VCC HOROWHENUA SPARK MARCH 2023

Iwasthinkingofsomethingtosaythatwouldbeofinterestto youallandallIcangetistwowords:-

SWAPMEET

YesTHATseemstobedominatingmythoughts,andalongwith anumberofothermembers,IguessIhavenotgotitonmyown. Itreallyhassnuckuponmeandwithjustoveraweektothe event,itreallyisbecomingareality.Allwecanhopeforisa clearandfineweekendandthatthepeoplecomeoutandpartake intheevent.

OtherthanthisIdidhavethepleasureofjoininginwiththe ridersontheTedGreenMemorialMotorcycleRallyonthelast weekendoflastmonth.Originally,myintentionwastocome uptotheclubroomstoseethemallaway,butasI’dridden thereonmyGoldWing,GraemesuggestedthatIshouldcome fortheride,whichIdid.Thoroughlyenjoyedthetriparound theManawatuanditwasgoodtojoininwiththememberson thetwowheelsforachange.Abigthankstoyouallforputting upwithmeandinparticulartotheChiefCookandBottle Washer,MervandBob,forthelunchthattheyprovidedforus attheThompsonMotorCycleMuseuminRongotea.Thisevent issomethingtolookaheadtoin2024butthereisalittlebitofa ‘BUT’there.GraemeapproachedmeonWednesdayatthe ClubNightandadvisedthathewantsabreakfrombeingthe organiser,soobviously,Iamputtingoutthecallforsomeoneto stepupforthejob,anddonextyear’sevent.

Iwillleavemynatterthereatthisstage,andIcanonlystress howimportanttheSwapMeetistousallinrespecttofundsand equipmentforthecomingyear.

Lookforwardtoseeingyouallthere.

CoverPicture Shapesofthings.

BillLaney

Brucie’sBurblings

Rallyon12thFebruarywasafuneventwithpicnic afterwards.TherewasadrawonpointsforthewinnerbetweenVerdon HeathandGregOliverandthiswasdecidedbyhavinga“rock,scissors, paper”,threeofthebest,competitiontodecidetheoutrightwinner,which Verdonwon.Therewassomeconfusionatbeginningofrallyregarding STOPsigns.Asorganiser,IhavetoapologisebecauseGoogleMapsand theactualroadsignsdidnotmatchandIhadreliedonGoogleMapswhich wereinfactoutofdate.Also,ifanyonespotsoneofoursilentchecks somewhereoutthereontherallycourse,pleasepickitup–Iamoneshort. DonMcLarenacknowledgedtheworkinvolvedinsettinguparally.On behalfofJulieReipenandhimselfhepresentedmewithaDeLorean matchboxcar,thecarfromthemovie“BacktotheFuture”,withseveral STOPsignsattached.AccordingtoDon,Ihavegone‘forwardtothepast’’. Hethenpresentedmyrallyassistant,Heather,withapairoflarge ‘’STOP’’signsunglasses.

26thFebruary:TedGreenMemorialMotorcycleRallywasverywell attended.

Unfortunately,onceagaintheArtDecoeventwascancelledbecauseofthe floodsinHawkesBay.Thatmakesthreeyearsinarowithasbeen cancelled.Hopeitgoesaheadin2024.

19thFebruary:CarShowShannon–thankyoueveryonewhoattendedto helpwiththeparking.

4thMarch:RuahineRamble-Of25carsentered,4werefromourclub: Greg&Jane,Win&Daphne,Robin&Dianne,Bruce&Heather.We enjoyedapleasantafternoondrivingaroundtheManawatuflatlandsand endedupwithtwoofthetrophies.Win&DaphnecamesecondandBruce &Heatherwerethird.Ofcourse,wecoppedabitoffriendlyflackfor winningtheirprizes(onmorethanoneoccasion),butwerequicktoremind themthattheirmotorcycleridershadcleaneduptheweekbeforeinour TedGreenRally.

Upcomingeventsandrallies–refertoCalendaronlastpageofSpark.

BruceLawrie

SpeakerforApril

Wedonothaveaspeakerarranged,socomealongforanothereveningof talkingaboutcars.That’sApril5th,andworkingbeeon8th(Saturday).

