Beaded Wheels Issue 344 February/March 2017

CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 70 YEARS

No. 344 February/March 2017

NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $7.95

2016 CHELSEA HILL CLIMB

9 418979 000012

NASH METROPOLITAN MOTORCYCLE MECCA MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND

These photographs were added to the Beaded Wheels photo archive in 1997. No information is available. We welcome any details that readers may be able to supply regarding where and when the photographs might be taken.

management committee Contact National Office for all queries regarding VICs, logbooks, historic race licences, lighting endorsement, registration of vehicles, address changes, subscriptions, membership cards, speed events.

The Vintage Car Club Of New Zealand (Inc.) National Office, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140 Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz

branches ASHBURTON PO Box 382, Ashburton 7740 ashburton@vcc.org.nz AUCKLAND PO Box 12-138, Penrose, Auckland 1642 auckland@vcc.org.nz BANKS PENINSULA 27 Showgate Ave, Riccarton Park, Christchurch 8042 bankspeninsula@vcc.org.nz BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 660, Tauranga 3140 bayofplenty@vcc.org.nz CANTERBURY PO Box 11-082, Sockburn Christchurch 8443 canterbury@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL OTAGO C/- 4B Roto Place, Wanaka 9305 centralotago@vcc.org.nz

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PRESIDENT Diane Quarrie 06 876 4009 president@vcc.org.nz

REGISTRAR Rod Brayshaw 07 549 4250 registrar@vcc.org.nz

CLUB CAPTAIN NORTHERN REGION Paul Collins 027 292 2204 nicc@vcc.org.nz

SPEED STEWARD Tony Haycock 021 662 441 speedsteward@vcc.org.nz

CLUB CAPTAIN SOUTHERN REGION Alon Mayhew 03 443 7030 sicc@vcc.org.nz

BEADED WHEELS CHAIRMAN Kevin Clarkson 03 385 9821 kevin@vcc.org.nz

SECRETARY/ TREASURER Michael Lavender 03 325 5704 hon.sec@vcc.org.nz Please note this information changes annually - these details are valid until October 2017.

Ed Boyd 06 348 4547 mgmt3@vcc.org.nz Tony Bartlett 06 867 9850 mgmt1@vcc.org.nz David Yorke 06 358 8060 mgmt2@vcc.org.nz COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING OFFICER Ross Holden comms@vcc.org.nz ARCHIVIST Don Muller 03 385 6850

archivist@vcc.org.nz

A full list of branch addresses and contact details can also be found on the VCCNZ website at www.vcc.org.nz CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY C/- 94 Mt Herbert Road, Waipukurau 4200, centralhawkesbay@vcc.org.nz EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 2168, Kopeopeo Whakatane 3159 easternbayofplenty@vcc.org.nz FAR NORTH C/- 64 Mangakaretu Road, RD2, Kerikeri 0295 farnorth@vcc.org.nz GISBORNE PO Box 307, Gisborne 4040 gisborne@vcc.org.nz GORE PO Box 329, Gore 9740 gore@vcc.org.nz HAWKE’S BAY PO Box 3406, Napier 4142 hawkesbay@vcc.org.nz

HOROWHENUA PO Box 458, Levin 5540 horowhenua@vcc.org.nz KING COUNTRY C/- 34 House Ave, Taumarunui 3920 kingcountry@vcc.org.nz MANAWATU PO Box 385 Palmerston North 4440 manawatu@vcc.org.nz MARLBOROUGH PO Box 422, Blenheim 7240 marlborough@vcc.org.nz NELSON PO Box 3531, Richmond 7050 nelson@vcc.org.nz NORTHLAND PO Box 17, Whangarei 0140 northland@vcc.org.nz

NORTH OTAGO PO Box 360, Oamaru 9444 northotago@vcc.org.nz NORTH SHORE C/- 7 Godwit Place, Lynfield Auckland 1042 northshore@vcc.org.nz OTAGO PO Box 5352, Dunedin 9058 otago@vcc.org.nz ROTORUA PO Box 2014, Rotorua 3040 rotorua@vcc.org.nz SOUTH CANTERBURY PO Box 623, Timaru 7910 southcanterbury@vcc.org.nz SOUTHLAND PO Box 1240, Invercargill 9840 southand@vcc.org.nz

SOUTH OTAGO C/- G. Beaumont, Tuapeka Mouth, RD 4, Balcultha 9274 southotago@vcc.org.nz SOUTH WAIKATO PO Box 403 Tokoroa 3420 southwaikato@vcc.org.nz TARANAKI C/- 297 Huatoki st, New Plymouth 4310 taranaki@vcc.org.nz TAUPO PO Box 907, Taupo 3351 taupo@vcc.org.nz WAIKATO PO Box 924, Hamilton 3240 waikato@vcc.org.nz WAIMATE 4 Harris St, Waimate 7924 waimate@vcc.org.nz

Please note this information changes annually - these details are valid until October 2017.

WAIRARAPA PO Box 7, Masterton 5810 wairarapa@vcc.org.nz WAITEMATA C/- Embroidme, 23E William Pickering Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632 waitemata@vcc.org.nz WANGANUI PO Box 726, Wanganui 4540 wanganui@vcc.org.nz WELLINGTON PO Box 38-418, Petone, Wellington 5045 wellington@vcc.org.nz WELLSFORD/WARKWORTH PO Box 547, Warkworth 0941 wellsfordwarkworth@vcc.org.nz WEST COAST C/- 17 Loris Place Greymouth 7805 westcoast@vcc.org.nz

Beaded Wheels Publisher THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NZ (INC.) The Historic Vehicle Authority of New Zealand ISSN 0113-7506 Vol LXVII No. 344

Editorial Committee Kevin Clarkson (Chairman), Judith Bain, Bevars Binnie, Rosalie Brown, John Coomber, Mark Dawber, Marilyn McKinlay.

Beaded Wheels Issue 344 February/March 2017

FEATURES

Material for Publication Reports of restorations, events, road tests, historical and technical articles should be submitted to beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz.

Email of text and photos is preferred, digital photographs should be high resolution eg 300dpi. Alternatively mail your contribution to PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141, typed or neatly printed, double space on one side of paper only. No payment is made to contributors. The opinions or statements expressed in letters or articles in Beaded Wheels are the author’s own views and do not necessarily express the policy or views of The Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc).

Email

The Courtney MG tackles the hill at Chelsea, see page 18.

beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz

Advertising Address Classified and Display Advertising to: PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141.

Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 Rate schedule available on request.

Back Issues Available on request to PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141.

12

Motorcycle Mecca, Invercargill

14

A Novel T Ford 1914 Model T Raceabout

18

40 years on the hill Chelsea W.A.L.S.H.

22

A Nash with a story

26

The 50th Arrowtown Run

28

Ron and his Chrysler celebrate a golden anniversary

30

Two Capes and a Hippo

32

Rally Snippets King Country – Journey Through Time South Otago – Clutha Rally Nelson – Veteran, Motorcycle, and Commercial Rally North Otago – Windsor Rally Ashburton – West Coast Bay of Plenty – First of Summer Wine Run

36

Five Gorges Show Weekend tour

38

Speed Wobbles in the A30

Correspondence & Editorial Contributions Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141.

Subscriptions Beaded Wheels subscribers change of address to PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140.

Phone 03 366 4461, Fax 03 366 0273 Annual subscription (6 issues) $45* inc GST Australian subscription (6 issues) NZ$76* Other countries (6 issues) NZ$136*. *Payment by credit card will incur additional bank fee processing charge of 3%

Production Typesetting & design by RGBDesign Printed by Spectrum Print Ltd, Christchurch.

Riders and bikes on the 50th Arrowtown run at Kingston, see page 26.

Closing Date for April/May Issue Editorial Copy Advertisements

24 February 2017 10 March 2017

The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz

Postal Address PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.

Address 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Website www.vcc.org.nz Beaded Wheels is the voice of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) and its 35 branches covering the length and breadth of the country.

The efforts of our members continue fostering and ever widening the interest in this segment of our country’s history. It is to these people, who appreciate the fascination of age, the individuality and the functional elegance of vehicles from a bygone era, that this magazine is dedicated.

Beaded Wheels – A very apt and well-known title however readers may wonder at the origin of the name. By way of explanation beaded edge wheels use beaded edge tyres that are kept in place by reinforced rubber beads, which fit into the rolled edges of the wheel rim. This style of wheel was a distinctive feature of early motoring being used on early bicycles, many pre-1924 cars and most motorcycles until 1927. The VCCNZ adopted the title Beaded Wheels for their quarterly club magazine in March 1955 which was the successor to the monthly Guff Sheet.

Copyright Information The contents are copyright. Articles may be reproduced complete or in part provided that acknowledgement is made to “Beaded Wheels, the magazine of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc)” as the source. Beaded Wheels reserves the right to digitally store all published material for archival purposes.

Canterbury Branch Five Gorges tour, see page 36.

COLUMNS 4

President’s Message

4

As We See It

5

VCC Events

6

National Office News

6

Captain’s Log

7

Mailbag

9

Timelines

10

The Way We Were

39

Two Wheels and Other Things

40

Mutterings of a Mature Motorcyclist

41

50 Year Awards

42

Brass Notes

44

Marketplace

48

Swap Meets & Rallies

51

Idle Torque

62

Passing Lane

COVER

Ryan McDonald’s 1923 Chevrolet 490, the oldest car competing at Chelsea W.A.L.S.H., earns full marks for spindliness. See page 18.

Photo: John King.

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president’s message

The Management Committee recently had the opportunity to travel to New Plymouth to look at what is on offer for the 2021 international rally. One of the purposes of the meeting was to set the ground rules for the event and as a result of our meeting, along with some members of the rally organising committee, we have come up with new ideas to encourage more of our members to enter the event.

Once everything has been set in place I know Colin Johnston and his team will be excited to let you know of these developments as time goes on.

In regard to the rally, I have appointed Greg Terrill to be the Management Committee’s liaison with the rally committee. Not only is Greg a past president of the Vintage Car Club, he was the rally director for the 2000 international rally in Hamilton. Greg was born and raised in Taranaki and still has family connections there. He brings invaluable experience to assist both the rally committee and Management Committee.

We were very impressed with the venues on offer. The TSB Arena and Racecourse facilities (which will include a camping ground) are right next to each other as is the world famous Pukekura Park. While we were there we took the opportunity on both nights to wander through the park and view the amazing lights and displays. The lights will be on during our event and I am sure that entrants will find it very pleasant to stroll through there after dinner or entertainment (although don’t get lost as some of our Management Committee did).

During our visit we travelled over some possible rally routes and also looked at roads suitable for a speed event. All in all it was a very busy day but I have come away with no doubts that our members will have a fantastic time. Although it is four years away I urge you to make the commitment now to be a participant. You won’t be disappointed with the venues, the rally routes or the entertainment.

One of the discussions at our AGM last August centred around the drop-off of entries for our international and national events and we could do to enhance or change the way we organise these events.

As our National Speed Steward Tony Haycock, said at the meeting, “If you keep 4 Beaded Wheels

as we see it

doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got.” In other words, if we keep doing the same thing over and over again, we can’t expect a different result.

As a result of that discussion, Life Member Roger White is convening a group of members to undertake a survey of major (successful) motoring events run by organisations other than the Vintage Car Club. The results of this survey will establish what is good and bad about these events. The working group will evaluate and analyse the results and make key recommendations to the Management Committee and the Executive about major Vintage Car Club events in the future.

The beginning of 2017 brings a busy time in terms of national events. As I write this, Geoff and I are due to travel to the National Veteran Rally in Wanganui.

In February we have the National Motorcycle Rally based at Waitomo Caves and of course the 2017 National North Island Easter Rally in Auckland is not too far away. As well, the reenactment of the 1917 Parliamentary Tour will be taking place in the Far North later in January.

Although not a national rally, it is of national significance.

The Executive of the Vintage Car Club is meeting in Auckland on 11 March at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Auckland Airport.

At these executive meetings, major decisions are made about our organisation and the operation of the Vintage Car Club. While a representative from every branch attends, members are always most welcome to come along and observe and I would encourage you to do so if you have the opportunity.

Happy and safe motoring for 2017.

Diane Quarrie VCCNZ National President

Over the holiday break at the top of the South Island I had the opportunity to ride in Nelson members Pat and Sharon Kennedy’s 1930 Humber Pullman limousine. Restored some time ago it still looks like new and goes like it as well with its large 3.5 litre inlet over exhaust valve engine. It was a very smooth ride and the torquey engine made handling around town very easy and the brakes even worked. Nice car. We also visited a very large well equipped workshop presided over by a sprightly 80 year old bloke who over recent times has been restoring up to three cars each year. In the past he has built racing cars as well. He is currently well on with restoring a Ford MkIII Zodiac from the ground up and the standard of workmanship is excellent. This is one very talented chap.

During February I plan to visit Invercargill to have a look at the ex-Tom Sturgis motorcycle collection featured in this issue and also the revamped Bill Richardson Transport World display. By all accounts I won’t be disappointed.

I, along with President Diane and the others of the Management Committee, was privileged to be in New Plymouth for a weekend in January. We looked over the facilities there that are likely to be used in the forthcoming international rally in 2021. I was impressed with the facilities and also with the planning that is happening and I am predicting that we will enjoy a first class event with a few different twists in 2021.

We are always looking for good cover photos. Sometimes these relate to an article in the magazine but they don’t need to. Why not take some good photos and send them in for consideration for the cover. Attention should be given to the following points. The photographs should be in portrait format and should be clear and in focus. They should be high resolution and not reduced to send by email.

The car should be the main focus, not the scenery and action shots are preferred.

People enjoying their motoring always will look good on the cover. Go on – explore your creative side.

Kevin Clarkson Chairman, Beaded Wheels

This list of events is compiled from the VCCNZ National Calendar of Events, and branch events as listed in each branch newsletter. Any deletions, additions, alterations need to be notified to Beaded Wheels by the Branch Secretary before 10th of the month prior to magazine publication

VCC National Events 17-19 February 14-17 April

National Motorcycle Rally, Waikato National North Island Easter Rally, Auckland

FEBRUARY

3-5 Banks Peninsula Skope Racing Ruapuna 4 Southland Southland Rally 4-5 E Bay of Plenty East Coast Rally 4-5 Wellington Club Captain’s Safari 4-10 Sth Cant Haast Tour 5 Manawatu Veteran Rally 6 Marlborough Heritage Day Brayshaw Park 8 Canterbury 9-90s Outing 10-12 Banks Peninsula Enzed Racing Levels 11 Auckland Annual Veteran Rally 11 Waimate Wallaby Run 11-12 Canterbury Annual Rally 11-12 Gisborne Three Rivers Rally 12 Central Otago Wakatipu 12 Marlborough Port Underwood Trip 12 Nelson Club Run 12 Wairarapa Remembrance Day Rally 12 Wellsford/Wkwth Posh Picnic 17-19 Hawke’s Bay Art Deco Rally 17-24 National 25th National Motorcycle Event Rally & Hub Tour 18 Nelson Swap Meet 19 Ashburton PV/PW Run 19 Auckland Galaxy of Cars 19 Canterbury Boot Fair 19 Horowhenua Shannon Car Show 19 Nelson Swap Meet 19 Sth Cant Chairman’s Rally 19 Taupo Picnic Run 21 West Coast Morning Tea at Shantytown 25 Canterbury Annual Commercial Rally 25 Canterbury Fish and Chip Run 25 Gore 50th Festival Rally

25 25 26 26 26 26 26 26 26

Nth Otago All British Wellsford/Wkwth Swap Meet Auckland Club Run Gisborne Club Run Marlborough Boat Trip to Arapawa Island Otago Vintage/PV Rally Taranaki Waitara Mini Vin Tour Waikato Open Day West Coast Club Run

MARCH 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 10-12

Canterbury Manawatu Southland Canterbury Nelson Sth Cant Waikato Taupo

Moped Run Ruahine Ramble Veteran Rally Rear Wheel Brake Rally Club Run to Lake Rotoiti Mystery Run Ladies Rally Lake Taupo Rally Golden Anniversary Weekend 11 Canterbury Back Country Run 11 Sth Cant Mid Island Rally 11 Sth Otago Motorcycle Rally 11 Wairarapa Rex Porter Rally 12 Auckland Vintage Muster 12 Central Otago Wanaka 12 Gore Frank Robson & Clearwater Capers Runs 12 Marlborough Vintage & Classic Car Display 15 Manawatu AGM 18 Horowhenua Swap Meet 18 Waikato Vintage Venture 18 West Coast Scenicland Rally 18-19 Canterbury Jim Toohey Motorcycle Run 18-19 Wellsford/Wkwth “Are We There Yet ?” Rally 19 Central Otago Moped Rally 19 Marlborough Run to Onamalutu 19 North Shore Posh Picnic 19 Gore Swap Meet 21 West Coast Morning tea Shantytown 26 Gisborne Club Run

VCC Events APRIL

1 2 2 8 8

Sth Cant Canterbury Northland Far North Nth Otago

Swap Meet Annual P Group Rally Combined Swap Meet Brian Parker Memorial Rally Gerald Lynch-Bosse Memorial M/C Rally 8 Waikato M/C Mooloo Meander 9 Gore Ladies Run 9 Horowhenua Ted Green M/C Rally 9 Wairarapa Club Captain’s Run 13 Sth Cant Mid week Run 14-17 Auckland National North Island Easter Rally 15 Ashburton Easter Run 15 Wanganui Castrol Motorcycle Rally 16 Nelson Ladies Run 16 Nth Otago Ngapara-Coal Pit Hill Climb 18 West Coast Morning Tea at Shantytown 22-23 Canterbury Autumn 3 Day Run 22 Central Otago Autumn Festival Rally 22-23 Taranaki Maunga Moana Rally 23 Northland Combined Swap Meet 23 West Coast Club Run 29 Canterbury Scooter Run 29 Waikato Twilight Run 30 North Shore Northern Raid Rally 30 Gisborne Club Run

MAY 6 6 11 13 13 13 13-14 14 14

Ashburton Manawatu Sth Cant Canterbury Gore Southland Wairarapa Central Otago Nelson

14 Sth Cant 14 Waikato

Swap Meet Post Vintage Rally Mid week Run Rural Run (All Day Trial ) Night Trial Waimea Motorcycle Rally Motorcycle Reliability Trial Cromwell John White Restoration of the Year/John Stichney Memorial Gymkhana PVV/PW/P60/P80 Rally Restoration Run

While Beaded Wheels makes every attempt to check the accuracy of the dates published in this column we advise readers to confirm all dates with the individual branch concerned.

Find out more about the Vintage Car Club Join our enthusiasts as they motor their classic cars, trucks and motorcycles.

Visit vcc.org.nz to download membership application forms or contact your local branch directly for application forms and details.

See page 2 for contact details of your nearest branch.

Beaded Wheels 5

Julie Cairns-Gee

National Office Manager VCCNZ Inc National Office, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140 ph 03 366 4461 fax 03 366 0273 email admin@vcc.org.nz www.vcc.org.nz Office Hours Mon – Thur 9-5pm

national office news Discounts on Interislander and Bluebridge Ferry Crossings All financial members of the VCC of NZ (Inc.) can obtain a discount with Interislander and Blue Bridge. You must show your membership card. The codes are: Interislander – WH5465 Blue Bridge – Antiquecar Executive Meeting The next executive meeting will be held on 11 March in Auckland. Should you have any item you wish to have discussed by the executive, please advise your branch delegate.

Vehicle Identity Card (VIC)/ Authenticity Statement Requirements Vehicle Identity Card/Authenticity Statement applications must go to your branch which will deal with them. The only exception is a straight change of ownership with no alterations to a vehicle.

In this case ask your branch secretary for

Alon Mayhew South Island Club Captain

captain’s log I was at my local café the other day chatting with one of the barristas who is in her early ‘20s and has just moved here from Hong Kong. She has recently learnt how to knit and her boyfriend, who works at a stainless fabricators here in town, taught her how to weld. Two totally different skills but both useful no less. A throwaway comment she made was that if it took longer than five minutes to learn something it was too difficult.

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a VIC change of ownership form. Return the completed form to the National Office.

All applications for Vehicle Identity Cards and Authenticity Statements MUST include photos of the vehicle. Applications cannot be processed without these.

If you require a lighting endorsement for a vehicle you must complete both the Vehicle Identity Card/Authenticity Statement application form and lighting endorsement form and return these to your branch secretary for processing.

Change of Address Please advise the National Office in writing if you have changed address or vehicle ownership.

Branch Transfer To transfer between branches complete a transfer form. This can be obtained through your branch secretary.

VCC Speed Events It is compulsory for any member entering a VCC Speed Event to hold a current VCC Historic Racing Licence and VCC Log Book for the vehicle they are using.

If you currently hold a VCC Historic Racing Licence, please keep an eye on the expiry date and if it needs renewing please complete the Historic Race Licence

That got me thinking about us trying to attract younger members into our ranks and how we can capture their imagination within the first five minutes of getting their attention. To me the best way to do that is to put them behind the wheel and get them driving. Forget how precious our vehicles are and the possible cost of repairs, just teach them.

Let’s face it, we can’t take our vehicles with us and they are going to outlive probably the next two generations as well.

If others are going to own them, let them drive them before they all end up in a museum gathering dust.

Yesterday I put seismic restraints on a hot water cylinder on a building project I have been working on ready for a final inspection. I thought then about the gear stored in my shed. It occurred to me in light of the Kaikoura earthquakes, and prior to that Christchurch, how secure are the shelves and the contents contained

renewal form and forward it, along with $23, and a new one will be issued.

All application forms for the above are obtainable from your branch, the VCC website or the National Office.

Vehicle Identity Card (VIC)Renewal Please note that all Vehicle Identity Cards expire upon change of ownership, or 10 years after the issue date (whichever comes first). The VCC National Office will send a renewal advice out to owners of vehicles who have VICs due to expire.

Please remember that a valid VIC is compulsory for National events.

100 Year Vehicle Badge Financial Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.) members can apply to purchase a “One Hundred Year Vehicle Badge” for a vehicle in their ownership which is: • At least 100 years old since the date of manufacture • Holds a current Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.) Identity Card, confirming the vehicle’s age as more than 100 years since the date of manufacture.

Please refer to the Branch manual Section 40G for full information.

on them? Reading through the South Island branch newsletters, more than one or two had to replace items in their parts sheds that had found their way to terra firma. This caused me to have a closer look at my own parts storage, the security of the racks, what they were carrying, what was down low and what was a bit further up. I discovered that some of the more breakable things were not safely contained and could end up in a pile of broken glass and a whole heap of heartache on the floor. It is probably a good idea to have heavier items lower down and lighter things higher up, limiting the amount of storage above head height. Having rails or even doors in front of the more precious items might be a sensible idea and we need to look carefully at liquid storage and how breakable or puncture proof the containers are. This may be obvious to the thinking man but sometimes a reminder about a job that needs doing isn’t such a bad thing.

mailbag

mailbag

The editorial committee reserve the right to p­ ublish, edit or refuse publication of any item ­submitted as comment. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily express the policy or views of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) or the publishers. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

1948 Hudson Car Is there somebody in the VCC with a 1948 ‘stepdown’ Hudson car in their collection?

My interest in American cars began when I started work for a stock and station firm in 1948. Our farmer clients were benefiting from increased prices for their farm produce. With overseas funds, usually from the sale of their wool, they were able to purchase the new post war, chrome encrusted “yank tanks” which really made a statement. Some of our clients would arrive at the office with their new cars which were much admired. I had a small VPK 127 camera and I used to take photos of the various makes and models. With their individual flair and appearance, I could, and still can, name them from a distance.

Over the years, my interest has remained for those older model cars. I know very little about what’s under the bonnet but I admire the hard work, patience and excellence that goes into restoration of these vehicles.

I regularly attend the Swap Meets and the American Classic Car days and admire and photograph the more recent imports of models that we certainly didn’t see on our roads in the early days. But I have yet to track down a restored 1948 Hudson car. Its new low profile design and re-engineering met with very strong sales for Hudson over several years. Over the years, I have only seen and photographed two cars of that period.

I would be delighted to hear from anyone who could satisfy my interest and allow me to follow up and if possible, photograph their car.

Clive Morriss, Phone 03 358 2753 clive_eileen@xtra.co.nz

Recommissioning I read Paul Hulse’s piece on recommissioning with interest. I’m sure a lot of us in the old vehicle hobby have done exactly what the author has covered, with both our daily transport and hobby machines.

In fact some of us still do, having bought an early, NZ-assembled 1984 Ford Sierra 2.0L station wagon in 2010 to teach a grandson some mechanical skills. It was such a nice car, that I still have it in my garage. I’m slowly doing the finishing touches myself, as the kid has moved on to marriage, fatherhood and a successful career.

