CHAIRMANS CHAT
Last month proved to be a busy one what with our own branch activity, a VCC Workshop in Christchurch and a raft of events put on by other clubs and organisations - locally and further afield. March is always a busy time as many motoring and motor sport clubs take advantage of the milder weather to showcase just who they are and what they have.
After attending many of these fixtures literally up and down the country during March it's pleasing to see that enthusiasm concerning machinery on wheels certainly isn't waning. New Zealand punches far above it's weight when it comes to vehicle ownership and recreational use. This factor became very apparent when surveys were conducted by Federation of Motoring Clubs recently.
Speaking of which I'm sure that all of us with vehicles more than 30 years old will be looking forward to an official amendment of the WOF interval between inspections. Much effort has gone into the Parliamentary submission process and I think it's safe to say that we're nearly there concerning a satisfactory outcome.
Don't forget to add your signature to the petition being forwarded to the Minister of Transport. This needs to be done by April 04 on line to rules@nzta.govt.nz
Great to see a marvellous turn out of vehicles on the End of March Run - 32 cars, 2 bikes and lots of people.
Naturally with any car or motoring club one expects to see a fabulous array of vehicles - but it's the people that make a really successful event happen.
See you at another motoring event sometime soon.
Donn
COMING EVENTS APRIL, MAY & JUNE 2025
APRIL EVENTS
14 – Club Night & Guest Speaker – Graeme Meredith – ‘A day in the life of a loco driver – every small & big boys dream’
14 – Café Cliff & Parts Shed
21 – Jazz Festival Easter Parade – Organisers – Deidre & Doug
25 – Movie Night – Organisers – George & Alastair
25 – Anzac Day
25 – 28 – Manawatu Branch - Highland Fling Rally
26 – Hall Hire
27 – End of Month Run – ‘Summerset Classic Car Open Day’ – Organisers – Donn & Kaaren
28 - Café Cliff & Parts Shed. Also Committee Meeting
29 – ‘Nog & Natter’ – ‘The Rain Bar’ – Papamoa – Organiser – Lynn
MAY EVENTS
5 – Café Cliff
12 - Café Cliff
12 – Club Night & Guest Speaker
14 – Mid Month Run – details to be confirmed in the weekly BUZZ 15 – Waikato Branch – Vintage Venture Rally
19 – Café Cliff
25 – End of Month Run - details to be confirmed
26 - Café Cliff, also Committee Meeting
27 – Nog & Natter
30 – Movie Night
JUNE EVENTS
2 – Café Cliff
7 – 8 – Canterbury Branch – The Irishman Rally
9 – Café Cliff
9 – BOP AGM
11 – Mid Month Run
16 - Café Cliff 23 - Café Cliff
24 – Nog & Natter
27 – Movie Night
29 – End of Month Run
30 – Café Cliff, also Committee Meeting
PLEASE NOTE
If there is any change of dates or venues advertised in the KLAXON, you will be advised via the BUZZ of those changes.
HUMOUR
The two beauties at the top sent in by Peter
Withers!
Jazz Festival Parade
Monday 21st April 2025
Cars to be parked up at Mount Maunganui's Coronation Park no later than 9:30a.m on Easter Monday, 21st April 2025. Gate will be opened 9am. Cars to be on display from 9:30am to 1pm (with parade through Mt Maunganui happening in between those times).
After returning to Coronation Park after the Parade, we can remain parked up on Coronation Park for the balance of the day if you wish to stay on. There will be live music from 10:15 to 5pm in Porotakataka Park (Phoenix Park) with lots of food and beverage venues along Maunganui Road
Tickets to the Jazz Village – Friday 18th April 2025
The organisers of the Jazz Festival have kindly donated 2 tickets for each car attending the parade. These tickets are for the Jazz Village Friday18th April 2025 (value $23 per person). Come and enjoy a day in the sun and listen to some great music. https://jazz.org.nz/events/jazz-village/
RSVP’s to Deidre Rennie by (Wednesday 9th April ) deidre.rennie@xtra.co.nz or 021 665 875.
Please let Deidre know if:
- You wish to have 2 tickets to the Jazz Village on Friday 18th April (you must be participating in the parade to qualify)
- You will be attending the parade (late comers will be welcome)
For those attending the Jazz Village, your names will be given to Security on the gate. They will check your names off the names that Deidre has supplied. Please ensure that you wear your Club Name Badge and that you also have photo ID on hand in case that is also required.
Details of entrance to the Park and Parade route will be emailed out closer to the time.
