PRIDE OF LONGBRIDGE RALLY 2009

18 April 2009.

Organized by The Rover Community Action Trust and the Austin Federation to mark the fourth anniversary of the closure of MG Rover the days activities included a rally in the morning  and a film show in the afternoon

The morning of Saturday 18 April was sunny and pleasant. Cars assembled at Hopwood Services on the M42 and headed for Cofton Park.

Cofton Park, Longbridge.

Around lunch time the cars, all manufactured at the Longbridge plant, gathered on a sloping area of grass in Cofton Park opposite the site of the old Austin Works. Many took the opportunity to take pictures of their cars in front of what remains of the Works.

A gathering of enthusiasts.

As this was a motoring event open to all vehicles manufactured at Longbridge there was a preponderance of the more recent models with representatives of Clubs like the MG Owners Club and the Maestro Owners Club being very much in evidence.

A venerable Rover

There were, however, a number of older cars including groups of A30/35s and Austin 10s.

Cutting a dash in black and white

On the lower slopes, a great spot for a picnic, there were three Austin Sevens; including a 1938 Pearl Cabriolet and a 1933 Box Saloon. It would be nice to see more Austin Sevens represented, maybe a Club presence should be organized for the next one?

A great spot for a picnic.
 

The sunshine brought out an interesting range of cars, some that were as close to factory specification as possible but also the custom car crowd were there in force.

The event was organized as a statement of solidarity (I hate that word)(so why use it?)(Oh, never mind) with the local workforce many of whom lost their jobs as the Rover plant went through its death throes. The post-Rover landscape was illustrated by the Catering Vans, manned on this occasion by ex-Rover employees.

The afternoon saw the Austin Federation holding its AGM at the Baptist Church Hall on Longbridge Lane and presenting a display of Austin memorabilia and a film show; 'Austin Through The Ages'.

But what of the Longbridge site itself?

At the A7CA AGM on Sunday Hazel Gore showed the meeting the front page of 'Forward' the Birmingham Council magazine. Occupying most of the cover was this illustration:

It is one of a series of computer generated images produced in support of the planning application that was granted in February this year.

Amongst the proposals for new housing shops and business centres there is reference made to a new museum - 'The Austin Centre' intended to chart the history of the Austin Car Works and its impact on the local area. This was the single most requested element when the scheme went out for public consultation so maybe there is a will to provide a dedicated Austin Museum at the home of the Austin Seven.