THE VOICE OF THE VINTAGE CAR
THE BAY OF PLENTY CLASSIC AND VINTAGE CAR CLUB
MONTHLY MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2025 EDITION
CHAIRMANS CHAT
UPCOMING EVENTS
MEMBERSHIP UPDATES
SOUTHERN TRIP BY HELEN AND GRAHAM MEREDITH
ITEMS WANTED AND FOR SALE
COAST TO COAST TOUR BY RAEWYN AND GRAEME FENN
ARTICLE OF INTEREST BY CLIVE TAYLOR
UPCOMING NATIONAL RALLIES
EDS RAMBLINGS
CLUB INFORMATION
Some Great December and January 2026 get togethers to take note of!!!
First off is the Te Puke Seeka Christmas Parade starting at 11am which you have been invited to join in. Organiser Kaaren Smylie.
The second event for the day is the Katikati Santa Parade Organiser Doug Brown Ph. 021 668117
Assembly Point. Top field of Katikati College. Beach Road. Entry is between Katikati College and St Peters Anglican Church. -
The Katikati Event is offering cash entry prizes as follows 1st $400. 2nd $200. 3rd $100 plus $100 random entry prize. Following the parade you are all invited to Christmas in the Park -
Both events need a couple more entrants to support the numbers.
Both events are do-able and it would be a blast to have family members join you.
Come along for a great day.
JOINING LANE
The BOPCVCC extend a very warm welcome to the following new and returning members
Bruce & Joanne Anderson bruce54@gmail.com joannerae54@gmail.com
Bruce and Joanne have a 1928 Willys Whippet Overlander 96A
Darcy Holmes dholmesnz88@gmail.com
Darcy has a 1970 Triumph T120R Bonneville
Russell Goodwin russell1480@gmail.com
Russell has a 1967 Ford Mustang Coup under restoration
Pauline Pirie (Elwyn) chico7@xtra.co.nz
Pauline has 1969 Austin Mini Mayfair
1971 MGB GT
RETURNING MEMBERS
Murray Hodgson hodgson@windowslive.com
Murray has a 1965 Jaguar Mk1 2.4 SE
Stephen Belcher janicebelcher2@gmail.com
Stephen has 1970 Wolseley 18/85 Mk1
1974 Wolseley Model 6
1967 Wolseley 16/60
1968 Wolseley 18/85
PASSING LANE
It is with deep regret that we acknowledge the passing of the following members
Frank Carter. Frank restored a 1055 DOT Motorcycle which he rode from North Cape to the Bluff raising funds for the missionary in New Guinea where he spent many years as a missionary. Mrs Joy Inder. Joy was one of our dear old stalwarts, wife of John, our past Treasurer (1963) and Chairman (1967)
We offer our condolences to both families.
DECEMBER CHRISTMAS LUNCH PARTY AND RALLY
This is our annual Christmas get together and rally on 13th December
The venue is the Okoroire Hotel and includes a Full Christmas Carvery
The price for this yummy feast at $40 per person has been subsidised by $15 for each financial member, bringing the cost to only $25
Get your booking in urgently now to Chairman Donn White 027 4764465
Only a few places left
TRIP DOWN SOUTH EARLY NOVEMBER 2025 BY
HELEN AND GRAHAM MEREDITH
Helen and I recently had a brake in Oamaru and had the opportunity to go through Tempero Motors Garage where they hand build replica Ferrari and Mercedes amongst other vehicles.
On the Sunday they had a car show which raised money for the local food bank, and with Leo Leonards recently restored E49 Charger together with 164 cars arriving, they raised approximately $1600.
A Red Chrysler Racer that arrived and was displayed with the show cars
Eds note; Many thanks for your contribution guys
ITEMS WANTED
Committee member Russell Hulbert requires a loan of a car trailer to assist with the transportation of his 1935 Morris 8 Sports. If you can help, please contact Russell 027 4784599.
ITEMS FOR SALE
Murray Carline has for sale a 1976 BMW 525A E12. The vehicle was first registered in NZ 1978 and has had 4 private owners with Murray owning it since 1986. The engine and gearbox have been refreshed during his ownership and has been fitted with 4 new tyres. The carburation has been changed to a weber set-up with the original carb and air cleaner available with the car. The car is in original condition with paintwork reflecting its year and has 96000 miles on the clock. Contact Murray 0276 852064.
COAST 2 COAST TOUR EARLY NOVEMBER 2025
BY RAEWYN AND GRAEME FENN
Eds note; Many thanks Graeme and Raewyn for your wonderful contribution. ? did I spy our Club Captain Kaaren Smylie in a pic.
ARTICLE OF INTEREST SUBMITTED BY ALVIS OWNER CLIVE TAYLOR PICTURES TAKEN AT OUR NOVEMBER SWAP MEET.
Many thanks for your contribution Clive.
David Joblin with his 1954 Alvis TC21 3ltr Saloon 1959 NSF612 Oldsmobile in original condition 6.3ltr engine
Originally from Canada, first registered in NZ 29/12/2020
A winning 1954 5.2ltr Buick Roadmaster Reg. NZ 17/2/2012.
1981 Delorean DMC 2.8ltr Stainless steel body. Registered 11/7/2019
Daimler Majestic.
