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Caddy club birthday

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Friday 25 October 2013

Tourer head turner

Friday 25 October 2013

Firmly on track

Friday 25 October 2013

See page 4

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Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

Weekend Sun Friday 25 OctoberThe 2013

Bay Driver

Americana anniversary - Cadillac club Bookings and enquiries contact Tracey Taylor on 07 578 0030 email: tracey@thesun.co.nz

eeks

New version

For editorial and news tips email: hamish@thesun.co.nz

Home of

phone 07 578 0030 fax 07 571 1116 email ads@thesun.co.nz No.1 The Strand, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3140 www.sunlive.co.nz

For just $44,990* you could be driving a new Falcon XR6, complete with 6-speed transmission, 17” alloys and sports body kit. You wouldn’t want to miss out on that. Visit your Ford Dealer today.

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When you lose someone special, it can be nice to keep their memory alive with a fitting tribute. For Tauranga’s Blair Mead, the fitting tribute for his brother was a big Cadillac.

You can hear him smile as he tells the story of deciding one day, six months after his 54-yearold brother’s sudden death in his sleep, to go out and get a big American car.

“When he was 18 he had to sell his big 1956 Chevy when he got married, so I decided I would get a big car. I thought ‘to hell with this I’m going to get a big car that he could never get’, so I decided on a Cadillac – a 1964 twodoor Coupe de Ville – because it’s one of the biggest you can get.”

The rest, as they say, is history. Eight years on, Blair is Caddy-mad – and his wife Sonja has joined the club with a bright red 1964 Cadillac convertible he describes as “real flash”.

“It’s just the size, the class, the cruising, and they are so comfortable,” says Blair about the appeal of the marque. “And you’re meeting

By Hamish Carter

other people wherever you go, they always want to know about it and how much costs to run – it’s a really sociable thing.”

Blair is one of the Bay of Plenty members of the Cadillac La Salle Club of New Zealand, who have organised the club’s week-long 40th anniversary celebrations in the region from next Thursday, which will include a day-trip to Tauranga on Friday.

The celebrations, which are largely based in Rotorua, are attracting about 100 Cadillac enthusiasts, including four from the US and about 29 from Australia, along with about 30 cars from throughout the country, ranging from 1943 to 2008 models.

On Friday, the convoy will arrive at Mount Maunganui about 9.30am with cars being displayed at Phoenix carpark until 12pm, to be tied in with breast cancer fundraising. The cars will then head off through to Tauranga to park up at the Historic Village about 1pm-2pm.

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Tauranga Cadillac enthusiasts Lois Thrupp, Blair Mead and Dave Corin with their impressive cars. Photo by Bruce Barnard.

116 Hewletts Road Mount Maunganui, Tauranga City Tel: 07 578 6017 www.farmerautovillage.co.nz Follow us on Facebook

The Weekend Sun

Bay Driver Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

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Head over heels for the classics Wheels on Mainstreet car show organiser Straw Lye is in a spin over his 1930 Model A Tourer – literally.

To help draw attention to the second annual classic car and hot rod show, which is being held at the Mount this Saturday, Straw has joined forces with major sponsor North Island Forklifts owner Kevin Burton for a special display.

“I think it’s an amazing event, and I’m sure it’s only going to grow,” says Kevin, who is using a rotator on the front of one of his forklifts to offer an impressive display of Straw’s Model A Tourer.

“We came up with something we thought would be quite unique and different, and really stage the event,” says the self-professed “car nut”.

In the last eight weeks, Straw has gone hammer and tongs to prepare his Model A Tourer for its display. It will be standing aloft on the forklift to be rotated 360 degrees all Saturday outside Breakers Cafe and Bar. “The idea came from Kevin – he was talking and they came up with this hair-brained scheme – and I thought that was a great idea and we just took it from there,” says Straw, who was in the process of a major rebuild of the Ford.

“We had to make the bonnet fit and the mud guards fit and everything – and make it look like a car. So we’ve stopped our rebuilding programme and we’ve rushed into bolt everything together so it looks like a 1930s Model A complete with windscreen and headlights.”

The rebuild has been a long time coming with Straw originally buying the car in 1972 – ironically paying a lot more than he intended to when two friends put tenders in for the car against his.

Straw Lye is hoping to turn a few heads with his Model A Tourer at Saturday’s After losing the car when his marriage Wheels on Mainstreet show. Photo by Bruce Barnard.

broke up, Straw got it back four years ago and has had to modify the chassis to accept his engine and transmission following previous owners’ changes.

From a circuit racing and car club background, Straw got into hot rodding through his friend John Reid, saying once he saw a Tourer he knew he had to get one. “There was just something about them”.

