November 2019
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NOVEMBER 2019
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November 2019
November 2019
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Index In this issue… Motorcycle Mug Run 2019 Rubber Duckie Rally 2019 Gymnic Christmas Pot Luck Dinner A Proposal 2020 Vintage Muster 2019 Hunua 100 Rally National North Island Easter Rally Restoration Award at Gymnic Vero International Festival of Motoring VIC Information Day Regular Features Chairman’s Report Club Captain’s Report Veteran Notes Library Notes Motorcycle Notes Secretary Notes New Members Commercial Notes Mid Week Tourers Coming Events Wanted/For Sale Your Committee
December Bulletin closing date Cover Designed by Melanie Ball
Page 13 114-15 18 19 20-21 21 22-24 25 26 27 28 4 4-5 6 7 8-9 10 10 11 12 16-17 29 30
Strictly 25 November 2019
The views expressed by the correspondents in this Bulletin are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Auckland Veteran & Vintage Car Club Inc. Any articles of interest, comments, letters to the Editor etc are welcome. All contributions are presented to and approved by the club committee prior to printing. Please forward any submissions to the Bulletin Editor.
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Chairman’s Report October started off with the Motorcycle Mug Run that was plotted by John Stokes. I rode my BSA Golden Flash over to John’s property in Mauku west of Pukekohe. There was a good turn out of motorcycles, plus a few cars. The winner was Brian King riding his 1938 BSA sidecar outfit. The Veteran section is still going well, but October’s meeting was down on numbers possibly due to the Canterbury swap meet. So if your interest is cars, motorcycles or commercials that were made prior to 1919 or if you would like to know more about them, do go along to one of the meetings. Midweek Tourers—Norm and Pat Dewhurst who have been organising these midweek runs for over 20 years, are stepping down and would like somebody else to step in and take over plotting the southern runs. Please let Norm know if you could step in. Next up we had the Motorcycle meeting, wow what a great meeting. We had a good turn out motorcycles in the car park and around 70 people in attendance. The guest speaker was Chris Minnee, all the way from Cambridge, who brought along his brilliant helicopter engine gas turbine motorcycle. John Campbell’s Commercial section, although small, they still have interesting meetings. If you have a commercial or want to know more about them, do go along and join them. Club nights are put on for your benefit. We have interesting speakers, auctions, film nights to mention a few. Please do come along and be entertained, plus there is always a good supper laid on afterwards. We had the Hunua 100 Rally over Labour weekend. Coming up: 16 November is the Annual Auckland Motorcycle Rally. Sunday 1 December is the Branch Annual Gymnic, which this year is being held at Dick Langridge’s farm at Brookby. If you have recently restored a Club eligible vehicle, then bring it along to the Gymnic and have it judged. It could be awarded a gold, silver or bronze medal and certificate. Dick also has a field set aside to enable you to ride your unregistered moped, scooter or bikes around safely in. Dick will also open up his garages to let us see his amazing large collection of classic cars, a sight well worth seeing. Well that’s all for this month, so keep those 2, 3 and 4 wheels turning safely.
Martin Spicer
Club Captain’s Report A quiet month for motoring one way or another so this is going to be quite a short report. John Stokes’ Veteran meetings continue to get great attendance and new members on a regular basis. If you are interested in Veteran vehicles why don’t you go along to John’s next meeting? October’s Motorcycle Section meeting had a good turnout of over 60 members. They came to view and eventually hear a helicopter gas turbine jet engine motorcycle. Yes, you did read that right! Chris Minnee has created this
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Club Captain’s Report Contd... bike over a number of years from all decommissioned parts from helicopter engines. I was lucky to be able to attend this meeting, getting there rather late, just in time to serve them afternoon tea, to see Chris start the beastie up. Wow, is all I can say. The noise at the front end of the motorcycle was extremely loud but if you passed the exhaust pipes the power nearly blew you over. It sounded amazing! Midweek Tourers continue with good attendance. The Motorcycle Section had a successful Mug Run, very kindly plotted by John Stokes. The event started and finished at John’s home and the entrants were treated to some lovely quiet rural Franklin roads. The winner was Brian King on his 1938 BSA. Club night had a smaller turnout as it was Rally Instructions night. However, Russel & Jocelyn McAlpine gave an excellent demonstration of the rules via drawings on the white board and how to interpret those rules. A lot of rally regulars were there and everyone came away with one rule clearer in their minds. The main event for October was held over Labour Weekend, being our Annual Hunua 100 Rally. Saturday afternoon saw a great turnout of members to the Garden Party, followed by the presentations to Bruce & Wilma Madgwick and to Barry Robert, of their 50 year badge and 60 citation respectively, by Diane Quarrie, the VCC National President. What a wonderful achievement and it was lovely to hear from both parties some of their history with the Branch. A very large birthday cake was also brought along to the Garden Party, a surprise for John Stokes who was turning 70 the following day. His sister had arrived unexpectedly that very morning from Australia. Congratulations John. Afterwards 42 members stayed behind for the Saturday evening dinner which I had prepared for them and very ably assisted in the kitchen by Val Ball, Marion Morris, Jocelyn McAlpine and Debbie Ballantyne. Sunday dawned bright and sunny and all the Hunua 100 entrants were treated to a lovely rally. A few got lost, a