The
Distributor
December 2019
The North Otago Branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Inc.
Chairman’s chat I don’t need to tell you that Christmas is bearing down on us like that frightful truck in the suspense/horror movie “Duel”. You know it’s chasing you…and you know it’s gunna get you! No escape. So to take the fright out of the Impending Doom, there are some fun activities coming up at the club. Stay tuned. The Christmas Raffle is proving to be a huge success, so purchase some tickets from Lee, Gilbert or one of the team. The raffle will be at Countdown on the 14th December, and the Windsor Rally, so plan to do your groceries and go on the Rally with a few extra readies in your pocket. Tis the season to spend your hard earned cash…and we’ll be happy to lighten your load! Our goal is $1000 raised and we are almost ¾ of the way there…all funds go to the club. December Club Night will be a BYO Potluck…time to roll up your sleeves, put on your pinny and show off your culinary skills. A casual affair of the gustatory sort, bring a full plate and an empty stomach. Safe drinking will be encouraged so we can have fun but still get home in one piece. On another note, the swapmeet was a resounding success with well over $3000 raised and another $420 from the Parts Department. We still need to subtract costs, but the success of the event is testament to the dedication and camaraderie of our willing and bloody good-looking volunteers. Steven Hinds on the gate…what a hunk of a man! And all his chesty mates with him; a feast for the eyes of the weaker sex! Where am I going with this?? Nowhere I hope. Ladies, stay calm, it will all happen again next year! Speaking of the Spares Department, they are putting on a BYO BBQ on the 2nd December starting at 11:00 am. Spares has become a strong part of the Club; they number about 10 on any given Monday, continue to raise funds and have a great social time over a cuppa and the occasional movie. They are also doing some overdue maintenance work around the place and personally, I’d like to thank them for all their input from the bottom of my heart and vice versa. That’s all from me; just remember the Reason for the Season, and keep your loved ones close. Thank you, all of you, for all your dedicated hard work and for showing up to events. Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year! Peter.
Secretary’s Christmas Greetings I take this opportunity to wish you Peace & Joy this Christmas Time. The first week of December is a busy one for the Branch with a BBQ, Pot Luck Dinner and Windsor Rally, I look forward to meeting with you during that time Regards Kathleen
Club Captains Report The Swap meet has been and gone for another year. This year looked to be a pretty good year with more sites sold and great weather to back it up. At the committee meeting it was decided to put a little more effort into the “show and shine” aspect of the day as there were a number of vehicles on display which then left late morning to participate in the Victorian Parade. The committee will also look into adding an afternoon run for participants in the Show and Shine to round out the day. The Club Christmas Raffle also did well with a good number of tickets sold following on from a day selling at New World North end and then at New World South on the 22nd. The raffle will be sold at the upcoming Windsor rally with another day at Countdown scheduled for 14th December after which it will be drawn. Thanks to our two champions sellers and to all those that donated to the raffle prize. The parts dept is holding a Christmas BBQ on the 4th December, All welcome. Sausages supplied BYO drinks. Looking to start about 11.30am. Next Club night is also our Christmas function with a pot luck dinner at the club rooms, Email to be sent out to remind everyone. For those of you with access to a Moped do not forget to pencil in this event to be held on February the 11th 2020. It is not far away. With that thought check out the poster for our next All British day and mark the 22nd February on your calendar. Derek
Rawleigh’s is a name that many will remember. Memories of the Rawleigh’s person arriving at the front door of the house with a range of products on offer. Over the year’s this has changed and it was turned around with you calling the Rawleigh’s agent to order products. Oamaru has been without a local Rawleigh’s agent for about four years now. I have recently been appointed the new Rawleigh’s agent, and have opened a store located in the Victorian Precinct stocking Rawleigh’s products, along with Brooks Cycle accessories, rock candy made in Christchurch, and a small range of handcrafted gifts and preloved goods. I would like to offer a 20% discount to Vintage Car Club members for the month of December 2019. The shop is open Monday to Friday 9.30am - 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 4pm. I will be closed on Christmas Day. Eftpos is available. Smith’s Store (under the flag) Tyne street Wendy Simpson
Adventures of an Old Restorer. Jen and I were very sorry to hear that Royston had passed away, in the short time I knew him he became a good friend, he always gave me very good advice on the cars I was restoring, generally at my place over a cup of tea, we will both miss him. His passing upset my routine some what and I did not get my article in on time, apologies to all my readers.
