LIVE FROM NEW ZEALAND – A Bit Of Tahoe In St Arnaud New Zealand – Lot’s Of Photo’s!
Another huge thanks to Phil “Duster ” Andrew and Steve Lapkin for getting all our engines running and ready for this years boating season!
This year saw the running of the 21st New Zealand Antique & Classic Boat show at beautiful St Arnaud In the Nelson Lakes district of the South Island of New Zealand.
Classic Century collector Philip Andrew invited Californian Steve Lapkin to come and experience the show and to see his family’s old 66 Century Arabian previously named Ruthie L and now named Miss Tahoe.
Leaving Phil’s home early Thursday am to catch the Interisland Ferry across the infamous Cook Strait to the South Island the reunited friends had three hours to catch up, a time that was spent productively.
We discovered thanks to the Century Boat FaceBook page that the owner of Phil’s Arabian, before Steve’s Dad had been John Even. Both Brad Atkinson and Frank Miklos were able to identify the chap in a photo Phil had put up on the Century FB page of the boat with the Greave Cup some years before she was delivered to the Lapkins in Tahoe. The chap was John Even from Dubuque Iowa. Amazing what the internet can provide.
We drove off the ferry towing Phils 58 Resorter and headed South stopping off to see the worlds most unique WW1 Aeroplane Museum. The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre.
Then it was a pleasant 1.5 hour drive through the wine growing region of Malborough remarkably similar to Napa in California.
Friday morning we rose early for a photo session on the lake, some of the shots you saw yesterday.
Saturday is Showday and plenty of boats showed up. Steve was on the water in a shoot boat provided by organizer Pete Rainey and his brother Bill.
Action on the water gets underway about midday with parades and race events and was crowned today with an aerobatic display of from a WW2 Russian Fighter the mighty Yak.
Okay, okay, I know more boats.. Hold your horses!
No really! I need to get out of this story somehow!
And a HUGE thanks to Phil and Steve Lapkin for the wonderful reporting. WOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!, You can visit Steve Lapkins photo website HERE
Sweet, Sweet, and SWEET!!!!
Amazing, “Century Love”! Incredible on all counts!
Wow, that looks like a really good time! That Fargo truck sure does look like an old Dodge Power Wagon.
Just for the record: Since this will be my last weigh in before Dora. (Leaving Thursday or Friday)
Glad that is over with!! Ready for chicken on a stick.
I’m holding out for the Banana’s Foster.
You gotta love anything that is delivered to your table on FIRE!
Whew! At first, I glanced at the pic and saw 291lbs… Need more coffee! 🙂
Ouch!
I don’t think I could gain that much weight in one week even if I tried.
Never really got into the blue & grey stain thing. But that header shot is WOW!
Great, great photos. The header is amazing. Even had a peak at the Palomino.
Now there’s a good prospect for a WoodyBoater chapter!
Looks like you’all know how to have a good time!
Wow….this post Rocks! Great pix and scenery….but the rocks?
In the header this guy have big rocks to pull those perfect boats right up on the rocks??? They need to get off their rocks….oh..you know what I mean….
Great to see friends across big water Going Boating!
John in Va. Dora bound….road or air…up to carona
Yea,that beach looks a little rough on the bottom.Amazing setting for a show though.
John you are spot on there. Two things that cause us grief are the rocks and the sand fly’s. The sand fly’s die in their thousands with audible slaps. The rocks are not so easy to deal with. Most of the owners use carpet squares set under the boats to pull them up on. It’s not perfect but it helps.
did you catch the tires on the steam traction engine? Wow…cut up modern tractor tires and attached portions to the iron wheel rims…..labor of love there.
John in Va.
I am surprised that there was not any Hamilton Jet Boats as the Hamilton Jet Drive was developed in Christchuch by Jon Hamilton and his father…Great photos of a fun event!
Hey Royce, we’ve got a dozen classic Hamilton Jets here at the show. Just too many pictures to post. Ha. I will get pictures of jets today.
Thanks to our NZ friends displaying their thoroughbreds for us! Especially the Great Blue Ghost of the Kiwi Coast 🙂 (tried to rhyme but not in my dna) Beautiful boats and looks like a great time!
Great pix Steve!