March 2021
R20
Southland Branch of The Vintage Car Club of NZ Inc. PO Box 1240, Invercargill 9840.
The next Meeting is at 7:30pm On Thursday, 25 March 2021, At Ariki Lodge, 46 Ariki Ave, Otatara.
We have a new shingle. Thanks to Olly Olsson, it is now easier for our visitors to identify our club rooms.
Office Bearers 2020/2021 Patron Chairman Secretary
Wayne Nicoll Ray McCulloch Janet McCulloch Sheryn Warren
Treasurer
215 7136 217 9667 217 9667
Executive Executive Executive
southland@vcc.org.nz
021 712 198
Executive
svccnztreasurer@gmail.com
Club Captain Grounds Buildings Bulletin Editor
We still need a Club Captain!! Olly Olsson John Burke Rae Wilson 235 8567 (027 499 8769)
Executive Executive Executive Executive
wils@southnet.co.nz
Gerry Pethick 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
216 5496
Executive 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
Bar Roster The bar is open Saturdays from 4:30pm until 9:00pm. March
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April
March 2021
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Brain Dunick Ron Irwin Russell Jenkins Wayne Calderwood
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From the Chair Hi Folks Well it’s been a busy old time with all the rallies that are happening locally and in the surrounding areas. I hope those that attended these rallies enjoyed themselves, thank you for doing so. This weekend saw 6 intrepid bikers get out of bed early to attend the Balclutha Motorcycle Rally. We had a great ride through the Catlins to Niagara for lunch then back. Many thanks for those members who helped with the Drive A Dream event, this is good PR for the Club. Unfortunately the Race4Life had to be cancelled due to COVID levels. At the last Executive meeting it was agreed that as of now there will be no late entries received for any of our rallies, once closing date had been that’s it. Our next big event is the Garage Sale/Open Day 28th March. The Parts Shed has been given a good tidy up. If you are able to help here please contact Gerry Pethick 03 2165496. We are in need of some helpers for some upcoming events, firstly we would like to run an event for the National Daffodil Day, 22nd August is there someone who would like to organise this? Secondly we have been offered a good quantity of wood but need several folks with trailers to collect it. If you can help with any of these projects please contact the Secretary. Ray McCulloch
This month’s contributors to the Rumour. Ray McCulloch, Rae Wilson, Janet McCulloch, Russell McIvor, Barry Barnes, Tony Warren, Don Carter, Graeme Williams.
New Members We welcome good Chev fans, Wayne and Raewyn Andrews to the fold. We look forward to seeing you both at our club functions.
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Editor’s comments. I am looking rather shy of material for next month’s Rumour. Please put fingers to keys (pen to paper) and give me some articles for my last two editions of the Rumour. Another reminder about the AGM in May. Nominations for club officers closes 2 weeks before the AGM. Every position is up for grabs and we need to fill the committees; particularly the Rally Committee and the Social Committee. Start badgering people. Please contribute your reports on the rallies and other activities. I would appreciate photos being included too. If I am not at the event, I won’t have photos to include. Please don’t just leave it to me. I can’t always be there. I have not put the Post War etc rally entry form in the middle of the Rumour this month. I hate seeing it there and having to leaf past it to the next page. I also hate the fact that you lose some of the documentation on the reverse side of the entry form when you send in your entry. I have therefore put it at the back this month. You don’t need to tear the guts out of this edition. Just cut the last page off. I have left the reverse of that page blank so you don’t lose any of the wonderful content of this edition. Rae Wilson. Closing date for the April Rumour is April 15, 2021. ********** England doesn’t have a kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool. I tried to catch some fog, but I mist. They told me I had type-A blood, but it was a Typo.