What Paul’s suggesting, I think, is an excellent way to get younger people interested in preserving motoring history.

There are still a lot of cars, trucks, motorbikes and scooters that Millenials can relate to (that is important), and many examples can still be found at very affordable prices. Most are simple enough for our next generation to learn how to maintain, themselves, and parts for most are still readably available.

In my experience, such an entry into the hobby usually sees these enthusiasts move onto older machinery.

I’d love to hear what others have to say about the subject...

Peter Cooper Floyd Lippencott Jr Home for Unreformable Hot Rodders Waihi

Saltwater Creek Garage I used to drive past an old ‘50s style service station at Saltwater Creek on SH1 between Leithfield and Waikuku, attracted by the fact that the owner was slowly restoring it. Parked up for many years under the veranda was an oldish three door hatch. Many readers may recall this old garage because of the large sign on the face board of the front veranda reading in large letters JESUS CHRIST IS LORD and in black plastic block letters SALTWATER CREEK GARAGE. Over the years, it has become an icon of the North Canterbury district. Closed for at least 25 years, the current owner, Mr Mervyn Croat, purchased it 23 years ago, from Mr Barry Giles who had operated it as a motor workshop and service station for 30 years. Mevyn wishes to repaint the building in the correct authentic colours of the time, but does not know which oil company his service station operated under. (In the days when the ‘service station’ was an appropriate name as you did actually get service.)

After passing by this building for many years, I finally plucked up enough courage to call in and ask the owner about his Saltwater Creek garage and the car parked up for many years. It turned out to be a 1982 Hyundai Pony 1200 TLS that he had inherited from his mother who had purchased it when nearly new. I was fortunate enough to buy it from him in spite of the fact that many people had approached him over the years, but were turned away. After sitting out there for many years you could not imagine how dirty it was. At least it never got wet in all that time. The interior is a mid-blue and almost like new. Is this the oldest Hyundai in New Zealand? As it is now eligible for VCC and classic events, I thought this

Beaded Wheels 7

mailbag

early Hyundai was worth saving from the demolition derby boys, where many good condition future classics have ended their life. Research has discovered that it is a first generation Pony. They were first imported in January of ’82. Last imported in September of ’82. Mine was first registered in August of that year. Retailing at $10,990. Can any readers help as to an older model Hyundai in New Zealand and any memories (or photos) of the old Saltwater Creek garage in its heyday?

Information on either or both would be greatly appreciated.

Trevor Stanley Soapbox Response, I read Rod McKenzie’s contribution to Soapbox in issue 343 with interest, as I feel that the Club would find it easier to attract new members if the name was changed, perhaps to include the word Classic. He may well have seen no alternative name that seems adequate, but I think some of his contentions warrant further examination. To take his numbered points first: 1. It has not been my experience that the general public see old cars as the same as Vintage cars. To most members of the public, a Vintage car is a very old car, usually of the type more correctly termed Veteran. My VCC-eligible vehicle is a 1986 Toyota Corolla and the commonest remark I get when I tell people I use it for Vintage Car Club events is but that’s not a Vintage car. When I reply that, as far as the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand is concerned, a vehicle only needs to be 30 years old to qualify, they again express disbelief. Indeed, not everybody is convinced it even qualifies as a classic car, let alone a Vintage one.

2. The VCC does not need a change of mind-set as to the word Vintage, it is an internationally-recognised term in relation to cars. The dictionary definition of Vintage also includes reference to Vintage car, where it is defined as “one built between 1919 and 1930”.

3. Once again, Rod has been selective in his quotation from the dictionary.

The dictionary definition of Veteran also includes reference to Veteran car, as “a 8 Beaded Wheels

car constructed before 1919, especially one constructed before 1905.” Contrary to Rod’s implication, both Veteran car and Vintage car are in use internationally, and refer specifically to cars built in the same eras as those detailed in the VCC Club Eligible Vehicles criteria.

4. The first sentence is rather confusing, since it implies that the Vintage Car Club does not already consider vehicles that reach the age of 30 years to be eligible and that members can only own and use cars that are VCC-eligible. I see no reason to change the VCC categories, despite Rod’s rather confused argument in the remainder of this point.

5. I don’t think the general public, or car people for that matter, are at all likely to refer to old cars as 1981 Vintage or any other Vintage; they will continue to call a 1981 Ford Falcon a 1981 Ford Falcon and I don’t see any way in which this will encourage new members into the Club.

Changing the name of the Club to reflect the wider age-range of vehicles is likely to have a far greater effect.

As for the general discussion following point 5, I have never heard a member of the public say they will hang on to an old vehicle until it becomes Vintage although, to be fair, I have never heard a member of the public say they will hang on to an old car until it is VCC-eligible either.

Rod is perfectly correct when he states that the VCC categories don’t mean anything to the general public (or to most car people for that matter) but that is irrelevant to the discussion about changing the name of the club. As for attracting new (younger) members, a club name that makes it clear that younger cars are eligible and welcome would go a long way towards achieving that goal. Failing that, and I have read the various reasons (financial and practical) against changing the name, much more emphasis needs to be placed upon the 30 year rule in any publicity or discussion about the club. We must make every effort to communicate to the general public, the potential new members, that vehicles built as recently as 30 years ago are Vintage Car Club vehicles.

David North VCCNZ has an oversees admirer Following is an email sent out all over the world to members of the Nash Car Club of America from one of their leading personalities. I got quite a kick, when I read this on line.

R I Butchart As I read the magazines that are by-monthly from the Veteran Car Club Of New Zealand (sic) (sent to me by one of

our own NCCA members), I am continually amazed at how much these people use their cars. The magazine lists 36 branches of this club, giving each one’s name and address. Many of these branches send letters to the magazine, telling of their meets. These meets most often include touring for one and often several days.

They tell, and often show pictures, of fording streams with no bridges, unpaved roads, and sometimes crossing farm land where there are no roads. (Some of us are apparently afraid of getting dirt on the cars.) These accounts are extremely interesting. Judging by the words and pictures, many of these members are seniors as many of us are.

Something that amazes me the most is how they use the cars, it is as they were meant to be used. These people apparently really know how to enjoy the old cars.

(And this, many times, is after spending years rounding up the needed parts for restoration.)

Ben Bliss cotterpin70@hotmail.com Photo Description The racing photo on page 2 of Beaded Wheels 343 was shown earlier in the year

by David Barker. At that point in time I was preparing a reply but unfortunately found that David had died, so I didn’t complete my article.

As the photo has now re-appeared I will tell you of its history.

The following extract is from The Press dated 27 December 1905.

“The Canterbury Automobile Association’s first gymkhana, which was held yesterday afternoon at the Metropolitan Trotting Grounds, attracted a very fair attendance of the public. The weather was perfect for the occasion, the only draw back being the dust raised by the competitors, which became more pronounced as the afternoon wore on. A very interesting programme had been arranged but rather too much was attempted and owing to some delay which occurred at the start, it was found necessary to omit some of the items.

However, the experience gained yesterday will be of value to the officials in arranging for any future displays. The proceedings opened with a parade in which some 30 cars took part. In addition to entries such as Ford, Rover, Wolseley and Oldsmobile.

There were also De Dion, Gale, Darracq, Rex, Beeston-Humber, L’ Etoile, Crest, Minervette and a Buck Board. A 5hp Oldsmobile owned by R H Thompson won the first race. A heat for cars of 6hp or

historical snippets of motoring interest from years gone by Graeme Rice

timelines 1904 L’Etoile.

Anniversary plaque.

less over five miles, with H Box in a 6hp De Dion taking the second heat. The De Dion also won the final for the small cars, snatching victory from a small Rover and a Ford. L McMasters in an 8hp Rover won the event for cars of 8hp or under, with a Star second and an Oldsmobile third. Only three starters lined up for the big race of 12hp over five miles. An 8hp Beeston Humber owned by Dr H T J Thacker and driven by A Duncan won by 20 yards, at an average speed of 30 mph from Dr Diamond’s 6hp De Dion driven by H. Box, with Dr R W Anderson’s 8hp L’ Etoile third. An unscheduled race provided the greatest interest at that first meeting. It started with an argument between Horace Thompson, Harry Thompson and Mark Stead about the relative merit of three Oldsmobiles and finished with Stead snatching a narrow victory from Horace Thompson. Harry Thompson lost all chance of his car winning when his car failed to start when the gun went off.”

In 2005 a decision was made to have a rerun celebration of this event.

Being the Veteran Convenor for the Canterbury Branch at that time I was to be the organiser. At the time it was a joint venture between the Vintage Car Club and the A A Canterbury to be held at the Metropolitan Trotting Grounds (now Addington Raceway) The history for this event came to light from Brian Wareing and the AA archive. While I searched for cars that could have attended the first race, the Banks Peninsula branch came forward to arrange all the track work. The police would not allow a shot gun start so we settled for a starting pistol. While

L’Etoile under restoration.

1904 Oldsmobile.

we had a list of the cars raced, there was only one I located in Invercargill under restoration by Harry Latham which was the L’ Etoile, which was raced by R W Anderson, now in the capable hands of Bruce Shadbolt.

The photos show the L’ Etoile as it was and the Oldsmobile raced by Harry and Horace Thompson. The plaque was given to all participants on the day.

A shield was made to celebrate this occasion and is on the wall of our clubrooms at Cutler Park.

Thanks to Bill Cockram from the College of Education for a video of the day.

Thirty of our oldest Veteran cars were chosen for the race track as were six motorcycles. It was a perfect day enjoyed by a large crowd.

Any further information required please contact the writer Bob Hayes bobandree@clear.net.nz Resurrection of the Dodge Fast 4 I enjoyed Kevin Casey’s article on the resurrection of the Dodge Fast 4 enough to be inspired to write. It’s great to know that guys are still brave enough to rebuild a vehicle to what was around many years ago, love it. I had two Fast 4s, restoring one when in Kawerau half a century ago. This car is now in a friend’s care here in Te Aroha. The Dodge Fast 4 five main bearing engine must be one of the best 4 cyl engines ever built. Yes, rear external braking makes for exciting driving and makes you read the road and traffic seriously. My wife drove this car to work

100 YEARS AGO Feb/March 1917 – Did World War I spare the 130bhp, six-cylinder Fageol from failure, or give its makers a dignified exit from their $9500 - $12,000 super-car into war work?

With a sloping radiator, six angled vents on the bonnet, 12 volt electrics and the use of ivory for minor controls, the Fageol was a supercar to end supercars. Over half of the 135" wheelbase was occupied by the $4000 13,516cc Hall-Scott engine. The cylinders, cast individually out of grey and Swedish iron, sat on top of an aluminium crankcase driving to a central transmission sitting in a bronze and aluminium casing.

75 YEARS AGO 1942 – The US government ordered a rapid transition from car to wartime production.

Immediately 250,000 workers were laid off while companies confirmed contracts and changed production lines. Trickier times lay ahead; Chrysler’s tank factory and Hudson and Ford’s bomber factories were 30 kilometres outside Detroit with no public transport. With petrol and tyre rationing workers experienced great difficulties getting to work.

50 YEARS AGO 1967 – Motor sport lost one of its great sponsors with the death of Tony (G A) Vandervell aged 68 on 10 March. In 1958 the sleek, high backed Vanwalls, designed

by Colin Chapman and aerodynamicist Frank Costin, threw everything at the Italian teams, winning a Constructors Championship but ironically no World Drivers Championship. With the lack of performance from the 1960 VW11 and the 1961 rear engined VW14, Vandervell considered his mission accomplished.

30 YEARS AGO 1987 – Alfa Romeo’s chiselled 2 litre Twin Spark, and 3 litre 188bhp V6, 75s were described as “…visually eccentric. With a hotch potch of clashing lines these newcomers don’t immediately appeal.”

Powered by the 148bhp Bosch L Jetronic engine with variable inlet valve timing the smaller engined 75 was described as the better balanced and better handling car.

Beaded Wheels 9

Andrew Anderson

mailbag

everyday with no incident for a couple of years.

I have only been to two Irishman runs in our Model A, loving every minute of them. They were great motoring with all conditions and I now get envious when reading others exploits on this event.

Keep up the good work folks putting vehicles back on the road as they were, and may Irishman rallies live forever along with Beaded Wheels.

Ron Finucane Dodges from Danseys Pass Kevin Casey’s write up in the latest Beaded Wheels about the Dodge vehicles from the Danseys Pass brought back memories of my time up there.

My parents Andy and Lilly Louden owned the Pass Hotel for a number of years from 1947-58 when a move to Enfield took place because of Dad’s health.

The Dodge vehicles were at Allan Brown’s place at the end of the straight road past the cemetery on the left on the brow of the hill before going down to the river bed.

The Brown family at this time were old Ma Brown, mother of Allan, Winnie and Winnie’s boy (can’t remember his name) and the whole place was very run down. It did have electric light though from a wind charger, some batteries for storage and two not very bright lights in the living area.

I do remember two vehicles parked outside, both Model Ts, one was a doctors coupe and slowly going back to earth.

10 Beaded Wheels

The other was jacked up and set up to cut firewood and in regular use and went well.

I only remember the Dodge ute as used

by Allan’s brother Les when married to Elvie Hore who took up gold mining in the German Creek area.

On the hotel run was a mine worked by an old single bloke Mr Frank Christian and Les puchased this. He and Elvie lived in a two roomed cottage also part of the deal but still owned by the hotel and rented by the Browns.

The Dodge was a well used vehicle, a bit rough, but quite reliable. It always went with a crank as the battery just filled up a hole and there was no extra money to buy a new one. The radiator leaked quite a lot so Les mounted a large drum on the deck with a hose to the front and a tap to regulate the flow and top up the water.

This system worked quite well with a top up of the drum occasionally and no major problems.

Les and Elvie shifted down to live in a house that Charlie Knowles built just opposite the Kyeburn cemetery after ill health forced him to give up mining and he died there a few years later.

I can only guess that the Dodge went back to Allan Brown’s place as I was away from home then and lost contact.

John Loudon

the way we were Some things never change and there is always “a good cause” looking for “ancient machinery” to enhance a parade. Dave Mitchell got embroiled in this one and as an old Model T hand, got me to drive it. 1947 saw the rapid growth of the Club outside the confines of the University.

The total lack of spares, tyres and any sort of suitable accessories led us to Teddy Greg, whose Milton St backyard housed a vast shed full of used tyres principally and all sorts of other goodies for the impecunious student. He also employed a veritable army of kids to strip off treads and beads in the manufacture of “sleeves” to allow modern machinery to run its tyres literally into the ground.

Our “toll, tribute and custom” enhanced Teddy’s collection business and many of his “army” duly joined us.

Notably Norm Clark, still with us and the late Selwyn (Spud) Jackson. Spud was an electrical apprentice and made extra income doing repair work on motorbikes of an evening and odd periods on Teddy’s production line.

During the networking period prior to actual forming of the Club, I got Spud to do some work on my Calthorpe motorcycle with which he got so enthused that we did some really fancy tuning with a view to the 250 class at Cust which was due to restart in 1947. We over did the overlap which duly tangled the valves and made a bit of a mess of the piston.

Spud Jackson’s motorcycle repair function led to finding the 1919 Omega motorcycle in a Selwyn St loft early in 1947. It was in fact brand new when I acquired it since it had been bought by the owner of the shop in which we found it, who had fallen off, broken his arm on what was apparently his first ride and simply put it in the loft and never tried again. On his death his estate got hold of Spud for ideas as to how to quit it and there I was looking for some real Vintage machinery and with the Calthorpe in bits.

The Omega had a 250cc JAP with two speed box, no clutch and belt drive made for some interesting city motoring with the run and jump starting.

December 1946: Andrew Anderson in Dave Mitchell’s 1916 Model T in charity pocession – Victoria Square

I was already finding motorcycling a bit of a social constraint. Frequent visits to the library for the Motor and Autocar reading had both Rob and I well versed in the grand marques of the Veteran period together with later Vintage legends. So when The Press advertised a Panhard Levassor yours truly was right there. The Hasty family farmed just on the Christchurch side of Tai Tapu and one of the sons was a police constable in Christchurch, commuting daily in this 1913 12hp example of the marque and didn’t have a very hard job selling it to me. The 815x 105 beaded edge tyres were not too bad and the magneto had been

converted to run with a coil and 12 volt battery for the lights but no electric starter or generator.

The photos are captioned for the first Taumutu meeting which I took the car to. It ran very well and only needed one grass-stuffed tyre to get home. But the presence of the OM’s front wheel makes those photos actually the second Taumutu meeting on 5 October 1947.

Those Autocar and Motor readings gave us some early Le Mans and Mille Miglia legends and the marque OM was prominent in the latter. So when Mr Blandford, the foreman and ganger for the Heathcote County in which the

Anderson family resided, acquired a 2 litre with body seriously damaged in a garage fire, Blandfords and Andersons matched up pretty fast. Frank, the middle of three sons, took it on and got it going really well and looking for some competition.

This soon got Spud Jackson working on the 14/40 Sunbeam that he had sitting by his father’s workshop and garage – bottom photo.

It is Frank Blandford that the Club has to thank for its sporting facets and that it successfully avoided a lot of the cowboy performances that most other clubs have gone through.

BW

5 June 1947 – Andrew Anderson with just finished 1919 Omega/JAP 250. Jim Heard ran this to Taumutu.

5 June 1947 – 1913 12hp Panhard Levassor as purchased and first run to McLachlan’s Taumutu track, OM in background.

Panhard with Austin behind it.

1948 Canterbury Car Club Trial – Rose Street Water Splash. OM Frank Blandford driving and rear seat L to R Norman, their father and John.

Body as originally salvaged from a fire.

13 June 1948 Setting out for the last VVA excursion to Ashworth’s Bush. John Greenslade’s Model T.

Side door of old Bert Jackson’s shed. AAA standing. Spud in hat and Frank Blanford. Dumb irons of 14/40 Sunbeam.

Beaded Wheels 11

Invercargill’s Motorcycle Mecca Words and photos Stuart Francis

1926 Harley-Davidson 1000cc racer.

In 2016 Tom Sturgis announced he was disposing of the Nelson Classic Motorcycle Collection due to ill health and was looking for a buyer to take on his world class collection of over 300 Veteran, Vintage and Classic machines.

T 1921 Rudge V twin.

International motorcycling identity Guy Martin fronts the media scramble.

12 Beaded Wheels

om started the collection in 1996 when he bought a restored Triumph Tiger Cub, which is still in the collection. Since then some 300 or so motorcycles have been acquired and a number sold or exchanged. The collection is a good balance between American, British and European machines.

The trustees of the Bill Richardson Transport World, in Invercargill, took the bold step of buying the whole collection as they saw it as a perfect match to their extensive truck and car collection.

With last year’s Burt Munro Challenge being the target opening date an amazing amount of work was undertaken to open on time.

Three hundred motorcycles, sidecars and three-wheelers, staging, works of art and memorabilia were transported to Invercargill, involving 15 trips in a specially converted car transporter.

Meanwhile a large shop and an old night club, in the heart of Invercargill’s CBD, were stripped out and refurbished to take the collection.

Dave Roberts came down from Nelson with the collection to be the curator.

Once the mad rush of opening and the Burt Munro Challenge has died down, the trustees intend to extend the facilities so more motorcycles can be put on display.

Motorcycle Mecca offers a mouthwatering collection of machines. After spotting six Brough Superiors, six Vincents and my favourite Harley-Davidson, a model K side-valve Sportster, I knew I was in for a real treat.

The sheer breadth of the collection is impressive, with 26 Triumphs, the earliest a 1908 model; 21 Indians, the earliest a 1906 camelback; 17 Harley-Davidsons, the earliest a 1915 Model 11F; 24 BSAs, the earliest a 1924 L25; the list goes on.

The collection also boasts 23 pre WWI machines. A 1902 Motosacoche and a 1902 Peugeot Perfecta are the oldest machines. As with any collection there a few gems that stand out to aficionados, like the 1949 works Velocette 500 dohc, the camelback Indians, the 1931 Ariel 500cc Square Four single overhead cam,

the 1924 Nimbus stovepipe, and the 1938 Zundapp K800 and sidecar.

The collection did have a notional end date of 1970 but there are now a number of exceptions; a Vincent Black Shadow made from new parts in 2007; a 1973 Norton Commando production racer; a 1998 Sims Custom Corbin Softail; two later Ducatis; and a 2000 MV Augusta F4. The collection has also been loaned some machines from a private collector, including Graeme Crosby’s Moriwaki Kawasaki and a superb 1976 Ducati 750SS. There are areas with dedicated themes, including Indian motorcycles, competition machines, Veteran machines and scooters, whilst the bulk of the display is a glorious eclectic mix of machines. John Britten’s Aero D racer, V1100 racer, precursor and prototype 600cc multi valve single engine on loan from Kirsteen Britten, have their own separate alcove. Around 12 of the machines are registered for road use, a significant number could be put on the road very easily and over 90% of the collection can be started up.

I think the collection now looks even better than it did in Nelson. It is on two floors; staging has been limited to two levels; the old exposed brickwork, wood panelling and wooden floorboards add character; there is plenty of natural light and the artwork sets it all off. What gradually sinks in is the extensive gallery of period posters and artwork spread throughout the exhibition, some of the pieces of artwork are worth more than a number of the bikes.

A lot of thought has gone into making it family friendly and wheelchair accessible with an excellent café in the entrance area, and ramps and a lift to ease access. Entry is $20 for an adult and there are discounts for children, seniors, students and families. Discounted tickets for entry into both collections can also be purchased.

Guy Martin’s involvement with the opening of the Motorcycle Mecca and competing at the Burt Munro Challenge generated a lot of national media interest and excellent publicity. To have the Motorcycle Mecca and Bill Richardson Transport World collections, as well as the World’s Fastest Indian and other vehicles displayed at E Hayes and Sons gives Invercargill a massive advantage in attracting visitors to the region.

BW

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A Novel T Ford 1914 Model T raceabout Words Greg Price, photos Kevin Clarkson, Greg Price

I really must get my hearing checked.

When Editor Kevin told me of my next Behind the Wheel assignment, I could’ve sworn he said it was a ‘Novel T Ford Radio’, and initially wondered why BW was doing articles on old novelty transistor radios, (and how did he know I had a few?) but as you’ve come to expect, I got it hopelessly wrong again.

I

t was in fact Joseph and Fiona McClintock’s superbly restored 1914 Model T raceabout. I’d seen this car before when it featured among some pictures taken during a previous Irishman Rally so I expected to see a rather well-used vehicle showing all the signs of having been rallied over mostly unsealed country roads and farm tracks with lots of sheep and cow poos. I was gob-smacked when this pristine example turned up at what has become our traditional venue for the customary road test and photo14 Beaded Wheels

shoot. There was Joseph, resplendent in his motorcycle gear and crash helmet, effortlessly motoring down McLeans Island Road to Cutler Park – and not wasting any time, either.

Once the introductions were dispensed with, and while Editor Kev was taking some photos, I was examining the T for any obvious signs that would indicate its rallying history. I had to get really close before I spotted any, and even then it was only some stone chips on the wire wheels, which I initially thought were spots of mud – until I couldn’t wipe them off. But who cares? This was yet another Veteran that actually gets used, and probably abused at times, yet shows very little sign of its recent life on and off the roads.

At least I didn’t have to race for the reference books for this one as I had been in a Model T previously, and in rush-hour traffic. In the early 1990s I used to travel to work with fellow VCC Canterbury member John Irvine, who bought his Model T tourer in 1965, and still owns it today.

Despite the best efforts of the 14,000 or so Christchurch earthquakes to destroy most things (including John’s house) his Model

T escaped pretty much unscathed save for some stuff that fell on it or against it.

I vividly recall car-pooling with John and another individual back then, and from time to time we would take our classics.

John would take the Model T or his 1946 Ford V8, and I would take one of my MK I Zephyrs. John also has a red project Model T raceabout that has been on-going for about as long as I’ve known him.

Joseph and Fiona’s Model T (or rather some miscellaneous bits and pieces thereof) was found in 2003 with just the basic running gear in various places on a farm at Horseley Downs near Hawarden north of Christchurch. Rumour has it that it was left there by a shearer in the 1930s.

A search of the farm located the front and back axles, the chassis, and parts of the engine which were scattered all over the rural property. Joseph had been collecting Model T bits for some time. Joseph’s Dad, Andrew, had restored his 1912 Model T back in 1980, when Joseph was a mere eight years old. When Joseph was just 12 he was allowed to drive Dad’s Model T at McLeans Island. That was it – Joseph was hooked on Model Ts. Andrew had

some bits left over from his restoration and Joseph thought that there might be enough for another car, but there wasn’t, hence the search for the missing items.

