Iamwritingthisfrommyhospitalbedafterabackoperationsomy thoughtsmaybeinfluencedbythemorphinepumpthathasbeeninmy handthelastcoupleofdays
Firstly,IwanttogiveahugethankyoutoourClubCaptains,Gregand Julie,forputtingonafantasticTararuaTrundle,evenmanagingtogo sofarastobookussomesunnyweather.Toaddtothat,thankyouto Janewholaidonafantasticspreadforafternoonteabackatthe clubroomsforthefinish.Agreatrangeofcarstookpartonthedaywith DaveCollinsandnavigatorCallumFarmerspendingthedayinthe oldestcarontherun,Dave's1914FordModelT.Despiteasmaller turnoutofcarsthaninpreviousyears,agreattimewashadbyall Ifyouenjoyedtherunpleasespreadtheword,maybeitwillencourage morememberstojoininonfutureevents.
Ontothenextsubjectatfrontofmind;theClubchairs.InmylastchatI agreedthiswouldgobacktotheCommitteetorevisitandwedidatthe lastmeetingafterreceivingfreshinformationonthecurrentstateofthe existingchairs.Wehavenowbeenmadeawareofmoreissuesand concernsthathavebeenreportedfromtheQuiltingLadies,including cutsfromdamagedframesandtornclothing.Withthisinformation,and adetailedexaminationofthechairs,wefeelthattheyaresadlyno longerinafitforpurposecondition.BillCottleandothershavemade numerousrepairsovertheyearstothechairstokeeptheseinuseand wethankhimforhistirelesseffortstogetasmuchlifeoutoftheseas possible.Sadlythoughwedohavetonowreplacethechairsandhave placedanorder.Aswewereabletoincreasetheorderwewere originallylookingtoplace,wewereabletoachieveabetterpricesowill haveafullcomplementofnewchairsandafewsparesWealso managedtogetfreedeliverywithallofthepackagingtoberemoved bythesupplierondelivery,meaningthattheywillbeunloadedand unpackedreadytogointotheclubroomswithnoextrapackagingfor ustodisposeof.JohnWhitewillbelookingforateamofhelperson deliverydaytohelpgettheunpackedchairsintotheclubrooms.More
detailswillfollowonceadateandtimeisconfirmedsodoletJohn knowifyouarefreeandabletoassist.
Atthelastclubmeeting,wedidoffertheopportunityformembersto takehomesomeoftheoldchairsiftheywishedto,with25tobe collectedbythehospiceshop.Therewillstillbesomethatwillbe availableandwillbefreetogotoagoodhome.PleaseletJohnknowif youoranyoneyouknowmaybeinterestedaswearekeentoseethe oldchairsgetsomeuseinsteadofgoingofftorotinalandfill somewhere.
WehaveanumberofeventscomingupfortheChristmasseason. Pleasetryandsupportthemasitgetsourcluboutthereamongstthe communityandmayevenattractsomemorepeopleinterestedin becomingmembers.
Sadlythere'snodrivingformeforthenext6weeksbutIwillstilltry andmakeitalongtotheeventsregardless.That'sallfornow,going backtothemorphinepumpbeforeitgetsdisconnectedandwheeled offtothenextpatient.
Welcometosomenicewarmdryweathertofinallygetourcars,bikesand toysoutforarun.
Itwasanotherpackedclubnight,andaninterestingtalkbyourChairman,Jon Dayton,ontheLondontoBrightonRun.Jonbrieflyranthroughthehistoryof therally.Thisistheworld’slongest-runningmotoringevent.Thereisadating committeeandthecutoffperiodforcompetingvehiclesbeing31stDec1904. Duringitsinception,thespeedlimitwas4milesanhourandapersonhadto carryaredflagaccordinganactofparliament1894forallself-propelled vehicles.Theactwaslaterrepealedandthespeedincreasedto12milesper hour.Thefirstworldwardidputaholdonthings,anditwasn’tuntil1927that interestbegantorejuvenateandsawtherevivaloftherally.Therallyis alwaysheldonthefirstSundayinNovember,anditsdistanceis54mileswith oneofficialstopatCrawleyforacoffeebreak.
