#0115 2021
March 2022
PO Box 458, LEVIN 14 Tiro Tiro Road, LEVIN
Patron Chair Deputy Chair Secretary Treasurer Club Captains Branch Delegate Committee
Welfare Officer Custodian & Maintenance Grounds People Spares Team
Library Archives Spark Editor Spark Distribution VIC Team
Tom Hayes John White j.mwhite@xtra.co.nz Glenn Peach gpeach@xtra.co.nz Bill Laney and Denise Liddle horowhenua@vcc.org.nz Jackie Job jackiejob73@gmail.com Bruce Lawrie Verdon Heath Winton Cleal Des St Clare Bob Barton Warren MacMillan Colin Brooks Winton Cleal Andrew Judd Nigel Wheeler nigelgwheeler@gmail.com Bill Cottle Wayne Thrower
06 367 9445 06 368 3299 027 4863517 027 4512408 027 4427306 06 368 2565 04 293 6803 (W) 04 293 4943 (H) 06 368 3824 04 293 3369 027 4191412 06 367 8216 06 362 6156 04 298 5458 04 293 3369 06 368 6891 06 367 2046 027 5674431 027 4509636 06 368 5611 020 4440098 06 362 6156 06 364 7238
Julia MacMillan Callum Farmer callumfarmer77@hotmail.com Rex Williams 06 367 0613 Mike Khull 06 363 5633 Bob Barton 06 367 8216 Jeff Fox 027 4486888 Colin Brooks 04 298 5458 Robert Cammish 04 905 0772 Don McLaren 021 1172418 Heather Carter 021 504087 Bruce Jamieson 027 6357336 brucejamieson48@hotmail.com 06 825 9102 Bob Barton 06 367 8216 Verdon Heath, Ivan Horn and Mike Khull
Meeting Branch Night - 1st Wednesday of the month at 7 30 pm Committee Meeting - Last Wednesday of the month at 7 30 pm Working Bee - Saturday following Branch Night at 9 00 am Spare Parts - Open Saturday following Branch Night Club Bank Account No - 03 0667 0269227 00
Hi, fellow HVCC members! Time for another Chairman’s Chat write up. So what’s happening around our club this month? The big decision was reluctantly taken by committee to cancel our March swap meet. Sorry about that, but we really had no choice. Quite apart from rising Covid numbers, we simply cannot get around the government “100-per gathering” rules. There is no difference whether it’s indoors or outside, the same rules apply. This is the very first cancellation for any reason in 20-plus years, I’m told by some older members. Covid numbers will apparently peak in late March, so we may not have had a lot of punters anyway! The good news is an expected sharp drop in cases through April/May. We did consider postponing it until May, but if we were forced to scrub it again, we would be down another $2000 or so in advertising and set up costs. Also against the May decision is weather, as we cannot have wet weather paddock damage. AP&I are really fussy on this one, and we don’t want to re-grass the field. Our lovely Treasurer Jackie tells us that our club funds are in good shape and we can weather one cancellation OK. A footnote to this is I would like to extend our thanks to Ivan Horn for taking on the organisation of the Swap Meet. Thanks, Ivan, a darn shame, but there it is! I have re-booked for next year with AP&I so let’s look forwards to swap meet ‘23! At our March 02 club night, with much reduced numbers attending, Winton gave us the low-down on the ongoing VCC logo saga. This has been on the back burner for the last few years and you all should have received the E-mail presentation from Head Office a month or so ago. It is now on the main agenda to be voted on by all branches and results to be carried to the national March meeting by our delegates, in our case Winton Cleal. All very democratic! So I am including this to inform members not present at the meeting (most of us!) There were 2 items to be voted on. One was the new proposed logo, which was not a lot different to the one shown to us a year or so back. Members present voted against adopting the new logo. Secondly, was a proposal from Hawkes Bay branch to have their name changed to include the word “Classic” alongside “Vintage”. So their title would then be Hawkes Bay Classic & Vintage Car Club. This was discussed and voted as a “YES” vote. A third Item along these lines was moved and seconded that a national level name change be considered at the March National conference. Said proposal was to change the name as per Hawkes Bay, i.e. “Classic and Vintage car Club.” This to be placed on the conference agenda for discussion.
