The Waitemata Branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand held its annual Chelsea Walsh hillclimb in the grounds of the Chelsea Sugar Refinery on 6 November. Fastest time of the day went to Craig Laing in a Buckler DD2 (above).
There was a good entry for this popular event limited to pre-1960 vintage and classic cars, but its days could be numbered due to the possibility of the area being developed as a residential enclave.
Of special note this year was the first appearance of Robert McNair’s exquisite Riley special, above, powered by a Gipsy Moth engine left over from a superb Tiger Moth that Robert had restored.
Also starring were the famous Bugatti Type 35A driven by Terry Roycroft, son of one of New Zealand’s best known racing drivers, Ron Roycroft, and Keith Humphreys in the 1928 Lancia Lambda Roadster (below).
The weather held off just long enough for the event to finish and the rain started just as the post-event BBQ got under way.
James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car