PHOENIX Number 365 September 2026
September 2026
NUMBER 365
PHOENIX
Branch Hero and the Racing Legend RIP at 101 years.
NEWSLETTER OF THE WAITEMATA BRANCH VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND P a g e |1
PHOENIX Number 365 September 2026
WAITEMATA BRANCH DIRECTORY CHAIRMAN: CLUB CAPTAIN: SECRETARY: TREASURER: BRANCH DELEGATE: EDITOR: SCRIBE PAST CHAIRMAN: COMMITTEE:
ROBERT CHAPMAN
021 038 3281
robman@orcon.net.nz
RAY FERNER 021 754 606 waitemata@vcc.org.nz JACQUI GOLDINGHAM 09 445 8811 goldienz@orcon.net.nz JACQUI GOLDINGHAM 09 445 8811 goldienz@orcon.net.nz 027 24 55 786 michael.john.greig@gmail.com MICHAEL GREIG 094456760 Moveable Feast BRENDAN LAMAIN 021 132 4557 brendanandterry@gmail.com MIKE HOPE-CROSS, STEVE CRANCH, STEVE SHARP, RAY FERNER
COMING EVENTS Looking Forward……… Month
Waitemata
Other Events
1st Sunday of the month, Argentine Tango at Devonport Wharf, 15.3018.00 hrs.
6th Austin Club Invite. See following advert.
October
Ryders Film Night 20th Garden Run TBA
November
TBA
MG Classic Race Meeting, Manfeild
Far North Tour 6,7,8
September
December
TBA
Swap Meets
13-15th 25th Christmas Day
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PHOENIX Number 365 September 2026
Club Night. 1st September See you at the RSA Room, King George V Memorial Hall, Library Lane, Albany, 7.30 pm.
20th September Ryders Film Evening and Ice Creams, preceded by the traditional Roast Meal after the Run. This well-established event starts at the RSA Room, Library Lane, Albany at 3 p.m. following the proscribed route from the talented Steve Cranch to the Ryders establishment for the carefully chosen film from the knowledgeable Ian Goldingham. The meal is set to start at 5 pm. Notes are the preferred currency as plastic cannot be processed. Bookings are essential and immediate contact should be made with Ian Goldingham to ensure a place at this prestigious occasion. His number is 09 4458811
The Fabulous Garden Run in October. We have to await the proper time, that perfect moment, the right light on the blooms, so dear ones, the time will be sent out to you electronically, with full details and instructions. Do not despair, or lose hope. All will be revealed in glorious colour and texture! Scented airs shall arise. The memory of this day will be with you until a better day comes along. It will worth the wait. I finally throw in the creative sponge…. P a g e |3
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Far North Tour. Just the basics at this stage I’m afraid (more details will follow). • The dates (Nov 6,7,8) • We start in Whangarei on the Friday the 6th with a dinner and entry packs handed out. • Leave Saturday morning (7th) for a tour around the top of the North Island eventually arriving at Mangonui. You will need to book your accommodation now, with dinner at the Mangonui Boating Club. • Sunday 8th – make your leisurely way back to Whangarei. • That Entry forms will be out in Mid-October. Regards Stephen Atkinson, Secretary Northland Vintage Car Club 0277803307
___________________________ • We've currently got 24 VCC entrants which is brilliant! • Our grid has been confirmed with the MG Classic Racing Register, and our current entry list is attached. (See on last page of newsletter. Ed.) • Of this number, 10 are from the North Island, and 14 are from the South Island. • Hopefully, we'll get another 4 North Islanders to join us, level the numbers, and have at least 28 lined up to start. • If you've not done so already, please enter now and become part of NZ classic motorsport history! • Entry link here: https://vcc.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Invitation-MGClassic-2026andOtherFormsB.pdf • Please complete: Entry, Medical Declaration & Vehicle Safety forms and email all 3 back to: rod.corbett88@gmail.com • Stadium Pits: 19 of our pre-booked 20 are taken, but I've negotiated for another 4 or 5 spots if you get in quickly. • Any queries, or if anyone needs a bit more time to confirm their entry, please call or email me. • We look forward to you joining us for this outstanding event mid-November. • Finally, please forward this email to any of your motorsport friends who may also wish to join us. Thank you. Regards,
Rod Corbett, VCC Organiser for the MG Classic Race Meeting 2026 rod.corbett88@gmail.com +64 27 433 8772 P a g e |4
PHOENIX Number 365 September 2026
AN AUSTIN CLUB INVITE Visit to MASTERBLASTER SUNDAY 6th September
