It’s nice to see the days are drawing out, even if it means gardens and lawns will need attention again. By the time this is printed the first run of our motoring season (the Daffodil Rally) will have been run. I hope that everyone either went on the run or contributed to the coffers, because I’m sure everyone has in some way has been affected by cancer, and all money raised stays in the Southland region.
If you haven’t already, it’s a good time now to have a look around your car, even if your warrant of fitness has not long been issued. Remember, the car is known to be up to WOF standard only on the day of issue and the onus is on the owner/driver to make sure that it is ok from that point on until the next WOF check and, with 12-month checks coming into effect shortly, it’s even more important. We can all check the obvious, lights, wiper blades, brake and clutch fluids, tyre condition and pressures and we know if the brakes or steering feel different.
Coming up on Sunday 14th September we will have our Opening Run. So, assemble at the clubrooms at 1.30pm for a 1.45 start. We’ll have a short run around the immediate area. No timed sections, although I can’t guarantee that there won’t be a question.
Bring your afternoon tea because we will be combining and sharing them back at the clubrooms when you all finish.
Murray Proctor
Update on Thornbury Museum
Tuesday Ramblers may remember that Fraser Pearce told us a new website was coming. Well, it has arrived! The link is here: https://www.southlandruralheritage.nz/ The Editor
Car photos for the Clubrooms
Any members wanting to update the picture(s) of their car(s) or who have a new car and want to display it in the clubroom photo gallery, contact
Club Captain’s Report
I received a phone call from Evan Henderson asking for help with the Barry Robinson Rally as a safety marshal. It was to be held around the Wyndham / Tokonui area. This is the first time that I have been asked to do marshalling as I am usually photographing such events.
Evan selected a great spot for me as the three roads to the intersection were closed an hour before the course start, which meant I had no spectators to control. The only problem was that the cars did not have to slow down, passing me going at full speed. I never took one image!
I go back to the old night Southland rallies, getting up in the middle of the night to travel to my spot. On most rally course corners were 44-gallon drums with blazing wood fires, roaring to keep out the frost.
Night photography is just that much harder. We had to place signs about 200-300 metres up the road to warn drivers to expect flash from the cameras. My spot for the Southland Rally was always an S curve on the Dunsdale Road near the picnic grounds. There were several large oak trees which I used as protection, which also allowed me support for my camera, thereby reducing the camera shake.
Alan Ritchie
More Jokes from Gerry Kennedy
Noah should have killed the two mosquitos.
Sign on shop door – “We are open all the time – unless we’re shut”
“Warning potholes ahead – No swimming – No fishing – No Bungee jumping allowed in potholes”
How do fish communicate?
On a shell phone.
Sent in by Donna North
From the Editor’s Keyboard
First, an apology and a correction. Both reports on the Opening Run in last month’s issue referred to Paul & “Lynette” Katon, when it should have been “Lynley”. My apologies for the error.
This month’s issue is very short of contributions. Lynne Herron has supplied photos from the Annual Dinner & Prize-giving, Frances Neilson has contributed a report on July’s Tuesday RambleandAlan Ritchie has sent in apiece about his Hillman Californian, an unusual car.
As Gore Branch Delegate, I attended the National Executive meeting andAGM in Invercargill, very ablyorganisedbytheSouthlandBranch, andmyreportonthetwomeetings appears in this issue. There was a Saturday afternoon tour for those not attending the Executive meeting and a themed (1967, in honour of Burt Munro’s speed record) dinner in the evening, at which Noel Atley was the guest speaker. The final event of the weekend was a morning tea at the Southland Branch clubrooms, with the Parts Shed and Library being open.
As I mentioned last month, I have NOTHING in hand at all for the next issue. I am hoping for reports and photos from the Daffodil Day Rally and theAugustTuesday Ramble, but I need more so PLEASE GETWRITING!
In the meantime, happy reading!
David
North
BRAINTEASER
Q: What 5-letter word becomes shorter when you add 2 letters to it? Answer next month
Answer to last month’s Brainteaser
Q: What's so special about the number 8,549,176,320?
A: It's the only number where all the digits are arranged in alphabetical order.
