TOPICAL
JULY - AUGUST 2024
Taranaki Branch Committee
TARANAKI BRANCH
BRANCH OFFICERS, BRANCH ADDRESS, AND MEETING DETAILS 2024- 2025.
CHAIRMAN: ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE: E-MAIL:
SECRETARY/TREASURER: ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: E-MAIL:
COLIN JOHNSTON. 63 BROADWAY, WAITARA. 021 131 6699 / 06 754 6216. cajohnstoncollections@xtra.co.nz
ROB THOMSON.
7 LEATHAM AVE, STRANDON, NEW PLYMOUTH, 4312. 027 701 2485 vcc.taranaki@gmail.com
CLUB CAPTAIN: TELEPHONE: E-MAIL: JOHN MUTER. 06 751 5554 megandjohnny@xtra.co.nz
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: TELEPHONE: E-MAIL:
JIM LOGAN. 027 604 4821 / 06 751 0316. logandj49@gmail.com
BRANCH COMMITTEE:( ( ( KEVIN FABISH: 06 756 7665 kev.fabish@gmail.com
PARTS SHED:( ( ( (
LES BOGNUDA: 06 755 2810 bognuda63@xtra.co.nz
DANNY PATTINSON: 06 756 7735 pattinson-family@farmside.co.nz
JOHN MUTER: 06 751 5554
CES BUDD: 06 241 0454
NEIL ROOK: 06 758 6737
PAT STIELLER: 06 754 6096
COMPLIANCE / VIN’S / VIC’S: MIKE WILLIAMS: 06 765 4419 annmike21@hotmail.co.nz LES BOGNUDA: 06 755 2810 bognuda73@xtra.co.nz
MID WEEK COORDINATOR: BRYAN MORRIS: 06 272 8027
SCRIBE / BEADED WHEELS: MEMBERSHIP / ARCHIVIST: NAME BADGES: LIBRARIAN: CLUBROOMS CUSTODIAN: GROUNDS CUSTODIANS:( (
BRANCH INFORMATION: CLUBROOMS ADDRESS: POSTAL ADDRESS: E-MAIL:
COLIN JOHNSTON: 021 131 6699 cajohnstoncollections@xtra.co.nz
ROSE COX: 06 752 2525 roselcox7@gmail.com
KEVIN FABISH: 06 756 7665
JOHN MUTER: 06 751 5554
ROSE COX: 06 752 2525
LES BOGNUDA: 06 755 2810
DANNY PATTINSON: 06 756 7735
TARANAKI [19] 1040 MOUTAIN ROAD, SH3A, WAIONGANA, INGLEWOOD. C/o 7 LEATHAM AVE., STRANDON, NEW PLYMOUTH. 4312 taranaki@vcc.org.nz
On The Cover: Our
Chairmans Chatter for Topical Torque
Hello Folks.
What a wonderful time we all had at the End of Rego Run as us older members will remember or the Mountain Run that was organized by Club Captain John Muter. Although the morning was very foggy as we assembled at the Inglewood Railway Station the weather cleared and we could see Mt Taranaki in all her glory as we drove up Monmouth Road and connected onto Pembroke Road for the run up to the Mountain House for lunch. Many members took advantage of the good weather driving in their vehicles and it was great to see the 1922 Stanley Steamer owned by Peter George participating in this run. We all made it to the lunch stop and after lunch most of us carried on up to the plateau to take a walk to see the new suspension bridge that will take skiers to the ski grounds instead of a dangerous walk around the valley. Many thanks to all who attended this annual run.
Please check on the Events list that you will find elsewhere in this newsletter that John Muter and Brain Evans have put together.
The Facebook page continues to attract people that are interested in our club and from the report to the committee by Alexander Johnston it was reported that people from different countries around the world are looking at us with 664 engagements in the last 28 days.
The Club delegate Rob Thomson and myself will be attending the VCC AGM meeting to be held in Tauranga on the 9 th to the 11th August and will report back at the August noggin and natter.
Keep a lookout for some information that is coming soon from Danny Pattinson who is going to contact all our branch members re a new membership list that we want to put together to benefit our members listing contact details and vehicles owned.
Patrick Stieller. It was with profound sadness that we learnt of the passing of Patrick last month. He was a keen and current member of our parts committee and a club member for 27 years. He has certainly contributed to this branch and was held in high regard. Patrick was a very willing helper, and his name was always on top of the list for check marshals’ duties for all our rallies. If ever there was a medal for willingness Patrick should have had one. He made many friends from all walks of life and enjoye d the camaraderie when attending our events with likeminded interests. We will truly miss his help and friendship and his gentle humour within our branch. Our deepest condolences to Sherill and all the family. Rest In Peace Patrick.
