March 2019
Office Bearers 2018/2019 Patron Chairman Secretary
Southland Branch - Vintage Car Club of NZ Inc. PO Box 1240, Invercargill 9840
Wayne Nicoll Gerry Pethick Janet McCulloch
215 7136 216 5496 217 9667 southland@vcc.org.nz Treasurer Sheryn Warren 2170524 Club Captain Ray McCulloch 217 9667 Bulletin Editor Dave Harris 215 6068 or 0272016722 dcharris@southnet.co.nz Southland Branch website www.sporty.co.nz/southlandvintagecar VCC website www.vcc.org.nz VCC forum www.trash.co.nz/vccbb
Social Roster Bar Duty
Bar Open 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm
23/03/2019 30/03/2019 6/04/2019 13/04/2019 20/04/2019 27/04/2019 4/05/2019 11/05/2019
Russell Jenkins Wayne Calderwood Peter Pryde Tony Warren Trevor Wilkey Lex Simpson Brian Dunick Ron Irwin Waimea M/C Run
Next Meeting - Ariki Lodge, 46 Ariki Ave, Otatara 7:30pm Thursday, 28th March, 2019
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Editor
Chairman’s Report
Standing in for Dave I had forgotten how much work goes in to pulling the Rumour together, particularly when there are couple of rally reports and a rally entry form to include. Team Southland scooped a large number of awards at the National Motorcycle Rally, Ray stated the reason for this success was the family dynasties of 2nd, 3rd & 4th generation members. Looking at the winners he has a strong case: Casey Lyons (4th), Mark Hodgkinson (3rd), Tony Warren (2nd) , Ross & Ray McCulloch. Robert Eunson (2nd), his two sons Greg and Tim, and Malcom Hodgkinson (2nd) and son Nathan (3rd) also competed in the National Motorcycle Rally. The Veteran Rally results further strengthens the case with Casey Lyons and Robert Eunson taking some of the awards, along with Stewart Russell who is normally accompanied by his son Kerry. Comparing notes with other branches confirmed we are lucky to have so many strong family connections and younger family members coming through, long may it continue. There was much discussion at the National Motor Cycle Rally about the next Rally being held in three years time and not the normal two years because of 2021 international rally. The club ‘rules’ state that there will no national rallies in the same year as an international rally. The 182 entrants were unanimous in demanding that the rules be altered or an exception made, to allow the rally to be held in two years time. Very few motorcyclists attend the International Rally. The other strange twist is the Montagu Trophy (National overall winner) is also awarded at the International Rally.
The Veteran Rally went off successfully and entrants seemed happy with the new starting venue. Entries are fairly low at the moment for the overnight Autumn Rally to Te Anau on April 6th/7th but I have been assured by the organisers that it will go ahead regardless. My apologies for putting the wrong date for the Drive A Dream in my last notes. The correct date is Sunday 31st March. Also the Waimea Motorbike Run is Sat 11th May and the PWV/P60/P80 Rally is Sat 18th May, not the 12th and 19th as printed in the February Rumour. The Daffodil Rally for Cancer will be on Sunday 25th August. Further to my comments about the proposed Lumsden Veteran Rally, Tim Hanna has advised that meals would be $150 and accommodation from $90 to $150 for the weekend. A suggestion has been put forward to change the overnight venue for the Arrowtown Rally to Cromwell, because of the difficulty of finding suitable accommodation and meal venue. This will be discussed at the March meeting so come along and have your say.
Gerry
The future of the Arrowtown Rally is being discussed again at the next meeting, (see the Chairman’s Report) , motorcyclists please come along.
