Issuu

July 2021

CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY BRANCH of the VINTAGE CAR CLUB of NZ (Inc) Lamb Country Branch Email: centralhawkesbay@vcc.org.nz

POSTAL ADDRESS

CHB Branch of the Vintage Car Club (Inc) c/-18 Wilder Street, Waipukurau. 4200

Club Nights—7.30pm 3rd Wednesday of every Month

Rodin Cars and David Dicker—written by Shaun Summerfield

For over a decade, David Dicker has been focused on building a road-legal race car that will go quicker than a current Formula One car. Dicker's delivery is matter of fact, he doesn't just plan to build a road-legal race car with the performance of a Formula One car, he is building it. It's easy to spot the locals as they drive past David Dicker's 550 hectare property in North Canterbury, they are the ones who appear unfazed by the black missile racing across the paddock at close to 300km an hour. The neighbours at Waiau have seen and heard it all before, but not so the tourists in their campervans. Without fail, they pull over to watch with astonishment, as Dicker looks for those extra tenths of a second on his very own test track. State Highway 70 is both a back road and a back-up road. It provided a crucial link to Kaikoura following the devastating earthquake in 2016. The magnitude 7.8 quake also destroyed Dicker's original race-track, ripping cracks in the tarmac big enough to lose a rugby ball. Nearly four years on, the main coastal road is open again and Dicker's circuit is once more billiard table smooth. The 4.8 kilometre long racetrack is an integral part of Dicker’s company, Rodin Cars. “You can't build cars without a test track, it's as simple as that,” he says.“Plenty of guys do it, or try to do it, but it's just crazy because you've got to be able to test and the only way you're going to be able to make something good is to test to see where it's not right. And you can't build cars near a built-up area because of noise issues, so you've got to move out of the city." Dicker’s race centre location in Waiau had nothing to do with the country air or the scenery, or even New Zealand's motorsport heritage. Sydney born and raised, Dicker believes his home country has fallen out of love with cars, meaning it is no longer the place to undertake this sort of project.

Rodin Cars and David Dicker—written by Shaun Summerfield There's not really a car culture in Australia anymore. The concept of having fun in cars is not something the police nor the central government want in Australia, especially if you're a young kid. They don't want people to be interested in cars, so they make it difficult. But there is still a strong car culture in New Zealand, and it's just a better environment. ”Named for French sculptor, Aguste Rodin, the company logo is based on one of his most famous works, “The Thinker”. The founder of modern sculpture would have likely got on well with straight-shooting Dicker too. Rodin once describing sculpture as “the art of the hole and the lump”. Dicker's delivery is just as matter of fact, he doesn't just plan to build a road-legal race car with the performance of a Formula One car; he is building it. A mock-up of a single-seater body shell greets us as we walk into the factory. The engine and gearbox are being built offshore. At the same time, a young team of engineers are hard at work designing and refining components for both the FZERO road car and FZED open seater. For over a decade, Dicker whose computer hardware distribution company Dicker Data has been valued at over a billion dollars has been focused on building a road-legal race car that will go quicker than a current Formula One car. Starting with a car based on a Le Mans racer, Dicker has settled on the single-seat FZERO, complete with a fighter jet style cockpit. On the way, he acquired the failed Lotus T125 project, which has become the Rodin FZED. “Our main interest is really the FZERO. We only got into the FZED by accident, we want to build road versions of that car and we want to be a credible manufacturer like Pagani and Koenigsegg, that's our aim,” he explains. Alongside the FZED in the factory today is an all-black McLaren Senna GTR the only one in New Zealand. Named for two of the greatest names in motorsport, it’s a fitting tribute to the motorsport and manufacturing company that Bruce McLaren started. Inspiration for the fledgling Rodin Cars operation too, perhaps? Not a chance. The Senna GTR is there solely on merit to set the standard for Dickers FZERO. “It has a huge benefit for us as a benchmark, it's the target to measure against. It's so easy to drive, and it went faster than the Ferrari Challenge car the first time I ever went out in it.” But overall sentiment, romance, and nostalgia are of little value here. “We've got to build the best cars we can, and we need the facilities; there's no way around it. Everyone loves these stories about building stuff in their garage, but it's not reality. You can't get a result there, especially with how the car industry is now.” Dicker may not seem too excited, but the sight of the Senna GTR at full speed is genuinely impressive. More so when you consider that while, smooth test track has zero run-off or catch fencing, a missed breaking point could be costly and painful. It's a tarmac version of Dicker himself, no compromise. He has invested in buying as much equipment as he can to control Rodin’s production process. There are multiple autoclaves to cure carbon fibre components, CNC machines, a diverse array of 3D-printers and even a Physical Vapor Deposition machine capable of coating the 3D printed titanium exhaust system with a super thin robust coating of titanium nitride, which leaves a matt gold finish on every bolt used. This allows his team of just 20 to create much of the car’s components in-house from every vapour plated bolt to the FZED's 3D printed titanium steering wheel. Obsessive? Completely. The 67-year-old’s ten-pin bowling story is proof of that. “My ex-wife decided it would be a great team-building thing for the company to start bowling in a league on Thursday nights. I got so enthusiastic about it that I started practising every day. Eventually, we had our own lane built in the factory with the pinsetter and the whole thing. It was exactly like the commercial set-up, but just one lane. So yeah, I guess I can become obsessive about stuff pretty easily,” he laughs. This approach has made Dicker a hugely successful businessman with the means to invest millions in the Rodin project. The smile on his face as he climbs out of the FZED's tub after a high-speed run is evidence that he enjoys the process, but he refuses to call it a dream come true. “You've got to make it happen, and the problem with calling it a dream is that it seems like some kind of fantasy. But Rodin is a serious commercial enterprise, that's the thing that is important for people to understand.”

