Morgan car company to celebrate 100 years at 2009 NRMA Motorfest

This year the Morgan car company celebrates its centenary and will be honoured as the feature marque at the 2009 NRMA Motorfest in Sydney.

Not only has Morgan stayed in business 100 years, the same founding family owns it and still produces vehicles in the same workshop.

John Flower, Vehicle Co-ordinator for the 2009 NRMA Motorfest, says it’s a deserving accolade for the manufacturer from Worcestershire in England.

“Morgan is a classic British sports car and, in many ways, it typifies what Motorfest is all about. The Morgan Owners Club will be bringing about 30 of their cars to NRMA Motorfest, and I know they are trying to have a model represented from every decade of the Morgan centenary.”

Captain of the Morgan Owners Club of Australia, Peter Canavan, says one Morgan promises to be a crowd-puller: a fully restored rare red and black three-wheeler from the 1930s. It is extremely unusual because its V-twin engine sits exposed at the front of the vehicle rather than being encased in an engine bay.

Morgans are known for their classic lines and retro styling, so plenty of curves will be on display. Peter has long been attracted to Morgans’ shapely appearance – and the late-model cars also throw performance into the bargain, particularly the Plus 8 Morgans (V8s manufactured between 1968 and 2005). Peter says Morgans “can look slow but they go very fast”. This year, you can see them for yourself at the corner of Macquarie and Bent Streets.

Also celebrating its birthday at Motorfest is the rare Bean car, which will be 80 years old. In 1929, an adventurer overcame bad roads and other obstacles to complete a journey from London to Sydney. This year, a similar car will undertake the return trip to mark the Bean’s historic adventure. At the wheel will be Daily Telegraph cartoonist and Top Gear presenter Warren Brown. Warren is no stranger to long distance journeys – in 2005 he completed the Peking to Paris trip in a 1907 French-built De Dion Bouton. It will be on display at the Park Street end of College Street.

Never one to be left out, the ever-popular Mini Minor will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2009. The first production models went on sale in the UK early in 1959, although the car didn’t arrive on our shores until 1960. It won’t be the only ‘mini’ car to attend. For the first time, the Small Ford Car Club of NSW will be at Motorfest, showing off models such as the Escort, Anglia, Capri and Cortina. An NRMA Motorfest information leaflet will be available at information booths to help you find the Minis and small Fords as well as other makes and models.

NRMA will have stands and display areas showcasing many of the services and products it has launched since last year’s Motorfest. NRMA Group CEO Tony Stuart, who regularly attends Motorfest, says the event “is a fantastic opportunity to see all that NRMA is doing for its Members and a fantastic way to celebrate Australia’s national day”.

The More4Members program, launched in July, represents one of NRMA’s biggest commitments to its Members. Information on the program and the savings available to Members can be obtained from the Membership stand in the Hyde Park Barracks Forecourt. Also at the stand will be free giveaways for NRMA Gold and Gold Life Members.

Several other new projects will be represented at Motorfest 2009. Keep your eye out for the launch issue of NRMA’s latest travel magazine, Way2go, which rewards contributors with cash. Free Way2go sample magazines will be available at the NRMA Publishing stand. Joining regular favourites like the Mobile Member Centre and the NRMA Member Café will be NRMA AutoGlass, the windscreen repair service, and several new NRMA MotorServe centres.

There will be plenty for kids to do. St Mary’s Cathedral Forecourt will be turned into a Kids’ Zone with activities designed to teach road awareness and pedestrian safety. Children can jump into a mini car and navigate a course designed to simulate real traffic conditions.

For further information on Motorfest 2009, visit mynrma.com.au/motorfest. For a full listing of Australia Day activities across NSW and the ACT, head to Australia Day.

Open Road January/February 2009