MG European Event of the Year
Report on V8s at the MG European Event of the Year from Tim Hipwell

Tim and Georgie Hipwell laping at speed on the Charade Circuit in their RV8. (Photo: Tim Hipwell)

Georgie and I made the trip down to the Auvergne region of France towards the end of June to take part in the MG European Event of the Year organised by the MG Club of France. The event was based in the spa town of Royat but included two days at the Charade Racing Circuit. I travelled down with a number of friends in various MGs and we had named ourselves Equipe Rosbif (Team Roast Beef for you non Francophiles) and the team name emblazoned down the sides of the cars brought much jocularity to the locals. Over 350 cars had entered from all over Europe and there were some absolutely gorgeous examples of the MG marque on show.

MGBGTV8 of Franck Morand, a French V8 enthusiast who is from Clermont Ferrand nearby. (Photo: photo-sport.fr)

There were a number of V8s present including the MGTGTV8s of Andy Borris, Norman Ewings, John Bennet, Gerry Revens, Tony Shaw, Tony Lake, Jim Gibson, Hans Geertse and Franck Morand. V8 Roadsters included Michel Loreille and Michael Rumelin. Apart from my own car there were a number of other RV8s present including Alain van Langeraert, Victor Rodrigues, Derek Matthews, Colin Withers, David Copeman, John Dutton, Robert Lewis, Roydon Thompson, Albert Hagdorn and our own V8 Register Chairman Al Barnett.

Al and Fiona Barnett at the Charade Circuit. (Photo: photo-sport.fr)

We decided to turn the weekend into a longer event and we opted for rallies on the Thursday and the Friday. The Thursday tour took us 150 miles around the forests of the Auvergne and the scenery was truly spectacular. As is the way with French events a good deal of the day was taken up by a sumptuous five course lunch served in a countryside restaurant. Sadly Andy Borris was involved in a serious accident during the afternoon but the MGCC Southeast Centre representatives took care of everything and I understand Andy is now on the road to recovery after breaking his sternum.

The Friday tour was about 100 miles and even more spectacular as it was named Lakes and Mountains and truly lived up to its billing with scenery very reminiscent of Switzerland. The route included the Col de Moreno taking us high up into the mountains along part of the course of the Tour de France. A gala dinner was held at the race circuit on the Friday evening and as nobody wanted to miss out on the superb French wine most people took taxis to the circuit.

Robert & Denny Lewis ahead of Mike and Maria Taylor on the bank of Lac de la Cassiere near Aydat in the volcanic region of the Auvergne. (Photo: Robert Lewis)

Saturday for me was the best day as groups of twenty or so MGs of similar vintage were let loose on the track. The RV8s were grouped with the MGFs and Georgie managed to film everyone for a couple of laps. Charade is an amazing circuit with some tight corners, sweeping bends and quite a few rises and descents. The only stipulation on the day was that you could not overtake the pace car but as this was a modern Alfa Romeo driven by a guy who knew the circuit backwards it was not a problem for most people who just gave it all they had and some very good "dicing" took place, certainly Robert Lewis and I got to see each others cars close up, thankfully without any collisions.

Robert and Denny Lewis in action at the Charade Circuit. (Photo: photo-sport.fr)

Another superb dinner brought another fantastic day to an end only marred by yet another penalty disaster by the England football team.

RV8s assemble for their laps on the Charade Circuit. (Photo: Robert Lewis)

Sunday was a more leisurely day but this time all participants took to the track together to form what must have been the largest number of MGs on a racetrack at the same time. The sheer volume of cars meant that speeds were somewhat lower than the previous day.

Tim and Georgie Hipwell laping at speed on the Charade Circuit in their RV8. (Photo: photo-sport.fr)

A big thank you to the MG Club of France for an amazing rally and to all the friends we met there both old and new. The MG European Event in 2007 will be held in Germany and if it is half as good as this year then it will be a corker. Walter Kallenberg was encouraging V8 members at Silverstone to begin planning to be there.
Updated: 14.7.06