Celebrations to Dominate MG Car Club's Silverstone International

07 March 2005

The biggest single-marque meeting in the world - the 2004 event drew some 32,000 visitors - the MG Car Club's 55th consecutive Silverstone International Weekend will break new ground for 2005 when it runs from 22-24th July. The meeting, which is the highpoint of the club's 75th anniversary year, provides a 16-race programme, a sprint, concours, register gatherings, huge Traders City, autotests, rallyrides and themed displays, with support frm MG Rover, MG Sport and Racing and Octane Magazine.

For 2005, the scope of the event has been widened. In a major recasting of activities, the 50th anniversary of the BMC Competitions Department will also be celebrated. What will certainly be the largest ever gathering of 'Comps' cars and personnel will be reunited, providing an unrepeatable opportunity to honour their achievements.

There will be a main marquee display of some of the most famous competition cars from the Abingdon stable, including Austin-Healey, Mini Cooper S, MGA, MGB, MGC GTS, TR7 V8, Austin 1800 and Triumph 2.5Pi, supported by track demonstrations, invited ex-Works drivers and team personnel. It is planned to reunite the three Competitions Managers - Marcus Chambers, Stuart Turner and Peter Browning - who made the Abingdon team arguably the most successful ever. One of the most widely campaigned models in the early days of the Department was the MGA, the car that officially brought MG back into international competition. This also celebrates its 50th anniversary and will be strongly featured, with at least five of the UD-domiciled Sebring cars being freighted in for the event. Two limited edition prints by acclaimed Austrian artist Klaus Wagger have been commissioned. They feature a Works MG EX182 at Le Mans to celebrate the MGA's 50th Anniversary and, 40 years on, the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally-winning Morris Mini Cooper S of Timo Makinen and Paul Easter.

In another departure for the meeting, the race programme will include participation by the Austin-Healey, Aston Martin, Morgan, Mini 7 and Triumph and a Thoroughbred Sports Car race, in addition to the regular MGCC championships. There will be two Enduro races, one of which will celebrate the centenary of the Longbridge plant, the current home of MG. BMC.BL marque clubs are also being invited and there will be dedicated parking for their members in addition to the designated MGCC register areas.

Although the detailed programme has yet to be finalised, a further innovation will be the MG/BMC automobilia aution on the Saturday of the weekend. This is being mounted by Transport Collector Auctions, who report that there has already been considerable interest, with a number of lots consigned at this early stage.

"This is a hugely ambitious event," said MGCC Chief Executive, Robert Gammage. "We are setting out to deliver an event which will not only have the widest possible appeal, but which we are determined will be the most outstanding club event in the world. That would be a fitting achievement in the MGCC's 75th anniversary year.

Kimber House

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