VCC HOROWHENUA SPARK DEC 2022

Patron TomHayes 063679445 Chair BillLaney 0274512408 w.a.laney@xtra.co.nz DeputyChair JohnWhite 063683299 j.mwhite@xtra.co.nz Secretary HeatherCarter 021504087 horowhenua@vcc.org.nz Treasurer JackieJob 063682565 jackiejob73@gmail.com ClubCaptains BruceLawrie 042936803(W) 042934943(H) VerdonHeath 063683824 Committee DesStClare 0274191412 BillCottle 0274509636 CallumFarmer 063647238 NigelWheeler 063672046 AndrewJudd 063686891 BruceJamieson 0276357336 WelfareOfficer NigelWheeler 063672046 nigelgwheeler@gmail.com 0275674431 Custodian&Maintenance BillCottle 0274509636 GroundsPeople WayneThrower 063685611 0204440098 JuliaMacMillan 063626156 SparesTeam CallumFarmer 063647238 callumfarmer77@hotmail.com RexWilliams 0225114084 MikeKhull 063635633 BobBarton 063678216 JeffFox 0274486888 ColinBrooks 042985458 RobertCammish 049050772

ThismonthbringsuptheinterestingtimethatisreferredtoasChristmas when,intheory,allshouldbehappyandgayandpeoplecanforgetabout alltheirworriesandenjoylifetothefull.Iguesstherearealotofpeople whoareabletodothisandtheymakethemostofthetimeavailable,but thenyoulistentothenewsonradioandwatchtheTVnewsintheevening, andwithallthecontroversygoingonaroundus,itisawonderhow anybodycangetthetimetodoanyofthethingsalreadydiscussed.There isjusttoomuchdiscontent.

ThequestionIaskmyselfallthetimeis,“Isthisaproblemthathascarried itselffromgenerallifeandintroduceditselfintotheworkingsofour Club?”Iseemtobeinapositionofalwaysattemptingtogetmorepeople interestedandparticipatinginactivitiesabouttheClub,butmymindis tellingmethatthereissomethingmissing.Isitthatpeopledonotwant change,thingsoutofthenorm,leavingacomfortzone,orisitwedon’t needanewbroomtosweepclean,leavewellalonethatwhichhasalways workedandcarryonregardless?

ItwasunfortunatethattheLevinChristmasParadeon10thDecemberhad tobecancelledbecauseofthebadweatherforecast.However,wedecided thatourplannedpost-paradebbqattheclubroomscouldstillgoahead,and anemailwassenttoallclubmembers.Bylateafternoontheweather turnedouttobenottoobad,andweweredisappointedthatonlyadozenor somembersturnedup,anditwasthislackofsupportthatleftusthinking, “Whatdowedonext?”CanIgetanyideasthatarenotalreadythere,have notbeentried,butcouldveryeasilybeputintopractice?

Yes,westillhavetheinfluenceofCovidpresentinourworld,butitisnot goingtogoawayintheshorttermthatIcansee.Dowestarttolivelife withit,ordoweclosethedoorandhide?PerhapstheFestiveSeasonmay bringsomesortofnormalitybackintoalloutlives.

Inthemeantime,ItakethisopportunitytowishyouallaveryHappyand SatisfyingFestiveSeasonandlookforwardtoaverysuccessfulyearin 2023.

Brucie’sBurblings

MerryChristmastoallandyourfamilies.Maythistimebeachanceto slowdown,relaxandplanthenexttwelvemonths?

OurbranchChristmasLuncheonwasenjoyedbymany,aswasourlast clubnightfortheyearonthe7thwithanimpressiveturnoutofmembers. Thankstotheblokeswhosetuptheroomandtheableguidancegivenby someofourladymemberstomakeitperfect.CongratulationstoAndrew JuddforhisrestorationoftheAustinWestminster,Ibelieveitisbetternow thanwhenitfirstlefttheshowroom.

