VCC NORTH OTAGO DISTRIBUTOR APRIL 2024

The North Otago Branch

of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Inc.

Chairman's Comments.

Hi Everyone,

The conference held in Christchurch on the 16/17 of March is now over and the proposed changes were voted in. Our delegate, Wanda Kent, put forward a proposal to be approved by the executive for our North Otago Branch to host the National Commercial Rally. I am very pleased on behalf of the branch that it was approved by the executive, another feather in our cap, well done Wanda.

I made it known at the last committee meeting that I will not be seeking re-election for Chairman or a committee member at the AGM this year. I will however be still serving on the committee for a further 12 months as past Chairman.

In the eleven years that I have been with the Branch I have always been an active member and I have really enjoyed it. However, I think it is time for a another (perhaps younger?) member to step up. I have always been well supported in whatever I did which I consider is the real strength of this Branch, Thank you everyone.

On a lighter note, I have new project. A 1975 Land Rover series 111. She needs a lot done to her, so if anyone out there has any parts (but more important good advice) both will be most welcome.

Thank you,

All the best,

Clive, [Chairman]

Submissions to Newsletter

Always appreciated but some have had difficulties sending items.

Photos. If taken in the high quality mode will often cause trouble when trying to send several due to their file size. The solution to this is to send them in the smallest size possible as this is more than adequate for the newsletter.

PDFs. These are essentially electronic printouts. As such they are not easily able to edited for newsletter. For a single page flyer they are great as they generally look how you want them to be displayed.

However multi page PDFs cause problems as they cannot be altered to fit the newsletter.

The best option is to use Libreoffice or MS Word. If you find the file size is large (over 5MB) then the pictures will be the culprit. Try compressing them and re-saving document.

Libreoffice. Right click on photo and select “compress”

MS Word on the ribbon select File > Compress Pictures (or File > Reduce File Size).

Computers in cars and the dreaded Check engine light.

The early 1990’s saw the introduction of computers to cars which will now fall under the 30 year old eligibility of the VCC.

Early computers were simple, but that fault can be determined easily by finding the code that has triggered the light. This gives you a clue as to where to look.

The first computers can be diagnosed with a piece of wire or paper clip. The Check engine light will then flash. Eg four slow flashes and one fast means code 41. One then looks up what code 41 means.

The next generation required special equipment. ODB (on board diagnostic) reader. This usually required a visit to the dealer. In recent times cables have been made that will communicate with these computers. I have one that will talk to all the early Rover and Landrovers. This provides detailed information from the engine as well as the security imobilser so you can reprogram key fobs etc.

The USA pioneered a universal standard. The ODB2 plug and interface in 1996. Other countries came later Europe ~1999-2001 but New Zealand not until 2006. This means NZ and Australian new cars may or may not be compliant up to that date. Commodore pre 2006 were technically not compliant but an inexpensive cable is available that has had a couple of wires swapped. It will then be compliant….. Some Euro cars are compliant pre 1999 in anticipation of the new rules. I have used ODB2 on a 1998 Ford Mondeo. While a basic ODB2 reader will give you the codes there is computer software for different makes that will give more detailed information. Some is free (Forscan software I used on Mondeo) and Multiecuscan which I use on the FIAT. There a paid versions that offer more features if you want to get more serious. Some manufacturers charge $1000s for their software so check before you buy the car if you want to service yourself.

I have vehicles that use the three types of computer so I will be giving a demonstration of each type at my place on 3rd April. 6 Waiareka lane from 7pm.

Please park on the grass verge at the top of the lane. It is off Saleyards road near the Weston saleyards.

Graeme Simpson

Other Branches Events can be found in Beaded Wheels or in their club magazines. If you would like to read other branches' magazines, You can look on Google Search. The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand site. Then go to Branch Newsletters. Or contact Lee who can put your name on the email list.

Coming Events

April.

3rd Wednesday Clubnight 7pm. Meet at Graeme Simpson’s place

6 Waiareka Lane, off Saleyards Road.

6th Saturday Swap Meet Orari Racecourse 8am SCVCC.

13th Gerald Lynch-Blosse Memorial Motorcycle Rally

17th Committee Meeting 7pm.

18th Thursday Mid Month Run. Meet at Clubrooms 1pm Start 1.30pm. John Gale. 0276554296

24th Wednesday Motorcycle Run. Meet at Clubrooms 1pm Start 1.30pm John Gale 0276554296

May

1st Wednesday Club Night 7pm. Meet at Waitaki Boys High School. Gordon Hay 0284007586.

