SIDE CURTAINS
SIDE CURTAINS The magazine of the
ROTORUA VINTAGE AND VETERAN CAR CLUB
DECEMBER 2019
WE’RE NOW ON FACEBOOK ! www.rvvcc.org.nz
November Club Run
SIDE CURTAINS - December 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 - vacant Committee Bob Mackay Terry Wadsworth Ronald Mayes Kevin Scott Lois Thompson Neville Harper
CONTENTS Chairman’s Report From The Secretary Spring Tour 2019 November Midweekers Lakefront Car Show Upcoming Midweek Runs Events Calendar
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Mid Weekers - Bob Mackay Side Curtains Editor - David Tomlinson rvvcc.editor@gmail.com Beaded Wheels - Ronald Mayes Librarian - Dennis Kenny Asst Librarian - Roger Couchman Asst Librarian - John Kirkland Cards/Flowers - Doreen Green
Cover Photos Front - November Club Run Back - Spring Tour 2019
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 December 2019
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Chairman’s Report
- November 2019 by David Tomlinson
November’s club night featured a talk by Mike Thorne on the recently completed Spring Tour, and then a talk from the Philps on their tour of the UK driving a modern mini with the NZ based “Brits Job” hosts. Mike’s description of the Spring Tour was colourful as one would expect, and we also got a good insight as to what it was like to drive all over the UK for 6 weeks. Neville Harper also brought along a lot of surplus car parts and many found new homes. Our December meeting will feature a talk from new members Dennis Brown and Jennifer Cole about their recent travels abroad. We already have a speaker lined up for our February club night but we will see more cars in the room at future meetings too. We also had an excellent Christmas Social night at the clubrooms with quizzes, Secret Santa gifts and great food. Thanks to Angie and her helpers for putting on a great night, which continued on to a lunch and afternoon tea the next day with a quickly put together club run the next day. Sadly a couple of break downs marred what was a lovely Sunday afternoon. Hopefully both cars will be back on the road very soon. The run went south around the outside of Lake Rerewhakaaitu with great views of Mount Tarawera on the way round, then back to the clubrooms. 2
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In December we will have a few Xmas snacks at our last club night for the year, followed by our usual Posh Picnic Run on the Sunday after. These will be our last activities for 2019, but we have our ever bigger Car Show at the lake front on 19 January, and mid-weekers will start again in January 2020 too. There is no Side Curtains issue in January, so this is your last magazine until February. I would also like to note that this issue is the 50th Side Curtains magazine that I have edited. Looking back over 2019, we sadly lost a few members, but we also had a few new members join with an interesting array of vehicles from vintage through to 1980s cars. I hope the Christmas break gives members time to get their cars ship shape for 2020 to keep numbers up at our regular club and mid-week runs. I am off the to UK with Sean for 3 weeks on Christmas Day, we don’t get back until just before the Lakefront Car Show so if you have an queries about the car show after Christmas please direct them to our branch secretary Dennis. One of the highlights of my trip will be a long time bucket-list visit to the Alfa Romeo museum in Milan, which we are doing as a day trip before we head back home. I wish all branch members and their families all the best for the festive season, and hope to see most of you at the Lakefront Car Show in January with a car or two (or three!). Remember all cars of interest are welcome at the car show, they don’t have to be club eligible cars. Side Curtains December 2019
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FROM THE SECRETARY by Dennis Whimp Great to see the number of new
members at our various functions. We provide new members with their name badges. To help them assimilate, it is important that all members wear their name badges to all of our gatherings. If you have lost yours let me know and I can arrange a replacement. The current cost is $15. Vehicle Identification Certificate (VIC) applications The forms have again been updated. Forms should be downloaded from the NZ Vintage Car Club website as they continue to be updated as procedures change etc. The National Office require all applications to be recorded in branch committee meeting minutes so please let me know if you are not dropping them in to me to on send. Ralph Bennett has satisfied a long standing itch and purchased a very tidy original 1953 Humber Super Snipe. He had one many years ago and has had a hankering for a long time to get another one. It is 3 inches shorter than the Buick but probably would not be classified as a small car. I had also had an itch for another Model A roadster pickup as we had many good times in one years ago so when a very tidy 1930 ex Gisborne one came up for sale in Rotorua, I thought I would have a serious look. I 4
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had forgotten the contortions you had to go through to get in and the line of vision was through the top of the windscreen which was why we had the hood down so we could look over the screen. That satisfied that itch. The pickup, which had been well restored 40 or so years ago and was in very good condition, eventually sold on trade me for $25,600. Both Tauranga and Waikato Swap Meets had big attendances and fine weather. There is always the shed clear out, stalls full of bargains, that results in happy punters. Thanks Neville for bringing along the remnants of your cleanout to the club night for members to help themselves to resulting in not much left for the scrappy. If you are up at the stock-car track look for our replacement swap meet sign high up on the Race Control building where it can be easily seen from the terraces. We needed a members scaffolding to get it up which was much safer than the signwriter’s extension ladders.
