VCC Horowhenua Spark February 2023

#0136 February2024 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)

IthasbeenalongtimesinceIlastchairedaVCCmeeting;around40years. Somewillsayitshows,howeverIthinkmostofitwentoffwell.Letmeknow ifyouthinkdifferently.

WehaveupdatedourSwapMeetroad-sidesignsTheywereonviewlast clubnight,andareagreatimprovementontheoldones.Thesesignswillgo uparoundtheareainacoupleofweeks

TherewillbeafinalSwapMeetcommitteeget-togetherafterthenext committeemeetingonthe28thFeb.Wehavejustaboutgoteverything organised,soitshouldbeaquickmeetingtosortoutafewoddsandends. Don'tforgettobringalongtoourclubmeetingon6thMarchitemstogointo therafflebasket.Mostitemswillbeok,butmustbenon-perishabletype goods.

Ourclubcaptainsdoputalotoftimeandeffortintorunningevents forus,sotryandattendtheseifyoucan.

TheLevinmotorracingcollectionisslowlytakingshape,andIexpecttohave itondisplaysoonaftertheSwapMeet.

Thanksandregardstoall.

RobinStrachan

Aslyhighwaypatrolofficerwasinhiscarhidingbehindalargetree,after anyonehecouldnab.

Soonayoungspeedydriverwasonhiswaytothetrap

Theofficergavechase,pulledhimover,andsaid,“Ihavebeenwaiting mostofthedayforyoutocomepast.”

Theyoungguylookedupattheofficerandsaid,“Iamsorry,Igothere asfastasIcould.”

Brucie’sBurblings

Firstoff,welcometoanewyearandnewopportunities.Onthe1stofJanuarywas theannualpicnicbytheManawatuVCCatDuddingsLake,withagoodturnout andlotsofchatter.TheWellingtonAnniversaryweekendstartedwiththe WellingtonVCCandHorowhenuaVCCcombiningforaMonteCarloRallyonthe 19thJanuaryheadingtoWanganui.Thisyearwedidnothavethedragoverto theWairarapatocontendwith,andthemostlyflatrunmadeitsuitableforcarsof allpowerratings.SeveralHorowhenuaVCCmemberstookpartanddidverywell. PlacingsappearelsewhereinthiseditionofSpark.Welldoneallyoufolk.Onthe SundaytheWanganuiVCCBurmaRallyhadabigfieldof82cars,quitearange. No-onehasseentheresultsyet,despiteofficiallyasking,butIbelieveoneofthe clubcaptainswas1stintheP60class.Onthefollowingweekendsomeofustook partinthebi-annualmotorcyclerallyinWellingtonTherainwasratherheavy throughouttherun,mostgotalmostwashedtoshinypinstage.Theshedraidfor Februarytookinacollectionofrestoredandbeing-restoredmotorcycles.Whata magicdisplay!ThankyouJeff.ThelasttwoweekendshavehadtheTrenthamCar ShowandtheShannonCarShow.Greatturn-outofvehiclesforalltoogleatwith severalofourHVCCmembers’vehiclesondisplay.OurownannualTedGreen MemorialMotorcycleRallytakesplaceon25thFebruary,withatthetimeof writing,25entries.

Eventsinthepipeline:NorthIslandClubCaptain’sTour,gymkhanainMasterton onthe9thMarch,RuahineRambleon10thMarchbyManawatuVCC,motorcycle swapmeetatFielding(seeadinthisSpark),andtheBIGONEforHorowhenua VCC,ourSWAPMEETon16thMarch.Yourhelpandparticipationismuch appreciated.Cakes,etcforthekitchentohelpfeedthethousands:deliveron Friday,orearlySaturdaymorning.Reviewyourman-orlady-powerpositionat clubnightonthe6thMarch

ThoseofyouwhohavereadthelatestcopyofBeadedWheelsmayhavenoticed thatVerdonhasjoinedtheVCCtechnicalcommitteeasanewmember, overseeingVICcertification.WelldoneVerdon.

Lastly,athankyoutothosememberswhowenttotheclubroomsandhelped withtheannualspringclean.

BruceLawrie&VerdonHeath

SpeakerforMarch

Wedon’thaveaspeakerforclubnightinMarch,socomealongandget updatedwithallthatclubmembershavebeendoing.

NewClubMembers

MalcolmandRobynGrindlayhaveaselectionofHillmansandaCommer van.TheyjoinedusinJanuary.

MartinGibbsjoinedinFebruary,butwehavenotheardwhathedrives. Welcometoyouall.

Recovering

BobBartonhashadhistoeoperationafteralongwait,andithashealed upverywell.Youwillfindhiminhisgaragefromnowon.

