VCC AUCKLAND VETERAN MARCH 2024

The views expressed by the correspondents in this Bulletin are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Auckland Veteran & Vintage Car Club Inc. Any articles of interest, comments, letters to the Editor etc are welcome. All contributions are presented to and approved by the club committee prior to printing. Please forward any submissions to the Bulletin Editor avvcceditor@gmail.com.

Coming Events

All events are held at our clubrooms unless otherwise specified.

ADVANCED NOTICE - Due to Matariki falling on the last Friday of June, creating a long weekend, our AGM will be

on Saturday, July 6th.

note in your diary now,

Note: The clubrooms are open on the second and fourth Thursday evenings of the month from 7:30pm until 10:00pm and EVERY Saturday afternoon from 4:30pm until 6:30pm. Our Spares Dept & Library are open during the clubrooms opening hours PLUS Thursday mornings from 9:00am ’til noon.

Chairman’s Report

With the Inaugural Autumn Tour fast approaching, we are looking forward to the revamp with excitement. This event, along with ALL Sunday Club Runs and Mid Week Tourers’ runs are just that, touring events that are open to ALL club eligible vehicles – i.e. cars, motorcycles, and commercials more than 30 years old. So do come along and enjoy these events.

The Spares Boys are making a start on lining and painting another wall in the Barn to allow more display room for the many objects they are finding during the cleanup in the Barn and Dungeon. Well done boys.

Come along when the clubrooms are open on Thursday Club and Noggin and Natter Nights 7.30 – 10.00 pm and Saturday afternoons 4.30 – 6.30pm. Our Noggin and Natter nights are proving very popular. The crowds are not large, but you ’re sure to get a few laughs during the evening. Supper, or a sausage sizzle are provided. Watch the Week Ahead for details.

Alan and I attended Wings and Wheels at Thames 27th January. It was great to meet up with our members, both local and out of town – Eddie Murphy manning the gate, Clive Hallam driving a newly purchased late ‘30s Hillman, George Haffenden who had spent the morning getting numerous vehicles into the show, and Trevor Birchall who entered his motorcycle and is involved with the Ulysses Motorcycle Club.

The Charabanc performed very well on the Annual Veteran Run and was the winner of the Short Route Class. Starting and finishing in Waiuku, we travelled 32 miles over almost traffic free Franklin countryside and finished with lunch at the Cosmopolitan Club. For some of the crew, it was their first experience of veteran motoring, and riding in Angelique, a great time was had by all.

Later in March Alan and I are off to Stratford to attend the National Jowett Rally and AGM. We are staying on in Taranaki for the Maunga Moana Rally being held over Easter weekend. This will be our first break away since the floods hit us in August 2021, so we are really looking forward to it and plan to enjoy every minute. I’m sure we will meet up with some of you there and hope to catch up with old friends.

Hoping to see you all out and about at the many events your Branch has to offer.

Safe motoring. Shaaran.

I am looking forward to seeing you all on our Inaugural Autumn Tour in 10 days time. We know that Rodger and Val will have organised a great day for us all.

Unfortunately the rain arrived last Sunday morning and I’m going to assume that no one wanted to drive in the rain or visit a garden in the rain. Thanks to Bob and Debbie Ballantyne who arrived at the start. We called it quits and had coffee down the road. I’ll save this one until summer comes around again.

This month Shaaran and I head to Christchurch for the March Executive Meeting. Thanks to those who took time to come out and discuss the constitutional matters we will be voting on. As delegate, I am representing the branch, so it is important I have your thoughts. The club has some key decisions to make and the branch committee have also had some great discussion on which direction we should take.

In April, Shaaran and Val Ball have plotted our annual Ladies Run, this is a club event for ALL vehicles and members, the name comes from the fact that it is organised by “the ladies”. Mark the date in your diary (14 April).

There is plenty of out of town action around the country for you to support as well. Check the weekly email for links to entry forms.

