#0132 September2023 20222022 POBox458,LEVIN 14TiroTiroRoad,LEVIN
Patron TomHayes 063679445 Chair BillLaney 0274512408 w.a.laney@xtra.co.nz DeputyChair RobinStrachan 063646780 Secretary SharonMeredith 063685289 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)
Ithasoftenbeensaid“When’sthatguygoingtogrowup?”or“It’sabouttimeheacted hisage.”Thereisanotherone:“Youcantakethemanoutoftheboybutyoucan’ttake theboyoutoftheman”
It’sastrangething,butitseemstomethateachtimeIhaveheardthesewords,it’sas thoughtheyarebeingpointedatorreferringtome.“Why”,Iaskmyself,“amIdifferent tootherpeopletothedegreethatthisiswhatisaskedofme?”
SoIwassixty,plusabit,whenatlastIwasinapositiontostarttocollectanderectan electrictrainset,somethingthathadbeenonmyback-burnerallmylife.Mindyou,I neverdidadmittothisfactIhaditcoveredinthat“Inowhaveafouryearoldgrandson andweneedsomethingtodowhenhecomestovisit.”Yeahright.
Andsoitwasthatonthe9thofSeptember,2023,wewenttovisitBigginHillaircraft museumatOhakea.BigginHillwasthenameofoneoftheR.A.F.FighterSquadron basesinthesecondworldwar.
Mymindnowdriftsbackintimetowhen,asayoungboy,Ireadoftheheroesofthose longpastbutnotforgottendayswhenwehadyoungmenlikeDouglasBaderandourown AlDeere,alongwithmanyothers,whodayafterdaywereputtingtheirlivesintheir handsdefendingtheworldofthefreefromHitlerandtheNazis.Butthestrongest memoryofthosedaysandactionswasreadingandlearningabouttheSupermarine Spitfire,sometimesreferredtoas“theaircraftthatwontheBattleofBritain”Nottobe forgottenwastheHawkerHurricane,whichinfactout-numberedtheSpitfirebyfar becauseoftheeaseofconstruction,beingfabricoverwood,comparedtotheSpitfire whichwasmainlyaluminiumbased
Formanyyears,andprobablyeventoday,IstillconsidertheSpitfiretobetheultimate fighteraircrafteverbuiltoverthatperiod,eventakingintoaccountthearrivallaterofthe MustangfighterfromAmericaTolistentoaRollsRoyceV12Merlinengineatfull speedwasalwaysadreamthatIheld.ItwasnotuntilaMustang,thatwasrestoredinthe late60sdownCanterburyway,flewintoWellingtonAirportwhileonatouraroundNew Zealand,thatmydreamwasfulfilled
Irememberitwell.ThereIwaswithmylittle8mmmoviecamera,readytocatchthe perfectshotofthisplaneasitmadeitswayontotheairport.IwasoverbytheFlying Schoolonthetaxiway(incrediblewhereapolicecarcouldgetyou)waitingforittocome infromthenorth.Acoupleofpracticeswingswiththecamera,thenthewait.Yes,that’s it,Icanhearit,upwiththecamera,andwooooooosh,ithadcome,beenandgonebeforeI couldpushthetrigger.Ihadnoideauntilthatmomentwhatafighterwouldbelikeatfull speed(480mph).AllIrememberwasitwasoutoverLyallBaydoingagracefulclimb andturnandthenbackintolandingonthesouthernendoftherunwaybeforeIgotmyself backtogether.
Thencamethelastpartofthedream.IwouldneverbeabletoflyaSpitfire,orevenbea passengerinone,mainlybecauseIdonotlikeflying.Yesthatlastpartofthisdreamwas tobeabletositinthecockpit, andimaginethatIwasinthe positionofalltheheroesthatI hadreadaboutallthoseyears ago,intotalcontrolofaSpitfire. Atlastithappened,atBiggin Hill.
Thedreamisnowcomplete, manythankstoJoeDeere,our hostfortheday.Youmademy day.
Somewhereinthelater conversationsIoverheard somethingabout“Icanlivewith himcollectingmodeltrains,even withhimcollectingmotorcars andbikes,butIdrawthelineat himcollectingaeroplanes”
BillLaney
Brucie’sBurblings
TheclubcaptainshavebeenabitbusyinAugust.
Notimeforaliterarymasterpiecethismonth.
TheimportantdatesareshownintheUPCOMINGEVENTS calendaronthelastpageofSpark.
