MG NATIONAL MEETING 2008 – TAMWORTH NSW

Report from
Mike Greenwood

Another National Meeting has been and gone. This year the location was Tamworth in North-Western New South Wales and was organised by the Sydney MG Car Club.
Easter was very early this year, from 21st to 25th March, so we had to be organised for the trip and there never seems to be enough time! Even though one plans everything in advance; things have a way of turning ‘pear shape’ no matter how one tries not to!
I was fortunate enough to be able to borrow Laurie Houghton’s trusty trailer as I was not happy driving the MGC given that we had had such an extended heatwave and the Hay Plains would not be forgiving.
Also by taking the Ute meant that there were no restrictions about what to take and what to leave behind just put it in the back of the Ute!
By the Wednesday before Easter Jan & I had arrived safely in Tamworth at our Motel, with the rather unusual name (for Tamworth - the Country & Western capital of Australia) of the Abraham Lincoln Motel.
Tamworth is a very easy town to get to know, and our motel was on the Armidale Road and all we had to do was follow the big green signs.
The manager and his wife, Harold & Rosie were absolutely wonderful to us; they could not have helped more. They opened up the gate to an adjoining paddock for us to leave our Ute and trailer without asking. A number of motels are not happy about letting us wash our cars, no problem with them, a hose was provided and most of Wed by me was spent starting the cleaning process ready for the Concours on the Saturday morning.

THURSDAY MARCH 20
The weather was in the mid 30’s but with a bit more humidity that we are used to, and it remained that way for the whole weekend. By 4.00pm it was uncomfortably hot out in the direct sun.
During the later part of Thursday Bob & Shelley Bazzica drove in with the lovely little two tone green “J” Type on their trailer. The same welcome was given to them by our hosts and in no time Bob had the “J” Type parked beside my MGC Roadster. The cleaning then continued in earnest and by this time all the wheels were cleaned, back on the C and the underneath was as clean as it was going to be. Next I needed to tackle the engine bay and finally interior, windows and polished all chrome and duco, these all took time.
There is something about the greeting of members from your own club which is unique. It is more than just friendship more akin to being a MG Club family. One greets your fellow club members with gusto even if you saw them just several days before.
Given that the sun was over the yard-arm by now it was necessary to find out all about the respective drives from Adelaide to Tamworth. This is done lounging around in one of the motels rooms, usually the room of the member with the coldest drinks and selection of chips and nibbles.
The indomitable ICW (Ian Curwen-Walker) arrived having driven his MGB GT all the way on his own, just as the drinks were underway, so we had to re-tell our trip details and hear about Curley’s trip as well.

FRIDAY MARCH 21
The next day, Easter Friday was the final push to finish the cleaning and polishing before presenting the cars for inspection after registration.
Tim Edmonds arrived early this morning so all our members were safely ensconced in our motel. Tim then spent the rest of the morning unpacking and cleaning his ZT
About 1.00pm we headed off to complete the registration and get the cars scrutineered for the weekend’s activities. We seem to have rushed through this process unaware that there was a time limit. Normally one has until 5.00 pm but the venue where all the activities took place (Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre) known as TREC was only booked that day until 2.00pm. We were scheduled to register at 12.00 unaware of this time limit.
So back to the motel to do some final cleaning and some mechanical work to satisfy the scrutineers in my case; no brake lights! Fortunately Bob was there and he showed me how the inside of the brake light switch comes apart, works and is refitted. Bob also was concerned about the “J” Types head gasket and also when we headed out to the registration the J decided that three cylinders were all that it was going to use. So more mechanical activity was needed by Mr Bazzica to get the 4 cylinders to function. All having been achieved, it was time to get ready for the trip to TREC for the traditional Noggin & Natter. This is really the first time when one sees all the members from other club’s in the one place, up until now they were spread all around the town of Tamworth with only the occasional sighting of an MG in the distance.
We were all given a name tag showing our Name, Club and also if a Competitor or a Social participant.
This is a great time to catch up with interstate friends and meet new ones, plus there was another chance to check out the regalia on sale plus see the photo competitors.
Quite a few meeting have seen a huge scramble for the available finger food; this meeting was the exception in that the waiters were seen wandering with full platters trying to get participants to clean their platters.
Lots of people went in to watch the rocker cover racing which seems to be a feature of these meetings now.
By about 9.00pm we decided that a cab be called to take us back to the motel in readiness for the Saturdays Concours.

