WAIMATE BRANCH OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ (INC)
JULY 2026
Chairman' report
Chairman’s report for July 2026
The year is certainly marching on; we are past the shortest day already. Keep safe out there, on the roads, during these winter months.
The events calendar is fairly bare at the moment but at least it gives us time to prepare for Henry Ford Day, on the 29th July, and the Daffodil Day events, in August.
Don, Maureen, Steve and I attended a meeting, held at Timaru Motors, to discuss the Daffodil Day program. This was part of the nation-wide roadshow run by Kaaren Smylie, the VCC Daffodil day co-ordinator. Others present were Sonja Sullivan and Marie Candy from the Cancer Society, Nick Hutchinson from Timaru Motors, Gary from FOMC, Nicola Day and Kevin Mercer from the SCVCC. It was an interesting meeting with lots of good ideas being raised and discussed. We are looking forward to working with the team to promote this year’s Daffodil Day events.
I am certain that the scooter run, on the 15th of August, will be another fun event and hopefully, this time, I will have all my scooter’s reliability issues sorted. Wednesday morning meetings are still well attended so feel free to drop in, all welcome.
Cheers, Wayne
WAIMATE VINTAGE CAR CLUB MINUTES 18TH JUNE 2026.
Held at the club rooms 4 Harris street a@ 7.30pm.
Welcome: Chairman's Wayne Hullen
Present; as attached
Apologies; Robert, Suzanne, Sandra, Maureen, Tony, Isabel, Owen R, Lorraine.
Moved that they be accepted; Bill. Seconded Trevor. Carried
Minutes; Minutes of the June meeting have been read circulated taken as read and confirmed. Carried
Correspondence; Inward
Rothbury Insurance Renewal
National Motorcycle Rally Entry Form
Outward: Nil Moved that the inward be accepted & outward approved. Steve. Seconded Bob Carried
Chairman's Report:
Details of meeting in Timaru with the Cancer Soc and National VCC Coordinator to be discussed in general.
National AGM Rebecca George, North Otago approached to represent Waimate and give a report. Also asked to be regional representative to VCC.
Upcoming events Henry Ford Day
Financial; Robert Todd. Moved the report be adopted & accounts paid: Barry. Seconded Bob Carried
Hall Convener: Nil report
Parts: all quiet. Wednesday Morning Successful
General
Teapot Rally to be hosted by Waimate possibly October to be confirmed.
Garage Raid possibly July to be confirmed. CONFIRMED AS 8th AUGUST.
To be arranged a Dinner for the 2 life members possibly Town & Country Club
Henry Ford Day: car display at Seddon Square
A run afterwards to be organised by Peter.
To be advertised on Facebook and to other Clubs.
Timaru Ford to supply and display a car.
To be organised a Senior Citizens Run to Peter Blands in October.
Received from a neighboring property owner Peter McFarlane a building consent to approve for a shed to be built within 600mm of our boundary. Motion: Proposal was put forward this be approved subject to suitable storm water discharge be installed and firewall protection be installed. Moved Wayne Seconded Barry. Carried
We were joined by a representative of the Cancer Soc to discuss the National Rally for Cancer and there support Daffodil Day for Cancer. A report was given on the meeting in Timaru with the National coordinator Kaaren Smylie, FOMC and Cancer Society. Timaru Ford are providing give a ways. Ideas put forward for a car display in town promoting Cancer Rally.
Next meeting 16th July 2026 Meeting closed 8.50pm
Signed chairman:
Date:
Henry Ford day 25th July
• Car display at Seddon Square, 8.30 till 12
• There will be a run organised for after the show
• Timaru Ford Dealer will supple a car to display
AUGUST
Come join us for a Car Show & Quiz Night
Car Show & Quiz Night…. Scooter Run on `15th August Saturday 22 August 2026
Street Car Show - Public Display Farmers Market at Seddon Square, Queen Street, Waimate from 10am Sausage sizzle – Gold Coin Donation
Quiz Night – Saturday Evening join us for a Quiz night at 7pm at Club rooms, Harris Street, Waimate, supper provided. Teams of no more than 6.
