Citroen 2CVs in raid
Twenty Citroen 2CVs have made a raid on Waitara.
To celebrate 70 years since the wee cars were first unveiled in Paris in October 1948, a car rally, or a raid as it is called, is touring around the central North Island, David Gerrie, who helped organise the event, said.
‘‘A raid is a French term used for a motoring tour.’’
There are 20 2CVs with 34 people who come from all over the country, from north of Auckland to as far south as Wanaka.
The 2CV’s kerb weight is 600 kilograms, Gerrie said.
‘‘They were built in France to motorise the rural community because they still had horse and carts. It was similar to a Volkswagon, yet not.’’
The cars in the raid range from 1948 to the late 1980s, he said.
‘‘They’re cheap to maintain, not necessarily to buy.
‘‘They’re very basic. They’re fun to drive and they’re the motoring of the people.’’
The raid left Whanganui on Saturday and spent the night in Waitara, where they spent an hour parked on land near the McLean St and West Quay to let the public have a look at the cars.
‘‘We’re heading across to Ohura, going up through Kiwi Rd, for lunch then to Tokaanu. Tomorrow we’re heading south to Raetihi.’’
From there they go inland across gravel roads, he said.
‘‘They’re fun to drive on gravel roads.
‘‘They’re quite small, so they are easy to drive on the narrow gravel roads.’’
The raid will go to Mangaweka before heading back to Whanganui.
‘‘The cars go a bit slow, but not too much slower than the road speed. And they have tons of ground clearance, so they are good over the rough roads’’