WEST COAST BRANCH – VINTAGE CAR CLUB
JUNE 2023 NEWSLETTER
What a way to travel back in the days!
This months contents
Front cover - 1914 Triumph see “what a way to travel” article
Until we meet again, forth coming events
AGM, brief report new committee members and new club members
Run Report 21st May – John Boyes 47 years VCC membership
What away to travel – article by Geoff Sutton
Keep the wheels turning – Club Captain introduction and section
New Members and The Fair (Es)sex
For Sale, Wanted & Free, Committee members
Until we meet again
1st Thursday month – Committee meeting at Clubrooms at Shantytown 6th July 7.30pm
3rd Tuesday month – Morning tea at Shantytown 20th June at 10.00am
4th Sunday month – Club Run
Don’t forget you are welcome to attend any of our events in your modern vehicle if you are unable to use your vintage one, it is just good to have your company.
LOCAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS AT A GLANCE
18 June 2023 Rosco Trials * Rosco’s Yard, Reefton
1 July 2023
10am-2pm ** Car Show, Camp Ground, Reefton
20 August 2023 9am *** Daffodil Day
*Rosco Sporting Trials –
8.30am Assemble at the venue for vehicle inspection and briefing
9.30am Competition begins
12.30pm Lunch
1.15pm Afternoon competitions begin
3.00pm approx Competitions finishes followed by prize giving at Rosco’s workshop (note times are subject to change depending on number of entrants)
Good luck to all who take part in this exciting, muddy and wet event contact Nick Harrison 0275419296
** Car Show – this is an annual event to raise funds for Reefton St Johns organised by Guy and Vanessa (Reefton VCC members) - entry fee is by gold coin donation. It is held at the Reefton Camp Ground and if other years are anything to go by it is well supported with a variety of vehicles on display AND wrap up warm as it can be very cold and dare I say it wet!
***Daffodil Day there is change this year as we will be doing the run to Westport instead of Hokitika where we have gone to for the last couple of years. The Hot Rod club, Buller Rodders and
of course Cancer Society are all on board to join with us to make it a worthwhile event to support the Cancer Society. The outline to date is:
Sunday 20th August 2023
9am – gather Hot Rod Club Anzac Park Greymouth for the public display of vehicles, 10am leave in convoy and travel to Westport (its a shorter public display to allow our older vehicles to get to Westport)
11.30 – arrive Victoria Park Oval park up for another public display of vehicles
I would like to thank Buller District Council for allowing us use of Victoria Park, Hot Rod Club for use of the Hot Rod club grounds, Cancer Society for arranging a food caravan at the Hot Rod Club and at Victoria Park Westport, Hot Rodders, Buller Rodders, our Westcoast Branch and many others who will support.
Please advertise this event as much as you can.
AGM held on 1th June 2023, Copper Room, Union Hotel Greymouth.
This is just a brief overview. There was a good turnout on what was a very bleak day. John Canning (President) gave his thanks to the outgoing committee for all their work with making our 40th Rally a success and leaving the club in a “good heart”, especially as many of the committee were new to the role.
Thank you to all who attended and sent apologies and to those who stepped forward to continue in positions on the committee and to come forward and take up positions. As we all know it is a commitment, but there is so much support within the club so the task is much easier.
The changes in the committee are:
Bruce Heyward - Club Captain
Don Scott - New on the committee
TeAroha Cook (TC) - “
This years committee can be found on the last page.
Recognition of Service awards – congratulations to you all
35 years – Brent and Marie Woolhouse
35 years – David Campbell (Dave received his award at our 40th Rally dinner but badge was delayed, he was awarded his badge at the AGM)
Thanks go to Fred for keeping his finger on the pulse of our membership.
Frances Hunter Memorial Trophy
This was awarded to Zoe Gough.
I was shocked, pleased and humbled to have been awarded this trophy especially in mind of what it it stands for. I thank the Chair and all of our members. Our branch is only small in the national
scale of things but we have a wealth of kindness, support, knowledge and much more and they have all been shown to me in my role on the committee so thank you all.
Run on 21st May 2023 John Boyes 47 year presentation at The Paroa Hotel, Paroa Greymouth
Around 50 members of our West Coast branch turned out to honour John Boyes’s 47 years membership and service to the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand. John joined the VCC in Invercargill serving 12 years there, he then moved to Greymouth and became a member of the West Coast branch 35 years ago.
Our Club Patron, Tom Griffin, presented John his 47 years framed service certificate. John thanked us all for our attending and was overwhelmed by the response, he then recalled humorous anecdotes of happenings in the club. Roger Devlin and Robin Ross both spoke with pride, respect and warmth towards John for not only his assistance, quiet generosity, support, encouragement to new members with the club but also for all he did in the wider circle of his life on the West Coast. One of the most important aspects was his friendship.
We all then tucked into a plentiful, tasty afternoon tea. The atmosphere was noisy and joyous .
Before we all departed from the hotel, Stewart (Nimmo) pulled out his trusty camera and we all congregated outside (rain held off although black clouds loomed) to pose in front of some of our vintage cars to get a group picture. (It was probably the first time so many members had been together in one place and Stewart wanted to record it.)
It was a very special “run” to honour a “special man”, I think that all of us who were able to attend felt the warmth and pleasure of the occasion.
Editors note.
I would like give thanks to Fred (Ruesink) for noting John’s service and for organising the certificate, Alan (Giles) for the frame, Robin (Ross) for organising the venue and liaising with the hotel, Paroa hotel for the afternoon tea and venue, our branch for supporting and paying for the afternoon tea, to those who gave their apologies .and TO YOU ALL for attending(some with your vintage cars) and making it special for John and Janet.
