Issuu

COMING EVENTS

Looking Forward

Nov. Huia Run, Sunday17th Speed Event Training Seminar, Sunday 10th Albany Waikato Swap meet Sunday 17th

Dec. Xmas Drive & Dine, Sunday15th

Jan 2025 Roycroft Saturday 25th Hampton Downs National Motorcycle Rally 25-27 Manawatu

Feb. Dairy Flat Air Field Sprint Sunday 2nd Art-Deco Festival 13-16th Napier Ellerslie Car Show Sunday 9th

March Brit Euro Sunday 2nd

Nelson Swap Meet Saturday 8th

Club Night. 5th November, Tuesday. See you at the RSA Room, King George V Memorial Hall, Library Lane, Albany, 7.30 pm.

This Month’s Event. 17th Sunday.

The Huia Run is another well prepared and presented run to an area steeped in history.

We leave from the Memorial Hall, Library Lane Albany meeting at 10.00 am and after proceeding in the correct direction end at Huia.

Bring lunch or dine at the local café. After the well-deserved repass, some of the elder members will regale the audience of the evening events that transpired many years ago in this very area; the functions, the rituals that attended the evenings, the stories that have become part of the Branch folklore!

Bring friends and family to enjoy the most splendid roads, marvellous countryside and finest company that can be found on the planet.

December Event.

Not having a BBQ on the Club Night this year, however for our final night there will be industrial grade sausage rolls and other seasonal delights!

But that is not all!

Christmas Drive and Dine Lunch.

Dec. 15th A run to a salubrious local hostelry for a swept up, you beaut, lunch. Current details subject to confirmation, are that we meet up at the Memorial Hall, Library Lane, Albany at 10.00am for departure thereafter. Bring friends and candidates for admittance to our group of active motorists. Our call is the open road!!

Swap meets.

It is a necessary Evil! Bring things home to an already full shed and still this unresolved craving gnaws still in our bones, sucking out the marrow. This is the only major one before the end of the year.

Waikato Vintage Swap Meet. Karapiro Domain, Cambridge. November 17th Sunday. 7 am start Site $20, entry $10

This is an essential activity for the Branch, a chance to participate at events and be part of the organisation.

Speed Event Training Seminar

Those of you racing and hill climbing with the VCC are no doubt aware that there are many challenges in providing events which suit our cars and budgets.

Apart from the costs of providing the opportunities to run, we also face a real lack of interested and suitably qualified event officials.

We badly need some of you to step up and assist as officials at the events, or we could lose the ability to continue to run not only our own events, but those involving other groups.

The positions we need to fill as backup to the few existing officials are:

Event (Speed) Steward, Clerk of Course and Scrutineer.

I have put together some training courses for these positions and I plan to deliver them in Auckland in November.

These will be refreshers for the existing crew, but they could also be introductory courses for some of you who have either hung up your helmets, or would be prepared to fill in at some of the meetings.

I would love to see some of you along for this training, which we hope to hold on Sunday 10 November at 9.30 am the North Shore Clubrooms, 40 Masons Road, Albany. Please let Ian or Jacqui know if you would be prepared to assist and be trained.

Many thanks.

Ray Sanders VCC Speed Steward.

The Roycroft Trophy Event

will be held on 25 January 2025 at Hampton Downs as part of the NZIGP Legends of Speed daylong event celebrating David Oxton

As a minimum the starting grid will be 15 cars. The formula juniors are getting their own grid so we are going to have make up the numbers to make this work!

So, good people, register your interest with our secretary now, please.

Entries will be called for in the December ‘Phoenix’, but we must have the numbers before then. DON’T DELAY. EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST NOW.

LET’S GET THE NUMBERS, otherwise we will have to give up the grid.

NZIGP Legends of Speed Hampton

Downs

Join us at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park for the famous Legends of Speed event, celebrating David Oxton!

• BMW Race Driver Series Endurance

• Formula Junior / Historic Formula Ford

• Formula Open NZ

• Hi-Q Formula First

• Historic Sports Sedans

• Heritage Touring Cars

• Historic Muscle and Saloon Cars

• Historic & Vintage Racing Association

• NZ F5000

• NZ Sports Cars

• Pre 65 / Super Mini Challenge

• Touring Car Masters / NZ Six Race Series

• VCC Roycroft Trophy Race

Useful local information for those odd accessories for the car or bike.