Tracey

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Veteran Notes

This year’s Veteran Run was somewhat down on numbers due to a clash with a major Model T Ford event. Twelve entrants turned up and eleven started due to John Morrison having carburettor issues with his 1913 Humberette.

Marques represented ranged from Sunbeam to Talbot, Scripps Booth, Renault, Perry, Cadillac, Dodge and Ford Model T.

The run started from the Waiuku Cosmopolitan Club with, as usual, a long route of about forty two miles and a short route of around thirty two miles had been organised. The usual system of allowing entrants to nominate an average speed for an unknown distance sorted out the competitive side of things. The faster vehicles were set off first to avoid bunching and traffic obstruction. The long route travelled through Whiriwhiri, Otaua, Aka Aka, Puni and the outskirts of Pukekohe, before returning to the Cosmopolitan Club, while the short route travelled through Aka Aka and Puni before returning to the Cosmopolitan Club and the finish.

David Adams, in his 1932 Sunbeam, was the checkpoint for the competitive side of things. He was located close to the start so the entrants could settle down to tour at what speed they wished. David also calculated the placings due to the plotter’ s mathematical ineptitude.

Mike Loosemore was trail car on the short route, as he had checked the route the week before. Despite a caution check being put out before a steep part of Whiriwhiri Rd on the long route, few entrants noticed this, but all got down the hill okay.

Results were:

Long Route: 1st place - John and Janice Gardner

driving Roy Sharman’s 1915 Talbot

Short Route: 1st place - Team Charabanc

driving the branch’s 1915 Renault Charabanc

The Charabanc only entered because our chair Shaaran Price cobbled together a crew on the previous Saturday afternoon.

John Stokes

Thanks goes to John for plotting and running the rally AND getting the Charabanc from and back to Penrose so that we could simply arrive at the Cosmopolitan Club and just hop on board! Jodi

Veteran Rally Photos

Long Route Winners

Vintage Notes

Norm and Pat Dewhurst recently drove their 1925 Essex to Blenheim and back to take part in the National Vintage Only Rally. The car went well apart from breaking the generator adjustment strap. Fortunately, there was only minimal damage and the trip was completed successfully. There were only four entries from the North Island and Norm felt the promotion could have been more extensive. The very poor ferry service could also be a factor.

Tracey and Stephen Winterbottom heading for the same event were unfortunate with the Sunbeam expiring around Taumarunui with a blown head gasket. The Sunbeam came home on a truck and Tracey and Stephen carried on in a modern to only just make their ferry booking and then spend some time travelling around the Marlborough region.

Chris Wood gave us an interesting history of his Austin 20 and its restoration. Chris has owned the car for fifty-six years and this year will be its 100th anniversary. What many of us did not realise (Chris included) is that the club produces a 100 year badge (for vehicles).

Arthur and Heather Atkins took their immaculate 1929 DeSoto K down to the Art Deco in Hawkes Bay and thoroughly enjoyed the event. He claimed that it didn’t use a drop of oil and we all thought that was pretty good until he confessed to A framing it there and back.

It was good to see Jim McCutcheon at the meeting. He has sold Ernie - his ’23 Model T - and it now resides in Timaru.

Tim Gray has repaired the blown muffler on his T, but until he gets his fuel mixture right he may risk it happening again?!

John Towers enquired about the availability of a Whittle fan belt as originally fitted to his Humber. These were riveted link belts, size adjustable by adding or removing links and used extensively on early belt drive motorcycles, and probably still obtainable.

Neil Bieleski has a water leak from a corroded aluminium water manifold on his 1925 Renault. Astonishingly, a new part is available from France.

Shaaran Price was able to tell us that their Chev roadster is at last running well after being drowned twice in the floods and will be taking part in the Autumn Tour.

Their two vintage bikes are also now turning over and will be stored well above flood level.

