MGYT 60th Anniversary Run

From………..Graham Loader

On Sunday 19th October 4 Y Saloons, 4 Y Tourers, 7 T Types, 6 other MGs and 3 non marques assembled at Oaklands Park Reserve for the start of the YT 60th Anniversary Run.

Parking again this year was under the control of Mike Lyons.

We were also accompanied by our Club Patron Ed Ordynski and wife Kathy and all the way down from Queensland the National Y Registra Tony Slattery and wife Debbie, it was great to see them all on our run.

Just as the briefing session was concluding Barry Bahnisch arrived in his M type and gave an impromptu talk on the history of the reserve.

Due to Graham Loader having to leave early to assist in the Y parking layout at the finish the start of the event was left in the capable hands of Mike Greenwood.

The run traversed 80 kms of beautiful green hills scenery via Happy Valley, Cherry Gardens, Mylor, Echunga, Flaxley, Macclesfield, Meadows, Kuitpo to Woodstock Winery at McLaren Flat for lunch, all cars arriving on time and the Y’s being parked for display in the restaurant’s garden under the control of Mike Lyons, Trevor Praite and Peter Mayne.

Cardboard drip trays were placed under each Y on the lawn, all provided their signature with the exception of Graham Loader’s, the cardboard completely clean when retrieved at the end of the day.

The interior of the restaurant was nicely decorated with Y memorabilia courtesy of Mike Lyons ( still a Y owner at heart ) and the view through the windows to the Y’s in the garden was a lovely sight.

A locally produced platter was supplied as Entrée followed by main course, all meals being served promptly.

After lunch all ventured out to the garden where a personalised YT poster was presented ( in a relaxed style ) by Patron Ed and Y Registra Tony to all Y and YT participants. Tony also presented membership stickers of the Australian and UK Y Registers and gave a talk on the National Register. He also spoke on the awarding of the David Lawrence trophy for Y’s attending National Meetings and promoted the next at Geelong where the trophy will be presented for the first time.

Ed presented Tony with a special personalised poster in appreciation of Tony and Debbie attending our event.

A bottle of “Y Series “ wine was presented by Tony to David Robley for the best YT judged by wife Debbie.

 Photos were taken of the Y owners with their cars and posters, then people moved back to restaurant where some managed to fit in desert as well as coffee.

Everyone had a good time and stayed around mingling in restaurant and garden area for a while before people started to head for home.

Jim and Faye Underwood again did a great job as photographers and have produce a CD featuring 129 photos of the event and is available by order for $5 or $7 if posted, place your orders with Graham Loader 8352 3070 or pgloader@bigpond.com, ordered discs should be available at the Nov and Dec General Meeting.