VCC HOROWHENUA SPARK NOV 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

BillLaney

Itissaidthatnomatterwhatorwhere,thingsusuallyruninthrees.AtthepresenttimeI aminthesituationofbeingabletoproveitrightorwrong“Why?”youmaybeasking Wellhereisthebriefstory.

Atthebeginningoflastmonth,theManawatuBranchwasholdingitsmonthlyrallyand DeniseandIdecidedtoattendOutcametheRover,allcheckedout,packedandawayin timetostartat9:30.WedidnotevenmaketheroundaboutonPekaPekaRoad:missfiring, coughingandfinallynothing.Aquickcheckrevealednothingobviousbutstillthesame result,nothingonstartingupCalledaneighbour,tookalltheinsultsandjests,gotthe towhome,gotintotheFalconandawayintimetogettothestartlineoftherally.WhenI gotbackhomeIcheckedeverythingontheRover,andfoundthatthepointsdidnotcome uptospeed.Didaclean,resetandwhatdoyouknow,all’swell.Intothegarage,dust downandthatwasit.

Next,theLabourWeekendRally,ManawatuVCC60thCelebration.Samestoryaswith thepreviousevent.Allstartedwell,Roveroutofthegarage,packedandaway,onlythis timewedidn’tevengetoutofthestreetCheck,phonecall,receivealltheadviceagain andtow,intotheFalconandaway.Againmadetherally,hadagreatweekendand returnedhomeonSundaynight,whenacheckofRoverindicatedthatmaybeanewcoil wasrequiredDefinitelyelectricalThisdone,allwasonceagaingoodandintothe garageitwent.

Nowwegettothethirdtimeluckyorunlucky!!!!!!!

Iintendgoingtothesupermarkettodoabitofshopping.WewilltaketheRover,right? Inhindsight,totallywrong!Wouldyoubelievethatwedidnotgetanyfurther?Same resultwithallthesamedramas.Thistimemybest“mate”iscallingmeallsortsof names,“BreakdownWillie”and“TowRopeBill”beingtwoofthosethatcanbe publishedandmakingveryderogatoryremarksaboutaRoverV8andmaking comparisonstoaC….vV8thathehappenstohave!!(Hedidn’tevengivethecreditto Fordforme).Wellthistimeitwasareallookatallelectrics,withanewcondenser,the newcoilandpoints,allislookingpromising.SomuchsoIhavepurchasedanelectronic replacementignition,justincase.

Wasthatagoodmonth?Iwillleavethattoyourimagination. Whatisveryimportant,asfarastheClubisconcerned,istheupcomingsituationofus nothavingtheservicesofJackieJob,ourhonoraryandbrillianttreasurer,afterAprilnext year.ItisnothardtoworkoutthatshewillbeabsentbeforetheAGMof2023andit willbenecessaryforustohaveareplacementinplacebythenJackiehasbecomepartof the‘woodwork’overthepastfiveyearsandweareinclinedtoforgetjustwhatagreatjob shehasdone,andisstilldoing,onourbehalf,butthetruthofthematteris,wehaveto facethefactthatsheandDonhavesomeotherplansoutsideoftheclub.

TheSituation:Withoutatreasurer,therearenoclubactivitiespossible.Doesthismean a“Lockdown”?Thatisonewayofdescribingit,atleastarecessforaperioduntilitis rectifiedTheSolution:Werequiresomeonewhoisamemberoftheclub,outsideof thosealreadygivingtheirtimeandenergy,tobecomethetreasurer,theallimportantjob whichIstresskeepstheclubupandrunning.Jackieadvisesthatonceyouhavethe systeminplace,youarelookingatacommitmentofabouttwohoursamonth.Isthattoo muchtoaskofsomeone?Idon’tthinksowhenyoulookatthehoursgivenbysomany ofthepresentcommittee.

PLEASE,putonyourthinkingcap,workoutasPresidentJFKdid,andconsider“Not whattheclubdoesforyou,butwhatcanyoudoforyourclub”. Anothermatterwehavediscussed,andwishtointroduceagain,isamid-monthFriday eveningwhereweopentheclubroomsfornootherreasonthana“nogginandnatter”, whichwasasIunderstandit,afeatureofearlierclubactivities.Unfortunately,atthis timethismonth,November,Iwillbeaway,howeverJohnWhitehasindicatedthatheis preparedtoopenupsothatyouasmemberscangrababevvyortwo,andcomeandjoin in.WatchoutforanEMailfromJohnfordateandtime(confirmedas18Nov).Iwillbe lookingforwardtothenextone.

