PHOENIX Number 318 July 2022
NUMBER 318
JULY 2022
PHOENIX
Lest we forget…
NEWSLETTER OF THE WAITEMATA BRANCH VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND
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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 GRAEME BANKS 027 500 3806 grabannz@gmail.com JACQUI GOLDINGHAM 09 445 8811 goldienz@orcon.net.nz GRAEME BANKS 027 500 3806 grabannz@gmail.com 027 24 55 786 michael.john.greig@gmail.com MICHAEL GREIG 094456760 goldienz@orcon.net.nz IAN GOLDINGHAM 09 445 8811 BRENDAN LAMAIN 021 132 4557 brendanandterry@gmail.com MAX JAMIESON, MIKE HOPE-CROSS, HAMISH ANDREWS AND ROB SCOTT.
COMING EVENTS Looking Forward……… Month October
November
December
July
August
September
Waitemata
Other Events
Something!
Have not sorted out the months.
Manunui Hillclimb 27th New Year’s Eve Event. R’oil Can 9/10th
Like many things, time is fluid.
Swap Meets
Daffodil Day Run 21st Ryders Film Evening 4th
Club Night July. See you at the RSA Room, King George V Memorial Hall, Library Lane, Albany, 7.00 pm July 7th. P a g e |2
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. Coming Events. The R’oil Can is month, July, the time of the year for joys and tears( that is if you are granted the privilege of running the next year’s event.) The National Daffodil Day in August, with be run with other Branches and further details will come in the next issues. The Traditional Film Evening with the flickering images chosen by Team Goldingham at our usual venue of Ryders in Avondale. A note to be placed in September. { Dear Diary….the 4th!} November, we are looking at the Manunui Hillclimb, on the 27th. The entry of a standard vehicle is encouraged, as this is what Chelsea, Pinchgut and Pebblebrook events were about. ++++++++++++++++
AUCKLAND BRANCH MID-WEEK RUNS Wednesday Starts 10.00am at BP Drury, Motorway Good time to exercise the vehicle, share the trip with a friend, and take your own lunch. A good midweek break with a drive and surprise. Jack Nazer 09 378 4580 Mike Loosemore 02102708848.
The Monthly Run. The run was cancelled before due to ‘Hugh Know Watt’ and with great control due to the events, our noble Chair reset the dates and planned an occasion that exceeded all expectations. The meetup was on a Saturday which helped us miss the Sundays traffic on the motorway system.
On a drizzly morning we meet at the tearooms of the Woodlands Estate, Gordonton. The usual suspects and some named cars, the Beesley Kestrel Sprite P a g e |3
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and the Roycroft T35 and some of the SP250 Brigade. After an excellent choice of light refreshments, we were encouraged to follow the prepared route to the Ross Collection in Cambridge via a route which when sampled showed the road preference of the organiser. There were flowing lines , curves to die for and enjoyable countryside that are usually the domain of the touring motorcyclist.
I was trying out the people mover/ work hack with one of the neighbours ( also acutely addicted to motorcycling) and found these roads very pleasurable. They will be re-visited. The above-mentioned vehicle was purchased for its ability to attend swap meets and with a tow bar to bring home treasure!
When we arrived at the purpose-built temple to automotive worship, the eyes were beset with Muscle Cars from across the Tasman and further afield. The sight of these icons that filled the childhood and youthful memories of the attendants brought some to a misty eye, a deep sob of regret from selling and a spring in the step to others. The cars were mobile and active, some still exercised on the road. The range was catholic with Aston Martin with Valiant Charger, both combatants of Bathurst, Corvette and Thunderbird. Legends were talked about such as the MkIV Zephyr powered by a Lycoming, unbeatable in its time with a 147-mph top speed. I was impressed that there was a large collection of late 60’s and 70’s photos of bands that hung from the ceiling. I spent awhile looking at my musical gods of the time, The ‘Lizard King’ ,Jim Morrison, and the Doors, Jimmy Hendrix and the Experience, Jethro Tull, The Band, Calos Santana. My popular musical choice is almost limited to this era, apart from Argentine Tango.
