July - August 2018
Taranaki Branch Committee Chair Chair VERONICA OLIVER E: Ph: 06 752 2149
Past Chair COLIN JOHNSTON E: cajohnstoncollections@xtra.co.nz Ph: 06 754 6216
Secretary RAEWYNN KRUSE E: taranaki@vcc.org.nz Ph: 06 753 9743 | M: 027 243 8565
Treasurer ROB THOMSON E: railmodels1@xtra.co.nz Ph: 06 758 4881
Club Captain Secretary vacant
Motorcycle Rep vacant
Librarian BILL DURLING E: elinorandbill@hotmail.com Ph: 06 758 4244
Topical Torque Editor Secretary JIM LOGAN E: logandj49@gmail.com Ph: 06 751 0316 | M: 027 604 4821
Secretary
Committee LES BOGNUDA JOHN MUTER STEVEN OLIVER
Email: bognuda63@xtra.co.nz Email: megandjohnny@xtra.co.nz
Ph: 06 755 2810 Ph: 06 751 5554 Ph: 06 752 2149
Topical Torque Editor Historian
Name Tags Badges
ROSE COX E: roselcox7@gmail.com Ph: 06 752 2525 Mob: 027 353 9968
GEOFF BLACKBOURN E: dblackbourn@orcon.net.nz 06 752 7671
Groundsman LES BOGNUDA
Beaded Wheels COLIN JOHNSTON
Ph: 06 754 6216
Parts Committee NEIL ROOK JOHN MUTER PAT STIELLER CES BUDD
Ph: 06 758 6737 Ph: 06 751 5554 Ph: 06 754 6096 Ph: 06 758 7685
Ph: 06 755 2810
Vehicle VIN’s / VIC’s MIKE WILLIAMS Ph: 06 765 4419 Mid Week Coordinators PHYLLIS & DES CORNWALL, 06 765 6505
From the Chairperson With another AGM being held in May. We have only one new committee member being Les Bognuda. Welcome back for yet another term in office. All other positions were the same. Thank you to those members for taking on the task in hand again. We have opted for John Muter being our Club Captain at the last committee meeting. There are some great events on the go, so go out and enjoy while keeping warm and cosy. As Rob discussed at the AGM with regards to the subs to increase, these will now be noted for the next AGM (Please note elsewhere from Rob re this). A shorter report this month due to my ill health, but I will continue to rest up whenever I can. I have a good team to help with the important issues that come to hand. Cheers,
Veronica Oliver Chairperson
On the Cover: Pioneer Village, Stratford 2
Club Captain’s Report I enjoyed last month's mid-week run in South Taranaki organised by Bryan Morris which was well attended. First, a run around the Okaiawa area followed by an interesting DVD presentation by a representative from Taranaki Biproducts which is a division of the Smith Brothers group. This was followed by a delicious afternoon tea at Chad's Café in Hawera. Thanks Bryan for organizing an enjoyable event.
Upcoming Events: 24 June 11.30am. 19 July 22 July 26 July 29 July 19 August 26 August
End of Registration run to the Stratford Mountain House, Northern members to meet at the Inglewood Railway Station at 11.15am. Southern members to meet at the Stratford Railway Station at If you have not booked for a lunch reservation please phone me on 7515554 as soon as possible. At club night, Ian Wilford will show a DVD on the 1953-55 Redex Rally Our Breakfast Rally starting from the Merrilands carpark at 7.30am. We will be meeting for breakfast after the run at the Autolodge on Devon St East. Phone Jim, 7510316 for breakfast reservations Midweek Run, meet at the Orlando St, carpark, Stratford at 1.30pm, leaving for a mystery destination, don't forget your afternoon tea. Parts Shed and Clubrooms open, The Brick Run starting from Eltham in the late afternoon and finishing at a café for an evening meal. Details in next month's report. Daffodil Rally for Cancer, I have contacted the local Cancer Society who are enthusiastic about this event. I would welcome suggestions from members which would make this a bigger and better motor show than last year's. This event is a work in progress and I will report developments in next month's report.
I was recently informed that a 1932 Morris Commercial Truck that was for sale in the U K had belonged to the Stratford firm Mortlock and Co. Mortlock's were the B M C agents in Hawera and Stratford. This truck was their tow truck that was used for many years and was replaced by a later model in the late 60's which was based at their Hawera branch. The 1932 truck was sent to the Hawera branch about 1967 and then sold. We will probably never know how the truck ended up in England, but somehow it has survived. The original signwriting is still visible on the doors and is easily read, which has made identifying it very easy. Rumour has it that someone in New Zealand may be interested in purchasing it, so let's hope it turns up here again one day.
