CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR OVER 70 YEARS
No. 363 April/May 2020
NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $7.95
9 418979 000012
GISBORNE THREE RIVERS RUN 1970s MINI PICKUP 2020 BURT MUNRO CHALLENGE MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND
Clements Motors (Hokitika) 1918-1923. Denby Charabanc. Photo Mrs M Maffey, supplied to Beaded Wheels by the late Allan Storer.
Contact National Office for all queries regarding VICs, logbooks, historic race licences, lighting endorsement, registration of vehicles, address changes, subscriptions, membership cards, speed events.
Photographs Required: Submissions of suitable prints and information (where available) are welcome. Post or email original photographs or high resolution digital files of historical interest with any available
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
information to: beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Beaded Wheels, PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. Laserprints/photocopies are not suitable. Photos will be returned as soon as practicable.
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
Tony Bartlett 06 867 9850
mgmt1@vcc.org.nz
George Kear 03 347 0315
mgmt2@vcc.org.nz
Murray Trounson mgmt3@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 2020
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/-114 Shortcut Road, Luggate, RD2, Wanaka 9382 centralotago@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY C/- 73 Porangahau Road, 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/– 50 Davis Strongman Place, RD3, Kerikeri 0293 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/- PO Box 13374, Onehunga, Auckland 1643 waitemata@vcc.org.nz WANGANUI PO Box 726, Whanganui 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 LXXI No. 363
Issue 363 April/May2020
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).
Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Advertising Enquiries
Classified and Display Advertising to: PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Phone 64 3 332 3531 Rate schedule available on request.
Back Issues Available on request to PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141.
FEATURES 14 5 5 Years Together
Me and my 1960 BSA A10 Golden Flash
16 22 24 28 30 32
Correspondence & Editorial Contributions
Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz
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 incurs additional bank fee processing charge of 3%
38 40
Production
Design: RGB Design & Print Ltd, Christchurch Print: PMP Ltd, Christchurch.
Closing Date for June/July:
A Cute Bute Ute! Peter and Lyndall Monro’s 1970 Mini Pickup 1916 Dodge Roadster Restoration Motoring Memories 10th International Veteran and Vintage Car Rally, Australia Leadfoot 2020 Racing uphill in the Coromandel
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Saltwater Creek Garage Hyundai Pony Rally Snippets 32 Sunday Run – Central Otago Branch 32 Wallaby Rally – Waimate Branch 32 Wee Wheelie Wander – North Otago Branch 33 All British Day – North Otago Branch 33 Veteran Run – Auckland Branch 34 Dunedin Brighton Run – Otago Branch 35 Three Rivers Rally - Gisborne Branch 36 Auckland Vintage Muster - Auckland Branch VCC Waikato 2020 Motorcycle Tour Gisborne 3 Rivers Rally
It Nearly Didn’t Happen! 2020 Burt Munro Challenge
COLUMNS 4
President’s Message
12
The Way We Were
5
VCC Events
37
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.)
6
As We See It
Vero International Festival of History Motoring - Rally Update
7
National Office
National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
8 Mailbag
50
Swap Meets & Rallies
9 Awards
51
Trade Directory
Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
10 Timelines
Address: 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch,
53
Idle Torque
10
66
Passing Lane
Editorial Copy Advertisements
24 April 2020 10 May 2020
Postal Address: PO Box 2546,
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.
Like us on facebook Beaded Wheels
35
Book Review
11 Soapbox
44 Marketplace Wellsford Warksworth Swap Meet
66 Obituary
COVER Gisborne 3 Rivers Rally entrants, Mark and Deborah Smith, heading out the gate in their Ford. Photo Brian Williams.
