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MGCCQ CONCOURS
This event derives from an earlier one called a Concours d’Elegance which originated in Paris in the early 20th century. It was a combined showcase of fashion and cars. It was revived at Surfers Paradise as part of the Speed Week held there in the 70s.
MG Car Clubs formed in Australia from the early 1950’s picked up the event as one of their annual features and in 1970 incorporated it as a National event in their Annual National Meetings.
Our Club has presented a trophy for Concours since 1962 when Denis Geary presented the Club with a trophy for this purpose. The first winner was Tom Armstrong.
The current Concours event is confined to judging vehicles for
their relative merits in terms of finish, originality,
cleanliness and appointments. The coachwork design is not a
factor, but is for the purpose of determining classes, the
determinant of the marque.
The basic intent of the Concours is aimed at ‘Maintaining the Marque’.
(The above is a summary of the introduction to the Club’s Concours Procedures Manual. The full text of the manual – 50 pages – may be downloaded
here.)
CONCOURS 2010 -
Sunday, 1st August.
What a great day !
by Darrell Martin of the Wide Bay Chapter
Clear blue skies, green grass, shiny cars, great organisation and to top it
all off, a crowd of thousands present to witness the event. Some think it
was the University of Queensland's Open Day which attracted the
crowds ? but we know better!
Once again, the lawns of the University provided the ideal setting for the
Club's annual Concours with over 60 cars fronting the judges. And, once
again, the judges were faced with a formidable task with so many of the
gleaming cars separated by only a few points.
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2010 Concours at University of Queensland |
The oldest car, Murray Arundel's 1937 SA, set the tone for understated
elegance and the charm of yesteryear. Matt Johnson's 64BEE brought looks
of amazement at its meticulous presentation and build quality while the
sextet of BGT V8s sat quietly but menacingly in the centre of the field.
This year the Concours was also attended by a small group from the Wide Bay
Chapter which made it a social weekend away. At the end of the day their
group of four cars drove off with two Thirds, two Firsts and an Outright
Win. Needless to say there were smiles all around and a promise to return
next year.
The full results are below and noteworthy were Bernard Pereira's TD (yet
again), Bruce Jackson's MGA, Ken Wilson's BGT V8, John Boyce's MGF and Ken
Wasley's rather imposing MGZT 260.
The outright winner for the day in the Pre MGA group was Cyril Bennet's
1953 MG TF. In the Post TF category Ken and Ellen Wilson's BGT V8 took the
prize after scoring maximum points for originality. In the post 1980
category John Boyce's MGF took the Trophy.
Our thanks and admiration go to the organisers, judges, caterers and the
University for the use of its grounds. The Concours keeps getting better each
year and is bolstered by the participation of Club Chapters.
Roll on next year!
Click here for results. |
