T
BRANCH INFORMATION
BRANCH DETAILS
CLUBROOMS ‘TheGrove’-684KelvinGroveRoad,PalmerstonNorth
POSTAL ADDRESS P.O.Box385,PalmerstonNorth4440 EMAIL manawatu@vcc.org.nz
COMMITTEE MEETING
SecondWednesdayofeachmonthat‘TheGrove’.
CLUB NIGHT
ThirdWednesdayofeachmonth(exceptforJanuarywhennomeetingisheld) -meetfrom7.15pmat‘TheGrove’.Meetingsstartat7.30pm.
LIBRARY
Openbyarrangement -contactGaryMillar-(06) 354 8298 or gw.millar.pn@gmail.com
NOGGIN & NATTER
FirstTuesdayofeachmonthat7.00pmatMurray’sIrishBar-Feilding.
PARTS SHED
Openfrom2pmonthefirstSundayofeachmonthorbyarrangement. -contactGaryMillar-(06) 354 8298 or gw.millar.pn@gmail.com
BOOKINGSFOR ‘THE GROVE’ VENUE
CanbemadethroughCreativeCatering,AwapuniRacecourse. -phone(06)3542780 or Email: info@creativecatering.co.nz
FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH: GlynClementsmulti-taskingattheFebruaryGymkhana
PHOTOGRAPHSINTHIS ISSUE oftheTourerhavebeencontributedby BryanAbrahamandNicolaVile.
MANAWATU BRANCH LIFE MEMBERS: DerekHaycockandGaryMillar
MANAWATU BRANCH PATRON: LenHaycock
Theopinionsorstatementsexpressedinletters,articles,tripreportsetc.whichappearinthis magazinearetheviewsoftheauthorofthatletter/article/reportandarenotnecessarily thoseoftheCommitteeorMembersoftheManawatuBranchoftheVintageCarClubofNZInc. TheCommitteereservestherighttorefusematerialitdoesnotconsidersuitableforpublication.
THETOURER : NewZealandRegisteredMagazine. TheOfficialNewsletteroftheManawatuBranchoftheVintageCarClubofNZInc.
COMING EVENTSAND ACTIVITIES
MANAWATU BRANCH
CALENDAR OF EVENTS - 2026
Althoughavintageorclassicvehicleispreferred,forotherthanformalevents comealongtobrancheventsandbringavehiclethatyouarecomfortabledriving.
MARCH 2026
Sunday1st ThePartsShedwillbeopenbetween2pmand5pm
Sunday1st SundayJaunt-seepage9ofthisTourer
Sunday1st AfternoonteaattheclubroomsaftertheSundayJaunt,thenaBYODinner
Tuesday3rd Noggin&Natter-7.00pmatMurray’sIrishPubBar,Feilding
Sunday8th RuahineRamble-theentryformisonpage47ofthisTourer
Wednesday11th WorkingBeeattheClubrooms-seepage9ofthisTourer
Wednesday18th ClubNight-seepage9ofthisTourer
Wednesday25th LegOverWednesday(Motorcycleevent)-seepage10ofthisTourer
APRIL 2026
Sunday5th ThePartsShedwillbeopenbetween2pmand5pm
Sunday5th SundayJaunt
Sunday5th AfternoonteaattheclubroomsaftertheSundayJaunt,thenaBYODinner
Tuesday7rd Noggin&Natter-7.00pmatMurray’sIrishPubBar,Feilding
Wednesday8th WorkingBeeattheClubrooms
MAY 2026
Wednesday20th AGM-seepages11>13ofthisTourer THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE APRIL TOURER IS THE 22ND MARCH 2026
Pleasesendyourcontributionsonrallyreports,motoringstories, restorations,technicalinformation,articles,photographsetc.,to: TheEditor-email: bryabr8@gmail.com
OTHER VCC
BRANCHES,
NATIONAL EVENTS, OTHER CLUBS / ORGANISATIONS ETC.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS - 2026
-EntryFormsfortheseeventsareavailableonrequestfromtheManawatuBranchSecretary
MARCH 2026
Saturday7th WairarapaVintageCarClubStretchedGymkhana MastertonA&PGrounds,SolwayEntryForm
Saturday14th WestCoastSceniclandRallyEntryForm
