Reports and photographs of the 75th Diamond Anniversary Commemorative Event Epe, The Netherlands 2022.

Click on the thumbnails below to open the full sized pictures.

Road Trip to Europe

by Richard E Knight

2022 is the 75th anniversary of the MG Y Type saloon and tourer and to mark the occasion a Y Type owner based in Epe, Netherlands had organised a Y Type gathering for the Sunday 8th May 2022. The opportunity of tour was too hard to resist so here is report of our adventure so I asked a former work colleague, Michael Sandison, to come with me!

Tuesday 3rd May

Early start set off at 05:00 and decided to take M27 east bound to take coast road towards Folkstone, we had driven just over 2 hours and were east of Brighton, close to Newhaven on A27 when pulled in to large layby for leg stretch and to find hard cover in from hedge row to assist local wildlife. Around 07:30 the traffic had picked up a bit and we were to resume our journey when a pull on the starter knob, and the engine was dead, there was no turnover. After an hour trying to sort it out, I conceded that the best option was call to RAC and soon diagnosed that the battery was faulty (due to Dynamo not supplying sufficient charge). The fact for first time in long time I had driven for 2 hours with the head lights working was what caused this issue. Well thanks to modern technology, quick google search and two calls, and I had confirmed that Curd Brothers in Tunbridge Wells, could look at and hopefully sort my issue. The problem was they were approximately 40 miles from my layby. Anyhow the superb RAC breakdown driver, was only too happy to assist with follow me all the way to Curd Brothers and with couple stops and top up charge along the way, I arrived at Curd Brothers and after examination was told the Brushes were stuck in the Dynamo and the regulator was faulty, after about less than 2 hours, we were back on the road, heading towards the Eurotunnel.

We arrived at the Eurotunnel and crossed over to Calais, and headed for the first campsite at Ypres, without further issue or delay, and pitched our tents and put the YB inside a farm yard outbuilding for a dry covered park up.

Wednesday 4th May

Visit to Ypres.

Thursday 5th May

Visit to Brugge by train.

Friday 6th May

Another early rise, and journey to Epe, we had last minute change of plan to the scheduled route as I had planned to go to the North West part of Netherlands to drop in on another Y Type owner, however having re-visited the distance on google maps and re-studied the map, it was jointly decided this was a step too far for one day, so we headed to Epe, a day earlier than planned and had long journey crossing over the border from Belgium into Netherlands and all day drive, with last hour of motorway driving to ensure arrival in Epe just as dusk was soon to set.

Saturday 7th May

In the town of Epe, there was local classic car and Spring music event with live bands which I was told was organised by the local retailers. The town was full of people and there were a large mixed marque of cars on display, the sun was shining and it was fantastic day with two Y’s on display and my car was the only UK registered vehicle at the show.

Sunday 8th May

There was a gathering of 12 Y types in total, which is a truly superb gathering for an event held in mainland Europe, there were some superb cars on display and the MG car Club of Holland had provided sponsorship for the event and there was some nice cake and champaign for those to celebrate this remarkable event. The hosts and their fellow guests all spoke superb English and made us most welcome.

Participants	Chassis number	Registration plate
Math Agelink	Y 0604	AM 44 31
René and Els Ammerant	YB 1035	PM 20 15
Tim Bouwens	Y 6707	AH 65 85
Willem van Gangelen	YB 0583	AH 64 60
Richard Knight	YB 0655	UMG 841
Bert and Ria Leurink	Y EX(L) 5748	86 08 EF
Rob and Berry Oudejans	Y LHX 4540	ST 90 91
Horst and Barbel Pokropa	Y 5288	PM 28 41
Jos Rijsemus	Y 7197	DZ 72 71
Paul and Wouda Stephan	Y 5622	DZ 53 61
Willem and Liesbeth van der Veer	Y 5888	23 VK 02
Stan Wullems	YB 0688	AM 63 45

Monday 9th May

We left at roughly 09:30 hours for our trip to Arnhem, where we were due to stay on campsite on working farm at Doorwerth. For no other reason other than simply because I could, I decided I wanted to cross the border into Germany simply to add another country to the list of countries we had visited, so we planned a slight de-tour to our route and crossed the border and filled up with fuel and had cake stop at town called Vreden. We then drove back into the Netherlands and en route to Arnhem stopped as we past a car sales show gallery called Gallery Aaldering. There were 4 or 5 floors ram packed with some very exotic 6 figure priced vehicles, I only stayed for brief flash review as we had been on road for bit and were keen to get to our campsite, but if I had more time, one could easily have stayed for longer and enjoyed a cup of tea or coffee at the café on site. On arrival we pitched our tents and again I parked my YB inside a farm yard outbuilding that the farmer moved their large combine harvester to allow space for YB to park again undercover in secure parking.

Tuesday 10th May

We had day trip in Arnhem and visited the John Frost Bridge.

Wednesdayday 11th May

We drove from Arnhem to Ypres and return back to the campsite from first day it was very hot mid 20s temperature and mixture of rural and more urban driving, and despite built up slow moving traffic around Mechelen, Belgium, we got to Ypres without any problems.

Thursday 12th May

Last day of the trip, having camped for 9 nights and 10 days away, the only time we had rain was overnight however the tents were relatively dry due to the wind overnight, and another 5am start away by 6am, we took main roads N roads and the A16 to Coquelles for the tunnel home. We managed to get on the 0820 hours crossing arrival back in Blighty at 0755 hours UK BST.

We then drove back towards Hampshire, when I discovered that the fuse had blown again, the last time was on my trip to Western Isles of Hebrides in 2020 and I had no fuel gauge or rear brake lights. I re-fitted a spare fuse and we soon stopped for full monty breakfast at a place called Village shop and café in Etchingham, East Sussex. We eventually arrived home at 13:30 hours just after my YT had arrived home from a wedding duty. This completed the trip and the total mileage was 1,019 miles, with only overnight rainfall throughout the 10 day trip, another very successful journey in my 1952 MG YB, I can bet that the workers at Abingdon back in the 50s would never have envisaged the humble Y Type going on such a journey in 2022 and beyond. Here is to many more years of happy motoring in what surely is truly green car, compared to todays more throw away modern cars that last 10/15 years before they are scrapped.