VCC WELLSFORD RADIATOR CAP NOV 2022

The Radiator

Chairperson Anne Richardson 09 425 6298 / 021 277 9010 ricanne@gmail.com

Secretary Jim Flewitt 09 601 6165 flewitts@ttra.co.n

Treasurer Dave Oliver 027 443 8046 ollie.d10@gmail.com

Club Captain Leon Salt 09 423 8122 / 027 423 8122 brendda@ttra.co.n

Rep to EtCo Anne Richardson 09 425 6298 / 021 277 9010 ricanne@gmail.com

Hospitality Anne & Dennis Anne: 021 214 2267 annedenmac@gmail.com

Convenors McDonald Dennis: 021 265 2466

Mid week Neil & Lucy

Wednesdays Cremer 09 425 4955 neilmtf@ttra.co.n

Property George Lloyd 09 425 7622 yorksandlancs@gmail.com

Supervisors Doug Hamilton 09 425 6139 doug.hamil@ttra.co.n

Health & Safety Brian Payne 09 425 9262 banddpayne@ttra.co.n

Vehicle ID James Lawrie 09 425 9928 gloria james lawrie@ttra.co.n Nigel Hawkes 09 423 8944 najhawkes@gmail,com

Motorcycle Rep Dave Oliver 027 443 8046 ollie.d10@gmail.com

Librarian Jeanette Lloyd 09 425 7622 yorksandlancs@gmail.com

Editor/Reporter Chris Harvey 09 422 2662 / 022 365 0171 chris.harvey@westnet.com.au

Dave Oliver 027 443 8046 ollie.d10@gmail.com

Additional Brendda Salt 09 423 8122 brendda@ttra.co.n

Members Steve Paddison 09 422 6250 steve.felicity@ttra.co.n Len Miller 021 140 3463 jacktar1399@hotmail.com

wellsfordwarkworth@vcc.org.n

wellswark.org.n

Wed 2 Nov 12:00 Mid week picnic at Algie’s Bay on the lawn by the yacht club

Thu 10 Nov 17:30 Club night BYO BBQ and salad to share

12 14 Nov Far North Tour run by Northland Branch

Wed 16 Nov 10:00 Cleaning & Coffee

Thu 17 Nov Club Committee meeting

Sun 20 Nov Waikato Vintage Swapmeet

Sun 27 Nov 07:30 Mananui Coastal Hillclimb hosted by Waitemata Branch

Sun 4 Dec Warkworth Santa Parade

Wed 7 Dec 12:00 Midweek picnic at the northern end of Snell’s Beach

Sun 11 Dec 12:00 Christmas Lunch at the Clubroom

Wed 4 Jan 12:00 Midweek picnic at Scandrett’s Bay

Sun 5 Feb East Coast Rally: EBoP’s entry form will be in the nett newsletter

24 26 Feb National Veteran Rally run by Auckland branch at Tuakau.

Sat 25 Feb 07:00 Our Annual Swapmeet

3 5 May Waiheke Classics Week

Branch activities and Covid-19

Now that Covid restrictions have been lifted, mask wearing is no longer required but we continue to be vigilant with hygiene. The Clubroom will be kept clean and saniti er will be available. Feel free to contact the Chairman or Club Captain if you have any queries.

At last the sun! Our visit to the Kauri Museum in Matakohe was a great day. There are always new items to see, and it was warm siting eating the snacks from the food stalls. There were lots of families inspecting the ethibits, let’s hope they return to see more in the future. It was also good to catch up with fellow members from Northland branch. Have you seen Steve Cornwall’s article in Beaded Wheels?

Two items to report and a trailer for Christmas Lunch:

I have pinned to our notice board the current list of branches providing Club regalia. Items can be purchased directly from the appropriate branch. These are separate from items we have available with our own logo such as badges and car emblems.

I mentioned last month the discussion document on the future arrangements for long service awards. The committee have discussed this, although we have not had any contributions from you, our members- and have come to a tentative position subject to any additional information from National Office.

We believe that as members do transfer between branches during the life of their membership, the awards should remain a National Award. Purchase and provision of the badges and certificates should be the responsibility of the National Office funded from the national part of our subscriptions. However, we think that the organisation and presentation should be run by the branches. Any issues of continuation should be provided by the National office to help branches ensure continuity across the total membership of the Club. The new computerised membership system allows branches to manage with help from the admin team at National Office if there is a query. If you have any comments, please let me know.

