Dunedin to Brighton Veteran Car Rally

Rolly Bell gives a wave from his Renault AX. Photos: Christine O'Connor.
Rolly Bell gives a wave from his Renault AX. Photos: Christine O'Connor.
Chris Read and his wife, Pam,  drive their Delage R4 10hp to the finishing point at the Brighton...
Chris Read and his wife, Pam, drive their Delage R4 10hp to the finishing point at the Brighton Domain during the 63rd Dunedin to Brighton Veteran Vehicle Run on Saturday.
Percy Ralston, of Ashburton, and Russell Dale, of Temuka, have a bite to eat at the Brighton...
Percy Ralston, of Ashburton, and Russell Dale, of Temuka, have a bite to eat at the Brighton Domain.
Barry Sparrow (96), of Dunedin, inspects one of the cars.
Barry Sparrow (96), of Dunedin, inspects one of the cars.
Cars enter the Brighton Domain.
Cars enter the Brighton Domain.
Jennifer Gough (8), of Dunedin, enjoys the view from a Buick EX25 Tourer before the start of the...
Jennifer Gough (8), of Dunedin, enjoys the view from a Buick EX25 Tourer before the start of the rally in the Octagon.
Russell Quin (left) and Peter Hardy stop in Brighton Rd for a snack in their Willys Overland 30hp.
Russell Quin (left) and Peter Hardy stop in Brighton Rd for a snack in their Willys Overland 30hp.

It was like stepping back in time in the Octagon on Saturday as more than 30 veteran cars, motorcycles and trucks set off on the 63rd annual Dunedin to Brighton Veteran Vehicle Run.

Participants and those who came to watch were greeted with stunning weather for the run from the Octagon to Brighton.

Rally convener Colin Winter said he was "really stoked" by the turnout and the day’s event.

One truck, two fire engines, seven motorcycles and 25 cars took part in the event which compared favourably with previous years, he said.

Veteran cars are those built before 1919 and more than 30 of those in the field on Saturday were more than 100 years old.

Enthusiasts had come from Southland and as far afield as Christchurch to take part.  Mr Winter’s 1900 Wolseley Voiturette, driven by his son Gary, was the oldest among the field.

Although he enjoyed being behind the scenes of the event, Mr Winter admitted it was difficult to watch the cars leaving the Octagon without him this year.

Veteran car enthusiast Ashley Bell travelled from Invercargill with his wife, Gwen, and their Renault 7hp to take part in the event.

"I have been coming here for about 40 years," Mr Bell said.

"Not necessarily with the car. I have had a motorbike a couple of times."

He enjoyed the trip,  travelling with his prized Renault on a trailer this year, although he had driven it up in the past, and the rally.

"It’s like a big family, the vintage car club.

"Everywhere you go, if you got into trouble there’s someone there to help you," he said.

He had owned the Renault since 1969 and driven it as far as Bluff to Kaitaia, he said.

"Even some years before we got this car, we used to look at the wee Renaults with admiration," he said.

"They are small enough to keep under the bed.

"So when the opportunity came up, we took it.

"We have had it on the road since 1971.

"If you do them right, you can drive them for a great number of years."

timothy.brown@odt.co.nz

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