11 minute read
For Sale
Members are invited to advertise at no charge vehicles etc. However, as very few Members advise us when their item has sold, in future all advertisements must be resubmitted each month.
1974 TRIUMPH 2500TC
Good condition. Original paint. All S upgrades. $6500.00 o n o. Ph Owen Smith on 07 552 4637 .
FOR SALE—Second Hand tyres—good tread.
5 x Bridgestone 450 x 18 motorcycle tyres. 2 x Olympic 550 x 18 Tyres. 3 x Goodyear575/600 x 15 tyres. Offers please—contact Peter Lawn 07 549 4338
FOR SALE—CAR TRUNK (Brooks)
with removable picnic table, excellent condition $250.00 Phone Ken 027 576 4263
FOR SALE -1948 Austin 16/4
Body off restoration, New upholstery. Motor good original condition. New Rubber. Rego on hold. $11,500.
Please phone Ivan Allen 07 5432629
Note—this is not an image of Ivans car, but is simply to show you what this model looks like.
FOR SALE—1928 Model A Ford Tudor
Runs well, carefully maintained, and in very good condition inside and out. Registered, with a recent WOF. For further information, contact Doug 07 549 0617 / 021 668117
Roger Blake rogerkblake@hotmail.com
5 Troon Place, RD2, Katikati 3178, 021 031 4794
Roger has a 1972 triumph TR6
Murray Hodgson hodgson@windowslive,com
2 Wiremu Street, Brookfield, Tauranga 3110, 576 6534 021 255 3454
Murray has a 1956 Jaguar MK1 Saloon and a 1974 Alfa Romeo 2.0 GTV Coupe
Louise Stuart louise.stuart1001@icloud.com
Apt. 104, 9 Grace Avenue, Mt. Maunganui, Tauranga 3116, 027 571 4539
Louise has a 1969 Alfa Romeo Spider
Trevor Windsor twindsor@Xtra.co.nz
4 Adrine Lane, Ohauiti RD3, Tauranga 3173 579 0003 021 876 646
Trevor has a 1931 Hudson Essex Terroplane Sedan.
Ronnie Nielsen ODD_Junk@yahoo.co.nz
271 Minden Road, TePuna RD 6, Tauranga 3176, 027 280 3088
Ronnie has a 1934 Indian 4 Cylinder Motor Cycle.
Contact our Chairman if you have not received your name badge by our next meeting.
Registration is NOW OPEN for the Vero International
REGISTER NOW AND WIN
We are giving away two tickets to our Festival Finale to one lucky entrant. This will be a fantastic evening of entertainment and socialising as we officially draw the festival to a close, tickets are worth $70 each. Two qualify for the draw you need to have registered in full and paid your registration fee by 30 June 2020.
The winner will be announced in our Vero International July newsletter. (If you are selected as the winner and have already paid for your finale tickets we will refund your payment.)
By – Graeme and Raewyn Fenn.
We arrived in Taihape in bright sunshine, with no expectations, and some trepidation! At 4 pm we collected our rally packs, including a small bottle of whisky and a roll of toilet paper –oh my goodness, what have we signed up for.
A quiet shandy in the bar at the Gretna Hotel, provided a very enlightening and entertaining time as we watched other “Flingers” arrive in their selected vehicle – anything from a pristine Chrysler 4, through to a well-used and enjoyed Rolls Royce Tourer or a Model A in various states of (DIS)repair. There were many and varied models and we had never seen such an eclectic band of Scotsmen, anywhere in New Zealand.
Dinner was a little late at the Gretna as “Youse fellas
will have to be a bit patient with us, we never did a big function like this and we’ll start cooking when the Chef gets back. She’s gone home for a shower.!” Very Taihappy!
Saturday saw us travel uncharted territory, putting many of us out of our comfort zones, but enlightening us “NON-Irishmen on a SCOTTISH Fling”, into the value of carrying chains and ropes to get through unforeseen obstacles. We chose to plough through on the back of a tow-rope and just enjoy the view, and my goodness, what a view it was. (Did you see Rod Rattray in his little Austin 7, just fly up that hill? Awesome.)
After a sumptuous lunch of Venison steaks, venison Sausages and venison Salami, accompanied by beautiful salads and bread rolls an followed by gorgeous sweet things, provided by the local community and supporting the 6 children at the school, we were off again. This time heading the long way to the Gravity Canyon site. OH MY GOODNESS! Can you imagine bungy jumping here? Or even worse, doing the big swing? We talked to a man who had done this and he said it was mind blowing, even his eyes were bulging by the time he was retrieved from the bottom of the canyon on the end of the rope! Not for these landlubbers!
By Sunday morning, we were feeling enthusiastic and eager to see what was planned for us today. The 7.30a.m briefing by “The Boss” A.J., on Anzac Morning, was accompanied by a Scottish Lament played by Pipe Major John Campbell from Timaru (alias J.C.) and certainly raised the hairs on the back of your neck. Then we were treated to the sight of “Nurse Nicola”, putting on her rubber glove – and assuring us that we were in good hands should she need to do certain checks! Given the jewellery under that rubber glove, we saw a number of men crossing their legs and cringing!
We were soon trundling through a gorgeous Sunday morning, right to the Top of the World, (otherwise known as the top of Ridge Road), where a 355 degree corner saw some taking several attempts to get around the corner! Another amazing road. After taking on State Highway 1 over the infamous Mangawekas, a very sharp right saw one Waikato Vauxhall doing an emergency stop and rapid turn, but he made it, (that will teach him to race with a Graham Paige), and on we travelled through some gorgeous back high country hills and even more amazing scenes to find the shrinking town of Mangaweka and a few photo opportunities, but no time to stop and linger as morning tea awaited at Mangaweka Asparagus before the much anticipated “Paper Road”.
