Hi everybody,
It’s a privilege and a pleasure to serve the 4th oldest Vintage Car Club in New Zealand. Having a membership of over 350 is incredible (fortunately everybody does not attend at the same time as it may be a little cramped).
To Knud and Kay on behalf of the club thank you for a great morning run last Sunday. It’s amazing that our club has such a wide spectrum of vehicles and people, Kim and I are looking forward to this new experience we are undertaking.
In approx. 2 weeks we will travel to Nelson to represent you at the 2023 Vintage Car Club Annual General Meeting - hopefully you will have noticed in your inbox's all information pertaining to this event.
It is important that all members are aware of what is happening. Whether you push the delete button, or not, my responsibility to you has been met. All comments in writing to our Secretary please.
Your committee is working diligently in the interest of all our members, hence if you could assist in any way please approach any committee member.
Or if asked for assistance, a positive response will be appreciated.
Thank you,
Young Bill
11 – 13 - VCC AGM – Nelson
14 – 10am – ‘CaféCliff’
14 – Club Night
20 – VCC National Daffodil Rally for Cancer – Organisers – Raewyn & Trevor Hughes
21 – 10am – ‘CaféCliff’
22 – Nog & Natter – Katikati NEW VENUE – ‘Black Sheep Restaurant’ – Plummers Point Road. Organiser – Marion Hall
25 – Movie Night – Organiser – Alastair Jones
25 – 26 – Rotorua Branch – ‘SulphurCityRally’
27 – Mid Winter Lunch & BOP VCC 65th Birthday – Organisers – Jill & John Whitcombe
28 – 10am – ‘CaféCliff
28 – Committee Meeting’
11 – 10am – ‘Café Cliff’
11 – Club Night
15 – Mid Month Event – Dinner at BOP Club for North Shore Branch Tour Members. BOP members invited to join. Cost $35 p.p (please note this dinner is a fundraiser for our club) Organiser’s – Kaaren Smylie/Jill Whitcombe
16 –9am - Breakfast Run – Mount Maunganui – (combined Run with North Shore & BOP members) – Organiser – Kaaren Smylie
19 – Nog & Natter (New Date) Tauranga Citz Club – Organiser – Kaaren Smylie
25 – 10am – ‘CaféCliff’
24 – End of Month Run – ‘Awakeri Rail Adventures’ - Organiser – Jill Whitcombe
25 – Committee Meeting
29 – Movie Night – FINAL movie for the season – Organiser – Alastair Jones
1 – Daylight Saving starts
9 – 10am – ‘CaféCliff’
9 – Club Night
11 - Mid-Month Run – Day Bus Trip – Organisers – Jill Whitcombe/Alan Webb
16 – 10am – ‘CaféCliff’
18 – New Members Function – Organiser – Kaaren Smylie
24 – Nog & Natter – Papamoa – Organiser - Lynn Howard
29 – End of Month Run – ‘Hamurana Springs’ – Organiser – Brian Pratt
30 – 10am – ‘CaféCliff’ 30 – Committee Meeting
To celebrate the 65th year of the BOP VCC, on 27th August we are going to hold a lunchtime sit down meal.
We will be having entertainment after the meal and you will be entertained with an “ show with your hosts Seldom Anygood and Tenica Boobshay
There will be good prizes or take the money style format with lots of laughs and jolly good old fashion fun
Menu: The club will supply 2 meat options , potatoes ,peas and dessert ( ice cream, fruit salad, and carrot cake. Tea and Coffee to finish.
Members to bring a salad and your own drinks.
We will have an official cutting of the Birthday Cake during the afternoon.
Tickets are limited to 100 seats and the Price will be $20.00 per person
RSVP to johnandjill37@gmail.com by the 20th August 2023
Payment to the BOP Vintage Car Club
Account Number 03 0435 0492753 00
On the bank slip your Name and the Reference “65th Dinner”
For any enquiries phone John or Jill on 027 552 4201
The only way I can adequately thank all the well-wishers, hand-shakers and back slappers from the last Club-Night is through the good pages of "Klaxon" because there just wasn't enough time that night to thank you all personally.
Your words and actions were much appreciated.
If any of you are interested in following up the story on how the old Buick was recovered and restored, you can read the story in Beaded Wheels # 180 and 181. Go to the www.vcc.org.nz, click on Beaded Wheels and then click on Beaded Wheels Archives. There's great stuff back to the first Guff Sheets. You'll enjoy seeing what was for sale and what prices were asked.