The are many shops in Belmont and Devonport area that cater for many needs, at Belmont, Maggie’s, is a church shop that is small but has treasures. Devonport has a Hospice shop down from the picture theatre. Continue down the road and on the left is the SPCA, new on the block. Further down is an arcade with a good second-hand book shop, motoring section worth inspecting. Down the arcade is another church shop with a fine range of motoring wear occasionally. Leave the shop and walk to the wharf along Wynyard Street. The garage, Wynyard Motors doe WOF for our type of cars and motorbikes and sidecars. Now facing the Ferry Wharf, on your left amongst the shops is the Salvation Army shop. Surprising material can be found there at modest prices.

Items personally accrued include; period and new oilskins good for bike or car, new picnic ‘blankets’, lightweight camping equipment for the inner survivalist, glass and crystal for motorist’s cocktail cabinet, coffee brewing equipment- both Turkish and stove top expresso, full leather motorcycling outfit, fine merino suits for dancing, Tweed for country motoring.

First Sunday of the month at 3.30 pm is a Milonga half way down the Devonport Ferry Wharf. Essential for those whose addiction is Argentine Tango.

Talks and related activities to look at in the region.

I make the effort to go the monthly Auckland Branch Motorcycle Section meeting. 39 Fairfax Ave Penrose. 2.30 pm.

Older persons turn up on a variety of motorcycles from their collection and there is always an excellent speaker selected by Martin Spicer. It could be described as a show and tell as the bike of interest is displayed and discussed.

The topics would be of great interest to Branch members. There is up to 60 attend at times and is many times more than the Auckland Branch gets to their monthly meeting. All welcome and an excellent afternoon tea and the bar is open for those who need it.

Next meetings are Saturday November16th and then December, Saturday 21st .

An elder of the Vintage Car community on the North Shore and still FOB, attends quite a few of our events, the venerable, the raconteur, Harold D. Kidd. One of the founding atuas of the North Shore Branch in the early 1970’s and owner driver of various proper vintage cars. He will also talk on his current project the Panzer, a rare and exclusive steed resuscitated after many, many decades, mentioned in hushed tones, some thought lost forever.

All will be told. He will talk of the late Heroes of the vintage movement that sought adventure in vintage vehicles in the time of his youth. With the vocalisation of their names, we will remember and continue to carry on their myths and legends.

It will be on the Saturday, 30th November at their clubrooms at 39 Fairfax Ave., Penrose, at 2pm.

Borrowed from the ‘Daring’ Website. (daring.org.nz)

Ships details seen looking out of the hold. Editors’ pic taken by one of the volunteer guides.

I looked forward to this tour to visit this historic ship and to enjoy the winterless North. Coming from a family that has for generations been serving time at sea, coastal and international and as a youth had travelled the West Coast, the Far North’s East Coast and down as far as White Island in small commercial fishing vessels, I had felt and seen the seas this ship had experienced.

For the day out I had chosen the Fairlady, the Nissan 350Z Roadster. Okay, it is not vintage but the Riley has failed the warrant with broken spokes. The Z car has had the electrics repaired so I attended with the roof down as expected.

There was a varied muster with Team Goldingham in the Sunbeam, the Beesley Talbot with a recently returned Kevin from visiting family overseas in a newly purchased smart acceptable oilskin. A Harold was in the Riley Kestrel, and another Harold, passenger in the open XK8. The XK8 Team had recently procured a Riley from southern climes which we hope to see on other events. Bunty attended in the Jupiter, very pleased to see her enjoying our events. A happy couple in the Austin 7 Chummy enjoyed the drive with the group, the little green Honda (usual suspects) came to enjoy the day as well.

I was honoured to have as navigator, the renowned Mike Hope-Cross, he of Singer Fame and other motoring craft. To have such company is a joy as we followed the crowd through the almost deserted old Highway One to Warkworth and points north. Our conversation covered all topics on cars, life and its meaning, personal strong held views as fitting for proper motorists. He did enjoy the comfort and power in this older sportscar, now over 20 years since manufacture. He has booked the car to road test in a few months.

Entering the ‘resort town’ Mangawhai we proceeded to the Museum and site of the ‘Daring’ with its attendant Discovery Centre. There was a display of local cars of many eras, vintage American with the sixties represented by British cars. Such is life as seen in the rural areas.

