THE WIPER The Newsletter of the Gore Branch of the Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.)
July 2020
Next meeting: 14th July MEETINGS: SECOND TUESDAY of the month
at the Clubrooms, Waimea Street, Gore Branch telephone number: 03 208 7424
2019-2020 Committee and Officers Branch Patrons Chairman Vice Chairman Secretary Treasurer Club Captain Assistant Club Captains
Neil McVicar, Ray Tressler Greg Elder (03) 202 5710 Paul Herron (03) 208 6121 Bill Ainge (03) 208 9877 Tim Walsh (03) 208 3531 John Parish (03) 208 5505 Rod Bell 027 229 2191 Charlie Davis 027 451 5234 Greg Elder (03) 202 5710 Ray Taylor 027 696 2965 Branch Recorder (Wiper Editor) David North 021 172 3281 Assistant Branch Recorder Position not filled at present House Convenor Des Brewster (03) 208 1960 Assistant House Convenor Vacant Social Committee Beb Kennedy, David McDowell, Russell Newland Beaded Wheels Reporter Jim McFadzien (03) 208 0121 Festival Rally Organiser Denis Knight (03) 208 5404 Assistant Rally Organiser Vacant Bar Manager Chris Scoles (03) 208 0052 Assistant Bar Manager Murray Proctor (03) 208 4768 Maintenance Supervisor Keith Nunn (03) 208 5403 Maintenance Assistants Bill Ainge, Barry Clearwater, Keith Dodds, Russell Newland, Ken Youngson Swapmeet & Parts Gerry Kennedy 027 233 4634 Swapmeet & Parts Assistants Barry Clearwater, Evan Henderson, Bryan Neilson Hill Climb Evan Henderson (03) 208 6479 Hill Climb Assistant Stewart Quertier (03) 208 7932 Sheriff Denis Knight (03) 208 5404 Librarian Stewart Quertier (03) 208 7932 Raffles Starr McDougall (03) 208 5450 National Delegate David North 021 172 3281 Privacy Officer Bill Ainge (03) 208 9877 Health & Safety Officer Murray Low (03) 208 4007 Museum & HPV David McDowell (03) 208 6791 Tuesday Ramble Co-ordinator Gerry Kennedy 027 233 4634 Branch Daffodil Day Co-ordinator John Tremaine (03) 208 9670 Vehicle Identity Card signatories Evan Henderson, John Parish, John Tremaine Front cover picture: Lenore Bailey, in her garden, hosting the February Tuesday Ramble (photo by the Editor)
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Chairman's Report July 2020 Now that the country has moved to Covid-19 alert level one we are once again able to hold Branch meetings, so hoping to see you all at the July one. It was great to see a big turnout of vehicles on the End of Season Run. We motored on amazing roads out the back of the Hedgehope-Charlton area. My 10-year-old navigator enjoyed the experience and she did not get us lost like some other entrants! Nice to see several young people at the Run. We need to encourage this for the future well-being of our Club. Entry forms are due to go out soon for the National Veteran Rally that our Branch is running in October. This is a big event for our Branch (and the Club) and it would be great if we could get close to 50 vehicles. Time will tell. The Norton family from Pukerau have donated an early side-valve V8 Oakland motor. If anyone knows of a VCC member in NZ that has one of these rare cars and would like a spare engine let us know. (There is an advertisement elsewhere in The Wiper.) Trust you are all keeping warm and busy in your sheds restoring and maintaining your vehicle ready for next season. Happy motoring. Greg Elder
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Club Captain’s Report July 2020 It is great to be at Covid 19 alert level 1 and I hope we can stay there. We had the End of Season Run on the 6th of June and it was pleasing to have 16 cars on the Run. There is a report later in The Wiper and the winners of the Run were Bill and Dawn Sheddan. I am planning to run the Night Trial on Saturday the 11th of July and we will meet at the Clubrooms at 7.00 pm. There is an advert with details later in The Wiper. The Annual Dinner and Trophy Presentation has been rescheduled for Saturday the 22nd of August. This is always a fun night out so come along and enjoy the company of fellow members. Who knows, you might even get some bling to take home. It is much nicer to have the trophy recipients there on the night to receive their prizes than to present them later. John Parish
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From the Editor’s keyboard This is something of a “catch up” edition as we have the Minutes from our last meeting (way back in March!) and the fruits of various members’ labours during lockdown. Gerry Kennedy, Rod Bell and Bill Sheddan have all been busy putting pens to paper and fingers to keyboards which has helped to give you plenty to read and look at this month. Bill’s story is something of an epic (even for Bill!) so there is a “taster” this month and then it will be serialised in the following issues but don’t think that lets the rest of you off the hook…. Talking of which, the Branch AGM is coming up in August and I have put my name forward to continue as your Editor, if you are prepared to put up with my efforts for another year – and have another year of being pestered for material to fill the insatiable void that is….. The Wiper! Happy reading, David North
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February Tuesday Ramble (Better late than never!) Thirteen car loads left the Clubrooms and travelled to Winton to pay a visit to Lyall and Lenore Bailey and what a lovely couple. We were made most welcome. Arriving just before lunch it was only right that we viewed the cars firstly. Set behind a lovely big house was what I call a barn-style garage! And what a surprise was waiting inside.
