PHOENIX Number 287 AUGUST 2019
PHOENIX NUMBER 287
AUGUST 2019
NEWSLETTER OF THE WAITEMATA BRANCH VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND
The quintessential handsome, wind-blown R’Oilcan navigator… Dean Salter in Vaughan Beesley’s Hotchkiss, ready for the off
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WAITEMATA BRANCH DIRECTORY CHAIRMAN: CLUB CAPTAIN: SECRETARY: TREASURER: BRANCH DELEGATE: EDITOR: SCRIBE PAST CHAIRMAN: COMMITTEE:
ROBERT CHAPMAN 021 038 3281 robman@orcon.net.nz STAN SMITH 0274 775 475 vintageaircraft@xtra.co.nz HAMISH ANDREW 027 296 9665 h.andrew@orcon.net.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 goldienz@orcon.net.nz IAN GOLDINGHAM 09 445 8811 BRENDAN LAMAIN 021 132 4557 brendanandterry@gmail.com DI HUMPHREYS, MAX JAMIESON, MIKE GREIG, MIKE HOPE-CROSS and ROB SCOTT.
COMING EVENTS Looking Forward……… Month
Waitemata
AUGUST
Craw Collection Run 11
Other Events
Swap Meets
Daffodil Rally 25 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
NOVEMBER DECEMBER
Ryders Drive, Dine & Movie 15 Kairangi Hillclimb 6 Stan’s Western Wander Drive & Dine 20 Dargaville Collection Visit tba Club Night BBQ 5
Auckland Br. North Cape to Bluff Tour 24-9 National Veteran Rally Timaru 18-20 Targa Time Trial 28 – 2 Nov.
Canterbury Swap Meet 11-13
BOP Car Show Tauranga 3
New Year’s Eve Bash 31 JANUARY FEBRUARY
Lochinver 18-19 Shed Raid tba
MARCH
N.S. Airfield Sprint and Gymkhana tba
APRIL
Monte Carlo tba
MAY
Kaipara Airfield Wings and Wheels 10
JUNE
Branch AGM 4
Ellerslie Concours 9 Napier Art Deco Weekend 19-20 Brit & Euro Classic Car Show 3
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UP NEXT…
Club Night - Thursday 1st AUGUST Usual place, BUT REMBER, we gather at 7.30P.M. instead of 8.00P.M. We’ll revert to 8.00P.M. with the start of daylight saving. See you at the RSA Room, King George V
Memorial Hall, Library Lane, Albany, at 7.30P.M.
Then…
SUNDAY 11th AUGUST RUN TO THE CRAW COLLECTION, WHANGAREI Leaving from the Onepoto Basin Park at 9:00A.M. 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 two hours are needed to do the collection justice. Contact Di or Keith for further information 021 025 756 42
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After that…
On behalf of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand and the Cancer Society, Waitemata and Wellsford/Warkworth Branches wish to invite you to join our National rally. 25th August, assemble at 10.00am at Caffeine and Classics, Smale’s Farm, Takapuna. Have a look at all the vehicles, Register for the run, Donation of $10 per vehicle. Then Cars away at 11.15am Your tour will take you on a scenic route on sealed roads north to the Wharf in Warkworth Town Centre for a display. Prizes for “People’s Choice”, walks along the wharf to see the historic scow “Jane Gifford” and the historic town walk. The new Warkworth Market, cafes and boutique shops. All proceeds go to the Cancer Society. Contact: Diane Humphreys: chicksmart73@gmail.com ; 021 02575624 or 09 4460916 Paul Hodder: 4hodders@gmail.com; 027 4734350 or 09 4224067
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And then…
with a Drive to RYDERS of AVONDALE
Sunday September 15th 6P.M. Dinner – 7P.M. Movie We will meet in the afternoon at our Club Rooms in Albany (time to be confirmed) for an interesting little run to our destination, 177 Riversdale Road, Avondale. As always, BYO Pre-dinner Nibbles, Tipple & drinking Vessel Price - reckon on $30pp Roast dinner - Icecream $3pp. To be confirmed No eftpos or visa. Bring Cash. And bring a friend – bring both your friends. We need the numbers and as you know, this is always a great evening out.
