About 45 people gathered at the Howick club to celebrate another years Christmas dinner function arranged by Jeanette & Geof.  Pre dinner drinks were served,  followed by the main meal which as always was excellent. The meeting up of freinds was enjoyed by all as this is what makes the club so special. Jim Francis was 98 this year and gave us a short recap on his life to date. Well done Jim. Jim commented on long standing members, Wilma & Brian. Presents were distributed to everyone. Thanks once again go to Jeanette & Geof for all the effort they put into this wonderful evening.

Spring Tour 2019
We started on Saturday at the Botanical gardens with 14 cars and over 30 people participating and after a pretty drive stopping at the Taste Bud café for lunch, the rest of the afternoon was spent with visits around the Thames township and then pre dinner drinks followed by an evening get together in the Thames Workingman’s Club. Weather was kind and really lovely.
Sunday
The entourage headed out along a really nice coastal drive with a mandatory café stop at Waiomu Beach for morning tea. David Lane had arranged for orange cones to be installed along the main road of Coromandel so that our cars could be parked up and enjoyed by all. Some people had visited Water World. This is a quirky local café with a playground and water powered inventions (Very enjoyable). And some people visited Driving Creek Railway. An incredible feat of design and engineering all without the help of modern equipment. This was enjoyed by all that participated. David & Sally held an impromptu pre dinner drink time in their garden lounge. Then it was off to the Star & Garter for dinner. Lots of stories, jokes and chatting. Weather still held.
Monday
Weather had turned. It rained heavily and blew a gale. Had to feel sorry for those in open cars. Some people were brave enough to stop at the Gold Mine in Thames on the return journey which did however have  a bonus with the weather being much improved by the time they left the mine.
A special thanks to Warwick & Penny Woollams and Adrian & Sylvia Garret who ventured from the North to make this trip.
And thanks go to David & Sally for organising a great three days of motoring. Again the relaxed social group expressed their enjoyment of the whole weekend away “A great mix of socialising and motoring”.

​Winter Wander
Sunday June 23rd 2019
The weather gods were shining upon us as we avoided the predicted rain until just before lunch.
 
So the gathered team of automobiles set off in their “preferred car of the day” from the Botanical Gardens and headed for the Clevedon Farmers Market where Terry Jenkins had organised priority parking for our group signalled with his 1917 Dodge. Looks like many were catching up on their breakfast as a selection of goodies and coffee satisfied the “morning tea” craving. This is a very popular market and in the summer parking is a real problem. The delightful tour through the country was new to some of us and impressed us with the scenery, panoramic views and near total lack of traffic. Yes it started with a bit of a climb, but nothing a veteran couldn’t cope with. At one stage we were tracking along a razor back road, no doubt a bit of a challenge before it was sealed,  but very appropriate for our Winter Wander and all new to the writer.
 
The run into Tuakau was a bit wet but cleared for the rest of the day. Destination for lunch was the Tuakau Hotel with a table set for the whole group: a good selection and lots of chatter.
 
Geof and Jeanette Roberts were awarded the “Winter Wander Trophy” with Rex Healey their passenger in the youngest car on the run. Monty and Pauline mistook the Farmers Market and went to Pukekohe rather than Clevedon but joined us for lunch. Great to see Kit and Rina joining in from their trip North and understand they have suggested a Pot Luck lunch at their place sometime soon-sounds like a good idea. The Henley team arrived in black BMW claiming it was over thirty years old and appropriate – looked smart to me with their dog having the whole back seat. The Greigs from out West turned up in their very nice Ford V8 coupe and Roy Sharman joined Terry at Clevedon for the run to lunch. Two model A”s were the order of the day for the Porters with Ethan navigating for Ben and Julie, and nugget navigating for David and Kaye.
 
Another good Winter Wander and day out for the club.
 
Thanks Ben for organising the run: new country is always a treat!
 
By David Porter.Ealey their passenger in the youngest car on the run

​HCC Christmas Party at Howick Club  9th Dec 2018
Another Christmas get together has come round so quickly. Where does the time go. Over fifty people attended the  Xmas function arranged by Jeanette & Geoff at the Howick Club. The tables were decorated and the room looked very Christmassy. People greeted each other, drinks were served and then it was time to sit down and enjoy the wonderful prepared buffet. Phil Henley gave a welcome speech and we were all given a gift. Later David Porter announced that it was Jim Francis (a founder member) 97th birthday. A cake was provided and Jim lit the candles with the help of his lovely daughter.  Jim then gave us a very entertaining account of his interesting life. Congratulations Jim. More socialising and drinking and then it was time to depart for us all to enjoy our family Christmas times in our own ways. Thanks go to all the effort and time put in by Jeanette and Geoff to keep this event happening every year.

At last it was all on, after several previous cancellations mainly due to weather, today the sun came out and gave us perfect weather for motoring in the old cars. Thirty one people,  mostly dressed in period attire gathered at the start “LONDON.” This was held at the Taupaki place of John Reeve. Murray Greig was dressed as a 1911 constable complete with truncheon and directed the vehicles for parking.
 
