“Dripfeed” NEWSLETTER OF THE BANKS PENINSULA BRANCH OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF New Zealand (INC) VOLUME 43, No 11 december 2020. Editor: Michael Williams 10 Selwyn Parade Lyttelton Ph 328 8043, email mimiandmichael@yahoo.co.nz
Chairman: Secretary:
Club Officers: Craig Keenan 322 1006 Ron Hasell 942 1105
Branch Address: 27 Showgate Ave, ChCh 8042 E-mail: bankspeninsula@vcc.org.nz Noggin & Natter: 2nd Thursday of the Month • • •
Noggin 7.30 pm at the Papanui RSA. Upham Room – enter either from 55 Bellvue Ave or the first entrance on the left on Harewood Road (Papanui / Main North Road) Thursday 10th of December. We look forward to seeing you there. Supper is provided.
From the Editor: This is the last issue of Dripfeed for the year, with the next issue due in February. In spite of interruptions and cancellations, we have had another year of entertaining motoring events, and with the Monte Carlo, Swapmeet and Irishman back again next year, our motoring calendar will return to something like normal. Many members will be aware of the recent death of Warner Mauger, one of the early members of the VCC. and a founder member of the Banks Peninsula branch. Warner had a rich and varied motoring life, owned some remarkable cars, and passed on his love of vintage motoring to his children and grandchildren. The branch extends its sympathy to the Mauger family. A full obituary will appear in the February edition of Dripfeed. Our thoughts are with Geoff Edwards and his family, as he slowly recovers from a recent accident. Geoff was standing in the sloping car park of the Lyttelton supermarket, next to his gorgeous 1961 Alfa Romeo Guila SS ,chatting to his nephew. Suddenly, and without warning, a car parked further up the slope began to roll backwards towards the Alfa. Without a thought for his personal safety, the heroic Geoff flung his slight but perfectly formed body protectively in front of the Alfa, and bore the brunt of the collision. Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his Alfa.The Alfa sustained minimal damage, but Geoff was not so lucky, and has a broken pelvis and other injuries. He is now out of hospital. but his recovery will take some time. We can only hope that the Alfa Club,
or even the factory give Geoff some sort of award for his display of bravery and dedication to the preservation of classic Alfas. The Laird of Governors Bay, Gavin McBain, has lent me the most amusing and eccentric club magazine I’ve ever seen. It’s “The Light Car & Edwardian Section” founded in 1951 and is “The Only Small Car Journal”. It’s also the funniest. My attention was drawn to the report of a particular event that will appeal to Austin and Morris owners. It’s The French Festival of Slowth, and the aim is potter gently round the countyside as slowly as possible, stopping for prolonged bouts of eating and drinking. Given that all the cars are incredibly slow, it’s not too hard. Competitors come from all over Europe in vehicles never seen in this part of the world: Bedelia, Rosengart, Auto-Red Bug Flyer, Benjamin, La Buire, Monet- Goyon, La Nef were just some of the marques that did not stand the test of time. They stop every few kilometres to give their frail steeds a rest. The 2CV section of the NZ Citroen club does versions of this, and yet again, is happy for a British marque to copy French innovation. I feel the Austin Seven register should give it some serious thought. Welcome to new member Thomas Palmer. After the death of his grandfather John, Thomas felt he should keep the Palmer flag flying in the BP branch, so we look forward to seeing him in the Unic, or Fiat or Riley or whatever he manages to sneak out of his father Tim’s garage. Thomas owns a Fiat 650/Nikko/FSM650, and takes a perverse pleasure in the fact that this model has for many years been in the Top 5 of the worst cars ever made, slugging it out with other classics like the Austin Allegro, Trabant, Morris Marina, Edsel, etc. One of my favourite, and funniest car books is “Total Lemons”, by Tony Davis, an Australian motoring journalist, and the mighty Fiat 650 does feature. In it’s defence, it was cheap, and in Australia when new, it cost the same as the leather trim option for a Porsche 928. At the end of the production run in Italy and Poland, they had made three million, none of them well. Thomas will no doubt have the Fiat at Little River on New Years Day, or on the roadside somewhere between Christchurch and Little River. At the other end of the pride spectrum is Phil Jelfs, of Jelfs Shelf fame at Balcairn. Phil turned up for the Peninsula Run in a splendid looking 1921 Sunbeam that he had bought from Tauranga recently. Is it similar to Craig Keenan’s Sunbeam, asked an innocent bystander. “Not at all”, said Phil firmly, “ mine’s a REAL Sunbeam.”, thus displaying the superb arrogance that is a hallmark of the true Banks Peninsula member. Wanted, a car trailer that I can use for a week to transport my Mistral track car to Teretonga in February. Happy to come to some arrangement for payment Contact Don Gerrard, 021 2123074. The Pleasant Point Yacht Club, (which is not in South Canterbury), is celebrating their centennial at Waitangi weekend 2021. On Sunday 7th there is a display of classic boats from 10.30am, and a race at 1.30pm. Older cars (with working handbrakes) are invited to attend for a display in a designated area. The PPYC is in the South Brighton domain, near the jetty. Go down Beatty Street, which is off Estuary Road. For details ring Captain Pugwash, 322 1006 and ask for Craig. In the Idle Torque section of the latest Beaded Wheels there are photos of a public toilet, a launch and some sculpture. Probably be clubroom gardens next.
Future Events: Picnic Day at Little River, 1st of January.
