Combined Clubs' Gymkhana

This is held at the Omana Reserve at Maraetai, it looks out to the Hauraki Gulf and is on a good day a beautiful site, and the 11th November was one of those the sun shone and the wind and rain stayed away.

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 our club had one involving water, and another with lifting tins with a billiard cue which seemed to be a lot of fun.

Each club runs its first event before lunch, and the second one after the cars usually proceed from one event to another, some are slow like guessing how many revolutions your wheel travels in a certain distance, to very fast slalom courses, where you sometimes have to get out and undo a spark plug or similar and put it back half way along.

Each year there seems to be fewer clubs making the effort to attend this picnic day out, the points scored this year gave the Morris Register the trophy, followed by the Chevrolet Club. Morris Minor, Ford 8 & 10 and the Chrysler contingent, some cars swap drivers so those that come in moderns can participate. I noticed that some had members from other clubs driving for them probably against the rules but it’s only a fun day out.

This year John and Janice came with their extended family driving a modern, a Model “A” and his Bright Yellow Ute as well as his Tourer which had a large dint in the front owing to having been hit by a Pukeko on the Far North VVCC run.

Harvey and Val with his Model Y; Bob and Gwen in their green Prefect and Bud and Thelma with their Prefect, Stephen (modern) and Ant and Karen in a modern.

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 the past one year we won it with two cars and three people.

The Great October Run

This took place on the 14th October a week earlier than usual owing to Labour weekend.

The run started from the Westgate Shopping Centre Car Park, at the end of the North Western Motorway, Massey. This is quite a large shopping area which in the future will get much larger as they have bought a big area on the other side of Highway 16.

Upon leaving here we traveled north along Highway 16, before turning into Old North Road, the next turn was into Peak Road, which takes you back to Highway 16. at Kaukapakapa. Followed this route passing all side roads until Makarau Road, this eventually leads through very scenic country side through valleys and hills, over the railway line at Woodcocks on to Warkworth. On the way were farms, forests, rivers and streams including several waterfalls.

The vehicles all met up again at the convenience car park in Warkworth, before going on to lunch a little further along the road, at a café looking out over the river. As it was quite windy we stayed inside instead of venturing on to the balcony.

Following lunch we made our way to the Warkworth and District Museum, which is in the country side just south of the town. This is a surprisingly good Museum and well worth a visit if you are passing through Warkworth a town most just pass through on their way north. But there is quite a bit to see and a well made walkway along the river.

After leaving here we traveled down S.H.1 turning off at the Puhoi turnoff, we were met at the store by Ted who escorted us to his home, where we were to drop off a reconditioned started motor for the Prefect he is restoring he also has a lovely red Austin that he has completed. A lot of time was spent in the very large garage workshop looking at the two cars. While there his wife Joy made everyone tea and coffee for afternoon tea and we had a interesting discussion about “Eels” how to catch them and smoke them.

For the final leg home some went by main road, while three went a back way, to Highway 16 and a reverse of the morning run. Those who went on this very interesting run were; Brian and Bev, Steven and his partner Irene, Paul and Delia, Thelma and Bud, and the organizers Harvey and Val.

Model A Invitation Run

This took place on Sunday the 19th August commencing from the Park just as you come into Waiuku. After a week of rain the day turned out fine if a little breezy.

After we arrived and met up with some of the friendly people of the Model "A" Club including Gavin Welch who was our Club’s President for a number of years, he was driving his Fathers Model A, we were handed out instructions sheets with the route interspersed with questions, Their questions were different from our’s in that they were on both sides of the road, however we managed to find most of them I think,then right at the bottom of the second sheet there were two questions one asking how many bridges we went over and the other how many Kms we had covered. (It pays to read all the sheets in advance).

We did a small drive around Waiuku then proceeded through country roads to Pollok, Matakawau, and Awhitu and onwards to South Head. The drive was very scenic and the country side fresh and green after all the rain we have been having lately, at one place they said if we looked hard enough we would see Australia, and at another look down if we dared, the bottom of the valleys are almost out of sight the hills are so steep.

Arriving at South Head Car Park all the cars lined up on both sides of the parking area, for lunch and to take a walk up the hill to see the Lighthouse which has been rebuilt at the top near the signal station. The lighthouse has been in several different sites, but is now back on the original site and has been restored it was not open when we were there, but sometimes it is. It is not now used as a working lighthouse.

On the opposite ridge about 100 metres away just below the crest is the signal station, it looks out over the Heads where the bar is clearly visible, it is a very narrow entrance way and it shifts all the time, it is a very dangerous entrance and a number of ships have come to grief there, with large loss of life.

Following lunch, we set off again following a new set of instructions, but without questions this time, turning off at Central Awhitu to follow Kemp Road, missing out Awhitu itself, and then turning off again at Pollok and going down Cemetery Road to Lees Gully Road (Did you see the Cemetery on the hill) to Te Toro, Waipipi and on through Waiuku.

