1/01/06
February 6th 2006 marked 100 years since the first motor vehicles arrived at Mount Cook. The original cars were two De Dion Boutons driven by John Rutherford and Rodolph Wigley. To mark this special occasion, the South Canterbury Branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand organised a commemorative rally along the same route as those first cars featuring more than 150 vintage and veteran cars. A vehicle believed to be one of those first two cars has been purchased by the Aoraki Mt Cook Museum Trust and took part in the rally and is now displayed in the foyer of The Hermitage.
The rally started in Timaru on Saturday, February 4th at 9am. The cars travelled to Fairlie for lunch via the former Rutherford Homestead, Opawa. After a warm reception in Fairlie, the Mackenzie District Mayor John O'Neill was on hand to send the cars on their way to Lake Tekapo where the cars, drivers and supporters stayed the night. During the original drive in 1906, Rutherford and Wigley had also stopped in Tekapo.
Sunday, February 5th marked the second and final day of the rally taking participants through the heart of the Mackenzie country from Lake Tekapo to The Hermitage and the Mount Cook village.
After a lunch at Glentanner Station, the cars were assembled for the final procession to the Mount Cook village. Led by the De Dion Bouton and a rare Mount Cook Company Darracq Service Car (also now on display at The Hermitage) the other vehicles were assembled in date order by year of manufacture, with the oldest cars arriving first.
The dinner held in The Hermitage that evening was attended by over 400 people and former owner of the De Dion, Bryan Thomas, shared some memories of the car with those assembled.
To mark this special event, a DVD containing images taken by photographers at the rally has been released and is available to purchase from The Hermitage Hotel, for more information please Click Here.
Soon to be released will be a DVD of the rally with footage taken along the route and during the arrival at the Mount Cook Village.
