VCC COVCC March PNS March 2025 by Vintage Car Club of New Zealand

FEATURECAR

This month’s feature car is actually a motor bike, acknowledging the success of the March rally the club ran. For the feature vehicle I am trying to concentrate on a vehicle that has some relevance to the club or Central Otago.

LastMinuteRallyPreparation

Gerry Spencer (March 2025)

I became the proud owner of a step-through Suzuki RC Deluxe 50 ‘Birdie’ bought on TradeMe more than a year ago. What is it about TradeMe, the blurry photos so you can’t really see what it is like, the exaggerated top speed?

This was typically a newspaper delivery bike in Japan, not sold in Australia or New Zealand, two stroke, 3 speed, reputedly 4.9 horsepower.

Since buying it I had only got around to cutting a spare key, getting a new battery, new tyre, and a service manual from Japan (in Japanese) and started to translate it.

Then it sat as life intervened, much as I would have preferred to have completely overhauled it and checked everything, so finally the day before the rally event, in fact at noon, I started recommissioning it At this stage my philosophy was: If it works it works, if it doesn’t it doesn’t, and no harm done as long as it doesn’t seize.

Brakes were OK but at limit. Tyres were OK and no need to change thereby saving time. Cleaned a bit of chrome, even though ‘chrome don’t get you home’. Couldn’t get a new spark plug so the old one will have to do. Needed a new air cleaner element, ran to town and got a generic sample and cut that up.

Filled up the transmission oil – no time to change it. The choke cable was broken, and it wasn’t immediately clear how was it was supposed to operate.

It wouldn’t start… Even though the petrol in there had stabiliser in it, I sucked it out and discovered dirty bits from the tank. Replaced with fresh petrol - no time to tank the tank off and clean it properly.

Still wouldn’t start. Off with the carb and disassembled it. The carb itself looked terrible, but vaguely all right internally, and sprayed it liberally with carb cleaner (I read afterwards it was 80% acetone and I should have worn a mask).

The main issue was that someone had cut the carb gasket out of paper and not very well at that. No other option but to use RTV and make a gasket of goo. After letting that set, it started! Seeing that smoke coming out was relieving, like how the pain of childbirth is instantly forgotten upon seeing the offspring produced [so it is written]. Ran it up the road for 400m to check the performance, gears and brakes, and so I was good to go. That was the longest I had ridden it before the 100km event the next day.

On the rally, a disconcerting feature was a red overspeed warning light flashing above 30 km/h. A red cyclops, actually more of a polygon, a polygon of caution.

As for the rally itself, going along at 55 km/h (8000 RPM according to the performance graph) you see a lot more of the countryside and of the other bikes (as they were passing me), and the road isn’t as bumpy either.

The fastest it went all day was on the back of the Chev pickup when going to the start and returning!

Editorial

The opinions expressed here are the editor’s only and are not endorsed by the club

Rather than a single theme, this month’s editorial is more a collection of random thoughts - so please bear with me.

I had every intention of helping out with the rally but a guy phoned me earlier in the week wanting to arrange a time to see an SS Commodore I was selling on the Saturday, so I agreed to meet him at the airport because of the lack of public transport between QT and Cromwell. It was worthwhile because not only did he buy the Commodore, he brought my Fairmont Ghia I was selling as well. “Good job” I thought making these the 5th and 6th cars I have sold since we moved to Cromwell permanently. So, I was feeling happy to make the house look less like a used car lot. I proudly pointed out my success to Rose who burst my bubble by asking how many cars I had bought in the same time. The answer was 5 so she reminded me that my net progress in fleet reduction was only 1 in four years so rather glacial progress really. Truth is, I, without meaning to, have always traded a lot and I have bought and sold over 70. Not for profit but just because I wanted them at the time. Some have stayed for a while. My XU1 has lasted 47 years and rising, my Land Rover Discovery 18 (and is still in the family 5 years later), the Fairmont 13 years

I guess I love my V8s having had at least one continuously in the driveway for the last 23 years and rising.

One thing I can’t understand is people’s one-eyed love for the old Rover/Buick V8. Yes, it is light and smooth, but in Rover form it doesn’t put out much horsepower or torque and it is a delicate old thing requiring regular maintenance and good cooling. I had a pretty good run out of our Disco. In the 23 years, I, and our son, have owned it, we only replaced one starter, the head gaskets and a couple of viscous fans. It never let me down and always got us home even after the spectacular head gasket failure on the Borland Saddle, but we did regularly fire a lot of maintenance at it. Compare that with the old Buick 3.8 litre you find in Commodores, which are bullet proof, yet the two engines are related.

