The MG Car Club staged its annual gathering at Silverstone earlier this month, their 68th consecutive annual visit to the venue.
This year the club mixed up the layout, with the main marquee on the eastern side of Copse Runway along with the Register and Centre displays. The latter were all grouped together in two lanes of gazebos, a system that seemed to work well and made it easy to wander between them.
The California Cup Autotest on Saturday and the Auto Solo on Sunday were once again located at the heart of the venue, something trialed last year and which has proved very successful as the sound and smell of cars in action never fails to pull a crowd. It was further improved this year with a well-informed commentary that educated and entertained the audience as they watched.
Stowe Circuit was closed off on the Saturday while MG Motor entertained parties from China and India with their new Silverstone Edition MG6, but on Sunday it hosted a Sprint and the four free shuttle buses constantly circulating the grounds made getting there and back enjoyable and hassle-free for spectators.
Back in the main infield area, the Village Green area made the most of the food and drink options available, as well as the music on stage. This year it was sponsored by Duckhams, with music by the close harmony group Candy Girls and the five-piece band Jazz Experience during the day and contemporary band Euphoria headlining the evening entertainment. The village also saw detailing masterclasses, fun and games plus technical advice from Duckhams, and it proved to be a popular place to gather with friends for a chat.
The Lifestyle Marquee once more offered an array of goodies to those of a less mechanical mindset, with specialist products ranging from jams to jewelry. Talking of shiny stuff, the concours and Pride of Ownership competitions were held on Copse Runway on the Sunday, rather more sedate but just as competitive as the cars racing out on the Grand Prix circuit all weekend which are the reason why the MGCC keep coming back to Silverstone. Another motorsport display (though this time rather more static) was put on by the organisers of the London-Sydney 50 event at the British Motor Museum on July 29, with cars that competed on the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon proving a great talking point.