First a 1908 De Dion Bouton. This car was originally owned by Dr Trotter of Riverton who had the car for many years. When Lyall purchased the car it had been in storage for many years. Lyall restored the car many years ago and it looks amazing. 8
Next was a 1919 Ford Model T and this one is quite different. It’s a 2-door coupe but the doors are behind the front seat. This car was used as their wedding car over 50 years ago.
Next along was a 1980 2-door Mercedes 450SL convertible. Lovely black paintwork, this car belongs to their daughter from Auckland and is used at Christmas when she visits.
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Next was a beautiful 1964 E-Type Jaguar. This car was purchased in the USA in rough condition. Lyall had the Jag converted to right-hand drive, fully restored and painted what looks similar to British Racing Green. Alongside was a 2007 XKR Supercharged Jaguar, every man’s dream.
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Well after a great look around and many questions it was time for the lunch break. We adjourned to the front of this lovely house and joined in with the Baileys for lunch. We had just finished lunch when we had to make the move to the (other) garage on the end of the house as a shower of rain came through but just a brief shower.
Lenore led us off on a tour of this very spacious garden. The house and garden covers approx. 1.5 acres. A lot of work had gone into the design and all made easy for the mowing. A lot of areas with statues and stone features. Looking back towards the house the box hedges were terraced at three levels. Lenore told us how this was land occupied by the electricity company which was building the Tiwai Point power pylons so it was a blank canvas. So over the years they have turned their property into this wonderful garden. Lenore said the best time to see the garden in full bloom is September to November as the rhododendrons will be in flower. We have booked a visit late September - all going well! Gerry Kennedy
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Neil McVicar’s 95th Birthday A few old mates from around town joined Neil, Fay, Anne & Alan to celebrate. What a great afternoon. A lovely afternoon tea, quite a few of the amber liquid. Yes Neil, this did damage my forehead. We are planning his 100th! Well done Neil. Gerry Kennedy
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Swapmeet Well what a great team effort! Thanks to the following: Team for setting up Clubrooms on the Wednesday before. Team for fencing off the Heartland Hotel grounds on Saturday. Team on the gate, car park, garage sales, kitchen staff. Saturday morning at 6am was quite mild but by 7.30 it was quite cold so special thanks to those working outside. Not so many early-birds this time but they kept coming. We had a quick count up and around 50 stallholders so the Branch had a great fund-raiser. All up with the raffle just over $3,300, not too bad. Just lucky it wasn’t the following weekend – rain. Thanks to you all, keep safe. Gerry Kennedy P.S. went around and talked to many of the stallholders and all seemed pretty pleased and looking forward to next year.
