The club recently celebrated it's 30th anniversary with a weekend of gatherings, and reuniting with past members. On Saturday night, approximately 50 past and present members enjoyed a dinner and the chance to reminisce about days gone by.
Founding members Murray Richards and Gary Kelly, with Life Member Estelle Sinclair.
Some of the past and current members at the anniversary dinner.
This was the first General Meeting to be held at the new clubrooms. What a difference to be able to make tea and coffee on demand, along with heating pre-frozen savouries.
Apologies were submitted, and the minutes from the previous meeting were accepted as read. Ant rambled on about the process involved acquiring the new building at Kellow Place and the hours that several members invested to ensure the move happened inside the short time required.
This year two trophies were presented. Bob Cleland was awarded the Road Runner Cup for the most enjoyable run; this was for the rally around the Pukekohe / Pokeno / Rangiriri area late last year. The Most Dedicated Member trophy was this year awarded to all those members who assisted with the shift from Pooks Rd to Kellow Pl. Every member involved contributed in their own way and this year the trophy recognises the efforts of all involved.
The sitting committee then retired; nominations were called for and in some cases voting took place to determine the new committee for the coming year. Details of the new committee can be viewed inside the front cover of this magazine.
The floor was opened for general business, and discussion took place around the need for the committee to structure itself slightly differently to spread the load a little. Those members present agreed to allow the committee to discuss and assign these new positions as it sees fit.
The meeting closed, members then had the opportunity to chat amongst themselves whilst munching on hot savouries and having the odd cup of tea or coffee.
This took place on the 28th of July at the Claudelands Event Centre Grounds the actual event centre in the last few years is undergoing massive rebuilding and the cars are not in one place as before but spread out around the grounds at the rear of the building. As we do not know who is coming and all arrive at different times our little cars are scattered about and not in one area so we cannot put on a proper display.
When we arrived at the BP Service centre at Drury there were no other cars there so as we knew John was going a phone call to Janice confirmed they were already on their way down, so we departed for Hamilton. We took down the clubs large stationary flags plus the individual windscreen banners, which we gave to members who did not already have one to keep, to use at any future events they go to. It was a very nice day, with the sun shining and little wind; there were a lot of cars and people and several very expensive food stalls. A lot of people looked at our vehicles and we made contact with several prospective new members and two people (non-members) asked about selling their cars.
The crowd started to thin out about 2pm and the prizes were given out, during the day an official came and gave Bud a bottle of Amorall Protectant Gel 500mm for us being with our vehicle to answer the public's questions. After the event was over we went and had lunch at the Cooks Restaurant, this is the 2nd oldest building in Hamilton.
All and all this was a worthwhile day as we met two prospective members who we gave membership forms to, old members we only see here and have two cars that members can possibly purchase.
Thelma
This interesting night run was organized by Martin Healy and started at the Club Rooms, around 6.30pm.
After leaving the club rooms the instructions took us to Great South Road, along past where the old ferry used to be up on blocks (now completely gone) past the Happy Days Restaurant with the bright green Neon lights, then into back streets between the Great South Road and the Southern Motorway to Hill Road, which took us across the Motorway at Manurewa past the Botanic Gardens down the hill to Alfriston School.
At this point we turned right and then left along a road which was quite dark to a T junction where we want right again to follow the route over the railway line into Papakura, all the time we had to think of questions Martin might ask us when we got back.
In Papakura we went along past the Big Grocery Store around past the Police Station, turned right, around the round-a-bout right through the town to the new McDonald's, opposite Foodtown where we stopped for hamburgers and Coffee etc.
Karen came in with Ant she had been to Hamilton to the car racing. He had waited back for her at the start.
After the stop at Papakura we continued along Great South Road under the motorway and turned towards Weymouth on Mahia Road. Then on a series of roads that took us back to the Club Rooms.
On the way we were supposed to think what the answers to the questions were going to be, that Martin was later asking us to determine the winner. Eventually we arrived back at the Club Rooms and had coffee while Martin asked the questions, which decided who was the most observant on the run, like what colour were the neon lights at “Happy Days” and how many speed humps on a certain road. I forgot to write down who won but I am pretty sure it was Ant and Karen, and also John and Janice were up there as well.
Those who came along were Ant and Karen, Chris, John and Janice, Bud and Thelma, Steven, and Martin and his friend Josh. This is the first time we have had a night run for a long time, as having somewhere lit to leave and come back to was not feasible before. The run was all on mainly secondary roads and side roads so we kept completely off the motorway system all together which was good.
Thelma