To book your dinner & movie seats, phone Ian & Jacqui Goldingham 09 445 8811 Pag e |5
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Plus…
Waikato Branch Vintage Car Club Annual Kairangi Hillclimb Sunday 6th October. Waitemata & Waikato Branches are 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! Also… AUCKLAND BRANCH MID-WEEK RUN Wednesday 21st August Starts from The Warehouse car park, Westgate. 10-00am for a 10.30am departure. BYO everything, we have ordered a fine day.
The Dewdrops tel. 09 232 0245 email dewdrops@xtra.co.nz
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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). Contact: Rod Corbett rod.corbett88@gmail 027 433 8772 for further details. 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…. The R’Oilcan 2019 – 13 July Mile on mile of gravel road, a lengthy section on forestry access ways and a jaunt over a farm track through a swamp, all within two hours’ drive from Auckland via the main road. Yes, there is still great motoring to be had nearby, notwithstanding the inexorable spread of the queen city. The 2019 R’Oilcan, Waitemata Branch’s premiere annual touring event, held, as tradition demands, in the depths of winter, was organised by Stan and Gilly Smith, the lucky (?) winners last year. In pitch darkness around 6.30 A.M. on a Saturday morning thirty-one vehicles assembled at the North Shore Aero Club, Dairy Flat. It was a line-up in keeping with R’Oilcan standards: Rileys 15/6, 12/4 and 9, Sunbeams 20/60, 20 and 16.9, M Type Lea Francis, Triumphs 14/60 and TR4, MGs Midget, J2 and C Type, Buckler Mk6, Talbots 70 and 90, DI Delage, Hotchkiss AM80, Austin A7 EA Sports, Bugatti 35A, C type Jaguar, Mazda MX5’s, Daimler SP250, a Borgward and three Model A Fords, representing a 100% increase in the usual attendance of this worthy make. Leaving their steeds in the gloom, sixty-six intrepid drivers, navigators and passengers proceeded into the club rooms to enjoy a slap-up breakfast put on as a fundraiser for a local Early Childhood Centre. The breakfast was attacked with gusto, notwithstanding that a generous morning tea and then a serious lunch awaited, these, as is customary for the R’Oilcan, being provided by a school and community group en route to assist with their funding. Power to weight ratios steadily worsen during a R’Oilcan. It is not an event for those concerned about waistlines. Gilly gave the pre-run briefing. “No hoods” she announced, in a tone that brooked no dissent. And no dissent there would be because the R’Oilcan is for open cars only. Whatever the weather. No tin tops, no hoods, no exceptions. “And remember, it’s not a race”, she continued. Well, not exactly. The pace of the R’Oilcan is always brisk, as befits the quality of the vehicles it caters for and making way for faster cars is a time-honoured event courtesy. Plus, finishing high up in the bunch has no bearing on your risk of winning. The winner is chosen by the organisers, often well before the event itself, based on mysterious and infinitely variable considerations such as who may have recently upset who, or who hasn’t won yet. An orange tinge to the eastern horizon hinted at the imminent sunrise as the cars departed the Aero Club. A short burst up the Hibiscus coast then soon on to the metal, past Puhoi and Kaipara Flats, then through a pleasant forestry section with narrow but excellent road surface and on to morning tea at Tomorata Primary School. Early morning atmospheric conditions resulted in some exciting flash frosting of windscreens en route. Windscreen
A variation on the Riley diamond - Mike and Adie Moffatt clearing the windscreen
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wipers waved valiantly outside, navigators wiped vigorously on the inside and drivers craned their necks above and around opaque glass to locate the road ahead. Strike from the rising sun added further interest. Then it was inland heading north, skirting Mangawhai to strike the coast at Langs Beach, the sudden waft of sea laden air fresh and invigorating. Through Waipu, inland up to Maungakaramea and lunch, whether we needed it or not, at the local recreation centre. Passing through Maungatapere after lunch, heading for Hikurangi we were directed off road onto a farm and an interesting traverse along the crests of stop banks through the Hikurangi Swamp, then through Hikurangi itself and a circuit south-eastward
Left. Stan and Gilly announcing the winners. Above. The winners, Stephen and Megan Cranch.