From the same era, the cast iron but thin-walled Ford Windsor V8 is not a lot heavier. compact enough to put into a Capri, is reliable, makes good horsepower and is very tuneable. Our son has a factory SVO tuned EB Falcon XR8 from the early nineties and that goes like a cut cat. Makes you smile every time you drive it. I don’t know what horsepower it puts out, but I guess it would

do high 14s or low 15 second ¼ mile. It would cost a lot of money to get a Rover V8 to do that. Incidentally, the Falcon would be VCC eligible, but Jamie has owned that for almost 20 years and doesn’t look like selling it anytime soon otherwise I could be tempted That, however, would not help the fleet reduction stats.

Gerry mentions in his article about Bill Veitch and how he is as old as his motor bike. Sort of amusing for me to recall when I brought my first motor bike from him, he was known as Young Bill Veitch (as opposed to his father), but it was 55 years ago.

Several people have commented in this mag about the size of it. Don’t let this put you off applying to be Editor. The content has grown because of input of others and lately I have been mostly formatting and putting it together. Rose normally spends an hour getting our grammar right. I have enjoyed doing the mag but with two operations coming up I do not want to be committed to a monthly role. Quite prepared to make some contributions though if they are wanted

If you are keen, try and get to the Otago rally this coming weekend. The rally is pretty special and would be undoubtably the best classic rally in the Southern hemisphere. Look at the feature in this mag.

Regards

Garry

AS any car enthusiast knows

ClubEventsCalendar

Please take care to read and copy to your diary!

Pretty full calendar. Note: subject to change but any changes to next month’s event will be e-mailed out.

Date Event

APRIL

2025

Wednesday 9th April Club Night: Clubrooms open 7.00 pm, meeting starts 8.00 pm.

Sunday 13th April No Weekend Run this month owing to Easter

Saturday 19th –

Sunday 20th April Wheels at Wanaka Easter Weekend.

Thursday 24th April

Thursday Muster

Saturday26th April Arrowtown Golden Times Rally.

MAY 2025

Tuesday 6th May Committee Meting 7.00 pm Clubrooms

Wednesday 14th May Club Night: Clubrooms open 7.00 pm, meeting starts 8.00 pm.

Sunday 18th May VCC Quiz Afternoon

Organiser Detail

John Gray Club member Lindsay Coulter discussing the Development of Building Security systems and what is available now. Including wireless systems, incorporating cameras, video, smoke detection and monitoring. How to best protect your assets.

Murray Pryde

Michael Wyatt and Greg Doran

Car and Machinery Show. Attend and display your vehicle or volunteer. See Club Captains report.

No Thursday Muster this month owing to the long weekend, with Friday being Anzac Day and the Golden Times Rally on Saturday

See flyer later in mag.

John Gray Janine Woods, from The Southern Lakes Trails Trust, will present us with an illustrated update on progress with the new cycle track between Bannockburn and the Gibbston Valley, as the project goes past the half-way mark.

John Gray

The Quiz Night which was postponed last winter due to a clash with an All-Blacks game, has been rescheduled and will be held instead of a Sunday Run. Registrations are required for this event.

Thursday 29th May

Thursday Muster

John Gray

JUNE

2025

Wednesday 11th June

Club Night: Clubrooms

Sunday 15th June Annual General Meeting

Thursday 26th June

JULY 2025

Wednesday

Thursday Muster

9th July Club Night: Clubrooms

John Gray

Please contact John Gray to register: jbgray@xtra.co.nz or 0274345621. Meet at the Clubrooms at 2.00pm. Following the Quiz, the Branch will put on a Barbeque tea, and will supply, meat, salads etc. Bring your own drinks.

Maniatoto Visit, thermette morning tea, Lunch at the Waipiata Tavern, followed by visits to the Hamiltons Goldfield and historic cemetery. Patearoa, Maniatoto Plain, and rare endangered native Olearia (scented tree daisy) enclosure.

John Martin discussing how he builds a new wood frame for a vehicle body, or undertakes wood repairs. John will also touch on wood bending, making hood bows and possibly veneering work.

Graham Taylor AGM, to be preceded by a potluck lunch at 11.30 am.

John Gray

No Thursday Muster this month, due to the reduced winter program

TBC

Sunday 13th July Weekend Run

Thursday 31st July

AUGUST 2025

Thursday Muster

Wednesday 13th August Club Night: Clubrooms

Sunday 17th August Weekend Run

Sunday 24th August Daffodil Day Cancer Society fund-raiser

John Gray

No Weekend Run this Month, due to winter.

Curling at Alexandra Due to there being limited rink space. The first 16 members registered will be able to play. Preceded by lunch at Alexandra. Others are able to attend to view. Registrations required.

John Gray TBC

No Weekend Run this Month, due to Winter

TBC

Show and Shine. Gates open 11.00 am. Display 12.00 – 2.00 pm. Barbeque and raffles. All proceeds to Cancer Society. Please bring your vehicle for display and support this event and this great cause.

