CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 76 YEARS
No. 377 August/September 2022
9 418979 000012
CLUB ACTION HADSTOCK GYMKHANA
New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine $7.95
CONTROVERSY? CONTINUATIONS VS REPLICAS
RESTORATION 1911 DELAGE PROJECT
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
1918 Cadillac V8 Model 57. This was to become Alexandra Fire Brigade’s first motor appliance. Pictured here outside the Wellington Metropolitan Fire station, the vehicle was purchased from the Wellington Fire Brigade in 1933 and driven to Alexandra from Wellington by Harry Walles and Jack Carline. Photo supplied by John Hastilow Photographs Required: Submissions of suitable prints and information are welcome. Post or email original photographs or high resolution digital files of historical interest with any available information to: beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz or Beaded Wheels, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140. Laserprints/photocopies are not suitable. Photos will be returned as soon as practicable.
NATIONAL OFFICE
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140 Phone 03 366 4461 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
VCCNZ LIFE MEMBERS Andrew Anderson Roger White Norm Dewhurst Rod Brayshaw John Coomber
VCCNZ MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT Diane Quarrie 06 876 4009 president@vcc.org.nz SECRETARY/ TREASURER Christopher Leith 03 358 5378 hon.sec@vcc.org.nz CLUB CAPTAIN NORTHERN REGION Kaaren Smylie 021 664 341 nicc@vcc.org.nz CLUB CAPTAIN SOUTHERN REGION Alon Mayhew 027 202 9491 sicc@vcc.org.nz
REGISTRAR Rod Brayshaw 07 549 4250 registrar@vcc.org.nz SPEED STEWARD Tony Haycock 021 662 441 speedsteward@vcc.org.nz BEADED WHEELS CHAIRMAN Kevin Clarkson 021 0270 6525 kevin@vcc.org.nz Tony Bartlett 06 867 9850
mgmt1@vcc.org.nz
George Kear 027 221 4332
mgmt2@vcc.org.nz
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING comms@vcc.org.nz ARCHIVIST Don Muller 03 385 6850
archivist@vcc.org.nz
Murray Trounson 03 339 8830 mgmt3@vcc.org.nz
Please note this information changes annually - these details are valid until the next AGM
VCCNZ BRANCHES A full list of branch addresses and contact details can also be found on the VCCNZ website at www.vcc.org.nz ASHBURTON PO Box 382, Ashburton 7740 ashburton@vcc.org.nz AUCKLAND PO Box 12-138, Penrose, Auckland 1642 auckland@vcc.org.nz BANKS PENINSULA 27 Showgate Ave, Riccarton Park, Christchurch 8042 bankspeninsula@vcc.org.nz BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 660, Tauranga 3140 bayofplenty@vcc.org.nz CANTERBURY PO Box 11-082, Sockburn Christchurch 8443 canterbury@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL OTAGO C/-114 Shortcut Road, Luggate, RD2, Wanaka 9382 centralotago@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY C/- 448 Tukituki Road, RD1, Takapau 3286 centralhawkesbay@vcc.org.nz EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 2168, Kopeopeo Whakatane 3159 easternbayofplenty@vcc.org.nz
2 Beaded Wheels
FAR NORTH C/– PO Box 312 Kaitaia 0441 farnorth@vcc.org.nz GISBORNE PO Box 307, Gisborne 4040 gisborne@vcc.org.nz GORE PO Box 329, Gore 9740 gore@vcc.org.nz HAWKE’S BAY PO Box 3406, Napier 4142 hawkesbay@vcc.org.nz HOROWHENUA PO Box 458, Levin 5540 horowhenua@vcc.org.nz KING COUNTRY C/- 53 Huia Street, Taumarunui 3920 kingcountry@vcc.org.nz MANAWATU PO Box 385 Palmerston North 4440 manawatu@vcc.org.nz MARLBOROUGH PO Box 422, Blenheim 7240 marlborough@vcc.org.nz NELSON PO Box 3531, Richmond 7050 nelson@vcc.org.nz
NORTHLAND PO Box 17, Whangarei 0140 northland@vcc.org.nz NORTH OTAGO PO Box 360, Oamaru 9444 northotago@vcc.org.nz NORTH SHORE C/- 7 Godwit Place, Lynfield Auckland 1042 northshore@vcc.org.nz OTAGO C/- 21 Mornington Road, Balaclava, Dunedin 9011 otago@vcc.org.nz ROTORUA PO Box 2014, Rotorua 3040 rotorua@vcc.org.nz SOUTH CANTERBURY 19 Redruth St, Timaru 7910 southcanterbury@vcc.org.nz SOUTHLAND PO Box 1240, Invercargill 9840 southand@vcc.org.nz SOUTH OTAGO C/- 1931 Breakneck Rd, RD 4, Balclutha 9274 southotago@vcc.org.nz SOUTH WAIKATO PO Box 403 Tokoroa 3420 southwaikato@vcc.org.nz
TARANAKI C/- PO Box 39029, Egmont Village 4361 taranaki@vcc.org.nz TAUPO PO Box 907, Taupo 3351 taupo@vcc.org.nz WAIKATO PO Box 924, Hamilton 3240 waikato@vcc.org.nz WAIMATE 4 Harris St, Waimate 7924 waimate@vcc.org.nz WAIRARAPA PO Box 7, Masterton 5810 wairarapa@vcc.org.nz WAITEMATA C/- 9 Marlborough Ave, Glenfield, Auckland 0629 waitemata@vcc.org.nz WANGANUI PO Box 726, Whanganui 4540 wanganui@vcc.org.nz WELLINGTON PO Box 38-418, Petone, Wellington 5045 wellington@vcc.org.nz WELLSFORD/WARKWORTH PO Box 547, Warkworth 0941 wellsfordwarkworth@vcc.org.nz WEST COAST C/- 1999 Kumara Junction Highway, RD 2, Hokitika 7882 westcoast@vcc.org.nz
CONTENTS
Beaded Wheels Publisher
The Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.) The Historic Vehicle Authority of New Zealand ISSN 0113-7506 Vol LXXIII No. 377
Issue 377 August/September 2022
Editorial Committee
Kevin Clarkson (Chairman), Judith Bain, Rosalie Brown, John Coomber, Mark Dawber, Greg Price.
Material for Publication
Reports of restorations, events, road tests, historical and technical articles should be submitted to beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz. Email of text and photos is preferred, digital photographs should be high resolution eg 300dpi. Alternatively mail your contribution to PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140, typed or neatly printed. No payment is made to contributors. The opinions or statements expressed in letters or articles in Beaded Wheels are the author’s own views and do not necessarily express the policy or views of The Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc).
Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Advertising Enquiries
Classified and Display Advertising to: PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140. Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Phone 64 3 332 3531 Rate schedule available on request.
Back Issues Available on request to PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140.
Correspondence & Editorial Contributions
FEATURES 14 16 20 24 28 32 34 37
Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140. Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz
Subscriptions
Beaded Wheels subscribers change of address to: PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140. Phone 03 366 4461, Fax 03 366 0273 Annual subscription (6 issues) $52* inc GST Australian subscription (6 issues) NZ$112* Other countries (6 issues) NZ$185* Digital subscription (6 issues) NZ$39 available from vcc.org.nz or issuu.com. *Payment by credit card incurs additional bank fee processing charge of 3%
Production
Design: RGB Design & Print Ltd, Christchurch
Closing Date for October/November:
Editorial Copy 26 August 2022 Advertisements 10 September 2022
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.)
44
A Delage Delight David Hall, VCC Waikato Branch Founder member, made a super restoration of this Delage Replicas Vs Continuations John Dennehy looks into the murky world of replicas
Delage restoration
14
A Princess…That’s an Austin, isn’t it? Behind The Wheel Austin J40 A Young Lad and an Old Talbot 1931 Austin 7 John McDonald recalls his first vintage car Russolini Formula Junior Build
Wanganui Annual Rally
37
Hadstock
38
Rally Snippets 37 Wanganui Annual Rally – Wanganui 38 Hadstock Driving Tests – Banks Peninsula 40 Irishman 2022 - Canterbury My First Ride in a 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1
COLUMNS 4
President’s Message
13
The Way We Were
4
As We See It
45
Book Review
5
VCC Branch Events
46
Marketplace
6
National Office
51
Swap Meets & Rallies
7
Mailbag
54
Trade Directory
9
Timelines
55
Idle Torque
12
Soapbox
67
Passing Lane
National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Email admin@vcc.org.nz
Postal Address: PO Box 2546,
Market Place
Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
46
Address: 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch, New Zealand. Website: www.vcc.org.nz Copyright Information
The contents are copyright. Articles may be reproduced complete or in part provided that acknowledgement is made to “Beaded Wheels, the magazine of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc)” as the source. Reproduction of articles must be at least 12 months after original Beaded Wheels publication date. Beaded Wheels reserves the right to digitally store all published material for archival purposes.
Like us on facebook Beaded Wheels
COVER Sam Deavoll chose a 1961 Land Rover 88 to contest the 2022 Hadstock Driving Tests, run by the Banks Peninsula Branch. See page 38. Photo John McDonald.
The Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) is the worldwide organisation dedicated to the preservation, protection and promotion of historic vehicles and related culture. The Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc) is a founding member of FIVA. VCCNZ Registrar Rod Brayshaw is the New Zealand delegate to FIVA and also a member of the FIVA Technical Commission.
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I finally got to drive my 1966 Triumph Spitfire in the 2-day Targa Rally recently. It was a well organised event and my navigator Gaynor Terrill and I had an awesome time. Rod and Anne Corbett have worked tirelessly over the last five years to create the VCC Time Trial which is growing and evolving. You will see from the annual accounts that there is an operating surplus. The day to day running of the Club is well managed and the budget closely monitored. When the Vero profitshare, term deposit interest and profit from the Vero Festival of Historic Motoring is added there is a very healthy surplus of income over expenditure of $144,613. Our membership continues to hold steady at 8498. During the 2021/2022 financial year the Club gained 603 new members however we lost 692 (100 of those having died), a net loss of 89 which is a sobering figure. However, since the on-line membership application went live in May 2022, we have received 125 new applications via this method. It would be wonderful to see some of our 1863 members who either live in or near Auckland at the AGM being held this month. By attending they’ll get a broad overview of our current direction and financial health. Chris Leith and Rod Brayshaw have not stood for re-election in their respective positions. As there were no nominations
received for Hon Secretary/ Treasurer and Registrar, the Management Committee will be co-opting suitable people in the interim. While Chris has only been Hon. Secretary/ Treasurer for a short while, he has made a big contribution to the restructure of the National Office operation and his very detailed financial reporting to both the Management Committee and Executive has been outstanding. Rod was elected Registrar in 1966 and has continuously held that position for 27 years. It would be fair to say that without Rod the VIC card system would not have got off the ground. There is no doubt that the VIC is an increasingly important component for keeping our historic vehicles on the road in New Zealand. Fortunately, we will be able to retain the benefit of Rod’s considerable knowledge and expertise as he will still remain on the Vehicle Technical Committee and act as a mentor and adviser to the Management Committee. He will also continue with his position on the FIVA Technical Commission. Sadly, ex Management Committee member Dave Allbon passed away in Auckland in July. Dave served on the Vehicle Technical Committee which he also chaired. I extend our condolences on behalf of the Club to Dave’s family. To assist in publicising the Club, a new brochure has been produced. A supply will be given to branch delegates at the Executive
meeting. The Management Committee has also made the decision to produce and fund pull-up and tear drop flags for Branches. Details on this will be announced at the Executive/AGM meeting. I have recently sent out a request to Branches seeking expressions of interest for the next Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring. We need them to do some homework and put forward a proposal on why their corner of New Zealand would be ideal for this event. We have a very busy year ahead of us: • The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 has introduced various new requirements to be met by societies regarding their constitutions. The Club and branches have until the end of 2025 to amend their constitutions as necessary. I am signalling to you that the new requirements will likely mean a change to how the Cub is governed. The re-drafting of the constitution is a long-term project over the next couple of years and work will commence after the AGM. The Executive and branches will of course be part of the re-drafting and consultation process. At the same time, a branch constitution template will also be developed to assist and provide guidance to branches to meet the requirements of the new Act. • The Club’s 5-year Strategic Plan
adopted in 2015 has well and truly expired. We’ve now done a robust review of the Plan and highlighted achievements made over the last 5 years, a copy of which has been circulated to branches. As a start to developing a new plan a survey has been sent out to branches. A draft plan will be produced which branches will have the opportunity to review and discuss before the March Executive meeting. The new strategic plan will be presented to the AGM in 2023. • The Club/branch Manual is also now well out-of-date and work will be undertaken this coming year to bring it in line with current Club procedures and policies. The clock is ticking down our annual VCC National Day - Daffodil Rally for Cancer. There has been plenty of advertising in other car magazines and this year we also managed to get a plug in Air New Zealand’s Kia Ora magazine. A big thank you to Kaaren Smylie, Karen in National Office and branch coordinators. It is so pleasing to see that most branches are involved this year – I hope it will be our best ever! Let’s make sure that we continue to drive our history.
Diane Quarrie VCCNZ National President
AS WE SEE IT Last issue I mentioned that I didn’t think anyone had been a branch reporter for a longer time than Dave Duirs, who had done 22 years before hanging up his pen. I was wrong – our current Canterbury Branch Reporter, Tony Becker, has been doing the job since December 1997 so has racked up 25 years to date and still going strong. My apologies to Tony, and considering all the chat about Idle Torque, Tony and all the other Branch Reporters deserve our thanks for the effort they put in issue after issue.
4 Beaded Wheels
We continue to get feedback about Idle Torque and other issues pertaining to magazine presentation. There are some good ideas and suggestions there and where appropriate we will be looking at incorporating some of them in the future. One obvious improvement we can make is to put better photos and maybe even larger photos in the Idle Torque section. There are occasions when a good photo with a descriptive caption can tell the story better than any number of words. The big “but” here is about the quality of pics
that are submitted to us. Some are just great and some …. well, I’ll leave it to your imagination! Obviously the larger (in pixel numbers) the better and framing the subject well is important. A car with an owner or other people included will have more appeal. Usually, pics of a room full of seemingly tiny people in the distance, or a group of people having lunch, will have less appeal. Modern phone cameras are getting ever more sophisticated but holding the camera still and ensuring you have a good focus are a couple
of things that will immediately improve your photos. Composition is important – look up the “rule of thirds” to help you get the balance right. Lighting also plays a large part in taking a good photo. For more tips go to: https://blog.hubspot. com/marketing/good-picturesphone-tips
Kevin Clarkson Chairman Beaded Wheels
VINTAGE CAR CLUB BRANCH EVENTS
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
Waitemata Branch members emerge from the bush on this year’s R’Oil Can Photo Ian and Jacqui Goldingham
AUGUST 8 11 13 14 14 14 17 17 21
Hawke’s Bay South Canterbury Auckland Hawke’s Bay Marlborough Northland Auckland Waikato National
21 25 27 27 27 28 28 31
Central Otago Otago Canterbury Far North Rotorua Auckland Gisborne Rotorua
Midweek Run Midweek Run National VCCNZ AGM Sunday Club Run Mud Plug Monthly Run Mid Week Tourers Wednesday Wander Daffodil Rally for Cancer Monte Targo (Daffodil Run) Midweek Run M/C ‘Round the Bays Kohukohu (Daffodil) Run Sulphur City Rally Club Run Navigators Run Midweek Run
SEPTEMBER
3 Banks Peninsula 3 Canterbury
Brooklands Levels Women & Young Drivers’ Rally 3 Waimate Swap Meet 4 South Canterbury Opening Run 8 South Canterbury Midweek Run 10 Canterbury Awards Dinner 10 South Canterbury Swap Meet 11 Auckland Annual PV, PW, P60, P80 Rally 11 Nelson Nelson Trials 11 Manawatu Vintage Rally 11 Northland Monthly Run 11 Waikato Venturers Run 14 E Bay of Plenty Midweek Run 16-19 North Shore Spring Tour 17 Taranaki Rubber Duckie 17 Far North Father’s Day 18 Horowhenua Sunday Run
18 18 18 18 21 21 24 24 25 25 25 25 25 28
Rotorua Taupo Waikato Wanganui Auckland Waikato Central Otago Gore Ashburton Auckland Canterbury Gisborne South Canterbury Rotorua
Club Run Brass Monkey Run PV Rally Sunday Run Mid Week Tourers Wednesday Wander Blossom Festival Rally Dickson Auction Spring Rally Club Run Annual Veteran Rally Club Run Continental Run Midweek Run
OCTOBER 1-2 Otago 1 5 5 7-9 9 11 14-16 15 15-16 15-16 16 16 16 16 17-20 19 21-24 22-24 26 28-31
Dunvegan Motorcycle Rally Manawatu Swap Meet Waikato Motorcycle Run Wellsford/Wkwth Kauri Museum 60th Anniversary Canterbury Swap Meet Northland Monthly Run Gore Auction Night Marlborough Biennial Rally Manawatu Motorcycle Rally Banks Peninsula Hill Climbs Canterbury Girder Fork Rally Central Otago Sunday Run Gore P60 Run Rotorua Club Run Wanganu Sunday Run Central Hawke’s Bay East Coast Adventure Waikato Wednesday Wander South Canterbury Mt Cook Rally Manawatu 60th Anniversary Celebrations Rotorua Midweek Run Hawke’s Bay Safari Weekend
28-30 Banks Peninsula 30 Gisborne
Wigram Revival Ruapuna Club Run
NOVEMBER 2 4-6 4-6 5 6 11-13
12-13 13 13 16 18-20 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 26 26 27
Wanganui Otago South Canterbury Waikato Bay of Plenty Northland
Night Trial Taieri Tour Safari Weekend Veteran Rally Swap Meet & Family Day Far North Tour 50th Anniversary South Canterbury All American Weekend Central Otago Sunday Run Waikato Gypsy Rose Run Waikato Wednesday Wander Central Hawke’s Bay Veteran Rally & Homestead Run Horowhenua Tararua Trundle North Otago Swap Meet Wairarapa Gold Medal M/C Rally Canterbury Homestead Run Banks Peninsula Hawkswood Sprint Gisborne Tahaenui Fete South Canterbury Vintage/Veteran/ Commercial Run Waikato Swap Meet Wanganui Sunday Run Canterbury Motorcycle Annual Rally Far North Dunny Run Gore Hill Climb
NATIONAL EVENTS 21 August 2022 VCCNZ National Day – Daffodil Rally for Cancer 19-23 September 2022 North Island Club Captain’s Tour 24 -27 February 2023 National Veteran Car Rally, Auckland 3-6 February 2023 National Motorcycle Rally, Southland
This list does not contain all branch events – Check branch newsletters for up-to-date details of smaller events. This column is compiled from the VCCNZ National Calendar of Events, and events as listed in each branch newsletter. Any deletions, additions, alterations need to be notified to Beaded Wheels by the Branch Secretary before 10th of the month prior to magazine publication.
While Beaded Wheels makes every attempt to check the accuracy of the dates published in this column we advise readers to confirm all dates with the individual branch concerned.
A valid Vehicle ID card (VIC) is required for any vehicle entered in a National VCC event. Visit www.vcc.org.nz for more information on how to obtain a VIC for your vehicle.
Beaded Wheels 5
NATIONAL OFFICE NEWS Contact National Office for all queries regarding VICs, historic race licences, logbooks, registration of vehicles, lighting endorsement, address changes, subscriptions, membership cards, speed events. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TIME
Renewal invoices will be emailed to all members in late August or early September 2022, for the subscription year 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023. For those members who do not have an email address in our system, the invoices will be posted. If you don’t receive your invoice let your branch secretary or National Office know before the end of September. Membership cards will be forwarded to financial members in November. Members who have not paid by 1 November 2022, will show as unfinancial. Reminder notices will be sent before Christmas, and again in January. All branch secretaries will be advised of their unfinancial members. Members whose renewal invoice is unpaid at the time of the March 2023 Executive Meeting will no longer be a member as per the constitution, and will lose any previous continuous membership. Please advise National Office if you have changed your postal
address, email address, phone number or sold/purchased vehicles. If you intend to resign it would be appreciated if you notify the National Office by 31 October 2022. You will be able to pay directly into the Club’s bank account, or via credit card, via a link in the email with the invoice. Cheques are no longer accepted. You must use your full membership number as the payment reference for internet banking. NATIONAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Club’s Executive Meeting and Annual General Meeting will take place in Auckland on 13 August 2022. The Executive also meet on 12 August. The Executive is comprised of one delegate from each branch plus the Management Committee members. Your delegate will report back to your branch on the proceedings. The minutes of the Executive Meeting are distributed to each branch secretary and all members will receive minutes of the AGM, branch officer details and the
Beaded Wheels Beaded Wheels is the voice of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) and its 36 branches covering the length and breadth of the country. The efforts of our members continue to foster and ever widen the interest in this segment of our country’s history. It is to these people, who appreciate the fascination of age, the individuality and the functional elegance of vehicles from a bygone era, that this magazine is dedicated Beaded Wheels – Our long established title may have readers wondering about its
6 Beaded Wheels
origin. By way of explanation beaded edge wheels use beaded edge tyres that are kept in place by reinforced rubber beads, which fit into the rolled edges of the wheel rim. This style of wheel was a distinctive feature of early motoring, being used on early bicycles, many pre-1924 cars and most motorcycles until 1927. In March 1955 The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand adopted the title Beaded Wheels for their club magazine which was the successor to the monthly Guff Sheet.
VERO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF HISTORIC MOTORING
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Following on from the very successful 2022 Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring held in Taranaki, feedback from participants and the Executive of the VCC is that we should hold another. The Festival is not hosted or organised by a Branch. A Festival Director would be appointed by the Management Committee to run the event who would then select a committee for organising it. The Management Committee is seeking expressions of interest from branches who think their corner of New Zealand would be ideal for the next Festival. We invite branches to submit a proposal showcasing their region to president@vcc.org.nz for consideration by 30 October 2022. Further information regarding proposals been sent to all branch secretaries. If you would like to know more, please feel free to have a chat with either myself, Greg or Gaynor Terrill, at the AGM in Diane Quarrie, President VCCNZ August, or by telephone calendar of events as an insert in a future issue of Beaded Wheels.
(found on the Club website, through your branch or direct from National Office).
BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
BRANCH TRANSFER
Branches around the country have held their annual general meetings and as a result there are a number of new committee members. We would like to welcome all the new committees and thank all those who have retired for their assistance over the past years. The work that the committees put in to running the Club and assisting with the work undertaken by National Office is greatly appreciated. VCC VERO INSURANCE SCHEME
Please note: Financial membership of the Vintage Car Club of NZ Incorporated is a requirement to be insured under the VCC/Vero Insurance Scheme. BOUGHT A VEHICLE THAT HAS A VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ VEHICLE ID CARD?
Upon a change of ownership, the Vehicle ID Card is no longer valid. It is easy to transfer this into your name. Complete the VCC Change of Ownership form
To transfer between branches, complete a transfer form. This can be obtained through your branch secretary or from our website. Please note that the transfer form must be signed off by both branches involved in the transfer. COMMUNICATIONS WITH NATIONAL OFFICE
Please include your membership number in all communications with National Office including payments to the National Office bank account. This can be found on your membership card in the top right-hand corner. NATIONAL OFFICE VISITORS
To ensure we maintain a safe working space for our staff and members, the following rules are being maintained. We thank you for respecting these rules. •
Please wear your face mask
•
Sign the visitors’ book
•
Sanitize hands on entry
Do not come to the National Office if you have cold/flu like symptoms
NATIONAL OFFICE HOURS
Mon-Fri 9.30am to 1.30pm.
Linda Duffell Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Inc Office Administrator
MAILBAG The editorial committee reserve the right to publish, edit or refuse publication of any item submitted as comment. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily express the policy or views of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) or the publishers. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
P SCANDAL AT THE TARGA
COMPULSORY INSURANCE
Performance enhancing drugs in sport, a tall tale with some factual content
In recent months, while driving on the local roads in the Bay of Plenty and the Waikato, I have become even more aware of the low standard of driving involving all kinds of vehicles. Crossing double yellow lines, overtaking on blind corners, using a mobile phone in the hand while driving at the same time — not hands free, overtaking manoeuvres heading straight towards you and pulling over at the last minute.
