VCC Sth Canterbury Tri-Car April 2026

AORANGI - TRICAR

NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH CANTERBURY BRANCH OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND INC. Replica

April 2026

CLUB ROOMS 19-25 REDRUTH ST. TIMARU SOUTH

NOGGIN AND NATTER First Thursday of the Month

“For all Vehicles over 30 years old”

Timaru’s First Car Built by C. W. Wood

Autumn Greetings everyone!

For our March 'Noggin', we welcomed John COOK & Russ PRIEN from the 'Timaru Community Menzshed Incorporated' - we then visited their facility in Shaw St, Timaru. John Cook gave us an overview of the formation, membership & an over-view of what happens there. When we arrived on-site, we were all amazed at the scope, size and the capabilities of their operations! A most worthwhile visit to one of our close neighbours - thanks to Gavin Ladbrook for organising this visit, and we did appreciate viewing his latest restoration project at the venue - a 1969 tandem Aussie Viscount Ambassador caravan. Nice work in progress there...and a change from powered vehicle restorations Gavin!!??

Sunday 8th March saw a good attendance at our annual Mid Island Rally. The run culminated at the DOC Camp area at Waihi Gorge where lunch, field tests & prize-giving ended a good day before the weather changed!... thanks to Kevin & Ngadia Manchester for the run planning and also to Sandy McMillan & grand-daughters for the pre-departure morning tea at our clubrooms!

The Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring was also held over the week of 15th-21st March in the Nelson region, with a number of our members attending. I understand that the Day's had 3 vehicles at this event, with 2 cars being 'loaned' to overseas participating friends. No doubt reports of this event will follow....

The annual SC Hospice 'Rock n Hop' graced our SC region again over the weekend of 20th-22nd March, with a 1000 vehicles attending and a number of our own members participating and/or assisting over the weekend in several capacities.

No rest for us all, as our annual Swap Meet on the following Saturday 28th March at Orari Racecourse. Further reports to follow on that event....

Please remember that we have our Special General Meeting on Thursday 9th April, 7.30pm at our clubrooms. (This replaces our 2nd April normal 'Noggin' night).

This SGM is to vote on the Kyle Park proposal and only members 'in attendance' can vote - so no 'proxy' votes are allowed sorry, under our Constitution.

Thursday 9th April is also the start of our mid-week runs. Kevin Mercer organising. Meet at the Farmshop Geraldine at 11.30am for lunch, (Not our clubrooms), then a short run to an interesting destination where a talk & demonstration of an operating plant will follow. (The Model A Club weekend away participants will also join this event).

Sunday 12th April is our motorcycle run - Neil Manchester organising. Entries close 8th April.

9.30am assembly at our clubrooms with 1st bike away at 10.30am. So - quite a bit is & has been happening!!

Here's hoping your 'Motoring March' has been awesome & let's look ahead to Easter April!!

Kind regards, Colin

HAWKE Chair

PARTS DEPT. REPORT MARCH 2026

With the Parts Dept. gearing up for the upcoming Swapmeet we are hoping to clear some space on our shelving for more parts .

Our salvage trailer will be loaded in the next week in readiness for the trip to Orari ,after just being unloaded with items from the late Lional Suter's estate.

This included several engines of various models of Studebaker,plus Hillman minx. Some of these require some stripping of useable parts before scrapping the remainder.

I hope to have more information on this in our next Newsletter as we can identify some of these items.

Along with these items are five White Wall tyres (four still in the original wrapping) size 710x 15.

Parts are still coming in or are awaiting to be collected from around the District so busy times ahead.

Our Parts Dept. is open each Wednesday from 9am through to 12 noon.

Barry Smith, Parts Manager.

NOGGIN & NATTER,

9thApril 2026

Note Date Change 7:30pm

Clubrooms, 19 Redruth Street Timaru.

Speaker:- Special General Meeting

See notice of motion elsewhere in Magazine

Kitchen Duty:- Chris Chambers and Ross Parker

Bar:- Sandy McMillan

Cave Hotel, lunch stop

Lynette Smith Tony Meggitt

2026 Vero Rally

Random Facebook photos of event.

SCVCC Website Updates www.southcanterburyvintagecarclub.co.nz

To access other club newsletters go to www.vcc.org.nz scroll to News from our Branches as hard copy newsletters are not mailed out now.

SCVCC website - March 2026

- March newsletter placed up

- Motorcycle Rally details updated, form placed up

- Focus given to Swapmeet on homepage

- Events page updated

- A number of recent photos of members' vehicles added to the vintage gallerymore to follow.