Ater a coffee and a pastry we went to see the Daring. It is impressive looking at a 17 metre almost complete hull and a lot of decking after it had laid under the sand on an exposed beach for over 150 years. The excavation and moving of the ship from its bed in the sand to the site at Mangawhai, near to where it was built

is fully covered in the booklets and the website of the Daring Trust.daring.org.nz

To walk around the hull and look at the adze marks, sheathing and trenails. It has an elegant shape, weight and purpose in its construction. To visualise huge trunks of kauri being sawn, knees of Pohutukawa shaped with axe and adze. A Blacksmith on site, shipwright, a journeyman perhaps some labourers and an apprentice. All the timber would have had to be sourced in the immediate area and with the local boat yards, there would have had to be a small settlement with pubs, general store, wharf, small fishing businesses as meat would not be a big thing as sheep were grown for the wool and dairy had not been developed. Sails could be ordered from a larger centre, perhaps Auckland with the ropes and chain, shackles from the boiler makers and larger smiths in the big smoke. The ship was a workboat, a big truck on the sea, practical, to be crewed by two to three. A time of a short life at sea, West Coast is a lee shore, bars are frightening still today, many bays and sheltered harbours on the east coast, not many charts, locals not giving out details as they are trying to save their resources. Skilled crews almost impossible to find, when in port having to find them and drag them back to the ship from the pub.

This was the era in the 1860’s with ships moving to iron frames, sheathing in timber then a steel hull. Development of the steam engine was here. Massive ships cross the world with steam and sail, designs were changing. The influences from the Great Lakes in America with the design of the scow was in the air. Very practical with shallow draft for loading and beaching in the mudflats on the east of the North Island. The older designs would suit coastal trade for a while and could service the Pacific which was getting more trade with the need for more resources in this new Colony.

Apart from these thoughts, why could the community there (Mangawhai), over populated with very wealthy Aucklanders who own beach mansions, build out of their small change a few copies of this ship as training sailing vessels for youth. It would create jobs in shipbuilding, get apprentices, training staff for the ships, nautical school, encourage children to sail small boats and make their own toys. Mudflats and beaches are great to grow up in, water to play in all summer, battling the winter in small boats. Quads and small motorbikes injure far more youth than sailing yachts do.

After leaving the site we became lost after following verbal instructions and after asking the know all, Mr. Google Maps, we found our way to the old Tavern which was well placed to enjoy the coast, the islands and the sea. A fine meal topped off the afternoon as we gossiped with other participants. A day of enjoyable motoring, countryside that is our hidden pleasure, wonderful conversations.

Thankyou Stan and Gilly for giving up your time to organise this event.

At the Museum and the Daring Sailing Ship display

Slices of heaven from the drives position.

Bunty’s Jupiter and Harold’s Kestrel, both 1500cc performance icons.

Sunbeam in her 100th year and a little bundle of joy.

Yesterday and today. Mangawhai Tavern.

Photographs generously provided by Jacqui Goldingham.

The

Adventures of Hercules (aka Herki).

In a country, far, far away.

Morley Faulkner

I have been very liberal with the truth, but I hope it brings back some happy times.

First, to paint a picture. My racing mate, Bob, and I had been racing our Lotus 7’s and decided to upgrade to something a bit more challenging.

Bob bought the ex-Mike Hailwood Lotus F1 24 and slotted a Ford V8 into it while I bought the ex-Rob Walker Stirling Moss F1 Cooper, in which I installed a Chevrolet V8.

This led to a need of transportation. Hence the search for a suitable conveyance. Scrutinising the motor racing publications for such a vehicle began.

The Natalie Goodwin Racing Team * advertised their Bedford transporter and it looked to fit the bill.

Bob and I set off in my Citroen 2CV to go and have a look. Two thirds of the way up the M6, the Citroen punctured the left-hand side rear tyre. No time to stop and change so Bob climbed into the rear seat and crawled out of the right-hand side window to hang out like a side car racer, this allowed us to proceed until we reached the Knutsford turn off. Wheel changed and off we go. On reaching the Natalie Goodwin Racing Team base, there stood our future transport resplendent in its black and orange paintwork. A deal was struck and the Citroën loaded into the truck. Whilst driving through the tight country lanes back to join the M6 I came round a corner to be faced by two ladies on horseback. This huge orange and black pantechnicon obviously startled the horses. Out of courtesy I gave them a toot on the horn, this proved a bad move as the already startled horse, shat itself and bolted over a hedge and across a field with Fiona hanging on for grim death. Thankfully the rest of the trip proved uneventful.