Sent in jointly by Gerry Kennedy & Murray Proctor: a line-up of new Austin Minis and 1100s outside G.T. Gillies Ltd of Oamaru. (From “NZ Classic Driver”, Jan/Feb 2020) 13
End of Season Run Saturday 6th June
Saturday the 6th of June dawned cold and wet but the day had improved by 1.00pm when 16 cars assembled at the Clubrooms for the End of Season Run. It seemed like forever since our last Run and there was a lot of catching up to do before we headed away. Because of the uncertainty around being able to have this Run we kept it fairly local and threw in a few bits of gravel road just like the old days. First, we did a route around West Gore to drive by Paul and Glenise Corcoran’s house in Margaret Street as a farewell to Paul. We then did a loop around Mataura, Te Tipua, Glencoe and back to Terry Inder’s sheds and garden. Unfortunately, the weather had deteriorated again by the time we got to Terry’s so the ladies didn’t linger long in the garden. Terry has a mass of future projects tucked away in his man cave and is currently working on a Datsun 1200 coupe that has been a race car all its life. It has had its fair share of racing incidents and has been a big job to get straight and square again. He plans to put a bored out 2 litre motor in it that should produce 170 plus hp. It will go like a cut cat if Terry has the nerve to test its limits. Thanks to Terry and Stella for hosting us. 14
Terry and his project Datsun
We then returned to the Clubrooms for afternoon tea and more catching up. Gerry Kennedy raffled a bottle of whisky which was deservedly won by Glenise Corcoran. The Run had nine questions to answer and entrants were asked to draw the Te Tipua School logo. It seems a number of entrants were so focussed on drawing the logo that they missed the instruction to turn left onto Te Tipua School Road. No search party was required thankfully. Four entrants got all the questions correct so the winner of the Run came down to who did the best picture of the school logo. The four with all the correct answers were Ken Youngson, Russell Newland, Gerry Kennedy and Bill Sheddan. The best logo was by Bill and Dawn Sheddan so they were declared the winners. Congratulations to Bill and Dawn. Thanks to all those that turned out on what was a cold damp day. John Parish 15
Targa 2020 VCC Time Trial May Newsletter For any queries or assistance completing Targa entry forms, VCC membership (driver/co-driver), or vehicle identity card (VIC) applications, (or anything else), please call or email me. >>>> Rod Corbett, VCC Steward, Targa 2020 VCC Time Trial. Email: rod.corbett88@gmail.com or telephone 027 433 8772 The full Newsletter was emailed to all Branch members for whom I have email addresses last month. If you didn’t receive it (and you have an email address) please contact me so that I can add you to my distribution list for similar information and urgent VCC matters. Thank you, the Editor
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Dodge Canister
Thought this might be of interest. It’s a tin canister with screw top that was supplied with new Dodge cars in the early 1920s. A friend of mine, John Callesen from up north, emailed me a photo of one thinking they were very rare as he has restored Dodges in the past and never seen one before. He was very surprised when I told him of mine. Amazing how they have survived in such good order. Greg Elder
“Humour Ark Ark” Just realised the other day that the wheelie bin has been out more than I have! What’s the difference between a Scotsman and a canoe? Sometimes the canoe tips. Sent in by Gerry Kennedy 18
Night Trial Saturday 11th of July
Assemble at the Clubrooms at 7.30 pm Bring a plate for shared supper, a torch and some friends to help with clues Any enquiries contact: John Parish Ph (03) 208 5505
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Tuesday Ramble July Yes, we are back!
Tuesday 28th July 11.30am: meet at the Clubrooms This will be a “Get-together�, a time to share lockdown stories But Wait! 12.30pm approx: lunch (Cost $10 to $15, menu of soup, chicken casserole, tatties, peas and dessert, tea & coffee. Bring a bikkie if you like!)
Numbers to: Gerry Kennedy 027 233 4634 No later than 23rd July Sorry, NO late bookings!
