5 minute read
Library Notes
It has been a reasonably quiet time in recent weeks in the library, with not so many ‘new’ additions to our collection coming in. As is well known we are forever looking for more storage space and it’s times like this that we use for rearranging the shelves to utilise what space we do have in the best possible way. In the new millennium, (back in the year 2000) a new Library loan book register was initiated. That’s now twenty years ago and it is interesting to look back at that recorded history of our book lending. In the intervening time, some 1321 books have been taken out of the Library on loan to our members. That’s quite a lot of reading one way and another. It means that those members have no doubt read and absorbed a great deal about the history of motoring and all that that represents. Arithmetically, it equates to 5.7 books per month or just over one book per week, but measured over the number of members we have in our Branch, it means that only a minority of our members make use of the books and material that we have at our disposal. Looking through the names of the borrowers down the years brings back memories of members who have passed on, but also there are several who were borrowing books twenty years ago and who are still avid readers and borrowers. However, what is even more readily apparent, is that the same names keep cropping up, or in other words the folk who are borrowing books regularly are a relatively small part of our Branch. This begs the question as to what we as a Library team can do to bring more members into the group who are getting greater fulfilment from their interest in old vehicles by reading more about them. If you have never borrowed a book from the Library, but would like to, the team would like to invite you to come in and select your first book and also, if you have any idea which you think could improve our lending performance, please let us know. Come and visit any Thursday morning from 9:00a.m. or you can contact us at: cdwood@xtra.co.nz
Chris Wood and the Library Team:—Owen Hayward, Colin Bott, Barry Birchall, John Stokes & Barry Robert.
Upon arriving at the Clubrooms for the February meeting found our guest speaker, Steve Raffills, wife Linda and their four sons Andy, Ben, Joe and Jem, along with David Morley who had brought Steve's Harley Davidson Board racer in his van. The Harley was brought into the Clubrooms and set it up in the centre of the floor. Outside were twelve motorcycles in the car park, ranging from a 60's Vespa, 1928 and ‘29 Ariels, BSA sidecar outfit, Army Royal Enfield, Triumphs, Jawa, Harleys and Velocettes and sixty plus members in attendance. A number of our members were away, taking part in the Waikato three day Summer Tour. Visitors: The UK President of the Velocette Club - Rodger & Jane Franklin, Stuart & Ashley Moffat from Blenheim and Chris Read from Rarotonga. Reports: Martin reported on last month's club run, on the recent Wellington BiAnnual Motorcycle Rally and last months Branch Veteran rally. Keith Ballagh told us about the recent Velocette Rally held in Taranaki. Graeme Crawley told us about the up coming Ariel Rally being held in the South Island. Coming Up: Sunday 15 March—Bert Cuthbertson Rally, starting from the Jolly Farmer Drury at 12 noon and finishing at Stuart Metch's home (plotter) in Bombay for afternoon tea and a chance to look over Stuart's motorcycle collection. Saturday 21 March—Motorcycle meeting - speaker to be confirmed. Sunday 22 March—Karaka Vintage day, which is a great day out. Do come along and support our Branch and bring your motorcycle. Contact Martin for information. Sunday 29 March—Branch Gymkhana day, come along and ride your motorcycle and test your riding skills. General Business: Member Dave Warren came to say goodbye to us, as he and Ilona are moving to Oxford in the Canterbury area very soon. Will miss seeing your amazing restored motorcycle’s Dave. We wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you at the next National Motorcycle Rally. Speaker: Steve Raffills, with the help of wife Linda and sons Andy, Ben, Joe and Jem, run a successful business building replica Harley Davidson Board Racing motorcycles. The racer on display was the 4 th one built and will soon be on its way to London UK to its new owner. These bikes are truly a work of art and surely are worth the price of $130,000. The engine is a 1000 cc V twin with 8 valves, has a very low engine compression ratio of 4.75. Steve uses original flywheels then buys the best conrods and pistons, casts the crankcases then machines them. Steve pours molten cast iron into his all in one head and barrel moulds and machines them. He makes the valves and rockers and even makes the spoke nipples and the tire valves. There isn't a clutch or gearbox or brakes. Steve makes the frame and forks and wheel hubs. Steve told us how he made the rotary swaging tools used to form round steel tube into a taper for the forks. These motorcycles will do 100 mph, like they did in the 1920's. We were shown a video of the motorcycle being started up for the first time, very loud as there are no exhaust pipes. The video showed Steve riding along Muriwai Beach on the Harley. Steve brought along samples of engine and frame bits and various jigs for us to look at.
Steve and family stayed around for an hour after the meeting finished and chattered to the members. Thank you Steve, Linda and boys for coming to talk to us and showing us your great creation of a Harley Board Racer.
Keep those 2, 3 and 4 wheels turning safely
Martin Spicer & Jack Clark