Getting home was time to see what we had. It was a 1947 Bedford Pantechnicon converted to carry three race cars with a bunk bed over the cab. Painted in black and orange, with some writing on the side describing its racing origins. The Name ‘Herki’ just seemed to suit it and it stuck. We painted our logo on the front and side ‘V8’s inc.

Loading the cars could not be simpler, with the rear ramp down, you stood on the passenger seat and put your head through a trap door which enabled you to operate the hand winch. We never used the top level so Bob’s Lotus went on First and was raised up then my car on bottom level.

This left plenty of room for spares and the odd stowaway, to be smuggled into race meetings without paying. We were now all set for our season.

Travels with Herki proved less than uneventful, as will be set out below. Herki never let us down mechanically, I don’t remember ever putting a spanner on it. Absolutely reliable.

One of our regular race tracks was Mallory Park. After the meeting we would have a few bevies at the club before heading home. A stop in Leicester at a local pub just to top up and mingle with fellow race enthusiasts. On one occasion after a prolonged stop, we staggered out to Herki to drive home and found that after negotiating around the parked vehicles it was found that when we reached the road if you turned left Herki went right and versa visa. It took little time of swerving about to realise that on putting full lock on in the car park the steering idler arm had gone over centre hence the reversal of steering.

On another occasion on returning from a successful meeting at Mallory Park and the aftermatch celebrations we returned home quite late that night. Because I had not turned quick

enough to swing into our drive I had to revere back and have a second go. There were three of us in the cab Bob, me and Paul Richardson in the middle. I reversed back and successfully docked in our drive. However, on dismounting from Herki we noticed I had bent the street lamp over about 20 degrees and it ended up about a foot off the bedroom window of the house opposite. This was a large sodium lamp that would have lighted a football stadium. The occupants of the house stood at their bedroom window and looked like x-rays. Herki was backed out and a rope secured to post in an effort to straighten it up. It was never the same and curiously we never heard a complaint regarding our exploits.

Going to Silverstone one day, it was quite a nice day for a change we were bowling along nicely when there was an enormous roar as the silencer fell off. Unbeknown to us it was a motor cycle silencer all chrome plated and just hammered onto the exhaust down pipe. It had over a period of time shaken itself loose. Immediately I slammed the brakes on only to see the silencer cart wheeling down the road. It came rest at the feet of some old codger who had been sitting outside his cottage. Before we could shout a warning not to touch, he had placed his gnarly hands around the silencer. This was followed by howl that could be heard a mile away, followed by the launching of the silencer skywards. He then vanished into his cottage. We quickly retrieved the silencer hammered it back on and beat it to Silverstone.

After another wet meeting at Silverstone, we hung around in the beer tent, probably far too long before heading home. Just outside some village or other we saw a bedraggled individual standing by his old MG TC. So being good Samaritans, also full of Bon Ami, we stopped to offer some assistance. He had broken down and was looking to get a tow back to Coventry. We told him it was his lucky day as we were going to Coventry and we had room in our transporter for his MG. At this point it was still torrential rain. We let the rear ramp down and then had to take my Cooper out and lower Bob’s Lotus to put it on the top level then reload my Cooper onto next level so we could accommodate the MG on bottom. So far all’s well, we attached the hook to the MG and began winching it in. As it reached the zenith of its climb the hook gave way releasing the MG which rolled back down the ramp gathering speed and running over the its now soaking wet owner. The owner was last seen clutching the front bumper in an effort to bring his runaway MG to a halt. Any further assistance was rejected in a most ungentlemanly manner

Natalie Goodwin did quite a lot of racing on the Continent. As petrol was cheaper in France than Uk it was customary to bring as much petrol back as possible. Hence Herki had been fitted with a large petrol tank, to enable it to be siphoned off when home for private use. It was a well-known fact the Jack Brabham use to fill all his race cars to the brim only to be siphon off when home.

