Maestro outside the factory

The landmark event for all Austin clubs in 2005 was the Austin Centenary weekend, as organised by the Federation of Austin Clubs. Despite the uncertain future of MG Rover at the time, the event celebrated in grand style 100 years since the founding of the Austin Motor Company and of car production at Longbridge. The weekend began with a black tie dinner, a cavalcade of Austin cars from Birmingham city centre to Longbridge on the Saturday culminating in a large rally in Cofton Park opposite the Longbridge factory. Never before have so many Austin cars post-war and pre-war gathered together on the same rally field. As two Maestro & Montego OC members explain, the atmosphere was great!

Not got a rally plaque? If you were there and didn't get a rally plaque to keep as a souvenir of this historic occasion, they're still available (January 2006). Contact us if you'd like one.

"A marvellous turnout"

Four Years of planning came to fruition, when hundreds of Austin vehicles returned home for the Austin Centenary weekend, organised by the Federation of Austin Clubs.

Launching the event was a pre-show formal dinner on the Friday evening with several guest speakers, and on the Saturday morning a cavalcade of representative entries made their way to and from the City Centre, including amongst them club members driving a maestro hatch, and van, and a montego saloon, and estate car.

On arrival in Low Hill lane, visitors were greeted with a marvellous turnout of all types of Austin and Longbridge built vehicles, and in the trade stands there appeared almost enough parts to build a new Austin Seven!

Representing the last "Austin" badged cars: the MMOC were out in force- with over twenty cars on the stand. For us though, the event was a double celebration; for we were also toasting 21 years of the Montego- cheers’ Monty has come of age!’ On the Sunday ‘Montegos’ outnumbered Maestros, a fitting tribute to this birthday boy.

Overall, a very enjoyable weekend: blessed with beautiful weather, fantastic cars, and great conversation, although at the same time tinged with sadness at the sight of the recently mothballed factory on the opposite side of the road, and disappointment that the planned factory tours had to be cancelled.

Darren Tebbitt

Montego in the cavalcade

"The weather was blazing"

We arrived Friday evening and were met by a madly arm-waving Rich Gelder directing us to the camping corner ‘bagged’ by the club. We didn’t know anyone but it didn’t matter, they were all friendly even though we’re ancient compared to the rest! Much cleaning and polishing took place (in between occasional parking shuffles to fit everyone in) as some cars were in Saturday morning’s Cavalcade. Later the no-BBQ rule was circumvented by cooking sausages on a stove, after epic shopping trips – one happy camper who shall remain nameless took 2 hours to find his way back – and a pleasant evening followed with judicious amounts of alcohol.

Saturday the Cavalcaders were off early leaving the rest of us to organise the club stand; we made a very good showing with at least 20 various vehicles and the talking dashboard demo, not to mention a TV for the F1 addicts!

The weather was blazing and the site huge, and as I was somewhat lame at the time I didn’t see everything but the number and variation of vehicles present was amazing, as was the distance some folks had come in ancient cars – Netherlands and Germany and even further! It was also heartening to see the numbers of ‘Modern Classics’ being loved and restored, though less happy was the sight of the Longbridge factory across the road closed and silent, what an irony that production ceased just before we celebrated 100 years of Austin!

A fun weekend and a great event – one that will never happen again! It was my first club event as I acquired a Maestro unexpectedly and I’m quite proud of the small commemorative banner that hangs in my car because “I was there”.

Bobbi White

Austins of all ages were present

In Pictures

As usual many of us went armed with cameras, so if you missed the centenary weekend why not have a look at our picture gallery for the weekend. For more pictures and reports from a memorable weekend follow the links below:

Austin Federation Review

Maestro & Montego Owners Club Stand