In the adjacent shed was the businesses main function, earth moving equipment. These giants dwarfed mere mortals. The view from the ‘wheelhouse’ on the machinery was impressive, as it took two flights of stairs to arrive there. The sheds were built after the machines were placed on their sites. There were some early company transport vehicles in restored condition and some Americana in the form of very low milage fire trucks. All very large and in fine original order.
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I missed the start on the talk on the origins of the collection. It is a collection that must be visited, felt, savoured and thus experienced. Our thanks to the Collection allowing us access and the tour guide and our organiser, Rob.
The size is deceptive as an adult is as high as the wheel hub. This was driven to its position before the shed was made.
Taken from the ‘wheelhouse’ of the bulldozer. The company’s vehicles are well presented. On the right the fire engines are dwarfed by the trucks.
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A lot to take in. Bathurst Beasts, coupe shapes of Astons, Americana, there for all tastes. Photos from Ed.
Article and pictures from Michael Greig.
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Daring, by Di!
The Daring in its shed still undergoing conservation at Mangawhai.
The Joint Run with the Daimler SP250Group. Having inspected the Daring with the Ford Model A Club a month or two ago and finding herself surprisingly enthused about it as a female, Di (Dee) Humphreys was convinced that this destination would be ideal for a Club run. However, knowing how hard it is to enthuse SP250 Club members to get off their bums and actually get out and enjoy some good driving and fellowship with like-minded people, she invited members of the Vintage Car Club and the Vintage Austin Register to join us for this event. This proved fortuitous as a good number turned up justifying the time Jim, the chairman of the Daring Trust has to put in to open up the display and give a talk about the history. P a g e |7
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Dee had also planned that we arrived mid-afternoon and then have an early meal at the Mangawhai pub, thereby missing the usual traffic melee at Warkworth, this being a long weekend. As the date drew nearer it became apparent that Mangawhai (essentially a holiday home destination) closes on Sunday afternoons as most of the population exits and returns to their city dwellings. Consequently, after some semi-panic searching for alternative venues for the evening meal, she was pointed to the Mangawhai Golf Club which although normally closed late Sunday, indicated they was prepared to stay open and feed our team, thank the Lord! and Allana!! We had Ross & Julie Bryant turn up from Tauranga (quite a drive-in total). Neville Williams in the ex-Harvey James car, first longish trip in Neville’s ownership, looking surprisingly good after much work by Neville. Steve Carr was his navigator. David and Patrice Torbet in their Rover 3500 which his mother bought new, plus an interesting variety of cars from the other clubs including a large and magnificent 1936Vauxhall 25 (Holden Body) and the Invincible Talbot 90 (Team Beesley). The route took us across to state Highway 16, luckily fairly free of traffic in our direction, but a lot coming the other way, then turning off at the top of Wellsford and wending our way out to Mangawhai. Upon arrival, it was great to find Ken Smith and Lee Sawyer in their SP having returned from being further north, and Louis Prouting together with his mum, Beth whom we haven’t seen for quite a while. (Mangawhai originals) Once again Jim introduced us to the history of the short life of the Daring, now a rare example of coastal sailing vessels from that era, and even since our last visit there was obvious progress on the conservation of the hull. Around 4:30, all had seen enough, and we tootled up to the Golf Club where there was a chance to socialise and enjoy a respectable meal with a little alcohol. To our surprise the drive home through the notorious Warkworth intersection proved surprisingly traffic-free, and except for the relatively poor headlights of our SP, a pleasant evening drive home. HE keep telling me it was a beautiful starlit night, but I was too busy concentrating on the road to notice! (Dee)
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[Bow to stern, access to the interior. The decking was removed to allow the removal of the iron fastenings to prevent damage from rust. It will be refitted later. The hull is still held together with wooden trenails.A few new beams of macrocarpa to hold the shape. Such elegance with hand tools, blacksmithing and an eye for lines and form. A marvellous chance to see the transport technology at the time ,mid 19th Century made locally without a long established industry using material with little knowledge of its properties. These ships serviced coastal communities and exported to Austrailia and the Pacific. The Waikato tribes were great ship owners exporting wheat and other foods to Australia. The Pacific was criss crossed by ships like this, Island communities took use of this technology and would crew many due to sea skills and wondering lust. Photos and comments from Editor.] P a g e |9
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Now the better pictures by Keith Humphries.
Clockwise:Arising from the sand ;a period working ship; looking forward of the sailing ‘truck of the sea’; looking aft with the identification ;small selection of cars.