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Russell’s Ramblings
Mid Week Run 6 March
Transport World are preparing autos to show and run at the “Wheels at Wanaka” event at Easter. These range from early Veteran Fords to late V8s. The staff have run the early Ford Quadra-cycle replica around the nearby streets. Also on the floor, having had the full monty, is a 1995 Rover Mini Rally Car which has been entered five times in the East Africa Safari. It’s going on a Kaitaia to Bluff Charity run. Neil Longman in his Hillman Avenger engineered Matlock won the Josephville Hill Climb in near record time. A new motorcyclist is Geof Timany who has a barn-find 1954 Matchless. Geof is keeping it original with it only a needing a kerosene overhaul. Welcome to the fold. The new Indian machines, on show at E Hayes & Sons during the Burt, sold well – though some buyers had to get the ok from wives and girlfriends (or both). Good on you boys. Robert Eunson and sons now have a 1000cc 1924 Royal purchased while at the National motorcycle Rally. They are after a three speed Sturmey Archer gearbox. Greg Eunson is working on his 1917 BSA and is after a Petrol tank. The rare 1921 Rex Acme is assembled and running. The ex Ashley Bell 1930s Rudge Special successfully completed recent events. Stuart Francis is looking for a 1950s Burman GB motorcycle gearbox, in any condition, for an Ariel he is rebuilding. The GB gearbox was used by a number manufacturers.
Another lovely Southland summer day and another great run. We left from the Racecourse at the usual time and went out through Oteramika, Mokotua, Seaward Downs, Titiroa, Glenham, Wyndham and then out onto State Highway 1. A turn off at Brydone saw us wind our way through Glencoe to Dacre and once again onto State Highway 1, from where we went directly back to Invercargill to have a very nice meal at the IWMC. Cheers Barry and Viv Hayman PS; Sadly the organisers of these Wednesday runs are having trouble finding places that are prepared to put up a meal for $15 - $16.00. Any ideas about how to sort this would be appreciated.
Russell
Mid Week Run Wed 3 April Leave from the Racecourse at 10.30am. Meals cost $16.00, payable at the start. Numbers to Barry or Viv by Sunday 31 Mar please – 032163639 or Barry – 021949531
Cleaning Our Club Rooms
Two people are required each month, to vacuum the floors, check the cleanliness of the toilets and have a general tidy up in our Club Rooms. For two people, these jobs take approximately a couple of hours. No two people will be expected to do this job more than once a year. This system has worked well for the last few years and will continue to do so, if we get the volunteers. There is a list on the notice board at the club, so if you
Cover Photo. The successful Team Southland at the recent National Motorcycle Rally. Back row: Ray McCulloch, Tony Warren and Ross McCulloch. Front row: Casey Lyons, Stuart Francis and Mark Hodgkinson. Casey Lyons on his 1912 3½hp Humber was the overall winner, the other awards are detailed on page 9.
April Rumour. Closing date for the April Rumour is April 11th. This is early as it needs to be posted before Easter. Rumour
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26th National Motorcycle Rally Blenheim 15-17 Feb The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand’s 26th National Motorcycle Rally, was based this year at Blenheim. Conveniently close to the inter-island ferry terminal at Picton, it attracted entries from most branches. One hundred and eighty one machines entered, oldest were a pair of 1911 Abingdon King Dicks and the youngest a 1988 BMW R80T. There was a good spread of machines across the age classes: 11 Veteran, 28 Vintage, 14 Post Vintage, 69 Post War, 48 Post 60 and 11 Post 80. All the major manufacturers were represented with BSA just beating Triumph for the most popular make. There were single entries from: CZ, Scott, Francis Barnett, Excelsior, Cotton, Singer, LMC, P&M, Panther, Puch, Rover, Rudge, Tomos and Jawa, but surprisingly no Brough Superiors (although one did sneak into the Saturday lunch time stop). This year’s event was truly international with 5 Australian, 2 English, 2 Dutch and 1 German competitor. Blenheim is dominated by two busy State Highways that intersect at the town, so a lot of thought went into the route planning. The organisers did an excellent job producing 4 different routes, of ascending complexity and length, to match the needs of single speed pre WW1 machines through to the powerful machines from the early 80s. All but the shortest route had to cross and run along the State Highways at some point but these incursions were kept to a minimum. The competition started on Saturday morning with a timed nominated speed run through vineyards to the south of Blenheim. To keep us on our toes the organiser set up 4 check points on the routes, they included