Unit X 6 Burgoyne Street Newton Meet there at 10am Peter Digby runs a Sand Blasting business where he claims “you name it, we will blast it!” He also has a very eclectic car collection It’s Father’s Day so spend the morning with us and the afternoon with family
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Daffodil Run and Car Display Our yearly event with the other local Branches of the Vintage Car Club was held on the 23rd August. It has been some time since I have attended with the WD Riley. Since it has appeared newly shod with its new set of rims laced onto the centres and newly made wheel nuts and the success of attending the R’oil Can, it has fired me up into using the car more often. Punters would not have noticed that the wheel nuts are not engraved L and R for correct placement, but have taken up a nautical development by having red and green applied, to assist with proper placement on the vehicle. It relates to the use of an Admiralty marked dash light in the car that may point to previous military use before arriving in the country. (If you think you can tell a taller tale, I swear to God you would have to tell a lie!). I did wash the car to make it more presentable on the Saturday afternoon and in attempting to turn the car around, I decided to do a U-turn in the garden so I could come down the drive nose first. Bad move. Due to the inclement weather in the last few weeks, I ended up stuck in the garden with the wheels spinning. It took a lot of time to find the jacks, planks, and other material while suffering from emotional trauma to jack the car up, put planks down and get the car out and rewash the mud splattered car. A couple of hours of time not well spent! On arrival at the North Shore Branch Clubrooms at Masons Road, cars were arriving and departing, a great mix of vintage, modern left hand drive imports; small British cars of the 50’s and 60’s, large American monoliths, flocks of Mustangs, small groups chatting away, instructions in hands with small daffodils pined to jackets. The Waitemata Branch had marshalling duties and were moving this mass of cars and peoples into groups to head off on the drive to Matakana. Inside the clubrooms were the organised donation collectors and dispensers of instructions commandeered by the indomitable Dee with powerful support from the other Branch matriarchs of Goldingham and Hope-Cross. I caught up with a few friends before leaving and took a short cut to greet the arrivals at Matakana. Here the Warkworth/ Wellsford Branch settled the arrivals into order with proper coffee dispensed and many taking the time to inspect this large array of motoring history for this great fundraising for Breast Cancer Research. There were four Rileys, best of the prewar cars, two genuine Mk IV tourers, a Kestrel Sprite and the Cranch car, an elegant creation by the Master. Amongst the parked throng were a few to me that could not be ignored. I have had little knowledge of the Scripps-Booth. It was noted as a 1918 6/40 model. On further reading at home, I found that the company was taken over by GM is powered by the 4/90 Chev engine, a motor of sporting potential. Quite an elegant veteran car. P a g e |6
PHOENIX Number 365 September 2026
Having little knowledge of the American 30’s, I was always able to pick out the Pearse Arrow, with its distinctive Archer mascot and headlights that emerged out of the mudguards. After reading of its position in the pantheon of American luxury cars and its association with Studebaker, I enjoyed looking more closely at this marque. I had a chance to see one of my cousins and his attachment to an MX5, a change from his collection of motorcycles, a fine lunch with close motoring friends, a walk along rows of well-kept and treasured parts of our motoring history. A day well spent and enjoyed, with an appointment to support and attend next year. The following pictures are by kind permission of Tim Maclean. Scripps-Booth, 6/40 1918 is on the number plate. With the 4/90 Chev ohv, it would be a spritely veteran.
The Riley showing off the new rims and laced up wheels, will last another 95 years, same as the last set and the port painted wheel nuts.
Pearce Arrow, 1933, regarded as part of The Big 3; Pearce, Packard and Peerless, American Vintage Luxury.
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Baden’s Riley 9 Tourer and the Cranch (?) 16/6 Riley
I know not what. Can we have full disclosure from someone?
