RATTLES & sQUEAKS July 2019
Maunga Moana Rally, Taranaki. Attended by Jen and Steve Cornwall in their 1951 Citroen Traction Avant.
Chairman’s Comment Hello to all Club Members from your Chairman That’s another year gone by for the current committee and a new start with a mostly new committee. Finding new committee members was a bit slow with most coming in at the last moment. However those who attended the AGM will know that finding the branch officers was a bit of a struggle and although I would have preferred somebody else standing for Chairman, it was pleasing to see the support for me to continue for another year and I will do my best to live up to expectations. However, despite the slow start, it looks like we have a good group of members leading the club into another year and the entire club owe a big thanks for those who will be doing that. Please remember that your committee has a job to do handling the business and financial interests of the club and do so as a democracy. Sometimes the decisions that have to be made do not meet with the full approval of all committee members or some club members views, but they are made with majority decisions and with the best interests of the club at heart. From time to time we do get comments from some individual members that they don’t agree with some decisions. Everybody is entitled to their own ideas and we welcome all comments and feedback. If you don’t tell us what you want or like, then it is fairly difficult to come up with solutions. However, if you really feel you want to make a difference, then stand for the committee next year. The club morning tea on the first Wednesday of the month continues to attract members along for a chat and a cuppa and it’s good to see new faces. Also Lawrence Hillier and his team continue to be at the Parts and Vehicle Shed every Wed morning and regularly have visitors drop in to say hello. We tried to get the 3rd Friday of the month Dinner Meetings going with limited success. We put these on for those people who can’t come to the Wednesday morning teas but if nobody wants to attend them what is the point so at the AGM we decided to put these into recess over the winter months and start them again when daylight saving starts. We didn’t have our regular 2nd Sunday of the month run in May as the AGM was the Sunday before and we felt two Sundays in a row may be too much. If you haven’t been attending these monthly runs then you are missing out on having a great time with your vehicle with a group of like-minded members. I’m not sure at this time what we will do on Sunday 14th July but turn up at the clubrooms at 10:00 am with a picnic lunch and we will have something sorted. If it changes after our first committee meeting we will email out any changes. We do have a Club Captain this year which will take some pressure off me, but it is not up to him to organize every run but only to coordinate them. Anyone of you members can set a run or even just make suggestions and we will take it from there. After all, how do we know what you want or think would be a good idea if you don’t tell us. Any places of interest, private collections, interesting roads or even somewhere you have been that you enjoyed and others might. Feedback your ideas and give us a chance. The motorcycle team continue to have their regular run on the first Sunday of the month and I intend to continue to attend the start of these whenever possible. It is quite informal with the route being decided on the day. Although it has been suggested I get a bike and join in, although I appreciate their passion, I’m not quite as dedicated to bike riding as the hardy team who do this are. It is pleasing to see that some of the regulars who were not members of the club joining up. Welcome to those new members. Looking forwards to a great year of using your vehicles and great club company. Regards Ron Anderson
EDITORial I’ve just been reading James Lawries’s story (in the last Wellsford Newsletter) about an accident in the Dome Valley that he had in his 1974 VJ Valiant. It bought back some horrible memories of an incident I experienced in almost the same place a few years previous. In 1972 my Mother sold her Triumph Herald Saloon (which couldn't pull a chook off its nest) and purchased a low mileage automatic 1969 AP5 Valliant from the local Chemist in Highbury, Auckland. The car was painted metallic bronze (this was its best feature). Mum wasn't a confident driver and the choice of wheels probably wasn't the best decision ever she had previously managed to back her Humber 80 up eight concrete steps and wedge it in the back porch but that’s a story for another day……………….! Later in 1972 my parents purchased seven acres of bush on the outskirts of Russell and we were on the move north. Dad and my younger Brother in a rented furniture truck, along with an Alsatian pup and Joey the Cockatiel in his cage on the front seat. Mum driving the Valiant with Casper the cat in his carrier strapped in the passenger seat. I was sitting on the bench seat in the rear, along with an array of toys including a hand sized rubber Pterodactyl called Pelorus, which was sitting flat on the seat next to me. We passed the Adrian Reddy Concrete tank works on the south side of the Dome Valley, the road hadn't been realigned then and had some sharp bends in it further up. Suddenly Pelorus leapt off the seat and disappeared into the foot space on the floor. I bent down to pick him up and saw a flash of white followed by the car spinning round and round and the screeching of tyres on the road (how I hate that noise) It seemed to go on forever before we hit the clay bank on the