Far North Focus
March 2020
Another maritime adventure for our Car Club
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The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand
Far North Focus Who’s Who for 2019/20 Chairman
Murray Cormack
m.g.cormack@xtra.co.nz
09 4077255
Vice Chairman
Winston Matthews
win@matthewsvintage.com
09 406 0203
Secretary
Gloria Cormack
m.g.cormack@xtra.co.nz
09 4077255
Treasurer
Robyn Mackay
wmackay116@gmail .com
09 406 1955
Club Captain
Graeme Moore
graemarg32@gmail.com
09 4061413
Editor
Peg Hills
comstockdowns@gmail.com
09 406 1077
Communications Officer
Ruth Reid
r.t.reid@xtra.co.nz
09 4060 392
New Member Liaison
Murray Cormack
m.g.cormack@xtra.co.nz
09 4077255
Beaded Wheels Scribe
Dave Duirs
dave.duirs@xtra.co.nz
09 406 1288
Area Rep North
Ruth Reid
r.t.reid@xtra.co.nz
09 406 0392
Area Rep South
Warwick Woollams
w.woollams@gmail.com
09 407 7494
Committee
Murray Cormack, Robyn Mackay, Winston Matthews, Graeme Moore, Vince Mason, Mike Pooley, Gloria Cormack, Warwick Woollams, Warren Mackay
Building Officer
Peter Mason
09 406 1409
A full list of elected officers was circulated with the minutes of the 2019 Annual General Meeting
Club meetings on the second Tuesday of the month at the Aurere Clubrooms at 7.30pm.
CLUB CLEANING ROSTER 2019-2020 During the month, and preferably before the main calendar event, please give the clubrooms a thorough check over, as in: Clean the toilets and hand basins, check kitchen, window ledges etc, and sweep the floors. Window cleaning, washing walls etc will be done at working bees.
Note any required maintenance and pass on to the Building Officer- Peter Mason, ph 406 1409. If your date doesn’t suit you, please swap with someone else. For any other enquiries please contact the Club Captain.
March
Naomi & Vince
July
C Brownlie
January
D & P Hills
August
D & D Duirs
February
Graeme & Margaret
September
Graeme Moore
March
N & V Mason
October
Everyone– working bee
April
R & W Mackay
November
P & Z Mason
May
M & T Deverell
December
Graeme & Margaret
June
P O’Dell
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Calendar of Events 2019 / 2020 March 14th
Far North /Hokianga
Claude
March 15th
Taipa Bay Caffeine& Classics
Rosco
April 4th
Brian Parker
Rex & Sandra
April 19th
Taipa Bay Caffeine & Classics
Rosco
May 10th
Mothers Day
Terry & Sue
May 16th
Taipa Bay/Repco Beach Hop
May 12th
Club AGM
Everyone
May 17th
Taipa Bay Caffeine & Classics
Rosco
June 21st
Taipa Bay Caffeine & Classics
Rosco
THE BRIAN PARKER MEMORIAL RALLY
Saturday 4th April 2020 Meet at the Totara North wharf carpark 10.30am for an 11am start. If you wish, bring morning tea to have before you begin. Lunch is available to purchase; afternoon tea is provided.
The Rally Dinner & Prize-giving is at 6pm in the Clubrooms. Entries close Friday 27th March. Please use the entry form in this newsletter, page 7. Those members who may wish to attend the Dinner only are to pay as per the entry form, with your name and ‘Dinner Only’ as a reference.
Club meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month, at 7.30pm, at the Aurere Clubrooms, unless otherwise advised. The Far North Branch of the VCC does have a policy that pets are not brought to any Club events. We do ask that this policy is respected.
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The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand
From the Chair……. Greetings The Hokianga Cruise was a great day on the water with an interesting and colourful commentary by the skipper/ owner of “Ranui”. A big thanks to Keith for the idea and organisation.
possible. Kaaren had hoped to come with husband Jim in their campervan from Tauranga, towing their Model A for the rally. Although disappointed, we must appreciate the enormous time commitment she gives to the Vintage Car Club overall, with the numerous major events around this time.
Claude and Margaret’s northern run this month sounds tremendous, with many interesting aspects.