Straw’s motoring background has included crewing for some of New Zealand motorsport’s greats, including Roger Freeth, Possum Bourne and drag racing icon Garth Hogan, as well as running Hastings drag strip Thunder Park, for 10 years.

During the last few months, his attention has been split between his Tourer and organising Saturday’s Wheels on Mainstreet event – which has already attracted more than 200 car entries when Bay Driver spoke to him on Monday, well ahead of last year’s 163.

“We are continuing to get registrations daily, and we will keep taking entries up until the day. We will find space for them as long as they are a classics, customs or hot rods.”

Cars will be displayed along Maunganui Rd and Coronation Park, and bikes will be placed in Prince Ave, with the streets open to the public from 10am. There will be live entertainment during the day, with prizegiving for best entries at 2.30pm. Entry is by gold coin donation to the Tauranga Prostate Cancer Foundation.

After this weekend, Straw will be “going for broke” to finish the rebuild by March in time for Whangamata’s Beach Hop – where he plans to lend the car to a visiting group of Gold Coast drag fans.

“Every year we go over there they give us a car to drive, so we’re aiming to return the favour,” says Straw.

By Hamish Carter

Page 4

Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

Weekend Sun Friday 25 OctoberThe 2013

Show stopper

For the second time this year, Sideline Sid teamed up with Bay Driver photographer Bruce, to test drive an out-of-the-box SUV. The Holden Trax LTZ, we picked up from Ebbett Tauranga on Cameron Rd, was described as an all-new compact SUV with intelligent features.

pleased with its initial challenge.

“My first impressions were of an extremely comfortable driver seat enhanced by the LTZ leather upholstery. The Holden SUV provides good all-round visibility, from a more elevated position from the road than your usual family sedan,” says Bruce.

In contrast, Sideline Sid was taken by two of the Holden Trax’s innovative features.

“For an old fella with arthritis, the heated front seats of the LTZ really appealed.

What the intrepid test pilots found was a “The rear view camera was put to its test good sized family wagon, ideal for mum to when we stopped off at home. Reversing take the girls to ballet, or for dad to lay down up our narrow drive was a breeze for Bruce, the back seats and pick up his DIY supplies using the rear view camera, with the overlayfrom the local Mitre 10 Mega store. ing centre lines ensuring the vehicle kept on With Bruce in the driving seat, we headed the straight and narrow.” for the Minden hills, to give the vehicle Heading up the Minden for stage one of a hit out on some suburban roads, before the photo shoot gave the two test pilots a checking out its performance on reasonably good overview of the Holden Trax perforsteep uphill terrain – with Bruce being quite mance. “With responsive steering the vehicle sits nicely on the road. The Trax has a good turn of foot, produced by the 1.8 DOHC four cylinder petrol engine with the six speed automatic transmission having Active Select options on the gear stick,” says Bruce, Sideline Sid commented on the Holden Trax performance tools, saying the SUV’s cruise control would be Z T L a great addition out on & r e S d L n li y: Availabilit L DOHC four cy the open road, with Engine: 1.8trol engine the pre-set vehicle pe 0rpm 0 speed, which doesn’t 3 6 @ w 3k require accelerator Power: 10 5 Nm @3800rpm tic with pressure “making Torque: 17on: 6-speed automa driving on long trips Transmissi ct a breeze”.

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made the two Bay Driver reviewers sit up and take notice. The Holden MyLink 7 inch colour touch-screen brings a whole range of technology together. Staying connected is easy with the MyLink Apps, featuring a Bringo Navigation technology that makes getting lost on the road firmly a thing of the past. Bluetooth connectively, combined with USB and IPod connections, lets you simply plug in your iPod and USB flash drive to play and listen to all your favourite tracks.

The Holden Trax steering wheel controls allows the driver to operate the state-ofthe-art audio system, cruise control and Bluetooth, without taking your hands of the wheel. A further nifty innovation is the headlights that automatically switch on at dusk or low light. Bruce says: “I was particularly taken by the easy-to-read dashboard with large vivid blue letters and figures”. Sideline Sid responded he liked the rear park assist with audible sensors that make a commotion when getting close to banging into another car, while backing into a parking space.

While there was some debate whether the Holden Trax is a hatchback or a SUV –both reviewers are unanimous that it being a family wagon makes it stand out from its competitors.

Bay Driver

Holden Trax LTZ

By Sideline Sid and Bruce Barnard.

The photo shoot segment of the young ballet dancers revealed there was plenty of leg room and space in the back seats for three aspiring dancers. With five passengers on-board, there is also plenty of boot space to transport all necessary costumes and gear on long or short distance travel to ballet competitions.