Best wishes for your motoring, Alastair
JonesWe extend a warm welcome to the following new Members—
Dirk Jost jostfamily@xtra.co.nz
25/101 Harbour Drive, RD2, Whitianga
Ph. 021 683360
Dirk has a 1984 Volkswagen Golf Gti & a 1971 Volkswagen Westfalia Bay Window -
Bruce Mckarras brucemckerras@gmail.com Ph 022 0455154.
23 Bellfield Place, Bethlehem, Tauranga .
Bruce has a 1954 Velocette E Mac 350 Motorcycle, a 1936 Velocette Velcette Iron Mac Motorbike, and a 1951 Bristol 401 Saloon
———————————————————————————————————-
We have a new junior member : Freya Wiseley kaaren@smylie.co.nz
238 Plummer’s Point Road, Tauranga 3172 -
PleasecontactourChairmanifyouhavenotreceivedyournamebadgeby ournextmeeting
I was asked to write a story on our 1957 Two Door Morris Minor 1000 so I thought I would explain how and why we got her.
I left school at 16, half way through the 6th form to do a horticultural course (I had to have a job before I could leave school, kids did what they were told in those days!) I was lucky to be picked up and dropped off at the gate by a girl on the course who lived up the road from me in a – you guessed it – Morrie 1000. I fell in love with the car and decided when I got a job I would get one too. ( I was brought up with an eclectic mix of cars, Sunbeam Talbot, Armstrong Siddeley, Daimler Consort, Peugeot 404, and a Simca (learnt to drive in that among many other cars.
So at the end of the course I got a job in a plant nursery and needed a car, you can guess what I wanted. For some reason my dad flatly refused my plea for a Morrie 1000, I was allowed to buy a Mini Traveller though which I loved.
Fast forward 40 years or so and as my husband is restoring a Mk 2 1600 E Ford Cortina for himself I decided the time had come for a Morrie for me. We found her in Auckland after a long search, the owner chose us from 8 other buyers as we had a garage and my husband has been a mechanic for over 44 years so we were able to reassure him she was going to a good home.
To get her going we have replaced the exhaust system, brakes, put 4 new tyres on ,done the diff pinion seal, carb overhaul and water pump and thermostat. All she needs to be restored to her former glory is a paint job and the seats to be reupholstered. We were even featured in the Sunlive photos taken at the Easter run which was her maiden outing.
So that’s how and why we ended up with our “ Cheap and Cheerful Little Lady “
Sharlene
This year we have had more opportunities to meet with BOP VCC members who are interested in Rallying our old vehicles – driving our vehicles over roads that they were built for and seeing things that one does not normally get the opportunity to enjoy. Let’s be honest, there are very few metal roads around anymore, so not much chance of getting down and dirty on a normal day rally.
So we had chatted with Deirdre and Tony, Les and Helen and Alistair and Gwen and agreed we would all take part in the Waikato Winter Woollies Rally from Cambridge on the 10th of June this year, meeting for dinner on Friday night and by some good planning, we even managed to stay in the same Motel – well done girls!
Unbeknown to us, Graham and Thelma Jack from our branch were also taking part and it was great to meet up with them on Saturday morning before the start, as they had travelled to Cambridge on Saturday morning.
As some of you will know, Graeme and I have been involved in major renovations of our home over the past 12 months, so we have not had the luxury of time for ourselves, so Graeme got out Graham Bluestreak all cleaned, greased, oiled and checked over early and without having to worry about dog-sitters anymore, we were free to leave early. Leaving Waihi Beach at 1.30pm, we were planning a leisurely trip to Cambridge with time for a nice coffee before settling into our motel and going for dinner.
As we all know! Rain has been frequent since Christmas and our Karangahake Gorge has suffered from flooding, erosion and several particularly nasty slips, so travelling through there is fraught with Road Works currently. While sitting in a queue beside the river, we both noticed a strange noise coming from the engine bay! We stopped in the Rest Area while Graeme checked it out and some Australian folk came to talk to us about what we were doing in our car.
No problem found, we carried on, but on the “Swamp Road”, Graeme felt he needed to investigate further and found that the generator was the problem, as soon as we stopped, our neighbours stopped headed in the other direction, to check we were all okay. The decision was made to go back to Paeroa Auto Electrical who were extremely helpful and Roger suggested that if he removed the generator, they would have a look at it. Done! However, the problem was found to be terminal, so we turned around and headed home to Waihi Beach. By now it was getting to 4.30p.m. but we decided that Graeme would get our Graham Crusader from the shed, where it had been resting for 6 months, and load up again, heading off to Cambridge again around 6pm. This time, it was dark and our lights weren’t much better than one candlepower each, plus by now the Auckland traffic travelling to the Coromandel for the weekend were all reaching our patch, so oncoming MODERN headlights were blinding! It was a very quiet trip through the gorge as Graeme tried to follow the white line and I tried to hold my tongue from telling him he was very close to the edge!!
