In the Chairman’s position, it is rather like standing on the top of a pyramid looking at a very big and solid base. A bit flowery, but very descriptive.
The recent dinner we hosted for the “Tour” entrants is an excellent example of how the Branch rises to the occasion, admittedly a wee tap on the shoulder is sometimes required, but the end result with Princesses (referred to elsewhere) in the kitchen, and the Princes (Paul v H, Stewart G, Jim S, George H and John W) cooking flat out was a sight to gladden my heart. And of course I must also mention Jack A. who has been very busy precariously spraying our roof because it is growing a great crop of lichen, and then he and Colin have been using an auger to find the soak hole to eliminate the ponding by the bollards. I engaged in a very interesting conversation with the Taranaki Treasurer after the “Tour” who pointed out their Branch had three very important positions still unfilled after their AGM. He queried how we had such a large crew of elected and appointed members to run our Club (Branch) and wanted to know how they were motivated to be involved. Of course we have a much bigger Membership than their 165, but I couldn’t put my finger on the exact reason and just thanked you all silently for wanting to be involved. We missed the run to see the collection in Whangamata arranged by Donn White which has been so positively commented on by the big turnout and ask who else can assist our hard working Club Captain Jill by offering to organise a Mid Weeker, or End of Month, and how about some Club Night entertainment??
My heart is still firmly wedded to Veteran and Vintage cars despite not owning one although the tempering feeling is that fuel will not be the problem some think, but the real stumbling block might be tyres. Those to fit early American cars in the 23 and 24 inch range are now getting eye wateringly expensive and our 1922 Fiat 510S which was fitted with 895X135 B.E. tyres which were horrendously expensive 20 years ago would now require re mortgaging the house. There were “Muddle” A’s everywhere on the “Tour”, kept company by an interesting assortment of other early cars looking absolutely magnificent on the sort of roads that were prevalent in the “20’s and “30’s. Then the balance was made up of cars through to a 2006 MX5 which had me trying to exercise some foresight as to what might be worth you budding collectors hunting for! John Whitcombe has taken the plunge with an early ‘90s Brit. that will be fun to drive and is far from everyday, so keep an eye out for it and Jill will be left with the Minor convertible to doddle along in his wake. On the same note, I receive by lengthy channels, a Brit. mag “practical Classics” which covers what many call mundane “paddock bashers” that are still plentiful here but in very small numbers in England. For some obscure reason they are available for peanuts over there and as an example I read about a 1995 Rover 620Si with only 40K on the speedo and was bought for 400 pounds, a car to rival and probably exceed the Audi A4 and the BMW E36, and is even better than the equivalent Honda Accord, even though 2000 pounds dearer. Food for thought dear readers and I’m prepared to delve deeper to get you thinking there may be cheaper motoring than having to outlay a large amount on an EV!
Kind regards, Alastair Jones
10
Club night (members with birthdays bring a plate please)
Speaker Kerry Williamson about his models
10
Coffee Morning at Club Rooms
12 This is a local run ( See notice for info )
17
Coffee Morning at Club Rooms
22 24 Manawatu Branch Diamond Jubilee ( see Beaded Wheels for info)
24
Coffee Morning at the Club Rooms
25 Nog and Natter a “ Forta Leza”
30
End of Month Run Rotorua Vintage and Veteran 10th anniversary Lakefront Car show at Rotorua. (See Notice for info )
31
Committee meeting.
6
SWAP MEET at the club rooms ( see notice for info)
14
Club Night ( Members with birthdays bring a plate please)
Speaker to be Advised
14 Coffee Morning
16 TBA
21
21 23
27
Coffee Morning
Wellington Train trip
BOP VCC Christmas dinner More information later
Coffee Morning 28 Committee Meeting
28
29 Nog and Natter Tauranga Citz Club
Members if it is your birthday for the month that your birthday falls in can you please bring a plate for Supper
This is our major fundraiser for the year and lots of help on the day will be required to make it a smooth running and successful event.
We need a small team to run a sausage sizzle, folk to collect money at the gate, parking Marshalls from about 7.30am for an hour or so, raffle ticket sellers, and a host of other tasks. As well are running our own kitchen sales so please, if you can, donations of fresh home baking will be most appreciated.
At the October Club night we will have large Swap meet signs (and stakes) to hand out to members who can then place these on main road verges advertising our event for the two weeks prior to the day. This has proven to be very effective (and cheap) local advertising.
