VCC HOROWHENUA SPARK FEBRUARY 2023

‘Forwhatitwasworth,that’sitforanotheryear’,orsothesayinggoes. Forallofyouwhohadtheprivilegeofcatchingupwithrelatives,family andevenfriendsoverthefestiveperiod,Itrustthatitwasaveryenjoyable andworthwhileactivityandthatagreattimewashadbyall.

Formyself,Iwasfortunateenoughtobeabletocatchupwithmyson’s familyforlunch,andthenlaterinthedaygotbacktogetherwithDenise andwewereabletohaveourownXmasDinner,aftershehadlunchwith someofherfamily.

Ofcourse,leadinguptoourownXmas,wehadtheClubXmasDinner whichwasaveryenjoyableexperienceforthosethatattended.Wehadthe interestingsituationthatbetweenthesettingupontheSaturdayandthe dinnerontheSunday,somevery“nice”person/peopletriedtostealour Renaihotwaterheateroffthewallatthebackofthebuildinganddamaged thepipes,whichmadethingsalittledifficultforRaewynn’sstaffwhenit cametodoingthedinner.Thankfully,therewasaconnectiontothe burglaralarmandthatmusthavegoneoffandtheoffendersthenscarpered, leavingtheheaterhangingbyascrewtothewall.

NewYearsDaysawalargenumberofourmembersgotoMtLees ReserveatBulls,wherewewereabletomeetupandjoininwiththe ManawatuVCCwhohadorganisedthepicnicandhadinvitedourclubto attend.Itwasverypleasingtoseethenumberofgreenshirtsandthe gettingtogetherofthetwoclubs.Ialsounderstandthatthereweresome membersfromtheWanganuiClubpresentaswell.Thiswasgreattosee andafterall,thisiswhatitisallaboutasfarasIamconcerned.

Followingonfromthis,DeniseandIwenttoWanganuifortheBurma Rallymidmonthandthatwasavery‘interesting’weekendforus.We seemtobehavingabitofadown-turninlucklatelybuteventakinginto accounttheminorproblems,westillhadaveryenjoyableweekendaway. Becauseofthehiccupswewerehaving,wedidnotreallyattemptto competeseriouslyintherally,however,muchtooursurprise,wefinished astheRunnerUpintheP60division.Again,itwasgreattoseethe

numberofgreenshirtspresentandgettingtogetherontheSaturdaynight wasarealbonus.

ThenitwasbacktobusinesswiththeCommitteeandthentheGeneral Clubmeetingnights,allofwhichhavegonereallywell.Areallygreat generalmeeting,goodturnoutandagoodnatterafter.Themainemphasis forthiscomingmonthisthededicationandtimethatweallwillbe preparedtoputtowardstheSWAPMEET.Yes,that’swhatIsaid,what ALLofusarepreparedtoputtowardsthenumberoneandmajorfundraiserfortheyear.Thisisit,wehavetherostersheetsoutthere,weneed allthegapsfilledandthenitwillallfitintoplace,withtheresult “SUCCESS“.Makestherestofyearalotsimpler.Wefoundthisout withthecancellationlastyearduetoCovidandhadto“watchthepennies” astheysay.

Ifinishwiththemessageofwishingeveryoneahappyandprosperous 2023,andforallouractivities,letsgetoutandenjoyeverythingthatwe can.

BillLaney

Brucie’sBurblings

Allthebestwishesforthenewyearandmayourvintage motoringbeasgoodaslastyear,ifnotbetter.

Thisyearhastakenoffwithahiss,bangandaroar.Wehada goodturnoutfortheclubroom’sannualspringclean,followedby participationintheAP&Ishowintheshowgrounds.Wealsotook partintheWellingtonBranchMonteCarloRallyandWanganui Branch’sBurmaRally.

AsIhavesaidbefore,ifyouwanttobebusytakingpartinrallies, theinformationandentryformsforneighbouringbranchralliesare nowsentoutdirecttoeveryoneassoonastheyappearinthe secretary’sinbox.

Ifyouwouldliketoorganiseaneventorevenhaveanideaofa greatplacetovisitcontacteitherVerdonormyselfsowecanput youontherighttrack.Ralliesarenothardtoorganiseanddon’t havetobecompetitiveordon’tevenhavetobetoolong.Itisreally achancetogetoutourfavouritevehiclesandtakethemforarun, sharingtheexperiencewithothers.

