The Variety Bash diaries: Day five on the road with the bash

Taranaki Naki Boys, Christchurch Bash Bakers, Auckland Tiki Girls and Ohakune Seuss Subbus teams front the line-up at Parliament. Photos / Jacqui Madelin

Day three of the 25th Variety Trillian Bash started with a round of school visits in Wellington that kicked off at Lyall School, before the convoy split, two groups reaching four schools to donate Canon printers, and entertain kids and teachers, and the third cheering children in hospital.

The NZ Herald joined the Elders crew aboard their 1964 Ford Fairlane, with flamed paint, water pistols hidden within the rear spoiler, roof-bar lights "And an in-car water pistol filled via a tank in the boot," says Hawera's Andy Carlton. He and Dargaville's Mike Lyford and Brian Jackson have been Bashing for a few years now. "It's so much fun, the team camaraderie, the chance to see parts of the country you don't get to see, and we become rather like a Bash family." Plus there's the kids. "Deep down we're all kids, we can turn up, make lots of noise, and it's neat getting into back-country communities, forgotten places and forgotten schools that miss out on lots of stuff. Last year we visited an East Cape School and even the principal had no shoes, these two kids with amazing voices got up and sang to us, then dropped to their knees and the guys pulled a haka, it was a powerful moment. These kids had nothing, but they had raw talent."

Elders, a national stock and station agent, got involved with the Bash after managing director Stu Chapman enjoyed being part of the Ford team so much he bought a car.

Elders team leader, managing director Stu Elder at the wheel.

We swapped to Bash Bakers and discovered David Drake's boss ordered him into Bashing, when "I was at Quality Bakers, a division of Goodman Fielder." He enjoyed the concept and bought this Trentham-assembled 1965 Ford Fairlane. Now retired, he still has contacts - Coupland's Bakery supports the fund-raising team.

After a break from Bashing, returning for this 25th Anniversary event meant sending the roof-mounted bread loaf from his Christchurch home to Auckland for refurbishing, as it was "a little crusty," and it was then refitted, with its glove-mounted water pistols.

Crossing the Rimutaka's confirmed it's comfy, the 4.7-litre V8 engine with its three on the tree and "arm-strong steering" (it's not power-assisted) delivering a relaxing ride. Wife Margaret had vacated her seat for me, with daughter Sharyn McKissock in the back, among a riot of Couplands and Haier give-aways. "I grew up with dad disappearing, and returning with wonderful Bash stories," Sharyn said. This trip is part of a year of 'living the dream,' and the fact disadvantaged kids get the benefit, is just a bonus."

Air Force support crews waiting to report in case of breakdown, Bash Bakers won't oblige.

Tomorrow the Bash heads to Napier, via Masterton-area schools and the wind farm above Ashhurst. For pics of its progress, head to facebook.com/VarietyNZBash.