The MG Vintage Racers celebrated their annual “Focus Event” during SVRA’s Heacock Classic Gold Cup race at Virginia International Raceway, June 5–7. Despite the depressed economy, an impressive 66 MG racers—ranging from Prewar MGs to MGB-GT-V8s—showed up to have a go. The weekend featured two special races, Saturday’s MG–Morgan Challenge, and an All-MG Race on Sunday.
SVRA Competition Director Carl Jensen hailed the event as “a great group of well-driven cars that put on a great show for the spectators.” Although Friday was dampened by rain, the weather on both Saturday and Sunday was perfect as the racers enjoyed VIR’s 3.27-mile, 17-turn roller coaster road course in lovely rural Virginia.
Two special annual awards and a third new one were presented at the Saturday evening banquet. The new award is the MG V-8 Challenge Trophy, awarded to the first MG to take the checkered flag in the All-MG Race. The inaugural winner was Les Gonda, driving an MGB-GT-V8. MGVR’s Spirit Award—as determined by a vote of the MG racers at the event—went to MG Midget driver Jack Cassingham, while the Bill Parish Memorial Trophy for the person having the most MG fun went to MGTD racer Manley Ford.
The next MGVR event will be September’s 25th Anniversary Vintage Collier Cup race for MGs as part of the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, and next year’s Focus Event will be with VARAC at Mosport in June. For additional information please visit www.MGVR.org
