RATTLES & sQUEAKS December 2020
Merry Christmas! Seasons greetings to you all.
48th Far North Tour
Friday night dinner.
Roy Sharman (Auckland) 1964 Renault Caravelle crossing Twin Bridges.
Motukiore Mission Visit
Dinner at Kerikeri
Photos by Ans Schoenmaekers
21st Dunny Run Newly transferred member Harry Currell and I arrived in Kawakawa around 10.00am for the leisurely ‘meet at 10.30, start at 11.00am’ Dunny Run. Organisers Dave and Dorothy Duirs from the Far North club, emphasized it was a social occasion rather than a competitive rally. And immediately asked each driver/navigator a series of questions about the new Hunderwasser Centre to test our observation skills, and decide the winner of the trophy. The participants on the day were mainly Far North club members, but Whangarei and Dargaville were well represented. From the Hunderwasser carpark we proceeded towards Paihia, then turned on to the mainly metal Karetu/ Waikere Rd that skirts the southernmost reaches of the harbour south of Opua, and headed to the Russell/ Whakapara Rd. A short drive south and then we turned at a Twin Bole & Kauri Forest sign, a metal road that is actually the direct Russell/Whakapara Rd that took us south back to the sealed road again. We passed a Te Araroa Walkway tramper, on this section of road now Russell Forest is closed. The Mini Cooper with its 10 inch wheels didn’t particularly enjoy the deep metal on this section. Heading north past gorgeous views of Taupiri and Elliot Bays, we turned into the Rawhiti and drove to the end of the road at lovely Kaimarama Bay. Our instructions finished here, so we had a social opportunity while we waited for the last car and tail-end Charlie to arrive. A loose battery necessitated roadside repairs to get the Holden mobile again, although a new battery hold-down bracket will prevent a similar occurrence. With the whole team assembled again, we were issued with the next set of instructions to get us to the lunch venue, back towards Russell to the Paroa Bay Winery’s Sage Restaurant. Some people elected to picnic at Kaimarama Bay or elsewhere, the rest of us tested our handbrake starts on the steep entry to the winery’s carpark. Lunch was a lovely platter of meats, olives, hummus, etc with corn chips and toasted bread and a wine taste of your choice. Harry was so overcome by the view of the bay sparkling in the sunshine I think he forgot to eat! There was lots of reminiscing at our table with Lyn and Brian Wrack until quite late in the afternoon. Ron and Helen’s Daimler was the people’s choice car of the day, Winston Mathews and his wife won the Dunny Seat trophy. Eventually we were homeward bound, electing to take the car ferry to Opua rather than the road to Whakapara. Lynora and Trevor had the optional ice-cream stop at the Opua General Store, we headed straight home just in case our partners thought we were enjoying ourselves too much. It was a great day with wonderful sunshine, not too much dust and plenty of socializing just as the organisers had promised. Peter Lovatt
Dargaville Doings A good number of Dargaville folk keep coming to our monthly meetings, thus enabling the rent to be paid. At this month’s meeting a vote had to be taken between Rob and Doug (who both admitted to 2 moments) as to who should be the proud owner for a month of the ‘big’ Senior Moment cup and who should get the small one. An overwhelming show of hands for Rob who left a cleaning rag in the car air filter. Doug is working on restoring their Morris 8 and it is now looking splendid with a new coat of paint. Our mid- week run, took us along the Arapohue ridge, and looking down on the ‘flats,’ we could see the large areas of cultivation with kumara planting gathering speed. Eventually we arrived at Ken Bellamy’s home at Naumai. Ken has been and still is a poultry fancier of many years, holding many positions on the various local and national committees. He shows his birds all over New Zealand. It is mating season and the roosters were all crowing loudly, and the hens laying eggs in their pens. About a dozen pens had selected birds for breeding and Ken already has 100 eggs in his incubator. We then drove to the Tokatoka Play Centre, a building which was the Tokatoka School and then the district hall in days gone by. As there was a strong SW wind blowing, this was an excellent venue for our afternoon tea and chat in comfort. Thank you Sue and Dave for a good afternoon. The Dargaville Christmas Parade is to be held on Saturday 5th December. Anyone wanting to display their vintage car, can park in Hokianga Road between the NW Hotel and the ANZ Bank, if you don’t want to drive in the parade. Next month – Wednesday 9th December, will be our combined meeting and Fun Night. (No December Midweek run). Come anytime from 5 pm onwards with your ‘take-away’ tea and a Christmas style dessert to share at the end of the evening. We will have a few fun games, so bring your happy face! Everyone is welcome to come to Dargaville Aero Club on the 9th. We wish all Northland members a very merry Christmas and plenty of happy vintage miles next year. Claudia
A few hens and some Roosters check out the coop. At the Start, Cars and chat.
