TOPICAL TORQUE JANUARY-FEBRUARY2024
On The Cover: Members at dinner following the Fern Lodge Run, and Chairman Colin with organisers Brian and Julie Evans presen�ng Bruce Wallis with the winner’s trophy.
Taranaki Branch Committee TARANAKI BRANCH BRANCH OFFICERS, BRANCH ADDRESS, AND MEETING DETAILS 2023-2024. CHAIRMAN: ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: E-MAIL: SECRETARY/TREASURER: ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: E-MAIL:
COLIN JOHNSTON. 63 BROADWAY, WAITARA. 021 131 6699 / 06 754 6216. cajohnstoncollections@xtra.co.nz ROB THOMSON. 7 LEATHAM AVE, STRANDON, NEW PLYMOUTH, 4312. 027 701 2485 / 06 758 4881. vcc.taranaki@gmail.com
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: JIM LOGAN. TELEPHONE: 027 604 4821 / 06 751 0316. E-MAIL: logandj49@gmail.com BRANCH COMMITTEE:( ( ( ( PARTS SHED:( ( ( (
GRANT BISHOP: 027 295 8492 grantmerrilyn@farmside.co.nz KEVIN FABISH: 06 756 7665 kev.fabish@gmail.com MARK MASTERS: 06 765 7544 rmmasters@xtra.co.nz IAN WILFORD: 06 753 3691 ijdawilford@gmail.com JOHN MUTER: 06 751 5554 CES BUDD: 06 241 0454 NEIL ROOK: 06 758 6737 PAT STIELLER: 06 754 6096
VEHICLE VIN’S / VIC’S: MIKE WILLIAMS: 06 765 4419 annmike21@hotmail.co.nz LES BOGNUDA: 06 755 2810 bognuda73@xtra.co.nz MID WEEK COORDINATOR: BEADED WHEELS: ARCHIVIST/LIBRARIAN: NAME BADGES: ASST. LIBRARIAN: CLUBROOMS CUSTODIAN: GROUNDS CUSTODIANS:( ( BRANCH INFORMATION: CLUBROOMS ADDRESS: POSTAL ADDRESS: E-MAIL:
BRYAN MORRIS: 06 272 8027 COLIN JOHNSTON ROSE COX: 06 752 2525 roselcox7@gmail.com KEVIN FABISH: 06 756 7665 JOHN MUTER: 06 751 5554 ROSE COX: 06 752 2525 LES BOGFNUDA: 06 755 2810 DANNY PATTINSON: 06 756 7735 TARANAKI [19] 1040 MOUTAIN ROAD, SH3A, WAIONGANA, INGLEWOOD. C/o 7 LEATHAM AVE., STRANDON, NEW PLYMOUTH. 4312 taranaki@vcc.org.nz
Chairmans Chatter for Topical Torque Hello Folks Happy New Year to you all and families. Looks like the weather has all the prospects of a very hot and dry summer which will be great for us to get out and about in our vehicles to enjoy the beautiful scenery around and about. The branch is saddened by the passing of long-time member Ian Bleakley from Hawera who had been a very active member in the early years with his Velocette Motorcycle and beaut little Morris 8 convertible. Ian was a willing helper when asked to help for our activities in the south Taranaki area and supported the club over the years. Ian attended many Waitara Mini Vin Tours with his sister Jocelyn and we will miss his help when needed. Ian's funeral is on Tuesday 16th at the South Taranaki RSA Clubrooms in Hawera at 1.00pm. We send our deepest sympathy to his sister Jocelyn and Ian's extended family. RIP Ian. The next three months will be busy for our branch as there is a lot of activity for us to enjoy from motor shows to organised rallies. Please support them as much as you can with the Posh picnic motor show coming up, we would like as many vehicles as we can get there to participate as we will be helping raise funds for the local branch of the Cancer Society. Other branches have given excellent support in August for this worthy cause. There are also other motor shows coming up organised by different organisations all trying to raise funds. There is also a motor show to be held at Waitara Marine Park on Sunday the 28th of January that we have been asked to show our vehicles at. We will contact members through the email tree with details. The Inglewood charity motor show has clashed with our Posh picnic as we had set this date back in August with the Cancer Soc and were not aware of the change of date that the Inglewood Lions club had changed from their usual date in early February. However, the show must go on so let’s have a great time helping the Cancer Society and raising our club profile. We need some marshals to help with parking and control of the entrance for our vehicles so if you are not able to bring your vehicle please help out and contact myself to advise if you can. Next month is Waitara Mini Vin Tour month. Hard to believe another year has gone past since last year’s successful 50th celebration rally. So, keep the date free, 25th February for another Mini Vin in Waitara. A great time to be all together. Entry Forms are now available for our Maunga Moana Rally to be held at Easter Weekend. This is being organised by Rob Thomson and helpers. Based