Manawatu VCC - August 2020

ANAWATU RANCH EWSLETTER

RANCH NFORMATION BRANCH DETAILS CLUBROOMS ‘The Grove’ - 684 Kelvin Grove Road, Palmerston North POSTAL ADDRESS P.O. Box 385, Palmerston North 4440 EMAIL manawatu@vcc.org.nz COMMITTEE MEETING Second Wednesday of each month - 7.00 pm at ‘The Grove’.

CLUB NIGHT THE 19th AUGUST 2020 CLUB NIGHT MEETING IS A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING WHICH WILL COMMENCE AT 7.00PM

PARTS SHED Open from 2 pm on the first Sunday of each month or by arrangement.

- contact Gary Millar.

LIBRARY Open by arrangement - contact Gary Millar.

SUNDAY TEA 1st Sunday of each month from 5.00pm at the clubrooms.

NOGGIN & NATTER 1st Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm at Murray’s Irish Bar - Feilding.

BOOKINGS FOR ‘THE GROVE’ VENUE Can be made through Creative Catering, Awapuni Racecourse.

Phone (06) 354 2780 or Email : info@creativecatering.co.nz COVER PHOTOGRAPHS: Front Cover: Ford Falcon of Allan & Suzanne Hardacre – see article on page 10.

Back Cover: Photographs from the June Sunday Run to Murrayfield.

MANAWATU BRANCH LIFE MEMBER

Murray Martin

THE TOURER : New Zealand Registered Magazine.

The Official Newsletter of the Manawatu Branch of the Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc).

Page 2

N

HIS SSUE

PAGE 4 5 7 8 10 14 16 18 20 21 22 25 25 26 32 

– VOLUME 1815

Coming Events Committee Nomination Form Club Captain’s Corner Swap Meet 2020 A Look at a Member’s Car from the Seventies - a 1973 Falcon Manawatu Covid-19 Rally - Entry Form Bits and Pieces from Bygone Days Wanganui Branch Daffodil Rally - Entry Form Tourer Trivia Hidden Word Puzzle Founders of the Motor Industry - Enzo Ferrari Membership Parts Shed Notice Board and Messages to Members Photographs from recent activities

Photographs in this issue of the Tourer have been contributed by Allan Hardacre, Laurie Cocker, John Callesen, and Bryan Abraham.

The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand

Wednesday 19th August 2020 - commencing at 7.00 pm To be held at the Branch Clubrooms ‘The Grove’ 684 Kelvin Grove Road, Palmerston North.  Nominations for committee positions need to be lodged with / forwarded to Stan Garmonsway - 13 Dewe Avenue - Feilding by 5:00 pm on Wednesday 12th August 2020.

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OMING

VENTS

AUGUST 2ND

(Sun)

Sunday Tea at Clubrooms - Bring your own drinks, nibbles and tea

4TH

(Tue)

Noggin & Natter - 7.30 pm at Murray’s Irish Pub Bar, Feilding

8

(Sat)

23RD

Central Hawkes Bay Night/Twilight Rally - Entry Form p25 of July Tourer (Wed) Working Bee at the clubrooms - 10am (Wed) SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING commencing at 7.00 pm (Sun) Manawatu Branch Post Covid-19 Rally - see information in the Club

23

(Sun)

TH

12TH 19TH

RD

Captain’s Corner, and the Entry Form on page 14 of this Tourer

Wanganui Branch Daffodil Rally 2020 - Entry Form p18 of this Tourer

SEPTEMBER 6TH

(Sun)

Sunday Tea at Clubrooms - Bring your own drinks, nibbles and tea

TH

6

(Sun)

8TH

(Tue)

Central Hawkes Bay - Daffodil Run to Taniwha - starts Waipukurau Noggin & Natter - 7.30 pm at Murray’s Irish Pub Bar, Feilding Manawatu Branch Vintage Rally - the entry form will be emailed out and

19TH (Sat)

will be included in the September Tourer

OCTOBER 3RD

(Sat)

Swap Meet - information and roster on pages 8 and 9 of this Tourer

13TH

>18

Targa Ultimate Time Trial - Breaking News - see page 19

TH

NOVEMBER Horowhenua Branch - Tararua Trundle - Date and further information to be advised. Will be utilising the Easter Rally Route

20TH

>21

ST

21ST (Sat)

Taranaki Branch - 55th Annual Maunga Moana Rally - see page 19 Central Hawkes Bay - Veteran Rally

JANUARY 2022 16TH >21ST Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring - New Plymouth.

