VCC MANAWATU TOURER MAY 2023

THE TOURER

BRANCH INFORMATION

BRANCH DETAILS

CLUBROOMS ‘TheGrove’-684KelvinGroveRoad,PalmerstonNorth

POSTAL ADDRESS P.O.Box385,PalmerstonNorth4440

EMAIL manawatu@vcc.org.nz

COMMITTEE MEETING

SecondWednesdayofeachmonthat‘TheGrove’.

CLUB NIGHT

ThirdWednesdayofeachmonth(exceptJanuary)

-meetfrom7.15pmat‘TheGrove’.Meetingsstartat7.30pm.

LIBRARY

Openbyarrangement-contactGaryMillar-ph (06) 354 8298.

NOGGIN & NATTER

FirstTuesdayofeachmonth(exceptJanuary)at7.00pm

atMurray’sIrishBar-Feilding.

PARTS SHED

Openfrom2pmonthefirstSundayofeachmonthorbyarrangement.

-contactGaryMillar-(06) 354 8298

BOOKINGSFOR ‘THE GROVE’ VENUE

CanbemadethroughCreativeCatering,AwapuniRacecourse. Phone(06)3542780 or Email: info@creativecatering.co.nz

MANAWATU BRANCH LIFE MEMBER: -GaryMillar

COVER PHOTOGRAPHS:

FrontCover: DemonstrationbybranchmemberVernJensen(Wheelwright)

attheApril‘OldSkillsinAction’DayinFeilding. (seeadditionalphotographsonpage18ofthisTourer)

BackCover: FromtheRongoteaCarShowDay.

THETOURER : NewZealandRegisteredMagazine.

TheOfficialNewsletteroftheManawatuBranchoftheVintageCarClubofNZInc.

Theopinionsorstatementsexpressedinletters,articles,tripreportsetc.whichappearinthis magazinearetheviewsoftheauthorofthatletter/article/reportandarenotnecessarilythose oftheCommitteeorMembersoftheManawatuBranchoftheVintageCarClubofNZInc.

MANAWATU BRANCH UPCOMING EVENTS / ACTIVITIES

MAY 2023

2nd TueNoggin&Natter-7.00pmatMurray’sIrishPubBar,Feilding

7th Sun * PostEra’sRally-seeEntryFormonpage16oftheAprilTourer

7th SunPartsShed-openbetween2.00pmand5.00pm

10th WedWorkingBee-seedetailsonpage5ofthisTourer

17th WedClubNight

JUNE 2023

JULY 2023

2nd

AUGUST 2023

6th SunSundayJaunt 20th Sun * VCCDaffodilDay

SEPTEMBER 2023

3rd SunSundayJaunt

9th Sat * VintageRun

30th Sat * SwapMeet

OCTOBER 2023

1st SunSundayJaunt 14/15th Sat * MotorcycleRally

NOVEMBER 2023

5th SunSundayJaunt 11/12th SatOvernighter

DECEMBER 2023

3rd SunSundayJauntandChristmasRun

* DenotesaNationalCalendarEvent

Exceptforformaleventsbringvehiclesthatyouarecomfortabledriving,althoughahistoricvehicleispreferred.

CLOSING DATE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE TOURER - 20TH MAY 2023

Pleasesendyourcontributionsonrallyreports,yourmotoringstories, restorations,technicalreports,articles,photographsetc.,to: TheEditor-81ApolloParade,PalmerstonNorth4414

Email:bryana@xtra.co.nz-orphone:(06)3584014

WORKING BEEATTHE CLUBROOMS - 10TH MAY 2023

9.30 AM > 12 NOON

Iftheweatherisfinetheemphasiswillbeonremoving leavesandrubbishoutofthespoutings. Pleasebringladdersandtoolsetc.tohelpwiththiswork. Butifwetwewillbeworkinginsidecontinuingwiththe recoveringofthechairs.Pleasebringastaplegun, staplesandscrewdrivers.

Andofcourse,asusual,therewillbethemorningtea breakwhichallowstimeforsomeconvivialsocialising.