Thisisashortreportfrommeaswearepreparingforarun throughtoNapierforArtDecoonthe16th,thenlatertoTaupofor theTaupobranchCountryRoadsRallyandtheManawatuBranch RuahineRamble.

ForfurthereventsrefertothecalendarinthebackofSpark.

DRIVESAFEHAVEFUN

BruceLawrie

RosterforMarch2023

Standbytogetselectedonclubnight.

SpeakerforMarch

Wedonothaveaspeakerarranged,socomealongforanothereveningof talkingaboutcars.That’sMarch1st,andworkingbeeon4th(Saturday).

NewClubMembers

MalcolmScotneyhasaFordEscortMk1underrestoration.

GrahamYoungandBethCooteshaveafleetofMorrisMinors.

Recovering

StephaniePeachandAlisonMilnerarebothrecoveringwellfromtheir operations.

SadlyMissed

OurdeepestsympathygoestoPeterBlacklock,whosewifeCaroline passedawayon15thJanuary.

ThumbsUp

DaphneWilliamshastakenontheroleofTreasurer(Assisting)whileour regulartreasurer,Jackie,willbeswanningaroundinthesouthofFrance.

CoverPicture

ReliantScimitarofRobinStrachanparkednearourclubroomsinJanuary 2022whenwepresentedtheeventmarkingtheanniversaryofmotor racingattheLevinCircuit.

CopiesofeveryissueofSparkinourlibrary.

Lotsofemptyboxesontheright.Isthisahint thatIwon’tbemaderedundantanytimesoon?

WealsohavesparecopiesofmanyissuesofSpark. Members,especiallynewerones,maybeinterestedin gettingsome.AskatclubnightorcontactSparkeditor.

BruceJamieson,onbehalfofDonMcLaren

ThisyeartheBurmaRallyandVintageWeekendcoincidedwith the100yearanniversaryoftheWanganuiairport,sothetown washumming,andofcourseaccommodationwashardtofind.

Innormalform,SaturdaysawthecarsondisplayinVictoria Street,takingupafullthreeblocks.Theroadswereclosed,and stagessetuptoentertainthepublic,aswastheopen-airdining.

OnSaturdayeveningthosethatwishedcouldgoonashort organizedcharitydrivebeforesettlingdownfordinner.Someof uscaughtupforasharedmealandanatter,whichwasgreat.

Bill,BruceandDonallhadtoattendtocarissuesbeforeour eveningmeal,butthatwassortedinplentyoftimetohavea goodfeedandheadofftoourmotelstocatchsomesleepready forthebigdayahead.

SundaywasfineaswealllineduponTaupoQuayreadyfor firstcarawayat9.30,whichhappenedtobeWintonandRuthin the1936Wolseley.Beforethat,aquickphotowastakenofour Horowhenuateam,16inall,thenbacktoourcarstolineupfor thestart.

Wanganuibranchareprettygoodatgettingyououtofthecity centreandoutontothecountryroads,ofwhichtheyhaveplenty tochoosefrom.WeheadedeasttoFordellandthenontheroad toHuntervillebeforeturningoffintotheTurakinaValley.This wasthefirsttimedsectionbutalsoincludedsilentchecks.

SH3wastraversedforashortperiodtheninlandagain,ending upatHuntervilleforacomfortstopbeforeworkingourwayto Martonforpicniclunchattherugbygrounds.Onthewaythere wasthesecondtimedsection.

TherunbacktoWanganuiretracedsomeoftheroadswehad encounteredinthemorningandwasprettywellastraightrun backtothefinishattheclubrooms.

Ofcourse,therewasadress-up,cateredmealandprize-giving onSundaynightattheracecoursewhichwasveryenjoyable especiallyasBillandDenisegotaprizeforsecondinclassin theRover.

Sundaywasfreeandhometime.Someofusenjoyedacouple ofhoursatthetrolleyraces,whichwasreallygood entertainment,andthenheadedforhomebeforemid-daytobeat theweekendtrafficjamsonthecoast,whichofcoursethere werenonebecausethenewexpresswaywasopen.