CLOSING DATE FOR THE NEXT TOURER – 20TH AUGUST 2020 Please send your contributions on rally reports, your motoring stories, restorations, technical reports, articles, photos etc., to : The Editor – 81 Apollo Parade, Palmerston North 4414 Email : bryana@xtra.co.nz - or phone : (06) 358 4014 Page 4

2020/21 Committee Nomination Form

We hereby nominate …....................................... for the position of ….................................

Proposed:

…………..…............................................

Sign

Seconded:

…………..…............................................

Sign

Accepted:

…………..…............................................

Sign

…………..…..........................................

Print Name

…………..…..........................................

Print Name

…………..…..........................................

Print Name

2020/21 Committee Nomination Form

We hereby nominate …....................................... for the position of ….................................

Proposed:

…………..…............................................

Sign

Seconded:

…………..…............................................

Sign

Accepted:

…………..…............................................

Sign

…………..…..........................................

Print Name

…………..…..........................................

Print Name

…………..…..........................................

Print Name

FORWARD NOMINATIONS FOR COMMITTEE POSITIONS TO : STAN GARMONSWAY - 13 DEWE STREET - FEILDING

IF ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS PAGE ARE REQUIRED PLEASE CONTACT THE EDITOR TO HAVE A COPY EMAILED TO YOU Page 5

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Page 6

LUB

APTAIN S

ORNER

ESTHER WILLIAMS

Looking back on the past year it has been a great encouragement to see more and more members coming out for runs. Dave and I have tried to make the runs more fun and less competitive. We have tried to include Wanganui and Horowhenua branches in our activities.

Dave has had to resign from the committee due to ill health. He has been in hospital several times in the past few months.

We have attended quite a few public events to help raise the profile of VCC Manawatu branch. I would like to thank all those that turned up to these events. The event organizers appreciated all our efforts to help make their events successful.

The last Sunday run on the 28th June 2020 we had around 45 people come for the run. We toured the country roads through Opiki to Murraryfields cafe. We were able to spread out and enjoy each other’s company, after not having any runs for a few months. It was encouraging to see new members and visitors coming along to the run. A caring attitude goes a long way.

EVENTS OF THE BRANCH

Don’t forget there are other events on in the branch.

First Sunday of the month. Sunday teas for the first Sunday of the month. It is bring your own tea and drinks. This is a great time to just have noggin and natter. All are welcome.

First Tuesday of the month there is Noggin and Natter at Murray’s Irish Pub Bar in Feilding. It is a great time to sit and tell yarns about cars and enjoy each other’s company.

2nd Wednesday of the month we are having a working bee around the club rooms. I would like to thank all those that have been coming to the working bees. It was encouraging to see quite a few turn up on the last working bee.

The old saying is Many Hands Make Light Work.

23rd August 2020 we are having Manawatu Branch Post Covid-19 Rally. This is because we have missed out on PV PWV P80 Rally and Twilight rally. Thank you to Trevor Hardy and his team for putting the rally together. The entry forms are in the tourer.

19th September 2020 is the Vintage Rally with all other classes of vehicles welcome as non competitive. I am sorry that the entry forms have not been done. They will be emailed to every one on the email list.

Page 7

WAP

EET

CO-ORDINATOR - SARAH HOWELL

SWAP MEET POSITIONS With the Swap Meet rapidly approaching we are starting to look for volunteers to man the Kawakawa Road and South Street gates, and to fill the other roles.

The roster is on the next page and if you are able and willing to give ninety minutes of your time on the 3rd of October to be a collector at either of the gates, or volunteer for any of the other roles, please let me know by calling me on 021 08853483 or 06 3746645.

Sarah

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WAP TIME

Kawakawa Road Gate

EET

RD NAME

CTOBER

OSTER

NAME

NAME

6:45 8:15 8:15 9:45 9:45 10:15

South Street Gate

7:45 9:15 9:15 10:45 10:45 12:15

Clean Up

2.00 3.00

Show Car Director

6:45 8:15

Spare man : Fire Wardens: Putting out signs: KawaKawa Rd Gate: South St Gate:

Entry Fees are $20.00 for sellers and $10.00 each for any adult passenger. Children are free.

