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CLUB OFFICERS

UB OFFCERS

PATRON; GrahamMock(deceased)

CHAIRMAN EricFoley 0278246320 chairman@taupovcc.org

SECRETARY ElaineTaylor 0272324792 secretary@taupovcc.org

TREASURER JohnSearle 0277036374 treasurer@taupovcc.org

CLUBCAPTAIN TBA

MAGAZINEEDITOR GraemeDoree 0272496974 editor@taupovcc.org

COMMITTEE

MurrayStanley 021352333MaureenRansley 073776360 AndrewBirkbeck 02102632124

NonCOMMITTEEPOSITIONS

ARCHIVISTS Vacant

BEADEDWHEELS& BRANCHREPORTER GraemeDoree 0272496974

CLUBROOMHIRE EricFoley 027246320

LIBRARIAN TBA

RALLYSPONSOR TaupoBrakeandClutch 073787429

SPAREPARTS TonyMannington 073771598

CLUBROOMSCUSTODIAN OwenDuncan 0274 482-484

VICCERTIFIERS KelvinTrim 073789055 BarryHoffman 0274435479

Club Breakfast - First Sunday of each month At Café Lacus at the Landing 650 Lake Terrace, Wharewaka, Taupō. Special menu for Club Members. IMPORTANT: Please let Owen know by 3pm Friday if you will be there phone Owen on 0274482484. Please be seated by 8:30 am.

PETROLHEADS

Chairmans Report August 2025

The May coffee morning will be at Lava Glass 165 State Highway 5, Wairakei Wednesday the 20th , at 10 am. Meet at the Club Rooms at 9.30 for 9.40 departure. See you there! Thanks and Regards, Barry.

Ladies Day Vero National Rally Update Parts Shed Update

Chairman’s Report

Eric Foley

Chairman

’

s Report

With the Annual General Meeting imminent it is not quite my time to reflect on the year’s activities. The month of April saw few club activities beyond Breakfast at Lacus on the first Sunday of the month, Petrolheads at Wairakei Golf Course ( on this occasion) on the 15th and Craft at the club rooms on the 28th .

These events have proved popular and often attract 30 – 40 participants. With many members away it was decided to call off the usual club night.

Feedback from those who attended the Vero Rally in Nelson has all been very positive. It will be interesting to hear from the participants at some stage when they can recount their experiences (both good and bad ��).

As a result of the resignation of our current cleaner, we have been able to engage a lady who will take over the role later this week. The club supplies all the end consumables for this task. Consideration had been given to the idea that club members should do this chore on a rostered basis hence saving the club money. This idea was not pursued. If you caste your mind back to an earlier arrangement whereby club members were rostered on to kitchen duties on club night, there were many occasions when the rostered party failed to attend and another club member had to step in. Rosters were not always successful.

The pending A G M will see a significant change in the management of the club with most current committee members retiring. I have high hopes that there will be a good attendance at the meeting with plenty of volunteers for the general committee and events committee.

There has already been an indication of interest in some of these roles, but more are very welcome.

Safe travels

Eric

Ladies Day and Parts Shed

Another fantastic sunny day with a bit of wind to keep it cool for the parts guys but no effect on the ladies inside. Was nice for Tony and I to be back after our journey down south. Many thanks to George and crew for opening up while we were away. A few donations on the day and some sales mean this format is working well. Heather had a good turn out upstairs with her ladies and again this format is working really well also. Lets keep up the support for both.

A couple of new additions to the clubs gear is a donated engine stand from Owen Duncan and an engine lifter which was bought from Taupo Hospice. These items are in excellent condition and may be hired out if you ever need either. Club members only.

CLUB AGM.

NOTE CHANGE OF DATE AND TIME

SUNDAY 17TH AT 10.30AM

A Sunday morning has been selected as the committee understands many of our members who might otherwise be willing to attend are unwilling to drive at night. Night driving is a difficulty that many of our older members face. Evenings in mid-May, can also be somewhat chilly. Also, a Sunday meeting allows members who may be working on a Saturday to attend.

Please do not stay away because you are nervous you may be pressganged into doing something that you are not keen on!

Whilst I am resigning as Chairman, Graeme Doree has indicated a willingness to put his name forward to fulfil that role. Similarly, with John Searle resigning as Treasurer, Peter Dowsett has offered to take on this function.

The principal vacancy is that of Secretary. Despite my enquiries I have not received any indication of a replacement. This role is important but does not consume a significant amount of time. We need someone to put their hand up. I have filled this role in the past and am very willing to offer advice and support as is Elaine.

We are also in need of several new committee members.

The other outstanding issue is the need for a functioning Events Committee. It has worked well in the past but lapsed last year. This meant the management committee was required to pick up this function but on occasions events fell through the cracks.

I take full responsibility for that failure. I very much hope that members can reactivate this committee.