NewClubMembers

GrahamandDonnaPlaisteraretransferringfromSouthernHawkesBay

Recovering

JanMacdonaldhadanattackofkidneystoneswhileattheShannonCarShow. Weheardthatshewasbackatworkthenextday!

SadlyMissed

ManyofyouwillrememberMarleneWallace,wifeofTonywhopassedawayfrom cancerinJanuary2016.TonyhadashopinLevinsellingchainsaws,ride-on mowers,motormowersetcTonyandMarlenewerebothlong-standing membersofourClub,bothservingontheCommitteeatdifferenttimesandTony asTreasurerfor8years,from2001-2009.TonynevermissedaTedGreenRally, beinganavidmotorcyclisthimself!Marlenesupportedhimonallofhisrides. WhenTonypassedawaythefamily presentedatrophytobeawardedatthe TedGreenRallyforthebestriderofhis favouritemotorcycle,theMatchless/AJS, whichwasabletobepresentedforthe firsttimeattheRallyheldthismonth!It wasashameMarlenemissedthe presentation.Shepassedawayon February18th.RIPMarlene.Youwillbe missedbyyourmanyfriendsintheClub PhotowastakenatourClubChristmasfunctionin2015.

Clarence(Dick)BoydpassedawayrecentlyHehadbeenamemberformany years,butnotactiveintheclublately.HadbeenrestoringaTrekka4WDvehicle.

Wearegettingsomanybooksnowthatplansare beingdrawnuptoaddasecondstoreytothelibrary. Itwillprobablylooklikethiswhenfinished.

WealsohavesparecopiesofmanyissuesofSpark. Members,especiallynewerones,maybeinterestedin gettingsome.AskatclubnightorcontactSparkeditor.

BruceJamieson,onbehalfofDonMcLaren

2023TedGreenMemorialMotorcycleRally

26/02/2023

Anotherbeautifuldayinparadise,inspiteoftheforecastrain(asifwe haven’thadenoughraininrecenttimes),butthankfullythe Horowhenuaareahasbeensparedtheworstofit!

14bikesturnedoutfortheevent,witha greatrangeofmarques.TheHorowhenua Branch,wasrepresentedby7entrants. Unfortunately,3entrantswereunableto arrive–becausetheywerestuckonthe wrongsideofCookStraitduetounreliability oftheferries.Imagineif80%ofour machinerywasunabletooperate!

Ourridewasover78miles,withrally scoringsetaround6observationquestions. Afewridersfoundthemselvesadmiring unplannedscenery,somefromsimplynot followinginstructionsandsome,from exactlyfollowinginstructions,withanerror intheroutesheets,forwhichtheauthor acceptsfullresponsibility!

ItisacustomwiththeTedGreen,torunone eventnorthofthetownandeachalternate onesouth.Howevertheroadswhichwere chosensouthofthetownareeitherclosed,

orinaterriblestate,sointhenameofsafety,weusedaroutesimilar toonewehadusedbefore.

Hopefullythisissuewillnotcomeupagaininsubsequentyears.

Averytastyluncheonwas provided:a“sausagesizzle”, filledrolls,bagsofchippies, muffinsandteaandcoffee. Sponsored,organisedand carriedoutbyourownBob BartonandMervEdwards. Theseguysarequicktooffer theirservices,andour motorcyclistsarevery appreciative.

MentionsalsogotoRexWilliamsand ChrisClarke,asbackupcrew,fortunately nothavingtousethetrailer,althoughone oftheridershadhimselfandhisnonoperationalbikedeliveredtothelunchstopinacouriervan!(Another motorcyclistassistingafellowrider!),Also toBasilGowenlockandBruceJamieson, whoprovidedvaluableassistanceonthe day.

Withoutfolklikethese,eventslikethisdo nothappen.Theseguysarealwaysthere, inthebackground,doingwhateveris required.

