ANAWATU RANCH EWSLETTER
RANCH NFORMATION BRANCH DETAILS CLUBROOMS ‘The Grove’ - 684 Kelvin Grove Road, Palmerston North POSTAL ADDRESS P.O. Box 385, Palmerston North 4440 EMAIL manawatu@vcc.org.nz COMMITTEE MEETING Second Wednesday of each month - 7.00 pm at ‘The Grove’. CLUB NIGHT Third Wednesday of each month (except January) - meet from 7.15 pm at ‘The Grove’. Meetings start at 7.30 pm. LIBRARY Open by arrangement - contact Gary Millar. NOGGIN & NATTER 1st Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm at Murray’s Irish Bar - Feilding. PARTS SHED Open from 2 pm on the first Sunday of each month or by arrangement. - contact Gary Millar. SUNDAY TEA 1st Sunday of each month from 5.00pm at the clubrooms. BOOKINGS FOR ‘THE GROVE’ VENUE Can be made through Creative Catering, Awapuni Racecourse. Phone (06) 354 2780 or Email : info@creativecatering.co.nz COVER PHOTOGRAPHS: Front and Back Covers: Parked up outside the clubrooms before the 2021 Veteran Rally.
MANAWATU BRANCH LIFE MEMBER
Murray Martin
THE TOURER : New Zealand Registered Magazine. The Official Newsletter of the Manawatu Branch of the Vintage Car Club of NZ Inc.
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N
HIS SSUE
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– VOLUME 1821
Coming Events
5
A Note from the Vice Chairman
6
Club Captain’s Corner
7
Letter to the Editor
9
Veteran Rally Report
11
Photographs - the 2021 Veteran Rally Entrants
16
Photographs - The Veteran Rally Cars parked up at the mid-morning Museum stop.
17
Photographs - The Veteran Rally Museum visit.
18
Two Rare Cars at the Manawatu Veteran Rally 1915 GWK Sports Roadster 1903 Holley Motorette
20
Bits and Pieces from Bygone Days
21
Swap Meet Committee
21
Tourer Trader
22
Event Notices - other Clubs and VCC Branches
27
Branch Committee and Appointed Positions - 2020/2021
Photographs in this issue of the Tourer have been contributed by Bryan Abraham.
CLOSING DATE FOR THE NEXT TOURER – 20TH MARCH 2021 Please send your contributions on rally reports, your motoring stories, restorations, technical reports, articles, photos etc., to : The Editor – 81 Apollo Parade, Palmerston North 4414 Email : bryana@xtra.co.nz - or phone : (06) 358 4014
The opinions or statements expressed in letters, articles, trip reports etc. which appear in this magazine are the views of the author of that letter / article / report and are not necessarily those of the Committee or Members of the Manawatu Branch of the Vintage Car Club of NZ Inc. The Committee reserves the right to refuse material it does not consider suitable for publication. Page 3
OMING
VENTS
REGULAR MONTHLY CLUB ACTIVITIES
1ST Sunday
Tea at Clubrooms - from 5.00pm - bring your own drinks, nibbles & tea
1ST Sunday
Parts Shed - open between 2.00pm and 5.00pm
1ST Tuesday
Noggin & Natter - 7.30pm at Murray’s Irish Pub Bar, Feilding
3RD Wednesday Club Night (except January) - meet after 7.15pm - meeting starts 7.30pm MARCH 2021 TH
(Sat)
Ruahine Ramble - the entry form was on page 17 of the February Tourer
10
TH
(Wed)
Working bee at the clubrooms - see details on page 6 of this Tourer
27
TH
(Sat)
Kimbolton Sculpture Festival - see details on page 6 of this Tourer
6
APRIL 2021 18TH (Sun)
Branch Outing - either a Café run or picnic - details closer to the time
MAY 2021 1ST
(Sat)
PV - PWV - P60 - P80 Rally - the entry form will be in the April Tourer
JUNE 2021 19
TH
(Sat)
Twilight Rally -
SEPTEMBER 2021 18
TH
(Sat)
OMING
Vintage Rally -
VENTS
THER
RANCHES
LUBS
MARCH 2021 12TH
>13
TH
27th National Motorcycle Rally - ph 021 732 832 for entry form. Also see page 22 of this Tourer. (there will be an After Rally tour from 15th - 18th March)
12TH
>14