As it was always the intention to build a Model T suitable for the Irishman Rally, a pristine rebuild was not on the drawing boards at first, but reliability and originality were certainly a main factor, and before you knew it, it had become a full-on concours quality restoration.

Back in 1914, around the start of WWI, Henry Ford began supplying just the running chassis with a firewall for the war effort. (Check out the Model T ambulance at the Omaka Aviation Centre at Blenheim). Thus anyone could purchase a running chassis and have the body of choice fabricated and fitted.

Chicago Sheet Metalworks (CSM) was one of several companies that produced bodies for Model Ts and one of their variations was the raceabout. Joseph has used one of CSM’s examples as the basis for his racer. Remembering that the emphasis was on using only original or factory specification parts in the rebuild, this is a veritable encyclopaedia of things period

automotive. The unusual-looking radiator was originally from former Auckland Ford dealer Stan Andrews’ racer, which set the New Zealand and Australian Beach Racing record in 1924 with an average of 93.26 mph and a eye-watering 100 mph plus in one direction. Joseph reckoned this radiator was more aerodynamic than the stock grill/radiator. The front brakes are (probably) 1920s Quadbeck after-market examples and if you are doing 80mph plus, you’d want the thing to stop reasonably fast.

Among the other modifications were the five-bearing crankshaft conversion and the custom sump (to aid cooling) made from scratch by Joseph to a period pattern. The original crankshafts were only three-bearing and were prone to breaking. Another extra is the Muncie overdrive – those of you who perhaps move in hot rod circles will know that the Muncie business has been around for decades and in fact is still producing quality speed equipment.

Back in the day, one couldn’t remove the original Model T wheels from the hubs, so if you got a puncture you had to

fix the puncture with the wheel still on the car. So some after-market Dayton wire wheels were obtained (with a couple of spares) and the tyres are 30" by 3½". This car also has a Corbin speedometer and rev counter. Another interesting fact I learned was that magnetos were not much chop at low revs so to aid starting, a buzz-box was used to aid starting. Once you’d cranked the thing into life, you had to race around to the dash and switch the knob from the buzz-box to the magneto. Originally there were four such buzz-boxes, but Joseph has converted this to just the one which operates via the magneto distributor – and very effectively too, I might add.

In the photos you’ll see the original acetylene tank for the lights beneath the left-side running board. (the lights are not beneath the running boards, the tank is.)

However the lights have bulbs fitted for practicality. And check out the factoryspec Hassler shock absorbers. Aren’t they priceless? (no pun intended.)

With projects like this it is always handy to have relatives residing overseas.

Joseph’s Aunt lives in Canada, and as luck would have it, she knew a neighbour Beaded Wheels 15

who was restoring a Model T but he only wanted to use original parts. The front brakes and overdrive on that neighbour’s project had been rejected for this reason, so they made their way to New Zealand for Joseph’s car. The mudguards and body skin were made in New Zealand by Guss Burke.

Joseph made the fuel tank, bonnet and wooden body frame from scratch, painted the car and did all the upholstery himself.

The machining was shared between his mate Simon Steffans and himself. Joseph now works at Auto Restorations in Christchurch so you can see where he is honing up his considerable skills.

The Test Drive This is the part I was afraid of – a check of the cockpit revealed three pedals marked C, R and B. and to complicate matters there were two external levers that looked suspiciously like handbrakes.

16 Beaded Wheels

And there were two levers on the steering wheel. I’d never paid much attention to the pedals when John Irvine was driving, so I had no idea whatsoever how to drive one of these, and as I’ve said previously, I am very reluctant to learn on someone else’s pride and joy. I watched while Joseph gave Editor Kev the rundown and next minute he was off around the field and then down the road off into the distance. Then it was my turn. Please do not rely on my description on how to drive one of these, but here goes. The pedal on the left marked C is the clutch, but as Spock would often say on episodes of Star Trek, “but not as we know it.” The centre pedal marked R is for reverse, and the right-hand side one marked B is the brake. Confused? So was I – “Beam me up, Scotty”. One of the two external levers is actually the handbrake whereas the other one is the overdrive.

First up you set the throttle, then push down on the pedal marked C, and while holding it down, release the hand brake, whereupon you will move forward. Once you have gained momentum, you then move the C pedal back towards you and suddenly you are in second gear. I managed a couple of circuits of the field, and even got to use reverse. I’m glad I didn’t have to sit an exam afterwards, but Joseph made it seem incredibly simple, so I delegated Joseph to drive me down the road while I clung on for dear life.

It was literally eye-wateringly fast and a quick glance down to the speedo revealed that we were going ….(sorry, can’t say exactly what speed we were going as one of our VCC members works for the local constabulary.) but the speed was such that I now understood why Joseph was wearing a nice motorcycle jacket and skidlid. It might also have had something to do with there being no windscreen. But it was fun

and I can fully appreciate the fascination of Veteran motoring, and can also appreciate the attraction of driving this in the Irishman rallies. Speaking of these rallies, Joseph has taken this machine on every one since 2006.

Joseph has several other projects on the go, including a 1917 Henderson motorcycle and a 1924 Cadillac 7-seater tourer. Bags I get to do the write up on the Cadillac when it’s finished. If it is as good as this Model T then it will be a doozy which is an old American expression for unsurpassed quality.

Specifications: Engine 4 cylinder side valve Bore 3 ¾" Stroke 4" Displacement 177cu in 2.9 litre Compression ratio 6:1 (originally 4.5:1) Firing order 1243 Crankshaft Custom made 5 main bearings full pressure feed extra webs bolted into block for extra bearings Camshaft Custom made with higher lift and longer duration Ignition Bosch magneto Carburettor Kingston L3 1½” Transmission Planetary 2 forward speeds 1 reverse + Muncie overdrive Final drive ratio 3.64:1 (3:1 in overdrive) Fuel consumption Christchurch to Greymouth at 40-45 mph =26 mpg , but normally approximately 22 mpg at 55-60 mph Top Speed:

Two words and one of them is ‘Fast’, preceded by a strong adjective.

BW

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40 years on the hill

Chelsea W.A.L.S.H. 20 November 2016 Words and photographs by John King

Kevin Andrew enjoyed a trouble-free Chelsea with his 1931 Wolseley Hornet, but son Hamish in his 1962 Mini was faster by almost two seconds.

It is interesting how things seem to run in cycles. The Vintage Car Club’s roots were firmly planted in the sporting side of motoring, and while things later became a bit quiet on that front, gradually over the past few decades this aspect

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of enjoying elderly machinery has manifested itself again.

illclimbs have always been a popular form of motor sport, and the Otago Branch’s Invermay event grew out of a sideline to the annual Brighton Veteran run. The research farm of Invermay, north of Mosgiel where the Taieri Plains start into the hills east of Dunedin, with its private gravel road winding up through the pine forest, made an excellent hillclimb venue and ran for years until a change of farm management decided against such frivolous use of its facilities.

Around the time Invermay disappeared from the VCC calendar, the North Shore Branch, by means of careful negotiation with the Chelsea Sugar Refinery, procured the use of the sugar works’ private access road for its own hillclimb. This venue had multiple attractions, not least among them park-like surroundings and a sealed road so in 1976 the first Chelsea hillclimb took place in suburban Birkenhead on the northern shore of Waitemata Harbour.

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The Waitemata Branch, formed initially as a sub-branch, took over the more sporting side of Vintage activities within the Auckland region and has run Chelsea W.A.L.S.H. (Waitemata Annual Local Sealed Hillclimb, with any resemblance to the name of a famous British sporting venue being entirely intentional) ever since.

Forty years is a long time to be organising an annual sporting Vintage event, and all credit must be given to Dean Salter for his patience and perseverance in negotiating, originally with the Chelsea Sugar Refinery management and more recently, after major changes to the park ownership, with Auckland Council, for continuing permission to use the road. The changes have given rise to increased costs, not only in compulsory traffic management on this private road but also in actual charges to use the park facility, but the collective crossed fingers

must have had some effect and the 40th Chelsea went ahead on 20 November.

Waitemata Branch fingers tend to be crossed a fair bit when it comes to Chelsea.

Permission restrictions this year meant no rain date, and because some drivers have demonstrated the occasional inability to point continuously uphill even in dry conditions, a wet day means no hillclimb.

Mike Hope-Cross, who generously donated the use of hay bales and his farm truck, managed to render himself incapable of usefulness, but that was sorted out by Don Suckling whose Gee Cee Ess entry had ruled itself out of contention just a couple of days earlier.

The hay bales remained unsmitten and therefore merely precautionary all day.

Other necessary arrangements included John Gairdner’s visits to all the rented Chelsea houses, resulting in many tenants watching the fun and games from deck chairs in their front yards, and Paul Beesley volunteered his time as first aid officer. He was needed too, by an elderly spectator overcome by the warm and dry conditions and excitement of the day, responding satisfactorily to a drink of water.

Les Harris, at not quite 92, shows considerable competitive spirit on his BSA Bantam.

Lawrence Poolman faithfully enters his 1931 C Type Montlhery Midget MG every year but somehow Steve Aldersley and the C type replica constructed watches it more than he drives it. Peter Croft drove it as consolation for having to leave his HRG at home in years ago by Peter Bruin are always good to watch.

Christchurch, but Diane Humphreys was faster at 40.97 seconds.

His 32.38 seconds was sixth fastest this year.

When he wasn’t using video cameras for compiling a Chelsea 2016 dvd, Ian Goldingham was punting his 1927 Lea Francis M Type up the hill.

Entry numbers for this 40th anniversary event weren’t startling at 29, three of them scratched. The sole South Island entry, Peter Croft, had his 1948 HRG marooned in Christchurch by the loss of the Kaikoura Coast road in the earthquake a couple of weeks earlier but turned up anyway and was rewarded with a shared drive in Lawrence Poolman’s 1931 MG C-type Montlhery Midget.

It might have had something to do with power-to-weight ratio, but Diane Humphreys’ 40.97 seconds in the same car beat Peter’s time by 1.49 seconds. The owner was able to keep a fleeting eye on his MG from his marshalling post, and Diane was awarded the Barry Gay Trophy for FTD in a borrowed car.

For some reason Austin Seven specials, once swarming Chelsea in what seemed like dozens, were entirely absent this year.

Even Rileys were a minority with three, and although they represented the two extremes of times, Robert McNair’s Riley Nine special’s 6,125cc engine owed much more to Frank Halford than Percy Riley.

Starting out at 32.57 seconds, Robert whittled his times down and, at 29.93, rested on his FTD laurels—but always

The Chelsea spectator is hard pressed to decide what’s Barry Howard’s 1947 Stanford Special whistled its more impressive about Peter Morelli’s supercharged 4½ way up Chelsea in 37.41 seconds, courtesy of its litre Bentley—the sight or the sound. supercharged Ford Ten engine.

ready to leap back into action in case Steve Day in his 1957 Briggs Mercury V8 special (30.68) managed to squeak in under that 30 second mark.

Ray Ferner in the Ralph Watsondeveloped BSA special was third with 31.14 seconds on his first timed run, and his spread of less than two seconds over seven runs made him the most consistent driver of the day. (The other extreme was Michael Greig in his Riley with some 45 seconds, for reasons yet to be determined.)

Jane Farris, while reasonably consistent, was awarded the Hard Luck Trophy for her determination to conquer the hill with a very audible lack of horses in her 1956 Standard Ten, a type never overendowed with ponies in the first place. The John Simpson Trophy for the driver having the most fun on the day went to Karl Rolfe in his 1958 Satellite (42.26 seconds), powered by 650cc courtesy of Triumph’s Edward Turner.

John Hartles on his BSA Golden Flash was smooth and quiet at 39.41, but the other motorcycle entry, with less than one-fifth the capacity, was faster. The oldest entry on the personal side was Les Harris at not much over 90, and he

improved on his BSA Bantam’s 47.45 first run to 37.66 on his fifth, thanks to some spark plug attention.

On the mechanical side the oldest entry was Ryan McDonald’s 1923 Chevrolet 490 (43.89 seconds), and vying for most modern (1962) cars were Hamish Andrew in his Morris Mini (36.89, powered by all of 850cc) and Keith Elliott in his Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1300 TI at 33.69.

Competitiveness and determination of the drivers are indicated by the fact that the fastest 10 climbed in under 34 seconds. Places four, five and six were taken by Jaguar engines, although only Stephen Aldersley’s C-Type replica (32.38) looked anything like what Sir William Lyons might have recognised. Terry Roycroft has replaced the family Type 35A Bugatti engine with the Jaguar unit mostly seen when his father Ron campaigned it and was a whisker faster at 32.29 seconds.

Brian King in the very neat 1958 Alfriston Special, which looked like its mother was frightened by a Lagonda, split the other Jaguar-powered entries with 32.30.

Also neatly presented and driven was Anthony Bushell’s Lotus Eleven replica at 32.73 seconds, not far ahead of a pair Beaded Wheels 19

From this angle as it rounds the 160 degree horseshoe bend, Chelsea’s trickiest, Robert McNair’s Riley Nine Special looks like most of the breed, but a nest of large exhaust pipes emerging from the top of the bonnet is a clue to its aero engine motive power.

David Adams is one of Chelsea’s more faithful competitors and his 1932 Sunbeam probably provides the most comfortable drive.

Steve Day’s 30.68 seconds in the Mercury V8-engined Briggs earned him second FTD. Ralph Watson extensively modified a 1931 BSA V-twin three-wheeler to become one of New Zealand’s more interesting specials, driven

by Ray Ferner at Chelsea to third FTD at 31.34 seconds despite giving away multiple litres to the cars ahead of it.

Ian Goldingham entrusts a camera to the radiator cap of the C Type MG. The extra drag added half a second to Diane Humphreys’ time.

sporting supercharged Ford Ten engines.

Graeme Brayshaw’s truly versatile Mk 6 Buckler is as much at home on a rigorous R’Oil Can weekend winter rally as on the Chelsea hill (33.95), and Barry Howard’s 1947 attractive Stanford Special whistled up in 37.41 seconds.

Nearly half the entry was fittingly Vintage in the strict VCC sense, mostly hovering around the 1930–31 mark and ranging in engine size from the C-Type 20 Beaded Wheels

Although not actually driving at Chelsea, Dean Salter’s continuing behind-the-scenes negotiations with Chelsea Park’s changing ownership over the years has certainly earned him the right to wear a participant’s cap, provided for the 40th anniversary by Rob and Viv Scott.

MG’s 750cc through the 1087cc Riley Nines, 1271cc Wolseley Hornet and 1496cc Lea Francis M Type to the upper levels of supercharged 4½ litre Bentley and 6,125cc de Havilland Gipsy Major. Two later MGs, a re-engined TA and postwar TC, helped the Cecil Kimber representation, but the top in elegance was David Adams’ 1932 Sunbeam 20 drophead coupé.

The sun shone, the breezes were gentle, mechanical contretemps were non-existent

Karl Rolfe in his 1958 Triumph-engined Satellite waits for the start signal under the watchful eye of clerk of course Max Jamieson (left) and Lionel Rogers in charge of the wooden-chock-on-a-stick.

and the 40th Chelsea W.A.L.S.H. went off without a visible hitch. The paved nature of the road doesn’t offer the sheer spectacle of Bill Veitch making FTD at Invermay on his Norton International, but Chelsea provides a continuous link with those earlier days of VCC motor sport—and the park surroundings couldn’t possibly be more pleasant.

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Time for another OE? Photos Chris Baird

If you’re looking for some adventure then this year’s Mongol Rally could be for you…

Touted as ‘The Greatest motoring adventure on the planet’, The Mongol Rally has been running since 2004, but this 2017’s edition promises to be the best yet.

Finishing in Russia, with parties planned on a Romania beach and a secret location in the Czech Republic along the way, the 2017 rally is set to be the biggest rally to date.

The aim of the rally is simple, drive from a point in the UK to a point in Russia, with a drive through Mongolia and a few organised pit stops along the way.

There is a slight twist, or two, however.

For starters, there’s no backup, no support

and no set route; just you, your fellow adventurists and a car; with past teams having travelled as far south as Iran and Pakistan, and others venturing into the Arctic Circle.

The fact you’re likely to get lost and end up in a few sticky spots is all part of the experience though, as The Adventurists, the organisers of the event, explain…

“We believe the world is far too safe and organised, that we’ve come to live in ever decreasing circles of freedom. Fear of litigation, greed and a spineless refusal to take responsibility for ourselves have robbed us of one of the most interesting things in life: the unexpected. The Mongol Rally rails against this. It forces you to be lost, to

not know what’s around the next corner, to embrace the unknown.”

The real spanner in the works is the fact you have to do The Rally in the crappiest car you can find, with any engine size no bigger than 1000cc (you might twist the organizers arms to allow you 1.2 litres if you find something really special).

The Rally also gives back to some of the countries and environments it travels through and The Adventurists, through The Mongol Rally and other adventures, have so far raised over £7 million for charities worldwide.

For more details or to sign up for The Mongol Rally head to www.theadventurists.com

Beaded Wheels 21

A Nash with a story Words and photos Jared Dacombe

It was 2010 I was 12 years old, keen on cars, and keener on leaving school.

I

remember visiting my grandfather (Gordon Dacombe) one night. He pulled me over to the computer and suggested I look up Nash Metropolitan in Google. I tapped away on the computer and a brightly coloured two tone car came up.

After a bit more research I found that these wee cars were built in England for the American market. The Metropolitan was known to have been one of the most researched vehicles in the USA. Taken to the shopping malls and such like, a large survey mainly targeted women asking what their ideal car would be like. Asking questions such as; what choice of motor, how many doors would you like, how many seats, what type of gear change arrangement? The survey results helped Hudson with the design of the Nash Metropolitan.

The Metropolitan was designed as the second car in a two car family, for Mum taking the kids to school or shopping or for Dad to drive to the railroad station to ride to work: the “commuter/shopping car” with resemblance to the big Nash, but the scale was tiny as the Met’s wheelbase was shorter than the Volkswagen Beetle’s.

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Nash started Metropolitan production in 1953. It resulted in a small single tone, convertible and hardtop, car with a 1200cc A40 motor and a three speed column change. The initial order was for 10,000 units which were were mainly distributed to America badged as Nash and went on on 19 March 1954 in the U.S. and Canada. Autocar said that “at a production rate of less than 400 cars a week ... it was hardly going to be a runaway best seller” Nash merged with Hudson in 1954 and marketed the car, now a Series II, as a Hudson Metropolitan in 1955. “Demand never took off from the original level” primarily because the Metropolitan was slow by North American standards.

In 1955, a redesign was in order to give the Nash more go power and the Series III was born.

The Austin B-Series engine was increased in capacity to 1,500cc (as used in the Austin A50 Cambridge and other similar cars). New chrome trim sweepspears on the body sides allowed a new two-tone finish to be incorporated which had the cosmetic effect of lowering, slimming and lengthening the car.

The grille was also redesigned, and the bonnet had its non-functional scoop removed. American Motors changed the designation to Metropolitan 1500 to differentiate it from the earlier 1200cc models. The interior was also changed to incorporate a houndstooth check material for the seats trimmed with white vinyl.

The dashboard was also now painted black, rather than the body colour as was the case for Series I and II Metropolitans.

January 1959 saw the start of Metropolitan Series IV. This major redesign saw the addition of an external boot lid (previous models only allowed access to the boot through the rear seat back) and quarter windows. By this time, the engine had been upgraded by increasing the compression ratio from 7.2:1 to 8.3:1.

Sales rose to 22,209 units in 1959, the Metropolitan’s best-selling year, promoting it to second place behind Volkswagen in sales of cars imported to the United States and American Motor’s advertising made much of this ranking. Production ended in 1961. Approximately 95,000

The convertible shell on its side on the turntable looking its worst.

Gordon drilling spot welds off guard

Sandblasted bits?

Metropolitans were sold in the United States and Canada.

After I had realised that they are a very cool, and neat car, Gordon turned to me and said “pretty cool, aren’t they?”

I agreed. This sparked the desire to get one. Gordon had done a deal with good friend Ray Larsen from Christchurch whose wife Marion has a restored 1961 Nash Metropolitan convertible. She had two spare Nash Metropolitans, a complete hard top, and a bare original convertible shell. Both filled with an indecent amount of rust.

We did an early 5am start and travelled down to Christchurch to collect these two cars and return home in one day. A month or so after having brought them home we cracked into it. The convertible was the one to do as it’s just a more fun car having the top down when wanted and also a bit rarer.

We set to work and mounted the shell on to a spit roaster (rotisserie), chopped out the rusted floors and began unbolting the four guards to find that from factory the guards had been bolted at the tops and spot welded everywhere else making

Painted engine

it a longer and tougher procedure to get them off. After that was done it was off to the sand blasters to remove the years of old scum.

The hardtop was sent to my house/ basement so that every day after school I could chip away and strip all the good parts out and sort them into boxes. All looking good, but a small and itchy drama had begun. Fleas had been disturbed by my carry on, and had in revenge take over my mother’s house. After about a month of terrible odour and two attempts of different flea bombs we were victorious.

I was ending my intermediate schooling and heading for high school. I decided it was best I was put back a year and repeated year 8 as I felt I was not academically ready. I have dyslexia, which means I struggle with reading, spelling and writing but I’m perfectly fine with everything else.

This ended up being a good choice, as in 2011 I had been given the opportunity of a lifetime to be a stunt double/trolleydriver in the 2012 New Zealand made film Kiwi Flyer filmed in Nelson. This was a fantastic experience and meant I was being pulled out of school on a regular

Last base primer before paint

basis for filming, which is a lad’s dream come true. (I was learning what I needed to at the time also). This was a distraction from the Nash at the time, but later on we got back into it again.

Now ending my time at intermediate I moved into high school. From now, slowly picking up more tools and skills, I was coming down to my grandfather’s workshop more often after school, usually taking my lunchbox and books out of my school bag and replacing them with old parts from the hard top Nash and bringing them down to buff them up and paint them. Also along the track we found that the original 1500cc B-series motor for the Nash had very little compression and was very smoky; we had to look for other options. Gordon realized that there was a B series motor out the back of the workshop undercover that had been sitting there for a few years. It was a Wolseley 1622cc, exactly the same block, just a bit more grunt. We cleaned the points, chucked a new set of spark plugs in and a temporary fuel can connected. We hooked it up to a battery and it just about instantly cracked into life, we couldn’t Beaded Wheels 23

Having a battle with a 1622cc modified Wolseley at the Pomeroy at levels Raceway.

believe it. It ran as smooth as a bald man’s head. We later found it was a motor from Gordon’s friend Keith Burbidge and he later told us it was a motor that had been reconditioned a few years ago. We gave it a new coat of paint and it was like new.

Moving on another year to 2013, I’m now 15 years old and a year away from getting my learners licence, I was sure as heck keen to have it as my first car to drive/learn in. We decided to have a push and get it on the road in time, setting aside each Wednesday after work/school to work on her, plus most Saturdays. While dealing with homework and study, playing volley ball and what not, we were unsuccessful.

The day I turned 16 I was instantly doing the learners theory test and passed with great excitement.

At the end of 2014 we had now got the convertible Nash shell off the spit roaster and on to its freshly painted yellow wheels. All the suspension, brakes, guards and body were now all done. We found that for some reason the doors were now not shutting and alterations were needed... grrr. While this was going on I had now passed my restricted, and needed my own car.

I decided I’d like to go down the pathway of being an automotive mechanic at my grandfather’s workshop but felt it was best to get in another year at school and that also gave me another possibility; to actually drive the Nash into school and show it off.

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2015 Having set this goal/deadline, we also knew if we got it done then and there, it would also be ready for the Vero international Vintage car run in Dunedin in January 2016. This year it had to be done.

All the hard work was now out of the way, we had successfully finished the entire rust work, and everything was on track to being finished. The underside of the car was all good, motor was in, and wiring was all sorted. It was now down to filling, sanding, and painting and final assembly. Gordon had now taken a month off work to go overseas on holiday to America, and do a Route 66 tour with my grandmother. This left me to finishing off sanding and getting everything sorted.

By the time they had come home, the Nash was now in yellow and the white was to closely follow. Gordon had also stopped into Hollywood, where there is a museum and workshop/parts shop that is dedicated to Nash Metropolitans. There he picked up a few items that we really needed to finish off our own.

I had now officially ended my time at school, but I had my exams left to finish, I had to give it one final push to take it to school. I chucked the old seat back into it, no carpets, no interior trim, no side windows, no soft top roof, just a temporary tarpaulin if it was to rain. It was the bare minimum.

