Some photos sent in by Rodger Polkinghorne

These were taken at the TD 60th Birthday Run.  

MG TD 60th anniversary picnic run on Sunday 18th October 2009
The MG TD 1949 - 1953
The MG TD was the first MG after World War II with modern independent suspension with coil springs, rack and pinion steering and two leading brake shoes in the front so it could Stay on the road, Go were you pointed it and  Stop like a modern car. These improvements equated to  superior  handling and ride comfort for the true sports car enthusiast. The TD also had a wider tread, a new hypoid rear axle and was the first MG to be available in left hand drive.

The MG TD set 23 American Stock Car Records 
A stock MG TD was taken under supervision of the AAA from a dealer’s showroom in Salt Lake City, established 23 American Class F stock car records by completing a 12 hour run at an average speed of 75.34 MPH, thereby creating records for all distances from 25 Kilometres to 1,000 Kilometres.

The following is part of an article written by John R. Bond in ROAD and TRACK in March 1950.
                                                                                                                                               
“The TD was not only faster but despite being 198 pounds heavier, it will get up to top speed more rapidly than the TC. Using rough figures, the TC clocks 78mph maximum, corresponding to an engine speed of 4940RPM.  In other words the older model is “geared” so that the engine cannot reach it’s peaking speed of 5200RPM on level roads in top gear. The new TD with same gear ratio of 5.125 to 1, but with smaller wheels, will clock in the region of 82 mph corresponding to an engine speed of 5600 RPM, which is in accordance with modern practice as to gearing for optimum performance.”
 He also points out;
 “The loss of the precious wire wheels is a low blow to the hard-shelled MG enthusiast. However the writer feels that knock-off wire wheels can never be justified on any basis except “looks” for a moderate priced sports car. Compared to the conventional bolt-on steel disk, the wire wheel is definitely heavier (some 3lbs per wheel and tire assembly on the MG ), certainly not as strong, harder to keep clean, and most important of all, much more expensive to manufacture and maintain. Disk wheels have been very successful on B.M.W. sports cars and on Indianapolis race cars. Quick wheel changing is of no importance, since it is seldom required, and manipulating the jack takes more time than the actual wheel change even with 5 nuts instead of one big wing nut.       

The TD was also the last MG built before MG became a small part of the massive British Motor Corporation.

The Picnic Run
The run stated at the club rooms with morning tea and a movie using our new electronic wizardry which allowed us all to sit in a theatre like atmosphere and watch a DVD on the big screen. The movie was “Two for the road” staring a very young Audrey Hepburn and a slender Albert Finney.
A green MG TD was the star of the film which unfortunately caught fire and was destroyed.
After the movie and morning tea we went on the run through the Adelaide Hills via Clarendon and Range Road with the superb views of the coast and vineyards of the Southern Vales district as we headed for Mc Laren Vale for our picnic lunch.

Lawrie & Lyn Foody’s granddaughter was commissioned to produce a 60th anniversary cake and what a cake it was. The cake was cut by Lawrie Foody and our vice president Leyland George followed by a rousing chorus of “Happy birthday MG TD.
Fortunately there were not a lot of people around to witness a group of MG tragics singing happy birthday to a car.
 

The weather was about as good as it can get and our thanks to Lawrie & Lyn Foody for organising the movie, morning tea and the picnic venue and of course the cake. Special thanks to Graham Loader for organising the run
  
Many thanks to those who came along and helped us celebrate
Robert Barker                            MG Y
Gary Chapman                          MG F
Lindsay & Karin Caffin               MG TD
Richard Davis                           MG TD
John Debney                            MG TD
Lawrie & Lyn Foody                   MG TD
Leyland & Gloria George            Sweeper car     
Allan & Barbara Griffin               MG TD
Chris & Annette Kinney              MG TC
Malcolm Leahy                          MG YT 
Ron Lewis                                 MG TD
Graham & Pat Loader                MG Y
David McNabb                          MG TD
Michael Lyons                           MG ZR
Roger & Sue Polkinghorne         MG B
Mick Proferes                            MG TD
Leigh & Chris Richter                 MG TD
Arthur Ruediger                         MG TC

           
  Cheers
          Leigh Richter