The Irishman Creek Rally

Irishman Creek Rally 2023

On behalf of all participants I wish to congratulate and thank Richard Spencer-Bower, John McDonald and John Campbell for their efforts in organising a marvellous and enjoyable rally. Also helping along the way Wayne Franklin, Colin Hey, Bruce Burney, Andrew Marshall, Gary Collison and Amber Inwood. Thank you to all for the Back-up service. Thanks to Dave and Pam Dacombe who were entered in their Model A, however a last minute change meant they came in the 4WD and took on full Backup responsibilities. A special thanks to Geoff Townshend who sat patiently at the Oxford end of Lees Valley Rd all morning to warn vehicles travelling into the gorge to expect 180 odd vintage vehicles on the road coming towards them on the one way sections. Also thanks to Don and Judy Bennetts, who were not on the rally, but drove out specifically to man one of the gates until everyone passed through.

A pleasant surprise for us on the small helping group was the speed with the setting up of the hall prior to prizegiving and all the help cleaning up after the function. Thank you to all the rally participants who lent a hand. The cleanup was done and dusted (swept) in minutes. Keep up the good work next year.

Now an important heads up for next year

2024 is the 70th anniversary of the Irishman Creek Rally . We intend to organise a 3 day event, starting Friday morning 31st May somewhere around Christchurch probably north of the Waimak. We will start Saturday morning, 1st June in the Sheffield area. As usual Fairlie is the base for Saturday and Sunday

Cheers, Dave Inwood (11+)

WANTED assistant bar manager for our clubroom’s bar

Please contact Andrea Dallow for further information regmad1957@gmail.com

AGM Presentations

1. Gill Stevenson (Retiring Bar Manager)

2. Leigh Craythorne (Retiring Past Chairman).

3. Paul Ainsworth (MC Restoration of the Year).

4. Graeme Shaskey on behalf of Kay (Retired Librarian).

5. Mike Foster (Retiring Grounds Convenor).

6. Henry Little (PV Restoration of the Year).

7. Barry Jones (Commercial Restoration of the Year).

Representatives 2023/24 (Parts), Don Bennetts (VICs), Michael Hedgeman (Commercial), (Club Captain), Neil Shaskey (Chairman), Robyn Cox (Treasurer), Royce Baker (VOGs), Henry Little (Ass. Club Captain) Some members absent.)

Only four Noggins to go (counting the July one)! Planning is continuing and site bookings are progressing well. We’ve had a number of suggestions come forward on how to make the event a bit easier to get around, with a bit more focus in particular on providing and improving places around the grounds to have a break, and assisting people to get heavier and more bulky items back to their vehicles. We are also becoming increasingly mindful of security for the event overall, given what is going on in our communities nowadays, and some changes are being made to account for this. There have also been comments from other swap meet de-briefs that have mentioned site-holders finding more items going missing from their sites whilst their attention is being given to honest customers. Something for us all to be mindful of sellers and buyers alike.

I just want to mention again too that there will be two special displays this year. On the old tennis court Tony Gooding will be arranging a display of club-eligible Japanese cars, and Tony would be pleased to hear from anyone who can offer their car for this area. Please contact him on 021 359 208 or by email at tonygooding999@gmail.com if you can display such a vehicledoesn’t matter how old it is, as long as it’s Japanese and Pre-1994 he’d love to hear from you. Promoting these vehicles is very important for the future of our club, so help him out if you can.

In the Barn, the Motorcycle Section will be organising a very special display of four-cylinder motorcycles – Paul Ainsworth is coordinating that one, and you can contact him on 027 432 1391 if you have such a machine and haven’t heard from him already. A reminder too that the coreflute Swap Meet adverting signs are now available at Noggins, as will be the rosters to volunteer your time for one of the many jobs that needs to be done during the event. The more people who offer to help, the easier it is on everyone. None of the jobs is onerous, but we need someone to do them.

Thanks & regards

Colin Hey

Budget 2024 Revision and Discussion Papers for National Executive Meeting 11th August 2023

Our committee has asked that the subject papers are made available to Branch members and requests any comments by 27th July to: canterbury@vcc.org.nz

Discussion Paper HERE

2024 Budget Comparison Report HERE

June Old Cars Bikes and Coffee was combined with the AGM on Sunday 18th June, and was also the first one where we relocated the OCBC gathering to the western side of the main hall to take advantage of the garden and seating area there. It also provided more ready access into the clubrooms, which worked really well given the weather wasn’t at all good. It’s also a bit handier to the spares shed, where quite a few people tend to head off to at some stage of the morning. A smaller than usual turnout of around 30 vehicles this month, which included a small Nissan fire truck recently purchased by member Danny O’Malley. Given the day was so cold and dreary this was still a good turnout, and all those who attended seemed more than happy to be there. We had a different coffee provider just for this month too, and she did a great job for us, including bringing a freshly made batch of scones to have with the coffee. Next month’s OCBC is on Sunday 16th July – coinciding with

MID-WINTER MOTORCYCLE RUN 29-30 JULY 2023

The Mid-Winter Motorcycle Run is back!

We’ll be visiting both Geraldine Auto-Restorations Ltd., and the Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Museum, on the afternoon of Saturday 29th. On the way home, on Sunday 30th, we’ll visit the Roger Mahan Heritage Centre (a new and massive vintage car, bike, and machinery museum).

Please sort your own accommodation. The Andorra Motel is recommended. Ring Sally and state you’re from the VCC. There are a variety of room set-ups. There is also the Geraldine Top 10 Holiday Park. Both are close the centre of town. I’ve been in touch with both – first in, first served. Most rooms available at this stage. Note the Heritage Hotel (Crown Hotel) is closed for renovations.

The Village Inn Restaurant is booked for us, on Saturday night. I need to give the restaurant confirmed numbers by Tuesday 25th July, so please let me know by then.

Chris Leith will send a reminder email out, closer to the date. Get your motor running – get out on the highway ....

Start: Saturday 29 July

Gather: Halswell New World carpark, from 9:00 a.m. onwards

Leave: 9:30 a.m. sharp

John Benn (Organiser): 022 078 2002