See ya there! 20
Annual Dinner & Trophy Night Saturday 22nd August
Evening time Cost approx. $30 per head Further details will be given at the July monthly meeting and in next month’s Wiper Enquiries to: Des Brewster, phone (03) 208 1960 21
Gore Branch Events for the 2019-20 Season Event Branch AGM Annual Dinner & Trophy Night National Day Daffodil Rally for Cancer
Proposed Date
Organiser(s)
Tuesday 11th August Saturday 22nd August
Des Brewster
CANCELLED
National Veteran Rally
Friday 16th to Sunday 18th October
Tuesday Ramble
Normally last Tuesday Co-ordinated by of the month. Gerry Kennedy Variable in December
Paul Herron
Editor's note to event organisers If you want to see a report in The Wiper please provide one yourselves or organise somebody to do it for you. (N.B. This usually works best if you ask them before the event!
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Other Events 2020 15th – 16th August National AGM & Executive Committee 23rd August
National Day Daffodil Rally for Cancer CANCELLED
10th – 13th September
Hawke’s Bay Vintage Only Rally. Contact Esther Smith humber@xtra.co.nz or Rod McKenzie rod.mckenzie.wpk@xtra.co.nz
13th – 20th October Targa New Zealand Time Trials. North Island Contact Rod Corbett 027 433 8772 16th to 18th October
National Veteran Rally, Gore Branch. Contact Paul Herron: phone (03) 208 6121
2022 16th – 21st January Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring, New Plymouth. Up to date information can be found on the VCC website here: http://vcc.org.nz/events-calendar-2/
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What’s in Your Shed? 1972 MkIV Triumph Spitfire by Rod Bell Once upon a time, as all good fairy tales begin, I bought a 1972 MkIV Triumph Spitfire. This purchase resulted from a midlife crisis which saw me returning to my errant youthful days and the purchase of a motorcycle. Having owned a couple in the past I wished to revisit that air in the hair, scent in the nose and bugs in the eyes experience once again. Unfortunately, that experience did not last long as another driver, who thought he had more right to the road than I, cleaned me out! Nearly permanently! Motorcycles were now off the menu of vehicles to drive, ride or own (according to my wife and a couple of doctors). As a result, I was trolling on the interweb one night and came across the aforementioned vehicle. Looked nice, description seemed OK, and I knew someone who had serviced one in his business. So, armed with a printout, away I went to pick his brains. He was happy with what he could see in the photos and the description. Some work had been done but not a lot and it was an original looking car. The price he thought was OK as well. Armed with this information I returned home, opened the site, took a gamble and pressed the ‘Buy Now’ button and it was mine! Then it registered, it was in the North Island! How to get it home to Winton?! After some investigating and prices scaring me, a client offered to drive to Christchurch for business to coincide with delivery of the car to there. It was the cheapest option and would be a good fun trip. But then! The seller contacted me, and he had done a deal to get it delivered to Winton for an exceptionally great price! How great you may ask, so great I couldn’t say no. The car was eventually dispatched, after having supplied three alternative commercial delivery sites as the company didn’t, at that time, pick up or deliver to private addresses, and eventually arrived! I was most happy with the condition of the vehicle. No dents or scrapes. Hard top fitted for transport with soft top in the boot. Carpets showing signs of wear but still tidy. Seats with no holes rips or tears. All good. Now where is the ignition and key? Hhhhmmmmm? After poking and fiddling 24
it was eventually located under the steering column! Only the British! A few winds, a bit of choke and brrooommmmm! She burst into life.
Wife and Spitfire (before the Minilite wheels were fitted)
Since purchasing the Spitty, as my wife refers to it, I have had it tuned, carbs balanced, heater hoses connected the correct way. They had been replaced but on assembly they tried to get the hot water to the heater to flow to the heater via the heater outlet! Some people. A sports steering wheel has been fitted, as has a carpet kit, a CD radio and a roll bar. About 8 years ago I purchased a gearbox with an overdrive unit. After that sat in my shed for approximately a year my son-in-law assisted me in removing the gear box from the car in preparation for installing the new unit. Several weeks later the new unit still sat in the shed and the car continued to sit, covered, in another shed, awaiting the transplant. Being unable to lift or hoist the gear box in alone and the son-in-law living in Christchurch I was a wee bit stuck. I had mentioned the transplant to a friend as a wee job for him to complete in his own time. His situation at 25
the time prevented him taking up this request but a few months later things had changed and he offered his assistance. Beauty! So, one weekend he arrived at our lifestyle block with tools and toothbrush in his car.