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For Sale 1. 1927 Model T, 4-door tourer. Body restored, motor runs. Still in bits. Contact Leighton Sparks on 03 216 3167. 2. MGBGT – Excellent bones for a restoration project. Car is local. Sunbeam Imp – Rego on hold. 3 lady owners. Needs good cosmetic tidy up and minor mechanical repairs. 2 x Hillman Imps + various parts, enough to make 1 car. $2,000.00 Call Barry on 021 949 531 3. 15’ Oxford caravan, 4-berth, electric fridge, gas cooker, ¾ length awning. In very good condition. Call Brian on 03 217 4392 4. 1939 Morris 8 Series E. British green and black in immaculate condition. Receipts for $10,000 on engine. Asking price $8500. Contact Debbie Lawson on 03 207 3551 or 027 343 2203. 5. Bruce Marshall has an Austin Gypsy to give away. Phone 03 236 8070
Wanted 1. Volunteers to display and talk about their vehicle and its history on a meeting night. If you are willing to do this, please contact the Chairman or the Secretary on 03 217 9667. 2. Robert James is on the hunt for a side stand for his 1956 single
downtube framed Matchless. Contact him on 027 428 2463. 3. Helpers to collect and transport firewood for our clubrooms.
Contact the Secretary if you are able to help.
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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 Neil Kidd
03 217 8177 022 497 0764
Important dates. Meetings and Social functions. Southland March
April
25 Club Monthly meeting. 28 Garage Sale/Open Day. Helpers still needed please. 15 Executive meeting 7:30 pm. 29 Club Monthly meeting.
Rallys etc. Southland March April May
June
August
27 Hokonui Hillclimb. 7 Mid-week Rally. 8 Waimea Motorcycle Rally. Details next month 15 PW, P60’s P80’s Rally. Entry form is in this issue of the Rumour. 5 40th and last Brass Monkey Rally. Go & to http://brassmonkeyrally.org.nz/ for 6 details and entry forms 22 National Daffodil Day rally.
Mid-week Rally. NOTE CHANGE OF START POINT. We will be leaving from the Clubrooms at the usual 10.30 am. start time. Please contact Peter McBurney, cell 0272 178 985, landline 217 8985, or Don Carter 0274 548 426, landline 214 7722 by Sunday evening (4 April), with numbers attending. We are looking forward to your company. ********** Did you hear about the cross-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils? ********** SVCC Rumour
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March Mid-Week Rally report. Our intrepid organisers, seated as if in the old wild west, drum beside them, under the woodshed roof at the club rooms, relieved members of found cash to give to an expectant (not of the gestation nature) publican. There were in excess of twenty vehicles and forty plus hardy souls who left our starting point, the Clubrooms. Otatara soon behind us, Riverton highway too, Waimatuku Thornbury road taking us to the shingle of Eastbourne Park road and its tributaries, then sealed roads down to Fairfax. All the while, passing both sheep but mainly dairy farms, mostly neatly presented. Thankfully the wet conditions removed the pervading enemy, dust, that only our vintage of vehicles seems to allow into every orifice. Small mercies! Ermadale, Pourakino Valley, lovely indigenous forest around us before manicured farmlands, on to the Orepuki-Riverton highway with a brief respite from the shingle till Wakapatu beach road, soon we are near Cosy Nook, but not quite. Good views of Monkey Island, a mostly deserted camping area although a couple of intrepid camper wagons in the lee of coastal winds. The beaches looked beckoning to those with wet suits. They remained picture perfect. Streets, naming community families abound in the Orepuki area, as do long derelict buildings that once housed the ambitions of families, decendants that are now long scattered. The Orepuki Tavern once again provided an excellent meal, hospitality with mine host, Alistair McCracken, ensuring the tail received the deserved balance of remaining food. At days end, all should have vehicles looking as if they had been on an adventure, mud showing that we are indeed an intrepid bunch. An excellent fun day, well prepared by Keith, Ferg and Dennis. Don Carter.
Hokonui Hillclimb 27 March 2021 Usual Venue Clark Road (sign at gate). Noon start time for Scrutineering. Phone Ferg on 03 235 8449 or 027 614 9723. SVCC Rumour
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Veteran Rally – Report and Results. 15 vehicles including 2 motorcycles and the Darracq converged on the Windsor street church car park to find it mostly full of modern motor vehicles, this challenged some in there reverse parking abilities with some taking the option of parking on the street. Briefing by Rally Director Bruce prior to departure.
One of the latest additions to the Club Veteran Motorcycle fleet.