• Ongoing uploads of newer photographs covering branch activities where applicable.

- Behind the scenes wordpress updates.

Upcoming - More stories of various runs, online version of newsletter, information about upcoming events, members vehicles in gallery, Stories and photos from members are ENCOURAGED and can be sent through to website.scvcc@gmail.com

A Special General Meeting of the South Canterbury Branch of the Vintage Car Club of NZ is hereby called. The meeting will be held at the Branch Clubrooms, 19 Redruth St, Timaru, on the 9th of April 2026 at 7.30 p.m. All members are encouraged to attend.

Notice of Motion

That the South Canterbury Branch of the VCC of NZ progress to phase 2 of the investigation into the invitation from Kyle Park to become part of the Park.

Moved

Kevin Mercer

Seconded Ross Hamilton

Explanation.

This is required to seek legal advice in regard to long term land lease and any contract that our Branch might enter into with Kyle Park, following negotiations between the parties on conditions, annual fees and adjustments to these fees, dispute resolution and any “what if scenarios” that may occur such as the requirement for either party to leave any agreement. Also the number of representatives that our Branch will have on the Kyle Park Board that will run the site and control future development. Included in this will be the specific area that we have the right to occupy and conditions that would apply if we were to use the greater area of the Park should this arise for holding larger events or possibly our Swapmeet if we ever need a new location.

DECO NAPIER 2026

It all started in February 2025 when our Buick friends, Rob and Linda O’Keefe of Whanganui suggested we come this year, I initially declined as we couldn’t face driving our Buick up there, No problem said Rob, borrow one of ours, so the plan was in motion, accommodation and flights booked to Palmerston North where we were met by Linda and whisked across to Whanganui for the night.

Thursday Feb 19 saw us follow Rob and Linda in their 1927 Buick model 40 2 door sedan, driving their 1938 Buick Special. Over the marvellous new 4 lane highway through the wind farm, that replaced the Manawatu Gorge onto Dannevirke for petrol and Norsewood for a pleasant lunch. Onwards to Napier via SH 50 stopping at Fernhill to visit Rob and Linda’s friends ,Hans & Marcia Payman's Where Rob and Linda were staying. We carried on to our accommodation at the Anchorage Motel ,West Quay Ahururi.

Dressed up and headed to the VCC Clubrooms at Meanee for the Rally Dinner. A great dress up event with live dance entertainment from three accomplished young “Flappers”. And a live Vintage themed Radio Play, great food great company.

Friday 20th Rally Day, saw us gather at the VCC Clubrooms and head off on the Long route which took us east of Havelock North into some very hilly country with winding roads climbing to near 300m above sea level before dropping down to the coast , Waimarama Beach, we headed back through Havelock North to the lunch venue at Abbey Wines.

Evelyn and I drove back to Napier, right along past the Port and found our way up Bluff Hill to the lookout, taking the spectacular “birds eye” views of the Port.

Dined out at Shed 2 restaurant ,a short stroll from our Motel.

Saturday 21st, Off to The VCC Clubrooms for a posh morning tea (brunch) before heading into Napier for the street parade which was starting at 12.30. Everyone was looking very Glam in their 20’s themed gear. We met up with Evelyn’s Friend Liz & her son Michael who travelled with us in the parade.

The parade was headed by the Bentley & Rolls Royce Brigade. Quite a bit hanging around waiting for things to start, was a great aerial display by 4 Harvard’s doing aerobatics to entertain us while we waited plus an attractive young lady wearing nothing but a thong & body paint, the cameras were busy!

The Parade zig zagged through the main street, it was amazing, 1000,s of spectators 6 deep either side of the street all dressed in Period gear.

We eventually got parked in Marine Parade and adjourned to a nearby pup for a Pizza lunch .We then followed Liz & Michael home out to Crownthorpe beyond Fernhill , returning to Fernhill later and going to the Taradale RSA fo tea.

Sunday Feb 22nd

Heading back day, off to the VCC Clubrooms for the Event Breakfast. Not big numbers attending, not huge portions, the bacon was overcooked. Not worth what was charged! ($30.00)

We were pleased that we were ‘shouted “tickets as Rob & Linda couldn’t use theirs. After leaving the Clubrooms we headed (with the help of the GPS) to Te Mata Peak. Great 360 degree Views, worth the effort. Back on the road on SH2, fuelling up at Gull Waipara and meeting up with Rob& Linda at Norsewood for lunch.