SUNDAY 18TH JULY 2021-SHED RUN TO DANNEVIRKE—organised by Wayne McDonagh Assemble at Tavistock Place — Ready to leave at 9.00am Travel down main road to Dannevirke. Re-assemble and connect with Norsewood and Dannevirke members at the carpark opposite the Mangatera Hotel. 10.00am

FIRST SHED VISIT A collection of projects and yester-year vehicles.

11.00am

SECOND SHED An immaculate display of 1950’S

Americana and Automobilia collectables.

12.00 pm

Lunch stop at the Citizens & Services Club, Queen St, Dannevirke. Lunch $13.00 per head.

1.30pm

THIRD SHED This is the best display of something for everyone I have ever seen. Trucks, tractors, motorbikes, collectibles. A real “don’t miss” shed.

Enquiries Phone Wayne 0274 453199

Wednesday 21st July 2021—Central Hawkes Bay Branch Dinner and Meeting To be held at the Oruawharo Homestead, 379 Oruawharo Road, Takapau, CHB Arrive for refreshments from 6.00pm—Meal at 6.30pm—Meeting to follow. Main & Dessert—$30.00 per person—Eftpos available Main:

Osso Bucco (Lamb Shanks) Potato Gratin Broccoli and Brussel sprouts Peas and Leeks

Dessert:

Sticky Date pudding with Caramel Sauce and Cream Tea and Coffee If you have any dietary needs, please advise when you book your meal.

Please contact Eva Gollan 06 858 9105 or nga-oki@xtra.co.nz by—Sunday 18th July 2021 No late bookings please. Eva is required to forward food orders and numbers attending to the restaurant a few days before. PLEASE NOTE:

The CHBVCC branch will make payment for any late dinner cancellations or no shows, then an invoice will be sent to the member/members concerned.

Bruce Poole CHB Branch Chairman.

