November
Rumour
Southland Vintage Car Club
Forthcoming Events
Commercial Rally / Christmas Run
Saturday 6 December
All welcome
22nd November 2025
Arrowtown
Motorcycle Rally
Ladies Run 18 January 2026
Edendale Crank Up Day 31 January 2026
Southland Rally 7 February 2026 entries close 29 January 2026
Central Otago Gold
Motorcycle Rally 2022 February 2026
Veteran / Vintage Rally—7 March 2026
Vero International
Festival of Historic Motoring - 15th - 21st March 2026
(see page 4 for more
It’s been a busy couple of months, and this is the last edition before Christmas, a big thanks must go out to Carol for stepping up to put this Rumour together.
During the last month we made the call to postpone both the Commercial Rally and the November Wednesday run. Given the state of emergency from the lovely weather we had, I feel this was the right call. It was also timely given the very low numbers entered for the Commercial rally. The amount of time and effort that goes into planning and running these outings deserves more entrants to be successful. I think this is my main topic this month, with the question being, how are we going to get more entrants to take part in these events?
Credit must go out to Gerry and Howard, they have tried to change things up, allowing different class vehicles to take part in all runs, however this has not worked. What do we do next? Please put some real thought into this. What do you want, what will entice members to get the vehicles out?
A big thanks need to go out to the Open Day Committee, this was a well executed day, the weather played the game, together with the people that turned up to sell their goods. Unfortunately we never got the public throughput we were expecting as in previous Open Days. The effort from all is appreciated, the Branch Committee will have a breakdown of this at our next meeting.
I will sign off the year wishing everyone a very Merry and Happy Christmas and New Year, we will start the new rally year with the Southland Rally on 7 February 2026, get the cars out, polished up and ready to go ahead of time.
Be Safe, Tony
Firewood - please grab a piece of firewood from the pile outside when you come into the clubrooms
Guest Speaker
Garth CooperCooper Motorcycle Adventures through the former USSR countries plus a few more
Wednesday Run: 3 December
Next run is Wednesday 3rd December
Leaving from the Racecourse by 10-30am, Cost: $25pp
Please ring Elaine or Angus at 03 212 8956 or 027 310 4239 by Sunday evening prior.
Wednesday Run 12 November
The Wednesday Run held on 12th November was enjoyed by 50 members. They left the Racecourse and travelled out of town via Grasmere and Steel Road to the Riverton Highway. A right turn at Wallacetown took them through to Lochiel and over the Queenstown/Invercargill Highway to Forest Hill Road, Lady Barkly Road, then left at Centre Bush onto Hundred Line East, Riverside Road, Spar Bush Road and back to Wallacetown for a lovely lunch and chat at the Tavern. Thank you Elaine and Angus for a great run.
Bar Roster
29/11/2025 Andrew Brown
6/12/2025 Paul Hamilton
13/12/2025 Mac McGarry
20/12/2025 Peter Pryde
27/12/2025 Xmas—closed 3/01/2026 New Year—closed 10/1/2026 Tony Warren
17/1/2026 Kevin Brown
Office Bearers 2024/2025
Patron Wayne Nicoll 215 7136
Chairman Tony Warren 0272 845 840
Secretary Carol McGarry 027 277 6878 southland@vcc.org.nz
Treasurer Sheryn Warren 021 712 198
Club Captain Gerry Pethick 0210 298 5620
Bulletin Editor Stuart Francis 03 213 0529…. stuartfrancis9@gmail.com
Welfare Officer Barry Hayman 03 216 3639
Southland VCC website sporty.co.nz/southlandvintagecar
VCC website www.vcc.org.nz
VCC forum www.trash.co.nz/vccbb 46 Ariki Avenue, Otatara, Postal: PO Box 1240, Invercargill 9840
Rumour Notices
Copyright of the contents of the “Rumour” magazine rests with the VCC of NZ (Southland Branch) unless otherwise stated. The Rumour is available by e-mail as a PDF file, contact the secretary if you wish to receive it this way. It also delivered earlier. Views and opinions expressed in the Rumour are those of the authors of the articles and are not necessarily those of the Southland Branch of the VCC of NZ, the Branch Executive or the Editor.
