The
Tourer
Manawatu Branch
Volume 1791
June 2018
Number 09/300139
When insuring your valuable items (property, car etc) with Vero, quoting the above number results in a commission being made to the Manawatu Branch. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Discounts on Cook Strait Ferry Crossings All financial members of the VCC of NZ Inc can obtain a discount on ferry crossings, for individual or group bookings. You must show your membership card. Quote the required codes: Interislander WH5465 0800878898
Blue Bridge – ANTIQUECAR 0800844844
COVER PHOTO: PV Rally winners Mac and Trudy Keene, Hunterville with their 52 Austin Sheerline.
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Coming Coming Events 2018-2019 Events 2018 June 2018
13 17 23
July 2018
August 2018
10 17 29 8 19 26
Committee meeting 7.30pm The Grove NB No Club Night in June due to item below. Sunday Run 1.00pm from Chesters Branch Mid Winter Wander, Mid Winter Christmas Meal and Night Trial Committee meeting 7.30pm The Grove Club night 7.30pm The Grove – Derek Haycock with video of his trip to Europe Sunday Run 1.00pm from Chesters Committee meeting 7.30pm The Grove NB No Club Night in August, with effort directed into the Daffodil Day Sunday Run 1.00pm from Chesters National Daffodil Day Car Show at Coach House
car park Feilding
September 2018
12 15 19
October 2018
6 10 13-14 17 22 -27 14 16-18
Committee meeting 7.30pm The Grove Branch Vintage Rally Club night – combined with CHBVCC at Dannevirke. Speaker tba Branch Swap Meet Committee meeting 7.30pm The Grove Wairarapa Branch 50th Anniversary weekend Club night 7.30pm The Grove Targa NZ VCC South Island Time Trial Committee meeting 7.30pm The Grove Veteran Rally Weekend, Nelson details from
21 12 tbc 19
Branch Christmas Function 7.30pm The Grove Committee meeting 7.30pm The Grove Branch Club morning – with morning tea provided
November 2018
December 2018
jimnkyra@xtra.co.nz 03 544 9998
Sunday Run details are in the Club Captain’s Corner each month. Regular monthly events are listed inside the back cover in each issue. Bookings for The Grove venue can be made through Creative Catering, Awapuni Racecourse Phone 06 354 2780 or info@creativecatering.co.nz
New Members
contact the Secretary, Peter Robinson, to organise for a name badge to be made. The Tourer
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Notes from the Chair Greetings fellow enthusiasts, A reminder that there is no Club Night this month and that we welcome all members to join us at the Grove for the Night Trial on the 23rd of June. Details of this event are in previous Tourers. The format is a day time run followed by a catered meal at the Grove which will be followed by the Night Trial. People are free to attend as many or few of these three events as they wish. As usual Club Captain Bryan Abraham has put a lot of effort into this event – he just needs entries now! There was a disappointingly small turn out to May’s Club Night. We warmly welcomed two couples who have recently transferred into our branch: Alan and Robyn Henry from Taranaki Branch, and Bruce and Diana Dyer from Waikato Branch. Planning is underway for the national Daffodil Day on the 26th of August
where we support the Cancer Society. We will be holding a car show at the Coach House Museum car park in Feilding. We will invite one make clubs and specialist interest groups to join us. Entry will be by donation to the Cancer Society. It gives me much please to announce that Peter Robinson has expressed interest in helping with Secretarial duties for our branch. During the summer months our hall is let out most weekends for weddings and other functions. There is a small amount of painting and varnishing that needs to be carried out in this offseason. If anyone can help with this please let me know. Happy Motoring Sarah Howell Chair
Vintage Car Club of NZ National Executive meeting 24 March 2018
These are notes made during the meeting by your delegate Sarah Howell. A full set of minutes is available from the delegate. : Membership Status: Unfinancial Members’ Subs: Unfinancial lists are sent to branches every month. Secretaries need to ring
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unfinancial members in case they have forgotten to pay. Secretaries need to act upon these reports as any members still unfinancial by March Executive meeting are voted to have their memberships rescinded. In the past members have had ten months to pay before they become unfinancial. This period has now been reduced to The Tourer
four months. One reminder letter is sent in mid November. National Office needs to be informed of reasons for resignations. Reports were received from: Secretary / Treasurer, 50 year membership, North and South Island Club Captains, Beaded Wheels: A list of events is sent to branch secretaries. This needs to be checked before publication. Speed Steward, Archivist: Details of old registrations are held in the National Library and at Archives NZ, Insurance: The management committee is looking at options for insuring the National Office. Registrar: The management committee is looking at introducing a buddy scheme for V.I.C. advisors. One on one training will be available. Vehicles with a B5 or higher classification are at present not eligible for VCC events. This rule will be rescinded. It was moved that Part section 21C be removed from the Branch Manual Carried NZTA LVVTA FIVA NZ Federation of Motoring (Copies of these reports are available from the delegate) Notice of Motion (These were discussed at a Club Night prior to this Exec. Meeting) Changes to By Laws Remits
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General Business: National Vintage Rally: The management committee is waiting for a branch to put their hand up to host it. There is no set format. It was suggested that this could replace the Easter Rally in 2019 Ross Holdem – Communications Officer: Presentation - What makes a good branch magazine? Editors should use a cover that works well with a single picture. The caption should be in the inside of the front cover. The size of electronic issues is often too big. To make PDFs smaller use http:smallpdf.com 2018 AGM: will be held 3 and 4 August at East Pier Hotel Ahuriri Napier. Branch Constitutions: Diane Quarrie is making up a template for branches to use. The draft will come out before August. 2021 Rally: Rally director Tony Haycock attended Americarna in order to note what enables a large automotive event held in New Plymouth to work. Our event will have four motoring days with one day catering for a National Veteran, Motorcycle and Commercial Rally. Each rally day all participants will move en masse from point A to point B. From observing Americana, Tony found that mass movement of cars works. New Plymouth is well set up for large motoring events. There will be a motor camp dedicated for participants. National Day: Last year over $40,000.00 was raised and over 2000 vehicles took part. Media coverage will be better this time. A professional
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designer will design the poster. We need to make sure that the VCC is well represented with flags and banners. It is not about giving rides – rather it is about getting people in their cars involved in our event. There were presentations from Canterbury, Marlborough, and Wanganui branches. Some ideas that came out of these presentations were: to invite all one make and special interest clubs; use a simple entry form which includes name email and phone number; use free papers for advertising; that windscreen stickers need to be big enough for a rally number. General Business Belle Vista discounts have been discontinued. Management committee will look into this.