7.30 PM

A WELCOMETO NEW MEMBERS

ManawatuVCCmembersarepleasedtowelcomeseveralnewmemberstoour branch:

- NickEvans-whohasa1923Chevrolettruck

- KateGarmonsway-whohasbecomeajointmemberwithStan

- ShaneHalcoxandrecentlytransferredintoourbranchfromtheHorowhenuaBranch:

- StanGarmonsway-Stan&Katehavea1989MazdaMX5Eunos

THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS FROM ALL VCC BRANCHES ARE ONLINE

UseyourcomputertoseetheVCCNewslettersonline(andincolour)andtocheck outwhatactivitiesareonintheotherbranches, -goto www.vcc.org.nz thengoto BranchNewsletters

Helloeveryone,Marchwasagoodpublicitymonthforthebranchwithsomekeen interestinourcarsshownattheCornerstoneSchoolgala,thetwomostcommon questionswere,wherearetheseatbeltsandhowmuchpetroldotheyuse.Another eventwastheKimboltonsculpturefestivalthisalwaysgetsahugecrowdbut unfortunatelyIwasunabletomakeitbutthereportsI’vehadbackareallofa fantasticdayandlastly,wastheRongoteaLionscarshowsupportingArohanui Hospice.

BythetimeyoureadthisourannualAGMwillbeoverfor2023startingoutwitha fullcommitteemakeslifesomucheasierandweareabletocarryonmoving forwardtokeepthegreatvibethatisaliveandwellintheManawatubranch. ForthefirsttimeIwon’tbetheyoungestpersonontheCommitteewithTom Gilchristcomingonboard.Asthisissuegoestoprintafewhardyandadventurous ManawatumembersincludingmyselfwillbeattendingthesecondHighlandFlingin TaihapethisisshapinguptobeafantasticweekendofVintageadventures.Glyn hastheposterarallywellundercontrolwithlunchatWanganuiVCCclubroomsit’s goingtobeagreatdayout!

ThecurrentideasofGovernmentdroppingspeedlimitsto80kmhplayswellinto thehandsofvintagemotoristsasmostofourvehicleswillnotbeahindranceon theroadtherewillbenoexcusestoleaveyourcarsathome!!

Safetravels

DerekHaycock

DidyourealisethatyoucanreceiveyourTourerMagazinebyemailratherthanin paperform-andnotonlyiseverypageinfullcolour,butyouwillreceiveitearlier thanwaitingforittobeprintedandthenfindingitswaytoyouthroughthepostal system.Ifyouwouldliketochangeovertoanelectroniccopy,pleasecontact Bryanourfantasticeditor!!

Also,theClubroomsareavailableformemberstohireforpersonalevents.Thecost is$250andallbookingsaredonethroughCreativeCatering-justtellthemyouare aclubmemberandthepaymentgoesstraighttothebranchaccount.

Derek

HiAll,

CathandIenjoyedtheSouthIslandClubCaptain’sTour(16-30March)andcovered 2200milesofbrilliantmotoring.TheonlydownsideisthatourcarisstillinBlenheim asourreturnferrysailingwascancelled-thefirstdateIcouldgetabookingis4th May!WeneededtogetbackfortheKimboltonSculptureFestivalandourCoastto CoastRunsoweflewfromBlenheimtoWellington,butthentherewerenorental carsavailableatWellingtonAirportsowerangsomefriendstocomeandsaveus.

TheKimboltonDaywentwellandthankstoallthosewhomadeupourClubdisplay (12cars),sorryabouttheearlystart!

ThefollowingdaywastheCoasttoCoastwith7cars(1fromLevinBranch) meetingattheBoatingClubinFoxtonBeach.Aprettystraightforwardrunto Shannon,upHW57thenoverthePahiatuaTrackandacoupleofbackroadsto ourlunchstopattheEketahunaPub.Whatagreatmealwehad.Here,4other couplesjoinedus(anotherfromLevin)andwemotoredviaCastleHill-Tainui RoadtoCastlepoint.AlotofdamageevidentfromCycloneGabrielle.Anicecream andsomephotosatCastlepoint,thenitwasmakeyourownwayhome.