Saturday21st HorowhenuaBranchAnnualSwapMeetandCollectablesDay -seepage49ofthisTourer
Sat & Sun21st & 22nd TheSteamTractionSocietySteamFair
APRIL 2026
Fri & Sat10th & 11th WaikatoBranchMoolooMeander
Saturday 11th WaipukurauVCC-TwilightRun-PreliminaryNotice
Sat & Sun11th & 12th 2026SouthernBackroadAdventureEntryForm
JUNE 2026
Fri > Sun5th > 7th WaikatoBranch50/50Rally
VINTAGE CAR CLUB VEHICLE CLASSIFICATIONS
VETERAN: MotorVehiclesconstructedpriorto31st December1918
VINTAGE: MotorVehiclesconstructedbetween1st January1919and31st December1931
POST VINTAGE: MotorVehiclesconstructedbetween1st January1932and31st December1945
POST WAR: MotorVehiclesconstructedbetween1st January1946and31st December1960
POST 1960: MotorVehiclesconstructedbetween1st January1961and31st December1980
POST 1980: MotorVehiclesconstructedafter1st January1981providedthatnovehicleis deemedeligibleforthiscategoryuntilthedayimmediatelyfollowingthe30th anniversary ofitsoriginaldateofconstructionasdeterminedinaccordancewithSection2ofthe ClubVehicleTechnicalCode.(refertotheClubBy-laws)
AUTHENTIC REPRODUCTION VEHICLES: MotorVehiclesnewlyconstructedtotheexact specificationofanoriginalfactoryproductionvehicle.(asdescribedintheClubBy-laws)
FACTORY BUILT & HISTORIC RACING VEHICLES: (asdescribedintheClubBy-laws)
PERIOD SPECIALS: (asdescribedintheClubBy-laws)
CHAIRPERSON’S CHAT - E
Lookslikeweareoverthebadweathernowthatthechildren haveallgonebacktoschool.
ForthethirdtimetryingtohaveaGymkhanawemanagedto haveitlastSunday.Itwasagreattimewithlotsoflaughterand fun.Someofushaddifferentwaysofhangingoutofcarstopeg upthewashingandtothrowobjectsintotyresandbuckets. Itshowedupthegooddrivingskillsfromthedriversofthecars anditwasgreattoseeafewdifferentpeoplehavingagoat drivingaModelT.
IwouldliketothankGlynandhishelpersforagreatdaythatwashadbyeveryone. Wehadaguestspeakeronthelastclubnight.ShewasMandyBrownwhoownedaModelA FordcalledMoriartywith5othernurses.Shehaswrittenabookandillustratedherself.She hadlotsofstoriesabouthowtheydrovethecaralloverthecountrywithlittlemaintenance onthecar.Therewasalotoflaughterintheroom,soifyoudidn’tcometoclubnightyou missedagreatnight.
Itwouldbegreatifmoreofourbranchmemberssupportedourmainralliesthatwerunthru theyear.WehavetheRuahineRambleonthe8th March2026,soIamhopingwehavea nicefinedayweatherwise.
Happymotoringeveryone, Esther
F
HiEveryone
Well,hereweare-almostattheendofFebruaryalready! Ifthefirsttwomonthsareanythingtogoby,thisyearisgoingto absolutelyflyby.
AbighighlightaheadistheNationalAGMinAugust,proudly hostedbyourbranch.It’sourtimetoshineandshowcasejust howgoodweare.Iknowwe’llputourbestfootforwardand makeitaneventtoremember.
Marchislookingratherbusyonthehomefront-orshouldIsay, awayfromit!GlynandIwillbeontheroad,startingwiththe opportunitytojoinagrouptourofLochinverStation-aniconicNZstationlocatedonSH5, approx25kmsfromTaupotownship.Thepropertycomprises13,843haofwhich approximately9,500haareeffective.Someamazingscenerytoview!WewillbeplayingtailendCharlie,keepingeveryoneinline!Fromthere,weheadtotheHighlandFling,supporting theSouthWaikatoBranchwiththeirevent.It’salwaysgreattobackourfellowbranches.