In1929theRoyalAutomobileClubwasformedandallcarshadtobeatleast 25yearsoldtobeintherally.In1953thefilmGenevieveinspirednewinterest intherally,infact,thewholeveterancarmovement,anditreallytookoff fromthere.Someoftheearlyvehicleswere1905andhadpreviously competedintheevent,andsotheyweregivengrandfatherrightstoattendthe rally,andallowedtoenterasofright.
Jonhadbeenworkingonathreewheel,German-made1904Cyklonfora friend.Thishada450ccsinglecylinderenginemountedoverthefrontwheel, andheofferedJonaseatintheLondontoBrighton.Havingnotdoneone before,herewasJon’sopportunity,sodecidedthathemustdoit.Hewasnow amongstgentry,andpreviousfamouscontestantsSirStirlingMoss,Malcolm Campbell,DamonHillandPrinceMichaelofKent,justtonameafew.
Gettingupat4.00amtogofromhishometothestartlineby7.00am,and towingatrailerwasachallengeinitself,nottomentionwhetherthecarwould startornot.Eachcompetitorwasissuedwith4tickets.Jon’sandCarol’sfirst runintheCyklonturnedouttobeanon-eventwhenitbrokedown,andJon hadtotrailerthevehicleoutofLondontoBrighton,finishingtheeventwith ChiliConCarneandaglassofwine.
Overthenextfewyears,JonandCaroldrovea1904Renault,inwhichthe chassishadbeenusedasagate,theengineonasawbench,andgearboxand axlesstoredinabarninthesouthofFrance,whereitwaspurchasedbya friend.Anothervehiclewas1900RenaultTypeC.AR20whichwasonloan fromamuseum.
Therallyeventisnotarace,andaslongasyouareatthefinishlineby 4.30pmyoureceiveamedal.
AskJonwouldhedothisrallyagainconsideringalltheheartache,andthe break-downshehasendured,theanswerwouldbewithouthesitation,“yes.”
OurmonthlygarageraidtoKevinRedshaw’sTimelessAutoRestorationswas anothergreatdayout.Janemadeabatchofsconesandthebillywasonthe boilwhenmembersarrived.Fortymembersattendedtoviewaninteresting collectionofmemorabiliathatKevinhadcollectedasakid,includingcar models,pedalcars,signsetc.Kevinhadafewcarsonthego,andtherewasa lottosee.Incidentallyheisstilllookingfora100Emotortogetthe ChristmasBarnFord10backontheroad.
IwasparticularlyinterestedinaHoldenPremierthatKevinhadandwas workingon.OthercarsincludedFordEscorts,FordCapris,FordV8justto mentionafew.Kevin’sowncarisaFordFalconV8coupehehasowned sincehewas17andisinbeautifulcondition.
ThreeofourmembersattendedtheAnnualRexPorterRallyintheWairarapa. AndrewJuddgaveusallaquickbriefatclubnight.Itwasalongdayforhim, leavinghomeat6:00am,meetingupwithothersatSummerhillbefore travellingtoMastertontocompeteintherallywhichwas87milesinthe morning,and75milesintheafternoon,returninghomeafterprize-givingand arrivinghomeat8:00pm.Theweatherwasamixed4seasonday.Hetoldus, hesitatingslightly,thathewouldprobablydoitallagainnextyear.
ThemonthlyKapitiMid-weekrunvisitedFoxtonMuseumofAudio&Visual Technology,knownasMAVTECH,locatedintheoldFoxtoncinema.We werealltreatedtoafilmofa1960snewsreelandsomecartoons,projectedby anoldcinemaprojector,thenviewedtheenormouscollectionofcameras,TVs, radios,andallsortsofequipmentrelatingtotheentertainmentindustry.This isacollectionwellworththevisit.