Our annual picnic is on again, from 10.30am onwards, but if you want a decent spot get there at dawn to beat the Triumph Club. BP. Club puritan Peter Croft has once again suggested a drafting gate, with proper vintage cars in pride of place, post war cars grouped together and anything post 1960 out on the road. Well something like that, so if you see an hirsute person in ragged shorts and a Morgan polo shirt bearing down on you, take evasive action. It’s always a pleasant day for gossip and slander, as well as a jazz band, ice creams and barbeque food provided by the Little River Fire Brigade. Gold Coin admission.
Pomeroy Trophy, Ruapuna, 16th of January. From 12.00pm. Ron will send out entries, but if you don’t receive one and are keen to enter, get in touch with him. The Pom is one of our signature events, so please enter and support your branch, and make sure a VW doesn’t win. We need lots of helpers on the day, so if you aren’t entering but want to help, once again, get in touch with the indispensible Ron. Scrutineering starts at 11.00am, and all entrants must be there by 11.30, or points will be lost. There are Trophies to be won. The ultimate is of course, the Pomeroy Trophy, for cars over 2000cc, the Haggit Trophy for everyone else, the Alexandre Darracq Trophy for the best performing two wheel braked car, the Sharp Family Trust Trophy for the entrant who best epitomises the spirit of the event, and The VSCC Anniversary Trophy for the best performing British car, an oxymoron if ever there was one, Perhaps some new trophies are needed here. What about the Cheesy Pizza Prize for the best performing Italian car? The Suspicious Sauerkraut Prize for the best performing German Car? The Floppy Beret prize for the best performing French car? The possibilities are endless. In the 2000 Pom there were 30 entries, ranging from the sublime (Bugatti type 40), to the ridiculous (Renault AX). The winner of the Pomeroy Trophy was Craig Pidgeon in the Fiat Dino, and Jeremy Stace in his E type won the Haggitt Trophy.
Skope Meeting, Ruapuna, 5/6/7 February. Entry forms from Ron.
Southern Classic, Levels Raceway, 12/13/14 February. Entry forms from Ron.
Art Deco in Napier 18 – 21 February 2021 The 2021 event will feature Veterans, and is also the 90th anniversary of the Napier earthquake. There are lots of events, go to the HBVCC website, www.hbvcc.orh.nz or stevetrott@xtra.co.nz
Highland Fling, 24th – 26th of April Contact Kaaren Smylie kaaren@smylie.co.nz 021 664341 07 5764180
Past Events. The Peninsula Run. A splendid array of cars greeted the eye at the beginning of our annual Peninsula Run, with some new vehicles to be admired. Phil Jelfs was in his 1921 Sunbeam 16/40, and there was a lovely 1952
(?) Bristol 401, simply oozong patina. There were Fiats, MGs, Morgan , Triumph, Morris, AustinHealey, Buick, Model A, Graham-Paige, Riley, Citroen, Mustang, the list goes on, but far more entrants then we have seen for some years at this event. The route was a beauty and the older cars certainly had to work hard and brake hard all day. The route led us over the Port Hills to Purau, then over the steep saddle and down to Port Levy. The infamous Western Valley road to Little River followed, where the descent tests brakes to the limit. The sealed road up to Hilltop and down to Duvauchelle seemed like luxury, but we were back on the gravel as we went up Pipers Valley road to the Summit Road. It’s a little used track, with grass down the middle and with wonderful views, given that most cars were going so slowly they had time to drink it all in. From the Summit Road, the route took us to the Okains Bay turn off and the steep descent, very much first gear country for many. By this stage the demanding roads had taken their toll on some hapless entrants, none more so than the Pidgeon Fiat 501, which started running on 3 cylinders going up the Cashmere Hills, and making strange noises. “It’s a new noise”, said Louise, “not one of the usual ones”. A quick return home to pick up the TR2 and they were on their way rejoicing. Others were less fortunate, with the Palmer Fiat 501 losing some wheel nuts on the Summit Road. Not a day for the Italian Stallions, nor for the Bristol, whose clutch was less than shipshape by the time it got to Hilltop, and it too headed home. The rest of the field battled bravely on to Little Akaloa via the lovely Chorlton Road, another steep descent, and as cars arrived in various groups, the evocative aroma of hot brakes wafted across the waterfront. Lunch was eaten and the group then struggled back to the Summit Road, round the top for a while, and then down to Pigeon Bay. The next challenging route was from Pigeon Bay to Port Levy, another long and winding road, and fortunately, we met no oncoming traffic, as passing would have been impossible.. The last challenge, from Port Levy to Purau, was too much for the excitable Michael Pidgeon, given that we were following Brian’s Morris 8, and he threw the TR2 in to second, engaged maximum red mist and roared off, passing 5 cars in the process. This was a challenge someone in a French hot hatch could not ignore, and the two of them had a wonderfully speedy tyre squealing drive back to Purau. Louise and the dog were not impressed. Many thanks to Brian Smith and Digby Gemmell for organising the best Peninsula Run we’ve done for years.
Friends and Neighbours are invited forChristmas Carols and other seasonal music by The Sumner Siler Band (Est 1880) at Waitahuna, Governors Bay Thursday 17th December from 6.30pm Bring a picnic tea, some chairs or a rug and something to drink. Children welcome A donation to the restoration of The Governors Bay would be appreciated If wet, cancelled
The day started off with so much promise....... until .......
.... Waterloo (Italian version)
Where’s the door handle?
British Bristol with a German grille
A real Sunbeam
The Best of Bwitish....Rule Britannia
The Lesser Spotted Triumph in its natural habitat
Photos by Don Gerrard Phil Jelfs Giles Gill