MG EVENTS

2003

Queen Victoria Concours

Runnymede MGOC 10th Anniversary at Nuffield Place

MGCCSE Autumn Gathering - Chiddingstone Castle

First of all the weather report as most of these reviews seem to carry one. It had been raining for a couple of days prior to the show but cleared up on saturday and sunday was back to a beautifully warm day again on the coat tails of summer. We arrived early and set up early in the front row of the Premier Concours next to "Elly" Osborne in WOF and Phil Bicknell with his MGBGT. As usual we spent the first couple of hours with a polishing cloth for that last minute sparkle. The Queen Vic is a public show with lots of public about particularly young ones who delight in leaning over the boot trying to find the engine and leaving sticky finger marks everywhere !. Never mind  - it's all good fun and keeps you busy. That is actually one of the good things about this show - you get people who don't know anything about the cars walking around and talking about them - you never know we might get a few converts.

There is a strong Police theme at Chigwell, the show being held on the Metpol Sports ground, and there were several police vehicles on show from John Hegren's TC (again) via a 1950's Wolesey 8 to more recent US examples from the NYPD and Detroit all fully marked and equipped. There were more modern vehicles in the form of Dog Vans providing the canine element of the four force  Police Dog Display later in the day. The Police helicopter was also present along with the HEMS air ambulance and a freelance helicopter giving short rides for £25 a time. The skies also produced an air display from a Bucker bi plane and the Met Police's latest attempt at crime fighting - land on top of the villain with the parachute team. Not a place to be then if  you are of the wayward persuasion ! 

In addition to the Police orientated displays The Royal Signals White Helmets put on an excellent display of formation motor cycling despite one mishap where a bike careered into the barriers - no one was hurt luckily but it demonstrated how dangerous these stunts can be. Elsewhere the Crazy Bears performed for the kids, You could fire little arrows on the Archery range , browse the craft fayre, peruse the charity stalls and tombolas, have your face painted or get a henna tattoo, eat and drink lots of food from Fresh Doughnuts to curry or take a ride on one of the machines in the extensive fun fair. You couldn't hear anyone complaining that there was not enough to do at this show.

Due to the nature of the site and huge amount of people present MG events were kept to the more static variety - POO and  Concours awards although spot prizes were announced throughout the afternoon if you the organisers could think of a suitable question !

There was a good turnout of MG machinery including the return of  Andy Phillips and Scarlet Fever in it's new livery. Not quite Scarlet anymore but sporting a sparkly brown/orange base with a beige swathe over the top and numerous hidden neon lights. A lone MG 1100 in pale blue and cream stood out complete with hand carved matching wooden picnic table ! 

In addition to the MG's this show also invites other makes to enter and there was a good selection of American cars including a lovely blue Thunderbird and huge Lincoln Continental you could almost land an aircraft on. The Ford saloons were present in the shape of Cortinas and Granadas.  A spattering of P series Rovers including William Sidnells 3.5 litre P6 which took Best non MG trophy. An early arrival was a rarely seen De Lorean cruising around the field with it's gull wing doors looking like it was about to take off.

A small amount of F's were on the field in addition to the two in the concours, four in the POO and one elsewhere. As at Penshurst the number of F's was well down on previous years - not sure why. B's were, as usual well represented and a proportionatte amount of A's but few Midgets. there was a good selection of MG saloons from the W's and Y's right up to the modern Z cars via the older Magnettes and , of course, that 1100.

Phoenix Motors were there, although they didn't bring the SV as promised they did let us get a close up look at the Rover Streetwise.

The final address and results was given by Pete Best of the eponymous Insurance company battling against the roar of the White Helemets as tey performed their second display of the day.

All in all another excellent day out, thanks to Dave Stonehouse and his colleagues from the MGCC Anglia centre  and the Met Police of course.

If you're wondering how we got on in the Premier check the Diary section.            

My local MGOC group are usually found amongst the pages of JayPeG's diary but for this special occasion they've been elevated to the main Event pages. After all it was something to be celebrated - 10 years of the Runnymede MG Owners Club - and it don't seem a day too long (as the song goes).

The Group was formed in 1993 and the first run was to Nuffield Place hence this return trip was more than the usual pilgrimage to the home Lord and Lady Nuffield. Otherwise known as William Morris, if by some fluke you were not aware, he was the founder of the Morris motor company and of course their beloved offshoot Morris Garages.

The Runnymeders met up at their usual start point of The Rose & Crown on Thorpe Green in Surrey, this time pushed out of the car park by a group of footballers dribbling on the adjacent Green. Thirteen MG's turned up to listen to Tony making sure that we all understood our route instructions should any stragglers get lost. In the end we managed to keep to an almost perfect convoy through a scenic route across the Thames Valley but sadly didn't have quite enough time to stop and admire the Maharajah's well in Stoke Row. Our aim, as in most Runnymede runs, was food but not in the form of  picnic this time !. We were eating at The Crown in Nuffield which had been due to close due to the Landlord getting married the day before. Thanks to Tony's persuasion they did open especially for our 10th Anniversary sunday lunch. There was a slight delay with the food as everyone else seem to arrive at the pub at the same time including a group of taxi's.

We were unable to get to Nuffield Place at the allotted time thakns to waiting for our summer fruit merinques and strawberry cheesecakes but we had noted that the Taxi's left slightly earlier and so  were not too surprised to find  a line of black cabs lined up across Lord Nuffields front door when we did get there.

 Some of the Runnymeders found places to park along the footpaths but most of us lined up along the driveway. Undeterred we still managed a group photograph standing on the Morris driveway with at least one MG visible. After touring the fascinating house , pretty much as William Morris had left it when he died in 1963 and now looked after by Nuffield College, we headed out to the lawns where the fine MG anniversary cake was sliced up so every member had their own piece to celebrate and wish "1007" a successful further 10 years.

Well here we are getting to the end of September and the weather is still holding out - what a great summer it's been this year. There was no organised run into the Autumn Gathering this year as there has been previously but suggested routes were provided should you wished to set off early and enjoy some of the Kent/Surrey border countryside.

I arrived at 11.30am to find a lot of cars already in position on the field directly in front of the "castle" and took up my permission in the shade of the turrets. The car club hold a fairly informal self judging Pride of Ownership competition here and it was good to see quite a lot of cars entered. The Premier POO K class was particularly well represented which was the one JayPeG was entered in to. It didn't take too long to get the car prepared before it was time to meet up with some old friends. 

Chiddingstone is a strange small castle on the edge of a National Trust Village. You can see the "Chiding Stone" itself  across the field from the castle ground reputedly where the village scolds were taken to repent their ways ! I didn't notice any MGers being dragged across there but you never know..... The house was rescued in 1955 by a man called Denys Bower who wanted somewhere to house his eccentric collection of Egyptian, Japanese and Buddhist objects. He died in 1977 and the house left to the nation. It is now run by a charitable trust and is open to the public. It's a very pleasant stroll around the house where you are left to your own devices with no "room monitors" that you find at National Trust houses which made a pleasant change. Within the grounds there is a lake and some lovely walks. 

The field in front of the house has fine views over the Weald and this is where the MG's gathered all facing the open countryside To add interest an absolutely massive American Le France car built in 1916 chugged in to view looking for a suitable place with a slope to park up. The slope being needed to roll down to start the monster up again !.

As usual there was some pretty nice MG machinery on display as well. All in all this was a more relaxed affair than the Summer Gatherings but on a lovely day and with a good picnic and a bottle of wine you couldn't really ask for much more.