We’llbehomebrieflybeforeweflytoChristchurchfortheExecutiveMeeting-afirstforme attendingasourBranchDelegate,sothatwillbeabusyandinterestingweekend.
Andtofinishoffourtravels…we’llbepickingupthenewestadditiontothestable-Mavis! AgorgeousMorrisMinorConvertible.Ireallycan’tblameGlynforthispurchase-Isimply couldn’thelpmyself!Tomakemattersworse(orbetter!)I'vealreadyboughtMiniLitemags forher…andshehasn’tevencrossedtheStraittohernewhomeyet! Busy,busy-butthat’sthebestwaytobe.
Enjoyyourmontheveryone.Let’shopewehavesomelovelyweatherstilltocomebefore Autumndecidestomakeitsentrance.
Regards,
HiAll
CLUB CAPTAIN’S REPORT - GLYN CLEMENTS
Afteracoupleoffalsestarts,wemanagedtogettheGymkhana underwayonafinebutwindySunday22nd.Agreatturnout frommemberswithmoreVintageeracarsthananyotherclass, plusacoupleofVeteranswhichtooklinehonoursattheendofit all.Afewlaughsandalotofmemberspresentmadetheeffort wellworthwhile-wewilldoitagainlaterintheyear.
CathandIwillmisstheSundayJauntof1stMarchasweare awaydoingTailEndCharliedutiesfortheLochinverStationtrip andHighlandFlinginSouthWaikato.Homethreedays,thenflytoChristchurchforthe ExecutiveMeetingandthen3daysdrivinghome,viatheinlandKaikourarouteinCath’snew Morrie1000.
Saturday21stisHorowhenuaBranch’sSwapMeetandnodoubtManawatumemberswillbe thereinforce.IfanyonespotsaheadlightlensforaModelTFordthenpleasegrabitfor me!Ihadtheindignityofoneofminefallingoffinourdriveway,thenIpromptlyranitover, broketheglassandbuckledtherim.I’verepairedtherimbutdon’thaveenoughgluetosort thelens!
Cheers Glyn
MANAWATU BRANCH - MEMBERS’ VEHICLES BOOK
Ihaveproposedtheideaofwritingabookofmembers'vehicles,includingphotos, specifications,history,andotherimportantdetails.Ihavebeengiventheallclearfromthe committeeso,tostartoff,Iamputtingthefeelersoutthereforanyoneinourbranchwho wouldliketheirvehicletobeconsideredforbeingincludedinthebook.
Iamlookingtowriteupthreeorfourcarsfromeachclass.Attheendofthebook,therewill beamotorcyclesectionandafterthatmaybeacoupleofprojects.Theideaisinit'searly dayssothingsmaychangeandevolveovertime.
Ifyouwishtodiscussyourvehicleorsomethingrelevanttothismatterpleasecontactme.
Phone:+642041198295(Mon-Friafter5pm)
Email: harrys29chevy@gmail.com
Regards, HarryJackson-Vile
SUNDAY JAUNT - 1ST MARCH 2026
1ST SUNDAYOFEACHMONTH
MeetattheCoachHouseMuseumcarparkinFeilding at2.30pmforadrivetoa‘ShedRaid’-thenitisontoour clubroomsforalateafternoontea,andifyouwish, stayingonforaBYOdinneranddrink. Noggin&Natter
WORKING BEEATTHE CLUBROOMS
2ND WEDNESDAYOFEACHMONTH 11TH MARCH 2026 9.30 AM > 12 NOON
Weatherpermittingthehedgeneedstoreceiveatrimmingand thegardensarealwaysinneedofabitofmaintenance.
Pleasebringsomegardeningtoolsalong–inparticulartrimmerstotacklethe hedgeandequipmenttotrimthelonggrass.Someweedsprayingisalso necessarysoifyouhavesprayequipment,pleasebringthatalongaswell.