Maroon 2ltr 1950 Bristol 401 Ex Australia. Registered NZ 1/9/2025
Behind is metallic green Bristol 401 Reg. NZ 18/6/1992 and again in 1/11/2018
1954 Sunbeam Alpine Coupe 2.2ltr registered 7/3/2013. Rare view of tapered louvres in bonnet
UP COMING NATIONAL RALLY INFORMATION
The SOUTH CANTERBURY VCC Secretary Pauline Young regretfully announces the cancellation of the planned February 5th/6th/7th 120 year run celebrating the first powered motor vehicle to Mount Cook.
Due to rising accommodation costs, the unavailability of designated billeting and lack of support, this decision has been made. The treasurer will contact all those that have entered to apply a refund.
Eds Ramblings
What a special November club night we had with guest speaker Gideon De Latour together with twins Keith and Grant Leon in support, presenting the kit car “Cheetah”
How they developed this car from a few drawings to a saleable street/race car was amazing.
Loosely based on an E Type Jaguar body and with easily obtainable Holden parts, the prototype was built using a de-registered Holden and included the rear screen used as the front screen on the Cheetah.
Altogether a wonderful story and just shows what can be done if you put your mind to it.
This particular car on show was sold to a client who raced and subsequently crashed it.
The car was then re-acquired by Gideon and restored back to its original state.
Many thanks guys for a brilliant presentation.
November movie night was well attended with 25 members, including some new members, all enjoying a very non-politically correct showing.
‘Allo ‘Allo proved to be up to the mark with its fast moving comedy act involving restaurateur Rene’ Artois. The outrageously funny plot involved Rene, his secret trysts with the two beautiful waitresses and his involvement with the French resistance.
The ice cream intermission proved to be a welcome relief from the heat of the evening.
This is the last movie night of the season. Movie nights will continue towards the start of Autumn 2026.
Look forward to seeing you all back for more social get togethers.
The national office of VCCNZ has sent out the NZTA link ; Consultation Considering Changes to Light Vehicle Inspections. The consultation period ends 17/12/2025.
While only one question relates to annual WOFs for 10 year old vehicles, there are some questions re giving local councils more power to enforce compliance, which is a concern, as they have no knowledge of our types of vehicles.
You are urged to complete the link and have our say, similar to what we did for the survey for WOFs.
Members, lets do this and get our voices heard again.
For all those that think it cant be done.
This is an image of young Leon Lawrence passing his driving licence in his own Model T. Leon is very well known amongst the VCC circle.
Congratulation Leon.
Article courtesy of Venture Magazine.
Pauline Pirie took home our grubby mop heads to wash and returned them to the clubrooms.
Whilst delving into the cleaning cupboard a week later, our Patron
Alastair Jones and Swap Meet Coordinator Bruce Tait decided they were too clean to use on the floor and more appropriate for the use of staving off thinning hairlines.
I must say, a big improvement guys.
Photo and story courtesy of Treasurer Keith Perkins.
This has been a year of change for the National VCC and ultimately with the BOPCVCC .
Nationally the biggest change heavily involving all the clubs committees and sub committees was the Incorporated Societies Act which had to be finalised by each branch or face, effectively, being shut down. A big shout out goes to our sub committee for completing this onerous task on time. I can assure you all that the amount of time and effort put in by this group was huge.
Thank you not only to the sub committee but also to their partners for their support.
This year for our branch was the involvement in the Annual Daffodil Rally which despite the inclement weather, resulted in generating a higher fundraising total than the previous year. A superb effort by all.
This year also saw the resurrection of our swap meet and car show and again, despite poor weather, we raised the profile of the club and much to the delight of our treasurer, raised the level of our funds.
The club members came to the party with their vehicles and including the mini club, some non members and a good number of motorcycles, the show count was over 100 display vehicles.
Four cars were entered in the restoration award with the cup awarded to Earl Tarren for his 1929 Buick. The swap meet was well attended but takings were down, maybe a reflection on the state of the economy. Thanks to coordinator Bruce Tait, the set up and running of the event was excellent.
The Mini and Morris Club members put on rocker cover racing and our parts guys manned their store.
Another big shout out goes to all the helpers, the sausage sizzlers and the kitchen staffers.
The club nights were again well attended and we were well entertained with the vehicles that were exhibited in the clubroom throughout the year. The suppers were again above a ‘normal’ standard thanks to our kitchen wizards Pauline and Elwyn Pirie and their fantastic kitchen helpers. Our rallies have been of great standard with a large contingent of vehicles always showing up.
The October mid month run was a real doozy with around 55 vehicles and over 100 members attending, a great effort and so enjoyable to be involved in.
The Nog and Natters and movie nights proved again to be an enjoyable success.
As I write this edition, there is still the Christmas functions and the December events to be held. I look forward to meeting you all there.
1st. of January 2026 will be the Annual New Years Day Picnic Lunch held at Tuapiro Point and I look forward to meeting up with you all again on that first outing of the New Year.
With 2026 fast approaching, we have the chance to do these crazy things all over again.
I trust you have enjoyed these monthly Klaxon editions that I have put out. If you wish to publish anything of interest, then please contact me.
Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Stay safe out there. Cheers Klaxon Editor George