There was good public interest with many people waving as the 1st vehicle left at 10am at two-minute intervals. It was a nice drive in the sun winding out through Myross Bush finding the start of the timed section outside the Makarewa school. Everyone was pulled in and sent out once again at twominute intervals just to keep spaced apart, this worked very well in keeping a good distance between vehicles until the finish check point on the Waimatuku Thornbury highway.
Continuing through Thornbury, back out to the Riverton highway we soon turned off to do a quick lap of the Riverton rest home, with a majority of the residents lined up outside to give us a wellreceived reception. From there into main street Riverton finding our way to the RSA who warmly welcomed entrants to use their facility to have lunch. During this time, the publican looked over the fleet picking the publicans choice for prize giving, well done Phil Toomey. SVCC Rumour
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After lunch, the usual ritual of field tests was run through, it did seem like there was a fierce competitive streak this year. Once completed a straight run home where everyone returned to the club for an early prize giving. A big shout out to Bruce Marshall and his team for a well-run rally, the Riverton RSA for opening specially for us to use as a lunch venue and of course everyone who attended, with special mention to the Gore contingent who always support us, thanks guy’s – see you all next year. Tony Warren I have again made my photos of the day’s events available on the cloud. You are welcome to peruse them and download those you wish to keep. Just click on this link; https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuIyFdzqZsMvhmlVBGKgMdyznFEE?e=bt0hCf Ed. Results Paul Herron
1911
Ford Model T
Best Performance McKenzie by a Model T Challenge
Phillip Toomey
1913
Humberette Convertible
Concours
Riverton Publicans Trophy
Robert Eunson
1913
Royal Enfield
Hard Luck
Hard Luck Trophy
Ashley Bell
1912
Renault EX
Best Performance by a 1 or 2 Cylinder Vehicle
Robert Eunson
1913
Royal Enfield
Motorcycle Concours
North Road Car Sales Trophy
Travis Michelle
1917
Moon 6/36
Overall Winner of the Time Trial
Cliff Beer Trophy
Ashley Bell
1912
Renault EX
Overall Winner of Rally
Toomey Wilson Trophy
Howard KingsfordSmith
1914 Ford Model T
Veteran Vehicle
1st
Field Test
Travis Michelle
1917 Moon 6/36
Veteran Vehicle
1st
Time Trial
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Ashley Bell 1912 Renault EX
Veteran Vehicle
2nd
Time Trial
Bill Sheddan
1914 Saxon Roadster
Veteran Vehicle
2nd
Field Test
Robert Eunson
1913 Royal Enfield
Veteran Motorcycle
1st
Time Trial
David Morris
1914 Ariel
Veteran Motorcycle
1st
Field Test
David Morris
1914 Ariel
Veteran Motorcycle
2nd Time Trial
David Morris
1914 Ariel
Overall Winner Veteran Motorcycle
Open Day. The public Open Day is set for 28 March and we want to have a display of vehicles. If you are willing to display your vehicle, please contact Gerry Pethick on 03 216 5496. Parts Shed working bee In the lead-up to the club’s Open Day on 28 March, there is to be a working bee each Thursday from 1 pm till 4 pm. The objective is to clean up the parts shed and make it tidy and safe for the public to view and hopefully achieve some sales. This started on 4 March and is ongoing. The more helpers there are, the better and quicker the objectives will be achieved and maybe we can achieve even more.
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CLUB PERSONALITIES FROM THE PAST by Barry Barnes In response to receiving one of my previous articles, Editor Rae suggested I put pen to paper on some of the members of years ago. This carries certain risks especially if the subject of the article is still around to object to the portrayal so all you old mates can rest easy in the meantime that I will not be letting any cats out of the bag! To set the ball rolling I will offer some reflections on some of the characters already mentioned.
