VCC Otago Branch
54th Dunvegan Motorcycle Run
Fri 2 October to Sun 4 October 2026
Programme:
Friday evening - Noggin and natter at VCC clubrooms
Saturday – Full day inland rally returning to Dunedin
Saturday evening - Dinner and Prize Giving at VCC Clubroom
Sunday morning – Local coffee/brunch ride
Weather - El Nino . Weather will behave this year!
Acommodation -Plenty of good motels in St Kilda,and South Dunedin close to Clubrooms.
SaveTheDate VCCOtagoBranch
54thDunveganMotorcycle Run
Dates: Friday2OctobertoSunday4October2026
Programme: Fridayevening- NogginandnatteratVCCclubrooms
Saturday–FulldayinlandrallyreturningtoDunedin
Saturdayevening- DinnerandPrizeGivingatVCCClubrooms
Sundaymorning–Localcoffee/brunchride
Weather - ElNino.Weatherwillbehavethisyear!
Acommodation -PlentyofgoodmotelsinStKilda,andSouthDunedincloseto Clubrooms.
Entries - EntryformswillbeinBranchbulletinsattheendofAugust
OTAGO BRANCH NAME BADGES
$10 each –
order them through David Ross – Branch Treasurer
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
FOR SALE
1964 MG 1100 - $3500
A lot has been done to this car that is not obvious.
Radiator rebuilt, cooling system and heater flushed out with new water pump.
New front indicator/park units.
Suspension has been checked over with new fluid. Rear suspension bushes replaced.
Clutch replaced. All brakes renewed. New needles and seats in carburettors. New seat belts. Sills repaired and treated. It requires : New head lining and carpets. (seats and door cards are quite good) Paint and panel work.
There are a full set of 4 brand new hubcaps with MG centres and wheel trims (sourced from the UK), and a good set of chrome strips and new clips to mount them to go with the car.
Currently Registered to August and Warrant of Fitness valid to September.
Car is on Trade Me. Selling “as is where is”.
Motors well and economical. Has been my every day runner. David Mills davidmills@gmail.com
Branch Committee 2026-2027
CHAIRPERSON Trevor Kempton catjkempton@gmail.com 027 2215208
PAST CHAIRPERSON Graeme Duthie graemeduthie@xtra.co.nz 027 2420861
SECRETARY Nicola Wilkinson markandnicolaw@gmail.com 021 1803225
TREASURER David Ross vccnzobt@gmail.com 022 4558801
HOUSE MANAGER Kevin Mason blokemagoo@gmail.com 027 2286431
PROPERTY OFFICER Bill Veitch w.veitch@xtra.co.nz 027 2010565
EDITOR Marion McConachie bmmcconachie@xtra.co.nz 027 3387008
COMMITTEE MEMBER Andrew Roxburgh adroxburgh@gmail.com 027 311 4437
COMMITTEE MEMBER Ross McTaggart rossandgay@xtra.co.nz 021 02239696
COMMITTEE MEMBER Janeane Benfell janeanebenfell@gmail.com 021 2538056
COMMITTEE MEMBER Nevin Gough easttaieri@yyahoo.com 021 1150312
VEHICLE REGISTRAR & VIC Bruce Murray 027 4877281
VEHICLE REGISTRAR & VIC Bill Veitch 027 2010565 ARCHIVIST Marion McConachie 027 3387008 PARTS OFFICER George Martin 489 3621 PARTS OFFICER Bryan McConachie 453 0404
PARTS OFFICER Brent Willems 027 7556474
GROUNDS OFFICER Kevin Mason 027 2286431
OFFICER
Murray 027 4877281
CLUBROOMS
125 Forbury Rd., Dunedin , 9012
Phone 455 0586
Postal Address: 125 Forbury Road, Dunedin, 9012
BRANCH EMAIL otago@vcc.org.nz
COMMITTEE MEETS 2nd Monday of month 7.30pm
CLUB NIGHT Friday 7.30pm to 11.00pm
MOTORCYCLE NIGHT First Friday of the month
MONTHLY MEETING Last Friday of the month 8.00pm
PARTS SHED Friday 7.30pm – 9.30 pm. Wednesday 09.00am – 12.00 noon
ARTICLES FOR NEWSLETTER Can be forwarded to your editor by the 3rd Wednesdayof the month please
VERO INSURANCE APPLICATIONS Please quote Otago “Agent No H0300145— Inspector No 916”
LIBRARY ROSTER Library open 8.00 - 9.30 Friday night
The
In the latest Beaded Wheels (June/July issue #400) there is an interesting article about a yearly rally in France. The participants are all ladies and they are doing it in style. Can we do something similar here?
