Chairman’s Report
November is fast disappearing not helped with the amount of work going on. As everyone will be aware James Mackenzie has resigned from the Spare Parts Coordinator position due to family commitments. We thank James for his efforts in reorganising the spare parts and running the parts books during this time. In the interim Wayne Croft continues to man the spare shed and I have taken back the spare parts books. If anyone in the club is interested in helping Wayne and taking over the spare parts books I would be keen to have a discussion with you.
This month was our annual swap meet and while the weather always plays a part in how successful these event turn out, I can report that this years was the most successful I have been associated with. As with all successful events, there foundation is in the planning. In this regard I would like to thank all the volunteers who participated, not only on the day but those in the back ground helping setup etc. In particular I want to acknowledge the work put in by my wife Lee, monitoring the swap meet email for stall holders, replying to any and all site enquiries and confirming with our treasurer regards site payments. This as well as ensuring I had my side under control. In the end we had pre-sold 48 of the 56 sites and on the day sold another 15. The public was steady and all was in place for an exceptional result until around 11:15am when the hail storm broke. I am yet to see a crowd, including stall holders pack up and depart in such haste. By 11:30, 10 minutes after the hail storm had past, there were less than half a dozen stall holder left and next to no public to buy anything. Most of the stall holders left were intent on drying out their wares and associated tables etc. before packing up themselves. From the clubs fund raising perspective the storm brought a premature stop to the sausage sizzle sales leaving us with a bag of unsold sausages. I am sure we will find a suitable home for the surplus in the New Year. Unfortunately the spare parts sales followed the pattern of recent years with diminishing sales volume despite having the spares shed open from 1pm until after 3pm.
Wes Hamilton had loaned his gazebo for the Sausage Sizzle and this did a great job in keeping things dry during the storm but was difficult to erect. At this month’s management meeting it was agreed that the club purchase our own gazebos.
Brian Harrison (secretary) produced some printouts of Gazebos and while the actual size and specifications were not defined the committee left both John Gale (Treasurer) and myself to liaise with each other and agree on a purchase. This has been done and the new gazebos have been ordered. We are expecting them before Windsor Rally.
And hence to our next event, Windsor Rally.
The event will start at friendly bay reserve, lunch at Clarkes Mill in front of the Machinery Club shed (white house if inclement) then a short afternoon run back to our clubrooms for afternoon tea and prize giving. Initial numbers by Wednesday 19th we only had 9 confirmed entries, four days later that had risen to 32. Sunday night was the cut off for competitive entries although we will still accept noncompetitive entries up to the start on December the 6th. There is still a considerable amount of planning left to complete the rally and we are looking for volunteers for the field tests on the day so if you are not participating and have some time give me a ring.
Derek Brehaut Club Chairman
3rd December
6th December
18th December
1st January
15th January
24th January
24th January
28th January
4th February
12th February
14th February
21st February
25th February
Up Coming Events
Club Night /Bingo 7:30pm Club Rooms
Windsor Rally 9am Friendly Bay reserve
Mid-Month Run 1pm Club Rooms
Fairlie New Year day
South Canterbury
Mid-Month Run 1pm Club Rooms
Kick Start M/C Rally
Waimate Club Rooms
Dunedin-Brighton Rally Otago Club Rooms
M/C Run 1pm Club Rooms
Club Night 7:30pm Club Rooms
Mid-Month Run 1pm Club Rooms
Wallaby Rally Waimate club rooms
All British Friendly Bay Reserve
M/C Run 1pm Club Rooms
The November mid month run
Our first picnic run for the summer season was held a week later as some club members were busy with preparations for the swap meet. John Gale had sorted a great run for us,( mostly off the main highway) up to Waimate, then up to the White Horse monument . After taking in the amazing views for a while, an executive decision was made to go down to Knottingley Park for our picnic, a perfect warm sheltered spot, enjoyed by all. Grateful thanks to you John.
John's comment, "The older I get the earlier it gets late"
Wedding Tales
On Saturday 21st I had agreed to use our Wolseley Super Six for a wedding car, initially driving the wedding party from Oamaru to Livingstone for a farm wedding. Last week strong winds had caused considerable damage to the marquees erected for the wedding and the venue was shifted at short notice to the Duntroon hall. So the plan changed and I would drive the bridal party from Oamaru to Duntroon then after the wedding ceremony drive the bride and groom up to Livingstone for photos.
Having spent several days cleaning and dressing the car and myself I duly arrived at the pickup point ten minutes early. Having checked every one was comfortable we proceeded at a very leisurely pace through Weston, Enfield then Ngapara and on to elephant rocks toward Duntroon. At the top of the rise before Elephant Rocks the car would not drive (engine revs by no drive). At first I thought it had slipped out of gear, something it had never done but alas it had decided now was the best time to break an axle. As things happened an out of town guest to the wedding had been following us as they did not know how to get to Duntroon hall so the wedding party loaded into this vehicle to complete the last piece of the journey to Duntroon leaving me sitting on the side of the road
awaiting rescue by Ernest and Brenda complete with their faithful trailer. More importantly, it left another planned highlight of the wedding party in ruins. I was gutted for them.
