Racing MG VA's

The MG One and a half Litre was not designed with racing in mind. They were however not slow cars by any means and certainly quicker and with much better roadholding then their contemparies. A number of VA's were entered in hilclimbs & rallies; even by the MG Car Company.

                  Wing Commander John King, 1947 Edinburgh Rally

   R.A. Carmichael, 1939 Exeter Trial

A major Magic Achievement was made by Mr. W.A. Jacobs during a Motor Cycling Club (MCC) members day at Brooklands race track on the 10th of September 1938. In the Programme of that day his name is entered three times:

1. at 1 p.m. he entered a two lap race with a 32 second handicap. His name was not with the    first 3 finishers.

2. at 2 p.m. he entered a  one lap race with a 10 second handicap. His name was not with the first 3 finishers.

3. at 3.30 p.m. he entered a one hour speed trial, in which he ran in class O (not exceeding 2000cc. The set target for this race was a distance of 74,68 miles. Jacobs however managed to cover 76,73 miles in the hour and received a "Premier Award" Under the heading "Flying laps and Speeds Recorded" his name is mentioned again at 79,43 mph!

Who exactly was W.A. jacobs? Well I don't know (yet) He was not related to Dick Jacobs as is sometimes suggested.

In a long lost letter to the MG Car Club he explained that the bottem end of his VA engine was  balanced, the compression raised slightly, and the cylinderhead copper plated which would have helped in the dispersal of heat and added to the bhp. He claimed he was reaching for 90 miles in the hour when war broke out. Helas no pictures of Jacobs or his VA. Also the MCC could not help.

Another VA this time a saloon owned by Hans's Herkuleyns racing mechanic Willy Oosten was used as a service vehicle in  the 1948 French Alpine rally by driver Maus Gatsonides (of Gatso speed camera fame). This saloon with chassisnumber 0706 is still alive and being enjoyed by its second owner, Mr Willem Piet from Amsterdam.

Tyre troubles as useal in the Alps

Mr Edgars Trapans took part in a Rally held in Latvia and looking the the trophees he gained some succes (The Sports Car November 1938)

H. Keller, directly connected to the importer for Switserland, Sports Car A.G. of Zurich won his class (up to 2000 cc no less !) in a VA tourer in the 1938 Swiss Endurance Trial (like an abbreviated Alpine Trial). Keller claimed: "the engine temperature never went any higher then 80 degrees" which he said "is helpfull knowing as to the efficiency of the cooling system to those who may go on Alpine journeying."

Some modern day hillclimbing at Brooklands testhill in April 2005 by Paul Campbell with his ex police VA tourer

Gordon Wilkins, le Mans 1939

Other speed events:

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