PHOENIX Number 285 JUNE 2019
PHOENIX NEWSLETTER OF THE WAITEMATA BRANCH VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND NUMBER 285
CHAIRMAN: CLUB CAPTAIN: 1st OFFICER: SECRETARY: TREASURER: BRANCH DELEGATE: EDITOR: PAST CHAIRMAN: COMMITTEE:
JUNE 2019
BRENDAN LAMAIN
021 132 4557 brendanandterry@gmail.com HAMISH ANDREW 027 296 9665 h.andrew@orcon.net.nz HUMPHREYS STAN SMITH 0274 775 475 vintageaircraft@xtra.co.nz VIV SCOTT 021 837 402 robandviv06@yahoo.co.nz JACQUI GOLDINGHAM 09 445 8811 goldienz@orcon.net.nz GRAEME BANKS 027 500 3806 graban@ihug.co.nz kandmbeesley@outlook.com KEVIN BEESLEY 021 765 860 chicksmart73@gmail.com DI HUMPHREYS 021 025 75624 ROB CHAPMAN, MAX JAMIESON, MIKE GREIG and IAN GOLDINGHAM (Scribe).
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COMING EVENTS Looking Forward……… Month
Waitemata
JUNE
Branch A.G.M. 6
JULY
R’Oilcan 13
AUGUST
Ryders Drive, Dine & Movie tba
Other Events
Swap Meets
Irishman Rally 1-3 Waikato Double 50 1-3 Rotorua Swap Meet 14 Daffodil Rally 25 Craw Collection Run 11
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
Kairangi Hillclimb 6 National Veteran Rally Timaru 18-20 Targa Time Trial 28 – 2 Nov.
Canterbury Swap Meet 11-13
NOVEMBER DECEMBER
UP NEXT…
Club Night - Thursday 6th JUNE Usual place, but not the usual time because this is our 2019 A.G.M. Be there for 7.00 p.m. to enjoy our usual A.G.M. barbeque. Full details below. See you at the RSA Room, King George V Memorial Hall, Library
Lane, Albany, at 7.00 p.m.
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Notice is hereby formally given of the
Waitemata Branch
To be held in the pleasantly rustic RSA Room, King George Coronation Hall, Library Lane, Albany on
Thursday 6 June 2019. Arrive at 7.00 p.m. complete with own tipple, plate, utensils and offering, as-yet unburnt, for the BBQ. The meeting proper will commence at 8.00 p.m. The Branch will be providing bread and cheese, salads and, with any luck, something for dessert, as well as the BBQ machine. A form to enable nominations for official positions is sent herewith. It’s too late to send it in now, but you can bring it with you for presentation on the night. Nominations will also be called from the floor. Absence from the meeting enhances rather than precludes your chance of election to high office. Then‌ Pag e |3
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Stan & Gilly Smith have it all sorted!
13 July 2019 Starting at 7.00 am from the North Shore Aero Club Rooms, 300 Postman Road, Dairy Flat. Entry form included herewith. To ensure your place complete the entry now and return it as instructed. Late entries will not be accepted! Hot drinks and light food will be available for your purchase in the North Shore Aero Club lounge prior to the start briefing. For the cars that need to top up with fuel prior to arriving at the North Shore Aero Club there are the following options: - If coming from the south on the motorway there is a big service station about 3kms prior to the Silverdale off ramp - If coming from the south on the Albany highway there is a Caltex at Dairy Flat - If coming from the west there is a Caltex at Dairy Flat - If coming from the north, there is a BP and Z at Silverdale The North Shore Aero Club has no motor car fuel! Any queries? Feel free to call Stan (09 426 3735 or 0274 775 475) OR Gilly on 09 426 3735 or 027 269 5660) A fun event for intrepid adventurers! Plus‌ Pag e |4
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SUNDAY 11th AUGUST RUN TO THE CRAW COLLECTION, WHANGAREI Leaving from the Onepoto Basin Park at 9:00am and going via highway 16 to avoid the traffic at Warkworth.