The Spitty was uncovered, attached to the three-wheeler and towed to the ‘workshop’. Once installed in the workshop and, elevated on axle stands he, and I, lifted, jiggled, juggled, pushed, pulled, swore, laughed, removed, drilled, ground, replaced and eventually managed to get the new unit installed! This triumph was followed up with imbibing liquids of the appropriate kind and a barbeque tea. A relaxing evening sitting in the courtyard of our lifestyle block watching the stars appear and toasting followed and finished off a successful day. The driveshaft required shortening, which was duly completed, along with balancing. This sat for a shorter period of time than the gearbox and was duly installed. Wires and cables were reattached and the battery reinstalled, then with a turn of the key……. Nothing!! Lights worked but that was all. I was not a happy chappy as I hate electrics! You can’t see it, 26
hear it, or smell it [and if you can, it means trouble! Ed] and when you do discover it, it bites! After a period of non-activity after I had checked what I could – fuses and battery, this situation was mentioned to another friend, more knowledgeable than I, who offered to bring his testing gear out and have a look. This offer was gratefully accepted, with no time pressure imposed, just whenever. January of 2018 saw this gentleman and his wife arrive at our lifestyle block in Centre Bush where the car was stored.
Again, fuses and such things were checked first, “Start with the simple” said the man. Eventually the knowledgeable individual crawled under the dashboard to the ignition switch. Removal of a cover revealed a couple of wires hanging loose! Wonder what those are for? A check on the wiring diagram in the workshop manual, re-connected appropriately, turn the key and the engine turned over!!! After checking fuel pump was pumping fuel and waiting for carbs to fill, the motor eventually fired! What a tremendous relief and feeling! A couple of other little items were addressed related to stiff gear lever movement, activation of reverse lights and general tinkering. On this occasion, coffees and fruit cake were enjoyed during the afternoon’s efforts. Since then I have fitted a set of Minilite mag wheels and have begun fettling dents and scrapes in preparation for a repaint. This is a long-term project as a Morris Minor, Austin 7, and boat have moved further up the ‘to do’ list. Maybe more tales to tell in the future? [Yes please! Ed] The Triumph Spitfire Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhbPPVBRhE0 (Continued overleaf) 27
Triumph Spitfire History: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peCdDsJFkMI From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia: Triumph Spitfire The Triumph Spitfire is a small British two-seat sports car, introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962 and manufactured between 1962 and 1980. The vehicle was based on a design produced for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti. The car was largely based upon the chassis of the Triumph Herald saloon, but shortened and without the Herald's outrigger sections. The Herald's running gear and Standard SC engine were also carried over. The Spitfire was manufactured at the Standard-Triumph works at Canley, in Coventry. The bodywork was fitted to a separate structural chassis, but for the opentop convertible Spitfire the backbone chassis' rigidity was augmented by the use of structural components within the bodywork, with the rear trailing arms being bolted to the body rather than the chassis. The Spitfire was provided with a manual soft-top for weather protection, the design improving to a folding hood for later models. Factory-manufactured hardtops were also available. Rod Bell 28
Online Bonuses Official Covid-19 information: https://covid19.govt.nz/ “La Marque”, Lyall & Lenore Bailey’s garden: https://www.southlandgardens.co.nz/la-marque Formula Vee: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_Vee Formula First: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Formula_First_Championship
Rumour, the Southland Branch newsletter: https://www.sporty.co.nz/southlandvintagecar/Rumour-1/2020-1# The Editor 29
Gore Clubrooms Hi David, Visited Neil McVicar.
