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.

Phil's Fun Run

This took place on Sunday the 25th from Westhaven Drive which is along the waterfront towards the Harbour Bridge and the meeting spot looked out across the Marina with all it’s millions of dollars of pleasure boats towards Auckland city and its high-rise buildings and with the Sky Tower prominent amongst them.

This was put on by the Morris Register Club and they had by our standards a very good turn out of vehicles of all types, we managed to swell their number by four vehicles, two modern, Brian and Bev, and Bud and Thelma, and two club cars, Chris and Mel with his daughter Allison, and Martin both in Model Y’s.

This run was different to all others we have ever been on it consisted of a series of parts of photos, and you had to drive around in a radius of the inner city area Grafton Bridge was the outer circle and identify the picture and where it was taken. This was a good tour of the area most people avoid owing to lack of parking around Britomart, the Vector Arena, cranes on the Container Wharves, Parnell Cathedral, The Rose Gardens, the Museum, Central Fire Station, The Civic Theatre, The Art Gallery, Victoria Markets Chimney, The Bird Cage Tavern, to mention just a few. This was a rally with a difference and was very interesting and scenic and covered such a short area.

After the run people sat around and ate their lunch while the papers were marked, we did not participate in the prizes, but most did reasonably well.

We would like to thank the Morris people for allowing us to participate with them, it’s a while since we have done so, and we extend an invitation to them to come on our runs.

April Picnic

Took place on Sunday the 27th April perhaps a little late in the year for such an event, but it was cancelled the week before for those people who wished to attend the street racing in Hamilton. Those that went to the racing all said it was great.

Those who turned up in front of the Observatory in One Tree Hill Park, were Brian and Bev in their club car. All the others were in moderns - Ant and Karen, Karen’s daughter Sarah with Hayden who is talking and walking well, Paul and Delia, and Bud and Thelma (apologies were received from John and Janice who had paid for a run with The VVCC which included dinner) and I passed Harvey and Val's Y going south on Saturday.

As it looked like it was going to be a deluge in the next little while the group all adjourned to Ollie’s Ice Cream parlor, for the rest of the time. The parlor is right on the roundabout at Royal Oak it is two lanes and 5 streets merging a very busy intersection.

Quite a few sundaes, bowls of chips, hamburgers and coffee later, and playing on game machines the group dispersed, to make their individual way home.

Easter Experience

We had 3 Prefects, 3 Y’s and 2 Mini’s to start with and were later joined by 3 Popular’s (one Zephyr powered) and 1 Fordson (V6 Powered). All we needed were a 100E or three to complete our range of marques, are these in the club?

We had an excellent run through back roads to Hamilton and lunch at the lakeside. Harvey and Val became separated from the main group through uncertainty over road signs that had been vandalized at Thackeray Street, lost too much time obtaining oil and trying to get out of Hamilton with inadequate road signage and an out of date map and no compass! A used-up prepay cell phone etc so went straight to Cambridge and motorcamp. Very nice here with amazingly few guests for a fine Easter, so we had it largely to ourselves. The rest of the group arrived shortly afterwards and it was community fish and chips or hot dog, or hamburger and chips for the first night.

Next morning Ray and Ollie from Cambridge ran the day’s trip through back country roads east of Hamilton. Very enjoyable, never been there before, there was a quiz as well, very challenging, but Harvey mucked up the directions and had to make another mercy dash back to the motor camp to save time having lost a lot. To the Prince Albert restaurant for a-la-carte dinner that night, good ambience and food there.

Up early next morning for Steve and Cazna Payne’s run which was by devious routes to the awesome Early N.Z. museum at Tirau, a look around the antique and craft shops and then on to Putaruru to an interesting early car display housed in "Burger King" style "50's" décor (this building used to be the post office). Then to a hydro-station at Arapuni and around Mangatautiri Mountain and back to Cambridge by devious routes. Some of the lads went over to Te Awamutu to view Steve’s workshops and cars then a dash back to clean up for dinner at the Riverside Diner for a smorgasbord meal, hosted and entertained by Gerry Merito, late of the Howard Morrison Quartet. Prize giving happened as well for the previous days quiz with Chris Kite taking the honours for accuracy and diligence.

On Monday it was home again by more devious and scenic routes, popping out on to S.H.1 just north of the old Meremere Power Station. Many thanks to Ant and Karen, Ray and Ollie, Steve and Cazna for their hard work, good ideas and a successful weekend!

Harvey.

Easter Rally Photos 2008 - Day 3

Parked at the museum just south of Tirau:




Crossing the swing bridge at Arapuni:


Parked at Arapuni:


Crossing the Arapuni dam:




All images are clickable for a larger view, and further images are available here.