Notes from the Breakfast Run

This took place on Sunday 20th May commencing approximately 8.45am with a Buffet Breakfast held at the ex "Springs Restaurant" now called Happy Days which is situated opposite the very nice Westerns Springs park which has a lake in the centre. This lake was the early source of Auckland’s water, the Pump house is now part of the exhibition buildings at Motat just along the road.

The meal cost $12.90 per person, and had various types of porridge and cereal, a selection of hot food like bacon, beans, sausages, hash browns, omelet, kidney etc. Juices, toast and various spreads, and of course a tea and coffee dispenser of different styles.

Those at breakfast were Paul and Delia; Ant and Karen and daughter Sarah with son Hayden; Ngaire; John and Janice, and Bud and Thelma.

After breakfast we were joined by Chris with his friend Mel for a short run devised by Ant through the suburbs to Parker Avenue in New Lynn where West Lynn Gardens are situated.

This is a garden planted on a site where there used to be a nursery, it is run by volunteers. Part of the attraction is a nice building with clear sides, fully enclosed from the weather where they raise Monarch Butterflies. As well there are paths wandering in and out of various levels with of plantings of camellias, azaleas, maples with larger trees as well.

After everyone had wandered about the gardens and made friends with the resident cat we all dispersed our separate ways.

City Run

The run this month was around parts of Auckland where we seldom go commencing from the old Central Railway at the Strand in Parnell. This has now been converted into accommodation for students, the railway lines have been extended into Auckland to the Britomart Transport centre and is a new underground railway station built.

Those who came on this run on a lovely warm sunny day were Paul and Delia, (Prefect) Chris and daughter Ellie (Ford Y,) Bob and Gwen, Thelma and Bud, (Prefect) Ant and Karen the organizers with apologies received from John and Janice.

The run took us along the waterfront past the new Vectra Stadium, Ferry Buildings, to Victoria Park, then to Franklin Road a tree lined street where at Christmas the households compete to put on the best Christmas Light Display it makes for a marvelous sight, into Ponsonby, where we commenced a page of the dreaded straight line navigation around the back streets.

The properties in these narrow tree lined streets with traffic blocks all the way along are very sought after, and huge amounts are paid for them, they are very often done up inside to a very modern standard the only thing remaining of the original dwelling is the fronts, very few of them have a garage or room for one so the cars are parked on the street which does not allow for a lot of passing space.

Eventually we made our way along Meola Road past the Keith Park part of Motat where the Airplanes are housed and where the Galaxy of cars is held in February, to Pt Chevalier Road traveling down it we came to a Café just before Coyle Park, a large open park for picnics and walking which is an entrance way to the nice inner harbour beach of Pt Chevalier.

At the Café the early arrivals had secured a large area in the corner, which was big enough for all to sit around the tables and have a pleasant time together over coffee and snacks of the buyer’s choice.

Eventually the gathering broke up and made their individual way home, a few were going to watch the racing at Pukekohe on the TV, others went for a walk along the beach in the sun before going home.

All in all it was a nice small run in an area you don’t normally go to, as it is not one of the main routes to anywhere.

On this run Paul and Delia had their very nice green Prefect which Paul has had for about two years, he has been overhauling the motor and getting it to a excellent standard, it was the first major run it has been on. Delia is not so sure of the absence of seat belts. It has a very low mileage and is original right down to the working wing signals. Paul is not sure if he is being seen so uses hand signals as well, as no one thinks to look at window level half way down the car for a signal.

Harvey's Run

This was the official run for March there are a lot of other events on this month but this was the clubs chosen event.

The cars assembled just over the railway line at Papakura on a grey cloudy day with rain threatening, after the usual chatting to each other and comparing notes the vehicles departed towards Clevedon our first stop, where we were to look at the Sunday Market, Harvey did not realize there were two markets open one a gift and hand made items type in the local hall and the other a farmers market, most people wanted to go to the farmers market so after a quick look in the hall most made their way back to the farmers market, to see the breads, honey, vegetables, smoked salmon, hand pressed olive oil, etc.

After this we were going to the Museum Harvey had seen advertised (the McNicholl Homestead) but the first people to drive up the side road came back to report it was closed, so we continued on to Kawakawa Bay where we parked in the picnic area for morning tea. There was a large gathering of ducks to assist us eating our food, when they were sure there was no more left they abandoned us in favor of a newly arrived group.

The daily rain started just as we drove out toward Kaiaua, our wipers were not going so well so it was a relief that it was more drizzle than the heavy rain we had been expericing during the week by the time we pulled into the car park next to the very busy Fish and Chip shop it had eased off. For those out side Auckland this shop has a reputation as being the best shop in the area with fresh fish caught I imagine in the Firth of Thames which we had been driving alongside for a lot of the way.