Contact Ron Elton on ron.elton@kinect.co.nz, or 07 579 9621 if you can help, or simply add your name to the list that will be circulated at Club night.
So, remember the date, and remember that we need YOU.
Where to meet: Cemetery, Pyes Pa Road. Car park out the front.
Time: 9am for 9.15am start
Details
We will be taking the back roads to Makatu beach front (by the cafe) where we will stop for morning tea. You can bring your own or buy your coffee at the Cafe.
We will then again take the back roads down to Awakeri Hot Pools for lunch
Pool will be open for those who wish to have a lovely soak.
You can bring your lunch but a sausage sizzle will be provided with something sweet to finish off lunch with.
Price: $10.00 per person for the day includes swim and lunch
We will be having a quiz about the route with small prize for the winners
Directions will be provided because you will need to find out the answer to the questions as we travel on down to Awakeri.
Total travel will be approx 180klms.
John and Jill Whitcombe
This is something different for club members to go to as a BOP VCC group.
Meet at the club rooms 8.30 am with depart time 8.45 am to take the Eastern Link to Rotorua joining in with other clubs for a display of vehicles.
The venue is the Village Green at the lake front off Whakaue Street
This is an in formal car show open to individuals or clubs to display their vehicles. Gold coin donation as you enter which goes to the St John’s Ambulance.
You can take your own picnic lunch or wander around the eateries and partake in what there is to offer
Kerry Williamson will be our guest speaker for the October meeting and he will be bringing some of his famous models along to talk about. On display will be big scale classic and modern motorbikes, and Tanks that are working models with all the noise that they make!
Kerry is an excellent speaker and I’m sure everyone will be entertained So come along and see these amazing models
How often are you out on the road and you see signs for “Swaps”? Swap a bottle, Swap Meets, or vehicles sign written with the name J. Swap? Almost every time you are out and about you see J. Swap vehicles, and have you wondered what they do? Today we had the opportunity to travel to their home territory in Matamata and learn more about their operation. “WOW” is about all one can say. From the time you approach Pepper Street, you are aware that this is a very large scale operation. They have a very large parking area on one side of the street and as you get out of your car and look across the road towards “their own” Café, you realise you are almost completely surrounded by J. Swap buildings, trucks and machinery.
After a very nice cup of coffee and a chat with the rest of the group, promptly at 10.30, we were split in to two groups and taken from “Building 2”, to view “Workshop 1” and “Workshop 3”, which are all linked by huge covered areas. We went to Workshop 3 where they were working on BIG machinery.
A huge new CAT loader, with a bucket big enough for our boys to stand up in, with tyres as tall as my husband Graeme, sat in a doorway and dwarfed us all. This vehicle is going to be used in the grain stores for loading trucks etc.
This was however, dwarfed by the next big CAT machine which was receiving some open heart surgery. A big 10 tonne gantry hovered above us and was being used to lift a bucket for another machine, in order for the huge “pins” to be put in place to hold the bucket on. Trust me, Big Machinery requires Big Tools! You surely would not want to drop one of those tools on your foot!
As we wandered through this area of the workshops, there were many machines in various states of repair, which were all waiting for parts to come from various parts of the world, or in fact to be made. The huge oil containers standing along the back of the workshops, an indication of some serious servicing being done here.
On to “Workshop One”, featuring 5 rows of “Pits”, long enough for big rigs and their trailers, rows of oil pipes reaching the roof and then across the huge roof, very impressive. We were told there are 37 mechanics and 10 apprentices working for J.Swap.
The Parts Department, racks upon racks, upon racks and right up to the high roof, are accessed by a mobile lift arrangement, which carries the parts person up to the correct level to pick the part, and then brings them back to earth again. This lift is powered by electricity, (their first foray into electric vehicles.)
When we went into the office area, we were staggered by the amazing CCTV system throughout the site, 30plus cameras surveyed the whole area. Our tour guide, Cameron Swap, (Generation 3 of the Swap family), told us how if they go to pick up a part and it is not where it should be, he can mark that part and the system will track it back for up to 12 months. Just incredible!
By now it was 12 noon and we boarded 3 mini buses to head out to the J.Swap Quarry in “Tokoroa”. I thought “heck, I thought we were going to be finished by 2.30 and now we are heading to Tokoroa!”