So three branch votes to be carried by our delegate, Winton. In later discussion with Winton, it may not be possible at this late stage to get the last one onto the agenda for March conference, so Winton is looking to the national AGM in August for this. Part of the rationale for this is that the name more closely reflects our cars in the club, plus would be more attractive to younger members joining. This is all published in March minutes. Whew! Now you all know as much as I do! On this, I would like to extend a standing invitation to any member who is interested to sit in on one of our committee meetings. You will get a look at how these things are decided on. On this note, in three short months, all our club committee and officers come to the end of their terms. All positions will need filling by re-election or by new members willing to stand for the jobs. Like Uncle Sam, your club needs you! So give it some thought. Now we still are holding events, meetings & working bees etc. We can still manage all this under the “100” rule, so look at our events page and support the people who organize it all by attending if you feel you can. Joke In this era of intelligent self-driving cars, it is only a matter of time before a trucker’s rig goes and leaves him. Make a great title for a country ‘n’ western song?
John White
Brucie’s Burblings Activities have been a little muted with the current Covid situation and it was disappointing that we had to put off our swap meet until next year. Our last club night involved an interesting discussion about the proposed name change for Hawkes Bay branch. They wish to change the club’s name to include something like “classic” as well as “vintage”. The consensus was that we support the name change to try and make the public more aware that we are not just for vintage cars. As was pointed out, we need to widen our net to encourage owners of cars in the 60s, 70s and 80s to join us. The owners of these cars refer to them as classics. Following on from that it was decided not to support the proposed logo change for the national VCC as that may have to be changed again in the near future if VCCNZ has a name change. What’s coming up for us: Sunday 27th March Sunday 10th April Sunday 15th May
Picnic at Foxton behind the windmill in the newly-developed park. Economy run in the morning followed by a gymkhana in the afternoon on the grass outside the clubrooms. Mothers’ Day run ...shed visit
Stay safe....look after one another.... enjoy your driving, even at $3.00 per litre Bruce Lawrie
Roster for April 2022
Brian Eastham, Merv & Sheryll Edwards, Chris Evans, Bruce Fergusson, Kevin Fleming. Rostered kitchen crew please come early on Club Night to be briefed by Linda B on Covid and food handling rules. If you are unable to make it for either kitchen duties on Club Night, 6th April, or for the Working Bee on Saturday 9th April, 9 am till 12 noon, PLEASE let me know on 06 368-3299 or j.mwhite@xtra.co.nz
Speaker for March
Andy Smith - works as a vehicle certifier
New Club Members
Cover Photo
You light up my life
from George McLean
Once again, another month has gone by and we are getting back to a form of normality. The library, being one of those activities and as proven by the following, an important part. Mark Morgan was looking for some data on the wiring of a 1925 Buick. Of course, who are you going to call? “Ghost— “? No , of course not. Well, he and I set about checking the large collection of Buick manuals, numbering four. Nope, nothing. I had ventured into the back room in hope when a cry went up. Back in the front room Mark was holding one of those large heavy black manuals which had been left to slumber on the highest top shelf. Scanning the index there were names of long past cars, but in no order. Then we spied BUICK, three times, page 1154. A quick flick of the pages and a stabbing finger found it; 1925 Buick wiring diagram. Proof that our library has the goods, you just need to look.