Many, many thanks to all who attended Patrick’s Funeral at Waitara as it was a fitting tribute to see the vintage cars all lined up in the RSA club car park and again at the Waitara cemetery.
Look after yourselves through these next cold months…. Get out and about…………. Take care on the roads……. Keep to the Left……….
Cheers Chairman Colin.
CLUB CAPTAINS REPORT
It was great to have a good turnout for the annual end of Rego run to the Stratford Mountain House.. The weather was fine and warm with most members driving to the plateau car park all walking on to inspect the new bridge over the Manganui Gorge.
Peter and Angela George drove near 100 -year-old Stanley steamer from New Plymouth to the mountain which was a great achievement. Although they had a couple of minor issues on the way it could have been expected and this would have been the longest trip car has done in their ownership. Prior to this the car had set in a museum in Canada for 50 years.
Ryan Evans has joined our committee and has suggested some interesting events in guest speakers for the future which will give us all something to look forward to.
Once the weather settles, we would also like to see the motorcycle owners in the branch join us on our monthly runs.
Coming Events: Thursday 18th July club night, guest speaker will be Laurie Callender who all talk on his apprenticeship and working in in his father's motorcycle shop.
Wednesday 24th July Midweek Run, Bryan Morris has organised Jacq ie Dwyer to talk on the history of Patea. This is to be held in the Hunter Shaw building (the old Patea library) at 2 pm. Afternoon tea will be provided $10 per person. Members are to meet at the Normanby Hall leaving 1 pm.
Sunday 28th July, our visit to Peter and Angela George's residence to view their collection of traction engines and Stanley steam car etcetera. We will meet at the Fitzroy shopping centre car park, opposite Tasman Toyota at 1:30 pm. If anyone is running late Peter's address is 230 Smart Road.
Sunday 25th of August, a visit to Mike Coils Museum in Eltham, more details next month.
Safe Motoring, John
NATIONAL DAFFODIL RALLY FOR CANCER
Your committee has decided that this year’s event to raise money for Cancer Society will be changed from August to early in the New Year because of bad weather at this time of year. Over the past few years, Bryan Morris has put a lot of time and effort in organising this event in Hawera which unfortunately has had to be cancelled due to both Covid and wet conditions causing concerns when using school grounds.
A lot of spot prizes have been donated by Hawera businesses then reveal it will be appropriate to hold the event in the New Year when the weather is more settled. The date suggested are 18 January or 1st of February. It has also been suggested that the South Taranaki members could get together and form a subcommittee to run a motor show or similar event to raise money for this important fundraising cause.
Please give this some serious thought over the next few days and we will discuss it further and put the event in place at the next club night.
Club captain, John
OTHER BRANCH’S EVENTS
Thirteen hours nineteen minutes
During steady rain at 6:34 pm on Thursday, 13 March 1924, a muddy and generally travel stained car drew to a halt outside the Wellington post office.
A four-cylinder 18 hp Essex piloted by the redoubtable Mr Norman (Wizard) Smith, a well-known Australian driver had added a further success to an already impressive list of Australian triumphs by the accomplishment of the Auckland to Wellington trip in 13 hours 19 minutes, a reduction of one hour 13 minutes on the previous record.
Both Smith and his mechanic, citizen Ben Campbell of Wellington, presented equally as battered an appearance as their machine revealing that the entire journey at top speed had been executed in thoroughly inclement weather.
The team was dispatched from Auckland at 5:15 am by an official of the Auckland A A, a Mr King. In the pale light of dawn conditions appeared favourable and clear, a state however, which was not destined to persist. Perhaps one of the worst ranges of hills and the Dominion from the point of view of contemporary automobilists, were the Rangiriri Hills, whose road services consisting largely of clay became exceedingly slippery in times of rain when any machine going to do anything approaching high-speed was wont to dither in "great style" as Smith put it. Approaching Hamilton, the exhaust pipe began to loosen and on account of the offending section being by this time red hot and difficult to manage 15 valuable minutes were wasted. After two hours 15 minutes Hamilton was reached 7:30 am, at that time a distance of 85 miles from Auckland. Speeding past Te Kuiti through the Awakino Valle y proceedings very nearly terminated tragically. Making an exit at approximately 35 mph from the tunnel, much debris containing numerous rocks was deposited on the bonnet of the car. One rock, estimated at 3 pounds in weight hit Campbell on the head with a force accentuated by the speed of the car. Campbell immediately lost consciousness and would surely have fallen off the machine but for smart action on Smith's part. So bad was his injury that he did not regain consciousness for 37 minutes and then only after Smith had bathed his face with water from down the hillside. Getting started again further misfortune overtook them having to wait 17 minutes for the punt at the Mokau Ferry which was at the opposite side of the river on their arrival. The distance from Mokau to Waitara was driven without incident but a stop was made at Waitara to top up oil petrol and change the rear tires which however Smith did not consider really required changing. When engaged in record runs in Australia tires were invariably changed every 300 miles.
