MG Car Club of South Australia
EARLY EMGEEING IN EN ZEDD
AVID McNABB has continued his
D recent regular ritual of popping over the Tasman every couple of years to take part in New Zealand ' s biennial Pre-56 MG Rally. Alternating between NZ ' s South and North Islands, for 2017 the venue was Wanganui in the north.
This now iconic international event, held over six days late Feb, was notable for being the 21st Rally. Yes, these octagonal gatherings have been going for over four decades, with the first being held in 1977 in Christchurch( Adelaide ' s Sister City) where TD McNabb was chairman of the organising committee.
As such, David was kindly acknowledged by the 2017 organisers along with kiwi demi-god Peter Croft( known as the Godfather) who was also on the initial 1977 committee. This pair – Croft in his MGJ2 and McNabb in an MGTD were the sole survivors from the entry list that started the whole show, although for this year ' s Rally there were two MGs taking part that had actually been there in 1977.
Now with new custodians, these were an MGTA and 1931 F1 Magna, both driven a considerable distance from the South Island to arrive at Wanganui.
I heard you asking how the author of this report was competing in a TD. It ' s rather expensive freighting MGs over the Tasman, so David was able to arrange the loan of a good friend ' s brilliantly restored TD based in Hamilton, and he imported wife Kerry( as navigator / riding mechanic), so the scene was set for a MaGic Octa-week.
A brief mention of the MG Rally prelude: In the couple of days preceding the Pre- 56 Rally many of the MG folk went to Napier for that city ' s annual Art Deco weekend – a fabulous experience with most folk dressing the part – plus an amazing classic car parade of over 80 vehicles – where the pre war MGs joined in. Only snag was that for nearly three days it poured non stop. Luckily the weather improved a lot after that.
Alongside entrants from Australia, Netherlands, UK, USA, Canada and obviously host nation NZ, we were privileged to meet Paul Plummer ' s replacement as MG Overseas Director Peter Cook – a top bloke – owns an MGB V8 and codrove a TF1500 in the motorkhana. McNabb took delight in being able to Meet & Greet Pete prior to our Easter Natmeet in Adelaide!
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