In New Zealand History This Month
Domestic workers call for 68-hour week
22 September 1906
Advertisement for domestic servants, c. 1912–13 (ATL, Eph-A-IMMIGRATION-1912-cover)
At a meeting in Wellington, Marianne Tasker and supporters established a domestic workers’ union, hoping to use the Liberal government’s Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to force employers to improve pay and conditions. Central to their demands was a 68-hour working week.
From the late 1880s to the 1930s,domesticservicewasthe single largest form of paid employment for women. The ‘domestics’ who worked in more than 15,000 New Zealand homes often endured harsh working conditions: a 16-hour day, 6½ days a week, for low wages.
Several earlier attempts to form unions, including one led by Tasker in 1899, had petered out. The 1906 effort aroused much debate; the wife of Wellington’s mayor sniffed that domestic workers who complained about working conditions were ‘mainly those who were incompetent’.
An administrative blunder soon gave its opponents an opportunity to nip the union in the bud. In mid-1907, Marianne Tasker left New Zealand to visit Britain. The acting secretary failed to re-register the union and the registrar of industrial unions cancelled its registration.
Congratulations to all, and thank you to Murray Proctor for the information.
Editor’s note:
The photos of the presentations that follow were taken by Lynne Herron at theAnnual Dinner & Prize-giving on 5 July.
The Chairman, Murray Proctor, presented the trophies, except for the Editor’s Trophy, which was presented by the Editor, David North.
Greg Elder
John Tremaine
Ken Youngson
Bryan Neilson
David North
Paul Katon
Continuous Membership Badges presented by the Chairman, Murray Proctor
25 Years
Years
Keith Dodds
Ken Youngson
Years
Ken Buchanan
Pat Hurley
Murray Low
Bill Sheddan
50 Years – Murray Proctor
Presented by the South Island Club Captain, Mark Wilkinson
(L-R) Mark Wilkinson, Murray & Marilyn Proctor
July Tuesday Ramble
On Tuesday the 29th July, the Ramblers met at the clubrooms for Gerry’s words of wisdom before we left, bound for Clydevale, destination the Greenfield Tavern for lunch.
Lunch was your choice from the mini-menu. Lunch ordered, got a drink, paid and on into the dining room. Fire was on, it was lovely and warm. Lunch orders soon filled and enjoyed. Blue Cod may have been the favourite meal order and it was very nice. Tea or coffee was on hand. Lots of talking and catching up with everyone after.
Some of the Ramblers’ cars at the Tavern
Some of us went up to have a look at the Tuapeka Mouth Ferry as it was not far away. “The Punt” has been operating on the Clutha River since 1896;thecurrentpuntstarteditslifeontheWaiauRiver.Thepunthadsome work done to it, to change the wood to steel and it is still in service today. “The Punt-man” told us there had been 23 on the river in the past.
Postcard of the Ferry
Thank you, Gerry, for another great Tuesday Ramble. It would be a good run in the summer time, for the branch.
Frances Neilson (Photos by the Editor)
14th September
Tuesday Ramble
30th September
NOTE EARLY START
10.15 am: meet at Clubrooms
10.30 am: depart for Bluff
12.30pm: lunch at Golden Age Tavern
Theydon’t usuallyopen on aTuesdayso wemust have 20 plus or we’ll have to take our own lunch! Please advise ASAP
1.30 pm: visit Bluff gin distillery approx. 1 hr, cost $20 per head Gin for sale
Numbers to Gerry ASAP 027 233 4634
This is something different so I put it to the vote, all in favour
Gore Branch Events for the 2025-26 Season
Event Date Organiser(s)
Opening Run
P60 Run
Ladies Run
Josephville Hill Climb
Christmas Run
Picnic Run
Festival Rally
March Run
Swap Meet
Frank Robson
Memorial Run & Clearwater Capers
Night Trial
End of Season Run
Tuesday Ramble
Sunday 14th September Murray Proctor
Sunday 5th October Bruce Price
Sunday 9th November Nancy Stronach
Sunday 30th November Evan Henderson
Sunday 7th December Bruce Price
2026
Sunday 18th January Keith Nunn
Saturday 28th February Katy Parish
Sunday 8th March Alan Ritchie
Sunday 15th March Katherine Welsh
Sunday 5th April Greg Elder
Sunday 10th May Keith Nunn
Sunday 14th June Murray Proctor
Last Tuesday of the month (except December) Co-ordinated by Gerry Kennedy
Editor's note to event organisers
If you want to see a report in The Wiper please provide one yourselves or organise somebody to do it for you. (N.B. This works best if you ask them before the event!)
