MGB & GT Forum

MG is the featured marque for this year's event. There are special events and tours planned for both MG owners/racers. The MG Vintage Racers Group has made this their focus event. There should be plenty of MG's in attendance and on the track. There is a special anniversary package available to MG owners, but be advised it expires August 22. See http://grandprixfestival.com/documents/MG_WGI.jpg

Already signed-up for the Knapp Sporting Roadster Tour. Wish I would have known about the package you mention, last fall. We (the group I go up there with) have gotten away from going to the track, as we've gotten tired of that stupid, full course yellow turning the better races into parades, after just a few laps of racing. Truly, the best day of the entire weekend is Friday (Vintage Festival in the Village).
This year, however, we'll be going to the track because of MG being Marque of the Year.

Different people enjoy different things. Personally, I go to Watkins Glen to hang out in the paddock and garages. I couldn't care less about watching races, but I enjoy hearing racers swap stories about racing. Most of all, I enjoy the cars. At Watkins Glen you'll see some very high class hardware. The mix changes from year to year. MGs are cool... but you'll also typically find Formula 5000 cars, Can-Am cars, and perhaps even vintage Formula One cars. You can get a good idea of what to expect in the paddock by touring www.BritishRacecar.com

Walking around the paddock area is always interesting, especially this year with the MG as the featured car. There will be a separate MG corral for street cars, and the paddock will have the race cars of the MG Vintage Racers Group. I particularly enjoy the all MG race, "The Collier Cup". MG's from the earliest years to later V8's will be on the track, this year will be the 30th anniversary of the "Cup".

I agree with Bud, the Friday evening festival in the Village is not to be missed. The are streets are blocked, and they bring the race cars down from the track for a couple of laps of original track which went through the Village. After the laps the cars are parked along the main street for all to see, and talk to the drivers/owners. There is music, food, drink, and fireworks until the streets are re-opened.

I just received my "MG Anniversary Package" tickets, and voucher for the commemorative gift. This year the gift will be a special edition Zippo lighter. Zippo has been a sponsor and supporter of this event for a number of years.

I will be driving the "B" up from VA. on Thursday and staying at the KOA near the track. Hope to see other MGE folk at the event.

Just went on-line to buy my weekend tickets and found I was too late to have them mailed to my house. Now, they want $7.00 additional for "will call", or $25 & $35 for UPS (depending on how soon you want them). Sheesh! $7.00 for the opportunity drive to a different gate, park the car, walk inside the ticket office building and stand in line for 10 -20 minutes, in order to save $3.00. No thanks! I'll just pay $3.00 more ($65 vs. $55 + $7.00 = $62) and save some time and aggravation.

No mention was made, on the website, of any special package, for MG owners, but I didn't ask about it, since I'm already signed-up for another driving tour on Friday. Hopefully, I can still park my MG in the MG paddock, but I'm not holding my breath for that.

All the same, in spite of hating that race track/NASCAR, I'm really looking forward to the weekend and all of the MGs and MG folks who will be there. Got the back-roads route (from Pittsburgh to WG) all mapped-out and I'm deep into preparing two MGs (MGA and MG Midget) for the trip. Weather will dictate which one I drive.

bought our tickets last Nov --love the open paddock and watching cars getting preped --the races are also a plus ---love that weekend

The link to the MG Anniversary Package is in the first post of this thread. You are correct there is no mention of it on the Watkins Glen International site. You can get to it by going to the Watkins Glen Grand Prix site http://www.grandprixfestival.com/ and clicking on the Stone Bridge Drivers events, Tour de Marque. The Tour de Marque tour was sold out in January, but you can still get the MG Anniversary Ticket Package, at least until August 22. Its much easier using the link in the first post and calling the contact number.

Thanks, Bob! I'm glad you responded with that information. I'm now locked-in on the MG Anniversary Package and the tickets will be mailed to me, tomorrow.

I'll be there with the B. We are participating in the Concourse d' Elegance on Friday, so if you are downtown, stop by.

I'll be there and another Tidewater MG Classics member/couple will be there. I'm staying at the Anchor Inn, doing the Red Newt Founders Tour on Friday, hanging out with the Abacus Racing guys and the Over 55 Formula Ford guy (my former car) at the track.

David & Colleen

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David J. Kinsey
Virginia Beach
Tidewater MG Classics
1980 MGB "Runaway"