Thursday 28th August Thursday Muster

SEPTEMBER 2025

Wednesday

10th September Club Night: Clubrooms

Sunday 14th September

Thursday 25th

Weekend Run

September Thursday Muster

Saturday 27th September Blossom Festival Rally

OCTOBER 2025

Wednesday

8th October Club Night: Clubrooms

Sunday 12th October Weekend Run

Thursday 30th October

Thursday Muster

NOVEMBER 2025

Wednesday 12th November Club Night: Clubrooms

Sunday 16th November

Thursday 27th

November

Weekend Run

Thursday Muster

DECEMBER 2025

Sunday 7th

December Branch Christmas Lunch

John Gray

Ewen Duthie

Run to Oturehua to visit the historic gold mine and poppit head structure, with lunch at the Oturehua Hotel.

TBC

Weekend Run Thursday Muster

John Gray

Martin Curtis

TBC, but possibly a weekend trip to Invercargill to visit the museums etc

No Thursday Muster this month owing to Blossom Festival Rally

Further details from Ewen and in later P n S editions.

TBC

Trip to St Bathans and Cambrians to see the Bluebell Glade. Morning tea at St Bathans and possibly a garage collection visit.

No Thursday Muster this month due to Labour Weekend

John Gray TBC

John Gray

Thermette Picnic

Committee/John Martin

Club Christmas Lunch at clubrooms. Meat supplied, bring your own drinks and a Pot Luck salad or dessert for sharing. Presentation of membership Awards.

No Weekend Run or Thursday Muster this Month, due to Christmas

OTHEREVENTSandNATIONALS

VCC Branches that would like any of their events noted in our magazine, please contact us with the details at editorCOVCC@gmail.com

For more information on these and other events in Beaded Wheels, check branch newsletters which may be found at http://vcc.org.nz/newsfrom-our-branches/

Date Event

4 April - 6 April 2025 Central Machine Hire Otago Rally

Organizer Detail

Otago Sports Car Club

The Otago Rally is based in the beautiful city of Dunedin, in the south of New Zealand, and is the first round of the 2025 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship. This component of the event features New Zealand’s leading competitors in modern, state-of-the-art 4WD turbo rally cars, including the exciting AP4 and R5 rally cars.

The event also incorporates the International Classic Otago Rally, for pre-1982, 2WD cars

This event has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception in 1997, to the point where it is the leading event of its type in the Southern Hemisphere

12th April Motorcycle rally South Otago VCC See following Easter 2025 Wheels at Wanaka.

Celebrating 100 years of Caterpillar.

Golden Times Vintage Car Rally

2025 Saturday 26th April 2025 Arrowtown

The Central Otago Vintage Car Club extend a cardinal invitation to join us as a part of the famous Arrowtown Autumn festival.

Since inception in 1986 our rally has focused on a strong social emphasis, a relaxed atmosphere and sharing the world-famous scenery as we motor around the district.

The rally committee are keen to bring back the “flavors” of past events with as many early Veteran and Vintage cars as possible but recognizing that all club eligible vehicles are most welcome.

This year the whole event will be held within the district including lunch, show and shine as well as prize giving at the beautiful Butlers Green.

Morning From -- 8.30am

We have full use of Arrowtown’s Main Street from 8.30am, plenty of time to park up and admire the pristine vehicles, (and the folks in Period Clothing).

Rally Packs – 9am

Rally packs and information are available on the Village Green, along with a Rally Briefing at 9.45am Two complementary vouchers are in your Rally pack for Tea or Coffee from the SHED Café to the Left of the Village green

First Vehicle – 10am

We will send the first vehicle away at about 10.00am. Veteran and Vintage cars will be given preference, leaving at one-minute intervals approx. Do keep in mind modern traffic at all times and please allow them to pass if possible.

Lunch

The route instructions will take you to our selected lunch venue At the Café, there is limited food and hot drinks available at your own cost. Menu included below.

If you prefer to pack a thermos and lunch etc, as well as something to sit on is recommended.

There will be plenty of time to enjoy each other’s cars, company and sights Leave about 1.30pm for your afternoon display heading for the lovely setting at Butlers Green.

Festival Parade

As you will note from the entry form the festival organisers would like us to arrange a selection of 20 Vintage cars only for the parade. Do register early if you would like to participate in the parade.