Itwasgoodtosee3entriesfromourBranchattheWhanganuiMotorcycleRally. ErrolGray,RobertHeathandmyself.Errolfinishedacreditable2ndoverall(outof 44),myselfatmidfield(20th)andpoorRoberthadabaddayonhisfirstrunasa VCCmemberwithalotofissueshemaywelltellusallabout.Errolalsowavedthe flagforManawatuattheWaikatoBranch“MulooMeander”.

NextupisthePostEraRallyonSunday7thMay.Lookingforwardtoseeingagood turnout.

Regards

A

DAYOF ADVENTURES - ROBERT HEATH

AdayofAdventuresformyfirstMCrallyasMVCCmember.

Saturday15th Aprildawnedfinewithclearskies.Thebikewasalreadyloadedonthe trailerandsoofftotheWanganuiVCCCastrolAutumnMotorcycleTrial2023.Madean earlystarttobepreparedandgotasfarasMakirikiriRdwhereitrejoinsSH3to rememberthatmyCZSportignitionkeywasleftbackhome.Hurriedphonecalltomy wifewhothenstartedwithkeystomeetmesomewherealongthejourneyafterIhad turnedaroundbacktowardshome.Mybrotherwithhis1930ScottTTreplicagoingto thesameeventturnedaroundwhenhesawmeontheroadsidephoningmywife.He carriedontoinformtheWanganuieventOrganiserthatIwouldbelate.Icollected thekeysandreturnedonthejourneytoWanganuitounloadbike,collectinfopack,be allocatedanewstarttime,donthenumberedvest,andthenawayasthelastrider. Didn’thavetimeforridersbriefing(toolate)ortoreadalltheinstructions.Notagood startunderpressure.GotlosttwicewithinWanganuicitysoreturnedtothestartand sortedoutthecrossroadetc.

OutintothecountrysideviaRapanui,SH3,thenfirstrightupBushyParkRoadatleast 15miles.Thisdidn’tlooktobegoinginthecorrectdirectionsobacktrackedtoSH3. OntoMaxwellandascenicloop.Greatroadandviewouttosea.BackontoSH3and tookleftturn(incorrectrouteagain)thatendedupatWainuiBeach.Lovelyspot.

LunchtimebythisstagesodecidedIwouldmakemywaybacktoWanganuiClub rooms.ReturningviaSH3thebikethathadbeenrunningwellstartedtomissanddie. GoingdowntheKaiIwihillitgaveuptheghosttotally.Ithadrunoutoffuel.Turned toreservesupplyanditrananotherfewmetresandthatwasit.Sopushedbikeback upthehilltoalargefarm-stationgateway.

Neededsomepetrolsoleftthebikeinsidethefarmentranceandwalkedatleast¼ mileupmetaldrivetothefirstfarmhouse.Noonehomeandhouseemptyof furniture.

Walkontoasealeddrivewaytopristinemanicuredgroundsandimmaculatefarm homesteadtofindanotheremptyresidencewithnofurniture.BackdowntoSH3to thegateandbike.Tired,hot,hungry,shiftedbiketoentrancewayandthumbed passingmotorcyclist.OurownMVCCmemberErrolGrayspottedmeandturned around.UseofcellphoneandtailendCharliecontactedforsparefuel.OrganiserBill JamesandasTailendCharliepickupcompletewithbiketrailertotherescue.No sparefuelasalreadyusedwithanothercompetitorsotraileredbacktoWanganuivia BrunswickandtheClubrooms.

Learningexperiencesare:

1. Checkyouhavethebikekeysbeforeleavinghome.(Aremindertagonthebike now.)

2. Carrysparefuelespeciallyfor100milerun.(Stillhavetodeterminerangeof 11.5litretank)

3. Nomatterwhat,alwaysreadalltheinstructions.(Noexitroadsnottobe countedonthiscase)

4. Takearoadmapofthelikelyarea.(Thiswillhelpespeciallywhenyouknowyou arelostinunfamiliarterritoryandplaceorroadnamesaremeaningless).

5. Trytobepreparedandorganisedsoyouarenotthelastcompetitorandatleast youmaybeabletofollowsomeoneelseespeciallywhenyouareonyourfirst MCrally.