12th Sunday. Chairman's Run. Meet at Clubrooms 1.30pm start.

15th Wednesday Committee Meeting 7pm

16th Thursday Mid Month Run. Start 1.30pm from Clubrooms.

29th Wednesday Motorcycle Run. Start 1.30pm from Clubrooms.

More Events

June

9th AGM. 1.30pm start. What about coming on to the committee and sharing the load around, it helps the branch to operate better. The list of Office Bearers is in our magazine. If you don't want to take over a position, maybe become an assistant to an office bearer and learn the job so you can take over next year.

Trip to Invercargill. Truck and Motor bikes Museums. A 3 day event. Leaving Friday, coming home Sunday. Let me know if you are keen to go.Cheers Ernest.

23rd June confirmed next month. Ten Pin Bowling with Waimate Branch..

Lindsay and Margaret McLeod.

July 13th Saturday Garage Raid. Clive Blunden and Derek Brehaut

August 25th Sunday Daffodil Day Gordon and Joy Hay

September 4th Wednesday Club Night 7.30pm Auction. Get your things out that you would like to donate for sale and bring along to auction them . Money raised goes to St John.

October 19th Teapot Rally with Waimate.

25th- 28th National Commercial Rally Oamaru.

November 16th Saturday Swap Meet Oamaru. Derek Brehaut.

December 4th Wednesday Club Night Xmas Party.

7th Saturday Windsor Rally. Ernest.

If you would be able to help with any of the events above contact the person beside the event.

Mid month run to Glencoe

We left Club Rooms after 1.30pm for cruisy drive thru Ardgowan to Weston, down Whiterocks Rd, onto Thousand Acre Rd, thru Kakanui along the scenic Coastal Road toWaianakarua, Turned up Highway one to Herbert to destination Glencoe Campsite, past Camp Iona to picnic spot. A lovely peaceful spot, been a 6 or 7 years since visited there as a group, when Verna was organising our monthly runs. The day was sunny & calm, next day not so with much needed rain. How lucky were we. John informed us next month back to Cafe's as weather cools off. Very nice Summer season.

Thank you John.

Cheers Mary.

Mid month run to Glencoe

About 15 club members mostly driving their club eligible cars, had an enjoyable drive via the coastal road to Waianakaru ( at the mill house) we turned up the Herbert hill on SH1 to Herbert and into the Glencoe campsite, just past camp Iona.

We all enjoyed a relaxed picnic in the sunshine among the lovely surroundings.

Many thanks to John Gale for another wonderful afternoon.

National Rover Rally

15th to 17th March 2024

Based in Christchurch this year, Headquarters at the Redwood Hotel, Belfast Cars ranged in age from 1912 to 2007.

On Saturday the participants took the back road to Kiapoi for a display, pride of ownership and other judging. Luckily it was beautiful day as it was very wet on Friday. My car is still a bit scruffy but another 200 series coupe won the pride of ownership it and looked like it had come out of the showroom. The 1912 Rover was designed to be chauffeur driven and had an interesting intercom system. (see above)

There was then a navigation course skirting the edge of the Ashley Forrest to end up at Loburn domain for lunch. My brother came along with his series 1 Landrover. We spent the previous evening getting it running. There was literally a bug in the carb. A small fly had climbed in and blocked the main jet.

After lunch we went to Campbell Classics. The Campbells have an airstrip in their backyard. Ian gave a talk on his development of retro style helmets for warbird pilots

and the flying demonstrations of replica Mustang and Spitfire aircraft he has built. I have had the good fortune to have a ride in the Spitfire. It is dual control so you can have a go. Flying the Spitfire is like driving a high performance supercar. It is capable of 400kmh being powered by a GM LS2 V8.

On Sunday The Rally went to VCC McLeans Island. Many had not been there before as there were participants from Australia and the North Island. (I bumped into Rebecca)

The Landrover club also put on a display before heading out on a run of their own.

Quite a few local Rovers not on the Rally also came along so quite a large display. It was a great opportunity to swap information and ideas.

There were field trials conducted to test participants.

Meals were included in the rally at the Redwood Hotel which were great and an opportunity to chat.

Graeme Simpson

Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring 2026

Reaching out to all VCC members.

