MG Drive for CURE: Splendor in the Grass

Thursday, June 16th, on a beautiful grassy hillside park near the University of Nevada, each of the MG Registers displayed examples of their cars-- over 600 in all. The earliest MG cars being shown were several 1929 M-type MG Midgets, diminutive cloth-bodied runabouts with hopped-up Morris engines. Through the early 1930's, MG produced sophisticated 4 and 6-cylinder overhead cam-engined cars, some with shaft-driven superchargers. Specialized race cars were produced as well as roadsters, coupes, touring cars and sedans for the general market. Although "traditional" MG cars ceased production in 1980, Rover-manufactured MG cars were sold around the world beginning in the 1990's and these were represented in Reno with the V8-powered MG-R and a mid-engined Canadian MG-F of more recent vintage.

1993 MG RV8 based on the MGB and produced in the UK by Rover Group

Mid-engined MGF powered by Rover

I'm not all that interested in car shows, especially when they represent only one marque often looking quite the same save for color, but I enjoy seeing unusual examples of MG history and style. For instance, retired art professor Michael Jacobsen displayed his 1934 N-type "special" Magnette 6-cylinder race car which was built by his father from a rare German-export example and from two wrecked N-types donors. The late Mr. Jacobsen Sr. raced this car in the early post-war period at many historic venues in southern California. Michael now campaigns this car in vintage race events and his son plans to do the same. They've even talked of a grandson taking over eventual custody of this historic family heirloom.

Prof. Jacobsen with his family's N-type racer destined for the 4th generation

Horn, headlamps, full road-equipped

1930's aircraft-type suspension: crude but effective

Tachometer, fire extinguisher, lunch box-- ready to race!

Unlike today's corporately mass-produced multinational automobiles, MG reflects an era when workers from one small town walked or rode their bicycles to "the works" that may have employed their fathers, uncles, and brothers, and assembled cars on conveyor lines pushed by hand over bricked and cobbled floors dating from the turn of the century. Arguably, this contributed to the ultimate demise of the British auto industry, but it is the well-spring of passion and commitment that owners feel today. When there are so many cars of the same heritage, it is easy to lose sight of how special each of these MG cars are to their custodians. Sometimes the registration tags serve as a reminder.

Certainly the time and craft devoted to the early cars from the 1930's is evident, but even the newer cars are often subject to "frame-up" restorations at costs far exceeding the market value of the simple cars themselves. Even in its heyday, MG was a car for the enthusiast rather than aristocrat. Yet it always added an artful, sculptural aesthetic that far exceeded its modest pretensions. It is this quality of industrial design that makes a display of MGs on a lawn a singular pleasure to enjoy.