Vintage devotees have seen the light

Motorists using the Saddle Rd on Wednesday morning can expect to see an unusual convoy of six elderly tractors towing two World War II searchlights and their generators.

The showpieces are on their way from Hastings to Whanganui for the international Vintage Car Rally that starts today and runs until the end of next week.

The searchlights are in the care of Hastings man Wayne Clark, who owns one and looks after the other for the Army Museum in Waiouru.

Mr Clark and his support team aim to make the seven-hour journey to Woodville on Tuesday, and will make a decision then on whether to make a dawn dash over the hill, or wait until the "commuter rush hour" has passed.

"My main concern is that we don't hold up the traffic," he said.

Mr Clark's fascination with searchlights dates back to his childhood, and was fostered by an interest in movie projector lights.

"When the opportunity came up to get hold of one of these, I thought I should make a move."

The lights were built in Sydney in 1941 and brought to New Zealand during the war for use in coastal and air defence. The beam can be seen for nearly 50 kilometres.

On the McDonald's restaurants-sponsored trip to Whanganui, the lights will be towed behind four 1954/55 Fordson tractors.

A third searchlight is being brought down from New Plymouth.

Meanwhile, in Whanganui, rally director Bruce Hutton was spending the weekend on final preparations, made more complex by the rain that left the Springvale Park venue grounds soft in advance of more than 700 vehicles arriving.

About 2000 people, including 180 from overseas, were expected.

"We have had major problems with the weather, that threatened to wash us out."

The main marquee was pitched, but another blew down and had to be repaired.

"But the Wanganui District Council has been wonderful. They have arranged alternative car parking on the hard surface, and have aerated the ground to help get the water away.

"The co-operation we have had from volunteers and businesses has been just amazing."

Vintage vehicles making their way to the official opening in Whanganui tomorrow will be passing through Manawatu. They will be at Manfeild Park on Saturday.