During my time at high school, I made some good mates. One in particular is my good mate Michael Whittaker. We had been talking cars at lunch times pretty much every day of school and we both

have a passion for Vintage and classic cars. I told him about the 2016 Vero International Festival of Motoring in Dunedin. He was more than keen and was coming in his Fiat 124.

It was now two weeks away from Dunedin, Michael had been staying up till midnight getting his Fiat ready for the road.

We left for Dunedin early in the morning. My grandparents had recently bought a new campervan and were towing the Daimler SP250 behind it. The Nash was ready too; I had previously driven it to Blenheim and back for a test run. It gave no drama at all and performed fantastically. We all met up in Wakefield with Michael and set out to make it to Timaru for dinner and camp there so we could do the Pomeroy in the morning.

Along the way we stopped at the Lewis Pass for a small walk and something to eat, then got back in our cars and were about to get back on the road again when Michael’s Fiat packed a sad. It had been running very roughly as long as he had owned it and he had been told by the previous owner that it had a lumpy cam.

This was incorrect and the reason was that it hadn’t been tuned correctly and the jets were blocked. My granddad came over and gave it a quick tune and almost instantly fixed the car.

We were now heading out of Christchurch and were starting to notice more and more older cars about. The Nash had been going well, until suddenly all power just stopped. I pulled off the road and had to call Michael and Gordon to come back, and help me. Turned out that the new coil had died. It was now 4:30pm and in the next town a few kilometres up the road was an old British car wrecking shop. There we found a coil that was the same. We had to bargain with the shop owner as we were not going to pay $40 dollars for a secondhand coil and finally got it for $20. We fitted it up to the Nash and it fired back into life. We were now back on the road but I started to feel a tug. I knew straight away this coil was not going to last, so I informed the team.

Gordon had an idea, and a friend in the same area who runs a Jaguar restoration shop. So we popped into there to say hello and he gave us a super sport Bosch coil.

After that it ran just like new and hasn’t given any bother since.

We made it into the Timaru motor camp and set up. On arrival I noticed a drop in power and only running on 3 cylinders and there was white smoke

coming out the exhaust. Gordon said it might be the head gasket has blown, so that means I won’t be able to race the following morning. With this in mind he said we should probably check the tappet clearance. Turned out that it was only tight tappets and after adjustment it was all good again and ready to hit Levels Raceway in the morning.

The next morning we got out on the race track and had a great time, having done the wiggle woggle, a quarter mile and various other driving tests. The morning had now passed and the calculations were in. Everyone was given a set number of laps to complete in 20 minutes and somehow both Michael and I were given 20 laps to complete. He managed 17 and I was close behind on 16 laps. Everyone was amazed at how well the Nash went, and some even asked if it had a V8 in it.

After it was all over we went to Dunedin and joined up with the rest of the rally. We even had a day where we checked out the steepest street in the world, which I decided, after seeing that Gordon drove his Daimler up it and also

Michael and his Fiat, the Nash would surely make it. I gave it a good go, getting some speed up in second gear. I almost made it to the top, when it ran out of beans. I had to do the world’s scariest handbrake start, on the world’s steepest street. What made it even worse was the fact that the handbrake cable had fallen off the previous day going down a gravel road on the one make day. Fellow Hudson, Nash, and Studebaker owners helped me fix the issue with a six millimetre bolt and nuts to hold the cable in place. So I had to rely on their workmanship in this moment of need.

All in all it rained pretty much every day we were in Dunedin, but the rally made up for it. Returning home we made it back into Christchurch and stopped into Ray and Marion Larsen’s, and showed them what we had done with their two worn out and rusty Nash cars. They were absolutely chuffed.

Wrapping up the story of my 1957 Nash Metropolitan, I entered it in the Nelson car show January 2016 where it took out the major prize People’s Choice

award, winning a large trophy and $1,000 cash. I spent this on getting the seats reupholstered. Also got an article in the paper, telling the story of Gordon and me restoring this little car.

After that I entered it in another local car show, where it won best reconditioned vehicle on display. Practically everywhere I go in it I get stopped by people telling me what a pretty looking car I have. I also gave a talk at our local Vintage car clubrooms (Nelson branch) about my experience as a young member on the international rally and also about the restoration of the Nash.

I couldn’t be more grateful for such a good Granddad/ friend/boss/tutor who has taken the time and effort to teach me and restore this car with me, words cannot explain how much respect and love I have for him.

Since this story has began we have acquired a 1956 hardtop Metropolitan which my younger brother, age 15, has started restoring with my help. But that is another story.

BW

WIN

this limited edition Beaded Wheels cap Here at Beaded Wheels we are always on the lookout for a good article for a future issue.

To encourage you to put pen to paper two lucky authors or photographers per issue will win a limited edition Beaded Wheels cap.

We can accept articles in handwriting, typed or via email.

Post to: Beaded Wheels, PO Box 13140, Christchurch 13140 or Email: beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz High resolution digital photos are preferred.

Please contact me if you wish to discuss an idea for an article. Kevin Clarkson, Chairman Beaded Wheels Editorial Committee. Phone home 03 385 9821 or email kevin@vcc.org.nz Our lucky winners of the Beaded Wheels caps for this issue are Gordon and Jared Dacombe.

Beaded Wheels 25

Murray Gilmore on his 1954 Velocette LE showing a Ducati how to take the corner!

The 50th Arrowtown Run Words Stuart Francis, photos VCC of NZ Southland Branch taken by Southern Exposure

The Arrowtown Run first took place in 1967. It was spawned from what Neil McMillian described as a grumble at a VCC Southland Branch meeting in 1967 that motorcyclists were not being catered for. Neil took up the challenge and gathered together 12 eager participants and over the course of a weekend laid the foundation of the Arrowtown Run.

O

n the first run 12 Vintage machines were transported on the back of a truck to Lumsden (80km north of Invercargill) where they were offloaded onto the railway platform. The run was from Lumsden to Queenstown then on to Arrowtown, through the Shotover area, apparently stopping at every hostelry on the route for refreshments. The riders stayed at Arrowtown overnight and competed in field tests first thing in the morning before riding on 26 Beaded Wheels

to Alexandra where the machines were reloaded on to the truck for the trip back to Invercargill. The next year the run finished at Arrowtown which, bar a couple of years, has remained the route ever since.

The event has gone through the usual fluctuation of entries, sinking to as low as three machines in 1969 and exceeding 100 machines a couple of times in the mid-1980s. However the event has always remained in the Southland calendar and is one of the oldest and longest running VCC motorcycle events.

Competitors assembled at the Lumsden Railway Station for the start of the 50th Arrowtown Run. It was the usual scene of older machines being taken off of the trailer and coaxed (some reluctantly) into life, some middle-aged machines being checked over after the ride from Invercargill and owners of more modern machines wondering what all the fuss was about.

The sheer variety of machines from AJS to Yamaha was impressive with a number of interesting machines competing, such

as Robert Eunson’s 1929 Cotton, Kerry Russell’s 1914 Rover and Ashley Bell’s 1929 Triumph CN and sidecar. Triumphs were the most popular this year (ranging in age from 1910s to the 1960s) with BSAs a close second. Officially the oldest machine was a 1911 Abingdon King Dick, (although Ian Ridd rode his 1910 Triumph when his later Triumph developed a problem), the youngest was John Dixon’s 1984 BMW K100. The anniversary run brought out a number of earlier machines with nine Veterans, 16 Vintage and seven post Vintage competing. There was also a very strong field of post war machines with 28 post war vehicles, 17 post 60 and four post 80 for a total entry of 81 machines, including three outfits. Ten machines from the first run were present, six of which took part on this run. Four of the original riders were present, three of whom took part on this run.

After an informal briefing the Veteran and Vintage machines took off for the first stop at Athol, following SH6, on the short route to Arrowtown. The more modern machines took a long devious

Wayne Nicoll on his 1912 Triumph that he rode on the very first run.

1911 Abingdon King Dick.

Geof Timpany, 1952 AJS.

Ian Ridd, 1910 Triumph.

Jarn Hayes riding the 1927 Indian his grandfather, Norman Hayes, rode on the very first run.

Tony Warren riding Russell McIvor’s 1922 Triumph Ricardo,(which was on the very first run).

Ashley Bell, 1929 Triumph CN outfit.

Overall winner David Sycamore with Branch Chairman Donald Ward and Tony Warren, organiser.

Stuart and Ann-marie Francis, 1977 R100 BMW and Watsonian sidecar.

detour out to the west before re-joining SH6, then meeting up with the older machines at Athol rugby ground for the field tests. Arthur Warren had, as usual, devised some novel ways of embarrassing the competitors (calling them field tests).

Towing a bottle over a rugby post crossbar was totally unfathomable.

Then it was on to the Kingston Golf Club at the bottom of Lake Wakatipu for lunch. The original rally photograph was restaged on Kingston quay with the photographer standing on top of a derelict railway wagon to take the photo. The route then ran along-side Lake Wakatipu, along the Devils Staircase, a real challenge

on a belt drive Veteran or early Vintage machine on this tortuous but very busy piece of road. The run then stopped at Frankton for afternoon tea (or a beer) before proceeding to Arrowtown to park up and unwind.

The Arrowtown town hall was just big enough to house the 110 people who came along to the catered evening event.

Proceedings started with anecdotes from the four riders who took part in the very first run. Branch Patron Wayne Nicoll recounted how he was taken to task about paying too much for the Triumph he bought for the first event, he paid £25 when everybody knew that you didn’t pay

more than £20 for a Veteran motorcycle.

With six classes, the road test, field test and class overall prizes, the presentation took some time. Overall winner was David Sycamore on his 1976 XS650 Yamaha.

The run back to Lumsden and Invercargill on Sunday morning was a relaxed ride with competitors setting off when they wanted to and the back-up vehicle leaving about midday. However it was a rather eventful run back for some with the back-up vehicles picking up a couple of machines. The event was thoroughly enjoyable, a great atmosphere, and excellent roads, long may it continue.

BW Beaded Wheels 27

Ron and his Chrysler celebrate a golden anniversary Words Diane Ross, photos Ron Galletly

I

n 1966 Ron Galletly, then of Nelson now of Ashburton, found his dream car, a 1935 PJ Chrysler convertible coupe advertised in The Press. Further research has confirmed that it was actually built in USA at the Plymouth factory in Detroit but, as was the practice in those days, the badges and hubcaps were changed on Plymouth PJ Deluxe models to Chrysler ones in the USA before being exported to other countries. Todd Motors in Wellington took delivery of six of that model that year. It is thought that the 1935 model was the first to be assembled in New Zealand. Ron’s particular one was sold to Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd, Wellington through Todd’s distributor Independent Motors and is one of two still on the road today. The other is owned

by Dennis and Ros Lowe in Auckland.

Mr Hargreaves, a teacher at Waitaki Boys High School had a third one which was sold to James Grant of Queenstown many years ago and is still around but not going.

The others are unaccounted for.

In 1935 Plymouth PJ made some radical changes from the 1934 model. The six 28 Beaded Wheels

cylinder engine was redesigned to include full-length water jackets covering the entire length of the cylinders. Directional cooling was accomplished with the addition of a water distribution tube inserted into the block directly behind the water pump assuring proper cooling for

Finding such a vehicle must have been a young man’s dream and Ron coerced his father into bringing him down to Christchurch from Nelson to buy it and take it home.

the valve seats and rear cylinders. Except for this the ‘35 engine could have been an exact swap in the earlier cars and it continued for several years. As the adver-

tising poster of the day states “OK.. for high speed… all day.”

Finding such a vehicle must have been a young man’s dream and Ron coerced his father into bringing him down to Christchurch from Nelson to buy it and take it home. In its early life the car had a number of owners in both Wellington and Christchurch. At one time, presumably during the war, it was fitted with a gas producer and looked as if it had also been equipped to run on kerosene. It had been used to transport a full dance band around the Petone area. By now it had changed colour from blue to red and needed a bit of tender care.

However Ron’s life was about to change as along came Marilyn but she fortunately enjoyed the hobby as well and the Chrysler took pride of place as their wedding car.

Marilyn tells how the honeymoon was spent chasing up spare parts, quite fruitfully really as they found a tail light and stalk, a side mirror and a carrier. They didn’t own another vehicle in those days so many happy miles were clocked up, even managing to fit in two little sons,

one in the high chair minus the legs, the other in a carry cot.

Ron’s early life was spent in Mid Canterbury before moving to Nelson but like a homing pigeon he returned and became a farmer. His red Chrysler convertible was seen on many VCC events but his dream was to return it to its original state cosmetically. A lot of time was spent sourcing the necessary parts.

One was a new hood as the old one had a rear window too large to allow the hood to fold down. Ron’s adult son remarked that seeing it at last with its hood down was a first for him. Scraping around the door pillar turned up the blue colour that it was originally painted and with the help of local painter and panelbeater, Panelcraft, a good match was found.

The makeover was completed in time to take part in the 2009 National South Island Easter Rally in Ashburton where it won the Concours and Ron was presented with his 50 year VCC membership badge at the same rally. Many other trophies have been collected since, and Ron was present at the Nelson Branch 50th Heritage Celebrations where the car began its journey in his hands and he was awarded second place in the Post Vintage Class.

Ron is often asked why there are three small holes in the ash tray. He thinks this is where Independent Motors dealer’s badge would have been fixed. He has left the holes in the hope of one day finding a badge to replace the missing one.

BW

1935 Chrysler – Owners Ron and Marilyn Galletly before restoration.

Chassis No. 2578249 Engine No. PJ160093 NZ Reg date. 6/9/1935 Order No. D680-3 1935 Chrysler being unloaded when moving to the South Island

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Two Capes and a Hippo Words and photos Ray Betteridge

Mercedes at Cape Egmont. Photo Margaret Janes

Some years ago while visiting the Bay of Plenty Branch I was approached by a bloke who said he was told that I might like to join him on a run. He then outlined the run. In short, leave East Cape as the sun rises and watch it set at Cape Egmont. I told the bloke about his intellectual shortcomings and forgot about it. The bloke was Alastair Jones and unfortunately this suggestion became lodged in a dark corner of my mind to emerge periodically to haunt me.

S

ome years later I talked to Norm Dewhurst about this challenge as I had heard that he had done it. Sure enough, he had and he outlined some simple rules to me; eight cars max, keep on plodding, stop only for ten minutes for breakdowns and shoot any stragglers and leave them on the roadside (or something similar.)

Google came into play and I mapped a route of 459 miles on classic roads. On 9 December the sun would rise at 5.37 and set at 8.40 and this gave us about 14.75 hours to reach the cape.

So, mindful of Norm’s advice, 12 cars converged on Te Araroa. At this point the Wellington contingent had travelled 430 miles to meet the three Bay of Plenty couples to dine together at Hicks Bay on 8 December to share some initial advice.

There were some loud protests when they were told they needed to be on the road at 4.15am to drive to East Cape and ascend the 700 steps to the lighthouse in time to view the sunrise. Tasi and I reluctantly 30 Beaded Wheels

decided that it was our duty to stay at the bottom to guard the cars.

The day arrived and 12 cars drove around a dark and winding coast carefully avoiding slip damage to reach the Cape.

There were a few pikers who failed to scale the hill. The sun rose at 5.37 shrouded in cloud and after a briefing we hit the road at 6.0.

The return to Te Araroa was far more interesting as we could now see this rugged coast. It was fine and overcast until we crossed into the Bay of Plenty and rain descended reducing visibility and spoiling the view. We had been making reasonable speed in the poor conditions and as we neared Te Kaha the weather cleared to bright sunshine and vistas of brilliant pohutukawas, blue bays and rugged rock outcrops – Vintage kiwi coastline.

Unfortunately, coinciding with this, the Eltons, who were following us, were slowing and the MG decided to call it a day with fearsome sounds of objection,

culminating in total cardiac arrest. So we lost a couple of friends early in the day.

We continued to Opotiki to refuel cars and occupants then travelled inland to the lakes. A quick dunny stop at a lakeside saw Bradley strip to his grots and leap in the lake. On being told there was no time for that rubbish he continued on his way draped in a towel as we travelled along the shore of Lake Rotorua in bright sunshine.

Then, without warning, God pulled out his bath plug and the whole lot landed on us – a wall of water. Bradley was dressed suitably for this in the topless Tiger but John’s Model A and Roger’s De Soto were less fortunate and it must have been bedlam. The A had drowned occupants and a drowned distributor but they were eventually on the way again.

We continued on SH30 avoiding Rotorua town centre and travelled west to cross the Waikato river and stop for lunch at Whakamaru. Here, some people (quite wrongly) predicted that the travel times were wrong and left the group to rush to the Cape so we became somewhat fragmented.

In due course we passed through Bennydale and turned left onto Waimiha Road, a lovely meander through different scenery to Ohura. This is where my Model A had spent most of its working life as a miner’s transport. A stop was needed to catch a photo of two Fords outside the local Ford dealership – a forlorn and forgotten building in a forlorn and forgotten town. The next road we travelled was the Forgotten World Highway, a road not easily forgotten. I did not believe it was possible to make so many sharp changes in direction and altitude in such a short distance. Unfortunately we, and

Two Fords in Ohura.

Intrepid travellers.

our tail end charlie (Colin and Jocelyn White) were trying to make up time due to a hiccup on my part and were honking it a bit.

This extra exertion brought a slight miss in the A and this gradually increased until we had to pull over as we approached Stratford. It wasn’t the usual stuff; plugs, points etc and I reluctantly diagnosed a blown head gasket. We persuaded Colin to go and see the sun setting. We got some life into the beast and chugged through Stratford to turn onto Opunake Rd around the mountain. While under load the A was sounding like a hippopotamus breaking wind in a mud hole, so, discretion being the better part of valour, we reluctantly turned the recalcitrant and flatulent hippo west to lumber straight to Opunake. It did not seem fair to ask for a tow from the Cape if we died and hippos don’t like getting towed as they get sore tow nails.

We fell short of the Cape by 17 miles and saw the sunset from Opunake.

Peter and Perry had plodded through in the Chrysler at a steady pace and seen the sunset, showing that “slow and steady is okay”. The panickers who had rushed off missed the sunset at the Cape as they were way too early and the rest of the group were there in good time to try and make discern the sunset under the low clouds.

I thought the Tour was near enough to “off the bucket list” but Tasi tells me we are returning to do the last 17 miles (and the preceding 442 miles). But as I write this I am still feeling my shoulder muscles!

The team was Bruce and Claire Benge 1946 Ford Jailbar Ray and Tasi Betteridge 1928 Model A John and Deidre Blakemore 1930 Model A Ron and Kerry Elton 1950 MG TD Aaron and Margaret Janes 1958 Mercedes.

Alastair and Gwen Jones 1934 Railton John and Alison Kinvig 1960 Cortina Peter McKeown and Perry 1929 Chrysler Jim and Kaaren Smylie 1930 Model A Bradley White and Simon Sunbeam Tiger Colin and Jocelyn White 1950 Ford F1

(tail end Charlie) Roger and Diane White 1928 De Soto.

The cumulative age of the vehicles was about 873 years, cumulative age of the drivers was about 788 years, cumulative age of the wives/navigators was 480 years (coincidentally all the women were only 40). The Wellington people had travelled approximately 1100 miles.

We had seen some amazing scenery on some amazing roads and travelled with a great bunch of people. Fellow motorists, don’t let this drop off your bucket list. It is a real and rewarding challenge of Vintage motoring!

BW

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rally snippets

King Country: Stephen and Fiona Maunder, 1969 Series 2A Landrover.

Journey Through Time King Country

Words and photos Ivan Stevens

For the last 22 years King Country branch have run an annual rally in early spring. The theme has always been a Journey Through Time and over the years has covered the entire history of the Ruapehu district from early settlement to railway, forestry electrical generation and farming. This year we focused on

King Country: Bruce and Claudia Jeffery, 1929 Austin 7.

King Country: Vehicles lined up prior to start.

32 Beaded Wheels

King Country: Richard and Coral Edwards, 1939 Mercury.

conservation, particularly the native Whio or Blue Duck.

The rally started from the clubrooms and after a short run through town travelled through Hikumutu, Piriaka, Kakahi, Owhango then via Oio Road out to Whakahoro down the Wanganui river.

Taumarunui is renowned for metal roads and one lane bridges and this year was no exception. There was some good metal in the early stages but the last 18km to the lunch stop was quite rough with long single lane stretches carved out of the very unstable volcanic rock.

Lunch was provided at Blue Duck Lodge and was followed by a very informative talk on the conservation and pest eradication programmes under way. A few people ventured over the historic bridge, strictly one car at a time, to visit the homestead and gardens before returning the way they had come.

The afternoon section involved more metal followed by a section of straight line to return to the clubrooms. The rally was 100 miles long with about 60% of that being metal road. This is what keeps people coming back every year, some for all 22 events.

South Otago: Time for lunch and a yarn.

Clutha Rally South Otago

Words and photos John Cook

South Otago Branch 45th Clutha Rally had 65 entrants. After a welcome and morning tea entrants left the Balclutha War Memorial Hall at half minute intervals for the timed section. The route took them over the Clutha River bridge, left onto Hasborough Place and Kaitangata Highway finishing at Kaitangata. The timed section had one speed for all, 35 mph. After a short run around the streets of Kaitangata it was back to Stirling and Balclutha then onto Clutha Valley Road to Clydevale via Awamunga and Greenfield.

The long route went on to Waitahuna West meeting up again at the Clutha Valley Rugby Club for lunch.

After lunch it was a short drive up Clutha River Road to Alan and Heather Duthie’s Argyll Farm for a look around their spring garden. Over in the yard and sheds there was a small collection of Austin and Morris trucks in various states of repair.

The English Fords were the winners this year with Bryan McConachie, 1978 Ford Cortina overall winner and Russell Findlater, 1974 Ford Capri runner up.

South Otago: Some of Alan Duthie’s truck collection.

rally snippets

Slightly soggy in Nelson Veteran, Motorcycle, and Commercial Rally Nelson

Saturday 12 November 2016 Words Jeanette and Ross Sice Photographs Ray Robertson

The weather forecast on Friday did not look good for the old cars on Saturday and the decision was made to cover the brass lights with plastic bags, put the tonneau cover on and get the rain coats ready for the following day.

Friday evening at the clubrooms we meet up with entrants, introducing ourselves to Bruce and Clair Benge from Wellington driving their 1946 Ford jailbar and catching-up with Blenheim members Rae and Lyn Fairweather 1913 Buick, John and Wendy Gray 1914 Ford, Graham and Carroll Wiblin 1909 Schacht.

On Saturday morning, the clubroom gates in lower Queen Street opened at 8:30am and cars started to arrive. Yes, it was still raining. Colleen Carston arrived with the box trailer carrying the 1914 Warrick for Darcy Bovey and Chris Milne to drive. Weather conditions meant it was not safe to drive this lovely little car on the open road so it remained in the trailer.

Meanwhile Dion Schwass failed to arrive on his 1929 AJS. Apparently the pommie manufacturers mounted the magneto in front of the motor exactly where the water flies off the front wheel. Dion was eventually collected from somewhere just shy of the clubrooms. Graham Wiblin had arrived in the heavy rain with the Schacht on the trailer so he opted to be chauffeured as passenger in the back of Darcy Bovey’s Buick.

Warming cups of tea were followed by the rally briefing from organiser Jim

Rally Winners (l-r) Veteran: Trevor and Colleen Carston, 1912 Rover.

Motorcycles: Murray Schwass, 1942 BSA. Commercials: Brian and Gloria Pegg, 1953 Jowett.

Rae and Lyn Fairweather, 1913 Buick, Marlborough.

Wareing complete with his duck caller.

Reluctant motorcyclists and open car drivers headed out into the wet.

We motored towards Richmond for a look at the cars in Richard Conlon’s workshop including New Pick, Jaguar, Austin-Healey, MG, Austin, and a hot rod in various stages of rebuild. Dale Conlon told me that the New Pick is entered in the Wanganui Veteran Rally, the Parliamentary Tour, and the Art Deco weekend in Napier. There is plenty to be done on the car before mid-January.

With the countryside looking so green after all the recent rain, we had a pleasant jaunt over the Moutere, into Old Coach Road, on to George Harvey Road and back on to the inland Moutere Highway. By this stage the water table had risen and many of the creeks were running high and dirty brown. The Mitchell chugged along nicely, but too slow for the Fairweather’s Buick and the Gray’s Model T. They found a place to slip past and disappeared into the mist and rain.

Lunch stop for soggy open car drivers and soaked motorcycle riders (some wearing 1920s oilskin coats with no oil dressing left) was at Richard Horrel’s. Hot drinks were waiting for us as Pat Kennedy welcomed us by asking questions about Christmas day, and wanting us to identify his shiny silver knob!

