September2022 POBox458,LEVIN 14TiroTiroRoad,LEVIN
WelfareOfficer NigelWheeler 063672046 nigelgwheeler@gmail.com 0275674431
JuliaMacMillan 063626156
SparkEditor
LibraryArchives
Secretary HeatherCarter 021504087 horowhenua@vcc.org.nz
GroundsPeople WayneThrower 063685611 0204440098
DeputyChair JohnWhite 063683299 j.mwhite@xtra.co.nz
VICTeam
BranchDelegate
ClubCaptains BruceLawrie 042936803(W) 042934943(H) VerdonHeath 063683824
MeetingBranchNight1stWednesdayofthemonthat730pm CommitteeMeeting-LastWednesdayofthemonthat730pm WorkingBee-SaturdayfollowingBranchNightat900am SpareParts-OpenSaturdayfollowingBranchNight ClubBankAccountNo030667026922700
SparkDistribution
Committee DesStClare 0274191412 BillCottle 0274509636 CallumFarmer 063647238 NigelWheeler 063672046 AndrewJudd 063686891 BruceJamieson 0276357336
Custodian&Maintenance BillCottle 0274509636
Treasurer JackieJob 063682565 jackiejob73@gmail.com
SparesTeam CallumFarmer 063647238 callumfarmer77@hotmail.com RexWilliams 0225114084 MikeKhull 063635633 BobBarton 063678216 JeffFox 0274486888 ColinBrooks 042985458 RobertCammish 049050772 DonMcLaren 0211172418 PaulineStClare 0276506914 JohnWhite 063683299 BruceJamieson 0276357336 brucejamieson48@hotmail.com 068259102 BobBarton 063678216 VerdonHeath,IvanHornandMikeKhull
Chair BillLaney 0274512408 w.a.laney@xtra.co.nz
TomHayes 063679445
Patron
Mylittlequiplastmonthpokingfunattherubbishthatwastakingplacein Governmentatthetime,raisedalaughortwo.Pleasedtoseethatitdid somethingwhenthingswereabitslow.
LastSunday,wesetoffniceandearlytogettotheManawatuVintage Rally.Hadtobethereby10am,firstcarawayat10-30.GottheRoverout, cleanedthewindows(earlymorningsunstrike),servicedthemotorand packedthegoodies:tableandchairs,foodandthecoffee.(Extrathermos fortheteabagslater).
Wellanothermonthhasslippedby.Itmakesmewonderattimesifthey managetosneakadayortwooutofthemonthwhenIamnotwatching. Sincethelastmessage,thingshavebeenalittlequiet.Itwaswithregret thatwehadtocallquitsontheCancerDaffodilDayCarShowatthelast minute.Yes,Icanhearyouallsaying,“Wellitdidn’tturnouttoobad laterinthemorning”.Thatmayhavebeenthecase,buttheproblemwe hadtofacewasthatat7amitwasanythingbut“afairchance”withthe rainbucketingdown.IwouldliketoexpressthegratitudeoftheCluband myownpersonalfeelingstothetwoLindasforalltheeffortand arrangementsthatwereallinstorefortheCarShow.Itisthingslikethis thatreallydo‘gutyou’whenyouareforcedtotakethisaction,completely outofyourcontrol.
Last,butnotleast,hadDeniseallpackedandinstalledinthecarandit wastimetoleave.Downthedriveandoutofthestreetontothesliproad headingfortheroundaboutatHighwayOne,whenoutoftheblue,akickbackonthecarbiesandeverythingdied!!!!!Whattheh..listhisallabout? Trythestarter,turnsoverandthat’sit.Nothing.Out,openthebonnet, checkthepointsyesthereisspark.Trythepetrolpump(electric)yes thereispetrol,grabtheleadtonumberoneYESthereisSPARK,but maybenotthebest.Triedthestarteragainwithsameresult.Nothing. Aquickphonecalltoneighbour,towhome,openthebootoftheFalcon andeverythinggetstransferred,butIdohoweverallowDenisetogetinto thepassenger’sseat.
Notagoodstarttotheday,45minuteslateleavingbutstillgottherein timetotakepart.
