by Zak Gould.

The Vintage car club invited Auckland Minis to join their Daffodil Rally, leaving Caffeine and Classics and ending up in Warkworth, with all proceeds going to The Cancer Society.

The invitation was also open to all at Caffeine and Classics, so there was a mixture of all sorts.

We left on time with Richard Underwood leading, then Aidan Robson , with me in tow - earlier on a few more minis from the club had already left.

Unfortunately just leaving Smales Farm, I heard an unimpressive noise coming from my right front wheel (stone guard rubbing on disk).  To Aidan's despair this was totally unacceptable due to the fact it was louder than his exhaust and that was not on!  (It must have been loud). After several finger gestures at the lights it was suggested that I pull over and fix it (which of course I didn't)! Luckily a few kms later along Beach Road, it fixed itself!  Yes! ... (note: a very rare thing within a Mini’s nature) ... and yes I still haven't attended to it yet :/) 

Following up the East Coast Bays it was like the two minis up front were warming their tyres up for a track day race, raring to go at the drop of a flag. Unfortunately not, as not too far up front was a wee vintage yellow car going the same pace as a horse and cart! Lucky for everyone he had to pull over for an overheating issue a little further on.  Nothing unusual the owner informed us, so it we continued on our way.

The roads were better through Albany and heading towards Waitoki, so the gas pedal went down. 

Soon I could hear a noise from behind - within seconds an Aston Martin came past making me look like I was going backwards! Buggar! ...but hell it sounded great! Mustangs followed but not the same effect.  It didn't take long until Richard and Aidan got passed by the same monsters.

After we had found our pecking order off we went again, with some nice twisty roads while the weather held at bay.  We then met up with everyone at the Warkworth Wharf for a chin wag and a bite to eat .

All in all, a good day and a great cause.

The rally made $1940 for the Cancer Society

​By Tony Maulder

On 30th April 16 Minis turned up at a wet Caffeine and Classics show at Smales Farm. At 11.15, 13 of these Minis left on our follow the leader drive to Riverhead, just as the weather cleared up. Among our group was a new Cooper S JCW, an orange MK I Mini van, a few more orange Minis (including Kerry’s new purchase), a replica works rally Cooper, a pork pie decked out Mini, and a few Rover Coopers, all following Tony’s BMW Cooper S.


The Minis ended up a bit split up on the way up the Northern Motorway to the BP service centre at Dairy Flat. All the Minis gathered here, with some taking on some petrol. (Thirsty work ahead eh?).

​
When we left the service centre to go up the motorway further to the Wainui motorway exit, the rain had moved on and the roads were dry. Just past the Wainui School we turned left on to Whitehills Road for a quick run along a good Mini road. At the end of this we stopped at the Dairy Flat Bakery for the Mini “travellers” to get pies.

We went on from here to the top of the Albany Hill to see Alan Sutton’s Mini creations. Vehicles made with a few Mini body parts, Trucks, wide Mini Ute and a long nosed V6 Mini. The Muries’ convertible felt at home here!  Onwards the Mini convoy went to the very twisty Ridge Road to have a photo shoot in a little cul-de-sac, which was unfortunately filled by a logging truck. But the stop was good for yet another natter.

More lock to lock twisty road and we came out of Ridge road for a short drive to the old historic Riverhead Tavern. We were going to have a car show on their grass lawn but the wet weather overnight stopped that and the hotel staff parked us on the sealed carpark right outside the front door. Ray, enjoying himself so much driving the rally car, he said his goodbyes and carried on driving.

So after a 70km drive taking about an hour and a half, with stops on the way, we were ready for a feed.

Inside tables were set up in the sun for the 16 of us hungry folks, and our lovely meals were served very quickly. Sitting in the sun left to right in the photo- the Murie’s, Aidan, Grant, Brian, (JCW owner), the Crowleys, M Shute, Zac, Pork pie Andrew, Sarron, Kerry, Steve, and Tony’s empty seat.
We talked and ate while live music played in the background. Fed, watered and entertained, we dispersed at about 2pm.