Shouldtheweatherbewet,workwillcontinueindoorsonrecoveringthechairs. Pleasebringastaplegun,staples&screwdriverssothatwecanprogresswiththattask. Andofcourse,thereisthemorningtea/coffeebreakwhichallowstimefor someconvivialsocialising. N
"THEGROVE" VENUEFORHIRE
BranchMembers:
ForallinquiriesregardingHallorMemberRoom hire,pleasecontacttheBranchSecretarydirectly at cathyclements5@gmail.com
AllOtherInquiries: Pleaserefertotheeventflyerfordetails.
EARLIERISSUESOFTHETOURER&SUPPLEMENTS TOTHETOURERAREAVAILABLEONLINE
Anelectronicresourceisinplacewhichmakesalargenumberofearlier issuesoftheTourereasilyavailabletomembersforreference. Thelinktothoseearlierissuesisbelow.Cutandpastethelinkbelowtoyourbrowser: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gTU-shJle-YE1OSIdMKqvu3joxGQ6HdS?usp=share_link Useyoursmartphone,tabletorcomputertoseecurrentNewslettersfromotherVCC Branchesonlineandtocheckoutwhatactivitiesareoninthosebranches. Goto www.vcc.org.nz thengoto BranchNewsletters
THE PARTS SHEDS
(WHEREALLITEMSAREPRICEDTOMOVEOFFTHESHELVES)
TheManawatuBranchoftheVCCiscommittedtohelpingyouwiththerestorationand ongoingmaintenanceofyourvaluedvintage&classicvehicle,endeavouringtomaintaina supplyofqualitysecondhandtoolsandpartscoveringallagesandtypesofearlyvehicles.
Anytimeisagoodtimetodeclutterandyourfriendsareinvitedto donateanyunwantedoldcarandmotorcyclepartstothebranchso thatwecantradethemontofellowenthusiasts.
EverythingisgroupedtohelpyouwithyoursearchandGarylooks forwardtoassistingyoufindthatunusual,rareandvaluablepartor toolwhichwillhelpyoumaintainorrestoreyourprideandjoy.
ThePartsShedsareopenbetween2pmand5pmonthefirstSundayafternoonofeach monthorbyarrangement.ContactGaryon (06) 354 8298 or gw.millar.pn@gmail.com
IS THERE A PHOTOGRAPH OF YOUR VEHICLE DISPLAYED IN THE CLUBROOMS ?
IFNOT, PLEASEHAVEATALKTO ROBERT WILSONATCLUBNIGHT.
Photoframesareonhand-wejustneedthephotographs-whetheritbeofyourvehicle inoriginal,restored,orunrestoredcondition.
TogetyourvehicledisplayedintheClubroomsallRobertneedsfromyouisaphotograph ofyourvehicleinlandscapelayout.
Thephotographneedstohaveapictureviewareaof16 cmwidex11 cmhigh-meaning thattheimageofthevehicleneedstofitintothatgivensize,althoughtofittheframes, thephotographsizewillneedtobealittlelarger(i.e.18 cmx13 cm(5x7inches)).
NAME BADGES
NEW MEMBERS shouldcontactthebranchSecretarytoorganisetocollecttheirfreebadge.
EXISTING MEMBERS shouldcontactthebranchSecretarytoarrangeareplacementforalost ordamagedbadge-atcost.
SCRAP METAL BINS
Thescrapmetalbinforlargermetalitems(i.e.tinsandbigger)wheremetalscrapcanbe contributedislocatedoutsidebetweenthetwopartssheds,andthereisabinforsmall scrapmetalinplaceinthePartsShed.
Thereis24-houraccesstotheoutsidebin(usethegatenearthePartsShedwhichisnot locked).Thebinforsmallscrapmetalisonlyaccessiblewhenthepartsshedisopen. Moneyraisedfromthesaleofscraphelpswiththeongoingmaintenanceoftheclubrooms andpartssheds.
INTRODUCING A NEW MEMBER
TheManawatuBranchoftheVintageCarClubispleasedtowelcomeanewmember.
Welcometoourbranchandwelookforwardtoseeingyouatfutureclubactivities.