few got some reasonable time penalties as they stopped to let people photograph their cars and to sit in them, and of course some missed those silent checks. Sunday night we ventured to the Remuera Club for prizegiving dinner. The placegetters were awarded in all sections and the overall winner was Glenn & Marion Morris. Congratulations to all placegetters, section winners and overall winner of the Hunua 100. Glenn and Marion lost just 53 points. Glenn had a double reason to celebrate, as on holiday Monday he became the proud owner of the “Gold Card”. Congratulations Glenn and welcome to the fold. A massive thank you to Russel & Jocelyn McAlpine, who plotted this excellent annual event. There was a great lunch stop and of course the end of rally well received cuppa. Thanks go out to all the helpers, marshals, tail end charlie and everyone else who helped to make this event an excellent one. Don’t forget the Gynmic at Dick Langridge’s farm, Brookby on Sunday 1 December – bring along your latest restoration to be judged in the Restoration event and not forgetting the Pot Luck dinner on Thursday 19 December. I look forward to seeing you out and about. Lynda Spicer
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Veteran Notes Attendance at the October meeting was well down, due to the number of people attending Christchurch swap meet and one or two others with family commitments, so there were about 12 people present. It was very pleasing to welcome Mike Courtney who was making his first appearance and Kit Maxwell who was up from the Waikato. Barry Robert has completed the sale of his Rover single cylinder and this has found a new home in the Ashburton area. Kit has completed the overhaul of the Maxwell radiator, but it is not yet back in the car. Barry Birchall visited the Alexander Turnbull Library on a recent visit to Wellington. They have many photos of veteran cars in their collection, but charge like “wounded bulls”, if you want a copy. Dennis Lowe discussed HPC coatings, a high tech wear resistant coating, which he has used on the brake pedal and step plates of the Curved Dash Oldsmobile. These people also have a heat resistant coating for exhaust manifolds and apparently the inside of the manifold can be coated as well. Their prices aren't unreasonable. Dennis also brought a photo of hundreds of brand new vintage cars burnt out, before the 1929 Los Angeles motor show. Apparently the Los Angeles Fire Chief was against holding the show under canvas and he was proved right. Most of the cars had full petrol tanks, which added to the conflagration. The show was subsequently held elsewhere with cars with empty tanks. Mike said he had his 19I5 Overland on the market and was speaking of getting his 1909 Sizaire et Naudin mobile again. Terry Jenkins had been on an HCCNZ run to Coromandel in his 1917 Dodge, rain and external rear wheel brakes made the trip interesting. Gavin Welch had the Model T pick up at the very popular Caffeine and Classics event at Smales Farm on the North Shore. Bryan Belcher told a very interesting story about collecting his vintage 1930 Packard from Rotorua. After protracted negotiations to buy the car, Bryan and two friends set off from Mangere in a Jaguar and were equipped with tools and a six volt battery. The Jaguar was driven hard and as a result, died on the Tamahere straight. The Jaguar’s owner set about organising a tow and Bryan and his friend started hitch-hiking with the tools and battery. Eventually a car with two men and a lady stopped, Bryan and his friend got in and were invited to partake of a dozen beer sitting on the back seat. The driver and other passengers were already imbibing. A few miles down the road, the driver pointed to an embankment and said "that's where we wrote off the Vauxhall Cresta". Further down the road, the driver pointed to another embankment and said "that's where we wrote off the Mk1 Zephyr". By now Bryan and his friend were becoming concerned about their hosts driving skills, but in order to appear sociable, they opened some beer and feigned drinking it, most being tipped through a hole in the floor. Rotorua was reached and the Packard returned to Auckland for restoration. In the early seventies, Michael Hilliar brought a Super Eight movie camera and recorded some of the early Auckland Veteran runs, an early HCCA Brass Era Tour and the 1975 Hunua 100, the largest ever held. John Campbell has transferred these films to DVD and done what he could to enhance the quality as Super Eight wasn't the greatest medium. We enjoyed watching the films and they would make a good showing on a Club night. That's it for this month. John Stokes
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Library Notes Firstly, we must note that our quest for some back issues of Beaded Wheels has been satisfied by generous donations from Gwen Stone and Mike Loosemore. Thanks to them both for seeking out these items for our collection. For most of October we have been progressively working towards the Annual Book Sale which this year took place on Saturday 26 October, during the Garden Party for Hunua 100. Yes, it was Book Sale time again and the team had prepared the many great books which are duplicate copies of the Library collection, setting them out, ready for sale. The idea was to find a good home for as many of these works as possible, be they ‘coffee table’ items, technical works, motor racing stories, text books, motorcycling books or any of the huge collection of model-specific hand books and workshop manuals that we have collected. Our pricing policy had become even more realistic this year (mostly down to $2.00 per book!) as our collective view is that, while on the one hand we would like the money for buying more new books, on the other, storage space for duplicates has become a problem. So, as they say, stock must go and our prices were been slashed!
Here is our youthful and hardworking team with this year’s stock all set out in the barn mezzanine and ready for the customers. Bring it on! Chris Wood and the Library Team:—Owen Hayward, Colin Bott, Barry Birchall, John Stokes & Barry Robert.