Anyway, it was a beautiful evening and with the lovely bright moon, we made it to Cambridge about 7.30, before spaghetti on toast and into bed!
Saturday morning, dawned crisp and clear and we met up with Steve and Joy Growden from Kawerau when we were filling with fuel prior to breakfast at the VCC Car Club rooms. The time went really quickly as we caught up with the rest of the BOP members and friends from other branches. We found that there was a Teams Competition for Branches, so Graeme quickly talked to our BOP members and entered Jacks, Duggans and ourselves in the Team Comp. All too soon, it was briefing and then we were off, heading out towards Leamington and into Straight Line Navigation. This was a well thought out section, however, I don’t think the organisers thought about the Saturday morning netball, rugby and soccer traffic at that hour. It was quite tight and tricky for a few minutes there, before we headed off through Maungatautiri and continued to follow this road for many miles while also following the Waikato River and Lake Karapiro. What fabulous scenery, beautiful sealed roads and SUN!
We really lucky to have such beautiful country areas available to us to travel on and enjoy. I really enjoyed being able to show Graeme where I go to a Quilting Retreat every year at Epworth Retreat and Recreation Centre – one of the questions we were asked was to name the Retreat. (It was about this point that we realised we had forgotten our lunch!!)
Never mind, the next wee shop we passed, we would stop and get something – but no! We remained on sealed roads, near Arapuni, near Arohena and finally into the Ngaroma War Memorial Hall, and we did not pass one shop or roadside stall anywhere!
The Hall was set back from the road, up quite a steep driveway with a big paddock on the left which had obviously been used for sports over many years. Behind was a lovely area of native bush and the whole area was very picturesque, if chilly!
After a nice cup of tea and a banana that we had in the car from Friday night, we headed off, turning left from the hall, to continue the road that we had been on, and having to watch for a beast which had strayed onto the road unaware of the noisy cars coming to interrupt his eating.
This afternoon was to prove to be the completion of a full circle as we headed back towards Cambridge, along Bayley Road, Seafund Road, Wharepapa South Road, Owairaka Valley Road, before joining Arapuni Road to approach Cambridge from the South-West. The scenery was amazing, we were very high initially, and then ran through some amazing valleys with Awesome Limestone Rock formations. Some people were being inventive and had created small business’ like rock climbing, on their land.
Graeme always says, “There is usually a sting in the tail”, and this rally had a good one. As we turned onto Thornton Road, the instruction was to proceed to the Final Check. For those of us who were tired, or perhaps a little inexperienced, that meant turning into McLean Street and home to the clubrooms, however, the organisers meant to carry on until you met a Marshall who would take your Afternoon Card – about 2 kilometres past McLean Street.
Here we got an extra instruction to turn around and go back to the Clubrooms. What fun!
It had been a really lovely relaxed day, travelling on lovely sealed roads, seeing different things, enjoying our cars – and being part of a group of like-minded people, supporting each other. Dinner was back at the Clubrooms, where a really lovely meal was dished up to us, there was lots of chatter and camaraderie, ending with the prizegiving. 61 vehicles took part in the rally from Waikato, Auckland, South Waikato, North Shore, Eastern Bay of Plenty and of course, our 5 cars from Bay of Plenty. We entered the teams event, and came second by default after one of the Waikato cars broke down. Graeme and I got first in Post Vintage and 3rd overall so we were extremely excited.
Our weekend ended with a lovely breakfast enjoyed with Deidre and Tony and an uneventful trip home in the Crusader and it wasn’t even too dirty! Bonus!
Just 3 short weeks after the Waikato Double 50 Rally, we were on the road again, heading to Warkworth for the Winter Woollies Rally on Saturday the 1st of July. Weather forecast for the weekend – complete rubbish! Rain, high winds, added to the fact that the Dome Valley north of Warkworth had been closed from the Wednesday due to major slipping. Great weather! Still any day out and about in the old vehicles is a great day, so lets go.
With the generator fixed on the Bluestreak, we were getting ready to go the day before, when I noticed a tiny track of water down the block. Graeme checked it out and found we had a leak in the top tank, better to find it here. Tried the usual potions but we decided to fall back on Old Faithful for such a long trip on busy roads. Out came the Crusader again.
We have done this Rally many times before and love the roads and friendliness of the people in Warkworth. As usual, we left home at 10am Friday morning and headed for Puhoi where we have traditionally stopped for Seafood Chowder for lunch around 1pm. We had a fabulous trip up and Old Faithful never missed a beat. By the time we got to the Johnson Tunnels north of Orewa, we were right on time and pulled off the newly opened highway to head into Puhoi.