Outthereenjoyingthedriveandthecountryandfollowingtheinstructions whensuddenlyinfrontofusaModelAstoppedonthesideoftheroad, bonnetupandaworriedlookinggentlemanlookinginanddownat something.WewerethelastcarawayexceptfortheTailendCharlie pickingupthebitsandpieces.Icouldnothelpmyselfandstoppedtosee ifIcouldbeofassistance.Itwassoonveryevidentthatsomethingwasnot quiteright.Bob,theowner,saidthatitsuddenlylostpowerandwas makinga‘funny’noise.Aquickcheckrevealedthatalthoughthemotor wouldrun,onlynumbers1and2wereinworkingconditionwith3and4 shirkingonthejob.Therewerenotanyoutoftheordinaryrattlesorbangs, soitwasdecidedthathewouldtakeashortcutandsneakalongquietlyto thelunchbreak.Wewouldfollowincaseoffurtherproblems.
Onaclearnightitwilllightupthewholefrontmudguard.
PS.Bob,theowneroftheModelA,sentmeaphototodayoftheengine, minushead,withabigbitmissingfromtheheadgasketbetween3and4. JustasIexplainedtohimwhenIwasworkingonthecarandthistimeI wasright.(Wondersnevercease!!)
Againthat’sitforthemonth. Beawareandtakecareoutthere.
BillLaney
Funnilyenough,therestofthedaywentalongverywell.Weenjoyedthe rally,meetingnewpeople,andinafunnysortofway,finishedtheday withonewinandoneloss,neitherhavinganythingtodowithinitialplan oftakingpartinarally.Reallynicepeopleandgoodtoseeother HorowhenuaVCCShirtsinthecrowd.
CoverPicture
OnSundaythe18thSeptwearehavingashortrally(notricks)downtothe tramsatQueenElizabethParkatPaekakariki,followedbyalookatthe WW2Marines’Displayashortdistancefromthetrams.Therewillbea smallchargeof$15perpersonforthisevent,whichincludesaridetothe beachandbackinatramandtheuseoftheTramMuseummeetingroom. Theywillsupplyteaandcoffee,butweneedtobringourownlunches.
Brucie’sBurblings
Theraisingofthemaskandvaccinationmandaterecentlysignalsareturn tonormalityforourbranchactivities,hopefullyremovingthehesitancy somemembershavebeenfeelingaboutmixingwithothersatourevents. Iknowthatwehaveallbeenitchingtogetoutanddriveouroldervehicles. Thislastmonthhasbeenalittleslowbutwearenowalmostbackto normal.
RemembertoputaringaroundNovember19th,thedayofourmajorevent theTararuaTrundle.
BruceLawrie
Ifyourcarisnottoocomfortableininclementweather,pleasebringa modern.Itismoreimportantthatyoucome,ratherthanyourvintagecar! Theentryfeewillbecollectedontheday.
Thiseventwillnotonlybeofinteresttothemen.
TheManawatuBrancharerunningeventsoverLabourWeekend,22-24th Octobertomarktheir60thAnniversary.Entriesclosesoon.Shouldbea goodthreedaysoffunandfrustration.
NowIcanseewhatIambuyinginthesupermarket.Nomoresteamyglasses.
SpeakerforOctober
SincetakingoveraseditorofSparkinMarch2021,Imayhavenotnoted heresomenewclubmembers.Thisispartlyduetotherather prolongedprocedurethatusedtoexistforpeopletobecomemembers ofVCCclubs,andpartlythenfortheinformationtotrickledowntome. However,InowhaveaccesstoupdatesoftheVCCmembershiplist, andhavenoticedsomenewmembersasfollows:
NewClubMembers
JohnandMicheleMorris-Denizewitha1991MazdaMX5.
ColinandCherylBrooksrecentlyvisitedAustraliaandcame backwithCovid.Theyhavebothtestednegativenow.
MargaretWheelerwitha1960GoliathHansa1100Coupe. AlanandMarilynPorterwitha1928FordModelATudor. Somemayhavetransferredfromotherclubs. IfIhavemissedanyothers,pleaselettheeditorknow.
Recovering
DerekHaycock,presidentofManawatuVCC,willgiveusatalk andshowavideoabouthisexperienceasaparticipantinthis year’sIrishmanRallyinCanterbury.
