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FRIDAY
DINNER BEFORE THE TOUR
The 2012 Dinner will be
held at the
Whistle Stop Tavern in New Gisborne, which offers safe and secure parking and easy access
from all points of the compass. Held in a private function room, the dinner will consist of a
three course menu, with a full bar featuring Hanging Rock Wines.
We are proud to announce our very own David Ellis as the guest speaker.
David has been a Grand Tour committee member since 2009, and despite his
fascination with British motor cars from the 1980’s, has been a
valuable member of the Grand Tour team. On New Years Day 2012, David and
his good friend Andreas Tsangari, embarked on an epic tour of Peru,
South America. Over 17 days they travelled over some of Peru’s best
and worst roads. They crossed high mountain passes, followed raging
rivers, and experienced the vastness of the coastal deserts. It was a
“road trip” with a difference, and a tale that will intrigue and
entertain.
The
adventure was facilitated by an English group known as the “Adventurists”.
They organise crazy trips all over the globe, from the “Rickshaw
Run” in India, the “Mongol Rally” from the UK to Mongolia, and the
amazing “Mototaxi Junket” in Peru. The mototaxi is the Peruvian
incarnation of the Tuk-Tuk, or autorickshaw. At it’s heart is a 125 or
150cc 4 stroke air cooled engine. The rear wheel and suspension is
removed and a chassis with two rear wheels, a bench seat and a canopy is
grafted onto the rear of the bike. Perfect for short trips carrying
family or paying passengers and their limited luggage around the towns
and surrounding areas. What it is not suited to is crashing along
seemingly endless pot holed roads, or crossing 4800m (15500ft) mountain
passes where the air is so thin that it is difficult getting the
motataxi started let alone getting it moving! It is not designed with
comfort in mind, and really it is a piece of junk. It rattles. All the
nuts and screws will eventually undo. The chains will loosen themselves,
then they tighten themselves, then they will break. The cheap springs in
the suspension will eventually fail. The vibration will shake the solder
out of the electrical joints and the fuel tank will get water in it
every time it rains. But despite all it’s shortcomings, the mototaxi
is simple and easily maintained. Nearly every town has a moto-mechanic
and spare parts are plentiful. Could this contraption be the ultimate
way to travel across Peru? After 2500km of incredible sights, sounds and
hospitality, the answer from our “Junketeers” is.... “YES! We
would do it again in a heartbeat, but maybe a 200cc motor would be the
way to go...”
Join us for our Friday Night Dinner and enjoy grand tales from this
South American Odyssey. Seats are limited, so book early.
If you would like to attend the 2012 dinner, please indicate this on
the entry form and include the charge of $55 per head with your entry
fee.
SUNDAY MORNING AFTER THE TOUR
“ALL TRIUMPH
CELEBRATION”
CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE
&
Picnic in the Park
This year the post event Picnic in the Park & Show and Shine is being
held in conjunction with the "All Triumph Celebration" concours
d’elégance, and will be staged in the park along the banks of Jacksons
Creek (adjacent to the Gisborne Sunday Market). The Triumph concours will
showcase the very best the marque has to offer, and for anyone with an
interest in classic cars, will be an event not to be missed.
The Show & Shine is an informal get together of Tour
entrants, more of an opportunity to continue conversations from the
previous day, and avoid the long, night-drive home after the event.
Although a trophy is presented, a car does not need to be a concours
showpiece to win. The President’s Choice Trophy is based upon the
motoring dreams and aspirations of the Tour President, and is an
acknowledgement of enthusiasm and passion, rather than hours of polishing
paintwork and chrome to perfection.
The winner will receive a unique
Grand Tour Trophy and a pack of car care products VALUED AT OVER $100
from Meguiar’s the total
car care company.
The Market provides a good opportunity to stock up with the makings of a
picnic to enjoy in the picturesque surroundings. For those wanting to cook
their own lunch, excellent barbeque facilities are available in the
park, and Gisborne’s adjacent Aitken Street offers many and varied cafés
and take away food businesses.
While the cars are on display you may choose to browse the
adjacent
Gisborne Olde Time Sunday Market, and perhaps stock up with a selection
of provisions, and then return to enjoy a Picnic in the Park,
in the beautiful surroundings of the John Aitken Reserve. In addition to
the Market, there are also numerous provedores in the town, and barbeque
facilities are available adjacent to the Show & Shine.
All you need to do is be at the John Aitken Reserve on Aitken Street
, Gisborne at 10:00am.
Entry is free of charge*, and is a fantastic way to end the Grand
Tour!
*Note:
Participation is normally restricted to Grand Tour Entrants.
In certain circumstances the committee may authorise other vehicles to
enter.
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