This year we had a total of 154 owners of MGs of various models and colours who registered to take their beautifully turned out machines on what is one of the biggest single model run in South Australia.

Geraldine Hough and Phil Bradey and the 1934 K3

We did loose several to illness and unfortunately several families who lost loved ones just prior to the event, to the families concerned we extend our deepest sympathies.

At the start at The Arkaba Car Park

The Arkaba carpark on Fullerton Rd was much busier than normal from 08.00 am onward for about an hour as the marshals very efficiently directed all arrivals to park their MGs and then directed drivers and their passengers down to the lower level for registration and receiving their rally packs and the Kimber Run plaque to fix to their cars.
I would like to thank the following members of the MG Car Club SA who willingly accept their roles and are instrumental in making this annual event so enjoyable:
Jeff Armitage; Bob Babbidge; Peter Beaglehole; Peter Both; Barry Burne; Gary Davies; Ian & De Denny; Trevor dicker; Laurie Foody; Mike Herbert; David Holmes; Rod Jones; Doug Layne; Maurice Linehan; Graham Loader; Mike Lyons; Bruce McLean; Graham Menz; Andy Morgan; Mike Muirhead; Fred Neild; Andrew & Deb Pointon; Rodger Polkinghorne; Helen & Trevor Praite; Doug Marshall; Leigh & Chris Richter; The Rosenzweig Family, Leon, Faye, Jamie & Brett; Arthur Ruediger; Audris Smits; Berry & Rebecca Treffers; Fay Underwood; Don Walker & Hugh Webber. I am sorry if I have missed anyone, my apologies.

Leaving the Arkaba Car Park

We all knew that the day was going to be hot but stoically took a philosophical attitude to enjoying the day out with like-minded people and from all accounts all enjoyed the day, possibly not so much the return trip, however! Geraldine and Wayne Hough were there early to sell raffle tickets at an adjoining table and were assisted by Arthur Ruediger. The proceeds of the raffle are to go towards funds needed to run next years MG National Meeting here in Adelaide.

We had the wonderful 1934 Prince Bira  K3 beside the registration desk and also we had a beautiful 1935 PA plus for the first time that I have been involved in organizing this event ALL of the “T” Type models were there from TA to TF, how wonderful that all of  these cars are still being driven in today’s traffic! 1934 – 2009 = 75 years young.

I did mention that there was to be a surprise, well it was to be the Bucknell family “R” Type but unfortunately despite all sorts of persuading by Chris Bucknell and Leyland George the R Type refused to start, so sorry because I know Chris was looking forward to taking this very rare MG on what would have been its longest continuous run. Maybe next year Chris!

All told we had a total of one each of  PA; TA; TB; TF;MGY Saloon & MGY Tourer; 4 TCs; 7 TDs; 3 Magnette Saloons; 9 MGAs plus one MGA Twinnie; 83 MGBs 6 MGB V8s; 3 MGCs; 5 R V8s; 13 MGFs;  6 MGF/TFs; 2 ZRs & one ZT.
At about 08.50 a number of the marshals quietly headed off for their various duties and I gave a very brief drivers talk before everyone took off.

All lined up at Kapunda

One of the most important items mentioned was the fact that one section of the published route had to be changed, Leon Rosenzweig ranf me on Friday to let me know that he and his family had just driven from Kapunda towards Balaklava via Tarlee and some seven kilometers of the road had been dug up and consistered of gravel and fine dust! Not to panic really! But if we had not been forewarned I can but imagine the comments when I arrived at our luncheon at Balaklava!
A quick trip to the Chief Street clubrooms to run off a Googled alternative trip around this section on Saturday resolved this problem, so special thanks again to Fay & Leon for this concern for all of our MGs, as it turned out the alternative drive was much more enjoyable as well.
So all the pre- 1963 MGs were flagged off by President Wayne to be followed by all the later models up on the top deck! We were lucky to have Ian & De Denny in their Land cruiser towing a trailer as ‘tail-end Charlie’, they had a supply of all sorts of spares kindly assembled by Shellie Bazzica for use if needed.

After they had gone it was a weird sense of loss! after so much activity for some 2 hours to suddenly a practically silent car park.

Morning tea at Kapunda was the first stop after leaving the Arkaba via Tea Tree Gully and into the hills and down through Humbug Scrub to One Tree Hill Road and then on to Gawler, out along the Main North Road and via Greenock to Kapunda.

I would like to commend the Light Regional Council’s Visitor Information Centre in the main street of Kapunda, the staff there under Elaine Kidner were fantastic in supplying us with all sorts of brochures about Kapunda and nearby areas to explore later on.

My intention has always been to try a support some of the local service groups in regional towns. The Kapunda Rotary Club made us very welcome in not only  providing a huge morning tea but actually re-arranged their local cricket matches to allow us to park our cars on the oval.

When Jan & I got to Kapunda everyone was having a brief respite enjoying the air conditioning in the clubrooms and relaxing after the first part of their trip, and it was starting to get hot. But all seemed happily chatting to friends or making new ones.

Geraldine handed over the cheque for providing the morning tea to the Kapunda Rotary Club, the money would help in their quest to help rid the last 5% of people in the world still suffering from Polio.

I was somewhat worried that I has not mentioned about how to get onto the changed route to Balaklava Via Marrabel, but I need not have worried as everyone seemed to have taken this little bit of missed information in their stride.

Some of the later model MGs drivers need to be more aware of the capabilities of the earlier MGs. Such actions as to pass over solid white lines or forcing these early cars to prop because you are in a hurry to pass is not acceptable practice. More patience in future please!

By the time we got to Balaklava we knew it was very hot!
We stopped to help Leyland George get several TD’s on the road again, and being on the side of the road is not much fun when it is hot, however all finally arrived albeit looking less than their best.

When Fay Underwood and I called into Kapunda back in August it was a pleasant high 20 degree day, so the decision to serve a hot roast meal with Apple Pie to follow seemed appropriate, it had been acceptable in previous years!! But when the temperature was hovering around the forty degree Celsius in the shade I don’t think all the effort that the Lions Club in Balaklava put into the meal was as enjoyable as it could have been, only because it was so hot!
The food actually was wonderful and a credit to the folk of Balaklava, we understand that the proceeds from the meal will go towards fixing their local ovals grandstand. We take our hats off to them for presenting such a lovely meal under such adverse conditions! Well done Balaklava!

We did not record the winners of the raffle but I can report that the sum of $325.00 was raised towards next years National Meeting fund, well done everyone!
For the record we had the following percentages by colour:
Black 7%; Blue 9%; Cream 1%; Gold 3%; Green 22%; Orange 2%; Red 36%; Silver 7%; White 12% Yellow 1%.

From what I can understand everyone got back home safely but very hot! Well done to everyone who came along and took part in “That Kimber Run in 2009 when it was so HOT”
Cheers
Mike Greenwood
Adelaide Sunday November 15.

More photos by Dean Burnside - Thanks Dean