Manawatu VCC March 2017

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Manawatu Branch

Volume 1777

March 2017

Discounts on Cook Strait Ferry Crossings All financial members of the VCC of NZ Inc can obtain a discount on ferry crossings, for individual or group bookings. You must show your membership card. Quote the required codes: Interislander WH5465 0800878898

Blue Bridge – ANTIQUECAR 0800844844

Number 09/300139

When insuring your valuable items (property, car etc) with Vero, quoting the above number results in a commission being made to the Manawatu Branch.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

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Coming Events 2016-2017 Coming Events 2017

March 2017

1 12 19 30 6 10 17 28 14 17 21 25 12 19 9 16

Manawatu Branch Ruahine Ramble – details in this Tourer Committee meeting 7.00pm The Grove Mid Month Meander 1.00pm Chesters Plumbing Manawatu Branch VCC AGM 7.30pm The Grove - papers in this Tourer Sunday Run – picnic 11.00am Chesters Plumbing Mini Working Bee 9.00am Committee meeting 7.00pm The Grove Club night 7.30pm The Grove Sunday Run picnic 11.00am start details tba Manawatu Branch Post Vintage Rally Committee meeting 7.00pm The Grove Club night 7.30pm The Grove Sunday Run details tba Committee meeting 7.00pm The Grove Manawatu Branch Night Trial Club night 7.30pm The Grove Sunday Run details tba Committee meeting 7.00pm The Grove Club night 7.30pm The Grove Committee meeting 7.00pm The Grove Club night 7.30pm The Grove

September 2017

13 16 20

Committee meeting 7.00pm The Grove Manawatu Branch Vintage Rally Club night 7.30pm The Grove

October 2017

11 18

Committee meeting 7.00pm The Grove Club night 7.30pm The Grove

November 2017

8 15

Committee meeting 7.00pm The Grove Club night 7.30pm The Grove

December 2017

13

Committee meeting 7.00pm The Grove tbc

4 8 12 15 26

April 2017

May 2017

June 2017

July 2017 August 2017

Notes Sunday Run details are in the Club Captain’s Corner each month.

Regular monthly events are listed on the back cover in each issue.

True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.

– Kurt Vonnegut The Tourer

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Notes from the Chair Chairperson’s Annual Report 2017 This year has been both challenging and rewarding.

At the June AGM I was elected as Chair, with Doug Dickson as Vice Chair, Ron Persson as Secretary and Ian Howell as Treasurer.

Committee positions were filled

by Brian McPherson, Trevor Hardy, John Ireland and Bill Williams. After the June election to office your committee accepted Bryan Abraham’s nomination as Club Captain. At our first committee meeting we ratified the non-elected positions – Esmee Rowden as Tourer editor, Gary Millar as Custodian, Librarian and Parts Shed manager, Doug Dickson as Delegate and Property manager, Trevor Hardy as Swapmeet Co-ordinator and Murray Martin and John Ireland as ID Card Advisors. I wish to thank all of these people who have put a huge amount of effort into running your club.

During the year the Veteran Rally, Ruahine Ramble, Night Trial, PV and PWV Rally, and Vintage Rally were held. Thank you to all of those who organised these events.

Other activities during the year included a very well attended working bee; a Shiny Parts Auction which was an amusing occasion thanks to auctioneers Bill Turner and Clive Bardell; attendance at the national AGM and Executive Meeting in

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Rotorua by Ian and I; and a very successful swapmeet. Thanks to Trevor Hardy, Alistair Howard and the team of workers on the day. In December we had the Christmas Party at the clubrooms. Everyone who attended enjoyed themselves. We made this a pot-luck affair but will change the format next year.

Throughout the year Club Captain Bryan Abraham has put a lot of effort into organising Sunday Runs, Mid Month Meanders and rallies which have proved popular. Please consider joining us for these activities.

Esmee Rowden continues to produce a fantastic Tourer magazine with excellent content. Please continue to support her by providing articles and responding to requests for information.

