NG Kit Car

Well the regular annual round of events starts in February with the Snowdrop Run, a run organised by the Cambridge & District MGOC. This is always an enjoyable start to the year, although it tends to be cold and can also be wet, and usually involves around 100 cars. The Master says the end point is always a place of interest.

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After this, I usually get neglected for the next couple of months unless there’s a few days of sunny weather, when the Master will appear in the garage and say “fancy a run out, Dobby?” Of course, I always oblige but sometimes a little reluctantly, until I feel that euphoria again of the fresh air in my grille.

 

Sometimes in May, the Master and his wife will take me on a short holiday somewhere nice and I’ll swan around attracting glances and comments. Also in May, we normally begin our 2nd Wednesday evening Pub Runs (informal runs of about 20 miles with the St Albans MGOC). In June, of course, we have the NG Rally, where I really enjoy being with my own species. The Master’s whole family usually come along and we enjoy belonging to such a friendly gathering of cars and people.

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During July and August there are usually a number of classic car shows to go to and pose, including the Walled Garden at Luton Hoo, Potters Bar Family Fun Day & Car Show, Knebworth Classic Motor Show and Redbourn Classics (the Master’s particular favourite). September is usually a chance to stretch my wheels as the Master and his wife often take me on a holiday, meaning I get a chance to clock up some really sensible miles. After that, it’s a case of waiting for those “fancy a run out” days, an oil change and some annual maintenance.

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In 2020, as we all know, Covid hit and a lot of events were on hold. The Master and his wife did manage to take me to North Devon, however, in September that year (it was fun going up and down Porlock Hill!). In 2021 with things beginning to relax somewhat, our September holiday was to the Isle of Wight. I always enjoy going there as it is fun to drive onto a big ship and on this occasion I got to meet another NG called Kermit with his owner Paul who live on the island.

 

In May 2022 we embarked on a real adventure to the Lake District – a good long drive – when I clocked up over 800 miles. I also got the chance to negotiate the Wrynose and Hardknott passes just south of Scafell Pike – great fun!

 

For 2023, our autumn holiday was combined with taking part in the Cream of Devon run (Devon MGOC) but a mishap on route to Torquay rather took the edge off it. In some heavy slow traffic, after the car in front stopped abruptly, I just kissed her rear end. She was very sweet about it and I hardly left a mark on her but I did break my nose. My driving lights became skylights and the fibreglass surrounding their mountings broke away. So I spent the rest of the holiday a little embarrassed to say the least. I already had a less than perfect right front wing as it had been repaired and was not a perfect colour match and my nose had also been showing some cracking. So the Master decided to remove and have both my front wings and nose refurbished.

 

A suitable bodywork repairer was recommended, who turned out to be a fibreglass specialist, and arrangements were made for him to strip back and redo the gel coat, reinforce the nose and respray the panels in the correct matching colour – a job he did to absolute perfection. Meanwhile the Master reformed my driving light brackets, had the radiator refurbished, modified the fan mounting, replaced the cooling system hoses and improved the headlamp mountings.

 

Once my nose and wings were reassembled, I really felt like a new car and ready for the 2024 season. The Master even got around to lining my boot with carpet-like material which I had been waiting for ever since he built me - it only took him 20 years! Another tweak was to improve the design of my side screen hinges which had dropped a little over the years.

 

So 2024 was a good year. I had quite a few runs in the spring sunshine and the Master and his wife took me to the Cotswolds in May so we could enjoy the villages and other attractions. I enjoyed the usual summer runs and shows and in September we headed south-west to Cornwall, with me shod in a new set of Goodyears. It’s a long way, especially when it’s pouring with rain and we get stuck in traffic - dual carriageway and stationary! We lost count of the number of emergency vehicles which ploughed their way through – at least a dozen – but eventually a few cars found their way down a track to our left which we duly, blindly followed. After some miles we re-emerged onto the A303 only to be diverted again nearer to Exeter. With considerable time added to our journey to Truro, I began to feel a little tired and couldn’t keep my left indicator awake for the last few turns so the Master was a bit frustrated with me.

 

The next morning, he soon narrowed my non-blinking down to the indicator stalk where a piece of contact spring had broken off. Wiring up a spare toggle switch, I was soon flashing again although the Master now had to remember to cancel the switch after each left turn. Later that day, I had the indignity of a sudden flat rear tyre just before we returned to our B&B but I managed to limp back, where the Master changed the wheel (for another new Goodyear). The Master waited all the holiday for the third thing to go wrong but I just couldn’t let that happen so we enjoyed a lovely time visiting both coasts of the far end of Cornwall. After our return, the indicator stalk and tyre inner tube were both replaced, restoring my dignity.

 

When it got to 15 October 2024, I had a lovely run out to celebrate my 20th birthday and the Master said I was still a joy to drive and looked as good as ever! (Not bad after 51,000 miles). He must have meant it as I have been out every month since then and am looking forward to a return trip to the Isle of Wight in September 2025. What a life!

 

Dobby Humphreys