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MG MGA - UK's First Motorway

The UK's first motorway is 50 years old today. The national news is carrying archive footage of the Preston bypass (now part of the infamous M6 motorway). Not seen an MGA yet, just the odd Ford Consul.

Today, it is the most heaviest used stretch of motorway in the UK (more so than the London orbital - M25). Just 10 miles east of me, it is soon to become a daily commute when my aerospace business unit relocates to Salmesbury to the east of Preston.

'Name the first motorway' has often been a good pub quiz question, with most contestants going for the M1. Now the secret is out.

Steve
Steve Gyles

As I recall it was known for many years as the "washboard" due to the road surface north of Preston! Apparently they never predicted so many vehicles when it was designed. I think it was finally resurfaced successfully in the '80s.
Neil McGurk

Hi Steve and Neil, a good program for MGA spotting is the original series of the Avengers, a recent episode included a car rally/ race with all sorts of cars including a couple of the newish A's a new B , sprites etc, that's if you happen to be awake at some stupid hour of the night when they tend to show it



Gordon
g c pugh

Steve,
Do you remember the early days of the M4, which then started in London and ended at Maidenhead Thicket! I chuckled every time they mentioned it on the radio.
Shane
Shanerj

I used to commute the M25. It's hard to imagine anything more conjested than that. At least at certain times of day.
GD Glenn

The difference I suspect between the Preston M6 section (4 lanes and hard shoulder each way) and the M25 is the traffic flow per hour. The M25 is frequently at a standstill, whereas the Preston section, whilst similarly congested, is usually always moving at about 60 to 70 mph. It is a section of road that I dislike; in a 5 mile section there are 3 other motorway junctions (M55, M61 and M65), plus a couple of A-class junctions. On top of this you get countless drivers who do not know which of the 4 lanes to drive in and hog the 3rd or 4th lanes, causing other drivers to get irritated and end up under-taking (illegal in the UK).

You certainly need your wits about you.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve, That is the road you let me drive in your precious MGA!! How could you do that? I do remember that it was weekend and light traffic, and at 70mph, not much got close to us.
Barry
BM Gannon

Steve
You mean they drive improperly just like here in the US. They "sit" in the incorrect lane ("I paid my taxes and so I'll drive in any lane I want") and "pass" overtake on the wrong side. I'd like to say to them that when you overtake on the wrong side you end up in the other drivers blind spot. This is dangerous. If I were president, I make it illegal to use the cell (mobile) phone while driving (research shows it drops you attention level by 80%), and enforce passing on the incorrect side. As bad as it is in the UK, it's still worse here. One of the things I miss about living in Europe is driver courtesy is better. Except maybe Italy!

Gary
GD Glenn

Once you've driven on the German Autobahn system, the US Interstate system and its imbecilic drivers is hard to tolerate. I drove for a week and a half in Germany this spring and never... NEVER! ...had to pass anyone on the right. (Well, OK, one Hollander in a motor home.) God, it was glorious.
David Breneman

This thread was discussed between 05/12/2008 and 12/12/2008

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