SIDE CURTAINS
SIDE CURTAINS The magazine of the
ROTORUA VINTAGE AND VETERAN CAR CLUB
APRIL 2019
WE’RE NOW ON FACEBOOK ! www.rvvcc.org.nz
Chairman’s Run - March 2019
SIDE CURTAINS - April 2019 The magazine of the ROTORUA VINTAGE AND VETERAN CAR CLUB
Clubrooms: Neil Hunt Park, Tarawera Rd, Rotorua Postal: PO Box 2014, Rotorua Email: rotorua@vcc.org.nz Website: www.rotoruavintagecarclub.org.nz Vero Insurance: Phone 0800 658 411 and quote your VCC membership number Club Meetings: 2nd Wednesday of month (except January), 7.15pm for 7.30pm start OFFICERS
Chairperson - David Tomlinson Secretary - Dennis Whimp Ph 021 731 678 Treasurer - Terry Fitzpatrick Club Captain - vacant Asst. Club Captain - Kevin Scott Committee Bob Mackay John Peters Terry Wadsworth Ronald Mayes Phil Monk
CONTENTS Chairman’s Report 2 From The Secretary 4 March Car In The Room 5 NI Club Captain’s Tour 6 AGM 2019 7 VCC National Motorcycle Rally 8 Wakato VCC Ladies Rally 10 Upcoming Midweek Runs 11 Events Calendar 12
Mid Weekers - Bob Mackay Side Curtains Editor - David Tomlinson rvvcc.editor@gmail.com Beaded Wheels - Ronald Mayes Librarian - Roger Couchman Asst Librarian - John Kirkland Cards/Flowers - Doreen Green
Cover Photos Front - March Club Night Back - Chairman’s Run
CLUB CAR PHOTOS
If you want your club car photo on the clubroom wall then get in touch with Doug Green, and he will organise a time and place for a photo shoot. It would be good if we could have all member’s car photos on display. Side Curtains April 2019
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Chairman’s Report
- March 2019 by David Tomlinson
March was a very busy month, not least for Fleur and I who got married, then had a very quick honeymoon in the South Island, visiting Stewart Island and a couple of car museums (!). The Bill Richardson Museum in Invercargill is a great place to visit, especially if you like trucks, tractors or early Ford motor cars. Very well laid out and an excellent café. We also visited the National Transport & Toy Museum near Wanaka, which is interesting, and has some rare vehicles, but is perhaps a little less well laid out than Bill Richardson’s Museum. Our car in the room for March was Reg Munro’s Austin-Healey Sprite, a beautifully presented car, with an interesting history. We had our Chairman’s Run in March which ended at my workshop in Ngongotaha for an afternoon tea amongst my “projects”, two of which have since got WoF’s and are back on the road! The North Island Club Captain’s Tour passed through our club rooms too, with a small group of branch members joining them on the trip around the Bay Of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Whanganui. In April we will have our Night Run, and the NZ Rolls-Royce & Bentley Club’s AGM rally with pass through Rotorua having lunch at our clubrooms on Saturday, April 27th around 12.30pm. We will have our AGM in May, for which there is a notice later in this issue, and a nomination form. The forecast special function for June regarding our branch’s “age” has been postponed a year. 2
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Regarding prizing giving, this is a last reminder, if you have a trophy (or two!) from last year can you please get them back to the clubrooms ASAP so they can be engraved for this year’s prize giving in June. As this issue goes to print, the huge (and expensive) collection of the Gosford Classic Car Museum goes under the hammer due to problems with the Australian Tax Office, and they have posted early bids for the cars online, with some well over AUD$100K already, the top car seems to be an Aston-Martin DB5. The new operation of the mid-weekers, sharing responsibilities for activities seems to be going well, with several future outings already planned. Thanks to all those for supporting Bob here. The Targa Hawkes Bay rally starts in Rotorua in May and there is an opportunity for us to put on a small display of cars on the Village Green on Thursday, May 16th. This will be discussed at our club night in April. If anyone may be interested in displaying, it will likely be in the afternoon, let me know. Lastly, getting back to our AGM in May, if anyone feels they have some spare time to put into making our club run well, particularly those that have not served on the committee in the past, have a think about putting your name forward. Fresh ideas and new energy are very welcome. Our branch is very small, and has a lot of scope for growth and improvement, you can help!
