|
MGs IN EUROPE
THE BROWN COWS TOUR OF EUROPE
Occasionally plans come to fruition when all indications are that all could go wrong, sinking ships, diversions to other ports and Italian Customs officials. Our itinerary was planned for us to arrive in Ancona, on the east coast of Italy, at 2pm on Friday the 21st May to pick up our MG’s for travel to Gabbice Mare on the Sunday for the MG European Event of the Year.
All advice and the 20 or so emails indicated we should have allowed at least half a day and be armed with a paperwork mountain proving ownership of our cars back to when built. The reality was far different, arrived at Port, opened container, drove or in my case pushed the cars to the customs station, inspected the paperwork and drove away 30 minutes later. I guess everyone was in a hurry to go home or in our case back to the hotel for a drink.
Saturday was spent fettling the cars for our first taste of Italian roads, drivers and travelling in the gutter; fortunately we had a straight run up the coast to Gabbice Mare a distance of about 100kms. We settled into our hotel overlooking the Adriatic on Sunday afternoon ready for the MG European Event of the Year that started on the Monday.
A steady stream of cars arrived from all over Europe including large contingents from Denmark, Holland and the United Kingdom, one hundred and ninety three cars from sixteen countries in Europe and Australia. Most models of MG were represented including MMM, TB and SA from the pre war period and post war TCs to MGZT, with MGA and MGBs being the most popular makes.
In the garage at the hotel an original example of an MG L1 was along side an 1800cc MG TF, no not the modern TF but an MG TF 1500 fitted with MG B motor and disc brakes, good for the German and Swiss Alps according to the owner.
The week commenced with the registration and receiving of the meet regalia followed in the evening with welcome by the MG Car Club d’Italia President Fabio Filippello.
Tuesday herald the first of the daily runs through the picturesque Italian countryside to majestic castles and villages set on the tops of the hills, some I might add were second gear territory to scale the heights especially when those modern MG drivers where taking it easy enjoying the sights whilst not realizing pre-war cars requires a suitable run up to tackle any decent incline.
|
 |
|
SC
MGA |
|
The Italians certainly do everything with style, momentarily I thought that I was part of the Tour D’Italia as the daily run was lead off by a Carabinieri Lamborghini and motorcycle escorts, who then proceeded to ensure swift passage of the two hundred car cavalcade through all intersections holding traffic a bay, for a while I thought I was someone important.
The week culminated in a gala dinner dance at a local restaurant with the Lettens, Matteas and Kellys being given the award for the participants who travelled the furtherest distance to the event.
We were made welcome by so many people, a lot of whom expressed interest in coming to Australia for the 2013 National Meet to be held in Queensland, at times we would have required a truck load of badges, polo shirts and caps to meet the request from fellow enthusiast.
Many thanks to the MG Car Club d’Italia , its presidente Fabio Filippello and the many helpers who made this such a great event to attend.
On Monday the 31st we started the rest of our tour visiting towns and sites of significant from the 1933 Mille Miglia.
Cheers
Ross and Shez Letten; Dino and Margaret Mattea; Ross and Georgia Kelly.
Click here to view
them on Youtube
|
|
