Manawatu VCC - September 2020 by Vintage Car Club of New Zealand

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) The September Club Night Meeting is a combined meeting with the Central Hawkes Bay Branch - see pages 4 & 5 of this Tourer. PARTS SHED Open from 2 pm on the first Sunday of each month or by arrangement. - contact Gary Millar. LIBRARY Open by arrangement - contact Gary Millar. SUNDAY TEA 1st Sunday of each month from 5.00pm at the clubrooms. NOGGIN & NATTER 1st Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm at Murray’s Irish Bar - Feilding. 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 Cover: Bulls meet up for the run to Neil Farrer’s birthday in Wanganui. Back Cover: Photographs from the Sunday Run to Wanganui.

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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HIS SSUE

PAGE 4 8



– VOLUME 1816

Coming Events Chairman’s Chat

Secretary’s Scribbles

Club Captain’s Corner

Swap Meet 2020

Report from the VCC National Executive Meeting and AGM

Manawatu Branch Vintage Rally Entry Form

Letter to the Editor

Condolences

Bits and Pieces from Bygone Days - Prehistory of the Motor Vehicle

The Zillion Dollar Radio

Tourer Trivia

Parts Shed

Notice Board and Messages to Members

Branch Committee and Appointed Positions - 2020/2021

Photographs in this issue of the Tourer have been contributed by Karl Gilchrist, Peter Hardy and Bryan Abraham.

CLOSING DATE FOR THE NEXT TOURER – 20TH SEPTEMBER 2020 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

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OMING

VENTS

SEPTEMBER 6TH

(Sun)

8TH 16TH 20TH

Sunday Tea at Clubrooms - Bring your own drinks, nibbles and tea

Central Hawkes Bay - Daffodil Run to Taniwha - starts @ Waipukurau (Tue) Noggin & Natter – 7.30 pm at Murray’s Irish Pub Bar, Feilding (Wed) Combined Club Night with Central Hawkes Bay - see below and page 5 (Sun) Vintage Rally - NOTE DATE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED - Entry Form and further information in this Tourer

OCTOBER 3RD

(Sat)

Swap Meet - information and roster on pages 12 and 13 of this Tourer

4TH

(Sun)

Sunday Tea at Clubrooms - Bring your own drinks, nibbles and tea

6TH

(Tue)

Noggin & Natter - 7.30 pm at Murray’s Irish Pub Bar, Feilding

Targa Time Trial - OCTOBER DATE IS CANCELLED - see page 5

NOVEMBER 20TH

>21

21st (Sat) 22ND (Sun)

Taranaki Branch - 55th Annual Maunga Moana Rally - see August Tourer Central Hawkes Bay - Veteran Rally Horowhenua Branch - Tararua Trundle - see page 6 of this Tourer

APRIL 2021 24TH

>26

Highland Fling Rally - BOP - see page 7 of this Tourer

JANUARY 2022 16TH >21ST Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring - New Plymouth.

CLUB NIGHT – 16TH SEPTEMBER 2020 The September Club Night is the annual Combined Branch Dinner / Meeting with the Central Hawkes Bay VCC Branch.  This year there will be two guest speakers.  The cost of the dinner is $30.00 per head (see menu below). If you are going to attend this meeting please advise Cliff Bennett no later than Thursday 10th September – on 021 2837 088 – or email cliffbennett@xtra.co.nz Page 4

BUFFET MENU for the Combined Branch Dinner & Meeting with the Central Hawkes Bay VCC Branch 

Roast Beef

Dannevirke Services and Citizens Club Inc.



Cold Meat Platter (Chicken & Ham)

1 Princess Street - Dannevirke



Tossed Salad



Roasted Potatoes



Baked Kumera



Baby Carrots



Peas



Served with Gravy



Dessert – Apple Shortcake & Cream

Meet at/after 6.00pm for drinks & chat Meal commences at 6.30pm Raffle tickets @ $2.00 will be on sale on the night

- Pavlova, Fruit Salad & Cream

ARGA

AMILY

It is with a heavy heart and realisation we announce that the Targa NZ event due for October 2020 will not be able to run on the set dates. Given the recent COVID-19 Level 3 restrictions around the Auckland region and the Level 2 restrictions across the wider country, we are not able to continue with the resident consultation process scheduled at this time to meet the requirements set out by the local councils from whom we obtain the road closures. Added to this is the delay of the election to the 17th October, which now falls within the planned event dates. The effect to the wider communities trying to get out to vote on the day means that a number of the roads we have applied for which encompass facilities, such as schools being used as Polling Booths, are now no longer available. There is always a degree of uncertainty around any election as customers wait to see the outcome before committing to any business investment or expenditure, let alone any time for fun, and this has never been more evident than now with the added disruption to businesses that COVID-19 has caused. We are currently looking at alternative dates that could work. However, with the speed with which the COVID-19 virus can return and with the long lead times required by councils for road closure applications to be processed, we are not yet in a position to set an alternative date that we can be confident will eventuate. As we obtain more clarity we will keep you informed, but in the meantime we ask you to bear with us during these uncertain times and stay safe and strong as we all plan a way forward. With this in mind, we would appreciate your input in the following survey to assist us with setting dates for the next event. Peter Martin - Managing Director

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IGHLAND

LING

ALLY

24TH – 26TH APRIL 2021

NEWSLETTER 18 August 2020

Information

As I write this short update our largest city is currently in Level 3 lockdown, while the rest of us are abiding to Level 2 rules. A bit of a cliché I know, but we really are living in uneasy times and all trying our best to stay upbeat and project calm, without having any idea from one day to the next what the outlook is going to bring us. In the meantime, with trepidation we must all remain positive, and carry on as best we can with the planning of our future motoring events. Therefore, the organisers of the Highland Fling Rally have great pleasure in confirming to you the Highland Fling Rally is scheduled and booked in the VCC ‘Calendar of Events’ to take place Anzac Weekend 2021! My joint ‘Organiser Extraordinaire’ Alastair Jones sends this very positive message to you all.

