VINTAGE CAR CLUB
SOUTH OTAGO BRANCH
Next Meeting
Tuesday 25th March 2025
7.30 p.m.
Chairman Robin McCall 027 4159478
Secretary Gary Beaumont 03 415 9169
Treasurer Sue Beaumont 03 415 9169
Newsletter Noeline Milne 0277262520 noeljoy@xtra.co.nz
Club Captain
Branch Email southotago@vcc.org.nz Vintage Car Club of NZ –South Otago Branch, Account number: 031734 0005630 00
March 2025
February meeting was held with 10 enthusiastic members coming along to see to the business at hand and share some social time together. Sympathies are extended to those who have lost loved ones recently and get well wishes to members who have been to hospital.
Entry forms were available for the Gerald Lynch Blosse M/C Memorial Run on 12 April North Otago and the Arrowtown Golden Times Rally on 26th April.
Gaynor was unable to come along to the meeting this time but she passed on some news of the Gore Rally she took part in, bringing home some prizes for Margaret & Robin McCall who won the P.V. Field Test, Time Trial and Combined Winner in the Plymouth. These were presented to Robin at our meeting. Robin commented he should take notice of his wife more often. A very good Rally where they learned some area history too. Well done.
Wednesday Run for March was a trip to Central Otago for picnic lunch and fruit purchases. 17 people in 9 vehicles. Afternoon tea was in Lawrence at the Prospector this time. Good Samaritan deed was needed for the Lloyds as their 1959 Zephyr decided it needed some more of the necessary in the tank to get home. Maurice reminds me that he is looking for a wing mirror to go on the passenger side. Phone 027 4773939. Motorcycle Rally 50th Event for South Otago Branch
There were 29 entries entered for the rally but our two riders from the North Island broke down just south of Timaru so were unable to make the start.
It was great to have two riders who were on the first rally in 1975 entered fifty years laterBill Veitch from Dunedin and Brian Hayman from Rangiora. It was also great to have John Hayman from Te Anau who designed the rally plaque which is still in use today. The bikes ranged from a 1913 Royal Enfield to a 1995 Ducati 916.
After a lovely morning tea and cuppa the first bike headed off at 10.30. The route sent the bikes up the Clutha Valley over Tuapeka West then on to Roxburgh crossing the dam riding down to Millers Flat and arriving at the Beaumont Hotel for lunch. After lunch the entrants travelled down the Rongahere Gorge to Clydevale and back to the Clubrooms for afternoon tea and prize giving.
The weather was a bit patchy but mainly dry and a great day was had by all. A special thank you to all those who helped on the day.
Gary
Nick Brook, the Clutha Leader reporter produced an excellent article also.
Vintage - Robert Hutton 1924 Harley Davidson
Post Vintage - Mark Hodgkinson 1938 Velocette
Post War Vintage - Max Dewar 1955 Norton
Dominator
Post 60s - Graham Hunter riding Stuart McElrea's 1970 Triumph
Post 80s - Ray McCulloch 1980 Yamaha XJ600
Overall Winner - Max Dewar 1955 Norton
Dominator
Kaye and Paul McNabb spent almost two weeks in the North Island to attend the 17th Ford Model A, National Rally. Prior to leaving, their 1928 sedan was trucked to Masterton. The rally headquarters was the Copthorne hotel, where all the social events were held. The Concours judging was held on Monday morning, with a public display and driving tests in the afternoon. As there were over 130 vehicles entered, the cars were split into four colour coded groups, with a different tour on offer each day. As our Model A had only been recently completed and only had 25 miles on the clock, we drove the Toyota Rav 4 we had hired in Wellington instead. Day 1 was to the Fell railway museum in Featherston and a museum village at Greytown. An amazing piece of history. Day 2 took us to the Cape Palliser light house after visiting a very windy Ocean beach, on the very bottom of the North Island. Paul's rally cap was blown off in the wind, and it is probably still on the way to South America. To reach the base of the light house from the beach requires a steep climb of about 240 steps. Not for the faint hearted! Day 3, a visit to Pukaha Wildlife Sanctuary, seeing many native birds, including Kiwi and Takahe. The eel feeding proved very popular, as was a vineyard lunch, and visit to a private automotive collection. Day 4 was a fairly long drive to the Castlepoint light house, through the interesting and undulating Wairarapa countryside. Only 91 steps to tackle this time, so it was do-able! At the final dinner on Friday night, we were announced as winners of the Blue Ribbon category for the most authentic restoration, our car making a new record total of points (479/500). It was also judged Overall Best of Show. Before returning home, a few days were spent doing the touristy thing in Wellington. A visit was made to the Gallipoli memorial display at Te Papa. Very poignant and thought provoking.
Wednesday Run 2nd April – Meet at the Clubrooms 1 p.m. The roads are a mix of seal and gravel with afternoon tea at Owaka.
Coming Events
March 25th Monthly Meeting 7.30 p.m.
April 2nd Wednesday Run 1 p.m. Clubrooms
11 – 18 South Island Club Captains Tour
18 – 20 South Island Easter Rally
29th Monthly Meeting