AORANGI TRICAR NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH CANTERBURY BRANCH OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND INC.
CLUBROOMS 19-25 REDRUTH ST TIMARU SOUTH
Replica Timaru’s First Car Built by C. W. Wood
October 2020
NOGGIN ANDNATTER First Thursday of the Month
SCVCC CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
2020 - 2021 Year
July Thur = 9th Mid Week Run Sat 18th Garage Raid at Oamaru August = Thursday 20th Quiz night Ashburton Branch Thur 13th = Mid Week Run Sunday 23rd = Cancer Rally September = Sun 6th , Opening Run organized by Ashburton Branch Sunday 20th = Continental Run October =Fri 24th, Sat 25th, Sun 26th = Mt Cook Annual Rally November = Fri 6th Sat 7th & Sun 8th = Safari Weekend Sat 14th, Sun 15th = All American Weekend Sun 22nd = Veteran Vintage & Commercial Rally Saturday 28th = Christmas Dinner at the Clubrooms (mark your Calendar)
NEW YEAR 2021
January 1st 2021 Friday = Fairlie Parade Sunday 10 th = Ladies Rally February Sat 6th, Sun 7th, Mon 8th = Weekend away Sunday 21st = Chairman’s Run Saturday 27th = Open Day
March = Sunday 7th = Motor Bike Rally Sunday 14th = Mid Island Saturday 27th = Swap Meet April Fri 2nd, Sat 3rd, Sun 4th = Easter Rally TBA Thurs 8th = Mid week run Fri 23rd, Sat 24th, Sun 25th = Vintage Vehicles Rally TBA May Thur 13th = Mid Week run Sun 9th = ‘” P ” Classes rally Sun 23rd = Restoration Run June Thursday 3rd AGM Sun 6th = All British Rally Thur 10th = Mid week run Sat 26th = Night Trial
COMING EVENTS NOGGIN & NATTER, Thursday, 1st October, 2020 7-30pm at Clubrooms, Redruth St, Timaru Kitchen Duty, Neil Manchester and John Lester Bar Duty, Alister Day
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Mt Cook Annual Rally 24—25 –26 October
Entry Form was included with Sept Newsletter Entries close 8th October to ashandeve@xtra.co.nz. NO Late Entries ————————————————-
Vauxhall Rally 23—26th October to be held in Timaru Further info Contact Ross Luscombe 6888515—0274359620 or Ron Hammer 6860520 Email srluscombe@xtra.co.nz —————————————————
CHRISTCHURCH SWAPMEET CANCELLED ——————————————North Otago Swapmeet 14th November Enq, northotago@vcc.org.nz ————————————————-
All American Weekend 14—15 Nov
Cruise Night Sat and display Sunday More info Pg 18 ————————————————
Vet , Vin, Comm Rally 22nd November
More info next month ————————————————
Christmas Dinner 28th November
More info next month ————————————————
Highland Fling, Anzac Weekend, Taihape 2021 Anyone interested Contact nicc@vcc.org.nz ————————————————
COVER
Some local members cars parked at Hakatere on the Opening Run
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MID WEEK RUN – 10TH SEPTEMBER 2020
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ON A COLD AFTERNOON, FIFTEEN CARS LEFT THE CLUB ROOMS AND HEAD TO THE OTAIO AREA VIA BEACONSFIELD/ HOLME STATION AND PAREORA RIVER ROADS. ON TURNING INTO GORDONS VALLEY ROAD, WE WERE MET BY A MAGNIFICENT SIGHT OF A PADDOCK OF DAFFODILS AND THEN THE RAIN SET IN. TURNING SOUTH INTO BACK LINE ROAD WE DROVE DOWN THE HILL AND INTO THE OTAIO GORGE RESERVE. THE SUN WAS OUT AND THE BIRDS WERE SINGING. AFTER A CUPPA AND A CHAT SOME PEOPLE DECIDED TO WALK ONE OF THE TRACKS TO THE SWIMMING HOLE, HOWEVER NO ONE BOTHERED TO TAKE A DIP. THANK YOU TO STICK C AND BARRY S FOR ORGANISING AN INTERESTING RUN. RUNS WILL RESUME IN APRIL 2021.
