January - February 2021
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Taranaki Branch Committee Chair COLIN JOHNSTON E: cajohnstoncollections@xtra.co.nz Ph: 06 754 6216 Past Chair
Secretary
VERONICA OLIVER E: fordt@xtra.co.nz Ph: 06 752 2149
VERONICA OLIVER E: fordt@xtra.co.nz Ph: 06 752 2149
Club Captain
Treasurer
Vacant
ROB THOMSON E: rail modelsl@xtra.co.nz Ph: 06 758 4881
Librarian
Topical Torque Editor
BILL DURLING E: elinorandbill@hotmail.com Ph: 06 758 4244
JIM LOGAN E: logandj49@gmail.com Ph: 06 751 0316 | M: 027 604 4821 Committee
LES BOGNUDA JOHN MUTER MARK MASTERS MIKE HODGKINSON
Email: bognuda63@xtra.co.nz Email: megandjohnny@xtra.co.nz Email: rmmasters@xtra.co.nz Email: mike.hodgkinson@xtra.co.nz
Ph: 06 755 2810 Ph: 06 751 5554 Ph: 06 765 7544 Ph: 06 753 2721
Historian/Custodian
Name Tags Badges
ROSE COX E: roselcox7@gmail.com Ph: 06 752 2525 | M: 027 353 9968
GEOFF BLACKBOURN E: dblackbourn@orcon.net.nz Ph: 06 752 7671
Groundsman
Beaded Wheels
LES BOGNUDA
Ph: 06 755 2810
Vehicle VIN’s / VIC’s MIKE WILLIAMS
Ph: 06 754 6216
Parts Committee Ph: 06 765 4419
Mid-Week Coordinator BRYAN MORRIS
COLIN JOHNSTON
Ph: 06 272 8027
NEIL ROOK JOHN MUTER PAT STIELLER CES BUDD
Ph: 06 758 6737 Ph: 06 751 5554 Ph: 06 754 6096 Ph: 06 758 7685
From the Chairperson Chairman’s Chatter Hello Folks.
A very happy New Year to all members. Hope you have all had an enjoyable break over the holiday season and are looking forward to some outdoor activities using our vehicles. There is a busy time coming up over the next three or four months with rallies planned not only in our branch with the Waitara Mini Vin Tour and Maunga Moana Rally but there is plenty of other great rallies to attend in our neighboring branches. Like the Burma at Whanganui and the Highland Fling at Taihape and even further afield. With the Covid pandemic still disrupting millions of lives all over the World we are truly lucky to be in this little part of the World and still be able to enjoy our lifestyle with family and friends. Overseas holidays won’t be on the cards for some time yet so let’s all get our vehicles fired up and enjoy some of the rallies and activities that branches will arrange all over New Zealand. The committee have had workshops to discuss and update our branch constitution which like many other branches have not updated for many years. There are changes over the years in the incorporated Society act. This update is in the capable hands of committee man Mike Hodgkinson who has already done a huge amount of work for us and with all the committees input we should be able to present a draft form for discussion with all members at the AGM or a Special General Meeting will be called if necessary. It is important to keep up to date with the changes that occur and have our constitution accurate. John Muter has been attending to the organising of this year’s Maunga Moana Rally which is set for 26th/27th March and has Rob Thomson as Rally Secretary and myself as general dogsbody. So even though it is not far from the previous year’s rally because of the Covid postponement I am sure we will have a good turnout with the weather still settled and warm. Again, we will be cantering on the Plymouth International Hotel. A Maunga Moana Raffle for a Panasonic Mini Stereo system has commenced, and raffle tickets will be available at the Noggin and Natter nights. The 2022 Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring is now just under a year away and the organising committee are working hard to bring this rally to us. The survey by the National president has given the committee encouragement and guidance on entrants attending this rally and we here in Taranaki are looking forward to being the host branch for this event. So, Keep the Passion......... Stay safe when you are out on the Roads........ Keep to the Left....... Get out and about in your Vehicles.
Cheers!
Happy New Year.
