From having an advertisement in this Roadrunner Contact : David Ross for further info 03455 8800
Professional recolouring of all leather car seats, interior panels etc. Protect and enhance the look of your car interior with our unique quality service
Ring Rodger for a No Obligation appraisal now Phone 455 4065
BROCKLEBANKS Leather Dyers
Over 50 years serving Otago
This space is available for another advertiser. If you have a business which would might support our members please contact our Branch editor or Branch Treasurer
WANTED
Archive Material - for Otago Branch Archives
Copies of any past events/rallies that you have organised or participated in. These are needed to ensure that the branch Archives are kept up to date.
Please deliver to the clubrooms – with my name on it – thanks Marion -
BRANCH PARTS SHED
OPEN WEDNESDAYS MORNINGS AND LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH DURING CLUB NIGHT
Over recent months there has been a lot of tools, car parts and other motoring related items donated to the shed.
If you are looking for something specific or would just like to have a browse through the shed, it is open on Wednesday mornings until 11am and on the Last Friday of the month Club nights. For any further assistance please contact the Parts Officers as listed under the Non Committee list on page on page 3
OTAGO BRANCH NAME BADGES
$10 each –
order them through David Ross – Branch Treasurer
If you have attended an event and feel moved to put pen to paper for a report – please do so and email it to our Editor. Would be nice to read other people’sDEC
MOUNT COOK RALLY
We have been advised by the South Canterbury Branch that this rally is now being shifted from this year onwards to the
South CanterburyAnniversary Day Weekend 26th 28th September 2026
Due to the issues with accommodation over Labour Weekend in Twizel
Otago Rally 11th -12th April Roadblock Marshalls
will be required for this event. Some of our members will be away on the Southern Backroad Adventure over this weekend, so we will be looking for other members who will be available to assist with this work.
We will get allocated Stages to manage. Our Branch receives a donation for the work that we do.
If you are able to assist with this please let Marion McConachie know as soon as possible via email or by text message to 0273387008
David Mills bought his latest addition to his fleet to the clubrooms on Wednesday morning so that everyone could have a chance to check it over
Did you receive your December / January issue of Beaded Wheels?
If not, this will probably be due to your 2025-2026 membership invoice still being outstanding. You will have received the initial invoice plus 2 reminders for payment and have until the end of February to pay otherwise your membership will be cancelled at the National Executive meeting on the 7th March.
Please let either myself or National Office know NOW If you have not received your invoice or reminders so we can sort this out.
Nicola 021 180 3225.
Welcome to New Members
The Otago Branch extends a very warm welcome to
Graeme Saxton - who owns a couple of 1970 Vauxhall’s
David Rodger
Donald and Caroline Campbell
- who has transferred from South Otago Branch
David Newbery Who has transferred to our branch
The branch welcome you to the Club. We look forward to seeing you at more of our local and neighbouring events.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
BRANCH EVENTS (listed in bold)
Contact Branch secretary for entry forms from other branches 2026
FEB Friday 6th
Waitangi Day Motorcycle Group Meeting
7th Southland Rally
14th Wallaby Rally – Waimate
20-22nd Motorcycle Rally - Central Otago
Thurs 26th Midweek Lunch Run
28th Festival Rally Gore
Fri 27th Club Night and Meeting
MAR Sun 1st Dunedin Brit & Euro Car Show
Fri 6th MotorcycleGroup Meeting
7th Veteran/Vintage Rally - Southland 15th Gore Boot Sale and Swapmeet
15th-21st Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring Nelson
Thurs 26th Midweek Lunch Run
Fri 27th Club Night and Meeting
Sat 28th Dessert and Games Night 28th Swapmeet South Canterbury
APRIL Fri 3rd Motorcycle Group Meeting
Sat 11th / Sunday 12th Rally Otago
Sat 11 –12th Southern Backroad Adventure
11th Gerald Lynch-Blosse Memorial M/c Rally - Oamaru
Fri 24th Club Night and Meeting
Thur 30th Midweek Lunch Run
MAY Fri 1st Motorcycle Group Meeting
2nd Swapmeet Ashburton
Fri 29th Club Night and Meeting
JUNE Fri 5th Motorcycle Group Meeting
Sun 14th AGM and Pot Lunch
Thur 25th Midweek Lunch Run
Fri 26th Club Night and Meeting
VCC NATIONAL EVENTS
2026 March 15th -21st Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring
Please note: There will be no other National Rallies in 2026 due to the International Rally happening that year
Please WEAR YOUR NAME BADGES when you are attending club events. This helps new members to identify you
Marne Street Retirement Village
Rescheduled visit Tuesday 25th of February at 2pm
Midweek Run – Picnic lunch
Thursday 26th February
Meet at Clubrooms at 11am
Club Night – Friday 30th February
7.30 open with Club Meeting at 8.30pm and cuppa to follow
Brit & Euro Day
Sunday 1st of March
See details elsewhere—marshalls needed
Clubrooms and Partshed are open every Wednesday
From 9.30 am until 11am
Acuppa is on offer for a gold coin donation
The Brit & Euro Day is back for 2026 and will be held on Sunday 1st March at the Outram Rugby Club
The charity for 2026 is The Otago Fire Restoration Society who are raising funds for their new premises / museum.