Motorcycle Report What a great afternoon! What a great run! What a great line-up of people and machinery! Graham and Braden were on modern Triumphs, Braden’s with 70km on the clock. Trevor and Don were on their AJS’s. Warwick with Dawn pillion, Rob with Lorraine in the chair, both BSA machinery. Cam on his hand gear change, left hand throttle Indian, Roger riding Honda, Peter on Kawasaki and myself Yamaha powered. And of course we were seen off by Ron and Helen who turned up in their Daimler. Roger suggested the route for the day; up to Tikipunga and over Vinegar Hill Rd, back along SH1 to Apotu Rd and along to Hikurangi swamp, continue on Jordan Valley Rd then back along Rushbrook and Matarau Rds to Pipiwai Rd. Keep on Pipiwai through Ruatangata till Wrights Rd and then McCardle Rd brought us out on to SH15 Mangakahia Rd. Then only a short run to Poroti Tavern. Cam led the way, and with 3 or 4 stops along the route to allow everyone to catch up with him we all finished at the same time. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the run along these roads with minimal traffic and plenty of curves to keep the concentration up. Robert is still fine-tuning the alignment of the sidecar unit. On their last run in the Waikato, it sounds as if Lorraine had to hold on to Robert to stop them drifting apart after they lost one of the bolts holding the car to the bike. Robert, I have a Vacuum Oil motorcyclist’s manual that suggests getting your dealer to do the finetuning! This month is a busy month for the motorcycle section; some riders will be on 4 wheels for the Far North Tour on Sat. 7th, some will be riding the Auckland Motorcycle Rally on Sat. 21st, and some will be riding in Taranaki Club’s rescheduled Rubber Duckie on Sat. 28th. May they all keep the rubber side down. Peter Lovatt
CHRISTMAS LUNCH SUNDAY 13TH December At the clubrooms - open from 10am Lunch served at 12.30 Club is supplying a cooked ham and BBQ sausages followed by desert. BYO drinks and a shared salad . Bring along your trickiest “what is it”? Item for the Guessing game.
My Fowl North Tour Accomodation in Kerikeri was booked, the Dodge was greased, tank full of petrol and the oil changed. I’d organized Friday for cleaning and polishing it before going up to the clubrooms to help out with the rally packs and attend the dinner. What could possibly go wrong?! Thursday morning, bright and early went out to feed the girls and noticed Maya, the white “Splash” Araucana chicken wasn’t eating, which is most unusual as she is generally first at the feeder and eats like a Dyson. This endearing feature was to be her undoing as I later discovered that she had managed to access (and scoff) the bread I put out on a post, Wednesday for the wild birds. By lunchtime she was sulking in the nest box. Her Sister, Inca, the Lavender girl had gone broody and was also sitting in there, keeping her clutch of imaginary eggs warm and dry. Birds are very good at disguising sickness and will often hide their malaise right up until the time they literally drop dead off the perch. By 3pm Maya was clearly ill. She could hardly keep her eyes open, had diareah and stunk. Vet appointment was booked for 4-45pm. It took a while to find a suitable cardboard box and quickly grab the aforementioned chook. Maya detests being picked up and, even in her sickly state, still managed to growl and stick her wings out to avoid being put in the box. I had one chance, if she got away it was all over. Job done and an uneventful road trip we got to the clinic and was met by a nurse at the door “are you the chicken”? “Well, I can get my feathers ruffled at times…………..”! The Vet peered into the stinky cardboard box and said “pop her up on the table”. Maya stood on the grey shag pile carpet covering the bench top and was calmly taking in her surroundings. The Vet checked her heart and lungs with the stethoscope and declared them as being “fine” - then out came the thermometer. “Can you hold her still”? She asked, while inserting the offending glass tube where eggs come from. Maya’s temperature was 41c (the next egg she lays will be pre cooked!). Hens have a slightly higher temperature than humans but that was way too high - even for a chicken! We were left alone while the vet went out to find some medication. Maya was fascinated with the computer screen on the end of the bench. I