AN INVENTOROF ALL SORTS - (NOTTHE LIQUORICE)
ArticleprovidedbyHarryJackson-Vile
JohnHenryKnight(21.1.1847-15.3.1917)wasborninFarnham,Surrey,toJohnColdham KnightandMaryCrump.JohnColdhamKnightdiedin1856. MaryCrumpmovedthefamily toWeybourne,nearFarnham,soonafterherhusband'sdeath,andagaintoRunfoldinthe early1860s. WeybourneHousestillstandstoday(builtin1816). In1851,JohnColdham KnighttookhissontoTheGreatExhibition. ThisservedasinspirationforyoungJohnHenry andsparkedearlyenthusiasmforsteampoweredroad-goingtransport. Hestartedan engineeringworksonWestStreet,Farnham,whenhewas23yearsold. Hisfather'swill bequeathedhimtitleto,amongotherthings,'TheAnchorInn,Normandy'whenhewas21 yearsold.
Overtheyears,Knightbecameawealthylandownerandinventor,andin1895hebuiltoneof Britain'sfirstpetrol-poweredmotorvehicles,athree-wheeled,two-seatercontraptionwitha topspeedofonly8mph. Itwas"Thefirstpetroleumcarriagefortwopeoplemadein England"andbelievedtobethefourthBritishvehicletobebuiltplusthe'firstpetroldriven vehicleevertobedrivenonBritishroads'.
JohnKnightwithhiswifeonhisfirstpetroleummotorcarriage,1895.
Sourcessuchas BritishLocalHistory statethat: Thecarwasdesignedverymuchasanexperimentinordertoattractpoliceattentionand thereforecreatepublicawarenessofthemanyrestrictionswhichpreventedtheuseofmotor carriagesinBritainatthattime.Knightmanagedtousethevehicleforsome150miles(240 km)onpublicroads,beforebeingstoppedbythePolice.
On17October1895,Knight'sassistant,JamesPullinger,wasstoppedinCastleStreet, Farnham,bytheSuperintendentofPoliceandacrowdhadgatheredbythetimeKnight arrived.Knightwasadvisedbyhislawyertoadmitliabilityfornothavingalicenceforthe vehicle.HeandPullingerwerechargedwithusingalocomotivewithoutalicence. Thecase
washeardat'FarnhamPettySessions'heldatFarnhamTownHallon31October1895. Knight andPullingerwerebothfinedhalfacrown. Knightlargelyrestrictedtheuseofthecartofarm roadsuntiltheLocomotivesonHighwaysAct1896createdanewclassofvehiclesweighing lessthan3tonstowhichby-lawsimposedundertheHighwaysandLocomotives (Amendment)Act1878didnotapply. Hisactioncontributedtothemovementfortherepeal ofthenotoriousRedFlaglegislation. Knight'svehiclewassaidtobealmostsilentwhenitwas running.Asof2025,itiscurrentlyondisplayattheNationalMotorMuseum. Knightwasa foundermemberoftheAutomobileClubofGreatBritain,sothemembersfirstever'clubrun' washostedathisBarfieldhome.
Althoughbestrememberedforhiscarandhisdriving,hehad,formanyyears,beenan inventorandadesignerofsteam-poweredmachines,whichheusedforagriculturalworkand earlyroadtransport.
In1868hebuiltasteampoweredroadvehicle,althoughitwasnotapracticalpropositiondue toinefficiency.
Knight'ssteamer,ca.1870.
In1872,Knightdevelopedasteampoweredhopdiggingmachine. Arivaldesigner,Frank Proctor,statedinan1890editionoftheweeklymagazine"Engineering"that"MrKnighthas undoubtedlyearnedthedistinctionofbeingoneoftheearlypioneersinthesystemofsteam digging". Hebegandevelopinghisfirstdiggingmachinein1872whichwasspecifically designedforworkinginhopfields,whicharedifficulttocultivateduetotheincidenceofthe hoppoleswhichsupportthestringsupwhichtheplantsclimb.
Knight'sHopdiggingMachine,ca.mid1870s.