Shortly after Hawera , Campbell, as a result of a return bout of dizziness, when asked the direction at a parting of the way informed Smith as to which direction to take only to perceive some 7 miles later the mistake, accounting for an even larger mileage on the notorious Taranaki roads In the Waitotara county progress deteriorated but at 3:15 pm Wanganui was reached about two hours ahead of the previous record time.
The run between Wanganui and Levin was negotiated at a constant 65 mph. Although the motorists had had a southerly head wind from Auckland, at Levin a gale driving heavy rain was encountered, stinging their faces and retarding progress.
Between Paraparaumu and Paekakariki a further delay was experienced owing to the impossibility of overtaking a large truck on the narrow road. Snail like progress was therefore maintained over a distance of 12 miles. After which as nearly as possible in the circumstances, the final dash was made for Wellington and the finish of what was undoubtedly an adventurous run even at that time.
Thanks, John, for researching this.
EDITORS REPORT
Well folks, another month ticked by and one month closer to Christmas!!
Quite a busy end to the month of July with a Midweek run to Patea and a Garage visit coming up.
Good to see that the Branch is getting some feedback from our Facebook page, you can contact Alexander with any of your stories, photos etc and he will put them on the page.
So there will be plenty of opportunities to get out and support your Branch in the months ahead, safe motoring and see you soon.
Jim Logan, Editor.
WANTED TO BUY
• Ford T 21-inch wheel and rim, 4 stud bolt o n type, ph John 7515554(mem)
• 1979 Datsun 200B, hubcap, rear bumper, windscreen washer nozzle, sender unit for oil pressure gauge, ph Ces, 062410454(mem)
• 1955 Matchless, model G9, kickstart lever plus shaft and possibly internal parts to fit B 52 gearbox. Ph John 067587834(mem)
FOR SALE
• Morris 1300, twin engined, unique, road legal and drives well, asking $9,000, ph Albert 0278588072)mem)
• 1927 Chevrolet C. Cab Truck Restored condition and all complete. Rego. on hold, good tyres. Colour Blue with sign writing professionally done. Been in storage for the last 12 months. Offers Wanted. photos available. On behalf of deceased member. Phone Colin Johnston. MOB: 0211316699 63 Broadway, Waitara 4320 Taranaki.
• 1994 Volvo 440 GLT Auto Sedan, One lady owner, full-service history, 12596 Kms. Warranted & registered until 23rd Dec 2023, and always kept in enclosed garage. For an enthusiast who appreciates the quality of this European car, ph 0276065812
• 1938 Chev, owned for 20 years, registered and WOF, rust free, very tidy, Ph Clint 0276138812
• 1998 Ford Mondeo Ghia, V6 manual, 88.75K, just serviced, one owner, Silver, ph Ian 02102797395
• Austin-Morris 11- 1300 – hundreds of engine, gearbox, diff, suspension parts. Mini 1098-1275cc -engine and gearbox parts. One 1098 engine as new stripped for inspection. One Morris Minor head complete ready to refit to engine, valves and seats all done, ph Albert 0278588072(mem)
• 1951 Morris Minor low lite, very tidy, WOF & registered $5000 ono. Greg Carter 067648667 or 0220335720 (mem)
• #14 Holden 138 powered midget – last ran 2013 , has spare wheels and engine – complete but will need refresh $5,000, #4 VW powered LTC midget - last ran 2021, complete with spare engine and numerous spares – freshly rebuilt Autocraft engine by the VW shoppe - that has not been run. fresh repaint. $20,000, Both cars are extremely tidy and are being offered to club members before going on Trade me. Contact Philip on 021- 275-8096
• 1986 Subaru Justy. One Owner, Rego on hold, goes well, offers wanted. A great little car to preserve. Contact member Steve on Ph 027 5286032
• 1958 Mk1 Jaguar 2.4 Very good condition; running; currently registered and with WOF. The engine has been reconditioned and the car repainted some years ago. Always been garaged. Same family ownership since 1984 when purchased from first owners. We also have the 1940 Sedan Austin 8 for sale (reg on hold). Both cars are in Stratford at John Campbells place. Johns phone number is 0272881105