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FROM THE SECRETARY by Dennis Whimp
The AGM is coming up quickly. We have a great committee with each member bringing their own touch of expertise and enthusiasm to the group. We would like to see this continue. Please consider putting yourself forward for a term on the committee. It is a great way to get to know your fellow branch members. Nomination forms are in this magazine. Phone me if you would like to know more about the fun we have. As well as the elected positions, there are numerous backroom jobs where we are always looking for help. One is keeping the clubhouse stocked in toilet paper, hand towels, hand soap etc. plus tea, coffee, milk and biscuits for the Wednesday night meetings. Maurie Crowe has, for a significant number of years, been doing this so well that until recently, I didn’t know how everything magically appeared Maurie is standing down so a big thank you from all of us. Let me know if you would like to help out here. If you are selling your VIC’d VCC vehicle, ensure that you give the VIC card to the new owner. The purchaser is responsible for getting a new VIC from National and sends a change of ownership form and the VIC card to Christchurch where a new card is issued. I can email you a change of ownership form. 4
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March Car in the Room - Reg Munro’s 1959 Austin Healey Sprite Sports Roadster Funny how you can get an itch that won’t go away. Reg explained that he went to a hill climb in 1959 and saw a new racing Sprite with aero windscreen. He thought it was the most beautiful and desirable thing he had seen, apart from Annette of course. At that time a new Sprite cost $1200 which was the same as a new Vauxhall Cresta. So the photo was his only memory of that car, but it kept itching until 1980 when after much discussion he decided to buy the most expensive car he has ever bought. Reg met the vendor at the Ellerslie car show and the car looked great. Money exchanged hands and Reg drove it home. The engine fumed and the gearbox was a real handful. The owner hadn’t mentioned these and other mechanical problems which resulted in a massive reduction in price. The first owner was in Melbourne. It went through a number of hands and then to NZ. These Mark 1 vehicles shared many parts with the A35, Minor 1000 and other BMC models. The engine was a twin carbed 948cc Austin A35. There was no boot as the rear suspension forces are taken through the rigid rear body and floor. The Sprite later morphed into the MG Midget and later mark IV’s were almost identical. They called them Spridgets. Once Reg got the Sprite, he changed the gearbox to a 5 speed Corolla box which lets it run much better. After 10 years of use he decided to give the car a complete restoration. The mechanicals were extensively rebuilt. Included was a repaint and rechrome. The car now looks like it has just left the factory, despite it being an everyday driver.
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North Island Club Captain’s “End of the Summer Wine” Tour Part One 7-15 March 2019 - by Angie Brunton We joined entrants at the RVVCC clubrooms for lunch on Friday to find that unfortunately our North Island Club Captain Kaaren Smylie was unable to join us due to an eye injury. My car load of Des Brunton (brave man), Lois Thompson & Pat Burr travelled to Taupo on Saturday afternoon because due to work commitments we were unable to participate in the Lake Taupo Country Roads Rally but it sounds like all who participated enjoyed the Rally.
Sunday March 10 Taupo - Napier I hadn’t thought that when you have passengers in your 4 seater car you also have their luggage and picnic chairs and sunhats. It was really great that Dave & Esther Williams of the Manawatu branch offered to take a couple of bags for us. I kindly gave away Pat & Lois’s bags thinking that I would know where my luggage was at all times. Interesting too that the sunhats were never worn. After a very early start we met up with the tour participants at Tarawera Café on the Napier-Taupo road at 9.30am for morning tea and a briefing. Unfortunately there were showers at this stage but we got away on schedule at 10.15am we travelled towards Napier on SH 5 and after crossing the Mohaka River bridge we turned left and headed to Glen Fall recreation reserve where members of the Hawkes Bay branch met us. It was on metal roads up and down hill till lunch at the Tutira school. It stayed fine for most of the time we were there but again a heavy shower just as we were packing up to leave. The afternoon run was over the Darkey Spur Road and down into Esk Valley again unsealed hilly road but the surface was like white clay which left the Traveller very dirty. There was time for a real fruit ice cream at Taste of Summer, Bayview before travelling along SH 2 to our overnight stop at Kennedy Park. Dinner was at the Hawkes Bay VCC clubrooms and we were also given fresh picked apples that a member donated, very yummy. Monday 11 March Napier - Waipukaurau This morning’s run was my favourite drive of the rally. We met at Havelock North at 10.30am before travelling alongside the Tukituki river through Elsthorpe to Kairakau Beach where we enjoyed the company of other rallyists and ate our picnic lunch while admiring the scenery out to sea. There are several rocky islands not far from the shore and the limestone cliffs that are a backdrop for the settlement. After lunch it was again up and down and around hills on unsealed roads with splendid views of the surrounding countryside. We travelled past Omakere School and Wanstead Polo Club before arriving at Waipukuaru. As the Central Hawkes Bay branch do not have clubrooms dinner was at the local bowling club and a veritable feast was enjoyed by us all. (to be continued) 6