Murray and Penny Firth

Library Notes

This year is the Centenary of MG, founded in 1924. The story of this well-known marque goes back to 1922, when William Morris (later Lord Nuffield) made a key appointment to run his Morris garage business in Oxford. This was the motoring enthusiast Cecil Kimber who had worked for a number of engineering firms, and because of an earlier serious motoring accident had a very noticeable limp. At Morris Garages, Kimber with his keen interest in competitive rallying would develop modifications of the standard Bullnose Morris for sporting use giving them the initials of the garage name. So the first MG was produced and during 1924 Morris Garages trading under the name M.G. Car Co. (without the Ltd) sold a handful of specially bodied Morris cars. Within a short space of time they had collected an outstanding number of racing successes.

The club library has a collection of books about the Marque, the most recently acquired being “MG: The Magic of the Marque” by long-time MG enthusiast, restorer and writer, Mike Allison.

This is not a new book, first published in 1988, the author has written and compiled a largely pictorial, full history of MG cars from the bull-noses to the Longbridge-built cars, with comprehensive competition coverage of the famous racing and record breaking versions. Many of the pictures were in his previous publication “The Magic of MG”, which he readily admits. However this larger volume permits more to be included, with a fuller story of MG products, as distinct from a factory history. There are factory interior shots, as well as 24 pages of very detailed specifications, from 14/28 to GT V8, and lots of production figure breakdowns.

By the early 1930s the adjective 'magic' was first applied to the MG cars, and in particular to their record-breaking activities. Over the years a little of the magic of the marque has rubbed off on thousands of owners. What is this magic? This book tells the story of the cars with the most instantly recognisable badges in automotive history, and assesses the reasons for their huge impact on the motoring scene.

The Library Team

Motorcycle Notes

Lynda, Malcolm Brown and myself headed to the motorcycle meeting in the sunshine. Jeremy Lambert had opened up the club rooms and helped our guest speaker, Tim Gilbert bring his classic racing BSA outfit into the backyard.

Members John and Angela Bryant had arrived around 1pm to set up tables in order to sell a large selection of John’ s spares.

We had a nice selection of bikes parked out the back - Norton ES2, 600 Panther, Honda CBX, Triumph TR6, Triumph Sprung hub Thunderbird, 500 Yamaha, Modern Triumph Thruxton, Triumph Bonneville & sidecar, late Harley Davidson and sidecar, BMW 800, Triumph Bonneville, Moto Guzzi, Norton 750, and the new Triumph 400 single, owner Garry Mitchell let me have a test ride up the road, a very nice bike, I've been told that 80 new Triumph 400 singles arrived in the past month, and all are sold - bugga!. (I have since been down to NV Motorcycles in Morrinsville, and had a one hour test ride, I then put down a deposit for a black one, next shipment arrives in March.)

We had 45 attending the meeting, there were apologises from Don Green and Stewart Metge who were at the Norton rally, Warwick Darrow and Keith Ballagh were on their way back from the South Island Velocette rally, and Martyn Seay

‘’Royal Enfield 500’’ and Mark Beston ‘’Triumph TR6’’ were having a tour of the South Island.

REPORTS: Martin reported on the recent Wellington Biennial Motorcycle Rally, see full report elsewhere in the Bulletin.

GENERAL BUSINESS: Peter Alderdice talked about next year’s VCC National Motorcycle Rally. Peter has around 20 interested members that want to be part of the group. Peter said if anyone else would like to be part of this adventure let him know - 021 743 906. The idea is we ride in a group with backup trailer down to Palmerston North, do the rally over the weekend, take part in the four days of rally tours, then spend the weekend at the Classic Motorcycle Racing Festival at Manfield. We will then head home via the East Cape, a great time of riding bikes and camaraderie with great mates.

COMING UP: 3rd March - The Brits and Euro Classic car Show, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga. Our branch have been attending this event since it started, so please come along on the day with your solo or sidecar outfits and join me and other members, I will have our club marquee up so you can leave any riding gear there. Please give me a call for more information - 022 102 5954.

