Vintage Minor Register


Jack Blyth's South Island Tour

The following despatch was filed by Jack on his return from his
circumnavigation of the South Island of New Zealand in his 1929 Morris Minor fabric saloon


Tour Update

View from the old road out of Dunedin across the Otago Peninsula

I thought I had sent a second tour email from Te Anau on Saturday but I don't think it went out, I don't trust those internet cafe computers.

Well, its day nine and the last day of my tour as I have just arrived home, about four days earlier than I had planned. This is because the car performed so well and was a pleasure to drive, and I continued further each day than my original schedule.

Last report from Hokitika told of fitting new wheels.

Started out next morning at dawn, had coffee at Franz Josef glacier, then on to Haast, had planned to stay the night but it was only 2 pm so drove on through the infamous Haast Pass, past lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea and on to Wanaka township for the night. Travelled a record 250 miles (400k) this day over countless steep narrow winding coastal roads. 

Next day (Saturday) continued through Cromwell and on to the large tourist Town of Queenstown, short break for morning tea then on to Te Anau, another beautiful lakeside town.  Shouted myself a comfortable motel overlooking the lake, nice meal, bottle of red wine and watched the Canterbury Crusaders demolish the Cats from South Africa at rugby.

Sunday again no clouds (still havn't used the new wiper) in the sky, drove South passing Lake Manapouri reaching the most Southerly point on the mainland  then through Invercargill and around the coastal road called the"Catlins" at the South East corner of the Island arriving at Owaka at 3pm (this road had 40 miles unsealed, some badly rutted ). Settled into the local pub for the night and enjoyed a few beers and pool with the locals.

Monday again fine except for heavy fog for first 40 miles, lights on and hugging the left edge of the road as moderns whizzed past dangerously many of them large truck and trailer units, held my breath as each one passed.  Near Dunedin the fog cleared and all was easy driving again.  Took the old road out of Dunedin very steep but very scenic (see photo above) and reached Timaru mid afternoon, exceeded travel budget again with nice motel and watched the last round the golf from Augusta.

Last day, leisurely start (9 am) fine and warmer than usual travelled North along the very flat Canterbury plains arriving home at 1 pm.  Being long flat roads with few towns I managed to average 42 mph for the last couple of hours.

Those who are inrerested in statistics:-

Total distance..............................................1,405 miles ( 2,248k)
Total fuel used ............................................ 40 Imp gals (about 35 mpg average)
Average distance per day.............................. 175 miles (280k)

Apart from changing wheels I did not need to open the toolbox or the carton of spare parts or touch any part of the motor other than the dipstick.  The car used no oil and only a pint or two of water.  I am confident I could have crossed Cook Straight and toured the North Island with no problem, however, I think a few days at home are required to allow my bottom to return to its usual rounded shape.

Those people belonging to the Vintage Minor Register will see a full report in M 112 which will include photos.

Anyone else who would like to see a selection of photos from the trip should email me saying "photos please".

Typical comments
New Zealander.............." Nice car "
Asian tourist................." Can I take a photo please "
English tourist..............." My father had one of those Austin 7's "

Regards
Jack


Jack's earlier reoprt from just before the half-way point:

Have passed Blenheim, Picton, Havelock, Nelson, Motueka, Tapawera, Murchison, Westport, Punakaiki, Greymouth and now at Hokitika, a little ahead of schedule, however just before Punakaiki on the Coastal Highway a couple of spokes broke in a rear wheel, causing awful noises and difficult steering, so had to fit the spare for last 40 miles to Hokitika.  Have made a quick trip home in a rental car (3 hrs) to exchange all five wheels for a better set off my 1934 Minor, should eliminate any further wheel problems even at the sake of a little originality.  Will return over the Alps to Hokitika this afternoon (Thursday) and travel South towards the Glaciers Saturday, probably getting as far as Haast Township.  This will put me back on track of my original schedule.   I have been really impressed with the
car's performance after 1/3 of the trip, engine never misses a beat and with the 4-speed gearbox seldom ever need to use 2nd gear.  Only lift the bonnet once a day to fill up and check the oil (still on full).
 


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