MGLive! 2015 Event Report

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This year we were celebrating several anniversaries at Silverstone during MGLive! with the MGA celebrating 60 years since its introduction, the MGB GT celebrating 50 years, the MGF celebrating 20 years and the Abingdon Competitions Department celebrating 60 years.

The Saturday morning of MGLive! started with light drizzle later turning to heavy rain, but that didn’t put people off with queues forming at the main gate, eager to start their MGLive! weekend. The sight before them as they entered the Silverstone circuit was of 100s of MGs filling the infield area. Many camped in the two camping areas which were presided over by Lech Zakrzewski and fellow members of the MGCC Midland Centre.

Once parked, many headed to the Ex-Works Competition Car display with 50 historical cars to look at, consisting of Minis, Austin Healeys, Triumphs, Morris Marinas, Rover V8, Riley and of course MGs, it was quite a sight. All these cars were prepared courtesy of the Competitions Department which was formed at the MG Plant in Abingdon 60 years ago. There was also a separate display of cars in the Competitions Marquee which at 1pm on Saturday held a photo shoot with posing drivers and mechanics from the golden era. Jimmy Cox, a well-known works mechanic who went with the successful MG record breaking team to Bonneville Salt Flats in 1959, and was also part of the MG team who went to Le Mans in 1955, said he ‘thoroughly enjoyed his day, particularly meeting old friends whom he had not seen for years’. Also on display was a replica of the Transporter that accompanied Jimmy to Le Mans in 1955, painstaking restored by MG enthusiast Doug Samuels. This was in company with a later BMC transporter owned by Paul Woolmer.

After viewing the Competition car display, many people headed for the track where they were entertained by a 300 strong racing contingent who enthralled the crowds with some very close racing on the Silverstone Grand Prix Track. This year we welcomed the Porsche and Austin Healey Clubs, who ran races from their series, together with individual invitations to those who drove various makes of cars in the All Comers 50 Minute Pit Stop Race. In the paddock the XPAG Specials continue to impress; a display was put on, showcasing these excellent cars, some of which took to the track. There were three main Grandstands open to the public, with many vantage points around the track to view the racing. The Sprint, which was run by David Rainsbury and fellow members of the North West Centre, was held on the Stowe Circuit on Sunday morning. This was well subscribed this year with 110 entrants. Andy Walker recorded the fastest MG time of day in his MGB V8 (see separate report for more details on the racing and sprint). On Saturday morning the California Cup Autotest, which was run by Neil Lock and fellow members of the South West Centre, was held in car park 49, with 22 participants. This year the prestigious California Cup was won by the Lincolnshire Centre, with the Midget Register winning the BMC Autotest Trophy.

This year we held circuit tours on both days where members were given the opportunity of driving their own cars on the Grand Prix circuit. A separate tour was held on Sunday to parade cars celebrating anniversaries this year. This was officiated by Noel Lindford with help from fellow members of the Tyne Tees Centre, who did a great job in signing on entrants and organising the line-up of cars before the tour commenced.

Our supported charity this year was Dementia UK, with representatives on hand to answer questions and raise funds for their charity. Collection buckets were dotted around the show area with over £1,000 being collected over the weekend for this deserving cause.

The arena was as popular as ever with Graham Robson compèring. Our special guests this year were Mike Brewer of Wheeler Dealer fame hosting a human Gymkhana, and Russ Swift demonstrating his spectacular driving skills. Also performing was the Savage Skills freestyle mountain bike stunt display team. As part of their Anniversary, a group of MGFs was displayed in the arena followed by a group of MGAs, with Graham giving details of the cars as they entered.

Many people took time to visit the various marquees including the main Club Marquee where Registers and Centres had displays. The theme this year was a day at the races, with some very innovative displays. The Midget Register and the Caledonian Centre must get special mention as their displays were outstanding, with the Caledonian Centre winning the best Register or Centre display award and being presented a prize by Heather Read of the NationalMotorMuseum at Beaulieu.

The Lifestyle Marquee had a busy weekend with the 19 stands doing brisk business. June Wallis, wife of former Club President Bill Wallis, who together with helpers ran the NSPCC bookstall in the Marquee, was able to pass on a donation of £367.57 to this very worthwhile charity. The centrepiece of the Lifestyle Marquee was an MGA which was restored in the last series of ‘Wheeler Dealers’. This caused great interest with people marvelling at the quality of its restoration. TradeCity, which surrounded the marquees, was well supported this year with many members seeking out that elusive part.

MG Motor had a display of their current range of MG3 and MG6 cars, and were actively showing people round the cars and taking bookings for test drives. A representative of MG said they were extremely pleased with the interest people had shown in the cars and were kept busy all weekend. Current BTCC MG Driver, Jack Goff, also attended MGLive! and happily signed autographs for fans, as well as taking part in a number of Q & A sessions.

Other attractions were the ever popular Concours and Pride of Ownership competition, run as efficiently as ever by Dave Tynan and fellow members of the Anglia Centre. Thirty-eight pre entries this year together with entries on the day meant it was well supported, with organiser Dave Tynan saying that the standards have been as high as ever making it very difficult to choose the overall winners, who were Mick Richardson with his MGC winning the Concours and John Newey with his SVR winning the Pride of Ownership.

The Saturday of MGLive! was rounded off with two social events. The first was the President’s International Dinner, hosted by Club President John Day, and the second a Hog Roast held in the Social Marquee. The President’s Dinner, which was well attended, was a formal dinner held at the Silverstone Golf Club, with a three course meal followed by speaker Dani Ingold who kept those attending highly amused. This was followed by the presentation of the Gold Cup, which this year went to the V8 Register, and an auction was held with £365 being raised and donated to Dementia UK. The hog roast was well attended, and the live music being played in the Social Marquee by Red and Gray soon had people up on their feet dancing. During the evening the Glo Car competition was held and this was won by Pro – Mike Dennis: MG Express, and Impro – Wayne Bates: MG Maestro.

With Sunday’s weather being dry and sunny, people were able to enjoy the day’s proceedings without having to take cover from the rain. With another full programme of events taking place the weekend ended on a high with nothing but positive comments coming from people as they left the circuit for their drive home.

A word of thanks must go to the band of volunteers who attend each year and make this great event possible, together with the members of the Kimber House staff, but thanks also to those of you who attended and we look forward to doing it all again next year.

To view photos from MGLive! 2015, please visit the MG Car Club’s Facebook page HERE.

 

Words by Colin Grant.
Photos by Gerard Hughes, Martin Cumming, Mick Edward, Andy Knott and George Woodward.