A Convergence of 350 MGs

By Kathleen M. Mangan

A single-marque car event is different from a British car show. What impresses at these gatherings is the number of same-model cars that line up together. Your focus turns to the details, appreciating a bit of craftsmanship or an innovative solution to a mechanical problem. The shared experience feels like you’ve returned to the old neighborhood and all your friends are waiting for you to join the kickball game.

I grew up with an early-1974 MGB, my dad’s daily driver, so I felt a sense of  homecoming when I drove into the host hotel for MG 2008, held June 25-29 in Valley Forge, Penn. Hundreds of friends (MGs) were parked in the lot like a car show preview. I took along my 13-year-old nephew, Ryan; this was his first-ever car show. 

There were about 350 MGs registered for the national event, hosted by the Philadelphia MG Club and sponsored by the North American MGB and MGC Registers. Prior to the Saturday show, the schedule included technical seminars, a covered bridge tour, Philadelphia tour, gymkhana and Philly cheesesteak extravaganza.

About 40 MGs drove to the new Simeone Foundation Museum near Philadelphia for a guided tour by Dr. Frederick Simeone. Many of the race cars there are in original post-race condition. The museum staff fired up the 1934 MG K3 Magnette, the highest-finishing MG in international competition with a fourth place finish at LeMans in 1934, and took a few laps around the parking lot. Ryan’s favorites were the 1954 Ferrari 375MM and 1953 Jaguar C-Type, and I acknowledged his good taste.

More than 300 people packed the theatre to see the East Coast premiere of “Sherman’s Way,” starring an MGB. This road trip film centers around the relationship between a geek and a hippie dropout as they restore a red MGB to sparkling glory. The dialog was hilarious, but the audience laughed most at the scene where the windshield was taken off and reinstalled with no difficulties. Director Craig Saavedra was thankful for the standing ovation from the car enthusiast audience. The film will be released in the fall in New York and Los Angeles; the DVD will hit shelves next year.   

Hundreds of MGs paraded to the show grounds on Saturday and lined up in an impressive array. Ryan commented, “Did they make these cars in every single color?” It seemed the entire rainbow was represented, and all the colors looked equally good. There was a row of 12 identical black 1979 MGB LEs (Limited Editions), a large showing of MGB GTs and many MGCs with those easy-to-identify hoods.

Attendees admired each other’s cars while dark clouds moved in. When the heavens opened, half the field departed. Some owners preferred the cover of regalia tents to the battle for visibility between windshield wipers and the deluge. However, the sun soon returned and people dried off their cars.

Now Ryan is looking forward to his next ride in his grandfather’s orange MGB—top down, of course.