Beaded Wheels Issue 369 April/May 2021

CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 75 YEARS

No. 369 April/May 2021

NEW ZEALAND’S FOREMOST HISTORICAL MOTORING MAGAZINE $7.95

9 418979 000012

SOUTHLAND BRANCH TAKES TO THE ROAD RARE 1928 JAMES • ON TOUR IN LOCHINVER MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND

1906 Darracq. Photo supplied by VCC Archivist Don Muller.

Photographs Required: Submissions of suitable prints and information are welcome. Post or email original photographs or high resolution digital files of historical interest with any available information to: beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz or Beaded Wheels, PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. Laserprints/photocopies are not suitable.

Photos will be returned as soon as practicable.

NATIONAL OFFICE

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

VCCNZ LIFE MEMBERS Andrew Anderson Roger White Norm Dewhurst Rod Brayshaw John Coomber

VCCNZ MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT Diane Quarrie 06 876 4009 president@vcc.org.nz SECRETARY/ TREASURER Christopher Leith 03 358 5378 hon.sec@vcc.org.nz CLUB CAPTAIN NORTHERN REGION Kaaren Smylie 021 664 341 nicc@vcc.org.nz CLUB CAPTAIN SOUTHERN REGION Alon Mayhew 027 202 9491 sicc@vcc.org.nz

REGISTRAR Rod Brayshaw 07 549 4250 registrar@vcc.org.nz SPEED STEWARD Tony Haycock 021 662 441 speedsteward@vcc.org.nz BEADED WHEELS CHAIRMAN Kevin Clarkson 021 0270 6525 kevin@vcc.org.nz Tony Bartlett 06 867 9850

mgmt1@vcc.org.nz

George Kear 03 347 0315

mgmt2@vcc.org.nz

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING comms@vcc.org.nz ARCHIVIST Don Muller 03 385 6850

archivist@vcc.org.nz

Murray Trounson mgmt3@vcc.org.nz

Please note this information changes annually - these details are valid until October 2021

VCCNZ BRANCHES A full list of branch addresses and contact details can also be found on the VCCNZ website at www.vcc.org.nz 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/-114 Shortcut Road, Luggate, RD2, Wanaka 9382 centralotago@vcc.org.nz CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY C/- 73 Porangahau Road, Waipukurau 4200 centralhawkesbay@vcc.org.nz EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY PO Box 2168, Kopeopeo Whakatane 3159 easternbayofplenty@vcc.org.nz

2 Beaded Wheels

FAR NORTH C/– 50 Davis Strongman Place, RD3, Kerikeri 0293 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/- 53 Huia Street, 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 C/- 21 Mornington Road, Balaclava, Dunedin 9011 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/- 1931 Breakneck Rd, RD 4, Balclutha 9274 southotago@vcc.org.nz SOUTH WAIKATO PO Box 403 Tokoroa 3420 southwaikato@vcc.org.nz

TARANAKI C/- PO Box 39029, Egmont Village 4361 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 WAIRARAPA PO Box 7, Masterton 5810 wairarapa@vcc.org.nz WAITEMATA C/- 9 Marlborough Ave, Glenfield, Auckland 0629 waitemata@vcc.org.nz WANGANUI PO Box 726, Whanganui 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/- 1999 Kumara Junction Highway, RD 2, Hokitika 7882 westcoast@vcc.org.nz

CONTENTS

Beaded Wheels Publisher

The Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.) The Historic Vehicle Authority of New Zealand ISSN 0113-7506 Vol LXXII No. 369

Issue 369 April/May 2021

Editorial Committee

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

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 beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Advertising Enquiries

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

Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Phone 64 3 332 3531 Rate schedule available on request.

FEATURES 14 The Famous James 1928 Sports

David Richardson explores his family connection

18 22 24 26 31

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

Correspondence & Editorial Contributions

Phone 64 3 332 3531, Fax 64 3 366 0273 PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141.

Email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz

An Umbrella on Wheels Roger Clark’s 1987 Citroën 2CV Charleston Memories of workshop trucks and a new generation vintage vehicle of some note

14

James 1928 Sport

The Racing Sunbeams in New Zealand - No 1 1913 Coupe de L’Auto Lochinver Vintage Car Safari 2021 Rally Snippets 29 60th Annual Rally – North Otago Branch 30 Veteran Run – Auckland Branch 31 Wee Wheelie Wander Number Two

– North Otago Branch ‘ 31 Burma Rally - Wanganui Branch 32 Three Rivers Rally – Gisborne Branch 34 Pomeroy Trophy – Banks Peninsula Branch

18

1987 Citroën

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 incurs additional bank fee processing charge of 3%

Production

Design: RGB Design & Print Ltd, Christchurch Print: PMP Ltd, Christchurch.

Closing Date for June/July: Editorial Copy Advertisements

24 April 2021 10 May 2021

COLUMNS 4

President’s Message

39

4

As We See It

40 Marketplace

5

VCC Events

45

Swap Meets & Rallies

6

National Office

47

Trade Directory

7 Mailbag

49

Idle Torque

10 Timelines

62

Passing Lane

10

Notice of of AGM

The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.)

12

The Way We Were

National Office Phone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 Email admin@vcc.org.nz

36

Address: 12 Aberdeen St, Christchurch,

Pomeroy Trophy

34

17 Awards

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

Archivist News

38

Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring Update

Marketplace

40

Book Reviews

New Zealand.

Website: www.vcc.org.nz 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.

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COVER Katy and John Parish, Gore, in their 1952 Alvis TP21 at the Southland Rally. Photo Rae Wilson

The Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) is the worldwide organisation dedicated to the preservation, protection and promotion of historic vehicles and related culture.

The Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc) is a founding member of FIVA. VCCNZ Registrar Rod Brayshaw is the New Zealand delegate to FIVA and also a member of the FIVA Technical Commission.

Beaded Wheels 3

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Looking back at my column one year ago, I was commenting on the impact Covid-19 was having on our Club and advising the actions that we had to take in response to the crisis including cancelling the March Executive meeting, National Easter Rally, our National Day and postponement of the Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring.

I concluded my last Beaded Wheels column with “Let’s have a great 2021!”. Who would have thought that in late February this year the country would be going back up to Level 2 and 3 with the result that the decision was made by the organising committee to cancel the National Motorcycle Rally being held in Wairarapa in the second week of March. It was a heart-breaking time for the rally team who had put a huge amount of hard work into the event. Let’s hope that the other national events planned for this year will proceed.

The Club Executive met in Wellington on 20 March 2021 and the meeting covered a wide range of topics. As well as various reports from members of the Management Committee, the Executive also discussed two upcoming notices of motion regarding on-line membership (which was held-over from

the preceding year) and the introduction of special interest groups. The latter notice of motion was as a result of the Management Committee being directed by members at the Club AGM to investigate ways and means of accommodating VCC membership by special interest groups that share the same or similar aims and objects to our Club. We also had presentations regarding our National Day, branding update and national office systems which were all received with enthusiasm by the executive.

Chris Leith, our Hon Secretary/ Treasurer reported that with a couple of weeks to go before the end of the financial year, the Club is in a healthy position with a 200% increase in the operating surplus against the budgeted figure. This has come about mainly because of Covid-19 in that there was no March 2020 executive meeting, there was a reduction in delegates attending the August 2020 AGM and a big reduction in the promotions budget due to our National Day not proceeding.

The new integrated accounting and database system for National Office has been installed and is now successfully operational. The capital cost of the upgrade is approximately

$22,000 plus GST. This covers the Accredo software and licencing plus new up-to-the-minute hardware to boost capacity and speed. The decision to upgrade the software and hardware is a demonstration of our commitment to be as efficient as we can be in our service to branches and members. On behalf of us all, I would like to record a huge vote of thanks to Management Committee Member Murray Trounson who has spear-headed this massive undertaking at no cost to the Club. We are indeed very fortunate as if we had to pay a contractor to undertake this work, the Club would be looking at a cost of somewhere between $30,000 to $40,000.

I am pleased to advise that Robyn Ashworth has been appointed as National Office Administrator following the retirement of Julie Cairns-Gee. Robyn comes to the Club with 30 years of office management experience I warmly welcome Robyn to the team.

At the Executive meeting, the Management Committee put forward a design for a new logo for the Club which was, in the main, wholeheartedly accepted by the delegates, although a few made it clear that they still preferred the ‘wings’. This is of

course totally understandable and I acknowledge their depth of feeling around why they prefer the status quo to remain. There is still a little bit more work to do on the design and then it will be sent around to Branches for discussion and feedback from members before a final presentation is made at the August AGM for approval.

There is a new Incorporated Societies Bill before Parliament.

The current 1908 Act is now out of date and deficient in some respects. While I have not had a chance yet to study the Bill in depth, its purpose is to put in place a modern framework of basic legal, governance and accountability obligations for incorporated societies and those who run them. In particular, the Bill puts in place expressed duties on the officers of a society (similar to a director of a company). We will update Branches as we know more.

All the best and take care out there

Diane Quarrie VCCNZ National President

AS WE SEE IT In his mailbag letter in this issue Stuart Battersby is quite correct in pointing out that I slightly erred in my assumption about split infinitives in Winston Churchill’s quote within my editorial in the last issue. On the other hand he quotes the famous Star Trek split infinitive of “To boldly go where no man has been before” when the actual quote was “where no man has gone before”. Nonetheless that does not change the fact that he was right – If it was a competition then Stuart has won! I appreciate his feedback.

I have had other feedback as well, all of a positive nature, on that column. One letter to me by a gentleman slightly older

4 Beaded Wheels

than me had this to say as his opening statement “Having read your last editorial I was at first going to describe you as a died-in-the-wool old pedant, but then it struck me that that would be a perfect example of the pot having the temerity to denigrate the countenance of the kettle, as I am myself a died-in-the-wool old pedant…” Now – that was fun to read, as was the rest of his letter. Apart from the examples I used last issue I have many other examples of pet hates I hold regarding the murdering of the English language but fear I am losing the battle and have to face the fact that languages are everchanging, whether I like it or not.

This issue contains some interesting stories, including the rare James 500cc V-twin motorcycle, a Citroën 2CV, early Toyotas being used as workshop trucks and Andrew Anderson’s excellent story on early racing Sunbeams. The Sunbeam story is important from a historical viewpoint because as time passes and memories fade getting the story down now preserves the information for future generations.

Disappointingly, current events have resulted in the cancellation of some VCC events, including the National Motorcycle Rally to be based in Masterton. This was one I was really looking

forward to, but I suspect that my disappointment would pale into insignificance compared to that of rally organisers Peter Bull, Beth Taylor and the committee from the Wairarapa Branch.

To do all the work required to organise a big rally only to have to cancel at the last minute.

Heart-breaking for them, I’m sure. Nonetheless we publicly thank them here for their efforts, as we were unable to do so at the rally.

Kevin Clarkson Chairman Beaded Wheels

VINTAGE CAR CLUB BRANCH EVENTS

Canterbury Branch Grand Garden Country Party was a day of motoring and relaxing with a bit of competition thrown in for good measure. Photo Colin Hey

APRIL

2-5 Sth Canterbury

3 Bay of Plenty

4 Canterbury

5 Ashburton

7 Canterbury 9-10 Waikato 10 Marlborough

National Easter Vintage Rally Jazz Festival Car Parade Ground Crew Day Easter Branch Run 9-90s Run Mooloo Meander Whatamango Bay Picnic Lunch 10 Nelson Coffee Cruize 11 Canterbury P Group Rally 11 Wairarapa Club Captain’s Run 11 Wanganui Park Up At City College 11 Northland Swap Meet 14 Bay of Plenty Mid Week Run 15-18 Rotorua Not a Spring Tour 16-18 Otago Otago Rally 17 Far North Brian Parker Rally 17 Nelson Club Run 17 North Otago Gerald Lynch-Blosse Memorial Motorcycle Rally 17 Wanganui Castrol Motorcycle Rally 18 Auckland Gymkhana 18 Banks Peninsula Mystery Run 18 Manawatu Branch Outing 18 Rotorua Night Run 18 Taupo Chairman’s Run 18 Wellington Country Run to White Rock 21 Waikato Wednesday Wander 23-26 Bay of Plenty Highland Fling Rally 24 North Shore Northern Raid Rally 24-26 Canterbury Autumn Three Day Run 25 Bay of Plenty End of Month Run 25 Canterbury Malvern ANZAC Run 25 Gisborne Club Run

28 Rotorua 28 Wellington

Midweekers Run Kapiti Mid-week Run

MAY

1 Ashburton Swap Meet

1 Manawatu Post Vintage Rally

2 Ashburton Plains Rotary Classic Car Run

2 Wellington Sunday Run 8 Ctrl Hawke’s Bay Twilight/Night Rally

8 Gore Night Trial

8 Nelson Coffee Cruize

8 Southland Waimea Motorcycle Rally 8-9 Wairarapa Motorcycle Reliability Trial

9 Far North Mother’s Day Run/Lunch

9 Hawke’s Bay Swap Meet 9 Sth Canterbury P Classes Rally

9 Wairarapa Motorcycle Reliability Run 11 Far North AGM 12 Bay of Plenty Mid Week Run 12 Manawatu AGM 12 Taupo AGM 15 Northland Motorcycle Rally 15 Southland PWV / P60V / P80V Rally 15-16 Nelson Club Run 16 Otago Restoration Rally 16 Rotorua Chairman’s Run 16 Taupo Club Run 16 Waikato Vintage Venture 16 Wanganui Sunday Run 19 Waikato Wednesday Wander 20 Wellsford/Wkwth AGM 23 Sth Canterbury Restoration Run 23 Wellington Ladies Rally 25 Wairarapa Mid-week Social Run 26 Rotorua Midweekers Run

26 Wellington Kapiti Mid-week Run 27 EBOP AGM 28 Marlborough Night Trail 30 Bay of Plenty End of Month Run 30 Marlborough AGM 30 Gisborne Club Run

JUNE

2 Wanganui 3 Sth Canterbury 4-6 Canterbury

5 Gore 5-7 Waikato 6 Sth Canterbury

6 Wanganui 9 Waikato 10 Sth Canterbury 12-13 Otago 13 Northland 13 Rotorua 13 West Coast 14 Bay of Plenty 14 Wairarapa 16 Bay of Plenty 16 Gisborne 17 Ashburton 19 Wellington 19 Manawatu 20 Nelson

20 Otago 20 Taupo 20 Wellington 20 West Coast 26 Far North

AGM AGM Irishman Rally End of Season Run Double 50 Rally All British Rally Annual Rally AGM Midweek Run Coast to Coast Tour AGM Prizegiving Run AGM AGM AGM Mid Week Run AGM AGM Mid winter night trial Twilight Rally AGM & Restoration of the Year AGM Club Run Colonial Cup Rally Rosco Sporting Trials Molloy Trophy Run

This list does not contain all branch events (eg midweek or small club runs) Check branch newsletters for up-to-date details of smaller events.

This column is compiled from the VCCNZ National Calendar of Events, and 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.

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.

A valid Vehicle ID card (VIC) is required for any vehicle entered in a National VCC event.

Visit www.vcc.org.nz for more information on how to obtain a VIC for your vehicle.

Beaded Wheels 5

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

endorsements. A VIC change of ownership form can be processed by the National Office. All applications must include photos VERO INSURANCE Don’t forget the VCC Vero Insurance Scheme for discounted premiums.

JOHN L GODDARD TROPHY NOMINATIONS On ths page you will find a notice regarding the John L Goddard Trophy. Please put some thought to placing a nomination.

VCC ID CARD/AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS See your branch secretary about these and lighting

Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.) National Office, PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140

6 Beaded Wheels

CHANGE OF ADDRESS Please advise the National Office if you have changed address or vehicle ownership.

COOK STRAIT FERRY Members of the VCC can obtain a discount with Interislander and BlueBridge. Full information on how to book is on the club’s website www.vcc. org.nz

JOHN L GODDARD TROPHY for achievement Members of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand are invited to nominate a fellow member for this annual award.

The nomination should be for any member who they regard as having been involved in a significant achievement. It may be a particularly significant restoration, a memorable motoring journey or an important historical article or series of articles published in Beaded Wheels or some special service to the Club.

Nominations for the Award should be forwarded to: John L Goddard Award, Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc) PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE 9 JULY 2021

NOTICE OF AGM

On page 10 you will find a Notice of AGM along with a request for nominations for the Management Committee positions.

CLASSIC,

AND VINTAGE

VETERAN

G FOR 75 MOTORIN

YEARS

E $7.95 G MAGAZIN L MOTORIN T HISTORICA S FOREMOS NEW ZEALAND’

No. 368

CLASSIC, VINTAG E

AND VETERA

N MOTORING

Beaded Wheels Beaded Wheels

CHEQUES NO LONGER ACCEPTED Please note as of 1 May 2021 we are unable to accept payment by cheque for VCC or Beaded Wheels invoices.

USE YOUR MEMBERSHIP NO. When corresponding with National Office please quote your membership number.

Telephone 03 366 4461 Fax 03 366 0273 email admin@vcc.org.nz www.vcc.org.nz Office Hours Mon – Fri 9-5pm

No. 358 June/July

FOREMOST HISTORICAL

MOTORING MAGAZINE

BAY HAWKE’S ACTION IN IDSON VETERAN LEY-DAV • 1920 HAR

ER P6 V8 1972 ROV

Beaded Wheels is the voice of The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc.) and its 36 branches covering the length and breadth of the country.

The efforts of our members continue to foster and ever widen 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 – Our long established title may have readers wondering about its

GE CAR CLUB OF THE VINTA

OF NEW

9 418979 000012

MAGAZINE

YEARS

2019

NEW ZEALAND’S

000012

TRANSFER BETWEEN BRANCHES Complete a transfer form available from your branch secretary.

FOR OVER 70

March 2021 February/

9 418979

NEW ADMINISTRATION MANAGER Robyn Ashworth has recently joined the Vintage Car Club office team after 34 years working in the hydraulic industry and more recently working at a quarry. Robyn's main interest outside of work is running and every year she aims to complete at least one half marathon as well as local Christchurch events like City to Surf or Run to Remember, in remembrance of the Earthquake victims. Her other passion is motor racing, mainly V8 Super Cars and she has been to many Australian race meets. Robyn is married with a son, two stepdaughters and eight grandchildren, ranging in age from 6 to 16 years old. She is looking forward to meeting some of you soon and dealing with others via email or phone

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

MEGA MOTOR ING

ZEALAND

Rally Action From

Around New Zealan d

1966 NISSAN PRINCE SKYLINE MAGNETOS AND , MORE… MAGAZINE OF THE VINTAGE

CAR CLUB OF

NEW ZEALAND

origin. 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.

In March 1955 The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand adopted the title Beaded Wheels for their club magazine which was the successor to the monthly Guff Sheet.

$7.95

MAILBAG The editorial committee reserve the right to ­publish, 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.

PRODDED INTO ACTION

Well done in issue 368 with your lightly disguised attempt to prod contributors towards more imaginative writing. But why have I a nagging feeling your classic example of why one shouldn’t end a sentence with a preposition is much older than Winston Churchill? My sagging memory prompts me to my fourth form English teacher in the 1950s claiming it for Disraeli.

Disraeli certainly provided the other much-quoted mixed metaphor: “I smell a rat…I see it floating in the air and clouding up the sky…so I’ll nip it in the bud!“ Hope you are right and I am wrong; otherwise you may have an expanded mailbag next month and nothing to do with items automotive!

Bill Cockram

WHERE IS THIS CAR?

I am looking for members who may know of the whereabouts of a 1928 air-cooled Franklin.

The owner was Trevor Bear from Tirau/Hamilton who crashed it before the 10th International Veteran and Vintage car rally in Australia in 1970. I would like to know if the car was returned to New Zealand or left in Australia.

David Baer jdavidbaer@gmail.com

MOTOR BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Recently I produced an A4, black and white, landscape, 100 page book on Nelson motor businesses from 1903 to 1960 in order to preserve information I had.

The book lists around 254 firms, has about 225 photos or illustrations and mentions more than 780 staff members.

brother’s first car which was also a 1937 Austin Seven.

not put”. Grammatically correct, but unreadable twaddle!

HISTORY

So, despite your final paragraph, Winston did not break the rule, rather he illustrated its silliness.

I would like to encourage members in other districts to do something similar.

Denis Le Cren

CAR QUERY

Seeing the picture and article in Mailbag issue 367 Car Query I am pretty sure it is an early Sunbeam Talbot.

A friend has a very nice 2 door Pillarless 4 seater saloon with identical rear guards to the open topped one pictured.

Later Talbots had rear spats like the Jaguar Mks 7 and 8.

The centre was cut out to ease removal of the rear wheels on Mk9s. My dad’s Mk9 ones often squeaked to my dad’s annoyance! His mechanic changed the catches to hold them in position and it worked, no more squeaks!

Presumably my friend’s Talbot would be 1950s as he bought it second hand in the 1960s for £200. I do remember the plush grey leather seats (black exterior very shiny) and always very reliable.

The Rootes brothers, manufacturers of Hillman and Humber, took control of Singer and Sunbeam and later, Talbots. They had of course a different body design with spats which were eventually dropped altogether.

My friend’s lovely Talbot would have been a Rootes-made car and almost certainly the one featured is possibly the same.

As usual looking forward to the next great issue of Beaded Wheels.

Ken Braddon, Blockhouse bay

PS. Reading the article My First Car Austin Seven part 2 brought back a lot of memories of my

I am searching for some early history on a recently purchased Jaguar Mk II. It was imported new by the then Independent Motor Sales, Wellington. I believe its registration of CJ 5131 was allocated to the Wairarapa area. That’s the only history I have, up until the year 2000.

Its original colour was British Racing Green. It is a 1961 3.8 manual, with overdrive and a tan interior trim. I look forward to hearing from anyone who has any info at all.

Ron Gray 027 777 8077 email: d.r.gray@xtra.co.nz

AS WE SEE IT

I refer to your As We See It editorial in the February/March 2021 edition of Beaded Wheels.

I often read your editorials and was particularly amused by this one. After giving us an incisive review of phrases and words that annoy you, I am afraid you completely muddled up the story of the dangling preposition and Winston’s comments.

