Chairman’s Report:
Firstly I would like to extend our Condolences to Stewart Power and Family on the passing of Joan
It will be December already when you get this magazine, where has the year gone, but it will be summer so let’s hope we have some long summer days to enjoy being out and about in our old vehicles.
Thinking about old vehicle, we got a poster advertising a charity “Toy Run” in Tauranga, inviting Classic Cars, Hot Rod’s etc. but “no Japs” which to me is a pity because Classic Japanese cars are a big part of our Motoring Heritage and certainly by the younger people that own them and of course we have Club Members that own and drive Classic Japanese cars and they are most welcome in the VCC circles and able to participate competitively when 30 years old. Just imagine how many more cars would be on the “Toy Run and Display” if Japs were included, after all it seemed like a very good cause.
Events:
5 cars went to Gisborne for our Annual get together, see Joy’s report and photo’s.
8 cars went on the Mid week Run, Harry and Gay took us to Tikitere Gardens and Nursery then on to Okere Falls Cafe for lunch and back home through Paengaroa
On Sunday 27th 3 cars attended the South Waikato TTT Rally in Litchfield and all received a placing in their class, a great Rally on all or mostly Forestry Roads, some roads very good, some others not so good, but most enjoyable.
Last but not least is the Kawerau Christmas Parade on Saturday 17th December, followed by a BYO Picnic Lunch at Gay and Harry’s place. This is our final event for this year, so I hope you can make it.
Also don’t forget our East Coast Rally coming up on Sunday 5th February. The Rally is on all sealed roads (unless road works occur). For Members who prefer a non competitive run there is the option of “Touring”, instructions and no questions. Send your Entry Forms in and enjoy a great day with VCC Members from other Branches.
Now that the silly season has arrived please take care when you are driving and travelling around the country. There are a lot of “loose nuts” behind the steering wheel out there and we would like to see everyone safe and sound after the holidays.
We Welcome New Members
Simon and Annie Cherrington
Who have a 1939 Ford Deluxe Sedan
Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year from Gail and myself. Drive safe, Les. .2.
Members who attended our November Events
Trip to Gisborne Friday 4th Sunday 6th for the Gisborne/EBOP Inter branch Weekend
Steve & Joy Growden Cortina Harry & Gay Sutcliffe Wolseley 1300 Phil & Margaret Leaming MK2 Zephyr John Lamont & Mary Modern Bevan, Elliot & Charlie Lange Holden
Mid week Run to Okere Thursday 17th
Steve & Joy Growden Ford Cortina Barry & Marianne Spry Modern Harry & Gay Sutcliffe Modern Ben & Marion Vermeulen Modern Les & Gail Costar Austin 1800 John & Sharon Burton Modern Phil Leaming MK2 Zephyr Steve & Lesley McCann MK3 Zephyr
South Waikato TTT Rally
Steve & Joy Growden Ford Cortina Les & Gail Costar Ford Capri Mark & Karen Spackman Renault Fuego
Events coming up
Trip to Gisborne Write up and photo’s by Joy
4 Cars left on Friday morning plus Les and Gail and we picked up John and Sharon at Ohope after admiring John’s Jowett Javelin he is restoring then off to Opotiki Bakery for lunch. We had a nice trip through the gorge. Bevan and the boys came through later in the day but unfortunately they missed Tony’s Quiz and a lovely BBQ.
Saturday morning we did our own thing then out to the Clubrooms by 1.30pm. There was major road works near the clubrooms which caused a bit of a delay. The Silent checks were the Speed signs and we had a few questions while driving over some lovely country roads and around part of the town and through a lovely Retirement Village where Rodney was hiding due to being unwell. More questions back at the clubrooms for lovely afternoon tea. We thought we might have to send out a search party for 1 car but they arrived all smiles and said everyone else had it wrong as they kept going the wrong way, consequently how the entertainment was awarded to John Lamont.
We had another lovely meal and lots of laughs but unfortunately Gisborne won the trophy back.
Some of our people went to the park up on Sunday morning where the Cadillac club were visiting then to the clubrooms for morning tea and a look through their parts shed.
GISBORNE and EBOP INTER-BRANCH TRIAL RESULTS
Eastern Bay of Plenty Points
Gisborne Points Lost Lost
Steve & Joy Growden 8
Robert & Marie Moffat 11
Gavin & Deanne Bartlett 3 Phil & Margaret Leamiing 12
Points Lost Best of two teams 20
Points Lost Best of two teams 14 Harry & Gay Sutcliffe 15 Ray Squires & DJ 15
Points Lost Best of three teams 35
Points lost Best of three teams 29
Challenge Trophy Winner 2022: Gisborne Branch Entertainment Award (In the spirit of the event) John Lamont (EBOP) Individual Winner Gavin & Deanne Bartlett (Gisborne)
John Lamont receiving the entertainment trophy
Waioeka Gorge pit stop on the way home – Photo by Gay .5.
The 50th Far North Tour
Write up and photo’s by Barry
On the weekend of the 12th November the Northland and Far North Clubs celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Far North Tour. Tessa and I joined 57 other entrants on the tour and took our 1973 MGB
The trip up to Whangarei on the Friday was very wet and with the typical stop/starts of Auckland traffic. The weather fined up when we got to Whangarei and stayed fine for the rest of our time away. There was evidence of lots of quite bad surface flooding in Northland but all the roads the rally used had cleared of flood waters by Saturday.
The rally itself left from the Northland Club Rooms at Maunu and took us into downtown Whangarei then north on SH1 for a few miles then inland. After a while we turned south to come out on the Mangakahia Kaikohe road.
