July 2020
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Southland Branch - Vintage Car Club of NZ Inc. PO Box 1240, Invercargill 9840.
The next Meeting is at 7:30pm On Thursday, 30 July 2020. At Ariki Lodge, 46 Ariki Ave, Otatara.
Did you notice what was wrong with this picture last month? (See p16).
Office Bearers 2019/2020 Patron Chairman Past Chairman Secretary Treasurer
Wayne Nicoll Ray McCulloch Gerry Pethick Janet McCulloch Sheryn Warren
Club Captain Grounds Buildings Bulletin Editor
Tony Warren Olly Olsson John Burke Rae Wilson
215 7136 217 9667 216 5496 217 9667
Executive Executive Executive Executive
southland@vcc.org.nz
021 712 198
Executive
svccnztreasurer@gmail.com
027 284 5840
235 8567 (027 499 8769)
Executive Executive Executive Executive
wils@southnet.co.nz
Ken Officer Trevor Wilkey Casey Lyons Librarian Roy Shanks Parts Shed John Burke Neil Kidd ID Cards etc Ferg McDowell Welfare Officer Barry Hayman Southland Branch website VCC of NZ Inc. Web site facebook
Executive Executive Executive 216 6056 217 8177 022 497 0764 235 8449 216 3639 www.sporty.co.nz/southlandvintagecar www.vcc.org.nz www.trash.co.nz/vccbb
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Bar Roster The bar is open Saturdays from 4:30pm until 9:00pm. July
25 Trevor Wilkey
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Dave Birss
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Brian Dunick
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Ron Irwin
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Russell Jenkins
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Wayne Calderwood
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From the Chair Hi Folks Well I hope this month has been a bit better for you and your families. However, there’s not a lot happening at this stage. Janet & I went on the July Wednesday run which had us travelling around the roads of Otatara then heading out to Winton and back to Wallacetown for lunch and a chat. The lunch was prepared by Gail & Rae Wilson – thank you to them for that. Janet has had a call from Raylene Hobbs – a fellow Timaru member – who is the great great granddaughter of the Stone Family who ran a garage on Dee St and where our own Darracq had some ties with. She is looking for any information regards this family and would be grateful if anyone could help her, if you have anything please contact Janet. The National Veteran Rally entry forms are out. If you can’t get one online, there are some at the clubrooms and also Janet has a copy. It will be a good weekend and asking if a team could be put together to take the Darracq up. If anyone is interested, please contact me. Our AGM will be held this month please come along and support your Club. Keep warm and safe and see you at the July meeting. Ray McCulloch
Editor’s comments I am being challenged this month to perform the way many people were challenged during lock-down. I am producing this month’s Rumour remotely. I have been called to the North Island to visit a sick cousin before it is too late. It is an experience a number of you will be familiar with so I am hoping you will be able to accept any errors I have made in this issue. As Ray has mentioned, this month is our AGM. I know most people want to avoid the AGM but the reality is that if all the positions are not filled, the club ceases to be as active as it could/should be. Please make yourself available and be prepared to take an active part in the proceedings. For many years, I was one of those avoiding the issue, but now I am finding a SVCC Rumour
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renewed interest in the club activities. Be an active member, not just a current member. We need new ideas and attitudes. Be proactive, not wishing things were the way they used to be. The Vintage Car Club fraternity needs new inspiration and objectives. One thing that has been avoided for a long time is the OSH issues related to planning an event, be it a social event or a rally. We need to make a start on this so that when it does become mandatory we don’t have to stop what we are doing until we manage to develop the processes and become conformant. There is never any fun in getting your bum kicked till you tow the line. I don’t look forward to the day when every outing requires a Traffic Management Plan and many of the roadworks management plans are poorly done or managed. This trip to the North Island has demonstrated that to us. The one thing we have been impressed with is the attitude and friendliness of the Traffic Management people (lolly-pop people) in the upper half of the South Island (Kaikoura in particular). We could do with a group of them touring the country showing others how to do it. I would have a lot of difficulty waving and smiling to every passing vehicle all day; but they do it. They are amazing. Obviously, I won’t be back in time for the AGM and have put in an apology. I hope you give serious thought to making your contribution to the club. I have made Ray aware of my willingness to contribute. Rae Wilson Closing date for the August Rumour is 16 August.
