The MGC At 50

The MGC turned 50 years old in 2017, and long time leaders of the MG Car Club’s MGC Register Ginny and Barrie Cartmell were determined that the occasion would be celebrated in style. The result was a memorable MGC 50th Anniversary Meeting that lasted from 7-11 June and drew MGCs from across the globe.

Back in 1992, no fewer than 147 MGCs gathered to celebrate the model’s 25th anniversary. At the time this was billed as the biggest gathering of MGCs since production ended at Abingdon, so when thoughts turned to celebrating the 50th anniversary in 2017, one question to be answered was whether that total could be beaten.

Two people who had no doubt about the answer to that question were Chairman and Secretary of the MGC Register, Barrie and Ginny Cartmell. ‘Both of us knew we wanted to do something big for MGC50,’ they told us. ‘We are a relatively small Register, but we do have big ambitions. Every year we put on five events, including a big summer event running from a Friday to the Sunday. We wanted MGC50 to be even bigger, so four or five days, to help attract participants from far away.’

Fortunately the Cartmells have been on many events throughout Europe with their MGC, and were very clear on what worked and what did not, whether that be long speeches (avoid!) or to start planning early (essential!). And so in 2014 the preparations began.