SpeakerforApril
Wehavenotorganisedaguestspeaker,butyoudon’talways needto.Lastmonth,IanThomsongotupandgavean impromptuandinterestingtalkaboutatriphemadeby motorcycletotheBertMunroMemorialeventsatInvercargill.
NewClubMembers
WewelcomeC.Ballwhohasrecentlyjoined.
SadlyMissed
LeiHayes,wifeofourclubpatron,Tom,passedawayrecently afterthreeyearsofillness.Manyofourlonger-servingmembers willrememberherenthusiasmfortheclub,notonlyforher navigatingskillsinrallies,butalsoforherfrequenthelpserving oncheckpointsinourclubevents.Havingtrainedasaflorist,she andTomranaflowerstallatthemarketinWellington,selling flowersthatshegrewontheirproperty.Shebecameknownas “TheFlowerLady”.Shewasalsoatalentedseamstress,and workedforseveralclothingfactoriesinLevin.Weextendour sympathytoTomandhisfamilyandfriends.
Recovering
BrigidWilliamsisbackhomerecoveringfromherfracturedhip. ElveryHunthashadahipreplaced.
CoverPicture
AnicepieceofFrenchArtDecoceramicwork.
Onceagainitwasgoodtoseesomanyatourlastclubmeeting,includinga fewfacesnotseenforawhile.
Therewasamoment’sreflectiononthepassingofLeiHayes,wifeofour PatronTomHayes,alovelyladywhosededicationtoflowerswasuniversally known.AprivatefamilyservicewasheldandaweekorsolaterTomandhis familyopeneduptheirhouseforacelebrationofherlife.Apparentlythere wasnowheretoparkassomanyturnedouttocelebrate.Tomtoldmethe followingMonday,whenIcalledtoseehim,thattheywerebusylistingwho wasthereandatthattimetheywereupto180andstillcounting.Ithinkthe triptotherecyclingdepothadalargenumberofglassbottles,soherlifewas wellandtruly‘toasted’.
Wealsolearntthatafewmembershavehadsurgerylatelyandarerecovering well.Remember;ifyouneedanythingwhilstrecoveringfromillnessplease ask.Wearealltheretohelpyouinanywaywecan.
Ouramendmenttoourrecentchangestoourconstitution,tobetterreflectour committeemakeup,hasbeenapprovedbyadmininChristchurch,sothatwill nowberegisteredwiththeappropriategovernmentdepartment.
Therallyseasoniswellunderwayandthereareseveralruns/eventsthatyou maywanttogetinvolvedwith.Agroupofcarsfromourbranchmadetherun northtoManawatufortheirRuahineRambleonSunday8thMarch.Ican reportthattheweatherheldgooduntillateafternoon,sothegravelroads,of whichtherewereseveralkms,wereverydusty.Idiscoveredatlunchtime whenIopenedtheRover’sbootthatit’snotsealingsowellatthebottomso nowhavetohooveritout!Itwasaverysimplerunwithnotimedsections, silentchecksorstraight-linenavigation.Justplentyofscenerytoenjoy.
Acoupleofimportantitems:
One:wearelookingforareplacementtreasurer,asJackieourpresentone, wouldliketostepdownattheAGMalthoughshewillcontinuetoassist wherenecessary.
Two:SwapMeet
Westillneedsomevolunteerstofillsomeofthejobs,eitherontheday,most importantasit’sourmainearnerfortheyear,butalsoontheFridaytohelpset
upthegroundsandhelpwithkitchen/sandwich/foodpreparation.Donationsof saladstuff,cakes,etcwillbewelcome(ifyoubringcakespleasedonotcut themup,leaveittothekitchenstaffontheday.)
Thereisalottodotomakeitasuccess,soifyoucanhelp,ifonlyforanhour ortwooneitherday,itwillbegreatlyappreciated. Also,thisyeartherewillbeahealthcaravanonsiteneartheclubrooms,where freehealthcheckswillbeoffered.Althoughaimedprimarilyatmen,itisfor everyonetoaccess.