An easy transition of the rear seats, to provide transportation of Dad’s latest DIY project materials, provides a huge flat surface. Unlike a number of other similar SUVs, dropping the back seats was as easy as A B C, with plenty of headroom for awkward items. More than handy extras, for the home handyman, are roof rails and tie down points in the expanded boot.

The Holden Trax has been tuned for challenging New Zealand road conditions and is credited with a very competitive 7.6 litres per 100 km fuel economy. At $35,490 (plus on road costs), the Holden Trax LTZ is extremely good buying for anyone in the market for a sporty-looking but compact SUV. Sideline Sid has the final word, saying the Holden Trax is sharply priced “and has plenty of new fangled technology that makes the Holden Trax SUV stand out in its class”.

The Weekend Sun

Bay Driver Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

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Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

Weekend Sun Friday 25 OctoberThe 2013

Bay Driver

The Weekend Sun

Bay Driver Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

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Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

Building on old rivalry Mount Maunganui motocross legend Cody Cooper is excited about defending his national title with the help of former rival Ben Townley. Photo by Geoff Osborne www.BikesportNZ.com

Top Bay of Plenty motocross riders Ben Townley and Cody Cooper are putting aside their long-standing rivalry to join forces in a new Waikato-based team when the racing season starts on November 2.

Mount Maunganui-based Cody – who took out the national MX1 championship last season – announced he’s ending his long-standing association with Suzuki after finishing fourth overall in the Australian MX series last month.

After a frustrating time competing in the Kiwi team at September’s Motocross of Nations event in Germany – where bike mechanical problems contributed a poor result – Cody says he is looking forward to competing in his first event in Te Kuiti. The team finished a disappointing 20th place, down from the 15th place achieved in 2012.

“I am really looking ahead to the new season,” says Cody, declaring himself confident of successfully defending his national title when the

2014 series kicks off in February.

Cody, 30, says he is feeling reinvigorated and excited about the help he will get from Ben, who is team manager. Cody has been a major force in the riding scene for years, after getting a taste for dirt riding at age four and claiming his first junior motocross title in 1994.

“The help I’ll get from a man of Ben Townley’s experience will be awesome.”

Tauranga-based Ben – a former world, US and national motocross champion – surprised everyone earlier this year with his retirement announcement after being plagued by injury troubles. The previous season he had dominated the motocross scene, winning the national series.

Ben says he is looking forward to bringing his international experience to the team as manager, and will be working closely with team sponsor and Waikato Honda Shop owner Phil Empson, who runs dealerships in Te Awamutu, Cambridge and Putaruru.

AUTOS

RMVT

Weekend Sun Friday 25 OctoberThe 2013

Bay Driver

Riding for seventh crown As the country’s top motorcycle trial riders battle for the national championship in the Western Bay this weekend, defending champion Jake Whitaker is being picked as the one to watch.

While the Wellington rider has dominated the technical riding event for almost a decade, he is not taking anything for granted in his hunt for his seventh national crown this weekend at the three-day New Zealand Moto Trials Championships.

After a riding career with numerous highlights, Jake has nothing left to prove, but he still recognises there is a high chance everything could fall apart if he makes even the smallest of errors.

“I really want to equal the seven-title record of [Napier’s] Warren Laugesen, but I’m taking nothing for granted,” says the Kiwi international rider, who is also the Australian trials champion of 2010, 2011 and 2012.

“I’ll be up against Warren again this weekend and; even though I’ve had a good run over recent seasons to win six years in a row, it’s the sort of sport where everything can quickly go wrong,” says Jake.

“It’s always bound to be slippery on the rocks; and there will be tree roots to trip up on as well, so it’s never really easy and a small lapse in concentration could end in tears.”

Despite riding a faultless campaign last season to win his sixth expert grade title, he is expecting some tough competition from a few young riders, who are stepping up into the top grade for the first time.

“Riders such as Dunedin’s Blake Fox, Rotorua’s John Haynes, Nelson’s Nick Oliver and Taranaki’s Matt Foster certainly have my respect.”

The A Grade competition is also expected to be fierce with Howick’s Liam Draper and Tauranga’s Jacob Gundry expected to go head-to-head, while perennial frontrunners, such as Wellington’s Carl Robson, Te Kauwhata’s Cory Davies, Tuakau’s Robert Williamson could also feature.

Titles will also be contested in the intermediate, presidents, clubmans, twin shock, junior and women’s categories.

Rather than being a contest of speed, the aim of trialing is to conquer extreme terrain without your feet touching the ground, or without falling off. Points are lost for these “faults” and a rider with the lowest score wins. For details on the weekend’s contest and its locations, see story page 10.

