Magazine of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Otago Branch Inc.
March 2022
Otago Members en route to the Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring The Otago RoadRunner is the official newsletter of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Otago Branch Inc. Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Otago Branch Inc.
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Men and Women 1920’s - 1970’s era Accessories, hats, furs and much more Larger fittings are a speciality Personalised vintage fashion shows for events/occasions/functions presented by an experienced team of models
Professional recolouring of all leather car seats, interior panels etc. Protect and enhance the look of your car interior with our unique quality service Ring Rodger for a No Obligation appraisal now
Phone 455 4065 BROCKLEBANKS Leather Dyers Over 50 years serving Otago
Phone: Sue – (Dunedin) 03 489 4033/021 146 4987
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CHAIRPERSON
Nicola Wilkinson
markandnicolaw@gmail.com
476 4004
TREASURER
David Ross
vccnzobt@gmail.com
455 8800
SECRETARY
Marion McConachie
bmmcconachie@xtra.co.nz
453 0404
CLUB CAPTAIN
Kevin Mason
027 2286431
488 5198
HOUSE MANAGER
Bill Partel
thepartels@gmail.com
489 4033
PROPERTY OFFICER
Bill Veitch
w.veitch@xtra.co.nz
489 1626
EDITOR
Eleanor Harrison
eleanor.harrison@otago.ac.nz
479 8280
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Colin Winter
wolseley2@xtra.co.nz
456 4382
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Andrew Roxburgh
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Ken Pledger
kmpledger@outlook.com
488 2808
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Trevor Kempton
catjkempton@gmail.com
454 4912
488 3866
LIBRARIAN
Moira Cunningham
453 5777
TROPHY STEWARD
David Ross
455 8800
VEHICLE REGISTRAR & VIC
Bob Woodford
466 7011
VEHICLE REGISTRAR & VIC
Bill Partel
489 4033
VEHICLE REGISTRAR & VIC
Bruce Murray
487 7281
VEHICLE REGISTRAR & VIC
Bill Veitch
489 1626
ARCHIVIST
Marion McConachie
453 0404
PARTS OFFICERS
Bill Partel
489 4033
George Martin
489 3621
David Cunningham
453 5777
Kevin Mason
488 5198
GROUNDS OFFICER
Bruce Murray
487 7281
BRANCH SCRIBE
Marion McConachie
453 0404
HONORARY SOLICITOR
Joe O’Neill
477 6801
THE AUDITOR
Neil Stevenson
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CLUBROOMS 125 Forbury Rd., Dunedin , 9012 Phone 455 0586
Postal Address:
BRANCH EMAIL
otago@vcc.org.nz
COMMITTEE MEETS CLUB NIGHT
2nd Monday of month 7.30pm Friday 7.30pm to 11.00pm
MOTORCYCLE NIGHT
First Friday of the month
MONTHLY MEETING
Last Friday of the month 8.30pm
PARTS SHED
Friday 7.30pm – 9.30 pm. Wednesday 09.00am – 12.00 noon
ARTICLES FOR NEWSLETTER
Can be forwarded to your editor by the 3rd Wednesday of the month please
125 Forbury Road, Dunedin, 9012
VERO INSURANCE APPLICATIONS Please quote Otago “Agent No H0300145— Inspector No 916” LIBRARY ROSTER MARCH 4th Bryan McConachie 11th Closed 18th Closed 25th Moira Cunningham MAY 6th 13th 20th 27th
Bill Veitch Closed Closed David McCaskill
Library open 8.00 - 9.30 Friday night
APRIL 7th Kevin Mason 14th Closed 21st Closed 28th Paddy William JUNE 3rd 10th 17th 124th
Bryan McConachie Closed Closed Moira Cunningham
AED DEFIBRILATER -There is one on the outside wall of the 4 Square shop on corner of Bayview Road. Please make a point of familiarising yourself of its location – Never know when it might be needed. KIWI FUEL CARD For those folks who have a Kiwi Fuelcard this is a fantastic offer! If any members would like to find out how to get a kiwifuelcard and are unsure how to go about it, please feel free to contact me. Kaaren Smylie nicc@vcc.org.nz 075764180
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BRANCH EVENTS (listed in bold)
All subject to Covid-19 requirements
2022
MAR Fri 4th
Thurs 31st Fri 25th APRIL Fri 4th Sat 9th Thurs 28th Fri 29th MAY Fri 1st Sun 8th TBA Thurs 26th Fri 27th JUNE Sun 19th JULY AUG SEPT OCT 1st-2nd NOV 4th-6th DEC
Motorcycle Group Meeting 5th Veteran Rally – Southland 13th Gore Swapmeet - CANCELLED 13th Mid Island Rally – South Canterbury th 13 Annual Motorcycle Rally – South Otago 20th Moped Rally Central Otago - CANCELLED 26th Scenicland Rally – West Coast - CANCELLED Midweek Run Club Night – Speaker - TBC 26th Scienicland Rally - CANCELLED Motorcycle Group Meeting 2nd Winchester Swapmeet - CANCELLED Garage raid 8-10th Otago Rally – Marshalls needed th Midweek Run 9 Gerald Lynch-Blosse Rally – North Otago Club Night - Tech Talk: Murray Clarke Roading with Transit 23rd Arrowtown Autumn Festival - CANCELLED Motorcycle Group Meeting 2nd Ashburton Swapmeet -CANCELLED Restoration/PWV Rally Overnight Run - POSTPONED TO A LATER DATE Midweek Run Club Night – Tech Talk – Brian Stewart Branch AGM 4-5th Irishman’s Rally Annual Dinner Rally for Cancer PWV/P60/P80 Rally Dunvegan Rally 50th Taieri Tour , Commercial/Veteran Rally Moped Rally, Christmas BBQ
