March 2017 – West Coast Rally
Friday 17th March
The previous weekend had floods and, as I write, next weekend looks to be pretty bad as well. However, someone was looking after us travellers as we had a great weekend of weather which was just as well because Port Waikato and Manukau Harbour are not places to be in bad weather!
Twenty Club members plus 22 from the Auckland Jaguar Drivers Club were registered for the weekend. Tauranga members met up at Greerton Park although Steven and Denise Ward met up later on the main highway and we joined in at Matamata along with some of the Rotorua people. This being St. Patricks Day we were also greeted by two ladies with green hair. Main thing is most of us were at the Woodlands Historic Homestead for an early lunch. This is a venue that never seems to change and is always very pleasant to visit and/or eat at and today was no exception with a pleasant walk through the gardens after a lovely meal.
We then followed Phil for a longer than usual (as per my GPS anyway) trip to Port Waikato via Huntly Power Station and Glen Murray. I reckon that this was a first time visit to Port Waikato for many of us and it was an interesting place. With lovely weather. It was also very barren with black sand but quite windy. We retired to the nearby cafe for afternoon tea and some great icecreams. Then it was onto Pukekohe and our Motels for two nights.
We were in the almost new, Aveda whilst the other half were across the road in Touchwood. Great accommodation with excellent parking. Early evening we were transported in the Lone Star Restaurant courtesy mini coach to the downtown venue. This was really busy and the noise on the high side for us old codgers!
The food was excellent and everyone I spoke to was happy with the feed. Shirley and I were lucky enough to speak for a while with the local franchise owner. I think this helped to get us good service or maybe even better service than usual. She advised us of some background including the fact that there are 28 Lone Star restaurants and overall control is from the franchiser in Christchurch. Anyway, I think we all tried to eat all put before us but few succeeded. We then boarded the courtesy bus to take us back to our motels. We had had a pretty busy and happy day, ready for the off on Saturday.
By Michael Creak
Saturday 18th March
Saturday morning, all’s well after a great night out at the Lone Star Restaurant. Gathered at 9.30am in Courtyard at Aveda Motel, for Phil to instruct us on the day’s outing. He also supplied a road map, which was helpful to most people.
Met up with the Auckland Jaguar Club in Waiuku, and set off through Waipipi and Pollock to the Lighthouse, overlooking the entrance to the Onehunga harbour.
Phil, the Leader, did miss the turning by a few metres, but we all survived that.
A lovely drive from there where you overlooked Manukau Harbour, facing towards Auckland City, and could see the Sky Tower and the top of Rangitoto.
BUT then came the metal road into the Lighthouse…
The carpark was full, with the Auckland cars as well, and all different makes and models in the 36 Jaguars. But the weather changed and was quite breezy and cold. Some people walked up to the Lighthouse, and others, like Steven and Denise and we decided to have a few nibbles and chat. I believe the view was great.
We then left for Awhiti Regional Park for a picnic lunch with the Auckland Club. There was plenty of parking. A very sheltered and warmer spot, with lovely big trees to sit under. John Devine brings out the wine and tries to encourage others, but not many takers.
From there it was free time. Guess who is the first one to get back to the Motel to wash the car!!!
We then headed down to the Cosmopolitan Club that evening for drinks and dinner, the meal was great and plenty of it. Also the Club supplied a Courtesy Van, a gold coin donation, which was good, and all ended great.
By Max & Carole Killingback
Sunday 19th March
Sunday morning – another lovely sunny day. 9:30 Captain’s meeting at Touchwood Motor Lodge this morning.
Farewells to those members who had not already left but were not heading south to Waingaro Springs where the run would end.
Murray and Corrie Jamison were leading the run this morning. Their instructions were to keep your eye on the car behind you at all times, and if you can’t see them slow down or stop.
With the instructions entrenched in one’s mind we proceeded along Highway 22 towards Waingaro where we would stop for morning tea. Highway 22 is a nice road to cruise along as there is not a lot of traffic and has some good views from the high spots over the surrounding country side plus the other Jags behind, I might add it is a very winding road.
We finally arrived at Waingaro Hotel overlooking the hot springs, well some of us did, 5 Jags. Where were the rest? What happened to our instructions? NO phone coverage.
The Hotel looked deserted. ‘Phil, did you let them know we were coming?’ someone asked? Someone says, ‘Panic!!!! Is this the way the run ends? Half the platoon missing, the Canteen closed” Took me back 50 plus years. Get a grip. Someone opens the Hotel door, and suddenly fifteen minutes since we arrived a red E Type cruises in followed by the other cars.
Thank you Michael and your GPS.
We all head into the Hotel to be greeted by the Publican who looks like he just climbed out of bed, and his wife in bare feet looking equally the same, who admit that after two days celebrating St Patricks they forgot we were coming, thank goodness there was only half the group.
Most of us managed to get a coffee, tea or a beer or something to drink. A few of us had a burger or a toasted sandwich. We all said our good byes and headed in our various directions to where ever, some to another lunch venue.
Another Jag Trip experience completed.
I might add I had an eggburger at Waingaro made by the barefooted Publican’s Wife and it is the best eggburger I have had, so you can’t judge the cook by her feet.
By Phil Barron
Our Pukekohe Experience
I’m in love, really in LOVE, for those who want to know why, or even those who don’t. I just have to tell you I now own a new (or nearly new, only 6000 on the clock) 2016 Italian racing red, diesel. 3 litre XF Jaguar.
I have spent too many years admiring all the modern cars in this lovely Club, especially when our little Gems pack a sad and decided if I was ever going to have one the time was right. Thank you Neville for finding it for us.
I could never understand the passion people felt for their car, now my passion is up there with all the other enthusiasts. Roger tells people I would have it in the bedroom if I could, not quite true, but close.
This isn’t really what my story is about, I am writing about the day we were going to Pukekohe with the Club Members and things just didn’t go as planned. Roger kindly suggested we took my car, but being the kind and loving wife I am I felt he would get more pleasure from the E Type.
Decision made we drove out of the drive in the soft top and although there was a funny noise underneath the Driver said “only a stick”. The noise from the “stick” got louder and by the time we got to Rotorua even the partly deaf husband agreed he was slightly concerned.
We spent the night there and along with Bruce MacDiarmid we left for Woodlands to meet up with the other Club Members, enjoying a never- travelled route. The closer we got to our destination, the louder the noise got, until I even had vibrations under my posterior. Finally I had a very concerned Husband. Bruce Jamieson offered to go with Roger to our destination, both guys hoping they would make it, which they did and finally pulled up at a garage that looked as if they knew what they were doing. Unfortunately the universal had gone and the ball bearings were popping out faster than you could have played a game of marbles. But the job couldn’t be done till Monday.
Marilyn and I were the last to set off from lunch but made the mistake of turning right out of Woodlands which took us over very new country and once we got our bearings we knew we would never catch up with the members so headed off to our motel.
Sunday we picked up the only available hire car, a bright yellow shopping basket Hyundai which was hoping to be a Jag when it grew up, and we gratefully accepted the offer of a bed at the Bowater’s where we had two delightful Hosts and a lovely evening.
Monday we headed back to check on the car and were told they were making progress but might not finish it that day. We knew most shops intimately by the end of the afternoon, but the wonderful mechanic worked till six o’clock and we were finally able to make it home that night. The part broken cost $34 and the Labour was around $850 – go figure. For my Man who does his own repairs, it was a bitter pill to swallow.
In spite of the mishap it was a thoroughly enjoyable few days with great company and lots of fun.
By Colleen Clark