Please indicate on the entry form if you would like to enter the parade and instructions will be provided for you to leave the lunch venue by 1.15pm and be in Arrowtown by about 1.30pm ready to join the parade at 2.00pm

Afternoon Venue

Not a long journey from Lunch but scenic to join all the fun and spectacle of Arrowtown’s Festival and a special chance to show your pride and joy to the public on Butlers Green From there you can either view the parade starting at 2.00pm or just amble through the various craft stalls displaying their goods

Prizegiving will be held at this venue from about 3.30pm

2025 Entry form

Entries close 16th April 2025

Entrants Name (s)

Address

Phone number

Membership Number & Branch

Vehicle Make/Model/Year

Registration Number

Do you wish to take part in the Festival Parade Yes / No

Will you be purchasing your lunch from the café at your own cost ? Yes o r No Number s _ _ _ Refer to the menu on the information page

Entry Fee including plaque $40.00

Fees payable to our bank account

Central Otago Vintage Car Club 06 0921 0035742 01

Reference your name to payment please

All Correspondence

To John Martin P 021 109 1309

E martin_jw@xtra.co.nz M 11 Bell Ave Cromwell 9310

All entrants are to observe Road Code at all times and practice sensible road courtesy to other road users. It is the vehicle owner’s responsibility to ensure their vehicle have a current warrant of fitness and registration.

The organisers can refuse any entry not compliant

The above options are available at the lunch stop plus a few other options as well as Hot and Cold drinks

Please indicate on your entry form YES if you are intending to order your Lunch Assistance. Contact John Martin 021 109 130

OtagoClassicRally

Posted by Otago Rally

New Zealand’s most successful rally driver, Hayden Paddon, will light up the 2025 Central Machine Hire Otago Rally aboard a special rally car.

Ten years on from his record breaking outright win in an Escort BDA, Paddon will again drive the famed model when the rally runs from April 4-6.

Steering the eye-catching blue BDA owned by Tim McIver, Paddon will take the fight to international star, Kris Meeke, in a bid to wrestle the International Classic Rally crown back to New Zealand.

Recently announced to complete a full program in the Australian Rally Championship, Paddon will begin his New Zealand program with the Dunedin event, just two weeks after the Canberra opener across the Tasman Sea.

Having won the Otago Rally on 10 occasions, more recently in Hyundais, he has also competed in the Classic Rally on three occasions, with mixed results.

First competing in the class in 2012, Paddon finished fourth after a puncture, and a return two years later ended in retirement.

It was 2015, though, where he delivered a stunning outright win to trump not only those in the Classic Rally, but also every New Zealand Rally Championship competitor.

Competition for the Classic win won’t be easy, especially with Kris Meeke travelling south to drive the Rossendale Wines BDA for the second year running.

“I’m looking forward to tackling the Otago Classic again, 10 years after our win there last time,” Paddon said.

Hayden Paddon dominated the 2015 Otago Rally in a BDA Escort. Photos: Peter Whitten

“Firstly, a big thank you to Hyundai NZ for allowing us to take up this opportunity, and Tim McIver for the use of his car.

“I have some very good memories from 10 years ago, and with Kris also being present this year, I think it will be a mega battle that will only amplify the experience.

“First and foremost it’s about fun for us all, but the competitive side will for sure come out in the stages, and I think we will be egging each other on.”

Intentions to enter the Otago Rally, regardless of class, have exceeded 130, with a great number coming from overseas.

More than a dozen Australians are planning to make the trip, while other teams are hoping to come from the United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Japan, Ireland, and many others.

The Central Machine Hire Otago Rally is grateful to the Dunedin City Council for Premier Event funding.

Chairman’sReport

Having attended the Executive meeting in Christchurch there were a few good bits of information gained for the future of the club

Anew premises for the Clubs head office has been found in Christchurch on the corner of Main North Road and Meadows St in Papanui just up from the Northlands Mall. The old building in Aberdeen St is going up for auction on the 3rd of April with Bayley’s.

Registration forms for the Vero Rally in Nelson next year will be out on the 2nd of April via the Website Human tix ticketing.

One-year warrants of fitness are in the final stages of planning. The club would like everyone to fill in the submission email that you have received in the last weeks. With a few minor alterations, the Draft National Constitution will be ready to be implemented at the August AGM in Invercargill.

Our branch hosted a very successful motorcycle rally last weekend with a total of 42 bikes entered. We split them into a long route leaving from Cromwell, a medium route leaving from the Clyde dam and riding over it, and the short route left from Chatto Creek Taven. Motorcyclists came from all over the country. including 3 from the North Island, 20 from around the Southland area, and the rest scattered around Otago through to Christchurch.

There was an interesting mix of motorbikes ranging from 2 Veteran 1913 Royal Enfield’s through to vintage AJS’s, Henderson, Norton’s, Sunbeam and Post War Indian, BSA,s and Post 60’s Triumph, Suzuki, Ariel, Ducati and post 80’s Honda’s BMW’s and Yamaha.

We sent them off to end up in Oturehua for a hearty lunch. They had chosen an option of either viewing Hayes engineering or compete in the field tests. Off home via Ophir and an evening prize giving dinner.