We extend a warm welcome to the following new Members
Allan & Lynda Moore Email- ar.lm.moore@hotmail.com Ph- 544 1346 or 021 2982 584
Allan & Lynda have a :- 1952 Plymouth Cranbrooke Sedan
Lenny Davey Email - lennyad41@gmail.com Phone 022 600 7960
Lenny has a 1970 MG Midget
Peter Arnesan Email - psarnesen@outlook.com Ph 0274 840 958
Peter has a 1922 Ford Model T Tourer
Donald Mackay Email - dmackay376@gmail.com Ph 021 0589 236
Donald has a 1951 Velocett LE 200
IfyouwouldliketoobtainaBOPVCCnamebadge,pleasecontactour Secretary MichaelThormanon075444291
SILVER SCREEN & SERENADES by Keith Perkins
Baycourt requested two vintage cars for display at their Silver Screen & Serenades show on Sunday 16th March. George & Lynn Howard & Jane & I polished up our cars, dressed up to match the silent movie theme & parked our cars in front of Baycourt’s entrance.
The show was excellent, showing Charlie Chaplin, Harry Langdon & Buster Keaton movies, with Dr Christopher Hainsworth weaving his magic to accompany the movies on Baycourt’s 100-yearold Wurlitzer theatre organ.
There was great interest in our cars from the audience, with hundreds of photos taken & many stories from the past shared. As thanks we were given tickets to the show & a generous bar tab per couple.
George & Lynn Howard
Keith & Jane Perkins
Dr Christopher Hainsworth
Glamorous car security throughout the show
HUMOUR
I saw a guy stacking shelves at Tesco's and he was complaining because the top shelf was broken, and he couldn't keep it up. I think he had a wrecked aisle dysfunction
I cannot remember how to write 1, 1000, 51, 6 and 500 in Roman numerals.
IM LIVID
My mate just bought a bottle of the new Flintstone aftershave. He said, “It’s very powerful and you don't need much, in fact, a little dab'll do.”
Yesterday my mate nearly fell victim to a St. Patrick's Day scammer. A bloke tried to sell him a piece of stone from Ireland, kissed by St Patrick himself. When he looked underneath it said 'Made in China'. He said, “I knew then it was obviously a sham rock!”
Mecon Limited Laser-Prep
Cleaning with out chemicals or abrasives, it is an eco friendly and cost effective way compared to other methods such as media blasting or paint stripping.
It can remove light rust off delicate car/engine parts. It will easily clean a metal head gasket— previously impossible with conventional cleaning methods.
Benefits are - no harsh chemicals, no abrasives, no expensive set up cost (as with media blasting), no loud noises during the process, no hazards as with high pressure equipment, very precise cleaning and no clean up cost!
This cleaning can be done in your garage if required as it is plug and play! Cost is dependant on size of job and location (if it cannot be delivered to us)
For applications on Mould, Welds and pre-welds, Food manufacturing stainless steel, Delicate Machine parts etc.
Welcome Bay Lions Annual Kids Fun Day
by Deidre Rennie
A great turnout of 12 cars and 1 motorbike at the Welcome Bay Lions Annual Kids Fun Day at Tye Park. A hidden gem. Thanks to Trevor and Raewyn for hosting us in the shade
BOP
VIC Application forms
PLEASENOTE:The application form for a Vehicle Identity Card has changed from a 7 page application to 15 pages. The extra pages relate to explanations regarding whether you receive a “DOMAS” or a “VIC”, depending on the state of the Vehicle at the time of the application. Go to wwww.vcc.org.nz, and in the panel on the LHS is the option “RESOURCES/ DOWNLOAD” accessing that will show “VIC Application”. Print the required pages and note the requirements for the photos. It is suggested that you complete all the pages and then contact either RON ELTON - 07 5799621 or GEORGE HOWARD 020 40427624 beforesending the photos to Nat. Office Christchurch. This is to ensure the photos are as required and don’t get there before the paperwork, which in almost all cases has to be checked against the vehicle to make sure there aren’t any errors. Either of the VIC Officers are there to assist not hinder!
Modes of transport in 2024 – Raewyn Fenn –p1
For 7 weeks in May and June 2024, Graeme and I had our first European Holiday and what an amazing experience it was. However, one of the things that amazed us most was the different modes and sizes of transport that we could all enjoy, so I just thought you might be interested in some of the modes we saw.
Arriving in Amsterdam in the late afternoon, we were collected by a driver in a VERY late model, black Mercedes and whipped through the streets to our accommodation, while we held our breathes and wondered how he missed hitting at least some bicycles we shared the road with!