From Myrtle Fleet’s Family To the Committee & members of the Rotorua VCC On the behalf of the Fleet Family, I wish to convey our sincere thanks to you for the beautiful flowers, thoughts & sentiments on the day. I also wish to thank you for the use of the club rooms. All of which helped to give Mum the best send off. Murray and Family Side Curtains December 2019
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Spring Tour 2019
(5-7 Nov) by Mike in the Red Panther
This year the Spring Tour was organized by Rocky (The Boss) and Rebecca (Entertainments Manager). As Rocky was setting the course I knew it would have some great driving roads especially if you are a ‘hoon’ like me. Some of the participants met in New Plymouth the night before after riding the Forgotten Highway Rail Trail organized by Angie , whilst the rest of us met at the Dam Café in Whakamaru for morning tea. Rocky and Becs provided a complete itinerary including travel instructions, distances and anticipated travel times. We were scheduled to depart Whakamaru promptly at 10.30am. After being suitably chastised by the Boss for not listening, we received a briefing and left at 10.45am – but we did it promptly. We travelled SH30 to Kopaki, SH4 to Te Kuiti, 8 mile Junction and then onto Pio Pio for lunch at the Fat Pigeon Café. I continue to be amazed with the quality of cafes at some of New Zealands small, out of the way towns. After a relaxing lunch and a few laughs we travelled onto New Plymouth via SH4. Tired of the funeral procession pace I took off for a hoon and arrived at the Amber Court Motel few hours before the others – well maybe half an hour. I booked a studio but was assigned a larger unit with two king sized beds – wishful thinking. Travel distance for the day was 290kms or about 3 hours 45 mins, 5 hours if you drive a Triumph. Chrissy drove a few extra kms after following some red car that wasn’t part of our group. At the motel I needed a Phillips screwdriver to tighten a headlight guard and I knew Billy would have one. Sure enough, not one, but two Phillips screwdrivers - and that was from his overnight bag. Goodness knows what he keeps in his car tool box. After a quick lie down we met at the Fiskes unit for happy hour. I rolled up in my PJs but it wasn’t that sort of party. After drinks we walked and some staggered 850m to the Lone Star for dinner – longest 850m I’ve ever walked. I forgot the meals were large but managed to chew my way through two large lamb shanks. As is tradition (and being one of the few who still works for a living) I shouted several bottles of wine. Now Dave and I don’t drink, the merry widows were having an alcohol free night and Adelai drinks enough to fill an egg cup, so who drank all the wine? After tea I caught the bus into town. Got 6
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off at a night club. It wasn’t easy – the bus didn’t stop there. The next morning we departed the motel at 9.30am to meet at the Hillsborough Holden Museum in Egmont Rd. You don’t have to be a Holden fan to appreciate this impressive and beautifully presented exhibition. Maurie was in 7th heaven. The collection was started 20 years ago by Steve and Joy Fabish when he restored a 1977 HX GTS Monaro. Most of the cars on display, which are insured for $2.5mill are either new, unused, low kms or restored and include a rare 1948 FE, 1949 FX , 1967 HR sedan, SLR5000, 1971 Caprice and various Monaros and utes. Holden NZ even presented the Fabishs with a free, new model Holden SV6 (rebadged Opel) for Valentines Day last year. The complex includes a café, mini golf, large valley garden with luge and train rides and building is underway for a 