Banks Peninsula VCC August 2017

“Dripfeed” NEWSLETTER OF THE BANKS PENINSULA BRANCH OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF New Zealand (INC) VOLUME 39, No 7 august 2017 Editor: Michael Williams 10 Selwyn Parade Lyttelton Ph 328 8043, email mimiandmichael@yahoo.co.nz

Chairman: Secretary:

Club Officers: Craig Keenan 332 1066 Ron Hasell 942 1105

Branch Address: 27 Showgate Ave, ChCh 8042 E-mail: bankspeninsula@vcc.org.nz Noggin & Natter: 2nd Thursday of the Month 

Noggin 7.30 pm at the Papanui RSA. Upham Room – enter either from 55 Bellvue Ave or the first entrance on the left on Harewood Road (Papanui Road / Main North Road) Thursday 10th August. We look forward to seeing you there. Supper is provided.

From the Editor: Quite a few people contacted me after the last issue to assure me that I was on the right track as the new editor and that as long as I kept up the flow of insults and invective, I might be allowed to continue. Rest assured that this will be the case. George Calder even sent me a cartoon, and has promised more, when his creative juices are flowing. Something to look forward to. A suggestion was made that a chit chat, car gossip type of section be part of future Dripfeeds, and I think it’s a splendid idea. As a deeply shallow person, I very much like the gossip part of it, so do let me know about who has bought or sold recently, who’s spent a fortune on what and so on.

Jeremy Stace, owner of the superb racing E Type, has finally seen the light and just bought a 1979 Citroen CX Pallas, so naturally contacted me to find out how to join the support group, where to take when it collapsed and so on. It’s a lovely car that I’ve known since new, and Jeremy describes it as an objets d’art, because it has such wonderful lines and angles. The cabin architecture is brilliant and the self centering steering (Variamatique) is delightfully idiosyncratic. So even if it sometimes isn’t going it is still a thing of beauty and a joy forever, with apologies to Keats. And such a contrast to the vast Bentley that Jeremy has also bought. Beauty and the Beast, some would say.

We were sorry to have to postpone Balcairn, for the first time in 23 years. Craig Keenan, Michael Pidgeon and I drove out on the Saturday morning to have a look. The Waimak was bank to bank, as was the Ashley, and the Kowai, which borders the Fleming farm was a roaring swirling torrent, with pressure waves and new banks being created. The road into the farm was partially washed away and the yard that you drive through to get to the first event was a lake. Gary Fleming told us that many of the areas we use were under water, and that he wanted us to wait until it dried out.

Details below for our next attempt.

We have three new members, well one really as two of them had let their membership lapse.

Welcome to Josh Thwaites with a 1967 VW Beetle. Ideal Balcairn car? The two returning to the fold are erstwhile journalist and genial host at Smash Palace Johnny Moore, with the Haggit Riley Special, based mostly round a 1936 Kestrel, (so Ramon tells me), and his dodgy brother in law Greg May with the 1926 -1956 Chrysler Roadster, with the optional on board motorbike. The car did belong to Greg’s grandfather originally, so I suppose its current form can be forgiven. Clearly the Moore - May tribe favour hotrods of dubious lineage, but Johnny has expressed interest in buying a Citroen D, so he is clearly trying to overcome the shocking and plebeian motoring experiences of his repressive childhood, and, to quote the motto of my old school, seek higher things. Altiora Peto!

Coming Events: Garage Raid Sunday 27th of August.

This will begin at 1.00pm at Auto Restorations in Stewart Street. We often seem to start here simply because it’s a wonderful chance for members to see some of the marvellous work being done here in Christchurch. We then meander out to the Rolleston area to look at two other collections.

The VCC has asked for a National Initiative on this day to fundraise for the NZ Cancer Society, and clubs all over NZ will be organising something. The Canterbury Branch are having a fairly major event that starts at McLeans Island from 10.00am, with a choice of five different runs, returning to McLeans Island by 1.00pm for a barbeque lunch and then a prize giving.

We decided to have our own event, and we will have a Cancer Society bucket in a prominent place and hope for a generous donation from everyone that attends. The Canterbury Branch event involves a $10 registration, so a similar donation would be gratefully received.

Balcairn Sunday 3rd of September.

From the Anglers Arms Pub at Sefton head up Pemberton Rd, turn right at the T junction into Marshmans Rd, straight ahead onto the shingle, turn left at the VCC sign into Flemings Rd and follow the signs. Park near the usual first test area.

Timetable: 8.00am 8,30 sharp 9.15am 9.30 sharp

Breakfast at the farm Assemble for vehicle inspection Drivers briefing, all drivers and passengers must attend Battle commences

Food and coffee facilities are available at the farm and we urge you to support the Flemings who provide these as well as their farm. We really are incredibly lucky that we are allowed to take over their farm for the day, so please respect the fact that we are on private property with all the responsibilities that entails. We know it’s going to be wet and muddy and that if everyone is able to make it on the new date, there’s a good entry, including the dreaded Mauger BiMotore Climax 7 and hoards of pesky Austin 7 not so specials. So do come along to what is always a great day.

There are three other events like Balcairn for the dedicated enthusiasts. There has already been one at Reefton, I believe, and there are two others, one at Blenheim on the 20 th of August and one at Nelson on the 10th of September. Contact Ron for more details.

Yet another Austin 7 owner contemplates the futility of actually expecting one to go.

RIP Stevie Onedoor, we will not see your like again.

Opening Run: Sunday 24th of September – details next Dripfeed.

Peninsula Run: 5th or 12th of November.

Hawkeswood Sprint: 5th or 12 th of November.

Hawkeswood is definitely on again which is great news, but we are unsure of the date at this stage.

Past Events: The only past event was the annual dinner at the Tai Tapu Pub and very nice it was too, with a good attendance and a really pleasant venue. However I don’t think telling you about menu choices or my being horrified by watching Russell Yates trying vainly not to slurp his soup are really needed, so I will confine my comments to conversations I had with members. I asked club eminence grise Leon Witte about his early motoring recollections and was fascinated with all that he talked about. One of Leon’s early competitive cars that he owned was a TR2 and he competed in hillclimbs and sprints with considerable success. At one hillclimb near Timaru he competed

against another young chap, in a Cooper, and they swapped FTD all day, with the Cooper just having the edge on the TR2. After the event the Cooper driver invited Leon to join a group that were having dinner at a hotel in Timaru. After dinner the group were having a few drinks with the locals, and a local girl particularly caught the eye of the Cooper driver. He started chatting to her, and in the fullness of time ended up marrying her. And that’s how Bruce McLaren met his wife Patsy. And Leon was there! Wonderful.

In an exclusive scoop for Dripfeed, I also talked to James Webb, winner of Irishman for 2018.

Being a typically highly organised BP member, he has already worked out the route, is discussing some innovative ideas, and of course working closely with runner up John Chamberlain to ensure a memorable (for all the right reasons) event. I can reveal to you that Irishman will start somewhere between Christchurch and Dunedin and will cover some roads less travelled. You heard it here first.

Other Branch Events – none of note for this month.

However the Cracked Crank has sharpened his pencil (and wit) and has offered this wee piece.