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Motorcycle Notes Well what a great October Motorcycle meeting we had. There were 15 motorcycles in the car park and 70 members and visitors in attendance. But where were the rest of you? I could think of at least another 20 members who were missing and missed out on a great meeting. It was great to see some faces we hadn't seen for a long time, including Ray Clark and his son John, Jeff Jongmans with his neighbour Sandy, Bob Atley, Bruce Anderson and Dudley Kitson with his son-in-law, Kim Fry and Hugh Cunningham. Reports: Martin reported on the recent Mug Run plotted by John Stokes, with the winner being Brian King with his 1938 BSA sidecar. John Bryant told us about the recent Cambridge Motorcycle run he went on. Peter Alderdice reported on the Christchurch and Hororata swap meets. Graeme Crawley told us about the up coming Auckland Motorcycle Rally - I hope you guys have entered our Auckland rally. Coming Up: Saturday 23 November—Motorcycle meeting—Guest Speaker Nicholas Hunter, a famous Auckland Gun Lawyer Sunday 1 December—Branch’s Annual Gymnic at Meadow Brook Farm, Brookby. Bring your recently restored motorcycle and have it judged in the restoration event, awards are Gold, Silver and Bronze. Also why not bring along all those small bikes, mopeds or scooters and ride them around the very large field provided for the motorcycles. Farm owner, Dick Langridge will also open up his garages for us to view his great car collection. Saturday 21 December—Motorcycle meeting Sunday 22 December—Motorcycle Christmas Bike Run - leaves Jolly Farmer at noon for a short run to our farm for the annual BBQ. Wednesday 1 January 2020—New Years Day Run. Guest Speaker—Chris Minnee was our guest speaker who came all the way from Cambridge. Chris brought along his brilliant helicopter engine gas turbine motorcycle. The motorcycle was so big and heavy we couldn't get it into the clubrooms, so it was parked outside the back doors. Chris told us his first bike was a 250 Suzuki when he was 15, but it was very unreliable and was in and out of the motorcycle dealers. While they were fixing it, they lent him an old Triumph 500, on which he went to take his driving licence test. It didn't have a working front brake and there were a number of other things wrong with it. Anyway he turns up at the testing station, the policeman says if you can ride around the square and not fall off you can have your licence, which he did and got it. He then bought a string of Triumphs and Hondas over the years. He had a Triumph Rocket 3 that he liked very much. Chris had his own business at Hamilton Airport servicing helicopters, which is how he got the idea about putting a gas turbine engine into a motorcycle. He had collected a large amount of engine parts that had gone past their serviceable dates but were still usable for a motorcycle. He had assembled an engine and then bought a Rocket 3, on selling the Triumph engine, lengthened the frame, got the engine in, enlarged the tank to 40 litres (it can run for 50 min’s on a tank full). It took around 3 years to build and looks like it a factory job. The only thing stopping Chris getting the bike road
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Motorcycle Notes Contd... legal is the speedometer that is electronic and is run from the gearbox, but won’t work, but he says he will sort that. Chris started the motorcycle up in the car park and what a great sound it made, the exhaust heat is around 600 degrees. The assembled people gave Chris a round of applause once the engine had stopped. Chris demonstrated the bike at the February Classic Bike Festival at Pukekohe taking it up to 200 kms on the back straight, with the possibility of it doing another 100 plus. Chris has had a number of riders who would like to ride the bike at the next Land Speed NZ record attempt. We thanked Chris for coming such a long way and for bringing his stunning and breath taking Jet bike. Keep those two and three wheels turning safely. Martin Spicer & Jack Clark
Below Martin Spicer & Chris Minnee
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Secretary’s Notes It’s been a busy couple of months as usual in our home as there is a flurry of activity to make sure vehicles are warranted and registered and ready to go for a number of events. You will likely read in a number of places in this Bulletin commentary around low turn outs for events. While there are some pros to having small numbers, and we know this issue is not limited to just our Branch or in fact our Club. In talking to other car clubs and even other types of clubs, it does seem attendance and volunteers are a challenge everywhere. The Committee are keen to get a real view of how you as a member see the Branch and it’s activities and what will get you attending club events. To that end, we are compiling an on line survey. There will be a serious incentive for responding. I don’t have a date yet as to when it will be available, but I ask everyone to take the time to respond to the survey and give us your honest opinion. The Committee just want to understand what ticks your particular box as a club member. This month, on the 16th, sees the first Vintage section meeting, organised by Murray & Penny Firth. From the Committee table:
• •
•
A large quantity of motorcycle spares were recently donated to the Branch and there will be a swap meet organised at a later date. If you have been into the Clubrooms recently, you will have seen the addition to the handrails as part of our health and safety plan. We will open the floor at all Club Night’s for anyone who wishes to raise anything for discussion.
