The Radiator Cap August 2019

R’OILCAN RALLY
A
s the Waitemata branch’s R’oilcan Rally was heading north this year, Brendda
and I decided to join in. We had a chilly 7.00 a.m. start from the Dairy Flat air
port, conforming to the rule that all vehicles participating must have their hoods
down for the duration of the rally. At the briefing we were advised that applications to
raise the hood at any stage during the event could be made, in triplicate, to the organisers
but approval may not necessarily be given.
Motoring north to Waiwera, with a clear sky dawning, we then followed much of the same
route the Winter
Woollies took just a
week earlier. An early
challenge was staying
on the road as both
sides of the windscreen
fogged up
climbing the hills.
Sunstrike added to
the fun. Dropping into
second gear eased
the load on the engine,
allowing the vacuum
wiper to do its
best on the outside.
The potholes had not received any attention since we had last driven these roads. We departed
from the Winter Woollies route on Old Wookcocks Rd, taking Old Kaipara Rd, passing
a small group surreptitiously trying to extricate their vehicle from the drain unnoticed,
before climbing Smythe Rd to follow the road through the Mahurangi Forest, emerging on
SH 1 in the Dome Valley.
Morning tea, with welcome hot soup, was at Tomarata School. From there we headed
north over Ryan and Pritchard Rds and took Cove Rd through to Waipu Cove. We diverted
around through McLean Rd, passed through Waipu and straight across SH 1 to follow the
road up past the Waipu Caves, emerging briefly onto SH 1 at Mangapai before heading for
the lunch stop at the Maungakaramea Rugby Club.
The afternoon run took us across to Maungatapere then north to the Hikurangi Swamp area
where we took a private farm road along the top of the stopbanks, emerging close to
Hikurangi. From there we motored out toward Whananaki North before turning south to
finally come on to the Ngunguru – Whangarei Rd then heading for our accommodation at
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