ItseemsasthoughIhavejustdoneareportforthemagazinewhenI’m gettingthemessagethatIamrunningoutoftimetodothenextone. Iwonderifithassomethingtodowithage,andthatsomethingistryingto tellme“getonwithit”beforeitistoolate.
IhavebeenadvisedthatourclubmemberswhowenttotheHawkesBay runovertheweekendhadagreattime.Wehadaprettygoodturnoutat theclublastSaturdaymorningfortheworkingbeeandgettogether. OnthefollowingWednesdaywehadatriptoLifeFlightatWellington Airport.SeeareportlaterinthisissueofSpark.
Lastmonth,wevisitedtheSummersetRestHomeandthenlaterinthe afternoontheWarVeterans’Home,bothofwhichareinLevin.Ialways finditveryinterestingtotakesomeoneforarideinanoldervehicleand youexperiencesomeofthememoriesthatarerevealedasyoudriveround theblock.Toseethepleasureontheirfacesisworthalltheeffortonour partjustgettingthere.Thestoriescanbequiteamusing,butwithsomeof thedetailsbestleftuntold,Ithink.Thedaywasfinishedwithan afternoonteaattheCaféinOhauwhereweallenjoyedagoodoldyarn,a coffeeandsavouriesfollowedbyacakeortwothenapleasantdrivehome again.ThankstoGregfororganisingthisevent,whichissomethingIfeel wecandoonaregularbasiswithalltheresthomesandthelikeinthe district.
Lookingforwardtowarmerweatherandmoreeventsthatclubmembers cantakepartin.
Justremember,takecareanddrivecarefullyoutthere.
BillLaney
AnothergreatturnouttoourSeptemberClubeveningandthismonth’s speakerwasTonyHaycock.TonygaveusaninterestingtalkaboutFrance, andbeingaTravelAgent,someinterestingstoriesofhisexperiences, placesofinterest,fromchateaustochurches,wargravesandhisdesireto owna1937Peugeot302.Anopportunitycameupwhenhesawone advertisedinanauction.Hecouldnotresistandmadeanofferthatwas accepted,andheexplainedtousitsprocurement,andhowthecarcame intohispossession.Tonynowownsaveryrareoriginalmodel,andallhe hadtodowaschangethetyresandreconditionthebrakesinFrancebefore shippingittoNewZealand.Hedrovethecartotheclubroomsforallto view.
WealsohadanexcellentturnouttotheAugustGarageRaidinOhau.It wasabeautifulmorningandRichardSaltkindlyopenedhisgaragedoorto arecordnumberof50plusmemberstoviewhiscollection.These consistedofa1953SunbeamTalbot,1961AustinHealeySprite,andhis specialprojectaveteran1918Brockwaytruck.Therewerealsotwo tractorsondisplay,aFerguson.andaFordson.alongwithWilfand Alison’sChrysler70Coupe.
WewerewellrepresentedattheVCCDaffodilDayCarShowrunbythe ManawatuClubinFeilding.Thedayturnedoutfineandwesawover120 Carsondisplay.Thiswasbyfartheirgreatestturnoutandavery successfulday.
OurclubrunonFather’sDay1stSeptemberwasahugesuccess.The weatherturnedoutfineafterabadnight,andwehadagreattime entertainingresidentsdisplayingourcars,photoshootsandcarrides.We had18memberswith12cars,andweallhadanextremelyrewardingday. OnelongtimeresidentofSummersetwasenjoyingherbirthday,andwe madeherday.Wemetanex-memberofourclubattheWarVeterans Home.GrahamwasourClubSecretaryinthepast.Wethenproceededto theSummersetCaféatOhauforafternoonteaanddebrief.
Aswegotoprint,wewillhaveColin’sorganisedclubruntoPalmerston Northtovisitararegramophonecollectionandmuseum,andpicniclunch atamuseuminPohangina.Thisshouldbeagreatdaytogetyourvehicle outofthegarageandgoforaspinandtourthecountryside.
FiveofourclubteamstravelledtoWaipukuraufortheannualCHB VintageRun.TheweatherwasgreatandtheSaturdaymorningwasspent touringthecountrysideandcompetitivesection.Lunchbreakwasatadeer farminTakapauandafterlunchwepickedbunchesofdaffodilsfroma fieldstretchingasfarasonecouldsee.Allentrantshadagreattimewith 60milestimedsectionfollowedbyaBBQtea.MostoftheHorowhenua entrantsweretoofastanddidnotappearonthepodium.
JulieandIarecurrentlyorganisingarun20thOctobertoatractor collection,followedbyagardentourinOtaki.Watchthisspace. Inthemeantime,keepthatoildripping.
BreakingNews:theShannonCarshowdatehasbeenconfirmedfor16th February,2025.
CarsonshowatFeilding
SpeakerforOctober
Wedon’thaveaguestspeaker,butJohnWhitewillgiveusarundownonthe latestfromtheVCCconference.
NewClubMembers
AaronBurnshasrejoinedtheclubaftersometimeaway.HehasaModel AFordcoupeanda1937Dodgecoupe.Welcomeback,andwelook forwardtoseeingyouatsomeofourevents.