Events Calendar

CHB VCC Date

July

August

Other District's Events Date

3 Sheds to view in Dannevirke—

Sun 18th Organised by Wayne McDonagh Branch Dinner and Meeting to be Wed 21st held at Oruawharo Homestead

11th

National VCC AGM in Christchurch [Bruce 13th 15th Poole attending] Sat 28th

Rotorua VCC Swap Meeting

Sulphur City Rally

Wed 18th Branch Dinner and Meeting: Venue TBA

Sept

National VCC Cancer run—Contact Kaye Sun 22nd and Janet Spring/Daffodil run to GKW by GKW or TBA experts trial Branch Dinner and Meeting to be held in Wed 15th Dannevirke 23rd to 25th La-

October

13th 14th Central North Island run —organise by 15th 16th Rod and Scarlet McKenzie

Nov

Wed 17th Branch Dinner and Meeting—Venue TBA

Dec

bour weekend HB VCC Safari rally Fri 29thWed 20th Branch Dinner and Meeting—Venue TBA Sat 30th Targa Rally cars in Havelock North

Sat 20th

Veteran Rally

Sun 21st

Sunday Run with the Veterans

TBA

Parade, meetings, runs / reliability run Christmas Party @ River Park Event Centre

Sat 11th

January 2022 February

5th—6th

March

International Rally Taranaki

January 16th to 21st—2022 For more information go to www.historicmotoring.co.nz 5

Leadfoot festival

CHB Branch of the VCC—Elected Members —2021-2022 CHAIRMAN Bruce Poole brucepoole1930@gmail.com 06 858 9940 027 244 9090

COMMITTEE Lynn Cross secross@xtra.co.nz 06 858 9814

SECRETARY Brian Conner karinya@xtra.co.z

Gary Weaver weave@xtra.co.nz 06 858 9908

TREASURER Kaye Carswell wpkmotors@gmail.com 021 124 3620

Iain Gollan/Eva nga-oki@xtra.co.nz 06 858 9105

CLUB CAPTAIN Rod McKenzie rod.mckenzie.wpk@xtra.co.nz 06 858 9562

Neil Malcolm pat.neil2016@gmail.com

PUBLICITY/WELFARE OFFICER Sandra Cross secross@xtra.co.nz 06 858 9814

V.I.C. (I.D. Card) CO-ORDINATOR John Foot jsfoot@xtra.co.nz 06 858 8301

BLEAT EDITOR Joyce Calder joycecalder@gmail.com 022 166 1403

Chairman's Report—June 2021 Welcome to winter in Central Hawkes Bay, snow on the hills around Takapau and Norsewood and bitterly cold, the long trousers are out now after getting to the shortest day of the year in shorts. One has to accept that old age is creeping up on us all. The AGM held in the Waipukurau Bowling club went very well and the club is in good heart and everyone must be happy with only one change in the committee. Ken Lyons is stepping down as Secretary after three years and what a wonderful Secretary he has been. Bryan Connor is our new Secretary who is a reasonably new member but has been a Secretary for other organisations. So with a little guidance from Ken he will go well. It was good to be able to have our New Zealand President Dianne Quarrie and husband Jeff at our AGM and with her very busy schedule she has little time to sit back and enjoy a meeting without any pressure. With the upcoming National AGM in Christchurch and the proposed discussion on the new logo, Dianne is doing a visual presentation at the next meeting. I decided some time ago to go down to Christchurch for the AGM and stay with my friend John Hastilow who came to Australia for the International Rally in 1970. I was in Christchurch not long after the big earthquake and saw all the major damage and then again in 2015. The changes from 2011 to 2015 were immense, so seven years later I will see more changes. Kay Carswell and her team are busy with planning for the Cancer Society Run (22nd August) and Lynn Cross is sorting out a run to the venue. Call on your friends and see if we can get 100 cars. I have mentioned for some months now about wheel problems with the 65 Hillman minx and on talking to Keith Hopping, he has a friend in Ekatahuna who got onto a car in Masterton, hence I now have six original steel wheels, a complete rusty car but with all the running gear, windows and chrome. The series 5 Minx's are quite rare nowadays so you get in while you can. A BIG thank you Lynn and Sandra Cross for a very enjoyable Sunday Run to Haumoana (Rained all the way) to view Craig Hicksons amazing car collection. No doubt a further report on this in the Magazine. On 18th of July Wayne McDonagh has organised a run to Dannevirke to view another three car collections. It is good to see several of our members organising runs which are out of the norm. More in the "BLEAT". That's all for this month, safe driving, slow down for winter driving and see you all at the next run.

