WAIMATE BRANCH OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ September 2026.
It’s been a busy month
September newsletter 2026
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COMING EVENTS. September 5th Swap meet 19th Hororata swap meet 26th Custom & Classic Poker Run October 3rd & 4th Horse Power Rally Timaru 2 – 4th October Dunvegan Rally. Dunedin. 2nd & 3rd 80th Anniversary Rally Queenstown-Cromwell-St Batharns 9 – 11th McLeans Island Swap meet 13th Senior citizens run to Wainono Homestead. Tuesday 1.30pm pick up from Senior citizens hall. November T Pot rally. Date to be confirmed.
NEXT MEETING: 17th September. 7.30 at club rooms. Clubrooms open Wednesday mornings. Lawn Mowing 2026/27
September 2026 October 2026 November 2026 December 2026 January 2027 February 2027 March 2027 April 2027 May 2027
? ? Tony Ward Owen Duthie Wayne Hullen Barry Anderson Peter Bland John Dawson Richard Terry
Wayne is asking for suggestions for a Christmas dinner get together. Contact Wayne with suggestions. 027-3726263 September newsletter 2026
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Chairman' report Chairman’s Report September 2026 August has been a busy time for the Waimate VCC, we have had multiple different events, over the month, as part of the Cancer society’s Daffodil Day fund-raising programme. First, we had the spec tactually scenic but chilly scooter run, the very well supported raffle day at the supermarket, the shop front display down the main street, the car show, the marketplace sausage sizzle and finally, that great social event, the Quiz night. The car show was very successful with 56 vehicles attending and what a great mix of old and new vehicles. From Brett’s Brush veteran to Timaru Ford’s 2026 Everest. Congratulations to Larry Goddard for winning the best vehicle trophy with his beautiful 1962 Chevrolet Corvette, well done. Our appreciation goes out to all of those who participated and those who supported us in fundraising for the Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day Appeal 2026, thank you. A huge thank you to Don and Maureen Chamberlain for co ordinating the Daffodil Day programme, excellent job. The shop front display down the main street was something new for us. Thanks to Steve, John, Peter, Fiona and Don for putting their cars on display. Thanks to Rosemary and Maureen for the coffee and cake. There was quite a bit of public interest, and it brought in a few prospective new members. Everybody had a great time at the quiz night, it was entertaining and a lot of fun. It is so good to see this kind of support from our community. Thanks, Steve, for putting it together. It is now on to the annual swap meet on the 5th September, I am sure there will be something for everyone there, so come along and” strike a bargain” at one of the sites. Swap meetings have developed into more than just a, car parts for sale, morning, they are also a great social event. There will be, as usual, food available in the clubroom’s kitchen. Keep safe on the roads in this cooler season, take care. Wayne September newsletter 2026
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Minutes VCC Waimate August Meeting Minutes 7:30 20th August 2026 Apologies, Bill Ryan, Isabel Ward, Barry and Suzanne Anderson, Owen Richardson. Apologies accepted, Trevor, seconded Tony, Carried Minutes from the July meeting circulated by the club newsletter confirmed, moved Steve, seconded Tony, Carried. Matters arising from the minutes, nil. Correspondence, Inwards; all read from the posted list from Barry. Dunvegan motorcycle rally, 2nd to 4th October, entry forms available. VCC website has been hacked, all sorted now. 2027 National South Island Rally entry forms. Bushtown Steam up weekend to be 27th and 28th February 2027. VCC head office re; members vehicles, they will be getting in touch with members to update the vehicle register. Outwards; nil Correspondence approved, moved Owen, seconded Trevor, Carried. Financial report, Moved that report be adopted and accounts paid, moved Robert, seconded Owen. Carried. Chairman’s report, Scooter run discussed, Wednesday morning meetings discussed. Parts department report, All going well with parts sales steady Hall Convenor, problems with the heat pump have be sorted out, working bee required for Daffodil Day Quiz night preparations. General Business, Peter gave a report about the Timaru shed raid. Noel Frew was welcomed as a new member. Wayne reported on the Palmerston North swap meeting. Wayne asked for suggestions for this years Christmas party. Senior Citizens run t at Wainono discussed. Circuit breakers on the main switchboard to be upgraded to thermal overload breakers for insurance compliance, Richard to get prices. Teapot rally discussed ,Wayne to sort out a date with North Otago club. Discussion on Daffodil Day requirements. Trevor gave a report on Bushtown’s request for help with engine maintenance on their trains. Peter spoke about the upcoming swap meet. Owen spoke about organising a major scooter run over 240 Km long to raise money for the Cancer Society and also the Waimate VCC. Next meeting set for 7:30 pm 17th September Meeting closed at 8:48 pm
September newsletter 2026
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Swap meet 5th September.