Motorcycle Notes continued

GUEST SPEAKER: Our speaker was Tim Gilbert, Tim and Julie Crombie were our motorcycle coordinators in 1987-88. Tim is a longtime member of the NZ Classic Motorcycle Racing Register, VCC and BSA Owners Club.

Tim brought along his mid 1950’s BSA A10 Road Rocket sidecar racer. We normally have the motorcycles on display inside the club-rooms but this one was just a bit too wide to get through the door. Tim built the outfit in 2000, and has been racing it up to now.

He built it up from spare parts around a replica Gold Star frame reinforced by the sidecar platform. He currently uses 10.5 high compression pistons, attached to H section steel A65 con-rods, but these were half an inch shorter than the A10 ones, this meant Tim had the barrel shortened by half an inch, a popular modification in the fifties for competition.

A major part of the development is the expensive 6 speed gearbox, which was well worth it. The engine is kept to a 6,500 rpm limit to extend its life, although it will happily spin into the 7’s which will take Tim and passenger up to around 100 mph.

He uses racing castor oil and methanol fuel. He fitted the bike with a Bob Newby racing clutch and belt drive which reduces noise and is very robust.

Tim says that when racing he controls the front wheel and engine, while the passenger controls the sidecar and rear wheels with his position on the platform. The rear tire can last 6 meetings. Last year at the classic Taupo meeting the engine made a nasty strange noise so he was pushed back to the pits, the engine was still running when he pulled off the circuit, but definitely was not right. Upon closer inspection back in the pits a large crack was noticed. Upon removal of the head and barrel he found that the barrel came away in 4 bits, these bits were on display here at the meeting.

Tim’s UK racing hero was Chris Vincent, multiple sidecar champion (he was mine too, as I watched him racing in the 1960’s). Chris was a motorcycle road tester for BSA, the BSA engines he raced with were the 500 A7 and 650 A10’s and then the later A65. Chris Vincent won the 1962 Isle Of Man sidecar TT, also a world championship event, on a 500 BSA A7SS based outfit that he had built. Tim told us that when he was in the UK a few years ago he was at a race meeting and met and chatted to Chris Vincent.

Chris gave Tim a number of old side car trophies to take back to NZ. Tim said his favourite bikes are the pre-unit BSA’s. He has just completed the restoration of a 1954 650cc BSA Road Rocket.

Motorcycle Notes continued

Tim answered a number of questions from the floor. Then quite a few members had pictures taken posing on the BSA.

Martin thanked Tim for coming and telling the BSA’s story.

Martin Spicer and Jack Clark

Mid-week Tourers

Report on visit to Dave Tuke’s Collection

The weather was perfect for our Westgate start where 13 four wheeled & 3 two wheeled vehicles assembled for a run of just under an hour and a half through some of the best of the west’s scenic countryside. Then shortly after passing the North Shore Airport as we entered outer Silverdale, we encountered a large new housing development on our way to the new industrial area where Dave has built a new show piece garage featuring a finely polished concrete floor. It was built in two stages with first being completed in 2018 and the second just last year. He first started collecting special vehicles just over a decade ago. Dave has been very successful in business having opened his first branch of National Mini Storage in 1991 in Penrose. He has added another 10 locations to his portfolio, employing a staff of around 50 people.

Westgate: Of those who had registered for the run we had no shows for 4 cars and 2 motorbikes giving us a total of 31 club members & friends. Barry Birchall arrived in his mid-sixties Super Snipe as did Grant Rutherford in his Rover P5B V8. While David Lane’s Studebaker was the prettiest car the most interesting was the 1937 Jowett 10hp of John Wolf, which was in pristine condition, with just 51,000 original miles registered on the odometer.

Wow!!! Wow!! & Wow again!: Dave is a perfectionist and has engaged a very passionate Stephen Nightingale to host the garage visitors. I have seen many vehicle collections around the world and can honestly say I have never seen one better than that of Dave Tuke’s. Most of the collection are warranted and registered as well as being driven. Over 95% of his vehicles have been completely restored & are of a Concours d’Elegance winning standard.

