CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 77 YEARS
Beaded Wheels No. 381 April/May 2023
New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine $8.95
SUMMER OF MOTORING NATIONAL AND LOCAL RALLY ACTION BEHIND THE
WHEEL
9 418979 000012
1900 WOLSELEY
MARKETPLACE
VEHICLES FOR SALE AND WANTED
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
This image was sent to Beaded Wheels in 2009. We have no other information recorded other than the label “Oamaru”. Any information regarding the event and date would be gratefully received. 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.
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
REGISTRAR Neil Beckenham 09 426 5831 registrar@vcc.org.nz SPEED STEWARD Tony Haycock 021 662 441 speedsteward@vcc.org.nz EDITOR, BEADED WHEELS 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
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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 LXXIV No. 381
Issue 381 April/May 2023
Typesetting and Design:
RGB Design & Print Ltd, Christchurch
FEATURES
Editor: Kevin Clarkson Sub Editors:
Judith Bain Rosalie Brown Mark Dawber John McDonald Greg Price Charles Rushbrook
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).
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.
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Behind The Wheel – 1900 Wolseley Voiturette
14
Unusual Flat Twins – ABCs, Quirks Mona & Granville Bradshaw
20
The Fred Dennison Run
24
1914 Saxon Model A .
27
Cadillac Steals the Spotlight
28
1935 Wolf Cub
30 32
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%
Closing Date for June/July: Editorial Copy Advertisements
28 April 2023 10 May 2023
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.)
Rally Snippets 32 Dunedin Brighton Run – Otago Branch 33 2023 Southland Rally – Southland Branch 34 National Veteran Rally – Auckland Branch 38 National Motorcycle Rally – Southland Branch 42 The Pomeroy Trophy- Banks Peninsula Branch 44 Burma Rally - Wanganui Branch 44 Kickstart Motobike Rally- Waimate Branch 45 Waitara Mini-Vin Tour
New Zealand.
Unusual Flat Twins
14
National Veteran Rally
34
National Motorcycle Rally
38
Market Place
47
COLUMNS 4
President’s Message
31
The Way We Were
4
Editorial Viewpoint
46
Archivist News
5
VCC Branch Events
47
Marketplace
6
National Office
52
Swap Meets & Rallies
7
Mailbag
53
Trade Directory
9
Timelines
54
Branch News
26
Awards
66
Passing Lane
31
Book Review
Postal Address: PO Box 2546, Address: 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch,
10
Wild Goose Chase Ian Frazer is hot on the trail of the finishing touch for his Elf.
National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Email admin@vcc.org.nz Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
1900 Wolseley
COVER
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.
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Andrew Roxburgh, 1910 Triumph motorcycle, heading away on the Otago Branch Dunedin Brighton Run. Photo Mark McGuire.
10 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. VCC Life Member Rod Brayshaw is the New Zealand delegate to FIVA and also a member of the FIVA Technical Commission.
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
UNUSUAL FLAT TWINS ABCs, Quirks Mona & Granville Bradshaw
Words and photos Stuart Francis
It is a common misconception that Douglas was the only company to use the fore and aft flat twin engine layout. Douglas was by far the biggest user of this engine layout, using it from 1907 until the outbreak of WWII, but they were not alone. William and Edwin Douglas got into the motorcycle business by accident, when a company they supplied castings to, Light Motors, went into receivership. Light Motors were probably the pioneers of fore and aft flat twins. The Douglas brothers spotted an opportunity in carrying on production of these smooth, nimble, sturdy, low vibration machines, which performed well, and seemed to sell. Their appeal was enhanced with success on the Isle of Man, European race tracks, dirt tracks, and as Dispatch Rider mounts in WWI. This success meant it was not surprising that a number of other makes tried fore and aft flat twin configuration: Brough (not Superior), D-Rad, Victoria, Wilkinson, Indian (model O) and Harley-Davidson (model W & XA) to name a few. Perhaps the most esoteric of them all was the Quirks Mona, the first truly indigenous Australian machine. The subjects of this article are three of the more obscure fore and aft flat twins to be produced: the 1916 ABC, its better known sibling the Sopwith ABC, and the unique Australian machine the Quirks Mona.
