VCC Horowhenua Spark March 2025 by Vintage Car Club of New Zealand

w.a.laney@xtra.co.nz

DeputyChair RobinStrachan 063646780

Secretary MichaelWintringham 021766185

horowhenua@vcc.org.nz

Treasurer JackieJob 0272011806

jackiejob73@gmail.com Co-Treasurer

ColinBrooks 042985458

RobertCammish 0274441333

DonMacdonald 063648305

GeorgeMcLean 0272121705

DonMcLaren 0211172418

RobinStrachan 063646780

CliveBardell 063555953 LibraryArchives

VerdonHeath,IvanHorn

Iamcertainthattimehasmadeapointofbeingveryshortwhenitcomes inrelationtomylife.ItseemsthatitwasjustyesterdaythatBrucewas requestingthelast“Natter”fromme,andhereIamagainintheposition ofhavingtoberemindedforthismonth’seffort.

Ithasbeenaverybusytime,bothinrelationtotheclub,andintheprivate partofmylifebutatleastallthenewsandeventshavebeenpositive. ItappearsasthoughIhavesoldthecarthathasbeendonatedtotheClub byBillandLynIsles,butatthisstagethereareacoupleofmattersthat requireattentionbeforethedealiscomplete.Iwillbeattendingtothisin thenearfuture.

OnlyadayandahalftotheSwapMeetasItypethisreport,theweather lookspromisingandtheorganisationappearstoberightuptospec. Fingerscrossedforaperfectday.

DuetocircumstancesImissedtheGarageRaidthismonthbuthopethatit allwentwell.Nodoubttherewillbeareportofsomesortinthemag. Theonlyothermatterofconcernistheup-comingA.G.M.oftheClubin June.Yes,itisamonthortwoawaybutyouhavebeenadvisedthatthere willbeveryimportantpositionstobefilledintheManagementTeam, withoutwhichtheClubwillnotbeabletooperate.Formypart,the positionofChairmanisbothveryrewardingandnottootimeconsuming. Thisismadepossiblebyhavingagoodteamwhichwehaveatthe moment,howeverthereareacoupleofthosepositionsthatwillbefalling intothesamecallastheChairman’soffice:REPLACEMENT!!!!!!!

Pleasespendalittletimeandputsomethoughttothematterofselecting newcommitteemembers.

Anyway,onthebrightersideofthings,theforecastatthemomentisfor greatthingstohappeninthenearfutureandthattomymindiswhatwe areallabout.

BillLaney

Whatafantasticturn-outatourlastWednesdaynightclubnight,andforour belated2024restorationoftheyearaward,judgingandpresentation.Wewere greetedwithalineupoffourcarsondisplay,competingfortheaward.

GraemeSmythhadhis1929MorrisIsis,KevinFlemingandhis1975RoverP6 V8,RobinStrachanandhis1963AustinA40Countryman,andGeorgeMcLean andhis1942WillysJeep.

Eachentrantgaveabrieftalkontherestorationsandthevoteswerethencounted.

GraemeSmythtooktophonoursandwaswinnerofthe2024Horowhenua RestorationoftheYearAward.

TheShannonCarShowwasahugesuccess.Sevenofourclubcarslinedupin thecornerofthefieldandanother8latecomersdisplayedtheirvehicles separatelyinthecentrefield.Wedidhoweverallhaveachancetocatchup duringtheday.

ThankstoJohnWhiteforgettingthereveryearly,savingourspaceandhaving thebillyon.Thegazebounfortunatelydidnothavethetopincludedwithit,and Johndidnotrealisethathehadtheframeonly.Nevermind,itwasanovercast day,andwedidhavetheshadeofalargepinetree.

Ourfirstgarageraidfortheyearwasverysuccessfulwithanotherhugeturnout toMarkDunn’splace.HereweviewedhisMark1Zephyrconvertible,madeup fromseveralcarsandparts,andamassiveDodgestationwagon,alongwithhis collectionofmotoringmemorabilia.Oncewehadfeastedthere,wemovedonto BryanandAndrewKilby’splaceonthestatehighway1fordessert.Here,we viewedvarioushotrodbuildsalongwiththeircollectionofcarsandmotorbikes. Andrewisbuildinga1970/80sstyleModelAhotrod.Theirgarageremindedme ofJayLeno’srestorationgarageorGasMonkeyGaragerealityshowsonTV’s TurboChannel.Andrew’sworkmanshipwasexquisite,andMarkhadmadea superbjobofalltheupholsteryintheirvehicles.

TheTedGreenMemorialMotorcycleRallywasalsoasuccessonthe23rd February.Thedaywasfineandsunnywith21ridersstartingand20finishing. WehadentriesfromWellington,Wairarapa,ManawatuandWhanganui.All ridersappearedtohaveagreattime,withthisyear’srallybeginningwithaquick fieldtest,followedbyatimedsection,touringsection,afewgravelroads,silent checks,questionsanddrawingacardaftereachcheckpoint.Theafternoonrun

finishedwithatouringsection,andacrosscountrydetourbeforefinishingback attheClubRooms.OverallwinneroftherallywasVerdonHeath.Aspecial thankstoJeffFox,ReesTaylorandReeceFrickeltonforournewTedGreen VeteranMotorcycleTrophy.ReecesuppliedtheVeteranHarleytaillight,Jeff madeupthewoodenplinthforittositonandReesdidthebrasswork.Wenow haveatrophytopresenttoveteranmotorcycleswinningfuturerallies.

