CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 76 YEARS
No. 378 October/November 2022
9 418979 000012
BEHIND THE WHEEL 1936 DODGE CONVERTIBLE
New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine $8.95
FOOT DOWN TACKLING THE TARGA
NATIONAL DAY DAFFODIL RALLY FOR CANCER DRIVING OUR HISTORY
William and Frederick Burnside, from a well-known local farming family, purchased a plot of land on the corner of Coronation and Shirley Roads as an Auckland depot in 1914. The contracting firm, Burnside Brothers, has since occupied this corner site. Originally the Burnsides used horse-drawn vehicles and equipment for their activities as agricultural and roading contractors. They completed their first roading contract for Manukau County Council in March 1914. Burnside Brothers also operated a taxi service prior to 1929. Colin Burnside and his nephew Noel (a former Manukau City Councillor) sold their contracting firm
NATIONAL OFFICE
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140 Phone 03 366 4461 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
VCCNZ LIFE MEMBERS Andrew Anderson Roger White Norm Dewhurst Rod Brayshaw John Coomber
VCCNZ MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT Diane Quarrie 06 876 4009 president@vcc.org.nz SECRETARY/ TREASURER
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
Burnside Brothers in 2011. The new owner continued trading under the Burnside name. The present office building is located on the site of the former blacksmith’s shop. Photo supplied by Norm Sisson. 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 2546, Christchurch 8140. Laserprints/photocopies are not suitable. Photos will be returned as soon as practicable. REGISTRAR Neil Beckenham 09 426 5831 registrar@vcc.org.nz SPEED STEWARD Tony Haycock 021 662 441 speedsteward@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 027 221 4332
mgmt2@vcc.org.nz
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING comms@vcc.org.nz ARCHIVIST Don Muller 03 385 6850
archivist@vcc.org.nz
Murray Trounson 03 339 8830 mgmt3@vcc.org.nz
Please note this information changes annually - these details are valid until the next AGM
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 3144 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/- 448 Tukituki Road, RD1, Takapau 4286 centralhawkesbay@vcc.org.nz EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 2168, Kopeopeo Whakatane 3159 easternbayofplenty@vcc.org.nz
2 Beaded Wheels
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 hawkesbay@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 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 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 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 5840 wairarapa@vcc.org.nz WAITEMATA C/- 8 Jean Place, Stanmore Bay, Whangaparoa 0932 waitemata@vcc.org.nz WANGANUI PO Box 726, Whanganui 4541 wanganui@vcc.org.nz WELLINGTON PO Box 38418, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045 wellington@vcc.org.nz WELLSFORD/WARKWORTH PO Box 547, Warkworth 0941 wellsfordwarkworth@vcc.org.nz WEST COAST C/- 143 Ward Street, Cobden Greymouth 7802, 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 LXXIII No. 378
Issue 378 October/November 2022
Editorial Committee
Kevin Clarkson (Chairman), Judith Bain, Rosalie Brown, John Coomber, Mark Dawber, John McDonald, Greg Price.
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 2546, Christchurch 8140, typed or neatly printed. 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 10 13 14
Daffodil Rally for Cancer 2022
16
Tackling the Targa VCC President Diane Quarrie grabbed a buddy, her Spitfire and drove them all to the Targa Results board.
20 22 26
Harley-Davidson 1957 XL Sportster
30 33
Humber Super Snipe MkIV
36
Rally Snippets 36 Balcairn Trial – Banks Peninsula 38 R’Oil Can Rally – Waitemata
40
VCCNZ 2022 AGM including details of this year’s John L Goddard Trophy winners
Production
42
Experiences with a 305cc Honda Dream
Closing Date for December/January:
COLUMNS
Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Advertising Enquiries
Classified and Display Advertising to: PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140. Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Phone 64 3 332 3531 Rate schedule available on request.
Back Issues Available on request to PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140.
Correspondence & Editorial Contributions
Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140. 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) $52* inc GST Australian subscription (6 issues) NZ$112* Other countries (6 issues) NZ$185* Digital subscription (6 issues) NZ$39 available from vcc.org.nz or issuu.com. *Payment by credit card incurs additional bank fee processing charge of 3% Design: RGB Design & Print Ltd, Christchurch Editorial Copy 26 October 2022 Advertisements 10 November 2022
Never Too Old To Learn Fernando Roger White reflects on 30 years enjoyment of his DeSoto.
A Young Lad and an Old Talbot Part two of Alistair Robinson’s Talbot journey
President’s Message
32
Book Reviews
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.)