The Puhoi Pub has obviously changed hands and was fair humming when we arrived. Work groups playing pool, bikers having a break and a good number of locals enjoying the ambience. The kitchen facilities have been updated, but the Seafood Chowder was just the same – beautiful!
Time to head into Warkworth – on the old highway……. What! Yes the new Mega Dollar Highway has one off-ramp, at Puhoi, and in the future there will be an on-ramp heading back to the City at Puhoi, but for now, there are absolutely no on-ramps and the only off-ramp is Puhoi!! How sad for this beautiful little village, there will be no reason to stop there if you can’t get back on and Warkworth is only 10 minutes up the road.
Still fine weather, as we enjoyed a very quiet old highway, as most of the traffic was on SH16, headed for Whangarei and there was only the local traffic on this normally heaving road. By the time we booked into our motel, it was starting to drizzle. There were very few cars in the car park at the motel and we were put right around the back in what used to be “overflow” units. Strange we thought, then we went in! OMG, not what we were expecting, as well as cold and damp, torn curtains – yuk. Just as we were deciding what to do, our friends from Auckland, Murray and Penny Firth arrived into the unit next door – safety in numbers we thought!!
By the time we arrived home from our beautiful Thai Meal that evening, our room was drying out and the bed was warmer and dryer, so we slept well in preparation for a busy day and we were not disappointed.
The gathering and briefing were at the Masonic Hall in Warkworth where we were told that the route had had to be changed because of the closed Dome Valley and also SH16, which we would have to travel on now, was going to be very busy. A much smaller group than usual saw 35 cars leave the car park and head south before turning right onto Woodcocks Road and following that road all the way to the opposite coast.
On arriving at the Kaipara Coast Highway (SH16) intersection, we found there was indeed a huge amount of traffic on a narrow two lane road that has broken up badly due to the amount of traffic and of course, the rain of previous months. So we travelled in a very long convoy heading north towards Port Albert – our Instruction was: LEFT onto Port Albert Road and keep left until RIGHT at Port Albert 7kms.
Upon seeing the sign for Port Albert, we turned left and continued on keeping left until we came to the sign post “Port Albert 7kms”, but it was going the wrong way for us.
Oh no! Graeme said to me, “Did that sign say Port Albert or Port Albert Road?”
Oh dear!, time to turn around and think again, but
Oh Goodness Me!, the side of the road was much softer than we thought and down, down, we went until there was no way up. Oh Shitty Mud! Another first for us. Time to call Tail End Charlie for a tow……. Until along came a Farmers Wife and her husband in their ute. He jumped out and disconnected their trailer, hooked us up, while she towed us out! Well that was fantastic, so after much thanking and a quick chat about the older vehicles they owned, we were off again. By now we were a good half hour behind most of the cars and as we had started later in the pack, we decided to carry on from here and cut our losses.
From here there were some interesting things to see: Minniesdale Chapel, built in 1867 and is absolutely immaculate sitting on the side of a hill overlooking the water.
Next question, What colour is the Kiwi? Turned out to be white and on a sign post.
Turn right onto JOURNEYS END and the question “What body part is watching you from The Swamp?”
Journey End was a very long road, unsealed mostly that went through farmland, Avocado orchards, swamps, estuary like surfaces and finally ended at Birds Beach, an awesome little settlement on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour. Probably about 18 houses there, sealed road, no shops, but it looked well kept and we were amazed to find it there. Heading back on Journeys End and still no answer to our question, we came around a corner and there was a sign on an old piece of corrugated iron saying “The Swamp”, and on the opposite fence post was a very large eyeball! What a great question!
Lunch was at the Tapora Community Hall, where we were giving a choice of homemade soups and sandwiches. The children from the tiny school next door were selling Avocados, oranges, bunches of flowers, Tea Towels and candles for funds for the school. We were miles from anywhere on an isolated coast, and I am sure most of us contributed to their school funds. I saw lots of goodies heading for cars. The afternoon run started with timing, but only for 11 miles and then there was a tricky section which was not hard, you just had to be thinking clearly and not always possible when you are warm and snug in the sunny car – (what happened to their rain and strong winds?), and the next question was “You can have a good laugh here”, answer “The Funny Farm”. You had to laugh.
Anyway, we headed into Wellsford, then turned towards the East Coast again for a run home through Matakana and back into Warkworth around 3.30pm having covered around 118 miles at a comfortable speed. Another lovely day in our old car.