It was very windy on the way home; the 27 Buick experienced some overheating issues, subsequently cured by a radiator out to the repair shop. It has been fine since and attended the Nelson Vero Rally.

Monday 23rd

A day of sightseeing in The Whanganui District using Rob &Linda’s work van. Bushy Park west of Whanganui and 8 km off the Main Rd, an historical Homestead in a Wildlife sanctuary. IT does B&B’s and lunches. Lots of bush walks. The road in was pleasant with overhanging trees creating a tunnel effect. Then on to Kaiiwi Beach a pleasant spot with vey tidy permanent and holiday homes. Back to town via the Bason Botanic Gardens. A large area with lots of great picnic spots, some amazing Cacti.

After Lunch we visited Drury Hill via the Tunnel (213m) and Lift(66m) The Lift is manned during the day and the charge is $2.50 each way.

Visited the Serjeant Gallery which was first opened in 1919 and refurbished ,reopening in 2024, It houses a collection of 8300 works of National significance.

Shouted our hosts a meal out at the Rutland Hotel

Tuesday 24th Feb ,We were dropped off at P Nth Airport & back in Timaru by 4pm’

A thoroughly enjoyable trip and we really enjoyed driving the1938 Buick. Ashley Milliken

April Midweek Run 9th April

Start will be the Farmshop Café, Main North Rd, Geraldine at 1.00p.m. sharp. We will be joined by a group from the Ford Model A Club from Christchurch. There is no final afternoon tea stop planned so I suggest that we meet for lunch prior to run, be early to prevent delays in starting.

This event is all about the destination which follows a short run, with an all sealed option, but there will be a 4.5KM section of shingle at our final destination. Because of this you are welcome to bring a modern if you prefer.

The management Company will give us a run down on the operation of the scheme and lift the screens to demonstrate how fish are protected and prevent them from entering the scheme.

We will visit the intake to the Rangitata Diversion Race.

A 67-kilometre-long race, begun in 1937, diverts water from the Rangitata River to irrigate 66,000 hectares of farmland. Designed by irrigation engineer T. G. G. Beck, this was New Zealand’s first major river diversion and largest irrigation scheme.

Please contact me if you require any other information, Kevin Mercer 0272009474

Not What You Think

As a little girl is coming out of school, a man pulls up in his car, rolls down the window and says to her, "I'll give you a sweet if you'll get in the car with me."

The little girl says, "No, I not getting in the car."

The next day the same man pulls up again, rolls down the window and says to the same little girl, "I'll give you two sweets if you'll get in the car with me."

The little girl repeats, "No, I'm not getting in the car."

The third day the man pulls up and offers her a whole bag of sweets if she will get into the car.

"No Dad," replies the girl, "There's no way I'm getting into the Mustang!"

Timaru

Congratulations to Ashley Milliken at 2026 Rock & Hop in Timaru Trophy is for Best vintage pre 1940 as judged by 2 judges. Also got a nice vehicle grooming pack of Bowden’s goodies.

Looking forward to Photo’s and stories for next Tricar

Mid Island 2026

While it was a bit disappointing with the number of cars we had, it was a great run and I think it’s a sign of the times. The weather was fine, left the clubroom at 10.30am, the rally took us around town, out to Temuka around roads a lot of people haven’t been on before ending up at the Waihi Gorge. At lunch time there was a quiz involving photos of landmarks which you had to identify. The field tests caused a lot of laughter, the passenger had to hold a cup of full water while the driver drove around a zig zag course, nobody had a full cup at the end and what they were not told was that it was actually a timed section not how much water you had left in the cup. We then had the presentations of cups and certificates.

Results:

Vintage: Mark Aldridge,

PWV: Tony McGillen,

P60: Alan Jenks, P80: John Parker

Motorcycle: Lex Westoby

It was a fun day, good to see everyone enjoying themselves and some of us ending up at the Farm Shop at Geraldine for coffee or a cold drink afterwards.

Kevin Manchester, Club Captain.

P60: Alan Jenks

1977 Fiat X1/9

Motorcycle: Lex Westoby

1979 Yamaha XJ650

P80: John Parker

1985 Mazda 323

Trophies for Mid Island Rally

. Facebook group for the South Canterbury Branch

My interest in old cars started as a 3 year old after my Dad purchased a 1937 Chev farm truck & dismantled the 1928 National Chev 4, originally a tourer he and his youngest brother had purchased for $8.00 & made into a Ute, the steering wheel column and box assembly were mounted in an apple box and with another apple box for a seat over the next few years I “drove” many happy miles. Nothing was wasted, the cab became a duck shooting mai mai and the chassis & wheels a farm trailer.

