HOW DID MG NATIONAL MEETINGS GET STARTED?

One of the main interests of the MG Car Club of SA after its formation in 1956, was Competition, which mainly involved Trials, (you might call them Navigation Rallies these days), and Motorkhanas.  It can be remembered drilling one inch holes in the floor of an early MGB belonging to a member so that when the car was used for the weekend rallies, the water could drain out quicker after creek crossings!

In the early years of the Club, Geoff O’Halloran Giles, (who at first owned an MG TC, then graduated to an MGA, and later became our Patron), owned property ‘Lanacoona’ at Mount Compass in South Australia, and became the venue for many dirt Motorkhanas.

Towards the latter part of the 50s, another Mt Compass local, Kelly Arthur, together with Geoff, Steve Tillett, Malcolm Caire and others of the Committee, conceived the idea of building a dirt Sprint Circuit on Geoff’s property, and hence “Lanac Park” was born.  The property  was a Dairy farm and it wasn’t easy to convince the locals that it was ours for the day – Have you ever seen an Ambulance, full siren and lights flashing, trying to convince a young, well horned Jersey Bull, that it was our turn to use the track.

With another venue for competition, members of the MG Car Club of Victoria were invited to come to Adelaide over Easter in 1961, to take part in an Easter Meeting, which consisted of Social activities, a Sprint at Lanac Park, a Motorkhana, and a Concours.

The South Australian members then started visiting the Victorian Centre for the June long weekend – and so the interchange between the Centres began – for social activities, and competition. The Competition between the States was very strong, but at the same time many good friendships were formed, and still exist today.

It is interesting to note that the Concours, for some of the visits to South Australia, was held on the Sunday following a Saturday Lanac Park Sprint.  June Stratford, a member of the Melbourne centre was memorable in the fact that her Midget was always presented at the Concours in immaculate condition, even after having competed on the previous day at Lanac Park – a dirt circuit!

This interchange continued, and in 1969 a proposal was put forward that we start a National Meeting – to be held each year and involving all the MG Car Clubs.

THE BEGINNING OF THE MG NATIONAL MEETING.

The first National Meeting was held in Sydney at Amaroo Park over the Christmas/New Year period of 1969, but attracted only a few interstate visitors. (As recalled, there was only one member from South Australia that went on this occasion).

Subsequently, the date for the National Meeting was changed to Easter, and the venue rotated in sequence between Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. It wasn’t until 1976 that we broke this pattern, and the Nat Meet was held in Launceston, in Tasmania, with the next break from the pattern being 1978 went we made the first expedition to Perth.

Up until this point of time, the rules were fairly basic, and non marque cars were accepted provided you were a member of one of the invited MG Car Clubs.  There were also more non marque-owning members in the Clubs at that time, and it helped boost the number of competitors.  In 1978 Roger & Bev Waters towed a full house open-wheeler Elfin behind a ZB Magnette to Perth, and Roger won outright award for the speed event in the Elfin.  He then went to the Delegates meeting and asked how this could happen – this is an award for an MG National Meeting.  The Delegates saw his point of view, and with the increasing number of MGs taking part, and the events becoming much larger, it was agreed it should be restricted to MGs.

Since then The National Meeting of the MG Car Clubs of Australia has continued to grow, and it is pleasing to see the increasing numbers of Overseas Visitors coming to Australia for the event.

Footnote:
It is interesting to observe the current move in the development of direct competition between South Australia and Victoria with the MG Challenge meetings held over recent years on the Queen’s Birthday weekend in June. So the wheel turns full-circle.

(Extracts from an article by Ian Curwen-Walker & Roger Waters in 2002)

We hope as many members as possible will support the event being held in Adelaide at Easter in 2010.

2010 MG NATIONAL MEETING PROGRAMME
as at Dec 9, 2010

Friday April 2

Registration & Scrutineering: 11.00am – 4.00 pm
- The Shores Function Complex, Corner Hamra & Military Road, West Beach.
- Café open for light lunches
Noggin n Natter - Friday evening: 6.00 pm – 10.00 pm
                        - At The Shores Function Complex, West Beach
                        - Buffet Meal provided
                        - Rocker Cover Racing Event

Saturday April 3rd
Concours          - At Elder Park, King William Road, Adelaide City
Theme Party      - Saturday evening, ‘Pirates of Abingdon’
                        - At The Shores Function Complex, West Beach
                        - Three course meal, & drinks on arrival provided
                        - Music, prizes, and frivolity.

Sunday April 4th
Motorkhana       - Competition Event
                        - At Woolworth’s Distribution Centre, Monarto    
Kimber Run       - Social Event
Evening            - Free time

Monday April 5th
Super Sprint      - Competition Event
                        - At Mallala Circuit
Observation Run - Alternative Competition Event to Speed event
- Lunch included in Registration Fee for competitive entrants
- Additional lunches can be purchased via the Registration Form.
Presentation Dinner - Monday evening
                        - At The Shores Function Centre, West Beach
                        - Three course meal, and drinks on arrival provided
                        - Presentation of awards & entertainment

Tuesday April 6th
Farewell Breakfast
                        - At The Shores Function Complex, West Beach
                        - Full Buffet Breakfast provided
Delegates Conference
                        - At the Shores Function Complex, West Beach
                        - Light lunch provided   

Any further information required?

See the Adelaide 2010 MG National Meeting website:

http://natmeet2010.mgccsa.org.au/