July 27 2003�Combined MR2 & MG Club Run

Another fine and chilly morning was our greeting to the most recent Waikato club run. 

We met outside Greens Gardens with seven Mk2s and a single Mk1.  Two drivers came from Auckland with the other six from within the Waikato.  Peter�s Kingfisher blue Gen2 certainly made an impression with its near perfect paint job. 

We were surprised to find a larger than expected number of MGs waiting for us at the Building depot (our combined run meeting place).  Ranging from the early �50s through to the 2000�s, it certainly made us feel as though our MR2s were lacking a few generations.  There, stuck right in the middle of them all, sat a white Gen3.  As an early arrival it had been quickly surrounded and looked amusing amongst cars 20-30 years older.  Our count of nine MR2s combined with the 23 MG�s gave us grand total of 32 cars.  This was the biggest run I had ever been a part of! 

Many of the MG club members didn�t know we were going to be tagging along.  As it turned out, one of the drivers of an MGB Roadster had previously owned both of the Gen3�s there on the day.

We soon headed off. With the older cars in front, our definition of speed was rapidly redefined - we were getting excited as the speedo occasionally edged closer and closer to 80 Km/h.

We drove the back roads to Ngaruawahia before taking Hakarimata Road up the western side of the Waikato River.  If this isn�t a trip you�ve taken before, and you�re in no rush, it�s definitely one worth taking a detour for. 

From Huntly we took Hetherington Rd and made our way past Rotongaro.  During the climb we had the opportunity to look out over Lake Whangape with a spectacular view of the valley below. Shame the weather meant we couldn�t take a photo.

Arriving 30 minutes late at the Naike Community Centre (thanks to the 1955, 63bhp, MG TF1500) we ended up forming a rather scraggly group of classic cars and mass-produced Japanese imports.  It was pleasantly surprising to see the amount of interest the classic car owners displayed in our rear-engined beasties.  We also found that the MR2 is not quite the most annoying car to do engine work on. You have to take the roof off the MGF to get to the motor!

After an organised lunch (thanks to Naike School for this) many of us gathered back outside again for the group photos.  While various cars were being lined up, some of the younger kids were taken for rides up and down the road.  We also had the opportunity to exchange run ideas and even collect a few phone numbers of MG owners interested in tagging along on future MR2 runs.

With the rain threatening we left Naike School, some drivers heading back to Auckland, some having departed early. We took Rangiriri Road (Highway 22), South, down towards Waignaro where we found ourselves suddenly crowded in by rally cars parked on both sides of the road.  It was a pity we�d only stumbled across the hill-climb, rather than knowing about it, otherwise more than a few eager members would have stopped to watch.

Arriving back in Ngaruawahia we parked up for one last chat and the chance to look under a few more bonnets

After warm-hearted goodbyes to our newfound friends we made the final leg back to Hamilton.

Thanks to those of you that made the effort to come along.  And if any of you are reading - thanks to the MG club for letting us tag along on a fantastic day!

Darcy Williams

Waikato Coordinator