Issuu

CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 80 YEARS

No. 399 April/May 2026 New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine

9 418979 000012

VERO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF HISTORING MOTORING

NELSON FIRES ON ALL CYLINDERS BEHIND THE WHEEL

1952 AUSTIN A40

$8.95

Gore member, Paul Katon, has sent us this image of his Grandfather’s sister Connie Katon taken sometime before he left England for New Zealand in 1924 at the age of 14 years. Paul writes “you can just make out the letters PION on the fuel tank, it also appears to be belt driven so could be pre-1910?”

PHOTOGRAPHS REQUIRED: Submissions of suitable prints and information are welcome. Post or email original photographs or high resolution digital files of historical interest with any available information to: beadedwheels@vcc.org. nz or Beaded Wheels, PO Box 76063, Northwood Christchurch 8548. Laserprints/ photocopies are not suitable. Photos will be returned as soon as practicable.

Beaded Wheels

The official club magazine of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Incorporated).

To find out more about the club visit www.vcc.org.nz or contact your nearest branch. VCCNZ BRANCHES A full list of branch addresses and contact details can also be found on the VCCNZ website at www.vcc.org.nz ASHBURTON PO Box 382, Ashburton 7740 ashburton@vcc.org.nz AUCKLAND 39 Fairfax Ave, Penrose, Auckland 1061 auckland@vcc.org.nz BANKS PENINSULA C/O, 722 Waterholds Road, RD8 Christchurch 7678 bankspeninsula@vcc.org.nz BAY OF PLENTY 11 Ridgemount Terrace, Welcome Bay, Tauranga 3112 bayofplenty@vcc.org.nz CANTERBURY PO Box 11-082, Sockburn Christchurch 8443 canterbury@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL OTAGO C/-114 Shortcut Road, Luggate, RD2, Wanaka 9382 centralotago@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY C/- 376 Kopua Road, RD11 Norsewood 4974 centralHawke’sbay@vcc.org.nz EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 2168, Kopeopeo Whakatane 3159 easternbayofplenty@vcc.org.nz FAR NORTH C/– PO Box 312 Kaitaia 0441 farnorth@vcc.org.nz GISBORNE PO Box 307, Gisborne 4040 gisborne@vcc.org.nz GORE PO Box 329, Gore 9740 gore@vcc.org.nz HAWKE’S BAY PO Box 3406, Napier 4142

Hawke’sbay@vcc.org.nz HOROWHENUA PO Box 458, Levin 5540 horowhenua@vcc.org.nz KING COUNTRY C/- 923 Taringamotu Road, Taumarunui 3994 kingcountry@vcc.org.nz MANAWATU PO Box 385 Palmerston North 4440 manawatu@vcc.org.nz MARLBOROUGH PO Box 422, Blenheim 7240 marlborough@vcc.org.nz NELSON 60 Dodson Valley Road, Atawhai. Nelson 7010. nelson@vcc.org.nz NORTHLAND PO Box 17, Whangarei 0140 northland@vcc.org.nz NORTH OTAGO PO Box 360, Oamaru 9444 northotago@vcc.org.nz NORTH SHORE C/- 7 Godwit Place, Lynfield Auckland 1042 northshore@vcc.org.nz OTAGO C/- 125 Forbury Road, Saint Clair, Dunedin 9012 otago@vcc.org.nz ROTORUA PO Box 2014, Rotorua 3040 rotorua@vcc.org.nz SOUTH CANTERBURY 19 Redruth St, Timaru 7910 southcanterbury@vcc.org.nz SOUTHLAND PO Box 1240, Invercargill 9840 southand@vcc.org.nz SOUTH OTAGO C/- 1931 Breakneck Rd, RD 4,

