2006 WIMA National Rally - hosted by Hawkes Bay Branch

Date: 10th - 12th November 2006
Held at: Christian Youth Camp, Moore Road,Te Awanga.

More photos appearing in the Gallery soon.

2006 Rally in the Bay

It had been a bit of a nerve wracking week leading upto the WIMA Rally for 2006. At the start of the week there were only 20 entries. 20 entries! What was going on here?! Was there too much emphasis put on the fact that the AGM is held at the rally? Was it just a complete and utter lack of interest by club members to participate in a ‘club event’? And where were the usual non-WIMA members who have always supported us and our rally in the past?

This all lead to the big question of whether we held the rally or not... In the end I decided ‘bugger it’! We’ve got 20 entries, a venue, and a couple of people who had been working very hard behind the scenes to make this happen. I was not going to deny them the pleasure of seeing the fruits of their labour come to life!

And as it turned out, by the end of the week, there were another 7 entries.

Friday morning I stopped in early at the rally site to check it out and pick up the key. Then it was off to drop the bike in to have a new set of tyres fitted. This was followed by a spot of R n R – a workout at the gym followed by a haircut – before shopping for the weekend’s supplies with Annette.

The nest few hours were spent doing all the menial tasks that go on behind the scenes. Ferrying bits n pieces out to the site, putting up signs, stowing supplies, getting the place sorted and making sure there was enough loo paper in all the toilets!

During all of this, the first entrants arrived. I left them to it and headed off to put up the remainder of the signs, and pick up Tez from work. Then it was back to the camp site. We followed Auckland girls in who had taken a scenic detour along the way!

A steady stream of people had rolled in since I left, and this was to continue for the next few hours. Dinner that night was a ‘get your own’ affair, and as Tez and I usually have fish n chips, and the local Take Away’s was still close to hand, we decided to do a fish n chip run. We gathered orders and headed off.

We returned after detouring home to collect a few more bits n pieces, the tent, Duke, not to mention everyone’s dinner. Duke became an instant success and the rally’s unofficial mascot. That’s if you can call a Bull Mastiff/Chocolate Lab/German Short Haired Pointer cross, a mascot.

We spent the evening in and around the Hall swapping tall stories and generally catching up.

Saturday. And yet another stunner of a day in the Bay.

While I mused about rolling over and getting another 40 winks, I decided that one should play dutiful organiser and ensure the Kitchen was set for breakfast. With that task out of the way it was time feed and then walk the dog. But I must say that getting up at 7am at a Rally is most unusual for me! And as for the fact that I was coherent…

By mid morning most people had leisurely awakened and had breakfast, and were now planning their day ahead. I had copied off maps of the area while Di had prepared arrival packs containing pamphlets to various places of interest locally. So it didn’t take long for the camp to empty as everyone went off in various directions on rides and buying sprees.;

I also disappeared into town to collect my bike and lunch in town, while Tez took off to pick up barbeques for the nights dinner.

Upon my return, I found a few lounging in the sun, while others were preparing for a picnic lunch. With the WIMA AGM scheduled for 2pm, I also maxed out to soak up some summer rays. Then it was inside for the business side of things.

Meanwhile the boys and my trusty helpers were busy preparing for the games...

Business out of the way, it was back outside and into the gloriously warm Hawkes Bay sun to let the games commence. With a few traditional games – slow race, helmet toss, balloon (condom) toss – and a few new ones – water slide – thrown in, there was fun for all. Not to mention a few bruises, cracked ribs and a possible broken toe!

While the urge to while away the remainder of the daylight hours chatting in the setting sun, it was time to move on. Dinner. In fact it was due to 2 entrants who had to leave early (work’s a nasty 4 lettered word), that prompted us into action. While I got salads sorted and defrosted the meat, Tez and co were manning the barbecue’s. Desert was going to be easy – fruit salad and ice cream.

Entertainment this year was something completely different. I’d arranged for a Prenzel’s tasting! So while we were having dinner, the ladies arrived, set themselves up, and even enjoyed a spot of desert with us!

After half a dozen or so shooters, including the ‘infamous’ Rigid Roger, we were well and truly introduced and enjoying the Prenzel’s range. Several orders were taken, and a fair amount of their product would shortly be on it’s way to Auckland.

Naturally this lead onto another night of swapping tall stories and generally catching up.

Sunday. Although the day dawned cloudy, us locals knew that it would quickly burn off. Once again Breakfast was taken at a leisurely pace, before people started packing up and heading back home.

With many hands on deck, the clean up was over and done in a jiffy, leaving me free to participate in the Twin City Toy Run along with the Auckland ladies, who were taking a couple of days to get back home.

There are a number of people I’d like to thank for making this rally the success that it was. Firstly thank you to every one who entered – you can’t hold a rally without entrants! Next a big thank you to Annette and Di who’s help in organising and running the games, obtaining sponsorship and prizes, wrapping and sorting prizes, plus compiling the winners list and awarding the prizes accordingly. You two worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

A big thank you also goes to my husband Tez who helped Di and Annette out with the organising and running of the games. I also want to thank the guys on the barbeque – Tez, Owen and Jase – awesome grub! A thank you also goes out to Tony for taking over the dish washing duties and kicking me out of the Kitchen!

And last but not least, a thank you to Doug & Viv and the Auckland girls for their part in the clean up on Sunday morning.

Hawkes Bay presented itself in all its warm summer glory over the weekend. And there’s nothing better than holding a rally when the sun is shining brightly.

The Y Machine

HUGE THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND PRIZE DONATORS

Transfield Worley Ltd
Harvey Norman (Hastings)
Barry's Motorcycle [Kawasaki & Yamaha] (Hastings)
Dave Whitakers [Honda] - (Hastings)
Twin City Motors Inc [Suzuki] - (Napier)
Heath 2000 [Naturally good health stores] (Napier, Havelock North, Taradale, Hastings)
Liquorland (Cnr Heretunga Str & Tomoana Rd) Hastings
Fish Donut (For Everything Indonesian) - (Hastings)
Eko 308 Heretanga Street, Hastings
Suzelle Lingerie (Hastings)
Flowers by Tanya (Hastings)
Handbag House (Hastings) Ltd
Pieces by Nature [Solid Timber Furniture & Gifts] - (Hastings)
Surf2Erth2006 Ltd [Surfwear & Streetwear] (Taradale)
Debbies of Taradale [Fasion & Lingerie]
Gilmores Lingerie [Taradale]
The Silky Oak Chocolate Company [Indulgence Always!]
Park Estate Winery
Swim Gym [Breaking down the barriers to a healthier lifestyle] (Hastings)
Indigo Fashions [A unique boutique with friendly personal service] (Hastings)
Pak n Save (Hastings)
Bay Ford (Hastings)
The Mill [Liquorsave] 406 Karamu Road (Hastings)
Domino's Pizza's [Hastings]
Robbie Burns Stortford Lodge, Marekakaho Road [Hastings]