John Muter
Club Captain 3
Women in Motoring Florence Lawrence Florence Lawrence was a silent film star and pioneering automotive inventor. Never heard of her? Lawrence invented the first mechanical turn signal AND mechanical brake light, yet she was almost penniless when she took her life in 1938. Check out the full story. Her exact birthdate, like the recognition ofor the woman herself, is seemingly lost in time. What is known is this: Florence Lawrence was born in Hamilton, Ontario in either 1886 or 1890. Her father, George Bridgewood was a vaudevillian actress so, naturally, Lawrence found herself drawn to acting from a young age. Working under her mother - known professionally as ‘Lotta Lawrence’, the leading lady and director of the Law2rence Dramatic Company - young Florence made her motion picture debut in 1906. The next few years would see her rise to become what is generally regarded as the first movie star. The Biograph Girl Starring in nearly 300 films throughout the course of her career, Florence found herself on the receiving end of the financial windfall that was the burgeoning movie industry. Earning around $500 a week from Biograph Studios—a company that refused to put her name on the credits—she nonetheless became a familiar face to fans, who dubbed her “The Biograph Girl.” With a constant flow of work, Lawrence was soon wealthy enough to purchase an automobile—a somewhat extravagant rarity for women at the time. Finding a sense of freedom and enjoyment behind the wheel she'd never before experienced, Lawrence took to driving much as she had to acting. Delving headfirst into the world of the automobile, Florence sought to learn all she could about the vehicle's various mechanisms in between enthusiastic drives. She became so invested in the relationship between driver and car that at one point she reportedly described her vehicle as “almost human”—something that, in her words, responded ““to kindness and understanding and care, just as people do.” This love for the automobile lead Lawrence to explore additional safety measures to ensure the vehicle's continued practical use. The Actor Turns Inventor In 1914, after years of learning about and tinkering with automobiles, Lawrence devised a mechanism that served as a signaling arm for drivers wishing to turn. 4
continued over
Through the simple push of a button, her simple invention raised and lowered a flag on the rear bumper of the automobile to inform other drivers where the car was headed next. Along with this, she developed an equally simplistic and ingenious device to alert fellow motorists of an upcoming stop. Upon depressing the brake, a small sign reading “stop” would pop up in the rear of the car. Though rudimentary in design, her inventions would ultimately prove invaluable on the road. Unfortunately for Lawrence, however, she failed to patent this creation or her next—the first electric windshield wiper, which began selling in 1917 under the Bridgwood Manufacturing Company. Lawrence's mother would later try to remedy the oversight, but by then it was too late as other companies were quick to claim ownership and receive patents for similar designs. While she failed to claim the first patent and, some would argue, was not even the first to devise such a system (that honor going to a Percy Douglas-Hamilton in England), Lawrence's ingenuity and passion for the automobile was something of an anomaly at the time. The fact that she performed all her own mechanical work and devised these safety measures put Lawrence at the forefront of what could be viewed as an early form of women's liberation, one for which she's largely since been forgotten, but is by no means diminished in significance. Amazingly, it wouldn't be until 1925 that anything resembling Lawrence's design would see a patent, one turned in by the larger auto manufacturers. A Tragic Death After suffering severe burns in a studio fire in which she was attempting to save a fellow actor, Lawrence's work in films began to dry up. Despite plastic surgery to attempt to repair the damage, she found herself more and more relegated to work as an extra. And while she had accumulated a great deal of wealth during her days as “The Biograph Girl,” the majority of it was lost in the stock market crash of 1929. Her career at a standstill and her fortune having all but disappeared, Lawrence was left with little consolation. Adding insult to injury, she had also been married three times over the course of her life—once to automotive salesman Charles Byrne Woodring—and saw each relationship end in either death or divorce. Alone and with no children or family to comfort her, Lawrence took her life on December 28, 1938 after calling MGM to let them know that, due to illness, she would not be able to perform the extra work for which she had been cast that afternoon. The following year, Buick began installing turn signals as a standard feature. Florence Lawrence sits behind the wheel of a Lozier open touring car with 1912 Pennsylvania license plates.