The morning tea stop was at the Parakao General Store. Behind the store were old sheds full of old cars and small trucks and some motor bikes. Most of the vehicles were from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Many badly needed restoring though some had WOF and Rego. The shop itself had a large collection of memorabilia. (match boxes to deer antlers, old photos, kitchenware etc etc). They also run a coffee bar so it is well worth stopping at this amazing place.
We then carried on to Kaikohe, along Lake Omapere Road to Okaihau for lunch. After lunch we went north on SH1 and a few miles north of Mangamuka township turned right onto the gravel road that goes through to Otangaroa. The first part of this was farmland but is now forestry. About 10 miles along this road we turned left into Fern Flat Road. This was a narrow windy and steep road so I think the person who named it had a funny sense of humour. We finally came out onto the Peria Taipa road and the days tour finished at Taipa.
The Anniversary dinner was in Winston Matthews Vintage Museum. This had a great atmosphere with the tables surrounded by the old cars, tractors and stationary motors. Stories were told about earlier Far North Tours and happenings, and as usual the Far North Club put on a great meal.
Morning tea on the Sunday was at Peter Matthews truck and car collection at Awanui. There were about 20 trucks and 15 cars mainly Fords, Mercurys and a few Chevs. These were in three large buildings and every vehicle was pristine. Peter was and is a farmer and in the past also had a trucking business and most of the old trucks are from those times. The cars were mainly from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Many of the vehicles had WOF and Rego.
For those that wanted to there was a tour on up to Cape Reinga and quite a number of entrants took advantage of that as well. But we visited relations instead and went back to Whangarei that night and came home Monday.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and it was good to catch up with people from earlier rallies. .6.
50th Anniversary Dinner at
Winston Matthews Vintage Museum
December
Classic Car Breakfast, Red Barn Cafe from 8.00am
Kawerau Santa Parade 11am assemble at 10 am at Prideaux Park this year Followed by a BYO picnic lunch / BBQ at Harry and Gay Sutcliffe’s home
No Club Night in December (next one 26th January)
Chairman’s Run – Meet at Bunnings 10.30am for a short run followed by BBQ Lunch
Rotorua Lake Front Car Display Club Night
Waterwheel Farming Like Grandad & Country Fair 10am 4pm SH30 Onepu (opposite Military Road)
Any photo’s or articles from Members for the Running Board are much appreciated How about writing a small story or sending photos of a Club Run or event you have attended. Thanks to Joy, Gay, Barry Spry and Barry Keene for this month’s contributions.
BENZINE PRICES
Cents per litre
Sept 1973 10.5c Jan 1974 13.0c May 1974 15.2c Feb 1975 17.3c July 1975 22.0c Dec 1975 27.0c 1977 29.7c 1978 31.6c 1979 38.6c Contributed by Barry Spry
I wonder what this guy thinks of today’s petrol prices
Our November Mid-week Run
At Tikitere
Lunch at Okere Cafe .12.
Waiting in the forest for the gate to be opened .14.
EBOP entrants
THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ
Eastern Bay of Plenty Branch
Postal Address: PO Box 2168, Kopeopeo, Whakatane 3159
Branch Officers: 2022/2023
Honorary Branch Member: Lorolei Pollard
Chairman: Les Costar 07 323 6406 les.gail.costar@slingshot.co.nz Vice Chairman: Bevan Lange 027 460 3466 bevanlange@gmail.com Secretary: Karen Spackman 07 315 8800 karenspackman55@gmail.com Treasurer: Joy Growden 07 304 9777 growden@xtra.co.nz
Club Captain: (position still vacant) Committee: Steve Growden 07 304 9777 growden@xtra.co.nz
Lorraine Stock 07 307 1965 alanlorraine.stock@gmail.com Alan Stock 07 307 1965 alanlorraine.stock@gmail.com Mark Spackman 07 315 8800 karen2mark@xtra.co.nz Harry Sutcliffe 07 323 6898 thesuttys@xtra.co.nz John Burton 021 02501138 wairakael@hotmail.com
Trevor Marshall 07 308 7957 James McCarthy 027 365 4595 mrjamesfrancismccarthy@gmail.com
Running Board: Gail Costar 07 323 6406 les.gail.costar@slingshot.co.nz
Beaded Wheels Reporter: Bruce Seddon 07 322 2137 bruce.seddon@xtra.co.nz
Almoner: Lorolei Pollard 07 307 0373
Name Badge Sales: Peter Donovan 07 312 5848 donovanz@xtra.co.nz
VIC Collators: Les Costar 07 323 6406 les.gail.costar@slingshot.co.nz Mark Spackman 07 315 8800 karen2mark@xtra.co.nz
Parts Shed Supervisors: Phil Leaming 07 304 8415 phil.leaming@xtra.co.nz Steve Growden 07 304 9777 growden@xtra.co.nz John Burton 021 02501138 wairakael@hotmail.com
Raffles: Lorraine Stock 07 307 1965 alanlorraine.stock@gmail.com
Supper Supervisor: Gail Costar 07 323 6406 les.gail.costar@slingshot.co.nz
Community Liaison: Lytle Hall 027 703 4539 lytlehall.hall@gmail.com
Archivist: Gail Costar 07 323 6406 les.gail.costar@slingshot.co.nz
Email Notices/Events: Mark & Karen Spackman 07 315 8800 karenspackman55@gmail.com
Saleable Items: Barry Spry 07 312 4737 basa.mi@xtra.co.nz
EBOP Cloth Jacket Badges $7.50
EBOP Car Window Stickers $1.00
EBOP Lapel Badges $6.00
EBOP Cloth Caps $15.00
NZVCC Winged Lapel Badges $7.50
EBOP Cloth Jacket Patches $10.00
EBOP Car Bumper Badges $20.00
EBOP VCC Windscreen Stickers $2.00
Rally Number Holders s/s $15.00
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 .15.
