“Dripfeed” NEWSLETTER OF THE BANKS PENINSULA BRANCH OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF New Zealand (INC) VOLUME 41, No 8 september 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 13th of September. We look forward to seeing you there. Supper is provided.
From the Editor: The Mid Year Dinner was indeed a good night, as Ron predicted, with pleasing attendance and two contrasting speeches. To refresh your memory, Peter Croft received his 50 year badge and Ron Hasell his 60 year badge. Michael Lavender, from Head Office introduced and spoke about Peter and Ron, and the contributions they had made. We all learnt, for example, that it was Ron who initiated the insurance scheme the VCC has with Vero, which earns vast amounts of money for all branches, and that Michael and Peter had been to the same school,(the one in the eastern suburbs with the girls name). Something to keep quiet about I would have thought. . Peter spoke about his early years in the club, and the schism within the Canterbury branch that led to the creation of the Banks Peninsula branch. The BP Inaugural event was in fact a rally/trial that finished at the Foster/Hall property Terrace Station, Hororata. Peter entered his 2 owner veteran Model T, and was awarded first place. Peter listed the varied marques represented in the early years of the branch: Alvis, New Pick, Angus Sanderson, Galloway, Arrol Johnson, Ansaldo, Nazzaro, Calcott, Calthorpe, Dunnett, Bean, Vulcan, Metallurgic, Hurtu, Hortsman, Rhode, SPA, Valveless, Phoenix, Rickenbacker, Northern, Milwaukee, Orient, Star, Moon, Sunbeam, Unic, Alldays, Knight. To quote Peter, “In those days I belonged to a club of young men with old cars. I now belong to a club of old men with young cars. The rot set in with the adoption of the 30 year rule that was going to introduce new and younger members to our hobby with new members clamouring to own a real vintage car. In reality, however the outcome has been far from what was promised.”
Ron expressed a contrasting point of view and said that if it wasn’t for the 30 year rule the club may well have ceased to exist. To illustrate this he pointed out that the two Bentleys that he had able to buy during the last 60 years had both, at time of purchase been about 30 years old. To quote Ron, “When I first joined the club I never thought in my wildest dreams I could afford a Bentley, but after I had talked to Andrew Anderson, he told me I could”. Ron kept that car for about 40 years, so Andrew was right. Always interesting to hear differing points of view about what will always a point of contention for many of our branch members. The highly efficient organisers of the Irishman event in 2019 tell me that it will be starting in Fairlie, so if you want accommodation book now and beat the ravaging hordes of Model A owners before they take over the entire town. Welcome to new members Clark Mauger ( Bi Motore) Sue and Wylie Evans (Lotus Elan Sprint, Lotus Elan 2+2), Linda Dawber ( Pontiac Raceabout), Andrew Clark (Fiat 124 Spyder), Sandra Cloudsley (Lotus 23 rep), Madelon White, from Dunedin. We hope to see you at future events. The National Office will be closed from the 7th – 24th of September. Julie from head office has had difficulty with a recent sub that didn’t have a reference on it. If you are MA, KP, TF Burn, please get in touch as tracing them has proved impossible.
Coming Events: Opening Run, 23rd of September. Heading North Canterbury way over some interesting back roads and starting from...the New World carpark at Wigram, 51 Skyhawk Rd at 9.30 for a 10.00am start.
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
Monte Carlo Rallye 16,17, 18 November 2018 With only two months to go, interest continues to build, with another team entry, this time from a team of highly polished Fiats. Not a team of 509’s or 125T’s, but 500’s. Getting over the hill to Akaroa could be a challenge for them so other entrants need to build in the possibility of having progress impeded by massed Bambinas. Hopefully there won’t be a head wind. Paul Coghill with his Mk 1 Jag has agreed to join the Dunedin team, so that’s two Jags and a Mini Cooper. Will their dodgy Lucas electrics get them over the Kilmog? So what we have at the moment is lots of people telling us they will definitely take part, but not sending in an entry, We really do need entries now, for catering and general organisational purposes., so please send yours in now. If you received the instructions but
not an actual entry form as well, please get in touch with me, or Louise and Michael Pidgeon, and we’ll send you one instantly.
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: Levels. The Classic Motor Racing Club organises this event at the Levels circuit every year, and because we had 12 entrants from our branch in the Brooklands Vintage field, I thought it beholden on me as an industrious editor to go and have a look. An interesting field, if the names were anything to go by: Frangepelli, Furi, Spangeralli, Furore, RTC, CAE Sprinter, ACE. Clearly spelling is not the strong point of those who make their own. It made the lovely Daimler Special of Phil Thomson seem quite normal. There were four Mistrals, almost an NZ record. Why you would want to name a car after a violent, cold, dry north west wind in southern France is beyond me but their owners are very proud of them, and in general they go very well. However Don Gerrard, who had the shiniest Mistral there, discovered he also had the least reliable Mistral when it came to a rather undignified halt after about 2 laps. The bottom arm of the Triumph Herald front suspension decided to collapse, luckily when Don wasn’t going fast, and he came to a shuddering halt. Does that make it a Doldrum Special? Although after the offending wheel was removed, which wasn’t easy, it did tend to resemble a Morgan. Paul Coory in Lindsey Wogan’s old CAE hotrod was going like a rocket until a lack of petrol brought him to an undignified halt as he left the starting grid.for the final race. Paul did the only sensible thing a driver can do in such trying circumstances, and blamed his wife for not checking the level.... Graeme Hamilton got a little closer to a tyre wall than was prudent, but the rest of the field had a great time, with the remarkable Furi Impulse of Jim Bennett leading the way. It’s about the size of a bathtub, and looks a bit like one, but Jim has supercharged the Hillman Imp motor and done lots of other amazingly clever things, and it really is a very fast and beautifully presented little car. Great to see Doug Macdonald going well in the Alfa Rep. Doug is 86, and still drives like a champion. So a great day’s racing, with a nice relaxed feel.