Motor Cycles: The fully restored American Indians & Harleys were a sight for sore eyes, as were the English bikes, with the oldest being a 1924 Round Tank BSA. In original condition were a couple of Triumphs, one with 700 miles & the other 1000 miles showing on their odometers as well as a Norton showing just 1800 miles. To add a bit of variety there was a Sun Wasp scooter.

Cars, Utilities & Hot Rods: Most of the vehicles were from the big three, GM, Ford & Chrysler with American restorations that included the upgrading of an alloy radiator with a thermo-electric fan, boosted disc brakes, air conditioning and four speed or overdrive transmissions. An E type Jaguar and an Auburn roadster gave a little variety. Parked prominently in the centre of the main wing was a high winged 1959 Chrysler that had been given an extremely high standard New Zealand restoration that took 4 years to complete. Stephen stated out of all of the collection that this Chrysler is perfect. I doubt if anyone could disagree.

Mid-week Tourers continued

Finally as we were about to depart Stephen said that our club was welcome to come back for a future visit.

A big thank you to Dave, Stephen, and the charming coffee girl. The coffees were courtesy of Dave, an extra touch topping off a great visit.

Jack Nazer

And thank you Jack, for making it possible. Norm

Coming up...

March: NO mid-week run, the Club is concentrating on the new Autumn Tour Let's all give it our support.

April: Wednesday 17th (school holidays), a run down the western side of the Waikato to visit a member this side of Huntly. He has a collection of coal mining artefacts as well as vintage automobilia. BYO everything. Starts from the BP Service Centre, Southern Motorway, Drury - 10-00 am for a 10-30 am departure.

Well done Mid-Week Tourers!

When groups like ours visit Dave Tuke’s Collection he donates the “entry fee” to a local charity, this time the chosen charity was Harbour Hospice. The total donated was $310. Jack has received this note of thanks via Dave Tuke:

Hi Dave

That’s amazing, thank you very much. We appreciate the support.

NZ Welder Repair Services Ltd.

Unit 4/5 Portage Road, New Lynn, Auckland

For personal service call Rod Rugg (Member)

Stick, MIG, TIG and Plasma cutters. All welding machine types and consumables for sale.

“

Over 30 years experience”

Repairs to machines, new sales and used. Hire options available. For home or work. Large or small. We deal with only good machines not rubbish.

Phone: 09 8261425, e-mail: rod.rugg@nzwrs.com

Postal address: P.O. Box 19272, Avondale, Auckland 1746

Amber West Fundraising Manager

Maintenance Report

Now that we are well into the New Year, it’s time to continue the refreshing of the clubrooms. So far 35 chairs have been recovered and are already receiving great compliments. The remainder of the chairs will be done in the next month or so.

We’ve also had the carpet cleaned and it looks great . Thanks to those that helped empty the clubrooms of all furniture to allow the clean.

The next task on the list is the refurbishment of the Barn floor.

Drop by and take a look at the upgrades if you haven’t been to the clubrooms in a while.

Russel

New Members

A most sincere welcome is extended to this month’s new members. We hope to see you taking an active part in Branch activities whenever possible. Should you require any assistance or advice, please feel free to ask any Committee member?

Joe Mercieca

Castor Bay

1966 Triumph 6T

Russell Ness

Murrays Bay

1965 Jaguar Mk 2

1970 Morris Mark 2 Cooper S

Tim Wyatt

Swanson

No vehicle at this time

Spare Parts Report

What have the Parts Team Been Up To?

Since the time of the Barry Robert big workshop clean out we have had just a small amount of donated parts arriving. With the pressure off, it was then decided that the best use of our time would be to get started on displaying the considerable number of items that are too precious to sell. We acquired a number of sheets of 12mm plywood which we fixed onto the side wall. We also managed to obtain a supply of aluminium and stainless offcuts, to make the brackets suitable for fixing our display items onto the wall.