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Chairman’s Report As I write there is one spot in the R'oil Can. so be quick and enter by phone. I have had the Covid and then the flu over the last month. The flu is far worse than the covid. There is something I did not know that is important. There are two flu vaccines. The free one that I had and there is another one for $40 that covers you for ten more strains which I never knew about until I contracted the flu. Whether you are for the flu vaccine or not it is something they do not tell you. Getting back to our cars and motoring. A saving of thirty cents a litre was had the other day by joining Costco in Northwest Shopping Centre. Three fills and it would have paid for my membership. As we are all aware of the cost of fuel and the Auckland VCC starts their Wednesday runs nearby it may be convenient to join if it is to your advantage. One week to go to the R'oil Can so we will see you at the start. Rob
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From a nearby Branch. Just to announce that following our Branch Annual General Meeting last night, the North Shore Branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand voted overwhelmingly to adopt a new promotional name. Henceforth in all promotional and publicity media and material we will be known as The North Shore Vintage and Classic Car Club. Our formal registered name will continue to be: The North Shore Branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand. Our website now reflects this change. www.northshorevcc.com Note that we have decided NOT to announce this on the National Facebook Group in case this triggers controversial comments on a public forum. Best Regards Stuart Battersby, Delegate: The North Shore Vintage and Classic Car Club The Editor does note that there are still a number of early members of the North Shore Branch from its foundation in the early 1970’s in the current Waitemata Branch. It will be the 50th year after its foundation next year. I hope they invite the Old Guard to the event. One wonders in small select groups if these names of early members are mentioned in hushed and reverent tones and their tall tales, challenging adventures and heroic exploits fondly remembered and duplicated. Would scented clouds of pipe tobacco and caster oil, fumes of methanol, waft to the gods of speed, pewter mugs of Waitemata Pale Ale, DB Brown, and Leopard with rum chasers, traditional libations, be drowned to appease these deities? Those days saw the start of the Classic Racing Register, the formation of the Historic Racing and Sportscar Club, and Country Gents, which members were involved in. The Hillclimb’s at Pinchgut and the establishment of the Great Chelsea Events, the parties that some consider best forgotten and best of all, the fun.
The Daffodil Rally for Cancer. Sunday 21 August. Rally and car show. Meet and register at the North Shore Airfield, Postmans Road, Dairy Flat (enter at Gate 9) from 09.30. Depart for lunch and display at Matakana. $10 donation. Organised by Waitemata, North Shore and Wellsford/Warkworth Branches. I could not get the poster in as I have technical inabilities with the computer. It is wanting to win and take over. The poster will come later in the emails from the Sec. P a g e | 12
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TROUBLESOME TRIPLES A tale from Kevin Beesley. Some say it’s just superstition, others that it’s an old wives’ tale. I say it’s a fact, if not incontrovertible then certainly not to be trifled with. And I say this based on personal experience gained over 60 years and experiences that others have shared with me when vintage motoring, misadventures come in threes. A recent run down to the West Coast in our ’37 12/4 Riley Kestrel is a case in point. Covid had put paid to three previous attempts to make this trip but finally, early on a Friday morning, Mariette and I were off. I had only run up 500 miles on the Riley after a yearlong major overhaul but hoped these miles had been enough to shake out the gremlins that inevitably follow such significant work. Nevertheless, the plan was to take a leisurely two days through to Wellington, thus allowing time for some fettling, if necessary, along the way. This was not to be. A family bereavement in The Netherlands required us to press on and get there in one day. Which we did. Via Whanganui. No problems. Apart from the pleasure of motoring the Riley, either running it in or running it out, and visiting our daughter in Wellington, the purpose of our journey was to catch up with old friends we hadn’t been able to visit for some time – first in Rapahoe (a little north from Greymouth), then Westport and finally in Nelson, with a couple of vintage car related visits in Blenheim on the way through. All of which we did. Apart from meeting with the Ryan’s in Nelson. They were called away by unusual circumstances at the last minute.
With Riley Royalty in Westport. At John and Zelma Stanley’s residence. L to R John Stanley, Mariette, Earl and Rose Preston. And… 9 Special, 12/4 Kestrel, 12/4/2.5L Lynx. Both the Lynx and Kestrel are 1937 models, but note the difference in front mudguard shape.
