Tuesday, February 10
TOUR DRIVE DAY 11 – MOUNT COOK TO
CHRISTCHURCH.
From Mount Cook we progressed through more awesome
scenery, past Lakes Pukaki and Tekapo, through Fairlie
and on to a refreshment stop at Geraldine. Then to our
final 'must see', Bruce McIlroy's establishment at
Ashburton, (which is not the most likely place to find an
accredited RR service agent) but where to the
accompaniment of a steady munching and sipping of
delicious food and drink, we were able to examine RR's
and B's of all ages and from all over the world, that had
been sent in for servicing or restoration. We also saw
locally made components for 4.5 litre Bentley engines
which can be built from scratch without recourse to any
original components.
With great difficulty, we dragged ourselves away from
Ashburton and headed for Christchurch and the Farewell
Dinner at the Grand Chancellor Hotel.
This was followed by our mystery after-dinner speaker
who turned out to be the Wizard of Christchurch. In his
controversial style, he proved to his own, if no-one
else's, satisfaction that men would only retain, or
rather retrieve, their dominant status if they ceased
doing everything for women that competent women could do
for themselves. In stead, men should stick to those
functions that only men can do. In other words, men would
become little more than sex objects, to be pursued
relentlessly by women for their own gratification and
hence become the dominant species once again. For further
information on this and other interesting aspects of the
Wizard's philosophy, you can visit his website,
www.wizard.gen.nz.
This address was followed by presentation of the South
Island Concours prizes, to Tom Fenton for his 20/25
saloon, GAN47, and to John Cameron for his Arnage Red
Label, H06506 liberally covered with 'dust of the day'
but underneath, totally immaculate and highly
desirable.
Barry Clark then auctioned two water-colour
paintings together with the tour banner, that had been
signed by all the Tour participants. This auction raised
approximately $2500 for the Child Cancer Foundation.
The arts were well represented on this tour because,
apart from John Miley's renditions on the organ at
Southward's and again in Nelson Cathedral, budding poet
Tina Pascoe had spent much of her spare time in the
passenger's seat composing an ode, which she recited to
the assembled company and which is reproduced below with
her permission.
THE CENTENNIAL TOUR OF
NEW ZEALAND
AND OTHER
MUTTERINGS
Now here's a little ditty
about a meeting that took
place
At the Midland
Hotel, Manchester, when Sir Rolls met Mr
Royce
A hundred
years ago, they started with a plan
To design and manufacture the best car known to
man.
Now we have all
foregathered, midst the beauty of these isles
With cars of bearing and distinction, all years and body
styles.
This Centennial Tour will span the world - both Bentley
and Rolls Royce
But we were FIRST ones flagged away, so let us all
rejoice.
So here's a short
rendition of a bit of this and that
Of happenings and incidents and, of course, the
crankshaft chat.
Of owners who are proud to have a car that o'er all
reigns
Each one, I'm sure, must have some oil running in his
veins.
Well done to all the
engineers, who know each nut and bolt
And getting oil on all their clothes is really not their
fault.
Navigators have worked hard, both left and right to
look,
But best if not the wrong way round when looking in the
book.
The cars have looked a
picture, all polished, trim and gleaming.
Some brought the 'little woman' so she could do the
cleaning.
And passengers have played their part, with waves and
smiling faces
And hernias and twitching backs from carrying the
cases.
Then there are the modern
cars, leaving after lunch
But who arrive before the 'oldies' - a brave and dashing
bunch,
Who rise before the dawn and breakfast on the run,
Dressing for the arctic, even in the
sun.
As for the Waka Whacker,
that we all hoped NOT to win -
Are those, who did, still speaking to the ones who dobbed
them in?
It also was awarded for deeds of excellence and
wonder,
And for someone with the expertise to make the organ
thunder.
Well done to Mike who did
us proud lugging all the cases
And Chris, whose help and patience meant a lot of smiling
faces.
All those lovely breakfasts and yummy Kiwi food
Slip a finger in your waistband, and you'll know that it
was good.
The scenery has been
stunning - a different view at every turn
Snowy mountains, sky blue lakes and the famed New Zealand
fern.
Now the weather has been mixed as along the roads we've
coasted
I'm not sure which one is best, being soaked, or being
roasted.
The kindness of the people
we have met along the way
And the beauty of New Zealand has really made our
stay
Now it's time to say farewell to friends, or is it au
revoir?
Weren't we lucky to be part of this great Centennial
Tour?
The committee and their
helpers have really done us proud,
Not hard, you understand, as we've been a smashing
crowd.
So please now be upstanding, raise your glass and leap
for joy
Thanks to a spendid team - 'specially Peter, Rod and
Roy.
The overseas participants being so impressed by the
organising skills of our Chairman, Peter Morelli and
Secretary, Rod Newport, together with the support of
their wives, Mary and Doris, they organised a
presentation to these worthy folk, made on behalf of the
vistors by Richard Hadfield.
Another unsung hero till now was our luggage van
driver, Mike Knowles, a fellow of infinite jest and a
certain waspish wit, who had manhandled innumerable bags
and suitcases, in and out of the van (kindly loaned by
Metropolitan Rentals Ltd) and also manoeuvred the van
over several thousands of kilometres of highly variable
road surfaces. Mike's contribution to the success of this
aspect of the tour was also acknowledged by a
presentation from the other participants.
And finally in appreciation of the organising work
that General Travel Ltd had carried out on our behalf, a
presentation was made to their representative, Chris
Richards who travelled with us to ensure that everything
went smoothly at all times.
A group photograph was then taken, along with another
photograph of a very small and select group, the
'winners' of the 'Waka Whaka', a taiaha (Maori spear)
presented at the instigation of Mal Henderson from
Sydney, to whoever commited the gravest social error of
the day (or made an outstanding contribution to the day's
events, in the case of John Miley).
This presentation generally took place at the Jolly
Hour starting at 6.00 pm on most days, and required the
previous day's recipient to make the decision on who to
award it to, on the basis of 'information received'. This
was therefore a splendid opportunity to 'dob in your
mates' as Mal put it. The Waka Whaka was awarded for such
offences as sitting on one's car mirror, and for
enquiring 'what the flashing green light on the
dash-board was for?'
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