VCC WAITEMATA PHOENIX NOVEMBER 2023

PHOENIX Number 334 November 2023

NUMBER 334

November 2023

PHOENIX

The Editor with Les Harris of Harris Racing, W.O.M.R.(World’s Oldest Motorcycle Racer.), also Branch Icon. Photo, Keith Humphreys.

NEWSLETTER OF THE WAITEMATA BRANCH VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND

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PHOENIX Number 334 November 2023

WAITEMATA BRANCH DIRECTORY CHAIRMAN: CLUB CAPTAIN: SECRETARY: TREASURER: BRANCH DELEGATE: EDITOR: SCRIBE PAST CHAIRMAN: COMMITTEE:

ROBERT CHAPMAN 021 038 3281 robman@orcon.net.nz STAN SMITH 0274 775 475 vintageaircraft@xtra.co.nz GRAEME BANKS 027 500 3806 grabannz@gmail.com JACQUI GOLDINGHAM 09 445 8811 goldienz@orcon.net.nz GRAEME BANKS 027 500 3806 grabannz@gmail.com 027 24 55 786 michael.john.greig@gmail.com MICHAEL GREIG 094456760 goldienz@orcon.net.nz IAN GOLDINGHAM 09 445 8811 BRENDAN LAMAIN 021 132 4557 brendanandterry@gmail.com MAX JAMIESON, MIKE HOPE-CROSS, HAMISH ANDREWS AND ROB SCOTT.

COMING EVENTS Looking Forward………

Month

Waitemata

Other Events

Nov.

11th Stans Aircraft Run

5th Hampton Downs Racing

Swap Meets

12th Gymkhana Dec.

10th Ryders Xmas Dinner

Jan 2024

Your time to bloom

Feb

4th Stan’s Steam 11th Ellerslie Car Show Run

March

TBA

April

13th Editor’s Birthday.

Lochinver Run

Club Night 2ndNovember. See you at the RSA Room, King George V Memorial Hall, Library Lane, Albany, 7.30 pm P a g e |2

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November 11th. Saturday.

Stan’s run to Avspecs to inspect the latest Mosquito under construction. As we have been there before, make your own way there to Kittyhawk Lane, Ardmore. See you at 10 am at the AV Spec workshop. Nice café to have lunch after. ******************************* OUT IN THE STYX GYMKHANA SUNDAY 12th NOVEMBER AT HOPE-CROSS FARM 10 ANZAC VALLEY ROAD WAITAKERE START 1pm FINISH 4pm To be followed by BBQ(meat supplied) PLEASE CONTACT DEE HUMPHREYS 0210257562 chicksmart73@gmail.com Please provide your own eating irons (plates and cutlery and glassware,) tipples and snacks.

A combined Austin, Jowett and Waitemata Event.

10th10th December: Sunday: Ryders film Evening and Xmas Dinner.

Leaving the Albany Rooms, Library Lane at 3.30pm for the selected route to arrive at Ryders, with the meal starting at 5.45 pm. Roast Meal @ $50 per head, includes ice cream and film. Byo.

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Tempting events for Next Year, the Summer Season.

Lochinver, that old favourite, to the Kaimanawa Ranges and the Hunting Lodge. The home to Tuwharetoa, from Te Awa o te Atua to Tongariro. Long dusty ash tracks to the lodge over layers of material laid down by mighty explosions in the geologic past. Motoring along this area reminds me of a few words of Ivan Dutton when describing motoring in proper vintage cars, “Hard to explain magic!”

A few spots left, contact Ian Goldingham for booking details. 09 445 8811

Stans Steam Run on the 4th of February. A must for the Steam addicted and Punks as well. Bring the little ones and children of all ages as it will be running trains with a $10 charge for the ride and the tot-tot for all to enjoy. It is the monthly live steam day. Starting time and route will be supplied at a later date when confirmed.

February 11th is the annual Ellerslie car show. A day of walking and talking, tale telling and meeting up with old friends and cars. Good for the so-many-steps-todo-today. Long sleeves and hat with the sunblock, if not the umbrella and wet weather gear.

