WAIMATE BRANCH OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND (INC)
Committee Members for 2018-2019 Chairman
Steve Dyson
689-8711
Vice Chairman
John Dawson
689-7923
Secretary
Owen & Lorraine Richardson
689-8506
Treasurer
Robert Todd
689-8103
Club Captain
Suzanne Anderson
689-6355
Parts Department Keith Blackman
689-8278
Peter Bootsma
689-6011
Bill Ryan
689-7063
Club Room Convener Margaret Rogers
May/June 2020
689-1001 0211151301
Newsletter
Barry Anderson
689-6355
b.r.anderson@outloook.co.nz
. Beaded Wheels 2010
The Branch Association with the Vintage Car Club started early in the 1960s when a few old-vehicle enthusiasts in Waimate joined the South Canterbury Branch in Timaru. Contact was made with the organisation representing owners of Vintage farm machinery around Waimate and the two groups assisted each other with organising June and running their respective events such as car rallies and Vintage ploughing competitions. This attracted some of the farm machinery enthusiasts to the VCC and is AGM Waimate the 18th reason why today the Waimate Branch incorporates owners of Vintage tractors, ploughs and farm machinery – one of the few to do so. While the 50 mile round-trip to branch meetings in Timaru did not deter these early enthusiasts, they still preferred to have some of their own meetings and picnic runs centred in their district. It wasn’t long before the idea of creating July a sub-branch arose and in 1977, with 33 members, the Waimate Sub-branch was formed and a steering committee elected. In 1978, a proposal that a Waimate 18th NO AGM VCCand this was Branch of the VCCGarage be formedRaid was put forward at the Club’s approved in June 1979. The branch has grown and membership presently stands at about 65. The present branch clubrooms were built in 1880 as a meeting place for the Methodist Church and sold to the Orange LodgeAAA in 1914. Subsequently it became Sept 10.13 the town Museum until in 1982 it was purchased at a very reasonable price by the membership. It was refurbished by volunteers using materials salvaged from the demolished local hospital and other donated materials. A large area at the rear of the clubroom has been roofed over to become the “Parts”. The Branch holds its Swap Meet on the spare ground at its clubroom site. There are usually about 30 stalls and they are restricted to selling only car and motorcycle parts. The Wallaby Rally This is a one-day event and attracts participants from many neighbouring branches. The Rally starts at the clubrooms on a Saturday morning with participants having a choice of two routes, both groups meeting at a domain, or reserve, for lunch. This year the field tests were included in the morning run. Afternoon tea and the awards are held at the clubrooms and there is an evening barbeque. Fifty-four cars were entered this year with two motorcycles and a rather fancy-looking moped included. The event ran well and I enjoyed navigating for the Branch Chairman, Lyndsay Hossack. The Waimate 50 The town is probably most famous for the Waimate 50, a New Zealand Championship Road Race held around the central streets of Waimate. Over 50 laps, it was first raced in 1959 and was the first major event staged by the newly formed South Canterbury Car Club. The event continued until 1966. The original circuit included a long hairpin in Waimate’s wide main street, a situation unthinkable today. Some of the more well known drivers to participate were Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren, Jim Palmer, Hec Green, Syd and Ross Jensen and Ernie Sprague with his Mk3 Zephyr. Some of the entries were notable too – Super Squalo Ferrari, Maserati 250F, Cooper Climax, Lotus XI, Lola and HWM. Footnote The wallaby which still lives in the area is similar to a half-size kangaroo. Several were brought over from their native Australia and liberated in the hills behind Waimate about 1874. Adapting well to their new environment their numbers increased dramatically. Avoiding their only predators – hunters and their dogs – they can live for up to 15 years
Coming Events
Next Meeting: 18th June AGM Meeting 7.00pm
The Branch Association with the Vintage Car Club started early in the 1960s when a few old-vehicle enthusiasts in Waimate joined the South Canterbury Branch in Timaru. Contact was made with the organisation representing owners of Vintage farm machinery around Waimate and the two groups assisted each other with organising and running their respective events such as car rallies and Vintage ploughing competitions. This attracted some of the farm machinery enthusiasts to the VCC and is the reason why today the Waimate Branch incorporates owners of Vintage tractors, ploughs and farm machinery – one of the few to do so. While the 50 mile round-trip to branch meetings in Timaru did not deter these early enthusiasts, they still preferred to have some of their own meetings and picnic runs centred in their district. It wasn’t long before the idea of creating a sub-branch arose and in 1977, with 33 members, the Waimate Sub-branch was formed and a steering committee elected. In 1978, a proposal that a Waimate Branch of the VCC be formed was put forward at the Club’s AGM and this was approved in June 1979. The branch has grown and membership presently stands at about 65. The present branch clubrooms were built in 1880 as a meeting place for the Methodist Church and sold to the Orange Lodge in 1914. Subsequently it became the town Museum until in 1982 it was purchased at a very reasonable price by the membership. It was refurbished by volunteers using materials salvaged from the demolished local hospital and other donated materials. A large area at the rear of the clubroom has been roofed over to become the “Parts”. The Branch holds its Swap Meet on the spare ground at its clubroom site. There are usually about 30 stalls and they are restricted to selling only car and motorcycle parts. The Wallaby Rally This is a one-day event and attracts participants from many neighbouring branches. The Rally starts at the clubrooms on a Saturday morning with participants having a choice of two