“Dripfeed” NEWSLETTER OF THE BANKS PENINSULA BRANCH OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF New Zealand (INC) VOLUME 41, No 9 october 2018 Editor: Michael Williams 10 Selwyn Parade Lyttelton Ph 328 8043, email mimiandmichael@yahoo.co.nz
Chairman: Secretary:
Club Officers: Craig Keenan 322 1006 Ron Hasell 942 1105
Branch Address: 27 Showgate Ave, ChCh 8042 E-mail: bankspeninsula@vcc.org.nz Noggin & Natter: 2nd Thursday of the Month
Noggin 7.30 pm at the Papanui RSA. Upham Room – enter either from 55 Bellvue Ave or the first entrance on the left on Harewood Road (Papanui / Main North Road) Thursday 11th of October. We look forward to seeing you there. Supper is provided.
From the Editor: One of the joys of being the editor of this prestigious publication is the chatty phone calls I get from members in different parts of the country. Most are positive and the others are in the constructive correction category. I was talking to Nelson member John Stanley recently, and he pointed out with some glee that I had made a serious spelling mistake with the word Voisin. I was initially sceptical, as one does not normally associate Austin 7 ownership with any sort of higher learning. However, John has sensibly sold the Austin 7, did own a Delage, and was brought up with Citroens, so is clearly a man of erudition, who is eminently qualified to correct me. I had another pleasant chat with John Hebron from Wellington who wanted to encourage me to continue to point out the many and varied shortcomings of Peter Croft, especially his Ebenezer Scrooge like tendencies. We shared some very funny stories. John also brought me up to date with the progress he is making on his Lagonda Rapide,(1930’s , not 1960’s), and he’s going to send photos once it’s finished. Pothunter Avon Hyde has won yet another trophy, the George Calder Plate. Not a piece of Wedgewood from the Calder china cabinet, but to do with the four event series of trials that are held at Balcairn, Reefton, Blenheim and Nelson. Avon was at pains to point out that he had only won two individual events, but his overall scores secured the trophy, with Jared Dacombe coming second.
Welcome to new members Wayne and Jo Graves, with a 1972 Porsche 911S. We look forward to seeing you at future events. Feel like a drive to Akaroa next year? Melissa Conroy wants a suitable old car to transport her father to her wedding on the 29th of March, from Akaroa to Mount Vernon lodge. She is happy to pay for services offered. Get in touch at melissa.conroy@windowslive.com. In breaking news, and remember, you read it here first, the 1930 Brooklands Riley that has been living in the motor garage of Lois and Leon Witte at Teddington has found a new home in the motor garage of Peter Croft at Morten Settlement. Peter intends to write a history of this important car, which we all look forward to. Clearly, frugality has advantages......
Obituary: Craig Cowie 1960 – 2018. Most of you will be aware of Craig’s death, and the large number of vintage car people, and their cars, at his funeral reflected the esteem in which he was held by so many. Craig lived a very full life in which old cars certainly played a part, but his main focus was his family, and his siblings and children all contributed their very moving personal memories of an energetic, funny, thoughtful and much loved person. Garry Moore, who met Craig about forty years ago, and who remained a close friend, spoke about the vehicular side of Craig’s life. Craig joined the VCC in the late 1970’s , following in the footsteps of brother Grant. He was a very good saver, as distinct from brother Grant, and so his first car was an Ansaldo, a very distinguished Italian car with a flair for breaking down. When he picked it up from Blenheim, he and Grant drove happily off into the sunset, but the sun really did set on the Ansaldo’s skew gears at Seddon, and it was towed back to Christchurch. Ansaldo owners called them spew gears. In desperation, some might say, Craig bought a pile of Austin 7 bits from the late A7 godfather, Gordy Routledge, built a special, and remained devoted to them for the rest of life. More recently he had bought, as he put it, “a genuine replica” Riley Brooklands, and watching him get in and out of that was always entertaining. He also had a six cylinder Riley, and enjoyed his BSA 350, which Greg May restored for him just weeks before his death. But Austin 7’s remained his great love. A work colleague of Craig’s once asked him the obvious question, “Why do you persist in owning these cars?” “That’s simple”, replied Craig, “It’s the lure of unpredictability”. I overheard a group of Austin 7 tragics discussing this telling phrase afterwards. and the aforementioned John Stanley was heard to agree. Another A7 owner talked of the need, when driving one, to be on the lookout for an escape route or wide footpath, when inevitable brake failure occurred. Greater love hath no man etc etc... Craig had some years away from the vintage world when his family was growing up, but when he rejoined, he became the Editor of Dripfeed for seven years, until June last year, and I have attempted to continue the tone and general approach of humour and irony that he brought to the task so successfully. He was a member of the BP committee, and with Craig Keenan organised the Balcairn Trial for many years. His hilarious briefing from the top of a trailer was always an annual highlight. He could be very persuasive, and at a gymkhana forced me to do the unthinkable and drive his Austin 7 hotrod. I’m still having counselling. After the funeral, so many people stayed on for such a long time, swapping wonderful stories about Craig. His death leaves a great gap in the lives of so many people, and he will be greatly missed. The Banks Peninsula branch extends its sympathy to Juliet and her family
Coming Events: Peninsula Run, 14th of October. Starts at the Tai Tapu store, so arrive at 9.30am ready for a 10.00am start. Digby always finds some interesting roads, so do come along and enjoy an interesting day’s motoring.