VCC NATIONAL EVENTS 2023 February National Motorcycle Rally – Southland – just prior to the Burt Munro Challenge Bid tba National Commercial Rally - Wanganui 2025 Bid to hold National Motorcycle Rally - Wairarapa My Vintage - www.myvintage.co.nz is a new online marketplace devoted to all those people who are passionate and enthusiastic about Old Cars and other old vehicles.
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TECH TALK 8.00 pm Friday 25th March Speaker TBC
Midweek Run Thursday 31st March Meet at the Clubrooms at 12.45 for 1pm start Bring your own afternoon tea and a chair – if the weather is inclement a café will be arranged
GARAGE RAID Saturday 9TH April
meet at the clubrooms at 10am BYO Lunch – will have this at the clubrooms Contact Kevin Mason for further details
OTAGO RALLY – 8TH – 10TH OF APRIL ROAD BLOCK MARSHALLS NEEDED We need marshalls for both Saturday and Sunday Times and stages still to be advised Please contact Marion McConachie bmmcconachie@xtra.co.nz 034530404 asap if you will be able to give some time to this.
Day Trip to Roxburgh Sunday 24 April
BYO lunch or we may go out somewhere for lunch Details coming later Contact Kevin Mason or Marion McConachie 6
In the Driving Seat With the risk of sounding like a cracked record I hope that all members are staying safe and more importantly coping with the everpresent COVID-19 virus. The Committee has been looking at the regulations and as a club with exclusive use to the clubrooms – wearing masks are encouraged indoors however are not compulsory. Vaccine Passes are required so if you haven’t already shown your pass to a Committee member can you please do so next time you are in the club rooms. At this stage we are continuing with the branch calendar of events as advertised in the Road Runner – and will advise via email if this changes. The branch AGM is just over 3 months away so now is the time to start considering if you would be interested in putting your name forward for the Committee. Some of the current members have indicated that they are standing down so there will be some vacancies including the position of Chairman, so if you are interested in being part of the branch management moving forward then please contact either Marion or myself. We ideally need all positions on the Committee to be filled as it allows the branch to function more smoothly. The National Executive meeting is being held on the 12th March and instead of all delegates meeting together we will be dialling in via Zoom. At the meeting I will be putting forward a bid for Otago to host the 2024 National Veteran Rally in conjunction with the 70th Dunedin – Brighton Veteran Rally. If successful we will be looking for members to put their names forward to assist with the organising and during the event. Safe driving. Nicola
Note: the planned Overnight Run to Oamaru is on hold at the moment due to Omicron. Kevin Mason 7
Operating under Covid-19 Red Traffic Light Regulations Directive from National Office – 1.2.22 Now that we are in “red”, and following some enquiries from members, it is timely to remind Branches of the rules under which they can operate as set out in the Covid-19 regulations.
Under “red”, gatherings (which include community club activities) can go ahead but they are limited to 100 people if everyone has a My Vaccine Pass. If a My Vaccine Pass is not being used then the gathering is limited to 25 people. From 4 February 2022 a face mask must be worn when attending a gathering except where there is exclusive use of the venue. Even if it is an exclusive use area (i.e. club rooms), it goes without saying that members should not feel uncomfortable if they choose to continue to wear a mask. Those Branches that have bar licences, must follow food and drink rules which stipulate that food and beverage service must be seated and separated. The Club may open with up to 100 people or based on 1 metre distancing (whichever is the lesser) per defined space. A My Vaccine Pass is required.
