1937 MG TA Midget in wonderful condition

At lunch time today I went to get some groceries and a Sunday paper from Waitrose, which happens to be our nearest shop. As I was leaving the car park I spotted this wonderful red machine, and thought I must blip it. So I drove out of the car park and went round and back in again to park nearby, hoping it wouldn’t be driven away.

I’d already recognised by its name badge on the engine grille that it was an early MG, but wasn’t sure which one. I’ve done a bit of online checking and it seems that his particular car is mentioned as being an MG TA Midget and was built between 1935 and 1939.
...... 'The MG TA is the successor of the MG J- and P- type Midgets. The MG T- series is, according to lots of enthusiasts, the archetype of the pre-war sports car. The pre-war design shows beautiful sober lines and large wheels. The wooden dashboard shows very nice gauges and details. The MG TA was powered by a 1292 cc. four-cylinder engine with overhead valves giving a power-output of 54 bhp. The MG TA was built until 1939. It had a top speed of 80mph.'

That quote is interesting as by chance Helena’s sister, TMLHereAndThere sent her this link recounting the exploits of women racing drivers. One of these women was Kay Petre, who was related by marriage to their father’s family. She is featured in the first three photos with the astonishing cars she drove, and amazing tales of her exploits. But the very next photo is of ..... 
’three MG T- series racing cars which were all piloted by women at Le Mans in 1935. The team was dubbed “The Dancing Daughters” after a popular variety act and the drivers were: Margaret Allen & Coleen Eaton, Doreen Evans & Barbara Skinner, Joan Richmond & Joan Simpson.’

Further down the page there is another wonderful photo of two women, Joan Richmond and Joan Simpson, lighting their cigarettes before racing! The caption reads:
' Mrs Gordon Simpson and her young protege Joan Richmond, sitting in Joan’s 3 litre GP Ballot racer in July 1934, enjoying a pre-race cigarette.'

When I was seventeen and had just passed my driving test, my sister Rosie, owned an MG J2, the predecessor to this. She allowed me to briefly drive it on the roads in Surrey where we lived only a few miles from Brooklands race track, which by then was nearly derelict. 

This car is in magnificent condition and obviously much loved, and I’m certain it is garaged! It must still be fun to drive such cars even with modern road conditions.