Summary.Greatlowtrafficroads,greatscenery,helpfulclubmemberErrolGray,and OrganiserBillJamesforawellplannedevent. Keepsmiling.

RobertHeath-newestMVCCmember.

PHOTOGRAPHS - THE GLYN & CHRIS ‘BOYS TRIP’ TO NAPIER

GlynandChrisRhodesrecentlytooka‘boystrip’toNapier.Theyhadcoffeeand sconeswiththeCentralHawkesBaygrouponThursdaymorningatNorsewood(with about20people),thencontinuedontoNapiertoTonyPrebensen’stoseethe1915 Studebakerheisrestoring.Thenitwasontolookata1928Chevroletwhichmaybe comingbackintothefold(Glynsoldit16yearsago!).

CathyClements

FROM BEHINDA MEMBER’S GARAGE DOOR

A WALKER ELECTRIC TRUCK - MAURICE & JILLIAN WASLEY

TheWalker Vehicle Companywaslocatedin ChicagoIllinoisand startedelectrictruck productionin1907. Walkermanufactured manydifferentmodels oftrucksandthese trucksweresoldacross theUSAandasfar afieldasBritainand NewZealand.

TheFebruary2023

TourerincludedanarticleonWalkerElectricTrucks,abitabouttheirhistoryanda brieflookattheirusebytheRongoteaCo-opDairyCompany.Soonafterthat TourerhadbeenreleasedtheeditorreceivedtwocallsadvisingthattheHodderand Tolleytruckillustratedinthearticle(above)whichwasphotographedonthe FeildingBoroughCouncilWeighbridgewasinfactownedbyclubmembersMaurice andJillianWasleyandwasaworkinprogressrestorationproject. AphonecallwasmadetoMauricewhokindlyagreedtobespokentoforanarticle fortheTourer.Soarmedwithcamera,penandpaperyoureditorwentvisiting. MauriceandJillianacquiredthevehiclein2010-verymuchin‘barnfind’condition.

Themotivationforacquiringthisvehiclewhentheylearnedofitsexistenceand whereaboutswasbecauseoneoftheHodderandTolleyemployeesinthe photographstandingnexttothetrucktray(theworkerontheleftinthe unbuttonedjacket(topphotograph))isJillian’sgrandfather.

Above:theWalkerElectricTruckasitwaswhenpickedupbyMauriceandJillian.

TheTuilogohadchangedsincetheweighbridgephotographandthetruckwasina verysorrystatewhenpickedupandtakentoitsnewhomeinoneofMauriceand Jillian’ssheds.

Mauriceisseeminglyunphasedattheworkahead.Hehasremovedthecabfrom thechassiswhichisnowprogressivelybeingstrippedofpartswhicharebeing corrosionandrusttreatedandpaintedastheyarerestored.Muchworkhasbeen done(photographsbelow),andthereisstillalargeamountofworktobedone.

Atthemomentthechassisislookingquiteneglected,butbeneaththesurfacerust andoldpaintitisquitesound.Oncetherearsuspension,differentialandbackaxle havebeenremovedthechassiswillbesandblasted,treatedandpainted.

Thetruckshada3½ horsepowerelectric motorwhichwas poweredbyanumberof batteriesproducing30 to60voltsat40amps. Themotorwaslocated intherearaxlehousing (the‘differential’).

Planetarygearsets withintherearwheel hubsreducetherpm andstepupthetorque todrivingspeeds.

Thetruckhasaload capacityof1,500 pounds.

Thedrivingrangeofthetruckswasabout30to 35milesonafullsetofbatteriesandthe maximumspeedwasabout10to12mph.

Rangewouldhavevarieddependingonload andonroadconditions. Theywerepluggedintoachargingstationin theeveningafterthedailydeliverieswere completed.

Sketchabove:Interiorviewofarear wheelwiththeoutersteeldiscremoved.

Thecontrolsweresimple-alargesteeringwheel,withthedriverpositionedhigh overthefrontwheelsseatedontheControlBox.

Thereweretwobrakepedalseithersideofthesteeringwheel,andaleverspeed control.Reverseisengagedbyanotherfootlever.