to our destination, a motel complex near the Whangarei Town Basin. 185 miles of predominantly back country roads, no untoward incidents and everyone made it, which, it must be said, is unusual for a R’Oilcan. A scrub up and dress for dinner, then into the bar where the tales grew taller in proportion to the intake of the Publican’s fine products. After dinner, the prize giving. And the 2019 winners? Steve and Megan Cranch in 15/6 Riley Special. Lucky them! Kevin Beesley
Above: The winning Riley 15/6. Left: Well rugged up. Tracy & Stephen Winterbottom in Talbot 70
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Sunbeam 20/60 passengers Howard & Janice Wood Rob Moston, John Munro and C Type Jag and no, that is not an officer of the law on the bike.
Transport of delight - Kevin & Hamish Andrew in J2 MG
Harold Booth’s Riley 9, Dave Coop navigating
A determined Terry Roycroft and laid-back Richard Hudson in Bugatti 35A Above: Ladies attired for dinner – Mariette Beesley and Kris Hope-Cross
Right: Graeme Banks, Dawn & Graeme Brayshaw, Julie Benbrook
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“Look Mum!” An exuberant Laurence Poolman in C Type MG
And now a couple of alternative takes on the R’Oilcan – both from Model A owners! Thanks to our very own Max Belcher and Leon Salt of Wellsford/Warkworth Branch, for the following reports.
EPIC! 13th July was an epic day in the annuals of Waitemata Vintage Car Club’s activities as it was the start of another R’Oilcan run. 66 members, warmly clad, presented themselves and their open cars, with fire extinguishers, at 6 am at the North Shore Airfield ready for vittilisation and fettling. Well-fortified by a more than adequate cooked breakfast, the like of which has not been seen since the feeding of the 5000 with fish and chips (or whatever the local equivalent was 2000 years ago), the members eased themselves , not without considerable effort by some it must be noted, behind their wheels and set off into the gloom that was to be Saturday. The route meandered around the outer parts of Rodney district over the usual roads that the Council has conveniently forgotten existed until we made a left turn into a no exit road that lead to the forest roading complex that extends over the Dome Valley. This provided a great relief from the ever-present sun strike that was a feature of the initial part of the run which often produced seat pleating activity as crests were breached totally blind and corners taken with retinas seared by the rising big orange. The forestry roads were an interesting addition to our catalogue of ‘roads traversed’ and apart from the odd kamikaze sheep that was determined to gain their proficiency badge, were traversed without incident. Other than a certain Riley that carried out an intimate examination of the drain at one point, the results of which meant that the owner spent a good period of Max and Shirley Belcher in the Mad Max Model A time at the morning tea break removing the accumulated muddy evidence from the front wheel. Once clear of the forestry section the team P a g e | 11
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pressed on, fuelled no doubt by thoughts of their hunger being satiated again a few miles down the road. And so it was, courtesy of the Tomarata School who provided enough sustenance to feed the Bosnian army. There were considerably more drivers that had to put the effort in to squeeze behind the wheel after that stop. Not to be deterred, the various crews, who it might be added, came from such diverse places as Napier, Whangarei, Devonport and other Norm Dewhurst and Ryan Winterbottom lurking with intent at breakfast exotic places, managed with much effort to set off again and explore the thoroughfares and byways around Waipu. Our run also took in the road that the WRC uses that goes past Waipu caves and provides remarkable views over the Whangarei harbour environs, before delivering the famished crews to the Maungakaramea recreation centre for lunch. One now has complete sympathy for the geese that provide the foie gras. Easing our ever-suffering bodies back into the cars the route now took us out behind Hikurangi, a town noted once for black lung and swamp fever but now a somewhat desirable northern outpost of Whangarei once they got the swamp drained and the coal mines closed. Speaking of the swamp, our route took us along the Dyke wall that was built