There were literally thousands of them, in all shapes and sizes, with one or several people aboard, going hell for leather in their own direction. But we survived! So, after a coffee, we decided to brave it and very quickly learned that two heads are better than one as you need eyes all around your heads to watch for rapidly approaching, silent, bikes, cars and trams. Footpaths are narrow, people are many and lots of areas are shared. We found getting around here easiest on foot and were amazed at the kindergarten bikes, gathering children for school, family bikes with children inside a covered area while Mum and Dad pedalled. In Amsterdam over the next few days, we used buses, trains and boats to get around, all very efficient and on time.
An ‘E’ Bus
For the next 15 days we were on a River Cruise and every day watched cyclists riding the paths along the river banks for pleasure, to and from work, and while exercising dogs. But during our daily excursions we marvelled at the tiny cars parked “across” parking spaces, the use of trams, buses, cars and cycles all in the same shared space, but all well aware of the other vehicles around them. Horses and buggy’s in the very old areas, motorcycles in others, but very, very few cars. And then we went to Venice! Water taxis, water buses/ferries, water ambulances, water police, water fire engines, water rubbish boats, and goodness knows how many gondolas all fighting for the same bits of water –and gosh it was rough with all that wash. A beautiful place, where walking is the only “optional extra”. Loved it!!
Modes of transport in 2024 –
Raewyn Fenn—p2
After 4 days, a trip by water taxi took us to the train station, for our next experience, by rail to Bologna, where we arrived in high speed, air conditioned comfort. This first class train was doing 300kmh and pulled into the station, 5 stories below ground, on time. Our hotel was across the 6 lane road and from here we walked around the oldest University city in the world. The city had been built thousands of years ago and many historic buildings and walls still remain. As you can probably imagine, with so many students around, there were vast numbers of motorcycles and scooters. Next morning we were collected for our personal tour of the Lamborghini Factory Museum and onto the Ferrari Museum and Factory Tour, with a driver who didn’t speak English and tried to use his phone for translation – how disappointing! First stop was the Lamborghini Museum within the Factory grounds. This magnificent building is all glass and highly polished tiles with each of their vehicles displayed to perfection and with the exact motor beside each vehicle, Graeme was in heaven! This was one classy showroom and it was easy to let time slip by as we oohed and aahed at each one, from the early models to the latest SUV’s and all terrain vehicles.
Lamborghini and Lamborghini engine on display
Modes of transport in 2024 – Raewyn Fenn—p3
But we were heading for Ferrari Country!
Maranello, the home of magnificent cherries and Ferraris! The Museum is huge! Spread over a large area, you weave and wind your way through many, many exhibits, from Lorenzo Ferrari’s office, through every model ever made, through showrooms where you can design your own vehicle; colour, interior trim colour from the hide, stitching colours, steering wheel styles and colours, wheels and more! Then on to the racing car area with so many helmet styles, race suit engineering, race car engineering, full cars on display and then the trophies and drivers areas! Mind blowing for petrol heads like us. We were going to make a purchase in the gift shop, but at 250Euros for a Polo shirt, we chose something much smaller to fit in our suitcases….
By now it was around 2pm so we went to a nearby café for lunch. It was between the Museum and the Self-drive a Ferrari area and the café was owned by a gentleman owning a late model, lime green……Lambourghini!!
Now it was time to go on the factory tour. Due to the large incidence of “removal of goods” by tourists, you now travel through this area in a bus, And NO PHOTOS! Disappointing we thought, but it was such an amazing place to see. If you own an older Ferrari, you can take it back to the factory and they will rebuild it using all genuine parts – for a large fee. Or you can order a new vehicle, where you choose everything, starting from one million Euros and rapidly rising to 3, 4, or 5 million Euros (that’s 10 million dollars), and taking 3 to 6 years to build! We saw the wind tunnel testing buildings and the Ferrari Race track and more. Every corner of the town has a Ferrari model, or the horse emblem or is coloured red, with checkered flags being the decoration of choice. As we left Maranello and drove through miles and miles of ripening cherries on the trees, our minds were buzzing with all that we had seen that day.
Two left pictures Ferrari Museum
Ferrari Trophy room
Modes of transport in 2024 – Raewyn Fenn—p4
Our next adventure involved a second-class train from Bologna to Milan – just don’t do it! The train was so crowded and there were so many undesirables who hadn’t paid and were racing through the train hiding from the fare collectors. It was just manic and we were pleased to arrive in Milan and get aboard another 1st class train heading to Zurich for our tour of Switzerland.
