CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 78 YEARS
No. 389 August /September 2024
New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine $8.95
THE ANNUAL TREK SOUTH
9 418979 000012
IRISHMAN 2024 MARKETPLACE FIND THE VEHICLE OF YOUR DREAMS
BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A HEALEY ELLIOT DRIVING OUR HISTORY
Photo supplied to Beaded Wheels by Donald Suckling. Caption reads “Whitcombe & Tombs Limited photo of old 1914 Cadillac and their new all electric delivery vehicle taking outside Christchurch Hospital in 1915. Photograph owned by Estate C. M. Suckling, General Storekeeper, Tai Tapu. The editorial team are unsure if this supplied information about the vehicles is entirely accurate.
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.
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 C/O, 722 Waterholds Road, RD8 Christchurch 7678 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 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 33 AC Baths Ave, Taupo 5530 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 24B Nikau Heights,Lansdowne, Masterton 5810 DRIVING OUR HISTORY wairarapa@vcc.org.nz WAITEMATA C/- 8 Jean Place, Stanmore Bay, FAR NORTH Whangaparoa 0932 waitemata@vcc.org.nz NORTHLAND NORTH SHORE WELLSFORD/ WANGANUI WARKWORTH PO Box 726, Whanganui 4541 wanganui@vcc.org.nz WELLINGTON AUCKLAND WAITEMATA PO Box 38418, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045 BAY OF PLENTY WAIKATO wellington@vcc.org.nz EASTERN BAY WELLSFORD/WARKWORTH OF PLENTY PO Box 547, Warkworth 0941 ROTORUA SOUTH WAIKATO wellsfordwarkworth@vcc.org.nz TAUPO WEST COAST GISBORNE KING COUNTRY C/- 143 Ward Street, Cobden TARANAKI Greymouth 7802, HAWKE’S BAY westcoast@vcc.org.nz WANGANUI CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY
MANAWATU HOROWHENUA
WAIRARAPA
NELSON
WELLINGTON MARLBOROUGH
WEST COAST CANTERBURY ASHBURTON WAIMATE CENTRAL OTAGO
SOUTHLAND
GORE
BANKS PENINSULA
SOUTH CANTERBURY NORTH OTAGO OTAGO
SOUTH OTAGO
NATIONAL OFFICE
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140 Phone 03 366 4461 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
Proudly supporting the
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“ D R I VI N G OU
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ISTORY ” H R
It’s the Vintage Car Club’s National Day and across New Zealand, hundreds of vehicles will be on the road or on display to raise money for your local Cancer Society.
To find out more about your local Daffodil Rally for Cancer visit:
www.vcc.org.nz
CONTENTS Issue 389 August/September 2024
FEATURES 9
16
Wasp Wars
10
Unlocking your car’s past
12
Behind The Wheel – 1950 Healey Elliot
16
Wasp Wars
22 24 Engineered for Espresso
09
31
Marketplace
Engineered for Espresso Another creation from the imagination of one of our readers.
The Journey of a Little Bit of Trim Rally Snippets 24
Vincents at the Northland Motorcycle Rally
25
Irishman 2024
28
Rosco Trials – West Coast Branch
25
Irishman
COLUMNS 5
From the Editor
40
Trade Directory
6
VCC Branch Events
41
President’s Message
7
Mailbag
41
Commemorative Awards
9
Timelines
42
Festival Update
29
Polishing the brass
43
National Office News
30
Archivist News
44
Branch News
31
Marketplace
58
Passing Lane
37
Swap Meets & Rallies
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Incorporated
COVER Fraser Kear and Meg Pigeon arrive in the correct attire, Irishman, see page 25. Photo Donald Wright.
National Office
Phone 03 366 4461 (9.30am–1.30pm) Email admin@vcc.org.nz
Postal Address PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
Address 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Website: www.vcc.org.nz
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
4 Beaded Wheels
Find us on facebook Vintage Car Club of New Zealand
The Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) is the worldwide organisation dedicated to the preservation, protection and promotion of historic vehicles and related culture. The Vintage Car Club of NZ (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.
