President's Picnic 2018
Our annual picnic gathering of our members from all chapters will again be held in the riverbank grounds of Ebenezer Church on Saturday 22 September 2018. In 2017, the Club hosted 198 members and their guests with 132 MX-5 on show in the church grounds. If you wish to attend the President's Picnic this year, then you MUST complete the Registration Form, so that we can cater for the right number of people and have enough food for all.
As Church volunteers provide the majority of our lunch options, we will be passing the hat around for donations to the church's restoration fund. Ebenezer Church is the oldest church in Australia conducting weekly services and situated just 12km from Windsor in a rural parkland setting on the banks of the Hawkesbury River.
Everyone has the chance to wander through the historic sandstone Church, make a purchase at their canteen and walk around its well-maintained grounds and the rows of cars. You are encouraged to exhibit your car in one of the competition categories or take the opportunity to simply park your MX-5 in the grounds in the company of over 100 other roadsters. Members either individually or in Chapter groups will again have the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the event in the company of friends and members from all chapters and volunteer.
Espresso coffee and cake will be available for morning tea with a lunch of BBQ chicken, sausages and salads being served from around 12:30pm. To get your free coffee & cake and lunch you must have pre-registered for this event and please ensure that your membership is current when you register online.
Ready your picnic gear to join our Presidents Picnic and leave the rest to the Club.
THE CLUB RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CANCEL OR VARY THE PICNIC AND/OR CAR SHOW UP UNTIL THE DAY OF THE EVENT DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS SO CHECK THIS WEBPAGE ON THE DAYS BEFORE THE EVENTS FOR ANY CHANGES.
Registration & Parking
On arrival at Ebenezer Church, all attendees must turn off Coromandel Road just past the bend in the road as directed by volunteers to register at the registration desk set up at the gate entry into the church grounds. All attendees must sign-in before proceeding to park their car in rows as directed by volunteer parking marshals.
Non-Member Attendance and/or Participation
Non-member attendance is welcome provided they comply with the directions of our Committee Members and volunteer marshals. Non-members are not eligible for trophies, however Certificates of Merit may be awarded where appropriate.
Non-members who wish to participate in lunch will be charged $25 per person, and those who don't want lunch will be charged $10 per person (payable at the registration desk upon arrival) and receive a wrist band to receive free coffee & cake on arrival.
Getting There
Runs to the event may be organised on the day starting at various locations and will be posted separately on the event calendar by participating chapters. Links will be added to the list below:
- Illawarra Chapter Run
- Canberra Chapter Run
- RPM Chapter Run
- Hunter Chapter Run
- Sydney Chapter
MX-5 Show Events
The Club will be conducting numerous car show events on the grounds of the Ebenezer Church in conjunction with the President’s Picnic for members and guests.
Members & visitors will have the opportunity to show their cars in three categories, vote for the People’s Choice Award, whilst the judges collectively determining the Best on Show, Concours, Show 'n' Shine or Modified MX-5. All cars parked int eh grounds are considered for the People's Choice and Best on Show trophy.
Everyone entering an event agrees if asked to make themselves available to act as a judge or join committee members as a volunteer on the day to help with parking cars or other duties on the day.
Trophies are being awarded to the NA, NB, NC & ND judged to be the best in their class with Certificates of Merit awarded at the judges' discretion for entries deemed to be worthy of special mention. Only financial Club members can win the Club trophies with all entrants eligible for Certificates of Merit.
The Club requires not less than three entries for a model in a class to enable the class to be eligible for a trophy and the decision of the judges in all classes and events are final.
Cars can only enter one competition event, with the exception of Best Ladies MX-5.
Concours d’Elegance
The rules for members wishing to enter their MX-5s in Concours has been changed for 2018 in line with the new NatMeet judging rules. The points for originality have been set aside to allow modified cars to enter on a more level playing field. For ease of identification the competition is classified as an Open Concours d’Elegance. Trophies and Awards in this event will remain as trophies and awards for Concours.
Should the end result of judging under the Open Concours Rules be that there is more than one car on equal points in a class then originality will become a criteria to determine the ultimate winner. In all other respects the judging criteria remains the same as in previous years. See Concours Information & Guide Sheet.