Ed Boyd has produced a book about rally rules. There was discussion about whether to have a 60 year badge instead of the current certificate. There was a discussion about the future of National and International Rallies. David Yorke requested feedback about Easter Rallies. Questions: should they alternate between Islands? Be an annual or biennial event split by vehicle categories? Following discussion a show of hands supported a single Easter Rally each year alternating between North and South Islands. Sarah Howell - Delegate
Correction to May Tourer My apologies for mis-aging and mis-naming the Williams 1947 Plymouth P15C on the front cover of the May Tourer. Thanks to those who alerted me to the error (and thanks to those who didn’t!). Editor
VCC ID CARDS RENEWAL APPLICATIONS Message from Head Office NZVCC
Please note that all VCC ID Cards have an expiry. This expiry is upon change of ownership, or 10 years from the issue date. Your vehicle must also be as described on the Card. A Renewal form personalised for each vehicle ID Card is distributed by the National Office to current financial members, approximately 3 months before the expiration. Even if your vehicle has had no changes, this form must be checked, signed and forwarded to your Branch, along with the ID Card (if the photo correctly shows your vehicle in its present state), or three new photos, as stated on the form. Upon receipt at the National Office, the ID Card will be reissued and will be valid for a further 10 years unless there is a change of ownership or major changes to the vehicle during that time. It is compulsory for all National and International VCC Rallies that vehicles entered must have a current valid ID Card.
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This is an invitation to the
Manawatu Branch Mid Winter Christmas Dinner In conjunction with the Night Trial Venue: The Grove 23 June 2018 5.00pm Two course catered meal Cost: $25.00 per person R.S.V.P. with payment by 14 June To Bryan Abraham (please see entry form)
Feilding Farm Meat Processors Ltd Home Kill Servicing the greater Manawatu
* MAF Registered * Farm Meat Slaughtering & Processing * Packed & Frozen Complete Home Kill Service Ph/Fax 06 323 6288 A/hrs 06 323 4265
Steve Bright 021 519 077 The Tourer
96 Churcher St Feilding 7
Len Shailer Ltd
“NZ’s Finest Automotive Platers”
THE CAR TAILORS
68 Wilson Street- Wanganui
191 ALBERT ST, PALMERSTON NORTH PHONE 357-9098 * All types of car upholstery * Vintage cars a speciality * Carpet Overlocking
The acknowledged experts on all types of Vintage and Post Vintage Nickel and Chrome Plating. We are one of those old-fashioned firms that take pride in the quality of our work. (Ask anyone who has dealt with us) For all your METAL FINISHING REQUIREMENTS Copper, Brass, Bronze, Silver, Alloy Plating,Gold, Antique Finishing and Metal Polishing Phone Dave on Wanganui (06) 345 5042 for prompt and efficient service
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Club Captain’s Corner
Articles and photos Bryan and Catherine Abraham
KIMBOLTON SCULPTURE FESTIVAL – 28 April 2018 It was a fine day, the route instructions were brief – just four directions – and they took those who met at the car park near the Feilding railway station onto Kimbolton Road and directly to Kimbolton. The festival organisers had been advised of the number of vintage cars expected and put aside a suitable parking area in the festival grounds for us. This allowed the general public plenty of opportunity to scrutinise the 17 vintage cars from our branch – and they certainly did that in their droves, many talking with the owners about the cars and reminiscing on long-ago days when they, their parents or grandparents owned ‘one of those cars’. The festival included the inaugural New Zealand Rural Sculpture Awards and had more than 100 artworks on display. These ranged from small pieces made by children to a life sized horse made entirely from bicycle tyres; and everything in between, with all entrants vying for a share of the $11,000 prize pool. The owner of the Kimbolton Garage took the top prize with his ‘Haast Eagle’ made from
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Len Haycock doing an impersonation recycled tools, shearing gear, horse shoes of Elliot Ness (Untouchables) on and farming equipment. the running board of the 1926 Nash Those from our branch who attended belonging to Brad & Mel L’Huillier the festival certainly seemed to find it an (Manawatu Branch VCC members) enjoyable and worthwhile outing and the organisers have been invited to seek our attendance in the future. SUNDAY RUN TO THE COUNTY FAYRE CAFÉ - POHANGINA – 29 April 2018 On the day after the Sculpture Festival members met at Chesters in Tremaine Avenue for a 40 mile drive out past Bunnythorpe, along Waughs Road, Kawakawa Road, Lees Road, Lethbridge Road around the north of Feilding, through Colyton, and along Valley Road to the County Fayre Café in Pohangina. Nine club cars parked up in Finnis Road outside the Café and with a bit of rearranging of chairs 20 people managed to seat themselves around the old Pohangina County Council Boardroom horseshoe shaped table to enjoy a natter over tea, coffee and scones with jam and cream. Thanks to those who came on the run