Is the Brit-Euro car show every year? Someone can tell me.

The 4CS Ansaldo of Vaughan with the new body completed awaiting final engine re-instalment is into its 100 year. Will the coachbuilder, master craftsman be holding a surprise birthday event for the new three-seater?

E*********____`~~******** ********* equipment P a g e |4

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I11nvi1IMPORT1te

to Jowett & Waitemata

Car Clubs This weekend Nov 5th TACCOC have been kind enough to give us three Vintage Pre 1965 races. Sadly, we have only 4 entries two from the Waikato and two from Auckland. If we don’t get a few more entries for this event this could spell the end for your branches circuit racing activities. We would hate to see this happen.

Entries close tomorrow so please get your entry in urgently. www.motorsportentry.com There is another issue in that our Clerk of Course has covid and won’t be able to attend If you are not racing and could help in this way, please let me know urgently.

Graeme Banks VCCNZ Waitemata Branch Secretary 0275003806 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Presentation Evening.

What a great club night last month was. The first and possibly the only time we could present one of our Branch Members with a certificate from the Guiness Book of Records.

98-year-old member Les Harris has won this award as the world’s oldest competing racing motorcyclist. Many of you will remember Les competing at Chelsea Hillclimb and other events for years and apparently, he has been racing motorcycles long before he joined the Waitemata Branch Tim Harris, Les’s son from Whangarei gave us a talk on how he was restoring one of Les’s barn find cars and then presented Les with his certificate from Guiness all nicely framed. Tim had done a wonderful job in bringing along P a g e |5

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many of Les’s family and they outnumbered branch members on the night. They bought Les Harris Guiness Book of Records Member along with a lovely cake in his honour.

It was a very special occasion, and we are very proud of Les on receiving this award.

Graeme Banks with Keith Humphries help with photos

This superb and beautifully present cake was done by one of his talented grandchildren.

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Les , his son Tim and the editor presenting the floral tribute .

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PAST EVENT DEE’s NORTH CIRCLE RUN held 29th October 2023 It wasn’t planned believe me, but it truly was the wrong day!

Somehow the All Blacks had made it to the World Cup Finals, and the final was a showdown between the AB’s and their old rivals the Springbok’s. Rivals for years, this was to be the match of matches. The game was being played on the morning of the run and the game was not due to finish until after the leaving start time of 10am.

The armchair experts in our group (who arrived at the start late), said the AB’s were cheated of a win by poor refereeing and the final score, AB’s lost by one point…gut-wrenching for rugby fans I’m sure.

The annual Harcourts Cooper & Co Devonport Half Marathon started in Devonport early in the morning with many roads closed. Fearful that we might get seriously held up getting to the start, we left early, had no problems and arrived early. Still only got one chapter of my current book read before the attendees started rolling in.

The tail of tropical Cyclone Lola was anticipated with heavy rain, thunderstorms and severe gales expected in parts of New Zealand, while a “polar blast” and snow was expected to hit the country later in the week. It was cold and very windy.

To top it all off, the Whanga Eats Café contacted Dee after most of the hardy crews had left the start line to say they had no power as a tree had taken a power line down.

Three cars had not arrived by 10am and after waiting a quarter of an hour we too left, only to get a call from one of them saying they weren’t far from the start.

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everyone was! They were not used to actually starting on the time indicated by the newsletter FLYER! SP’s NEVER leave the start line on time!! The Beesley Riley arrived but the third vehicle belonging to a TACCOC member did not show at all and I had no way of contacting him.

Zephyr MK2, SP250, Beesley Riley, Humps SP250, SP250, Bunty’s Jowett Jupiter

The drive up the old East Coast Road and then through Orewa onto the old SH1 made for a pleasant change, with very light traffic and an 80kph speed limit.

Strangely the old SH1, which we must have travelled hundreds of times, looked and felt quite different.

