VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ INC. – CENTRAL OTAGO
June 2026 - Issue 424
Lunchtime at the Golden Times Rally, 2026. Photo: John Gray.
CHAIRMAN’SREPORT
JUNE 2026
It has been a while since my last report, and a lot has been happening during the first half of 2026. Winter has truly arrived with the notorious inversion layer settling in and blocking out the sun once again. With a diesel central heating system heating our home and a 1000l diesel tank I am not looking forward to the next tanker visit.
Our Challenges
As a motoring club spread over a large geographical area with over 158 members excluding joint members, we are facing several challenges. As the current Chairman I have been giving some thought as to how to get the attendance and engagement of members and prospective new members to the club and events.
I believe there is an opportunity to strengthen communication with our branch members. Following next month's AGM, I would like us to consider establishing a Communications Subcommittee, potentially made up of our four Area Representatives, to help improve engagement and information sharing across the branch.
With the current fuel challenges we are facing we may need to look at more localised meeting’s (coffee and cake) as well as our regular meeting on the 2nd Wednesday each month.
A big effort has been put in by our Club Captain and his team during the past year with organising our Wednesday Club night speakers and our monthly Thursday and Sunday car runs. Attendance has been a bit disappointing with mostly the same faces turning up each time.
If you have any suggestions or ideas, we encourage you to bring them to the AGM on 13 June. Your feedback is welcome and will help provide direction for the committee's work over the next year.
Our Club Ground Lease with CODC
Last week Graham Taylor and I signed the lease for the next term which is until July 2029. There has been a new document produced by the CODC that explains our lease term and conditions and is a bit easier to understand. This new document gives community lease at 15yrs +15yrs with 5year renewals and rent reviews. This will give the club till 2049.
Club Rooms
Several large projects to upgrade our club rooms have now been completed with the fitting of new front doors and new carpet. A new electric range is on its way too which will help catering for events and club functions. This now completes most of the planned upgrade expenditure and has transformed our club rooms. A big thanks to those members who helped organise and supervise the contractors.
Parts Shed
A container has been purchased and should be onsite before the AGM. This will give some well needed extra storage space. Thanks to those who have helped prepare the site.
Our AGM is on Sunday the 13th of June, so it is time to start thinking about nominations. The club relies on support of its members and it’s great to see new faces bringing fresh ideas and energy. Now is a great time to put your name forward.
Keep your eyes on the road ahead.
Neil Webster Chairman
AGM Notice of COVCC
Annual General Meeting
Sunday 14th June 2026 1.30pm
COVCC Clubrooms Litany Street, Cromwell
The AGM will be preceded with a Potluck Lunch beginning at 11.30am.
Please bring a main lunch dish, and/or a dessert to be shared. BYO drinks.
SECRETARY’SREPORT
JUNE 2026
2026 Vero Rally another perspective…
I had earlier booked in to the rally in our Morris Minor 1100 that we have been using lately but changed this to our ADO16 the Austin 1300 due to my recent hip replacement. The 1300 has quite a bit more room to park up my left leg, and Cheryl was also happy to drive it as we had a lot of mileage and not too much spare time (what’s new!)
My previous experience with International Rallies was the 1965 rally where I had hoped to use my ’25 Model T, but wasn’t ready so I marshalled in Wanaka - Ardmore St was a gravelled slope, Wanaka was a pretty insignificant place then…
A big effort helping Lex Landreth restore his 1929 Graham Paige which we took to Australia for the 1978 International Rally, and the team was Lex and son Kim, John Loudon and myself. We covered a fair distance on the NSW and Southern Queensland areas coming back via Narrabri and the Blue Mountains. Travel was simple in those days no Passports required and good co-operation all round. Fuel was relatively cheap.
So, before we left for Nelson a check over the 1300 showed seized rear wheel cylinders and it had not long got through a WOF on a rolling road, so with new rear wheel cylinders, a brake drum and good shoes, stopping then had a whole new meaning! (We older drivers can go a long way with minimal braking!)
With fuel prices rising steeply and the 1300 not being as economical as the Minor the challenge for me was to get the best out of the car So, at highway speeds and heavy town traffic we did a total of 1486.3 Miles for 32.96 gallons (146.68L) which works out to 39.6mpg - best this car has ever done, prices ranged from $2.93 per litre to $3.32. Did another trip to Nelson a fortnight later and was back to 31mpg which shows that driving style and a developing fuel leak makes a big difference. The Vero organisers were conscious of the fuel situation too and encouraged entrants to document their fuel usage and distance travelled, we did and won a fuel voucher!