A lot of Moggies including a fresh one missing a wheel.
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Haere atu ra, o te rangitera! Ka hinga te totara i te waonui a Tane! Farewell, O noble Ariki. The great Totara falls in the forest of Tane. Les Harris, the racer who we enjoyed has passed the checkered flag and on to other tracks at 101 years. With his presence at our hill climbs and other events, he was a sprightly, engaging and vibrant example how we should live and enjoy life, one of passion and one so loved by his family and friends. As a Branch, we had the privilege to see him at the Chelsea Hill Climb and at the event at Mananui, near Pakari Beach and at the Classic Racing Register events. We shared in the celebration of his presentation of the Guiness World Record for being the oldest competitive motorcycle racer. There is a Celebration of his life to be held on Friday,18th September. Te Atatu South Community Centre, 247 Edmonton Road, Te Atatu South. 12.30-7pm. The Family asks if you can attend in vintage vehicles for this event. There will be great memories to share and Les’s music, including country. Below is a link to a film: The Les Harris Story. https://vimeo.com/stagetwomediahouse/zeroto100
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The Long Way Home: Part Four A road trip into the past with Ian and Jacqui Goldingham It wasn’t until the beginning of May that the situation over the Inter-islander Ferries had resolved into anything resembling a reliably consistent timetable. So, we rebooked our return Bluebridge tickets and flew back to Christchurch on Saturday 2nd May to pick up our M type. I will say at this point I should have quit while I was still ahead but I had a stubborn streak to get the old girl home and deal with her problems there, overrode commonsense. It had been drawn to my attention that there was little suction being developed by the rear carburettor and heaps by the front. This was puzzling as both carbs had been balanced perfectly back in Napier. As the car would run reasonably via the balance tube it was decided to get going and deal with the problem when the resources allowed. We got away on Monday the 4th May and made a quick invitational side trip to Andy Fox’s Farm in the Greta Valley for our lunch break after which I left my cap behind! It was back out onto SH 1 and up to Kaikoura for the night. The next morning all packed up and ready to go and the electrical gremlins came back with a vengeance. It wasn’t the battery this time, but an hour of self-diagnosis didn’t help.
Number one position in the Lea Francis for electrical diagnosis It’s a phone call to the local auto electrician who finally traces it back to the “Lucas” battery isolating switch made by Temu in China. It had been newly fitted but had lasted all of two months before the internal plastic inlay had fractured, fallen apart and dead shorted out! Crisis averted we continued up the coastline with a roadside stop to see the new pups at the seal
colony and admire the gorgeous snow-capped mountain landscape of the Kaikoura Ranges.
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PHOENIX Number 365 September 2026
On to Blenheim for a quick stop in at the Omaka Aviation Museum to by a new cap. Then across town to my old Singer colleague Barry Wilson for some assistance with an essential check of the Meadows engine’s tappett clearances. Sure enough No 4’s had drifted from the specified 6 & 8 thou all the way out to 28 & 40 thou! No wonder she wasn’t breathing correctly1 I also did a plug change due to the soot build up and was pleased with the result. Then it was over to Picton for the night as we had an early morning ferry booking. Pre dawn and we were down at the treminal and loaded smoothly aboard, 5 weeks later than planned!
