The “Old Speckled Hen” name was inspired by the factory’s old run-around which was frequently splattered with paint from the finishing shop and became known as the ‘Owld Speckled Un’. To celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the MGB this year, we will be parking up our special branded MG Roadster at MG Live and offering visitors the chance to sample our 3 Hens: Old Golden Hen (light and subtly tropical), Old Speckled Hen (smooth and malty) and Old Crafty Hen (rich and fine) – come along and find out which is for you. There’ll also be the chance to learn more about our story, and even to purchase some commemorative merchandise.

Paddy started his winning career in professional racing and rally driving in 1955. Alongside Henry Liddon he won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in the famous Mini Cooper S car number 37, registration 33 EJB. They are the most recent all-British crew to have won the event.

Paddy Hopkirk and Henry Liddon heading for the victory in 1964, and the first of a run of Mini Monte wins for the Abingdon Team

Hopkirk also travelled to Australia during his career to drive for the BMC Works Team in the annual Bathurst 500 race for standard production cars at the Mount Panorama Circuit. He drove at Bathurst in a Morris Cooper S from 1965–1967, obtaining a best result of 6th outright and 3rd in class in the 1965 Armstrong 500 when paired with another great rally driver, Timo Mäkinen of Finland. In 1965, Hopkirk also won aCoupe d’Argent at the Alpine Rally.

The BMC competitions ran successful lone MGB entries at Le Mans in 1963, 1964 and 1965. Paddy Hopkirk drove all three years partnered by Alan Hutchinson in 1963 and Andrew Hedges in 1964 (photo below) and 1965. In 1964 the team finished 19th overall, won the Motor Trophy as the highest placed British Car, and averaged 99.9mph (which generated more publicity than the magic 100mph). In 1965 the MGB finished 11th overall and was runner-up in its class to a works Porsche. 1965 was to be MG Abingdon’s last entry in a major international race.

The Friday Natter will take place at the Silverstone Racing Club. The Saturday Natter will take place in the Jimmy Brown suite.
Further information regarding times, how to get to the venues, and other details will be made available in due course.
Watch this space!

Admission tickets for the world’s largest MG event are now on sale through the secure online booking system which can be viewed by clicking HERE

If members have any questions about the MGLive! booking process, then please don’t hesitate to contact Kimber House on   01235 55 55 52 . The event booking form was also enclosed in the March edition of SafetyFast!

Macmillan Cancer Support will become the MG Car Club’s chosen charity which will enable them to reach out to the MG community in an array of different ways.

The MG Car Club was formed in 1930 in conjunction with the MG factory and has been at the forefront on the MG movement for decades. The MGCC has 35,000 affiliated worldwide members and is based in Abingdon where over 1 million MGs were manufactured.

Macmillan’s distinctive green mobile cancer information bus will be present at the MG Car Club’s award winning annual MGLive! event at Silverstone in June and also MGB50 at Blenheim palace in September. This will enable anyone who has any question about any aspect of cancer to simply hop on and speak to a dedicated Macmillan professional throughout the event.

MG Car Club General Manager Julian White said:

“The Club is thrilled to be interacting with Macmillan Cancer Support in such a positive way, the charity does absolutely incredible work throughout the UK. We view this agreement as very much a long term link up and there are lots of opportunities to interact in the future.

“Cancer touches the lives of many MG Car Club members. Aligning ourselves closely with a Macmillan allows MGCC members to understand the excellent work the charity does and the support that is available should they ever require it.

“There are a remarkable number of synergies between the MG Car Club and Macmillan Cancer Support. We look forward to developing our links in the months ahead.”

Julian Knowles of Macmillan Cancer Support said:

I’m delighted that this partnership will enable Macmillan Cancer Support to reach even more people who could benefit from our services. I think it’s wonderful that two organisations with such long and distinguished histories, much-loved by members and supporters alike, should work together.

The Macmillan fundraising team are looking forward to working with the MG Car Club in innovative ways to ensure everyone gains from this relationship, whist helping to raise funds to enable us to continue our vital work

About Macmillan Cancer Support

Cancer is the toughest fight most of us will ever face. But you don’t have to go through it alone. The Macmillan team is with you every step of the way.

