Classic cars make final Black Swamp run

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JULIA WADE

 

30 Jan, 2023

 

An annual long-standing fundraising event featuring the classic four-wheel elegance and style of bygone eras, had its final rev-up recently with organisers indicating a left-hand turn off the hot rod run circuit.

A must-see for many on their New Year calendar, the Black Swamp Road Run [BSRR] has delighted thousands of classic car lovers, holiday-makers and the curious for well over a decade. This year, over a hundred motors braved the rain and ongoing showers for the 17th annual run, proudly showing off their sleek lines and glistening chrome to admirers at Mangawhai Domain on January 7, with an eclectic display of 130 American and European classics, Chevs, Fords, retro VW Beetles, Roadsters, Rat Rods, Muscle cars and Mustangs.

After leaving with a rev and a roar for a cruise along Cove Road to Waipu, the convoy returned to a Black Swamp Road property owned by Phil Lathrope for a party including al fresco eating, car talk and live music.

The 2023 event was extra special for those involved as the run was also a one-year memorial to honour founding member Mark Church who passed away in January 2022 with thousands of dollars in proceeds generously gifted from registered drivers and visitor’s koha donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association NZ.

Co-organiser Sandra Brunt says her cousin Mark was present at the event as his portrait sat on the passenger seat of his 1957 Chevy, driven up from Auckland by brother Andrew and accompanied by Mark’s wife and one of their daughters.

“Andrew had to drive in pouring rain and said he could hear Mark having a fit about having his car out in the wet,” she says. “We collected a total of $3992 at the Domain but since then I’ve had people say they want to donate, upping the total to over four grand, so we’re pretty happy with that.”

The popular fundraiser first parked up in the summer of 2007 Sandra says, with a group of visiting petrol head cousins and friends ‘so we had a few classic cars kicking around.’

“We just did a run to Waipu for pizza and then back to Phil’s… we thought that was fun and decided to do it every year,” she says. “After a while it just got bigger, ended up with nowhere to park in Waipu as there was so many of us, so changed it to a run where you didn’t stop and we’d just meet and eat at Phil’s instead.”

As the event grew in popularity – attracting both local and out-of-town classic car lovers from Auckland and Whangarei as well as holiday-makers who had cruised up in their vintage vehicles from as far away as the Waikato – the cars met pre-run on Mangawhai Beach School’s [MBS] fields for a number of years before switching to the Mangawhai Domain.

While the joining fee covered costs such as the band and portaloos at Black Swamp Road, the volunteer crew made up of family and friends would ‘rattle buckets’ for different local causes, first donating to MBS and, once the event moved to the Domain, to Otamatea High School and Mangawhai Volunteer Surf Club. The Paparoa Lions also held one of their biggest fundraisers at the event via a food truck, ‘they were a bit sad about this year being the last one.’

“The run has been so well supported, visitors and the car people have always been very generous with donations and there would often be people along the Waipu route as we passed. This year there were masses of American flags waving at us along Garbolino Road, others would set themselves up with deck chairs and drinks to watch us pass,” Sandra says. “The car crew love their cars and love to show them off and share with others, which is really cool as the cars are worth a sweet fortune; it’s good to have people enjoying them too.”

Organising the event however, takes a lot of time and energy, especially on the lead up to and through the busy festive and holiday season. After 17 years, Sandra says with the idea to close niggling at the back of her mind for a while, decided this was the year to deaccelerate.

“Thought we’d finish on a good note. We’ve been doing it for a long period and it’s time to just enjoy the New Year instead of wondering what the weather is going to be. The reality is that organising the run isn’t as easy as it once was, there’ve been a number of changes including the area around Black Swamp being developed so also might be a little harder once those places are occupied,” she says.

“I’d like to thank Phil who has offered up his land all these years for the run’s picnic, all the enthusiast car owners for their ongoing participation and all the crew, I’m sure our family and friends will appreciate the time off around Christmas and New Year. We’ve got good memories and hopefully have a given a few… it’s been fun.”

 

 

“Thought we’d finish on a good note. We’ve been doing it for a long period and it’s time to just enjoy the New Year…”

- Sandra Brunt

 

 

1. Founding member, Mark Church, who passed away in January 2022, was remembered and honoured at the run with brother Andrew at the wheel of Mark’s ‘57 Chevy, driving the classic car up from Auckland. PHOTO/VANESSA EVANS

 

2. Off with a roar for the last leg of the Black Swamp Run on the loop to Waipu and back. PHOTO/BRENDA CHALMERS (image above)

 

3. Phil Lathrope’s Black Swamp Road property has been the ideal destination for cars and car lovers to refuel, catch up and relax throughout the event’s 17-year run. PHOTO/KIRST NICOLSON

 

4. It’s a friends and family affair after the run with the convoy parking, partying and picnicking, usually with a barbecue and live music.

PHOTO/JO THOMAS

 

5. Black Swamp Rod Run co-organisers Sandra Brunt [far left] and Phil Lathrope [third from left] and some of the hardworking crew at their farewell. PHOTO/CATHERINE REID

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