Galaxy of Cars 2008

This annual event hosted by the New Lynn Lions held at the Museum of Transport and Technology has been the clubs venue for the past few years where we have also held our February Committee Meeting.

This year however it was decided to hold our monthly meeting back at the parts shed to enable members to access our wealth of spare parts which previous February’s they could not. But knowing the event is a very good source of contact with the public for promotional purposes a token representation of members attended the function.

The weather was a little kinder on the day with less heat than the previous few days. On arrival although we had our usual spot we found that the plane hanger had been moved with the aircraft parked temporarily on the grass. This condensed space was beneficial to us as the public were obliged to pass all around our displayed cars to access the railway station and to view the aircraft. Therefore more than ever comments were heard such as "Oh I learnt to drive in one of those things" and my father owned one etc.

Lots of questions were asked us re the pros and cons of English Side Valves which made it a quite satisfying day for the club. It seemed to be more busy, or more so, than other years, with the swapmeet sites doing a brisk trade.

One popular attraction was a "White" steam car that "chuffed" around the field of parked classic cars always with a following of people. Motat seemed to lay on all its fleet of trams ferrying passengers back and forth to Motat 1 via Auckland Zoo. There were three Auckland ones dating from 1904 to 1937 a Wellington "Fiducia" type and a Melbourne tram, also an early steam tram that standing passengers shared the foot plate and coal box , whilst the driver cum fireman, and conductor shoveled coal in to the fire box, all very exciting and interesting to a big kid like me any way.

All too soon time passed and by about 3.30pm the fields of classic cars had vanished home leaving lots of empty space until next years event, this year we had three Prefects, a Prefect Ute an Anglia Tourer and a "Y" on display. Those members with cars were John and Janice with daughter Caroline, Harvey, Paul and Delia, Dennis, Bud, also seen there were many other of our members some at other display sites or just strolling about.