Anyway, our driver, Generation 4 of the Swap family, took us on a great tour around the Swap Establishment, showing us the grain stores, the quarantine grain store (where all the grains for beer is kept), the paintshops, wreckers yards, wash down areas, refueliing areas, truck parking areas and more, before we headed out of town to the Quarry. After 15 or so minutes, we arrived at TOATOAROA Quarry! (Not Tokoroa..)
WOW! What an expansive quarry this is. We are used to seeing the Martha Mine in Waihi, where Martha Hill became Martha Hole. This quarry is similar in size to Martha Hole, but with the added expansive area for crushers, stockpiles and roads with turning areas for truck and trailer units, it is HUGE. We had a wonderful guided tour and several stops for further explanations and photo opportunities, before heading back into Matamata and a sumptuous lunch at the Swaps Café.
What did we learn today: Joseph Swap started J. Swap in 1934, with one truck.
His son David Swap, aged 81, still comes to work daily at 7.30a.m. and rarely leaves before 6p.m. David’s son Cameron, was our tour guide and plays an important role in the company.
Our Mini bus driver is a grandson of David Swap and one of 2 grandchildren currently working in the business (driving trucks), his 28 year old brother also works there, and a number of other grand children are growing up with interests in the company.
The large majority of loaders are CAT brand.
Trucks are mostly Daf and Hino. Most of their loaders are Komatsu. They sequentially number their vehicles as at today there have been over 1900 vehicles registered to J. Swap and Co.
There are over 450 people employed by J. Swap. They now have 10 quarries, plus bulk grain stores at Mount Maunganui, New Plymouth, Christchurch and Matamata.
They employ mechanics, engineers, panel beaters, painters, parts people, truck drivers, quarrymen, office staff, café staff and many more.
They are very proactive in the community, helping many, many people with a helping hand, (car registrations, mowing lawns etc.)
It they hear of a business in trouble, they will go out of their way to help them, even taking them under their umbrella in some cases.
What an amazing day it has been. We finally pulled out of Swaps around 3pm and chatted about our experience most of the way home. We learned heaps and had a great time.
Our many thanks to the Frew’s for organising this fabulous day.
Morepicturesonfollowingpages. Thisonecouldbecaptioned“Don’tJump!”
ABIGKenworth transporter
Truckworkshop
SparePartsdepartment
Another very successful event for the BOP VCC as we hosted the NI Club Captains Dinner for approx 65 members at the club rooms on Monday the 19th September it was humming.
The kitchen staff were amazing and did a fantastic job in preparing and serving up that many meals and with dessert for all the participates of the tour.
So a big big thank you to the members who helped out in the kitchen Marion Hall, Lyn Howard, Adele Lamb and Jane Thorman and to my husband John for all his help before the event
Jack and Colin have a very good selection of specialist tools you can borrow at no cost to do those jobs you been putting off because the Maintenance Fund is a bit low, and you can’t afford the tool to fettle your historic machine.
For instance, they have ring and spring compressors, ridge remover, compression tester, timing lights, chassis alignment measuring callipers, axle stands etc etc.
The only tool that has a small hire charge is the Exhaust Gas Analyzer. This should not have the tube from the exhaust pipe to the machine sitting on the front car seat when you do a check while the vehicle is in motion (ask Paul Beck why this a No No!)
The Parts Shed is open every Monday from about 9am and you can stay for tea or coffee and a bikkie also at no cost.
“Well my boy” asked Howard’s father, “How do you like being married?”
His newlywed son blushed scornfully. “Married? Ha - some marriage. I married a nun.”
“What do you mean, a nun?” asked his father.
“None in the morning, none at night” replied the groom.
“Well, sighed the father,
“
If you come for dinner this Friday night, you’ll meet the Mother Superior”.
End of month run, 25 9 22 to the Classic Car Garage of Allan and Maxine Rees. While there is no formal report, a group of over 20 cars, and probably well over 35 Members really enjoyed viewing Allan and Maxine's garage , and hearing his explanation of their treasures and how they acquired them. Our sincere thanks to them both for allowing us this visit! Bryce
MemberslistenattentivelytoAllan’s garagetalk
Mustangs galore. Some very unique!
One of Allan’s friends!
You would not fit into it John!
Elvis is alive and well in Whangamata!
Another of Allan’s friends!
A hot rod hanging about!
Chevy C10 awaiting a cruise
A beautiful early Ford F100
And a VERY BIG block Ford!
Allan and Maxine, our very kind hosts!
Blues Brothers, Whanga version!
