The Eastern Bay of Plenty Branch of
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Po Box 2168, Kopeopeo, Whakatane 3159 Email: easternbayofplenty@vcc.org.nz
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
VINTAGE and CLASSIC VEHICLES
February 2024
Running Board
The 5 vehicles at the start of the trip to Wanganui
Club Night: Last Thursday of the Month (except December) at Whakatane Athletic Clubrooms, Short Street, Whakatane 7.00 pm Social get-together Branch Meeting starts at 7.30 pm Followed by Supper
We didn’t have any EBOP Branch Events in January, so to get a magazine out we have photo’s and a write up from Les of the Wanganui Branch Vintage Weekend and Burma Rally that some of our Members attended. Members who travelled down to Wanganui together on Friday 19th January Ready to set off from Te Teko Steve & Joy Growden – Cortina Steve & Lesley McCann – Triumph Spitfire Les & Gail Costar – Capri Peter & Robyn Hadley – Ford Jail Bar Truck John Lamont & Magz – Daimler
Friday morning of 19th January, Ten of our Branch Members in four cars and one truck left the Te Teko car park, lead by Steve and Joy in their Cortina heading for Wanganui for the Burma Rally. We went Murupara to Rainbow Mountain way, rather than Whakamaru to Kuratau way to avoid advertised road works and road closures. The worms started to bite around Lake Taupo, so it was lunch at a Café at Turangi. Then it was off to Waiouru, with a tail wind over the Desert Road we could hardly keep up with Peter and Robyn’s Ford Jail Bar, then over to Ohakune to catch Lesley McCann munching on a huge Chocolate Éclair. After a toilet stop (for some) at Raetihi, it was down the Parapara’s to Wanganui. After dinner at the RSA it was into the sack, trying to get some sleep in the hot humid Motel Room (no air condition here). Saturday morning we parked up for the day in the Main Street of Wanganui along with hundreds of other Vintage, Classic, Hot Rod’s, one make Clubs and Motorbikes and off we went to the markets down by the river then back up the street to view the rows of cars and such, visiting the odd Café to quench our thirst. .2.
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It was very hot and humid in Wanganui until about 2pm when it rained very heavy for a while, so we jumped in the cars and back to the motel and in my case a snooze.
At 5pm, we along with many other cars assembled at Mitre 10 for a tour of the City, the cost was $15 per car which went to a local Charity. It finished at a local Bar where we had a drink and the raffle was drawn (no luck at our table). Then it was dinner at the RSA again.
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Next morning it was off to the start of the Burma Rally. There were over 80 vehicles entered and we were Number 66, so it was quite a long wait before we could start. We didn’t know Barry and Tessa were coming but they had entered and were there at the start, they had travelled down on the Saturday. The Rally consisted of a timed section first, which wasn’t good for us as we were following a Bradford Van over a quite steep metal road, but nice scenery and a very pleasant drive. Then the second part was a drive via the Paraparas to Fields Track which is about 50kms from Wanganui then on to a sheep station on Burma Road, where there were a few silent checks in this section, 5 checks in all, we only got 4. Anyway it was a great place for lunch the only downfall was one toilet for about something over 160 people, so there were some new acquaintance’s made at the fence at the back of the old cottage by the men folk.
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After lunch we had the option of continuing down the Burma Road or returning to Wanganui via the Paraparas, most chose Burma Road which is mostly metal, up hill and down dale, great scenery, big views of the river hundreds of meters below and a lot of dust, but a great drive, finishing at the Clubrooms for afternoon tea. This part of the Rally was non-competitive. The Rally Dinner and Prize-giving was held at the local Golf Club. Gail and I went with Steve and Joy in their Cortina followed by Les and Helen Duggan from Tauranga, who were about as confused as I was as to how we got there. With drinks in hand we found tables that would accommodate us all, Costar’s, Growden’s Lamont’s, McCann’s, Keene’s, Hadley’s, Duggan’s and Smylie’s and settled down for an enjoyable evening. .7.
As the results of the Rally were called out and the prizes given, it was great to hear Peter and Robyn in the Jail Bar had come 1st in their class and not only that they were the “Overall Winners” and Steve and Joy were winners in their class in their Cortina.
Then the Raffle was drawn and our luck held, as Magz won the main prize, which looked very nice, but I’m not sure if it’s worn around your neck or hung from your car rear view mirror. (I guess I will be enlightened soon after Gail types this up for me) (Mmm it was a necklace, maybe because I don’t really wear much jewelry I guess I can’t expect Les to know). .8.
The meal was good, the company was great and the Rally itself was more of a tour with a timed section and 5 silent checks. We never do well in timed sections, but that is us, but we did love the drive and some of those scenic roads. Monday was time to go home, Steve and Joy left early, they needed to get back home as they had visitors coming. John and Magz went off to the Tawhiti Museum and Taranaki for a few days, Peter and Robyn went up the Whanganui River Road to Bethlehem. Barry and Tessa made their own way home. Steve and Lesley and Gail and I were keen to do the Monday Run “to a place of interest”. As we had a 6 hour drive home Gail asked if they would give us a slight heads up on where we were going, the only thing they would tell her was “past Fordel” so we took the option of a leisurely trip home. As we stopped at Raetihi for a coffee, the Jail Bar cruised past, we were yelling and hollering for them to stop, Peter didn’t see us and cruised on by, I guess he couldn’t hear us for the roar of the V8. Gail and I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend away and I hope those that travelled with us did also. Les.