At last! We have managed to take the Morris on a club run. the weather was great on Sunday 20th October, and we even had the top down. We also took out the side curtains and put them behind the rear seat, I had made a cover with the left over material from the seats that fits over the folded down top and keeps it neatly in place. We went on The Tea Pot Rally. Some friendly rivalry between the North Otago Branch and the Waimate Branch of the VCC this rally is held every year at about this time; the prize being a silver teapot mounted on a wood base. I have been doing a wee bit of digging into the history behind the Teapot. As far as I can find out, It is said that there was a Teapot, although being in very good condition, was not being used anymore (might be thanks to the invention of the teabag?) It was the same then as now looking for new things to do, Mr Michael O'Sullivan of Waimate suggested that it be given as a prize in a rally But what rally, a member from North Otago branch suggested that a rally between Waimate and North Otago would be a good idea with the teapot as a prize, and as they say the rest is History!!! The Morris ran better than expected, I am very critical of my own work, we got up
to 52mph in places, although this must have been down hill. Mostly we kept to around 40mph for the 64 mile round trip from home and back to home again. Jen was the navigator, she managed to keep warm with a face scarf and fur lined hood and jacket and a good thick blanket. I also had a good thick coat on and my woolly hat, although the sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky the wind was quite cold, but being a little mad is all part of the fun. I think I might lower the seats a wee bit as the top of my head seems to catch the wind with the top folded away. We are going into the Windsor Rally next, lets hope it warms up a bit by then!! Happy Motoring, Clive and Jen.
The Taieri Tour The 2nd of November John and Wanda along with us took part in the Taieri Tour. We started at Wingatui the rally took us up Saddle Hill down to near the coast, through Waldronville Abotsford Greenisland ,then out to Outram for field tests and lunch We headed for home so don’t know how good or bad we did. We did enjoy our day it was well organised, We were winners of a great day out Gordon and Joy.
Here’s a likely looking chap all ready for a jaunt on his vintage motorcycle! Dennis Spring-Rice dressed up in Jim Boaden’s grandfather’s leather coat and other bits at a recent club night showing off how they coped with gravel rash before the fall of the Iron Curtain! Dennis’s sweetheart, Pene commented; “Ooo, I like a man in a uniform!” Steady on girl!
North
Otago
All BRITISH DAY 2020 Featuring the Mini So hunt around your garage and check with friends and get that Mini out for a run.
Public display and registrations Tyne St. Historic Precinct 9.30am. First car away at 11.00am BYO Picnic Lunch
Prizes and certificates will be awarded in each class Best Mini, Best British car, Best Original Car, Peoples Choice and Best Motorcycle
Saturday 22nd February 2020 $20/Vehicle Entries on the Day Proceeds to Charity
Hello BOB Dunedin enthusiasts The Best of British Charity Motoring Day is coming together nicely, and we will be looking forward to a great motoring day on Sunday March 8th, 2020. Celebrating British automotive heritage – any British vehicle (car, bike, truck, camper, bus) is welcome ·
Car Trial leaving ice stadium carpark from 9am
·
Show’n’Shine at Portobello Reserve
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BBQ/Food available
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Coffee and ice cream carts
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All funds to Dunedin Coastguard
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Marque of the Day – Standard/Triumph
Hope to see you there! Barbara Macdonald Convenor BOB Dunedin 2020 021 1599488
Windsor Rally 7th December 2019 Windsor rally is fast approaching on the 7th December, so far, we have received 43 entries. If you have not entered yet it is not too late, I am still accepting Non – competitive entries so send your entry in as soon as possible. There will be an afternoon tea at the club rooms on the day, if members could please bring a plate for this would be greatly appreciated. Please drop off on day to the Rally Organiser at the start of Rally (carpark beside Scott’s brewery) before 9.30am Look forward to seeing you all on the Day Rebecca Windsor Rally Organiser
Mid month run Novembers mid-month run on Wednesday 13 th Nov – not a big turn out, but very enjoyable never the less. Gilbert & Maureen, Barbara & Bruce Watt, the Jacks, Walshes, & Verna & friend. Left Oamaru, where a cool breeze blowing to Maerewhenua River – Danseys Pass end via couple of routes [own choice], thru' Ngapara. Turned into Pringles Gully Rd, across bridge & parked on flat area by River. A lovely spot for a cuppa & a chin wag. Not a breath of wind. Idyllic spot & clear waters. Just before 4pm wended our way back to Oamaru. This outing didn't take place in October as intended due to inclement weather. Thank you Verna for another lovely afternoon meander.