Entry Fees are $10.00 per adult. Children are free.

Thank you all for volunteering your time. It is most appreciated.

If you have any problems please ring me. 021 08853483 Sarah Howell Page 9

A LOOK AT A MEMBER’S CAR FROM THE SEVENTIES ALCON

LIES

N

OWNED BY

ALLAN & SUZANNE HARDACRE

This story began, I guess, in 1973 when this particular Falcon was built, it was one of the last of the 129,473 or so XAs that were built in the Ford Broadmeadows plant at Campbellfield in Victoria and exported to NZ. The XA was followed by the two facelift models, the XB (73-76) and XC (76-79) which share a similar body with the plusher Fairlanes designated ZF ZG and ZH and the hot two door coupes. Although my XA was Australian built, they were also built in New Zealand, first at the Seaview plant in Wellington and from 1973 onwards in the Wiri plant in Auckland. From the photos it can be seen that the car is not quite a base model and I think that it was pimped up a bit for the XA model runout in 1973. This added a vinyl top, body stripe and bright door handle inserts. Interestingly my father-in-law had a near identical one during the time I was courting Suzanne my wife!

The earlier models up to 1972 and finishing with the XY model were all derived from the 1960’s American Ford Falcon that was continuously developed to cope with the tough Australian driving conditions. Beginning with the XA, the design can be considered mostly Australian although the floor pan and drive train are essentially the same as the preceding XY model. The XA generally follows the “coke bottle” or perhaps the Marylin Monro lines of the smaller English designed Escort and Cortina of the era. However, the lines of the XA to XC models were all pinched from the bigger and somewhat more muscular looking two door American Ford Torino of ‘69-71 star of a good Clint Eastwood movie of the same name. The resemblance is better seen by comparing the two door Falcons with the Torino, both pretty nice-looking wheels in my “naturally” unbiased view.

Of course, being Aussie metal, a number of engine options were available with a well proven 250 cubic inch (3.3 L) six producing about 130 bhp with other sixes up to 4.1L delivering up to 170 bhp. The V8’s started with the 302 cu in (4.9L) V8 in my car producing about 240 bhp and versions of the 351 cu in (5.8L) V8 that made up to 300 bhp in the hot GT’s though to the Bathurst race cars that probably made more than 400 bhp from the 351cu in Cleveland.

The car that we now own was first sold to a buyer in Patea in 1973, though, I have as yet, been unable to trace them. There seemed to be two or three between dealer sales before the car was sold to a Graham Hatful of Feilding from whom I bought it.

Page 10

A Falcon flies on continued

Nope not a Cortina in drag. The real Aussie. My 1973 Ford Falcon 500 XA series

Graham sold it to me for less that he’d been offered elsewhere because he thought that I’d look after it. … He was right. He has yet to see the finished result, I’m looking forward to booking a visit with him when the lockdown ends.

We bought the car as family transport about 18 years ago. It all came about because we had 4 daughters and owned a Ford Econovan, then a traffic officer moved into our street. What can possibly be the connection I hear you ask??? Well dear reader proceed. Trev the traffic officer hated forward control vans like the Econovan, the kind where you sit over the engine and have a thin sheet of steel between you and the oncoming. Anyway, Trev was sort of a mate and having attended quite a number of traffic accidents was concerned that if we kept driving the van and had any sort of frontal accident my height would be reduced by the distance between my feet and my knees.

He suggested that the best way of not having to look at belly buttons in the eye while standing up was to sell the van and get a vehicle that had some protection out in front.

Well, to cut a long story short, when I looked under the bonnet of the Falcon I had never seen so much cast iron in one place before. It looked pretty damn solid up front.

A big chunk of cast iron up there in the Aussie made Cleveland 302 V8

Page 11

A Falcon flies on continued

Trev said it would do, Suzanne liked the colour and the daughters thought it far cooler that the van to be seen in. I was even allowed to take then to the school ball in it and drop them off where their friends could see them. The car was great on family trips as we could get all the gear in the boot with even enough room left for one of the daughters if they were fighting in the back seat. The Falcon proved great for family holidays and with the camping gear in the boot and the family in the front, we’ve been all over New Zealand.