13th September DunedinAutospectacular 27th September Alexandra Blossom Festival Rally Central Otago Branch
3rd – 5th October Otago Branch, 53rd Dunvegan Motorcycle Rally
4th October Southland Branch, Post-Vintage & Post-War Rally
25th – 27th October South Canterbury Branch, Mt. Cook Rally
15th November MMXXV RallyeAutomobileAncienne Monte Carlo, Banks Peninsula Branch https://www.bpvcc.org.nz/
15th November
North Otago Branch, Swap Meet Enquiries to: swapmeetnovcc@gmail.com or phone Derek Brehaut on 021 390 518
16th November Southland Branch, Swap-meet & Open Day 22nd November Arrowtown Rally 2026
31st January – 1st February Edendale Crank Up, Featuring: Ferguson, Massey Ferguson and Toyota (pre-2006) https://www.edendalevmc.co.nz/crankup.php
5th – 7th February
15th – 21st March
South Canterbury Branch celebrates 120 years of the first car to Mount Cook. Contact Nola Day: nola.day@xtra.co.nz
Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring, Nelson. https://www.historicmotoring.org.nz/
9th May Nelson Branch Swap Meet
Sunday 5th October
1.15pm: meet at the clubrooms
1.30pm: leaving for Run
Approx 115 km round trip on all sealed roads
Bring a chair and your afternoon tea Bruce
Hillclimb season coming up
(Information taken from a 1st August email from Banks Peninsula VCC)
Rod Corbett has put a list together (as below) and is happy to take any questions or queries on these events (rod.corbett88@gmail.com).
Cars pre-1995 are eligible as long as they have a VCC VIC and Logbook. The requirements for roll protection, harnesses and tyres are not as strict as for Circuit racing. They are a great compliment to, or stepping stone to circuit racing and of course they are also a huge amount of fun!
We've got 5 upcoming events during October and November 2025, so please save these dates:
1. Saturday 18 October: Summit Road, Gebbies Pass, Banks Peninsula (in conjunction with RATEC). More details soon.
2. Sunday 19 October: Kinlock Road, Little River, Banks Peninsula (in conjunction with RATEC). More details soon. Agreat weekend of hill climbs close to Christchurch.
3. Sunday 9 November: Hawkswood, North Canterbury (in conjunction with the Country Gents Historic & Sports Car Club and RATEC). Celebrating 20 years since the running of the first Hawkswood event in 2005. More details soon.
4. Saturday 29 November: Coronet Peak Hillclimb, Queenstown (in conjunction with the Queenstown Car Club).
This is a first-time opportunity for the VCC, with Queenstown Car Club kindly inviting a field of 12 VCC eligible cars to this event. More details soon. With only 12 spaces available, we recommend those keen to participate email their contact details to Rod Corbett: rod.corbett88@gmail.com to register their interest.
5. Sunday 30 November: Josephville Hill Climb, Lumsden (organised by VCC Gore Branch). More details soon. Again, those keen to participate please email your contact details to Evan Henderson: hender1946@gmail.com
Another doubleheader weekend with Coronet on Saturday and Josephville on Sunday!
We look forward to you joining us for these great events. Secretary, Banks Peninsula Branch VCC, Ph 344 1314 or 0273442301
In Welsh History This Month
24th September
William Frost, from Saundersfoot, arguably the true inventor of the flying machine, flew the 'Frost Airship Glider' for the first and only time on 24 September 1896.
Frost's flying machine, described as a balloon powered hang glider, with helicopter-style blades operated by foot pedals, was witnessed to fly for 500 metres before crashing into bushes. However, as the event was not officially recorded and an overnight storm destroyed what remained of the craft, Frost died in 1935 without receiving the recognition his achievement surely deserved.
Adapted from https://www.facebook.com/TheHistoryOfWales/
REMINDERS
FOR SALE & WANTED ADVERTISEMENTS ARE FREE to Club members. Advertisements will be published in three consecutive issues. Please contact the Editor.