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SUNDAY RUN – 17 June 2018 A week earlier than usual because of the Mid-Winter events on the 23rd, this Sunday Run will spread the club outings over two weekends and let you sleep in after the three events on the 23rd June. Meet at 1.00 pm at the Chesters Plumbing and Bathroom carpark in Tremaine Ave, Palm North for an approx 40 mile (65 km) drive to a café. DAFFODIL DAY – DAFFODIL DELIVERIES – 28, 29 and 30 August 2018 As you would have seen in the May Tourer, as part of the VCC National (Daffodil) Day this year our branch is holding a car display at the Feilding Coach House Museum carpark on Sunday 26 August. Cancer Society staff and volunteers will be attending to collect donations from the public. The Manawatu House Centre Manager has also invited us to provide vintage cars and drivers (only) to convey Cancer Society staff and volunteers around the local area to deliver daffodils. These deliveries will incur a surcharge which will be a donation to the Cancer Society. The Cancer Society person who is assigned to each car will deliver the daffodils into the premises and handle all monies. I have undertaken to try to provide the Manawatu Centre with a fairly accurate indication of the numbers of cars and drivers willing to participate. The Society need this information to promote the service and to manage the operation, knowing how many orders they can accept for daffodils to be delivered by vintage car and when these can be made. Could members who would be willing to assist with deliveries for this worthwhile cause please contact me by 23 June and let me know which half day(s) (or part half day(s)) they would be available: • Wednesday 29 August – AM • Wednesday 29 August – PM • Thursday 30 August - AM • Thursday 30 August – PM Although the priority for deliveries will be for the Wednesday and Thursday there will be an opportunity for a smaller team to undertake deliveries on the Tuesday. • Tuesday 28 August – AM • Tuesday 28 August – PM contact: Bryan Abraham - (06) 358 4014 - email bryana@xtra.co.nz
People ask me what I’d most appreciate getting for my 87th birthday. I tell them, a paternity suit. George Burns The Tourer
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Feilding Auto Electrical Ltd “All auto electrical faults repaired on Alfas to Zephyrs”
Alternators & starter motors reconditioned or new Batteries - automotive, commercial, marine Computer diagnostics - Engine, ABS, Airbags etc MP3/CD Players supplied and fitted Car alarms Air conditioning Automotive parts and accessories at: Feilding Auto Electrical 71 Stafford Street, Feilding Ph: 323 8427 Mobile: 0274 423 967 Email: fae@inspire.net.nz
It’s not that I’m afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens. Woody Allen
ADVANCE NOTICE
Saturday September 22 has been designated:
INTERNATIONAL FORD MODEL A DAY
Preliminary planning is under way for a relaxed meeting between Model A owners and lovers from Wanganui, Manawatu & Horowhenua. If you do not have a Model A, but would like to participate, a space will surely be made available for you. If you are interested in attending this momentous event, please contact: Peter Robinson 06 356 7404.
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2018 POST VINTAGE RALLY – 5 May 2018 by Bryan & Catherine Abraham
The weather was kind to us and entrants left the clubrooms with great enthusiasm on the annual PV Rally. Two that we are aware of became temporarily lost, both missing the left turn into Wakeman Street in Pahiatua. One recovered from the error early after noticing that the ‘streets’ to the left had become ‘roads’; the other continued south on SH2 for some distance before returning to the route. Eleven participants handed in answer sheets upon arriving at the destination. There were 25 clue questions to be answered, 18 of them being location photographs to be identified en route. Some more difficult clues were awarded more points with a total of 40 points being up for grabs. Only one participant correctly answered the most difficult question – what did ‘The …… Girls Club Erect’. The missing word was Nireaha and this was omitted from the clue as otherwise it would have been a ‘give-away’ as to where to look for the answer. There were memorials to three wars in the porch of the Nireaha Library Building (WW1, WW2 and the Vietnam War) and it was the ‘Girls Club’ which erected the 1914-1918 memorial. Two of the memorials were visible from the road but like all war memorials one needs to get up close to read the inscriptions. It seems that once entrants had spotted the more obvious library building foundation stone that they became focused on answering the question about it and failed to look further around the building therefore not noticing the war memorials. • The winner of the rally was one of the Hunterville entrants – Mac and Trudy Keene who achieved 31 points, and won a tie breaker to put them into first place. See Cover Photo • 2nd place went to Trevor and Sandy Hardy – also with 31 points As a tie-breaker Mac and Trevor were handed a 12 volt Ignition Coil and invited to guess its weight. Mac guessed two pounds – Trevor guessed three pounds – it was just under 2lb 6½ ounces. The Tourer
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• 3rd place - Ian and Esmee Rowden - 26 points • 4th place - Allan and Suzanne Hardacre - 25 points • 5th place - Brian and Lyn James 21 points • 6th place - Max and Lynne Youle - 20 points • 7th place - Peter and Ann Robinson - 14 points • 8th equal to Doug and Diane Wilton & Dave and Esther Williams - 13 points • 10th place - Len and Gladys Haycock - 12 points • The ‘non-competitive’ entrants – Ian and Sarah Howell in their ‘modern’ answered the questions as a personal challenge and achieved 26 points. They were the only identifiers of the elusive ‘Girls Club’ question. But everyone got to the lunch break so everyone did well. Thanks to all for attending.
