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A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE KWAZULU-NATAL CENTRE
In 1936, six enthusiasts formed the Arrow Racing Drivers Stable, a mutual help team, hoping to enter every race in the country. Les Miller, who featured prominently in the later formation of the club, acquired an L-type MG Magna which he converted to a racing car and finished 9th in the 1937 SA Grand Prix and 6th in 1938. About this time, Robbie Martens, one of the members, went to work in the UK where he bought a supercharged PB and joined the then fairly new MG Car Club. On his return to South Africa he was the driving force behind the formation of the first South African branch of the MG Car Club and Les Miller was elected the first Chairman at the inaugural meeting on 27 March 1939. The annual subscriptions were set at 2/6 (25c) per annum. Only one important club event was organised that year – a weekend away at the Hilton Hotel which cost the members 12/6 (R1.25) per person DB&B! For some technical reason, now lost in the mists of time, the newly formed club could not be called the MG Car Club and the charter from Abingdon was awarded to the “Natal MG Club”. Although advanced in years, Les Miller still takes an active interest in the Club in his capacity as Honorary President. War broke out in the latter part of 1939 and this put an end to club activities. When hostilities ceased, returning members were keen to carry on where they had left off in 1939. The Grand Prix had become formula based but Clubman events provided much scope for ‘Special’ builders, as these events were still run on a handicap basis. The Ecurie Miller MG stable was formed and had many successes. MG’s were the backbone of these races, many being TC based and privateers could still win. Ecurie Miller single seaters are still competing in South African Historic Racing events. Up until the late 50’s the club offered members a variety of events and outings, concours d’elegance, rallies, timed trials, hill climbs, treasure hunts, gymkhanas and weekends away. In 1960 the Club was awarded the Nuffield Trophy for “The most outstanding MG club in Africa” by the MG Car Club in Great Britain. After 1962 when importation of MG’s stopped, club activity waned somewhat and only the hard core of enthusiasts continued with informal MG activities. In 1969, Neville Nicholson, an enthusiast, took it upon himself to place an advert in the local newspaper and placed pamphlets on every parked MG he saw. The telephone never stopped ringing and together with John Paxman, they decided to get together for run. Twenty two cars turned out for a round trip run of 138 miles, down the coast to Winkelspruit and then inland to Pietermaritzburg in the pouring rain. It was never-the-less deemed to be a success and the club was re-formed the same year with John Paxman elected Chairman. As the club became more widely known so the participation increased. On one run to Scottburgh 94 cars filled the car park! Since the re-formation of the Club, activities continued uninterrupted and in 1974 the Natal MG Club joined the Combined SA Centres and the same year, despite petrol restrictions, some 20 cars took part in the first Indaba in East London. Natal club cars won the TC, TD, TF and MGA prizes. In 2003, following the re-naming of the provinces, the Natal MG Club was officially re-named “The MG Car Club KwaZulu-Natal Centre” and the Club badge was redesigned. The KwaZulu-Natal Centre has a membership which has grown slowly but surely over recent years and now stands at 135 Full Members. Chris Brown Jan 08 |
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