Many automakers claim their roots are in racing, but in the case of Britain’s storied MG marque, it’s the honest truth. Here’s a neat film history of MG in racing with the focus on the early years.

The MG story begins in around 1924 at the retail sales and service operation of Morris Motors at Longwall Street, Oxford—the MG stood for Morris Garages. There, general manager Cecil Kimber began producing Morris-based performance specials, which at first wore both Morris and MG badges. In 1928, MG became an independent marque in its own right, and in 1929 the company’s ownership passed from the personal portfolio of William Morris to the auto company, Morris Motors Limited.

This film, produced by the company during the British Leyland era at MG (1968-1990) and titled The Magic Midget, tells the MG racing story with a special focus on the early prewar years. At 18 minutes it’s a little long by internet standards, but we assure you, it’s worth it. Check out the priceless footage from Brooklands and other legendary sporting venues where MG competed with remarkable success, often against much larger vehicles with spotless pedigrees. Here’s an entertaining and informative primer on one of the automotive world’s most beloved brands. Video below.