Thebankofbatteriessatinthemiddleofthetrucksuspendedonatraybelowthe truckdeckhalfwaybetweenthefrontandrearaxles.Theyarewiredinparallelto achieve30volts,andinseriestoachieve60volts.

Withnogears,noclutchandasimplestop-gooperation,electricvehicleswere popularwithmanycompanies.

Sittingonsolidrubbertyresand withleafspringsuspension,the truckrequiresconcertedphysical efforttodrive.

Thetruckswereawelcomerelief forthegeneralpublicandthe deliverycompanies.Previously deliveriesweremadebyhorseand wagon.Thehorseswerenotthe mostsanitarybecauseoftheirdaily habitsofrelievingthemselves anywheretheyfeltlikeitalongthe routes.Thisdidn'tmakethe customerstoohappy.Thehorses wereloyalinthetaskofpullingthe wagonsbuttheirpacewasslow comparedtothetrucks.

Aboveleft:theControlBoxdoublesasthedriver’sseat.Aboveright:Lidoff,andthisiswhatisinthebox.

BryanAbraham-Editor

WhentheaccidenthappenedonValentinesday1963,thiscarwasworthlessthan$345retail.

ENGLAND’S BEST DEAD CAR COMPANIES

Toloseonebest-sellingmarqueseems careless-tolosebothAustinandMorris, eachmakersofsomeofthemost successfulBritishcarseverintheMiniand theMinor,seemsdownrightnegligent. Morrisstartedwiththehighlysuccessful Bullnosein1913,apost-WW1price-cutting strategywinningit51%oftheUKmarket.

Afteranearly‘30sstumble,Morrisshot backwiththehugelysuccessfulMorris

Eight,plannedbyLeonardLord.Thatwasfollowedbythe1948MorrisMinor,Britain’s firstmillion-seller.

LordfelloutwithWilliamMorris,andthenLordreappearedasbossofarch-rivalAustin, thetwobrandsmergingin1952toformthemightyBritishMotorCorporation. ThiseventuallybecameBritishLeylandwhoseshamefullyunder-engineeredMarinawas Morris’slastmodelofconsequence.Theendcamein1983.Thenamesort-ofstill existsasMorrisGarages,ratherbetterknownasMG,thoughit’snowunderChinese ownership. FROM:AUTOCAR(UK)

A1956FordCustomlinetwo-doorsedan(oneof164,828built),whichrolledonStateRoad73near Wilmington,Ohio.

Left:allthewayfromLevin–LindaandAndrewJudd.

HOLDEN - THEIR FIRST 50 YEARS

TheHoldencompanystartedlifemakingbodies,theirworkappearingonimported Morriscarsinthe1920s.

UnderGeneralMotorsownershipinthe1930'stheyassembledAmericanandBritish G.M.productsfortheAustralianmarket,offeringfastbackcoupesin1938,orthree yearsbeforeDetroit.

TheHolden,conceivedafterWorldWar2as‘Australia'sowncar’,wasinfacta developmentofa‘compact’Buickdatingbackto1938,whichneversawproduction initsnativeland.InlayouttheFX-typeHoldenof1948wasastraightforward GeneralMotorsdesignwitha4-bearing,6-cylinder,ohv2.2litreengine,3-speed synchromeshgearbox,columnchange,hydraulicbrakes,coil-and-wishbone independentfrontsuspension,hypoidfinaldrive,andunitaryconstruction. Thewheelbasewas8ft7in,andthestandardsedanweighed2,212lb.

InitialAustraliancontentwas92%,anditwaspromotedthrougha600-dealer network.Thepriceof£A675,its80mileperhourperformanceandtoughnesssold 7,725carsin1949,risingto50,000by1952,whenassemblywasbeingundertaken threeStates.

ThefirstHoldenswereexported(toNewZealand)in1954andby1958annual productionhadtoppedthe100,000mark,andayearlaterthemakeaccountedfor 46%ofallAustralianprivate-carsales.Exports-nowincludingtheNearEastand partsofAfrica-exceeded10,000carsin1963,andayearlaterthefactory delivered190,375vehicles.