Don McLaren
Kapiti Mid-Week Run 30 March 2022 Given the likelihood that Covid case numbers will continue to increase in coming weeks, it has been decided to cancel the March run. Kapiti mid-week runs ---- contact Philip Pearce Email : nzpearce87@gmail.com Mobile : 0272 744 084
1953 Customline: the last installation of the Ford Flat Head V8
VERO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF HISTORIC MOTORING What a great event. 496 vehicles of various ages from a 1904 Darracq through to a 1992 Jaguar XJ6 trundling around the highways and byways of Taranaki. Most of the Horowhenua branch members who attended travelled to New Plymouth on the Saturday or Sunday before the event got going for real on Monday 17th January. Registration on Sunday afternoon had us all file through a single door to have our vax passes viewed. Once that was done, we got our lanyard and ID card which meant we didn’t have to show our vax passes again during the whole event. The opening was a bit ho hum as they were late opening the doors to the arena and every one attending was pretty well squashed into the TSB stadium foyer or outside at the makeshift bar feeling the effects of the Taranaki sunshine. Most people headed to their accommodation after the opening or caught up with friends over an evening drink. Not all our club members got to the event without incident, and one in particular almost didn’t make it at all. Andrew’s Austin A110, fresh out of the paint shop, was running like a pig, so with some help from fellow club members the carbs were cleaned out and adjusted, fuel tank partially drained and an inline fuel filter fitted. He made it to New Plymouth but only just, but with a lack of power. A quick trip to the car doctor and the use of a timing light showed the vacuum advance was faulty. The screen washers gave up some tubing and the power was back. Another member, Winton, was also not sure if the 6/90 was going to make the trip as he had to have a new radiator fabricated and fitted 3 days before heading north. While in New Plymouth he arranged extra security for his and other members’ cars by hiring an armed police unit to guard the cars at night. This of course had nothing to do with the prime minister and the whole Labour Caucus staying at the hotel for a couple of nights during the rally. Elvery also had a taste of Taranaki hospitality. His Zephyr had developed an oil leak that he couldn’t find and was concerned he may have over tightened the rocker covers and split a gasket. A quick call to the AA determined it was a faulty oil pressure switch, so first thing Monday morning he was lined up at the AA Service Centre well before it opened in true cockie style. The foreman arrived early to be greeted by a MK IV Zephyr and he agreed to get a pressure sensor from Repco next door and
have it fitted pronto. All done by 9.30 and out the door to enjoy the rest of the week without any worries. The steering on my Chrysler felt a bit heavy first thing Monday morning, and sure enough, a flat left front tyre was the cause. With that changed and stuffed in the boot it was off for the first day’s run to Tikorangi north of New Plymouth. A short run of about 54 miles with pleasant stops on the way to take in some of the tourist attractions. The runs for the rally all started at or near McDonalds with no time limits but a recommendation to get to the lunch stop between 11.30 and midday. Tuesday was competition day, with the various classes of vehicles on different routes, so in theory no holdups behind slower cars. This worked very well and some interesting country was covered. The competition was all time-based and there were no silent checks, so it made it easier for the organizers to find a winner. The average speed for some classes changed during the run up to 8 times so the navigator had to be on the ball. The only fault was that there was no 5-mile odo check to compare your speedo against the official distance, which was most likely set in a modern car. Wednesday’s run was down to Opunake via the Cape Egmont light house and Parihaka and a chance to get the Chrysler puncture repair sorted. A small repair shop on a back street agreed to do the job during our lunch break while we waited. It was the most expensive puncture I have had sorted and twice as much as I normally charge, but maybe the helpful advice I was offering may have had some bearing on that. The run in the afternoon was via the Pukieti Gardens and the Oaonui Petroleum production station. Thursday saw the fleet heading to Inglewood for a street party via Stratford or Whangamomona. Friday we all headed south again for lunch in Hawera and visits to the local tourist attractions and home back to New Plymouth for the final dinner at the TSB arena and a night of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Overall, a well-run enjoyable event catering for all ages of vehicles and participants. Bruce Lawrie
Ford V8s seen at Southwards open day
photo from Bruce Jamieson
Club members’ cars at our clubrooms after Daffodil Day display in August 2019
Answer later in this issue of Spark
Australia: photo from George McLean
Real Estate Agents travel posh these days Photo from Bruce Jamieson
February 2022 Unfortunately, due to rising Covid cases across New Zealand, Spares has made the difficult decision to stop picking up spares off-site for the time being. We will review this decision at the end of April. On a somewhat happier note, over the course of February, Spares has taken delivery of a near complete Rover P5 engine in bits, along with a complete set (5) of 1930s Austin 10 or 12 wire spoked wheels fitted with new, or near new from a wear point of view, Excelsior tyres 4.50 x 18 inch, and a pair of Ford Cortina Mark 4 or 5 doors and other bits and pieces.