Hello Lee, and welcome to the first update for the Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring 2026 Nelson Tasman. We’re very excited to be in touch with you leading up to the event which will be held from March 15 to 21, 2026.

As well as giving you insight into the rally, one of the key aims of these emails is to make sure you know the answers to as many of the frequently asked questions that we are asked. So, if you have any questions please send them our way! Many of you have already asked questions so we will start dealing with some of those in this email, and the rest in subsequent emails.

First, the basics.

The Vero IFHM 2026 is being hosted by the Nelson Vintage Car Club. We have just under 300 active members and 528 vehicles and we are based in beautiful, sunny Nelson Tasman. We last hosted the International Rally in 1972 and by all accounts it was a great event. Based on the VCC member survey results, we will have a handful of attendees in 2026 who were also here in 1972. One of them, Ray Robertson, is our festival director. Of course, we can’t rest on our laurels, so after the baton was handed to us late last year from the Taranaki team, our committee began the job of designing the next event, a job that is still ongoing. The draft programme for the event has recently been presented to the VCC National Management Committee for discussion. As it stands currently, there are 6 days of rallying and/or competitive events along with 7 nights of social, dining, and entertainment events to choose from, including the Grand Finale evening at Nelson’s Trafalgar Centre. We’ve got a wee way to go firming up some of the events so we will report on them as they are confirmed.

All club eligible cars catered for.

Rally routes and competitive events are being created to cater for all club eligible vehicles. In particular, veteran cars and bikes will have routes tailored to their quirks, but all drivers should be able to enjoy what our rally planners have in mind. The competition day plans include all ages of vehicles competing together in what should be a fun event.

Accomodation.

We’re talking with Nelson Tasman accomodation providers to try to secure good deals for all participants, with options from tent camping, campervanning, motels, and luxury hotel accomodation. More to come as things develop.

And finally, for now.

I’m hoping these newsletters will be semi-regular, but no more often than once a month until we get down to the final weeks before the big event. If you’d rather just get notice only when registrations open or feel you’ve been put on the list by mistake, please hit reply and let me know and I’ll sort things out. Also, if someone you know says they thought they were on our list but didn’t get this email please get them to email me at festivalcomms@vcc.org.nz and I’ll get them on the list.

Best regards,

Mike Wilson - Nelson VCC Branch Member Communications Manager

2026 Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring - Nelson Tasman

RotaryClubofAshburtonPlains

ClassicCarRun28thApril2024

You areasked to keep this datefreeas theRotary ClubofAshburton Plains areonceagain organisingourannualClassiccarrun.Thiseventispart oftheAshburton Wheels Week festivities.

This is the 31st runningofthishugelypopularevent andweaskyouforyourparticipation.

Entry feewill be$20/carwith profitsgoingto alocalorganisation.Theeventwillstartfrom theAshburton Showgrounds at10.30amand will finish at SurreyHillsapproximately 1 hour later.Registrations will befrom9.am.

Youwillbegiven instructions likeacar trial and carryon thedesignated routeto finish.There willbenoshingleroads,except fora1kmgraded drivewayinto thehistoricfarmproperty and theinstructions willbevery straight forward.

Therewillbeprizes forvariousvehicles that willbechosen by ourindependentjudges,Roger Hart and BernardEgan,twovery well-knownidentitiesin theMid Canterburyareawhohave had manyyears’experiences ofclassiccars.

Pleasebringyourown chair,and PICNICLUNCH as wehavemovedon fromproviding. Thevenueis situated1kmoffthescenicinland route72,offeringparticipants fromoutside Ashburton County analternativeroutehome.

Weask all CarClubsto maketheirmembers awareofthis fun low-key event in yourclub bulletinsornoticeboard.

Forany furtherinformation please contact: AllanLill –allan@norwestseed.co.nz 0274328328

Some other random makes too

Landrover display

Rover car club display

Rover bicycle

Items for the Newsletter can be posted or dropped off to 6 Waiareka lane, off Saleyards Road Or emailed to gsimpsonyyy@gmail.com

Newsletter submissions. Preferred formats are Open-office, Libre-office or MS Word as an attached document. Plain emails create extra work. Please, no “enter” key at the end of every line. Contact me for advice if not sure.

Thanks, Graeme

NORTH OTAGO BRANCH

Rover club National rally at McLeans Island 17th March 2024

An early P4 and one of the last Rovers, a Rover 75 V8