SIDE CURTAINS
SIDE CURTAINS The magazine of the
ROTORUA VINTAGE AND VETERAN CAR CLUB
JULY 2021
WE ARE ON FACEBOOK ! www.rvvcc.org.nz
JUNE CLUB RUN
SIDE CURTAINS - July 2021 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
CONTENTS
Secretary - Dennis Whimp 021 731 678
Chairman’s Report
2
From The Secretary
4
Treasurer - Terry Fitzpatrick
June Car In The Room
6
Club Captain Terry Wadsworth
Classic & Sports Car mag
8
Asst. Club Captain Fleur Tomlinson
June Midweek Run
9
Committee Ronald Mayes Neville Harper Lois Thompson Jenny Cole Dennis Brown Geoff Nitz
Prize Giving 2021
10
Coming Events
12
Mid Weekers - Jenny Cole Side Curtains Editor - David Tomlinson rvvcc.editor@gmail.com Beaded Wheels - Ronald Mayes Librarian - Dennis Kenny Librarian - Ronald Mayes Librarian - Roger Couchman Cards/Flowers - Doreen Green
Cover Photos Front - May & June Midweekers Back - June Run & Prize Giving
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 July 2021
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Chairman’s Report
- June 2021
by David Tomlinson
Our June club night hosted Michael Thorne’s recently acquired Alfa Romeo GTV6 as the car in the room. I have a soft spot for Alfas, and this is a very nice car. Our July club night features a 1958 Chev Impala as the car in the room. If you would like your car (or motorbike) as the car in the room one club night, let Neville Harper know. Speaking of Neville, he organised our June run which was a shed raid at 3 properties before we returned to the club rooms for our annual prize giving and a big afternoon tea. The first “shed” was an eclectic mix of memorabilia and Ford cars in a very well put together vintage garage in Ngongotaha, followed by visits to Dennis Whimp’s to see his Buick and then to Dennis Brown and Jenny Cole’s to see the Humber restoration progress. Thanks to everyone involved in putting the day on. The midweekers visited the Ross Brothers museum in Hautapu, and I did what I could to attend but could not free myself from the shackles of work. It did not help that two of my staff were working next door to Ross Brothers the whole time the visit took place meaning I could not leave my office. July’s Swap Meet is now only a few days away. Then in August we will host our Sulphur City Rally. I hope most branch members will be able to assist at the Swap Meet, and we have a good number take part in August’s rally. Club runs resume in September, just a reminder if you would like to organise a run, or have ideas for a good Sunday run, let our Club Captain Terry Wadsworth know. 2
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At the VCC’s AGM in Christchurch in August, the executive (of which our branch is a single vote) will be deciding on adopting a new VCC logo from 2022. The logo being put forward, which is different to the previous example circulated (which looked very much like our branch logo), is elsewhere in this issue and we can discuss it on our July club night. On the weekend before our July club night Fleur, Alex and I went to the monthly Hamilton breakfast meet at the Diner Café. There were many usual suspects there, Alex particularly liked the DeLorean. A couple I had not seen before were a very tidy Isuzu 117 coupe, and a very rare Ibis. This was one of eight NZ made cars built on a Mini platform with a 1300cc Allegro motor. It looks like a micro AC Cobra. Very cute. This meet features lots of older cars, muscle cars and a few hot rods. Always very well attended and big queues at the breakfast bar (they have a buffet I think $16 pp). They even give out a few prizes including vouchers for the café and MTA fuel vouchers. I won some vouchers a few months back. The weather was perfect and we even had a few hot air balloons pass overhead. One of our Sulphur City Rally sponsors, Jaycar the electronics people on Lake Rd, have set up a “cash account” in the name of our branch (Rotorua Vintage & Veteran Car Club, account number 21504058). You can use this to get a discount off some items, but may be asked to produce your VCC card as ID. Lastly, as technology moves on, we can no longer write cheques, and after a review of our home and office technologies, I have decided to close down our home landline phone. Both Fleur and I have our cell phone numbers listed in the printed version of Side Curtains, and I can be called during week days on 07 855 2580 (Hamilton) and Fleur on 357 2674. Please delete our 357 2712 home number from any contact list. Side Curtains July 2021
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FROM THE SECRETARY by Dennis Whimp A big thanks to Fleur for all the delicious baking she did for the prize giving afternoon tea and to Shelley for helping make the finger food and the set out. It sort of turned in to an early tea as there was so much food and no one keen to go home. The garage raids organised by Neville were well received by all and I had the pleasure of having to tidy my garage. Even then, I couldn’t fit in the 50 or so who turned up, but it was a beautiful fine day. I also found a few small Buick parts that I had misplaced many years ago. For those who missed the explanation on my 1930 Buick roadster that is nearing completion, here is a summary. The Buick arrived in Wellington in Dec. 1929 as a Sports coupe with wind up windows. The second owner around 1948 removed the body from the windscreen back and made it into a farm truck. The third owner salvaged it from under a tree in 1969 and spent 5 years restoring it, using a very strange roaster body. The original mechanicals were completely rebuilt. Over the next 25 years the car did only 20,000 miles. I purchased it in 1998 with the idea of building a replacement correct roadster body. A trip to the Ballarat swapmeet north of Melbourne resulted in me acquiring the correct roadster rear end body panels which we deconstructed and brought back as a flatpack luggage. All the sheetmetal parts including the mudguards went through Doug’s dipping baths. For various reasons, the restoration went on the backburner but I am now keen to get it completed. The upholstery went in late last year. For those who were wondering how the prize giving trophy points are allocated, it was explained that a point is given for each 4
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Wednesday Branch night attended, plus a point for each Sunday rally attended. (but not the Wednesday midweekers). That is the reason for the attendance book being there beside the door for everyone to sign in. In this Covid age, it is also the register of attendance should we get a close contact at any of our meetings. So please sign in when you arrive. I see that the Hawkes Bay Branch have at their AGM voted to change their name from the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand, Hawkes Bay Branch Inc to the Hawkes Bay Vintage and Classic Car Club Inc. This name change needs the approval of the national organisation, as we are all branches of that group. National has rejected such name changes in the past so it will be interesting to watch that space. A reminder to wear your name badges to our branch events. Below is the proposed new VCC logo that will be voted on at the August VCC national executive meeting. We will discuss this at the July club night meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting and wish to pass comment on the logo please let Dennis Whimp or David Tomlinson know your thoughts before the end of July.