Authors of the articles are responsible for the accuracy of the articles and captions. The Editor does not “Fact Check” any article and will only correct obvious mistakes after consultation with the author. Mistakes will be corrected if possible if they are pointed out to the Editor.
Secretary’s Notes from the 13 November Branch Committee meeting
Invercargill Central has offered us the use of their Level 4 under cover roofed carpark for an event to show case our amazing vehicles. We think this is an excellent opportunity to stage a future event regardless of the weather. If you have any ideas on how we could do this, let your committee know and we can make some plans.
Clubrooms Carpark The concrete poles in the carpark have been removed. Please be considerate when parking your vehicle until the new improved plan is implemented.
The 100-year celebration of Anderson House planned for Labour weekend was postponed due to the storm damage at the park. It has now been rescheduled for 7 and 8th March 2026. We would like to incorporate this event with our Veteran and Vintage Rally on 7 March 2026. Get your cars ready. All vehicles can enter but only Veteran and Vintage vehicles are competitive.
Race4Life Track days that have been held in Southland since 2019 are no more. Changing circumstances has meant that Viv James is no-longer able to coordinate this event. The final Race4Life Track Day will be at Hampton Downs on 29 September 2026. I have written to Viv on behalf of the club and thanked her for her amazing commitment to this truly wonderful event.
2026 International BSA Rally after rally tour will be in Invercargill on Friday 27 February 2026. Have any members entered for this rally? We have offered our clubrooms to the organiser and need your help to coordinate if accepted.
Christmas Lunch—Sunday 30 November 2025 at 12 noon at our clubrooms
Lunch served at 12.30pm Catered by Country Manor Hot Ham, Vegetables, Salads and dessert. $50 per person. Names on the list on the bar. Numbers confirmed when payment is made either by internet banking to: SBS 03-1355-0799805-02 Account name: Vintage Car Club of NZ Southland Branch Inc. Please note your name and Xmas lunch in the reference boxes. Or by paying by cash or EFTPOS at the bar on Saturday night or meeting night. Names and payments must be made by Thursday 27 November. (Meeting Night).
Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring - 15th - 21st March 2026
Ray McCulloch has suggested those attending meet up in February to share travel arrangements and overnight stays to enable travelling in convoy, if convenient.
Forthcoming Events
6 December Commercial / Christmas Rally
22nd November 2025 - Arrowtown Motorcycle Rally
30th November - Josephville Hillclimb (Gore Branch)
31st January -1st February 2026 Edendale Crank Up Day
7 February 2026—Southland Rally
5-7th February 2026 South Canterbury Branch celebrates 120 years of the first car to Mount Cook
7 March 2026 Veteran and Vintage Rally
15-21st March 2026 Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring – Nelson
9th May 2026 Nelson Branch Swap Meet
Wanted any surplus Christmas decorations
— bring them on Saturday night or to our club meeting on 27 November
Editorial
This is my first Rumour magazine and I thank Dave Harris for standing in for our Editor while he has been unwell. I wish Stuart all the best in his recovery. We will be asking for a volunteer to write the Rumour in the New Year so if you are interested let me know.
We need your support to run our club so volunteer to put on a run, serve on the bar, do the cleaning or help in the kitchen or parts shed. Let us know and we will support you.
Commercial Rally was postponed from 8 November and will now be held on Saturday 6 December 2025 and be incorporated into a Christmas Rally that you are all encouraged to join in. Entries for Commercial vehicles will close on Thursday 27 November 2025.
Meet at the Clubrooms at 1pm for a briefing and your instructions. Follow the route or just have a fun drive and return back to the clubrooms for the usual Saturday afternoon refreshments.
All members and all vehicles welcome. Only Commercial vehicles are eligible to be competitive and pay the entry fee.
