The affair with the mighty Morris Minor

NOLA MAY hadn't always been a fan of the old Morris Minor cars, but her husband, Geoff May had longed for one since the first time he laid eyes on one, over 50 years ago.
In 1951, when the chance came about to own one, Geoff went ahead and ordered a black 'Lowlight' Morris Minor from Wellington.
However, with all the plans set up and ready to go, Geoff was disappointed when the price of the Morrie went up an extra 40 pounds, which made the purchase too expensive.
Then in 1983, Geoff was working as a groundsman and cruising round in a Mk3 Zephyr, when his brother heard of a Morrie being advertised on the radio.
Deciding that the old Zephyr was getting a bit expensive to run, Geoff took the opportunity to finally get a Morrie, and purchased it for $150.
However, one Morrie wasn't enough, so Geoff purchased another Morrie for parts.
"Since then it snowballed," said Geoff.
"It's like they were breeding or something."
Walking around his yard, it's incredible to see the huge amount of old Morris Minors and parts of Morrie's, covered in moss and in some places, stacked three high.
"We had 37 here at one stage," said Geoff.
With Nola's patience, Geoff spend around 20 years, including all his retired life to date, repairing Morris Minors for others, and supplying fellow Morrie enthusiasts with parts for their own cars.
Now that times gone on, Geoff still supplies parts, but has stopped repairing cars for other people, and instead concentrates on his own pride and joy.
Both Geoff and Nola are long time members of the Taranaki Morris Minor Club, having joined in 1989, and while their old 1965 'Traveller' Morris Minor sits gracefully in the shed, the couple enjoy regular outings with their favourite, completely original, light blue 1961 Morrie named Anne, which they purchased in 1991.
The Morris Minor Club hold rallies once a month, driving to different locations around Taranaki, as well as participating in Christmas parades and local classic car shows.
Geoff and Nola, along with other Taranaki members, also attend annual Morris Minor conventions, which are held once a year all around New Zealand in alternate islands, with the furtherest distance they have travelled being Invercargill.
Yes, all the way to the Deep South in a good old Mighty Morrie, with no CD player.
This year on Easter weekend, the couple took trusty 'Anne' down to Nelson for the 2008 Convention.
And for the third time in their 19 years of attending conventions, Geoff, Nola and Anne, who still has her original tyres, but only gets to wear them at the conventions, came home with the first prize trophy for best original Morris Minor.
Even when the affair with the Morris Minor started in the May family, Nola wasn't too keen, her thoughts have changed and she's learnt to love the beautiful cars.
"It's great," she said.
"I love going out and having fun with the other Morris Minor club members."
"And we always welcome new members," Geoff piped in.