Annual Scooter and Small Motorcycle Run April

15th

The Annual Scooter and Small Motorcycle Run took place on April 15th. Eighteen riders set off from Princess Margaret Hospital, on a 117 km journey, taking them through Heathcote, Ferrymead, Mt Pleasant, Summit Rd, Evans Pass, round the bays, over Gebbies Pass, Motukarara, Coe’s Ford, Leeston, Lincoln, and finishing at the Halswell Pub.

Stops for morning tea, lunch and prize giving were had respectively, at the White Rabbit Café (Motukarara), Crate and Barrel Tavern (Leeston), and Craythorne’s Public House Halswell).

A good assortment of scooters and bikes (up to 250cc) were represented, ranging from a 1947 BSA C11 (250cc) to 1993 Honda Jazz, a bizarre, 50cc factory-model chopper.

Prize winners were:

Best Performance Trophy went to Herman Van Der Wert, on a 1951 Royal Enfield. Herman confessed to me that despite him being past retirement age and having had a motorbike licence since 15, he had NEVER ridden a bike on hills before! Plus, this was his first long trip on the Royal Enfield.

The Hard Luck Trophy went to Tony Burgess (the first of three on the back up trailer), for a puncture on his 1976 Honda CT90, about 200m before the morning tea stop.

The Publican’s Choice ($50 Mitre 10 voucher) went to Alan Pattrick, for his beautiful 1958 Triumph Tiger Cub, and winner for The Oldest Bike was Dev Dhurvas, with his 1947 BSA C11 (A bottle of bubbly, kindly donated by the Leeston Publican). The weather played its part, and an enjoyable day was had by all. A big thank you goes to Royce Baker for driving the back-up trailer – knowing there’s a trailer following, gives everyone some peace of mind.

John Benn

STOP PRESS...Just received as the Hub goes to print.

Hi Everyone

We have been negotiating with Peter Martin from Targa with regard to various issues of concern the VCC has about the event going forward, specifically around entry pricing, communication and the level of organisation and support to our entrants. We have not been able to make satisfactory progress and sadly Rod and Anne Corbett have made the difficult decision to stand down from the position of Speed Steward and their involvement for the event. On behalf of all of us, our very grateful thanks go to Rod and Anne for their untiring commitment to the event and their hard work is very much appreciated.

Regretfully I have to advise that the Vintage Car Club has made the decision that it will be in the best interests for the Club to withdraw from Targa this year. We must have absolute confidence in the organisation and integrity of any event which is run under the Vintage Car Club/VCC name.

We understand that Targa NZ may be considering running a time trial event of some sort in October 2023, but the VCC is unable to confirm this. For anyone who has already entered or is possibly considering entering, we recommend that you contact Targa NZ directly, especially if you would now like to withdraw and require a refund.

Kind regards

Diane Quarrie National President

Oh no! Another wet day, I thought, as I got ready to get to Cutler Park. Better take wet weather gear & hope that there's shelter for our picnic lunch.

The weather improved greatly as the day progressed and by the time we were all sitting down outside the Sheffield Community Hall, we were enjoying a lovely, warm, sunny day.

Getting there, for me, was another story as I had opted for the "Long morning route with sealed roads", and reading Neil's instructions was a Joy!

Luckily he calls a "spade a spade" and is a man of few words ; "Straight ahead at stop", "right at stop", "left at stop", "first turn right" !

Not until instruction 10 did I have to remember a road name ; "First turn right into Melton Grange Road". And then "straight ahead at stop" X 4 ! (Where the hell am I)?

By this time I had latched onto Eric & Robyn Cox who passed me in their Morris Minor. Ah ! I know what to do, I'll just follow them because they know where they're going!

Nec minute I'm negotiating 20 miles [seemed like it anyway] of gravel roads full of pot-holes, corrugations, and water lying everywhere from yesterdays downpour. Even the stream we had to "Ford" in Malvern Hill Rd ,was slightly swollen ,but no prob for the old Chrysler. So much for no gravel roads!

Watch out ! Eric's stopping ! He's low on petrol, so out comes spare tin from the boot. This was a good opportunity for me to take a pit stop behind a nearby tree, but Murphy’s law says another participant had to come pass and rib me about it didn't they? But seems I'm not the only one who had toilet issues…..

Back on the road, I'm thinking this "track" can't possibly lead to any sort of "Civilization", but lo and behold we joined up with a sealed road to somewhere eventually.

A really great drive in the Canterbury Countryside and I'm sure everyone else would have enjoyed their trip as well . Many thanks to Neil the organizer.

Regards from John Forster. [Chrysler 66]

25 And 35 Year Badges

(for continuous membership of the VCC)

Those members who are entitled to their 25 or 35-year badges, please contact me as soon as possible to enable the paperwork to be completed intime for their presentation at the branch Annual Awards Dinner (9th September 2023.)

The award will be issued to members of the VCC who have achieved twenty five or thirty five consecutive (financial) membership of the VCC regardless of branch.

Leigh Craythorne

The Clip-ons ready to go.

03 342 9110

A big thank you to Mick and Rose Mariner and Tony and Annette Meikle for taking care of The April Outing…and a big thank you to Margaret Seaton for writing the report. It seems I might be out of action for a wee while, so I have asked Tony and Annette to take over temporarily and they are happy to do so.

May. Fred Carpenter: Meet at Rolleston Community Centre

9.55 am

June. Ray and Linda Maginnes: Meet at Dunsandel Sport grounds 9.55 am

Hoping to see you all soon

Kind regards

John Kuipers ……………………………………………………………………….

Our April 9-90s run started from Kaiapoi and headed out via the Old North Road, then on to the Main North Road. We turned off at Amberley passing numerous new homes as we headed for the beach where we drove round the well established settlement. From there we returned to the Main North Road and to the settlements at Leithfield Beach and Waikuku Beach. It was an interesting drive and it was great to see the diverse range of properties at these beaches. From there we took a winding shingle road back to Woodend and finally out to Pines Beach Hall where there was a choice of having our lunch sitting outside on the deck or inside out of the sun. Annette and Barbara took charge of the raffles as unfortunately John wasn’t able to be with us.

Many thanks to Mick and Rose Mariner for great run.

Margaret Seaton