Chukkers and Classics MG Car Club
South East Centre by Jon Glover
May 19th, a beautiful day for taking your Classic MG to Ham Polo Club, as 50 members of the MG Car Club, and 26 polished and molly coddled vehicles descended on the Clubhouse.
Organiser Jon Glover got the idea to bring his MG mates to Ham, after being inspired by attending the 2012 Austin Healey Day.
“MG”, what does it stand for? Well in 1923/24, the highly successful, William Morris, (later Lord Nuffield), decided that his burgeoning Morris Car Company, based in Oxford, should add a sporting vehicle to his saloon line up. A ‘Bullnose’ Morris, open tourer, was fitted with uprated mechanics, and a more powerful engine, the new model bore the initials standing for ’Morris Garages’, and the legend was born! Our oldest entrants were made in 1929, not quite the first, but pretty damn close!
The MG Car Club was actually started by the MG Company, to promote its products, in the 1930s, and though MG is now Chinese owned, the club continues to thrive, Nationwide and Worldwide. New Chinese Models include the innovative,”23, 42, 36, and two portions of Fried Rice, Cabriolet”!
(Enough History-Ed., what about the day?!)
In the months leading up to the big day, we received tremendous help from both Hunt Kendall and Benjie Davis, as our event caterers and event organiser.
And here’s another touching detail, one day, young Benjie casually mentioned that the Davis Family had Rachael’s ‘young Gel’ transport, a white 1973 MGB GT, laid up in the home garage!
Wow, a low mileage, 1 owner car bearing an ’MG’ license plate worth more than the metal it’s attached to!
Patient Benjie, showing us the stables and explaining the mystery that you guys call ‘Playing Polo!!’
Superb food and drink in the Clubhouse and Grandstand seats for the Polo, including an appearance by Hams own, Nicholas, ‘Out of the way, Chair coming through’ C-D!!
And finally, to roars of, ‘Fix!’ the Davis MG winning the Ham Members and Guests prize for car of the day!
Thank you Ham for your hospitality, we shall return!
A visit from one of our sponsors, Jeremy Rogers of Surrey Sports and Classics soon bought the old girl to life, the car, not Rachael! She continued to give both Davis boys quirky transport throughout last summer, and something other than a pony to polish! (The car not...............!)
The day itself couldn’t have been better, weather, Ham hospitality, food and drink, and some really good Polo combined with acres of grass to display our pride and joys.
What lingers in the memory? Surrey Sports and Classics display, ‘before and after’- MGB Restoration, Barry ’Sideways’ Smith (still racing at a high level and well past State Pension Age) in his 1963 Le Mans works MGB GT ‘DRX’ as driven by the legendary Paddy Hopkirk, probably the most valuable vehicle on display.
Judge and expert commentator, Brian Page of Classic Assessments, another sponsor, replacing, ‘The Golden Voice of Polo’ in the commentary box for our spectacular ‘Drive Round’.
THE LONDON POLO CLUB
53
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