See you all the Gymnic. Tracey Winterbottom
New Members A most sincere welcome is extended to the following new members. We hope to see you taking an active part in Club activities whenever possible. Should you or any member require any assistance or advice, please feel free to ask any Committee member. (Refer back page of this Bulletin). Neil & Christine Stott 1928 Model A Tudor Titirangi
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Commercial Notes Murray Firth expressed his frustration to us at the October meeting, over his obtaining a C.O.F. for the 1931 British Bedford. The requirement for all vehicles to pass the brake roller test with no more than a twenty point difference between the two wheels that are on the rollers at any one time, make it almost impossible for something with rod brakes to comply. Murray was told to go away and improve them. When he returned, after applying Porta-Power pressure to the pedal while he evened them up, they were worse. Eventually, after standing on the brakes in the courtyard and locking up all wheels, he was given his C.O.F. Don Johnston had brought in a head from his ’39 Ford Coupe. He is having problems with water finding its way past head studs. Solutions flowed! The recent International Conference Centre fire has prompted this next paragraph. New Zealand’s first volunteer fire brigade was established in 1854. In 1867, the Municipal Corporation Act allowed Borough Councils to establish fire brigades, starting the first paid fire brigades. The Fire Brigades Act of 1906, set up local fire boards and levied central government, local authorities and insurance companies, to cover costs. In the September Bulletin, I featured the Kissel Kar and mentioned the production of fire appliances. The Remuera Fire Station had one of these in 1915. It was probably a 1914 model and remained in their service until well into the twenties. The photo shows the fire truck outside the station, which was built in 1902. On the 18th of November 1947, Christchurch’s Ballantynes department store was gutted by fire, killing 41 employees. The resulting Royal Commission of Inquiry found that the stores evacuation scheme was inadequate, the fire brigade was slow to be informed and the firefighters were not properly trained. Thankfully, no such inadequacies were evident in Auckland recently, just a lack of Aerial Appliances Keep “M” Rolling
John Campbell
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Mid Week Tourers A near perfect Spring day for last month, School holidays, what we thought was a pretty good route (only 4 miles of main road between Westgate and Parakai), Hot springs and a shady domain for lunch and good company. What more could one ask for? Well, where were you for a start! The attendance was distinctly down from the usual. Never-the-less, those present appreciated the outing. Two grand children, although only Brooke Costello tested the water. Her Grandparents, Terry and Joss, found time to come on the run with Brooke despite attending the Canterbury Swap meet two days later. Could be that many of our regulars had already left for Christchurch. George Mihaljevich has been in hospital, is home now, but on the day had an out patient appointment so Jack took him in. Kevin Kershaw came with a very rare and delectable BMC 1300 GT, (with three equally delectable King Charles Cavalier’s navigating.) Bob and Dawn Pickering had their immaculate Chevrolet Impala out. If you didn’t know about the change of date, then we probably don’t have your email address, so please let us know, by return email as below. (This is not the Branch email tree, we have a separate group address for the Mid-Weekers.). With the change in date we were too early for the Bulletin so resorted to our email group. Thank you Neville Olsen, who kindly offered to check the start point the following week, but found no one. Two members so far who have expressed interest in a run finishing with a lunch time cruise on the Manukau. See last month’s Bulletin. We still expect more members to show interest in taking over the Co-ordinator’s role for the MidWeekers. Coming Events: Wednesday 20 November: Starts from the Drury Service Centre, Southern Motorway 10:00 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. departure. A 40 mile run. BYO everything, we are going to visit somewhere completely new to us, an amazing eclectic collection of - you name it. Wednesday 11 December: Note: A week earlier than usual, it’s Christmas. Starts from the Warehouse Carpark, Westgate 10:00 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. departure. Jack Nazer will be taking us to Wenderholm for our annual picnic run. BYO everything. BBQ’s available. Wednesday 15 January: Starts from Drury Service Centre, Southern Motorway 10:00 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. departure. Ryan Winterbottom is plotting a run to Port Waikato. Fish n chips or BYO sammies. Wednesday 19 February: Starts from the Warehouse Carpark, Westgate 10:00 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. departure.
The Dewdrops & the Mid-Week Team Ph: (09) 232 0245 or email dewdrops@xtra.co.nz
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Motorcycle Mug Run The weather forecast for the Sunday looked okay and I woke to a bright and sunny morning. Graeme Crawley phoned from Auckland asking what the weather was like as it was raining there. I said it’s all good here and reminded him that it was another 3 hours to go before the start. I rode my BSA Golden Flash over to plotter John Stokes’ home in Mauku, west of Pukekohe as this was the starting point. Brian King arrived on his 1938 BSA 500 sidecar outfit with Lloyd Wilson on his 350 Jawa and Ian Bell 500 Triumph. As they pulled up to park, we heard a strange noise coming from Brian’s sidecar. A number of us had a look over the sidecar, to which we found the spindle on the swinging arm had lost its retaining bolt, which allowed the spindle to move out to make contact with the spokes of the sidecar wheel. Luckily John found a replacement bolt to get Brian on his way. Others who arrived were Don Green 500 Norton Dominator, Ian Hubbard Triumph T120, Chris Good 900 Ducati, Paul Muir 500 Velocette, Graeme Crawley 650 Ariel, Alan Macey 1974 750 Norton, Jeremy Lambert Triumph T100 Bonnie, Keith Ballagh 1950’s 500 Velocette, Alan Greenslade BMW. Jeff Stoner came along in his 1960’s Fiat Bambini and Malcolm Brown and Merit were in their modern Mazda sports car. I set off first and made my way to the outskirts of Pukekohe, then headed up Puni Road and then travelled on Foy, Dazeley, Tramway and Otaua Roads, went through Aka Aka, travelled along Forestry, Hoods Landing and Holmes Roads. At the T of Holmes Rd we turned left and then went on a massive circle to come back to the same T. From there it was onto Misa, Storey, Kidd, Masters, Drain, Waiuku Roads and finally back onto Titi Road. We arrived back at John’s home around 2pm and enjoyed a cuppa and buttered scones. John and I decided that the winner of the Mug Run was Brian King. We had a great ride on roads we hadn’t ridden on before. Thank you John for a great Mug Run. Martin Spicer
Robinson Instrument Ltd Unit 3 31 Princes St, Onehunga, Auckland.
