Issuu

CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 70 YEARS

9 418979 000012

No. 350 February/March 2018

NEW ZEALANDâ€™S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $7.95

10 COLLECTABLE CARS THE ORIGINAL 1913 PARLIAMENTARY TOUR MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND

Beaded Wheels 1

In 2016 Canterbury Branch member Norm Sisson supplied a series of older photographs including this one. Unfortunately no details came with the images - any information gratefully received.

Contact National Office for all queries regarding VICs, logbooks, historic race licences, lighting endorsement, registration of vehicles, address changes, subscriptions, membership cards, speed events.

NATIONAL OFFICE

The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140 Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz

VCCNZ MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

CLUB CAPTAIN NORTHERN REGION Kaaren Smylie 021 664 341 nicc@vcc.org.nz CLUB CAPTAIN SOUTHERN REGION Alon Mayhew 027 202 9491 sicc@vcc.org.nz REGISTRAR Rod Brayshaw 07 549 4250 registrar@vcc.org.nz

PRESIDENT Diane Quarrie 06 876 4009 president@vcc.org.nz

SPEED STEWARD Tony Haycock 021 662 441 speedsteward@vcc.org.nz

SECRETARY/ TREASURER Michael Lavender 03 325 5704 hon.sec@vcc.org.nz

BEADED WHEELS CHAIRMAN Kevin Clarkson 021 0270 6525 kevin@vcc.org.nz

Ed Boyd 06 348 4547

mgmt3@vcc.org.nz

Tony Bartlett 06 867 9850

mgmt1@vcc.org.nz

David Yorke 06 358 8060

mgmt2@vcc.org.nz

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING comms@vcc.org.nz ARCHIVIST Don Muller 03 385 6850

archivist@vcc.org.nz

Please note this information changes annually - these details are valid until October 2018

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 PO Box 12-138, Penrose, Auckland 1642 auckland@vcc.org.nz BANKS PENINSULA 27 Showgate Ave, Riccarton Park, Christchurch 8042 bankspeninsula@vcc.org.nz BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 660, Tauranga 3140 bayofplenty@vcc.org.nz CANTERBURY PO Box 11-082, Sockburn Christchurch 8443 canterbury@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL OTAGO C/- 4B Roto Place, Wanaka 9305 centralotago@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY C/- 3 Fergusson Avenue Waipukurau 4200, centralhawkesbay@vcc.org.nz EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 2168, Kopeopeo Whakatane 3159 easternbayofplenty@vcc.org.nz

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FAR NORTH C/- 64 Mangakaretu Road, RD2, Kerikeri 0295 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 hawkesbay@vcc.org.nz HOROWHENUA PO Box 458, Levin 5540 horowhenua@vcc.org.nz KING COUNTRY C/- 34 House Ave, Taumarunui 3920 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 PO Box 3531, Richmond 7050 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 PO Box 5352, Dunedin 9058 otago@vcc.org.nz ROTORUA PO Box 2014, Rotorua 3040 rotorua@vcc.org.nz SOUTH CANTERBURY PO Box 623, 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/- 297 Huatoki St, New Plymouth 4310

taranaki@vcc.org.nz TAUPO PO Box 907, Taupo 3351 taupo@vcc.org.nz WAIKATO PO Box 924, Hamilton 3240 waikato@vcc.org.nz WAIMATE 4 Harris St, Waimate 7924 waimate@vcc.org.nz WAIRARAPA PO Box 7, Masterton 5810 wairarapa@vcc.org.nz WAITEMATA C/- Embroidme, 23E William Pickering Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632 waitemata@vcc.org.nz WANGANUI PO Box 726, Wanganui 4540 wanganui@vcc.org.nz WELLINGTON PO Box 38-418, Petone, Wellington 5045 wellington@vcc.org.nz WELLSFORD/WARKWORTH PO Box 547, Warkworth 0941 wellsfordwarkworth@vcc.org.nz WEST COAST C/- 17 Loris Place Greymouth 7805 westcoast@vcc.org.nz

CONTENTS

Beaded Wheels Publisher

THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ (INC.) The Historic Vehicle Authority of New Zealand ISSN 0113-7506 Vol CCCL No. 350

Issue 350 February/March 2018

Editorial Committee

Kevin Clarkson (Chairman), Judith Bain, Bevars Binnie, Rosalie Brown, John Coomber, Mark Dawber, Marilyn McKinlay.