From the Executive
AUCTION NIGHT It has been decided to go ahead with the annual Auction Nite on the 27th of August. We are hoping that you will have had time over the recent months to have a dung out of the garage and you have lots of items to bring along.
ROUND THE TAKIS RUN August the 29/30th we will be holding the Round the Takis Motorcycle Run for club members. It will be leaving from Preston St as per normal at 10am SVCC Rumour
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on the 29th. Accommodation has been jacked up at the Luxmore Distinction Hotel at a good rate. So; get the bikes out, fuelled up and take them for a ride. It’s a great weekend for our members. If you are wanting accommodation/meals please contact Ray McCulloch on 03 2179667
PARTS SHED OPEN DAY On September 26th we will be holding an Open Day for the Parts Shed. This will run from 9am to 4pm. This is for anyone (club members and general public) to come along and purchase any parts they require to finish off that project. It will give us a chance to clean up the Parts Shed. ************* Did you know that on the Canary Islands there is not one canary? It is the same on the Virgin Islands. Not one canary there either. ************* When you’re dead, you don’t know you’re dead. The pain is felt by others. The same thing happens when you’re stupid. ************* Two old people are sitting on the porch, chatting. The first guy says, “I hear up in Seattle it rains cats and dogs!” “Oh!” the second guy answers, “that doesn’t sound so bad. I hear in New York City it’s hailing taxis!”
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Olly Olsson’s South Island Trip 2020. 10 – 24 March. This trip was a two-week event and so I have taken the liberty of abbreviating it here and there and splitting it over a number (yet to be determined) of months. My apologies if I have altered the meaning or lost the essence of the report in the process. (Ed) Day 1 Invercargill to Dunedin. It was a cool wet morning when we all (Olly and Raewyn in the Austin Marina van, Ashley and Gwen in the Jaguar, Stewart and Judith in the MGB GT, Peter and Maree in the Toyota Cressida and David and me in the Volvo) met at the Feldwick Gates at 9.30 am. We were joined by Wayne Calderwood and Terry Williams in Gore. WE stopped at Milton for lunch at the Kink in the Road Restaurant and were joined here by John and Mary Tremain in their Mk2 Cortina. Our first visit for the day was to Roger Herd’s collection at Fairfield. He has a restored cream coloured Ford Anglia that belonged to the Plunket Nurse in Roxbourgh. He has quite a collection of Hornby train sets and other clockwork toys, old tins, various model cars etc., 4 Austin 7 cars in the garage, numerous number plates and bowsers and all sorts of bicycles. They have a lovely garden too. It was then on to the Dunedin Holiday Park and Motels for the night. Day 2 Dunedin to Timaru. The first stop for the day was at Keith Harrington’s car collection on the north side of the Kilmog. His collection is made of a Dodge car, a Desoto car, a 1938 Oldsmobile F38, a 1962 Dodge SB2 Dart, a Chev truck. Outside are parked a number of International trucks. There is also the usual collection of miscellaneous car parts and memorabilia. Thank you Keith. The second stop was at Garrie Ford’s Classic car collection between Herbert and Mahino. He as an assortment of Ford cars, 2 Corvettes and a Firebird, an assortment of motorbikes along with a large collection of miniature cars, radios, tv sets etc. Outside there are more unrestored cars and a caravan. Thank you Garrie. Then it was on to Oamaru for lunch and some retail therapy before a visit to the Oamaru Vintage Car Club where we were treated to a cuppa and biscuits and the guys spent time in the parts department. From there we proceeded Timaru and checked in to our accommodation and then went to Alan Geary’s place for a yummy BBQ with all the trimmings before returning to the motel for the night. Alan’s collection includes a SVCC Rumour
