28th National Model T Rally - New Zealand

[A Whiteman]

We kick off tomorrow on 7 days driving around the Canterbury Plains, based in Christchurch and Geraldine in NZ's South Island.
I will endeavour to post a few pictures as far as it progresses and ask any other NZ members on the rally to chip in and add comments/ pics too as we go.

Looking forward to a great summer drive.

[John Warren]

We are looking forward to photos

[Luke]

Here are just three photographs from today.

These T's are part of a private collection. They're in wonderful condition, and some quite rare vehicles amongst them.

I've got quite a lot more photographs of other machines, but need to sort through them first, and then check that people are ok to have them up here on the forum.

The rally proper starts tomorrow, no doubt there'll be some good photos taken along the way (not by me!):

[Luke]

The rally started today, from the Racecourse Motor Lodge (built 1883) in Christchurch (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch).

Approx 45 Model T's attended, and were off for a good sunny drive towards Bank's Peninsula (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banks_Peninsula).

Some good motoring trips are planned for the coming days. No doubt there'll be some significantly more scenic photographs to come, however for the moment here's a shot of the packed carpark, and following will be some selected photos of various cars. Selected I might add on the basis of not being out of focus, nobody walked (or drove!) in front of the camera, and on-one's pulling a face

Note: To avoid loading up the server I've reduced the image sizes, if anyone wants the full size image please let me know.

[Luke]

[Luke]

[Luke]

[A Whiteman]

Great second day (first day of motoring). Beautiful summer day here in the Sth Pacific.

[Luke]

[Luke]

[Luke]

[Luke]

[Luke]

[A Whiteman]

Hiding from the Sun!!

[Norman Kling]

Beautiful country, and beautiful cars. Odd, to me, to see the steering on the opposite side. I don't know whether I would trust myself to drive on the opposite side of the road. Old habits are hard to break!
Norm

[Luke]

Beautiful country, and beautiful cars. Odd, to me, to see the steering on the opposite side. I don't know whether I would trust myself to drive on the opposite side of the road. Old habits are hard to break!
Norm

Norm,

Yes it is a beautiful place, we're lucky to be able to show you some of it.

FYI I have a LHD Model T, the biggest thing I find switching from that to a RHD car is that the throttle and ignition levers are reversed

Otherwise it's no big deal from an operational perspective (apart from which side of the road one is on!). I suspect some of that is that you're sitting more centrally in a T than, say, a T-bird (which I found harder to drive as I was so far over to the left) and, for me at least, I'm used to driving things with a third dimension from the LH seat

I've taken some more rally photos today, and will sort out a small number of them to put up here. These are all about the cars and aren't scenic from a landscape viewpoint, but with luck someone else will be able to oblige there...

[A Whiteman]

I don't have many photos toady but I am assured they will follow from other members. In the meantime here is an engine to look at and critique:
This is the most recently 'registered' (titled and allowed to drive on the road) model in NZ - just 2 days ago. This is as far as can be determined exactly correct...... (hi-bypass oil line excepted - that is for 'safety' driving lots of hills)

Oh, and here is a teaser of the activities that were included today

[Glen McConachie]

Here is a few more pictures from today

It was a bit cool and damp for most of the participants, days like today showed the benefits of having a tudor sedan

It was good to see the freshly completed 20 tourer out with the owner enjoying if after many years preparing the restoration and many late nights over the last couple of months to get it over the line and road legal

Cheers
Glen Mcconachie
New Zealand

[Glen McConachie]

And a few more photos, including some from a local private car collection, quite a few interesting vehicles on display including a very original centre door

[Luke]

The owner of this Model A also has a very nice '14 T, he'd just upgraded for the trip in today:

Here's a few of the T's as they lined up:

[Luke]

I realise some of these aren't Model T's, however they give an idea of the impressive and very wide-ranging collection that the rally visited today.

This little machine is a Honda Abbey, you wouldn't want to be a tall person I think:

[Luke]

The very original interior of the centredoor that Glen reported on above:

And the other side view:

[Luke]

[Luke]

These last two give a little perspective to the Model T's we own.

The first is an 1898 De-Dion Bouton, which was started up and driven around today. Interesting to think this was built just two years after Henry Ford's Quadricyle, and a good ten years before the T:

The second is a 1923 Mercer series 6. This car was built while Model T production was in full swing and, like the T, has rear wheel brakes only They produced a little over 80HP and cost around $4000 USD - a lot more than a T of the day! :