Disembarking into Wellington, it was miserable, with incoming heavy rain we stopped to put the hood up and change the plugs, by which stage the squall had ceased and we crawled out of the capital up the Ngauranga Gorge. A passing truck managed to suck my new cap clean off my head and out into the middle of the motorway never to be seen again. The rest of the day was a constant grind Northwards with smooth running on the flat but the ocassional misfiring on the hills. We did another plug clean and clean at Waiouru before tackling the higher slopes of Central Plateau’s Desert Road. Althought it started with fine blue skies, soon the cloud cover descended and it was a steady battle between maintaining momentum and having enough visibility to navigate safely. Finally we made it down the gullies, just before sunset and thankfully into Turangi before the rain came down over night. Next morning after dutifully bailing out the toneau cover, we motored up the eastern side of Lake Taupo. Unfortunately the LeaF began to back fire through the carbs in a bizarre pattern and of course I suspected the plugs were playing. But a plug change didn’t help and I was starting to get rather concerned. Fortunately I decided to pop the distrbutor cap on the magneto and was horrified to find a quarter teaspoon of caborn dust free floating inside which was causing mayhem with the firing order! Prompty this was flushed out and the cap cleaned up and we were off in much happier state. The miles sailed by and we made it into Tirau for a fuel stop and one last plug change before tackling the home run. No just luck, 500 meters out of the township and the misfiring erupted again. Surely not we’ve only driven 150 kms since cleaming the mag cap out! But no, same scenario with another dusting of carbom accumlated in the cap. We sort it out and decide to take the SH 27 route home as it’s quiter and flatter. Progress across the Hauraki plains is stable and all is well until at the very top of the Bombay hills when yet another thumping big truck sweeps along side and sucks Jacqui’s favourite cap right off my head. Enough is enough, I pull the Lea Francis over in a layby and stork back to recover the from 3 lanes of 100 kph Highway. Bad idea, but 8 minutes later I’m paritally successful, the cap is in my hands and I have severely pulled back muscles from a rapid return sprint from the median.Fortunately the adrenaline surge masks the pain and we make moderate progress into Auckland at the head of the rush hour. 72 Days & 4,000 Kms late we finally got the little LeaF back home, the long way! P a g e | 11
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A Macau on the R’Oil Can Rally An adventure without Morley For those unfamiliar with the Waitemata Vintage Car Club's R’Oil Can Rally, it's a one-day, top-down test of endurance. You start with no idea where you'll finish, but one thing is guaranteed – adventure. The 2026 R’Oil Can would be my third. The first was with Dad. We headed north in a 1970s Triumph Herald Vitesse convertible, eventually finishing in the Bay of Islands. We'd navigated successfully, enjoyed every minute, and apparently organizer Pete Benbrook had noticed our enthusiasm throughout the day. As first-time entrants we certainly weren't expecting much, so when the results were announced and the father-and-son combination found themselves standing on the top step of the podium, we were more than a little surprised. Of course, with victory comes responsibility, and organizing the following year's rally became our reward. Twelve months later, as former Kaukapakapa locals, we started at Gibbs Farm and once again headed north, this time finishing on the west coast at Hokianga Harbour. It was another unforgettable day. Sadly, it would also be Dad's last R’Oil Can. Only weeks later he was diagnosed with lymphoma and, in January this year, he passed away to what I'd like to think is the greatest race track in the sky. As the 2026 rally approached, there was never any doubt that I wanted to continue Morley Faulkner's adventurous spirit. The question was who would join me. There was really only one answer. My son Noah. At just twelve years old, he'd already well and truly caught the motorsport bug. Navigator sorted. Now for the car. The Herald Vitesse from our previous rallies was sidelined with oil leaks and no current WOF, leaving only one real option — Dad's pride and joy, the Macau Spitfire that we'd built together. Dad had raced at every opportunity, whether on the circuit or in hill climbs, but the Macau had never ventured anywhere near gravel. I'd suggested taking it on the 2024 R’Oil Can and was met with an emphatic "No." That was the end of that conversation. Now the car was in my care, I couldn't think of a better way to honour him than by taking it on the adventure he'd never quite agreed to. A quick message to organiser Nigel Hunter-Russell followed. "The roads are the best I've ever seen," he assured me. "Smooth, no loose gravel or potholes. Perfect for the Macau." Entry paid. We were in. Taking Nigel at his word—but not entirely trusting him—I decided a few rally modifications were sensible. A custom aluminum sump guard was fabricated (unsurprisingly there isn't an off-the-shelf version for a Macau Rally Spitfire), rubber shielding was fitted around the wheel arches and exposed brake and fuel lines, and the Weber carburetors received a foam filter to cope with the dust I was expecting. Space, however, was the real challenge. The Macau has virtually no luggage capacity, so Noah and I had to become expert packers. Somehow, we squeezed in dry clothes, tools, spare parts, fluids, fuel, a jack, spare wheel and enough equipment to keep an ageing Triumph alive hundreds of kilometres from civilization. The morning of the rally began unexpectedly. Before the alarm had a chance to sound, we were woken by a violent jolt. A magnitude 5.9 earthquake had struck south of Taumarunui. No alarm clock required. With the waterproof bag strapped to the back of the Macau, Noah wearing a helmet more for warmth than safety (there's no aeroscreen on his side), and both of us layered in enough clothing to survive Antarctica, we headed for the Fat Kiwi Café in Ōtorohanga.The turnout was fantastic.