For all gatherings it is the Branch’s responsibility to ensure it complies with capacity limits depending on whether it is requiring My Vaccine Passes or not. Branches can either sight the My Vaccine Pass or use the NZ Pass Verifier App to verify it. Please continue to use scanning of the Covid-19 QR code or a manual record of attendees and make sure you have good clean handwashing facilities and plenty of hand sanitiser available for members to use. 8
COVID 19 - TRAFFIC LIGHT RED Guidelines CLUBROOM GUIDELINES
The clubrooms are now open to members with Vaccine passes Only Maximum of 100 people at a time. Members visiting the clubrooms or attending rallies must have a Vaccination Pass 1. 2. 3. 4.
Contact Tracing – Scan QR code or record your visit in note books provided each visit. Sanitize your hands. Where a mask at all times unless eating and drinking. Social distancing remains at 1 metres – please observe this direction.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO SCAN THOSE QR CODES We have QR codes available at the clubrooms so you can use your cell phone for contact tracing. Or record your visit in the note books provided on each visit. • •
Do not attend events if you are not well or are awaiting testing results We still need to ensure we have no more than 100 people in the clubrooms at one time
We still encourage you to bring friends along to the Clubrooms but please make sure before they come that they bring along their Vaccine pass.
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Annual Membership Subscriptions / Cards
If you have paid your Annual Subscription for membership
– you should have your card by now
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If you have not yet paid your subscriptions –and if National Office do not receive your subscription payments before the 11th of March, you will be removed from our membership list, and will need to reapply for membership.
No current membership – you will not receive membership discounts with Vero insurance if you have your vehicles insured with them\.
Name Badges - If you do not yet have one please contact David
Ross – Treasurer to order one. They are $10 each and good to wear when attending events. We have a number of new members and it can be difficult for everyone trying to identify and remember who you are.
Club events
- as you will all be aware there have been a lot of events postponed, changed or cancelled. This will be a continuing issue in the months ahead. As changes come about I will endeavour to advise you via emails.
Tech Talks – Last Friday of the Month Club Nights Have now resumed for the year –Thanks to those who have offered their time and resources to give presentations during these club nights over the past year. Look forward to more interesting speakers next year.
BRANCH NEWSLETTERS: - Unfortunately newsletters on the Club Website have not been kept up to date recently due to reduced staffing hours at National office.
To access other branch newsletters go to www.vcc.org.nz scroll to News from our Branches as hard copy newsletters are not mailed out now.
SPARE PARTS SHED: – Parts shed is usually open every Wednesday morning, and Friday evenings when the clubrooms are open. Reminder – see if you can effectively recycle your parts before scrapping them. NO TYREs by request. 10
ENTRY FORMS FOR OTHER BRANCH EVENTS These can be accessed via the branch newsletters on the VCC website. Or there should be a copy in the clubrooms or contact me for a copy. Entries usually close within two weeks of the event. NNB: Please if you are planning to enter a local event, and running late with entry forms, please contact the organizer by phone or email to let them know you are coming. They need to know numbers for printing the instructions, and catering purposes for some events.
VIC APPLICATIONS – please note - VIC Application forms have been updated – again PLEASE CHECK THAT ALL PAPERWORK/PHOTOS ARE PRESENT AND CORRECT BEFORE FORWARDING TO YOUR BRANCH VEHICLE REGISTRAR – It gets very time consuming when we need to contact you time and again to ensure everything is sorted.
The VIC/Authenticity Statement forms were altered back in October 2020 with regard to the VTC needing photos of the chassis/frame number and/or engine number of vehicles. Each application you make for a vehicle MUST include these along with the 3 identical photos (correct size) of the vehicle. Applications will be put on hold until these are supplied, if they do not accompany the application, when submitted to National Office. Please can you ensure that the application forms are completed fully, especially in regards to mileage, engine manufacturer, some history of the vehicle (even if it is only “purchased from Trade Me in April 1999”) and which Branch is completing the form. The Branch is often missing from Non-Member applications and my knowledge of small places in New Zealand is not that great so a Branch name would assist greatly. Kind Regards Jo VCC National Office
CHANGED VEHICLE OWNERSHIP - SOLD OR SELLING YOUR VIC’D VCC VEHICLE
– YOU NEED TO ADVISE NATIONAL OFFICE!!! ENSURE YOU SEND YOUR VIC CARD ALONG WITH CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP DETAILS – There is a form that needs to be completed for this (available from Branch Secretary or on the VCC website VIC information is the property of the National Club – this is their way of keeping records of Vehicle ownership etc.
