#0139 May2024 20222022 POBox458,LEVIN 14TiroTiroRoad,LEVIN
VerdonHeath,IvanHornandMikeKhull
TomHayes 063679445
BillLaney 0274512408
DeputyChair RobinStrachan
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
0274509636 SparesTeam
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
VICTeam
Patron
Chair
w.a.laney@xtra.co.nz
063646780 Secretary SharonMeredith 02108543434 horowhenua@vcc.org.nz Treasurer JackieJob 0272011806 jackiejob73@gmail.com Co-Treasurer DaphneWilliams 063640061 dh.dub@xtra.co.nz
BillCottle
CallumFarmer
0276357336 brucejamieson48@hotmail.com 068259102 SparkDistribution MurrayTinsley 02102625971
MeetingBranchNight-1stWednesdayofthemonthat730pm CommitteeMeeting-LastWednesdayofthemonthat730pm WorkingBee-SaturdayfollowingBranchNightat900am SpareParts-OpenSaturdayfollowingBranchNight ClubBankAccountNo-030667026922702(Westpac)
Myproblemthismonthis,wheretostartthisreportsothatIseemtohave aneventrackonwhatisgoingonwithintheclub.Yes,thenumbersatthe meetingsarejustgreat,thecompanionshipisreallyatatoplevelandthere seemstobenothingonthesurfacethatshouldbecausinganyproblems. Theworkingbeelastweekendwasaripper.Thesweepers,theshovellers, themeasurers,the stringlineholders,the paintersallgetting stuckinandjobwas done.Onlookingat
someofthephotostaken,Icouldseea littleresemblanceto‘WakaKotahi’with ClubRep‘leaning’onabroom discussingthejobwithHonTreasurer,at adistance,whiletherestinthemain,
gotonwiththejob.Yes, everyjobneedsasupervisor,theonlyquestionishowmanyarerequired, andaretheextras‘consultants’?
Yousee,asfarasIampersonallyconcerned,wehaveamajorproblem thatcanonlybefixedwiththeassistanceofallthemembersandthat revolvesaroundthemembershipofourwonderfulClub.Itfallsintoa numberofcategoriesandtheyalltelltheirownstorywhenyouputthem alltogether.We,alongwithmostofthebranchesoftheVintageCarClub, arefindingthatthemembership,althoughnotreducingbyanygreat numbers,isnotincreasingbyanyamounteither.Moretothepointisthe ageofthepersonsbeingattractedtotheClubasmembers.Wehaveto makeadedicatedefforttoensurethatneworbuddingnewmembersare awarethattheClubistodaymoreinclinedtobeaninteresttotheyounger person,thereforeitisalsoexpectedthatwetakeagreaterinterestinwhat arenowbecomingknownasClassiccars.Idon’twishtogivetheimage thatwewanttogetinwiththe‘boyracers’orforthatmatter,the’drifters’. Theyliveinadifferentworldtomeineveryrespect.No,Iamreferringto someonewhohasawellpreservedandpresentedvehiclewhichmayeven bealittleunder30yearsofagebutremember,thatvehicle,withinashort timewillbeonethatwillqualifyandfallintothedesignatedgroupunder ourrules.Weneedtograbtheseguysandgirls,showthemthatwewill takeaninterestintheirvehiclesandgettheminterested.Somanyofthese carownersdonothavea‘motherdedicated’clubtogoto. Thenextmajorinmymindisthenecessityofmembers,youngorold,to standupandbecountedwhenitcomestotaskingapositionwiththeClub toensurethatwecontinuewiththehighstandardthatwehaveachievedat thepresenttime.Iacceptthattherearethosewhoturnouteveryworking beeandanyothertimethatweareworkingwithintheClubonsome activityorother.Iappreciateallthetimeandeffortthattheygive. However,insayingthat,itistherunningoftheClub,thebackroomboys andgirlswhoaretheretwiceamonth,attendingmeetingsandothertasks, thatactuallykeeptheClubaliveandinastatewherealltherestcanenjoy whatwehave,namelytheClubthatIpersonallyclaimtobeoneofthe happiestandfriendlyassociationsthatIhaveeverbeeninvolvedwith.I haveneverbeenonetobegandIdonotintenddoingthatnowbutIcan onlyaskandrepeatwhatIhavealreadystated,withoutaCommittee, withoutManagement,withoutakeenteamworkingtogether,thereisno Club.Allitneedsisaphonecalltomestatingyourinterestinbeingone ofateam.
