Show

Not all the MG's on display were spotless - this TD was in the For Sale area

Fancy a B windscreen - there's plenty here

A cheaper way to get your K3 - albeit a fraction of the size.

Not many of these around these days - a 1600 Maestro with talking computer.

Nice Austin Healey Sprite on the Forner Glary stand

The Primrose Yellow Innocenti is STILL for sale !

Modern and slightly older saloon variations

This LE was For Sale in the cow sheds

Phoenix Motors brought along the SV

A carefully muddied off white Midget on Beech Hill Garage stand

A very clean BGT V8 reflecting the skylights

Gerry Hiorns showstopping modified MGF on Mike Satur's stand.

Midland Classic Restoration had this racing Midget on show

Piles of old parts everywhere

Despite the day starting off with grey drizzle as the long line of MG's entered the showground across a muddy track it was not long before the sun emerged and shone on the roof of the huge cow sheds where the cars had been directed. It shone through the skylights reflecting square patches of light on the paintwork below.

It was fantastic to see so many MG's under cover and more and more just kept arriving. The show itself is held in two large halls and they were soon filled with the throngs searching for those elusive parts. Most models were well catered for with virtually all the main MG dealers present. It was not long before you couldn't avoid bumping into people with intense looks and a rusty old MGB wing under their arms  - just right to replace your own  old rusty MGB wing ! Not only were there a huge amount of salvaged parts for sale but you could also find new parts, not so new parts, big parts and small parts - just about anything MG in fact. Outside were cars for sale in all conditions from the immaculate to those held together by faith alone. Several found different owners to take them away again.

There were several cars in the hall on display on the various stands from a mud covered Midget at Beech Hill Garages to an immaculate Sprite on the Former Glory stand. Gerry Hiorns extraordinary MGF was on the Mike Satur stand along with another MGF project still in progress. An increasingly rare MG Maestro 1600 complete with the annoying computerised lady was on show amongst many other cars from garages to local clubs and MGCC Registers. Phoneix Motors brought along a selection of new MG's including a nice blue SV  - I'm not sure if they sold many though. Not only could you get anything from a whole car to a tiny washer but you could also find sundry items from flying jackets to books and many models of your favourite cars.

A low key Pride of Ownership closed the day with several cars chosen by the organisers , including the MGF of your author, as being the best loved and looked after cars of the show.

At the end of the day, as the crowds dwindled, cars could be seen leaving with hoods down and newly acquired wings , bumpers, seats and various bits poking out of the tops. Spotted as I was leaving was a young lady resting on the kerbside sitting on a salvaged orange and brown stripy MGB "deckchair" seat which nicely completed the day at Stoneleigh.

At Tulleys Farm in the wet

Discussing tactics

A selection of MGs waiting in the rain

Preparing for the wet weather

The Cowdray Arms pub...

.....was covered with Morgans when we arrived at the finish.

Two F's abandoned in the car park.

I don't remember them saying anything about bringing galoshes and Windcheaters for this years Spring Naviscat. They were certainly needed as we braved the best the elements could throw at us as we huddled in the top corner of the Tulleys Farm Car Park. I'm sure this Farm centre near Turners Hill is great in the summer with it's Maize Maze and childrens rides and Pick Your Own but today it was wet, windy and decidedly cold. Nonetheless there was a stalwart turnout of MG's to enter into the throes of this years Spring Naviscat as prepared by last years winner, Nick and Laura Rowlatt.  

We were not too keen to stand outside so as soon as the clues and grid references were handed out it was back to the warm, if slightly cramped, cockpits of the MGs to unfurl the OS map and get plotting. We were soon off with heaters battling the misted up windows and heading off for the first points. We failed on one of the first clues when we parked over a drain giving the answer to the "Sid Kite" clue - no wonder we couldn't find it ! 

All the cars soon scattered finding their own routes around the country lanes surrounding Crawley and Horsham - driving carefully over the potholes and muddy byways stopping in soggy laybys to traipse around to try and find that elusive answer. We parked under some pylons to find the "Unfortunate Carrier" - The answer was 13 power lines - did we get it right  - no of course not ! This is the fun of a Naviscat - a combination of Treasure Hunt and orienteering in your MG.

Most cars made it back to the finish point of The Cowdray Arms (OS ref 309335) in time for a welcoming pint and a warming roast dinner without mishap. The overall winners, Barry and Sue Joel, made it back three minutes late (losing 3 points) and still managed to wipe the board with an impressive score of 25 points - their closest rivals only managing a paltry 19 points !

Well done Barry and Sue  - and good luck at setting next years Spring Naviscat !

The track coned ready for the autotests

MG's and Aeroplanes in front of the Wellington Hanger

MG Sport & Racing ZR's ready to tackle the track

80th Anniversary TF in front of the clubhouse

A row of Fs on the Finishing Straight

SV at the Shell Pagoda

This midget has been doing a bit of cross country

Can't think why it's called a Frog Eye

Noughties v the Eighties - ZS and Maestro

MGAs having a picnic

A short row of Magnettes

Little Miss Naughty took Bobby up the Test Hill

Three Frogs

A nice MG 1300

Not all MGs - this E Type made a nice picture in front of the Vickers Valiant

MGRs in a row

SV Vents and the clubhouse

ZT 260 V8

Intereactive exhibit at the Museum

Has anyone seen my marmalade sandwiches ?

Not all cars were in concours condition

The skies opened on saturday and all through the night - it would never be clear enough to go to Brooklands MG Day the next day. These must have been the thoughts of several MG owners as the turnout at this years MG Day seemed to be down on previous events at the museum. The paddock seemed to be full of pre war MGs and the perimeter of post war T series as normal but the supporting cast of MGBs , Midgets , Fs and Zeds definitely seemed a little light. No doubt caused by the Chichester MGOC holding an open picnic at Arundel Castle which managed to attract some 220 MGs !!

That's not to say there was not a lot to see as there were still a couple of hundred MGs spread around the museum site to feast upon. Tucked away behind the traders in the covered garages were the MGA's circling the picnic area with a handful of Magnettes. All the V8s and MGR's lined up along the chain linked Members parking area . The Pre wars took up pride of place as always in the paddock abutting the Clubhouse and ducking the smoke from the outdoor burger barbeque. Tucked behind the Wellington Hanger and along the Finishing Straight in rows were the Bs ,Midgets , Fs and Zs with the Rally ZRs  sliding down the banking in front of them.

The MGOC and MGCC were both represented and vying for position next to each other, Paddington was looking for his marmalade sandwiches and collecting money for charity whilst Silverstone 80th anniversary polo shirts were being sold pre-empting the event in June. 

New cars were nestled around the ancient Shell Pagoda in the form of a black SV, chromoflair ZT260 V8 and an 80th Anniversary TF (or "Annerversey" as it said on the details !). 

The museum, of course, was open for business with it's numerous exhibits featuring old cars that raced at Brooklands, Formula One exhibition, Motorcycles, Bicycles and all the Aviation history of course - Wellington, Harriers, BAC111, Valiant, VC10 etc etc. The first part of the Museums own Concorde has arrived in the form of a nose cone - the rest is still in Bristol and the museum needs to raise £250,000 by the end of May to transport it to Weybridge - all contributions are welcomed !

The MGCC South East were here for their Spring Event and running Autotests and Gymkhana throughout the day along the bottom of the banked track.

The rain kept off for most of the day with only a couple of light showers - so all those stay at homes could have turned out after all !