Ph: 09 636 5836 Fax:09 636 5838 Email: sales@robinsoninstruments.co.nz Web: www.robinsoninstruments.co.nz
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2019 Rubber Duckie Rally We anticipated this event for some time as we planned to try to keep the tradition of riding to this event from Auckland alive for another year. Now only about 10 of us counting the van driver and no longer on our pre 1931 machines, but still keen and lucky again to have Peter Alderdice shoulder the bulk of the organisation for the four-day excursion. The Friday ride was down the west side of Hamilton and down the Forgotten Highway, but turning right about 10km past the Whangamomona pub rather than going to Stratford. The trip back on Sunday and Monday was via the west coast road turning left just past Waimarino and heading up to Waitomo where Pete had organised a night over. The rally itself was the usual well organised Rubber Duckie, but this year and I think for the second year in a row, the day was perfect and confirmed the impression we got last year that there is a rather lovely mountain out there. The rally route was a great combination of bush roads and open country, very suitable for our bikes but entrants from other places were on all sorts of machines including a Vespa. It was noticeable that the machines, without the Auckland contingent on their usual 1920’s Harleys, were nearly all dating from after the war and right up to a few moderns. The trip down was noticeable for the condition of the Forgotten Highway. I had been down it in a car the weekend prior and advised it was rather rough and so it was. This was most dramatically illustrated by Don Green on his Dominator which bottomed the forks on a pothole and they never came up again! Not only that, the front mudguard was trapped between the front frame down-tubes so Don had more or less no steering. No wonder he thought the road was really, really bad for a few miles! Thoughts of trailering the bike from there were entertained, but with a couple of guys sitting on the back seat and a couple of heavy wooden blocks out of Leo Fowler’s van and more than a couple of heavy whacks released the forks to their rightful place, which was just as well because the road across country from Whangamomona to Inglewood was more like riding on a river bed, not shingle, not even rocks, but boulders which one had to navigate
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2019 Rubber Duckie Rally Contd... around or fall off! Even so, all remained upright through the rough stuff and we arrived in time for the Friday night noggin and natter. I have since found my rear wheel has some broken spokes, so I made it, but not without some destruction. The old Waitomo Hotel was interesting. I think it was refurbished about 20 years back amidst some fanfare about saving the old girl, but clearly it has not paid its way since then! We had a comfortable night, but peeling wallpaper and threadbare carpets cannot impress any overseas guests who unwarily book into the hotel. All of us made it back to Auckland, unlike the first time when we rode down the west side on our oldest machines (previous Beaded wheels article) and only one made it back intact! All in all, a good few days out to an excellent rally put on by the Taranaki Branch. Graeme Crawley
PAUL’S MAGNETOS Testing, repairs, re-magnetizing, rewinding and remedial-engineering of all types of magnetos. Magnetos re-engineered to competition standards of accuracy, with improved spark power. Dynamo repairs, 6 to 12-volt conversion, 3 to 2 brush conversion, electronic regulators, adjustment of mechanical regulators. Recommended by Ken McIntosh, Hugh Anderson, Ken Campbell, Steve Raffills and David Warren. Contact Paul Greet on 021 771 090
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Coming Events November 16 16 17 20
Sat Sat Sun Wed
23 27
Sat Wed
28
Thurs
1 3 11
Sun Tues Wed
12 14 18
Thurs Sat Wed
19 21 22 26 28
Thurs Sat Sun Thurs Sat
1 9 11 15
Wed Thurs Sat Wed
Annual Motorcycle Rally Vintage Section Meeting—Clubrooms 2:30pm Swap Meet (Waikato Branch) Mid Week Tourers Starts Drury Service Centre, Southern Motorway 10:00am Motorcycle Meeting—Clubrooms 2:30pm Commercial Meeting & Charabanc Maintenance Night Clubrooms 8:00pm Club Night 8:00pm
December
Annual Gymnic—to be held at Meadow Brook Farm 10:00am Committee Meeting—Clubrooms 7:30pm Mid Week Tourers Starts The Warehouse Carpark, Westgate 10:00am Bulletin Mailing Night 7:30pm Veteran Section Meeting—Clubrooms 2:30pm Commercial Meeting & Charabanc Maintenance Night Clubrooms 8:00pm Club Night—Xmas Pot Luck Dinner & New Members 7:00pm Motorcycle Meeting—Clubrooms 2:30pm Motorcycle Xmas BBQ—Spicer’s Farm Clubrooms Closed Vintage Section Meeting—Clubrooms 2:30pm
January 2020
18 Sat 19-20 22 Wed 23 25 26
Thurs Sat Sun
New Year’s Day Run—Starts Jolly Farmer, Drury 11:00am No Bulletin via Website or email Veteran Section Meeting 2:30pm Mid Week Tourers Starts Drury Service Centre, Southern Motorway 10:00am Motorcycle Meeting—Clubrooms 2:30pm Heritage Weekend Burma Rally (Wanganui Branch) Commercial Meeting & Charabanc Maintenance Night Clubrooms 8:00pm Club Night 8:00pm Vintage Section Meeting—Clubrooms 2:30pm Club Run
Note: The clubrooms are open on the second and fourth Thursday evenings each month from 7:30pm till 10:00pm and every Saturday afternoon from 4:30pm till 6:30pm.
