What do you get if you put 40 people in 20 MG cars, throw in a couple of motels and add plenty of laughter? One magnificent fun filled MG weekend away.  We have just come back from one such weekend and it is a privilege and honour to be part of a wonderful group of people like Team Waikato.

We organise the motels, food and route but it is the members that put in the main ingredients to make it happen, so it makes us very humble when they show their appreciation by giving us gifts for the small part we played.

Gifts that we cherish and often look at and say to each other, remember when such and such happened on that trip.

This was going to be our last trip, but with encouragement from some of the members and the thought of not being part of it all, it is going to be once more round the block. I guess next year we will be saying the same thing again.

Our theme for this years run was for the ladies and we would like to thank Proform Plastics and the Cock & Bull for their sponsorship to help make it happen. Also a big thanks to the Evans-McLeod’s & the Wisneski’s for donating prizes for our competitions.

A special thanks to Patrick & Janice, Ruth & David, Pam & Peter for doing the write up for the Mag.

Day One by Patrick Evans-McLeod:

MooLoo Ole Ole Ole

We are off on another well organised Team Waikato run to Napier, a ladies weekend with a romantic theme, cars in Waikato colours with the new improved ribbons courtesy of Lyn as well a small surprise package for the ladies with more surprises to come. Also the ladies were given their first poker card for the trip.

Seventeen cars at Ohaupo for a 2:00pm start that went at 2:30 and 2 more picked up en route at Te Awamutu. One more arrived at 8:00, had to work, made up the 20 cars. Another member arrived in Taihape by bus at 3:00am. Keen not to miss out.

Travelling through the lush meadows of the Waikato then the rolling hills closer to Taumarunui. A toilet stop here with queues galore then on via National Park with the mountains glistening with the last of the winter snow. Keep the eyes on the road please, live to see more scenery.

Ohakune and the carrot beckoning – Waiouru museum, lest we forget.

Then Taihape and the Aspen Motel, what Benson already here with the wine, cheese & crackers open with tasty trout to share. The second poker card was given out as members started to mingle.

A congenial hour then a surprise for Janice, a negligee – black – apparently for my benefit. Not all were in on the joke as not all spent two hours at the Cock & Bull after the previous run.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately no modelling occurred. (That’s what he tells us)

Once the laughter had died down more drinks then off next door to Gumboot Manor for a robust well priced country meal, then retiring to bed.

Motel great with the added feature of trains travelling though the units at regular intervals, at least that’s what it felt like.

Hey Lyn the ribbons have still survived.

Day Two by Ruth & David Benson

The day started with the cars being lined up for a photo session after a great night in an excellent motel. One top MG man picked up his lady at 3:00am from the bus so she could join us. The third card was handed out and we headed off for Fielding and it wasn’t long before number 46, the Roys still sporting their number from the Mainland Rally, improved his grid start position with shock horrors his hood up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then tail end Charlie stopped at a look out point to enjoy the view and found he wasn’t at the end of the field.

After winding out of the Taihape hills we burst onto the Manawatu Plains and regrouped at Fielding.

It was here the Wisneski Dress of Elegance at breakfast prize, A Jack Daniels V8 cap, was awarded to Joanne for her T-Shirt with a body in a bikini printed on it.

It was also decided to rename the three Dave’s on the run to avoid further confusion. They are now Benson, Old Dave and Jack and the second Jack D cap was given to Jack Hawkins so he could remember he was no longer a Dave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fourth poker card was given out.

Here we had a comfort stop, shopping and coffee before proceeding on the road to Napier.

From here we all passed the windmill farm, the miniature horses and the milk train before a group catch up when the Wisneski’s discovered an electrical problem.

After much discussion and several committee meetings the problem did not change but they were able to carry on. Nothing we are sure a cheque book can’t sort out.

The turn off to Noreswood was well worth while and we improved the local economy by purchases made.

There were many wineries to visit as the delight of local wines were sampled before arriving at the Shoreline Motel on the sea shore at Napier’s Marine Parade.

Everyone re grouped at 5:00 at the motel for drinks and the next lot of competitions and lots of fun.

The award for the most enthusiastic MG member of the weekend went to Joy for arriving on a bus in Taihape at 3:00am to catch up with the convoy. 

Then one by one the ladies had to stand up and tell what was the most romantic thing their partner have ever done for them, they were competing for the Evans-McLeod trophy.

When it came time for Janeen’s turn she was forced to tell the group that Mike and she were celebrating their twenty-ninth wedding anniversary that weekend. They were presented with a bottle of bubbles for their happy occasion.

There was keen competition for the trophy (two bottles of wine) which was won by Pam with her romantic revelations, Peter sang her special song to us all.

We were able to walk to the Cosmopolitan Club for evening meal with sea views. Before dinner Garry gave out a prize for a lucky number plate which was won by Peter.

Also it was time to find out who was the best gentleman on the run and the ladies were asked how many times their man had opened the door for them. It came down to two, Barry & Ray, but the judges went for Barry when Sue told them he had shared his sandwich with her at lunch time.

There could be a protest as it turns out the left hand door of the Tervit’s BGT developed a problem and could not be unlocked from the inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick spoke for all when he thanked Lyn & Garry for organising such a great weekend.

The spa baths in the rooms beckoned and a lot of members returned to the motel.

The rest went downstairs to the bar which was having a Bavarian evening and as our members were now primed after pre-dinner & dinner refreshments they were the life & soul of the entertainment.

One of the challenges of the night was for Lyn and Colleen to insert a golf ball up poor Mark’s trouser leg up and over and down the other leg. I understand that many hands were guiding the passage of the ball.

Three of the male members had to pass a lemon to each other which was tucked under the chin and hands were not allowed to be used.

It was reported in the morning that Camp Mother bent the key to her motel room which broke when it was being straightened.

Also in the morning it was noticed Joanne was confusing their MGB with a logging truck as she loaded it up with driftwood.

Day three by Pam & Peter Woodhams

The day started off with members packing up and booking out of the motel. Then it was groups at different locations enjoying breakfast or coffees before meeting on the out skirt of Napier at 11:00.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the meeting place the last poker hand was given out and the lucky winners of the sixty dollar voucher at the C&B were Jenny & Jack (Dave) Hawkins.

Jack then read out some amusing assessments he had done on the group before we headed off towards Taupo.

On the way home Don & Colleen found you need the high tension lead firmly fixed for continuos motoring.

Just before Taupo there was a mob of cattle on the road which held up several MGs while it was sorted. Well being sorted we mean leaving Patrick (poor Janice) to make sure the cattle did not come out of hiding in the pines and wander on to the busy highway again while locals phoned round looking for the owner.

You see Patrick used to watch Raw Hide.

We arrived in Taupo for lunch and shopping before assembling at the Kinlock turn off for the final lap.

A well deserved presentation was made to Lyn & Garry in recognition of all their hard work and a big thankyou for a wonderful weekend.

On the way home way out in the sticks we actually had to stop at some traffic lights for what seemed ages. Turns out it was road works.

We reached the tour end at Kihikihi and time for good byes.

Members started to depart and Ray pulled out in front of two cars, don’t worry he one by a nose.