Thread: NZ NSRA Nationals.

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From my diary:

Saturday 22nd October.

Steady light/medium rain, blustery winds, fired the bus up and headed for Cambridge and the 2016 NZ NSRA nationals hosted by the Waikato chapter. We were supposed to head up yesterday, but Ron’s needs came above all else…gonna miss that bloke. Those that needed to know knew we’d be late; but it was surprising how many had noted our absence and were concerned for Rosie’s health after last years health scare. Thank-you people for actually being concerned for her; much appreciated!
Bernie Nealy came over, we got talking, and he asked if we’d like to ride shotgun with him on this afternoon’s run. Is the Pope a Catholic? Hell yes! I’d just done 5 ½ hrs driving being battered about by the wind; and wasn’t really enamoured with the thought of another couple of hours of it.
So we climbed in to his newly purchased standard (34?) Plymouth and away we went.
Just as well he drove, and had the double- declutching skill down to a fine art; the backroads we followed to Sanatorium Hill were winding and, in parts, very steep…we were in first gear (and working,) more than once. But the views at the summit were spectacular.
And it was good to be able to sit and talk to him one-to-one for a few hours for the first time in years.
Back to the venue, the Leamington Rugby Club clubrooms, tea was going to be late, so there was a lot of catchup done with various people…all good.
After an extremely good meal, the live band came out to entertain us. Unfortunately the band was a bit too big for the room; and with not much in the way of ventilation the crowd was a bit too big too. The heat got to us both; so we spent most of the evening sitting around outside where it was cooler and quieter playing more catchup. So that too was all good.
Bed around 11:30; I can’t take the combination of beer and late nights like I used to!

Sunday 23rd October.

Surfaced around 6:30, breakfast at 7:00, when everyone was assembled we headed off on another mystery trip around the Waikato backroads. Unfortunately the instructions seemed to have been translated literally from Chinese; and as a result there were cars going in all sorts of different directions…but we all eventually made it to the event venue, so that was all good.
The motoring event involved drag racing on soft peat soil covered in long grass, if a foot was planted too hard you spun, so 200 yards took a fairly long time to cover, and rooster tails of dirt were the norm. There was dirt everywhere…all good fun.
Coxy now has his gasser built to where it’s mobile; so used this event to give it a damned good thrashing to work out what’s wrong with it/going to break.
His only malfunction was the parking brake was ratchetting itself on; a minor matter.
Elmo managed to boil his F1, so parked it up and took his wife’s car out to keep on playing.
There was toss the piston for the blokes, and toss the tyre for the ladies, with a sack race for the kids.
Crikey but I haven’t laughed so much since Ma jammed her tits in the mangle…a laugh a minute.

Then we headed for the lunch venue, but the instructions were still Chinese translations…more cars going in all directions.
We started near the tail end and finished up coming in among the first third.
One fella came up to me later and said “I got tucked in behind you on the last stage and thought: ‘Bugger! I’m stuck behind the bus; this is going to be slow,’ and then suddenly realised you were pulling away from me! Crikey that thing can move!”
Yep. She may be old; but she’s not slow!
All good for a giggle.

After lunch we headed back for camp; only for me to notice straightaway that there’s something wrong here…I’d lost power steering and brake boost; so had very little in the way of braking on a three ton vehicle.
A quick check under the front confirmed my suspicions; we’d burst a hose on the power steering pump, which also provides our brake boost. Can’t do much here on the side of the road; so I limped back to camp, where I had no shortage of good keen switched-on men. RJ lives just around the corner, so he grabbed the fitting and took it back to his place to cut the swaged fitting off and supply a couple of hose clips, Kevin Smith came to light with 4 litres of ATF, and within twenty minutes we had it all back together again.
Because the hose was not reinforced we’d assumed that it was the unpressurised return line…so had thought that hose clips would hold.
They didn’t.
It burst off again.
Okay…nothing to do but ring for a hose doctor…0800 4 Enzed for NZ wide cover.
He had to come from Hamilton, so there’s mileage to pay, it’s a call-out, so that’s another charge, and it’s a Sunday, so there’s even more to pay.
But Monday is Labour Day, everyone’s closed, so we’d need a motel Monday night, (we’d both be in urgent need of a shower by then,) find a courier Tuesday, get it back (most probably) Wednesday, (another night in a motel,) find oil and spanners and refit/refill it, most probably heading for home Wednesday arvo.
Nup. Call the man out now and get it done to.
An hour or so later we had a reinforced hose with swaged fittings all done and dusted.

Quick wash, tea, and prize-giving.
The recipients (as usual,) were all well deserving, and it was good to see Karen Reiri get the Dolly Award, but then they brought out the bloody band again!
So once again we spent the evening sitting outside with the smokers talking.
But that was all good too; we got to meet and talk with some of the new young members from Auckland, nice people.

Monday 24th October.

Breakfast, which was another good meal, and farewells to old friends.
Thanks NSRA Waikato for putting on a great Nationals; we enjoyed it!

And a leisurely drive home with only a few 40 mph drivers!
All good

No good about the break downs but apart from empting your wallet too much, I can relate to your attitude of, get the thing mixed right once and pay the money otherwise it could of broken on Mt Messager and as you say, 3 tonne of bus with neither power steering or brakes would make ones small hole wrinkle up real tight. Photos to follow of the event Johnboy...... yeah rigght Tui advert. just pulling your leg.

I always enjoy reading about your travels! So glad you care to share the adventure.. maybe someday I can see the adventure firsthand!?!?!?

Thanks JB.

jb,, relative to your diary posts, did you note the two changes regarding my email change I sent you?

I always enjoy your travelogues, Johnboy. Thanks.

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JB, very nice trip except for that power steering line. That's good that you were able to get it repaired and make it home safe and sound!

Originally Posted by 34_40

I always enjoy reading about your travels! So glad you care to share the adventure.. maybe someday I can see the adventure firsthand!?!?!?

Thanks JB.

Why don't you jump in a big silver thing with wings and come see us?
If I'm in a good mood that year we could even be so kind as to meet you at the airport.


Of course we'd meet ya; crikey mate, we'd even give you a tour of God's Own Country...

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

jb,, relative to your diary posts, did you note the two changes regarding my email change I sent you?

Dunno what happened to them Uncle Bob; because they didn't arrive at this end.

Are you sure you pressed 'send'?

It's in a little box down at the bottom of the letter.

(Just poking the bear, seriously: I never got them.)

Many thanks for the kind words people.
I've kept a diary for many years now; initially it was for keeping note of events, detergents, poisons, spray applications, fuel usage, fertilizers, sowing rates and so forth, (mandatory requirements,) now it's a way of keeping in contact with friends and family right around the world.
Sometimes, if I'm late sending it out, I get e-mails saying "Where are my Ramblings! I haven't got this months'."
All good.

I s'pose.

You have a way with words John, it's something I have never grasped the concept off. Thanks for posting for all to enjoy.

Originally Posted by johnboy

Dunno what happened to them Uncle Bob; because they didn't arrive at this end.

Are you sure you pressed 'send'?

It's in a little box down at the bottom of the letter.

(Just poking the bear, seriously: I never got them.)

Just sent again...........make sure to check your spam inbox too (poking back )