WEST COAST BRANCH – VINTAGE CAR CLUB APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER
CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN 2020
COMMITTEE
PATRON
Tom Griffin
7627830
Daphne
CHAIRMAN
Allan Giles
7686047 Hm
Maria
7685771 Wk IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN
Kevin Tucker
7684847
Lynda
VICE CHAIRMAN
Ted Beer
7625868
Jill
SECRETARY
June Campbell
7684226
Dave
TREASURER
Tom Griffin
7627830
Daphne
CO-TREASURER
Lynda Tucker
7684847
Kevin
CLUB CAPTAIN
Colin & Elaine Peacock
7686934 Ytb8a1@gmail.com
DELEGATE
Roger Devlin
7685382
Irene
MEMBERSHIP
David Campbell
7684226
June
PR & MARKETING
Allan Giles
7686047
Maria
NEWSLETTER & BEADED WHEELS
June Campbell
davenjune@ts.co.nz
VIC FORMS
Tom Griffin
7627830
Daphne
John Fowler
7626538
Trina
ROSCO TRIALS
Nick Harrison
Annette
SCENICLAND RALLY CONVENOR
The Giles
AND SUB COMMITTEE
Dave Houston
7687305
Allison
COMMITTEE
Lance Braid
7557427
Colleen
John Fensom
7686797
Janis
Jill Cowan
7625868
Ted
Elspie Mitchell
7684253
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN … 1st Thursday month – Committee meeting at Clubrooms at Shantytown 7.30pm 3rd Tuesday month – Morning tea at Shantytown at 10.00am 4th Sunday month – Club Run
LOCAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS AT A GLANCE ALL TO BE RESCHEDULED
. Who would have thought when we welcomed in 2020 that the newsletter would have looked like this in April, all organised events cancelled and future events with a question mark. Many of our members are working and a lot run their own businesses, let’s hope you all come out on the other side of this in one piece. Us “more mature members” who have been grounded are finding life is not much different except we can’t go out do our own shopping or just get in the car and go where we want for a change of scenery. I do think we are very fortunate here on the West Coast as we have open spaces around us and let’s face it, up to now the weather has been magnificent. In our street the kids have been out playing on the road [cul-de-sac] so there is still life going on around us. There have been one or two spills off bikes/trikes but no blood, yet. Thanks to the following who have sent me some content of interest for you to read. Paul Elwell-Sutton, our southern most member who lives in Haast, John Boyes and Ann & Brent Newton and Zoe Gough. Nola and Alan Weir and Lorraine and Keith Bradley who sent in some ‘funnies’, it was great to have you come all on board with your contributions. The Bradleys video I will forward as an email too. We start with Paul Elwell-Sutton… and nice to hear from you Paul In terms of classic machinery, since the L4 lockdown began, I've been getting a 40 year-old Honda HR194 mower going again, which is fun. I dragged it out of the local tip,and amazingly, I’s fundamentally sound. I've been pondering how to replace the irreplaceable spring in the wind-up starter mechanism of an early 1960s B&S mower also rescued from that tip. It runs very well indeed, apart from the starter mechanism.The spring is not designed to be replaced, so built-in obsolescence has been around for a long time. Photos attached. I took my 1968 Honda P50 for a 'blat' the other day. It is completely original down to the side pannier, front shopping basket, owner's manual and toolkit, and is completely unrestored. While it had been off the road for many years when I purchased it last year in Timaru, and the rego was dead, I was still able to get it road-legal with very little trouble because its details were still in the NZTA system, and I was allowed to retain the original black and silver plate because it was in good condition. I didn't need to take it to VTNZ in Greymouth because it doesn't need a wof, so went with just the original ownership papers and a bill of sale. VTNZ Greymouth were very helpful, and better informed than VTNZ Timaru, who told me they'd have to inspect the bike.
I had to get a new front tyre (2.00-17) from the US because its size is unavailable in NZ, and the original one had perished, with the tread peeling off. Likewise a new spark plug (Champion Z9Y) was needed and unavailable in NZ, so I got two from the UK. Technically, the P50 was one of the last of the motor-wheels so popular in post-war Britain, and the only one produced by Honda. While other motor-wheels were 2-strokes, Honda made theirs 4-stroke with sohc. Yes, really! They were made for just 2 years, 1966 to 1968 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_P50>. Photos attached. Finally, I took my 1925 Renault MT Doctor's Coupé for a short leg-stretch to the local store at Haast Beach. After 5 years of restoration it now runs and drives well, with only the steering box needing a rebuild in the near future. The MT was the first mass-produced Renault to be fitted as standard with 4-wheel brakes, which are rodoperated. The model was made for one year, 1924-1925, and superceded by the improved and enlarged NN. This MT doctor's coupé is thought to be one of a handful known to exist world-wide. Photo attached. Just two days before lockdown I bought a 1983 Honda MVX250F motorcycle, but the freight company which was going to transport it to me from Tauranga is locked down. Hence no bike until sometime after the lockdown is lifted. Its a model I've been after for years, and I had a saved Trademe search for one for 6-7 years without a single example coming up. NZ was one of the very few countries that model was exported to. The MVX250F is technically very interesting because the engine is a liquid-cooled 2stroke V3 (you read correctly; V3), and from Honda. The joke goes that with that model you got not only a Honda, but a 2-stroke Honda and an unreliable Honda to boot! <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_MVX250F> It was perhaps Honda's biggest commercial and technical flop, and was made for just one year, 1982-1983, so I had to have one! Photo attached. Meantime, I enjoy the languid and peaceful days, and go for short walks and bicycle rides, while accepting this may become the new normal. Best wishes for your good health and that of your loved ones. PaulElwell-Sutton. Haast.
