VETERAN REPORT

Another good month of veteran motoring as we now pretty much reach the end of the season and begin to focus on what needs doing in the workshop over the colder months.

A few Canterbury Branch members took the opportunity to head down south in the middle of April to take part in the Pioneer Motoring Group’s rally in Clyde. This once bi-annual rally has now evolved into an eighteen-month gap between outings, and is specifically only for one and two-cylinder veteran vehicles only. This was the first time the event had been run in autumn, and we struck it lucky with perfect sunny and calm weather, and of course the autumn colours were on display and are simply stunning in the central Otago setting. The event has a simple but particularly enjoyable itinerary, with a great mix of easy motoring (but with the odd hill providing enough challenge to make it seem like you’ve accomplished something at the end of it), and plenty of socialising throughout the weekend.

Everyone met for a good catch-up at the Old Post Office pub in Clyde on the Friday night, then Saturday’s run was up the Earnscleugh valley, finishing up back at the Dunstan Arm Rowing Club above the Clyde Dam for lunch. Sunday’s run is always out to the Galloway hall beyond Alexandra for lunch – a very quiet and picturesque spot not far from the Otago Rail Trail. Clyde itself is now very busy with cycle tourists taking advantage of the new Dunstan Rail Trail alongside Lake Dunstan, but it was good mixing with them at various places we stopped – there were always lots of questions and chatting about the cars and motorcycles and where we were all from.

It was great to see Bevars Binnie out on his veteran Triumph at this event – I believe it was his first time back riding since a nasty accident over two years ago. He managed Saturday’s 20-mile run without problems, although both he and the bike decided that was enough for one weekend and Bevars reverted to 4-wheel transport for Sunday. Their efforts were rewarded with the Pioneer Run trophy to look after until we return again in 18 months’ time. Ian and Rosemary Close also got through the whole weekend successfully after a transmission problem has seen their 1904 Oldsmobile out of action for a year or so. Next on the agenda was the Malvern Anzac Day Run on 25 th April, and once again we were blessed with perfect sunny weather for this event. A report will be found elsewhere in the Hub, but I can say we had a great turnout of 40 club cars for this event, of which 15 were veteran vehicles. A big thanks to you all for making the effort and helping making the day so enjoyable. Apart from our OCBC mornings, the next most likely event up on the calendar for our group will be the Restoration of the Year Run on 11 th June. There are at least two veteran vehicles that have been finished and used in the last year, so I hope they will be there?? There will be a short route suitable for veterans on the day, and I hope a good number of members who will come out for a look at the projects that have finally reached completion and are now on the road. Over the next few months we hope to try and have a few very short-notice mid-week outings which will be organised at very short notice depending mostly on the weather. Typically there will only be 48 hours’ notice, and we may meet somewhere north, south or west of town and do a run on quiet back-roads finishing somewhere for a coffee or lunch. If you are interested, let me know and I’ll make sure you are contacted. As long as we get at least two veteran vehicles wanting to go, it will be on.

Colin Hey, Veteran Convenor