“GoF West” is the name given to a regularly held “Gathering of the Faithful” for owners of pre-1956 MG cars in the western U. S. and Canada.  Assemblies like this had previously been held exclusively in the eastern United States.  Outside a few local clubs in western North America, the only way to regularly interface with other MG owners was to travel long distances to places like New York, Pennsylvania, and so on, all in the east.

One day in 1972, members from several Southern California clubs got together and decided to begin their own version of the east coast gathering.  A committee was formed, preparations were made, and the first GoF West was presented.  Santa Barbara, California, was the site chosen, and word was spread to MG car clubs throughout the western hemisphere.  News of the initial event in 1973 was welcomed by vintage MG enthusiasts from everywhere. The first GoF West established a tradition of annual gatherings that has not been interrupted since.

As a result of these annual festivals, held only in locales in the western U. S. and Canada, hundreds of pre-1956 MGs have been presented to other MG owners and to the public, most of them from the western U. S., but also MG aficionados from around the world.  In fact, from the very first GoF West, where a nice assortment of classic MGs (mostly “drivers” that had not been restored) gathered, each succeeding year produced many more vintage MG cars that had been restored to pristine condition, until the vast majority of those brought to these events are better than when they rolled from the assembly lines at Abingdon-on-Thames.  If you are an automobile buff for any marque, these events are really something you should see and enjoy. If you own a pre-1956 MG, even one in less than pristine condition, you should definitely register for a GoF West to learn more about your car, have some good fun with fellow enthusiasts, and make some new friends.