Chairman’s Report
Another year has passed and our clubs AGM is only a week away. It is scheduled for Sunday the 7th of June at 1.30pm at our club rooms. I urge all to attend, we will have the rooms warm and afternoon tea will be provided following the meeting.
Among things that need discussion is our ability to continue our current programme of events. For instance, whether we participate in this year’s VCC annual promotion day scheduled for August. I wish to address this more fully at the meeting.
I understand that some folk in the past have stayed away from our AGMs so as to not feel obligated to stand for a position within the club. If this is you, I can assure you your views are welcome without any obligation other than to participate in the meeting.
It’s not all gloom and doom. The monthly runs are well attended and the Monday morning (Parts) get together is still very well supported. The parts shed is receiving a steady supply of bits and pieces as people start to down size. Our library is being well used and maintained with very positive comments from visitors as well as a steady supply of new books.
The upgrade of our club rooms continues to attract groups looking for a smaller venue to continue their activities and the resulting revenue is very welcome.
See you all at our AGM
Derek Brehaut Club Chairman
April VCC Motorcycle Run
The day was warm and dry for the ride and a good selection of two wheeled machinery turned up, all the Japanese marques were represented apart from Suzuki, the oldest bike there was Roberts, a 102 year old Harley Davidson, another fella was on a 2019 Hardley Dangerous and as it wasn't a classic was made to ride at the back of the pack and quite rightly so. He kept Allan and his faithful 200 cc Airel Colt company, which as always, thumped along nicely.
We missed the company of Murray Hayes on the ride and look forward to riding next month with him.
We decided to check out the new Kakanui bridge, follow the coast road to Highway 1 and motored down to Vanessa's cafe at Hampden for some lubrication and food. The coast road is always a joy to ride and as always did not disappoint. It is great to watch a line of bikes in front, snaking away around corners ahead of you.
As always the food and drink at the cafe was excellent, along with the conversation, which covered a lot of topics, from what was our first bikes, what bikes we liked to ride the best, along with less salubrious topics, nothing nasty, but boy talk about our testosterone filled years. Boys will be boys! As the afternoon drew to a close the cloud formations over Hampden were nothing short of amazing.
There is something about riding that just puts you in the zone, the mindfulness required to ensure your safety just makes you forget any worries you may have and you just live for the moment and long may it continue! Live to ride, ride to live.
N.N.
For Sale
A bit of a personal plug here on behalf of the Wilkinson family. We are in the process of preparing our elderly mother's house for sale and have some clothing which we thought might be of interest to ladies who like to dress in the period clothing. Available are:
3 fur coats plus matching hats (no photo of the hats) and a fur stole. I'm not sure of how old they are however possibly date between the 1940's and 1950's. I can't see a sizing on the coats however I would think they will be around a 12-14.
Various hats (as per the picture), numerous gloves including evening gloves, handbags and Oroton evening bags.
If these are of interest - can you please contact either Nicola (021 180 3225) or Mark (02 168 6068) by the 15th of May for more details.
Thanks Nicola
Save The Date VCC Otago Branch
54th Dunvegan Motorcycle Run
Dates:
Friday 2 October to Sunday 4 October 2026
Programme:
Friday evening - Noggin and natter at VCC clubrooms
Saturday – Full day inland rally returning to Dunedin
Saturday evening - Dinner and Prize Giving at VCC Clubrooms
Sunday morning – Local coffee/brunch ride
Weather
El Nino . Weather will behave this year!
Accommodation
Plenty of good motels in St Kilda,and South Dunedin close to Clubrooms.
Entries
Entry forms will be in Branch bulletins at the end of August
Morendo DD Diesel Fuel Treatment
Superclean Morendo DD is a multifunctional diesel fuel additive that will improve ignition quality, combustion and storage of distillate fuels. It is designed to be added to diesel and distillate burner fuels in bulk storage tanks, or to the fuel tanks of diesel engined vehicles and marine craft.
Autumn colours run, Sunday
26th of April.