In early October Hester Guy Catering gave us three months notice that they were withdrawing from their contract with us. Your committee has spent a lot of time going over the existing contracts with both the manager and the hirers and has produced new documents which better reflect our needs. Bryan Abraham in particular has put a huge amount of work into this. We have appointed Creative Catering to manage our bookings, and this new arrangement is working out well.

Your committee is dedicated to preserving the clubrooms and to The Tourer

this end we are putting into place a maintenance plan and have already started to upgrade some facilities such as the gardens and the stove in the members’ kitchen. Moving forward, your committee wants to continue with maintenance on the building and grounds in anticipation of an increase in hires as we are getting a lot of requests for wedding hires.

New Members contact the Secretary, Ron Persson, to organise for a name badge to be made.

The committee thanks you for your support this year.

Sarah Howell

1 April Working Bee 9.00am A small group needed to help remove the Dormer windows on Saturday 1 April, and then help replace them on Thursday 6 April.

Please let Brian McPherson know if you can assist.

An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have.

The older she gets the more interested he is in her. – Agatha Christie

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Manawatu Branch Veteran Rally 5 February 2017

Six cars lined up in the sunshine outside the clubrooms, most having travelled some distance to take part.

Above: 1906 Reo - Ian and Faye Chamberlain of Wanganui Branch, 1913 Model T Ford - Rod and Scarlet McKenzie of Hawkes Bay Branch, 1910 Buick - Peter and Diane Wilton of Wanganui Branch, 1916 Chevrolet - Len and Gladys Haycock of Manawatu Branch, 1917 Model T Roadster - Peter Wilton of Wanganui Branch and 1917 Model T Roadster Pickup -Peter and Suzanne McCool of Hawkes Bay Branch.

Right: Prior to leaving the clubrooms Faye Chamberlain couldn’t resist a tickle of the ivories. Faye and Ian took the trouble to be dressed in period.

Rally organiser Derek Haycock had an interesting day in store for entrants who travelled first to Caccia Birch for a tour of this historic building.

From Caccia Birch entrants visited Derek Haycock’s garage to view progress on his 1914 FIAT restoration. From there entrants travelled to Rongotea to view Ian Cocker’s tractor and vintage

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machinery collection and have lunch.

Thanks to Ian for showing entrants his collection.

Entrants then travelled through Feilding to Cheltenham for an ice cream before returning to the clubrooms for a blind-folded driving test on the grass which helped to sort out the men from the boys. Most entrants got a prize of some sort rather than there being an overall winner.

Right: After the prize giving Derek fired up his BBQ and most entrants stayed for tea mingling with the Sunday Tea regulars.

Apart from one breakdown, the day went well. Thanks to John and Marion Garrett for assisting on the day.

Hopefully with the near completion of a number of veterans in the branch, there will be more entrants next year.

Sarah Howell

I’m at an age when my back goes out more than I do. – Phyllis Diller

Feilding Farm Meat Processors Ltd Home Kill Servicing the greater Manawatu

* MAF Registered * Farm Meat Slaughtering & Processing * Packed & Frozen Complete Home Kill Service Ph/Fax 06 323 6288 A/hrs 06 323 4265

Steve Bright 021 519 077 The Tourer

96 Churcher St Feilding 7

RESTORATION RECORD as atatFebruary February RESTORATION RECORD as 20172017

Vehicle 1902 Mathieu

Owner B Rankine

Restorer B Rankine

1910 Austin 1912 Crossley 1913 Austin 1915 Dodge Roadster 1915 Hupmobile

B Hutton

B Hutton

I Howell

I Howell

D Milne

D Milne

2016

J Callesen

J Callesen / A Hardacre

Late 2011 – had parts since 1987

End of 2016 Done!

J Garrett

J Garrett

This year!

1914 Fiat Tipo Zero

D Haycock D Haycock

1921 Citroen 10HP 1926 Morris Truck 1928 Packard

S Howell

S Howell

Owned for 18 years; got two trailer loads of rusty metal; started restoring immediately but ….