in the previous century to assist in the draining of the swamp, which incidentally was originally one of the largest in NZ and acted as a filter for the water that went west into the Northern Wairoa river and allowed it to run crystal clear. Today, of course, the river colour is somewhat different, but we have extensive farming on the fertile swamp flats. Such is progress. Finally, after traversing the area East of Whangarei the evening destination in Whangarei central was arrived at and the members duly presented themselves in their best bib and tucker for dinner where next year’s winner was duly announced, cheers Stephen & Megan Cranch. Thanks to Gilly and Stan for this year’s run, Keith and Di Humphreys for the photographs and all those others who made the run possible. Right: Jolly fine cup of tea ol’ chap! Peter Benbrook & Brendan Lamain
Max of the Belcher Model A
The Parking Lot
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R’Oilcan Rally As the Waitemata branch R’Oilcan Rally was heading north this year, Brendda and I decided to join in. We had a chilly 7.00 a.m. start from the Dairy Flat airfield, conforming to the rule that all vehicles participating must have their hoods down for the duration of the rally. At the briefing we were advised that applications to raise the hood at any stage during the event could be made, in triplicate, to the organisers but approval may not necessarily be given. Motoring north to Waiwera, with a clear sky dawning, we were soon dodging potholes as we headed for Puhoi via Upper Waiwera. An early challenge was staying on the road as both sides of the windscreen fogged up climbing the hills. Sunstrike added to the fun. Dropping into second gear eased the load on the engine, allowing the vacuum wiper to do its best on the outside. After passing through Ahuroa, we turned onto Old Woodcocks Rd, before taking Old Kaipara Rd, passing a small group surreptitiously trying to extricate their vehicle from the drain unnoticed, before climbing Smythe Rd to follow the road through the Mahurangi Forest, emerging on SH 1 in the Dome Valley.
Diane Humphreys with Leon & Brendda Salt
Morning tea, with welcome hot soup, was at Tomarata School. From there we headed north over Ryan and Pritchard Rds and took Cove Rd through to Waipu Cove. We diverted around through McLean Rd, passed through Waipu and straight across SH 1 to follow the road up past the Waipu Caves, emerging briefly onto SH 1 at Mangapai before heading for the lunch stop at the Maungakaramea Rugby Club. The afternoon run took us across to Maungatapere then north to the Hikurangi Swamp area where we took a private farm road along the top of the stop banks, emerging close to Hikurangi. From there we motored out toward Whananaki North before turning south to finally come on to the Ngunguru – Whangarei Rd then heading for our accommodation at the Discovery Lodge Motel in Whangarei. Some took a longer route over Mt Tiger to enter Whangarei on the Whangarei Heads Rd.
The Salt Model A downhill
It was a great run put together by Stan and Gilly Smith and team - a sort of Far North Tour on steroids. It helped that the drizzly rain that appeared during the
afternoon didn’t develop enough to dampen anyone’s spirits. The dinner was a formal affair. Prizes were awarded using some secret formula, the winner needing to be someone who has not set a R’Oilcan previously. Other measures which qualify a winner remain quite obscure. Similarly with the award for the best presented vehicle. How we won this award when lined up alongside Sunbeams, Rileys, MGs, a Talbot or two, a Hotchkiss and a Bugatti defies logic. It could be something to do with the quantity of oil left by each vehicle at the lunch stop or something…
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Descending Sunbeam 20. David Adams & Marcus J. Ling “I’m not grumpy, I have wind!”. Dean Salter, Barry Howard, Kevin Andrew
“I used to be able to climb under the dashboard.” Ian Goldingham up close and personal with his M Type Lea Francis. Left: Country gentry. Sarah Bradley & Damien Horan in TR4
The captain’s call is to go left. Jim & Kaaren in the Smylie Model A. Oliver and Nicole Midgley, Howard & Janice Wood right hand down a bit in the 20/60 Sunbeam
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“Faster, faster!” Vaughan Beesley and Dean Salter pressing on in Hotchkiss AM80
“Don’t you just hate rush hour?”