Furiously peddling in the recently completed VCC Targa event I was looking for any advantage which was not specifically prohibited within the rules. To this end I was inclined to enjoy a cigar on the touring stages, allowing a measure of quiet contemplation as we migrated to the next furious dash through the closed road stages. One of the timekeeping stewards seemed to enjoy the aromatic enhancement to his day and the cigars drew favourable comments. I pointed out that they were not entirely in keeping with the tradition of the Jensen, and that I had the appropriate accessory, a pipe, for a more period effect. Being a younger chap he expressed surprise that a pipe could be used to smoke tobacco, and I promised a demonstration on our next encounter. And so it came to pass that I was puffing on the pipe next time we met, much to his pleasure that I’d remembered. On our next engagement it was suggested that the pipe could potentially be enhanced in its effect, and that just a sprinkle of P in the tobacco could drive me to higher planes of achievement. The stars aligned as we prepared to repeat the stage later in the day. As it happened I needed a wee and took to the bushes pipe in hand, and heeding the advice, gave it a sprinkle. Well it didn’t enhance the flavour, and didn’t burn that well, but I knocked a full minute off my stage time. Roger Douglas
Enough. I have now installed a front and rear camera in the daily car and ask the following question. Can anyone explain the plausible reason why motor insurance is not compulsory in New Zealand? I was also surprised to find that motor insurance is not compulsory or mandatory in Australia as well. Over to the experts. Who knows, introducing compulsory motor insurance, could save some lives as well and reduce the theft of motor vehicles. Clive Taylor VCC BOP
1920 DAVIS TOURER
Over the last four years I have restored a 1920 Davis tourer. I purchased the vehicle from the Duxbury estate in Loburn, North Canterbury in June 2018. The Duxburys purchased the vehicle in its dismantled state and have owned it for about 50 years. It has been off the road and in storage since last registered in 1950. Amazingly, as the restoration progressed, all of the parts for the car were in the numerous boxes that they had been stored in. The only outsourcing being new tyres, new radiator core and new nickel plating. I am now in the VIN process and while I have the old number
John Lynn’s newly completed 1920 Davis tourer.
plates and a registration sticker on the old windscreen, dated 30 June 1950, I have no other ownership records available as all registration and ownership records appear to have been destroyed by New Zealand Transport Agency. When I purchased the vehicle I had a call from a gentleman in Blenheim who knew the car had changed hands and was pleased that I was finally going to restore the vehicle. He indicated that it had been based in the Marlborough/Awatere Valley region. Unfortunately, I did not get his contact details. Does any reader have any information on this vehicle. John Lynn elaine.john@xtra.co.nz cellphone 027 448 1430
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Great article by Kevin Clarkson. I’d like to offer my own slant if I may. What does make a car a classic? I think all four of mine are (in their own way). 1) 1966 Humber Super Snipe. No argument there. 2) 1995 Toyota Hilux single cab flat deck. New Zealand built (in Christchurch). A kiwi classic surely. 3) 1998 Honda Civic, New Zealand built. A dubious one perhaps. It is 24 years old though. 4) 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350. A modern, but aren’t all SL Mercedes classics? Well, just my own opinions,
but an interesting topic of conversation. Thanks again for the thoughts Kevin. Karl van de Water Northland
BEADED WHEELS CONTENT
Firstly, comment re the value of Idle Torque, it’s good to have a summary of the different activities of VCC branches around the country, mostly it’s about our members and their activities around our hobby, vintage cars. Then this leads to the debate and the very good article by Barry Barnes on how we categorise 30 year plus vehicles in a general term. Some would use the word classic but I would keep that aside for vehicles that have had some influence on history or have some special place in that history such as the red- badged Bentleys. Then there were two cars of the 20th Century, the Model T Ford and BMC Mini, both had a major impact on the development of the motor car. Collins Dictionary defines “vintage car” as one built between 1919 and 1930. Another usage is (of wine) of an outstandingly good year, representative of the best and most typical. So clearly that would only apply to a very few automotive examples. My humble effort in defining our hobby cars as vintage would apply to just about anything that we have a special fondness for, in my case, starting with Model Ts 50 years ago and BMC A series engined cars today.
Beaded Wheels 7
JAGUAR HISTORY WANTED
Several months ago I purchased a right hand drive 1947 Jaguar 3½ litre Mark IV saloon car, serial #612024. It is a CCCA full classic which spent the first half of its life in New Zealand. I am trying to document the history of the car.
Perhaps we could have a call out to Beaded Wheels readers to come up with a new definition for the ‘plus 30s‘. I also enjoyed the article by Jim Bennet on re-powered road cars. In the late ‘70s we repowered Ford Cortinas with 3K and 4K Toyota Corolla engines and gearboxes and a Mitsubishi Sigma with a Datsun 180 B motor. We bought those good used engines ex Japan and re-powered or upgraded as was required. One Escort was powered with a two litre DOHC Toyota and five speed gearbox. Wow! Unfortunately I’m not allowed to talk about my most successful upgrade and it’s not electric. Getting back to the Idle Torque debate, I enjoy reading the Beaded Wheels magazine which has has a wide range of good content; restorations, technical, historical and individual stories about vehicles and people. For those of us who are not imminently waiting for God, Beaded Wheels is inspirational. Graham Taylor
FANCY A BOAT RIDE?
Wanted — an American truck circa 1953 in Rotorua. I have an American vintage Chris Craft wooden launch from 1953. I am looking for a VCC member with a vintage American truck, circa the same year. I want to trade boat rides for towing. Having a matching truck and boat would be awesome. Peter Mitchell Cell 021 217 1495 peter@mitchell.co.nz
8 Beaded Wheels
TRACKING DOWN THE REO
I’m trying to track down my grandfather’s Reo, which I understand was restored a fair while back and is probably still in New Zealand. The photo was taken in Nelson about 1908-09 judging by the age of my dad in the back seat. Any chance one of your readers may know where it is? A bloke who knows about these things thought it could be in Whanganui, but couldn’t confirm it. Bob Livingston Nelson staffordplace@xtra.co.nz
WOF SYSTEM
Thank you to G Walker for the comments on the New Zealand six month WoF. When I joined the Club 15 years ago I was told the VCC is talking to the government to get this changed. Your note “Change may come but the wheels of government seem to grind exceedingly slowly. We live in hope.” is not accepted. Living in hope is not enough. The purpose of a club is also to have a lobby. We saw law changes within a week. Burkhard Strauch Nelson
Someone hand-wrote the following in the Jaguar Owner’s Maintenance Manual, which I found in the dashboard glove box: Original owner: Newman Brothers Ltd., Hardy Street, Nelson, NZ. 17 June 1953, car was sold with mileage: 37,614. No name of purchaser. 25 June 1969, car was sold with mileage: 80,600. No name of purchaser. Car was again sold with no date listed, with mileage: 94,357. No name of purchaser. The Jaguar Heritage Trust in Coventry, England, maintains records on the production and initial distribution of all Jaguars. They identified the original distributor of the car was Independent Motor Sales, Wellington, New Zealand. It was exported to them on 13 November 1947. I believe the last mileage entry in the owner’s manual was when it was sold the final time in New Zealand. It was then exported to the USA by Michael Studley who passed away six years ago. I have a 5 April 1985 letter from Mr Studley in Chicago, IL, USA, directing payment to be made to the Christchurch Sportscar Center for the sale of the Jaguar. Although the car was manufactured 26 September 1947, it was registered in New Zealand as a 1948, so still has a 1948 title. It presently wears New Zealand licence plates front and rear, IY 6303. I believe they were issued sometime in the late 1960s. I am trying to document the history of the car. I see where the original owner, Newman Brothers Ltd, transportation company, has merged several times with other companies. Because of this, I suspect little if any documentation of the car
remains in their files, but I plan to contact them and ask. I would like to identify previous owners, licence plate numbers used on the car, copies of titles or registrations, bills of sale, import and export documentation, or anything else related to the car’s New Zealand history. George Cole Cocoa Beach Florica, USA gtcole@peoplepc.com
JENSEN-HEALEY
Roger White’s fondness for his Jensen-Healey reminds me of the one we loved, quirks and all, for 23 years. It was the only car we bought new. All it lacked was development. Those quirks! When parked nose down, fuel syphoned into the cylinders and locked the engine solid. Mercifully I realised what had happened and managed to inch the car forward in reverse gear and clear the lock. We fitted a tap in the boot, a great cure as long as you remembered. The engine started instantly from cold and was fine round town and at highway speed. On tight corners at high revs in a low gear oil surged and was picked up by the breather and flooded back into the carbs, producing clouds of exhaust smoke. This became worse with age, although a catch container in the breather line helped. Engine details were not thought through. The cam covers came down over the sides of the head, instead of having a simple flange. Result: tightening the covers increased the spread of the side portions of the covers and the oil leaks out, including into the plug holes. Better washers on the bolts securing the covers helped. The timing and water pump at the front of the engine was covered by a plastic shield. To get the shield off it was necessary to remove the radiator. We cut the shield in half and made up an extra bracket. The Dellorto carbs were Italian Webers. They could be tricky
TIMELINES I still think the styling was excellent. The hood was good until the Velcro lost its grip. Son David added domes. Happy experience with a Sunbeam Alpine caused us to order the optional hard-top. This arrived after the rest of the car. It was of some sort of plastic material, quite heavy, a pig to fit and had warped in transit. I only fitted it when moving house. The exhaust was held at the back by a single pop-rivet onto the bodywork. This fatigued through in a very short time, tearing out quite a chunk of the underside of the tail. The car was always garaged, except on holiday, but in later years we found serious rust under the carpets. We bought our car just before the price went up about 100%. The next series was heavier – wood trim and a five speed ZF gear box which did not seem to result in any improvement in Road Test figures. The four speed gear box was fine. For all that, it was fast, handled well and a real sports car. We used to take our three small children round on the ledge behind the front seats. There were certain advantages in the mixed components of our prized car. I spoke to sports car people of ‘our Healey’. Among the upper crust it was the Jensen. I got enthusiastic with the small race cars especially Lotus engines like ours. In moments of frustration it was a Vauxhall… but those GM bits never gave bother.
Our car was mustard colour, registered GN 5637. Anyone know where it is? Scott Thomson photo: simoncars.co.uk
to start when hot. They faded with time but Fred McLean in Christchurch serviced them for us about half way through our ownership.
MEMBERSHIP
I write with respect to the Captain’s Log pg 41 of Beaded Wheels June/July 2022, and in particular, the last paragraph under Junior Membership. I firmly believe that regardless of age, no matter what or who the organisation, group or community, if there is no benefit to being a part of it, then why would you. My definition of ‘benefit’ covers, social, economic, recreational, educational, and sense of belonging. By being a part of the VCC we can benefit from one or many of these categories. We must be more active in promoting the benefits of being a member of the VCC, over all its facets. We are a great organisation with many streams of activity providing a variety of ways to belong and participate. Every opportunity should be taken locally and nationally to promote our activities as singular events or as a collective. It is our responsibility, to work to maintain our membership and the existence of the club into the future. It is inevitable that membership numbers will decline unless our club keeps evolving with social, and technological development, always with the aim to provide benefits to members no matter how many there are, what they drive or ride as club eligible vehicles, or their age. Lee Brehaut
We are a great organisation with many streams of activity providing a variety of ways to belong and participate.
1948 Singer SM1500 saloon.
1902
120 YEARS AGO
1922
100 YEARS AGO
1947
75 YEARS AGO
1972
50 YEARS AGO
1992
30 YEARS AGO
VETERAN VEHICLES
Mercedes mighty Simplex 40-60 hp won its first race at the Frankfurt circuit. Powered by a four-cylinder 5315cc engine developing 44bhp at 1300rpm hooked to a four speed gearbox. The Mercedes was equally at home in sporting guise or, in its 60hp form, carrying luxury bodywork. The Simplex label was applied as, by the standards of 1902, the car was simple to operate.
VINTAGE VEHICLES
Packard owners weep. Biflex Bumpers made a promotional movie in September 1922 showing what happened when a Packard was crashed into a tree. First the movie was shown at normal speed and then in slow motion to show exactly how the Biflex Bumper absorbed the shock. Does this add to the mana of the Packard name insofar as it was the subject of one of the earliest crash tests?
PW VEHICLES
Singer found themselves betwixt and between. On the one hand they updated the 9hp roadster by moving the 1074cc, sohc engine four inches forward and flattening the boot floor, but retaining just three speeds. At the same time they were getting the “remarkably up to date and modern” slab sided SM1500 ready for its 1948 launch. Styled by chief engineer Leo Shorter, the SM’s design was modelled on Howard Darrin’s 1946 Kaiser-Frazer, but didn’t inspire.
P60 VEHICLES
Hillman claimed their Avenger 1500 surprised nine out of ten people. What surprised them isn’t certain. Was it the $2,998 price tag, the 72bhp engine getting the Avenger up to 90mph or the 0 – 60mph time of 13.5 seconds, or the 33mpg fuel economy? Maybe it was the interior width of 52.5 inches, the widest in its class, the heater, the reclining front seats, the Flo-Thru ventilation, the power disc brakes or the alternator?
P80 VEHICLES
Mitsubishi’s 120Kw, multi point fuel injection V6, V3000 was described as quiet and smooth. Three versions were available the Executive, Super, or SEi at $47,600. Coming with cruise control, electric mirrors, windows and map lights, the V3000 also featured three suspension settings. Soft for around town, sport for quicker driving or Auto to let the computer choose.
Graeme Rice’s compilation of developments in the motoring world this month in history.
Beaded Wheels 9
MAILBAG DELIGHTED WITH ARTICLE
In issue 376 I was delighted to see Laurie Poolman’s reflections on the 1972 FIVA Rally. It was the best in his long experience — needless to say, I found it very satisfying to organise and run. Its financial flop was also very real and carries serious warnings for the future. So well worth retelling in full.
WOLSELEY RACER REVIVAL
Donn White with his 1973 Mini Clubman GT and J im Chrystall with his 1958 Wolsley 1500 pose for the camera back in October 1993 during a classic car racing promotion. Photo - courtesy Donn White Collection.
CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 76 YEARS
No. 376 June/July 2022
New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine $7.95
Upon receiving the June/July 2022 copy of Beaded Wheels SKOPE CLASSIC I was thrilled to see the ex-Jim Chrystall Wolseley 1500 featuring on the cover. Hats off to the present owner, Colin Hey, who has obviously made an incredible job concerning the reincarnation of this car which has a lengthy race history. I was particularly impressed with the presentation of the car in the photo – the colour scheme, racing number 57 and even the correct period decals have all obviously been retained by Colin. The late Jim Chrystall would have been very proud. DRIVERS PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL ROAD TEST 1979 HONDA C50 CUB MARKET PLACE
9 418979 000012
FIND YOUR DREAM PROJECT
THE KETTERING CONTRIBUTION FROM ELECTRIC STARTS TO ROCK 'N ROLL
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
I first met Jim Chrystall in the very early 1970s when we were both turning up regularly at motor race venues in the North Island. Jim was not only a fast and focused driver but he was meticulous with his preparation and that combination of skills meant that the Wolseley 1500 often punched way above its weight. By the early 1970s the 1958 Wolseley 1500 wasn’t exactly a brand new race car but all of us gave the driver and car combination the greatest respect. Jim really had the car flying back then and his press on style was aided by the fact that he had fitted a unique BMC B Series cross flow head which gave a huge increase in performance for those times.
10 Beaded Wheels
When I helped launch the classic car racing concept Jim Chrystall was one of the first people on my list that I visited in the mid 1980s with the notion of convincing him to come racing again. This he did by the late 1980s and he instantly proved to be very competitive with the Wolseley, just like the old days. Jim was a consistent starter in the two classic car series in the North Island that I was promoting at the time. From memory he ended up winning the BMC Classic Car Series no fewer than three times and was also a leading contender in the Intermarque Classic Car Series. Jim’s enthusiasm for racing certainly became rekindled during that time and he became a regular contestant at all sorts of race meetings up and down the country. The Wolseley 1500 must have literally logged thousands of racing miles. In fact Jim Chrystall displayed such a high level of enthusiasm for classic car racing that I suggested he take over promoting things from me after I had put in a ten year stint. Jim took over the reins for another ten years concerning the promotion of the BMC Classic Car Series and The Intermarque Classic Car Series. He still managed to regularly race the Wolseley 1500 as well. The two classic car series have morphed into what today is the very well supported ERC Series and Jim’s
dedication helped pave the way for that to happen. It was at a club meeting being held at The Taupo Motor Race Circuit in the late 1990s where Jim encountered a rare spot of bother. Apparently another driver with much less ability created a situation where Jim ended up rolling the car, fortunately without sustaining injury. At first glance the Wolseley looked very much worse for wear but the writer knew of a suitable car in Tauranga which came in handy for the much needed replacement panels. Jim was in the process of bringing the car back up to scratch when sadly he became ill and succumbed to motor neurone disease in 2004. For some time after Jim’s passing the Wolseley sat incomplete in one of his sheds on his Gordonton property. I’m delighted to see that Colin Hey has obviously put in some very hard work and made sure that the restoration job got finished. I look forward to seeing the car in the flesh and meeting Colin at Classic/Historic race meetings in the near future. Donn White Tauranga June 2022
For the Haast Rally in 1965, I was still CEO of our family engineering business and could always arrange planning time with Sam Slyfield, who of course, owned his own business and likewise, was free to try to find spare time. By 1972 however, I owned a consultancy business involving quite a lot of overseas time and needed a good keen local co-organiser. And thus did Norman Skevington become my invaluable 2IC. In those pre-Roger Douglas days, the P&T Dept was a vast and complex organisation and Norm was one of their principal trouble shooters as well as a good keen vintage man. He was also a keen Rotary man with good contacts throughout that organisation. Our Haast experience had taught us the huge value of good programme sale prior to the event, and we spent a lot of time and money on a good one. Norm got a great reception from his regional Rotary leaders to distribute these programmes nationwide for a good 25% commission prior to the starts of some 20 different routes to Nelson, ranging from Auckland to Invercargill. From our printers, dozens of parcels went off to all these Rotary Club leaders well prior to the event start to ensure good publicity for each start. It didn’t seem to have much effect however and on our arrival in Nelson HQ we soon found out why. Parcel after parcel arrived back in Nelson, some not even opened! It was one thing for leaders to accept a great money-making operation
HALF PAGE FOR COKER
18 Parkwood Place, East Tamaki, Auckland
but quite another for actual members to sully their hands with actually selling something, however profitable to their very “superior organisation”. In our budget, we had allowed $20,000 for progamme sales and our audited loss for the whole event totalled $18,214, entirely on loss of programme sales. Every other aspect of the event, especially the 24 hour relay came out a bit ahead of budget. It is all about self-reliance and a long hard look at would be co-operators. How many Daffodil Day adverts and press releases have you found mentioning the VCC of New Zealand? I haven’t yet! Andrew Anderson
TIMELINES CORRECTION
A correction needs to be made to BW 376 pg 12. I worked in BMC, BL franchises on Triumph Dolomites as well as being an owner. Dolomites came in differing capacities and I can confirm none were twin cam engines. The 1500 was born out of the Standard Eight and Ten ohv pushrod units. The 1.8 (actually 1850cc) Dolomite was an inclined sohc unit of Standard Eight valve principal, it was followed by the Dolomite Sprint using basically the same engine but 2000cc with a very ingenious cylinder head utilising 16 valves but still SOHC. These overhead cam engines which also included the single cam per head Stag V8 engines were a co-operation between Saab and British Leyland. Similar units appear in Saab vehicles, the four cylinder motors being
basically the left hand bank of the Stag V8. Don Ammon, Mem Nelson
LED LIGHTS FOR YOUR VINTAGE
I recently discovered the new dippable focused beam headlight bulb which I purchased and am very impressed with, These LED bulbs will effortlessly pass WoF inspections as they are a true dippable headlight as opposed to the older LED bulb which did not dip, but just cut out half of the LEDs and this causes issues with some WoF inspections as the headlight was still quite bright and did not dip.
These bulbs are a bit pricey but if you value being able to see where you are driving and being able to dip your lights for oncoming traffic then they may be of interest to you. for more information check the website. www.logolites. com you can see a video demonstrating the fitting and operation of the bulbs. They can be ordered online or through any of the suppliers listed on the web site and possibly Veteran and Vintage Spares and Repairs. (Auckland). David Stafford Mem BOP
There is no comparison with these LED bulbs and the old 32-50cp bulbs in the amount of light they produce and will fit 6 or 12volt negative or positive earth cars.
Beaded Wheels 11
SOAPBOX A column for those who like to stir the pot … just a little.
THE CLUB BRAND John Stokes, Member Wellington
We don’t have to re-invent the wheel! From his soapbox Barry Barnes asks, quite rightly, “Where to from here with the VCC logo?” If I am reading the club mood correctly, there is a nationwide desire for change. So, while the discussions remain fresh, it makes sense to make use of the momentum that has built up to arrive at some acceptable answers. We know much impassioned discussion took place within most branches on the subject. That displays a wonderful care for, and ownership of, the club by the club members. However, at least two branches formally requested a name change for their clubs to include titles that they thought better encapsulated what they (the two branches) were and what they offered, to other than what was being proposed. Indeed the presentations offered by the Management Committee strongly emphasised the need for a logo that said “this is what we are and this is what we offer”. It is a an absolutely fundamental requirement for any successful
logo to say “this is what we are and this is what we offer”. (Some large organisations choose to spend gazillions to defy that principle - for instance, McDonalds and their yellow arches – but most don’t have the financial resources to do that and I suspect the Vintage Car Club is one of them!)
step backwards! We must ask ourselves, “what are we, and what do we offer”. Once we’ve agreed on that we must ask ourselves whether our name – what we tell everyone we’re called - says “this is what we are and this is what we offer”. It is that simple – we must agree on what our name is!
So, on one hand I doff my cap to those branches who faced up to what they believe to be the reality for them, and requested a name change to better represent what they are and what they offer; on the other hand, I acknowledge that no successful organisation could permit such cracks to form within their structure if they are to have a strong future together. As far as our logo is concerned, I believe this pretty well sums up the position that the VCC is now in.
We may all have an opinion about that, but it’s all just hot air right now, and it will remain so until the matter is dealt with formally. There is no doubt that the acceptable answer to that fundamental question lies within the membership. At present it is premature for any of us to suggest any new names or variations to our existing name or logo. Members’ thoughts ought to be encouraged and captured only once a system to manage those thoughts is in place.
But the good news is that we are a passionate lot and, to sort this once and for all, we don’t have to re-invent the wheel. We’ve just got to get really pragmatic about it.
Managed effectively, out of that process will come agreement on a name. Whatever that name may be it must be understandable within the organisation and outside of it. Following that vital first step, we can then develop a logo
To find that elusive new logo, the first thing we must do is take a
that says the same thing as the name - that “this is what we are and this is what we offer”. And then, together, we can begin to build a brand! As for the brand, if we are to be taken seriously outside the organisation (for instance, as The Historic Vehicle Authority of New Zealand) outsiders must see us as unified and strong – and credible. Until we do this, we don’t stand a chance to arrive at an understandable and acceptable new logo! As said, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel! There are ways to offer every member the opportunity to be involved in a process that is democratic. If that sounds scary, it is not – it is just a matter of having faith in people’s good judgement and managing the process. If that sounds laborious, it is not! It should be a well-managed process, with community (member) involvement being the oil, and which is a lot of fun, productive and incredibly rewarding all round. How do I know so? Because I’ve done it (in a past life). Twice! So, let’s get on with it and use the inertia that has already built up. PS did I mention that our name and our logo both must say “this is what we are and this is what we offer”?
Wanganui Branch: Winding up a back country road at the Wanganui Annual Rally. A Riley Elf dwarfed by two Model A’s
12 Beaded Wheels
This article represents the opinion of the author and in no way reflects the position of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand. Contributions up to 800 words are very welcome to soapbox. Email beaded wheels@ vcc.org.nz
THE WAY WE WERE
s
W inter 1952 12/5 Alvis and Nick Ferrar’s family vintage Chummy at Mythust Gardens, Aunt Glady’s home on my shift from Newpark to Clitheroe.
As explained last issue my personal problem of dealing with a profusion of asbestos, together with vastly inadequate funding for any decent vintage motoring, involved a serious search for real money! In New Zealand, a November outing to the Yaldhurst Domain brought forth the name of Warner Mauger. That was to become a very important one for the Club! Fortunately for me, I had spent the 1947 ‘varsity holidays employed as chainman for the Chief Surveyor of the newly established North Canterbury Catchment Board and could thus apply for the job of chainman on the Haweswater Aqueduct scheme to bring vast quantities of good water to Manchester city. The Bowater Tunnel section of this scheme — a ten-mile six foot diameter concrete lined tunnel was already driven, and the surveyor’s job was to keep the concrete liner formwork moving in a straight line. The contractor, The Cementation Company, had a vast camp high on the Yorkshire Hills with the nearest civilization the town of Clitheroe, some ten miles away. Peter Tatt, the young surveyor, and I worked a normal eight hour day but being mid-winter, we never saw daylight! The main workforce – almost all Yugoslav immigrants – worked 12-hour
CHANGE OF DIRECTION shifts, divided between Croats and Serbs. So real knife fights were only at shift changes, a system learned by Cementation Company the hard way. Jock Baird, the maintenance engineer for the whole enterprise never had enough staff. I happily worked weekends and bits of weekday shifts for him. Since the concreting was only five miles completed, there was a good four miles of tunnel railway for the concrete agitator trucks, eight to a train, to travel to unload, washdown and return via dual carriage way sections to base mixer. So often, after finishing as chainman, I got the job of driving the Ruston diesel locos up and back, and on long weekends. Jock was on rebuilding of the face of the “placer“ which was seriously worn down by the action of hundreds of tonnes of concrete going through it!
The boss man of the whole operation, Mr Widdowson, lived with his family in a large house on a hill above the camp. He, being a good motoring man, quickly discerned my elegant 12/50 Alvis in the very sparsely occupied parking area. At his command, Peter Tatt had to do without my company every Thursday afternoon and I had to drive Mrs Widdowson and their daughter into Clitheroe for a weekly shopping session in their very nice 1930s 40hp Armstrong Siddeley, a sports saloon with Wilson pre-selector box with normal clutch. This was also my only sight of daylight once a week for two and a half months! But it did get me a decent pile of folding stuff!
Beaded Wheels The Beaded Wheels team is always on the lookout for a good article for future issues. To encourage you to put pen to paper two lucky authors or photographers per issue will win a limited edition Beaded Wheels cap.
