Hunter Chapter Xmas Run
17 December 2015 / Story: Josh Fitzgerald Photos: Phil Mayo & Josh Fitzgerald
Christmas was in the air around the Hunter Valley as a large contingent of 43 Hunter members gathered at our usual meeting place at the Beresfield BP for the Hunter Chapter Christmas Run.
25 MX-5s were lined up in the car park decked with Christmas livery and members were too, with some fancy shirts and hats giving every one a good laugh. One cringe worthy hat worn by Mr convenor was even enough to make Mrs convenor roll her eyes in laughing disapproval, but that’s not hard to do!
After we cleared out of the roadhouse we started to spread the Christmas cheer across the valley as we made our way over Mount Sugarloaf via Mulbring to Sandy Creek Road, a fun twisty MX-5 road that, with the sun on your face, the wind in your hair and a line of MX-5s in tow, just brings a grin to your face every time.
Not before long we were on the bumpy road jingling all the way to Wollombi. With the rolling hills and winding creek, you could almost imagine it covered in snow for a Christmas winter wonderland, but the mid 30 degrees temperature was a much nicer alternative and a true Aussie Christmas.
After a coffee stop in Wollombi and a show off of some very cool Christmas decorations on cars, we headed along the winding Paynes Crossing Road towards Broke. Smooth, fast and flowing (and less travelled by the public) this road is an MX-5 favourite with rolling bends past stunning rural properties and dense bushland dotting the road. But like all good roads (and scenery), they must come to an end and soon the rolling green hills turned into big open cut mines.
Thankfully the open cut mine scenery was short lived and we were on the beautiful Putty Rd. Resisting the urge to continue south on the Putty into MX-5 nirvana, we diverted back across in a loop to Broke with the much nicer scenery that makes the Hunter Valley such a beautiful place the live. After collecting Country Cousin at Broke, who was fighting a slowly deflating tyre, we ventured on to our final destination for lunch at Sobels Wines in Pokolbin.
Sobels wines had very generously offered up their BBQ and under cover table facilities for use by the club for lunch. With the local markets on in the winery grounds as well, we certainly created a buzz as we lined up our MX-5’s in front of the cellar door, with the staff even sneaking away from the tasting bar excitedly to have a look around the many MX-5’s now filling their car park.
With the club supplied lunch served and bon-bons cracked, much deliberation took place before we announced the winner of the Best Dressed Xmas MX-5. There were two very festive cars and a flip of a coin was required to determine the winner between Annette and Karl, our congratulations & prize went to Annette who chose tails and won.
After lunch had been enjoyed, we took the opportunity to present a number of Hunter members with their tenure badges for 5 & 10 years membership with the club.
We also presented several Hunter members with some lovely Sobels wines as thank you’s for their very much appreciated help with organising and assisting with club events over the past 12 months. Volunteers keep the club going and make all the events we enjoy possible, so we very much appreciate all the members who have lent their time and support to help the club with runs, motorsports and other events and functions.
The Hunter Chapter would like to wish all club members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope Santa is good to you and that he can somehow fit an ND into your stocking!
More of Phil Mayos photos HERE
More of Josh Fitzgeralds photos HERE