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1930 Model A Roadster, a left hand drive Ford pickup truck and a 1957 Ford Fairlane. Thank you Alan. Day 3 Timaru to Christchurch. The motelier took a group photo for us on this beautiful sunny morning, before we departed for Gavin Ladbrook’s collection. We were joined by Alan Geary and Claire McMillan. Gavin has a 1931 Chrysler Series CM six, various Dodges including a truck, a McCormick Farmall CUB tractor, a 1957 Dodge Coronet, a Ford Zodiac, cabinets of miniature cars and a lot of memorabilia. The flange on Wayne Calderwood’s Hillman was being troublesome so it went on Gavin’s hoist for inspection and repairs. Lunch was in Ashburton and then we visited the Aviation Museum. The cabinets are full of models and other memorabilia. The aircraft on display include a Harrier GR3, a Skyhawk A4K, a Gloster Meteor F8, a Tiger Moth, a Devon, a DC3 Dakota. There is also a Rolls Royce Dart RD A7 turbo prop engine. The day ended with a meal at the Papanui Working Men’s Club and then we retired to our accommodation. Day 4 Christchurch. Today was a visit to Mike Pero’s Motorcycle Gallery. It was built after the Christchurch earthquakes and is an amazing collection of motorbikes. Most of the bikes are privately owned with only 4 owned by Mike. Our photo was published on the website. We then moved on to the Riverside Markets on Oxford Tce and after lunch moved on to ‘Stewart’s Cars’ in Wairakei Rd. This is on a 6½ acre site and is an amazing collection of cars, bicycles, tractors and memorabilia and doubles as a function centre. On display is a 1958 Chev Impala valued at ¼ million dollars and a large collection of unrestored trucks. The displays are contained in 12 sheds and a barn while one other shed is not in use at the moment. Marilyn Calvert. (To be continued next month.)
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Russell’s Ramblings Wayne Nicoll is re wheeling his single cylinder Cadillac with work by Vern Jensen. Wayne expects to be able to do another 30kph. He also has the last remaining books by Alan Meredith of “Pioneer Motoring in Southland”. About 30 copies have gone to the De Dion Bouton Club in the UK. Be in while stocks last. Most of the local restorations seem to be on the motorcycle side. My daughter’s 1930 DA Dodge has been repainted and re chromed. Only carpets left to fit. I am looking for some local records. The counter sales book of Tappers with sales and engine numbers. Some of the large framed pictures and 2 files of The Southland Motorcycle Club early events. These should be found before they are lost forever
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For Sale 1. 1960 Vanguard sedan. Rego AB8530 (ex Bill Bevan). Bill did up the engine and apparently it runs well. The current owner has had the seats reupholstered and new carpets. It does need some rust repairs to the body work. Please contact John Burke on 03 217 8177 or 027 226 0067 and he will give you the owners details and phone number. 2. Workshop Manuals $30 each (ono). a. 1948-68: HOLDEN: FX, FJ, FE, FC, FB, EK, EJ, EH, HD, HR. Scientific Publication 67. b. 1980-1982: HOLDEN: WB Series 6 Cylinder. Utility Van 1 Tonner 3.3L Gregory’s Scientific Publication 201. c. 1988–1991: HOLDEN: COMMODORE : Lexen V6 - All models Series. Gregory’s. d. 1984-1985: HOLDEN: COMMODORE: VK Series. All models. Gregory’s. e. 1980-1981: HOLDEN: COMMODORE: VC Series. 4 Cylinder. Gregory’s. f. 1959- : MINI/MINI COOPER S/CLUBMAN/ELF/HORNET. Haynes. g. 1966: ZODIAC/ZEPHYR V6. h. 1970-1976: FORD CORTINA: 1300 & 1600/MK 111/SALON & ESTATE. Haynes. i. 1974-1985: FORD CAPRI 11, 1.6 & 2.0 also includes 111 series. Haynes. j. 1970-1974: VAUXHALL VIVA HC series, all models. Haynes. ENQUIRIES TO: DAVE VARCOE. PH: 027 434 7878 3. Dri -Rider motorcycle Jacket & trousers. Size XXL in good order, little use. $160. Ph Murray Gilmour on 027 484 1326. 4. A Vauxhall HC Viva 1800L and an1990 Alfa Romeo 164. They are both trailer cars for taking away, from storage in Cambridge, both have been dry stored for 15 years or more. I seek car club members who are interested in good bones projects like these and would be grateful and happy to speak to anyone who enquires. My name is James Godwin. I can be contacted anytime by phone or email 021 301 127 or email james@grsnz.co.nz Photos are available for anyone who is interested. SVCC Rumour
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5. Cars and parts--52 Plymouth doors bootlids chassis etc, 98 Mondeo dsl sw, Dolomite/Toledo/1500, Renault 18GTS, Series E Morris 8, Vangaurd ute rear window etc. Ph 214 0426 / or email bruce56@windowslive.com. 6. Christchurch Swap Meet site available. Contact Bruce (027 473 3067) if you are interested in availing yourself of this site.