• Working bee 3pm on 4th (Friday). Book sites now. September newsletter 2026
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Daffodil Day Fundraising Scooter Rally
16 scooter riders attended the Scooter run on the 15th August. Cold but enjoyable ride with BBQ to follow. Report from Owen below.
It was quite a cold day for the run, got a bit damp at the top of Mill road but when we ran out of it the day wasn't to bad. Thanks to the Sixteen Scooter riders that braved the day. The riders came from as far as Milford Temuka area and one rider road his Scooter from Dunedin to Waimate took part in the ride then went up to the White Horse then road back to Dunedin. That's commitment. We travelled about 64kms taking in the northern sites as far as Makikihi then September newsletter 2026
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up past Gunn’s camp then back to the club rooms for a well-earned BBQ and a cuppa. Thanks to Sonia from the Cancer Society for taking part in the day, dressing up as a daffodil taking photos and videos. Thanks to everyone that took part in the ride and a big thanks to our club members that helped with the BBQ and the running of the very successful day. Cheers. Owen Hot BBQ food following the scooter run
Car display on Queen Street. We set up a display and opened the shop area for 4 days over the 10 days. We offered a hot drink and some food to those who came in to look. All donations to Cancer Soc for Daffodil Day fundraising. September newsletter 2026
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Car display in Queen Street. Thank you to Geoff Wallace for allowing us to use the shop front.
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Members with Wayne congratulating the winner of the people’s choice car, Larry Goddard, at the car show on Daffodil Day show.
Larry Goddard’s 327 1962 Corvette
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Sausage Sizzle at Community Market
Street car show for daffodil day. 56 cars!!!!!
Sonia (Cancer Society) sitting in Trevor’s 1912 Ford Model T at the car show for fundraising for Cancer Soc. Daffodil Day fundraiser.
September newsletter 2026
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Ford Model T Tractor Conversions The Knickerbocker Forma-Tractor was an aftermarket conversion kit introduced in 1917 that allowed farmers to transform a standard Ford Model T passenger car into a functional, low-cost farm tractor. Produced by Knickerbocker Motors, Inc. of New York (following a merger with the Farm Tractor Co. of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin), the kit provided an affordable mechanical alternative to purpose-built tractors, which frequently cost upwards of $1,200 at the time.
Mechanical Features Unlike basic bolt-on wheel conversions, the Knickerbocker kit was a comprehensive mechanical overhaul designed to handle rigorous agricultural tasks without destroying the Model T's engine and chassis: • Heavy-Duty Subframe: The kit featured a channel-section steel frame that bolted under the primary Model T chassis. This reinforced structure absorbed the heavy structural stress of plowing and drawing implements, protecting the fragile car frame from breaking. •
Gear Reduction System: Small pinion driving gears ("dog gears") were installed onto the ends of the original Model T rear axle shafts. These pinions meshed with a massive internal gear ring built into the large, cleated steel tractor wheels. This mechanical reduction drastically lowered the vehicle's speed while multiplying its torque, giving the low-horsepower car enough raw power to pull plows and disc harrows through heavy soil.
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Upgraded Cooling Package: Because a Model T car was designed for airflow at driving speeds, a stationary or slow-moving tractor would instantly overheat. To counter this, the standard Knickerbocker kit (priced between $250 and $300) included an oversized radiator, a larger cooling fan, and a dedicated water pump to modify the Model T's original thermosiphon cooling system.
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Agricultural Cleats & Drawbars: The kit swapped out pneumatic car tires for wide, 10-inch steel wheels fitted with aggressive cleats for field traction, and extended a heavy rear drawbar out the back for attaching horse-drawn implements.
Historical Legacy The conversion process typically required stripping away the Model T's body, fenders, and running boards to trim down weight and maximize clearance. This practice laid the groundwork for what American farmers colloquially termed "Doodlebugs"—home-built, hybridized tractors born out of backyard ingenuity and economic necessity. Though highly popular during the late 1910s and through the agricultural crises of the 1920s and 1930s, the market for conversion kits quickly dried up as mainstream manufacturers began mass-producing dedicated, affordable tractors (like Henry Ford’s own Fordson). Today, surviving Knickerbocker-converted Model Ts are highly prized rarities in early American agricultural history and vintage machinery circles.
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Committee Members for 2025-2026
Chairman: Wayne Hullen Vice Chairman: Peter Bland Secretary: Barry Anderson Treasurer: Robert Todd
027-3726263 0273726263 027-4852032 027-4440186
Parts Department: Richard Terry 022-6375813 Don Chamberlain 0276891002 Steve Dyson 027-4907861 Jim Boaden 027 780 0182 Bill Ryan 689-7063 Club Rooms Convener: Steve Dyson
September newsletter 2026
027-4907861
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