Kumeu Classic Car Show 2015

On Sunday 18th I decided to take the Prefect for a much needed run, and check out the Kumeu  car show, having not been for a few years.

I took along my son Darryn to peruse the swap meet. He is currently into acquiring memorabilia to hang on his garage walls.

The event has changed since we used to go regularly as a club.  Now a days, the large paddock area that we used to display on is dedicated to large pre-booked clubs and marque sites.

Consequently the casual classic car parking is now relegated to an obscure area of the showground's race course,  wedged between the back of a large fun park area and the Taupaki Road. This seemed miles away from the viewing public.

However, after displaying the club's sash on the windscreen and settling down to wait,  (much like fishing), I was quite surprised at the public's attention. One senior lady was enthralled, when I suggested she start the engine which she did with relish.

"Just like my fathers" she  squealed with glee, "I haven't seen a Prefect since the 1950s."

Also I made contact with a prospective new member who has just acquired a rusty Anglia, and also met up with another member Peter Chaplin. So it wasn't really a wasted trip which I thought it would be.

I can't comment on the rest of the show, as it seemed miles away in the ferocious sun to the trade stalls and the swap meet area, even the toilets for that matter.

Anyway the drive there and back, on the very hot summers day, with windows down and the windscreen open wide and the lovely little Ford 10  motor purring away, drowning out all other noises  especially screaming up Tunnel Hill in second was pure bliss to the soul.

Bud.

Morrinsville Santa Parade

Andrew had two of his cars taking part in the Morrinsville Santa Parade earlier this month.

The theme of the parade was "Cream of the Country", hence the cows on the side. Andrew chauffeured a local 99 year old as a passenger in the Anglia, and Neil (who drove the Prefect) tells us that there were many of the usual "I used to have one of those" comments as they drove past.

NZ Classic Car Show Report

Karen and I were on holiday during the Galaxy of Cars day. I hear that there were around 10 club cars attending, that it was an exceptionally hot day, and that Martin looked like a fire engine at the end of it.

We were back for the next weekend and the NZ Classic Car Show (Concours) at Ellerslie though.

Again, it was a bright and sunny day. Fortunately this year we had a spot with plenty of shade from the trees, making for a pleasant environment.

Unfortunately, there were only two club cars when we had space for at least six.

Still, the lack of cars did not mean we had a lack of interest from the public, with many people stopping by to chat about their days learning to drive, or travelling in the back of the family Prefect for long distances, or with queries for parts.

We also had Terry (who was attending with the Jowett Club) drop by to bring to my attention a Ford 10 special on the Sunbeam Club site. We also bumped into previous members Brian McSwiggan and Philip Pearce and had a catch-up natter with them.

Chris and Jo's Mystery Run

As it was a sunny day, Cornwall Park was pretty busy when we arrived on Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago. We met Chris and Jo, Bud and Thelma, Gavin and Sophie, Stephen, John, and Brian and Bev, along with Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 (Paul and Delia).

After standing around and chatting for a while, we were handed a couple of sheets of paper with about a dozen questions and the location where you would find the appropriate answer. This required plotting your own route to minimise travel time as there was a time limit of a couple of hours.

We pulled out the map, decided on a circular route from our start point to our finish point at the clubrooms. There were many areas of Auckland that I'd never seen (including some you probably wouldn't want to stop in) and after dropping one question as time was catching up on us, we arrived at the finish to enjoy a BBQ and chuckle at everyone's stories.

Eventual winners were Max and 99, who managed to answer all questions correctly and be amongst the first to arrive at the clubrooms.

Run to Puhoi

Despite a forecast of heavy rain, Sunday dawned fine but cloudy. Karen and I arrived at Silo Park (the old Tank farm) just after 8:30am for breakfast, meeting John who'd arrived a little earlier.

After a short walk alongside the nearby cafes and restaurants, Karen chose Jack Tars and we ordered breakfast. When it arrived, it was huge - I was defeated and could only manage about two-thirds of the total plated food.

Still with some time to kill before the 10:30 departure, we were joined by Steve and ambled along the waterfront, then decided to grab a ride on the tram circuit. This was the last day before the lines were being ripped up to be re-laid after the road has been lowered (don't ask me, it's all part of Auckland Council's loony grand plan).

At the end of the tram loop, we arrived to the greetings of the rest of our cohorts for the day, Bud & Thelma, Paul & Delia, and Brian & Bev. Instructions were given out for those who wanted to go on ahead and we departed Silo Park and headed across the Harbour Bridge to the Albany Bus Station where we picked up Martin & Monique.

From here we toured through Dairy Flat, then out to John's old stomping ground of Waitoki (where Ngaire joined us) and out the back roads to Wainui and over the hill into Puhoi. The last portion across Krippner road was true back country with many large water-filled pot-holes, but at least the damp conditions did mean there was little dust.

After a regroup (and congratulations or otherwise on road choice), we drove on and lunched at the Puhoi Valley Cheese Factory cafe. Being that breakfast was so large, Karen and I required not much. Paul however ordered the Ploughman's Platter, a large board with all manner of meats, crackers and cheese. It looked delicious and as there was none left, I guess it must have been.

From here we each made our way home, with some of us stopping in at the second-hand store in Puhoi to see if there were any bargains to be nabbed.