…”It has been most heartening to receive such a large number of emails and phone-calls of encouragement urging us not to give up on running “Highland Fling,” and many of our erstwhile entrants even asked to leave their monies with us until next year. No doubt this was to ensure they had a place in the “Fling” There was even quite a number who asked whether it was possible to reschedule it to later 2020, since the thought of having to wait until 2021 was a bit much to bear. On that note we didn’t consider it possible to fit it into an already jam-packed motoring event calendar, and as well late Autumn delivers superb colours, which are bound to captivate the considerable number of the ‘tender gender’ who have indicated they will be attending. All this preamble is to assure you it will be Anzac Weekend in 2021 even if we only have NZ entrants. Inevitably this dreaded virus has had an effect in a small way on our accommodation providers in Taihape as one of the smaller providers has been bought by the Government, for emergency housing, and Taihape Motels has been sold by Con (the Greek) who was such a good supporter of car club users, but alas to no avail the new owner is keen for a booked out weekend! There was an initial concern that lack of business at our Saturday lunch-stop bought about by canned tourism might cause them to shut-up shop, however, they seem to be made of backcountry “hardiness” and are hanging right on in there. On that, not all who would have been involved this year have been told we will be back at the same time next year and keener than ever because of having to wait. With the long wait through “lockdown” I am sure your time will have been well spent in going over your vehicles which will eliminate all involuntary stops” ... So, there you have it folks, watch this space, because we will be endeavouring to do our very best to make sure this event happen is going to happen. By the end of September, you will receive the Entry Form and another Newsletter. And for those members who were as keen as mustard last time to be sporting the new exclusive Highland Fling apparel, (caps and polo shirts,) I will include with the Entry Form a separate order form with the ordering details etc. In the meantime, please look after yourself and your loved ones, and most importantly, stay healthy. If you have any queries regarding the Fling, please do not hesitate to contact AJ or myself. Cheers - ‘Your Highland Fling Team’ Alastair Jones (aka AJ) – Co Organiser and BOP VCC Member Kaaren Smylie – Co Organiser and North Island Club Captain (NICC) Kaaren Smylie NICC – kaaren@smylie.co.nz 021 66 43 41 or 07 576 4180 and Alastair Jones BOP VCC – gandajones@kinect.co.nz 07 576 1124

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HAIRMAN S

HAT

ALLAN HARDACRE

A short state of the nation: After the somewhat worrying lack of members putting their names forward for the committee a number of us, perhaps lightly fuelled by a beer or two at the Feilding Noggin and Natter, decided that the Manawatu branch could not be allowed to go into recess or worse dissolution. So, after a bit of a chat a group of us decided to try to put the rest of a committee together with one resounding resolution; WE WERE NOT GOING TO RUN A WEDDING VENUE we were going to run a vintage car club. Now, the Manawatu Branch is at a bit of a watershed. We have significant assets/liabilities, an ageing membership and ageing clubrooms and probably neither have been fully maintained over the years. Since the construction of the clubrooms in the early 1980’s the family with children side of the club has changed to a more mature group. The once rapid growth of the members is now slowly shrinking and the need for a large facility catering for upwards of 100 people for rallys and the midwinter and Christmas dinners is no longer required. Increasing maintenance costs and the need for funds to cover these has meant that much of the members subs and income from the swapmeet has been spent on maintaining a wonderful facility which now has relatively little club-oriented use. We will report on the “state of the club” in November. It is envisaged that this will be done with input from experienced club members and others if necessary. This report will include possible costs for building maintenance over the next 5 years and likely income from hire of the facility as a wedding venue. To cast the net as widely as possible, members are invited to individually, or in groups to submit concepts for the club as they would like it to look in the future. Whatever your gut feeling is, consider the implications carefully, are you prepared to help form a committee? Are you prepared to make a yearly commitment to more working bees to maintain buildings and grounds? And, do you want a high proportion of subs and swapmeet income to be spent for the benefit of other users of the clubrooms or would you prefer it to be spent on member activities. Possible future scenarios are: 1.

To run the club as it currently operates with a commitment to running a wedding hall hire business to help fund maintenance and operational costs of the clubrooms. Page 8

Chairmanâ€™s Chat Continued

To sell off part of the land and the main building and build a separate, smaller, low maintenance meeting room down near the parts shed. Possible conditions associated with this scenario will be presented in future issues of the Tourer.

To sell off the entire facility and hold club-nights and if necessary, committee meetings in a walk-in walk-out hired venue possibly with bar and dining facilities. The financial return from selling the existing facility would pay for the hirage, tea/coffee, all rallys, subsidise tea meetings and reduce club fees to a nominal amount. The swap meet could still run, possibly income from this could be used for the welfare of some of our ill and less able members.