OnclubnightinMarch,IanThomsonspokeabouthisjourneysouthtoThe BertMunroeChallenge.IanjustmadeitbackintimetoentertheTedGreen Rally,andIaskedhimifhewouldkindlygiveusatalkabouttheChallenge, asI,foroneandothers,didnotknowmuchaboutit.Heexplainedthathe travelleddowntoInvercargillonhisKTM,whichtook2days.Thiswasthe 19thyearthattheBertMunroehasbeenheldandnextyear,beingits20th anniversary,heisdefinitelyuptothechallengetodoitallagain.
Theweek-longeventbasedatOretiBeachcovershillclimbsupBluffHill, withsomeincrediblespeedsreached,twilightdragracing,beachracingwhere thesebikegetseriousandgetuptospeedsof170kph,butwasalloverin4 hoursduetotheincomingtide.Thereisalsokids’racingonthebeach.Next day,therewasspeedwayracingincludingsidecars,andonthelasttwodaysat Teretongaracetrack,sprintracingtookplaceforbothvintageandmodern bikes.Ianwentontosaythatitwasthefriendlinessduringthewholeevent thatimpressedhim,althoughtherewerenotmanyyoungmembers,andno gangs,justanicefriendlyatmosphere,wherepeoplegatheredinalarge marqueeforentertainmenteachnight.Iansaiditwassocoldthatmoststayed intheirmotorcycleleathers,eventosleep,duringtheweek.
TherewasalsoalottoseeinInvercargill,includingtheEHayes&SonBert MunroeMuseum,andBillRichardson’sTransportMuseum.
Overall,Iantravelled3000kmsthereandbackandthiswashis4thtriptothe Challenge.Wouldhedoitagain?Hellyes!
InFebruary,wehadtheShannonCarShow.Thiswasnotaslargeasin previousyears,withnumbersdownbecauseoftheforecastbadweather. However,agoodturn-out,andwehadeightclubmembersshowupfrom around8.00am.Aspecialthankstothosemembersattendingandaspecial thankstoJohnWhiteforgettingthereveryearly,savingourspaceandhaving thegazeboerectedandthebillyonforahotcoffee.
OurfirstgarageraidfortheyearwasverysuccessfulwithBasilorganizinga revisittoMikeTripae’smilitarycollectioninLevin.Wevisitedhisplacelast year,whereyouwillrememberMikestartinguptheradialengine,withsmoke, flamesandtheroaroftheengine.ThisvisitwasmoresedatewithMike
startingupanddrivingtherecentlyrestoredStuartM3A1tank.Itsounded likeawell-oiledsewingmachineandjustpurred.Wewereallowedtoclimb upontopofitandviewtheinside.Originallythetankwasmadeforarmy personal5feet8”tall,howeverthe100orsotanksthattheNZarmykeptfor trainingpurposesafterthewar,hadthehatchextendedby200mmsothata personof5feet10couldfitthrough.
TheTedGreenMemorialMotorcycleRallyheldonSunday22ndFebwas anothersuccess.Thedaywasfinebutovercast,nottoohotforthe18riders takingpart.WehadentriesfromWellington,Manawatu,Horowhenua, Whanganui,andallridersappearedtohavehadagreattime.Thisyear’srally beganwithaquickfieldtestoutsidetheclubrooms,followedbysilentchecks, questionsanddrawingacardaftereachcheckpoint.Themorningrun travelledsouthfromLevinheadinginlandfromManakautoOtakiforabuffet lunchattheOtakiSwimmingPoolPark.Theafternoonrunheadedtothe beach,andthenuptoOtakiGorgetotheoldKaitawaSwingBridge,where therewasaphotoopportunitybeforeheadingbacktoOtakiandnorthviathe oldSH1toManakauandavisittoJeffFox’splace.Jeffhadondisplay recently-madewoodenpropellersforearlybiplanes.Healsoshowedhis motorcyclecollection,andridershadtodoalittletreasurehuntandfindadisc whichtheyhadtobringbackwiththemtotheclubrooms,eachworthso manypoints.OverallwinneroftherallythisyearwasPaulSwitzerfrom Wellington.SpecialthankstoJeffFoxforopeninguphispropertyforus,and totheteamofgirls:Sharon,Denise,ChrissyandJaneforpreparingandsetting upthebuffetinthepark,aswellasmorningandafternoonteas,andtoJulie andBobwhoactedasTailEndCharlie.
