Branch Committee 2025-2026
CHAIRPERSON Graeme Duthie graemeduthie@xtra.co.nz 027 2420861
TREASURER David Ross vccnzobt@gmail.com 455 8800
SECRETARY Nicola Wilkinson markandnicolaw@gmail.com 021 1803225
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
COMMITTEE MEMBER Trevor Kempton catjkempton@gmail.com 027 2215208
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
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 8.30pm
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
NOV
7th Bill Veitch
14th Closed
21st Closed
28th Bryan McConachie
JAN 2026
2nd Closed
9th Closed
16th Closed
23rd Closed
5th Bryan McConachie 12th Closed 19th Closed 26th Closed
30th Bill Veitch FEB 6th Kevin Mason 13th Closed 20th Closed 27th Bill veitch
Outram School Car Show 6th October
Term 4 at Outram School got off to a fun start when the branch visited to put on a car show timed to start after lunch. The plan was for the pupils to learn the difference between vehicles built in the early 1900’s through to today and we were asked to supply at least one per decade through to 1990. Thankfully after a wet weekend, the day was fine which definitely suited those with soft tops. The pupils were given a list of 3 questions to ask and all had fun checking out the different vehicles, hopping into some and asking for the car horns to be“honked” – thankfully we were in the country! The pupils appeared to have a lot of funs as did the members and judging from the feedback following our posts on the club’s Facebook page, it also resonated with ffellow members as a great way to introduce young people to our hobby. Who knows they may be the VCC members of the future. Members attending were:
1910 –1919: Colin Pearce in the Sunbeam
1920 –1929: Graeme Duthie in the Ford Model T and Rob French in the Marmon
1930 –1939: Ray Wilson in the Morris 8 and David Mills in the Austin & 1940 –1949: Peter Daniell in the newly restored Pick-Up Truck
1950 –1959: Neil Hodgkin in the Humber Snipe and Tom Grant in the MG 1960 – 1969: Ruth Edmunds in the Bambina and Mark Wilkinson in the Mini
1970 – 1979: Gil Edmunds in the Scimitar, Neil Gamble in the VW and Hayden Murray in the Ford Escort Van
1980 – 1989: Phil Thomson in the Ford Cortina and John Miller in the Mercedes Bikes – Kevin Mason and Bruce Murray. Mark W.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
BRANCH EVENTS (listed in bold)
Contact Branch secretary for entry forms from other branches
2025
NOV Sat 1st Taieri Tour
Fri 7th Motorcycle Group Meeting 8th Clutha Rally 15th NO Swapmeet
Sun 23rd Commercial Veteran Rally
Thurs 27th Midweek Lunch Run last for the year
Fri 28th Club Night and Meeting
DEC Fri 5th Motorcycle Group Meeting
TBA Moped Rally tbc Windsor Rally
Sun 14th Christmas BBQ
Wed 17th Last day open for the year
2026
JAN Wed 14th First day open for the year
Sun 18th Jackson Rally
Sat 24th 72nd Brighton Rally 24th Kickstart Rally for M/c Waimate
Thurs 29th Midweek Lunch Run
Fri 30th Club Night and meeting
FEB Friday 6th Waitangi Day Motorcycle Group Meeting
Thurs 26th Midweek Lunch Run
Fri 27th Club Night and Meeting
MAR Sun 1st Dunedin Brit & Euro Car Show
Fri 6th Motorcycle Group Meeting
15th-21st Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring Nelson
Thurs 26th Midweek Lunch Run
Fri 27th Club Night and Meeting
APRIL Sat 11 –12th Southern Backroad Adventure
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
2027 March 26th 29th National South Island Easter Rally Otago
Please WEAR YOUR NAME BADGES when you are attending club events. This helps new members to identify you Taieri Tour
Saturday 1st November
Branch visit to Oxford Court
Thursday 20th November 1.30 pm
Commercial & Veteran Rally
Sunday 23rd November
Midweek Run – lunch
Thursday 27th November
Venue to be advised - at 12.00
Club Night – Friday 28th November
7.30 pm open with club meeting at 8.30 pm and cuppa to follow
Clubrooms and Partshed are open every Wednesday
From 9.30 am until 11am Acuppa is on offer for a gold coin donation
From the Editor
Our Calendared branch events explained!
