Club Captain’s chat
The club is holding a quiz night on Wednesday the 1st October. We have arranged with the North Otago Vintage Machinery Club to hold our Windsor rally on the 6th of December. The Flour mill will be open too. Please bring your lunch and chairs.
Geoff Omnet has suggested an outing to the Maheno Tavern on the 12th October. Details below.
Athol Caldwell Club Captain
Chairman’s Report
This year’s Rally for Cancer was very successful with $1100:00 raised for the Cancer Society. Thanks in part to the Hot Rod club in supporting this event. Well done to all those that supported this annual event. An update from Karen Smylie, VCC’s National co-ordinator informs us that the national total exceeds $110,000 with a few branches still to come in. Since the inception of the Daffodil Rally for Cancer in 2017 the VCC has raised over $500,000 for the Cancer Society. While this is something we as a club can rightly be proud of we need to keep in focus it is not a fund raising competition, rather a day to promote our club.
Our next event will be the Tea Pot Rally scheduled for Saturday 25th of October. For those on the ball, yes this is Labour weekend but after speaking with our Waimate brothers this was the best fit without shifting it into November and closer to our swap meet. As winners of last year’s rally, Sara Miller and Phil Berry are organising the actual run so details will come out nearer the time.
As the weather should now be improving it is time we completed some of the project works left over from last summer. For the more observant of you, you may have noticed a small trench across the gate to the parts shed and down the fence line to just before the pole outside the main gate. Tony Hale has dug this to see if is effective in diverting storm water back onto the road verge before a more permanent trench is built. Unfortunately we have not had a heavy rain event to test the temporary setup yet.
In the next few weeks we will be looking at clearing the motors and wood stored around and under the club house so we can get under the flooring and check for moisture under the library area. This is in an attempt to find the best solution to reduce dampness in the Library.
Work is still progressing with funding applications for an AED ( defibrillator)
Superclean Motortune
is an advanced fuel additive designed to clean and maintain petrol engine fuel systems. Superclean Motortune can improve the overall running of old and new engines by reducing deposit buildup within carburettors and injectors. This product will combat corrosion in petrol tanks and fuel systems, de-coke combustion chambers, free sticking valves and clean manifolds and ports. Improved cleanliness will result in lower emissions, improved fuel consumption and increased power. In older engines Superclean Motortune can help to control crankcase deposits.
THE VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND INC, SOUTH CANTERBURY BRANCH Invites you to join us in celebrating 120 years since the FIRST POWERED MOTOR VEHICLES TRAVELLED TO THE HERMITAGE, MT COOK.
5TH, 6TH, 7TH February 2026
Entries close Wednesday December 31st 2025. This celebration is open to all Veteran, Vintage and Post Vintage vehicles and follows closely as is possible to the Centennial event held in 2006.
PERIOD COSTUME PREFERRED = BUT OPTIONAL.
Registration will be Thursday 5th February 2026, from 5pm til 10.30pm at the South Canterbury Clubrooms, 19 Redruth St, Timaru. This is the normal Branch Noggin Night, cash bar will be operating, the parts shed will be open. Supper will be provided. The starting point is yet to be confirmed but will be advised to entrants where the start will be. First car away at 9am and we will travel to morning tea at Opawa Homestead at Albury, the original home of John Rutherford, owner of one of the two De Dion Bouton cars that were first to travel to Mt Cook. The Albury School will be providing your morning tea and will be dressed for the occasion so your wearing of period costume would be appreciated. Lunch will be at Fairlie. You can provide your own picnic, or order a lunch box on your registration form, or purchase in Fairlie. ( Remember it is a holiday weekend so food could be limited. ) After lunch give yourself time to visit the Fairlie Museum. This is on your way out of Fairlie. There is a display of C.W.F Hamilton’s designer Jet Boat and information. Bill Hamilton was the designer of the very first Jet Boat in New Zealand. You can visit This Museum individually if you wish.
The first days motoring will finish at Lake Tekapo. There is a Bar B Que meal for all, arranged at the Tekapo Hall, from 4-30pm. Time for a chat and catch up with friends. You will need to bring your own drinks. Tea & Coffee will be supplied.