Sometimes the journeys took a while, particularly if we stopped for petrol and someone came over to reminisce about their family Falcon and the holidays they’d had. However, that as we all know, is part of the fun of owing and driving a classic car. Another benefit was, that on arriving at a campsite some guy would come up with a beer and a spare and while we lifted the bonnet, Suzanne and the daughters might have got the tent up while the boys got the “Falcon” sorted.

As time went on the paint dulled a bit, the vinyl top cracked the odd bit of tin worm appeared and was temporarily dealt to with fisholene and rust kill until the day when we had a bit of a decision to make. Tidy it up or sell it! The Falcons were beginning to increase in price by then ($3 million for a GTHO phase IV in Australia in 2018, XA’s were a bit cheaper). Suzanne was pretty keen on keeping it as it was reliable, great to drive and unlike the ’23 and ’15 Dodges we also motor, had a heater and a roof over head to keep the rain out. The ability to keep up with modern traffic is also makes journeys a bit more relaxing.

I had been talking about restoration to Peter Wilton, our skilled vintage resto mate from Hunterville and he said that the space in his building was booked for the Falcon, so in it went (he quite likes Fords I think). I sort of helped pull it to

Peter Wilton and his project before the doors came off. A Chev truck and Lincoln Zephyr (Ford) in the background. I remembered to take lots of pictures during disassembly, they came in very useful later!

Page 12

A Falcon flies on continued

bits while Pete took pity on me when I was stuck with problems and told me what to do. He also did all of the difficult bits including a bare metal respray in the original Kelly green. Under the vinyl, the roof was in excellent shape but small patches of rust in all the usual places were removed and everything was rust proofed. Basil Shailer after a lot of sleuthing hunted down some hood material and the side stripes were added while I detailed the engine bay.

Yes, all that rust came out. The triple taillight assembly linking it to the Mustang was only fitted to the XA. Classic ‘70’s, the “smart” brown vinyl goes surprisingly well with the green bodywork.

During the rebuild, the philosophy was to restore everything possible and keep as much of the car as original as possible, so all of the upholstery and carpets are those assembled with the car. I added halogen head lights for safety at night and beefed up the interior and dash lighting with LED’s. The best mod I did, was to add another leaf into the rear springs and lift the back by about 10mm, this made a real improvement to the handling. A month or so after the car was finished, we did several long trips and the Ruahine ramble, then the Covid lockdown struck and now all I can do is drive it up and down the driveway and listen to that cool V8 rumble. No, the Falcon will not be up for sale for a while yet and we’ll certainly continue to enjoy the car and the people we meet on the road as soon as the lockdown finishes.

My thanks to Peter Wilton for the excellent job he did on the car and to Suzanne for her perseverance as yet more bits were ordered from Rare Spares and elsewhere and gradually added to the rebuild.

Article by Allan Hardacre

Page 13

MANAWATU BRANCH Post Covid-19 Rally Sunday 23rd August 2020 Rally for any vehicles all are welcomed     

Meet after 9.15 am at VCC Club rooms for a tea / coffee before the rally.

The briefing will be at 9.45 am with the first car away at 10.00 am.

The route does include some unsealed sections.

Lunch will be a hot lunch of $12.00 per head.

Need full tank of petrol as it is 194kms /120miles approx

ENTRANT : ...........................................................................................................................................

ADDRESS : ……………………….........................................................................................................

TELEPHONE : ( ..... ) .....................................

EMAIL : ..................................................................

NAVIGATOR : .......................................................................................................................................

VEHICLE MAKE & MODEL : .................................................................................................................

YEAR OF MANUFACTURE : ............................

RALLY ENTRY :

REG. PLATE No : ......................................

▪ NIL

NUMBER OF PEOPLE FOR LUNCH ……………………………….

DIETRY REQUIREMENTS ……………………………….

PAYMENT FOR LUNCH OPTIONS :  Internet Banking 

▪

Cheque attached 

Bank Account Number is 030718 0027253 00 / Cheques to be made payable to the ‘Manawatu Branch VCC’

RALLY ROUTE DONE BY Trevor Hardy & Stan Garmonsway

ENTRIES TO : ▪ Esther Williams, 12 Hollows Crescent, Palmerston North 4412 : Ph (06) 3585155 or 02724327275 ▪ Email e_williams @xtra.co.nz ENTRIES CLOSE: Friday 14th August 2020 A map showing the Manawatu Branch clubrooms location - plus an extra entry form for the entrant’s records - were included on pages 17 & 18 of the July Tourer. Contact the Editor if you would like a copy of either emailed to you.