Theridewasnorth,throughKoputoroa, Whirokina,towardsFoxtonbeachandup WylieRoad,thencrossingSH1toKellow RoadandontoRongotea,forthehalf-way pointatThompson’sMotorcycleMuseum, tobegreetedbytheThompsons,whoas always,madeusverywelcome.Peterisin theprocessofstrippingandcleaningseveral

bikes,floodedinAshurst,intheGabrielle rampage,amammothjob. Thereturnjourneywas,throughRangiotu backtoSH56andonwardstoOpiki,through PoplarRoad,toexitonSH57,thenonto Shannon,HeatherleaandreturntoLevin Branchclubrooms,forprize-givinganda cuppa.

Again,mypersonalthanksgotothe HorowhenuaBranchmemberswhoentered ontheday.

GraemeMcKenzie

Results:

Veteran:NoEntrants

Vintage:DonMacdonald,thesolitary entrantonhisNorton

PostVintage:NoEntrants

PostWar:IanMunro(AJS)

Post1960:ErrolGray(Norton)

Post1980:GlynClements(Honda)

Hardluck:IanPike(BSA)

“TedGreen”Plate:(bestperformance overall)GlynClements

MatchlessorAJSentrants:wewerefinally abletoawardtheTonyWallaceMemorial TrophytoIanMunro(AJS)

Halftheentrantschosetobenoncompetitive,orwere ineligible.

PRIZES

MatchlessorAJS

Vintage

PostWar

Post1960

Post1980

HardLuck

TedGreenPlate

ATrapfortheUnwary?

Afterreadinginlastmonth’sSparkDonMcAlpine'sproblemwithhis mechanicalfuelpump,Imentionedtohimthecauseoftheproblemwasnot pullingthepumpdiaphragmdownfullyintothepumpbaseusingthepumplever whilethebodyscrewswereleftloose,thentighteningthebodyscrewsupwith thediaphragmhelddowninthatpositionafterwards.Bynotperformingthis task,itputsstrainonthepumpdiaphragmandpumpmechanismintheprocess. Thiscanripthepumpdiaphragmovertime.Italsorestrictsthefuelpump deliveryvolume.

Therearetwomethodsofattachingthepumpdiaphragmtotheinternallever hiddenbeneaththediaphragm.Oneisretainedbyahookontheendofthe internalpumpleverandtheotherwithtwoslotslocatedeithersideofthe diaphragmshafttomatewithaslottedinternallever.Todifferentiatebetween thetwotypesofdiaphragmsfittedwhendismantlingthepump,allthat's necessaryistoattempttorotatethediaphragmwithaslightamountofpressure. Thehooktypewon'trotatebuttheslottedtypewill.

Forassembly,ascrewdriverisinsertedbelowtheexternalpumpleverintothe bodyforboth.Applyaslightupwardpressuretothescrewdrivertoliftthe internalleverupandallowtheendofthepumpdiaphragmshafttobeinserted ontotheinternalpumplever,eitherbylocatingthehookontheendofthe internalleverbyfeel,orbyinsertingtheslottedshafttypealignedatrightangles tothenormalpositiontomatewiththeinternalleverinitially,thenrotatethe diaphragm90degreestolockwiththeinternalleverontheothertype.

Connectingupthepumpshafttotheinternallevercanbequitetrickyattimes, sohavepatience!

ShannonCarShow2023

TheannualShannoncarshow:whatagreateventitwas.HeldintheShannon footballclubgroundsonSunday19thFebruary,afteracovid-inducedhiatuslast year.

ThisyearourVCCassistedwithparkingthedisplaycarsinthegrounds.This generallyworkedasplanned,butattimesitdidseemlikewewereherdingcats andblinddrivers!Abitmorein-depthbriefingnextyearontheplanperhaps. Ahugethankyoutoallofourloyalandhard-workingmemberswhoassistedus ontheday!Thanksguys!

AsmallhiccupoccurredwhenJanMacdonald,Don’sbetterhalf,fellillwith severepainsinherback.Thelocalfire/medicguysattendedJan,andshewas sentuptoPNhospitalwithDonclosebehindinhisMorrisMinorconvertible chasingtheambulance.Itturnedouttobeakidneystone,painfulindeed,but theysortedJanout.DonandJangothomeat10pmonSunday.Dontoldme thattheambulancewasnomatchforthemightyMacdonaldMorrie!

TheShannonorganizerswerehappywiththeday,andalltheprofitsareheading forworthyShannoncommunityprojects.

