VCC Horowhenua Spark April 2025 by Rosalie Brown

OnceagainIamamazedatthefrequencythatrequiresmetopreparethe reportforthemagazine.ItseemslikeonlyyesterdaythatIwasdoingthelast one.However,inhindsight,therehasbeenalittletakingplaceintheinterim. Whathasbeenverydominanthasbeenthebuildupto,thentheactivityonthe day,whichofcoursehasbeenfollowedbythewind-downandassessingthe result.What’shetalkingaboutyouask?WellthiswastheSwapMeet,and wasthatasuccess?Yes,andinnosmallwayitwasasuccessbecauseofthe inputofyou,themembers,andthecommitmentoftimeanddedicationtothe dutiesrequiredonthedaybyyouall.InmypositionasChairman,lookingat therunningandorganisationofthedaybroughtsomuchpridetobetheleader ofthepack.Toseetheenthusiasmandfriendshipsofthemembersworking togetherwasarealpleasureonmypart.

Underthecircumstances,Ibelievethatitisnotrequiredtothankanyonein particularfortheeffortsthatheorsheputintotheday,youcanbetonme forgettingsomeoneveryimportant,butinsayingthat,itgivesmegreat pleasuretooffermypersonalthankstoeachandeveryoneofyouforthat effort.Inmakingthisstatement,ImustconfessthatthedayRobinStrachan stoodandsaidhewouldleadtheteamandoverseetheorganisingoftheSwap Meet,tookawaytheworryanddreadthatwasinmyheartatthattime,which wasimaginingadisasterorsomethingevenworsethanthatfortheevent! Again,Iiterate,thankyouall.

DeniseandIhavebeenabletoattendsomeotheractivitiesorganisedduring themonthbyallthegroupsandmembersandwehaveenjoyedeveryouting, Unfortunatelythiscomingmonthisbeingcontrolledbymyhavingtobein Christchurchformygranddaughter’sgraduationfromCanterburyUniversity sowewillnotbeabletoattendanyoftheplannedeventsforthismonth.We wishyouallwellwiththemandlookforwardtonextmonth’sactivitiesonour return.

Anddon’tforgettheAGMcomingupatJuneclubnight.Thereisaformfor nominationofofficeholdersinthiseditionofSpark.Ifyoudon’twanttocut upyourpapercopy,youcancopytheformandreturnit.Copieswillalsobe availableonclubnight.

BillLaney

WhatanothergreatturnouttoourAprilclubnight.Ourguestspeakerforthe evening,GraemeSmyth,gaveusaninterestingtalkontherestorationofhis 1929MorrisIsis,winneroftheHorowhenua2024RestorationoftheYear Award.GraemewentthroughthehistoryoftheMorris,howitwas manufactured,technicaldataandhowheobtainedandrestoredit.

TheIsis,namedaftertheEgyptianGoddessofFertility,hasasix-cylinder 2468ccoverheadcamengine,3speedgearboxinapressedsteelbodyusing diesmadebyBuddfortheMorris/Buddjointventure.Thisbodywasshared bysomeDodgemodelsintheUSA.

IncidentallyitalsowasthefirstMorristohavehydraulicbrakesfitted. ThismodelMorriswasonlyproducedfrom1929to1931andwasthefirst6 cylinderengineforMorris.Itcouldexceed65milesperhour,althoughnotat themomentasGraemeisstillrunningthemotorin,andhadafuel consumption28milespergallon.

FollowingseparationofWilliamMorrisfromhisjointventurepartnership withEdwardBudd,theall-steelbodywasreplacedwithatraditionalwood frameconstruction.

The1929modelisaveryrarecar,andpartswereverydifficulttoobtain.It tookGraemeover30yearstorestorethisvehicle.

NextclubnightwelookforwardtoRobinStrachangivingusatalkonthe restorationofhisandDiane’s1963AustinA40CountrymanMark11.

TheMarchGarageRaidwasanothersuccess,withavisittoDannyIreland’s collection.Hehasamancavewithalargecollectionofmemorabilia,anda collectionoftrailandmotocrossbikes.SpecialthanksDannyforopeningup yourcollectiontoourmembers,whoIunderstandweresuitablyimpressed. Lastweek,manyHorowhenua,WellingtonandManawatumembersvisited theWoolshedCaféandHeritageTrail,aspartoftheKapitiMid-weekrun.We allhadlunchtogether,thensplitintogroupsandheadedoffonthetrail visitingsevenhousesconstructedfrom1860to1960.Someofustookthe opportunitytohavephotoswiththeircarparkedoutsideamatchingerahouse. FromtherewewentjustdowntheroadtovisittheOhakeaMemorialMuseum whereasmallgroupofdedicatedenthusiasticguyswerekeentoshowus aroundtheircollectionofaircraftmemorabilia.

April’sKapitiMid-weekrunisbeingorganizedbyRichardandGabrielleSalt. TheyhaveorganizedavisittoOhauGourmetMushrooms,followedbylunch atTatumPark,Ohau.Thisshouldbeareallygreatdayout.Ihaveheardthat thelunchservedthereisabsolutelysuperb.

