November 2024
A 1973 Rover 3500 S owned by Kelly & Jos Archer
Who’s Who for 2024/2025
Committee: Winston Matthews, Murray Cormack, Keith Lyndsell, Tom Deverall, Naomi Mason, Steve Edwards, Margaret Deverall, Margaret Ilton.
The full list of the elected officers is circulated with the minutes of the 2024 Annual General Meeting
If you notice any required maintenance at any stage for the Clubrooms, please let Steve know about it. Steve Edwards 09 401 6239
Caffeine & Classics
3rd Sunday every month 9.30 to 12
Next date: Sunday 17 th November Ka Uri Awanui Next Club Meeting Saturday 9 th November 2 pm
Monthly - 2nd Saturday 1.00 pm Club Meeting @ Aurere Clubrooms
Monthly - 3rd Sunday
Repco Caffeine & Classics
Ka Uri Awanui 9.30 start
November
Nov Far North Tour [Northland]
9th Monthly Meeting
2 pm with Parts shed open at 3 pm.
9th November Wheels of Mayhem
17th Repco Caffeine & Classics
December
14th Saturday 10 am Morning tea & monthly meeting starting at 10.30. Potluck Xmas lunch to follow the meeting.
January 2025
4 th ? Jan Taipa Show and Shine
18th Saturday Picnic
19th Repco Caffeine & Classics
February
8th Saturday Monthly Meeting 1 pm with Parts shed open at 2 pm.
16th Repco Caffeine & Classics
22nd Saturday Northern Captain’s Run
March
8th Saturday Monthly Meeting 1 pm with Parts shed open at 2 pm.
Southern Captain’s Run
16th Repco Caffeine & Classics
April
12th Saturday Monthly Meeting 1.00 pm
Parts shed open at 2 pm.
19th Saturday Brian Parker Rally
20th Repco Caffeine & Classics
May
11th Saturday 1.00 AGM Meeting with monthly meeting following AGM.
Parts shed open at 2pm.
12th Mother’s Day run
18th Repco Caffeine & Classics
Please Note:
Our November meeting will start at 2 pm.
We are giving Members who wish to attend the Wheels of Mayhem a little more time to enjoy the vehicles on show. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Club
Clothing
Purchases of club clothing may be made at any time from DDGold in Kerikeri or Kaitaia.
Please make your own orders and arrange with DDGold for the payment and collection of your garments. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WANTED
:
Austin A55 suitable for parts to complete a restoration. Any condition, any place, suitable offers to Malcolm 021 153 3582 or dino.porter@hotmail.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disappointing News
Waka Kotahi has cancelled the opportunity for the Club to drive through the Gorge before it is reopened around December 20. They didn’t offer a reason for this cancellation.. Sorry Folks.
Chairman’s Report
October was an unfortunate month in that we lost two long-standing Members, Fred Courtney and Peter Mason.
One of Peter's last achievements was the improved lighting in the Parts Shed.
The lighting makes it so much easier to rummage through looking for that obscure part you need!
It was good to see Tony Adams at the meeting and the Dunny Run, and we wish him well for his continued recovery.
Also, it was good to have Max Allen back for a short stay before his return to the UK.
Our best wishes to him and Jackie.
I'm afraid I missed the Dunny Run, I hope all went well.
November starts with the Northland Branch Far North Tour. That may be over when you read this!
On the 9th we have a doubleheader with the Hot Rod Club's Wheels of Mayhem at Kaitaia A & P Showground followed by our monthly meeting which has been put back to 2 pm to allow attendance at both events.
I have heard that the Mangamuka Gorge is set to reopen on 20th December. Keith
Northern
Club Captain’s Report
We have very recently lost another two Members of our club.
Fred Courtney from Kaikohe had been a member of the Far North Club since 10th December 1991.
The Club sends sincere condolences to his family.
Peter Mason, has been such an enormous part of our club for many long years. He will be sadly missed on our treks, in the Parts Shed and at our gatherings. Our heartfelt condolences to Zena and their Family.
We were grateful to have time with Zena and Family as they made their journey to Kerikeri with Peter.
Thank you for making this time available to us, Zena.
Saturday 19th Oct we had a great day out for the Dunny Run, leaving Kawakawa at 11 am and meandering through some pretty awesome country in the back blocks of the Bay of Islands.
John McGee came to light with a booklet on the settling of that farming area. 1500 acres divided into 40 acre lots in the late 1800’s which today look like stunning farms.
The walk to the kauri tree was enjoyed by the many who took time out to walk the 20 minutes, while some missed seeing the signs.
There was a lot of hilarity over the directions, as some saw others going in the opposite direction on the same drive! I’m sure there’s a few stories to be told.
Our rendezvous was the Phatt House Brewery at Haruru - where we all enjoyed a variety of food and a good natter. The questionnaire on our road code and knowledge of the Beaded Wheels, put the Far North Club back ‘in the driving seat’, taking away the Dunny Seat trophy again !!
Xmas is looming once again and no one needs reminding of how many days to go !!! Our Pot Luck Xmas dinner is set for 14th December with a 10 o’clock quick fire club meeting then dinner with a social afternoon.
It was very successful last year without a run involved. Everyone enjoying the social side of things, so set that date aside.
Unfortunately, Waka Kotahi have decided not to allow us to have a run over the Mangamuka Gorge before its reopening, a few days before Christmas. This came as a real letdown after their initial enthusiasm to have us cruise through.
Some of us are planning on a mid-week run in March to Dargaville - early stages of planning at present and there will be more about this after New Year.