I note that Club Captain John is simplifying events because of the fuel situation and the negative spin offs, I urge members to take part in these events as they are able health and vehicle wise.
I have the three H’s Heart, Hip and Hernia and would like to step back from the Secretary’s job, in saying that I’m willing to assist the new person wherever I can and hope you the member will make it to the AGM, it’s your club, and in the words of JFK “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”.
Graham Taylor Secretary
CLUBCAPTAIN’SREPORT
JUNE 2026
June here already, with the AGM to be held Sunday 14th June. While I am willing to stand again as Club Captain for the next year, I am totally relaxed if someone would like to take over the position, in which case I will give the incoming member my complete and enthusiastic support in getting started.
One of the major issues at our Branch over recent times, is a lack of participation of our members, in Branch events. I totally get that fuel costs have risen this year, that we are all getting older, and therefore maybe less inclined to take off our slippers and get our classic car prepared to take out on an event. But I suspect there are deeper issues that need discussing openly and honestly, starting at our upcoming AGM. Is it that we are not arranging events that are of interest to our members, or is it total apathy towards the Club and Old cars in general?
To get the conversation going, I have proposed an agenda item for the AGM related to the ‘lack of participation’, in the hope that those present will offer some ideas or comments, that the committee can address/investigate, and report back.
It is my opinion the AGM is the correct time and place to initiate discussion on the direction of our branch and events going forward, and what improvements we could/should consider, or changes we may also consider. I have been approached by the organisers and some participants of our two main rallies, these being the Blossom Festival Rally and the Golden Times Rally. The concerns raised, are that these rallies take considerable time and effort to organise, and fewer and fewer members are entering them. This proposed discussion is not just about these two main rallies, but also very relevant to my ‘Monthly’ program.
Our two main club rallies have run for over 50 years, and are great ‘established events’ for the branch, but sometimes a rally can get ‘stale’, and need a reboot. This statement is definitely not said as a criticism, it’s the reality of continuity over such a long time. I first joined the VCC at Otago Branch, over 50 years ago, and participated in the very first Blossom Festival Rally the COVCC ever ran The route for that first rally was fantastic, traversing tracks and going places some of which are not possible now-adays, but it was one of the most amazing ‘Branch run’ rallies I have ever attended.
I am not proposing to scale back/terminate/extinguish either of the rallies, my point was however that times change, and the same old-same old, no longer has the same, or any attraction to both local members or visitors from other branches, so at that point serious consideration and discussion needs to take place as to what’s next, and how we can revitalise both events, making them attractive again to our VCC members, both in our branch and from other branches? I have ideas to propose, for discussion.
I appreciate the initiative of these rally organisers in approaching me with their concerns. We are all volunteers in our committee positions, and organising a rally or event requires a fair commitment of time and effort on the part of the organisers, and it is quite demoralising if there is little participation from members. I personally know this feeling on a monthly basis, organising events.
My point is to open discussion in a general form, in the hope that with people being at the meeting in person, it will encourage them to speak their ideas. I have asked similar questions several times in the last two years as part of my ‘Club Captains Notes’, but have had little response, beyond ‘you are doing a good job, carry on’. If members think we are on the wrong track with the rallies or the monthly program, please say so. All comments/suggestions are great to hear.
It is my hope that ideas will come from this discussion, leading to further and more detailed and focused discussion within the committee. Chairman, Neil Webster and I, in our respective committee positions, have had several telephone discussions over the past two weeks in the leadup to the AGM, on how we may initiate more involvement of members, whom we rarely ever see at events, or on how we may attract new members.
Neil has been proactive in contacting key people at other more Northern branches to ascertain what they are doing to boost participation at their events, or to keep members informed. Both Neil and I have come up with some constructive ideas in a bid to increase participation in events, which we plan on presenting for comment and discussion. Further, Neil has proposed that we form a smaller subcommittee, separate from the main committee, with members selected for their skills, to more fully look at where the branch is heading and what format changes, we can potentially make. This sub-committee would report back to the main committee. Alister, our branch Treasurer, has proposed the idea of a 3 year ‘Business Plan’.
One of the biggest difficulties in our Branch, is we have such a geographically widely distributed membership. I would like to see the ‘Area Reps’ have more input into the running of the occasional events or with rallies in their areas. These people generally know the local members, and in my view, may be able to assist in encouraging participation by their fellow local members; with encouragement and support from the main committee. Alister Gough, has started the local ‘Morning Tea’ gatherings in the Queenstown area, which is a fantastic idea, and a vital springboard to the revitalisation of participation of members in branch events. Well done, Alister.