On Sunday we organized a viewing of Will Findlay’s Speedway bikes, which is an impressive collection of machines. There were lots of pleasing comments throughout the weekend so I’m sure we will organise one next year. I would like to personally thank John Gray, Master Chef for the weekend, Nevil Ridd for organizing the Field test, venues and prizes, and Ken Roberts, the rally route organiser. As well as the 3 back up drivers for their patience.

Wendy and I are heading off to the Alvis Car Club AGM to be held in Napier this year, at the end of the week for a 16-day road trip up and back in our 1953 Alvis coupe. Apologies for missing the next meeting in April.

Our AGM is approaching and we will require some new blood from our membership for the following: Our Editor, Treasurer and a committee member are retiring. I have completed my term in office and am standing aside. I would love to hear from you if you can offer yourself and give you a run down on the position you are interested in. Now is your chance to put your perspective on your club’s wellbeing and direction. The Editor is the most important position as without that we will have no Puff ‘N ‘ Stuff Branch Magazine SO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS POSITION. Garry has done a marvelous job to date but I would not expect the new in-coming editor to do as many pages as Garry. Some clubs only have a total of 3 double sided pages and that is more than sufficient

Golden Times Arrowtown Autumn Festival Rally entry form is out and I do hope you will support the club in this event. Come and see the 60 or so vehicles that line the main Street of Arrowtown

The other event we require your support with is the Wheels into Wanaka at Easter. We require your car on display as well as on Saturday morning helping park a few cars. This is a great event but sadly it is the last one. Contact Murray Pryde if you can help on 027 443 5030.

Regards, John Martin

Got to get the perfect shot

ClubCaptainsReport

Following my notes last month to ascertain what people actually wanted in the way of ‘Club Events’, I actually got some feedback, which was fantastic. A big thank you to everyone who took the time to contact me and pass on their thoughts. There was a lot of positivity about the program I had been attempting to present, which was quite encouraging, and a few suggestions to maybe dial back the driving events over winter, to one per month, which was the direction I was heading in.

The consensus was:

• keep on doing what I had been doing, with possibly a few tweaks as I see fit;

• whatever is proposed will always appeal to some members;

• not all events are going to appeal to all members;

• repeat the events that are successful; and

• like most clubs these days, only a few members actually participate regularly. So, overall, it was great to hear from those who talked to me to offer their opinions. Thanks again, as sometimes this club position can feel like trying to hit a Pinata with a blindfold on. The reality was that the feedback was exactly the conclusions I had come to myself, but I guess I just needed the validation from other members.

Motoring wise, mostly a quieter month, but I was pleased to have been involved in assistance with the very successful ‘Central Otago Gold Motorcycle Rally’ held by our branch over the weekend of the 14-16th March. Around 40 entries from all over the country, and some great comments from the participants on the whole event. Thanks to members Ken Roberts, Neville Ridd and John Martin, for organising such a fantastic weekend’s activities. Well done guys. It just goes to show what a small group can do for a new event, when they are all pushing in the same direction. Many of the participants are looking forward to next year.

This month, I have been bevering away in my shed, attempting to strip the paint from my 67 E Type Roadster back to bare metal. People who come into the shed to see what appears to be a fully restored car, with a very nice coat of bright red paint, wonder if I have lost my marbles, as the car looks to be in pristine condition, and would easily pass the 2-meter test.

I purchased the car 10 years ago, going, but just needing some brightwork fitting and upholstery. Unfortunately, the original restorer had not sealed the bare metal before applying the fillers and spray putty, and these absorbed minute amounts of moisture, which caused a few very small bubbles in the top coat, which means a strip back to bare steel.

They certainly did a great job of the under top coat prep, as these coats along with the 2K top coat has proved a real challenge to all the paint strippers I have tried so far,

and therefore progress has been very slow. But I acquired a new type of commercial stripper in Dunedin last week, so hopefully that should speed up progress when I can get back onto it following this month’s P’n’S writings.

The other highlight of my month was attending the ‘Ayrburn Classic’ Concours at Arrowtown, on Sunday 23rd March. I am hoping to have written an article for inclusion in the magazine on this event, and get it to Editor Garry, before the cutoff time.

Talking of Puff’n’Stuff Editor. As reported in the last few additions of our great Branch magazine, Garry has indicated that he will retire following this year’s AGM. Garry has done an amazing job with Puff’n’Stuff over the past few years, but with the prospect of no editor, the situation is now getting towards crisis point, with Garry being at the helm for just two more additions of the publication.

The point I am making, is that we are in desperate need of a new editor. Please give this important position full consideration for your input in taking over this position. I’m sure Garry will be willing to give you training as required, so if you have medium computer skills, I’m sure you could do this job. Garry has done a magnificent job of producing a fantastic publication, but it doesn’t need to be as extensive as he has been producing. John Martin and I produce a reasonable amount of content, so the editor’s job could be just linking this content together to make the magazine.