Chairman Colin
On the Cover: Members cars on Garden Festival Tour 3
From the Editor Hi Folks, well it looks like 2021 has got off to a sunny start, averaging 10 hours sunshine daily already. Of course, that’s also good for the grass growth, lawnmowing now a weekly chore. But that still leaves time enough for our hobby and there are a couple of events coming up which I might see you at. Colins Mini Vin as usual in February and that is always a great outing (don’t forget a plate for afternoon tea). Hoping that everyone has a Happy and Healthy New Year, all keeping clear of the dreaded virus, means that probably holidays this year will be New Zealand bound, but that’s not such a bad thing, especially if you have time for leisurely drives in your pride and joy round our lovely countryside
Jim Logan
55th Maunga Moana Rally
After having everything in place in March for the rally, then along came Covid19 lockdown. We decided that the rally should go ahead so 21 November 2020 would be the revised date. After checking the route to ensure no issues and no road works, we were ready for the rally to go ahead. Marshall to reset and the final preparations in place. The route took entrants from the Plymouth Hotel north to Bell Block, up through Upland Road to Kent Road where the 1st check was. Up to Maude Rd along Bedford Rd and down Durham Rd to end the 1st timing section. The route took you along to Tariki Rd and up through Lake Ratipiko and to Kaimata School where the 2nd check started. This would end up in Waitara behind ANZCO to the final check, behind heading to Waitara Town & Country for an awesome lunch. The afternoon section was timing free but still those silent checks. We had two off course checks that most of the entrants wrote these down. (BSA and AJS) One in Grey St instead of Domett St and the other up on the straight-ahead rule on Stafford St. The route took you up Waitara Rd and up through Henwood Rd and then into town up Mangorei Rd, Carrington St along Hurworth Rd to Barrett Rd and out to Beach Road Omata to come back along the sea front to the Plymouth Hotel. Prior to the Saturday of the rally, we were confronted with a road closure. We had instructions to get us around the closure, but this was not used as they reopened the road on the Friday night. (Thank goodness!) The meals at the Plymouth Hotel were up to their high standard of excellence. Prize giving took place where Robert & Leigh Buchanan took out most of the cups & trophies. Well-done and congratulations to you both Steven & I would like to thank the following for their sponsorship- Ireland Roading & Construction Ltd for the prizes, Balanced Accounting Taranaki Ltd for the printing & photocopying of rally instructions etc. A special thanks to Rob Thomson for his Secretary duties and the support to both Steve & I. The raffle that we had going was won by Tiddley Cox. This was an emotional moment when we delivered it to Rose. (Go Tiddley!) To the entrants a big thank you as you have made this rally a success.
Veronica Oliver Co-Organiser
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48th WAITARA MINI-VIN TOUR SUNDAY 28th FEBRUARY 2021
Assemble at the Waitara Town and Country Club car park West Quay Waitara. First car away at 1:30pm. Rally in true Mini-Vin tradition and enjoy the get-together. Rally finishes at Colin and Alexander Johnston’s residence at 63 Broadway, Waitara for afternoon tea (please help out with a plate). Prizes and trophy will be presented, and the winners name will be added to the Honours Board at the club rooms. You are invited to come on your motorbike or motor in your Veteran, Vintage PVV, Post 60, Modern or anything you like. JUST BE THERE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME For any further information contact Colin Johnston on 06 754 6216 or 021 131 6699.
26th Annual Charity Car Show INGLEWOOD – 31 January
In 2019 we introduced an entry fee for exhibitors of $5 per entry which included the exhibitor and one passenger. This proved to be very successful and so will continue this year in the same format. Extra passengers will pay the gate fee of $5 for adults with U15’s free. Exhibitors entering more than one exhibit will be asked to pay for the first entry only. Gates will be open to the public from 10.30am until 2.30pm. We would like exhibitor vehicles in position by 10am. Exhibitor gates will open at 9am. If you are coming as a group or wish to park together, please endeavour to arrive together. If you could give us a heads-up to numbers, it would be a great help. Trophies will be awarded to Best - Australian, American, British, Continental, Bike and Hot Rod ............... and Enthusiast’s vehicles. Should the weather be unsuitable on Sunday 31st January, the show will reconvene on Sunday 7th February (Waitangi weekend) - same venue, same times, same arrangements. Postponements will be notified via Facebook and radio. 5
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FEBRUARY SUN
28 Closing date for February Topical Torque, 7 February. Please forward articles to the Editor, Jim Logan 76C South Road N P 4310-or email to logandj49@gmail.com This magazine is also available by e-mail as a PDF file. If you would prefer to receive a copy this way, please contact the Editor. Pictures are usually in colour. Views and opinions expressed in Topical Torque are those of contributors and not necessarily those of the Taranaki Branch of the V C C of N Z, the Branch Executive, or the Editor. Clubrooms: 1040 Mountain Road - SH 3A Inglewood.