Balclutha 9274 southotago@vcc.org.nz SOUTH WAIKATO PO Box 403 Tokoroa 3420 southwaikato@vcc.org.nz TARANAKI C/- 7 Leatham Ave, Strandon, New Plymouth 4312 taranaki@vcc.org.nz TAUPO 33 AC Baths Ave, Taupo 5530 taupo@vcc.org.nz FAR NORTH WAIKATO NORTHLAND C/- 7 Pirongia Roaad, WELLSFORD/ NORTH SHORE Te Awamutu 3876 WARKWORTH waikato@vcc.org.nz AUCKLAND WAIMATE WAITEMATA 4 Harris St, Waimate 7924 BAY OF PLENTY WAIKATO waimate@vcc.org.nz EASTERN BAY WAIRARAPA OF PLENTY ROTORUA 24B Nikau Heights,Lansdowne, SOUTH WAIKATO Masterton 5810 TAUPO GISBORNE KING COUNTRY wairarapa@vcc.org.nz TARANAKI HAWKE’S BAY WAITEMATA WANGANUI C/- 8 Jean Place, Stanmore Bay, CENTRAL MANAWATU Whangaparoa 0932 HAWKE’S BAY waitemata@vcc.org.nz HOROWHENUA WANGANUI WAIRARAPA PO Box 726, Whanganui 4541 NELSON wanganui@vcc.org.nz WELLINGTON WELLINGTON MARLBOROUGH PO Box 38418, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045 WEST COAST wellington@vcc.org.nz WELLSFORD/WARKWORTH CANTERBURY BANKS PENINSULA PO Box 547, Warkworth 0941 wellsfordwarkworth@vcc. ASHBURTON org.nz SOUTH CANTERBURY WAIMATE WEST COAST C/- Shantytown, NORTH OTAGO CENTRAL OTAGO 316 Rutherglen Road, Rutherglen GORE OTAGO Greymouth 7805, SOUTHLAND westcoast@vcc. SOUTH OTAGO org.nz

COME AND JOIN US WHATEVER YOUR WHEELS Are you looking for an excuse to get your old car or bike out of the garage – we have 36 active branches around New Zealand. Our events range from weekly runs and coffee get togethers, to hill climbs, speed events and touring. Join now to be part of our next big international rally. Vehicles, motorcycles or trucks from 1890 to 1990 are club eligible. Or just join us and grab a ride with another member.

visit www.vcc.org.nz and get motoring with us today. DRIVING OUR HISTORY

CONTENTS Issue 399 April/May 2026

FEATURES

Renault Celtaquatre Restoration

Behind The Wheel – Post WWII Austin

Renault Celtaquatre Restoration

1932 Ford — Original or Traditional

Lochinver

Marketplace

Forty Years to Find a Door

Lochinver Tour 2026

ARVs Explained

33 37

Vero Historic Festival of Motoring Rally Snippets 37

Midweek Tourers–Auckland

Veteran Run – Auckland

Burma Rally – Wanganui

Pomeroy Trophy – Banks Peninsula

Branch News – Gore

COVER

COLUMNS 5

From the Editor

VCC Branch Events

Mailbag

Timelines

52 Notice of AGM

Book Review

Branch News

Marketplace

Passing Lane

Swap Meets & Rallies

Trade Directory

President’s Message

The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Incorporated

Double Knocker Works Replica 500cc Velocette

National Support Office News

51 Awards

Michael and Diana Rickerby were among the 1194 entrants at the recently completed Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring. Seen here enjoying the sunshine in their 1931 Ford Model A. Photo: John McDonald

National Support Office

Phone 03 366 4461 (9.30am–1.30pm) Email admin@vcc.org.nz

Postal Address PO Box 76063, Northwood, Christchurch 8548, New Zealand.

Address 4 Meadow Street, Papanui, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Website: www.vcc.org.nz

DRIVING OUR HISTORY

4 Beaded Wheels

Find us on facebook Vintage Car Club of New Zealand

The Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) is the worldwide organisation dedicated to the preservation, protection and promotion of historic vehicles and related culture. The Vintage Car Club of NZ (Incorporated) is a founding member of FIVA. VCC Life Member Rod Brayshaw is the New Zealand delegate to FIVA and also a member of the FIVA Technical Commission.

FROM THE

EDITOR A recent email to me about the delivery timeliness of the digital version of Beaded Wheels prompted me to look a bit deeper into how many members were making use of this facility. Bearing in mind that members will still receive the hard copy version I had expected that the digital version would be popular with those who wish to create their own archive of past issues. Once downloaded, then installed in an appropriate folder on their computer, they would have their own searchable archive which would negate the need to have a bookshelf of past hard copy issues. I have all past issues, from the first Guff Sheet (the precursor to Beaded Wheels) in 1953 to the current issue, in digital format and I find this a useful resource. Prior to the Guff Sheet there were occasional newsletters to let members know what was happening. Those newsletters are hard to find these days! Membership numbers were low in those early years. We currently have more than 1,900 of our members (about 25% of our membership) who get the email telling them how to access and download the digital version each issue. That email comes out about a week after the posting of the hard copy version. Most will get both within a week of each other. That number of 1,900 surprised me so I decided to look further into the situation. When a member joins on-line, a relatively recent facility, they are automatically