BillLaney

Spectators,though,wereblownaway.

AsawarmupforourownTararuaTrundle,fivevehiclesfromtheHorowhenua BranchheadedtotheManawatuclubroomsforthestartoftheir60thAnniversary RallyoverLabourWeekend.TheRallyheadednorthofAshurstontosomegreat gravelroadsthatlookedabitfamiliaraftertheirnighttimerallyafewmonthsago. Greattodrivetheminthedaylight.LunchstopwasattheApitiPub,agreat venuewith50plusclubcarsparkedupoutside.Areasonablyshortafternoonrun backtotheclubrooms.Imustnote:oneofthemorninginstructionswas“keepon thisroadfor23miles”. Wemetattheclubroomagainat6.30pmfordinnerandthreeshortspeechesfrom someseniormembersaboutthehistoryofthebranch,thenthecakewascutby theoldestandtheyoungestmembers.Mostpeopleenjoyedapieceofcakeanda cuppaandheadedhome.Asasidenote,therewerefivespotprizes,ofwhichour branchtookhomethree.TheSundayprogrammewasfreeforustovisit interestingsitesaroundPalmerstonNorthandthenmeetattheclubroomsfora BBQintheevening.

RosterforDecember2022

Anewsystemofrosteringclubmembersforkitchendutyisbeing instigated.Holdyourbreathandhangon.

SpeakerforDecember

Wedonothaveaspeakerarranged,socomealongforanothereveningof socialising.

NewClubMembers

RobMcIntyrehasquiteagaragefullofmotorcycles:1918Excelsior, 1930IndianScout,1947IndianChief,threeotherIndiansinpiecesanda coupleof1990sDucatis.Healsohasa1958CadillacSedandeVille.

GrahamandDonnaPlaistertransferredfromHawkesBay.Theyhavea MorrisEightthatoncebelongedtoFredCarrickofHVCC.

DanielIrelandofLevinhasjoinedus,butwedon’tknowwhathedrives. AndrewFosterandFionaScissciahaveaFordPrefect.

Recovering

GlennPeachhashadaboutofCovid,buthasnowtestednegative.

Sadlymissed

MargaretLawton,oneofourexmembers,haspassedaway.Margaret andGrahamLawtonwerebothmembersformanyyears,andonly resignedabout18monthsagowhentheysoldtheircar.Margarethasnot beenwellforsometime.MargaretisthemotherofAlanPorter,oneof ourrecenttransferringmembers.Also,justfortherecord,Grahamwas SecretaryforourClubformanyyearstoo,andinstigatedthephoto displayofmembers'carsonourclubroomwall.Theybothhavebeen enthusiasticmembersinyearsgoneby.Theclubextendstheirsympathy toGrahamandallofthefamily.

WhenPaulinewasworkingonthe archives,shecomplainedthatshe hadtroublereachingthetopshelves. Theboysintheclubsoonhadaposh setofstairsknockedup.

BruceJamieson,onbehalfofDonMcLaren CoverPicture

Amotoringscenein1916.

ChristmasLuncheon

OurChristmasLuncheonwillbeonSunday4thDecemberattheclubrooms. Meetfrom11:30forlunchtobeservedfrom12:30to1:00.Thecaterers, fromRaewyn’sCafeinLevin,doagreatjob,withtwomeatchoicesand twodesserts.BYOdrinks.

Theclubhassubsidisedthecostforus,sowewillpay$33perhead.We needtoletthecaterersknowhowmanywillattendby26thNovember,so pleasemakeyourreservationstotheclubaccountbythen.References: yournameand“luncheon”.

WewillbesettinguptheclubroomsonSaturday3rdfrom9:00am. Manyhandsmakelightwork,sowewillwelcomememberstoassist.

AnimportantpartofourChristmasLunchisthevotingfor“Restorationof theYear”.

Clubmembers’recentlyrestoredvehicleswillbelinedupbythe clubrooms,andvotingpapersdistributed.

However,Ihavesentaphotoofthebiketakenpreviously.

IanBade CallumFarmerwasattheshow,andtookthisphoto.

JourneyThroughTimeRally

Taumarunui29thOctober2022.

Themethisyearwas“TheLongRoad”

WeleftFoxtonBeachonFridaymorninginourrecentlyrestored1929ModelAFord calledAlice,knowingthattheweathercouldrainatanytime,andtheforecastfor Saturday,rallyday,wasnotlookinggood.

WetravelledalongStateHighway1untilBulls,wherewetoppedupwithfuel,and proceededalongStateHighway3pastTurakina,turningoffforFordellandcutting inlanduntilwecameoutontoStateHighway4.Wedecidedtotakethisroutethrough theParaparastoavoidheavytraffic,andhopingtheroadwasquieter.