Then we went out behind Pukekohe seeing two large Stationary Engines, going over a ford at the bottom of a steep hill, passing through small towns and market gardens until we reached the host of the days home (Paul and Louise) where there was a barbecue cooking sausages, to go with the chips, garlic bread, pizza cakes, and loaves etc; a real feast for everyone.

The host was a collector of all manner of things from models of vehicles, tins, tractors to be restored and 100’s of number plates. This was a long rally but very pleasant and interesting with a lot to see along the route. We would like to thank the Model "A" Club through Harvey Brewer for extending the invitation to us. Perhaps they may come to one of our Runs.

Those that went from our club were Harvey and Val, Paul and Delia, and Bud and Thelma.

Run to Orewa

This took place on Sunday 15th July the weather wasn’t marvelous it was dull and overcast with a cold wind blowing but it was a nice easy run through the countryside taking in Kumeu, Kaukapakapa, Waitoki, and coming out near the Silverdale on ramp to the Orewa Expressway, which comes into Orewa on the top side and makes its way onto State Highway 1 north of the main shops.

Those which attended were John and his friend Jim (Tourer), Ant and Karen, Thelma and Bud (Prefect) and the organizers Harvey and Val (Model Y) apologies were received from Chris, and Bob and Gwen.

During the run there were signs everywhere of the damage from the storm earlier in the week, mainly trees damaged and blown over there was a very large one down in the yard of the B&B at the intersection of the Parakai and Helensville Road they were lucky it ended up just short of the building, in some places later on whole rows of trees were down.

At Helensville the men headed for the Automania Model Shop, on the left just at the entrance to the main street. There are models of all manner of vehicles to make up, and already pre assembled.

Leaving there we drove to just short of Kaukapakapa where we turned to the right and proceeded to Waitoki, where the daily rain started but it did not last too long and had ceased by Silverdale, I felt sorry for all the bike riders who were out it, as it was cold as well.

The café we went to was called "Walnut Café" and was at the far end of town just before you start up the hill to Waiwera (well known for its hot pools). It was in very nice surroundings back off the road, it had wide verandahs in front and at the side where we had tables as we did not have a booking and it was very busy owing to a birthday party. (They were covered in with clear plastic covers and were quite cozy.)

Everyone ordered from the nice range available from cakes and pies to a good range of hot and cold dishes. The food that we received all looked and tasted very appetising.

After lots of talk and laughter we all dispersed our separate ways. Bud and I went down to the beach front and watched the wind surfers and their parachutes for some time there were a lot out as no people were swimming and they were all along the beach, in the wild and choppy surf.

Thanks to Harvey and Val for coming up with the route and the excellent café at the end, if you are into the coffee circuit this is one to check out.

Drive to Pine Harbour

This months run commenced at the Auckland Botanic Gardens in Manurewa a suburb south of Auckland, for those not familiar to Auckland it is where they hold the Ellerslie Flower Show Event in November (so named because it originally was held at Ellerslie Race Course).

The two sections of the run were put together by Janice and John Gardner. The first section was by suburban streets out to Redoubt Road which goes for a long way when you are looking for a Tuatara (a little blue lizard on a gate post). Eventually going by other roads past Ned Kelly made out of coloured drums to Whitford.

We then went past a bird garden some very smart houses in a big circle the “ford” was a road sign saying “Rutherford” back on the main road we turned into the Formosa Golf Resort, where the road ends at Pine Harbour, the Life Boat on display came off the Mikhail Lermontov and there were a lot of Norfolk Pines (everyone had a different answer to this).
Once in the Gateway restaurant we were seated together at two joined tables some of the meals took a little while to arrive but they were very busy as they were catering for another car club as well who had a large gathering. There was a small group in a tent affair playing live music outside it was pleasant to listen to.

After the meal the second part of the run took place with a tour through the streets of Beachlands this was in straight line navigation, after this the cars proceeded to Maraeti where we drove along the waterfront. Once back to the main road we proceeded to drive around the scenic coast line to Duders Beach, then turned inland to Clevedon, up West Road which included a very steep hill at the end. A couple more streets and we were back at the Botanic Gardens Car Park.

After a brief chat to everyone we all went our separate ways. We ourselves had a walk through the Gardens they had a brilliant display of poppies; there has been a lot of work done over recent times here if you are coming to Auckland they are well worth a visit.

Those that went on this run were Stephen and his friend Irene, (modern); Jim, a friend of John in his Zephyr Ute; Martin and his apprentice Josh (Y); Brian and Bev (modern) his car is almost ready; and Thelma and Bud (Prefect).

Thanks to John and Janice for doing this interesting run through areas you would not usually go, its always interesting to see different things.