Our team is so fortunate to have the powerhouse and very talented, ex chippie (carpenter) now an artist and restorer, John Towers. Each week John takes home various items and brings them back the next week fully restored and ready for display.

Bill Hulse has become our chief bracket maker. My job is to research and identify each item together with the help of a few of the senior club members. I also design suitable mounting brackets and find the best place to display each item. With most of the items displayed there is a short description of the history and what its function was, so that now and in the future no club member, or visitor, has to ask themselves, what the heck is that?

Jack Nazer

Letter re Charabanc Team and the next International Rally in 2026

from Neil Bieleski

Subject: Next International Rally, suggestions for a Charabanc Team and the future of the Charabanc within the Club.

The next International Festival Rally is only two years away!

Traditionally the Charabanc has gone to most International Rallies at the request of the organising club and the AVVCC has put together a Team. Not only do the organising club appreciate this, but many members of the public appreciate the presence of the Charabanc.

This needs a new team with several energetic drivers with family and/or friends rather than that of a solo member as at the Hamilton Rally. With more team members it is more fun that can be had by all.

We need to start assembling a team, train the new drivers for the forthcoming rally and personal decisions need to be made to allow financial targets to be set and reached.

The team should all be located at one motel so that they have good team building and team activities that can be quickly arranged and there is no need wasting time picking up people not on location.

The International Rally is one of the few occasions when new drivers can be driving the Charabanc for decent periods of time. I feel that, for new drivers, the chance to challenge themselves and have the opportunity to drive the Charabanc is paramount. Failure to take part in this rally will be the death knell for the Charabanc.

It will become a museum piece seen by only a small minority.

My personal suggestion would be to remove the hood, while taking part in this rally using it only if there is major rainfall, sun-hats and parasols provide a feeling of early motoring occasion. Whilst the sun and rain can affect the day out, the hood restricts the joy of open air motoring and the “joie de vivre” and appreciation of the viewing public.

It is time for the old team to pass the baton on.

Due to the speed of the Charabanc and the time taken, the hassle and disruption to modern day traffic the Team, with the Clubs assistance, would be well advised to consider several possibilities that will not disadvantage the public.

1. Employ commercial transporter (disadvantage cost).

2. Use a donor transporter (disadvantage using up the Club’s goodwill, and/or the need to take on activities to promote our sponsor).

3. For the Club to buy and use our own transport.

Neil Bieleski

Thoughts so far from your Committee

We thank Neil for putting this onto our agenda for our February meeting. We absolutely agree that we want to see the Charabanc at such events as the 2026 Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring.

We also agree with the need for new blood in the Charabanc Team. New drivers, new maintenance team, new/more people interested in being part of the crew. If that piques your interest please contact anyone on the committee or John Stokes about joining in?

As for getting the vehicle down to the next International, our immediate thoughts are swaying more to putting Angelique in a container and sending her by rail? This is all a first round of ideas and we’d appreciate it if others have any great ideas too, please let us know?

Join the Charabanc Crew

We want to build on our team, impart knowledge and keep Angelique out in the public view.

If you are interested please contact a Committee Member or John Stokes - Email: jcstokes96a@xtra.co.nz

2024 National Vintage Rally

This National Rally took place last month, hosted by the Marlborough Branch.

I did expect to see both a bigger total entry and more North Island support. 42 entries, with only 2 from Auckland and 2 from Wanganui. Marlborough members supported their branch well, making up half the field.

Marlborough have a great set up, their clubrooms and parts sheds are situated inside a wider group of historic enthusiast groups at Brayshaw Park, in Blenheim. Waitangi Day is a live Heritage Day where all the clubs are actively displaying their interests. There is a very strong Vintage Farm Machinery group who had all kinds of vintage machinery working from water pumps to a hay baling machine. There was sheep shearing, historic buildings complete with furnishings, a working blacksmiths, a model club, miniature steam train rides, a large pond full of radio controlled boats and more.

