Far North Focus
November
2025
Paddy Kelly’s 1956 Riley Pathfinder
Committee: Tom Deverall, Keith Lyndsell, Naomi Mason, Christine Squire, Margaret Deverall, Murray Squire, Winston Matthews, Steve Edwards, Claude Ilton.
The full list of the elected officers is circulated with the minutes of the 2025 Annual General Meeting If at any time you see things at the Clubrooms requiring maintenance, please let Steve know. Ph 09 401 6239
Calendar of Club Events 2025/26
November 2025
1-2 Far North Tour
8th Monthly Meeting 1.00pm with Parts Shed open at 2pm Awanui Day also
15th Wheels of Mayhem in Kaitaia 22nd Working Bee
December 2025
13th Monthly Meeting 10.00 am with Parts Shed open followed with Christmas Potluck lunch at 12.00
January 2026
17th Annual Picnic
Shed open at 2pm
10th Mother’s Day Rally
June 2026
13th Monthly Meeting 1.00pm with Parts Shed open at 2pm.
27th Molloy Trophy
Club Notices
Yes, the Focus is a day earlier than normal. As the Far North Tour hits our patch tomorrow, I thought a few extra hours warning, might help to get you along to the museum with your lunch tomorrow!
Far North Tour
The tour entrants will be at Matthews Vintage Museum for lunch on Saturday, 1st November.
Win suggests FNVCCC Members who are interested, please bring your own lunch and join the FN Tour group for lunch.
It will be a good chance for a catch up with our neighbouring branch, viewing their vehicles and spending time with them.
Tea & coffee will be provided by Win.
The Dunny seat will be awarded also.
The parts shed will be open.
And some of us can support with the cuppa and clean up at the end of the visit.
Awanui Day
This is happening on Saturday 8th November and it is always a vibrant, busy event with lots of motor bikes to view, stalls, raffles, etc.
There’s no reason why a few vintage machines couldn’t brighten the day there, as well.
Spend the morning in Awanui and then move on to the monthly meeting at 1 pm, at the clubrooms.
Wheels of Mayhem
FNVCCC Members attending this, please gather in the Sports Ground car parkSwimming pool/netball courts- on South Road, before 9.30. Our vehicles will travel in convoy to the show grounds to be parked together for the event.
Please bring cash for the gate entry.
Wanted
2 drums for the parts shed to store longer bits and pieces in.
Plastic or metal, small or large.
And… any used corks, you have lying around please.
Claude: 027 4791 697
Next Club Meeting
8 th November 1 pm
Parts shed open.
2nd Saturday every month
The Far North Branch of the VVC does have a policy that pets are not brought to any Club events. We do ask that this policy is respected please.
From the chair…
Well October has gone and in less than two months Xmas and the New Year holidays will be with us.
Where has the year gone?
I will add, that over many months, we were very busy with big events within our club. A very satisfying 12 months indeed.
I would like to thank Steve for filling the Chair for me again at the last meeting due to unforeseen family circumstances, for us.
A big round of applause to the Northland Club who organised the Dunny Run, what a great day out it was with lunch at the conclusion of the Dunny Run.
December’s meeting is followed by our pot luck Xmas dinner and then January is our annual picnic.
Keep those motors running. Tom
Northern Captain’s Report
This is always a very busy time of year for most of us. I’m sorry to say we are again away and I recall putting Tom’s and my names down to help with the Far North Tour.
I had in mind mid-November for it –but not so. It’s the same weekend as we have a wedding to attend in Tauranga. Our apologies.
Our thanks to the Northland Club for our annual Dunny Run.
What a great turnout we had - 28 from Far North, this includes our two up and coming young members, Kihon and Liam... Steve & Steph’s grandsons.
Also, we were fortunate to have Peg Hills, accompany us on the Dunny Run while visiting locally. We had a ‘good catch’ with Peg. Murray S. also had a visitor along to navigate for him - I’m sure there will be an account of the run further along in the Focus.
We covered 93kms over mostly tar seal roads. Again the dust was plentiful after a short period without rain!
I know I learned a few things about Northland as we covered the ground from rural Kawakawa back to the historic Mission House at Waimate North, where we had a picnic amongst the daisies and garden perfumes.
Every navigator got something incorrect! Some travelled a lot more k’s than others!!
The lucky recipient of the Dunny trophy will be presented with it at the Far North Tour lunch stop, at Win’s.
Congratulations and a big thank you, Dave D. for preparing and getting the well written 50th Anniversary article into the Beaded Wheels for our club. We so enjoy reading your articles, Dave.
Ahead in early December, there is an event at the Kaikohe Museum on the Dec 6, which is being organised by the BOI Classic and Sports Car Club. The meet is an opportunity for car club members to raise funds for the renovation project on the train shed at the Museum.
It has been suggested, some of us who are keen, take our cars across to support them.
BOI Members supported us well for the Daffodil Day event. If you can’t attend and wish to support the cause, feel free to get your $10 to our club captains. Tom and I will be starters for this event.
Then comes the pot luck Xmas dinner.
Omg, the silly season is approaching fast!
Happy motoring.
Marg D
Dunny Run
Ron & Beryl Shugg
The Dunny Run on Sat 18th was a good one. There was a fine turn out of people and vehicles from both clubs and the weather was grand.
The countryside was looking its spring best with green foliage and blossoms.
The Whangarei run sheet was well done with distances in miles and Ks, plus points of interest and history along the way. Congratulations to the person who developed it for us.
We had our picnic lunch on the side lawn of Waimate Nth Mission House, under the old English trees which the settlers planted in the1830s.
The prize giving was postponed until the Far Nth Tour, as the trophy didn’t bring its self to the run!
A bus load of cruise ship passengers visiting the Mission House were treated to a wonderful line up of vintage cars as they arrived.
Remember when…
“Straight roads do not make skilful drivers.
Omnium gatherum…
“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt
“You can’t always have a good day.
But you can face a bad day with a good attitude.”
Far North Caffeine n Classics
The October FN C&C was definitely the spot to be, on yet another perfect day for driving.
For sale… 1954 Alvis TC21
This 1954 car has travelled from North Cape to Bluff and to most points between the two places, over its driving history.
It is currently being checked in preparation for a current WOF & Rego which has been on hold since last December.
Wing mirrors have been added to the car, as in the first photo.
Please call Margaret for further information.
09 407 8251
027 2987 322
Max has been scouting and researching in Britain and has found some unusual vehicles.
Thanks for sharing these interesting models with us, Max.
…”The Minor and a Singer Chamois, a version of the Imp I had never seen!”
Dunny Run 2025