The next instalment remembering the origins and very early events of the Vintage Car Club as recalled by Andrew Anderson
ANDREW ANDERSON VCCNZ FOUNDING & LIFE MEMBER
writers wanted
Alas we are not in the position to provide financial recompense for services rendered but we are sure you will be compensated by the satisfaction of seeing your words and photos in print. Email your articles and ideas to: beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz High resolution digital photos are
preferred. Or contact our editorial committee chairman, Kevin Clarkson, if you wish to discuss an idea for an article. Phone 021 0270 6525, kevin@vcc.org.nz Our winners of the Beaded Wheels caps for this issue are: Colin Hey and Ian Higgins Beaded Wheels 13
A DELAGE DELIGHT
RESTORATION OF A 1911 DELAGE 10/12 R TYPE Words and photos Bob Hayton
It is sometimes said that nobody is restoring old cars anymore – either it’s too expensive, too difficult or they just don’t have the time nowadays. Obviously, such comments come from people who have not yet met David Hall, one of our Waikato Branch founder members and our first Secretary in 1958. 14 Beaded Wheels
Beaded Wheels 14
For the past six years now David has been working on his 1911 Delage two-seat roadster, known colloquially as a ladies car. It is indeed a pretty little motor which has had the full treatment in David’s skilled hands, being transformed from a virtual derelict wreck to the showroom beauty it is today. This is the sixth car that David has fully restored, following a 1906 Humber which was finished and let go in 2015. The Delage is also on the way now, having been procured by the Mahan Collection in Geraldine, the town from whence the wreck was first recovered by a teenage Gavin Bain. It is likely that the Delage always was a South Canterbury car having been found slowly decaying into the ground by Gavin in 1961. Fortunately, many of the more delicate and accessory parts had been removed into safer storage, for unknown reasons, but had stayed with the wreck when it was sold to a D Wilkins. He only kept it a couple of years before it changed hands again to George Topliss of Nelson. George was a bit more of a stayer, holding on to the project until his death some 44 years later, whereupon the family passed it on to Alan Meredith in 2009. David’s Humber project had earlier also come from Alan and by 2012 the Delage followed the same route into his workshop. In all this time the only major work which had been done was straightening and painting the chassis, so the bulk of it was still in very poor condition, body and wheels rotted away, but otherwise fairly complete. For some reason a more modern style of mudguard and headlight appears to have been fitted to the car, so these too had eventually to be replaced with the correct style. David is the antithesis of a cheque-book restorer, but does draw on the knowledge of other skilled local people in veteran car circles. He has taken advice and sometimes practical help from the likes of VCC members Wallace McNair, Reece or David Burnett and Nigel Weber, to name just a few. He searches swap meets, draws from his own stock of period parts and makes from scratch where necessary, often using recycled materials from odd sources like op-shops or junk collections. Among the trade suppliers he has involved in this project are Vern Jensen for the wooden wheels, beaded edge wheel rims from Veteran Car Rims of Christchurch (a service no longer 15 Beaded Wheels
available locally, the business and jigs having recently been sold to a company in the Isle of Man). The upholstery and hood were done by Craig Brown, Reece helped with building a replacement bonnet and the final coats of paint were put on by Daryl McCoard. Otherwise he has done it all himself; steaming timber for the hood bows, building the body frame from american ash, panel beating tub and guards, fabricating many of the timber fittings from recycled rimu and de-rusting, re-shaping, cleaning, preparation and yet more cleaning. David was lucky with the headlights, procuring a pair of English brass Brown Bros Duco acetylene units from Australia which had been an unwanted auction purchase. Sidelights fortunately came with the car and a similar one from his collection of ‘may be useful one day’ items was modified to form a matching tail-light. A suitable bulb horn came from an Auckland Branch member who had discovered a boxful of NOS units in a derelict building while working in London. Reece came up with a gas generator which David and Nigel were able to bring back to life. The radiator tanks and core are original, but he did choose to make a new fascia from brass (though you wouldn’t know that). The Delage badge is original. Being a French car, the bearings were all metric and replacements locally sourced, whilst the four-cylinder Ballot engine was able to be rebuilt. Information available on the crankcase tells us it was a Series 2 version of the R Type Model 10/12 of 1460cc capacity, with 65 x 110 bore and stroke and rated at 10hp. The only significant change to operation now is conversion of the magneto ignition to battery and coil, using the magneto housing merely as a distributor — a common change nowadays in veteran circles. The battery is conveniently housed in the toolbox mounted on the right-hand running board. With the car now having left for its new home in Geraldine, sadly Waikato members will never get to see it trundling along local roads. But an empty workshop is not something that 93 year-old David Hall will be happy with for very long, so perhaps there will be a different opportunity sometime in the future. Beaded Wheels 15
THE WONDERFUL TROUBLED WORLD OF
REPLICAS Vs CONTINUATIONS Words and photos John Dennehy
Thinking of building a replica? John Dennehy has a word of caution…
If you ever find yourself in the south of England wandering around the back streets of terraced homes in suburban Surrey, you’d be hard pressed to notice a small alleyway halfway down one such street. This is the home of Richard Stuart Williams Ltd, better known simply as RSW, a moniker bandied about by those fortunate enough to have had their classic breathed on by Richard and his team over more than five decades, and where the TV cameras headed to, to make the documentary “Stars and their Cars” in the 1990s. It’s also where, in 1991 and 1992, the world of continuation cars kicked off when RSW, in collaboration with Aston Martin Lagonda (AML), oversaw the build of six so called Sanction 2 DB4 Zagatos, of which only 19 had been built in period and saw success on the track in the 1960s, taking on Ferrari and Jaguar in epic sports car battles worldwide. For some, the DB4 Zagato was even more beautiful to the eye than the Ferrari 250GTO, although I concede it’s a close run thing. Importantly, AML agreed to pass on six AML period chassis numbers to RSW for the builds.
16 Beaded Wheels
To give some idea of the financial imperative driving these prime marque continuation builds, an original DB4 GT Zagato can command up to $40m, and a Sanction 2 RSW, more than $10m. Phew! Jump forward to 2019 and now AML itself is in the game, producing a further limited run of ‘tool-room’ copies of the car and to no great surprise, significantly beefed up with over a 100hp more on tap than the original. But you couldn’t just rock up and buy one, even if you had the $8m+ (yes, really) sitting around doing nothing else as you would already own a ‘significant’ modern Aston, and, wait for it, also order one of the ‘new’ continuation DB4 GTs, the whole package setting back the lucky few about $12m. Gulp. AML will tell you these are ‘continuations’ but they are in effect, replicas, as unlike the Sanction 2 Zagatos, they don’t have period validated chassis and as a result these new AML factory cars aren’t road legal in the UK. Undeterred and given the queue of buyers, AML has also now built 25 Goldfinger DB5s, with all the clever gubbins (the ejector seat, doesn’t, for obvious reasons — they’re no
▲▼ Spot the original – which of these is the original Jaguar? Photo above is a 1952 Jaguar C-Type replica on a 1967 Jaguar chassis, below is an original classic C type Jaguar.
fun these AML people) for a modest $6m+ a pop. And no, you can’t drive these on the road but for $3m a pop plus change, you can of course fire up the smoke gun from the rear and foul up the washing on the line.
Other manufacturers had also caught on to the opportunity. In 2015 Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced the build of a further six factory E Type lightweights, circumventing the need to comply them with modern standards by claiming (rather conveniently) that the six chassis numbers to be used were merely hibernating somewhere after the fire at their famous Browns Lane factory in 1957. This after 12 of the race modified cars had been built. An original will set you back a modest $11m or so, and a continuation a snip at $3-4m. And they haven’t stopped there; a further 25 D Types, echoing those famous Le Mans wins in the mid 1950s, and a clutch of stunning C Types will all be built, again, and unlike the continuation E Types, neither being capable of being road registered. (The catch here is that neither Aston nor Jaguar qualify for small manufacturer compliance exemptions under UK regulations – ironic to say the least.) In the US, Carroll Shelby didn’t hold back. His company Shelby America building hundreds of street legal Cobras, true to the originals as practicable and whose values hold steady at around $400-500k a pop. To collar an original in period early 60s CSX chassis Cobra is a more frightening seven figures. Needless to say, and understandably, the wonderful simplicity and brute force of the Cobra design has spawned any number of replicas worldwide. Just to liven up the whole continuation scene, Lister has resurrected the stunning and stunningly successful 1957 Lister Knobbly in a series of continuations that as well as being a serious track weapon, are road legal under the small manufacturer regulations. Yours for about $1.5m. Not to be outdone in the old rising from the ashes trick, comes Allard with a continuation of their 1950s JR Sports Racer, although I see that a recent car offered for sale at about $300k hasn’t found a home. The many superb engineers and coachbuilders in Italy haven’t missed out on the fun either. For me, one of the all-time great small sports cars, is the Alfa Romeo TZ1. In period (1963-7) about 124 were built and to quote a wag from Motorsport some years ago, ‘only 500 survived’. Most of the rest were probably built on Alfa Giulia chassis which they shared and I’d happily have one should a few hundred thousand dollars drop my way. Alfa GTAs and Maserati Tipo 60 Birdcages have had similar flatteries bestowed on them and on unsuspecting buyers. Here’s where it gets uncomfortable, so hang on to the steering wheel of your replica while you digest the latest from a Swedish High Court operating, presumably, under the wider jurisdiction of the EU of which that country is a law-abiding member.
Beaded Wheels 17
A 1987 3.5L V8 AC Shelby Cobra 427 Replica built by Pilgrim Motorsports, UK
In short, and very simply, JLR has taken legal action in Sweden against a builder of replica C-types, claiming breach of copyright. Note that last word, ‘copyright’. Their action is, they claimed, to protect the actual design/silhouette of the vehicle, and were not as far as can be seen, pursuing the defendant for using the name Jaguar. That’s important here, as people building replicas may be at risk simply for copying a design that mimics the original. JLR could, again presumably, have taken that action against any number of builders of what is estimated to be over 1,500 C-type replicas sold worldwide. But in any event, they won the action and it’s possible that the ruling means that they could enforce destruction of completed cars (one such car has just been destroyed to comply with the court ruling) and the bucks and jigs used in their manufacture. The plaintiff and owner of one of the replicas has also been left with a legal bill of almost $1m and intends to appeal (brave man). The judgement has caused considerable concern in the UK, not least with the recent demise of Suffolk Sports Cars Ltd who have
most, if not all, motoring journos have acclaimed as the one single modern recreation they would want to own – the Eagle Lightweight GT – as Jeremy Clarkson said: “The car that stops the world – I want one so much it keeps me awake at night.”
18 Beaded Wheels
been building acclaimed replica Jaguar SS100s and C-types for decades and could no longer fight off possible copyright infringement claims brought against them. We shouldn’t underestimate the fact that in our modern world, brand value transcends everything; (even in our sheltered world here in New Zealand, the importation of the yummy UK version of Marmite got nipped in the bud some years ago.) The estimated value of fake or replica brands goods sold worldwide today is a staggering US$1.2 trillion. Or to put it in more understandable perspective, in 2017 the US stopped such goods valued at $1.6 billion at their borders but that equated to only 1% of counterfeit imports. Brand owners worldwide are themselves spending hundreds of millions of dollars in protecting their copyright. Car manufacturers are waking up to the new game in town of the value of continuation cars, not only in dollar terms, but also in the value the cars represent to brand enhancement. Both AML and JLR have had considerable publicity around their recent offerings and there is no reason why they should stop now. Last but by no means least, is the brilliant success story of Eagle E Types. I raced with Henry Pearman, its founder, in the ‘90s and have followed the company since. Starting by building a reputation as the go-to place for E Type restoration, they have recently produced what most, if not all, motoring journos have acclaimed as the one single modern recreation they would want to own – the Eagle Lightweight GT – as Jeremy Clarkson said: “The car that stops the world – I want one so much it keeps me awake at night.” I won’t bang on about Eagle anymore as you can fantasise over the website yourself. But here’s the thing; I simply can’t countenance a world where the brilliant engineers, enthusiasts, occasional lunatic and wonderful creators of replicas in New Zealand and elsewhere, feel the heavy hand of a corporation on their shoulders and shut up shop.
In the words of Oscar Wilde, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…” True, isn’t it? The replica/continuation story rumbles on. The National Highways Traffic Safety Administration has further clarified regulations affecting both categories in the USA. Homebuilt or, more accurately - assembled, replicas are popular across the country but in recent times have encountered difficulties in getting registered for the road. The federal regulations can be summarised as following. Replicas can be homebuilt from components provided by the original manufacturer or, presumably, their successor but there are two meaningful issues to comply with. First, the original design must be at least 25 years old and second, the builder must have a licence to build the vehicle from the owner of the design. Continuations can be built by owners of the car’s DNA (my words) provided the numbers are limited to no more than 325 examples a year and they must meet current emissions standards. I’m sure you can spot the fishhooks here should the general principles be applied in other countries. For replicas the key is having to obtain a licence from the ‘owner’ of the car’s DNA. A court case is rumbling on in Europe, with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) taking action, so far successfully, against the builder of C-Type replicas. Jaguar could decide that rather than take similar copyright action against the many Jaguar replica builders worldwide it may grant licences to builders. You can imagine the process that might involve. And for continuations that seek to be true to the original power trains meeting modern emission standards could be problematic if not impossible — for example for the wonderful Tadek Marekdesigned straight-six Aston engine of the 1960s, the ubiquitous and equally wonderful Jaguar 3.8 unit, let alone the many and varied glorious six- and eight-cylinder iron lumps out of Detroit. But back to the Jaguar legal action in Europe: the original court filings are publicly available. The views of a marque expert who has reviewed one of the company’s technical submissions to the court is well worth a read and will doubtless headline in the upcoming appeal. It can be found in Jaguar C-Type Replicas: The Uproar Grows in Volume, by Philip Porter (https://owerpress.co.uk/blogs/news/ jaguar-c-type-replicas). Personally, I think he’s overstating the case that the JLR action will damage the whole historic car movement but you can draw your own conclusions. Either way there is one aspect of the whole debate that seems to be taking hold and that is the presumably precautionary removal of marque badges from replicas. AC Cobra replicas in particular, of which there must be literally thousands worldwide, seem to be appearing more often with badges removed. What is real is that Jaguar has set a ball rolling that will probably change the world of replica building. This is an abridged version of two articles by John Dennehy, that previously appeared in New Zealand Car magazine in April and June 2021. John is a member of North Shore Branch.
tricks of the trade your workshop hints wanted
Beware dust! Here’s a reminder of a potential hazard in our workshops and hangars that easily applies to most of us aircraft builders. Aluminium grinding dust can create a serious explosive fire hazard when it is mixed with steel or iron grinding dust. A safety coordinator at the Esso Oil Company plant in Longford, Australia, was using a belt grinder in his home workshop to smooth the edge of a hacksaw cut on a 2 in length of 1.5 in angle iron. He had been grinding for about 1½ to 2 minutes when there was a loud “THUMP” accompanied by an approximately 2 ft diameter brilliant yellow orange fireball. The fireball lasted no more than 1 second and then completely extinguished itself. It completely enveloped the machine, his hands to halfway up his forearms, and the front of his torso. Injuries included deep second-degree burns to about 60 per cent of the victim’s left hand and 50 per cent of his right hand and first degree burns to his neck, chin, cheeks, lips, and the end of his nose. The right cuff of his shirt was smouldering, his face felt a burning sensation, and he could hear the front of his hair sizzling. Nothing on the bench was burning. A few streaks of white powder were deposited on the bench top and on a few items lying on the bench. The workshop was filled with
dense white smoke with very little odour. His fingers and the ends of his thumbs escaped relatively unscathed as they were protected from the heat flash. He was wearing glasses, which protected his eyes. He also lost half his moustache, one of his eyebrows, and about an inch off the front of his hair. His eyelashes were curled by the heat but not singed. The burns to his face were caused solely by radiant heat, as the fireball did not come that high. A few days before the event, the man’s son had ground the heads off about twelve aluminium pop rivets. Finely divided aluminium mixed with finely divided ferrous oxide (the black powder residue from grinding steel) produced a compound called thermite. Thermite is used to fill incendiary bombs and is used commercially to weld large steel items. It burns at approximately 3500°C , hence the extensive burns from such a short exposure time. The victim recommended that the manufacturer of the grinding wheel should include a very strong warning about the dangers posed by grinding steel after having ground aluminium. That warning should include precautions to thoroughly clean the grinding machine of all aluminium dust before grinding iron or steel.
Supplied to Beaded Wheels by John King (Source: US Department of Energy website, reprinted courtesy of Airsport magazine)
Beaded Wheels is always looking for hints of a technical nature. If you have a top tip that deserves a wider audience email us today and we can help spread the word. Beaded Wheels 19
A PRINCESS… THAT’S AN AUSTIN, ISN’T IT? Words and photos Ronald Mayes
The answer is: only if it was an A120 or A135 Vanden Plas–bodied saloon or limousine built between 1947 and 1959, or the ADO71 “wedge” model built after 1974. Between 1960 and 1979 Vanden Plas was officially a manufacturer in its own right and the range of cars produced included the A135 Princess limousine, Princess 3 Litre, Princess 4 Litre R, Princess 1100 and Princess 1300. From 1974 came the Austin Allegro-based Vanden Plas 1500, 1.5 and 1.7 models but without the Princess name – British Leyland had appropriated that for the ADO71. How it all came about: From 1870 Brussels blacksmith Guillaume Van den Plas made axle units for carriage makers but in 1884, with sons Antoine, Henri and Willy, began building complete carriages in Antwerp. The sons had trained in body design, building and trimming, the firm exhibited at World Trade Fairs and expanded back to Brussels. With the development of the motor car they soon began building bodies for Daimler, de Dion Bouton, Panhard et Levassor, Metallurgique and others. Business expanded and in 1913 Theo
20 Beaded Wheels
Masui of London changed its name to Vanden Plas (England) Ltd to build Van den Plas bodies under licence. In 1914 it became a subsidiary of The Aircraft Manufacturing Company (Airco) to build aircraft components throughout WWI. After the war Airco began to build motor bodies but soon went into liquidation. Manager Edwin Fox and his two brothers bought the name and goodwill and formed Vanden Plas (England) 1923 Ltd with a factory in Kingsbury, north London. Business took off and with Bentley Motors Ltd virtually next door, many 1920s Bentleys received Vanden Plas coachwork. Bodies ranging from sports two-seaters to impressive limousines were supplied for buyers of top shelf British and European chassis throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Came WWII and again aircraft work: complete sets of wings for 1,200 Tiger Moths, then wing main spars and skins for 2,000 Mosquitos. After war’s end there were not the numbers of buyers for cars requiring bespoke coachwork but the Austin Motor Company came to the firm’s rescue, absorbing Vanden Plas to build their new high-quality Princess. This A120 saloon made its debut along with the A110 Sheerline (built on the same chassis) at the 1947 Geneva Motor Show. The engine was increased from 3.5 to 4 litres and it became the A135. From 1953 limousine versions were
offered and with upgrades were built until 1968, a total of 3,238 vehicles, including chassis for ambulance and hearse builders. In 1957 Leonard Lord of Austin had Vanden Plas upgrade the interior of his Austin A105 to a much higher specification and this resulted in 500 examples being built and sold, and in 1960 came a breakthrough: Lord asked Vanden Plas to make a high-quality Princess version of the new Farina-styled Austin/Wolseley 3 litre car. Stylist John Bradley and his team came up with an impressive grille and front end design, and inside was thick carpeting, leather trim, cloth headlining and an array of matched veneer panelling. In July of 1960 the Austin name was formally dropped and Princess was marketed under the manufacturer’s name Vanden
Beaded Wheels 21
▲ The stately Princess 3 litre.
Plas. The 3 litre model proved very popular and 12,616 cars were produced, in Mark I and II versions, until 1964. In 1963 the British Motor Corporation (BMC) asked Vanden Plas to consider a plusher version of the Austin/Morris 1100. A prototype was created from a standard 1100, with the front end and interior trim similar to that of the 3 litre. There were no immediate plans to put it into production but it was exhibited at the Earls Court Motor Show. There was much interest and production had to commence! This began in April 1964 and the building of 15,256 examples continued until 1968. From then until 1974 there followed 22,889 Vanden Plas Princess 1300s. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce and BMC worked together on producing a cheaper Bentley, using the 3 litre body as a base. This came to nought but in 1964 Vanden Plas introduced the Princess 4 Litre R, the only car other than a Bentley to have a Rolls-Royce engine. This was the FB60 alloy overhead inlet/side exhaust valve engine with hydraulic tappets and twin SU carburettors producing 175bhp at 4750 rpm. It had been developed from their range of military engines. The new car had similar front-end styling to the 1100, the roof line slightly altered and the rear fins reduced. The interior was much like that of the 3 litre. After 6,999 examples were built production ended in 1968. The last Vanden Plas was the 1500/1.5/1.7 range from 1974 to 1979, a luxuriously trimmed version of the Austin Allegro. In the 1970s Vanden Plas had begun producing upmarket versions of the Daimler 4.2 and Double Six, but in 1979 British Leyland closed the factory. Daimler DS420, 4.2 Vanden Plas and Double Six Vanden Plas production moved to Jaguar in Coventry. British Leyland also used the Vanden Plas name as a suffix to their top of the line Austin Metro, Maestro and Montego, and Rover 213, 216, and SD1 2600 and 3500 models. It was finally used on late Jaguar XJ models for the United States and Canadian markets – the Daimler
22 Beaded Wheels
name was licensed to Daimler-Chrysler so could not be used in the United States. In New Zealand Vanden Plas cars are not often seen but A135 and DS420 limousines were favourites in Government and council fleets. Club records show that the following Princesses were sent here from the factory: 66 1100s, 10 1300s, 64 3 Litres, 69 4 Litre Rs and 16 A135 limousines. More would have been brought here privately. The writer’s own 1964 Princess 1100 was sold to its first owner, who no doubt had the overseas funds required for such a purchase, by Seabrook Fowlds of Hamilton. It would have cost as much as a Triumph 2000 – considerably more than a basic Austin or Morris 1100. It had been incorrectly registered when new as an Austin and even had an incorrect chassis number recorded. The writer bought the car from the same firm in 1969 and soon had the errors corrected – was it a dealer’s or Post Office vehicle registration department error? The jury is still out on that one. It was not alone: the majority of the Vanden Plas cars in the New Zealand club register are registered as Austins or in some mutilation of the Vanden Plas name. Finally, pronunciation: how do you pronounce Plas? The writer called the factory when in London in 1971 to arrange a visit and the posh-accented young lady answering the telephone said “Vanden Plah.” When in conversation with a well-known Dutch vintage Bentley driver in New Zealand in the course of a rally he firmly told me “Plass.” The name is of Dutch origin and perhaps correctly should be Van der Plas. In Belgium Dutch and French predominate. The French call their capital Paree and we call it Parriss. Take your pick with Plas. References: Vanden Plas: Coachbuilders, Brian Smith, ISBN9015640427, Dalton Watson 1979, Vanden Plas: the Austin Years, Bryan Peebles, Archivist Vanden Plas Owner’s Club, self published 2009.
Stockists of new AUTOMOTIVE PARTS CAR, TRUCK & TRACTOR 1912–1997 (85 year span)
Kingpin sets Suspension parts Spark plugs Engine bearings Master cylinders & kits Rear axles Clutch covers Brake & clutch cables Valves, springs, guides Timing gears & chains
CAST IRON WELDING
ENGLISH AMERICAN CONTINENTAL AUSTRALIAN JAPANESE
Engine gaskets Steering joints Electrical fittings Shock absorbers Shackles (pins & bushes) Water pumps & kits Carburettors Pistons Speedo cables Lenses
Gearbox gears Crownwheel & pinions Wiper motors (vac) Wheel cylinders & kits Ring gears & pinions Clutch plates Fuel pumps & kits Steering box parts Ignition parts Engine mounts
MECHANICAL RESTORATIONS VINTAGE & CLASSIC SPARES (1980) RD 7 • Fordell • Wanganui • Phone/Fax 06 342 7713
Powder Spray Process, Cylinder Heads, Manifolds, Cooling Fins, Castings, Mechanical Repairs & Rebuilds Thomas Rowe Motoring Engineer ltd 6 RD Palmerston North
PHONE
06 324-8707
BEADED W HEELS
CLASSIC
E AN , VINTAG
ERAN D VET
ING MOTOR
FOR 70
YEARS
CLASSIC, VINTA GE AND VETER
INE $7.95 ING MAGAZ CAL MOTOR ST HISTORI D’S FOREMO NEW ZEALAN
Please send a subscription for 6 Issues - New Zealand $52* (inc p&p) 6 Issues - Australia NZ$112* 6 Issues - Elsewhere NZ$185* Payment by
Cheque or
Visa/Mastercard only (Amex & Diners not accepted) Processing by credit card will incur additional bank fee processing charge of 3%. NZ Post money orders not accepted.
No. 361 December
OVER 70 YEAR
S
2019/Janua ry 2020 NEW ZEALAND’S
FOREMOST
HISTORICAL
MOTORING
MAGAZINE
$7.95
2
IAL A TIME TR G AND AND CHELSE RACIN A CLASSICOM RUAPUN N KRTT N FR VIDSO ACTIO RLEY-DA HA 60 19 9 00001
E OF THE MAGAZIN
CAR VINTAGE
CLUB OF
NEW ZEAL
AND
HOW TO ENJO Y YOUR CLA
SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND SAVE 9 418979 000012
A subscription to Beaded Wheels will save on the newstand price and guarantee you don’t miss a single issue at the same time.
AN MOTO RING FOR
y 2018 June/Jul
9 41897
Beaded Wheels
No. 352
MAGAZINE
SSIC CAR BMW ISETTA | HUMBER SCOTT MOT ORCYCLE
OF THE VINTAG E CAR CLUB
OF NEW ZEALAN D
Or join your local branch of the VCC and receive Beaded Wheels for free. see vcc.org.nz
Credit Card Expiry Date: ____ /____
Card Number
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
Name on Card:
Cardholder Signature:
Send Renewals to: (if different to delivery instructions) Subscribers Name:
Magazine Recipients Name:
Telephone:
Telephone:
Email:
Email:
Address:
Address:
Postcode
Postcode
3 ways to subscribe: Order online at our website vcc.org.nz or email to: beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz or post to Beaded Wheels, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8141.