Vero Insurance Scheme - Just a reminder, the VCC Vero insurance scheme is set up for those with current VCC membership. If you become unfinancial you will no longer receive discounted insurance premiums The VCCNZ Facebook page at: www.facebook.co/ vintagecarclubofnewzealand If you want to add photos and short write-ups for insertion to Facebook please send to: comms@vcc.org.nz
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Welcome to New Members: The Otago Branch extends a very warm welcome to
Philip Leyden - who owns a BSA Rocket 3 Gary and Christine Turner – who own a 1929 De Soto Jason Bush - who owns a 1936 Austin 10 John Devereux – who owns a 1951 Peugeot The branch welcome you to the Club. Some of you already have family members in the branch. It has also been great to see some of you already attending our local runs. We look forward to seeing you at local and neighbouring events.
BRANCH HISTORY BOOK NOW AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION TO BRANCH MEMBERS - FREE If you haven’t got yours yet – please contact branch secretary to arrange collection. Extra books are also available for sale to all club members and interested members of the public. This is a well written overview of our branch history over its first 60 years. It is a story, which covers some of our past, present and longer serving members and the events and activities that the branch has either organised or been involved in over this time. Most of the material has come from past minute, newsletter and private records. Print is easy to read, so you might be able to read this without your glasses �
$50 each plus $12 p&p Contact branch secretary - Marion McConachie 034530404 bmmcconachie@xtra.co.nz to arrange delivery / pickup, or for extra details.
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Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring Twice postponed due to Covid, all involved could breathe an enormous collective sigh of relief when the big event finally got underway, but how lucky were we? The announcement of the dreaded red-light restriction, effective only two days after the event, illustrated the huge gamble the organisers had to take. It paid off but what a photo finish. A group of five Otago Branch couples have attended these Vero rallies for many years: Peter & Lesley Laing (MGA), Trevor & Dot Johnson (Wolseley 6/110), Stan & Carol Fleming (Triumph 2.5), Bernie & Elaine Horn (Austin A90 Atlantic) plus Kevin & Carole Casey (1941 Cadillac). Others from Otago Branch - that I know about - were Peter & Madeline White (1930 Delage D8) and John & Sarah McAdam (Wolseley 6/90). Our journey, spread over four days, was leisurely; only one mechanical hitch at Cheviot disturbed our serenity. Bernie’s Austin was leaking petrol from its pump. Straddling a shallow ditch would give a little more working room. It was suggested that crossways would be better because of the ground rising at the road verge. Bernie drove it across but as he came backwards to get the right position the tail pipe went underground by about 200 mm. Of course, it would not start so the offending soil and part of the pipe was dug away with screwdrivers. When it finally started with a mighty ka-boom a great wad of dirt shot out accompanied by a haze of dusty soil that settled over Peter Laing. Austin (God bless the English) had cunningly mounted the petrol pump below the manifolds but thoughtfully installed a heat shield which needed removing to gain access to the banjo bolt that required tightening. To get the shield off the pump bolts must come off, etc. Mission was accomplished and we were off to Bernie’s Diner in Kaikoura for lunch. The Diner is decorated in the 1960s American idiom. For $10 you can view a basement car museum; about 40 cars, mostly American – worth a look. We stayed in Picton that night, dining at a hotel. I had a bit of fun with the young waiter when he brought my pumpkin and kumara soup. “Which half is the pumpkin”, I asked. “Oh no sir, it’s all mixed together” he earnestly replied. Up early on Monday to be at the ferry terminal by 6.30am for what proved to be a very calm crossing. Bernie and I got talking to a Māori crewman about stormy crossings. He witnessed the time the hold-down chains broke on a truck and trailer which plunged over the side, and he was also on hand when the railway engine and freight wagons went under during loading. We called at Southwards car museum for another browse – always interesting (for the men) – before overnighting in Whanganui.
Continued …. Lassiter's Last Ride.