Wanted 1. Morris Minor for a member of the Horowhenua club. Email hcbrick2020@gmail.com 2. 10/39 or 10/37 MOWOG diff head or complete diff (Morris Minor, MG, Austin). Phone Neil on 027 278 9800 3. I have recently purchased a 1938 Triumph Tiger 80, and am looking for any parts that members may have. Contact Callum Findlater (or my father, Carl) on 221 7310 during the day and 221 7075 in the evening. 4. 100E or 107E Ford Prefect windscreen. Phone Bruce 027 473 3067.
Club Cars from the past
by Barry Barnes
Part 2. Riley, Morgan, Mercedes. A very nice car that lived in Southland in the 1960s, was a 1922 Riley 2 door tourer owned by Doug Haigh who bought it from Julian Loughnan of Christchurch. It was fitted with Michelin disc wheels with 13x45 tyres. These were effectively unobtainable. Though Julian had managed to import 2 new Michelins the rest were retreaded prewar items with low tread and cracked sidewalls. In my shed on the Otatara property that I purchased from Trevor Cook when he was transferred to Rarotonga, was a set of Riley 19� wire wheels hubs axles and other bits. A deal was SVCC Rumour
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done with Doug getting those wheels and I was pleased to get the disc wheels for my 1924 Peugeot as I already had several similar ones. Doug motored the Riley extensively and also refurbishing it for the 1965 International (Haast) Rally. It was powered by a sidevalve 4cyl engine of about 1.5 litres. Doug moved to Christchurch and somewhere along the line, the Riley went to a new owner in Rotorua. Indisputedly, the most valuable vehicle ever to be part of our Club scene was the 500K Mercedes cabriolet owned by Gore contractor Dick Collis. It was in superb original order with lovely pigskin upholstery. The massive doors opened without dropping a millimetre. It had only done a small mileage and had clearly been well cared for. I believe it was cloistered away during the late Nazi era and during the war and would probably not have done any mileage during fuel rationing of the 40s. The previous owner was Matthew Wills, brother in law of Bill Hamilton. (His sister Lucy Wills, had a 4.5 litre Bentley which she drove on the 1972 International). I believe the family was related to the tobacco giants WD and HO Wills. I should point out that Gore was part of Southland Branch in those days. The Mercedes caused a stir everywhere it went as you can see from the photo. What Dick paid for it I don’t know, but when he went to see it he was accompanied by Fred Collett. Dick apparently winced at the asking SVCC Rumour
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price and Freddie pointed out that he had just paid more for the new tyres he had purchased for the Euclid scrapers he used on his Ohai contract. Dick agreed and promptly bought the car. And what a beautiful thing it was. Its straight eight rigidly mounted motor was so smooth you could balance a half crown on the top when it was running, as Dick demonstrated to me once. It was also thirsty, particularly when the supercharger was engaged. Fred took it for a trip from Gore to Tapanui on one occasion and tried out the supercharger which gave tremendous power for overtaking but was strictly for short term use only, and howled like a banshee. Fred estimated it was doing 4mpg when using the supercharger. The car was sold around the time Dick’s assets were auctioned off, for no doubt a massive sum for the day, but the value has exploded since and Hitler era Mercs fetch stratospheric 7 figure prices these days. It’s now somewhere overseas. Alan Bryce will recall acquiring a Morgan 3 wheeler back in that early 60s time frame when stuff like that could still be obtained by those who knew where to look. It had been converted over to a 4 wheeler. Alan sold it to Warren Jordan whether after conversion back to 3 wheel form or whether Warren did that I cannot recall. Maybe Alan can enlighten us. I remember riding in it and it was hair raising going around both left and right handers when the outside wheel would readily lift. We had a day out at Teretonga one time and I went for a lap with Warren and at the finish thereof he started making circular manoeuvres outside the control tower at which point I abandoned ship! This was of great interest to a 2 to 3 year old Roddy McMillan who was watching proceedings from the family Nash with his Dad Neil to whom I went over straight afterward. SVCC Rumour