I look forward to opening discussion of this agenda item at the AGM, to see what ideas/comments come up at the meeting. We will accurately and fully record the discussion for future reference, and act on making changes as required. A ‘club’ is not an 8-person committee act, for the benefit of all others It should be a combination of its members, working together for the collective good. Please put your thinking caps on and present your ideas as to a potential different format of the rallies, or how we could change/improve these events. If you can’t be there, send me your thoughts and I’ll present them on your behalf. There is no such thing as a bad idea.
As probably noted elsewhere in this mag, four of our eight ‘Committee Members’, are standing down at this AGM. Please give your thoughts to standing for a committee position. It’s not too onerous and your ideas and contributions would be greatly appreciated.
Also, thank you to the members who offered old style wood screws to me, to assist in the reassembly of the wood body frame, of my 1938 MG VA tourer restoration project, in an authentic way. I was very humbled by the responses, which has enabled good progress towards this work. Thank you all.
John Gray COVCC Club Captain
UPCOMING EVENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS
WEDNESDAY 10TH JUNE: CLUB NIGHT
– WAYNE PERKINS
– CLASSIC MOTOR RACING OVER FOUR DECADES
Wayne will recount stories of his Classic Motor racing career over nearly 40 years, including racing his V12 Jaguar, 1972 HB Viva GT and 1969 Camaro, in which he had a very serious accident this past January, at the ‘Scope Meeting’ in Christchurch. We will hear of his experiences at the Lyttleton, Queenstown and Dunedin Street Races, with none of these meetings run these days. Wayne can tell a great yarn, so this is a not to be missed opportunity to hear about the grand old days of Classic Street and circuit racing in the South.
Clubrooms and parts sheds open at 7.00pm and meeting starts at 7.30pm.
SUNDAY
14th JUNE
– COVCC AGM 2026
– PRECEDED BY POTLUCK LUNCH
ORGANISER – GRAHAM TAYLOR
It’s AGM time again. For those that wish to partake, meet at 11.30am for a Potluck Lunch, which will start at 12.00 noon. Please bring a main lunch dish, and/or a dessert to be shared. You may also wish to bring something to drink. There are drinks available at the club at $2 per drink.
The AGM will follow the lunch, at 1.30pm.
There are four committee positions available, including Secretary, and meeting minutes recorder, so if you wish to serve on the committee contact Neil Webster or Graham Taylor to discuss.
The clubrooms will be open from 11.00am.
THURSDAY 25th JUNE – THURSDAY
MUSTER
– SHED VISITS TO JOHN MARTIN’S SHED, JOHN GRAY’S SHED. WE THEN PROCEED TO HECTOR EGGER HOLZBAU, PREFABRICATED
BUILDING FACTORY. LUNCH WILL BE AT THE ‘HIGHLANDS’ CAFE
TIMBER
An interesting day out, with a bit of variety. At John Martin’s shed we will see progress on his work on the body of a 1910 Veteran, Rauch and Lang Electric car, then around to John Gray’s to see progress on his 1967 Jag E-Type roadster and 1938 MG VA tourer. Then it’s off to the Hector Egger Holzbau, prefabricated timber frame factory, to see what they do there. From there we will proceed around to ‘Highlands’ raceway to have lunch at the café.
Meet at John Martin’s workshop, at 11 Bell Avenue, Cromwell, at 9.30am. Bell Avenue is the first street on the lake side of SH 8A, after coming over the Dead Man’s Point bridge, from the south. We move on to John Gray’s at 22 Shortcut Road, (next street up SH8A, on the Lake side) at 10.15am, where we will have a cuppa and biscuits, then off to Hector Egger, to be there at 11.00am.
CLUBNIGHTREPORT
WEDNESDAY 13th MAY 2026
JOHN GRAY: CROOKS, CONMEN, SALACIOUSNESS, EARTHQUAKES AND HARD-HEADS
EVENT REPORT: EWEN DUTHIE
At this month's meeting John Gray spoke about his time as a motelier and landlord. But first how he got into motels John suggested at the 2007 Model T Ford Club rally in Greymouth that the next rally in 2009 should be in Blenheim and was told to organise it then. He had not had much to do with Blenheim before that and grew to like the place while organising and running the event while living in Dunedin.