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1916 ABC The 1916 ABC was designed and produced by Granville Bradshaw, a talented engineer and a keen motorcyclist. Granville came into contact with the motorcycle racing community when working on aircraft at Brooklands before WWI. He became friends with an Australian flyer, and Douglas works rider, Les Bailey. In November 1912 Granville extensively modified one of Les’ machines, adding steel cylinders, overhead valves and a three throw crankshaft. The outer throws of the crankshaft drove one piston whilst the middle throw moved the other piston (designed to reduce vibration and keep the cylinders on a common axis). The modified machine set the 350cc flying kilometre record at 72.63mph at Brooklands. In 1913, based on his experience with Les Bailey’s record breaking Douglas, Granville designed the ABC motorcycle. He produced three versions of the machine, a Standard model and two racing models; the TT model and a Brooklands model. The standard machine had a two throw crank and exhaust over inlet
Harvey West with the restored 1916 ABC
ABC 4 speed gearbox selector
valves. The TT model and Brooklands model had a three throw crank and overhead valves. Excellent results in a number of 1914 race meetings, and becoming the first 500cc motorcycle to exceed 80mph at Brooklands, had orders flowing in but production was overtaken by the growing demands for munitions and specialist equipment for British forces in WWI. A large batch of standard machines with sidecars were produced for the British Army in Egypt but finished up at the bottom of the Mediterranean after their ship was torpedoed. The engine continued to be used throughout WWI, powering small generators, trench pumps and an observation balloon inflator, all designed by the fertile mind of Bradshaw. The engine was also used by Brough and Zenith motorcycles. The motorcycle is very different from the later Sopwith produced ABC, an across-theframe flat twin that Granville Bradshaw also designed. This 1916 ABC standard model is radically different from most machines of the time with a number of very advanced features. The 495cc engine had exhaust over inlet valves (a rather unusual arrangement for a motorcycle) and a large external flywheel, swinging arm rear suspension and initially a three speed Armstrong gearbox, cone clutch and all chain drive. The chain driven gearbox was situated behind the engine and close to the swinging arm pivot to reduce rear chain tension variation. The engine was moved in the frame, the engine bolts sat in slots, to adjust primary chain tension. The only brake was a contracting band brake on the rear wheel.
A four speed gearbox was introduced in 1915, when most machines had one, or two gears if they were lucky. The large bronze-shelled gearbox is rather unusual. The gear change lever is pushed down to engage the lower gears, then moved left or right to first or second. The gear change lever is then pulled up to engage the higher gears then moved left or right to select third or fourth. The bronze gearbox is quite large even by today’s standards. The leading link leaf spring forks were introduced by 1916, replacing the earlier girder forks. The leading link leaf spring forks do look unusual but in concept were not that much different from the contemporary Indian front forks and they look relatively normal when compared to the likes of the post WWII FN arrangement. This 1916 ABC (pictured) was painstakingly restored by Harvey West in a remote rural settlement in Southland, New Zealand. The machine kicks into life quite easily, running remarkably quietly and smoothly for a machine of this vintage. Harvey reports it runs well on the road but the unusual gear change arrangement takes some getting used to, as does the feeble single band rear brake.
1921 ABC Granville Bradshaw always had a close association with the Sopwith aircraft company from his days at Brooklands and in 1912 a Sopwith with an ABC engine, flown by Harry Hawker, won the Michelin Endurance Prize. In December 1918 Granville
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REVVING UP THE PAST
2023 VCCNZ NATIONAL VETERAN RALLY During 2022 Auckland member Barry Birchall realised that 2023 would mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Auckland Veteran Rally. He wanted to do something special to commemorate this, so the branch successfully applied for the National Veteran Rally.
Words John Stokes (Auckland), photos Derk Schoemaker Entries came from Auckland, North Shore, Waikato, Northland, Waitemata, Wellsford/Warworth, Bay of Plenty, Wanganui, Manawatu and Horowhenua Branches. The vehicle age range spanned from Peter Le Gros’ 1900 Locomobile steam car to the 1918 Cadillac V8 of John and Judy Callesen and the 1918 Scripps Booth owned by Doug Hamilton, but motored by Leon and Brenda Salt. We were fortunate to get three motorcycle entries. Don Green’s 1916 Model H Triumph, Robert Young’s 1918 Triumph and Rob McIntyre’s highly original 1918 Excelsior. Model T Fords dominated numerically with 13 of the 51 entrants. Next up were single cylinder Cadillacs with six entries ranging from 1904 to 1906. Thirty three vehicles were of USA/Canadian origin, ten were English, six French and one Belgian. On Friday 24 the event began at La Valla, the excellent Tuakau venue. The destination was a non-competitive run to Maxwell’s Golf Retreat, on the old Great South Road near Bombay. The short route travelled from Tuakau to Buckville, then skirted the back of Pukekohe and on to Runciman, then towards the old Bombay Deviation and on to Maxwells and lunch. The long route had a more testing run through Whangarata, the outskirts of Pokeno and over the once notorious Razorback (the main road south of 34 Beaded Wheels
Auckland until 1925). Then it was through Bombay, Paparimu, Ararimu, Runciman and back to Maxwells. Gavin Welch remarking that he had his foot on the low gear pedal in his Model T for a good deal of the time! There were three little mechanical issues, the Renault charabanc had a petrol blockage, remedied on the side of the road. Robert Young succeeded in riding his 1918 Triumph 30 miles on a flat front tyre, it went well at 30 mph. Robert secured a tube in Pukekohe. Mike and Kirsten Courtney had severe power loss in the 1909 Sizaire et Naudin, but once back at La Valla, Alan Hardacre stepped in with his magneto knowledge, and Courtneys completed the next two days in fine style. Both Mike and Laurie Cocker in the 1906 Cadillac single made a wise choice in opting for the short route, as they had originally entered the long one. The rain had set in by now, but this didn’t appear to deter the entrants for the gymkhana, about 23 competing in events organised by Wayne Roberts and helpers. Entrants then enjoyed a barbecue presented by Tracey Winterbottom and helpers. Saturday the 25th was the competitive day. Because of the previous night’s rain, some vehicles, including the Renault charabanc, were hard to start. The charabanc was carrying Auckland Branch Life Member and mastermind of the charabanc
Mike and Kirsten Courtney 1909 Sizaire et Naudin ▼ Gordon White 1908 Jackson Dogcart.