We only became aware of Herki’s large capacity tank on our way to Castle Comb. We came to a steep hill and as we had never had enough money to fill the tank we only put in enough. As we climbed the hill Herki began to splutter, and die. Diagnosis no fuel but we had put

fuel in, so we siphoned some out of my Cooper and I sat on the wing with the bonnet open and poured fuel down the carburettor. We made the crest of the hill in a series of bunny hops. Once level everything OK.

That night we spent at Castle Comb Track. Bob wanted to go to the toilet. We had borrowed what was called a Pit Bike in those days. A little 50cc motor bike on which I took Bob on a circuit of Castle Comb looking for the toilets. Once found I had to sit on the bike with engine going in the toilet to provide light.

To help finances we would do the odd moving job. I was approached by one of or (Standard) works policemen to move an upright grand piano had bought for his daughter. A Saturday morning was set and we met him at the house that had the piano. I let the ramp down and with the help of a couple his mates we wheeled the piano into Herki. Up with the ramp and ready to follow his car to his house.

Going round one corner there was this almighty crash as the piano fell over, the noise was enough to frighten all of Tile Hill. Bob and I were in the cab with our eyes going round like a fruit machine. When we recovered Bob stuck his head through the trap door only to report the piano on its back. He clambered into back and with a herculean effort managed to right the piano. All this while I followed the car. So far so good, then Bob popped his head in to say none of the keys worked. Panic, off with the front panel and fiddle with anything that looked loose. I had by now slowed to a crawl to give now piano tuner, Bob time to fix the keys. On arrival Bob told me a few of the keys worked, so hope for the best. Our policeman’s house was in a council estate and all the residents were out working on their cars. We could see their eyes light up when we pulled up with the writing on the side of Herki purporting us to expert tuners. You can imagine their surprise when we rolled out a piano. I did tell our policeman that it may need a tune as they don’t like being moved. We hastily put up the ramp grabbed our beer money and left. I suppose everything turned out OK as he never said anything at work.

On another occasion I was asked by one of our works policemen if I could fit an overdrive and gearbox to his Standard 10. He had all the bits. I got Chris Williams to give me a hand, and one Saturday morning we went and did the job. In return we were let into the factory one Sunday morning. So, we took Herki and I was able to supply my mother with a hard top for her Spitfire and Chris managed to get the complete rear section of a Spitfire Le Man roof which had been scrapped off a crashed car. He repaired it and started his fibreglass business producing roof tops on a commercial basis.

Whilst driving back from a race meeting Bob was reading the Sunday paper and saw an advert for emigration to South Africa GBP20, no questioned asked. It said it was having interviews at a hotel in Birmingham that night, so as we were on the M1 we bypassed Coventry and continued on to Birmingham. We obviously created a good impression as we were accepted to go to SA asap,

This meant cars had to be sold or stored and Herki had to be sold. An advert was placed and a guy from Liverpool answered. He travelled from the Pool to view Herki. It was just what he wanted as long as his Sunbeam Rapier fitted, he would take it. I told him go with Bob and sort out the finances and I would put his car into Herki.

It went OK but when I went to put the back ramp up it was about an inch or two too long and I could not get the pins in. So, I backed Herki against the wall and pushed the ramp shut and got the pins in.

Deal done and a happy new owner. As we waved him good bye, I often wondered how he got the car out. As we never heard from him again, I suppose he managed.

It was a sad day to see Herki go.

Do you remember at the Leicester pub, when the manager wished to demonstrate his powers of levitation and chose you to be his victim.

*Natalie Goodwin (1940-2019). Described as an entertaining raconteuse, started in the early 60’s racing Lotus 7’s and moved on to F3 with Brabham BT15’s. Her team included her brother and she participated in events in the UK, Europe and Argentina. She had a long successful career. There is a fair bit on the internet about this member of the BWRDC.

It is Lithuanian, keep clear. Seen at our recent Wings and Wheels. An Uncle Mike supplied photo.

From The Acting Chair

Some of you will know – many probably won’t - that I was asked by the Committee to stand in for Rob as Acting Chairman until such time as he is able to take up the reins again.

What with Rob out of action, no-one having put themselves forward as secretary last election, new Editorial and Branch computers having to be broken in and the VCCNZ’s new draft constitution and proposed reorganisation requiring our attention, your committee have certainly had to step up of late.

