On Sunday 14 December we gathered in a Takapuna car park. The weather was excellent and it was time for another of those love’em or hate’em navigational rallies.
Six MR2s were present, five of them competitors. Oddly enough all cars had some form of forced induction. Two superchargers crewed by Brad & Richard and Ade & Myself (she let me drive her car!) vs three turbos, Jay & Helena, Richard & Andrew and Steve flying solo.
After a quick driver’s briefing with obligatory disclaimers and warnings Dave sent us on our way at 2 minute intervals. The first stage from Takapuna to Monterey Park started badly for some, ie. Ade and I, as by the time we figured out where we were the answers to the first questions were behind us. Steve, despite being without a navigator, was in good form and managed to over take a couple of cars which started several minutes before him. Some thought this was a bit suspicious and mutterings of GPS systems were heard at the first check-point but no evidence was found.
Dave’s wife Sam started us on the second stage which took us along some great MR2 friendly country roads to one of the many vineyards in the area (Matua Valley). Steve bought a couple of bottles of the local produce for later .. or perhaps he used them as octane booster, we’re still waiting for the results of the fuel sample analysis.
The final stage added to our tour of the North Auckland countryside with some worryingly long breaks between clues and ended at Aquatic Park in Parakai were we relaxed in the shade and awaited the results .. provisional results. For most of us this was the end of the event but Ade still had one short stage to go. Santa’s reindeer had collapsed of heat exhaustion but the kids at the pool weren’t to be disappointed. Santa jumped aboard M1STR2 (Ade’s car) and they cruised into the pool grounds to the delight of the kids but the dismay of the pool wardens.
Thanks to Dave and Sam for an enjoyable and well organised day. Thanks also to Warehouse Stationary for the prizes.
Malcolm Cambridge
(co-winner of the ‘most-questions-wrong’ prize)
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