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THE GREAT POST VINTAGE RALLY 2018 By Peter Robinson
This year’s Post Vintage Rally proved to be yet another gem from Club Captain, Rally Organiser and Back-up Charlie, Bryan Abraham. Mind you, I think there had to be a lot of family involvement as well, so thank you also to Catherine and Carla. The field of just 21 entrants was a little disappointing in my view; our Branch has a lot more members than that, and it is a pity that such well organised events are not better attended. So come on you others, let’s get in behind our Club Captain and make our next Rally a roaring success. Remember that each run is open to all members; you don’t even need to have a club eligible vehicle to participate. But you will not be able to enter as a competitive entrant unless your vehicle meets the criteria of the particular Rally. These runs are a lot of fun, and a good chance to have an outing with your fellow club members. This being an untimed rally, entrants were free to leave the Grove at any time. The initial section took us through the outskirts of Ashhurst, then over the Manawatu River and to Aokautere. The Pahiatua Track was negotiated with ease by the majority; the Livingstone’s lovely Austin 12/6 struggled a little, but we all got there in the end. The questions began once we reached the base of the Tararuas on the Wairarapa side. True to form, Bryan had a sheet of 18 colour photos, each to be spotted and its location recorded. In addition, there were eight written clues to spot. The difficulty with all this was that the clues were in entirely random order! The navigator has of necessity a difficult job keeping the driver informed of the route and trying to spot the clues at the same time! Clue spotting is not an easy task for the driver either, as he/she (or is it she/he these days?) has to commit the pictorial clues to memory and then hope to both remember and find them. How Cliff Bennett in his Model A Roadster manages on his own, I’ll never know. It couldn’t just be that he’s clever, could it? Similarly the Cocker 1906 Cadillac: that man is an inspiration. So, our route entered Pahiatua and nearly immediately left the township heading east. It was at this point that this reporter missed a turnoff and headed south down the main highway. To exacerbate the situation, one of the photo clues was spotted fooling us into believing we were on the right track. The error lasted for another 12 miles, but something had to be wrong, so turn back and retrace. Thank goodness for Henry Ford’s V8 that eventually we were able to catch up to the trailing car, the easy to spot Austin Sheerline of Hunterville entrants Mac & Trudy Keene. That is The Tourer
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one big car. Assisting the catch up was a shortened route that had been planned by Club Captain Bryan, so it was not all Henry’s doing! Apparently, the correct route headed south along the Mangaone Valley through Mangaone, Tane, Rongomai to Eketahuna. Many of the answers to the Maybe some enthusiasts slept over?? check questions were along this route, and also in Eketahuna township, so Ann and I were a little short on answers. On leaving Eketahuna, the route then headed west toward the Tararuas once more, passing through Nireaha, Kakariki and Hukanui. It was at this point that the shortened route rejoined the long one, continuing through Mangamaire and then to the designated lunch stop at Carnival Park in Pahiatua. And of course, the post mortems begin, who got lost etc, etc., what clues were found and not found etc. The best laid plans of mice & Bryan ……………. Last year this rally ended in a tie so this year Bryan added the written clues to make the rally a little more difficult in the hope of avoiding that repeat. But oh no, not to be! So a tie breaker was called for, and a rather interesting one at that. An ignition coil appeared, and both winners were asked to guess its weight. One came in at 2lbs,and the other at 3lbs. Would you believe it was so near a tie once more, for the object weighed in at 2lb 6.6ozs, so very nearly exactly midway between the two guesses. However, the winners were duly announced as Mac & Trudy Keene from Hunterville. Congratulations, Hip hip hooray!! Very well done. A very close second went to Trevor & Sandy Hardy, ever gracious in defeat. Overall, a very very enjoyable day. It was also nice to welcome new member Robin Sears who accompanied the Howells. I am told Robin has a very nice 1939 Chevrolet pickup. Welcome along Robin. And welcome to the other new member Doug Angove with Jan Hewlett from Pahiatua in the Vauxhall Velox featured in the May Tourer. Following lunch there was a short drive to the Tui Brewery at Mangatainoka. A nice warm spot in the café for a hot coffee, chocolate or whatever. I personally was a little disappointed here to say the least for there was not a Tui girl in sight! Even
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Brucetta and Davina were notably absent. Maybe next year?? From there to home. I am not aware of any issues, breakdowns or anything untoward. The biggest losers were the divorce lawyers, as all marriages remain intact. We all look forward to the next test Bryan & Family will throw at us.
POST VINTAGE RALLY – 5 May 2018 by Jag 60 aka Max and Lynne Youle
After a cup of tea and briefing, 19 cars set off under a grey autumnal sky and headed towards Ashhurst which was the beginning of our 185km rally. On approaching the roundabout at Ashhurst we noticed Steve Bright in his Chev Pick-up doing a sneaky U-turn to avoid having to get to the ‘other side’ via the Saddle Road. Getting to the ‘other side’ was actually achieved by going over the Pahiatua Track. Once over the Track the fun began when instruction 13 was completed and all the cars slowed down considerably and our alertness heightened as we looked for the answers to our photo and question pages. This was eventually the deciding factor as to the winner of the Rally. On reaching Pahiatua there was a snarl up of cars crawling along the Main Street looking for clues, so much so that we sailed merrily southwards and missed the left turn at Wakeman Street. We passed too quickly an obvious answer to one of the questions, so after some animated debate we decided to do a U-turn and read the answer as PVS = Pahiatua Veterinary Services Ltd. Having sorted that out we continued southward again and after a few kms we came across Len and Gladys Haycock and Goff and Judy Briant in conference in the side of the road. After a short chat with them we agreed we had all missed a crucial instruction ie left at Wakeman Street, so another U-turn back to Pahiatua to get back on track again. After leaving Pahiatua we were treated with beautiful country scenery on good driving roads. We caught up to Brian and Lyn James in their Chev and Hardacres in their Ford Falcon and in front of them were Ian and Esmee Rowden in their Chrysler; every time their brake lights went on we knew there must be another clue to look out for! From Eketahuna we continued over more country roads. Throughout the Rally our eyes were peeled for a picture clue #46740 being a farm supply number and it wasn’t until Nireaha that the number suddenly appeared before our eyes - we The Tourer
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thought we had missed it. [Editor’s note: this farm was cleared of bush by Ian Rowden’s great grandfather James Drysdale and family who milled and supplied timber to Wellington via a bush railway to the mainline at Newman. It is still farmed by the family with the children being of the sixth generation. Several of James’ brothers settled nearby.] At Nireaha there were 2 more cars parked outside the Nireaha Memorial Library reading the Foundation Stone for an answer to a clue (actually 2 clues – Ed). After passing through Nireaha there were numerous one-way bridges and a short section of gravel road before Hukanui. After a short while we arrived back at Pahiatua – our picnic destination, Carnival Park. In scoring the answers to the clues, Brian found that 2 entrants had the same score so he had to administer a tie-breaker question. The results are elsewhere in this issue. Thank you to the Rally organisers Brian, Catherine and Carla for a most enjoyable day out.