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Coming Events JANUARY
Local Events: 14 Committee meets at 7.30pm 21 Club night 28 Midweek run from Normanby, meet at 1.00pm at the Normanby Hall, we will be visiting the Patea Museum with an afternoon tea stop thrown in 31 Inglewood Charity Car Show, details next page Other Branch Events: 1 Whanganui Gumboot Rally 10 Waikato Blue Smoke and Pedals 15 Wellington Club Captains Monte Carlo Rally 22-25 Whanganui Vintage Weekend 24 Whanganui Burma Rally
FEBRUARY
Local Events: 4 Committee meets at 7.30pm 18 Club night 28 Colins Mini Vin Tour, Waitara Town and Country Club 1.30pm Other Branch Events: 7 East B O P East Coast Rally 7 Manawatu Veteran Rally 12-14 Gisborne Three Rivers Rally 13 Auckland Annual Veteran Rally 17-21 Hawkes Bay Art Deco Festival 28 Wellsford/Warkworth Swap Meet
MARCH
Local Events: 26-27 Taranaki Branch – MAUNGA MOANA RALLY 2021
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Other Events
Burma Rally The Whanganui Branch are again hosts for their Burma Rally on the 24th of January, as part of Whanganui’s Vintage Weekend. If you have not been to this event you have missed out on quite an experience. The display of vehicles along the main street on Saturday is really special. Even if you go down for the day, that would be the day to go. Also, this year, New Plymouth is hosting Americarna from the 23 to 27th of February, as always, a must see on the calendar of car enthusiasts everywhere. Not forgetting our Branches main event coming up on the 26-27th March the Maunga Moana Rally, those wanting to register for this can contact Rally Secretary Rob by emailing him at railmodels1@xtra.co.nz
CAR STORAGE AVAILABLE I have 120m2 of storage available in the basement of my warehouse at 494 St Aubyn St. Tai Ruwhiu is currently storing his classic Ford 49 pick truck there. This is on a casual sub lease basis month to month. For a 9m x 3m bay, $200/ month. I can do more or less according to what the owner wants. Please come down and eyeball it to assure yourself of the space and its attributes.
Ian Haldane ph 64 6 759 7478 or 64 211 692 611 8
66th New Zealand Grand Prix at Hampton Downs. 24 January 2021 Billed this year as the Race of Champions, the 2021 New Zealand Grand Prix could be one of the biggest for major names since Bruce McLaren himself was behind the wheel. The MotorSport New Zealand-sanctioned event doubles as the opening round of the championship. A joint venture by Hampton Downs and Speed Works Events, it will run over the weekend of January 22nd-24th with practice, qualifying and two races for drivers before the New Zealand Grand Prix itself on Sunday 24th. A legendary list of previous winners includes Stirling Moss, Prince Bira, Jack Brabham, John Surtees, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and legendary Kiwi racers Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon. More recently, it has been won by current F1 drivers Lando Norris and Lance Stroll. It will be the first time the Grand Prix has been held at the North Waikato circuit and the first time any Castrol Toyota Racing Series event has been held on the longer and more challenging track which has ten corners and a current lap record of 1 minute 27.637 seconds. Versatile Kiwi racer Tom Alexander – the current Aussie SuperUtes champion – is the latest to confirm his spot in the forthcoming 66th New Zealand Grand Prix at Hampton Downs. The 26-year-old from Christchurch joins a star-studded field of 16 cars for the 28 lap race around the North Waikato circuit’s 4km international track that includes Shane van Gisbergen, Andre Heimgartner, Greg Murphy, Chris van der Drift, two-time winner Daniel Gaunt as well as a host of the best up and coming single seater racers in New Zealand. He’ll also be up against his long-time mentor Kenny Smith, who at the age of 79, will be making an amazing 50th New Zealand Grand Prix start. Alexander has driven a huge range of contrasting single-seaters in his career, starting back in 2011 with two seasons in the national Formula Ford championship. Despite switching his main focus to saloon cars, he still ran in single-seater races alongside Smith in cars such as a 1992 Formula 3 car and a later Swift Formula Atlantic car. This historic theme continued with a stint in Formula 5000 and he also competed in the inaugural S5000 event at Sandown in Australia. Emphasising his versatility behind the wheel Tom was also the 20142015 Toyota 86 Champion.
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In 2022, the Vero Festival of Historic Motoring will be based in Taranaki. Mt Taranaki is the central icon for the region, dominating the view from every angle. The district deliversa wide range of visitor experiences, there'll be plenty for you to see and do before, during and after the Festival. 16 – 21 January
E reservations@autolodge.co.nz
Accommodation • Restaurant • Celebrations • Anniversaries • Birthdays • Reunions
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