Your chairman’s in a blue funk...thrown his dollies out of his cot, ripped his nightie and spat his dummy...coz none of you miserable unmentionables have said anything about the new, hand-made, hand-painted club insignia on the wall above the telly. Obviously the telly is the greater distraction, or maybe you’re scanning the honours boards for your name and the last time you so royally held office. Sob sob. Nobody loves me. Time to take a concrete pill and harden up, or avail myself of some “bridge” therapy...i.e; build a bridge and get over it. So now I’ll take you on a wee voyage of discovery about how I made it. You’ve forgotten already, haven’t you? The insignia on the clubhouse wall...above the telly...between the honours boards...yes, I made it...oh dear. Sarcasm, the last and only defence left for schoolteachers since caning was banned and they improved the food in the boarding house. Spares provided me with an old rimu bedhead. Apparently people don’t want them anymore and they can be purloined from the NO! pile behind the Sallies. I blew up (mis-spent youth)...sorry....enlarged a picture of the VCC national insignia and drew it out on brown paper. Check out the photos. Brown paper is great for drawing on for endangered species like me...yes, I use CHALK and a BLACKBOARD at school where I work. Can you believe it?! Then I went over the drawing on the wood using CARBON PAPER. More aged-care craft supplies. Yes, you can still get carbon paper. Then I cut out the shape with the bandsaw, filed and sanded it and then poly-urinated it. Just one coat. After it was pol-urinated, I painted all of the black bits with some signwriter’s brushes I bought from Trumpistan, then the gold which was very kindly donated by one Neil Rooney Esq of Holmes Hill. Mr Rooney is a distinguished gent who will never lower
his motoring standards below that of Buick. Ask the man who owns one...if better cars are to be built, Buick will build them! I digress...then more poly-urinating...three times.
I really enjoyed the process and I’m pleased with the outcome; just like a good, homegrown car restoration, I can take some humble pride in doing a good job. Not perfect, but well-crafted and an opportunity to stretch my skills. I hope you all enjoy it for many years to come. Next job is a solid rimu Committee Table...watch this space!
PF
North Otago’s
Wee Wheelie Wander
Saturday 15th February 2020 NOVCC invites All vintage ‘Mopeders’, “Pedalers” and ‘Scooterers’, To our inaugural 50cc wheelie wee wander around North Otago Sights to see, places to visit If you’ve got the wheels and the will, we’ve got the way 10.30am start Picnic Lunch provided Prizes and afternoon tea to finish Cost $20.00 RSVP to Wendy and Gordon wendympringle@hotmail.com 027 224 2018 or 03 434 7215
Mad Dash to the Haast. Earlier in the year I was contacted by David Mills of Dunedin of a proposal to re-enact the ‘Mad dash to the Haast’ by an intrepid Austin 7 team in 1965. It was to take place 8-9th November 2019. Now I was organising a cycle tour in Oamaru area 10-13th November. What could go wrong? I set up a Facebook page so I could update our adventure on the move and you can view that Here The story. In November 1965, the road through the Haast was opened. It was some months late as the International Vintage Car Rally was supposed to go through there. Alas, construction of the highway was delayed and the Rally went around it. However, not to be outdone, two intrepid motorists decided the eventual opening would be the time to do the thing. The grand event was to take place on the morning of Saturday the 6th November 1965. So, Les Nye and Gordon Sharpe, early stalwarts of the VCC set off from Dunedin at 4am on Friday the 5th. They travelled up to Dunsandel, across to Springfield, over Arthur's Pass, through Hokitika and down to Knights Point where they camped the night. All in a 1930 Austin 7 Chummy. In the morning, they attended the cutting of the ribbon by Lady Holyoake. Now here is the interesting bit. Apparently, they were the first car through. That is ahead of everyone else including the Prime Ministerial entourage. Moreover, they kept going arriving back in Dunedin at 8pm that night. This made them the first car to do the circuit. They did this stopping only for fuel and food and carrying a tent etc. It was a real ‘do it yourself’ effort where they sat down and planned the route and worked out speeds and times. They also carried a tape recorder and recorded those speeds, distances and times. The original car and a selection of Austins took part in the adventure. 