Passing Lane

s Wanganui: Linda O’Keefe as auctioneer at the

Shiny Parts fundraiser.

s Wanganui: Neill and Siobahn with her amazing cake creation.

of the Tramways Museum. These restorations make our car jobs seem rather puny. But with teamwork and Lotto funding they do some amazing restorations. The tramcar that is almost completed will be worth at least $1,000,000.

We have a real night trial coming up, the first dark one for years. That will be welcome.

On July club night we had a very informative talk by Nickola Loodin, who works at the Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office. Rather appropriate for Wellingtonians, and we all learned a lot about how to prepare for, and respond to, an emergency.

We finally held a belated AGM in August, and the committee members were all returned, except for Chairman Bill Pinkham who was replaced by Phil Kidd after four years of sterling service.

WELLSFORD WARKWORTH CHRIS HARVEY

Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water …..Like the monster lurking beneath the waves in JAWS 2, the menace of the corona virus scuppered most of our planned activities for July and August when the greater Auckland area went back to level 3 restrictions. We did manage to have a Club Night Dinner in July, and a lunch at the Warkworth Golf Club early in August, before the restrictions came back into force, and the only real motoring activity was a Sunday run on 26 July. Twelve cars took part in a run along the scenic back routes from Wellsford to Waipu, ending up at the museum and eateries there. Unfortunately we had to abandon our plans to run a Daffodil Rally for Cancer together with Waitemata Branch on 30 August.

On a happier note our branch has a new member with a striking red 1989 Morgan +8. In 1968 the +8 was introduced with the 3.5 litre Rover V8 which was enlarged through 3.9 and 4.0 litres to 4.6 litres before being replaced by a 4.8 litre BMW V8 in 2012. The cars are still built by hand and to order in the factory at Malvern, UK, and one can tour the facility to watch the process. The frames which support the body are still made of wood and the production line would make Henry Ford spin in his grave.

West Coast: the Inaugural 4th July celebration and display in Reefton was a huge success.

WEST COAST ELSPIE MITCHELL

Our first outing post the lockdown was a fantastic success.

Club members travelled to Reefton, along with hot rodders, classic and other car enthusiasts, to take part in the inaugural 4th of July celebration and car display. Despite the threatening weather there was a massive turnout of in excess of 160 vehicles, and heaps of support from locals viewing vehicles and engaging in conversation with vehicle owners. It will be bigger and better next time.

The annual Daffodil Day vehicle display in Greymouth and Hokitika has been postponed because of level 2 lockdown, with no alternate date at the time of writing. Branch members still assisted with the delivery of daffodils to local businesses -thank you.

The Rosco trial date for the Coast has been set as 1 November 2020 - mark your calendars.

In this column we acknowledge the recent passing of club members. Information is supplied to Beaded Wheels by VCCNZ Branch Secretaries.  Atkins, Barry Gisborne Cox, Jerrery (Tiddley) Taranaki Coulson, George Far North Duncan, Robert Central Otago Godfrey, Ian Rex Northland Greaves, J.A. (Snow) Bay of Plenty Taylor, Bob Bay of Plenty Thompson, Keith Northland White, Hilda Central Otago Williams, Larry Bay of Plenty