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We collected our route instructions from Nigel and set off into the unknown Waikato countryside. It wasn't long before the tarmac disappeared. For over 150 miles. Nigel hadn't exaggerated. When he'd recce'd the roads weeks earlier, they really had been magnificent. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other ideas. Overnight rain combined with the earthquake had scattered rocks, slips and washouts across the route. For most competitors it wasn't a problem. They had ground clearance. We had about three inches. From that point on, I suspect we graded the road for everyone behind us. The opening leg climbed steadily to the highest point of the rally. Any thoughts of enjoying the scenery quickly disappeared as we dodged rugby ball-sized rocks, straddled washouts that looked enormous from our low driving position, picked our way through slips and even negotiated wandering goats. Thankfully Noah was reading the notes brilliantly. Following the experienced crews ahead, we eventually rolled into Piopio School for morning tea. After two wet, cold hours behind the wheel, hot soup and tea tasted magnificent. A quick change into dry clothes for Noah and we were off again. The Macau, remarkably, hadn't missed a beat. Leg Two was where the real adventure began. Not long after returning to the gravel I heard a noise I'd secretly been expecting all day. The unmistakable scraping of a muffler dragging along the road. We pulled over and confirmed the obvious. The exhaust and muffler had gone their separate ways. As always on the R’Oil Can, help wasn't far away. Steve and Melissa stopped almost immediately. I cut the muffler free from its hanger (sorry Dad), loaded it into their car—they appreciated the extra warmth—and we carried on. For the next twenty minutes the remaining exhaust scraped its way across rural Waikato while I drove along the crown of the road, desperately searching for every millimetre of extra clearance. Eventually enough was enough. Out came the tools. Everything was unpacked. The jack was deployed. The spare wheel became a prop. Now all I needed was fencing wire. A nearby fence kindly donated some. The next forty minutes felt like a one-armed paperhanger trying to twist high-tensile wire into place underneath a hot exhaust with virtually no room to work. Meanwhile, in a moment of wonderful irony, organiser Nigel—whose reassuring words about smooth roads had convinced me to bring the Macau—had suffered a puncture only a few hundred metres behind us. Worse still, he didn't have a wheel brace that fitted. Fortunately, a passing farmer did. Considering we hadn't seen another vehicle all day, that was extraordinary luck. Nigel and Jeff eventually caught us and, proving considerably better prepared than I was, produced a bag full of heavy-duty cable ties. Problem solved. Well, temporarily. Before we left, Noah managed to distribute the contents of the toolbox across what can only be described as a muddy goat track. His only mistake of the day After another thirty minutes of gravel punishment we finally arrived at Ōhura Valley School for lunch just as everyone else was leaving. A quick bite to eat and we were back into the hills. The final leg was undoubtedly the toughest. The earthquake had littered the roads with even more debris, but the little Macau simply kept going. It clambered over rocks, through mud, across washouts and over endless gravel. The exhaust needed securing once more. This time with eight cable ties. It wasn't pretty, but it worked. The scenery was spectacular. This is a part of New Zealand that few people ever see, and to experience it from behind the wheel of a classic Triumph felt incredibly special. Eventually the finish drew closer. The final twenty kilometres of gravel felt like two hundred. By then I had absolutely no idea where we were. We could just as easily have been on the outskirts of Wellington. The only objective was getting the Macau to the finish. As we crested the final hill and Timber Trail Lodge came into view, the Spitfire—now sounding more like the aircraft it was named after than a Triumph sports car—rolled across the line. We'd made it, Father and son. In Dad's Macau. He probably would have questioned my sanity for taking it on gravel in the first place, but I like to think he'd also have been immensely proud that it had survived torrential rain, freezing temperatures, an earthquake, endless gravel roads and still carried us all the way to the finish. A hot shower, a great meal and prizegiving followed before we climbed back into the Macau the next morning for a bitterly cold 120-kilometre drive back to Ōtorohanga. P a g e | 13
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It completed that journey just as faithfully. Being able to share an event like this across three generations is something I'll never take for granted. As a young flag marshal at HRSCC meetings, helping out with Dad I never imagined one day I'd be passing that same love of motoring on to my own son. Then again, with Morley Faulkner's adventurous spirit running through our family, perhaps I should have known all along. Noah is already planning the next R’Oil Can. Whether the Macau agrees... we'll just have to wait and see.