Material for Publication

Reports of restorations, events, road tests, historical and technical articles should be submitted to beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz. Email of text and photos is preferred, digital photographs should be high resolution eg 300dpi. Alternatively mail your contribution to PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141, typed or neatly printed, double space on one side of paper only. No payment is made to contributors. The opinions or statements expressed in letters or articles in Beaded Wheels are the author’s own views and do not necessarily express the policy or views of The Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc).

FEATURES 15

A Brief History of the Petroleum Industry in New Zealand

10 Collectable Cars for Young Enthusiasts

Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz

Rally Snippets 25 Veteran Rally - Central Hawke’s Bay 26 Annual Motorcycle Rally - Auckland 28 Prospectors’ Tour - Ashburton 30 Windsor Rally - North Otago 30 Clutha Rally - South Otago

Advertising Address

Classified and Display Advertising to: PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 Rate schedule available on request.

Dick Blackham The Racer

Back Issues

Available on request to PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141.

Correspondence & Editorial Contributions

Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141.

Subscriptions

Beaded Wheels subscribers change of address to PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140. Phone 03 366 4461, Fax 03 366 0273 Annual subscription (6 issues) $45* inc GST Australian subscription (6 issues) NZ$76* Other countries (6 issues) NZ$136*. *Payment by credit card will incur additional bank fee processing charge of 3%

Production

Typesetting & design by RGBDesign Printed by Spectrum Print Ltd, Christchurch.

Closing Date for April/May Issue

Editorial Copy 23 February 2018 Advertisements 10 March 2018

The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz

Postal Address PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.

COLUMNS 4

President’s Message

As We See It

VCC Events

31 Obituary

National Office News

Mutterings of a Mature Motorcyclist Brass Notes

7 Mailbag

36 Marketplace

9 Timelines

Swap Meets & Rallies

50 Year Awards

Idle Torque

The Way We Were

Passing Lane

Captain’s Log

Book Reviews

Address 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch, New Zealand. Website www.vcc.org.nz Copyright Information 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 (Inc)” as the source. Beaded Wheels reserves the right to digitally store all published material for archival purposes.

COVER Wairarapa’s stretched gymkhana on 5 November 2017. Millie Scott fully focussed on navigating in the Model T Speedster. Photo Kevin Ball

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

In a letter to all branches in late November I was pleased to advise that Tony Haycock had been appointed as Festival Director for the 2021 Vero Historic Festival of Motoring to be held in New Plymouth. The Management Committee will be having a more hands-on role with the 2021 event, hence the appointment of a Management Committee member as the Director.

former National President and 2000 International Rally Director Greg Terrill has had its first meeting as they begin to get stuck into the many tasks involved in the process of giving our members a quality event, and an unique international rally experience. There are still a couple of committee positions to fill and in the next issue of Beaded Wheels Tony will introduce his entire team to you.

Although Tony is currently National Speed Steward and is well known for his travel and journalistic endeavours, in another life Tony has experience in event management and recently has been involved in organising major motoring events for overseas clubs.

The date has been confirmed as 17 to 23 January 2021. The venue for the rally village has been locked in place and the TSB Stadium/ Pukekura Function Centre and New Plymouth racecourse will be the heart of the entire festival. Both venues are committed to making sure that at the end of every day’s motoring, everything entrants need to keep themselves fed, watered and entertained will be on hand and to a high standard, with variety and quality being the two essential components in all of this.

We have taken on board the concerns and comments from many members about the future of our International Rallies and Tony has come up with a new concept which is exciting and innovative and I have no doubt that with Tony’s enthusiasm and experience it will be a very successful event for our members. Tony is now two months into his role and since being appointed there has been plenty of progress. The rally committee, chaired by