▼ David and Kaye Porter 1904 Darracq.
▲ Rob McIntyre Horowhenua 1918 Excelsior motorcycle..
▲ Mike Courtney working on Sizaire et Naudin.
restoration Barry Robert, and by closing up the plug gaps a little, Barry had the vehicle running again. Competition was determined by vehicles maintaining an average speed over a specified distance, and answering some questions. The short route left La Valla heading towards the Tuakau Bridge over the Waikato River, there was a short detour to The Alexandra Redoubt, built during the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s, however, because of potential congestion, it was decided not to stop there. Once over the Tuakau Bridge the short route went direct to Port Waikato and then returned the same way to the settlement of Te Kohanga for lunch, provided by Onewhero School. The long route followed the short until the Tuakau Bridge, where they headed up SH22, to travel towards Mercer and then towards Pukekawa by a series of trafficfree backroads, on to Onewhero and down to Te Kohanga for lunch. During lunch entrants were treated to a stirring performance by the Onewhero School Kapa Haka group. After lunch Gordon White in the 1908 Jackson dogcart gave many of the children rides around the football field, he was subsequently joined by Geoff Quarrie in the 1915 GWK with some rather spirited driving, and two or three other entrants helped as well, the children seemed happy! The long route then made their run to Port Waikato and direct back to La Valla where concours judging took place by Peter Wood and Neil Beckenham. There were a couple of breakdowns in the early parts of this run, and Roland Howell’s breakdown trucks were busy. Roland had generously supplied two trucks for the event, at a time when his company was flat out with flood recovery work. Saturday night’s dinner went well, and as sponsorship coordinators, John Morrison and Barry Birchall had gathered a significant number of prizes to be awarded and it was decided to
use a rotating numbered wheel to do this. However, it was also decided to raffle the prizes with proceeds to the Red Cross for flood/slip relief. Mike Courtney was MC for this event as he was good at this and initially there was one spin for twenty dollars tapering off to ten spins for five dollars. It isn’t known why, god or someone perhaps, but Monty and Pauline Scarborough just kept winning things, and Porters and the Courtneys themselves did well. As a result, in excess of $2000 was raised on the night, with a few more dollars the next day. The trophies for the 50th Auckland Veteran Rally were presented with the long route going to North Shore’s Paul Brinsden, 1911 Model T Ford and the short route, a tie between David and Beverley Oliver, 1914 Ford Model T and Alan Hardacre and Suzanne Clark, 1915 Dodge. Sunday was the final day and entrants went on a tour from Tuakau to Waiuku for lunch at the Kentish Hotel, believed to be the longest held continuous liquor license in New Zealand. The short route left Tuakau and went via the main Tuakau Pukekohe road before skirting the lower parts of the Pukekohe Hill going to Puni (where the garage was built by Norm Dewhurst’s relations) and on to Aka Aka, now a dairying area, but once a series of nightmare relief camps while the swamp was drained during the ‘30s depression. The run then following on to Waiuku. The long route went through Buckland and past the Pukekohe racing circuit, which was holding the last motor racing event in its 60 year motor racing history. Then to Puni, Aka Aka, Otaua and thence Waiuku. There had been reasonable publicity for the display and there was a good public turn out. After lunch, entrants visited John Dickey’s tractor and truck museum, while some went to the Waiuku museum as well. Entrants were treated to some good scenery on the way home.
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