$20/head entry fee BYO picnic lunch or eat at a cafe in the basin at Whangarei. It is suggested that 2 hours are needed to do the collection justice. Contact Di for Keith for further information 021 025 756 42
And…
Waikato Branch Vintage Car Club Annual Kairangi Hillclimb Sunday 6th October. Waitemata & Waikato Branches are in the process of combining to share this great venue and event. Those of you who have entered the Kairangi Hillclimb in previous years know it’s a great venue, excellent Hill, you get plenty of runs for your bucks and share a great day with likeminded folk. The 30 Year Rule applies, so VCC eligible vehicles dated up to 1989, complete with VIC (Vehicle Identity Card), HRL (Historic Race License) and Logbook, will be accepted for entry. Entry Fee will be somewhere around $75pp (with half that cost for second drivers): still to be confirmed, but sounding very reasonable for a great day of hillclimbing. If you have an eligible vehicle but require a Logbook, Historic Race license and/or a Vehicle Identity Card PLEASE pull finger and get underway with the necessary paperwork NOW!
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AUCKLAND BRANCH MID-WEEK RUN Wednesday 19th June Starts from The Warehouse car park, Westgate. 10-00am for a 10.30am departure. A shorter run of about an hour, best BYO everything at this stage.
The Dewdrops tel. 09 232 0245 email dewdrops@xtra.co.nz
Coming Up…
Targa 2019 Time Trial When: Monday 28th October to Saturday 2nd Nov 2019. Where: Central & Lower/Mid North Island – Draft Event Programme available. What & Why: Outstanding opportunity for VCC members to drive iconic North Island roads as a time trial. This is not a race, but rather an exercise in safe, precise driving to maintain a set average speed over closed tarmac stages. (Similar to a regularity trial). It’s also a great opportunity for VCC branches to raise public awareness of the VCC & hopefully attract some new & younger members. Cost: Substantial 30% discount off standard entry fee for VCC members with VCC/VIC eligible cars = $4,790 reduced to $3,353 + Medical Levy & RallySafe. (All entry fees are + GST). Refer www.targa.nz for further details & discounts. Contact: Rod Corbett rod.corbett88@gmail 027 433 8772 for further details.
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Further Out…
2021 VERO International Festival of Historic Motoring 17-22 January 2021 Mark your diary now. Planning for the next VCC international rally in Taranaki is well underway. Come join the fun.
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PAST EVENTS Looking Back…. Kaipara Wings and Wheels – 11 May We had our fingers crossed the Weather Gods would smile on us for this event and, as luck would have it, they broke into a broad grin! Conditions could scarcely have been better; nary a breeze, warm sun, blue skies and white fluffy clouds. There was some morning fog still lingering around on the drive up for the ‘early birds’ but this had burned off by the time the event got underway in earnest. Some of us from the Branch drove up to Kaipara Flats via SH16, others braved SH1 and at the airfield we were joined by VCC members from Warkworth and Wellsford, making for a pleasing line-up of assorted motor vehicles.
Even happier Di H in Stearman
The line-up of airplanes was also impressive – let me list DH Beaver, Happy Keith H in DH Beaver Stan Smith’s trusty Auster, a brace of Tiger Moths, a trio of Corby Starlets, Piper Cub, Boeing Stearman, and you’ll see what I mean. Not to mention some terrific models, including a large scale Sopwith Camel whose pilot (controller?) was very accomplished, putting this plane through all manner of exciting aerobatic manoeuvres. Pag e |7
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Branch attendance consisted of Keith and Di in Ford ’A’ Speedster, Rob and Mrs Williams in Austin Healey, the Beesley brothers in Riley Kestrel and AM80 Hotchkiss, Rob Chapman in Riley 9, new member Rob Moston in Jaguar ‘C’ Type replica, (as a further Branch connection this was accompanied by the late Peter Bruin’s own ‘C’ Type), Jacqui Goldingham in Sunbeam 14/40 and husband Ian in Lea Francis. Stan Smith both drove up in his Sunbeam 20.9, and later flew in (it’s complicated…), Barry & Heather Howard, Alan & Eleanor Kerr and Ray & Megan Ferner were there. Oh, and our Fearless Leader Brendan, accompanied by Terry, arrived later in the day. Amongst the Warkworth/Wellsford vehicles were a bevy of assorted MG’s, a stately Alvis saloon, Anne Richardson’s lovely 15/6 Riley Lynx, another Austin Healey and Ford models ‘A’ and ‘T’. Various persons availed themselves of flights at $50 a pop in some of the aircraft. Perfect conditions for aeronautical jaunts; as Gilbert & Sullivan put it – up in the sky, ever so high, pleasures came in endless series. The local model aero club provided a slap-up, knock ‘em down barbeque lunch, with tea, coffee and soft drink, all reasonably priced. Their burgers were of such dimensions that an articulated jaw would have been a distinct advantage. Kaipara Flats Airfield is a pleasant location and great facility. The drive there and The aeronautical theme wouldn’t be complete without some drone shots. Heavenly back via SH16 is a good one and views of Kestrel, Hotchkiss, ‘C’ Types, 14/40, Lea Francis, Riley 9. can be easily extended (as done by the writer on the day) to maximise distance and pleasure. This is an event well worth repeating, either ‘as is’ or with embellishment. Thank you, Stan Smith, for your organising. Well done that man. Kevin Beesley
“Roses amongst…”. ‘C’ Type elegance.
