The Wairarapa ramrod community has once again come up trumps for Masterton Foodbank, helping to fill the back of a truck with donated food at their recent Ramrodders Father’s Day Show ‘n’ Shine at Tauherenikau Racecourse.
Wairarapa Ramrodders, which began in 1977, has a long tradition of “doing something community related on Father’s Day”, club president Peter Cummings said. Masterton Foodbank has been a frequent beneficiary of that community spirit.
Conditions of entry to the Show ‘n’ Shine event were $15 per vehicle and at least one non-perishable item for the foodbank.
Over 200 hot rods, muscle cars, classic cars, specialist vehicles and bikes were on display, as well as food trucks, live music, a free miniature railway and a sausage sizzle.
As well as donations of food from showgoers, Valley Plumbing donated $500, which club member Jude Zieth and communications officer Nina Cummings took shopping for Foodbank “which was just great”, Cummings said.
Jenna Matchett, Masterton Foodbank manager, was delighted with the Ramrodders’ donation.
“Ramrodders saw first-hand the demand we face for our service when they were delivering the donation, which drives home how valuable community support is,” Matchett said.
Prior to Show ‘n’ Shine, members of the ramrod club visited the foodbank to learn more about the service and what people really need, which Matchett appreciated.
“It was so cool that they used their initiative, came down to the foodbank prior to that collection and had a look at what we use so they could communicate that with their club members,” she said.
“Times are tough for people at the moment and it all really helps.
“We are so very grateful for their continual support year after year and it is humbling to witness that generosity.”
The car show was the first to be held in three years and was held at the club’s new headquarters at Tauherenikau Racecourse, the club’s first permanent home for some time.
“We haven’t had a secure clubroom for many, many, many years,” Zieth said, and the room on the first floor of the main racecourse building had given Wairarapa Ramrodders “a place to call home”.
The club held two weekend working bees to refresh the new clubrooms and had been donated new carpet from Carpet Court and a freezer.
Nina Cummings hopes that having a settled home base will help grow the club’s membership, which currently sits at 84, many of whom are very active in the club’s activities.
Membership costs just $30 a year, but “you don’t actually have to have a hot rod to be a member of the club”, Peter Cummings said.
Belonging to Wairarapa Ramrodders is more about “meeting like-minded souls”, he said.
“Basically, it’s all about people that have an enjoyment of cars getting together.”