An example of ending a sentence might be: “Increasing the proportion of articles about veteran vehicles is something that I will not put up with”. In this sentence the verb is “put up” and the preposition is the trailing “with”.

Winston, wanting to make known his opposition to some parliamentary point and while he really wanted to say “Nonsense, that is something that I will not put up with”, decided to make his point AND illustrate the ridiculousness of the Latin grammar rule. He actually said “Nonsense that is something up with which I will

More from Winston: he was a clever and wily politician and was once overheard in his office repeating a phrase over and over, each time with different emphasis and intonation. The phrase was “Gentlemen, I had not intended to speak on this topic”.

Keep up the good work! I look forward to your next editorial and your comments on the Star Trek split-infinitive: “To boldly go where no man has been before.”

Stuart Battersby

MYSTERY PHOTO OF THE WASP, BEADED WHEELS 368

You will find this photo and a very comprehensive exposition of the Parry Thomas Special or Marlborough Thomas on pages 65 and 66 of Flat to the Boards

by Dick Messenger and Douglas Wood and published by us VCCNZ in 1985.

Duncan Baucop was the General Manager and New Zealand agent for Leyland and Anderson’s Ltd held the Canterbury agency for them. He was a well known friend of the family too and a long time motor racing enthusiast. His Leyland connection, of course, ensured his acquisition of the Thomas on the death of Parry Thomas himself. Prior to that he had owned and raced at Muriwai one of the ill-fated 1913 Grand Prix Italas. The 1913 Formula was a maximum weight of 1100kgs and a fuel consumption limit of just under 14 miles per gallon. For this Peugeot dropped their 7.5 litre 1912 winner’s capacity to 5655cc, the Delages ran to 6234cc. Itala produced a very advanced rotary valve design of 125 x 160mm or 7854cc with a potential 150bhp but detuned for the race to produce about 110. All three cars were out by lap 15 of a 29 lap race with broken chassis thanks to that 1100kg limit.

HR Pope, who was one of their

Beaded Wheels 7

MAILBAG

drivers and UK agent, brought two of the cars to UK, one, fitted with a single seater body, was a Brooklands regular, the second, fitted with a four seater body, came to New Zealand with Baucop.

Just like the 1911 Delage at Brighton pre-war, the Itala was a complex car far from home and no-one could get it to go properly. After two unsuccessful Muriwais and a long spell in the back of the Baucop garage, he gave the engine to Wellington Polytech and the chassis was dumped!

Andrew Anderson

MEMORY LANE

Gordon Higgie, Ken Sandstor with cased fruit ready for rail.

5½ ton fruit going to rail at Alexandra in the 1950s from Earncleugh Orchard.

Recently I was sorting through some old photos and came across these two. They were taken with mum's old box brownie way back in the 1950s.

John Loudon

PETER MAXWELL

1925-2021

You will recall many issues ago; my “Way we were” column had a photo of Garth Gould and I leaving Burnham Army Camp resplendent in our battledress in my Panhard-Levasser and my connection with the NZ Scottish Regiment. Our 1948 Annual Camp at Waiouru in July and under canvas was a very cold but interesting meet-up with all sorts of characters from all over NZ amongst whom , not a few had interests in “ancient” machinery. We duly “teamed

8 Beaded Wheels

up” in the process of starting M3 Stuart Tanks as there-in described. Peter was one of these and promptly joined us later in 1948 as did Roy Ferens from Dunedin thus beating Mike Haggitt who didn’t join until 1950. It was, of course, mostly a correspondence and gossip kind of membership, but, in it, he was joined by Ken Hemus and at least 3 others from the NZMRDA team.

In “50 Years” you will read of his threat to resign in 1952 sparked a lot of discussion over the possibility of an Auckland Branch whilst I was still overseas and he stayed in.

On my return, we returned to a sketchy correspondence till the advent of Genevieve (the film) and I get a call from him on Horace Robinson’s public notice to form an Auckland Club and I fly up and stay with him and his parents in Otahuhu as we campaign at the Public meeting to make it a VCC of NZ branch.

We got quite a lot of support from those other members and others but not quite enough and The Veteran and Vintage Car Club of Auckland was duly set up.

However, Peter and Mollie had been in touch throughout our planning stage of Beaded Wheels and through Peter’s good work Moll succeeded in hooking the Auckland Club into adopting “Beaded Wheels” as its magazine too! This proved very successful and Peter filed a big slice of their contributions and their decision to become a Branch pretty quickly followed on. For their very first display event, at Peter’s suggestion, they invited me up to judge their concours event which all helped.

In May 1957 I spent a month in charge of our Anderson’s Auckland office and I had a lot of great drives culminating in the loan of Bernie McGlyn’s Low Chassis Invicta for a whole week! Wow! June 1958 “Beaded Wheels” has a great photo of Peter’s 20/60 Sunbeam winning their Rotorua Rally and the AGM of the Club in Wellington in 1960 had delegates from The

UNFAIR WOF SYSTEM

The reply to my letter in the last issue regarding six monthly warrants of fitness was answered by an indication that Government Departments are slow to change.

I would still like to suggest there is little pressure from the Vintage Car Club and the Federation of Motoring on the Government changing the system.

Classic Car magazine listed countries warrant of fitness systems which is very eye opening and shows how classic and vintage car ownership in New Zealand is being taken for a ride by the government for no reasonable explanation and without being challenged for doing so.

G Walker

COUNTRY

AGE OF CAR

WOF REQUIREMENT

Australia (QLD and ACT)

All

Only change of ownership

Australia (other states)

10-plus years

Annually

Canada*

All

Only change of ownership

Japan

All

Three years from new then two yearly

US

All

Roughly half of the 50 states no requirement

European Union (guidelines)

All

Four years from new then two yearly

Netherlands

35-plus years

Two yearly

Netherlands

50-plus years

None

UK

40-plus years

None and no rego

New Zealand

20-plus years

Every 6 months

*An authorised mechanic can report a vehicle as being unfit for the road Information reproduced from Classic Car magazine.

Ed Note: The Vintage Car Club does make representation to various Government departments on behalf of its members. This includes ongoing discussion about the need for six monthly warrants of fitness.

Auckland Branch (Norm Adams and Earl Gill) and Peter now a family man and always a pretty retiring sort of chap, wrote a bit and drove his lovely Sunbeam into the background.

Andrew Anderson

CALLING ALL ITALA OWNERS I am aware there are maybe more early Itala 4 cyl cars in Australia and New Zealand, than in Italy, Europe.

My Itala 1908 has a younger 4 cyl monoblock engine from 1911 (4 cyl cast in one block. The photo shows the old 2-cylinder twin-blocks, 2+2 = 4 ). I want to ask New Zealand Itala owners, if they know of an engine of any cylinder volume for sale. I also started a printed register of still existing Italas with chassis- and engine number and what year registered. I would like to hear from any Itala owner in New Zealand who is keen to join this register.

Ing. Karl Marschhofer 4814 Altmuenster - Neukirchen email: oldtimer.marschhofer@ gmail.com whatsapp +43 699 122 01234

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TIMELINES © National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

NOTICE OF MEETING

75 years ago the Bentley Speed Six came out on top in Motorsport's fastest car award.

Historical snippets of motoring interest from years gone by compiled

by Graeme Rice 100 YEARS AGO APRIL MAY 1921

Advertisers for the innovative 499cc Rudge Multi reminded buyers of the marque’s victory in the 1914 TT race, proving it was a fast-touring machine combining efficiency with reliability and could go anywhere, anytime.

With Timkin roller bearings used throughout, the latest Senspray carburettor, its 21 gear continuously variable transmission and famous sloper tank providing a low seating position, they claimed the Rudge was unequalled by any other machine.

50 YEARS AGO APRIL MAY 1971

In spite of John Cooper’s 25 years as a motor-sport high achiever, and 10 years after he and Alec Issigonis jointly developed the first rally winning Mini-Cooper, Sir Donald Stokes, in yet another blunder, called Cooper to tell him he already had over 150,000 employees and therefore his consultancy services to British Leyland were no longer required. Cooper was, quote, “unceremoniously dismissed and his brainchild, the Mini-Cooper, dropped from the B/L catalogue.”

75 YEARS AGO APRIL MAY 1946

The New Zealand Sports Car Club’s fastest car awards featured in the MotorSport magazine. Some exotic machinery was contesting the award for being able to exceed 100mph and accelerate from 0 to 50mph in under eight seconds.

Finally, the field was whittled down to eight: an Alvis 4.3 litre, an Austin Seven single-seater, a Bentley Speed Six, a Frazer-Nash TT, an Invicta, a Jaguar SS100, a Railton and a venerable Vauxhall 30/98. Proving there’s no substitute for cubic inches, the Bentley won the award followed by the Alvis and the Invicta.

30 YEARS AGO APRIL MAY 1991

Twenty years after dropping the Mini-Cooper and to mark the original’s 30th anniversary, there was a change of heart and the Mini-Cooper was back on the market albeit at massively inflated prices. Twenty-five Coopers were to come here retailing at $23,990.

Later shipments of the Cooper S started at $32,990, with the sport handling package, $35,099.

“For dedicated enthusiasts only”, was the reporter’s comment.

THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND (INC.)

National Office: PO Box 2546, Christchurch 8140.

Telephone: 03 366 4461

The Annual General Meeting of the Club will be held on Saturday, 14 August 2021 at The Rydges Hotel, Latimer Square. Christchurch, commencing at 9.00am.

Rule 8: ELECTION OF OFFICERS Nominations for the Management Committee must be received in this office by 5pm 19 June 2021 accompanied by a current biography and photograph of the nominee and their association with the Club.

The biography shall contain the name, address and occupation of members nominated for each position.

Not less than 75 clear days before the Annual General Meeting the Management Committee shall cause notice to be given to all members intimating the date for closing nominations for the offices of:– President Club Captain – Northern Region Club Captain – Southern Region Secretary/Treasurer Beaded Wheels Editorial Committee Chairman Registrar Speed Steward Three Other Members of the Management Committee and shall invite nominations for such offices to be forwarded in writing to the Secretary/Treasurer to arrive not less than fiftyfive clear days before the date appointed for the Annual General Meeting. Every such nomination to be signed by the Member nominated, their nominator and seconder. Only a Member who has served at least one year upon the Executive of the Club shall hold the Office of President. Members shall be eligible for election to the Management Committee if they shall have paid all monies due by them to the Club and have been financial Members of the Club for at least six months prior to nomination.

If the number of candidates for the Management Committee exceeds the number of respective vacancies to be filled, an election shall take place.

Job descriptions may be obtained from the Branch Manual. Contact your Branch Secretary or National Office.

MANAGEMENT ­COMMITTEE 2020-2021 PRESENT OFFICERS PRESIDENT HON. SECRETARY/TREASURER CLUB CAPTAINS – NORTHERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION REGISTRAR SPEED STEWARD BEADED WHEELS CHAIRMAN

D Quarrie C Leith

K Smylie A Mayhew R Brayshaw T Haycock K Clarkson

THREE OTHER MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

T Bartlett, G Kear, M Trounson

Graeme Rice

10 Beaded Wheels

 



  

½



–        

     



THE WAY WE WERE s David Mitchell in Riley Monaco. s Spud Jackson and Leone Barker in 6½ Bentley.

s Cold starting test. Buddy Harding cranks the Panhard under watch of Rob Shand, Des Kilkelly and "Gigs" Alexander.

s Morning after L to R: Phil Nairn, Buddy Harding, Des Kilkelly, Rex Frisken with Light Sports Railton and my 3/4½ coupe suitably drop headed!

Continuing our series on the origins and very early events of the Vintage Car Club as recalled

by Andrew Anderson

12 Beaded Wheels

s Some of the vehicles, 6½ Bentley, Dunc Purse’s Austin, MG, our 3/4½ and Doug’s Jeep that did the midnight rescue mission,

2 JUNE 1951

2ND WEST CANTERBURY RALLY You will possibly recall that the first of these events went to Springfield and we fully intended to do the same again.

However, the hotel had changed hands and the new owner was so obviously unenthused at hosting the VCC that Rob and I moved East a notch and struck gold with the somewhat smaller Sheffield pub.

ANDREW ANDERSON VCCNZ FOUNDING & LIFE MEMBER

s Enjoying the sun outside our pub.

He could deal with wives and girlfriends OK, and when asked about local halls for the rest of us, he at once offered us his old original pub next door. This was

a vast empty building that he reconnected to the power and whose rainwater system was still operational and no charge at all.

This time, only Buddy Harding driving my Panhard, Dave Mitchell with a Riley Monaco were vintage, Derek Judd (MG TD) Dunc Purse (Austin A70) and Doug Joy with an ex-army Jeep made up fields somewhat over marshaled by self with Bentley, Spud Jackson with 6½ Bentley, Rob with the Railton and Dave Owen and Owen Haddock.

A good afternoon run out and DIY meals at “our pub” on arrival was capped by arguments as to driving in snow since, as can be seen in the photos, Porters Pass was supposedly impassable.

Rob at once announced that he’d get the Railton to the Bealey and promptly set off.

Doug Joy quite emphatic that this couldn’t be done, set off after him in the Jeep to tow him out of trouble! When neither had reappeared by 10.30 Derek Judd and I, now well lubricated, set off in his TD to find them.

Fortunately, unlike the earlier T types, it had a really good heater since we were both pyjama clad.

Having miraculously “swapped ends” about half way up the Pass, we got back just before Rob and Doug. They had got over the top OK but no further than Lake Lyndon and had serious trouble getting back up to the top!

All snug in our sleeping bags and camp stretchers in our Pub. A not too early start and DIY breakfast, cold start test and a good long circuit regularity test with marshals and all having a go. Spud’s 6½ needs some explanation as this is in fact still Don Grieg’s car that we have met before. Don, defeated in aspirations for motorsport by those dreadful carburettors, had enlisted for Korea in our K Force and entrusted the 6½ to

Frank, Spud and I to look after and use while he was overseas.

Amongst the pile of spares with the car we found the original big Smith 5 jet carb and manifold, armed with which the car at once performed very well.

Spud competed in quite a few Canterbury Car Club trials in it and I got my very first speeding ticket for 75mph over the Addington railway crossing and Hagley Avenue, that is a story in itself.

That evening we had a film show, a quiet night and a good run home again. Jim Palmer of Sheffield and his old pub building was to see quite a lot of us in the future.

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Beaded Wheels 13

THE FAMOUS

JAMES 1928 SPORTS TWIN 500CC MODEL 12 WORDS AND PHOTOS DAVE RICHARDSON

David Richardson explores his family connection through his father-in-law, Tony James, to the James cycle Not exactly a barn find – more a back of the garage find at my soon-to-become father-in-law’s property in Tauranga. A box of bits consisting of a V twin engine, gearbox parts, frame, most of a set of Webb girder forks, wheels, a very rusty tank and parts of mudguards. But what was it? I should have had a clue when I asked Mr Tony James whether it was a JAP or similar (there were no distinguishing names or transfers that could be seen).

He explained that it was in fact a 500cc James, and of course I stated the obvious “I didn’t know James made large capacity motorcycles” …a statement that many people say to me when they admire the motorbike in the street. In fact Wikipedia doesn’t include any of the large capacity four strokes in their history of the James motorcycle, but the James factory actually made a range of 500cc and 600cc singles from 1909 and 650cc and 750cc V twins from 1919.

Tony James’s grandfather, Harry James, started the James cycle factory in Birmingham in 1897, but the first motorcycle did not appear until 1902. Harry had died before the first motorcycle was manufactured, but my father-in-law had the foresight to bring a 500cc machine out with him when he immigrated to New Zealand in the 1940s. The bike had unfortunately been slowly dismantled by enthusiastic young sons who were better at dismantling and

14 Beaded Wheels

losing parts than they were at reassembling, once they found out what was on the inside.

Mr James allowed me to take what was left of the 500 on the condition that I would promise to keep it in the family. And so in 1974, as custodian of a box of bits, I started the restoration.

To find out what a motorcycle looked like in the days before the internet was a matter of searching the library and writing many letters. A breakthrough occurred when I purchased two books Motorcycles in Colour by Eric Thompson 1974 and The Fifth Vintage Road Test Journal C E (Titch) Allen 1977. Both of these books featured 1925 500 V twin James, with extensive notes in the road test journal. Titch Allen, one of the founding members of the Vintage Motorcycle Club, really rated the James 500 with phrases like “the 500 Jimmy really is charming” and “a motor… with character plus the heart of a lion”. I just knew this restoration was going to be really worthwhile.

The photos in those two books, while of a 1925 model, gave me an idea of the parts which were missing, and I started to make a comprehensive list of what I needed to obtain or make.

I started the restoration with a trip to a local panel beater. He was fascinated that the saddle tank could hold petrol in one side and a half, with an oil tank in the remaining quarter. He was

reluctant to dismantle the tank, but did a beautiful job (using lead in those days) to fill the extensive dents and dings. He welded the pieces of mudguards together, adding metal where required, and finished off with lead.

I moved to Christchurch and disaster struck. Little boys lit a fire in my back shed, and fed with cans of petrol, thinners and other combustibles the James went up in smoke. When the local brigade finally put the fire out, the restored tank and guards had little pools of lead beneath them and were back to worse than unrestored status. I was heartbroken, as other parts that had been sandblasted and primed were black and blistered. I threw what was there in a box and forgot about it for another 40 years.

Roll on the internet and pending retirement. I now had Mrs Google working for me, and locating missing bits and pieces was starting to become easier. Bad luck still followed me however.

One of the pieces that had come with the bike was a brass Villiers carburettor. I had joined the VCC by then, and on the advice of one of the members took it to a local carburettor expert for reconditioning. After six months and not having heard from him I went around to his workshop to see what was happening. Not much apparently, his wife said that he had recently been admitted

to a dementia unit but I was welcome to have a look through the hundreds of carburettors and boxes for the missing carb. It was nowhere to be found. Another setback in the restoration.

My son, who had caught the James bug, was restoring a couple of James two strokes, and introduced me his mechanic, Roger Cotterill, who has been superb at making the tricky little bits and pieces that were missing, and assembling the engine and forks. A true craftsman, he was the stroke of luck this difficult restoration needed, as I was a viticulture lecturer and lacked the finer skills of motor mechanics. Mrs Google also directed me to a site in Hungary (of all places) where I picked up most of another engine and a lovely cast aluminium silencer. Many of the Webb girder fork parts have been reproduced and are available on eBay. The James 500cc V twins were outstanding in their reliability, handling, and stamina in trials. A page of wins and gold medals over 59 national and international trials accompanied the parts catalogue for the 1928 model. Some of the most notable were wins in the 1924 International Six Days Trial as a member of the English team, and then repeated with gold medals in 1925, 1926 and 1927, including a tie for the manufacturer’s prize in 1927. Other successes included 1924, 1925, 1927 Scottish Six Days Trial and the ACU 1,000

Beaded Wheels 15

s Dave Richardson

mile Reliability Trial 1924, 1925, and 1927. Their advertising noted that… “We would emphasise that the successes appearing on this page were accomplished on standard machines ‘the same as you buy’ and that the accomplishment of these awards is not secured by sacrificing specification, or silence, in any way”.

So what is the James like to ride? Having rushed through the restoration during one of the Covid lockdowns I was keen to have it at least rideable so that I could give it a real test in the Canterbury Branch annual Girder Fork Rally from Christchurch to Akaroa (a return a trip of 190 km).

Starting is very easy. Flood the carb via the tickler, decompression lever engaged, two kicks to draw some petrol into the cylinders and then release, advance/retard about half way, one kick and it fires into life. Hand clutch in, engage gear, slowly release and you are off. The rider’s right hand is busy adjusting the timing and accelerator levers (no twist grip throttle) while also using the front brake. And if that’s not enough you have to release all of that to use the gear change on the side of the tank. The gearbox and massive multiplate steel clutch work well, and as long as you hit the right rev range and don’t rush it clicks through the three gears easily.

Rush it and there will be a rather nasty grating sound. Plenty of torque with a large heavy flywheel means that once you are in top gear, changes can be kept to a minimum. The aluminium silencer with built in baffles gives a lovely muffled drone. The press opinion expressed during one of the ACU Six Day Trials said “The James machines were the most silent in the trial and sounded more like a car than a motorcycle.”

Lubrication is constant-loss splash system, supplied through a sight-glass Pilgrim pump on the side of the timing case, with the flywheels throwing the oil around the engine. Evidently a drip every 2-4 seconds through the pump, and if there is a little blue puff of smoke as you decelerate, you have it about right. If the bike is labouring up a hill an extra squirt of oil can be added from a hand pump on the tank. Any extra oil is lost through a breather which lubricates the primary and secondary chains (and the rear

16 Beaded Wheels

wheel rim!) and as a result, oil consumption appears to be quite high. Titch Allen reckoning on “perhaps a pint to 150 miles but what matter. Oil is cheaper than bearings and there’s no regular periodic oil change to worry about” Riding position is quite low (I am 5 foot 9 inches). This low riding style and centre of gravity meant that this bike was popular with the British riders who used them for trials and grass-tracking. This may account for the lack of this model today, as many engines were probably thrashed until they died. In response, James produced an overhead valve speedway machine in 1929 to meet the need for a racing machine. Handling is precise, with the adjustable shock absorbers on the super deluxe Webb girder forks, and the Webb steering damper can be adjusted. Earlier models had Druid forks, but the changeover to Webb deluxe forks was inspired. This model of Webb fork was fitted to many racing motorcycles of the time and had been instrumental in nearly all the winners of the 1925-1929 Senior TT, Junior TT and Amateur TTs as well as many TTs on the continent. The Webb steering damper knob shows the effect of the shed fire and is very black and blistered, but I am going to leave it like that to remind me of the inferno the bike once went through. One of the aspects of the James that I don’t like is the fact that the Terry seat tends to hit the mudguard when you encounter a large pothole. I put this down to the heat that the springs went through in the fire, probably resulting in the loss of some of their spring and strength.

