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BLOWOUT

Marilyn Galletly with Sons Paul & David beside the late Ron Galletly’s 1935 Chrysler PJ. The car took out People's Choice and Post Vintage vehicle at the Clubs Annual Rally at Woodbury Domain.

MARCH - APRIL 2025

Ashburton Branch of the Vintage Car Club of NZ (Inc.)

Patroness

Chairman

Secretary

Treasurer

Club Captain

Committee

Nat Exec Delegate

Parts

Clubroom

VCC

Trophy Steward

Swap Meet Booking

Meet Co-ordinator

Beaded Wheels Reporter

Groundsperson

Auditor

Diane Ross (Rob)

Jacob (Annette)

Sweetman (Cathy)

Cullimore (Judith)

Stevens (Margaret)

Peter Lambie (Susan)

Alan Begg (Jeanette)

Rod McKimmie (Dawn)

(Marie)

Sweetman

Batty (Marie)

2356

7373

8119

843 813

3803

0899

6171

7373

372 087,

4003

3803

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Thur Club Night at VTNZ West Street starting 5.30pm sharp. They have offered to host a Club Night and put on food and drink for us at 5.30pm sharp. Three cars to be supplied that they will go over with their Inspectors and our Members. This will be a very interesting night and we want a good number of Members to attend. 16 Sun PV-PWV Run. Meet at the Clubrooms at 10am for 10.30am departure. Bring your lunch to have at Lake Clearwater. Some shingle roads

Chairman’s Report March 2025

The year has started with a bit of a hiss and a roar with a great turnout for the New Years Day run, finishing at Wakanui Beach and a bit of a card game to make things interesting.

Annette and I caught up with the BBQ at the Museum after coming back from the Banks Peninsular Picnic at Little River. Another well supported event by the greater Christchurch Public attracting about 200 cars, all very different and most were English and European vehicles.

Our Annual Rally to the Woodbury Domain again was well supported by our Member’s and 11 vehicles made the trip from Timaru to join us. Congratulations to our Treasurer, Grant Cullimore who took out the Overall Trophy for the day.

The recent Car Show at the VTNZ again was well supported with 110 cars, trucks, motorcycles and tractors on display. A huge ‘Thank You’ to the Members that had vehicles on display and a huger “Thanks” to those few that took along several vehicles, this does take time to organise and pull off, your efforts are appreciated, thank you.

As mentioned in the previous Blowout, Frank Sandys has been very busy with the putty and paint brush painting the windows of the Club rooms. Thank you Frank for taking on the job, it certainly makes a difference to the look of the Clubrooms and will keep it looking good for a few more years to come. If you do get a chance please pop into the Museum to have a look, the team have been very busy keeping things clean and tidy and also bringing in a few more cars to look at. It is certainly a credit to the Custodians, thank you for your time and effort.

Coming up, our Club Captain has organised more runs and the well supported Mid Week Runs. If you are wondering why we have not had the Chairman’s Run it because we have a family wedding at the end of February that has had most of my attention. The Chairman’s Run will be held later in the year.

The AGM is also fast approaching on the 19th June 2025, it is my intention to stand down as chairman, I enjoy holding the position but I think it’s time for some new blood and new thinking to take our club forward.

The Annual Dinner will be advertised in the following Blowouts, it is scheduled for 23rd July at the new venue of RSA, we will be limited to the first 80 people as the room is limited. The guest speaker will be the Ashburton District Council CEO, Hamish Riack.

I am now looking for nominations for the Restoration of the Year, if you have a recent restoration that has a WOF and registered and has been on a VCC run, it’s eligible, please give me a call. Ideally it would be nice to have more than one vehicle entered.

Keep an eye out for Colin’s emails which have been coming thick and fast with events and updates, his last email mentioned about the VTNZ night coming up, we have 3 vehicles lined up for them to take through the WOF system. Come and have a look to see what they do and for a pizza that is being provided by VTNZ.

Oh nearly forgot, the news of the week/year, 12 month WOF for 40-year old vehicles is not that far away, what fantastic work the VCC have done, it has taken a number of years and all their work and frustrations is about to pay off. Keep those shiny bits shiny and your eyes on the road, see you at the next event

Peter Jacob

Veteran and Vintage Run

Sunday 12th April

Commences at Peter Lambie’s place

75 Mitcham Road

10.00-10.30am for cuppa tea and natter

11.00am Departure to

Murdoch Homestead

Mayfield

Bring your own lunch

If you require more information,

2024 Pre Xmas Vintage Car Rally

El ViaJedel Tenedor De Oro – Hernando de Soto

The Voyage of the Golden Fork

The Golden Fork is a trophy which was obtained 5 years ago from a well known 2nd hand shop in Mayfield and has been awarded each year since that time to the unlucky winner of the yearly Pre Chrismas excursion.

In early December 15 vehicles left our rendezvous at Waimate in search of the lost treasure of Hernando de Soto.

We travelled towards Kurow and took a different route along the Meyers Pass road. Wallaby, deer and pigs can be seen on this road. Not a single Spanish Galleon to be seen! After lunch we travelled up to Omarama and on to Lake Ohau Lodge.