There is no pleasure worth forgoing just for an extra three years in the geriatric ward. John Mortimer
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Tourer Trader FOR SALE Ford Model A Roadster 1929. Tidy condition, excellent hood, 12V, flashers, new water pump, valve grind, radiator cleaned out, tyres 50%. Runs well. Recently done a 700 km road trip. $26,000 ono phone Cliff Bennett 021 1283 7088
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Mid- Winter ‘Big Day Out’ - 23rd June 2018
MID-WINTER ‘BIG DAY OUT’ – 23rd June 2018
There are three club activities to look forward to on Saturday 23rd June. Hopefully you can join in on all three, but if not just choose the one or the two that you are able to participate in and take the opportunity to have an enjoyable day out with fellow club members. All three events are at / leave from and return to the Manawatu Branch VCC clubrooms (The Grove) 684 Kelvin Grove Road, Palmerston North. Mid-Winter Wander – The first event of the day is an easy afternoon run to a country Café for afternoon tea. If you are wishing to give your Vintage Car an airing and you are not feeling up to the 1½ > 1¾ hour Night Trial then this ‘Wander’ is definitely for you. The format of this outing is based on the end of month outings and is an approx. 45 mile (70 km) run on easy sealed roads to a café – then an approx. 25 mile (45 km) run back to the clubrooms / Palmerston North. Meet at the clubrooms for a 1.00 pm briefing. Just turn up on the day (there is no entry form, no entry fee or prior notification of attendance required). Mid-Winter Christmas Dinner – The catered meal which was prepared by Creative Catering for the Branch Christmas Party in December was very much enjoyed by those who participated. As a result a Mid-Winter Christmas Dinner - again with Creative Catering preparing a catered meal, has been arranged for Saturday 23rd June. -
The venue is the Manawatu Branch VCC clubrooms and the meal will be served at 5.00 pm.
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The cost of the meal is $25.00 per person. BYO drinks.
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R.S.V.P. and payment for this event is required by Thursday 14th June.
Use the form which is included in this Tourer or contact Bryan Abraham – 06 358 4014 - or email bryana@xtra.co.nz to confirm your attendance. Night Trial – The last event for the day is the Night Trial. The total distance for the night trial is approx. 47 miles (75 kms) – of which approx. 7 miles (11 kms) is on unsealed roads. The unsealed roads are of a good surface and are suitable for a ‘modern’ car if you prefer to not tackle the night trial in your vintage. The briefing for night trial will commence at approx. 6.45 pm - after the Mid-Winter Dinner, and the short rally can be either competitive or not for those who participate in their vintage vehicle. It will be a noncompetitive entry for ‘moderns’. There will be no photographic clues on this rally nor is there any straight line navigation and the instructions will be easy to follow. But this is a night trial so don’t overlook bringing a torch – especially if you are intending to be competitive. Night Trial Entry Form Options :
Complete the form that is in this Tourer and mail / email it to the address on the form.
Alternatively forget the form and just send an email to the Rally Organiser with all of the details that are requested on the form included in the email text.
Night Trial Payment Options :
Send a cheque in the post with your entry form or Pay on the Day (Night Trial only).
Email the Night Trial Organiser (email : bryana@xtra.co.nz ) requesting account details so that you can pay by internet banking.
Entries for the Night Trial close Thursday 14th June 2018. Rally Plaques may not be available in time for the event for any entries received after this date.
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THE MANAWATU BRANCH
MID-WINTER WANDER MID-WINTER CHRISTMAS DINNER NIGHT TRIAL SATURDAY 23RD JUNE 2018 For the Mid-Winter Wander meet at the VCC clubrooms in Kelvin Grove Road for a 1.00 pm briefing. No entry required - no cost for this event - just turn up on the day. Total distance (Clubrooms back to Clubrooms) is approx. 70 miles (110 kms) with a Café stop en-route.
The Mid-Winter Christmas Dinner is a catered meal starting at 5.00 pm - BYO drinks. The Night Trial briefing will be at approx. 6.45 pm at the VCC clubrooms in Kelvin Grove Road.
Total distance for the Night Trial is approx. 47 miles (75 kms) of which approx. 7 miles (11 kms) is unsealed road.
MID-WINTER CHRISTMAS DINNER NAME(S) OF ATTENDEE(S) : ................................................................................................. MID-WINTER DINNER PAYMENT: Internet Banking
$_____.___ being ___ meals at $25.00 per person
Cheque attached
CHEQUES PAYABLE TO : ‘Manawatu Branch VCC’
NUMBERS FOR THE MID-WINTER DINNER MUST BE ADVISED TO THE ORGANISER BY THURSDAY 14th JUNE 2018
THE DINNER MUST BE PAID FOR NO LATER THAN THURSDAY 14th JUNE 2018
NIGHT TRIAL - FOR VEHICLES OF ALL VINTAGE CLASSIFICATION GROUPS ENTRANT: ….................................................................................................................................... NAVIGATOR: ................................................................................................................................... TELEPHONE: ( ...... ) ..................................... VEHICLE YEAR: ..............................
EMAIL: .............................................................
VEHICLE REGN No.: .................................................