left flipping the car which then righted itself, coming to rest on its feet but facing south. It felt like ages before anyone arrived but it was only seconds before a lady in a Mini stopped and asked my Mother if she was alright. She was shaken and her hands were bleeding from the sharp edges of the leather steering wheel cover but she was otherwise unharmed. She asked “is the car scratched”? To which the woman said “Errr, I think you had better have a look for yourself”! A white Ford Transit van had come round the corner on our side and clipped the right front of the Valliant. They never bothered stopping and Dad said they passed him in the rental truck “going like the clappers”. The lady in the Mini insisted on making me walk up and down the road side. I had a broken cheek bone, my face was swollen grotesquely, closing one eye completely and my head hurt all I wanted to do was sit down. I had hit the back of the front seat when I leaned down to pick up Pelorus. If that Pterodactyl hadn't jumped on the floor I would have gone out through the windscreen and would not be here writing this today. To this day I do not know how that rubber dinosaur managed to jump off the seat! The tow truck took us to Maungatauroto but because it was an automatic he could only tow the Valliant at around 25mph. A local Taxi driver took us to Russell. It was a very long day! The following year my brother and I were attending the Opua Primary School, along with three other families from Russell. The Parents took turns at car pooling us to Okiato Point, five miles away. It was our turn and Dad was carrying seven kids in the AP5, we crested a rise with a slight bend with a bit of gravel washed across the seal from a drive way on the left. Suddenly we were going round in circles and there was that horrible screeching noise again (how I hated that car!). Thankfully Dad was a good driver and managed to gain control before we went over the edge and down one of the steep ravines flanking either side of the road. The bag of cement Dad had put in the boot did little to help the fish tailing but must have done wonders for the gas guzzling Australian’s fuel consumption! The following week the AP5 was traded in Whangarei for an almost new Japanese assembled Datsun 180B, an awesome little car which actually stayed pointed in the direction you put it. Donna.
Briefing the entrants.
Dargaville Doings
Surprisingly, at this month's meeting, we had enough members to pay the rent, as many were laid low with winter ills. Doug and Bev ably occupied the top table although others had to supply the jokes, but Doug enjoyed striking the gavel to bring everyone back to order. Our mid-week run started off with a reporter from the local paper coming to take photos and tell us something of the life of a newspaper. Our route took us off the main road to some ridge roads to view the country side looking its best on a lovely sunny day. The destination was the Rest Area at Ruawai Wharf, where Bruce produced a set of quoits and petanque. It was mandatory that everyone 'have a go'before having afternoon tea! Coming Events, everyone welcome, please note your diaries. JULY 10th Usual meeting at Aero Club, Hoanga Road at 7.30pm. 17th Meet 1pm at the Boating Club Car Park. Please bring a plate as we are driving to the Oldfield home for a social afternoon to celebrate Ross' 90th birthday. 20th "World famous in Dargaville" Night Run. Meet at the Aero Club at 5.30pm armed with a torch, suitable footwear and most importantly something for dessert! Three varieties of soup, and bread rolls will be provided, before we venture out into the dark. The reward will be dessert when we return. Keith demonstrating his best Petanque style.
Far North Tour 2019 Hello All, We have had some queries about the Far North tour wanting to confirm that it is going ahead and where it is finishing. Despite some ficticious rumours that have been spread to the contary, The Far North Tour is alive and well and will be held on the first weekend of November 2019. It is planned to start from the Northland Vintage Car Clubrooms in Whangarei on Saturday 2nd November and head north. Where exactly the route will be is not fully established yet, but it will finish in Kerikeri. Dinner on the Saturday night will be at the Cornerstone Church Hall in the middle of Kerikeri and the dinner will be supplied by some well recommended local caterers. This is not a licenced venue but we have permission for BYO for dinner. Go ahead and book your accomodation in Kerikeri for the Saturday night, 2nd November or alternately, it's less than an hour and a half back to Whangarei if you want to stay there. As we will not be stopping in Taipa this year, the Far North VCC will not be asked to put on their fantastic morning tea at their clubrooms, but we are considering opening the NVCC Clubrooms and Vehicle/Parts Shed in Whangarei as a refreshment/comfort stop on the way home on Sunday. Could the clubs receiving this please advise your members about this as a number of them have made the annual pilgimage north and we don't want them to miss out. If they haven't been on a NVCC FNT yet, then it is time they found out why it has been running continuouly for the last 47 years. Regards, Ron Anderson Chairman Accomodation in Kerikeri Road - close to the Cornerstone. Woodlands Motel 09 4073947 Wharepuke Subtropical 09 4078933 Colonial House Motel 0800 242 555 Kerikeri Homestead Motel 0800 222 407 Avalon Resort 09 407 1201 Riverstone Lodge 094016260 Moongate Villa 09 929 5921 Kerikeri Park Lodge 09 4077464 There are various other Motels etc in the area. information centre. Book your accommodation early!