Page 14

Page 15

ITS

IECES FROM

YGONE

AYS

DODGE BROTHERS INSTRUCTION MANUALS

Having being involved with old cars for 53 years I can still be amazed at what turns up.

A Hawkes Bay friend was given a tin can and knew I had been into Dodge Brothers cars for nearly 30 years before venturing into Veterans for the next 25 yrs.

Turns out when you bought a 1922 Dodge Brothers car with it came a tin can full of instruction manuals.

So here is a screw-top can that is 98 years old and the 12 manuals inside are mint.

I haven’t unfolded them flat for the photo but here is a list:- Parts List, 114 pages with part #’s and telegraphic codes for ordering.

- North East Electrical Equipment - Simm’s Magnetos - Stewart Vacuum Gasoline System, Instructions and Price List - The Kelsey #210 Metal Felloe Demountable Rim, ‘Simple way to change tires’ - Directions for using Alemite High Pressure Lube System - Care of Plate Glass - Care of McCord Radiators - Willard Battery Service - Stewart Carburetors - Focusing and Alignment Disc for DB lamps - Instructions for Stewart Carburetors

Page 16

Article and photographs by John Callesen Page 17

Page 18

TARANAKI BRANCH [Inc]

The Taranaki Branch invites entries to their

55TH ANNUAL

MAUNGA MOANA RALLY NEW PLYMOUTH NOVEMBER 20TH 21ST 2020 The 2020 Maunga Moana Rally will start from the

PLYMOUTH INTERNATIONAL HOTEL THE TARANAKI BRANCH ACKNOWLEDGES THE SUPPORT THE PLYMOUTH HAS GIVEN US TOWARDS THIS EVENT. Special Bed & Breakfast rates from $179.00 per night, booked direct with

reservations@plymouth.co.nz RALLY ORGANISERS STEVEN & VERONICA OLIVER fordt@xtra.co.nz [06] 752 2149

PLYMOUTH INTERNATIONAL HOTEL

Motoring over a route of a little more than 100 miles within the urban and rural areas of North and Central Taranaki.

For Entry Form, contact:

RALLY SECRETARY - ROB THOMSON railmodels1@xtra.co.nz : [06] 758 4881 : 027 701 2485

TARGA 2020 VCC TIME TRIAL - BREAKING NEWS The Targa 2020 VCC Time Trial is now being run as two conjunctive events-: 1.

The 4 day time trial starting Albany, Auckland Thursday 15th October 2020, travelling over closed tarmac road stages to overnight in Whangarei, before returning via closed road stages to overnight in Ellerslie Friday 16th October.

2.

A 2 day time trial starting Ellerslie, Auckland Saturday 17th October 2020.

This is a totally new event with a significantly reduced entry fee aimed at VCC members who wish to enjoy an outstanding Targa VCC event over a weekend.

On Saturday 17th October, both 2 and 4 day entrants travel over closed tarmac roads on the Coromandel to overnight in Whitianga, where all VCC entrants, friends & family are invited to join for a meal together at the Mercury Bay Club, and where we’ll also be presenting some fun participation awards.

Sunday 18th October will see all of us returning over closed tarmac roads on the Coromandel to event finish & prize giving dinner in Pukekohe.

The Targa VCC Time Trial 4 day & all new 2 day event gives VCC members with VCC/VIC eligible cars an outstanding opportunity to test their driving & time-keeping skills over closed tarmac stages, safe in the knowledge that they’re all driving in the same direction from start intervals, with nothing coming towards them.

It’s not a race, and no special car modifications (roll cage etc), are required.

Entries may be limited, so please contact me asap-: Rod Corbett rod.corbett88@gmail.com 027 433 8772, For event pricing and further information please refer www.targa.nz Page 19

OURER

RIVIA

THE TRIVIA QUESTION FROM THE JULY TOURER WAS : ‘Where did the Ferrari prancing Horse logo originate ?

THE CORRECT ANSWER WAS C.