Please give this request your urgent consideration, as our branch without a monthly magazine will cause considerable decline in the momentum that has been created. Also, if you have undertaken this position in the past, please consider another stint, and contact Chairman John.

Also, as mentioned last month, for the ‘Club Night’ for the months of June, July and August, the Clubrooms would open at 7.00pm as usual, but the actual meeting, with speakers, would commence at 7.30pm, instead of 8.00pm. This makes the travel home time for out of Cromwell members, a little earlier over that colder mid-winter period.

APRIL EVENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS

WEDNESDAY 9th APRIL: CLUB NIGHT Organiser – John Gray

LINDSAY COULTER – The

Developments In Building Security Systems And What Is Available

Now

Lindsay Coulter is a club member and Director ofAlliedAlarms, and with a staff of over 30, covers the South Island. Lindsay will discuss the development of security systems, both old and new, and show how equipment has developed into the latest wireless systems incorporation cameras, video, smoke detection and monitoring, to protect your assets from the unexpected. A great opportunity to hear about a topic that is

becoming called upon more and more by our insurance companies when obtaining cover.

The clubrooms and spare parts will be open from 7.00pm and the Club Night will start at 8.00pm.

SATURDAY

19th – SUNDAY

20th APRIL, WHEELS AT WANAKA, VEHICLE EXTRAVAGANZA

Rod Corbett, the event vehicle co-ordinator, has asked if I can assist in organising parking marshals for Saturday and Sunday. This is a great event, and the event trust make a good donation to our club from this event. We need 8-10 marshals for each day, but if you are only available for one day that will also be considered. Your attendance is required from 7.00am, for around 4 hours for each day to assist with parking. After that, you are free to watch the event. All official marshals will be given a free pass for both days. Please support this event by contacting me ASAP with your availability, which I will confirm. jbgray@xtra.co.nz 0274345621. Thank you for your assistance.

THURSDAY 24th APRIL – THURSDAY MUSTER CANCELLED

Owing to Friday 25th being Anzac Day, and the Golden Times Rally being on Saturday 26th, it has been decided to cancel the Thursday Muster event for this month.

SATURDAY 26TH APRIL – GOLDEN TIMES RALLY – Organisers Michael Wyatt and Greg Doran

See the entry form and rally information, else ware in Puff n Stuff.

MarchMotorcycleRally

Edited from contributions of Gerry Spencer and John Martin

Motorcyclists came from all over the country including 3 from the North Island, 20 from around the Southland area, and the rest scattered around Otago through to Christchurch.

There was an interesting mix of motorbikes ranging from 2 Veteran 1913 Royal Enfield’s through to vintage AJS’s, Henderson, Norton’s, Sunbeam and Post War Indian, BSAs and Post 60s Triumph, Suzuki, Ariel, Ducati and post 80s Honda’s BMWs and Yamaha.

Bill Veitch, who is well-known, won the ‘best presented bike’, a 1938 Norton which is as old as he is. Quite remarkable.

On Sunday, we were fortunate to get shown around the private speedway museum of Will Finlay, in Cromwell. Will, who rode himself in the 1970s, started off by explaining the basic elements of a speedway bike in his workshop (which was very nicely laid out as well).

We proceeded to the museum-proper with literally wall to wall and floor to ceiling of machines from 1928 onwards. There are some that are rare (1 of 3, and 1 of 7 or 8, 1 of 8 in the world), and some are from famous riders like Ivan Mauger [and I can’t remember the others, perhaps Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs?]. The collection is rounded off by plenty of leathers, bibs and other memorabilia. Very inspiring to see.

The chefs

For comparison, I searched for other ‘largest speedway bike museums / collections’ and came up with these:

https://nationalmotorcyclemuseum.com.au/gallery/speedway/Speedway-Section-PA014.htm

This is reputedly the largest display of speedway bikes in the world.

https://www.canterburymuseum.com/explore/latest-news/speedway-kings-legacy-toremain-in-christchurch

Canterbury Museum has purchased a significant collection of motorbikes and memorabilia belonging to the world’s greatest speedway rider, Ivan Mauger

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13547285/Scots-pensioner-sell-worldsbiggest-collection-speedway-bikes-memorabilia-1million.html

Former Berwick Bandits racer Ian Paterson owns a staggering 110 motorcycles and more than 400 race vests, helmets, trophies and other trinkets, which were displayed at Cinders to Shale Museum in Edinburgh.

https://www.hjpugh.com/catalogue/BEC192282D4A32C8746C98DAE712F1BE/1C3C 2C7A814E240EE7E8F414F2BD69CF/an-extraordinary-private-collection-of-over-100speedwaygra/?currentPageNo=1

https://www.higginsheritagepark.co.nz/ray-win-collection/

Another collection in Nelson, NZ, but smaller.

