Before MGs could pass their final factory inspection at the MG Plant at Abingdon they were sent out over a standard test route. Any faults logged in the road test report then had to be cleared by rectifications staff. Sometimes a return to test was required and occasionally the more troublesome cars were tested by supervisory staff. In those cases the fitter who carried out the rectification work often rode shotgun. The return to test activity required a variety of routes to check the satisfactory rectification of specific faults. Barrow Road, which leads to Shippon Village from the standard test routes, with its bumpy edges, was used to check suspension rattles. High speed vibrations such as wheels out of balance were checked on a good smooth section of a side road leading off the A415 which was nicknamed the The Marcham Road M1 by some of the testers. The V8 Test Route was longer (10.6 miles/17.0km) and went by the Dog House pub to the Frilford Crossroads where the route turned north on the A338 to follow an anticlockwise loop using the A420 to return through Tubney Village. A rolling road was installed at the MG Plant in 1975 and then the road tests only took place as an overflow activity, although the MGBGTV8s continued to be road tested using the V8 Test Route. About 700 yards (655 metres) from the A34 flyover on the western edge of Abingdon, prepare to turn right off the A415 signed for Frilford Heath. Driving the V8 Test Route - what does it look like? From the Club Office in Cemetery Road you head down to the twin roundabout at the western end of Ock Street and turn right for the A34 (Abingdon By-Pass). You pass the police station on the righthand side and go straight on at the two roundabouts before you approach the A34 flyover. Take the offside lane as you approach the large roundabout underneath the flyover and then head out the other side on the A415 signposted to Marcham. About 700 yards (655 metres) from the flyover, prepare to turn right for Frilford Heath. Note the satnav postcode for Club Office is OX14 1AS and not the PO Box Number OX14 1FF. Shortly after turning on to the Frilford Heath road you pass a turning on the right for Dalton Barracks which is located at the former RAF Abingdon airfield. V8 Register MG Car Club MG Abingdon Factory V8 Test Route Photo: Bob Owen Copyright: V8 Register MG Car Club 1
The attractive roadside Black Horse pub at Gozzard s Ford. Ordnance Survey Crown copyright Former RAF Abingdon airfield. Road from the Black Horse heads along the lane towards the Dog House pub. V8 Register MG Car Club MG Abingdon Factory V8 Test Route Photo: Bob Owen Copyright: V8 Register MG Car Club 2
On a righthand bend, about 1,100 yards (1 km) beyond the Black Horse pub, the route passes this large signpost for an offset junction. The turning to the left to Marcham was part of the earlier shorter factory test routes. Ordnance Survey Crown copyright Frilford Crossroads shortly after passing the Dog House pub you reach the A338 with an offset junction - the Frilford Crossroads. Turn right and head north on the A338 signposted for Oxford and Cumnor. You soon pass the entrance to Oxford Instruments on the lefthand side and then approach a large roundabout at the junction with the A420. Here you turn hard left onto a dual carriageway and head south west. Soon the road reduces to a two lane road and then you will see a road sign indicating you are approaching the village of Tubney. About 500 yards (460 km) on you suddenly come upon the lefthand turning for Tubney village. As the corner is greater than 90 degrees, you need to indicate well ahead you are turning left so you can slow down from the fast pace on the A420 to be able to make this sharp turn. Dog House pub is a welcome sight on the north side on the V8 Test Route. Car park opposite the Dog House pub is popular with MG enthusiasts. Here we have the V8s of Michael Brett (South Africa) and Malcolm Bailey (Hampshire). V8 Register MG Car Club MG Abingdon Factory V8 Test Route Photo: Bob Owen Copyright: V8 Register MG Car Club 3
Approaching the offset Marcham-Cothill junction you passed on the outward leg of the test route. The SLOW sign is a useful warning as the junction is hidden on the long left bend. As you return to the Frilford Crossroads this is the signpost you will see. It s an offset junction where you turn right and then immediately left. The stone wall is the boundary of Oakley Park. The Dog House is ahead on the left, car park right. V8 Register MG Car Club MG Abingdon Factory V8 Test Route Photo: Bob Owen Copyright: V8 Register MG Car Club 4
Entering the village of Gozzard s Ford on the return leg. The southern end of the track from the runway at the former RAF Abingdon airfield an example of the big skies you get around the chalk uplands known as the Berkshire Downs Soon on the eastern horizon you will see the cooling towers of the large Didcot power station located to the south of Abingdon. Returning to the T junction with the A515, turn left to head back to Abingdon via the large roundabout under the A34 flyover. V8 Register MG Car Club MG Abingdon Factory V8 Test Route Photo: Bob Owen Copyright: V8 Register MG Car Club 5