There is ample room for a camping ground within the rally village and this is something which the venue is well set up for as they do this every year for the WOMAD festival. Once again we have wonderful financial support from VERO, without which it would be

impossible to run an event of this scale without having an entry fee well beyond the reach of the majority of our members. We are also looking for additional sponsorship to make the Festival even more affordable, always keeping an eye on costs to ensure the Club finances are not put at risk. The new format of a one week event, along with all entrants starting and/or finishing at the same destination for each motoring day, means that we are more than halving the number of marshals and helpers required for each day. While we will be calling on VCC members for assistance in the lead-up to the Festival, Tony and his team want to see our members out on their motorbikes, or in their cars and trucks enjoying and taking part in the event rather than waving their arms around in a paddock with a white coat and high-vis vest. In keeping with previous rallies long, medium and short route options will be offered. We will be promoting the Festival overseas very shortly, but the best form of publicity is by word of mouth. In this day of effortless communication, many of us have old car contacts throughout the

world. Within the next few weeks Tony is hoping to have a single page flyer ready to transmit as a pdf file by e-mail. Please contact him (festivaldirector@vcc.org.nz or 021 662 441) for a copy of it to send to your friends, one make clubs or anyone from off-shore who might be a possible entrant. Tony has already been rash enough to offer one of his vehicles to friends in France to use for the Festival. As well as working with his committee to put the rally together, he will need to get out in his shed and do the same with the pile of bits which once were a vintage Renault! Geoff and I have just returned from the Vintage Weekend in Wanganui incorporating the Burma Rally and 50 year presentation to Bruce Ardell. This event is growing more popular every year with a good turnout of entries for the actual rally but with hundreds of special interest vehicles on display to the public. These displays help to cement our relationships with other special interest clubs which can only be a good thing.

Diane Quarrie VCCNZ National President

AS WE SEE IT In many respects the freedom to use our older vehicles in the manner we enjoy today is coming under threat from those who claim that we are contributing to what is called climate change (or weather, as I call it) and also to traffic problems. There are also claims that older vehicles don’t have the safety features found in moderns. In some countries the right to use old cars is severely restricted and I don’t think we should do anything to cause the authorities here to change the way we currently motor our vehicles. We must use them responsibly and avoid stirring up bad feelings in the minds of the great unwashed motoring public. One thing we can do, and this has been mentioned repeatedly seemingly to little avail is pull over and let vehicles behind pass so we are holding up traffic as little as

4 Beaded Wheels

possible. Time and again I observe this does not happen and am sure that you have seen this as well. On 1 January 2018 I went to Little River to the highly enjoyable mustattend Banks Peninsula Branch New Year’s Day Picnic. On the way I was stuck in a large queue of slow moving traffic. Many cars passed me, and the other cars in front of me, in an effort to get to the front of the queue. When I finally got further up the queue I saw the problem. It was an early ‘20s tourer, stubbornly ignoring all other traffic and blissfully driving along at about 40 mph. The driver had ignored the plentiful opportunities this road provided to pull over to let the traffic past as the queues built up on this busy road. Obviously I don’t know if this person is a VCC member but if he is he may read

this and perhaps reflect on his road behaviour and lack of driving skills. Regrettably I seriously doubt it will make any difference to him and he will continue to forever confirm to the modern car driver that drivers of old cars are ignorant and all these old cars should not be allowed on the road. Will all owners of early ‘20s tourers please NOT ring me to complain about my outing of this situation – just make sure you are not the one causing the problem!

Kevin Clarkson Chairman, Beaded Wheels

WORLD TOUR IN A MODEL T In 2012 Dirk and Trudy Regter from the Netherlands started a journey in their 1915 Ford Model T, visiting over 50 countries covering every continent. Their journey continues down under. We don’t have their itinerary but it seems they are travelling from Auckland down to Invercargill during February before crossing over to Australia. They have had a few problems in their journeys not the least being a bad accident which meant a complete restoration before they could continue. The world tour is to raise money for SOS Children’s Villages International and more information can by using the link below. Keep an eye out for them – I’m sure they have an interesting story to tell. http://www.tfordworldtour.org/ model-t-worldtour-on-the-roadagain/2017/08/21/

VINTAGE CAR CLUB BRANCH EVENTS

Auckland Branch motorcycle rally, November 2017 photo John Shennan

FEBRUARY

2–4 Banks Peninsula 3 Southland 3 Estn BOP 4 Manawatu 9–11 Banks Peninsula 10 Waimate 10-12 Gisborne 11 Nelson 11 Otago 11 Wairarapa 11 Wellsford/Wkwth 16-18 Hawke’s Bay 17 Canterbury 17 Nelson 18 Ashburton 18 Central Otago 18 Otago 20 West Coast 21 Waikato 22 Otago 24 Canterbury 24 North Otago 24 Wellsford/Wkwth 25 Gisborne 25 Marlborough 25 Waikato 25 West Coast 28 Southland 28 Taranaki