Horowhenuamembersparticipating:WintonandRuth,Billand Denise,BruceandHeather,VerdonandViv,WinandDaphne, DonandJulie,ElveryandAda,GregandJane.

LtoRinphoto:Winton,Ruth,Elvery,Ada,Win,Daphne,Bill, Denise,Don,Jane,Greg,Heather,Bruce,Viv,Verdon,Julie.

BruceLawrie

QuiteacoldrideintheJeep.Ibroughtawarmerjacketwithme,so stoppedandchangedintothatfromthelightjacketIwaswearing,but eventhatfeltslightlycoldwithallthewind.

Ranintoseverallightrainshowersheadinguptothepicnic,sufficient towetthewindscreenandusethewiper.Theyonlylastedforseveral minutesthough,atworst.Gotanotherlightsprinklejustwhenwearrived. Cloudyalloveruptherewithacoldeasterlywindblowingmakingthingsa bitunpleasant,butnomorerain.

Therewasaverygoodturnoutofguestsandvehicles,butanewgate hadbeenputupwhichwaslocked,preventingvehicularaccesstothe reserveitself,sowewereallcrammedintotheparkingareainstead.

Thevehiclewithprideofplacewasacreamandred1927Packard tourerwithaninterestinghistory.ItwasfoundinaswampinSouth America,rescuedandshippedtotheU.S.thenboughtbythepresent owner,shippedhereandrestoredbyateambacktooriginalcondition.

GeorgeMcLean

Q:Aservicevanwascalledouttoacarbreakdown. Thecartowedtheservicevanback.Whatwaswrongwiththecar?

A:Thecarhadnobrakes.

GeorgeMcLean

PhotosofthepicnicbyGeorgeMcLeanandWayneThrower

SwapMeet2023

Asyouallknow,lastyearwemissedoutonourswapmeet,so itismoreimportantthaneverthatALLtheclubmembersget behindthe2023SwapMeet,sowecangetsomecoinsinthetin andkeepourTreasurerhappyandsmilingforanother12(or more)months.

Mostthingsareundercontrol,butweNEEDmemberstoputup theirhandsfor:

TheBBQ:AndrewHeffeyisabletocometosetupandgetthe BBQsgoing,butduetoothercommitmentsheandWendyare NOTabletoruntheBBQthisyear,soweNEEDsomecooks, servers&cashierswhoarewillingtoworkinshiftssoit’steam work!

TheGATES:weNEEDmemberstotakethemoneyfrom peoplewhocomethroughthegates.Thiscanbedoneinhourlongshifts,soquiteafewmembersARErequired.Pleaseput yournameonthelist.

Joblistswillbeavailableattheendofclubmeeting,foryouto putyournamedowntohelpyourclub.YoucanalsoringJohn Whiteon0221601189.

Ourwomenmemberswhoarerunningthekitchenhave askedfordonationsofcakes,tray-bakes,savouries,etc.In additiontothese,wewouldappreciateitemsformaking sandwiches,sohaveyouheapsofcucumbers,tomatoes, lettuce,etcinyourgarden?Theseneedtobedeliveredon Friday17thanytimeasthewomenstartearlyonSaturday morningtomakethesandwiches.

Lindaisalsoseekinghelptorunthekitcheninhourlyshifts throughoutSaturday.

Helpisalsowantedfromclubmemberson

Friday17thfrom9:30amtosetupthegrounds.

Anotherlearningexperience

Iknowthatlearningisalifetimeprocessbut everynowandagainIcoulddowithoutit!

IwasonmywaytotheVCCworkingBon SaturdaymorningandasusualgotSPHINX outofthegarageforitsweeklyrun.Iwas gettingalongnicelyuntilIwentovertheNorth ManakaubridgesbyTatumParkwhenthe cargaveabitofacoughandthemotorstopped.LuckilyImadeittoawide shoulderandunderthebonnetIwentThethingIlikeaboutoldercarsisthat thereareonlytwomainvariables–petrolandspark.Allignitionlightsand dashboardinstrumentswereoperatingbutIcheckedthefusesjustincase-and nothingblownAsithappensIhadinstalledabackupelectricpetrolpumpsome timeagotocountertheevaporationofthegasinthecarburettorwhenleftidlefor afewweeks,sogavethataburstasastartofthediagnosticprocess.Wellthe oldgirlburstintolife!!Turneditoffandafterafewsecondsshesplutteredtoa stop.Repeattheprocesslikeanygoodscientificexperimentwhichproducedthe sameresult.