James made everything on the bike (the engine, clutch and gearbox were their own design) apart from the Webb forks, Villiers carburettor, Terry seat, and the magdyno by Lucas. Electrical lighting was an optional extra at £5.15. James pistons are no longer made so I have substituted 1930s Ford 10 pistons. They are flat topped so the compression (and performance) is probably down on what may be obtained from the original round topped James pistons.

The 1928 model was just one of the 500cc side valve V twins which James produced over a 12 year period from 1923 to 1935.

Apart from minor cosmetic changes (my 1928 was the first of the saddle tanks) and the expensive aluminium muffler being replaced with a standard two-into-one chromium plated one, the Model 12 Sports twin 500 V twin remained in production from 1924 to 1935.

They also produced an overhead valve version of the 500cc in 1929 for a few years until the Depression put an end to their range of quality larger capacity motorcycles. The James factory then concentrated on small two-stroke Villiers and AMC engined two strokes. While the Model 12 500cc was obviously very popular to survive such a long production run, its successes in off road activities means that very few exist today.

I did not restore the 500 to concours condition to be stored in a museum. As guardian of this motorcycle I plan to ride it as much as possible before I finally hand it back to the James family.

A delightful motorcycle, and as Titch Allen so succinctly said in his road test journal… “I think I can best sum up the twin Jimmy by saying that of all the vintage machines I have let slip through my fingers this is the one I wished I acquired”.

VCCNZ CELEBRATES 75 YEARS

AWARDS Congratulations to the following members who have recently been awarded their 50 and 60 Year Awards.

60 YEAR

Adamson, John North Otago Main, Ivan North Otago Armiger, John Marlborough Bruce, David Marlborough Rooney, Neil Walsh, Charles Newland, Barry

50 YEAR

North Otago North Otago Gore

Come and Join the party

2021 VCC National AGM will be commemorating 75 years of the Vintage Car Club of NZ hosted, in Christchurch, by the Canterbury Branch on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 August.

We are inviting members to come to Christchurch for the AGM. It would be great to see members in club eligible cars.

CAST IRON WELDING Powder Spray Process, Cylinder Heads, Manifolds, Cooling Fins, Castings, Mechanical Repairs & Rebuilds

THOMAS ROWE MOTORING ENGINEER ltd 6 RD Palmerston North

PHONE 06 324-8707

The weekend's celebrations will start on Friday 10.30am with a short car club type tour to an interesting lunch stop and return to the AGM venue by 3pm.

Saturday morning is the AGM with morning tea.

In the afternoon a leisurely 1-2 hour walking tour from the central city venue will be offered or alternatively a guided bus tour around the central city. Either of these options are dependant on numbers. Afternoon tea would be included, then returning to the venue in time to prepare for the evening celebratory dinner.

Sunday morning – Canterbury Branch Coffee and old Cars GetTogether. All Welcome.

The delegates flying out of Christchurch will be transported to our clubrooms at Cutler Park for morning tea and then to the airport as required. Other members are invited to stop by at Cutler Park before leaving Christchurch. Access both North and South of the city is easy from Mcleans Island.

Entry Forms will be available from Branch Secretaries early in May 2021.

Further enquiries email Marilyn McKinlay bmm45@uclive.ac.nz

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PHONE 0800 15 0800 • brent@classictowing.co.nz • classic towing.co.nz Beaded Wheels 17

HIN BE

D THE WHE

EL

AN UMBRELLA ON WHEELS 1987 CITROËN 2CV CHARLESTON WORDS ALASTAIR JONES, PHOTOS ROGER CLARK

18 Beaded Wheels

Roger Clark is a man renown for surprising those around him with the organising of imaginative escapades, and with a significant birthday for his soul-mate and wife coming up, explicit instructions were given that she didn’t want any big party or celebration.

Any other husband would have muttered “Whatever” under his breath and asked a compliant female acquaintance to go out and buy a suitable item of clothing or an expensive piece of jewellery. But no, not Roger. “Ah non mesdames et monsieurs”.

He hatched a devilish plan, that in his words, required all the subterfuge of conducting an ”affaire d’amour”, and trying to hide a major financial transaction from a wife who works in the financial services industry was exceedingly difficult.

Accordingly, he told Rosemary to organise a couple of weeks leave, to get her passport in order and to pack a suitcase with clothes suitable for an adventure in cooler weather. Now, Rosemary had been hankering for a holiday in Tasmania and thought this is what her wonderful husband had in mind.

On departure day all was going well to her preconceived vision, except the Christchurch destination was very confusing, but never mind, flights must leave there for Tasmania. However there was an ensuing flight to Dunedin where accommodation with friends was provided and the picture was starting to get a bit muddied, but at a time like this one just has to go with the flow.

The next day, her birthday, was heralded with a knock on the door that was answered by their host who announced that Rosemary was required at the door. To her surprise a complete stranger greeted her and in a fleeting moment she presumed someone in her Tauranga office had spilt the beans and alerted one of the Dunedin crew to her big day. The stranger beckoned her to follow him out to the street where a Citroën 2CV was parked, and although a long time admiration for the model had been harboured, it had never developed into the thought of actually owning one. It suddenly occurred to Rosemary that her dear thoughtful Roger must have organised a sightseeing trip around the city as a prelude to the bigger thing. Then the devilish plan unfolded when the stranger handed her a large bouquet of flowers and dangled the keys in front of her and said ”Happy Birthday”.

No words can adequately describe feelings at a time like this, and Rosemary says the 2CV was very blurred with extremely

Beaded Wheels 19

SPECIFICATIONS Engine:

OHV 602cc air-cooled flat twin, 74mm bore, 70mm stroke, 33bhp, 9:1 cr

Weight:

1234 lbs

Length:

12 feet 6 inches

Width:

4 feet 10inches

Turning circle: 35 feet Tyre size:

watery eyes. This is when the pieces of the jigsaw fell into place, making sense of return arrangements that didn’t make sense.

The return trip to Tauranga was a leisurely affair with Rosemary making the most of her lovely present, but Roger was graciously allowed a few stints behind the wheel. Of course a visit to Akaroa was a must and even a French themed restaurant was found, in Taihape of all places, that provided interesting photo opportunities. The clothing required for cooler temps was not needed for motoring thanks to a very efficient heater, which proves there are options to hot water.

I asked whether it took very long to settle into the required driving skills and was assured she felt she had been driving it all her life.

Now that the present has been covered (pun intended) it would be remiss of me to not to have a brief look at its past and how it came to be designed. Anyone interested in automotive design will have come across the multitude of stories of how the designers were given a brief to provide a cheap form of transport for the peasants, that had to be capable of motoring over a ploughed paddock with a tray of eggs and a piglet in the back enroute to market, and not end up with a ham and egg omelette for sale.

After the Traction Avant was presented to the public in 1934, things weren’t going too well financially at Citroën, culminating in the death of Andre in 1935, and leading to the French Government persuading Michelin as the largest creditor to take over. It didn’t go too well for their head honcho either. Pierre Michelin died in 1937 leaving one Pierre Boulanger to keep the radical design ethic going which was entrusted to Andre Lefebvre, variously described as a loose cannon with at least 100 ideas every day of which only one would ever be worth closer examination.

Experimentation with a little water-cooled flat twin to power prototypes constructed from dural, plywood for the chassis, body-shell, and exterior panels, with only the bonnet and wings in steel resulted; not really a great step up from the 1920s cycle cars that proliferated in France. It was off to the drawing-board in September 1939 but Hitler’s ambitions threw a spanner in the works. However, rather surprisingly, despite the hostilities going 20 Beaded Wheels

125 SR15

on all around him, Boulanger arranged for Walter Becchia, who had impeccable qualifications from designing the early twin cam GP Sunbeam, to improve the original moteur.

The improved version was a very lightweight flat twin, now aircooled with a simple ignition system, robust crankshaft running in substantial bearings, all kept unstressed by a fan driven off the front of the crank with an oil-cooler directly in the air-flow.

However, it was not until 1948 that the peasants got see the answer to the little cycle cars they had been used to, and in that time it was now utilising an ingenious suspension consisting of a long coil spring enclosed in a longitudinal housing each side under the floor pan, which had the leading and trailing suspensions arms connected at each end of the spring. Apparently it was also the first motor-vehicle to be fitted with the radial ply tyre developed

by Michelin. The scholarly motoring critic Leonard JK Setright described it as “the most intelligent application of minimalism ever to succeed as a car-so remorselessly logical there was nothing to argue”. High praise indeed, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and therefore necessitated a road-test to validate all the hype. C’est moi!

I approached the drive with a little trepidation wondering if the demands of chic Parisiennes wanting to rush home before the croissants cooled down hadn’t resulted in a soft rather bloated car, after all, this “Charleston” is almost 40 years younger than the first one. I needn’t have worried. The car is not small, say like a Mini, rather tall and somewhat narrow which might prove an interesting fit, but thank goodness the gear-lever is in a place on the dash-board where decorum will be preserved. I repeat, on the dashboard! Hammock-type seats have been replaced with rather more conventional ones, although the roll-back fabric roof is still part of the package. I’m thinking this road-test is best handled by letting the owner give me some insight into how to manage something that is far from main-stream. After it burst into life sounding for all the world like a twin cylinder veteran with a definite teuf teuf exhaust beat, we go off with some questions about whether body-roll requires some consideration – not of me, but the car. Shortly some “traffic soothers” and a sharp right angle

corner taken at a speed higher than I would dare, leave me quite speechless, and soon at a roundabout we’re alongside a Mustang travelling in the inside lane with the driver giving me a broad grin and thumbs up. We’re LHD and so is he, all very comradely.

Then the big moment arrives and it’s my turn. The driver’s position is snug with steering wheel and foot pedals in the correct places and the gear-change actually presents itself naturally.

Handily printed on the dash is the gear change pattern which involves pulling it from neutral for 1st and then over to the right and forward for 2nd, back for 3rd and then over to the right and forward for 4th. Reverse is engaged by pushing it forward from the 1st gear position. Clutch is very smooth and off we go with hesitant changes ruling out any daring 0-to-100 times. The steering is more definite than I would have expected on such a light car, and soon I’ve got the hang of the gears so Rosemary says “give it a bit of stick”. This particular 2CV has been followed on a few occasions by me driving different Minis, and I had to motor reasonably hard to keep up with it, so this was the chance to see why. It took off like a poodle whacked with a baguette and is happy to cruise at 90-100kph, so much for calling them “Tin Snails”. The answer of course is “lightness” which Colin Chapman embraced, and when retardation was required the brakes were more than up to the job as they didn’t have a lot of weight to deal with. The ride is absolutely superb over Tauranga’s multitudinous road-works, more so when one considers how simple the suspension is.

Back at the garage I give it the once over and see there is the usual speedo, fuel gauge, ammeter and a knob to open air vents, and even the means to adjust the headlamp beam to compensate for a couple of large pumpkins and a corker porker being taken to market.

Simplicity in construction is everywhere down to the most rudimentary of door hinges, and the door locks are exceedingly clever, taking more space here than is allowable, to describe how they work. However, I’m impressed with the solid clunk when the doors shut and the fact they can be easily removed when fully

opened creating interesting opportunities, and how about a rear seat that’s removable in its entirety for a picnic or something else. Open the bonnet and boot to their full extent, slide them sideways, and voilà, they’re off! The car is like new having done only 17,000 kms when bought, and now showing another 10,000kms of rapturous driving in Rosemary’s hands.

When the bonnet is lifted I’m told to be careful of the side valances. The bonnet and the appendages are fluttering like tissue paper in the slightest of breezes; graphic examples of “lightness” but not flimsiness. The drivers handbook, in good English, notes the maximum speeds in the gears as 1st- 30kph, 2nd- 60kph, 3rd90kph, and 4th- 118kph, and a homely piece of low key advice ( pun again) is to warm the door key in the flame of a cigarette lighter before inserting into a frozen door lock, presumably then lighting one’s Gauloises, before setting off on some exciting motoring with heater on and canvas top rolled back.

Alex Issigonis employed the Moulton hydrolastic system to give the Mini a superlative ride, but the 2CV is as good if not better and incredibly simple in comparison, and would obviously have been an awful lot cheaper to manufacture. Citroën would have been the most innovative of manufacturers, going from the 2CV in just a few short years to the stunning and avant garde DS/ID 19, which grabbed attention as much as the Traction Avant did way back in the early ‘30s.

Would I own one? Oui, oui, in a heartbeat, not because it is strange or quirky, but because it is an amazingly practical car, easy to work on and such fun to drive. With a production run of 42 years and around eight million manufactured, I’m not alone.

On a final note, Rosemary has christened it “Charlize” after Ms Theron; I’d call it “Charles” with a bonnet like the General’s honk!

About the author ALASTAIR JONES

When Alastair acquired a 1917 Grant Six that had been sold new by his grandfather in Masterton, no time was wasted in joining the VCC in 1961.

Following the Grant was a 1926 3 litre Bentley that proved to be a challenging project with many expensive problems along the way, but it was great fun for Gwen and two small children to motor through Australia after the 1978 International. A 1932 MG J2 was seen in Melbourne that had been entered in the first Australian Grand Prix, and being a make sold by the family it was bought at the expense of the Bentley. With his grandfather selling many veteran and vintage Fiats brought from WB Scott in Christchurch the acquisition of a 501S and also a 510S Fiat was not surprising and they served as

admirable transport on the three lengthy back-country motoring events of the late ‘90s.

The Fiats were sold when the opportunity arose to buy the only Railton to have come to New Zealand new that Wally Scott, who was later Club Patron, went to England specially to buy, and it is still in Jones’ custodianship. Gwen has been a constant motoring companion and is the nominal owner of a late Morris Minor Traveller.

Alastair is a firm believer that you only get out of a club what you put into it and accordingly has served in most positions in the many Branches he has been involved with and was the founding Chairman of Horowhenua Branch. Winning Lotto would see a Vauxhall in the car garage but he has had a fantastic 60 years in the VCC and wouldn’t change any of it and is looking forward to many more years of motoring.

Beaded Wheels 21

MEMORIES OF WORKSHOP TRUCKS AND A NEW GENERATION VINTAGE VEHICLE OF SOME NOTE WORDS AND PHOTOS GRAHAM TAYLOR

John Loudon’s article about his early days and vehicles came to mind this afternoon when I drove for the first time my son Daniel’s Toyota BJ44… but this means I have to go back to the beginning!

My first memories of our family work vehicles are of; Ford V8 school buses, a 1937 Dodge that had previously been the tea wagon at the Wigram airforce base and then converted to a school bus, and then an Austin K series bus that shook itself to death on the corrugated roads of the late 1950s.

Our first workshop truck was a ’39 Ford barrel nose one tonner which was purchased from a local musterer when he was able to buy a new Vanguard ute in 1963. The V8 was ex-military and about 1964 was fitted with a four speed gearbox. Next came a circa 1951 Bedford M series, a three-tonner that was able to tow, and carry, farm machinery. An ex-Post Office double cab Bedford O series came next and after fitting an Eaton two speed rear axle from an Austin truck it gave much more useful performance. Our current vehicle is a Hino Ranger FD3HLA with a rope crane.

We purchased our first new vehicle in 1974, a Japaneseassembled Mazda B1600 which was a cracker. This was followed by a New Zealand-assembled B1600 which went through a set of spark plugs every three months, and used quite a bit of fuel. I suspect the 22 Beaded Wheels

valve timing was out. In 1978 we purchased the upgraded model B1600 which was lucky if it could achieve 15 mpg even downhill.

Open the windows on a hot day and the hood lining ended up around ones ears. I reckoned if it was going to be like that, why not have some power and comfort, so in 1979 we bought a Holden HZ 5 litre V8 utility, a nice truck if you could get it to start when it was hot. After three months it needed a cylinder head job as none of the valves matched their seats. Speaking of seats, the sloping seat in the ute was affecting my back health. On one occasion I had to crawl on hands and knees to deliver a pack of baler shear bolts to a farmer’s back door.

On the Central Otago Toyota dealer’s stand at the 1982 Wanaka show was a new Toyota Landcruiser BJ45 with the 3B diesel engine which I was persuaded to test drive. I had become aware of the Landcruisers, mostly with some prejudice as, “how could anything beat a Landrover”? We took possession of the new Landcruiser, trading the Holden in for what we had paid for it. The Holden was

by now fitted with a Carter carb from a V8 Valiant – one of the few positive things I could say about it.

We designed our own deck for the Landcruiser, keeping the load height low for tools and parts, along with a solid multi-purpose tow bar capable of towing just about anything. It was fitted with 205 x 16 radial ply tyres, about all we could get in those days, the cross ply type being strictly for off-road use. When they became available in the late 1970s we fitted 15-inch wheels with 235 x 15 tyres which were much more durable. We preferred the smaller diameter tyres for towing as they improved the gearing, essential when towing a two-ton round baler uphill against a howling northerly wind. It has proved capable of everything required of it, whether towing or just a road trip, and has now done more than 500,000 km.

At a Government Stores Board auction in Dunedin in 1984 (the day Muldoon was given his marching orders) we bought a 1974 Landcruiser FJ42 long wheelbase, along with a Bedford J6 truck.

The ‘Cruiser was a petrol model with only a three speed gearbox but was useful if you could afford the petrol. It was the only vehicle I owned (until I made the mistake of owning a Series III Landrover) in which the fuel gauge could beat the speedometer.

The J6 Bedford with its 300 cubic inch petrol engine could at least carry a decent load and still do 6 mpg. Both that Bedford and the petrol Landcruiser were later sold as the down turn in the farm machinery business forced some changes.

Also in 1984 we purchased a new Isuzu double cab as a support vehicle for the BJ45 as it now had quite a few kilometres on the clock. The Isuzu was a good performer but had a habit of shaking its alternator mounting to bits. The cause was eventually revealed when a connecting rod went walkabout. A secondhand engine was fitted and this vehicle is still to be seen today with a garden care business in Wanaka. The Isuzu was followed by two Nissans, both good trucks as long as you were on good solid ground!

In the early 2000s I went out on my own. My son Daniel had inherited the BJ45, now repainted green, and known as Old Green.

Silly me, looking for a work vehicle, I bought a long wheelbase Landrover Series III diesel in poor mechanical condition. I overhauled the motor and when I took it out on the highway could not understand why it would not climb the slight slope to the west.

Then I remembered a local farmer who said of the Landrover diesel at the time he swapped his for a Toyota that “it would not pull a bloody hen off its nest”. I quickly got rid of mine and then had a go at refurbishing a petrol Series III long wheelbase Landrover

wagon. It went quite well for a start, was quite handy as well, and had reasonable power, but the fuel consumption, and the constant repairs, meant that I made good money on it by giving it away.

While driving through Ashburton I came across a 1989 Toyota Landcruiser HJ60 with the 4 litre engine and 5 speed gearbox that got me back into sensible country. I had seen my first HJ60 in 1981 at the Nambour Show in Australia and thought at the time it had potential. A local was desperate for a vehicle for his fishing guiding business so I sold it to him and he still has it.

For sale at Lake Hayes was a 1986 HJ60 which I bought and kept for a few years until persuaded to sell it to a Twizel guy who needed a reliable bullet-proof vehicle for his hunting and fishing forays in the Mackenzie Basin.

A 1983 HJ60, ex a local builder, was next, with a similar but rusted model for spares, and I still use this as my main vehicle today. It is on its second engine but it is cheap and easy to maintain with a good new parts source in Australia. I have only had to use that once when my oil pressure relief valve jammed, in Cromwell much to the amusement of my VCC friends.

The Toyota Landcruiser HJ60 station wagon as a vehicle is very hard to beat. It will take passengers, including my dog Harry. It is good on the open road and excellent in the rough with only occasional use of four wheel drive. The low ratio is great for tight work and for hooking up trailers and machinery. I have noticed that in quite a few TV programmes including Seal Team and NCIS that the 60 series Toyota feature. The third world baddies use them as well. You would not want to get caught out if the electronics did a burton on the getaway.

Our family Toyota fleet now exceeds our BMC A-series fleet, with the HJ60, the BJ45 (Old Green) and the latest BJ44, a BJ60 in the wings, and a BJ72, a BJ40 and a five cylinder PZJ77 to round out the fleet.

As I noted at the beginning the inspiration for all this was driving my son Daniel’s newly refurbished 1980 BJ44. It handled and drove like a new one. It has been upgraded with a later 3B engine with the rotary injector pump, and a five speed gearbox.

It has been a ten year project and I am very proud of his effort, but then with an excellent make and model, why not? No doubt the Landrover fraternity will shriek with indignation. I still have a soft spot for the Landrovers, as long as it is someone else who owns them.

Beaded Wheels 23

THE RACING SUNBEAMS IN NEW ZEALAND - NO 1

1913 COUPE DE L’AUTO WORDS AND PHOTOS ANDREW ANDERSON

Matthew Wills’ 1913 Coupe de L’Auto Sunbeam at Opawa (early 1920s)

Those evocative photographs in issue 366 from William Hearne prompt me to get these stories down clearly before the mists of time obliterate them.

But first let’s clear up some misrepresentations in that article, which will make this first story rather long but hopefully rewarding. William must surely be a close relative to well remembered John Hearne, met many times at Invermay Hill Climb and Club AGMs over the years, and the owner driver of a fierce Hyper Lea Francis, amongst others? He is obviously Sunbeam enthused, so for Pete’s sake beg borrow or steal Oliver Heal’s really authoritative biography Louis Coatalen: Engineering Impresario of Humber, Sunbeam, Talbot and Darracq.

Coatalen, a Breton with always very accented English, came to Sunbeam in 1909 from Hillman then Humber with a serious racing car design and driving record, and proceeded to turn their fortunes around in both production car design and racing in very short order. His first aero engine, a side valve V8, was not on the test bed until the end of 1912, so it was heralded by the racing car, not the other way round.

The Grand Prix de L’Automobile Club de France, boycotted by French manufacturers since Mercedes won in 1908, was poised for revival. To ensure success it was partnered by the already hugely popular light car racing series sponsored by that great paper L’Auto for their Coupe de L’Auto for cars of maximum engine capacity of 3 litres. Two totally different races were run concurrently – there was no 3-litre class of the Grand Prix. The races themselves were held over a fast circuit of 48 miles at Dieppe, as in 1907 and 1908, to encourage English entries, which it certainly did for the Coupe de L’Auto.