He had this photo of when they brought the original Gore VCC rooms from Mataura and shifted to East Gore for our first Clubrooms. He wanted you to have it so I took a photo with my phone and said I would send to you. It’s rather cool. I can remember my Father helping with renovating the rooms. Cheers Greg Elder (14 May 2020) [On the back of the photo Neil had written “Cost of Nissen Hut $60.00, Removal $0.00 from Mataura Football Club” Ed.] 30
Spotted! Stewart Quertier and his Stuart Special are featured in the June 3rd issue of The Ensign: https://www.theensign.co.nz/community/owners-1955-racingcar-not-off-the-assemblyline/?fbclid=IwAR3x3y6Ww685BcgzVs9dLeQzJjifhYoiJL_bg kxB9F1sRSaqkkNrMyDUP6A Murray Low is pictured in a story about making bricks out of newspapers in the June 10th issue of The Ensign: https://www.theensign.co.nz/community/little-pigs-notasking-for-bricks-but-making-them/ In the May issue of Dripfeed, the Banks Peninsula Branch newsletter, Jim Bennett, a frequent competitor at the Josephville Hillclimb, writes about his Furi Impulse race car: https://issuu.com/vintagecarclubofnewzealand/docs/32_dripf eedmay?fr=sYjdhNDkzNzA Another frequent Hillclimb competitor, Neil McDonald, has his Formula Vee Monroe Special race car on display in the new VW exhibition at Bill Richardson Transport World:
The Editor 31
This is My Life by Bill Sheddan Hi. Some of you will have noticed that I like writing about rallies or functions that we have participated in. I have been racking my brains on what to write about in the absence of any rallies and have come up with a blank. It surprises me that what I do for enjoyment is of interest to others, especially being a not very good communicator but I do get a sense of satisfaction in passing my feelings (for want of a better word) onto others. Sooooo what to write about since there is a lack of anything worth writing about? In the light of the predicament the world has got itself into, why not write about myself, a topic I am rather familiar with? This pandemic is going to go on for months, years even, so I will try and share with you “This Is My Life” with some memories and highlights from the past 70-plus years, get it down on paper ‘cause, who knows, I might not remember next year, if I am even still around. I was born in Otautau on 01/03/1946 and the first 9 years of my life I was brought up on a little rehab farm at Ermedale, north of Riverton, south of Otautau with my elder sister, Jean, and, latterly, my younger sister, Anne. This farm was situated at the foot of the Longwoods, a native forest block renowned even today as a great hunting ground for pigs and deer. It was also renowned like most forest blocks are as being misty, damp and cold, in fact, bloody bleak most of the time. Our home was an old villa-styled house of the early 1900s era, cold and draughty with a little fireplace in each room plus the old black Orion coal range in the kitchen. Each room had the old 12 foot stud height with scrim and paper lining the walls. This type of wall lining had the effect of magnifying a sound if touched much like the taunt skin of a drum. How do I know this? By listening carefully at night you could often hear a spider crawling up. Turn the light on and there it would be, as big as your outspread hand (of a five-year-old) making its way slowly up the wall and if I looked a bit harder I would find another one accompanied by the screaming of my elder sister. 32
About this time the Korean War started and, as Korea is also a rather cold place in winter, woollen clothes were popular for keeping their troops and the opposing countries’ troops warm and hence alive. I don't pretend to know much about the Korean War except the price of wool went through the roof, closely followed by the price of wool-producing farms. This prompted Mum to convince Dad to get the heck out of there, sell up and shift to a town away from the mist and damp until the price of farms settled down and we could all shift onto a nice block in the Winton/Oreti area. I should reflect on some of the transport my Dad had up to now. My earliest recollection of a car was Dad’s AJS, much like a two-door Morris 8. It was cold, smelly and dusty too on one of the few fine days we went anywhere. The AJS had the dubious nickname of “All Jumps and Squeaks” and it remained that way in my mind till about 20 years later that I found out what AJS really stood for, AJ Stevens. I don’t know what year it was, but the company went into liquidation in October 1931 so it had over 20 years of hard driving on unsealed roads. A quite rare and collectable car now. Dad had been in the Medical Corps during the war and came home with barely two pennies to rub together and was fortunate enough to score a little basic “rehab” farm. When I was very young the AJS was upgraded to a ‘39 Chevrolet sedan which proved to be reliable and a bit more comfortable a drive. Dad liked a clean car and it fell onto my elder sister and me to clean the Chev up a bit before a trip to town. We were not that fussed about the job knowing that our efforts were only going to be reduced to a dirty mess on the way home especially if it was raining. Remember now the only sealed road between Ermedale and Invercargill was Dee Street. ← Dad, Jean and me, about 1950 33