again at the Plymouth International Hotel. The Easter Weekend will enable entrants especially from outside Taranaki to enjoy the attractions that Taranaki have to offer on the Sunday and Monday if they wanted to stay on. As there appears to be no other rally on Easter weekend in the North Island there has been interest from entrants outside of Taranaki. At the Maunga Moana Rally dinner Badge presentations will be made to three 25-year continuous membership and two 50-year continuous membership members We warmly welcome another new member to our branch. Duncan Farquhar from Manaia who owns a 1930 Ford Model A. A very good attendance has been noted at our monthly Noggin and Natters lately so keep up the attendance at our events and support whenever you can. Yes... get out and about in your vehicles ....... Summer is here .......drive safely and keep to the left......Keep the Passion........... Cheers Chairman Colin
BRANCH NEWS Coming Branch Events
January 21
Posh Picnic at the Wind wand.
January 25
Midweek run, Normanby area
February 25
Waitara Mini Vin Rally
March 29-30
2024 Maunga Moana Rally,
OTHER BRANCH EVENTS JANUARY
FEBRUARY
1 Gumboot Rally, Whanganui-6 Taipa 6 Show and Shine, Far North-7 Blue Smoke and Pedals, Waikato-19 Monte Carlo Rally, Wellington-20-22 Vintage Weekend and Burma Rally, Whanganui27-28 Biennial M/cycle Rally, Wellington 3 East Coast Rally from Whakatane, entries close 26 January. 10 Annual Veteran Rally, Auckland-11 Veteran Rally, Manawatu-15-17 Art Deco, Hawkes Bay-18 Shannon Car Show, Horowhenua
MARCH
2-11 North Island Club Captains Tour, from Whanganui to Palmerston North, entries close 30 January.
Polo shirts with our Branch logo are still available, $36 each in various colours. NOTE that Rob Thomson is now the go-to person for these.
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Committee meet at 7.30pm Club Night at 7.30pm POSH PICNIC at the Windwand, assemble from 10am. A Midweek run in Normanby area, time and place to be advised.
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Committee meet at 7.30pm Club Night at 7.30pm Waitara Mini Vin (detals next page)
51st WAITARA MINI-VIN TOUR SUNDAY 25th FEBRUARY 2024 Assemble at the Waitara Town and Country Club car park West Quay Waitara. First car away at 1:30pm Rally in true Mini-Vin tradition and enjoy the get-together. Rally finishes at Colin and Alexander Johnston’s residence at 63 Broadway, Waitara for afternoon tea (please help out with a plate) Prizes and trophy will be presented, and the winner’s name will be added to the Honours Board at the club rooms. You are invited to come on your motorbike or motor in your Veteran, Vintage PVV, Post 60, Modern or anything you like. JUST BE THERE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME For any further information contact Colin Johnston on 06 7546216 or 021 1316699 EDITORS REPORT Hello fellow members, welcome 2024, lets hope that this year is a good one for us all, peace and prosperity would be a welcome bonus. A big thank you to Brian and Julie for organizing their Sunday run in December. Over 60 people enjoyed a lovely dinner at Fern Lodge following the run, judging by the interest shown this could become an annual event. It was also very satisfying to have a good number attend our BBQ and Club night in December. Hope to see some of you at the Windwand, on Sunday next, should be a good day, a good sun hat or beach umbrella might be useful, don’t forget your tea service and top hat, all in aid of a very worthwhile charity. See Colins comments for more details. The entry forms for our upcoming Maunga Moana Rally will be out soon, please take time to get behind this event, our annual rally. Also, on February the 25th is the Waitara Mini Vin, a highlight of our Branch’s summer program, see you there. Jim Logan
FOR A LAUGH Tony and Jim are travelling to Australia. Before leaving home their wives gave them both a bit of advice: “Watch them Aussie cab drivers, they will rob you blind. Don’t you go paying them what they ask. You haggle.” At Sydney airport, the two catch a cab to their hotel. When they reach their hotel the cabbie says, “That will be twenty dollars lads.” “Oh no you don’t! my wife warned me about you cabbies, said Tony, you’ll only be getting fifteen dollars from me.” “And you’ll only be getting fifteen from me too,” adds Jim.