Collected the bits in 1999; began work on it in 2015 Acquired parts in 2011

I Howell

I Howell

C McGill

J Callesen

1929 Austin 7 1929 Pontiac

Tom Gilchrist G Millar

Tom (and Karl?)

1930 Riley Monaco 1933 Riley Kestrel

I Howell

I Howell

I Howell

I Howell

G Millar

Date begun?

Owned for 30 + years; but started restoration in earnest a couple of years ago

Date finished?

Last year; this August in time for London to Brighton

Some time!

2021 hopefully!

WIP over last 20 years. 3 years with JC Had for 50 years and …..

1980 (whoops)

Note from the Editor: The success of this column depends on ALL our members providing informa;on. Please email erowden@gmail.com with your stories.

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Manawatu Branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc) will be held at the Branch Clubrooms “The Grove”, 684 Kelvin Grove Road, Palmerston North on Wednesday 15 March 2017 commencing at 7.30pm.

Ron Persson Secretary

The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc) MANAWATU BRANCH Elected Committee Positions # Chairperson

# Vice Chairperson

# Club Captain

# Vice Club Captain

# Secretary # Treasurer

# 4 General Committee Members

The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc) MANAWATU BRANCH 2017 Committee Nomination Form I nominate: _____________________________________________________________ For the position of:______________________________________________________ Proposer:_____________________________________ Date: __________________ Seconder:____________________________________ Date: __________________ Nominee: I accept nomination for the above position.

Signature: _____________________________________ Date: _________________ Completed Nomination Forms are to be sent to: The Secretary

Manawatu Branch VCC of NZ (Inc)

P O Box 385 PALMERSTON NORTH To arrive no later than Wednesday 8 March 2017 The Tourer

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Or email manawatumotorshow@hotmail.com

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The ABC of the Manawatu VCC I is for ….Indian Scout 101 motorcycle Owned by Neil and Martine Fremaux Restored by Neil Fremaux Written by Neil Fremaux I have always liked Indian Motorcycles, the hand gear change, foot clutch and left hand throttle. There is something magical about them.

I was working at Motor Machinists in Palmerston North in the early 80s. One day a customer by the name of Keith Staples came in with a motorcycle head that needed some work. We got talking and I mentioned that I liked old motorcycles especially Indians. He said “I have a few of those, you should come out and have a look sometime”.

So this started the quest to acquire an Indian motorcycle. Keith had said that the motorcycle to collect / own would be the 101 Scout built between 1928 and 1931. I started reading about the Indian 101 and the more I read the more it seemed like the ideal bike for me.

Keith had mentioned he was going to an auction in the Wairarapa and that there may be some 101 parts there and he would look out for some for me.

He came back with a 101 frame that was in reasonable condition and asked if I would like to buy it, which of course I did; the beginning of my bike.

Being new to classic motorcycles I did not realise that starting with a frame it was going to be a huge undertaking to complete the bike.

Keith did know where most of the Indian Scout 101’s were in the Manawatu; some of them were in pieces to be restored at a later date. I think one was in a museum. One was complete but missing a front wheel. None of them were for sale and the people didn’t want to be contacted even to talk about them. Saying that though, I did meet one guy who had a 1929 Scout 101 in parts and was going to rebuild it in the future. He was also making parts from scratch; very talented he was.

I started going to swap meets looking for parts. This was before the internet and to get parts you usually had to know people, and most of those people didn’t want to let any parts go or they wanted to swap parts but I didn’t have anything to swap. I started to acquire parts for the bike, a seat which turned out to be an army Indian one, I got a really nice back guard but couldn’t find The Tourer

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the rare front guard. So I swapped my good back guard for a front guard as I knew it would be easier to find another back guard. A lot of the parts I found were for army Indians and I thought that if I had something to swap I could get 101 parts. There were not that many 101 parts around or I was having trouble finding any. I did find a rusty petrol tank and this was given to Roger Corlett to rebuild. This was disassembled, a new bottom installed, and reassembled. The finished tank looks great.