Hawkswood Sprint, 11th of November. Details from Ron for those who intend to enter. The National Veteran Rally, Nelson, 16th – 18th of November. Although it’s a long way off, we have been asked to mention this in Dripfeed. The event celebrates 100 years of veterans, and the centenary of Armistice Day. There is a pre rally tour from the 12th – 15th Nov, and a post rally tour from the 20 – 23rd Nov. Get in touch with Jim Wareing for more details at jimnkyra@xtra.co.nz
Rallye Monte Carlo 2018 Update The organisers are thrilled with the strong and varied entry received for this premier event of the Banks Peninsula Branch of the VCC. At the time of writing there will be more than 20 competitors making their way from all parts of the South Island towards Akaroa on November 17th, in their epic quest to join the elite band of Monte Carlo winners! We know of competitors who intend to start at midnight from Bluff, from Collingwood, and even one experienced campaigner is taking advantage of maximum points by aiming to start his event in Wellington courtesy of the 3.30 am ferry sailing! A robust Dunedin team challenge has been laid down to the perennial team winners Equipe Escargot. Rumours are swirling of the most elaborate provisions being prepared for the other great prize of the day, the Concours de Confort. Perhaps some Caviar to go with your Champagne, as you recline in your portable chez lounge Sir? Akaroa’s Gaiety Hall will be the scene of evening festivities, where the prizes will be awarded – the Grand Prix d’Honneur for the winner, the Prix d’Equipe for the best scoring team, and of course the Concours de Confort for the best equipped and provisioned car. We are honoured to advise that we have managed to arrange a very special guest for the night to speak to us and present the prizes. We are not at liberty to disclose their identity just yet. Suffice to say his connections to Monte Carlo and his knowledge of historic motoring will make the evening most entertaining. ENTRIES CLOSE 31 OCT 2018, but please act quickly, as we must make final arrangements for catering and ensure we have enough helpers in place to keep the event flowing. We really do need helpers to come and assist at Duvauchelle with marshalling duties and time keeping. The event cannot proceed without the extra man power. If you can help out on the day or are equivocating about entering, Please contact Michael Pidgeon, Louise Russell(ph960 1171), or Michael Williams(ph328 8043) forthwith who will be only too pleased to let you know what it is all about. Helpers and others are more than welcome to attend the final dinner and prize giving at the Gaiety Hall – please forward your name and $$ to the above as soon as possible.
Ruapuna Old Timers: 25th of November, Canterbury Car Club. Once again, talk to Ron. Art Deco Weekend, February 14 -17 2019. The Hawkes Bay VCC are hosting this event, which will have an emphasis on Commercial vehicles, so I suppose there will be lots of Bentleys there. Details are in the notice in the latest Beaded Wheels.
Veteran and Vintage Rally, May 6th – 13th, 2019. Details to be finalised, going through the Haast. Expressions of interest to Diane Ross at randross@kinect.co.nz or phone 03 3082356.
Past Events: The Opening Run. Lots of real vintage cars turned up for our foray into the wilds of North Canterbury. Sunbeam, Plymouth, Vauxhall, Standard, Austin, Buick, Graham, the list went on and on. John Milligan brought his newly acquired Sunbeam Tiger R, an interesting car that he had picked up the night before. It’s one of a group of five Sunbeam Alpines that the late Dave Craw bought and converted to Tiger status by squeezing in a V8 and some other mods. All very professionally done, and with a discreet R on the flanks so that Sunbeam purists wouldn’t have conniptions. Jack looked a little downcast when he discovered that the run involved lots of shingle, but battled bravely on to the finish. Geoff Edwards was in the lovely Vauxhall 23/60, ex Spud Jackson, which hadn’t been on a club run before, and at the other end of the scale, Dallas Yates was in the family Landrover, with the same suspension system of cart springs as the real vintages. Progress did not come easily to the British car industry. The route took us through suburban Wigram, Halswell, Tram road, and the back of Sefton/Balcairn, ending up on the same road as the Ashley Forest Hillclimb that was on that day. The convoy swept majestically up a dusty side road that came out at the entry point, and I’m sure that I saw Hayden Paddon look nervous when he saw the D. As we proceeded down Marshman road, the Yates Austin developed an alarming steering problem much more pronounced than the inherent steering problems that were built into every vintage Austin. Every time a sophisticated European car appeared in the mirror of the agricultural Austin, it swerved violently to the right. Culture shock? Reaction to Brexit? A reflection of political beliefs? Normal Austin steering? You be the judge...... The run then took us round the back of Amberley, and over the very dusty MacDonald Downs Road, through Pyramid Valley, out to Waikari and down SH1 to Amberley again, to the home of Allan and Sue Rennie. and their collection of Fiats and Fiat memorabilia. All very interesting, especially a recently restored mid 30’s Fiat 1100 that was imported for the Italian Consulate in Wellington. Many thanks to Allan and Sue for their hospitality, and to Michael Pidgeon and Louise Russell for organising a great days motoring.
MilleCinqueCento
Figure 1Darmont Morgan - French heritage
Morgan photos courtesy of Rosie & Giles Gill
Early Morgan....nothing has changed
Alpine in drag
Citroen owner turns his back on fine Fiat
Sala dei tesori
For Canterbury branch events visit: https://vcccanterbury.wixsite.com/home