Beaded Wheels 23
HIN BE
D THE WHE
A particularly rare Austin J40 pedal car is back on the road – or should I say footpath
EL
RIDING THE LEGEND ROAD TESTING THE AUSTIN J40 Words and photos Greg Price
It can be safely said, I reckon, that most young kids in the 1950s (myself included) yearned for one of these, but in most cases had to settle for one of the lesser and cheaper varieties, for no other reason than that the initial cost was prohibitive. It would often be much later in life that these young kids, now older adults, could realise their dream! WHAT IS AN AUSTIN J40? The Austin J40 pedal car was originally made in the UK by the Austin Motor Company and was based on the 1948 A40 Devon and Dorset. The cars were manufactured in Bargoed, South Wales at a specially constructed factory, opened in 1949, called the Austin Junior Car Factory. The business operated on a not-for-profit basis, existing purely for the employment of disabled coal miners who sought a new vocation following injury. Early examples featured various panels made from two or three metal offcuts stitchwelded together. Because they were made from actual car panels, the pedal car was very heavy. They were made from scrap metal taken from the Longbridge Austin factory, and each one was built and painted in the same way as the actual cars would have been. Standard features included working headlights, horn, detachable wheels with Dunlop tyres, a realistic facia panel and the same seat upholstery material as for the Devon. In addition, each car had an opening bonnet and boot, chrome bumpers, hub caps, grille, and 24 Beaded Wheels
boot handle. It has a slightly offset steering wheel to allow for an extra kiddie to ride along. In the early stages of development, a couple of prototypes were made (multiple separate panels bolted together) after which most production models were spot-welded together. A few unassembled bolt-together models were produced and seemingly distributed overseas. Unfortunately, there are no records that would indicate exactly how many bolt-together examples were made, but the number is seemingly quite small if the Austin J40 Facebook page is any indication. So far, I have located only four other examples, and this one is the oldest. A total of 32,098 were made and shipped around the world before production ceased in September 1971. Many featured in films for road safety or were used as fairground rides, but most were sold to families to be enjoyed by children, despite the purchase price equating to two weeks of the average salary at the time.
SO WHERE DID THIS ONE COME FROM? Just before Easter weekend in April 2000 I had a work commitment in Dunedin and my wife Karen accompanied me for the trip. On the Wednesday before the long weekend Karen spotted this Austin J40 in the window of a second-hand shop. It was closed, but would be open the following day – Easter Thursday. Promptly at 10.00am we presented ourselves at the shop and purchased the pedal car. Given its rather large dimensions, I figured that it wasn’t going to fit in our Mondeo, so I called around the rental car companies (remembering it was the long Easter weekend coming up) and requested a station wagon. The best Mr Avis could come up with was a Toyota liftback that measured 5’ 5” in the back with the seat folded down - but that car was at Dunedin Airport – and they needed it back for rental use on Good Friday morning! So it was off out to the airport, picked up the rental, drove back into town, loaded up the pedal car, and headed home to Christchurch. Once the pedal car was deposited safely in our lounge, it was back to Dunedin Airport to drop the rental car back and to uplift our Mondeo – around midnight. Then it was back to Christchurch arriving home, and needless to say quite tired after over 16 hours of driving, at shortly after 4.00am. Over the next couple of years I commenced some of the required restoration, albeit haphazardly. Then came the earthquakes – all 15,000 plus of them.
COVID LOCK-DOWN PROJECT Jumping ahead 20 something years, one of my tasks for the Covid Lockdown was tidying up the garages, and in the process I re-discovered our J40 project and I decided that I needed to make some progress on it. One of the first things I had done after its purchase was to carry out some research and discovered that David Whyley had penned what has become an authoritative bible on them entitled Austin Pedal Cars which I found both helpful and somewhat frustrating. For example, he wrote that owing to a serious fire in the factory in 1962 all records, including body numbers, for the models prior to #16,001 (pre-1955) were destroyed. Elsewhere in the book he notes that ‘all production pedal cars were spot-welded’. This appears not to be the case, as recent posts to the Austin J40 Facebook pages would suggest that there were in fact a small number of bolt-together examples, but mainly in other countries, such as South Africa (one), and as I have established, here in New Zealand (two), also one in Canada, and one in Australia. In addition, someone has produced a copy of the lost body numbers so it is now possible to identify the year of manufacture from the body number. The body number is stamped in the boot and according to the book, our car should have the letters JR stamped next to the number, except that it is acknowledged that there was no information as to when this practice stopped – our example has neither a JR or even a J stamped next to the number. It may well have been contingent upon the mood of the ex-miner operating the numbering system at the factory perhaps. The body number on our example is 3240 and we know that when new it was sold to someone in Invercargill in 1950. It was subsequently sold to the brother of the original owner in 1992 and finished up in Nightcaps where it was purchased by the secondhand shop in 2000. Initially we thought that it may have been a prototype pressed into service, but most likely a small number of bolt-together models were exported, to be assembled locally by an apprentice. This would confirm why the panels from one bolttogether would not be compatible with another bolt-together as the locating holes were drilled at the whim of the designated assembly
▲ A nother generation at the wheels, nephew of the original owner discovers the joy of a J40.
Beaded Wheels 25
person. They were purportedly shipped overseas in the back of the full-sized A40 - except they would not have fitted. However, they might’ve if they were partially dismantled! I know of one other bolttogether example here in New Zealand, albeit with a higher body number. We can safely presume that our example was seemingly made in 1950 and was one of 2974 made that year. Just how many of them were bolt-together is unknown, but given how few bolttogether examples still exist world-wide, probably only a handful. Back in 2001 when I contacted the then secretary of the UK-based Austin J40 Pedal Car Club, he was quite excited and made the comment that “It was the earliest known survivor of the bolt-together J40s”. Check the Austin J40 Club’s Facebook page. It’s quite interesting, and there are some great clips on YouTube of the kiddies racing J40s at Goodwood revivals.. Around the same time in 2001 my next task, made all the easier with it being able to be dismantled completely into at least 21 separate panel parts and over 150 individual nuts, bolts, and screws, was to tackle the panel beating and paint. As often happens with some of my projects, I started with the best of intentions but stalled along the way - and then we had the earthquakes! Fortunately, with everything either stashed away in boxes or tied to the rafters, there was only minimal damage to the panels and some of my nice new painted bits. When we shifted house just over four years ago, the project was simply re-located to the new garages. The idea was to begin work in earnest when our Mark One Zephyr sedan went into the panel beaters in 2019, but another pedal car project, a Model A, got in the way, (Hey! That rhymes!) so the J40 languished for another 12 months in its state of dis-assembly, and then we had the Covid debacle. Upon initial disassembly there were a few bits and bobs missing, so the interim years were used to locate the missing items from the UK and the USA. At least two of the individuals from whom I purchased parts in the UK wanted to buy our bolt-together example. Tempting as that was, given its confirmed rarity we decided to press on with the restoration.
26 Beaded Wheels
Items sourced included two sets of hubcaps – one set of the original early aluminium examples and a set of the later chromeplated ones. Also acquired was the rare-as Lucas Junior horn (made specifically and solely for the J40), the full handbrake mechanism, an original light switch knob, a set of white-wall tyres, the metal seat base and seat back, a front and rear bumper, complete with number plates, and some replacement headlamps. Many restorers will tell you that the most important part of any restoration project is photos – lots of photos! Fortunately, I had taken many so putting it all back together again was made a bit easier by referring to my earlier pics. I had also painstakingly saved every nut and bolt with every good intention of re-using them, but the idea of wirebrushing each of the 150 or so nuts and bolts didn’t seem like a good idea, especially when I knew a couple of test re-assemblies would be required so a visit to Blacks Fasteners produced some packets of UNF nuts and bolts. Most experts recommend not painting any parts until you can be certain that each will fit, so new nuts and bolts were clearly the order of the day to facilitate the assembly and disassembly. I hoped that the remainder of the special paint I had mixed 20 years ago at Spraystore would be okay, too. It was! As many of you will understand any restoration takes some time and care and it is important to take every step to achieve perfection – or something close to it, especially when dealing with something relatively rare and unusual. In case you haven’t twigged, a bolt-together example simply means that all its 21-plus separate panels were bolted together rather than spot welded. The assembler deciding where to drill the necessary holes! The beginning of October 2020 saw me dust off all the parts, some of which I had previously restored and painted back in 2004, and the pre-restoration assembly was tackled with the nice new nuts and bolts. Anyone who knows anything at all will always recommend a trial fitting of panels before painting, just in case something needs to be straightened or aligned. The factory spot-welded models frequently required straightening as many a recalcitrant kiddie inflicted frontal damage having sudden contact with stationary objects and the like which would explain why one or more of the headlights are often knackered! This is no ordinary task as the metal used in the first models was 18-gauge steel which was the same as used on the full-sized Austin A40 car. The special factory at Bargoed in Wales, used many of the factory offcuts, which were stitch-welded together to make pieces large enough from which to fabricate seat panels, motor base plates and the like. The sides were not stitch-welded panels though. The pre-paint assembly highlighted another mistake I made – I had assumed that when I had originally dismantled it in 2000, all the panels had aligned up properly. Wrong! They clearly didn’t and in the absence of any workshop manual, or another bolt-together
DIMENSIONS example for comparison purposes, coupled with my impatience to get the thing finished, I pressed on regardless. A J40 aficionado might be able to spot the imperfections but I’m quite happy with the end result. First up was the preparation and repainting of the remaining panels. The right-hand side panel had the usual impact damage and splitting at the top of the front wheel arch, so that work was entrusted to Bruce Grinrod, at North End Panel Beaters, who did the fine work on our Mark One sedan in 2019. He made it look so easy, cutting out the damaged piece, moulding another and welding it in place, with such precision that only very minor filling was required to achieve a smooth finish. The next task was to at least try out the remaining paint that Spraystore had mixed up for me back in 2004. And on that note, when the instructions read ‘mix thoroughly before use’ it is a good idea to do exactly that, lest the finish not be exactly what you were expecting. The next problem was that, thanks to the Environmental Protection Authorities’ world-wide new restrictions of paint composition, it meant that the process for mixing the paint back in 2004, was not allowed to be used in 2020. This meant that despite Spraystore’s excellent current efforts there was an ever-so-slight difference between the 2004 and 2020 colours, but it actually doesn’t matter, as the original colour is applied to the centre panels, and the newer paint to the outer panels. This results in a very slight two-tone effect, separated by some vintage tan-coloured fender weld – courtesy of the VCC Canterbury Branch parts shed. My impatience in not waiting for the paint to completely dry resulted in one side having a nice beach towel impression on it which took a lot of subsequent polishing off, and there were a couple of patches where the paint could’ve been a bit thicker, but my practice of sanding down the completed panels with 1200 wet ’n dry, followed by an application of some extra-cut polish, gives an ‘old, but new-looking’ finish, befitting for what is now a 72-year-old pedal car. During re-assembly I mistakenly fitted the engine panel to the top of the front inner guards (instead of underneath) and would you believe I did the same thing with the boot floor. (Duuuuh!) One bonus was that I was able to re-use the original factory-shaped seat foam in both the seat base and rear panel. The special 6-volt torch bulbs had to be imported from the USA, and it now has fully functioning lights. This pedal car does not, and never has had, a centre horn button in the steering wheel, so a suitably vintage cycle horn button was affixed to the steering column. Vintage fabric-covered electrical wire was sourced from VCC member Gary Arps, and the Austin Seven distributor cover affixed to the engine bay (for cosmetic reasons) was also courtesy of the parts shed. Another unusual feature of this car was that it originally had the prototype Austin 10 van interior lights fitted as headlamps (as were fitted to one of the first prototypes) but as these were damaged I replaced them with suitable Lucas cycle lamps, which were almost identical to the J40 originals, and fitted with a bit of fiddling. It’s had a test drive around our front yard and aside from the handbrake (complete with original asbestos lining!) needing a slight adjustment, everything is working as it should, but I pity the poor children of that era, as it is very heavy. I think the Mums and Dads would have been doing a lot of pushing back then, in between workouts with their Charles Atlas courses. Those of you who attended a Noggin at Canterbury Branch a couple of years back when there was a pedal car display would have seen the beautifully restored coin-operated J40 ride that the Dutton Car Company had on display, and also the unrestored
Length:
5ft 3 inches (too big to fit in my 1997 Mondeo, least of all an Austin A40 Devon!) Width: 2ft 3 ½ inches Height: 1ft 10 inches Weight: 95lbs (or in layman’s terms, damn heavy!) Max Speed: How fast can you pedal a 95lb pedal car?
example presented by another member who reportedly has four of them. (The greedy blighter!) Want to own one yourself? Remembering that they are quite large at 5’3” long. One needing a full restoration recently sold in Australia at auction for A$5600. In the UK there was a very rusty basket case for £500, or at the other end of the spectrum, there’s a fully restored example in the UK for £6000. There was also one recently on TradeMe (clearly needing a full restoration) that was for sale for NZ$6000 so they’re still out there but not cheap. But (and it was a big but) be warned that parts are prohibitively expensive ex-UK, but if money is no object, knock yourself out. If parts are missing it may well have something to do with the cost of replacements – as many restorers have found out the hard way. By the time you’ve purchased a stripped body shell and then purchased all the missing parts separately, you may as well have bought a complete car in the first place. Remember what I’ve said here in the past, if you still fancy a restoration project, and a full-size car is not practical, then a pedal car is the way to go, and especially an Austin J40. Best of all, they will meet any new emission standards nonsense and will not increase our carbon footprint. On the down side, by saving an early example from the scrap metal dealers, you’re possibly preventing at least a couple of Toymota Corroders being produced from the salvaged metal. Income can be derived by renting it out to your visiting grandkids (I recommend $10 per minute) – under constant supervision, of course! Years ago, a rich school chum (he wasn’t rich but his mum and dad were!) had one that his Mum would only let me look at from the gateway of his drive. Now, all these years later, I finally have my own J40, but I’m too big for it!
Beaded Wheels 27
A YOUNG LAD AND AN OLD TALBOT Words and photos Alistair Robinson
Georges Roesch and the Invincible Talbot …such a stirring volume that it set fire to the imagination of this 18 year old. 28 Beaded Wheels
1935 Talbot BA 3 litre Special Sports Saloon, which after 60 years off the road is registered and warranted and nearly complete again. The car my Talbot connection started with.
When I was the ripe age of 18 I decided that I needed a Talbot! By the time I was 19 I had one and a year later I owned the Talbot that I really wanted, a 1930 AM90. How on earth did I swing that? It’s not as if they are a common make of car. We’ll come to that soon, but the point of interest here is that having found a 90 and then persuaded the owner to sell it to me, this car over the years we were together made such an impression on my psyche that 47 years later I still hanker after another Talbot 90. (Carla my partner says the story should end here!) So the question is how did it happen? Well I guess I’d have to lay some of the blame on my first car, my little 1929 Austin 7 fabric saloon. I’d bought it when I was 15 and it was responsible for putting me in contact with other vintage petrol heads. This led to meeting John Hearne, an old car enthusiast. John lent me Georges Roesch and the Invincible Talbot (otherwise known as Blight’s Bible) to read, so I guess he needs to be blamed for that. Then there’s Anthony Blight himself, the author of the said volume. I think he has to accept quite a bit of the blame for having written such a stirring volume that it set fire to the imagination of this 18 year old. That gets who’s to blame for this obsession of mine out of the way, seems it was nothing to do with me after all! After reading the book I knew I just had to get a Talbot, life wouldn’t be complete without one. But I also realised that a 90 was probably what I needed to set my sights on, even though only 47 AM90s were ever built. (I’ve noticed this with friends that I lend the bible to, they all end up wanting a Talbot 90 or a Vanden Plas bodied 105, not just any Talbot.) I told John of my desire, and he laughed. I think he knew what effect Blight’s book would have on me. Within a matter of months though he called to tell me to check out the cars for sale in the Auckland morning paper The Herald. There was an advert for a 1934 Talbot 3 litre Sports saloon. I rang the seller and arranged to look at the car the following weekend. I also found I could afford to buy it at $1000, an important factor! Well it was gorgeous, the sort of car that I’d only seen pictures of until that moment. I bought it, though I had no idea how I would go about restoring it and it was
Talbot AM90 1930, the subject of this story.
Beaded Wheels 29
Talbot and Fiat at Wenderholm Picnic, from rt to left, June and John Hearne, Peter Russell- stretched out, Kristen Paterson, Talbot’s owner Len Hodgekinson and his daughter by Fiat wheel, and self.
going to need restoring. That question never entered my mind. Nor the cost of the rebuild. It sat in my parents’ garage for some time, while their newish Peugeot 504 sat outside. I didn’t know where to start doing anything and so I didn’t. I was very happy when one day my father commented to me that he thought it the most beautiful car that I’d ever owned! Nothing much happened to the 1935 BA special sports saloon (this is what it turned out to be). It got moved from my parents’ garage to the North Shore Branch clubrooms which was in an old bus barn in Devonport. This freed up some space for my dad to get his car back inside and a year later, to help finance the rebuild of a more important car. Laurie Poolman bought it off me (in 2012 I bought the Talbot saloon back from Laurie after 37 years and have now rebuilt it. It had been off the road for approximately 60 years.) Other cars came and went, an Austin Ruby, the basic mechanical bones of a 501 Fiat, a Bradford shooting brake, a 1936 Chevy grocer’s delivery van, and then a Fiat 510S complete, and very motor-able, ex Frank Renwick. It was when I had this Fiat that I was driving back home through the nearby shopping village of Takapuna one afternoon and could see an old car coming towards me. It was black, sporty looking, low windscreen, with headlights set close together and a tall radiator. That’s got to be a Talbot! Not only a Talbot but a 90! Where on earth has that materialised from? I drove home with my mind racing and got straight on the phone to John. “I know,” he says, “it lives just down the road from us. The guy went to Rotorua to buy an MG at a car auction but it went for too much money, the Talbot was there and no-one was interested so he bought it for $3000”. Over the next months I got to know Len as I drooled over the 90 at every opportunity. He was a guy in his 50s and as we got to know each other he confided in me that he really wanted a MG as that was what he had when he was a younger man. He told me he doubted that he would be able to afford one now because the price of them was going sky high, so he was thinking of removing the boot lid and petrol tank of the 90 and getting a slab tank made to replace it. He felt it would make the car look a lot better. As you can imagine I was horrified! I started working on him to sell the car to me so he could go and buy the MG he wanted, rather than spoiling a very original car. It took some time, we would take the Fiat and the 90 filled with family and friends on picnics and VCC events. One day Len rang to tell me he was selling the car and was wanting $6,000. I’d paid him what he wanted. I put the Fiat on the market and a friend, Gordy Routledge from Levin who worked for a caravan manufacturer talked
he mighty 1922 Fiat 510S ex Frank and Nicki Renwick. I had a lot of fun in T this car and a lot of expense with beaded edge tyres that blew tearing the bead off the tyre.
his boss into buying it. This is how it came about that I owned a 1930 Talbot AM90 chassis number 29972. Thus it was at the tender age of 20 that I bought the car of my dreams, the Talbot AM90 Darracq bodied Deluxe Sports tourer. Of course being a 20 year old, the first thing I had to do was take it out and see if it was as good as Anthony Blight had said 90s were. Well it almost was! The tyres were old and cracked, the silent block bushes in the spring shackles were rubberless, the springs were rusty and dry, the engine was just a little smokey, but it was still a delight to drive. Head and shoulders above anything else that I had experienced at that time and I’d driven quite a few different makes of vintage cars. From that first drive I recognised the sheer brilliance of the mind that had conceived this car and understood why they were able to go out on the circuit at Le Mans and with their 2.2 litres come home in third and fourth places behind the two 6½ litre Bentleys, and on Index of Performance (handicap) finish first and third on only the second occasion of being raced.That evening I picked up my good friend Alasdair Thompson and we drove off north to the small Bohemian settlement of Puhoi with its fabulous historic pub. We talked Talbots for a couple of hours over a pint or two, then climbed into the car to head back home. Little did we know that the 90 had a trick up its sleeve that no-one had mentioned to me before. We came to a steep hill and half way up the car coughed and burped and came to a halt. I reversed it back down to the bottom and experienced a Talbot failing, the pedal pressure needed when applying the brakes in reverse. We decided there wasn’t enough fuel to get up the hill as the tank was low, so poured some in from a container we were carrying. Hand pumping it through to the carburettor, the engine fired pretty well immediately, I reversed from where we were back up onto the road berm, went to put it into first gear and the gear box locked solid. It had somehow stayed in reverse while allowing me to select first. Of course we had come away without thinking of a tool box. It turned into a long night, I stayed with the 90. Al hitch hiked home to Takapuna, got his car and tools and returned to rescue me. I might have bought the car of my dreams but what I realised that first night was that I wouldn’t be able to drive the car as it deserved and I desired until it had been totally rebuilt. I had no idea of how I was going to do this as I knew my dad’s garage wasn’t big enough to dismantle the Talbot and still have space to work on it. Meanwhile I was using the car on occasions, being extra careful when changing from reverse gear into first. To be continued next issue
CLASSIC CAR
F ROM
E RS K I N E TO E T Y P E
AUCTION
SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 575 Waimumu Road, Gore
On account of Susan and the late Robin Dickson
Catalogue available closer to the date For all vehicle enquiries contact Paul 027 210 4131
WHATEVER YOUR PASSION
Viewing 22-24 September
Award Winning Restorations
Mechanical repair and rebuilding. Panel repair and creation. Premium Spray Painting. Precision Engineering. Vehicle Servicing WOF. Vintage/Classic Cars and Motor Cycles.
Vehicles include: 1959 Cadillac • 1983 Cortina • 1962 Dodge • 1960s Fiat Bambina • 1951-53 Morris Minors • 1981 Leyland Mini • 1948 Morris 8 • 1977 MG • 1974 Daimler XJ6 • 1949 Ford plus many more Vehicle pictured representation only
Auction conducted by William Todd & Co (2011) Ltd www.williamtoddauctions.co.nz
Contact George Kear: +64 3 366 9988 e: george@autorestorations.co.nz w: www.autorestorations.co.nz 10 Kennedy Place, Christchurch, New Zealand.
½
–
Beaded Wheels 31
Two car owner while still a teenager, the author in 1970.
MY FIRST VINTAGE CAR
1931 AUSTIN SEVEN Text and photos John McDonald
I never met Mrs Alice Craven, my only association with her being my 1970 ownership of her by then somewhat decrepit 1932 Austin 7 utility. The original ownership papers show she resided at 358 Armagh Street, that the Austin was a Trade Motor, had seating for two persons, was intended for the conveyance of goods, had a weight carrying capacity of five cwt, and the tyres were, of course, pneumatic. Chassis number was quoted as 147824, engine M148398, and car number B51124. I purchased this device from a chap (who I suspect was doing a bit of unlicensed trading as his name never appeared on the papers) around 1970. Keen to make a bob he had recently purchased it, quickly painted it, then driven it (perhaps not so quickly) from Duvauchelle to Christchurch. Quite an achievement for a new Austin Seven, let alone this very second hand example. I was led to believe the Austin had been initially purchased for town milk delivery from the Armagh Street shop in Christchurch. Confirmation of this being somewhat supported by a passage in The Press from 1937, that Mrs Craven had been fined £20 for breaches of the Health Act, by (in part) “preparing milk for sale in the kitchen”. She appears to have had an earlier run of bad luck in 1929, being fined £2 for “selling cigarettes on a Sunday”, he original so called Ownership T Papers which legally were simply a list of previous transactions.
32 Beaded Wheels
and reading further (but having absolutely nothing at all to do with this article) was the chap who was fined 20 shillings and costs for “throwing a missile, a plum stone” while driving and hitting his accuser (who was riding a bicycle) in the ear. Back to business. Just what had I purchased? Fifty years later and the jury is still out on that, the so called experts at the time chortling that it was nothing but a butchered saloon. I thought (and still do) otherwise, that it arrived in New Zealand as a chassis and cowl, the body being built locally. That opinion is strengthened by the solid wooden dashboard, wooden front windscreen frame, and the unsupportive front seats rather than the factory buckets, all major differences that had been in situ for a considerable time. Gearbox was a three speed, the starter motor lived in the cab, and in Austin parlance the wheelbase was the long variety, at six foot nine inches. Local agent David Crozier was advertising light delivery vehicles in July 1932, with the 4 speed saloon not arriving until November 1932. The Austin appears to have changed hands for the first time in July 1939, when Hutchinson Motors advertised it for sale as a “1931 Austin 7 Light Delivery, Closed cab, £75”. And that’s pretty much it until I purchased it. By then the cab had been bodged with a flat roof, the drivers door had been replaced by a single fixed tin sheet, with driver entry via the passenger door. Quite legal warrant wise at the time, provided the driver’s “door” had no glass to impede any emergency exit! The tray and deck were more tin, the rear guards gone. Importantly for me, with starry eyed ideas of restoration and VCC membership, the original side and tailboard, along with the rear guards were included. Everything worked in a Seven-ish manner, and all the instruments were there. The whole ensemble was finished in a bright red. Very bright. Somehow it had a warrant of fitness (probably obtained from Tai Tapu as it scuttled through from Duvauchelle) and was mobile. My application to join the Canterbury branch of the VCC was vetted by two club members who arrived to see the Austin in person. There was a problem you
Daffodil Rally for Cancer SUNDAY 21 AUGUST 2022
WARKWORTH/ WELLSFORD AUCKLAND
d Come an n fu e th join
NORTH SHORE WAITEMATA EASTERN BAY OF WAIKATO PLENTY BAY OF PLENTY
and All ages types vehicles me! co are wel
MANAWATU WANGANUI
It’s the Vintage Car Club’s National Day and across New Zealand, hundreds of vehicles will be on theroad or on display to raise money for your local
HOROWHENUA
GISBORNE TAUPO HAWKE’S BAY
CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY
WAIRARAPA WELLINGTON
NELSON
MARLBOROUGH WEST COAST
CANTERBURY
To find out more about your NORTH local Daffodil Rally for OTAGO Cancer, and the details CENTRAL of the local coordinator, OTAGO SOUTHLAND please visit...
www.vcc.org.nz see, 50 years ago there was a strict cut off date of 31 December 1931, and my car had been saddled with the misfortune of a January 1932 build, and a first registration in December 1932. I could certainly join the VCC, but only as an associate member, so entering events was out. That rankled somewhat, but was easily partly solved by buying another car, as you do, and joining the Volkswagen Owners Club, a pretty live wire and not so pedantic group. Peter Fry at that stage was doing a sterling job of herding Austin owners towards some semblance of cohesion with the Vintage Austin Register, which has since gone from strength to strength. What also exists is his (admitably very welcoming) letter in my files, which consigned my application to that damn associate status. Two out of two. Rather discouraged by now, the restoration impetus faded, and parental pressure strongly suggested one car should go. No, demanded. There was little genuine response to the newspaper advertisments, aside from one Jake Cooper, who was interested in obtaining it for a museum he was setting up at Yaldhurst. The
▼ Spartan cab, with period correct instruments. Worrying power feed cable from battery disappearing behind dashboard.