The Branch receives commission if you insure your vehicle(s), boat(s), house(s), contents or travel with Vero Insurance and quote the Branch number (300135).
https://vcc.org.nz/vero-vcc-insurance-scheme/
Gore Branch VCC name badges: are available to order by contacting the Branch Chairman (cellphone 027 649 1377).
N.B. If you’re not wearing one at a meeting you will attract the Sheriff’s attention and are likely to be fined!
You are very welcome to come on Branch runs in your modern.
Join the VCC online at https://vcc.org.nz/how-to-join/
Both Bluebridge and Interislander Ferries offer discounts to VCC members: https://vcc.org.nz/membership-benefits/
To Let: the Gore Branch Clubrooms are available to VCC members for personal functions at very reasonable cost.
Newsletters from other Branches are posted on the VCC Website each month. Go to: https://vcc.org.nz/news-from-our-branches/
They are also sent to each Branch by email and can be obtained on request from the Secretary or the Editor.
GORE BRANCH BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER
Gore Branch Delegate’s Report
VCC Executive Meeting andAGM, 8-9August 2025
These are what I felt were the main points of potential interest to Branch members. The meeting Agendas list all items covered during the two meetings. Copies of these and the reports are available from me or the Branch Secretary, Katherine Welsh, on request. I am happy to answer any questions members may have about the meetings and/or the reports.
David North, Branch Delegate, Gore VCC
Executive Meeting (part 1, 8August)
Attendance was very good, with all of the Management Committee present and delegates from 33 branches. Tony Warren, Chairman of Southland Branch, welcomed the attendees to Invercargill, the Ascot Park Hotel and Southland.As a number of branches had expressed concern that the correct procedure had not been followed in producing the Notice of Motion to adopt the new VCC constitution, item 15 on the Agenda, “Constitution”, was the first substantive item to be addressed.
Constitution
Acopy of the letter from the Gisborne Branch, the relevant By-law and the Gisborne commentary were tabled for delegates to read. The President responded to the letter and commentary by saying that the required assessment had been carried out and this was in the Minutes of the January 2025 Management Committee meeting. Each Branch Delegate was then asked, in turn, for their branch’s opinion, following which a vote was taken and it was resolved to accept the result of the vote on the Notice of Motion. I abstained since the Gore Branch had not discussed this matter.
The concerns expressed in one of the two Wellsford/Warkworth Branch lettershadbeencoveredbythepreviousdiscussion.Thesecondletterasked who was responsible for sending the 8 July email signed “The Executive Committee”, subject “VCC Member ****** Your Vote is Needed”? The President explained that it was the Management Committee/President’s decision and that, in hindsight, it was probably wrong to have done so as the Executive had not discussed this or been made aware of it in advance.
ThePresident said that all constitutions submitted to theRegistrar arebeing assessed by AI for compliance with the Incorporated SocietiesAct 2022.
Discussion paper reproduced in full:
The meeting was generally in agreement with the “LVVTA certification and not be eligible for competition trophies” suggestion. Feedback and comments from members is requested.
Bids for National Events
AGM 2026 - Manawatu Branch 2027 South Island Easter Rally - Otago Branch Both of these bids were accepted.
Executive Meeting (part 2, 9August)
Appointment ofArchivist Don Muller re-appointed.
VeroInternationalFestivalofHistoricMotoring Rally(IFHM)Report. Tabled. (See theAGM report on page 41.)
National Office Systems/Privacy
Murray Trounson spoke to his report. Extracts from the report are in italics: Club Manual. A version of the updated Club Manual is now available on the club website. It is not visible to members of the public browsing the web site, but on request, National Office can provide an email link to the document. I asked about adding information to this effect to the website and hope that this will be done.
N.B. At the moment, the VCC Constitution and By-laws are under “Vehicle Information” on the VCC Homepage. Following a further question, I hope that these links will be made more obvious.
Privacy. One branch is keen to send a membership list to all its members. Under the Privacy Act 2020 we are required to get all members to approve the release of the member and vehicle information for that purpose, first. The process started some months ago, to send an email to all members, detailing their membership records and vehicle records, and with links for them to click on to access a form to update the data, and approve the release of the data in membership lists etc, is underway again and in final testing. Members without email addresses will receive the same information printed and posted out. Until all members in a branch have updated their data, and approved it for release to other members, then such lists cannot be sent out, otherwise the Branch sending it will be in breach of the Privacy Act.