We were promised one day that if we made a really good job of cleaning the Chev it would be the last time we would ever be asked to clean it. Well we accepted the challenge, made an exceptional job of cleaning the mud off her, cleaned up the wheels, even cleaned the mud off the running boards and that was that, with the promise of no more cleaning the Chev we were pretty pleased with ourselves. �Me, about 1952, with the Chev sedan
Dad went to town that morning and later that evening up the drive glided a strange looking car, a green 1949 Ford single spinner as we call them nowadays. Dad was especially chuffed with this car even when it was proven to have most of its life wrung out of it before he bought it. What a let-down. Here was our new car, not a Chev, a Ford, twice the size and twice the cleaning! I recall one little burst Dad gave the ‘49er up the Ringway Straight, between Fairfax and Otautau, 95mph on the swinging speedo needle followed by the smell of hot oil dripping onto something much hotter. A smell I am still very familiar with having played around with old cars most of my life. This was the car that we had when we shifted to George Street, Invercargill. The neighbours had the opinion that the old man was a retiring well-heeled farmer when the opposite was much closer to the truth. He wasn't retired or well-heeled. Dad was a born salesman. Before the war and after he left his family farm at Aparima he sold Electrolux vacuum cleaners door-to-door with considerable success. I remember when were still at the farm rummaging through old boxes of papers and records coming across papers from a correspondence course on selling and salesmanship that Dad had completed, so he had some grounding in the sales trade.
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Dad’s first job after shifting to town was at Andrews & Bevan in their Parts Department, while I was plodding along at primary school keeping my head down and taking in everything around me. This was a huge learning curve after the total roll of thirty-odd kids at Fairfax School. Things that stand out in my mind from then were the weekends when we helped Dad trim the hedges that were on three sides of our section and the lighting and burning of those heaps of wet Escalonia hedge clippings and the smoke they made. It was not only us having a smoke up but neighbours for miles around had their fires going also. The smog from the clippings and other rubbish with its peculiar smell used to hang around for a day or two after each weekend. School holidays were a great time to look forward to as I had several uncles and aunties with farms which I was dispatched to mainly around the Otautau - Scotts Gap area. Unbeknown to me there was an overriding “condition” on these vacations. What's he like on the farm? Dad here thinking I was going to be interested in farming. Alas I did not fare well. One uncle had a Morris ute that was the farm hack and rather a nice one too. In first gear I could do tight skiddy circles and if I was quick enough spin the wheel the other way and do a neat figure 8 in the middle of the greasy paddock. I was impressed but my uncle was not. Another cousin had a Villiers motorbike which I loved riding round the farm. One day it ran out of juice so I pushed it back to the tank stand next to the house where there was a tin of petrol. I splashed a bit of petrol mostly in the tank and kicked the bike over when “Whoosh”, up she went. I grabbed a couple of old sacks and put it out but was left a bit shaken when I realized how close I was to putting the whole shooting box up! Another time on a different farm there was the old derelict remains of a house. I had an air rifle at that time and liked to give the nesting starlings hell. I ventured into the ceiling of this old empty remains of a house one day to chase starlings and in the dim light I lined up a starling sitting on this box stored there. I was about to pull the trigger when a cold shiver came over me and I put the rifle down. The starling knew I was there and hopped away but I put up the rifle again and was about to discharge into 35
the box when I got this cold shiver again and the word “DON’T” in my mind. Something wrong here so I crawled over to look at the box to see on the side warning signs from the manufacturer and goo like half-set jelly oozing out of the box. The word “DYNAMITE” was written on the side of the box….. Bill Sheddan (To be continued…..)
Gore VCC Supper Roster 2020/2021 July
Keith Nunn
August
Beb Kennedy
September October November December January February March
Denis Knight Matt Cook To be advised To be advised To be advised To be advised To be advised
April
To be advised
May
To be advised
June
To be advised
IF YOU ARE UNAVAILABLE ON YOUR ROSTERED NIGHT, PLEASE ARRANGE YOUR OWN SUBSTITUTE. We need to cater for about 30 to 40 members each night. The cuppa and serving of the supper is to be arranged within the Social Committee. If necessary, ingredients and/or small items can be bought at Gore New World and charged to the Gore VCC account.