TH
Lake Taupo Country Roads Rally - enquiries to 027 232 4866
20
TH
26
TH
(Sat) >27
TH
Horowhenua Branch VCC - Annual Swap Meet - see page 22 of this Tourer 56th Annual Maunga Moana Rally - New Plymouth
ph 06 751 5554
MAY 2021 1ST (Sat)
Central Hawkes Bay - Twilight Rally
OCTOBER 2021 25
TH
>30
TH
Targa VCC Time Trials - dates for 2021 - see page 22 of this Tourer
JANUARY 2022 16
TH
>21
ST
Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring - New Plymouth. Page 4
OTE FROM THE
ICE
HAIRMAN
BRIAN HALCOX
Thinking Ahead: I know our AGM is not until May but this is an early reminder that we must give this important occasion in our club calendar some serious thought. The following positions will need to be filled. CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIRMAN SECRETARY TREASURER CLUB CAPTAIN and a committee member. As you can see there are a lot of vacancies to fill in order for the club to continue functioning effectively. These positions need to be looked upon as a 12 month minimum commitment in order to prevent another year like we have just experienced. MEMBERS. This is YOUR CLUB and to keep it running successfully stability and confidence in its committee is absolutely essential. As members we all share a common interest which is the reason why we pay our subs, attend meetings or other club functions. We must look forward not back, learn from the past and therefore be able to go forward with a positive attitude. We may all be surprised by what could then be achieved. A club that has not only dissension but also a ‘them and us’ attitude will not succeed in uniting members for a common cause. It will however contribute to the slow but sure destruction of a club. Please think about YOUR clubs future. Our club has been in existence for many years and we have too much to lose. I am sorry having to write this way but like the elephant in the room if the current situation is not addressed I can see we will struggle to get a good and united outcome for all. Back to committee vacancies. Hopefully many of you will be prepared to seriously think which way the club is headed this would then ensure our main revenue gatherer, our very successful swapmeet will not be in jeopardy. With the right people in charge of a co-ordinated club we should be able to continue on for many years for the enjoyment of all. Brian Halcox, Vice Chairman.
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LUB
APTAIN S
ORNER
ESTHER WILLIAMS
The Veteran Rally was a great success with a big thank you to Derek Haycock and helpers. Thank you to those that turn up to help at the Working Bee even with the weather against us. Look forward to seeing a lot of the members out on the 6th and 27th March.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 6th March 2021 Ruahine Ramble. Meet at club rooms at 9:15am with Briefing at 9.30am. First car will be away at 9.45am. We are going to have lunch at a pub at your expense. There will be afternoon tea for free. 10th March 2021
Working bee at club rooms start around 9.30am with (BYO) lunch if you would like to stay on until 2.pm. We will be doing garden maintenance and sheds tidying. Please bring your own tools. 27th March 2021 2021 Kimbolton Sculpture Festival. Meet at the Feilding railway station at 8.30am. Bring own lunch or you can buy food out there. It is good and one way for the club and members to show off their cars. We have been asked to do a parade at 10.00am. 18th April 2021
Will be café run or picnic weather dependent. More details closer to the time. 1st May 2021 Manawatu Branch PV - PWV - P60 - P80 Rally. Please keep this date in your diary free. More details in the next Tourer.
