There's nothing like the smell of petrol fumes and hot oil in the morning.
For Wanaka vintage car enthusiasts Murray and Jenny Pryde, it's something to get really excited about.
"It's a smell which is very much characteristic of vintage car rallies."
Mrs Pryde said the car was a family heirloom, handed down by her father, and had been in the family for 52 years.
The car was taken on outings to rallies many times a year around the South Island, and the couple noted it was nearly 50 years since they first participated in the Brighton rally in 1962.
Weather was far from clement for the rally, but it did not deter the drivers of the 32 vehicles participating - not even those in open-topped vehicles.
"When these vehicles were new, they travelled on roads which were rough as guts. A bit of rain isn't going to hurt them," Mr Pryde said.
The rally is the oldest veteran car rally in the southern hemisphere and has been run by the New Zealand Vintage Car Club Otago branch for the past 57 years.
It was the official opening event of the Dunedin City Council's Summer Fun programme.
The rally ended with a prizegiving before the cars dispersed, many for the Model T National Rally in Wanaka, this weekend.
Results.- Best overall car: Robert and Lynette Duncan (Wanaka), 1918 Packard; motorcycle: John Martin (Cromwell), 1913 Royal Enfield; timed hill section: Julian Smith (Dunedin) 1912 Ford T.