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Closing date for AUGUST Topical Torque, 9 July. Please forward articles to the Editor, Jim Logan 76C South Road N P 4310-or email to logandj49@gmail.com This magazine is also available by e-mail as a PDF file. If you would prefer to receive a copy this way please contact the Editor. Pictures are usually in colour. Views and opinions expressed in Topical Torque are those of contributors and not necessarily those of the Taranaki Branch of the V C C of N Z, the Branch Executive or the Editor. Clubrooms: 1040 Mountain Road - SH 3A Inglewood. 6
Coming Events JULY Local Events 5 19 22 26 29
Committee meets at 7.30pm Club night at 7.30pm (1953 Redex Rally DVD) Breakfast Run Midweek Run, Stratford, 1.30pm Clubrooms and Parts Shed Open 2.00pm
Other Branch Events 7-8 Wellsford/Warkworth: Winter Woolies Wander 8 Rotorua: Central North Island Swap Meet 8 Wairarapa: Margaret Gee Memorial Rally 22 Wellington: Remembrance Rally/Social Country Run
AUGUST Local Events 2 16 19 26 29
Committee meets at 7.30pm Club night at 7.30pm Brick Run, details to follow Midweek Run, Stratford, 1.30pm Daffodil Rally for Cancer, Details to follow
Other Branch Events 19 Wellington: Colonial Cup Rally 25 Rotorua: Suphur City Rally 26 North Shore: Triple Combined Rally
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Branch Event Reports AGM 2018 The Motion proposed by Rob Thomson that the 2018/19 Levy be increased by $4 per member has been declared invalid, so the current levy will continue unchanged till the end of the next subscription year.
From the Editor The Motion proposed by Rob Thomson that the 2018/19 Levy be increased by $4 per member has been declared invalid, so the current levy will continue unchanged till the end of the next subscription year.Hi there, yes, we are back from our travels and reacclimatized to the N Z winter. A bit of a contrast to the 27 Degree's we left in London! Thanks to the team who looked after the Magazine while we were away, well done, you know who you are. The winter months are no excuse for going into hiding, as there are quite a few outings coming up to get you and your cars out and about. Check out the Club Captains report on page 3 and calendar of Events in the middle pages. Again, in August this year, our National body have agreed to support the Cancer Society by coordinating a fundraising drive on Sunday the 26th throughout the country. Our Branch is still finalizing plans for our effort, so watch this space, there will be more information in next month's Topical Torque. You may also keep up to date with the National effort via the VCC website. Looks like I am in the Editors chair for another term, so don't forget to keep those articles coming, it is always interesting to hear where you have been and what you have been up to. Jim - Editor
A REMINDER If you would to prefer to receive your Branch magazine by email rather than by post please forward an email to the Editor and you will be added to the group who already receive their Topical Torque in this format. You will be able to print pages if required, photos are usually in colour and an emailed rather than posted mag results in quite a saving in costs for the Branch. 8
Underrated Classic Collectibles 1970-1973 Datsun 240Z The Z was one of the first popular Japanese sports cars in America, offering performance, comfort, style, and reliability. The Z had gorgeous styling, with a smooth six-cylinder engine, and it went as fast as it looked. 0 to 60 took just 7.8 seconds, and a 125-mph top speed was quicker than a Porsche 911T or Jaguar E-Type of the day. They came in gorgeous reds, yellows, and orange and look like they should bring $40,000 or more but can easily be had for less than $15,000.
1969-1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet Because it's a Ford and not a Shelby, collectors have largely overlooked this car, and it is certainly undervalued. Powered by the same motor and with all the performance, style, and technical interest of a Shelby GT 500, the Mach 1 is worth up to $100,000. That's plenty of money but only half what you'd pay for an equivalent Shelby GT 500.
1964-1970 Pontiac GTO Despite the demise of Pontiac, there has been no discernible bump in the value of these cars. Lucky you. It means a classic GTO can be had for less than $30,000, thousands less than a similar, big-block Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport. The powerful GT is widely credited as defining the muscle-car era. With massive bigblock engine choices, it delivered up to 360 hp that was mated to a floormounted four-speed manual transmission. 9
Underrated Classic Collectibles 1969-1973 Triumph TR6 A wonderful, brawny, gorgeous British sports car that's powerful and spirited, an original TR6 in excellent, low-mile condition can be had for as little as $15,000. Powered by a 150-hp 2.5liter six-cylinder engine, it had major torque. TR6s are easy to maintain and look terrific, and parts are readily available, making them an excellent first collector-car choice.
1972–1975 Porsche 914 2.0 Underrated, mostly unappreciated, and certainly undervalued, the Porsche 914 is important for what it was not: a Porsche 911. Excellent examples can be had for as little as $8000 to $12,000
1967–1975 Full-Size American Convertibles Here's a whole group of overlooked classic cars that are finally starting to gain attention. Convertibles from the era just preceding this one, including cars such as the 1959 Cadillac DeVille or 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire, sell for anywhere from $25,000 to $125,000. You can get your hands on a 1968 Ford XL or a 1967 Dodge Polara in excellent condition for less than $15,000.
