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It was gratifying to see the number of cars that have undergone extensive restoration in the past year – proof that the interest in classic vehicles remains strong, and in MG language, “The Magic Lives On”.
The cars judged the best in the various categories were:
MG T-Types - George Dehlen
MGA - Banie Claasen
MGB and GT 1962-1969 - Johan Kruger
MGB and GT 1970-1980 - Jeremy Salter
Midget - Lynton Lomas
Modern Sedans - Ian Mulder
Overall - Jeremy Salter
Annual Awards 2009Organised by Ivan and Marcelle de Clerk with Tony Craddock, the annual awards luncheon took place at Eat@Essence Restaurant on 21st February 2010. The theme of the event was "Mad Hatters".
The recipients of the awards were:
Victor Ludorum – Ivan de Clerk
Victrix Ludorum – Annette Craddock
Clubman – Ivan de Clerk
Magnette Newsletter – George Dehlen
Best Restoration – Bob Baylis
Circuit Racing – Franco Resca
Regularity Rallies – Esra Martins
BGT – Ivan de Clerk
Club Condition Concours – Tony Craddock
Driving Tests – Ivan de Clek
Mike Ashman – Doug Bailie
Jacarandas at Loskop DamThe traditional October Jacaranda Run to view Jacarandas in bloom in the streets of Pretoria was replaced this year by a weekend at the Aventura Forever resort at Loskop Dam. With accommodation organized by René Booysen and activities organized by Tony Craddock and Esra Martins, the event drew 36 participants driving a cross-section of 14 MGs (a TC, 3 TDs, 2 MGAs, 3 MGBs, 2 MGFs, and 3 MGTFs), an Austin Healey, and four moderns. Most were members of the Northern Centre, and three couples were from the Johannesburg Centre. (Click on these images for larger views:)
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Rally organiser
Esra Martins in his TC
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Alan Uzzel and
Denise Harvey
start the rally
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Boat cruise
on Loskop Dam
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Winterstein and Bailie
TDs and Healey
took part
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The main event was a fun rally of some 75km in the picturesque area between Loskop and Groblersdal. The regularity rally was supplemented by a quiz requiring participants to be both observant and free-thinking. Boat cruises on the dam enabled MGers to view Kudu and Rooi Hartebeest along the banks, and Fish Eagles, Herons, Geese and Cormorants in the air, while happily sipping their sundowners. There were even Jacarandas in bloom, and the event was a very enjoyable change from the traditional Jacaranda run. Should it become an annual event in this new format?
Mystery Run to PlaaskombuisThe mystery run on 19 September organised by Ivan de Clerk and Johan Kruger turned out to be a brunch at a colourful country restaurant, "Die Plaaskombuis" near Petit. Club members in a TC, TD, ZB, 3 MGAs and 2 MGTFs enjoyed hearty breakfasts and browsed through the home-baked breads and jams and period bric-a-brac. This was followed by a visit to the nearby workshop of Brian Pugh "The Wizard of Oz" to look at the wide range of classic cars he is rebodying - the highlight being a 1953 Cadillac.
MG Icicle Rally 12 July 2009
 The Icicle was again this year organised by Esra Martins with support from Adri vd Berg and a strong team of MG Car Club volunteers under the auspices of SARRA. It once again attracted the largest entry of the events on the SARRA calendar, particularly with support from the MGCC Northern and Johannesburg Centres. Of the 71 cars entered, 29 were MGs, ten of these being MG T-Types. The rally began and ended this year at Pretoria High School Old Boys Club in Lynnwood.
Overall winners were Syd Brett and Pat Whelan in Syd's big Jaguar. The best performance by MGCC members driving an MG was by Gavin and Bernadette Noeth, in their MGBGT V8. Other best performances by members of the Northern Centre were:
Chris Andrew, 3rd in Class A
Steve and Hazell Eden, 4th in Class B in their MGBGT
Stuart and Margaret Hain, 5th in Class C in their MGF
Alan Uzzel and Denise Harvey, 3rd in Class D in their MGBGT V8
Ivan de Clerk and Johan Kruger, 1st in Historic Class in Ivan's MG TD
George Dehlen and Bianca Rooi, 2nd on index in the Blind Navigators Class in George's MGBGT.