Check online or contact your local
Those were the days!
New Members We welcome the following new members to the Northland Branch. Geoff Thorpe Ray Sanders Trevor and Donald Poynte John and Faith Boldrik
MotorCycle Report Sunday the 2nd June, 8 Motorcycles assembled at the usually start at 1pm. The day was forecast for rain but we had sunshine with a cool southerly wind. Chairman Ron was their to greet the riders again and was asked when he was getting a bike? The answer was he had a bike licence. We had the usually natter before we deciding on where to ride to today. Most of us have more than one bike, just as well for Trevor as his AJS had a oil leak, which he had fixed this morning but it wouldn’t start when it was time to leave home. He brought his other bike a 1963 AJS 31 650cc . Roger Ballard rode his newly purchased 1996 Honda Bros 650cc V twin (nice bike Roger). Graham rode his modern 2012 Triumph Bonneville and Peter Lovatt rode his 2006 Suzuki Storm DL650. Then we had Errol Gray on his 1969 Triumph T120R, Cameron Francis riding his 1974 Moto Guzzi 1000cc, Brian Taylor Riding his 1953 Royal Enfield and Lorraine and myself on our 1952 Matchless G80s. The Matchless took the lead heading through to Abbey Caves Road, over Mount Tiger, then followed the Road to Pataua South where we stopped for about ten minutes before heading back to the Parua Bay Tavern for another natter over a drink. For me about a 45 mile ride. The Ulysses Club have asked the motorcycle section to ride with them on the 14th July to Les Andrews place to view his large motorcycle collection. It is nice to hear we have more motorcyclists joining the Northland VCC and there are some full restoration underway ( Flat Tank Triumph and a Norton ). Robert and Lorraine Young
Brian Taylor, Lorraine Young and Errol Gray taking a break at Pataua South.
2019 Taranaki Vintage Car Club Rally On the weekend of the 27th April, the Taranaki Vintage Car Club held their annual Maunga to Moana rally, based as usual out of New Plymouth, with fewer than last year's 67 entries. Jen and I took our 1951 Citroen Traction Avant down again and the car ran as well as usual, great on the long easy corners of the Northland, Waikato and Taranaki roads but a bit slow out of the many sharp corners of the Awakino Gorge, due to only having a 3 speed gearbox. Fortunately we had a clear run up both sides of Mount Messenger so there wasn't a need to find the non synchromesh 1st gear. Instead of making a long 1 day, 10 hour, 610 kilometre, trip from Paihia to Inglewood, near New Plymouth, we decided this year to split our trip each way into 2 shorter days. We were therefore able to spend more time, an hour here, an hour there, stopping at the small towns en route, sampling the local eateries and sights on the way. The event started as usual from the carpark of one of the large New Plymouth hotels before heading eastwards towards Inglewood, on to Stratford and then to Kaponga for lunch at the Swiss Club Hall. The afternoon run was around the western side of Mount Taranaki, up into the bush towards the Pukeiti Rhododendron gardens and back to town; a bit of 1st gear work here. The navigation trial was made up of unnamed "t" intersections, random questions, several key words to make sure you were on the correct route and 2 average speed timed sections. These timed sections gave a distance and an average speed which becomes difficult when you catch up to another slower car or if you have to follow a farm tractor for a while. We now know some of the Taranaki VCC members who say that success in the timed sections is very random and hit and miss. The geography of Taranaki, east of the mountain, is made up of a large number of stony streams leading off the mountain. These streams make dairy farming a real challenge because the paddocks seem rather small compared with the paddocks around Ruawai and in the Waikato. The cows do plenty of walking up and down the sides of the streams with most of the cow sheds appearing to be on the flat areas at the tops of the hills. It is very noticeable that dairy farmers are conscious of cowshed effluent in the water ways because of the new strips of native bush between the paddocks and the waterways; good on them! We later had to go into New Plymouth for the dinner when the weather was still fine but by 9 pm there was heavy rain so the 18 km trip back to our motel in Inglewood was a bit of a challenge. Both Jen and I had our eyes firmly on the road ahead due to poor headlamps and even worse windscreen wipers. The trip was rather slow and we are thankful for the modern bright tail lamps which showed us up to the fast moving traffic, catching up to us in the rain. Even though the company was great, and the rally route navigation was a challenge, it was good to get back through the Auckland motorway system and home to Northland once more. We covered about 940 miles and averaged just over 29 miles per gallon which is an excellent result, using our Tom-tom, set to read miles per hour, as an accurate speedo and distance recorder.