All the way from Hawke’s Bay. Mike Stuart, Pat Bren & EASports Ryan & Ingrid McDonald 12/4 Riley mounted
A big thank you to Jacqui Goldingham and Keith Humphreys for the R’Oilcan photos ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
FROM THE THRONE No words from Rob himself as yet
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FROM THE ED. Extensive coverage of the R’Oilcan this month and thanks go to both Max Belcher and Leon Salt, Wellsford/Warkworth Branch, for their contributions in this respect. It is always pleasing to P a g e | 15
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have an out of branch perspective on our events. A short lesson for the benefit of those who may not know; the name ‘R’Oilcan’ is a play on words deriving from ‘Real Oilcan’. It came about in that the ‘Oilcan’ was a North Shore Branch event the originator of which was a prime mover in the establishment of Waitemata Branch and we took this event with us in form and spirit when we split. As the title ‘Oilcan’ rightly belonged to North Shore Branch we needed a new name and ‘Real Oilcan’, abbreviated to R’Oilcan was chosen, reflecting, as it does, the right royal gung-ho motoring nature of this run. All compliments to Stan and Gilly Smith for their organising and running of the 2019 event – it filled the bill just nicely! Even the weather played ball, just as Stan told us it would. In relation to comments made in an editorial a couple of months ago, various Branch members have reported noting a toughening-up in WOF inspections. The Talbot sailed through its test recently, but it was noted that one fog light was shining a little high. The position of these lights hasn’t changed in 20 years or more! Easily corrected, of course, but indicative of how things now stand. News that a local (Glenfield) issuer has recently had its authority to issue rescinded because of alleged shonky testing isn’t reassuring. Nor are news reports that NZTA have WOF testing ‘under review’ as part of their current attempts to up motoring safety. This writer has never been particularly enthusiastic about the push for annual testing of club eligible vehicles, doubting the worth of this in terms of public perception. Depending on how this WOF thing plays out, it could be time for a change of stance. Kevin Beesley. ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
OTHER NEWS…… THE EARLY TALBOTS IN NEW ZEALAND – A Book Review. Alan Meredith’s book ‘The Early Talbots in New Zealand’, canvassing the vehicles of this make brought in to N.Z. prior to World War 1, is of broader appeal than its title might suggest. Detail as to the ‘set-up’ of the cars, the embellishments and accessories they were fitted with, the modifications they were subject to in order to modernise them and assist with their resale is good reading for anyone with a bent towards veteran motorcars. The information on pre-Great War motoring exploits and competitions including the Automobile Association Trials, distances travelled, routes taken and times achieved will appeal to those who have an interest in the performance of, or who campaign, old cars. In addition to detailing the cars themselves Alan also provides information about their owners, his aim being to “not only profile the vehicles … but also to capture something of the motoring personalities behind the cars.” This adds worthwhile dimension and context, noting that with Talbots at the quality, and expensive, end of the market, their owners consisted mainly of the comparatively rich and famous. Together with providing the detail and history of each of the various Talbot models imported the book also includes a potted history of the manufacturer, Clement Talbot Limited and a chapter on Adams Limited, the P a g e | 16
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active and very professional local agent whose marketing skills contributed significantly to the success of the marque here in both sales and competition terms. And there is plenty for the Talbot enthusiast. Fascinating to read about production and delivery delays, badge engineering across the Clement and Talbot marques and design shortcomings in the cars themselves. The photographs in the book are all of remarkable quality and it is apparent from their presentation of the cars as they were at the time that the owner of a veteran Talbot lacked for nothing in terms of quality, style and performance. For my part I would have preferred to see a little more technical information on each model, but this is a comment from one who owns a Talbot, not a criticism. Recommended as an interesting and informative read for everyone with an interest in veterans and veteran motoring.