MARCH 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 10 10 10 10 10-11 17 17 17-18 18 18 18

Canterbury Canterbury Manawatu Southland Canterbury Otago Waikato Nelson Taupo Wairarapa Wellsford/Wkwth Canterbury Horowhenua West Coast Canterbury Gore Waikato Taranaki

Skope Classic Racing, Ruapuna Southland Rally East Coast Rally Veteran Rally Enzed Classic Racing, Levels Wallaby Run Three Rivers Rally Club Run Wings & Wheels Taieri Airport Remembrance Rally Gymnic Art Deco Weekend 30th Anniversary Boot Fair Swap Meet PV/PWV Run Sunday Run Ladies Run Morning Tea Shantytown Wednesday Wander Mid Week Run Commercial Annual Rally All British Day Swap Meet Club Run Boat trip to Pelorus Sound Branch Open Day Club Run 3rd Southland Rally 25th Waitara Mini Vin Tour

Moped Run Back Country Run Ruahine Ramble Veteran Rally Rear Wheel Brake Rally Vintage Venture Ladies Rally Club Run Lake Taupo Rally Rex Porter Memorial Rally “Are We There Yet?” Rally inc Mike Annual Rally Brown Memorial Trophy Swap Meet Scenicland Coal Trail Rally Jim Toohey Motorcycle Run Swap Meet Vintage Venture Kiwi Road Picnic Run

20 21 21 22 24 25

West Coast Manawatu Waikato Otago Sth Cant Central Otago

25 30 30 31

Gisborne Southland Waikato Ashburton

APRIL 1 2 7 14 15 15 17 18 21 21 21-22 22 22 25 28 29

April Otago Waikato Nth Otago Canterbury Nelson West Coast Waikato Central Otago Taranaki Canterbury Waikato West Coast Canterbury Canterbury Gisborne

Morning tea Shantytown Branch AGM Wednesday Wander Mid Week Run Swap Meet at Winchester 25th Moped Run / Trip to Scenicland Rally Club Run National South Island Easter Rally National North Island Easter Rally Branch Easter Run

South Island Club Captain’s Tour Sausage Sizzle Mooloo Meander Gerald Lynch-Bosse Memorial M/C Rally P Group Annual Rally Club Run Ladies Rally Morning tea Shantytown Wednesday Wander 21st Golden Times Rally Arrowtown Maunga Moana Rally Annual 2 Day Autumn Run Twilight Run Club Run ANZAC Run Scooter & M/C Run (up to 249cc) Club Run

VINTAGE CAR CLUB NATIONAL EVENTS 24 March 30 March –1 April 30 March–2 April 1-7 April

National Executive Meeting hosted by Canterbury Branch North Island National Easter Rally hosted by Waikato Branch South Island National Easter Rally hosted by Southland Branch South lsland Club Captain’s Tour

This list of events is compiled from the VCCNZ National Calendar of Events, and branch events as listed in each branch newsletter. Any deletions, additions, alterations need to be notified to Beaded Wheels by the Branch Secretary before 10th of the month prior to magazine publication. 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.

Beaded Wheels 5

NATIONAL OFFICE

VCC SPEED EVENTS It is compulsory for any member entering a VCC Speed Event to hold a current VCC Historic Racing Licence and VCC Log Book for the vehicle they are using.

VCC Vero Insurance Scheme

Branch Transfer

Please remember that to be insured under the VCC Vero Insurance Scheme, you must be a fully paid up financial member of the Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.).

To transfer between branches complete a transfer form. This can be obtained through your branch secretary.

Executive Meeting The next Executive Meeting will be held on 24 March 2018 in Christchurch. Should you have any item you wish to be discussed by the Executive, please advise your Branch Delegate.