VEHICLE MAKE & MODEL: .......................................................................................................... NIGHT TRIAL ENTRY:
or
$15.00 $30.00
Internet Banking
Entry only being Entry plus optional Rally Plaque
Cheque attached
Pay on the day
CHEQUES PAYABLE TO : ‘Manawatu Branch VCC’
NIGHT TRIAL ENTRIES CLOSE THURSDAY 14th JUNE 2018
ORGANISER - Bryan Abraham : 81 Apollo Parade, Palmerston North 4414. Phone (06) 358 4014
:
Email bryana@xtra.co.nz
(email the Organiser if you would like a PDF copy of this form - or for Internet Banking account details)
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The ABC of the Manawatu VCC W is for 1934 Willys 77 A woman’s point of view by Caroline Noaro, Opiki
History In 1934 my grandfather William Latham Cutten (married to Alice) purchased through a catalogue a Willys 77. We are not sure who he ordered the car from. The Willys was railed across America from Detroit to San Francisco and then shipped on the Monterey to Wellington where William took delivery. We understand the car was registered in 1935. My Dad, Esmond, was at Canterbury University completing a double degree in engineering. When he came back to Palmerston North to attend weddings and parties etc he met our mother, Nancy, and subsequently Dad used the Willys to court Mum. They married in 1941. They lived in Lower Hutt where after a stint working for General Motors Dad moved to the Austin Car Plant at Petone as the Production Manager. Along came three girls – Caroline, Katherine and Hannah. Due to Esmond’s job, he was always driving the newly released models of the Austin cars, and I always accepted that this was the norm and got very used to riding in brand new cars which were often changed throughout the year – either as a new shape or new colour. So when our Grandparents visited us in the Forest Green Willys and this different and funny looking old car rolled up our driveway, I used to shudder and was really puzzled about the whole thing – I always thought it was so ugly! As the years passed, at the start of the school holidays we would be taken to Palmerston North to stay with our grandparents. One Grandmother drove Austin
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cars and Alice drove the Willys. When we were taken out to the movies or town we three girls had to sit in the back seat – a large space – while Grandma Alice cranked the car to start it. When our smartly dressed grandmother had the motor running, the crank was placed under our feet on the floor and off we went. When William passed away Alice was still driving the Willys to do her shopping until dementia set in and Grandma Alice was taken to Rotorua to live with Dad’s only sister, Aunty Betty, and the Willys was used by our Uncle who took out the back seat. The ‘boot’ of the Willys, after undoing some clips, pulls out to a larger boot which would add to the space with the backseat gone. Thus the Willys became a ‘hack car ‘/ truck to move all his building tools and gear around to his job sites. This boot was an extra to the Willys car that William would have ordered from the USA. Years passed, and on a visit to Rotorua to visit my Aunty and Uncle we were told that they no longer had use for the Willys and wanted Peter and me to have the car. So the Willys arrived back in Opiki where it was put into one of the farm sheds and left for several years. Around 1988 it was decided that we would get Willys ‘done up’. As I grew up I only knew the colour of Willys as bottle green; apparently Grandad came to visit Dad at the Austin Car Plant in Petone, and a really strong southerly wind hit Petone and the sand whipped up by the wind damaged the paint work on the blue Willys. As they were using ‘bottle green’ in the paint shop on the Austin production line, Willys was painted bottle green. When we had the car stripped completely during the restoration we discovered that the original colour was blue, so it is again blue with black guards – as original – and the complete interior was re-done in colours which were very close to the original. We did have the original paper work of Willys, but we were persuaded to hand these into the care of “Motor Registrations” in Palmerston North for SAFE KEEPING!! Many years passed and when we rang to have them sent to us, we learnt to our horror that ours and hundreds of other cars’ paper work had been destroyed. Memories Peter finds the new interior very I remember when we were staying comfortable! with our Grandparents, Willys was backed out of the garage and washed and polished. The highlight of this chore was Grandad William allowing us girls to use the front mudguards as a slide. We were lifted up to the highest point and then we slid down, landing on the running board. Sister Kate remembers the back door opened backwards and made it easy to step into the back seat still standing up (very useful for brides). Sister Hannah remembers that on a trip into town Grandma Alice saw a park The Tourer
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outside the Manawatu Standard and in she drove. When she stopped there was a surprised looking lady on her bicycle with her right foot on the left hand side running board and her left foot on the pedal. Grandma comments “Where did she come from?” Hannah also got to set up a folding camp stool on the floor in the back seat, where she also set up a bed for her dolly, and the three girls still had tons of room. The men’s part The car body has never been off the chassis. The original motor in Willys (which we still have) never had shell bearings – white metal bearings. Peter bought a motor that was powering a generator during the war. It is the same motor as a Willys jeep. It now has a counter weighted crank and shell bearings. The dash board has now got replicated gauges from USA – these are fuel; oil pressure; temperature; and volt meter. Peter and I have enjoyed using Willys on many Vintage runs and also the International Rallies too. As we are still farming, we often can’t do many of the planned rallies and other runs but we do try to squeeze in at least one or two a year.
WILLYS 77 Manufactured December 1934 Registered 1935 Purchased by William Latham Cutten Now owned by Peter and Caroline Latham Noaro (Granddaughter of William) Number of cylinders 4 Bore of Engine 3 1/8 in Stroke of Engine 4 3/8in Piston Displacement 134.2 cu. in N.A.C.C. Rating 16.6 h.p. Actual Horsepower 48 h.p.
