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MG MGA - MGA racecar #419 history?

Guys, I'm am the recent proud owner of a OEW 1960 MGA coupe racecar, currently sporting the red number 419. This car was purchased by the previous owner at a MECUM auction in Lime Rock CT in 2000. At that time it had the number 416. I am looking to find the history of this car. If anyone has info, picture, races, any contact with previous owners, I'd like to hear about it.
Thanks,
Gerry

G T Foster

Hi Gerry,

If you quote the 6 digit chassis number you may have more luck, as race numbers change frequently.

Plus document any race stickers stuck to the roll bar usually.

Cheers
Mark
Mark Hester

Thanks for the advice Mark.
The chassis # is 96654
G T Foster



95554 may have been registered with NAMGAR - 1983-11-02

Have you tried them ?

Thanks
Mark


Mark Hester

Are you sure it's not a Nigerian scam ?

(google 419)
dominic clancy

Mark, that's a good thought, but there is no NAMGAR number on the dash of this car, so it probably wasn't. Still, I'll give it a shot.

Dominic...Waaahahahahaha!...but no, I don't think so..
G T Foster

This page makes mention of #416 MGA Owned by Bonnie Anthony in 1962. May be a starting point for you?

http://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Pomona-1962-08-19d.html

I B Morris

PS There is also mention of Stan Anthony in an MGA. Husband??
I B Morris

I B, nice detective work. I will follow this up and see where it leads....
G T Foster

I'm on a bit of a roll ..........

http://www.racingsportscars.com/covers/_Pomona-1962-08-19e.jpg

Bonnie Anthony, Las Vegas or NV ? May still be there? But she's probably as old as me by now!?
I B Morris

I.B.

While you are on a roll I have been trying to find out without success my car's racing history. It is a 1500 that I salvaged from San Diego. I managed to contact the previous owner from the late 60s and he reported that it had been rolled while racing in the California area in the 60s, killing the driver. When I did the rebuild there was massive evidence to support the car having been rolled, with beaten out damage to the dashboard scuttle and the top rear behind the driver.

Steve
Steve Gyles

IB, on a roll indeed!
How are you finding this stuff?
I've e-mailed some OLD MGA racer friends of mine. One is Ted Rounds who sucessfully raced MGAs in the ;ate 50's. They know not of Bonnie Anthony. So far, I cannot confirm or refute that the 416 mentioned is the same car that I have. I appreciate your efforts.
Thanks,
GTF
G T Foster

GTF,

I guess it's just a matter of making Google work for you. The info is there, it's just accessing it that is the challenge.

Ted may like this......


I B Morris

IB,
I finally did find it.
Nice picture. I'll send it to Ted.
Where'd you get it?
Looks like something from the BARC website.
GTF
G T Foster

http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/photo/Ted-Rounds-USA.html
I B Morris

Got a response from NAMGAR. Here's a summary:

The car with the Vin Number GHDL 96654 is registered with NAMGAR as an unassigned car ( not assigned to a current member ) # 0058. I have the last member registered with the car in Schenectady, NY no Zip, no phone, no date of notice for sale of car. Before that I have it in Howes Cave, NY 12092. Date NAMGAR notified of end of ownership 11/09/1991

So, I'm following up on this. Also got a note from California suggesting I check with Johnathan Stein, who I know contributes to this BBS. Will try to contact him.
GTF
G T Foster

A quick update.
NAMGAR said this car is registered and has an unassigned number of 0058 and will send me the dash plaque as the registered owner.
IMRRC in Watkins Glen NY said they will do some research on the history of the car and give me a status update on what they find.
Also going to send for a heritage certificate.
Cheers,
GTF
G T Foster

What a thrill to go through I.B.'s attached drivers list and find my first cousin, Don Meline. He was my bigger than life childhood hero racing his 61 Corvette when I was just in 9th grade, far away.

Steve Meline
Steve Meline

Cool, Steve. There's more here ...........

http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/results/Don-Meline-USA.html

I B Morris

Thank you I.B. I had no idea that information was out there. I will try to pass it on to Don who now lives in Big Bear CA.

As I understand he was a mechanic for Mickey Thompson but was third in line to drive, he has some neat stories. He just wanted to drive, so he went down to the Chevy dealer.... He dorve in his early 20's till his motor was gone and his pockets were empty. The record shows he did very well. He is a gentle soul.

Didn't mean to hi-jack your thread G.T., hope you find out more about your race car.

