Beach Racing At Tahunanui Nelson 1960s

[thunder427]

..promised Steve I would tell this story!!

My father took a 'Sales' position with the 'Reid Rubber Tyre Company' in Nelson around 1952,selling tyres to the trade throught out the Malborough/Blenham/Nelson and West Coast,I went to the Tahunanui School, when we lived in Greens st/Tahunanui,we would go and 'Roller Skate' at the 'Rink' at Tahunanui Beach Front,great swim beach,also attended Auckland Point School where I had to walk past 'Nelson Transport' Truck Depo,if you asked with a "Please" you would be given 'large' Ball Race wheels for the 'Billy Karts', then they would pretend to chase you out of the place,you school bag banging away on your back,weighting a 'Ton', full of Bounty

The story....1959/we, the family, had towed a 'New' caravan behind a 'Swish',matching paint scheme,1948 Oldsmobile 'Teardrop' Coupe (read 'Fastback') to stay at the Nelson Camping Ground,see some friends, from our 3 year stay in Nelson and take in the Beach races that included the Scramble Bikes which we also enjoyed ,the Mechanic from my Fathers Car Sales in Ferry Road ChCh, was riding that weekend.

Well, there we were, with our flash new/Modern 'Aluminium clad' caravan with an attachment called an 'Awning',that made double your space, my Mum had decided that we should be visiting, Dad and I had had a notion to watch the Beach race Practise, but Mum ruled, well thats what my Father told me, someone had once compared my mother to Elizabeth Taylor, not quite, but if you get the 'Make-up' thing going,you will understand the comparison,it was a major event,well there she was,my Mum,looking radiant standing in the door way of our 'Flash' van.."Oh!! its rather windy,I'll just pop back inside and use a little 'Hairspray'"...she's gone about 2sec's....Swiiiiiiiish....screams comming from inside..." I've sprayed my Hair with Bloody 'FLYSPRAY'....well that was too much for my Father and I,we just rolled around laughing (In the 'Awning')...she refused to come out till my Father agreed to take her and have her hair re-permed....she had reached up to a small shelf that held two cans ,one Hairspray the other flyspray,felt the same,BUT!!.....well as you guessed, I got to go to the Beach and watch the 'practice'......and I,ve been a supporter/user of 'Mortine' ever since......I Know, I am mean!!, It wasn't really funny and I did have a 'Great' Mum !!!, but hey!!! I did get to the 'Beach!!!!!.............................regards thunder427/MJ