VCC ID Card/Authenticity Statement Requirements Vehicle Identity Card/Authenticity Statement applications must go to your branch which will deal with them. The only exception is a straight change of ownership with no alterations to a vehicle. In this case, ask your branch secretary for a VIC change of ownership form, complete this and return it to the National Office. All applications for Vehicle Identity Cards and Authenticity Statements must include photos of the vehicle. Applications cannot be processed without these. If you require a lighting endorsement for a vehicle, you must complete both the Vehicle Identity Card/Authenticity Statement application form and lighting endorsement form and return these to your branch secretary for processing.

If you currently hold a VCC Historic Racing Licence, please keep an eye on the expiry date and if it needs renewing please complete the Historic Race Licence Renewal Form and forward it, along with $23 and a new one will be issued.

VCC ID Cards Renewals

All application forms for the above are obtainable from your branch, the VCC website or the National Office.

Please note that all VCC Identity Cards (VIC) have an expiry date. This expiry is upon change of ownership or 10 years from the issue date. Your vehicle must also be as described on the VIC. A renewal form personalised for each VIC is distributed by the National Office to current financial members approximately three months before expiration. Even if your vehicle has had no changes this form must be checked, current mileage advised, signed and forwarded to your branch, along with the VIC (if the photo correctly shows your vehicle in its present state), or three new photos, as stated on the form. Upon receipt at the National Office the VIC will be reissued and will be valid for a further 10 years unless there is a change of ownership or major changes to the vehicle during that time. It is compulsory for all National and International VCC Rallies that vehicles entered must have a current VIC. If you have sold your vehicle, please notify the National Office.

CLUB MEMBER REMINDER Please advise National Office of any changes of address or sales/ purchases of vehicles. Contact the office via email at: admin@vcc.org.nz or by post or phone.

Beaded Wheels Beaded Wheels is the voice of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) and its 36 branches covering the length and breadth of the country. The efforts of our members continue to foster and ever widen the interest in this segment of our country’s history. It is to these people, who CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 70 YEARS

No. 345 April/May 2017

NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $7.95

CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 70 YEARS

Beaded Wheels

No. 348 October/November 2017

NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $7.95

NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE RALLY

6 Beaded Wheels

Julie Cairns-Gee National Office Manager

9 418979 000012

E TYPE JAGUAR

Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.) National Office, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140 Telephone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 email admin@vcc.org.nz www.vcc.org.nz Office Hours Mon – Thur 9-5pm

VCCNZ

NATIONAL VETERANNATIONAL RALLY EVENT

MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND

BEDFORD AC RESTORATION 1935 ROYAL ENFIELD MOTOR CARRIER

appreciate the fascination of age, the individuality and the functional elegance of vehicles from a bygone era, that this magazine is dedicated

Beaded Wheels – Our long established title may have readers wondering about its origin. By way of explanation beaded edge wheels use beaded edge tyres that are kept in place by reinforced rubber beads, which fit into the rolled edges of the wheel rim. This style of wheel was a distinctive feature of early motoring being used on early bicycles, many pre-1924 cars and most motorcycles until 1927. In March 1955 The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand adopted the title Beaded Wheels for their club magazine which was the successor to the monthly Guff Sheet.

MAILBAG

Mailbag queries in Beaded Wheels 349

The editorial committee reserve the right to publish, edit or refuse publication of any item submitted 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 (Inc.) or the publishers. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Information Found The cars shown on page two of Beaded Wheels 349 are still around. The top photo shows the 1905 Darracq being driven by the late Roy Southward. The other car is a 1909 Clement Talbot, a gentleman’s colonial roadster. The lower left photos is a 1909 Holsman. Sir Len Southward is the driver. The top right photo is a De Dion Bouton. The driver looks like the late Rex Porter of Carterton. The lower photo is the Clement Talbot again. The jaunty hat angle and the different D plates indicate the driver could be the then owner, the late Ken Wright of Wanganui. The cars are now part of the Southward Museum

veteran car display and are still mobile. Jack Watson Southward Museum Trustee

Thank you for asking for details of the four photos (BW349). I am the Wellington Branch archivist and we have just run the 60th annual November rally. Three of the four photos are of our inaugural event, 22 November 1958. The fourth photo was at the Mardi Gras at Eastbourne 24 January 1959. The details of each photo; the first three are at the 22 November inaugural Rally.