24 Beaded Wheels

Moreover, to make the whole affair really memorable the events would cover no less than 956 miles over two days, 25 and 26 June, of racing. Ten laps per day for both races.

Coatalen’s standard production 12/16 of just over 3 litre capacity regularly competed in speed hillclimbs and other club events at Brooklands, where Tootles, a tuned 12/16, set a new 16 hp flying half mile at 72 mph in 1910.

In 1911 he had entered such a car driven by TH Richards for the Coupe de L’Auto at Boulogne. It crashed when running seventh in a field of 30 starters, with bitter UK rivals Calthorpe and two Arrol Johnstons actually finishing. With all those local competitors enthused to participate Coatalen had no problems in getting his directors to authorise a really massive Sunbeam effort for 1912.

A full four-car team of suitably modified 12/16 cars was entered, duly Brooklands tested, from November 1911. These were basic 12/16 engined, destroked to 80 x 149 to 2997cc, standard side valve layout with hotter camshafts, Claudel Hobson carbs, and special attention to lubrication systems. Chassis were simplified by discarding the ¾ elliptic rear springs for ½ elliptics, and they were still on homely artillery wheels. The whole accent was on total high-speed reliability. The team drivers were all selected for road racing experience. The drivers, mechanics and families were provided with accommodation all together, with cover and workshops for the cars. A long stay with vigorous and continuous practice and improvement delivered that 1–2–3 victory in the Coupe de L’Auto, with only Caillois in Sunbeam # 11 going out with big end

At 32 Selwyn St, Timaru. Matthew driving 1913 Sunbeam. Trevor Barker standing.

Pepperdon (Devon) 1913.

failure. Rigal’s winning car averaged 65.3 mph for those 956 miles.

Only two Grand Prix cars were in front of him. Georges Boillot in the surviving 7,600cc twin cam Peugeot at 68.4 mph and Wagner with the 14,137cc Fiat at 67.3 mph. Fastest lap for both races was 36 mins 32 sec for Bruce Brown’s eighth lap in his big Fiat, an average speed of 78.4mph for that lap. All this was on roads that at their best would be equivalent to 1930s Mackenzie Country stuff, and at worst, on cut up corners, would be like a lightly graded Canterbury braided riverbed.

photo titled “Pepperdon 1913” with that Sunbeam with its bonnet up. Oliver stuck to planes and flew for the RFC to be killed in the last few weeks of WWI in 1918. Matthew was obviously into fast cars.

The whole family went to Australia on their father’s business trip there in 1919. They spent some time in New Zealand during the trip and obviously enjoyed it.

The Hamilton/Wills involvement will be for the next story, but for this one it is only relevant that Billy Hamilton and Peggy née Wills lived at Irishman Creek not long before we find Matthew

For 1913 Coatalen decided to defend Sunbeam’s primacy in the Coupe de L’Auto, set down for September on its usual Boulogne 32 mile circuit. This was a different proposition to that 48 mile one at Dieppe but in addition to this he decided upon a challenge for the GP de L’ACF too. This was to be held on a 20 mile circuit at Amiens in July with 29 laps for a total 569 miles.

For the GP he knew that the 3 litre cars just were not up to it. In spite of his numerous ohv Brooklands cars he stuck to side valves for reliability, and added two cylinders to give 4523 cc engines, still delivering over 100bhp, the second smallest in the race. For the Coupe de L’Auto virtually the same rig as those 3 litre 1912 cars was deemed sufficient.

Two shorter circuits, with more laps and thus acceleration points, spelt a lot of wheelspin, so Coatalen opted out of differentials in the back axles. This worked for the Grand Prix where the very fast Sunbeams came third and sixth. For the Coupe de L’Auto it didn’t, and two cars were out with broken axles, though KL Guinness came in third.

In both races Peugeot, with really superb smaller, much more refined versions of their 1912 twin cam, 4 valve cars, came first and second.

And all those British side valve proponents went home to do some hard thinking. With the 1914 Coupe de L’Auto already announced to be a 2½ litre formula, the 1913 Sunbeams, duly fitted with differentials, wire wheels and sufficient production goodies to be saleable, were fired off to RF Fuggle of Bushey Heath for sale - for a very excellent reason. Established in 1906, Richard Fuggle senior had friends and customers like Geoffrey de Havilland, whose sheds and field were just down the road. His workshop was thus a gathering place for all those “daring young men and their flying machines” and most likely buyers of racing cars. He was much involved in Hispano-Suizas and, via friend Leo Cousins who was Sunbeam’s sales manager, Sunbeam.

Now amongst the many daring young men were one Oliver Wills and his younger, partially deaf brother Mathew, sons of a wealthy shipping-industry family with a homestead called Pepperdon in Devonshire. Fortunately for us they had profoundly deaf and enthusiastic photographer Lucy as their youngest sister. Here is her

Wills, having finished a farming course in Scotland. He was the owner of “Opawa” in the lower Mackenzie Country, and a town house in Timaru, using that 1913 Coupe de L’Auto to hurtle between the two. See two more of Lucy’s photos above to prove it. Matthew’s constant pursuit of ever faster machinery meant selling the 1913 car to acquire the 1922 TT winner, and we hear no more of it until the l5 February 1942 copy of The Autocar carries a long letter from John Farnsworth, which is worth quoting verbatim, “I came to this country (New Zealand) from England in 1936, and after looking around for a car to play with found my first Sunbeam lying neglected in a garage at Fairlie, South Canterbury, where I was then living. I purchased it for £10. It afterwards transpired that this was the 1913 Coupe de L’Auto winner. I had a lot of fun in this car in spite of its many idiosyncrasies. The engine was a 4 cylinder sv. unit about 80x150 mm with Bosch magneto and Claudel Hobson carburetor feeding through a two branch manifold warmed by a vast copper water jacket.

The rear axle ratio was about 3.5:1 as far as I can remember. Fuel was pressure fed from a rear tank by a hand pump on the dash, but this had gradually deteriorated with the years, and I tore it off and fitted an Autovac, which was very satisfactory. The body was a two seater, rather heavy, but once upon a time well made, and the dash still bore a plate inscribed ‘R F Fuggle, Bushey’ and the number of the car which was, if I recollect aright, 813. But this may be wrong.

Performance was not very brisk but I had 70mph on more than one occasion. The car had a habit of shedding its tyres (815x105mm) and the wheels were on their last legs, only one, I think, having its full complement of spokes. This was no inducement to reckless driving. In general, I got 20-22 mpg averaging 45-50 mph.

Finally, the old car became too much of a good thing and I sold it to a friend up-country, who had better facilities for working on it.

I believe he eventually attained 85mph with it; he then sold the car; and I have now lost track of it” And so have we. The Fuggle plate confirms his story as being a genuine 1913 Coupe de L’Auto car but not, of course, the winner – possibly the Guinness car, the only finisher in the race.

Beaded Wheels 25

LOCHINVER VINTAGE CAR SAFARI 2021 Words Leigh Patterson Photos Elizabeth Cato

2021 Entrants Oliver and Nicola Midgley. Waitemata Graham and Esther Smith. Hawke’s Bay Jim and Kaaren Smylie.

Bay of Plenty Leigh and Trish Patterson. Hawke’s Bay Michael Greig.

Waitemata Allan and Sue Jones.

Model A Club Rob Mostan and John Munro Waitemata

26 Beaded Wheels

Model A sport coupe (Tour Leaders) 1929 Chev tourer 1928 Model A roadster 1930 Model A town sedan 1930 Riley 9hp WD tourer 1928 Model A phaeton Range Rover (tail end Charlie) Jim and Kaaren Smylie, 1928 Model A roadster.

After three years of waiting Trish and I were thrilled to join this year's Lochinver. We heard that four of the eight cars were from Hawke’s Bay, so we contacted the others and formed a plan to travel together.

Three of us meet at Bay View BP garage at 7.00 am on Saturday 16 January. That plan had an ominous start – the garage forecourt burnt down Friday night – something to do with an open bucket of petrol and a cigarette lighter. The local gendarmerie wouldn’t let us gather at that spot, but we had all had fore-warning Friday night and had filled up elsewhere, and met just down the road – Allan and Sue (1928 Ford Model A phaeton), Graham and Esther (1930 Chev tourer), and us, Leigh and Trish (1930 Ford Model A town sedan). The Chev’s extra 2 cylinders proved handy on the numerous hills on SH5 between Napier and Lochinver. Lochinver is a sheep and cattle station about 25km before Taupo, squeezed between the hills and the forest on the Napier/Taupo road. It is big – about 40,000 acres. Allan had more spare petrol than can be fitted into a Model A tank, so we left him at the gate, while Graham and I went on to Taupo to gas up.

When we got back to the gate at Lochinver, there was a convocation of assorted cars awaiting the 10am start time – Jim and Kaaren (Ford Model A roadster), Oliver and Nicola (Ford Model A sports coupe), Michael (1930 Riley convertible), plus a couple of modern 4wd back up vehicles. I looked at the Range Rover, and figured if he got stuck, my Model A could probably tow him out.

At 10am, our host for the weekend, Tom Louchlin, announced his presence. Tom runs a company, Kai Waho (outside food), is from Ngati Tuwharatoa (Taupo region), and a true kaitiaki (guardian) of tribal land. He was also our kaumatua and host for the weekend, along with his delightful partner, Elizabeth. Tom gave us a mihi and said a karakia (greeting and prayer) for our experience, and off we set.

First stop after 10 minutes, the Lochinver Farm office. Thus far, the road was a very smooth gravel road and dead straight, but very dusty. After the office, we found a few gentle curves but mainly straight shingle roads. We had a photo stop beside Lake Pouarua which is entirely on Lochinver Station. Shortly after we passed back into Hawke's Bay, and suddenly, after an hour of driving, we were at the edge of Lochinver. We went through a gate, and instantly things changed. We were now on a Maori Trust Board block, which is not farmed, but is in regenerating scrub and bush, mainly manuka and kanuka vegetation. The roads were now tracks, well suited to 4wd vehicles and our vintage cars. It was rough, dusty, winding, and challenging driving – the grins on the drivers’ faces were only surpassed by the grimaces on the passengers’ faces.

I was following a Model A and came around a sharp curve and dropped into a ford. Unfortunately, my view was obscured by the car in front and I hit the ford too fast – splashing water as high as the roof of the car. Momentum carried me through, but up the other side, 0LIV (my car’s name) spluttered to a halt. I had drowned the distributor, and fuel pump (I have a Weber downdraft carby and electric fuel pump fitted). There was no room to get a car past, so the following drivers and I had to do a bit of a rescue job, but we were soon underway. This was the only casualty all weekend. After an hour of mainly first gear driving, following the direction of the Repia River, and into a second Maori Trust board block, we arrived at the entrance to the marae. We all did mountain goat impersonations to climb the hill to the whare. The wharenui, wharekai, and wharepaku were all in the same building, so after a visit to the wharepaku we all gathered in the wharekai for a very

welcome cuppa. What a place! The views are magnificent, the country is wild. The whare is mainly used for small groups as a fishing, hunting lodge, and an outdoor education centre for school kids, and all hosted by Tom. Lunch was ravenously devoured – never have buns and salad tasted so good. After lunch, we went for a drive further down the track. Tom took us up a hill that he has never taken vintage cars before, being too steep and rough. He failed to reckon with the persuasive powers of Jim and Allan though, and the vintage cars creamed it. In spite of that, Trish wouldn’t come back down with me – she preferred the Range Rover! Jim gave Tom a drive in the Model A which put the biggest ever grin on Tom’s face. I learnt something though. A vintage car needs momentum to climb a hill. A 4wd doesn’t – they put it in low ratio 4wd and crawl up. Too slow for a vintage car. If you are following a modern 4wd up a steep rough hill, leave plenty of space at the bottom!

Back at the whare, it was time to put the hangi down, which was expertly engineered by Tom, with bumbling help from us pakeha.

Tom then explained the spiritual significance of all the carved statuary around the outdoor wharekai.

While the hangi was cooking, we drove about 10 minutes further down the track, and came out to a delightful river flat with three large tents, and a fireplace. This was the sleeping area for three couples, but we first gathered around for snacks and pre-dinner drinks. Tom lit a fire, and we sat around in this most splendid of amphitheatres until dusk. We then went back to the whare and raised the hangi. I wasn’t the biggest fan of hangi, but Tom is an expert, and this was the best ever. After dinner we went back to our tent and crawled into our sleeping bags by torchlight, exhausted, but somehow feeling more in tune with our surroundings than ever before.

I had a great night’s sleep and woke at daybreak. The back of the Kaimanawa range is definitely cooler in the morning than down at the coast in Napier, but not too bad once we got moving.

We decamped and drove back to the whare for breakfast. After breakfast, Tom in his Lexus 4wd and John in the Range Rover took us up a very steep hill to The Hilton – a small lodge perched high on a hill with extensive views over most of the land nearby. We were far above and were able to look down on the helicopters working the manuka honey hives.

After a pack-up and clean we headed off back to Lochinver, eventually reaching the gates for final farewells. It was nice to be back on smooth highways again, which were consistent until we got to our home street in Napier which is almost as rough as the tracks we had been on earlier!

This trip exceeded all our expectations. It was a surprisingly spiritual time, which made perfect sense in that context under the expert guidance of Tom. Vintage cars are perfect for the location.

If a designer was creating a car 90 years ago for those roads, they probably would have come up with something like a Model A. Most post vintage and beyond have too long a wheelbase and are too low.

It was an absolute privilege to experience a part of New Zealand very rarely visited. Many thanks to Jacqui and Ian Goldingham and the Waitemata Branch for making the opportunity available.

Beaded Wheels 27

The newly created glamping site.

1928 Model A phaeton Allan and Sue Jones.

Model A Club.

1930 Model A town sedan Leigh and Trish Patterson. Hawke’s Bay Branch. Photo Kaaren Smylie.

“the grins on the drivers’ faces were only surpassed by the grimaces on the passengers’ faces…”

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Tour leaders, Oliver and Nicola Midgely, Model A sports coupe.

A round up of notable rallies and events from around our branches

RALLY SNIPPETS

s North Otago: Barry and Carla Barnes, 1925 Studebaker.

60TH ANNUAL RALLY – INCORPORATING WINDSOR RALLY North Otago Branch Saturday 5 December 2020 Words and photos Kathleen Perry There were over 70 vehicles participating and everyone met at the Friendly Bay Reserve for the rally start.

Three routes, a short tarseal for slower and more fragile vehicles, a longer tarsealed route for the more motorable vehicles and a predominantly gravel route for the more adventurous entrant.

These routes took everyone to the Five Forks Hall for lunch where a barbecue was provided by the Five Forks YFC. Field tests were held in a paddock nearby.

Trophies and certificates were presented by South Island Club Captain

Alon Mayhew. The Overall Winner trophy was won by local member Jim Boaden who drove a 1928 Buick.

Ivan Main, a branch foundation member, attended in his 1920 Fiat, the same car he drove on the inaugural rally in 1961 when he gained second place in both the time trial and the field tests of the Vintage section. Ivan cut the anniversary cake, assisted by Branch Chairman, Peter Fulton. John Adamson, another foundation member, drove a 1916 Overland in this Windsor Rally.

s North Otago: Wanda Kent & John Adamson’s 1916 Overland.

A 1922 Dodge was entered by Nevin Gough. This vehicle was originally restored by the late Wilson Spite also a foundation member who later became our Branch Patron.

Barry and Carla Barnes, from Timaru entered a 1925 Studebaker. Barry had also attended the 1961 rally in in his father’s 1915 Humber. On that occasion he drove the car from Invercargill, participated in the Rally, won second place in the veteran field tests and drove the car back as far as Balclutha before it was towed home.

s North Otago: R-L Nevin Gough, Kelly Findlay & Jennifer Gough, 1922 Dodge

Beaded Wheels 29

s Auckland: John Morrison’s 1913 Humberette.

Auckland Branch

13 February 2021 Words and photos John Stokes The Auckland annual veteran again toured the Aka Aka, Otaua, and Whiriwhiri areas. It was something of a struggle to find traffic-free roads, so a little round the houses was added in Waiuku to get 44 miles for the long route and 30 miles for the short route.

Fifteen cars and Peter Alderdice’s 1917 Harley-Davidson made up the entrants.

The plotter was grateful to Peter, and John Morrison with his 1913 Humberette, who both entered late but made up numbers. We could have had more, but Roy Sharman’s serious farm accident knocked out two cars. Roy is recovering and sending out his usual emails. John Morrison found the run a good shake-down for the Humberette as

he hasn’t covered that many miles since he brought it a little while ago. The late Mark Ball was one of the previous owners.

Model T Fords were the dominant marque, as it should be, with Dodge, Cadillac, De Dion Bouton, Darracq, Renault and the Humberette making up the car field.

Both Peter Alderdice on the Harley and Barry and Nicola Birchall, in their De Dion Bouton, had issues at the start but the trail car saw Peter riding strongly in the Aka Aka area and Barry and Nicola in the least powerful car on the run completed the short route okay. John Morrison was able to use the run to adapt his driving technique when approaching compulsory stops.

David Lane in his 1912 Model T speedster had to make a band adjustment near a very steep hill in Whiriwhiri on the long route.

The branch 1915 Renault charabanc had a vapour lock about a mile from the finish, but was soon underway.

Auckland: Monty and Pauline Scarborough’s 1913 Model T Ford.

s

30 Beaded Wheels

The entrants had lunch in the Waiuku Cosmopolitan Club, which has a large parking and detrailering area making it ideal for a run of this sort. The short route winners were David and Kaye Porter in their 1904 Darracq, the oldest vehicle on the run, with Kaye being responsible for the time keeping. The long route was won

by Monty and Pauline Scarborough in their 1913 Model T Ford. The large and unshiney cup being a consolation for the lack of lollies in the rally pack.

Auckland: David and Kaye Porters 1904 Darracq.

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VETERAN RUN

s North Otago: Wee Wheelie Wander, Glenavy.

s Wanganui: 1929 Buick Roadster owned by Darryl and Caron Thompson on the Rally. Photo: Graham Bailey.

North Otago Branch

Words and photos Lee Brehaut Another great run organised by Wendy Pringle We met at Glenavy and after a cuppa and a catch up headed as a group into the wind along the back roads to Morven then on to the main road for a short distance, off the main road again, and away to Bushtown, Waimate’s heritage site. There were some hilarious moments as we all took part in a field test while on our trusty steeds. There was a Minties Moment as one of us headed into the bushes – trusty steed and all. Still, no harm done to bike or rider.

The Bushtown team had kindly opened up for us and we were able to have lunch in the church hall, ride the train and venture into some of Waimate’s history. The ladies, dressed in period costume, were most North Otago: Wee Wheelie Wander, Glenavy.

gracious and very well versed with stories of each of the buildings and their contents.

We headed back to Glenavy via a slightly longer route through the Waimate Gorge.

Congratulations to Graeme Simpson for his sterling effort on his motorised push bike, and commiserations to the rider who suffered a puncture. However, tail end charlie, Barbara Watt was quickly on the case and performed a diligent rescue back to Glenavy.

A big thank you from Wendy to both the back up drivers, Wayne in a van and Barbara, and also thank you to those who came along in their cars and (bigger) motorbikes to boost our numbers at Bushtown. It was very much appreciated.

well as an MG display on Ridgway, and a fire engine display in Cooks Garden. Cars ranged from veterans to the latest muscle cars, so the public, who supported the event in droves, all saw something they were interested in.

Saturday evening was the Classic Charity Cruise, where entrants paid a nominal fee, and then cruised on either the long or short route round the city, particularly passing the rest homes as a kind of mobile display for those who find travel difficult. A total of $907 was raised for our local Cancer Society.

The main event was held on Sunday.

The Burma Rally left from Pakaitore/ Motoua Gardens in town and this year took us along sealed back roads across the Rangitikei and Whanganui Rivers. We had a reset stop at the Colyton Hall and returned to the clubrooms for afternoon tea. The rally dinner has grown so much in size we had to move to another venue, the racecourse, where prizes were awarded and unbelievable tales were told.

The overall winner was Glen Loveridge of Taihape in his 1936 Morris 8, with his brother Ian as navigator.

The final event of the weekend was the Chairman’s run organised by Bruce Ardell.

We again met in a central location then toured the country on both sides of the river arriving at Rasmussen’s Rose Nursery where we saw the fields of roses and the car collection of the owners Karen and Graeme Langridge.

BURMA RALLY 2021 Wanganui Branch Words and photos Toni Jenkins It was with a sense of relief at the normality of it all that we welcomed 95 participants in the Wanganui Burma Rally in January. The rally is part of the city’s Vintage Weekend, and this year it was bigger than ever.

There was a small welcoming function on the Friday night. The first major event was the River City Park-up. This year we filled three blocks of Victoria Avenue, as

Wanganui: On display at the Park-up: Keith Turner’s 1978 Chrysler Valiant panel van towing a 1992 classic stock car and Shane Hobman’s 1957 extremely original Chevrolet towing a replica speedway saloon car. Both of the racecars are raced at Classic Speedway meetings.

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WEE WHEELIE WANDER NUMBER TWO

Beaded Wheels 31

s

s Gisborne: Rally start.

THREE RIVERS RALLY Gisborne Branch 12 –14 February 2021 Words and photos Brian Williams Once again in February the backroads of Poverty Bay came alive to the sound of vintage cars and ahooga horns as the Gisborne Branch held its Three Rivers Rally.

This year 22 vehicles competed over two alternative routes that intersected each other, sending cars in various directions ultimately winding their way to Mahia Peninsula to enjoy lunch under the Pohutukawa trees while watching the waves rolling in.

Friday evening was the usual noggin and natter, a time for socialising, catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.

Entrants arrived from as far afield as Nelson, driving a 1912 New Pick 16/18hp, through to a 1924 Velie tourer and a 1950 Riley RMB from Auckland and various cars from several places in-between.

On Saturday morning the vehicles gathered at the Gisborne clubrooms for an 8.45 am briefing before the rally start at 9am. A cloudless sky greeted entrants and continued throughout the day.