Kevin Beesley
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A year or more ago Keith Humphreys sent me through a few shots of a famous and attractive vehicle;
The 1926 Talbot-Darracq 1.5 litre Grand Prix Car Those with only a passing knowledge of that commercial aberration, the Sunbeam Talbot Darracq combine, will probably be aware that Louis Coatalen was the driving force behind the group’s race programme and chief designer of its racing cars. Sunbeam badged cars made in the U.K. were the mainstay, with two litre six-cylinder Sunbeams filling the two-litre formula following its introduction in 1922. For 1926 the formula was reduced from two to 1½ litres and to meet the 1500cc maximum the combine decided that its next Grand Prix car would be made in France and badged as a Talbot Darracq. Coatalen engaged Vincenzo Bertarione and Walter Becchia to design the cars and these two young Italians set about their work. Drawing upon their experience with Fiat, the cars soon began to take shape in the STD factory at Suresnes, on the western outskirts of Paris. The blocks followed Sunbeam tradition in having welded water jackets rather than cast, but there the similarity with the earlier two litre race cars ended. The Bertarione and Becchia engine was an exquisite, supercharged 8cylinder twin cam power plant, displacing just 1488 cc’s, producing, eventually, 160 bhp at 7,000rpm, this output being accommodated through the use of no less than 200 roller-bearings. In keeping with this modernity, the chassis was made of two 25cm deep pressed steel side members, connected by Exquisite 8 Cylinder twin cam power plant cross bracing and with large holes through which the axles were passed, thereby significantly lowering the car’s profile. Height was further reduced by seriously raking the angle of the radiator – a significant feature of these cars. Although the rules no longer required a riding mechanic they did stipulate that the cockpit had to be wide enough to accommodate one. The Talbot Darracq made good use of the resulting space by mounting the engine off-set in the chassis, a first for Grand Prix cars, and running the drive shaft through where the mechanic would have been, thus allowing the driver to sit much lower in the chassis than would otherwise have been the case. This was all then encased within a close fitting, heavily louvered lightweight aluminium body, the overall appearance being both purposeful and attractive.
Chassis detail
As advanced and formidable as these cars were, Delage were some way ahead of the STD combine in designing, building and developing a very similar straight eight 1½ litre Grand Prix P a g e | 18
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Heavy fluting clearly apparent.
vehicle for the new 1500 cc class. Whilst the Talbot Darracq’s were quick off the mark at the start of their first outing, the 1926 Brooklands Grand Prix, and Talbot drivers Albert Divo and Henri Seagrave were soon in the lead, the cars developed mechanical issues and had to retire, handing victory to their better sorted French rival. Although they did enjoy success at other events, they were beaten by Delage again in the 1927
French Grand Prix at Montlhéry, with Delage filling the first three places, a Talbot Darracq coming in fourth. STD’s financial woes curtailed their further campaigning of these wonderful vehicles and all three were sold to the Italian, Emilio Materassi who ran them, with some success, as a private racing team. This success inspired a young Enzo Ferrari to set up his own team. The rest as they say…. The caption with this photo reads "The 1500 CC 8 cylinder with which Divo won the grand prix in Montlhéry in 1926.”
1927 Talbot at Montlhery with Albert Divo in the hot seat. The banking is in the background.
Kevin Beesley
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Shaking a wicked hoof, back in the day. Thanks again to Keith Humphreys. ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
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THE SQUEAKY WHEEL… It’s so Confusing! There were a couple of interesting and related items in last Saturday’s Herald. An article in the ‘Drive’ section reported that the new Mazda 3 engine incorporates ‘Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition’ (HCCI) whereby a very lean mixture is fired by the heat and pressure of compression rather than by a spark plug – like a diesel. This engine gave a 17% improvement in fuel consumption when tested against a comparable, conventionally spark fired engine and gave ‘real world’ test results of 5.8l/100kms – close to a measly 50 mpg, right up there with diesel frugality. And this wasn’t from some little Granny type car engine. This was from a 2-litre power plant putting out 132 kW at 6,000rpm (177 bhp or so if you think as I do). Another section of the same newspaper referenced a recent report comparing an e-Golf and a diesel Golf TDI, stating that CO2 emissions from EV’s, over their life span, are only 40% lower than those of internal combustion cars, when using non-renewable power. With these new Mazda engines, the “planet friendly” gap between EV and petrol power dramatically reduces, with scope to decrease further (increased hybrid assistance from 48v starter/generator systems, for instance). And lest you be feeling rather smug that 40% is still pretty good and, as a Kiwi, seek comfort in the comment that the 40% factor was based on non-renewable power, the same newspaper inclusion also referenced a recent German study finding that electric vehicles account for more CO2 emissions than diesels when comparing a Tesla Model 3 with an equivalent diesel powered Mercedes. Saving the planet is just so confusing! Kevin Beesley
Right on cue – this little snippet sent in by Keith Humphreys.