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A Check Point Charlie’s Point of View Well, another Maunga Moana Rally been and gone! They seem to come around quicker each year or maybe it's me. I was given our instructions on club night from Colin. I left home at 9.15 as my instruction said to be at the check at the Uriti School by 10. 45am.Lots of memories as I used to live in the Uriti Valley when I was a young fella and went to the Mimi School. I look up at those hills now and think – how did I climb those? We would even drag our homebuilt four-wheel trollies with us and come down the fast way. Yes, we suffered some times but I guess that was part of growing up. When I arrived, Ian Bleakly and Ken Maul were already there and I remembered at last year's checkpoint at Douglas when we had a few of the local woollies to entertain us. Well, this year we had a few chooks wandering around, one was even checking out our footwear, might have been an OSH inspector in disguise. For a quiet country road there seemed to be quite a bit of traffic, including the odd pig hunter. Ian counted at least two vehicles with pigs onboard. When I first started doing checkpoint duties, a few years back, most of the cars through would have been vintage class, plus several veterans and the odd PV, but now it seems to be less vintage vehicles and more in PV class dating into the 1970's. Who would have thought back in the 70's that our cars would be rallying in our events today, probably in fifty years' time, electric cars might be in the majority. Yes, another enjoyable day on checkpoint duty from one who sits in the back row. JF
The Brough Superior - Four - Cylinder Motorcycle A motorcycle with a water - cooled four-cylinder motor and electric starter would naturally have to be one of the new sophisticated Japanese superbikes....... Right! Wrong! George Brough had a positive flare for producing show stoppers for his stand at the annual Olympia Motor show in London, but in 1931 he surpassed himself. This latest Brough Four featured an Austin seven car engine (fitted with a high lift camshaft and a high compression cylinder head) and Austin hand change gearbox; twin radiators and two rear wheels - one each side of an Austin seven crown wheel and pinion and driveshaft. Controls were different from normal motorcycle practice with a left-hand throttle; right hand advance/retard; a left foot clutch and a car pattern gearchange. The Fours were normally supplied as sidecar machines, fitted with a Brough superior "chair"(which had a reserve petrol tank incorporated in the frame) as it was considered that the twin rear wheels would preclude solo use - although one intrepid owner did use one without the chair; including riding it in reverse around Piccadilly Circus, on Boatrace night, before an applauding crowd and a speechless policeman! Only ten of the Fours were produced between 1931 and 1934 and of these at least seven survive, including an example in the Southward Motor Museum at Waikanae. (100 years of the Motor Car – VCC 1985) 11
For Sale / Swap Future Chair Vintage Car 1989 Mitzi Mirage
Toyota Corolla 1996, 1600cc
130,000km in very good order will be 30 years old very soon. $1200 Phone: 022 601 4245
Manual hatch, 312k, new battery, spark plugs & wheel bearings, needs new clutch plate. Rego on hold, $600. 027 455 7617
Chair 1955 Hillman Californian Restored in mid -80's, Rego on hold, some spares $10,000 ono Phone 027 418 8045
Chair
Austin 8 1947
1964 Hillman Minx 1600cc, road legal, unrestored, tidy, some spares. $4000 ono Phone 027 418 8045
1948 Series “E” Morris Eight
Good general condition. Never Restored. Runs and drives well. Sunroof – original H/Lining, seats and door cards recovered. Will come with new Warrant and Rego. Phone Ian 06 7533691
Full sand blast chassis and body. Panel repairs done & repainted Green and Black. New Radiator. Needs wiring and Interior Assembled. Comes with a donor vehicle. Ph: Bryan 07 7695868 or 021 02322875
Chair 1966 Vauxhall Cresta
Chair Austin A40 Farina 1962
3.3, Auto, tidy, some spares Phone 0275 205 477
GH Spencer, 413 Mangorei Road, NP Phone: 06 758 9529
Austin Ruby 1936
Classic Motorcycle Magazines
Seat upholstery needs attention, otherwise in very good condition. Rego on hold, offers required. Car was based in Taranaki, now in Fielding. Ph Colin 021 131 6699
The branch has for sale some boxed classic motorcycle magazines. $25 each. We also have quantities of Beaded Wheel magazines from the mid 70's.
Chair
Wanted to Buy 1937 1/2 ton Chev Truck or rolling chassis Phone Pat: 06 754 6096 (member)
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The Taranaki Branch of the Vintage Car Club does not take any responsibility for claims made in relation to condition or performance of items appearing in these classified pages.
Neil Carter Phone 06 273 4366
Normanby, Taranaki
The Mad Irish
KEY MAN Email: desyo@xtra.co.nz
E reserva ons@autolodge.co.nz
Accommoda on • Restaurant • Celebra ons • Anniversaries • Birthdays • Reunions
Call Ian, a member of VCC Taranaki Branch
Phone 06 753 3691 or 021 0279 7395