TOPICAL TORQUE
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2025
ON THE COVER: Colin Jo hnstons Garage at the back of his property in Waitara, now devoted to his three Dodge Brothers motorcars. Also some of the cars which carried members of the Hawkes Bay Branch to our clubrooms for an afternoon tea visit in October.
TARANAKI BRANCH INCORPORATED BRANCH OFFICERS, BRANCH ADDRESS BRANCH MEETING DETAILS 2025-2026.
CHAIRMAN: COLIN JOHNSTON.
ADDRESS: 63 BROADWAY, WAITARA. TELEPHONE: 021 131 6699 / 06 754 6216
E-MAIL: cajohnstoncollections@xtra.co.nz
SECRETARY / TREASURER: ROB THOMSON. ADDRESS: 7 LEATHAM AVE, STRANDON, NEW PLYMOUTH 4312. TELEPHONE: 027 701 2485
E-MAIL: [secretary] taranaki@vcc.org.nz [treasurer] vcc.taranaki@gmail.com
CLUB CAPTAIN BRIAN EVANS. TELEPHONE: 027 956 0441
E-MAIL: brian.julie@outlook.com
NEWSLETTER EDITOR JIM LOGAN. TELEPHONE: 027 604 4821
E-MAIL: logandj49@gmail.com
BRANCH COMMITTEE: GRANT BISHOP: 027 295 8492 grantmerrilyn@farmside.co.nz
KEVIN FABISH: 06 756 7665 kev.fabish@gmail.com
DANNY PATTINSON: 06 756 7735 pattinson-family@farmside.co.nz
PARTS SHED: JOHN MUTER: 06 751 5554
CES BUDD: 06 241 0454
NEIL ROOK: 06 758 6737
GRANT BISHOP: 027 295 8492
BEADED WHEELS SCRIBE: COLIN JOHNSTON: 021 131 6699 cajohnstoncollections@xtra.co.nz COMPLIANCE/DOMAS/VIC: LES BOGNUDA: 06 755 2810 021 084 82323 bognuda63@xtra.co.nz
MIKE WILLIAMS: 06 765 4419 annmike21@hotmail.co.nz
CLUBROOMS CUSTODIAN: ROSE COX: 027 353 9968 roselcox7@gmail.com
FACEBOOK ADMINIST’R: ALEXANDER JOHNSTON: nakivccmedia@gmail.com GROUNDS CUSTODIANS: LES BOGNUDA: 06 755 2810 021 084 82323
DANNY PATTINSON: 06 756 7735
LIBRARY: JOHN MUTER, ROSE COX.
MEMBERSHIP / ARCHIVIST: ROSE COX: 027 353 9968 roselcox7@gmail.com
MID WEEK COORDINATOR: BRYAN MORRIS: 06 272 8027
NAME BADGES: KEVIN FABISH: 06 756 7665 kev.fabish@gmail.com
CLUB ROOMS: 1040 MOUNTAIN ROAD, SH3A, WAIONGANA, INGLEWOOD. MONTHLY MEETING: AT CLUB ROOMS, THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, 8.00PM.
Chairmans Chatter for Topical Torque
Hello Folks
A very warm welcome to these two new members who have just joined our branch. Paula Sarten who owns a 1939 Ford Barrel Nose and Bruce Nickel who owns a 1956 Ford F100 and a 1971 International 1840 Commercial. It is encouraging to report that we have had qu ite a few new members join our movement this year.
A new date has been set for the Potters Paddock Gymkana event that was cancelled in October because of the ground conditions after a wet period in Inglewood. The new date is January 18th and will be held at the same venue at the Dudley Road Community Hall in Inglewood see the Club Captains report for full details.
With December just around the corner the call is out for our participation in the Christmas parades in New Plymouth Waitara and Inglewood and also in Stratford Hawera etc. The public really appreciate seeing our vehicles and it is a great way to promote our club movement. Note to all members from the Parts committee. You are all very welcome to attend the Parts shed to look for that elusive part that you may need for your vehicle. The committee can open up anytime by arrangement because some members may not be able to attend the Noggin and Natter club nights when the sheds are all ways open. Also, if you have any parts that are surplus to your requirements and maybe useful to other members you are most welcome to donate them to our Parts shed . Contact any member of the parts committee.
A visit to our clubrooms by the members of the Hawkes Bay Vintage Car Club, who were on a tour of Taranaki, was enjoyed by their members and the parts shed committee were on hand to help with any parts that they found and brought. The club put on afternoon tea for them which they appreciated.
Hope to see you all at the next Noggin and Natter.
The Holiday season is coming, and summer is certainly just about here. So, Keep the Passion.........Stay safe when you are out on the roads......Keep Left and enjoy the drive...
Cheers
Chairman Colin.
Facebook Report and Update
Reports on our recent Rubber Duckie Rally and visits to Taumurunui for the King Country Branch Rally have been loaded with 27 hits and 25 shares reported.
(Contact Alexander Facebook Administrator, with photos of events or reports of interest to our members)
Club Captains Report
Hi All,
Hope everyone is doing well!
Garden Run
Many thanks to Ali and Brian Bollond for organising this year’s Garden Run.
Hopefully everyone enjoyed themselves and they got to enjoy some excellent gardens.
Because we had the Armstrong Siddeley AGM in Christchurch this year we were unable to attend but managed to complete the run on the previous weekend. There was very nice mixture of gardens and art venues. Well done guys.