4 Sevens, 3 Eights, 2 A30s and an A40 took part. Also a backup vehicle (HRV with trailer) The first day from Dunedin to Lake Paringa is 500 miles and 10 hours driving but that assumes modern car and no delays! Click here for Map The cars from Dunedin assembled at 4am hoping to arrive Oamaru at 6am. A broken generator bolt delayed things but thanks to North Otago Motor group opening early a new bolt procured. Mark Baxter from Dunedin also joined me as navigator. So now an hour behind so some hard driving required (watch out for those cameras). We met up with other Austin owners on the route who accompanied us part of the way. A brief stop to refuel cars and passengers at Timaru Z and on to Dunsandel to regroup at the Cafe. Unfortunately one of the Sevens developed a clutch problem shortly after and needed to be returned to Dunsandel. The next meeting point was at Springfield where my brother Robb and father Eric were waiting with 3 of his Austin 8s.(his wife and a friend driving the other 2) He joined the expedition with the convertible 8 and the others returned home. The weather was hot and clear at this stage so top down. It did make for a tough climb up towards Porter heights with the temperature gauge touching the red region. On the way down the hill Robb’s car blew out a rear tyre. Approaching Arthur’s pass rain clouds loomed so the tops went up and it
became very wet through to Otira. Some impressive water features to be seen. Stopped at the Otira Hotel to say hello to Lester and have a coffee then on to Hokitika. However not far out of Hokitika Robb’s Eight developed a shake. Another tyre causing trouble with a piece of tread come away. So the spare of my car went on. We refuelled and many pressed on. We decided to stop get some Fish and chips (very good) as there was more than 140 miles still to go (6:30 pm by this stage) We passed David Mills with bonnet up but with recovery vehicle in attendance. As darkness descended we were greeted with a lightning display off the coast and we hoped the predicted heavy rain would wait until we got to the camp. The winding hilly road made me wonder how the original car made such good time as we had the advantage of better lights and reflectors/fog line on a sealed road. Heading down off the hills and only 30 miles to go we spotted a couple of Sevens on the side of the road. The original Seven had stopped with engine trouble. As we did not know the status of the recovery vehicle and it was now 9:30pm dark, with an approaching storm I suggested the Eight could tow the Seven. My brother went ahead to warn the reception we may be late but my car surprised us with a valiant effort cruising most of the way at 3035mph in top with the Seven on the back. I was relieved the worst of the hills were behind us and only one hill tackled in second gear slowed our progress. We arrived at Lake Paringa at 10:30pm, had a shower and a couple of beers. Graeme Simpson Continued next issue...
For Sale/ Wanted ads Keep those ads coming. Remember these ads are read by members of other branches and car clubs.
Parts Department Open Mondays
10 – 12noon
Starts with a Cuppa. For Sale 1 Austin A30 suitable parts only. 1 Hillman Husky S V - suitable parts only Assorted Doors and mudguards. N. O. S. BMC Parts. Ford 10 Complete engine. Large selection of tail lights and Hub Caps. Enquiries call Jim Boaden
(03) 4372525
Ralph Weir
(03) 4345103
SMALL BYTES COMPUTING For All Your Computing Needs New systems, repairs
3 Otepopo St Herbert Ph 4395197 0274358983
Printer & Fax servicing
Items for the Newsletter can be posted or dropped off to 6 Waiareka lane, off Saleyards road Or emailed to gsimpsonyyy@gmail.com
Newsletter submissions. Preferred formats are Open-office, Libre-office or MS Word as an attached document. Plain emails create extra work. Please, no “enter� key at the end of every line. Contact me for advice if not sure. Thanks, Graeme
NORTH OTAGO BRANCH OFFICE BEARERS
NORTH OTAGO BRANCH OFFICE BEARERS
2019-20
Patron Chairman
Peter Fulton
0279320624
Vice Chairman
Lynette Newall
4372525
Immediate Past Chairman
Gilbert Ellery
434-5289
Club Captain
Derek Brehaut
021 390518
Secretary
Kathleen Perry
4347226
Treasurer
Clive Blunden
4395207
Committee
Jim Boaden
4372525
Will Hearne Neil Rooney
4349470
Murray Frew
0274326756
Beaded Wheels Scribe
Will Hearne
Custodian
Jim Boaden
4372525
Librarian
Robert Hutton (Mandy)
437 0774
Archivist
Kathleen Perry
4347226
Newsletter Editor
Graeme Simpson (Wendy) gsimpsonyyy@gmail.com
4348285 0272931059
Newsletter Distribution
Lindsay Schaffer (Christine)
434 2223
Jim Boaden
4372525
Ralph Weir
4345103
Vehicle Verifier Spare Parts
Club email address northotago@vcc.org.nz rd Committee Meetings 3 Tuesday of the month., Club Nights 1st Wednesday of the month (details in The Distributor)