SAFEMOTORINGANDSTAYWARM
BruceLawrie
SpeakerforOctober
Wedon’thaveaspeakerfornextmonth,soit’suptoyoutoenjoyanight ofsparklingrepartee(orb…s…)amongyourselves.
NewClubMembers
NonewmembersshowedupatourSeptemberclubnight.
Recovering
JohnWhitehadafallwhileinNelsonfortheVCCconference.Thismatcheda similarinjurytohiswife,Merryl.Hopetheydidn’tneedtodoanywallpapering.
DianeStrachan,ourarchivist,hadasetbackwhilehavinganoperationonher alreadydamagedknee.Bestwishesforrecoverysoon.
CoverPicture
“Goodshot,Jonathan.Yougotitrightonthebonnet,nextto thelittleaeroplane.”
Wehavejustreceivedsomeveryinterestingmagsforourcollection. Youwillbeabletoviewtheseinthenextcoupleofweeksorso.
Anddon’tforgettolookthroughthegive-awaybooks.Theremayjustthe bookthatyouneedWeareslowlygettingthesereducedtomakespaceforanew display.Goodthingstaketime.
Onclubnightitwasnicetoseequiteafewmembersinthelibrary. Comeonin,haveachataboutanythingyoulike.
WehavequiteafewVHStapesthatIwouldliketogetcopiedontoCDs. Ifyouknowanyonewhocandothisforuspleasegivemeacallwith theircontactdetails.
JOKE…
CLAIRasked---”Whatdidyourboyfriendsaywhenyou wreckedhisnewcar?”
SARAH’sreply---"ShallIleaveoutthefour-letterwords?"
CLAIR---"Pleasedo."
SARAH---"Hedidn'tsayaword."
RobinandDianeStrachan
ClubruntoCarlLutz’stractormuseum
WehadaverygoodturnoutofclubmembersvisitingCarlLutz’sfarm shedtolookathiscollectionoftractors.HeusedFordsontractorsfor decadesonhisfarminthehillsbehindOtaki,andhascollectedand restoredalargenumberofthem.Hewassomewhatsurprisedbythe numberofuswhoarrived,andsatusdowntogiveaninteresting backgroundtohislifewithhisfavouritebrand.Theoldestofthem,from 1918andstillinitsoriginalunrestored(anduncleaned)condition,he startedupforus,andwithnosuchthingasa mufflerwasprettyloud,butstillrunningwell. Someofourclubmemberscomefromfarming backgroundsandappreciatedthefinerdetails ofallthetractorsonshow.Othersjustliked theshinyblueones.
Wewerealsoinvitedtolookthroughhis workshopwheretheworkiscarriedout, alongsideofwhichinapaddockliemanyother rustingtractors,butwewerenotsureifthis wasagraveyardorasparepartssupply. ManythankstoCarlforentertainingusinhis splendidfacility.
Carlgivingusthelow-downon hishistoryofrestorationbefore lettinguslooseintheshed.
Carlatthecontrolsofthe oldestinhiscollection,and below,aphotoofthesame tractorinitsworkingheyday.
Thistractorwasusedfordecadesinthe forestasalocomotiveforpullinglogging trainsonthetimbertracksasshown.
Blueandshiny
Blueandshiny
Onedaywewillbe blueandshinytoo Blueandshiny
AnswerlaterinthisissueofSpark
PARKING MEREDITHELECTRICALLIMITED Forallyourelectricalrequirementsincluding: NewHomes,Dairyfarms,Maintenance,Repairs andallgeneralelectricalwork. GiveRichardaringon0274415464
PhotofromDeniseLiddle.
Herdaughterandson-in-lawwereonacyclingtourintheSouthIsland andcameacrossthisinabarn.
ClubmemberWayneThrowermadethewholefrontpageofthe Levinlocalnewspaper,HorowhenuaChronicle,inAugustwhenhe offeredhisMorrisMinorforauctiontoraisefundsfortheCancer
Society.Localbusinessesdonatedservicestogetthecarintip-top condition.KerrysUpholsterydidtheseatsandinterior,Dittmer CollisionRepairrepaintedtheroof,bonnetandbootandSmiths Automotivegotthecarcertified.
ThecarwasmarketedonTradeMe,andtheCancerSocietywere thrilledwiththewinningbidofover$30,000.
GarageRaidon9August
Wehadabusymorning,visitingtwogarages,bothfullofinteresting motorcycles.
ThefirstwasatPeterWaddington’splacewhereweweremostimpressed byhisthreebeautifullyrestoredBSABantams,andanearlyfinishedBSA C10.TwootherBantamsarecurrentlybeingworkedon.