WestoppedatalovelycafénexttotheWhanganuiRiverforlunchatUpokongaro wherewestretchedourlegsandtookthedogforawalk.

Wethencontinued,refuelingatRaetihi,makingTaumarunuiaround4:00pm,and foundouraccommodationwhichwasaB&Bnexttothegolfcourse.Wecoveredthis distanceinsixhours.Norain,butlongandtiring.

Aftersettlingin,wethenmettherestoftheparticipantsandrallyorganizerNorma DoughertyatthelocalCosmopolitanClubfordinner.

EarlyriseSaturdaymorningwithbreakfastat7:30am,walkedthedog,Lulu,andthen setofftotherallystartat9:00am,refuelingontheway.

Therewereonly17vehiclesenteredthisyear.Onpreviousyearswehaveseenupto 50cars.Withfuelcosts,sickness,etcthiscouldbeasignofthetimes.KingCountry VCChasonlyeightfinancialmembers,sotoorganizeandruntheseralliesisamazing forthesmallestVCCclubinNewZealand.

WeweretheonlyVintageclassentrant,andtherewereonlythreePostVintageand PostWarentries,withtheremainingmakingupthenumberswithP60andP80cars. Wewerenumber1andwerewavedoffthe startinggridbythelocalMayorat10:00am sharp. Wetravelledalongsomeverynicesealed roads,answeringtheoccasionalquestion,until wehitthemetal.About80percentoftherally wasmadeupofmetalroads,mostofwhich wereinreallygoodcondition,hadveryfew potholesandhadrecentlybeengraded.We travelledalongroutesthattheearlysettlers usedwhentheyfirstsettledthearea.The countrysideisabsolutelyspectacular,andwe cameacrosstheoccasionalsheepwandering ontheroad.Directionswereveryeasyto follow,andweendedupatourlunchstopat MatiereCountrySchoolinthemiddleof nowhere.Theyprovidedthewonderfullunch ofsteakburgersandhomebaking.

Afterlunch,weproceededuptheOkahukuraSaddleRoadwhichwasquiteaclimb, whichAlicedidentirelyintopgear,mostimpressed,finallymakingourwaybackto Taumarunui,wherewefinishedtherallywithstraightlinenavigation.Herewespent numeroustimestryingtofindtherightroad……weweren’ttheonlypuzzledentrants. Ithadbeenalongdayoftravelling,over100milesandonefulltank.Alittlerest backatourB&Bwasrequiredbeforethedinnerandprizegiving,againatthe CosmopolitanClub.

Wewerethefurthestawayentrant,comingfromFoxtonBeach,andreceivedthe prizeforthelongestdistancetravelled,andthemostfuelused. Thereweresomanyprizesthateveryoneattendingreceivedsomesortofprizefor theirefforts.

WeleftinpouringrainonSunday morning,andAlicefinallydecidedto haveahissyfit,blowingafuseand givinguponthesideoftheroad.The faultwasisolatedtoabrakeswitch, thathaddecidedtofryitselfafterall thebrakingonhillsthedaybefore. Fortunately,asparkypassingby, stoppedandassistedmeandwewere onourwaybackhomewitha disconnectedbrakeswitch.Ihave sinceorderedanewone. WedecidedtotakeStateHighway1 backhomethistime,travelling throughOhakuneandWaiouru, stoppingatMangawekaforlunchand refueling.WearrivedbackatFoxton Beachat3:00pm.Thisroutetookusfivehoursandhalfatanklessfuel. Overall,anexcellentrally,andenjoyableweekend.

GatesatA,P&IShowgrounds

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

WEDNESDAY30thNOVEMBER IT'SQUIZTIME

ThehistoricGearHomesteadinPoriruaisprovidinguswith exclusiveuseofitsupperfloorforanendofyearquiz followedbylunch.Wewillmakeupteamsof46peopleand onlyhalfofthequestionswillbecarrelated.Therefore, tohaveanyhopeofwinning,everyteamwillneedtoinclude asmanyladiesaspossible.

WearenottalkingMastermindhere therewillbeno questionsatallonGreekmythologyorthekingsandqueens ofEngland that'sapromise.Allthatisneededtowinis amildinterestinoldcars,aworkingknowledgeofbiscuits, andaveryagile/deviousmind.

Furtherdetailswillbesentbyemailtoeveryoneonthe Kapitimailinglist.AllmembersofbothWellington andHorowhenuabranchesarewelcometojoinin,soifyou areupforthechallenge,orifyouwouldliketobeadded totheKapitimailinglist,justletmeknow.

