Lunch at Pfeiffer Wines on the bridge over an arm of the Murray |
MG Magnettes, those elegant saloon cars from the 1950s, are coming into
their own. Perhaps it's because more people are recognising what fine cars
they are, still eminently suitable as every day commuting or driving cars.
Or perhaps as age creeps up on the MG fraternity, the comfort and general
ease of getting in and out, and driving, these beautifully-crafted sports
saloons is growing in appeal. Or maybe it's as the MG Car Company intended
originally - Magnettes provide four doors and four seats for the discerning
family keen to continue to travel in Safety Fast! Which ever way, more and
more Magnettes are emerging from long hibernations down the back of the
garage, or from lengthy restoration endeavours, and finding their way back
onto the road.
As a result, a network of Magnette owners is beginning to form across
Australia, enhanced by a number of web-based bulletin boards where tricky
questions always get a useful answer. This network of Australian
Magnetteers held its first social event in early September when
Magnettes from five clubs north and south of the Murray River converged on
Corowa, the birthplace of Australian Federation, for a relaxing weekend.
The Magnettes came from as far afield as Gloucester, Cowra and Sydney in
NSW, from Canberra in the ACT, and from Melbourne and Geelong in Victoria.
There were nine cars, comprised of four ZBs, three ZAs and two Varitones,
crewed by some 25 participants in all.
Peter Baldry, Peter Paske, Brian and Julia Woolmer and Matt Sainsbury made
the trip from Sydney, meeting up with Malcolm Robertson, his partner Gaye
and their daughter Leah at Yass and then with Graham Hamilton from Cowra at
Culcairn. A late withdrawal was Barbara and David Overington from
Wollongong whose locking petrol cap on their ZB became permanently locked
just before they were scheduled to leave. As far as we know, it is still
locked! And Tony Oliver completed the NSW participants by making the long
trip down from Gloucester in his recently restored ZA.
At about the same time, four Magnettes were journeying north from
Melbourne. Paul and Sue Vermont in their ZB, Loz Scott and Len Dawson in
Loz's Varitone, Jo and Derek Reed with Jo's friend Heather along for the
ride in Jo's ZB, and John Russell in his ZA. Rhys and Melinda Timms with
their three children on board, travelled separately in their ZB to join the
main group for lunch after staying overnight with family at nearby
Yarrawonga. Don't you just love the names of these Australian country
towns?
The cars and their crews spent part of the weekend touring wineries and junk
shops in the Corowa-Rutherglen region in search perhaps for a perfect red
wine, an antique jelly mould or that missing old English spanner from their
tool kits. But most of the time they spent in traditional manner talking
about their favourite subject - old English motor cars. And the weekend was
organised to maximise the time for doing this, with two dinners, one lunch
and a barbecue breakfast providing the ideal opportunities.
Organiser of the weekend and Captain of Y and Magnettes for the MG Car Club
of Victoria, Paul Vermont, said that while the Victorian Magnettes have held
several weekends away in the past, this is the first time Magnettes from
other States have joined in.
"It has been a fantastic shot-in-the arm for Magnettes," said Paul. "There
are so few of these classic British sports saloons on the road around
Australia, so we were really pleased to have nine cars at Corowa, plus quite
a few other Magnette owners whose cars are still under restoration."
In the light of the new friendships made and the war stories exchanged over
the weekend, the Magnette owners have agreed to hold a similar event again
next year in conjunction with the Wagga Wagga Gathering of the Faithful
meeting. They are already looking forward to it and are actively rounding
up more participants.
Malcolm
Robertson |
