On Saturday 27 May some 46 MG cars will gather at Longbridge Town Centre car park to start a run to the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, Warwickshire, as part of the celebration of the founding of the MG marque 100 years ago.
Upon arrival at the BMM entrants will meet up with similar runs including one from the former site of the Abingdon works, the spiritual home of MG. The main event is expected to involve some 1000 MG cars of all types.
The Longbridge start is particularly important since the factory situated there built so many MG variants and of course carried the name of MG Rover up to 2005. Part of the site is still a base for MG Motor UK`s parts and engineering division.
The start will feature something unusual for a classic car club event in that two former Northfield MP`s will be officiating and taking part in their own MG sports cars; Roger King was the Conservative MP from 1983 to 1992, and Richard Burden was the Labour MP from 1992 to 2019. The latest generation of local politicians will also be present at Longbridge, with Gary Sambrook the current Conservative MP, and Labour Parliamentary candidate Alex Aitkin, also on hand to show support for the MG Centenary. And that does not complete the “political” support for also signed up for the run in his own MGF sports car is Fabian Hamilton, MP for Leeds North East and Shadow Minister for Peace and Disarmament.
It is unlikely any similar event of this kind would see such cross party support!
Roger King, chair of the Midlands Centre of the MG Car Club, itself celebrating the 90th Anniversary of its establishment in West Bromwich, commented: “MG has always been a marque that has such a sporting history of affordable cars that attracts global support and this continues to this day. With a new MG sports car pending announcement the legacy of what it means goes from strength to strength. With other MG clubs we have come together to commence a year of celebrations which will be shared by enthusiasts world wide.”
Added Richard Burden; “All have worked hard to make this a centenary event to remember. So many people in this part of Birmingham have personal or family memories of working at the Longbridge factory and its name lives on with enthusiasts from all over the world. Some of the great models that MG has produced over so many decades will be with us on Saturday`s run. MG Motor is a very different company but it still retains an important design centre here in the UK and it has re established itself as the fastest growing car brand in the country.”
Gary Sambrook MP commented; ” Today, sadly, the factory is no more, but the spirit of Longbridge that was embodied there, lives on in the new developments taking place. We should celebrate the achievements of the past but also welcome what is to come”
Alex Aitkin views the Saturday event with keen interest. “I am looking forward to seeing such a gathering of so many locally made cars created on the ground we will be standing on. It will be a proud day indeed”.
The cars will gather from 7.30am in the Town Centre car park before proceeding at 8.45am to Q Gate in Lowhill Lane where, with thanks to MGUK, they will then enter the MGUK facility on the former factory site for a short drive thus anchoring the connection between the former factory and the BMM celebration, before leaving from Q Gate to be officially flagged off by the Midlands Centre president Martin Price, for the 50 mile run.
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