Steve Meline
Steve Meline

Hey, any time this type of info comes across...wonderful..
I love it... Thanks for sharing..
GTF
G T Foster

IB, I sent Ted Rounds the photo..here is his response:

Hi Gerry,
-- Here is some more information about the Sebring A, if you think the Aussies would be interested. It is a 1957 and ran Sebring that year either as a team car or a private entry by David Ashe, the sales manager for the importer J.S.Inskip. The car was modified for endurance racing , 9 to 1 pistons, a close ratio gear box, a large fuel tank with a large fill pipe that projected through the trunk lid. the tank left no room for any thing else in the trunk and Borrani wheels. I believe they were 72 spoke. The brake drums and backing plates were drilled for cooling. I covered the holes to avoid complaints from competitors. I don't know what tires were used at Sebring but I ran Goodyear Blue Streaks, stock size. The car today has been restored to as new by Mike Eaton.
Morris Garage purchased the car from Inskip in late 1957 or early 1958 and I bought it in 1959. I entered SCCA regional races in 1959. At the regionals 15-25 A's would be entered and we would have an all MG race.I entered 8 races and had 4 firsts, 3 seconds and 1 third. I drove the car to and from all the races. Mike Eaton has all the trophies I could find. He should have the serial number.


Ted Rounds
G T Foster

Thanks for that, Gerry. Interesting stuff.

There's more here about David Ash/Inskip at the time that he raced the car and other MGA's prepared for racing etc. Also interesting to read.

http://forums.autosport.com/topic/16612-david-ash/

I B Morris

FYI, here's an exerpt from a response from Johnathan Stein regarding my request for history:

Wait! You need to find a guy in the Tustin, CA, area named Jim Parkinson. He is in his 80s now but was a BMC dealer and active MG racer. He was on the Works Sebring team in 1960 and other years. I am traveling so I don't have more info with me. He may still own a Nissan dealership on the area. Good luck.

If anyone knows of Mr. Parkinson, please contact me.
Cheers,
GTF
G T Foster

http://www.manta.com/c/mm2fbtb/tustin-nissan

I B Morris

IB, I did find this Nissan store in Tustin. Even contacted them and did a live chat. They were not forthcoming about my questions regarding Mr. Parkinson. However, what you have found seems to clearly link James Parkinson with this dealership.
I will pursue this..
Thank you..
GTF
G T Foster

I B, I called Tustin Nissan and asked if there was a James Parkinson associated with the dealership. Two people I talked to said they never heard of him..
Hmmmmmnnnn...
GTF
G T Foster

Is this the guy. http://www.mecum.com/auctions/group_consignment_list.cfm?AUCTION_ID=CA0810&GROUP_ID=10031

There are quite a few leads if you google "Jim Parkinson Tustin" It looks like the family now has a Buick dealership.
John DeWolf

Thanks John,
looks promising..I'll keep digging...
GTF
G T Foster

Hi . I live in Tustin, CA and own an MGA Coupe. If you need a local to help, let me know. I have an MGTD MkII that was raced in the 50's in CT, and found the original owner in NY (actually, an auto historian found me). So it is a cool pursuit.

Ira Spector
Ira Spector (PA)

Ira, any help would be appreciated. Especially from someone local to the area. If you could find/talk to people who knew/know Mr. Parkinson I would appreciate it.
I am curious...the header on your response says PA...you indicate you live in Tustin CA...understand my confusion.
Regards,
GTF
G T Foster

Sorry, I haven't updated my info. We lived in PA for 25 years, moved here to CA 4 years ago.

I will try to stop by the dealers.

Ira
Ira Spector (PA)

He apparently sells classic cars as well as Buick and GMC products. Check out the picture in the upper right from his website- yes, that is an MG dealership!

http://www.tustingmc.com/?http://www.netlook.com/private/init.cfm?id=TUSCLSC-USCAORC

I sent him an email.



James Parkinson
President

Tustin Buick Pontiac Gmc
1 Auto Center Dr
Tustin, CA 92782-8406
Tel: (714) 669-3699
Email Avail: 3 Day Free Trial
http://www.tustinautocenter.com

Last updated on 6/12/2010

I'm following up to see if he is still around.

Ira Spector (PA)

Gerry,

Your car was indeed raced in California. I found a website that has programs for cars raced in California.

Here is a program from a race in Pomona. Look under car #416 and Bonnie Anderson from Las Vegas in listed as driving an MGA. (lower right, under the NGK sparkplug ad).

http://www.racingsportscars.com/covers/_Pomona-1962-08-19e.jpg

She is listed in this archive for four races. It is not clear if she raced or the results, but she is in the programs. Here is the link:

http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/archive/Bonnie-Anthony-USA.html

I will let you know if Jim Parkinson knew her; but it is clear that a lot of MGs were being raced. My hometown of Allentown, PA had a racetrack; and is also listed in this archive.

Best regards,

Ira

Ira Spector (PA)

Gerry,

You can also download the program covers for the races on these dates. 15,000 people supposedly attended one of these races!

Ira
Ira Spector (PA)

Ira,
Your efforts are indeed appreciated.
The info about Bonnie Anthony was brought up earlier in this thread. While is does show a 1600 MGA with the number 416 there is no indication if it was a coupe or not.
Feel free to contact me off line if you learn anything.
Regards,
GTF
G T Foster

This thread was discussed between 10/11/2013 and 03/12/2013

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