At dinner that night, there was the Famous in Warkworth, 2023 Winter Woollies Wander Quiz, a beauty every year, to be completed before Dinner is finished. Graeme and Roy Sharman from Auckland had quite a bit of fun working out the names for various makes of cars before our meal. They had 77 out of 100 correct. (Could be a good challenge for a club event?)
Anyway, we had had another successful day, we missed two checks when we went wrong, nobody answered one of the questions and we lost one point in our timing, resulting in first in Post Vintage and 2nd overall for us. (If only I had read that Port Albert “Road” sign correctly. Our first ride on the new highway was amazing – incredible!, and our trip home uneventful, with great memories and a very dirty car to clean……Thanksforanotherinterestingreport-Ed
A report on a rally which was not part of the BOPVCC but may be of some interest to readers.
On the weekend of 23rd, 24th and 25th of June I hosted a group of members of the Studebaker Drivers Club.
As you expect from one make clubs, ours is a small but friendly bunch where everyone is on close terms with each other despite coming from all over the North Island. E.g. from Wairarapa up to Auckland is our draw area.
As it also happens to be the 100th birthday of my 1923 Studebaker Light six “ROSIE” , I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to combine the “Hillholder” rally, as we call our mid year Studebaker rally, with birthday celebrations for Rosie.
Our itinerary was drinks and meal Friday night.
Rally on Saturday morning. Out and around Tauranga, then out to Maketu and Paengaroa via Mountain rd, No. 2 rd and Te Puke. Lunch stop at Paengaroa followed by return to Tauranga via Te Puke and Papamoa.
We only had one hiccup which was a flat tire for one of the cars.
We had three of our family cars in attendance which I’m sure would have made my Dad very proud. He was no doubt looking down on us from heaven with a broad appreciative smile.
Saturday night we had a dinner and prizegiving with a dress up theme appropriate to 100 years ago. We had a ceremonial cutting of the cake made by my partner Suzie for the occasion and everyone sang Happy Birthday to Rosie the birthday girl.
Sunday morning we got together again for a hearty breakfast before everyone drifted away to begin their drive home.
All in all a fantastic weekend with wonderful people and I was extremely pleased that the weather gods played ball and I look forward to a rally in 6 months which will be when we have the next major rally event for our little club.
Rosie has been in our family since 1959 which means she wasn’t at the BOPVCC first ever rally but my Dad was (in a 1924 Chev). Rosie attended as many rallies as she could in my fathers time and has been all over the country.
Rosie wrote a book called “Rosie Studebaker – An Autobiography” albeit with my fathers help.
There has been no letter from the King but I did apply for and receive a brass plaque which anybody who has a 100 year old car can get from the Head office of the VCC for $55.
There are probably quite a few other cars turning 100. I know “Morrie” Nottle’s Moon is one such car.
Picturesnextpage
The following are a few photos of the event and the people and their cars
Sunday 20th August 2023. Everyone and all makes and models of vehicles are welcome to join in the Car Display and the Rally. All proceeds from the day will be donated to our local Cancer Society. Thankyou for supporting this worthy cause.
CAR DISPLAY - A car display in the public car park next to the BOP VCC club rooms, 29 Cliff Road, Tauranga from 10 am to 1pm. GATES - The gates will open for display vehicles from 9am.
COST - $10 per vehicle will be collected, All proceeds to the local Cancer Society. NB: CASH ONLY.
ARRIVAL TIME - Please park your vehicles BEFORE 9.45am Public entry at 10am. IMPORTANT - Please NO moving vehicles in the car park after the public enter. PARKING MARSHALLS - Parking marshals will be BOP VCC members who will be wearing HiViz vests. IMPORTANT - Would one-make motoring clubs please group vehicles together where possible.
PUBLIC - The public are invited to view the cars. Gold coin donation to the local Cancer Society.
FOOD OPTIONS: at the BOP VCC club grounds.
1. A sausage sizzle will be available from early.
2. The BOP VCC kitchen will be open for tea & coffee. Morning tea available for purchase.
3. The Papamoa Lions Food caravan will be selling hot dogs, hot chips, and bacon and egg butties.
4. The 'c4 Street Food and Expresso' van will be onsite selling delicious takeaway food and drinks. EFTPOS will be accepted (no credit cards or paywave).
5. D'Vine Grindz coffee vendor for hot and cold drinks.
HEALTH & SAFTEY: Qualified First Aiders on site if medical assistance is required. A comprehensive first aid kit and a defibrillator on site.
SPECIAL RIDES: During the morning the Mustang Owners Club will be taking some children for rides, departing from and returning to the lawn in front of the VCC rooms. Please keep this area clear so that everyone will be safe.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a pre-arranged event with the local Cancer Society.