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Notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Rotorua Vintage & Veteran Car Club Inc The Branch AGM will be held at 7.30pm on 8th May 2019 at the Rotorua VCC Clubrooms, Neil Hunt Park, Rotorua. Agenda items will include: Apologies, Minutes of last year’s AGM, Chairman’s Report, Financial Report, Election of Officers, General Business Only financial members may vote. Nomination papers are available from the club Secretary on request, or you can copy or cut out the form below. Elections will be held for the following positions: Chairperson, Branch Captain, Assistant Branch Captain, Secretary, Treasurer, committee member (between 3 and 6 may be elected) Nomination Form for RVVCC AGM - 8th May 2019 I nominate ………………………………………………………………. for the position of ……………………………………………………… Signed ………………………………………………………………….. I second the above nomination Signed …………………………………………………………………. I agree to have my name put forward for the above nomination Signed …………………………………………………………………. Side Curtains April 2019
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VCC National Motor Cycle Rally 2019 - part 2 by Dave Mayhew
We finally left Blenheim on Thursday for our next stop in Hanmer Springs and this was the day that we were to experience the Molesworth Track, but the track was closed due to fire risk. Riding down southward on the east coast we were expecting some delays as parts of the road were completely destroyed just over two years previously by the Kaikoura earthquake, though civil engineers and road workers had worked a miracle by making the road usable again. We suffered four “hold ups” overall, the first stop was for 10 minutes so we all dismounted and enjoyed watching the seals and their cubs frolicking amongst the rocks on the beach below. When the red stop sign turned green to “slow” we all zoomed off - we all did except me - my bike refused to start, so over the road for a gentle push start which put me at the front of the queue for the next ten minutes, where I disturbed the little old lady in charge of the “stop/slow” sign by keeping my engine revving so that she was unable to hear her mate at the other end on her walkie talkie. It was later suggested that having ridden for an hour at a relatively high speed then stopping on an extraordinarily hot day, my Dragonfly probably suffered some form of vapour lock. We lunched in Kaikoura then turned inland westward for Hanmer Springs where we spent the night in a ski lodge with plenty of room as skiers are few and far between this time of the year. We had covered 171 miles this day along beautiful winding tar sealed roads, no man-made constructions in sight; no fences; power poles; barns or anything, just the road and the yellow hills. The following day Friday, we left Hanmer Springs for St Arnaud in fine stinging rain and by mid-morning were quite wet making us appreciate just how fortunate we had been thus far with the wonderful weather. Amongst the afforested hills we came across 8
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Maruia hot springs with a most welcome mug of hot chocolate, but we never spent time enjoying a hot thermal bath, after which the weather brightened up and we soon dried out again. Towards the west coast over the Lewis Pass then we turned right - north-east toward St Arnaud and another ski resort where we were to spend the night, and the following morning we were able to watch a speed boat regatta on Lake Rotoiti. For our last day in the South Island we had to ride back to Picton via Blenheim in the burning hot sun, the flies on the wrong side of the road seemed to be wearing steel helmets and I suffered many an “ouch” wearing my fully open faced Cromwell. One of the riders was experiencing bad “pinking” problems climbing the hills so I stayed back with him until it became necessary for him to stop and let his bike cool down. I was able to relieve his oil temperature with my spare half pint of oil, after which we plodded on steadily at 40mph to lunch in Blenheim, arriving in Picton later in the afternoon. It was necessary to be present at the Picton ferry at 7am the following morning and the rain was hosing down, it was only 10 minutes to the terminal but when there we had to sit on our bikes in the dark in the pouring rain for 20 minutes until an official stuck our boarding passes - two small slats of wood- into our teeth to carry for 50 metres where they were collected again before it was necessary to ride up a very steep, wet, iron ramp and into the ferry where we tied our bikes down to the floor. Arriving in Wellington we rode straight to the secure parking where we mounted our two bikes onto the trailer and headed for Whanganui on our way home. Overall a wonderful trip, and I was so impressed with the camaraderie amongst the bikers, everybody seemed to do his share with the shopping and the housework and assisting each other with servicing the motorcycles. Side Curtains April 2019
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WAIKATO VCC LADIES RALLY - Sunday 31st March by Angie Brunton