Note – Paul has sent some photos which are on the last page
John Boyes writes … I note that the last letter was saying that there was not a lot happening on the vintage scene. Well I have taken advantage of being confined to home and started on a long neglected project on the Graham Paige. The steering was always a bit on the wandery side so after years of thinking and doing nothing I have taken it out and am in the process of replacing worn parts. On another take I get a daily news letter from Hemmings the American publisher of the bible on cars called Hemmings Auto News. I have attached today’s edition and if you scroll down to “Temporarily -closed car museums” and click it opens up to a lot of interesting stuff. I followed up on “Lane motor museum” and saw a few European cars one of which was a Lloyd car …remember it David? Another was an interesting item on the octane rating so I thought that it may give you some inspiration for something of interest to members. Maybe even just send it out with instructions. Have a look through it, I haven’t as yet, maybe after I have done the housework. Regards John Boyes
Brent and Ann Newton have been busy ‌ Well the skys the limit for us during lockdown. It has been absolutely the limit of our patience in this jigsaw. We managed to get it almost completed in a reasonable time and this filled in spare time for us But we have been stuck on the sky for days and I could easy give up but Brent is quietly persisting!
Well done you two
This reminded us of the Wasgij that we started two years ago and put under the spare bed because we ran out patience to finish it. Maybe it is time to get it out again if this wet weather lasts.
And Zoe from Reefton says ‌ This is a poem for us 'old girls'. Poet anon. Remember Zoe, she was our mini Mother Christmas at the Christmas dinner I'm normally a social girl, I love to meet my mates, But lately with the virus here, We can't go out the gates. You see, we are the 'oldies' now, We need to stay inside, If they haven't seen us for a while, They'll think we've upped and died. They'll never know the things we did, Before we got this old, There wasn't any Facebook, So not everything was told. We may seem sweet old ladies, Who would never be uncouth, But we grew up in the 60s -, If you only knew the truth! There was sex and drugs and rock 'n roll, The pill and miniskirts, We smoked, we drank, we partied, And were quite outrageous flirts.
Then we settled down, got married, And turned into someone's mum,, Somebody's wife, then nana,, Who on earth did we become? We didn't mind the change of pace, Because our lives were full, But to bury us before we're dead, Is like a red rag to a bull! So here you find me stuck inside, For 4 weeks, maybe more, I finally found myself again,
Then I had to close the door! It didn't really bother me, I'd while away the hour, I'd bake for all the family, But I've got no bloody flour! Now Netflix is just wonderful, I like a gutsy thriller, I'm swooning over Idris, Or some random sexy killer. At least I've got a stash of booze, For when I'm being idle, There's wine and whiskey, even gin, If I'm feeling suicidal! So let's all drink to lockdown, To recovery and health, And hope this bloody virus, Doesn't decimate our wealth. We'll all get through the crisis, And be back to join our mates, Just hoping I'm not far too wide, To fit through the flaming gates!
USEFUL INFO…PLEASE NOTE – If it is not suitable to you to use your Club eligible vehicle on the Branch runs, you are more than welcome to come along in your modern as we welcome your company. You can go online to www.vcc.org.nz to read the current Branch magazines. On the home page you will see News from the Branches on the left. Click on that and you have access to magazines from other regions. The Vintage Car Club of NZ is now on Facebook for those who are interested. For those who already have a facebook account: Go to the VCC facebook page and LIKE IT. Posts will then appear in YOUR facebook stream and you can share them with your friends. For those who don’t have a facebook page or don’t want to set up an account: type in the link below and then save it in bookmarks in your internet browser. You will then have easy access to the page whenever you want to see the latest posts. To access the Club facebook page, go to https://www.facebook.com/vintagecarclubof newzealand/ Or type Vintage Car Club of New Zealand into facebook search.
VCC DISCOUNTS OF COOK STRAIGHT FERRIES – QUOTE… BLUEBRIDGE – Discount Code “ANTIQUECAR” Valid until 30 June 2020 THE INTERISLANDER – Booking Reference “WH5465 Valid to 15 December 2020. Special link is - https//:www.greatjourneysofnz/members-fares 10% discount on Tranz Rail available to 15th December 2020 – Booking reference WH5465 Special link is – https//:www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz For details and conditions refer to the VCC of NZ Website or your local Secretary SERVICE BADGES – To those members who are nearing 25, 35 or 50 years membership, please contact Membership officer David Campbell. You are entitled to a service badge for your continued membership. Check out the date you joined the Vintage Car Club. NAME BADGES – Also, please contact David Campbell if you would like a name badge. The Branch supplies your first one. VIC FORMS - A reminder to all members who have VIC cards that are due to expire, you will receive a personalised RENEWAL FORM from the National Office at least three months before the due date. You cannot download a form off the internet. They are personalised for each individual vehicle. Please fill in and hand to Branch Secretary. Please note that new applications can be downloaded from the website or contact the Branch Secretary. If you wish to participate in any National VCC Event, you need to have a Vehicle Identification Certificate, don’t leave it until the last minute as it takes some time for the processing of paperwork. If you sell your vintage vehicle and it has VIC Certification please notify NZVCC, POBox 2546, Christchurch. Ph 03 366 4461 or email: admin@vcc.org.nz
VERO INSURANCE - If you take your Insurance out with VERO they will then pay the Branch a small Commission which helps with Branch finances. Please note that when applying for Insurance cover with VERO you must quote the Branch number which is 36 plus your membership number. Also you are reminded that this scheme is set up for financial members only.
If anybody else has items of interest, please forward them to me for next month, I somehow don’t think there is going to be much of interest by then either. JC