Bruce Poole CHB Branch Chairman

Rod’s Rattling's—July 2021 The Annual General Meeting for 2021—2022 has been held and most of the committee have been reelected with only one change, Brian Conner as secretary, thank you Brian for putting your hand up for this very important position. Retiring secretary Ken Lyons did a great job keeping the club running smoothly. After reports from the hierarchy and so on, and with no controversy, the meeting only took about half an hour, and no one appeared to go to sleep. We had a very interesting run set by Lynn and Sandra Cross to the home and sheds of Craig Hickson at Haumoana. What a trip going up there we had, with rain bucketing down the entire trip. But come the afternoon, the weather cleared and we were able to have a good look at the many vehicles in the Hickson collection. Many of the vehicles were “up-market” and rare, and Lynn commented that the 1935 Auburn Phaeton he sold to Craig some months ago didn’t look quite so special as it used to amongst the hoi poloi of motoring vehicles usually seen out in CHB. This month we will be visiting three sheds in the Dannevirke area in a run put on for us by Wayne and Linda McDonagh. I don’t think any of these sheds will have been visited by anyone from the branch in the past, so if the weather is kind [and not hosing down this time], we should all have good day out. Instructions are printed elsewhere on what to do when we get to Dannevirke. On 11th July there is the Annual VCC Swap meeting in Rotorua a few members may attend. It’s quite a good place to unload some junk and collect some more stuff you may or may not need. There’s also another Swap Meeting on 7th August in the Manawatu at Manfield Park organised by a Hot Rod group. In August, our Chairman, Bruce Poole, will be attending the National VCC AGM in Christchurch on behalf of the branch. If you think you have something that you feel needs to be aired or supported, get in touch with him. One of these could be the new VCC logo which looks good, but which some die-hards possibly won’t support. Also in August there is the National Vintage Car Club Cancer Rally being arranged for us in this area by some of our lady members. It will start out with a car show in James St like we did two years ago, followed by a trip out to a place of interest which I am assured will be very entertaining. Bring along your friends and relations as anybody is welcome to attend with any sort of vehicle. All proceeds will go to our local Cancer Society and stay in CHB. We have had a good response from the branch members for our mid-week run going to Wanganui and Ohakune in mid-October and I am sure everyone should have a ball and see some new territory. I am not quite sure which property we will get to see as we approach Wanganui, but having visited both, most of us will have something interesting to see.

Rod McKenzie CHB Branch Club Captain

Rod McKenzie right on target.