Sunbeam 20.9, Austin Healey and ‘A’ Speedster just discernable at the top end of the line
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Credit for drone shots goes to Tom McLean from the Warkworth Aviation Club. Thanks Tom and thanks, Keith H for the photos taken from terra firma.
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FROM THE THRONE The AGM will be held next Club Night; I urge you all to attend if possible as it is the perfect opportunity to bring up any issues or suggestions you may have to enhance the Branch and its activities. As usual, we will elect a new Committee. We have been well served over many years by able and willing folk who have volunteered for committee positions, and a wide range of people is always desirable as they bring different strengths and viewpoints. If you feel you could contribute, or even just want to learn how the club functions, then please let Pag e |9
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someone know that you are keen. I would like to thank all who have served this last year for their efforts, especially Viv Scott and Kevin Beesley who have put in regular effort to keep the club well-informed and running smoothly. Come along early for the BBQ dinner and more time to natter beforehand. I did not enjoy presiding over the decision to cancel the Chelsea Hill Climb last year and it appears that chapter will be closed for good now. Rob Chapman and I have, however, been out looking at prospective hill climb and sprint venues, and we have several very promising options, mostly north of Auckland, but one is near Hunua. I will give a brief on the options, with a few photos, at the AGM. I look forward to seeing you at the AGM, and again, many thanks to all who have not just organised or supported events, but also those who have supported other members with technical advice, suggestions, and skill to help them keep their vehicles on the road and in use. I always enjoy seeing such interaction at Club Nights, it is a great strength of the VCC and our Branch and long may it continue. Kind regards, Brendan. ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
FROM THE ED. Have you been for a Warrant of Fitness with your club eligible vehicle lately? When you do, you may find that it is no more Mr nice guy as regards your friendly, local provider. The recent crackdown by the MoT on shonky warrant issuers has served to focus the attention of providers such that they are applying a heightened level of vigilance as they go about their business. One practitioner expressed the view that the MoT was happy with smaller local providers being squeezed out of WoF issuing in favour of the large nationwide providers such as VTNZ. Be that as it may, the Editorial Riley Kestrel was tested to ‘within an inch’ recently and subjected to various physical interventions and indecencies not previously paid much attention to. Rather unbecoming a lady of her age and distinction. She took it all stoically and in good heart, getting through in due course. Not to say my friendly local provider was anything other than friendly, professional and cooperative throughout the process and I’ll be going back. Just be aware that, when going for your next warrant, you may notice a reduction in the degree of latitude you are accustomed to. Forewarned is forearmed. Some great reading this edition compliments of that well-known historian about town, Ian Goldingham. Ian’s article on Douglas Mill is as informative as it is interesting, the good news here being there is more to come! Read on, enjoy and watch this space. Kevin Beesley.
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JUST SO WE KNOW WHO WE ARE... It was on about the third glass of port at an early (1984) Waitemata Branch Committee Meeting that a few of us decided to put ourselves up for election to the VCC National Executive. A polaroid camera was produced, the same flying helmet and goggles were passed from one to another and away we went, nominating and seconding amongst ourselves with gay abandon. Tongue in cheek and none of us had any expectation of being elected, but good fun and we figured what you can’t shake you can at least stir. The quality isn’t great and the paper size (known aptly as ‘Foolscap’ back in the day) didn’t fit the Editorial scanner, meaning the top of each page has been cut off, but herewith the 1984/5 VCC-Election Nomination Form. Branch members, past and present, highlighted in yellow.
