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Lobethal Report for publication in MG Pre War Register Newsletter by Matthew Magilton who entered the R.W.Manser MG NA Magnette in 1939.
The Lobethal Grand Carnival.
Over the weekend of 11th and 12th of October I had the pleasure of attending the Lobethal Grand Carnival with Walter's NA Magnette. (CAR 16) Walter could not attend because of a pre-booked overseas holiday. This event comes at the tail of a very busy fortnight for South Australian motoring enthusiasts with historic Collingrove hillclimb and the Bay to Birdwood Run which were both attended by Pre War MGs from interstate.
The Lobethal meeting has special signifigance for our Magnette as this car competed at Lobethal in the 1939 AGP driven by Dr Robert Manser and co-driver Lyster Jackson whose K3 did not survive practice. This meeting is the result of the efforts of Tony Parkinson and senior members of the Sporting Car Club of South Australia, the same club who were involved in the original Lobethal races. Tony's buisness and organisational skills combined with a gift for public speaking have no doubt contributed to the success of this event and bode well for a repeat event next year.
On the Friday cars began arriving in town and were parked behind the Lutheran school on a playing field where they were laid out in rows according their four "packets", each packet having 20 cars to make the demonstration laps manageable. We were also joined by 3 packets of historic motorcycles. There were no less than 12 Pre War MGs including two K3's (Bradey and Berryman) (CARS 3 and 46) , an R type (Chris Bucknell) (CAR 15), three N types (Magilton, Gillett and Keith)(16, 48, 63) two P types (Mawson and Cameron) (75, 6) , three J types (Taylor, Payne and Farrar from W.A.),(82, 29, 83) the TB of Barnes (77) and we could also include the Kleinig Special with its Magna chassis.
Saturday morning I arrived early at the 'Parc Ferme' to see row upon row of magnificent dew covered machinery glistening in the morning sun. Before long the scrutineering was underway and the drivers attended a briefing where we were reminded that this was not a race and the emphasis was on having a good time. Soon it was time for the first of the four demonstations, each consisting of three laps of the old circuit. Three laps may not sound like much but remember this circuit is 8.7 miles long (14 Km) and each demonstration would take over half an hour. I will now take you on a single lap condensing some of my experiences of the weekend:
The display erupts to the sound of racing cars firing up their engines and we slowly convoy down to the main street where a huge crowd of spectators has gathered behind the barricades. We form into two columns for the starter to flag us off. Helmets and goggles on, engines revving, hearts pounding, the flag waves and WE'RE OFF! Philip Bradey leads the field in the blue K3 which is no stranger to Lobethal. Further back I can hardly hear the Magnette engine with Black Bess' Ford V8 barking in my ear as we climb the hill out of town. My forward view is full of the Kleinig Special and my mirrors are full of Bugatti as we shake ourselves out into a single file with faster cars passing on the right. The Lobethal to Mt Torrens section is both fast and winding, and used to seperate the men from the boys in the old days. One of the Dodge Specials runs wide on a bend here and I cop a few stones as he clips the gravel shoulder. I am immediately reminded of Dr Manser in 1939 when his goggles were shattered by a stone and the resulting eye injury required him to hand over to Lyster Jackson who went on to achive tenth place in the GP. We pass Gumeracha corner where Jackson had to duck to avoid the seat flung out of Leach's P type in 1939 as he overturned against a bank with fatal consequences. Continuing towards Mt Torrens I come up behind Chris Bucknell in the magnificent R type. The spider-like independent suspension of this car makes very easy work of the lumps and bumps which are causing the Magnette to thump and skitter about. It is clear to me that Chris is cruising along at 7 tenths whereas I am going 9 tenths at the same speed. We both pass the Ballot-Olds special that Jim Gullan drove to victory here in 1948.
Charging down to Grandstand Hairpin, all cars barking as they rev on the down change, around the corner and foot on the gas. This corner is the original start line and pits area for the old races and many photos survive of the cars lined up in handicap order under the eucalypts. Now we are on the long fast straight down to infamous Kayannie Corner and the American specials all thunder past soon followed by the two Type 37 Bugattis. I pass the famous Uffindell Austin 7 which won the Junior GP here in 1939 and find myself alongside Andrew Cameron in his P type which is running well. We grin and wave hardly believing this is for real. We pass more crowds at Charleston who are enjoying a beer or three ouside the pub. They are waving as I toot the horn. At Kayannie the field seperates into two lines to avoid the 'sleeping policemen' speed bumps at the intersection. I take the inside line, around past the crowds outside the wine tasting marquees and begin the long straight over the Onkaparinga River back to Lobethal. It was here at Kayannie in 1939 that Raymond Curlewis overturned his TB before the crowd righted him and he was on his way again. Climbing the long ascent, I am again in the company of the R type which has a minor misfire possibly caused by a fuel surge at Kayannie, and on the hot Sunday afternoon the Magnette is also slowing because of a little fuel vaporisation.
Over the blind crest before the esses, this is where Allan Tomlinson came to grief after clipping Boughton's Morgan at over 100 MPH in 1940 when he was again leading the field in the GP. Down through the esses below the cutting which was the photographers favourite perch and down to Mill corner, heaving on the brakes and swinging around into the main street again. Accelerating up the main street is a fantastic buzz, not only because of the crowds but also the tearing-calico sound of the exhausts echoing off the shop fronts as we pass over the finish line and the flourished chequered flag.
My experience is basically similar to that of Manser and Jackson in 1939 except for one 'minor' detail: What took me 11 minutes (1 lap) to achieve, took Manser and Jackson only 7 minutes and 28 seconds on narrower, rougher roads! And they kept that up for 14 laps!
In between demonstrations was the opportunity to catch up with old friends or make repairs. Doug Keith had a split in his fuel tank which was soon repaired. I caught up with Lance Watkins, a local with a passion for Lobethal's motor racing history. In 1948 Lance (age 14) was standing at Mill corner during that race when the Stewand Special lost a wheel at speed and the wheel or its spinner clobbered Lance on the forhead putting him in hospital. He still has the scar to prove it! I had the pleasure of viewing Lance's photo albums. Of the original drivers, six are said to survive including Allan Tomlinson who was in America and could not make the meeting, and Gavin Sandford-Morgan who drove his C type at Lobethal in 1948 and was present driving his Jaguar at this meeting.
The meeting closed with presentations in the old art-deco cinema where Tony Parkinson explained how local businesses and authorities as well as a huge number of volunteers had all combined to make this weekend happen. And a resounding success it was too. I will expect to return in 12 months time to mark the 70th anniversary of our Magnettes Lobethal race. For those interested in the history of Lobethal, Tony has produced an excellent 50 page booklet entitled "Legend of Lobethal" which can be ordered through the Lobethal website (Google Lobethal Carnival). Illustrations include 18 old MG photographs.
Matthew Magilton