It was the prancing horse emblem painted on the side of the plane flown by Italy’s top World War 1 fighter Ace, Count Francesco Baracca.

ANOTHER TRIVIA QUESTION TO THINK ABOUT :

Another photograph provided

by Laurie Cocker and another opportunity to think of a caption.

Forward your suggestion to the Editor. Submitted suggestions, and the winning suggestion, will be published in the September Tourer.

Worried that you might have spent just a little bit too much when you purchased your own Vintage or Classic Car ?

Well, in contrast to your purchase, at the other end of the scale, in the Marketplace section of the August issue of New Zealand Classic Car there is an article on an extremely rare 1956 300SL lightweight Gull-wing Mercedes-Benz.

The asking price ?

- just a little under (NZ)$13 million !

Page 20

IDDEN

ORD

UZZLE

TRANSPORT THEME

Find the following HIDDEN WORDS in the puzzle:

AUTOMOBILE BOAT BOBSLED BUGGY CAB CAR COACH CONVOY CRANE CYCLE DRONE FERRY JEEP JET JETLINER JITNEY JUNK KAYAK LIMO MOPED MOTORBUS OXCART PUNT RAGTOP RAIL SCHOOLBUS SHIP SLED STEER TANK TRAM TROLLEY VAN XEBEC Page 21

FOUNDERS OF THE MOTOR INDUSTRY NZO

ERRARI

FERRARI IS NOW A ITALIAN-DUTCH LUXURY SPORTS CAR MANUFACTURER BASED IN MARANELLO, ITALY.

Enzo Ferrari was born in the central Italian town of Modena on 18th February 1898, the younger of two children. In his earliest years, Ferrari had an aversion to school and enjoyed target shooting and roller-skating.

Then the emerging automotive world hit his radar screen in 1908 “… when my father took me to my first automotive race”. He was hooked when he saw his next race a year later.

In 1917, Ferrari was drafted into the army. He returned home with a severe illness that left him hospitalized. His father and brother had passed away two years earlier, so after recovering, Enzo headed to Turin, some 150 miles to the north, to find work. Ferrari travelled to the city to try for a job with Fiat, but found work at a small firm in Bologna that stripped trucks for their chassis, then used them for cars.

That job found Ferrari traveling to northern Italy’s other economic engine, Milan, which was some 100 miles west of Turin, and one of Ferrari’s favourite haunts was the Vittorio Emanuele bar, a well-known hangout for racing drivers and others in the automotive world.

Enzo may have been a bit green, but the first sprinklings of his charisma were starting to show through. When he formed Scuderia Ferrari in 1929 he was not initially interested in the idea of producing road cars.

By the mid 1930s, Ferrari was a well-known name in the auto industry. He was closely connected for many years (until the end of 1938) with Alfa Romeo. He bought, prepared, and fielded Alfa Romeo racing cars for gentleman drivers, functioning as the racing division of Alfa Romeo.

In 1930, Ferrari’s Scuderia entered 22 races and scored eight victories.

To differentiate his Alfas from the others, Ferrari in 1932 began painting on his cars a large crest that featured a prancing horse on a yellow background.

Ferrari said he was given the crest by Countess Paolina Baracca, whose son, Francesco, had served in the same WWI flying squadron as Ferrari’s brother.

At 1933’s Mille Miglia, Alfa Romeos swept the top 10 places, led by an 8C 2300 prepared by Ferrari. In 1933, Alfa Romeo withdrew its in-house racing team and Scuderia Ferrari took over as its works team.

In September 1939, Ferrari left Alfa Romeo under the provision he would not use the Ferrari name in association with races or racing cars for at least four years. A few days later he founded Auto Avio Costruzioni, headquartered in the facilities of the old Scuderia Ferrari.

Page 22

Enzo Ferrari continued

The new company ostensibly produced machine tools and aircraft accessories.

AAC remained in the same downtown Modena location as the Scuderia, and to make his new car, Enzo hired technicians and engineers and put in charge of the project Alberto Massimino, a talented 45-year-old engineer who had moved to Modena to work on the Alfa 158 race car.

Increasing border tensions throughout Europe were causing severe materials shortages, so Enzo Ferrari Ferrari had his men use a Fiat 508 C as their starting point. Ferrari’s team reinforced the chassis but left untouched the brakes, transmission, steering, and front suspension.

