Combined Clubs Gymkhana

This is held yearly at the Omana Reserve at Maraetai, it looks out to the Hauraki Gulf and is on a good day a beautiful site, and it was one of those the sun shone and the wind and rain stayed away for the second year in a row.

The event in organized by the Chevrolet Club and each club attending puts on two events, so each year there are different things to do. This year we did throwing the blocks of wood into hub caps again and the second one was using a hook to lift partially water filled milk bottles and carrying them a small way and putting them into another container.

Each club runs its first event before lunch, and the second one after, the cars usually proceed from one event to another, There was one this year with the driver blindfolded, towing a tiny block of wood around a course with three bottles on it with out dislodging any. And also a very fast slalom course where the passenger gets out and undoes two spark plugs and puts them back and returns to the car before proceeding to the finish.

Each year there seems to be fewer clubs making the effort to attend this picnic day out, plus unfortunately this year it clashed with the Auckland Santa Parade the points scored this year put the Ford 8 & 10 contingent in last place but it's only a fun day out.

Harvey and Val with his Model Y; Brian and Beverley in their restored Anglia: Bud and Thelma with their Prefect: Paul and Delia modern : Ant  and Karen in a modern. John came after lunch in his convertible having been up north earlier and all the way from Morrinsville Andrew in a Prefect.

I hope we have a lovely day again next year and perhaps we will be able to take home the "Trophy" we have had it in past years. This year we had the wooden spoon.

Postscript from Harvey. Hard luck prize of the Gymkhana goes to Andrew of Morrinsville who ran a bearing on the way home. 20 miles short, but managed to make it, so now it's out with the motor and back to the Reconditioners who built it. Now I've put Molyslip in my sump having seen the vulnerability of these things.

The Shaw's Collection

At the starting line were Brian and Bev, Paul and Delia, Thelma and Bud Semadeni and myself, from the Ford Club. Bud's Prefect was the only Club car out that day, mine having broken a rear axle the previous day, and Paul's with the motor out getting valve and cylinder head improvements, although their immaculate Cortina was again there.

However there were plenty of Fords 8's and 10's at our destination the Shaw brother's awesome car collection at Coatsville. I combined the Model A club with ours and did not extend the trip beyond there, having learnt that the enthusiast can spend hours looking which proved true.

I saw early 7Y Anglia's: a two door and four door C, a two door Y, Prefects including complete and incomplete 38-39 Ford 10's (7W) and a '50's Popular with its tiny headlights in original light blue colour. The only marque I did not see was the square–grilled EO4A Anglia.

There ware also Model A's, three 36-39 Ford V8 sedans and a row of 60's Holden's and 70's utes,  many Chev's from the 20's and early 50's many Buicks prewar and post war, all the Austin 7 models, a big Seven and a couple of Ten's prewar Morris 8 and square Minor.

Other makes such as Vauxhall, Dodge, Rugby, and Citroen were represented in smaller numbers. There were old trucks large and small as well so there was something for everyone (except the ladies, maybe!)

Many thanks to Noel and Trevor for their hospitality and I will be carrying the images around in my head for some time to come. Now it's back down to earth and the axle replacement for my "Y" plus a few other improvements and modification while the car is on blocks.

Thanks to the Model "A" Club Members who attended.

Harvey.

Martin's Manic Mystery Run

This commenced from Jellicoe Park, in Onehunga just after 11am on lovely sunny day one of the few we have had recently, and there was the best turn out of our cars we have had for some time.

The effort Bud and I achieved was also one of the worst we have had for a while, all went well until Cornwall Park, where things went haywire, first after the pit stop, the wrong road was taken as we did not go back to the round-a-bout but took the wrong road, and had to back track.

As our motor has had a mysterious noise for some time we decided not to go up to the summit and proceeded on, to the clue on the drivers side about a caravan, where a nice gentleman decided to talk to us for some time about all our cars that had proceeded us down his street.

Arriving in the Blockhouse Bay area, there was a clue saying turn left past some houses, I said it said first left, but Bud said no that’s not a street. (I believe it was).

Shortly after that the phone rang saying where are you we are all here, in the process of Bud answering it he missed several streets we were supposed to go up or down. Then we went past an area of paddocks full of sheep, I did not recall ever seeing before, shows you what is tucked away in areas you do not realize they are there unless you live in the area.

