MG EVENTS

2004

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Welcome to Page NINE of the 2004 Events Review pages

Here you'll find written reviews and photographs of many MG events throughout the year

Click on the small photos to get a larger version.

All reviews & Photographs by Tim Morris unless otherwise specified.

The lack of entries for the concours/POO competitions did not augur too well for this years combined clubs event at Kempton Park. With so few that the competition was cancelled a whole section of the show was removed. To try and fill the gap in front of the grandstands some of the early arriving cars were directed to park on display for the day if the owners agreed. Hence we had a strange collection of cars from a distinctive Chromaflair MGF to a concours condition MGA whose owners had not expected to be showing their cars at all. Elsewhere in what would have been the show area we had several MGs for sale ranging from the thoroughly rotten to the very nice and a display of new MGs by MGR including SV - this time in a nice blue colour and with a huge spoiler attached. Have they actually sold any of these yet ? A gaggle of outside traders completed this area. 

Inside the hall under the grandstand the main body of traders gathered to sell their wares - unfortunately large areas of open space were also visible - the number of traders seemed to be a fair bit down on previous events. I wondered if this was because in two weeks time there is another major MG spares show a few miles away at Sandown Park and asking a couple of traders this seemed to be the case with them not wishing to do both in the same area in such a short space of time. Perhaps calendars should be co-ordinated a bit more if this event continues next year. Apart from the traders there was not really a lot else going on to make this event a "show" as such rather than just a spares day. This was evidenced by a look in the car parking area outside the event which seemed fuller of non MGs than it did actual MGs. Having said that it was noted that the number of modern MGS seemed to outweigh the older variety with a good selection of Fs and Zs. 

Epsom area MGOC had put on a display as always by the entrance  - this year utilising road signs bearing the name of "Marcham Road" after the old factory location in Abingdon. There was a good show of various models including some that had been nowhere near Marcham Road itself !

As for the attendance - it did appear to be down on the previous two years and whether this was for the same reason mentioned above I don't know. There was something lacking about the event despite, or whether, the MGCC, MGOC and Octagon Car Clubs organised this together. With all three clubs involved you tend to expect something a little more special.

MGCC SOUTH EAST AUTUMN NAVISCAT - October 17th

The rain held off thankfully during a somewhat turbulent weather period for the twenty or so contestants of the 2004 Autumn Naviscat. Warm enough for a hoods down dash into the hills surrounding the pretty Sussex town of Petworth with it's magnificent country house dominating. Cars from all periods of MG were there from a lovely 18/80  to a couple of  equally nice MGFs. Martyn  Phillis had gone to painstaking lengths to ensure the clues were ready to be uncovered  and briefed the assembled throng issuing the clue sheet dead on 11am. Contestants ranged from the Naviscat Virgins looking confused to the rather more experienced who rushed off and plotted all 45 points on the OS map whilst several others were still working out what an easting was.

Some of the clues were able to be seen by simply riving by a location whilst others meant traipsing through the damp autumnal undergrowth in search of graffiti carved in to tree trunks !. The essential part of any naviscat is getting the plotting right - so if you stop on the side of the road and see another MG half a mile further up the road - one of you is wrong ! Once plotted then plan your route to take advantage of the most points - don't be disheartened when you can't find the answer to a clue - just move on to the next one. There are plenty out there and there is absolutely no way any one could realistically get to all 45 points in the mere three hours available.

Could you find "How Many in Squirrel's Hoard ?" at point 864255. Only if you thought somewhat laterally and noticed that there were four "nuts" holding a National Trust sign together.  You may have had to consult your old film stars book for "which Day for a journey ?" at point 8622185 - that is if you noticed the answer on the bus stop sign which said "www.travelwithdoris.co.uk" - The answer of course was Doris Day.

Just a taster of the type of question you have to answer on a South East Naviscat. With most people managing to get back by 2pm to the Royal Oak at Midhurst we all enjoyed a hearty lunch and fine ales whilst Martyn beavered away over the answer sheets.

Overall the Naviscat was won by seasoned campaigners Rosemary & Phillip Bayne Powell who have the honour of setting next years event.