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In Wellington, on a couple of occasions I noticed a reluctance on behalf of the starter motor to turn the engine over. I suspected the battery of being a little flat, even though my ammeter indicated charge and a voltmeter I had plugged in for the journey registered around 12.6 volts when stationary and between 13 to 14 volts when running. Why then suspect the battery? Well, a few days before we left Auckland, I had detected my cut-out was acting intermittently, hesitant in closing then flickering in and out at around 1500 rpm, with resultant ammeter fluctuation. Perhaps this had damaged my ammeter or was otherwise leading to false readings? And the voltmeter was a cheap device I questioned the accuracy of. There was opportunity to undertake some checks whilst in Blenheim. These indicated the battery was not flat, my ammeter was not faulty, and my cheapo voltmeter was accurate to within a volt or so. Riley Rears with Mariette, Zelma and John. And the cut-out was no longer flickering in and out so much. Perhaps the generator brushes had bedded in better (I had given the genny a going over as part of my overhaul). Anyway, the starting worsened and at Springs Junction (we had to detour through there via highway 65 to get to Greymouth due to a slip at Lyell closing highway 6) the starter motor ceased functioning altogether. Out with the crank handle and this remained the starting device for the rest of our journey. Although a 90lb weakling I have some form in this respect. You don’t campaign a 1913 2 litre Delage for years with a faulty mag to learn a thing or two (dare I say all there is to know) about crank Riley Bling starting. It’s 7.5:1 compression ratio notwithstanding, an energetic quarter flick upwards usually had the 12/4 ticking over within 2-3 attempts. Except for the first start of the day. 1937 and 38 were the only pre-war P a g e | 14
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years Riley fitted the 12/4 engine with a mechanical fuel pump. So, a dozen or so turns were required to prime the carburettors. I am now a little more ape like in appearance than I was before this jaunt. Checks whilst in Greymouth determined that our starting problems were due to the starter motor having died. Misadventure number one. A fitting radiator mascot for the Stanley’s Imp Special.
The Riley buzzed onwards, running ever better as the mileage increased. All to soon our South Island travels were over and we were back in the North, making our way up to Auckland from Wellington. Just out of Eketahuna the car began pulling lightly to the left. This phenomenon coincided with a distinct change of road surface, so I accepted it for a few k’s but became increasingly suspicious of the cause and, at about the time I had decided to find a spot to pull over and investigate – flap, flap, flap, flap, flap – the front left-hand tyre deflated with a vengeance. Oh well… Out with the spare and the jack and a short while later we were on our way again. Misadventure number 2. We did not have long to wait for misadventure number 3. Having travelled little more than 6-8 kms after changing the wheel the engine began misfiring. It would splutter and cough, steadily losing revs then burst back into life for a 100m or so, then splutter and go through the same performance again. Our pace of travel steadily slowed from around 55-60 mph, to 50, then 40, then 30. Fair to say that our final 10 kms or so into Pahiatua were rather painful. On the southern edge of town there was a quiet side road by an intersection on which there was a motor mechanic and service station on one side and a tyre shop on the other. Perfect! I pulled in there and unpacked my tool kit. It had to be a fuel supply problem, I thought, perhaps the pump diaphragm? But loosening the line to the carbs with the engine running showed there was ample pressure there. The motor mechanic at the garage by the intersection (nice bloke) diagnosed my trouble as an ignition one – most likely points or condenser – so off with the mag cap and a thorough inspection of the spark distribution department. Nothing to be seen there. I checked and double checked but the points gap was ok, the points were clean, and I had heaps of spark. Meanwhile, I had taken my wheel with the flat tyre and my spare tube to the tyre man who, about half an hour later, returned the wheel, all fixed, with the good news that the tyre was fine. No damage, no puncture as such. The tube itself had split asunder. At least that issue was sorted.
