Trials of an MG Midget

The Motor Sport Book of the Austin 7, recently republished by the Pre-War A7 Club, tells in detail how Metchim and Masters attempted in 1933-34, not to win, but to finish the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time with a 750cc car.

In 1930 Sir Francis Samuelson had tried with co-driver Kindell in an MG Midget, but an oil pipe fractured after 20 hours. He drove the damaged engine back to the factory in his aged Talbot and back again to Le Mans to receive even more help from Harry Smith, manager of the Morris-Léon-Bollée works. They then went on to Spa for the 24-hour race, and averaged around 55mph, with Samuelson’s best lap at over 57mph, when clutch slip set in. The MG covered 1833.1km, finished fifth in class and 15th overall out of 21 starters, and was the only English car racing, as the Bentleys had been withdrawn.

In 1930 a MG Midget, RX 6795, was set to climb Beggars Roost 100 times under RAC observation without stopping its engine except for refuelling. This having been duly accomplished for some seven hours, three days later H S Linfield, The Autocar‘s road-tester, took the same MG through the MCC’s London-Edinburgh Trial, gaining a gold medal.

Linfield then drove it in the JCC High-Speed Trial at Brooklands, keeping to the scheduled speed to take a gold medal, lapping at 64-66mph, although two Double 12-type Midgets lapped it. On the way to returning it to Abingdon, it made a successful ascent of the 1-in-3 Alms hill near Henley.