Letusgetoutthereandenjoywhatwehavethis monthandIlookforwardtoagreatturnoutfor theA.G.M.andtheJuneMeeting.
BillLaney
Brucie’sBurblings
Theclubcaptainshavebeenabitconcernedwithother thingslastmonth,sonoreport.
Someofourclubmembers’carsatrecentevents.
BruceLawrie
SpeakerforJune
Wedon’thaveaspeakerforclubnightinJune,asweareholdingthe A.G.M.
NewClubMembers
DarrylMcCownhasseveralmotorcycles,mostlyTriumphs. JackandPamChapmanhavejoinedus.Don’thaveavintagecaryet,but turnedupattheworkingbeetohelpwithpaintinginthecarpark. Welcome.
Recovering
WilfMilner,GeorgeMcLeanandBrigidWilliamsrecentlyhadtheir “procedures”andarerecoveringwell.
LindaJuddisbackhome,butwithtwoarmsinplaster.
AccesstoAP&IGrounds
TheaccesstothepaddockneartheVictoriaStreetentrancehasbeen closedwithachain.Sowewillhavetovisitourclubroomsthroughthe gateonTiroTiroRoad.Furthertothis,AP&Iaskusnottodriveonthe grasswhenitiswetandsoggyduringwinter.
ClubBankAccountNumber
Theclub’sbankaccountnumberhasbeenchanged.Justthelasttwo digits,soitisnow03-0667-0269227-02.Pleaseusethisnumberforall futurepayments.
CoverPicture
ThisishowtodriveaModelA.Itwillpolishuplater.
Newladdershavebeen installedsothattheshortest ofuscanreachthegood stuffonthetopshelves.
"Ladies’Rally/Run”
26thMay2024.Afternoonrun.
Lettheladiesdrive,partnersnavigate.Instructionsstraightforward,vintageor modernvehiclescanbeused,notagreatdistanceandendswithafternoon tea.Organisedbyladieswithladiesinmind,willbeheldinwetordry weather.Guys,letthebetterhalfdrivethatcarofyours.Itwillonlybeforan hourorso,lettheladiesfeelthethrillandpleasureofdrivingsomethingspecial. Iftheladyinyourlifedoesn'twanttodrivemaledriverswillbeaccepted.We needallmembers'support.
Meetattheclubroomsat11:30forlunchbeforetherallystartinearlyafternoon Moreinformationatthenextclubnight.
RobinandDianeStrachan
Mid-WinterLunch
ThisyearwewillbeholdingtheMid-WinterLunchattheclubroomson Sunday23thJune.Gatherfrom12:00fordiningat12:30.
CateringisbyRaewyn’sCafe:therewillbetwomeats,fivevegetables andaselectionofdesserts.BYOdrinks.
Theclubwillsubsidizethecostsowewillpayonly$30each.Bargain! MakeyourbookingbyringingBillLaneyon0274512408,andpaythe clubbankaccount030667026922702,usingasreferenceyournameand “lunch”.
CLUBRUN14APRIL
Agoodnumberofclubmemberssetoffinelevencarsonaruntoan “unknowndestination”.ThisturnedouttobeatripupHeightsRoad, whichleadsupintothehillssouthofShannon.Theroad(track)isgravel, andwhilenotsteep,itisverynarrow,whichwouldhavemadepassing anyoncomingtrafficverydifficult.Luckily,nonewereencountered,as theroadisadeadendleadingtoanoldfarm.Viewedfromtheflatlands, onewouldexpectaseriesofofhillsandvalleysleadingrightintothe Tararuas,butaftercrossingthetopofthefirsthillwecametoalargeflat plateauwherethefarmwasestablishedbytheLawfamily,andthereare stillafewcattlegrazingthere.