October 13th, 14th, 15th 16th 2021—Extended Mid-Week Run for CHB VCC Organised by Rod and Scarlet McKenzie Scarlett and Rod are putting together another mid -week trip, this time into the bowels of the Central North Island area in mid-October. We will be away for three nights and four days of motoring with a few interesting visits and things to see and do. This run will obviously entail some fairly full days of motoring [possibly around 300km per day!], so it will be more suitable for P45, P60’s and P80’s vehicles, but that is not to say that you shouldn’t drive your Vintage or PV vehicle on the run. Many of the roads we will travel on have been traversed by us in the past in our Ford Model T, so most entrants could bring any vehicle they like, providing they know it is up to the journey. You will need to have a good road map or electronic GPS at hand City of Whanganui when you start the run. And it will be more convenient if you pack a picnic lunch in the car before you leave home. The run will be in the form of a “Tour” and will be non-competitive. Visits will include shopping and sight-seeing in Marton, Hunterville, Whanganui, Jerusalem, Pipiriki, Raetihi, and Horopito, Ohakune, and a drive up to Turoa. The Motel we intend staying at in Wanganui for the first night [Wed 13 th] is: Burwood Motel Free phone: 0800 20 20 63 [Quote CHBVCC Rod $120.00 per night.] And on the second and third nights [14th and 15th] at Ohakune is: Ohakune Court Motel Free phone: 0800 288 289 [Quote OCT21CARS from $105.00] You are advised to have your bookings done well in advance, but you are free to stay at any other motel or camping ground as you see fit. It is imperative that you phone your booking in to each motel so you can tell them you are on this trip as we have spoken with each of them and secured our group a favorable rate. You will, of course, need to budget for all of your smokos, tea/coffee stops, lunches, your evening meals, and other motoring costs, etc. You must confirm with Rod and Scarlett [ rod.mckenzie.wpk@xtra.co.nz ] that you will be coming on the trip so they then know how many instruction sheets to print out and also to advise people, at any of the stops we intend making, how many of our folk are likely to turn up. It is only fair and considerate to advise food suppliers where we intend stopping that there will be a group coming through. To Summarise: Wednesday 13th: Thursday 14th Friday 15th Saturday 16th

Leave Waipukurau and drive to Whanganui. Leave Whanganui and drive to Ohakune via Pipiriki. Exploring around the Ohakune area. Head home via Taihape-Napier highway.

Bulls Township

9 Township Hunterville

Ohakune Townshop-

Auto Heritage News On June 23, 1909, a Ford Model T was the first to cross the finish line in an ocean-to-ocean race from New York City to Seattle. Always looking to promote Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford claimed the race would “give Americans an opportunity to appreciate the vast possibilities of the motor car.”

Gavin Harris and Grandson

The competition forced racers and their vehicles to endure axle-deep mud, quicksand, navigational issues, fires, heavy snow and frequent repairs.

The Model T’s smaller frame made it an underdog in the eyes of many, but its lighter weight actually proved advantageous, as it had a stronger weight/power ratio. Additionally, Ford had dealers across the country, which allowed the racing Model T to receive repairs more quickly than its competitors. The publicity from this race would help make the Model T, less than a year into production at the time, one of the dominant cars of the early 1900s. BONUS: The winning Model T was actually disqualified five months later after officials learned its engine was replaced during the race. Thankfully for Ford, news of the Model T’s supremacy in the race already spread, subsiding any major backlash toward the car.

Clive Grange Visit—written by—Bernard Murphy On Sunday 20th June after a very wet night and morning 16 cars and about 30 people visited Haumoana to view an amazing collection of cars belonging to Craig Hickson. Craig gave us a brief history of Clive Grange. The property was originally a 7000 acre sheep station. The station was broken up into smaller blocks and the large 3 story house abandoned and vandalised and eventually burned down. Many of the brick out buildings survived the fire. The Hicksons purchased the property now reduced to just 37 acres and rebuilt the house on the original footprint, keeping as close as possible to the house design, which included the front steps. Out the back in several sheds is a collection of cars that had our club members astounded. The first few sheds contained 2 Aston Martins, a DB5, a 1956 DB2, a 1932 Rolls Royce Phantom 11 as well as another under restoration. A V8 MGB, a 1932 Bugatti, a 1928 Auburn Speedster and the ex-Lynn Cross's beautiful 1935 Auburn. Another shed contained a rare BMW, built by the German company as a race car and is one of only 500 built. Alongside this was, as Craig described his midlife crisis car, a 2006 DB9 Aston Martin. Yet another shed contained a collection of quite rare MG sports cars. A new shed close by housed a Dennis Fire Engine originally from Hastings Fire Brigade still in working order and pumping water.