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“Man fell out! Man fell out!� Roddy cried excitedly. The Morgan was sold to Trevor Cook who took it with him to Rarotonga. When he came back he was posted to Gisborne and last I heard some years ago, he still had it, but had done nothing with it and refused all offers for it. Whether Trevor is still with us I cannot say, but if he is, chances are he has the Morgan still. Does anyone know? I note rather sadly that many of the people referred to have indeed passed away, Warren, Doug, Dick Collis, Fred Collett, Neil and Roddy and I acknowledge their contributions to the Southland vintage motoring scene over those years.
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Parts Shed The parts shed will be open the afternoon of meeting nights between 1 & 4 p.m. The following people can be contacted at any time if requiring parts or information on parts in our Parts Shed. John Burke
217 8177
Neil Kidd
022 497 0764
Library The lending library will issue books on the afternoon of meeting nights between 1 & 4 p.m. Other times by appointment - phone 216 6056 Assistants needed: Roy still needs some assistants to catalogue and or computerise 400 post-war motorcycling magazines and over 1000 prewar motorcycling magazines. Contact Roy if you can assist. This sounds like a rather onerous task and can only be improved if a number of you volunteer, reducing the number of magazines processed by each person. Please help Roy. *************** Copyright of the contents of the “Rumour� magazine rests with the VCC of NZ Inc. (Southland Branch) unless otherwise stated.
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Important dates Meetings and Social functions July August
30 13 27
September
26
Club monthly meeting and AGM Executive meeting 7:30pm. Club Monthly meeting 7:30pm. and Auction Nite. Parts Shed Open Day 9:00 – 4:00
5 29/30
Mid-week rally Round the Takis motorcycle rally
Rallys Southland August Gore
October
National Veteran Rally.
Mid-week Rally Departs the Racecourse gates at 10.30am. $15.00 Pub meal, pay at the start. There is gravel. Phone Bob or Maribel 213 0589 before Sunday 2nd Aug 6.00pm please. July Mid-week Rally Report. About 23 cars and about 40 plus people enjoyed the run that took us around Otatara West Plains Branxholme onto Winton across to Oporo Flat Road then across to Wallacetown Community Centre for our lunch, Soups Bread buns Savories and cakes with a hot drink if you wanted it. Thank you Rae and Gail.
Central Otago VCC 50th Anniversary Advanced Notice Keep free Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October (Labour weekend) to help us celebrate our 50th. Planning is underway for an interesting weekend and a chance to catch up. Details later.
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We are really up against it. A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, observing his wife, looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off, he asked what she'd like to have for her Birthday. 'I'd like to be twelve again', she replied, Still looking in the mirror. On the morning of her Birthday, he rose early, made her a nice big bowl of Coco Pops, and then took her to Alton Towers theme park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park; The Death Slide, the Corkscrew, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, everything there Was. Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. He then took her to a Mc Donald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake. Then it was off to the cinema with popcorn, a huge Cola, and her favourite sweets......M&M's. What a fabulous adventure! Finally, she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, 'Well Dear, what was it like being twelve again?' Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. 'I meant my dress size, you retard!!!!'