And step up they have! With more to come.

As can be seen from the schedule above, Club Captain Stan has a range of outstanding events planned. Couple that with activities other committee members are working on, plus invitations from outside the Branch and there is a full, varied and exciting programme ahead of us.

Ian as Delegate, assisted by Mike Hope-Cross and yours truly championed our review and response to the VCCNZ’s new draft constitution and proposed reorganisation. As required, we timely submitted our views on 28 October.

Rob, by the way, is recovering well. Energy levels are building steadily. A slow process and one not to be hurried. Despite all, his sense of humour has been barely dented.

Our secretary requests that you please note her email address at the top of this newsletter. That’s where to contact her in relation to Branch affairs.

Kevin Beesley

The Editorial

There are a few points this month that have to be mentioned. Please come to the monthly tours which visit to interesting places, attend sporting events, and non-competitive trials, even the club nights. The use of vehicles is important, as well as the regular meeting up with friends and making new contacts and the sharing of interests is why we have joined this band of fellows.

We have such a diverse selection of skills that can be sampled in our membership. Skilled tradesmen, artisans, scientists, artists, are to be discovered amongst our happy band. Ask for advice or talk of a mechanical problem and there will be support. Send requests to the editor to put down in ink. This journal is read avidly locally, nationally and internationally. Take advantage of this offer. No charge!

For those without wheels or waiting until there is time, income and space to start a rebuild or restoration, there is an option offered. The Branch needs you to be part of the infrastructure. You can bring the young ones who want to be on the track and make the contacts. We are looking for the speed stewards, clerks of the course, scrutineers. They are essential and important for any sporting event to happen. Marshalls are always needed at all events. They too are the important people at all events, the ones that direct you, there for assistance with all issues, keep order to the proceedings. In many clubs there are families that are multigenerational marshals and speed stewards, and are always welcomed to the events as they make things run smoothly.

For mature members it is a position to use your skills and knowledge developed over many years. For younger ones it gets you into the thick of events, no more on the spectator side of the fence. Such positions help develop confidence when dealing with people, complex situations that can arise, and be part of development of that club activities and construct the regulations that cover these events. As part of the ‘organisation’ you are at the top table, you are the working face of the events. It is a cruel fact, no structure, no event. Please, come to the meeting on the 10th November in the advert at the start of the newsletter.

The photographs and descriptions below were kindly sent by (still a very active long-distance motorist on many wheels) the esteemed Keith “Hairy” Humphries, past editor of both the Phoenix and the Progress newsletter of the North Shore Branch in its young and informative years, as well as many other noted publications such as the Daimler SP 250 ‘Dart Talk’.

These supplied pages below came from Progress, and relate to that year of grace, 1976.

It was the days of kaftans, paisley, beer bought properly in 750ml glass and by the dozen in a wooden crate. Only an occasional restaurant with steak, spawn cocktail, ’surf and turf’. Take aways were pies, fish and chips or Chinese. Wine was usually sherry or port, and beer was controlled by two major breweries.

The Progress had many interesting cars for sale and fine articles on the provenance and histories of members car. I would like to present some of the past for young members to see the variety of motoring that was undertaken at the time.

Like today the newsletters of the Branch and its predecessor have internation readership. At the time in the 1970’s copies of publications had to be sent to the National Archives. A copy was also sent to the Esteemed Editor of ‘Motor Sport’, the legend, Bill Body, who would occasionally comment on articles from this neck of the woods.

It was a fateful year, many things happened. The Type 38 was sold and the sale enabled the Type 23 to be bought. I met that the Type 23 which then resided a few hundred yards from home and it was the year I met Mr. W J Hearne and the late Fred Clifford at 54 King Edward Ave, Bayswater and through this friendship, I joined this band of happy motorists in proper vintage cars who met at the Devonport Bus Sheds. He was my mentor into this fascinating world of vehicles, two, three and four wheels and talented and marvellous people.

I remember hearing the stories of the owners of the cars, such as Aubrey EssonScott, racer of Bugatti’s, punter of note, fashion icon, and also did time as a coachbuilder.

Michael Greig

Acknowledgment to the Backbone of Branches.

It is well known that the Pacific is matriarchal society. We see it through the actions of Dee, Jacqui, Gilly and Chris who have led, controlled and supervised many of the major events of the Branch throughout its history and still will do into the future!