To travel through Switzerland has been a dream for me since I was 5 years old, and our luxury bus was amazing. Our tiny driver was so relaxed driving over winding mountain passes, backing up to get around corners and negotiating the incredible maze of underground tunnels with ease. Small villages with roads little wider than the bus required tooting to ensure the way was clear. But there were very few road works and road cones very conspicuous by their absence.
While travelling to Zermatt on the cog railway, we were told that there are no vehicles in Zermatt apart from small electric buses and delivery vehicles. So walking it was, next morning we travelled by electric bus to the base of Mount Zermatt, then travelled by cable car to the first stop, changed to a much bigger cable car for the second leg. A wait of a minimum of 20 minutes was required at that second level to acclimatise to the thin air. Then we boarded the 3rd cable car, this one carrying up to 100 people either sitting or standing, to get to the top. We chose to walk into the ice cave to see the ice sculptures and it was definitely hard walking back up the hill to get out. That mode of travel was amazing, traveling through falling snow. Beautiful country and beautiful roads. We even managed a ride on a horse and cart, up a mountainous valley to an old farmhouse, with a very old lady driving us.
Our stay in Rome, showed us just how busy roads can be! Tooting, yelling and gesticulating with your right thumb and forefinger was hilarious to watch, but so passionately done. We saw many more tiny cars and carts zooming around the city and a magnificent MERCEDES MAYBACH was waiting for it’s people at the top of The Spanish Steps. Beautiful in sapphire blue.
Our wonderful European holiday was very enlightening in so very many ways, so much history, beautiful scenery and so many people. For us as petrol heads, we saw so many “different” things in the way of vehicles, from our 1st day till the very last days in Barcelona when we explored the city via Hop On, Hop Off bus, with an open top. High speed trains through the mountains of Cinque de Terre, to slow cruise boats in the Mediterranean Sea.
The way we choose to get around is so interesting and varied!
33
NORTHLAND MOTORCYCLE RALLY, NORTHLAND
VINTAGE CAR
CLUB
Saturday 17h May 2025
The Northland Branch invites you to enter their Motorcycle Rally. The rally route will be on good quality, sealed roads with a timed morning section for part of the route, then continue to lunch at a location of interest. There may be an alternative unsealed afternoon route offered. Total mileage for the day will be approx. 115 miles.
Venue: Northland VCC clubrooms, Heritage Park, 494 SH14, Maunu, Whangarei
8.30am Clubrooms open to collect rally packs and enjoy a cuppa
9.30am rally briefing
10.00am first bike away; riders will be provided with their official start time. We request rider start at their correct times. Official time will be used for all calculations.
• lunch timelunch will be provided to ticket holders only
• afternoon run is not timed, and will return to clubrooms to return bibs and enjoy a cuppa
6.00pm the clubrooms will be open to dinner ticket holders only, the meal will be served at 7pm, followed by prize-giving. NOTE: BYO
Rally Rules
1. Entrants must be financial members of VCC of NZ, or belong to an invited fellow club, or by invitation. 2. You may be asked for your VCC or club membership card. 3. Invited guests are not eligible for VCC trophies. 4. Traffic regulations must be strictly observed. 5. Vehicles must be up to the club’s expected standards, including current registration and WOF. Vehicle may be changed at sign-on if necessary. 6. The rally organisers may exclude any entrant whose conduct is likely to discredit the event or the club, and their ruling will be final. 7. No computerised or electronic navigational aids are to be used. 8. Rally and/or dinner numbers may need to be restricted. 9. Entrants participate at their own risk. 10. Entrant consents to the retention of information submitted on this entry for the purposes of running the event and associated communication. 11. No late entries will be accepted - Entries close 4th May 2025
enquiries regarding the rally should be made to Peter Lovatt, ph 021 193 0948 preferably please send entries to: nvccrally@gmail.com email if you are having difficulties or phone:Peter Lovatt 021 193 0948 otherwise (last resort please, see above) post to: NVCC Rally, PO Box 17, Whangarei 0140 payment by Internet Banking only to:
Northland VCC 12-3093-0105509-00 with Surname and MR2025 as reference and code entry will be acknowledged when entry and payment received
name of rider
name of passenger sidecar? yes/no
address of entrant
phone number email address make, model & year of motorcycle
rego plate #
VCC membership # (insert nil if guest) branch expiry date
emergency contact name relationship phon e #
Nominated average speed (insert YES for one only) 30mph 35mph 40mph noncompetitive
Motorcycle class (insert YES for one only) Veteran -1918 Vintage ’19-’31 post vintage ’32-‘45
PWV ’46-‘60
P60V ’61-‘80
P80V ’81-’93 Invited guest/ other
Member request
Howard Tong asks if anyone has access to the Kaimai bush?
