement of the image also reveals that Kimber is carrying a 35mm Leica camera – what price a peak at some of his images? The MG Car Club’s official history records this solitary paragraph concerning the event:

June 1936: The Annual Abingdon-Abingdon Trial took place in May, starting as usual from the Factory with a running buffet provided by the company. A novelty this year was a special driving test held in the works grounds before the 110 competitors set off on a 45-mile run before the first of the trials hills. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Postscript: Garry Waiting has pointed out that the car, alongside of which Kimber is standing, is a Singer Le Mans and therefore unlikely to be the vehicle he drove to the event!

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Very little is know about this atmospheric Brooklands image. Its reference number indicates that it was taken in 1932 but the LAT plate number (B9038) is not specifically catalogued by Motorsport Images. The photographer was positioned at the top of the Member’s Banking adjacent to the Member’s Bridge when he took this shot, perfectly capturing the long Railway Straight in the background. The use of the short (1.1 mile) clockwise Mountain Circuit and the lack of spectators might indicate that this was taken at a club meeting while the participants racing numbers may provide clues should a reader have access to the appropriate Brooklands program or race card. The identity of MG Midget no.17 and its driver are of particular interest. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images) POSTSCRIPT: Knowledgeable MG historian Cathelijne Spoelstra writes;  ” …it was the BARC Meeting of April 17 1933. The entry list for that event says Mr. W.G. Everitt carried no. 17 in the 8^th race of the day, the Third Addlestone Mountain Handicap. According to Mike Hawke’s ’75 Years’, the car is J2120, not heard of since about 1952.”

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Following on from last week’s TMC image, here is a close up shot of the same MG J3 Midget (JB 2268) photographed en route during the 1933 Alpine Rally. W.E. Belgrave and his co-driver look remarkably refreshed and under-dressed for imminent competition, which might indicate that the driving for the day had yet to be undertaken. (LATplate C1518 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This great photograph of W.E. Belgrave’s MG J3 Midget (JB 2268) speeding through an alpine village was taken at the July 1933 La Coupe Internationale des Alpes rally or Alpine Rally. The event was effectively a trial, although Motor Sport magazine reported that many drivers treated the 2000 kilometre event as a road race. The Alpine route took the cars through France, Switzerland and Italy along some treacherous mountain roads and passes. Belgrave and his 746 cc supercharged Midget won the Group V Coupe des Glaciers award, just pipping Donald Healey in his Riley.  (LATplate C1454 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

On the 9th May 1930 The Autocar published a road test of the development car for the racing M.G. Double Twelve models, which were later to be known in production form as MG Midget 8/45s. It was of course no coincidence that the JCC Double Twelve Race commenced at Brooklands that very day, continuing for a further twelve hours on Saturday 10th May. This car, featured above, was named ‘Shinio’ by H.N. Charles, M.G.’s Chief Engineer “…in honour of the large quantities of metal polish which had been expended on the engine’s internals.” Here the car was used in the header photo for the Autocar test report while a scanned copy of the original artwork from the LAT archive can be seen by way of a comparison. (Lower scan courtesy of Motorsport Images)

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

20th April 1935: This photograph was taken on the observed Station Hill section of the 1935 MCC London-Land’s End Trial. Here, A. G. Douglas-Clease pilots his 1934 MG N Type Magnette (JB 3850) up the steep incline, to the delight of the spectators lining the route and his female passenger. (LATplate C5798 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

For the second consecutive week C.A.N. May’s ‘Cream Cracker’ MG PB JB 7521 appears in the TMC spot. Like TMC no.206, this photo (LATplate C10653 extract) was also taken at the 1937 SUNBAC Colmore Trial. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This superb action shot of the C.A.N. May Cream Cracker MG PB (JB 7521) was taken at the 1937 running of the SUNBAC Colmore Trial held on 27th February that year. The car is seen storming one of the hill sections, its knobbly tyres hurling debris from the rough surface skywards. (LATplate C10665 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

There were a record number of starters for the 1934 MCC London-Land’s End Trial with 343 cars leaving Virginia Water during the evening of 30th March. Upon arrival in Devon the following morning they were to be confronted with eight observed hill sections. This photo of MG Magna (MG 2500) was perhaps taken on ‘Lynmouth’, large crowds lining the route from the village below. The Magna was driven by G.M. MacGregor who collected a silver award that day. (LATplate C2905 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

ALP 363 was a 1933 MG J2 Midget registered in London during August that year. It is seen here taking part in the 1936 MCC ‘Edinburgh’ Trial and is being driven by A.P. Squire, who went on to collect a Premier Award. It’s not known upon which of the observed hills that this photograph was taken. (LATplate C8912 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)