The Old Guard will remember that at events of consequence, there was always a ‘Toast to June Hearne’s Knees’.

Let this Toast be re-instated and expanded to include all the mothers, sisters and daughters in the Branch.

I would like to add one more, ’To the legs of P. J. Harvey!’

Released on to the Members Section.

Buckler MK6 1954. 100E - Marshall Blower - Road or Race - Roll Bar 15" wheels 4.37- 1 diff. Close ratio gearbox & lots of spares. Restored in 1989 & been on the road since.

Price by Negotiation. Ph Graeme 09 2688545 or 027 7128877 brayshaw@xtra.co.nz

Observations from a Branch Elder on the above car.

Bucklers and their owners have been the mainstay of both the early North Shore Branch and the current Waitemata Branch; characters on the track and the road for our touring events. Drivers and cars have upheld the espirit de corp of the Branch at Chelsea Hillclimb’s, on the track at Hampton, Roycroft celebrations and R’oil Can Grand Tours.

Let this chance to be the custodian of this worshipful treasure, (truly a taonga, pounamu), not pass you by. The cost of making that special you have been hoarding parts for decades will be more than this gem, this jewel, which has been crafted and maintained by the Master. Visit the car and you will be able to sense its spirit (mana and wairua) and the tales it can tell of its companions it raced with over the years! Light that censer, add the drops of castor oil, let the sacred smoke arise and bring back the heady memories of the track, the squeal of tyres, those thankfully forgotten post event parties…

It carries proudly the Vintage & Classic Consultants Aeroscreen manufactured by the editor. This item is seen on many of the county’s historic, vintage and classic sporting and racing cars.

Yes, yes!! Do it now, call the man. It is the perfect Road and Track car. Remember the kids only want the money when you go, use the car and get some joy out of life now! It is too late to be a gunner, an artillery man!

For sale

1993 Nissan Bluebird Special Edition.

1.8 litre petrol injected, five speed manual sedan.

Genuine 151,000 Km. Rego and WOF, Club eligible Towbar, Tinted windows, reversing camera, factory mags.

No rust, good condition. Needs an appreciative custodian. Owned for twenty-four years by current engineer owner.

Price $3,500.00

Phone (09)483 6801 Waitemata Branch Member

Practical tip from the Batchelor Kitchen.

(This is in response to a no knitting and baking section).

With decreased ability of the arthritic in the hands, I found that the opening of glass jars with lids was presenting a problem which sometimes visiting neighbours to loosen the tops.

I found the strapped oil filter removal tool a perfect item to keep in the kitchen. It is easy to grip and use.

Many would prefer to by a new one from Repco or supper cheap rather than the shed or bargaining at a swap meet.

Another Jem from Uncle Mike, scared by a free ranging Batchelor Hood lifestyle!

➢ Gentlemen of Note in the Trade.

Milford Auto Electrical. When approached with the Nissan 350Z with failing battery and no working hood, they responded with” We can fix anything” and they did! The Riley will be visiting for the generator to be investigated. Milford Auto Electrical, Wairau Road, Glenfield. 09442 2400

Roger at Action Bike Wreckers.: Still doing WOF for motorcycles on 62A Barry’s Point Road. Call for an appointment.09 489-7987

Don’t forget Mac’s Garage. Top advice, professional service and well known and respected in the Vintage Austin and Riley world. 09 443-3733, found at 4 Ashfield Road, Glenfield.

Aegis Oil is a local firm headed by Paul Radisich, famous on the track. He gave a talk at the Auckland Clubrooms on the product. There is a Vintage and Classic range and well suited to our cars. Please support them. Members gave testimony to the use of soluble oil in the radiators at 5% rather than antifreeze.

Could some kind souls take better pictures than what can be achieved by the editor’s tortured hands and forward them after any event, and on projects that are underway, to the editor at his contact details found in the Branch Directory.

Articles are always needed and letters to the editor are a joy to receive. Let loose with the ink and dictionary!

VCC WAITEMATA PHOENIX NOVEMBER 2024

PHOENIX

NEWSLETTER OF THE WAITEMATA BRANCH VINTAGE CAR CLUB

OF NEW ZEALAND

WAITEMATA BRANCH DIRECTORY