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South Island Tour 2018 Part 2 From Monday 26 March ……. Queenstown to Te Anau. Left Queenstown in mad traffic and picked up fuel in Frankton 2.29 per litre. Traffic still nuts here so did back streets to main road south. Met the other cars on the main road across the Kawarau River. New double bridge almost complete which will replace the one way bridge which was totally inadequate for the traffic volume. Lovely drive down the Lake to Kingston where we drove in to see the Kingston flyer train rusting in peace. Stopped at the tearooms for smoko, then onto Athol for a small stop and continued to Lumsden for a picnic lunch. Turned left north of Lumsden toward Te Anau arriving an hour later at our lakeside Being overtaken by a Ferrari! accommodation. They upgraded our self contained cabin to their best 2 bedroom motel; we didn’t argue. Had a group dinner with everyone contributing. Next day to Milford was a 7.30am start on the bus in very wet stormy weather. Dark at that time as well. Followed a Chinese tourist for many miles with no lights and no road skills 30 to 60 kph braking in crazy places and no idea about letting faster traffic pass. When bus stopped so did the Chinese driver. Our bus driver tried to get them to turn their lights on - car was locked but eventually the window was wound down a bit and the driver was assisted in turning on the lights. The driving didn’t improve! More heavy rain and wind but to our advantage as waterfalls were suddenly everywhere turning the scenery into a wonderland. Low cloud masked the Darran mountains 7 to 10,000ft high all granite with very steep slopes to vertical cliffs -huge country. Passed through Homer tunnel one way and controlled by traffic lights 6 minutes each way .Then proceeded down the switchback of Cleddau canyon which drops about 3000ft in 15 km to Milford Sound. Heavy rain strong winds and a heavy chop on the sound; nearly drowned in the rain walking to the boat. When we left the shelter of the breakwater the sea was very rough so we had to turn back as it was dangerous. We did manage to SEE Bowen falls close up at its greatest flow in years through spray and heavy rain. Returned to our bus as the weather started to improve and we made our way up the Cleddau canyon. Stopped at the chasm where the river is hemmed in by a very tight gorge. The water was all white foaming and unsurvivable if you fell in. Further up the valley the cloud lifted and we had spectacular views of the cliffs, waterfalls by the hundreds and the glaciers The Tourer
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on Mt Tutoku. Very steep slow road to drive. Arrived at the tunnel portal to a red light. This is covered over to prevent avalanches and the odd rock slide hitting vehicles while they wait for the lights to change. Stopped the other side of the tunnel to look up into the cirque and another glacier. Continued to Te Anau after several other stops then out for dinner as a group as some were leaving and heading for home. From Te Anau to Invercargill. Bad start today as one of our group was unwell and was sent to Kew Hospital in Invercargill very early in the morning so I got the 29 Chevy hotrod to drive. Esther drove the Plymouth. Travelled south to Manapouri for a look at the lake and boat harbour. You should see Manapouri at some time in your lives as there is nothing like it. Continued on south from Manapouri following the Waiau river to Tuatapere where we had smoko and fuelled up. Continued onto a small cove called Cosy Nook where we parked up and had a picnic lunch with some boat ramps and Keith busking in Bluff! some fishing shacks nearby. Continued onto Riverton where one car left our group for home. Continued to Invercargill and our accommodation; a cheap motel but warm and dry. Had tea at a Thai restaurant then walked back to base. Chevy owner much better and eventually was discharged on Friday. Thursday saw us up late for a change with shopping on the agenda as well as a trip to Bluff to see if we could see grandad Williams’s old ship in rotten row but didn’t find it. There were plenty of others scattered about. Also visited the maritime museum. Worth a visit. Then we did some window shopping, then watched a movie of the Aurora Australia Saturday 31 March - Rally Day. Picked route instructions from Stadium Southland. This was followed by a rally briefing. All cars had a designated start time and a nominated average speed. Our The Hughes 39 Chev at Bluff
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speed was 40 mph and we had a set time to get around the 80 mile course. We didn’t manage either but we did enjoy the scenery. Started in Invercargill back streets then roads to Riverton, then out to Otautau up toward Nightcaps with the rally finishing at Winton racecourse for lunch. This was followed by field trials and 1980 Toyota Cressida repairs to closed points. Also the 1948 Plymouth from Blenheim needed a head gasket which was blown between cylinders 2 and 3. Back to base then to the parts shed and tea at the clubrooms. This consisted of oysters as entrees, cooked veges and fat bastard pies. Sunday 1 April This was public display day so we had to leave our cars between Portland – an old Scow that Dave’s 11am and 3pm. It was a short walk to father worked on Richardson’s Transport World. There are a number of new displays since we were here in 2016. Still very good. I mentioned the specially decorated toilets to some friends from Christchurch and they had to take photos of the blokes bog but as they were girls here is me standing guard while the girls were photo’ing the blokes with a small queue of crosslegged blokes waiting patiently. Sunday night was the prizegiving dinner - very good - didn’t win anything. Monday 2 April Today we left Invercargill to travel around the Catlins coast. Headed through Fortrose through white bait country with lots of little huts along the MATAURA RIVER. Continued down a side road to Waipapa point where there is a lighthouse and sea lions. This was the site of one of New Zealand’s worst maritime disasters. The Tararua struck an offshore reef in bad visibility and stuck fast.The weather soon worsened and the ship broke up with most drowned. There is a cemetery called the Tararua acre nearby where many of the victims were buried. Continued The Tourer
Lighthouse at Nugget Point, Catlins