The collection includes 15 speedway bikes which were raced by local Nelson and Westport riders during the 1970s – 90s

Gerry Spencer

ThursdayMuster

GEORGEWALLISCOLLECTION-WANAKA

EVENT REPORT: JOHN GRAY 27th MARCH 2025

A great turnout of approximately 20 cars and 35 members attended our visit to the property of George and Jo Wallis, near Wanaka, to view George’s collection of vehicles, and hear his life story of logging, bulldozer work and transport cartage.

George’s career commenced in the family logging business on the West Coast, around Greymouth. He then moved south to the Haast area and went into business with his brother Tim, logging Kahikatea and Rimu, which was originally carted back north, but later to the mill at Luggate, initially when the Haast Pass Road was just a well-formed track. The transport of logs prompted George to branch out into the trucking business, as a separate enterprise. Virtually all the trucks he ever owned were of the ‘International’ brand.

George, therefore, had a vested interest in assisting with the final formation of the Haast Pass Road, and he contracted five of his trucks to the Ministry of Works to cart the crushed road chip for the sealing, all the way from the Cromwell quarry. The completion of this road also allowed easier transport of native timbers to the Luggate mill.

George was also responsible for much of the formation of the road to the Treble Cone Ski field, which was quite a dangerous task, up the side of the mountain. There is an amazing range of photographs of his working life in logging and truck transport on the walls of his garage building, and he explained the story behind many of these, which was most interesting.

This shed also housed his very original 1964, Austin Healey 3000 BJ8 model, along with his 1980’s International Scout, 4WD Station Wagon and his collection of Internation Truck memorabilia. In an adjacent shed were more examples of ‘International’ trucks, of various models and ages from a nicely restored 1926 Panel Truck, through to 1970s and 80s models.

George Wallis (centre) talks about his working career

In this shed, there were also a couple of restored Austin 7s and a couple of Austin A30s. It was great to see all these vehicles together and that he had concentrated on just two marques, by way of his collection. Following the vehicle inspections, Jo Wallis graciously invited our group to have our planned picnic inside their home, as the heavens opened, just before we were about to eat.

Another great club outing to the property of very gracious hosts. It was wonderful to hear George’s stories of his life, told with such humility and knowledge. Thank you, George, and Jo, for a very memorable day.

George's "International" Scout 4WD

1973 ‘International’ Well side truck

AYRBURNCLASSIC

EVENT REPORT: JOHN GRAY

21st – 23rd March 2025

The inaugural ‘Ayrburn Classic’ Car Show and Concours was held over the recent Otago Anniversary weekend of 21st – 23rd March. For those unfamiliar with the Ayrburn Development, near Arrowtown, this is an amazing development of restored heritage buildings and a series of restaurants, bars, bakehouse and other buildings; all set in the most immaculately landscaped and tended parklike grounds; all built around Mill Stream, which previously flows through the Millbrook development.

It is also proposed that the property will ultimately house a very upmarket lifestyle village. We propose to have a ‘Thursday Muster’ outing there, later in the year, to have a good look around.

1929 Delage D8S, originally owned by Sir Malcolm Campbell 1929-1933

The show consisted of a selection of very fine ‘Classic Cars’, which were displayed around various locations within the grounds, generally in their ‘Class Classifications’. There were eight different classes in total covering everything from Vintage, American, Australian, British, European, to Competition cars, and a few others between.

There were also several ‘Commercial Stands’, covering most of the luxury brands and a few ‘Classic Car Commercial’ stands, on one of which

my 1958 Jaguar XK150 OTS was displayed, for sale. Owners wishing to display a car were required to apply to the organiser for consideration of inclusion into the show. Upon acceptance, a fee of $300 was payable per car, which included two entry tickets to the show for the weekend.

Despite the high cost, approximately 200 cars were accepted for the show, which was quite amazing. We attended the show on Sunday afternoon, with the entry fee being $50 per person, so this was certainly a high-end event.

1972 Datsun 240Z, which won Best Japanese Car

My overall opinion was that this was a very well organised event, with a great opportunity to see an amazing collection of fantastic cars, expertly staged within this amazing property and setting. We have been to Ayrburn a couple of times before, but this event enhanced the environment, and we saw considerably more of the property than we had seen before, though I understand that many of the areas where the cars were displayed, have been fairly recently developed, over the last 6 months or so. There is a grassed amphitheatre in the centre of the complex, which could be used for concerts etc, and this is where the main stage and final prizegiving was held.

The magnificently restored Perriam Model A Ford

The prize giving included first, second and third in each class, a ‘Peoples Choice Award’ and the main prize of ‘Best In Show”. The People’s Choice award was presented to Alan Dippie of Wanaka, for his magnificent 1922 Delage Raceabout, powered by the 18.5 litre Hispano Suiza V8 aircraft engine. The noise this ‘beast’ makes is very impressive, and quite scary.