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OTHER NEWS…… A wonderful piece of historical sleuthing by Ian Goldingham. There is more to come next month in relation to this, which you are certain to find equally interesting.
WHO WAS FRANK DOUGLAS MILL? This is a fair question, which meant that some time ago, I had to put pen to paper to record one of our forgotten forefathers on land as well as the sky! Auckland airman Douglas Mill may not be a household name like Jean Batten and Richard Pearse, but he can lay just as much claim to being a pioneer of New Zealand aviation. Born on the10th Dec 1899 at the very end of the 19th Century, Frank Douglas Mill was raised by his mother Mrs. Margaret Ann Mill. Initially educated in Dunedin Frank was taken to England in1906, later to return to his widowed mother’s new family home at 2 Upland Road, Remuera. Mr. Mill passed through the Walsh Brothers’ flying school in Mission Bay. The school had been established by the brothers Leo and Vivian Walsh with financial backing from Rueben Dexter of Dexter and Crozier A young Douglas Mill here out with his mother in a majestic 22hp Daimler TD Ltd, successful motor importers and 22 hp 4 cyl Silent Knight distributors. Unfortunately for Doug, the First World War armistice had been signed before he could get to Europe to fly in anger. Qualifying as a pilot just after the war when there were few opportunities for flying, Mill deferred plans for an aviation career and studied law instead. In 1919 he travelled to England with his mother and on their return to NZ he was employed in the workshop of what was now Dexter Motors, wholly owned by Rueben Dexter. The flying might have been on hold, but he still got his thrills. Always well off, Doug Mill was now in a position to indulge his passion for the new technology of the day. Mr. Mill’s sense of excitement extended to cars and he is best known for winning the New Zealand Light Car Cup a 50-mile race on Muriwai Beach in 1924. He achieved this in an Austin 12/4 Clifton tourer that he had borrowed from his mother. The Austin Twelve was not a very likely design on which to base a racing car, the chassis being on the heavy side, yet on this day it gave a great performance. It was a 1924 model with two-wheel brakes, beaded edge tyres, and the engine was of the original short stroke type of 1661 cc, a specification that is considered to be faster than the later long stroke model. In preparation for the race, the body, wings and running boards of the car were removed and set aside, to be replaced by a racing body which was a much lighter, more streamlined, yet typically vestigial affair constructed of plywood. The engine received no more than a good tune-up but from the accompanying photo it may be seen that the exhaust tail pipe and silencer were removed. The seating
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arrangement for Doug Mill was significantly lowered in the interests of reducing aerodynamic drag, with the result that his head is only just visible above the scuttle and his sightline through the steering wheel. Other than that, it seems that the car was much as it left the factory. This fact was suitably advertised with ‘Stock Model’ emblazoned on the car for all to see. When the flag dropped all got away to an even start but very shortly Mill was in the lead. (With the light body, he was able to start in second gear and thus avoid the lengthy pause between ratios when low gear was used.) The six starters sped down the beach and the crowd behaved, keeping well back. Armitage was going well in the Fiat, but the remainder were well back and at the end of the first lap Mill was 200 yards ahead. At the end of the second lap the position was much the same, with the Austin increasing its lead and Armitage secure in second place. Some distance behind were Beadnell’s Buick Four and the Essex. Bedford had pulled out. From this point the race became a procession with Mill increasing his lead until he was almost half a mile ahead of Armitage at the finish. The winner’s performance over the 50-mile course was noteworthy. Mill’s time was 46 minutes, Armitage was 40 seconds behind and Beadnell in the Buick took 50 min 50 secs. Immediately following the weekend event, the Austin was reassembled as the family car and returned to Doug’s unsuspecting mother! In later years this same car was owned by the Batten family in Auckland; their daughter Jean, the pilot, always started the car in third! Douglas’s son, Simon Mill, recalled his father as being ‘” a bit of a dude”. He was known as “Boy” Mill in his younger years and I think that sums it up. He was a well-oiled fellow who knew the good things in life; the indulged, self-centred, lonely, only child of a single parent. He would wheedle money from his mother - the Sunbeam motorcar which was ordered direct from England in 1924, cost £1,025 ex UK, plus the cost of shipping, Customs etc. such that the final cost landed here in New Zealand would have been much higher! Sunbeam 20/60 Sports Tourer fresh off the boat. It arrived in Auckland in July of 1925, was unloaded and then taken into the tender care of D S C Cousins & Cousins Ltd, the Auckland Sunbeam agents in Kitchener St. As the latest local motoring sensation, it was quickly featured in the 25th July issue of the New Zealand Motor Journal... This particular vehicle is of course the well-known Sunbeam 20/60 Sports Tourer Chassis # 20/1501/D that Peter Maxwell was the custodian of for many years. Sparkling in its unique Dove Grey Sports body with complementary Blue leather upholstery. Despite Douglas being seen all about town in “his new car” it is now certain that his mother Mrs. Mill not only bought and paid for the car but remained its “registered owner” until her death in the early thirties. For many years various owners of this car have understood that it was raced at the Muriwai Beach Races. I had taken this claim with a pinch of salt. After all, it was easy to see how people could have confused the fact that Doug Mill won the 1924 Light Car Cup at Muriwai with his Mums Austin 12 and his activity a few years later, still with his mother’s car – the Sunbeam 20 Sports! However, Sandy Mill (Douglas’s second son) recently gave me access to Doug Mill’s personal photo album and this assistance has led to the discovery of a photo of the car, on Muriwai Beach with the race number 32.