After purchasing our bundle in paper we adjourned to the park to join up with those who had brought picnic lunches.
Some of the party left the group here as they had other engagements in the afternoon, but they had enjoyed the run.

From here we went past the bird sanctuary, where birds from as far away as Siberia come in over the summer a lot of people take walking trips to see the birds, past the Hot Pools at Miranda to Waitakaruru, where there is a Antique type shop each time I go in there I think they have more stuff, I don’t know if they ever sell anything.

While there a group of people who had seen the cars stopped and talked to members and looked at the cars they were very interested in them and also to find out what the smell they had been encountering on their travels (ensilage). After I left a gentleman approached Terry to ask about the cars and told him he had a 7Y.

From here people had the option of returning the same way they had come or to go on the Thames Road towards Auckland, turning off just past Mangatawhiri going down Lyons Road towards the Hotel De Vin a very posh establishment, they have weddings there, and a helicopter pad where guests can arrive.

After driving up the winding hills you come out at Hunua Village then proceed down through the bush and fern clad gorge back to Papakura.

The attendance on this run was the best we have had for some time, in club cars were Philip and Pat, Harvey and Val (organizer) Martin accompanied by Terry and daughter Brenda, John and Janice, and two granddaughters, and their friend Jim who came in his club car a Javelin, Chris and lady friend Mel, Bob and Gwen accompanied by a Japanese visitor, Bud and Thelma, and in modern cars Ant and Karen, and Paul and Delia.

Galaxy of Cars

This is held each year by the Lions Club as a fund raiser for charity at the airplane section of Motat opposite the zoo, the hangers are open and you can look at the planes stored there. They have displays of stationery engines, a swapmeet, a band plays during the day and lots and lots of cars come from all the various car clubs right from the early 1900’s.

This year there were a large number of cars probably to the brilliant sunny weather with almost no wind the gazebo’s were up in force some years we have not been able to erect ours owing to the stiff breeze blowing. We held the first committee meeting under it later in the day most of the committee were present, also some of the club members.


The steam train was operating during the day taking children and adults back in time with a short ride the stretch of track is not long but I notice that the extension to the tram track is almost open it will go from the main buildings of Motat on Great North Road along almost to the zoo gates before going across Motions road down to the main hanger in the airplane section lights have been installed on Motions Road which I presume will stop traffic as the tram crosses.

Martin brought the swapmeet parts from the Parts Shed and set them up along with his pieces and Bud helped him most of the day, the club selling about $75 of odd parts people had donated along with Ford spares. Thanks to Martin for collecting up and bringing them in and taking unsold parts back.


We had a good range of vehicles there this year, more Prefects than others but different cars than other years which was good, a lot of people looked at them and George a member from Kaitaia took a club application form for a person up there who has just acquired one.

Dennis Owens’s 1946 Ford 10 made it under it’s own stream this year it broke down on the way last year, he has a collection of cars of various types.

We did not win any of the presentations this year John was hoping his 1949 Australian Anglia Tourer might win one. But there were a lot of cars there this year more than usual.

Kumeu Classic Car Day

This took place for the club cars on the Sunday the event covers both Saturday and Sunday but the club cars mainly go on a Sunday. Some of the members go both days to see what they can find in the swapmeet, apparently there were very lean pickings for out type of cars this year. Martin went to the club rooms and picked up our swapmeet things we have collected over a period from various donations and took them there along with his and his flat mates.

Once we had arrived with our cars Bud went across and sorted them out into a group to sell over a period Martin and him managed to sell a small amount for funds. There certainly is a vast number of stalls and parts of all description on offer, old classic cars in varying stages of restoration on trailers etc. being offered for sale.


The band played all day on the stage they were quite good I listened for a while, near them there was a bell on a pole which required very strong people to hit a spring with a large sledge hammer to see if they could move the marker up to hit it, that was entertaining to watch as people thought they were stronger than they were.

There were all manner of food stalls and several bars. I saw in the paper someone rode a motor bike into one and did a wheelie hitting several children the police were not impressed. A helicopter was doing a brisk trade at $50 a ride from the show rink itself it was taking off and landing all day.

There were the usual very flash Hot Rods in the buildings beautifully painted and upholstered, some are really magnificent there did not seem to be so many out side as usual but there were quite a few car clubs there with their vehicles. We had the usual number of people looking at our cars saying a member of their family used to have one at some time I think everyone in NZ owned a Prefect.


I saw a number of past and present members there, Bernie Engleback, Brian Coutts, the Gold Family who were selling their two partly finished Y’s and Brian Bracey. John Gardner also rang later to say that the Chaplin Family apparently arrived at the departure spot late after we left, with their Prefect and two Cortina’s and were placed in another area when they got to Kumeu unfortunately.