Recovering
GoodtohearthatCarlLutz,PeterNightingaleandIanBadeareallwellon themendaftermedical“adventures.”
CoverPicture
PosteradvertisingtheLondonMotorShowin1933.
Atlastwehavemadespaceinthelibrary,whichwillenableustomove theworkshopmanualsaroundandmakeiteasyforyoutofind whatyouarelookingfor.
Also,pleasehelpyourselftothefreebooksonthetableoutsidethedoor. Thereisalotofinformationandthingstofindoutabouttheworldof motoringinthesemagazinesandbooks.
Wenowhavethecarwindowcardsprintedandyouwillneedtosupply therequiredinformationtomywifeormesothatshecanputitonthe cards.
Thecardsare$5.00eachprinted. Thesewillmakeourdisplayslookveryprofessionalatcarshowsor otherevents.
AspecialthankstoTonyHaycockforagreatspecialguesttalkonclub nightabouthistripstoFranceandobtainingvehiclesthere. IforonewouldlovetogotoFrancetohavealooksee.
RobinandDianeStrachan
NATIONALMOTORCYCLERALLY
Asmostofyouwillbeaware,thenextNationalMotorcycleRallyisin PalmerstonNorth,inJanuarynextyear. Soifyou'veneverbeentooneoftheseevents,itwillneverbecloserto home.
Atthispointwehavefivefromourbranchconfirmedasattending. Iamtryingtogaugeinterest,astowhoelsemightjoinus,sowecan possiblytakeadvantageofaccommodation,andrepresentourbranch. Ifyouareinterested,pleaseletmeknow.
GraemeMcKenzie 021879817 graeme.trish.mckenzie@gmail.com.
KAPITIMID-WEEKRUN–WEDNESDAY28-09-2024
VisittoCarsInc,arecentlyopenedmuseumofmostly AmericancarsatTrentham.
SeeClubCaptain’sReportfordetailsofourvisittoRichardSalt’splace.
Richard,farright,explainsitalltothelarge crowdoffascinatedclubmembers
Youshouldlookconcerned, Richard,becauseassoonasit’s finishedtherewillbe50club membersclamouringforadrive.
VISITTOLIFEFLIGHT
OnWednesday11thSeptember,agroupofclubmemberswent tovisitLifeFlightattheirbaseatWellingtonAirporttopresent adonationof$500whichwehadraisedatourShinyParts AuctionbackinJune.Weweregivenamostinformative presentationoftheworkthattheydo,andthenacloselookat theirhelicopterandoneoftheiraircraft.
RETIREMENTVILLAGES
OurtriptotheSummersetRetirementHomeandtheWarVeteran’s Homewasonagainthisyearafterhavingbeeninterruptedbythe Covidoutbreak.Atbothvenues,therewerecrowdsofpeoplewho cameoutsidetoadmireourcars(luckilyitwasabeautifulsunnyday) andmanytooktheopportunitytogoforaride.
PARKING
August2024
Istartthismonth’sSparesreportwithareminderforthis comingOctober.TheWorkingBeethatwasplannedfor Saturdaythe5th,hasbeenpostponeduntilSundaythe6th,so thatwecanjoininwiththeTararuaRoddersHotRodShowat theAP&Ibuildings.Wewillbeputtingonadisplayofourcars, trucks,motorcyclesand(maybe)tractorsonthelawninfrontof ourclubrooms.
After17yearsintheSparesDepartment,wehavewaved goodbyetothecompleteWhippet4engineandgearboxwith electrics.ItsnewhomeisinHawke’sBayanditwillgointoa Whippet4restoration.Thisvehiclewasrescuedfromthe Hawke’sBayfloodsoflastyear.
Wehavealsotakendelivery,atextremelyshortnotice,froma Waikanaemember,aCitroenLight15enginewhichisinpieces, howeveritmaybeallthere.Wewillhaveacloserlookon workingbeemorninginSeptember. SafeMotoringEveryone
September
20th/23Sept24WellingtonBranchManawatuMeanderDannevirke Based
21stSept24
25thSept24
RubberDuckieMotorCycleRallyTaranaki
KapitiMid-WeekRun
28thSept24 ManawatuVintageRally
October
5thOct24 ManawatuSwapMeet
6thOct24 CustomHotrodShowLevinEventCentre10am-4
12thOct24
ManawatuMotorcycleRally
25th/28thOct24NationalCommercialRallyOamaru
30thOct24
November
KapitiMidWeekRun
2nd/3rdNov24WellingtonHeritageFestival
10thNov24
16thNov24
TararuaTrundleHorowhenua
GoldMedalMotorcycleRallyWairarapa
17thNov24 WaikatoSwapMeet
22nd/24thNov24HawkesBayVCC15thAnniversaryRally
24thNov24
December
8thDec24
MangatainokaVintageCarDayWairarapa
HorowhenuaChristmasFunction,FieldTests, Restorationoftheyear
January
18th/20thJanVintageWeekendWhanganui
25th/27thJan25NationalMotorcycleRallyManawatu
February
5th/7thFeb25NationalVeteranRally
23rd/28thFeb25NationalModelAFordRally
23rdFeb25
March
15thMar25
TedGreenMemorialMotorcycleRally Horowhenua
HorowhenuaSwapMeet
VCCBanners
Thesefabricwindscreenbannersinbluewithgoldletteringare againavailable.