On9thMarchtherewastheRuahineRamblebyManawatuVCC.Therewasa timedruninthemorningwithnochecksorquestionsjusttouringwithafew gravelsections.Someparticipantsstillmanagedtotakeawrongturn,andhadto doublebackontheroute.Agreatturn-outofnineteamsfromHorowhenuawere

present.Itwasafinesunnyday,andIthinkeveryonehadanenjoyabletime.We limpedhomewithaclogged-upcarburettorandVerdonandVivjustmadeit backhomewoundedwithwaterpumpproblems.

Cominguponthe21stand22ndMarchisthe60thMaungaMoanaRallyinNew Plymouth.Entriesclose17thMarch.Ifyouarethinkingofgoing,youhadbetter getyourentryinnow.

ThenextKapitiMid-WeekRunisgoingtobeaninterestingoutingtothe WoolshedCafénearSanson.Theyneednumbersforthoseattendingthisrunas thereisalsotheopportunitytohaveyourclub-eligiblevehiclephotographedin frontofoneoftheheritagehouses.Costis$18perpersonandbookingforlunch isrequired.PleaseletPhilPearceknowby23rdMarchifyouareattending.

OnemorefinalplugfortheNorthIslandVeroEasterRallyinCambridge.Iknow oftwoofourmembersattending.Entriesclose23rdMarch.

Juliehasorganizedaladies’lunchandgettogetherattheClubRoomson Saturday5thAprilstartingat1130am.Neighboringclubshavebeeninvited,and Callumwillkeepthesparesdepartmentopenforthemen.Thelibrarywillalso remainopenfortheafternoon.Formoreinformationregardingthisluncheon contactJulie.

LastbutnotleastisourMother’sDaytrainexcursionfromWellingtonto Woodvilleandreturn.Wehavebookedacarriagewith55seatsandyoucan boardthetrainfromanydesignatedstationonourlist.

Tickets$106eaandtheyarefillingveryquicklyso beinquicktosecureyourseat.

SpeakerforMarch

GraemeSmythwillbegivingadetailedpresentationaboutthe MorrisIsisthatherestored,andwonourRestorationoftheYear. Thatison2ndApril.

NewClubMembers

RogerBegghasjoinedinFebruary.Hehasa1960DeSoto Adventurerhardtopcoupe.Wehadacoupleofnewfacesturnup atclubnightandwelookforwardtotheirapplicationsbeing processedbyVCCHeadOffice.

Recovering

Itseemslikeallourmembersarewell.That’sgoodnews.

CoverPicture

A1937ChevroletSuburban.Nodooronrighthandsideforrear seatpassengers,soaccesstothoseseatsmusthavebeenabit difficult.

Don’tmissoutonthecheapbooksandgive-awaysthisweek-end.

Therearelotsofworkshopmanualsandmagazinestobehad. Weneedtomakespaceinthelibraryforallthenewstuffthathas beendonated.

Also,getyourwindowcardsforshows,etcfor$5.00each. Youcanhavethemlaminatedaswellfor$2.00extra.

Thiseventtookplaceon23February.Thefollowingletterwasreceived fromoneofourvisitingriders.

theparkinFoxton

TROPHYWINNERS

VintageClass DonMacdonald,Horowhenua Norton1925

PostVintageClass PaulSwitzer,Wellington RoyalEnfieldModelG1937

PostWarClass DaveHenwood,Whanganui BSAB331952

Post1960Class VerdonHeath,Horowhenua CZ1974

Post1980Class MikeD”Alton,Wairarapa HondaCXEuro1984

TonyWallaceMemorialTrophy IanMunro,Wellington AJS5001955

HardLuckTrophy

DerekRansom,Horowhenua NZETA1962

OverallWinner

TedGreenMemorialTray

VerdonHeath,Horowhenua CZ1974

KAPITIM-WREPORTFEB2025

Over40membersandpartnersmadethetriptoTeHorotoseetheunique beehivekilnsbuiltbyoneofNZ'smostfamouspotters,MirekSmisek,andlearna littleabouthisfascinatinglife.BorninCzechoslovakiain1925,Mirekspentsome ofhisteenageyearsinaNaziPOWcamponlytofindhiscountryoccupiedby Russiawhenthewarended.Butin1948heescapedfromhisnativecountry,and afterashortstayinAustraliahesettledinNewZealandwherehegained internationalrecognitionforhissalt-glazedrangeofpottery.

Youmaynotrealiseit,butifyouhaveseenanyoftheLordoftheRingsfilms thenyouwillhaveseensomeofthe700pieceswhichheproducedspeciallyfor SirPeterJackson.Mirekdiedin2013andafewyearslaterthekilnswerein dangerofbeingbulldozedtomakewayforthenewexpressway.Butthanksto theMirekSmisekTrustandhelpfromNZTA,thekilnsweredismantledbrickby brickandrelocatedtotheirnewsitealongsidetheexpressway,wherefuture plansincludeanartscentre,workshopsandexhibitionspacetocreateaceramic arthubontheKapitiCoast.