2026
Southland
Rally Entry form in this November Rumour. Enter online at https://www.sporty.co.nz/southlandvintagecar#
Ladies Run
Sunday 18th January 2026
This run will be held on above date meeting at 9 Abbot Street, Invercargill at 1pm.
Cost $16.00 for one of the events and your afternoon tea.
Names and numbers to Janet by 14 January 2026. Welcome to bring along your friends.
Contact Janet on 021 130 8271 or email: mccpac1@gmail.com
Central Otago Gold Motorcycle Rally 20th to 22nd February 2026
All motorcyclists with an eligible (manufactured before 1996) motorcycle are encouraged to enter.
Entries close 5 February 2026 Entry form on the noticeboard at the clubrooms or email southland@vcc.org.nz to request an entry form.
Enquiries to John 021 109 1309 email entry to martin_jw@xtra.co.nz
Parts Shed
The parts shed will be open the afternoon of meeting nights between 1 & 4 p.m. The following people can be contacted at anytime if requiring parts or information on parts in our Parts Shed. John Burke 217 8177 & 027 226 0067 or Ray McCulloch 03 217 9667 Library
The library will be open on general meeting nights between 7&9 p.m. Other times by appointment - phone 021 159 8319
Open Day
Thank you to everyone who turned up on Sunday for our Open Day. It took many people to make it the success it was, and I thank you all.
Geoff Timpany has removed the poles from the car park. Thank you Geoff, that made a big difference.
Geoff Ellis tidied up the grounds and with some help made signs saying “Sunday 16th” after the Southland Express wrote a free article but inadvertently wrote Saturday and not Sunday. The weather on Saturday at 10am was hailstones, so we were correct in choosing Sunday.
Annie and Phil Marshall donated and cooked the BBQ. Thank you both for your generosity. The smell of the delicious food on the deck made everyone's mouth water and kept Annie and Phil very busy.
Thank you to everyone who brought their vehicles for the display. Any of you who were there will agree that it was an impressive lineup. I have the addresses for six prospective new members as a result. So if you see a new face in the clubrooms, say hello and introduce yourself.
We have some second hand motorbike gear for sale by a member who can no longer ride a motorbike. Jackets, pants and helmets at the sales table. Offers to a committee member if you are interested in buying. I missed getting a photo of the modern car that had to be jump started by a classic car in order to leave the car park.
Lastly, thank you to the Branch Committee including the part shed guys and the stall holders who took part. Most made sales and I frequently looked outside and saw people walking out with “treasure”, wheels, tyres, and even and ladder caught my eye. I banked a total of $824.60. I also have a small brown purse left behind by an attendee in the BBQ area. Let me know if it is yours on meeting night 27 November or Saturday 29 November.
Well done everyone, and we will do it again next year. Nev Coutts has volunteered to coordinate the day.
We are still in recovery from the big storm. Picture of an improvised bridge over the Otepuni?
1995 Jaguar XJ6 3.2 litre, long wheel base. Travelled 141,384 km. Light green metallic paintwork. Tidy car. Ex Steve Thomas now $5,000.00 ono. Contact Barry on 021 949 531
1967 Triumph Herald (convertible - not factory) Modified front panel - only modification done. Motor runs but clutch stuck. Rego on hold. 13 x 5.5 Trident wheels. Some spares. Offers Contact Barry on 021 949 531
1962 Austin Cambridge A60
early restoration, Black Plates, drives well, $6,000 contact Ken 027 414 3377
1929 Century 6 Hupmobile. This car is in very good condition with spare motor and parts included. Car originally owned and restored by David Brass.
Contact: Jan Blee 027 646 8233
1967 Cortina mk2. Very tidy, rust free, auto, 145,000 miles. Red interior, lovely to drive.
Reconditioned trans, new alternator, 12 month wof and reg
Contact: Wayne 027 201 2103
Wanted
Race programmes from Ryal Bush 1956 and 1957, Teretonga 1957 and 1958. Also interested in other early motorsport history and memorabilia. Contact Nic, frontfive@gmail.com, 02102748924.
