AMAZING GRACE by Helen Gilbert

On the 21st of June 2008
Eleven MX5 cars and passengers set off from the Clipsal 500 gates
For the SA MX5 Clubs weekend run, called the Great Amazing GRrrrrace.

We headed north towards the distant location called “Bungaree”
For a fun filled day of games and activities for the MX5 company.

There were many scheduled stops along the way,
with fun filled things to do,
As well as for delicious morning tea supplied by our organisers, Marie, Brian, Chris and Sonia.
However their plotting was unsurpassed, for entertaining things to do.

They even squeezed amongst their luggage,
all the equipment that would needed
to set up for “fast parallel parking,” demanding accuracy and speed.
Estimating and much guessing,
and many other dutiful deeds,
kept us all very busy pondering,
and wondering and saying,
what, more do they have in store?”
All participants in each activity,
Were able to gain a score
but Mark outshone the other competitors,
in the whip cracking furore.
Even the locals came out of the hotel and watched, and waited in awe
While we all tried, and mostly failed, then they said “Mark show us some more”

We then stopped at Tanunda,
and had time to wander and ponder,
on lunch and on the next tasks, and wonder
how did they fit all the gear into the boot?

Miner Mac was a stop for a quiz and photo,
and to hear who was in the lead,
when Brian tallied the current score,
and hinted that there was plenty more fun still in store.

Our next stop was Around Auburn Oval
we did a lap or two
And this was the scene for our next feat,
a bicycle built for two.
Shock is the word to describe,
the look on many,
when the back up team arrived,
and it was decreed, that everyone must partake,
The tandem bicycle was produced
 and in this next race,
 it was explained to the assembled crew,
The aim was to wear off dinner,
 and to ensure we worked as a team of two.
Two up on a tandem,
it was noticed, caused a few cross words
 and nearly a domestic blue or two,
As to who would be the driver
and who controlled the pace and brakes for the both of you.
We headed off from Auburn
 to our final destiny
for our tea at the far flung sheep station
that is called Bungaree

The setting for our meal for just the MX5 company
was in the shearers mess,  
Soup roast and pudding for all to eat with glee,
 followed by fruit and cheese nibbles for all, after tea.
We all went outside to sit round the bonfire,
 the MX5 company
And we all huddled chairs in a circle
and told jokes and chatted,
by the firelight after tea.

Lyn brought out pass the parcel,
not just one, but one, two and three
And all participants had to “fess up”
or be “dobbed in” by the present company.
The nominated one then had to remove a wrapper of the parcel,
and either grimace or smile with glee.

Too quickly the night was over,
when rain fell and scattered the company
And we then all went to our quarters,
spread across the property.
In the morning after breakfast,
we parted company
All heading home or on our various ways
from our great MX5 weekend trip to distant Bungaree.