Scooter Run – Saturday 15 August 2026 Meet at Waimate VCC Club rooms, Harris Street Waimate at 9 am for 10 am start. BBQ to follow back at clubrooms
Radiator Cap Ornaments
Car bonnet mascots (also widely known as hood ornaments in North America) are decorative, three-dimensional sculptures traditionally mounted on the front center of a vehicle's bonnet. Originally designed in the early 1900s to serve as personalized or manufacturer-branded radiator caps, they evolved into iconic symbols of automotive luxury, brand identity, and art deco styling before largely disappearing due to safety and aerodynamic regulations.
The History and Evolution
• Practical Beginnings (1900s–1920s): Early automobiles featured external radiator caps positioned outside the engine bay. Drivers used functional gauges like the Boyce MotoMeter to monitor engine temperature from the cabin. These caps quickly became prime real estate for customisation, functioning as "luck-bringers" for highly unreliable vehicles.
• The Golden Era (1920s–1950s): As internal water pumps progressed, radiators were moved underneath the bonnet, leaving the mascot purely ornamental. Car companies hired prominent sculptors such as René Lalique, William Schnell, and Avard Fairbanks to design intricate factorystandard figures.
• The Decline (1960s–Present): Mascots were steadily phased out over concerns about aerodynamic drag, vehicle mileage, and pedestrian safety in accidents. Modern luxury manufacturers that still feature them utilize springloaded or motorized retraction systems to safely pull the ornament into the bodywork upon impact or touch.
Types and Design Themes
Bonnet mascots typically reflected the brand values or the aspirations of the car owner, grouping into distinct visual categories: Speed & Power Animals
• Jaguar "Leaper": A pouncing jaguar cast in chrome, epitomising agility and raw power.
• Dodge "Charging Ram": A rugged ram's head originally sculpted by Avard Fairbanks to symbolise durability.
• Lincoln "Greyhound": A sleek, sprinting greyhound used to convey speed and high-society prestige.
• Bugatti "Dancing Elephant": Designed by sculptor Rembrandt Bugatti, this rare ornament sat proudly on the Type 41 Royale. Goddesses & Mythological Figures
• Rolls-Royce "Spirit of Ecstasy": Also nicknamed the "Flying Lady," this figurine depicts a woman leaning forward with her arms outstretched behind her like wings, representing quiet elegance.
• Packard "Goddess of Speed": Colloquially known as the "Donut Chaser," this art deco figure features a winged woman kneeling while holding a car wheel ahead of her.
• Armstrong Siddeley "Sphinx": A winged sphinx reflecting the British marque’s slogan "as silent as the Sphinx".
Geometric & Aviation Logos
• Mercedes-Benz "Three-Pointed Star": A clean, universal emblem symbolising the company's drive for land, sea, and air dominance.
• Bentley "Flying B": A winged letter "B" highlighting the brand's early aeronautical engineering ties and racing speed.
•
The Lesser-known Knights of the Round Table
1. The knight who was afraid to fight: Sir Render
2. The unbelievable knight: Sir Real
3. The knights who were so fat they sat around a table by themselves: Sir Round and Sir Cumference
4. The undercover knight: Sir Veillance
5. The knight who came to an untimely end: Sir Cease
6. The knight who never got killed in battle: Sir Vivor
7. The knight who always guessed right: Sir Miser
8. The knight who exceeded expectations: Sir Past
9. The knight who showed up unexpectedly: Sir Prise
10. The knight who overcame obstacles: Sir Mount
11. The knight who funded the castle's operations: Sir Tax
12. The knight who kept the kingdom's maps up to date: Sir Veyor
13. The knight who drank too much: Sir Rhosis
14. The knight always called on as the first substitute: Sir Rogate
15. The most outstanding of all the knights: Sir Perb
16. The hardest knight of them all: Sir Amic
17. The knight who was most at home in a 3-ring castle: Sir Cus
18. The saddest knight of them all: Sir Rowful
19. The extra knights: Sir Perfluous and Sir Pernumerary
20. The dancing knight: Sir Prance Alot
Committee Members for 2025-2026
Chairman: Wayne Hullen 027-3726263
Vice Chairman: Peter Bland 0273726263
Secretary: Barry Anderson 027-4852032
Treasurer: Robert Todd 027-4440186
Parts Department: Bill Ryan 689-7063
Richard Terry 022-6375813
Don Chamberlain 0276891002
Steve Dyson 027-4907861
Jim Boaden 027 780 0182
Club Rooms Convener: Steve Dyson 027-4907861
Newsletter: Maureen Chamberlain 0272496525