Hello everyone! Happy New Year and welcome to the latest edition of our club newsletter.

Wednesday Wanderers 28th January – Does anyone have any suggestions for a suitable

(remember it’s January!) Wednesday Wander venue or event?

The Perfect MG Adventure

The day kicked off dark and early, with me waking up before the alarm. The 1935 MG PB roared to life on the second turn and pulled out of the garage eager for our trip. I popped on the hood in the dark from memory, and loaded up, all set for our adventure on New Year’s Day 2026.

Bridget and Pepper were up but maybe not as eager but ready for the 7:30 am start, and we just needed to add a hot water bottle to the passenger side because the PB doesn’t have a heater—hardier back then?

Once everyone was snug in the car, we hit the road, greeted by a stunning sunrise that painted the sky in shades of orange and purple, leaving a distinctive exhaust note behind us and no crunching of gears as we left the quiet streets of Luton and onto the open road.

It had been three months since our last outing and I was glad and smiling, I’ve still remembered how to drive without synchromesh.

We drove through Luton to meet David in his 1938 MG SA, so we could all convoy to the Vintage Stony New Year’s Day gathering. We left David’s, turning left towards Dunstable and the first traffic lights we got a green light and zoomed straight towards Dunstable town centre, with all the lights through Dunstable also green— amazing!

I was thinking, this is exactly what it must have been like driving this car back in the 1930s—just driving and no traffic.

We then headed towards Milton Keynes on the A5, after 8:30, so a few more cars were around, but we managed to convoy together at a steady 45 to 50 mph, which our 1930s cars were happy to cruise at on a modern A road.

We didn’t have any detours or missed turns, and we arrived at the market square just after 9:00 am, parked by the friendly and efficient show marshals.

As one of the first hundred Vintage Pilots to arrive, we received a token for a free drink and a bacon roll, WOW, the day was already turning into a good one!

After registering and chatting to the organisers and supporters, we wandered around the market square, admiring all the fabulous pre-war cars, meeting up with friends and club members on our walk around the car park and high street.

We chatted in the queue at the Black Swan while waiting for our bacon butties and joined up with Julie and Malcolm from the CVPG, warming up with the other Vintage Pilots in the pub’s comfy armchairs and sofas.

Once we stepped outside again, it was amazing to see how many people were there for the gathering! It was so crowded that you could hardly move, but everyone was friendly and chatting with the car owners, taking pictures and having fun. I even got a thumbs up and a history lesson on the US Navy flying jacket I was wearing, which I now know was authentic and apparently an original and rare L W Foster Sports Wear model 3c from the 1950s.

Then the judges walked past, chatting with the owners and admiring the cars. I don’t envy their job because I’ve seen some fantastic cars today, and many that I’ve never seen at shows or in the flesh before.

We met a few more acquaintances, Pam, Patrick, Stuart, and Jack, and bumped into the couple who owned an MG J2 we met and parked next to at last year’s Woburn show. While chatting, we spotted a rosette on the PB, WOW, we’ve won a trophy as well!

Then, looking over to David’s car, which had also won…Double WOW, what a bonus!

At 12:30, we were called to the events tent by the lady town crier. David and his SA were presented with the Howden Trophy, receiving an impressive engraved decanter and a bottle of Bailey’s.

Gary and his PB received the Ladies’ Choice and another impressive engraved decanter and bottle of Bailey’s to put into it. We graciously accepted the congratulations and chatted with a few more people about our cars, as well as the event organiser, who we thanked for such a great event.

We set off for home after 1:30 pm, with both cars starting first turn but a few more cars on the road than when we arrived.

The sun was still shining, but it was bitterly cold, so we kept a steady pace, keeping up with the modern cars doing about 50 mph on the A5 and the new average speed limit, but no longer thinking we might be back in the 1930s!

We arrived back in Luton, stopping off with David and popping in to chat with Tricia and have another well-earned hot drink.

Reinvigorated for the last leg home, we bundled into the car which again started 1st turn and headed for home.

Finally, with the car tucked away in the garage, tied but happy that we had gone on our MG adventure and even Pepper was dog-tied and asleep.

Looking back, what a perfect day we ad! No breakdowns or traffic jams, hot food and indoor plumbing, meeting friends and having a good natter, seeing some really interesting cars, experiencing the crowds of enthusiastic and friendly spectators. Being addressed as a Vintage Pilot (I must get a badge with that on it) and to both get awarded a prize, what a Perfect MG Adventure!

Pub night

Pub Night is Tuesday the 20th January at The Jolly Topers, 369 Hitchin Road, Luton, LU2 7SP. Tel 01582 725008 – 8:30pm meeting or earlier if eating. It’s on a bus lane so should be easy to get to even if it snows again!

AOB.

The St Patrick’s Day Parade in Luton will be on Saturday, the 14th of March – I’m looking for classic cars to attend again, and this time thanks to Richard, we have two magnetic club signs to promote the club.

The dates for your diaries for our signature shows for next year are :

• Dunstable Classic Car Show, Saturday 13th June 2026
• Luton Festival of Transport, 14th June 2026
• South Beds Classic Vehicle Show, 9th August 2026

The Rotary Club will be looking for volunteers, and we will contact those running the shows nearer the time.

Events page: the club stands will be booked if the organisers of the shows allow it.

lately, organisers have been only allowing individuals to book online with different options for the club stand.

Some shows are turn-up only, and a few are displayed by age. We’ll do our best to let you know how and when to book your tickets well in advance, whenever possible.

We are back into the social calendar for the next couple of months, and most of us will be tucking the classic cars away or doing maintenance to get ready for next season.

I have the dates for St Patrick’s, Dunstable Classic, Luton Festival, and South Beds show as well as Chiltern Hills Classic Car Show, Fanco; Mini Railway, Rushden Classic for next year and will start to build the events calendar probably in February/March when we get more events confirmed.

St Patrick’s Day Parade is on Saturday, the 14th March – watch this space for more St Patrick’s Day event details and activities.

MGOC Travel Club have opened bookings for their 2026 holidays; if anyone is interested, please visit

the MGOC website.