Budget to 31/3/2026. Deficit is budgeted to rise due to increased costs associated with Beaded Wheels (printing and postage); administration expenses (extra work associated with the 2026 Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring, IFHM); FIVAaffiliation fee; travel expenses; repairs & maintenance and depreciation (new building and fixtures & fittings – fit out not completed yet); removal fees (one-off for transfer from old to new buildings); also decreased interest (reductions in interest rates and the number of term deposits).
Membership Status Report
Tabled. New members accepted/welcomed, those members who have not paid their subscriptions were declared “Unfinancial”.
Minutes of the previous Executive Meeting (8-9 March 2025). The Wellington and Gisborne Branches had indicated that they considered the draft Minutes required correction. The Gisborne Branch document had not
been forwarded to the National Office prior to the meeting, so could not be dealt with in detail. Following discussion, the meeting resolved to accept the Minutes as a true and correct record, subject to alterations agreed at this meeting being made and the Gisborne Branch document being provided to the National Office for attention. Branch Delegates (including me) who were not at the meeting abstained from voting.
2026 March Executive Meeting. Date to be decided later due to difficulty in finding adatethatdid not clashwith theIFHMorotherimportant events.
Draft By-laws. The By-laws have been re-drafted to go with the new constitution. These were tabled, with a request that delegates take them back to their branches and feedback be provided to the National Office (preferably as “Word” documents) by the end of October. I requested that electronic versions be provided to branches.
The President pointed out that the By-laws list the matters on which the Regional Representatives will have a “weighted vote”, i.e. a vote for each branch they represent. The relevant section is: Voting on certain matters at National Committee meetings
In accordance with section 6.15.a).i) of the Club Constitution, the following matter(s) require a weighted vote: decisions on a) Member Subscriptions; b) decisions on the removal of an Officer under clause 7.11 of the Constitution; and c) decisions on the Bylaws under clause 16.1.d) of the Constitution.
Draft Regional Representatives Position Description. This was also tabled and feedback requested as above. Again, I requested that electronic versions be provided.
I also asked if a Branch Delegate Position Description could be provided asIcanseenosubstantial roleforBranchDelegatesinthenewconstitution. Theonly mentions are: The Branch delegate shall liaise with their National Regional Representatives. and for weighted voting by the Regional Representatives: …and these votes must be exercised in accordance with the vote of each Branch delegate.
I feel that this can be done more effectively and efficiently by the Branch Secretaries. Some branches indicated that their secretaries would be unwilling, or unable, to take on this additional work. I also said that I can see no purpose in continuing the Branch Delegate meetings once the new constitution comes into effect as there is no provision for these meetings to
feed into either the management or the governance of the VCC. The cost to the VCC in paying travel expenses to the attendees would, therefore, be a waste of money. I understand that the National Office will provide a Position Description.
General Business.
Waikato Branch asked if the National Veteran Rally could also be opened up to vehicles over 100-years-old. Some branches are already including these vehicles in their Veteran events.
Some branches reported difficulties with resolving insurance queries with Vero. The President said that the “VCC contact” was away on sabbatical leave until March but that he hoped adequate alternative arrangements could be made.
North Shore Branch suggested that a sub-committee be set up to deal with the inevitable refining of the new constitution and Horowhenua Branch added that it was important to get it right first time.
Waikato Branch asked if South and North Island easter Rallies could revert to being in alternate years. After discussion it was decided to stick with the current system that the rallies can be held when a branch offers to do so. It was pointed out that the North and South Island Club Captains’Tours do alternate.
The North Island Club Captain urged the nine branches that don’t currently provide a newsletter for the VCC website to do so.
Waitemata Branch suggested providing a live-stream of the meetings so that interested members could view the proceedings.
Horowhenua Branch requested the Branch voting percentages for the constitution Notice of Motion.These will be circulated with the official meeting Minutes.
AGM (9August)
Welcome. Tony Warren, Southland Branch Chairman, welcomed the attendees and introduced Gerry Forde. Gerry will be well-known to many of you for his involvement with Southland Spirit of a Nation and the Spirit Army. His high energy talk was very amusing and entertaining.