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ETTER TO THE
DITOR
BRUCE DYER
To the Members of the Manawatu Branch of the VCCNZ As many will know at the last committee meeting I resigned as chairman and Diana resigned as secretary of the Manawatu branch of the VCC. Since this meeting an email has been circulated citing our reasons for resignation as, quote, “Reasons given concern the difficulties of working with complex systems which require too many members becoming involved in rectifying problems”. This statement is INCORRECT. When I took on the chairman’s role I knew very little of the branches issues other than to say that they seemed to revolve around the branch property. To get a better idea of the affairs of the branch I did a preliminary review of the branch finances, the clubrooms/ property and the constitution in an effort to identify where current and future issues may lay. 1. Finances. Here I focused on the profit and loss statements as sent to the NZ Incorporated Societies Office for the last 20 years and in particular the hall hire was looked at as if it was its own business unit. 50% of overhead costs (including maintenance) were allocated to the hall hire operation and the other 50% to members.
Calculating the profit / loss of the hall hire operation this way revealed that the hall operation is losing over $3000 per annum. To put it another way, over the 20 years the hall hire has income of $112767 and costs of $176252. Some may argue that allocating a portion of overhead costs to the hall hire operation is incorrect as the branch owns the building / property and any monies spent is also for the benefit of members and the branch is a club not a business. To a point this maybe correct however if you don’t match income and costs how do you workout if an activity is profitable or not. I am not saying that the hall hire income isn’t important to the branch because it is but after 20 years and a huge amount of work by some members I would’ve thought that the hall operation should be subsidising members not the other way round. Page 7
Letter to the Editor Continued
2. Clubrooms and Property
In the October 2020 issue of The Tourer (page 14) the previous committee published a list of jobs to be done and costing’s with the total being in the range of $111000 to $120000 (I believe the branch currently has about $80000 cash available). While the list is helpful it is possibly incomplete and therefore low in its dollar estimates as it focuses mainly on the clubrooms whereas future spending may also be required on other buildings and the infrastructure of the site. Obviously for planning the future of the branch property and the costs associated with it, information that is as complete and reliable as possible needs to be obtained and to achieve this I would recommend having independent reports prepared. The type of reports I would suggest would be full in-depth reports covering, property, infrastructure, buildings (full investigation - not just a walk around), fittings and appliances, etc. The advantage of this approach is that the committee/members can plan the properties future expenditure requirements, the downside is that it will probably cost several thousand dollars. So why did I resign? There are several reasons behind it but the main one is that in my view the branch will continue to be run in much the same way as it has been in the past and I see no future in that. Given what the branch records have shown and the November 2020 property sell vote I think it is pretty clear that change is needed for the branch to progress. Personally I like the idea of the branch having a home of its own, providing it makes financial sense and doesn’t become a burden and source of discontent.
Yours sincerely Bruce Dyer
ASY
IDERS – PART 2
WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE
APRIL TOURER Page 8
ETERAN
ALLY
EPORT
ALLAN HARDACRE
