30 Mar MMMAGICAL MGS – MG Car Club
For four days in March, Franschhoek was treated to the sights and sounds – and occasionally smells – of some of the most charismatic cars of the vintage/post-vintage era, the twin-cam MG Midget, Magna and Magnette models produced from 1929 to 1934. Known as the Triple Ms, there are 46 examples on the South African MMM Register and owners get together each year to celebrate the history of these sports cars. Franschhoek is a favourite location amongst the ‘Octagonists’ and following a successful gathering in the town in 2013, no less than 20 cars including two very special examples from overseas arrived for this year’s event that took place from 19-22 March.
Naturally, FMM played a key role in the programme of events. With kind permission of Dr Johann Rupert, the cars were given time on the museum’s circuit on the Friday during which some parade and demonstration laps were carried out. Englishman Barry Foster entertained everyone with his loud and extrovert driving style in his supercharged four-cylinder 746 cm3 C-Type Montlhéry Midget. By contrast, Swiss enthusiast Philippe Douchet’s ex-works racing K3 Magnette provided a more deep-throated soundtrack from its supercharged 1 086 cm3 six-cylinder motor, but was no less a spectacle, this very famous car having a history that is the stuff of legends. The last time a K3 appeared in South Africa was at the 1934 SA Grand Prix held on East London’s Marine Drive circuit driven by famous driver Dick Seaman, when he finished fifth.
On the Sunday all of the cars were lined-up on the grass area at the far end of the museum’s quadrangle and put on view for the day by the general public. They were joined by members of the MG Car Club arriving in ‘other’ MGs as well as the numerous enthusiasts from the Crankhandle Club, some of whom joined the MMM brigade for an excellent buffet lunch in the museum’s Deli.
Apart from the activity at FMM, from their base at the Protea Hotel participants spent the gathering experiencing many of Franschhoek’s other attractions over the four days and the whole affair was thoroughly enjoyed by all. MM