AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MEETING -

  21st to 25th MARCH 2008  

Hosted by MG CAR CLUB of NEW SOUTH WALES

The 39th Australian Natmeet was held over Easter in Tamworth, NSW. The adventure started in Sydney when Janine and I were collected from the city centre Travelodge by John Lindsey, and taken to his home in Emu Plains. John is a former BMC Austin apprentice, who worked for BMC Australia at the Zetland factory, and who now owns a 1965 MG 1100, and a 1972 MGBGT. We were loaned the BGT for the Natmeet, and towed a trailer containing items needed by the organisers including the programmes that John had put together. John and Lesly led the way on the 255 mile drive north over the Blue Mountains to Tamworth. Tamworth is a town with a population 30k, and is known as the Country music capital of Australia. It also recently became famous for an invasion of Starlings, which was countered by the town putting plastic snakes in trees to see them off! We arrived on Thursday afternoon to find many of the NSW centre organising committee, who were our hosts, already at the hotel.

On Friday morning the event really got under way with Registration, Regalia and Scrutineering of the cars at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre (TREC). Scrutineering of the cars is required by the Council of Australian Motorsport (CAMS), an organisation similar to the MSA in the UK. There were 362 Registrants, and we were soon meeting old friends from the other Australian Centres. Several factors outside the control of the NSW Centre had contrived to reduce the attendance figures, which was unfortunate after all the excellent planning, organisation and hard work that had obviously gone into the preparation. On Friday afternoon back at the hotel, there was much consternation among the polishers getting ready for the Concours in the morning, when a thunderstorm arrived.
On Friday evening at TREC we were all welcomed by James Treloar, the mayor of Tamworth, and a Natter and Noggin evening followed. The highlight of this evening was the Rocker Box racing, which was won by Scott Bailey of NSW.    

Saturday dawned bright and clear, and we were off to Bicentennial Park for the Concours. Janine and I got  involved in Concours judging – a steep learning curve for Janine whojudged the Y types, but she was ably assisted by Ian Curwen Walker(SA) and Dominic David (NSW). Among the high standardEntrants was the 1932 MG J2 of Bob Bazzica of South Australia making
its first appearance after a major rebuild. Two other oldercars of interest were the 1933 MG L type of Ross Kelly of Queensland, and the 1938 VA Tourer of Robin Page of Victoria. The
feature car of the event was the MGA Twin Cam, which celebrated itsGolden Anniversary. There were 6 Twinks present.

Saturday evening was free, and we spent this in the company of the NSW Centre at the hotel. On Sunday there was a choice of either theKimber Run, which was non competitive, or the Motorkhana (drivingtests). We opted for the Motorkhana which was held at the Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, where there was a massive tarmac area in a natural amphitheatre – absolutely ideal, as was the weather!. It was here I caught up with Willie Williams and Mike Ellisfrom Hawaii, who always take the shortcut to the Natmeet!
Sunday evening was the Theme night, and of course the theme justhad to be “a little bit of country”. Most people went as cowboys/girls,but for innovation the huge contingent from the Queensland Centrewent as pumpkin bumpkins dressed in the Warwick Natmeet shirts,
which were a pumpkin colour with green hats – brilliant! A good nightwas had by all.

On Monday we had another choice – a speed event or the TouringAssembly (Observation Run). We opted to see a bit of the countrysidearound Tamworth on the Touring Assembly, and were very impressed, especially with Nundle and Chaffey Dam. We managed a class place on the event.
Monday evening was the presentation dinner at TREC. I presented the Anniversary Plaques to Victoria and Geelong – 50th and 20th respectively, and the major trophies including theNuffield Trophy to Queensland. Queensland also won the Wratten trophy, and Catherina Bartley of Queensland won the Joan Richmond (ladies) trophy. The biggest and most pleasant surprise of the night was Janine and I being made Honorary Members of the NSW Centre.

Tuesday morning was the Farewell breakfast at TREC, and afterwards I attended the Delegates Meeting on behalf of the MGCC UK. It was then time to set off back to Emu Plains. On the return run about 35 km out of Tamworth, the 1100 broke the exhaust pipe clean off just below the
manifold. John and Lesly were flatbedded for a quick repair to the nearest garage, where we told that the MGA of Ian Hazeldine (NSW) had also been in after nearly catching fire with the exhaust on the wooden floor.
 

Brian G Woodhams
Overseas Director.