As We See It
41
Archivist News
5
VCC Branch Events
43
Marketplace
National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
6
National Office
48
Swap Meets & Rallies
7
Mailbag
51
Trade Directory
Postal Address: PO Box 2546,
9
Timelines
52
Idle Torque
The Way We Were
66
Passing Lane
12
Targa VCC style
16
R’Oil Can
38
The Motolug Collapsible Motorcycle Trailer Stuart Francis describes his handy new bit of kit
4
Address: 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch,
10
Behind The Wheel 1936 Dodge convertible
4
Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
Daffodil Rally for Cancer
Market Place
43
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. 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.
COVER Roy Grainger’s 1936 Dodge convertible is a head turner. Greg Price gets to see if this car lives up to its sleek styling in this issue’s Behind the Wheel, see page 22. Photo Greg Price.
22 Like us on facebook Beaded Wheels
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.
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The old saying “third time lucky” rang true and most of the 29 branches that participated in our National Day held very successful events up and down the country. Due to atrocious weather conditions three branches were forced to postpone their events. Because of that we are not able to advise a definitive amount for the total raised but I am pleased to say that it will be close to, if not more than, $70,000. This is a fantastic result and I thank our National Co-ordinator Kaaren Smylie and the participating branches for an outstanding achievement. More branches and members are realising that this event has the potential to raise our public awareness substantially, with the bonus of gaining new members. For example Waikato Branch, with the aid of a laptop, were able to sign up members immediately using the online membership application. They also later emailed all participants who had completed the non-member entry form with information on the Club. As a result of that, when some prospective members turned up at their club-night they were immediately able to sign up 11 new members, all because of exposure at the National Day. As previously mentioned in Beaded Wheels 377, there were no nominations received for the positions of Hon Secretary/ Treasurer and Registrar. I am
AS WE SEE IT In December last year we farewelled Bevars Binnie who decided to retire from the Beaded Wheels editorial committee after giving us seven years of his sage advice. This month we welcome new member John McDonald from Banks Peninsula Branch who is willing to give it a go to find out what the internal workings of Beaded Wheels is all about. John is a keen photographer and has supplied us with many photos over the years. We wish him all the best in his future activities with Beaded Wheels and I’m sure he will have a positive
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pleased to advise that Neil Beckenham has been co-opted to the role of Registrar. Neil is a member of the Vehicle Technical Committee and has gained a good working knowledge of our VIC system. We are still looking for someone to fill the position of Hon Sec/Treasurer. The Club’s Executive and AGM meetings were held recently in Auckland, hosted by Auckland Branch. At the meeting I updated members with what we have coming up for the next year or so. The Club/Branch Manual is well out-of-date, and the task has commenced to bring it into line with current Club procedures and policies. On-line VIC applications are also on our radar. Work is nearly completed on producing a new version of the Vehicle Technical Code which will be available on the Club website. The process on updating our Strategic plan has begun and more information will be going out to Branches before the end of the year. To assist in publicising the Club a new brochure has been printed and branches have supplies. The Management Committee has decided to produce blinds and Tear Drop Flags for branches. They have already received their pull-up blind and a tear drop flag, more useful for outdoor situations is in the process of being designed. Membership remains steady and since the on-line membership application went live in May
contribution to make. The Beaded Wheels forerunner, The Guff Sheet, started in 1953 and morphed into Beaded Wheels in in 1955. Since that start in 1953 we have enjoyed a relatively low “staff” turnover illustrated by the fact that John is committee member number 39. Like most publications some of the issues we need to deal with on a frequent basis are things such as pricing increases of paper, printing, and postage. These problems have been made worse by covid which has affected shipping quite markedly although that is showing signs of returning to normality. To offset some of the costs the bookstand
2022, we have received around 200 new applications via this method. We are fortunate that we continue to get new members, but it seems that we are not retaining them. This is an area that is directly in the hands of branches and members. An important piece of legislation that will affect both the Club and branches is the new Incorporated Societies Act. One fundamental point is that new constitution/rules will need to be adopted and re-registration of every incorporated society will be required by December 2025. The focus of the new Act is to strengthen the governance framework and provide increased protection for those who belong to and run incorporated societies and it imposes a number of new requirements and obligations. One of these is that officers of a society must meet defined standards of integrity (like those imposed on directors of companies) and they cannot be undischarged bankrupts, prohibited directors or convicted criminals. The new Act specifies that the make-up of a governing body of a society is a committee or board made up of officers who are elected or appointed. This is how branch committees currently operate so this will not necessarily mean any change to branch constitutions in that regard. However, I am just giving you a heads-up that it will affect
and subscription price has been raised to $8.95 from this issue. I would emphasise that this has no impact upon members as they receive their Beaded Wheels free as one of their member benefits. Perhaps casual purchasers and subscribers may wish to look at becoming a member of the Vintage Car Club to get a free copy - the difference between buying six copies each year is getting much closer to the cost of becoming a member! Over recent years we have been the beneficiary of many talented writers sending us their stories for publication and magazine quality has improved as a result.
