PHOENIX Number 260
DECEMBER 2016
PHOENIX NEWSLETTER OF THE WAITEMATA BRANCH VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND NUMBER 260 CHAIRMAN: CLUB CAPTAIN: 1st OFFICER : SECRETARY: TREASURER: BRANCH DELEGATE: EDITOR: COMMITTEE :
DECEMBER 2016 DI HUMPHREYS 09 446 0916 smartchick@ihug.co.nz HAMISH ANDREW 09 276 9263 h.andrew@orcon.net.nz DON SUCKLING 09 412 7479 thebarn820@yahoo.co.nz VIV SCOTT 09 413 7154 robandviv06@yahoo.co.nz JOHN GAIRDNER 09 480 4414 GRAEME BANKS 09 444 8447 graban@ihug.co.nz KEVIN BEESLEY 09 480 5888 k.m.beesley@orcon.net.nz MIKE HOPE-CROSS, MAX JAMIESON, BRENDAN LAMAIN, MIKE GREIG.
COMING EVENTS Looking forward……… Month DECEMBER
Waitemata
Other Events
Swap Meets
Visit to HMNZS Te Mana 10 New Year’s Eve 31
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
Lochinver 21-22
Ellerslie Intermarque Car Show 12 Shed Raid tba
Hooters Race Series Round 2 Taupo 7-8 National Veteran Rally 20-23 Parliamentary Tour Reenactment - 28-6 Feb Lead foot Festival 4-5 Art Deco Rally Napier 17-19 Teretonga Speed fest 17-19
MARCH
Ngawhini Classic Car Hill climb 4
APRIL
Hooters Race Series Round 3 Taupo 8-9
Wellsford/Warkworth Swap Meet 25
MAY JUNE
A.G.M.
JULY
R’Oil Can 8-9
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PHOENIX Number 260
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Saturday 10 December 2016 Courtesy of F.O.B’s Danny and Vicki Ryan,
A visit to HMNZS TE MANA, escorted by a senior officer of that worthy vessel. Meet at the Naval Dockyard, Devonport, 10.00 am where we will be directed to a designated parking area. Here a group photo will be taken before we are then taken on a guided tour of the ship. At around 12.00 pm we will then head off into deepest Belmont for lunch at a well known and regarded local cafĂŠ.
Do not delay! If you have not already done so then act post haste and register your interest with Vicki Ryan at vicki@cheesesystems.com Numbers are strictly limited to no more than 40 persons and preference will be given to those who will be turning out in Club eligible vehicles. Access to the Naval Dockyard will only be granted to those who have advised Vicki in advance of their intent to intend and you need to provide her with the registration number of the vehicle you will be turning up in. Also, each person will need bring photo ID on the day. No rego, no photo ID, no get through the gate. You cannot just turn up on the day and expect to get in. Given that a number of ladders will need be climbed during the tour Ladies are advised to wear their best frilly bloomers. Page |2
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And don’t forget…
noting well the first Thursday in the month is (again!) the first of the month! Club Night Thursday 1st DECEMBER 2016 At the usual place, the RSA Room, King George Coronation Hall, Library Lane, Albany. At the earlier time of 7.00 pm as we will be having a barbeque to celebrate this, our last Club Night of the calendar year. BYO plates, cutlery, offerings for burning and your favourite tipple. The Branch will provide the fire and the salads.
Then….
Yes, coming up on a date you should be aware of, (but is Saturday 31 December in case you are unsure,) is the Branch’s annual New Year’s Eve Bash, to be held Mike and Kris Hope-Cross’ pleasantly rural West Auckland property. The BBQ apparatus is provided: BYO plates, utensils, refreshments and food. There will be a roast on a spit and the Hope-Cross’ hospitality is legendary. Page |3
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The address is: 10 Anzac Valley Road, Waitakere Township (past Swanson). Mike advises to look out on the LHS for number 10A which is easier to see from the road and no. 10 is just past that. Turn up from 4.30 p.m. onwards. Mike’s contact numbers are: 810-9494 or 0274 884-961. Please advise him soonest if you intend to come along. He needs to know the numbers to plan accordingly.
And Then…..
“LOCHINVER” 21-22 January 2017 Arrangements for this truly memorable event are now pretty much finalised and by the time you receive this newsletter those of you who have registered interest in attending will have been contacted separately with full detail on all you need to know. Come prepared for a week-end and an experience out of the ordinary.
After That…
The Ellerslie Intermarque Concours and Classic Car Show, 12 February 2017. Kevin Andrews will again be putting together a Branch display for this prestigious public event. Please do your best to oblige him should he tap you on the shoulder for input of one sort or another.
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Also… Sometime in February, on a date yet to be determined and subject to details yet to be worked out, we plan on running a Garage Raid. Keep your eyes peeled for a separate notice about this, once final plans are set in place.
Going further out…
The 2017 R’Oil Can Rob Chapman, the well deserving winner of the 2016 R’Oil Can and therefore the organiser of the 2017 one advises that the 2017 "Can" date has been set as Saturday 8th July 2017 Cost will be around $170-$175, subject to finalisation. So, you are on notice. Sufficient time to mark your diaries and commence girding your loins. Plus…
AUCKLAND BRANCH MID-WEEK RUN Wednesday 14th December 2016. Note the change of date, (2nd Wednesday) due to Christmas.
Starts from the Drury Service Centre Southern Motorway 10.00am for a 10-30am departure A short run to the Auckland Branch usual Christmas BBQ. Bring your own meat. The rest will be provided. Then:
Wednesday 18th January 2017. Starts from The Warehouse car-park, Westgate. 10-00am for a 10-30am departure. Jack Nazer is organising this run and it will finish at Wenderholme Regional Park for a BBQ lunch. The Dewdrops tel. 09 232 0245 email dewdrops@xtra.co.nz
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Looking a little further ahead…
To be held 4-5 February 2017.
Tickets will be available soon
Also…..
If anyone wants entry forms for this VCC Southland Branch event above, please contact Diane H. She can email them to you.