Pictured: Wellington’s Jake Whitaker, gunning for national crown number seven this weekend. Photograph and words by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

The Weekend Sun

Bay Driver Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

PEUGEOT 308 ACTIVE

Page 9

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Step into your nearest Peugeot Centre today or call 0800 PEUGEOT. 1400. WHEELS AND TYRES: SizeCubic 205/55Capacity R17 Alloy Wheels System Porsche Automatic Transmission, (cc) 1598,17”.

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COMFORT AND CONVENIEN and rear park aid, Electro chrome rearview mirror, Blue and a hollowFront anti-roll bar. DIMENSIONS: Length (mm) 4276, with control with speed limiter, Speed related electric power assisted stee mm. SUSPENSION: - Independent Pseudo McPherson strut withWidth linked(mm) Cruise operated central door locking, Front and rear electric windows w mirrors Height (mm) 1519, Wheelbase 2608, Boot volume placeand rear park aid, Electro chrome rearview mirror, Bluetooth, Int anti-roll bar, Rear2038, - Deformable U-shaped cross member located by two (seats arms inFront Electrically operated, heated and folding door mirrors, 6 Speak to 430 parcel WEIGHTS Length AND CAPACITIES: Kerb (mm) weight and a hollow anti-roll bar.tray).

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EXTER Accoustic laminated front window screen, Auto headlamps, Fr with pre-tensioning and load limiting andABS rear (with seatbelts, rating, 6 airbags—driver, passenger front side &front curtain, EBFDHeight & EBA).adjustable LIGHTING & VISIBILITY: LED Day time running lights, Athermic windsc seatbelts Isofix on rear outer seats (child Rear safety3-point fixing points), Fuel cut off lights, Rain sensitive wipers with auto lights, Intermittent rear wa Electronicfront Stability Control (ESC) (with ASR & CDS), seatbelts Accoustic laminated front window screen, Auto headlamps, Front & rea with pre-tensioning and load limiting front and rear seatbelts, Height adjustable With its undeniably European styling and impressive list of features, the 2013 Peugeot 308 Active demands your attention. And, we’ve just made it even more front seatbelts Isofix on rear outer seats (child safety fixing points), Fuel cut off lights, Rain sensitive wipers with auto lights, Intermittent rear wash/wipe. a limited time the Peugeot 308 Active is now priced at only $28,990 plus on road costs. Step into Tauranga Peugeot today.

With its undeniably European styling and impressive list of features, the 2013 Peugeot 308 Active demands your attention. And, we’ve just made it even more attractive a limited time the Peugeot 308 Active is now priced at only $28,990 plus on road costs. Step into Tauranga Peugeot today.

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With its undeniably European styling and impressive list of features, the 2013 Peugeot 308 Active demands your attention. And, we’ve just made it even more attractive - for a limited time the Peugeot 308 Active is now priced at only $28,990 plus on road costs. Step into your nearest Peugeot Centre today or call 0800 PEUGEOT.

Page 10

Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

The 2013 Weekend Sun Friday 25 October

Precision riding on track After almost 40 years competing in motorcycle trials, Tauranga’s veteran competitor Warwick Merriman would like to add another championship to his records this weekend.

Tauranga’s moto trial community is hosting the sport’s national championships during the long weekend – with contests in the technical riding discipline being held every day in what event coordinator Francis Sydenham is picking will be “a display of trial riding at its best”.

Among those helping run the MTF First Avenue 2013 New Zealand Moto Trials Championship is Warwick, a rider Francis describes as “Mr Trials New Zealand” in recognition of his long-standing success in the sport.

Pyes Pa farmer Warwick, who is a six-time national intermediate champion, is still riding at the top of his class, taking out both the North and South Island Over 40s titles this year –despite admitting he’s a pensioner by age.

“I’m a thorn in everybody’s side,” says Warwick. But being responsible for looking after the observers at the national championships is his priority this weekend.

“With the championships being held locally it helps [my riding chances], because I’m used to our conditions – so I’m hoping to do quite well. But being one of the organisers, you tend to err towards the event’s success and let the riding come second.”

Warwick got involved in trials in 1974, after falling under the spell of a smartly-designed trial bike (a Honda TL 125), on his brother-in-law’s farm. From then on, he’s been keen on the low-impact riding competition.

“I’ve always been into motorbikes since my school days. Motocross was always quite ‘rip, sh*t and bust’, with a lot of bust – but with trials it’s a low impact sport which anyone can take up at any age. It’s a disci-

pline sport where you have to stay within the pegs and you need a disciplined mentality.”

