This section takes a look at some of the items in the club (and some individual) collections of car-related “things”. They could range from anything to an old car horn through brochures, paintings to pit stop letters but will not include actual cars!
To begin with, we will at three items recently donated to the club.
1976 Pit Board Number Set and Silverstone Entry sheet
This pit board number set and entry sheet came from the MGCC Race Meeting at Silverstone held on May 29th 1976.
The box is in poor condition as is the original paperwork but the pit numbers are still good. It was discovered in the garage of Kevin Lee in Chertsey in November 2024. Kevin is the Chairman of the Brooklands Trust Members and his father was involved with the Vintage Sports Car Club (as is he) and the club were helping the MGCC with the race meeting at Silverstone. Kevin’s father picked up the box after the meeting and took it home, meaning it to give it back to the MGCC—instead, it lay in his garage for the next 48 years until handed to the South East Centre.
In 1976 the M.G. Car Club was independent, having split from the manufacturer after the British Leyland takeover in 1968. John Thornley effectively used the South East Centre (or Main Centre as it was known) to create the foundations of the club as we know it today.
On this Final Instruction sheet from the race meeting Thornley is shown as the Club Chairman with Gordon Cobban as General Secretary. Cobban was a long term secretary for the South East Centre and Club. He also did a term as Chairman. The renowned M.G. speed record breaker and racer Capt. George Eyston is shown as the Club President. It is worth noting that the registered office of the MGCC was 1, The Market Square, Abingdon and not Kimber House as we know it today—of course M.G.s were still being made at Abingdon in 1976 and the cottages where the club is now situated were just a pair of cottages by the Cemetery Gate.
Syd Beer was the Chairman of the Centre at the time and he is seen as entry no.136 at this meeting in his well-known MG K3. Also, a couple of places down is another well-known South East name—Philip Bayne-Powell also in a K3. Look out for other names you might recognise.
1952 Trophy Mug
This “silver” mug was found in the garage of the former MG Car Club President, Bill Wallis’s garage. It was donated to the Centre by current vice-president Ian Quarrington in November 2024.
Little is known of its origins or how it ended up in Bill’s garage. The basic inscription reveals that it is from the MGCC South Eastern Centre and was awarded for an event on June 21st 1952 to W.S.Bland. Did Mr Bland not collect his trophy in 1952 and Bill kept it for the next 70 years we wonder? The truth will not be known unless a relative of Mr Bland steps forward to reveal all.
1995 The Year of the Red Car framed Print
This framed print was also found in Bill Wallis’s garage and donated to the Centre by Ian Quarrington in November 2024.
The picture is of “The Year of the Red Car” and depicts the Centre’s “Hare & Hounds” weekend of 1994. It is signed on the rear by several members and we can make out John & Jenny Morgan, Christine Poxon, Doug Bush, Piers Hubbard and Rob Gammage amongst others. Rob Gammage was the Centre Chairman at the time and John & Jenny Morgan were running the North Surrey Natter at the Hare & Hounds and this picture depicts some of the MGs at their events.
It is noted on the back that is was given at the South East Centre/ Hare & Hounds Awards Dinner 1995 at the Gatwick Moat House Hotel.
The artist has signed the front – LA Holloway.
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