February 2012 Newsletter - KDA132

trip of three more or less equal days of about 175 – 180 kilometres
each. On contacting the Stewarts and George Urquhart they had
planned to make it two days so we were unable to travel in their
company but we thought we might return to Auckland with them.
In the event that was not to happen as Maureen’s sister in
Auckland was taken ill so the Stewarts had to return after only two
days in Wanganui. The amount of detail in the rally packs was a
wonder to behold. As there were 682 entrants in the rally, the field
was split into six groups each one colour coded with car numbers
and name swingers in the same coding. When it came to the hub
rallies it was obvious that this was necessary as if the organizers
had allowed all the entrants to visit say Marton on the same day,
the town would have been absolutely swamped. It worked well
and we were able to partake of the various facilities in each town
without any crowding and right through the two weeks, the locals’
interest seemed not to diminish in the slightest.
Lois and I had many conversations with café owners and petrol
station proprietors all of whom said that the upturn in level of
business brought by our presence was noticeable. This more than
justified the council sponsorship promoted by the former mayor
Michael Laws to the tune of $100,000.
It was estimated that some 22,000 bed nights alone would contribute
close to a quarter of a million dollars to the local economy. That
plus eleven breakfasts and eleven lunches and eleven dinners all
add up to a considerable boost to the local economy.
As to the rally itself, well it was three years in the making
and it really showed. Everything - and there were many, many
everythings, ran so very smoothly that the whole event was a
pleasure to be involved with. We had three hub rallies each week
making six in all to the towns of Marton, Feilding, Hawera, Ratana,
Hunterville and the most enjoyable – a run up the Whanganui river
to Jerusalem. Note the spelling of the river name. The locals have
decided, in the lack of official advice due to the Greens blocking
The Whanganui River near Jerusalem
any agreement, that, as the river is significant to the local tribes, it
should be spelt in the way of their choice but that they will retain
the long held spelling of the name of the town of Wanganui.
The Mk VI behaved immaculately, due largely to the detailed work
by Colin Gray, who spent many hours preparing the car, which is
now a very enjoyable car for long distance touring. In fact we
are considering driving down to Feilding in it for the A.G.M. at
Easter. The mechanicals are completely overhauled and the body
refurbishment is done from the front guards and bonnet to the rear
of the doors. The remaining body work and rear painting will be
done over next winter.
B119NY is an elegant addition to an already pretty street scene in
Wanganui
NZRR&BC Issue 12-2 13