It was then out to Matakana where we turned left to take in some very hilly and windy roads to get to the powerless Whanga Eats Café, which had stayed open for us. NO coffees but a piece of freshly baked carrot cake taken from the oven before the tree fell was enjoyed plus the much-needed toilet stop, without a flush though. Then it was a loop past Pakiri, back through Leigh and then back to the old Bridgehouse Lodge in Warkworth where an enjoyable lunch was partaken of.

Any forecast rain had held off and we arrived home dry but had driven through two sand storms at Hatfield’s Beach and Orewa where the strong onshore winds were lifting up the beach sand.

All told, a really enjoyable drive with three SP259’s turning up along with a mixture of cars, old and modern from the Vintage Car Club. Nice to meet new Waitemata’ites Trish and Frank in their Zephyr MK2 and a wannabe member Bunty in her Jowett Jupiter.

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Everyone on the Run made it to the Bridgehouse Lodge in Warkworth for lunch where the power was on, an ale was consumed along with a welcome hot pub meal

Chairmans Report.

Well back in the land of the long Black Cloud never saw rain in my travels in Europe and could count the number of orange road cones on two hands. I have a 1951 Vincent Comet that I keep in a friend’s house in Bavaria I was very pleased indeed when I extracted it out my friends basement replaced the petrol and the bike started third kick after four years. Admittedly you could have guessed it was a two stroke with the amount of smoke from the exhaust.

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My first adventure was to visit with the owner of a single seater Messerschmitt. I am not into bubble cars but when in Rome do as etc etc.

Well a German joke, a single seater yes, but a Messerschmitt BF 109. The main stay of the Luftwaffe's fighter force in WW II. It ran an inverted Daimler-Benz V12. The owner has been working on the plane for a number of years. The cost of getting in the air is prohibitive but he hopes to get it taxiing on the runway very soon. If interested there is a copy of this engine in the NZ Warbirds Museum at Ardmore. Two engines were sent to Japan in 1942 and copied by Kawasaki this version is in the War Birds Museum.

More adventures to come. In the meantime come along on the club runs we go to interesting places and you are always guaranteed to meet the nicest people. Mark the coming events on your calendar now and come along..

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Photos from Rob Chapman.(Why do I have rubbish at home instead of these treasures. The Ed.)

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The Editorial Penance.

This is the Second Stike issue. Last month there was the virus or failure of what was wrong with the computer resultinging in the delay in getting it out.

This time it is the seclusion due to the Covid attacking me, and the drive to get myself out of the bed and focus on the publication , an essential for the membership of this august club. My greatful thanks to Dee and Graeme for coming to the rescue with articles on past events and the Chairmans timely return to take the helm of the ship as we progress further into the summer weather with motoring being our calling.

I was pleased to give a traditional Cook Island welcome to Les Harris and his family in honour of the event and was supported by one of his grand daughters giving a karakia (prayer) before the food was offered with the cake.

Auckland member and FOB, John Stokes attended specially to support and give information to Tim on his ongoing restoration of the Overlandwhich will be a multi-enjoyed vintage and will be ready for Les to drive on the joint100 year birthday.

--------------------------------------------------------------------The Tale that must be told.

From the shameful sordid sagas of Uncle Mike.

I must recall the recent adventure to a accessories supplier, of across the water, for a set of plugs for the Riley. It is a cautionery tale of our time: ‘I want some plugs for the car.’

‘What’s the number plate?’

‘You won’t need it as I have the sacred book, “Haddleton”, it has all the details of the Riley 9 Models, including the plugs…’

‘What’s the number? I need to know it so I can get the plugs for you.’

‘But here is the book, it is writen down here.’

‘Not accurate enough. I need the plate number.’

‘Alright, I will play your game. LG4398.’

‘It is a 1931 Riley Overseas Tourer.’

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‘I told you that and it is also the Army Model and the War Department.’

‘We don’t have plugs for it.’

‘You must have, it is an internal combustion engine running a BTH four cylinder magneto for ignition. Here is the spec. sheet.’

‘No, it is not here.’