AminorfacelifthadcomewiththeFJseriesof1954,butthebasic1942look remainedforafurthertwoseasonsuntiltheintroductionofthe70brake horsepowerFEtype,afullsix-seaterwith13inchwheelsandrecirculatingball steering.

1960Holdenshad2.3litresand75bhp,plustheunsightly‘dog'sleg’windscreen alsofoundonVauxhallsoftheperiod,but2yearslatertherangewasaagain restyled,automatictransmissionbeingintroducedonthePremiereseries.The1964 Premiershad2.9-litreengines,thecheaperStandardandSpecialusing2.4-litre100 brakehorsepowerunits.

The1965HDtypecloselyresembledcontemporarysix-cylinderVauxhalls,andwas availablewithfrontdiscbrakes.The1967linecamewith2.4-litre(114brake horsepower)and3-litre(126and145brakehorsepower)enginesandthesame stylingasbefore.

1969sawtheToranabasedontheVauxhallViva,butavailablequiteearlyonwitha 6-cylinderoption.1974’sLHseries,moreOpelthanVauxhall,couldbehadasV-8s aswell,thoughby1978ToranahadgivenwaytonewsmallerHoldens.

TheGeminiwasmerelytheIsuzuversionofGM’sT-carwitha1.6-litre,4-cylinder overheadcamunit,buttheSunbirdusedaHolden-built1.9-litreenginehaving manypartsincommonwiththeregularsix-thisStarfirealsowentintosome

AustralianmadeToyotas.

From1969,thebig-carrangehadbeensupplementedbytheMonarosportscoupe, initiallywiththe5.4-litreChevroletV-8.

From1970however,HoldenfittedAustralian-designed4.1litreand5-litre8-cylinder enginesaswellastheirownTrimaticautomaticgearboxes.Theultimate1973 Monaro,theGTSXU1,wascreditedwith160milesperhourfrom5.7-litres,but neversawseriesproduction.

SomeHoldenStatesmansedanswere,however,suppliedminusenginestoMazda from1974onwards,beingafittedwithWankelRotarymotorsfortheJapanese homemarket.

Bytheendofthe1970stheregularfullsizeHoldensweretheHZseries,withthe choiceofa3.3-litresixorthetwoeights,thoughonlytheluxuryStatesmanand Capricesurvivedinto1981.ThelessexpensiveHZswerereplacedbythe Commodore,acloserelativeoftheOpalofthatname.Ithadpowersteeringand wasavailablewith4-,6-or8-cylinderenginesfrom1.9to4.1litres.

H

ISTORIC SPITFIRE ENGINEDCARUPFORSALE

A19ftlongmotorknownas‘TheBeast’ recentlywentupforsale,withpotential buyersultra-keentogettheirhandsona pieceofautomotivehistory.Builtin1972 bycarenthusiastJohnDodd,whopassed awayinDecemberaged90,thisisthefirst timethecarhascomeupforsaleinits fiftyyearhistory.

Thismonsterofacar,capableofmore than180mphhasaclassicinteriorbefittingofsuchanhistoricmotor. Attheheartof‘TheBeast’isa27-litreV12 Merlinengine-thesameasyou’llfindina Spitfire-whichpropelsthecarontoatop speedof183mph.

TheGuinnessBookofRecordslisteditasthe mostpowerfulroadcarintheworldin1977, butfueleconomywon’tbreakanyrecords howeveratareported2mpg.

Acustominteriorincludesabankofredswitcheswhichareusedtoinitiatethestarting sequencefortheMerlinengine,while‘TheBeast’onlyhas10,685milesontheclock.

fromthe’Sun’newspaper-March2023

FROM:THECOMPLETEENCYCLOPEDIAOFMOTORCARS1885TOTHEPRESENT (THIRDEDITIONPUBLISHED1985)

AcoupleofphotographsfromLaurieCockerwhoobviouslytravelsondifferent roadsthanmostofus.Youreditorforonehasnevercomeacrossthistruckdriver.

Justforabitoffun,thinkofacaptionforthephotographsandforwardittothe editor.

ThebestsubmittedsuggestionswillbepublishedintheJuneTourer.