Morning tea was provided and enjoyed before commencing our drive. We meandered through green rolling countryside and passed some lovely residences. At the conclusion of the run we arrived at Carriages Café and were this time greeted by a funny looking chap in a an old fashioned bathing suit,  very apt for the destination “BRIGHTON.”
 
Here we all enjoyed a nice lunch in one of the railway carriages which had been reserved for us. David Porter gave a short speech of thanks and appreciation and Phil Henley presented a trophy to the owner of one of the least powered cars and the most laden. Four up in a single cylinder car. Well done.
 
Unbeknown to us the proprietor had arranged for a photographer to be there to promote his restaurant. He had a drone and took several aerial shots as we left in convoy to return to “LONDON” to pick up our trailers and say goodbye to friends.
 
A great time was had by all and hopefully this will become an annual event as it used to be.
Thanks to everyone who was involved in putting this wonderful day together.

About 35-40 people and cars met at the Botanical Gardens for an early coffee and instructions for the day. The day was a little overcast and a bit chilly but the wonderful green countryside that we travelled through made up for this. We meandered through the Hunua's and the back of Miranda (no time for a dip in the hot pools), and finally reached our destination "The Corner Stone Cafe". Tables had been reserved for us and our meals were served promptly. David Porter thanked David Lane for organising the run and presented Aaron Mawkes with the Winter Wander Trophy. David Lane presented Roy Sharman with the Peoples Choice Trophy. Everyone mingled and then we all departed for home. It was a great run and great to catch up with friends again.
​

Spring Tour 23rd September
The Spring Tour was organised  by David Lane And Sally Whitley.
Most of us met at the BP Drury and after a coffee stop headed for the Karangahake Gorge. All the spring blossoms were out and it was so pretty. Onto Waihi beach for lunch. A very nice restaurant which just happened to be Carole Healy’s old home. Right on the beach and the food was lovely.
After lunch we visited the first of several sheds that we planned to visit over the weekend. The first one was Craig & Nicky Marshall’s. They own the iconic 14 litre La France Speedster and a complete fire truck and also a fifties Buick station wagon aptly name “Driftwoody”. Next shed stop was Gordon’s restoration workshop at Kati Kati where a lot of restoration work was in progress. The last shed of the day was at Eric Greens home. He has a big collection of stationary engines, vintage cars and lots more interesting old things. We then drove onto Greerton Tauranga to the two motels that we were booked into. Everyone met in the lounge for the all important “happy hour” which was followed by dinner in the Oak Tree restaurant at the RSA. Fairly early night for most after a full days touring.
 
Sunday morning we were off to Spike Allen’s industrial workshop where we witnessed a demonstration of water cutting and a laser cutter in action. They also had a fabulous collection of model ships built by Bill Janes (NZVCC member). The detail and accuracy of these ships was amazing. Next we visited Graham and Lois Thrupp’s replica Route66 diner and Cadillac collection. Graham has recreated an exact copy of the iconic diner complete with a number of post war Cadillacs. Lois had a large collection of Morris and James garden pots that was also impressive. It was now time for lunch at the Classic Flyers Museum in Tauranga. Volunteers awaited our arrival and we received preferential parking amongst the aircraft. A band was playing and a group of Gentlemen Bikers arrived . Most were formally dressed complete with bow ties to raise funds for Prostate awareness.
The rest of the day was free until happy hour back at the motel.
 
Monday was another stunning day weatherwise as we all made our way back home after a wonderful weekend. Thanks and appreciation go to the organisers and to the participants whom without we would not have a rally. Looking forward to the next get together.

NZ Warbirds D Day Open Day 
Our club had 11 Veteran cars arranged back to back in a line, along with The Vintage Austin, Mustang Owners club and a muscle car club which added another interest for the public to view.
 
David Porter had the kettle on and tea and biscuits waiting for members in the new Ezi up Gazebo.
 
The day was of course about the planes and the crowd were treated to displays of aeronautic skills and acrobatic feats. The De Havilland and two Tiger Moths simulated a dog fight and the Catalina and Spitfire added another dimension to the performance in the sky.
 
A sausage sizzle in the Gazebo was enjoyed by members and a great day was had by all.
 
The Chairman’s award and trophy went to Rex and Carole Healy in their 1912 Sunbeam.

What a great turnout. Forty six people arrived at the HCC Xmas venue, The Howick Club at 5.30 on a Sunday for a mix and mingle. This was followed by a few reminders and thank you's from David Porter. Then it was on to the serious bit of enjoying a delicious and excellent buffet dinner and dessert. Santa presents were distributed and there were crackers on the tables. A huge thank you must go to Jeanette and Geof Roberts for organising such an enjoyable evening. To conclude, a wish for everyone to have a great Xmas and we look forward to all the events that have been planned for next year.