The top photo - 1906 Darracq (5) Roy Southward driving, passenger unknown. 1909 Clement Talbot (7) Ken Wright, entrant Wanganui Bottom left photo - 1907 Holsman (2) Len Southward Bottom upper photo - 1900 Cudell DeDion (4) - Rex Porter, Carterton The fourth photo was at the Mardi-Gras, Eastbourne 24 January 1959. Bottom lower photo - 1909 Clement Talbot (10) - Ken Wright, Wanganui All four cars are now at the Southward Trust Museum. Michael Curry Archivist Wellington Branch

Now that’s a cover

The coupe in the enquiry from Graeme Duthie on page 7 is a 1928 Plymouth, a model readily distinguished from its Chrysler family brethren by having no cowl lamps. The steam waggons (two ‘g’s when they are steam powered) are a 1911 Foden as mentioned, and the other is a circa 1917 Sentinel. I think BBS is for Brown Bayley Steelworks Sheffield. I think this photo may have been taken late in the life of the waggon as most have more complete signwriting. The ‘conrod’ might be something to do with the valve gear of the steam engine. The Foden is sign written with Davey and Co of Bristol, a company that is still in business. Matchbox’s Models of Yesteryear number Y27 features a similar wagon. In the photo of the two cars at the Hilltop Hotel the car on the right is a large Renault. Renault built a series of 4 ½ litre six cylinder models from 1914 to 1922; variously labelled Type ED, EF and EJ, and I think this is one of these. See photo below also taken in New Zealand.

I write in reference to your choice of mechanical workings on the front cover of the Dec/ Jan issue of Beaded Wheels. Please be advised that a box of fine wine will not follow this letter as its not written in the form of a complaint. (ref your column As We See It) In fact, it’s quite the reverse. I therefore on behalf of all BSA owners suffering from BSA Motorcyclous`s throughout the land, convey our heartiest congratulations for your obvious taste and high regard in choosing such a fine quality machine as the BSA L24 that arguably reached the pinnacle of motorcycle design of the era. The cover is truly complemented by the determined look of the most visually striking lady rider Tracy Stenhouse, most suitably dressed in her steam punk attire complete with fashion accessories, oh so fitting for such a mount. Take a bow John Shennan Member NZBSAOC

In Graeme Rice’s column, in the 75 years ago section, he refers to battleships needing diesel oil. In that era battleships were powered by steam turbines. The steam to power the turbines was produced by oil-fired boilers which burned oil, unlike earlier ships which burned coal. The oil was known as fuel oil or bunker oil, depending on which part of the world you came from. It was a heavy oil, much more so than diesel. Mark Dawber

Classification My wife and I are currently touring NZ and on a visit to Napier, we were recommended to visit David Brock-Jest at Hooters. We did, and David gave us a very warm welcome. He also gave me a copy of the June/July issue of Beaded Wheels, which I am reading right now.

Beaded Wheels 7

CAST IRON WELDING

MUTTERINGS OF A MATURE MOTORCYCLIST

Powder Spray Process, Cylinder Heads, Manifolds, Cooling Fins, Castings, Mechanical Repairs & Rebuilds

Memories from Big End Knocks

In the past I have mentioned the mode of dress for riders in the ‘20s and ‘30s. Well I have been re reading Geoff Hockley’s book Peninsula Peregrinations and there is our local hero in full blast on his way up a freak hill climb. There he is in his riding breeches and pullover, no gloves and no helmet. What would Motorcycling New Zealand have to say about that today? I remember some years ago Chris Pennell tried to resurrect this form of competition and we did have a few goes but it didn’t seem to catch on. If you can find a copy of Geoff’s book I can well recommend it as a good record of local motorcycle history. I also offer a slightly blurred picture of your scribe attempting a steep climb and I confess I was totally out of control and the poor Francis Barnett went over my shoulder a split second later. My second attempt was more of a success and I did get to the top unscathed. I don’t know how many of you folk are interested in the history of the sporting activities of the vintage era, not only the racing but the incredibly hard reliability trials of the time. There are reports of the Banks Peninsula trials of the day when so many of

