Greetings members, and welcome to the September edition of your Rivet. As I begin this editorial, I am not entirely sure what to write about, so I will let my pen do the talking and jot down whatever comes to mind. There are three subjects I want to mention, however. First, it is wonderful that our VCC organisation supports the Cancer Society every year through the Daffodil fundraiser. I doubt there's a family in our branch that hasn't been affected by cancer. I know of some men in our branch who have faced death from prostate cancer, including myself. The symptoms are unpleasant, that’s for sure. The prostate checks can be uncomfortable, depending on the size of the doctor's fingers, if you catch my drift. I vividly remember meeting my new GP, a South African man with large, thick fingers and knuckles! “Bloody hell, Doc,” I said, “maybe send the nurse in if you must do this. I've just had radiation and chemo, so I expect everything up there will be as clean as a whistle.” Take it like a man, I was told. So, I did. Seriously, guys, if you don’t have at least an annual check-up, take the initiative and get one. Just bend over, think of England or your favourite car, and it will be over before you know it. The problem, as my oncologist told me, is that only 80% of men can be accurately diagnosed with the finger-up-the-bum and blood test methods. A PET scan is the only method that's 100% accurate, according to both my urologist and oncologist. Watch for any issues down below, such as flow problems, and ask your GP for a blood test to check PSA levels the most painfree test. Just get it done. Prostate cancer is the second biggest cancer killer of men in NZ, claiming around 700 lives each year, with 4000 men being diagnosed. Our women are certainly not immune to other cancers, as my own family has recently experienced. I am not qualified to go into detail about this, as I don't have sufficient knowledge about the female form. I would welcome a lady member to cover this subject and write about it in this column. It could be quite enlightening. We cannot simply ignore this killer disease and its consequences without regular check-ups and frank discussions. Similarly some men out there may have their story on cancers
The second topic I want to discuss is the upcoming Vero Rally in Nelson next year. Although entries are closed, I understand that limited late entries may still be accepted at a penalty fee. It’s fantastic to see that the Vero is full, with over 500 entries received. Brilliant. I’m really looking forward to the week in Nelson, as long as the weather is favourable. Frances and I are all booked and will be towing our caravan behind the old Holden to explore a few spots while we're in the South Island. We’re eager to visit Kaikoura and go whale watching. Frances is particularly keen on visiting some art centres. I hope that those of us from our branch can spend some time together in Nelson rather than just splitting into different groups. Frances and I will be meeting up with VCC friends from Hawkes Bay and staying at Tahuna Beach Holiday Park, near Nelson. However, we also hope to connect and spend some time with our Wanganui crew.
The third topic I want to discuss is the Shiny Parts Night. I enjoy these auctions and the humour they bring, especially when someone successfully bids on a ‘junk’ item and then gives it to another member. Laughter is the best medicine. Anyway, at the time of writing this column, I do not know how much money was raised from the auction, but I assume that either Bill or Wayne will include this in their reports. I hope that you enjoy reading this edition of your Rivet.
That’s all from me for another month, yours in cruising, Editor Ian.
Chairman's Report — September 2025
The Daffodil Run went off very smoothly thanks to Wayne’s organising. There were 68 vehicles which I was pleased to see included 2 motorcycles – an old Indian war bike and a BSA Gold Star. There was $1503.00 raised to support our local Cancer Society (a very worthy cause).
Last month’s guest speaker was Michael Eden talking about his saloon car racing experiences both in New Zealand and overseas. I see in the news that both Michael and his wife are off to race at Mount Panaroma in Bathurst in the near future. Good luck to them both.
Last Wednesday night was the annual Shiny Parts Auction and a lot of fun was had by all as is usual. Thank you to all who donated goods and to all who snapped up a bargain or two. There was $1,385.00 raised to go into our coffers and help keep the club running. Huge thanks to all who helped, especially Ian with his eggs and Neil with his honey.
Chairman Bill
Messages from Secretary Frank
1. 'VCC Wanganui Name Badges' just saying any Club Members who would like to order a name badge at a cost of $25 each to contact Frank James, and
2. New Postal Address for VCC National Office. With the move to new office premises our National Office has a new postal address: P O Box 76063, Northwood, Christchurch 8548
Club Captain’s Report— September 2025
After having to push the August club night back a week due to an untimely pole fuse blowing and cutting power to the club room, we had a good turn out of people to hear an interesting talk from Michael Eden on his time racing overseas on different tracks and different classes of cars.