TwoteamsfromHorowhenuaBranchtookpartinthe60thMaungaMoana RallyinNewPlymouth.42carsand3motorcyclesattendedtherally, althoughorganizerswerehopingfor60.Therallycovered100miles,70miles inthemorning,and30milesintheafternoon.Bothweretimedsections,and didnothaveanychecks,questions,etc.

VerdonHeathfromourbranchflewtoDunedinandborrowedabiketo competeintheinauguralCentralOtagoMotorcycleRally.Theclubisover50 yearsoldandthiswastheirfirstmotorcyclerally.Morethan50motorcycles competed,withamixfrombothislands,andtoured120milesthroughthe Maniototo,Ranfurly,Naseby,Middlemarchareawithspecularviewsof mountainrangesandcountryside.

TheLadies’LuncheonatourclubroomonSaturday5thAprilwasalsoa success,withamixfrombothManawatuandHorowhenuapresent.Allhada greattime,andlookforwardtotheirnextgathering. ComingupistheNorthIslandEasterRally.Wehavetwoteamsfromour branchandtwofromManawatuattending,andthisshouldbeagreatweekend away,withtouring,carfieldtestsandadisplay.

TheHighlandFlingisalsocomingupon25thto27thApril;ANZACweekend tobeprecise.Manawatuhave80entriesforthiseventalready.

LastupisourexcitingMothers’DaySteamTrainExcursiontoWoodvilleon Sunday11thMay.HereisyourgoldenopportunitytosendMotheroffforthe day.Wehavebookedacarriagewith55seats.Goingtoprintwestillhave4 seatsavailable.PleasecontactJulieifyouareinterestedinjoiningusforthe day.

That’sitfromme,untilnexttime.Keepthatoildripping. Greg.

BreakingNews:

ChrissyinformsmethattheMartonCarShowiscomingupon18thMay, organizedbythelocalRotaryClub.10amto3pm. Entrytodisplayyourvehicleis$20.

GregOliver

SpeakerforMay

RobinStrachanwillbegivingadetailedpresentationaboutthe AustinA40Countrymanthatherestored.Thatison7thMay.

NewClubMembers

Nonewfacesatthelastclubnight. Weremainhappywithwhowehave.

Recovering

JohnHemingwayisbackondeckafterashortillness.

CoverPicture

BehindthewheelofanAustinWestminsterfrom1955. Thebehindofan

Imustsaythankstoallthoseclubmemberswhohelpedontheday oftheSwapMeettosellalotofolderanddouble-upbooks. Itwasanothergreatresultfortheclub.

Settingouttheboundarymarkers. Desandtheteamgetgoing.

Everysinglewarratahgetsthetreatment whenGlennisinchargeofthehammer.

HVCCmembers’cars linedupondisplay.

Aselectionofhousesfromvariousdecadesatthe WoolshedCafenearSanson.

1860s

1880s

1900s

SteamIncLimitedMobilityDisclaimer

Duetotheage,designandnatureoftheheritagecarriages,these arenotsuitableforpassengerswithlimitedmobility

AdditionalInformation

Unfortunatelythereisnobuffetcarthistrip.Snackfoodsandbeverages (includingalcohol)canbepurchasedintheloungecar.

BYOfoodanddrinkisacceptable–excludesalcohol.

CashistheencouragedmethodofpaymentonboardasEFTPOSreception notalwaysavailable.

AsausagesizzleatstationinWoodville,alongwithtea/coffee/caketo purchaseatstation.Organisedbylocalcommunity,notcafe.

It’sapproximately10minuteswalkintoWoodvilleforthosekeenandfit enoughtoheadintotown.Pleasedon’tbelateback.

Thisservicehasaviewingcarriage.TravellingthroughtheManawatuGorge onecanseethelandslideswhichhavecausedtheroadclosure.Asthetrain turnsaroundinWoodvillethereisnoneedtochangesidesforreturntrip. ThejourneyalsopassesunderthebeginningofthenewManawatuhighway.

Toiletsareavailableontrain.Thereisoneindesignatedcarriage.

SteamInchavenominatedDementiaAwarenessasthechosencharityfor thisparticulartrip.Therewillbecollectorsaboardshouldonewishtodonate. Theremayberaffles.Cashpaymentfortickets.

BeingaCluboutingandhavingentirecarriagetoourselves,asanextrabitof fundressinginperiodcostumeisoptionalandencouraged.

Mid-WeekRunApril302025

OhauGourmetMushroomsat680MuhunoaWestRoad,Ohau

GabrielleandRichardSalthaveorganisedavisittoOhauGourmetMushrooms,a3hectareorganicfarmwhichspecialisesingrowingoysterandshiitakemushrooms. Thereisalsoacommercialkitchenproducingspecialtygourmetfoodssuchaspink oystermushroomKimchiandpickledoystermushrooms.Andifyoufancygrowing yourown,theyalsoofferarangeofoystermushroomgrow-kits.