I moved from Palmerston North to Auckland so the bike was packed up and transported up there. I did not work on the bike for a few years but was always on the lookout for parts. I got a dynamo from the Warkworth swap meet and a back wheel from under a house in Mt Wellington.

While in Auckland I did a panel beating course at Manukau tech to keep things moving along. I built a tool box, a battery box and panel beat the guards. I found a magneto and this was rebuilt by Linda Maddocks at Kaipara Flats.

While I was at the Maddocks I managed to buy a lot of engine parts and a complete disassembled gearbox.

One day when visiting Jackson’s Museum in Devonport and looking at the exhibits I noticed a Corbin Speedo and drive hanging over a beam in a garage display. I said to my wife that what’s I need for my bike. A short time later I read that Jackson’s Museum was closing and there would be an auction of all the exhibits. I found out when the auction was and went to the preview. There in a box full of speedos was the Corbin and drive, I had a careful look at the speedo and drive and it was all working OK so I took the day off work and bid on the box of speedos and won it. Unfortunately, someone else must have removed the inner drive during the viewing and it wasn’t working when I got it home but at least I had a speedo for my bike. I was able to sell the other speedos off so the Corbin and drive were virtually free.

I then needed a set of front forks so put an ad in the Indian Owners Club newsletter. I got a call from Dave Blackwell who was the president of the club and he said that he had a set that he would sell. So a trip to Havelock North was in order to pick these up.

I managed to buy a few parts from Ebay and later when Trademe came along I was able to buy many smaller parts. I joined the 101 motorcycle club in the States and bought the comprehensive workshop manual they had, which has been really helpful with measurements and parts identification.

Through the 101 club magazine I found out that Randy Walker of Walker

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Machine in the States was starting to make / supply a lot of parts for the 101 and he has supplied the hard to get parts. I also found out that Reproduction Cylinders and heads were available from Greg Hutchinson in Australia.

I was still looking for a carb and I saw one for sale on Trade me and bought it.

We made the trip down to Taumaranui to pick it up, it was for an army Indian but would at least get me going. As we were about to leave the guy said he had another Indian carb and was I interested. I said I would have a look and it turned out that it was the correct carb for a 750 101 Indian Scout. So that was very lucky as they are very hard to find.

Around this time, we decided to move back to the Manawatu so crated up the bike for shipping and it is now out of the boxes to be reassembled.

I still need to sort out the wheels; I took my wheels along to an expert in Auckland to have them built up. He told me I had the wrong rims, the ones I had were English, so I sourced some Army Indian rims and he had them powder coated. Then I was told I had the wrong front hub, I sourced one of these from Germany at great expense. I then waited for ages to get the wheels; in the end I had to go and retrieve them unfinished.

I am not sure what he was doing but this was the second time I have tried to get the wheels done. I have not had much luck with them and they have cost a fortune and have not been finished yet. I have heard there is a good guy here in the Manawatu so will look him up shortly.

I now have all the parts that I need to finish the bike and it has taken a very long time to gather everything together. Of course I have not worked on it continuously. There have been a few years that nothing was done but I do see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am looking forward to riding it along to my first club run.

Would I do a bike up from the frame again? Probably not - it has taken a lot of time to find parts and most of those parts were worn out and needed rebuilding. There is always something small that is missing that takes a while to get sorted. I have found that the experts who are needed to do some of the work are far from experts and it ends up costing a lot to get even simple jobs done; saying that I have met some really great people while looking for parts, real characters who tell great stories. I suppose that is part of it, the journey.

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Tourer Trader Wanted for Ford Model A:

Gemmer 2-Tooth Steering Box and Column in good used condition (or repairable).

Contact Peter Robinson 06 356 7404 or 027 579 5595

13th Ford Model A National Rally.

This will be held over Easter weekend 13 - 17 April 2017. The rally is centred on the Taradale Club, Greenmeadows, Napier with theme of “Dare to be Deco”.

If past National meets are anything to go by, this should be a great fun time.

Expect around 100 entrants, with some from overseas already registered.

