MGLive! 2016 Event Report

 

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This week’s feature is the Club’s MGLive! 2016 report that was published just recently in July’s edition of Safety Fast!, and was written by Editor Andy Knott. 

Once again a sea of MG fans descended on Silverstone for MGLive! 2016. With everything on show from the earliest bull-nose Super Sports through to the newest GS, MGLive! had something for everyone.

Thankfully this year the rain held back as TV hosts Ant Anstead and Mike Brewer opened the show in the Arena with the return of the Human Gymkhana.

Meanwhile, in the Club’s main marquee the Club Shop and its new range of merchandise kept staff and volunteers busy – particularly popular was the Club’s custom Top Trumps pack, with hundreds being sold over the two days.

Saturday saw the Club’s legendary California Cup up for grabs, with a healthy number of entries competing over in Car Park 49 for the silverwear. For the first time in years, the Cup saw an entry from the Frontwheel Drive Register, with a trio of MG Maestros, piloted by Tanya Field, Ian Kimpton and Wayne Bates securing the Longbridge Trophy. There were notable absences from some Registers, meaning some trophies remain with no winner for 2016 – hopefully this is something that can be corrected for 2017!

This year’s designated charity, Headway Oxfordshire made an impressive splash with a large marquee showcasing generations of the Club’s Safety Fast! magazine as well as MG’s experimental MGB GT Safety Vehicle, kindly lent for display by the British Motor Museum at Gaydon.

Russ Swift returned once again for 2016 and was met with huge crowds – ably assisted by Mike and Ant, his duo of MG3s dancing between a pair of MG TFs as well as performing his signature two-wheel driving, J turns and handbrake turns.

As the day drew to a close and the action wound down on the Historic Grand Prix Circuit (see Race Report page 52), the evening entertainment began both at the nearby Silverstone Golf Club with the President’s International Dinner, and at the circuit itself, with the MGF Register-organised After Hours party kicking off in style.

While enjoying a beer and a bbq at the circuit, visitors took part in the Glo-car competition and enjoyed the music of this year’s band ‘Not The Hoople’. Meanwhile at the President’s International Dinner, a great selection of money-can’t-buy items were auctioned off for Headway Oxfordshire, raising over £1,000 in the process. Speaking of the dinner, President John Day said: “The dinner was a fantastic occasion – it really was wonderful and I’m thrilled with the money we raised. Jamie from Headway was a fantastic speaker.”

The President’s Dinner also saw Club Chairman Ian Quarrington announce the winner of the Club’s Gold Cup for 2016, with the T Type Register taking the honours and the Club’s most prestigious trophy.

Sunday finally saw the sun shine at Silverstone, with the majority of the day bathed in warm sun.

Without a doubt Sunday’s highlight was the Concours and Pride of Ownership – almost 60 cars took part demonstrating once again that MG drivers are hard to beat when it comes to sheer pride in the motor. A full list of all the winners can be found on the Club’s website.

Elsewhere, Russ was back in the Arena with Ant alongside, hosting not only the Human Gymkhana, but also the Mac Tools Challenge, with visitors getting the chance to test themselves as BTCC pit crew, battling the clock to see how quickly they could swap a wheel and tyre. With Dads and Daughters and Mums and Sons taking part and winning prizes that included BTCC tickets, MGCC shop vouchers and more, there was a real buzz about the arena, with Ant keeping the crowd entertained throughout the day. Meanwhile over on the Stowe circuit the Sprint was in full flow from early Sunday morning, with a selection of marques pitted against the clock trying to outdo similar machinery.

Once again the MG world came together at Silverstone for another wonderful weekend – a weekend that could not happen without you – be you a visitor or volunteer, trader or racer, thank you for the role you played in making MGLive! a fantastic success.