loops so competitors would be going in different directions at some junctions and also had some riders going in the opposite direction. After the timed runs all but the short route took long devious routes to Havelock, about 40kms away, before joining the Queen Charlotte Drive to Picton. A 40-kilometre winding road fringed with native forest offering one of the most scenic and challenging rides you're likely to encounter. The road rises and falls from sea level to the top of cliff faces with cascades of tight challenging corners, a number of which are off camber 20km/hr hairpin bends. A fantastic ride once you get into the rhythm but very tiring. I lost my rhythm for a short time after a pair of Velocettes slipped past more on their silencers than back wheels. The route then Rumour
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looped through Picton before arriving at the lunch stop. One competitor found it too challenging, rolling off the side of the road into the dense undergrowth. After being rescued by fellow competitors and tourists he kicked his machine straight and finished the course. Most people welcomed the easier afternoon run back to Blenheim through vineyards, still tired after hustling their machines through the Queen Charlotte Drive. Graeme Crosby (Croz) entertained us on Saturday night recounting his all too brief but spectacular racing career in the late 70s and early 80s. Croz was on great form, giving his side of the story to some very controversial race results in the Isle of Man. Sunday was more relaxed, entrants assembled at the nearby Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre for the individual and team field tests, concourse de elegance and public display. The Centre flew a Russian Yak 3 WW2 fighter in our honour and put on an aerobatics display by a Pitts special. The Montagu Trophy (overall winner) was won by Casey Lyons on his 1912 3½hp Humber, he is a fourth generation Southland branch member. Casey also won, Best Performance of the Field Events and Rob Knight Memorial Cup (Best performance by a Veteran). The National Motorcycle Inter Branch Shield was won by the Southland Branch, comprising: Ray & Ross McCulloch, Tony Warren (2nd generation member) and Mark Hodgkinson (3rd generation member). Mark Hodgkinson, on a 1938 Velocette KTS, also took The Waikato Cup (Best performance PVV). Glenn Bull Memorial Trophy (best performance by a 2 stroke) was awarded to your scribe on my 1946 Scott Flying Squirrel. The Marlborough branch, a relatively small group, did an excellent job organising the event. A number of riders stayed on for the 4 day after rally tour around the region, organised by the Marlborough branch.
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NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE RALLY - BLENHEIM 2019
National Motorcycle Rally:
FIELD EVENTS 1ST PLACE Casey Lyons 1912 Humber GLENN BULL MEMORIAL TROPHY Best performance 2 stroke Stuart Francis 1946 Scott Flying Squirrel NORTHLAND TROPHY Best performance P80V Peter Barnett 1986 R80 G/S BMW YOUNG CUP Best performance PWV Kelvin Mitchell 1956 Ariel ROB KNIGHT MEMORIAL CUP Best performance Veteran Casey Lyons 1912 Humber COMBINATION CLOCK Best performance motorcycle and sidecar Peter Thomson 1927 Harley Davidson THE WAIKATO CUP Best performance PVV Mark Hodgkinson 1938 Velocette KTS NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE INTER BRANCH SHIELD Southland PGG CONCOURS CUP Best presented vehicle David Warren 1930 Indian 402 THE OTAGO CUP Best performance P60V Don Green 1968 Norton Commando THE CANTERBURY CUP Best performance Vintage Stewart Gutsell 1926 Indian Chief TIMS TROPHY Best performance Twin Don Green 1968 Norton Commando HELEN LANE MEMORIAL PLATE Best performance lady rider Fiona Clark 1959 3TA Triumph GEOFF HOCKLEY MEMORIAL TROPHY Best Harley Davidson Peter Thomson 1927 Harley Davidson BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LOCAL Paul Leach 1924 ACE 4 MONTAGU TROPHY Overall winners 1st Casey Lyons 1912 Humber 2nd Don Green 1968 Norton Commando rd 3 Stewart Gutsell 1926 Indian Chief Rumour
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Left - Wayne Calderwood with his 1965 YDS3 Yamaha. Below - Casey Lyons’ Montagu Trophy winning 1912 Humber
Page 11 Top - David Gwynn’s superb 1913 P&M 3.5 HP Colonial Bottom - a small selection of the machines on the run
