AnothermonthgoneandweareintoSpringandtheunpredictable weatherthatcomeswithit
Inspiteofthat,itwasheartwarmingtoseesuchagreatturnoutforour lastclubmeetingwhichwasalsotocelebratetheawardoftwo50year badges.ToassistinthatwewelcomedGlynClements,NorthIsland ClubCaptain,andourclubPatron,TomHayestomakethe presentations.TherecipientsareBasilGowenlockandRichardSalt. Whenyouhearthecitationreadoutyourealisejusthowmuchthese twogentlemenhavecontributed,notjusttotheVCCasawhole,butto theworldofhistorictransport ItwasalsogreattoseeDonMcIntyre,albeitslightlylateduetoataxi adventure,(thedriverdidn’tknowwherehewasgoing)buthewas determinedtocomeoutonsuchanawfulnighttothankalltheclubfor thesupportheandhisfamilyhavereceivedaftertherecentpassingof hiswifeLouis.Andthatgotmethinkingthatit’swhattheworldofold transportdoesforyou.Itunitesusallregardlessofwhatbranchof transportweareinto.Anofferoffuturetransporttoourmeetingswas offered,soseeyousoonDon.
Nextmonthwewillbehavingashort,ExtraordinaryMeetingpriorto thenormalone,tovoteonouramendedconstitution.Tothatendyou willallreceiveeitheracopybyemailorahardcopyviathepostofthe amendedonePleasehavealookatitYourcommitteehavealready ratifiedit,andwejustneedtovoteontheminimalchangestobringour branchintolinewiththecurrentlegislation.Anaccompanyingletterwill explainwhatitisaboutandit’sforourBranch,nottheVCCasawhole. ThedebacleinChristchurchcontinuesandthecommitteehasaneye onthatonyourbehalf.
HappyMotoring
JonDayton
Finally,Springhassprung,andweareenteringtherallyseasononcemoreand believeme,therearemanyeventscomingupfromnowuntilChristmas.So pleasekeepaneyeonthecalendarofeventsattherearofthisissueforupand-comingeventsofinterest.
Therewasanexcellentturn-outatthelastclubnightwithtwoofour members,BasilGowenlockandRichardSalt,receivingtheir50-year presentations.Congratulationstoyouboth.
AspecialthankstoVicky&ChrisEdwardsforopeninguptheirgaragetothe 35clubmemberswhoattendedandviewedtheircollectionofFords.Byall accountsVickyprovidedanexcellentmorningtea,andmanystayedaround relaxinginthegardencatchingup.
Iamunfortunatelylaidupatthemomentafterjusthavingatotalkneejoint replacement,andwillbebackinactionwithinthenextmonthorso, dependingonrecovery.
TheVCCDaffodilDayeventinFeildingwasanotherhugesuccesswith17 carsfromourbranchturninguponafineandsunnyday.Weparkedupina grouprepresentingtheclub,andsattogetherforapicnicstylelunch,before headingoffona2-hourrallyupthePohanginaValleytoApiti,returning throughKimboltonandCheltenham,meetingattheManawatuClubroomsfor afternoonteaandprizegiving.
OnWednesday27thAugustwastheKapitimid-weekruntoRodClifton’s collectionatTeHoro.Thereisalwayssomethingtoseehere,andthe58 membersmostlyfromWellingtonwereamazedwiththecollectionofRod’s tractors,farmmachinery,vehicles,chainsaws,etcandothermemorabiliaRod hascollectedovertheyears.Rodstillkeepshis$50noteasnobodycould mastertheridingofhisfunnybicycle.
Wereceivedalaterequesttoattend,alongwithourvehicles,theWarVets HomeandReevedonHomeinLevinonFathers’Day.Itwasanopportunity forresidentstoviewandgoforarideinourvehicles.BoththeWarVetsand ReevedonretirementhomescomeundertheEnlivenGroup.PleaseseeJulie’s write-upaboutthiseventlaterinthisissue.
ComingupwehaveManawatu’stwo-dayVintageOnlyRallyontheweekend 20thand21stSeptember.Youhavethechoiceofattendingbothdaysorjust oneday.TherewasanentryforminthelastissueofSparkorcontactGregor Julieforanentryorchecktheboardintheclubrooms.
OnSunday21stSeptemberwehavetheMorrisEnthusiastsCluband HorowhenuaVCCGreatQuizDayatourclubrooms,beginning10am.Get youteamsof6togetherfortheChallengetotakeontheMorrisEnthusiasts. ContactJulieifyouareinterestedand,inthemeantimemakesuretowatch “TheChase”onTVtogetsomehandytips.
Saturday27thSeptemberistheAnnualManawatuSwapmeet$20forsellers and$10forthebuyers.