Ofinterest,thereweretwoofthequestionsaskedduringtherally,andthey were;HowmanyMāoriNationalFlags,TinoRangtiratanga,didyousee fromOahuRiverBridgetotheManakauturnoff?Theansweris36.One riderwas1flagout,withmostsaying6to9flags.SecondQuestion;How manyspeedhumpsdidyougooverthroughouttheRally?Answeris22.Not manygotthisright,withmanysaying5to9humps.
MurrayTinsley,VerdonHeath,RobMoore,RobLawandWinton&Ruth Clealattendedthisyear’sArtDeco,andVerdonwasquiteimpressedwiththe aerobaticdisplayputonbyWarbirds.
Andrew&LindaJuddattendedtheFossilFuelExtravaganzaheldinTaranaki 21to22ndFeb.Therewasahugedisplayoffarmmachineryandclassiccars andwasaverysuccessfulweekendaway.
TheAnnualHorowhenuaVCCSwapMeetison21stMarch.Thisisalwaysa hugesuccess,andtherewillbeareportaboutthisinthenextissue.
ThissameweekendistheManawatuSteamFairinFeilding,andmotorcycle swapmeetattheCoachHouseMuseum,Feilding.
OnSaturday14thMarchisNeighboursDaybeingheldattheAdventurePark inLevinbetween10amand2pm.Wehopetohavethreecarsondisplay, thankstoGeorgeandhisJeep,GaryandhishugeCadillac,andRichardand histinySprite.ThisisanopportunitytopromoteourclubtothewiderLevin Community.
SevenmembersareofftoNelsonfortheweek-longVeroInternationalRally. Theyjoin650otherVCCeligiblevehicles,andhopefullythisisagreatweek weather-wise,(ithasbeensounpredictablerecently.)
ThenextKapitiMid-WeekRunisgoingtobetoSteamIncorporated’s RestorationShedatPaekakariki.Bethereby10:30sharporyouwillmissout. $5entryandPhilneedstoknownumbersforthoseattendingthisrunandcafé visitafterwards.Moreinformationlaterinthisissue.
JulieandChrissyareorganizingaClubRunonSunday12thApriltoTurakina. Bringyourownpicniclunch,andthiseventwillbeonwetorfine,asthereis enoughcoverintheshedsforeveryone.Tomismakinghisgrounds,museum andcarcollectionavailabletous.
HemayhaveondisplayhisrecentlyrestoreddeDionBouton,winnerofthe WhanganuiVCCRestorationoftheYearaward.
That’sitfromme,untilnexttime,don’tforgettokeepthatoildripping.
BreakingNews.
TheTaranakiVCCMaungaMoanaRallyisbeingheldalittlelaterthisyear becauseoftheVeroRally,andison2ndMay2026.
Atthisstage,ifyouhaveanybooksthatyouwouldliketo donatetothelibrary,thenpleaseholdoffuntilaftertheSwap Meet.
AtpresentIhavejustclearedaspecialshelfformemorabilia andoldadvertisingstuffthatcoversamultitudeof automotivelistings.Comealongandasktoseethese, buttheyarenottoleavethelibrary.
Also,theplannedcricketmatchagainstthehotrodclubhas beenputoffuntillaterintheyear,becausethenextthreeor fourmonthsarejustfull-on,andwewouldlikeasmanyof ourmemberstocomeoutandenjoytheeventsthathavebeen organizedforyou.
RobinandDianeStrachan
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RallyorganisersGreg andJaneOliver preparedasuperb lunch.
Theafternoonrideincluded atriptotheoldsuspension bridgeatOtakiForks
Veteranclass:RobMcIntyre: ExcelsiorBigX,1918
PostVintageclass:ReeceFreckleton: Norton,1935
Post60class:PaulSwitzer: HondaKZ750,1979
Vintageclass:JeffFox: NortonModel21,1929
PostWarclass:IanMunro: NortonModel7,1953
Post80class:RobertHeath: HondaGB500TT,1986
GuestRider:PeterWaddington: BSABantam,1962
FewestPointsScored:DonMcLaren: Jawa175,1960
FurthestTravelled:MartinDodge fromOtago:BMWF750GS
JustMadeItInTime:IanThomson: KTMDuke
OverallWinner:PaulSwitzer: HondaKZ750
February2026
FebruaryhasbeenaquietmonthforSpares,withtheleaduptoSwapMeeton the21stofMarch.