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2019 Veteran Rally – 2 March It was as if the old girl did not want to go on the Veteran Rally. The bike has been difficult to start since the Southland Rally. I pulled out of that rally when I got a puncture. Starting was a real issue a fortnight prior to this rally, culminating in a major overhaul of the magneto. It was finally all go at 6 PM the night before the rally. Cutting it finer than I like. Our day started at 7 PM when the grandkids awoke. The bike just refused to start again and finally backfired and severely stretched my Achilles tendon. An SOS to our daughter and son-in-law and I fitted Glenn to the bike as a semi-permanent starter. The bike had no resistance left and started after taking some skin off his shin just to let him know who was boss. The bike was loaded on the trailer and the kids and food loaded into the car and we were off to the 2019 Veteran Rally. It was good to be leaving from a public venue again. We need to be seen and the vehicles are as much things of beauty as they are mysterious to the younger generations. The youngest of this class of vehicle is now just over a hundred years old (some of their owners are getting close too) and worthy of showing off. I heard it said that we covered in excess of 40 miles on the drive that took us from our Windsor starting venue out Queens Drive and into Myross Bush and on to Makarewa where the time section ended at the Makarewa School. This was my first trip out on the Singer since the veteran rally of 2005 and it took a while to make friends with the old girl again. There were a number of things I had forgotten about but I was reminded fairly quickly. I had a rather interesting time playing leap frog with Ashley Bell on Flora Rd until I gave up and followed him for quite some time. As it turned out it was probably a good thing I did. Ashley is very experienced at veteran motoring so I decided he knew more about the average speed than I did and he did a great job for me. Thanks Ashley. There was some degree of attrition with the first vehicle being loaded on the trailer on Retreat Rd. Well that was one I didn’t have to worry about beating me (sorry). The last casualty was Howard when the Model T apparently broke the crankshaft. It is unfortunate when you have to pull out of a rally. I have had a lot of experience at that over the years. I hope the damage was not too great in both cases. I heard that Stewart had a flat tyre on the BSA and suffered a bit from clutch slip throughout the trip. In good old Stewy fashion though, that did not prevent him from Rumour
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completing the rally and taking out the concourse trophy. Well done. That bike is an absolute picture. It was disappointing that there were only 3 bikes entered but it makes the odds of winning something 2 to 1. The total of 22 entries was slightly down on last year and considerably down on what I remember from the last time I entered the Veteran Rally in 2005. We were well supported by the Gore Branch with 4 entries and 1 entry from Dunedin. That doesn’t leave many of our members on the rally. Please everyone, start preparing those veterans for next year’s rally. Let’s have a big one. If you can’t manage to compete any more, how about encouraging some genuine interest from your younger generations so you at least get to pass on all that knowledge and experience you have stored up. Don’t leave it to them to find things out the hard way. Lunch was at the Riverton RSA. It was good to see a few families having lunch together. We need to promote Vintage Motoring as a family affair. This is where Vintage Motoring has it over the likes of Track Racing and Drag Racing etc. We need to capitalise on that and not appear as a group of stayed old fa..s living in the past. We all know that is not true but are we perceived that way? I hope not. Some of us are active in other motoring clubs as well. Field tests were held over the back fence from the RSA, at the Squash Court grounds. The tests were typical, tried and true tests with no surprises (throwing the horse shoe, throwing a ball at a target, moving forward one and a half wheel revolutions and guessing the number of washers in a tin). They are good standard tests that rely on a bit on luck on the day. At least all the tests could be done by a motor cyclist without a pillion passenger. The certificates are the only record we have of the achievements on the day as the trophies reside at the club these days. The certificates are very good and we as a club should be very proud of them. Many organisations do not pay enough attention to their quality or the awarding of them. The presentation ceremony and the quality of the certificates are something we need to preserve. It was good to see the workers who made this rally happen being rewarded with their own rally plaques. That was an excellent gesture as those people are all too often taken for granted. My personal thanks to all those involved in the organisation and running of the event. It was a great Rumour
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day, made even better for me by riding the whole event. Winning was an added bonus for me and unexpected. My sincere thanks to all those veteran owners who stayed at home. You greatly enhanced my chances of winning this year.