No so the engine. They took two 508 C 1100cc four-cylinder engines, reduced the bore and stroke, cast a new block and cylinder heads, and joined the two engines together. The result was an inline 1496cc 8-cylinder that produced 72 horsepower at 5500 rpm.

For the car’s body Ferrari wanted something that could be recognized as a Ferrari at a glance. Two 815s were built and entered in 1940’s Gran Premio Brescia della Mille Miglia. They were valiant competitors. One dominated its class and ran as high as 10th overall late in the race. Both had to retire with mechanical failures, causing Ferrari to note a bit harshly, “The experiment that started so brilliantly ended in failure, largely because the car had been built too hastily.”

The 815s were the last cars Ferrari would work on for years. Italy officially entered World War II on June 10, 1940, when a general order to proceed to local Fascist headquarters swept the country. Ferrari survived the conflict by producing oil-driven grinding machines and machine tools.

After the war, Ferrari wasted no time creating a new engine configuration he had in mind for years. He had been eyeing a 12 cylinder engine configuration for nearly two decades.

On March 12, 1947, Ferrari’s first car - a 125 without coachwork - ran under its own power for the first time. The 125’s platform was simple - a tubular chassis supplemented by leaf springs and shock absorbers.

The 1496cc engine, depending upon its state of tune, produced between 72 and 118 horsepower. The five-speed gearbox was a rarity in an era when four-speed manuals were the rule for European sporting cars.

Two 125s were made. The first was completed on May 8, 1947. It had a Page 23

Enzo Ferrari continued

roadster body vaguely similar to that of the 815.

The second 125 was finished the following day and was a much more elementary car with a torpedo body and cycle fenders.

The 125’s initial appearance was at Piacenza on May 11, and piloting the roadster was Franco Cortese, a talented driver who also was Ferrari’s traveling salesman in his machine tool business.

The first Ferrari-badged car was the 1947 125 S, powered by a 1.5 L V12 engine.

In the 30-lap, 60-mile race, Cortese’s 125 S ran 27 laps before its fuel pump let go. Still, he set the fastest lap, showing his potential, and the car’s. Two weeks later in Rome, that potential was fully realized. After 40 laps and some 85 miles, Cortese and the 125 S took the checkered flag with an overall victory. And so began the Ferrari legend.

Ferrari built one more car in 1947, modifying the coachwork and engine of each of his three machines as needed. By August, the V-12’s displacement had increased to 1902cc and the model designation evolved to 159. By early 1948, Ferrari was making the 166 with its 1996cc capacity - it became the company’s mainstay.

By the early 1950s, Ferrari was constructing a car every 10 days to two weeks.

Impressive racing victories in the early 1950s resulted in an increase in Ferrari orders. A string of endurance-racing victories at the hands of factory drivers and privateers were fuelling orders for the road cars. Many found their way to the racetrack, often driven by wealthy sportsmen and privateers, such as Italy’s Marzotto brothers.

Ferrari dominated Grand Prix racing in 1952 and ’53, losing only one race and easily winning the championships both years. But even more important to the forming Ferrari legend was its success in sports-car competition, in the epic endurance races of the day in particular.

Touring dominated Ferrari’s designs from the debut of the 166 Barchetta in 1948 to the end of 1950.

Early in 1969, Fiat took a 50% stake in Ferrari. An immediate result was an increase in available investment funds, and work started at once on a factory extension intended to transfer production from Fiat's Turin plant of the Ferrari engined Fiat Dino.

In 1988 Enzo Ferrari oversaw the launch of the Ferrari F40 - the last new Ferrari launched before his death later that year.

Page 24

EMBERSHIP A WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS Manawatu VCC members are pleased to welcome Nina Booth and Christian Hayes as members of our Branch.

Nina & Christian have a very nice green Austin A40 Devon.

A number of our members met you on the recent Sunday run to Murrayfield and we look forward to seeing you join us on future runs, rallies and activities.

NAME BADGES READY TO BE COLLECTED The Branch Secretary is holding name badges for:  Bruce and Jennifer Stewart ;  Aaron Lucas ;  Phillip Jurgens ; and  David Robinson Please contact the Secretary to make arrangements to collect the badges.