There were monthly meetings of about an hour’s duration in a local café where coffee was slurped and events organised. It worked well and fulfilled a role that had previously been the sole responsibility of the Club Captain.

The last Coffee and Cars at Wairakei Golf Club was attended by about 40 members.

I have every expectation that we will have at least that number at our AGM. We are, after all, a club of about 100 members.

It is your club, we need your support. See you on the 17th

Eric PS;

There will be an after match function once the AGM has finished. Members are invited to stay for a chat, a cuppa and some nibbles (sausage rolls, slices and club sandwiches) before heading home.

Looking forward to seeing you ALL there.

Vero National Rally Nelson 15th to 21st March

Recollections from Tony & Pam Mannington

We attended the Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring in New Plymouth with 8 other Taupo VCC Club Members in January 2022. Back in 2022 we were told that this would probably be the last International Rally of its type due to the high number of people requiring accommodation, meals and venues big enough to accommodate over 1000 people including parking up 600 cars.

What a great team effort by The 2022 Festival Committee and they certainly knocked it off. We all went away after having a great time, thinking "Thats it"

Nelson held the 13th International Rally in 1972 and fast forward 54 years to 2026 the Nelson VCC were asked if they would be interested in organising the 2026 Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring. A Festival Committee was set-up and now it is History.

The 5 cars and crew that travelled from Taupo weren't disappointed. Many years of planning by the Nelson Festival Committee put together an amazing program of Historic Motoring around their region.

Monday, Coastal Cruise travelling out to Kaiteriteri Beach for our lunch stop at the Kaiteriteri Beach Motor Camp, filled with over 500 cars from 1903 to1996 models.

Tuesday,The Lake Run out to St Arnaud via the Tophouse Guesthouse and on to Kerr Bay, Lake Rotoiti for our lunch stop.

All runs were plotted to suit what type of car you were driving so you had a choice of runs to go on, Short run, Medium run or Long run. Most of the time we ended up in the same place, but some of us travelled further doing the long runs.

Wednesday, Museum Meander visiting including free entry into the Nelson Classic Car Museum. In the evening they put on "Night on the town", travel into downtown Nelson and enjoyed a meal with other Rally participants who had made the same decision.

Thursday, "Valley and River", we choose the Long Run and headed out towards Upper Moutere and ended up at the Tapawera Sports Park and School Grounds for our lunch stop, returning back through more Valleys and Rivers.

Friday, today was the Teams Relay Challenge being held at the Richmond A&P Showgrounds. Unfortunately we did not participate, but two of our Taupo members did and by all accounts had a ball.

Saturday, Public Display Day. We all parked our cars at the Richmond A&P Showgrounds for the Nelson public to enjoy Veteran and Vintage Cars from 1903 to 1996.

During the week of Historic Motoring we had beautiful fine, warm and sunny days, but the weather gods decided on Saturday that they would treat us to a little rain to damper the dust down and by lunchtime it had cleared and the public came.

We had a wonderful week, meeting up with our fellow Taupo members at the evening meals discussing what we enjoyed about the day. Thank you Team Taupo for your support, another enjoyable week motoring together.

Some facts and figures about our travel cost, not including Registration cost, Meals and Motels. Our 1930 Ford Model A travelled 1204miles (1937 km) used 63 gallons (289 litres) of fuel. 19miles/galloon.

$1000.00 fuel bill. When we left Taupo the fuel price was stable, but the further we travelled with every fill up, we didn't look at fuel price. To enjoy your Vintage Car, you have to put fuel in it and we enjoyed every gallon she drank. Would we do it again if another Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring came along? It would probably be in the North Island. The answer would be yes. But we must remember our bodies and car will be 4 years older. To sign off a special thanks should go to Ray Robertson (Festival Director) and his Festival Committee who did a fantastic job. Great job Team.

Tony and Pam Mannington

Cars at Tapawera

Tony & Pam at the Vero entry gate.

Pam next to Bruce Jefferies old Model A

Les & Colleen Clark on the Teams Challenge

Graeme & Lynette Doree on the Teams Challenge.

Les and Colleen’s Reflections on the Nelson Vero Rally

What impressed us most was driving through beautiful countryside while sharing the road with cars that represented almost the entire sweep of automotive history. The varied and pleasant rural landscapes of Nelson were the perfect complement to a glorious collection of cars. Each day showcased a different part of the region.

We generally chose the medium runs, without gravel and dust. We stopped regularly to hook in with different groups of cars. With autumn colours and sparkling cars, just driving was spectacular fun. Picnic lunch stops in accommodating settings were friendly and social. After lunch sauntering around the cars was a history lesson.

The rally organisation was flawless. Every day was different. It was really five, carefullyplanned events. Activities unfolded logically, without the need for endless house-keeping instructions.Evenings were as much fun as they could be with so many people to feed at once.

The night on the town showcased Nelson city well. The public display of cars in two big central carparks was popular with locals. We enjoyed small-group dining in the downtown restaurants that night as a break from big hall dining.

