The June 2018 Illawarra Register Report

mgcarclubsydney
12 June, 2018

Read on for the latest from the Illawarra Register including a report on the recent run very kindly hosted by Claude Harris and the Harris family.

Report by, and thanks to, Michael Hough

June 2018 Illawarra Register Report

It is with pleasure that I can report on the second of 2018’s MG Car Club (Illawarra Register) runs– a social run in the morning of Thursday the 24^th of May to the home of long-standing MG owner and car enthusiast Claude Harris of Albion Park NSW.

Claude is a true motoring stalwart and car enthusiast who currently owns a most original MG TA, which he purchased second hand more than seventy years ago in 1947. Claude also owns an original early FJ Holden and a quite magnificent 1950s Norton 500cc motorbike.

Approximately 35 enthusiasts and friends turned out to the event, which was held at Claude’s residence.

We had nineteen from the Jaguar Drivers Club (Illawarra), eight from the MG Car Club (Illawarra), three from the South Coast Veteran and Vintage Car Club and the remainder were friends of the Harris family, including the guy who had owned the TA and sold it to Claude!

All who attended had a very relaxing and pleasant morning with the exception of one MGB GT owner, who found that after arriving successfully at the Hungry Jack’s rendezvous, after the short break while the MGs got together, the starter system on the (automatic) MGB GT ‘failed to proceed’. The recalcitrant MG was left at the rendezvous to cool down and be recovered at the end of the visit to Claude’s!

The Harris family were extremely hospitable, and provided us all with chairs, tea and coffee on arrival, and a sausage sizzle during the morning. In short we were superbly hosted by Claude’s son and daughter and friends and we are very grateful for their warm reception!

A nice bonus was the fact that the house had very generous front yard and the accompanying photos show a great collection of cars, including MGs and Jags and even a Jensen Interceptor, parked with the early Holden on the front lawn.

The Illawarra Register’s success factors are:

To create a series of relaxed and enjoyable events where we all can take the MG for a run, especially those on historic registration
Combining with the Jaguar Drivers Club (Illawarra Register) for events, and as a consequence getting a useful and interesting mix of cars from these two classic British marques

Our visit to the Harris family achieved these success factors very well indeed, and we were delighted with the way the visit went!

Our next Illawarra register run will be held on Sunday the 22^nd of July and will be a Christmas in July lunch at Mt Keira Scout Camp.

The two scheduled runs after that are:

Thursday 27th September: Visit to HARS (Historical Aircraft Restoration Society)
Thursday the 22nd November: Venue to be advised, any suggestions please?

Please remember- these are social runs, so:-