Wings and Wheels with Ashford and Faversham MGOC

HM-CTT1908 25/07/2014 | 0

After last year’s success the Ashford and Faversham MGOC enjoyed another great weekend of combining classic cars and flying machines by holding their annual event at the Kent Flying Club at Charing.

This year’s Invicta Road Run on the Saturday took a scenic tour of Kent countryside and had Lullingstone Castle, Eynsford, as its final destination. In the 1960s the castle owner Mr Guy Hart-Dyke had an MG TC and was happy to take a spin in Ashford and Faversham Club member Dennis Creed’s 1948 MG TC. The manor of Lullingstone was mentioned in the 1066 doomsday book and Guy Hart-Dyke is the nineteenth generation of his family to live at the manor.

Invicta Run entrants parked up at Lullingstone Castle – photo Rob Oliver

Invicta Run – photo Rob Oliver

Oldest and newest MGs on the Invicta Run. Gill and Mike Pay’s 1938 MG TA and Apple’s new MG TF – photo Rob Oliver

Mr Hart-Dyke owner of the castle in Dennis Creed’s 1948 MG TC – photo Rob Oliver

The Tiger Club

The Wings and Wheels day has established a wonderful mix of classic cars and aerobatic displays from aircraft based at Charing and nearby Headcorn. The Tiger Club Turbulent Formation team went into action with a display of flying. These agile little VW powered planes flew in tight formation. However part of this year’s display was hampered by a strong prevailing wind which prevented them from flying through a gateway held by two people on the ground, unfortunately this had to be abandoned because the wind simply blew it down. The Tigers precision dropped flour bombs onto the airfield and then flew over and using their propellars to burst rising helium filled balloons in flight. However the wind also played havoc with the ballons although despite the strong wind the Tigers scored at least one hit.

A Bücker Jungmann, a 1930s trainer aircraft was flown over the crowd and demonstrated its remarkable aerobatic capability this was followed by an even more dramatic stunt flying display in a purpose designed stunt aeroplane which held the crowd in awe.

The organisers invite other classic clubs to join in the day and this year a large contingent from the BMW Club provided a selection of fine Bavarian machinery to admire. There were some very elegant 840 coupés and an extremely rare Z1 roadster with its unique drop down door system. The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club also had a very professional display with some mouth watering E-types and saloons but of course the best displays were the local MGOC Clubs from Ashford and Faversham, Dartford, Solent, Whitecliffs, Basingstoke, Gravesend, West Sussex, Hythe and Romney Marsh, also Maidstone who won the best Club Stand award. The best MG at the show was the MG Magnette MkIV owner Brian Alexander, of Faversham and the best modern MG was an MG ZR 160 owned by Richard Thorpe of Cranbrook while a very original three-wheeler Morgan F4 won the best non-MG.

Other awards were the oldest car at the show awarded to a 1936 Morris Tourer 8HP owned by Brian Davison of Maidstone. The furthest travelled car was an MGF belonging David Howard-Willis who drove from Pontarddulais in Wales.

As a complete surprise even I was given an award for my loyal support of Ashford and Faversham MGOC’s events, I was very touched and can only say that it has always been a pleasure to be invited.

A most enjoyable day spent in great company and my special thanks to Brian Richardson, Dean Richardson, Sue and Mike Smart, Ray and Pat Wells and Chris Leigh for helping run the event and all the members of Ashford and Faversham who always make me so welcome. Thanks also to Rob Oliver for the Invicta Run photos, Mr Hart-Dyke owner of Lullingstone Castle, and Mike Moulang and Alan Garside from the Gliding Club for providing such charming venues for the weekend.