Happy motoring
Margaret
Deverall
Warm wishes to all who are meeting a challenge head-on, at present.
“Use what you have been through as fuel, believe in yourself and be unstoppable.”
-Yvonne Pierre
Rememberwhen…
Repco Caffeine & Classics
A good turnout for the October meet was enjoyed by many. Great to see a couple of bikes out for a run, along with a great range of cars.
The First Motor Trip to the Far North
By G E Alderton
That was the initial part of this record trip, but the remaining part of the journey had some real incidents in it.
The following morning we left Mangonui, our destination being Kawakawa, about 50 miles. The weather was fine, and, full of hope and confidence, we let her go. It was most exhilarating speeding over these Far Northern roads, in a country of great purple mountains clad with magnificent bush, with only here and there a settler’s homestead – mere dots on the fringe of civilization.
Gum and timber have been the industries of these parts – breaking down and destructive processes which fail to add much to the picturesqueness of the country. There is no tussock here for the sheep, as in the South. Ti-tree and fern cover the rolling hills and the farmer has yet to conquer the country.
But now little time there is to speculate on passing events when riding on a steam car. The wind was blowing fresh right ahead, and it interfered considerably with the benzine flames, which supplied the fire for the boiler. Several times it blew out altogether and we were making slow progress.
A.C. said he thought he would try the “pilot.” He had never used it before, but he knew it was for use as an auxiliary to provide a constant flame. Not having used it before, he had to guess just how much draught to turn on.
It answered admirably.
We flew along and we were discussing the possibility of going right in to
Whangarei that night – it was only about 90 miles.
The machine was, after all, something much better than we had given it credit for.
We did not understand how to drive it –that evidently was the trouble.
See how she was going now!
“Don’t you think it is too warm with this apron over our knees?” asked A.C.
“Yes, and I think the seat is a bit too warm too,” I replied.
“Well, I’ll have a look at that pilot,” said A.C. And he did!
The machine was on fire.
The pilot, which was a sort of a blow pipe had sent the flame right through the furnace on to the wooden frame to which was attached the engine. This had become saturated with benzine and was burning furiously. Fortunately, we had pulled up right along side a river and with the canvas bucket we carried, were able to bring water to extinguish the fire. The fire had got a good hold, and but for the fact of water being on hand, we could not have saved the machine.
That little incident over, we decided to proceed. But the machine would not start. We investigated matters and discovered the beam carrying the engine was half burnt through, and that, as a consequence, the engine had sunk and the starting and reversing gear would not work. We experimented for a time, and found that by putting a lever under the engine from the floor of the car and pressing this with a foot, the engine could be humoured to start.
To be continued
Dunny Run
We had a great gathering of people and cars in Kawakawa for the event and the weather again gave us the break we wanted. A cool wind followed us but apart from the odd small shower while driving, the day was good.
The 34 people with a great selection of vehicles lined up, drew the attention of several people passing, who came along to look at the cars. Just being able to wander past the cars and have a good look was a real highlight for them.
The run left Kawakawa, heading north over the 3 bridges then travelling the twisting, narrow gravel roads towards Oromahoe Rd, further inland.
The corrugations were good ones in places, which caused a couple of minor problems with leads parting company from their points of attachment. Nothing that took but a moment or two to be sorted, such are the skills of the drivers of these older machines.
The run instructions, though thought to be straightforward by those who wrote them, proved to be a challenge and caused some raised eyebrows when some vehicles passed other vehicles belonging to the same club, going in the opposite direction.
Fortunately, those traveling westward, instead of NE, did recognise us as part of “their crew” and after some driving eventually found a place for some fancy turning.
Some took the walk into a stand of kauri, some didn’t see the sign for the walk and had no choice but to join those who had been into the trees previously and were driving on to Te Haumi Beach to park, giving the potential tree huggers time to catch up.
Inter-club catch-ups, a walk beside the water, the odd mechanical adjustment, and a break from driving, appeared appreciated.
While at Te Haumi, a passerby saw a Humber which brought back a flood of childhood memories for him. He was invited to take a seat and get a few selfies, however in doing so, his wallet fell out of his pocket and tucked itself neatly beside the driver's seat and wasn’t wasn’t discovered until the Humber reached the Phatt House. As a couple of sleuths tried to find a phone number/contact within the wallet, its owner drove in.
He had heard one of the group saying our next stop was the Phatt House as he was going to his car to start heading south, well before we were leaving Te Haumi. Just where he discovered his wallet wasn’t travelling with him anymore, wasn’t established.
Relieved to be reunited with his riches, he did say he would have driven to Awanui to catch up with the Humber.
Looking at what he was driving, I think his childhood memories had escalated somewhat about the top speed of a Humber, if he had Awanui in mind before catching up, had we not had the lunch stop!
A relaxed lunch was enjoyed and it was great to share time with the keen folk from our neighbouring club.
A big thank you to all Northland Club Members who joined us. It was a pleasure sharing the day with you. It also reminded some of us that we must find time for a trip south early next year to take part in a run of yours.
We’ll give you enough warning, so you have time to head for the hills if our impending arrival seems daunting.
The prestigious trophy for the Dunny Run travelled North after the answers to 8 questions were marked & collated. There were some random grumblings about being subjected to questions from the road code and what might happen if the instigator of the questions was found! And no, the grumbles weren’t from the Northland Club!
Thanks, everyone for another fantastic day out.
A relaxing & easy way of catching up with some of what is regularly on offer, in the Canterbury area.
Thanks, Graeme & Margaret for your photos.