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June Car In The Room by Michael Thorne 1985 Alfa-Romeo GTV6
I had been thinking of another classic for some time. Something that could take more than two people and a suitcase, but didn’t look like a family sedan. It had to be well presented, driveable and a little different. I’d always liked the clean lines and performance of the GTV6 but they are rare and hard to find in New Zealand. On the way to the Rangiora Muscle Car Madness in January, we were going to be passing through Leithfield, the home of Waimak Classic Cars so decided to go online to see what was in stock and to my surprise they had just listed a GTV6. Made an appointment to view the next day. It was well presented, started easily, no unhealthy noises or smoke, drove well with a good service history and Waimak Classic Cars organised transport to Rotorua. It was delivered to Rotorua first week in March on my return from the South Island. The Alfa’s first big adventure was the “Not The Spring Tour” to Napier, Masterton, Wellington, Taihape and home. The car performed well with good oil pressure and water temperature but the gearbox took some getting used to. THE HISTORY Alfas have always been about looks and speed, but reliability was often compromised. By the late 1970s sales were being affected by these issues so Alfa’s solution was to add more ‘fab-looking’ fast cars to the range. It had already produced the GT and GTV versions of the Alfetta but in 1980 a more powerful 2.5L V6 was added to the range under the name GTV6. Originally fitted with six Dellorto carbs, in 1981 the V6 was fitted with fuel injection 6
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for improved performace and tuning. Based on the Alfetta’s elegant Giugiaro design, the GTV6 featured a distinctive bulge in the bonnet to accommodate the larger engine and fuel injection unit. The Busso designed all-alloy V6 was considered by most to be the best V6 in production at the time. The transaxle transmission ensured a perfectly balanced weight distribution, making for superb handling. The GTV6 was the winner of the 1982 and 1983 European Touring Car Champs and a successful rally car. THE TECHNICAL BITS V6 SOHC Fuel Injection 2500cc RWD 160BHP (117kw) / 213 NM Top Speed 132mph (212kph) - 0 to 60 8.4 secs Transaxle transmission 5 speed manual (low gear ratios) 4 wheel ventilated disc brakes Rack and pinion steering Weight 1210 kg Electric windows - Air conditioning 19,400 were produced between 1980-1986
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Classic and Sports Car Magazine by Ronald Mayes In the latest (well, April) issue of Classic and Sports Car magazine in our public library there is an obituary for Dorothy Caldwell, b. 1918, d February this year in Hamilton, aged 103. She began rallying in her 90s with a 1963 Silver Cloud 3 with her youngest son Alistair, who had been a McLaren Formula One team manager in the 1970s. She was recognised by Guinness Records as the oldest co-driver/navigator. Their first event was the 2012 13000km TransAmerica Challenge, New York to Alaska. They completed that rally and then drove back to New York. She received the Spirit of the Rally award. According to the magazine they then competed in the 2016 Haka Classic (don’t recall reading about that one - RGM) 5000km around both North and South Islands. Hope for us in later years yet!