FROM THE
EDITOR
I’m really pleased that we now have a page specifically for veteran vehicle affairs. Following on from my request last issue for a veteran vehicles reporter we now have Paul Herron from Gore filling that role. (Nice to know at least a few people read this column!) His first effort is in this issue and there you will be able to read a bit about his background. Interestingly, I had suggested that he may wish to come up with his own special name for the column and this he has done – the new column is headed Polishing the Brass. Seems appropriate when you see all the brass on the vets that need polishing regularly! Our thanks to Paul for stepping up to that role. Veteran owners may wish to put Paul’s number on speed dial so they can keep him abreast of all things veteran as they happen. Our thanks go also to all the Branch Reporters for
Beaded Wheels Publisher
The Vintage Car Club of NZ Incorporated The Historic Vehicle Authority of New Zealand ISSN 0113-7506 Vol LXXV No. 389
Typesetting and Design
RGB Design & Print Ltd, Christchurch
Editor: Kevin Clarkson Sub Editors: Judith Bain, Rosalie Brown,
Mark Dawber, John McDonald, Greg Price, Charles Rushbrook
their efforts to provide us with interesting news and happenings in their branch each issue. At branch AGMs throughout the country some Branch Reporters have moved on, and others have stepped up to replace them. We thank you all and extend a warm welcome to the new Reporters.
Beaded Wheels has been around a long time, probably longer than most magazines out there. In the beginning there was the Guff Sheet, a newsletter style information bulletin that first appeared in May 1953. That continued on a quarterly basis (more or less!) until the first issue of Beaded Wheels in March 1955. That first issue was in a magazine style format, but a little smaller that the magazine we see today. So, 71 years of Beaded Wheels – a lot of history there. I am occasionally asked how long I have been doing this job.
Correspondence & Editorial Contributions Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Phone 64 3 332 3531, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140.
Advertising Enquiries
Classified and Display Advertising to: Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140. Phone 64 3 332 3531 Rate schedule available on request.
Back Issues Available on request to admin@vcc.org.nz
Until I did the numbers I was never sure but it’s about 25 years – maybe too long, some would say!
Beaded Wheels is first and foremost a club magazine, but we do have non-member subscribers and we also sell copies in selected book stores around the country. Both of these outlets help support the finances of the magazine and are important to us. Additionally, the presence on the book stands is valuable as it is one way we can have Beaded Wheels represent the face of the Vintage Car Club to the public. Magazine sales generally (excluding Beaded Wheels) are on the decline. Magazine retail outlets have reduced by 17.5% from 2021 to 2024 and in the year up to June 2024 magazine sales dropped by a massive 11% compared with the previous year. This is merely following the trend of all sections of the print Subscriptions
Beaded Wheels subscribers change of address to: PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140. Phone 03 366 4461, Email admin@vcc.org.nz Annual subscription (6 issues) $52* inc GST Australian subscription (6 issues) NZ$112* Other countries (6 issues) NZ$185* Digital subscription (6 issues) NZ$39 available from vcc.org.nz or issuu.com. *Payment by credit card incurs additional bank fee processing charge of 2%
media struggling with reduced sales. I would assume that we will see some further consolidation over the next few years. I may be biased, of course, but when I look at the list of the top 10 printed magazines by sales, I can see where some consolidation would be really useful! What do you think? 1 Woman’s Day 2. NZ Woman’s Weekly 3. New Idea 4. NZ Listener 5. TV Guide NI 6. People’s Friend 7. Aust Women’s Weekly 8. NZ House & Garden 9. Hello 10. That’s Life
Kevin Clarkson Editor Beaded Wheels
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 Incorporated” as the source. Reproduction of articles must be at least 12 months after original Beaded Wheels publication date. Beaded Wheels reserves the right to digitally store all published material for archival purposes.