ARTS

HED

GARY MILLAR

The Manawatu Branch of the VCC is committed to helping you with the restoration and ongoing maintenance of your valued vintage & classic vehicle, endeavouring to maintain a supply of quality second hand tools and parts covering all ages and types of early vehicles.

Any time is a good time to declutter your sheds and you and your friends are invited to donate any unwanted old car and motorcycle parts to the branch so that we can trade them onto vintage enthusiasts who are looking for that rare part needed for completing a restoration or keeping a car on the road.

At the Parts Shed all parts are priced to move off the shelves.

Gary looks forward to assisting you with finding that unusual, rare and valuable part or tool which will help you restore and maintain your pride and joy.

Contact Gary on (06) 354 8298 - or email gw.millar@hotmail.com Page 25

OTICE

OARD

ACCESSING THE MEMBERS’ ROOM A keypad has recently been installed in the passage between the ‘Members’ Room’ kitchen and the rear door (which is approx. opposite the septic tanks) to control the security sensors in that area of the building.

In future the Members’ Room is to be accessed through the rear door, and once the alarm has been disarmed, the door to the veranda (i.e. the exit door facing the parts shed / near the piano) can be opened for general access if desired.

When arriving for events such as club night etc., members should expect to be diverted along the veranda to the members’ room without the need to enter the main hall.

By not using the main hall as a thoroughfare to access the Members' Room we will reduce cleaning costs by keeping the main hall floor clean and therefore eliminate the need to arrange a clean immediately before each hire.

The change will also allow activities to take place in each end of the building simultaneously with each area being able to be accessed and secured without the need to enter the ‘other area’.

BRANCH EMAILS Have you been receiving notification emails from our Club Captain and /or from our Secretary ?

There is an ongoing effort to keep all members right up to date with happenings that they may be interested in – especially in the weeks between publication / release of the Tourer.

If you have not been receiving these email notifications it will be because we do not have your email address on file, or because you have chosen to keep your details confidential.

Either way, if you want to get on the list, then please advise your details to manawatu@vcc.co.org Members can be assured of confidentiality as the emails are released using the Bcc field meaning that email addresses are suppressed from other recipients.

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CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ‘THE TOURER’ Because the Tourer is the Magazine for your branch - it is your magazine.

Should you come across anything that you think could interest your fellow members - or if you wish to contribute an article on any of your motoring projects (past or present) - or your recent participation in runs or events with other branches, please do not hesitate to send it along with any photographs which you may have, to the editor.

NAME BADGES NEW MEMBERS should contact the Branch Secretary to organise to collect their free name badge.

EXISTING MEMBERS should contact the Branch Secretary to arrange a replacement for a lost or damaged badge - at cost.

WAS IT YOU ? - A REQUEST AT THE AGM FOR NEW NAME BADGES At the AGM a member approached the outgoing secretary requesting new nametags with the wings attached for his wife and himself.

Unfortunately a note of the request was not made at the time.

Could that member please contact the branch secretary and re-request the nametags.

MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS FROM ALL VCC BRANCHES ARE ONLINE To see the Newsletters online and in colour go to www.vcc.org.nz then go to News from our Branches.

An elderly, but hardy cattleman from Alice Springs once told a young female neighbour that if she wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a pinch of gunpowder on her oatmeal each morning.

She did this religiously and lived to the ripe old age of 103.

She left behind 14 children, 30 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, five greatgreat-grandchildren and a 40 foot hole where the Crematorium used to be.

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FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON BLUEBRIDGE FERRY BOOKINGS SEE THE NEXT PAGE

HIS SPACE IS AVAILABLE FOR RENT For more information please contact the Manawatu Branch Treasurer.  11 issues of the Tourer are published annually.  Over 150 copies are sent to branch members each month.  VCC Members from all 35 branches have access to the magazine.

The public also have access to this and other VCC branch magazines through the New Zealand VCC internet site : vcc.org.nz/news-from-our-branches  Advertising does not have to relate to motoring products. 

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HOTOGRAPHS

- FROM THE JUNE SUNDAY RUN TO MURRAYFIELD

Members meeting at Summerhill for the first outing since ‘lockdown’.

It was a fine day with a good variety of cars and approximately 50 people turning up.

Some keen members were there 20 minutes or so before the designated meet-up time.

The cars patiently waited - it took a while to get underway.

A good natter and catch up was in order before heading off to the Murrayfield Café.