the governance of the national body. The Club is governed by the national executive which is made up of the duly elected members of the Management Committee and delegates (who are elected at a branch AGM or appointed by their Branch). Delegates are not elected by members of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand. We will be taking legal advice on whether our current governance structure can continue under the new Act. As a first step, a discussion paper will be sent to branches towards the end of this year setting out on a broad basis what changes the Management Committee will be recommending. Once that has been extensively canvassed amongst branches and members and discussed at the March 2023 Executive meeting the process of drafting a new Club constitution will commence. This as an opportunity to update and future proof our constitutions to reflect modernday procedures and technology (such as on-line banking and zoom meetings) so that the rules that govern us (both at national and branch level) will guide the future operation of our Club.
Diane Quarrie VCCNZ National President
However, we are always on the lookout for more stories so to all you knowledgeable people out there – how about putting something together. Once it’s in print it can be a valuable source of information for other members as well as being entertaining reading. Additionally, you will be able to bask in the warm glow of happiness knowing that you have helped us produce a better magazine.
Kevin Clarkson Chairman Beaded Wheels
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
VINTAGE CAR CLUB BRANCH EVENTS
Photo Jacqui Goldingham
OCTOBER 7-9 8 8 9 11 12 12 14-16 14-16 15 15 15 15 15-16 15-16 16 16 16 16 17-20 19 19 21-24 22-23 22-24 23 26 27 28-30 28-31 30 30 30 30 30
Canterbury Gore Southland Waikato Gore Bay of Plenty E Bay of Plenty Marlborough North Shore Far North Manawatu Waikato Wellsford/Wkwth
Swap Meet P60 Run Vintage/PVRally Road Runners Moto 60 Auction Night Local Run Midweek Run Biennial Rally Top of the South Targa Car boot Sale Motorcycle Rally Motorcycle Run Kauri Museum 60th Anniversary Banks Peninsula Peninsula Hillclimb Canterbury Girder Fork Motorcycle Rally Central Otago Sunday Run Rotorua Club Run Taupo Club Run Wanganui Sunday Run Central Hawke’s BayEast Coast Adventure Auckland Mid Week Tourers Waikato Wednesday Wander South Canterbury Mt Cook Rally Auckland Annual Hunua 100 Rally Manawatu 60th Anniversary Celebrations North Shore Treasure Hunt & Lunch Rotorua Midweek Run Otago Midweek Run Banks Peninsula Wigram Revival Ruapuna Hawke’s Bay Safari Weekend Bay of Plenty End of Month Run Gisborne Club Run North Otago Teapot Rally with Waimate Rotorua Lakefront Car Show Taranaki Garden Festival Run
NOVEMBER 2 2 4-6 4-6
Wanganui Wellsford/Wkwth Auckland Gisborne
Night Trial Midweek Picnic Annual Motorcycle Rally Inter Branch Weekend
4-6 Otago 50th Taieri Tour 4-6 South Canterbury Safari Weekend 5 Canterbury Hororata Highland Games Run 5 Southland Commercial Rally 5 Wellington Annual Rally 5 Waikato Veteran Rally 6 Bay of Plenty Swap Meet & Family Day 6 E Bay of Plenty Tauranga Swap Meet 6 Gore Ladies Run 12 Ashburton Methven Motor Show 12 South Otago 50th Rally 12-13 Manawatu Overnight to Napier 12-13 Northland Far North Tour 12-13 South Canterbury All American Weekend 12-13 Southland Arrowtown Motorcycle Rally 13 Central Otago Sunday Run 13 Rotorua Club Run 13 Waikato Gypsy Rose Run 15 Northland Run to Kauri Museum 16 Waikato Wednesday Wander 18–20 Central Hawke’s BayVeteran Rally & Homestead Run 19 Horowhenua Tararua Trundle 19 North Otago Swap Meet 19-20 Central Otago Combined Rally 20 Banks Peninsula Hawkswood Sprint 20 Canterbury Homestead Run 20 Gisborne Tahaenui Fete 20 North Shore Vauxhall Collection Raid 20 Otago Commercial/Veteran Rally 20 South Canterbury Vintage/Veteran/ Commercial Run 20 Taupo Club Run 20 Waikato Swap Meet 20 Wanganui Sunday Run 24 Otago Midweek Run 26 Canterbury Motorcycle Annual Rally 26 Nthland/Far North Dunny Run 26 Wairarapa Gold Medal M/C Rally 27 Auckland Club Run/Ladies Run 27 Gore Josephville Hill Climb 27 South Waikato TTT Rally 27 Wairarapa Vintage Day at the Brewery – Mangatainoka
27 Waitemata 30 Auckland 30 Rotorua
Manunui Hillclimb Mid Week Tourers Midweek Run
DECEMBER 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 7 9–11 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 11 14 21 24 26
Canterbury North Otago South Canterbury Otago Otago Taranaki