routes, both groups meeting at a domain, or reserve, for lunch. This year the field tests were included in the morning run. Afternoon tea and the awards are held at the clubrooms and there is an evening barbeque. Fifty-four cars were entered this year with two motorcycles and a rather fancy-looking moped included. The event ran well and I enjoyed navigating for the Branch Chairman, Lyndsay Hossack. The Waimate 50 The town is probably most famous for the Waimate 50, a New Zealand Championship Road Race held around the central streets of Waimate. Over 50 laps, it was first raced in 1959 and was the first major event staged by the newly formed South Canterbury Car Club. The event continued until 1966. The original circuit included a long hairpin in Waimate’s wide main street, a situation unthinkable today. Some of the more well known drivers to participate were Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren, Jim Palmer, Hec Green, Syd and Ross Jensen and Ernie Sprague with his Mk3 Zephyr. Some of the entries were notable too – Super Squalo Ferrari, Maserati 250F, Cooper Climax, Lotus XI, Lola and HWM. Footnote The wallaby which still lives in the area is similar to a half-size kangaroo. Several were brought over from their native Australia and liberated in the hills behind Waimate about 1874. Adapting well to their new environment their numbers increased dramatically. Avoiding their only predators – hunters and their dogs – they can live for up to 15 years
Chairman's Report HI everyone Well as everyone knows the last few months due to Covid19 Everything has been put on hold, all going well we could be back To something close to normal As you are all well aware the majority of club members are at risk age wise so even at level2 we still have to play it save by keeping your distance and keeping up with hygiene e.t.c We will be having a meeting this month 18th June which will be an A.G.M.We will be voting for new office bearers so please come along and have your say (forms in newsletter) I have written a letter to the Melton family offering our condolences And offering the clubrooms for a memorial service,and also offering Our services to assist and way we can. I had a ring from North Otago V.C.C. regarding the garage raid. They are having it on the 18th of July so that will be something to look forward to. Thanks again for your help and support. Keep save
THOURGHT FOR THE MOHTH REMEMBER GOOD FRIENDS ARE THE RARE JEWELS OF LIFE DIFFERCULT TO FIND AND HARDER TO REPLACE
TAKE CARE, YOURS IN MOTORING
STEVE
Club Captains Report I guess it has all been said re Covid 19, so enough said by me. I had hoped we could have a committee meeting on the 18th to organise the rest of our year, prior to the AGM, and resuming activities. . However there seems to be a feeling that sooner the better, but that doesn’t leave much time as the next meeting is on the 18th of this month. Barry will enclose the voting papers with this newsletter. I note that the SCVCC are holding off until August to hold their AGM. Please remember that a large portion of our members will be compromised for some time to come, so maintaining social distances will still be important Safe driving And take care. Regards Suzanne.
The Way we were
Waimate Branch staged the VintageCar Club’s National Commercial Rally in October 2009 and from reports it seems the whole event ran very successfully. Waimate is a small branch, and so deserves credit for its effort. I have visited the Waimate township a few times for sentimental reasons – my wife was born there, moving to Christchurch when she wasnine. I always wondered what justified the creation of the Waimate Branch when it is so close to two well established branches in Timaru and Oamaru. Its annual rally is the Wallaby Rally usually staged in February and participating in it this year gave me the opportunity to explore the history of the branch and meet some of its members. Geography Waimate lies at the southern end of the Canterbury Plains about 120 miles south-west of Christchurch and seven miles inland from the coast. To the west it is bounded by the Hunter Hills. The Waitaki River, the source of much hydroelectric generation is to the south and the town gives access through the Waimate Gorge to the river and the power stations. Presently the town’s population stands at about 3,000. History The first European settler was Michael Studholme who arrived by dray in 1854 eventually taking over some 98,000 acres of land called the Te Waimate block. This included a large area of native forest with much of this covering the surrounding hills. As other settlers arrived timber milling became the main industry for the region. In 1878 a fire ravaged the forest areas opening the way for sheep farming and grain crops to take over as the main land use. The situation changed in the early 1880s when the district was found to be suitable for growing strawberries. Raspberries were also grown successfully but a disease in 1966 caused a major setback to this crop. Today the berry fruit industry is still important to Waimate’s economy. A spur line joining the main South Island railway at the small township of Studholme and terminating at Waimate was opened in 1877 and six years later a rail extension to Waihao Downs through the Waimate Gorge was completed. The line ceased operating in 1966 and the track was removed. There are two prominent landmarks. The first is the shape of a giant Clydesdale horse paved with 1,220 white concrete slabs laid on the side of a hill overlooking the town. It is intended to commemorate the contribution made by the many draught horses used in developing the region. The second landmark is a cluster of five giant concrete grain silos built in the town in 1922. With each one seven and a half meters in diameter and standing more then 36 meters high they, like the horse, are visible for miles around. The silos are still used for grain storage. In 1880 the town’s firestation was built. It still stands, street lighting was installed – 12 kerosene lamps, and the town’s by-laws were adopted. The population then was 1,600.