In a quick conversation with the ladies at Larnach Castle they were more than enthusiastic and after seeing photos of Southland Girls’ High School formal I thought ‘why not”
It will be expensive so start saving
Aim for Autumn 2029 -2030
Cars 1946 to 1990
Women only (although backup crews can be men)
Think boys’ weekend away with out the boys.
Gold. Wines, vineyards, scenic wonders, antiques, secondhand stores, history, resorts, lakes
Thinking start at Larnach Castle with dinner and a workshop (fashion, flowers, makeup). Breakfast at the Castle Travel up to Central with Devonshire tea, posh lunch, high tea on the way …(Earnscleugh)
Wanaka overnight with a posh dinner somewhere. Travel down through to Te Anau (overnight?) Through the Blackmount to Invercargill. Riverton, fresh fish and oysters. Finish with a dine and dance at Richardsons.. men can join in there Sorry. Another madcap Mills idea but it could be great!!!
Expressions of interest to:
David @ davidmills@gmail.com
Vintage Car Club of New Zealand
30th National Motorcycle Rally
February 12,13 & 14 February 2027 with After Rally Tour 15-18
Hosted by the South Canterbury Branch who extend an invitation to all the motor cycling members of the VCC of NZ.
A particular invitation is extended to owners of veteran motorcycles who will enjoy low traffic and easy terrain.
Contact your branch secretary for Entry Forms – if you haven’t already got one via email
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
BRANCH EVENTS (listed in bold)
Contact Branch secretary for entry forms from other branches 2026
JULY Fri 3rd Motorcycle Group Meeting
Sat 18th Annual Branch Dinner and Awards Evening
Thur 30th Midweek Lunch Run
Fri 31st Club Night and Meeting
AUG Fri 7th Motorcycle Group Meeting
Sun 23rd Daffodil Rally for Cancer
Mon 24th Daffodil Deliveries
Thur 27th Midweek Lunch Run
Fri 28th Club Night and Meeting
SEP Fri 4th Motorcycle Group Meeting
Sat 19th Autospectacular
Sat 19th Night Rally
Sun TBC PWV P60 P80 Run
Thur 24th Midweek Lunch Run
Fri 25th Club Night and Meeting
OCT Fri 2nd – Sun 4th Dunvegan Rally for Motorcycles
9th-11th Canterbury Swapmeet
Thur 29th Midweek Lunch Run
Fri 30th Club Night and Meeting
NOV Sat 1st Taieri Tour
Fri 7th Motorcycle Group Meeting
8th Clutha Rally
Tba Commercial/Veteran Rally
Thur 26th Midweek Lunch Run
Fri 27th Club Night and Meeting
DEC Fri 4th Motorcycle Group Meeting
Sun 6th Moped Rally
VCC NATIONAL EVENTS
2027 12th-18th February –National Motorcycle Rally –South Canterbury 26th 29th March National South Island Easter Rally Here in Dunedin
Please WEAR YOUR NAME BADGES when you are attending club events. This helps new members to identify you
Annual Branch Dinner & Awards Evening
Saturday 18th July
To be held at the Otago Branch Clubrooms
Pre dinner drinks from 5.30pm Dinner at 6.00pm $40 per person
Numbers to David Ross, Nicola Wilkinson by 14th July
Midweek Run – Lunch
Thursday 30th July
Venue to be confirmed – please advise numbers to Marion McConachie or leave you name on the sheet at the clubrooms
Club Night – Friday 31st July
Meet at the club rooms for a noggin and natter from 7.30pm. There will be a short branch meeting at 8:00pm with a free cuppa and bikkie to follow
Clubrooms and Parts Shed are open every Wednesday
From 9.30 am until 11am
Acuppa and scone /bikkie is on offer for $3.00pp
These are my first notes as the new Branch Chair.
Firstly, I would like to thank the out-going Chair, Graeme Duthie, for his leadership and his very positive contribution over the past 3 years. This term has been Graeme’s second. A tiger for punishment!
I am a relative newbie in the Club having been a member for just on 10 years. Yes, we have a mature membership and there will be many in the Club who have much longer institutional memories than me. So, tap me on the shoulder if you think I could use a bit of advice.
We have two very important events up ahead.
Our Annual Dinner and Prize Giving on Saturday 18th July. This is the occasion on which we recognise those who have participated with success in Branch activities during the year and those who have given long service to our Club. This year George Kear, our National President is making the trip to present these awards. The better the attendance the more meaningful the prize and award presentations. So, let’s make the event a memorable one!
