Mike Humble (still drying out!)
Well, as we all know, the MGB celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. MG Live! kicked off the celebrations at Silverstone, but MGB50 at Blenheim was the biggie and just for that model alone. Sadly, rain fell on the parade and I was almost inclined to turn back on the M40 during my journey up there – the weather really was that bad.
Thankfully, I persevered and arrived at the superb grounds of Blenheim Palace – the ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill – just after noon. The setting for the event was quintessentially English, as was the weather to be fair, but the monsoon-like rain failed to spoil or, indeed, dampen spirits.
MGB50 was destined from the start to be a big event as we will be unlikely to witness a similar gathering of such size in, say, 25 years time. All models in all conditions made the journey to Oxfordshire but some of the events and items on the day’s schedule never happened, mainly due to the dreadful weather.
However, in true ‘the show must go on’ tradition, everyone including myself, seemed to have a good time celebrating one of the world’s most popular sports car. Even MG Motor UK did the decent thing and had a presence there, displaying a brace of MG6 models along with a replica of MG KX Momentum Racing’s BTCC MG6 GT.
The usual autojumble and trade stalls braved the rain, but I thankfully declined the chance of a burger at £6.70, opting to enjoy a free chocolate muffin under the protection of the Classics Monthly magazine stall. Please accept my apologies for the lack of text and pictures – it was a grim sky over Oxfordshire that day – and join me in raising aloft a glass of real ale to say…
Happy 5oth Birthday MGB!
- Essays : Selling the brand - 18 November 2023
- Review : Land Rover Discovery – first off the line - 15 September 2023
- Events : Leyland National 51 gathering, Whitehaven 29-30 April - 5 April 2023
Yes, we were there too in our 1969 Primrose Yellow MGC GT and made a return trip over 4 days of 1291 miles from Skye in Scotland. No great chance though to get to talk to owners of similar cars due the inclement weather. We arrived at 08.50hrs, were parked up in the general car park (since the Marshals told us we were not in an MGB), no worries, although many other MGCs were indeed within the MGB area. 37 hours driving over the 4 days, 31 of which were with windscreen wipers on. A great gathering indeed, spoiled only by the weather! Tim Moore. Entrant 478.
Tim that’s a he’ll of run! Shame the officious bib wearers wouldn’t let you park up with like minded owners though.
I went to this event with a friend in his Silverleaf metallic MGB GT, even though I am not an enthusiast of either the MGB or MG marque in general. What a fantastic day out, despite the weather.
It was well organised, with plenty to see and do and huge levels of enthusiasm for this fifty year-old British classic. The only downside was that there weren’t enough copies of Don Hayter’s new book available, as the organisers had ordered a further 30 copies the previous week. A few people were left rather disappointed, especially those wanting to get a copy signed by the man himself.
@ Tim:
I am guessing the marshals had a lapse of concentration as when we arrived at 9.45am, we were parked up with MGBs, MGAs and MGFs.
What is NMN97 ? Is it a historic racing car ?
NMN 97 is the WSM MGB of Tony Wilson-Spratt, the son of the maker.