Mobile 0274 316 058
CLUB NIGHTS:
3rd Thursday of the Month, 7.30pm
Clubrooms and Museum Maronan Road
P.O. Box 382 ASHBURTON Telephone: (03) 308 4595 E:ashburton@vcc.org.nz
DISCLAMER
NOW AVAILABLE FROM: Bruce McIlroy Limited 309 Methven Highway ASHBURTON 7776
Tel: 03 308 7282
Email: parts.bml@xtra.co.nz
The opinions and views expressed in Blowout are not necessarily those of the Editor or The Vintage Car Club of Ashburton.
No offence is intended, nor will the officers of this club be liable for any breach.
MUSEUM ROSTER 2022
Clubroom Custodians Roster
2022/23 as per AGM
If the month allocated to you does not suit please arrange to swap with someone else.
PARTS SHED OPEN 10 -12 SATURDAY
IF ROSTER DATE DOES NOT SUIT PLEASE ORGANISE SOMEONE ELSE
Gavin Smith 308 2297 Tony Adams 0211 267 992 Grant Cullimore 308 8119 Alan Begg 308 6171
Read 308 6989
Every
1pm-4.30pm.
South Canterbury Phone John Campbell, 03 686 0282
ARTICLES FOR BLOWOUT BY 23rd OF MONTH PLEASE
Please send to: chris.gulleford@outlook.com or post to: Chris Gulleford
29 Bayview Street
KAIKOURA 7300
Chris Ph: 0274 390 718
March
2 Thur. Lunch Run. Meet at Clubrooms at 10am for a 10.30am departure, .travelling to Geraldine and then onto Gapes Valley Brewery & Cafe for lunch. .
12 Sun Mid Island Run - Colin will email details
16 Thur Phil & Sue Kenny to give a talk about their VCC organised Cape Reinga to Bluff Tour at 7.30pm. In our Clubrooms.
19 Plains Museum Open Days Display - Details emailed
April
1 Sat South Canterbury Swap Meet at the Levels Raceway
2 Sun Run to Woodbury Domain. Details to follow
30 Rotary Club of Ashburton Plains Classic Car Run 30th April 2023
May
6 Sat Ashburton Swap Meet 2023. It has been rumoured that we are not holding this. This is most definitely not true. We have got the Rugby Club Grounds again this year.
June
10-11 Overnight Run planned to Oamaru.
TBA Solstice Run
July
TBA Annual Dinner
Aug
TBC 12 Garage Raid – 6 Places to visit
Sept
TBA Quizco in Ashburton
TBA Daffodil Day
TBA Spring Rally - Opening Run
October
November
TBA Posh PICNIC
TBA Post 60*80 Run
Dec
TBA Commercial Run
Memo to all Car Clubs
Rotary Club of Ashburton Plains
Classic Car Run 30th April 202
You are asked to keep this date free as the Rotary Club of Ashburton Plains are once again organising our Annual Classic Car Run. This event is part of the Ashburton Wheels Week festivities.
This is the 30th running of this hugely popular event and we ask you for your participation. Entry fee will be $20/car with profits going to a local organisation. The event will start from the Ashburton Showgrounds at 10.30am and will finish near Peel Forest approximately 1 hour later. Registrations will be from 9.am.
You will be given instructions like a car trial, and carry on the designated route to finish. There will be no shingle roads , except for a 1km graded driveway into the historic farm property and the instructions will be very straight forward.
There will be prizes for various vehicles that will be chosen by our Independent Judges, Roger Hart and Bernard Egan, two very well known identities in the Mid Canterbury area who have had many years experience of classic cars.
Last year due to Covid we moved away from supplying lunches and this year will be the same, but your own picnic lunches are still encouraged.
The venue is situated 10 km off the Scenic Inland Route 72, offering participants from outside Ashburton County an alternative route home. We ask all Car Clubs to make their Members aware of this fun low key event in your Club bulletins or notice board.
For any further information please contact : Owen Moore – owen@moorepark.net.nz, (03) 308 3442
Chairman’s Report
At the time of writing this, we appear to have struck a little winter weather, confirmed by snow upon Mt Hutt.
The Parts Shed seems to still be an awesome gathering place for like minded people on Saturday mornings. Even through the holiday break, Gavin was rung up to see if the parts shed was open. There has been quite a lot of parts purchased and better still more parts are arriving on a regular basis. Well done team.
