Held at Claverham Court Farm, Claverham, North Somerset. The Event results can be found here
On the 28th July, Sir Lewis Hamilton took the chequered flag in second place at the Belgian Grand Prix, only later to be awarded to the top podium spot after winning teammate George Russell was agonisingly disqualified for an underweight car. With that, the F1 circus decamped for its summer break until the end of August. To fill this yawning void in the motorsport calendar, MGCC SW Centre held its traditional MGOG2 on 11th August.
This event was organised for many years by long standing MGCC SW Centre committee member Dave Coppock who sadly passed away at this time in 2023. This year our organiser was Dave Mothersdill, who had so ably organised MGOG1 at Christon early in the year.
Dave M was assisted at Claverham by Andrew Owst who helped set out the tests on the preceding Friday and marshalled Test One on the day and by Sue Owst who marshalled Test Two. Simon Lott completed the marshalling team on Test Three, Dave meanwhile was running the watch on Test Four. Thanks are also due to George Attwell for the use of his six acre field at Cleverham, North Somerset.
The day was blessed with fair weather for the entry list of 13 cars. Once again, the entry list was bolstered by four Minehead Motor Club members who reciprocated our MG support of their excellent events. The four tests comprised of a longish all forwards blast of sweeping changes of direction, which was Test One. Test Two was a slalom leading to a garage and then a 360o pylon and then back. Test Three was the familiar “points of the compass” via a central gate. Test Four was a short trip around a line of cones. Each test was attempted four times, with the slowest run deleted, giving three to count.
There was an amazing diversity of cars in the “paddock” ranging from an absolutely concours condition 1500TF (not competing) to a Porsche Boxster to Frank Vautier’s pre-war TA, plus a TD all underpinning the usual numbers of modern TFs, Midgets, Bs and the MX5 of Richard Ayre from Minehead. Lurking threatening amongst them all was the Westfield of the very experienced Clive Rayson from Minehead.
Once again, Clive ran out as FTD o/a with Mike Angwin continuing his run of good form as FTD by an MG. Classes were divided as pre and post 1990 cars which seemed a good idea. John Delafield was 1st in the pre 1990 class and Ben Delafield 1st in the post 1990s in the Boxster. Andy Morris (MGCC) in his faithful blue MGB took 2nd in the pre class just two seconds ahead of Chris Pelmear’s Midget. Competition was really very close and amazingly only 30secs covered from 3rd o/a to 8th o/a. So, congratulations to Clive, Mike and John.
Special mention must go to Les and Rob Woodward who double drove their TF which seemed to part company with its exhaust in protest on the last run of the day. Les and Rob had a very hot and noisy trip home to Williton. Our regular competitor Frank Vautier yet again made the journey from West Wales in his venerable TA. Frank’s good humour is always a joy at these events. It was not to be Frank’s day as Test Three proved his nemesis with three wrong courses which cost him approximately 30 secs which otherwise would have put him in the mix. In close competition with Frank was Pete Hiles in his very tidy TD. Looking at Pete’s times the TD showed a real improvement with each run, with Pete finishing 12th o/a.
Many thanks to Jim and Simon Lott who tabulated the results and produced the provisional times. This enabled club Chair Ian Beningfield (8tho/a) to present the awards of MG Ale at the end of the afternoon. In addition to the MG Ale Clive’s Westie also seemed to collect every dollop of cow dung in the field – it couldn’t happen to a nicer chap!
With that, what appears to have become our four event grass autotest season came to close, and we made our ways home.
All forwards grass autotests are great fun, are non-damaging and require no special car preparation. The atmosphere is always friendly and nobody makes a fool of themselves. Although we say these are fun events, but underneath the competition is always important whether you just want to beat your friend or beat a similar car or strive for FTD.
We look forward to 2025 and a chance to uphold MGCC SW Centre honours at the MMC Ellicombe events.
Chris Pelmear