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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. "He loves nature in spite of what it did to him." - Forrest Tucker ➢ Pleasing to have Tim Edney, the new owner of the L’Autovox horn featured in last month’s ‘Phoenix’ with us at our July club night. He also turned out at sparrows fart to see us off on the R’Oilcan. Very commendable. ➢ The R’Oilcan taught Tracy and Stephen Winterbottom why mudguards are so called, after the rear ones fell off their AO70 Talbot en route. Replacement is now another item on the ‘to do’ list as Stephen steadily fettles this vehicle since getting it back on the road. It has had little use since being put together back in the mid 1980’s. ➢ Graeme Banks did all the necessary research to ensure his 1985 Mazda MX5 scraped in as club eligible under the 30-year rule. He and son Andrew had a great run – until they got home on Sunday. Stopping outside the garage before putting the car away, he couldn’t get it started again. ➢ Despite, or perhaps because of, a garage full of vehicles and projects Peter Benbrook had nothing to wear for the R’Oilcan. So he bought a 1991 MX5 for the occasion. Not club eligible. ➢ Rob Chapman, our Chairman, sent in the following report last month: Hi Kevin, Sorry for delay in replying just got you email. Been staying in the Grand Canyon National Park in France trying to escape the heat of the coast. Traveling on the Route Napoleon, the way Napoleon took after exile from the coast over the Alps to Paris. These roads are less travelled and maybe you meet a car every ten minutes. I am thinking this could be in the New Zealand countryside with the traffic flows. Of course, reality hits when come out on the hills. Enjoy your car, the weather here is 44c and like living in a furnace. You can always put clothes on, but you only can take so much off. ➢ Team Jamieson, Max with grandkids Saskia and Caden, was late to the R’Oilcan start and we feared the worst. It wasn’t the worst though; it was just embarrassing. Max got the Delage stuck on the drive at home manoeuvre-ing it out of the garage. ➢ Those stalwart supporters and intrepid motorists Pat Bren and Mike Stuart attended the R’Oilcan in the trusty Austin EA Sports. That wasn’t the intent. The Alvis was the vehicle of choice, but it is
The Jamieson Delage, the morning after the night before – Sunday a.m. outside the R’Oilcan evening venue.
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PHOENIX Number 287 AUGUST 2019
indisposed with an arthritic front axle. Both bent and twisted, apparently. ➢ Mike Moffatt was to be seen at morning tea scraping considerable quantities of mud of his Riley 9’s fore quarters. The mud accumulation resulted from an inadvertent visit to a ditch on the morning run and Mike claimed removal was needed to rebalance the wheels and reduce unsprung weight. ➢ If you thought Ian Goldingham was handling the Lea Francis rather carefully on the R’Oilcan, you’d be right – a broken ‘U’ bolt clamping the rear axle deserved a cautious approach to getting home in one piece. ➢ Seeking a coffee and a wander around prior to heading home, the Beesleys parked the Talbot in the Whangarei Town Basin, to find themselves in the middle of the local monthly Hot Rod Club get-together. Requests were made for the bonnet to be lifted and the crowd quickly grew. The Talbot’s low windscreen earned it honorary hot rod status. ➢ A warning at the R’Oilcan start briefing as to A cluster of Hot-Rodders around the Talbot engine room. the condition of Ahuroa Road proved to be unnecessary. In the event, a grader had started work on it a day or so prior to the run and the surface was quite good. ➢ Two more R’Oilcan shots to round out this edition. Photos taken by Damien Horan, who shared the TR4 with Sarah Bradley Sarah strikes a confident pose, bright eyed and bushy tailed at the start.
The Goldingham Lea Francis rounds the corner into the sun strike. Jacqui & Ian assisted Stan & Gilly with the planning for the event.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
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PHOENIX Number 287 AUGUST 2019
PHOENIX The OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER of THE WAITEMATA BRANCH of the VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF N.Z. INC.
CLUB NIGHT THURSDAY 1 August 7.30 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.
A photo from The Roaring Season website from the Pat Lambert Collection, listed as being in the 1980’s. Keith H says he recognises the car but who is the driver?
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