Veteran Report

COLIN HEY

Veteran Convenor Ph 359-8737 021 883 807

Things are slowing down for our section now that the cooler weather has finally arrived. We’ve had a great summer of motoring, with many varied events to attend and enjoy. Things will pretty-well wrap up for a couple of months at least after Irishmans on Queens Birthday weekend, and then the Restoration of the Year Run on 13th June which may well turn out a couple of new Veteran restorations for judging? Time to get the tin-tops out now and enjoy them during the cooler months, and schedule in a bit of maintenance on the Veterans. I know ours needs to have a clicking noise in the driveshaft investigated, the magneto removed for a service and re-set, and an oilchange, grease and good check over after a lot of use during this past season.

Already next season is shaping up well. We now have a date set for the branch Annual Veteran Rally. It will be on Sunday 26th September, and it will consist of a run from the Darfield Recreation Centre (where trailers can be safely left if necessary), with a short and a medium length route finishing at the now completely restored Racecourse Hill homestead. As well as the homestead, a huge amount of work has been put into a full refurbishment of the gardens. The owners are planning on a public open day that same day so we can display our veteran cars to the public attending - a great opportunity to share our interest in historical motoring and a great fit with the homestead open day. There will also be some simple field tests there to complete the fun. Entry forms will be in the August hub – it’s a wee way off yet, but mark the date in your diary now.

After that, the National Veteran Rally has been confirmed as being in Cromwell on 29th – 31st October and entry forms are now out (see elsewhere in the Hub). We are also planning another visit to and display at the Hororata Highland Games in November and maybe a garage raid that month also, and then we get into our usual regular events once again over summer. I’m sure it won’t take long to come around.

It was great to see Ian and Rosemary Close’s Curved Dash Oldsmobile and Bruce and Shirley Shadbolt’s L’Etoile in the clubrooms for the last noggin. As I’ve mentioned before, both are superb restorations and everyone enjoyed the opportunity of having a close-up look. There are other restorations on the go too from both of them, and a few others I’ve heard about too, so still some more cars and bikes to emerge yet.

VERO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF HISTORIC MOTORING

16-21 JANUARY 2022

* REGISTER TODAY AND WIN 2 FINALE TICKETS

*Complete your registration and pay before 30 June 2021 and be in the draw to win two free tickets to the festival finale. On each of the motoring days (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) your day will start from either Devon Street East or Devon Street West in the city, and have the option of a short or a long run. There is no set morning departure time from New Plymouth each day. However, you will be given a time when you will need to be at the lunch stop/destination as well as an estimated travel time.

The Destinations

Monday 17 Destination Tikorangi Wednesday 19 Destination Opunake Thursday 20 Destination Stratford/ Whangamomona Thursday Evening Street Party Extravaganza Friday 21 Destination Hawera Tuesday 18 Competitive day (optional): The competitive aspect is timing only. Separate routes for the following classes of vehicles; Veteran, Vintage, Post Vintage, Post War, P60, P80, Motorcycles and Commercials. Starting points for these routes are all different and will be from places of interest. If preferred have a rest day today or take time out to enjoy the sights of Taranaki.

Gravel Roads

On Monday, Thursday and Friday where there are gravel roads, there are alternative instructions to use if you want to stay on the sealed road. The Wednesday motoring takes you around the coast to Opunake. There are a couple of hundred metres of unsealed road which follow the coast. This is a sand base road and will be less damaging than travelling over any usual road works.