Far North Focus
October 2019
Few people could have come up with more hard luck in our 18– 19 year than Vince and Naomi. Good to see you’re still smiling Vince. 1
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.
October : Everyone July
C Brownlie
January
D & P Hills
August
D & D Duirs
February
Graeme & Margaret
September
Graeme Moore
March
TBA
October
Everyone– working bee
April
TBA
November
P & Z Mason
May
TBA
December
Graeme & Margaret
June
TBA
2
Calendar of Events 2018 / 2019 October 12th
Club Working Bee
Everyone
October 20th
Taipa Bay Caffeine & Classics
Rosco
November 2nd
Far North Tour
Northland Branch
November 17th
Taipa Bay Caffeine & Classics
Rosco
November 17th
Classic Car Show
Classic Car Club
November 24th
Dunny Run
Northland Branch
December 7th
Christmas Rally
TBC
January 18th
Kerikeri
Murray & Gloria
January 19th
Taipa Bay Caffeine & Classics
Rosco
February 15th
Hokianga/ Far North
Keith
February 16th
Taipa Bay Caffeine & Classics
Rosco
March 14th
Far North /Hokianga
Claude
March 15th
Taipa Bay Caffeine& Classics
Rosco
April 11th
Brian Parker
Rex & Sandra
April 19th
Taipa Bay Caffeine & Classics
Rosco
May 10th
Mothers Day
Terry & Sue (TBC)
May 12th
Club AGM
Everyone
May 17th
Taipa Bay Caffeine & Classics
Rosco
June 21st
Taipa Bay Caffeine & Classics
Rosco
June 27th
Molloy Trophy Rally
TBA
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.
Please note: Robyn and Warren Mackay have changed their email address to wmackay116@gmail.com
3
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand
From the Chair…….
Greetings Daylight saving certainly changes the game in terms of the seasons. Warren and Robyn’s first- ever Father’s Day rally was a great success. A big thank you to you both and tremendous to have three of your vehicles in this rally. A reminder about the Far North Tour provided by Northland Branch on 2 November. nd
Winston returned from the National AGM held in Greymouth and gave a good report at our recent monthly meeting, held in Kerikeri. We have sent out an email on VCC branding from a marketing perspective, a presentation given by our National President. Condolences to the family and friends of Ed Boyd, a long -term member of the VCC Management Committee. Ed was a very active member from Whanganui and had a big input into their International Rally a few years ago.
members, some of whom had come from as far south as Timaru and Ashburton. The day at the Cape was great with good weather just at the right time. Rosco and Winston took vehicles up there and we all had a pleasant lunch at Tapotupotu following the walk to the lighthouse. Gloria and myself spent the first three days with the Tour and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Overall people were impressed by the Far North and somewhat surprised by the friendly people and the great sight-seeing to be had. Matters Mechanical: VIC cards. Yes some of us have these for our vehicles but a lot do not. A Vehicle Identification Card really defines an old car into a Historic Vehicle, gazetted by Parliament. They are free to obtain by members, but do require a level of paper-work to establish authenticity. Graeme, George, Winston and Vince are our branch people who can help you sort out any issues and get these completed. Obviously we cannot foresee the future, but it may well be prudent to own an authorised historic vehicle rather than just an old car.
Our involvement with the Cape Reinga to Bluff Tour was a great success, with a museum visit courtesy of Winston, then a well-received meal at our clubrooms. A big Enjoy your cars and friends associated with its ownerthanks to Peg, Lynn and all the other helpers who will- ship. ingly contributed to make it a special night. Also a big Murray thanks to our members who mixed freely with the Tour
SATURDAY OCTOBER 12TH
WORKING BEE OUR ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN OF THE CLUBROOMS
From 2pm Some cleaning gear is available at the Clubrooms but buckets are always in short supply. Bring anything you think may be useful. Pot luck tea to follow. Ring Graeme for any further information: 09 4061413. 4
Club Captain’s ReportGreetings to all our members.