Our rally sheets were now wet and soggy, looking very close to turning back to a blob of wood fibre. Richard opened his shed for us and gave a talk about the history of some of the cars.

It was still raining as we followed the coastal road back through Mapua to the clubrooms. Trevor Carston needed his box trailer to salvage the Rover after a stabilizing bracket came off the differential.

On Sunday morning we met for breakfast in, you guessed it, heavy rain.

Jim and Kyra Wareing arrived in the MG

John and Wendy Gray 1914 Ford T, Marlborough, Jeanette and Ross Sice 1911 Mitchell, Nelson, Jim and Kyra Wareing 1913 Ford T, Nelson.

Mark Teece 1942 GMC 6x6 Troop Carrier, Nelson.

Glen Dacombe 1938 Royal Enfield, Nelson.

(hood down, if you please). Jim has been so busy he is unable to understand the difference between light drizzle and heavy rain. I last saw him driving around the carpark with an umbrella up. They went back home to dry out before re-joining us in Motueka at the Hot Rod and Classic Car Show.

Beaded Wheels 33

rally snippets

North Otago: 1914 Sunbeam, Colin Pearce.

Windsor Rally North Otago

Words and photos Clive Blunden

The weather gods really looked after us for the 2016 Windsor Rally and there were over 50 entrants from all over the South Island. Two routes were available; A was 40 miles and B 60 miles but had some gravel roads. Not many entrants chose B. The writer with his 1928 Whippet pickup chose the long route and came third in the time trial, I witnessed some beautiful North Otago countryside that is not often visited. Overall the Whippet travelled just under 90 miles.

Rally Overall Winner.

T Buchanan 1928, Chevrolet National Sedan Time Trial Results winners Veteran Colin Pearce, 1914 Sunbeam Vintage Graeme Shaskey, 1929 Dover Pickup PV J Adamson 1932 Hillman Saloon PW R Luscombe 1960 Vauxhall Victor P60 R Hammer 1962 Riley 1.5 Sedan P80 S McMillan 1982 Subaru GLF Coupe Commercial G Ellery 1950 Bedford Ute Motorcycle B Murray 1942 BSA

North Otago: People’s choice went to John and Wendy Martin in their polished aluminium 1926 Alvis 12/50.

Ashburton: John Davies entering the festive season.

Pass we ventured on to Hokitika via Old Christchurch Road. Team Smart and Team Bond attempted to decode phrases and obtain the first portion of the missing microfilm. After much rushing around and laughter we headed to the chartered club for dinner.

Day 2: After short briefing at the motel we headed out to Lake Kaniere then onto Stafford Area Mining Tunnels. Some visited a local cemetery.

Day 3: We left Hokitika with beautiful clear skies and had a leisurely drive to Karamea with a few interesting stops along the way. A great test for the old cars was crossing the saddle with everyone making it. A short stop was made to view a very good collection of Massey Ferguson tractors, army vehicles and some classic cars.

Day 4: Another stunning day and we made our way to The Archways about 16km inland, returning to the Heaphy Track carpark and enjoying lunch in the sun. After a lovely wander on the beach and walkways we headed back to the motel, some of us visiting the local museum.

Day 5: We headed out to Westport, visiting a collection of treasures, tractors, cars, boat, microlight plane, lawn mowers and much more. Rain was starting to dampen the day so it was quickly on to our accommodation in Westport for two nights.

Day 6: This was a highlight for many of us as it included a visit to the Denniston Coal Mine. A trip into the coal mine itself was a lesson in harsh reality. Twelve year olds working in such atrocious conditions, and the loss of life, left us all in deep thought. We went on to view the Denniston Cemetery with too many names of 12 year olds buried there. The afternoon was spent visiting the local rest home and taking some of the elderly for rides in the cars. The absolute delight on their faces was worth the trip. Dinner was at The Buller Working Mens Club that evening. The second piece of microfilm was located after much decoding and Team Smart were declared the winners.

Day 7: It was with much sadness we leave this crazy bunch and head for home.

Ashburton: Lunch at Heaphy Track, Williamsons Chevrolet, Dan Symonds Model A.

Ashburton: Kate McIlroy attempting to convert Paul Fleming’s Austin 7.

First of Summer Wine Run Bay of Plenty

Words and photos Bryce Strong

In late November, 27 Bay of Plenty members in 15 cars departed Tauranga on a run to Napier via Taupo, Turangi, Taihape, across the Gentle Annie to Napier, visiting various points of interest on the way.

On day one we visited the opening of the Aratiatia Rapids at midday, then viewed the farm of Murray Matuschka, who makes fantastic sculptures, and took us on a tractor/trailer ride through the

West Coast Ashburton

14-20 December 2016 Words Sharon Moore, photos David Oakley

At 8.30am we met secretly at the gap in the hedge behind Winchmore Hall and were quickly grouped into Team Smart and Team Bond. Joined by two more agents at Methven we proceeded through Rakaia Gorge up the Zig Zag to Lake Lindon. After a quick stop at Arthurs 34 Beaded Wheels

Bay of Plenty: Springvale Suspension bridge over the Rangitikei River.

farm to view his exotic animals; bison, a zebra, a herd of thar, and many breeds of deer.

On day two, we left Turangi and visited the Tangiwai Disaster Memorial followed by the Waiouru Military Museum. After lunch in Taihape we departed for Napier over the Gentle Annie – an interesting road which must have been a challenge when unsealed.

One of the highlights of our trip was our evening at the Hawke’s Bay branch clubrooms. Our arrival happily coincided with the branch holding its monthly dinner night known as Derek’s Kitchen.

This was a great opportunity to view their new clubrooms and to meet members from another branch – and what a wonderful warm welcome we received from the members. We were given guided tours through their clubrooms, which can only be described as awesome.

Our attendance was arranged through the good offices of their Club Captain Ian Elmsly and we thank him and Branch Chairman Steve Donovan for their hospitality and friendship. Also their spares manager Brian Taylor for showing us their comprehensive parts collection. And to all of the Hawke’s Bay members that were there on the night thank you for the friendly welcome.

On day three we visited the Faraday Centre with its various items of interest

Bay of Plenty: A small part of Steve’s advertising memorabilia.

Bay of Plenty: Aratiatia Rapids before gates open.

Bay of Plenty: 1935 Auburn

– and to our surprise they had arranged to run most of the machine displays for us. Well worth a visit, although it really deserves an extended visit to properly view all its treasures. In the afternoon we visited Ian Hope’s British Car Museum. Unusual, but interesting.

Another highlight was our viewing of Steve Trott’s private collection. Steve has an extensive and very interesting range of memorabilia, but the jewels of his collection are a 1935 Supercharged Auburn, a 1941 Cadillac, and a 1936 Packard – all in immaculate restored condition. Truly stunning.

On Sunday one of our members Alan Pram, who had been a Napier taxi-driver in an earlier life, took some of us on a tour around and over Hospital Hill before we departed to make our way home to Tauranga.

An enjoyable run, made so particularly because of the Hawke’s Bay members. A big thank you from all of the BOP participants.

Otago: 3rd generation of Winter family in the 1900 Wolseley

Otago: Ladies dressed in the era of their vehicles.

Commercial & Veteran Run Otago

Photos Eleanor Harrison, Ruth Edmunds.

Photos from our successful run on 26 November, more on this event in idle torque.

Bay of Plenty: One of Steve’s many display boards of car badges.

Otago: Bruce Murray’s Morris and Simon Henderson’s Model T.

Bay of Plenty: Steve Trott’s 1936 Packard

Beaded Wheels 35

Five Gorges Show Weekend tour Words and photos Carolyn Elcock

George Kear Senior organised the Canterbury Branch of the VCC Show Weekend Tour. With the weather gurus issuing warnings of a weather bomb we headed for the start Friday morning. Arriving at Ouruhia Domain we were met by Greg Lamb in shorts. Maybe he had listened to a different forecast…

A

total of 98 entrants in 48 cars from a variety of eras from Dave Backhouse with his 1925 Hupmobile Model R tourer to George in his 1986 BMW. There was a large turnout of MGs, including Don Muller’s 1930, Rex Cameron’s MGB, Colin Poynton’s MGB roadster, Ross Butler’s MGC, Katryna Shaw and the Dillions in their Midgets.

Still no rain as we headed north west over the old Waimak bridge to Rangiora.

The North Canterbury entrants joined us before we crossed the Ashley Bridge. As we travelled through Loburn the rain started.

Morning tea stop was at the first gorge of our tour, Ashley Gorge. George made a presentation of the 9/90s sheriff’s star to

36 Beaded Wheels

John Kuipers. John was tasked to gather evidence of misdemeanours to extract fines later, with the money being donated to Nurse Maude.

After leaving the camping ground and passing through Oxford, we crossed the Waimak Gorge bridge with the beautiful blue water beneath us and left the rain behind. As we travelled inland on Highway 73 towards the West Coast, over Porters Pass and up through the clouds, the rain continued to hold off. We left the tar seal to travel around Lake Lyndon and it was obvious that heavy rain had passed through not long before we arrived.

No dust, but plenty of corrugations as

we navigated through the high country tussock to Lake Coleridge.

The rain started again much more heavily as we dropped down into Lake Coleridge Village for lunch next to the power station. Groups gathered under huge old trees with umbrellas and coats. Heavy rain continued as we left the lunch stop to pass the Golf Resort and on down the zig zag road to cross the Rakaia Gorge bridge.

The Rakaia River was still a beautiful teal colour but as we continued south the rivers were becoming increasingly muddy in colour. Methven was to be our base for the next two nights.

The weather bomb dumped four inches of rain that night but by next morning the worst seemed to have passed. We headed south through Alford Forest and Staveley to Mt Somers. The War Memorial Hall supper room was opened for us to have morning tea and George gave us a brief

overview of his childhood memories of the area.

Mt Somers is near a semi-circle of hills of 3,000 – 5,000 feet in height. North-east is Mount Hutt, north is Mount Winterslow and Mount Somers, north-west are the Clent Hills, west is the Moorhouse Range and to the south-west the Gawler Downs.

The area is rich in minerals and coal deposits, sand, limestone and clay which have all added economic value to the district. The Mount Somers Tramway was constructed up the Ashburton Gorge Road to transport these commodities to the railway line in town. Lignite coal has been mined since 1864, the original mine near the Stour River is the third oldest in New Zealand. Silica sand was extracted for glass making and fire clay for refractory bricks. The museum is in the old school room and there we were met by Graham and Margaret Cook. Margaret is the secretary of the museum’s committee.

As we headed up Ashburton Gorge Road towards Hakatere Station we could see the railway embankment and loading areas for the silica sand on the side of the hill. This sand is still used today by roading contractors to mix with paint for road

marking. Clay from the area in the past had been used by Temuka Potteries, now owned by NZ Insulators, who currently use it in the manufacture of power pole insulators for New Zealand and Australia.

Limestone has been quarried since 1864 and the original mine near the Stour River was used as early as 1870. Large quantities of the white stone were sent to Melbourne to decorate their beautiful stone buildings.

The white stone used in the corner and decorative finishes of the Christchurch Art Centre also came from here.

We by-passed the Hakatere Station buildings on the way up the gorge, electing to stop on the return journey. The heavy rain slowed but the temperature continued to drop. As we passed Lake Camp on the left the rain turned to mist and by the time we passed Lake Clearwater the cloud started to lift. Later we caught glimpses of snow on the surrounding hills as we continued inland. Occupants of modern cars told us the temperature was about 4°C and with no side curtains in the Model A it sure felt like it.

The view from the saddle down the Rangitata Valley was truly spectacular.

The hills were a golden hue with all the

broom in flower and Mount Sunday was dominant sitting just under the clouds.

This area was named Erewhon by Samuel Butler. By 1861 Butler had gained his lease on the southern bank and established his sheep station Mesopotamia. At the time the only access was from here and across the river. More recently this area was used in filming of the Lord of the Rings. At the bottom of the hill we gathered for lunch as weak sunshine broke through the clouds.

George had arranged for the Staveley Historical and Geological Centre to be open as we returned to Methven. The local children, under the guidance of the school’s headmaster, had collected rocks and minerals from the area. Some of the local rocks had been traded with other schools to form the large collection which was on display.

Over $900 was raised for Nurse Maude over the weekend through raffles and sheriff fines. Thank you to George and his team for a very enjoyable tour.

BW

Beaded Wheels 37

Speed Wobbles in the A30 Words Kevin Wiley

I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself when I read the article on the little white Austin A30 in the July issue of Beaded Wheels. It certainly brought back some memories of my brief love affair with a very similar car.

A

t the time (1965) I worked at Terry Motors, a GM garage in Blenheim, and was a first year apprentice with no money, no brains and little ambition. Under the guidance of a number of other apprentices, who were all older and wiser than me, it was our mission in life to break the land speed record in any vehicle we could get our hands on.

Of course, few of us owned anything that would even get to 50 mph but the odd customer’s car would satisfy our thirst for speed. Our favourite cars for doing the ton in were the black and white traffic cop Vauxhall Velox cars with the 3.3 engine that we used to service. After a tune up it was mandatory to wind the multi coloured strip speedo out to its maximum reading just to check it did not have a high speed miss.

Living 10 miles out in the country posed some logistical problems getting to and from work and with apprentice wages it was going to be a long time before this rev head was ever going to own anything half reliable. However, that was all to change when someone mentioned they 38 Beaded Wheels

had seen an Austin A30 for sale for 100 quid. A fairly hasty inspection took place and despite some fairly obvious shortcomings I committed myself to owning it.

According to some of my mates the proposed purchase came with a host of fringe benefits which included a huge improvement in my social life, an instant introduction to a sex life and all sorts of other non-defined benefits. In reality I became the ‘60s version of an Uber driver with lots of passengers but no money changing hands.

However, there was a flaw in my plan to purchase the Austin as I was not in the possession of the £100. Fortunately one of my more thrifty brothers lent me the money and I handed the crisp new notes over to the car dealer and owned my very first car. The little Austin transformed my social life yet made no effect on my non-existent sex life. What I do remember is how sluggish it was and how it would max out at about 55mph. Because it was so slow it only seemed reasonable to drive it with the loud pedal pressed firmly to the floor all the time. What I didn’t know at the time was that the A30 road holding was OK in a straight line but had about the same roll rate as a billiard ball on a crooked table on anything that slightly resembled a corner.

The honeymoon period with the little Austin lasted exactly a month. One night while returning home the Austin showed its true colours and on a slight left hand

bend it did a low level barrel roll. From my vantage point inside, holding onto the steering wheel for dear life, it did seem to take an eternity but after much banging and crashing the A30 landed back on its wheels. It was a sturdy little beast and I escaped with nothing more than a bit of bruising and some dented pride. The A30 was not so fortunate and had bent and flattened panels but surprisingly had no glass broken. I was now in a dilemma as I had no car but still owed my brother the £100. My only option was to wreck it and try to salvage some money from the saleable parts. It soon became known that I was a source of A30 parts and other owners turned up to strip my vehicle of anything usable. This was my first introduction to the world of commerce and to say I was naïve is a slight understatement. I never made a list of saleable parts, nor who purchased them. From memory, pricing was flexible depending on who you played rugby for, or whether you had a good looking sister who may want to go out with a penniless apprentice without a car. In some cases I didn’t actually know some of the people that turned up to purchase. The only thing I knew was they were all good blokes and were all going to fix me up on payday. (And, of course, put in a good word with their sister).

I can safely say that 50 years on I am still waiting for payday as not a single penny has ever changed hands.

BW

Frank Metcalfe

two wheels

and other things Reviewing my past writing I realise that it is more than a year since I sat down and wrote something for Beaded Wheels. But on this Christmas Eve 2016 I am at the keyboard again.

Why Christmas Eve? Well this afternoon, balmy sunny and calm for Blenheim, Christmas Eve afternoon, I sat on our verandah and completed the reading of Beaded Wheels, Dec 2016. It is an excellent edition and I truly enjoyed the articles. I couldn’t help but engage with and enjoy the words of Kevin Casey and was delighted to read Stuart Francis’s contribution concerning the Bill Richardson Transport Museum. I really think a trip to Invercargill will be necessary. I was so pleased to learn that the motorcycle collection, previously on show in Nelson, has remained in New Zealand. We should all be pleased that this wonderful collection has not been lost overseas.

Of course Invercargill has got further away just recently due to the enormous infrastructure damage occasioned by the 14 November earthquake. For those who don’t remember I am a Marlborough resident and was home in bed on the night of 14 November.

That quake was without question the most serious and savage that I have ever experienced. I was in our home and it rocked and groaned and rolled and moaned in a manner that had me really worried that it was going to fall apart around me. Actually I was upstairs and while worried about the house falling apart I was, because we live on a hill above the town centre, busy watching the town from a window. The fascination was the huge flashes of light across the town as the power lines arced and bit by bit took out the whole town’s electricity. Of course I ended up with a rattling house in total darkness, but moaning and groaning aside we escaped any damage apart from a few minor breakages and a water main that had sprung a leak. The pictures that have emerged of the damage to SH1 and the rail line are amazing as are the coastal scenes where the ocean bed has been raised by as much as six metres creating a

whole new shoreline, new tidal zones and new beaches. I am sure we will all watch with interest the long, expensive and complicated process of rebuilding road and rail as well as getting Kaikoura and its sea and pastoral hinterland back on its feet.

However for this publication the important stuff is what’s been happening in my shed.

The decision was made last year that it was time for us to make a move from our two acre lifestyle block to something a little less demanding in time and energy.

Future plans were evolving around a bit of travel rather than gardening and mowing and that meant I needed to consider shed space; less land would undoubtedly mean less shed. After a good deal of soul searching I concluded that old Steed, my 1951 AJS, would be the sacrificial offering and before long a local chap turned up in his Jowett Javelin seeking to buy. How could I quibble when the man turned up in such a charming old vehicle and made the right offer. And to add to the attraction my grandfather had owned a Jowett Javelin.

He, grandfather, was a totally hopeless driver, probably never had a license having come up through an age where cars arrived when he was well into his twenties and beyond and presumably he acquired a vehicle and taught himself to drive on the rough rural gravel roads that connected him to town and village of the North Island’s East Coast. And so Steed moved

on and I was left with the lovely 650 Featherbed Norton and the 850T Moto Guzzi that I am enjoying more and more.

As it turned out we found the new home we wanted and it came complete with substantial garaging, enough for two cars and two motorbikes plus work space.

We are now ‘townies’ although only just as we sit on the fringe of Blenheim town with the wonderful Wither Hills farm park on one side and the edges of suburbia on the other; a very satisfying change of life.

Neither of the remaining two wheel pair has given me any serious cause for concern to date and as I have become more familiar with the Moto Guzzi I have come to really appreciate its strengths.

It is a heavy thing, but that isn’t surprising when the engine gear box

and drivetrain is examined. It is heavy engineering, that big torque-ridden 850 V twin motor, the beefy but somewhat sluggish gear box and the muscly swing arm, driveshaft and bevel drive create weight. But it’s reliable stuff and it is really only heavy when you have to stand it up or push it around the shed. Once up and running it’s all pleasure. This 42 year old will comfortably foot it with the day to day traffic and find the breath to make a pass or make the best of an uphill passing bay. The electrics came under scrutiny a few weeks ago when for some reason the beast declined to show any interest in starting. The friendly local auto electrics men called in to my shed and ran the tests. The conclusion was that the key start action had tired. Clearly there had been some previous mucking about with the ignition block and it was now a case of finding a new block, very expensive, or finding a way to by-pass the last twist of the key. Everything else on the ignition was working fine except that last and vital need. One option was a starter button, but that was looking a bit messy as far as wiring was concerned. In the middle of the night it occurred to me that there was a spare connection in the new switch block, lights, horn, indicators, that I had had to have wired in to replace a totally worn out unit. That block carried a headlight flasher button but the Guzzi loom had never entertained such technology so the button sat without a job to do. The switch wiring was right alongside the ignition stuff forward of the tank and when I put the thought to the experts a few quick tests isolated the correct wire and confirmed that running the starter wiring to the flasher button was perfect. From there it was a simple and tidy job and before long we had a key to turn on and a starter button that superseded the last twist of the key and gave life to the motor. A seriously good outcome and the perfect use for an otherwise unused headlight flasher button.

Thinking at night does work. A flash of light in the middle of the night.

Readers will probably remember that during the course of 2015 I brought you three consecutive parts of the building of a Vincent. The story was never completed as other demands on engineer/builder Roy’s life put the final push of the project on hold. I keep in touch with Roy and can tell you that it is going to happen. The Vincent will get finished, maybe during the first half of 2017, and I am staying on the case as I really do want to see and hear the finished product

BW

Beaded Wheels 39

Big End Knocks

mutterings of a mature motorcyclist What a mixed bunch motorcyclists are, old and young, the pot hunters and the polishers, newcomers to the game and those who have returned to the bikes they had (or would have loved to have) in the years gone by. There are the old incurables like myself who have never been without a machine lurking in the shed. Those among us who devour the books and magazines and love the history of our game and those who just ride an old bike. Some folk find the most pleasure in the workshop bringing life back to a poor neglected relic and return it to a glory it had long forgotten. Some of us have used our bikes to carry us to places our old legs just won’t go. Among you are old racers and those who have indulged in all the other branches of the motorcycle sport. For some the bikes have been

CAST IRON

the transport to work then it became a way of life and to be ridden for the sheer pleasure of it. Motorcycles are an international language. I have had the good luck to ride in 14 different countries and communicated with riders in all of them in spite of our lack of a common language. I have even been offered rides on strange machines in Indonesia, Sicily, Panama – ageless and international, how lucky we are.

How can you explain to the non believers the pleasure of riding? All they can see is the odd phenomena of sitting out in the open instead of being shut in a tin box. In the saddle out on the open road we can be away from the rest of the world. The phone can’t interrupt your thoughts no one can talk to you. We can smell the air and feel the world about us. Whether we ride fast to bring the adrenalin to the boil or just trundle along, it’s all the same. Swooping around bends along narrow roads up hill and down dale it feels almost like flying without wings.

In fact many of the pioneer airmen and indeed fighter pilots were keen motorcyclists, Anthony Wilding WWI and Johnny Checketts WWII fighter pilots for instance.

For myself I know as I go for my weekly ride I find my mind buzzing with ideas, in fact a lot of this was written and rejected on a ride over the hills.

BW

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40 Beaded Wheels

50 Year Awards Joe Henley Auckland Joe joined the VCC in 1965 and in partnership with his brother purchased three very rough Ford T New Beautys for £50. Later a 1966 Beaded Wheels advertisement for a 1929 Auburn 6-80 caught his eye and this car was secured for £50.

Joe successfully completed restoration in time to participate in the 1972 Nelson International Rally. An Austin Chummy then became a priority restoration and, with the help of his wife Pauline, this car was completed in time to attend the 1980 Rotorua International. Joe also used the Chummy to participate in the 1992 International Rally at Palmerston North.

Joe has an interest in Vintage commercial vehicles and attended a number of Auckland Branch Commercial Campouts during the 1980s.

His enthusiasm remains as strong as it was when he joined and he hopes to carry out significant restoration in years to come.

Owen Hayward Auckland Owen has restored a number of cars over the years including; a Ford Model T sedan that had been in a fowl house for the previous 30 years, a Ford Model TT truck (which he restored for their very first rally, the 1968 Hunua 100), a 1928 Rugby tourer which only required some titivation and a 1922 Paige which he completely restored over five years.

The club has played a huge part in the Haywards’ lives and their enjoyment has never waned. Owen is very appreciative of his wife Jane’s willingness to sit in the draughty navigator’s seat. Owen has done

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several stints on the Auckland Branch committee, including a six year term as Club Captain and he currently works with the Library team.

Three years ago Owen procured a 1952 Dodge Coronet convertible that just requiring a bit of titivating and is nearing completion. It will no doubt give Owen and Jane some very pleasurable motoring.

Peter Webster Auckland Peter and wife Andrea (Andy) had a Ford Model A town sedan when they first joined the Club. They then purchased the bones of a 1927 Ford AR tourer, and a 1930 roadster, both being major restoration projects. They chose to restore the tourer first and Pete joined the MIT night school class in Vintage Restoration, under the expert eye of the late Bill Barlow to learn the skills needed for this.

Other vehicles owned have been a 1912 Michigan, MG TD. They also currently rally a Morris Minor 1000 wellside ute.

The original Ford Model A town sedan is still the standby vehicle whenever needed.

They have rallied regularly all over New Zealand and they won the second 24 hour reliability trial that Auckland put on. They can always be depended on to perform well, whether it be competitive rallies, working bees, or committee work.

Peter has served on the Branch committee, including a spell as Club Captain, and on the social committee.