It is proposed that submissions and reports will be presented by the committee at the November club-night and a simple Yes/No vote will be taken on whether to sell the clubrooms. To vote, members will have to be present at this meeting. If the vote is to retain the clubrooms, then those members wishing to retain the rooms will likely have to find new committee members at the latest by the May AGM. The current Chairman, vice chairman, secretary and treasurer have indicated that they are not interested in running a club where most of the members funds and committee effort is involved with maintaining a building for little benefit of the members. There is no intention to hold the members to ransom by this statement and the named offices of the club will freely and without prejudice retire their positions to new officers with a commitment to maintaining the clubrooms. We all ask, whatever the outcome of that meeting, that all members abide by the November decision without rancour and come together to enjoy the motoring and camaraderie offered by the club. Allan Hardacre (Chairman)

Members: Please make your succinct written submissions regarding your support for retaining the clubrooms or selling them to Our Secretary - Ian Rowden ianrowden@gmail.com Page 9

ECRETARY S

CRIBBLES

IAN ROWDEN

Day1 of my new life as your Branch Secretary and I am presented with my first task, to initiate the award of a 50 Year Badge for Bob Pettigrew. What a privilege. The following comments are not made as your Secretary but as an individual member. I went to the AGM hoping that someone else would nominate for the position of Secretary. It was not to be. As pointed out by Past Chair Stan the Branch was in limbo with four “executive” positions all vacant; and if this continued the Branch must cease to operate and probably be wound up. The premises would be sold and the proceeds given to some worthy organisation. I and others believe that our main problem is the burden which the clubrooms impose on us. Too many resources of volunteer time and money are wasted to keep a facility which we no longer need or use sufficiently. The alternative to a forced sale is to control the disposal of the clubroom ourselves and this is why I nominated for the committee. I expect it to investigate this and other options and I expect that the majority of members will want to sell. Selling the clubrooms will provide benefits and opportunities which do not exist now. The volunteer hours will be slashed. We can concentrate on motoring. The interest on invested funds will enable us to have free rally entries, a very low levy and enjoy serviced premises with better amenities. The benefits of membership will increase; the burden will largely disappear. I believe that disposal of the Clubrooms will give the Branch a new lease of life and guarantee its future. This view was largely supported by unsolicited comments at the SGM. If sufficient Branch members resist the tide of change they will have to find among themselves the officers to run the Branch. There has been no sign that there are enough such members any more. Where were any nominations to require an election? Whatever transpires as we go forward, every member is invited to participate in the investigation and of course take part in the voting. If you have a view or a query, email me to ensure that your concern is addressed within the deliberations. ianrowden@gmail.com And….be kind. Ian Rowden Page 10

LUB

APTAIN S

ORNER

ESTHER WILLIAMS

Apologies from Esther for not preparing a report this month, but the following are the points from the Club Captain’s report that she presented to the Special General Meeting on the 19th August. (Ed)  There were nineteen cars registered for the Post Covid-19 Rally.  The September Monthly Meeting will be a combined meeting with the Central Hawkes Bay VCC Branch and will be held on the 16th of the month at the Dannevirke Services and Citizens Club. (Further information on this is on page 4 and 5 of this Tourer).  The meeting was advised that the Branch Vintage Rally which has previously been promoted as being Saturday the 19th September has been moved to Sunday 20th September. This was done because 19th September was to be Election Day for the country - and although this has subsequently been moved we are now committed to the 20th with the lunch stop venue.  The Horowhenua Branch Daffodil Day outing has been cancelled.

PCOMING

HED

AID

We recently started up the 3rd 1912 Peerless engine that we have made. This was the biggest car engine in the USA for 1912 at 830 cu in. This event will be notified by email so if you are aren’t receiving emails from the club and wish to see this engine before it goes to the USA please contact me. Also restoring a ’28 Packard and ’70 Datsun Coupe. John Callesen 0274 413913 Page 11

WAP

EET

CO-ORDINATOR - SARAH HOWELL

SWAP MEET POSITIONS With the Swap Meet rapidly approaching we are starting to look for volunteers to man the Kawakawa Road and South Street gates, and to fill the other roles. The roster is on the next page. Thank you to everyone who has put their names forward. Please help fill the remaining slots - if you are able and willing to give ninety minutes of your time on the 3rd of October to be a collector at either of the gates, or volunteer for any of the other roles, please let me know by calling me on 021 0885 3483 or 06 374 6645. Sarah

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WAP

Kawakawa Road Gate

EET

CTOBER

TIME

NAME

6:45 8:15

Cliff Bennett

Goff Briant

8:15 9:45

Mike Clifford

Trevor Hardy

OSTER NAME

(sellers gate)

9:45 10:15 South Street Gate (buyers gate)

7:45 9:15

Alistair Howard

9:15 10:45

Rob Eason

10:45 12:15 Set Up Friday Clean Up

Rob Eason

Brian Worboys

2.00 3.00

Parking Show Cars: Parking Cars in the Stadium:

Brian James

Jack Olynsma

Derekâ€™s Team

Spare man: Fire Wardens: Putting out signs: KawaKawa Rd Gate: South St Gate:

John Ireland Entry Fees are $20.00 for sellers and $10.00 each for any adult passenger. Children are free.

Entry Fees are $10.00 per adult. Children are free.