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PHOENIX Number 260
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P.O. Box 776, Hawera 4640
Dear Classic & Vintage Car Enthusiasts, Ngawhini Classic Car Hillclimb – Saturday 4th March 2017 I am pleased to inform you that the Egmont Classic Car Register will be holding their 12th retro running of the Ngawhini Classic Car Hillclimb on Saturday 4th March 2017 near Hawera, Taranaki, and that you are on our invitation list for this event. As in 2015 there will be classes for Classic Road Going and Motorsport as well as Vintage cars. Past entrants will notice that we have elected to stay for the time being with running this event on the Saturday rather than on the Sunday, as this tends to be preferable for those who travel from outside the region. (If you have any strong feelings about this decision, please bring them to my attention for consideration in future years.) It is not necessary to reply to this message but if you are interested, or alternatively definitely not interested, in either entering the event, or attending the event, and care to let me know, I will update my records accordingly. Kind regards, John Apps (Event Secretary) E-mail:
apps.jhe@gmail.com
40, Maunga Heights, RD1, New Plymouth, 4371
WOF: R&S Auto Services, 340 Pt. Chevalier Road, Auckland 09 – 846 5683
Nota Bene…. A notice from our worthy Secretary who advises she has received a couple of emails from V.C.C. Christchurch HQ advising that people have made deposits into the V.C.C account but not put any info who it is from. Accordingly, Julie has asked if we could publish as follows:
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“Have you received a reminder notice for your subscription account but believe you deposited it direct into the Club bank account on 19/20 October? If so, you will need to contact the National Office as the information provided could not assist them with identifying who it related to”.
And a further message, recently in from HQ: “Hi Folks, I want to give you plenty of notice to say that the National Office will close Friday 23 December 2016 and reopen on Monday 9th January 2017. Anyone who needs a current VCC ID Card for any event, such as the National Veteran Rally, please make sure that the application is at the National Office (via approval from the branch), by the 15 December. Even after I have processed applications, they have to go to three Vehicle Technical Committee members (albeit by email), and whilst we currently get most applications turned around in 24 hours, this cannot be guaranteed. The VTC members are all volunteers and I suspect will also be enjoying the holiday period with their family. Please remind your members to not leave it to the last minute. Kind Regards Julie Cairns – Gee, Administration Manager, Vintage Car Club of NZ - National Office”.
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LOOKING BACK The Monte Carlo. 29-30 October. We gave you a brief account of this last issue, but herewith, compliments of Diane, the full story.
The Fun of a Monte Carlo 29-30 October 2016 The best laid plans can unravel with one phone call. A Monte Carlo route for a full weekend of motoring had been plotted to ensure that we would make it to the finish line at the Nikau Café, Port Waikato with an abundance of points for not only travelling a large distance but also for accumulating lots of points for visiting towns that had many of the highest scoring letters from the alphabet in the town names. But alas, a Friday afternoon call from friends in Tauranga who were coming to Auckland and looking for a bed put paid to that. As Saturday morning ticked by so did our leaving time. Then the afternoon ticked by so Saturday was totally stuffed. We figured, oh well we may as well go to the Saturday night party we had been invited to, get home reasonably early and head off on Sunday morning and complete as much of our route as we could. Just on dawn we left home but could now only travel south and we had a great early morning drive in very pleasant conditions but it was obvious from some of the scenery that the westerly winds cause distortion to the exposed trees. We criss-crossed through towns as we headed south and then we looped out to the west coast and came back in to finish at the Nikau Café just before the finish time of 10am. The couple who run the café and the caves, Philip & Anne, were on our Africa trip. The caves are on Philip and Anne’s farm and in those early days not only was it cheap to enter the caves it was also far less health and safety conscious. We had taken Waitemata members to the caves some years ago when Brendan & Terry
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Lamain had two young boys. One of these boys is now married and has a child of his own so it was quite a few years ago that we were there last! Brian & Bess Johnstone were also on that run and they came home with two kittens from the farm. The caves are now recognised as the most unspoilt caves in the North Island. The Nikau CafĂŠ is opposite the farm and there was a family there waiting to go through the caves and Paul & Kevin Beesley were the only ones from the Monte Carlo team who ventured through the caves with that family and their guide Philip. We had a short time to talk with Philip & Anne before the other Monte teams arrived and we can fully recommend the free range scrambled eggs cooked perfectly by Philip. Hamish Andrew had put a lot of thought and time into organising this event and it must have been hugely disappointing to him to have so few entrants. I know I felt for him and for a Branch that has the reputation of being an out there long distance motoring bunch, where the hell were you!??? Jan & son Teun Hendrix in their TR2 had a fantastic weekend. They went north first, broke down but eventually got sorted but the
breakdown put their timing back by three hours so to actually finish by 10am Sunday and complete their whole route to gain their most points they only got four hours sleep!! There was no doubt that they deserved the Monte Carlo Trophy and the chocolate fish‌.Teun said he only came to get some chocolate fish!! Kevin & son Paul Beesley also took the run to heart and they too travelled many miles around the countryside and came into the finish with only a few points lost behind the Hendrix team. The Humps with a rather pathetic number of points came in third and Max Jamieson with granddaughter Sasika (aged 13) and grandson Caden (aged 9) came in fourth. Both Sasika and Caden enjoy the Delage and between them they do try to keep Max on route. Di H.
Chelsea W.A.L S.H. 20 November. It may not have been the best line-up we have ever had for Chelsea, but it was right up there amongst them! It was a field that did us proud on this, the 40th anniversary of the running of this hill climb. To add the icing to the 40th birthday cake it was a very vintage field, as well.