Jen and Steve Cornwall,
Paihia
Northland Vintage Car Club Motorcycle Rally May 18th 2019 For anyone who had an interest in Vintage and Classic motorcycles, the sight of 65 gleaming motorcycles gathered at the Northland Vintage Car Club rooms to take part in this year's rally was truly a sight to behold. This very popular motorcycling event attracted riders from as far as Whangaroa in the North to Rotorua in the South, creating an opportune time for everyone to catch up with old friends and meet new comers. There were 25 Auckland members who travelled North to take part. Machines from 1930 through to 1996, with specific marques such as Ariel, Indian, Triumph, Norton, Douglas to BSA Gold Stars and a stunning 1934 Morgan three-wheeler, there were 18 BSA’s the biggest number of all makes. They all lined up ready to compete in the 100-mile Rally, Auckland’s chairman Martin Spicer rode a borrowed 1952 197cc Ambasador 2 stroke as his two bikes were of the road. The first bike got away at 10.00am, weather conditions were excellent, making for some really enjoyable motorcycling through the regions breathtaking countryside with its variety of large dairy farms, lifestyle blocks and bush clad hill country, keeping contestants busy following their route instructions while taking in the magnificent vista. The aroma from a great little coffee shop in Hikurangi was simply too much for some to ignore, just a quick cup and perhaps make up a bit of time won’t have an adverse effect on nominated times. After completing the timed section, it was back to the club rooms for an enjoyable lunch. After lunch riders took a short ride of approx 30 miles travelling South East of Whangarei and returning to the club rooms for a cup of tea. The prize giving Dinner was held at the club rooms where everyone had the chance to catch up on the days events and enjoy a great meal. This Rally was very well attended The absence of fast moving heavy traffic always makes for a very enjoyable ride. The countryside was stunning to say the least and the small team of branch organisers worked hard to ensure an enjoyable safe and memorable rally. What great fun, a big thank you must go to all the organisers and helpers that made this rally so successful. Below are the finishing places of our Auckland members. Vintage
1st
Don Green
- 1930 Rudge Ulster
PWV 1st Peter Alderdice 1954 Ariel SQ4.
2nd Dave Warren 1930 Indian 402
P60 1st Alan Macy 1974 Norton Commando
2nd Gavin Welch 1973 Triumph Bonneville. SIDECAR 1st Mike O'kane 1952 BSA Golden Flash Flash THE OVERALL WINNER
John Shennan Auckland VCC
=
Peter Alderdice
2nd Chris Clark 1951 BSA Golden
Calendar of Events 2019
JUly Wednesday 3rd. Saturday 6th. Sunday 7th.
Morning Tea at VCC Clubrooms 10 am.
All welcome.
Wellsford Winter Woolies. Motorcycle Run.
Wednesday 10th.
Meet 1pm at Frings, Town Basin.
Dargaville meeting at Aero Club, Hoanga Road at 7.30pm.
Sunday 14th.
Rotorua Swapmeet.
Sunday 14th.
Club Run.
Meet at Clubrooms 10am.
Saturday 20th. Dargaville Night Run.
Details in Dargaville Report.
AUGUST Sunday 4th. Motorcycle Run. Wednesday 7th.
Meet 1pm at Frings, Town Basin.
Morning Tea at VCC Clubrooms 10 am.
Sunday 11th.
Club Run.
Sunday 25th.
Daffodil Rally.
All welcome.
Details later. Combined Clubs event.
SEPTEMBER Sunday 1st.
Motorcycle Run.
Wednesday 4th. Sunday 8th.
Meet 1pm at Frings, Town Basin.
Morning Tea at VCC Clubrooms 10 am.
Club Run.
Details later.
All welcome.