RosterforOctober2022
Bryan&DeniseKeen,RoderickKinghorn,RobertLaw,CarlLutz, MaxMagele,GrahamMarenzi.Ifyouareunabletomakeitforeither kitchendutiesonClubNight,5thOctober,orfortheWorkingBeeon Saturday8thOctober,9amtill12noon,PLEASEletmeknowon 0274512408orw.a.laney@xtra.co.nz
IsupposethatCallumwon’tmindifweknockdownpartofthe wallbetweenthelibraryandhissparesdepartmenttogiveusa bitmoreroom.
BruceJamieson,onbehalfofDonMcLaren
Withmanybookscomingin,andprobablyalotmoreinfuture, wemayneedtoexpandtheareaoccupiedbythelibrary.
PreviousissuesofSpark onthetopfourshelves
“Fillitupplease,andcheckthepetrol”
Forthenewermembers,andareminderforafewofusoldermembers, theswapmeetisourmajorfundraiserfortheyear,andeffectively subsidisesyourmembershipfees.Itisthebiggestsinglefuneventonthe club’scalendar,andagreatwaytoshowtheclubofftothepublicandto recruitnewmembers.
PleasemakesureyoukeepSaturdayMarch18,2023,clearasthe clubwillneedyou!Despitewhatyoumayhaveheard,noteveryonehasto beonthegate.Therewillberolesforeveryoneintheclub.
HVCC2023SwapMeetUpdate
RexWilliamswouldlovetohearfromanyonewitholdtrafficcones. Currently,PaulIrelandgenerouslylendsussome,butwecoulddowitha fewmore,orifsomeonehasaccesstotemporaryfencingletusknow.
Iamextremelythankfulthatthefollowingmembershavealready steppeduptohelpwithorganisingtheevent.LindaBarton(Catering), SharonMeredith(Adverting/Marketing),JohnWhite(APIContact& Sanitation),DerekRansom(SiteManagement),RexWilliams(Mentor), StephaniePeach(CarClubDistribution),BruceJacobs(Signage),DesSt Clare,JackieJob($$),NigelWheeler,AndrewJudd(Committee Delegates),MerylWhite(2ICCatering)andBillLaney.Also,tothosewho havealreadyspokentomeaboutwhattheywilldoontheday,awesome.
GlennPeach
EachmonthwewillhaveanupdatefortheclubinSparkontheswap meet.
Thecountdownison.Ourclubisnowonly6monthsoutfromour 2023SwapMeet.
Thismonthwearestillafterideasonhowtoimprovetheswapmeetover 2021’sverysuccessfulmeet.
It'safeelergaugewhichpullsoutofthetopofthecontainerandusesthe
GeorgeMcLean
Oneofourmembers fishedthisoutofthe sparesdepartmenton Wednesdaynight. measurements.014".018"accordingtoacoverontheroundcontainer alongside.
MurrayWalker
HillmanHunter
Seethehand-writtenlistof equipmenttakenontheRally, andacopyoftheChinese registrationplate.
Mycar,a1967HillmanHunter,isveryoriginal,neverrestoredandhas done48,700miles. Iboughtitrecentlyfromanelderlygentleman’sprivatecollectionin Auckland,minustheleftfronthubcap,whichreportedlypassedhimon theAucklandmotorwayonedayandwasunabletobefound.
ThecarwasboughtnewfromN.T.GatmanLtdinSilverdale,thelocal Hillman,Humber,Chrysler andPlymouthdealer. Thepurchaser,J.J.Wenzlick fromPuhoi,paid1279 pounds,plus10poundsfor seatbeltsand2pounds10 shillingsforplateframes,less 100poundsforhistradein,a 1952Hillman10.(Thiswas probablyoneofthelastdealsbeforedecimalcurrencykickedin.)
In2014thiswasoneofelevencarsfromNewZealandloadedinto containersandenteredintheShanghaitoLondonVCCRally.Itis reportedlyoneoftwocarsfromtheNZcontingentthatdidn’tgivetrouble onthe10,000milejourney.
Ithadasumpguardfitted,fueltankprotectionandanelectricfan installed.