Thisemailwassenttomeonthe12/2/26.It’sveryimportanttoeveryone.
ThevendorhadastrokeinSeptember.Hisfamilydecidedtopassonhisentire automobiliacollectionwhichhestartedtoputtogetherfrom1958whenhe was16Alsoincludedarepartsfromhisgrandfather&father,bothinthecar businessduringtheirlifetimes.HisgrandadstartedarguablyNZ’sfirst “Garage&BowserFillingStation”in1898&thiswasmanagedbyhisson& abrotherfrom1932.TheaccumulationofbrassModelTpartsseems comprehensive,ifnotdefinitive
ITEMSTOBESOLD:(TheauctionistakingplacesometimeinApril)
PartsforvehiclesfromAC,Armstrong-Siddeley,Austinrightthroughthe alphabettoVauxhall,Vulcan,Willys-Knight.
AvastquantityofVeteran,Edwardian,VintageandPost-Vintagemascots fromrecognizedcarmakersandahugenumberofbadgesofalltypes& countries,manyparticularlyrare.
Tools.
Allwerecollectedover3generationsoftheonefamily.
TheVeteran,Edwardian,VintageRolls-RoyceandBentleymarquesarewell represented,asarethe1909-14and1920sFords,plus51othermakesofcar &motorcyclefromtheearly20thcentury.
Whilethevendorshavecompiledaverylarge“catalogue”fortheirown reference,interestedpersonsshouldrelysolelyontheofficialauctioneer’s catalogue(s)currentlyunderpreparation¬yetavailableonthewebsite www.dunbarsloane.co.nz
SeveraldozenHVCCmembersvisitedMikeTripae'splacetoseehis tankinaction.
Iwouldthinkmostthoroughlyenjoyedthemselvestoo. MikehascurrentlystartedrestoringaWW1fieldartillerypiece. ItookalongmyWillysJeepforabitofadded"ambience."
Storyandphotos fromGeorgeMcLean
1906automobiliapaperweightpurchasedbymeatOily RagAuctionsofvintagemotorcycleparts,salesbrochures andowners’manualsinSydney,Australiaon22nd November2025
MAGNUS,SANDERSON&CO, MannersStreet,Wellington.(nexttotheOperaHouse)1903-1920’s
Originallysoldbicyclesthenwiththedownturninthecycletrade turnedtobecomingoneofWellington’sfirstmotorvehicledealersin whatwasknownasOperaGarage.In1918theywerelistedaslocated at150WakefieldStreet.ChangednametobecomeMagnusMotors Ltd,initiallysellingDodgeandAustincarsandlateraddedMorrisand Hondabrands.
PRINCIPALS:
GodfreyWilliamMagnus
FounderandManagingDirectorofMagnusMotorsLtd
ErnestValentineSanderson(Capt.)
FoundedtheRoyalForest&BirdProtectionSocietyofNewZealand Inc.(aka.Forest&Bird).
InstrumentalinhavingKapitiIslandprotectedasanativebirdsanctuary andreserve
AGENCIES
MasseyHarris(Canada)1903-Bicycles
LaterbecameMasseyFergussontractors.Stillinexistencetodayand theworldslargestproduceroftractors
RussellCars(Canada)1906-1907-Cars
BecameWillys-Knight,thenjustWillys.Stillinexistencetodayknownas Jeep.
DetroitElectric(USA)1917-Cars
Manufacturedfrom1907to1939.Revivedin2008byLotusandtoday madeintheNetherlands.AnotableownerwasGenzoShimazuwho importedaDetroitElectriccarintoJapanin1917totesthisYuasa batteries.Yuasaiswellknowntodayforitsmotorcyclebatteries.
Addenda
TherearethreeRussellcarsregisteredontheWellingtonCityCouncil vehicleregistrationrecords.
1906WN1011Magnus,Sanderson&Co
1907WN1082Magnus,Sanderson&Co
1908WN1150GeorgeHSmith(ModelD–newmodelfor1908)
ThereisoneDetroitElectriccarregisteredontheWellingtonCity Councilvehicleregistration records.
1917WN2211WellingtonCityCouncil,LightingDepartment
