Dawnbreaker 2007

Here it is 4.30 a.m. and I am heading to the New Brighton through road to join 13 other classic cars and their crews about to set off on a mid-winter dash through Mid-Canterbury.

The night is very dark and calm with millions of twinkling stars piercing the black sky.  After greetings we are soon on our way through suburbs to SH1 were we found service stations at Kaiapoi and Amberley and some cars filling up - a bit like moths attracted to bright lights.

At Amberley the temperature had zoomed up from the -3.5 of Brighton to a much more friendly 7c.  North Canterbury was in a mini heat wave which went all the way up to 11.5 on the run.  We continued on through the undulating twisty roads of the Waiau with nice dry roads and seldom any other vehicles to be seen.  So different in the dark but much fun.

The dawn of day was at work backlighting the outlines of the countryside and by the time we reached Gore Bay the sea was brightly lit and the few cloud skiffs added to the beauty of the early morning scenery.  Very hard to put such beauty in words, its something to be seen.  Onwards on newly metalled roads towards Motunau everything was lit by the rising sun behind us casting long shadows on the landscape and the occasional glint in the eyes from the rear vision mirror.  Out from Motunau to SH1 to Greta Valley Tavern and breakfast which was so welcome and I quickly forgot about the radar cop everyone else had seen.

This is the first time the writer has taken part in the Dawnbreaker (due to commitments and other weak excuses) and I must say it was so spectacular even in the dark through to the backlit silhouettes of the mountains, the lights on the sea, the rising sun, all amazing.  You really must experience this for yourself.

Mel Peters

Photos - Simon Dobier

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