BRIEFING:1pm muster at the BOP VCC next to the car park.
ENTRY FEE: All vehicles that have paid the $10 entry are invited to join the run.
NON VCC PARTICPANTS: are required to complete an official entry form (SEE ATTACHED) and bring to the event. These forms will be collected from the driver on leaving the carpark, in return for route instructions. "Guests are required to complete the official Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Inc entry form prior to this event taking place. By completing this form you are included under the Club's Public Liability Policy with Vero Liability Insurance Ltd for property damage and personal injury."
AFTERNOON TEA: The run will be ending at an historic hall where the BOP VCC members will be providing a superb afternoon tea for Rally participants - we hope you will join us and enjoy mixing and socialising with others who were on the run.
COST - $5 per person this will be collected at the hall door. CASH ONLY please.
THE RALLY ROUTE: There will be an awesome mixture of highway, byways, and country roads, that you will travel down, to the barrels of the earth, and back up along the ridges.
PLEASE NOTE: "There is 1km of hard unsealed road".DURATION OF RALLY -Approx -1.5 hours. We are looking forward to you joining us for a great afternoon's driving around the local countryside, with like-minded people who love their vehicles, and will enjoy having a chat over afternoon tea afterwards. At the same time, we are not only showcasing our 'pride and joys', but getting the opportunity to support our local branch of the Cancer Society, a most worthy cause!
IMPORTANT - RSVP: Would each car club contact/events person please advise me of numbers attending by Wednesday the 16th of August. This is mainly for car park planning and afternoon tea catering, thanking you in advance.
For all enquires please contact Raewyn Hughes 021 - 02212186
REMEMBER—KAAREN NEEDS SOME YELLOW CARS!
•4/21/2023
Do kids like driving or not? I’ve been noticing duelling narratives. In the “we’re doomed” category, Substack writer Rob Henderson, a psychologist, explains how today’s kids are more risk averse than previous generations and don’t want to leave their parents’ basements. The percentage of 17-year-olds who have drivers licenses fell from 62 percent in 1997 to 42 percent in 2021.
The New York Times, on the other hand, recently highlighted a group of Southern California youths for whom the car is a cherished means to freedom and adventure. I probably should be celebrating the Times piece a love letter to the car but it’s presented in an artsy way, with photos fit for a Forever 21 catalog. My colleague Joe DeMatio pointed out that the article merely confirms that for many young people in America, the car is as important to their social lives and development as it was for the characters in the flick American Graffiti a half-century ago. For the kids in the NYT piece, cars are rolling rec rooms, a way to connect with friends in person rather than through a phone screen. DeMatio found it heartening and hopeful and dismissed my concerns about the photos with a characteristic wave of his hand. Give it a read and let me know what you think.
I have three kids under the age of 20 so I naturally consider myself an expert on the topic. I’ve witnessed the corrosive effects of today’s never-ending digital entertainment stream and often resent the devices that take up so much of my kids’ time. Then I remember that T.V. got its turn in the hurt locker, and most new entertainment technology is accused of being unhealthy. Tastes and behaviors change. The world changes.
That said, I rely on cars to lure my kids off the screens so I can connect with them while they’re still at home. The machines are wonderful gathering points, as I’ve pointed out many times, from a road-trip tale to our book Never Stop Driving, now available in audio format. I’ve recently taught three stick-shift lessons to my 18-year-old daughter, who’s never leaned toward the family business. A kid who’s long viewed cars as her old man’s curious obsession now sees stick-shift driving as a potentially fun and valuable skill to have. During our first lesson in an empty highschool parking lot, she accidentally did three burnouts and laughed each time. I did too. Now she wants to drive our ’86 Mustang to school.
A few years ago, we dove into the topic of kids and cars and concluded that there’s plenty of automotive enthusiasm in the next generation. I still believe that but am aware I travel in selfreinforcing circles. I’m also wary of too much screen time for our kids. Ben Franklin believed there’s virtue in moderation. Except, of course, when it comes to my cars, when too much is just enough.
Courtesy of Hagerty Media
Archivist - Remember, if you are passing through Christchurch you are always very welcome to visit the Archive. I am always there on a Friday morning but please ring prior to your visit to confirm this, thanks. Don Muller. VCC National Archivist. archivist@vcc.org.nz Hm. Ph# 03 3856850.
Beaded Wheels - Inflation and the attendant price increases caused by inflation continue to affect the bottom line. We have had a huge increase in postage costs by NZ post. An increase in the cover price is under consideration although this will not affect members. I’m not sure we are all ready for a digital edition of Beaded Wheels yet but that remains a possibility for the future. I believe there will always be those members who want their Beaded Wheels in hard copy format and my view is that we should always continue to provide that benefit. We are continuing with subscription sales on-line for another year. Our presence there gives us a good profile on a digital platform.