Howard is a Member and has a 1975 Harley Sportster. His other interest is hunting and he is seeking access and a safe place to park his car anywhere along the Kaimai’s. If any one knows of someone that he could contact he would be most grateful, as he is super keen to hunt anywhere! If you can help please phone him on 021 028 22079.
FOR SALE
Large car cover (say Nissan 370Z) indoor/outdoor, never been out of bag, $30.00
8 piece 5mm to 12mm SDS masonry drill set , never used. $20. S.I.L. has no further use for them Alastair 576 1124
BOP VCC COMMITTEE 2024-2025
CHAIRMAN DONN WHITE 0274 764465
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN JOHN WHITCOMBE
SECRETARY MICHAEL THORMAN (JANE) 07 544 4291, 0274 742625
TREASURER KEITH PERKINS (JANE) 027 5781231
CLUB CAPTAIN KAAREN SMYLIE 021 664 341
COMMITTEE
ALASTAIR JONES (GWEN) 07 576 1124
COMMITTEE BRIAN PRATT (CINDY) 07 5447952
COMMITTEE ELWYN PIRIE (PAULINE) 027 491 4600
COMMITTEE ALAN MACKENZIE 027 564 7785.
COMMITTEE GEORGE HOWARD (LYNN) 020 40427624
COMMITTEE DOUG BROWN 021 668117
OTHERELECTEDOFFICERS
PATRON ALASTAIR JONES (GWEN) 07 5761124
HALL HIRE KAAREN SMYLIE 021 664341
PARTS SHED JACK ANDERSON (MERILYN) 07 5766346
PROPERTY MANAGER JACK ANDERSON (MERILYN) 07 5766346
KLAXON EDITOR BRYCE STRONG (CHRISTINE) 0274 966706
FACEBOOK/WEBSITE DEIDRE RENNIE (TONY) 021 665 875 WELFARE MERILYN ANDERSON (JACK) 07 5766346
KITCHEN CO-ORDINATOR ELWYN PIRIE 027 4914600
HON. SOLICITOR PETER BUTLER (MARION) 021 423 453
VIC CERTIFICATION RON ELTON (KERRY) 07 5799621
VIC CERTIFICATION GEORGE HOWARD (LYNN) 020 40427624
SAFETY OFFICER BRIAN PRATT 07 5447952
LIBRARIAN PET ER WITHERS 0220 173798. NAME BADGES MICHAEL THORMAN (JANE) 07 544 4291
GREETING NEW MEMBERS BRIAN PRATT 07 5447952 KLAXON EMAIL: klaxoninfo@gmail.com
BOP VCC—Operational Information
The Club Rooms are 29 Cliff Road. Mail to C/o 11 Ridgemount Terrace, Welcome Bay, Tauranga 3112
Key contacts are:
Chairman– Donn White 0274 764465
Patron Alastair Jones 07 5761124
Secretary– Michael Thorman 07 5444291
Email: bayofplenty@vcc.org.nz
Club Captain Kaaren Smylie 07 576 4180 Email: kaaren@smylie.co.nz
Monthly events—
Club night (except January) - 2nd Monday, start time 7.30pm
Mid week run — Wednesday following the club night
End of the month run Held on the last Sunday of the month.
Committee Meeting — Last Monday of the month
Noggin ‘n’ Natter Two locations alternate months see below
Coffee Mornings - Every Monday Morning at 10:00am
Noggin ‘n’ Natter is held on the last Tuesday of April, June, August, October, December at 6pm at Rainbar Restaurant, 30 Gravatt Road, Papamoa
Noggin ‘n’ Natter is held on the last Wednesday of May, July, September, November at 6pm at Tauranga Citz Club, Corner of 13th Avenue and Cameron Road, Tauranga
If your birthday falls in this month please remember it is your turn to provide a plate for supper. Thanks to last months birthday people for their food.
Please remember to wear your name badges to all events. BADGES ARE FREE TO NEW MEMBERS if they need one.
LIBRARY HOURS The library is open whenever the Club is open. Members wanting to search for or return books should ask a Committee member to open the library. We accept good clean car service manuals, or books that relate to automobile history or travel for our library
PARTS SHED—Clean out your sheds and bring those surplus parts down. They may be just what someone else needs Parts shed open most Monday morning. Contacts are Jack 07 5766346 or Colin 027 2629161