Kotukuraeroa Road had not been used for some time and we were “lucky enough” to be in the first group through. Unfortunately one of the cars in front of us got stuck in the mud at the base of the hill, but with some strong arms and a bit of ingenuity, he was soon on his way, followed by Graeme in our Graham Paige. Raewyn was destined to walk the hill, until one of those amazing old Model A’s gave her a ride on their running board! It really was very muddy, but Graeme had learned the day before, about the use of ropes to get through muddy-bogs – and they worked a treat. A fabulous experience, even if not everyone got through.
After a beautiful lunch at the Gretna Hotel, we set off for the Field Tests in a paddock at Mataroa. What fun! It was great seeing these vintage cars racing through a slalom course heading up a hill and then doing an “Irish” Cloverleaf pattern on a “Scottish” Fling. Most did really well and it got quite competitive, but the sight of the day had to do to the Waikato Breweries bright lime Model T who broke a wheel doing the cloverleaf. Can’t say what will leave a bigger impression in my mind, seeing a group of men “carrying” the Model T off the course so racing could continue, or seeing someone walking through the course picking up all the wooden spokes that had fallen out when the wheel broke! The final dinner at the Gretna was full of surprises. From the amazing address of the Haggis, the wonderful spot prizes and gifts given, the belief in the room that the “Fling” had been a great success and should proceed again next year, the Bagpipers who played, the local man whose impromptu speech included how “Youse fellas have been great for Taihape and we have loved having youse fellas here”. But the highlight was the very unexpected Auction of the sign made and bought along from Timaru, proclaiming “We are going to the Inaugaral Highland Fling in Taihape – April 2020/21”, which bought in $1,000 to start the planning for the 2022 Highland Fling. Thank you so much, to Alistair and Gwen Jones, Kaaren and Jim Smylie and their small team. You made over 200 vintage car travellers very happy! See you in April 2022 in Taihape!
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And a word or two from Dick Ashton
As part of what seems to be a diminishing group of mobile folk on wooden wheels, Rae & I would just like to say that this Rally was , in our view, nothing but one of the best we have ever entered. It was a "Rally of old" - one that once perhaps was the most popular type - in that there were no silent checks, no minimum speeds or time limitations.
In fact, there was no pressure at all - just the pleasure of driving our magnificent vehicles over historical roads (and tracks), at a pace we could individually enjoy , and yet absorb the most wonderful scenery & expansive views of some of NZs best productive hill country & Stations. From the venison lunch provided by a country school community (with 6 pupils), to the final get together at the Taihape Gretna , all 250 of us at this Rally absolutely enjoyed the "piping in" of the Haggis & the dinner and the laughs that ensued !
AND A COMMENT FROM ONE OF THE CARS TAKING PART IN THE HIGHLAND FLING!
I have been resting for 40 years in Apiti.
In February my caregiver wheeled me into the daylight, pumped up my tyres, greased my joints and gave me a valve grind. Added some new oil and fuel. I rode to Taihape on a trailer for my first ever rally with my novice driver and navigators.
After briefing on Saturday morning we headed off, it wasn’t long before we encountered a car coming towards us with the front wheels ready to fall off. We waved them down and found a steering arm about to fall off. We secured the loose bolt but we needed a split pin, just then a chap looking on who was no part of the rally said ‘I have a split pin in my pocket’. Opened his wallet and had three. I asked why do you have split pins in your wallet— answer you never know when you’ll need one. Off we go a little behind everyone else, get a little lost but then came across another car with a rear wheel coming off, out with the tools and secured loose wheel studs.
We arrived at the hill climb with cars stuck and being towed uphill by 4WDs. We roped our rear wheels and drove on up hill with no trouble. Arrived at the end of the day with no damage.
Day 2 was a great drive on gravel roads, we were one of the lucky ones to drive the paper road, slipping, sliding and lots of bumps.
All in all my first outing in 40 years and my crews first rally was a great experience.
Many thanks Allen Bones Burton
The Gretna Hotel our Rally Headquarters stands proud on the main intersection at Taihape where the road branches left and northwards to Waiouru and beyond. Not three star and maybe not even one but a comfortable stay and at a very agreeable price. Certainly a stay to remember.
Over 100 true vintage and veteran vehicles and their crew surrounded the intersection at 7.30am on the Saturday morning. What a sight it was.
Alastair’s briefing and humour ensured us of the do’s and don’ts for the day, even advising of the on board nurse and what and how she could remedy ailments we knew we never had!
On the stroke of 8am we headed off on the Gentle Annie Road and the town was quickly deserted. The tar seal soon ended and with a near absence of other traffic these country roads were ours for the day. Narrow gravel roads, stunning views, geological features, steep drop off’s (no crash barriers here), and a bit of wheel spinning on a grassy farm road. Chains were used but the wisest motorists had a supply of thick rope wound through the spokes and over the rims and tyres. Some cars were delivered up the steepest pinch on the tow ropes of three 4WD’s, while others were successfully towed up by some of the adventurous Model A’s. Whatever we all got there, right up on top, magnificent views.
Sunday night diner was out of this world with 250 or so people in the Gretna main bar. The haggis was piped in in the most traditional manner, bagpipes and all, and our very own James McSmylie and McAlastair Jones, both adorned with kilts, prominent as the haggis was paraded around the bar. The Ode to Haggis (if that’s what it’s called) brilliantly recited by Jim Whittle a true blue (do I mean tartan) Scot. I doubt if a single sole understood a word of it, but the haggis tasted good.
Congratulations Alastair Jones and Kaaren Smylie for a fantastic weekend. Roll on the next one.