Hisotherinventionsincluded:
Knight's ThermosoteHeatSavingRadiator,forwhichpatentswereappliedfor.
abricklayingmachine.AwallthatitbuiltstillstandsatBarfieldSchoolinRunfold,but themachine'smainflawwasaninabilitytoturn/buildcorners.
agrenadethrower
atricycle
aspeedometer
woodenvehicletyres
Knight'spatent'dishlever'fortiltingplateswhencarvingmeat.
RIGHT:JohnKnightonthetricyclethat hebuilt.
JohnKnightonhis1HPmotorcarriage,ca.early1900s.
Anillustration oftheJ.H.Knight SteamCarriage -circa1869.
RIGHT:
RIGHT:ThegraveofJohnHenryKnightatHale,Surrey
FEBRUARY CLUB NIGHT
GuestspeakerfortheFebruaryclubnightwasMandyBrownwhoinher‘youthful’daysalongwithfive fellownurses,pooledresourcesandpurchasedaFordModelAwhichtheycalled“Moriarty”. ShespokeofsomeofthetripsaroundtheNorthIslandthattheydidinthecarandsomeofthe experiencestheyencounteredwhencomingacrosstrafficofficers,dealingwithgaragestoget maintenancedoneonthecar,togetherwiththegeneral‘hijinks’thattheygotupto.
MEMORIAL MOTORCYCLE RALLY - 22ND FEBRUARY 2026
ReportprovidedbyRobertHeath
OurManawatuclubwasrepresentedbyErrolGray,DaveRobinson,RobertHeathandour BalcluthaVCCmemberMartinDodgewhoalongwithothersfromWanganui,Wellington, HorowhenuaandWairarapaVCCassembledatHorowhenuaVCCroomsfortheTedGreen MemorialMotorcyclerally.The1st challengestartedwithagymkhana,(difficultwithboth handsoccupiedwithclutchandthrottleplusthrowinghoopsandbeanbags).
TherallyroutewenteastinLevinfollowingthebackroadstoOhau,Manakau,toOtaki HaruatiaParkforlunch.Allcompetitorsfeastedonhamontheboneandroastbeefwith potatoes,salad,freshfruitdessert,tea&coffeeallincludedintheentryfee.
AfterlunchthenontoOtakiBeach,OtakiForksandacrosstheOtakiRiverswingbridge,back viaTeHoroSchoolRoad,acrossSHIMotorwayoverbridgetowardsTeHorobeach,along PukemanuandMorrisonsroadsandthenjoinnorthwardsintooldSH1toOtaki,Waitohu ValleyRd,ManakauHeightsRd,plusinterestingvisittoGeofFox’sMCdisplay&treasurehunt (HDcoasters),thenontoLevinviaCDFarmroad.Picturesatgymkhana,lunchstopand GFox’scollection.Noaveragespeedsthistimebutpassagechecks,randomquestionsat mannedcheckpoints (e.ghowmanyMaoriflagsflyingbetweenOhauRiverandManakau?), plus pokerrallywithfreedrawofplayingcardsvalue.Afternoonteawhilstresultswere determined.Theoverallwinnerofallclassesgot320pts.
Allgoodfunwithlowtrafficdensitytarsealedruralroads.MCincludedBigX,Jawa,Nortons, Triumphs,BMW,Hondas,AJS,BSABantam,KTM.
Lotsoflowstressfunwhennotconcentratingonav.speeds.Wewillbeenteringagainnext year.
ThankstoHVCCorganizerGOliverandfamilyplusallthemarshalls,checkpointpeopleand photographers.
RobertHeath-23/2/26
MydaughterjustcamehomeallsadaftersittingherDrivingTest… Isaid“Howdiditgo?”Shesaid“Ifailed”.Iasked“sowhatwereyoupulledupon?” Shesaid“Rope.Thecarisstillinthelake”.
PLUGS
Wewon'tblameyouforadoptingthe age-oldhabitofapplyinganti-seize lubricanttonewsparkplugs, specificallybeforeinsertingtheminto thecylinderhead.Besides,anti-seize wasconceivedspecificallytoaddress corrosionandprematurewearto metalparts,eitherthroughmixed metalfriction,extremeheat,or frequentremoval.