The entry form for the Brian Parker Memorial Rally is in this Focus. Please support this event.
An early reminder of the Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring: this is to be based in New Plymouth 17-22 January 2021. Entry forms should be available from the end of March online, or from our branch at this time.
The mid-week two-day Kaipara Cruise 18-19 March is fully booked. We look forward to a great trip.
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The year is certainly advancing at a cracking pace. Our feature event, the Brian Parker Memorial Rally, is set for 4 April. We had planned for Kaaren Smyllie, our Nth Is Club Captain, to be present. She has just advised that pressure of other Nth Is rallies makes attendance not th
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I will be attending the Executive Meeting of the VCC in Wellington at the end of March, and will report on this in a future Focus. Enjoy your vehicles and the friendships associated with them. Murray
FAR NORTH VISIT SATURDAY 14TH MARCH MEET 10.00 am AWANUI HALL CAR PARK (Toilets available there)
Approximately 31k drive; option of all seal or some metal roads. Bring your morning tea/seating for a half-way stop. At Houhora Heads, optional café lunch or bring a picnic. Enquiries: Phone Claude or Margaret 09 406 8525
or
027 479 1697
Or Graeme 09 406 1413
or
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027 448 5633
Club Captain’s Report….. Terry. I’m sure that they will give us an enjoyable day
What a month it has been. A report and photos of the day out on the Hokianga are printed in this issue of the Focus. With my other commitments, I clean forgot about the planning for the Brian Parker Rally. My sincere apologies to Murray, Warren and Robyn who have stepped into the breach. (To make matters worse, Margaret and I fly to the South Island on the 12th of March for an extended time). Rex and Sandra had done the excellent ground work of an interesting run. When it was thought that our NI Club Captain was going to be with us, consideration was given to lengthening the run. The Club captain is now not coming, so the run is being reviewed and full details will be conveyed within the Focus and follow up e-mails as required.
My thanks to the organisers of these events for your enjoyment. The news of the month. Gener al Motors has decided in their wisdom to end the Holden Badged vehicles. This was and is a sad announcement for many employees of GMH, the GMH Franchise holders and the many Holden owners and fans. For myself, I was associated with the brand for 25years. There will be further announcements regarding the closing of the brand I am sure. Does the value of your collectable Holden skyrocket up, or down? Margaret and I are looking forward to the overdue trip down south. We intend to visit the “Bill Richardson Transport Museum” in Invercargill, and I would also like to make a visit to the “Highlands Motor Racing Circuit”. If possible, I will give you a bird’s eye view of our travels in the next issue of the Focus.
Dates to remember. Saturday 14th March. Claude and Margaret have arranged the Far North Visit. Please see details in the Focus. This will be an interesting day with an over view of the Avocado explosion in the North and a visit to Houhora Heads. Sunday March 15th. The ever popular Repco Taipa Caffeine and Classics. Saturday April 4th. The “Brian Parker Rally”. Enclosed with this issue will be the entry form and the confirmed program. Please support and enjoy the day. Sunday 19th April. Repco Taipa Caffeine and Classics. Sunday 10th May. The “Mother’s Day” Rally. This is being planned by Sue and
Happy and Safe Motoring. Enjoy the events planned for the next 2 months. Regards,
Graeme.
There was an interesting article in the Herald on Monday 24th on “How Australia failed Holden”. –Ed.
VegetarianRemember the Taipa Bay Caffeine & Classics
An old American Indian word that means bad hunter.
3rd Sunday every month 10 to 12.30 Next date Sunday 15th March.