Beaded Wheels

signed up for the digital version which means that some (most?) of that 1,900 will be newer members (and they will have an email address!) and that will only increase as the years go by. I got quite excited about some 1,900 members accessing the digital version so I thought I would delve a bit deeper to see what other information was available to me. What a let down! The figures are shocking. Only a tiny proportion of our members read Beaded Wheels on-line, and even less download it so that it can be kept as a permanent record. Here are some numbers. The June 2025 issue was read online by 200 people. Only 29 downloaded it to put on their own computer. There were similar figures for August, October and December 2025. As of 24 February, this year 113 had read the latest issue online and there had been 19 downloads, of which I was one. To put your mind at rest — we know the numbers, but we don’t know who has been downloading. Nobodies privacy has been damaged during the process! The low figures notwithstanding we intend to continue with the digital version with no changes to the delivery method. We may, in the future, choose a different method to get it to members. This could be via another provider or even eventually via a members-only portal on our website.

Correspondence & Editorial Contributions

The Vintage Car Club of NZ Incorporated The Historic Vehicle Authority of New Zealand ISSN 0113-7506 Vol LXXVII No. 399

Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Phone 64 3 332 3531, PO Box 76063, Northwood, Christchurch 8548.

Typesetting and Design

Advertising Enquiries

Publisher

RGB Design & Print Ltd, Christchurch

Editor: Kevin Clarkson Sub Editors: Judith Bain, Rosalie Brown,

Mark Dawber, John McDonald, Graham Pauley, Bruce Rickard, Charles Rushbrook

Classified and Display Advertising to: Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Postal: Attn Beaded Wheels Marketplace PO Box 76063, Northwood, Christchurch 85480. Phone 64 3 332 3531 Rate schedule available on request.

s Beaded Wheels Editor, Kevin Clarkson, enjoys a moment with English guests, Dee and Lee Searle, during the Nelson-based Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring.

WOW – WHAT A WEEK! I have just returned home from the Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring based in Nelson, but which had us motoring all over the Tasman district. Seven warm sunny days, only a little rain on Saturday, lots of motoring up and down hills, some lovely country roads, and many old cars (and motorbikes) everywhere. Lots of social events, great entertainment and that final Saturday night awards dinner and closing ceremony that was a great finale to a fantastic week. Yes, there were a few breakdowns which is to be expected during such an event, but most got going again. You had to be there to really get the vibe but the sight of many young school children of Ngatimoti school sighting the Auckland Branch Charabanc coming into the school grounds was amazing. As soon as it had arrived the children ran noisily after it in their excitement at seeing such a rare and unusual vehicle. It was soon ferrying carloads of children around the school’s back paddock—arguably the most popular vehicle on the day, although plenty of others were

Back Issues

Available for purchase from admin@vcc.org.nz

Subscriptions

Beaded Wheels subscribers change of address to: PO Box 76063 Northwood Christchurch 8548. Phone 03 366 4461, Email admin@vcc.org.nz Annual subscription (6 issues) $52* inc GST Australian subscription (6 issues) NZ$112* Other countries (6 issues) NZ$185* Digital subscription (6 issues) NZ$39 available from issuu.com.

also called upon to give rides. The children were fantastic. Offering us cups of tea or coffee and iced drinks and fruit. They were polite and attentive. If they are the future, we can rest easy. They also seemed to have been given a sheet of questions to seek the answers to, so they were running around with clipboards and pens looking closely at each car. Maybe they will be future members, or most likely public servants, don’t they all have clipboards? Festival Director Ray Robertson and his team have done us proud. The Festival Guide and the Rally Guide books are top class publications and will be a permanent reminder to entrants of the fun they have had and the people they have met. I don’t know if there will be another Festival of Historic Motoring in the future but if there is I suggest that you do not miss it.

Kevin Clarkson Editor Beaded Wheels

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The contents are copyright. Articles may be reproduced complete or in part provided that acknowledgement is made to “Beaded Wheels, the magazine of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Incorporated” as the source. Reproduction of articles must be at least 12 months after original Beaded Wheels publication date. Beaded Wheels reserves the right to digitally store all published material for archival purposes.