Veteran Run, 7th of February 2021 It always amazes me what blokes with sheds will get up to when their wives don’t interfere (or perhaps mind) too much. On the veteran run this year Derek took us to Steve Wards recently constructed shed of truly man cave dimensions with the luxury trim of a loo and a fridge … and a lot more. By some accounts over 6000 number plates and yes, we all looked, but could not find any belonging to any of our previous rides. Then add the pale-yellow Capri, black and lime green (?????) Cadillacs, clearly Elvis had left in disgust sometime earlier. A Silver Pigeon scooter and a circa 1930 Fargo truck under restoration. Add to this about another million oil cans, advertising signs and other memorabilia. From there, we motored happily over to Dennis and Judy Milnes house for lunch and an examination of the nearly completed 1913 Austin 20 that Dennis has been working on. Our thanks to Dennis and Judy for hosting us and the many cups of tea supplied to the hot and thirsty vintagents and ladies on the run. After some more tropical rambling through the sun-drenched Manawatu countryside, we arrived at Lethenty House in Bulls. Lethenty was named for the woollen mill in Scotland that other members of the Wilson family owned. It was the New Zealand families homestead and the farmland they owned around Bulls supplied wool to the mill in Scotland. The original 1874 homestead burned down and this was replaced by a mixed Georgian/Arts and Crafts style in 1915. Although much of the original furniture was destroyed in the original fire an amazing range of beautiful antiques and oriental rugs were saved. The interior of the house has been kept in character over the years with original wallpapers and floors and is a true slice of history. Thanks very much to Andrea for a tour of this impressive property. After a restorative ice-cream in Feilding it was back to the clubrooms for questions, a mini gymkhana and a regulation beer and barbie with the stayers. It was great to catch up with our mates from Wanganui, Horowhenua and Southern Hawke’s Bay again and thanks to you guys and gals for coming out to play with us. Your good scribes’ performance at question time was left wanting but congratulations to Rob and Scarlett McKenzie and the rally organizers FATHER and SON for coming second!!! Thanks again Derek and Becs for a great day. Page 9
Veteran Rally Report Continued
We were …. - Len, Roan and Gladys Haycock 1916 Chevrolet, - Allan and Suzanne Hardacre 1915 Dodge, - Peter and Doug Wilton 1917 Model T, - Geoff and Diane Quarrie 1915 GWK, - Laurie Cocker 1906 Cadillac, - Neil Farrer 1914 Rover, - John and Judy Callesen 1915 Cadillac, - Gavin and Vivienne Harris 1918 T, - Pete Johns 1911 Wolseley, - Tony Prebensen and Mike Stewart 1903 Holley, - Dale and Jenny Conlon 1912 New Pick, - Peter and Suzanne McCool 1917 T, - Tom Clouston 1906 Darracq, - Rod and Scarlett McKenzie 1913 T, - Ian and Fay Chamberlain 1906 REO.
Allan Hardacre
Above - The rally cars lined up at the clubrooms prior to departure
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HOTOGRAPHS
THE 2021 VETERAN RALLY ENTRANTS
1932 Chevrolet BB Confederate Pickup
(the only one on the road in New Zealand)
Veteran Rally Organiser Derek Haycock
1915 GWK Sport Roadster Geoff and Diane Quarrie
1906 Darracq Tom Clouston
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1903 Holley Motorette Tony Prebensen & Mike Stewart
1911 Wolseley 16/20 Peter Johns
1906 REO Ian and Faye Chamberlain
Page 12
1917 Ford Model T Roadster Peter and Doug Wilton
1906 Cadillac Laurie Cocker
1917 Ford Model T Roadster Pickup Peter and Suzanne McCool
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1913 Ford Model T Roadster Rod and Scarlett McKenzie
1916 Chevrolet Model 490 Convertible Len Haycock with grandson Roan and granddaughter Emilie
1918 Ford Model T Sports Car Gavin and Vivienne Harris
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1912 New Pick Dale and Jenny Conlon
1914 Rover Delivery Van Neil Farrier
1915 Dodge – Allan and Suzanne Hardacre
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HOTOGRAPHS
THE VETERAN RALLY CARS PARKED UP AT THE MID-MORNING MUSEUM STOP
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HOTOGRAPHS
THE VETERAN RALLY MUSEUM VISIT
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WO
ARE
ARS AT THE
ANAWATU
ETERAN
ALLY
Both of these cars were entrants in the Manawatu Veteran Rally, and last year were at the CHB Branch November Veteran Rally and ‘Picnic in the Park’. The ‘Hawkes Bay Today’ newspaper (26 th November 2020 issue) reported that these two cars are so rare that there is only five of each remaining in the world.