When the rally was finished, he had time talking to the motelier where he was staying and John & Wendy decided it was time for a change in direction from being an Architect.
They missed out on the first 2 motels they were interested in buying but ended up securing the Bella Vista Blenheim Motels and took over 10th October 2009. This motel had a 62% occupancy at that time with most of the clientele being professional travellers etc including TV Crews from both TV1 & 3, a big catering company and had contracts with both the Police and Ministry of Defence. They had increased the occupancy to 75%, when sold in March 2015.
He started by saying that Wendy had reminded him of one of her biggest pains in the backside, the reoccurring issues at the motels, that didn't fall under these category's above, was Cockroaches. Despite spaying around the outside of the units every few months etc there was always one that got through a window, to upset guests, and Wendy.
He then, recounted a few stories of some of their more memorable guests. They had a corporate type farmer staying who got plastered at one of the nearby bars with plenty of cash in his wallet. After being followed back to his room, he was robbed while sound asleep The police were called.
One weekday morning, there was a bit of a noise heard by the staff working upstairs and a hooded figure was seen leaving the premises in a hurry and upon investigation they found the guest laundry dryer money box had been forced open and about $150 stolen. Police came and had a look. But then the same thing happened again a few days later with the hooded character again seen sprinting down the road. This time the detective managed to get fingerprints and surprisingly a couple of months later a 13yr old was charged with the theft amongst a string of other offending and $100 was paid back over time.
One Sunday afternoon a couple in their 80s were brought in by a lady, saying she had picked them up from the Picton Ferry area. They checked in carrying their belongings in supermarket bags and paid by peeling notes off a roll of cash. The next day, they told John they had crashed their car in the upper Wairau Valley, and needed it recovered. John got a mechanic friend of his involved, and this guy was also paid for the recovery, off the same roll of cash. The car, (a Jag) was a few 100 metres from the road and would have to have been travelling at about 100 miles an hour to get to where it was. The Towey also found that the car was listed as stolen, so the police then got involved.
Apparently, these people had traded in a Subaru and got some finance to buy the jag. Soon after the purchase in Whanganui, the man was clocked by the police doing 180km per hr and the Jag was impounded for 28 days. Because the owner didn't have the car, he decided to cancel the insurance,
and stopped the finance payments. However, when he picked the car up again, when it was released by the police, the lack of payments led to the car being listed as stolen. Because of the situation, John had to contact Elderly Psychiatric Services, who interviewed the couple and ended up removing the elderly couple from the motels.
On another occasion, a well-dressed 70-year-old man checked into the motels and told John to charge the room up to an accountant’s firm and that they would pay the account. John was suspicious, and checked it out with the accountant, who said that was not the case, and this guy was a potential conman. After putting out an email to other motels in the area he got a lot of replies from others, saying they had been scammed by this person also. The police were called and he was known by them and arrested.
From time to time, people checking in weren't regular overnight stay motel guests. Usually, for what turned out to be just ‘short term’ stays, especially in the afternoons, with various noises coming from the rooms. Another regular guest, used to arrive with one Thai lady each time, and John thought nothing of it. But then he started checking in with up to three Thai ladies in three rooms, with a few visitors showing up. It was explained to him that he needed to look somewhere else to run his business.
The other concerning aspect of Motel ownership in Blenheim, was regular earthquakes over 4 on the scale. They were there over the 2011 and 2012 Christchurch earthquakes, which were still quite strong in Blenheim. The biggest earthquakes while they were in the motel, occurred in 2013, centred in Seddon. The main one was around a 7 and quite shallow. It was mid-afternoon, and while there was damage in Blenheim, their motel buildings fared well, but with a few cracks and damaged waterproofing etc. John was outside in town when the quake struck and gave an account of buildings 150mm apart hitting each other etc, which was a bit scary The large aftershocks carried on for about a year after the 2013 swarm of quakes. After a big earthquake, generally most of the guests move out and head for home, but fortunately for John & Wendy the TV crews then came in to cover the story so the motels remained occupied
Noisy people in the middle of the night were another issue at times, but John recalled a lady from the upstairs balcony saving him a job by letting rip with a string of oaths to quieten down a drunken caterer staying at the unit below, before he got to them. Apparently, it worked.
While at the motel John recalled joining a group of investors to invest in a company organised by the founder of the Bella Vista Motel chain, the late Ian Little. They eventually ended up with shares in the buildings of an Auckland Airport Hotel, but things didn't go to plan with the tenant who was running the business walking away from the lease, about a year later. Then Bella Vista management ran it for some time, but the business was slowly slipping backwards. With a lot of shareholders input, they eventually got Scenic Circle Hotels to run the business and managed to sell out in 2019 at a small loss, but luckily before covid hit.