Peter(centre)discussingthe 1962D1inoriginalcolours.
Below:this1962 BantamD1isfinished inthecoloursofthe EnglishGPO.
Above:1959BantamD7 gettingthefinaltouches. Left:1951BSAC10 admiredbyBillLaney.
AfteranhourofoglingwemovedontoWarwickLaing’sgarage.Upon raisedworkstandswereaVelocetteMACandanArielSquareFour,each havingworkdoneonitsengine.NearbywereafinishedVelocetteMAC 350andtwoNortons:a1969Mercury650anda1969Dominator600.
VelocetteonleftandAriel SquareFourbehind,both exposingtheirinnermost secrets.
Above:the500ccVelocette nearingcompletion
Above:Warwickexplaining theworkingsoftheoverhead camcylinderheadforthe ArielSquareFour(right).
MembershipListand25,35and50YearBadges.
Attherequestofourchairman,BillLaney,Iamcurrentlycompilingalist ofallourHorowhenuaBranchmemberswiththeiraddressesandphone numbers,emailaddresses,phonenumbersanddateofjoiningtheclub.We areparticularlyinterestedthatmemberswhohavebeenintheVCCandare eligiblefor25,35or50yearmembershipbadgescompletetheapplication processtoVCCheadoffice.Wehavetheapplicationformsonhand. Wehaveinformationaboutwhenmembershavejoinedourbranch,butif youhavetransferredfromanotherbranchpleaseletusknowthedetails, becauseitisthecumulativetotalyearsofcontinuousmembershipofany branchesofVCCthatisrelevant.
Ifyouareduetoreceiveamembershipaward,orifyouhavenewcontact numbersoraddress,pleasecontactme,DaphneWilliams. Mycontactdetailsareonpage2ofSpark.
It’sbeenaroughmonthwhenitcomestodealingwithtyrekickers. August2023
TheWorkingBeeinAugustonthe5th,theso-calledcancelledone, becauseofaclashwiththeHotRodSwapMeetatManfeild,wentahead withmembersturningupwhodidn’tknowithadbeencancelled.Justas welltheSparesTeamwasthereinfull.
Infuture,ifmemberswishtohaveanythingcancelled,theyhavetoletthe committeeknowwellaheadoftime,thusallowingtimetoemailmembers tellingthemthatithasbeencancelled.Twotothreedaysnoticeisnoton. Thesecondhalfofthemonthwasspentdealingwithapairoftyrekickers fromMastertonandOamaru.
Thefirstwasaguywhopurchasedthefirstlotofthreewire-spokedFord V8wheels,(whichthechairmangavetheclub)onlytobackoutofthedeal twodayslater,havingnotreadthatthewheelsizewas17inch,not16.
AsfortheguyfromdownsouthwantingthecompleteWhippet4motor, alongwithgearboxandelectrics,westillhaveit.Youjustneedtolearnto answeryourphoneandmessages,asyouneedthisforthatnear-complete 26WhippetRoadster.Afterall,wherewouldyoufindanother?
Theworkingbeewentoffwell,withDontheapprenticeshowingmehow toletoffsteam,orfrustration,byspendingthemorningremovingoldtyres withthetyreremovingmachine.
ThelastthingtoreportisSparespickedupatrailerloadofblocks, crankshafts,headsandamanifoldforaChrysler70duringthecourseof themonth.
SafeMotoringEveryone Callum
OhakeaVisit
Saturday9thdawnedclearandsunnyandpromisedtobeagreatspringday. Wetrickledintotheclubroomstoawaitourbustransportandenjoythat essentialmorningcupofcoffee.
At11am,designatedbustime,wewerelookingforit,whenwespottedit200 yardsdowntheroad—ourdriver,Des,couldnotfindourclubrooms.Aquick sprint,andbuswasparkedoutside.Wehadabigbatterywheelchairwithus, andourdriverhadtherampdown,andSusanloadedinnotime!Most impressed,thosebatteryscootersaresuper-heavy.Allloaded,wepickedupa fewmoreclubmembersatFoxtonandtrundledofftoourlunchspot,Viv’s KitcheninSanson.Wewereactuallyhalfanhourearly,butViv’screwwereup forthis,andIhaveneverseenwaitstaffmovesofast!.Agreatlunch. Nextdoortothelunchvenueisthenewly-openedAmericanashop,selling 1950sAmericanmemorabilia.Worthalook,members,ifyouareupthatway.