ASHBURTON WAIMATE
SOUTH CANTERBURY OTAGO
GORE
SOUTH OTAGO
only problem was establishing what this mobile relic was worth, in fact there was a suggestion (and not from me) that it fall into the donated category. I finally sold it to the son of a local auctioneer whose name has bolted with the passage of time. Some years later an advertisement fitting its description and giving only an address caught my eye, and I called round at Mayfair Street with a view to repurchasing it. The large dog on the property wasn’t conducive enticement to entering, and having recently married I wasn’t prepared to part with any appendages. I never returned, the timing just wasn’t right. I always suspected it ended up being canabalised into 20 other Austin Sevens, and parts of it were still mobile. And then came lockdown, and with the ensuing month under house arrest, time to pursue projects time forgot. It was therefore something of a shock to see the engine and chassis numbers included on an international survivors website, along with a notation “2 seats, 1930”. So perhaps it really has been rebuilt, and now a far cry from its early years delivering milk for Mrs Craven. ▼ Not a thing of beauty, later replacement of cab and deck by previous keeper.
Beaded Wheels 33
RUSSOLINI FORMULA JUNIOR BUILD Words and photos Russell Keach
I have always liked the looks of the old single seater cars Maserati, Ferrari and Auto Union with a particular like for Alan Woolf’s Volpini Formula Junior so it was not a difficult decision to decide on this build. Fortunately I had numerous spare parts left over from previous builds so the ‘arc was struck’ so to speak. I wanted it to be a modern old-school fun build so set about finding a 4K Toyota motor and gearbox. My bargain turned out to need a full recondition so a good fast cam was also installed along with some head work and higher compression. I fluked a full subframe from a wrecker in Christchurch which fortunately came with a LSD. Being retired, I was able to spend considerable time at home, so even though the McLaren moulds took some 500–600 hours to arrive at a glass finish, I still thought making the Formula Junior moulds was do-able as there was no other source. Fortunately it only took around 200 hours to get the plug done. I had lots of pictures from Alan Woolf’s car along with extensive measurements, and there were also some very good side-on pictures
34 Beaded Wheels
on the internet, so I scaled them up until I had a number that I could easily expand and drew out a full size side profile. The cross sections were as best a guess as could be done. As in boat building, I proceeded to cut up stations/sections and spaced then along a spine. Pretty soon you could see the shape progressing, more so when I ‘planked’ the main body section with 15mm x 3mm custom wood strips all edge glued. The curved sections were then filled in with a fine hard building foam and then sanded back to shape. Once I was happy then it was skimmed with bondi, sanded back to a reasonable surface and then painted with some surplus 2K paint. As I was not planning on making multiple copies, I elected to have the moulds made purely as ‘insurance’ moulds and put the final finish into the completed body mouldings. The buck was then cut up into the relevant components and moulds taken off each section. These were in due course fitted to the chassis before being removed for that lovely coat of Italian Red. The chassis was designed along the lines of how many of these cars were built. Bearing in mind that I intended to use a Mazda
MX5 sub frame, this controlled the basic width to some degree. I was not happy with just the one big chassis tube so added a top rail to allow for some triangulation and laid out a floor after I had moved the diff head across in the sub frame along with cutting and re welding the axles. Because I was also building the car to current motor sport regs, I needed to construct a structure behind the driver to accept a roll bar. I also put one in front of the steering wheel so as to be fully compliant. With this structure up on the work bench, I was able to sit the 4K Toyota in its place and work around all the other bits needed. The Austin Princess rack meant that I could run the steering shaft down the left hand side under the carbs, (the drive position is also on the left hand side because I copied Alan’s car). Most of the cars ran Fiat engines with the carbs and exhaust out the right hand side, so mine is just different. The front suspension arms are all standard MX5, with the exception of the bottom arms which were so ugly so got remade to standard specs in seamless tube. The shocks are in board via rockers.... because its easier and neater! They each operate via a rocker
Beaded Wheels 35
which is multi dimensioned for plenty of adjustment and are off a Harley-Davidson quad bike. The 4K has been fully reconditioned, bored out to 40 thou oversize and fitted with a fast road cam. The gearbox is the standard Toyota five-speed. The drive shaft was an expensive job outsourced from my ‘sample’. The inlet and exhaust manifold were made up in mild steel and wrapped. In due course the car was wired and ready to start. Knowing that it had a good cam fitted, I was surprised at how lumpy it was on start up … it idled much better when I connected the fourth spark plug! As I said in the beginning, the whole idea of the build was that it was in the spirit of Formula Junior, with some modern twists for reliability. I knew that even if I found some 60 year old steel plus all the period bits, it would not be classed as a ‘real car’ so I have used some licence.
When people see the car, the reception is fantastic as it sure brings back what ‘real’ cars looked like before computers. So far the car has been in a few shows including an invite to the special display for cars of distinction. Little did they realise that despite it being for Brit/Euro cars only, it was totally Japanese parts in disguise. So far it’s only been driven around the block a few times…just for fun. I plan on doing some fun events this coming year, hill climbs and sprints. It was built ‘just for fun’ and that’s what we will have. Whilst the car is a visual copy of a Volpini, I have called it a Russolini to appease the experts should a rivet be in the wrong place! The best part of the build was driving up to Alan Woolf’s place and showing him the finished car, thank you Alan.
FORMULA JUNIOR REPLICA – based on late ‘50s Volopini Alan Woolfe owns a genuine Volpini and this car is visually based on that car which is an original. This car was built for fun and in the spirit of Formula Junior. All components are off the shelf or from the wreckers yard with the exception of the body. A timber ‘buck’ was fabricated and ‘insurance molds’ made with the finish being put into the molded body panels and a few coats of a suitable red applied once completed.
36 Beaded Wheels
The car’s mechanicals are based around a Mazda MX5 rear subframe with the LSD diff shifted across 165mm to off set the drive shaft. A transverse flat leaf spring replaced the large coil overs to give it the old school look and small shocks added in the normal position. The front suspension is standard MX5 top arms, uprights and brakes with the bottom arm re fabricated to standard specs. The steering rack is from a left-hand drive Austin Princess modified to
fit the Mazda tie rods. A space frame chassis was designed around two larger chassis tubes so as to be similar to cars of that era. Front suspension is rocker arm onto Harley Davidson Quad bike coil over shocks for simplicity of adjustment. They were cheap ex Ebay! The motor is a 1300cc Toyota 4K with a fast! cam, twin 40mm down draft carbs, custom extractors, electronic ignition, and is fully reconditioned. This is mated to a standard 4K five
speed gearbox and custom drive shaft. Wheel base Width Length Weight Power
2200mm 1500mm 3500mm 425kg 100hp est
All work was carried out in my workshop and the car is called a RUSSOLINI to keep the experts happy. The car has also been log booked and built to current motorsport regs so can compete in any appropriate events.
RALLY SNIPPETS
A round up of notable rallies and events from around our branches
Wanganui: Winning entrants on the Annual Rally Pete Charlotte and Jess Hardy in their 1968 Riley Elf.
WANGANUI ANNUAL RALLY Wanganui Branch Words Ian Higgins
A fine but fresh morning welcomed us to the Wanganui Branch Annual Rally held on Sunday 5 June. Entries were a little down to what we had initially hoped for, but it was great that our branch was able to hold at least one of our main rallies this year. Newly appointed Club Captain Andrew Johnson developed Covid a day or so before rally day. Former Club Captain, Frank James, came to the rescue assisted by club members, and everything went ahead without a hitch. Frank had other commitments on the day, with wife Liz at home convalescing after a stay in hospital. Our branch is fortunate to have so many willing helpers when the call goes out. At 9.30am 40 vehicles were sent on their way at one-minute intervals from the Wanganui Racecourse. The route took contestants north of the River City through the country roads of Tayforth, Westmere, Kai Iwi and Maxwell, then winding through the Waitotara and Ngutuwera areas. A mixture of both sealed and metaled roads lured entrants on to drive the famed Kohi Loop, before heading south to the township of Waverley and lunch at the Community Centre. Two timed sections were in place on the
journey from Wanganui City, along with silent check points just to keep the navigators on their toes. The afternoon section had contestants travelling south towards Wanganui City, by way of at first travelling towards the coast before crossing inland to negotiate the picturesque roads around Maxwell and Brunswick and weaving a path back to the clubrooms in Wanganui East. Prizegiving and a dinner at the Wanganui Racecourse Function Centre completed a very enjoyable day for VCC motoring enthusiasts. Overall winner of the rally was Peter Hardy accompanied by his two navigator granddaughters, Charlotte, and Jess, in their 1968 Riley Elf. Congratulations, and well deserved, as Pete and his family have been tireless workers for the branch over many years. This was their first major rally award. The Wanganui region has many varied and interesting roads well suited for VCC rallies. Sealed and metaled surfaces meander through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. Well worth a visit.
Beaded Wheels 37
HADSTOCK DRIVING TESTS 29 May 2022. Banks Peninsula Branch Words Don Gerrard, photos John McDonald
Buick and Chevrolet at rest between tests.
The running was hard and fast for Hadstock but only after the moisture of the 3⁰C frost was evaporated by the warmth of the sun, the abundance of wheel-spin and hot horsepower. The opening Slalom test lured several of the 29 competitors into a false sense of security, mainly with their ability to come to a stop, clearly illustrated by the locked-wheeled Pontiac of Harry Dawber skating through the finish line scattering all in close proximity. Plenty of 360 degree manoeuvres that would have put Dancing with the Stars competitors to shame with new member Jonte Clark in his Mazda MX5 scoring a ten for his interpretation. However, the second run calmed everyone’s excitement with Brad Govan’s A7 Hawk, George Kear’s Mini Cooper and Colin Hey in the shared Honda Trials Special notching up the first indicators on the scoreboard. Onto the second test where a little more concentration was required, but in some cases that never made first gear. Michael Pidgeon, sharing the Chairman’s Mk2 Jaguar for its first Hadstock outing had the big cat pointing in directions that only this breed could manage. In contrast, the Chamberlain family’s choice of the marque in their XJS V12 were quite serene with John, Courtney and Logan Brown registering controlled and precise performances all day. Will Dawber was the only entrant in the now welcomed and separate Motorcycle Class and onboard his Yamaha he had a great time staying in the saddle and with the waft of Castrol R coming from the exhaust, he clearly won the judge’s approval. Everyone was now getting to grips with the cones, Josie Morrison, enthusiastically wringing every ounce of power from her VW and the cleanest and shinest Land Rover ever of Sam Deavoll was rocking and rolling around the course. At the conclusion of this test only two seconds separated Malcolm McGibbon in his Honda Trials Special, Avon Hyde’s BMC Special and the Kear Mini. A fast and reasonably complicated cloverleaf third test was split with the lunch break which obviously proved a
38 Beaded Wheels
rejuvenating diet for most as everyone improved their times in the second run by at least five seconds – nothing of course to do with the drying track! Kevin Mercer’s Morris 8 clearly had a problem with the fast pace but after a little on-course fettling the car was back to its usual good behaviour. Kelvin Brown’s recently acquired rare Marina coupe decided to go off-piste as did Paul Morrison in the Chevrolet 4 truck, but still ended up with very reasonable performances. But it was the story of who got the power down the quickest with George Kear, Avon Hyde and Fraser Kear in his VW Golf adding to the scoreboard. The final hurdle was the mind-bending ‘ever-decreasing circle’ test, but very few mistakes were made and the times all extremely close – just three seconds off the leaders were Andrew Roxburgh’s 1938 Citroën L15 and Mark Cumming’s Mazda MX5 - a real front versus rear-wheel drive head to head! However, the first places went to Colin Hey, Avon Hyde and George Kear. That brought another Hadstock Gymkhana to an end which again provided endless entertainment for the large audience who witnessed how easy it is without the help of Sat Nav or navigator to let a sea of pink cones take control of what we all consider would be straightforward tasks to undertake. Back at the local hostelry, the overall awards were enthusiastically accepted by the worthy recipients; 1st George Kear Mini Cooper winning the classy Cynthia Trophy, 2nd Avon Hyde BMC Special, 3rd Colin Hey Honda Trials Special. How close? Bloody close, with just under three seconds separating these three. Thanks to Michael Williams for creating the ‘Johnny Angel’ Trophy for the Motorcycle Class. A true masterpiece in Vegas tackiness that you could ever wish to receive. We’re sure Will Dawber will hold this close to him until next year. As always a big thanks to the committee, the volunteers and especially the Chamberlain family for the use of their welcoming paddocks with all their devious contours and undulations that go to make this event one of the most entertaining and enjoyable on the Banks Peninsula Branch calender.
Officialdom in action. Gregor Kaiser in a now rather rare Triumph 2000 MK I.
Josie Morrison, Volkswagen 1500 was a strong competitor. Vintage Morris Minor ohc hard at work, driver Neale Elder.
George Kear found the courses to his liking, finishing 1st in his Morris Mini Cooper.
A mixture here of frantic activity and laidback discussion in the “pits”.
Hadstock is renowned for the variety of vehicles competing, this scene from the “Paddock”. Avon Hyde, 2nd overall in his self built Special.
Paul Morrison exercising the 1929 Chevrolet 4 Light truck.
Beaded Wheels 39
IRISHMAN 2022 Word Colin Hey Photos John McDonald, Colin Hey Our attendance at this year’s Irishman Rally and our initiation to this iconic event was on somewhat false pretences, but nonetheless important given the need for some people and vehicles to assist those taking part in the event in ‘real’ vintage vehicles. My son Matthew and I had the best of both worlds – following the whole route and enjoying some of the challenges it presents but doing it from the comfort of our modern 4WD, including heated seats when needed! And yes, we were able to help a couple of participants out, reinforcing perhaps that there was at least some assurance that if it all got too hard for anyone, there was some help on hand. I’m an enthusiastic supporter of many Canterbury Branch events and know many of our members on a first name basis, but on turning up at the clubrooms in the dark at 6.30 on a frosty morning I almost felt out of my comfort zone. So many cars I’d never seen before, and so many people who I didn’t know. Cars were streaming in through the gate, some with lights merely signifying their presence rather than lighting the road ahead. There were even a couple that didn’t look or sound well, yet here they were about to depart on a 600km adventure that included some of the roughest roads any normal road-going vehicle could be expected to endure! The first offer of assistance went to a newly assembled Model A truck which arrived billowing so much steam that the driver was barely able to see where to park it (and yes, he did fix it, and completed the whole run!). We set out on the first day of motoring, following about 30 cars back from the leading bunch. The route went along the south bank of the Waimakariri River to Belfast, crossed over the SH1 motorway bridge and then headed up the track on the north bank towards Oxford. There we cut back through two farms across paddocks that quickly turned to mud, then a deep stream before emerging onto the Inland Scenic Route (Route 72) not far from the Waimakariri Gorge Bridge. Two more farms were visited – one just after the bridge, and then another at Kowhai Bush, before a brief break at Springfield to replenish bodies and fuel tanks. The next leg was a climb over Porters Pass, then back on the shingle around Lake Lyndon and through to Lake Coleridge, where many stopped for lunch. The journey then continued on Route 72 with forays into the backroads at Mt Somers, Mayfield and Geraldine. Here there were more shingle roads and the occasional ford dealing out challenges to a few cars, resulting in one with a broken axle, and others with various electrical problems. These kept the backup vehicles occupied for the rest of the afternoon and early evening. A good meal, plenty of social interaction and the chance for a sleep in Fairlie soon
Awe inspiring country, entrants on Braemar Road heading into Glenmore Station.
40 Beaded Wheels
I’m an enthusiastic supporter of many Canterbury branch events… but on turning up at the clubrooms in the dark at 6.30am on a frosty morning I almost felt out of my comfort zone. Beaded Wheels 41
Gilert Dallow’s 1927 Essex paddling towards Cass River.
Paul Collin’s 1927 Austin 7 tourer.
42 Beaded Wheels
Chamberlain’s Ghost warily eyeing the traditional bonfire.
cured all manner of problems in time for Sunday’s encounters. Our first instruction for Sunday was to assemble on the outskirts of Tekapo at 8.00am. From there, all but the last backup vehicles left first to spread out along the route into the frost-covered back-country behind Braemar Road and Glenmore Station – a route which was mostly grass and shingle farm tracks with many deeply rutted and muddy sections and the occasional ford. The track then headed north from the Glenmore homestead up the Cass River, before terminating on some level ground 10km later at Waterfall Hut in time for lunch. Here there was just enough room to squeeze all 170 cars onto the river terrace sitting in an impressively big valley. I was amazed at how robust those often fragile-looking vehicles actually were – many literally clawing their way through fords and across rocky tracks with only the odd one needing assistance to get moving again after losing traction. Not one needed chains, and the only breakdown was actually the tail-end Charlie Series 2 Landrover with - you guessed it – a broken axle! His story and recovery is almost worthy of a separate article! Not one person looked unhappy, despite the cold and the constant banging and crashing they were getting inside the cars as they negotiated their way over boulders and banks along the way. After lunch we headed back to the homestead, then followed another farm track and shingle roads that took us around the back of Lake Alexandrina and deposited us out back on SH8 near Tekapo. From there it was back to Fairlie over Burkes Pass on SH8 to reconvene at Pete’s Patch at Strathconan Station just south of the town. Here the field tests were held, with times gradually increasing as the paddock became increasingly muddy. The local Lions Club ran a gratefully received and delicious BBQ, and as the sun began setting, prizegiving was conducted from the back of a ute in front of a bonfire big enough to sacrifice a Model A Ford to the Gods of Irishman Station (funnily enough, nobody seemed prepared to offer theirs up)! It was really pleasing to see the pest eradication and conservation work in progress on these stations. A big thank you to Emma and Will Murray owners of Glenmore Station for access to this marvellous area. This was the perfect ending to another Irishman adventure which I was certainly glad to be part of, even if only as backup. Best seat in the house, one of the younger participants.
Geoff Timpany’s 1927 Chrysler 70, tow rope at the ready, leads 1928 Ford A Tourer.
Murray Hawke’s RollsRoyce needs fettling.
Lunch break at Waterfall Hut, Cass River valley.
Frazer Kear, 1931 Austin 7.
Jamie Robertson, 1931 Morris Isis on the Joseph Valeey track.
Beaded Wheels 43
▲ The ex- Jack Soutar 1928 Rolls-Royce taxi at Southwards Museum 2017. Photo John Bellamore
MY FIRST RIDE IN A 1928 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM 1 Words Don Muller, VCCNZ Archivist
While holidaying in Arthur’s Pass in April this year I noticed a house in the distance and remembered that Jack Soutar’s 1928 Rolls-Royce was garaged there many years ago. Jack was born in Great Britain and served in the RAF during WWII. He suffered from asthma and after the war he came to Arthur’s Pass to benefit from the clean mountain air. He started a taxi service there in December 1945 using an Austin which he retired after almost six years, covering 32,367 miles, and averaging 18.47miles per gallon. I have not been able to identify which model the Austin was as I was a bit young at the time to remember. If a reader knows this, please contact me. On 1 September 1951 Jack bought a 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 with 48,000 miles
on the odometer. The car had previously been at Loburn, near Rangiora. It had a 7,668cc 108bhp engine, wheelbase of 143.5 inch, and weighed 2.5 tons. The body was a Thrupp & Maberely limo, chassis number 100YC, engine number EH75. The Rolls-Royce was an ideal car for Arthur’s Pass; it was a seven-seater, and it had a massive interior which was ideal for taking skiers from the Railway Station, or Oscar Coberger’s ski hire, up to Temple Basin. Passengers would sit on the floor as well as the seats. Possibly more than seven passengers occasionally! Over his 12 years as the local taxi
▼ 1956: Jack Soutar on the verandah of the Arthur’s Pass Store with his Bren Gun carrier parked outside.
driver Jack would have taken thousands of skiers up to the ski field car park. I had my first ride in the RollsRoyce in the mid-1950s when we were taken from the railway station to my parent’s bach. The taxi fare was 2/6d per person, the standard price for anywhere in the township north or south of the railway station. John Charles, a long-time resident, and retired DOC Ranger of Arthur’s Pass, kindly loaned me photographs and Jack’s amazing comprehensive logbook which documents every passenger trip he made for seven years, including the ▼ 1951: Rolls-Royce taxi running costs for October.
cost and where he went to. Also noted was the cost of every nut and bolt, parts, welding jobs, mileages, and miles per gallon - no detail was missed. petrol was 3/3d, car registration £3/1/-, spark plugs 2/-, a rebore was £12/10s, to re paint the car £7/5s, and, depending on what size he bought, tyres were from £6/19s. Back in the 1950s all the roads in the area were shingle with large rocks and numerous potholes taking a toll on the car suspension and vibrating everything. As shown in the logbook many repairs had to be made and he purchased many 1/6d bulbs. He would have been a good customer for the welding services that were located near the old Avalanche Creek bridge. It was surprising how far his taxi service would take him. Here are a few examples and the cost per person one way; Temple Basin 7/6d, through the Gorge to Otira 21/-, Bealey Hotel 16/0d, Reefton £10, Darfield £6/13/6d. He also made a few trips to Christchurch, some for maternity emergencies and hospital visits even travelling at 70mph on one occasion to make sure he got there on time. On
44 Beaded Wheels
BOOK REVIEW
THE STORY OF THE BSA A65 & A50 MOTORCYCLE 1962-1973: Volume II The Racers, Hailwood To Vincent
By Peter Crawford. Published 2021 by Wideline. ISBN 978-1-8381336-2-7 Review by Mark Holman Saturdays Jack would take some of the railway workers eight miles to the Glacier Hotel at Bealey for a few refreshments. He would either wait for them or return at 6pm, closing time, to take them back to Arthur’s Pass. In 1957 Jack needed to transport a piano from Ashburton to Arthur’s Pass. He could get it through a rear car door, but it protruded out the other side, so he took the left hand rear passengers door off and tied it to the spare wheel. He made it safely! The Rolls-Royce was also used as a recovery vehicle, towing many broken down or stuck vehicles from around the area.
This is a follow-up to an earlier volume (now sold out) on the A65 & A50 road bikes. I tend to think of racing BSAs being singles like the Gold Star or maybe the Rocket 3. But author Crawford reminds us that the 500 and 650 twins also proved to be handy racing machines over a long period of time. However, the BSA competitions department tended to focus its attention and rider support in the early to mid-1960s on motocross rather than road racing. Although Mike Hailwood won the Hutchinson 100 in 1965 on an A65, Chris Vincent and racing sidecars generally are much more of a focus of the book. The BSA twins had to face competition from BMWs and
the likes of the Greenwood Mini but they remained remarkably competitive for many seasons. On the solo front, BSA tended to stick more closely to the ‘rules’ as far as production racing was concerned than did some of their rivals but the twins certainly did not disgrace themselves. Racing in the USA also forms an important part of the book although riders of the BSA twins suffered because of the attention the factory placed on racing the Rocket 3 even though it never was the market success hoped for. Dealers and private entrants scored most of the A50s & 65 successes but they could have done with
more factory support and encouragement! The book contains 288 large pages and hundreds of photos, and the author has gone to a lot of work in tracking down many of the key players from amongst the solo and sidecar exponents back in the day. They are quoted at length and their experiences with these bikes really bring the pages to life. You don’t even have to be a BSA enthusiast to enjoy the read!
bushes near Broad, or Bruce Stream 10 miles south of Arthur’s Pass ready and waiting for the call to help recover another stranded vehicle. On 20 September 1957 the Arthur’s Pass Taxi service was terminated. Jack had travelled 60,000 miles around the Arthur’s Pass area in the RollsRoyce over six years. In a report by the Arthur’s Pass National Park board it said the reason Jack had ceased his taxi business was because ”he could not charge a reasonable fee in view of the terrain he covered, as he was governed by national city rules laid down by the Transport Licencing Authority.”
The famous Rolls-Royce was Jack also had a WWII Bren Gun sold in 1963 and is now owned carrier, a small, tracked tank, by the Southward Trust where it that he parked between our is on display. bach and Mountain House. I used to play in it! In the 1950s There was another Rolls-Royce there were numerous rivers that was garaged at Otira, but from the Cass to Arthur’s Pass could that be another story? and beyond that were not bridged and all of these had the potential for getting a vehicle A big thank you to John Charles, for stuck, especially while in flood. both the information & photos, that Many a car ended up with he supplied , without these I could not shingle up to its windows. have completed the story. I remember my dad getting stuck numerous times in the soft bottom of Broad Stream. We either dug the car out or were towed. Jack used the Bren Gun carrier for the more difficult Don Muller Archivist recoveries and sometimes he archivist@vcc.org.nz would hide it in the matagouri
▲ 1956: The Rolls-Royce taxi at Glacier Hotel, Bealey.