The winners of the various categories received magnificent trophies made by Adri vd Berg
Johannesburg and Northern Centres Showday 2009
The annual combined Johannesburg and Northern Centres Showday took place at Smuts Farm in Irene this year. More than 110 MGs were present. Pride of place went to the 12 TDs, this being the 60th anniversary of the introduction of the TD in December 1949. Persons less interested in the judging were able to tour the Smuts House Museum or walk the Oubaas Trail, or enjoy the garden restaurant and snacks.
Thirteen MGs ranging in age from a TD to a ZT were entered in the Tops Only Concours, which was won by Alex Couling with his MGA Coupe. There were twelve entries in the thorough Concours d'Etat, ranging in years from a TC to a ZR. The event was wonby Zia Wort with her MGTF, and she also won the Car of the Day award.
Visit to the Home and Museum of Jacques Debeil
Jacques and Tilda Debeil have been members of the MG Car Club since the 1970s. Jacques has collected and restored a number of MGs, many of which have won the top awards in Concours d'Etat events. On Sunday 17 May 2009 Club members visited their home. The MGs on view were:
1932 M-Type Midget (Emmetjie) now approaching the final stages of restoration – it has run and needs only the finishing touches
1934 K1-KD Magnette, which won the Concours d’Etat and Car-of-the-Day awards at the Bela-Bela Indaba, and is now receiving attention to its pre-selector gearbox
1934 PA Midget fully restored and engine rebuilt
1947 TC fully restored and running
1948 YA Sedan fully restored and running
1950 TD, Jacques’ first car now awaiting restoration
1952 TC Special Harry Pearce single-seater racer "Flo" which was rebuilt by Jacques and is regularly to be seen on the Zwartkops racetrack driven by Fanie Viljoen
1972 Midget Mk III, engine and body completed, restoration nearing completion
1980 MGBGT which is Jacques’ everyday car
Visitors could also view the extensive library of rare MG and other classic motoring books and artwork, the comprehensive fully catalogued collection of 350 MG and MG-related models (scales 1:43, 1:32, and 1:18), and a great variety of MG memorabilia.
Northern Centre Club Condition Concours 2009The annual Northern Centre Club Condition Concours took place at the Clubhouse in Menlo Park on 15 March. Twenty-two cars were present, of which 9 were entered for the judging.
| Place |
Entrant |
Car |
| 1 |
Tony Craddock |
MG TC |
| 2 |
Ian Mulder |
MG Metro |
| 3 |
Charles Thompson |
MGBGT |
| 4 |
Annette Mulder |
MG Midget |
| 5 |
John Geekie |
MGB |
| 6 |
David Waterworth |
MGA |
| 7 |
Ivan de Clerk |
MG TD |
| 8 |
Eugene D'Artnall |
MGB |
| 9 |
Peter Knight |
MG TD |
Annual Awards LuncheonThe Club's annual awards luncheon took place at the Eat@Essence Restaurant on 22nd February 2009. Awards for the 2008 year were presented by Mrs Pat Ewing.
| Annual Award |
Recipient |
| Victor Ludorum Trophy |
George Dehlen |
| Victrix Ludorum Trophy |
Annette Mulder |
| Clubman Trophy |
Ivan de Clerk |
| Magnette Trophy |
George Dehlen |
| Best Restoration Trophy |
Jay Westaway |
| Circuit Racing Trophy |
Heyns Stead |
| Regularity Rally Trophy |
Esra Martins |
| BGT Trophy |
Annette Mulder |
| Club Condition Concours |
Ivan de Clerk |
| Mike Ashman Trophy |
Johan Nel |
Run to the Historic Village of CullinanOrganised by Chairman Ivan de Clerk, the Northern Centre Club Run on Sunday 18th January 2009 was to Cullinan. There was a good turnout of members and their families and friends in 22 MGs, a Triumph and several moderns. Most took brunch at one of the many restaurants in the village, and then strolled down the street visit to some of the numerous restaurants, art and antique shops and museums. There is much to see in the 100-year old village. The Premier Diamond Mine was established in 1902, followed soon by a recreation club, sports fields, churches, a school, corrugated steel housing, banks, an hotel, a hospital, and a railway spur and station, many of which are still to be seen today, as can the Big Hole and the still-functioning diamond mine.
