Vintage MGs steal the spotlight

GEELONG’S Steampacket Gardens turned into a sea of chrome and polished paintwork at the weekend as the MG Car Club’s Classic Car Display rolled into town.

More than 110 vehicles lined the grass for one of the club’s biggest annual events, with more than 2,000 people stopping by to take a look. Live music and family entertainment added to the atmosphere.

Tour director Roger Phipps said the turnout exceeded expectations.

“We had more cars on display than I expected, so that was excellent,” he said. “All in all, it was really quite successful.

“We advertised it as a family day and it certainly brought lots of families and kids. People were surprised to learn just how big and diverse the club is.”

The display featured vehicles spanning nearly a century of motoring, from 1930s classics through to modern MG models.

Among the highlights was a rare 1939 MG Series VA from Ray Abikhair’s museum in Belmont.

“[It] was absolutely magnificent and a really rare vehicle,” Phipps said.

There were some unexpected additions, including an MG ute, and the club’s open-top sports car was on hand for families to climb into for photos.

The success of the day saw many attendees express their interest in joining the club, which Phipps said had a welcoming and diverse environment.

“There’s something for everyone,” he said.

“If you don’t want to race your car, you can do what I do: clean them, go on coffee runs and put them in car shows.

“Or you can have a bit of fun driving around witches’ hats in motor cars.”