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 (Inc) is a founding member of FIVA. VCCNZ Registrar Rod Brayshaw is the New Zealand delegate to FIVA and also a member of the FIVA Technical Commission.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The COVID-19 crisis is having an impact on almost every aspect of life in New Zealand and the Vintage Car Club is no exception. This unprecedented and previously unimaginable situation is evolving daily, if not hourly and by the time this edition has gone to print will have changed again. On Friday 20 March I sent out a communication direct to all members who have an email address advising of actions the Management Committee had taken in response to the crisis. I believe it was a considered response in that we took our time to evaluate options and to make the right decisions for our members, particularly in light of Government directions and expert advice that the peak of the pandemic could possibly be as late as August. In relation to the Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring, the decision was made to postpone the Festival until early 2022. The Club could face a considerable financial loss if the event had to be cancelled towards the end of the year due to lack of entries and together with the uncertainty around how long it will take for the pandemic to run its course, meant we had no option but to postpone it. The Executive Meeting which was due to be held in Wellington on Saturday 28 March was also cancelled along with the National North Island Easter Rally. Our National Day Daffodil Rally will also not go ahead for 2020 because of the uncertainty as to how long this crisis will remain. Some branches have already made the hard decision to cancel meetings, club nights, branch runs and events and even to postpone annual general meetings. A communication also went out to all branch committees with a strong recommendation from the Management Committee that they review all of their events with a view to cancelling or postponing them, at least until the end of June or until the situation improves.
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The events page on our national website now includes an event status column which is being updated as information comes to hand along with our Facebook page. And elsewhere in this edition, there is up-to-date information on events as of the date of going to print. The rationale for these cancellations is obvious. Over half of our members are in the high risk bracket in terms of this pandemic. The cancellation of events now will mean that we’ve done our very best to keep our members safe. In other non-COVID19 news, I am pleased to advise that Murray Trounson has been co-opted onto the Management Committee to fill the vacancy left by the death of Ed Boyd. Murray is a Canterbury Branch member and is a Chartered accountant specialising in computer based accounting and business information systems. Murray will be undertaking a specific project on behalf of the Management Committee to fully review National Office systems (in conjunction with our Office Manager). There has also been a change at National Office which has been organised mainly seamlessly and to such effect that most members/branches would not have noticed. Our Office Manager Julie has moved to Clyde to look after her mother and is working remotely from her home office with reduced hours. Jo’s hours (our other staff member) have been extended to handle some of the less critical tasks previously undertaken by Julie and so that the National Office is fully manned during office hours. This is being trialled for a year. Rosalie Brown, who is the Beaded Wheels co-ordinator and Club website administrator, has taken over the administration of the Club’s Facebook page. We have now added a Facebook group to our page. This group will become an online community for members to interact with each other. It is a place for anyone who is interested in old vehicles
to come together and share stories of our common interest and learn more about our club. It is a private group – so people need to answer questions to be able to join which will add a level of security. This is an easy way of communicating with members who are active on Facebook. In light of the continually changing pandemic situation this is a very good tool to get up-to-date information out to members quickly. At this stage we do not know whether the Club’s AGM in August will go ahead. An outcome of the Executive Meeting not being able to be held, is that the proposed notice of motion with regard to on-line membership and the Club re-branding will have to be postponed until next year. In regard to the proposed rebranding, there seems to be a bit of mis-information out there. I must reinforce that this rebranding is not a name change, we will remain the Vintage Car Club of NZ.
then sent around to Branches for members to consider and provide feedback. The final version of the design was to be voted on at the AGM in Wanganui in August. This will now be deferred for a year. Our history and heritage will remain but a new brand will provide our Club the opportunity to move into the future using a logo which says what we are all about. This is part of a whole raft of new initiatives introduced during the last few years which all combine (along with our regular events) to ensure that our Club is interesting, exciting, vibrant and inviting to anyone thinking about joining and that it caters for all ages to enjoy. In these uncertain times, please be assured that the health of our members is our main priority. Best regards and stay safe.