For our Autumn colours run we left the Club rooms at about 11-30am heading along Ardgowan road to the hall, down onto Oamaru Creek road, then Horse Gully road to the " big gum tree" at HW 83. From here we headed up the Waitaki valley to Otamatata where we had our lunch stop at Lindsay and Margaret McLeod's holiday house ,very enjoyable, thank you Lindsay and Margaret for your wonderful hospitality. After lunch we crossed over the Benmore dam and back down the other side of Lake Aviemore, there were lots of beautiful Autumn colours to see on our way down to the to the Aviemore dam, where we crossed over and back onto HW83 and headed home. A really enjoyable day.
May's mid month run was the first of our Café runs for the year. John Gale had organised a nice run out to Kakanui for us, we crossed over the new bridge (some for the first time) and drove around some of Kakanui’s streets to Campbell's Bay, then back across the bridge to the Coast Café with its lovely coastal views, for our coffee and yarn secession. Thanks John for an enjoyable afternoon.
John's comment
One good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others.
Hi All,
It is with much sadness that I advise that our mate Alan Bland passed away at his home on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
Alan died surrounded by his close family.
Alan's wife June has asked those wanting to accompany Alan on his last ride can assemble at their home, 186 Ryan's Road, Yaldhurst at 12.00 pm Wednesday 3rd June 2026 for a short ride to VCC Canterbury Branch club rooms at 661 McLeans Island Road for a 1.00 pm service and farewell.
Because of the possibility of recipients being on more than one database, I apologise if you have already received this message from another source.
RIP Alan.
Launch of the Oamaru Steam & Rail Book 23/05/26.
This morning at 11am was the official opening of the Oamaru Steam & Rail Book. Also, the launch of the Railcar, Phoenix, a Diesel Electric, built in 1949 and used in the Wellington Area. I enjoyed the ride in railcar; it brought back many memories.
I have had a quick look at the book, it looks great. I look forward to sitting down and reading it. I believe there are some books left to buy. If you would like one contact the Oamaru Steam & Rail Society.
Members of the VCC North Otago Branch were invited to come along to display their vehicles and help celebrate this special occasion. The vehicles ranged from Veterans to the late 60s. The Steampunk members also attended and the Wizard. Our Mayor Melanie Tavendale, Waitaki MP Miles Anderson, MP Mark Patterson, Author Jacquie Webby. Congratulations to Harry and Janet Andrew and Oamaru Steam & Rail Society for their hard work and dedication to preserving the railway and the Phoenix railcar.
On the way home we were stopped by the Roadside Police Checkpoint, first time in the Overland. All good.
Thank you all for attending a great day.
Ernest George.
Contact from a lady in Macandrew Bay who has 3 vehicles that she has inherited from her late father that she is wanting to sell. Along with the Austin Cambridge, she also has 2 Austin Princesses. The Rego & plates for all 3 are on hold.
Contact Sarah Marshall marshall19@slingshot.co.nz
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 2025/26
Chairman Derek Brehaut (Lee) 021 390 518
Immediate Past
Chairperson
Vice Chairman
Secretary Brian Harrison (Janette) 03 434 2148
Club Captain Athol Caldwell (Patricia) 03 437 0897
Treasurer John Gale (Jo) 03 437 1112
Committee:
Tony Hales (Jenny) 027 587 8851
Lindsay McLeod (Margaret) 021 871 526
Allan Holywell 0210 813 1323
John Adamson
0274 347 009
Murray Hayes (Diana) 027 239 9009
Wes Hamilton 03 437 2260
Beaded Wheels Scribe Kathleen Perry 03 434 7226 kathleen2015@xtra.co.nz
Custodian
Librarian
Archivist
Steve McDonald 027 928 0002
Murray Bain 0211 785 783
Murray Bain
Newsletter Editor Graeme Simpson (Wendy) gsimpsonyyy@gmail.com 027 293 1059
Spare Parts
Vehicle Verifiers
James MacKenzie (Angele) 029 770 7105
Wayne Croft 027 608 0002
Quentin Barrow (Ange) 027 434 5570
Ernest George 027 209 0609
Club email address northotago@vcc.org.nz
Committee Meetings 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7.00 pm. Members Welcome.
Club Nights 1st Wednesday of the month at 7.30 pm (details in The Distributor)