One of our members asked if more information could be provided for the various rallies and runs that the branch organises. Here are details for the events coming up this month.
Taieri Tour – This annual event has been running for 53 years now and is suitable for all classes of VCC eligible vehicles over 30 years old. This tour needs to include a drive within the Taieri Plains region, in the past it also included a visit to one of the Historic Homesteads in the area. These days the day starts with morning tea and a briefing, where everyone gets a set of instructions that guides you to your lunch time venue and sometimes instructions that get you back to the Branch Clubrooms. Competition includes a timed section and Field Tests are usually held at the lunchtime venue. Then a Prizegiving Dinner held at the branch clubrooms where the winners of the Tour are announced and Trophies and Certificates are presented. Entry forms are provided for this rally so that the organisers can ensure that enough sets of instructions are provided and bookings for dinner are received in advance. The Entry forms are circulated to all branches and members from neighbouring branches will attend this.
Clutha Rally - Held by the South Otago Branch and the Windsor Rally held by the North Otago Branch are similar annual events which are suitable for all classes of VCC vehicles and an all day event – these two finish with afternoon tea and prizegiving.
Commercial and Veteran Rally - this caters for these classes of vehicles, which are eligible for the appropriate Trophies. Written instructions are provided to follow a route to a lunch venue which are suitable for these slower more fragile vehicles. Distances to drive are shorter and can take you out of the city to a lunch venue, which should have shelter and toilets available. Prize giving is held after lunch, after which entrants are free to take their time and a chosen route to get back home. Any of our members are welcome to come on this rally but will not be elegible for Awards.
Thursday Lunch Time Runs – 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.
EMAIL US YOUR REPORTS
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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’s stories.
The Vintage Car Club of NZ Otago Branch Inc
Commercial & Veteran Rally
SUNDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2025
Assemble at Otago Branch Club Rooms
125 Forbury Road, St Clair, Dunedin
Arrive 12:30pm for 1pm start for a gentle run to Aramoana
All classes of vehicles including modern welcome Veteran and Commercial vehicles are only eligible for Trophies
Bring your own picnic afternoon tea including a thermos etc
ENTRY FORM
Entrant’s (Driver’s)Name……………………………………
Address………………………………………………………
Vehicle………………………………………………………
Make……………………….
Year of Manufacture……….
No of people attending: …..
ENTRY FEE: $5.00 per vehicle
ENTRIES CLOSE WEDNESDAY 19th November 2025
Please advise of your intention to attend as numbers are needed for printing purposes
Please complete and return to: Kevin Mason or Bill Veitch
At the clubrooms on Wednesday mornings or
Email to: otago@vcc.org.nz
Post to: To Vintage Car Club of NZ Otago Branch Inc 125 Forbury Road, St Clair, Dunedin 9012
The events this month have been the PV/P60/P80 run which took us to Balclutha. This was a very good run for the cars. The visit to the Outram School where we assembled so that the pupils could look over the cars was very well supported. The children were very well behaved and polite while collecting notes which was very pleasing. The Pizza / Quizz night was a very successful evening also. It is good to see new members organising events as new ideas help keep things interesting. Coming up are the visit to Oxford Court Rest Home, Taieri Tour, the Commercial and Veteran Rally, and the Xmas BBQ, also the Jackson Rally and the Dunedin to Brighton Run. So please get your entry forms in early and make the organisers job a lot easier
All the information is in the Roadrunner magazine. So make the most of your summer motoring
Oxford Court Visit
Graeme Duthie has organised a visit to the Oxford Court old folks home 162 Oxford Street South Dunedin on Thursday 20th November at 1-30pm so would like as many cars as possible to show their cars or take some of the old folk for a ride.
NB: If you have a spare 10 minutes before leaving the clubrooms on Wednesday mornings please have a look around to see if there is anything you can help with e.g. vacuuming, clearing dishes, mowing lawns (all equipment is supplied) a little gardening.
