The Regency Run with a Distinguished Passenger

	A few weeks before the Regency Run I was asked if I knew of anyone who was going in a vintage MG and required a navigator. This was a happy coincidence because my wife unfortunately had another engagement and I was wondering whom to invite as a replacement. My caller then revealed that my passenger was going to be Joe McGavin, Cecil Kimber’s great-grandson. Joe is a student studying Product Design in Brighton and has recently become very interested in his important family connection with MG. Encouraged by his grandmother Jean Kimber-Cook he wishes to become more involved with everything MG, so what better place to start than to act as navigator in a 1929 MG 18/80!
	Arrangements were made for Joe to travel up to our home in Bedford the night before the run to give us a chance to meet and talk over dinner about the early history of MG and Cecil Kimber in particular. Jean has been a wonderful ambassador for our cars and has in the past supported many events arranged by the MG Owners Club and the MG Car Club. It is obvious when talking with Joe that he sees himself taking on this role now his Grandmother finds it increasingly difficult to travel around.
	We needed to leave Bedford at 6.30 am in order to get down to Brooklands for the start. I don’t think Joe was too familiar with such an early start or open car motoring but to his credit he did not mention the hour or the temperature and we reached Brooklands just as the gates were opening. At first there were only a few cars on site and it was easy to help Joe become familiar with all the different MG models. Gradually the area around the museum filled with every model imaginable and I had my work cut out trying to answer all Joe’s questions. It is obvious as I talked with him that he has his great grandfather’s eye for design and line and he became very excited by some of the latest MG model shapes.
	Our 18/80 was the second car to leave Brooklands behind Philip Bayne-Powells 14/40. Joe had never even seen a Tulip route book before the event and I wondered how he would cope but I need not have worried, he was a natural. He was able to read the route instructions and have a conversation at the same time without missing a turn. Geoff Radford in his 18/100 Tigress was following us and we made excellent progress to Brighton, so good in fact that Joe suddenly realised that we would be there before midday. He started making frantic calls to his student friends to wake them up and ensure they were on hand to see us finish. Joe was now in full multifunction mode and balanced the need to read the route instructions, receive and make calls on his mobile phone and still talk to me at the same time. Awesome!

We were the first car to finish and receive the traditional welcome from Bill Wallis who is there every year to interview nearly every driver who completes the run. He got a shock on this occasion when twenty or more of Joe’s student friends set up a tremendous welcome roar right behind his commentary position as we finished.

It was great fun to do the run this year with such a distinguished guest as my navigator and I wish Joe the best of luck for the future as a Product Designer. He is a charming and very likeable person and is currently seeking work placements. If anyone thinks they might be able to help please contact him through the Club office.