MG Car Club - The Club For MG Owners

There certainly aren't enough racing MGs or drivers to fill all the races at MG Live if we use the GP Circuit. By inviting the MGOC, having the AH Sprites merged with the Midgets and allowing non FIA Bs into the MGB50 race, we will have mopped up pretty well all of the available MG race cars. A monitoring of the start of the season suggests that there aren't many MGs in HSCC or CSCC races.

Ideally we could do with a "turn key" car like the MX5. It could be done with TFs or ZR160s or standard Midgets, but would require substantial investment.

Derwent Motorsport wrote:
I think you are missing the point somewhere.

Firstly there are simply not enough racing MGs to fill the grids to make a wholly MG meeting. Whether we like it or not if you have a significant MG (say K3 or ex works car) the opportunities to race it at major European events are immense.

Secondly the majority of the entrants in all the MG Live! races will be MGs and in most they will be all MGs.

Thirdly, what is the alternative? A gathering of MGs at a stately home? I remember once going to an MGOC National Event and I was bored stiff after an hour. Did I really want to see just rows of polished MGs Bs?

Can you point us to the alternative?

You'll not be going to MGB50 at Blenheim then?

this is a good thread with healthy discussion of varied but valid personal viewpoints

perhaps after a week or so the different views can be summarised and put forward to the club hierarchy for consideration/attention

so far, it seems that
the high cost of entry to racing needs addressing
more MGs should be encouraged to race at MG live
more exotic MGs (eg K3s etc etc) should be encouraged to attend and race at MG Live rather than elsewhere
look into question of current MGCC racing classes and how that compares with MGOC classes

etc etc

so if this thread runs a bit longer a clearer position might emerge ?

cjc

Fair summary CJC.

I don't think that racing is any more expensive now than it has been in the past. Entry fees are broadly comparable and some parts are cheaper now than they used to be. What has changed is that it isn't possible any more to drive an everyday car to the circuit and race it as you could once upon a time. The safety requirements - cage, extinguisher, seat and belts alone more or less preclude road use.

I am pretty sure that there will be more MGs racing at MG Live than ever before. A few years ago, the race meeting was only Saturday on the Club Circuit so it looked as if a lot of cars were racing. Now we are looking at 50 car grids over two days.

I don't think that there are going to be many racing MGs not at Silverstone.

A lot of members used to do Silverstone as their only race of the year, but that stopped when the ARDS test for race drivers was introduced. To buy adequate protective clothing/helmet and get a racing licence is a one thousand pound cost. This means that a "one off" appearance is difficult.

Many of the exotic MG race cars, and quite a lot of less exotic cars have been sold out of the UK - eg most of the TFs are in Australia, a lot of cars are in the US and recently they have been selling to France and Germany.

Finally, the MGOC Race Championship doesn't have a massive following. There are around a dozen assorted Bs/Midgets and then some standard MGFs and ZR160s. There are no Maestros any more. Their cars will be racing at MG Live - the Midgets/Bs with the Metros and the Fs and ZRs with the Trophy cars.

paulg wrote:
There certainly aren't enough racing MGs or drivers to fill all the races at MG Live if we use the GP Circuit.
Then we are at the wrong circuit(s).

Just to confirm, my initial concern is the drift away from MG-specific racing towards the more prestigious historic motorsport. This is a club for people who race MGB, Midget, Metroes, etc, not Aston Martin, AC, Lotus, etc. Cost only comes into it because your well heeled ex-Works Healey racer expects a certain type of circuit, shall we say. This may not be applicable to your average MG racer.

We need to focus on the needs of our own Club members, and avoid situations like Brands, where MGCC member are being asked to double up in garages because an 'external' race championship want the garages. Visiting championships are most welcome, as they add interest and variety to our meetings, but not to the detriment of the host Club's members.

Cheers,

DC