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By Victor Smith

The lunch celebrating the 95th Anniversary of the formation of the MG Car Club in October 1930 was held at the stunning clubhouse of the British Racing Drivers’ Club at the Silverstone Circuit on Saturday June 7 2025. The dining room has panoramic views over the heart of the Circuit – Woodcote Corner and the Luffield Complex.

An MG Club began with a letter from Roy Marsh published in The Light Car magazine on September 5 1930, headed ‘Why not an MG Club?’ Subsequently an announcement was made in that magazine of an inaugural rally and meeting for the purpose of bringing the Club into being. A group of over 30 enthusiasts with their MGs met on October 12 1930 at the Roebuck Hotel near Stevenage on the Great North Road in Hertfordshire, and after some discussion the MG Car Club was formally constituted. John Thornley was enthusiastically voted the Secretary, and a committee was elected. Sir William Morris became the Club’s patron.

Early members included the Earl of March, better known then as ‘Freddie March’, and George Eyston, with motorsport the bedrock of the Club. Trials and motor racing at Brooklands were a regular part of the activities. This saw many successes, particularly from the small, diminutive four-cylinder MGs already in production. In 1931 the MG Factory built 44 Montlhery MG Midgets, and Freddie March had the first three C-Types, which he raced as the MG Works Team. With 750cc engines they were capable of reaching 100mph on the track!

With that strong family connection with MG and motor racing, his grandson, the present Duke of Richmond, had wanted to attend the 95th Anniversary lunch but because of a prior commitment could not do so. He sent a letter to Lorraine Noble-Thompson (Club Chairman), congratulating the Club on its 95th Anniversary and recalling the wonderful celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the launch of the MG marque held at the Festival of Speed at Goodwood in 2024.

Ron Gammons recalled the role John Thornley had as a founder member and as the initial secretary of the Club, and that after WW2 he was General Manager of MG at Abingdon. Ron mentioned the letter he had received from Peter Thornley’s son, now in the USA, congratulating the Club on its 95th Anniversary. Guests were Warwick Banks, who, along with John Rhodes, managed a giant-killing win in the 1967 1,000 mile race at Brands in an MGB, beating all of the larger and bigger engine cars, to the total surprise of Stuart Turner, Competitions Manager. Further success came in the 1968 84 Hour Marathon de la Route at the Nürburgring, when the MGB scored an outright win again. This, despite a major off for both cars in the opening laps. One of the pit crew remarked, having got both back on the circuit: “Only another three and a half days to go then…”

Stirling Moss, an Honorary Member of the Club, had very much enjoyed rallying an MGB in the Marathon and Tour de France (Tour Auto) in the late eighties and early nineties.

Other guests included Roger Enever, son of the Chief MG Designer, Syd Enever, and a very capable race driver in his own right. He was joined at the lunch by Bob Neville, another of the very capable Abingdon drivers, who brought the ex works Midget to the display outside. Anthony Binnington, son of the head of Show shop at Abingdon Tim Binnington, was also on the same table, Anthony still racing his ex works MGB with great success!

Norman Ewing in South Africa highlighted in his letter to Ron how the Centres within the Club reach worldwide. Ron felt this underlined how the MG Car Club is not only a club, but a family of MG owners around the world – “They join the Club for the cars but stay for the people as friends”. Our Club’s motto is ‘The Marque of Friendship’.

MG UK

David Allison, Head of Product & Planning with MG UK, mentioned how the MG brand is now in 118 countries, with 840,000 MGs sold in 2024, the UK being the biggest market with 81,529 MGs sold in 2024. With the competition growing all the time – like BYD and others – “what makes MG different?”. He highlighted the heritage of the MG marque and the worldwide affection for MG as important for MG UK. The company will be at the Goodwood Festival of Speed event next month, where they will be championing the brand at that leading motoring event.

Support for the 95th Anniversary lunch

Neil Brant (Club Vice Chairman) thanked Warwick Banks for arranging the dining room with the BRDC, the dining room staff for their wonderful menu and service, Stephen Laing at British Motor Heritage at Gaydon for contributing Old Number One as part of the MG display at the entrance to the clubhouse, together with the Midget (Bob Neville), Cyberster (Tony and Linda Cotter), C-Type (Mark Green) and the 18/80 from Ron Gammons’ collection.

Finally, thanks to Valery, Ron, Steph and Louise Gammons, and Chairman Lorraine Noble-Thompson for planning and arranging the memorable lunch.