SadlyMissed

ItiswithgreatsadnessthatwerecordthepassingofourClubmember, FredCarrick.BorninMastertonin1936,hecametoLevininthe1960s whereheworkedinseveraloccupationsincludingmachining,clerical workandscreenprinting.HehadbeenadedicatedVintageCarClub memberforover47years,andwasalwayskeentohelpoutwithclub activitieslikemaintenance,groundwork,etc.Hisfavouritecarwasalate 1930sMorrisEightwhichhedroveeverywhere,preferringittothe “moderns”whichhehad.ApartfromtheCarClubhisinterestswere countrymusic,histhreedaughtersandtheirfamilies.Fredwastohave receivedaServiceBadgeatourChristmasfunctiononthe10thDecember, butwasunfortunatelyinhospitalatthetime.Hepassedawayonthe18th December.Hespentthelatteryearsofhisworkinglifejustacrossthe roadfromtheClubattheRJLicoricefactoryasasecurityofficer. RIPFred.Youwillbesadlymissed.

CoverPicture

Summerishere.Taketheconvertibletothebeach.Justmindoutforthe leatherseatswhenyouhopinwithonlyyourSpeedoson.

Therearestilllotsofgreatbooks comingin.Greattosee,keepthem coming.

Quiteafewwillfitverywellintoour collection,eventhoughspaceishard tofind.

Hopefully,wewillsellheapsofbooks attheSwapMeet,andthatwillgive methespacethatIneed.

Also,wehavenewstocksofblue windscreenbannersforsaleat$15.00each. Itwouldlookgreatifallourcarsthatareondisplayanywherehave thebluebannersonthewindscreens.

RobinandDianeStrachan

On20thJanuarywetookpartintheGrandParadeattheA,P&I Show.Withelevencarsandonemotorcycleweshowedagood representationofthekindofcarsinourclub.Wewerenotthere todominateproceedings,andweledinabout30trucks,100 tractorsand500horsesaroundthearena.

A,P&IShowatLevin

PeterBlacklock’sMGAat thelineupinVictoriaAve beforethestart DonandJanMacdonald intheirMorrisMinor MarkMorganwith Chevroletpickup

DesandPaulineStClareintheMorrisEight RexWilliamsatspeedinhissunbeamAlpine ShiniestofallwasAndrewJudd’sAustinWestminster

Whisperingalong:theArmstrongSiddeley ofDonMcAlpine

Crowdfavourite:theBSABantam

riddenbyPeterWaddington

BasilandBevGowenlockintheirEssex

ElegantWolseleyofWintonCleal

HenryFord’sbiggestfan,GeorgeMcLean, inhisFordModelY AlanPorter’sFordModelA,thelastcarinourparade

MEREDITHELECTRICALLIMITED

Forallyourelectricalrequirementsincluding: NewHomes,Dairyfarms,Maintenance,Repairs andallgeneralelectricalwork.

AnswerlaterinthisissueofSpark

GiveRichardaringon0274415464

Ourwomenmemberswhoarerunningthekitchenhave askedfordonationsofcakes,tray-bakes,savouries,etc.In additiontothese,wewouldappreciateitemsformaking sandwiches,sohaveyouheapsofcucumbers,tomatoes, lettuce,etcinyourgarden?Theseneedtobedeliveredon Friday15thanytimeasthewomenstartearlyon Saturdaymorningtomakethesandwiches.

RaffleatSwapMeet

AttheSwapMeetinMarchweareproposingtoholdaraffle withtheprizebeingalargebasketofassortedhouseholditems. DaphneWilliamsisorganisingthisandisaskingclubmembers todonateitemstomakeupthisprize.Tocontribute,please bringtoclubmeetingonMarch6thanitem,forexampleoffood (non-perishable),autocareproduct,kitchenorcleaningproduct, toiletries,etcorsomeinterestingorexoticitemthatyoumay dreamup.

Itemsneednotbeexpensive,butasubstantialcollectionwill lookimpressiveandhopefullypersuadelotsofpeopletobuy tickets.

Helpisalsowantedfromclubmemberson

Friday15thfrom9:30amtosetupthegrounds.

SpringClean

On13thJanuaryapleasingnumberofclubmembersturnedup attheclubroomstodoourannualSpringClean. Itissosparklingnowthatitseemsashametoletpeoplein againtomessitallup.

Notasinglefingerprinton theglassafterPaulinehad finishedpolishingthe trophycabinet.

Desmannedthebbq withoutsettingfireto anyofourclub members’cars

Afterallwasfinishedtherewasnothing todobutadmireourhandiwork

ThechartbelowshowsthereultsoftheMonteCarloRally heldon19thJanuary,asmentionedinClubCaptains’Report.

GarageRaidon13thDecember

December’sGarageRaidwastoBillLaney’sproperty.Moreaccurately describedasa“GaragesRaid”,ashehasmorethanone.

Underthehousearetwodoublegarages,containingaFordModelA, FordCustomline,FordModelTandtwoHondaGoldwings.

Downthedrivewayisarowoffivesinglegarageswithtwo1948 Mercurys,aRoverP6V8andaFordFalconSprintconvertible.

January2024

Welcomebackeveryone.Wehaveplentytolookforwardtoin 2024,withtheSwapMeetonlyafewweeksaway,plusthe extrabonustocomeoftheSparesDepartment’ssecond“MidWinterSale”alongwiththeclub’sfirst“Collectable, MemorabiliaandShinyPartsAuction”,bothwillbetaking placeonthe15thofJune.Therewillbeplentymoreinformation tocomeontheauctioninthecomingweeks.