Sowhattodonow?CarryontotheVCCworking-Borgohomeandinvestigate?I eventuallytooktheconservativeapproachanddida‘U’turnatOhauandheaded backhome.(sorryCallum)

Hadfunonthewayhomerepeatingtheprocess–turnoffelectricpumpandwait 20secforthemotortosplutterthenturnthepumpbackon,etc-tobesuretobe sure!

AcoupleofmonthsagoIreplacedthepetrolpumpduetoacross-threaded outputconnection,ajobthathadbeenwaitingforayearortwo,soIknewwhatI wasinfor,andthatparticularjobhadthrownacoupleofcurveballssoIwas gettingprettyslickatgettingthepumpoffandon

Pumpoffinnotimeandduringitsdisassemblythediaphragmjustfellapartinmy hands.Theshaftholdingitinplacehadvibratedoutoftheslotitfitsinto!On inspectiontheshaftwastwistinginthecentralsupportforthediaphragmwhich meanttherubberwasheldin positionbuttheshaftwasn’t.What hadhappenedwastheshaftwhich isnormallyatrightanglestothe locatingslothadjiggledaroundso thatitwasparalleltoitandjust droppedout.Wasitmyassembly process? Maybe

LasttimeIhadthepumpoffIfittedanewaftermarketkit.Thenewdiaphragm didn’tseemasrobustasthe oldoneIreplacedbutI assumeditwouldbeok.The shaftis‘peened’overlikea rivettoholdthewholething togetherandIcanonly assumeitwaseithernotupto thejob,orweakenedwhenI putthepumpbacktogether.

Puttingthediaphragmbackinisoneofthosejobswhenyouneed3hands,one fortheleverthatsitsonthecamshaft,oneforthepriminglever,andthe3rdoneto pushthediaphragmdownintoitsslotandthenturnit90degrees!Icanonly imaginethatwhenIturnedtherubberpartthesteelshaftonlypartiallyturned, leavingitengagedbutnotfullyhome.

Itightenedupthefaultydiaphragmwitha fewwellplacedwhackswithacentre punchbutwasnotconfidentenoughto putitbackin.TheoneIreplacedafew monthsagowasingoodnickanywayso it’sgotanotherlife.

Pic3-Fixedwithawhack–thedefault solutiontomostproblems

It’sgottobeabaddaywhenyoudon’tlearnsomething!

DonMcAlpine

Pic2-Aftermarketdiaphragm

ShannonCarShow

Volunteersrequired(don’tbeafraid-readon).

ThecarshowattheShannonDomainisonSunday19th February.[Errorinlastmonth’sSpark:it’snotSaturday].

We,inHorowhenuaVCC,havebeenaskedforpersonnelto assistwithparkingthedisplayvehicles.Meetatthebackofthe grandstandat8am.ThosewhowillhelppleaseringBillLaney on0274512408,andgetonthelist.

PARKING

Friday20thJan.WellingtonAnniversaryWeekend

Weenteredthiseventagain,bothtohaveabitoffun,butalsotogetusto WanganuifortheBurmaRallyonthecomingSunday.Itfollowedthe usualformatofalistofplacesbeingsentoutafewdaysearlierwitha valuegiventoeach.Youhadtoplottheseonamapwiththeirnumerical valueandthencalculatethequickestwaytogainthegreatestnumberof pointsinthetimeallowed.Inthiscase,a9amstartandintoWoodvilleby 12noonorpointsdeductedifyouwerelate,andthenthesameinthe afternoonleavingat1pmandintoWanganuiby4pm.

Asyoucanimaginetherewasquitealotofcriss-crossingtheWairarapa andthenthenorthernManawatuduringtheeventandafairbitof"I wonderwheretheyaregoing”.Twelvecarscompeted,whichwasdowna littleonpreviousyears,butitwasgoodfun.

WespentThursdaynightattheCommercialpubInEketahuna.Imustsay ithasbeenawhilesinceIhavehadtowanderdownthehalltothe bathroominthemiddleofthenight.Butgoodfood,cleanroomandbeer ontapandnotexpensive.Yestherewasareasonforstayingthere..our startpointwasonly15minutesawayanditsaveddrivingoverthehillfirst thinginthemorningintoarisingsun.

