President’s Ramble – December 2019

Citroen set us an enjoyable and challenging trial in the hills and valleys in and around Hunua. A few of our members attended and the results tell us we did well.  For the first time I competed with my son Joshua. We managed to get the most answers right. However the Navigator misread the instructions and got us time penalties.  The worst bit was that the navigator was me!

Those of you who know me, which I suspect is most if not all of you, will know that I love Ice Cream, so Joshua and I stopped at one of the strawberry farms and had an Ice Cream afterwards, no surprise really.

What you might find as a surprise, is that the US Navy during WWII recognised ice cream as one of the most important things for morale.  So much so, that they built a ship for the Pacific War that had the main purpose of being a floating Ice Cream factory. Sailors and Marines had it as a booster.

It cost them $1,000,000 to build! The craft was a concrete barge acquired from the U.S. Army. After conversion it was able to create 10 US gallons (38 l) of ice cream every seven minutes, or approximately 500 US gal (1,900 l) per shift, and could store 2,000 US gal (7,600 l). It was employed in the USN’s Western Pacific area of operations. At one point it spent some time anchored at Ulithi, an atoll in the Caroline Islands.

The thought of Ice Cream and Summer is a great prelude for Christmas, something I wish that all of you have an enjoyable one celebrating with family and friends. Once over the New Year’s period, many of us a have a brief respite before February / March cracks in.  Traditionally the busiest time of the year with the Ellerslie Concours, the gymkhana with Citroen and the Brit-Euro car show in early March.  I don’t think I can make the Brit – Euro, as there is a very important 13th birthdate in our household, so please contact Don and go enjoy it.

Do keep February 16th free, as you will see we beat Citroen in the points in the first leg of the Tricolour Trophy. Come compete and ensure that we retain it in the second half.  The Gymkhana will be held again at the end of Cato-Peart Road in Karaka   Come join in, compete, Marshall or spectate –  it will be good to see you there.

Brent

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