CLOSING DATES FOR JUNE/JULY Editorial Copy 24 April 2026 Advertisements 10 May 2026

Beaded Wheels 5

VINTAGE CAR CLUB BRANCH EVENTS

DRIVING OUR HISTORY

Auckland Branch members midweek run among the windmills.

APRIL

1 Hawke’s Bay Midweek Run 5 Manawatu Sunday Jaunt 9 South Canterbury Midweek Run 10-11 Waikato Mooloo Meander 11 Canterbury P Group Rally 11 Central Hawke’s Bay Afternoon/Twilight Rally 11 Gore Southern Backroads Adventure 11-12 Otago Southern Backroad Adventure 12 Ashburton Veteran/Vintage Only Run 12 Auckland Autumn Tour 12 Gore Frank Robson Memorial Run & Clearwater Capers 12 Hawke’s Bay Sunday Run 12 North Shore Annual Car Show 12 South Canterbury Motorcycle Run 12 Wairarapa Club Captain’s Run 15 Auckland Midweek Tourer’s Run 15 Bay of Plenty Mid Month Run 18 Canterbury Scooter & Small Motorcycle Rally 18 Central Otago Golden Times Rally 18 Far North Brian Parker Rally 18 Wanganui Motorcycle Rally 18 Wanganui Sunday Run 19 Banks Peninsula Autumn Gymkhana 19 Canterbury OCBC* 19 Waikato Ladies Meander 24 Hawke’s Bay Mix ‘n’ Mingle 25 Auckland Club Afternoon 25 Canterbury Malvern Anzac Day Run 26 Nelson Club Run 26 Northland Swap Meet 30 Ashburton Midweek Run

NATIONAL EVENTS 12–14 February 2027 VCC National Motorcycle Rally

2 Ashburton 3 Banks Peninsula 3 Canterbury 3 Hawke’s Bay 3 Manawatu 9 Banks Peninsula 9 Canterbury 9 Nelson 9 Southland 9 Taranaki 9-10 Wairarapa 10 Far North 10 Gore 14 Banks Peninsula 14 South Canterbury 16 Northland 16 Southland 17 Canterbury

17 Hawke’s Bay 17 South Canterbury 20 Auckland 20 Manawatu 24 Auckland 24 Manawatu 28 Ashburton 29 Hawke’s Bay 30-31 Canterbury 31 South Canterbury 31 Wanganui

Swap Meet Speedway Track Day Autumn Run Back to Basics Swap Meet Sunday Jaunt Autumn Fling Rural Run Swap Meet Waimea Motorcycle Rally Maunga Moana Rally Motorcycle Reliability Run Mother’s Day Rally Night Trial AGM Midweek Run Motorcycle Rally P60/P80 Rally Ross Butler Memorial Grasskhana and OCBC* Sunday Run P Class Rally Midweek Tourer’s Run AGM Annual Expert’s Rally Post Era Rally Midweek Run Mix ‘n’ Mingle Irishman All British Day Annual Rally

A valid Vehicle ID card (VIC) is required for any vehicle entered in a National VCC event. Visit www. vcc.org.nz for more information on how to obtain a VIC for your vehicle.

*OCBC: “Old Cars, Bikes , and Coffee,” all welcome.

6 Beaded Wheels

MAY

JUNE

4 South Canterbury 6 Waikato 7 Manawatu 7 Northland 7 Wairarapa 10 Hawke’s Bay 14 Canterbury 14 Hawke’s Bay 14 Otago 19–20 Gore 21 Canterbury 21 South Canterbury 21 Wairarapa 25 Ashburton 26 Hawke’s Bay 27 Banks Peninsula 27 Far North 27 Nelson

AGM Double 50 Rally Sunday Jaunt AGM AGM AGM Restoration of the Year Sunday Run AGM 60th Anniversary OCBC* End of Season Run Winter Wander AGM Mix ‘n’ Mingle Night Trial Molloy Trophy Restoration of the Year/ Pride of Ownership/AGM

This column is compiled from the VCCNZ National Calendar of Events, and events as listed in each branch newsletter. It does not contain all branch activities. While Beaded Wheels makes every attempt to check the accuracy of the dates published in this column we advise readers to confirm all dates with the individual branch concerned.