PHOTOGRAPHS - MEETINGUPAT

KIWITEA

ThisyearmembersmetatKiwiteabeforeheadingontoKimboltontodisplaytheir carsattheannualSculptureFestival.

A £4,000,000 SIMPLEX TORPEDO TOURER

- BUILTIN 1912 - ITISTHEMOSTEXPENSIVEPRE-WW1 CAREVER

Apristinemotorbuiltin1912hassoldforaneye-wateramountatauction-makingit themostexpensivepre-WWIcarever.

TheSimplexTorpedoTourerwentunderthehammerandwassnappedupfora whopping£4million-overtakingthepreviousrecordholderbyabout£500,000.

Ithasbecomethemostexpensivepre-WWI cartoeversellatanauction.

Thatmadethecar,aunique191250HP5 PassengerTorpedoTourer,officiallythe mostexpensivepre-WW1carofalltime.

Aprivatecollectorwassaidtohavebeen thetopbidder-seeingthemheadhome withthe111-year-oldsetofwheels. SimplexwasaUSmotorbrandthatonly existedbetween1906and1915. Andthelasttimeacarfromthat manufacturercametoauctionitwas2006.

BiddingstartedonthemotorinArizona,and ithadbeenestimatedtosellforaneyewatering$2.5mand$3.5mUSD-orabout £2m-£2.9m.

But,itwentformorethanamillionmore. Thetopbidderpaidaround$4.85m-which isaround£4m.

BonhamsauctioneerssaidtheSimplexhad beeninprivateownershipitsentirelifeand hadneverspentanightoutside. Itwasalsosaidtobeasupremeexample withmatchingchassisandenginenumbers. Thecarisoneofthemostsought-afterfrom thebrasseraanditfeaturesamassive 9.8-litre,four-cylinderengine-which typifiedthegeneration.

The50-horsepowermodelwasthesportiest ofallSimplexsandwasintroducedtothe publicwithathenbreath-takingpricetagof $5,750,whichworksoutataround£4,665. That'stheequivalentofmorethan£500,000today.

fromthe’Sun’newspaperandBonhams

-initsoriginal statethisone

wouldmakeanice vintagecar.

-theownerofthissound systemaddedacar.

GLANCING BACKAT EARLY ISSUESOF BEADED WHEELS

SNIPPETS FROM 1985 - MAGAZINE NUMBERS 151 > 157

Below:AnarticlecontributedbyVernJensenpublishedintheFeb/Mch1985BeadedWheels.

1985 BEADED WHEELS - FRONT MAGAZINE COVERS

Belowandnextpage-TheimpressiveBeadedWheelscoversfrom1985illustratedaseriesofsix paintingsbyDerekMargetts,celebrating100yearssincethebirthofthemotorcar.

- Wordsfromthearticleonpage10ofthisTourer

Findthefollowinghiddenwordsinthegridbelow:

BATTERIES BOROUGH CHASSIS CORROSION

COUNCIL ELECTRIC FEILDING GARAGE

GEARSETS HODDER JILLIAN MAURICE

PARALLEL PLANETARY RESTORED RUST

SANDBLASTED SERIES TOLLEY TORQUE

TRUCK WALKER WASLEY WEIGHBRIDGE

MANAWATU BRANCH NOTICES & INFORMATION

BRANCH EMAILS

Haveyoubeenreceivingnotificationemailsfromthebranch???

Thereisanongoingefforttokeepallmembersrightuptodatewithhappenings thattheymaybeinterestedin-especiallyintheweeksbetweenpublication/ releaseoftheTourer.

Ifyouhavenotbeenreceivingtheseemailnotificationsitwillbebecausewe donothaveyouremailaddressonfile,orbecauseyouhavechosentokeepyour detailsconfidential.

Eitherway,ifyouwanttogetonthelist,thenpleaseadviseyourdetailsto manawatu@vcc.co.org

Memberscanbeassuredofconfidentialityastheemailsarereleasedusingthe Bccfieldmeaningthatemailaddressesaresuppressedfromotherrecipients.

NAME BADGES

NEW MEMBERS shouldcontactthebranchSecretary,toorganisetocollect theirfreenamebadge.