Annual President’s Report. Pre-circulated. The President also mentioned the 12-month WoF announcement and the fact that the consultation period had garnered over 33,000 submissions.
Annual Financial Report. A good year, a surplus of c.$120K. Annual subscriptions to remain unchanged for 2025-2026.
Speed Steward. Looking at re-writing parts of the current regulations to improve clarity and incorporate some minor changes to enhance safety. Also looking at how to best manage the “tyre issue” with help from some skilled helpers from within the VCC who have excellent tyre knowledge.
Beaded Wheels. A delegate asked why the President’s Report is “hidden” in the body of the magazine, rather than being near the front. The Editor replied that the President was happy with the position and that, practically, it made it possible to allow more flexibility in length and also put it at the beginning of the “Club” section.
South Island Club Captain. Noted that entries to the three National Rallies attended (Commercial, Veteran and South Island Easter) were all down on previous years. Also, a very noticeable trend is members rallying in later model vehicles.
North Island Club Captain. Noted that entry numbers for most Branches’ “Premier” Events (Entry Form type rallies) were down from previous years, some quite significantly, as was the case for all National Rallies held over the last year. Commented that the two biggest event types for numbers seem to be Swap Meets and “Coffee and Cars” type gatherings where numbers are in the hundreds. Called on members to support branch events, “use it or lose it”.
Registrar. Produced since the 2024AGM: 219 DOMAS statements; 426 VIC cards; including 173 motorcycles.
Archivist. Reported on the move to the new building. Noted that Ian Goldingham has collected a full set of copies of “The NZ Motor & Cycle Journal” (1905-to the early 1930s). Over the next two to three years they will be scanned by the National Library in Wellington and put on the magazine section of “Papers Past” on the internet. Due to pressure of work will no longer be writing the “Archivist Notes” in Beaded Wheels.
New Zealand Federation of Motoring Clubs. Garry Jackson, President of NZFOMC, gave a presentation updating the meeting about the 22-year journey to get to 12-month WoFs. Garry paid tribute to long-time VCC member Rod Brayshaw, who started the process in 2003. The NZ Historic & ClassicVehicleSurvey was abig factor,demonstratingthe$16B benefits to the NZ economy from the sector. The public consultation garnered 13,000 submissions, 97%ofwhich werein favour of12-monthWoFs. Next steps are towards extended WoF intervals for Veterans and historic commercial vehicles and looking at the specialised requirements for vintagemilitaryvehicles.Hewarnedthatthesewouldbemuchtoughernuts to crack. Garry also spoke about the need to get recognition of historic vehicles as “moving monuments”. At present, the Ministry for Culture & Heritage only recognises static objects, such as buildings, monuments (and trees!). Garry has had a very positive meeting with the Minister, Paul Goldsmith.
The NZFOMC recently celebrated its 30th Anniversary in conjunction with the it’sAGM. Neil Beckenham (VCC Registrar) attended and reported that Claude Lewenez gave a very interesting presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl8vjxEURHY&ab_channel=NewZea landFederationofMotoringClubsInc.
John L Goddard Trophy. This was presented to Elisabeth and the late Fred Smits, of “Classic Strider” Mercedes-Benz fame.
Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring Rally (IFHM) Update. Ticket sales are tracking well, but the organisers are well aware that VCC members historically only register in the last month before an event. Rally routes have not been affected by the weather bombs. Cook Strait ferry problems mean early booking is very prudent. After 31August there will be anadditional $200 late booking feeuntil entries close for good at the end of November.
Daffodil Rally for Cancer 2025. Features or ads have appeared in Kia Ora magazine, AA Directions, Classic Driver and many others. The event has raised over $250K for the Cancer Society since it started. Why Ford? Ford is one of the oldest (1908) and most respected vehicle brands in New Zealand. Ford’s values and36dealerships alignperfectlywith theVCC and its branches. Landmarks all over New Zealand will be lit up yellow in August, including the HWR tower in Invercargill.
Notice of Motion. Voting was 86% in favour and over 2,100 ballot papers were returned, twice the usual amount.The new constitution will come into effect on 9August 2026. The By-laws will be finalised in March 2026.
Election of Officers. No elections needed, but still no Secretary/Treasurer.