The Daffodil Rally went well with a number of people enjoying a great day driving around while supporting a great cause. The weather played it’s part again with a beautiful warm and sunny day for the 2025 rally. With 68 entered and plenty of raffle tickets being sold, we raised over $1500 for the Whanganui Cancer Society.
This year was a scatter run like Peter and Keith ran a few years ago, where you choose your own route and answer questions in the 2 hour time limit. This years winner was Damian Johnson in a 1966 Ford Cortina. This was the first Daffodil Rally he has done and is keen to do more.
A big thank you to the sponsors Ford NZ, Wanganui Motors, The Tool Shed, Pak n Save and Wanganui Garden Centre. These businesses donated all the great prices.
Thank you also to those who volunteered to help with registering, marking etc., which helped make the day such a success. Eilidh out did herself with some delicious cup cakes with daffodils made from icing .
This months Sunday run on the 21st has been organised by Pierre and Sietse with a short drive before stopping at Q-West Boat Builders, leaving from the VCC rooms at 12:30pm. Afternoon tea will be back at the club rooms after the run and the visit to Q-West Boat Builders.
Happy motoring Wayne
The Pitkethley Family
This month, I have great pleasure of featuring the Pitkethley family. As you all know, Eilidh and her charming daughter, Siobhan, are the Kitchen Managers for our branch, and they do a superb job. Eilidh is a professional caterer and baker, as shown by the wonderful meals she often prepares for the branch, not to mention the fabulous High Tea events organised by the Pitkethley family. Husband Gene and son Angus also help the two ladies with catering at the branch. I'm not entirely sure if they assist with the cooking, though. I suspect that the two women in the family set the terms for this aspect. At Club Nights and afternoon teas, Eilidh is always at the forefront, organising tea, coffee, and finger foods. She told me with a laugh that she prefers to be behind the scenes and was initially not very comfortable with sharing their family story in these pages. I am glad I convinced her otherwise.
Siobhan is somewhat of a sporting superstar, representing New Zealand in women’s rink hockey, and has travelled overseas with the team. Is the next step the Olympics?
The Pitkethley’s are a lovely and welcoming family and a real asset to our branch. Especially since they are a younger couple, and both their son and daughter are interested in the VCC. These are precisely the generations of people we need to encourage, not crusty old individuals like myself! Here is their story, submitted by Eilidh. Editor Ian
My fascination with vintage cars began as I sat on the farm fence watching the old cars rumble past. I was about 7...a few years ago. I said to myself “I'm going to get me one of those cars one day”. It was another 15 yrs before I did.
My first car was a 1975 Ford Escort, which I upgraded to a Mazda 323, as the Ford broke down a few too many times on the Auckland motorway. That's a story for another time. Several more years passed and Gene and I met, we had similar interests in the vintage car scene, and then Gene came home from work one day saying “Have a look at this” and so it began, we ventured up to Whangaparaoa, with Gene’s bosses Mark IV Ford Cortina Station Wagon and a borrowed car trailer in tow to pick up the 1934 Chevy Junior.
This then underwent the paint job that it still has, due to be upgraded now, and had some electrics done, also needing a look over, then onto another car trailer and down to my family’s farm, as storage in Auckland was way too expensive. We then moved it to Whanganui a while later, as we were preparing to travel on our big OE. Gene drove it from the farm to his parents place, sitting on an unsecured beer crate as the seats had yet to be upholstered and fitted. Only had two issues on this trip, the first one was a blowout on the front passengers side tyre just south of Mimi, State Highway 3. The second issue was a dead generator that only became apparent when we needed to use the headlights and by that stage we were in Patea. Thankfully the local garage there had a couple of batteries that we bought and proceeded to limp carefully down to his parents place.
Gene and a good friend of his worked on the upholstery and the car was able to be stored at his upholstery workshop, and then we went overseas. Nine and a half years later, we came home and found that Gene’s friend had sold his upholstery business, and the car had been moved into storage into the garage space, underneath the old Palm Lounge Restaurant along with Gene’s fathers 1955 Studebaker Champion. It was at this stage that we found out that the car had become an item of interest with the local Vintage Car Club and so we joined and have been members ever since.
The Pitkethley Family
We still have the 1934 Chevrolet Junior (slow restoration underway), we also now have 1966 Volkswagen Beetle that is going to become Siobhan’s next car (slightly faster restoration)
Gene has his hot rod that he has been building, creating from ground up, fabricating the chassis, body work, and guards meticulously formed on the English wheels and other bits put together to form a complete automobile based very loosely on a Type 35 Bugatti Boat Tail.