Thank you all for volunteering your time. It is most appreciated. If you have any problems please ring me: 021 0885 3483 Sarah Howell Page 13

EPORT FROM THE ATIONAL

XECUTIVE

EETING

BRANCH DELEGATE - SARAH HOWELL

VCC NZ National Executive Meeting and AGM 14th - 16th August 2020 Held at Kingsgate hotel Wanganui Report by Manawatu Branch delegate Sarah Howell Due to Auckland being under lockdown and other Covid-19 restrictions, this year’s AGM and associated Executive meeting had a lower attendance than usual, but Wanganui Branch pulled out the stops for an interesting weekend. The executive meeting commenced at 7:30 on Friday 14th of August. There were a lot of apologies. Matters arising from meeting held in 2019 - In conjunction with the AGM: (no March meeting):

No legal advice about the health and safety checklist has been taken as this list will not be compulsory. David Yorke’s 2016 presentation has been sent to all branches a number of times. Draft Branch Constitutions: a template was sent out to branches (Manawatu discussed this document in detail at a Club Night). Amendments to this template – there needs to be a clause about Common Seals. Branches and the Club are not to include brackets around the word “Inc” Correspondence:

There was a letter enquiring about the management of branch spares with a request for recommendation of a data base. Don Muller (Archivist) advised that the data base that he uses can be adapted for this. There was a letter suggesting that VCC produce business cards as a form of advertising. Waikato Branch already use these with space for a member’s name and contact details. The 2020 Membership list was approved. Budget: The national subs remain the same. The 2021 executive meeting will be held at Miramar on the 20th of March. Delegates must attend for the whole day. Future events:

There are two bids for the 2023 National Motorcycle Rally: Southland and Canterbury. Southland plans to hold their event in conjunction with the Burt Munro Challenge which draws lots of spectators and participants. Canterbury withdrew their bid. Printed Calendar of Events: publication of this has been delayed because some branches have not yet had their AGM. The Calendar of Events will go out with the January issue of Beaded Wheels. The deadline for sending a list of events to National Office is 25th Sept 2020 Online Membership: Presentation by George Kear

George put forward a notice of motion which is an extension of David Yorke’s work regarding making initial joining of the Club able to be done online. This notice of motion requires a change to the Club constitution as it will not be compulsory to have a nominator and seconder. The notice of motion will be circulated to branches for discussion. Branches will have until the 30th of April to make submissions and the matter will then be voted upon by the members by postal vote. Page 14

National Executive Meeting & AGM Continued

GENERAL BUSINESS: Contact Tracing:

All branches need to be using some form of contact tracing whether the QR code or manual lists of names and phone numbers. This needs to be done for all branch events: runs, rallies, spares, club nights etc Health and Safety:

Branches have a duty of care to provide a safe environment for members. A safety check list should be carried out whilst setting rallies. Health and Safety needs to be on committee agendas so that it is documented that any concerns have been addressed. The template Health and safety Plan is section 43A of the Branch Manual. Meeting adjourned at 9:35pm Saturday 15th AGM 9am

Welcome by Mayor of Whanganui Stirring speech by founder Andrew Anderson about the need for the Club to work as a team of 9000 Matters Arising from previous AGM:

The Historic Racing Licence is a multi-choice open book test which needs a 100% pass rate. Rosalie Brown has taken over administration of the Facebook page and group. Rebranding: It was intended that this would be discussed at the March exec meeting but this did not happen because that meeting was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. Sample logos will be presented for discussion at the March 2021 Meeting. It was stressed that the Club is not considering a name change – it is just the logo that is under consideration. Presentation to Rod Brayshaw – Life Membership

Rod was elected as Registrar in 1996. He worked on developing the Vehicle Identity Card and instigated a travelling road show in 1998 -1999 to explain the concept to branches. The first VIC was issued in 1999. Rod has had a long term connection with LTSA which led to VCC being recognised as The Historic Motoring Authority in NZ. Rod attended FIFA meetings in Europe and in 2016 was appointed to FIFA Technical Committee. Rod attends LVVTA meetings and is always willing to help members with applying for VICs. Rod’s award of Life Membership was greeted with a long standing ovation. Election of Officers

Michael Lavender did not seek re-election as Secretary /Treasurer. Christopher Leith has been elected to this position. All other positions on the Management Committee remain the same. Reports

Received from: National President, Secretary /Treasurer, Registrar, South Island Club Captain, North Island Club Captain, Beaded Wheels, National Speed Steward, Archivist, NZ Federation of Motoring Clubs, Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring, Twenty-Five/ Thirty Five Year Badges, VCCNZ Facebook. (I have copies of these reports if anyone is interested).

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National Executive Meeting & AGM Continued Presentation to John Coomber – Life Membership.

John has been on the Management Committee for 21 years. Insurance:

A presentation by a member of the exec: warning members to ensure that their vehicles are covered when they are in transit and at a repairer’s premises. Members are advised to check that parts that have been removed from a vehicle are covered (eg an engine at an engine reconditioner’s workshop). 50 and 60 year Badges:

To date two 70 year certificates have been awarded and forty nine 60 year certificates and three hundred and fifty five 50 year certificates. 50 year award applications need a citation and include the proposed time and place that the award will be presented. Strategic Plan – Diane Quarrie

New initiatives include bulk email messages from the President to all members. Beaded Wheels has been distributed electronically for the first time and the Management Committee has held zoom meetings. A review has been commenced with the aim of updating systems and processes to future proof and streamline the National Office. John Goddard Trophy

This was presented to Don Muller for his dedication to the Archives. Don spends an enormous amount of time digitalizing the material held at the Archive. Presentation to Julie Cairns-Gee

A presentation was made to Julie from National Office for 25 years of service to the VCC. General Business:

VCC has been approached by some clubs wishing to join the Club but not lose their own identity. Planning for the 2021 National Motorcycle Rally in Masterton is well underway. The Targa Rally will be a two day event based in Auckland. Waikato Branch is looking at setting up a separate group for “performance cars” ie those that can keep up with traffic. Disposal of parts: one branch wants to know if there is a nationwide policy for this. 2021 AGM – It was suggested that this be a three day event incorporating a rally as it is the Club’s 75th Anniversary. Meeting closed 1:05 pm Executive Meeting reconvened: It was suggested that the National Vintage Only Rally take the form of a 2 day tour. Sunday 16th of August: Delegates were transported in members’ cars to a very interesting private collection and an aircraft collection and were treated to a flying display. A fantastic lunch at the Clubrooms wound up a very well planned three days with great hospitality from Wanganui Branch. Thank you to the organising committee. Page 16

Starting from the Clubrooms Sunday 20th September 2020

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COPY OF ENTRY FORM FOR ENTRANT TO RETAIN

MANAWATU BRANCH

Sunday 20th September 2020 Vehicles from all VCC Vehicle Classifications are welcome       

Meet after 9.15 am at VCC Club rooms for a tea / coffee before the rally. The briefing will be at 9.45 am with the first car away at 10.00 am. The route includes 1km of unsealed road. The rally is approx. 80 miles / 130 km return to Palmerston North. Bring your lunch - or there will be opportunity to purchase lunch en-route. There is an opportunity to purchase petrol en-route. There will be two routes - one for Vintage Classification vehicles and one for all ‘other’ vehicles

ENTRANT : ........................................................................................................................................... ADDRESS : ………………………......................................................................................................... TELEPHONE : ( ..... ) .....................................

EMAIL : ..................................................................

NAVIGATOR : ....................................................................................................................................... VEHICLE MAKE & MODEL : ................................................................................................................. YEAR OF MANUFACTURE : ............................ RALLY ENTRY :

REG. PLATE No : ......................................

$10.00

PAYMENT OPTIONS :  Internet Banking 

▪

Cheque attached 

Bank Account Number is 030718 0027253 00 / Cheques to be made payable to the ‘Manawatu Branch VCC’

RALLY ROUTE PREPARED BY : Cliff Bennett : 021 283 7088 ENTRIES TO : ▪ Esther Williams, 12 Hollows Crescent, Palmerston North 4412 : Ph (06) 3585155 or 027 2432 7275 ▪ Email e_williams @xtra.co.nz

ENTRIES CLOSE: Monday 14th September 2020

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COPY TO DETACH AND FORWARD TO THE CLUB CAPTAIN

MANAWATU BRANCH

Sunday 20th September 2020 Vehicles from all VCC Vehicle Classifications are welcome       

EMAIL : ..................................................................

REG. PLATE No : ......................................

$10.00

PAYMENT OPTIONS :  Internet Banking 

▪

Cheque attached 

Bank Account Number is 030718 0027253 00 / Cheques to be made payable to the ‘Manawatu Branch VCC’

RALLY ROUTE PREPARED BY : Cliff Bennett : 021 283 7088 ENTRIES TO : ▪ Esther Williams, 12 Hollows Crescent, Palmerston North 4412 : Ph (06) 3585155 or 027 2432 7275 ▪ Email e_williams @xtra.co.nz

ENTRIES CLOSE: Monday 14th September 2020 Contact the Editor if you would like a PDF copy of this Entry Form emailed to you.

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Page 20

ETTER TO THE

DITOR

Manawatu Vintage Car Club 2030? All our members need to be aware our newly elected Committee are divided on the future of our Manawatu branch. Our new Chairman is seeking a vote from the full membership to decide whether to sell the Kelvin Grove property in November this year. Officially the committee members are voted in for 12 months and a long term plan may benefit all of us. Should the committee have a 10 year Club Plan first? Most of us will be still here in 10 years and hope to be driving our old vehicles here in NZ. The main building now generates enough income to be self-supporting financially as our 2020 Balance Sheet shows. Of course we are a Motoring Club as our name shows, but how hard is it to appoint a Property Sub Committee to deal with any property details? We are in the 21st century now and should move with the times. Most members own old eligible club vehicles, property, plus available funds and know which asset is the most valuable to them. How about replacing the Bunk House with a Training Workshop for younger and prospective members to pass our skills on to? The FULL pros and cons of this proposal need to be aired and discussed by all members before a vote is called or actioned. We look forward to seeing you all at the November meeting. Brian and Deirdre McPherson.

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ONDOLENCES

A note from Ron and Josephine Persson It is with a sad heart we record the passing of â€œGentleman Motor Mechanicâ€? David Williams. Josephine and I did 2 North Island Tours and 2 South Island Tours with David and Esther. Great memories. The packing of the Plymouth was all the tool boxes in first and the rest of our gear packed around them. Out on the road David would never drive past someone who looked like they were having a mechanical problem. He was a top problem solver as anyone who has had Dave put on his overalls and get his head under the bonnet will acknowledge. If he had a bigger car he probably would have had a gas plant and vice and anything else he might need. It has been a tough month for Esther and family looking after Dave at home but he still enjoyed lots of visitors and being part of the conversations. Sincere Condolences to Esther and Family. Page 22

ITS IECES FROM YGONE AYS THE ‘PREHISTORY’ OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE – THE CUGNOT STEAM VEHICLE & OTHER EARLY VEHICLES

