The Mafia gets its first vehicle
Speculation over the final fate of the infamous 1986 Nissan Sunny that has graced the Donsteppa whanau with over 190,000kms of service since December 1987 as a one year old car, from Diggleman (now Bay) Nissan in Tauranga with a pre-import era price tag of $17,000 can be put to rest.
The next step in the grand journey of "the Sunny" can now be revealed. Not the wreckers (or the Demolition Derby at Baypark as occasionally suggested), but to the dignified higher calling. The Sunny is now officially owned by HoriBoP on behalf of the Mafia, by whom the Sunny is to be converted to the ultimate Bay of Plenty Steamers supporters' car on Thursday 5th August 2004. In this role it is to be painted blue, with yellow stripes, and sign written with the www.Bopmafia.com website.
Under Hori's guidance it will proudly (though slowly up the hills) lead convoys to away games and round up support for home games with flags flying and Hori bellowing. It should hang in there to kick butt over the Bombays for the first game in Auckland.Aim is to use it to spearhead the assault on Eden Park and try and get as many supporters to the game on mass (and other games as possible). Thoughts are to have any buses, or vehicles meet at the Bombay service centre at 12:30pm before moving off on mass to the game to invade the terraces. May even proceed to pre selected watering establishment to meet others who may have gone up in advance parties... Hori to be focal point of mafia members and other Bay supporters in the terraces (the biggest cheerleader you've ever seen!)
Hopefully the original old black non reflective registration plates may soon be replaced with "MAFIA1". Hori is also aware of the comic mirth and irony provided by the image of a 160kg-plus man in a small car. The suspension on the Sunny was unavailable for comment on the issue.
Make sure you follow MAFIA1 to a game near you...