Upcoming Event – Christmas Run 14th December,
• Annual Xmas run, ending up back at the Clubrooms for a Shared lunch. (Bring a Plate) further details closer to the time.
This promises to be another enjoyable event, and it’s a great opportunity to enjoy our vehicles — we hope to see you all there!
November Guest Speaker
This month, we’re pleased to welcome Josh Hickford, - reality TV star, Cancer Survivor, Iron Man Competitor, App Developer, Chief Executive of the Taranaki Foundation and an in demand motivational guest speaker.
Feel free to bring friends and family who may be interested in the discussion.
Upcoming Events
• 26th November – Midweek Run meet in Normanby
• 28th November – New Plymouth Lions Xmas Parade from the clock tower at 1.00pm
• 13th December – Waitara Xmas Parade, Assemble at the War Memorial Hall at 9.00am
• 13th December – Inglewood Lions Xmas Parade, Assemble at car park at 11.15pm
• 14th December – Christmas Run followed by Bring a Plate BBQ Lunch at the Clubrooms
• 18th January 2026 – Potters Paddock at Dudley Hall.
• 1st February 2026 – Inglewood Charity Car Show
As always, your ideas and suggestions are welcome – we love hearing from you.
We have a limited number of Club Car Sashes left, please come and see me and grab one $15 each
Warm regards,
Brian
Art Deco Rally 2026 Entry Form
Here is a link to the Art Deco Rally event to be held in Napier from 19 – 22 February, 2026
Garden Festival Tour –
On a very fine Sunday, a group of Branch members were joined by a half a dozen cars from the Taranaki Morris Minor club, on our tour of some Fringe Festival gardens.
Our first visit was to Ringcraft Moana Jewellers on Surrey Hill RD Oakura, where we viewed some lovely pieces of handcrafted jewellery, then onto SH 45 to Stoney River Pottery, located in a garden developed over 40 years with an old Villa homestead built in 1904.
Our next stop was at Lakeside Garden, on Mid Kahui Rd, Rahotu,A large country garden with a lake, mountain views and a coffee house where we were able to enjoy our lunch in lovely surroundings. Following lunch we left for Opunake to visit Winterfell Garden, A lush town garden with lots of surprising plants and artwork for sale. Our last visit in Opunake was to Fabulous Flowers, a lovely town garden, with an interesting selection of plants, pots and mosaic containers and only 100 metres from the beach clifftop.
Leaving Opunake we stopped at the Lookout above Opunake Beach and walked along the Clifftop Garden and Loop Trail, an easy flat walk amongst a garden established by the Opunake Lions Club and maintained by a dedicated group of local volunteers. Thanks Brian and Alie for a great day out. DADS A
DECEMBER
Branch News
DID YOU KNOW
That any members are welcome to visit our parts shed by contacting a committee member to organise a suitable time for a visit. There is a wealth of parts within and there is not always time on Club night to rummage through them all. The results of the membership survey that was conducted recently are now available to view at the clubrooms, see Brian Evans.
WANTED TO BUY
• Ford T 21-inch wheel and rim, 4 stud bolt on type, ph John 7515554(mem)
FOR SALE
• 1974 MGBT, in yellow, 100+Km, three owners, present owner 13 years. Overdrive fitted, registered and warrented to July 2026. Price $21,000 contact 0212179775
• On behalf of Estate, Vauxhall 1938 14/6 Tourer (blue), has a top opening boot and spare wheel Located in Wellington, contact Bryan Morris 0273721976
• V C Cresta, parts for sale, bonnet, gaurds, doors, boot lid chrome trim, contact Les Bognuda, 02108482323
• 1962 Morris Minor 1000, white, and very tidy in Stratford, $8,000 ph 0272836674
• Kent driving lights , chrome, as new $40.00 pr. Electric cooling fan, as new, $25.00 Metal Velocette sign, 7pprox. 400mm x 300mm new $20.0. Sunroof, suit 80 ’s on. NOS Vanguard rocker panels [sills] NOS, light surface rust, $50. Mazda B1600 ute tail gate skin, NOS, $5. Luggage carrier, rusty but will clean up, $50.00. Audi 5-cylinder engine, $200.00. Contact Taranaki Branch – Parts Dept.
OTHER BRANCH EVENTS
November 1 Annual Rally and Dinner -Wellington, 1-2 Far North Tour – Northland
2 Swap Meet & Car Show – B of Plenty, 2 Tararua Trundle Rally – Horowhenua, 7-9
Inter Branch weekend – E B of Plenty, 8 Veteran/Vintage Rally – Waikato, 16 Swap Meet – Waikato, 21-22 Motorcycle Rally – Auckland, 22 Gold Medal Mcycle Trial – Wairarapa, 30 Mangatainoka Vintage Car Day – Wairarapa.
December 6 Veteran Rally – Manawatu/CHB,
VERO RALLY 2026.
Attention all members that are planning to attend the Vero international Festival of historic motoring rally in Nelson next year.
We are planning to have a meeting to coordinate travel arrangements from Taranaki so that if entrants want to travel together for companionship and security, we can all motor together.
If you want to join us and attend this meeting, contact Kevin Fabish on 7567665 or Colin Johnston on 7546216 or (02) 1131 6699. Nelson here we come.
Anyone wanting one or more of these stylish decals to go on your vehicle’s windows, please see Kevin Fabish, size 5cm x 12cm
A local business that is keen to help you with any of your clutch brake problems, give them a call.