Ourvisitwillincludeatourofaboutanhourandavisittothefarmshopwhereallthe productsareondisplayAnarticleaboutOhauGourmetMushroomsfromDish Magazineisattachedifyouwouldliketolearnmore

Thevisitisfollowedbylunchatthenewly-refurbishedTatumPark,afewkmsouthof Ohau

TIMINGANDDIRECTIONS

11amArriveatOhauMushrooms--comingfromtheSouthonSH1,turnleftonto MuhunoaWestRoadatthecrossroadsinOhau,justafterpassingOhauVineyardon theleft.ContinuealongMuhunoaWestRoadfor6.8kmandOhauMushroomswillbe onyourright.Thedrivewayissteepandsowehavebeenaskedtoparkonthe roadsideandwalkupthedriveTherewillbeanATVtoprovidearideforanyonewith limitedmobilityThereisatoiletavailableintheowners'house Onleaving,returntoSH1andturnrighttoheadsouthforabout6kmtolunch ContinuethroughKuku,andTatumisontherightinapprox3kmItishardtospotthe entrance,butthereisapropertyontheoppositesideofSH1with2flagsflyingjust beforetheturn.PleasetakeextremecareturninginandoutofTatum.

12:30LunchattheJamboreeRestaurantandBaratTatumPark.HistoricTatumHouse wasbuiltin1912forMajorandLadyTatum,butwaspurchasedbyitspresentowners in2022andfullyrefurbishedtocreateawedding/conferencevenueTherestaurant wouldlikeourgrouptotakealookattheattachedmenuandorderinadvance.There ishopefullysomethingtosuitalltastes,includingsharingplattersfrom$12perperson. Ontheirreconnaissancevisit,GabrielleandRichardhaditemsfromthe"SmallPlates" whichtheyfoundtobeexcellent.

PleaseletmeknowbyFriday25thAprilifyouarecoming,alongwiththe following, --ifyouwouldliketotakeuptheofferofanATVrideupthedrivewayto OhauMushrooms --yourchoicesfromtheattachedmenu,includinganystarters,sidedishesor desserts

PhilipPearceEmail:nzpearce87@gmail.comMob:0272744084

GarageRaidon12thMarch.

SomepicturesofthemancaveofDannyIreland. Seeclubcaptain’sreportfordetails.

Agreatcollectionofold toolsinre-createdworkshop.

Indianmotorcycle

Electricbikesmaybethe newestthing,butpetrolpoweredoneshavebeen aroundforyears.

Someofthevehiclesarefinished, andsomearenotquite.

March2025

OneofthepleasuresofbeingamemberoftheHorowhenua VintageCarClubisthatalthoughyoumaybeattachedtoa localsectionoftheVintageCarClub,comeSwapMeetday wewelcomemembersofdifferentmotoringgroupsfromall overNewZealandtoourclubrooms.

Thisyear’sSwapMeethadadoseofeverythingfromrain earlyandlatemorning,toapairofshopliftersdoingthe rounds,oneofwhichsaid“Hello”toapairofpolice constablesfromtheLevinStation.

AsforSparesitself,ourturnoverforthedaywas$1800. Althoughweweredown$800onlastyear,wewerebusy acrossthemorningandearlyafternoon.Therewerenostandoutitemsselling,justamixofallsortsofitems.

Ontheplusside,contentsfromthetrailer(whichkeepson giving)whichJackie&DongaveSparesbackinDecember arestartingtosellatafantasticpace.

Safemotoringeveryone.

Answerto“WhatAmI?”

AustinSevenTypeB

Austindidn’twasteanytimeinexploitingthepotentialofitsnewsmall carwhenitintroducedavanversionofthe“Seven”in1923.TheType BDeliveryVanwasbasedonthesamechassisastheChummyand camewiththe747ccenginethathadtakenoverfromtheearly696cc unit.

AtallloadareamadethemostoftheAustinSeven’scarryingcapacity anditcouldhaulupto280lb(127kg).Thismadeitidealforlight deliverydutiesforbusinessessuchasgrocerystoresandbutchers. AllDeliveryVanscamewithblack-paintedwings,headlights,wheels andradiator.Thealuminium-panelledbodywassuppliedinprimer readyforthecustomertohaveitpaintedintheirchosenlivery,though Austinwouldalsopaintthebodyinoneofitsstandardcoloursatextra cost.

BIGCARS-SMALLPEOPLE

Perhapsalittleexagerationispermissibleifthecarreallyisbig.

Forallyourelectricalrequirementsincluding: NewHomes,Dairyfarms,Maintenance,Repairs andallgeneralelectricalwork.

CalendarofEvents-preparedbyClubCaptain

May

June

VCCBanners

Thesefabricwindscreenbannersinbluewithwhitelettering areagainavailable. Thesecanbeusedwhendisplayingyourcaratshowsor rallies.Newstocksnowat$15each.OrderfromRobin Strachan.

LibraryMerchandise

Forsale:1934StudebakerDictatorSedan

Description:Restoredoveraperiodpriorto2020. SpentitsearlylifearoundOtago. Paintedclosesttooriginalshadeofgreenirridesence. HasacurrentWofandisregistered.CarisinRangiora. MemberoftheStudebakerclubbutnotVCCCar.