MAILBAG Beaded Wheels reserves the right to publish, edit or refuse publication of any item s ubmitted as comment. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily express the policy or views of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Incorporated) or the publishers. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

BSA MEMORIES

The article in the February/ March 2026 Beaded Wheels jogged my memory on BSA cars. There were a few of them around in the 1950s and 1960s. The Matthews family of Tupare, New Plymouth had a friend, Hilly, who was a matron at one of the girls’ boarding schools in Hawke’s Bay. Hilly used to visit New Plymouth, in a BSA saloon very similar to the one in your article. In the mid 1960s the BSA broke down, it was a case of “can’t be fixed because the parts are no longer available.” Hilly was faced with replacing the BSA. The new car was a Fiat 500. On the day of collection the Fiat was at the ready in the showroom. Now, having exclusively used the excellent pre-selector gearbox for many years, the Fiat was rather different — so much so that when the starter was activated with the car in gear, it went forward through and smashing the showroom window. A memorable first drive in the new car!

windscreen. I restored the car it back to working order, had it authenticated (date and model and police clearance) by my local VCC Branch to enable it to get a VIN. I then went to my local VINZ with my authentication certificate to get a VIN and a WoF. And… that’s where the problems started. Was it New Zealand new? Was it imported? How the hell would I know! I was not sure of the difference. As Model Ts were imported CKD and some actually assembled in Timaru (where I live) I said it was New Zealand imported. Well… that was a problem because Ford doesn’t import cars to be assembled in New Zealand… according to the girl behind the VINZ desk. There are no assembly plants in New Zealand now.

Waitemata Branch

In Beaded Wheels 398 Feb/Mar 2026 was an article by Garry Reynolds headed Chevrolet Information. It was about the problems that Brian Watson had while seeking to enter a previously registered, but lapsed, vehicle into the system. I had the same dilemma with my 1923 Model T a few years ago. I bought it half restored and with pictures of its condition when the vendor bought it including one that had an old number plate sitting against the

Eventually the man in Wellington could somehow bypass all the silly questions on the program that VINZ had to deal with and the VIN and WoF happened in a flash. I don’t think that anyone examined the vehicle. VIN riveted on - a WoF sticker stuck on — I paid my fee and I am still motoring well! That was 21 years ago. One problem is that the Government has wiped old vehicle registrations and the computer system has two alternatives for the VINZ person to answer — New Zealand new or imported… and then what was its previous Rego number? To think that 21 years later the problem still exists is astounding. Grant Keeley Timaru Ph 027 223 9978 (Abridged)

ED COMMENT: NZTA and the

Glynn Williams

REGO PROBLEMS

in Wellington and became very annoyed. Great ... at least he wasn’t getting annoyed with me. He thought the car was a great specimen.

I had a problem in that I had to remain very calm to get this matter resolved, knowing that VINZ were not the greatest at understanding vintage vehicles. It seemed to be that the computer program that VINZ had to deal with from Wellington did not cope with this situation. A senior VINZ’s man was then on the case. I realised that he was getting very frustrated with the system — luckily not with me. He had some torrid conversations with someone

VCC have a good relationship and have developed a flow chart of the process that needs to be followed to re-register your vehicle. It is available on our website. If followed correctly all the paperwork can be completed before you go to an inspection provider to overcome this. Please ask your branch delegate if more detail is required as NZTA presented to them in March 2025 at the Executive Meeting.

RACING

This is an open letter of thanks to the VCC and in particular to the Nelson and Banks Peninsula Branches whose efforts have made motorsport events possible for me over the last two decades. Previous motorsport for me had been with Motorsport New Zealand, but growing costs of using my vehicle as they aligned with the FIA had reached a point where many of us were resigned to having to abandon our passion, as our apparel, helmets, seat belts and roll protection no longer complied. The VCC presented a lifeline. As well as being more in keeping with my vehicles, its cost structure was dramatically less and a common-sense approach to requirements meant I could afford to continue. I have to commend those who struck the arrangement with Motorsport New Zealand which permits VCC vehicles access to their race circuits and club sport events while running under its own regulations. Unfortunately, within the VCC there is a push to align more closely with FIA requirements, some of which we have been able to push back against - such as the refuelling requirements which would have seen unnecessary costs imposed. Motorsport New Zealand say they make suggestions for improvements but accept that the VCC runs under its own regulations and Motor Sport New Zealand are happy to let them do so. However rising costs and regulations have already seen some VCC racers withdraw and

“at least he wasn’t getting annoyed with me. He thought the car was a great specimen” Beaded Wheels 7