Entrants got down to business from the start with questions to answer along the route and several questions relating to vehicle names that were introduced in the era of the “space race” of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s - (Do you know which automotive manufacturer introduced the Meteor, Starliner and Comet or the Nova?). The run took us first to Awapuni and the new roads around the Aerodrome Road subdivision 32 Beaded Wheels

s Gisborne: 1st car away and oldest entry - 1912 New Pick 16/18HP – Dale & Jenny Conlon from Nelson.

s Gisborne: 1924 Velie Tourer – Wayne and Carrie Roberts from Auckland.

s Gisborne: 1946 Chevrolet truck on the Tunanui Road with coastline views – Graeme Revell from Gisborne.

s Gisborne: 1938 Dodge sedan – Erwyn and Audrey Fail from Waihi.

and Matawhero, and then Patutahi; all the while cars criss-crossed each other, and appeared to be going in all directions.

We then continued on to Morere where we ascended Tunanui Road for magnificent views of the coastline before descending to our lunch stop at Mahia. Many entrants commented on the spectacular scenery, describing it as the icing on the cake for the rally. After lunch while some chose to travel home travelling the way they arrived, others took the alternate route back to Gisborne via the narrower SH35 via Frasertown and Tiniroto with its scenic inland hill country views.

Rally winners were: Vintage section, Wayne and Carrie Roberts (Auckland), 1924 Velie tourer; Post Vintage section, Graeme and Raewyn Fenn (Waihi), 1937 Graham Crusader; Post War section, Bruce and Ruth Shute (Hamilton), 1954 Vauxhall Wyvern; P60/P80 section, Mark and Karen Spackman, (Opotiki), 1965 Rambler Marlin.

First Gisborne car was Gavin and Helen Lockner in a 1930 Ford A sedan. The overall winners were Graeme and Raewyn Fenn in their 1937 Graham Crusader.

We farewelled our visitors on Sunday after what was a very relaxing and enjoyable weekend.

s Gisborne: 1937 Graham Crusader – Graeme and Raewyn Fenn from Waihi.

Beaded Wheels 33

RALLY SNIPPETS

BANKS PENINSULA’S POMEROY TROPHY Words Michael Williams and photos John McDonald

THE YEAR OF THE SUITCASES The website of that venerable institution, the Vintage Sports Car Club of Great Britain (VSCC), tells us “The car that wins the Pomeroy Trophy is always a true all rounder driven by a great driver” And so it came to pass that 30 aspirants to that description gathered at Ruapuna in mid January to contest the Pomeroy Trophy, one of the most irritating and fascinating events on the Banks Peninsula motoring calendar. As many are aware, The Pom is about driving skill, knowing the limits of both you and your car, and crucially, accepting the distinctly quirky rules that Mr Pomeroy decided to impose.

s Craig Pidgeon (Avenger Alpine) with Lyn Scott (Sierra Sapphire 4x4) in his mirrors.

34 Beaded Wheels

s Andrew Roxbrough (Citroën Light 12) powering on to the main straight.

s David Proven (MG TF ) three wheeling to victory in the under 2 litre class.

s Gordon Dacombe (Jaguar E Type) a welcome entrant from Nelson.

s Jared Dacombe (DeLorean) driving into the future but ignoring the present.

s Consistant laps from Mark Barrett (Lotus Seven Mk V)

s Craig Keenan (Jaguar XJ6) with Giles Gill (Morgan 4/4 behind.

s Kelvin Brown (Buckler) holding a hard charging George Kear Jr (Kato Special)

One of the oddest is about suitcases.

Dear old Laurence P thought that an ideal touring car would be touring, with the occupants staying somewhere overnight, so naturally they would need luggage. And he decided in his wisdom that two suitcases would be needed, and would measure 60x40x20mm. For many years, the Banks Peninsula Branch had two such suitcases, specially made to the exact measurements, but they came to a sad end at the bottom of the Fazzaz building in the February 2011 earthquake, and subsequent Poms have been decidedly slack about whether a car could fit the two cases. This year a zealous committee member decided to uphold Proper Standards, and two suitcases of a correct size and vintage were found.

When it came to scrutineering, and the zealous committee member politely asked the competitors to show him that their car could stow the suitcases either in the boot or safely fastened on a secure luggage rack, reactions were, to say the least, varied. You lose twenty points per case if it can’t be stowed, which can make a big difference at the end of the day. You’ll be interested to know that an E type can only store one, but a 1938 Citroën L12 can store two, which means of course, that the E type owner would have a lonely trip round Europe, while the Citroën owner would have the delightful company of a companion.

Shades of Brexit really…

After the 2020 Pom was cancelled, for obvious reasons, there were lots of new entrants this year and many of them were young. There was a trio of Mazda MX5s, Lyn Scott, a previous winner, was in a rare and very fast Sierra Sapphire 4x4, and Craig Pidgeon came in a very original low mileage Hillman Avenger Alpine. Craig is a very serious competitor, and the minute he

removed the hubcaps and wheel trims, you could tell he meant business. There was a Mistral that hadn’t been seen for years, Steve Aldersley in the first track outing for his Bruin C type replica, Gordon Dacombe in his lovely Series 1 E type roadster, and the Yates clan in the left hand drive MGB with three wipers, a very hot Mazda MX5, and Dallas in the VW Karman Ghia. Kelvin Brown was there with his very historic Buckler, which has a significant racing history. Craig Keenan gave his Jaguar XJ a run, and Fraser Kear was in a multi coloured VW 1600 auto fastback. Giles Gill was in his four wheeled Morgan, the Barretts were in a Lotus Elan and Lotus 7 and first time entrant Mark Cumming was in his Mazda MX5. The most interesting car for many was a DeLorean, driven down from Nelson by Jared Dacombe.

Fascinating to see one, especially one that actually went. John Crequer, the previous winner, was in his ominous Porsche 944 Turbo, and seemed quietly confident The on-track activity started with the usual standing and flying quarter mile sprints, and George Kear in the Kato Special flew through the standing quarter in 15.94 sec, followed by the Dacombe DeLorean in 16.78 and the C type in 16.84. In the flying, the C type proved the cubic inches theory with 9.90, the Kato second and the Porsche third. So far, so predictable, as it’s hard to make a mistake in a straight line.

But it’s quite easy to make one in the slalom/wiggle woggle, especially if it tightens up considerably towards the end, and quite a few of the faster cars hit a cone or two thus losing ten points a cone.

Suddenly the tortoises were getting better scores than the hares. The same could be said of the braking test, often the graveyard of expectation for the fast cars, but with the

exception of Rick Jones in his hot MGA, who laid down a smokescreen that had the local fire brigade worried, most people managed to stop correctly.

The 20 minute reliability trial, run in two separate sections, the Kato, the C type, the De Lorean, the Sierra and the Porsche were looking dominant, but the formula can be cruel, and although quite a few got close to their allocated lap scores, and a select few did achieve them, the suitcases could not be ignored. But everyone finished, with no mechanical mishaps, and drove to a Prebbleton hostelry to nervously await the results.

And so what is the ultimate touring car? Incredible though it might seem, it is a 1972 Citroën D Super, driven by Michael Williams. The Parisian taxi, as Tony Haycock rudely calls it, recorded its fourth Pomeroy win, proving yet again that a long distance between the clutch pedal and the rear axle is more important than outright speed. Second was Lyn Scott in the Sierra and third was Jared Dacombe in the French engined DeLorean. The Haggit Trophy for cars under two litres went to Dave Provan yet again, in his very quick supercharged MG TF. To quote Dave, “I either blow up or I win The Haggit”. Pothunter Dave also won the Top Scoring English Car award, which is presented by the VSCC of GB. Second was George Kear in the Kato and third was Dallis Yates in the VW Karmann Ghia.

The Spirit of the Event award, which is an enormous Bentley carburettor presented to the BP branch by the Sharpe Family Trust, was rightly awarded to Jared Dacombe and his DeLorean.

After all, anyone who can drive to and from Nelson and be so competitive in such a famously unreliable car is to be admired.

Beaded Wheels 35

SUNDAY 16 TO FRIDAY 21 JANUARY 2022 – BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION NOW

VERO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF HISTORIC MOTORING

PROGRAMME RELEASED Words Greg Terrill, Festival Director

While I’m writing this report, we have just gone into lock down again. Hopefully people in future will follow the rules and guidelines and we can carry on in our lives without constant disruptions.

Recently we have added more people to the Festival organising committee.

Colin Johnston has taken on the role as the competitive day organiser (Tuesday 18th Jan) as well as taking on the role of co-ordinator with the organisers of the Inglewood Street Party.

Gaynor Terrill has joined us with the responsibility of looking after Festival merchandise.

STREET PARTY EXTRAVAGANZA Thursday 20 January 4pm – 8pm.

As mentioned in my last Beaded Wheels report, we are not having a public open day. Following an approach from Inglewood First, we have taken up their offer to organise a Street Party extravaganza. Inglewood First team organise the entire event for us, so all we have to do is arrive with our vehicles before 4pm.

They have a long history in this format of event and have done so annually for many years. The main street will be closed, marquees set up for refreshments and food. Other attractions include live entertainment, children’s activities and photo opportunities, particularly as Inglewood has one of the oldest railway stations in 36 Beaded Wheels

New Zealand. This will be a memorable night, a great opportunity to promote our club, and something you will remember and talk about for many years.

We are thrilled to have had the Inglewood First group approach us to host us for this event.

FESTIVAL MOTORING On each of the motoring days (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) your day will start from either Devon Street East or Devon Street West and have the option of a short or a long run. As we don’t want to disrupt early traffic, no vehicles will leave from the TSB Stadium (racecourse) in the morning.

There is no set time to depart from New Plymouth (morning) each day. However, you will be given a time when you will need to be at the lunch stop/ destination as well as an estimated travel time.

We have deliberately introduced flexible start times so that you have time if you want to stop and admire any of the attractions along the way.

THE DESTINATIONS Monday 17 January

Friday 21 January Destination Tikorangi

As the crow flies, Tikorangi is not far from New Plymouth, however you will not be travelling as the crow flies. The lunch stop at Tikorangi will allow you to meet old friends, make new friends and enjoy this part of Taranaki.

Along the way you will learn about some local history including the Māori Wars, and the oil and gas industry.

The afternoon is a reasonably short run back to New Plymouth, where you will finish at the TSB Stadium and light refreshments will be available.

Wednesday 19 January

Destination Opunake

The coastal town of Opunake is our destination and lunch stop.

We are hoping that the main street will be closed for us to park our vehicles, although, as this is the main highway, the road closure has yet to be confirmed.

From Opunake we head back to New Plymouth via some unique historical sights and magnificent gardens.

Thursday 20 January

Destination Stratford / Whangamomona There are three routes today. Stratford is the destination for the short and medium routes. For the more motorable vehicles, Whangamomona is the place for you and will afford you the longest day’s motoring you will have. Today, while you have time to see the sights, it’s not a day to go slowly.

At the end of this day, we have a Street Party for you.

Beaded Wheels

writers wanted 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.

Destination Hawera

Hawera is the southern most destination. Your run to Hawera will give you some options to see different attractions along the way. Hawera is our lunch stop and the main street will be closed for us to park our vehicles and support the local shops.

The afternoon covers a wide variety of terrain. Some of this is quite hilly and so there are alternative routes to accommodate lower powered vehicles.

Be back in New Plymouth in time to spruce up, ready for the Festival Finale.

Note: There are some gravel roads along these routes. Where we can we have given alternative sealed options.

Tuesday 18 January

Competitive day.

This is an optional event. The competitive aspect is timing only.

There will be separate routes for the following classes of vehicles.

Veteran, Vintage, Post Vintage, Post War. P60, P80, Motorcycle and Commercial. The starting points for these routes are separate and will be from places of interest.

If you prefer, you can have a rest day today or take time out to enjoy the sights of Taranaki.

Entertainment Each night except for Thursday 20 January there will be a variety of top class entertainment at the TSB Stadium.

Daffodil Rally for Cancer SAVE THE DATE Sunday 22 August 2021

PROUDLY SUPPORTING

THE CANCER SOCIETY TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOUR LOCAL DAFFODIL RALLY FOR CANCER,

VISIT WWW.VCC.ORG.NZ

Everyon e Welcom e No mat ter wha t kind of vehicle you driv e.

Alas we are not in the position to provide financial recompense for services rendered but we are sure you will be compensated by the satisfaction of seeing your words and photos in print.

Email your articles and ideas to: 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 021 0270 6525 or email kevin@vcc.org.nz Our lucky winners of the Beaded Wheels caps for this issue are: Dave Richardson and Isla Jones.

Beaded Wheels 37

BOOK REVIEWS However, it very much focusses on buses, trams and coaches.

THE WELLINGTON STREET RACES

Richard McGee. Published by David Bateman Ltd. Hard cover, 240 pages, RRP $49.99 ISBN 978-1-98-853853-4 Reviewed by Kevin Clarkson Many will recall the excitement and drama of the Wellington Street Races. The event took over the central city for the days prior to racing to get the circuit built and then it was all on for the weekend of racing.

Spectators took over the surrounding buildings in order to get a prime spot to catch the action. And there was plenty of action! The circuit was narrow, buildings on one side and Armco barriers on the other, not to mention the extremely tight bends. Passing opportunities were limited to the few wider parts of the track and the penalty for getting it wrong was high – there was frequently so much damage to the cars that they could not continue.

This challenging and demanding circuit was put together at a time when the Wellington waterfront development was under consideration and the window of opportunity was seized to make the races happen.

There were eleven race meetings held between January 1985 and December 1994 by which time entries were diminishing, as were the crowds, and costs became a factor bringing the event to an end.

38 Beaded Wheels

We can read about each meeting, its highlights and lowlights, the drivers and teams involved and information about the difficulties in getting everything together on time.

There is driver information on many of the drivers, including such well-known names as Peter Brock, Robbie Francevic, Allan Moffat, Jim Richards, Tom Walkinshaw, Win Percy, Mark Skaife, Johnny Cecotto and many others. There is a map of each year’s track and all the results are there too.

A great book to solve any arguments about who did what during the Wellington Street Races!

If your interest is in passenger service vehicles from 50+ years ago, it will be an absolute delight. And, in fact, once I got into the book I enjoyed it too.

Even those photos that focus on, say, a 1950 Guy Arab, a ‘Feltham’ tram or a ’57 AEC Reliance usually have a number of period cars in the shot too, from Triumph Mayflowers and Mk 1 Cortinas to plenty of Minors and the occasional Sunbeam Alpine. Not a single Japanese car, though and very few Europeans either.

The neat thing is that all the full-page photos are in colour (a rarity for much of this period) and they include plenty of background by way of buildings, bridges, street furniture and people going about their daily lives; from London to North Wales and Carlisle.

For additional variety, other forms of transport do appear in a few photos, from steam locomotives to a Fowler roadroller. And, of course, none of the photos are posed so they illustrate ‘real life’ at the time.

With 180 large pages, I’ve already found this is a book you can return to and spot interesting things that you’d missed last time.

MOTORCYCLES, MATES AND MEMORIES

A TRANSPORT JOURNEY IN COLOUR: STREET SCENES OF THE BRITISH ISLES 1949-1969

Jenkins & McCormack. Published 2020 by Pen & Sword.

ISBN 978-1-52676-412-6 Reviewed by Mark Holman I was initially a little disappointed with this purchase.

From the cover photo when I ordered it, I’d expected a photographic book about early post-WWII transport in general.

Bill Snelling. Published 2020 by Veloce who supplied the review copy.

ISBN 978-1-787115-81-1 Reviewed by Mark Holman Subtitled “Recalling sixty years of fun in British motorcycle sport”, this small softcover book is that and more.

Over many decades Bill Snelling has worked for motorcycle dealers, been a despatch/ courier rider and a journalist, written books, raced bikes, looked after the IoM TT

photographic archive and more.

This is the very down to earth story of his experiences and lessons learnt along the way. He doesn’t boast of hobnobbing with the stars but talks of competing around the UK at clubman level including a few outings on The Island (where he has lived for some time). He often seemed to choose quite unsuitable bikes for the race, rally or trial involved, which adds to the enjoyment of reading about his exploits. For Velocette fans, this will be an extra treat because the knowledgeable Snelling has owned and competed on many of their products, including the Viceroy scooter.

He was never blessed with much in the way of funds and clearly wasn’t built to improve a bike’s power to weight ratio (throughout the book, Snelling refers to himself as ‘ShortPortly!) but throughout all the hiccups and setbacks his enjoyment of the competition and camaraderie shines through.

The 160 pages include 64 pages of photos- a real mixed bag featuring the man himself plus various bikes and riders (such as Yamaha works rider Michelle/Mike Duff, and Graham Oates’s epic trans-Canada ride in 1932 on an Ariel combination) mentioned throughout this very readable book.

ARCHIVIST NEWS Our club archive is located at the VCCNZ National Office in Christchurch and is open to visitors on Friday mornings. It contains a wealth of historic material, a lot of which has been digitised. It is well worth a visit or if you have any queries do get in contact with our archivist Don Muller phone 03 385 6850 or archivist@vcc.org.nz.

A few years ago, while scanning photos for our Archive Photo Database, I spotted an interesting photo of an International truck parked in front of an industrial building.

On closer examination, the text said that the photo was taken in 1926 outside the Precision Engineering Company in Wellington. The load on the back of the truck was the first shipment of New Zealand made number plates, to be dispatched nationally, (1926-1927) to all New Zealand Post Offices, for the new national New Zealand motor registration, which started in 1925. You can see on the side and the front of the truck, the new black and white plates, with the hyphen.

I thought at the time that the picture was worth researching in the future, so here we are.

As many of you know, before 1907 all number plates numbers were issued with the province prefix on them, A Auckland, T Taranaki, Z Westland. From 1908 local bodies, ie County Councils were responsible for maintaining the motor registration in New Zealand.

The number issued by each

council to the vehicle, having the prefix of the county, ie CH Christchurch, GD Geraldine, on it. This number was either painted directly on the vehicle, or on a metal or wooden plate.

In 1924 it was decided by the Government that there would be a National Motor Registration system to be introduced on 1 January 1925. This would use embossed painted steel number plates. Because at the time New Zealand didn’t have the material or plant to manufacture number plates the contract was given to Kittle Manufacturing of Los Angeles and San Francisco. The original New Zealand number plate order was for black with white letters however, at the time Kittles were producing a batch of Californian number plates with green background and white letters. So, for simplicity and cost, the 1925 American made New Zealand number plates were green and white with the number preceded

by NZ. An Auckland Mayor, requested that number plates Nos 1-50 be issued to him and his councillors. Numbers 1-50 were withdrawn, and never

issued. The 1925-26 series NZ number plates should have been available for issue from 1 January 1925, however, Kittle were not able to supply the number plates on time, and a local company, (the New Zealand Railway Workshops?) came to the rescue and made 2,000 pairs. This supply delay, also delayed the original 1 January launch date.

s 1925-26, 1926-27 NZ number plates.

In 1925, due to local pressure for using local business to make New Zealand number plates, the contract was awarded to Precision Engineering Coy Ltd, of Wellington to produce the 1926/27 series plates. Once again there was a delay with supply. The contract was given to them by the Government in November and the launch date was April. But with no material ordered this put Precision Engineering under pressure from the start. The new 1926-27 plates started at 1000 to prevent what had happened with the 1925-26 plates. Precision Engineering went on to make our New Zealand number plates, until the 1961-66 yellow and black series.

s 1925 NZ plate 100000 to 108000.

I would like to acknowledge R Greenborough for his informative document on New Zealand number plates, held at the Archive, that I obtained most of this information from.

s California 1924 plate.

If you would like some more information on New Zealand

s 1925 motorcycle number plate.

s 1925 NZ plate 108001 to 114000.

s 1925 NZ plate 51 to 99999.

number plates, please try the URL below.

Vehicle registration plates of New Zealand - Wikipedia If you would like a nice A4 poster of New Zealand number plates to hang in the garage wall, try this.

PA_NZEA_GI1.jpg (600×1257) (worldlicenseplates.com) If you are passing through Christchurch, you are welcome to call into the Archive, which is in the National Office, at 12 Aberdeen Street. Please phone first on 03 385 6850.

s International Truck Precison Engineering Wn 1926 1st NZ made number plates.

Don Muller Archivist archivist@vcc.org.nz

Beaded Wheels 39

MARKET PLACE Terms and conditions CLASSIFIED RATES Due to space limitation, classified advertisers should refrain from the use of dashes, spaces, logos, blank lines and formatting. All classified rates include GST. The 65 word limit includes contact details. Advertisers requiring ads longer than the standard 65 words, or who require typography or space, must apply display rates. The advertising department reserves the right to edit or return classifieds not meeting the criteria Member of Vintage Car Club: No charge for text or photo classified advertising. Members must be financial and identify their Branch. Limited to one free advert per issue.

Non Member: $21 for first 40 words or part thereof, thereafter 15 cents per word (max 65 words per advertisement).* Text in a Boxed Ad : $24 non-members* Colour Photo Ad in Box: $56 non-members, enclose a clear photo and an SAE if return required.* Advertisements should be typed or clearly printed.

Advertising Email address: beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz Advert and Payment: to arrive not later than 10th of month preceding publication. Payment by Credit card or Internet banking (for Internet banking details email beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz).

DISPLAY RATES* Casual (per issue) 3 Issues (per issue) Full Page $900 $720 Half Page $530 $390 Horizontal ¼ Page $270 $216 All display rates quoted exclude GST and are for finished digital artwork s­upplied. Artwork can be arranged at an extra charge. Deadline for copy 10th of month preceding publication.

Beaded Wheels will consider articles of a technical nature for inclusion in its editorial space. Beaded Wheels however regrets that it is not able to offer editorial space for advertisements nor for the promotion of products.

Marketplace advertising cancellations received in writing prior to advertising deadline will be refunded in full. 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.).