IattendedadebriefontheshowinShannon,askedlotsofquestionsandcame awaywithafewideastoapplytoournextyear’sswapmeet.

Soonwardandupwardmembers.Nextstopourownswapmeet!

JohnWhite

PhotosfromthegrandstandbyMarkGibson

OnSundaymorningattheShannonCarShow,webeganarrivingto assistwiththesetup.Thedrivetherecausedsomeofusoldiestotake aquickpitstopintheportabledunnies,parkedjustbesideourbranch display!Verygoodplacetopositionthemtoo!

Theyweretwindunnies,backtoback,onasingleaxletrailer.

Paulinewasquicktomakeuseonthecrispmorning.Inshewent,door lockedandbusinessasusual.Herhusband,Des,wasovertothetrailer, grabbedthedrawbar,gaveitathoroughlygoodshake,rattledthe couplingandannouncedinadisguisedvoice,“Rightmate,hookitup andtakeitaway!”

Paulinewasuplikeaflash,out thedoorandstandingonthestep withdrawersathalf-mast!

Yelling,“Hangon,hangon.”

Whatasighttobehold!

Mostthingsareprettywellorganised,butifyouhaven’tvolunteeredfora jobyet,pleaseringJohnWhiteon0221601189.

Ourwomenmemberswhoarerunningthekitchenhaveaskedfor donationsofcakes,tray-bakes,savouries,etc.Inadditiontothese,we wouldappreciateitemsformakingsandwiches,sohaveyouheapsof cucumbers,tomatoes,lettuce,etcinyourgarden?Theseneedtobe deliveredonFriday17thanytimeasthewomenstartearlyon Saturdaymorningtomakethesandwiches.

Lindaisalsoseekinghelptorunthekitcheninhourlyshiftsthroughout Saturday.

Helpisalsowantedfromclubmemberson

Friday17thfrom9:30amtosetupthegrounds.

Justashortreportonthe28thNational VintageMotorcycleRallyheldatInvercargill on5/6thFebruary.Thereweretwo Horowhenuamotorcyclesattherally. My1938BSAC10wasriddenbymyson, whowasoverfromCanberra, (photobyPeterBarnett,Canterburybranch)

anda1958ArielNHriddenbySteveBarker. IhadintendedtoridemyLMC3.5hpsolo, butthedrivebeltbrokewhiletestingthe daybeforegoingsouthandtherewasno timetogetamodernreplacementsoI becameaback-upformyson.Therewere 130bikesparticipating,comingfrommany branchesandfromasfarnorthasNorthland.

Sunday5thwasagymkhanadaywithfield

testsandridingskillsinthemorning,in whichindividualsandbranchteamsof4 competed.Thiswasheldingoodweather butintheafternoonaheavyrainfrontcame throughandtheconcoursandpublic viewingwascancelled.Therallyproperwas

heldonMonday6thonthreecoursesof50, 80,and120kmsoftimedsectionwhich competitorschosefromsuitedtotheir bike’sability,whichmeantallcompetitors arrivedatapproximatelythesametimeat Rivertonforlunch,andanuntimedreturnto Invercargillofabout40kmsintheafternoon. Mysondidthe120kmcoursewhichtook himonsealedruralroadsviaTuatapereto Riverton.Theweatherwasnotnice,asthere wasahowlingheadwindforthemostpart andregularrainsqualls.Mostcompetitors finishedalthoughsomegotalittlelost. Mondaynightwastheformaldinnerand prize-giving,butnoprizestoHorowhenua.

ThisrallywasoneofthebestNational VintageMotorcycleRalliesIhavebeento. TheSouthlandbranchdidasuperbjobof organisationwithexcellentmeals,facilities andinformationprovidedtothe competitors

IanBade

PARKING

Newfrontbumper/spoiler:$3000.

12monthsdeliveryfromGermany.

Wheel:$800.

Tyre:$1800,onlyavailableasamatchedLH&RHpair.

Parkingmetercharge:50c.

Willys

Your‘WhatamI’inFebruary’sSparkstirredalotofnostalgiaforthisoldbloke. ThesecondcarIownedasa20yr-oldwasanAustralian,Holden-assembled1940 Willyssedan.