Next day we went up the side of the lake to Huxley Station and onwards towards a hut, but several washouts stopped us going as far as we would have liked. It was interesting travelling in such pristine country. On returning to the Lodge some members followed instructions to find a clue for hidden treasure. Wood shavings and wooden forks gave some clues. A note was found with a clue to the next place to find treasure or more clues of de Soto lost treasure.

Rob Ross worked on the Jones’ Dodge and repaired a vacuum tank. All well afterwards. As the afternoon was still young some travelled on to Twizel, Hotel in Roxburgh

some stayed at the Lodge and some travelled to the old Historic woolshed at Quailburn Station. It was a shock to see it collapsed as it was in good condition when we were last there a few years ago.

Day three saw us travel over the Lindis Pass and a visit to Morven Hills Station to see the old woolshed. It was built of local stone in 1858 and moved to its present site in 1870. With 34 stands used during the early days with blade shearers and now seven are used with machines. A very interesting talk by the owner was enjoyed before we had lunch. We were very privileged by having permission to visit it as visitors are generally not encouraged. Our group travelled onto Roxburgh with some buying fresh fruit, cherries and apricots etc.

On arrival at Roxburgh we made our way to the Commericial Hotel, backpackers, once a grand place built in the gold rush days, built in 1866. The place grew on us as we settled in for two nights. Another clue to find the treasure was found at a holiday home in the town. Day four and we crossed the mighty Clutha river and travelled up the hills onto the Lake Onslow road where we met a local identity, Peter McDougall. He farms a huge area beside another farmer with equal acreage, Grant Ludeman. the hills have been broken in from snow tussock. Peter and his son have 50,000 stock units on the place. Peter told us about the scheme to rise Lake Onslow and flood a large part of his land for hydro pumping to top up in times of power shortage. The government did the figures and found it not viable after spending a large amount of money. After a lunch break we visited a new gold venture at Millers Flat. An interesting day.

Our group travelled through Lawrence and over the causeway of Lake Mahinerangi and onto Middlemarch. Here we visited the museum and saw the locally built submarine which was trialled in the lake in 1873 .

Some travelled on the Nenthorn Valley road and Ramrock road to the gold mining area of Nenthorn. From there we went up to the Macraes open cast gold mine. It is a massive hole in the ground and the huge trucks look like tonka toys. One in ten truck loads bear gold worth recovering. The land is returned to rolling hills as it was before mining. The old Stanley Hotel was rebuilt in 1974 with local stone. We then travelled down the Golden Bar Road on a short cut to Palmerston. This is an interesting road through the hills.

Day Six we ventured into Eldorado, the station at the end of Mt Watkin Road. The weather deteriorated as we travelled further inland to a damp drizzle. After some soul searching and following instructions the dig began to retrieve the treasure. Percy and Heather Ralston had some interesting delaying techniques with spot gold found and a metal detector, (toilet brush and buzzer.) Unfortunately for them this innovation resulted in their becoming the proud? holders of the Golden Fork. The dig continued and the treasure was found, a jewelled crown, gold coins and other jewels, obviously worth a kings ransom. We retreated to the covered yards for lunch.

Three gallant adventurers.

On arriving back at Palmerston Diane Ross gave us an interesting talk on her life growing up at Shag Point, a coal mining village. Later the weather cleared and we drove to Shag Point to see the jetty and village. The coal mine was under the sea so deep it was under the bed rock and fresh water was in the mine and pumped out regularly. Coal was shipped from the small jetty and taken to Dunedin.

Day seven saw us head for home. A good week of interesting visits and interesting people and places.

WEDDING CARS WANTED

We have received the following request from Alysha Bell for wedding vehicles.

If you can assist, please contact her direct via email at: alysha.bell@hotmail.co.nz

My partner and I are getting married in Ashburton on the 3rd of May 2025.

We have had a couple of wedding transport options, unfortunately they have fallen through.

We are getting married at Terrace Croft just outside of Tinwald. I was wondering if you had Member’s who were happy to hire their vehicles for a few hours for the wedding?

We love the look of the Vintage Fords, the farm truck style. I myself am a little useless with car makes and models.

My partners parents live in Ashburton and we are up there most weeks. If it is easier to go through some options in person.

Many thanks Alysha

Bell

See article opposite. Above: Woolshed in the Lindis

AWARDS

We will be presenting our Annual Service Awards at our Annual Dinner in July.

If you believe that you qualify for your 25, 35, 50, 60 or 70 year award of continuous membership, please contact me in the first instance. I can then look up your file and check the details.

For 50 year awards, a nomination and resumé is required from another Member but for all others they are a little simpler and can now be done by me.

These awards have a long lead time as they are processed by National Office so please contact me ASAP and no later than the end of March.

Colin Sweetman Secretary

ANNUAL DINNER

WEDNESDAY 23RD JULY 2025

From 5.30pm for drinks Meal starts at 6pm

Cost is $35 per head - Pay for your own drinks

There is a choice of two meats & dessert plus the usual vegetables and salads, smorgasbord style

We have to collect the money so have the correct amount of CASH please.

There is a maximum of 80 people so get you names in before 11th July don’t leave it until the last day please.