SCVCC Chairman’s Report October 2020
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Hi Fellow Members This report has been written 10 days early due to operational requirements so some of the content may be out of date by the time you read it. Those that have been to the Clubrooms recently will have noticed the scaffolding that was erected to facilitate the first stage of the re roofing project. which was initially instigated to deal with leaks and rot of the chip board ceiling lining. A legacy of now superseded building practices from the 1970’s. A BIG thanks to Alistair for organising it and Alan Geary for the use of his shed for painting the new plywood ceiling panels. Also the painting team of Alistair Day, Alan Geary, Barry Smith, Barry Crossman, Rodger Baird, John Campbell, and Bruce McMillan At the last Noggin & Natter, the members present were asked for volunteers to do the supper for the next noggin & natter. All I can say is that the members present operate by the army creed of not volunteering for any thing as NOT ONE hand went up. It is not a difficult job , even the most culinary inept can surely boil water & heat savouries Under the Licencing Laws, food must be available for the bar to open. NO food No bar simple as that.
Alistair Day would appreciate a call from some volunteers 6 before the 1st of October. Whilst on the subject of Savouries , I was disgusted to see some members scoffing heaps of them as though they hadn’t seen food for a week , show some restraint fellows then there will be enough to go around.! The Opening run with Ashburton went off well although no sign in sheets were provided but I have noted our members present for the record. I enjoyed the run , not have been in the direction of Lake Clearwater for over 15 years. The Mount Cook Rally entries are now flowing in with only one change having been made to the Arrangements. The MacKenzie Country Hotel being closed . The Sunday evening prizegiving & meal will be now held in the Twizel Events Centre from 5pm, BYO. Price $33.00 per person. A Big thanks to Chris James from The High Country Lodge for organising this. See you all on October 1st Ashley
Notes from the Library
October 2020
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Since last month I have managed to shelve most of the donated material referred to last month and rejigged the shelving of more of the magazines. Our supply of duplicated material is building up and it would be nice to see more of the stuff out on the table in the Club Rooms disappear. It will have to end up going to other places soon so please take what you want. In the library itself there is a heap more books, manuals etc which are available for a modest donation so please check them out. Thanks to Nelson Bowden for the donation of a couple more books. There is one on Morris Minors that looks interesting for owners of those popular little cars. Barry Barnes Librarian
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SCVCC Website Updates www.southcanterburyvintagecarclub.co.nz
To access other club newsletters go to www.vcc.org.nz scroll to News from our Branches as hard copy newsletters are not mailed out now. September Website Updates - September 2020 newsletter placed up - Mt Cook Rally post, and online form placed up - North Canterbury Rally post placed up - Further vehicles placed into gallery - Behind the scenes Wordpress updates, tweaks Upcoming - More stories of various runs, online version of newsletter, information about upcoming events, members vehicles in gallery Stories and photos from members are ENCOURAGED and can be sent through to website.scvcc@gmail.com
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Supplied by Grant Mehrtens.
Social distance to the Extreme!
OPENING RUN
Ed BILL
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This year was organized by Ashburton with everyone meeting up at the Hinds Domain. A large number of vehicles attended, no doubt due to not many events being able to be held of late. Rally organizer Peter Lambie gave us a briefing on where we were headed, which was to Hakatere Station up the Ashburton Gorge past Mt Somers to the lunch stop, distance 80kms, “Oops” for Sth Canterbury members this was in addition to the 70km already travelled to Hinds. When leaving home I presumed three quarters of a tank in the V/8 Impala would be plenty for around Ashburton! bad mistake! Luckily we were intending to divert to Methven on the way home to visit family so we were able to fill up there. On talking to Dave Diamond, he thought he must have been nearly out of fuel by the time he arrived home as the Ford V/8 took over 40 litres to fill a 10gal tank (45 litres)! All the above aside it was a great drive zig-zaging across the plains west from Hinds on several roads we hadn’t travelled before with a beautiful day making for good views.
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After passing through Mt Somers it was on up the Ashburton Gorge road passing through the Acklands Mt Somers Station then onto what was Hakatere Station. As a large area of Hakatere has been taken over as Conservation land the remainder is farmed by stations Mt Potts and Mt Possession, the woolshed, which we parked beside is still in use. The original cottage, believed to be one of the earliest buildings in Canterbury, and the other buildings around have been restored by the local community and DOC as a heritage centre, very well done. After the lunch get together and look around some took the chance to have a look at Lake Clearwater further up the road. Thanks to Ashburton VCC for a great day out.
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“Grand Old Lady� 1929 Rolls amongst lesser mortals of the motoring world
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OPENING RUN with Ashburton at Hakatere Station
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3 Day Rally.