John also spoke about his experiences with tenants over about 30 years as a landlord; from Dunedin students growing considerable cannabis in a basement, left for to him to dispose of some plants and to clean up; to a Blenheim tenant with P in a flat, costing them $40k to strip out and clean up.
Overall, it was a very entertaining presentation bringing back memories to me of my time running a camping ground.
Thanks John
SUNDAYQUIZ&BBQAFTERNOON
SUNDAY 17th MAY 2026
EVENT REPORT: DON YEAMAN. PHOTOS: WENDY
GRAY
The afternoon was organised and run by John and Wendy Gray. We had to pre-register, so John already had everyone split into teams of four. I’m not sure what criteria he used, but the teams appeared to be fairly well balanced.
There were 24 of us, so that meant six teams of four. Couples were split into different teams (probably John’s way of avoiding any domestic disputes) and no electronic devices allowed.
Each team was given a set list of topics to be covered, and they had to choose one topic as their Joker round, which meant they got double points for that round.
Each team also had to pick a name for themselves and since most in our team were from Wanaka and we all had grey hair, we became the Pembroke Pensioners. I don’t think that John noticed that I misspelled Pembroke as he didn’t deduct any marks.
John Gray as Quizmaster
Once the quiz was under way I think a lot of us started to realize that we didn’t really know near as much as we thought we did. There appeared to be a fair bit of guess work going on, some were educated guesses while others were just wildly random ones.
Quiz winners the ‘Pembroke Pensioners’.
Our team, the Pembroke Pensioners, consisted of Liz Webster, Jenny Pryde, Martin Curtis and me, and we assessed our placing as probably somewhere in the middle. However, as John was reading out the results, we were pleasantly surprised to find that we were in first place.
Second place went to Alf’s Elves which consisted of Judy Gough, Lynne Yeaman, Noel Hassad and Alf O’Sullivan. After being presented with our prizes of very large bars of chocolate, John and Wendy changed their Quiz Master’s hats for chef’s hats and began preparing for the BBQ tea. With John and his helpers at the BBQ and Wendy and her helpers in the kitchen, we were soon presented with a great meal to end the day.
The day was a real success and a great way to spend the day, so a huge thank you to John and Wendy for all their work of organising and running the day and also thanks to those who assisted in the preparation and cleaning up after tea.
Don Yeaman
COVCC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
SUNDAY 14TH JUNE 2026 - 1.30PM
COVCC CLUBROOMS - LITANY STREET, CROMWELL
AGENDA
Welcome
Apologies
Minutes of the 2025 AGM
Matters Arising
Correspondence
Chairman’s Report
Financial Report
Election of Officers
Management Committee (10)
Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Club Captain, Editor, and four Committee Members, including Minute Secretary.
Sub Committee (14)
Property Managers; inside, outside, Parts Manager, Beaded Wheels Scribe, Librarian, Area Reps, Vic’s etc, Wakatipu, Alexandra, Wanaka, Cromwell. H&S, Convenors Daffodil Day, Golden Times, Blossom Festival, Motorcycle Rally.
General Business
Nomination of John and Wendy Martin for Life Membership and followed by a secret vote requiring a majority of 75% of those financial members present for the affirmative. Suggested award venue for the presentation to John and Wendy will be the Clubs Christmas Function, which will also have other long-term awards.
Any actions from the AGM
Actions/discussion regarding our main upcoming events; Daffodil Day; VCC 80th Commemoration Event; Blossom Rally; Golden Times Rally
The emphasis for the next year or so will be how we as a club engage with members. This works both ways, and if you as a member have a good idea that we could use, please put it forward.
Next AGM (suggest) Sunday 13th June 2027
Minutes of COVCC Annual General Meeting
COVCC Clubrooms
Sunday 15 June 2025
Meeting began 1.30 pm
Present
Graham Taylor
Rose Grindley
Mel & John Wilson
Beau Trevathan
Karelan Doran
Noel Hassed
Bert and Jenny Turnbull
Gaynor Miller
Neil and Liz Webster
John & Wendy Gray
Mike & Liz Elliot
Non-members present
Bernice Hassad
Megan Ireland
Apologies
Garry Grindley
Sharon and Barry Walker
Hamish and Kathy McKenzie
Alan and Tracey Mayhew
Apologies accepted
Moved: Noel Hassed
Seconded by Bert Turnbull
Previous Minutes – June 2024
Don & Lynne Yeaman
Wendy & John Martin
Tony Van Gool
Bryan Anderson
Martin Withington
Keith and Linda Cumming
Alf and Glenda O’Sullivan
Rob McGregor
Jim Barclay
Jim Pottinger
Barry Walker
Roddy Maxwell
Judy & Alister Gough
Tom Hedley
Previously circulated. Also read out by Graham Taylor.