Shortly after joining the car club, I put my hat into the club "ring" in the kitchen and put my hand up to help with functions and supporting events like the autumn Motorcycle Rally. Over the years I have helped with assorted lunches and dinners for various events, with the children and husband often helping in the kitchen as well.
We have appreciated the wonderful support over the years from club members and folks that have become friends along with great advice and support taking us in their cars on runs and lending us their cars to join in with. Always an inspiration to get that Chevy out the shed and on the road.
More recently in the last couple years we have great appreciation to the many club members that have provided fundraising support for Siobhan in helping get her to overseas events playing rink hockey for the New Zealand women's team.
Top left: 1966 VW under restoration.
Top right: 1934 Chevrolet Junior also under restoration. A Blue Flame Chevy 6 is tucked under the bonnet.
Left: Gene proudly beside his build from scratch hot rod. Another project car. Holden 350 V8 and 5 speed Celica with Jag diff. Wire spoke wheels.
Thank you to the Pitkethley family for opening up their garage doors for a peek inside, plus of course, their story into the VCC. Editor Ian.
Annual Daffodil Day 2025
By Editor Ian
This annual run mainly aims to raise funds for a very worthwhile cause, the Cancer Society. It also provides a lot of fun and presents the VCC in a very positive light within the community. As of now, $1,500 has been raised, with the final total yet to be determined. Our thanks go to four local Whanganui businesses Whanganui Motors, The Tool Shed, Whanganui Garden Centre, and Whanganui Pak N Save for their generous donations of prizes for the top winners on the run, as well as raffles and spot prizes.
Sixty-eight vehicles lined up on a sunny winter’s day, each with instructions for thirty designated locations across the city and outlying areas, where participants answered questions about each site within a two-hour window. This was a scatter run with entrants buzzing around in all different directions, returning to our clubrooms shortly after 3 pm, where our busy kitchen team, led by Eilidh and Siobhan Pitkethley, served afternoon tea before the prizegiving. The main awards for the run were as follows:
First: Damian Johnson, accompanied by his delightful 7-year-old daughter, Audrey. Pictured on the right with the shield and their 1966 Mk.1 Ford Cortina below.
Second: Matt and Janelle Andrews.
Third: Hinemoa Ransom-Boyd and Russell Cameron.
On the following Thursday, many members gathered at the Whanganui Cancer Society headquarters on Koromiko Road for another enjoyable event – delivering daffodils and baskets of goodies to various businesses in the town to raise further funds for the Society. As I mentioned, this truly is a fun event, chatting with members and Society staff after giving out the goodie bags and flowers. Within half an hour to an hour, we were all back at the Cancer Society, enjoying their traditional, lovely homemade biscuits and cake, along with tea and coffee a most pleasant time. We were made very welcome, and they appreciated our help.
Special thanks to our members who organised both events, especially to our Club Captain, Wayne Gedye, for setting up the scatter run on Sunday, and Frank James, for sourcing the prizes and coordinating the Thursday deliveries. Thanks also to the many other members assisted these two to make these annual events so enjoyable and to support a wonderful organisation, the Cancer Society
Annual Daffodil Day 2025
Top left: 2nd Daffodil Run Matt and Janelle Andrews. Top centre: 3rd Daffodil Run Hinemoa Ransom-Boyd and Russell Cameron.
Above: Two Human daffodils. Left: Main sponsor Daffodil Run, Whanganui Motors with sales consultant Bianca Paul. Below: Some members relaxing after deliveries.
Left: Cancer staff: From left, Megan, Fatima, Kate, Rachel (administrator) and Jane.
King Country VCC Scenic Tour of the King Country
Saturday 4th October 2025
The Scenic Tour of the King Country is an informal rally through the roads of the King Country. We have questions for you to answer along the way and some silent checks and an optional straight-line.
The roads this year are a combination of a bit of tar seal but mostly country metal roads. Full petrol tanks are recommended, the route is approximately 180km and there are no petrol stations on the route.
• The event is open to members of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand.
• The Road code must be obeyed at all times. One person in each vehicle must be a member of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand and may be called upon to show their current membership card.
• The Driver must hold a valid driver’s licence and may be required to show this.
• No entries will be accepted after closing date due to catering requirements.
• In event of a dispute, the decision of the Rally Organising Committee shall be final.
• A back-up vehicle carrying petrol and water will follow the route.
• Electronic navigation aids are not to be used during this event.