WemetupwithDonandJuliein“Matilda”neartheWaihifallsjusteastof Dannevirke,aboutthesametimeasthesteeringgotabitheavyin “Norman”theChrysler.(Quickwheelchangeonthesideoftheroad.) TheyhadstartedatthenorthernendnearOrmondvilleandwereheading southtoWoodville.

WinandDaphneandVerdonandVivwerealsocompetingandweall caughtupatlunchtimetocomparenotes.

ThiseventusedtoberunfortheWellingtonBranchClubCaptain’s Trophywhichisactuallyaverynicecup,butIthinkitmayhavebeen abandonedasHorowhenuaBranchmembershaveappearedonitquite regularlyinrecentyears.

Thisyear’sresultswerealittlesurprisingwithDonandJulietakingfourth place,VivandVerdontakingthirdplaceandmyselfandHeatherwinning again.

ThankstoWellingtonBranchforhostingthiseventandthesharedBBQat itsconclusion.

BruceLawrie...HeatherCarter

January2023

HopefullyallofourmembershadanexcellentChristmasandNew Yearbreak.Asweallknow,therearelessthantwomonthstoourbiggest eventoftheyear,theHorowhenuaSwapMeet.

InthemeantimetheManawatuClassicMotorcycleClubAnnualSwap MeetthisyearisattheCoachHouseMuseumCarParkinFeildingfrom 8amonSundaythe5thofMarch.SeeSparkformoredetailsasthereisa full-pageadinthisissue.

ThefirstworkingbeeoftheNewYearwasaverybusyaffairwiththe lastitemsoftheWarrenBirchEstatecomingintoSpares.Wealsohavethe lastoftheBMCpartscominginduringWaitangiWeekend,andatrailer loadofJaguarpartssometimeinFebruaryaswell.Thesewillbethelast trailerloadsintoSparesbeforetheSwapMeet,aswealsohavetoget readyforthebigevent.

Soifanymembersarethinkingaboutcleaningouttheirsheds,between nowandtheSwapMeetpleaseholdfireforafewweeks.

Atthelast

workingbee, clubmember George McLeangaveto Sparestosell forClubFunds, apairofType

F-2electricallyheatedflying trousersas

standardisedbytheUSArmyAirForcesonthe13thofAugust1943.They arecurrentlyforsaleonTradeMe,andIwillletClubMembersknowthe outcomeinnextmonth’sSparesReport.

SafeTravellingEveryone

HVCCBanners

Thesefabricwindscreenbannersinbluewithgoldletteringare stillavailable.

Thesecanbeusedwhendisplayingyourcaratshowsorrallies. Limitedstocksleftat$10each.OrderfromDesStClare.

LibraryMerchandise

HVCCDashboardStickers-$4

Irononfabricbadges -$3

HVCCblueandwhitecaps-$10

NameBadges(filloutform)-$12

WOODSPLITTERFORHIRE

Nowisthetimetostartpreparingfornextwinter.Timetogetyourwood splitanddried.Thisisanexcellentmachinetodothejob,andcanbehired atareasonablerate.

Canbesuppliedwithanoperatorifrequired.

ContactDesStClareon0274191412.

ForSale

MorrisIsisMk11957.(Thisisaveryrarecar).Veryrestorable, deregisteredbuteasytogetbackintothesystem.Personal platesapplicabletothecarandapartscarincluded.$3500.

ContactWayneThroweron0204440098.

Wantedtobuy:

PetroltankforTriumphBonnevilleT120.1963model,650cc (firstyearofunitconstruction).

Originalfactorypart numberF5260,and theywerepainted “AlaskanWhite”.

Itislikelythatthe sametankwasfitted totheTrophyand Thunderbirdmodels ofthesameyear (thoughcolourmaybe different).

ContactBasilGowenlockon063676450.

ForSale

Electricconcretemixer.Goodcondition.

ContactRobertCammishon0274441333

Wantedtobuy:

DoorsforMorrisMinor2-doorsedan.Nottoorotten.

ContactGrahamYoung:gpyinlevin@xtra.co.nz

Answerto“WhatAmI?”