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Twenty-six vehicles, seven runs, a fine day, no untoward incidents, a laid-back vibe - what more could be wanted? It was a day that proved Chelsea W.A.L.S.H. has not lost any of its allure over these many years. Remarkably, there were no Austin 7’s and only three Rileys this year! This bodes well for years to come as we know the A’7s are out there, as are a number of other vehicles in various states or repair or repose whose owners are keen would-be participants. Cutting straight to the chase, as they say, the prizes for this, the 2017 and 40th running of the Chelsea W.A.L.S.H. Hill Climb go to: FTD - Trophy Rob McNair 1931 Riley Nine Special. Barry Gay Trophy for FTD in a Borrowed Car - Di Humphreys 1931 MG C Type Montlhery Midget (Lawrence Poolman). John Simpson Trophy for Person having most fun on the day - Karl Rolfe 1958 Satellite. Hard Luck Trophy - Jane Farris 1956 Standard 10 for determination to conquer the hill with less than full power. (No mean undertaking in a Standard 10. I used to own one. Ed.) Full results, expertly compiled by Hamish Andrew are appended hereto. Read more in our Chair Lady’s comments below and keep your eye out for an article in a forthcoming ‘Beaded Wheels’ edition. So, Rob McNair – F.T.D. no more words for now – let the pictures do the talking. A big thank you to all those who helped out on the day. You know who you are.
Ryan McDonald and ’23 Chev 490
All the unusual Suspects…..
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Always competitive – Ray Ferner and the ex Ralph Watson BSA Special
Roger Herrick and A40 Special at the start
Bucolic – Mike Greig and trusty 1931 Riley 9
Heading for most fun on the day - Karl Rolfe 1958 Satellite.
How many 92 year olds do you know still doing this? Les Harris – 1950 BSA Bantam. Harold Booth and ’30 Riley 9 Toorer
Heavy Metal. Brian King – AJS Alfriston Special
Heavier metal. Steve Day - Briggs Mercury V8 Special
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A grand sight in any rear vision mirror – Peter Morelli and 1931 4.5l Bentley
DECEMBER 2016
Ascending gracefully. Di H in C Type Montlhery MG heading for F.T.D. in a borrowed car
Kevin Andrew willing on the ’31 Wolseley Hornet
Start line scene. Goldingham ’27 M Type LeaF in foreground
Always thrilling – Terry Roycroft and 1925 Bug Type 35A
Les Harris praying to the Lord of Sparks. His 1950 Beesa should be kneeling to him, given he is around 26 years older than the bike.
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Parting shot. Cockpit of Robert McNair’s jewel-like 6 litre aero engined 1931 Riley 9 Special
K.B. ….. With thanks to Keith Humphreys and Jacqui Goldingham for the photographs. ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
FROM THE THRONE Not another wet Chelsea PLEASE God!! He must have heard as Sunday 20 th November turned into a sun filled hot day and the Chelsea Refinery carpark was humming with scrutineers and out of town entrants when I arrived at 7.30am. Behind the scenes little hiccups had been sorted and the hay bales from Mike Hope-Cross arrived via Don Suckling. The Gee Cee Ess, a day or two prior, fired in the Suckling garage then went bang!! Oh Bother!! Maybe God used this way to sort the hay bale dilemma?? You see, Mike Hope-Cross, who normally brings the hay bales to Chelsea, just days before the event slipped and wrenched the thigh muscles in his left leg and was, and still will be for some time, unable to drive a manual and of course his farm truck that holds the hay bales is a manual! Our Secretary did a sterling job of keeping track of entry forms and monies. Hamish Andrew, Kevin Andrew and Ryan McDonald as usual did a sterling job of scrutineering at Mac’s Garage on the Saturday 19 th. I had been given the MG C Type Montlhery Midget of Lawrence Poolman to play with and getting from Barry’s Point Road to home after scrutineering, a distance of approximately five kms, took me one hour twenty minutes!! The Navy Day and Sculpture at the Fort probably caused the longer than normal traffic jamb!! It was great to have Peter Croft from the South Island with us but very sad that the Kaikoura earthquake forced him to leave his 1948 HRG behind. Lawrence Poolman generously allowed Peter to share the C Type with me. Our Speed Steward Tony Haycock arrived in his 1930 Durant having travelled in his Porsche from his home in Christchurch to Bulls where it was left at his parents’ home and having just got the Durant mobile it was a good ‘running in’ trip from Bulls to Birkenhead. We know he made it back to Bulls as we passed him on the Desert Road on the Monday 21st as we were heading home from Palmerston North after a sparrow fart trip to collect the Model A motor. Our Clerk of Course Max Jamieson kept his careful eye on the proceedings on the start line for the day and Lionel Rogers had control of the Start Line Hockey Stick. I would like to say he came back from his home in France just to handle the hockey stick but that would be far too presumptuous of me.