2014:ShanghaitoLondonRally. 2022:HorowhenuaVCCNightOwlRally.
FromGeorgeMcLean
Mustbethosedamnednew-fangledhydraulicbrakes
Brakingnews:
In1908,EarnestWeighfittedfourwheelhydraulicbrakestoacar. Duesenbergusedfour-wheelhydraulicbrakesonhis1914racingcarsand onhisModelADuesenbergproducedin1921.
HydraulicbrakeswereinventedbyFredrickHeath,whofittedonetoa bicyclein1904.
Chryslerwenttohydraulicbrakesin1925andChevroletin1934. HenryFordproclaimedhydraulicbrakeswere"dangerous"andthatno Fordwouldeverhavehydraulicbrakes,butsticktomechanicalbrakes instead!The1938Fordhadhydraulicbrakes,thelastoftheBig3todoso.
WhileworkingonHenry'sModelYcontraptioninmygarage,removing therearmudguardstodealwithsomesurfacerust,Idiscoveredpennies hadbeenusedinsteadofmudguardwashers,thelatestdatebeing1959. It'snotaverygoodidea,as beingsoft,thepenniesbuckled whenpressurewasapplied whentighteningupthebolts. "Necessityisthemotherof invention!"
AmazingArchaeologicalDiscoveryUnearthed!
GeorgeMcLean
“Mum,canIborrowthecartogototheshops?”
ForthelastdayofwinterJohnandIorganisedatriptothePoriruaMental AsylumMuseumforthemidweekgroup.Thismuseumisusuallyonly openonaTuesdaybetween1pmand4pmanditisrunbyvolunteers, Bruce&Des.BruceandDesopenedthemuseumespeciallyforusonthe Wednesdayandwesplitintotwogroups.
BoroughCafeforlunchandweweregiventhewholeoftheoutside (coveredarea).Weenjoyedlunchandabitofachatbeforemakingour wayhomejustafter2pm.
JennyJackson
SusanandBrentJamesfromourclub gavetheirMustanganouting.
Bruceexplainedsomethingshowtherewasahugeearthquakeinthewar andtwooftheoldbuildingsweredemolishedbecausetheywerenotsafe, andDes(whousedtobeanurseattheoldhospitalandnowretired)took usdownthehallandintovariousrooms.Wesawoldtypewriters, skeletons,thedentalroom,etc.Itwasaveryinterestingvisitanditis worthavisitifyouwant tofillintheodd Tuesdayafternoon. Approximately26 peoplecameforcoffee beforehandatthePataka café.Therewastimeto lookaroundthegallery andartthenwemade ourwayuptothe museum.Wewereat themuseumforanhour andahalfbefore makingourwayto Tawaforlunch.
KapitiMid-WeekRunreport-August31
Wehadbookedintothe
Anewtool,inventedbyGeorge McLean,toaidassemblyof Fordvehicles. Thisspeciallydesignedtool holdstheboltheadinposition whilethenutisinstalledinside. Itisexpectedthatthedevice willbepatentedshortly,being thefirstofitstypeever invented.
GeorgeMcLean
Fordspecialtools
We’vejustabouthadenoughofthiswinter
Anadvertisementfromtheearly1920s,sentbyBasilGowenlock.
WomenfromHorowhenuaVintageCarClub preparingforaswimonavisittoWanganui.
PARKING
AnswerlaterinthisissueofSpark
WiththeDaffodilDayshowbeingcanceledduetotheweather,BobandI metattheClubroomsontheSundaymorningtoworkthoughthe “Wanted”pageinBeadedWheels.
WithSpringjustaroundthecorner,hopefullywewillstarttogetalittle lessrainfall,otherwiseSparesmayhavetolookatbuildingaboat.
Whilewedidn’thavemuchsuccesswiththat,wedidcomeacrossoneitem ofmajorinterest,oneBrandNewOldStockearlyAustinMinirearside
window,initsoriginalBMC Austinwrappingpaper.How longthisitemhadbeen sittingupinthelefthand corneroftheoriginalpartof Sparesisunknown,but beforesomeonetellsusthat itcameinwiththefiveloads ofBMCparts,Icanreportit didnot.
