So a fairly busy day today. After breakfast in a cafe appropriately called Joe's Garage, I headed to the Canterbury Museum. They have an Antarctic exhibition on.
Antarctic Motor Tractor, built in 1914 with a four cylinder Coventry-Simplex engine. Despite extensive the testing, once on the ice it failed and was subsequently abandoned.
Model 743 Tucker Sno-Cat one of four used in the 1957-58 Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. The first motorised crossing of the continent.
One of five Ferguson TE20 tractors modified for the same expedition. These were used by the Ross Sea Party, lead by Sir Edmond Hillary, of Mt Everest fame, who set off from the opposite end and headed toward the South Pole establishing supply dumps along the way. Sir Ed being Sir Ed decided, once they had established the final supply dump that they might as well continue to the South Pole. They were waiting their when the main expedition turned up, making them the first people to make it to the Pole by motorised means. The expedition leader was not amused.
1964 Polaris Sno-Traveler Model K-95.
The Paua House was originally in Bluff at the bottom of the South Island. The house was owned by elderly couple who built up a massive collection of ornaments and trinkets made from the iridescent shells of paua (abalone).
When they died, the house was purchased by their grandson. He loaned the collection to Canterbury Museum. Parts of the house were recreated by the museum.
In 1970 Ivan Mauger became the first person to win three consecutive Individual World Speedway Championships. In recognition of this two American fans offered to have his motorcycle, this one, gold plated.
Another of Ivan Mauger's motorcycles.