Garage Raid: As always, we started at Auto Restorations, and the large crowd were fascinated with the extraordinary range of vehicles that Michael Pidgeon showed us. Michael has an encyclopaedic knowledge of every car in the premises, and it was a real thrill to see some of the exotica on show. A list of the marques being worked on gives you the general idea. Vauxhall 30/98, Riley Merlin, Iso Rivolta, Citroen Light 15, Alfa Romeo 6C 2500, Voison, Delahaye (x3), Ferrari, Morris Cowley, Cord, MG TD, Honda S800, Lamborghini, Armstrong Siddley, Porsche, Jag E type. Last year we looked at a 1939 Lagonda Rapide which was being prepared for Pebble Beach. This car subsequently won its
class at Pebble Beach this year, a feat of which Auto Restorations can be very proud. This is their 17th international award, so we are very lucky to have a company of this calibre in Christchurch, and we are equally lucky to be allowed to look around. We then drove to Wigram and the garage of Bruce Shadbolt. To call it immaculate is an understatement, as it makes an operating theatre look messy. Bruce was an enthusiastic host, and talked about the wonderful range of veterans that he has restored. Even Peter Croft looked impressed, and we in turn were impressed by the knowledge that Richard Foster had about every car there. The 1903 Etoile was fascinating. It’s a little French car with a De Dion motor, and was assembled by Adams in Christchurch. Bruce has carefully assembled the bits that had been collected by others over the years, and is nearly finished. Some lovely old photos of the car in it’s early years were just as interesting. There also two Reo’s, a curved dash Olds, a Locomobile, a Panhard et Levassor, ex Bob Turnbull, and at the other end of the scale a Morris Minor convertible and a Morris 8 Sports. Bruce was left the Morris 8 Sports by Brian Harman, a bit of a mixed blessing, so can be forgiven I suppose. Bruce became my new best friend when, while talking to everyone about the Etoile, he uttered the immortal words; “Of course, the French were so far ahead in car design”. What a wise and perceptive person he is, and how true that statement has been over the years. I was so moved that I could only just struggle on to our final destination, the stately home of George Kear and family out at West Melton, where we saw the Kato being prepared for the Targa, which means fitting a passenger seat and a petrol tank that holds more than 5 laps worth of petrol. Should be fairly firm ride on the road. As well as the two A7 Specials that his boys have driven with such success, and the Mini Cooper, there was also an immaculate MG TC and a shed full of donor TC’s that had given their all for the perfect one. George is another of the immaculate shed brigade, and it was a pleasant place in which to end an extremely interesting day. And we raised $273 for the Cancer Foundation.
A Letter to the Editor
Inaugural Targa-VCC South Island Time Trial 2018 (VCC Banks Peninsula Dripfeed)
Thanks to huge support from Targa NZ, VCC National Office, Banks Peninsula branch, Speed Steward Tony Haycock & all lower South Island VCC branches (Southland, Gore, South Otago, Otago, North Otago & Central Otago) we’re ready to go. “We only get one opportunity to participate in a first time event, & this is it!” From initial thoughts & discussions with both VCC & Targa NZ on how to attract new participants & membership, we dreamed up the time trial concept to avoid costly vehicle modification to VCC eligible vehicles, while still preserving the spirit of safe driving & competition. The lower South Island VCC branches named above are all generously supporting this Targa event by providing marshals & car display at lunch/service stops and late afternoon/early evening parc-ferme venues, giving plenty of opportunity to fly the flag for VCC and hopefully attract some new & younger members to join VCC. To date, of the current 22 confirmed entrants, (44 driver/co-drivers), half (22) are new members to VCC! Vehicles entered range from a 1929 Rolls Royce Phantom 1 to a 1986 BMW 325M, with plenty of 1950’s, 60’s&70’s in between. Check the October issue of Beaded Wheels for car photos &/or NZ Classic Car for car photos, maps & programme for Targa 2018, or refer www.targa.nz for further info. This inaugural week-long event starts Labour Day Monday in Invercargill with scrutineering/documentation & prologue/car display, followed by Legends of Targa dinner at the Bill Richardson Museum. On Tuesday we set off through Southland on closed roads & touring stages, returning to Invercargill that night. Wednesday sees us heading north through the Catlins& east Otago to overnight in Dunedin. Thursday we head north for lunch in Oamaru before returning to Dunedin that night. On the road again Friday we head through Otago/Central Otago to overnight in
Queenstown.Last day Saturday sees us driving closed road stages from Queenstown to Glenorchy& return, over the Crown Range & Highlands Park before returning to finish in Queenstown. Following prize-giving breakfast on Sunday morning we’ll all head for home, having covered almost 1,900km of closed & touring stages on the drive of a lifetime. We’re planning for this VCC time trial to continue at least as an annual event with Targa NZ, and with next year planned for the North Island, please register your interest now with Rod Corbett rcorbett@xtra.co.nz or call 027 433 8772. Figure 1"Listen very carefully I am only go to say this once"
A rather large motor – Hispano Suiza
Figure 2 Spaghetti Junction
Figure 3 Mighty chieftain
Figure 4 Cleared for take off
Figure 5 A Magic Merlin
Figure 6 Great French Automobile
Figure 7....and yet another great French automobile
Figure 8 Fine advanced French design
Thanks again for the great photos from John McDonald For Canterbury branch events visit: https://vcccanterbury.wixsite.com/home Qu’es-cet que c’est?
Figure 9 Need we say any more?