Ken's enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, the Morgan Marque grew quickly when he and Janet were given there now world famous Morgan 4-4 Le Mans in 1968. The gift came from Janet's uncle, the late Dick Pritchard, a founder and the first Chairman of the Morgan 4/4 Club, now the Morgan Sports Car Club Ltd. Ken quickly restored (2 years) the 4/4 to full Concours condition and the car has competed successfully in many European rallies, driving tests, and Concours events. Its many wins include the VSCC Martini Trophy and it has been featured in books and magazines all over the world.

Ken has been a Post Office engineer, done a stint in the RAF and spent twenty- two years in the Metropolitan Police as a dog handler and instructor before a serious back injury forced his early retirement. Now a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, Ken originally took up writing as a therapy after his injury.

Widely acknowledged as one of the world's leading authorities on Morgan. Ken has now written eleven books on Morgan - all of which are invaluable to anyone owning or restoring an example of the Malvern marque.  He has also written other motoring books and articles for motoring magazines including Automobile Quarterly.

Ken and Janet are internationally accredited concours judges and have organized many motoring events, including the largest veteran, vintage and classic car display and concours in the south of England.

Janet also did a stint in the WRAF and after their two children had started school went into teaching lecturing on mathematics. Having been given her first Morgan model in 1938, she continued to collect them for many years when they were very difficult to find. Then in 1984 she decided to start up a business specializing in scale models of the marque and of course selling Ken's and other author's Morgan books. In 1998 her company received a  accolade from the Morgan factory and is now allowed to state that hers is the only company in the world, which is 'Factory Approved Specialists in Miniature Morgans'.

Today, Ken and Janet, who have nine grandchildren, live in an isolated cottage in a deer reserve, in England's beautiful New Forest. As you might expect, their house is full of Morgan three-and-four wheeler memorabilia.  Today, Janet's model collection is accepted as being one of the largest in the world.

Their contributions as book and model reviewers and also to the Experts Panel will be greatly appreciated.

When I learned that my very good friend John Sheally was preparing his third book on the Morgan I was delighted.  John must be recognised as ‘Mr Morgan’ of the USA. His attention to detail, his research and a not only in himself but also in our Marque is legendary.  To John there is only one way to do anything, and that is to win.  Second best will never do for him.  It was, therefore, with great anticipation that I awaited the publication of his latest book.

To elect to write a book on just one model of the marque, albeit one of the rarest with only twenty-six of them being produced, is a daunting project.   With his well-known enthusiasm he has set about the task with all his usual flair and style.

The book starts with a brief review of the life of Peter Morgan, and his reasons for introducing the Plus 4 Plus.   For anyone who has never actually met Peter or realized his devotion to the marque, they would consider that John is gilding the lily.  However I can assure you he is not.   Peter is a very exceptional person, which is self evident to anyone who has met him.   Like John, I consider myself very privileged to have had his friendship for over thirty years.

The book details the thoughts behind the conception of the Plus 4 Plus and its development, and construction in great detail.   This is followed by details of a complete rebuild, paying particular attention of the fibreglass body shell with many detailed photographs. Unusually the book continues with personal reminiscences of some of the current owners, followed by a complete listing of the original production specifications and the names of the owners of all twenty-six cars.

As one would expect from a professional photographer John’s photographs are excellent and the text well written.  It is, therefore, regrettable that the publisher has not paid more attention to the layout of the book.  In particular, the text, which in places does not continue to flow correctly when you turn a page.  An error that is distracting to the reader.   At first I thought it was deliberate but it is not consistent throughout the book.

With a foreword by Peter Morgan, this is certainly a book for the Morgan historian, and true enthusiast, not forgetting the collector.  However it could never be regarded as a ‘Coffee Table’ book.  All in all, it is a very useful addition to the history of the Marque by one of the world’s leading enthusiasts.

Ken Hill

A new book has just been released on the poor unsuspecting Morgan enthusiast.  (Before you all comment about this statement   NO !!!!   I have not had another one published.

This book is one in a series of over 200 titles the contents of which are the reproduction of a selection of previously published Magazine Articles & Road Test Reports.. 25 in all, from 1936 to 1993. Well over half of them have appeared in the Gold Portfolio Series books and the like. However do not run away with the idea that this publication is of the same quality of production. Far from it. The reproduction of the various items are of poor quality and must rate as a book that the Morgan world did not need.

I have no doubt that there are many of you out there who would happily say the same about any or all of my books. But at least I can say that over 90% of the contents was my own research.