Moved as true and correct – Graham Taylor
Seconded by Don Yeaman
Matters Arising
None
Correspondence
Correspondence regarding Constitution – refer later in meeting.
Correspondence accepted
Moved: Graham Taylor
Seconded: John Wilson
Chairman’s Report 2025
Refer to attached report
Report accepted
Moved: John Martin
Seconded: Rose Grindley
Secretary’s Report
Refer to attached report
Report accepted
Moved: Graham Taylor
Seconded: Mel Wilson
Treasurers Report
Financial report was circulated.
Note: A very successful year from the Parts Shed sales.
• Branch Fees
Branch Levy has been set at $50.00 per year / $15 for a joint member. These have been confirmed with our National Body.
Questions from the Floor
• Karelan Doran queried why there had not been any lease payments. Graham replied that the Council had all of the membership figures, but the Club has not received an invoice.
Action: Agreed that Graham would contact the Council and follow up.
Moved: Graham Taylor
Seconded: John Wilson
Mel moved that financial report be accepted
Seconded: Beau Trevathan
Position Nomination
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Secretary
Nominated by Seconded by Passed
Neil Webster John Martin Graham Taylor Yes
Graham Taylor Wendy Martin Noel Hassad Yes
Treasurer Alister Gough Karelan Doran Alan Sutton Yes
Club Captain
John Gray John Martin Bert Turnbull Yes
Editor Megan Ireland John Martin Neil Webster Yes
Committee Member + Minutes
Secretary
Committee Member
Committee Member
Immediate Past Chairman
Mel Wilson Graham Taylor Wendy Martin Yes
John Wilson John Martin Wendy Martin Yes
Tony Van Gool John Martin John Wilson Yes
John Martin
Property Manager - Outside Ewen Duthie Neil Webster Graham Taylor Yes
Property Manager - Inside Alf O’Sullivan Bryan Anderson John Martin Yes
Parts Manager Bryan Anderson John Martin Alf O’Sullivan Yes
Area Rep -Wakatipu Bill Crooks John Martin Don Yeaman Yes
Area Rep -Alexandra Barry Walker Graham Taylor John Gray Yes
Area Rep - Wanaka Graham Taylor John Martin Mike Elliot Yes
Area Rep- Cromwell John Martin Don Yeaman Neil Webster Yes
Rally Convenor Daffodil Day Beau Trevathan John Martin Graham Taylor Yes
Rally Convenor – Golden Times John Martin Neil Webster Noel Hassed Yes
Rally Convenor – Blossom Festival Ewen Duthie Tony Van Gool Graham Taylor Yes
Motorcycle Rally Ken Roberts Alf O’Sullivan Bryan Anderson Yes
Facebook Page Bernice Hassed
Health and Safety Officer Tony Van Gool
Beaded Wheels
John Gray
Librarian Alf O’Sullivan Bryan Anderson John Martin Yes
General Business
1. Branch Constitution
Noel has done a lot of work on updating the constitution so that it meets the requirements of the Charities Act 2005. The draft has now been to our National Body to ensure that it aligns with theirs. We have now received it back and it has been circulated to all members.
• One member suggested a change to Clause 6.2, under membership. This was that the words “Central Otago Branch” be dropped.
• Clause 1.6 also needs some amended spelling.
Motion: That the Constitution be adopted, including the above two amendments.
Moved: Noel Hassed
Seconded: Graham Taylor
Vote: 27 for / 3 against
It was proposed that the position of Patron be removed. This is an irrelevant position and is not needed.
Moved: John Wilson
Seconded: Bert Turnbull
Vote- carried
A letter will be sent to John Loudon informing him of this decision.
3. Presentations were made to retiring Committee Members to recognise their service:
• Garry Grindley - Editor
• Mel Wilson – Treasurer
• Rose Grindley – Committee members and minutes secretary
Mike Elliot expressed appreciation to all office-bearers on behalf of club members.