Why do we need to undertake this change to our logo? We know who we are. We are proud and passionate members of the Vintage Car Club who, as Barry Barnes says in his letter to the editor, have worn the wings emblem with pride. However, to a non-member, what do our ‘wings’ say to them about what kind of club we are. An informal survey I conducted amongst non-members of all age groups, highlighted that a lot of them didn’t know what a Bentley emblem looked like, let alone equating it to anything car related. I believe that it just doesn’t reflect the VCC of today. The Management Committee was given approval to develop a new brand by members who voted at the AGM held in Westport in August 2019 and the plan was for design options to be presented and discussed at the Executive Meeting (now cancelled). From that meeting a design was to be chosen and amended to incorporate the Executive’s feedback and
Diane Quarrie VCCNZ National President
VINTAGE CAR CLUB BRANCH EVENTS NATIONAL EVENTS April 2020 10-13 National North Island Easter Rally hosted by Horowhenua Branch
•
September 2020 10-13 National Vintage Rally hosted by Hawke’s Bay Branch
•
Matt Brookes 1961 Douglas Vespa Sportique 172, 2020 Burt Munro Challenge. Photo Stuart Francis.
MAY
• have been cancelled. • Events marked have been postponed. • • Events marked
As we go to print the effect of Covid‑19 on club events is becoming evident. This list is correct at time of going to print but changes are being received on a daily basis. All national events have been cancelled in line with government guidelines. Keep an eye on branch websites, the events page on the club website or the club facebook group for up to date information. If in doubt contact the host branch or event organiser. At this stage all other dates are provisional and will require confirmation from the organising branch closer to the time.
2 w 2 2 2 2 3 3 6 7 7 9 9 9 9-10 10 10 10 10 10
Ashburton Swap Meet C. Hawke’s Bay Twilight Run Manawatu Post Vintage Rally Waimate Oamaru Run Waitemata VCC Hooters Race Series Northland Motorcycle Run Wellington Sunday Run Southland Mid-week Rally Nelson Sandy Bay Hill Climb Sth Canterbury Mid Week Run Canterbury Rural Run Gore Night Trial Southland Waimea Motorcycle Rally Wairarapa Motorcycle Reliability Trial Hawke’s Bay Swap Meet Far North Mother’s Day Rally Northland Club Run Sth Canterbury PV/PWV/P60/P80 Rally Waitemata Kaipara Airfield Wings & Wheels 10 Waitemata AGM 10 Wellington Leprechaun Run 12 Far North AGM 13 Manawatu AGM 13 Taupo AGM (postponed) 14 Banks Peninsula AGM 16 Far North Repco Beach Hop 16 Northland Motorcycle Rally 16 Southland PW/P60/P80 Rally 17 Wanganui Sunday Run 17 Banks Peninsula Hadstock Driving Tests (date tbc) 17 North Shore Club Run 17 Otago Restoration Rally 17 Wanganui Sunday Run 20 Auckland Mid Week Tourers 27 Waikato Wednesday Wander 21 Waimate AGM 24 Auckland Club Run Experts Rally 24 Canterbury Motorcycle Rough Run
•
• • •
• • • • •
24 Sth Canterbury Restoration Run 24 Wellington Motorcycle Rough Run 24 Wellington Ladies Rally 28 E Bay of Plenty AGM 28 Otago Midweek Run 30-1 Canterbury Irishman Rally 30 Waikato Double 50 Rally 31 Gisborne Monthly Run 31 Sth Canterbury All British Run 31 Wanganui Annual Rally
• • •
JUNE
4 Sth Canterbury AGM 6 Gore End of Season Run 7 Canterbury Restoration of the Year 7 Wellington Sunday Run 8 Wairarapa AGM 10 North Otago AGM 10 Waikato AGM 11 Sth Canterbury Mid Week Run 14 Otago AGM & Pot Luck Lunch 14 West Coast AGM 17 C. Hawke’s Bay Wednesday Wander 17 Gisborne AGM 18 Ashburton AGM 20 Manawatu Twilight Rally 20 Sth Canterbury Night Trial 21 Canterbury AGM 21 Nelson AGM 21 Northland AGM 21 Wellington Colonial Cup Rally 21 West Coast Rosco Sporting Trials 25 Otago Midweek Run 27 Far North Malloy Trophy 28 Taranaki End of Rego Run 28 Gisborne Monthly Run
• • • •
This list does not contain all branch events (eg midweek or small club runs) Check branch newsletters for up-to-date details of smaller events. This column is compiled from the VCCNZ National Calendar of Events, and 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.