Source: https://www.jalopnik.com -articlebyAlvinReyes Febr2026
Mostanti-seizeproductsusehightemperaturegreasemixedwithparticlesofcopper,aluminium,ornickel,butsomearespecific totheirintendedapplication.
Forinstance,thebrakecalliperboltsshouldbetreatedwithanti-seizewhenchangingthe brakepadsorservicingtherotors,whilehigh-temperatureanti-seizegreaseisgreatfor sizzling-hotexhaustboltsthatcansometimesreach1,000degreesFahrenheit.Andwhenit comestosparkplugs,alittlebitofanti-seizeonthethreadswouldn'thurt,right?Especially forthosewhoknowthatremovingaseizedsparkplugisnotexactlyawalkintheparkforthe uninitiated.
However,applyinganti-seizeisjustoneofthosesparkplugmythsthatneedtoend.SparkplugexpertNGKnotesthatthelubricatingpropertiesofanti-seizecanalterthetorquevalues byupto20%,whichmeansincreasingthelikelihoodofovertighteningtheplugsandleading tothreadbreakageordamagetothecylinderhead.Inshort,applyinganti-seizeonthespark plugthreadscouldbebadnewsfortheplugsandyourcar'sengine,buttheconsequencesgo beyondthat.
Anti-seizecandeformtheplugs
NGKaddsthatanti-seizeincreases theriskofmetalshellstretch,which isafancierwordforanysortof damageordeformitytothespark plug.Whateverthecase,damaged plugscanaffecttheirheatrangeand causepre-ignition,mediocre performance,andcostlyinternal damage.Foryourengineand sanity'ssake,it'sbesttoavoidantiseizegreasewheninstallingspark plugssincemostarealreadytreatedwithanti-seizecoatingsfromthefactory.
Theshinychromeorsilverfinishonthethreadsofnewplugshaslesstodowiththeir newnessandmoretodowithmakingthemeasiertoremoveinthenextservicing.
It'swhatNGKreferstoas"trivalentcoating"(otherspark-plugmakersmightuseadifferent name),aspecialkindofplatingthatpreventsmetal-to-metalseizing. Butforoldercarsandengines,it'sbettertoconsultthemanualorcheckwiththe manufacturerbeforeproceeding,sincesomemayrequiregreasingbeforeinstalling.Ifthe newplugshaveachromeorshinyfinish,stayawayfromanti-seizegrease.That'sthegeneral rule.
Finally,periodicallyreplacingthesparkplugs-preferablyevery30,000milesforcopperplugs and60,000to100,000milesforplatinumandiridiumplugs-andtakingutmostcarethatthe threadsaremoisture-freebeforeinstalling,willpreventthemfromseizingupinthefuture. Makecertaintocheckthegapsbeforeinstallingandtotorqueeachplugtospectoprevent issueslateron.
THE AUSTIN TWELVE OPEN TOURER - 1922
from:the‘Piccolo’Publication–Motor-Cars:APictureHistory
Thedoctorgavemeoneyeartolive,soIshothim. Thejudgegaveme15years.Problemsolved.
Ourbranchhasbeenrequestedto disseminatethephotosandemail(below)toall members.
“Duringthisweek, amongstmanyother valuableandsentimental items,wehadourblack FordZephyrMarkIIstolen fromalockedgarageat mybrother'srural propertyontheoutskirts ofPalmerstonNorth. Thevehiclewasoriginally ownedbyourlateparents andwegrewupbeing drivenaroundinit. Theprofessionalthieves maybetryingtoon-sell thecar.
Couldyourmembers pleasekeepaneyeout foritandcontactthe policeormyself, hopefullybeingableto obtainnamesorpicsif anyoneapproachesaclub ormemberwithourcar.
Kindregards
HelenJohnson
0274460801“
Thepolicefilenumberis260215/1202
FOR SALE : 1939NASH
GoffandJudyBriantarewantingtomovetheir1939Nashontonewowners. ThecarhasbeenwellralliedaroundtheManawatuoverthepastyearsandcomeswitha selectionofspares.
1939Nash400
Agreatcruising car.
Ibelievetheremay beanoverdrive unitwiththe sparesthatgowith thecar.