There is also an article on how wonderful Alfasuds can be (if you can find a rust-free one) and a comparison between a 1971 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Mulliner-Park Ward coupe and a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 coupe. Interesting reading! Finally an article about the Wolseley Hornet/Riley Elf Mini. Times change: LJK Setright said the upmarket Minis were for “those small-minded snobs who found the idea of a Mini intriguing but the Austin or Morris name offensive.” Motor Sport said the Elf was an “appropriate gift for debutantes, daughters, wives and mistresses..” 8
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Midweekers, 30 June
by Dennis Brown & Jen Cole
A bit cool last night!!! A lovely crisp morning and great to see Les & Thelma making the trip from Whakatane in their immaculate Morris 1000. Eighteen of us left the clubrooms at 9.30am headed for C&R Developments in Cambridge. Those in the group: Terry in the beautiful BMW, David & Jill in stunning Ford Falcon. Geoff & Christine in a modern, Evan & Wynn in a modern, Paul in his topless MGB…Brrrr, Shona and Pat in their lovely Mercedes, John & Jo in a modern, Roger & Diana in the mighty Stag, Bob & Pat met us at the venue in their modern and Jen & I in the Landy. Apologies from Michael & Ros. They are swanning around the country in their motor home. On display, an impressive array of different types of cars and machinery. The Ross Brothers are deeply into motorsport and some of their cars were on display such as a couple of 1970 Dodge Chargers. One recently raced at Bathurst. An array of Ford Falcons, a Fairlane, Mustangs, two Aston Martins, Holdens, Valiants, a Kenny Smith race car and Nissan Skyline R muscle car. Various motor bikes, including a jet turbine propelled beast. In an adjacent shed, the heavy equipment. A behemoth Komatsu Super Dozer. One of two operating at the Stockton coal mine. The largest bulldozer made, costing $5.5m when purchased and gifted to the Ross’ for display. What else would you do with such a monster once its useful life has ended? It took 5 trucks to transport it to their premises. Nelson, our host, gave us an interesting talk on the Ross family history and activities. Just after 1pm we headed to the Columbus Cafe in Mitre 10 Mega. Thanks team for joining us in what was a most enjoyable outing. Side Curtains July 2021
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Branch Prize Giving for 2021 Summit Cup (Most Rallied Vintage) – Bill & Adelai Skelton Fleet Trophy (Most Rallied Post Vintage) - Ralph Bennett Trevor Burns Trophy (Most Rallied Post-War Vintage) 1st Neil & Sharon Handley, 2nd John & Gayla Newson, 3rd Les Martin Kiwi Cup (Most Rallied Post 1960) 1st= Ronald Mayes, 1st= David Tomlinson, 3rd = Roger Nelson Ken & Lynn Rowson Trophy P80 - Pat Burr McGill Trophy (Night Run) 1st Joeline Hossack & Maree 2nd= Terry Fitzpatrick & Dennis Whimp, 2nd= Fleur & Kate Tomlinson Johnson Trophy (Club Captains Run) - Not presented for 2021 Mowbray Cup (BBQ Run) 1st Alan & George Judd, 2nd= Fleur & Kate Tomlinson, 2nd= Ralph Bennett & Doug Lambert, 2nd= David & Sean Tomlinson Cliff & Shona Wickham Trophy (Chairman’s Run) 1st Neville & Carol Harper, 2nd Ronald Mayes & Geoff Nitz 3rd= Bill & Adelai Skelton, 3rd= Terry Wadsworth & Shelley Lakeland Ford Trophy – (Most Rallied Ford) - Kevin Scott Norman Honour Trophy (Lady Navigator) - Gloria Mayes Harry Lapwood Cup (Male Navigator) 1st= Dennis Whimp. 1st= Sean Tomlinson Caulfield Cup (Novice Member – less 2 years in Club) - Joeline Hossack Mathias Cup (Most Aggregate Points for Year) 1st= Ronald Mayes, 1st= David Tomlinson 3rd= Bill & Adelai Skelton, 3rd= Roger Nelson Anglis Cup (Significant contribution to the branch) David Tomlinson 10
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CLUB NIGHT - July 7th Neil Hunt Park - 7.30pm Car In The Room: 1958 Chevrolet Impala Followed by tea, coffee and biscuits.
July Club Event Our branch event for July is the Swap Meet on Sunday, 11 July.
Midweek Run, Wednesday 28th July by Jenny Cole This month we are staying close to home. We will meet for morning tea at the clubrooms at 10am. Then at 10.30am we will leave for Ralph Bennett’s shed at Lake Okareka. It will be exciting to see where he is up to on his new project, a Humber Super Snipe. Such an iconic symbol of British aristocracy from the early 1950’s. Used by the upper echelon in NZ too. Maybe we can assist him in his endeavours?! We’ll then head to the Landing Café at Lake Tarawera for a well earned lunch. As the cafe is usually only open at weekends in July, Geoff is opening especially for us. A great opportunity to sit and chat in peace and quiet, as we will be the only patrons. It’s a lovely setting, right beside the shoreline of Lake Tarawera. Let’s fill the car park and make a great day of it. FOR SALE: 1968 Wolseley 6/110 (car is in Hastings) Last owner for 50 years, 78,000 miles, auto. Current WoF. Needs a little TLC. Original paint. Brakes reconditioned. Contact Ivan at windrode140@gmail.com or phone 06 374 6326 Side Curtains July 2021
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www.rvvcc.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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JUNE CLUB RUN
JUNE RUN & PRIZE GIVING