Michael Curry Wellington Michael’s introduction to the VCC came at the 1964 Easter Rally. Some months later he became the owner of a 1926 Alvis 12/50 which he completed the restoration of in April 1967.

From 1968 to 1971 Michael was a member of that branch committee. After attending the 1972 International Rally at Nelson he spent a year in England doing some motoring in an Aston Martin DB4.

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He returned home without the Aston Martin but with a 1963 Maserati 3500 GTI and a lot of Alvis 12/50 spares. In 1974 he married Jane and built a house, with the result that Alvis motoring was scaled back to more local events.

After the 1992 International Rally in Palmerston North he acquired two trailer loads of parts that 13 years later he turned into a motoring 1914 Humber. Since 2006 this has been his most rallied car.

Michael has attended all eight International Rallies held in New Zealand.

He was appointed Wellington Branch archivist in 2006 and is still actively working in this job Winston Wingfield Otago When Winston started work at Napier Motors in 1965 he became interested in Vintage cars and bought a 1924 Model T. He joined the Otago Branch in 1966 when other members at the time were Jack Wilkinson, Michael Haggart, Geoff Mehrtens and Eileen McMillan.

He later sold the 1924 Model T and found the bones of a 1915 T in Wanaka which he restored and motored and this car is still in use today by a Wanaka member. He used the 1915 T for many events until its sale in the early 2000s.

He now has a TR4A Triumph, Jaguars and a Daimler, one of which gained a Restoration Trophy within the Otago Branch.

He was actively involved with the Southern Festival of Speed for many years until it was discontinued recently.

He and Kaye have attended the 1972, 1996 and 2016 international rallies and have been active participants in many local and national branch events.

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brass notes Although it was early in the motoring season three Veteran vehicles took part on the Veteran and Vintage Tour. Organisers Ray and Glenis Miller started out in their 1918 Hudson that got a fit of the wobbles and was returned home to rest in the naughty shed. Colin and Joan Pearce’s 1913 Sunbeam had a whiney fit and was relegated to its trailer a couple of days before the tour ended. Luckily it only needed some new bearings and seals in the drive to be back on the road again. The ones in it were over 100 years old so not too much of a surprise they were worn.

Laurie Cocker’s 1906 Cadillac delivery van performed superbly and completed the entire tour. This must be one of the most motored Veteran vehicles in New Zealand.

Rob and I have just returned from the Mt Cook Rally where there were also three Veteran entries. Last year Alan Averis’ 1912 Overland had problems and ended the rally on a trailer, but this year motored well. John McLachlan Jnr had his 1918 Cadillac out and it also performed to expectations.

John Callesen finally has the newly restored 1915 Dodge on the road after problems that saw the trip to the international rally at Dunedin aborted. He intends to run the Dodge in the Parliamentary Tour in January.

Stephen Kidd has sent some additional comments to go with the Hupmobile Model N story from Garland Saunder’s story in the last Brass Notes. Stephen had also visited the Coop family property at Port Levy after hearing a rumour of a Hupmobile being on their farm. He previously located his first Hup on Young’s property at Allanton just south of Dunedin. He rode 15 miles on his bicycle from his home at East Taieri to see if he could obtain the vehicle. It was early evening and he was taken out to one of

the farm buildings in the half dark where he could see the 1916 Model N Hupmobile that had been trucked. After discussion, and to his relief, he was given the car.

He was still at school and couldn’t really afford to pay anything for it. The then owner had bought the vehicle to travel from Allanton to their sheep station at Ohau. Obviously he was hoping to find a rear half for the body. Unfortunately at the time he wasn’t directed to the Port Levy car. It was Stephen who left the scraps mentioned in Garland’s notes in the last issue. He also has a photo of the trailer showing the bits being towed by a 1936 Chevrolet. His trip over the hill to Little River, especially the steep gravel road going down to the southern side of Banks Peninsula is still fixed in his memory. The smell of the overheated brakes followed on from the smell of the overheating engine that had just got them up to the saddle for an exciting trip down to sea level again. Alas, the bits he got, although including the sad remains of the rear body section were suffering from Port Levy’s salty air. Even so it was towed all the way back to East Taieri.

His next excursion was to a car he heard about on a farm on a side road on the left leaving Kaikoura. Although he saw the car it wasn’t available for purchase. The roof of the shed it was in was beginning to collapse and was resting lightly on the erected hood of the car. The car was absolutely complete and supposedly had a low mileage.

Colin Winter takes daughter Claire to the altar in the family Wolesley.

I am always happy to receive historic or restoration articles and updates on Veteran vehicles as it is only by readers’ input that this column can continue. Email your Veteran stories to me at randross@kinect.co.nz 42 Beaded Wheels

Thanks to Ian Bade from Raumati Beach who has sent the following write up on his 1913 LMC Motor Cycle 4hp side valve – 2 speed counter shaft gearing. Frame No. 1458G. Manufactured by the Lloyd Motor Engineering Co Ltd. Retail price £61.

Stephen motored his Hup in crude form after he got it running and even competed in the Dunedin to Brighton Rally, the organisers of which were not prepared to disappoint him at the tender age of 16 so agreed if he got it registered and warranted they would allow it to compete. Having inspected the car they had agreed that he would never get it going in time so accepted the entry. They had no idea how determined a 16 year old could be when offered such a challenge.

The history of that Hupmobile N is that Malcolm McMillan was the owner after Stephen followed by Ian Mitchell and finally Charlie Black who completed the restoration. It is believed that the car is now in Norway. According to the late Neil McMillan another Model N had been dismantled in Lowther near the Mossburn turn off in Southland. Stephen collected nearly a whole car from there but there was no body. It was at this point that Stephen sold the car to concentrate on obtaining the Talbot 4CBX that had been dismantled in the Pukerau area. He still has that car and finally got it on the road three years ago.

I met Stuart Cornfield from Australia at the Canterbury Swap Meet. He is looking

This very original bike with it’s original registration NZ14751 was stored by Mr George Johns in Auckland from 1926 to 1980 when it was advertised for sale in Beaded Wheels by the John’s family and purchased by Terry Lowe of Tauranga.

Terry commenced restoration by having the tank repainted and some of the parts re-nickled. It was then stored until July 2015 when Terry offered it for sale to Ian who had tried to buy it when for sale in for a gearbox for his 1911 Paige-Detroit that spent the early part of its life in the Mayfield area of Mid Canterbury. Any photographs or information about this vehicle would be welcomed.

John Armiger has sold his 1912 Renault.

It now belongs to Rolly Bell in Dunedin who also has a 1912 Model T Ford.

1910 Wolseley-Siddeley project owner Vaughan Cooper.

South Otago Branch Chairman Gary Beaumont is gathering parts for for his 1913 Overland project. He would be very pleased to hear if anyone has a spare motor.

1980. Ian commenced a full restoration in August 2015, at the same time restoring a 1913 Mills Fulford Herald side car frame that was made for the LMC and given to him by the late Sir Len Southward about 40 years ago.

LMC advertised their 4hp model as their side-car suitable offering and the bike had the required attachment fittings so Ian’s plan was to mate the bike to the side-car. A new wicker chair was purchased at the September Webb’s motorcycle auction.

In 1913 LMC offered two engine sizes, a 3hp and a 4hp, two gearing options, three saddle options, two petrol filler cap sizes as well as a painted or nickel plated finish. The latter being an extra £2/10- .

Ian’s bike is the nickel plated option as found. All extras are original except the saddle, tool box and tyres.

Ian has also sent me a story that he wrote for the Horowhenua Branch newsletter ‘ A Tale Of Two LMC Motorcycles’ that I will include in the next Brass Notes so look out for it.

Vaughan Cooper of Havelock North has sent me the following information on the 1910 A3 Wolseley-Siddeley that came from Nevin Gough of Mosgiel. The car has been stored in a garage for 60 years.

Both axles had been looked over and minor items (bearings) replaced by Nevin in the past. The chassis was in very good condition and, like the axles, showed very little wear and tear.

Nevin’s father had stored the car since the mid ‘50s. It had previously been converted into a saw bench and survived a fire while in storage. Damage done to the wooden wheels meant they needed to be replaced. The front springs and gear change lever that were missing have since been found by Nevin. Since the journey north the chassis has been straightened, sand blasted and repainted. Archers of Rotorua have manufactured the missing front springs. New bushes and shackle pins have been made and fitted to the front and back springs.

Most chassis parts have been stripped and re-painted and the next job is to re-attach these along with the front axle that needs new U-bolts.

The radiator has LC720 painted on it and Vaughan would like to to receive any information on that registration.

BW Beaded Wheels 43

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Where possible Beaded Wheels will refund 70% of the advertisement cost for any cancellations received after the booking deadline. *Payment by credit card will incur additional bank fee processing charge of 3% Beaded Wheels makes every effort to ensure no misleading claims are made by advertisers, responsibility cannot be accepted by Beaded Wheels or the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) for the failure of any product or service to give satisfaction. Inclusion of a product or ­service should not be construed as endorsement of it by Beaded Wheels or by the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.).

No liability can be accepted for non-appearance of advertisements and the text of all advertisements is subject to the approval of the editor who reserves the right to refuse any advertisements which are not compatible with the aims, objectives, and standards of Beaded Wheels or the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) In accordance with the provisions of the Human Rights Commission Act 1977 Beaded Wheels will not publish any advertisement which indicates or could reasonably be understood as indicating an intention to discriminate by reason of sex, marital status, ­religious or ethical beliefs. Advertisers should take all care in drafting advertisements as they could be held liable, as well as Beaded Wheels and the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.).

44 Beaded Wheels

1914 ROVER FACTORY BUILT VAN RESTORED. Reg BALANCING BALANCING BALANCING, on hold. In secure dry storage. Very low miles since We can balance most Vintage and single cylinder restoration. $27,000. Phone Barrie 07 853 3906 engines, fans, driveshafts etc. Work is carried

MEM WAIKATO out on a modern digital machine. M S Coombes 1915 SAXON CAR. T his is a left hand drive car Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, Christchurch, Phone imported from USA and is located in Dunedin. 03 366 7463, Fax 03 366 7462, Email: It has had a lot of work done on it but due to mscoombesltd@clear.net.nz bereavement the car is now for sale. This car comes with plenty of spares. Phone Graeme Duthie 03 488 COACHWORK F or all your coachwork, woodwork 5242, 027 242 0861. Offers over $15,000. MEM and timber rim steering wheels for your Veteran, Vintage or commercial vehicles contact Designs OTAGO N Wood, John Martin, 11 Bell Avenue, Cromwell.

1930 PACKARD COUPE; 1 915 Model T town car; Phone/fax 03 445 0598, 021 109 1309 or email 1930 Model A 4 Dr sedan, partial restoration; martin_jw@xtra.co.nz MEM CENTRAL OTAGO 1930 Model A Tudor sedan. Phone Rushmore Motors Ltd 03 528 7924, 027 2245 045 or email DISTRIBUTOR & FUEL PUMP rushmoremotors@xtra.co.nz M EM MARLBOROUGH

PARTS AND SERVICE

1931/2 BUGATTI TYPE 50 ROLLING CHASSIS. We rebuild distributors, vacuum advance units, V irtually complete and much work done. mechanical fuel pumps and supply parts new, Downsizing to a smaller Bugatti . The T50 is a NOS, remanufactured and used. very expensive top of the line car (supercharged, Vacuum advancers restored.

4.9 litre, twin cam engine) so no day dreamers Electronic ignition kits to eliminate points. please. Email enquiries to hicks.family@xtra.co.nz Quality Rebuilds,

M EM WELLSFORD/WKWTH 85 Polo Prince Dr, Manurewa, Auckland, 2576. email: peter@qualityrebuilds.com 1952 HUDSON PACEMAKER T idy condition. www.qualityrebuilds.com Restored in 1976. Needs complete fresh engine.

Five new white wall radials. $15,000. Phone 027 943 4403 MEM CANTERBURY

PHONE PETER 09 267 4700

CARBURETTOR RECONDITIONING — including ALLARD PROJECT BASE. ‘ P’ chassis c/w running classic and performance makes. 40 plus years gear and some panels. Engine choices are a) original trade experience. Free advice. Contact Graeme 3.6 litre Pilot V8. Runs but needs complete rebuild. Tulloch, Tulmac Carburettor Specialists on 027 612 b) 41 Mercury 239 cu in flathead. Completely reco 2312 or (Levin) 06 368 2202 from fan to clutch and fully balanced. c) Cadillac 331 cu in OHV V8. Block requires reco but heads HUBCAPS – any problems contact me. and all ancillaries are rebuilt. Too much info for I now produce either hubcap skins or complete this ad so please email for more details/prices etc hubcaps. These are top quality replicas. Pressed bernie.snalam@gmail.com M EM not spun to the closest possible original specifications. I can manufacture any model BOSCH ZU4 MAG, dual ignition, fully rebuilt, that uses the skin system plus many others unused. Phone 07 348 4227. provided they do not exceed 10½" in diameter.

DURANT MOTOR 1924 MODEL “F” $ 40. Collection For more information phone Dave Patten padlocks mounted on boards 140 (1930 to 1980) Replica Manufacturing (2003) Ltd, Phone 027 with Yale poster and book $200. Phone Malcolm 247 7956, 160 New York Street, Martinborough.

03 365 6223. MEM CANTERBURY dave.patten@wise.net.nz FOUR MGB CHROME WIRE WHEELS, chrome good MAGNETO AND COIL WINDING SERVICES Magneto but needs seven spokes. Phone Ted 03 449 2352 repairs, coil rewinding, work guaranteed. We buy

M EM CENTRAL OTAGO and sell magnetos of all types except aircraft.

728 Waimutu Road, RD2 Marton 4788.

GOT VIBRATION PROBLEMS? Phone Warwick 06 327 3849, 027 281 8066, The crankshaft pulley/balancer/damper may be walandlynn@farmside.co.nz MEM the cause. Rubber perishes over time. John at KING-PIN KITS, TIE ROD ENDS, Harmonic Damper Rebuilds can rebuild your Spring shackles, ignition parts, bulbs and pulley like new. He has a proven system to sealed beams, spark-plugs and coils, engine re-rubber and re-sleeve dampers. Most can be bearings, engine mountings, head gasket/ rebuilt as good as new and save you money and sets, pistons and valves, timing chains and engine repairs. 027 666 3350 or 07 863 3350 gears, flywheel ring gears, tyres, carburettors, damperdude@gmail.com magnetos, etc, for all makes and models, especially: Austin, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Essex, DRIVESHAFTS DRIVESHAFTS DRIVESHAFTS Ford, Hillman, Morris, Standard, Vauxhall.

We can alter or make driveshafts with fabric Ronald Lever, 87 Tui Rd, Papatoetoe, components to take modern universal joints and Auckland 2025. Phone 09 278 3888 evenings. yokes, as well as performing dynamic balancing.

We also carry a large range of driveshaft components for car, trucks, industrial and NASH METROPOLITAN 1958 R egistered and marine. M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, warranted. $12,000 no. Phone Richard 04 577 Christchurch, Ph 03 366 7463, Fax 03 366 7462, 0350. MEM WELLINGTON Email: mscoombesltd@clear.net.nz

PENRITE OILS We carry a large range from Vintage to Modern engines. Gearbox, diff, S.U dashpot and water pump grease.

M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, Christchurch, Ph 03 366 7463, Fax 03 366 7462, mscoombesltd@clear.net.nz PISTONS PISTONS PISTONS ­PISTONS FOR VETERAN, VINTAGE, CLASSIC & ODDBALL ENGINES. We can supply piston sets for most makes and models. All piston sets come complete with rings and gudgeons. We have over 700 listings at competitive prices.

M S Coombes Ltd 344 St Asaph St, Christchurch PH 03 366 7463, FAX 03 366 7462 PENRITE ENGINE C O O L A N T A colourless hybrid-organic non glycol based corrosion inhibitor designed specifically for use in Veteran, Edwardian, Vintage and Classic Car cooling systems. M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, Christchurch, Ph 03 366 7463, Fax 03 366 7462, mscoombesltd@clear.net.nz RADIATOR EX VETERAN OVERLAND. 6 00 wide, 600 high, good condition, no visible leaks. $900 or near offer. If no sale will scrap. Phone Russell 07 SUMP PLUG MAGNETS M agnetic Solutions (N.Z) Ltd. Diameter: 10mm x Length: 30mm (Other sizes also available) Code: AD2010H 3 for $20.00 (Prices Inclusive of GST). Freight would be $6.33 anywhere in New Zealand. For Rural Delivery, add $5.49 Inclusive. Email: Sales@magneticsolutions.co.nz Phone 07 847-8881, Fax: 07 847 8851, Hamilton

VINTAGE & CLASSIC QUARTZ h alogen bulbs.

Replace your existing bulbs without rewiring the headlamp assemblies. Up to 100% brighter than your existing Tungsten bulbs. Will fit most reflectors fitted to Pre & Post war cars and motorbikes. Also available in single filament 55 watt P22 & BA 15 bases for use in spotlamps and mechanical dip reflectors. Most bases and configurations available in 6v & 12v. Further info: Norm & Jan Sisson, sole NZ Agent. Phone 03 389 0643 Model Boat Supplies, 38 Ottawa Road, Christchurch 6.

Email modelboatsupplies@snap.net.nz

PROJECT 1924 HARLEY-DAVIDSON twin 61 cu in FE Model 90%. PROJECT 1920 HarleyDavidson twin 61 cu in L20T Model 90%. $18k each. Reply Graeme Williams phone 027 208 8651, 03 215 9565 or gwen.graeme@xtra.co.nz

MEM SOUTHLAND

847 7784 MEM WAIKATO VETERAN WOODEN COIL BOX WITH 4 COILS, no.

675, A Watson and Co., Birmingham, suit pre. 1910 Veteran. Excellent condition. Phone 07 348 4227 VALVES exhaust quality stainless for Vintage engines. Available in blank form or machined to size required. George Calder, 307 Hoon Hay Rd, Christchurch. Phone 03 338 5372 or email gandkcalder@clear.net.nz

DODGE 1922 4 CYL. TOURER. A much rallied vehicle, driven in past Kiwi and Aussie national and international events, by a Vintage Dodge enthusiast.

Sound tyres, renewed leather upholstery and a quantity of spares. All offers considered. Phone Neil 03 434 9470, neil.nonie@xtra.co.nz MEM NTH OTAGO

VINTAGE ENGINE SHORTBLOCKS We can in most cases rebuild your shortblock using modern shell bearings, new pistons and rebuilt oil pump. Please contact us for more information.

M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, Christchurch, Ph 03 366 7463, Fax 03 366 7462, mscoombesltd@clear.net.nz

VINTAGE CAR REPAIRS

Unit 1 11 Penn Place, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch (formerly 15a Empire Road, Belfast) Phone 341 5100 Fax 341 5101

All Classic and Vintage Car restoration.

• Panel making • Wooden body repairs, • Bumpers and moulding repair 37 years experience • Competitive hourly rate.

SWALLOW DORETTI R eg 584DHU. $75,000.

11 years and 11,000 miles since full restoration.

Interesting history. Email rumbo@replicore.co.nz for full information pack and photos. Phone John Rummery Whangarei 021 238 7818 MEM NORTHLAND

VINTAGE AND VETERAN CAR ADVERTISING AND SALES. I maintain a database of buyers and sellers of Vintage and Veteran vehicles, placing buyers and sellers together. No hidden costs.

No computer, no problem. Just give me a call.

Whether buying or selling a Vintage or Veteran vehicle, contact me first. Contact Rushmore Motors Ltd 03 528 7924, 027 2245 045, or rushmoremotors@xtra.co.nz

1913 MODEL T FORD ROADSTER BRASS Ex Elmer Musick - good condition, recent motor work. Battery and starter and lights. $49,000 or offer. Phone Graham 07 888 7799. MEM WAIKATO

WOODEN WHEELS made for your metal­ work. Steam-bent felloes, any shape spokes.

New beaded rims available in some sizes. Phone Vern Jensen 06 323 3868, 16 Osborne Terrace, Feilding.

MEM .

Beaded Wheels VINTAGE TRUNKS made to order or stock sizes.

Dust proof and waterproof. Phone Allan on 06 844 3959 or 0274 469 331 Napier. MEM

Advertising Deadline for Beaded Wheels 345 April/May 2017 magazine is 10 March 2017.

1930 FORD MODEL A 5 window Coupe. Reg and warranted. in very good restored rust free order.$26,000 firm. contact Phone 06 758 0144.

MEM TARANAKI

Beaded Wheels 45

1929 WILLYS KNIGHT O lder restoration. Sleeve valve motor which has been rebuilt. Car has been in continuous use with current owner for the last 30 years. More photos available on request.

Asking $15,000 ONO. Phone Tony 06 377 3064 or wandmlane@xtra.co.nz MEM WAIRARAPA

1926 CLYNO TOURER T his rare car was purchased by the present owner’s late father in 1960. Older restoration, original upholstery.

The car is a runner. Reg on hold. Always been shedded. Comes with numerous spares. Phone 03 342 3965, athlone@amuri.net MEM CANTERBURY

1938 BSA TICKFORD DROP-HEAD COUPE Front wheel drive. Twin carbs. Ground-up restoration.

Low mileage. Very rare. Runs well. Only 14 made with this body. Only one left in UK. Many spares. $25,000. Phone Bill Janes 07 578 7583 or emil sunbeam@kinect.co.nz MEM BAY OF PLENTY

Want to find out how Vero has made home insurance go further?

See our ad on the back page

1934 BENTLEY 3.5 LITRE DROPHEAD COUPE. Coachwork by Park Ward. Imported into N.Z. in 1959. A full restoration recently completed. A magnificent car in every way. Enquiries to John Bain c/- Fazazz The Motorist’s Shop , Christchurch.

Ph 027 274 5279, fazazz@fazazz.co.nz Mem BP

Please advise National Office of any changes of address or sales/purchases of vehicles.

Email admin@vcc.org.nz or post details to VCCNZ, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140

46 Beaded Wheels

1971 TRIUMPH HERALD 1360 Complete rebuilt in 1990. Very low mileage since. Reg and WOF, Receipts for repairs. Very reluctant sale. Located in Tauranga area. $10,000ono. Phone Snow Greaves 07 548 1140 or 021 280 3311 MEM

1926 ALVIS TE 12/50, 4 DOOR, 4 SEATER. Matching numbers as detailed on delivery sheet.

Spare magneto, LED indicators, side and tail lights. 1986 rebuilt engine and radiator. 1992 new hood. 1994 new gearbox gears. 2005 new kingpins and bushes. $45,000 Michael 04 526 9522 evenings.

MEM WELLINGTON

1997 MG, MGF CONVERTIBLE 1800cc two seater with hard and soft top. 109,400kms, 5 speed manual, stainless steel exhaust, new front tyres and battery. Well maintained, owners manual, pleasure to drive. WOF and Rego. $5,500.

Phone 06 878 2941 or email davmargadams@ xtra.co.nz MEM HAWKES BAY

1920/21 SUNBEAM 16/40 OHV, 3 litre. Light sports tourer. 2-wheel brakes. Older ground-up restoration. Low mileage. Rare model. Good performance. Only 7 left in the world. With spares. $70,000 (one sold recently for A$149,500). Phone Bill Janes 07 578 7583 or email sunbeam@kinect. co.nz

CLASSIC CAR STEERING WHEEL COVERS Quality reproduction 1940s/60s style steering wheel covers with foam backing. Made to measure with a choice of colours, inc stitching cord, bodkin and fitting instructions. Diameter of your steering wheel and rim (grip) required. $64 each inc freight. Phone 06 868 4846 or 027 478 0872, rohoney@clear.net.nz

wanted to buy

1964 RILEY 4/72 Almond Green. Body and interior in very good condition with near new radial tyres. Has done 12,000 miles on reconditioned engine and gearbox. Used for VCC events. $8000 ono. Phone Keith 03 208 5403 MEM GORE

1907 WOLSELEY SIDDELEY ROADSTER 10hp CF. Motor has run, wheels and chasis completed. Still needs upholstered. Rego on hold, number plate WS1907. Has a certified factory record certificate from the Bristish Motor Industry Heritage Trust.

