#0138 April2024 20222022 POBox458,LEVIN 14TiroTiroRoad,LEVIN
Patron TomHayes 063679445 Chair BillLaney 0274512408 w.a.laney@xtra.co.nz DeputyChair RobinStrachan 063646780 Secretary SharonMeredith 02108543434 horowhenua@vcc.org.nz Treasurer JackieJob 0272011806 jackiejob73@gmail.com Co-Treasurer DaphneWilliams 063640061 dh.dub@xtra.co.nz 02102792199 ClubCaptains BruceLawrie 042936803(W) 042934943(H) VerdonHeath 063683824 Committee JohnWhite 0221601189 BillCottle 0274509636 CallumFarmer 063647238 NigelWheeler 063672046 AndrewJudd 063686891 DaphneWilliams 02102792199 WelfareOfficer NigelWheeler 063672046 nigelgwheeler@gmail.com 0275674431 Custodian&Maintenance BillCottle 0274509636 SparesTeam CallumFarmer 063647238 callumfarmer77@hotmail.com RexWilliams 0225114084 MikeKhull 063635633 JeffFox 0274486888 ColinBrooks 042985458 RobertCammish 0274441333 DonMacdonald 063648305 GeorgeMcLean 0272121705 LibraryArchives RobinStrachan 063646780 DianeStrachan 021468763 BranchDelegate JohnWhite 0221601189 SparkEditor BruceJamieson 0276357336 brucejamieson48@hotmail.com 068259102 SparkDistribution MurrayTinsley 02102625971 VICTeam VerdonHeath,IvanHornandMikeKhull MeetingBranchNight-1stWednesdayofthemonthat730pm CommitteeMeeting-LastWednesdayofthemonthat730pm WorkingBee-SaturdayfollowingBranchNightat900am SpareParts-OpenSaturdayfollowingBranchNight ClubBankAccountNo-030667026922700(Westpac)
OnceagainIamamazedatthefrequencythatrequiresmetopreparethereport forthemagazine.ItseemslikeonlyyesterdaythatIhadtodothelastone. However,inhindsight,therehasbeenalittletakingplaceintheinterim.
Whathasbeenverydominanthasbeenthebuildupto,thentheactivityonthe day,whichofcoursehasbeenfollowedbythewinddownandassessingthe result.
What’shetalkingaboutyouask?Well,thiswastheSwapMeetandwasthata success?Yes,andinnosmallwayitwasasuccessbecauseoftheinputofyou, themembers,andthecommitmentoftimeanddedicationtothedutiesrequired onthedaybyyouall.InmypositionasChairman,lookingattherunningand organisationoftheday,broughtsomuchpridetobetheleaderofthepack.To seetheenthusiasmandfriendshipsofthemembersworkingtogetherwasareal pleasureonmypart.
Underthecircumstances,Iamoftheopinionitisnotnecessaryformetothank anyoneinparticularfortheeffortsthatheorsheputintotheday,youcanbeton meforgettingsomeoneveryimportant,butinsayingthat,itgivesmegreat pleasureandsatisfactiontooffermypersonalthankstoeachandeveryoneof youforthateffort.Inmakingthisstatement,ImustconfessthatthedayRobin Strachanstoodandsaidhewouldleadtheteamandoverseetheorganisingofthe SwapMeet,tookawaytheworryanddreadthatwasinmyheartbackthen, whichwasimaginingsomedisasterwhichwouldaffecttherunningofthe event!!!!Again,Iiterate,thankyouall.
DeniseandIhavebeenabletoattendsomeotheractivitiesorganisedduringthe monthbyallthegroupsandmembersandwehaveenjoyedeveryouting, Unfortunatelythiscomingmonthisbeingcontrolledbymyhavingtobein Christchurchformygranddaughter’sgraduationfromCanterburyUniversityso wewillnotbeabletoattendanyoftheplannedeventsforthismonth.Wewish youallwellwiththemandlookforwardtonextmonth’sactivitiesonourreturn. Justremember,becarefuloutthere!!
BillLaney
Brucie’sBurblings
Acoupleofsuccessfulrunsrecentlyhaveshownthattherearestillsome hiddengemsintheHorowhenuaandManawatutobediscovered,the recentSundaypicnicendinginFoxtonwasoneofthem.Itisnotthe destinationbuthowyougettherethatisoftenthemostenjoyablepartof thewholeexercise.
Theshedraidshavealsobeenenjoyedbytheblokeswhoattended.You don’tknowsometimeswhatisbehindcloseddoors.Someofourmembers havequiteextensivecollectionsthattheyarepreparedtoshare.Wehave someverytalentedtradesmenwithinourbranchwhoIamsurewouldbe morethanhappytosharesomeoftheir“tricksofthetrade”withour newermembersjuststartingoutonarestorationprojectortwo.
Winterisonthedoorstep.Timetomakeupthatlistof”todos”forthe nextfewmonthswhilewearehitbytheinevitableinclementweather.
TheNightOwlrallyisintheplanningstages.Yes,therewillbeacouple oftrickybitsbuttherewillbeanoptiontoleavethosebitsoutandstill haveagoodrun.
IwouldalsoliketoaddthatIwillbesteppingdownasClubCaptainatthe nextAGM,havingheldthatpositionfor5years.
Thereistalkoftheexpresswayspeedlimitincreaseto110kph. Iwonderhowmanyofourvehiclescouldtakeadvantageofthechange.
BruceLawrie
SpeakerforMay
Wedon’thaveaspeakerforclubnightinMay,socomealongandget updatedwithallthatclubmembershavebeendoing.
NewClubMembers
BrentSmithhasjoinedourclub.Hehasaninterestingselectionof vehicles,includinga1960Plymouth,a1965FordZephyrMk3,a1963 MorrisMinoruteanda1990ToyotaCrownV8. Welookforwardtoyoujoiningoureventsinfuture.
Recovering
CarlLutzhashadahipoperation,andAndrewJudd’swife,Linda,has brokenbonesinashoulderandanarmafterafall.Wehopethatthey recoverspeedily.
WilfMilnerisdueforhisheartoperationsoon,andGeorgeMcLean recentlyhadaheartattackandisinhospitalinPalmerstonNorth.We wishthemwellandlookforwardtohavingthemback“ondeck”soon.
AccesstoAP&IGrounds
TheaccesstothepaddockneartheVictoriaStreetentrancehasbeen closedwithachain.Sowewillhavetovisitourclubroomsthroughthe gateonTiroTiroRoad.Furthertothis,AP&Iaskusnottodriveonthe grasswhenitiswetandsoggyduringwinter.
CoverPicture
TheMGMidget.AskBillCottleiftheseareanygood.
Attheswapmeetwemanagedto sellquiteafewofoursurplus books.However,asyoucansee inthephoto,theshelvesarestill ratherfull,sodocomeandhave alookforthatcertainsomething thatyouarelookingfor. Pricesare$1.00and$2.00each. Don’tmissout.
RobinandDianeStrachan
"Ladies’Rally/Run”
26thMay2024.Afternoonrun.
Lettheladiesdrive,partnersnavigate.Instructionsstraightforward,vintageor modernvehiclescanbeused,notagreatdistanceandendswithafternoon tea.Organisedbyladieswithladiesinmind,willbeheldinwetordry weather.Guys,letthebetterhalfdrivethatcarofyours.Itwillonlybeforan hourorso,lettheladiesfeelthethrillandpleasureofdrivingsomethingspecial. Iftheladyinyourlifedoesn'twanttodrivemaledriverswillbeaccepted.We needallmembers'support.
Meetattheclubroomsat11:30forlunchbeforetherallystartinearlyafternoon.
Moreinformationatthenextclubnight.
Mid-WinterLunch
ThisyearwewillbeholdingtheMid-WinterLunchattheclubroomson Sunday30thJune.Gatherfrom12:00fordiningat12:30.
CateringisbyRaewyn’sCafe:therewillbetwomeats,fivevegetables andaselectionofdesserts.BYOdrinks.
Theclubwillsubsidizethecostsowewillpayonly$30each.Bargain! MakeyourbookingbyringingBillLaneyon0274512408,andpaythe clubbankaccount030667026922700,usingasreferenceyournameand “lunch”.
PREPARATIONSONFRIDAY THESWAPMEET
Bread-butteringTeam
Onion-cuttingTeam
KitchenTeam
PREPARATIONSONSATURDAY
Sandwich-makingTeamat5am
Outside:thecalmbeforethestorm
It’s“AllGo”
Theresult!!Bydaylight,carsandsellerssuccessfullyparkedup,kitchen andBBQreadyforbreakfastsandlunches.
TheClubcannotthankenough,allthese"teams"whomadethisdaya megasuccessandtothemanymemberswhodonatedfoodforkitchen sales,alsoaverybig"Thankyou".BringonSwapMeet2025!!
DeniseLiddle
THEBIGDAY
BBQTeam
Clubmembers’generousdonationsmeantthatwewereable toprovidefourraffleprizes
Andwhenit’sallover,someonehastocleanup.Fourshortstraws.
OUTINTHEPADDOCK-photosbyGeorgeMcLean
1933ChevroletCommercial
TheCKDpackagearrivedinNewZealandaboardSSCityofSingaporeon 19thOctober1933,beingoneof24commercialchassisbroughtinthatyear. ChassisNumber18663.EngineNumberKR3796178.Itwasassembledat GeneralMotorsplantinPetoneon1stofNovemberanddeliveredtoCooke HowlisoninDunedinon3rdNovember.ThefirstownerwasKerrsBowies generalstoreinCromwell.
WhileattendingaswapmeetinChristchurchin2015,IvisitedJohn Larcombe’ssite,andsawamongsthisdisplayapictureofa1933Chev Commercial“project.”
“Crikey,that’srare,”IsaidtomyfriendDavid.
“Youshouldbuythat,”hesaid.
“No,Idon’tneedsuchamammothtask,”Ireplied.
Aftermuchdebate,atabout4pmIputadepositonit.AshorttimelaterI tookauteandtrailertoBlenheimandreturnedwithabigloadofbits.Witha delaycausedbyacancelledferrysailing,IarrivedbackinLevinat4:30am,a twentythreehourtrip.
Afterstrippingtobarechassis,Istartedtherebuildtogettoarollingchassis stage.AtthesametimeIrebuilttheenginefromthepileofpartsthatIhad.The onlythingmissingwastheenginesidecover.Whenreadinga“Petrolhead” magazine,Isawinthe“Wanted”adssomeoneneedingasetof1932-33brake andclutchpedalsforafriendinAmerica.SinceIhadsomeofthese,andthe advertiserwasgoingonatriptoAmerica,adealwasstruck.Hetookthepedals, andreturnedfromhisholidaywithasidecoverforme.
Whentherollingchassiswascompletewiththeengineandgearboxinplace, itwastakentoRichardBarnesinShannonforallthefrontendpanelstobe repaired,androcker/valencepanelsandsparewheelwellobtainednewfrom Americawerefitted.Tenmonthslateritwasbacktomeforthenextstage.In early2018ItookthetrucktoNeilCarter’sjoineryshopinNormanby,wherethe frameforthecabwasbuiltfromAsh.Headdedthreeinchesbehindthedoorsto givemoreroombehindthesteeringwheel.ThenitwasmovedbacktoRichard Barneswhopanelledthecab,includingtherearwindowfromalate1920s Chryslerbody.Thetopsofthedoors,windowwindersandlockswerealloff somedoorsinourclubsparesdepartment.
Duringlockdownin2020,Imadeawoodenmock-upofthetray,optingfora lengthofsixfeetowingtothelongercab.ArlanEngineeringdidthefoldingof thesteelcomponentsandStaceyEmenydidtheswagingwithmecrankingthe swager.Thenextjobwastomark,drillandboltthetray,thenitwastakenback toArlanforBentowelditalltogether,leavingtheweldstolooklikerivetheads.
ByJuly2021mostoftherestorationwascompleteandthetruckwas registered.
Therearestillafewsmalltaskstofinishoff,suchasdoortrims,whichwill beattendedtoastimepermits.
Iwouldliketothankthefollowingpeoplefortheirhelpduringthefiveanda halfyearproject:
MurrayHornatEngineRestorations.
RodatRKAutoElectrical.
BenatArlanEngineering.
NeilCarteratFurniturebyDesign,Hawera.
NigelFraseratChassisAutoRepaints,Opunake.
RichardBarnesatPanelWork,Shannon.
StaceyEmenyinShannon.
TheFillingStationinLebanon,Oregon,USAforsupplyingmanybitsand pieces.
MarkMorgan
AnswerlaterinthisissueofSpark MEREDITHELECTRICALLIMITED Forallyourelectricalrequirementsincluding: NewHomes,Dairyfarms,Maintenance,Repairs andallgeneralelectricalwork. GiveRichardaringon0274415464
GarageRaidon10thApril.
WevisitedtwogaragesinFoxton.ThefirstwasatGregandJane Oliver’splacewhereweadmiredtwoFiatTopolinos,aFordModelA anda1924Buickconvertible.
ThenextvisitwastotheworkshopofMurrayRobinson.Heretherewereseveral carsbeingworkedonforcustomers,aswellashisownChevrolets,includinga 1961ImpalaCoupeanda1960BelAirpanelvan.
March2024
EverywhereyouturnaftertheSwapMeetyouwillfindHorowhenua memberswalkingabittaller.Thisisbecauseweturnedontheweather, andhadarecordnumberofstallholdersofaround200.Thisisthefirst timethishashappened,andeverydepartmentwithinthebranchreported theirturnoverwasuponlastyear.
Thedatefornextyear’sSwap Meetisthe15thofMarch2025. Itwillseemtocomeround quick,I’msure.
Movingalong,Georgeputme ontoMelbarCablesLtd(174 EasternHuttRoad,Taita, LowerHutt)(04-9390699)in March,asIwasneedinganew speedometercableformy‘28 DodgeStandardSix.Ican reportthattheydoafirstclassjob,topqualityalltheway.
Andlast,butnotleast,areminderaboutthenow-annualSpares DepartmentMidWinterSalefrom9amonthe15thofJune(Saturday). Thiswillbefollowedbythebranch’sfirstCollectable,Memorabiliaand ShinyPartsAuctionfrom1pmintheClubrooms.
SafeMotoringEveryone
Callum
FromGraemeMcKenzie
Answerto“WhatAmI?”
KAPITIMID-WEEKRUNTOFOXTON--26thMARCH
Didyouknowthat17thcenturyDutchwindmillshavesteeringwheels?Welltheydo,and thereisaphotobelowtoproveitIfyouwantedtonitpick,theyareactuallycalledcapstan wheels,andareusedto rotatethewholetoppartof themill,includingthesails, tofaceintothewind.
Thefirsthourofourvisitto Foxtonwasaguidedtourof thewonderfulreplicaofa 17thcenturyDutchflourmill. Itwasbuiltbetween1998 and2003bymainly volunteerlabour,usingNZgrowntimberandtraditional tenonjointssecuredby woodenpegs.Anditisfully operational,producingarangeofwholemealflourswhichcanbepurchasedinthe ground-floorshop.Itisthoughttobetheonlyoperationalwindmillinthesouthern hemisphere,withtheclosestneighboursbeinginTaiwanandtheUSA.
Thesailsareawhopping235m long,andwhoknewthattherewereso manydifferenttypesofwind?Toan experiencedmiller,thewindinFoxton isapparentlyverydifferentfromthe windinWellington,orthewindsin Holland.Usefultoknowifyoueverfind yourselfinchargeofa$1milliondollar windmillonawindyday,withonlya hand-operatedbandbraketostopit fromtakingoff
Believeitornot,thereisaworldwide shortageoftrainedmillers,andmany opportunitiesforexperiencedmillerstotravel aroundEuropeoperatingtraditional windmills.TheFoxtonmillhas5trained operators,allvolunteers,andtheyoungestis stillateenager.
OurnextstopwastheFlaxStripperMuseumandatalkabouttheflaxindustry,which employedmorethan1000peopleinFoxtonacenturyago,alongwithabusyportand railheadexportingflaxfibrestoBritain,AustraliaandtheUSA.Wesawthelastoperational flaxstrippingmachineinaction,verynoisilybeatingtheflaxleavestoremovethenonfibrousmaterialandreleasethestrandsofstrongwhitefibre
Wealsohadademonstrationbythelastremaining"scutching"machine,whichpolishes thefibresandremovesanyshortones
Afterallthatmilling, strippingandscutching,a verywelcomelunchwas servedintheon-siteDe Molencafe.Ourthanksgoto themanyvolunteersin Foxtonwhokeepallthis historyaliveandhappilygive uptheirtimetomakeitso interestingforvisitorsto learnabout.
BIGCARS-SMALLPEOPLE ThehugeMorrisMinor
VCCBanners
Thesefabricwindscreenbannersinbluewithgoldletteringare againavailable.
Thesecanbeusedwhendisplayingyourcaratshowsorrallies. Newstocksnowat$15each.OrderfromRobinStrachan.
LibraryMerchandise
HVCCDashboardStickers
Irononfabricbadges
$4
$3
HVCCblueandwhitecaps$10
NameBadges(filloutform)$12.50
PARKING
Somethingdifferentthismonth-arunofabout30milesonquietcountryroads withgreatscenery,alltarsealedandwithoutgoingonSH1.Detailsandmeet-up timeareasfollows,
MEET10:30atthecarparknexttoHarrison'sGardenCentreatPekaPeka.Thisis rightnexttotheroundaboutwherethereisanon-ramptojoinSH1northbound. Pleasenotethatthereisnooff-rampfornorthboundtraffichere,soifyouare comingfromthesouthitisquickesttoexitSH1atRaumatiSouth(also signpostedforSouthwards)andfollowtheoldSH1throughParaparaumuand WaikanaeandcontinuetotheroundaboutatPekaPeka
Ifyouwantacoffeeandtoiletsbeforetherun,arriveabitearlierandgotothe GardenCentrecafe.
THERUN-departanytimefrom10:30to11:00.Asheetofinstructionswillbe handedoutwithsimpledirectionstofollow.Itisnotarallyandthereisnotiming ornavigationinvolved
Afterabout12mileswewillcometothe92m-longWaihoangaSuspension BridgewhichspansthedeepestsectionoftheOtakiGorge.Itwasbuiltin1916 andisdescribedas"oneofthemostspectacularbridgesintheworld"onthe website<www.dangerousroads.org>.Thatdescriptionmightbeaslight exaggeration,andIcan'tactuallyseeanythingdangerousaboutiteither,butitis wellworthastoptotakealook.
Thereisapull-offareaontheleftjustbeforetheentrancetothebridge.Itisin regularuseandyoucandriveoverthebridgeifyoulike,butthereisnoother waybacktocivilisationwithoutcomingbackoverthebridgeagain.Afterseeing thebridge,continuefollowingtheinstructionsheettotakeyoutothelunch venueviamoreback-roads,passingalotoflovelycountryproperties.
LUNCH-arrivingaround12:30,theLongBeachTavernatWaikanaeBeachwill haveanareareservedforourgroup.Choosefromthebrunchorlunchmenus withoptionssuchaseggsontoastat$13,arangeofpizzasfrom$20,fishand chipsfrom$23,orjusthaveascone/muffinandacupofteaifyouprefer.The Tavernhasitsownorganicveggiegardenwhichproducesseasonalfruitand vegetablesforuseinthekitchen.
Anyonewhodoesn'twanttodothe30mileruniswelcometocomealongjust forthelunch,buteitherwaypleaseletmeknowifyouareplanningtocomeby Sunday21stAprilsothatIcanletthecafehaveanideaofnumbers.
PhilipPearceemail:nzpearce87@gmail.comMob:0272744084
KAPITIMID-WEEKRUNWEDNESDAY24th
APRIL
AutomotiveCollectibles,MemorabiliaandShinyPartsAuction
Thisisafund-raisingeventfortheHorowhenuaVintageCarClub.
ItwilltakeplacefromFriday14thJunetoSaturday15thJune.
Friday14th-------1pmto4pm----setuptime
Saturday15th----8amto11amsetupandregistration.
11amto1pmisBBQTime.Cost$2.50persausage.
Auctionwillstartat1pmandfinisharound4pm.
Youwillneedtoregistertobeabletobid(feeis$5.00)andyouwillbegivenabidnumber.
Asweknow,weallhavepartsandautomotivecollectiblesunderthehouse,inboxes,in theshed,garageorwhere-ever,stuffthatwehavebeengoingtogetridofforyears.
Nowhereisyourgreat“onceinalife-time”chance.
Wewouldlikeyoutodonatethisstufftotheclub,,,,,,,whatagreatopportunity,,,,,,,
AlldonationsaretogotoCalluminthesparesdept.
EverythingmustbeautomotiverelatedNOHOUSEHOLDSTUFF
Sostartnow,findallyourunwantedstuff.WENEEDIT.
Itemsthatweareparticularlyinterestedininclude:specialitembooks,carparts,posters,shinybits, carmugs,flags,etc.
ThisauctionisforVCCmembersonly
Hopefullythiswillbeafunandgreatdayforall.
AllitemsmustbepaidforbeforetheyaretakenawayCashonly EnquiriestoRobinStrachanon063646780.
CALENDARofCOMINGEVENTS
May 8 GarageRaid-Horowhenua
May 26Ladies’Rally-Horowhenua
June 15Auction:Collectibles,Memorabilia&ShinyThings
June 30Mid-Winterdinner-Horowhenua
July 14NightOwlRally-Horowhenua
Anyenquiriesto:BruceLawriePhone0274762489
TAILLIGHTS
theprintbureau063679330 ISSN