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As the “Park” belongs to Auckland Council Dean Salter had spent some hours working on the Council forms and Council employers and was able to convince them that we were a very worthwhile cause and that after 40 years of running the Chelsea Hill Climb we actually knew what we were doing and how to do it well. Still we had to have traffic management involved at a cost and we also had to pay to use the “park” facility. Thank goodness we have Dean. He certainly knows how to keep cool and through his architectural work he knows his way around council and he knows how to charm the staff. John Gairdner visited all the rented Chelsea Houses and convinced all tenants that Sunday 20 th was going to be a great day and it WAS great to see so many of the tenants dragging up their garden tables and chairs to the trackside to enjoy the spectacle in comfort. Paul Beesley stepped up again as our First Aid Officer, but, apart from attending an elderly lady with heat stroke was otherwise not called upon. Luckily the key to the chain that allows the entrant cars and spectator cars to park on the finish line grass was checked and discovered to be useless so a new padlock and key were invested in by Council in time to enable us access to this necessary parking area. We did have to turn one entrant away as his car was too young to enter the event so a “nice” letter was written and followed up by a phone call and all was well there. A couple of other vehicles were discussed via emails between our Speed Steward, Scrutineers and Organisers and were finally accepted to compete. Ray and his Marshals always enjoy marshalling for us but I believe the walkie talkies they used this time were not up to the usual standard and the day was fraught with problems in this respect. Having a good number of Waitemata’ites putting up their hands to be marshals was terrific for no matter how much work has gone on behind the scenes, if we didn’t have Waitemata Marshals available we would not be able to hold the event. Ian Goldingham was seen throughout the day either driving his 1927 Lea Francis or holding a camera so, as happens each year, Goldingham Productions will be producing a Chelsea 40 th Hill Climb DVD. It was a pity that time ran out for getting the 1924 Sunbeam, after it’s “Can” breakdown, mobile in time for his wife Jacqui to campaign. A Special Thanks to Rob & Viv Scott for their generous donation of producing Caps especially for this 40 th year of Chelsea!! and a huge thank you to all entrants for without them there would be no Chelsea W.A.L.S.H. Hill Climb. It only remains for me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best in Motoring for 2017. Di H
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From the Ed… No apologies for including a second account of October’s Monte Carlo run in this edition (and thank you Diane, for the submission). It deserves attention because it is one of those rare events that offers something for everybody – it is what the participant makes it to be. The concept, as most will know, is simple: the organiser fixes a destination, start and finish time, and a scoring system awarding points for places visited, travel distances or some combination of both en route to the destination (for our event Hamish Andrew developed an excellent scoring system). From there on it is up to the participants to make their own plans, depending on how competitive they want to be. So, equal opportunity for those who enjoy thundering around the countryside burning up the distance and for those who want a leisurely ramble to the finish. Equal opportunity for tourers and tin tops, sedans and specials, anything club eligible. There is no ‘convoy effect’, no confusing instructions to follow (other than what you might have scribbled down for yourself), you can’t (theoretically) get lost and you end up somewhere nice with good people. What more could be offered to draw out the punters? Yet attendance was poor. Feedback on the October event indicates that the basic concept may not have been well understood, that it could have been better publicised in advance, that the detail was late in being released – a general feeling that, as participants need plan for themselves, more info sooner may have helped. To this may be added that a late afternoon finish, (with perhaps a midnight start) might help draw out the ‘day trippers’, a set of tests at the finish and/or points for vehicle fit out could add interest, and we should get the ‘telephone tree’ back in action, promoting participation. History has repeatedly shown that all events benefit from a ring around and a little hustle. No doubt the Committee will take these thoughts into consideration as they ponder a future Monte Carlo. It is certainly a concept worth persevering with.
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Another event in similar vein, is, of course, the Pomeroy and we were reasonably successful with this in conjunction with the ‘Roycroft’ at Hampton Downs earlier this year. With a bit of planning and forethought it would seem possible that we could hold a ‘Pom’ without a track, even if some elements had to be modestly curtailed. A lengthy driveway, and/or an empty car park and a measured circuit of quiet rural road may safely suffice, bearing in mind speed is not the measure of performance here. Now here’s a thought – what about a Monte Carlo on a Saturday to a suitable overnight destination, a good old knees-up at that destination Saturday night and then a ‘Pom’ on the Sunday? It would involve a certain amount of organising. Any interest? Any takers? Kevin Beesley.
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Just so we know who we are... Continuing a series of articles on members and their cars… ‘Phoenix’ 258 (October) included a list of early Branch vehicles in which mention was made of Mike Greig’s Koken and Mike was requested to provide further information on this impressive piece of machinery. Well, Mike has obliged with the following tale. Read on, be informed and be entertained. Hi Kevin, From the last news-letter I had an enquiry from a member of the Auckland Branch of the VCC, (Motorcycle section), a previous R’Oil Can entrant, awaiting details of the ‘Koken’ Saga. Settle down children and don’t fidget as Uncle Mike reminisces of days of yore (not gore so it is safe/PC etc.) ... It was in the mid 1970’s that I purchased the Veteran. It was in an auction room where the Magistrates Courts are today, Albert Street. The Riley agents were along the road, past the Shakespeare Hotel. It is in the late 1970’s Club listings. The brass plate on the oak cross member at the rear proudly told one that it was a commercial and the 1905 ‘One Lever’ model. It was almost complete, part of the headrest on the seat was missing and the original horse hair packing was still in place. The chrome was a little worn as expected from the wear of many feet. As a single seater model it had, as an accessory, a padded board that accommodated the shorter person. Luckily, having a villa at my disposal there was space to keep toys of this nature inside. At the same time, Branch stalwart, Wallace McNair owned the same period Veteran, but his was the fabled hydraulic high lift model! I saw this in action in Hamilton one visit in the early 1980’s. However, my main project back in those days was the Riley (the WD, Army Model, Colonial Tourer) which I had under construction and to help focus I decided to ‘down size’ (I hate that term as it has too many connotations). So, I disposed of the other Riley, the ‘Redwing’ that I had bought from Wallace, sold the Ariel and a Harmonium that I had picked up in Invercargill (why did I buy that thing, I do not want to remember!). The Koken was sold with the Harmonium and a large stack of excess copies of Motor Sport mags from the 1970’s. It went to a friend of the Occupational Therapy boss who was next door at work, a Big Wheel in the MG Car Club at that time. I think she was then the Chair of that prestigious organisation. For a fair while I received invitations to Veteran events around the country. John Gairdner would get good mileage out of the history of the Koken and would pick on those from the South Island about their knowledge of things old! Thank Heaven that no one from Head Office will ever hear of this. As a vehicle for the transport of the imagination it was excellent; echoes heard of screams from the demise of gangsters, Men from Ironbark, arias from Seville. Sitting too long on the Koken was difficult, quite hard, but if specialising in B&D it offered all manner of possible new experiences.... P a g e | 15
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In the same room, together with the Koken I kept a 1950 500cc KH Red Hunter Twin Ariel which was mounted on an old dresser. Still have the photo! (I later took the dresser apart and it ended up as part of the new kitchen table I made.) The Ariel was known as a quick bike in its day. It had the rear suspension of the Square Four with a spiral and coiled spring linkage setup. This system was replaced with the later simpler rear swing arm arrangement which most manufacturers took up by the mid 1950’s. The engines could be fragile if hammered too hard. It was the crank. Ask Ernie as he has a latter model. The bike was mostly complete but presented a major problem as I was unfamiliar with the Marque, where to source spares and had not the skill to do the job full justice. I moved the project to Terry Sims who had worked at Gulf Motor Bodies (“Yawning Chasm Motor Bodies” as we used to affectionately call them. Ed.) and went on to set up his own shop later in East Tamaki and specialise in rods and run ‘funny cars’ (a specific type of drag car). It is somewhere else now. Should contact the Ariel Owners Club out of interest. If you can find any false statements or lies in this, I will teach who ever can prove it Argentine Tango to a level where they can spend the evenings in the arms of young and not-so-young women! More to come, perhaps. Michael Greig.