I am looking for volunteers to help with registrations at the gate at Outram. Ideally, I need a minimum of 6 volunteers however the more the merrier to help cover breaks etc.
Please contact me if you are available. Nicola – 021 1803225
Chatsford Christmas Parade – Sunday 7th December 2025
Our branch members were invited to bring along their club vehicles to Chatsford for their Christmas Parade. We all gathered at the Hagart Alexander Drive entrance way. Some cars were dressed up in Christmas decorations to add to the atmosphere. We were lead through the village by a police escort. With the heat of the day this slow drive challenged some of the vehicles causing them to overheat and the Mopeds had to depart early because of this. A group of Clydesdale horses pulling a cart with santa’s helpers pulled up the rear and were passing out chocolates to the residents as we drove past. It was wonderful seeing the residents relaxing outside and enjoying the parade. We had the opportunity to meet up with residents, some of whom we know as past or present branch members, when the parade had finished. A couple of our male members were discussing the pros and cons of village living – both agreed it was not for them for the meantime because they still like the opportunity of being able to step outside their home and straight into their sheds. Retirement villages don’t offer enough space or opportunity for lots of garage/workshop space. Thanks to Alistair Drummond for setting out the signage at the meeting place and for all the members who came along and supported this event.
Welcome back to the club for the new year. Last year ended with the Santa Parade at Chatsford, where there was a great collection of cars and bikes lead round the complex by a Police car. There was also the Veteran and Commercial run which took us to Aramoana and return. The Christmas BBQ went off well and there was a great attendance. Glenis and myself arrived early I thought, but the work was all done by Dave and his family, thanks to Daves welloiled system.
The year started with a picnic run on New Years day, which I was unable to attend but I believe it was a very good day out
Coming up to start the year is the Jackson Rally and the Brighton Run, also a visit to the Yvette Williams Home for their Gadbsy themed function and we have more visits coming up.
Please keep an eye on the Radrunner for upcoming functions as there are quite a few coming.
Make the most of what is on and enjoy the year
Graeme
Desert and Games Evening
Saturday March 28th
From 6.00pm
At Otago Branch clubrooms
$10 per person
Numbers are needed for catering purposes
Please advise Kevin Mason either by Cell phone or leaving your details on the list at the clubrooms
From your Branch Secretary
I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year holiday season spent with family and friends.
We had a great turn out for the Christmas BBQ on the 14th - thank you to those who helped with either preparation, cooking and clearing up afterwards. Numbers were certainly up on previous years however there were quite a few who advised very late that they were coming which made it difficult for catering with David having to nip off to get more sausages. Can we please ask that if you think you may be coming to advise as soon as possible – we would rather over cater then under cater.
We also had a good turn out for the New Years Day picnic with approx. 25 cars turning up which was combined with the Otago Classic Motoring Club. The weather was on the cooler side however it was a great day and plans are to make this a regular event on the calendar 2026 Brit & Euro Car Show – is being held on the 1st March with VCC Otago as one of the main organisers. I am in charge of the registration gate so need a group of people to help me on the day. Please contact me if you are interested.
Have you attended an event organised by another branch – please let me know for my records plus it comes in handy when it comes time to hand out the annual awards on the 18th of July. Along with the branch awards – 8 members will be receiving their continuous membership awards including 1 X 25 years, 3 X 35 years,3 X 50 years and 1 X 60 years which will make for a great night so please note this date in your calendar NOW! More details to follow.
Vero Insurance
The VCC Vero scheme is solely for financial members and along with a discount on your premiums, Vero also supports the club through sponsorship of our national and international events plus pay part of the insurance commission back to the branch. To take advantage of this – phone them on 0800 658 411 which is a dedicated line for VCC members
Phone numbers and emails
Are you getting my emails with details of a local event coming up or the entry form from another branch? No – then it is probably means that I don’t have your current email details and if I don’t have them, nor do the National Support Office. Please remember to keep these up
New Years Day Run 2026
A group of members decided to offer the opportunity to our members to come on a Picnic Run on New Years Day. As not everyone goes away. Sorry it was not advertised in the December January Roadrunner, as this was decided after the fact. It was notified via email or word of mouth.
What might have been our first official New Year’s Day Picnic run was well patronised despite rain in the forecast; the temperature was not too bad. The plan was to meet up outside the Mosgiel Railway station at 11 am and then a decision would be made on where we would go. A good number of members from the Otago Classic Motoring Club joined us, adding to the selection of vehicles on display. No instructions, so people took which ever route worked best for their vehicles. Some heading out via Outram, Henley and Waihola, while others headed up Morris Road and over the hill to Brighton and along the coast road to Taieri Mouth. Livingstonia Park at Taieri Mouth offered lots of space for us to spread out our seats and enjoy a relaxed afternoon. Some taking a walk along the beach. The room on the park offered a good space for a young lad to practice his driving skills in a Model T under the watchful eye of his uncle. Kevin Mason then plucked up courage to give it a go as well. The grin on his face, afterwards was priceless. Brent Willems sat in the passenger seat of another Model T as he tried to figure out how this car works. There was a good selection of eligible vehicles on show, especially from the Vintage to P60 classes. We We might look at making this run a regular feature on our branch calendar.