1915 GWK Sport Roadster - see the photograph on page 11 of this Tourer The GWK was a British car made in Maidenhead, Berkshire, between 1911 and 1931. It got its name from its founders, Arthur Grice, J Talfourd Wood and C.M.Keiller. These cars were unusual in that they used a friction drive system. The GWK used a two cylinder rear mounted Coventry-Simplex engine. The drive system involved the engine, which was mounted across the chassis, turning a disk on which a wheel could be moved from the periphery to the centre. Top speed was with the driven wheel furthest from the centre. Reverse was selected by moving it past the centre. After a few examples were sold the company moved to Buckinghamshire in 1912. After this move proper production started with GWK continuing to use the 1045cc twin cylinder, water-cooled, Coventry-Simplex engine. 1069 two seat cars were made before the outbreak of World War 1 when a move was made to the larger Cordwallis Works in Maidenhead in 1914 when the company undertook war work. The original engine was retained after World War One, although was soon replaced by a Coventry-Climax fourcylinder engine of 1368cc. Grice left the company in 1920 to start the unsuccessful ‘Unit’ car company, 1913 GWK 8hp two-seater leaving Wood and Keiller in charge. Wood and Keiller reintroduced the pre-war model, now called the Type E, and a further 82 were made largely from left over parts. A new model, the Type F was introduced in 1919 and was front-engined continuing to use the Coventry-Climax four-cylinder engine but with a shaft drive to the friction disk at the rear. It was not a good seller partly because of the noise from the transmission. The Type H overcame most of the drive line problems but suffered from the reputation of its predecessor. About 1700 of the Types F and H were made between 1919 and 1926. The company did not give up on the idea of a rear-engined car and the Type J appeared in 1922 but only a few were sold. The final car was the Type G of 1930. Page 18
Two Rare Cars at the Manawatu Veteran Rally Continued
1903 Holley Motorette – see the photograph on page 12 of this Tourer Holley is a name well known to hot-rodders because of the Holley Carburettor Co. Few people realise that Holley made attempts at building a motorcycle and car early on in the company’s history, before George Holley settled down to supply Henry Ford with carburettors for the iconic Model T. From these roots came the automotive aftermarket giant that exists today. George M. Holley was born at Port Jervis, N.Y. in 1878. After he got out of school he devoted his life to car, motorcycle and carburettor making. Following a move to Bradford, Pennsylvania, George and brother Earl began tinkering with foundry work. They learned how to make wood patterns and green sand castings to build a single cylinder engine. By the time that George was 19 he had designed and built a three-wheeler, single cylinder buggy that could go 30 mph. In 1902 the brothers put together their first 4-wheel runabout. The small but handsome car was bright red with shiny metal trim. It was called the Motorette and its manufacture marked the start of Holley Motor Company. The Holley Motorette sold for $650. It had a vertically-mounted water-cooled single-cylinder engine up front and weighed about 850 lbs. It featured a two-seat Runabout style body with a shovel nose front that had six slanting louvres on its sides and four louvres in front. Brass-coloured stripes that taper at the front flanked the upper edges of the hood. The Motorette’s bright red finish was set off by other brass trim pieces, such as a cabinet-style handle for lifting the hood, brass side lamps on the cowl, a brass inspection plate on top of the hood, a brass ornament on the outside of the dashboard, a brass steering column and brass hubcaps. A set of four 26 x 2.12 black sidewall tyres were fitted. The steering wheel and brake pedals were on the right. Two pedals were brass and the brake pedal was black. There was a single brass carbide or gas-fueled taillight on the right side. The exhaust pipe and muffler under the car were aluminium finished. Historical accounts say that Holley made “over 600 cars”. Their single cylinder, water cooled, cast iron engines put out a modest power. Holley was one of the few automakers who chose not to guess at horsepower, nor exaggerate it. Tests revealed that the 630cc Motorette engine developed 5.26 hp at approx. 1500 rpm. It had a 3½ inch bore and a 3½ inch stoke. In 1902, the Holley brothers switched from car making to carburettor making as suggested by Henry Ford. Page 19
ITS
IECES FROM
YGONE
AYS
From: 50 years of Popular Mechanics - 1903
BLACK RIDE In 1903, the Hawke’s Bay Motor Co. commenced service using a double-decker Straker bus for the eight kilometre run to Taradale. But the service was short lived. All of the passengers were covered with a liberal coating of soot by the end of the drive and the Straker was taken off the road. From: The New Zealand Book of Events
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WAP
EET
OMMITTEE
SARAH HOWELL
The Branch needs to form a committee to organise the annual Swap Meet which is held in October. Please contact Sarah Howell 06 3746645 by the 31st of March if you can help on this committee. Thank you Sarah Howell - Swap Meet Co-ordinator.
