The oldest lady in the club is 107. She's from Detroit Michigan. She's a 1908 Hupmobile and she's ‘Ageing Well'.

Kaaren Smylie is nowhere near that vintage. She's a committee member with the Bay of Plenty Vintage Car Club and she too is proudly ‘Ageing Well'.

Event model Merilyn Anderson with a 1930 Model A Ford Roadster. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

'I'm doing very well thank you – nothing to complain about.”

This isn't intended to be churlish or discourteous because ‘Ageing Well' is the theme of the club's first ever foray into charitable fundraising. And Kaaren is one of the masterminds.

'Vintage is trending again,” says Kaaren. 'There are vintage stores. It's not just something granny does.”

So they decided to tap into the club demographic – a healthy, active and very sociable club of 250 mostly mature members – to raise money for a good cause.

In this case it's the Heart Foundation, which leads the fight against NZ's biggest killer – heart disease.

The ‘Ageing Well' event this Sunday will feature a fashion parade, demonstrating it's possible to age gracefully and stylishly.

'A raft of on-trend fashion for winter for the mature person,” says Kaaren.

There will also be a 10-minute demonstration of how to look good and some youthful tips for your make-up, to help feel young at any age.

There'll be high tea – dainty finger sandwiches, scones and pastries and tea perhaps. And a goodie bag – chocka with beauty products for men and women.

All of this will be at the BOP Vintage Car Clubrooms, Cliff Rd, at 1.30pm this Sunday afternoon, when there will be a lot of red-blooded, classic car-loving, Kiwi males.

'Well if the women don't get involved they get left behind – but we want the men to come too,” says Kaaren.

The men can bring their old cars, there will be videos of rallies gone by and some entertainment for them – The Pitch Pipe Playboys.

Tickets are $20 from Kaaren on 07 576 4180 or [email protected]

Every cent raised will be given to the Heart Foundation to fund vital research into heart disease and the promotion of healthy heart lifestyles.