For more information, contact Manawatu VCC member Peter Robinson 06 356 7404

TWO WHEELS ENGINEERING

99a Lombard Street Palmerston North Ph 06 357-2972 Fax 06 355·1634 Mobile 027-241·3413

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B&H ENGINE SERVICES 2015 Ltd 298 Broadway Avenue- Palmerston North (Member NZ Engine Reconditioner’s Assn) Specialists in all • ENGINE RECONDITIONING and • PARTS SUPPLY of any make or model.

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ALSO Shell Bearing Conversions Remetalling Line Boring Unleaded Fuel Conversions Balancing “Hard to Get” parts manufactured TELEPHONE: 357 1182 FAX 356 6722 Email: bhengserv@clear.net.nz www.bh-engineservices.co.nz The Tourer

Club Captain’s Corner MID MONTH MEANDER TO THE COLYTON CLOCKS MUSEUM – 12 February 2017 Six cars parked up at Colyton outside the Clock Museum and the occupants were taken through the collection by the owner. His background stories and dialogue about a number of the rarer or more special clocks in the collection made for an extremely interesting visit. Everyone agreed that it was a very worthwhile visit which was made so much better by the owner who was clearly very passionate about his collection.

After well over an hour of looking around the collection of clocks and other timepieces of every description most of the group headed south and re-convened at the Herb Farm and Café in Grove Road where chat continued over tea and coffee until past their closing time.

It was good to see two cars from the Horowhenua Branch join us – hopefully we will continue to see members from neighbouring branches joining us for our runs.

Bryan and Catherine Abraham MID MONTH MEANDER – 12 March 2017 For an easy Sunday drive to Pohangina meet at 1.00 pm at the Chesters Plumbing and Bathroom carpark in Tremaine Avenue (Palmerston North).

The run will take us to Luttrell’s White Pine Gardens and Working Pioneer Museum which is an ongoing project that was started in 1985 and is privately owned by the Luttrell Family Trust. It prides itself on doing its part to preserve the natural and historical heritage of New Zealand.

The Luttrell’s Gardens and Museum cover over 5 hectares and contain one of The Tourer

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the Manawatu’s largest remaining single stands of kahikatea forest, regenerating native bush, and wetlands. The native plant arboretum contains over one hundred named varieties. Also there are many introduced and native species of bird and animal life which are found in the New Zealand wild.

Luttrell’s is certainly doing its part for the benefit of present and future generations through awareness appreciation and education.

Join the Meander and step back in time. View the many objects used by early New Zealanders in their everyday lives from farm machinery to household items.

There is an entry charge of $6.00 per head to this venue – please try and bring the correct change.

SUNDAY RUN – 26 March 2017 Meet at 11.00 am at the Chesters Plumbing and Bathroom carpark in Tremaine Avenue (Palm Nth) for a 25 mile (40 km) drive to a local picnic spot.

Bring your lunch, hot water, chairs and whatever else you might need to settle in for a sociable al fresco lunch. If the weather is against us on the day still come as a route to an alternative venue has been prepared which will allow us to go ahead with our picnic plans under shelter.

POST VINTAGE RALLY - 6 May 2017 The entry form for this year’s Post Vintage Rally will be in the April Tourer.

The route is currently being finalised and will take the Rally on an approximately 70 mile (110 km) run to a picnic destination on the other side of the ranges.

For those after a bit of friendly rivalry the rally will be competitive but for those who would rather just participate and not be competitive there is plenty of picturesque rolling countryside to appreciate.

Mark your calendars and when you get back from the Ruahine Ramble don’t pack your thermos flasks and picnic chairs away in an out-of-the-way place – they will need to be pulled out for another enjoyable day out.

VCC ID CARDS RENEWAL APPLICATIONS Message from Head Office NZVCC

Please note that all VCC ID Cards have an expiry. This expiry is upon change of ownership, or 10 years from the issue date. Your vehicle must also be as described on the Card.

A Renewal form personalised for each vehicle ID Card is distributed by the National Office to current financial members, approximately 3 months before the expiration.