Gathering -no use trying to move out of my lens view!!!
What is Roger telling us at afternoon tea?
All of us together .....
WHAT A WAY TO TRAVEL
Our club only has a couple of serious motorcycle enthusiasts. I realise that many of our members have or have had motorcycles but they are no longer “obsessed”. This is NOT an insult to those that are “obsessed” (maybe I should use the term fascinated but it doesn’t have the same ring!) my husband is one!!! Anyway he is no longer alone and we now have Geoff Sutton who has a few motorcycles of various types, several of which have been in his family for many years in fact he has grown up with some of them as you will see in the pictures. Geoff is a busy guy but he has taken the time to send me pictures and write an article on one of his motorcycles a 1914 Triumph with side car .........
1914 Triumph - photos and article by Geoff Sutton, Dobson
The motorcycle with the sidecar is a 1914 Triumph, it has a 4 horsepower 550cc side valve (2cam gears) motor, with a Brown and Barlow float type carburettor and spark for the motor is by a high tension magneto.
Lubrication is by a hand pump. It has a multi plate clutch which is situated in the the rear wheel 3 speed sturmey archer hub and is belt driven. Suspension is a coil spring and brakes are a spoon type on a dummy belt rim on the rear wheel.
Lighting is using carbide on the front and back lights plus the sidecar light. The bike is pedal start and the side car is made of willow wicker.
This bike has been in the family for nearly 70 years now and is an earlier restoration done by Neil Sutton in 1965. It was rallied extensively as a solo in the South Island in the 50’s and 60’s and then taken off the road in 1965 when the rear hub began to give troubles and that is when the side car was obtained from an old ice cream factory in Christchurch and the bike was restored.
Since then it has been on numerous rallies in the South Island. The bike now resides on the Coast.
All the work that went into making the willow wicker basket and how it all fits amazing!
History in the making Geoff is the baby in the side. Thank you Geoff for submitting this article and photographs we look forward to seeing you and the motorcycle on our runs one day.
Lets keep the wheels rolling !
Many of you all ready know who I am as I have been a member since 2018, due to work commitments I have only been taking a more active role recently.
My early years were spent in the Nelson region, with the majority of my working life spent in the logging industry. I had my own Hauler based logging gang here in the South Island and many years in North Island. Those that know me know of my passion for retaining old motorcycles (British mainly), I enjoy rebuilding and riding them. Sadly I have not got the space or finances to own all the vehicles I would like. I can’t complain though so many motorcycles and vehicles have gone through my hands and have given me heartache, pleasure and a low bank balance. Rugby, country music and reading historical novels are my other main passions, followed by gardening and DIY
I am looking forward to taking on the role of Club Captain and hope I can do it justice. I am open for any member to approach me with ideas for runs and events in order to make it enjoyable for us all in the club.
As we only really have one “run” organised which is the Daffodil Day one. If anyone would like to have a short coffee or lunch run towards the end of July please let me know. Looking forward to September I am toying with having our run early in the month as yours truly is planning on taking part in the Biennial Rally in Murchison on 23rd and 24th September. This year it is organised by the Nelson branch and it is hoped that members form Marlborough and West Coast branches will take part. (See ad below.)
Meantime I would like to encourage those, not tied to work or other commitments to come to the monthly coffee mornings 10am on the third Tuesday in the month (next 20th June) . Be nice to see some new faces there to share tales with.
Cheers
Bruce Club Captain gen4use@gmail.com or 03 7327060
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TEL NO FOR MATAKI MOTELS SHOULD READ 035239088
New Members
We extend a warm welcome to the members and look forward to meeting them at forthcoming events:
Graeme Martin, Reefton (wife Jo) 1949 Series 1 Land Rover
Dylan Pupich, Stillwater
The Fair Essex
Sorry ladies a small bit this month as its a pretty full one. Don’t forget to send me information, articles, jokes etc to put in it. Also ideas for a Ladies Run maybe to a craft fair, factory, garden, film market the list is endless so keep your eyes peeled for anything you think we would enjoy and we can plan it. It need not be a Sunday either.
We have got THRIPS in Reefton, nasty little critters that inflict pain on Rhododendrons in particular initial symptoms are leaves turning a grey/silver colour. I was advised by the Cross Hills Nursery, Aucklamd that the best method was a Tree Health Band and Thrips killer. So keep your eyes peeled for signs of Thrips.
FOR SALE, WANTED, SWOP AND FREE..... Wanted
1927 Harley Davidson Model J parts. Anything considered.
Geoff Sutton West Coast – 0279589736 samgedy4hotmail.com
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For Sale
Reluctant sale by Hemi Paparoa Te Rakau due to some old and failing health. 1935 Pre-Series Morris 8 Sports
Please contact on email HemiTerKu@outlook.com or cell phone 027 371 4896
Wow that’s what I call fast, word was passed around after receiving this information at our AGM and I heard today (15 June) that it has been purchased, we will be seeing it in the future it has stayed local. Enjoy keeping her on the road.
2 Tyres 25inch x 21 inch, good usable tread $200
1 Rover V8 engine less Alternator, Starter and Distributor. Make and offer? Will help with loading
Contact Nick Harrison, Reefton annetteandnick@xtra.co.nz mobile 0275419296 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Free Windscreen and rear window thought to be for a Morris 1100A
Contact Bruce Heyward in Reefton 03 7327060 or gen4use@gmail.com
Note – now that I am putting our newsletter on the VCC website these adverts may get a wider distribution. So feel free to give me your adverts.