April 2020
Page 7
Library Notes As I write this, many of our older members are ‘confined to barracks’ and no doubt could do with some interesting reading material to pass the time. It’s a pity then that the Clubrooms (and the Library), are understandably out of bounds. Sorry about that, but as they say, never mind, this too, will pass. In the meantime, have a think about that article or book you have always wanted to write on that aspect of motoring history that has interested you so much for some time. When you are ready, you will no doubt require a source of information on motoring history and our Branch Library is well stocked with material going back to the very beginning of motoring, both in this country and in those countries from which our vehicles emanated. We have all manner of history books, such as AA publications from as early as 1912, AA road maps of NZ from 1929, Auckland Motor Show catalogues from the 1920’s, and Auckland vehicle registration records from the early 1900’s. In magazines there are Autocar and Motor from 1910, NZ Motor and Cycle from 1905, Motorworld (Wellington AA) from 1935, Beaded Wheels and our own Branch Bulletin from issue No 1, ….to name but a few. Then there is the film material, for instance the very first AVVCC club run and early NZ Grand Prix etc. Our scrapbook collection has some real gems, from the likes of Arthur Dexter, Phil Jones and a recent addition is from Douglas Wood. This last mentioned comprises 5 bound volumes, each about 2 inches thick, all indexed in detail and comprising all manner of items (mostly motoring-related) which this wellknown and prolific writer for Beaded Wheels found of interest. Lastly, another ‘plug’ for our collection of handbooks, parts books and workshop manuals. These tend to be ‘out of sight, out of mind’ for visitors, but remember, they cover a vast range of older vehicles and we can provide copied material on request. On another tack, one of the most borrowed books in our collection would have to be ‘Climax in Coventry’ by Walter Hassan. It is the story of his working life, which began in the early 1920’s when he was a ‘ten bob a week shop boy’ at fledging Bentley Motors, through building the Brooklands specials for Woolf Barnato, the Napier-Railton Mobil Special, then ERA, Bristol Aircraft engines, Jaguar and the XK120 and culminating with Coventry Climax Grand Prix engines. It is a great read and little wonder that it is often borrowed by our members. Happy reading Chris Wood and the Library Team:—Owen Hayward, Colin Bott, Barry Birchall, John Stokes & Barry Robert.
