VETERAN REPORT

Jenny and I have just got back from the Veteran Car Club’s Mid-Summer Adventuresa weekend of veteran motoring around the Geraldine area. With all the destruction having happened up north earlier in the week I have to admit to feeling somewhat guilty about being away enjoying ourselves when others face complete ruin and disaster, including no doubt some of our fellow club members and extended family –a very sad outcome! Hopefully we can contribute to the cause in some meaningful way in the time ahead.

A good attendance of 20 cars – many of them from our branch –made it a most enjoyable weekend, with runs on both the Saturday and Sunday, and plenty of socialising before, during and afterwards.

The Saturday run took us down to Pleasant Point, stopping off to look at a unique collection of shearing memorabilia (shearabilia??) on the way to the domain for lunch, and then an afternoon visit to the Pleasant Point railway station and museum to see what they are up to at the moment. It turned out the Model T railcar was out of service due to a broken half-shaft, but we were able to see the new replacement being machined up in the workshop there when we visited. One would wonder how a Model T could break a shaft the size of the one they were making up, but I guess with the torque required to propel solid wheels and a dozen or so passengers it wasn’t surprising that something probably twice the thickness of a standard axle was needed. We were quite happy in the restored carriages being towed by a diesel shunting engine anyway.

Sunday’s run was to the Orari Estate and homestead on SH1 beside the Orari River Bridge, stopping off first at the Mes Amis Café at the Orari Road intersection on the way. I had often glanced at the Homestead on my way south over the years and wondered what its history was, as it is very prominent from SH1. The current owner Rosie Morten was on hand to tell us all about the history of the property and the garden, which dates back the 1850’s when the original station extended from Geraldine in the West to the sea on its eastern boundary. Nowadays of course it’s a mere portion of its original size, and includes a very busy seedcleaning operation run by the family. Interestingly, Rosie had the original inventory of trees and shrubs purchased when the garden was established – a fortune was spent back then, as many plants had been sourced from overseas. We especially enjoyed motoring in a different area. There are some nice undulating roads around the Geraldine district and lots of nice straighter ones that are not too much of a challenge for the lower-powered veterans, although George Lee was seen to jettison Sue from their recently restored single-cylinder Alldays and Onions to finish off the ascent of one hill! The best thing however was the weather – warm enough to be motoring in shorts and teeshirts (with plenty of sun-block applied of course). There were a couple of casualties from the weekend, including one car with a run big-end bearing, and a Model T which came to a halt on the way to the start of the first day’s motoring with no spark. The fault was soon tracked down to a broken connection inside the ignition switch by a local garage owner, who just happened to be passing and stopped to help and fortunately had a multi-meter in his tool-box and a rudimentary knowledge of Model T’s. Malcolm and Anita McGibbon were very grateful!

The next Veteran section event on our calendar is the Two Wheel Brake Rally on Sunday 12th March. All the information can be found on Page 32. In summary this is a great opportunity for a very enjoyable club outing combined with a great public event, and best of all a fantastic chance to promote our club and show off our cars. I do hope that everyone with a Veteran vehicle or early two-wheel braked vintage will take the opportunity to be involved. The online entry form can be found here, or in last month’s Hub. Please do your very best to get there – a back-up vehicle and trailer has been offered too.

Following in April we have our Annual Malvern Anzac Day Run on Anzac Day, Tuesday 25th March – this year supported by Auto Restorations Ltd. This is a great day out and not only is looked forward to by residents throughout the Malvern area, it is also a meaningful way to remember those who paid the Ultimate Sacrifice in the First and Second World Wars. The run is especially appropriate and focussed on Veteran and Vintage and Pre-1945 vehicles which would have been around in the Anzac era, but all club eligible vehicles are welcome and invited to attend. It visits the War Memorials throughout the Malvern area, many of which have significance for some of our club members. You can find all the information you need on this event on Page 36 and the entry form is on Page 37.

So, here’s our list of events for the next couple of months:

Sunday 12th March – Rear Wheel Brake Rally – see details on Page 33

Sunday 19th March – OCBC, and then the Creepy Crawly Run organised by the Veteran Car Club – for veteran cars only –contact myself if you need more information.

Canterbury branch members who are not Veteran Club members more than welcome to attend – short run from Cutler Park, bring a picnic lunch.

Anzac Day Tuesday 25th April – Annual Malvern Run. Details on Page 36 and entry form on Page 37.

Colin Hey Veteran Convenor

Vintage Report

My VCC activity this month included transporting my motorcycle behind my motorhome to Invercargill for the Southland Rally, followed by the National Motorcycle Rally. This was my first National on a Motorcycle. Canterbury Branch was well represented, and I was impressed by the hospitality and the smooth organisation of this event. The Southland Branch can be congratulated for seeing the potential of running these two events to coincide with the popular Burt Munro Challenge.

120 motorcycles descended on the Southland Club grounds on Saturday 3 February for the Southland Rally which included vintage cars. We all arrived at Wyndham Race Course for lunch under the shelter of some welcome trees, before returning to the Southland Club grounds for an evening meal and prize giving.

Sunday: 130 motorcycles assembled at Surrey Park for field tests and an open day for the public to view the bikes; unfortunately the weather forced an early end to the day.

Monday: Time Trial with three routes short, medium and long. We arrived at the lunch stop, Riverton, before returning home. A dinner at the Ascot Hotel was followed by the awards. An excellent long weekend which was a huge credit to the Southland Branch.

Graham

Moped Run

The Annual Moped Run is being held on the 5th March 2023 Meet at the Halswell New World car park at 10.00 am

Briefing and mopeds away by 10.30 am

An interesting course has been set, to a suitable pub for lunch. Back up provided, so no excuses, dust of your moped and see you there.

Enquires/organiser Graham Barnett 027 240 6297

Come and join us on the P group rally on the 2nd April 2023. We will begin at Cutler park .

There will be a concours for those who wish to enter. Please be there at 9am if you wish to take part in that.

We will then leave for a short drive to our first stop. This is a private car collection which includes interesting and rare cars. We then continue the rally to a winery for lunch. There will be two routes a long and short route to cater for the wide range of vehicles.

For those who are unsure the P Group covers the following Vehicles

PV - Post Vintage Vehicles 1932-1945

PW - Post War Vehicles 1946-1960

P60 - Post 60 Vehicles 1961-1980

P80- Post 80 Vehicles constructed after 1981 and are 30 years old. ALL Commercials or Motorcycles that were produced between 1932 and 1993.

The cost will be $10 for the rally and $10 for the optional plaque . Payments should be made directly to the Canterbury VCC Account 03 1594 0096832 00 Please put your name in the Particulars field and P-Group rally in Reference field.

Please register using the link below or via email.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me jenright51@yahoo.co.nz Cell.027 439 6572

Please put P Group in the subject line of any emails

John Enright Convenor

Or via the entry form on page 38

Winners