OURER
RADER
BUY, SELL & EXCHANGE
A recently received email in the branch mailbox: From: "Wendy" <wocallaghan@xtra.co.nz> Sent: 15 February 2021 11:13
BEDFORD TRUCKS: Hi, This may be a long shot but I am looking for information regarding anyone who may be interested in rescuing some old Bedford Trucks. They are not in great condition but I would prefer to see them go to someone with an interest rather than the scrap yard. Please be aware I am asking on behalf of a person who has no internet/computer so it may take a while to respond to any questions you may have. Items are located in Wanganui area. If you can help with this or point us in the right direction it would be very much appreciated. Regards Wendy O’Callaghan
MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS FROM ALL VCC BRANCHES ARE ONLINE To see the Newsletters online and in colour go to www.vcc.org.nz then go to News from our Branches. Page 21
VENT
OTICES
OTHER CLUBS AND VCC BRANCHES
A bit small to read ? - contact the Tourer editor if you would like any of these flyers emailed to you.
Page 22
National Release: 4th March Check your local cinema for times.
Trash 2 Dash follows Dean Hart as he chased a land speed record here in New Zealand. Pre-view screening at Event Cinema Downtown Palm Nth - 3rd March at 7pm
with Wayne Johnson and Special Guest Dean Hart for a question and answer session directly afterwards.
YouTube trailer link for Trash 2 Dash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIPb_hwMKZE
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ANAWATU
RANCH
IRECTORY
BRANCH COMMITTEE
APPOINTED POSITIONS
Acting Chair
Brian Halcox (Patricia) dazaway5@gmail.com 06 326 9654
Custodian & Librarian
Gary Millar (Marion) gw.millar@hotmail.com 06 354 8298
Immediate Past Chair
Bruce Dyer (Diana) b.dyer@xtra.co.nz 027 871 3536
Delegate
Sarah Howell (Ian) iansarahhowell@gmail.com 06 374 6645
Vice Chair
Brian Halcox (Patricia) dazaway5@gmail.com 06 326 9654
Editor (Tourer)
Bryan Abraham (Catherine) bryana@xtra.co.nz 06 358 4014
Actg Secretary Sarah Howell (Ian) iansarahhowell@gmail.com 06 374 6645
ID Card Advisor
John Ireland (Anne) ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz 06 323 4170
Treasurer
Sarah Howell (Ian) iansarahhowell@gmail.com 06 374 6645
ID Card Advisor
Derek Haycock (Becky) derek.and.beck@inspire.net.nz 06 356 1056
Club Captain
Esther Williams e_williams@xtra.co.nz 06 358 5155 : 027 243 7275
Idle Torque
Vice Cliff Bennett (Jenny) Club Captain cliffbennett@xtra.co.nz 06 356 3383 : 021 2837 088
Parts Shed
Gary Millar (Marion) gw.millar@hotmail.com 06 354 8298
Committee Member
David Murray
Privacy Officer
Sarah Howell (Ian) iansarahhowell@gmail.com 06 374 6645
Committee Member
Rob Eason r.eason@xtra.co.nz 06 355 4204
Swapmeet Coordinator
Sarah Howell (Ian) iansarahhowell@gmail.com 06 374 6645
Committee Member
John Ireland (Anne) ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz 06 323 4170
Assistant Swapmeet Coordinator
John Ireland (Anne) ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz 06 323 4170
Committee Member
Brian Worboys (Merrel) bworvoys@slingshot.co.nz 06 328 7849
Welfare
Committee Members
Bryan Abraham (Catherine) (Beaded Wheels) bryana@xtra.co.nz Scribe 06 358 4014
06 323 8340
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HOTOGRAPHS
- LINED UP READY TO START THE VETERAN RALLY