RALLY CLASSES:
There are no set Rally classes. Classes will be determined on vehicle entries. Prizes, which have been donated from our local businesses, will be awarded. We will also have a raffle for sale.
PROGRAMME
Saturday 4th October
9.00a.m. Meet at the Carpark opposite the Post Office in Miriama Street. Rally Packs given out.
9.15 a.m. Welcome briefing
9.30a.m. First vehicle departs.
Lunch
Afternoon tea at conclusion of Rally at clubrooms.
6.00 p.m. Pre-dinner drinks at the Taumarunui RSA, 10 Miriama St.
7.00 p.m. Dinner and prize giving upstairs at RSA.
Contacts
Rally Organisers: Ivan Stevens and Campbell Wright.
Rally Secretary: Jacki Sinclair, 027 779 1166
Postal Address: 936 Taringamotu Rd, RD 4, Taumarunui
E-mail: kingcountry@vcc.org.nz
King Country Scenic Tour Entry Form
Name of Driver: _______________________________________________
Name of Navigator: ____________________________________________
Other passengers names:________________________________________
Address
Town ______________________________Post Code
Phone Number ________________________________________
Saturday Lunch $20.00 per person__________________________________________
Saturday Dinner $50.00 per person__________________________________________
Grand Total
Any dietary requirements:
Please complete in full and return with payment to King Country Branch VCC or pay by direct credit to Westpac 03 0426 0178017 00 with your name as a reference.
Payment details by internet to: VCC Manawatu Branch Inc.
Account: 03 0718 0027253 001 Ref: Name, Reg, MC Rally
Free accommodation on site for self-contained campers/caravans. No bathroom facilities are available. Please advise the Rally Secretary if a site is required.
Post or email completed Entry Forms to Cath Clements, PO Box 232, Feilding. Email cbz1@xtra.co.nz Phone Cath 027 286 2927
Entries close Friday 3rd October 2025
Club Calendar
Club Runs meet at the Clubrooms at 1pm unless stated
September
October
November 11th and 25th Ladies Coffee Meet at Mitre 10 at 11am.
21st Sunday Run. Pierre and Sietse’s run includes a short drive and visiting a business of interest, Q-West Boat Builders. Please meet at the clubrooms at 12.30pm, departing at 1.00pm to arrive at our destination around 1.30pm. Upon the conclusion, please return to the clubrooms for afternoon tea.
1st Club Night at 7.30pm 9th and 23rd Ladies Coffee Meet at Mitre 10 at 11am.
19th Sunday Run.
5th Club Night at 7.30pm. Night Rally.
Manawatu VCC Vintage Rally 20th-21st September 2025 Please send completed Entry Form to Organiser: Cath Clements - PO Box 232, Feilding - or email to cbz1@xtra.co.nz Phone Cath - 027 286 2927. If you haven’t received an email confirmation of entry by the closing date, please contact the Organiser. ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2025
Something which may appeal….The Whanganui Rotary Club invite VCC members for their 100km Car Rally on 2nd November. 2.15pm to 8pm. A museum visit plus dinner and bar facilities. Entries close 24th October. Details in next month’s Rivet with entry fees etc. Contact person is Hinemoa Ransom-Boyd.
Ed Boyd Parts Shed
We have an outstanding collection of engines, gearboxes, body parts, spares, new and used, from a vast range of manufacturers. These parts span from the early 1900’s to more modern production vehicles. If you are looking for anything, large or small, to keep your car on the road call us to see if we can assist. You will find our prices unbelievable. Please call or email us:
Dave 06 347 6915 027 555 4201 whanganuiriverboats@xtra.co.nz
Chris 06 348 7335 027 443 1184 cgandkrwhite@gmail.com
For Sale: 1927 Essex. (Right) Very original. $12000 ono. Includes spare parts ALSO 1939 Nash 400. ( Below) Great cruiser. $20000 ono. Includes spare parts. Contact Judy 027 254 7601
For Sale: 1947 Austin 8. Complete rebuild engine 2024.All receipts. Includes spares. Original interior. $10000 ono. Phone Grant 027 3278830
For Sale: 1953 Lanchester Leda (right) 4 cyl 4 speed Wilson pre-select, Rego on hold, 58574 m, new tyres, brakes relined, has been running, always garaged, sound body, fair interior. $4000 ono. Barry Cleaver 06 3887871, Taihape
For Sale: 1978 Leyland Marina HDL. Original condition. Health reasons for selling. $6500. Phone Sue Voss 021 296 6210