Thisyear’sTararauaTrundlewasahugesuccessandmembersarestilltalking aboutit.Theweatherwasfineandcompetitorshadtofirstcompleteafield testbeforestartingoffontherally.Eachcardriverhadtonegotiateashort coursewithoutstoppingwhilethenavigatorhadtodrop5tennisballsdowna tubeinto5buckets.Manycompletedthiseasily,andwereontheirway collectingchecksandansweringafewquestions.Therallyroutetookthem viaWaitarereBeachthroughcountrysidetoFoxton,stoppingforanother challengeatthenewlyopened“OffTheLoopWakeBoardPark”.No,entrants
didnothavetoputonawetsuit,mask,andwaterskis.Theyhadtocomplete twoholesofminigolf,retainingtheirscorecard.Afterhavingalookaround atthewateractivitiesatthepark,therewasalunchstopattheHolben PavilionatFoxtonBeach.
AfterlunchtheyproceededontoHimatangiBeachforaveyshorteasysection ofstraight-linenavigation,andsearchforafewchecks,answerafewmore questionsandthenproceedonthroughcountrysidebacktoLevinandan afternoonteafitfortheRoyalFamily.Janemade50ChocolateEclairs,Cream Meringues,Lamingtonsetc.andIdon’tthinktherewasoneleft.
Classwinnersthisyearwere:
Veteran:DaveCollins&CallumFarmer1914ModelT
Vintage:Alan&MarilynPorter 1929ModelA
PostVintage:DonMeek&Jackiejob 1941Vauxhall
PostWar:Don&JanMacdonald 1956MorrisMinorTrav.
Post60s:Jon&CarolDayton 1963RoverP4110
JohnHemingway&TerriSellwood1978Triumph2.5TC
Post80s:BruceJacob&NormMcBrearty1992HoldenCalais Overall,JointWinnerswereJon&CarolDaytonintheRoverandJohn HemingwayandTerriSellwoodintheTriumph.Anall-outBritishVictory thisyear.
JohnRapleyrecentlycompetedintheManawatuBranchMotorcycleRallyon Saturday11thOctober.His1958RoyalEnfieldcoveredadistanceof105 mileswithlunchatMartonandthenfinishingattheCheltenhamHotelfor prizegiving.Thereweresomechallengingtimesonasectionofsoftgravel andalthoughJohnwasunsuccessfulintheplacings,saidhehadanenjoyable time.
Comingup;
WehaveanorganizedclubruntotheRushMuseuminFeildingonSunday 23rdNovember.SinceGregMurphy,racingcarlegend,didareviewonTV duringtheBathurstbroadcast,proprieterTerryRushtoldmethatenquiriesto visitthemuseumhavejusttakenoffandgonewild.Thereisalottoseehere. WewillmeetattheClubroomsat10.00amandtraveltoFeildingviaFoxton andRongatea,pickingupmembersontheway.Bringyourfamilyandfriends alongfortheouting.
Itcosts$15perpersontoviewthemuseum,withteaandcoffeeandseating provided,allyouhavetodoisbringapicniclunch.Thiswastheonlysuitable dateavailabletous,sopleasesupportthisevent,andbringyourcaroutfora run.
ManawatuandCentralHawkesBaybrancheshaveaCombinedVeteranRally cominguponthe6thDecember.EntriescloseThursday27thNovember,andis
opentoveteran&two-wheel-brakedvintageeraincludingmotorcyclesupto 1930.