Atleastthat'swhattheownershippaperssaid. Picenclosedsimilarto,butnotmycar –inthosedayswehadnomoneyfor luxurieslikeacamera!

Forthedayitwasquitequickupto 60mphbutnothingafterthat.

Itseemedtobea‘bitser’withthe3739frontendandthe1940rearwith theboothump.

Iguessanythingwentduringthewar.Thechassisandrunninggearwas importedfromtheStatesandthebodieslocallysourced.

Theworstthingaboutitwasthecablebrakestoallwheels.Youcouldadjust themonedayandbytheendoftheweekitwouldbepullingtotheleftagain! Frommemorythe40-41modelshadhydraulicsonthefront. MyDadhadamint’37andIhadanotheroneasapartscar.

Itwasmyfirst‘boy-racer’car–cruisin’downthemainstreetofNewBrighton, armonthewindowsillholdingtheobligatoryCapstanPlain. ItwasprobablytherarestcarIhaveeverowned,butIsolditfor35quidtobuya Phase1Vanguard.

DonMcAlpine

IthappenseverydayinFrance

February2023

Westartthemonthbywelcomingtwonewfull-timememberstoSpares (DonMcdonaldandGeorgeMcLean).Thishasbeendonetoeasethe pressureandworkloadthattheteamhasbeenundersincethecancelled swapmeetlastyear.

AsreportedlastmonthclubmemberGeorgeMcLeangavetoSparesa pairofTypeF-2ElectricallyHeatedFlyingTrouserstosellforclubfunds. AfternointerestfromourmemberswemanagedtosellthemonTradeMe for$100.TheirnewhomeissomewhereinTauranga.

OverWaitangiWeekend,Sparespickedupatrailer-loadof1956Jaguar MarkVIIpartsfromFoxton.The3.5litremotoranddifferential,along withapairofradiatorsurrounds,aretherewithmanyotheritems,butno bodypanels.

TherearealsothreeSUcarburetorsfroma1955to1959JaguarMark1. Atthisstagewearenotsurewhetherthecarburetorsareoffthe2.4or3.4 litremotorastheMark1Jaguarusedbothmotorsizes.

SafeTravellingEveryone

SPRINGCLEAN

On14thJanuarywehadourannualSpringCleanoftheclubrooms.Lotsof clubmembersturneduptohelp,andthenenjoyacuppaontheporch.

HVCCBanners

Thesefabricwindscreenbannersinbluewithgoldletteringare stillavailable.

Thesecanbeusedwhendisplayingyourcaratshowsorrallies. Limitedstocksleftat$10each.OrderfromDesStClare.

LibraryMerchandise

HVCCDashboardStickers-$4

Irononfabricbadges -$3

HVCCblueandwhitecaps-$10

NameBadges(filloutform)-$12

ForSale

MorrisIsisSeries11957.(Thisisaveryrarecar).Very restorable,deregisteredbuteasytogetbackintothesystem. Personalplatesapplicabletothecarandapartscarincluded. $3500.

ContactWayneThroweron0204440098.

Wantedtobuy:

PetroltankforTriumphBonnevilleT120.1963model,650cc (firstyearofunitconstruction).

Originalfactorypart numberF5260,and theywerepainted “AlaskanWhite”.

Itislikelythatthe sametankwasfitted totheTrophyand Thunderbirdmodels ofthesameyear (thoughcolourmaybe different).

ContactBasilGowenlockon063676450.

WANTEDWANTEDWANTEDWANTED

Iamthinkingofbuildingavintageracerorsportscartypething.

Ifyouhavesomestuffthatyoudon’twant,orwanttosell, couldbesomethinglike30sAustin7,Ford10,Morris8, whateveryouhavelikethis, pleaseringmeon06-3646780andwecanhaveatalk.

RobinStrachan

Artwork.Commissionstaken.

SeeyourVintageandClassiccarsandmotorcyclesinyourhomeonyour wall.

Alsopets,etc.fromyourownphoto.

SizeA3-40cmsx30cms:sketchpencil,penandinkoracrylicpaint.Allwill besealedinanacrylicspraysealantforprotection.