Sundaythe28thSeptemberistheWairarapaDistinguishedGentlemen’sDrive. ThisisafundraiserforMen’sMentalHealthandProstrateCancercombined withMovemberFoundation.Thisistheveryfirsttimethiseventisbeingheld, andshouldprovetobeapopulareventforthefuture.
OnSaturday4thOctobertherearetwoeventstochoosefrom.Wehavethe KingCountryVintageCarClubScenicTouroftheKingCountry,andalsothe WairarapaBranchhavetheRexPorterMemorialRallybeginningin Mastertonat8:30am.InfoandentriesareontheboardorcontactGreg. Well,that’saboutitfromme,untilthenexttime,keepthatoildripping.
BreakingNews:
TheShannonCarshowhasbeenscheduledforSunday15thFebruary2026, withabackupdayifweton22ndFeb26.$10forShowCars,and$5forShow Bikes.
GregOliver
SpeakerforOctober
OnWednesday1stofOctoberwewillhaveapresentationbyGary Scott,whoisgoingtotellusallabouthis1958Cadillac.Hewas scheduledtospeaklastmonthbutillnesssidelinedhim.
NewClubMembers
Nonewfacesatourlastclubmeeting.
SadlyMissed
GrahamLawtonhaspassedaway.HeandhislatewifeMargaret werelong-timemembersoftheCarClub,andGrahamwasthe Treasurerformanyyears.HewasalsoAlanPorter'sstepfather.AlanisamemberofourClub. Weextendourcondolencestofamilymembersandfriends.
Recovering
GregOliverhashadhisdamagedkneereplacementandis recoveringwell.
CoverPicture
OnourrecenttriptoretirementhomesinLevin,twolovelyFords waitingtotakesomeoftheresidentsforaride.OntheleftisBill Laney’sCustomlineandbesideitisChrisFlanagin’sAnglia.
Aftershiftingafewthingsaroundinthelibrarywenowhaveaspecialarea forbooksonMGs.Thisisbecausethereareheapsoftheminthiscountry, andquitefewintheclub.
Becausetherearesomecarsthathavealargespecialinterest,Iam tryingtoputthatgroupinashelfoftheirown.Itmakesthemeasytofind.
Also,thegive-awaydeskundertheBlacksShellsignisupandrunning,so helpyourselves.Youneverknow;theremaybesomethingforyou.
Icameacrossaworkshopmanualfora1945-48Austin16/4.Nicelooking car.Arethereanyintheclub?
Ifnot,doesanymemberknowwheretherecouldbeone?
50YEARMEMBERSHIP
BasilGowenlockgetshisbadgepinnedbyclubpatronTomHayes. NorthIslandClubCaptain,GlynClements,whoreadthecitationlookson.
Basilwithhis50-yearcertificate.Hiswife,Bev,getstheflowers.
RichardSaltreceivinghis50-yearbadgefromTomHayes.
Richard’swife,Gabriellegetsflowers.RichardandGlynobserve.
BranchDelegate'sreport--2025AGMatInvercargill.
ArrivedInvercargill,coldweatherbutawarmSouthernwelcome!
GODDARDTROPHY:
AwardedtoElizabethSmits,fromWellingtonFred&Elizabethpurchasedaused'57 MercedesBenzsedan,spent2yearsrebuilding/restoringit,then,withadesigner campertouredtheworldinit.TheyfirstattendedtheconcoursatPalmBeach,CA, madegoodcontactsthere,thenthisopeneddoorsforthemworldwide!Liztellsme theywentthrough47tyres,I’mnotsurethatwaswholesetsornot,butthewholetrip tookthem10years!ThedreamonlystoppedwhenFredbecameillinEurope,& regrettablypassedaway.
Thesetwoaretrueworldambassadorsforthewholeoldcarfraternity.(Thereisan articleinBeadedWheels,June/Julyissue)
12MONTHWoF:Yay!After22yearstheFOMOdidit!Theturningpointwas apparentlythesurveyof2yearsago,whenitwaspresentedtoGovtshowingthewhole movementofvehicle-relatedclubswasworth16.5billion!Theynowwanttotryfor3 yearlyWoFs-goodluckwiththat!
AGM:
Therewasnochangeofofficers.
Thenationalofficeshowsasurplusof$56,000,withBeadedWheelspostageupto $70,000.DiscussiononbulkpostingB.W.outtobranches&leavingthemtodistribute them
Headofficehavetakenovertheirnewpremises,leavingtheearthquake-damaged& condemnedoldbuildingintheCBDTheygotapayoutof$350,000,thensoldtheold sitefor$710,000.Thenewplaceisactually2buildingsononesite,onebeingthemain officewithasmallconferencecentre,theotherusedforarchives&storage.
Insurance:Vero&mostothercompaniesarestoppingthelinkedpolicydiscount.You willnolongergetadiscountbecauseyouhaveseveralhouses,carsetcwiththesame company.Checkyourpolicies!