The photograph Doug’s mother fortunately never saw!
What really piqued my interest was that there was no mention of it in the Dick Messenger & Doug Wood book “Flat to the Boards” So I went back to Dick Messenger’s source material which is now held at the Auckland War
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The Mill Sunbeam at the Muriwai Beach Races
Memorial Museum. Sifting through the original but fragile Muriwai race programs I finally found the proof for the images. It appears that Doug entered the Sunbeam in Race 6 of the 1926 Program, this was an Open Handicap event of some 18 miles with 5 turns which effectively meant 6 x 3mile legs up and down the beach. Doug who obviously wanted to avoid awkward questions from his mother, had inventively entered under the name of Douglas. M as against Mill. D. The event organisers gave him a
thumping handicap of 4 minutes 30 seconds! I suspect this was as a result of his previous winning form and the fact that this latest product from the Sunbeam factory was an unknown but feared quantity! Held late in the day the track was heavy and deteriorating, only 5 cars started due to earlier carnage. The Hudson driven by G R Stuart was well and truly in the lead until the last lap when Bill Hamilton in the 1914 TT Sunbeam closed relentlessly upon him and flashed past to win by 30 secs! Doug came in a creditable fourth beating Andy Irvine’s Brescia Bugatti. No overall time for the race was recorded, which was a pity as it was one of the best handicap races of the day. In May 1927, the day after their wedding, Doug Mill and his new bride Audrey Lina (Studholme) sailed for England aboard the S.S. Aorangi. After travelling across America, the honeymooning pair arrived in Washington just as Lindbergh arrived after his solo transAtlantic flight. Lindbergh’s exploits and his rapturous reception at Bolling Field only served to fuel Mill’s passion for aviation. As his previous flying had all been on seaplanes, he now underwent more flying training in order to switch to land-based aircraft. He joined the De Havilland flying school at Stag Lane, England to “relearn" flying in a modern aircraft. He bought a DH69 but when De Havilland learned of his influential New Zealand connections, they offered him the New Zealand agency and provided him with an updated model. “The cost of a completely equipped Moth two-seater in England is £730—-little more than the price of a good motor-car. A Moth seaplane costs £1150 " (Star, 8 February 1928).
Douglas & Audrey Mill, Stud Lane 1927
An Eagle survey camera was fitted to the plane while in Europe and Mill had it conveyed to NZ for his Air Survey and Transport company. Mill imported his Moth on board the "Mataroa", which arrived at Auckland 24 February 1928. Mill partly assembled the plane and for a week or so before its first flight here, it was on display
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at Milne & Choyce. The plane was then “removed to a field on the Tamaki Heights”, where it was finally assembled and tested, and later flown on a prolonged test flight over Auckland City.