Another project awaiting further restoration. Peter and Jane Lawn
Allan and Club Captain Jill enjoy a quiet discussion.
Pasquale died. His will provided $40,000 for an elaborate funeral. As the last guests departed the affair, his wife Angelina turned to her oldest and dearest friend.
"Ah well, Pasquale would be pleased," she said. "You're right," replied Maria, who lowered her voice and leaned in close. "So go on, how much did this really cost?"
"All of it," said Angelina. "Forty thousand."
"Aw No!" Maria exclaimed, "I mean, it was very grand, but $40,000?!!!"
Angelina answered, "The funeral was $6,500. I donated $500 to the church. The whiskey, wine and snacks were another $500. The rest went for the Memorial Stone."
Maria computed quickly.
"Mamma Mia !!! For the love of God Angelina, $32,500 for a Memorial Stone? How big is it?"
So, today I went over to the local Gun shop to get a Colt 9mm handgun for home/ personal protection.When I was ready to pay for the pistol and ammo, the cashier said, "Strip down, facing me." Making a mental note to complain to the government about gun control wackos running amok, I did just as she had instructed.
When the hysterical shrieking and alarms finally subsided I found out she was referring to how I should place my credit card in the card reader! As a senior citizen, I do not get flustered often, but this time it took me a while to get my pants back on. I've been asked to shop elsewhere in the future. They need to make their instructions to seniors a little more clear. I still don't think I looked that bad! I just need to wear underwear more often.
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 required as it is plug and play! Cost is dependant on size of job
CHAIRMAN
ALASTAIR JONES (GWEN) 07 5761124
PAST CHAIRMAN KEN FREW (DIANNE) 07 5764263
SECRETARY MICHAEL THORMAN (JANE) 07 5444291
TREASURER KEITH PERKINS (JANE) 027 578 1231
CLUB CAPTAIN JILL WHITCOMBE [JOHN ] 07 552 4201
COMMITTEE BRIAN PRATT (CINDY) 07 5447952
COMMITTEE KAAREN SMYLIE (JIM) 07 576 4180
COMMITTEE JOHN WHITCOMBE [JILL ] 07 552 4201
COMMITTEE
DON WHITE 07 544 0938
PATRON
HALL HIRE
ALASTAIR JONES (GWEN)
07 5761124
KAAREN SMYLIE (JIM) 021 664341
LIBRARIAN YVONNE BECK (PAUL) 07 5720163
PARTS SHED
JACK ANDERSON (MERILYN) 07 5766346
PROPERTY MANAGER JACK ANDERSON (MERILYN) 07 5766346
NEW MEMBERS
KEN FREW (DIANNE) 07 5764263
SWAPMEET RON ELTON (KERRY) 07 5799621
HON. SOLICITOR PETER BUTLER (MARION) 07 5756892
VIC CERTIFICATION
ALASTAIR JONES (GWEN) 07 5761124
VIC CERTIFICATION IVAN ALLEN (YVONNE) 07 5432629
WELFARE
MERILYN ANDERSON (JACK) 07 5766346
WEBSITE PAUL BECK (YVONNE) 07 5720163
RUN CO ORDINATOR JILL WHITCOMBE [JOHN ] 07 552 4201
KLAXON EDITOR
BRYCE STRONG ( CHRISTINE) 0274 966706
FACEBOOK DEIDRE RENNIE (TONY) 021 665 875
SAFETY OFFICER
BRIAN PRATT 07 5447952
KLAXON EMAIL: klaxoninfo@gmail.com CLUB WEBSITE: www.bayofplentyvintagecarclub.com
SECRETARY EMAIL: bayofplenty@vcc.org.nz FACEBOOK bay of plenty vintage car club (Public page)
For Club enquiry's at anytime contact Kaaren Smylie (Club Captain) 07 576 4180 or 021-66-43-41
The Club Rooms are 29 Cliff Road. P O Box 660, Tauranga, 3144.
Key contacts are:
Chairman Alastair Jones 07 5761124 Email: gandajones@kinect.co.nz
Secretary Michael Thorman 07 5444291 Email: bayofplenty@vcc.org.nz
Club Captain Jill Whitcombe 07 5524201 Email: johnandjill37@gmail.com
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 Anann restaurant. 4 Palmer Place. Contact is Paul McIndoe phone 5733328
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 HELPUSHIREOUTTHECLUBROOMS!
CONTACTKAARENSMYLIE075764180OR 021664341