FROM THE ILLUSTRATED

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AUTOMOBILES & WIKIPEDIA

Man’s search for some form of motive power to replace the horse goes back over 300 years - clockwork, wind power and elaborate clockwork gearing were all tried before the power of steam became tractable enough to be used to drive a vehicle. But initially it was not too successful. French Army Captain Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot (1725-1804) was one of the first to successfully employ a device for converting the reciprocating motion of a steam piston into a rotary motion by means of a ratchet arrangement. The oldest surviving self-propelled vehicle was Cugnot’s 1769 ‘steam dray’ which owes its preservation to the fact that on a trial run it ran amok and knocked down a wall. The Cugnot was specified to be able to carry four tons and be able to cover about 4¾ miles in one hour, a performance that it never achieved in practice. The vehicle The original 1769 model – displayed in the Conservatoire National weighed about 2.5 des Arts et Metiers in Paris tonnes tare, and had two wheels at the rear and one in the front where the horses would have normally been. The front wheel supported a steam boiler and driving mechanism. The power unit was articulated to the ‘trailer’, and was steered from there by means of a double handle arrangement. One source states that it seated four passengers and moved at a speed of 2¼ miles per hour. The vehicle was reported to have been very unstable owing to poor weight distribution, a serious disadvantage for a vehicle intended to be able to traverse rough terrain and climb steep hills. In addition, boiler performance was also particularly poor, even by the standards of the day. The vehicles fire needed to be relit and its steam raised again, every quarter of an hour or so, which considerably reduced its overall speed and range. After running a small number of trials, variously described as being between Paris and Vincennes and at Meudon, the project was abandoned. This ended the French Arm’s first experiment with mechanical vehicles. Page 23

The Pre-history of the Motor Vehicle Continued

Even so, in 1772 King Louis XV granted Cugnot a pension for his innovative work, and the experiment was judged ‘interesting enough’ for it to be kept in the arsenal. It was put into store and survived the French Revolution and in 1800 it was transferred to the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers in Paris where it has been a major exhibit there ever since and can still be seen today. The first known motor vehicle accident is reports of a minor incident in 1771 when the second prototype of the Cugnot vehicle is said to have accidently knocked down a brick or stone wall.

Two hundred and forty one years later, in 2010, a copy of the Cugnot was built by pupils at the Arts et Metiers in Paris. The replica worked perfectly, proving that the concept was viable and verifying the truth and results of the 1769 tests. The Cugnot was followed by a number of even less practical designs from optimistic French, English and American engineers, and it was not until 1801 that the first successful road carriage appeared. This was the work of the Cornish mining engineer Richard Trevithick and led to his London Carriage of 1803 which made a number of successful runs in the capital before it was dismantled to power a hoop rolling mill. Trevithick lacked the staying power to perfect either this or his other great invention, the railway carriage. He was succeeded by a lunatic gaggle of inventors who proposed machines driven by articulated legs, tiny railway engines running in a drum like squirrels, compressed air, gunpowder and ‘vanes, or fliers, like the sails of a windmill’. Johann Hautsch of Nurnberg devised the curious clockwork carriage (illustrated right) in the seventeenth century. Between 1820 and 1840 came a golden age of steam, with skilled engineers devising and operating steam carriages of advanced and ingenious design; men like Gurney, Hancock and Macerone all produced designs which were practicable, capable of achieving quite Page 24

The Pre-history of the Motor Vehicle Continued

lengthy journeys and operating with a relatively high degree of reliability. Walter Hancock, a better mechanic than a businessman, operated his steam coaches on regular scheduled services in London in the 1830s, but was rooked by his associates, and eventually called it a day after 12 years of experimentation had bought him little more than unpaid debts and the hostility of those with vested interests, who, fearing that the steam carriage would prove a threat to the thousands whose livelihood depended on the horse, promoted severe tolls on the turnpike roads. An 1831 Parliamentary Commission, though largely favourable to the steam carriage, failed to prevent such injustices, and the final blow to the builders of steam carriages came with the advent of the The Walter Hancock Steam drag of c1830 railway age. James’s steam carriage (illustrated right) was one of the better road carriages of the early 1830’s. Railway engines, running on smooth, level rails, had none of the problems experienced by steam carriages running on uneven, badly maintained roads, and this newer form of steam carriage soon eclipsed the steam carriage - even though legislation which restricted the speed and operation of steam carriages was not enacted until 1863 when it was deemed that all ‘road locomotives’ should have a man with a red flag walking ahead. It was the advent of the bicycle in the 1860s which revived touring by road. Page 25

Page 26

ILLION

OLLAR

ADIO

- BY KARL GILCHRIST

Recently I contemplated the financial black hole of vintage car ownership and how something simple can quickly transform into the monumental. So for your amusement (and my embarrassment) I am going to detail my latest project-upgrading the radio in my 1934 Ford. It starts really simply - on our last Deco trip Andrea commented how she would like the Glovebox back in the V8 for storage. The car is fitted with a restored Glovebox Valve radio which takes out the glovebox. Ford offered two radios in 1934 the Glovebox Radio and The Ashtray radio - The radio head for the latter being inserted in the ashtray recess in the dash. Since we don’t smoke (heaven forbid) fitting an ashtray radio seemed to make sense and Andrea would have her Glovebox back. Also I figured I could upgrade the radio internals to give me FM and AM stations as a diet of Radio Rhema and National radio which is all I can find on AM does grow a bit thin ! Sounds easy right well it isn’t Problem # 1 - The Ashtray radio was never released down under and in fact was never even made in RHD form. The unit fitted under the Left hand cowl above the Steering column (on LHD). The unit was connected by cables to an ashtray head unit. The cables all attach on the right hand side of the unit i.e. the unit can’t be mounted on the right as the connections would be on the wrong side. Would it fit under the Glovebox? Some internet research and yes it would (No$) Problem #2 - I didn’t have an Ashtray Radio they do come up infrequently on Ebay in the States and I managed eventually to get one having missed out on a few ($$$ plus $150 DHL freight and $200 Duty to get it here) Problem #3 - The Radio had to go back to Florida For Gary Tayman to convert it to Solid State AM / FM / Bluetooth / MP3 (and lots of other stuff) yet keep it looking and sounding original right down to the original valve warm up sound. Gary was $$$$ but what really hurt was DHL charged me $430 to send it back after charging me $150 for the same journey in reverse - They were unable to justify the different price. Page 27

