Vintage Report

VCC Annual Vintage Rally. 6th November 2021

The rally, a perfect day, started in Halswell at Roy Grainger’s with 56 entries, we started the entries away at 30 second intervals on the Time Trial section towards Tai Tapu, from there to bypass Coes Ford through to Burnham and across the Main South Road to turn off on to Telegraph Road arriving at Greendale Domain for Field Tests and lunch. Afternoon run on to Matts Mini Museum in Darfield then on to Kirwee before driving down the Old West Coast Road, arriving at NZ Vintage Machinery club rooms where we were treated to a lovely afternoon tea turned on by Myra Saunders and her helpers. A highlight being the tractor rides around the grounds. A big thankyou to Lyndsey Saunders, Mark Drury, Roy Grainger, Anne Evans, Philip Sutcliffe, Kevin Mercer, John Olliver and David Dacombe for their help. Winners of this year’s Annual Vintage Rally:

Time Trial –

1st Don Bennetts 1927 Chrysler 72 2nd Kevin Straw 1931 Model A Ford 3rd Don Muller 1923 Ansaldo 4C

Field Tests –

1st Chris Dyer Lowden Trophy 1926 Ford Model T 2nd John Olliver 1928 Model A Ford 3rd Max Duncan 1930 Model A Ford

Peoples Choice –

Don Muller Eason Trophy 1923 Ansaldo 4C

Overall Winner –

1st Max Duncan Rae Trophy 1930 Model A Ford 2nd John Olliver 1928 Model A Ford 3rd Michael Hedgman 1925 Lagonda 12/24

The Vintage Rally Saturday 6th November 2021

Report from Trevor Lightfoot

56 Vintage cars! Wow! That is definitely an achievement and quite a sight. Also quite an achievement, for the writer, as I worked long and hard on my 1930 Standard 6 replacing the RH king pin bushes and replacing the worn stub axle assy with another unworn one. Then a traumatic WOF and Paterson’s Tyres carried out a wheel alignment and a tyre fit. I must admit I would rather drive the car than have to fix it but it certainly steers better! I just proved, once again, I would make a better blacksmith than an engineer but the end result is the same but, not quite so pretty. The Rally started at Roy and Shirley Grainger’s magic property where we were allowed to wander his sheds admiring his collection of many vehicles and of course chew the fat with the entrants. I decided his superb restoration of the Diamond T Truck was the most intriguing vehicle as was a completely original fairly light horse drawn 4 wheeled dray/ cart /with solid rubber tyred quite small wooden spoked wheels along with its original flaky grey paint . Of the many entrant’s Vintage Cars I admired, I mention just a few- a 1922 Fiat 500 tourer with its original Christchurch built polished aluminium tourer body, a very early Lagonda Tourer long before their sports cars came along, the red Ansaldo Tourer and the perpendicular Austin 16/6 Saloon. We started off through various country roads including two of my favourites –The Old Tai Tapu Road and River Road eventually

passing the road to Coes Ford. Then towards Burnham on many roads to head to Greendale to another of those hidden country gems -The Greendale Reserve (Domain.) All this on very interesting roads through very green countryside. As I got there pretty early I was the guinea pig to try out their field tests and failed them all. Quite an achievement! We all sat round the Domain in various relaxed groups having our picnic lunch-spent more time laughing than eating! After lunch, off to Darfield to a small eclectic private museum with two asthmatic stationary engines wheezing away and a fascinating collection of anything and everything .Quite my idea of heaven, definitely not Wendy’s! After that through Kirwee and onto the NZ Vintage Machinery Club Grounds just along from our VCC grounds where, amongst other exhibits, was a new shed devoted to the MV Tuhoe which was wrecked on the Waimakariri Sand Bar a few years ago. They have the wheel house and funnel, one of its damaged early American diesel main engines, the other one is being restored at the present time. Also the vessel’s petrol engine powered winch and its similar powered large generator and other bits and bobs.. Here we were served a very pleasant afternoon tea organised by Myra Saunders and her helpers. In another shed was a very very large late 1920’s Hart Parr Tractor belonging to the late Malcolm Gibbs, who was a VCC member and the hernia inducing ( my opinion) little grey tractor that Arthur Hunter used to drive / ride many years ago. Great Rally –Wonderful weather-Great comradeshipInteresting double declutching exercise for most of us –Pleasant and interesting roads –Just a very pleasant day out Thank you to Graham Evans our new Vintage Convener

Lunch

Greendale Domain How close can you get to the wall? David Dacombe and Mark Drury watch carefully. (There was a safety pad)

Prize-winners: L to R Chris Dyer Field Tests, Don Muller Peoples Choice, Max Duncan Overall Winner, Don Bennetts Time Trial