The Heritage Day became the first day of the National Vintage Rally. All entrants assembled outside the clubrooms so that vehicles were on display for the day. Entrants were free to wander about the park after completing a series of gymkhana tests.

Wednesday was rally day, a run of approx. 60 miles through Redwood Pass, Taylors Pass and roads through Yealands Winery. Unfortunately part of the route through the winery could not be used due to the very high fire risk, locals told us we had missed some stunning views. I guess we'll have to go back!! Around the corner from the lunch break we stopped to visit a local member's collection. All varieties of sewing machines and a large collection of motorbikes.

The final dinner was held in the clubrooms and winners were announced. There were fashion parade winners, gymkhana winners and a mystery object identification quiz winner. The rally was non-competitive, a few questions amongst the instructions regarding information passed along the way. Furthest travelled was awarded to Norm and Pat Dewhurst (1925 Essex Roadster) while Team Winterbottom received the Hard Luck Award (don't ask!).

Thursday morning was a dive into the spares. Their spares are still in the process of being sorted into a new building as the branch had a large fire 12 months ago. A huge effort has already gone into sorting and cataloguing. Our spares team would be very envious of the space available! We didn't leave empty handed! ☺

Tracey Winterbottom

National Vintage Rally Pictures

From Top Left: Kate & Ryan Winterbottom in Gymkhana; an Austin 7; some of the line-up at lunchtime; a Delage; a 1924 Riley.

Wellington Biennial Motorcycle Rally

Friday morning I rode my 1960 BSA Golden Flash down to Pokeno to meet up with Don Green, who was riding his 1973 Honda CB 350 four and John Poole, who arrived with his 1970’s Norton Commando on my 3 bike trailer. Next came Martyn Seay with his purpose built trailer that carried his 1928 Indian Scout and matching sidecar. Don and I loaded our bikes onto the trailer. Then we all set off.

We had a trouble free journey down to Waiouru, where we stopped for lunch. The post lunch run was an easy journey down to Petone where we checked into the Top 10 Holiday Park.

We met up with Simon and Sylvia Clearwater along with Robert Young from Northland and Ariel riders Graeme Crawley and Steve Barker.

After unpacking and getting the bikes off the trailer, we then went into Petone for dinner. We’d enjoyed a sunny and warm day for our trek.

We woke up to an overcast and windy morning. After breakfast we rode the short distance to the Wellington clubrooms. There were around 30 riders there having tea/coffee and scones.

Peter Simpson gave the briefing then the first bike was away at 10am. This is when the rain started, this would test my new riding jacket’s water resistance, it leaked after 25 minutes, not a good thing on a 105 mile ride! We travelled up to Upper Hutt, then crossed over to the West coast. Now this road would have been spectacular on a warm sunny day, but riding it on this very wet and windy day with wet leaves on all the corners was a bit nervy. But we all made it safely to Elizabeth Park for lunch. Most of us had dyed hands from our riding gloves!

After lunch we set off in pouring rain. The route went up and over the infamous Paekākāriki Hill, by then the rain had stopped and the sun was out. Everyone made it safely back, amazingly there hadn't been any accidents or break downs. After a hot shower and a rest, we went to the club rooms for the prizegiving dinner.

As you can imagine there were lots of stories about the days riding. Our two Ariel riders Graeme and Steve never started the rally, Steve's just wouldn't start, Graeme’ s started, and he rode out to fuel up the bike, he arrived back at the holiday park where the engine just died? So they did the rally in the car. We had a good meal, followed by the prizegiving.