The Zillion Dollar Radio continued

Problem #4 - The radio came back $150 Freight again and Customs wanted to charge me another $200 Duty. Eventually after about 30 emails they waived the Duty (Phew No $) Problem #5 - The Dash board in my car is a Standard Dashboard. Standard Dashboards didn’t come with an Ashtray Cut Out. Deluxe Dashboards have the cut out. The Service manuals come with a template to allow you to cut out the correct size hole. I wasn’t going to cut up my original dash => I needed a Spare dash. RHD 34 dashes for sale aren’t common. I found one $$$$ It needed de rusting and repair $$ Problem #6 - My copy of the service manual is a reprint and not of original size hence the Template is the wrong size. Needs expanding on a photocopier to fit the reference points on the dash (Choke and Throttle knobs) Hours++ but no $ Problem #7 - The dash board needs painting. Deluxe was Woodgrain Burl (nice!). Standard was plain (well plain) - Lets Woodgrain it - I’ll save some $$ and do it myself Buy the Grain-it kit from the States $$$ Plus duty $$ Plus Freight $$ - I am happy I have spent $$$$$$$ but will save $$ Problem #8 - If the dash is woodgrain then the window surrounds and garnishes all have to be woodgrain. Since I want to be able to put it back to standard I need a set of Garnishes for a Deluxe 1934 Ford Last set I saw was US$3000. Find a set on trade me $$$$ Needs Blast and Paint $ and repair $ - I woodgrain them I’m glad I brought that kit !!

Page 28

The Zillion Dollar Radio continued

Problem #9 - The Woodgrain kit has issues. Itâ€™s the original process that was used at the factory. But some of the important components come in aerosols and canâ€™t be shipped internationally. I need to source them here. They are hard to find but we get them finally. The kit involves transferring an ink print onto a base colour (normally one of the aerosols) - No one can give me a paint code for the base colour. We match it off internet photos. The process is difficult but I get better. We are not as hot as Georgia where the kit comes from so the quoted ink dry time of 2 days is more like 2 weeks. Touch it within this time and it smudges and you have to do it again. Putting it our sauna for 3 days at 80 degrees C seems to fix that problem. Power $$ Problem #10 - I do the process in the kitchen. The mahogany Ink that refuses to dry and smudges off for 2 weeks on the dashboard seems to dry solid on our white kitchen joinery within 30 seconds. I am in the dog-box. Andrea is not sure now she needs a Glovebox ! Problem #11 - I go to install the radio and I find that that the cables connecting the head to the unit are far too long and replacements resulting in lots of slop in the controls. I'm getting annoyed now - Find a head on Ebay with original cables - Buy the b****dy thing $$$ Freight $$ Duty $$ Only to find that one of the ends of the cable is broken-the seller in Bumfluff Arizona missed that in his Ebay description ! - I use bits off one of the old cables to repair the recently brought cable - have a spare head and a too long repo cable that sort of works and one that doesn't if anyone is interested ??? Problem #12 - COVID comes and it all becomes irrelevant (if it wasn't before) - The only good thing being the $$$$$$$$$$$ spent pale into insignificance as my superannuation is in freefall - Having survived (so far) I will return to the project one day. Please don't ask about my radio unless I bring it up. Article and Photographs by Karl Gilchrist Page 29

OURER

RIVIA

Unfortunately, again this month, no winner as there were no caption suggestions submitted for the photograph (right) which was published in last month’s Tourer.

MAKE YOU FEEL OLD ? 1965 – It became compulsory for all new cars and light trucks to be fitted with seatbelts. Drivers’ tests were standardised and comprised a practical test and written and oral questions. 1971 – On October 26th, steam traction on New Zealand’s railways came to an end. The last scheduled steam trains were the overnight Christchurch > Dunedin expresses hauled by Ja-class locomotives. However on December 21st, the Kingston Flyer vintage steam train went into service on the Lumsden to Kingston branch line. 1972 – In June the wearing of seatbelts was made compulsory in the front seats of most vehicles which were first registered after January 1965. In January 1965 it became compulsory to wear seat belts in vehicles first registered after January 1st 1955. 1975 – In August the changeover to metric speed limits took place officially. 1979 – In November the wearing of seat belts in all seating positions in new cars was made compulsory.

Page 30

ARTS

HED

GARY MILLAR

The Manawatu Branch of the VCC is committed to helping you with the restoration and ongoing maintenance of your valued vintage & classic vehicle, endeavouring to maintain a supply of quality second hand tools and parts covering all ages and types of early vehicles. Any time is a good time to declutter your sheds and you and your friends are invited to donate any unwanted old car and motorcycle parts to the branch so that we can trade them onto vintage enthusiasts who are looking for that rare part needed for completing a restoration or keeping a car on the road. At the Parts Shed all parts are priced to move off the shelves. Gary looks forward to assisting you with finding that unusual, rare and valuable part or tool which will help you restore and maintain your pride and joy. Contact Gary on (06) 354 8298 - or email gw.millar@hotmail.com

SCRAP METAL COLLECTION A large bin for disposal of old scrap metal including your old (clean) household tins etc. is located on the eastern side of the main parts shed (i.e. between the two parts sheds). Money raised from the sale of scrap helps with the ongoing maintenance of the clubrooms and parts sheds.