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.
Beaded Wheels 5
AS WE SEE IT
INSTRUMENT REPAIRS Experienced expert technician available to refurbish or repair your automotive and marine instruments
Photographs are important in a publication like ours. As a quote attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte says “A good sketch is better than a long speech” or as we would say these days “A picture tells a thousand words”. Photos add colour and life to our publication. They bring the stories that we publish to life, and because we are a club, it is always good to be able to put a face to a name. Now, as we are firmly in the age of social media, we also can publish your photographs on facebook and on our club website, they can often stand alone with just a brief explanation of what is going down. Many of our members have a smart phone with a reasonably high quality camera included as one of its functions. Getting a good quality photograph of current happenings has never been easier. I would encourage members to use their phone/camera to take photographs of happenings going on around them
particularly as it involves old cars, members old and young and grandchildren too. Email the images to Beaded Wheels as soon as you can after they have been taken, straight away even, don’t forget to caption them clearly. Publication of our members enjoying their vehicles and activites provides good coverage for our club and by having new photos coming in all the time we can keep the website and Facebook fresh and up to date. You can send them direct from your camera a number of different ways but by email attachment with a brief explanation or caption is probably best. Send them to beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz.
We are well into 2020 now and still nobody has put their hand up to do Beaded Wheels Brass Notes column to tell all about veteran happening around the club. Diane Ross did a great job compiling our Brass Notes column for many years, and now we need you to step up and keep your fellow veteran car-owning members up to date. (I almost wrote veteran members there but thought better of it) It’s not an onerous task and once you get going the veteran owners will keep you up to date with information. We don’t want to ignore these important vehicles. Become famous – get a free Beaded Wheels hat – put your name forward.
A key thing is to keep the resolution high enough so they can be used in printed media (not reduced for emailing). Photos with people in them are always good although large group shots or shots of a line-up of vehicles tend to have less impact than those that focus on one or two main elements.
Kevin Clarkson Chairman Beaded Wheels
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
John L Goddard Trophy for achievement Bruce Chaytor Ph 021 631 700 or Nicolette Prangley 021 166 8374 nap.chaytor@gmail.com 5 Gibbs Place, Kinloch RD1, Taupo 3377 6 Beaded Wheels
Members of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand are invited to nominate a fellow member for this annual award. The nomination should be for any member who they regard as having been involved in a significant achievement. It may be a particularly significant restoration, a memorable motoring journey or an important historical article or series of articles published in Beaded Wheels or some special service to the Club. Nominations for the Award should be forwarded to: John L Goddard Award, Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc) PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140.
NOMINATIONS CLOSE 19 JULY 2020
NATIONAL OFFICE Contact National Office for all queries regarding VICs, logbooks, historic race licences, registration of vehicles, lighting endorsement, address changes, subscriptions, membership cards, speed events.
