MG Motoring 2018 December 2018 - opt | Page 36

MG Car Club of South Australia A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE MGCC of SA IN 1976 By ...BOB BAZZICA (BAZZ) T hese were trying times, MG’s were no longer available in Australia, and except for a few members, (who I will not list, as most are still around,) the club at this time was barely surviving. This article below was published by IAN CURWEN WALKER in March 1976 ex- plaining the difficulties the club was then going through. One has to remember the MG’s were cars you bought in your youth, and dis- carded as soon as you got married. “Buy a Holden Saloon car Son” was the trend then. In 1976 most members were married and about 30years old, and had lots of responsibilities, wves, kids, and mort- gages and a MG. WELL WE MADE IT! And the club sur- vives due to a few good breaks and some very hard working members, many whom are still around, and still active . I found this article whilst going through some of Curley’s papers…………... A MESSAGE TO CLUB MEMBERS. ..... From the Secretary ICW March 1976 The club is virtually defunct! At the monthly General Meeting on Tuesday, 9th March, 1976 it was made painfully obvious that the MG Car Club is very very sick. For the 1st time in the nearly 20 Years of the Club’s existence we could not hold a meeting because there were so few members there. I must admit notice of the meeting did not ap- pear in the Advertiser on the previous 34 Friday - but that is hardly an excuse. No Monthly General Meeting means that there was no opportunity to discuss Club matters or to publicise coming events. The success of the Showboat trip, The Lanac Park Sprint, the Tea tree Plaza Gymkhana, the Progressive lunch, is In great jeopardy. This complete lack of interest - club members and committee members are equally guilty - has been evident in the past few months: Chris Ainsworth’s trial had 3 MG Car Club entries and very few members who assisted as control keep- ers.; The Lanac Park sprint in Feb had five possible entries; the Chief St work- ing Bee had four members (Including three committee members) turn up; The Lanac Park working bee on the 19th Feb had one person turn up (although several others made an at- tempt); the Birdwood Mill run - an inter- esting trip to a wonderful site on a glori- ous day - had 4 Cars turn up. Friday night “get together” at the Clubrooms see the same five or six Faces. There are a few members, both on and off the committee, who have done a awful lot for this club and who continue to do so. But for what purpose as their efforts are completely wasted. Personally, I have put in nearly 20 years of hard work to keep this Club alive and thriving, but surely there must come a time when one has to realise that it is impossible to do EVERYTHING that is required to run the Club. Frankly, I have enough to do without having to produce a magazine, (with but little help