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Expressions of interest PLEASE. Fri 11TH, Sat 12TH Sun 13TH December 2020 Day One, Timaru to Cromwell – starting with morning tea at the VCC Club Rooms Day Two, Cromwell to Dunedin – Day Three, Dunedin to Timaru – Finishing with afternoon tea at the VCC Club Rooms. Roads will be approx. 50/50 sealed and shingle. For those that prefer no, or very little shingle, then an alternative all sealed route is available Accommodation will be the entrants choice and responsibility. I am trying to find some place where we can all enjoy an evening meal in Dunedin, so you will be advised of this when I receive your expression of interest. The afternoon tea at the clubrooms is so that we know everyone has completed the rally, and I know that everyone is back safely. Enquiries to Alistair Day, 027 202 5007 or home number 03 688 6108 (or you can leave a message and I will get back to you.) Entry forms are now available contact Nola at, nola.day@xtra.co.nz
A Buick from Bygone Days
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By Barry
Barnes When my brother Robin and I were just young guys we heard of an old Buick for sale, cheap. Robin already had his 1913 BSA restored and I was festering about with my 1924 Peugeot and Dad’s 1915 Humber. We thought the old Buick might be good to tow the motorbike on a trailer and also perhaps the Peugeot. Said beast was duly acquired, a 1922 4 cylinder coupe, poorly painted a lurid lime green. Closed cars were not seen as desirable vintage cars and certainly the Buick looked less than elegant. We got the thing home and, as you do, started trying to get it to run. One of our fellow members came around to have a look and we told him of our thoughts for using it as a tow car. Well, he said, it would probably pull a trailer no trouble, but how will you stop it with 2 wheel external brakes? Reality sunk in as we realized that he was quite right. No matter, we’ll get her going and have a bit of fun with it. We were partially successful in this aim and we would belt it up and down Bluff Road in Invercargill, where we lived, and around our favourite track of back roads behind Kew Hospital, but could never get it running on more than 3 and a half cylinders despite which the old thing could go like the clappers with its deep long stroke motor. Fitting a Studebaker Stromberg carburetor in lieu of the Marvel made some difference but the problem was never solved. It was probably valve related but we never had the head off. We also dispensed with the lime green paint. After some rudimentary repairs to some rust outs I applied a brushed on coat of green enamel paint out of Dad’stock of tins suitably mixed together, along with black top and guards. We had obtained a new old stock 23” centre lock Houk wire wheel which allowed one with a dodgy locking plate to be relegated to the spare and the wheels were laboriously hand painted cream. It looked vastly improved but still hardly elegant.’
.’ 17 Other things came along, Robin bought his well worn 1928 Chrysler 75 roadster, now restored and owned by Bruce Washington, and also acquired a girl friend, now his wife, and I bought the Studebaker, so the Buick had to go. We had numerous inquiries but they came to nought and I finally decide I would use the wheels and hubs on the 1915 Studebaker SD4 roadster I had acquired from John McLachlan, so we wrecked it. The rest, minus front axle wheels and rear hubs, went to Fred Collett who had purchased a 1923 tourer which was later acquired by Bob Hartley in Geraldine and I think is still in Timaru, owned by Kevin Segar. Ironically, that old Buick was the first vintage car I tried to buy back in 1959 before I joined the Club. Todd’s Auction Rooms had it for sale at 27 pounds 10 shillings and all I could muster for an offer was 22 pounds 10 which was refused by the owner, Dr Orbell of Notornis/Takahe fame, who had briefly owned 3 Buicks in a short VCC career. One of these Is the 1917 car at Makakihi Hotel. The wheels were not used as originally planned because I sold the Stude to John Rogers who restored it, and wanted to retain the original 25” wooden wheels. The wheels were not used as originally planned because I sold the Stude to John Rogers who restored it, and wanted to retain the original 25” wooden wheels. The wire wheels were sold to Neville Dewson who made a marvellous restoration of a 1913 Overland raceabout which looks splendid on these wheels to which anyone who saw the Overland at the National Veteran Rally will attest. Looking back now it’s a shame the car did not survive but things were viewed differently over 50 years ago. If I had then had the storage to put it away for a few years things might have been different. It is, I guess, nice to think that some parts of the old Buick live on in the 1923 tourer and on the Overland My personal reminders are some scars on my knuckles from the crank handle slipping off during cranking and making very firm contact with the front chassis rails!
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BEHIND THE HEDGE
ED Bill
Seen amongst the willow trees on a river bed a 1930s or 1940s four cylinder English sedan, still virtually complete. If it was an American vehicle I would probably be able to identify the make and model, but I haven’t a clue what this vehicle is, can someone identify it!