Genuine offers considered. Email klodge@xtra.co.nz or phone 03 689 7778 or 027 222 6548 MEM WAIMATE

SUNBEAM TALBOT 90 MK 2 1951. Never restored, just well maintained. Floor change and overdrive gearbox. Orig rear wheel spats. Owners handbook, workshop manual and parts book included plus a boot full of spares. Some minor tidying and small jobs required but warrant and rego are current and has been in daily use until recently. $8,500. Phone 07 863 3554 bhdaly@clear.net.nz MEM BOP

VCCNZ 70th Anniversary Lapel Pins Lapel pins produced to commemorate the club’s 70th anniversary are now available. Contact VCCNZ, National Office, admin@vcc.org.nz to order and arrange payment. $5 plus $1 postage (within New Zealand)

PLASTIC ARM FOR LUCAS TRAFFICATOR t ype SF34 CE. This type dates from mid-1930s, as fitted to Morris 8. Arm must be exactly as shown and in excellent condition, but condition of relay and other parts unimportant. Richard 09 482 3107 gonepps@gmail.com

AIR COOLED PORSCHE RHD COUPE WANTED. Sound running order. Cash purchase or would trade 1976 Morgan 4/4 Four Seater. Phone.

Murray 04 2933601 MEM WELLINGTON

1929 WHIPPET ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX for bottom of steering column inc starter, lights, and horn connections. Also external door handles and temperature gauge or bonnet ornament to complete restoration. Phone Allen 027 280 7195 MEM HAWKE’S BAY

MK1 CORTINA STEERING WHEEL CENTER INSERT, Ford part 113E 3649. Email pgnzed@gmail.com or 021 952 752 MEM STH CANTY

ONE HEADLIGHT LENS – spreadlight, vertical fluted lines 8 5 / 8" diameter. Phone or text Peter 021 059 1937/8 HILLMAN 14 PARTS e specially a head. 0800 M EM WANGANUI Or preferably a complete car – body condition PEUGEOT 203 AND 403 NOS m echanical and does not matter as I am looking for motor and electrical parts for all models 1949 to 1965. Also transmission parts. Phone or text Neil 0274 579 original front seats for 403 any condition. Phone 634, nfarrer@xtra.co.nz MEM WANGANUI Mike Hodgkinson 021 425 431 email mike@ 1938/39 MORRIS 8 AIRCLEANER ( over motor brooklandz.co.nz M EMBER TARANAKI mounted type), hub caps , interior window handles, RUGBY 1928. M otor wanted. Must be 4 cylinder, to and any other parts pertaining to this model. Phone fit M2 model vehicle. Phone Duncan 027 477 8627, Bryan 03 573 9283. MEM MARLBOROUGH or email dsmeaton@xtra.co.nz MEM WAIKATO 1955/56 CHEVROLET – STEERING BOX (RHD) in SOFT TOP ARMS for 1925 Rugby roadster. Phone good condition. Contact David Yorke 06 358 8060 Graham 07 308 7683 after 5pm MEM BAY OF PLENTY or email ozkiwi@xtra.co.nz MEM MANAWATU STARTER MOTOR, LUCAS 12V, TYPE M 418A CH5, 1968/69 MK1 TRIUMPH 2000 o r 1977/78 Triumph for 1937 12/4 Riley. Either complete or parts I could 2500 S model or mid 70s Triumph Dolomite. cobble one up from. Phone Kevin Beesley 021 765 Must have current rego and warrant of fitness.

860 or k.m.beesley@orcon.net.nz. MEM WAITEMATA Phone John on 03 308 6162 TRIUMPH TR3A WANTED, prefer in top conditio.

BACK WHEEL HUB FOR 1928 ESSEX. P hone Graham Based in Auckland but will travel to view. Cash 07 308 7683 after 5pm MEM BAY OF PLENTY buyer for right vehicle. Phone 021 994 444.

CHROME TRIM ABOUT ½ INCH WIDE or 15mm TRIUMPH TR4A IRS A ny condition considered but to go along the side of my Ford Anglia. Does not looking for a good example to drive and enjoy. have to be off a Anglia but would be good if it was.

Phone Peter 07 576 8083, paseaston7@outlook.

4 @ 1000mm and 2 @ 1400mm. Anglia chrome com. MEM BAY OF PLENTY sign and bonnet trim for 1955. Speedo cable outer.

Phone Clive 03 439 5207, blunden@slingshot.co.nz UTE TO RESTORE, p referably Morris Minor,

M EM NORTH OTAGO. Marlborough area, cheap. Phone Glen 03 575 7227 or 027 575 7227 MEM MARLBOROUGH DIFFERENTIAL OR crown wheel and pinion out of a 1948 or 1949 Morris Oxford with a ratio of 4.55:1. VICTA MK11 ( Fuji Rabbit Model S102A) 1964 Phone 027 276 1779. MEM CENTRAL OTAGO Parts required: complete engine, up to complete scooter suitable for parts. Phone or text Brian 021 FORD B FOUR DISTRIBUTOR to complete my 244 3055.

Diamond motor. Any condition considered or information leading to one is much appreciated. 8 TO 12 FOOT STARLINER CARAVAN OR Phone Lindsay 07 888 5798 MEM BAY OF PLENTY SIMILAR. B uilt late 1950s early 1960s. Veteran swift car parts. Single cylinder steam engines.

FORD TT FOR RESTORATION, total vehicle or Phone/text Andrew Marshall 027 611 6225, email sufficient parts to commence project. Replies to steamer.boy@gmail.com M EM CANTERBURY 4 Moa St, Taihape or phone Peter 021 059 0800 MEM WANGANUI SUITABLE, SAFE A-FRAME for towing Model As. Email leonew@xtra.co.nz MEM CENTRAL OTAGO HILLMAN MINX 1936-39 c ylinder head required, would consider a later model head up to 1957 PARTS WANTED — Francis Barnett cruiser, Husky model. Phone Trevor Larsen 021 104 0787 or motorcycle, approx 1937. Any parts or information email tlarsen@hotmail.co.nz MEM AUCKLAND for restoration. 250cc Villiers motor. Phone 06 323 3610 after 7pm or email ingvincent@xtra.co.nz Beaded Wheels 47

SWAP MEETS & RALLIES NELSON BRANCH VCC NZ

Saturday 25 February 2017 Swap Meet starts 7.00 a.m Entry: Sellers -$10.00 Buyers/Browsers - $5.00 Children (under 12) Free

Vintage Car Display – Car parts old & new - Motoring books & manuals - Collectibles – Bric-a-brac – Refreshments – Sausage sizzle – Bacon Butties Venue: Wellsford/Warkworth Vintage Car Clubrooms Satellite Station Rd - off SH.1 - 3 km south of Warkworth

Scenicland 4 Lakes Rally Hosted by West Coast Branch VCC

48 Beaded Wheels

18 FEBRUARY 2017

Site sales contact; Ruth Mercer khmercer@xtra.co.nz • Phone 03 548 6338 Pit Gate, Speedway Assn Grounds, Lansdowne Road, Richmond Sites $20 each • Site Size 6m x 5m Entry non-site holders $2

LAKE TAUPO RALLY

Golden Anniversary 10-12 MARCH 2017

Enquiries to: Rally Secretary, Eric Foley email Tfoley@Jabiru.co.nz phone 07 378 7006 PO Box 907, Taupo 3351

March 18th 2017 Greymouth Area Entries from Rally Secretary b.m.woolhouse@xtra.co.nz 41 Power Road Greymouth

SWAP MEET

ENTRY FORMS NOW AVAILABLE

Rally Route 102 miles Entries close 4th March

SPONSORED BY WILLIAM DREW GOLDSMITHS

SWAP MEETS & RALLIES 2017 NORTH ISLAND

CLUB CAPTAIN’S TOUR 2 – 12 APRIL 2017 REGISTRATION OF INTEREST The Tour will begin at Taupo, and travel to Taumarunui, then on through National Park, visiting, among other things, The Chateau & Horopito (Smash Palace). From here we will travel to Wanganui, where we have a number of collections and places to visit.

From Wanganui the Tour will travel up to Hawera, then Stratford, and on to Whangamomona (via the Forgotten World Highway).

Returning to the coast we then travel up to Mokau and Awakino, on to Marakopa, and then inland to Waitomo.

From Waitomo we travel to Kawhia, then on to Raglan. The final day takes us up the coast again to Waikaretu, to visit the Nikau caves, then on through Port Waikato, to Tuakau and on to the finish at Pukekohe, with a final local collection to visit the next morning, with a rest day to follow.

We also arrive nicely in time for the National North Island Easter Rally, (hosted by Auckland Branch).

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Ashburton: Val and Peter Knight in their posh clothes.

Ashburton: Group travelling on the Posh Picnic.

Ashburton Owen Wilson We welcome Paul Everest with a 1966 Chevrolet Impala coupe.

Our Christchurch Show Weekend run took us to some fresh roads just south of Christchurch and was enjoyed by members in 23 cars.

Our Commercial Run in November took members to places that we have not been to before and we also visited some collections of vehicles in Methven.

Our Posh Picnic for Veteran and Vintage vehicles was held in December.

By a roundabout way we travelled to Eddie and Bronwyn Oakley’s property. Mr and Mrs Oakley judged us on dress and presentation of food and etiquette. Sharon and Ian Moore were the winners with Donald Williamson and Peter Knight also taking prizes.

On our New Year’s Day run 42 vehicles left the clubrooms to tour west of Ashburton before crossing SH1 to tour the east side. We

visited the farm where run organiser Robbie Bell works. This is a potato and onion growing plus cropping property. Robbie gave us a very informative talk on how many tons of potatoes grown for McCain (which are processed into chips) and the huge quantity of onions grown, many of which are exported. The large sheds are insulated so were well appreciated on this extremely hot afternoon.

Auckland John Stokes We extend condolences to Ronald Lever’s family on his passing.

Mid Week Tourers had a successful overnight tour to Te Awamutu where they visited Chris Empson’s car collection and to Kihikihi where they visited David Nordell’s restoration shop. Russel and Jocelyn McAlpine, 1962 Austin Healey Sprite and Colin and Lenise Bott, Daimler 250 saloon came first equal in John and Pat Campbell’s tulip rally. This year’s Gymnic was held at Beaded Wheels 51

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Auckland: Don Green 1974 Honda 350/4.

Auckland: Murray Firth’s Morris 10 restoration.

Murray and Penny Firth’s property in Oratia where Murray displayed his Morris 10 restoration project. A very original D Series Ford and a K Model Bedford were also on display. The gymkhana was won by Russel McAlpine in his 1930 Model A Ford. The library has acquired a parts book for the Renault charabanc. Bill Hulse and Frank Lester have volunteered to help Dudley Kitson in the spares department. They are welcome additions to that group. About 80 people attended a very successful pot luck Christmas dinner at the clubrooms. About 40 bikes and 32 cars attended the New Year’s Day run to Kiaua.

Motorcycles: Don Green won the restoration trophy with his 1974 Honda 350/4.

Brian Gathercole won the Wet Leg Run on his 1954 Matchless. Dave Tomkins has rejoined with a 1957 Norton 19S, and we welcome Gary Cooper with a Matchless G3LS, a G80 and a 1971 Triumph TR6 bike.

Veteran: We congratulate Jim Francis on achieving his 95th birthday. He still drives his 1910 Delage. Jim Boag has bought Michael Currie’s 1915 Humber. George Mihaljevich’s 1913 Talbot “The Weta” has been repainted and all exterior wood work re-varnished. The charabanc took part in the Auckland Santa parade and our annual Gymnic.

Vintage: We welcome John and Susan Cameron, 1924 Dodge Four tourer and Ron

52 Beaded Wheels

Auckland: Tulip Rally winners Russel and Jocelyn McAlpine, 1962 Austin Healey Sprite.

Richards, 1915 and 1924 Model T Fords and a 1928 Model A Ford Phaeton.

Post Vintage: John Cheale has just bought a 1937 Ford V8 Fordor sedan.

Classic: Stephen and Tracey Winterbottom have almost finished the restoration of their 1962 Standard Vanguard Six. Bruce McDonald has rejoined with a 1972 Toyota Corona coupe and a ‘72 Datsun 1200 coupe. Bob Pickering’s 1967 Chev Impala just awaits its paint job, then restoration is complete.

Bay of Plenty Bryce Strong We welcome new Members Ray Findlay, Kevin Carlaw and Isabelita Bailie, Michael Thorman, Edgar Body, Peter and June Smith, Owen and Judy Johnston, L and G. Hallen, Peter Smith, and Murray Sutton.

In late November we completed our First of the Summer Wine run from Tauranga to Napier via Taupo, Turangi, Taihape, and across the Gentle Annie road to Napier, with 27 members in 15 cars taking part. Places of interest visited included the opening of the Aratiatia Rapids, the farm of artist Murrray Matuschka, the Memorial to the Tangiwai disaster and the Waiouru Military Museum.

After lunch in Taihape we departed for Napier over the Gentle Annie road – an interesting road which must have been a challenge when unsealed. A highlight was our evening at the Hawkes Bay Branch where we received a warm welcome. On

day three we visited the Faraday Centre and the British Car Museum, and another highlight, Steve Trott’s extensive and very interesting range of memorabilia, a 1935 Supercharged Auburn, a 1941 Cadillac, and a 1936 Packard – all in immaculate restored condition.

The winner of the restoration of the year is Doug Wood’s 1929 Morris Minor sports.

On 21 December Chris Cole organised another of his Glimpse of the Future events to bring a bit of Christmas Cheer to the residents of some of the numerous retirement villages located in the Bay of Plenty. The run commenced at Matua Lifecare, then to Greenwood Park, to some of the villages in Papamoa and Mount Maunganui. It ended at Bob Owens retirement village where a light Christmas lunch was provided.

Canterbury Tony Becker The closure of Canterbury Branch’s 60th Anniversary year featured a most appropriate climax, our Diamond Jubilee Grand Ball. And grand it was! The talented 12 piece Mainland Band filled the grandly decorated clubrooms with the familiar sounds of the roaring ‘20s to the swinging ‘70s. Big band music and good vocalists made for a busy floor. Spot prizes, brilliant supper and continuous snacks made this one of the most memorable events enjoyed at Cutler Park. Another 60th celebration was the Annual Show Weekend Tour.

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Bay of Plenty: Restoration of the year winner, Doug Wood’s 1929 Morris Minor sports.

Canterbury: Show Weekend Tour: Show Weekend Saturday picnic lunch near Erewhon Station.

Central Hawke’s Bay: Ray and Adrienne Freemantle’s Morris Minor.

Central Hawke’s Bay: Christmas parade float.

A wet start did not dampen spirits and the weather slowly improved as our Five Gorges Tour came to an end. Based in Methven and organised by George and Marianne Kear, this was a most enjoyable social weekend. One of the best supported Canterbury Branch annuals is the Homestead Run. John Stewart’s amazing garden was an inspirational place from which to commence a fabulous day touring North Canterbury homesteads. Up to 160 vehicles collectively valued at several millions of dollars, carried some 450 family, friends and members to gorgeous North Canterbury farm properties on that perfect hot day. This particular annual rally proves the popularity of showing off our best iron while enjoying a day’s motoring with company to somewhere scenic. Winding down 2016 included the Annual Children’s Christmas Picnic complete with Santa and gifts. December’s Christmas lunch attracted up to ninety 9-90s members, however, the previous month’s mid-weeker should not escape mention. Famous Canterbury son, Dan Carter featured in this one. Southbridge Rugby Club sports a large collection of trophies and international rugby jerseys from its rich All Black history. Dan’s Dad, Neville, entertained us with humour and inside stories while son Dan’s two World Cup Gold medals were passed around and photographed on some unlikely chests. A memorable visit thanks to Bob and Esme Humm. In November

37 treasured motorbikes, some more than 100 years old, emerged for their Annual Rally. First stop was the 4th Annual Smash Palace Bike Show in which our contingent became an appendix to an incredible display of machines at the private Linwood Ave garden. Lunch location was a virtual stone’s throw away at Ferrymead Heritage Park.

Central Hawke’s Bay John Foot We welcome our first junior member Ella Fleming. Welcome also to Rex and Pamela Elmers, Pip and Jenny Halford, Janet Rendle, Arthur Scrimshaw and Heather Alexander, and Ken Lyons.

Mid November we had 13 cars ranging in age from 1914 to 1972 on display at the Central Hawke’s Bay A & P Show.

2016 was also the fifth birthday of our branch and in December total membership reached 100. In November we celebrated our birthday with our Annual Veteran Rally and we combined this with an event for all other club eligible vehicles. There were two separate routes with the 12 Veteran and 22 all other class vehicles meeting at the Patangata Tavern for lunch. The evening dinner and prize giving was at the Waipukurau Club with the entertainment being a Rolf Harris style painting demonstration with the three paintings being donated to the Branch and auctioned with the proceeds going to branch funds. On the following day we

Canterbury: The collection of Dan Carter’s rugby gear at Southbridge.

Central Hawke’s Bay: Veterans at lunch break.

had a Scavenger Hunt to Norsewood and a visit to a member’s collection and garden.

Early December was the Waipukurau annual Christmas Parade with a theme of Under The Christmas Tree. The Branch decorated a float with a Ford model AA truck under the Christmas tree followed by several members’ vehicles, among them the first time out immaculately restored Ray and Adrienne Freemantle’s Morris Minor.

The monthly, and end of year, run was to a member’s bach at Waimarama Beach for a pot luck lunch.

EBOP Peter Donovan It is of interest that our Branch has been approached to facilitate three VIC requests for non-members lately. Interest in classic cars and bikes is quite strong locally.

Five of our cars joined about 30 others at the Opotiki Show and Shine recently on a cool but relaxed day, offering good opportunity to get to know the local car enthusiasts. Of special interest were the 200 or so motorcycles which called throughout the day.

Our annual get-together with the Gisborne Branch took place in early November with seven of our cars taking part. Three cars returned via the East Coast in fine weather initially, but from Waihau Bay to Opotiki it was extremely wet!

A couple of cars travelled to Litchfield to join South Waikato’s TTT Rally, reporting Beaded Wheels 53

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EBOP: Edgecumbe Parade, Wally and Chris Robertson leading in their DX Vauxhall.

Far North: 2016 Autospectacular.

EBOP: Whakatane Christmas Parade, Steve and Joy Far North: Harley-Davidson at the Autospectacular.

Growden’s Plymouth and John Steiner’s Model A .

back on the interesting programe, friendly atmosphere and 25 silent checks on roads you would never normally drive on.

As it is each year, several local Christmas parades provided opportunity for public focus on some of our members’ vehicles.

Far North Rawyn Pennell The 2017 Autospectacular, held at the Eastern Rugby Football club grounds in Taipa on Saturday 7 January was another successful event for the Far North Vintage Car Club and the various teams of members putting together a day of family fun for everyone who attended.

This year’s theme was “The Need for Speed” and even though the three vehicles which tied for the Best in Show were perhaps of a more dignified age, there were certainly many vehicles displayed that fitted the criteria admirably. Best in Show People’s Choice went to P Johnson 1956 Bel Air, second place H Compter 1909 Motobloc Type O, and third G Bourne 1967 Ford. Over 230 Vintage, classic and high performance vehicles, motorcycles and commercials were displayed on another brilliant Far North day, attracting many admirers of all ages.

There was a new section this year, and the inaugural trophy for the Best Club display went to the Bay of Islands Classic and Sports Car Club for their outstanding collection of prestige vehicles, with the Far North VW Fun Club runner up.

54 Beaded Wheels

The sound of thunder from the Road and Sport Harley-Davidson drag bike was a good draw when it was fired up.

The most popular motorcycle was an extremely well illuminated 2003 PX Vespa, and the runner up a 1924 BSA, which truly reflected the diversity of the show machines. Mangonui Haulage’s “Western Star” won the commercial section and it is always satisfying to see the public admiring the huge vehicles that ply our roads on a daily basis.

The club is extremely grateful to its many sponsors, without whom the Autospectacular would not be possible. The Fire Service, St Johns, Mangonui Lions are all recipients of proceeds from this event.

Far North: The Brabham Special and the owner Roger Munns (left) with FNVCC President Warwick Woollams.

Far North: 2016 Autospectacular.

on Speargrass Flat Road where there were too many for the shed. His current project is a 1912 Clement Bayard and he also has an Austin 7 with dual driving wheels, a Formula Ford and lots of other vehicles.

Last month was our 11th Josephville Hill Climb. We had 15 starters on a dry day and we now have a new record. Dave Harris took the fastest time from Noel Atley, down from 25.46 seconds to 24.39 seconds. We love to hear the small Special Furi of Jim Bennett hit 10,000 rpm but after the first run, second gear took the day off and so he became a spectator – too bad as he is very competitive. Other drivers had a good day’s fun, and we are all in debt to those people that come in and do the work behind the scenes.

Gore Jim McFadzien Our annual P60 run left Gore on Hawke’s Bay Esther Smith 29 October and the 18 vehicles found out Members were saddened to hear just how much you can pack into a day. of the death of Owen Adeane, our last We went through Heriot to look at the surviving founding member. It brings to a famous Todd cottage – this family being close a chapter of the branch history. We linked to the Chrysler-Mitsubishi franchise are grateful for the endeavours of those and also Europa oil and fuel. Up through founding members in establishing the Moa Flat to Roxburgh to cross the dam Hawke’s Bay Branch of the VCC. and on to Alexandra. We had a break at We started the year with some members Highland Motor Park Cromwell to look at heading off to Dunedin for the Vero Rally, the museum there. Through the Kawarau and motoring activity then continued Gorge to Arrowtown to John Taylor’s shed through the year. February is always a and his collection consisting of a Bren gun highlight with our annual Art Deco Rally carrier, aircraft engines, an 8hp Fowler attracting entrants from around the country traction engine, and cars of course. Lunch The year concluded with a Children’s then off to his brother Dave’s collection Christmas party at the clubrooms. As

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Horowhenua: Our own Queen Brigid in the 1953 Royal Tour Landrover.

Horowhenua: Martyn and Helen Wilman receive the trophy from Club Captain Bob Barton.

Horowhenua: Members intently listening to the history of Jeeps, Bren Gun Carriers and Scout Cars.

well as the motoring we were busy with other events. In July we celebrated Gordon Vogtherr’s 50 year membership award, August was an opportunity to get out the glad rags and dance the night away at a very successful Glamour and Glitz night.

Members have continued to provide display vehicles for various community events and we have supported Napier Port by providing cars for the cruise ship visits.

Horowhenua Mark Gibson The annual Tararua Trundle was held in November. An excellent countryside cruise through Horowhenua farmland under the instructions of Bob Barton and John White. We enjoyed company with participants from Wanganui, Manawatu and Wairarapa Branches. Visitors snaffled Veteran, Vintage, and Post Vintage prizes!

Someone suggested our club captain’s wanted to make them welcome, maybe our

Manawatu: Maewa Mews, Austin breakdown truck being closely examined by (L) Keith Hughes, Pat Henaghan, and Rob Eason.

Horowhenua: One of several Bedford survivors.

members just wanted to enjoy the countryside. A great day.

Our Christmas party was held along with the Restoration of the Year. It was a magnificent turnout of members to a catered midday dinner in the clubrooms.

This is proving to be a popular event.

The Restoration of the Year was awarded to Martyn and Helen Wilman with their beautiful red 1951 Morris Minor convertible.

The Waiouru Army Museum was the destination for a well attended visit. Mini vans gave Vintage vehicles a rest. We were welcomed below the Tears on Greenstone Memorial – ‘Roimata Pounamu’. The museum was explored by all, followed by an excellent catered lunch by the Home Fires Café staff. We were taken behind the scenes to see exhibits that the public don’t.

This was stunning. A guided tour was given by a retired Warrant Officer who had an

Manawatu: Foxton Beach, members slaking their thirst.

intimate knowledge of every exhibit and knew the history of each. A dreamed-of extension may one day house this magnificent collection. A big thank you to Museum staff.

Our library this year added another 1,000 titles to the now over 8,000 and growing collection. This continues to be a great resource to us and visitors alike. The spares team erected more shelving in the new extension and immediately filled it up.

Of late they’ve concentrated on Ford A, T and V8 sections. Long time members Fred and Bev Foothead have moved to Tauranga for a well deserved retirement. We wish them well.

Manawatu Ian Howell In November we visited Maewa Mews, north of Feilding. Anyone owning an Austin will be familiar with Stewart and Colleen Dyke’s collection gathered over many years. This is now being looked after

by Colin and Sue Brown.

Marton School held a gala day in October that was supported by some of our members who live nearby.

At our November club night we viewed a DVD made by New Zealand Defence Forces about some of their operations in Afghanistan. This graphically illustrated the extremes of topography and climate that the defence personnel operated in while providing training and support services to the local Afghan forces.

The Manawatu Classic Motorcycle Club use our clubrooms for their monthly meetings and they held a motorcycleonly swap meet in November. This event was their first and was well supported.

A fortnight before the swap meet a good number of motorcycle club members supported our spring working bee to tidy up the clubhouse and grounds ready for a new season.

Our last event for 2016 was the annual Christmas dinner at the clubrooms.