Financial Report- The Revised Budget has been thoroughly reviewed, with costs trimmed where possible. We anticipate a robust discussion at the Executive Meeting around which option the Club should proceed with.
NZ Federation of motoring clubs (FOMC) - 12 Month WOF. The issue of the 12 months warrant of fitness is ongoing with various suggestions on the table for discussion.
Vehicles once modified from their original factory approved standard, must go through a compliance. Scratch built vehicles must be designed and constructed so they are safe and road legal. To assist our members thankfully LVVTA provides these standards. LVVTA have developed the LVV Electronic Data Plate which replaces the engraved LVVTA Certification plate. The Data Plate is fitted to the vehicle during the final LVV certification inspection. In addition, rather than the limited information provided by the engraved plate, a more detailed description of the modifications is now available online. One certifier has been approved to deal with disability adapted vehicles. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has approved over 80 design standards for safe vehicle modification. The LVVTA has issued 6730 certifications over the last 12 months. This figure includes 22 heavy vehicle certifications.
NZTA Waka Kotahi - Progress on the 12-month Warrant of Fitness could charitably be described as frustrating. While the Federation of Motoring Clubs (FoMC) was making initial progress with NZTA re the mechanics of how the member clubs would supply sample vehicles (by registration plate) for a pilot test program, Waka Kotahi have had a senior management change and we’re “on hold”. There is now a new Director of Land Transport who wants to consider the proposal afresh.
Registrar - Since the 2022 August AGM and up until 19 July 2023 National Office has processed: 171 DOMAS statements, 483 VIC applications, Total 654 documents processed
Currently on our database we are showing 4349 DOMAS statements and 1673 Vehicle Lighting Endorsements. At present the Vintage Car Club has 27,640 vehicles in our database.
DARYL & ANNETTE WAKEFIELD
PH 07 574 8740
Contact—Julian Parbery
Telephone—07 573 9109
Fax 07 5738915
259 Jellicoe Street, Te Puke, 3119, Bay of Plenty
Email sales@bopradiatorspecialists.co.nz
Cleaning with out chemicals or abrasives, it is eco friendly and cost effective way compared to other methods such as media blasting or paint stripping. It can remove light rust off delicate car/engine parts. It will easily clean a metal head gasket previously impossible with conventional cleaning methods. Benefits are - no harsh chemicals, no abrasives, no expensive set up cost (as with media blasting), no loud noises during the process, no hazards as with high pressure equipment, very precise cleaning and no clean up cost!
This cleaning can be done in your garage if re-
The Bay of Plenty Branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand, and The Alvis Car Club of New Zealand (ACCNZ), has lost another long standing member in March this year, Rob Edwards. Rob was born in the Wiararapa, and met his future wife Jo through a workmate. They married in December 1959 and had four sons, Tony 1960, Gregory 1963, Paul in 1965 and Bruce in 1970. The family moved from Greytown to Upper Hutt and Rob joined a builder from England called. Fred Dickson. He also worked on a Milk round and eventually bought his own milk round. In 1974 they moved to Hamilton - Gordonton and then onto Tamahere and Jo worked part-time as a receptionist at Hamilton Teachers College. In 1981, Greg was killed in a motorbike accident and in 1985 they moved from Tamahere to Templeview on a 50 acre site. They moved again in 1990 to Hillcrest where Rob carried on his building projects. They moved to Tauranga in 1997, living in Maungatapu, then to Ohauiti, before illness and lack of mobility took them to Hillcrest Retirement Village.
During all this time Rob and Jo had both been busy owning various cars, including seven Alvis models. Rob had ‘saved’ several Post-War Alvis including the Crested Eagle Saloon, at one time owned by the National New Zealand MP Daniel Riddiford. Rob always maintained the cars to a very high standard. He also had a passion for Jaguar cars, (he had 2), and also six Valiant's, two Hillman's, one Chrysler, a superb Mitsubishi GTO, Morris Marina, Morris J2 van and a Toyota Crown.
Rob's main passion were the Alvis cars, especially his last model the Dark Blue TE 21 DHC. He inherited the manual index records of Alvis Cars in New Zealand after Bill Aitchesons death. This included when cars that were exported and also imported to NZ. With the arrival of computers and their capacity to record masses of car details, Rob felt that this information had to be transcribed onto a data base and he me to undertake the work involved. I maintained the NZ Alvis records for some years, eventually passing on the role to Mike Stuart in Napier. Rob and Jo were excellent hosts arranging impromptu meetings at their house in Maungatapu and later in Ohauiti. Rob also helped to set up the British Car Club NZ Club and became the President. He organised annual meetings at local reserve parks in Tauranga near the water. They were always relaxed events with various other marques competing for the best display award, judged by independent car enthusiasts. He will be missed, especially by his fellow Alvis enthusiasts.