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For Sale…. Embroidered Branch Badges…………………………………………..$10 each. Great quality and feel the width! Contact our worthy Secretary, Viv Scott for yours.
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Other News……. Thanks to Keith Humphreys for sending in the following article, extracted from ‘The Automobile’. Keith was much taken with the fact the news media of the time could not get their heads around the worthy Duke being in a car rather than on a horse. Seems like there is nothing new in the media calling it as they want to see it rather than as it really is. Th
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From Sanity to Beyond and Back …being the tale of a bush-bashing 4wd South Island excursion undertaken by those intrepid travelers Max and Shirley Belcher. Taumaranui camping ground. Overnight stay due to Chateau de Ryann being unavailable. Have to say that it was one of the better spots we have stayed at. Yes, I know, it’s Taumaranui but it’s a great spot never the less. Straight line run to Welly and onto the 2.30pm ferry, cross the strait and a late evening run to Murchison for an overnighter in the pub ($60) and bless my sox an evening meal straight out of the 70’s… pumpkin soup served in a hollowed-out loaf of bread. At least the bed was comfy. Early get away and a run over Arthurs Pass and on Forward to the past. A blast from the 70’s. Fortunately a down the inland road through to St Andrews, just south fondue was off the menu. of Timaru, were we overnighted with Tim and Nicky (nephew) before pressing on to the settlement known as Dunback, some 30km inland from Oamaru, in the middle of nowhere, the next day. We camped in the local domain ($10) which provided toilets, cold water and force 10 winds which elicited a response from the navigator that we were moving to the pub tomorrow. (Interesting place the pub. Basically caters for the Macraes’ gold miners who get a bed, evening meal, breakfast and lunch pack for a very reasonable rate; which basically means it’s fully booked and any passing trade is treated with distain. Pub doesn’t open until 5pm). However, after having an interesting dialogue we managed to secure a bed there ($60) for the following night, evening meal ($20) and a pleasant evening talking to miners. And the local alkies. As one does.
Always an attention grabber. Ready to depart on day one.
The next morning we left the teardrop in the domain, set off early and drove to Oamaru to start the rally proper. All nine vehicles. There was the usual finger nail, bloomer and hair inspection but we managed to make an early start at 10am and proceeded via back roads before regrouping and charging off up Dunrobin track. Unfortunately the
southern end was still covered in deep white stuff so we were unable to traverse the entire length but we scrambled, clawed and scrabbled our way to ‘Scout’ hut at about 1000 meters up where we had lunch and availed ourselves of the facilities provided, (men to the left, ladies behind the chimney), mounted up and continued upwards into the rarefied atmosphere where finally, when people where lying around gasping for breath, we arrived at ‘Mitchels’ hut” at a height of about 1500 meters. A room with a view An up-market hut, associated with a ‘room with a view’ and no door, and populated with a fair scattering of 5-star dog kennels for shepherds’ dogs …. alright they were 44 gallon drums with the end knocked out, but the hut was definitely very much up market compared with those I remember sleeping in in my youth. P a g e | 18
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The view was great, as far as Oamaru to the north and across vast flat plains out to the Pacific, while to the west the ice cream coated alps stood against the sky. Recovered, revitalized, we retraced our path back to the real world and retreated to the pub at Dunback. The wind had dropped.
DECEMBER 2016
Earnie checks out the presidential suite
And every room gets a view. Dog kennels scattered across the tops
Day 2 and we assembled at the ‘Dunback town centre war memorial where the briefing for the days’ excursion was carried out. There were questions, and some had to do a re-sit, but eventually we all set off to traverse the Dunstan trail. Although not a difficult track, I mean a one-legged man on a unicycle could probably make it without too much skin loss, but the views were once again worth every mile of it and we eventually emerged at the dam at Loganburn Reservoir, where we braved the force ten gale winds
Up by Mitchels’ hut at about 1500 metres.
and had afternoon tea before continuing on to Paerau, an historic site of stone buildings on the other side of a small river. In spite of assurances there were no antagonistic animals contained therein, one took the wise move of discretion, and dry feet, and viewed the edifices from a distance. From here it was but a short run until we arrived at Roxbourgh where we planned to spend the next two nights. On the Dunstan trail. We are not lost; we are just re-establishing our position
At this point the Navigator was suffering the effects of black lung or something and took to the bed and nothing was seen of her for the next 24 hours when she emerged feeling a lot better and none the worse for missing the days’ trip.
Examples of some of N.Z.s only oxbow lakes. Behind Paerau, Roxbrough
The next day those of us who were made of sterner stuff duly presented ourselves ready for action, at a very reasonable hour, and accepted the challenge for day 3 - to tackle the road to the obelisk,
which is some 5000 foot above sea level; about on par with Everest base camp height. Upwards we struggled only to be faced with the road being covered with white fluffy stuff which required a firm resolve, steady hands and a strong heart, but eventually we passed that point and carried on upwards until the ridge top objective was in sight. Once again a fairly liberal coating of the white stuff caused us consternation and not a little concern. In spite of our most valiant efforts and lots of enthusiastic encouragement from the contingent we P a g e | 19
PHOENIX Number 260
DECEMBER 2016
eventually gave in to the inevitable and had to admit defeat. We were 500 meters from success. Mind you, some of us have been to the obelisk before so that day’s failure wasn’t a complete disaster. We tiki-toured around the areas’ scenic features and eventually made it back to camp. Day 4’s objective was presented to us the Nevis pass. 1300 metres high. Need oxygen from following morning in the here on. form of a run through the Nevis. If you’ve never done this run it is one of the iconic off-road runs that should be on your bucket list. A wonderful expanse of green valley hidden beyond the Nevis pass (at 1300 meters…the highest council maintained road in NZ, or so I’m told). Excellent roads that degenerate into adequate tracks before becoming challenging thoroughfares with lots and lots of fords and an exhilarating descent passed an historic ski hut before emerging at Garston on the main road to Queenstown. Always a great traverse. Back to Cromwell for the night. Emerged from the Teardrop on the morning of day 5 to be greeted with the sight of the Pisa range to the west, white and crisp from a fresh dump of snow, which lent credence to my belief my toes vanished into my feet when I exited the Teardrop for the night time excursion to water the daisies.
