VerdonHeath,IvanHornandMikeKhull
IguessIcannowstarttorelaxandsettlebackandenjoyallthatisgoing tobetakingplaceintheclub.Howcome?Wellthemostimportant decisionwasmadebyGregOliveratthispastclubmeetingwhenhe steppedupandsaidthathewouldrelievemeoftheClubCaptain’sbadge thatIhavebeenholdingontosincetheA.G.M.AlongwithJulieRiepen asthesecondClubCaptain,weshouldbewellcateredforinthis department,butpleasekeepinmindtheClubCaptainsarealwayslooking forassistancefromallthemembersoftheclubforideasandsuggestions. IamcertainthatwearenowingreathandsandIcannotfullyexpressmy appreciationinwordsofthissituation.
Nextupisthismonth’sgarageraidwhichIamlookingforwardtoasI haveasuspicionthatIknowwherewewillfinishup.Ihavebeenlooking forwardtoseeingthisparticularshedforsometimenow.
WealsohavetheNightOwlRallycominguponthe14thsohere’shoping wegetgoodweatheronthedayandinparticularwegetagreatturnoutof entries.
IcannotstresstheamountofreliefthatIfeelnowthatwehaveallthe positionsfilledontheclubcommitteeandthisshouldnowmakethe runningoftheclubalotsimplerandalsoalotsmoother.Iamlooking forwardtoworkingoverthenexttwelvemonths withalltheelectedcommitteemembers.
BillLaney
Introducingourselves:
Hi,IamGregOliver,andalongwithJulieRiepen,wearethenewClubCaptains, sharingthepositionforthenext12months.
BasilGowenlockhaskindlyvolunteeredtocontinueorganisingthelocalmonthly GarageRaids.Thesehavebeenverypopularwitharecordof38members turningupatIvanHorn’splaceatOhauthismonthtoviewhiscollection.Please letBasil,myselforJulieknowifyouwouldbekeentoopenyourgaragedoor, andshowoffyourcollection,nomatterhowlargeorsmall.NextRaidison Wednesday7thAugustleavingtheclubrooms0915.
WhatagreatNightOwlRallywehadonthe14thJuly.Thiswasorganizedby BruceLawrie,BruceJamieson,DesandPaulineStClare.Alotofeffortwentinto thisrallywith14carscompeting.Coveringapprox.100kms,somedidmore, somedoingless,andsomenotfinishing.TwoDNF:JulieandDonbrokedownin theMorrisMinorduetofuelpumpproblemsandBryanWellsandGeorge McLeanwentoffcourseandgotcompletelylost.However,theydidmanageto findtheirwaybackandhandintheircard.
WinnersoftheeventwereAnnetteandKenFoot,fromManawatuwith168 points,secondGregandJaneOliver162points,andthirdequalwereBrentand SusanJames,andVerdonandVivwith157points.
Acalendarofeventshasbeenorganisedforyoualluptoandincludingtheend oftheyear.
WehavebeeninvitedtojoinManawatufortheirDaffodilDayCarShowin Feildingon25thAugust.Thosememberswantingtoattendpleaseletmeknow. TheMorrisMinorClubwillbevisitingourclubroomson18thAugust. ThereisaKapitiMid-weekrunon28thAugust.ContactPhilipPearce 0272744084ifyouwouldliketoattend.Theyhaveplannedatriptoanew AmericanCarCollectioninTrentham,whichalsohasacafé.InthepipelineJulie isintheprocessoforganisingatraintrip,possiblyinNovember,andweare investigatingafewotherinterestingvisits.
TheTararauaTrundleorganisationisunderway.Thiswillbearallylikenoother rally.
Inthemeantime,keepthatoilcanandgreasepumpfull,forournextexciting outing.
SpeakerforAugust
ColinGeangeisgoingtogiveusatalkaboutarecentinterestingproject thathehasbeenworkingon.
NewClubMembers
Twonewfacesshowedupatlastclubnight.HaydenPrankerdandGeoff Williamsonareprospectivemembersandwillnowbegoingthroughthe processofjoiningviaVCCHeadOffice.
ClubBankAccountNumber
Theclub’sbankaccountnumberhasbeenchanged.Justthelasttwo digits,soitisnow03-0667-0269227-02.Pleaseusethisnumberforall futurepayments.
Thanks
Thankstoclubmemberswhodonatethingsforourrafflesonclubnights. Wealwayslookforwardtowhatmightbeinthosebrownpaperbags, andcrossourfingersaswedropthe$2coinsinthebucket.
CoverPicture
ThrashingtheAustinSeventowithinaninchofthegutter.
KeepingUpToDate
Agoodwaytofindoutwhatotherclubsinourareaaredoingistovisit theVCCNZwebsite:www.vcc.org.nz.Allclubs’newslettersareposted everymonth.
Atlast,wehavesortedoutthedirectionwearegoingtotake andtheareawheretheoverflowofbookswillgo.
Therewillbequiteafewbooksandmagazinesonthetablejustoutside thelibrarydoorwhicharefreeforthetaking. Justareminderthatthingsonthistablearedouble-ortriple-ups.