Mill’s DH60 Test Flight
Audrey Mill learning to fly the De Havilland flying school at Stag Lane, England
With his return to New Zealand Douglas Mill set up the Air Survey and Transport Co based at Hobsonville airfield to do aerial survey and photography work. This was in conjunction with selling aircraft to newly formed aero clubs and later to small airlines. Mr. Mill arrived on the scene with his aircraft at precisely the right time to benefit from an upsurge in interest in aviation. The Government was keen to see commercial and civil aviation get established and provided money to help aero clubs buy suitable aircraft. Mr. Mill was amongst the first men to start importing private aircraft into New Zealand after the First World War. (Funnily enough it was Doug’s previous employer Reuben Dexter of Dexter Motors who after the war picked up the agency for the Austin car and imported two small Austin Whippet planes. The two planes arrived as kit sets and were later stated in the Herald as being the first planes sold in NZ for private use.) Mr. Ross Dawson, past president of the Auckland Aero Club, said Mr. Mill was considered the
founder of modern aviation in New Zealand. “He was not a pioneer of flight, but he was a pioneer of commercial aviation.” As New Zealand agent for the British aircraft company De Havilland, Mr. Mill flew his DH60 Moth the length and breadth of the country - mostly accompanied by his wife, Audrey. Wherever they went excited crowds turned out to see them. Mrs. Audrey Mill recalls how she sat in the front cockpit looking for places to land: “We were looking for suitable places for aero clubs to set up so that we could sell aeroplanes to them, which we did.” There was a myth that the arrival of Charles Kingsford Smith, who crossed the Tasman in the Southern Cross, caused the explosion of interest in flying in New Zealand. “Kingsford Smith did give aviation a big impetus, but the fact is that Mill was on the scene before him and the aero clubs had already started.” Shutterbugs Douglas & Audrey
It was about this time, too, that the New Zealand Herald saw the advantages in using aircraft to get to remote areas of the country. In July 1928 Mr. Mill flew a Herald reporter to the wreck of the “Isabella de Fraine” which foundered off Hokianga with the loss of all eight crew. The 110-mile journey from Auckland, which would have taken nearly two days by road, was done in two hours. In its columns at the time the Herald proudly boasted: “In using an aeroplane to go in search of news, the Herald has made journalistic history in the Dominion.” Indeed, Mr. Mill’s enterprise and enthusiasm made him the most successful De Havilland agent in the world. In fact, he was so successful that three years later he gave up the aerial photography business selling it to Leo White who became equally as successful and well known as White’s Aviation Ltd.
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He continued his love of photography even after quitting the aerial survey business. In 1936, in Hyde Park in London, he captured on cine camera a man firing a pistol near King Edward VIII. Mrs. Mill said the rare footage showed a man stepping from the crowd and firing. The King was not hurt but his horse was clearly startled. The man, a journalist, was later jailed for 12 months. Mill lost the De Havilland agency at the start of the Second World War, due to De Havilland’s setting up their own factory at Rongotai Wellington. This fait accompli was something which rankled for years. “He was bitter that he lost the agency,” When Doug Mill had set up his home and aviation company in Hobsonville, it was right next to the new aerodrome being built by the New Zealand Defence Department. Later in 1940, when the Hobsonville Air base expanded, the Air Force took over the company’s hangar and Mill’s property, turning “Windover” their large home, into WRAF quarters. During the Second World War Douglas served as a squadron leader at the RNZAF group headquarters in Wellington, having earlier been adjutant at Hobsonville. He never lost his love of good cars and continued to own interesting vehicles that were either top of the line or mechanically ahead of their time, such as his Lagonda LG45 Sports Saloon and a Citroen Light 15hp. But after the war he stayed away from business, preferring instead to become a small holder and indulge his passions for fishing, painting and yachting. In the late 50's/early 60's he had built, 'Nereides', a most magnificent motor sailer, which would have been about 50 feet in length and was widely respected in yachting circles. She was no racehorse but very sea-worthy and was used as a mother ship in Auckland-Suva races. Later she was owned by Bob Owens, the transport tycoon of Tauranga. He died at the Remuera family home in Upland Road on the 20th April 1990 at the age of 90. Douglas Mill’s original Air Survey and Transport Co photographic glass plate archive has now been recently donated by his son Sandy to the West Auckland Research Centre, Waitakere Central Library who have digitally scanned it for public access. The majority of the images in this article, however, have come directly from private photos still held by the Mill family and we are indebted to them for their unstinting help and support. Additional material courtesy of Chris Wood and Barry Birchall, AV&VCC With acknowledgements to: ‘Flat to the Boards’ by D. Wood and R. Messenger. Ian Goldingham
Another shot of the Sunbeam at Muriwai.