GRAEME
From your Branch Secretary
The Pizza / Quiz night held at the end of September was a great success and those who attended had a lot of fun. There was fierce rivalry between the quiz teams with only one point between first and second place with the others not far behind. Thank you to Kevin Mason and David Ross for organising and we look forward to the next one.
Thank you to the members who supplied cars for the Outram School car show on the 6th October. Apart from the 1900-1910 decade, we were able to supply at least one vehicle from every decade from 1911 – 1989. There is a report on this elsewhere in the Road Runner.
The committee has been looking at ways of retaining the heat in the main hall and have agreed to install a ceiling fan which will disperse the heat down from the ceiling into the body of the hall.
2025 -2026 Membership renewals – hopefully by now you have all received and more importantly paid your membership renewals for the current year as after the 31st October members will be deemed as unfinancial if the invoice is unpaid. I know some members have had some issues with not receiving their invoices via email so please contact me urgently if you have not received it so I can follow up with National Office.
Commercial & Veteran Rally – Please get your entry forms in ASAP so the organisers can arrange printing etc. The entry form is in the Roadrunner or you can email me at otago@vcc.org.nz and I will send you a copy.
Christmas BBQ – heads up that this is being held on the 14th December – look out for details and costings in the Roadrunner.
Branch events – we still need organisers for some branch events in 2026. Please give this some thought and let me know if you are able to help or put your name on the list on the notice board.
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.
Vero Insurance
The VCC Vero scheme is solely for financial members and the discount we enjoy ceases when your membership is cancelled either through non-payment of subs, resignation or death. National Office can arrange for it to be transferred to a joint member, so the simplest way to continue receiving the discount is to add your spouse to your membership. This means that in the unfortunate event of the main member passing, the surviving spouse has time to decide what to do without worrying about the insurance. Please contact me if you want more details.
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
Just a photo of 9 club members on there club eligible bikes to the Orokonui Ecosanctuary on Thursday 24th October or a lunch run.
We met at the Fairfield petrol station and traveled through North East Valley. After lunch down to Port Chalmers and through the road works
Duncan Smith Overall Winner
Graham Barnett Riders Choice
Duncan Smith Nut Strangler Award
Local Motorcyclists Outing
Photo Bekow
through a particularly cold Middlemarch route while the Christchurch crew peeled off for points north. Trevor Kempton decided to head straight down SH8 to Mosgiel but just short of Milton his normally ultra reliable Suzuki stopped with some serious gearbox gremlins. So, a call to a friend in Milton, bike left for later pick-up and a call to his none too enthusiastic wife to come and pick him up. It did cross his mind that sticking with the back-up trailer could have saved a lot of bother and the cost of a slap up dinner out. Ah well, we never stop learning!
The organising team this year was Bill Veitch, Andrew Roxburgh, Trevor Kempton and Brian Walker while Max Dewer drove the back-up van. Thanks too to Donna and Lynne for their help with food planning and purchasing.
And the results were:
Oldest Bike – Robert Hutton 1924 Harley Davidson Hard luck Award – Daryl Johnston who got closest by losing a carburettor he had purchased the day before out of his luggage only to be found on the road by a following competitor.
Nut Strangler – Duncan Smith, 1947 Indian who spent the pre-rally ride from Christchurch sorting some real electrical problems
Rider’s Choice – Graham Barnett, 1984 Moto Guzzi V50 P60 Award – Lex Westoby 1979 Yamaha XS1100 second overall in time trial
Age/Mileage award – Phillip Jeeves, 1967 BMW, 135 years
Mr Dunvegan – Max Dewer who entered his 1961 Norton 650 but stood in to drive the pick up vehicle for the second year running.
Overall Winner – Duncan Smith, 1947 Indian. First overall in time trial and, of course all-round good bloke!
Right
David Warren Furtherest travelled Left; Lex Westoby P60 Award
Remember to keep these up to date so we can keep you up to date with what is happening.
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/newsfrom-our-branches are unsure of which forms to fill out plus various resources that could help when restoring a vehicle members have already volunteered to look at possible route
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 -
Welcome to New Members
The Otago Branch extends a very warm welcome to Ron Connor - Who owns a Hillman
Richard and Deb Wilmshurst - who own a Morris Mini
The branch welcome you to the Club. We look forward to seeing you at local and neighbouring events.