The very first event for 2017 was held on New Year’s Day. Organised by Len and Gladys Haycock for a number of years this started out as a small family outing. The

Manawatu: Feilding Christmas parade.Brian Rankine’s Bentley followed by Vern Jensen’s Buick.

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Nelson: Santa (Keith Burbidge) arriving at Christmas BBQ with Kevin Mercer.

Northland: Rob Hughes’ 1954 Mark 1 Zephyr.

Nelson: Prospective new member Jordan with his very tidy Triumph Herald 13/60 on his first outing with the club.

Nelson: Ron Johnson’s Chev, Rex Westley’s Model A and Mike Bryan’s Fiat line up at Whareama Rest Home .

numbers have grown steadily as friends joined in with 39 cars touring to Mt Lees Reserve this year.

Our Ruahine Ramble on 4 March will go to the Ormondville Rail Preservation Group and the Pahiatua railcar should be in attendance as well.

Nelson Ray Robertson The November/December period has seen six successful events run, commencing on Saturday 12 November with the Nelson Veteran, Motorcycle and Commercial Rally which drew 35 entries. Despite the very heavy rain the entrants braved the conditions and without exception had a ball.

The following day a good number of branch members combined our regular Sunday run with the rally entrants for a Big Breakfast followed by a short run to Motueka to join the Nelson Hot Rod and Classic Car Show.

The following Wednesday Whareama Oceania Rest Home residents were whisked out for a drive around the area by an enthusiastic band of members including our Club Patron, 90 year old Ken Ivory.

Approximately 60 club members attended a Jim and Kyra Wareing organised Year End Party and Birthday Celebration.

This turned out to be a very low key but thoroughly entertaining relaxing night with dance music provided by member Ken Morris’s band DeeRoad and a couple of match the person/couple challenges to spice up the evening.

Ron Johnson’s Wednesday morning teas always have good attendances and on 7 December the morning tea was enjoyed by 44 members in 27 cars.

Our final event for 2016 saw 35 cars and motorcycles with 60 people venture out to Rabbit Island for our Christmas barbecue.

Marlborough Carroll Wiblin The branch has been busy doing community service. On 9 November we visited Marlborough Hospice and on 11 November there were a number of vehicles involved in a run through to Picton taking clients from the Alzheimer’s day care centre for a run.

On 13 November we had an enjoyable day trip to Ward Beach. Little did they know that within a few hours that peaceful and serene setting would be changed forever. (We had just completed earthquake repairs to our house from the last earthquake and were relieved that the repairs stood the test.) I have no reports of major damage from our members.

The motorcycle section November run was popular and there were no breakdowns.

There were reports of bikes toppling during the earthquake with the domino effect coming into play. Their December outing was to the clubrooms to give the museum motorcycles a cleanup followed by a short run after lunch.

On 20 November our Christmas dinner was held at Club Marlborough.

56 Beaded Wheels

North Shore: Ready for Santa Parade.

Northland Bruce Cosson Branch Chairman Keith Taylor and the management team have the events clendar locked in, and it’s a beauty. It’s time to fire-up the cars and bikes and drive the rallies. Ready?

The Northland Branch feature car for February comes from Rob Hughes garage and what a hum-dinger. (photo) “Apart from a new paint job, she’s all original,” said Rob. “The previous owner drove the car for 30 years and I’ve had her for 11.” The car is a 1954 Mark 1 Zephyr. These Zephyrs were used as police cars. Sleek, powerful, and black. Serious drool material for every young guy back then, (like the writer). Rob gave me the full tour which was superb.

Thanks Rob. North Shore Mary Lloyd Looking back on another happy year of Vintage motoring, it just seems to have raced to a conclusion in December amidst the Christmas parties and gymnics. Sadly we were unable to hold our annual car show due to a clash of shows on the same day.

Several members attended the Christchurch Swap Meet and managed to find parts they had to have.

John Wilmot, North Shore Branch librarian, has been busy sorting through and cataloguing the donations of books and other literature. We have a great little library, all credit to John who keeps everything in order.

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North Shore: Errol McLintock’s 1926 Buick.

There was a good muster of members attending our Club Run to the huge Junk and Disorderly second-hand warehouse in Northcote. We were treated to free tea or coffee and delicious cakes to enjoy whilst sitting on the many comfy lounge suites.

Some members got a bit too comfy and had to be prodded to leave.

Six of our members took part in the Annual Hunua 100 Rally and had a great time, although I don’t think any of them brought home a prize.

Once the Christmas season arrived it was one Santa Parade after another with several North Shore Branch members taking part in two or three. The branch Christmas party was well attended starting with the usual gymnic to get everyone in the mood. There were plenty of laughs watching the antics and misbehaving cars not to mention Peter and Richard’s efforts at creating a dust cloud good enough for the Aussie outback.

Otago Graeme Duthie In November we had our Commercial and Veteran Run enjoyed by four Veterans, four commercials, one motorcycle and nine others. The route took in many different roads in the peninsula area to arrive at Portobello for lunch. Veteran winners were Colin and Joan Pearce in the 1914 Sunbeam. Commercial winner was Brian McConachie in his 1920 Ford T.

North Shore: Kevin Lord’s 1954 Jupiter.

Rotorua: Dave Mayhew receiving 35 yr badge from David Tomlinson.

North Shore: Branch Junk and Disorderly run.

Rotorua: David Tomlinson and his 1929 Essex Super Six.

We also had the Taieri Tour in November. Fifty vehicles started from the clubrooms and went uphill and out of town to the south going through Brighton and Taieri Mouth. The long route went down the coast to Milton, on gravel roads, the shorter route had two options, turn off at Taieri Mouth and climb the hills to Waihola, or drive past Taieri Mouth and take the easier drive on gravel roads, also to Waihola and on to Milton for lunch. First places went to Colin and Joan Pearce, 1914 Sunbeam, Veteran; Roly Bell 1929 Model A Ford, Vintage; Robin McCall 1936 Plymouth, Post Vintage; Barry Longstaffe 1951 Plymouth, Post War; George and Marjorie Martin 1961 Riley, Post 60; Kevin Mason 1982 Cortina, Post 80.

The branch now has a monthly run on the last Thursday of the each month starting at 1pm from the clubrooms. Just turn up with your afternoon tea.

At the November club evening Dave Mayhew received his 35 year membership badge, and gave a fascinating talk about Douglas motorcycles and his Dragonfly.

The mid-weekers were again in action on a drive to Awakeri to see Barry Caulfield’s transport museum – large trucks of many makes and some interesting cars.

Early in December we held the Christmas function. The following weekend we were asked to dress in the style of the era of our cars for a high tea run. This gave our Branch Chairman David Tomlinson and son Sean the chance to test his latest purchase, a 1929 Essex Super Six which by all accounts handled better on the rough metal section with its large wheels, than did my Vanden Plas Princess 1100 with its little 12" wheels.

Southland Dave Harris The Southland Commercial Rally at the beginning of November attracted 10 Rotorua Ronald Mayes vehicles and took the entrants around The mid-weekers’ spring tour in Otatara before heading across town to November took participants to Ohakune, Kennington and finishing up at the Lignite then to Wanganui for two nights and the Pit Café and Secret Gardens at Gorge chance to see some amazing collections, Road for afternoon tea. Trevor Wilkey won then an overnight stop in Taihape. On the road section in his Ford A and Allan the final day there was a private visit to Martin won both the field tests and the the “behind the scenes” vehicle collection rally overall in his Bedford. at the Waiouru Army Museum. The tour The 50th Arrowtown Motorcycle Rally was so well enjoyed there are plans to do it had over 80 entries including some of the again next year. bikes and riders that were on the original rally. The run started at Lumsden and Beaded Wheels 57

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South Canterbury: Vehicles in the All American Weekend display at Caroline Bay. Don Campbell’s Chevrolet truck, and Grant Stewart’s Durant.

Rotorua: Jenny Gill and John Peters dressed in style for their 1923 Austin.

South Canterbury: Motorcycle rally entrants and their bikes, outside the Cave Arms tavern.

Rotorua: Members closely inspecting Dave Mayhew’s Douglas Dragonfly.

finished in Arrowtown. Field tests were held in Athol on the way up. Overall winner was Dave Sycamore on his 1976 Yamaha 650.

Following this we held the Hokonui Hillclimb. This is held on a gravel road and this year the event attracted only four competitors. Dallas Ryan managed the fastest time of the day in his Ford V8 60 Special just ahead of Peter Pryde in his Ford Anglia.

The Wednesday mid-week run in November finished at the Makarewa Country Club for lunch. Numbers were about normal for the December run which used a lot of roads east of Invercargill before returning to the Ascot Park Hotel. In January we finished with a picnic lunch at Malcolm and Noeline Shaw’s in Makarewa.

Most chose to have their picnic inside

58 Beaded Wheels

South Canterbury: Jim Geddes, piloting the replica of Cecil Wood’s Tricar in the Timaru Christmas Parade. Jim, along with John Campbell built this replica in 2006.

with the collection of cars, tractors and all things collectable.

South Canterbury

Shannon Stevenson Our Annual Motorcycle rally was held on 6 November. Organized by Neil Manchester, this rally took riders, a number of whom were from other branches, on a trip through Southburn, Pareora Gorge and Cannington, with a lunch stop outside the Cave Arms Tavern.

The Annual Safari camping weekend took place over the period of 10-13 November in inclement weather at Hanging Rock. A key highlight was the acquisition by Darren Ladbrook of a 1928 Dodge sedan and a number of participants spent the Saturday getting it operational.

The weekend of 19/20 November was the All American Weekend. A run

to Pleasant Point and Levels Raceway was held on the Saturday, with a display attracting over 170 vehicles to Caroline Bay on the Sunday.

Our Vintage, Veteran and Commercial Rally was held on 27 November. Organised

by Grant Stewart and with over 30 vehicles participating this rally took us to a number of places in the Timaru and Pleasant Point areas, notably Calibre Taxidermy, the Obsolete Iron garage at Pleasant Point, the South Canterbury Traction Engine Club and the South Canterbury Aviation Museum.

Several members took part with their Vintage vehicles in Timaru’s Christmas Parade on 10 December.

On New Year’s Day over 25 members vehicles attended our annual Fairlie picnic before participating in the Fairlie New

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South Canterbury: Les Wenlock’s club eligible 1983 Daihatsu V54T truck flying the South Canterbury Vintage Car Club flag in Timaru’s Christmas Parade.

Taranaki: Willie Woods being presented with the Potter’s Paddock Gymkhana trophy by Taranaki Chairman Colin Johnston.

Taranaki: Tidley Cox with his Police hat and all dressed up Police car Model A that won a prize in the Waitara Christmas parade.

South Canterbury: Stewart Frew’s 1913 Ford Model T, at the South Canterbury Traction Engine Club at Seadown.

Wairarapa: Barry and Linda Wells took out the only Gold Medal in a trial that attracted over 50 entries.

South Canterbury: Members visiting the factory of Calibre Taxidermy on the Vintage, Veteran and Commercial Rally.

Taranaki: Johnathan Young MP for New Plymouth who always supports the parades at the start of the Waitara Christmas parade in a 1929 Dodge tourer.

Year’s Day parade - a showcase of historic the first one, a Valiant ute, had flames 20th century motoring. dropping down on the ground underneath it. I got out to get the fire extinguisher from South Otago John Cook my car boot and noticed a puddle of petrol We welcome new members Jay and at the back of our car that was coming from Sheila Paterson, 1965 Wolseley 6/110. the cars in front of us and originating from Our December moped and scooter rally the Valiant ute! The rush was on to meet was a good day out. A run down to Owaka the fire as it came out underneath the back to the Take-Away Caravan for lunch and a of the ute. As luck would have it there was visit to Doug’s Shed where there’s anything a gap in the trail and the fire stopped. By and everything collectable. Then to Kaka this time two other people arrived with Point and the very tidy Maori Cemetery. fire extinguishers and got it under control.

We returned to Balclutha with a stop off There was some engine bay damage done to at the old Port Molyneux Hall, the original the Valiant. site for Dunedin before the 1878 floods made one river mouth into two.

Taranaki Colin Johnston In November wife Jan and I in our 1963 Our members have given support to Vanguard Six attended the Kaitangata Car Christmas parades by driving their cars Show and Run held at the Crescent Rugby with decorations on them for the occasion.

Club Grounds. When we were leaving we Tidley Cox from Egmont Village drove his were in a line of four cars when I noticed Model A in four different parades and was

Wairarapa: Social convener Val Ball hands donations to the Food Bank.

rewarded in Waitara by winning a prize for his car which was dressed up as a police car of the 1930s.

Restoration work and maintenance is progressing with Phil Robinson completing work on the chassis of his 1929 Chev 1/2 ton truck and John Muter getting the 1923 Darracq DC tourer back on the road.

Good progress has been made by committee member Brian Bolland on the alteration to the clubroom’s toilet block.

Willie Woods was presented with the Potters Paddock Trophy for winning this annual gymkhana event recently. Eight tests were held at the Stratford A and P grounds including the popular horn/light test where the bumper or front of the car must make the light go on before the horn sounds.

Willie competed in his Morris Minor car.

We held an economy run in December to test the members’ vehicles on a run Beaded Wheels 59

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Wairarapa: A display at Mauriceville country fair attracted new members.

Wairarapa: Rienk Asscher gasses up his Chev Bel Air before an economy run.

Waitemata: The Hendrick TR2 on the Monte Carlo finish line.

Waitemata: 40th Anniversary Chelsea W.A.L.S.H Waitemata: Max and Shirley Belcher punked Model A. Hillclimb entrants pose wearing their donated Chelsea caps.

Waitemata: Peter and Julie Benbrook navigate the cones in record time at the Grasskhana New Year’s Eve.

around Mount Taranaki with a lunch stop at Opunake. The cars filled their tanks with petrol at Inglewood and returned to Inglewood topping their tanks up again.

The average mileage was worked out by Les Bognuda who organised this event.

sold it in 1982. It is still in the same condition now as it was then.

Taupo Greg Nattrass November club night was our Ladies’ Night. This year saw the ladies attending the movie Golden Years followed by a meal at a Thai restaurant. Meanwhile the men sampled the latest brew from local brewery Tasty Trout. The two groups came together at our clubrooms to enjoy a joint supper.

A show and shine was arranged to show off our branch to the public and we were joined by a couple of members of the Wellington Wolseley club who had seen our event advertised in the local paper.

Our club run saw 15 cars and occupants converge on local Tullamore Gardens to enjoy a stroll around the gardens, check out the duck decoy display and enjoy an afternoon tea in the park-like settings.

Our December activity was involvement in the local Christmas parade. This was followed later that evening with our Christmas dinner, once again enjoyed at Suncourt Hotel. Overall a great year with the addition of new members, great runs, and great camaraderie.

Waikato Gaynor Terrill December started off on a sad note with the loss of long standing member Bill Troughton. He will be remembered as a 60 Beaded Wheels

Veteran enthusiast and for his interest in motorbikes, stationary engines and tractors.

Lorraine Bruntlett, wife of Graeme (Joe), also passed away. Joe and Lorraine were keen motorists and rallied extensively around a number of branches. Our condolences to both of their families.

Our Christmas celebrations included a gymkana organised by Dave Nordell. While all of the usual activities were there to test drivers, Dave added the toilet flush and wine bottle toboggan. Lights flashed, dubious parking occurred, the toilet overflowed and the wine (fortunately water) tipped over, all to much hilarity. The ladies won out on the day with Jenny Patton and Claire White first equal. Santa arrived in a very smart recently restored Austin 7, and the day was capped off with a Christmas meal, competently catered by Bronya and Hugh McInally.

The branch has seen an upsurge in new members lately with 16 being welcomed in the November/December period.

Late January sees the Blue Smoke “n” Pedals event to be held at the clubrooms.

February, and the National Motorcycle Rally will be upon us. The branch is looking forward to welcoming and hosting national and international entrants to this event centred in the King Country.

Greg Terrill has recently purchased an unrestored 1930 Austin 7. Nothing unusual in that except that this is the first vehicle Greg owned. He purchased it as a 17 year old 46 years ago (1971) and subsequently

Wairarapa Kevin Ball 2016 ended with a bit of a flurry with a Christmas party, a country fair, a huge Gold Medal motorcycle rally, an economy run, and the rescue of a fraternal group who got washed out of a planned picnic.

Fifty-five members celebrated Christmas at the elegant Lansdowne House and brought with them a huge pile of donations for the Food Bank. Organiser Val Ball handed this over the following day.

There was a good turnout for the annual Mauriceville Fair where some spectators made enquiries about joining the club.

The Peter Chisholm Memorial Economy Trial was shortened from two days to one this year and attracted a wide range of cars. Predictably, the Mini Minor of Alec and Simon O’Hara won the event with 56.03 mpg, while the thirstiest was Rienk Asscher’s Chev Bel Air, at 19.81 mpg.

The motorcycle section continues to be very strong, with more than 50 entries for the annual Gold Medal trial. This was a long and grueling event with several riders taking tumbles. Barry and Linda Wells, 1951 BSA, took the only Gold Medal plus the Glen Bull Memorial for overall performance and the Best Combination award.

Branch members Barry and Caroline Colquhoun organised the national Morris 8 Tourer Club rally in Wairarapa from 27 December to 3 January and were able to take their guests to our clubrooms after

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Wangaanui: Willing Horse award winner for the year Linda O’Keeffe, with local Chairman Peter Hardy.

Wellington: Children have rides on the Dennis Fire Engine at the Christmas Party.

Wellington: The ladies in the kitchen at the

Wellington: Father Christmas distributing presents.

a planned picnic lunch was washed out. A Christmas barbeque. good opportunity to meet and greet fellow Vintage enthusiasts.

Hill Climb cap which had been donated of interest. Siobhan, aged 7, drove with Finally, an innovation at the club, a by Waitemata’ites Rob and Viv Scott of Siobhan (junior) as backseat passenger.

Friday night Bangers and Beer session for Embroideme Albany. The hill climb ran They never stopped waving in their little tech talk and discussion. very smoothly and it was great to have pink frocks. The kiddies had a great such a great range of pre 1960 vehicles. Christmas Party at the local clubrooms.

Waitemata Rob McNair in his 1931 Gypsy Riley 9 Another eye catcher was the Waitemata’ites haven’t experienced a Special was awarded FTD trophy with the re-enactment of the Veteran car run to Monte Carlo for some years and the scoring John Simpson “having the most fun” trophy commemorate 105 years of the AA in system, while it may have looked compli- going to Karl Rolfe in his 1958 Satellite.

Wanganui. Seven Veteran cars lined up at cated, was in fact very simple. Organiser A Saturday morning trip in early the local Commercial Hotel as per Bruce Hamish Andrew had devised a system of December saw a large group of members Ardell’s original photo. Members dressed in awarding points per letter of the alphabet. aboard the Navy frigate Te Mana. Thanks period costume made a lovely picture.

All you had to do was plot your run to take to Danny and Vicki Ryan for organising Stephen and Anne Voss (last year’s in as many towns as you wanted, therefore this. winners) drew a good number of entrants doing only as many miles as you wanted, but for the Ladies Run, won this time by Ed trying to collect as many points as possible Wanganui Fay Chamberlain and Hinemoa Boyd. Ladies love to receive from the town name score chart. Jan and Wanganui has been abuzz with Veteran/ flowers in their time of celebration. son Teun Hendrick in a TR2 had covered an Vintage cars of late. The annual Christmas Hinemoa too, was delighted with her huge enormous mileage, starting at the organised Parade was one of the town’s best yet, cauli-flower. start time of 10am Saturday 29 October and with half a dozen members of the branch The Restoration of the Year event drew finishing at 10am the following morning at doing their part. Ian Chamberlain’s 1906 out quite a few vehicles. The motorcycle the Nikau Cafe in Port Waikato. They most REO, plus baby ¼ sized replica, drew a lot restoration was won by Brett London, 1975 certainly deserved the Monte Carlo Bubbles and the compulsory Waitemata traditional chocolate fish! The 250 or so miles clocked up by the father and son team of Kevin and Paul Beesley in the Talbot was no match for the TR2 team but well deserved the chocolate fish second place.

The first Chelsea W.A.L.S.H hill climb was held in conjunction with the Chelsea Sugar Refinery Social Club on 31 October 1976 so 20 November 2016 was the 40th Anniversary. All entrants and marshals were given a special embroidered Chelsea Wellsford/Warkworth: The little Fiat is swamped Wellsford/Warkworth: Line up for the Far North by the group.

Tour.

Beaded Wheels 61

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West Coast: Charleston 150th Anniversary.

Triumph Trident T 150. Item of Interest was won by Peter Quilter with a three wheeler vehicle consisting of part rimu, part jigger.

The Willing Horse award this year went to Linda O’Keeffe, and well deserved it was.

With the upcoming annual Burma Rally, plus the National Veteran Rally both being held in Wanganui in January she has put in many hours of meetings, minutes and organizing for the big weekend.

Wellington Claire Benge One of the problems of organising rallies in Wellington is finding off-mainroad routes as some older vehicles cannot travel at the speed of modern traffic. The November Rally, our major event of the year, therefore started at Featherston and zig-zagged on back roads up to Masterton’s Queen Elizabeth Park for a picnic or café lunch.

The afternoon run went east into the hills and included unsealed roads where one person was accosted by a large black bull that he threw a banana at to entice it to the side of the road. He swears the bull peeled the banana as he sneaked past, but some of us suspect he was hallucinating.

The evening dinner was enhanced by presentation of cups for the year, including the Club Captain’s Award being presented to Diane White, a lady with many hats including Rally Secretary and Children’s Christmas Party organiser. Great to see the recognition.

The November club night was cancelled because of flooding from bad weather following the Kaikoura Earthquake, but the Children’s Christmas Party was well attended on Saturday 27 November with Santa arriving in the branch’s Vintage fire engine to great excitement.

We celebrated our December club night with a barbeque and band.

Our members look forward to the Club Captain’s Safari on the Wellington 62 Beaded Wheels

West Coast: HAKA Rally visiting Shantytown.

Anniversary Weekend. This is a Monte Carlo Rally, ending in Wanganui for the Burma Run and Vintage Festival Weekend.

We anticipate a busy year of rallying and Club night talks during 2017.

Wellsford⁄Warkworth Anne Hamilton We welcome Brian and Dawn Payne, transferring from Auckland branch - 1970 Holden HT sedan, Franz Edgar, now a full member, Don Windley and Teresa Anderson, returning members - 1930 Ford Model A roadster pick up, 1939 Chrysler sedan and 1941 Ford V8 pickup.

Eleven of our members supported the Far North tour. The weather was brilliant, roads were scary, company was great and the entertainment first rate. The Kapa Haka group from Kawakawa school entertained us at morning tea and they were very good.

Ranging from 5 –13 years, they all came out as we prepared to leave and took a great interest in the cars. A delightful interlude.

Members also supported the Wellsford Show and Santa Parade, including Phil and Viv Maurice’s RME Riley and Graeme Logue’s Singer Vogue. Our Warkworth Santa Parade also had car club involvement.

We also entertained the residents of Summerset Falls Retirement home. Rides in a few of the old cars brought back a lot of memories. By way of thanks they put on a lovely barbecue for us.

Auckland Anniversary Weekend sees the 150th A&P show and this year members will lead a parade through Warkworth to the showgrounds where cars will be on display. The two days of the show will also mark the start of the Parliamentary Tour.

It is 100 years since the original tour so the event is of great significance.

Our annual Swap Meet is 25 February this year.

West Coast June Campbell In November several vehicles travelled up the Coastal Highway to Charleston to take part in their 150th celebrations, with some members driving down from Westport. We also met up with the motorists taking part in the Haka Rally as they passed through on their way south. They stopped for lunch at Shantytown, taking the opportunity to meet up with several of our members who took their vehicles out to meet up with them for a couple of hours.

The Club run was to Westport.

Originally intending to check out the seals at Cape Foulwind, the weather again controlled the day and after a morningtea stop at Charleston to meet up with Westport members it was straight on to Westport for a lunch and get-together.

Mostly modern vehicles attended the day.

It was a treat to meet up with Bruce and Claire Benge (Wellington Branch) when they came along to our November monthly morning tea. Any members passing through the Coast on the third Tuesday in each month are welcome to join us.

December was once again the time for vehicles to take part in the annual Christmas parades and we ended the year with an evening at Shantytown. We had 60 come along for a natter, noggin and fish and chips, members joining us from Westport, Ikamatua, Reefton and Hokitika.

Passing Lane In this column we acknowledge the recent passing of club members.

Information is supplied to Beaded Wheels by VCCNZ Branch Secretaries.



Barnes, Ian Bringans, Cyril Douglas, Rosalie Lever, Ronald Scrimshaw, Arthur Troughton, Bill

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