LookingforwardtoearlyOctober,whenwehavetheTararuaRoddersHot RodShowonSundaythe2nd.Spareswillbeopenfrom9am,onwhat shouldbeanexcellentday. SafeTravellingEveryone Callum
August2022
Thesecanbeusedwhendisplayingyourcaratshowsorrallies. Limitedstocksleftat$10each.OrderfromDesStClare.
NameBadges(filloutform)-$12
HVCCBanners
HVCCDashboardStickers-$4 Irononfabricbadges $3
ForSale:Fordsonwellsidepickup,1949.Aprojecttofinish,asthe bodyhasbeenpartiallyrestored,andthemechanicalsareingood condition. ContactMarkMorganon0274444330.
Wanted:MorrisOxfordSeries2,years1954to1957.Shouldbein atleastreasonablecondition. ContactWayneThroweron0204440098.
Thesefabricwindscreenbannersinbluewithgoldletteringare stillavailable.
HVCCblueandwhitecaps$10
LibraryMerchandise
AustinA40Somersetwasproducedfrom1952to1954.Availablein twobodytypes:4doorsedanand2doorconvertible.Poweredbya 1.2litre4cylinderengineproducing42bhp,thetopspeedwas 70mph.173,000weremade,ofwhich7,243wereconvertibles (mostofwhichwillhaverustedaway).Verysmartinpalegreen.
Idroppedthe3/8”spanner.Itmustbeheresomewhere.
Answerto“WhatAmI?”
MeetupatAutoClassicsat11am
StreetparkingisavailableoutsideAutoClassics,andonbothHowellStand MarineParadecloseto180DegreesThereisalsoafreecarparkonMarine Paradeabouthalfwaybetweenthetwovenues.
PleaseletmeknowbyFriday23rdSeptemberifyouareplanningtocomealong
TheSeptemberrun,organisedbyKevinBuck,isavisittoAutoClassicsin ParaparaumuBeachfollowedbylunchatthe180DegreeCafeandBistroonthe waterfrontjustashortstrollfromAutoClassics.
AutoClassicsisownedandrunbyRossChurchwhowilltalktousaboutthe businessandshowushiscurrentstockofclassiccars,whichusuallyincludesa goodselectionofJaguars.AsaformermayorofKapitiDistrict,atalkbyRossis alwaysentertaining,andheisalsoplanningashortquiztotestourmotoring acumen.
PhilipPearceemail:nzpearce87@gmail.commob:0272744084
KapitiMidWeekRunWednesday28thSeptember
FromtheKapitiExpressway(comingfromeithernorthorsouth)taketheexit signpostedforKapitiAirport.Afterpassingtheairportonyourleft,continue straightonattheroundabouttostayonKapitiRoad,andAutoClassicsisonthe rightat386KapitiRoad,justbeforereachingthewaterfront.Itisalmostnextdoor totheskyscraperapartmentblock,soifyougetlostjustheadforthetallest buildinginKapiti.
Itisthenonlya200metrestrollalongthewaterfronttolunchatthe180Degree CafeandBistroat12aMarineParade,onthecornerofMarineParadeandHowell Street.Onarrivalpleaseorderandpayforyourmeals/drinksatthecounter.They havearangeofcounterfoodoryoucanchooseafullmealfromthemenu
AgaininSparkthismonth……sidewaysadvertisements!!
Sept 18ClubRuntoTrams-Horowhenua Sept 19-23NorthIslandCCTour-BoP&Waikatoarea Oct 1 SwapMeetandshowManfeild Oct 2 HotRodShowLevinExhibitionHall Oct 15MotorcycleRallyManawatu Oct 1516KickbackMotorcycleShowatUpperHutt Oct 22-2460thAniversaryRally&Tour-Manawatu Oct 22BrewtownClassicShow-PalmerstonNorth Nov 19TararuaTrundle-Horowhenua Nov 19GoldMedalMCTrial-Wairarapa Nov 19-20VeteranRallyatDannevirke-CHBVCC Anyenquiriesto:BruceLawriePhone0274762489 CALENDARofCOMINGEVENTS TAILLIGHTS
Itheprintbureau063679330 SSN