▲ 1957: Jack’s Rolls-Royce, minus a door, transports a piano from Ashburton to Arthur’s Pass.
Beaded Wheels 45
MARKET PLACE Terms and conditions CLASSIFIED RATES Due to space limitation, classified advertisers should refrain from the use of dashes, spaces, logos, blank lines and formatting. All classified rates include GST. The 65 word limit includes contact details. Advertisers requiring ads longer than the standard 65 words, or who require typography or space, must apply display rates. The advertising department reserves the right to edit or return classifieds not meeting the criteria Member of Vintage Car Club: No charge for text or photo classified advertising. Members must be financial and identify their Branch. Limited to one free advert per issue, maximum of three insertions per advertisement. Non Member: $21 for first 40 words or part thereof, thereafter 15 cents per word (max 65 words per advertisement).* Text in a Boxed Ad : $24 non-members* Colour Photo Ad in Box: $56 non-members, enclose a clear photo and an SAE if return required.* Advertisements should be typed or clearly printed. Advertising Email address: beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Advert and Payment: to arrive not later than 10th of month preceding publication. Payment by Credit card or Internet banking (for Internet banking details email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz). DISPLAY RATES* Casual (per issue) 3 Issues (per issue) Full Page $900 $720 Half Page $530 $390 Horizontal ¼ Page $270 $216 All display rates quoted exclude GST and are for finished digital artwork supplied. Artwork can be arranged at an extra charge. Deadline for copy 10th of month preceding publication. Beaded Wheels will consider articles of a technical nature for inclusion in its editorial space. Beaded Wheels however regrets that it is not able to offer editorial space for advertisements nor for the promotion of products. Marketplace advertising cancellations received in writing prior to advertising deadline will be refunded in full. Where possible Beaded Wheels will refund 70% of the advertisement cost for any cancellations received after the booking deadline. *Payment by credit card will incur additional bank fee processing charge of 3% Beaded Wheels makes every effort to ensure no misleading claims are made by advertisers, responsibility cannot be accepted by Beaded Wheels or the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) for the failure of any product or service to give satisfaction. Inclusion of a product or service should not be construed as endorsement of it by Beaded Wheels or by the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.). No liability can be accepted for non-appearance of advertisements and the text of all advertisements is subject to the approval of the editor who reserves the right to refuse any advertisements which are not compatible with the aims, objectives, and standards of Beaded Wheels or the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) In accordance with the provisions of the Human Rights Commission Act 1977 Beaded Wheels will not publish any advertisement which indicates or could reasonably be understood as indicating an intention to discriminate by reason of sex, marital status, religious or ethical beliefs. Advertisers should take all care in drafting advertisements as they could be held liable, as well as Beaded Wheels and the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.).
46 Beaded Wheels
FOR SALE 1939 CHEV FRONT SHEET METAL both front guards bonnet and grill and surround good condition. All reasonable offers considered. Phone or text 027 287 6104. MEM BOP FIAT 501 1925. Wide track tourer, fully restored from a very original car. Motors well. Spares. Ph Dean, 03 693 9016. MEM SOUTH CANTERBURY GARAGE/WORKSHOP/SHED CLEAR-OUT. Far too much to list individually. Ideal stock for a swap meet stall. Engineering tools, measuring and safety equipment, (boots and leather work gloves, all brand new), irrigation pump and new pipe. Much more. To be sold as one lot. Please text your email address to 021 0232 5636 for a full listing. MEM CANTERBURY.
CARBURETTOR RECONDITIONING including classic and performance makes. 40 plus years trade experience. Free advice. Contact Graeme Tulloch, Tulmac Carburettor Specialists on 027 612 2312 or (Levin) 06 368 2202 COACHWORK For all your coachwork, woodwork and timber rim steering wheels for your veteran, vintage or commercial vehicles contact Designs N Wood, John Martin, 11 Bell Avenue, Cromwell. Phone/fax 03 445 0598, 021 109 1309 or email martin_jw@xtra.co.nz MEM CENTRAL OTAGO BALANCING BALANCING BALANCING, We can balance most vintage and single cylinder engines, fans, driveshafts etc. Work is carried out on a modern digital machine. M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, Christchurch 8011, Ph 03 366 7463, email: info@mscoombes.co.nz HONDA CB77 TAIL LIGHT and number plate bracket NOS. Unused, undamaged $90. Royal Enfield J2 cylinder head NOS unused, undamaged $15. Contact 03 732 7060 or email gen4use@gmail.com MEM WEST COAST JAGUAR MK8 PARTS A utomatic transmission, grill, picnic table and numerous interior walnut trim. Ph Richard on 03 383 2077. MEM CANTERBURY MERCEDES SL350 1972 parts for sale. Complete back sub frame including diff, $650. Complete front sub-frame with rusted bottom A arms, $100. Convertible top frame only $100. Two doors with internals but outer skins past it. Plus heaps of small saved. Phone or email Graeme Asquith, 06 758 3625, dianneasquith@yahoo.com. MEM TARANAKI LUGGAGE HOLDER - Running board mounted concertina type off 1923 Ford T. Also one Ford T adjustable wrench and some small new parts still in sealed packets. Ph 0211 598 319. MEM SOUTHLAND VINTAGE CAR REPAIRS
All Classic and Vintage Car restoration. • Panel making • Wooden body repairs, • Bumpers and moulding repair • Competitive hourly rate. Unit 1 11 Penn Place, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch
Phone Grant 341 5100 or 027 223 9474 granttvin@gmail.com
Advise national office of any changes of address or sales/purchases of vehicles
DRIVESHAFTS DRIVESHAFTS DRIVESHAFTS We can alter or make driveshafts with fabric components to take modern universal joints and yokes, as well as performing dynamic balancing. We also carry a large range of driveshaft components for car, trucks, industrial and marine. M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, Christchurch 8011, Ph 03 366 7463, email: info@mscoombes.co.nz SET OF EIGHT SALES and advertising brochures for Holden FB. Mint condition, as new, obtained from Holden Sydney in 1961. In original envelope as posted to New Zealand. Phone Graham 06 378 7422. Mem Wairarapa SHED CLEAR OUT TIME! 1929 Plymouth 4-cylinder motor (has had some work done) and gearbox, need putting together. Plus various other parts. Also four 1937 Dodge hubcaps. Please call for full details. Open to offers. Garry Mulqueen, 03 208 9232 MEM GORE
GOT VIBRATION PROBLEMS?
T he crankshaft pulley/balancer/damper may be the cause. Rubber perishes over time. John at Harmonic Damper Rebuilds can rebuild your pulley like new. He has a proven system to re-rubber and re-sleeve dampers. Most can be rebuilt as good as new and save you money and engine repairs. 027 666 3350 or 07 863 3350 damperdude@gmail.com TYRES, Engelbert (Michelin) Competition P, 7.00 x 16, a pair, made in France. Virtually unused (5km), $500 ono the pair. Contact Keith Hunter. kmacdh@xtra.co.nz MEM BANKS PENINSULA AUCTION, NELSON, NZ Petrol Pumps, signs, tins, boxes, oil bottles, scales, collectables. Over 1200 lots. Two Days - 15 and 16 October, 2022. Photos/Info: www.jwauctions.co.nz John Walker, Auctioneer. Phone 027 443 2525 or 03 545 1866 MEM NELSON
UPDATE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS
Please advise National Office of any changes of address or sales/purchases of vehicles. Email admin@vcc.org.nz
PENRITE OILS W e carry a large range from vintage to modern engines. Gearbox, diff, SU dashpot and water pump grease. M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, Christchurch 8011, Ph 03 366 7463, email: info@mscoombes.co.nz RUSHMORE MOTORS LTD can market your Veteran, Vintage or Classic car immediately. We have great success with most makes and listing a vehicle it is completely free. We hold a huge database of prospective buyers and we endeavour to match sellers with buyers. If you have an unused vehicle sitting in your garage and would like your bank balance considerably enhanced, give us a call on 027 2245 045 inc a/h. rushmoremotors@xtra.co.nz
MARKET PLACE
1922 WILLYS KNIGHT MODEL 20A Sold in NZ as a tourer and sedan body was built in 1924 by Neilsons, Dannievirke. Mag overhauled 2022. Reg & WoF. Lots of parts in bins + 2 motors & 4 gearboxes. $25,500. Phone Brian 06 73 3313, aliebolly@hotmail.com MEM TARANAKI
1925 FIAT 501C. Older restoration. Featured in Beaded Wheels 230 Feb/March 1998. New tyres. Full manuals, some spares. Shed stored and runs well. $20,000 ono. Ph Bruce 06 835 4506 or 027 289 0788 MEM HAWKE’S BAY
1955 ALVIS GREY LADY Engine reconditioned, radiator recored, brake cylinders re-sleeved, bumpers rechromed. Well maintained and used regularly. $38,000 ono. Enquiries and more photos contact Mike 027 49 23298. MEM GISBORNE
1927 CHEVROLET COUPE ROADSTER Fully restored 1927 Chevrolet (top end of a used restoration). Excellent mechanical and general condition. Runs well, completed the 2021 & 2022 Irishman Rallies with no problems. Has registration and new WoF. $26,500. Ph Murray for more info 027 480 8365 . MEM CENTRAL OTAGO
1911 CALTHORPE 12/15 ROADSTER. Fully restored rare round radiator car, mechanically fully overhauled, runs very well. Seen at a number of NZ events. Same owners since 1970s. Comes with some spares, there is a purpose built enclosed trailer for housing and transporting this vehicle WoF & Rego. POA. Contact Theo de Leeuw, 027 490 3248, tdeleeuw@xtra.co.nz MEM WAIKATO
NANKANG ROAD TYRES suit small English car? brand new (surplus to requirements) 2 x 135R15 73T and 2 x 145R15 77T plus 4 new tubes to suit. $75 a pair with tubes. In New Plymouth. Could be couriered. Phone/text 021 113 7054, cmr.mtr91@gmail.com MEM TARANAKI
MEM WAIKATO
1981 BMW R65 65LS 65,000 miles. American import with MPH speedometer. Includes 2 fairings and carrier & 2 correct Panniers. Twin disc front brake. Has VIC. Rego is on hold but qualifies for cheap rego. $6,500. Ph Graeme 027 5249 255, gandm.crawley@gmail.com MEM AUCKLAND
1930 MORRIS COWLEY LIGHT TRUCK. CLASSIC MERCEDES 560 SEL 1990; last of the Chassis built April 1930. Original body built by great 5.6 Litre W126 model. Un-choked UK car. Stevens & Sons CHCH. Rebuilt 1968-72 Good tyres, New on Isle of Man, imported by owner in 1996; engine reconditioned Nov 2000, new clutch 2019. always garaged; daily driver till 2006. Good original Current Reg & vic. Ph Lyndsay Hossack, 03 689 9898 condition. Original and personalised plates. or cowleydale@icloud.com MEM WAIMATE $14,995 or offer. Ph 021 630 647 Michael Taylor MEM WELLINGTON
1934 RUDGE-WHITWORTH MOTORCYCLE Sales brochure features 1934 range: 250cc standard & sports model; 500cc Special & Ulster model. Each page has image & specifications. Also six images of special features. Six double-sided pages, cardboard covers, 25mmx18mm. Very good condition. $250 inc p&p. Ph 03 434 0998. MEM NTH OTAGO.
VETERAN & VINTAGE CARBURETTORS Wairarapa Branch Spares (1) Chicago Stromberg M-1, (2) British Zenith type 30 UJ2, (3) Carter RX-0, (4) Chicago Studebaker Stromberg LS-2, (5) Stewart C231, (6) Ball and Ball Detroit, (7) Carter CRX-0, (8) Dodge Stewart. Plus more. Ph Frank 06 379 7167 or email Barry (ljandbjwells@gmail.com), Jeff (j.percy@xtra.co.nz)
WOODEN WHEELS made for your metal work. Steam-bent felloes, any shape spokes. New beaded rims available in some sizes. Phone Vern Jensen 06 323 3868, 16 Osborne Terrace, Feilding, sandvo@callsouth.net.nz MEM MANAWATU
Beaded Wheels 47
MARKET PLACE
1963 AJS MODEL 31 CSR 650CC Certificate of Authenticity from UK Matchless/AJS Owners Club. Extensive recent work, motor not fully run in. Bottom end rebuilt by Graham Cole, top end by Chris LeGrice. Magneto rebuilt, new Mk1 concentric, new clutch centre. Reg and WoF. Health dictates sale. $16,000. ono. Terry 027 431 3644 MEM AUCKLAND
1949 MORRIS MINOR MORRIS 1000 motor and gearbox fitted. Runs well. Tidy reliable little car. Great condition. Reg & WoF. Reasonable offers please, phone Robert 027 444 1333. MEM HOROWHENUA
1933 RILEY 9. MONACO TOURER. Front doors reversed as it was converted from another vehicle. Seats 4. Reg and WoF. High spec crank fitted. Top folds down. Very comfortable. Twin carbs. Performs well. $39,000. For info and pics contact Rushmore Motors Ltd. 027 2245 045 inc a/h. Marlborough Daffodil Day Fundraiser
EXTENDING REAR SCREEN w ith adjustable side wings for vintage tourer/sports car. Perfecta brand. Nickel plated fittings and company badage. Constructed with cherry wood. Very good condition. Contact Mike 021 192 0581 MEM CANTERBURY
1926 RUGBY SEDAN RESTORATION PROJECT. Most parts to complete restoration available plus many additional spare parts. Car has been in dry storage for 40 years. $6,000 ono. Contact Neal 027 687 5094. MEM HAWKE’S BAY
1996 ROVER CABRIOLET, 129000 km, BRG, excellent condition. WoF. No tears in leather seats or hood. runs perfectly, body is clean and straight, paintwork excellent, one minor dent top of l/f wheel arch. Valued $3-4,000. Any reasonable offers around this will be considered. Ph Rob 021 129 9133 or Robert. galloway50@gmail .com MARLBOROUGH BRANCH
1927 AUSTIN 7 Present owner 50 years Tidy and 1935 & 1936 OVERLAND WILLYS 77 SEDANS. VETERAN PARTS, R otax jack, BTH mag, Bosch reliable rallied in Australia 4 times. Five new tyres, After many years of shed storage, I am unable coils, bonnet catches, Brass oiler, petrol air pump, new spares, clutch plate, kingpins, gasket set plus to restore due to failing health. Therefore they pair brass side air vents, Bosch 4 cyl mag, Austin are sadly for sale. Collection from Christchurch. 21” steel wheels ex condition. Ph 07 348 4227. quantity of used including complete engine. Comes with custom built trailer. Will have new WoF and Ph 021 776 761 evenings, or Taylor.g9a@gmail.com. MEM ROTORUA rego, $15000 Ph Alan 07 849 6306, 021 0255 3853. MEM CANTERBURY MEM WAIKATO
1950 AUSTIN ATLANTIC. Reg and wof. Very tidy interior, vinyl seats and new carpet. Freshly painted. 2660cc. Twin SU carburettors.4 speed gear box. Keeps up with modern traffic. $32,000. For info and pics contact Rushmore Motors Ltd. 027 2245 045 inc a/h.
48 Beaded Wheels
1986 ROVER SD1 VANDEN PLAS V8 auto 134,000kms. Factory sunroof and a/c, original paint and upholstery. Nice VCC eligible touring car, new Reg & WoF. $14,000 neg. Phone Warwick 027 435 0979 or email protheroe@xtra.co.nz MEM ASHBURTON
1958 JAGUAR XK150 FIXED HEAD COUPE. Original RHD. First registered in NZ 1959. BRG with tan leather, chrome wires. Drives exceptionally well. $139,000. For further information and photos, ph John Bain 027 274 5279, fazazz@fazazz.co.nz Fazazz The Motorists’ Shop Ltd. ChCh. MEM BANKS PENINSULA
MARKET PLACE
MAGNETO AND COIL WINDING SERVICES Magneto repairs, coil rewinding, work guaranteed. We buy and sell magnetos of all types except aircraft. 728 Waimutu Road, RD2 Marton 4788. Phone Warwick 06 327 3849, 027 281 8066, walandlynn@farmside.co.nz MEM
1925 DAVIS TOURER. T otal restoration. An excellent and rare vehicle $67,000. Reg & WoF. For info / pics contact Rushmore Motors Ltd. 027 2245 045 inc a/h.
1947 AUSTIN 8 SALOON. $7,500. Reg and WoF. A reasonably original vehicle. Drives well and well cared for. For info and pics contact Rushmore Motors Ltd. 027 2245 045 inc a/h.
1929 GRAHAM PAIGE 615. 6 cyl. Unrestored but in good condition. New rear tyres. Price $23,000 neg. Reg and WoF. For info and pics contact Rushmore Motors Ltd. 027 2245 045 inc a/h.
VINTAGE ENGINE SHORT BLOCKS VINTAGE & CLASSIC QUARTZ halogen bulbs. We can in most cases rebuild your short Replace your existing bulbs without rewiring block using modern shell bearings, the headlamp assemblies. Up to 100% brighter new pistons and rebuilt oil pump. than your existing Tungsten bulbs. Will fit Please contact us for more information. most reflectors fitted to Pre & Post war cars M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, and motorbikes. Also available in single Christchurch 8011, Ph 03 366 7463, email: filament 55 watt P22 & BA15 bases for use info@mscoombes.co.nz in spotlamps and mechanical dip reflectors. Most bases and configurations available in VALVES exhaust quality stainless for vintage 6v & 12v. Further info: Norm & Jan Sisson, engines. Available in blank form or machined sole NZ Agent. Phone 027 311 6563 , Amuri to size required. George Calder, 307 Hoon Hay Motorcycles, 2C Birmingham Drive, Christchurch. Rd, Christchurch. Phone 03 338 5372 or email Email modelboatsupplies@snap.net.nz gandkcalder@gmail.com RUSHMORE MOTORS LTD can market your Veteran, Vintage or Classic car immediately. PISTONS PISTONS PISTONS PISTONS We have great success with most makes and FOR VETERAN, VINTAGE, listing a vehicle it is completely free. We hold a CLASSIC & ODDBALL ENGINES. huge database of prospective buyers and we We can supply piston sets for most makes and endeavour to match sellers with buyers. If you models. All piston sets come complete with rings have an unused vehicle sitting in your garage and gudgeons. and would like your bank balance considerably We have over 700 listings at competitive prices. enhanced, give us a call on 027 2245 045 inc a/h. M S COOMBES LTD rushmoremotors@xtra.co.nz 344 ST ASAPH ST, CHRISTCHURCH Ph: 03 366 7463 E: info@mscoombes.co.nz PENRITE ENGINE COOLANT MODEL A OVERDRIVE using the Laycock J Type A colourless hybrid-organic non glycol based od, This unit is ready to install in your Model A corrosion inhibitor designed specifically for use by removing your torque tube and drive shaft in Veteran, Edwardian, Vintage and Classic Car and replacing it with this modification. Call Ross cooling systems. M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph 021 941 002 MEM WELLSFORD/WARKWORTH. Street, Christchurch 8011, Ph 03 366 7463, email: info@mscoombes.co.nz
THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES ARE TO BE LISTED SOON.
1925 HUMBER 12/25, four-door saloon. In need of full restoration but mechanically complete, running and driveable; rotten timber body frame; original bucket seats suitable for patterns; lots of spares. Reg on hold; Canterbury car, history known. Offers over $5,500. Contact John 03 318 0008, johnyboags@ email.com
1987 FALCON S PACK F uel Injected Recond Auto. Rust free original. $25,000. Welcome to view Oamaru. Phone Chas 03 434 9035. MEM NORTH OTAGO
Phone to put your name on one if you are interested. 1926 Model T tourer. 1926 Model T raceabout. 1905 Rover pedal car. Repro. 1930 Model A Deluxe roadster. 1912 Austin 10/4 tourer + parts car. 1926 Model T. Full restored. 1930 Model A Tudor. Restored 1927 Model T. Unrestored in original cond. 1935 and 1936 Overlander Willys. Rough cond. 1937 Dodge D5 Flat back sedan. 1930 Model A woodie. 1939 Plymouth flat back sedan. 1951 Austin A40 Devon. 1931 Model A raceabout. 1954 Pontiac Star Chief Catalina. 1957 Jaguar MK7 M, 3.4L, owned 25 years. 1964 Wolseley 6/110. 1926 Studebaker 4 door sedan. Fully rest. CONTACT RUSHMORE MOTORS LTD PH 027 2245 045 INC A/H. OR RUSHMOREMOTORS@XTRA.CO.NZ
1989 ALFA ROMEO 164. V ery original, well cared for car. Three original owners from new. $8,000 ono. Ph 0274 739 907. MEM EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY
AUCTION - PETROL MEMORABILIA & COLLECTABLES Nelson - 15 & 16 October 2022. Photos/Info: www.jwauctions.co.nz John Walker, Auctioneer 027 443 2525 MEM NELSON Beaded Wheels 49
MARKET PLACE
WANTED
1939 VAUXHALL 10 HID The car is mechanically sound and drives well. $3,000 just been spent to bring it up to scratch. $9,000. Ph 027 437 0178, epm@outlook.co.nz MEM CANTERBURY
VINTAGE TRUNKS made to order or stock sizes. Dust proof and waterproof. Phone Allan 06 844 3959 or 0274 469 331 Napier, THE MOTOR MAGAZINE 19 May 1936 edition. Contact Katy 027 353 3597 jandkparish@gmail.com acjones760@gmail.com MEM
Mem Gore
SWIFT ENGINE EARLY TWENTIES AS PER PHOTO. Mechanical parts for a 1925 Morris Bollee. New radiator for a Maserati Quattroporte. Contact: North Shore Branch spares department. Ph: David Lane: 021 979 667. NORTH SHORE BRANCH
1985 NISSAN BLUEBIRD MAXIMA LEGRAN 2.0 V6 Turbo 5 speed manual, high spec luxury sedan very rare especially in this condition, well maintained, 93,750km. WoF & Reg. $10,000. For photos & details richard.hogg66@gmail.com, ph 03 614 3938. MEM SOUTH CANTERBURY
TRIUMPH 2500TC 1978 Manual 4 speed non-overdrive. Power steering very tidy orig condition and drives well. Recent full service inc new clutch master & slave cylinders, alternator, tyres. WoF & reg until 01/23. Lots of spares. Reluctant sale $6500 ono. Ph Ian 021 656 895 iangdnz@gmail. MEM CENTRAL OTAGO
MORRIS LIGHT VANS 1924-1934 T his book is well illustrated with many rare photographs not seen in print before. New material and detailed descriptions, with drawings and specifications of the various models. 176 pages in excellent condition. $64.00 including postage. Alan.gulleford@gmail.com Phone 021 0298 6213. MEM ASHBURTON
WANTED TIMKEN DIFF a s used on many early American cars. I require brakes and pinion housing assembly or complete diff. Contact John 06 751 5554, megandjohnny@xtra.co.nz MEM TARANAKI
MY FIAT 510 RESTORATION is missing some of the correct instruments. The speedo is correct, but the clock should have the same bezel as the speedo (the one in the photo is from a 501). Also, both the ammeter and the oil pressure gauges are from a 501. The correct ones are very similar - just bigger. Both the ammeter and the oil pressure gauge should fit into a 65mm dia. hole. Can anybody help? Happy to swap, if that helps. Ph 022 025 9924 MEM CANTERBURY 1928 MODEL A PHAETON seat springs front and rear for both seats and back rests wanted. Also manifold and distributor. 21” rims. Ph Janice Brenstrum 027 448 8828. MEM NORTHLAND
1929 CHRYSLER 65 D epress Beam headlamp, headlight lens 8 31 ⁄ 32 x 9 39 ⁄ 64 , Part No. 10096 wanted. Contact Anthony 029 276 0303, anthonypipmclean@gmail.com MEM CENTRAL OTAGO 1997 BMW Z3 auto 4 cylinder 1890cc, heated seats, 1960 AUSTIN A99 WESTMINSTER $15,000 ono, 1930 FORD MODEL A TUDOR SEDAN in good leather upholstery, 132,000km. Owned 11 years, located in Whangarei. In good and running running condition wanted. Reg & WoF. Phone always garaged, in excellent condition throughout. order WoF to 22 September 2022. Ph John Nicole Alistair 027 8022 373 MEM WEST COAST Fun, reliable and economical motoring. $5,200. 021 071 3573 or johnandmaree.nicole@xtra.co.nz. 1942 WLA HARLEY HEADLIGHT LENS. Glass Ph 03 540 3390, blackirongraham@gmail.com MEM NORTHLAND diameter is 6 11/16” (170mm) and a battery box MEM NELSON lid. Mine is a fresh US import and dips to the right. Touch base if you have other parts for sale. Contact Dean 027 438 5047, deandorricott@hotmail.com 50 Beaded Wheels
ANY PARTS SUITED FOR A 1939 NORTON ES2 wanted (engine runs from 1938 through 1947), particularly engine parts and tinware. Contact Ben Creemers 021 575 356, b.f.creemers@gmail.com MEM AUCKLAND
FIAT 1100 EARLY/MID ‘60s , parts wanted, anything considered, also Triumph Mayflower parts wanted anything considered. Contact Les 021 084 82 323, bognuda63@xtra.co.nz. MEM TARANAKI FIRST GEAR, p art number 154821 for Triumph GT6 Mark 3 gearbox, also fitted to Triumph Spitfire gearboxes. Phone Mike 027 575 8700 MEM TARANAKI
ISUZU DIESEL ENGINE Produced around 1985 as an Isuzu Aska 2 litre diesel turbo 4cyl – type 4FCIT, model JJ510. Petrol version was 2 Litre Holden Camira JJ210. Complete or long block assembly wanted in good condition, prefer diesel version but petrol version considered as either will fit directly into existing Holden Camira subframe. Contact: Stan Consultech@xtra.co.nz, ph 03 577 5509
BACK ISSUES OF THE FOLLOWING MG MAGAZINE ; MG Enthusiast, Enjoying MG, and MG Magazine. Ph FORD MODEL A polished stainless steel spare Dennis 07 348 8448, kennydennis96@gmail.com MORRIS ISIS 1929 1935 parts or information, tyre cover 19” or 21”. Must be in good condition. anything considered, keen young MEM ROTORUA Ph Barry 027 443 5479, barryhoff@xtra.co.nz enthusiast. Contact Jamie 022 306 5731, BEDFORD K with the single wheels at the back. MEM TAUPO jamiephilippar@gmail.com MEM OTAGO Must be in a condition that it won’t take much to GEARBOX WANTED Looking to buy a second-hand get it going. I don’t mind having to paint it and must NZ REGISTRATION PLATE with ‘AZ’ prefix for my late model ribbed 4 speed gearbox for my 1100cc be complete. Phone 027 277 8049. MEM CANTERBURY personal collection wanted. I do have some ‘A’ Morris Minor. Contact Mark McIlwaine 027 239 prefix swaps available. Phone Evan 021 335 003 BOOK WANTED TO BUY - The 20 Year History 9798, mbmcilwaine@gmail.com MEM HOROWHENUA or 06 345 4250. of the Levin Motor Racing Circuit 1956 to 1976. HONDA C77 DREAM o r CB77 crankshaft or By Murray Carkeek. Contact Nick Cressey, REAR WINDOW AND FRAME in reasonable crank parts any version condition immaterial 021 215 9121, knackeredyachtie@yahoo.com condition for my 1930 Model A Ford phaeton (soft to be used for repair and parts use. Contact MEM BANKS PENINSULA top). Contact perkinskj@xtra.co.nz, 027 578 1231. colingrant1941@gmail.com, 03 578 7894 MEM BAY OF PLENTY DOUGLAS 1929 OHV DIRT TRACK girder fork MEM MARLBOROUGH and motor parts wanted. Rudge 1930 Dirt Track ROVER 4 LITRE L/H front amber indicator HUBCAPS FOR 1939-1947 HILLMAN/HUMBER countershaft with clutch and motor parts. Ph Ian lense, part number 613. Phone 027 273 0473. 10. One set required. Phone Bob 09 9460 345, 09 238 6833, 021 105 8132, earlyridersnz@gmail. MEM SOUTH WAIKATO. 0224 737 914. com MEM AUCKLAND SINGER 12 HEAD WANTED URGENTLY o r full INDIAN 741 MOTORCYCLE PARTS (ARMY INDIAN) motor, any condition considered. All leads would EDWARDIAN CHASSIS “larger” is needed for my any parts small or large wanted. Also wanted NZ be most welcome. Contact Owen Davies 021 247 aero car project which is based around a Curtiss registration plate with ‘AZ’ prefix for my personal OX-5 engine. Existing chassis is too short and light. 9671 davieso882@gmail.com MEM CANTERBURY collection. I do have some ‘A’ prefix swaps W.H.Y Hudson, Buick, Moon, Caddy, Sunbeam, available. Phone 06 345 4250 or 021 335 003 Evan. WILLYS OVERLAND 93 SIX: F ront axle with brakes. Austin? Anything else suitable? Ph Bill 027 221 8341 MEM WANGANUI Also fibre timing gear. Phone John 06 752 0041, or email bilco1915@gmail.com MEM BANKS PENINSULA apps.jhe@gmail.com MEM TARANAKI
SWAP MEETS & RALLIES
All vehicles entered in National And International Rallies must hold a current VehicIe Identity Card (VIC).