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AN ANNOUNCEMENT…. Scenic Train Offer to VCC Members.
‘Hi everyone, We have manged to obtain a discount offer for all members, through Great Journeys of New Zealand. Extension of this offer will be determined by the support of this offer from members. Please let your members know. The attached should be kept at the front of your Branch Manual (in the clear sleeve), just like the Interislander and Bluebridge offers. Regards, Julie Cairns-Gee Administration Manager’ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
FOR SALE…. Well, not for sale exactly. Free to a good home. This in from Terry Roycroft. FREE! WICKER PICNIC BASKET. Period, but unused. 400 x 300 x 400. Plates and cups included. A must for vintage touring! Ph. Noel on 09 489-3994 (Takapuna, not far!) ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ P a g e | 18
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A card sent to your Editor some time ago. The caption reads “Dear Machine. Help!” By W.S. Hutton, The Tattler, October 1928
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THE SQUEAKY WHEEL… A recent study undertaken in certain West Coast American cities has shown that the rise of ride sharing facilities such as Uber and Lyft have served to increase traffic congestion. Well, knock me down with a feather! Such a study is no doubt worthwhile as regards the assembly of empirical data, but surely the only surprise here would be anyone being surprised at its finding. The motor car is, quite simply, the most practical and convenient means of transport man has ever devised and the more accessible, the easier to use, we make it the more it will be taken up in favour of other transport modes, particularly public transport. And, as these pages have pointed out before, we ain’t seen nothing yet! The increasing application of driver-assist systems, artificial intelligence and the push towards driverless technology all serve to increase the popularity of the motor vehicle and its use. Why stagger in the cold and rain to a bus stop when you can summon a car to collect and deliver you door to door, in comfort and privacy? Why pay for parking when you can send your autonomous vehicle home after it has driven you to work, then summon it to come and get you at the end of the day? A doubling of vehicle use. Not to mention the potential for further use of the car by those at home until you need it again. Scarcely good news for those who would curtail development of, or reduce, our roading network. Will increasing ride share facilities, driver-assist programmes and, ultimately, autonomous driving, serve to reduce or exacerbate traffic congestion? We shall see.
Kevin Beesley .
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DESPATCHES…. If you aren’t mentioned in despatches it means you aren’t telling the Editor what you are up to. ➢ Insult of the month, from when insults had class. "In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily." -Charles, Count Talleyrand ➢ Danny Ryan sent in this great shot and writes… P a g e | 20
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“At Leadfoot, white knuckles, clenched teeth puckered rear end, blistering stuff on the edge.”
➢ Meanwhile, taking shape in a garage not far away… This shot sent in by Ian Goldingham featuring ‘The Panzer’, a one-off NZ made Jaguar based special coming together under the hands of Vintagent of yore, Harold Kidd. Plan is for it to be vinned and hill climb-ready by Christmas.
➢ And this message from Diane Humphreys… “Hi Kevin, Thought you might like to know that Waitemata Roycroft Resident Artist (Richard McWhannell) is still out there A7'ing everywhere. cheers Di.” “Hi Di and Keith, I’m still here and driving Austins where daily motoring required. I’ve been working obsessively, but often feel remiss at not having been involved in ‘Waitemata’ life lately. I was going to do Chelsea last year and toyed with Hampton Downs as an idea recently, then remembered costs, regulations and the motor rebuild! I do keep up with Phoenix news. To prove I’m still alive and driving attaching a photo a friend forwarded last week … it had shown up on her Instagram feed. I’m very taken with the apposition of P a g e | 21
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the 100K sign along with the ‘fanging’ word. I got 120 out of Dieppe on the return trip but now require to check/adjust some things! All very best, Richard.” ➢ From Lionel Rogers, via Keith Humphreys “We had a great weekend at the Montlhéry Revival. I had my T59/50S right up the top of the banked circuit - 3700 rpm in top gear circa 120 mph! Too many chicanes to go any faster - we are supposed to be speed limited to 150 kph. It is an awesome event - little Louis couldn’t believe his eyes when we drove in. Cheers - Lionel Also from Lionel:
“On the grid at Montlhéry. The dark blue 59 belongs to Jacques Iuri, a lovely Frenchman who lives in Avignon. His 59 is one of the 4 that Tula engineering made 25 years ago. The light blue 59 was made much more recently by Charles for himself, but needed the cash for his new workshop, so sold it to another Frenchman who is based in Dubai, and spends most of his time working on oil rigs. He was not able to be at the event, so asked Charles to take it along and drive it for him. That’s me with the yellow hat on. Lionel”
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➢ A video of the Montlhéry Revival event sent on by Keith inspired our leader to comment as follows: “Hello Keith, Thanks for the link, they are always good to watch. I did notice the cool time-keeping truck. Perhaps we could rob the Branch clubhouse fund and buy one of those for events! It would also be really good in Auckland’s heavy traffic; someone could stay up there and see which lanes were clear ahead. None of them, most likely…. Cheers, Brendan.” ➢ The link Brendan is referring to is well worth a look, so, here it is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsoIFJMYl90&t=62s ➢ And to close this edition, a few happy snaps of a team working for Stan & Gilly Smith reconnoitre-ing the route for the forthcoming R’Oilcan.