Veteran Rally 2019 Results 1-2 cylinder Road Section Wayne Nicoll 1908 Cadillac 1-2 cylinder Field Tests Wayne Nicoll 1908 Cadillac st 4 cylinder Road Section1 eqHoward Kingsford-Smith 1914 Ford T Casey Lyons 1907 Darracq 3rd Bill Sheddan 1914 Saxon Model A 4 cylinder Field Tests 1st Casey Lyons 1907 Darracq 2nd Rob Eunson 1909 Wolsley Siddley 3rd Bill Sheddan 1914 Saxon Model A Overall Veteran Cars Casey Lyons 1907 Darracq Overall Veteran Field Tests Greg Elder 1917 Cadillac V8 Veteran Motorcycle Road Section Veteran Motorcycle Field Tests Overall Veteran Motorcycle Publican Concours Motorcycle Concours
Rae Wilson Stewart Russell Rae Wilson Paul Herron Stewart Russell
1913 Singer 1914 BSA Model K 1913 Singer 1911 Ford T 1914 BSA Model K
Best Performance by 4 cylinder Best Performance by Model T
Casey Lyons 1907 Darracq Howard Kingsford-Smith 1914 Ford
Hard Luck
Howard Kingsford-Smith
1914 Ford T
Overall Winner
Rae Wilson
1913 Singer
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Veteran Rally Overall Winner Rae Wilson receiving his award from branch Chairman Gerry Pethick
Veteran Rally Organisers: Steve Randall Bruce Marshall Barry Keane Doug Sellars
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Veteran Rally:
Above - Rae Wilson about to set off on his 1913 Singer. Bellow - Greg Elder setting off in his 1917 Cadillac V8, shortly to be followed by Howard Kingsford-Smith in his 1914 Ford Model T.
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Calendar Of Events
For Sale Rover P6B and a Vauxhall HC Viva 1800L. -Two Cars for good
homes. A couple of cars I would be pleased to find good homes for, they are a Rover P6B and a Vauxhall HC Viva 1800L. The Rover is all original, very used, the brake calipers are seized but as a matching numbers car and very easy to work on, a good restoration project. The Viva is a factory sleeper it has all of the Magnum mechanicals, going by the chassis tag the first owner ordered it from the factory to look like butter wouldn't melt, it is missing RH rear door glass has a new radiator. 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, I 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 021301127 james@grsnz.co.nz best regards James
Southland Branch Events 6th - 7th April 11th May 18th May
Other Branch Events 19th - 22nd April 27th April 25th August
Wanted A Burman GB motorcycle gearbox, introduced in 1952 it was fitted to Ariels, AJS, Matchless, Panthers, ect. Looking for a worn but complete gearbox but anything considered. Contact Stuart on 03 213 0529. Austin A55 15”rims. Sabin Perkins a member of the Otago Vintage Car Club is trying to find a 15”rims with a 4-stud pattern for an Austin A55. Her email address is sabin.perkins@xtra.co.nz or ring her on 034128111 0279234902 .
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Autumn Rally Overnight run to Te Anau. John Burke 03 217 8177 or Dave Harris 03 215 6068 Waimea Motorcycle Rally PV/P60/P80 Rally
South Island Easter Rally—Ashburton Entry forms at Clubrooms Golden Time Rally—Arrowtown Entry forms at Clubrooms or contact Janet McCulloch Daffodil Rally Details to follow shortly
Other Events 6th - 13th May
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Veteran & Vintage Tour Starts Ashburton, finishes Hanmer Springs via Haast Pass. Expressions of interest to Diane Ross, (03) 308 2356 randross@kinect.co.nz
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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 anytime if requiring parts or information on parts in our Parts Shed. John Burke 217 8177 Alwyn Hoskins 215 9302 Neil Kidd 216 3788
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 Copyright of the contents of the “Rumour� magazine rests with the VCC of NZ (Southland Branch) unless otherwise stated. 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 if they are pointed out to the Editor. My Vintage - www.myvintage.co.nz is a new online marketplace devoted to all those people who are passionate and enthusiastic about Old Cars and other old vehicles.
Your Advertisement Here Contact Dave Harris dcharris@southnet.co.nz 03 215 6068
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rogersmotorcycles.co.nz