MG Car fest to raise funds for air ambulance is hosted by W.H. Brand for teh 2nd year running.

• Families gather at WH Brand MG Carfest to raise money for Air Ambulance

More than 100 classic and current MG models gathered for the WH Brand MG Carfest at the Whaplode Drove-based dealership on Sunday 23 July. The event, which takes place for the second consecutive year, is raising money for the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. 

With last year’s meeting welcoming 192 cars, raising over £400 for charity, organisers are expecting an even larger turn-out to this year’s event. 

Welcoming any vintage or modern MG or affiliated marque – including Rover, Austin, BMC, Riley and Wolseley to name but a few – entrance costs just £5 for a display space, £2 for adult visitors and £1 for children, with all profits going to the local Air Ambulance. 

With games, raffles, a tombola and food and drink available, there’s heaps of entertainment on offer, making this a great day out for families.

Adam Brand, sales manager at WH Brand MG, said: “The WH Brand MG Carfest was hugely successful last year. There’s a great appreciation for MG throughout the UK, and events like this give people a chance to come together and talk about the brand that they love. The pre-launch MG XS will also be on display at the event, giving visitors a chance to see the next generation of MG sitting next to the finest examples of the brand’s heritage.”

Matthew Cheyne, head of sales and marketing at MG Motor UK, added: “Events like the WH Brand MG Carfest give a great insight into the evolution of the brand. The new SUV that we have developed, the MG XS, is yet another exciting chapter, and we are sure that people will be delighted with the next MG generation.”

The 1st MG CarFest organised by WH Brand, the MG dealership took place last weekend, and nearly 200 cars attended.

Almost 200 automotive aficionados gathered at the WH Brand MG dealership in Lincolnshire last weekend (18 September), to showcase their prized vehicles from the past and present.

The event, which was organised to raise money for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, saw a whole host of MG cars displayed – from classics and customs, to kit builds and brand new models.

In addition to hosting the exhibition, the dealership organised a number of stalls, stands and games, while visitors were also able to test drive MG’s latest models – the all-new MG GS SUV and MG3 supermini. A collection for the Air Ambulance was taken throughout the day, raising money for a hugely worthwhile cause.

Adam Brand, sales manager at WH Brand, commented: “We were delighted to welcome so many MG fans to the dealership last weekend for our enthusiast event. It was a brilliant day that showcased pristine examples of British engineering through the ages.

“We’d like to thank the individuals and car clubs from across the region who helped make the day run so smoothly and hope to build on the its success next year with an even bigger and better event.”

Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing at MG Motor UK, added: “WH Brand’s event was an excellent initiative – bringing together the local community and raising money for a great charity alongside. With MGs, both old and new, on display throughout the day, the event was certainly a must see for enthusiasts!”

For more information about the MG model range, or to find your local dealer, visit www.mg.co.uk. For more information about WH Brand, visit www.whbrand.co.uk.

The MG3 hits the nail on the head for Pennie and her New Driving School.

A near tragic accident gave Pennie Alexander a burning passion to teach youngsters to drive safely. But she had almost given up on her ambition until a new MG3 turned Pennie’s dream into reality and has changed her life around.

Just two weeks after Pennie’s daughter Bobbie-Jo passed her driving test, Bobbie-Jo was involved in a horrific accident with a truck on a busy dual-carriageway.

Although Bobbie-Jo wasn’t seriously injured, the mangled wreck of her car was a complete write-off. At just 18-years-old, Bobbie-Jo was traumatized by the accident and it took weeks of patience, encouragement and coaching for Pennie to get her daughter back behind the wheel.

The accident happened six years ago and since then Pennie has dreamed of becoming a driving instructor. She explained: “I was a gymnastics coach for 15 years and always tried my hardest to get the best out of the gymnasts. I loved seeing them achieve new skills and missed the feeling of fulfilment knowing that I’d helped them accomplish their goals.

“Becoming a driving instructor was the obvious way for me to get that sense of gratification and to use my skills to help youngsters learn to drive.