Wenowlistcomingeventsseparately,butImusthighlightacouplethat weneedgoodbranchparticipationin.OnSundayFeb12wehavearun andpicnictoHorseshoeBendatTokomaru.Iintendtomakeita competitiverallyforthosewhowish,orjustasimplerunforthosewho prefer.Wearealsowidelycirculatinginvitationstoourneighbouring branchesastheydotous.

ManawatuBranchareholdingtheirannualNewYear'sDaygettogether, butthisyearinsteadofeveryonemeetinginBullstheintentionistojust meetattheMtLeesReserveandhaveapicnicluncharoundmidday. OrganisingtheSwapmeetiswellunderwayforMarch18thandmany helperswillberequiredontheday.Pleasemarkthisonyourcalendarso youareavailabletohelp.

Someofushaveenteredeventsaroundthecountryoverthenextfew months.CanIpleaseaskthatyouemailmeyourintentionssothatwecan havesomesortofcoordination,oratleastphonenumberstoshare.I havebeentoseveralrallieswhereoftenthecommentis“Ohdidn’tknow youwerecoming,ifIhadwecouldhaveorganisedsomething.”

MyEmailaddressisbrlawrie@gmail.com That’sitfromVerdonandme.Enjoyyoursummer

BruceLawrie

RosterforFebruary2023

Anewsystemofrosteringclubmembersforkitchendutyisbeing instigated.Youmaybetheluckywinner.

SpeakerforFebruary

Wedonothaveaspeakerarranged,socomealongforanothereveningof talkingaboutcars.That’sFebruary1st,andworkingbeeon4th(Saturday).

NewClubMembers

LawrenceNaik,whohasa1968Wolseley6/110.

Recovering

WintonandRuthClealhavehadaboutofCovidlastmonth,buthavenow testednegative.

Morerecently,severalmemberswhocametotheChristmasluncheonon the4thand/ortheclubmeetingonthe7thhavealsocomedownwithit. BobandLindaBarton,CallumFarmer,RexWilliams,RobertCammish, MikeKhull,GrantPrankerd,GraemeMcKenzieareall“onthemend”. AtipfromBobandLinda,whobothsufferedbadly,istotake“Largevrio” whichcuredthemveryquickly.

BruceJamieson,onbehalfofDonMcLaren

Hotstuff:

HenryFordstartedtobuildaV8motorin1928afterChevrolet&Chrysler changedtosix-cylinderengines,leavinghimwithonlyhisfour-cylinder ModelA,whichprospectivecustomersturneddowntobuyChryslersor Chevroletsinstead. ThisinfuriatedHenry,sohedecidedtobuildaV8.

.IntheLevinMemorialHalltherewasacompetition amonglocalclubstodecorateChristmasTrees,partlyto raisefundsforlocalcharities,butalsotopromotetheir clubs.OurtreewassponsoredbyHarveyBowlerFuneral Services,andwasdecoratedbyourtwoLindas-Barton andGill.

A,P&IAnnualShow

WehavereceivedarequestfromA,P&Iforeightorsocarsfor theindoordisplayattheshowfrom21stto23rdJanuary.They alsowantasmanycarsaswecanmusterforthe“GrandParade”. ContactJohnWhite(063683299)ifyoucanhelp.

AirConditioing

Here'salittlestoryforautomotivebuffs,orjusttodazzleyourfriends.

ThefourGoldbergbrothers,Lowell,Norman,HiramandMaxwell,inventedand developedthefirstautomobileair-conditioner.OnJuly17,1946thetemperature inDetroitwas97Fdegrees.

ThefourbrotherswalkedintooldmanHenryFord'sofficeandsweet-talkedhis secretaryintotellinghimthatfourgentlemenweretherewiththemostexciting innovationintheautoindustrysincetheelectricstarter.