Piers Faulkner
(There was so much enjoyment of the run, another article was needed. The Editor.)
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Chairman’s Words / Pronouncements. It is with great pleasure to inform you that our branch, together with Wellsford/Warkworth and North Shore raised $3500 for the Cancer Society Daffodil Day. Over 145 cars registered at the NS club rooms. Many just to donate to the cause and did not participate on the tour thank you. The Matakana car park, the destination was overflowing with cars and crowds of people. Our branch organiser for the event Dee Humphries put in a lot of work behind the scenes. Not only coordinating with the other branches but for three weeks prior to the event every week dressed a number of vintage Fords at North Harbour Ford at their show room with a Daffodil Display. A sterling effort the branch applauds you. Rob Chapman.
Editorial Commentary. With our aging club membership, members pass as we see with the Branch Pinup, the legend, Les Harris. I note from the Auckland Branch that Bob Ballantyne, early member of the North Shore Branch when it started and served on served on local and national levels passed away during the month. The other member of the Auckland Branch was John Meharry who was at one time an owner and driver of the WD Riley that I maintain. He recommissioned the car in the mid 1960’s when it was discovered as a farm truck in the Dome Valley north of Warkworth. He made a roadster back to replace the missing back of the car. It was later removed and I believe restored and placed on a Chev chassis to make a new roadster. With the article from Piers describing his son, Noah, enjoying the R’oil Can, please try to encourage your descendants to get into your vehicles and become active drivers in the club, for all our salvation! Michael Greig, co-editor. P a g e | 15
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‘Goss Section……. There are a few very interesting useable and sporting high-performance motorcycles coming up for new people to use and look after. Certainly not wanting to hear that they end up in a collection of Silence, Darkness and Immobility. If interested in knowing of further details please contact the Editor. There are also some vehicle remains that may suit someone starting off to build a special for grass gymkhanas, trails or for a hill climb career. These may not require road registration and can be used in off road situations. It has been announced that the saviour of Austin, Riley and other great marques has decided to take his rest from the hard toil of vintage maintenance and take down his slate. The Hero of mechanical repair, Ryan MacDonald, of the well respected ‘Mac’s Garage, is closing shop and resting his weary limbs after many years’ service to the vintage motoring community. It is a great loss and we wish him well in his rest from the grease, oil, dirt and strained joints. Many thanks for your years of Service!
Weather changing? Time for work in the garden? P a g e | 16
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Look forward to inviting Charles and his family to our branch and events. Congratulations to Louis and the Clan McNair P a g e | 17
PHOENIX Number 365 September 2026
2025 VCCNZ AGM Waitemata Delegates Report The NZVCC’S 2025 AGM and 80th year celebration was hosted by Manawatu Branch who utilised the Distinction Coachman Hotel in Palmerston North as its base. Cathy Clements with her able team had organised a really full-on programme of events. As usual on early on Friday evening there was the meeting to welcome on board whose members who will be serving on what is now the National Committee. They are as detailed below: PRESIDENT CLUB SECRETARY/TREASURER George R. Kear Murray Trounson Club Captain Northern Region Club Captain Southern Region Tracey Winterbottom Mark Wilkinson Upper North Is Rep Mid North Is Rep Lower North Is Rep Ian Goldingham Clive Taylor Glyn Clements Upper South Is Rep Rebecca George
Mid-South Is Rep Glenys McKenzie
Beaded Wheels Editor Kevin Clarkson
Speed Steward Ray Sanders
Lower South Is Rep Andy Fox Registrar Neil Bekenham
This year’s AGM was the first to be held under our new Constitution and represented a bit of a transitional event, where some elements of how things were set up and its presentation were in a state of flux. In particular there was no longer the Management committee set up in the “Last Supper” top table format. Unfortunately, not being seated at tables as usual, made writing notes as we went along, rather difficult.