While in Tekapo there are many places to visit. One of these is the Mt John Observatory. There is a road charge of $8 at the time of printing this. The payment can ONLY be paid by CARD. NO CASH. This fee is per vehicle, not per person. The road to Mt John is all sealed and has steep gradients. Amazing views at the top, and a great coffee shop as well. There are tours to the Observatory and these have to be booked thru the Dark Sky project. The Dark Sky Experience combines many tales/science/astronomy/ preserving the night sky/ a daytime indoor astronomy tour. The Dark Sky Experience is a world first and is a must on all itineries if staying in Tekapo or just passing thru. You will have time in the morning for a visit if you run short of time when you arrive in Tekapo. Check them out 0800 327 5759 , or 03 680 6960, or info@darkskyproject.co.nz Many choices for you to choose from. Book yourself in. Also check out the toilets in the Lake Tekapo car park. These are adorned with photos from George Empson, he is a well known, world famous photographer, but lives in Tekapo. You will have seen many of his photos during the news clips on TV.
The next morning 7th February, you can leave at your own time. There is no morning tea stop scheduled this morning. If you would like to visit the Irishman Creek Station and visit the Museum then please contact them direct. irishmancreek.enquiries@gmail.com Period costume especially preferred on this day as there will be secret squirrels floating around choosing the best dressed for this day. Prizes will be awarded at the Evening Dinner at the Distinction Country Hotel Twizel.
Your lunch stop today will be at Glentanner Station Woolshed. You will have tickets to hand in for your lunch.
After our lunch stop we will proceed in car order if possible on the main SH to The Hermitage, Mt Cook. You might visit the Lavender farm on the way. Please obey any Marshall’s instructions, and be considerate of others. Feel free to wander around. They have great shopping areas upstairs and down, and hopefully they will have the video playing taken from 20 years ago.
Parking could be an issue. Please take care. Your plaque will be handed out at the Hermitage door. After your visit, feel free to wander up to the glaciers for a look around. You only have a short trip into Twizel ( approx 66km, or 48 miles ) so plenty of time for a drive to the glaciers etc.
Assemble back at the Distinction Country Hotel Twizel from 6pm. ( Cash bar available ) A slide show/video will be playing and presentations at 6.30pm with the prepaid meal starting at 7pm. Your meal tickets will be in your rally packs. Those who are not partaking of the meal, you are most welcome to attend the before dinner drinks and chat. ( Cash Bar )
ENTRY FORM
VEHICLE
ENTRY FEE. includes Plaque, Thurs supper, Fri morning tea, Fri night BBQ……..$ 120 Accomodation at Mackenzie Distinction Hotel as follows
Bed & Breakfast Single Occupancy $281 per room…….……………………………
Bed & Breakfast Double Occupancy $ 317 per room……………..…………………...$……..…
Bed & Breakfast Triple Occupancy $ 403 per room……..…………….………………$………
Dinner Only Number…….. @ $68 per…………………..…………………………..…$……..
Breakfast Only $36 per ……………….………………………….…………………..…$……...
Boxed Lunch Fairlie Friday Number ……..@ $15.00pp ………..………………. $............
Lunch at Glentanner Saturday Number ……@25.00pp…………………………..$............ Total …….………………..………..……….………$.............
Can be paid in installments on 1st Oct, 1st Nov & 1st Dec. Please advise Nola if choosing this option using email address below or phone or txt 027 2035007.
Payments please to ANZ Acct;
Account name: SC VCC Account number 01 – 0885 – 0009685 – 19 using your name and Rego number as reference. Please scan entry form to SCVCCTreasurer@outlook.co.nz or post to Nola Day, 9 Wellington St, Parkside, Timaru 7910.
NO LATER THAN 31 DECEMBER 2025
NO LATE ENTRIES ACCEPTED
For our September mid month run we finished up at the " Coast Cafe " Kakanui for our coffee and some of their delicious iced carrot cake, with great coastal views from the dining area.
Thank you John Gale for organizing this run for us always appreciated. John usually includes a joke on our route instructions, " I was told that after a vasectomy I wouldn't have kids anymore. Imagine my shock when I got home and they were still there "
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
NORTH OTAGO BRANCH
OFFICE BEARERS 2025/26
Chairman Derek Brehaut (Lee) 021 390 518
Immediate Past
Chairperson
Vice Chairman
Secretary Brian Harrison (Janette) 03 434 2148
Club Captain Athol Caldwell (Patricia) 03 437 0897
Treasurer John Gale (Jo) 03 437 1112
Committee:
Tony Hales (Jenny) 027 587 8851
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 Kathleen Perry 03 434 7226 kathleen2015@xtra.co.nz
Custodian
Librarian
Archivist
Steve McDonald 027 928 0002
Murray Bain 0211 785 783
Murray Bain
Newsletter Editor Graeme Simpson (Wendy) gsimpsonyyy@gmail.com 027 293 1059
Spare Parts
Vehicle Verifiers
James MacKenzie (Angele) 029 770 7105
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. Members Welcome.
Club Nights 1st Wednesday of the month at 7.30 pm (details in The Distributor)
Enfield 2/12/1961