Even if your vehicle has had no changes, this form must be checked, signed and forwarded to your Branch, along with the ID Card (if the photo correctly shows your vehicle in its present state), or three new photos, as stated on the form.

Upon receipt at the National Office, the ID Card will be reissued and will be valid for a further 10 years unless there is a change of ownership or major changes to the vehicle during that time.

It is compulsory for all National and International VCC Rallies that vehicles entered must have a current valid ID Card.

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Horowhenua Branch 14 Tiro Tiro Road Levin

MEMORIAL

Sunday 9 April 2017 Entries Close - Monday 1 April 2017

Your branch Secretary and Editor have electronic Entry Forms.

Any queries please contact the Ted Green Memorial Rally organisers: Graeme McKenzie 06 3684888 Bob Barton 06 3678216 The Tourer

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You can live to be a hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to live to be a hundred.

– Woody Allen

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Feilding Auto Electrical Ltd “All auto electrical faults repaired on Alfas to Zephyrs�

Alternators & starter motors reconditioned or new Batteries - automotive, commercial, marine Computer diagnostics - Engine, ABS, Airbags etc MP3/CD Players supplied and fitted Car alarms Air conditioning Automotive parts and accessories at: Feilding Auto Electrical 71 Stafford Street, Feilding Ph: 323 8427 Mobile: 0274 423 967 Email: fae@inspire.net.nz 20

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Tour of the Winterless North, January-February 2017 The 100th anniversary of the Parliamentary Tour of Northland in 1917. The participants in 2017 were Veteran cars.

Back in 1917, Colonel Allan Bell had reached the end of his tether trying to convince central government to improve road access in Northland. So with a firm belief that seeing is believing he rounded up a group of politicians and took them on a tour of the northernmost regions of NZ. At the end of the tour the politicians were expected to explain how they were going to improve the roads and bridges and hence access to farms and industry in the region. Judging by the early pictures, the roads and bridges certainly needed improving and improvements have clearly been made. Barring two small sections of the 2017 tour all the roads were sealed. However, for most of the 2017 tour cars unadorned by irrelevancies of shock absorbers and fitted with large diameter high pressure tyres the surface of the roads resulted in what could be called a dynamic ride and marked improvements to the surface were noted as we approached the big Auck and the country side didn’t look so blurred.

Our tour began in 2008 or so when John Callesen said to Allan Hardacre “ you’d better restore the Dodge”. That seemed like a good idea to me; the bones of the car looked cool and the icing on the cake …it was a DODGE. Due to work pressures restoration moved reasonably slowly till John said, “We’ll get this ready for Dunedin.” Well, we made a pretty good lash at it but in reality it took another year and a half before we were confident enough to get the car on the road. Initially a bit of a hiccup when the pistons got a bit swollen headed and needed a bit of cooling off, Graham Miller at B&H to the rescue again but

The boggy Northland roads during the 1917 tour.

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no major damage thank goodness.

John and Judy exposed some of the ‘need to fix ups’ on the Central Hawkes Bay Veteran rally and John and Allan sorted these out over Christmas and a near faultless run for the national veteran weekend in Wanganui proved that it seemed to all work.

First off we needed to pick up the letters from The ’15 Dodge complete with Navigator. parliament to the Mayors of Whangarei, Kaitaia and Auckland so Dennis Milne and I in the ’15 Dodge and John and daughter Emma in the Cadillac went down to Parliament for the day and played postmen, a job that is second nature to Dennis. The journey was begun with only 500 miles on the odometer.

John Callesen and I were keen on driving the cars to Auckland so packing plenty of gear we decided to take 3 days over it. Battling gales and driving rain to National Park, the weather norm for this summer, we arrived to shelter at the Chateau The “Postmen” about to leave Parliament.

Tongariro and after a brief period we decided that we could get used to living like this. The gods had relented by morning for some perfect motoring over the next two days for the journey to Auckland to meet the rest of the Tour. Officially the tour began from the carpark in the Devonport shopping centre, somewhat different in 2017 compared to 1917.