asked her if she’d like to watch Rooster Cam on Youtube - then quickly looked around in case there was sort of monitering device installed on the walls. Eventually the vet came back and announced they had nothing to treat chickens with but if I left her they would keep her over the weekend and see if she improved. I knew if I left her there it would be a sure death sentence - with a whopping bill to boot. She would be less stressed and better off with her sister in her coop. We got home at 6pm. With a diagnosis of a severe Fungal Infection I rang a Homeopathic friend and she made up some remedies, which I went out to Maungatapere to pick up. Finally got to bed at 12-30am on Friday, woke up at 5am and really didn't feel much like polishing the Dodge at all. Maya had to have her medication twice a day, I couldn't expect the neighbor, who was going to feed the girls, to do this so decided to stay at home for the weekend. I managed to get to the clubrooms Friday afternoon, feeling somewhat Zombie like, but was well worth it as I caught up with some people I hadn’t seen for a very long time. It was the first Far North Tour I have missed since 1985 and only the second time the Dodge has missed one since the inaugural pre tour 49 years ago. Many thanks to everyone who asked, and phoned to enquire how Maya was doing. She is back to her usual bossy self now and happily scratching in the garden. Editor
40th Auckland Motorcycle Rally The Rally started for me Friday just after 11am when I headed off on my 35 Harley. I should have stopped at the cafe in Te Hana for lunch as Wellsford was quite busy and I turned off onto Highway 16 before there was a place to stop, so it was a late lunch in Kaukapakapa. When I re-joined 16 at Waimauku the traffic was building up so taking it steady on the motorway and city traffic I made it to my Motel. Friday night Pie and mash with a couple of bottles of beer to wash it down and catching up with fellow motorcyclists was soon over then off to bed for a good sleep. Up and away at 7.30 stopping for petrol and breakfast I got to the Hall in Ramarama in time to collect my rally pack and prepare for the start, by the closing date of entries 56 bikes were entered so with late entries the number was over 60. Unlike here in the north there are lots of sealed back roads. So you could choose long or short morning and afternoon. Short+ Short 56 + 27 miles Total 83 miles. Long + Long 63 + 52 miles Total 113 miles. Long + Short 63 + 27 miles Total 90 miles. Short + Long 56 + 52 miles Total 108 miles. So plenty to choose from, good day slightly overcast which was good for motorcycling. After that it was back on the motorway and the Auckland traffic. The meal and prize giving was well attended but only 5 or 6 from out of town. Prize winners for rally: VINTAGE (1920-1930: Post vintage (1931-1945) Northland
1 Don Green – 1930 Rudge Auckland 1
Paul Tomlin 1939 BSA Auckland
POST WAR (1946-1959) 1 Michael Watts 1955 AJS Auckland Gathercole 1954 Matchless Auckland
2 Cameron Francis 1935 Harley Davidson
2 Mike Batcheler 1947 BSA Auckland 3 Brian
POST 60 (1960-1979) 1Alan Macy 1974 Norrton Commando Auckland Auckland 3 Gavin Welch 1973 Triumph T 140 Auckland Combination 1 Michael O'Kane &Trish Darrow 1952 BSA A10 Auckland land 3 Alice Leney & Heather Hartles 1942 Harley Davidson Auckland MORGAN CLASS
1John & Jill Williams
2
David Broadhead 1975 BMW 2 Chris Clark
1951 BSA A10 Auck-
1937 Auckland
OVER-ALL WINNER & FIRST AUCKLANDER Alan Macy 1974 Norton Commando. Other prizes: Auckland Random rider Brian King Auckland 1st American Alice Leney
Auckland
1st Velocette Warwick Darrow Auckland 1st Lady Finisher Jillian Hayton Waikato 1st entry Ian Hubbard
Auckland
Farthest ridden Alice Leney Auckland Coromandel Farthest travelled Peter Simpson Wellington Oldest rider
Dave Tomkins Auckland
Hard Luck 1 Steve Walter Waikato Riders choice Stuart Metge
1973 Norton Commando
In the morning light rain was falling. So on with the wet weather gear and head home.At Kaukapakapa bikes were gathering in the car park of the Volunteer Fire Station. I presume it was a charity ride, but I just kept going when the marshal was indicating for me to turn in.Stopped in Wellsford for a coffee the weather had cleared so from their I went the coast road to Waipu Cove and home. I did 435 miles over the weekend with no problems. Cam.