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Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring (continued) Our accommodation was at the Northland Motor Lodge, only about 3km from HQ which may have been Pukekura Park. Rally packs secured and various people encountered whose faces rang a bell but the names elusive; later aided by wearing our large dog tags. Stan and Carol Fleming had arrived in their new ride, a Triumph 2500. They had flown to Auckland, bought the car and drove down, secure in the knowledge that megabucks spent on the car by the last owner guaranteed a trouble-free journey. Sunday was a free day, all doing different things. Carole and I parked by the waterfront and strolled the boardwalk, looked around the centre city and so on, returning to the car about two hours later. We spotted the car in the distance, and I went to pull the keys out of my pocket – no keys. I had locked the car when we arrived but went back for my hat so assumed I may have locked them in or dropped them. As we drew closer, I saw the keys were in the door lock where I had left them! Maybe no one wanted the hassle of LHD? We dined with the Wolseley club that night, Stan, Bernie and Trevor being owners, tolerating me as my father had two 6/110s and we once owned a 6/90. Monday was the day the rallying truly began. The organisers were using a new format which meant all cars would arrive at the same lunch venue by a choice of long or short routes. The best innovation was that entrants could leave when it suited them without gathering at HQ; instructions starting on the main road out. Definitely the way to go for future events was the popular verdict. Today’s destination was Tikorangi. The prepaid lunches at $15 a mouth were tasty and great value, as were the evening meals at only $20. Entertainment that night was by an Irish group featuring the amazing fiddling by Marion Burns, an enormously talented entertainer. Some 500 cars on the rally meant approximately 1,000 at least to be fed, 10 persons to each round table. Tuesday was a competitive day which is not of interest to us. We each went our separate ways, Carole and I visiting the beautiful gardens which also features an innovative children’s playground that our council should look at for inspiration. Entertainment that night was by the White Goat Band, with Jodie Vaughan. Che Orton also featured doing a great half hour impersonation of Elvis and later as a rock singer. Brilliant – nobody wanted to leave. Opunake was the destination for Wednesday taking in Mt Egmont Lighthouse on the way. A quiet restful drive and plenty of time to view the cars in glorious sunshine. The Howard Morrison Quartet sang for us that night, a quite wonderful experience. The feature event on Thursday was the Inglewood Street Party but prior to that we drove to Stratford to go through the Pioneer Village, a fascinating place that would need at least four hours to appreciate it all. At Inglewood (home of FunHo) the cars were directed to a holding paddock and eventually mustered into the closed-off main street parked three-wide with more in a gravel carpark slightly below the road. This was the public’s chance to see the cars and they embraced it with enthusiasm. Cars a bit close for comfort but it worked OK. HQ and entertainers had the night off. Ho Ho.
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Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring (continued) Friday’s destination was Hawera, featuring the Tawhiti Museum. If you are ever in this neck of the woods, see it and allow lots of time. This was the final night, and the caterers really outdid themselves with innovative table settings by Floral Artists and an excellent light display from the technicians at the back who were present each night with the spotlights and sound mixing. Speeches were very short, always a relief, and included words from the evergreen founding member, Andrew Anderson. Shane Cortese, backed by the 8-Track Band, provided outstanding rock & roll music hour after hour, their lead guitarist was a revelation. Standing ovations from the crowd were rewarded with encore after encore…but all good things must end, and the rally was finally over. When it’s over, it’s over so I won’t write about the homeward journey. There were no mechanical mishaps and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. The organisers did themselves proud, quite the best of the many international rallies we have attended. Thank you. Kevin Casey
Carole, Dot and Trevor dine with Gwen and Alistair Jones. Alistair is Patron of the Tauranga VCC, Highland Fling inspiration, President of the Hudson club and 4th larrikin in Last of the Summer Wine.
Our old 1928 Cadillac (subject of Messing With History) bonds with our current ride.
Andy Fox owns this very original 1936 Cadillac. 15
2022 Dunedin - Brighton Rally Prizegiving Photos Courtesy of Colin Winter
Judy Winter
Phil Boult
Paul Herron 16
A BIT OF LOCAL HISTORY In the years leading up to WW2 the Motorcycle Section of the AAO held beach races at Waikouaiti. On one such meeting the Lagoon overflowed onto the beach. A spectator drove his car across this, as a result of this it promptly sank and was lost.
After this accident the AAO banned beach racing and it was not until after the war before they relented and permitted racing again. So, in 1945 the motorcycle section held another meeting. Owing to rough weather the beach was covered with clumps of seaweed. However, the boys got to work and cleaned a section and commenced racing. In one race a large wave chased a rider going down the beach up onto the tracks of another rider coming back. The rider took evasive action and rode into soft sand up the beach, colliding with a girl playing in the sand. She received a broken leg. The result of this was a legal row which had the motorcycle committee liable for damages. However, it was settled out of court by the AAO, who then took steps to restrict all motorcycle events. So, on the 15th March 1945 at the conclusion of a motorcycle section AAO meeting it was resolved to form a new club to be called the Otago Motorcycle Club. After discussion Mr Earle Smither was elected chairman. So, seventy odd years on, the last forty of those organising the Brass Monkey Rally, the OMCC has become famous in NZ and abroad for running this successful event. Bill Veitch 17
Ruth Edmunds at the North Otago Wheelie Wander Photo courtesy of Lee Brehaur from North Otago via Facebook
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Email: otcl@es.co.nz Postal: 406 Hillside Road, Dunedin Phone 455 5029
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