TransAlpine 2019
​Motueka

18th - 21st Oct 

Just over half the entrants left the Spitfire Square on a wet Friday morning at 8.30am with steady rain staying with us all the way to Motueka, which provided a good work out for the wipers and definitely hoods up. After a welcome coffee break at Culverden it was on to Murchison for lunch, where a number of other Lotus crews joined us. Our accommodation in Motueka at the elderly Garden Motels was well off the road in spacious grounds with plenty of parking. The carports on the single level units were appreciated by some in the still steady rain. Here we were joined by the balance of the top of the south members to number 46 with 23 cars, not all Lotuses. The girls at Muses Café in central Motueka put on an excellent evening buffet.

After heavy overnight rain, Saturday morning was bright and sunny with a lot of early car washing and cleaning noted. After a briefing, most of us headed over the Takaka Hill leaving seven ladies behind to shop out Motueka, shepherded by Graham. After lunch in a warm sunny Takaka the crews split with some to Collingwood and Farewell Spit, others to Pohara Beach and on to Richards’s holiday home at Tata Beach and the rest taking in the Takaka attractions. Back at the Motels it was very pleasant drinks and nibbles on the spacious lawns before heading to the main event at the local RSA for another good buffet meal. The fun theme of Bizarre Bras was supported by most crews, with some amazing efforts appearing which gave some of the local RSA members a good laugh. Denise’s risqué combination really caught the eye and the mind boggles at what Bruce would have come up with had he been able to attend. People’s Choice female went to Judith with a very clever creation using racing gloves and the male award to Kit with a Ford Custom line twin spinner combo. The Judges handed out prizes to many of the other top efforts.

Sunday again dawned bright and sunny and it was off to Richards to view his very large mainly British and European Ford collection and then onto the slightly alternative Jesters Café at Tasman for lunch outdoors. After lunch a few of the crews departed for home with the rest of us heading for the local hotspots of Mapua, Kaiteriteri and other attractions. Monday was a return home through Nelson, Blenheim and down the East Coast with a stop at Vines Café out of Blenheim for lunch. It was relative slow going with the many stops for One Way and road works as being a work day.
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It was again a successful event thanks to Janette’s superb organisation of accommodation and meals and gave us a chance to meet and mingle with many of our Top of the South members.