The Best in Show award was made to our local branch member Simon Manning of Lake Hayes, for his 1939 Rolls-Royce Wraith ‘Royal Tour’ car. Simon spent 10 years restoring the car, which was described by the judges as ‘superb and faultless’. Congratulations Simon, this vehicle is a total credit to your dedication.

Overall, a very good show, in a great location, and I’m sure this event will grow in leaps and bounds over the next few years. I’m sure the organisers will refine the event as required, with potentially a reduced entry fee per car, but a stringent vetting process for entry, would encourage more varied vehicle entries, and potentially different cars to those of this year, instead of this year’s process of high cost being the arbiter. I would also like to see a ‘Survivors Class’, for very original unrestored cars, which is included in most ‘Concours’ these days.

The ’Invited Entry’ Rolls-Royce Encampment, in the middle of the lake

My red Jaguar XK150 OTS on the Waimak Classic Cars stand

NewMembers

Welcome to Stuart Cameron from Jacks Point and to Paul Wright from Earnscleugh. Stuart has a 1955 T100 Triumph motorcycle, while Paul has a 1950 KM Bedford

Welcome to the club.

PassingLane

Sadly, we acknowledge the death of Ian Bennie who spent quite a lot of time in Wanaka and attended events with his MGB Ian had some health problems but remained cheerful, and both he and Mary were valued club members.

BRANCHOFFICERS2024-2025

Role Person Phone Email Partner

Patron: John Loudon 448 7192

Chairman: John Martin

Sheila

445 0598 021 109 1309 martin_jw@xtra.co.nz Wendy

Vice Chairperson: Neil Webster 021999 049 neil.webster@xtra.co.nz

Immediate Past Chairman Vacant

Secretary: Graham Taylor 443 1416 gtml@xtra.co.nz Cheryl

Treasurer: Mel Wilson 021 233 0280 saddle.hill@xtra.co.nz

Club Captain: John Gray 0274345621 jbgray@xtra.co.nz

John

Wendy

Editor: Garry Grindley 021 279 5064 editorCOVCC@gmail.com Rose

Committee: Rose Grindley 021 454 371 rose.grindley@gmail.com Garry

John Wilson 027 533 5626 stagdriver98@gmail.com Mel

Tony Van Gool 021631316 dorstrom@gmail.com Raewyn

Gary Fredrickson 021532960, ss mgfred@xtra.co.nz Maree Property Ewen Duthie 027 838 8324

445 1973 duthie.e@xtra.co.nz Arlene

Alf O’Sullivan 021 110 7707 glenda.alf@gmail.com

Parts Convenor Bryan Anderson 0212049390. bryandjen@live.com

Parts Helper Alf O’Sullivan 021 110 7707 glenda.alf@gmail.com

Glenda

Don Yeaman 443 2730 yeaperson@xtra.co.nz Lynne Idle Torque BW; John Gray 0274345621 jbgray@xtra.co.nz

Librarian: Alf O'Sullivan 021 110 7077 glenda.alf@gmail.com

Area Reps:

Wendy

Glenda

Wakatipu - Bill Crooks 021 915 188 bill@arrowauto.co.nz Jill

Alexandra - Barry Walker 448 6508 TBC Sharron

Cromwell - John Martin 445 0598 martin_jw@xtra.co.nz Wendy

Wanaka - Graham Taylor 443 1416 gtml@xtra.co.nz

HSE: Gerry Spencer

Rally Conveners: Blossom Festival: Ewen Duthie 027 838 8324

Cheryl

445 1973 duthie.e@xtra.co.nz Arlene

Bryan Anderson 0212049390. bryandjen@live.com

National Daffodil Day Coordinator: Beau Trevathan 4452864

Golden Times: Alan Sutton 027 434 6018 Alan.Sutton@bayleys.co.nz

Face book page

TBC

Ann

BitsandPieces

Name badges

Graham is preparing an order for these. He gets them done in batches of 10 or so. If you need one, please talk to him.

Photos and some notes on events

I can’t get to every event, and I enjoy it when others help with contributions, We urgently need some help on this. John Gray has been doing a stirling job but we are a club not a one-man-band. This way, you will end up with a better mag that is well-rounded and better targeted to the wider membership interests. Thank you to those of you who contributed. The Editor.

LetterstoEditor/Secretary

None this month

Central Otago Vintage Car Club (Including Queenstown & Wanaka) BuySellWantedorExchange

Stickers for COVCC members

Let others know which branch you belong to at events away from home. These are produced locally and are made from high quality vinyl. They are external stickers and go on the outside of the windscreen, or on the body work. They are easily removed with a hairdryer. Cost $3.00 each. (A small profit goes to our club.)

To order contact The Secretary gtml@xtra.co.nz