Therewerethirtyfour50-yearmembershipbadgesawardedinthepastyear.
CONSTITUTIONALSTUFF:
Therecentnationalvotereturnedan86%“yes”vote,withavoterturnoutof25%So, witha75%majorityrequired,thatequals75%ofthe25%whoactuallyvoted
Ourlocalbranchhas179members,ofwhom63voted,or35%ofmembers.32for&31 against.
Thenewconstitution&governancestructurecomesintoeffectinAugust2026.
EXECUTIVEMEETING:
StartedFridaynight,withsubmissionsfrom2branches,essentiallyclaimingthe president&managementcommitteehadnotfollowedcorrectprocedureasper existingconstitutionalrulesinsettinguptherecentNOM(sentouttousall). Thepresidentrelinquishedthechairforthis,whichwasamostrobustdiscussion Theresult&votewasyes,therecentvotemuststand,wemaybedidnotgetthings perfect,butthevoteisin,thepeoplehavespoken,&wemustmoveonregardless
Itwasapparenttomethatthelowvotenumbers,pluscommentsmade,isthatmost membersarenottheslightestbitinterestedinallthisstuff.Theyjustwanttodotheir localclubstuff.
PresidentGeorgeKeardidofferanapologyovertheletterhesentouturgingayes voteFairenough!
Myownopinion,forwhatit'sworth,isthattheconstitutionalchanges&thechangein governancearetwoquiteseparateissues,&shouldhavebeendealtwithseparatelyat differenttimes,notpackagedintoonevote.Thismayhavepreventedalotofangst& time&moneyspent.
Feelfreetocontactmedirectlyifyourequireanythingfurtheronthis.
JohnWhite
Delegate.
FATHERS’DAYRUN
Fathers’DaySunday7thSeptemberwasfineandclearafterthe precedingwetdays.Sevenvintagecarsandonemotorbike turneduptoparticipate.Thecarsandmotorbikewerewell receivedatbothReevedonRetirementVillageandtheWar VeteransHome.Manyofusdidn’trealisethatthetwoare interlinked.Aftertakingresidentsfordrivesandproviding tripsdownmemorylaneweweretreatedtoafternoonteaatthe WarVets.Agreateffortwasputinbythoseattending.Very manythanksareextendedforavailingtheirtimeandeffort.
JulieRiepen
Residentsandclubmembers chattingaboutthecars.
Twoboyscameto visittheirgrandfather andwerethrilledto getarideinBill’s Customline.
KAPITIM-WREPORTAUGUST2025
RODCLIFTON'SCOLLECTIONATTEHORO
AnotherbeautifulAugustdayontheKapitiCoastsawwellover50Wellingtonand Horowhenuamid-weekersconvergeonTeHorotoseeoneofthemostamazing,but largelyunknown,collectionsintheWellingtonregion.Housedinato-die-for shed/workshopare61mainlyvintagetractors,allinrunningorder,andmostfully restoredbyRodhimself.Thenthereis,inRod'swords,"God'sparkinglot"(ahuge paddockaroundtheback)witharound400moretractorsawaitingrestoration!
Forthosewhocan'tseethebeautyintractors,therewasalsoa1935DeSoto,1947 PlymouthCoupe,1962Dodge,1955ZephyrSixanda1958Internationalpick-upto drooloverAndifthatwasn'tenough,therewastea/coffeeandatablefullof sandwiches,sausagerollsandassortedcakesmadebyRod'swife,Joy.
Foraround50years,Rodcompetedinstockcar/speedwayracing,andwordhasit thatoneofhiscompetitorsinthosedayswasacertainR.Betteridge.Obviouslystill highlycompetitive,Rodoffered$50toanyonewhocouldridehisordinary-looking Raleighbicycleacrosstheworkshop.Theonlysnagwastheclevergearingsystemat thetopofthecolumnwhichmadethefrontwheelturnleftwhenthehandlebarswere turnedtotheright,andvice-versa.His$50isstillinhispocket!
OrganisedbyWellingtonVCCbranchwithsomeofourmembersalsopresent. Itemsonviewincludedachainsawtreewithchainsaws“growing”fromitwhichwas strange.Theysay“moneydoesn’tgrowontrees”,butIdidn'tknowthatchainsawsdo. Numerousotheritemsincludedoldwashingmachines,&lots&lotsoftractors! Goodspreadturnedonafterwardstoo!Amostenjoyablevisit.
August2025
AbigthankyoutoGraemeMcKenzieforlettingmeknowonclub nightaboutacollectionofMiniparts,thatwerefreetotheBranch. GeorgeandGraemeheadedoffnorthofthebranchonworkingbee morningtoreturnearlyafternoonwiththefollowing: apairofnewlyupholsteredfrontseats, acoupleofwindscreensplussideglass, acomplete1100ccmotorofunknowncondition, plussomeboxesofbitsandpieces. WorthalookifyouareaMiniperson.