Aftera7-pointturninthelonggrass(whichBillreckonedcleanedthe undersideofhis AustinHealey Spriteverywell) wedescendedtoa lookoutpointto takeintheview, whichextends fromtheKapiti arearightupto Taranaki.The weatherwasabitcloudy,whichlimitedtheviewalittle.
Onahillabout500meters awayiswhatlookedlikea stonecairn.Gregwastheonly oneofustoventureoverto investigate,andreportedthatit isamemorialtooneofthe farmingfamilymembersanda seatfromwhichtoenjoythe view.
HVCCmembersreturningto theircarsinanorderlyfashion forthetripdowntoFoxton
WemovedfromthecoolheightstosunnyFoxton,wherewemetatthe boatclubneartherivermouthforapicniclunch. FoxtonCityCouncilmight considerplantinganewtree. Thisonehasjustabouthadit. PICNICTIME
Theycanlaughaboutitnow,butitwasnotmuchfunforDorisandMavis backinthe1970swhentheirmotherusedtotakethemtoschoolinthecar. AlltheposhkidsarrivedinHillmanHuntersorAustinAllegros.“Mum, we’djustdieifwewereseengettingoutofacarwithroundheadlights, ” complainedDoris.“Dropusoffaroundthecorner,andwe’llwalktothe schoolgate.”ButwhilealltheHuntersandAllegroshavelongago followedtheirtrendysquareheadlightstothetip,theoldDelage,which theyinherited,isworthamillion.
AnswerlaterinthisissueofSpark “Putyourfootdown, Mumandpassthat Packardupahead.”
MEREDITHELECTRICALLIMITED Forallyourelectricalrequirementsincluding: NewHomes,Dairyfarms,Maintenance,Repairs andallgeneralelectricalwork. GiveRichardaringon0274415464
SentbyGeorgeMcLean(whosaysthathehasnoneoftheabove).
GarageRaidon10thApril.
WevisitedthegarageofBasilGowenlockinOhau.Basilhadbeenbusy installingaToyota5-speedgearboxbehindtheFordEscortmotor alreadyfittedinthechassisofhisHondaS600.Nowheneededabitof manpowertoliftthebodywhilethechassiswasrolledunderneath. Whobetterthanabunchofgarageraiders?Afewstrongmen,a coupleofphotographersandsomesupervisorsandthejobwasdone. Coffee,teaandcakesallround.
Basilexplainstotheheavy-lifting crewwhathewantsthemtodo.
Comeonboys,it’sonlyafew hundredkgs
Agoodjobdonecheap!
Afterthat,therewastimetoinspecttherestofBasil’sfleet.The1927 EssexrestsalongsideaCorvetteStingray,andthereareseveralBSA motorcyclesranginginagefrompreWW1topostWW2.
AfinecollectionofBSAs
April2024
Aprilhasbeenaquietmonthforspares.Wewereabletohelpa coupleandtheirdaughterfromOamaru,whoseChrysler4had brokendownontherecentManawatuHighlandFling.
Wealsotook deliveryofapair ofpost-war MorrisMinor motorswhich arrivedon Saturday morning,during themonthly workingbee.
Thequietspell hasallowed sparestocontinuewithitslateAutumnandWintercleanup.
DonationsarestartingtocomeinfortheAutomotive Collectibles,MemorabiliaandShinyPartsAuctiononthe afternoonofthe15thofJune,andofinterestisacollectionof posters,includingoneofCharlieChaplin.
SafeMotoringEveryone
Callum
Abumperturnoutofaround50peopleenjoyedarunofabout30miles onquietcountryroads,alltarseal,withlovelysceneryandallwithout goingonSH1.