40 Beaded Wheels

FOR SALE 1930-31 MODEL A, B4, V8 PARTS 30-31 radiator shroud, 19” wheel caps new, chrome dash including speedo, B4 distributor reconditioned, B4 head and water pump, V8 16” wire wheels. Contact Lindsay on 027 602 4420 Matamata M EM BAY OF PLENTY 1937 DODGE COUPE, f ull bare metal repaint to original colour, leather seat, carpet, motor balanced, very tidy and reliable, large boot. 1982 TVR Tasmin 2.8l V6 Ford motor & mechanicals, very original vehicle by specialist english manufacturer.

Automobile Quarterly books full set of 205 books plus indexes. 29/34 ohv and sv Morris Minor & MG M type parts. Phone 06 845 3333 MEM HAWKE’S BAY 1957 FORD PREFECT 100E R ego and WoF plus VIC. Good condition and a very good runner, all this lovely Ford for only $4,500. Phone 022 120 0670 or 03 578 9044 MEM MARLBOROUGH CARBURETTOR RECONDITIONING including classic and performance makes. 40 plus years trade experience. Free advice. Contact Graeme Tulloch, Tulmac Carburettor Specialists on 027 612 2312 or (Levin) 06 368 2202 COACHWORK F or all your coachwork, woodwork and timber rim steering wheels for your veteran, vintage or commercial vehicles contact Designs N Wood, John Martin, 11 Bell Avenue, Cromwell.

Phone/fax 03 445 0598, 021 109 1309 or email martin_jw@xtra.co.nz MEM CENTRAL OTAGO 2 OVERLAND RADIATORS. O ne brass flat top radiator suitable for a 1910/1911 vehicle. One brass round top radiator suitable for a 1912/1913 vehicle. Contact Ron Galletly, 89 Glassworks Road, RD2, Ashburton 7772. Phone 03 308 1940

M EM ASHBURTON FARGO TRUCK LATE ‘30S OR EARLY ‘40S WHEELS complete with split rings, 750 X 20 tyres and front hubs all in good condition, offers. Also Model T auxiliary gearbox all complete, needs a clean only, offers. Phone 03 355 4017 MEM CANTERBURY RILEY 9 PISTON SET n ew old stock. Late model Merlin type +30 oversize complete with rings and gudgeons. Contact John Stanley 03 528 8061 email zeljonstanley@xtra.co.nz M EM NELSON

Advise national office of any changes of address or sales/purchases of vehicles

DRIVESHAFTS DRIVESHAFTS DRIVESHAFTS We can alter or make driveshafts with fabric components to take modern universal joints and yokes, as well as performing dynamic balancing. We also carry a large range of driveshaft components for car, trucks, industrial and marine. M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, Christchurch 8011, Ph 03 366 7463, email: info@mscoombes.co.nz USED TRUCK PARTS OFF EARLY ENGLISH , Canadian and Landrover. Enquiries with your contact details to PO Box 2011, Stoke or email historictransportmuseum@gmail.com with details of parts required. Higgins Park, Wakefield, Nelson.

BALANCING BALANCING BALANCING, We can balance most vintage and single cylinder engines, fans, driveshafts etc. Work is carried out on a modern digital machine.

M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, Christchurch 8011, Ph 03 366 7463, email: info@mscoombes.co.nz HUBCAPS – a ny problems contact me. I now produce either hubcap skins or complete hubcaps. These are top quality replicas.

Pressed not spun to the closest possible original specifications. I can manufacture any model that uses the skin system plus many others provided they do not exceed 10½ inch in diameter. For more information phone Dave Patten Replica Manufacturing (2003) Ltd, Phone 027 247 7956, 160 New York Street, Martinborough. dave.patten@wise.net.nz PENRITE OILS W e carry a large range from vintage to modern engines. Gearbox, diff, SU dashpot and water pump grease.

M S Coombes Ltd, 344 St Asaph Street, Christchurch 8011, Ph 03 366 7463, email: info@mscoombes.co.nz PENRITE ENGINE COOLANT 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 8011, Ph 03 366 7463, email: info@mscoombes.co.nz

GOT VIBRATION PROBLEMS?

T he crankshaft pulley/balancer/damper may be the cause. Rubber perishes over time. John at Harmonic Damper Rebuilds can rebuild your pulley like new. He has a proven system to re-rubber and re-sleeve dampers. Most can be rebuilt as good as new and save you money and engine repairs. 027 666 3350 or 07 863 3350 damperdude@gmail.com 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@gmail.com

VINTAGE TRUNKS made to order or stock sizes. Dust proof and waterproof. Phone Allan 06 844 3959 or 0274 469 331 Napier, acjones760@gmail.com MEM

MARKET PLACE

1930 SWIFT 8 HP ENGINE, clutch assembly and 1928 FORD MODEL A TUDOR in very good gearbox, condition unknown: $475. Please contact: condition. 2000 miles since engine recondition and Arnold Van Zon, Spares Dept. North Shore VCC has many upgrades to essential components for Phone: 027 276 5336, northshorevcc@gmail.com enhanced motoring. Comes with two extra spare

NORTH SHORE wheels, tyre chains and rear carrier trunk suitable for cross country rallying. Reg and WoF. $22,000.

Phone 03 310 2657.

MEM CANTERBURY

HUPMOBILE 1928 SEDAN, Colonial Body built by Stevens & Sons. In the family for 37 years, travelled 39,845 miles around NZ. Off the road since 2010, requires engine repairs, have short block to assist with repairs. Good tyres, upholstery very tidy.

Rego on hold. $16,000. Contact Colin 027 493 6773, rosehupp44@gmail.com. MEM WAIKATO

1923 OVERLAND 92 ‘REDBIRD’ Economical 1934 AUSTIN BABY 7 SEDAN. Very good all round and reliable to run, motorable with upgraded condition. Registered and warranted. Upholstery mechanicals and brakes that work. New tyres, 12V in good order. $7500.00 ono. Ph John 06 754 electrics, has motored all over the South Island, 7668 or 06 754 3131, reumers.trim@gmail.com logbook history. $16,500.00. For information;

MEM TARANAKI Graham Taylor gtml@xtra.co.nz MEM CENTRAL OTAGO

1923 FORD TOURER Warranted and registered, older restoration. Was an original car not a bitsa.

Well used and goes well. Two new tyres on the front. Improved oiling system. Phone Ron Galletly 03 308 1940 MEM ASHBURTON

1950 MORRIS MINOR Low light ,split screen, Has been restored in good condition with a current WoF and registration. Brakes and clutch fully serviced in last 2 years. Original registration papers. In very good condition. Phone Tom on 021 565 144 New Plymouth MEM TARANAKI

1929 DESOTO DELUXE TOURER Vic number 2246.

Older restoration. Reg and warranted. Twin side mounts. Wire wheels. Luggage rack. Excellent all round running order. Leather upholstery. Personal plate included. A rare, desirable model. Open to offers over $32,000. Phone Barry on 027 917 5500.

1948 RILEY RMB 2.5 litre, good condition. Current WoF & Rego. $17,500 ono Blenheim. Phone David 03 579 4716 MEM MARLBOROUGH

HOLDEN EH / EJ PARTS Includes doors, wagon tailgates, bonnet, all in reasonable to good condition. Also many other parts, including three restorable red motors, diffs, wiring looms etc I'm looking for 3 speed crash gearbox, must be in top condition with no noise or jumping out of gear.

Contact Martin 021 187 9238 MEM CENTRAL OTAGO

ATTACHABLE PILLION RIDER FOOT PEGS. Offers. Email davide.mayhew@gmail.com MEM

1970 AUSTIN A60 1/2 TON UTILITY Restored 2009. Motor fully rebuilt. Travelled 21,000 miles.

Does not use any oil. Penrite 20-60 Classic Oil is used. WoF & Reg. Radial tyres. Electronic ignition. Like new. Please contact 027 434 5636

MEM ASHBURTON

ROTORUA

Beaded Wheels 41

MARKET PLACE

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 E: info@mscoombes.co.nz RUSHMORE MOTORS m arkets older vehicles through New Zealand. We specialise in vintage and classic vehicles. We maintain a very large data base and match sellers with buyers. If no match is found, we market on a wide field. Sales are very good and we are constantly looking for vehicles to market.

Marketing is free. rushmoremotors@xtra.co.nz or 027 2245 045 inc a/h.

TYRES – NEW CLASSIC AND VINTAGE. M ost sizes available, cross ply, black and whitewall. Some second-hand. Phone Jack 03 352 6672, cell phone 0274 322 041 MEM CANTERBURY WAIRARAPA VCC PARTS SHED h as a range of Austin 10 parts, mostly late ‘30s/early ‘40s including complete motor, g/box, diff, guards, lights, cowl.

Motor reputedly good cond. Ph Frank, 06 3797167 or email Jeff at jeff.percy@xtra.co.nz or Barry at ljandbjwells@gmail,com.

MEM WAIRARAPA ZEPHYR MK3 PANELS: L eft side doors, bonnet, boot lid, front guards, grille and front valance.

Email gisborne@vcc.org.nz for further info.

VINTAGE CAR REPAIRS

All Classic and Vintage Car restoration.

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

Unit 1 11 Penn Place, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch

VINTAGE & CLASSIC QUARTZ halogen bulbs.

Replace your existing bulbs without rewiring the headlamp assemblies. Up to 100% brighter than your existing Tungsten bulbs. Will fit MAGNETO AND COIL WINDING SERVICES Magneto most reflectors fitted to Pre & Post war cars repairs, coil rewinding, work guaranteed. We buy and motorbikes. Also available in single and sell magnetos of all types except aircraft. filament 55 watt P22 & BA 15 bases for use 728 Waimutu Road, RD2 Marton 4788. in spotlamps and mechanical dip reflectors.

Phone Warwick 06 327 3849, 027 281 8066, Most bases and configurations available in 6v & 12v. Further info: Norm & Jan Sisson, walandlynn@farmside.co.nz

MEM sole NZ Agent. Phone 027 311 6563 , Amuri VINTAGE ENGINE SHORT BLOCKS Motorcycles, 2C Birmingham Drive, Christchurch.

We can in most cases rebuild your short Email modelboatsupplies@snap.net.nz block 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 8011, Ph 03 366 7463, email: info@mscoombes.co.nz

Phone Grant 341 5100 or 027 223 9474 granttvin@gmail.com

VINTAGE AND VETERAN CAR MARKETING. I maintain a database of buyers and sellers of veteran, vintage and post vintage vehicles, placing buyers and sellers together. Free to list.No hidden costs. No computer, no problem. Just call me.

Whether buying or selling a veteran, vintage or post vintage vehicle, contact Les at Rushmore Motors Ltd. Phone 027 224 5045. Inc. Sat. vintagecars@xtra.co.nz Free catalogue available.

Finance may be available on most vehicles.

WOODEN WHEELS m ade 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, sandvo@callsouth.net.nz MEM

FREE ADVERTISING*

$21 Text only advertisement.

Up to 45 words including phone number, no photo. Additional words over 45 up to a maximum of 65 words, 15 cents per word.

Classified advertising in Beaded Wheels magazine is free *for all current financial members of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand Inc buying or selling club eligible vehicles or parts. Our standard advertising charges apply for all non-members or members wishing to advertise commercial services. Email your advertisement to beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz or complete the form below and post to Marketplace, Beaded Wheels, PO Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. See page 3 of this issue for deadline for receipt of advertisements for our next issue.

$54 Text and colour photo advertisement.

Up to 45 words including phone number. Supply a colour photo of your vehicle. Include SAE for return of photo, digital photos may be submitted to our email address: beadedwheels@vcc.org.nz

I wish to advertise in Beaded Wheels. Payment where required must accompany your advert.

WANTED

I am a current financial member of the VCCNZ and wish

FOR SALETick which column you require

to advertise for FREE. My VCCNZ Membership number is

Name (block letters) ________________________________ Phone ____________________________________

______ ⁄___________________

Advertisement text (45 words)_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Non-members If possible include vehicle location in your description

Credit Card Visa/Mastercard only Payment by credit card will incur additional bank fee processing charge of 3% Card Expiry Date: ____/____/ ____

Name on Card: ______________________________________________________________________ Cardholder Signature: CONDITIONS OF FREE ADVERTISING •

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Free advertising is limited to one advertisement per financial member of the Vintage Car Club of NZ per issue. Members must state their membership number when submitting the advertisement.

Advertisements must be of a non-commercial nature.

Advertisements must be resubmitted for each issue they are required to appear in.

• •

_____________________________________________________

The recommended length of advertisements is 45 words – the • maximum space available is 65 words. Beaded Wheels reserves the right to edit all copy.

• Advertisements will be published on a first come, first served basis. While every attempt will be made to include your advertisement in the issue immediately following receipt – limited space may mean some advertisements will be held over until the following magazine for publication.

All free advertisements will automatically be listed on the VCCNZ website.

Advertisements must be submitted in writing, by email (preferred), post or fax. Photographs will only be returned if a stamped addressed envelope is supplied by the advertiser. Digital photographs may be supplied by email in .jpg or .png format, send a high resolution file to achieve best results.

Payment where required must accompany your advert. Email beadedwheels @vcc.org.nz for Internet Banking details. Post payment & advertisement to marketplace, P O Box 13140, Christchurch 8141. VCCNZ members must be financial and state their branch to receive free advertising.

42 Beaded Wheels

MARKET PLACE

1958 WOLSELEY 15/50 Current reg & WoF. Rust free, very tidy condition. 20,000 mls since complete engine recon and new tyres crown wheel and pinion. Twin carbs & manifold available, many spares. Car near Ashhurst, Manawatu. Phone 06 329 4009.

1953 JAGUAR XK 120 3.4 Restored to original condition. Have a Production Record Trace Certificate. Current reg and WoF. Runs well. All reasonable offers will be considered. Phone 027 222 6548 or email klodge@xtra.co.nz MEM WAIMATE

1953 MG TD MARK II (TDC) Tidy car with correct chassis / engine numbers. Present owner since 1976. Imported to NZ 1970 following extensive UK rebuild. Mileage 23,000 now 45,000. Always garaged – not used in wet conditions. Fully serviced. Reg and WoF. Price $38,000. Ph Dennis 07 348 8448 evenings only. MEM ROTORUA

1938 FORD 10 In great condition. Reg & WoF. Purchased from Putaruru car musuem 10 years ago and always garaged. Runs well and ready for club outing. You are welcome to come and view South Waikato. $6,500 ono. Phone Steve 021 281 8789.

RTC SINGLE SEATER F rangipani chassis, six cylinder Vanguard engine stroked to 2500cc, Standard 4 speed gearbox with Laycock overdrive. Has competed at all the South Island circuits since the 1990s and is a successful and very well sorted car. $30,000 Phone John 021 169 7885, john@penno.nz

1927 DODGE FAST FOUR F ully restored from bottom up. Excellent condition with spare parts. $23,500 Phone Mike 027 221 7870 or email nolanraylee@gmail.com

MEM BANKS PENINSULA

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS 1973 ROVER P6B 3500S This car was English assembled for export to Australia and arrived in New Zealand 1986. Being an S it is the 4 speed manual transmission model. Interior is in excellent condition, new carpets, new tyres and electronic ignition. Reg & WoF. Ph 022 468 7782 MEM CANTERBURY

1915 WHITE FIRE TRUCK Has no engine and no longer has original wheels. Shed stored most of its life and appears to be in good mechanical condition. One of the first petrol powered fire trucks. Open to offers. Phone 03 327 8144

MEM CANTERBURY

1913 MODEL T FORD Older restoration, but in excellent cond. Self-starter fitted plus a larger water tank. Carrier on side. $47,000. Reg and WoF. Contact Rushmore Motors 027 2245 045 inc a/h.

1947 VAUXHALL 10 for parts or restoration project with some spares. $400 plus manuals. No papers.

Ph 03 313 6244.

MEM CANTERBURY

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

1949 CITROËN LIGHT 15. R ebuilt doors, guards.

Two motors, not going, with gearboxes. Lapsed rego. Near Whitianga. $2,000 ono. Phone Steve 027 244 8717. Poor rural phone reception. Please txt if no answer.

Beaded Wheels 43

MARKET PLACE

1965 BENTLEY S3 SS SALOON New Zealand new with air con and tinted glass. $46,000. Phone Michael 0274 148 145 MEM BANKS PENINSULA

260M ZEPHYR for sale for the first time in 20 years.

The car is in great racing condition or could be used as a collectors piece. One of Canterbury and NZ most iconic historic single seaters. Its historical value is endless. All offers considered Phone Mark 021 337 600. MEM BANKS PENINSULA

1948 INTERNATIONAL K - KB SERIES Grille, Bonnet and front Guards. All in excellent condition, no rust.

Offers, Phone Graeme on 027 284 5844 or email chevyrevell37@yahoo.com MEM GISBORNE

KNOCK-ON WIRE WHEELS Three wheels off mid ‘30s Triumph sports car. 54 spoke. Offers, Phone Graeme on 027 284 5844or email chevyrevell37@ yahoo.com MEM GISBORNE

1936 MG SA SALOON unrestored in used condition Current WoF and rego. Brakes recently redone, new tyres/carpet. Fairly rare car, creates much interest at VCC meetings particularly as is in original condition if a bit worn. Changed circumstances force reluctant sale. Offers over $45K Phone 03 365 1938 MEM CANTY

1948 CHRYSLER WINDSOR Reg on hold, new brakes and drive line attention. Has been in dry storage for the last 10 years. Contact Owen 0274 636 840 Invercargill MEM SOUTHLAND

NEW MODEL A FORD SHOCK ABSORBERS. VETERAN PARTS OIL AND ELECTRIC TAIL LIGHTS. Precision manufactured in NZ. They are fully Mags both single and dual. Speedos brass. Rushmore adjustable and work as per the originals, electric light set. Bulb horns. Ph 07 348 4227

MEM ROTORUA $322 each. Exhaust systems, correctly drilled and baffled for that genuine Model A sound $295. Ph 03 359 0565 or 021 128 9252 or www.vintagefordparts.co.nz MEM CANTERBURY

1952 STANDARD VANGUARD PHASE 1 very tidy totally original unrestored car, fitted with an illuminated period TAXI light (never been a taxi only privately owned) 104,000 mls. Totally rust free, will be sold with new WoF & Reg super reliable classic, easy to drive. $9500 ono phone John 027 457 0719 MEM STH CANTERBURY

CHEQUES NO LONGER ACCEPTED 1925 FORD MODEL TT ONE TON TRUCK PROJECT. Has body built along with the deck and needs finishing. Motor can be turned over on crankhandle, ran well when last run. Parts to near finish job. Can’t crank it now due to health so need to sell. Can email photos, phone Bob 03 324 3044 or 027 324 3012 no voice messages, text preferred and I’ll phone back.

MEM CANTERBURY 44 Beaded Wheels

1967 BENTLEY T SERIES NZ new. Present owner 19 years. In lovely original condition, blue with beige leather interior. Stunning walnut veneered interior wood trim. Fitted with rear picnic tables. $27,500.

For further information and photos contact John Bain phone 027 274 5279 email fazazz@fazazz. co.nz Fazazz The Motorists’ Shop Ltd. ChCh. MEM BANKS PENINSULA

Please note as of 1 May 2021 we are unable to accept payment by cheque for Beaded Wheels advertising.

MARKET PLACE

MERCEDES 220 PONTON WINDSCREEN. I think 180 and 190 windscreens of the Ponton series of the mid-’50’s to early ‘60s will fit. Also tank-flap lock, but only if it has a key. Please email gerhard_ heins@hotmail.com or text or call 021 950 745

MEM CANTERBURY

WANTED

1923 MODEL T TOURER Upper Windscreen Frame, both seat cushions or springs, tail light and/or bracket, coils. Phone 0274 440 201 MEM GISBORNE

MORRIS 1000 FRONT TORSION BAR ASSEMBLIES complete with end fittings. Please telephone John Kinvig 0274 524 326 or 04 234 1262 M EM WELLINGTON

1946 FORD 59A MOTOR AND GEARBOX help please. Phone 027 824 7715 MEM MARLBOROUGH

1920S IGNITION SWITCH AND TAIL LIGHT 1957 FORD CUSTOM 300 OR 1958 CHEVROLET American Restoration project. Phone Wayne any condition considered. Phone 03 218 7731. Roberts 027 235 7771 MEM AUCKLAND

MEM SOUTHLAND 1960-70 CHEV IMPALA, BISCAYNE, CHEVELLE, MALIBU, NOVA OR PONTIAC GM EQUIVALENT. Prefer bench seat and runner that is on the road.

Phone 021 191 5177 MEM SOUTHLAND 1963-1965 VAUXHALL VX4/90 any condition considered. Phone Peter on 03 389 8674 or 021 212 6088 MEM CANTERBURY 5 SPEED GEARBOX to fit 1954 -1957 EIP Vauxhall Velox or an overdrive. Phone 09 406 7119 MEM NORTHLAND 55 VANGUARD SERIES 2 wanting a good steering box and drive shaft. PL1424 Model, 1 Bishop cam or BurmanL3. Contact Trevor Marshall 027 221 9990 or sunbeamtrev@gmail.com.

MEM EBOP A30 OR A35 GENUINE UTE. A do up is preferred.

Phone Graham 0275 440 406 MEM BAY OF PLENTY ARIEL SQUARE 4 MOTORCYCLE, MK2, 1953 TO 1959. Preferably rideable but in need of some work. Will consider all responses. Restoration project. Phone Ross, 021 056 5163.

SWAPMEETS AND RALLIES

ARIEL SQUARE FOUR MK 2 CYLINDER to complete project. Phone Wayne 03 342 9540 MEM CANTERBURY 1966 HONDA C102 50CC STEP-THROUGH with electric starter needs parts. Can you help? Carb, legshield, mudguard, seat, and anything that might be of help with the rebuild, willing to collect part bike, or parts in the Lower North Island. Contact Bob Barton 06 3678216 or bobandthegaffer@ gmail.com MEM HOROWHENUA CUCCIOLO BIKE - 48CC PUP IN GOOD ORDER with hand change gears preferred. Sprung forks and balloon tyres. Phone Richard 03 383 2077 Christchurch MEM CANTERBURY LUGGAGE RACK 1933/34 V8 FORD any condition considered /cash buyer. Phone/txt Dave 0274 715 148 MEM HAWKE’S BAY MORRIS 1000 FRONT TORSION BAR ASSEMBLIES complete with end fittings. Phone John Kinvig 0274 524 326 or 04 234 1262. M EM WELLINGTON

MOTORCYCLE WANTED. Cash buyer wants to purchase a Norton 650, an Atlas, or Commando, a Trident T150/T160 or a BSA Rocket 3. Please, no projects (as I have too many). I am looking for, at the least, a good runner. The bike is needed to join to my Watsonian GP sidecar. Tony Kay email - premnivas@xtra.co.nz cell – 020 414 85160

MEM AUCKLAND

TRIUMPH 1300 OR 1500 FWD MOTOR and gearbox combination or just gearbox parts.