The car was easily fixed as the axle was a clean break on the outer hub and I had another axle installed by Sunday morning.
Derek
CENTRAL OTAGO GOLD MOTORCYCLE RALLY
Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd February 2026
A Central Otago Vintage Car Club Event
This is the second Central Otago Gold Motorcycle Rally to be organised by the Central Otago Vintage Car Club. All motorcyclists with an eligible motorcycle are encouraged to enter. Eligible motorcycles are those manufactured before 1996. A “Very Short Route” option has been added this year to try and include and encourage riders with Veteran and slow Vintage motorcycles. Entry attached to newsletter or call Secretary
Hello Brian,
I am sending you this as you are the Secretary of North Otago VCC.
This advert was in the Beaded Wheels Issue 342-- October 2016.
Although I don’t need the Chevrolet- I am keen to get a photo of the car and maybe find a little of the history of the Chevrolet.
I am a motoring historian of NZ motor cars and wondering of you can advertise this in you monthly magazine, incase any of you members may know who owned the car and maybe have a photo of it or put me in contact with the owner or previous owner.
Any information about the car or owner/ previous owners would be appreciated.
My details are Richard Potts nzclassiccoaches@gmail.com
Phone 04-5645015
021-407605
Thank-you for your time
Kind Regards
Richard
Pre Registration Form 1 March 2026
Please send completed rego form to: 8 Mosgiel St, Mornington, Dunedin 9011 or email dunedinbriteurocarshow@gmail.com
One entry form per car and the disclaimer MUST be signed. There will be NO REFUNDS, this is a rain or shine event. For further information please contact Dunedin Brit Euro Car Show: dunedinbriteurocarshow@gmail.com, on our Facebook page
9.30am -11pm: Registration (Gates open at 9.30am for car set up, show vehicles must be on the grounds prior to 11am for judging.)
11am – 3.00pm: Car Show with prize giving at 1.30pm. Hot food and refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the day from various stall holders. DOGS on leash and NO GLASS by order of DCC. ROAR.
EntryFee: $20 per vehicle pre-registered (money MUST be seen with the completed registration form by February 19th) this is the faster and much preferred option. $20 per vehicle registering on the day, $10 per motorcycle. Vehicles are automatically entered into judging/prize giving as part of their entry fee though must be parked by 11am to be included in the judging. Parking is organised by arrival time - arrive together to park together!
If depositing funds via internet banking: Dunedin Brit Euro Car Show, 06-0909-0020871-00
Please use first initial and surname in ‘particulars’ & car registration number as ‘reference’
Dunedin Brit and Euro Car Show
Entry 1 March 2026:
OwnersName:_______________________________________________________________
Address
Email:____________________________ ______ Phone:
Vehicle Make: ___________________________.Model _______________________________
Registration No: ____________________
Total of $ has been paid by BANK TRANSFER / CASH (please circle one)
INDEMNITY CLAUSE: In signing this form I acknowledge that entry into this event is at my own risk and further agree to abide by all rules governing this event and respect fellow entrants, officials or any other person and to hold free from liability the organisers, landowners, event sponsors and their helpers. Furthermore I will be held accountable for any damage to grounds and other people’s property that is done by myself.
Signed: _____________________________________________ Date:_____________________
Swap
Meet 15th November
Items for the Newsletter can be posted or dropped off to 6 Waiareka lane, off Saleyards Road Or emailed to gsimpsonyyy@gmail.com
Newsletter submissions. Preferred formats are Open-office, Libre-office or MS Word as an attached document. Plain emails create extra work. Please, no “enter” key at the end of every line. Contact me for advice if not sure.
Thanks, Graeme
Chairman
Immediate Past
Chairperson
Vice Chairman
Secretary
Club Captain
NORTH OTAGO BRANCH
OFFICE BEARERS 2025/26
Derek Brehaut (Lee) 021 390 518
Brian Harrison (Janette) 03 434 2148
Athol Caldwell (Patricia) 03 437 0897
Treasurer John Gale (Jo) 03 437 1112
Committee:
Tony Hales (Jenny) 03 434 7729
Lindsay McLeod (Margaret) 021 871 526
Allan Holywell 0210 813 1323
John Adamson 0274 347 009
Murray Hayes (Diana) 027 239 9009
Wes Hamilton 03 437 2260
Beaded Wheels Scribe
Custodian
Librarian
Steve McDonald 027 928 0002
Murray Bain 0211 785 783
Archivist Murray Bain
Newsletter Editor
Spare Parts
Vehicle Verifiers
Graeme Simpson (Wendy) gsimpsonyyy@gmail.com 027 293 1059
Wayne Croft
027 608 0002
Quentin Barrow (Ange) 027 434 5570
Ernest George 027 209 0609
Club email address northotago@vcc.org.nz
Committee Meetings 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7.00 pm. All Members Welcome.
Club Nights 1st Wednesday of the month at 7.30 pm