Dunedin Festival week outside my grandparents Ocean View home we watched the annual Dunedin’s to Brighton Veteran run. January 1958 & Lindsay Goughs 1914 Buick stopped over the road from us where after a conversation Lindsay confirmed it was my Grandfathers old car he had left on Horrell’s farm at Mandeville in Southland nearly 30 years previously.

Queens Birthday weekend 1961 members of the SCVCC visited St Bathans Central Otago, I recall seeing Russell Cross’s Buick, Terry Wilson Fiat, the Goodman Bros Ford T “Grandma Duck” coupe and Darcy Nicholsons legendary Mercedes which now resides in Southwards museum. Driving lessons commenced in the farm truck which had by then been updated to a 1947 Ford V8 one tonner with the challenge of mastering its 4 speed “Crash” gearbox.

The late 1960’s, a Motor Mechanic apprenticeship in Dunedin working on cars from the 30’s (Chevs, Buicks & Ford V8s) 40’s (Nash, Studebaker & Chrysler products) & 50’s (BMC & Rootes group products, Vauxhalls, Vanguards, Bradfords/Jowett’s along with a wide variety of trucks & tractors. A move to Timaru where I joined our club & first purchased and then disposed of a Model A Ford Tudor (ex Waimate) which had been chopped into a Ute.

A 1975 vintage car auction in CHCH saw me buy a 1937 British Bedford truck which I supplemented with parts from Leeston and I bought home the remains of a van from off a mid Canterbury farm. Part way through this restoration a house move had me give the lot to my best friend Stephen Smith from Dunedin, who passed away 18 months ago, the Bedford is currently partially restored.

A 1938 Ford V8 deluxe car was purchased in CHCH, which we used to participate in many local & neighbouring branch rallies & other outings. I was overall winner of Waimate’s inaugural Wallaby Run and was presented with the stuffed Wallaby Trophy which I placed in our lounge, it terrified our kids, even the dog hated it, so it was with some relief all round when we handed it back a year later.

A Temuka barn find 1925 Ford Model TT one ton truck which I was its 3rd owner was next, I restored it drove it on many local rallies and other SI Branches Commercial rallies, overtaking cyclists on their new multi geared bikes often took some time. The TT’s “C” type cab was not particularly user friendly to our then young family, so it was sold to the police who rebodied it as a replica of their first paddy wagon and its now owned & displayed at Richardsons transport museum in Invercargill.

Somewhere in between I purchased a 350cc Douglas motorcycle purporting to be a veteran 1914 model, I corrected the frame & tank to make it authentic with parts I found from a bike my father had owned, wrecked and scattered around the orchard of our previously owned St Bathans farm. I thought the Douglas was an awful bike but Oamaru’s Keith Perry had a desire to own it, so off it went.

Vintage cars were raffled in the late 70’s & early 80’s. SC purchased a deceased estates restored 1928 “K” model De Soto while neighbouring Ashburton did up and raffled a 1928 Std 6 and 1929 DA Dodge, I purchased the DA after the car’s winner took the then required “Cash Option” it was a great family car made more motorable when I changed the diff with a lower ratio Std 6 one after being told of its whereabouts in Southland while doing a Timaru wedding with the car

The club had a roster of cars & drivers available for weddings capably organised by Ron & Val Cooper which had the benefit of generating funds for both the club and the cars owner. I sold the Dodge to Ashburton’s Peter Lambie whose reply to his wife’s question of, “What are you going to pay for this car ?” was, “I’m going to give the man exactly what he wants for it”. That doesn’t happen very often & I reeled back about 3 paces.

Owen Prendergast was my friend from our Central Otago days & was the 2nd owner of a 1976 P6B V8 Rover which I maintained and drove him on outings during his period of declining health. After his passing I purchased the Rover which I took on a few PV runs till after around 5 or 6 years it caught the attention of a Marlborough member who bought it.

Since my school days I’ve had the desire to own an EIP Vauxhall, its taken me 60 years but I am more than happy with my latest & possibly final acquisition, the ex O’Connell & Tapp family’s 1954 Velox restored by Ashley Milliken during his ownership of the car.

I am currently enjoying driving & maintaining it & hopefully going on a lot more pleasurable outings in it. My recent appointment to the Beaded Wheels Editorial Committee is my new future Vintage Car Club challenge.

