The 15th Annual Show, organised by the Abingdon Works Centre to bring together all the models and activities of the Abingdon MG Works was held on the 11th of September.
The day promised to be wet, which no doubt deterred many of the drivers of open cars. And it must be said that in that respect it lived up to its promise - it was wet!
Nevertheless over two hundred hardy souls made the pilgrimage to the homeland. Most of the Abingdon built marques were represented to a greater or lesser degree. The greater of course being the MG contingent from the 18/80 through to the latest of the Longbridge models (all right so they weren't Abingdon built, but they have an MG badge so they are 'one of us').
A feature of the show has always been the fun competition in the arena. One of the tests has been used in Abingdon Works Centre's Gymkhanas from pre-historic days at Beaulieu to Silverstone and throughout the Car Show's history. This involves passing a hoop along a wriggly rail without setting of a bleeper. Then on to the manoeuvring bit, through bollards forwards and backwards, collecting and depositing flags on the way. The most adept for this sort of thing is usually the modern midget, so to give everybody a chance we split the cars into classes which meant that the John Venables 18/80 and Paul Batho in his Z Magnette could be medal winners as well as Barry Graham in his Midget.
Austin-Healeys were there in strength. The local group making the show the venue for their annual Thames Valley Day.
Among the ex Comps/Special Tuning rally cars was the rebuilt Triumph 2.5pi in which Andrew Cowan almost lost his life in a crash on the 1970 London-Mexico World Cup Rally. Also on show was the Austin 1800 'Landcrab' which was driven on that event by the Australian Ken Tubman. Ken had been the first car on the scene of Cowan's accident. He left his crew to tend to the injured driver and crew while he hotfooted it to the nearest town to fetch a doctor and an ambulance, no doubt it was his prompt action that saved Andrew Cowan's life.
Ex Ace Navigator turned TV Presenter Tony Mason was at the Show to film the event for Real time Television on the Discovery Channel. The programme will be one of a series featuring Motor Club events to be broadcast in November. We will be informed of exactly when. Watch our Website! mgabingdon.org.uk