My thanks to those who have come forward. If the month you are listed for doesn’t suit let me know so I can rearrange them or you can work with another person on the roster to swap. Des Brewster
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There is also a Winter Roadie competition running as follows: Be in to win your money back and $300 fuel You can’t get better value than free. So if your members book and travel from now until the end of August they’ll automatically be in to win the cost of their ferry fares back plus $300 Z fuel. There will be four lucky winners – one per month from May to August. They just need to sail by the end of August. Each monthly draw will include everyone who has booked during that month. Terms and conditions apply. It is our way of thanking Kiwis for supporting us as we rebuild . 38
COOKERY CORNER Nutty Energy Balls Take 1 cup rolled oats 1 cup coconut Half cup chocolate chips 1 cup dates soaked in boiling water for 10 minutes & drained Blitz these in whizz until smooth Then add ½ cup peanut butter ⅓ cup honey ½ cup LSA 1 teaspoon vanilla Mix again and roll into balls Linda Nunn
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ADVERTISEMENTS WANTED A member asks if anyone knows how to treat old and thick pre-war vinyl upholstery to make it more supple and prevent cracking? This stuff is reasonably thick imitation leather. Responses to the Editor please: telephone David North 021 1723281 or email northd14@gmail.com FOR SALE FORD rug hand made by local member. Luxurious thick pile, dark blue and white, must be seen to be appreciated – available for viewing at the Clubrooms. Approx. size: 105 x 50cm (41 x 20 inches) $400 with $200 to go to Gore VCC. Contact Gerry Kennedy 027 233 4634 FOR SALE Expressions of interest are invited for 4 Firestone tyres, size 6.00 x 20 inch in good order and suitable for split-rim wheels. Contact Garry Mulqueen 03 208 9232
FOR SALE and WANTED advertisements are free to Club members. Each advertisement will be published in 3 consecutive issues. Please contact the Editor
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FOR SALE on behalf of the Gore Branch 1930-32(?) side-valve Oakland V8 motor Has been in dry storage for the past 40 or so years. Surface rust. Turns over. Complete with manifolds, starter motor, fan blade, generator, water pump, flywheel & clutch. No carburettor, distributor or front crank pulley.
Enquiries and offers to: The Branch Chairman, Greg Elder, telephone (03) 202 5710 or email elderlea@xtra.co.nz 41
Newsletters from other branches Most of the other Branch Newsletters are now posted on the VCC Website each month: www.vcc.org.nz/news-from-our-branches A handful of branches still send us printed copies and these are displayed on the stand in the Library. Most of the others are received by email as pdf files or links to the online versions. These can be obtained on request from the Editor or the Secretary.
Tailpiece [This got my brain working‌‌.How about you? Ed.]
Sent in by both Stewart Quertier & Evan Henderson 42
Run reports, articles of interest, photos, technical tips, letters and feedback are always welcome. Please send all contributions to David North
before the 21st of each month for inclusion in the next Wiper If you don't have a computer I can type up a hand-written article or put your notes or jottings into shape for The Wiper. If you prefer I can even take notes as you talk to me and write up the story for you - I am always ready to help so just let me know how! e-mail: northd14@gmail.com physical and mail: 4 Trotter Street, Riverton 9822 telephone (mobile) 021 172 3281 Remember that insuring your vehicle(s), boat(s), house(s), contents or travel with Vero Insurance and quoting the branch number (300135) results in the branch receiving a commission payment Please support our advertisers so that they, in turn, can continue to support the Branch The opinions and statements in The Wiper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or views of the Gore branch or of the VCC. The branch accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any statements. The Wiper is printed by i-Cue 10 Wood Street, Invercargill. Telephone (03) 218 3350 43
GORE BRANCH VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND INC.
WAIMEA STREET, PO BOX 329 GORE
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