4. New Editor: Megan Ireland was introduced.
5. Re-imbursement of expenses
• John Gray pointed out that the club has a substantial sum of money in the bank. He proposed that members who run/help out with rallies, the parts shed, etc, could receive some sort of stipend to pay for their petrol and other expenses.
• John Wilson – No, because some would accept and others wouldn’t.
• Alf – could use a Kiwi Card/Petrol Card/New World vouchers.
• Graham – this is a vexed topic. Many members view this as giving back to the community But there is also no point amassing so much in the bank account that we need to pay to get the accounts audited. Need to be careful we aren’t just rewarding “good old mates”.
• Beau – Some people do a lot more work than others. It is not unreasonable if someone wants to make a request for assistance with vouchers. This should be done through the Committee.
• Noel – we need to be very careful that this is fair.
• John Gray – Would need receipts for reimbursement. Committee would set up rules.
• Noel – we could reduce the annual subs. Or provide petrol vouchers. But what happens when money is short?
• Neil – need to keep in mind that next year we may need to have auditors review the accounts. The Committee needs guidelines from members.
• Mike – Federated Farmers have a renumeration committee. Our Committee needs to look at different options and then come back to members.
• Karelan – The big increase in money is from the parts shed over the last year. Is this going to be permanent?
The club needs a five- year plan. Ie: what expenses are likely to be coming up, for example, fences.
• John Martin – With regard to rallies – could donate part of the rally funds to organisers.
• Noel/John Martin – the national body re-imburses people.
Motion: that this matter be taken to a committee meeting for a decision.
Moved - John Wilson
Seconded - Bert Turnbull
Vote carried.
Meeting closed 3.06 pm
CLUBEVENTSCALENDAR
Please take care to read and copy to your diary!
Pretty full calendar. Note: subject to change but any changes to next month’s event will be emailed out.
Date Event
JUNE 2026
Wednesday
10th June
Club Night: Clubrooms
Organiser Detail
John Gray Talk by Wayne Perkins of Alexandra, on four decades of Classic Motor Racing, including a V12 Jaguar, Viva GT and 1969 Camaro, around various tracks and street races. This will be very entertaining.
Clubrooms and parts sheds open 7.00pm, meeting starts at 7.30pm.
Sunday 14th June
Branch Annual General Meeting
Graham Taylor
AGM, preceded by a Potluck Lunch.
Start time 11.30am for lunch. Meeting starts at 1.30pm. See details in Club Captains Report.
Thursday 25th June
Thursday Muster
John Gray
Visit to John Martin’s shed to see an unusual 1910 Veteran Electric Car restoration; John Gray’s shed to see progress on his 1938 MG and E-Type restorations; then a visit to the Hector Egger Holzbau Cromwell, Timber Frame Production Facility. Followed by lunch at the Café, Highlands Motorsport Park.
JULY 2026
Wednesday
8th July
Sunday 12th July
Thursday 30th July
Club Night: Clubrooms
John Gray TBC
Sunday Run No Run No Weekend Run this month due to the reduced Winter Program
Thursday Muster
John Gray/TBA
Curling at Alexandra.
Due to there being limited rink space, only the first 16 members registered will be able to play.
Preceded by lunch at Alexandra. Others are able to attend for lunch and to view.
Registrations required.
AUGUST 2026
Wednesday 12th August
Sunday 16th August
Thursday 27th August
SEPTEMBER 2026
Wednesday 9th September
Club Night: Clubrooms
Sunday Run No Run
OCTOBER 2026
Thursday Muster
Club Night: Clubrooms
TBA - I will be absent I need a volunteer to arrange and run this Club Night.
No Run this month due to my absence and reduced Winter Program.
Run to Ayrburn at Arrowtown to the Bakehouse Restaurant for lunch.
OTHEREVENTSandNATIONALS
VCC Branches that would like any of their events noted in our magazine, please contact us with the details at editorCOVCC@gmail.com
For more information on these and other events in Beaded Wheels, check branch newsletters which may be found at http://vcc.org.nz/newsfrom-our-branches/
Central Otago Vintage Car Club (Including Queenstown & Wanaka)
LetterstotheEditor/Secretary
Re: Position Available: Lower South Island Representative VCC
Good afternoon,
I am reaching out to ask if you know of a member who may be interested in filling the Lower South Island Representative on the National Committee
Please feel free to contact me should you require any further information or if a member wishes to discuss this further.
