MG EVENTS 2003

PAGE 7

ATHELHAMPTON PICNIC

MGCC SE SUMMER GATHERING

100 miles in the sun with not a cloud in the sky - what's the matter with this country - that's several MG events in a row now with glorious sunshine and no rain ! On what turned out to be the Hottest day of the year (so far) with temperatures bursting the thermometers at over 100 degrees we set off for the drive to Dorset and Athelhampton to support the B & P MGOC annual event in aid of Dorset SCOPE.

As we pulled in to the house we spotted fellow 1007 members negotiating parking spaces on the grassy bank of the small river surrounding Athelhampton and joined them in finding a shady spot to set up the picnic. With the river behind us and the main lawn filling up with MG's of every hue and the background of the old house itself it couldn't have been more idyllic.

Handily the owners of Athelhampton , Patrick and Andrea Cooke are also members of 1020 being custodians of the MGB used by Michael Caine in the film "Sleuth" also filmed at this location !. They don't seem to mind the tyre marks all over their lawns and gravel drive, thank goodness.

There were many interesting cars to be found today including the MGB that used to belong to Terry Waite and once used to launch his Y CARE charity. Sadly he couldn't join us today due to him being in South Africa but I gather he is interested in meeting up with his old car again now that it has been rescued again from the wilderness by 1020's Chris Piercy.

Elsewhere you could find a converted MGRV8 now sporting a GT tail and luxurious blue and cream leather upholstery as well as a matching "Half a B" trailer (the only problem is that the GT doesn't have a tow bar yet so a Z series with the number plate V8 MGB has to do the honours). A couple of replicas put an appearance - a Naylor TF and a Bugatti claiming to be an MG as it had an MGB donor engine and gearbox.

One MGB GT celebrated it's 30th Birthday being first registered on the 10th August 1973 whilst elsewhere Teddy Bears sat on Tonneaus, on bonnets, in the driving seat or could be found having refined tea on tiny tables in front of their cars. Yes this was also a Teddy Bears Picnic and much effort had gone in to making our furry friends fun for the day.

Nigel Hedges - Regional MGPC secreatary and 1020 person - drew the raffle and gave away some prizes for furthest travelled MG (someone from Bridgend in Wales) , shortest travelled (someone from about a mile away) as well as car of the day and the only Metro to be there - all done on the whim of Nigel and his unique methods of presentation causing much laughter.

As the day drew to a close MG's left the stately home in a cloud of dust to head off to the four corners of the South of England in the sultry late afternoon sunshine reflecting on a fine summer's day out in the country and basking in the fact that a lot money was raised for a worthwhile cause..

Another hot and dusty day in this unusually pleasant summer we're experiencing. We didn't join in the various runs that were organised to arrive at Penshurst preferring to drive straight to the house avoiding as much dust as possible. We drove on to the  beige baked field behind the house and took our place amongst the other competitors in the concours section and joined them in making the car as shiny as possible.  There were several nice cars entered including a striking pair of matching pale blue MGA's - a coupe and roadster, one of which had won car of the show a couple of weeks before at Plumpton. They were both beaten by a very nice black MGA though. Despite frantic polishing David Ethelston won  our class with his 1972 MGBGT for the second year running.

At a glance the turn out appeared to be down on last years event at Losely and there were certainly a lot less MGF's present mustering about 15 or so in stark contrast to the large amount found at Athelhampton recently. It couldn't have been due to the weather but perhaps it was just too hot for some and the summer holidays may have taken it's toll on others in the peak season.

There were a few side stalls including the MGCC regalia tent and some welcoming soft drinks and ice creams along with a couple of stalls selling MG parts.

A well worn metro caught my eye as it entered the Autotest with a hand painted stripe and logo on the back reading " It's an MG and it's all mine". The body styling using pieces of painted sticky tape was also interesting. The Autotests and Gymkhana attracted a good few competitors not afraid to get their cars covered in dry grass and dust with the oldest cars being entered by the Bayne-Powell family with their 1931 C type and 1931 M type.

Elsewhere there were a few non MG's on the field including the Jensen pictured left. A mauve MGF sported some intriguing bodyword modifications including quadruple tail pipes and completely redesigned front and rear end. One F owner had driven all the way from Germany and the toll of the journey showed on the bodywork !

Once you'd enjoyed looking at all the cars you could wander around the gardens at Penshurst which I set out in a number of different "rooms" with varying themes for each of them before arriving at the main house. Once there you could watch a flying demonstration of Birds of Prey including an eagle on the terrace before looking around the historic house itself for a small extra fee.

The car of the Show this year was won by John Hegren in his familiar black T series Police car which has been seen at many South East shows over the last few years.