Henrywascuriousandinvitedthemintohisoffice

Theyrefusedandinsteadaskedthathecomeouttotheparkinglottotheircar. Theypersuadedhimtogetintothecar,whichwasabout130Fdegreesinside, turnedontheairconditioner,andcooledthecaroffalmostimmediately

Theoldmangotveryexcitedandinvitedthembacktotheoffice,wherehe offeredthem$3millionforthepatent.

Thebrothersrefused,sayingtheywouldsettlefor$2million,buttheywantedthe recognitionbyhavingalabel,'TheGoldbergAir-Conditioner,'onthedashboardof eachcarinwhichitwasinstalled.

TherewasnowaythatoldmanFordwasgoingtoputtheGoldberg'snameon twomillionFords

Theyhaggledbackandforthforabouttwohoursandfinallyagreedon$4million andthatjusttheirfirstnameswouldbeshown. Andsotothisday,allFordair-conditionersshow–

Lo,Norm,Hi,andMax--onthecontrols.

StorysenttoGeorgeMcLean,whosayshecannotverifythetruthofit.

TararuaTrundle

OnSaturday19thNovemberalargenumberofcarsweregatheredatthe clubroomsforthestartoftheTararuaTrundle,whichhadbeenorganised byVerdonandVivienne.Heavyrainhadbeenforecastupto9am,which mayhavedeterredsomeentrants,butthedayturnedoutfineandsunny.

Theinstructionsheetwassomewhatdifferentthisyear.Insteadoftheusual typeofdirections,weweregivenalistofdestinations,eachofwhichhada questiontobeansweredoracluetobesolved.Theseattractedanumberof points,thevalueofwhichdependedonthedistancefromthestartpoint, andthedifficultyofthequestion.Sowithnofixedroutetobefollowed, competitorshadtodeterminetheirownprogramandbebackatthe clubroomswithinthetwohourtimelimit.Pointswereaccumulatedby bringinginthecorrectanswers,anddeductedforexceedingthetimelimit.

BigwinnersonthedaywereOwenandVivienneReid, whowontheVintageclass,FirstFordandOverallWinner intheirFordModelA.

AFLATHEAD:photographedatLevinSwapMeet inMarch2017.byBruceJamieson

A,P&Iareinstallingbollardsandabarrierattheeasternendofthe showgroundsarea(nearthegym).Thiswillstopusbeingabletocutacross thegrassfromtheVictoriaStreetentrance.TheVictoriaStreetgatewill alsobeclosedatnights.Sowewillonlyhaveaccesstoourclubroomsat theTiroTiroStreetgate.

MangatainokaShow

Theweatherforecastwaslessthanfavourableonthemorningof 27thNovember,butIdecidedtochanceitandgoforadriveoverthehill toMangatainokafortheVintage&ClassicDayattheTuiBrewery.Aftera triptothepetrolstation(ouch)Isetoffonwhatcouldbedescribedasa cloudymorningandheadedforthehills.AsIgotclosertothetopofthe PahiatuaTrackthesuncameoutandthatwasthewayitstayedforthe restoftheday,sunnyandwarm.Therewerenotasmanyvehiclesonshow astheorganizerswouldhavehopedfor,butwiththeweatherforecastone canonlyguessthateveryone’scarleakedintherainortheownerscould notbebotheredwithcleaningtheircarsaftertheytookthemoutinthe rain.AgoodturnoutfromHorowhenuabranch,whichwouldhave representedaround10%ofallthevehiclesondisplay(welldoneour branch).

ThereasonIliketogotoeventslikethis,istolookatotherpeople’s vehicles,talktolike-mindedfolkanddreamabouthavingabiggershed andbankaccount.Itmakesthedayworthwhilewhenitcomestothe prize-givingandoneofourclubmemberswon‘MostOriginal’,so congratulationstoNigelWheeler.ThenIwassomewhattakenbackand surprisedwhenmyAustinWestminsterwon‘StaroftheShow’.

AsIwasdrivingbacktoLevinandreflectingontheday,Ithoughtthatour branchshouldbeproudofhowwellwedoateventsoutsidethedistrict.It alsoshouldbenotedthatIgothomewithoutturningonthewindscreen wipers,sowillhavetowaitforanotheroccasiontotryoutthenewwiper blades.