Allherdedbackonboardour bus(baabaa),wehadtodoaroll call,astheOhakeagatesecurity peoplearerealfussyonwhogoes in,andwehadtohandthema writtenlistofnamesofthose present,includingourdriver,in additiontothelistIhadsubmitted afewdaysprior.Justaswellwe werealittleearly,ittook20 minutestoprocessusthroughthe gate,includingaphotoI.D.check (driverslicenses).Thenwehadto awaitourescort!Yes,theydon’t letyoudrivearoundbyyourselfin there!
Finally,wearrivedattheevent oftheday:BrendonDeere’s hangars,whereJoeDeere,hisson,wasourhostfortheafternoon.Joeproudly showedustheprivateairplanecollection,givingusadetailedhistoryofeach, includingtheefforts(huge)thatwentintorebuildingeachone.
FirstwastheHarvard,aWW2trainer.Joetoldusthecostsindoinganew engineforthisasithasjustbeenfinished.Youdon’twanttoknow!
Theconductorclippingthetickets
Ourchairman,Bill “Biggles”Laney,gotasit inthetinycockpit,and tellsmethatwasalife’s ambitionfilled!
Next,Joe’sprideandjoy, thefamousSpitfire.This tookfiveyearsto reconstructandthatisa sagainitself.
Imaginebuyingpetrolfor the27litreRollsRoyce Merlinengine!
Nearbyis anex-RNZAF Aermacchijet trainer,just gatheringdust rightnow,and willtakeabit ofworktogetairworthy,asithasbeenparkedupeversinceHelenClarke’s governmentshutdownthejetpartoftheRNZAFbackintheearly2000s.
Ontothebig‘un,anAmericanAvengertorpedobomberfromWW2.These hadacrewofthree,andourRNZAFusedtooperatethem.Thisonewasflyinga fewyearsback,butis nowsansgiantmotor, whichisunderoverhaul. Wewereallfascinated bythewingfolding mechanismonthisplane, alllockpinsandhinges, quiteanengineering feat!Thefoldingwings werenecessaryasthese planeswereflownfrom aircraftcarriers.
Joetookusintothe secondhangar,where hecurrentlyworksrestoringaWW2MustangP51fighter,againex-RNZAF.Now ifyouthinkcarrestorationsareaneffort,justimaginethisjob!Thousandsof rivetsandparts!Allhavetobejustrighttogetcertifiedtofly.Thisplaneispartly finished,motor(Merlin) insitu,alotofopenskin andpanels.Itwasjust backfromtheRNZAF paintshopandJoeand crewshouldhaveitback intheairinaboutayear.
Thishangaralso containsaDeHavillandDovetwin-enginednavigationaltrainerandtransport fromtheearly1950s.ThisoneisnotpartofBrendon’scollection,andisjust usinghangarspace.
Tuckedawayintheback,isanow-surplusex-RNZAFIroquoishelicopter.These wereusedformanyyearsbyourairforce,anddatebacktotheVietnamwarera.
Allinallaveryworthwhilevisit.Wehadtocajolethemoutofthehangarand backonthebusforthehomewardtrip.Everybodyreallyenjoyedthemselves judgingbythebanterandchatteronboard,anditwasreallyquiterelaxingjust sittingbackinthebusbeingchauffeuredaround!
It’samazingjustwhatisouttheretovisit.Wejusthavetofindoutwherethese treasuresarehiding!
ArticlebyJohnWhite,photosbyDeniseLiddle&CallumFarmer
VCCBanners
Thesefabricwindscreenbannersinbluewithgoldletteringare stillavailable.
Thesecanbeusedwhendisplayingyourcaratshowsorrallies. Limitedstocksleftat$10each.OrderfromDesStClare.
LibraryMerchandise
HVCCDashboardStickers-$4
Irononfabricbadges -$3
HVCCblueandwhitecaps-$10
NameBadges(filloutform)-$12
MorrisMinorconvertible,1952,restorationstarted.Needsan enthusiasttofinishthejob.Phone0274512408
JaguarMkVII
Forsalefromdeceasedestate:aJaguarMkVII,1956inmintcondition afterhavingbeenunder restorationfor40years.
Newpanels,upholstery, carpets,seats,bootlining andfivenewtyres.Thecar runswellandisreadyfor COF,althoughthe registrationlapsedyears ago,butownershippapers areavailable.
EnquiriestoBryan
Wellson0212965665.
Early50sMorrisMinor4door. 50,000miles.
Soundbody&wassoundmechanicallywhenputintostorage. Rover95.