At 15.00 US it is a book only for the collector who must have everything that is published on Morgans.   Caveat emptor.

August 27, 1999

The new book which arrived this morning.  The author Brian Laban is a motoring  writer who has written books on several motoring marques.  Charles has written foreword although the research for the book has been done with the full co-operation of the Morgan Family.  This is no coffee table book.   It is in essence a book which is an in depth study of the Morgan family and how the various happenings within the industry, the clan and Morgan competition results influenced the development of the overall picture from
its very beginnings to the present day.  The book is hard back, with a dust jacket and is in almost a ordinary novel format in respect of size being 9.5 x 6.25 x 1.5 inches (243 x 160 x 40mm) and contains 316 pages of text plus 2 x 12 pages of Black & White photographs and six of Colour, the latter having a few relating to the development of the new Aero and there is also text dealing with this development.

With very few exceptions the photographs have all been previously published. A high percentage of the various subjects covered in this book have been mentioned by other authors but not necessarily with as much detail.  Although I have obviously not had time to read it in depth, it is a book which is a useful addition to the overall history of the unique marque of Morgan.  Not a book for the technically minded but one which any one interested in going still deeper into the legend of the marque.

The book can be obtained through Janet Hill Ventures for immediate delivery. (25.00 BP)

I got my book from David Dowse in the post on Friday and I have just finished reading it.

The personalisation by David was a lovely touch and I have had a very enjoyable 4 hours read. It really brought back the 2002 and 2004 Le Mans, where I and a lot of other members of the eMog Pub were glued to the pit webcam, Radio Le Mans and the Eurosport television coverage.

On the grousing side, some more colour pictures would be nice, there's the odd typo and one does get the feeling that there was more to say but it had been cut out/self censored for legal reasons. Given the issues alluded to in the text, one cannot blame the author, but one does get the feeling there is a further story to be told.

I love books on motor racing and business, so I was almost certain to enjoy this book. David gets over his enthusiasm for the Morgan and most of the cast of characters that appear on the pages very engagingly, so the book bounces along at quite a lick. David also explains and illustrates his naivety with motorsport finance and the crazy contortions he undertakes to keep the show on the road, where a saner man, and probably even David in hindsight, would have run away and hid. I found the interactions between the
team members particularly fascinating, especially where the activities of the 2002 team  were dysfunctional and as the 2004 team gelled. Descriptions of the pit work were very interesting at several levels, although I was intrigued by David's comments about his relations with two of the race mechanics, chapter 17, where he mentions that they seemed to have suddenly cooled and that he has an idea why, then adds nothing else.

Formula 1 has been described as the "Piranha Club", David seems to have been a goldfish in a shark tank, in the epilogue he states that the Morgan adventure had cost him dearly, in money, time and personal relationships, but in the end he regrets nothing. 

I enjoyed the book a great deal and believe that any Le Mans fan or Morgan fan will get their money's worth.

--"Morgan at Le Mans" by David Dowse, published by Tempus,
(www.tempus-publishing.com), ISBN 0 7524 3488 8, £17.99

Jeremy Edwards

This is a book with something for every Morgan lover.  And well it should, given its comfortably large format (10 inches high by 7.5 inches wide and over an inch thick), the vintage color and black & white photographs. It hefts over four pounds with a prodigious length of 420 double column-width pages, including indices.

There are two forewords by Charles Morgan (who needs no introduction) and Lew Spencer (the prominent American Morgan racer of the era).

Both Alderson and Chapman are well known in the Morgan community, having previously co-authored Morgan Sports Cars, The Early Years. Their contributions, which represent the greater portions of the new book, cover Morgan activity in the U.K., Europe, New Zealand, Macao, Canada and the United States, while Craig Atkins provides an interesting view of Australia’s Morgan developments, along with assisting with the Canadian section.

The book is organized chronologically, with a chapter devoted to each year, 1954 through 1960.  To say the work is encyclopedic is an understatement. The authors provide a wealth of detail on the finishing order and conduct of nearly every race, driver, rally and hill climb that occurred during the era, and, lest you were wondering, incredible detail as to prevailing weather and road conditions, chassis numbers, race strategies, and, yes, even upholstery colors!  Yet, (and here credit is due the authors), it never becomes numbing, because there is so much more included.

Interspersed in all the race results are marvelous vignettes of the people, cars, and the economics of the era itself.  Those of an historical bent will find the reports on the effects of gas rationing and taxation policies in a still-struggling, post World War II Britain, enlightening and fascinating.  Morgan drivers and owners of the time will no doubt recognize many familiar venues, cars, and perhaps most importantly, members of the Morgan sporting community, if not themselves!  The name index alone contains roughly 1200 names!