Rally Automobile de Monte-Carlo
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The name conjures up memories of the events held in the 1960s where cars would start from all points of Europe and Rally to the finish at Monaco often travelling over alpine passes through snow and ice. Well recently I took part in the Cromwell’s VCCs version called the Monte Targo which they held instead of the cancelled cancer Rally. The idea is to start a one of the nominated start points (in my case Omarama) worth 100 points and travel to other nominated towns and gather points on the way. You must plan your route so as to accumulate 250 points and arrive at the finish, The Central Otago Club Rooms, at high noon on rally day. You can only travel on the Rally day and must obtain proof (photo or receipt) of being at the towns. The entry form has the value of points for each town. Another way of gaining points is to dress to the era of your car, carry a NZ flag, have a coffee on route, and the age of your car is worth good points also. There is compulsory passage of one of 4 alpine passes (Crown Range, Lindis Pass, Moa Creek, and Haast Pass). It is a fun event and every one is a winner on the day. To gain my points, I started in Omarama, 100 points, and travelled over the Lindis Pass, stopping at Tarras, 50 points and had a coffee, 10 points. I then travelled through to Hawea Flat, 20 points, and by-passed Wanaka, stopping at Cardrona, 50 points, and on over the Crown Range. I then stopped at Gibbston, 20 points, and travelled on to the Cromwell VCC club rooms arriving at 5 to 12, or High noon.
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I was one of the 17 cars that took part and every one had a story to tell, and comparing the different routes taken to gain points. Some were dressed in period costumes which looked really great. This is an event which involves a little planning, a lot of driving and very good time management to keep you on schedule. You don’t need a fast car, but having a break down or flat tyre could cost you time. Running out of petrol doesn’t help either. I took my Mini and there was one other on the Rally. In total I travelled just under 400 miles on rally day. The fun part is meeting other cars going in other directions, and giving them a wave as you know that they are trying to gain their points also. Graham Taylor organized a brilliant Rally and if, and when he has another, I will certainly be a starter. A really great event and one not to miss. From the Saddle.
WANTED To Buy I am searching for an 80s to 91 mercedes sec model either the 380 420 or 500 and was wondering if you or any person in your club may have knowledge of one for sale or of someone considering selling theirs. I am in Christchurch. Many thanks Grant 0278092379
Penrite Oils
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Just to let you all know that I am still able to supply you with Penrite Oils for your Vintage Vehicles. Engine and Gear Box oils, also Steering Box grease. Phone Alistair Day 688 6108 ————————————————The Swap Meet Committee has a speaker system for hire. Enquiries to Michelle Munro 03 686 4824 or email scvccswapmeet@hotmail.com ———————————————— Parts Shed Report For August/September: Parts Shed regulars have been actively sorting components of excess stock into various types of metal for eventual sale and re-cycling. I would like to acknowledge kind donations this month from new members Kendyll and Haden Lamont of a selection of E 93 A Prefect and Ford 8 and 10 parts. Also many thanks to Brian Cullimore who has gifted the club a selection of Morris 8, Morris Series E and side-valve Morris Minor parts. Thank you on behalf of all club members. Now the weather is warmer and Covid levels hopefully stay down club members are motoring their older vehicles more often and are travelling further afield. Call into the Parts Shed on a Wednesday morning for whatever is needed to keep your older wheels turning. Clive Merry Parts Manager
Deadline for Tricar is 20th October New Address tricar.scvcc@gmail.com
COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR 2020—2021 Branch Correspondence to PO Box 623, Timaru 7940 Phone: 03 6885234 Chairman: Secretary: Treasurer: Club Captain: Newsletter Ed:
Ashley Milliken (Evelyn) Pauline Young ( Nola Day (Alistair) Neil Manchester Shona and Bill Weir Email: tricar.scvcc@gmail.com C/R Convenor: Alistair Day (Nola) Parts Manager: Clive Merry Librarian: Barry Barnes (Carla) IT Officer: Shannon Stevenson Committee: John Lester Ross Parker Oliver Irving
688 6108 0274 409 384 688 5105 686 3263 6158135 6158260 0223847784
SWAPMEET COMMITTEE Chairman: Colin Johnstone (Trish) Treasurer: Nola Day (Alistair) Site Convenor: Michelle Munro (Gavin) Grounds Convenor: Barry Smith Committee: Gavin Munro (Michelle) Alan Patrick Lex Westoby Sandy McMillan
03 693 9093 6886108 686 4824 684 7405 686 4824 615 8803 03 612 6556 6155150
For Identification Certificate Processing – Alistair Day 688 6108 Warren Cox 688 8758
686 0834 6861833 688 6108 6882112 6886750
Start of the Opening Run at the Hinds Domain