The Teams Challenge relay around the A&P Showground track was hands-down the most fun we have ever had at car club event. This was a particularly well-conceived event. It really felt like a race. Despite speed restrictions, there were opportunities enough for competitive driving. Our rear-wheel drive Alfa had an edge on bumpy, tight corners. There were Minis, Morgans and a water truck to pass for sport. Colleen loved getting stuck into streamlining the work of our pit crew.

Well done Nelson. Well done VCCNZ. Well done the Taupo Vero Rally gang. Our accommodation worked out well, thanks Tony. We enjoyed our bus adventure together to the Saturday market, even if our gold cards did not work!

Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our first big rally experience. The Cook Strait ferries conspired to upset our return journey plans, requiring a longer stay in Nelson, but we made the best of that too.

Lynette

& Graeme Doree’s Recollections

On the 13 March Graeme and I set off to participate in our first Vero National Car Rally. Car performed well which is always an encouraging start. Were booked on the 8.45 ferry crossing Saturday, however on rising that morning received a message saying it was delayed. After a couple of delays we boarded at 11.30 and had a most wonderful smooth crossing. From there it was through to Nelson.

Woke the next day to fabulous sunny Nelson weather which pretty much stayed with the entire Rally. Day 1 we collected our lunch from the Vero Rally headquarters and set off on our chosen run. A rolling start which was a great way to do it. Each day we had a choice of 4 runs, Long, medium, short or veteran short run. We chose the long run each day. Day one for us was to Kaiteriteri and return. Some days led to a very quick turnaround timewise to get to dinner. Definitely missed the pre-dinner drinks!!

Day 2 saw us heading to St Arnaud for our lunch stop stopping along the way at the historic Tophouse. After lunch at Lake Rotoiti those who chose could visit the Classic Boat Museum and Gallery before heading back to Nelson.

Day 3 was the Museum Meander. Our first stop this morning was a visit to Gardens of the world in Hope. Lovely gardens which we enjoyed and only an extra cost of $2.00. Our lunch stop today was the Higgins Heritage Park. After catching up with Barry & Vivienne we were told of the most excellent bakeries we had just driven past. We rectified that when we left Nelson at the end of the rally. The afternoon saw us head to the Nelson Vintage Car Museum where we met up with friends of ours from Auckland. That night was for us to enjoy in town whilst our cars were parked for public display.

Day 4 was to Tapawera for lunch. A good stretch of metal road on this Section. An amazing collection of vehicles for us to wander amongst and reminisce over.

Day 5 saw the Teams Relay Challenge which was great fun. There was also an opportunity to get your team together and participate in a build a bridge event. Build the bridge over water then drive over without getting tyres wet. A lot of laughs were had. A Timed event.

Day 6 Saturday saw the Public Display. Cars had to be assembled by 9.45. Once cars were parked Team Taupo decided to use our gold cards (or those of us who could) and head to the markets in town for the day.

That night was the grand Finale dinner.

Each evening there was a nice dinner and a band for those who chose to take to the dance floor. We were also encourage to dress according to the set theme. Some went all out, others didn’t try!

I thoroughly enjoyed the event, the scenery, the variety of roads, the comradery of the other participants, and was amazed to hear the oldest participant Tom Grant was 96 and very spritely I must say. He drove 1953 MGTD. Well done Tom.

A great event enjoyed by everyone.

Taupo Torque | Taupo Vintage Car Club Magazine

After the rally we had an extended stay in the South visiting friends and relatives. We even caught up with Murray & Barbara on the Bangers to Bluff rally in both Fox and Haast Came back over the strait on another perfect calm day and decided we would drive strait home due to the possibility of extreme weather . Unfortunately when we reached Taupo we blew a head gasket in the Stag at 2 mile bay and had to be trailer home.

Lynette & Graeme

Other participants from Taupo were Barry & Vivienne Hoffman and Trish Poupard & Noel Henderson.

MORE INTREPID TRAVELLERS

Rob and Jane Sachlan spent time in Australia just recently and visited a few car museums. One being the Birdwood Museum in Adelaide. Here’s a few pictures of some very interesting vehicles;

Promo car for the Olympic Games by Telecom Australia who were a team sponsor. Car is a fibreglassed body over a Volkswagon chassis. Very unique

Toyota Camry made out of Lego. That’s a lot of bricks with the detail amazing.

Australian made “Chick” roadster. 1926. Made by Clarence Chick in Adelaide between 1921 and 1929.

Based on a British design offered a choice between 4 & 6 cylinder engines. Only 50 made

Austin A30 Hippy wagon. Complete with surf boards

Holden Concept car called Marilyn. Note its left hand drive.

Nothing like a supercar on display. This one is a 2008 Bugatti Veyron EB16.4 capable of 407 km/hr.

The club is indebted to the continued support from the following sponsors.

Please support them when you can.

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