60th Anniversary Run 1948 - 2008
M.G. One and a Quarter Litre Tourer
Sunday 19, October 2008

by Tony Slattery

Members of the M.G. Car Club of South Australia decided early this year to conduct an event to celebrate sixty years since the launch of this rare M.G. model at the October 1948 Earls Court Motor Show.

On a bright and warm Sunday 19th October, nine One and a Quarter Litre cars assembled to celebrate :- Tourers 3432, 3516, 3590 & 3871 along with Saloons 899, 1090, 1099, 1201 & 6594.

Also joining the celebration were other models from a 1930 M-Type Midget right through the 40's & 50's T-Types, 60's and 70's MGBs, as well as MGF & ZR from the noughties.

The run left Oaklands Park heading south to begin a leisurely drive through the scenic and interesting roads of the Adelaide Hills. Those in Y & T-Types, along with other MGs enjoyed the roads with some spirited driving and full use was made of the hill-climbing ability of the YAs and YTs on the steep sections.

After leaving the hills at Mylor, the M.G. convoy traversed the rolling countryside through Echunga, Flaxley and Macclesfield, before gate-crashing the annual market day in Meadows.

All too soon we arrived at Woodstock Winery after covering some 50 miles from the start. The Y-Types were given special treatment on this day, and assembled on the lawn outside the glass-walled restaurant. On the walls of the restaurant, were posters and memorabilia related to Y-Types — what an atmosphere!!

After a superb meal in the restaurant, all the run participants gathered outside for the presentation of posters to each of the Y-Type owners at this special event by club patron Ed Ordynski, and a surprise presentation was made to David Robley for the best presented Tourer on the day — a bottle of Y-Series Wine.

Then followed more talk and examination of the cars before it was time to break ranks and return home. Special thanks to the organizers of the day, Graham Loader and Mike Lyons — true One and a Quarter Litre enthusiasts.

The next gathering in Australia for Y-Typers will be at the M.G. Car Clubs of Australia National Meeting to be held at Geelong in Victoria over Easter 2009. The Geelong meeting will see the presentation of the "David Lawrence Trophy" for the best performance of a Y-Type at National Meetings every year since 1970.

To enlarge the pictures, double click on them.