From the top of Mt Moka
The final days’ schedule was to traverse the Arrow river to visit Macetown but given the way the river was running it was considered diplomatic if we instead diverted to the Thompson track. Although we (the royal Shirles and I), have been over this track many times it’s always a good run, this time made better because DoC, in their wisdom, have opened the Moka track which gives access to the Bendigo reserve. Great track to make ones’ way up, full of technical track detail and achievements. Views were superb. Vast vistas of snowcapped mountains, sprawling plains, winding rivers and a coffee shop just to the left, 2000 feet below us selling
Spot the coffee shop.... top of Mt Moka behind Bendigo reserve
good coffee…. we’re on our way. We left the group at this point once we had made the main road, and headed back to St Andrews, then back over the Arthurs Pass with small deviations up the Avoca station road (27 gates) to the DoC hut at the end, just to say we’ve been there and similarly the Mt White road before making a dash for the Inter Islander and a late trip to Wellington and home.
Great trip, most of these routes can be done in vintage vehicles so long as the ground clearance is enough, so they are worth thinking about. So, what was learnt?
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PHOENIX Number 260
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1. There’s a great hotel, full Art Deco, at St Andrews The viaduct at Avoca 2. Murchison Pub is good value at $60 for double room, but skip the soup. 3. Dunback pub @$60 a room is also good value. 4. Taumaranui camping ground is right up there for value. 5. Need to have another go at Dunrobin track in mid-summer 6. Need to traverse the Moka track through Bendigo reserve sometime. 7. Sand flies on West Coast are voracious and can suck blood through canvas. 8. Cold water showers are crap. 9. Station café in Palmerston is best avoided. 10. Boy can Jeeps suck petrol through when they are pushed….and are not bad at sucking when driven normally either.
Max Belcher
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Despatches…. If you aren’t mentioned in despatches it means you aren’t telling the Editor what you are up to. Following the tales of Bentleys past recounted by Andrew Anderson in last months ‘Phoenix’, herewith a further account from Andy sent to Ian Goldingham, this time on the rare and desirable 1924 Sunbeam 20/60 Sports Tourer long owned by Kim Heppner, once owned by Branch member the late Brian Johnstone and before that Peter Maxwell, the N.Z. Sunbeam eminence gris. “Dear Ian, All is now clear! Peter’s car with Roger had left Christchurch long before my interest or enthusiasm for any kind of vintage machinery, apart from Anderson petrol stationary engines, had materialized. In 1945 I was still at school, Christ’s College, and along with 4 other boarders owned a 1925 Model T touring car, thoroughly out of order and outside school rules. This we ran extensively on lighting kerosene with a satisfactorily dangerous methylated spirits warming up device for cold starts! A challenging intro to the Vintage, which we sold up just prior to our final exit from College at the end of 1945, with war just over. However, the necessity of wheels for 1st year undergraduates quickly led to a network of mates and culminating in the Vintage Vehicles Association in August 1946 and a rapid appreciation of the better pieces of machinery that came our way. In 1947 I joined the NZ Scottish Regiment as a Trooper, welcomed to their driving and maintenance. At our 1st annual camp at Waiouru in Winter I met up with Peter for the first time. I owned a 1913 Panhard Levassor and part owned a 1922 24/60 Sunbeam requiring a great deal of solid work, and had a lot of experience with a friend’s sporting 14/40. Peter joined the club, by then The Vintage Car Club of NZ, and I have 3 photos he sent me of his 12/16, 16/40 and just acquired 25HP cars during our correspondence. My co-owner, Spud Jackson had arranged the storage of our 24/60 at his brother in laws Darfield farm and it was sold during my Overseas Experience in 1952/53 and I had acquired the 40/50 Napier by which I am probably best remembered and the ex Bill Hamilton 1914 TT Car that I completed in 1986.
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PHOENIX Number 260
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So I’m afraid that my earliest knowledge of the 20/1501/D is the photo Peter sent me in 1950 and my most recent sight and touch was at Dunedin in January this year and a yarn with Kim Hepper! With best wishes, Yours sincerely Andrew Anderson.
Bloody books! Bloody Brian! Speaking of Brian Johnstone, during the course of his passage he assembled a vast collection of motor vehicle related clippings which he kept in a number of folios. Great idea! Except, all this history was not filed in any particular order, nor is there any form of indexing, so, if you want to know what’s there you have to wade through it all. Guess who drew the short straw?
Branch members the Humphreys, Andrews and Beesleys headed off down to Thames a couple of week-ends ago, to the Thames Steam Punk Festival. We went in support of fellow Branch members Max and Shirley Belcher who specially punked their ride for the occasion. Some might say Max’s Model A was steam punk enough as is, but that was nowhere near good enough for Max. Check out the photo. And ask him about his Infinity Bucket” when you next see him. Oh, and they won a prize for their efforts. For those interested in the wacky and wonderful, metallic art and street theatre, the Thames Steam Punk Festival comes highly recommended. We’ll be back next year. Infinity Bucket’ on the step plate. At the aforementioned Steam Punk Festival our Chair Lady turned out in a pair of bottomless white breeches. These, or more likely their content, attracted a certain amount of attention and throughout the course of the day various concerned passers-by stopped Di to whisper that the stitching about her nether regions seemed to have come adrift. Di had to explain a number of times that this ventilation was intentional and that her nether regions were in fact well protected by a robust pair of witches’ britches. These bottomless breeches may not have provided the depth of field offered by Max’s Infinity Bucket’ but they were nevertheless an eye-catching sight in a stiff following breeze.
