After the visit, you’ll be free to visit other places, like one or both of the two nearby towns. See you all there!

Read all the details for this event here: OngaOnga Run March 2010

Please make sure you reply to Trev & Sandy Hardy if you are attending.

Join us for a pleasant run to the river city to the bi-annual Wanganui Charity Classic Motor Show. This event always attracts a wide and varied range of all types of classic vehicles. A great day out & a great opportunity to raise not only the profile of MG Manawatu but to help raise funds for equipment used in training of new doctors at Wanganui Hospital! We want your car there please!

Read all the details for this event here: Wanganui Car Show Mar 2010

Please make sure you reply to Rachel Dean if you are attending.

More details to follow, thanks to Keith & Marie for the great photo above.

Obviously was a great day out – more than 90 photos submitted for the website! I’ve had to choose a few at this stage (37) for the website gallery so my apologies if your photo or a particular one does not feature – let me know if I’ve missed one that you particularly want on the site or send others in if you have more! Great effort everyone – thanks. Dom.

As always, feel free to comment about the trip below…..

Read all the details for this event here: Awakino – Mokau Run April 2010

Please make sure you reply to John & Viv Eames if you are attending.

Report by Gibby…..

The day started very wet at the Ballance scenic reserve, but off to Stonehenge Aotearoa we went traveling along some scenic back country roads, through to Nireaha and Rongokokako to Mount Bruce for a “wee” break, from there to Carterton, EATING LOLLIES ALL THE WAY, arrived at Stonehenge in beautiful sunshine, out with the sun block and brollies,and a great picnic lunch of course.

The trek around the stones was very interesting and educational.

A good turn out once again with 22 cars, with awesome weather in the end, along with awesome people – what an enjoyable day.

Some pictures have been added to the gallery, and, as always feel free to comment on the run if you wish. Certainly looked to be an excellent start for another year of great cars, good friends and good times with MG Manawatu!

Our Annual Planning Meeting for 2010 was held at St. Mark’s hall, Palmerston North on 19 January and once again attracted a healthy turnout of 33 members.

The meeting commenced shortly after 7.30pm and after the apologies were read we settled in to arranging another year of events for our MG enthusiast group. Suggestions were called for and it was very heartening to instantly see an array of suggestions from various members put forward and it wasn’t long before we once again had established a full calendar of varied events for this year. This year will see our group rafting on the Rangitikei River (have a look at http://caffeinatedtraveller.com to see what this is all about), attending car shows, enjoying gardens, 10th Birthday Dinner, enjoying motor racing at Manfeild with a track drive,  along with a host of other events & activities. Thank you to everyone who so willingly came up with ideas and were happy to organise these events. It’s appreciated by everyone in the group so it’s important we once again show our support of the work that goes into arranging these events by participating on these runs. The full programme of events for 2010 can be viewed on the events page or on this link: Events Calendar 2010

Next, some “lively discussion” was generated by some items of general business that have arisen over the past year or so. The first item involved members of the group who have been members for a number of years and now no longer own a qualifying car (MG/TR etc) but who wish to remain active with the group. A motion was put forward that “If you have been an active (participated regularly) member for 4 years or more, and you sell (Health, financial reasons etc,etc..) your MG/TR etc but you wish to maintain an active membership with the group by participating in your modern vehicle – is this OK?” A written vote was held and the motion was passed by a clear majority that this is acceptable. Our group’s success has always come from the simplicity that it operates under so rules and regs are kept to an absolute minimum where possible. Just as a reminder the groups’ only rules are:

1. To qualify for initial membership you must own an MG of any sort or a British sports car. (If your MG/TR etc is off the road for restoration / repairs / reliability concerns you may participate in our runs using your standard vehicle)

2. Annual contribution of $10.00 is due in January each year and must be paid by March 31st.

3. New guideline as above – active members disposing of qualifying vehicle.

4. You must abide by the NZ Road Rules at all times on events.

5. Above all – have fun!

Some of you had already heard that the Wellington MG Car Club has made an approach to our group with the intention that we in some way become associated with them. Whilst the exact contents of a letter from the Wellington MGCC was not made available to the group (it was addressed to a member and not our group as a whole), the group agreed that we could meet with representatives of Wellington to discuss what they wanted to achieve by this and how this may affect our group. Once this has taken place the group will be advised of the discussions and a group decision if it is required will take place to decide the outcome.