I missed the Annual Run to Coleridge and I understand it was a great day, sometimes it’s good to have a change of scene and travel outside the district.
The Swap Meet is just a few months away, organising is well underway and we will be running the same layout as we did last year as it did prove to be very successful. Please contact Noel Batty if you are available to help leading up to the Swap Meet and also we will be requiring parking people on the day. Your help will be appreciated.
We will be having our first Club Night for a long time scheduled for 17th March where Phil Kenny will give an account of his VCC trips around the country.
The Garage Raid this year is being organised by ourselves and is scheduled for Saturday 12th August. We have tee’d up 6 places of interest mostly around Ashburton with one venue just out of town.
A friendly reminder to those that have vehicles in the Museum, if you are wanting to get a vehicle out could you please arrange this to happen on a Saturday morning when we have people on site. It is a bit inconvenient for the custodians to travel over during the week, it just makes it easier for all concerned.
Also don’t forget to pop in from time to time and give your vehicle a dust and a check over so it looks good for the Visitors. Some of the vehicles have a bit of a history or story about each vehicle and it would be great if all the vehicles had this information on display. This will give the Visitors more information about your vehicle other than your name. Please draft up something and give to one of the Custodians’ to put with your vehicle.
A good wee Run to look forward to, is my Chairman’s Run to the Woodbury Domain, let’s hope we have a fine day. Would be good to see some good numbers participating, we don’t mind if you come along in your modern, after all it’s all about the company.
I will be travelling to the National VCC meeting in Christchurch on the 4-5 March, where we will be looking at changes to the Constitution. It will need to be altered to fall in line with the Incorporated Societies Act, should be an interesting two days. There will be a report on the meeting in a later Blowout. Make sure your dipstick is pushed all the way in.
PeterSecretary’s Notes
Circulation of the minutes will be by email for every month now. If Members don't get emails and want to see the minutes, then they should contact: Colin Ph: 307 7373
MEMBERSHIP
If members know anyone who has or is interested in vehicles 30 years old or older, either suggest they join our Club or pass on their details to Peter, Colin or any Committee Member for follow up.
We are a diverse group who enjoy sharing an interest in old vehicles and driving. They do not need to own a vehicle to join and Members are welcome to come in their modern vehicle. This month we welcome:
Richard Wilson & Jolene Laxton
1978 Mercedes Benz 450 SLC
Steve and Vivienne Cutler ex Waimate. Triumph 2000
We look forward to seeing you at events and would like to read about your vehicle restoration or some facts about the history of it. Please send articles to the: Editor: chris.gulleford@outlook.com
motoring at the sort of pace the cars were designed for (including some early Jags, BMW’s several MX5’s, Mini, Datsun 1200sss etc.
The result is one of the most pleasurable motoring events possible, with great support, very professional organisation and tremendous camaraderie I commend this event as a highlight for boy racers and cars of any age (car must be over 30 and VCC registered)
The cars need only have the basics, plus, tow points marked, fire extinguisher first aid kit and safety triangle. If a soft top then helmets must now be worn, (and we used motorbike type Bluetooth intercoms which were very successful. Driver and CO driver must be able to talk to each other, and listen…….. so be careful who you team up with!!
VCC Targa Tales
The past year’s highlights for me included, two Targa events in the VCC time trials.
The five day 2021 event was held in May 2022, starting in Taranaki and ending in Havelock North, the second, a two day event held around Nelson / Motueka in October.
The five day event involved some 2,500km of driving of which nearly 800km was on closed road stages, The Nelson event much shorter but with a higher percentage of closed road stages. All of the Targa events are on sealed roads.
The events have been well documented in Beaded Wheels articles but as a Targa VCC nutter I can’t resist promoting the event here.
I did both events with my Brother Kenn as navigator, the one who does all the work!!, Kenn is a member of the Southland VCC. We ran my 1974 Jensen Healey, a lovely, light weight (before Kenn and I get in) very sporty car, Lotus 709 twin cam 4 valve 145 hp , with Vauxhall Viva front end, Singer gearbox (4 speed with electric OD) and bits from BMC and Rootes Group parts bins (Avenger door locks).
