by Jenifer Alexander

Four of the six P76’s take coffee at Hororata Café. For the record the P colours in attendance were PMAG x 2, B as B, BA, AG and N

For once, , the number of Christchurch members did not exceed the number of members from beyond, and eleven people in six P 76's met at the Ashburton Showground and joined the Ashburton Plains Rotary Classic Car Run.

Our members attending were Brian and Lyn Morris from Waikouaiti, Don and Helen Prouting from Ashburton, Colin Sweetman from Ashburton/Christchurch, Roy and Paula Buchanan from Methven and John and Frances Warren and Don and Jenifer Alexander all from Christchurch. There were 169 cars of all makes and models participating in this event organised by Rotary, and Paula was the co-ordinator of our select group. Thank you Paula for doing this. A great collection of members from far and wide.

The weather was a perfect autumn day, still, sunny and warm and we were given a route sheet to follow which took us into the back blocks of mid Canterbury with spectacular views of the mountains sporting a little bit of snow, and pockets of autumn colours as the trees turned red and gold.

We stopped at a cafe at Staveley for refreshments and to stretch our legs, then on to the destination which was called Middle Rock Station. The ample landscaped grounds surrounding the homestead provided the perfect place for our picnic lunches.

After lunch, prizes were awarded for various categories of cars and we were delighted when Colin Sweetman's Peel Me a Grape car was chosen for first prize in the Australian car section. Colin recently acquired this car from Bev Clifton- Mogg and added it to his collection of classic cars housed at Ashburton. Great to see a P76 feature amongst lots of other Australian cars.

The day ended for most of us with afternoon tea at the Hororata cafe before going our separate ways. All in all, an enjoyable outing and one we may consider repeating next year.

(LEFT)This is the first sighting of the Prouting/Matthews B as B D P76. Photo credits go to Paula Buchanan and Helen Prouting.

(RIGHT) Members Lynne and Brian Morris and Roy Buchanan relaxing after a hard days Leylanding.

A pair of P76 GT’s. Don’t believe me, look at the registration plates!