Clive Grange Visit—written by—Bernard Murphy In this shed there was also an Austin Healy, a Triumph TR5, a Rover, a Humber Super Snipe and guess what another Aston Martin!!. Taking pride of place in this shed is Craig's newest acquisition, a hand built replica DBR2 Aston Martin which was built by a brilliant engineer in the South Island (can't remember his name, but possibly Dave Brown from Invercargill) all from photographs. Finally in a relocated wool-shed was a collection of Landover's. This is an amazing and beautiful collection of cars, not just an example of a certain type or make of car but often quite rare examples of them. Thankfully the rain had stopped and gave us all a very good chance to view this interesting collection of cars. At the end of the tour I asked Craig how many cars he had in his collection. He said “I don't want to count them because I don't want to tell my wife a lie if she asks me that very question.” At a rough estimation I would say there was more than 30 cars in his collection. Thanks to Craig Hickson for generously opening his sheds and sharing his love for special cars with us. Also many thanks to Lynn and Sandra Cross for organising the day for us. A very interesting and informative day for sure.

Lynn Cross presenting Craig Hickson with a thank you gift for allowing our club to view his amazing cars collection.

Targa NZ & Vintage Car Club Invite you to

“The Ultimate time trial 2021” Monday 25th October –Saturday 30th 2021 Central North Island—Starting in Taranaki—Finishing in Hawkes Bay Outstanding opportunity for some spirited driving to match set times on all tarmac closed road special stages. Not a race, but a test of precise driving and time keeping. No Special car modifications ( no roll cage etc required) 5 Day Time Trial—Tuesday 26th—Saturday 30th October—with Documentation Monday 25th 2 Day Time Trial—Friday 29th—Saturdy 30th October—Last 2 days of 5 day event New members to VCC are welcome Contact VCC member Rod Corbett for more details: rod.corbett88@gmail.com

targa.nz Peter Martin 027 452 5643

vcc.org.nz Rod Corbett 027 433 8772

Vintage and Classic Car Restoration Services NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL Machine Castings One off Fabrication Weld Repairs Brazing & Mouldings

Stevenson & Taylor 2294—Takapau Road—Waipukarau Phone—06 858 6041

Wanted Wanted: Front bumper for a 1946 Vauxhall J 14. Please phone Jim Spicer 027 2468 715 or email rustypatch.wpk@xtra.co.nz

Wanted 1947 Vauxhall Restoration My name is Colin Potts, and I am restoring a 1947 Vauxhall 10, and the starter motor has packed up on me, so I was wondering if you, or any of the club members could help me to locate another one? the part no is M418GR27 it is a 6 volt starter, and I'm told that the later model 12 volt wyvern starter motor would fit ok. I am also looking for the top hose of the radiator for this car as well. If you could help me, I would very much appreciate it. Please Contact Colin: mobile 022 315 5090 or home 06 356 3294

1928 Chevrolet National My name is Bruce Roorda and I have a Chevrolet National 1928 2 door light truck that has been involved in a light nose to tail. I need the following parts. Both front guards, radiator and radiator surround. Is there anyone out there in your membership who might like to sell these parts? Needed urgently here in Auckland. I am struggling to find these basic parts. Please contact Bruce on this number 021 947 649

Fiat 125 I am restoring a Fiat 125 and I am looking for a Fiat 125 car for dismantling or Fiat 125 panels, Rear Guards, Front Bonnet, Roof. Please Contact Bruce Livingstone—email: bruceliv@outlook.com 14

Angela Annear An authorised Travel Broker for Searle Travel Ltd. Consultations are by appointment.

Angela Annear Travel Broker 10 Brooker Place, Waipukurau 4200, Central Hawkes Bay Email: angela@searletravel.co.nz Webpage: www.Angelas-Travel.co.nz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Searle-Travel/1571631546431063

For more details: Email: angela@searletravel.co.nz

Phone: 06 858 9082 Cell: 027 281 1306 Website: www.angelas-travel.co.nz

Leadfoot Ranch is one of the world’s finest properties nestled amidst 150 acres of manicured grounds within a location of unrivalled natural beauty. On the seaside cliffs of the Pacific Ocean, with the deep blue waters, this distinctive location sets a new standard in rustic elegance on the Coromandel Peninsula with the natural beauty of a costal ranch.