During my 50 years as a member I’ve seen the club go from a perhaps a mainly motoring group to a more family orientated group with increased social activities utilising the extended clubrooms from the initial A framed building which was somewhat cramped. Gone are the days when the club was dominated by elderly veteran owners who looked down on anything made after 1919, Rare vintage cars were tolerated but when mass produced vintages emerged & members joining were getting younger thankfully the goalposts moved and the older somewhat staid members accepted the inevitable. As the years went by PVV’s and then PWVs became more desirable but there was a time when the clubs prestige event, the annual Mt Cook Rally excluded post 1931 cars. Back in my early days as a member cars were required to be of an “acceptable standard” to enter National Calendar events & it was while I was on the committee the secretary was requested to write to one member, a young family man at the time who was restoring a car for the 1980 International rally at Rotorua. He had purchased a tired car of the same model to enjoy motoring & was instructed not to enter this car on National Calendar events and was restricted to the clubs local picnic type runs. I was horrified at the then somewhat snobbish attitude.

I’ve enjoyed going to rallies from Blenheim to Invercargill, the 1st Pan Pacific rally held in Ch.Ch. around 1984, the Foveaux Radio Invercargill rally, South Canterbury’s Easter Rally held at the race course and Marlborough’s 25 anniversary rally at Blenheim’s Brayshaw park were all very memorable.

I’ve always enjoyed writing for the Tricar, helping with the field tests at Twizel for those on the Mt Cook Rally and manning the gates at the Swap meet, greeting people coming in to the event handing out a bit of cheek and banter in the process. Graham Pauley.

Mid Island Rally Photo s (Courtesy Shannon Stevenson& Les Rzepecky)

Other Coming Events Elsewhere April

–June-2026

2026

Club Calendar of Events 2025 / 2026

April 9th

April 12th

May 14th

Midweek Run

Motorcycle Run (Note Date Change)

Midweek Run

May 17th P Class Rally

May 31st

Kings Birthday Weekend

All British Day

June 4th AGM

June 21st **** Note Date change ****

End of season run

Situation Vacant

Tricar Editor

Position is now open to anyone interested in taking on this important role in our Club. Expressions of interest and job description can be directed to the C.lub Chair or Current Editor

Current Editor is stepping away from position at the 2026AGM but is happy to hand over earlier if replacement is found.

If a replacement Editor is not found there will be no monthly Magazine.

National

Motor Cycle Rally

12th, 13th 14th February 2027

Timaru.

(Hosted by South Canterbury Vintage Car Club)

Office Bearers 2025 - 2026

Chairperson: Colin Hawke (Glenys) 6889955/ 027 4896663

Vice Chairperson: Kevin Mercer (Ruth) 027 2009474

Secretary:

southcanterbury@vcc.org.nz

Treasurer: scvcctreasurer@outlook.co.nz

Club Captains: scvccclubcaptain@gmail.com

News Letter Editor: tricar.scvcc@gmail.com

Clubroom Convener:

Pauline Young (Wayne) 6861833/ 027 5399225

Nola Day (Alistair) 027 2035007

Kevin Manchester (Ngadia) 027 5178769

Les Rzepecky (Helen) 021 1220011

Sandy McMillan 027 6155150 027 4484655

Parts Shed Manager: Barry Smith (Lynette) 6847405 027 6881919

Librarian: Barry Barnes (Carla) 6885105

IT Officer: Shannon Stevenson 6863263/ 027 2453519

Committee: All of the above

Ross Hamilton (Wendy) 021 2407137

Identification and Certificate:

Swap Meet:

Alistair Day, Colin Hawke. Kevin Mercer (Ruth) 027 2025007 6889955/ 027 4896663 027 2009474

Acting Chairman: Colin Johnstone (Trish) 021 08189988

Site Convenor/ Secretary Michelle Munro (Gavin) 6864824/ 021 1726168

Treasurer: Nola Day (Alistair) 027 2035007

Ground Convenor: Barry Smith ( Lynette) 6847405

Committee: Gavin Munro (Michelle) 6864824/ 021 0528264

(Plus all above)

Krystal Munro 027 8567940

Grant Mitchell (Wendy) 021 2961126

Glen Hawkins 027 2076625

Club events - April 2026

Midweek Run

Thursday 9th April

The start of our mid-week runs. Kevin Mercer organising.

Meet at the Farmshop Geraldine at 11.30am for lunch, (Not our clubrooms)

Then a short run to an interesting destination where a talk & demonstration of an operating plant will follow.

(The Model A Club weekend away participants will also join this event).

Motorcycle Rally

Sunday 12th April

Clubrooms starting point 19 Redruth Street.

Meet at 9.30am for 10.30am departure.

Bring own lunch