200 seat restaurant. Rocky had organized lunch at Big Jims Café which is super organized and the meals were delivered in quick succession. After lunch we backtracked on SH30 to the turnoff just past Awakino to Marakopa. The roads were narrow, windy and steep in places – fantastic for a hoon but not much fun in a heavy Triumph 2500 (sorry Ron almost forgot the TC). As usual I followed Rocky in his Triumph Herald. Its only 1200cc but is surprisingly well balanced and great on corners especially in the hands of a ex-race car driver. Some say he used to be Stig from Top Gear in a previous life. The traffic was light but we did encounter three Angus bulls, two sheep and a goat. Half way through we hit gravel which is not much fun in a soft top so I backed off the race with Rocky. Becs said it was only 10kms of gravel. 14kms later I was back on the Tarseal. I tried going faster to shake off the dust – it didn’t work. Onto the Waitomo Caves Motel. I stayed there 35 years ago – hasn’t changed much. Happy hour at the Fiskes and evening meal at the motel – ordinary menu but tasty. I sat next to Billy and continue to be amazed at the stuff he knows and now I know all about concrete. Travel distance for the day was 205kms or 3 hours 40 mins (thats Rocky time). Ordered room service breakfast the next morning – it never arrived so got my money back and headed to Otorohanga for a coffee and pie. For the final day of the Tour we visited the private collection of Chris and Helen Empson. Sited on a beautiful farm the cars are spread over two large sheds. Now Im not really a vintage car nut but this collection really appealed – some unusual cars, not really a theme although a number of Rovers Side Curtains December 2019
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including a 90, 75, Rover Sport and an SD1. I asked if he was a Rover nut – he claimed it was a disease. Chris is also a wealth of knowledge on Rovers with numerous books to support this. I refurbished a 1939 Rover 16 in the mid 60s. Typical university student – no money and thought I knew everything. Now I know even less – just more money. Chris was able to give me the background to the car which started production in 1939 but went into abeyance whilst the factory produced war machines. Production started again in late 1947. Most of the Rover 16s in NZ are of the post war vintage. The collection also includes a replica pre-war SS100 Jag, 1923 3L Bentley, Aston Martin Vantage, XK120, 1939 Bentley Continental 4.25L Vanden Plas pillarless saloon body which is ugly and elegant at the same time. Outside was a restored Riley 1500 which I understand Terry was interested in purchasing. And then I saw it – a beautiful, restored 1966 TR4A IRS with the 2.2 vanguard motor. And it was red. Now as Ive put on a lot of weight in the past 12 months its getting harder to get in and out of the Panther (not sure about getting a leg over, I cant even get a leg under) and I’ve thought about changing to a more comfortable soft top. The TR4 would be ideal. I offered to swap the TR4 for the Panther. Chris reckons everything is for sale – at a price. After drooling for an hour or two we headed into the wopwops for lunch at a blueberry farm and café named Irrestiblue. Yummy food and the blueberry smoothies were inviting. Bill and Adelai said they had never had a smoothie so I organized one with two straws and as the accompanying photo shows they almost had a smoochup. After lunch it was the usual fond farewells and back to the old folks homes. I have considerable respect for people who organize tours, rallies and the like for others to enjoy so a special thank you to Rocky and Becs for a great trip.