A couple of shots of Chelsea taken many years ago, sent in by Keith Humphreys. (Check out the hair, let alone the haircuts.) What looks like the Vince Anderson F1 Cooper and the De Lautour Roadster in the bottom car park and Brian Johnstone (who we were just talking about) ascending the hill in 30/98 Vauxhall.
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PHOENIX Number 260
DECEMBER 2016
Mike Greig sent in this little snippet – “Was looking in the October newsletter of the Vintage Sports Car Club (UK) and in the ‘cars for sale’ was: 1929 MG 18/80 Mk 1 4 seat Tourer. An Edmund Road, Oxford built car, exported to NZ early in its life, reimported in 1989. It had a general overhaul and repaint in 2009/2011. White with red wings. This is the car that Wal McNair restored at Coatesville in years of yore! It was for Sue Naylor. It had a nice mascot which was a small radial engine with prop.”
A sign of a good Chelsea W.A.L.S.H. is the quality of cars to be seen in the parking areas. Vehicles this year included Wallace McNair’s very handsome Sunbeam saloon, our Speed Steward’s Durant, the Ed’s Riley Kestrel, Josh’ delightfully original Austin 12/4, a clutch of interesting motor bikes, David Lane’s newly minted Model T Raceabout, not to mention a Morgan and a Wolseley.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
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PHOENIX Number 260
DECEMBER 2016
The Squeaky Wheel… A new book has recently been published about old(ish) cars. It’s called “We had one of Those!” written by Stephen Barnett and it’s all about the vehicles commonly available in N.Z. from the late 1940’s through to 1970; you know, the sort of thing our parents or grandparents might have owned. I haven’t read the book. I learned of it by overhearing its author being interviewed on National Radio. He sounded like a decent, wellgrounded sort of fellow whose aim was to present these vehicles pretty much as they were, foibles and failings included, rather than hold them up as “vintage” (which they are not) or “classic” (whatever that is). So far, so good. Then, towards the end of the interview I thought I heard it said (can’t be sure as I only caught the interview in snatches – I was multitasking at the time,) that this period, the ‘40’s through to the ‘70’s, marked “the golden age of motoring”. In any event, this statement appeared in an advertisement for the book included in the AA’s ‘Directions’’ magazine. Now, I don’t know on what basis or against what criteria this era is claimed as “the golden age of motoring” but I do not believe it can be said that vehicles of this era marked “the golden age of the motor car”. To the contrary! I’m firmly of the view that the post war period through the 1970’s marks the lowest ebb of motor car development; a period of prolonged low, low water spring in the ebb and flow of the motor vehicle industry tide. A period of mediocrity in design and engineering, of poor material and build quality, of shoddy, inferior products foist upon an undemanding public with expectations blunted through economic depression and war. Technically, post WW2 design and engineering picked up where pre-war design had left off. Logical, of course, but then it pretty much stayed there. For years! Sure, there was some development, think of suspension and drive trains, but the mechanics of a vehicle of the 50’s or 60’s weren’t markedly different from those of vehicles from decades before. Open a bonnet of the ‘60’s and the pre-war, indeed Edwardian, car enthusiast knew what they are looking at. Some things might be in different places but that was about it. Detail and complexity altered but improved performance didn’t often follow. Case in point close to home for me; the 1967 B.M.C. “C” type engine was identical in performance characteristics to the 1932 Talbot 105 engine, despite the thirty-five-year age difference between them. Hydraulic brakes, complete with hoses that perished and actuation cylinders that leaked weren’t usually much, if any, better than a decent set of the prewar mechanical variety; independent it may have been, at least in part, but with post war suspension you wallowed and floundered down the road and don’t get me started on steering! All in all, the precision and ‘feel’ of pre-war motoring was generally lost in this post war era. Proof in the pudding? Well, those of us motoring decent vintage or PVT vehicles back in the ‘60’s and 70’s had little if any trouble keeping our 30 or 40-year-old steeds up with the flow of the then prevailing traffic. In fact, coming up behind a ‘modern’ on a country road was a cause for annoyance – as soon as it got hilly and windy that ‘modern’ was going to slow you up. Styling and appointment went steadily downhill post war as well. The leather, quality fabric and timber trim ubiquitous pre-war, even in cars of modest heritage, the fitted carpet, the handholds, the crafted door handles and window winders, rapidly gave way to vinyl, muck metal, rubber mats and pressed steel panels. The ‘blanc mange’ school of design featured prominently. The ‘40’s through the ‘70’s was the era that provided us with such things as the umbrella handbrake, (a contemptible device), column change, (nothing quite like that to destroy any sense of cog swapping “feel’ and precision) and the vinyl covered bench seat. It was the period during which badge engineering was elevated to breathtakingly callous levels – a piece of walnut trim here and there, a modestly altered profile, maybe a different lamp cluster was all it took to earn the badge of a previously prestigious brand, demeaning the proud heritage of previously great manufacturers; it was the era that gave rise to concepts such as ‘Monday cars’ and planned obsolescence, and to the V.C.C. N.Z. creed to which each edition of ‘Beaded Wheels’ was dedicated: “… revulsion from the flashy mediocrity of the present day…”.