The VCC event is run as a time trial, with a “Rallysafe” GPS tracker in the car which automates timekeeping and has some great safety features, including flashing red screen when the VCC limit of 130kph is exceeded. Each closed road section has a target average speed, with unmarked waypoints to trap those who may want to rush then slow to make the required average. But that is not part of our story. Points are deducted for arriving after the target time, or before your target time on each stage. Kenn and I drove to achieve maximum demerits for early arriving, pushing the Jensen around with some gusto on the wonderful winding sealed closed roads. Several of our fellow competitors shared our relish for using the roads to achieve very pleasurable
WHAT DO YOU WANT
We are at a loss as to why we are having decreasing numbers at organised events, the best way to find out why is to ask you.
What would you like to see from the Club?
If you have any ideas please contact Peter by phone (308 8940 or 0274 712 109 ) or in person and have a chat or you could send an email with your suggestions ashburton@vcc.org.nz
VACANCY
We are looking for a bit of a writer who is keen to put together a few stories, articles, reports on Club runs etc. that we could use in the Blowout. We don’t expect items in every newsletter, just someone who is keen to do it every now and then.
We could even have a few people that are keen, that would be awesome. Have a think and give either Peter or Colin a call. We would be most appreciative if we could find someone.
CLUB NIGHT March 16th at the Club Rooms starting at 7.30pm. Phil and Sue Kenny will be talking about their Cape Reinga to Bluff VCC Tour, lots of great photos etc. Cup of tea/coffee to follow.
CHAIRMAN’S RUN April 2nd, meet at the Clubrooms from 1.00pm for a 1.30pm departure. The Run will take about 1½ hours finishing up at the Woodbury Domain for Afternoon Tea, either bring your own or stop off at the Woodbury Café. The Run will be all on seal with a 400m stretch of shingle crossing the Hinds River.
Bring your Club vehicle or your modern, don’t forget your family as well.
ALLENTON AUTO CENTRE
W.O.F. discount to members
Accessories and parts for all models
New and second hand tyres
Full workshop Service
Franchised to all major warranty schemes
Corner Harrison Street and Allens Road
Phone 308 6194
RICHARD BEGBIE PLUMBING AND GAS FITTING LIMITED
Certified for ALL Plumbing
Drain Laying & Gas Fitting
For Prompt Efficient Service
Anytime
Town & Country
Phone 027 484 6000 or 308 4690 after hours
begbie@ubb.co.nz
RICHARD BEGBIE PLUMBING AND GAS FITTING LIMITED
VTNZ Display
A good crowd attended the Community Fun Day held at VTNZ Ashburton ,looking at the great variety of vehicles, and enjoying cooked sausages and prizes that were given out. Approx. 104 vehicles ranging from a1903 Darracq to a 2023 Mustang, (delivered last week) a period of 120 years.
VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ (ASHBURTON BRANCH) INC 2023 ANNUAL RALLY TROPHY WINNERS
Stowells Trophy – Veteran Car: Rob Ross, 1915 Dodge
Hosken Trophy – Vintage Car: Ian Johnson, 1930 Ford A
Begbie Trophy – Post Vintage Car:Les Nell, 1936 Wolseley
25/6
Bennett Trophy Post War Vintage: Keith Pickford, 1957
Armstrong Siddeley
Philpot Trophy – Post 60 Car: Keith Howden, 1966
Chevrolet El Camino
VCC Ashburton Trophy – Post 80 Car: Ian Baynes,
1981 Morris Mini GT
Newland Trophy – Time Trial: Ian Johnson, 1930 Ford A
CR McLachlan Trophy –
Best Performance: Les Nell, 1936 Wolseley
25/6
Aitken Trophy – First Entry: John McKimmie, 1935 Morris 18/6
People’s Choice Trophy: Kelly Kingsbury, 1932
Vauxhall Roadster
Hamilton Trophy –Longest Distance: Ross Brown, 1982
Mercedes Benz
Hard Luck Trophy: Les Bennett, 1937
Chrysler P4
2023 Annual Rally Report
The day before the Annual Rally, John was busy checking over “Hillary”, our powder blue and white 1964 Hillman Minx, for our first time on this Rally. We had entered the longer touring route, opting to drive at an average 40 mph.
On arrival at the Club Rooms on a cloudy morning we were warmly welcomed by a couple of Member’s and taken to morning tea before the briefing.
The Field Section was entertaining for us – a former hockey player tested for any possible netball skills and a past Otago Sports Club Member, challenged by the turning circle field test. The lack of practice since the 60s clearly showing!
