Welcome to Bridget’s site. For the new visitor, Bridget is a classic British sports car, a 1977 MG Midget to be precise. Bridget’s life story, for the first 29 years, was of refined driving around the English countryside mainly on weekends. There was nothing Bridget liked more than taking her owners out for a Sunday afternoon’s run and a nice cream tea.
Then, in February 2006, she was sold to a new owner. It was quickly evident that the new owner’s mechanical abilities were limited and he had some very unorthodox ideas about weekend runs. After having a new oil cooler fitted, along with a Kenlow fan and K&N air filters, Bridget was driven off to mainland Europe. She had never been overseas previously and was not used to being driven on the wrong side of the road. However, all the other traffic appeared to be doing the same thing so Bridget just obeyed all of her new owner’s instructions.
This was to be the start of a four month adventure through France, around Spain and following the whole of the coastline of Italy. If interrogated gently Bridget would admit to quietly enjoying the trip. On her return to the UK she found herself the subject of a fairly major rebuild including a new set of clothes which changed her from black to British Racing Green.
In June 2008, Bridget once again headed for the English Channel and drove into MG history by becoming the first car of her type to drive around the world. Driving through 27 different countries and covering slightly over 39,000 miles (62,000 kilometres) she returned to the UK in October 2009.
Although hearing talk of ‘retirement’ in 2011 she found herself once again being driven across several new countries between England and South Africa. After a gruelling 13,000 miles, and enduring serious structural damage in Northern Kenya, Bridget is once more back in the UK and being pampered in readiness for another run in 2013. Retirement for Bridget will not be happening just yet.
Commercial sponsorship has not been forthcoming and therefore Bridget is unlikely to be driving around the world again. However, Bridget will be back on the road again in June. The likelyhood is that she will go up to the Arctic Circle, this past winter has been good training, then a short drop into Russia. After that we will need to see what takes the drivers fancy and how the finances hold up.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Gareth Ardwyn-Jones // Sep 30, 2011 at 11:37 am
Just found out about your latest adventure…..and I wish you the best of luck, and will be following you on Twitter and your web site…..bon voyage….buen viaje ….etc.etc
Hi Gareth and thank you. Hope you find it interesting. - Roy
2 Christer Abrahamsson // Sep 30, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Wow what a exiting journey. Wish you all the best.
If you route is through Tanzania and Dar es Salaam, please call +255 (0) 777 368 222 .
Got a 1970 Midget here and would love to
meet with you all.
Got some spares in case of….
Safari Njema and Karibu
Christer
Hi Christer, definitely through Tanzania and will try to call when nearer. Good to hear from you - Roy
3 Lisa Spratling // Oct 3, 2011 at 12:23 pm
What a fantastic adventure and the best of luck. We came back from a 3 month Around the Med in a Morgan adventure in August - have a wonderful time and happy motoring!
Hi Lisa, wee need more adventerous people like you and then I wouldn’t need to write this! Thanks - Roy
4 Ivor McElfatrick // Oct 8, 2011 at 7:21 pm
We talked at the MG Event at Bicester in August. You are a great adventurer and I am following your progress.
Lots of Good Luck. Ivor
Thank you Ivor. So far so good - Roy
5 Stephen Raider // Oct 9, 2011 at 1:47 am
Good luck !
Roy and Chris
Been reading your blog, jolly good fun!
It was not the same at the Dul.Run10k event last weekend Oct2nd, without Chris as MC…,but the sun beating down at 83 degrees reminded us of your mission for Coco, hope you raise much more money for your chosen charity…well done so far
Stephen [Raider] Street ;-0
6 Jean and John // Oct 11, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Hi Roy
We are off to Rebellion tonight with Cheryl for some free beer. It must be about a year now since we met you there. We will raise our glasses to you.
Hi Jean and John, I could really do with a few myself. Have fun and love to Cheryl. - Roy
7 Doug Bush [SE Centre] // Oct 11, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Hi Roy & Chris.
Great to read that you have made it to Egypt, its all downhill from now!. Good luck with the roads ahead from all of us SE members. We will drink your health at Monday’s Bell Natter meeting.
Octagonal regards
Doug
8 Gill and Myrick // Oct 19, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Hi Roy, have a safe trip. We will be thinking of you. All is well here in Chinnor x
Hello both, good to hear from you. Best wishes and give my love to Mandy - Roy
9 Beth // Oct 31, 2011 at 7:39 pm
Hello you both, how things are going ? All the best … hoping meet you again on the road to Cape. Cheers.
Beth & Marcelo
Hi Beth and Marcelo, thanks for message. In Gedaref and Chris has broken a spring. We’ll get there. Best wishes and safe journey. - Roy
10 Bruce from Knysna // Nov 3, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Well done Chris - delighted to hear you are back on the road. Thanks for the ongoing reports, photos and video. The latter is reminiscent of SA driving!
Good luck and best wishes to you both - see you in Namibia with our gang
Bruce
Great to hear from you Bruce and looking forward to the meeting. I will send an updated schedule as soon as things become clearer. - Roy
11 endriyas ambachew // Nov 6, 2011 at 8:06 pm
Hi am very surprised to hear about this magical journey, and very surprised to see you at HAILE RESORT.
please contact me if you can am living in hawassa.
Endriyas Ambachew
Hello Endriyas, thanks for the offer, but I am driving to Moyale in the morning. Glad you enjoy the website. - Roy
12 endriyas ambachew // Nov 6, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Sure i enjoy it, and also your car. Just phone me if u can.
13 endriyas ambachew // Nov 6, 2011 at 8:28 pm
By the way i’ve got a pic with your car.
14 C. e deressa // Nov 26, 2011 at 3:22 pm
hay Mr adventurist!
i have met you today at Kabwe, Tuskers Hotel and we had a chat with you about your journey . it is very impressive! i hope you will be the happiest person after the completion of your dream.
wish you safe journey and looking forward to the book you will be publishing about africa
Thank you very much. Like all the people I have met in Zambia so far you are very kind. - Roy
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