Also the Service Awards will be given out so please contact the Secretary now if you are due for a badge.

Speaker to be arranged, if anyone has a good idea please speak up.

Names to:

Trevor Begg

Cell 027 608 3803 Home 308 3803

E:trevor.begg@xtra.co.nz

COUNCIL CHAMBERS VISIT

Club Night held on the 13th February, saw a good turnout of 37 Members gather at the new Ashburton Council Chambers and Library Building at Baring Square East for a guided by Staff Member, Jay Ladhu.

One could see how it cost so much to build, as it is certainly up with the best in its design.

Staff Member Jay Ladhu speaking to our Members

Members in the Council Chambers

Swap Meet 2025

This annual event will be held on Sat 3 May at our club grounds on Maronan Road Tinwald and is our Club’s major fund raiser of the year.

Setting up will take place on the Thursday and Friday prior to the big day. Planning is well under way and signage on SH1 at Fairton will go up in mid-March.

The success of this day is dependent on members helping out with the many tasks such as parking, traffic signage, office, site setting up and site dismantling to name a few. As they say “Many hands make light work”. You will be contacted during March and April re your availability to help either leading up to, or on the day. We have a pool of experienced people but are always looking out for members and/or spouses, family members etc to step up and assist.

Cathy Sweetman - 021 372 087 is coordinating site bookings and they are rolling in. As at 12 Feb we have sold 219 sites.

Sites are $25 (Includes one entry) and entry on the day is $5 for adults. Ashburton VCC Members pay unless they have a “Volunteer Entry Pass”, given to those who attend working bees.

In addition to our own grounds we are again using the Tinwald Rugby Grounds next door for sites and public parking will be out the back on the western paddock. There will be a Talbot Security presence from 5.00pm Friday until 7.30am on the Saturday. Our VCC Members can park across the road at Ryal Bush Transport yard.

Thanks Noel Batty and Peter Lambie Conveners

Annual Rally Report

On the 26th January our Annual Rally was held starting at the Clubrooms with morning tea then some Field Tests were held to get things underway.

Then it was a pleasant drive to the Woodbury Domain for a picnic lunch. The weather looked a bit ominous when we left Ashburton but turned out to be a lovely fine afternoon.

A great turnout of vehicles, some we don't see out very often and about, also great to see quite a few cars from our South Canterbury neighbours.

Margaret Stevens

ASHBURTON VINTAGE CAR CLUB

2025 ANNUAL RALLY RESULTS

First Entry

Longest Distance

Concourse

Post War M/C

Motorcycle Overall

Peoples Choice

Veteran

Sandy McMillan 1985 Mazda 323

Roger Baird 1989 Mazda MX-5

John Wells 1949 Aerial Square 4

Paul Galletly 1935 Chrysler

Rob Ross 1915 Dodge

Vintage Ian Johnson 1930 Ford A

Post Vintage

Post War

Post 60

Post 80

Commercial

Time Trial

Best Performance

Paul Galletly 1935 Chrysler

Kevin Sisson 1956 Armstrong Siddley

Grant Cullimore 1969 Rover P5B Coupe

Sandy McMillan 1985 Mazda 323

Eddy Gould 1953 Vauxhall Ute

Grant Cullimore 1969 Rover P5B Coupe

Eddy Gould Commercial Winner with his1953 Vauxhall Ute

Diane Ross presents John Wells with his certificates for Concourse, Post War M/C and Motorcycle Overall Winner for his 1949 Aerial Square 4

Diane Ross presents Grant Cullimore with his certificate and cup for Post 60, Time Trial and Best Performance in his 1969 Rover P5B Coupe

in serious concentration trying to find the right nut to fit a bolt into, with Neil Stevens overseeing a field test at the Annual Rally

VTNZ CAR SHOW Tractors on display

New Year’s Day Run

Excellent turnout after a dull morning with an improving sky as the day progressed. Wakanui Beach via three routes was the picnic destination and with no easterly blast it was a successful choice. A return to the Club's Museum for the BBQ dinner just increased the waist measurement even more and will need some form of correction over the forthcoming days. Thanks to the Team once again.

Photos and write-up contributed by John Wards

Thirty six vehicles attended the Run, with a ‘Game of Chance’ this year, we got two playing cards at the Club Rooms, then two more part way around and ended up at Wakanui Beach and got 2 more. All added up to the highest score and the winner. This year the winner was Neil Stevens.

At the BBQ 54 people attended and Les Nell gave us a short talk about his 1936 Wolseley 25hp Super Six that he has restored. It is a rare car as not many came to N Z.

Contributed by Trevor Begg

25 HP, Series ll, Wolseley

A beautifully "art deco styled lady". I have always thought of my 25 HP, series 11, Wolseley as "Lady

wooden bodied 1930s caravan, tucked up carefully under a heavy canvas cover in Whitecliffs. One

SECURITY & AUTO ELECTRIC

SERVICE connecting and checking and start-up. (It was very exciting to can

We have had many great days driving about in "Lady W". "Lady W" has enjoyed delivering ball goers mile cost very little. Costs have changed a great deal over the years. We now all have to consider and