Calendar of Events 2020-21 December Wednesday 2nd.
Morning Tea NVCC Clubrooms10.30am. Please bring a plate.
Saturday 5th. A & P Show at Barge Park. Get together at the club rooms at 7.45 leaving from there at 8 o’clock and park up for the day. If you don’t want to stay for that long you can go home and pick your car up at the end of the day. There will be members there at all times to keep an eye out for the vehicles. Sunday 6th.
Motorcycle Run.
Meet at Clapham Clocks, Town Basin carpark, leaving at 9.30am.
Wednesday 9th. Dargaville Xmas Meeting at NW Aero Club from 5pm onward with your ‘take-away tea’ and Christmas dessert to share. Sunday13th.
Christmas lunch. Clubrooms open at 10am.
Lunch served at 12.30.
Please bring a salad.
January 2021 Sunday 3rd.
Motorcycle Run.
Thursday 28th.
Meet at Frings at 1pm.
NVCC Committee meeting Clubrooms 7pm.
February Wednesday 3rd. Morning Tea NVCC Clubrooms 10.30. Please bring a plate. Sunday7th. Sunday 7th.
Motorcycle Run.
Meet at Frings at 1pm.
Waipu Car and Bike Show
Wednesday 10th.
Dargaville meeting at 7.30pm. NW Aero Club, Hoanga Rd.
Wednesday17th. Dargaville Mid-week Run1PM at NW Boating Club Car Park BYO afternoon tea Sunday14th.
Discovery of the Kaipara harbour. Run set by Robert and Ngaire Wade.
Thursday 25th.
NVCC Committee meeting Clubrooms 7pm.
Saturday 27th.
NVCC Parts Afternoon 2-5pm
Parts shed and Library open every Wednesday morning 9-12 noon. Check out the Northland Branch VCC Facebook page for more photos of club events etc.
2020 -2021 Office Bearers Northland Vintage Car Club Inc. Position Chairperson
Name Ans Schoenmaekers
Phone
Mobile
Email vcc.northland@gmail.com
09 4346802
Vice Chairperson Secretary
Ray Sanders
021632563
Treasurer
Steve Cornwall
09 4025006
Newsletter Editor
Donna Nobilo
09 4376097
Committee
Roger Billing
northland@vcc.org.nz
jensteve@xtra.co.nz 021437601
empiretroop@actrix.co.nz
0273275059
rogerbilling@xtra.co.nz
Peter Meares
09 435 2002
petermeares@gmail.com
Allan Pearson
09 4376317
agpearson39@gmail.com
Gill Sanders Peter Lovatt
4596171
Lou Schoenmaekers
09 4346802
Ron Anderson
021776733
sanders.gill@gmail.com
0211936948
pandjlovatt@gmail.com
louans@hotmail.com
027538969
wishbone@ps.gen.nz
021420707
morgandennis@25gmail.com
Dennis Morgan
09 4338740
Lawrence Hillier
09 4346457
hillierlawrence@gmail.com
Allan Pearson
09 4376317
agpearson39@gmail.com
Peter Meares
09 435 2002
petermeares@gmail.com
Rob Hughes
09 4591171
poodlepalace@xtra.co.nz
Lou Schoenmakers
09 4346802
louans@hotmail.com
Jim Shaw
09 4387028
jim@donavans.co.nz
Bert Parish
09 4389492
Librarian
Peter Meares
09 435 2002
Motorcycle Rep
Peter Lovatt
4596171
Museum Delegate
Ans Schoenmaekers
09 4346802
vcc.northland@gmail.com
VIC Inspector
Allan Pearson
09 4376317
agpearson39@gmail.com
Webmaster
Martin Salter
09 4371969
Parts/Vehicles
Hall Custodian petermeares@gmail.com
0211936948
0212242102
pandjlovatt@gmail.com
martinsalter47@gmail.com