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PHOENIX Number 285 JUNE 2019
PHOENIX The OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER of THE WAITEMATA BRANCH of the VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF N.Z. INC. 200A Greenhithe Road, Greenhithe, Auckland 0632
CLUB NIGHT THURSDAY 6 June 7.00 p.m. at the RSA Room, King George V Memorial Hall, Library Lane, Albany. Take Exit 410 Oteha Valley Road. Travel west along Oteha Valley Road, ahead through 2 roundabouts and straight ahead at Traffic Lights into Albany Highway then almost immediately RIGHT into Library Lane then very soon go right again into the parking area. The RSA Room is at the rear.
Branch members on the Highland Frolic – 1998. L to R Max Belcher, John Gairdner, Mike Greig, the late Murray Low, Ann Thompson, Gerald Watson. Wallace McNair lurking in background. Ahh… good times!
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PHOENIX Number 285 JUNE 2019
Waitemata Branch Vintage Car Club of NZ Inc.
Nomination Form. June 2019. In association with the Annual General Meeting of the Waitemata Branch, to be held on Thursday June 6 th 2019 at the Branch Clubrooms, RSA Room, George V Memorial Hall, Library Lane, Albany.
I, (print name) ................................................................................................................................. being a financial member of the Waitemata Branch Vintage Car Club of NZ Inc, hereby nominate: (print name) ............................................................................................................ (the ‘Nominee) for the position of: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Signature of Nominee .................................................................................................................. Name of seconder (print)............................................................................................................... Signature of seconder ................................................................................................................... By 23rd May 2019, please either: -
scan and email the completed nomination form for the attention of the Secretary to: robandviv06@yahoo.co.nz
Or -
post to: Waitemata Branch Secretary, Viv Scott, 200A Greenhithe Road, Greenhithe, Auckland 0632
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R'OILCAN RALLY 2019 ENTRY FORM (38TH Edition) The R'Oilcan will start from the North Shore Aero Club rooms at 300 Postman Road, Dairy Flat at 7a.m. Saturday 13th July 2019 Entry Fee $170 per person. Children under 14 years $115 10% Deposit with Entry Form and balance to be paid no later than 26th June 2019 NO LATE ENTRIES DUE TO ACCOMMODATION RESTRAINTS This entry fee includes Saturday morning tea, lunch, dinner and accommodation and Sunday breakfast Entries for VCC eligible vehicles will be accepted with: Each vehicle is required to carry a fire extinguisher. Current REGO/WOF and entrant's VCC membership card ONLY OPEN VEHICLES WILL BE ELIGIBLE Please complete the form below and return with cheque made out to G. Smith and snail mailed out to G. Smith at, 312 Postman Road, R.D. 4 Albany, 0794 Or email completed form to vintageaircraft@xtra.co.nz and payment via Internet banking to G.S. & G.A. Smith Bank Account number 02-0390-0008998-002 Reference R'Oilcan and your initial and surname Don't forget to bring your "Glad Rags" for an evening of frivolity and bonhomie at the Celebratory Dinner on 13th July! Name of Entrant: Name of Navigator: Passengers: Car Make:
Model:
REGO:
YEAR:
Mobile Phone Number: Email: Postal Address:
No._______at $170 each
No. _______at $115 each
Total Amount ___________ ⃝
Internet Banking
⃝
Cheque enclosed
Please tick method of payment
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