MANAWATU BRANCH
22 – 24 OCTOBER 2022
IL DIAMON D JUB
EE CELEBRATIONS
An invitation to participate in these 60th Anniversary celebrations is extended to all past and present VCC members Saturday 22 October 2022
Start at the Clubrooms Kelvin Grove Rd from 9am. Cars away from 10:15am. Short and Longer routes available to and from the lunch stop. Drinks from 4:30pm, BYOG; Dinner served at the clubrooms at 6:30pm
Sunday 23 October 2022
Start at the Clubrooms Kelvin Grove Rd from 9:30am. Leave when ready to a variety of pre-arranged venues, your choice as to where you go. Afternoon tea available from 2:30pm, BBQ meal from 5:30pm
Monday 24 October 2022
Clubrooms Kelvin Grove Rd from 9:30am: Socialise; Tea, Coffee available, parts shed open till about midday.
Enquiries: Allan Hardacre 021 173 5373, 06 356 8322 akhardacre@gmail.com
Beaded Wheels 51
BOOK NOW
CANTERBURY BRANCH
N O R T H I S L A N D C L U B C A P TA I N ’S T O U R
CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND
COUNTRY yle
St
7, 8 & 9 OCTOBER 2022 Cutler Park – McLeans Island Road
19 - 23 SEPTEMBER 2022
Friday/Saturday 9am-4.30pm, Sunday 9am-2pm
Join us on this fun weekend and visit the Mecca of Vintage Motoring of New Zealand Admission Friday, Saturday and Sunday $5 per day or $10 for a three day pass Accompanied school children free
For information email swapmeetsites@gmail.com
Day 1
Tauranga
Day 2
Cambridge
Day 3
RAGLAN
Day 4
TAUMARUNUI
Day 5
NEW PLYMOUTH
Day 6
Home
for entry forms Contact
www.theswapmeet.org.nz
OAMARU • NEW ZEALAND
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
CEL E Coinciding with the Victorian Heritage Weekend
SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2022 A & P Showgrounds Ettrick St • Oamaru
Hot Food and Coffee available Enter your Vintage, Classic Car or Hot Rod in the Show & Shine Public Entry from 8am $5 per adult Children under 15 free
B R AT I O N
RAGLAN
Tauranga
CAMBRIDGE
Taumarunui new plymouth
Kaaren Smylie North Island Club Captain
Mobile: 021 66 43 41 Email: nicc@vcc.org.nz
DUNVEGAN MOTORCYCLE RALLY 1-2 OCTOBER 2022
This year’s rally will be Dunedin based. The Saturday run will include a visit to Dunvegan Station (south of Clinton) and return to Dunedin for the evening meal and prize-giving.
Site Holders entry from 7am $15 including 1 free entry
All enquiries to The Secretary, northotago@vcc.org.nz or Derek Brehaut 021 390 518
On Sunday there will be a two hour run taking in the Peninsula. Entry forms will be sent to all branch secretaries and can also be requested by writing to “The Rally Secretary” OTAGO BRANCH PO Box 5015 Dunedin
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
TOP OF THE SOUTH 2022 Join us for a 2 Day Time Trial!
Not a race, but a test of precise driving and time keeping. No special car mods (roll cage etc), required.
FIRST TIME TO NELSON AND TASMAN DISTRICTS New Dates: Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October 2022 (Scrutineering, Documentation and Briefing: Friday 14 October)
Refer: www.targa.nz for details. Contact: Rod Corbett 52 Beaded Wheels
rod.corbett88@gmail.com
Ph 027 433 8772
Photo : Proshotz Photograph
y Branch
T E E M SWAP 2 f Plent CC Bay o
V
CARS
02 2 r e b m e v o anga Sunday 6 N
SSIC E & CLA G A T N I V
9 Cliff R 2 • m p 4 – 8am
d Taur
ADMISSION $10 per person $15 family
ion phone ????? Further informat
EFTPOS AT THE GATES
WAIKATO VINTAGE
SWAPMEET KARAPIRO DOMAIN, CAMBRIDGE
Sunday 20 November 2022
Gates open 7am • Public Entry $5 • Children under 12 Free Sites $10 • Commercial sites and large trailers $25 Organised by Waikato Branch of VCC and Waikato Vintage Tractor & Machinery Club
Enquiries Ph Jeremy Brook 07 824 1641, George Gardner 07 839 1822 For more information visit www.wvvcc.co.nz
25 YEARS AT MANFEILD
UNDERCOVER
SWAP MEET OW & C A R SH
Saturday 1 October 2022 •
Manfeild Stadium
SELLERS $20 | BUYERS $10 | CHILDREN UNDER 12 FREE Public entrance via south st from 8am. Stall holders and show cars entrance via Kawakawa Road from 7am
CONTACT JOHN IRELAND 027 449 1271 VERO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF HISTORIC MOTORING
The Southland Branch invites you all to the
2023 National Motorcycle Rally 3 – 6 February 2023 Friday Evening
Registration at clubrooms plus Noggin ‘n’ Natter.
Saturday
Optional entry to the VCC Southland Rally, followed by evening meal at clubrooms. plus registration for new arrivals.
Sunday
Public Day, includes f ield events, followed by evening meal.
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Feedback from participants at the 2022 Vero Festival of Historic Motoring and the VCC Executive is that we should hold another. The Festival is not hosted or organised by a Branch. A Festival Director would be appointed by the Management Committee to run the event who would then select a committee for organising it. The Management Committee is seeking expressions of interest from branches who think their corner of New Zealand would be ideal for the next Festival. We invite branches to submit a proposal showcasing their region to president@vcc.org.nz for consideration by 30 October 2022. Further information regarding proposals been sent to all branch secretaries. If you would like to know more, please feel free to have a chat with either myself, Greg or Gaynor Terrill, at the AGM in August, or by Diane Quarrie, President VCCNZ telephone
RESTORED CARS MAGAZINE AUSTRALIA
Rally Day, followed by Awards dinner and presentations.
First published in 1973. Most back issues are available. All vehicles featured are restored or in original condition. Events, How To’s and Australian motoring history are a specialty.
Stay on to attend the Burt Munro Challenge 8 – 12 February 2023
Australia 6 Issues $69 or 12 issues $135 New Zealand 6 Issues AUD$117 or 12 issues AUD$231 Overseas 6 Issues AUD$150 or 12 issues AUD$297
Monday
Visit our website for updates and to enter no later than 30 November: www.sporty.co.nz/nationalmotorcyclerally
Subscription Rates
VISA – MASTERCARD AVAILABLE EDDIE FORD PUBLICATIONS P/L 29 LYONS ST, NEWSTEAD VIC 3462, AUSTRALIA.
PH 61 3 5476 2212 RESTOREDCARSMAGAZINE.COM Beaded Wheels 53
TRADE DIRECTORY CARBURETTOR SPECIALISTS
Hamco
INSTRUMENT REPAIRS
INDUSTRIES
▼
▼
▼
Motorcycle & Car a Wire Wheel Repairs & Restorations
Full reconditioning service Carburettor body, re-bushing and shafts supplied. Specialising in Weber, Holley, SU, Stormberg, etc
40 YEARS TRADE EXPERIENCE Contact: GRAEME TULLOCH Ph: 027 612 2312 or 06 368 2202 Email: tullochfamily@xtra.co.nz ı tulmac.co.nz
FREE ADVICE
Experienced expert technician Bruce Chaytor ph 021 631 700 Nicolette Prangley 021 166 8374 nap.chaytor@gmail.com 5 Gibbs Place, Kinloch, RD1, Taupo 3377
We Specialise In • Custom Made Spokes • Speedway Wheels Rim and Frame Lining • Wheel Building & Truing • Complete Wheel Restoration
Vintage – Classic – Modern Craig & Debbie Hambling
Phone 06 324 8345 Mobile 027 231 7864
410 Green Road, RD 6, Palmerston North Day or Night
UPPER CLASSICS NEW ZEALAND
FOR THE REPAIR & RESTORATION OF ALL CLASSIC OR VINTAGE CARS & MOTORCYCLES
Done the old way – the right way COPPER – NICKEL – CHROME
Repairers and Restorers of Vintage and Classic Instruments Speedo Cables repaired or made new to order 13 Fleming Street, Onehunga, Auckland
MARLBOROUGH MAGNETOS
Magnetos Rewound in New Zealand using the best available materials Magneto repair and restoration undertaken
Exchange armatures available
Hard-to-get parts manufactured
Coil Only service for DIY assembly
Magdyno and Maglita units restored
Curiosities investigated
☎ 027 577 8328
Contact Paul Radmall at paul@magnetos.co.nz 54 Beaded Wheels
Specialist in restoration of Vintage and Classic cars and motorcycles FREEPHONE
0800 862 476
www.classicchrome.co.nz
EMAIL stephen_winteringham@hotmail.com
IDLE TORQUE
ASHBURTON COLLEGE PROJECT CAR
A round up of events, personalities and branch gossip from VCCNZ branches around the country
ASHBURTON
ISLA JONES
We welcome new member Thomas Tippet. Our monthly mid-week runs are proving to be very successful, and even winter isn’t deterring members’ enthusiasm. Recent runs have taken us to Peel Forest, Winchester and Hororata. Five of our motorcycle members entered the North Otago Branch Gerald Lynch-Blosse Memorial Rally. This rally is well known for its reasonably quiet sealed roads with sweeping bends and many hills to keep the attention focused. Forty riders came from as far afield as Invercargill and Christchurch to enjoy this very successful rally.
AUCKLAND
PETER WOOD
There has been a steady trickle of new members over recent months. We extend our sympathy to the families of members who have passed away recently, including George Mihaljevich, his wife Joyce, Dudley Kitson and Arthur Houston. The Midweek Tourers is enjoying good attendance, possibly the most consistent and well attended car event. All our motorbike events are also well attended. There is an ugly rumour that John Stokes (the Auckland one) has been braving the great outdoors in his Whippet, and recently purchased a Jawa 634 350cc. The recent Experts Rally was won by Russell and Jocelyn McAlpine in their 1930 Model A. Twenty-nine members recently displayed their bikes at the New Zealand Classic Motorcycle show at Henderson. In May many attended the Northland Motorcycle Rally. Don Green joined the Veteran Rally on his belt drive Triumph, and Gavin Welch attends the veteran meetings in his 1912 Model T. John Campbell and his son fired up the Mighty Mite and got it out for the Anzac Day parade in Helensville. Sixty year awards were presented to Neil Bieleski, Clive Geary and Fred Clifford, with 50 year awards presented to Mike Hilliar, Colin Bell, John Wilkinson and Malcolm Pierce
Ashburton Branch have had an update from the Ashburton College about progress on the Morris Minor we donated to them They have done an oil change, replaced the diff, checked and adjusted components where necessary and cleaned the engine bay. They have also removed both rear doors and are assessing the rust. A bit of wire wheeling is showing that the rust holes have been filled with body filler some time ago, without the rust being cut out first. Their intention now is to cut the rust out and weld in new patches. The students are really enjoying this activity and are learning about mechanics, electrical, painting and panel beating.
▲ Auckland: John Stokes’ Jawa.
▲ Auckland: Don Green’s Triumph veteran.
▲ Auckland: 1937 Packard 6.
Beaded Wheels 55
BANKS PENINSULA DON GERRARD We welcome new members Alan and Julie Booth with a 1939 Studebaker Sedan, 1958 Land Rover Series II, 1962 Ferrari P4 300, 1992 Mercedes 500 coupe; Josh Carlile with his Mazda MX 5; Anthony Haines with assorted post-1980 vehicles; as well as Robert Smith, Anne and Tamati Thompson and Richard Stevens who will all be navigating in the forthcoming Targa Rally. At our AGM thanks were recorded for long-standing member Wendy Lightfoot, who has been our Branch Auditor for the past 17 years and is now retired from the position. Another very successful Hadstock Gymkhana has been held and there is a full report in this issue. It was great to see our younger members applying the pressure to the old guns. The Autumn Fling race meeting at Levels, Timaru, on 14 May attracted a small but interesting VCC grid. Things were not helped by the wet weather conditions and several no-shows on the day. Chris Read from Dunedin flew the Mistral flag, and it was good to see Dennis Moore and his Mallock from Rangiora have an outing, even though the car was plagued with a few gremlins. Mark Barrett was getting to grips with his recently acquired Lotus 20 Junior single-seater looking and performing very well and, together with Bill Cowie in
the Spangeralli Holden and Tracey Barrett’s Lotus 23 Rep, provided close racing all day. Congratulations go to our members Bill Cowie for picking up the PDL Best New Zealand Special Trophy, and Tracey Barrett for her winning performances on the day.
replaced by our Patron and long serving member, Alistair Jones. Future events are the Daffodil Rally for Cancer on 21 August, The North Island Club Captain’s Tour 19-23 September, our Swap Meet and Car Show on 7 November, and the 2023 Highland Fling next April.
BAY OF PLENTY
CANTERBURY
▲ Bay of Plenty: Rapurapu Reserve. Te Poi May 2022 Photo Donn White.
▲ Bay of Plenty: Outgoing VCCBOP Chairman Ken Frew presenting Arthur Wiseley (age 6) his membership badge.
56 Beaded Wheels
DONN WHITE
We welcome our youngest new member, Arthur Wiseley (six years old) who is a selfconfessed petrolhead. Recently good turn outs have been in evidence on runs and various social gatherings. We have been experimenting with some of our Noggin and Natter venues. Lynn and George Howard suggested a venue in Papamoa recently, which seemed to suit the travelling arrangements for members in that catchment and the nearby town of Te Puke. John and Jill Whitcombe have been busy organising runs which continue to be popular - 45 members attended a Brunch Run to Omokoroa, and later in the month of May they organised another run which traversed the Kaimai Range to the South Waikato. The destination was the Tirau Museum on SH5. Our branch AGM was held recently. Chairman Ken Frew stood down and was
TONY BECKER
Club Captain Katryna Shaw presented a new 2022-23 activity plan to Canterbury Branch members at our AGM. Our vital fundraiser, the Annual Swap Meet/Display is planned for 7 – 9 October. Neil Shaskey was welcomed to Chair Canterbury Branch for 2022-23. Neil has led the Commercial section for some years and extends his family´s long multi-role history in our branch. Speaking of roles, a new one specifically to look after new members has gone to Jack Porter. Jack will link new folk with members who share their particular interest, and foster them into club participation. An additional 19 new members have recently joined the branch, some from the publicly extended invitation to our OCBC (Old Cars Bikes and Coffee) monthly gatherings. The adoption of online applications has had a positive effect too. Recent branch activity included the Ross Butler Grasskhana which spectacularly had all manner of vehicles ¨having a ripping time¨ at the Cutler Park fun event. The
▲ Central Otago: Part of Tony Johnson’s vehicle collection.
▲ Central Hawke’s Bay AGM at Waipukurau Bowling Club.
▲ Central Hawke’s Bay: President Dianne Quarrie’s 50 year presentation to Neil Cox.
▲ Central Otago: Graham and Cheryl Taylor’s Morris Minor trying to cope with a Westport weather bomb.
▲ Central Otago: Beau Trevathan’s Armstrong Siddeley at Lindis Pass Hotel.
much-anticipated Irishman Rally returned to sunny high country over Queens Birthday weekend. This vintage annual offers a challenging backcountry ramble with a lot of social fun. The Restoration of the Year, a major mid-year calendar event, welcomed a really attractive 1932 Austin 7 to the winner’s circle, fully restored by Herman van der Wert. Tom Stevens’ 1928 Model A Ford won Certificate of Merit and another Model A entered by Don Crawford took out the Commercial Trophy. Perhaps the Trans Alpine Charity Scooter Safari slips under our radar by not being a club event, nonetheless Cutler Park hosted a notable ¨Challenging the Southern Alps on 250 Scooters¨ fundraiser from Cutler Park to the West Coast and return. They raised an amazing $300,000 for the Cancer Society.
CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY JOHN FOOT We welcome new members Michael Bedford and Elaine Taylor, Andrea and Erin Collier and Peter McKenzie. On Sunday 5 May five cars took part in the Viking Festival celebrations at Norsewood. The May club night/meeting was held at the local Little Theatre where we had dinner followed by the meeting, after which we watched (as a fundraiser) the hilarious presentation of Old People are Revolting. Three branch cars and crews successfully took part in the Targa Rally. Our June outing
▲ EBOP: Cars at Lake Rerewhakaitu, photo Gail Costar.
was a very low-key event with 11 members meeting at the Patangata Country Tavern for a very enjoyable two-hour lunch and general discussion. The Branch now has 118 members, and 52 of them attended the AGM. All positions were filled, with a change of Chairman and Club Captain, and with an addition this year of assistant Club Captain. National President Diane Quarrie (a branch member) was at the meeting and presented Neil Cox with his 50-year badge. Club events have slowed a bit of late, possibly due to Covid, which some of our members have had, and the continuously rising cost of fuel. On the third weekend in June four cars took part in the Manawatu branch Night Trial.
CENTRAL OTAGO
DON YEAMAN
The Sunday Run for April was touring through several backroads around Tarras and finishing at the ruins of the old Lindis Pass Hotel for a picnic lunch. Beau Trevathan arranged for Gerald Goodger to give a talk about life in the Lindis. Our May Sunday Run was to the iconic Cardrona Hotel for lunch and a social get together. Graham Taylor organized a five-day trip to Karamea, and we left Hawea with a Triumph 2.5 from Gore and a Ford Cortina from Dunedin as well as a Riley, a Rover V8 and three moderns all from Central Otago.
The first night was at Hokitika, and the next morning we were met by Graham and Cheryl Taylor in their Morris Minor, but we lost the Miller’s and their Riley as they decided to return to Cromwell. We then carried on to Karamea via Punakaiki and Westport. Wednesday was spent at Karamea, where a few of the group went on a tour of the Oparara Caves while the rest of us checked out the start of the Heaphy Track and the beach. Some of us did the Karamea board walk. If we had paid more attention to the tide we wouldn’t have had to carry our shoes back. Next day was off to Reefton with a stop at Little Wanganui to check out Tony Johnson’s great collection of tractors and military vehicles. A torrential downpour at Westport and another between Westport and Reefton added to the trip, and after a damp day and night in Reefton we all made our separate ways home.
EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY
BRUCE SEDDON
We are getting into winter and our club routines reflect this. Runs are designed to keep us warm and dry. We held our AGM recently, but the attendance was just average, and we are struggling to fill the roles necessary to keep our club running smoothly. Without a more balanced sharing
Beaded Wheels 57
of the committee functions in future the runs and rallies may wither away. On a brighter note our thanks go out to those who stepped forward this year to keep our activities flowing. The monthly branch run in May covered more than 200kms, including a lengthy portion of unsealed roads. The wet weather killed the dust but substituted a sticky fine coating of mud over everything. The run took us to the lakeside at Rerewhakaitu for lunch, then to a side visit to Kaiangaroa Village to see how much a forestry town has aged in 60 years. We then returned home via Lake Aniwhenua for a cuppa under the shelter, then down the valley and past Lake Matahina towards the various Eastern Bay towns that are home. In June we had our bi-monthly combined early morning meet with the local Classic Car Club, followed mid-month by another Harry and Gay Sutcliffe led excursion. This time the destination was Classic Flyers’ Museum in Mt Maunganui, which is always a drawcard for those who are intrigued by old means of transport. Next month we look forward our annual Night Owl Run and to promoting Daffodil Day in the Eastern BOP. This will centre around a display of cars for the public followed by a procession through central Whakatane.
FAR NORTH
▲ Horowhenua: Many hands make the wipers work at our 22 June park-up. ▼ Hawke’s Bay: The swap meet.
58 Beaded Wheels
MURRAY CORMACK
Our recent AGM ushered in a new team for the management of our branch. It is tremendous to see new faces in key roles, bringing new ideas and enthusiasm. This team has prepared a comprehensive and interesting program of events for the coming year. Our Mothers’ Day rally was based around Kerikeri and some of the area’s new building developments. We enjoyed great weather and a good turnout, with a varied selection of vehicles. The Kerikeri Cruising Club was the lunch venue, a tremendous location with a wonderful outlook. Our Molloy Trophy Rally in late June was a cracker. The theme of the rally was steam, and began with a visit to the restoration of the twin screw steamer TSS Minerva, which was built in 1910. This has been an ongoing project made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers and various funding grants. It will be powered by two steam engines, and is a very faithful restoration. We followed this with a train ride and heard the historical story of the railway and coal. Afterwards we were given a guided tour through the railway workshops at Kawakawa, where several engines and carriages are undergoing detailed restoration. Ron and Beryl Shuggs were popular winners of the Molloy Trophy in their immaculate 1970 Buick Riviera. A
great first rally for our new Club Captain Steve Edwards and his wife Stephanie.
GORE
BILL SHEDDAN
We had an unusually low turnout for the Branch Night Trial on 6 May. There were eight entries for the 7pm start, which saw about 20 people well wrapped up and armed with pen and torch looking for advertising signs. Included in the rally directions were photographic clues, and after about an hour we finished at the clubrooms for supper. Murray Proctor, our rally director for the night, determined that Athol Martyn had the most points and Matt Cook was a close second. The Tuesday Ramblers destination was Tally Ho at Raes Junction where Barb and Stuart Peel run their wool carding enterprise. Visitors can see sheep being shorn, then the wool being washed, dried and put through the carding machine to finish up in a variety of garments for sale in the well-stocked showroom. Following the 40-minute drive 17 members arrived to tour the facility and listen to Barb’s interesting narrative. Google “tallyhowoolcarding” for further information. At the branch End of Season Run on the 4 June 17 cars fronted for a 40-mile jaunt around the town and country, finishing at the clubrooms.
▲ Horowhenua: 22 June park-up. ▼ Marlborough: Book launch cars on parade.
▲ Far North: TSS Minerva restoration visit.
▲ Gore: Ken Youngson at the woolcarding machine.
▲ Gore: End of season.
▲ Hawke’s Bay: John and Sharon Hayes, 1962 Sunbeam Rapier.
Manawatu: Red seemed to be the colour outside the clubrooms before the PV, PWV, P60, P80 Rally.
Horowhenua: Part of our line-up from 22 June at the clubrooms
Our AGM on 14 June saw chairman Paul Herron elected for another term. The first auction of the late Robin Dickson’s collection is to be held on 24 September at the Field Day venue, Waimumu. See advertisement in Beaded Wheels.