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to Waikawa Bay where on the rocky shoreline are the remains of petrified trees, the rock over millennia being washed away to expose them . Continued to Pouanawaea where one of the scows that dad was a crew member in the 1940s is lying derelict up the river from the port. It is being looted with many important pieces of gear being stolen for scrap. Continued to Nugget Point and walked to the lighthouse overlooking the Pacific all the way to Chile. 11km drive right along the shore with the lighthouse being high on a rocky headland requiring a steep climb. Continued to Balclutha for the night. Tuesday 3 April Balclutha to Moeraki Left Balclutha early to beat the heavy Dunedin traffic. SH1 goes through the centre of the city so we didn’t beat the traffic. VERY STEEP HILLS IN AND OUT but made it ok. Detoured off SH1 north of Dunedin and went through Warrington for own lunch at Karitane Beach. After lunch we visited Matanaka which was a private farm set up in the 1830s as a whaling station well before Dunedin was founded. Continued onto Palmerston for a look around and fuel up. Drove the last few miles to Moeraki for tea at the pub blue cod. Wednesday 4 April MOERAKI ASHBURTON Left 7.40 am and cut out to the coast to follow it along through Looking towards Karitane Taranui and Kakanui arriving in Oamaru for smoko and a walk in Oamaru gardens. Continued toward Timaru. The 29 Chev had a puncture which we had fixed in Temuka where we also had lunch and shopping. Continued to Ashburton in heavy traffic. We were pleased to get off the roads as they are too small for the traffic volume. Thursday 5 April ASHBURTON TO HANMER SPRINGS Left early to avoid the heavy Christchurch traffic but might as well not have bothered. SH 1 very congested. Had smoko in Amberley and 29 Chevy left for Kaikoura and we and the 39 Chevy continued to HANMER SPRINGS on a beautiful day, again stopping at Hurunui and then Culverden for a picnic lunch and a shop. Continued to the Waiau bridge for photos and then to our motel in Hamner. Had spag and taters for tea. Friday 6 April HANMER TO PICTON. Left HANMER 7.45 am and topped up with fuel. Turned off on to a secondary road to Waiau which turned to gravel as we
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approached it. Had a comfort stop there. Continued 55km toward SH1 on twisting tarseal through a large range of hills. Wasn’t long before we came across major road works and stop go signs and lights in the Hundalee hills south of Kaikoura. Many road work sites and lots of stops. Very slow journey;the road was destroyed by the earthquake in many places. Pulled into Kaikoura about 11am for an early lunch. Very fine warm day. Spent some time here and saw that the seabed has risen significantly. There was no serious building damage. Continued north at about 30 mph through many road work sites. It wasn’t until we neared Kekerengu that we finally left the roadworks and got up to near 50 mph. Bridges after this were still under repair and were often one way. Got to Blenheim 2.30pm. Went antique shopping and then proceeded to Picton and our motel. Went out to the Stuffed Pig for tea before settling in for the night ready to go back to reality. Saturday 7 April Sleep in this morning and spent much of the morning around Picton town centre shopping .Eventually we had to line up at the ferry and got into Wellington at dusk. Heavy traffic again until Levin. 24 days away and everyone’s car behaved very well with only minor in-service repairs. About 2500 miles on the speedo of our Plymouth and a bit over a thousand dollars in fuel. Had a great trip with wonderful company and everyone working together to make it a memorable HAPPY time. Thank you all. Esther and Dave Williams
Austin 8 Clip Art - History & register of the Austin Eight
Paypal Donation
Austin Eight 75th Anniversary
AUSTIN EIGHT REGISTER
The Tourer AUSTIN EIGHT GRILLE
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Directory BRANCH COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN:
Sarah Howell (Ian) iansarahhowell@gmail.com
06 374 6645
VICE CHAIR:
Bryan Abraham (Catherine) bryana@xtra.co.nz
06 358 4014
SECRETARY: Peter Robinson (Ann) bestlife@xtra.co.nz
06 356 7404
CLUB CAPTAIN:
06 358 4014
Bryan Abraham (Catherine) bryana@xtra.co.nz
VICE CLUB Vacant CAPTAIN: TREASURER: Ian Howell (Sarah) iansarahhowell@gmail.com COMMITTEE:
06 374 6645
Trevor Hardy (Sandra) ts.hardy@xtra.co.nz
06 323 4040
John Ireland (Anne) Ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz
06 323 4170
Brian McPherson (Deirdre) briandeirdre@slingshot.co.nz
06 354 6310
Ron Persson (Josie) ron.persson@gmail.com
06 354 5266
CLOSING DATE FOR NEXT TOURER – 20TH JUNE 2018 The next issue of the Tourer will be July 2018.
Please send your contributions: rally reports, your motoring stories, cuttings, technical reports, humorous articles, photos, drawings etc
to: The Editor erowden@gmail.com
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APPOINTED POSITIONS SWAPMEET Trevor Hardy (Sandra) CO-COORDINATORS: ts.hardy@xtra.co.nz
06 323 4040
John Ireland (Anne) Ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz
06 323 4170
EDITOR:
Esmee Rowden (Ian) erowden@gmail.com
06 356 7871
CUSTODIAN:
Gary Millar (Marion) gw.millar@hotmail.com
06 354 8298
LIBRARIAN:
Gary Millar (Marion) gw.millar@hotmail.com
06 354 8298
DELEGATE:
Sarah Howell (Ian) iansarahhowell@gmail.com
06 374 6645
BEADED WHEELS:
Ian Howell (Sarah) iansarahhowell@gmail.com
06 374 6645
PARTS SHED:
Gary Millar (Marion) gw.millar@hotmail.com
06 354 8298
ID CARD ADVISORS:
Murray Martin (Dot) dottiem@clear.net.nz
06 354 5960
John Ireland (Anne) ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz
06 323 4170
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Manawatu Branch Meetings held at the Clubrooms “The Grove”, 684 Kelvin Grove Road, Palmerston North Third Wednesday of each month from 7.00pm. Meetings start at 7.30pm. (Please wear name badges at all Club events) • Committee Meeting— 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm. • BYO Tea — First Sunday of each month from 5pm at the Clubrooms. • Parts Shed — Opens from 2pm first Sunday of each month. • Library — Open on club nights, and by arrangement with the Librarian. • Noggin & Natter — First Tuesday of month at 7:30pm. Murray’s Irish Bar Feilding. Vintage Car Club Vehicle Classifications • Veteran Motor Vehicles constructed prior to 31st December 1918 • Vintage Motor Vehicles constructed between 1st January 1919 and 31 Dec 1931 • Post Vintage Motor Vehicles constructed between 1st January 1932 and 31 Dec 1945 • Post War Motor vehicles constructed between 1st January 1946 and 31st Dec 1960 • Post 1960 Motor vehicles constructed between 1st January 1961 and 31st Dec 1980 • Post 1980 Constructed after 1st January 1981 provided that no vehicle is accepted for this class until January 1st of the year that is 30 years after its original year of construction • Factory Built, & Historic Racing Vehicles -as described in the Club By-laws • Period Specials - as described in the Club By-laws
THE TOURER: New Zealand Registered Magazine.
The Official Newsletter of the Manawatu Branch of the Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc) Email: Manawatu@vcc.org.nz Phone: (06) 354 8582 Clubrooms: ‘The Grove” 684 Kelvin Grove Road PO Box 385 Palmerston North 4440