AcrossthecourseofthemonthofAugust,Spareswasabletohelpa memberfromtheKingCountryBranchwiththepurchaseofa1920s SmithsSpeedo.Thisgentlemeniscurrentlyrestoringa1928Morris OxfordSaloonDeLuxe,oneofonlytwoknowntobeleftintheworld.
Ofinteresttomembers:thesalefromJackie’slatefather’sshedhas nowpassedthe$1646mark.It’sinterestingtonotethatwhathassold sofarismostlytovintagecarownerswhoareworkingonnew restorations.
Safemotoringeveryone.
Callum
Susandressedfortheoccasion.
KapitiMid-WeekRunSeptember24th
Racetechisaworldleaderinthedesignandmanufactureofraceseatsforalltypesof motorsport,anditallhappensinSeaview,lessthan2km(asthecrowflies)fromthe WellingtonBranchclubrooms.Establishedover30yearsago,Racetechseatsarewidely usedaroundtheworldincircuitracing,rallying,dragracinganddrifting,andthe companyownsitsowndistributiondepotsinboththeUSAandBritain.
WhencompanieslikePorscheandChryslerneedaseatdesignedspeciallyforthe competitionversionsofthe911ortheDodgeViper,theycometoRacetech.Andon 24thSeptemberwe'llgettoseehowtheydesignandmanufacturestate-of-the-artrace seatsusingcarbonfibreandotheradvancedcomposites
Afterwards,tea/coffeeandDomino'sfinestpizzaandgarlicbreadwillbeavailablefor lunchatthePetoneclubrooms.
Racetechvisitstartat10:30am,someetupoutsidealittlebeforethen
Address--18,BarnesStreet,Seaview,LowerHutt
Directions--fromPetone,followTheEsplanadealongthewaterfrontandoverthe HuttRivertothebigroundabout.Getintheright-handlaneandtakethe4thexitonto PortRoad.StayonPortRoadforapprox800mandBarnesStreetwillbeonyourleft. Racetechisthenonyourrightapprox150malongBarnesStreet.
Parking--thereisn'tanyoff-streetparkingatRacetech,sofindaspacewhereveryou canonBarnesStreet,PortRoad,orMeachenStreetwhichisontherightafterpassing Racetech
Lunch--attheWellingtonbranchclubroomsonHalfordPlace,Petone.Foranyone whodoesn'tknowthearea,retraceyourstepsbacktothebigroundaboutandhead backovertheHuttRivertowardsPetone.KeepgoinguntilyoupasstheGullservice stationonyourleft,andthenafterapprox300mtakearightturnonJessieStreet.Then turnrightattheT-juntionontoJacksonStreetandfollowittotheend,keepingright intoHalfordPlace
Teaandcoffeewillbeavailableintheclubrooms,andyoucaneitherbringyourown lunchoralternativelyhavearangeofDomino'spizzasandgarlicbreadByplacinga bulkorder,thecostwillonlybe$5perhead.ButIneedtoknowhowmanywouldlike tojoininthesharedpizzalunchinordertoplaceanadvanceorderwithDomino'sand haveitreadyontime.Therewillbeapproxhalfalargepizzaperpersonandavarietyof flavours(includingvegetarian)tochoosefrom,plusgarlicbread.Itwillbetoo complicatedtoaskeveryonefortheirchoiceofpizza,soitwillbepotluckontheday.
Racetechneedtoknownumbersinadvance,astheyaregoingtosplitusintosmaller groupsforthetourSo,pleaseletmeknowbySunday21stSeptemberifyouare comingonthevisittoRacetech,andalso,ifyouaregoingtojoininthe$5pizzalunch PhilipPearceEmail:nzpearce87@gmailcomMob:0272744084
BIGCARS-SMALLPEOPLE
PARKING
Answerto“WhatAmI?”
Renault4CVJolly
FiftyRenault4CVsedansweremodifiedbycoach-buildersGhiaof Italyintoso-called“Jollys”in1960,withfabricroofandwickerseats, similartowhathadbeendonewithFiat600s.Mostweresoldinthe USA,probablyinFloridaandCalifornia.Itisthoughtthatonlyabout twentyremain,mostlikelyeatenupbythesaltair,justliketheFiats beforethem.
VCCBanners
Thesefabricwindscreenbannersinbluewithwhiteletteringareagain available.
Thesecanbeusedwhendisplayingyourcaratshowsorrallies.New stocksnowat$15each.OrderfromRobinStrachan.
Mechanicallysound,no rustinbody,reupholstered,allgood tyres,WoFandregistered andheapsofspares.