Kind regards,
Mark
South Island Club Captain
Email: sicc@vcc.org.nz
Buy,Sell,WantedorExchange
WANTED:
WANTED TO RENT – LONG TERM GARAGING
Graeme has a Wolseley 6/110 that needs long term garaging in Cromwell. Car is regularly on the road and clean. Car is 5m x 1.7m. Call Graeme Lee - 0274 930 112
WANTED: BTH GA4-K3 Magneto working or not working but needed
I own and use a 1925 Sunbeam 14/40 which was rescued from dereliction by Fred Cox of New Plymouth. Unfortunately, the magneto has now failed a few times, and I desperately need a replacement. If anyone has knowledge of a suitable unit, please contact me by email alastairchalmers@hotmail.co.uk (it's ok I do live in New Zealand now) or text me on 0204-088-4523 and I'll call you back. Hopeful regards, Alastair Chalmers (Hawkes Bay VCC)
NewMembers
We welcome:
Stuart Millis - Alexandra; 1972 Fiat 124 Sport, 1995 Jaguar X300 Graeme Lee - Cromwell (Transferred from Bay of Plenty VCC Branch); 1968 Wolseley
BitsandPieces
Name Badges
Graham is preparing an order for these. He gets them done in batches of 10 or so. If you need one, please talk to him.
Photos, Stories & Event Highlights
Got a great story, photo, or vehicle-related moment to share? We’d love to include it in an upcoming issue! Feel free to send any contributions to editorcovcc@gmail.com - The Editor
Stickers for COVCC Members
Let others know which branch you belong to at events away from home. These are produced locally and are made from high quality vinyl. They are external stickers and go on the outside of the windscreen, or on the body work. They are easily removed with a hairdryer. Cost $3.00 each. (A small profit goes to our club.)
To order contact the Secretary: gtml@xtra.co.nz
BRANCHOFFICERS2025-2026
Chairman Neil Webster 021999 049 neil.webster@xtra.co.nz
Vice Chairperson: Vacant
Immediate Past Chairman
John Martin 021 109 1309 martin_jw@xtra.co.nz
Secretary: Graham Taylor 443 1416 gtml@xtra.co.nz
Liz
Wendy
Cheryl
Treasurer: Alister Gough 021 646 757 Alister.gough69@gmail.com Judy
Club Captain: John Gray 0274345621 jbgray@xtra.co.nz
Editor: Megan Ireland 027 210 3037 meganirelandcroms@gmail.com
Wendy
Committee: Mel Wilson 021 233 0280 saddle.hill@xtra.co.nz John
John Wilson 027 533 5626 stagdriver98@gmail.com Mel Tony Van Gool 021631316 dorstrom@gmail.com Raewyn
John Martin 021 109 1309 Martin_jw@xtra.co.nz
Property Ewen Duthie 027 838 8324 1973 duthie.e@xtra.co.nz
Wendy
Arlene Alf O’Sullivan 021 110 7707 glenda.alf@gmail.com
Parts Convenor Bryan Anderson 0212049390 bryandjen@live.com
Glenda
Jenny
Parts Helper Alf O’Sullivan 021 110 7707 glenda.alf@gmail.com Glenda Don Yeaman 443 2730 yeaperson@xtra.co.nz Lynne
Idle Torque BW; John Gray 0274345621 jbgray@xtra.co.nz
Librarian: Alf O'Sullivan 021 110 7077 glenda.alf@gmail.com
Wendy
Glenda Area Reps:
Wakatipu - Bill Crooks 021 915 188 bill@arrowauto.co.nz
Jill
Alexandra - Barry Walker 448 6508 TBC Sharron
Cromwell - John Martin 445 0598 martin_jw@xtra.co.nz Wendy
Wanaka - Graham Taylor 443 1416 gtml@xtra.co.nz
Cheryl
HSE: Tony Van Gool 021631316 dorstrom@gmail.com Raewyn
Motorcycle Rep/Convener/Rally Organiser Ken Roberts 021 369 413 kbcroberts@xtra.co.nz
Sharon
Rally Conveners: Blossom Festival: Ewen Duthie 027 838 8324 445 1973 duthie.e@xtra.co.nz Arlene
Bryan Anderson 0212049390 bryandjen@live.com
Jenny
National Daffodil Day Coordinator: Beau Trevathan 4452864 trevathan@xtra.co.nz Ann
Golden Times: John Martin 445 0598 martin_jw@xtra.co.nz
Facebook Page Bernice Hassed 021 164 9852 Hassed62@gmail.com
Wendy
Noel
THE REAR END:
Return Address:
114 Shortcut Road
Luggate Wanaka 9382
C/-