VCC VERO INSURANCE SCHEME
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). DISCOUNTS ON INTERISLANDER AND BLUEBRIDGE FERRY CROSSINGS
All financial members of the VCCNZ can obtain a discount with Interislander and BlueBridge. You must show your membership card. Full information on how to book is on the Club’s website www.vcc.org.nz or can be obtained from your branch secretary. When booking with the Interislander, use the Group Bookings option to obtain the discount. The codes are as follow: INTERISLANDER – WH5465 and BLUE BRIDGE – ANTIQUECAR EXECUTIVE MEETING
The Executive meets every March and during the Annual General Meeting weekend. The 28 March meeting in Wellington was cancelled, our next Executive meeting is scheduled for the AGM weekend in August if that proceeds. NOTICE OF AGM
On page 21 you will find a Notice of AGM along with a request for nominations for the Management Committee positions. JOHN L GODDARD TROPHY NOMINATIONS
On page 6 you will find a notice regarding the John L Goddard Trophy. Please put some thought to placing a nomination. More information is available in the Branch Manual, one of which your branch secretary holds, and the other which should have
been placed in a known location accessible to all branch members.
Beaded Whee Beaded Wheels new one will be issued. All application forms for the above are obtainable from your branch, the VCC website or the National Office. VCC ID CARDS RENEWALS
Please note that all VCC Identity
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 simple 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. CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Please advise the National Office in writing if you have changed address or vehicle ownership. BRANCH TRANSFER
Complete a transfer form to transfer between branches. This can be obtained through your branch secretary. VCC SPEED EVENTS
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 two 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 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. 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
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 – Fri 9-5pm
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 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. Older issues of Beaded Wheels are available for download at vcc.org.nz
All vehicles entered in National And International Rallies must have a current VehicIe Identity Card (VIC).
ADVISE NATIONAL OFFICE OF ANY CHANGES OF ADDRESS OR SALES/PURCHASES OF VEHICLES
Julie Cairns-Gee National Office Manager
Beaded Wheels 7
MAILBAG 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.
MYSTERY SOLVED
The photo published in Beaded Wheels 362 for me has sparked several replies. I have managed to chat to knowledgeable folk that I would not have otherwise. It turns out that the car is about 1931/32 MG F Type Magna in case other readers are interested to know. Thanks for your help. Doug Pagel
Turning back the clock, I remember the day when I had my first drive of a veteran vehicle. It was behind the wheel of a 1907 Cadillac. This vehicle was purchased by the late William Earnest (Bill) Cockram in about 1948. At about this time Bill established a car sales on the corner of Colombo Street and Moorhouse Avenue. Many decades later this business became agents for Datsun.
CADILLAC DRIVE RELIVED
I really enjoyed reading Andy Anderson’s report on the veteran rally held on Sunday 17 December 1950 from Christchurch city down to New Brighton beach. (It’s where I grew up in from 1947 to 1954).
During my employment at Auto Sales in Linwood, Christchurch, owned by Bill’s youngest son Jeffrey, I was asked to prepare and drive the Cadillac to a car show held in Canterbury Court, Addington. This indoor event was held over a three day period, in about 1972-74. As can be seen in the background this was at the hot-rod and custom show. Is that the great renowned Pink Panther T Bucket down the back? At the same show I was also responsible for setting up my brother Dennis’ 1934 Ford V8 three windowed chopped and channelled Ford V8 coupe hot-rod Lollypop. This car graced the front cover of New Zealand Hot-rod magazine in July 1974. The drive to and from the show I will never forget. (Well, hopefully). Any reader with experience of driving a veteran car will know what I mean. Brakes. What brakes? You have to be prepared at all times to stop. Driving this 1907 Cadillac along busy Moorhouse Avenue with six sets of traffic lights, is still etched into my memory