By this time we decided to go to the finish as everyone was waiting for us, one of the clues was about a building that Bud knew the location of, so we made our way there, then followed
the clues to the final destination.

I think almost all had given up on us by this time, but we at least made it to the end. Everyone was also waiting for Harvey and Val but they didn’t show up someone said they had seen them having a picnic in Cornwall Park, so I guess they had decided not to finish.

Those that went were John and Janice, Ant and Karen, Chris with Mel and Alison, Paul and Delia, Harvey and Val, Thelma and Bud, Martin (organizer), Jim.

July Club Run

This commenced at the car park at Western Springs which is near the new Valentines Restaurant and was organized by Harvey and Val.

The group of club cars departed at 11am for West Auckland, going along the North Western Motorway, and then Highway 16 towards Kumeu, turning off on to the Riverhead - Coatsville Road, which in the distant past was a main route North towards Whangarei. We then turned off just before Coatsville on to a series of scenic side roads, going past the North Shore Aero Club, and later down Glenvar Road which takes one to Beach Road, which when followed goes through most of the Eastern Beaches which look out to Rangitoto Island which is a dormant volcano just off shore and is a prominent feature of the outer harbour.

We made our way through busy Takapuna, on to Lake Road which goes down towards Devonport where the Naval Base is located doing a circuit of one of their playing fields then on down interesting old streets to Devonport it’s self, where we stopped for lunch at "Clarrie’s" one of the many cafes.



Devonport is a mixture of old and new there are a lot of Art Gallerys, antique stores and small select stores and is busy on a weekend with sightseers wandering in and out the shops. After lunch and a wander about we all returned to the parked cars, and departed to Vauxhall Street where the museum we were to visit at 2pm was, it is in an old church behind some trees and a big gate which was very tightly shut and apparently according to some local residents was going to stay that way.

So to Plan B, go home or go somewhere else, John and Janice left to visit relatives while the Brewers and us decided to go to North Head where the first pilot station for Auckland was established in 1840. Then the first Defense System for Auckland was originally established this was used by both the army and the navy. The army left in 1950 and the navy in 1996.

North Head is a volcano it’s proper name is Maungauika, the first guns were installed in 1885 and for a number of years afterwards prisoners were used to reconstructed the gun sites and build tunnels and storage underground for searchlights and magazines for the guns installed there. Three disappearing guns were installed there as well; one still remains and is now one of the few left in the world.

We spent some time there climbing all the over the mountain going in and out the tunnels and gun placements a very interesting afternoon was had.Those who went all had club cars they were Harvey and Val (organizer), John and Janice, and Bud and Thelma.

Bowling Night

This was held on a Saturday night at the Panmure 10 Pin Bowling Complex and was organized by Delia and Paul.

Delia organized the three teams into the three lanes held for us. There was a drink (glass of wine, handle of beer or a small bottle of soft drink) plus a very nice hamburger that arrived on a food trolley to the lane complex we had. The cost wasn't too bad as we had two complete games and the refreshments for $22. Before the bowling began a few of us had a play on the 2 cent Poker Machines that flashed and beckoned in the far corner, none of us made a fortune I am afraid.

There was a great deal of laughter and cheering and advice as members tried to knock down the pins, one person reckoned one was glued down as all the others would fall except this one. After the bowling was over some of the big boys played on the simulated car racing machines I am afraid I would not like to be with Ant in his racing car as it did some spectacular end over ends and ended up very battered, both him and Paul won one race each. Then there was the Fighter plane one and a table game that was fast and furious two or more people slamming yellow disc's up and down a table until they dropped into a slot at the other end. The games have certainly altered over the years you have to have very fast reflexes these days.

After all the fun was over we made our way to the car park and all our modern cars and made our different ways home. A much bigger turn out than usual, all I think in modern cars as the older cars are difficult at night on Auckland streets and the motorways, those there were....Brian and Bev, John and Janice, Paul and Delia, Bob and Gwen, Bud and Thelma, Chris and Mel & his daughter Alison, Steven and friend Irene, Martin and work mate Josh, Ant and Karen.

There were some good scores on the night including Alison with 203 (a little assistance here as when she slid the ball down the assisting slide, barrier arms came up to prevent the balls going in the gutter a great way for children to enjoy the game). But the final tally up by Delia of the score sheets makes, Martin in first place, Delia in second, and Ant in third. Congratulations to these people.We must do it again next year some time as a lot of fun is had by those that come along.