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Coming Events
Thursday 28 November 8:00 p.m. Guest Speaker Scott Bainbridge One of New Zealand’s bestknown true crime writers
Gymnic Sunday 1 December
Meadow Brook Farm Twilight Rd, Brookby Courtesy of Dick Langridge Note: NO DOGS
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2019 Gymnic
Come Along, Bring All the Family Sunday 1 December
Meadow Brook Farm (By courtesy of Dick Langridge Annual picnic will be held on his farm.)
Twilight Rd, Brookby
Dogs NOT Permitted! Children a free ice-cream Everyone receives a free sausage ticket
What’s going to happen: 10:00am 11:00am 12:00noon 1:30pm
Gates open Restoration Awards Judging Sausage Sizzle SANTA arrives
Note: Take your own thermos
Mr Whippy Ice-creams available between 1-2:00 p.m. NOTE: If EXTREMELY wet, the Gymnic will be CANCELLED Cancellation will be on the e-tree and face-book
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Christmas Pot Luck Dinner
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A Proposal A Proposal to wind up the Auckland Veteran & Vintage Car Club Inc. Our recent “P” Rally brought out 14 members for what turned out to be a pleasant winter’s day motoring over country roads. A quick tally through our membership tells me there are at least 180 members who have no veteran or vintage vehicles, but who list one or more “original” or “restored” vehicles in the post 1931 era. Do we need to have motoring events for Post 1931 vehicles if members don’t want to participate? The Branch would have lost money on the after rally dinner and the entry fees received would not have even covered the cost of the plotter’s petrol! I stress here, money is not the issue, it’s a question of why do so few turn out? The situation is no different for any other area of the Branch’s activities. Our Library is without a doubt one of the best in the country, with a dedicated team of about six members running it. But how many use it? Maybe a dozen a month? Should we make it available to other literary or historical groups for research? It is already used by other VCC Branches, but how many of our members have any idea of the resources in it? Or is it just that “Mr Google” is easier, even if not always correct?! The Motorcycle section get about 60 members a month at their meetings, but struggle for any other participation, other than the Fish ’n chip runs. Our monthly Club meetings every fourth Thursday get somewhat less, and the Saturday afternoons twice a month even fewer. Should we relinquish our Bar Licence? Same thing with groups like Commercials and Veterans. Of the total numbers of such owners in the Branch, despite the best efforts of the respective group leaders, only a fraction of the owners show support. We have a very good workshop in the barn for, mainly, restorative panel work. Is it worthwhile keeping it? I could go on. An interesting observation now is that our Branch are pretty good supporters of some of our neighbouring branch annual events, the Far North Tour, the Maunga-Moana, the Rubber Duckie, the Journey Through Time all spring to mind. What’s the appeal with these? The point is, with over 600 members we should be able to say that perhaps 50% have road ready vehicles. Then maybe 50% of those might be available for a run or a rally at any given time. So why were there only 14 out for the “P” Rally? We have warm and comfortable Clubrooms for regular “catch-ups”, capable of 100 or more. Wouldn’t it be great to turn up and find standing room only, yet some months there are lucky to be twenty. The Committee work hard to forecast what the membership wants and do their best to fulfil those wants. We’ve had surveys and questionnaires in the past with pitiful responses. I would love to see a flood of spontaneous letters next month refuting my thoughts and coming up with members own contributions. Or should we start looking at procedures to close the Branch. As individuals we can all still admire our vehicles in the garage, we can go for a Sunday drive on our own, we can join a “One Make” Club for information and spares, we can languish in solitude, if that’s what we want. For me, I want to see all our activities and meetings flourishing in line with our objectives and membership numbers?
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A Proposal Contd... What do you want? What can we do better? Or am I just a lone voice in the wilderness? Am I the odd one out? Is everyone else satisfied?
Name supplied and withheld. This article was tabled at the October Committee Meeting and was allowed to be published. Editor
2020 VINTAGE MUSTER RALLY Planning is underway for the next Vintage Muster. The event will be open to vintage vehicles only i.e. commercials, motorcycles and cars manufactured between 1st January 1919 and 31 December 1931. A Touring option will be available; with Fast and Slow classes for those wishing to have a small challenge.
The plotters, Alan and Shaaran Price, have chosen mostly rural West Auckland roads for the event. So mark 8th March 2020 in your calendars.