A very interesting though sad stop was at the Zonderwater POW Cemetery near Cullinan. Some 90000 Italian prisoners of war who had been captured in Lybia and the then Abyssinia and Somaliland were held at the Zonderwater POW camp during the Second World War. In the camp the POWs were able to attend school – basic literacy for those who needed that, but also numeracy, foreign languages, arts and crafts. They were taught trades, and put these to use in making furniture, repairing vehicles, maintaining roads etc. Some were allowed to work outside the camp on nearby farms. For recreation, the POWs took part in sports on extensive sportsfields (80 bowling alleys, 16 soccer fields, tennis courts, boxing rings …), put on elaborate plays in 17 theatres, gave music concerts, making the props, costumes and musical instruments themselves in the camp. They planted flower and vegetable gardens, and decorated them with statues. Some of them used their artistic skills to give art lessons and paint murals which are still to be seen in the Cullinan recreation centre. The Zonderwater camp became like an Italian village.
The camp functioned from 1941 to 1947. Unfortunately the buildings have disappeared with time though some ruins remain. The Cemetery with the graves of some 264 men who died in the camp is immaculately maintained, with continuing interest of Italians both local and from Italy.
2008 Year-End Events
Three Club Runs took place in October and November 2008 - a run to the Kitty Hawk aeorodrome at the invitation of the Friends of Kittly Hawk to see classic aircraft, microlights, autogyros, and kit airplanes; the annual Jacaranda Jaunt with some 30 MGs and Triumphs participating; an offsite Natter 'n Noggin at the home of Doug and Marlene Bailie viewing their collection of classis cars and motorcycles; and a run to Uncle Tim's Cabin in Pomona for a brunch and a browse of antique shops.
MG Icicle Rally 13 July 2008
 Organised by Esra Martins and Team, this is one of the highlights of the MG calendar in both the Northern and Johannesburg Centres. The rally forms part of the CRRASA series, and this year began and finished at Silverstar in Muldersdrift.
The best performances by members of the Northern Centre were:
Chris Andrews, 3rd in Experienced Class
Joe Texeira and Jane Bagley, 1st in Seeded Class
George Dehlen and Robin Godfrey, 1st in Unseeded Class
Anette Mulder and Tony Craddock, 3rd in Unseeded Class
Ivan de Clerk and Johan Kruger, 4th in Unseeded Class
Steve and Hazell Eden, 2nd in Club Class
Peter Noeth and Errol Battison, 4th in Club Class.
Johannesburg and Northern Centres Showday 2008
The annual combined Johannesburg and Northern Centres Showday took place in two stages this year. The first, on 7 June, utilised Dave Wheeler's workshop "Magnette Motors" in Benoni, where the ten cars entered could be hoisted to facilitate judging of the underside for the Concours d'Etat. The second phase took place at Brightwater Commons in Randburg on 22 June, and included Tops Only judging of 16 cars. Particularly welcome at Brightwater Commons was the good turnout of T-Types (eight TCs, six TDs, and two TFs), while all of the MGs attracted a great amount of attention from the public. Northern Centre prizewinners in the Tops Only section were Annette Mulder (Midget Mk IV) and Peter Noeth (MGB GT), and in the Concours d'Etat section were George Dehlen (TC) and David Waterworth (MGA Coupe).
Northern Centre Club Condition Concours 2008
The annual Northern Centre Club Condition Concours was postponed from 16 March because of heavy rain, and took place in Dave Wheeler's Magnette Motors workshop in Benoni on 20 April. The Concours d'Etat was won by Ivan de Clerk (MGTF) followed by Jay Westaway (MGB roadster) and Johan Kruger (MGA roadster). First in the Tops Only category was George Dehlen (TC) followed by David Waterworth (MGA Coupe) and Anette Mulder (Midget). The threatening rain held off and the event became a family day enjoyed by all.
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