We proceeded to work through the agenda at a steady rate. Murray Trounson presented the financial reports and pointed out that individual Branches must ensure they are operating under the correct income tax code propionate to their annual income and assets. Also, that their new constitutions are correctly worded in regards to their financial records being “reviewed” rather than audited. This means we only have to use a charted accountant to sign them off each year. Financially whilst we had an extremely good year for 2025-6 due to the highly successful sale of the Aberdeen St property, the club is continuing to be faced with rising costs from all quarters and the projection for the 2026-7-year budget forecasts a deficit of approximately $129K. Therefore, a decision about an increase in the subscription needs to discussed in the near future.
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The Waitemata Branch remit regarding a clear line of communication with Vero Insurance was read out rather than a printed copy to delegates. It prompted a fair bit of debate which was diverted by the President divulging an alternative proposal which may or may not solve the problem. We have left it in the Support Office’s hands to see if they can formulate a resolution? Saturday’s AGM started off with a brief welcome by Gary Smith the Mayor of Palmerston North. There was a really energetic talk from Mandy Evans of the Cancer Society about the Road Trip she and Kaaren Smylie had done round all the Ford Dealerships of Aotearoa. The John. SL. Goddard Award was not awarded this year due to all three nominees not fulfilling the criteria of inspirational efforts at a National Club level. In the past financial year, the following presentations have been made: 34 - 50 Year Badges, 11 - 60 Year Badges, and 4 - 70 Year Badges; The following national events for 2027 have now been locked into the Calendar of Events. Northland Branch’s Northland Tour will on 7th-8th November 2026 which is Election Weekend. The 2027 South Island National Easter Rally 26th – 29th March will be a held by Otago Branch. It will be based from the Edgar Centre in Dunedin it will have 2-days of motoring, Afterwards Otago will run a post rally back roads adventure for pre-1932 cars, out along the Tairie Plains. This year there was clearly more consultation between neighbouring branches so that our National Calendar was more cohesive with less clashes. Kevin Clarkson was at last, lost for words when he was made a Life member of the VCCNZ, in thanks for all his years at the helm of our Beaded Wheels Magazine. Kaaren Smylie was awarded the Presidential Award for her dedicated efforts in developing and expanding the Vintage Car Clubs National Rally Day’s involvement with the Cancer Society. In the Afternoon we split away into our regional groups to discuss just how, where and why we would organise our communication structures so that all information flows through to the regional rep, and back in a timely manner. It was thought that there should be a zoom meeting with the regional branches 2 weeks before our Christchurch National committee meetings. This would allow any feedback to reach the representative in plenty of time. Otherwise, communication would be via email as required, and perhaps a visit by the representative to branches at least annually. There was seen in the future there would be little or no need for the March national delegates meeting.
The 80TH Birthday Cake about to be sliced asunder by our five Life Members Jacqui Goldingham Branch Delegate P a g e | 19
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Remit for discussion by VCCNZ Executive at the AGM August 2026 Submitted by Waitemata Branch
Proposed by Michael Hope Cross and Robert Chapman
For VCCNZ National Executive Due to a variety of direct experiences by our members when dealing with the offices of Vero Insurance Co Ltd. It appears that there is an ongoing problem, when the Vero Contact doesn’t know about Vintage Car insurance, it’s intent or the specifics of what the policy covers. Due to this lack of ability by Vero employees handling claims on behalf of VCC members, they have created undue stress and costs, due to not knowing policy conditions and in particular the needs of VCC members. (See attached affidavit by Rob Chapman) Therefore, Waitemata Branch of the VCCNZ wish to submit the following remit / motion 1: Vero needs to provide a designated National personal employee to be responsible to advise on the coverage of the VCC member’s claim and arrange for it to be dealt with in a timely manner. 2: That Vero should also have a “one stop shop” national contact phone number. i.e. no overseas call centre. This number and any of the relevant contact details need to be constantly published in each issue of Beaded Wheels as a matter of course. 3: The VCC need to have a clear procedure on the steps / requirements to lodge a claim. i.e. this should be part of our online documentation and be a prefix form to be attached to the claim. This would ensure that the paper work ends up on the right desk at Vero. We need to know where that desk is, and who we should be conferring with. Particularly if we become responsible for “project managing” the repairs, which is becoming more common due to the lack of professional services.