‘What do you want me to do, bring it here and set it on fire as I cannot get sparkplugs for it.

Then throw my self on the fire as a widow in a display of cultural correctness? Look deep in the computer screen and come up with an answer! Mr. Gooogle has a picture of the model and articles, use that finger in an apprioate manner and come up with the correct set of plugs.’

‘Is it an Imp?’ ‘ No!’ ‘2 ½ litre?’ ‘ No!’ ‘1 ½ Litr?’ ‘ No!’ ‘Ok, I’ll make it simple, BCOM Champion or NGK A6 but 14mm equivelent not 18mm. ‘ ‘I don’t understand!!’

‘GET ME THE ORGAN GRINDER!!’

‘Yes sir?’

‘I want a set of early long reach mini plugs.’

‘Whats the plate number?’

My older and wiser brother said I should not upset counterstaff as it is very difficult to get school leavers to work for minimum wages and they have to put up with a lot of rude people like myself. Another brother when seeking parts for his cars in the Cook Island looks at them on the counter and in a conspitual voice after looking left and right says softly, “The number plate is from an other car, as this one is pinched”.

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A photo of Les on the night, overwhelmed with the love and respect from members and the support of the many generations of the family. To matou kuamatua rangitira.Our respected elder.

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Thanks to Keith Humphreys for delving into the archives.

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For Sale Items

1917 Dodge. Good running condition. Registered and warranted.

Car is in Wellington Ph Ray Ferner 021 754 606

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Cooper Norton MK8 1954 Historic NZ Racing Car. Finished 11th 1955 NZIGP. Won Ultimate Echo Race Ardmore 1957. Last run Hampton Downs 28.6.23. Good Condition.

Offers.

Contact Graeme 027 7128877 or 09 2688545 brayshaw@xtra.co.nz (Branch and Historic Racing well known car, constant competitor, Chelsea celebrity.)

The Mighty Mercedes is still available for adoption, papers are provided.

It is a practical car that can tow, it is a very powerful and well-made car with excellent suspension, steering and comfort. Will take race cars and caravans without effort. The last owner used it to move his collection of Ferrari cars from around the country. Uses 11 l/100 kms. That will not be achieved with the usual second hand 4WD’s.

Call Mike or Rob at the usual numbers.

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1965 Honda S600 roadster, mileage: 82902k.

Right hand drive & this model is chain driven (the seller means: camshaft).

First imported into NZ from Japan 1968. We have owned the car since 1976 and drove it a lot; last registered 1986, then stored since.

A cylinder needs reboring because it is rusted due to storage not because it blew. We have accessories - wind deflector that clips onto the windscreen for example. We also have the dealer's spare parts, manual, and the workshop service manual.

They are a very rare car - apparently only 7 left in Southern Hemisphere.

Price: $25,000 ono

I'd appreciate it if you'd circulate this to your branch's membership, as the seller's keen for it to go to a loving home. At this stage, anyone who'd like to have a look at the Honda should contact me and I'll arrange times via my R.E. friend. I have more detail photos available on request.

There were a couple of other vehicles that I had given them price estimates, one of which is a very tidy 1975 Holden Stateman. It's a runner (last driven a few months ago), fully equipped including A/C and could make a great tow vehicle for someone. Price on it is $45,000 or near offer. Am just chasing photos at the moment.

Thanks in advance, Peter (Honda) Cooper Auckland Branch

pteeboy@hotmail.com

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PHOENIX The OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER of THE WAITEMATA BRANCH of the VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF N.Z. INC.

Photo from Rob Chapman. From the same group of photos in his chairman’s report. Analog has a magic of its own.

CLUB NIGHT THURSDAY November 7.30 pm at the RSA Room, King George V Memorial Hall, Library Lane, Albany.

Take Exit 410 Oteha Valley Road. Travel west along Oteha Valley Road, ahead through 2 roundabouts and straight ahead at Traffic Lights into Albany Highway then almost immediately RIGHT into Library Lane then very soon go right again into the parking area. The RSA Room is at the rear.

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