Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and thank you all for attending our 2020 AGM, the first Club event after Covid 19. It is good to see you all bright and healthy and I hope that the lockdown period didn’t have too much of a detrimental impact in your lives. Personally, I enjoyed the 5 weeks of “holiday” during level 4 and luckily, we were able to resume works when level 3 was announced. Our membership presently stands at 116, only one down from last year showing that there is strong interest in our Club despite the recent upheavals.

The year passed us pretty quickly but up to the onset of lockdown your committee was able to provide you with 9 events:

  • In July last year we gathered at the “Swashbuckler” Restaurant for our Prize giving Event and Midwinter dinner.
  • August saw the Annual Chateau Run, a joined effort by the Midlands and Auckland Clubs which went via Tirau, Tokoroa, Lake Taupo and the Desert Road, culminating in the Manawatu club lunch event with the lending hand of the National Club. It attracted 92 members.
  • In September our Scavenger hunt started at Lloyd Elsmore Park to be finished at John Hill Estate Winery, Hunua. Organized by Chris and Angelique with the task of collecting 13 items on the way, each starting with one of the letters SCAVENGERHUNT. Great and fun event.
  • The October event was titled: Motorhomes, Misty Beaches and Mighty Ice Creams, a run from Manukau through picturesque countryside of Franklin to Pokeno, Home of Cheese, Bacon and Zion Motorhomes. Well organized by Claudia and Daryl, attracting some 36 members.
  • Also, in October we gathered at Garry’s Garage for a Peking to Paris de-brief which was well presented by Ken and Garry about interesting and amusing facts from a gruesome rally. G+K’s highlight was their award of the FIVA trophy for competitors most in line with the “Spirit of the Rally “.
  • November saw the Mystery Run from Waiatarua Reserve via Old Mangere to end with a lunch at Akorana Yacht Club. Winner in the petrol section was Gary Lewis in a CLK 200 and winner in a Diesel was Bill Bray in his ML350.
  • In December we had our Christmas Party and Santa Run, 8 cars assembled at the Viaduct Basin with prizes for best decorated car, best female and best male Christmas outfit and best dog outfit. Then off to Chris’ and Angelique’s home in Titirangi to end the year with good food, good music and good camaraderie.
  • First event in 2020 was the annually held Ellerslie Intermarque Concours d’Elegance with the nominated Club display theme “CAR-NIVAL”. Our club organised for 8 cars of different eras and shapes to be displayed in a star-like pattern, connected with colourful bunting attached to a centre maypole.
  • In March the Brit and Euro show was held on a hot day and in perfect conditions for a show of some 1100 cars on display. Our club mustered 45 cars.

All events were than halted abruptly by the arrival of the Coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown.

On the National Club level, I can report that everything went smoothly and amiably between the regional clubs and that at the recently held AGM it was passed that subscribers of the hard copy magazine can also on request obtain an e-copy.

This concludes my report and thanks again for attending today.

 

Harald Decker

14.6.2020