WILLIS BROWN. Willis was the proprietor of the business started by his father, William A Brown Jewellers, and was fortunate to have a little bit more of the disposable stuff on hand to indulge his motoring enthusiasms than most of us at the time. Hence he was able to purchase what could be argued was the most desirable Bentley in the country, the 4.5 litre car purchased in England by CWF (Bill) Hamilton with which he won a race at Brooklands for Bentleys in racing trim before shipping it home to the iconic Irishman Creek Station where he developed the famous Hamilton jet boat. Willis also owned several other desirable cars over the years. He had the obligatory veteran, a 1912 Flanders in reasonably complete nick, but Willis was not really a veteran enthusiast and it moved on after a few years. He also had the ex Jack Robbie 4.5 litre Bentley, 20/25 Rolls and the new E type Jaguar roadster, among the first to arrive in NZ, I seem to recall. The family hack was a 220S Mercedes Benz of the late 50s and there were undoubtedly others I can’t recall. This photo taken at an early Brighton Run, Willis took, the helm of the Mc Kenzie 1903 De Dion with Alex Casey at his side. He was Club Chairman around the time I joined and was never reluctant to voice his views in an emphatic manner. He did not have a huge amount of time for Yank tanks so I was surprised at his reaction when he looked over SVCC Rumour
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the 1963 Studebaker Lark I bought in about 1972. “These are bloody good cars” he said. He was not above making a bit of a fool of himself and I remember him telling me his daughter came up to him one night and said “Daddy, You are a silly old bugger sometimes!” Willis said “I was going to tell her off then I realised she was quite right!” The enclosed picture shows him in this mode as the bride in the fashion show organised as a highlight of a function held at the Red Cherry to farewell David and Russell McIvor who were heading overseas for the big O.E., which of course ultimately resulted in the arrival of a 1930 Aston Martin International in Invercargill that has resided for longer in Southland than it did back in England! But I digress. Willis was pretty hospitable and visitors would be plied with generous portions of whisky to which he was quite partial himself. I recall the case of an enthusiast from Christchurch who came down to Invercargill around 1964 to buy a vintage car and made the obligatory visit to Willis, who proceeded to sew him up in the expectation he would stay the night but “No, no, I’ve got to go to (whatever it was) tomorrow in Christchurch” and off he set after 11 o’clock at night. I had been at a meeting in Gore and was heading home around midnight in my 1925 Studebaker (everyday transport in those days) when I saw the car parked on the roadside half way between Edendale and Mataura. I did a U turn and pulled up behind.” SVCC Rumour
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Where the hell did you come from” a slurred voice said. Told him I was heading back to Invercargill. “What, well where am I heading then” I explained I had U turned behind him and he was heading the right way but felt he should come back to Invercargill with me and stay the night. Again he could not be persuaded and set off once again much to my misgivings. I am happy to report that somehow he managed to reach Christchurch without any known misadventure much to my relief when I found out. You will probably gather from omission of identifying details that the person concerned is still around. One final little recollection. It would be about this time that some 1930s cars started to become a presence and I recall we sneaked a 1934 Lagonda and a 1935 Talbot into Riverton Rally by calling them 1931 models at the same time making sure they didn’t win anything! Anyway, Willis was not too impressed at the thought of extending eligibility beyond 1931 and said “The day they let bloody old Chevs and Ford V8s into the Club is the day I resign! Needless to say ultimately they did and happily he didn’t! He spent the last years of his VCC career in Christchurch as a member of Banks Peninsula Branch.
1933 Morgan Super Sports.
This example at Motorcycle Mecca has a 1000cc, overhead valve, Matchless V-twin engine producing 10 – 40 hp and a top speed of 129 kph (80 mph). Produced in the UK, it has a three speed gearbox with reverse. They were introduced in 1927. This one was rebuilt from a wreck in the early 1970’s and came to Invercargill from Nelson in 2016. They must have been quite lively on gravel roads with that single rear wheel riding the windrow. SVCC Rumour
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Russell’s Ramblings Transport World has a display of about 50 Japanese cars. It is called ‘The Evolution of the Japanese Motorcar Industry’ and finishes on April 12. The cars will then be returned to their owners throughout Otago and Southland. Among the display are; 1. A Mazda Road Runner of which about 300 were produced between 1995 and 1997 2. A Holden HJ or HX Premier fitted with a 1.3 Litre Wankel engine producing 130 hp. 3. A Nissan 312 which copied a BMC design. I noticed an article about ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’ being on display in Goma, Australia. What is going on??? It’s on display at E Hayes in Invercargill. John Burke (one of our parts shed guys) has purchased a Morris 1100 from Dunedin. Hyundai have recalled 82,000 electric cars because a fault has been found in about 2 dozen cars. This is the most expensive recall in motorcar history. Lucas and Alex Nicoll are restoring a 1930 Ariel similar to Greg Eunson’s. These bikes were generally well placed in local events. Their rare 1972 Skoda is running well with a bit more tidying up required. Websites worthy of a look are; New lamps for British cars: https://www.bettercarlighting.co.uk/index.php? For enamel badge repairs, contact amhagger@outlook.com. They are in Australia.