HAWKE’S BAY
ESTHER SMITH
On 1 May we held a Swap Meet which went off extremely well under a cloudless Hawke’s Bay autumn sky, attracting lots of locals and others from nearby branches. Our June run attracted a good turnout of 42 cars. We visited Mokopeka, which is a small 17kW historic hydro power station on the Maraetotara River. It was commissioned in 1892 by John Chambers of Mokopeka Station to supply electricity for the station’s needs, including lighting, equipment in the
▲ Manawatu: Club Captain Esther Williams briefs participants before the PV, PWV, P60, P80 Rally.
woolshed and an irrigation system. It is believed to be one of the oldest continually operating hydroelectric plants in the world, and still supplies heat to the Mokopeka homestead. Our branch AGM was held in June, and most elected positions were filled with just the position of chairman yet to be confirmed. Thanks go to outgoing chairman Ian Elmsly who had completed six years.
HOROWHENUA
BRUCE JAMIESON
After a couple of competitive events having had low numbers of participants, the branch committee decided to promote some low-key non-competitive sessions to try to persuade more of our members off the couch and into their cars. The first of these was called “Park-up”, where members brought their cars to the clubrooms, and
enjoyed a good yarn and barbeque lunch. This attracted 25 vehicles, so encouraged by this, we will have more similar events.
MANAWATU
BRYAN ABRAHAM
Recently members have had the opportunity to participate in two rallies. The first was the PV, PW, P60 and P80 Rally which took 31 cars over the Saddle Road to Pahiatua (in fog), then south to Eketahuna along roads which largely avoided SH2. At Eketahuna the lunch time stop was at the pub, after which the group headed north to the Tui Brewery (Tui HQ) for afternoon tea and prize giving. The Night Trial saw 17 cars brave the darkness for a 60 odd mile drive, this was some 50 years after the first branch Night Trial in 1972. No clues to look for but the whole route was timed, and the winner Beaded Wheels 59
▲ Nelson: Wayne Graves’ Porsche 911 at scrutineering at Auto Focus Nelson in preparation for the Sandy Bay Hill Climb.
missed the target time by just 17 seconds. The second-place car came in just under a minute later, and the third-place car was only about another minute further on. The route took cars out north of Feilding, then East over a mixture of sealed and unsealed roads to finish at the Cheltenham Pub for a buffet dinner. Both rallies saw a good turnout of competitors from other branches, the PV rally even seeing members from Auckland participating.
MARLBOROUGH
CARROLL WIBLIN
Our AGM has been and gone with no changes. I had planned to step down from my role as Beaded Wheels Reporter but here we are with another branch report. During May we had a Tuesday lunch at the Runway Café, and going by the comments everybody seemed very pleased with it. The night trial was later in the month, and although there was a very low turnout, those that participated enjoyed the cryptic clues, the historic plaques, and the good old “next turn L” type of instruction. It was a closely fought battle with half a point separating the top two. It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Tris Winstanley’s wife, Helen. She has been a part of the branch for many years and was very supportive of Tris’ involvement with the club. She had become very frail over the last few months, but her death still came as a shock to many. June also saw the launch of Trevor Harris’ book on the history of the Marlborough Branch. Trevor spent many hours collecting information and getting different members to contribute. Linda Laing spent many hours collating everything and putting it into book form. We are looking forward to the annual Snow Run when we meet with the Nelson Branch at an agreed location for a shared 60 Beaded Wheels
▲ Nelson: Nelson Restoration of Year Winner Roy and Dianne Eaton’s ‘37 Ford V8 coupe.
or picnic lunch and some camaraderie. It is usually a great day with some interesting competitions.
NELSON
RAY ROBERTSON
The Sandy Bay Hill Climb saw 35 entries, with 13 of these being VCC members. The road with its alternating wet and dry patches and 33 corners certainly provided the entrants with an exciting surface to race on. Fastest VCC entry was Wayne Graves from Christchurch in his Porsche 911 with a time of 1m 46.48s. It is fabulous to see racing legends like Russell Greer and Joe Gillman still out there having go, and with events like this becoming increasingly difficult to run, we encourage everybody in the VCC to have a go at hill climbs and support these events to ensure their future is secure. Retiring Chairman Trevor Carsten and his family introduced a new event to be competed at each AGM in conjunction with the Restoration of the Year competition. This is the “Pride of Ownership Challenge” and is open to anybody who has a particular liking for a vehicle. The inaugural winners were Jim and Kyra Wareing with their Chrysler 70 roadster. We had three beautifully presented entries for the Restoration of the Year – Mike Bryan’s Hillman California, Burkhard Strauch’s Honda 350 twin motorcycle, and this year’s winner Roy and Dianne Eaton’s Ford V8 coupe. The Nelson Branch is getting really excited about, and will be promoting with a vengeance, the 2024 South Island Easter Rally which will also be a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Nelson Branch.
NORTHLAND
RAY SANDERS
So far this year Northland Branch have been able hold most of their events with the
exception of the swap meet. The Motorcycle Rally went very well, with over 60 entrants who enjoyed a great day out with good weather and an excellent dinner at the clubrooms. It was a windy day, and halfway through the field on a back road a tree fell across the road blocking access to the remainder of the field. Our intrepid rally organiser, Peter Lovatt, was right there and was able to guide the riders to another road. The motorcycle group in Northland is very strong and very well organised. We are looking forward to celebrating our branch’s 50th anniversary in November, and will have a special dinner on our annual Far North Tour to commemorate 50 years of these tours. We welcome everyone to attend and will distribute an entry form in due course.
NORTH OTAGO
CLIVE BLUNDEN
The mid-month run organized by John Dale was well attended despite the cold weather, with 20 members turning up. The run went via the back roads, taking in Weston and Ngapara, to the Flying Pig Cafe at Duntroon, where the ambiance and service of the cafe was exceptional. The trouble with the fuel supply on Clive’ Blunden’s Anglia has at last been rectified with the aid of an electric pump and pipe work well away from the manifold. Over the road from the cafe was the Duntroon Garage, Andrew, the owner, very kindly let us view a couple of 1940s Bedford utes that he is sending away to be restored.
NORTH SHORE RICHARD BAMPTON Eleven cars set out from the clubrooms on a delightful winding rural run to Couldrey House, in Wenderholme Regional Park (a final count revealed that 16 cars had arrived). We parked in the grounds of the Historic House for a picnic and the public
Northland: We were able to participate in the VCC time trial section of the Targa Rally, which was most enjoyable with a great selection of cars and great roads. This rally always has excellent camaraderie, and despite some trying times for some participants with mechanical issues, everyone seemed to enjoy it immensely. Great weather in both Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay made the rally much easier for those in open cars, and where else can you drive the Gentle Annie all the way on a closed road at your own pace?
▲ Northland: Warwick & Paticia Darrow, Auckland. 1961 VelocetteMSS 500
▲ Northland: A happy Peter Alderdice, Auckland. 1954 Ariel Square 4.
were encouraged to view the vehicles. Few attracted more attention than Jim Masson’s 850 Fiat coupe, ostensibly powered by an electric motor – well, some people believed him. The barbecued snarlers were cooked by Ford Model A enthusiast John Castle and his assistant Bill Duffy, so we forgave Bill for hiding most of the silent checks at the bottom of the ditches. At the AGM most of the committee remained unchanged, with Mike Swanton retiring and Terry Flude and Andrew Lunt joined the committee. Trophy Winners: Captain’s Cup Mike Garner Most Enthusiastic Trophy Peter Aitken Post 60s Trophy Ray Urbahn (Daimler) Rolling Pin Trophy Richard & Mary LLoyd Restoration Trophy – Best restoration of the year Mike and Christine Swanton 1935 Vauxhall DX Stratford Sports
▲ North Shore: Jim Masson’s ELECTRIC Fiat 850 Coupe.
Ajax Trophy – Best restoration of a vehicle where most or all of the work was done by the owner Maurice WhithamFord Model T Work in the restoration shed continues, and the Bedford tow truck is getting nearer completion.
OTAGO
MARION MCCONACHIE
Our members continue to enjoy the Wednesday morning sessions at the club rooms. A good chance to do maintenance jobs, both in and outside, as well as sorting and sales in the parts shed. Some bring friends along to see what we get up to, and eventually they become members. We continue to welcome a steady stream of new members. Our monthly Friday Tech Talks continue with reasonable turnouts. Brian Stewart talked about the challenges of identifying
North Shore: New committee member Andrew Lunt’s Morris Minor Traveller on the Wenderholm Run. ▼ Nelson: Jim Wareing receiving the Pride of Ownership award from Chairman Trevor Carston.
Beaded Wheels 61
and sourcing parts needed for building his Ford GT40 while following Ford factory plans as accurately as possible (article in recent Beaded Wheels). In August we will have Dean Turner coming to demonstrate pin striping. At our AGM we welcomed a full committee for the coming year. Awards were presented to: Kevin Mason - best attendance at rallies, Andrew Roxburgh - best performance at all events, George Martin - best attendance at local events, Stephen Kidd - most meritorious performance of a veteran vehicle, John Sim - most determined effort on a vet/vin motorcycle, Nevin Gough - Greatest effort in vintage motoring, Eleanor Harrison — Chairman’s Award for her work with The Roadrunner (branch newsletter). Restoration achievements were awarded to Travis Michelle – 1930 Ford Model A, Graeme Duthie -1926 Ford Model T, and Bill Veitch -1952 Vincent Comet motorcycle. The motorcycle team are busy planning the Dunvegan Rally set down for the beginning of October. Planning for the 50th Taieri Tour on 4-6 November is under way and entry forms will be emailed to all branches shortly.
ROTORUA
RONALD MAYES
To encourage members to attend our AGM we had a “Car in the Room” event. Ralph Bennett told us about his 1938 Buick Special’s history and the body-off restoration he undertook after buying it in 1988. The AGM was then swiftly dealt with. At the June meeting Kevin Scott’s 1990 Ford Capri was on show - hard to believe that a vehicle from that time is VCC eligible, but of course it is over 30 years old. Removing the hard top was an easy task for two but replacing it after Kevin’s talk took three, with much advice from onlookers. Club runs are getting back to normal, although we find that they are becoming shorter (no hundreds of kilometres drives)
and the record for a short mid-week run must have been the 5.5 km drive from the clubrooms to the mountain biking centre just south of the city. Soaring petrol prices are influencing the length of our drives, but the numbers of members attending are very encouraging. On the June Sunday run the writer spotted a bright blue 1954 Morris Oxford which seemed familiar. It was the club captain’s car — he had just bought it back after having sold it some years ago. Our major fund raiser, the Central North Island swap meet, was held in July, and the August Sulphur City Rally will be combined with the branch’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
book early – a link to accommodation is on our website. As well as the Burt Munro Challenge there are several local attractions to round off any visit to Invercargill and Southland; Stewart Island, the Catlins, Milford and Doubtful Sound. True petrol heads will want to visit: The Classic Motorcycle Mecca with over 300 motorcycles, sidecars and three-wheelers on display. E Hayes and Sons shop, home of Burt Munro World’s Fastest Indian plus 38 veteran, vintage and classic motorbikes, including Burt’s record breaking Velocette. Bill Richardson Transport World, the largest private truck collection of its type in the world, displaying over 250 vehicles.
SOUTHLAND
SOUTH CANTERBURY
STUART FRANCIS
The organisation of the 28th National Motorcycle Rally (Waitangi Day weekend 3 to 6 February 2023) in Invercargill, is proceeding apace. Within 30 minutes of online entries opening the first entry was received from the North Island, and several have followed since. The short, medium, and long routes have been mapped out around the spectacular coastline and stunning scenery of Southland. The aim is to provide challenging but doable routes, the short route has been set to accommodate the challenges of veteran and low powered machines. The rally is being held between two major local events, the Southland Rally and the Burt Munro Challenge. Entrants can compete in two different rallies in one weekend, attend the Burt Munro Challenge and have a good break away sampling the delights of Southland. Entries to both the National Motorcycle Rally and Southland Rally can be made using the website: https://www.sporty.co.nz/ nationalmotorcyclerally. Entries close on 30 November 2022 (No late entries accepted). Accommodation will be at a premium, so
Southland: 5 Brough Superiors lined up at the Classic Motorcycle Mecca.
62 Beaded Wheels
SHANNON STEVENSON
The Post Vintage Rally attracted more than 30 vehicles and took participants to Lake Opuha, the gravel route taking in many rarely travelled steep roads in the Raincliff area. The End of Season run was held on 22 May with 20 vehicles taking in the Claremont and Taiko regions finishing at the branch clubrooms. The All British Day took place on 5 June and attracted over 80 vehicles, several from outside the district. The run took in Fairview, Bluecliffs and Cave regions. We were saddened to hear about the passing of long-time member Graham Rae. he was a keen participant in events in his vintage Fiat and 1926 Ford New Beauty. Following our AGM our chairperson is now Alistair Day, with Colin Hawke vice chairperson. Newsletter editor is Les Rzepecky, and parts manager is Barry Smith. Ross Parker and Clive Merry have stepped down from committee, all other members continuing their positions. Mid-Week runs are proving successful, with more than 15 vehicles in attendance
Otago: Bill Veitch’s 1952 Vincent Comet.
▲ Rotorua: Refitting the Capri’s hardtop.
▲ Rotorua: 1990 Capri, a bunch of cynics discuss its engine.
▲ O tago: Graeme Duthie 1926 Ford Model T.
▲ Rotorua: Most-rallied vintage for the year: Bill and Adelai Skelton’s 1929 Austin 7.
▲ Rotorua: Morris Oxford returns.
▲ South Canterbury: Picnic outside clubrooms on End of Season run – Sandy McMillan’s Mazda 323 out front.
on each run. The night trial took place on 25 June in almost sub-zero temperatures on a pitch-black run through rural South Canterbury. Preparations are underway for the branch Swap Meet, taking place on 10 September at Winchester Showgrounds.
TARANAKI
COLIN JOHNSTON
Last year’s popular Rubber Duckie Motorcycle Rally had to be cancelled, so this year there will be two timed sections during the morning. The first will be from the start until morning tea break to decide the winner of the rally that would have been held last year, and the second section winner from morning tea break to lunch will be the winner for this year’s event.
▲ O tago: Travis Michelle 1930 Model A.
▲ South Canterbury: Member checking out Bill Weir’s 1963 International, with ‘half a V8’ up front. End of Season run.
This will enable our historic records to be kept showing all year’s rallies correctly recorded. Entries are now open. The popular untimed run after the lunch break for a blat will still take place. At our Noggin and Natter night in June we had one of our members give an interesting talk on his passion for collecting radios. Patrick Adams brought along about 30 radios from his collection of over 110, ranging from a 1923 Stewart Warner model up to a very rare Gulbransen tele dial, and including Pacemaker, Ultimate, Bell and other models from the 1960s. Patricks favourite models are the Pacemaker models that were made in six colours, and he has only to get the blue model to complete the collection.He was able to tell us how he has been able to collect and buy them from second hand
shops to Trade me deals. Some have been even picked up from swap meets.
TAUPO
NEIL CHAVE
Our AGM saw a couple of changes, including John Searle as the new treasurer. In May we held the Chairman’s Run which took a large group of members from Taupo south through Turangi and to National Park for a lunch stop. Unfortunately the weather let us down as most of the run was held in heavy rain and conditions likely to test the wiring systems on several member’s cars. Our Breakfast Run in June took us on a trip around Taupo searching for answers to questions while the committee was hard at work preparing breakfast.
Beaded Wheels 63
▲ Wairarapa: New chairman Graeme Hodder with his predecessor, Tina Goodin.
Wairarapa: New members Logan and Josh Taylor with their pride and joy, grandad Alan Pratt’s MkII Jaguar. ▲ Wairarapa: Most consistent member, Pat Dutton.
WAIMATE
LYNN BOADEN
Following our AGM we had our Mid-Winter Christmas shared meal. Entertainment was provided by both our previous Club Captain and our new Club Captain. The funniest was the Fact or Fiction section, which had everyone in stitches.
WAIRARAPA
KEVIN BALL
Success in the national VCC Targa, a Winter Wander with two exciting new vintage cars debuting in the branch, and an AGM were recent highlights. Greytown couple Malcolm Fleming and Gina Jones scored a runaway win in their MG Midget sports car in their division of this year’s Targa Rally. Theirs was one of three Wairarapa entries in the two-day VCC time trial section of the Targa. The time trial is not about speed, rather it is an exercise in precise driving and timekeeping to maintain a set average speed for each day’s five to six stages on closed roads between Wanganui and Havelock
North. The other Wairarapa entrants were Mike D’Alton and Ian Stewart in a 1934 Bentley roadster (who were third overall), and Willie James and Simon O’Hara in an MG Magnette. All reported a hugely fun event, socially and competitively. The AGM saw former treasurer Graeme Hodder replacing Tina Goodin in the chair. The Torque Hudson Memorial Trophy for most consistent member went to branch librarian Pat Dutton, a regular competitor in her Morris Minor. The Winter Wander, held appropriately in wet and windy conditions between Clareville and Martinborough, saw the first outing for Jim and Lyn Laird’s massive 1938 Packard coupe (ex-Auckland), and brothers Logan (21) and Josh (19) Taylor in the immaculate 1967 MkII 3.4 Jaguar that has been in the family for 20 years. Their grandfather, the late Alan Pratt, campaigned it with the Wellington Branch where he was a member for many years.
Taranaki: Patrick Adams favourite Pacemaker Radios from his collection of over 110 radios of which he told of his passion and how he collected them at the Noggin and natter night.
▲
64 Beaded Wheels
WAIKATO
GRAHAM PATE
The motorcycle guys and gals had a great Mooloo Meander Rally. This was the 28th Mooloo, with 42 bikes entered, ranging from a 1924 BSA to a 2020 Honda combination. A beautiful new trophy has been donated by Rex Cotter for this rally. Our Annual Vintage Venture Rally had a good turnout with a variety of vehicles. It started in Tamahere. The weather was a bit dismal, but the run was good for vintage motoring. The Ladies’ Rally was themed Rest and Relaxation. During the rally the entrants stopped at a boutique chocolate maker — one of our Waikato members. This year our Double Fifty Rally had some changes to revitalize the event. The main one was to the date, as the rally was moved to the weekend after Queen’s Birthday and held on the Saturday only. This was to avoid holding it on a long weekend when
▼W airarapa: Malcolm Fleming and Gina Jones with their loot after a runaway win in their MG Midget at the two-day VCC Targa.
roads are busier and accommodation is dearer. The weather was wet, to put it mildly, but we still enjoyed the day. Our AGM was held on 8 June, and some new faces came onto the committee. National President Dianne Quarrie attended and presented long service awards to: 35 years: Vince Gabelich and Annette Townsend. 50 years: Bob Townsend, Kelvin Davis (Christine accepted on behalf) and Joyce Webley (Hugh accepted on behalf)
WAITEMATA
IAN GOLDINGHAM
▲ Waitemata: R’Oil Can 2022.
The commencement of the Waitemata R’Oil Can Rally was under the usual imminent threats of flooding, slips and plague. This year’s organiser, Liz Andrew, produced a cracker example of our mid-winter madness. Twenty open top cars lined up at the Ararimu Community Hall where the Ararimu Playgroup gave us breakfast before we went through a special stage in Maramarua Forest. Then a drive through Matahuru Road where we had to clear a fallen tree or two, then through Top Hill and Waiti Roads to Morrinsville for fuel and Kiwitahi School for lunch. The weather was relatively mild, and we only had rain for a short time midafternoon. After lunch the route took in an interesting gravel section along Piakonui Road that lead down to Henry Walton and French Pass Roads. We then looped back towards the Kaimais, before finishing at Okororie Hot Spring Hotel for a spa, buffet dinner a good night’s sleep then breakfast before coming home. Terry Roycroft was the deserving winner and has warned us that
▲ Waitemata: R’Oil Can 2022.
Taupo:Members heading off for the Breakfast Run
▲ Wairarapa: Jim and Lyn Laird with the mighty 1938 Packard coupe. ▲
Wairarapa: MG enthusiasts Willie James and Simon O’Hara pose beside the Magnette.
▼ Waitemata: R’Oil Can Rally entrants dinner and prize giving.
Beaded Wheels 65
▲ Wellington: 1954 MkI Ford Zephyr. ▲ Wellington: 1977 Saab V4 - Phil Pat Pearce
we will regret his elevation to next year’s organiser. We can’t wait!
WANGANUI
IAN HIGGINS
At our May meeting we were able to view a film showing VCC vehicles at the various venues of the Vero Festival of Historic Motoring held in New Plymouth earlier this year. Following this we viewed Film on Whanganui River showing one of our members, Dave McDermid, and his passion for restoring old riverboats. We then saw a movie about former mayor, Annette Main, and the Saturday market she set up on the riverbank. Bruce Ardell then featured in a most entertaining film about his life in the motor trade, with special interest in his passion for supplying parts for vehicles of yesteryear. Bruce supplies those hard to obtain bits and pieces, not only throughout the country, but overseas as well. At our June meeting we also held our AGM. Chairman Bruce Ardell did not stand after five years of sterling service. Martonian Andrew Dittmer was elected to the chair. Likewise, Club Captain Frank James stood aside after years of exemplary service. Andrew Johnson was elected to this busy role. There were two or three other changes brought about by retiring members. The Annual Rally our main event over the May to June period. See Rally Snippets for the story and photo on page 12. Outgoing chairman Bruce organised a run to two interesting places on a cold and wet Sunday afternoon. Simply Wrought Iron was a business I never knew existed in the river city until Bruce escorted us there. This was followed by a visit to Bruce Harding’s shed on the outskirts of the city. I had never heard of this collection either, and it was great to view something different.
66 Beaded Wheels
▲ Wellsford: Pristine Vauxhall Victor.
▲ Wellsford: EH Holden station wagon.
WELLINGTON
JOHN STOKES
Our Kapiti Mid-Week Run for May saw about 40 members from Wellington and Horowhenua Branches lined up for a lunch at the magnificent Gear Homestead overlooking the Paremata Inlet. We then visited the neighbouring New Zealand Police Museum. Here the head of the Wellington District Armed Offenders Squad treated us to an insightful look at the workings of the AOS. This began with a look inside his AOS command vehicle – a VW van equipped with everything an AOS leader might require on the job, including a multitude of radios (various bands) and negotiation tools. Inside the museum building our host donned all the equipment that an AOS member would wear on the job; Glock pistol, a Taser, first aid kit (including, of course, a tourniquet),
▲ Wellsford: Ford Anglia.
bullet-proof vest containing pepper spray, stun grenade, smoke grenade, hand cuffs and, naturally, the ubiquitous policeman’s notebook. The Police Museum is small, but packed with well-organised and interesting displays. One which grabbed my attention was a scratch-built model of a 1946-48 Ford V8 patrol car, built in the early ‘50s. The accuracy is incredible. Hanging on a wall, in the same way as we’d hang a picture in our lounges, was evidence successfully presented in court of tyre tracks and footprints found in sand at a beach beside a body. To know how the police were able to preserve that sandy evidence, then later hang it in a frame you must visit the museum.
www.basisnz.co.nz Supplying new parts for Vintage, Classic and Modern Vehicles for over 34 years, BASIS is your established and trusted parts supplier. Classic Accessories incl. badge bars, goggles and mirrors Door windlaces, push on & tack on, most types and colours Rubber bushes, gaskets, mounts, pedal pads, seals etc.
Shop: 31 High St, Renwick. Marlborough (SI) Address: PO Box 20, Renwick 7243 Phone: +64 3 572 8880 Email: sales@basisnz.co.nz
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
PASSING LANE ▲ Wellsford:
WELLSFORD/WARKWORTH
CHRIS HARVEY
On 29 May we went on a shed raid to Leigh to see Steve Paddison’s collection which is mostly Fords but it includes a sporty Austin 7 Special in which he competes in numerous events. This must be Zephyr Heaven as he has Mark I, II and III variants in different stages of completion. We then went on to the Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre for an informative talk by a member of the research staff whose speciality is crayfish. He spoke of the threat to their numbers from the dwindling fish stock. Hopefully our stop at the fish and chip stop in Leigh on the way back did not contribute to this. Our next monthly run on 26 June was a
shed raid on another local member whose collection comprises mostly GM models from the 1950s and later. Our main event was the Winter Woollies Wander held on 2 July. The weather was kind, and the 39 entrants enjoyed a scenic, circular route starting at Wellsford and taking in Maungaturoto, Waipu for a lunch stop, then Mangawhai and finishing at the quarry on Matakana Valley Road just north of the big hill. First Vintage was Paul Collins and Brian Runciman and the Post Vintage and Overall winners were Gavin Welch and Sophie Zhao in their Ford Model Y. The best home club result was second in the P60 achieved by Raewyn and Justin Spick.
In this column we acknowledge the recent passing of club members. Information is supplied to Beaded Wheels by VCCNZ Branch Secretaries.
Allbon, Dave Bastion, Peter Buchanan, Terry Burgess, Ron Groves, Peter Jenks, Don Kitson, Dudley Lester, Ray McIver, Malcolm Manning, Alan Milne, Stuart Rae, Graham Wardle, Pauline Winstanley, Helen
Auckland Canterbury North Otago Canterbury Wairarapa South Otago Auckland Wairarapa South Otago Waikato South Otago South Canterbury Wairarapa Marlborough
Beaded Wheels 67
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
Vero and VCC. Together we go way back. At Vero we’ve been supporting the Vintage Car Club for over 30 years. For a quote on house, contents, vehicle (every-day and vintage) and boat insurance, please contact us and provide your VCC membership number.
Call for a quote on 0800 658 411 and select option 2, or email veropersonallines@vero.co.nz Excesses, terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply to these policies. The provision of cover is subject to the underwriting criteria that apply at the time.