Daffodill Day on Sunday 23 August
For the second year this event is being supported by Dunedin City Ford while the proceeds of the day will be going to the Cancer Society. My crystal ball suggests that this kind of event will play an increasing part in the future of our Club. The leverage available through our partner allows us to play a very visible part of a bigger event, and to give back through the charity component. Nicola Wilkinson is coordinating this event. It is a big job and there will be a need for marshals and participants on the day.
The 2026 Annual meeting on 14th of June was convivial and the lunch tasty. But attendance was disappointing. The Branch’s current membership is around 200 and a quorum for a general meeting is 20. We had around 25 members in attendance; Just 5 ahead of the number required to even hold the meeting. So, Officers were elected, the reports accepted and financials approved along with a rise in the branch member’s levy by just 12.5% of the membership. We, like many other similar organisations, are facing increasing headwinds and we need a greater proportion of our membership to pull on the rope and contribute to making sound decisions for the future. Enough said! At the heart of our Club activities are our Wednesday morning ‘smokos’. It’s great to be able to pop in for a cuppa and a scone straight out of the oven, swap a few lies, get help with a problem, or just enjoy the company. I would like to acknowledge the work of Kevin Mason, Colin Winter (the scone maker), Alistair Drummond and Malcolm Eunson do to make these happen. If I have forgotten anybody, let me know!
Trevor
Past Chairman’s Annual Report 2026
I would like to start by thanking the committee for their input this year as there has been extra work with the Incorporated Society’s Act and keeping up with the changes of positions on the committee and keeping the clubrooms in a more respectable state as there were to many extra items that were not required or where they should not be.
I have enjoyed my time as chairman over the last three years and it has been good for me. I have done my best to accommodate everybody and to attend to any problems as required and keep the branch in good spirits and be there when anything is happening. So I hope you are all reasonably satisfied with what I have done over this period. It is good to see that more people are stepping up to organise rallies because this brings new ideas and a different approach as well. We now have a very good committee to organise the 2027 Easter Rally and I am very pleased with the way it is going and that everybody is working well together for a great weekend.
We have made a number of Rest Home visits this year and they are getting more popular as they tend to bring back memories to the elderly and gives them something to talk about
I need to thank Marion and her team for their work in the library. Its good to see the table clear again in the meeting room, but the work is still ongoing to sort the shelves of books.
I now need to thank you all for your co-operation during my Chairmanship and although I am being replaced this year I will still be available if needed. Thank you. GRAEME
Welcome to New Members
The Otago Branch extends a very warm welcome to
Brian Johnson Who owns a 1937 Dodge
Bevan Cook who has just found himself a Bedford project!
Ben Mehrtens
who owns a BMW and also shares his family interests in veterans
The branch welcomes you to the Club. We look forward to seeing you at more of our local and neighbouring events.
Thursday Lunch Time Run
May’s Lunch time run took us to the Grange Café out in Mosgiel. A good turn out or 28 members enjoyed a warm and welcoming atmosphere and delicious food. This is also a good chance for everyone to catch up with others, especially the ladies in the group. We also hear of the adventures different people have had or are planning into the future.
Venues are usually advertised in the Roadrunner. Businesses like to be fore warned with numbers booked to attend. It is up to each member to get themselves to the venue. If you have advised Kevin Mason of your intention to attend please ensure that if for some reason you can no longer attend on the day, that you let Kevin know. Some venues may start charging for any numbers that do not turn up – as they need to ensure that they have enough staff and supplies for our visit
Bar Manager’s Licence
The committee are looking for a couple of members interested in getting their Bar Managers Licence. At this stage we only have one member with a licence and we would like to take some of the pressure off him especially when we have events at the club rooms.
Please contact David Ross if you are interested
Obituary
Brian Foley -It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Brian Foley recently.
Brian and Cathy joined the VCC in October 2003 and enjoyed rallyingespecially in their fleet of Model A's.
Our thoughts are with Cathy and the Foley family at this time.
Daffodil Rally for Cancer
Sunday 23rd August
@ Dunedin City Motors
Same format as last year – a drive around the city followed by a car display and BBQ
Meet at 10am for a 10:30am departure for the drive
$10 per vehicle
Participants are also encouraged to dress up your vehicles and its passengers to dress up in the daffodil theme I will need members to help with marshalling. Please contact me if you are available.
Nicola – 021 180 3225 Event
Daffodil Deliveries
Monday 24thAugust
We have been invited to assist with delivering pre purchased daffodils to business’ around Dunedin and Mosgiel again this year. We will be needing approx 12 drivers and runners if possible to deliver pre arranged areas around the city. We collect to fresh daffodils from Cancer House, off Frederick Street from 12 midday and the deliveries usually take about 1 to 2 hours. Please let Marion McConachie know as soon as possible if you are willing to volunteer a few hours in the afternoon to assist with this. I will then be in touch to confirm arrival times for you all.
