Winter Run Report

Winter Run Report

Organised by Dave and Pam Dacombe, this year’s Winter Run was held on Sunday 18th July. Both the start point and finish destination was our very own Cutler Park – ideal, because it coincided with our regular OCBC (Old Cars, Bike and Coffee) meeting for the start, and finished at the Barn where we could enjoy our lunch with a nice warm fire going. As has been mentioned elsewhere, OCBC mustered another great turnout, especially considering it was the middle of winter. Unfortunately, although it was warmish for us on our side of the southern Alps, but Westport and Marlborough were underwater! OCBC proved a perfect start-point for the run, not only because there was a coffee van there, but because there were a lot of people and cars there – probably three or four times the number of cars that came on the run. A great opportunity to mix and mingle before the run got underway. As we were handed out our instructions soon after 10.30, I overheard one member (who at that time I didn’t know) ask if the instructions were difficult, because he was by himself. I was also by myself, so I offered to navigate for him, which he readily accepted. It turned out to be Alec Marshall, who joined our Branch as a new member three months ago. He has a 1932 Alvis sedan in very original condition, which many years ago was his father’s car, so as we made our way along the plotted route, I was able to learn a lot about the car, and get to know Alec at the same time. The car was bought by his father in 1958, and it was used as the family car in England for two years until it broke down with magneto trouble. Alec’s father attempted to repair it, but gave up and parked the car in a garage, where it had remained for all of 60 or so years, until very recently. Alec migrated to NZ many, many years ago to pursue his career in medicine, but finally the time came where it was necessary to deal with the old car back in the UK. He decided to have it sent to NZ, and then had to deal with the logistics of getting it here. He commissioned a mechanic back in the UK to get the car running again so it could be shipped back, and then once

here, he sent it to Auto Restorations to look after making it roadworthy and to get it through compliance and registration. It’s now roadworthy and there is still work to be done, but it’s an original car with much of its original paint and leather interior, so Alec’s preference is just to get it looking respectable and to ensure it is reliable, without destroying the originality. The run took us west from McLeans Island, through Weedons and onto the new southern motorway at Weedons Ross Road. From there we went into town via Gasson Street, then north through Avonside, Burwood and Marshland, before returning to Cutler Park on the new Northern Corridor and through Northcote. It was interesting to see how out-of-place vehicles like Model A and T Fords look on the new motorways, the good thing being there is plenty of visibility and room for overtaking traffic (or to be precise ‘being overtaken’). It was also good to see a number of motorists and pedestrians giving us the thumbs-up or waving as they went past. On arrival back at the Barn, the fire was roaring, and the room was full of happy people enjoying their lunch. All up an enjoyable day – what else is there better to do on a cold winter’s day? Thanks David and Pam for a good run with clear and correct instructions, and thanks Alec too for the ride.

Colin Hey