Jazz Festival Parade—by Don Wade We gathered at the club rooms at 10am for a 10.30 start. There was a good collection of approximately 60 cars, with a great variety of ages and styles. They all looked splendid, and as it was a sunny day, many had their tops down (the cars that is!). Our Patron Alastair turned up dressed in period costume looking very dapper driving his Railton, and his daughter Helen drove the Morris Traveller. The band arrived and gathered by the VCC Clubs front gate, and there was also a group of young Guys and Girls who were there to dance along with the band. At 10.30 Deidre and Tony in their Delarge lined up behind the band who were to lead us down to the central city. Off we went at walking pace along Cliff Rd, then onto Willow St, with the footpaths lined with both adults and kids, all waving, clapping and taking photos—it was a moving sight. Erik in his 47 Mercury Coupe was in front of us tooting his horn to keep the kids amused. When we got to the end of Willow St the band left us and we carried on up Spring St, then turned down Harrington Street and back down to the Strand where we were directed into the car park (by the water’s edge) that had been reserved for us. By this time the Bands were in full swing and the place was really buzzing. Lots of people wandered around our cars talking to us, which was very interesting. I had one chap tell me that he had the first Zephyr in Tauranga! Another lady asked me who owned the yellow TR6 parked alongside me as she thought she may have been its first owner—she had worked at Leyland Motors in Newmarket. After 2hrs chatting with people we departed. It was a very pleasant day out, well organized by the Jazz people, and to my knowledge no cars overheated or broke down. Our thanks to Doug Brown for all the work he put into co-ordinating or participation!
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