Thanks Marion
From your Branch Secretary
Thank you to those who turned up at the last month’s AGM. In total there were 29 members for the meeting (our quorum is 20) and we were able to have some constructive discussion on what could have been a contentious issue that being the financial report and the branch no longer qualifying for funding from the Rate Relief Grant. For branch members - a copy of the financial report is included with this edition of the Roadrunner. As agreed at the meeting (by a majority vote in each case) we will be making the following changes.
Branch Newsletter printing the Roadrunner is our highest expense outside of all costs (rates, maintenance etc.) relating to the building. It was agreed that the Roadrunner will be emailed to all members who have provided me with an email address. However, if you still receive a printed copy instead of an email, there will be an additional charge added to the subscription invoice when it is sent out in early September. The committee is still to determine the amount however we estimate it will be around $15.00 per annum. (Please note that this is in line with the majority of other branches who are also trying to cut costs).
The emailed copy will be in colour and you then have the option to print your own copy. We will also be updating the programme the Editor uses to make it easier to read & print via email.
Can you please let me know by the 15th July 2026 if you still wish to receive a printed copy of the Roadrunner.
Branch Levy will be increasing by $20.00 plus GST to $65.00 plus GST for the 2026/2027 financial year. This applies to main members only. There is no change to the joint member levy.
Rally fees, bar prices etc: these will also be increased slightly.
Annual Dinner & Awards night – this is being held on Saturday 18th July and this year will include the presentation of the following membership awards:
35 years – Trish Fowler, Densye Priston and Kevin Priston
50 years – John Sim and Mark Wilkinson.
60 years – Bill Veitch.
The cost of the 2-course meal is $40 which is a bargain these days. There is a sheet in the hall to register your attendance or contact David Ross.
Branch events – a list of the branch events for the coming year is on the notice board in the club rooms. There are still some events without an organiser so could run the risk of being cancelled if no one comes forward. This applies to the Taieri Tour which at this stage does not have an organiser. Please contact me if you are interested.
South Island Easter Rally 2027 - Planning is well underway for the branch to host next year’s South Island Easter Rally. We will be on the lookout for help with parking, field tests etc. so please let me know if you will be available.
National AGM 2029 – the branch has put in a bid to host the National AGM in 2029. The last time we hosted was in 2015 so it is definitely our turn again to
Continued from pg 9.
show case the city. This is just a heads up at the moment. Newsletters from other branches -remember to check the VCC website each month to read what is happening in other branches around the country. You can also find their event entry forms there as well. The website address is https://vcc.org.nz/news-from-our-branches/.
VIC and Lighting Endorsement Forms - These are available via the website vcc.org.nz/vic-vehicle classification.
Vero Insurance
The VCC Vero scheme is solely for financial members and along with a discount on your preThis also applies to the Taieri Tour which at this stage does not have an of miums, 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 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.
Nicola DCC Rates Relief Grant—Background
Once decided by staff, now a contested fund, allocated by councillors. Some councillors see it a ‘a nice to have’ and want rid of it. DCC is ont of the few councils with it. The feeling is clubs should e self supporting and there are myriad struggling community organisations existing hand to mouth.
Applicants must now provide a statement of financial position and wealthy clubs are ineligible. The emphasis is now on social, educational, recreational, cultural and environmental services to the wider community, especially the disadvantaged, under-privileged and vulnerable, the priorty being the largest impact. Rates relief is related to the use of a building in serving the community, not just the members i.e. Making it available to the wider community for programmes, services and activities, that provide significant public good, through occupation. Buildings that primarily serve adults entertainment and social purposes are not eligible. Being a past recipient is no indication of success.
From David Ross
National Daffodil Rally for Cancer 2026
Planning is underway for the Daffodil Rally and this year, with the help of Dunedin City Motors and the Cancer Society, will be bigger and better than ever as instead of just one event we will be holding 2 events plus putting on a display in their showrooms.
Event #1
Daffodil Bingo Night
Thursday 23rd July at the St Clair Golf Club
Doors will be open at 6:15pm with the first number called at 7.00pm
The Bingo Coordinator is kindly offered to not charge us for the bingo so her usual ticket price ($20) will be donated to our cause which has the potential to raise a lot of money.
We also need donations (big and small) for raffles to be sold on the night please bring to clubrooms before the event
Please spread the word to your families and friends and keep the night free as it is a lot of fun.
$20 per bingo book
Bar and food will be available
While I personally would have liked the date to be in August, this was the only date that was available to us. Dunedin City Motors are canvassing the businesses they use plus if each of our regulars can donate one item for the raffle we should have plenty of items. It could be something that they want to re-gift.