Our next 67.5 miles was full of Navigator concentration but fun. We’re not sure how many check points there were, but we slowed and waved at the first one we saw hoping that we were close to their scheduled ETA. In the region of the substation we turned right, then
WHO HAS DAVID OAKLEY’S MISSING MANUAL
Could the unknown person to whom some months ago I loaned my copy of :
LES
PEARSONS’ FORD MODEL A MANUAL
please return it ASAP. I don’t want to have to buy another copy at $176.00!!!
David Oakley ph 021370956, Email d.oakley@xtra.co.nzOn a lighter note
A little old man shuffled slowly into an ice-cream parlour and pulled himself slowly, painfully, up onto a stool.
After catching his breath, he ordered a banana split. The waitress asked him kindly, "Crushed nuts?"
"No, " he replied, "Arthritis. "
HERE IS MY HEALTH REPORT IF MY BODY WERE A CAR
If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a new model.
I’ve got bumps and dents, and scratches in my finish, and the paint job is getting a bit dull.
wet dirt slewing us a bit sideways on our retreads, while the Navigator
But that’s not the worst of it!
My headlights are out of focus, and it is especially hard to see things up close.
My traction is not as graceful as it once was.
I slip, slide and bump into things, even in the best of weather.
My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently.
But here is the worst of it, Every time I sneeze, cough, splutter or laugh, Either my radiator leaks, or my exhaust backfires!
Does anyone know where I can get a trade?
That was great that gave me a free quick run up through the north side of the gorge – (that supercharger pulls really strong in top gear) – forgot about my fuel consumption by then! but have got a heavy right foot anyway.
Turned left at signage to Terrace Downs and Lake Coleridge, this is a very nice undulating windy road, just right for the Mini, followed a couple of cars into the Lake Coleridge Village where we continued slightly past the Hall to very nice near new public toilets, then back to the hall where 90% of the rally cars had arrived. Parked up, picnic lunch and chairs out of Mini, (boot was too small for the chairs), and along to sit outside with the cars and a friendly group of members, had a good natter and lunch in the now sunshine while a large group were having lunch in the hall.
After lunch Colin had prize giving in the hall, and much to our surprise we received a trophy and certificate for the Post 80 cars. Very nice thank you.
We all packed up and headed our way home with the fuel gauge sitting between half and three quarters, all good. Cruised home at 100kph (62mph) and straight to BP to fill up again with 98.
The rally long route which we were meant to have done was about 190kms and we did 220kms, and fuel consumption worked out at 8 litres per 100kms or 29.4mpg, pretty good for a supercharged 1275.
Thank you Colin, Cathy and everyone involved for a very enjoyable annual rally, looking forward to the next one. Lets see a lot more cars at the next one, as a lot of work and effort goes into running these events. I will definitely have my Anglia GT and Lotus Anglia on the road by then. Happy and safe motoring.
Ian and Karen Baynes
Our chosen average rally speed was 40mph, so started cruising at about 50mph to keep a reasonable average (as we thought), passed a few of the older slower cars, but most were still motoring along very nicely.
Probably about 15 miles out we came across a checkpoint car on the side of the road, slowed slightly and showed our number card and on we went following our given instructions.
WELL – It wasn’t long before things went a little pear shaped at instruction number 6 (out of 15), when it said to turn at the sub station, onto Maronan Valetta Road and quote (it said, NO signage, tarseal). We turned alright and continued with a milk tanker following us, but after a lot more miles somehow the next instruction wasn’t working, so pulled over and let the tanker go. What made it worse, it was heavy overcast and heavy drizzling rain which meant we couldn’t get our bearings of roughly where we were because we couldn’t see the Southern Alps! but carried on for another 5 or so miles.
Along the way we came across a few entrants, one going in the opposite direction and did a U turn and some more along different side roads, I don’t think we were the only ones lost.
We thought we must be somewhere between Mt Somers and Mayfield, but knew we were to finish at the Lake Coleridge Village, so turned right, hoped we were heading north, then much later came across a sign saying Mayfield; RIGHT – now we know where we are.
After going through Mayfield, looked at the fuel gauge which was sitting on just about half, so decided to maybe go into Methven to top up, but later thought we would risk it and carry on up to our destination, now that we weren’t lost anymore.