ByAndrewJudd

ShannonCarShow

Volunteersrequired(don’tbeafraid-readon). ThecarshowattheShannonDomainisonagain;Saturday19thFebruary. We,inHorowhenuaVCC,havebeenaskedforpersonneltoassistwith parkingthedisplayvehicles.Startingtime8am.Thosewhowillhelp pleaseringBillLaneyon0274512408,andgetonthelist.Moredetailsto followinSpark,Februaryandviaemail.

HorowhenuaBranch RallyRules

PARKING

ChristmasLuncheon

TheChristmasLuncheonwasa greatsuccess.Thetablesetoutand decorationlookedgreat,andthe Christmastreewasspectacular.All thiswaspreparedontheSaturday beforehand.Afinebodyof decoratorscanbeseenontheright.

ThefoodsuppliedbyRaewyn’s Kitchenwassuperb.Theusual comprehensivebuffet,followedby moredessertsthanwecouldeat. Thankstotheclubforprovidinga selectionofwinesandbeers.Somanypeoplepitchedintohelpclearup afterwards,thatitwasalldoneinaflash.Theworkersinthekitchenhadto workabitharderthisyear,astherewasnohotwatersupplyaftertheunit onthewalloutsidewasvandalisedacoupleofweeksago.Theyhadto managewithjugsfilledfromthesmallheateronthekitchenwall.Well donetoyouall!

Clubmembersareencouragedtowearcostumesappropriatetothecars theydrive,andsixteenpeoplearrivedall“dolledup”.PrizeforbestdressedwomanwenttoHeatherCarter,andbest-dressedmanwasDes StClare.

BruceJamieson

BeforeIstartthelastSparesReportofthisyear,Iandthemembersof SparesTeamwouldliketowishclubmembersaVeryMerryChristmas andaHappyNewYear. Everyonetakeadiarynote:WheelsWithAttitudeisbackonthe29thof January2023attheDannevirkeAP&IShowgrounds,afterabreakoftwo yearsbecauseofCovid.Thiscouldbeafantasticshow. TherecentWairarapaSwapMeetandCarShow,washeldtohelpraise fundsfortheFeatherstonPrimarySchool.Thosemembersofourclubwho venturedovertheRimutakashadamostenjoyableday.Thiswasthefirst timetheWairarapaBranchheldaswapmeet,andhopefullytheywill continuedoingsointothefuture. WiththeNewYear,ifourmemberswerethinkingthatthingsweregoing

Artwork.Commissionstaken.

SeeyourVintageandClassiccarsandmotorcyclesinyourhomeonyourwall. Alsopets,etc.fromyourownphoto.

SizeA3-40cmsx30cms:sketchpencil,penandinkoracrylicpaint.Allwillbe sealedinanacrylicspraysealantforprotection. TheseareusuallymountedineitherablackorwhiteA3frame,readytohang, at$125.

Oracrylicpaintoncanvas,alsosealed. Canvassizevaries,sopricingwillbeonenquiry. PleaseringLindaGill0273278251 Photosshowafewofmypastcommissions.

Thelastmid-weekeventfor2022washeldattheGearHomestead,Porirua, with22bravesoulsriskingallinahard-foughtquizfollowedbylunch.The competitionwasalwaysgoingtobecloseonthecarquestions,butallthe teams'knowledgeofbiscuitswasdownrightscary.

Thestarattractioninthecarparkwasthenewly-acquired1960Dodge PioneerofHorowhenuamembersBrentandSueJames.

Therewillbenomid-weekruninDecemberorJanuary.

PhilipPearce

Throughoutthe1930sthereweremanycompetitionsamongthe coachbuildersofEuropetoseewhocouldbuildthemostbeautifulcars. ThisonecamefromParis,basedonastretchedDelageD-100chassis.