PhilipPearce Email<nzpearce87@gmail.com> Mob0272744084

Also,therewillnotbeaKapitiRuninDecember(mostpeopleseemtobe toobusyintherunuptoChristmas),andofcoursenoruninJanuary.

PARKING

Inapreviousarticle(SparkJuly2021)Idescribedhowtheoverlycomplex brakingsystemoperatedontheearlyEnglish8hpModelYand10hp ModelCFords.Thereisahiddendangerinthebrakingsystemusedin theseparticularFordmodels.

Anexaminationofthepictureof thefrontkingpinassemblyreveals agreasenippleonthetopofthe kingpinwhichistheretolubricate thebrakeactuatingshaft. Inanerawhenlubebayswere usedinservicestationsthe pressurisedgreasewouldgointo lubricatingtheactuatorshaft, extrudinggreaseoutofthelever endoftheactuatorshaft,butalso theoppositewayintothesealed chamberontopofthekingpin itself.Overtimethischamber becamefullofgreasewhichinturn wasforceddownthroughthe hollowkingpinpastthebrake actuatorpushrod,downontothefloatingbrakewedgeandontothe brakedrum.Withlubricatedbrakesononesideforexample,thiscould leadtoveryseriousconsequenceswhenbraking,bypullingthecaracross intooncomingtrafficorupontothecurborofftheroad.

Asimilarproblemexistswiththerearbrakes,wheregreaseflowsoutthe endoftheactuatorshaftontothefloatingbrakewedgeanddownonto thebrakedrumitself. Themoralhereistobeverysparingwhenlubricatingthesebrakeshafts, wherealittlecanbecomefartoomuchovertime!

Thelatermodel8hp7Yand10hp7Whadatotallyredesignedandmuch simplerbrakingsystem,eliminatingthisdangerousbrakeproblem altogether.

Henry'sHiddenDangersintheBrakes.

GeorgeMcLean

SeeyourVintageandClassiccarsandmotorcyclesinyourhomeonyourwall. Alsopets,etc.fromyourownphoto.

Thereareprobablyonly35peopleintheWellingtonregionwhoknow thateverysinglespearofTendertipsasparagushashaditsphotograph takenbeforeleavingLewisFarms.Andthose35aretheVCCmemberswho enjoyedatouroftheLewisFarmsoperationjustnorthofLevinon26th October. Andincaseyouarewondering,thephotographerinquestionisavery cleverGermanmadegradingmachinewhichusesthephototosorteach spearintoitsappropriatesizecategoryreadyforautomaticallyproducing bunchesofthesamesizeandweightreadyforthesupermarketshelves. Onthedaybeforeourvisit,thepickingteamhadharvested10tonnesof asparagus,whichequatestoaroundhalfamillionspearstobe photographed. Andtheteamof pickerswalkeda totalof300kmin theday! Ourtourguide wasGeoffLewis, whotookoverthe familyfarm40 yearsagoand diversifiedinto asparagus growing, becomingthebiggestproducerinNZ.ThebusinessisnowrunbyGeoff's sonanddaughterinlaw,butGeoffisstillverymuchinvolvedandgaveus afascinatinginsightintobothasparagusandtheirotherspeciality strawberrygrowing.

Thestrawberriesaregrownhydroponicallyinpolytunnelscoveringtwo andahalfhectaresandproducing250tonnesofstrawberriesayear.But, tosatisfydemand,theyarecurrentlydoublingthenumberofpolytunnels toincreaseoutputto500tonnesayear.Theplantsaregrowninbagsof coirfibrespecially importedfromIndia, andjusttheright amountofwater andnutrientsis constantlysupplied byanetworkof piping.

Theplantsare susceptibleto damagebymites, soLewisFarms releaseapredator insectintothepolytunnelstoeatthemites.Buteventhishastobedone verycarefully,becauseiftoomanypredatorinsectsareintroducedthey quicklyeliminateallthemitesandthendieoffthemselves,whichallows themitestoreestablish.

TheLewisFarmsshopsellsboththefreshasparagusandstrawberries,as wellasjamsandicecreammadefromtheirownfruit,baristacoffeesand locallyproducedsausages,bacon,eggs,etc.AtLabourweekendtheysold arecord695servingsoficecreaminoneday!

Itishungryworktouringabusygrowingandpackingoperation,sothe VCCgroupthenretiredtotheGeorgeCafeatSpeldhurstEstate,Levin,for anexcellentlunch.

StoryandphotosfromPhilipPearce