Grandad's photos

Of course, Santa Parade was not entirely about Santa and T-Cars. There was the Reason-for-the-Season float with genuine small flying angels.

Here's the second lot of pictures from Sunday's Santa Parade.

With the Jag sold off to Christchurch, I was driving Russell's UK export TG (MX5 based sports car) in British Racing Green, with Santa Bear perched on the rear. Here are some shots taken during the enjoyable waiting time before 2pm parade start. They are all volunteers, some of the 5000 involved. The rest tomorrow.














This, horse, is a balloon, you will see a lot of these today ...

This place used to be a processing plant and a series of large settlement ponds in the harbour, annoying the locals with smells and midges. Now it is a closed-to-the-atmosphere facility and the old ponds have been removed, large areas planted in native plants and areas fenced off for shore birds to safely nest. Public walkways run through the area. It's a nice walk.

Here is some of the birdlife we saw.



A Spotted Dove and plenty of Pukekos.



A group of Paradise Ducks.



A lot of shorebirds, mostly Oystercatchers.



This family of swans were enjoying a feed of watercress.

Full of optimism, I headed down country to the MG 2-day meeting at Manfeild.





Great travelling weather, and it's good to have a camera handy when a plane is topdressing right beside the road. It's a Pacific Aerospace Cresco 08-600 from Wanganui Aeroworks.



Sadly the Orchid's engine did not have improved performance after fitting the twin carbs and lap times were abysmal. Various other faults developed so I did not race Sunday and took a few pictures instead before heading home.



The 6-cylinder powered Tri-Ford was going well until his wheel passed him.



Some of the other sports cars in the Historics grid.




I also watched the Muscle Cars, where Paul Urquhart was running his new Ford (blue and white), against Mandy Sinclair (his sister) in the Chickadee Commodore and her husband Andrew, in the silver Commodore. Paul seemed to have some engine trouble and Mandy got by on the last lap!


Formula 5000 - there were 15 cars on the grid, they must be stunning to drive.


This is animated, click on it see them corner. (0.8 MB)