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PHOENIX Number 260
DECEMBER 2016
There were, of course exceptions and we can all think of bright spots in this otherwise crepuscular gloom, but bear in mind we are talking mainstream motoring here. Quality and craftsmanship were still to be found at the upper end of the market, as you might expect, but this was hardly the domain of the average Kiwi Mum and Pop. Interestingly, the sports car fraternity were well catered for, with many good cars, some great cars, available across a broad price range. Much of the technology may generally have been little advanced from pre-war days, but there were some exciting developments and some great styling. Niche market stuff though, hardly the main stream and particularly not here in little old N.Z. Some pretty good things were going on in Europe too, throughout this period but, again, hardly main stream out here, bound as we were back then by legislation such as the non-remittance license scheme and an “Ameranglophile” buying public suspicious of “foreign muck”. You may be thinking about now that I have a thing against vehicles of this era. I don’t. They are not for me but if you own one I say, in all sincerity, good on you! Use it, cherish it, enjoy it. When I see you on the road you can be assured of a toot and a friendly wave and if we are parked together some time I’ll be interested to share tales of our respective vehicles with you. History marking time is, after all, still history.
KB.
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PHOENIX Number 260
DECEMBER 2016
PHOENIX The OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER of THE WAITEMATA BRANCH of the VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF N.Z. INC. 200A Greenhithe Road, Greenhithe, Auckland 0632
CLUB NIGHT THURSDAY 1st December At the RSA Room, King George Coronation Hall, Library Lane, Albany. Take Exit 410 Oteha Valley Road. Travel west along Oteha Valley Road, ahead through 2 roundabouts and straight ahead at Traffic Lights into Albany Highway then almost immediately LEFT into Library Lane then very soon go left again into the parking area. The RSA Room is at the rear.
1980 North Shore Branch Calendar
P a g e | 26
1954
1958
Anthony Bushell
1962 Alfa Romeo
1956
1931
Keith Elliott
Jane Farris
Ray Ferner
MG
1931
1958
1925
1948
1960
1948
Peter Morelli
Karl Rolfe
Terence Roycroft
Don Suckling
Stephen Wilkins
Geoff Wilson
1931
1923
Ryan McDonald
Robert McNair
1958
Brian King
MG
Sunbeam
Ford
Bugatti
Satellite
Bentley
Riley
Chevrolet
AJS
MG
Stanford
1947
1931
1947
Barry Howard
BSA
Austin
1954
John Hartles
Roger Herrick
Diane Humphreys
BSA
1950
Leslie Harris
Riley
1931
Michael Greig
Ian Goldingham 1927 Lea Francis
BSA
Standard
Briggs
1931
1957
Peter Croft
HRG
MG
Lotus
Buckler
Morris
Jaguar
Steve Day
1948
1930
Harold Booth
Graeme Brayshaw
1958
1931
Kevin Andrew
Mike Courtney
Riley
1962
Hamish Andrew
Peter Croft
Wolseley
1953
Stephen Aldersley
Make
1932
David Adams
Sunbeam
Year
Drivers Name
TC
Rapier
Gee Cee Ess
Type 35A
Single Seater
4½
Nine Special
490
Alfriston Special
C Type Montlhery Midget
Special
A40 Special
Golden Flash
Bantam
Nine
M Type
Special
Ten
Giulietta 1300 TI
Mercury V8 Special
C Type Montlhery Midget
1500
TA
Eleven Replica
MK6
Nine Tourer
Hornet
Mini
XK120C Replica
20 Drophead Coupe
Model
1250
3400
650
5270
6125
2800
3800
750
1172
1489
650
175
1087
1496
1150
948
1290
4000
750
1496
1548
1500
1172
1087
1271
850
3442
3318
64
88
3
9
7
66
5
20
18
31
72
43
0
11
8
10
101
33
20
6
12
4
130
36
42
1
32
Capacity Number
-
34.38
-
45.28
32.57
45.17
-
-
-
35.33
40.81
47.45
102.57
45.69
32.90
-
35.99
36.08
45.61
44.16
34.93
34.47
-
39.23
37.47
34.40
44.80
Practise
39.03
33.97
43.77
42.23
30.91
44.72
33.23
40.97
38.59
35.81
39.82
40.29
-
52.83
31.14
55.04
34.18
32.30
-
42.00
33.77
34.38
42.63
39.26
37.46
33.65
42.22
Run 1
38.35
33.23
42.26
42.47
30.14
43.89
33.26
-
37.77
33.99
39.59
-
59.43
46.26
33.06
51.69
34.34
31.33
42.46
41.29
33.90
33.95
42.87
38.61
36.89
32.55
42.32
Run 2
42.11
33.79
34.53
42.90
38.66
37.04
32.63
42.23
Run 4
41.89
35.39
33.99
42.68
38.83
37.70
32.83
42.68
Run 5
39.51
32.29
-
39.81
29.93
44.34
32.97
43.62
38.50
36.82
39.66
39.13
103.92
45.16
31.25
54.47
34.13
31.30
-
37.94
CAR NOT RUNNING
CAR NOT RUNNING
32.29
43.59
41.61
-
-
32.92
41.70
37.41
35.91
39.41
38.30
-
-
31.27
-
33.91
30.68
-
37.72
32.99
44.70
41.05
-
-
33.06
42.77
37.99
36.62
-
37.66
-
47.40
31.43
50.40
33.69
30.76
-
CAR NOT RUNNING, STUCK IN SOUTH ISLAND
42.18
33.90
34.13
43.38
38.90
37.55
32.38
42.43
Run 3
THE 40th CHELSEA W.A.L.S.H. HILLCLIMB 2016 RESULTS
37.80
32.80
45.38
-
-
-
32.30
42.86
37.91
-
-
39.03
-
46.73
31.47
52.44
33.93
30.73
-
47.17
32.73
-
43.93
38.95
37.13
32.77
41.77
Run 6
38.35
32.37
-
49.37
-
-
33.03
-
40.57
-
-
-
58.69
-
31.37
-
34.08
31.03
-
-
33.17
-
-
38.64
38.84
32.91
-
Run 7
FTD
37.72
32.29
42.26
39.81
29.93
43.89
32.30
40.97
37.41
33.99
39.41
37.66
58.69
45.16
31.14
50.40
33.69
30.68
42.46
41.29
32.73
33.95
42.63
38.61
36.89
32.38
41.77