The competition which, unlike other riding contests, does not involve speed but focuses on skilfully negotiating an obstacle course with challenges, which vary depending on the rider’s standard.

Competitors have a set route to progress through with the aim being to negotiate the section by successfully negotiating hazards such as rock steps, waterfalls, through creeks or on logs, without putting your feet on the ground. Every time the rider stops, puts their feet down, or falls off, they are penalised. The ultimate winner is the competitor with the least penalties.

Warwick’s passion rubbed off on his son Stefan, who began riding aged 11 as soon as he could hold up his bike.

“He did really well. He ended up fourth in England [the home of trials], before giving it away for enduro riding and has done considerably better. He ended up with four world championships as an enduro rider,” say Warwick.

Stefan is competing in Australia’s national enduro competition, after gaining fourth overall and second in his 450cc class last season.

Warwick would love to see lots of people come out and take in this weekend’s competition, which is attracting 55 riders from throughout the country, saying “the best riders make the difficult challenges seem simple”.

Saturday’s event will be at Muir’s farm (end of No 4 Rd, Te Puke), with hazards featuring rocky rivers, and natural bush obstacles. Sunday’s event at Grayling’s farm (top of Hereford Rd, Oropi), will feature two man-made hazards, including old cars, large tyres and concrete culverts along with other sections over natural terrain. On Monday, competition will be held at Meredith’s farm (end of No 4 Rd Te Puke), with slippery tree roots, bush sections and a rocky quarry.

All events are signposted. Competition starts at 10am daily.

By Hamish Carter

Pyes Pa trials rider Warwick Merriman practises overcoming obstacles ahead of this weekend’s national trials championships.

Photo by Bruce Barnard.

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The Weekend Sun

Bay Driver Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

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Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

The OUTBACK SPORT mAy Be new BUT The PRiCe iS fAmiliAR.

Introducing the new, fully-loaded Subaru Outback Sport. Its Boxer engine, All Wheel Drive, classleading fuel economy and exceptional towing power make it the perfect vehicle to tame New Zealand.

And while the road may be rough, a luxurious interior, standard 18-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity and revolutionary EyeSight technology ensure your ride won’t be. But even with all these innovations, one thing we haven’t changed is the price, starting at $49,990*. To book your test drive, call 0800 SUBARU or visit us online at www.subaru.co.nz

116 Hewletts Road Mount Maunganui, Tauranga City Tel: 07 578 6017 www.farmerautovillage.co.nz Follow us on Facebook

The 2013 Weekend Sun Friday 25 October

Bay Driver

The Weekend Sun

Bay Driver Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

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Friday 25 October 2013

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Friday 25 October 2013

Bay Driver

The 2013 Weekend Sun Friday 25 October

Riding in the blood

Tauranga’s Hawk Runningbear polishes up his 2013 Suzuki B-KING 250RR for the Bay of Plenty Coastal Cruisers bike competition on Saturday. Photo by Bruce Barnard. myself for it. It’s got the screens, the belly With a Navajo Indian mother, some might pan, the proper Suzuki RR sticker kit, and say it’s his natural love for bare-back riding lots of other stuff the others don’t come coming out. Hawk Runningbear simply says with.” it’s the love of freedom on the road.

Reeling back through the bikes he has “I think it’s the wind in your face and just owned, Hawk has had every different brand, the sheer freedom; and obviously the bigger type and size, from a basic 125cc bike to the the bike, there’s more power.” impressive Kawasaki Z1300 tourer he simply This Saturday, the Tauranga-based Zimbadescribes as “something else”. bwean, who call himself a ‘Rhodesian expat’, But Hawk believes his water-cooled Suzuki will display his latest bike – a 2013 Suzuki could actually match any 500cc of today, with B-KING 250RR – in the Bay of Plenty its high performance.

Coastal Cruisers bike competition being held “The 250s of today are totally different to as part of the Wheels on Mainstreet classic the 500s of 10 years ago – they are just as fast motoring event at the Mount. with the technology – and I would say these “There a couple of them in New Zealand, 250s are actually on par with today’s 500s.” but it’s a one of a kind with all the custom Hawk, who describes himself as a “big extras it’s fitted with,” says Hawk, who says enthusiast when it comes to bikes and cars”, the bike has to be one of his favourites out of sold off all his bikes before buying his latest 75 he has owned. addition – a Suzuki B-KING 250RR – six “Everyone stops me and comments. It’s very months ago. special. It’s got all the extras I’ve imported

By Hamish Carter

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The Weekend Sun

Bay Driver Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

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Friday 25 October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

The 2013 Weekend Sun Friday 25 October

Bay Driver