Summary; Autotest change of date, Event Reports, Upcoming July/August Events, 90th Anniversary Year, Centre Facebook Page, Wiscombe Hill Climb 2027, Ian Benningfield’s Donation Page, Jon Pittard Donation Page.
The Dave Coppock Memorial Autotest on Grass. We have decided to change the date from the 9th August until 20th September due to the extremely dry weather. The field is tinder dry and we feel there is a high probability of causing a fire with a hot exhaust. Changing the date to later in September gives a chance of some rain between now and then. The event on the website has been changed accordingly.
Event Report – Breakfast Meet at Compton Abbas Airfield 1st August 2020 Martyn Lucas reported that over 40 MGs attended the meet and he has provided a report which has been posted on the website at this link Compton Abbas 1st August
Upcoming August/September Events
We have a full calendar of events taking place in August and September
- Saturday 22nd August 2026 – Cars and Coffee at the Rowdey Cow.
We return to the Rowdey Cow once again as this is a popular breakfast meet venue. Full details at this link to the website Cars and Coffee at the Rowdey Cow - Thursday 10th September – Meet with a group of MG drivers from the MG Club of France.
Nine members of the MG Club of France are spending a few days travelling around Wales. On 10th September they are travelling to Wells and Bath before crossing the Severn into Wales. They are planning a stop at the Severn View Services at around 16:00 and would be pleased to meet any member of the South West Centre in their MGs for a coffee and a chat. You may remember I asked for a list of potential spares/repair workshops on their route some time ago. I was very pleased with the response and the information you supplied has now been included in their travel book. If you are interested in meeting some of our French counterparts, I have created an event on the website at this link Auto Tour by MG Club of France - Saturday 12th September – The MGCC, Ian Beningfield Memorial Hillclimb at Wiscombe Park Our annual meet at Wiscombe takes place on September 12th this year and has been renamed in honour of Ian Beningfield who was assistant Clerk of Course at this event for the last couple of years. Entries opened on Tuesday last week and up to Monday 3rd August we have 121 entries with the maximum number at 135. Wiscombe are offering a ‘Club Package’ including a dedicated parking area and discounted tickets for MG car Club Members to attend as spectators at this wonderful venue. Details on how to take advantage of the ‘Club Package’ are on the website at this link Wiscombe Hill Climb.
- Saturday 12th September 2026 – MGCC Midland Centre 12 Car Regularity Rally. Bob Blackstock is running a Regularity Rally for the Midland Centre starting from Westons Cider Mill, Much Marcle, Ledbury, and has invited members from the South West Centre to enter. Full details are on the website at this link Midland Centre 12 Car Rally
- Sunday 20th September – Dave Coppock Memorial Autotest on Grass
As a tribute to another MGCC stalwart who passed away 2 years ago, we have renamed the 2nd autotest on grass The Dave Coppock Memorial Autotest. This event was organised by Dave for several years and is held with permission of the Farmer George Atwell, who was a good friend of Dave’s. Full details including the SRs and Entry form are available at this link to the website, The Dave Coppock Memorial Autotest
90th Anniversary Year 2026 – 90 for the 90
We now have a total of 115 photos posted to the website. The oldest car is an MG 18/80 and the newest is a 2023 MG Motors HS, with one member having 21 entries. Keep your entries coming, final date for entries is the 20th September.
As the weather is improving, don’t forget to take your birthday card with you when you are out and about in your MG (I keep mine in the glove box of the MGF). The ’90 for the 90’ challenge is easy, just select a destination from the list in the birthday card, take a digital photograph of you, your car, your birthday card and the location as evidence of your visit and submit a claim and photograph using the claim form accessed here. We are not expecting you to visit all the 90 places, but there could be a prize for the MG car that visits the most different venues.
All items in the Clothing Store are now available with either the normal South West Centre Logo or the new 90th Anniversary logo. Select the item you require, T-shirt, Polo shirt, Sweat Shirt, Premium Cap, Beanie, Hoodie, Fleece Jacket, Softshell Jacket, Shell Gilet, Soft Padded jacket, soft padded gilet or long sleeved shirt, then select the colour and size and then you have the option to select which of the two logos you require. It couldn’t be simpler. Very suitable attire to carry out the ‘90 For The 90’ challenge.
Centre Facebook Page
Another way to keep up to date with what is going on in the Centre is to visit the SW Centre Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/MGCCSW regular updates are posted there. Also, we have a SW Centre WhatsApp group, message me on my mobile 07773491953 to be included in the group.
Wiscombe Hill Climb 2027 Event Organiser Required
As a consequence of Ian Benningfield’s passing, we have managed to sort this year’s event with a lot of assistance from Woolbridge Motor Club, Torbay Motor Club and Wiscombe Park. The current committee do not have the relevant experience to carry out the administrative functions of organising such a prestigious event and are therefore seeking a volunteer to become the ‘Wiscombe Hill Climb Event Organiser ‘ it would be the sole task of this person, because planning for 2027 starts when this years event finishes on 12th September 2026. If you think you the time and expertise and could carry out this important role, please contact me by email at jim.lott@hotmail.co.uk.
Ian Beningfield’s Donation Page
Following the untimely death of Ian Beningfield, The Meningitis Research Foundation have set up an official donation page in memory of Ian at https://ianbeningfield.muchloved.com/ and all proceeds go to the Foundation.
Jon Pittard’s Donation Page
Following Jon’s celebration of life service last week, his family are suggesting that donations be made in memory of Jon to St Peters Hospice, who did an excellent job of caring for Jon in the last days of his life. Donations can be made vis Jon’s Tribute Page https://www.stpetershospice.org/tribute-funds/jon-pittard/.
Jim Lott
Chairman, MGCC SW Centre
jim.lott@hotmail.co.uk
Mobile: 07773491953