ItisChristmasParadeseasonagain,andfirstoffistheHorowhenuaChristmas ParadeonSaturday6thDecember.Iwouldlovetogetacrosssectionofcarsto representtheclub,howeverbelievethiscouldbeachallenge,andwilltake anythingthathaswheels.Iwouldliketogetatleast10carsdecoratedin Christmasstylegatheringattheclubroomsaround1:00pmforashortrun aroundtheblockat1:30pm.Theparadebeginsat2:00pminVictoriaStreet andfollowsthesamerouteaslastyear:VictoriaSt,WeraroaRoad,Bath StreetandintotheLevinDomain.Iunderstandthatmemberslastyeardidnot stayaroundfortheCarnival,andreturnedtotheclubroomsatthecompletion oftheparade.
WehavetheShannonChristmasParadeonSunday14thDecember,liningup atStoutStreetfrom10:30amandbeginat11:30headingalongStoutStreet andtwolapsofthedomainasinstructedbythemarshals.Iwouldlovetoget atleast12carsforthisparade.
PleaseletmyselforJulieknowifyouwouldliketoattend.
IhaveacceptedinvitationsfromHorowhenuaDistrictCouncil,andShannon organizersthatwewillattend.
LastbutnotleastisourannualChristmasPartyonthe7thDecemberatthe ClubRooms,11:30amfora12:30pmsitdowndinner.BYOdrinks,andagift tothevalueof$10forSecretSanta.
AreminderthatWellingtonVCChavetheirAnnualMonteCarloRally comingupontheFriday16thJan2026.LunchstopisatManawatuClub rooms,andwillbefinishinginWhanganuiwithaBBQat151OnLondon Motel,Whanganui,intimeforWhanganuiVintageWeekend.FortheMonte Carloentries,contacttheorganizerClubCaptainWellingtonBranch,Neale Ryder0274493014andgiveyournameandtypeofcaryouwillbeusing. TheyalreadyhaveoneHorowhenuaEntry.
TheBurmaRallyisonSunday18thJan26,andWhanganuiBranchshould havetheirentriesoutsoonforthisevent.
Well,that’saboutitfromme,untilthenexttime,keepthatoildripping.
BreakingNews:
RestorationoftheYearAwardwillbeonFebruary6th2026,thefirstclub nightnextyear.ThisgivesyoutimetofinishthatprojectovertheChristmas/ NewYearBreak.
GregOliver
SpeakerforDecember
Nothingplanned.Comeandhaveachat.
NewClubMembers
MarkLockerattendedourlastclubmeeting.Hisapplicationis beingprocessedbyVCCHeadOffice.
Recovering
VerdonHeath,LindaJuddandJonDaytonareallfeelingmuch betteraftertheiroperations.
SadlyMissed
BillIsles,amembersince1988,passedawayrecently.Something wecanrememberhimforishisgenerosityindonatingtwoofhis vehiclestotheclubwhenhewasnolongerabletousethem,so thatthesalewouldprovidefundsfortheclub.Thefirstwashis 1938MorrisEight,whichwasauctionedonTradeMe.More recentlyhegaveushisdailydriver,theDaihatsu.Weextendour deepsympathytohiswife,Lyn,andfamilyandfriends.
Apology
Alineinthereportinlastmonth’sSparkaboutourGarageRaid toKohlCustomswasmisunderstoodbysomeofourreaders,and bytheproprieterofKohlCustoms.Neithertheauthornorthe editorhadanyintentionofimplyinghowsomeoneshouldrun theirbusiness.Aseditor,Iapologisefortheambiguity.
BruceJamieson
CoverPicture
Ifyou’vegotit,thrashit.
Thebooksongive-awaybooktableareabouttobechanged, solookandseewhatcouldbeofinterestforyou.
WithXmasbreakontheway,getyourselfsomenewreadingmaterial. Itwillhelptokeepyououtofthekitchen.
Also,justincaseyoustillhaveaVHSorDVDplayer,wehavesome greattapesanddiscsthatarewellworthlookingat.Fortheseyouwill needtoaskmewhichonesyoucantakeout.
Don'tforget,wehavenewstick-onVCCwingsforyourcarwindow.