Our old MK2 Jag at the Vintage Weekend and Burma Rally, great to see it each year and still beautifully maintained by Alastair and Angelica
1936 BSA Front wheel Drive .9.
Club Calendar of Events commencing February 2024 February Saturday 3rd
Our Annual East Coast Rally
Sunday 4th
Car Enthusiasts (Classic Car) Breakfast
Saturday 10th Saturday 10th Sunday 18th
Gisborne Branch – Three Rivers Rally Opotiki Show & Shine (details to come) Run to Te Kaha with the Falcon Club (details to come)
Thursday 29th
Club Night – Athletic Clubrooms, Short St, Whakatane
Thornton Bar Eatery from 8.00 am
from 7.00pm with the Meeting starting at 7.30pm
March Saturday 9th
Pukehina Autorama Car Show
Saturday 16th
Mamaku Car Show (contact person Noel Davies)
Sunday 17th
Club Run organised by Barry Spry (details to come)
19th – 24th
Beach Hop Whangamata – Car Display Saturday 23rd
Thursday 29th April Sunday 7th
Club Night Car Enthusiasts (Classic Car) Breakfast Chairman’s Run (date & details to come) Club Night Anzac Day date to be confirmed by Committee
Thursday 25th May Thursday 30th AGM Club Night If you don’t have a Vintage or Classic Vehicle, come along to events in your modern Further updates/additions to above will be emailed as they come to hand
Please support our East Coast Rally Sponsors
REPCO Commerce Street Autos
Nicholson Autos Whakatane Printers .10.
FOR SALE 1965 Rambler Marlin Coupe 97,000 miles. 287 cu in V8. Runs well, uses no oil. Great cruiser. Rust free, no dents, partial repaint. Interior very good except for crack in dash vinyl. Unusual, rare but appealing vehicle. Offers around $35,000.
Contact: Mark and Karen: 07 315 8800 or 021 176 6629 karen2mark@xtra.co.nz Also folding engine lifter/crane 2t lift $100
FOR SALE 1963 Wolseley 6/99 We have sold the house and will move to a gated community in Kawerau. Can’t have 3 cars in 1 garage the 6/99 has to go. Has had a lot of work done. 2 new front tyres, radiator and water pump done, front suspension replaced, steering rebuild,(tie rods) all brakes redone, new callipers and rotors, brake cylinders, shoes etc and brake booster done, new clutch, starter recondition, generator reconditioned, gearbox seals renewed so no leaks, rear shocks serviced and rear springs with new leaf rebuilt, new electric fuel pump. Runs nicely at highway speed averaging 22/23 mpg on 95 grade petrol. Interior and roof lining worn but clean and tidy and 60 years old. Genuine reason for sale $11,000. Contact: Harry Sutcliffe 021 0343 707 or 027 235 9986 email: thesuttys14@gmail.com
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THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ Eastern Bay of Plenty Branch Postal Address: PO Box 2168, Kopeopeo, Whakatane 3159 Branch Officers: 2023/2024 Honorary Branch Member: Lorolei Pollard Chairman: Vice Chairman: Past Chairman: Secretary: Treasurer: Club Captain: Committee:
Bevan Lange (position vacant) Les Costar Karen Spackman Joy Growden
027 460 3466
bevanlange@gmail.com
07 323 6406 07 315 8800 07 304 9777
les.gail.costar@slingshot.co.nz karenspackman55@gmail.com growden@xtra.co.nz
07 304 9777 07 307 1965 07 307 1965 07 315 8800 021 02501138 0272359986 027 703 4539 07 308 7957
growden@xtra.co.nz alanlorraine.stock@gmail.com alanlorraine.stock@gmail.com karen2mark@xtra.co.nz wairakael@hotmail.com thesuttys14@gmail.com lytlehall.hall@gmail.com
Running Board: Gail Costar Beaded Wheels Reporter: Bruce Seddon Almoner: Lorraine Stock Name Badge Sales: Karen Spackman
07 323 6406
les.gail.costar@slingshot.co.nz
07 322 2137 07 307 1965 07 315 8800
bruce.seddon@xtra.co.nz alanlorraine.stock@gmail.com karen2mark@xtra.co.nz
VIC Collators:
027 460 3466 07 315 8800
bevanlange@gmail.com karen2mark@xtra.co.nz
(position vacant) Steve Growden Lorraine Stock Alan Stock Mark Spackman John Burton Harry Sutcliffe Lytle Hall Trevor Marshall
Bevan Lange Mark Spackman
Parts Shed Supervisors: Phil Leaming Steve Growden John Burton
07 304 8415 phil.leaming@xtra.co.nz 07 304 9777 growden@xtra.co.nz 021 02501138 wairakael@hotmail.com
Branch Delegate: Bevan Lange 027 460 3466 bevanlange@gmail.com Raffles: Lorraine Stock 07 307 1965 alanlorraine.stock@gmail.com Supper Supervisor: Lorraine Stock Community Liaison: Lytle Hall 027 703 4539 lytlehall.hall@gmail.com Archivists: Les & Gail Costar 07 323 6406 les.gail.costar@slingshot.co.nz Saleable Items: Barry Spry 07 312 4737 basa.mi@xtra.co.nz EBOP Cloth Jacket Badges $7.50 EBOP Cloth Jacket Patches $10.00 EBOP Car Window Stickers $1.00 EBOP Car Bumper Badges $20.00 EBOP Lapel Badges $6.00 EBOP VCC Windscreen Stickers $2.00 EBOP Cloth Caps $15.00 Rally Number Holders s/s $15.00 NZVCC Winged Lapel Badges $7.50 VCC Cloth Winged Badges $13.00 (these will be available at Club Nights) EBOP Name Badges $15.00 (to be ordered) Please wear your name badge to VCC functions. Club Night: Last Thursday of the month (except December) At: Whakatane Athletic Clubrooms, Short Street, Whakatane 7.00pm Social Get-together Branch Meeting starting at 7.30pm .12.