“Bobbie-Jo’s accident was typical of so many involving youngsters, although not all young people are lucky enough to escape injuries. My belief is that you need to teach young drivers from an entirely different perspective than older people.”

But Pennie’s dream of opening a special driving school dedicated to younger drivers had to be put on hold. She explained: “There were always two major hurdles in my way – I just couldn’t find a car that I thought suitable for youngsters, and the cost of cars put the whole plan out the window.

Pennie looked at a raft of small cars, but none came close to fitting the bill, until by chance she found out about the MG3. She had owned an MGF sports car for a few years, so she knew the brand.

Then Pennie discovered that W.H. Brand in Spalding, not far from her home in Wisbech St Mary, was an MG dealer. She said: “I went for a test drive and just couldn’t believe it – the car was exactly what I wanted in every detail. 

“I wanted a car that was simple to use and the MG3 ticked that box. I wanted a straightforward un-cluttered layout, and the MG3 was exactly that. I wanted a car that had plenty of vision and was good on clutch and accelerator controls and guess what, the MG3 scored there too.  

“I think I would have done the deal there and then anyway because no other car I’d tried came anywhere close. But when they told me the price – that was it, I was dumbfounded.” 

So Pennie’s dream driving school, DARE2DRIVE, was formed. Now she is teaching both young learner drivers and is hoping to make contact with schools across the Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk borders to set up off-road teaching for 14-17-year-olds.

She said: “Driving can be a formidable experience for youngsters, but my method of teaching means that even youngsters who have never sat in a driving seat before can start to learn the techniques about car control. That allows them to very quickly build confidence and then they are open-minded about all the key safety messages my method is founded on. 

“To be honest, I don’t think I could make this progress so quickly in any other car. It’s because the MG3 is easy to drive, doesn’t distract their concentration, has a brilliant stereo, and fantastic door mirrors giving excellent visibility. For me, and my students, the MG3 is just perfect.”  

Adam Brand, of W. H. Brand, said: “We are delighted that Pennie is so obviously pleased with the car. All of our customers are, Pennie is now almost as passionate about the MG3 as she is about her ambitions to teach youngsters how to drive properly and safely.”

Britain’s top-selling MG dealer just can’t stop celebrating – or selling cars!

Britain’s top-selling MG dealer just can’t stop celebrating – or selling cars!

W.H.Brand, based near Spalding, Lincolnshire, won the accolade of ‘Top Performing MG dealer of 2014’ and also clinched the trophy for the country’s ‘Top Selling MG3’ dealer. Now the family-run firm has celebrated 90 years in business and threw a party for more than 250 guests at the showroom in the small Fenland village of Whaplode Drove.

The celebrations also coincided with the 90^th birthday of Fred Brand, the son of the firm’s founder, William Horace Brand. Fred showed off a classic 1949 speedway bike – he took up the sport to earn money to build a new garage for the business.

While customers tucked into a fish and chips supper on a London double-decker bus parked outside the showrooms, Sales Manager Adam Brand – great grandson of the firm’s founder – just couldn’t stop himself from selling MGs.

Adam said: “It was purely a party to mark our 90^th anniversary and Fred’s 90^th birthday, but I was chatting away to a customer I’ve known for years and before you knew it, I had an order for an MG6 Magnette.

“Ten minutes later the same thing happened and someone ordered an MG3 and then yesterday someone else rang up and ordered another MG3. I didn’t really sell the cars – they sold themselves! Taking on the MG franchise was the best business decision we have ever made.

“We seem to have been celebrating for weeks on end, but we’re not complaining. We’ve got our eyes set on retaining the winner’s awards this year and it seems our customers are keen to help us.”

During the 90^th celebrations, W.H. Brand’s customers and suppliers raised nearly £500 for the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance charity.

W.H. Brand joined the growing MG dealer network in December 2013 and covers Spalding, Peterborough and a large rural area covering parts of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.

In the last 12 months the number of MG dealers has almost doubled. There are currently 56 MG dealerships and 10 after sales outlets across the country. More dealers will be appointed in the coming months.