Four of us left Rotorua nice and early to be at the Wild Thyme Café which is between Ohaupo and Te Awamutu for morning tea and the start of the rally. Morning tea took a little longer than expected due to a misunderstanding on the cafe’s part but we got away at 10.38am, ten minutes after our scheduled start time. The theme of the rally was “Birds of a Feather” and we were to wear feathered hats. There were 12 cars participating with 30 plus ladies onboard, we were the only car from another branch. I was happy to see another Morris Traveller 1961 model. The rally was well organised with male marshalls at all stops along the way. It was a relaxing touring run to Sanctuary Mountain, Maungatautari with 20 questions to answer, all about birds. Did you know a canary has 2200 feathers? We didn’t and who knew that it takes 40 minutes to hard boil an ostrich egg. We had a stop at the “Interiors Barn” where the sign out front that said “Ladies, your husband rang and said buy as much as you like”, that was no use to us as there was only one person in the car that had a husband. There was all sorts of homewares and furniture for sale clocks, metal and wooden ornaments & lots of signs, my favourite was “I love you more than yesterday. Yesterday you annoyed me!!” We enjoyed our BYO lunch at the information centre and a 1 hour walk in the reserve. We left 2 of our party at the information centre to find answers to some of the questions, there was quite a shower of rain but we had our rain jackets and didn’t get too wet under the canopy of trees. We came back from our walk on different track to the one we entered, BIG MISTAKE, it was very steep uphill. It was then time to continue the run which took us along the other side of the mountain back to Cambridge with a stop at Lexington Park, “The Studio & Gardens” where we enjoyed looking at the art work and the beautifully furnished rental cottages. A lovely peaceful setting but then another heavy shower of rain. We then proceeded to the Waikato branch clubrooms for High Tea and prize giving. We didn’t win any prizes as there were certainly some fancier hats than ours and we didn’t get all the bird questions correct. We did however enjoy the High Tea which was served by the male club members. We then headed for home after a most enjoyable day out for the ladies in the 1964 Morris Minor Traveller. 10
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CLUB NIGHT - April 10th Neil Hunt Park - 7.30pm Car In The Room: Canam Spyder three wheeler Followed by tea, coffee, biscuits and birthday cake!
Upcoming Midweek Runs
by Angie Brunton
April Midweekers - 24th April 2019 Meet at clubrooms for morning tea at 9.45am We will travel to Waharoa for lunch at the cheese factory. We will also visit Jan Shoemark glass artist at Waitoa, $2 per person. We will then travel home via Tirau for afternoon tea.
Night Run - Sunday April 14th Be at the clubrooms by 5.30pm for the first course of your dinner. Dinner is $10 per person. Bring a spotlight or powerful torch. The run is on lightly travelled sealed roads and will take just over an hour. It finishes at the clubrooms for dessert. There are eleven questions along the way. Please let Lois Thompson (ph 345 5767) or Dennis Whimp (ph 348 3550) know if you are coming so we can ensure you get a meal. MY SATNAV I have a little Satnav, it sits there in my car, a Satnav is a driver’s friend, it tells you where you are. I have a little Satnav, I’ve had it all my life, it’s better than the normal ones, my Satnav is my wife. It gives me full instructions, especially how to drive, “60 miles an hour”, it says, “you’re doing 65”. It tells me when to stop and start and when to use the brake, and tells me that it’s never ever safe to overtake. It tells me when a light is red, and when it goes to green, it seems to know instinctively just when to intervene. It lists the vehicles just in front, and all those to the rear, and taking this into account it specifies my gear. I am sure no other driver has so helpful a device, for when we leave and lock the car it still still gives its advice. It fills me up with counselling, each journey’s pretty fraught, so why don’t I exchange it and get a quieter sort? Ah well, you see, it cleans the house, makes sure I’m properly fed. It washes all my shirts and things, and keeps me warms in bed! Despite all these advantages and my tendency to scoff, I only wish that now and then I could turn my Satnav off!
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www.rotoruavintagecarclub.org.nz The branch website aims to meet the needs of our members, to promote our branch nationally, and to potential new members. If you have any suggestions please contact David Tomlinson. Please also make sure you “Like” our Facebook page to keep up to date.
Contributions to Side Curtains This is your magazine! Please feel free to share anything you think might be of interest to the membership by sending it to the editor, preferably by email, and a picture says a thousand words, so include photos where possible. Members taking part in club runs or events hosted by other branches are encouraged to pen a short piece about their experience to include in the next issue going to print. All items to the editor by the end of the month. 12
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Bill Richardson’s Transport Museum
National Transport & Toy Museum