the roads were little more than muddy tracks. In an old magazine I have found a full report of the 1932 International Six Days Trial held in the Italian Dolomites based at Merano. The two ladies from Britain, Marjorie Cottle and Edyth Foley, both mounted on 250cc machines, starred in the report. Edyth completed one day’s ride with a flat front tyre for the last 90 miles! Now you may not know all the machines were sealed and the only parts that could be legally replaced were tyres and tubes and spark plugs. Oh and just to make life difficult the only tools allowed had to be carried on the machine. Any repairs had to be done on the road as the machines are locked in the Parc Ferme on arrival and only released at the start. Edyth changed her tyre in 14 minutes and was given a swig of cognac to help her on her way but later in the day she dropped the plot, broke her wrist and was out. Marjorie completed the six days in spite of endless punctures that plagued the riders. The roads were like the worst of the peninsula roads but with an added hazard of hobnails from the locals delicate footwear! It seems these defied all the patent nail catchers and anti puncture

jollop of the day. Imagine yourself on these roads doing 200 plus miles per day keeping an average speed of 30mph if your machine is over 250cc and 21.8 mph for 250cc and under. This includes all repair and punctures galore for six hard long grinding days.

THOMAS ROWE MOTORING ENGINEER ltd 6 RD Palmerston North

PHONE

06 324-8707

A cousin of mine prepared a couple of 250cc BSAs for the 1961 ISDT. Mary Driver was one of the riders on that trial and they were all plagued by punctures. She had to retire on day five after having seven in one day. Alec was intrigued by the winning team of Jawa riders and the fact that there were so many Jawa riders around, all wearing the same black riding gear and so many bikes the same. The miraculous way their bike that staggered in at night and out in the morning was restored to health a few miles along the route. It seems one morning he was hiding behind a hedge waiting for one of his charges with a problem and found himself sharing the space with yet another Jawa rider all in black. They did their jobs and pretended not to see each other. Now I’m not sure whether this is classed as gamesmanship or cheating but I know Jawa won a lot of ISTD’s in the old days of the Iron Curtain. |BW

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF

THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY IN NEW ZEALAND Words Barry Birchall

The story of petroleum in New Zealand begins in Taranaki. Oil was first discovered on the beaches in Taranaki in 1865. By the following year they were extracting small amounts. Two wells at Moturoa produced over a million litres in 1906. In 1913, Taranaki (NZ) Oil built a refinery in New Plymouth and Moturoa Oil built a second, larger refinery in 1931. It appears that initially the product was being exported. It was sold in the garages around New Plymouth as Peak Petrol from 1954 to 1972, when the refinery closed.

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John and Judy Callesen’s 1917 Cadillac and Rod and Scarlett McKenzie’s 1913 Ford T at Riverslea.

Geoff and VCCNZ National President, Diane Quarrie, and their 1915 GWK arriving at Craggy Range.

RALLY SNIPPETS

VETERAN RALLY CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY Words and photos Rod McKenzie 18 November 2017

The organisers, Mike and Neroli Perry together with Geoff and Diane Quarrie, idea for this year’s event was that the run should be a rather laid back affair with no glory, but lots to experience in and around Havelock North. The numbers were down on the 15 or 20 entrants that usually attend due to a clash with the Bendigo Swap Meet in Australia, work commitments and entrant health issues. Sadly the fact that so many of the veteran owners who have attended in the past are getting on a bit most certainly impacts on the numbers attending. However, the crews of the nine cars that fronted up had a most interesting day. The organisers had done a huge amount of research into the history of the places we were to visit during the 40 or so miles of motoring we covered. Thomas Tanner was a well-off and ambitious English settler of the area in the 1860s setting about securing a large tract

of land for himself and other partners on the Heretaunga Plains of Hawke’s Bay. His is an interesting story of the settlement of Hawke’s Bay and his name cropped up numerous times as we drove the planned route. Our final stop was at Riverslea where Tanner once had a fine 22-roomed mansion and a 45 acre landscaped garden. From here his enterprise operated and included the growing of hops and tobacco, but the business suffered heavy losses due to crop failures in the late 1800s with Tanner going broke on three occasions. After to a short drive past some interesting homesteads in Havelock North we stopped for a short visit to Craggy Range, a huge winery in the shadow of Te Mata Peak. This has been developed by Terry Peabody, the billionaire founder of TransPacific Industries. Here we had a walk about the buildings and the gardens with a chance to inspect the mighty bronze statues of a bull, a cow and a calf lazing beside a sizable man-made lake at the front of the property. Our second stop was at a colleague of co-organiser Mike Perry’s who has

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