So on the 1 st of October 1927, the day after W.G's business was closed, Phillip alongside Charlie Scott, a clerical worker of W.G's, started their own business together. sold his business, his son Phillip was devastated by his father's decision. Les transformed this garage into ‘Montgomery's Garage' and today this premises has become ‘Montgomery Carpark'. Les Montgomery, a close business associate. felt it was time to close his business and go into retirement, so he sold his garage to Mr. Phillip had grown up in the industry so it was no surprise that he worked his way up to become workshop manager, following in the footsteps of his father. Escaping the risk of running, not only himself but his passengers, off the side of the cliff, Phillip steered the vehicle hard against the inside of a bank, letting the car slowly come to a stop without injuring anyone. On one expedition to Blenheim the brakes on Phillip's passenger car failed going down the Whangamoa hill.

By the age of ten Phillip was driving cars, and by the age of fourteen he was working as a passenger car clerk required to drive his father's clients to Blenheim. W.G.'s son, Phillip, was keen to learn his father's business. Photo supplied by author Click to enlarge The motor car winning the battle against rugged untamed terrain. W.G and his passengers overcame sheer bluffs, major unbridged rivers, rocky coastlines and rutted tracks before eventually arriving safely in Christchurch. Rain protection consisted of only waterproofs, wraps and one umbrella! This trip was a daring venture and showed extreme confidence in his vehicle, especially with the three women aboard. The epic journey took six days in a 1906 10hp ( horsepower) single cylinder Cadillac. Humphries, left Nelson to conquer the extremely difficult task of traveling to Christchurch in a motor car on unformed roads.

On the 26 th March 1906, W.G set out to make history. W.G then decided to provide the public with a modern means of transportation by changing his business to promote and sell the versatility of the motor car. decided that horses were a thing of the past and that people needed to focus on the future of transportation. W.G.'s 1898 Benz, photo suppilied by author

GRINGOS AND FLAMINGOS by Scott Nelson