Will consider complete car. Phone Carl Gaudin 06 370 1221 MEM BAY OF PLENTY TYRES WANTED 475/500 17ins crossply. Must be Wof-able. Phone or email Clive at 03 4395207 or blunden@slingshot.co.nz MEM NORTH OTAGO TYRES WANTED 600 X 21. Two required urgently.

New, part worn or retread. Oliver Midgley 0274 837 946 or 06 8441515 MEM BANKS PENINSULA WANTING TO BUY MY FIRST HOBBY CAR anything in excellent condition from the 1930s thru to 1970s up to around $20,000 please. Matamata based, happy to travel North Island. Phone Pete 0274 701 181 or email peteconnolly@xtra.co.nz

All vehicles entered in National And International Rallies must have a current VehicIe Identity Card (VIC).

NORTHLAND NORTHLAND BRANCH BRANCH 10TH 10TH ANNUAL ANNUAL

SWAP MEET Sunday 11 April 2021 LOWER ENTRANCE OF KIWINORTH 500 SH14 Whangarei

Gates open to sellers at 6am. Gates open to public at 8am.

Trade sellers space $25. Private swapper space $10.

Entry for public $6 with people under 14 free.

Contact: Reg Paki 09 437 2945

Beaded Wheels 45

EARLY BI RD

Banks Peninsula Branch Of The Vintage Car Club Of New Zealand

SAVING

affiliated To The Federation Internationale Des Vehicules Anciens

$25

DISCOUNT OF F YOUR ENTRY IF BOOK

BY JULY 31STED

Proudly presented by

HAWKE’S BAY BRANCH OF THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB

Back to Basics

Organised by the Banks Peninsula Branch, and capturing the spirit of the original Rallye, the 7th southern Monte will occur on

Saturday 13th November 2021 Plan your own start point/time/route to achieve maximum points for your particular vehicle/crew/equipe.

You may choose to motor from or after the stroke of midnight on Friday 12th to a late afternoon checkpoint on the 13th .

Start point – anywhere south of Mangatainoka Brewery.

Finish – the French enclave of Akaroa, Banks Peninsula.

Competitive motoring is restricted to the day of the 13th. Individual and Equipe Awards are again at stake.

Saturday evening function in Akaroa is part of the event.

ENTRY FORMS AND ADVICE Email giles@ ravenslie.net Phone 027 361 6927 or Text CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES, 11TH OCTOBER 2021

SWAP MEET Sunday 9 May 2021 Meeanee Speedway Pits Area 67 Sandy Road, Meeanee, Napier Sellers set up at 7am Public Entry 8am $10 per person Site $20 includes one person We have taken over from the Marineland Hot Rod Club Swap Meet

Any enquiries: Phone Steve Donovan 027 2177730 or Contact HBVCC at www.HBVCC.org.nz

THE ULTIMATE TIME TRIAL 2021 Central North Island from Taranaki to Hawkes Bay Two event options on closed tarmac roads 5 Day Time Trial: Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th October 2 Day Time Trial: Friday 29th and Saturday 30th October Refer: www.targa.nz for details.

Contact: Rod Corbett rod.corbett88@gmail.com 027 433 8772 Photo: Proshotz Photography

VCCNZ Ashburton Branch

SWAPMEET Saturday 1 May 2021

Gates Open 7.30am

Club Grounds 86 Maronan Road, Tinwald Ashburton No Dogs Allowed • Catering by Ashburton Lions Club Site Bookings to Karen Bell, 72 Creek Rd Ashburton 7700 Email: funky_gran117@yahoo.co.nz Ph 021 0243 1955

46 Beaded Wheels

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Experienced expert technician Bruce Chaytor ph 021 631 700 Nicolette Prangley 021 166 8374 nap.chaytor@gmail.com 5 Gibbs Place, Kinloch, RD1, Taupo 3377

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IDLE TORQUE A round up of events, personalities and branch gossip from VCCNZ branches around the country

ASHBURTON

ISLA JONES

Our New Year’s Day Run saw 45 cars and bikes of various ages go out and around the outskirts of Ashburton. To add to the fun there was a questionnaire on things seen on the route. The barbecue was to be held in the Domain but after a thunder and lightning strike the venue was quickly changed to our Museum.

One of our very keen motoring enthusiasts, Ollie Hurst, held an afternoon at Barr Hill where there was an assortment of cars, tractors and trucks on display. It was a good afternoon for a drive in the country side and an opportunity to catch up with likeminded people.

Our 52nd Ashburton Annual Rally was held on 30 January and was well supported with 72 vehicles, some coming from Christchurch, Timaru and Waimate, driving across the Canterbury Plains. The oldest vehicle was a 1915 Douglas motorcycle. Our lunch stop was at Kennedy Park in Geraldine where the line-up of cars and ‘bikes created some interest with the locals. We then went to car enthusiast Roger Mahan’s big new museum. Still only 70% full, he has a great display of old cars, trucks, tractors and bulldozers. The oldest car was a 1907 De Dion, still in good condition. Roger owns the Milburn Lime works at Milton and he has some of his old Milburn equipment on display.

AUCKLAND

▲ Ashburton: Barry Quantock on the dozer and Les Bennett having a rest.

▲ Ashburton: ▲ Ashburton: 1907 De Dion Bouton.

▲ Auckland: Electric Harley.

▲ Auckland: Ford 10 at Altered State gallery.

PETER WOOD

Motorcycles: We welcome new member Terry Doherty with a 1969 BSA and a Triumph Tiger Cub. The December meeting saw Colin Tucker speak about his speedway career. In January Rod Horton spoke about his varied career as an engineer, sign writer, graphic artist, cartoonist and engineering tutor. The February meeting featured Chris Egan from Auckland Harley who showed off the new Harley-Davidson electric motorcycle and demonstrated it in Fairfax Avenue. ▲ Auckland:Dave Tippens’ 1941 Hupmobile Skylark.

Beaded Wheels 49

Veteran: Lance Anderson has brought the 1903 Cadillac formerly owned by Steve Raffills. It was in storage for many years.

The car originally came from Dunedin.

Denis Lowe showed an early beaded edge tyre spreader at the February section meeting, while visitor Grant Stott produced Dodge Four owner’s data which came in a tin to protect it from rough handling.

PV PWV: We welcome New members Ian Grant with a 1935 Austin Seven and Clyde Thompson with a 1936 Chev pickup and a 1938 Morris 8 tourer.

Jack Nazer has sold his 1935 Chrysler Airflow to the Edney collection. Midweek Tourers recently visited Dave Tippens’ collection near Waiuku, There they saw Dave’s 1941 Hupmobile Skylark, which is powered by a centrifugally supercharged Graham engine. Most of the wood in the body has been replaced by steel. This was done by Dave’s son Steve, a bespoke panelbeater based in Pukekohe, I understand Steve is currently panelling a Type 57 Bugatti body for a Waikato owner.

Dave Tippens also has a collection of '30s Auburns and a well restored 1925 Flint.

We note with regret the death of Hans Dorbeck, a long-time supporter of the commercial section.

General: Seventeen cars attended the January club run to Eric Jannett’s Altered States Gallery in Puni, Eric makes steam punk artefacts out of junk, his creations are quite intriguing. He had other items for sale and Leo Fowler scored a vintage Indian motorcycle horn. Murray Ransfield from the RNZAF spoke on the recovery and restoration of a Bristol Freighter at the February club night.

BANKS PENINSULA DON GERRARD In January we held our Pomeroy Trophy (named after Laurence Pomeroy - chief designer at Vauxhall) that attracted a very diverse 27 vehicles. This event, with its devious and complex handicapping system, is designed to seek out the most ideal Touring Car. The usual standing and flying quarter-mile sprints were hotly contested but as the competition progressed with the slalom and braking tests, other podium prospects rose to the top. Finally, it was down to the 20 minute reliability trial, lapping a section of Ruapuna to determine the final points.

The overall winner was Michael Williams in a 1972 Citroën D Super, followed by Lyn Scott in a Sierra and third, Jared Dacombe in a DeLorean.

50 Beaded Wheels

In early February an excellent VCC entry of 22 cars took to the grid for the 31st Skope Race Meeting at Ruapuna.

Russell Greer in the Stanton Corvette was dominant over the two days of racing, but Paul Coghill's Jaguar Special and Russ Haine's Frangapelli Holden kept him honest.

The following weekend it was all on again at Levels circuit in Timaru and even though the VCC grid was smaller the racing was just as keen. Paul Coghill and Russ Haines were the leaders of the pack with Jim Bennett in the Furi Impulse snapping at their heels before a head-gasket problem slowed him down. The Barrett's Lotuses were going well and Phil Thomson had the Daimler single-seater flying. All three Mistrals went well and Ramon Farmer's Ransley Riley Special as always drew a lot of attention

BAY OF PLENTY

DONN WHITE

Some members made the trek to Gisborne in order to attend the annual Three Rivers Rally. Due to lockdown restrictions our February Club Night had to be cancelled. Unfortunately the restriction impacted on a number of high profile events outside of our region, the annual Art Deco event in Napier being just one that comes to mind. However some members decided to go ahead with their travel arrangements and bookings and kept things low key while in the Hawkes Bay. I competed in the annual Historic GP Meeting at the Bruce McLaren Motor Sport Park in Taupo and was astounded at the number of VCC members from all over the country who appeared in the pits and spectator stands during the meeting, staged over 22-24 January. A good crowd was evident over the three day meeting and numbers surpassed the gate attendance for the New Zealand Grand Prix held at Hampton Downs the very same weekend.

More than seven million dollars worth of classic cars were present at the event and the level of presentation and attention to aspects of originality was very high.

Tony Hall invited a big crowd of people to what proved to be a giant sized turn out of vintage and classic vehicles at his property. This was keenly supported by our members who spent much of Sunday 14 February taking in the atmosphere at what proved to be a very suitable venue.

CANTERBURY

TONY BECKER

A Summer Garden Party and Old Cars Bikes & Coffee, were two February activities away from our more usual road travel events. The former, organised by Lindsey and Myra Saunders repeated the pleasures of the Branch Anniversary at the same private farm estate venue a few years ago. Themed around the vintage era and using the grand opportunity to display our stunning vehicles alongside shaded picnic tables and Sylvia Bartlett´s free candy floss cart, set the scene for some delightful entertainment. Live bagpipes stirred activity for old fashioned games like Strike the Bell strength hammer, tugo-wars, nail driving contests and of course vintage fashion parades for all ages. Much laughter flowed as young and old took part in every event. Highlight conclusion, sheep and dogs at work loved by the children and applauded by all. February’s level 2 lockdown rule frustrated Annual Rally organisers on-off-on planning for venues, badges, food etc resulting in a smaller than usual entries list. Our March Scrap Metal Drive offers members a chance to get rid of stuff while branch coffers gain, a two-way member-benefit. The Vogs (Velosolex Owners Group) may be new to some but this subsection of only Velosolex bikes has increased in number along with activity.

Lots of fun, smoke, jokes and old folks.

Our thoughts are with Bevars Binnie who suffered a nasty collision while riding his Veteran 1916 Royal Enfield on the Annual Motorcycle Rally.

CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY JOHN FOOT The first branch outing of the year was Wayne McDonagh’s Afternoon Cruise to the Wanstead Polo Club grounds to take in an afternoon of high action polo which was something different and was enjoyed by all. Also in January the Dannevirke Wheels Club held their very popular (800 cars) annual Wheels with Attitude event at the Dannevirke Showgrounds which was attended by 20 cars from our Branch. The February event was organised by Iain and Eva Gollan and attracted 25 cars. The run took us out to the coast where we visited the Mangakuri church (Built in 1887 and still used today) then to Mangakuri Beach followed by Kairakau Beach where we had lunch and a presentation about the rich history of the area. On the return trip to Waipukurau we went to Mangarara Station and Eco Lodge. We were given a very interesting presentation about the construction

▲ Banks Peninsula: Pushing On! Dallas Yates, VW Karman Ghia, Pomeroy Trophy. Photo John McDonald.

▲ Banks Peninsula: The 'Parisian Taxi' of Michael Williams heads for victory in the Pomeroy Trophy meeting. Photo John McDonald

▲ Banks Peninsula: VCC dummy grid, Skope Race Meeting.

▲ Bay of Plenty: Loyal VCC member for 60 years - Alistair Jones with his Morris Minor ▲ Bay of Plenty: Donn White competed in the annual Historic GP Meeting at the Bruce McLaren Motor Sport Park in January with his 1973 Mini Clubman GT. A good number 'Woody' at Tony Hall's property. Photo Brian and Cindy Pratt. of VCC members attended from all over the country. Photo Donn White Collection

▲ Canterbury:

▲ Canterbury: VCC Summer Picnic Run ended at member Peter Gatehouse's picturesque vineyard. A stroll to a neighbour's home and garden later revealed this stunning setting at "Casa Rossa Boutique" private residence in Jowers Road, highly recommended!

▲ Canterbury:

▲ Canterbury:

Beaded Wheels 51

▲ Central Otago: Coffee stop at Five Rivers Cafe enroute to Mandeville.

▲ Central Otago: One of two V Class Locomotives recovered from the Oreti River in 2020.

▲ Central Otago: Replica de Havilland DH88-Comet being built at Croydon Aircraft Company, Mandeville.

▲ EBOP: East Coast Rally entrants.

▲ EBOP: East Coast Rally - Tony Fraser & Deidre Rennie (BOP) in their 1926 Delage.

▲ EBOP: East Coast Rally 1st Overall - Joe Bruntlett & Carey-Ann Ward (Waikato).

▲ Far North: Top End.

Far North: Top End Unahi wharf.

▲ Gisborne: Three Rivers Rally: Dale and Jenny Conlon’s 1912 New Pick needed surgery after a gearbox malfunction during the rally.

Far North: Summer picnic Paradise

▲ Gisborne: Three Rivers Rally: Wayne Roberts and Rodney Clague discuss an alternative route back to Gisborne for “Team Auckland” during the lunch stop at Mahia. In the background is Raewyn and Graeme Fenn’s 1937 Graham Crusader (overall winner) with the Roberts’ 1924 Velie (vintage class winner) in the foreground. Photo Karen Tait.

and ideas that led to the setting up of the Eco Lodge. This was followed by a very informative insight into the regenerative farming system used for feeding their animals on the station, mainly cattle as the grass is kept too long for sheep.

We finished the day with dinner at the Patangata Country Tavern. A good start to the year with good attendance at events and monthly meetings.

CENTRAL OTAGO

DON YEAMAN

Our swap meet held on 17 January was one of the most successful that we have had for some time. It was held the day after the Cromwell Classic Car Show and we combined resources with the local Alpine Street Machine Hot Rod Club at our Litany Street premises. We are aware that teaming up with a Hot Rod Club may seem a bit unorthodox by some but we all have an appreciation and pride in our cars and the day was a great success.

The January Sunday Run was to Como Villa Estate where everyone enjoyed a picnic lunch on the lawn. Some then toured the premises and learned a bit of local history and sampled some very nice wine.

February Sunday Run saw us meeting up at Frankton by 9:00am then off to Mandeville to attend the annual Fly-In and Steam Festival. We stopped at Lumsden on the way to have a look at the two 1885 V Class locomotives that had spent 93 years buried in the Oreti River before being rescued last year. The Fly-In festival this year celebrated 100 years since the first passenger was flown from the Mandeville airfield in 1921. While there, we were privileged to be given a tour of the Croydon Aircraft workshop where the restoration of old aircraft takes place. From there we went to see John Tremaine’s collection of cars, all three sheds full. John has a real mixture of makes but it is quite clear that he is a Ford man.

EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY

BRUCE SEDDON

Our Branch Chairman prepared our annual Chairman’s run as a seaside outing – afternoon tea alongside the estuary at the Waiotahi River mouth out towards Opotiki.

Fourteen cars gathered in Whakatane to follow Lytle’s instructions and drive out through Poroporo and Titoki Road to the one-way Pekatahi Bridge to Taneatua.

Along the way we gathered clues and

enjoyed a relaxed drive through the countryside. After Taneatua and the Wainui Gorge the route took a detour through Waimana once again watching for answers to the historical questions. Back to SH2 and on to our afternoon tea destination in the park at Te Ahiaua Reserve. Many of the answers taught us more of the history of the area as those who had lived longer in the area told us of features that are now gone.

FAR NORTH

DAVE DUIRS

For our summer picnic we travelled a farm track at the end of which was a member’s old kiwi bach for us to use and we swam in sparkling water accompanied by large stingrays. A good turnout of members, in mainly old, vehicles watched on.

Recently the Deveralls sent 30 folk from Awanui to Unahi wharf which once served busy fishing, sea transport and bulk fertiliser activities. Looking a bit sad, the landing is soon to undergo a multi-million dollar upgrade. Heading west past Lake Ngatu, popular with whaka ama groups, we walked on Ninety Mile Beach which, being a windless and sunny day was on show with the long breakers crashing on the clean sand. Driving through vast new avocado properties, our destination was beachside opposite Mt Camel at our host’s Houhora home. Once the original police station, now lovingly restored. The family provided a very tasty catered lunch which some walked off around the coast while others yakked under the colonial verandahs. It’s pretty special up there.

Club value: recently our very reliable Peugeot 203 which we took around Oz on the Redex Rerun and which has covered most of New Zealand, unusually dropped a valve. Out went the HELP call and after responses from Canbera ATC, Busselton WA, Auckland, Wellington and New Plymouth a donor piston, wet liner, new inlet valve and guide, correct OS big end shells and , head gasket kit all came together to get our 203 back on the road for very few dollars. Many thanks to the great car club’s families.

GISBORNE

RODNEY CLAGUE

We sadly record the passing of Tony Notting, a member for 52 years who over the years restored a 1926 Pontiac, a 1933 Austin 7 tourer and a 1938 Morris 8 Sports.

Tony was also involved in the building of, and alterations to, our clubrooms using his skills as a plumber. His presence will be missed.

February 13 saw our eleventh Three Rivers Rally competently organised by Brian Williams. This took entrants around the outskirts of the city before travelling down SH2 to Morere and then over Tunanui Road to Mahia where the rally ended and lunch was partaken before entrants returned to Gisborne. For many the highlight of that road was the breathtaking view of the ocean from the highest point as we approached Mahia. The overall winners of the rally were Raewyn and Graeme Fenn from Waihi in their 1937 Graham Crusader.

Work continues in our parts shed where old stock is being cleared and the original mezzanine floor dismantled to make room for a large self-standing mezzanine floor kindly donated by a member. Once erected our stock of parts should be more accessible in a safer environment.

GORE

JIM MCFADZIEN

All aboard on 10 January 2021 for a picnic run, which included about 10 questions as you travelled, just to keep passengers awake, till we arrived at Ettrick our mystery destination. To get there we had travelled through Kelso and Heriot, over the big hill at Moa Flat to descend that brake testing hill to drop down to Ettrick where under big trees we had our lunch.

The usual banter took place while results of the questions were produced with the Nunn and Kennedy crews having the same correct answers.

The month of January has got very busy in the last few years, too much on and people on holidays. We had to cancel our Ladies Run in January for that reason which makes it tough on the organisers.

The last year has seen our branch gain five new members. Wendy Clearwater has turned up with a mint 1971 Rover 3500 which had belonged to her late father Barry, and Betty Clearwater has joined to keep Daughter Wendy doing it right with the Rover. Jason Moore brought along a 1941 Ford V8 flat deck truck. Te Anau is the home of Graeme Humphries, his vehicle is a 1931 Studebaker President. Last month Katherine Welch joined, her car a 1926 Buick Standard Six doctors coupe, welcome aboard folks.

Beaded Wheels 53

▲ Hawke's Bay: 1918 American LaFrance heading out on the Friday Deco Rally.

▲ Hawke's Bay: 1906 Sizaire et Naudin voiturette driving through the Hawkes Bay countryside on the Deco Rally.

▲ Hawke's Bay: 1905 Rolls-Royce Light 20 with owner John Kennedy and partner enjoying the Deco rally.

▲ Horowhenua: AP&I. Two of our members talking to the public alongside Don’s Armstrong Siddeley. ▲

Horowhenua: Three of the VCC younger members at Trentham.

▲ Nelson: Display vehicles over look the busy swapmeet sites.

▲ Nelson: Shadows highlight the early birds at swapmeet.

Manawatu: Veteran cars outside the clubrooms ready to start the 2021 Veteran Rally.

▲ Manawatu: Len Haycock in his 1916 Chevrolet 490 with grandson Roan and granddaughter Emilie undertaking a Gymkhana manoeuvre at the end of the 2021 Veteran Rally.

▲

Manawatu: Gavin and Vivienne Harris in their 1918 Model T negotiating the Gymkhana circuit at the end of the 2021 Veteran Rally.

HAWKE’S BAY

HELEN BALL

Deco may well have been cancelled this year but the resilience of the people, and especially members of our branch, proved celebrations could still go ahead.

With veteran vehicles being the draw card this year it was heartening to see so many participating, along with a good number of vintage cars, in the rallies that were organised, and to also being able to host so many visitors to Napier. A great way to thumb our nose at covid and show we won’t be beaten by it.

The program ran closely to what was originally planned with a veteran run on Thursday and dinner at night. A veteran/ vintage run with approximately 100 vehicles into the stunning Hawke’s Bay countryside and ending at a winery for lunch on Friday and an extremely well attended Show and Shine on Saturday at our clubrooms.

The weekend finished with Sunday breakfast and entertainment, all at our lovely clubrooms.

