24th Annual MG Classic Race Meeting

14-15 November 2009, Manfeild Park

The Wellington MG Car Club hosts the Tasman Revival Formula 5000 single seaters at its 24th annual historic and classic race meeting at Manfeild Park on 14-15 November 2009.

The event is the longest continuous running classic race event in New Zealand.

As well as the thundering F5000 series single seaters, there will be an expected 300 other cars competing in 35 races over two days, led by the crowd pleasing Surgery sponsored Muscle Car races, 40 plus fields of classic sports and saloon cars from the 1950s, 60s & 70s, historic racing and sports cars, the popular Pre ’65 saloons and the exciting Castrol BMW E30 class.

The event, which is organised by the Wellington region MG Car Club, gained prominence through the 1980s and 90s when sponsored by the local chocolate manufacturer Whittakers’. By the 2004 the event was recognised as the largest motor sport event in New Zealand, both in terms of entries and crowd support. Although one or two other motor sport events have since managed to equal or exceed this record, most still have a long way to go in terms of matching the events consistency or innovative approach.

A feature now being adopted by other classic events is the popular charity rides, whereby members of the public get to have a lap of the circuit in a classic car by making a $5 donation to the Cancer Society. Over the past ten years this and other fund raising by the MG club has raised almost $100,000 for the Wellington and Manawatu divisions of the NZ Cancer Society.

Another innovation is the way that the classic races are divided into groups on the basis of relative speed, therefore ensuring that races are between closely matched vehicles.

The event continues the MG tradition of competition that began in 1928 when the founder of MG, Cecil Kimber, built the first production MG sports car at his Abingdon Morris Garage (MG) workshop.

For more information please visit the following website:

http://http://www.mgcarclub.org.nz

ENDS

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