Those who are keen to know more about Morgan Motor Company history will delight in the regular reports of the Company’s Board meetings, the trials involved in sourcing parts from vendors, and the working and personal relationship between HFS Morgan, the Company’s founder and his son, Peter, who was to succeed him as MMC’s head.  The period of HFS’s passing on is handled with respect by the authors, with the use of many period references documenting the reactions of those who knew him from varying perspectives. 

The introduction and evolution of new models is also amply covered.  As the owner of  2002 Plus 8, I was interested in the relationship of my car to its predecessors, including the suggestion, made in the 1950s, that Morgan move from bronze to nylon bushings, an idea clearly before its time, but one that, at least briefly, came to pass. Undoubtedly, other current Morgan owners will have fun tracing the “genealogies” of their cars as well.
As an American, I was impressed with the cars and personalities that were around  in the U.S. at the time.  It was a time when an amateur sports car race could draw 15,000 attendees, and competitors would drive their Morgans 1300 miles, from New York to Florida, to compete at Sebring’s 12 hour endurance race, and then intrepidly drive them home.  Familiar people, like fashion designer John Weitz, a Morgan driver and owner, make appearances in the US sections, as do famous Morgan cars, such as the “Baby Dolls,” driven by Lew Spencer. 

{ There are a few minor quibbles, though.  There are no Appellation Mountains in the U.S.  It’s Appalachian Mountains.  And while Mike Rothschild’s car number 55 at Sebring might have evoked the frequent question, “Car 55, where are you?” from a then-popular U.S. television show, the actual name of the show was Car 54, Where Are You?  Probably only an American of my vintage would even know.} 
Leave out? Jake is sensitive.

In the UK portion are great fun, tracking the emergence and development of, separately, and then jointly, of Chris Lawrence, Richard Shepherd-Barron and TOK 258, prior to their class victory at Le Mans.  We will need to wait, however, for the authors to produce their next book to hear that story.  Hopefully, research for it is already underway.
Overall, this is book is a very impressive achievement.  The authors are to be congratulated for their diligence, passion, and attention to detail and historical context.  They have collectively brought an era of motorsport history alive, and done so brilliantly. While not a quick read, this book will be savored by Morgan lovers for years to come, and will no doubt serve as the benchmark for books of its kind.

Morgan Sports Cars – The Heritage Years: 1954-1960, by J.D. Alderson & Chris Chapman with Craig Atkins.  Published in 2007 by PlusFour Books, United Kingdom, is available in the UK and Europe from Melvyn Rutter (mr@melvyn-rutter.net) ; and in the United States from Dennis Glavis (dennis@morganwest.net). (We understand that an altered version of this review will appear in the Morgan World shortly. (March 18, 2008)

As all you model collectors well know model manufactures come and go and leave behind strange this for the collector to discover many years later.

A few years ago Janet & I were wandering around a car boot fair, when we chanced across a box of old toys. I decided that it would be a good idea to see if by chance there were any Majorette or Corgi Rocket Morgans in it. To my amazement I discovered three of each which I promptly recovered and asked the price.  "Well, mate if you are interested in Morgans may be you would be interested in this one as well".   He then lent over the table and handed me a black and white box with a photograph of a Morgan on it.   Trying not to be too excited about being given such a prize, which contained a die cast kit white metal kit of a Morgan Plus 8, I eventually struck a deal for 50p for all seven.   (There are a some bargains to be found occasionally)

After a lot of research I have eventually managed to piece together the history of this model, the details of which are posted below. I would however be very interested to know if anyone else has one of these models and if they also have the box. Ken Hill

WALLDORF MODELS
Originally started at the beginning of the die cast white metal days (early 70’s) by Bernard Schwaltz and brought out by Otto Duve (a retired Airline cabin staff) two years later.

Duve employed Adrian Swain (ABS) and Barry Lester (BKL) both UK model makers, to produce a whole range of HO (1/87) scale models Kits (Only). These were shipped in very large quantities to Frankfurt with each kit sealed in a plastic bag.  These were then boxed in Germany and sold all over the world.   When Duve decided to turn to die cast plastic models  (He eventually sold out to Ravel) he just ended his contracts with ABS & BKL who continued to manufacture the kits and sell them under their own brand names.   Therefore the BKL 1/87 scale Morgan Plus 8 is exactly the same as the Walldorf Morgan Plus 8.

October 11, 1999