Website – everyone seemed to agree that this was a great “tool” for our group and that the heavily subsidised cost of the site of just $100.00 a year was now to be paid for as part of our group’s expenses. Remember the website is interactive and you can leave a comment on any posting. It’s yours to use.

The meeting closed and a well deserved cuppa and tasty treat was enjoyed by all to complete the night.

Thank you to everyone for your support, input and enthusiasm – it is appreciated by everyone. It’s important we maintain the simple and successful integrity of the group and we move forward this year in a constructive & positive manner – it’s our 10th year as “MG Manawatu Enthusiasts Group” so look forward to our celebration dinner and above all enjoy another year of MG magic!

Our destination was out at Ashhurst so a short but scenic drive via Aokautere took us out to the lovely garden setting at Karen & Fulton’s home. We were joined by some more of our group there and before long everyone was settled in with a cold drink and the BBQ’s sizzling. The MG Masterchef award must go to Gibby with his Boutique BBQ demonstration!  After a yummy lunch there was an impressive array of sweet treats to tuck into before Father Christmas himself arrived in grand style and delivered some interesting presents to all of us who have been so good all year! He seemed to particularly enjoy the Christmas kisses from the female side of the group – no wonder he keeps coming back! He also explained to the kids present that his reindeer were in a neighbouring paddock having lunch and a break before they moved on – just in case they wondered how he had got there!

Ross and Carolyn had organised a competition whereby everyone was asked to contribute a photo of themselves as a baby and we then had to match the photo to the person – it was much harder than it looked. Full marks to Paul who was spotted taking digital photos of people and then comparing it the baby photo – I’m sure it helped!  From 33 photos the highest score was just 12 – congratulations to John Eames who won the fuel vouchers. Funny how different some of us look as we age!

After some more nibbles and socialising everyone made their way to their next function or back to home. The weather was great all day and everyone had a very enjoyable time celebrating another year of MG Manawatu. Our thanks to Karen & Fulton for once again opening their home and gardens to us – it is much appreciated. See you all next year – 2010!

Photo Competition Answers: (Photo Board in Gallery)

1. Jean Crowley                                          
2. Paul Booth                                                   
3. Karen Gay                                                  
4. Carolyn Fallaver                                      
5. John Ireland                                     
6. Robert Wilson                                    
7. Ross Fallaver                                  
8. Betty Good                                          
9. Sue McConnon                          
10. Bill Baxter                                               
11. Dominic Scott                                         
12. Trevor Hardy                                          
13. John Eames                                                     
14. Cyril Gibson                                                    
15. Rob Crowley                                      
16. Rachel Dean     
17. Neil Morris
18. Lynette Love
19. Alec Good
20. Marie McCormick
21. Fulton Gay
22. Gay Baxter
23. Geraldine Booth
24. Anne Ireland
25. Carolyn Fallaver
26. Ross Fallaver
27. Liz Morris
28. Viv Eames
29. Marie Gibson
30. Jennette Scott
31. Sandy Hardy
32. Pat Widdup
33. Bruce McConnon                                           

An often overlooked reason for excessive oil consumption is the restriction or blockage of the engines crankcase breather system. With the “breathing” ability of the engine impaired it will expel oil from wherever it can – passed seals or forcing past the piston rings. As one of our group recently experienced after freshly rebuilding his engine it continued to use excessive amounts of oil. Cleaning out the engine breather provided an immediate fix much to his relief!

The MG Owners Club in the UK has some useful information about this (PDF File) - MGB Crankcase Breather (MGOC) – whilst they go to the extremes of opening the breather and replacing the gauze, I have found that removing the breather and leaving it to soak for a good length of time in a strip bath (such as an engine reconditioner would have) is quite effective in unblocking this. It should also be remembered that the later MGB oil filler cap has a breather in it and this should be replaced every 12,000 miles for the same reasons.