IBRARY

GARY MILLAR

The Club Library is located upstairs in the main function hall at the club rooms. There are sections on Veteran, Vintage, Post Vintage, Post War Vintage, Post 60â€™s and Commercial vehicles; a comprehensive section on technical topics; and a large number of general books. The Library is available for you to view on club nights or by arrangement with the librarian: - contact Gary on (06) 354 8298 - or email gw.millar@hotmail.com Page 31

OTICE

OARD

NAME BADGES NEW MEMBERS should contact the branch Secretary, to organise to collect their free name badge. EXISTING MEMBERS should contact the branch Secretary, to arrange a replacement for a lost or damaged badge - at cost. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ‘THE TOURER’ Because the Tourer is the Magazine for your branch – it is your magazine. Should you come across anything that you think could interest your fellow members - or if you wish to contribute an article on any of your motoring projects (past or present) - or your recent participation in runs or events with other branches, please do not hesitate to send it along with any photographs which you may have, to the editor. BRANCH EMAILS Have you been receiving notification emails from our Club Captain and from our Secretary ??? There is an ongoing effort to keep all members right up to date with happenings that they may be interested in – especially in the weeks between publication / release of the Tourer. If you have not been receiving these email notifications it will be because we do not have your email address on file, or because you have chosen to keep your details confidential. Either way, if you want to get on the list, then please advise your details to manawatu@vcc.co.org Members can be assured of confidentiality as the emails are released using the Bcc field meaning that email addresses are suppressed from other recipients. 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 32

Page 33

VINTAGE CAR CLUB VEHICLE CLASSIFICATIONS VETERAN: VINTAGE:

Motor Vehicles constructed prior to 31st December 1918. Motor Vehicles constructed between 1st January 1919 and 31st December 1931.

POST VINTAGE : Motor Vehicles constructed between 1st January 1932 and 31st December 1945.

POST WAR :

Motor Vehicles constructed between 1st January 1946 and 31st December 1960.

POST 1960 :

Motor Vehicles constructed between 1st January 1961 and 31st December 1980.

POST 1980 :

Motor Vehicles constructed after 1st January 1981 provided that no vehicle is accepted for this class until January 1st of the year that is thirty years after its original year of construction.

FACTORY BUILT & HISTORIC RACING VEHICLES : as described in the Club By-laws.

PERIOD SPECIALS : as described in the Club By-laws. 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 34

ANAWATU

RANCH

IRECTORY

BRANCH COMMITTEE Chair

Immediate Past Chair

Allan Hardacre (Suzanne) akhardacre@gmail.com 06 356 8322

APPOINTED POSITIONS Swapmeet Sarah Howell (Ian) Coordinator iansarahhowell@gmail.com 06 374 6645 Editor

Position vacant

Bryan Abraham (Catherine) bryana@xtra.co.nz 06 358 4014

Vice Chair

John Callesen (Judy) valhallaseed@xtra.co.nz 06 357 0192

Bldg Supervisor, Gary Millar (Marion) Custodian & gw.millar@hotmail.com Librarian 06 354 8298

Secretary

Ian Rowden (Esmee) ianrowden@gmail.com 06 356 7871

Delegate

Sarah Howell (Ian) iansarahhowell@gmail.com 06 374 6645

Treasurer

Ian Boag ian.boag@gmail.com 06 357 2677

Beaded Wheels Scribe

Bryan Abraham (Catherine) bryana@xtra.co.nz 06 358 4014

Club Captain

Esther Williams e_williams@xtra.co.nz 06 358 5155 : 027 243 7275

Parts Shed

Gary Millar (Marion) gw.millar@hotmail.com 06 354 8298

Vice Club Captain

Cliff Bennett (Jenny) cliffbennett@xtra.co.nz 06 356 3383 : 021 2837 088

ID Card Advisor

John Ireland (Anne) ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz 06 323 4170

Committee John Allomes Member jd36@xtra.co.nz 06 357 1760

ID Card Advisor

Ron Persson (Josie) ron.persson@gmail.com 06 354 5266

Committee Rob Eason Member r.eason@xtra.co.nz 06 355 4204

Privacy Officer

Committee John Ireland (Anne) Member ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz 06 323 4170

Welfare Officer

Position vacant Ron Persson (Josie) ron.persson@gmail.com 06 354 5266

Committee Brian Worboys (Merrel) Member bworvoys@slingshot.co.nz 06 328 7849 Page 35

HOTOGRAPHS

- FROM THE JULY RUN TO THE WANGANUI VCC BRANCH The meet up at Bulls before heading off on a pleasant run to the Wanganui Branch clubrooms for Neil Farrer’s birthday celebrations - via SH1 and through Fordell.

Laurie Cocker in his 1906 Cadillac was one of the Manawatu Branch vehicles which went to Wanganui independently from the main group.

The cake is the give-away that Neil is quite passionate about all things Bees -

(as well as vintage cars of course).

Ian and Sarah Howell headed to Wanganui a little earlier than the main group from the Manawatu and were in time to participate in a short competitive run before the ‘birthday celebrations’. They were one of the five winning teams which received a prize and are pictured with Neil after the presentation of their spoils.