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It had to be fuel! So, I did the obvious thing – I removed the fuel filter. This would probably have been obvious sooner to anyone other than me, but, in my defence, I was led slightly astray by the nice mechanic. I blew in one end of the filter expecting fuel to spurt out the other. It didn’t. In fact, I could scarcely blow through the filter at all. Now, my filter is a clever, reusable piece of kit I fitted some years ago. An aluminium housing in two parts you can open to expose a sintered brass filter element inside which you remove and clean as required, then replace, screw the housing back together and fit it back in line. I had cleaned this unit before we left Auckland. Upon opening it up (thanks to that nice mechanic who loaned me a couple of spanners large enough to fit its squared ends) I found it thoroughly clogged with rusty powder, likely a consequence of having had the fuel tank sit empty for 12 months or more. This residue had probably been accumulating in my filter throughout our trip, but the process may have been given a hurry-up by the Riley having wound its way rather exuberantly over the Rumataka Hill, with spirited cornering stirring up the contents of the petrol tank. The accumulation eventually reached a point such that my fuel pump (bless it) was man enough to draw sufficient fuel through the clogged filter to maintain gentle running at low revs, but not enough to sustain real motoring. With the filter back in line and the engine running sweeter than ever, we were back on the road heading north, having lost about an hour and a half attending to our troubles, but confident misadventure three had been dealt with and we were now clear of risk. So, it proved. We didn’t miss a beat of any description for the remainder of our journey. I rest my case. Me? Superstitious? Nope! Well…., maybe just a little.
Stylish ladies. Mariette with the Kestrel alongside the Buller River
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To pastures new! 1935 Singer LeMans, 4-seater This car is currently dismantled, due to the cleaning out following flood damage. The car is mainly complete with a number of new spare parts that were not on the car at the time of the flood. Asking price: $8,500. Contact details: Michael Hope-Cross Phone 0274 884 961 or email mike@hope-cross.co.nz
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Traveling Tales. Looking for places of interest when traveling the roads around the country? I remembered coming back from Wellington and choosing the route that came up the hills to Featherston. After passing through the town , I stopped at the layby that overlooked the site of the old military camp. Set up for WW1 training and transit camp and in WW2 held Japanese POWs. On a stone was the famous haiku from the 17thC from Matsuo Basho. Behold the summer grass All that remains Of the dreams of warriors. For further reading see ; NZ Geographic Issue 138, March/April 2016, Massacre at Featherston, and the play by Vincent O’Sullivan, ‘Shuriken’. Part of NZ history that is not talked of or discussed. +++++++++++++++++++++ P a g e | 17
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Handy tome to travel around the coast with is, ‘ 150 years of New Zealand Shipbuilding, 1795-1945’ by Miles Hughes. Covers places, people, ships and boats of all sizes. Can be obtained in CD-ROM. +++++++++++++++++++ A trip to Waiheke, taken with or without the Gold Hop Card ( an item of joy to the elderly) can be one of a visit to an important race circuit. The Waiheke TT Course ran 1930 to 1951. The winner was given support to the Isle of Mann TT. Travel over it with an electric bike before bringing your own pre-50’s bike . It was at that time unsealed roads which had frightening lap times. See the Ed. for a map of the course and notes. You can get the Tshirts over there. Of course, Velocettes were a major winning marque. An Extra section! An excellent range images of the Ross Collection from the lens of Keith H.
Above. A dream car to some. There were two other Astons to be viewed. Best descriptions and discussions with Rob, our Branch specialist on the Marque. Right. The leap of a hungry truck. It is an all-consuming passion!
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Cars and Rock and Roll, a perfect choice.
Obligatory motorcycle, gas turbine powered in Triumph Rocket Three frame.
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Museums seem to be the only safe place for these behemoths. Would be a bit expensive to set a commercial rally for these, let alone a gymkhana. ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
A gentle reminder to readers that this is your publication and the aspirant writer, photographer, motoring historian or needing to publish related motoring, historical , technical information relevant to the members, please feel free to contact the editors, myself or Rob Chapman at anytime as we are unemployed ( really on the pension) and seek activities to justify our existence. If there are skills you can share or need assistance with projects, short- or long-term, mention that in the newsletter. As a club, we have a group focus of vintage and proper motoring, as they say, ‘Share the Love’. In this vein, may I ask for assistance in understanding a multimeter as I need to know about troubleshooting the sparks and the witchcraft that is electricity. Keep motoring while we can. Michael Greig
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PHOENIX The OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER of THE WAITEMATA BRANCH of the VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF N.Z. INC.
CLUB NIGHT THURSDAY 7th July 7.00 pm 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.
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