Outram School visit
Children looking under the bonnet of the Reliance Scimitar
2027 National Easter Rally
To be hosted by Otago Branch of VCC
After some discussion at this year’s annual meeting, the Committee has decided to host the 2027 National Easter Rally. The Otago branch has a good reputation for hosting National rallies. The last one was the 2024 National Veteran Rally. Its success was underpinned by the excellent response from Branch members to help with its organisation both beforehand and during the event. The Committee, and Nevin Gough, the instigator of the Southern Backroad Adventure, are hoping to be able to run these two events consecutively in 2027 to create an event worth travelling some distance for and to boost Vintage and earlier participation. I have offered to chair the Rally sub-committee and I have been asked to set the ball rolling. Travis Michelle and David Mills were well ahead of the official action having already started looking at routes, some novel ideas for timing, and the general format of the event. Now that is one way of getting yourself on the subcommittee! I am planning to have a 1 hr start-up get together for anyone who is interested in being involved on Friday 21 November at 7.30pm. In the meantime, I may also do a little gentle shoulder tapping. One of the keys to the success of the 2024 Natvet event was that Nicola Wilkinson as Rally Chair got the ball rolling early so that the work could be done at a relaxed pace.
Catch you on Friday 21 November at 7.30pm – Might even be a cuppa and a piece of carrot cake!
Motorcycles on display at Outram School
Dunvegan No 53 - 2025
This year the Dunvegan was again unlucky with the weather. Last year, while the weather on the day was perfect, many roads were closed or flood affected. This year, the event, including the time trial ran as scheduled but in unpleasant wet and cold conditions.
An entry list of 24 was whittled down to 18 starters with late weather-related withdrawals. However, those who made the start remained enthusiastic throughout.
A strong contingent, about half the total entry, came from Canterbury on machinery ranging from Duncan Smith’s 1947 Indian Chief through to Lex Westoby’s 1979 Yamaha XS1100. From Dunedin we had Trevor Chalmers trusty 1951 ES2 Norton through to Ross McTaggart’s 1987 Honda GB400. Robert Hutton had a trouble free ride from Oamaru and return on his 1924 Harley Davidson. An extraordinary feat given the conditions. Only one two stroke this year; Trevor Kempton’s 1971 T500 Suzuki.
One feature of Dunvegan is the Friday evening gathering and supper at the Club. As always well attended and an excellent spread organised by Donna and Lynne
Saturday started at the Chinese Gardens in cold conditions with persistent light rain. The timed section took us through Green Island, Fairfield and into the low cloud hanging around Saddle Hill, then to Brighton, Taieri Mouth and Waihola. Where Brian and Ann Walker were waiting with the timepiece. The route then took us to Balclutha, up the valley to Clydevale, over the bridge and up the river road to Beaumont and on to Miller’s Flat for lunch. Hot food, including a wonderful seafood chowder restored some flagging spirits. We continued over the bridge, up to Roxburgh, across the Dam and onto Alexandra.
The back-up trailer wasn’t used on the Saturday (Possibly a Dunvegan record) although Trevor Chalmers did have a spot of electrical trouble which was eliminated with some of the spare petrol carried in the tow wagon.
The evening, while down a little on numbers still made for a very pleasant occasion while the BBQ prepared under Andrew Roxburgh’s supervision was well received. Either it had been a tiring day or we were all just another year older as ‘lights out’ might have been just a little earlier than usual. It was good to have David Tofield and Ken Roberts from the Central Otago branch join us for some social time.
Bill Veitch didn’t make the Rally start as he wasn’t feeling 100%. However, it is hard to keep a good keen man down. He drove up just to make sure we were being well looked after and then decided to return to Dunedin on Saturday evening. He wasn’t feeling any better on his return and headed for the Hospital where he has had a short spell of R&R.
Sunday took the Dunedin participants (and the back-up trailer) back home
How many previous Dunedin – Brighton Runs has your vehicle completed? …………….