Participants Rocky and Rebecca 64 Triumph Herald Coupe Ron and Gloria 77 Triumph 2500TC Roger and Dianna 74 Triumph Stag Les and Thelma 69 MGB Dave and Jill 64 Mustang Bob and Pat 68 Triumph Vitesse Terry and Chrissy MX5 Bill and Adelai Modern Maurie and Shirley Modern Pat and Shona Modern Michael 88 Panther Kallista 8
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November Midweekers
by Bob Mackay
The run was organised by Les & Thelma Forward. The day starting as a tour of the road works and stop/go men. After meeting at Paengaroa we were held up again in a long queue of traffic all stuck behind a couple of freedom camper vans. We arrived at Les & Thelma’s for morning tea set out in the shade under the trees in the lovely garden. From here we were led on a tour of Edgecombe to view the new stop bank installed after the flooding disaster. From here we drove to the Hub at Whakatane for very pleasant lunch at the ‘Mata Craft Brewery’. Following lunch were given a guided tour and a run down on the history of the company, the brewing process, bottling and marketing. It was interesting to note that a small craft brewery in Whakatane exports as far away as Singapore. From here we made our own way home, most calling at Blue Berry Corner for ice creams. A great day and our thanks go to Les and Thelma.
BEADED WHEELS by Ronald Mayes Thanks to donations the list of “wants” for the club library collection is getting shorter! To complete the Beaded Wheels collection we still need the following issues: 1 to 36, 39, 43 to 60 from the 1950s and 1960s, 287 (August 2007), and 292, 293, 294 and 295 of 2008. Of another magazines I still seek the early NZ Classic Driver issue which featured Triumph 2000s and 2500s. Side Curtains December 2019
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Rotorua Vintage & Veteran Car Club Inc proudly present the
8th Annual Rotorua Lakefront Car Show 10am - 2pm, Sunday, 19th January 2020 ALL CARS, BIKES AND COMMERCIALS WELCOME! The venue is the Rotorua Village Green at the Lake Front, off Whakaue Street. This is an informal car show open to any individuals or clubs to display their vehicles. Drivers will be asked for a gold coin donation upon arrival. All monies raised will be donated to St Johns Ambulance Rotorua. Car clubs are welcome to display their vehicles in a group. During the day drivers and their companions can enjoy their own picnic lunch under the trees, or take advantage of local eateries, including Rotorua’s “Eat Street” which is at the southern end of the show area. Rotorua’s Soundshell Market will be in operation adjacent to the Car Show, as well as other holiday attractions.
Over 330 vehicles were on display at last year’s show, and the event has been very popular with locals and holiday makers alike. Vehicles have ranged from early vintage to almost new. For further information email info@rvvcc.org.nz or like our Facebook page (Rotorua Vintage Car Club) for any updates. We look forward to seeing you there!
ALL PROCEEDS DONATED TO ST JOHNS AMBULANCE ROTORUA
www.rotoruavintagecarclub.org.nz 10
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CLUB NIGHT - December 11th Neil Hunt Park - 7.30pm Speakers: Dennis Brown & Jennifer Cole (World Travels) Followed by tea, coffee and Xmas treats.
Upcoming Midweek Runs
by Bob Mackay
December - No run planned January - Wednesday 15th The proposed visit to the Port of Tauranga for a conducted tour has now been confirmed. As this visit had to be prearranged well in advance a number of members were unable to commit to their attendance. Arrangements for this tour have now been confirmed for a small group; those attening have been contacted directly.
December “Posh Picnic” Run - December 15th This year’s Posh Picnic will see the first car away from the club rooms at 1pm on Sunday, December 15th. Please bring $5 pp for the High Tea provided at the end of the run. The run is around 70km on good country roads with very little main road driving, it will not be fast driving and probably take about 80-90 minutes. We will then be hosted at Pat Burr’s place for a High Tea starting around 3pm. Bring a cup & saucer, plate & your own seats etc. Dress in era of your car! Side Curtains December 2019
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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
Side Curtains December 2019
November Midweekers
Spring Tour Moment
Xmas Social 2019
Railways Bus, Rotorua, 1970s