EXISTING MEMBERS shouldcontactthebranchSecretary,toarrangea replacementforalostordamagedbadge-atcost.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF MEMBERS’ VEHICLES TODISPLAY IN THE CLUBROOMS

WiththeBranchbeingManawatu’sforemosthistorical motoringauthorityitishopedthatwecancontinueto maintainthedisplaywhichdepictsthewiderangeof cars,trucksandbikesthatmembershave.

Itdoesnotmatterwhetheryourvehicleisinoriginal condition,restoredorunrestored.

Ifyourvehicleisnotcurrentlydisplayedinthemembersroomsendaphotograph ofitto-TheSecretary,P.O.Box385,PalmerstonNorth4440

Allthatisneededisaphotographinlandscapelayoutwhichhasapictureviewarea of16cmwidex11cmhigh-meaningthattheimageofthevehicleneedstofitinto thatgivensizealthoughthephotographsizewillbealittlelarger(i.e.18cmx13cm (5x7inches)).

Includeyourname,togetherwiththeyear,makeandmodelofyourvehicle.

Framingandhangingwillbetakencareofbyyourcommittee.

VINTAGE CAR CLUB VEHICLE CLASSIFICATIONS

VETERAN: MotorVehiclesconstructedpriorto31st December1918.

VINTAGE: MotorVehiclesconstructedbetween1st January1919and 31st December1931.

POST VINTAGE : MotorVehiclesconstructedbetween1st January1932and 31st December1945.

POST WAR : MotorVehiclesconstructedbetween1st January1946and 31st December1960.

POST 1960 : MotorVehiclesconstructedbetween1st January1961and 31st December1980.

POST 1980 : MotorVehiclesconstructedafter1st January1981provided thatnovehicleisacceptedforthisclassuntilJanuary1st of theyearthatisthirtyyearsafteritsoriginalyearof construction.

FACTORY BUILT & HISTORIC RACING VEHICLES : asdescribedintheClub By-laws.

PERIOD SPECIALS : asdescribedintheClubBy-laws.

MANAWATU BRANCH DIRECTORY - 2023 / 2024

BRANCH COMMITTEE APPOINTED POSITIONS

Chair DerekHaycock(Becky) derek.and.beck@inspire.net.nz

063561056

ViceChair CliffBennett(Jenny) cliffbennett@xtra.co.nz

063563383 : 0212837088

Secretary CathyClements(Glyn) cathyclements5@gmail.com

063285979 : 0272862927

Treasurer KenFoot(Annette) kafoot@outlook.com

0272107532 : 0212427882

ClubCaptainGlynClements(Cathy) cbz1@xtra.co.nz

063285979 : 0274321356

ViceClub Captain EstherWilliams e williams@xtra.co.nz

0272437275

Committee Member RobEason r.eason@xtra.co.nz

063554204

Committee Member AnnetteFoot(Ken) kafoot@outlook.com

0272107532

Committee Member TomGilchrist tomsdgilchrist@gmail.com

0274403346

Committee Member JohnIreland(Anne) ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz

063234170

Custodian& Librarian GaryMillar(Marion)

063548298

Delegate DerekHaycock(Becky) derek.and.beck@inspire.net.nz

063561056

Editor (Tourer)

BryanAbraham(Catherine) bryana@xtra.co.nz

063584014

IDCard Advisor JohnIreland(Anne) ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz

063234170

IDCard Advisor DerekHaycock(Becky) derek.and.beck@inspire.net.nz

063561056

IdleTorque (BeadedWheels)

Scribe

PartsShed

BryanAbraham(Catherine) bryana@xtra.co.nz

063584014

GaryMillar(Marion)

063548298

Privacy Officer

Swapmeet Coordinator

Assistant Swapmeet Coordinator

DerekHaycock(Becky) derek.and.beck@inspire.net.nz

063561056

JohnIreland(Anne) ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz

063234170

TrevorHardy(Sandra) ts.hardy@xtra.co.nz

063234040

Welfare CommitteeMembers

…andaftertheRongoteaCarShow,somemembersmovedontothe‘OldSkillsinAction Day’attheCoachHouseMuseuminFeildingandsetuptheirowncardisplay.