Thesecanbeusedwhendisplayingyourcaratshowsorrallies. Newstocksnowat$15each.OrderfromRobinStrachan.
LibraryMerchandise
AustinHealeySpriteMk2,1961.Areliableandgoodrunnerownedfor10 years.ItarrivedfromUSAin1967withcurrent1098ccengine.Converted toRHD.Suspensionandbrakesrenewed,hoodandtonneaucoveringood condition.Comeswith workshopmanual. Mainlyusedforclub rallies.CurrentWoF andreg.$18750ono. PhoneRichardSalt 0211289211.
MGBGT1973,currentRegoandWOF,84,000km,andhasVCCVIC. Darkbluetrimandcarpets.Fullyreconditionedautomatictransmission, reconditionedheadwithhardenedvalveseatsforunleadedfuel Inertiaseatbeltsfitted. Newwaterpumpand fuelpump.
$16500. ContactJohn, 0299024862.
WerecentlyhostedavisitbytheMorrisEnthusiastsClub. Theydon’thaveaclubroomoftheirown,andwere delightedtouseourstorunanevent.
Mercedes-BenzW111“Fintail”
Launchedatthe1959Frankfurtmotorshow,Mercedes-Benznewfull-size W111rangereplacedtheunibodyPontonmodelandwassoonnicknamed “Heckflosse”(German)or“Fintail”(English)onaccountofitssveltelookingrearwingdesign.Thesecarsmarkedabreakthroughinpassenger safetywiththeirbuilt-infrontandrearcrumplezonesandpatented retractablesafetybelts.TheW111seriesraninproductionfortenyears.
It'syourchoicethismonth--eitherthinkofitasana-la-cartemenuandpickand choosethebitsyoufancyasyougo,orelsepig-outonthefull4coursesatthe finalvenue
Appetiser-fromaround09:30meetatHarrisonsGardenCentreCafeatPeka Pekaforacoffee.HarrisonsisonPekaPekaRoad,attheroundaboutwherethere isanon-ramptoheadnorthuptheSH1ExpresswayButnotethatifyouare comingfromtheSouth,youneedtoleavetheExpresswayatthe Raumati/ParaparaumuSouthexitandtaketheoldSH1throughParaparaumu andWaikanaetoPekaPeka.
Entree-10:30to11:30WaimeaVintageontherightabout1kmalongPeka PekaRoadfromHarrisonsUsuallyonlyopenatweekends,WaimeaVintageis openingespeciallyforus.OnleavingWaimeaVintage,turnlefttoreturntothe roundaboutatHarrisonsandtakethe3rdexittoheadsouthontheoldSH1to Waikanae.
Main-11:30to12:30MaharaGallery-thisisnowamodernandimpressive venueinabrand-newlocationinthecentreofWaikanaeItalwayshas2or3 differentexhibitionswhichchangeeverycoupleofmonths,oneofwhichat presentis""WomenofOtaki:photographsfromthe1860sto1970s".
Dessert-from12:30lunchattheOliveGroveCafe.Turnrightonleavingthe galleryanditisjust20pacesaway.Tableswillbereservedforus.Thecafehasa hugerangeofcounterfoodsuchasmacaronicheese,avarietyofpies,bacon& eggsavoury,paninis,quiches,filledcroissants,frittataandsoupofthedayThere isalsoalunchmenuboard,butthecafewouldstruggletocopewithour groupof30-40extrapeopleifweaskforitemsfromthemenu.So,theyhave askedthatwesticktotheexcellentrangeofcounterfood,whichcanalsobe accompaniedbysaladand/orFrenchfries.
CarparkinginWaikanae-thereareseveralcarparksaroundtheshoppingarea, plusstreetparking.ButbeverycarefultocheckwhetheryouareparkedinaP120 oraP240area,assomecarparkshaveboth,anditwouldbeeasytoexceed120 minuteswithavisittotheMaharaGalleryfollowedbyaleisurelylunch
Thecafeneedstoknowhowmanytablestoreserveforus,sopleaseletmeknow bySunday22ndSeptemberifyouareplanningtocomealong.
PhilipPearceemail:nzpearce87@gmail.commob:0272744084
CALENDARofCOMINGEVENTS
September15ClubRuntoPalmerstonNorth-Horowhenua
September21RubberDuckieMotorcycleRally-Taranaki
September25KapitiMid-WeekRun
October12MotorcycleRally-Manawatu
November10TararuaTrundle-Horowhenua
December8ChristmasDinner-Horowhenua
2025
January25NationalMotorcycleRally-Manawatu
February23TedGreenMotorcycleRally-Horowhenua
TAILLIGHTS
