120 | THE GOODWOOD REVIVAL SALE
Squadron-Leader Ronald Maura 'Curly' Dryden AFC co-drove with
Phillips at Le Mans, where practice confirmed fuel consumption of
around 22mpg, so the little car's special 16-gallon tank would permit
comfortable four-hour driver stints. George recalled in particular how
"Tyre wear was non-existent, so I could see us completing the race on
one set of tyres, provided, of course, we didn't get any punctures...".In the great race "... the car ran perfectly all through Saturday and into
the night with no trouble whatsoever..." until – with 'Curly' Dryden driving,
the MG's ignition began to fail, George explaining " I had, in the pit,
a Scintilla Vertex Magneto. The trouble was, it had to be in the car if I
was to use it, as all the spares that were liable to be needed during the
race, had to be carried on the car. But in sheer desperation, 0 sent Willie
Wicken ¶ their mechanic - ...out with the magneto, with the instructions
to try to find Curly and somehow substitute the mag. But, 0 said, 0f
you do find him, do not touch the car because the regs say that only the
driver can work on the car out on the track. Just shout to him and tell him
what to do. He did find him, and - this wants a lot of believing - not only
did he touch the car" Curly brought him back in the passenger seat The
result was an immediate disqualification. 0 can tell you, 0 was livid... .Looking back on his MG racing days, long-time 'Autosport' magazine
chief photographer George Phillips would recall how he bought his MG
TC for £500 in 1947 only to be disappointed by its performance.
Due to the contemporary covenant on brand-new car purchases,
demanding an owner keep the car for a minimum two years, George
Phillips resolved "... to get a bit more performance from it". He rebuilt
the engine, and finished 2nd in class at the Brighton Speed Trials.
Thus encouraged, in the winter of 1947, he fitted a lightweight Lester
body, saving around 400lbs weight, George recalling: The difference in
performance was absolutely phenomenal...".
0n the 194 BRDC Manx Cup race at Douglas, 0sle of Man he then placed
4th overall, before another 4th in the Ulster Trophy at Dundrod and 4th
yet again in the Paris 12-Hours at Monthlery. He then won his class in
the inaugural Goodwood Meeting that September, before securing an
entry for the Le Mans 24-Hour race which was to be run for the first time
postwar in 1949. North London panel specialist Ted Goodwin accordingly
fashioned a Le Mans-regulation body shell for the MG in 20-gauge
aluminium, supported by a lightweight frame.
135
1947 MG TC 'GEORGE PHILLIPS
LE MANS SPECIAL' REPLICA
Registration no. FAK 57
Chassis no. 379
- Recent Goodwood Revival and
Le Mans Classic competitor
• Exact replica of one of the most
famous racing MGs - Recent engine rebuild
- A practical and user friendly
sports racing car