I extend our condolences to Jo, their three surviving sons, Tony, Paul and Bruce and their large extended family.
16th September 2023
The Taranaki Branch invites you to enter their 46th Annual Motor-Cycle Rally. The rally routes will be over good surfaced roads with instructions in large print.
VENUE: NEW PLYMOUTH TOP TEN HOLIDAY PARK, 29 Princes Street, Fitzroy, New Plymouth will be Rally H.Q. for our Annual Motorcycle Rally. Dinner and Prize giving will be held at the Beach Street Hall, 80 metres north of Devon St East, approximately 800m from the Top Ten Holiday Park.
PROGRAMME:
Friday 15th 3.00 pm R.H.Q. opens
6.00 pm - Drinks, followed by evening meal and Noggin and Natter
Saturday 16th Rally Instructions available from 8.00 am.
8.30 am - Briefing
9.00 am - First bike away
Lunch Location TBA
6.00 pm - Pre dinner drinks (Beach Street Hall)
7.30 pm - Informal smorgasbord dinner (Ticket holders only)
Prize giving -
FACILITIES: Accommodation - motels, tourist flats, tourist cabins, standard cabins, camper sites, tent sites, swimming pool, linen hire. All meals are available on site to ticket holders only.
RALLY RULES
1 This event is open to financial members of the Vintage Car Club of NZ and invited guests. Invited guests are eligible to compete for prizes, but not VCC trophies.
2 Veteran, Vintage, Post Vintage, Post War, Post 60 and Post 80 machines are eligible.
3 The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entrant whose conduct is in their opinion likely to bring discredit to the event or to the club and their ruling regarding any matters in respect of the running of the event will be final.
1 Veteran (pre 6 Combination
2 Vintage (Jan 1919 7 Morgan Trike
3 Post Vintage (Jan
4 Post War (Jan 1946 – Dec 1960)
5 Post 60 and Post 80 (Jan 1961 – Dec 1992)
8 Invited Guests (Non members with eligible machines up to 1992 at Rally Committee discretion)
CLASSES - Note: Start times may be allocated in order that entry is received within class.
ENTRIES CLOSE 8th September 2023 with Rally Secretary, Sue Street,
36 Essex Street, New Plymouth. Ph (06) 753 9100
email: sue.street@xtra.co.nz
Payments to: Vintage Car Club of NZ Taranaki Branch
The Club Rooms are 29 Cliff Road. P O Box 660, Tauranga, 3144.
Key contacts are:
Chairman– Bill Biehler 027 669 9619 Email: adhock@xtra.co.nz
Secretary– Michael Thorman 07 5444291 Email: bayofplenty@vcc.org.nz
Run
Co-Ordinator Kaaren Smylie 07 576 4180 Email: kaaren@smylie.co.nz
Monthly events
Club night (except January) - 2nd Monday, start time 7.30pm
Mid week run — Wednesday following the club night
End of the month run Held on the last Sunday of the month.
Committee Meeting Last Monday of the month
Noggin ‘n’ Natter — 4th Tuesday at 6pm
Location Sequence of Noggin ‘n’ Natter
1, Tauranga- Tauranga Citizens Club, Cameron Road.
Contact is Kaaren Smylie phone 021 664341 or 07 576 4180
2. TePuke– The Pap Tavern phone 020 4042 7624
Contact is - Lynn Howard.
3. Tauranga- Tauranga Citizens Club, Cameron Road.
4. Katikati- Forta Leza Café, SH 2, Katikati.
Contact is Owen Smith, phone 07 570 2000
If your birthday falls in this month please remember it is your turn to provide a plate for supper. Thanks to last months birthday people for their food.
Please remember to wear your name badges to all events. BADGES ARE FREE TO NEW MEMBERS.
LIBRARY HOURS— The library is open on club nights from 7pm. Also on most Monday mornings Yvonne & Paul work in the library until midday. Members are welcome to call in to search for or return books. If making a special trip please phone them at home on 07 572 0163 or 027 6098510 beforehand to ensure that they will be there. We are accepting good clean car service manuals or books that relate to automobile history or travel for our club library
PARTS SHED Clean out your sheds and bring those surplus parts down. They may be just what someone else needs Parts shed open most Monday morning. Contacts are Jack 07 5766346 or Colin 027 2629161