We are the nurses and therapists helping you through treatment. The experts on the end of the phone. The advisers telling you which benefits you’re entitled to. The volunteers giving you a hand with the everyday things. The campaigners improving cancer care. The fundraisers who make it all possible.

We are Macmillan Cancer Support.

To find out more about Macmillan Cancer Support,  visit http://www.macmillan.org.uk

Over 550,000 MGBs were produced in the Oxfordshire town and the car is still revered throughout the world. And with Olympic fever poised to engulf Britain next summer, the MGB50 celebrations are set to attract enthusiasts from all five continents.

The MG Car Club, Silverstone Classic and the MGB50 committee have teamed up to offer MGB owners the chance to participate in an exciting trilogy of events – with something unique happening at each venue.

MGLive!, Silverstone Classic and Blenheim Palace form the basis for the 2012 trilogy with each event presenting MGB drivers with a rally plaque that is unique to that particular celebration.

Proceedings will commence at MGLive! on 23 & 24 June when the MG Car Club descends on Silverstone for the world’s largest MG event. Welcoming all models of MG, the Club’s award-winning annual event has taken place at the home of British Motor Racing since 1949.  In 2012 MGLive! will pay homage to the MGB by staging a huge Saturday lunchtime street party with all MGB owners invited to attend.

The street party will be set against the usual MGLive! backdrop of car displays, live arena, trade city, racing on the GP circuit plus much more.

Then, on July 20-22 all eyes will turn to the Silverstone Classic where the backdrop for the famous ‘B’ will be the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival with over 800 historic race cars competing and 7,000 classic display cars across the weekend.

There will be flat out family fun for everyone with live music from Mike & The Mechanics and Adam Ant plus a free fun fair, retail village, air displays, demos and the new AA World feature with a wealth of attractions. MGB owners will have a truly memorable 50th 3-day celebration.

Concluding the MGB50 trilogy in fine style, will be a birthday celebration at Blenheim Palace on 23 September where all MGs are invited. A 120 strong MGB timeline will be on display for visitors, a factory workers re-union, interviews with famous MGB drivers in the arena, trade area and much more.

The Blenheim celebration will be the perfect way to bring the curtain down on what promises to be a fabulous MGB50.

MG Car Club General Manager Julian White said: “The MG Car Club is thrilled to form part of the MGB50 trilogy – it’s shaping up to be a tremendous year for the B!
“Each of the three events offers MGB owners something different and I know many enthusiasts will be keen to attend all three celebrations.
The MG Car Club is based in Abingdon, the spiritual home of the marque so we know first-hand how much the MGB means to people. So it’s only natural we have big plans for the MGB50 anniversary and our MGLive! street party is going to be an event to remember.”

Nick Wigley, Event Director of Silverstone Classic said: “We are very proud to welcome the MBG50 celebration to the Silverstone Classic. The ‘B’ is at the heart of the classic car movement in the UK and we look forward to giving owners a great rocking and racing experience”

MGB50 Chairman John Watson said: ”The two main MG Clubs are working together to enjoy 12 months of MGB Celebrations, with the Blenheim Palace day on Sunday 23rd September being the largest gathering of MGB’s, MGC’s MGBGTV8’s with all other MG cars coming together to celebrate the 50 years of “The Great British Sports Car”.

The intention this year is to replicate a period MG garage complete with petrol pumps, showroom and workshop. If you have any period items such as large MG signs, old petrol pumps or other items of garage paraphanalia that you would be prepared to lend us for the display, please contact David Storer on 07518 911172, 01296 712518 or email david.storer@costain.com

There are a range of volunteering opportunities available and anyone who does volunteer will qualify for a free entry ticket depending on how long they are willing to work.

MGLive! is your event and in order for the annual celebration to continue making progress the MG Car Club requires more volunteers. If you are willing to help please email MG Car Club General Manager Julian White julianwhite@mgcc.co.uk

23/24 June 2012. Tickets will be available from mid February