Kevin Mason ’did I just drive this thing? Yes he did drive this 1927 Model T
The 2026 Southern BackroadAdventure
Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April 2026
This overnight rally for pre-1932 vehicles, showcases Otago’s amazing back-road scenery. Leaving Mosgiel’s ‘Black Sheep Restaurant’ at 9am, we will make our way to Gore, where we will dine at the Croydon Lodge
Please book your own accommodation at a place of your own choosing. On Sunday, the rally eaves from the Croydon Lodge and returns to Mosgiel.
We will have dinner at the ‘Black Sheep Restaurant where the rally concludes.
Saturday lunch will be at Beaumont, and Sunday lunch will be at Kaitangata.
For an entry form please email: easttaieri@yahoo.com or contact Nevin Gough on 021 1150312 afternoons or evenings.
The Christmas BBQ saw 60 members enjoy an evening of fun, food and relaxing with friends old and new. Andrew Roxburgh was able to cook the food on the BBQ outside while other members busied themselves in the kitchen with food preparation. Thanks to all those who assisted with set up and then clean up and dish washing duties afterwards. It is always good to see our newer members attending and taking the opportunity to make new friends
to date so we can keep you up to date with what is happening as email is the quickest way to keep you in the loop.
Newsletters from other branches
Remember to check the VCC website each month to read what is happening in other branches around the country. The website address is: https:// vcc.org.nz/news-from-our-branches/ VIC and Lighting Endorsement Forms - These are available via the website VIC - Vehicle Identity Card - Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Vintage Car Club of New Zealand for you to download and complete before contacting one of the VIC Officers. Along with the relevant forms there is a FAQ section which can help if you are unsure of which forms to fill out plus various resources that could help when restoring a vehicle
Donations of books, memorabilia etc – if you or someone you know is looking at donating items to the branch- can you please contact me in the first instance so I can make suitable arrangements for how these are to be donated.
Nicola
Enjoying the camaraderie at The New Years Day Picnic
Remembering Mayor Jules
As we all have our own memories of Mayor Jules Radich and share our thoughts with his family following his unexpected passing early in January I would just like to acknowledge the support and encouragement he showed to our branch of the Vintage Car Club. During his time as mayor he gave his time to attend the start of our Dunedin to Brighton Runs . He showed a genuine interest in our entrants and their vehicles during the display and then as he flagged each vehicle off on their drive to Brighton.
Last year a good number of us also appreciated his talk at our Club Night. He spoke about the many challenges the council faced especially the flooding issues in South Dunedin and of the plans that are underway to remedy these issues. His focus was clearly on trying to get things done for all Dunedin residents. He was happy to stay and answer even more questions from our members during supper. His support was appreciated and he will be missed.
Marion
Whizzing Round the Taieri 2025
December 7th. was hot with a blustery wind, but with a much-improved entry from last year the fourteen entries enjoyed morning tea at Wingatui then all headed off under a cloud of smoke, only from the two-strokes. Using back roads to keep off Highway 87 as much as possible they turned into the Whare Flat Rd, sealed then a few kms of gravel past the Scout Camp. The only breakdown in the morning was Andrew, not himself but the veteran Triumph which appeared to run out of electrickery.
Before lunch a visit was arranged to a chap with a number of motorcycles, not mopeds or scooters but an interesting selection of bikes. Lunch back at the start then just around the corner to meet up with our car members to do a run through the Chatsford Village.
The afternoon ride took the group to Outram ending up at the machinery museum. I’m sure with more than one moped needing ‘light pedal assistance’ up the hill, in fact one bike was laying down for a rest part way up. After the visit and a chat to the man in charge it was back to Wingatui, fortunately with the hot wind assisting. It was great to have four visiting riders, the total of 50 plus kilometres was covered for the day, enough said some, their backsides cried enough.
We had a variety of bikes, Puch, DKW, Benneli, Moblette, Honda, Yamaha,
Triumph, Suzuki, Raleigh, Gizmo. A successful event, roll on Dec. 2026 Bill Veitch
Commercial and Veteran Rally Report 2025
A balmy late Spring day greeted us as entrants followed instructions to get us out to Aramoana for a Picnic Lunch and a chance to check out some of our members vehicles. Des Grey had his Ford V8 Pickup all polished up and looking neat, and a number of other Commercial Vehicles were on display. The only veteran - Graeme Duthie’s 1917 Model T Truck won the Veteran Section and Neil Gamble won the Commercial Section with his 1966 Bedford J1Tow Truck. Some members took the opportunity to wonder along the Mole which is a massive man-made breakwater used to keep the Otago harbour clear, and a good vantage point to watch the Cruise ships entering and exiting the harbour. While others just chilled out and chatted for a while before getting their own way home.