There was an amazing collection of cars, from little to large all beautifully groomed for the weekend and drivers and passengers looking equally as spiffing, what ho.

My personal favourite was a 1905 RollsRoyce Light 20, it having arrived in the country only a few days prior to the Deco Festival and on its second only run. This model is one of the earliest surviving true sports cars that Rolls-Royce produced with only about 40 ever built. Originally restored in 1953, it doesn’t race but still drives like a charm.

As well as Deco activities our branch has been very active and with membership still increasing.

HOROWHENUA

BOB BARTON

Levin AP & I Show 20 January A good turnout at the AP & I Showgrounds, our branch put six cars on show and eight on parade in the afternoon. Plenty of people attended the show and quite a few asked about the Club and the vehicles that were on display.

We handed out lots of old Beaded Wheels magazines and quite a few joining packs too. The members who spent two days inside the AP&I building looking after our vehicles and talking to the public were, George Mclean with his Ford Model Y, Rex Williams and his Sunbeam Alpine, Don McAlpine with his Armstrong Siddeley, Warwick Doreen and his huge Chrysler

80, our chairman Des and his “personal secretary” Pauline, with their lovely Morris 8, and finally me and the trusty old Austin Farina, a great weekend with lovely people, what a great team.

Quite a few of our members turned up to the Dannevirke Car and Swap Meet on 31 January. It was well attended, with a great selection of vehicles to view, and the weather was good too.

We also attended the British and European Car Day at Trentham on Sunday 14 February. Again there was a good turnout of vehicles, the weather was good and so were the tea and biscuits.

KING COUNTRY

NORMA DOUGHERTY

King Country Branch of the VCC have now shifted to a new location in Bell Road to the old railway goods shed which is now the TRAC meeting place. Across the railway lines from the main street of Taumarunui.

Inside there are many rooms and several display items such as model trains, cars, tractors. We had our monthly meeting in the lounge area.

On Sunday 1 November we met at Wayne and Julie Gilbert’s place for a Mystery Trip. We set off on a Mystery Tour around Taumarunui. Then back into town and back to the TRAC Venue in Bell Road. With some challenging questions for discussion by the navigator and the driver.

Points of interest with plenty of debate on what is roads and streets. Is Para Street a swimming pool? The answers to the Mystery Tour questions were revealed.

It was great to see so many members, and family friends of our branch at the Christmas get-together at the Waituhi farm of Campbell and Glenda Wright.

The following people took part in the driving events of slalom, expanding loops, and cloverleaf. They were Katie Walker, Campbell and Glenda Wright, Brian Goodwin, Tony Manning, Dave Caddy, Sam Tweedie, Wayne Gilbert, Jacki Sinclair, Ivan Stevens, Tony Manning and Joe Sinclair. We then had a barbecue meal in the old Waituhi Hall. The was hall built by the sawmillers when Waituhi was a milling settlement and a small village.

MANAWATU

BRYAN ABRAHAM

After a quiet January, members were invited to display their cars alongside other classic and vintage cars at the Waitangi

Family Day in Foxton on the first Saturday in February.

A few members took their cars to Foxton to participate in the day which added to the collection of vintage cars from our neighbouring Horowhenua Branch.

The next day saw a lot of activity at the clubrooms with the Manawatu Veteran Rally heading off in the morning with a stop at a nearby man cave shed which is currently a work in progress with vehicles, motoring and farming exhibits / displays being set up in it. Once completed this will be a very worthwhile collection to revisit.

From here it was off to Mt Stewart for a picnic lunch followed by a visit to the 100+ year old Lethenty Historic House in Bulls.

After a look around this slice of history it was back to the clubrooms for a mini gymkhana and tea.

MARLBOROUGH

CARROLL WIBLIN

Another busy month with a very successful run to Ian and Pat Barnes’ bach at Anakiwa. The tide was in and the creek running through their property had risen creating a bit of a problem for those who did not want to get their feet wet.

Our annual Heritage Day was held on 6 Feb and was up to its usual high standard.

Although figures are not to hand at the date of writing, the kitchen and bacon and egg butties did their usual roaring trade.

The motorcycle division did us proud with their display of bikes. It is a day when all societies within Brayshaw Park pull together to make it a great family day out.

The guys at the parts shed have an ongoing project to refurbish the electrical shed with a new door and window. It would appear that a cat flap has also been installed, but haven’t found out what that is about.

A few of the motorbike boys have polished up the motorcycles on display in the museum and it is looking fantastic The run to Picton was well attended with 24 along for the ride. Two lady riders and two prospective members were in that total. Also a 1946 Indian Chief fresh off the restoration bench, a BSA, and Deb’s brand new Can Am. A great turnout and more interesting restorations to come.

At the time of writing there are five vehicles heading to Napier for the Art Deco weekend. This is always a great event with Napier heaving at the seams. I am looking forward to it as it will be our first time.

There is a veteran contingent going to provide a veteran display.

Beaded Wheels 55

▲ Nelson: Display cars start to fill the embankment.

▲ Northland: Line up of Northland cars at Batley Point Kaipara Habour.

▲ Nelson: Good crowd at the swapmeet.

▲ Northland: Arthur Jenkins 1928 Jowett at the Northland Valentine run.

▲ North Shore: One of Richard and Rachael Andrews’ Nash Metropolitans. ▲

North Shore: Richard Andrews, with his trademark smile. ▲ Northland: Neil McLean’s Model A on the Valentine run Sunday.

▲ Rotorua: Car in the Room: Jim Maud’s 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SL. Photo Ronald Mayes.

▲ Rotorua: Bedford and Dodge ambulances. Photo Ronald Mayes.

▲ Rotorua: In contrast a much-decorated Ford Zodiac. Photo David Tomlinson.

▲ Rotorua: 1926 Delage attracts keen interest. Photo Ronald Mayes.

NELSON

RAY ROBERTSON

A mixture of moderns and vehicles of all VCC ages made the club night run to Wakefield for a light barbecue followed by a convoy to visit the Ewing family’s modern poultry farm at Quail Valley. With brand spanking new barns housing 10,000 laying hens a piece and 150,000 on the farm, the entire operation is impressive.

Fascinated, everyone without exception learnt something about the humble egg.

A Saturday Coffee Cruise by eight or so vehicles saw the makings of what may well become a regular and relaxing means of getting your car out for a short run and good company.

Our major event for the month and fundraiser for the branch is our annual Swap Meet and despite all the prep and leg work was once again tempered by the threat of a Covid disruption. The gods were on our side this year with a new online site booking system really proving its worth and superb support from the site holders and public.

A further measure of its success must be the fact we could not take any more display vehicles as we ran out of space, thanks to everybody who turned out.

NORTHLAND

TREVOR REILLY

On Valentine’s Day the Northland Vintage Branch, with members from Dargaville and Whangarei, set forth from their respective areas to meet up at the historical Batley property, mansion, farm and beach at Batley on the inner Kaipara harbour. A run set by the Dargaville membership.

A group of 10 cars set off from the clubrooms in Whangarei in light drizzling rain on a trek over hill, down dale, on tar seal and much to our sorrow, heavily corrugated roads. The seal roads were used for much of the journey until the final stretch down a heavily corrugated road to the destination. We arrived, much to our relief, in windy sunshine with some blue sky and fluffy clouds.

One by one everyone rolled in and lined up on the fore shore for the photo opportunity. No tales of woe about the trip out, so after greetings and chats it was “who is for a swim?” discussion. No takers, so it’s the picnic time. Following lunch, a talk to the group by the owners of Batley Point property about the history, the people who had passed through the property and the many known stories of the life in this part

of New Zealand over the years. It gave a rich insight to life in this remote Northland area. An interesting club visit on different roads. Some good roads, some shocking.

NORTH OTAGO

CLIVE BLUNDEN

Fairlie New Year’s Day Parade 2021.

Despite a rather foreboding weather forecast, three members and their respective other halfs headed to Fairlie on New Year’s Day to participate in the town’s annual parade organised by the Fairlie Heritage Museum committee. John Gayle in a hard top, Derek Brehaut in a soft top and Will Hearne driving a no top. It’s a great run, especially when you get off the main road just before Pareora and head inland. Quieter roads and beautiful farmland all the way. The Timaru Herald reported an estimated crowd of 4000, and more than 130 entries being predominantly vintage cars, tractors, several large trucks, an army tank and marine carrier.

The sky was overcast and threatened to rain but obligingly held off till after the parade and the temperature was very pleasant. You know, like porridge – not too hot, not too cold.

NORTH SHORE RICHARD BAMPTON The Club farewelled respected member Richard Andrews who passed away unexpectedly in January. Richard was a long time member who had held many committee positions, including chairman.

A fund of knowledge which he called on in his restoration of several vehicles and which he was happy to share. He was always working to the benefit of the club including latterly as catering officer for the branch famed Thursday Morning Smoko.

Richard and Rachel were staunch supporters of club runs and rallies, often in one of the Nash Metropolitans of which he was very proud. One of the friendliest members of our club – he will be missed.

The Summer Saunter was sadly postponed, but at least it meant that participants were not stranded in the north when the latest Covid lockdown Level 3 for Auckland was announced.

Fortunately this was lifted in time for Thursday restoration day and work continues on all the branch vehicles.

ROTORUA

RONALD MAYES

Our 9th annual lakefront car show in January attracted 400 vehicles, ranging from members' cars to those from one-make clubs and many individual enthusiasts – even a Duck amphibious vehicle made an appearance between tourist duties to the lakes.

Retired Dodge and Bedford ambulances have always been driven from Feilding for the day and were displayed with modern appliances. All of the donations received on the day go to the St John Ambulance Association.

Cars in the Room feature at monthly meetings and Mercedes-Benz convertibles appeared in December (Chairman David Tomlinson's 1977 350SL) and in February Jim Maud's 1993 500SL. Cars on show do not have to be VCC eligible to attract lots of interest.

Monthly Sunday and mid-week runs continue and new members and their interesting cars have been welcomed. In March the delayed annual Spring Tour will have been undertaken (Covid-19 permitting) taking in the Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington and Manawatu regions.

SOUTHLAND

RUSSEL MCIVOR

On 6 February we had our Southland rally, followed by a combined rally the next day. This was organised by local Olly Olsen. Branches for this were from Otago, South Otago, Central Otago, Gore and ourselves. Fred and Elizabeth Smits from Wellington presented details of a world trip in a 1957 Mercedes. Results for this event were; Branch Challenge, won by the Gore branch and Correct Questions, Gerry and Margaret Pethic.

Fifty vehicles competed in the Southland rally. A few entrants had fuel problems, perhaps with the hot weather.

Overall winner was Robert Michelle in a 1931 Ford Model A. Prizegiving and an excellent meal was served at the clubrooms later on. A great day with wonderful scenery, entrants thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Our branch has purchased a defibrillator with donations from members and sales from our annual auction. We hope this will not be a popular item to use. Our next effort is to upgrade our bar with a raised floor and new tiling. The bar is used on Saturday and meeting nights and is a good contribution to club funds.

Beaded Wheels 57

Motorbikes are still being discovered, the latest a 1920 Indian in a chicken run.

It was in a dismantled state but all parts were there.

Twenty five year membership badges were presented to Les and Flora Andrews for their involvement in the branch.

SOUTH CANTERBURY

SHANNON STEVENSON

The Ladies Rally took place on 10 January. Organised by Gavin and Michelle Munro, the route took members on a mostly gravel route to Waimate, members encountering a number of river fords along the way. Winner of the prize pinny was Bruce McMillan.

For the February Noggin and Natter evening, Bob Austin gave us a video presentation and speech covering the history and work of Austin's Foundry at Redruth, a family business since 1930.

The annual Weekend Away, organised

by Barry and Carla Barnes took place over Waitangi weekend in Christchurch. Venues visited included the Drury collection and pipe organ near Prebbleton, the Finlay vehicle collection and gardens at Ohoka, Halswell Quarry and Prebbleton.

The Chairman’s Run, organised by Ashley Milliken was held on 21 February.

Attracting over 20 vehicles, the run took members south of Timaru on a sealed route to Kakanui, North Otago, and to a vehicle collection at Herbert.

Our Open Day took place on 27 February, showcasing our branch facilities and activities to the general public.

SOUTH OTAGO

MARTIN DODGE

We are spoilt for choice when it comes to supporting neighbouring Branches’ activities. Southland Branch ran outstanding events during Waitangi Weekend which highlighted many of their delightful sealed roads. Our 47th Motorcycle Rally on 13 March is emulating the all-seal theme, a real challenge in South Otago.

Gore Branch Rally in February is a must-go for a number of our members, as is their Swap Meet in March. We appreciate the effort you expend to provide such attractive opportunities for inter-club mingling.

Our Club Captain checked out the Shiny Side Up talk in Dunedin recently, fluked selection in the goodie-bag draw, and appreciated the sobering presentation from Police Crash Investigator Sgt Peter Sowter

regarding how many motorcycle accidents are down to rider decisions. With hundreds of Burt Munro Rally participants passing through our province annually, it’s a timely reminder for all road users to watch out for us temporary New Zealanders.

TARANAKI

COLIN JOHNSTON

The annual Rotary Clubs Charity Motor Show was held in January and attracted large support from our members attending with their vehicles. A very good display was lined up of cars with member Kevin Fabish's collection of four Essex cars along with our club banner really making our branches effort stand out. Over 400 vehicles took part with motoring clubs attending from all around Taranaki.

While John Muter was setting the rally course for the next Maunga Moana Rally he came across a mob of sheep roaming the road reserve and it was quite amusing trying to get past as they were running and jumping in front of the vehicle. It was a great example of what to look forward to when rallying in the scenic back country roads in and around the Eastern Inglewood area.

The New Zealand Indian Motorcycle Club hosted a three-day event in Taranaki in February and attracted over 45 Indian motorcycles. They gathered at the Top Ten motor camp in New Plymouth. The event is held annually in different parts of New Zealand. During the event the motorcycles were ridden on tours around our beautiful scenic roads and had a show and shine event in Devon Street in the middle of the shopping area in New Plymouth. All of the motorcycles were driven to New Plymouth from many parts of New Zealand.

TAUPO

Southland: Combind Rally, yellow car: Ashley and Gwen Bell – Southland, BMW: Jim McFadizen - Gore.

▲ Southland: Southland Rally, Brian Stroud’s 1961 Morgan.

▲ Southland: Southland Rally, Don Yeaman – Central Otago.

NEIL CHAVE

In January a number of Taupo members travelled up to Rotorua to participate in the Rotorua Branch Lakeside car show. This is always a great event with something new to admire every year. The first Taupo club event of the New Year was a run from Taupo to Wanganui organised by Club Captain Owen Duncan. Members and cars went through Marton to Wanganui.

The following day the group visited the well-known parts supplier Bruce Ardell, based in Fordell just out of Wanganui, to view his collection of vintage and classic cars along with his massive parts stock. Bruce as a parts supplier will be

▲ Southland: Southland Rally, Wayne & Alex Nicoll’s 1908 Cadillac

58 Beaded Wheels

▲

South Canterbury: Ladies Rally.

▲

South Canterbury: VCC Chairmans Run.

▲ South Canterbury: Weekend away Christchurch.

▲

South Canterbury: Weekend away Christchurch.

▲

South Canterbury: VCC Chairmans Run.

▲ Southland: Southland Rally, Lucas Nicoll’s 1928 Ariel motorcycle.

Southland: Southland Rally, Josh Stroud’s 1930 Wolseley Hornet. ▲

c.

▲ South Canterbury: Ladies Rally

▲ Taranaki: Our branch banner on show with some of our vehicles at the Inglewood Rotary Charity Motor Show.

Over 400 vehicles were on display with other kindred clubs supporting this event.

▲ South Otago: South Otago Club Captain, delighted that Andrew Stroud’s Britten will be VCC eligible next year.

▲ Taranaki: Zane Lester organiser of the New Zealand Indian motorcycle club on his Indian, leading the way with over 45 Indian motorcycles on their tour around Taranaki .

Beaded Wheels 59

▲ Taupo: Open Day. ▲ Taupo: Members departing for Wanganui.

▲ Taupo: The Spitfire at rest.

▲ Taupo: Taupo members at lunch in Wanganui.

▲ Wairarapa: Peter Bull, son of VCC stalwarts Glen (dec) and Maureen, with the oldest exhibit at the National Vintage Motorcycle Rally, a 1907 Belgian FN found in the ceiling of a Greytown shop and restored by Glen Bull.

▲ Wairarapa: Bentley and Brooklands Riley replica line up for the start of the Remembrance Rally.

▲ Wairarapa: Magazine editor Chris Giles hauled out his trusty Thermette on the Coastal Run.

▲ Wairarapa: Starting young ... Imogen, 9, helped grandad Mike D’Alton out with navigation.

▲

▲ Wairarapa: A temperamental trike refused to turn right for veteran club member Peter Groves during a Remembrance Rally fun session.

▲ Wairarapa: Club captain Hugh Hunter was awarded the major trophy.

▲ Wellington: Metal spinner creating a core.

well known to many VCC members. The following day members were treated to an air display with a replica Spitfire that was the highlight of the weekend. The annual Open Day this year relocated to the Roberts Reserve in central Taupo, the heart of the cafe district. The venue shift was an opportunity to gain much greater public participation and we were pleased with the significant public enthusiasm in members’ cars with a number of potential new members showing great interest. 2021 also kicked off in style with the branch annual barbecue which attracted a large number of members. In late February we had a ‘boot picnic pow-wow’ with a mystery destination that was revealed as Arapuni dam just west of Putararu. The dam was built in 1929 and has an amazing swing bridge across the river. It was camouflaged during WWII to avoid being bombed by the Japanese.

WAIKATO

HUGH MCINALLY

The numbers attending the Double 50 Rally have dropped slightly over the last couple of years. I gather this drop in rally attendance is not peculiar to the Waikato Branch as members from other branches that I have spoken to confirm that their numbers are also slightly down on previous years. With this in mind, a Double 50 Rally committee was formed to pull out all stops to halt the drop by introducing some innovative ideas. Without giving too much away, will this year’s rally be different?

You bet. One of the activities will be based around the very popular world-renowned Hamilton Gardens. Hamilton City is the proud owner of the largest and best presented gardens in the southern hemisphere with new major themed gardens opening annually. One of the latest themed garden displays is the Mansfield Garden which the Waikato Branch was involved with when the club was commissioned to produce an authentic Model T Ford as part of the Mansfield Garden display. If there is one rally you should mark the calendar for it is most certainly this year’s Double 50 rally.

The branch has now created its own Facebook page for members. If you are a member of the Waikato Branch or have participated in a Waikato Branch rally and have some good pictures or an article that you would like to share with others, then please do not hesitate to put it on the branch’s Facebook page. I’m sure it would be appreciated by all members.

WAIRARAPA

KEVIN BALL

By the time this appears the National Motorcycle Rally will have been and gone, but recent weeks’ preparations have kept members busy. We still managed some fun however, under Pat Dutton's guidance -- a Remembrance Rally that included riding a tricycle and a scooter and hearts and roses collected from private letterboxes.

The annual Coastal Run took us to Lake Ferry and a picnic lunch by the sea. Given the current drought, Chris Giles' trusty thermette was a good choice to produce a brew.

WANGANUI

TONI JENKINS

The focus throughout January is the Vintage Weekend and Burma Rally - I have reported on these events in the Rally Snippets.

Our February meeting was addressed

by Brian Deadman, who is an organiser of the local men’s cancer support group - this is run through the Cancer Society, which is our club’s charity of choice. Brian talked about how the group works and some of the interesting stories he has heard as a member.

On 14 February the club ran its annual Blue Smoke and Pedals concurrently with the Posh picnic. Teenagers were noted to continue the club tradition of driving at maximum possible speed (I’m looking at you, Charlotte). The event was well attended in lovely weather.

WELLINGTON

RAY BETTERIDGE

In January members visited Llama Engineering who specialize in building reliable high performance engines, many of which are used in stock cars. The visitors were engrossed and amazed at what goes into building a motor for competition.

While they were doing this some women members stayed at the clubrooms and enjoyed a very interesting presentation on lace making by Andrea Lynch.

After a very interesting talk last year

by Basil Jones, members were invited to his premises, Basil Jones Metal Spinners, and were amazed at what can be achieved by what seems to be basic machinery, but operated by highly skilled operators! They can make hubcaps too!

A good number of cars entered the Club Captain’s Safari. Once again this was a Monte Carlo event where entrants selected from a range of destinations with different points to win. One started at 8.00am at

Beaded Wheels 61

▲ Wellington: Lunch stop for some entrants at Woodville.

▲ Wellington: Hilary and Barry Pettengel with grandson Liam wowed the locals at Whanganui.

West Coast:

any destination and went from place to place amassing points before arriving at Woodville at 12.00 noon.

The afternoon was a similar format from Woodville to Whanganui from 1.00pm to 5.00pm, It’s all in the planning and Tasi and I started at Ngawi at 8.00am with 200 points and meandered over the Wairarapa sometimes seeing other competitors but generally on our own. This proved a winning formula and the Wellington entrants overcame the Horowhenua lot for a change. But pity help us next year! This culminated with a great vintage weekend at Whanganui.

62 Beaded Wheels

WEST COAST

ELSPIE MITCHELL

January saw a couple of significant celebrations on the Coast. Reefton marked 150 years since its formation.

Reefton’s existence came about due to the discovery of alluvial gold. Its distinctive industry was for hard rock underground mining of gold from the early 1870s to 1951 when the last mine (Waiuta) closed.

Twelve vintage cars, mostly 1926-28, attended the celebration and were very well received by the community.

Greymouth’s local Heritage Park, Shantytown, also celebrated 50 years of being and was supported by a selection of vintage cars although the weather could have been kinder. We look forward to our Rally in March with great excitement since Covid scuttled us last year.

PASSING LANE In this column we acknowledge the recent passing of club members.

Information is supplied to Beaded Wheels by VCCNZ Branch Secretaries.



Andrews, Richard Cottrell, Rex Harris, Dorothy (Dot) Jack, Colin Meikle, Simon Notting, Tony

North Shore North Shore Hawke’s Bay North Otago Wairarapa Gisborne

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