On the main highway leading to Mt Hutt Station and the Rakaia Gorge, we caught up to three slower cars quite a way from Mt Hutt Station so followed them to the top of the Gorge where they politely pulled over in a layby to let us past.
VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ (ASHBURTON BRANCH) INC. 2023 ANNUAL RALLY
Having purchased a Supercharged 1275 Mini Cooper S just prior to Christmas, we thought we would give it a maiden shake down run for the annual rally. After topping up with fuel (tank only holds 32 litres) we weren’t sure how much fuel it would use being supercharged, so noted the mileage and off we went to the club rooms.
After a lot of hot sunny days prior to the rally it was quite refreshing to have a cooler overcast day. On arrival at the gate we were given a ‘number’ and lined up with the other entrants, had a chat and look around at the great variety of cars from a Veteran 1915 Dodge, Vintage with 8 entrants, Post Vintage of 4 entrants, Post War Vintage 7 entrants, Post 60 12 entrants, Post 80 2 entrants and one motorcycle, all up an excellent turnout.
Our Club had refreshments available in the club rooms for those needing them.
After an introduction by Colin and then a rally briefing the cars lined up for a few field challenges, such as the passenger tossing balls into a bucket, stopping your car on the line, and (guessing) setting a crescent spanner to a required measurement etc.
When you finished your field tests, you were on your way out the gate taking your start time from the start clock. On leaving we thought we would follow Mike and Judy Kingsbury in their MGA, but that ended up being our first mistake as our 3rd instructions told us to turn left into Bryant Street, BUT the Kingsbury’s went straight ahead! – bugger – that didn’t work too well.
We then concluded there must be two different instruction sheets, as we both elected to do the longer rally (67miles or 94.6km to the destination). We had been on runs in the past with other clubs where they handed out alternate route instructions so I guess this happened here.
Swap Meet 2023
This annual event will be held on Sat 6 May at our club grounds on Maronan Road Tinwald and is our club’s major fund raiser of the year. Let’s hope Covid levels / regulations, allow us to run the event this year.
Setting up will take place on the Thursday and Friday prior to the big day. Planning is well under way and advertising is out in the public domain. Signage on SH1 at Fairton will go up in midMarch.
The success of this day is dependent on members helping out with the many tasks such as parking, traffic signage, office, site setting up and site dismantling to name a few. As they say “Many hands make light work”.
You will be contacted soon re your availability to help either leading up to, or on the day. We have a pool of experienced people but are always looking out for members and/or spouses, to step up and assist.
Karen Bell is again coordinating site bookings and it looks like we will have a full house as we did last time.
Sites are $25 (Includes one entry) and entry on the day is $5 for adults. Ashburton VCC Members pay unless they have a “Volunteer Entry Pass”, given to those who attend working bees.
In addition to our own grounds we are again using the Tinwald Rugby Grounds next door, with only a few changes to the layout and site numbering system, used last time.
There will be a Talbot Security presence from 5.00pm Friday until 7.30am on the Saturday.
Thanks Noel Batty ConvenerVINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ (ASHBURTON BRANCH) INC
NOTICE OF 54th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To be held at the Club Rooms
86 Maronan Road, Tinwald, Ashburton
At 8pm, Thursday the 15th of June 2023
All nomination forms must be signed by the Proposer, Seconder and Nominee and be received by the Secretary two clear days prior to the AGM.
All committee positions require nominations.
Any proposed Notice of Motion must be received by the Secretary 21 days prior to the AGM
VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ (ASHBURTON BRANCH) INC
NOMINATION FORM 2023/24
I hereby nominate: (Name
For the position of:
Proposer: (Name
(Signature)
Seconder: (Name)
(Signature)
I accept this nomination:
(Nominee signature
Date: / /23
The Secretary must receive this form by the 12th of June 2023
Nomination forms to be sent to: The Secretary, PO Box 382, Ashburton.
7740 Or by email to: ashburton@vcc.org.nz
VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ (ASHBURTON BRANCH) INC
NOMINATION FORM 2023/24
I hereby nominate: For the position of:
Proposer: (Name)
(Signature)
Seconder: (Name)
(Signature)
I accept this nomination:
Nominee signature
Date: / /23
The Secretary must receive this form by the 12th of June
2023 Nomination forms to be sent to:
The Secretary, PO Box 382, Ashburton. 7740
Or by email to: ashburton@vcc.org.nz