Emma and John Callesen (1918 I think, at least I could not see the Cadillac) Supermarket in the old photos of the The Tourer

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1917 tour start. It was also clear that summer had taken hold in this part of the country, the bright sunny day banishing thoughts of breakdowns, what could go wrong if the weather was like this?

Tour start and the Devonport supermarket car park.

Around 40 veteran cars, the drivers bubbling with nervous “will it make it?” energy, started but by the time we had made it through to Albany at least 4 divorces (NOT mine) were being contemplated; the traffic north of Auckland is a bit stress making even early on Sunday mornings. The lunch stop at Warkworth set the pace, clearly the travelling weight of the cars or more particularly the occupants was going to increase on this trip. A couple of nights in Whangarei to get used to sunshine, no wind and temperatures above 20C and then it was on up to Paihia. We lost a couple of cars to vet gremlins along the way, but not I am happy to say any of the Manawatu crew. John Julian, an ex-Manawatu member shed the crown wheel off the diff in his ’13 Wolseley, luckily at very low speed. In magnificent Kiwi fashion the engineering shop in Kawakawa was opened to him. The diff carrier was straightened, a new tooth was TIGed onto the crown wheel, new bolts fitted and they were back on the road, all in a day and a half. That is real veteran motoring!

Laurie Cocker took the opportunity of the rest(less) day in Paihia to chug his way up to Cape Reinga and back in the 1906 Cadillac Ho Hum. On to Kaitaia for the rest of us where we had a fine welcome complete with Winston Peters who surprisingly owns a MG, along with Mayor David Carter and Kelvin Davis (Labour, Te Tai Tokerau ) and Todd Muller (Nat, BOP) who rode with us for much of the tour. If you are up there, visit the magnificent foyer in the town centre/ library building.

After Kaitaia the roads got a little rougher particularly through the inland route that we followed, but the eating got better and I have to admit that we pigged out big time on local home baking during the tour. Part of the same section of road during the 1917 tour took about 8 hours to cover 12 miles, you could have crawled it faster, the roads must have improved! The tour notes reported that the 1917 tourists spent their time pulling the cars uphill by hand, cutting branches for particularly muddy spots and recovering cars that had slipped into ditches. The report also notes that some of the tourists were well ready for home at this stage.

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The tour group lunching at the Doubtless Bay Christian centre; from Manawatu we have John and Judy Callesen in the 1918 Cadillac, Vern Jensen in the 1909 Buick, Laurie Cocker in the 1906 Cadillac and Allan and Suzanne Hardacre in the 1915 Dodge Brothers roadster.

We still had around 37 cars in good motoring shape when we arrived at Omapere, just south of Opononi and all of these made it back to Auckland.

Picture us, sitting out in the late evening feeling pretty content with the world, the waves making little splashy noises on the beach as the sun slowly set over the golden dunes of the northern entrance of the Hokianga harbour, Daquiri in hand, hot and cold running waitresses serving drinks, life doesn’t get much better.

Dargaville the next day was looking a bit dried out but the welcome from the local club and the Mayor up at the museum was tops. Most of us were feeling a little tired by now, goodness knows how the drivers of 1917 coped but records tell us that more that ½ of the drivers in that tour elected to barge their cars to Helensville rather than face more of the “Roadless North”. A quick run to another civic reception in the Auckland town hall before the final dinner in the Parnell rose gardens and a sad goodbye to all our friends. Certainly the roads and amenities in the North had improved over the past 100 years, probably almost beyond comprehension but clearly the trickle out of the roading budget from the CITY is slowish.

Overall a great tour magnificently organised through some very interesting country and in some interesting company, both people and cars. Our travelling companions ranged from 1904 to 1917 Cadillacs, Talbots, a Westcott, a Brisco, Hupmobiles a trio of Dodges and a brace of American La Frances among the Ford T’s and others, all over 100 years old. We were glad to participate in an event that due to costs, dense traffic and denser drivers will be more difficult to run in the future. Our thanks to our tour companions, the dedicated team that put the tour together and sponsors that made ii possible.

