ADELAIDE NATIONAL MEETING

A REPORT FROM LAURIE HOUGHTON

After all the activities of the National Meeting – held in Adelaide this year, we are now able to take a breath and quietly plan for the remainder of 2010.

Months of planning finally came to fruition on Good Friday when MG enthuiasists from all over the country descended on the Shores Function Centre at West Beach to register for 4 days of entertainment, competition and all round enjoyment with their MGs.

Close on 400 people took part including Paul Plummer the newly appointed Overseas Director for the MGCC UK and 6 other members from the UK, Willie Williams and Thomas Scarlett from the US and 2 South African MG owners.

A big contingent from WA made the trip across the Nullabour a bigger group from QLD and a huge turn out from VIC.

Registration and scrutineering went off without a hitch and the day was rounded off with a great sit down buffet meal for the Nogin N Natter and the Rocker Cover Racing.

There had been some concern about the weather, particularly for the Concours however someone was looking after us for the whole weekend providing wonderful weather, the Concours site was about as good as you could get however preceding Festival events had really chopped up the surface and took the edge off the venue.

Saturday nights “Pirates of Abingdon” theme night was amazing, everyone had got into the spirit of the evening with spectacular costumes, again , great food and Graham Cornes 5AA All Stars kept everyone rocking and rolling all night.

Sunday was down to Monarto for the Motorkhana with over 100 entrants competing on 3 tests, those who didn’t enter the motorkhana went on the Kimber Run through the Adelaide Hills ending up at Monarto.

There was no official function on Sunday night.

Monday saw the Super Sprint run at Mallala, the event was conducted in “lap time” order and there was some spirited competition between the various speed categories of cars, everyone had a practice round followed by 2 timed rounds of 4 flying laps each.

The Observation Run was the alternative competition event sending entrants navigating through the Adelaide Hills and ending up for lunch at the Peter Lehmann Winery at Tanunda in the Barossa Valley for a sit down lunch.

The Presentation Dinner on Monday evening was, as usual, a formal affair, dinner suits and evening gowns were everywhere, again a great 3 course meal was served with presentations during the various courses. A smaller band, the “Party Cats” provided the music and MC Tommy Kay..

Gold Medallions and Certificates were presented for all categories for the Concours, Motorkhana and Sprint, the Observation Run was split into 4 only categories.

The Outright Awards were presented as were the Hard Luck, Photographic  Magazine and Website Trophies, these were followed by the presentation of the Perpetual Trophies.

A hot and cold buffet “Farewell Breakfast” was served on Tuesday morning followed by the Delegates meeting.