Rod’s Rattling's A few weeks ago when on one of our monthly runs it was suggested that we should adjourn to the local Civic Theatre with a group of us to see the movie “McLaren”. Around a dozen of our members turned up which boosted the numbers at the theatre by more than somewhat to view this film/documentary. I am glad I saw it and it certainly shows a slice of life of NZ as it was in the 1960’s and shows the life of the talented and extraordinary New Zealander, Bruce McLaren. If you haven’t yet seen it, try getting along. You are hardly likely to be disappointed. At the last club night held at the Waipukurau Hotel, several of our members brought along a few colour slides which we showed. The photos included old cars, motor-racing from the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, and several of our members when they were MUCH younger when they had hair and whiskers, and younger bodies. There were lots of laughs, and the general consensus is that we must do it again some time as not that many of the members actually brought along slides of their past. The Twilight Rally Bruce Poole arranged went off very well with a cruise north of theCHB townships and into the hills of Raukawa and Gwavas forest. The roads were a little damp and consequently the cars were pretty dirty when inspected the following morning. There is a report elsewhere as to who won what. Lynn Cross and I will be attending the National AGM in Blenheim as your delegate and observer on 12 th August, and we’ll report on the proceedings in due course. The big thing happening in August, on the 27th, is the run arranged for both the members and the public to attend in support of the Cancer Society. Sandra Cross has been co-ordinating this for the branch. So far what has been mooted has been well received by folk I have had contact with and we should get a good turnout and good support. It would be really good to see most of our members come along to this charity event as we have all been touched by cancer at some stage in our lives, and I daresay will be again in the future. I had a bit of fun the other day. Ken Eason and John Cleland were meeting at Ken’s business premises to fit a tyre to a wheel for John Cleland’s 1914 Ford T and needed some more “expertise”. So long as the rubber is relatively soft, it is not much more difficult than fitting a bike tyre. Well, the rubber was hard, and we had an awful job getting the beads of the tyre into the rim. This is what 30 x 3.5 “Beaded Wheels” are all about. Lubricant in the form of dish-washing detergent was liberally applied to the surface of the rim and the tyre. As this was not working so well for us, it was suggested that John being an ex-chemist, he may know of some other type of lubricant which may be in order. Once the laughter had died down and we discussed the benefits of fitting rubber [more chemist jokes], the job was completed. I am so glad we were not doing this on the side of the road in the rain. I had occasion to be having morning tea at “The Paper Mulberry” at Te Aute at the end of June with a group of classic car owners [The “Petrol-heads”], when a couple of campervans full of “Lions Supporters” pulled in for breakfast. Naturally, we started talking to them about rugby and how they might fare, when three of them admitted to being owners of classic cars themselves. Since then I have had correspondence from the UK owner of an MGA twin-cam from 1959. The conversation about their cars was much more fun and revealing than going on about the rugby games still pending. Scarlett and I will be taking the branch on a wee run to the “Skagen” daffodils again on 10th September to the property now owned by the Ward family. There is a good covered shed for us to have our lunch in with toilet facilities available. We were there about three years ago, so many of you will know the layout and the story about the plantings. In October, the branch will be putting on a “mid-week” run as there are so many other things on that month throughout the country that we know our members are attending, that the weekends are pretty much full of activities. Barry Smales and I have our heads together to put on a simple days motoring. More details will become available when things are confirmed. I had the rear wheel off my 1913 Ford T a few weeks ago as there was a problem with grease coming out of the differential onto the brakes. It was noted that there appeared to be some fine metal in the grease, so I am at present pulling it down and will check to see what the problem is. I imagine there will be a visit from a certain ex-chemist with a prescription at some stage to help restore the old thing to good health. Safe motoring.
Rod McKenzie CHB Branch Club Captain
7