CLOSING DATES FOR OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
Editorial Copy 23 August 2024 • Advertisements 10 September 2024
Beaded Wheels 5
HIN BE
Good fun! 1950 Healey Elliott saloon. Powering out of hairpin at Chelsea Walsh hillclimb, Auckland, 11 November 2001.
D THE WH EE L
1950 HEALEY ELLIOT Previously owned by the late Gordon Vogtherr
Words and photos Scott Thomson
Back in the summer of 2001 pump-side pundits offered various guesses at a new kid on the block. What is that? Some sort of Jaguar? A Porsche? Looks like an Italian job! Outside guesses were Sunbeam-Talbot, Jowett and a customized and lowered Morris Minor…. It was a 1950 Healey. Not an Austin-Healey – they came later and in vastly greater numbers.
WHO WAS HEALEY? Donald Healey was born in Cornwall — way to the west of England. As an 11 year old he accompanied his father, a grocer and builder, on the two-day drive to collect the new family Humber from London. At age 15, Donald was apprenticed to the Sopwith Aviation Company at Brooklands. These formative events decided his life direction and the type of cars he was to put his name on. He was already an experienced pilot when he joined the Royal Flying Corps, age 17, only to be shot down and injured by ‘friendly fire’ in France. Invalided out, Donald did RAF inspection work, administrative experience that served him well when he opened his own garage workshop in 1919, specialising in sporting cars. Through the 1930s Donald Healey was Britain’s most successful rally driver, winning the Monte Carlo in 1931. Joining Triumph, he moved up to General Manager before going to Humber on armored car development. This was the man who planned to launch a tough, fast, car in dreary postwar Britain. Healey had two invaluable associates. ‘Sammy’ Sampietro came from Alfa Romeo and Maserati via the Brooklands firm of Thomson & Taylors. He had definite ideas on independent suspension and modified the VW/Porsche trailing arm layout. Ben Bowden was a stylist who had worked for Farina in Italy. Ben’s first sketch of the Healey car began with a full-size tracing on his home’s wallpaper.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE?
Onepu Hillclimb, 28 October 2001.
12 Beaded Wheels
A local contact had a machine for bending up to eight foot steel into a box chassis. That decided the wheelbase. Another local firm called Elliot’s had once built a car body, though their main work was with shop fronts. For an engine, Healey did a deal with Riley. They had introduced a 2.4 litre four just before the war. Some units were available and Riley would go on to use
1946 Healey Westland. Donald Healey, centre.
the typically robust, high mounted twin cam/pushrod design in their post war RM and Pathfinder models. I am just old enough to remember the Healey Elliot being billed as Britain’s fastest car and the world’s fastest saloon. The motoring press took one to Italy late in 1946 and recorded 104.65 mph with a standing quarter in 17.8 secs. Fifty years later I got to know Gordon Vogtherr and his Healey was still a sensational looking car.
BEHIND THE WHEEL The big door opens and closes with that coach-built click. I slip into the bucket seat, swinging my legs over the rubber coated running boards, cut deep into the prominent front mudguards. Working from the left there are amps and fuel gauges in a high class wooden instrument panel. Next comes a big speedo with matching rev-counter under the driver’s eye. Between them sit the ignition key with separate starter button and warning lights for fuel and charge levels. Temperature and oil pressure gauges are to the right. There is also a small clock. Finally there are two banks of switches, the top ones for lights and wipers – not too accessible with the steering wheel in the way. Below are the electric fan, fuel pump off/on, and the choke. All these controls are needed. The engine does tend to overheat in heavy traffic or waiting on the starting grid, but the fan is a heavy drain on the battery. If the engine runs roughly on idle the choke is useful for pushing in a solid shot of fuel – another starting line check. Modern (91) fuel vaporised easily. These engines have been known to light-up! (The front carb is over the generator.) In case of fire, switch off the fuel and rev the engine hard. The hand brake is well left beyond the transmission tunnel – effective, but a long reach. Gear change is normal H pattern with reverse back towards the driver. I located it by trial and error under the eyes of Healey
Tight fit!
Exercising the beast!
Beaded Wheels 13