Pleasehelpbytakingsomeofthese.Itwillhelpwithmakingmorespace forthebooksthathavebeencominginlately.
JOKE:
Asmallcarflewaroundthecornerontwowheels,careereddownthe wrongsideoftheroad,knockedoverafenceandfinishedupagainsta tree.
Asthedriverandhisgirlfriendclimbedoutofthewreckage,theyoung ladygasped,”WOW!!!NOWTHAT’SWHATICALLAKISS.”
RobinandDianeStrachan
MID-WINTERLUNCH
OnJune23rdwehad52clubmembersgatherforourMid-WinterLunch. Asplendidnewdecorthisyear,designedbyJackie,andwehadplentyof helpersontheSaturdayafternoonsothatsettinguponlytookanhour. CateringwasbyRaewynsCafe,andasalways,wasdelicious.
WemanagedtoembarrassElveryHuntatourlastclubnightby singing“HappyBirthday”.Butbeingninety,andstillfitand healthy,itwasprobablyworthit.
Someofourclubmembersattendedhisownpartyforfamilyand friends,anddidyoueverseeamoreappropriatecakefora farmer?PhotosfromMurrayWalker.
Heandhiswife,Ada,hostedusattheirfarmonaclubruna coupleofyearsago,andwewereimpressedwithhiscollectionof tractors,whichstillkeephimbusyintheshed.
Whyisittakingsolongtoget theO2NLexpresswaybuilt? Getthisguy!
NeverinNewZealand
GarageRaidon10thJune.
TwentyfourofustravelleddowntoPaekakarikitoraidRobMcIntyre’s garage.Robisaregularattendeeatthemonthlyraidsandoftenarriveson hisIndianChiefmotorcycle.Infact,hehasquiteacollectionof motorcyclesinthesizeablewell-equippedworkshopinthebasementof hishouse,andthereisevenenoughroomtoaccommodatehisverynice 1958CadillacSedanDeVille,aSeries62modelofimpressivesize.
MotorcyclesinRob’scollectionrangefromanoriginalcondition1918 Excelsior(ralliedthisyearonourTedGreenRally)toa1930Indian Chout(thenameisacombinationofChiefandScoutmodels),a1942 IndianMilitaryScoutunderrestoration,a1947Chief(restored)a1927 Chiefawaitingrestorationandevenamid70sIndian-badged2-stroke mini-bike.
Healsohasthree Ducatis,of1978, 1990and1998 vintage.
BasilGowenlock
Picturesby George McLean
AftermorningteaatRelishCafeinWaikanae,wevisitedStLuke's Churchandreceivedashorttalkbythevicaronthe147yearsof historyinthisproudoldbuilding.
Itwasbuiltin1877byparamountchief,WirimuParata,atTukuRakau about3kmfromitscurrentsite.Butwithin10years,theWellingtonand Manawaturailwaycamealongandvillagelifebecamefocusedaroundthe railwaystation.Sothechurchwashauledbyateamofbullocksacross 3kmoffarmlandtoitspresentsiterightnexttotherailway.Itwas extendedinthe20thcentury,butpartsoftheoriginalchurch, includingthebelltower,areclearlyrecognisable.
TheonlythingbetweenourpluckybandandaheartylunchintheHutt Valleywasthe30kmoftheAkatarawaRoadacrosstheTararuas.Thisis surelythemostchallengingtar-sealedroadinthedistrict,cutting throughdensebush,withconstanttwistsandturns,andveryfewplaces wideenoughtopasstrafficcomingtheotherway.But,amazingly,none ofusmetanyon-comingtrafficuntilnearingtheHuttValleywherethe roadwidensout.
Asmallminority(nonames),preferredtogettolunchviaSH1,SH58 (HaywardsHill),andSH2,whichismorethantwicethedistanceofgoing overtheAkatarawaRoad.Buttheyhadthelastlaugh,busytuckinginto theirlunchattheTeMaruaGolfClubbythetimetheAkatarawaRoad contingentarrived,whichsaysitallreally.
WithabigthankyoutoJennyandJohnJacksonwhoorganisedtherun.
June2024
WewelcomeDonMcLarentotheHorowhenuaVintageCar ClubSparesDepartment.Donisthelatestmembertojoin Spares,andfortheforeseeablefuture,thelast.
Handsareinpockets,(seelastmonth’sSpark)andnotmuch evidenceofrecentpurchases,bestsumsupSparesMidWinter Sale,withsalesdownbyaround40%onlastyear’ssale.The recessionisstartingtoblowacoldwind.
Theworkingbeescontinuetobeonthequietsideoflate, howeverthisisapositivethingratherthananegative,because wecanatlonglaststarttosortoutitemsproperly.Forexample, wenowhaveanewhomefortherearaxlesofbothAmerican andBritishcars.
Similarlyforheadlights,rims,tail-lightsandlenseswhichwe havefinallyfinishedsortingnowthatwehavehadthetimeto doit.
August.