Toroundofftherun,mostattendeesenjoyedaconviviallunchatthe LongbeachCafeatWaikanaeBeach

PhilipPearce

SteamIncLimitedMobilityDisclaimer

Duetotheage,designandnatureoftheheritagecarriages,theseare notsuitableforpassengerswithlimitedmobility

AdditionalInformation

Unfortunatelythereisnobuffetcarthistrip.Snackfoodsandbeverages (includingalcohol)canbepurchasedintheloungecar.

BYOfoodanddrinkisacceptable–excludesalcohol.

CashistheencouragedmethodofpaymentonboardasEFTPOSreceptionnot alwaysavailable.

AsausagesizzleatstationinWoodville,alongwithtea/coffee/caketopurchase atstation.Organisedbylocalcommunity,notcafe.

It’sapproximately10minuteswalkintoWoodvilleforthosekeenandfitenough toheadintotown.Pleasedon’tbelateback.

Thisservicehasaviewingcarriage.TravellingthroughtheManawatuGorgeone canseethelandslideswhichhavecausedtheroadclosure.Asthetrainturns aroundinWoodvillethereisnoneedtochangesidesforreturntrip.The journeyalsopassesunderthebeginningofthenewManawatuhighway.

Toiletsareavailableontrain.Thereisoneindesignatedcarriage.

SteamInchavenominatedDementiaAwarenessasthechosencharityforthis particulartrip.Therewillbecollectorsaboardshouldonewishtodonate.

Theremayberaffles.Cashpaymentfortickets.

BeingaCluboutingandhavingentirecarriagetoourselves,asanextrabitoffun dressinginperiodcostumeisoptionalandencouraged.

ShannonCarShow

DianeandRobin hardatworkat ourclubdisplay

Line-upofourcars attheshowgrounds

Mid-WeekRunMarch262025

MurrayHislophasorganisedavisittoTheWoolshedCafé&HeritageWalk,1km southofSansononStateHighway1

TheHeritageWalkisatripthroughNZ'ssocialhistory,bywayof7typicalhomes spanningalmost100years,eachonefurnishedandpresentedjustasitwouldhave beenwhenfirstbuilt.Theyincludean1860scolonialcottage,a1900sbayvilla,a 1930sart-deco,anda1940sstatehouse.

10:30amArriveattheWoolshedCafeforbrunch,withachoicefromeitherthe counterfoodorafullmenuwhichyoucanseeontheirwebsite <www.woolshedcafe.co.nz>

11:30amTaketheaudio-guidedHeritageWalkthroughthe7houseswhichinvolves around500mofwalkingandsomesteps.Thecostis$18perperson(adiscountfrom theusual$20),andmorephotos/detailscanbefoundontheWoolshedwebsite.

12:30onwardsreturntothecafeforfurtherrefreshments,orheadhome.

Therewillbeanopportunitytotakeclub-eligiblevehiclesintotheheritageareafor photographsandMurraywillgivedetailswhenwearrive.

AfterthevisittotheWoolshed,foranyoneinterested,thereisagoodsecond-hand bookshopinSanson,rightonthejunctionofSH1andSH2.

Feelfreetocomealongjustforacatch-upovercoffee/brunch/lunch,orjustforthe HeritageWalk,orforboth.ButtheWoolshedneedstoknowthenumbersin advance,sopleaseletmeknowbySunday23rdMarchifyouarecomingand whetheryouaredoingjustoneorbothactivities.

PhilipPearceEmail:nzpearce87@gmail.comMob:0272744084

PARKING

February2025

IwonderhowmanyHorowhenuamembersnoticedmymistake inlastmonth’sSpark?TheBeadedWheelsnextissuewillbe outinApril//May,notMarch//April. Mymistake.

SpareswouldliketoissueawarmwelcometoCliveBardell, ournewmemberofspares.Clivecomeswithavastknowledge ofbothAmericanandBritishcarsandmotorcycles.

Therareitemskeepcoming.Lastmonthoneofournewbranch membersdonatedaboxofFordModelAparts.Hidinginthe cornerwasalargeCadcolitetaillight(seephotos)froma1929 to1931Cadillac.Wewillbepushingthisitem,alongwiththe itemsinlastmonthsSpark,onSwapMeetday.

Onedayintheclubroom

JeffFoxandBillCottle hardatwork.

AlecIssigonisoriginallydesignedtheMini-basedMokefortheBritish Army. Itwasn’tcapableenoughtoserveinthearmedforcesasitsground clearancewastoolow,soIssigonisredevelopedhisideaintoaleisure vehiclepositionedsomewherebetweenacitycarandabeachbuggy. Small,simpleandfuntodrive,theMokewasaninstanthitintheworld’s warmregions.Itbenefittedfrommanyoftheupdatesmadetothestandard Miniovertheyears,andremainedinproductionuntil1993.