The roads will be better but the cars will be similar when a 1910 reliability trial from Christchurch to Dunedin and return is re-created from today.
Seventeen veteran vehicles of the type that competed in the original 1910 Canterbury Automobile Association South Island motor reliability trial will take to the road - the same number as in the original event.
The centennial run, organised by the North Otago branch of the Vintage Car Club, will start from Christchurch today. They will stop over in Oamaru tonight, after taking part in field tests in the Northstar car park.
On the Oamaru-Dunedin leg, the first car will leave the Kingsgate Brydone Hotel tomorrow at 8am.
The timed trial will finish in Dunedin and the return journey, stopping tomorrow night in Oamaru, will be an economy run, finishing on Sunday.
The route from Christchurch to Dunedin will include Timaru, Oamaru, Palmerston, Karitane, Waitati and Mt Cargill Rd.
The return journey will be via Leith Valley and the Northern Motorway, the Kilmog, Palmerston, Oamaru, Timaru, Geraldine, Mayfield, Rakaia Gorge, Glentunnel and Darfield.
The North Otago district of the New Zealand Automobile Association has donated a silver cup in recognition that the Canterbury Automobile Association provided the first trophy and the 1910 winner was from North Otago - then Oamaru mayor Neil Gilchrist, driving a 15.2hp Talbot.
A 60th anniversary trial was held in 1970, a 70th in 1980 and another in 1990 as part of New Zealand's 150th anniversary celebrations.