Now to Christmas: look for the Advertisement in this Newsletter for the detail. We have arranged for caterers to provide our lunch at the Club rooms. We will decorate before beforehand so please come and help establish our Christmas spirit. Please note payment will be required before the closing date. We are also proposing a donation of money or gift to the value of $5 instead of a Secret Santa this year. We hope to provide a hamper or two for the Womens’ Refuge this year. The future will depend on feedback from you.

So all good things are coming, Good Health and Safe Motoring Anne

CLUB CAPTAIN’S REPORT

Our September Sunday run to visit the Windross, Power, and Hamilton residences at Scotts Landing was well supported by 25 members including our hosts. Members enjoy seeing what others are up to in their sheds and it’s not only the cars that impress them. Stuart’s two man chainsaw was something to behold. The addition of an overdrive unit on older vehicles is becoming more commonplace. It’s not only one way of having a quieter drive while keeping closer to modern open road speed but also must lessen engine wear. Stuart’s Chrysler has a professionally fitted Laycock along the driveshaft. Grahame has his 1917 Studebaker and his EH Holden wagon out of action at present while Doug has been chipping away at reassembling his Riley. One conclusion we can all (or at least half of us) can agree upon is that you can never have a big enough shed. Thanks to Grahame and Anne, Stuart and Karen and Doug and Anne for an enjoyable afternoon. Thanks to Anne and Grahame Power who provided us with off road parking and afternoon tea to top off a great afternoon.

Only sit of us attended the mid week picnic at Brick Bay. The weather was not particularly pleasant but we didn’t have to resort to taking cover at the nearest café. Our November mid week picnic will be by the Yacht Club at Algies Bay.

Our Club night BYO BBQ dinner proved more popular with 25 members and two guests in attendance.

The 60th anniversary Festival at the Kauri Museum, Matakohe was well supported by the general public. To me, it was the largest crowd I can remember at an open day there. 19 of our members attended with eight club eligible vehicles for the display. There were many live displays there, stationary engines, quilting, wood turning and hands on rope and butter making for the children plus various musical performances.

To date, there has still been no news of a Santa Parade in Wellsford but Warkworth has apparently decided to hold theirs on 4 December. I’ll pass on further details as they come to hand. If anyone has an idea for a run in November, please let me know.

Happy motoring, Club Captain

Remember you can view the newsletters of other Branches by visiting vcc.org.nz and selecting Branch Newsletters in the panel on the left side of the Home page.

BRANCH CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Sunday 11th December at 12 noon. Christmas meal provided by the Lions Catering Team $30 per head.

Contact Anne & Dennis McDonald 021 265 2466 to book your seats. Email: annedenmac@gmail.com

Pay directly to the branch account BNZ 02-0480-0047413-000 before the closing date of Friday 2nd December.

Come with festive attire and BYO drinks. Bring a donation to our charity for this year, the Women’s Refuge. ($5 or an item for a hamper).

Come and help decorate the clubrooms on Thursday December 8th from 10.00

The W126 Mercedes’ range ran from 1979 to 1992. In total some 800,000 of the various models were made, the longest ever production run of a model by Mercedes Ben . The underlying specs were for the cars to be able to do 500,000 kms, and the S Class designation comes from “ Sonderklasse” meaning Special Class. With a 3.8 litre V8 and self levelling air suspension it was the epitome of European sophistication.

My particular car was imported into Singapore in 1985 and was used there by the owner until around 2005. Upon his death his widow moved to be with her son in Henderson In Auckland and the car was shipped to NZ by her. It was garaged and very rarely used until I purchased it from her son in 2015. It has 95,000 miles on the clock. I still have the original handbook for the vehicle in German and the original leather bound ignition key. The car remains in original condition, etcept for the radio, and has been garaged by me here in Awakino. It is only used once or twice a month to travel to New Plymouth, or similar, just to keep it in good running order. I have had no mechanical issues bar having a new Alternator, Fuel Pump and Timing Chain routine replacement. Parts are easily sourced via Australia, arriving within 7 days. Lloyd Mart in Pirongia is the Go To person for repairs or information as he is a Premier Specialist in Mercedes and Porsche Restorations and Repair.

What car is this ?

Last month’s car was a Tatra T613, successor to the bulbous but streamlined model T603. It was a full si ed lutury car and was produced from 1974 until 1996. It was unusual in having a 3,495 cc air cooled V8 motor in the rear which put out 124 kW in the first models, rising to 147 kW in the later ones and could each 230 kph. The body was styled by Vignale and only 4,581 were produced because it was largely hand made and too etpensive for most C echs. Most of the output went to government officials and the police. In 1996 it was succeeded by the T700 which had improved aerodynamics and 200kW from an enlarged 4.3 litre engine but only 65 were built before the model’s demise in 1999.