TheJanuarySummertimeCleanupoftheclubroomsand Spareswasagreatsuccess,withplentyofmembersturningup tolendahandduringthecourseofthemorning.

SafeTravellingEveryone

Callum

Answerto“WhatAmI?”

TotheBritish,HerbertAustinisasHenryFordistotheAmericans-the manwhoputthenationonwheels.Althoughhehadbuilthisfirstcarsin 1896whileworkingforWolseley,andhadmanufacturedcarsunderhis ownnamesince1906,itisfortheAustinSevenintroducedin1922that mostrememberhim,ifonlybecausethissimplelittlevehiclewasthefirst motorisedtransportofthousandsofyoungEnglishdrivers.Weighingjust over1000lbs,withanoveralllengthof8feet-9inchesandanengineof 696cc(laterincreasedto747cc),thecarwaslookedonbymanywith someamusement,andjokeslike“buyingoneforeachfoot”wererife. However,itrapidlytooktheplaceoftheunlovedcycle-carandmade inroadsonthemotorcycle-and-sidecarbrigade.Aswellasbeingpopular intheUK,itwasbuiltunderlicenseinGermany,France,Japanand America.ThephotoshowsHerbertAustin(laterLordAustin)inoneof thefirstSevens.

Eightofourmembersattended,bravingthethreateningrain andacoldsoutherly,atypicalWellingtonwelcome!Saidwind turnedgustyandmygazebosheltergotblownawayand wrecked—thanks,Wellington!

Apartfromthatbitofexcitement,theshowliveduptoits excellentstandards,withaverygooddisplayfromRolls-Royces totinyMinis.

Wellworththetripdown.

BritishandEuropeanCarShowatTrenthamon11February

JohnWhite

ShannonCarShow-18thFebruary

TheshowwashostedthisyearbyRepco.Greatweather,justcloudy enoughtobecooler,butgothotbytheday’send.Weusedtheclub gazebothistime,amuchsturdierone!Theorganisershaveworkedon theirparkingplan,withadifferentlayoutthisyear,andtheypackedalot morevehiclesin.RexandIgotthereat7.45amtosetupourclubdisplay. WehadbeenallocatedanareaintheSoutheastcorner,underabig Totoratree,sowasquitesheltered,althoughabitofasqueezeforthe latecomers.Carsfordisplaywerejustpouringin,andby9amtheground wasprettymuchfull.

Butourlotwerecomfortableandhappy,mostlydrinkingcoffeeand nibblingbikkies,withanoccasionalexcursiontowalkaroundthegreatlookingdisplay.

Rexgottheannouncertogiveusseveralgoodplugsforourupcoming swapmeet,andmostofthecarsendedupwithourswapmeetflyer underthewipers.

JohnWhite

Anoverallviewoftheshow

HorowhenuaVCCdisplay

BernardScott broughtalonghis 1916Cadillac(left) andbelowexplains theworkingsofthe collapsiblesteering wheel

Theglitteringsteeringwheel ofMarkDunn’s1960Dodge Pioneer

NewclubmemberIanPike arrivedonhisBSAGolden Flashandsidecar

VCCBanners

Thesefabricwindscreenbannersinbluewithgoldletteringare againavailable.

Thesecanbeusedwhendisplayingyourcaratshowsorrallies. Newstocksnowat$15each.OrderfromRobinStrachan.

LibraryMerchandise HVCCDashboardStickers $4 Irononfabricbadges $3 HVCCblueandwhitecaps$10 NameBadges(filloutform)$12.50

Don’tparknexttoademolitionsite!

PARKING

BIGCARS-SMALLPEOPLE

AbitofperspectivecanmakeevenaFiat500lookbig!

KAPITIMID-WEEKRUNWEDNESDAY28thFEBRUARY

BARBECUEATTHEHOMEOFGILL&BRIANWARDINRAUMATISOUTH

Firstofall,averybigthank-youtoGillandBrianforagain hostingourfirstmid-weekrunof2024attheirlovely beachfronthome.Thisisalwaysoneofthebest-attended Wednesdayeventsandagreatwaytostartthenewyear.

TIME arrivearoundmidday

PLACE

73RosettaRoad,RaumatiSouth.Theentranceis actuallyoffHydesRoad

PARKINGclub-eligiblecarsareinvitedtoparkaroundthe entrancetothepropertyoronthelargegrassareajustbeyond theentrance(drivebetweenthebigtimbergateposts).Please parkmoderncarsonHydesRoadorRosettaRoad.

COST $10perheadtocoverthecostofmeats,salads anddesserts.Ifrequestedinadvance,gluten-freeand/orvegan sausageswillbeavailable.

DRINKS

bringyourownchoiceofdrinks

Itisessentialtoknowhowmanytocaterfor,sopleaseletme knowbySunday25thFebruaryifyouarecoming(andifyouwould likegluten-freeorvegansausages).

PhilipPearce email:nzpearce87@gmail.com

mobile:0272744084