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PRE-WAR MG RALLY
LUXEMBOURG 29TH JUNE – 1ST JULY 2007
Three cars from the West Yorkshire area attended a rally
based in Petange, Luxembourg. This was the sixth event of it's kind,
previously known as the Circle Triple-M rally, organised specifically for
Vintage and Triple-M MG's every three years. The 2007 event was a little
different in so far as entries were limited to 40 cars (the 2004 event had
94 cars entered) as this time the organisation was down to one man, Jos
Wantz, instead of the previous team of four. And a brilliant job he made of
it too.
We arranged to meet Tony and Judith Margel (M type) and
Tony Hay and Janice Atwood (NA) onboard the Pride of York sailing from Hull
on the evening of Wed 27th June. In true fashion we were the last
to board due to having had to work on our NB right up to the point we left
Leeds just before 4pm. Our trip to the Brooklands Centenary event eight days
previous had thrown up a plethora of problems needing work on electrics,
steering and carbs before we could set off on our continental trip. Anyway
all were solved, or at least good temporary fixes made, in time for the off.
Thursday morning's early docking in Zeebrugge was in
bright sunshine; we grouped and set off in convoy on the first leg across
Belgium to our overnight stop in Hastiere. About 45 minutes into the journey
I suddenly remembered that in our haste to pack the car and set off to Hull,
I had left my toolkit on the bonnet of my BGT back in the garage! We didn't
go back. A bit further on we were all pulled over by the Belgian police
doing spot checks. About six of Belgium's sharpest brains (after all this is
the home of Poirrot) gathered around us and what was their first question?
`Are you together?' After checking our papers and a bit of uncalled for bad
language from the head honcho we were back on our way arriving in Hastiere
about 5pm. We were now in the beautiful Namur region of Wallonia (South
Eastern Belgium) where at last the roads were fit for driving Triple-M cars
on. The first half of Belgium has mostly slab concrete roads that shake old
cars something awful.
Friday was supposed to rain, but thankfully we
encountered very little and arrived at the rally base in Petange by mid
afternoon having driven through some exceptional countryside. Our hotel was
called the Threeland, due to it being in Luxembourg but only a stones throw
from the French and Belgian borders. Soon the car park was filling up with
pre-war MG's from all over Europe. Of the 40 entrants there were cars from
Holland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, UK and Australia! with an
even wider range of models. M's, F's, J's, L's, K's, P's, N's and not
forgetting the two Vintage Register cars, a 14/28 and the unique 14/40 `Old
Speckled Hen'. Dinner saw lots of old friendships renewed and new ones made
with wall to wall MG talk. One interesting observation was how many of the
near local (Belgian, Dutch and German) cars had been trailered there whilst
all UK cars bar one (and that was because the crew were combining the trip
with a long touring holiday) were driven to the event. Bulldog spirit or
what?
Photos by Terry Hartley
click on image to enlarge
Saturday dawned a bit overcast but thankfully still dry.
After a hearty breakfast we set off for a days touring that would take us
through countryside linking Luxembourg, Belgium and France. First stop was a
village in Belgium where locals had closed off the centre for us to park in
whilst we visited a tiny museum dedicated to JJE Lenoir who in 1860 invented
the gas powered car, then they plied us with free croissants and coffee.
Back in the cars and off again to our next stop in France and Avioth village
square to visit the Cathedral in the Fields and our organised lunch stop in
a nearby restaurant. Traveling again and disturbing the peace of many sleepy
villages until we arrived at the small French bastion town Montmedy where
King Louis 14th, seeking sanctuary, nearly got to when trying to
escape the revolution. Once again, the ancient square was reserved just for
pre-war MG's and another right royal reception. On the way back to Petange
Tony Margel's M type developed a bit of a wobbly front wheel problem, but
Tony, who is known as `The Spokesman' administered some precision
engineering with a Thor hammer and all was well. Next stop was a brewery
dispensing free beer! What a shame we still had a few miles to drive.
The Saturday evening gala dinner was another opportunity
to participate in international MG friendship, and eat superbly. Our
relatively short run on Sunday morning was in overcast but dry weather, Tony
Hay and Janice decided to take a detour and visit Luxembourg City but most
people headed back to Petange and our farewell lunch.
We set off to retrace our outbound journey back to
Hastiere for an overnight stop. Tony Margel's M type was overcharging so he
decided to disconnect the dynamo and try to get back on his battery. It was
when we reached Hastiere that I discovered a serious petrol leak from my
front carb. The constant vibration had stripped an alloy thread and it was
in danger of falling apart so it had to be a makeshift repair with limited
tools, electrical tape and cable ties that got us back to Zeebrugge. Before
we reached the port Tony Hay's car battery gave up the ghost and push starts
became the order.
So there we were, three tired old cars and their equally
tired old crews, lined up at the docks waiting to board the Pride of York
for our overnight trip back to Hull. Proud that we had survived our latest
continental adventure (this was Tony Margel's sixth Luxembourg rally, our
third and Tony Hay's first) against all odds when five cars pulled up behind
having just completed the Peking to Paris Rally. Talk about being
upstaged!!!
Review by
Terry and Sue Hartley
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