CLASS PLACINGS

Post Vintage 1st Norman Hill - 1938 Velocette MSS

2nd Paul Switzer - 1937 Royal Enfield G

Post War 1st Dave Robinson -1949 Norton - International

2nd Ian Munro - 1954 Norton Model 7

3rd Martin Spicer - 1960 BSA - Golden Flash

Post 60 1st Don Green - 1973 Honda CB 350F

2nd Ian Hubbard - 1972 Triumph Bonneville

3rd Verdon Heath - 1988 MZ ETZ

Combination 1st Peter Alderdice - 1926 Harley Davidson with passengers

Guest riders

Leo Fowler and Russel Baxter.

1st Dave O’Leary - 1979 Honda CX500

2nd Greg Campbell - 1957 BSA DBD 34

3rd Ray Janes - 1969 Triumph Trident

Congratulations to the overall winner, our own Don Green on his 1973 Honda 350F.

This was followed with a guest speaker, Graeme (Spyda) Staples, Spyda has been a commentator at hundreds of motorcycle race meetings over the years. He has a great knowledge of most of New Zealand's motorcycle racers. He has published a book, a real labour of love for him, this book has been compiled as a comprehensive guide to road racing circuits the length and breadth of New Zealand, from Whangarei in the North to Otatara, on the outskirts of southernmost city in the country, Invercargill.

Spyda showed a slide show and told us about some of the more prominent circuits, incredibly there have been 164 circuits, the majority were around the streets of our country towns.

Martin Spicer

1928 Dodge For Sale

I have a 1928 Dodge Victory Six car in pieces that needs to go to a better home for restoration or parts. Mostly complete and was running when i got it. If you are interested, please contact Peter 09 626 2026.

Trunk For Sale

Was used on my Model A ⬧ Colour: Black ⬧ 650mm wide ,740mm deep, 640mm high ⬧ Lockable ⬧ Water tight ⬧ some wear on bottom corners. $Offers. Contact: Russel McAlpine 027 473 5451.

WOF INFO

Thank you

Michael Greig

Some will be aware that Roger at Action Bike Wreckers is retiring and closing the shop on Barry’s Point Road, Takapuna. Advice from Roger is that these places will do WOFs for bikes…

Tipace Car Services

11 Parity Place

Rolch Automotive

1-29 Ashfield Street, Hillcrest Glenfield 09 443 5996 09 443 6805

Another business that Michael has used are familiar with vintage cars and bikes in Devonport is...

Wynyard Motors

1 Wynyard Street, Devonport 4451357

Chairman Shaaran

Your Committee & Officers

Secretary

Clubroom Bookings/ Health & Safety Officer

Email: velo500@icloud.com

Non-Committee Positions:

Library Team Leader Spares Team Leader

Richard Green (Lois)

Email: randlgreen@orcon.net.nz

H: 09 489 2427 M: 021 818 334

Beaded Wheels Reporters

John Stokes

Jocelyn McAlpine

Peter Wood

Veteran Section Rep & VIC Officer

John Stokes

H: 09 236 4582 or M: 0272 772 108

Email: jcstokes96a@xtra.co.nz

Insurance

M: 027 576 7045

Bill Hulse (Sherrill)

Email: bill.sherrill@xtra.co.nz

M: 09 579 0494

Mid-Week Tourers Rep

Jack Nazer H: 09 378 4580

Email: jack_nazer@yahoo.co.nz

Vintage Section Rep

Murray Firth (Penny)

Email: pennyandmurray@xtra.co.nz

H: 09 818 6434

Vero Consumer Insurance Specialist F: 0800 505 905 or B: 09 356 4501 Agency Number: 0300126

Clubrooms

Phone: 09 579 5625

Street Address: 39 Fairfax Ave, Penrose

Postal Address: PO Box 12 138, Penrose, Auckland 1642

Club Night: 4th Thursday of the month

Open: 2nd & 4th Thursday 7:30-10:00pm, Every Saturday 4:30-6:30 pm

Branch Email Address: auckland@vcc.org.nz

Library Email Address: libraryavvcc@gmail.com

Branch Website: www.avvcc.org.nz

Branch Honorary Life Members: Barry Robert Norm Dewhurst QSM