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2019 Hunua 100 Rally The sun shone and entrants began to arrive early at the Corbans Art Estate to begin the rally, some unsure how long it would take them to get there, given how long it has been since a Hunua had been out this way. Graeme & Murielle Gill were our starters and “tail end charlies”. Instructions sent the entrants out towards the Manukau through the bushy roads of Titirangi to find motor cycle members Ian Hubbard and Graeme Crawley at Laingholm beach. Ian and Graeme hadn’t marshalled on a combined event before so really enjoyed being able to watch the vehicles come in with the sparkling tide at their backs. The climb out of Laingholm highlighted the toll winter rains had had on the landscape with slips being repaired along the way. It was then an easy drive along the Scenic Drive which was built during the 1930s depression before turning off at Te Henga then to Waitakere where Mike Courtenay and John Stokes were there to check your timing. Leigh Shaw and Brad Hall checked you in to lunch which was a bit different for a Hunua this year. Gone the sausages in a paddock, as those who purchased lunch were treated to a sit down affair at the Waimauku RSA, with tea and coffee there too for everyone else. From there the entrants were directed out to the coast again along back roads to Muriwai and were treated to a magnificent view of the west coast and gannet colony from the top of the hill. The beach at Muriwai was busy with people enjoying the great weather after so much wind and rain. Bob & Dawn Pickering were based back at Waimauku where they gave entrants their last time check and sent them on their way through the back of the Riverhead Forest at their own pace. John Stokes (on his 70 th birthday), manned his second check in his old stomping ground at Dairy Flat, where he saw everyone, but didn’t necessarily get to sign their card. And with a last little brain teaser the rally was finished at the Rugby Club in Riverhead where John and Pat Campbell had a hot brew and some bikkies ready. A big thank you to everyone who entered, especially our two “out of town” entrants the Foots and the Fusseys, our marshals, the Committee who work behind the scenes and Alan & Shaaran Price (they are away overseas at present) and Graeme & Murielle for checking the rally. Our congratulations to Glenn and Marion Morris for winning the rally overall. They will plot an excellent event next year and they mentioned at prizegiving that it would be great if there was some members who hadn’t been involved in organising a rally before would like to help them out – a great way to learn how things work with experienced mentors. Think about it…………we know that they would love to hear from you. Look for the full results elsewhere in the Bulletin. Congratulations again to all.
Russel & Jocelyn McAlpine
November 2019
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2019 Hunua 100 Rally
Winners Congratulations to those who were presented awards at the 2019 Hunua 100 Rally Prize Giving at the Remuera Club on Sunday 27 October
Fast Vintage 1st Glenn & Marion Morris 2nd Rodger & Val Ball 3rd Stephen & Tracey Winterbottom
1928 Ford Model A 1930 Ford Model A 1930 Talbot 70
Slow Vintage 1st John & Janice Gardner 2nd John & Roger Morrison 3rd Owen & Jane Hayward
1928 Model A Tudor 1924 Buick 1922 Paige Daytona
Post Vintage 1st Gavin Welch & Sophie Zhao
1934 Ford Y
Post War 1st
Ken & Annette Foot
1958 Humber 80
1st 2nd 3rd
John & Dianne Poole Wayne & Carrie Roberts Neville Olsen & Gill Stephens
1967 Vauxhall Victor 1972 Monaro 1966 Morris Mini
1st
Gary Bax & Murray Atkinson
1987 VW Westfalia
P 60
P 80
Motorcycle 1st Peter Alderdice
1954 Ariel Square 4
Overall Winner—Glenn & Marion Morris
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November 2019
2019 Hunua 100 Rally Left—Glenn & Marion Morris Overall winners of the 2019 Hunua 100 Rally and 1st Fast Vintage Below—Annette & Ken Foot 1st PWV
Above—John & Janice Gardner 1st Slow Vintage Above Right Sophie Zhao & Gavin Welch 1st PV Right—Russel McAlpine, Martin Spicer, Tracey Winterbottom and Jocelyn McAlpine, the presentation of the plotters trophy.
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National North Island Easter Rally National North Island Rally April 2020 and Back Road Tour Horowhenua Branch The rally will be centred in Levin and the organising Committee are promising a great weekend of vintage motoring and activity, including the Sunday Dinner being held at the Southward Museum. I have entry forms for those who want them, also available at the clubrooms. I suggest you book accommodation soon if you haven’t already done so. We are organising a “Back Road Tour” to get there. We will be leaving Bombay in the morning of Wednesday 8 April, Wednesday night destination still to be confirmed, Thursday night likely to be Taihape with a visit to the Military Museum at Waiouru on the Thursday afternoon. More details to come, but register your interest with me now. Tracey Winterbottom
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November 2019
Restoration Award at Gymnic For anyone contemplating entering for a Restoration Award at our Gymnic, your Committee would like to encourage you to do so. Most importantly, award judging is not a competition against other entrants. Your entry is judged on its own merits. Each entrant will need to complete an Entry Form on the day and be available to discuss any points raised during judging at 11:00am. Paint, Brightwork, Instruments and Cleanliness are each scored out of 5. Upholstery & Interior, Panel-work and Mechanical are each scored out of 10, for an aggregate out of 50. These figures would be used un-altered for a restored vehicle, but if as original then 10% is added, however if non-authentic, the above scores are reduced by 10% Breakpoints: - Gold 45 and above, Silver 40 to 44, Bronze 39 or less. Don Green
Established in 1993 we specialise in classic & Vintage Car Restorations and Repair work Classic Car Insurance Claims Insurance and Private Work on all vehicles WOF and Rust Repairs Full Panel and Paint Service New! - The Metal Room—Metal Shaping Classes Contact Mark McAlpine—Ph: (09) 820 2299
Email: alpinepb@vodafone.co.nz www.alpinepanelbeaters.co.nz Or call in and see us at 8/2 Lansford Crescent, Avondale
November 2019
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Vero International Festival of Motoring
COUNTDOWN TO VERO INTERNATIONAL
14 Months to go January 17 to 22, 2021 Register your interest on the website, check out the Facebook page. Preparation continues for the Vero Festival of Motoring. There will be one day where there will be the opportunity for one day rallies in classes. There will be separate rallies on this day for Veteran, Vintage and all PV classes and perhaps Motorcycles and Commercials. This will be the only competitive day and the competition will be in the form of a timed section. Catering is still being investigated, and the entry fee is still to be set but the Committee are quite sure it will be very affordable. Tony Haycock is still on the Committee, but due to work commitments taking him out of the country for considerable periods, he has stepped down as Rally Director and fellow Committee member Greg Terrill will be taking on the Director’s role. At this point there are no plans for an “overseas guest”. Some motels are now booked out and suggest you book accommodation if you are thinking of attending and have not yet made any bookings.