Vintage Annual Rally Winsor Rally Christmas Party Moped Rall Christmas barbecue Combined Clubs barbecue Waikato Veterans Run (including all ages of vehicles) Wanganui Restoration of the Year South Canterbury Three Day Tour Canterbury Christmas Social Evening Central Hawke’s BayChristmas Party and Gymkhana Far North Christmas Dinner Gore Christmas Run Manawatu Crosshills Picnic Northland Christmas Lunch Waikato Motorcycle Run Waimate Christmas Run Central Otago Christmas Dinner Waikato Wednesday Wander Waikato Santa Claus Canterbury Boxing Day Run
JANUARY
1 Banks Peninsula
New Year’s Day Little River Picnic 1 Manawatu Len’s New Year Run 1 South Canterbury New Year’s Day Fairlie 1 Wanganui Gumboot Rally 8 Gore Picnic Run 8 Waikato Blue Smoke & Pedals 8 Wairarapa Coastal Run 11 Wanganui Club PIcnic 15 Otago Jackson Rally
NATIONAL EVENTS 3-6 February 2023 National Motorcycle Rally, Southland 24 -27 February 2023 National Veteran Car Rally, Auckland
This list does not contain all branch events – 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
TACKLING THE
TARGA Words Diane Quarrie Photos Diane Quarrie and Proshotz.com
Targa is an event run on public and closed roads. Its origin stems from the Targa Florio, the world’s first sports car race held in Sicily in 1906. This year VCC National President Diane Quarrie and fellow VCC member Gaynor Terrill tackled the challenge with gusto (and a fair bit of trepidation) … the big question is – how did the girls do? In 2018 Banks Peninsula member Rod Corbett put a proposal to the Management Committee of the Club that in conjunction with Peter Martin the Targa organiser, a VCC specific category could be added to the event. It would use the VCC’s time trial competition formula (the object is to collect the fewest number of penalty points) but on closed roads and would require entrants to be a member of the VCC which would bring in a lot of new members. The Management Committee readily agreed and since then the Targa VCC Time Trial has gone from strength to strength. This year for the first time a new two-day event joined the five-day group which gave more people the opportunity to participate. With encouragement from Rod Corbett, driving in the Targa had always been on my bucket list. The initial idea was that Viv Harris and Kaaren Smylie and I would all enter our Spitfires forming the all-girl Firebirds team, but sadly Kaaren’s car did not make the event. Other vehicles in the two-day event were a 1956 MG Magnette, 1968 MGC Sebring, 1954 Mk1 Zephyr convertible, 1990 Ford Telstar and a 1934 Bentley whose age, when combined with its driver and navigator totalled 242 years.
Diane and Gaynor, foot down and heading round the corner. Photo: Proshotz.com
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Diane Quarrie & Gaynor Terrill #43 Triumph Spitfire. Photo: Proshotz.com
Entered in the five-day event were a variety of MGs, Fords, Mazda MX-5s, Jaguars, Mercedes-Benz and a Jensen-Healey, Alfa Romeo and Austin-Healey Sprite. Friday night was set aside for scrutineering and dressing my 1966 Spitfire (the “Spit”) in her signage and numbering and collecting our registration packs. The rally booklet was very comprehensive with instructions in the form of tulips and included distances and additional written clarification. At the briefing that night we were advised we weren’t allowed to go over 130kph on the special stages. My navigator Gaynor Terrill and I just looked at each other. By this stage I was having serious doubts that we would be able to keep up the average speeds in the special stages which were in the range of 70 to 78 kph (on mainly bendy hilly back-country roads). Time traps would also hidden somewhere on each special stage and if you were too fast or too slow at that point, you would incur penalty points. My idea that I could make up time on the straights just flew out the window. In the back of my mind I worried that we would be so slow that the whole of the field would pass us on each stage. Would my rather rough Spit be up to the challenge, and more importantly would my driving be up to it? At the very dark and cold briefing early the next morning, Rod Corbett advised how it would work. For the special stages Rod and Anne would go first in their BMW Alpina with the rest of us “newbies” starting at one minute intervals. We were instructed
alcolm Edgar and John Reeves pushing the boundaries M in the 1954 Ford Zephyr MK1 convertible. Photo: Proshotz.com
Beaded Wheels 17