New Building. Update by Murray Trounson. The old building was sold for more than expected and the new building cost less than expected. The new building consists of two adjacent buildings. One is the new Archive building and the other is “headquarters”. The meetings room in the new building will be used for Management Committee meetings, thus saving money on venue hire. TheArchives will be open most Friday mornings.
Presidential Award. Presented to the Archivist, Don Muller and his wife, Marlene, for all their work on the archives and moving to the new building.
Other reports presented:
LVVTA; NZTA; FIVADelegate
David North
Branch Delegate, Gore VCC
Hillman Californian
Since the last newsletter I have been asked a few times regarding the Hillman Californian.The question usually asked is, “How does an Englishmade car get anAmerican name?”
The answer is quite simple (given to me by another owner). Around the 1950s with the end of WWII, Germany was being split up with the help of British,American and Russian troops. Rootes Group decided that, because of the large number of Americans in Germany, a good idea would be to design a car that would suit anAmerican. Hence the name “Californian”.
The Californian is very different from an English Hillman with its round back glass windows, no centre post and wind down back window that travels down on a 90-degree arc. On a hot day with all the windows down it was like travelling in a convertible with a steel roof.
Finally, it is great news for the Ritchie family, with theAustinA50 engine totally reconditioned ready for many rallies in the future.
We would like to thank Stephen Crump (Crumpy) for all the great skill he has shown to get theA50 running like a clock.
New Zealand Federation of Motoring Clubs Inc. (newsletter page): https://fomc.nz/newsletters/
Southland Branch website:
https://www.sporty.co.nz/southlandvintagecar
The Editor
Sent in by Alice
Horrell
ADVERTISEMENTS
FOR SALE
1910 D26 Brush Runabout
with the only Brush 2-cylinder, 2.5 litre Rotary Shaft Balanced engine in the world. Designed & manufactured byAlanson Brush.
ABrushwasthefirstautomobile to drive 4,100 kms in 1912Fremantle to Sydney.)
I am searching for a Veteran car enthusiast in Aussie or NZ, preferably onewho is young and dreams of enjoying owning and driving such a historic Brush.
My Brush and I have enjoyed long distance drives, twice Perth to Sydney. The BIG DRIVE - around Australia - 14,700kms, 60 days with help from family and friends. Averaged 40 +kph.
I bought my Brush in 1980, and enjoyed the various weekend events of our Australian Clubs and events of our Veteran Car Club NSW & VIC. I am 91 and have two inoperable knees which is why I am searching for a Veteran car enthusiast. I have a pack of info on Brush 2-cylinders etc.
My price is $50,000 to $60,000 - happy to negotiate on numbers only - I am not interested in museums or O/S interest. I will inform overseas enthusiasts in January 2026 of the sale price of $100,000 if anANZAC has not been found.
Please ring me on (00612) 409 712 101 if enthusiastic, Bob Lamond (Charlestown, NSW,Australia)
FOR SALE
Four new old stock 600x16 inch crossply tyres with tubes. Only done about 100 miles. $450 the set. Phone Hartley Hay 027 814 2052 1/3
FOR SALE
1952Austin Sheerline
Contact
6-cylinder, 4-litre, manual gearbox, 4-door sedan. Current WOF & Rego. 125,000 miles. Interior: walnut dashboard & leather seating original. Restored in ex condition through 1996. Good history kept over the years of service. Many spare parts available. Located in Gore, Southland. $40,000 ono.
nancy.stronach@xtra.co.nz
Tailpiece
Sent in by Bill Sheddan
Run reports, articles of interest, photos, technical tips, letters and feedback are always welcome.
The Wiper is usually distributed on or around the last Tuesday of each month
Please send all contributions to David North before the 3rd Wednesday of each month for inclusion in the next issue of The Wiper
If you don't have a computer, I can get a hand-written article typed up or put your notes or jottings into shape for The Wiper. If you prefer, I can even take notes as you talk to me and write up the story for you - I am always ready to help so just let me know how!
e-mail: northd14@gmail.com
physical and mail: 4 Trotter Street, Riverton 9822
telephone (mobile) 021 172 3281
Please support our advertisers so that they, in turn, can continue to support the Branch
The opinions and statements in The Wiper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or views of the Gore Branch or of the VCC. The Branch accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any statements. The Wiper is printed by I-Cue 10 Wood