Goodrunner&hasbeeninstoragewiththeMorris. Bothhavegoodinteriors.
Opentooffersonboth,whichareinFoxton. RingJohnGrantfordetails.063638099or02102781332.
VWBeetleforsale
1970model,1500cc,27000milesbyonefamily.
Immaculatecondition,stillonoriginaltyres.
Regonhold.$30,000.
ViewinPalmerstonNorth.
Phone0221013988or063579296
WantedforMGTD:
Sparewheelcarrier,speedoandrevcounterset,fueltankcap. CallMarkBennetton0210874416.
Answerto“WhatAmI?”
Stationwagonsbecamepopularfortheirload-carryingabilities.Asthe forestshadnotallbeencutdown,timberwasreadilyavailableanditwas probablyquitecheaptoconstructa“woody”ratherthantooluptoproduce steelbodies,especiallyforthosevehiclesproducedinlowernumbers. ThisoneisaDodgefrom1931andhada6-cylinder,3.5litreenginegiving 74bhp.
RoderickKinghornhasorganisedanaction-packedrunwithsomething tosuitalltastes,
10am Meetforacoffee/morningteaatRedsCafe,5ArthurStreet, Otaki.
ArthurStreetcrossestheoldSH1inthemiddleofOtakineartothe traffic-lightcontrolledpedestriancrossing.ParkingisonArthur StreetorDunstanStreet(whichalsocrossesArthurStreetandruns paralleltotheoldSH1)
10:45am Achoiceofeitheranhourbrowsing Otaki'sfamousoutletshopsORavisittoSWG(Specialised Washers&Gaskets,whoarespecialistsinone-offmanufactureof washersandautomotivegaskets)at28RiverbankRoad,Otaki.
RiverbankRoadrunsofftheoldSH1atthesouthernendofOtakijust beforecrossingtheOtakiRiverbridge.ParkingforSWGison RiverbankRoad.
Afterrememberingtopickupanyoutletshopbrowsers,headsouthto Waikanae.AftercrossingtheOtakiRiverbridgethereisachoiceof usingtheoldSH1viaTeHoro,orjumpingontheExpresswayuntilthe firstoff-rampatPekaPeka.
12:15pm LunchattheOliveGroveCafe,16MaharaPlace,Waikanae, whichhasagoodrangeofcounterfoodormoresubstantialmeals.
EnteringWaikanaeontheoldSH1,taketherightturnintoNgaioRoad atthenewtrafficlightsjustafterpassingNewWorld.ParkonNgaio RoadortakethefirstleftintoMaraeLanewhichleadstoseveral carparks.MaharaPlaceisinthepedestrian-onlyshoppingmallin betweenMaraeLaneandtheoldSH1.
Afterlunch,continuesouthontheoldSH1toParaparaumu.Continue pasttheCoastlandsShoppingCentre,pastWendysandKFC,thenafter about800mturnrightatthenewroundaboutintoRaumatiRoad.Then takethefirstleftintoLorienCourt.
1:30pmVisittotheKapitiChocolateFactoryat5LorienCourt, whichhasitsowncarparkandiswheelchairfriendly.Thereisa chargeof$5perpersonwhichincludesademonstrationofchocolate
KAPITIMID-WEEKRUNWEDNESDAY27thSEPTEMBER
making,atalkonthehistoryofchocolate,andthebityouhavebeen waitingfor--thechocolatetasting.Also,thereisafactoryshop whichwecanlookaroundatourleisure.
Allofthevenuesneedadvancenoticeofnumbers,sopleaseletPhil PearceknowbySunday24thSeptemberifyouareinterested injoininginsomeoralloftheabove.
PhilipPearce email: nzpearce87@gmail.com
PaperorEmail?
WiththerecentclosingdownofourprinterinLevin,weareagainlooking atwaystoreducethecostofprintinganddistributingSpark.Currently,all membersreceiveaprintedpapercopy,eitherbyhanddeliverybyvarious clubmembersorbypost.Manyofuswouldprefertohavethemagazine sentbyemailasapdffile.Ofcourse,somemembersdon’thaveaccessto email,andwewillalwayshavethepaperversionmadeavailable. Wemaywellbefed-upwithpollsatthemoment,buthere’sanotherone: Pleaselettheeditorknowinwhichformatyouwishtogetyour Spark.
Phoneortextto0276357336, oremailtobrucejamieson48@hotmail.com. Oryoucanletmeknowataclubnightorclubevent.
BruceJamieson