SATURDAY MARCH 22
The Concours was held in the Bicentennial Park off Kable Avenue on the edge of the City and by the time Jan & I got to the park quite a number of MG’s were already in their class locations busy carrying out final polishing and cleaning.
A you are most probably aware the idea of the Concours I to present your MG, as if it has just left the show room, but as we all know this could be up to 80 years ago!
I know that my MGC is quite presentable but has had a number of changes and will never win a Concours but we entered into the event in the spirit of representing the SA MG Car Club and at least get one point for being there. Points awarded being 9 for 1st; 6 points for 2nd; 4 points for 3rd; down to one point for 6th and below.
Although the numbers were down, some 160 cars were displayed the standard was pretty good.
There were only 5 pre-war MG’s but they were all absolutely stunning! A very delightful WA Tickford Drop Head which had the full tool-kit was a feature.
The MGA Twin Cams were the feature marquee and there were a total of 9 on display, one of which was a recent complete restoration and came all the way from WA.
The more modern MG’s were there in big numbers and the row of R V8’s was evidence of their popularity.
All of the “T” Types were in reasonable numbers –  8 TC’s; 6 TD’s & 7 TF’s
I am sure a full list will soon be available if you wish to view it on the Sydney MG Car Club website.
  By the time we got back to our motel that time of day occurred! when the chips and nibbles and a few drinks were needed to ensure that the bonding process continued.
Our motel hosts had offered to take us all to the Tamworth Servicemen’s Club that evening for a smorgasbord, no charge at all!

SUNDAY MARCH 23
This day we did not have any specific activities, but went out to watch ICW & Tim Edmond perform at the Motorkhana event at a lovely venue some 5 Km’s from Tamworth at the Farrer Memorial Agricultural School.
Both Ian and Tim performed well and we drove home again “top-less”. Once the Concours was over we could take the hoods down for the rest of the weekend!
There was also a Kimber Run which was a non-competitive run for those who wanted to drive their MG’s and see the surrounding countryside.
That evening was the Theme Night – “A Little Bit of Country” held in the TREC.
This included a three course Buffet style meal with each club or Centre at individual tables of 10. The meal were all fabulous at this sitting and at the Presentation Dinner.
Some of the clubs/centres go into incredible lengths to outdo others and come up with some very funny and absurd costumes. All good fun! Wanting to out-do the others.
Lots of dancing for those who wanted to.

MONDAY MARCH 24
The first time I have ever seen a Horizontal Hill-climb! It was basically a Go-cart track, very tight about 900m in all but with some very tricky corners.
We got out to the Aokburn Park Raceway, some 6 Km’s from Tamworth on the Gunnedah Rd at about 10.30.
I was the last MG to be scrutineered! And I was one & a half hours early, they were that far ahead of schedule!
We all had three goes on the track, and it was really challenging but great fun. The arrangement was that we were called up in groups and waited on the dummy grid and drove into a waiting area whilst awaiting out turn to race. While I was waiting an MGA got into a slide just before the final timing lights and guess what! He completely wiped out the whole set of lights plus the hay bales protecting them! This caused a huge cuffuffle as they then had to re-set the lights and re-test them! So some half an hour later we were allowed to do our timed series of runs. Then what seemed like no time at all it was over.
For those who chose not to do the hill-climb there was a “Touring Assembly” previously known as the Observation Run.
That night was the formal Presentation Dinner where the majority of the prizes were given out for all the competition events plus the special prizes culminating in the announcement of the winners of the Wratten Trophy. The Wratten Trophy is awarded to the Club which amasses the largest number of points from all the events, this year it was won by Queensland. SA last won this trophy back in 1984 down in Hobart.
Our table did itself proud with one first; 5 seconds and a third. It is something of a tradition where SA always dresses up formal. This means taking a good frock for the ladies or at least a dinner suit for the men, but we always look good!

TUESDAY MARCH 25
There was a farewell breakfast held again out at TRAC before we all headed off in our different directions with the exception of the delegates (ICW) who attended a debriefing and discussion about technical differences brought forward during the year and which were voted on by the delegates for each centre or club.
GOING FORWARD TO 2010.
During our Noggin n Natters we all agreed that the SA MG Car Club needs to start the process of getting the basic framework for the 2010 National Meeting to be held in Adelaide.
If you have a look at the 2009 National Meeting website already up and running by the Geelong Club; with the help of the Melbourne Club; you will see that they have basically got it ready for us to book our accommodation and plan for next year, already!
We need to get a lot of our members to go along and witness what a National Meeting is all about and experience what it is like to represent your club at a national level. We need MG’s in all classes in all competitive areas; Concours, Motorkhana; Speed Event and Touring Assembly if we are to be a force to win the coveted Wratten Trophy!
Lets hope that we do just that.

I intend to book for at least 50 members to attend in 2009 (that’s just 25 cars), if you are interested in going over to Geelong please let me know and I can arrange your accommodation needs.
There is an expression of interest form on the Victorian website; see: www.mgcc.com.au. And hit on Geelong Centre then hit on the 2009 Natmeet logo.
Drive the Great Ocean Road plus we get the chance to compete at Calder Raceway with a bonus chance of driving the Thunder dome! Wow!
So get involved! Life is too short not to!
Jan & I will be there for sure!
Mike Greenwood – SA National Meeting Co coordinator

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