Proposed by Robert Chapman Chairman Waitemata Branch Seconded by Mike Hope Cross Committee Member Waitemata Branch
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PHOENIX Number 365 September 2026
PHOENIX The OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER of THE WAITEMATA BRANCH of the VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF N.Z. INC.
CLUB NIGHT Tuesday 1st September 7.30 pm at the RSA Room, King George V Memorial Hall, Library Lane, Albany. Take Exit 410 Oteha Valley Road. Travel west along Oteha Valley Road, ahead through 2 roundabouts and straight ahead at Traffic Lights into Albany Highway then almost immediately RIGHT into Library Lane then very soon go right again into the parking area. The RSA Room is at the rear.
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PHOENIX Number 365 September 2026
MG Classic 2026 : VCC Entry List (as at Friday 21 August) Kevin ANDERSON: 1960 Cooper T52 #24 Hamish ANDREW: 1959 Buckler Mk17 Bryan ASHWORTH: 1960 Daimler SP250 Dart #250 Mark BARRETT: 1962 Lotus 23B#12 Tracey BARRETT: 1963 Lotus 23C #65 Peter BENBROOK: 1959 Gemini Mk2 FJ #57A Kevin CLEMENS: 1954 Jaguar Mk7 #7 Paul COORY: 1959 CAE Sprint Car # 327 Bill COWIE: 1963 Spangeralli #177 James COWIE: 1965 Shadetree Mk2#771 Mike CREHAN: 1958 Nota Streamliner #63 Paul DUNKLEY: 1964 Jaguar E Type #42 Ray FERNER: 1931 BSA Special #1 Paul GREANEY: 1963 Lotus 23B #223 Roger GREANEY: 1956 Buckler#128 Russell GREER: 1959 Stanton-Corvette#53 Jon HAACK: 1955 Triumph TR3 #44 Colin HEY: 1958 Wolseley 1500 #57 Grant KERN: 1950 MGTD#39 Greg NOLLER: 1956 MGA #14 Doug RANYARD: 1961 Austin A40 Farina #6 Nigel RUSSELL: 1960 FMZ FJ #30 Peter SMITH: 1959 Mistral Sport #160 Kevin STEVENSON: 1965 Shadetree Mk1 #236 P a g e | 22
PHOENIX Number 365 September 2026
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September 20th will bring our Film Evening to Ryders for our meal and ice-cream treat. It is your chance to decide the film and discuss this with the organiser, Mr. Goldingham.
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PHOENIX Number 365 September 2026
October will offer us a Garden Visit which will be a chance to see a notable display. Once again, details will emerge later. The Wet, Cold and sometimes very Windy but Inspiring 2026 R’oil Can – Dee Humphreys Yes, a damn fine splendid event even if the other half of the Humphreys team, says, “never again”!! On a sunny warm winter evening in June, I asked Kevin how he’d feel if I’d self-invite the Humphreys to join the Beesley Talbot Team to help make up the numbers needed for this 2026 “Can”. Of course, Kevin, who was backed into a corner said yes, but reminded me of how cold it could be in the back seat of the Talbot. Yes, yes, but we The Fat Kiwi Café 7.30am parking is at a have all the right ‘gear’ and so on Friday premium: 4th car in line up Model A 24th July afternoon wrapped up in 5 layers Phaeton Tony Perbensen & Mike Stuart of clothes and virtually unable to even turn a head let alone talk, the new Talbot Team of Beesley-Humphreys set off at a fair clip towards Otorohanga. The real winter had arrived and we had a little rain on route but it was very cold and oh boy! black, black, black skies were ahead. A large group staying at the Otorohanga Waitomo Motel got a shuttle to the Cosmopolitan Club for dinner and by then it is chucking it down and to top the evening off we experienced a 5.9 Nigel Russell & Jody Grigg prepare us for the “Can” start
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