Allan Hardacre and John Callesen

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Directory BRANCH COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN:

Sarah Howell (Ian) 06 374 6645 iansarahhowell@gmail.com

VICE CHAIR:

Vacant

SECRETARY:

Ron Persson (Josie) 06 354 5266 ron.persson@gmail.com

CLUB CAPTAIN:

Bryan Abraham (Catherine) 06 358 4014 bryana@xtra.co.nz

VICE CLUB Vacant CAPTAIN:

TREASURER: Ian Howell (Sarah) 06 374 6645

iansarahhowell@gmail.com COMMITTEE:

Trevor Hardy (Sandra) 06 323 4040 ts.hardy@xtra.co.nz John Ireland (Anne) 06 323 4170 Ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz Brian McPherson (Deirdre) 06 354 6310 briandeirdre@slingshot.co.nz Bill Williams (Lynda) 06 323 2717 waltwilliams51@yahoo.co.uk

CLOSING DATE FOR NEXT TOURER – 20TH MARCH 2017 The next issue of the Tourer will be April 2017.

Please send your contributions: rally reports, your motoring stories, cuttings, technical reports, humorous articles, photos, drawings etc

to: The Editor erowden@gmail.com

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APPOINTED POSITIONS SWAPMEET CO-ORDINATOR:

Trevor Hardy (Sandra) 06 323 4040 ts.hardy@xtra.co.nz

EDITOR:

Esmee Rowden (Ian) 06 3567871 erowden@gmail.com

CUSTODIAN:

Gary Millar (Marion) 06 354 8298 gw.millar@hotmail.com

LIBRARIAN:

Gary Millar (Marion) 06 354 8298 gw.millar@hotmail.com

DELEGATE:

Doug Dickson (Jan) 06 353 3462 jandougdickson@xtra.co.nz

PROPERTY:

Vacant

BEADED WHEELS: Ian Howell (Sarah) 06 374 6645

iansarahhowell@gmail.com PARTS SHED:

Gary Millar (Marion) 06 354 8298 gw.millar@hotmail.com

ID CARD ADVISORS:

Murray Martin (Dot) 06 354 5960 dottiem@clear.net.nz

John Ireland (Anne) 06 323 4170 ireland.clan@inspire.net.nz

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Manawatu Branch Meetings held at the Clubrooms “The Grove”, 684 Kelvin Grove Road, Palmerston North Third Wednesday of each month from 7.00pm.

Meetings start at 7.30pm.

(Please wear name badges at all Club events) • Committee Meeting— 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7.00pm.

• BYO Tea — First Sunday of each month from 5pm at the Clubrooms.

• Parts Shed — Opens from 2pm first Sunday of each month.

• Library — Open on club nights, and by arrangement with the Librarian.

• Noggin & Natter — First Tuesday of month at 7:30pm. Murray’s Irish Bar Feilding.

Vintage Car Club Vehicle Classifications • Veteran Motor Vehicles constructed prior to 31st December 1918 • Vintage Motor Vehicles constructed between 1st January 1919 and

31 Dec 1931 • Post Vintage Motor Vehicles constructed between 1st January 1932 and

31 Dec 1945 • Post War Motor vehicles constructed between 1st January 1946 and

31st Dec 1960 • Post 1960 Motor vehicles constructed between 1st January 1961 and

31st Dec 1980 • Post 1980 Constructed after 1st January 1981 provided that no vehicle

is accepted for this class until January 1st of the year that is

30 years after its original year of construction • Factory Built, & Historic Racing Vehicles -as described in the Club By-laws • Period Specials - as described in the Club By-laws

THE TOURER: New Zealand Registered Magazine.

The Official Newsletter of the Manawatu Branch of the Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc) Email: Manawatu@vcc.org.nz Phone: (06) 354 8582 Clubrooms: ‘The Grove” 684 Kelvin Grove Road PO Box 385 Palmerston North 4440

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