TheseareusuallymountedineitherablackorwhiteA3frame,readyto hang,at$125.

Oracrylicpaintoncanvas,alsosealed.

Canvassizevaries,sopricingwillbeonenquiry.

PleaseringLindaGill0273278251

Photosshowafewofmypastcommissions.

Answerto“WhatAmI?”

AlfaRomeo6Cof1928.Thestraight-8GrandPrixenginewasmodifiedas a6cylinderversionandwasinstalledintheroad-goingsportster6C, whichbecamethemostfamousanddesirableAlfaRomeo.

Althoughintendedas aroadcar,theywere alsoraced successfully.Oneof thedriverswasEnzo Ferrari,shownhere withhisteam.

KAPITIMID-WEEKBARBECUE

Around40membersenjoyedanexcellentbarbecuelunchon22nd FebruaryatthelovelybeachsidehomeofGillandBrianWardinRaumati South.Fortunately,theweatherforecastwaswronganditremainedfine allafternoon.Theaccompanyingphotosshowsomeofthemembers'cars inattendance,includingtheguestofhonour,a1935Auburn851.

FUNRALLYANDPICNIC

On12thFebruarywehadaclub“FunRallyandPicnic”.Anerrorin thesecondinstructiononthesheethadusallfloundering.Some stopsignshadbeenremovedsincetheroutewasplanned.Most teamshadtoresorttopapermapsorGPStogetbackoncourse, butafterthatitwaseasyenough,althoughtherewasasignpost missingneartheend,whichhadmanydoublingback.Butaswe hadknownthedestinationforthepicnic,weallmanagedtogather forlunchandtalkaboutthe“fun”wehadenjoyed.

Andwhilemostofthe NorthIslandwas gettinghammeredby acyclone,wehada fineday,withjusta fewcloudsbreezing bylaterintheday.

Greg&JaneandVerdon&Viv gainedequalnumberofpoints.The menweresentuptofightforthewin.

29MARCH2023

RoderickKinghornhasorganisedavisittoafascinatingdisplayofhistoric tractorsandotherfarmmachineryinapurpose-builtundercoverareaata ruralpropertyoverlookingtheOtakiplain.ItisownedbyHorowhenua branchmember,CarlLutz,andourvisitwillincludeatalkonthehistoryof theValleyFarmsandFamilyFordTractorsbusinesses.

Destination--430,RahuiRoad,Otaki.

Directions---gointoOtakiontheoldSH1andattheroundaboutwith thebigBPstationtakeRahuiRoadoverthenewbridgewhichcrosses boththerailwayandthenewexpressway.StayonRahuiRoadpastthe racecourseuntilyoueventuallycometonumber430.Theentranceisa sharpleftturn,proceedtothetopoftheconcretedrivewaywherethereis aparkingarea.

Timing--10:30amArriveformorningtea(provided)

11:30amIntroductionbyourhost,CarlLutz,andviewthe collection

12:30pmLunch

Lunch---Thevenueisperfectforabring-your-ownpicniclunch,and whatevertheweatherthereisanundercoverareaavailable.Alternatively, foranyonewhopreferstogotoacafeforlunch,Roderickwillbooka tableattheSaltandPepperCafeonSH1justsouthofLevin.Weusedthis cafeontheWednesdayrunlastyearwhenwevisitedOtakiMuseum,and thefoodwasexcellent.Butitispopular,soweneedtoknowhowmany wouldliketochoosethisoptioninordertomakeabooking.

PleaseletmeknowbyFriday24thMarchifyouarecoming,andalso whetheryouprefertogoforlunchattheSaltandPepperCafe.

PhilipPearceemail:nzpearce87@gmail.commob:0272744084

Mar 13-20Vintage/VeteranTour-Wellington

Mar 18SwapMeetoftheYear-Levin-HorowhenuaVCC

Mar 24-25MaungaMoanarally,NewPlymouth

Apr 7-9WheelsinWanaka

Apr 21-23HighlandFling,BayofPlenty

May 7 PostErasRally,Manawatu(PVtoP80)

Anyenquiriesto:BruceLawriePhone0274762489

CALENDARofCOMINGEVENTS TAILLIGHTS