bank even to this day. And that was back in the early to mid ʼ70s. It’s a lot busier now. At the time, I was restoring my first vintage car, a one owner, yes, one owner up to about 1972, 1929 Plymouth 4, but that’s another story. I thought at the time that late ʼ20s and early ʼ30s cars were a struggle to drive, but veterans are, let us say, interesting to experience. You certainly have to have your mind totally dedicated to the job at hand. Andy mentions the Jacobson’s Ford T. This would have belonged to John Jacobson, proprietor of Jacobsons Car Sales. A real character of a man, but that’s another story in itself. Perhaps for another time? Trevor Stanley Joblin Amberley
MYSTERY CAR
As always, I love the club magazine coming into the mailbox. Mystery picture on page 2 of issue 362. It might be a long shot as I am sure there are many places in New Zealand
CLUB REBRAND As a youth around 1970 I used to admire the gleaming veteran and vintage vehicles on display in a local motor dealership prior to the annual rally. The vintage vehicles I admired back then were 40 year old models and seemed ancient to me. I still love them and it’s my favourite era. Now another fifty years has passed and the world has moved on. There are vehicles now worth preserving, coveting and motoring that back then were unknown cars of the future. The thirty year rule is I believe the correct one and although I adore the words vintage and veteran, I do think it is time for a rebrand of the organization’s name to reflect its role in the new age. My wife, who always cuts to the
8 Beaded Wheels
chase, offered what I believe is the perfect title which says it all. The NZHVC. The New Zealand Heritage Vehicle Club. And as usual, I find it hard to argue with her. Peter McQuarters Member Ashburton Ed Note:
The rebrand underway currently is not a change of club name, just logo. — In her most recent message our President advises us that the rebranding of the Club logo is a work in progress. I am bemused as to the imperative for such a move. The existing logo was, as was pointed out, designed in a piece of noble plagiarism based on a Bentley radiator badge, and to me, and I hope many others,
it has been an emblem worn with pride, in my case for over 60 years.
incur for little apparent benefit. I don’t believe we should waste another cent on it.
I am offended to be told that we now need a more stylised design. Why? Apparently to be more attractive to a younger generation.
And by the way, while I applaud and welcome younger members, the Club seems to have thrived over the last 40 years with the steady addition of “older” members.
For more than 30 years to my knowledge, we have been worrying about attracting more young people and that is a very laudable aim. In my humble opinion the discarding of our heritage when we are a heritage organisation is not going to significantly change that for the better. Who has told us this? Are young people saying “We would join up if you had a modern logo”? Let’s suppose we do adopt a new logo. It can only come at the additional expense all rebranding exercises seem to
What about giving members a vote on it? Barry Barnes South Canterbury Branch, (Management Committee 1978 - 1992)
— Ed Note:
Refer to the President’s column on page 4 of this issue for more information on the the process and progress of our club brand development.
with native flora and plants as depicted in the photograph. I would not be surprised if it was the old county road over the Karamea Bluff north of Westport heading to Karamea, with the image taken looking back to Mokihinui. Great looking Nikau palms are just what you can see travelling through here. But equally, this could just be a good story and it is anywhere else in New Zealand a hundred years ago... Eric de Boer Mem West Coast
REO VEHICLES I am compiling a register of Reo vehicles, cars and commercials, in New Zealand and would like members to forward any information you have to me. There are also some vehicles that I know of that I would like to
find as follows. 1 1929/30 Reo Flying Cloud originally owned by Charlie Edwards of Auckland, 2 1936 Reo Flying Cloud Model 6D previously owned by Malcolm Dean of North Shore Branch registration Number MD36. 3 1935 registered as 1936 Reo Flying Cloud model 6A previously owned by the late Florus Bosch of Wairarapa Branch registration number DKG85.
6 Late ‘20s early ‘30s Reo Royale 8 cylinder that was owned by the late Alf McKenzie of Awakere Springs. This car may have ended up in the Auckland area Any information regarding any of these vehicles or any other Reo vehicle would be much appreciated. My contact details are as follows: John Foot 3 Fergusson Avenue Waipukurau 4200, Phone 06-858-8301, Email jsfoot@xtra.co.nz
AWARDS Congratulations to the following member who has recently been awarded their 60 Year Award.
60 YEAR Max Jamieson
Waitemata
4 1934 Reo Flying Cloud Elite (I think it was possibly a convertible) which was owned by Keith Hurliman of Tauranga 5 1929 Reo Flying Cloud that was owned by Bruce McDonald who used to live at 49 Hillside Road Papatoetoe
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