GatheringatPekaPeka
Itwasalsogreatto seeagoodrangeof oldercarsincluding FordModelTand ModelA,1929Dodge, abeautiful1938 PackardCoupeanda braceofveryelegant ArmstrongSiddeleys.
AtthesportierendoftherangewasaJaguarE-Type,MorganPlus8,a MarcosandapairofearlyMazdaMX5s.
Alongthewaywehadastopatthe92m-longWaihoangasuspension bridgewhichspansthedeepestsectionoftheOtakiGorge.Builtin1916, itisstillindailyuseandforaround100localsitistheonlywaytoand fromtheirproperties.
KAPITIMID-WEEKRUN--24thAPRIL
crossingthebridge
Concretetruckcaused abitofdeflectionof thebridgedeck
AconviviallunchattheLongBeachTaverninWaikanaeBeach broughttheruntoanend.
PhilipPearce
FordModelA
ThisisanadvertisementfromFrance. Canyouremembergettingfivepeoplesitting comfortablyinaVolkswagen?
BIGCARS-SMALLPEOPLE Yesterday’sdream…Tomorrow’sreality
VCCBanners
Thesefabricwindscreenbannersinbluewithgoldletteringare againavailable.
Thesecanbeusedwhendisplayingyourcaratshowsorrallies. Newstocksnowat$15each.OrderfromRobinStrachan.
Wantedfora1953CommerKarrier14hptruck:frontwheel brakeslavecylinder. PhoneMartinGibbson0211865105. LibraryMerchandise HVCCDashboardStickers $4 Irononfabricbadges $3 HVCCblueandwhitecaps$10 NameBadges(filloutform)$12.50 MORETHINGSFOR SALEONNEXTPAGE
Vintage&PostVintageBuicksforsale.Approximately11to12cars availablefromtheestateofRussellWallace.
Mostcarsarereasonablycomplete,andsomerestorationworkhasbeen carriedoutalready.Someengineshavebeenreconditioned.Thereare alsoafewinasorrystate,althoughcomplete,whichmaybesuitablefor partsorrestorationproject.Therearealsonumerouspartsavailable,such asgearboxes,frontaxles,etc.
Includedare:
1924Buick64-doortourer,completeandapprox80%restored
1926tourer
1927
1928sportstourer
1930
1931sedan
1935x3cars.Oneisasoft-topcoupe,onea6cylsedan. Reasonableoffersconsidered.CarsarelocatedinShannon.
PhoneGregOliver0275703501:sellingonbehalf. Oroffersofinteresttosellerdirect:phoneSteveWalker021713099.
carefulowner.Fullservicehistoryandalwaysgaraged.Neverdrivenintherain. OfferstoPierreCousteau,111Rued’Lac,Taupo
FORSALE:BugattiVeyron,silverwithblackleatherinterior,lowmileage,one
Answerto“WhatAmI?”
YouwouldthinkthatthisisanAustin7fromthelate1920s.Butno.The foreignnumberplateandlefthanddrivegiveclues.Thisisthefirstcar builtbyBMW.Thecompanywasfamousformanufacturingenginesfor aircraft,butwantedtoexpandtoproducecars.Itboughtanexisting companycalledDixi,whichwasproducingtheAustin7underlicencefor theGermanmarket.In1928thecarwassoldastheBMWDixi.
Didyouthinkthatthisisaphoto?No-it’sFINEART
KAPITIMID-WEEKRUNWEDNESDAY29thMAY
RoderickKinghornhasorganisedaguidedtouroftheOtakiPotteryClubwhichis situatedwithintheOtakiRacecourse.Youwillalmostcertainlybesurprisedbythe sizeofthePotteryClubfacilityandthelevelofprofessionalismondisplay.Its homeisTheOldToteBuilding,withextensiveworkshopsandthesuperbly named"ToteModern"Gallerywhichshowcasessomeoftheclubmembers'work. DuringMaythereisalsoaspecialexhibitionofpotteryandartworkbyHarriet BrightandKarenStevens.