ARMSTRONG shock arms – a mostly fictitious story
Once upon a time, a long time ago, near the mythical town of Birmingham, there lived two identical twin brothers – separated at birth – who were destined to shape the lives of many thousands of future British car owners. One of these brothers was born ‘visually challenged’ – and was called Lucas. Lucas became quite bitter, and dedicated himself to ensuring that everyone else should have some insight into his world of darkness. The other brother – who exhibited large amounts of upper body strength – was known as ‘Armstrong’. The story of Lucas is well documented (mostly in Braille). This story tells how Armstrong – the younger and stronger, brother – went on to pioneer shock absorber damping to generations of British vehicles. Armstrong – although credited with huge amounts of upper body strength – had little or no stamina (due, I think, to a genetic defect). He was able to resist and contain huge forces – but generally, only for a short time. Left under physical stress for any length of time, he would, without warning, spew copious amounts of a substance resembling light oil from his armpits. It was this socially unacceptable personal behaviour which I believe prevented him from attaining international acceptance in the motoring industry: this behaviour remains a repeatable mystery to this day by all his siblings and descendants. This weakness – not unlike the fabled Achilles and his heel – is known in medical circles as ‘Armstong armpit’. BMC owners front shocks appear to be descendant from ‘Rear Admiral Armstrong’. known as ‘Lefty’ to his mates – a distant relative, who unfortunately lost an arm in a horrific naval accident. Although physically different in appearance, these single arm front shock absorbers also exhibit ‘Armstrong armpit’. It should be noted that all big and little BMC rear shock absorbers are descendants of ‘Lefty’. credits to www.myaustinhealy.com
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WANTED TO BUY
1979 Datsun 200B, hubcap, rear bumper, windscreen washer nozzle, sender unit for oil pressure gauge, ph Ces, 062410454(mem) 1955 Matchless, model G9, kickstart lever plus shaft and possibly internal parts to fit B 52 gearbox. Ph John 067587834(mem)
FOR SALE
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1951 Morris Minor low lite, very tidy, WOF & registered $5000 ono. Greg Carter 067648667 or 0220335720 (mem) Willys Overland 93/6 In excellent working order throughout 1925 Willys Overland 93/6 In excellent working order throughout. Some paint bubbling and minor blemishes, some interior trim could be improved easy to drive as pedals are in conven�onal order: c-b-t Noisy �ming gear, but I have new part - just needs fi�ng (some�me - not essen�al). Has 12v indicators with hazard warning func�on, comes with copy of original owner’s manual, sales brochures, and other documenta�on. Will be sold with new WOF, Registra�on expires 09/24. Only selling due to poor health, always draws a crowd! $12,000, ono, Contact: John Apps, 027 264 1015. (mem) #14 Holden 138 powered midget – last ran 2013 , has spare wheels and engine – complete but will need refresh $5,000, #4 VW powered LTC midget - last ran 2021, complete with spare engine and numerous spares – freshly rebuilt Autocraft engine by the VW shoppe - that has not been run. fresh repaint. $20,000, Both cars are extremely tidy and are being offered to club members before going on Trade me. Contact Philip on 021-275-8096 1986 Subaru Justy. One Owner, Rego on hold, goes well, offers wanted. A great little car to preserve. Contact member Steve on Ph 027 5286032 Clutch pressure plates for Ford Cortina 2000, Vauxhall 3.3, Triumph 2000. New water pumps for Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi 1970 to 1990, most models. Piston rings for many makes, 1920 on, also a set of 24” Dodge wheels,John 7515554(mem) 1958 Mk1 Jaguar 2.4 Very good condi�on; running; registra�on currently on hold. The engine has been recondi�oned and the car repainted some years ago. Always been garaged. Same family ownership since 1984 when purchased from first owners. 0272881105(mem) 1957 Jaguar MkV111 Purchased in 1969; had a colour change and used as family car for years. Motor recondi�oned about 10 years ago and has not driven far beyond town since. Shed stored. Original upholstery (red) in good condi�on. 0272881105