Just a reminder to all members that the Club’s Bank, Kiwibank is going cheque free from 28 February. We no longer have a cheque book and are unable to accept cheques so all payments must be done on line. We are still able to accept cash. th
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Hokianga Harbour Cruise Saturday 15th March. A fine warm day with overhead cloud and a fresh SE breeze greeted the 20 lucky cruisers on their arrival in KohuKohu who enjoyed their picnic lunch, or coffee scones and large Peanut Brownies at the local Café prior to boarding the “Raunui” skippered by Craig Pinkney. Some of the cruisers checked out the local Gallery and I viewed some interesting historical photographs. There were also some very interesting books covering the history of the Hokianga and KohuKohu for sale. Everybody had (not wishing to miss the boat) arrived early. We departed at 1145am and started our 3 hour cruise by heading a short distance up harbour past the remains of an Island named Motiti which was once the home to 150 residents. Requiring material for the reclamation of land around the harbour, the inhabitants were moved off the island and the material was dredged and barged to form stop banks around the upper harbour. Today the island is almost a navigational hazard covered with low vegetation. During the cruise down the harbour, Craig gave a very informative commentary on the history associated with the harbour, being one of the main starting points of the European occupation and Christianity within NZ. He pointed out the many places of historical interest and the major changes that have taken place within the harbour caused by de -forestation of the Kauri by the early 1900s, and now the removal of the Pine plantations and was able to answer the many questions that were asked. All “Cruisers” were very appreciative of the commentary, coffee and tea available on board, and the great day that was enjoyed. Our thanks to Keith who acted as “middle man” for the arranging of the day. Graeme.
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FAR NORTH VINTAGE CAR CLUB
BRIAN PARKER MEMORIAL RALLY Saturday 4 April 2020 th
ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY 27 March 2020 th
Format:
Meet at the wharf carpark at Totara North 10.30am for an 11am rally start. The rally is approximately 100km, with a large proportion of unsealed roads. There is a competitive section before lunch, but the afternoon section is touring only. The finish is at Matthews Vintage Museum, Aurere, for afternoon tea. The FNVCC clubrooms nearby will be open at 5.30pm, for a dinner with BYO drinks at 6pm. (Non-alcoholic punch will be served.) Food and drinks are available for purchase at the lunch stop. Conditions of entry: Vehicles must be entered by a financial member of the VCC of NZ. Winner to be VCC eligible vehicle.
Driving licences and membership card must be carried.
We look forward to Members from other Branches participating in this Rally. (In the case of the Rally winner being from another Branch a Miniature trophy will be presented so that the major trophy remains with the Far North Branch.)
ENTRY FORM 2020 Name of entrant: ......................................................................................................................................... Address: ...................................................................................................................................................... Telephone numbers: ................................................................................................................................... Name of driver: ............................................................................................................................................ Name of navigator: ...................................................................................................................................... Passenger(s) names: .................................................................................................................................. Make, model and year of vehicle………………………………………………………………………………….. VCC Membership number: .......................................................................................................................... Entry form to: Robyn and Warren Mackay, email wmackay116@gmail.com 108 Taipa View Rd, R D 3 Kaitaia 0483, by Friday 27 March 2020. th
Payment to: Far North VCC Kiwibank Account No: 38 9001 0577961 00 by Friday 27 March 2020. Reference: BPMR plus your surname. Contacts: Warren & Robyn Mackay, ph 09 4061955, 021 0364 333, email wmackay116@gmail.com th
* Entry fee per vehicle:……….$5.00 $ 5.00 * Plaque (optional):...………... $5.00 $ * Dinner:…………………….….$30.00 $ Number of adults..................@ $30 per person $ Number of children………....@ $20 per child $ * TOTAL AMOUNT PAID $ .............................
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According to Quentin Wilson’s ‘Cool Cars”, the FX Holden had these attributes:
Lights– simple and unadorned, no indicators or sidelights, just a six-volt electrical system with a single rear lamp.
Front Aspect– recumbent lion bonnet mascot lent an illusion of pedigree. In reality, the Holden had no bloodline at all, but that didn’t matter
Taking advantage of a balmy day, my brother and three other priests swapped their clerical gab for polo shirts and khakis, and went to play golf.
as it went on to become the standard transport of the Australian middle classes.
Output– the Holden was too powerful for its
After several horrible shots, their caddy asked, ‘Are you guys priests?’
suspension, and many ended up on their roofs.
Endlessly practical, the FX had a cavernous
‘Actually, yes,’ one replied. ‘Why do you ask?’
luggage compartment.
‘Because I’ve never seen such bad golf and such clean language’.
The engine developed a modest 60 bhp.
CLUB SHIRTS AVAILABLE: Contact Ruth- see her at a meeting, call her on 09 406 0392, or email her at r.t.reid@xtra.co.nz There will be samples at the Clubrooms to try on for size. Cost is $30-$35 dollars, depending on size.
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