4:15pm and eighteen MG's & thirty six people converge on the Harvey Norman car park at Te Rapa on a sunny Friday afternoon for the start of the "MG Team Waikato 10th Birthday Tour".

Our ever efficient organisers, Garry & Lyn, hand out personalised booklets with instructions, maps, phone lists, and a useful document issued by M G Rhodes of the Department of Travel & Fun, granting permission to travel over and beyond the Bombay Hills.

Name tag to be worn at all times, WPC Laimbeer to police & fine guilty members.

Garry draws our name out of a hat but my excitement at being the winner soon subsides when I discover we have not won the raffle but rather the dubious honour at being the official scribe for Day One.

At 4:30 the convoy heads northwards for our first stop in Drury. Stage one goes smoothly, though the Studer's decide on a detour the wrong way round a traffic island.

At Murphy's Law Irish Pub we are greeted by northern Team Waikato members Graham & Mary Sweet.

We socialise over a few drinks and a superbly cooked barbequed dinner - why does our barbequed steak never taste like that at home?

We hit the road again shortly after 7:00pm for Stage 2, Drury to Warkworth. It is a great run through Auckland over the Harbour Bridge with the evening sun gleaming on the Harbour and over the impressive new Toll Road with its viaducts and tunnel. We check into the Walton Park Motor Lodge and find the last members of the group, the Gerring's & the Hawkins, already in residence. The little bags of chocolates tied with Waikato ribbons are a welcoming touch.

A few people head up the road to check out the local pub, while others gather in the motel bar, which is decorated with red, black and yellow balloons in our honour.

The table football proves a big attraction, especially with the males, who in time honoured Kiwi tradition, gather at one end of the bar while the ladies occupy the other.

9:30am start to the day, Police Lady on duty and Mark & Joanne missing for the drivers brief.

Dave announced that it was Frances birthday or should I say our MG Paris Hilton Baskerville. Just love that Pink Paris Hilton Handbag. Rule is like name tag, must have handbag with her at all times and WPC to keep lawful eye on her.

Convoy departs on a perfect MG day and we weave our way through Dome Valley on through Wellsford home for corrugated iron animal sculptures.
I am thinking something about these MG cars making ones way through the countryside - the sense of freedom and especially if you're going topless (car that is). The smell of the countryside and then the ocean is some what intoxicating.

Langs beach & Waipu Cove simply beautiful white sandy beaches.

Just after 10:30am time for a coffee stop in Waipu.

So who was it that turned his car upside down looking for ones name tag? Did you not think to look on your sleeve Mike?

One group of members were sitting outside under a tree enjoying each others company and the coffee when something from the tree above fell into a saucer below. Shane bet you are glad cows don't fly? Sorry about your coffee but I am thinking you got pooped.

A local thanks us for shopping in Waipu - loved the cars and the sound they make. She thinks I am a real reporter as I have on the MG Tour Reporter tag.

We regroup at the old Fire Station at 11:00am, grid start and we are off.

Dave was spotted rubbing an old pump at the meeting place, we think he was looking for a genie to appear.

We leave the costal beaches and head inland meandering our way past life style blocks, farms and through Paparoa on to Matakohe House for lunch.

As if the salad wasn't enough out comes the chocolate slice & wee sponge cakes topped with cream and a strawberry for us to eat. Oh dear, there goes the waists.

After lunch it was up to the Matakohe Kauri Museum where one was transported back in time to the era of the mighty kauri industry.

There were some members who were hoping for some action in the guest house!! - ladies hanging off the balconies. The only taker being David Benson.

There were members clearly lost in thought while going through the museum.

Those who got lost were the readers (the ones who read everything).

The Dreamers (the mechanical minded who knew how every piece came together & worked).

There were those who didn't want to leave and some who left early - what are they up to?

Never, never follow the Hemmings, they will lead you up the garden path or should I say a dead end street.

The 10th anniversary dinner started with a DVD diary of the beginning of and past trips of "MG Team Waikato."

Noted was a very smart MG team in matching attire.

The event moved on to It's in the Bag where a very attractive Tenika (also known as Mike) appeared. She was as normal the fashion statement of the day with lovely green feathers, purple bow and green eye make up. Her stunning figure was noted.

Fatu Good (aka Garry) picked names from the bag. They were asked multiple choice questions.

Answered correctly, the MGers were invited to choose from the money or the bag. Prizes ranged from $100 dinner voucher to a Love Fantasy Set.
Moo Loo bell rang to indicate the end of the session.

The team then moved to dinner, where Garry, after being asked how "MG Team Waikato" started, described his dream of getting it going when he was challenged by Sue Martin to form a group in the Waikato. Nearly two years later while standing by "Old No 1" heard Sue's words again and decided to do it.

Garry announced that there was a lucky placemat which had a sponsors name stuck on the back of it. Everyone turned over their placemat to reveal Jan Gerring as the winner and she was presented with a $30 MTA voucher.

Of the five founding couples three were present and talked about their memories of early days with the club. Each of them were presented with gifts in recognition.

It was noted that it was exactly ten years to the day (7th Nov 1999) that "MG Team Waikato" had their first run which was to Lake Ngaroto.

A pleasant evening wound up with the team taking their specially made MG placemats and coasters in commemoration of the anniversary.

In true Waikato spirit MC Mike closed the dinner session by declaring "Take your placemats and p--- off".

A gentler 10:00am start allowed a lie in after the festivities last night, except for the keen types who arose early to watch the Rugby.

Fortified by breakfast, well most of us, "MG Team Waikato" gathered for group photos at the Motel before departing Warkworth.

The convoy slowed briefly by the ford for individual action photos before wending our way through the countryside to Kaukapakapa, sharing part of our route with a local cycle race.

All went swimmingly until the turnoff into Taylor Road, signpost missing, which was missed by the lead car, followed blindly by several more cars. An about turn was agreed and then the turning was missed again to the confusion of other MG's who had understood the directions and the amusement of several cyclists.

The refreshment stop at Huapai was reached by all. After restorative coffee Team Waikato proceeded to Papatoetoe for a great lunch at the Cosmopolitan Club.

WPC Laimbeer read out the charges she had noted and camp mother collected the fines.

After farewelling some members the remainder called in at the Cock & Bull to share a final drink at the end of another hugely enjoyable "MG Team Waikato" weekend.

Frances

A big thanks to the members for attending this Birthday Tour and making it such a great occasion and a very big thank you to Louise, Joanne, Graham & Frances for doing the write up for the MaG.

A very big thank you to Janeen & Mike for their help and input to the tour plus thanks to Shane & Sheryl and Patrick & Janice for their help on Saturday Night and for not telling others what we were up to.

We would also like to thank our sponsors especially Orthotic House & Proform Plastics, if it wasn't for their generosity the weekend would have been totally different.

On behalf of Shane & Sheryl and Dave & Joy, Lyn & I would like to take the opportunity to give a very special thanks to all the people who gave so generously towards the really lovely gifts to mark the occasion, as we are the remaining founding members of "MG Team Waikato," and to Mike for his kind words during the presentation.

I think Dave's comments to me just after the presentation summed it up "I am very humble and had tears in my eyes."

Looking forward to the party when "MG Team Waikato" reaches its next milestone and becomes a teenager.

Go to the MG Team Waikato web site Events Gallery to see the rest of the photos..

Those who attended the Tour were: