Thelastclubmeetingwentextremelywellandallofthemattersthathave beencausingmesomeconcernhavebeenattendedto.Theproposalto acknowledgethework,effortandtimeputintothecluboversomany yearsbybothPeterNightingaleandhislatewife,Shona,wasraisedatthe meetingonWednesday.Afterconsiderablediscussionsatvariousvenues, wehavetheintentionofnamingtheloungeoftheclubroomsinhonourof PeterandShona.Aproposalwaspresentedatthemeetingandallthose presentwhereinfavourofthisactionbeingtakenanditwassuggested, thesoonerthebetter.ThiswasoneofthemanythingsthatIhavehadon mymindforsometime.ThemoreIlearntofwhattheyhaddonetogether overtheyears,mademeevenmoredeterminedtohavesomethingdone, butwhenitissomethingofthatimportance,thenitwasnecessarytospend thetimeandmakesureallthe“t”sarecrossed.
Theflagpolewaserectedattheclubroomsduringtheworkingbee,butit wasnecessarytohavetheconcretefootingdryproperlybeforewehadthe ‘official’flyingoftheflagforthefirsttime.Maybewecandothisatthe nextclubnight.ThanksforyoureffortinthisrespecttoJohnWhite. Alltheactivitiesofthepreviousmontharewellcoveredinotherarticles soIwillleavethosetotellthestory.
Forme,thenextweekorsoisinmyinterestoftheGoldWingRiders Club,whenwewillbehavingourAGM,thisyearinNewPlymouth. Thereisusuallyaveryinterestingbuild-uptotheactualweekendwithan organisedtouraroundsomepartofthecountryfortheweekprecedingthe meeting.
UnfortunatelyIwillnotbeabletopartakeintheTararuaTrundle,but lookingatalltheactivityintheClubwithGregatthehelm,itlooksas thoughitwillbeacrackerofadayandIwishyouallamostenjoyable experience.Justdrivesafeandbeverycarefuloutthere. ThereareacoupleofthingscomingupinDecember.
WehavetheLevinXmasparadeontheafternoonofSaturdaythe7th . Maybecometotheclubinthemorning,dressthecarfortheafternoon,
andafteracuppareporttothestartingarea.RingJohnWhiteifyouare abletobringacar.
Don’tforget,theXmasDinnerisonSundaythe8th.Pleasepaythedue amount$30perheadintothe02accountatleastaweekbeforetheevent sowehaveanumberforthecaterers.Alltheinfoshouldbeelsewherein thismagazine.
BillLaney
TheOctoberGarageRaidledbyBasilwasanotherhugesuccess.These raidsaregainingpopularity,andmyword,thereisstillalottoseeout thereinmembers’garages.Lastmonth’svisitwastoDaveBang’splacein ArapaepaeRoad.Davewillinglyopeneduphisgarageto30surprised membersandwasanexcellenthost.Therewasalottoseeaccordingto Basil,andwewouldliketothankDaveforhistimespentwiththeclub members.
NovemberraidisinHokiowhereweshouldseeanotherinteresting collectioninsomeone’sgarage.Theraidleavestheclubrooms0930 Sharp.
Ifyouwouldliketo,andbewillingtoopenupyourgaragetoclub members,nomatterwhatyoumayhavetoview,pleaseletBasilormyself know,andwewillarrangeforavisitsometimeinthenewyear.
Julie’sruntoRodCliftonMotorswasalsoasuccess.ThiswasJulie’sfirst organizedrunandRodandJoyreallymadeanefforttodisplaytheircars, tractorsandmemorabiliatous.Therewassomethingforeveryonetoview, includingkitchenappliances,tools,electricalgoods,younameitRodhad it.BecauseitwasBreastCancerAwarenessWeekJuliehadusalldressed insomethingpink. Fromthereweweresent offtoMeadowcroft GardensupintheOtaki Gorgetohaveourlunch, andourhostsNeiland AvisMacInneswere veryhospitableand ensuredourdaywas pleasantandenjoyable. Theyhavespentmany yearsdevelopingtheirgardens,lake,walkingtracks,treesandnowitwas
AtMeadowcroftGardens
timetositbackandenjoy.Thedriveuptothegardenpassedthrougha tunneloftotaratreesandwasreallyasighttobeseen.
OnSaturday9th,whilethemenfromManawatuandCentralHawkesBay wereattheWoodenWheelsDay,twoofourladymembersvisitedthe ChristmasBarn,alongwiththeManawatuVCCwomenmembers.Both thoroughlyenjoyedthemselvesandthecompanyoftheManawatuladies.
Sunday10thsawtherunningofthe47thTararuaTrundle.Theweatherwas perfectontheSaturday,howevertheSundayintruetrundlefashionturned outwetandmiserablealthoughnotcoldandwindyasinpreviousyears.A totalof28entrantswerenotdeterredandaftercollectingrallypacksanda briefingat9.30thefirstcarhadafieldchallengeandwasawayat 10.00am.Thisrallywasdesignedtobecompetitive,simple,andhave everythingarallyshouldcontain,fromatimedsection,tulipnavigation, heapsofquestionsandcheckstokeepthenavigatoroccupied.Afterlunch undercoveratFoxtonLoopDomainbeganthestraightlinenavigation section,andacruisebacktotheclubrooms.Thereweretwothatdidnot startandonethatdidnotfinish.Fortwoentrants,thiswastheirveryfirst VCCrallyandtheymustbecommendedfortheireffortscompletingitand gainingplacingsmidfield.Ithinkeveryoneenjoyedtherally.Theidea wastohavefun,putsomeofthestraight-lineinstructionlearntafew weeksagointopractice,learnsomethingaboutthearea,andexperiencea semicompetitiverally.Therallyfinishedattheclubroomswithafternoon teafollowedbyprizegiving.ThankstoRepcoinLevinforthedonationof prizesfortheevent.AndspecialthankstotheTTorganisingteam.
Officialresultsare:
FurthestTravelledPlateKevin&LouiseFleming 1975RoverP6V8
HardLuckTrophy
KevinBuck&IanThompson 1954ZephyrZodiac(NoBrakes) NavigatorSpanner LindaJudd.MostCool,CalmandCollected Navigator
FordTrophy WinBishopandDaphneWilliams
TimedSection
FordCortinaM41980
1stVerdonHeath&VivSpiers
1964Saab
2ndJohnHemingway&TerriSellwood 1978Triumph2.5
3rdMikeKhull&CallumFarmer 1959MGA
SimCupoverallwinnerPatandPhillipPearce1977Saab96
ComingupwehavetheLevinChristmasParadeonthe7thDecember. GatheratthecornerofVictoriaandWeraroaRoadsat2.00pm.Thereisa parkupandcarnivalaftertheparade.JohnWhitewouldliketohaveat least12decoratedcarsrepresentingtheclub,sopleasecontacthimon022 1601189assoonas,sohehasthenumbers.
OnSunday8thDecemberwehaveourclubChristmasDinnerattheclub rooms.IfJackiecouldpleasehaveyourpaymentof$30aheadbythe 30thNovembertoconfirmnumberswithRaewynforcatering. AlsocomingupinthenewyearistheTedGreenMemorialMotorcycle Rally.Thedatehasbeensetforthe23rdFebruary2025.Entrieswillbeout shortlyandwillbeintheDecemberissueofSpark.Sogetthatmotorbike out,polishedandreadyforanotherexitingrally.
LaterintheNewYearistheHBVCCArtDecoRally13thtothe16th February2025. Also,the2025HighlandFling.RallyinformationforbothisontheNotice Board. BreakingNews.
Therecouldberelaxedpicnicfamilydayorganizedandcomingupfor NewYearsDay2025.Watchthisspace. Inthemeantime,keepthatoildripping.
GregOliver
SpeakerforDecember
Wedon’thaveaguestspeaker,buttherewillbepresentationsoflongservice badgestoseveralofourclubmembers.Youcanalsolookforwardtoaspecial Christmassupper NewClubMembers
AlexKellyandDavidMarshallhavehadtheirmembershipsconfirmed. AlexhasanAustin12/4CliftonandanAustinBurnham,andDavidhasa FordModelT.
Recovering
Goodnews:wehaven’theardofanybodywhohasanythingtorecover from.
Milestones
ColinandAnnGeangecelebratedtheir65thWeddingAnniversaryon 31stOctober,and,coincidentally,ColinandCherylBrooks,whoonthe samedaycelebratedtheir60th!
Party!
OurChristmasDinneristobeheldattheclubroomsonSunday8th December.CateringwillbebyRaewyn’sCafeasinpreviousyears,sowe knowwecanlookforwardtoadeliciousmeal.Pricewillbe$30each, thankstotheclubpayingpartofthecost.Pleasepaytheclubaccount, listedonpage2,beforetheendofNovember. Youwillalsogettovotefortheawardforthe“RestorationoftheYear”. Allthelatestwillbelinedupbytheclubrooms.
ThebigeventofthedaywillbeColinBrooksreceivinghis50years membershipbadge.ThesearepresentedbyarepresentativefromVCC headofficeataneventjustonceayearforeachbranch. CongratulationsColin.
CoverPicture
Smallcar-bigpeople.RocketingaroundtheDolomitesinaFiat500.
Don”tforgettoorderyourwindowcardsat$5.00each,printed.
Theylookgreatatshows,andtherewereafewondisplaythispast weekend.
Therearestillmagsandworkshopmanualsavailableforfree. WhatagreateventwehadlastSunday.Greatturnout,greatallround daydespitetheweathernotbeingideal.
RobinandDianeStrachan
SPECIALREPORT
AttheopeningofGeneralBusinessattheClubNightonthe6thof November,theChairman,BillLaney,stoodandaddressedclubmembers presentonamatterthathadbeeninthesystemforsometime. Twoyearsago,adecisionwasmadetonominatePeterNightingalefor theJohnLGoddardTrophy,atrophythatisheldinhighesteemand controlledbythenationalVCC,tobeawardedtoamemberwhohad,in theeyesofthoseresponsible,donesomethinginrespecttothenational clubthatwarrantedrecognition.
MarkGibsonwascoercedbythechairman,andablyassistedbyCheryl BrooksashisprincipalresearcherandproofreaderandTomHayes, Patronandoracleofclubhistory,preparedanominationfileonthe historyofPeterduringhisfiftyfouryearmembershipoftheNewZealand VintageCarClubThisdocumentcontainedeighteenpagesof informationaboutPeterandwhathehaddonefor,with,andwhilebeing partoftheclubandwhereitwasrequired,italsoincludedthe involvementofShona,Peter’slatewife.OurPatron,TomHayes,was alsoinvolvedinthenominationprocess.
Induecourse,thenominationwasdulylodgedandattheAGMofthe nationalVCCin2023,theawardwasmadeandgiventoamemberof anotherbranch,withPeternothavingbeenconsidered.Thisresultedin ourChairmantakingsomeactionwiththeadministration,butthatwill remainprivateasitdidnotalterthesituation.
Unbeknowntoanyothermemberofourclub,withachangeof administrationinthenationalVCCitwasdecidedbytheChairman, PatronandMarktoagainlodgethenominationforthe2024AGMThis wasdulydoneandunfortunately,theresultwasthesamewithamember fromtheWanganuiBranchreceivingthetrophy.
Afterdueconsideration,theChairmancontactedthePatronandMark withasuggestionthatperhapsitwouldbeappropriatethatweasaclub takesomeactionthatwouldrecognisethelifetimededicationand involvementasindicatedinthenominationpapers.Ameetingwas arrangedanditwasdecidedaftersomeseriousdiscussionsofanumber ofideas,thatweshouldascertainif,firstlyourcommittee,followedbythe clubmembershipingeneral,thatwecouldpayourrespectsand appreciationtowhatbothPeterandShonahavedoneforthe HorowhenuaBranchoftheyears,bynamingourclubroomlounge,‘Peter andShonaNightingaleLounge’intheirhonour
Afterapositivedecisionbythecommittee,thePatronandChairman visitedPeterandputtheproposaltohimforhisconsiderationand acceptance.Tosayhewas‘blownaway’withourplan,wasan understatement.Hisimmediatecommentafterhearingthisproposal,he
statedthatShonahadtobeincludedasshetookthefirstminutesand startedthefirstmagazineofourclub.AswitheverythingwithPeter,he wasjusthumbledwiththisplan.
TheChairmanthenaskedthememberspresentforanyquestions,and finallyfortheircollectiveapproval.
Attheconclusionofsomeminormatters,itwasmovedfromthefloorthat thenamingoftheloungebeapprovedandthattheprocesswasto proceedimmediately
BIGCARS-SMALLPEOPLE
Daveisanartist,andwemethim inhisstudiowhereweadmiredthe skillanddiversityofhiswork.
Photobelowshowsaselectionofpen andinkdrawings,manydepicting vintagecars,whichwereofspecial interesttous.
Upinthegarage,Davetoldus somemostinterestingstories abouttherestorationofhistwo Oldsmobilecoupes.
GREENHAUGHGARDENS–PALMERSTONNORTH
OnWednesday30OctoberthirtytwoVCCmembersfromHorowhenua, ManawatuandWellingtonbranchesvisitedGreenhaughGardensin WhakarongojustnorthofPalmerstonNorth.
Unfortunately,theweatherwasn’tkindandheavyraindampenedbut didn’tspoilourvisit.GreenhaughGardens,ownedbyLynneAtkins, havebeendevelopedbyheroverthepast40yearsandsurrounda colonialhomesteadbuiltin1874(theoldesthomeinPalmerston North).Thegardenshaveavarietyofmaturetreesandflowering shrubs.Manyflowerswereinfullbloom.
ThevisitbeganwithBYOmorningteainadelightfulroomcalledthe GiraffeHouse,namedafterthesculpturedgiraffesinthegarden. LynnegaveusatalkonthehistoryofGreenhaughGardensandthe immaculate1874homethatwasinherhusband’sfamilyformany years.Betweentheshowers(andacoupleofdownpours)members wereabletoenjoywhatisasuperbshowofnature’sbestflowersand beautifultrees.
FollowingthestrollthroughthegardensitwasbacktotheGiraffe Houseforlunch.Afteraleisurelylunchitwastimetoreturnhome.On thewayhomethecloudsdisappeared,andthesunshonebrightly.Pity thatdidn’thappenwhenwewereatGreenhaugh.However,thereis somethingaboutrosesespeciallywhenraindropsareonthepetals!
Therearemanyplacestopicnic,andsomespecialplantsandbulbs areforsale.
RemembertherustyFordFalconpartsshownlastmonth?
ThisiswhatMurrayatTheShed(panelbeaterinFoxton)didwiththebits hereceivedfromaclient. Alllightswork,aswellasthehorn,andthemonitorrisesfromunderthe top,whichisanoldRimutabletopsalvagedandrefurbished. Neverthrowanythingaway,itmightcomeinhandysomeday.
MikeKhull
Forallyourelectricalrequirementsincluding: NewHomes,Dairyfarms,Maintenance,Repairs andallgeneralelectricalwork.
IhavebeenresearchingtheWellingtonandGisbornemotorvehicle registrationsfortheperiod1907to1925andhavecomeacrossacouple ofinterestingitems.
IntheWellingtonCityregister,platenumberWN1199wasissuedin1915 toArchibaldA.Whitelawfora"Pakeha"motorcycle.
IntheGisborneregister,platenumberG624wasissuedin1916toJohns, BannisterLtdfora"Maori"motorcycle.
(ps.GeorgeJohnswastheprincipalofJohns,BannisterLtdandwasa formerownerofoneifmyLMCbikes)
PARKING
Tractorsawaitingrestoration
Insidethebarntherearemanyrestoredtractors
“Canyourideabike?” “Sure.”
“Trythisone,then.”
Butthehandlebarshavebeengearedsothatwhen yousteerleft,thebikegoesright.Weweretold thatitispracticallyimpossibletoride.
Ancientseedplantingdevice.Veryfew havesurvived.Rodexplainsthe workingsofittothecrowdinpink.
October2024
It’saveryraremonthwhenIhavenothingtoreportonrelating totheSparesDepartment,andthisisoneofthosemonths.
SoIwillreportonthingsthathappenedintheHorowhenua District.
Overthecourseofthelongweekend(Labour)wewelcomedto Levin,andthegreaterHorowhenuaarea,theNewZealand VauxhallandBedfordOwnersClubwhoheldtheirNational Rally.OntheSaturdaymorningtheyheldapublicdisplayof theircarsontheVillageGreen,andhadastrongpublicturnout.
Sittingaloneontopofashippingcontainerintheheartofthe industrialareainOtaki,isa1950sRover75,85or90(it’shard totellfromtheground.)However,shouldsomeonebe interested,it’satKapitiTow-awayinMiroStreet. Justtohand,attheNovemberWorkingBee,Sparestook deliveryfromanewclubmembersix1930FordModelA
Sedandoors,that’sthreefrontandthreeback,alongwithtwo rearmudguards.PhotostofollowinDecember.Shouldanyone beinterestedinthemeantime,youwillfindmycontactdetails onthesecondpageoftheClubMagazine.
SafeMotoringEveryone
Callum
November
16thNov24
17thNov24
GoldMedalMotorcycleRallyWairarapa
WaikatoSwapMeet
22nd/24thNov24HawkesBayVCC65thAnniversaryRally&Dinner
24thNov24
December
4thDec24
MangatainokaVintageCarDayWairarapa
ClubNight
7thDecemberLevinChristmasParade2.00pm
8thDec24
11thDec24
January
1stJan25
ContactJohnWhiteon0221601189
HorowhenuaClubChristmasFunction.
GarageRaidTeHoro
NewYearPicnicTBC
18th/20thJanVintageWeekendWhanganui
25th/27thJan25NationalMotorcycleRallyManawatu
February
5thFeb25
ClubNight
5th/7thFeb25NationalVeteranRally
12thFeb25
GarageRaidLevin
13thto16thFebArtDecoHBVCC
16thFeb25
ShannonCarShow
23rd/28thFeb25NationalModelAFordRally
23rdFeb25
TedGreenMemorialMotorcycleRally
Horowhenua
March
5thMarch25ClubNight
12thMarch25GarageRaidFoxton
15thMar25
HorowhenuaSwapMeet
21st/22Mar2560thMaungaMoanaRallyNewPlymouth
18th/21stApl25NorthIslandEasterRallyWaikato
April
2ndApril25 Clubnight
9thApril25 GarageRaid
12thApril25RymanCharlesFlemingvisitWaikanaePicnicTBC
18th/21stApl25NorthIslandEasterRallyWaikato
25thto27thApril25HighlandFlingManawatu Overheating?Maybe that’snotthebestplace forthenumberplate.
VCCBanners
Thesefabricwindscreenbannersinbluewithwhiteletteringare againavailable.
Thesecanbeusedwhendisplayingyourcaratshowsorrallies. Newstocksnowat$15each.OrderfromRobinStrachan.
LibraryMerchandise
MGBGT1973,currentRegoandWOF,84,000km,andhasVCCVIC.
Darkbluetrimandcarpets.Fullyreconditionedautomatictransmission, reconditionedheadwithhardenedvalveseatsforunleadedfuel Inertiaseatbeltsfitted. Newwaterpumpand fuelpump $16500. ContactJohn, 0299024862.
KAPITIMIDWEEKRUN-NOVEMBER27th2024
JohnandJennyJacksonhaveorganisedtheNovemberrun,avisittothe clubroomsinPetoneforatalkaboutthebranch's1926DennisFireEngine. MorningteawillbeprovidedonarrivalbeforemovingontotheFire Engine,andtherewillalsobeanopportunitytolookoverthebranch stockofspareparts.
Afterwards,tableshavebeenbookedforlunchattheBoulcottGolfClub, MilitaryRoad,LowerHutt,whichoffersahugechoicefromlightcounter foodtoamenuoffullmeals.
FurtherdetailswillbesenttoeveryoneontheKapitiemaillist,andwill includedirectionstotheclubroomsandfromtheretotheBoulcottGolf Clubforanyoneunfamiliarwiththearea.Ifyouwouldliketobeaddedto theemaillist,orwouldjustlikefurtherdetailsofthisrun,pleaseletme know(contactdetailsbelow).
PhilipPearceEmail:nzpearce87@gmail.comMob:0272744084
CALENDARofCOMINGEVENTS
December4Clubnight-Horowhenua
December7LevinChristmasParade
December8ChristmasDinner-Horowhenua
December11GarageRaid-Horowhenua 2025
January25NationalMotorcycleRally-Manawatu
February23TedGreenMotorcycleRally-Horowhenua
TAILLIGHTS