Asking$14,000or nearoffer
ContactJudyon 0272547601 oremail gjw.briant@xtra.co.nz
WORD SEARCH
WORDS FROM THE ARTICLEON PAGE 28 - AN INVENTOROF ALL SORTS
Findthefollowinghiddenwordsinthegridbelow:
AUTOMOBILE BARFIELD
BEQUEATHED BRICK
BRITAIN CARRIAGE DIGGING FARNHAM
GRENADE HOPFIELDS INVENTIONS KNIGHT
LANDOWNER LIQUORICE LOCOMOTIVE NORMANDY
NOTORIOUS PATENTS PETROLEUM PIONEERS
POLICE POWERED PROPOSITION PULLINGER
RADIATOR RUNFOLD SCHOOL SORTS
SPEEDOMETER SUPERINTENDENT
I’veneverunderstoodwhywomenlovecats.Catsareindependent,theydon’tlisten,they don’tcomeinwhenyoucall,theyliketostayoutallnight,andwhenthey’rehomethey liketobeleftaloneandsleep.
Inotherwords,everyqualitythatwomenhateinaman,theyloveinacat.
AnEnglishteacherwrotethesewordsonthewhiteboard:“womanwithouthermanis nothing”.
Theteacherthenaskedthestudentstopunctuatethewordscorrectly.
Themenwrote:“Woman,withoutherman,isnothing.”
Thewomenwrote:Woman!Withouther,manisnothing.”
Husbandforgetshisweddinganniversary.
Wifesays“TomorrowIwantsomethingthatgoes0to100in5secondsinthedriveway.”
Nextmorningshefindsabathroomscale.
MANAWATUBRANCH
Formoreinformation,pleasecontact theManawatuBranchTreasurer.
11issuesoftheTourerarepublished annually.
VCCMembersfromall35branches haveaccesstothemagazine.
Thepublicalsohaveaccesstothisand otherVCCbranchmagazinesthrough theNewZealandVCCinternetsite: vcc.org.nz/news-from-our-branches
Advertisingdoesnothavetorelateto motoringproducts.
M
BRANCH DIRECTORY - 2025 / 2026
BranchCommitteeOfficeHolders:
Chair: EstherWilliams e williams@xtra.co.nz 0272437275
ViceChair: CliffBennett(Jenny) cliffbennett@xtra.co.nz 0635633830212837088
Secretary: CathyClements(Glyn) cathyclements5@gmail.com 0632859790272862927
Treasurer: KenFoot(Annette) kafoot@outlook.com 0212427882
ClubCaptain: GlynClements(Cathy) cbz1@xtra.co.nz 06328597902108334081
BranchCommitteeMembers:
StewartBird(Natalia) stewartbird01@gmail.com 0273285506
AnnetteFoot(Ken) kafoot@outlook.com 0272107532
ErrolGray(Ann) errans255@gmail.com 0275564176
VivienneReid(Owen) owenhome@xtra.co.nz 0211713148
BrianRowe(Sue) felstone@xtra.co.nz 063258725
AppointedPositions:
Custodian&Librarian:
GaryMillar(Marion) gw.millar.pn@gmail.com 063548298
Delegate: EstherWilliams e williams@xtra.co.nz 0272437275
Editor (Tourer): BryanAbraham(Catherine) bryabr8@gmail.com 063584014
IDCardAdvisor:
JohnIreland(Anne) ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz 063234170
IDCardAdvisor:
DerekHaycock(Becky) derek.and.beck@inspire.net.nz 063561056
IdleTorque (BeadedWheels) Scribe: BryanAbraham(Catherine) bryabr8@gmail.com 063584014
PartsShed:
GaryMillar(Marion) gw.millar.pn@gmail.com 063548298
PrivacyOfficer:
CathyClements(Glyn) cathyclements5@gmail.com 0632859790272862927
SwapmeetCoordinator:
JohnIreland(Anne) ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz 063234170
AssistantSwapmeetCoordinator:
MurrayThomson(Jill) murray.jill@xtra.co.nz 063233901
NewMemberLiaison/MemberWelfare: AllCommitteeMembers