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VIC Information Day Saturday February 8 2:00pm at the Clubrooms A Vehicle Identity Card is required if you wish to enter a National Rally such as the upcoming Easter Rally in April. This valuable and important system for registering our vehicles is recognised by NZTA and we encourage everyone to get one. It costs you as a member nothing, just a little time to fill out the paperwork and provide 3 identical photos. The card is valid for 10 years and then renewal is a formality. If you have a vehicle you wish to get a VIC for, then come along to the Clubrooms and we will help you with the paperwork and get the applications in. As a Branch we are fortunate that Michael O’Kane who is our VIC authority is also on the National Technical Committee who oversee the system and also have a past Technical Committee member in our Branch, Dave Allbon. Both Michael and Dave and a number of the committee will be on hand to help you for this afternoon. Bring along 3 identical photos, ¾ front view and there should be enough space around the vehicle that we can trim the photos down to 9cm x 13 cm. Also bring as much detail as you have on the history of the vehicle and any registration papers you may have.
MOTOR TRIMMING CLASSIC & VINTAGE CARS LEATHER, HOODS, SIDECURTAINS 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE Trained by Ken Keay FABRIC BODIES A SPECIALITY TOP QUALITY WORK REASONABLE RATES
John McKechnie 66a Ladies Mile Remuera Phone: (09) 522 4418
November 2019
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Wanted/For Sale Wanted: VW Beetle For Restoration—1302 model 1971 – 1975, 1600 engine. Ph: Phil Smith (09) 232 1747 or 0274 389 353 …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. For Sale: 1974 Vauxhall Viva HC very good condition, new WoF and registration due to expire in Feb 2020. New battery, brakes, muffler, etc. $4000.00 Viewing in West Auckland. Ph: Mike Courtney (Member) 0274 945 632 or (09) 810 7415 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
NZ Welder Repair Services Ltd. Unit 4/5 Portage Road, New Lynn, Auckland
For personal service call Rod Rugg (Member) Stick, MIG, TIG and Plasma cutters. All welding machine types and consumables for sale. “Over 30 years experience” Repairs to machines, new sales and used. Hire options available. For home or work. Large or small. We deal with only good machines not rubbish. Phone: 09 8261425, e-mail: rod.rugg@nzwrs.com Postal address: P.O. Box 19272, Avondale, Auckland 1746
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Your Committee Chairman/Motorcycle Rep/Delegate Martin Spicer (Lynda) Email: spicerclan2017@gmail.com Ph: (09) 233 6382 or 0274 454 593 Vice Chairman/Clubrooms Booking/Name Badges Don Green (Brenda) Email: greend@slingshot.co.nz Ph: 266 8836 or 021 073 2642 Secretary/Privacy Officer: Tracey Winterbottom Email: vintagesunbeam@hotmail.co.nz (Stephen) Ph: (09) 232 0246 or 021 732 209 Treasurer: Ian Hubbard (Lesley) Email: ian@fhp.co.nz Ph: 575 8236 or 0274 426 748 Club Captain: Lynda Spicer (Martin) Email: spicerclan2017@gmail.com Ph: (09) 233 6382 or 021 454 593 Committee Members: Warwick Darrow (Trisha) Building Maintenance Email: waktrish@gmail.com Ph: 520 2882 or 021 203 4562 Robin Elliott Entertainment Officer/Spares Email: robaleen@actrix.co.nz Ph: 0274 922 188 Alan Price (Shaaran) Building Maintenance Email: birdwoodprices@gmail.com Ph: 833 8575 Shaaran Price (Alan) Social Convenor/New Membership Liaison Officer Email: birdwoodprices@gmail.com Ph: 833 8575 John Stokes Veteran Rep/Spares/Trophy Steward Email: jcstokes96a@xtra.co.nz Ph: (09) 236 4582 or 0272 772 108 Non-Committee Officers: Librarian Bulletin Editor Chris Wood (Diana) Val Ball (Rodger) Ph: 524 9478 Ph: 298 6476 Email: rvball@xtra.co.nz Beaded Wheels Reporter Commercial Rep John Stokes John Campbell (Pat) Continuous Membership Awards Steward Ph: 828 7850 or 0272 446 928 Glenn Morris (Marion) VIC Officer Ph: 273 4975 or 021 136 5926 Michael O’Kane Insurance: Ph: 813 4944 Vero Consumer Insurance Specialist 0800 505 905 or 356 4501 Agency Number: 0300126 Clubrooms Ph: 579 5625 Street Address: 39 Fairfax Ave, Penrose Postal Address: P O Box 12 138, Penrose, Auckland 1642 Open: 2nd & 4th Thursday 7:30-10:00pm, Every Saturday 4:30-6:30 pm Club Night: 4th Thursday of the month
Branch Email Address Library Email Address Branch Website
auckland@vcc.org.nz libraryavvcc@gmail.com www.avvcc.org.nz
Branch Honorary Life Members:
Barry Robert Norm Dewhurst QSM Alan Roberts
November 2019
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Your Committee
November 2019