Willys1940.ThemotorandgearboxfromthiscarwereusedintheWW2 Jeep.

Themotorwasputonatestbenchdynomometer,loadedupandwiththe throttleleftwideopen,lefttorununtilsomethingfailed.Themotorwas strippeddown,thefaultfoundandstrengthened,andthenthetest repeateduntilthemotordidn'tfail.

ThismodelWillysisalsoafavouriteforthehotrodsceneforsomereason.

GeorgeMcLean

A,P&IShow,Levin

Sevenofourclubcarswereondisplayinthehallthroughout SaturdayandSunday,anddrewquitealotofinterestfrom membersofthecrowd.

OnSaturdayafternoonwehadanothersevencarstakepartinthe “GrandParade”aroundtheshowground. BruceJamieson Picturesinthehall byGeorgeMcLean

PicturesoftheGrand

ParadebyBruceJamieson

Vintage/VeteranTour

Wellington–Wairarapa–Wanganui

13th–20thMarch2023

ThiseventwasadvertisedintheOctober/Novembereditionof Beadedwheels–page49.Forthosethatmisseditweinvite yourparticipation

Thetourpromisesproperunhurriedvintagemotoringinyour pre1931clubeligiblevehiclecoveringatotalof475mileswith manysectionsofgravelroads.TourdestinationsareMasterton, Dannevirke,Ohakune,TaumaranuiandWanganui.Socomeand joinlike-mindedpeopletosavourthestunningscenerywewill bepassingthroughandthecamaraderieofyourfellowtravellers. TheTourwillbeprecededbyaBBQfortheentrantshostedby theWellingtonBranchonSunday12thMarch.Startisfrom LowerHuttandwillfinishatWanganuionSunday20thMarch withafinaldinner.Totaltourmileage475miles.

Anentryformandfurtherinformation,particularlyabout ForgottenWorldTours,andaccommodationdetailswillbesent tothosewhoexpressaninterest.Emergencyhousinghas removedmanyaccommodationalternativessoitwillpayto bookearly.

Entriescloseon1stMarch2023

EmailPhilandCoralKiddatprcmk@xtra.co.nz

orPhPhilKidd

0272394828orhomeph045289897

MIDDAY22ndFEBRUARY2023

Weareveryfortunateonceagaintobeinvitedtoholdthefirstmid-week runof2023atthebeachsidehomeofGillandBrianWardinRaumati South.Aimtoarrivearoundmiddayforalunchtimebarbecue.

Foranyonewhohasn'tvisitedGillandBrian'shomebefore,therearegreat seaviewsacrosstoKapitiIsland,ahugemodelrailwaylayout,awonderful collectionofwoodcarvings,andofcourseBrian'scollectionofcarsand memorabilia.

COST--therewillbeachargeof$10perperson(cashplease)tocover thecostofmeats,salads,desserts,teaandcoffee.Allyouneedtobringis yourfavouritetipple.

LOCATIONandPARKING--73,RosettaRoad,RaumatiSouth,onthe cornerofRosettaRoadandHydesRoad.Accessandcarparkingis actuallyonHydesRoad.Parkingforclub-eligiblevehiclesisaroundthe entrancetoGillandBrian'sdrivewayandonalowergrassareajustpast theentrancetothedriveway.Thereisfurtherparkingformodernvehicles onHydesRoadandRosettaRoad.

IMPORTANT--itisreallyimportanttoknowhowmanypeopletocaterfor, sopleaseletmeknownolaterthanSunday19thFebifyouareableto come.

PhilipPearceEmail<nzpearce87@gmail.com>Mob0272744084

Feb 12ClubRun&PicnicatTokomaru-Horowhenua

Feb 12BritishandEuropeanCarDayatTrenthamPark

Feb 16-20ArtDecobigweekendatNapier

Feb 19CarShowatShannonDomain

Feb 23-25NationalVeteranRally-Auckland

Feb 26TedGreenMemorialMCRally-Horowhenua

Mar 11CountryRoadsRally-Taupo

Mar 13-20Vintage/VeteranTour-Wellington

Mar 18SwapMeetoftheyear-Levin-HorowhenuaVCC

Anyenquiriesto:BruceLawriePhone0274762489

CALENDARofCOMINGEVENTS TAILLIGHTS