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Some online info to peruse; https://www.motortrend.com/news/who-owns-porsche/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche#Relationship_with_Volkswagen https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/group.html
********** I’m old enough to remember when common sense was still common. I don’t think it’s fair that only roosters are allowed to start the day screaming. SVCC Rumour
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Challenges
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Library The lending library will issue books on the afternoon of meeting nights between 1 & 4 p.m. Other times by appointment - phone Roy on 216 6056
Thanks Our thanks goes to Phillip Toomey for finding a use for old tyres we accumulated and for taking them far away.
Online links of interest. Photos from the Veteran Rally can be viewed here https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuIyFdzqZsMvhmlVBGKgMdyznFEE?e=bt0hCf ********** I know a guy who's addicted to brake fluid, but he says he can stop any time. **********
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VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF N.Z. (Southland Branch)
Post War, Post 60, Post 80 Rally 2019.
Saturday, 15th May, 2021 Entries close with The Rally Organiser, P.O. Box 1240, Invercargill, 9840 On 29 April, 2021. Late entries will not be accepted SVCC Rumour
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The Southland Vintage Car Club cordially invites you to participate in the annual
Post War, Post 60, Post 80 Rally 2021.
ELIGIBILITY This event is open to financial members of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand to enter their Post War, Post 60 & Post 80 vehicles.
EVENT Entrants will depart from the SVCC Clubrooms, Ariki Avenue, Otatara at 10.00 am. on Saturday 15th May 2021. All entrants are asked to be at the clubrooms prior to the drivers briefing at 9:45am.
Pea, pie pud to follow Rally at Clubrooms - $15 per person GENERAL The rally route may include some gravel roads. Prize-giving will be between 5.00 and 6.00pm.at the clubrooms, followed by the meal.
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KEEP THIS COPY FOR YOUR OWN RECORDS Post War, Post 60, Post 80 Rally, 2021. ENTRY FORM Entries Close on 29 April, 2021 To: Rally organisers, P.O Box 1240 Invercargill 9840 ENTRANTS NAME: ADDRESS:
DRIVERS/RIDERS NAME: If different to entrant
YOUR RALLY NUMBER
VCC MEMBERSHIP NUMBER
MAKE & MODEL:
REGISTRATION:
YEAR
ENTRY FEE
$
20.00
NUMBER FOR PEA PIE PUD ____ at $15 per person $________
TOTAL PAYMENT ENCLOSED
$
Cheques are no longer an acceptable form of payment. Late entries will not be accepted. Internet Banking: SBS: 03-1355-0799805-02 Please note your name & Post War Rally in the reference boxes. To enter on our website – click on: http://www.sporty.co.nz/southlandvintagecar SVCC OrRumour Google
March–2021 - Southland Vintage Car Club Enter Online
22
Post War, Post 60, Post 80 Rally, 2021 ENTRY FORM Entries Close on 29 April, 2021 To: Rally organisers, P.O Box 1240 Invercargill 9840
ENTRANTS NAME:
ADDRESS:
DRIVERS/RIDERS NAME: If different to entrant
YOUR RALLY NUMBER
VCC MEMBERSHIP NUMBER
MAKE & MODEL:
REGISTRATION: ENTRY FEE
YEAR $
20.00
NUMBER FOR PEA PIE PUD ____ at $15 per person $________
TOTAL PAYMENT ENCLOSED
$
Please Note: cheques are no longer acceptable payment. Late entries will not be accepted. Internet Banking: SBS: 03-1355-0799805-02 Please note your name & Post War Rally in the reference boxes. To enter on our SVCC Rumour
website – click on: http://www.sporty.co.nz/southlandvintagecar March 2021
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