The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he is going to get it WRONG. Error on the front page of the June Rumour. That is no more Mt Cook in the background than pigs in a paddock. It was taken down below the Homer Tunnel. Check out the sign. ********** When is a car not a car?
When it turns into a driveway. **********
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Vanilla Ice Cream that puzzled General motors’!!!! Never underestimate your Clients’ Complaint, no matter how funny it might seem! This is a real story that happened between the customer of General Motors and its Customer-Care Executive. A complaint was received by the Pontiac Division of General Motors: ‘This is the second time I have written to you, and I don’t blame you for not answering me, because I sounded crazy, but it is a fact that we have a tradition in our family of Ice-Cream for dessert after dinner each night, but the kind of ice cream varies so, every night, after we’ve eaten, the whole family votes on which kind of ice cream we should have and I drive down to the store to get it. It’s also a fact that I recently purchased a new Pontiac and since then my trips to the store have created a problem. You see, every time I buy a vanilla ice-cream, when I start back from the store my car won’t start. If I get any other kind of ice cream, the car starts just fine. I want you to know I’m serious about this question, no matter how silly it sounds “What is there about a Pontiac that makes it not start when I get vanilla ice cream, and easy to start whenever I get any other kind?” The Pontiac President was understandably skeptical about the letter, but sent an Engineer to check it out anyway. The latter was surprised to be greeted by a successful, obviously well educated man in a fine neighborhood. He had arranged to meet the man just after dinner time, so the two hopped into the car and drove to the ice cream store. It was vanilla ice cream that night and, sure enough, after they came back to the car, it wouldn’t start. The Engineer returned for three more nights. The first night, they got chocolate. The car started. The second night, he got strawberry. The car started. The third night he ordered vanilla. The car failed to start. Now the engineer, being a logical man, refused to believe that this man’s car was allergic to vanilla ice cream. He arranged, therefore, to continue his visits for as long as it took to solve the problem. And toward this end he began to take notes: He jotted down all sorts of data: time of day, type of gas uses, time to drive back and forth etc. SVCC Rumour
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In a short time, he had a clue: the man took less time to buy vanilla than any other flavor. Why? The answer was in the layout of the store. Vanilla, being the most popular flavor, was in a separate case at the front of the store for quick pickup. All the other flavors were kept in the back of the store at a different counter where it took considerably longer to check out the flavor. Now, the question for the Engineer was why the car wouldn’t start when it took less time. E..ureka – Time was now the problem – not the vanilla ice cream!!!! The engineer quickly came up with the answer: “vapor lock”. It was happening every night; but the extra time taken to get the other flavors allowed the engine to cool down sufficiently to start. When the man got vanilla, the engine was still too hot for the vapor lock to dissipate. Even crazy looking problems are sometimes real and all problems seem to be simple only when we find the solution, with cool thinking. Don’t just say it is “ IMPOSSIBLE” without putting a sincere effort. What really matters is your attitude and your perception. Moral of the Story: “Try to Fix the Bug instead of marking it as a known issue.” ********** I couldn’t work out how to fasten my seatbelt.
Then it clicked.
**********
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AGM Notification.
Southland Branch, Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Notice is hereby given that THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of this branch will be held following the monthly members meeting on Thursday 30 July 2020. AGENDA Apologies Minutes of the 2019 AGM Matters Arising Chairman’s Report Annual Accounts Election of Officers Signatories to Cheque Account Presentation of Trophies General Business (Note all General Business is to be in the hands of the Secretary 14 days prior to the meeting) Nominations for Office Bearers must be in by 16th July 2020 J McCulloch Branch Secretary
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Views and opinions expressed in the Rumour are those of the authors of the articles and are not necessarily those of the Southland Branch of the VCC of NZ, the Branch Executive or the Editor. Mistakes will be corrected if possible. SVCC Rumour
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