Pre-registration in Concours is essential. Please complete the Registration Form by 5pm Friday 14th September 2018. Concours competitors are requested to print the Concours Judging Sheet, complete their details, and bring it to the event. Concours cars will park in a dedicated area from 8:30am before general entry from 9:00am.
It is a condition of entering the Concours competition that entrants be willing if called upon to assist in judging a Concours class in which they are not an entrant.
Show 'n' Shine
Show 'n' Shine trophies and award certificates of merit based on how a panel consisting of a cross section of our membership acting as judges perceive the exterior of those NAs, NBs, NCs and NDs on show taking into account originality and/or external modifications and trim as they deem appropriate.
Those wishing to enter should record their intention in their Registration Form on or before Wednesday 19th September 2018 and have their cars parked in the grounds by 10.30am.
Show 'n' Shine is for everyone who wants to show their MX-5 at its best and should not be confused with the Concours event that has formal judging criteria. Show 'n' Shine is an opportunity for all members to show their MX-5s without having to go the trouble to prepare for this event as if entering for Concours.
Show 'n' Shine has no points or judging criteria. The judges drawn from the general membership will determine what in their opinion is the most deserving NA, NB, NC and ND overall from their external appearance and visible cabin areas of the car. Entrants must not enter MX-5s with major body panel modifications or changes excluding modified trim, exhaust or wheels. Entrant can present their cars with roof left up or down to show off the interior finish for the judges to take into consideration. Engine areas, boots and the underside of panels are not considered by the judges in Show 'n' Shine.
Minor scratches, bumps, paint chips and blemishes may be disregarded at the judge's discretion. Originality and aftermarket trim may be taken into account in accessing the appeal of cars that the judges believe enhance the overall appeal of an entry deserving of a trophy or special mention.
Best Modified & Performance MX-5s
For those members of the MX-5 community who are into modifying the performance and/or appearance of their MX-5s, our expert judges will chose an NA, NB, NC & ND class trophy winner and may award certificates of merit in each class primarily taking into account the nature and quality of mechanical, interior and exterior modifications.
Those wishing to enter must record their intention in their Registration Form on or before Wednesday 19th September 2018 and have their cars parked in the grounds by 10:30am.
If you wish to participate and be considered for a Modified & Performance MX-5 Award, the bonnets of the car should be left open when you park in your allocated area. The criteria and modifications by which the cars are judged is left to the judges’ discretion.
Best on Show
All the judges for Concours, Show 'n' Shine and Modified MX-5 competitions will select their choice of which member's MX-5 has the biggest "wow" factor parked on the church grounds on the day allowing for originality and/or modifications for the Best on Show Trophy. There is no formal entries or nominations for the Best in Show Trophy.
People's Choice Award
All registered participants with a lunch ticket will be given a voting paper to select three MX-5s of any model for the People's Choice Award. Everyone receives as part of the registered process a People's Choice Voting Slip and a pencil to make their nominations for their choice as the best MX-5 on show. Voting slips and pencils will be collected between 10:30am and 11:30am.
Best Ladies MX-5 on Show
All the judges for Concours and Show 'n' Shine and Modified MX-5 competitions will select their choice as Best Ladies MX-5 on Show for Le Beau Prix MX-5 de Dames Trophy from cars registered to a female member who requests and displaying a pink tag. A member nominating on the day for this award may also enter in one other competition as well.
Timetable
| 7:30am | Judges and volunteers may enter and park in the grounds |
| 8:30am | Concours car only can enter and park in the grounds and prepare for judging. |
| 9:00am | Registration desk opens for members to register and park in the grounds under direction. |
| Concours judging commences | |
| 9:30am | Coffee Cart opens with slab cake & pastries provided for a morning tea. |
| 10:00am | Show 'n' Shine & Modified MX-5s judging starts |
| 10:30am | Collecting People's Choice commences |
| 11:30am | Registration Desk closes Entry to grounds closes Coffee Cart closes |
| 12:00pm | Judging closes |
| 12:30pm | Lunch commences |
| 2:00pm | Presentation of Trophies & Awards |
