Veteran Report

VETERAN REPORT

The key event for March was the Rear Wheel Brake rally held on Sunday 13th March, which attracted 17 enthusiastic participants on what turned out to be a calm, sunny and warm day. One couple (Gilbert and Andrea Dallow) were so enthusiastic they turned up one week early, sending me into a temporary spin when they rang to see why I hadn’t turned up. I was busy in my workshop and immediately thought there was a group waiting for instructions at Cutler Park!

On the correct day, morning tea was efficiently and neatly dispensed by Tony and Leigh Craythorne, served on tables under the clubrooms’ veranda, complete with table-clothes and real tea from a teapot!! The instructions were then handed out, along with some playing cards which were to be the start of a hand of 5 cards (6 for those on the longer route) which would make up a poker hand at the end. There were two routes planned – one a short, fairly direct route of around 20km, and another longer one of about 40km for the faster cars. They were to take everyone out through the Weedons area, then to the home of George and Jorden Kear in West Melton Road. One-third of the cars took the short route (mostly single and twincylinder veterans), and the rest took the longer route, which carried on

west as far as the Aylesbury corner before heading back to West Melton. Unfortunately, their route was stymied by a road-works closure, but everyone got back on track one way or another. At the finish, the second lot of playing cards were handed out. Lunch was held on the front patio and lawn, and with a perfect calm and warm day looking out onto the adjacent farm and mountains beyond, it was a very pleasant spot to be. A couple of small prizes were given out for the best poker hands, and also a hard-luck award that went to Gilbert and Andrea. It was supposed to be for turning up on the wrong day, but they did have the misfortune of breaking down on the way home, so it was well-earned. Runner-up would have been Malcolm McGibbon who lost a rear wheel from the Model T Raceabout on the way home. He had to retrieve the wheel from between an electric fence and water-race, which apparently was a shocking experience! Coincidentally it was a rearwheel brake that failed! A special thanks to George and Jorden Kear for allowing us to finish the run at their property, and for opening up the sheds for an inspection. All up, a very good day out!

Coming Events for Veterans

Anzac Weekend will be a significant and fun weekend, with two events coming up. The first event is the Autumn

Run on 23rd which will have a short route which will be entirely suitable for veterans. It has a 10.00am start at Cutler Park and finishes in a domain to the east of the city for a picnic lunch, with a short drive in the afternoon to point out some historical aspects of the area. The entry form was in the March Hub. Then two days later there is the Dutton Garage Malvern Anzac Run on Anzac Day 25th April. This is always a great day out, visiting the war memorials in the Malvern area before finishing for lunch at the Glentunnel community centre. As well as being a fundraiser for the RSA, it is a great opportunity to showcase our vehicles around the outer Selwyn district. Registrations have been received from Dunedin and Ashburton, and the best thing is that there is now no limit on numbers so it won’t be restricted to just veteran vehicles now. All the details were also in the March Hub. Veteran owners will also have the opportunity to visit a couple of private collections and to socialise on the day before the run, organiser Malcolm McGibbon will be contacting those registered about this. For more details see last month’s Hub, or contact Malcolm directly on 027 433 8047, or myself. And before finishing, I must note the passing of one of our stalwart VCC Banks Peninsula branch members, Richard Foster. I’ve only got to know him over the last few years as I’ve become more involved in the veteran scene, but I appreciated him as one of life’s true gentlemen and as someone who was always friendly, especially keen on his motoring, and always willing to help both individually and in the wider community. He and Kate drove the veteran Humber to our last annual veteran rally in October last year, and he joked that he was intending to come via the Haast Pass, but it was raining over there and he didn’t want to put the hood up! I pass on our sincere condolences to Kate and the wider family. Colin Hey Veteran Convenor