9thAug24
14thAug24
18thAug24
25thAug24
28thAug24
September
1stSept24
7thSept24
15thSept24
VCCNationalAGMBayOfPlenty
GarageRaidHorowhenua
MorrisMinorClubVisit-Horowhenua
ManawatuDaffodilDayShowFielding
KapitiMid-WeekRun
Fathers’Day
CentralHawkesBayVintageOnlyRally
GrovesMemorialRallyWairarapa
20th/23Sept24WellingtonManawatuMeanderDannevirkeBased
21stSept24
25thSept24
28thSept24
October
5thOct24
12thOct24
RubberDuckieMotorCycleRallyTaranaki
KapitiMid-WeekRun
ManawatuVintageRally
ManawatuSwapMeet
ManawatuMotorcycleRally
25th/28thOct24NationalCommercialRallyOamaru
30thOct24
November
2nd/3rdNov24
10thNov24
16thNov24
KapitiMid-WeekRun
WellingtonHeritageFestival
TararuaTrundleHorowhenua
GoldMedalMotorcycleRallyWairarapa
22nd/24thNov24HawkesBayVCC15thAnniversaryRally
24thNov24
December
8thDec24
15thDec24
January
MangatainokaVintageCarDayWairarapa
TrainTripSteamExcursionTaihape.TBC
HorowhenuaChristmasFunction/Restorationofthe Year-TBC
25th/27thJan25NationalMotorcycleRallyManawatu
February
5th/7thFeb25
VintageweekendWhanganui
NationalVeteranRally
23rd/28thFeb25NationalModelAFordRally
April
18th/21stApl25NorthIslandEasterRallyWaikato
BIGCARS-SMALLPEOPLE
VCCBanners
Thesefabricwindscreenbannersinbluewithgoldletteringare againavailable.
Thesecanbeusedwhendisplayingyourcaratshowsorrallies. Newstocksnowat$15each.OrderfromRobinStrachan.
LibraryMerchandise
MGBGT1973,currentRegoandWOF,84,000km,andhasVCCVIC.
Darkbluetrimandcarpets.Fullyreconditionedautomatictransmission, reconditionedheadwithhardenedvalveseatsforunleadedfuel.
Inertiaseatbeltsfitted.Newwaterpumpandfuelpump. ContactJohn, 0299024862.
Forsale:AustinA40Devon,1949modelinexcellentrestoredcondition. Mechanicallysoundwithrecentreceiptsavailable.RegisteredandWoF. Opentosensibleoffers.phoneWellsScadden0276824040
Forsale:FordZephyrMark2,1962.Fullyrestored. Hasoverdrivefittedandelectricfuelpump.RegisteredandWoF. Priceisfirm:$25000.phoneWellsScadden0276824040
Answerto“WhatAmI?”
Citroen2CV“Picasso”. Probablywasnotavailable throughthedealers.
PARKING
KAPITIMID-WINTERRUN2024-07-31
MID-WINTERLUNCH–180DEGREESCAFEandBISTRO
KevinBuckhasorganisedamid-winterlunchat180DegreesCafeandBistroon MarineParade,ParaparaumuBeach.
Technically,thisisnotamid-winterlunch–whenweaskacafe/restaurantfora quoteforamid-winterorChristmaslunch,thepricesarewayhigherthantheir normallunchmenu
Butwe’vebeento180Degreesbefore,whenwevisitedAutoClassicsacouple ofyearsago,andthenormallunchmenuisexcellent–theyhavethebestblue codontheKapitiCoastThereisalsoagoodrangeofcounterfoodifyoudon’t wantafullmeal.
WhenKevinvisitedforatrialrunhecouldn’tdecidebetweenthe2dishesbelow, sohehadboth,andreckonshewillhavetotrythembothagainbeforepickinga winner.
Thereisplentyofparkingnearthecafewhichisat12-18MarineParade, ParaparaumuBeach.Aimtoarrivearound11:30amsothatthecafestaffcan seatusalltogether
WhethertravellingfromthenorthorsouthonSH1,taketheexitsignpostedfor ParaparaumuBeachandKapitiAirportandheadwestonKapitiRoadalltheway tothebeachThentakethefirstexitfromtheroundaboutontoMarineParade 180Degreesisontheleftabout200yardsfromtheroundaboutThereisstreet parkingallaroundthecafe,andacarparkontherighthandsidebeforeyouget to180Degrees
Kevinneedstogive180Degreesanideaofnumberstoexpect,sopleaseletme knowbySunday28thJulyifyouarecoming.
PhilipPearceEmail:nzpearce87@gmail.comMob:0272744084
CALENDARofCOMINGEVENTS
August 4VisitFeildingCoachHouseMuseum-Manawatu
August 18MorrisMinorClubvisitourclubrooms
September7VintageRally-CentralHawkesBay
September21RubberDuckieMotorcycleRally-Taranaki
October12MotorcycleRally-Manawatu
November10TararuaTrundle-Horowhenua
2025
January25NationalMotorcycleRally-Manawatu
February24TedGreenMotorcycleRally-Horowhenua
TAILLIGHTS