Tofindoutmore,justgoogle"OtakiPotteryClub"andtakealookattheir website.
Thisisalsoagreatopportunitytohaveaquicklookatthehistoricracecourse itself,ownedbytheOtakiMaoriRacingClubTheRacingClubwasfoundedin 1886andhasbeenholdingeventsonthis170-acreracecoursesince1910.
MEET--anytimefrom10:30amforcoffee/brunch/lunchatRedsCafe,ArthurSt, Otaki.
PARKING--thereislimitedparkingoff-roadatRedsCafe,butplentyofspaceto parkonArthurStreetortheadjoiningDunstanStreet.
DEPARTREDS--around12:45pmAttheroundaboutwiththeBPservicestation, takeRahuiRoadovertheExpresswayandafterabout300yardsturnrightinto TeRotoRoad.Then,after400yards,turnleftintotheracecourse.ThePottery Clubisontherightafterabout300yards,behindthehugegrandstand,with plentyofparkingoutside.Butfirst,taketheopportunitytohaveadriveorawalk aroundtheracecourse.
POTTERYCLUBTOUR--1:30pm
likelytotakearound90minutes
RoderickneedstogiveanideaofnumberstobothRedsCafeandthePottery Club,sopleaseletmeknowifyouarecomingbySunday26thMay.
PhilipPearceEmail:nzpearce87@gmail.comMob:0272744084
PARKING
Henrysaid
InatelevisionadvertisementscreenedrecentlyforthenewelectricFordMustang, partofthescriptwasaquotationreputedlyfromHenryFord: “Youcan’tbuildareputationonwhatyouaregoingtodo. Visionwithoutexecutionisjusthallucination.
Ifyoualwaysdowhatyou’vealwaysdone,you’llalwaysget whatyoualwaysgot.
IfIhadaskedpeoplewhattheywanted,theywouldhavesaid“Afasterhorse”.
AutomotiveCollectibles,MemorabiliaandShinyPartsAuction
Thisisafund-raisingeventfortheHorowhenuaVintageCarClub.
ItwilltakeplacefromFriday14thJunetoSaturday15thJune.
Friday14th-------1pmto4pm----setuptime
Saturday15th----8amto11amsetupandregistration.
11amto1pmisBBQTime.Cost$2.50persausage.
Auctionwillstartat1pmandfinisharound4pm.
Youwillneedtoregistertobeabletobid(feeis$5.00)andyouwillbegivenabidnumber.
Asweknow,weallhavepartsandautomotivecollectiblesunderthehouse,inboxes,in theshed,garageorwhere-ever,stuffthatwehavebeengoingtogetridofforyears.
Nowhereisyourgreat“onceinalife-time”chance.
Wewouldlikeyoutodonatethisstufftotheclub,,,,,,,whatagreatopportunity,,,,,,,
AlldonationsaretogotoCalluminthesparesdept.
EverythingmustbeautomotiverelatedNOHOUSEHOLDSTUFF
Sostartnow,findallyourunwantedstuff.WENEEDIT.
Itemsthatweareparticularlyinterestedininclude:specialitembooks,carparts,posters,shinybits, carmugs,flags,etc.
ThisauctionisforVCCmembersonly
Hopefullythiswillbeafunandgreatdayforall.
AllitemsmustbepaidforbeforetheyaretakenawayCashonly
EnquiriestoRobinStrachanon063646780.
May 26Ladies’Rally-Horowhenua
June 5 AGMatclubnight-Horowhenua
June 12GarageRaid-Horowhenua
June 15Auction:Collectibles,Memorabilia&ShinyThings
June 23Mid-Winterdinner-Horowhenua
July 14NightOwlRally-Horowhenua
Anyenquiriesto:BruceLawriePhone0274762489
CALENDARofCOMINGEVENTS
TAILLIGHTS
theprintbureau063679330 ISSN