A fine sunny morning, a gentle breeze, what better way to spend the day than with a top down MG run to nowhere! Twelve cars assembled at the Bulls Bridge and we made our way along the back roads behind Marton to Turakina picking up another MG. From there we motored on to our morning tea stop at Springvale Park in Wanganui where we were met by three Triumphs to join us for the rest of the day. Great to have the TR’s join with us and there was much friendly marque rivalry throughout the day. We now had our usual fleet of MGB’s & GT’s, MGF’s, Frogeye Sprite, Stag, TR2, TR4, TR6 making up the group for the day.

The bonnet was up on the Stag at morning tea – evidently they were “just looking”……yeah right! From there we motored towards Waitotara and turned off onto the Waitotara Valley Road – a great drive along a scenic winding route beside rivers, over bridges and through rugged farmland and beautiful native bush. Some care was required en route as Bill was seen herding sheep down the road in his MG and we also encountered goats, hawks, an old Stag, and a mother pheasant complete with a row of tiny chicks!

We arrived at our lunch stop in the middle of nowhere at Ngamatapouri School and hall. Gay had arranged that we could use the hall and grounds for our lunch in the sun. A rather large “hug” of Teddy Bears came out for the picnic and a vote was held to determine who Morris Gordon Bear (MGB) would like to get more friendly with…….the winner was Bruce & Sue’s Aviator Bear.

After a very leisurely lunch and natter in the sun we headed back along the valley road back to SH3 and a short drive to an afternoon tea stop at Ashley Park for a cup of tea, ice-cream, an antique or two or just to get friendly with the chooks, alpacas, donkey, goat, bulls etc….. It was now time for everyone to make the trip home after a lovely sunny day in the company of good friends. The round trip from Palmerston North was 203 miles so a good drive at a leisurely pace. Thanks to Gay and Bill for organising another interesting run to yet another new destination!

And just a little reminder, 2009 is nearly behind us and it is time for all of us to start thinking about what runs and destinations we can all come up with and help to organise for 2010.

6.30am Sunday – Hmmmm, from the sound of what I can hear on the roof outside I don’t think it’s going to be a “Sun”day buy hey it’s an MG run so it will be a Funday!

We set off in drizzly rain from Palmerston North and headed off to the start in Pahiatua via the Pahiatua track road – over the top we were in the clouds and it was very pea soupy. A good test for the car with lights, wipers and heater fan all managing to operate together!

24 cars assembled at the start in Pahiatua – these included our tour leaders TR7/8, 2 Stags, Midget, Montego, MGF’s and the usual gaggle of MGB & BGT’s plus a modern Mercedes Benz sports car. Everyone set off via Kaitawa Road for the journey to our first stop at Pongaroa where the weather was bright overcast and dry much to our TR tour leaders glee – this was however to be short lived!

From Pongaroa there was a choice of two routes to make your way out to the beach at Akitio. The first route involved 13kms of gravel / mud and the second route was a sealed option. With the heavens about to open with the arrival of the forecast southerly, we went the sealed route with a few others and then joined up with the gravel bashers and mud wrestlers at the beach rendezvous point. Some serious car washing will be required in the week ahead! For some maybe….. As the rain continued the local Akitio store owner kindly let us use the veranda of the store to shelter from the elements whilst we all dined in our usual style. As we were about to leave it was noticed that the RHR tyre on Bruce’s roadster had developed a fault with all the air in it now apparently at the top! In true motor racing style an MG service crew materialised out of nowhere and the tyre was off and changed very quickly whilst the corporate sponsors watched on from the luxury of their catered box at the Akitio Store stand!

After lunch we toured back to Pongaroa through Makuri and onto to the finish at the Cafe at the Tui Brewery at Mangatainoka. Despite the weather an enjoyable drive and days outing – thanks to Hugh & Sue for once again arranging this run for everyone – see, Triumph owners can be useful after all!

See you all at the next run – details coming soon……!