We also have in the pipeline two Morris Minor engines, along with a Morris Minor diff, which hopefully will be delivered to us the weekend of the March Working Bee, as long as it’s not cancelled. Stay Safe Everyone
Callum
Morris Minor The evolution of the English language never fails to impress. I called an old school friend and asked what he was doing. He replied that he was working on "Aqua-thermal treatment of ceramics, aluminium and steel under a constrained environment." I was impressed. On further inquiring, I learned that he was washing dishes with hot water under his wife's supervision.
For Sale on behalf of Cornwall family in Stratford, Taranaki: 1939 Austin 8, 4-door, blue, complete. 1930 Graham Paige sedans, 2 cars One suitable for restoration, one suitable for parts. 1931 Desoto, 4-door sedan. 1926 Ford Model T tourer. All cars have been in storage and assumed not running. Prices by negotiation. Contact John Campbell on 0272881105.
Library Merchandise
HVCC Dashboard Stickers Iron on fabric badges HVCC blue and white caps Name Badges (fill out form)
-$ 4 -$ 3 - $10 - $12
The 2020 National North Island Easter Rally, that never was! Entrants that paid for their rally plaque received an unusually collectable plaque for a rally that was cancelled and would never be run again. There are a small number of these collectable quality made plaques with 11 coloured enamels still available for purchase. $30.00 each. Please contact Jackie (Horowhenua Treasurer) at jackiejob73@gmail.com or on 06 3682565 and 027 2011806
Answer to “What Am I?” Buick convertible 1935.
Brockbank cartoon from the 1960s
New Year's Day run. Again, in perfect weather, almost 30 cars assembled at Bulls for the start of the annual New Year's Day rally hosted by the Manawatu branch. This time the assembly point was on a backstreet to the west of state highway one, allowing all those gathered to fill the whole street for the drivers’ briefing. A simple set of instructions were handed out with the most important piece of information being the location of the public conveniences at Tangimoana Beach. For those who had not used a composting toilet before their education was widened but not to the extent of “Been there, done that, got the t-shirt”. A pleasant drive in the countryside west of Bulls led us to Tangimoana domain where the cars were parked out on the road and everyone headed into the park to find a good picnic spot out of the sun. After some convivial conversation and a little banter everyone headed for home about 2:30. There was a good mix of cars from Horowhenua, Wanganui and Manawatu.
Bruce Lawrie
Many hands make lights work
PARKING
from Mark Gibson
CALENDAR of COMING EVENTS March March March March March March March April April April May
12,13 Kickback Classic Motorcycle Show - CANCELLED 19 Swap Meet - Horowhenua - CANCELLED 20 Gymkhana - Wanganui 20 MG Car Club visit our clubrooms 25-26 Maunga Moana Rally - Taranaki 27 Club Run - Picnic to Foxton - Horowhenua 29 Kapiti Mid-week Run - CANCELLED 9,10 Autumn Motorcycle Trial - Wanganui 10 Economy Run & Gymkhana - Horowhenua 22-24 Highland Fling - CANCELLED 15 Mothers’ Day Run - shed visit - Horowhenua Any enquiries to: Bruce Lawrie Phone 027 4762489
TAIL LIGHTS
ISSN
the print bureau 06 367 9330