Saturday 12 October is the annual Club Rooms working bee followed by a shared “Pot Luck” dinner. Start time 2pm. This is for a good spring clean inside and out and a great time to catch up with those members that we haven’t seen for a while. Please bring house hold cleaning items to assist. th
Another busy month for your Club Captain coming to a close, including 2 trips to Auckland, the first to a 70 birthday, and the second to collect Margaret on her return from her visit to the UK. Spring is with us. Very changeable weather, the trees bursting into blossom and new leaves. The birds are singing, and we have had some great calls from the Tui’s. The month started off with the Father’s Day Rally. 19 members and 5 visitors arrived in Kaeo in 9 Club eligible cars for the start of a short run to Tauranga Bay and then back to the Whangaroa Game Fishing Club for lunch. The winners on the day, Winston, Ruth and Glenis were awarded the new “Piston” trophy. Thank you Warren and Robyn for arranging a very enjoyable day. I am told that the Taipa Bay Caffeine and Classics was another great event with a large number of cars and folk arriving for an enjoyable morning. There is a Spot Prize to be won but you have to be there to win. The next day is 10am, Sunday 20 October. th
Far North Tour and Dunny Run. Unfortunately at the time of going to print, I have been unable to get any details of the Far North Tour planned for the 2 November or our interclub “Dunny Run” which will be on the 23 November. This is being planned by Bev and Doug Grant of the Northland Branch. When details are available, they will be e-mailed out. nd
rd
Electric Vehicles. There have been 2 interesting articles printed in consecutive editions of the Saturday Herald (Sept 7 and 14 ) written by a somewhat biased writer. His claims that the Electric Vehicles are not the “Clean Green” machines that they are made out to be make interesting reading. Unfortunately while in the second edition the writer makes refThe “Cape to Bluff” tour arrived in town on Tues- erences to the responses to his first article, I haveday 24 . Travelling north they experienced some n’t seen those responses in print so I have only torrential rain reducing visibility to a few meters seen one side of the argument. However, with the ahead. All arrived unscathed and enjoyed a visit push to EV’s and all major manufacturers being to Winston’s Museum followed by an excellent involved in the production of EV’s and Hybrids, meal at the clubrooms prepared by Lynn, Peg, the major concern of the mining of the mineral Dorothy and helpers. Thank you for your contri- resources and the recycling / re-purposing of the bution to a very enjoyable meal and evening. It used batteries is something that needs to be hanwas interesting talking to the participants some of dled urgently. My research did refer to a new rewhom had driven from the South of the South Is- cycling plant that has been established in South land. I believe Rosco will be forwarding photos to Australia. No doubt we will see developments in Stuart manned the check point Peg of the following day’s run to the Cape which these 2 areas of concern in the coming months included some of our members. Paul Collins, the ahead. ex North Island Club Captain has arranged the For the moment, enjoy your cars and the pleastour which will include visits to approximately 26 ures they bring to all who use and see them. VC Clubs on the tour. Graeme. th
th
th
th
Keep these two dates in mind: 2nd November for the Far North Tour (see attached email for programme)
and 23rd November for the Dunny Run.
5
Some moments from the Cape Reinga to Bluff Tour, 24th& 25th September. Thanks to Naomi and Rosco for photos.
6
Father’s Day – Piston Trophy Rally. The 1 September , the 1 day of Spring, and the 1 “Father’s Day Piston Trophy” rally had 19 Club members, 2 invited guests (one being Robyn’s daughter) driving the Mustang, and Steve and Stephanie with their daughter and 2 grandchildren, arrive in Kaeo for an 11am start. As usual, the Club Eligible cars attracted some interest from passers by. The rally was a quiet drive around the Whangaroa harbour turning on to Wainui Road and driving out to Tauranga Bay. The pre-rally briefing and H & S announcements failed to identify (unbeknown at the start) a Tangi at the Marae on the way. Slowing down for the people moving along the road was greeted with waves and smiles. st
st
st
The stop over at Tauranga Bay allowed the interesting set of questions to be answered, and participant interaction with the vehicles and members to take place. (Some of the answers to many of the questions bought many smiles to the faces of the scrutinisers at the time of marking). A most enjoyable lunch was enjoyed by all at the Whangaroa Game Fishing Club. The vast menu of tasty seafood based dishes catered for all. The winners on the day were Winston and Ruth, receiving the “Piston Trophy”, 2 Dave and Dorothy, 3 Terry and Sue, and 4= , Graeme and Phyllis and Rosco and Raewyn. All winners receiving sweet treats. nd
rd
Another enjoyable and relaxing drive with good company and good food. Many thanks to Robyn and Warren for arranging the day’s outing. Graeme.
The start, CLUB SHIRTS AVAILABLE: Contact Ruth- see her at a meeting, call her on 09 406 0392, 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.
The finish, 7
REO Ransom E Olds had a difference of opinion with Frederick Smith of Oldsmobile about the size and price of their car. Olds wanted to continue making the inexpensive, dependable automobile, priced at $695, and Smith wanted to make large, higher priced cars. Late in 1903, Olds left the Oldsmobile company and from the experience gained in building the single-cylinder Oldsmobile, he started production of his new car, the Reo, with wheel steering, in 1904. The single-cylinder runabout had a folding rear seat that could be detached, and some models had a hood which housed the water and gasoline tanks and the radiator. Full elliptic springs and battery ignition were standard equipment. When he left Oldsmobile and started another company, Olds obviously could not use his name to identify the new car. Instead he lent his initials, R. E. O., to the new venture. His reputation in the early days was so great that if a car could be identified with his genius and his record, it would have a definite advantage over competitive makes. Many colourful stunts were organised to promote the sale of REO cars. The company used to have its own band which staged Saturday parades and concerts to popularise the car. By 1929 REO was making a name for itself as the builder of exceptionally good trucks. The REO “Speed Wagon” became one of the first high speed trucks to be used on United States highways. The Depression and World War Two caused major difficulties for the brand, and through a series of bankruptcies and sales of assets Volvo now owns rights to the brand name. Sources: ‘Those Wonderful Old Automobiles’, by Floyd Clymer, and Wikipedia.
1931 REO Speed Wagon Ransom E. Olds
G T MULLER State Highway 10, Coopers Beach
WOF CENTRE VEHICLE IMPORTS PHONE 09 406 0406 WE ARE OPEN SATURDAY MORNINGS
8