PLEASE WRITE ABRIEF HISTORY OF YOUR VEHICLE for Octagon commentary.[2 or 3 lines] Eg. Include name of driver, year make and model of your vehicle. How many Brighton Runs it has been on etc
VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND OTAGO BRANCH INC.
72nd DUNEDIN - BRIGHTON VETERAN VEHICLE RUN
SATURDAY 24TH and SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY 2026
ENTRIES CLOSE
15th January 2026
The Otago Branch invites you to take part in the 72nd Dunedin –Brighton, Veteran Car Run. Vehicles will be flagged away from the Octagon We will then drive to Brighton for lunch and field tests The event is open to all Veteran Vehicles built prior to 1st January 1919.
PERIOD COSTUME TO THE ERA OF YOUR VEHICLE IS ENCOURAGED.
You are welcome at our clubrooms Friday Night, for a Noggin & Natter, Supper. Entry packs will also be available from 7.30pm
The event is open to all Veteran Vehicles built prior to 1st January 1919
REGULATIONS
The stewards of the Rally may exclude from the event any driver or passenger who, by his or her behavior, costume, or general approach to the event is in their opinion, likely to bring discredit on the event. No Electronic NavigationalAids allowed. Late Entries may be accepted at the discretion of the organisers.
NB: Late orders for meals will not be accepted after closing date
The event will start from the First Church Car park – Enter the Car park off Lower Moray Place and follow Marshall’s directions.
Rally packs will be available at 8.45am. and the briefing will be at 9.15am sharp.
The cars will leave in order for the short journey to the Octagon, we need to be in the Octagon by 9.45am Entrants will depart the Octagon from 11.00am for Brighton, which includes the timed section. Field Tests will be held at Brighton Domain. Concours Judging will take place at First Church, and at Brighton Domain.
The Concours is a separate competition and is not taken into account in the rally results.
Dinner and Prize giving will be at 6pm for 6.30pm meal at The Edgar Centre, Portsmouth Drive, Dunedin
SUNDAY we intend to have a leisurely amble to Carey’s Bay for natter and lunch, at your own cost.
ENTRIES CLOSE: 15th January 2026
Enquiries regarding the Rally should be made to Colin Winter Phone (03) 456-4382, (021) 232 1993 email wolseley2@xtra.co.nz
Please credit: VCC of NZ Otago Branch Inc Internet banking: 03-0903-0390951-00 with Brighton and name as Ref. Send entries to: Nevin Gough email easttaieri@yahoo.com or 125 Forbury Road Saint Clair Dunedin 9012
ENTRY FORM
I wish to enter the following vehicle in the 2026 Dunedin – Brighton Run. In consideration of the acceptance of this Entry, I agree to be bound by the regulations of the event.
Entrant’s Name______________________________________________
Entrant’s Address ____________________________________________
Email_______________________________________________________
Phone Number _______________________ VCC Mem No ___________
Driver’s Name _______________________________________________
Navigator’s Name _____________________________________________
Vehicle Make & Model_________________________________________
Year ______ HP______ Reg. Plate____________ Body Style__________
Signature of Entrant__________________________________
Average speed for the Time Trial -Please Circle One 15 mph 20 mph 25 mph 30 mph
Class Entered: Please Circle One
Class 1 -Vehicles with less than 4 cylinders.
Class 2 -Vehicles with 4 or more cylinders – under 20 hp (RAC)
Class 3 -Vehicles with 4 or more cylinders – 20 hp (RAC) or over.
Class 4 – Motorcycles without gears or variable transmission.
Class 5 – Motorcycles with a gearbox or variable transmission.
Concours Judging: Yes No (Please Circle One)
Entry Fee (includes plaque for completing run) $60
Friday Night Noggin & Natter No ___ FREE
Saturday –Boxed Lunch with drink No.____@ $15.00 p/p $
Sat Night Buffet Meal & Prizegiving No ____@ $50.00 p/p $
TOTAL PAYABLE $
SUNDAY LEISURELY AMBLE TO CAREY’S BAY No ____
Please advise in advance of any special dietary requirements.
